Update - Libraries, Being, and Audiobooks
Mar 29, 2025 9:31 am
Hi
Hello to all my readers, and I hope you’re well wherever you are in the world. Welcome to any new subscribers – it’s lovely to meet you.
Apologies for not sending a newsletter last month – life and the day job have been demanding more of my time in recent weeks. As a result, I’ve been taking a little break from the current work-in-progress, so regrettably I don’t have much book-related news to tell you.
It’s a very strange feeling not to be spending each available moment either writing or thinking about writing, but I think it’s been good for me. I’m reading a lot – purely for pleasure – and now that there’s no pressure to put words on the page, I’m starting to figure out the issues that were making the book so hard to write. I’m the world’s worst for putting pressure on myself to be productive – but I’m gradually learning to let myself relax and just “be.”
That said, I’m hoping I’ll get back to it soon. In the meantime, I’m really enjoying the break, and taking long walks in my Sydney neighbourhood.
Evening sky on my local walk
I’ve also read some fabulous books recently. In addition to buying books from my local bookstore, I also listen to audiobooks from the library. If you aren’t a member of your local library you’re really missing out. They have e-books, audiobooks, and magazines, as well as the usual physical copies of books, and are a wonderful resource. You get free books to read or listen to, and the author still gets paid. How good is that?!
Browsing what’s available at the library has also introduced me to writers and books I wouldn’t necessarily have tried otherwise, like The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, which is a delightful, unexpected, and magical tale set in Japan. It’s only short, but highly recommended.
Well, it’s a wet weekend here in Sydney and I’m off to the bookshop soon because what better way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy Saturday?
What I’m reading: The Ophelia Girls by Jane Healey. An intriguing and atmospheric novel in which a mother’s secret past collides with her daughter’s present experience.
What I’m watching: QI. I used to watch this show when it was first aired many years ago with Stephen Fry as the host, and I kind of thought he was irreplaceable. But I've recently discovered that Sandi Toskvig brings her own delightful wit and intelligence to this quirky, funny, and informative show. Lovely.
Please drop me a line if you have any comments or feedback - I'd love to hear from you.
Hopefully, next time I write I’ll be able to report some progress on the book. Till then, happy reading!
Here are the links to my books. Have you read them all?
Kind regards
Samantha
https://www.samgrosserbooks.com
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/samantha-grosser
