Went to visit Bas's aunt Mary at the weekend -- or Sister Maria as she's known in the convent! Mary is lovely, and very far removed from my idea of what a 76 year old nun would be like!! We had a great time chatting with her, and also with her "fellow inmate" Deborah. We spent most of Saturday with her, and returned for a few hours on Sunday. Then we flew back home to Ireland.

I spent Monday and Tuesday working on the Writing Tips section of my web site. This is something I've been planning for quite a few years now -- a one-stop shop for all the advice and tips which I've been scattering through my blogs over the past several years. I've been collecting the more interesting entries, and now I've put them into order and rejigged them so there isn't too much repetition. The result will give fans a clear look into my world and mind and writing habits -- and hopefully it will help young writers who are maybe struggling with the demands that writing requires. It's not a straightforward how-to book -- rather a report from the trenches!! I think it's a good addition to the site, and one that I'm delighted to finally be able to reveal. I haven't had time to complete every chapter of the manual, but I've put the first two-thirds online, and hope to add the final section on Sunday. You can check out what I've written so far by CLICKING HERE.