Mark My Words – January 2026
You Have a Plan…
Dear Friends, New and Old,
I had all these ideas about the many things I was going to get stuck into this year, but already these are somewhat derailed. This week I’ve been at the vets three times – poor Lewis has had an op to remove a lump on his chest. That’s why he has this protective vest on. I don’t often feature ‘animal content’ in my newsletter, but I’m sure people can relate to this. It’s not just the lost time, it’s the fact that you’re not really in a creative place while these episodes are going on. Still, Lewis is home now, resting nicely, eating loads, and I am optimistic I’m going to get some writing stuff done this weekend. Like composing this newsletter.
Final Approach – Or Should That Be Ultimate Approach?
I can now confirm that the limited edition of 250 illustrated hardback copies of Final Approach: My Father and Other Turbulence will be released this April, along with the audiobook. I’m really thrilled about this; it’s the book I always imagined in my head, although for practical and obviously sensible reasons the more commercial paperback had to come first. A big thank you to Katie at my publisher Claret Press for working with me on this. If it comes off as we would wish, I hope it will be much more than just a book; part-memoir, part-travelogue yes, but also maybe part-artwork.
We’ll see! In any event, you are all invited to either (or both!) of the launches; the official launch at Brendon Books in Taunton on Thursday 23rd April where I’ll be discussing the book with writer Elizabeth Delo and the London launch at the Society of Authors on Thursday 30th April.
After that, I promise I’ll be directing my creative energy in a new direction; I’ve written a couple more stories for my planned collection The Lost Shore, I’m polishing up my completed novel Can We Talk, and I’m starting on a new novel. (One thing I won’t be doing is my previously planned prostate cancer SubStack – unfortunately the household being struck by the dreaded lurgy just as I was starting on this put the kibosh on that. Maybe next year.)
Calendar of Events
Now that my 2026 diary is filling up, I thought I’d include this as a regular feature. Hopefully I’ll stay busy enough to justify it!
Fri 13th February
Fresh Fiction Music – Short Stories Read by Writers, The David Hall, South Petherton – 7.30pm
Thurs 23rd April
Final Approach Hardback Somerset Launch – Brendon Books, Taunton – 6.30pm
Sat 25th April
‘Taming Trauma’ with Victoria L Humphreys, Bournemouth Writers’ Festival
Thurs 30th April
Final Approach Hardback London Launch – Society of Authors
Sat 2nd May
‘Flights to Freedom’ with Pen Farthing, Dorchester Library
Sat 20th June
Stroud Indie Book Fair
Sat 4th July
Frome Independent Publishing Fair
Weds 23rd September
Final Approach Event Westlands Centre Yeovil
Book Review – Broken Horses, Kate Beales
Within pages of starting this book, I was put in mind of Daphne du Maurier. A coastal landscape, high drama, budding romance and a strong female protagonist. Only the coastal landscape is the edge of the Patagonian plain rather than the coves of Cornwall. Nonetheless, our heroine Georgie Carruthers is indeed an English rose; one clipped in her prime by the horror of the Great War and transported to become a governess at the other end of the world. East Anglia to Argentina.
We feel with her the wrench from the gentle English countryside – albeit one tainted by the blood of war – to the harsh Patagonian winter. The smell of revolution wafts through the pampas and Georgie’s senses are assaulted by fear, love and lust – but which way will she turn? Or be forced to turn?
Kate Beales writes with authority, having clearly immersed herself in the unrelenting history and geography of this unforgiving terrain. Most chapters are written from Georgie’s point of view, but Kate seamlessly moves to third person for the chapters where Georgie is absent. There are also testimonies from the tragic Marta inserted in reverse order; these only add to the growing tension in the book. Read it if you dare!
It will be well worth the arduous journey.
Stop Press!
I’m thrilled that a brand new short story of mine, ‘Get It On’, has been chosen for the Fresh Fiction night at South Petherton. I really enjoy these events – the David Hall is such an atmospheric venue to read at and there’s always a warm (and often capacity!) audience.
Stop Press!
I have signed copies of Final Approach and all my Brian the Bear books in my little home bookstore – they can also be dedicated in whatever way you wish. If you buy or read one of my books please do leave a review on Bookstore UK/Goodreads/Amazon or wherever you can – it makes a massive difference.
That’s all for now; you can view all my my work here.
markblackburn.co.uk 