September/October 2026 Update
Hello, and I hope you’ve had a good start to autumn. Even though I’m in my forties now (wait, how did that happen? 😊), autumn/fall always makes me think of going back to school and learning new things. For this reason, I focused on continuing professional development and goal-setting this September/October, taking stock of where I’m at with my learning and development and figuring out where I want to go from here. I also caught up on some much-needed business administration, including ensuring that all of my work records were in one place (my previous system worked well enough for me, but it’s helpful to see my full work record at a glance, and this will be useful for when I eventually apply to upgrade my Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading – CIEP – membership grade). Finally, I began taking a copyediting course with the CIEP, which I’ll talk about more in another post. I’m enjoying the course so far and learning a lot that will strengthen my editorial practice.
In my personal life, I still have a lot of family stuff going on. My husband and I have some caring responsibilities for his father, who has a severe brain injury and needs 24-hour, one-to-one support, and September found us having to fight for his ability to continue to receive high-level specialist support, something he desperately needs in order to function day-to-day. That fight continues. Unfortunately, we’re not the only family who’s having to go through this process in the UK, whose nursing and social care provision has declined dramatically in recent years. Working freelance has meant that I’ve been able to work flexibly, to help where help has been needed.
But I’ve focused too much on myself in this update. 😊 One thing I’ve been meaning to do is to spotlight some of the books I’ve worked on and to celebrate the authors who wrote them and their achievements. So, without further ado…
This month, German author Jesco Puluj, who I worked with as a book coach a few years ago, publishes his imaginative romantic magical realist novel, One Night to Varanasi. The story centres around Charles and Olivia, a British couple who have different views of their relationship, and of what constitutes a strong and worthwhile relationship. They explore these ideas, and what they actually want from each other, while embarking on a magical journey in India. Along the way, they’re attended to by a mysterious train conductor, who helps facilitate their journey, both physically and metaphorically.
Writing and publishing a book is a huge achievement, and one that can take time, especially for newer authors, but it’s worth learning and developing your craft to get your book how you want it to be. I’m so glad to see this novel being published!
Jesco is publishing his novel through The Book Bazaar, which is a crowdfunding website. If you’d be interested in reading his novel and supporting its publication, you can find it here: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/afc1e43e-e6f1-4e90-8dfe-90e00a5de4d9/landing)
In July, northern publisher Valley Press published a brilliant book by Nora Chassler called The Noracle, which I was lucky enough to proofread a couple of years back. The Noracle is an experimental prose-poetry story, whose structure was inspired by the I-Ching. It’s about growing up in the 1980s and 1990s in New York, and about the power of literature and story to transform us. This was a story I’ll never forget because of its sheer lyrical power. I also enjoyed its references to the I-Ching itself, a book I tried to read when I was training in Chinese martial arts. If you’re interested in checking it out, you can do so via the Valley Press website: https://valleypressuk.com/products/the-noracle.
Finally, Jenny Hale, an author I’ve worked with as a proofreader and copyeditor on multiple sweet romance novels, has just released her heartwarming Christmas novel Postmarked December. Postmarked December follows widow Heather Hart as she struggles to enjoy her first Christmas without her husband, Toby. She begins receiving cards, seemingly from Toby himself, as they contain details that no one else could know, and is sent to visit various places from their past. Along the way, as she’s remembering how wonderful her time with Toby was, she meets the handsome and kind Nicholas Monroe.
I loved how festive this story was, and of course, I also loved the romance. 😊 Jenny’s stories are always well-told, thoughtful, and filled with care, kindness, and love in all its forms. Also, Nashville (where much of the story is set) seems like it would be a really fun place to visit sometime! If you’re interested in reading Postmarked December, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H3M1DN3G.
What are you up to this autumn? Send me an email to let me know, as I’d love to hear.
Until next time,
Kendra
