Ann Patchett is one of my favourite fiction authors. Ann’s last book is a sensational read and I absolutely love the cover art. Here’s how I applied her process to the cover design for Found and Lost.

One of the main characters in Found and Lost, book one of The Great Way Series, is an Orangutang called Franny. Animals feature quite prominently in my books, probably because they feature prominently in my life.

If you want a better world, a better year and, importantly, a better life for yourself, you don’t necessarily have to take to the streets brandishing banners and posting on social media.

If there’s a silver lining to these dark days, it’s that we have more time to read. I’ve made my selection and have downloaded the following books onto my Kindle. I’m loaded and ready for some down time.

I just got out the house and am sitting at the perfect coffee shop, on the perfect day, writing. The coffee art is beautiful. The pile of books next to me — sublime. These moments have the makings of exquisite content.

At this time, we seem to be facing so many crises. Health crisis — in the form of a global pandemic. Economic crisis — as a result of shrinking economies and unemployment on a scale never seen before.

Mental health experts all over the world are raising concerns about the effect that COVID-19 could have on our mental health. The prolonged isolation and reduced social interaction can have a negative impact.

It’s interesting interacting with people when most of their faces are covered by a mask. So much non-verbal communication takes place via the face and I feel like I’m missing out on so much not seeing faces.

I was disturbed by an article in the New York Times about how coronavirus is exploding across the developing world and how ill equipped these regions are to fight it. The real devastation is yet to come.

Reading is one of the most important activities you can do in your everyday life. It opens your mind. Gives you multiple views on things, so you are not limited to your point of view. It teaches new things.

Too many adults cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a medicine bottle. That’s a scary thought – especially for their children. Filling out applications becomes impossible without help.