Out of Sight

Yes, it's probably clickbait. But you're going to read it anyway.

Hello Pocket Friends,

You know how there’s lots of different versions of you that people know or think they know, but none of them are actually completely the version of yourself that’s in your head? You know what I mean. You might have done a complete 180 on your life in the last few years but there are still those out there who remember you as you were, and therefore treat you as such. (See adult siblings reverting to childhood roles at family occasions as one example). So whenever I read about someone’s 10 or even 5 year plan, I wonder if they’ve even thought it through at all, (squirrelling away money for a big project excepted) and how many stick to THE PLAN simply because they said they would and don’t want to lose face.

I didn’t think back at the beginning of 2018 (five years ago), that I’d be making chapbooks (posh word for booklet) of my own short stories and poetry for my shop.

From there to here is quite the leap. I never planned any of it.

Maybe by the time you read this newsletter, I will have five chapbooks in my Etsy shop. (I really want to say pamphlet). Three are short stories, one is a collection of 13 teeny tiny flash fiction stories and one is a collection of seven poems.

They ‘drop’ (as the young people say) at 10 am on Sunday 31st July 2023.

There is way over 2 years writing work there. The three short stories were previously published in books, as were a couple of the poems. Some of the poems have been performed live or recorded and used in art installations (one won!) and some of the flash fiction was previously published in online magazines.

I’ve printed off the pages on my wobbly, wonky printer, and made a different cover for each chapbook. Yes, each individual book has a cover that is different to all of the other booklets.

They are individually priced around £4 each (plus p&p because Royal Mail won’t deliver for free, but you only pay p&p on the first item).

For my substack readers only, I have created a special code that you can use to get £10 off a £25 spend in my Etsy shop (excluding p&p). That means you could buy all five chapbooks, plus something else from my shop like some gift tags or a notebook, and still get change from one of those nice purple notes that everyone likes to get in their birthday cards. Score!

The code is SUBSTACK10 and it is valid from now until the end of August 2023.

I’m also dabbling into worldwide delivery. I have only ever posted a repurposed antique watercolour sketchbook to America once, because a lady messaged me and asked so nicely. Note to self - I need to get around to adding USA to the rest of the listings because those 100+ year old books that I turn into artist sketchbooks are my best sellers.

So, I’ve been busy. I can honestly say that I’ve now released a collection, or I will have done tomorrow morning. It’s hard work getting all of the logistics, packaging, social media videos etc ready, all together and on time.

Oh, and I also made a video of how I make the chapbooks.

My Hitlist

I’ve been listening to Billie Marten A LOT lately. I think Syd Barrett and Elliott Smith would approve of her songwriting skills.

I’ve also enjoyed watching BEEF.

Fun fact. We often watch the credits in our house. I spotted the name Bobby Krlic as the composer for BEEF, which reminded me of someone with that name who I used to know. It’s an unusual combination of names, so a quick google later, and yep, it’s the same person that I used to babysit for when he was about 2 and I was 17.

I was feeling nostalgic the other day so re-watched one of my go-to films. Atonement. I don’t need to say more. What a story. if you haven’t seen it or read the book by Ian McEwan, then your heart will break for those two young lovers, when you do.

Don’t watch the trailer for Atonement before you watch it. Too many spoilers.

Like I said before, there’s never enough time to do everything that you want to do in life, but for some there will never be enough time to put right a wrong. This has a cracking all-star cast, and one of the longest single-shot scenes ever in film. It requires your undivided, uninterrupted full attention, with a cup of hot tea and something baked, chocolate or both.

I’m off now to finish listening to the audiobook, ‘Young Mungo’ and to do a bit of paper sewing.

So until next time.

Nicola x