Thank you for curating this mini collection. I am sure I have missed some of these, and look forward to slipping sideways out of my own head and into yours as I read them out loud to a Maine Coon cat named Coco.
I take care of Coco a few times a year when her human housemates go on holiday. She is not a cuddly cat, but I learned early on that she enjoys being read to. We are currently reading Villager, but I have a feeling she will enjoy these pieces between chapters.
It’s disappointing, to put it mildly, that you’re still waiting to be paid by your publishers. The most recent accounts filed a few days ago by Unbound (United Authors Publishing Ltd) seem to show a company in an improved state of financial health - for the first time its net assets exceed its liabilities - which presumably must include what it owes you and its other authors - so it’s hard to understand why they don’t now pay what they owe. I shall be renewing my subscription to your most entertaining Substack!
These are all excellent- my favourite is Once Upon a Time on a Lane - but to me they’re all very clever and very funny. Here’s to more in 2025. It’s brilliant to read about your enthusiasm to carry on - it must be part of your bone marrow. Lucky readers X
"I have relearned after hitting a little rocky patch in my career ... there is no more effective solution than going off and doing some writing. And if that writing is being done for the sheer hell of it, all the better" – so very true!
These entries were certainly among my favorites of 2024! 🥰 Happy New Year, Tom! 🥳 Hoping you get paid for your work soon.🤞Looking forward to whatever you do next.
Just wanted to say, I started Villager today. It’s 11:17 on New Year’s Eve, we’ve had the big dinner, a lot of wine and such, sent off the folks, watching Twilight Zone reruns ( we’re old , and we ought to have been in in bed awhile ago). Nonetheless, what I am looking forward to in 2025 is reading the next chapter. It’s kind of perfect that the book showed up on my doorstep at this time. And it will be a time.
Happy New Year, and gods help us all! Blessings to you!
Wishing you a successful 2025, Tom. I haven't read your three unread stories yet, I'll get back to them over the week, but I wanted to thank you. I started reading, but it inspired me with an idea on reworking the pitch for my first complete novel, so I had to stop and work on that. ...Thank you, for making me think differently about my own work. I have no idea why this happens, and none of the other deliberate writers/teachers I follow affect me like this. Today, instead of Happy New Year, I received another publisher rejection. It was only Plan B, so I'm not devastated! I will plough on with Plan A, serialisation on Substack, starting next week. So, again, Tom, "Thank you for your unwitting support"!
Thank you for sharing this collection! I had read three of them previously but not the very clever Phillipa story and I now feel as though I know another side of you; charmingly but gently snarky. And I love it!😘
A very happy new year to you, Tom! You’re one of the first writers I found on Substack and I’m so excited to dive into your book very soon for our book club. Sending good vibes that you get all of your money due to you very soon, and thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful writing.💕
I had not yet read about Grandma Kettlebridge, and was so taken by her that I wanted desperately to do a Google search of her Nom de Plume and purchase one of her later novels.
Happy New Year, Tom. Wishing you even more success in 2025! Thanks for giving me a bit of your time in 2024, it was great fun for me to review one of your books.
A perfect, fun list!! Once Upon A Time On A Lane was the first piece I read of yours and what enticed me to subscribe to your Substack…it will always be a fave for me.
Your writing has been one of the joys of 2024 for me and I have loved gifting Notebook to my friends.
So glad to hear you are feeling energized to write and energized by your writing…lucky us!! Thank you, Tom, and many blessings to you in the New Year!
Thank you for curating this mini collection. I am sure I have missed some of these, and look forward to slipping sideways out of my own head and into yours as I read them out loud to a Maine Coon cat named Coco.
I take care of Coco a few times a year when her human housemates go on holiday. She is not a cuddly cat, but I learned early on that she enjoys being read to. We are currently reading Villager, but I have a feeling she will enjoy these pieces between chapters.
It’s disappointing, to put it mildly, that you’re still waiting to be paid by your publishers. The most recent accounts filed a few days ago by Unbound (United Authors Publishing Ltd) seem to show a company in an improved state of financial health - for the first time its net assets exceed its liabilities - which presumably must include what it owes you and its other authors - so it’s hard to understand why they don’t now pay what they owe. I shall be renewing my subscription to your most entertaining Substack!
These are all excellent- my favourite is Once Upon a Time on a Lane - but to me they’re all very clever and very funny. Here’s to more in 2025. It’s brilliant to read about your enthusiasm to carry on - it must be part of your bone marrow. Lucky readers X
Thanks Sandy!
"I have relearned after hitting a little rocky patch in my career ... there is no more effective solution than going off and doing some writing. And if that writing is being done for the sheer hell of it, all the better" – so very true!
These entries were certainly among my favorites of 2024! 🥰 Happy New Year, Tom! 🥳 Hoping you get paid for your work soon.🤞Looking forward to whatever you do next.
Thanks Sally. Happy New Year to you too!
Happy new year to you Tom! And thank you for all your beautiful and remarkable writing.
Philippa the tiny scuttling slag remains a 2024 highlight.
Thanks Laura. Happy New Year to you too - from me and Philippa!
Just wanted to say, I started Villager today. It’s 11:17 on New Year’s Eve, we’ve had the big dinner, a lot of wine and such, sent off the folks, watching Twilight Zone reruns ( we’re old , and we ought to have been in in bed awhile ago). Nonetheless, what I am looking forward to in 2025 is reading the next chapter. It’s kind of perfect that the book showed up on my doorstep at this time. And it will be a time.
Happy New Year, and gods help us all! Blessings to you!
Wonderful news. Thanks Cindy, and Happy New Year to you too!
Wishing you a successful 2025, Tom. I haven't read your three unread stories yet, I'll get back to them over the week, but I wanted to thank you. I started reading, but it inspired me with an idea on reworking the pitch for my first complete novel, so I had to stop and work on that. ...Thank you, for making me think differently about my own work. I have no idea why this happens, and none of the other deliberate writers/teachers I follow affect me like this. Today, instead of Happy New Year, I received another publisher rejection. It was only Plan B, so I'm not devastated! I will plough on with Plan A, serialisation on Substack, starting next week. So, again, Tom, "Thank you for your unwitting support"!
“a quarter way through the 21st Century” : Tom, this gave me quite a jolt.
Thank you for sharing this collection! I had read three of them previously but not the very clever Phillipa story and I now feel as though I know another side of you; charmingly but gently snarky. And I love it!😘
A very happy new year to you, Tom! You’re one of the first writers I found on Substack and I’m so excited to dive into your book very soon for our book club. Sending good vibes that you get all of your money due to you very soon, and thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful writing.💕
Thanks so much, Sheila. Happy New Year to you too!
I had not yet read about Grandma Kettlebridge, and was so taken by her that I wanted desperately to do a Google search of her Nom de Plume and purchase one of her later novels.
“…less to tell people what I think about something and more to find out what I think about it.“. Hurray for you! I so agree.
More fun for everyone.
Happy New Year, Tom. Wishing you even more success in 2025! Thanks for giving me a bit of your time in 2024, it was great fun for me to review one of your books.
Happy New Year, Yasmin! Thank you!
A perfect, fun list!! Once Upon A Time On A Lane was the first piece I read of yours and what enticed me to subscribe to your Substack…it will always be a fave for me.
Your writing has been one of the joys of 2024 for me and I have loved gifting Notebook to my friends.
So glad to hear you are feeling energized to write and energized by your writing…lucky us!! Thank you, Tom, and many blessings to you in the New Year!
Happy new year Tom. I’m so pleased to have discovered your writing in 2024 and am really enjoying Notebook. Keep doing what you do!
Agreed. Notebook is a gem!
Thank you both!