Blog for 1 March 2022

On this day there are many, many more important things happening than my

book release.

A David and Goliath war is raging in Ukraine.

Covid-19 continues its relentless increase in numbers, although hopefully not

severity.

Both events are shockingly unique in the last 50+ years and demand global

reaction and unity.

But on an individual level our helplessness in their face can threaten to

overwhelm us. I find I can’t think about either for too long; and certainly not

both in succession.

Making time to sit down with a book offers a much-needed reprieve from the

very real concerns of real life and the constant ping of instant news. An hour

immersed in a good book (my current reading list includes the wonderful Ruth

Galloway crime series) is a good tonic. Almost as good as a gin and tonic.

So, as I release ‘Before the Rising’ out into the world virtually (thanks to the

above virus) I also release my hope that it will add to the many books out there

that can help us all to put aside our worries for a while and return with a little

more energy, a little more humour and a little more determination to add

something good to the world.