In previous years I’ve reviewed the previous twelve months on Christmas Eve and considered what lies ahead on or around New Year’s Day in separate blogposts. This time, I find the two are inextricably entwined.

I didn’t get around to writing a blogpost on 24^th December as we were hosting a sizeable family gathering the following day – and thoroughly enjoyable it was too. Our house is conveniently placed for doing that geographically, and we have the space to set up two tables end to end. We’ve also accumulated sufficient plates, cutlery, glasses, and have enough spare chairs stashed in the attic to give everyone a seat. It is a bit startling to realise we’re taking on the role I remember as the previous generation’s responsibility, and before that, my grandparents… Assorted conversations with siblings and cousins over the midwinter break have included updates on our collective offspring reaching various stages on their own journeys to adulthood. How did this happen?!

Well, the two of us have been a couple for forty years this year, married for thirty six of those. I qualified for my senior railcard as I turned sixty last year. As a rule, I don’t pay much attention to ‘milestone’ birthdays, but this one, and a couple of other recent anniversaries, have prompted pause for thought. I’ve thought of myself as vaguely middle-aged for the last few decades, but that’s not really the case any more. Even if I make it to ninety (which an encouraging number of the previous generation have done), I’m two-thirds of the way through this game.

What achievements can I look back on? Professionally, twenty seven novels (so far), plus novellas and short stories, the various non-fiction pieces I have written, and the teaching I have done. In recent years, there’s been my work for the Society of Authors, and before that, the successful campaign to revise cross-border VAT on digital sales. Most recently in the rear-view mirror, The Green Man’s Holiday has been well received, along with my short fiction and non-fiction publications in 2025. (Incidentally, thank you to everyone who has caught up with Dan’s latest adventure over the holidays and posted a positive rating and/or online review. These do boost an author’s visibility!)

Personally, I can look back on our aforementioned forty year relationship, still ongoing, and many equally long-standing, and more recent valued friendships. Our two sons are responsible, politically aware, self-supporting adults, and very good company, I’m pleased to say. I’m satisfied I’ve used my time well there.

What does the future hold? Well, there’s the next Green Man book which I’ll start writing soon. The Riven Kingdom, my new fantasy novel, will be published by Angry Robot later in 2026. I will continue to work with the SoA to defend authors’ interests and copyrights. I will oppose the encroachment of generative so-called-AI. I I’ll uphold and defend equal rights and respect for all, defying the selfish and intolerant who want to erase the hard-won progress for women, people of colour and LGBTQ+ communities which I have witnessed since my teens. That’s one plus of getting older. You can spot bad faith rhetoric being recycled.

Beyond that, looking ahead becomes rather different. Assorted handwritten notes and newsletters in Christmas cards from aforementioned long-standing friends tell us they’re coming up to retirement, or have already retired, like my husband. Regular routines of past years are no more, and other responsibilities have changed significantly. New opportunities are apparent, for travel and other experiences, while we stay fit and healthy.

What does this mean, in practical terms? At the moment, I don’t know, but change is in the air, and that’s an intriguing prospect.