Aha, the long gap between blogs again. I’ve recently been diagnosed autistic with ADHD (AuDHD, to be fancy) and it’s helped me understand why I’m so rubbish at implementing routine into my life. My autistic side LOVES crossing things off my to-do list; my ADHD side doesn’t want me to put things ON the list to start with. And yet, my life has to be ruled by lists otherwise I would simply cease to function!
Lots has happened since my last blog (obvs). I hosted the annual Oxfordshire Book Awards ceremony, did a school visit on the theme of STRESS, ran another author masterclass for EmpathyLab and enjoyed a Christmas in the New Forest with my family. I have discovered the most incredible ice cream base recipe (500ml double cream whipped with 1 tin of condensed milk, to which you can add pretty much anything, and it just freezes into the most delicious dessert), marvelled at a jousting display, attended a trans rights protest and drooled over Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell in Much Ado About Nothing in London. I’ve also celebrated EmpathyLab’s tenth birthday and made some spring bunting.
Writing-wise, I’ve been busy too. I’m delighted to say that Puffin commissioned a fourth and final book in the Starlight Stables Gang series from me and Esme Higgs (YouTube star ThisEsme), titled The Pony Whisperer, and it will be out in September this year with another gorgeous cover from Hannah George. This is Daniel’s story and I feel so proud to be able to tell it – his father is in prison, and Daniel is a young carer for his five siblings, since his mum has to work two jobs to keep them all afloat. When Daniel comes across a horse being mistreated, he vows to save it – but that comes with more trouble than he anticipated!
I’ve also become more and more determined to move into screen- and scriptwriting using my maiden name of Jo Kenrick. Back in 2023, my A Library of Lemons screenplay was shortlisted in the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Initiative, and ever since then I’ve been reading screenplays, watching webinars and going on screenwriting courses. In December, I wrote a ten-minute script for a specific competition called It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Panic, and was THRILLED when it was selected as one of four for a rehearsed reading which took place at The Water Rats in Kings Cross in January. It was an enormous confidence boost to see my script performed by four professional actors, and several audience members sought me out afterwards to enthuse about it, which was just wonderful. I’m hoping to develop it into a full-length play in time.
In February, I wrote a different full-length play for a competition run by a cruise ship operator. Last Night of the Prom is about harassed civil servant Hilary Clinton (not that one) trying to organise a fundraising concert, which is very much outside her skillset. It’s funny and light-hearted and I really enjoyed putting it together. The more scripts I write, the more ideas I have for more scripts!
Of course, once you HAVE scripts, the next step is finding someone who WANTS them – much like finding a publisher for your book. And very much like publishing, finding your way into the theatre/film communities can feel baffling and impossible when you don’t really know anyone. So, as of yesterday, I have submitted my work to four agents, and am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for a positive response.
In the meantime, the sun is shining and I am still out and about visiting schools and running workshops on creative writing, and my kids are happy and the dog is cute, so really, things are good right now!
Jo Cotterill 