Are you hurkle-durkling?

Hurkle-durkling and Sacred Writes have been on my mind.

Hurkle-durkling is that wonderful 18th-century Scottish term that suggests hunkering down for warmth. For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, wintry, weepy skies invite nothing more than a book, cuppa and hurkle-durkling. For hours upon hours. It’s a YES from me!

I’ve never been to Scotland. But from the moment my Glaswegian grandmother gifted my eight-year-old self with a tartan brooch, I have imagined that I would. My current book has taken a turn deep into my Celtic past – prompting my first trip to Scotland in 2027 for writing and research. Desktop research is one thing. But being there allows you to fully feel into places, to imagine the dreams and footprints of generations past.

This novel has also taken me back to my love of ancient civilisations and sacred sites, providing inspiration for our new Sacred Writes retreats – seven retreats in seven sacred locations, starting in 2027 and running through 2028. Beautiful Sicily will be on the list. Malta too. Scotland, absolutely.

If you like the sound of writing with reverence, heart and soul at sacred locations, give me a call. If your writer’s heart is craving a break before then, you still have time to join one of our two fabulous Sicily retreats. You can find out more on our retreats page.

Meanwhile, to help us through the remaining days of winter, this year’s Words in Winter offers delicious words and storytelling. Every weekend through August in Trentham (www.trenthamwordsinwinter.org) and 26-30 August in Daylesford (wordsinwinter.com).

Stay warm and happy writing.