The Monthly RED FERN 🌿 Summary | March Edition
Recommendations, reads & my own goals & projects from the month of March
This is the first in my new series of monthly articles which brings you not just the books, podcasts and videos I’ve been watching over the past month but also my own goals and the progress or struggles with my writing and writing business. The latter is for paid subscribers only. If you’re interested in my writing journey (which this month shares the behind the scenes of my Substack planning plus my YouTube strategy) then upgrade your subscription below.
I’d grab a cup of tea as this is a lengthy one!
Books
March has been my back-to-work month. After struggling with anxiety and burnout during the months of December, January and February I have tentatively made my way back to my office and begun to sit back at my desk.
It has been hard at times. I’ve suffered setbacks after recording and uploading my podcast (Our Substack Story with
) and I’ve retreated back to My Spot in the lounge sitting in front of the fire with the dogs. I’ve struggled with scrolling and real world overwhelm. BUT I have read another novel. And that is The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett.And, wow. I loved it. LOVED it.
I’ve read all three of Janice’s novels now. Her debut was The Appeal and her second was The Twyford Code. They are all standalones and have been marketed as ‘Agatha Christie for the 21st century’ and ‘the queen of tricksy crime’. They are not your usual cosy crime novels. For a start the structure of them in in email, text message or transcript form. This put me off for a while but I now thoroughly enjoy this way of writing and find it makes the novel very pacey. And secondly they aren’t your standard murder mystery that follows the kind of usual structure. They take the reader out of their cosy crime comfort zone.
What is beautiful about Janice Hallett’s way of writing though is how she can create characters out of just a few words. Janice is a script writer and this shows in her novels.
I also finished reading Work it Out by Fiona Thomas which was gifted to me. This is non-fiction and is a memoir focusing on writing, the online world and mental health. I found it really illuminating and saw many similarities in Fiona’s journey with my own. I think this is great reading for the creative who has been online for some time and needs to know they’re not alone with their feelings and for people coming to the online creative world more recently so they have their eyes open.
Podcasts
This month I’d like to recommend The Just Bloody Post It podcast by Helen Perry. This is how Helen describes the podcast:
The #justbloodypostit podcast is for creative businesses promoting their work on the internet. For anyone who wants to do marketing that gets results (sales, bookings and opportunities!). Every week, our guest shares what they’ve learnt about growing an online audience that powers their income.
Now you may be thinking that you’re a writer or an artist and why do you need a podcast about sales. Well, because I think we, as writers or artists, really struggle with promoting out work. And I don’t mean getting all salesy and icky. I simply mean talking about our writing or creativity on social media. We can learn a lot from some of the people Helen interviews. For example, the episode that really inspired me recently was the one with Sarah Rossi. You may know her as Taming Twins on Instagram. Sarah is a cook and I’ve recently purchased her cookbook What’s for Dinner: quick and easy family friendly recipes in 30 minutes (also recommended!). I saw Sarah at a Blogtacular conference some years ago and it is inspiring and motivating to see how she’s progressed over the years.
Sarah is interviewed in episode 106 on The Just Bloody Post It podcast and then I went back to listen to episode 57 from April 2022.
Articles
Influencer Parents and The Kids Who Had Their Childhood Made Into Content from TeenVogue
These sorts of stories fascinate me in a kind of horrified way. Some of the children who have been used by their parents in YouTube videos and so on are about to hit 18 and there may be many stories like this to come. I’ve been fascinated full stop with how the internet has grown and evolved (thus my enjoyment of Fiona’s book above and equally Emma Gannon’s Ctrl Alt Delete: How I Grew Up Online). My own non-fiction touches on my story and the evolution of the internet so if you come across any articles or books along these lines do share.
Substacks
I know they are incredibly popular and are already followed by many of you but I have to mention
and this month. Their Substacks are going from strength to strength and I find them both very open, very honest, interesting, inspiring and so many other wonderful things.Farrah and Emma have both talked in detail about their Substack journeys - so if you’re thinking of starting one do check out
and . You'll also get access to masterclasses, essays, threads and lots more.Speaking of Substack journeys. I’d also like to recommend
from . Claire started her Substack a couple of months ago and it's about books, TV, film, writing, life and how they all 'beautifully interconnect'. As mentioned above Claire and I are creating a podcast once a month during 2023 where we share the behind-the-scenes of our Substack journey. You can listen to January here and February here.Instagram
My English Country Cottage and Margot Good Life have interviewed the author Janice Hallett on Instagram this week. I’m part way through and enjoying the chat very much.
My own writing & content
The Big Re-launch of The RED FERN 🌿 - my plans going forward for this Substack.
My very first Dear Helen…column. My Low Instagram Numbers are Fuelling My Low Self-Esteem and Lack of Confidence.
The one where I’m asking your thoughts. Do you struggle with low self-confidence around your creativity. Come and let me know (or send me an email).
You can read more in the archive (free posts will become paywalled after one month).
Purchases
Just one book purchase this month. The beautiful hardback edition by HarperCollins of Sinister Spring by Agatha Christie. A series of short stories with Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Tommy & Tuppence.
What have you been reading (fiction and non-fiction), listening to and enjoying this month? Any particular articles on Substack? Do reply to this email and let me know.
Below I am sharing my own goals and progress from the month of March. I talk about the planning behind my Substack re-launch and how I had to take tiny steps because of my reduced confidence, my ‘marketing strategy’ and my recent YouTube strategy that has increased my subscribers. This is for paid subscribers so if you’d like to upgrade your subscription to read you can do so here: