March – a strange alternate universe

College work proceeds despite the strangeness of lockdowns. Ireland is rolling out vaccines to the most elderly and vulnerable, so I don’t expect to get offered a jab before the end of summer. My coursework continues, so I am now in the position of taking modules in sound and film (over Zoom, but we’re getting there) one day and the next taking a philosophical module aimed at preparing me for graduation and employment.

Yes, it feels like a weird alternate universe, but it’s an easy year compared to earlier years when I had to do the advanced film making. And podcasting. Life is still busy, full of pleasant people and interesting things to learn. My thesis website work is prospering.


I am getting my daily walk or two walks. After my assignments are all submitted the restrictions should be eased, and my husband and I can go out a bit further than at present.
The weather has picked up, the flowers are bursting forth and birds are singing mightily. Any time the sun shone, I downed tools in the house and went out to take photos in the park. The next day and week, clouds and rain would dominate, but I had my images for my project.

Editing the Inside DBS blog, I have the great good fortune to have a co-worker who organised a co-operation with the DBS Language Exchange Society. Loreto Magaña has been interviewing one member at a time and sending me their written interviews and photos which are almost drop-in ready. Not only that but she then publicises the published articles. I get to learn about language and cultural exchange from some of the great students from Mexico, Germany, Ireland, Turkey and Brazil to date. Why not check the articles out today.

https://insidedbs.wordpress.com/2021/...

No time for writing books I am afraid, but I have ideas stored up and look forward to returning to fiction over summer. At present the book reviews are also piling up, but lately I did read a few nice ones, some for Fresh Fiction.



I spotted the offer of free seed kits from libraries in Ireland and a garden store chain in America, so either take advantage or make the effort to buy some seeds or young plants and get started on growing something. Nothing beats watching your food grow, or your flowers bloom to delight your room. My various amaryllis bulbs have been producing flowers at different times, a really cheerful way to colour our home.

This month I am making Dining Out Around The Solar System Part One free from April 8 – 12.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SONOGF0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SONOGF0

Anyone not in the UK or US stores should click the US link and they will be brought to Amazon.com which will offer to take them to their nearest store.

All my books are in the Kindle Unlimited programme. If you enjoy a book please leave a review, which helps other readers.

Follow my published articles on Inside DBS, Medium or my JournoPortfolio page – a site I highly recommend. I recently wrote up an article about how to cover an international conference over Zoom.
https://clareobeara.journoportfolio.com/

Watch my book trailers for my science fiction series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GadPp...

Visit my website:
www.clareobeara.ie

for news, puzzles, books, reviews and events.

We have created a new page for Young Adult readers. This contains plenty of horses and dogs! You can find my podcasts about Octocon on the News and Events page. I provide a Writers’ Page giving tips about how to be an independent publisher. I am also adding book covers to Pinterest boards after I review the books, so feel free to find me on Pinterest.