Hibernation in Donegal and Berlin in order to write novels has turned me into a hedgehog – mostly out of sight; slow to move; and quick to prickle-up. The imminent publication of my first novel, “Bone and Blood” makes me nervous of the social media highways, where I feel flattened by quantities of fast-moving posts, photos, videos,news, commentaries, advice, requests, advertising. Yet I have really appreciated all the messages of support coming into my mailbox from old friends. In order to cope with the demands of publication, I plan to find the squirrel I once was – moving so fast from branch to branch that it was hard to keep sight of me! “Gulp and go for it,” I tell myself as I prepare for 25th October 2014 and the launch of “Bone and Blood” in Berlin – see events.