Shoreline Life

Cat Hellisen
March 19, 2026

Stretch your ghost wings and scream

Notes From Portugal

I’ve been away, after my friend E.M. Faulds bullied me into going on holiday. (She did not bully me, she just made me promise I would go on holiday with her once I had a British passport, and then made me stick to it.)

We ended up in Portugal, which was a brilliant choice as we went ahead of season, so it was quiet and chill, but the locals were used to stupid foreign tourists who can’t speak Portuguese and were all charming and helpful.

Also, so much of the place reminded me Cape Town crossed with Johannesburg, which helped soothe my homesickness a little.

Rio Arade

Back to the Grind

Now I’m back home and getting into a good working headspace. I have proofreads to finish on one project, the first draft of the current WiP to bang into shape, and lots of crits and slush-reading waiting for me.

I’m hoping to start back on some abandoned short stories when I return from Eastercon, but until then, my burners are all full.

Speaking of Eastercon….

I seem to be busier than usual this year. All things going to plan, I’ll be on four panels throughout the weekend, and have a reading slot.

Once everything is finalised, I’ll put in dates and times, and quick run down of the panels, but so far the panels are all looking very cool, and I need to organise my thoughts in readiness for each one.

My brain has a tendency to just blank out under pressure, so I need to write down all the authors and recs I want to mention. Otherwise I’m gonna sit there like a goldfish.

2025 Works Eligible for Nomination

There are still a few nomination lists floating about (I think), so if you’re able to and want to nominate any of my work, here’s a super handy and short list.

What I’m Reading

I finished Louis Greenberg’s near-future crime-horror novel Green Valley while lazing in the sun, and now I’m reading the climate SF lit novel The Coral Bones by E. J. Swift.

Until next time,