Welcome to one of my new features for 2020…One Minute Wonder! One writerly question, one answer, one minute to read! This month’s question is…should you try creative writing in 2020? If your answer to this is, ‘I’d love to but I’m just no good,’ then you should definitely try creative writing! And if you ever imagine yourself writing then it’s time you gave it a go. But how? There are...
There’s always something special about the end of the year and the promise of the one to come, but this year it feels particularly important and even a bit strange as it’s the end of a decade. I don’t know why but I feel like there’s an unnamed pressure to make bigger and better promises, to achieve more over the next twelve months, and to break all those bad habits I’ve resolved but failed to...
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed writing this blog post! Christmas shopping is just the best and I absolutely love it! So when I had the idea to include a list of last minute gift ideas, sitting on the sofa with my laptop open, watching Christmas movies and thinking of last minute presents wasn’t exactly a hardship! Take a look through and hopefully there’ll be something for the that one...
You guys know by now how much I love gin and how much I love Christmas, so of course, I need a Christmas gin recipe! This one is one of my favourites because you can use vodka if you prefer, and you can use pretty much any fruit. I really like using pears because I think they give a fab base sweetness, but you could use apples or nothing at all. Here’s my recipe, but please do play around! You’ll...
As a lot of this blog is about writing, I wanted to write a regular article on my favourite forgotten words. You know the type of thing, those poor lost words that sit at the back of our minds, gathering dust, having been discovered years ago in literary classics like Dickens, or Austen. They are the spices of the literary world, but I refuse to let them sit in a cupboard and be ignored until...
Today I’m excited to welcome the charming Claire Whitmore to the blog talking about her debut novel. Hi Claire, tell me a bit about you and your journey to publication. My journey to publication has been a long one, not in the sense that I have been at it for years and years in a public way, but more like writing has always been the one true constant in my life since as early as I can...
It’s author interview time! I’m joined by Indie author, Val Collins, writer of psychological thrillers. Hi Val, tell me a bit about you and your latest work. I’m Val. I’m the author of ‘Girl Targeted’, a psychological thriller set in Ireland. I plan to publish my second thriller in February. I was born in Ireland and have lived here all my life. Both my books are set here. I started my working...
If you hadn’t already guessed, I absolutely love Christmas, so I start my Christmas reading pretty early. Given that there are so many fabulous festive books out this year, I thought I’d give a shout out to some of the ones I’m looking forward to reading most. Heidi Swain – The Christmas Wish List After being let go from her job in a swanky hotel just weeks before Christmas, Hattie is feeling...
I’m so excited that it’s paperback publication day for Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage! I don’t know about you, but there is something about a festive read that makes me want to have a paperback copy, rather than read it on a Kindle (though if you’re in the US it is only 99c for the ebook at the time of writing.this!) I’m celebrating with a glass of prosecco and a little cake and I can’t wait to...
Whether the revisions you’re faced with are enormous and terrifying, or small and terrifying, the fact is as soon as you get the email you’re still terrified! Self-doubt comes flooding back and you feel like you can’t do anything, and there’s always a moment of “D’uh! Why didn’t I do that to start with!” As I’ve just finished the first round of edits for book 4, I thought I’d share some hints and...
Soon to be divorced Julia South never expected to be caught up in solving a murder, until she discovered the body of her cafe’s most awkward customer. With a new smug Detective Inspector in town who underestimates her every move, Julia makes it her mission to discover the real murderer, before her village friends are dragged into the frame, and more bodies are discovered. I love a cosy...
As a lot of this blog is about writing, I wanted to write a regular article on my favourite forgotten words. You know the type of thing, those poor lost words that sit at the back of our minds, gathering dust, having been discovered years ago in literary classics like Dickens, or Austen. They are the spices of the literary world, but I refuse to let them sit in a cupboard and be ignored until...
The first thing you need to know about me is, I like gin. Lots and lots of gin.
I live in the South East of England in a lovely little town by the sea and spend my time working, running around after my kids, walking our King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit, and writing!
I love history and have a Master’s degree, but have also been lucky enough to work in various castles and museums over the years. I’ve yet to get one of them into a story though – I really must try harder!