I have to say, I am extremely happy that it’s publication day for Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay! The main reason is that the first draft was so hard to write and ultimately, a bit pants, but thanks to my fab editor at HQ Digital, Sarah Goodey, it’s become one of the books I am most proud of. I absolutely love this story now and it’s all because of Sarah’s amazing editorial advice. Some...
It’s cover reveal day for Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay, the third and final book in the Swallowtail Bay series! I’ll be so sad to say goodbye to these characters and the lovely town of Swallowtail Bay,, but we get to visit one more time for some fabulous festive fun! If you’ve enjoyed Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay and can’t wait for Summer Strawberries, then I hope...
Escape to Cornwall with this gorgeous new series from Phillipa Ashley – perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Trisha Ashley Summer is on the horizon, and the people of Porthmellow are eagerly awaiting the annual food festival. At least, most of them are… For Sam Lovell, organising the summer festival in her hometown is one of the highlights of her year. It’s not always smooth sailing, but she...
One writerly question, one answer, one minute to read! Here we go… My story just isn’t working! Should I shelve it? I don’t know of any writer who hasn’t struggled with a story (or every story in one way or another!), but sometimes no matter how hard you try, you just can’t make a story work. Shelving a manuscript is a difficult decision. After all, you’ve put in a ton of work on it and...
It’s time to ask the editor! I’ve compiled a list of questions and the lovely Abigail Fenton, Editorial Director at HarperCollins, HQ Digital, has answered them. Read on to find out more about the work of, and some top tips, from one of the best editors in the business! Today’s question is all about social media. How powerful is social media for publishers these days? Abi says: Hugely. It means...
Is there anything better than sitting in the sunshine reading a good book? Answer: hell no! If you’re not sure what’s coming out or what you might fancy for your sun-lounger downtime, read on to see my top recommendations for this summer! Passing Fancies Passing Fancies (A Julia Kydd Novel Book 2) Marlowe Benn 2 June 2020 Julia Kydd returns in a new mystery set in the beguiling world of the...
A room with a view… to murder. June 1933. Kitty Underhay is a modern, independent woman from the top of her shingle bob to the tip of her t-strap heels. She prides herself on the reputation of her family’s ancient hotel on the blustery English coast. But then a body is found, rooms are ransacked and rumours begin to circulate that someone is on the hunt for a valuable stolen ruby – a ruby that...
I don’t know if you’ve seen the announcement on Twitter and Facebook, but I’m really excited to say that as well as writing romance, I’m branching out into cozy mysteries! Don’t worry, it won’t get confusing because I’ll be writing under the pen name K E Coburn. You see, I’ve always loved cozy crime and I’m a bit mad for the 1950s, so I thought I’d combine my two loves and start a historical cozy...
I love a paperback publication day! There’s nothing better than actually holding a copy of a book in your hands, especially your own. Though today is a bit of weird one with all the Coronavirus stuff going on. It feels somewhat sad too but I think it’s important at the moment to celebrate the things you can. So, I’m celebrating today with some bubbles and a little cake! Thank you to...
One writerly question, one answer, one minute to read! Here we go… Do I need a social media platform? My personal opinion is a big fat ‘Yes!’ but maybe not for the reason’s you might think. We often read that agents and publishers want you active on social media, but that isn’t always true. If you hate it, are you going to give it the time and energy it needs? Because, trust me, it can take...
It’s time to ask the editor! I’ve compiled a list of questions and the lovely Abigail Fenton, Editorial Director at HarperCollins, HQ Digital, has answered them. Read on to find out more about the work of, and some top tips, from one of the best editors in the business! What can/should authors expect from their editors? Honest, constructive feedback – any suggestion an editor makes is because...
I was so sad at the very end of last year when I learned of the death of one of my favourite writers of all time, MC Beaton. I absolutely loved all her novels from the Regency romances to her cosy mystery series featuring Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin. One of my favourite things about her (apart from her amazing plots, superb use of the English language, wry humour, and fantastic dialogue) was...
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!