I’m so excited to reveal the cover of Midlife Dawn, the first novel in my Druid Heir series! This beauty was designed for me by the wonderful Maria Spada. It’s going to be published on 31 October, so not long to go! Blurb Shivers of excitement shot up my spine. It was time… Read More Cover Reveal, MIDLIFE DAWN (DRUID HEIR BOOK 1)
I’m so excited to share my secret project with you. During the pandemic I decided to write something lighter. Fantasy is a natural fit. I wanted to write something where the heroine is saving the world, not just surviving it. That’s when I discovered Paranormal Women’s Fiction. It’s a cross of urban fantasy, mystery… Read More Secret Project Reveal: Druid Heir Series
I have a wonderful guest to introduce to you for In the Armchair. L. Spooner just completed work on the audiobook for my second literary fiction novel, Hidden Colours. It’s a circus novel set in Berlin, with a wide cast of diverse characters and when I read about L. Spooner’s acting background and heard their… Read More In the Armchair: Audiobook Narrator L. Spooner
I’m thrilled to tell you that the audiobook of my literary fiction novel Hidden Colours, narrated by L. Spooner, has been released on Audible. This version has been a long time coming and it means a lot to me for the novel to get a second life this way. This story has my heart. It’s your chance to… Read More Release Day: Hidden Colours Audio Book
Our littlest has always been an early riser. Of our three children, he took the longest to sleep through the night. Even now, after a day at nursery, he needs body contact. He’ll run to our legs, cling on and laugh when we try and shake him off, squeeze us fiercely. Most mornings he leaps into… Read More Finding his Wings
Happy International Women’s Day to you and to all the wonderful women in our lives: the ones who we learn from, dance with, who stand by us every day, whom we admire from afar and whose shoulders we cry on. This is a poem I wrote for IWD21. Word of warning about the profanity in it…… Read More Sticks and Stones: A New Poem for International Women’s Day 2021
I’m 39 years old and I’m sensitive. It’s a quality that I’ve been aware of most of my life and one my parents often thought of as a flaw. To some, sensitive often means over-sensitive. It means we need to toughen up. To protect ourselves from waves of emotion. Feeling too much can complicate relationships… Read More On Emotional Range During the Pandemic
My mind is foggy. I finally found the time to unravel my thoughts here at the computer, where the rhythm of the keyboard helps me think. Home-learning started again today. I put the edits for my next book aside and helped our 8 year old with his lessons. Tomorrow, our 11 year old’s home-learning starts,… Read More Forced Change and New Year’s Wishes
This week, I missed my grandmother’s touch. I didn’t hug my mum or kiss my dad’s cheek. I didn’t invite my auntie to come in for a cup of tea. I didn’t lean in to touch a friend who is hurting. I didn’t visit grieving family friends. Have we ever needed the solace of touch… Read More On the Loss of Touch
Six months since I was last at my desk in a quiet house. Six months since the pandemic drove the world to close borders and ground planes and shut people in their homes. Six months during which close to a million people globally have died from coronavirus. And now, in England, a tightening of lockdown… Read More The Lost Months
I’m sitting here in our library, with the clothes dryer whirring next to me. This room is no longer the domain of the kids’ toys and our books. It’s a temporary kitchen now, too, during lockdown, while our building work has been paused. We could have moved the books upstairs but this room would have… Read More Isolation and Writing
I have someone special to introduce to you for today’s instalment of In the Armchair. Reena and I have been online friends for a few years. I came to know her mostly through the brilliant short fiction she shares on Twitter. She’s one of those people whose timeline is filled with honesty and beauty. Twitter… Read More In the Armchair: Reena Dobson
We’re completing the third week of lockdown in England due to Covid-19. Historians suggest we jot down our thoughts during this time for future generations. This is a letter to myself. How quickly this new normality descended. How suddenly cities quietened: trains empty, playgrounds taped off, motorways deserted, tourist spots barren, churches shut, flights grounded,… Read More Lockdown
I’m so excited to tell you that the audiobook of my novel All the Tomorrows, narrated by Daki De Alwis, has been released on Audible. Daki has a voice like melted chocolate and I can’t wait to see what you think. There’s a sample on the Audible site. Here’s the blurb for those of you who need a reminder:… Read More Audiobook Release: All the Tomorrows
Susan Kaye Quinn–all-round superstar, speculative fiction writer and scientist–often inspires me with her Facebook posts. She recently shared the writing tools she uses, which prompted me to update an old post of mine. I hope you’ll find some new and useful tools here. Please share in the comments any tools you use to make your writing… Read More My Favourite Writing Tools
Happy new year to you all! I hope the coming decade is kind to you: that you grow wiser and softer, that you enjoy good health, long walks and wonderful books, that joy and comfort never leave your side, that long-buried dreams find the light and you always find your way through storms. If you… Read More My Wishes for You
For the latest instalment of In the Armchair, I’m thrilled to welcome Bianca Bowers, who is here to talk about her novel Cape of Storms. I learn from Bianca all the time. She is fierce, passionate and warm. Her poetry is exquisite and so are her stories. ‘They would debate every subject under the infinite karoo… Read More In the Armchair: Bianca Bowers
Do you remember that classic answer to the interview question: what is your biggest flaw? The answer that still does the rounds and is intended to impress: I’m a perfectionist. Although, perfection is not a goal I chase nowadays. It has taken years to understand that perfection takes a toll. It breaks backs and spirits.… Read More In Pursuit of Perfection
I’m sitting here in my kitchen, with my socked feet on cold tiles. We removed the rug because of our newest arrival. Outside, a lawnmower is running, although the grass is damp from autumn mists. The leaves are turning amber and burnt orange but our pup hasn’t discovered outside yet, apart from in my arms.… Read More A Puppy Brings Mayhem aka Balance in Life
As part of my In the Armchair series, I’d like to welcome Daryl Rothman to the blog. Shakes imaginary pompoms and does a back flip. Daryl and I met during my early days on Twitter when we moved in the same writer circles. It must have been about 2012. He’s one of those wonderful internet… Read More In the Armchair: Daryl Rothman