11 Monday Jan 2021
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On 4th February I am taking part in an online event (on Zoom) organised by Northumberland Libraries. I’ll be talking about my books, my inspiration, my writing processes and my latest and forthcoming novels.
To join me (and please do!) click the link here to register. It’s all free!
01 Friday Jan 2021
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And good riddance to 2020. I think we are all hoping that this year will be a little better.
At this time of year I always write a blog post looking back on the year and setting out some aims for the year ahead. I considered not doing it this year, as no one really wants to look back on 2020 do they? But I think I’ll stick to my tradition. There have (for me) been a few good things in the year.
Last year, none of us could have foreseen what was ahead. I envisaged another year like 2019 for me – lots of travelling and writing, but slow progress on thinning down house contents ready to move. That’s reflected in last year’s resolutions. Here they are:
Looking ahead, of course the one thing 2020 showed us is that life is never certain. It’s hard to plan in detail, when we don’t know how this pandemic will pan out. And Brexit means our travel plans are not as achievable as they were, now that I’m no longer an EU citizen (although my Irish husband still is). But here’s what I hope to do in 2021:
Thanks to all my readers for your support, and I hope the year was kind to you. Best wishes for 2021.
11 Wednesday Nov 2020
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Delighted to announce that The Forgotten Gift has now been published as an ebook. Paperback and audiobook to follow in January.
It’s been receiving some lovely early reviews on Netgalley, including one that said: “The queen of dual timelines has done it again!” – makes me giggle every time I read that sentence, but I am delighted with it.
The blog tour has begun – links to all reviews will be added to the book’s page on this blog as they come in. Thank you to all bloggers for taking part, and to Rachel for her fabulous organisational skills!
Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon US
23 Friday Oct 2020
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With less than three weeks to go until publication date for The Forgotten Gift, it’s time to get going with a bit of promotion for it. There’s to be a full blog tour starting on publication date – 11th November, and here are the blogs involved and the dates. I’ll post links to all of them on the Forgotten Gift page on this website.
There’s been a few lovely reviews posted on Netgalley or Goodreads, including one that calls me “the queen of dual timelines”!! I keep giggling about that one.
And the first blog review is from wonderful Cindy Spear – you can read that here. She also interviewed me for her blog, and that’s here. Thanks so much to Cindy for all her support.
Meanwhile, I have more or less completed a set of edits for the book after this one, and begun writing another. There’s no rest!
10 Thursday Sep 2020
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A couple of weeks ago, my back list titles were all published as audio books. To celebrate, my publisher asked me to record a minute for each book, of myself talking about the inspiration behind each one. Those videos have all been uploaded to Instagram, and you can watch them via the HQStories channel, linked here.
It was a pretty excruciating experience getting those done, I can tell you! My drama student son helped, and it took us ages getting the lighting right, and the camera (phone) angle right, so the bags under my eyes didn’t look too bad. And then I kept stumbling over the words, or speaking as though I was ‘dead inside,’ as my son kept telling me. We had to do about 20 takes for one book. I have a newfound respect for all actors, presenters, radio and TV hosts. Words are far easier to write than to speak, I think!
Anyway, here are the links to the individual clips, saved here so they’re easier to find in case anyone ever wants a giggle.
02 Thursday Jul 2020
Posted in Books, Uncategorized
Yesterday as part of the One More Chapter book club I was ‘live’ on Facebook along with editor Mel and author Adrienne Chinn. We were talking about our latest books. Adrienne’s is also dual timeline, like mine.
We had a lot of fun, and the video is available to watch on FB here.
Also – for the month of July – my latest novel The Secret of the Château is on promotion at just 99p for the ebook on Amazon UK! The paperback and audio versions of the book will be released later this month.
I handed a revised version of my 10th novel to my editor last week – hope to soon bring you news of its title, cover, blurb etc – I love announcing new books!
And today I’m going back to my 11th novel. I have written a very rough first draft, and now I need to turn it into something readable!
16 Tuesday Jun 2020
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Last week I took part in a radio show called Outer Limits, on Swindon 105.5. It was a pre-recorded show which I was glad of – gave my lovely hosts Peggy and Chloe the chance to edit it if necessary! The show is now available on demand for the next month – click here and scroll down to the Outer Limits show recorded on 10th June.
Peggy & Chloe from Outer Limits
In it I talk about several of my novels, how I got started in writing, why I write dual timeline and more. Enjoy listening!
07 Sunday Jun 2020
Posted in Books, Uncategorized
A few weeks ago I was interviewed by the lovely Jenny Wheeler for a podcast – that is a first time for me. She’s now posted it up on her website, The Joys of Binge Reading, and you can listen to it here.
In it, I chatter on about lockdown, The Secret of the Château, how I got started writing, writing while living in Gertie, The Forgotten Secret and more. There’s also a transcript for those who prefer to read rather than listen. And there’s a giveaway of copies of the ebook of The Secret of the Château!
Jenny’s is a fabulous website and she’s interviewed loads of writers. Do go and take a look around and perhaps listen to some of them!
(PS I hate the sound of my recorded voice, but I suppose that’s true for many of us!)
Also – for all readers in the US – please note The Secret of the Château is currently on sale at just 99c from Amazon for the month of June. Bargain!
14 Thursday May 2020
Posted in Books, Uncategorized
Today the blog tour for The Secret of the Château begins, brilliantly organised by Rachel. I’ll be adding links to every review on the book’s page. Can’t wait to find out what people think of this book – please do go and check out some of the reviews. Book bloggers do such a great job promoting books – I really appreciate it.
In other news, today is also publication day for the paperbacks of The Pearl Locket and The Emerald Comb. It’s so lovely to have these two available in hard copy. They were my first book contract, and I was asked many times by readers if they were ever going to be published as paperbacks, and always had to reply that it was up to my publisher. I was delighted when they told me that they’d chosen these to go into paperback.
Not only that, but later this year all my older books will be published in audio format! It is all happening.
03 Sunday May 2020
Posted in Books, Uncategorized
Or was April actually about six months long? It was shorter than March, anyway (or felt like it).
I have news this month – on 15th May my latest book, The Secret of the Château, will be released in ebook format. I’m really looking forward to seeing what people think of this one! It’s set mostly in France, as the title implies, and the historical parts are set during the French revolution. Had to do plenty of research for this one!
Also being released on 14th May are the paperbacks for my first two dual timeline novels – The Emerald Comb and The Pearl Locket. I have been asked so many times whether these will ever be available as paperbacks so it is very pleasing that they soon will be.
In other news, I recently signed a contract for audio versions of all my books that aren’t already in this format! The Secret of the Château comes out in July along with the paperback, and the others (the older books, plus The Stationmaster’s Daughter) probably around August. I’m delighted that all my HQ novels will be available in all formats.
