One Fine Day turns Ten

My Facebook timeline/memories, whatever you want to call it, reminded me yesterday that One Fine Day turned ten! 

It was published on the 8th January 2015 in eBook. The paperback came out a little later. 

I can't believe it's been ten years since my second novel was published. How crazy is that? 

I love all of the books that I've written as the heroes all have a place in my heart. 

Yes, I know, generally I'm writing about the heroine, but the hero is the one who first influences the story for me usually! 

One Fine Day was definitely inspired by the hero... At the time of writing, I was a massive fan of Bradley Cooper, (still am) so he became my muse for Steve Mason in One Fine Day. (What's not to love about Bradley Cooper, right?) 

And this book differs from all my others, as it is dominantly in the point of view of the hero. The first chapters are from Steve's head. To balance it out, I had the point of view of his sister, Ruby, who was equally fun to write. You'll get to learn from the heroine a little later on in the book. 

I'm also a massive Superman fan, so I really liked the idea of Steve donning the mediocre man (Clark Kent) disguise, hiding away his Hollywood A-Lister persona. 

It's now sold over 20,000 ebooks - so have you read it? Did you enjoy it? 

Anyway, here's the blurb: 

Just a boy standing in front of a girl…

Actor Steve Mason has it all … gorgeous looks, the perfect starlet girlfriend hanging on his arm and his name on every Hollywood producer’s lips. That is, until it turns out the ‘perfect girl’ is actually a perfect PR stunt! Dumped and with his name plastered across every tabloid headline, Steve decides to head home to England, questioning if he’ll ever find a woman who genuinely loves him for who he is, and not just his place on the Sexiest Man Alive list.

It’s been fifteen long years since Ruby last saw her big brother – but the new LA version of Steve complete with designer wardrobe, California tan and an American accent is too much to bear – Ruby hardly recognises him and decides it’s time to get her brother back!

With Ruby’s help, Steve goes undercover as he plays the part of a regular guy who leads a regular life. And then one perfectly fine, ordinary day he meets lovely, funny, down-to-earth Lydia. But when Hollywood comes calling, will Steve be able to leave both Lydia and his little sister behind?

And if you haven't read it, here's the link to Amazon (but it is available in all good ebook sellers or in paperback.)

No Longer A Teenager

So where have the last 20 years gone? My boy has gone from baby to adult, what feels like very quickly. No longer a teenager! 

Now working as a Construction Engineer apprentice - all that lego building has paid off. 

Happy 20th Birthday, Ben! 

Keep being you... but if you could just tidy your bedroom more that would be great...  

Love you, always, even when I'm grumpy, Mum x x x 

Firmly In My Fifties

It was my birthday at the weekend, and I went for a National Trust adventure at Stourhead. 

I had been toying with getting a bus into Bristol for some day drinking, and being home by 8pm and in bed ha ha! 

However, we opted for some exercise and fresh air, as only the middle-aged will appreciate. 

Therefore, my birthday involved plenty of walking with a cream tea for lunch. Perfect. 

I went with one of my friends who I've been visiting a lot of National Trust places with this year.

For the middle of October we were very lucky with the weather, it only got a little chilly when the sun went in. But we were starting to see the changes in the trees, and what I love about National Trust is they'll always have a good display on. Everywhere we went there were pumpkins and the reminder of Autumn. 

Then, in the evening we went out with the 'kids' - who are not so small now at 17 & 19 - for dinner, and a well deserved bottle of pink prosecco - or two! 

Thanks to everyone who sent cards, gifts, and messages. All very appreciated 😍

I know I've been quiet on the blogging front, but I've been working on my next novel, editing and polishing to resubmit to a publisher, and submit to some agents... Wish me luck! 

My Kittiwake Cove

I'm back from my holiday and the out of office is off! 

I've been visiting Polzeath, North Cornwall for twenty years - I was pregnant with my first son the first summer we visited this idyllic place. 

Polzeath hosts a great surfing beach, and where we stay, we don't even have to move the car. We just walk there.

We've seen some changes as it's certainly got a little more commercialised over the years. 

But what doesn't change is the landscape!

I'm so lucky that Cornwall is only a couple of hours away - if the M5 isn't rammed! 

Polzeath became my inspiration for Tinners Bay, when I took Sophie and Adam there in Plus One is a Lucky Number. And I liked writing it so much, and my editor wanted me to go back to Cornwall, that I set Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage there, too. 

Then, in writing a new series, my agent recommended I changed the name, and Polzeath aka Tinners Bay became Kittiwake Cove for what I like to call my Kittiwake Cove series. - which in hindsight is a much more romantic name! 

I chose Kittiwake in my love for birds and with a google of Cornish seabirds, Kittiwake came up! Oystercatcher had already been used by another romantic novelist, and is the name of a pub in Polzeath, which I've renamed The Cormorant.

I hope to return to my Kittiwake Cove next year, but with the boys older, it might be a holiday I take on my own.  

Why Do We Feel Guilty?

Yesterday, I took the day off to spend some quality time with one of my friends to celebrate her birthday (which is actually today!)

I let my friend decide what we would do - it was her birthday after all! 

Our day was spent walking around Clifton and the Downs, with garden centre visits and charity shop mooches along the way. It was thoroughly relaxing and a great day out - despite the weather. 

(The weather is another subject - hot one minute, cold the next!)  

However, in the morning, getting ready for my day out, and deciding what to wear as no idea what the weather was going to bring, the guilt I felt for not writing, or working my business fell heavy on my chest. 

That feeling that I should be doing "something" weighed me down.

Is this a writer thing? Or a business owner thing? Or is it a mum thing? Or even a woman thing?

Or is it just me? 

We are allowed the day off, right? Why do we put this guilt on ourselves?

And in the end, walking around Clifton was hugely inspirational for my books, so I could chalk it up to doing some research! It was where I based One Fine Day, and will feature the sequel (when I finish writing it.) 

And my favourite part of the day, other than the carrot cake, was spotting Gromit on the balcony of a house.