How To Make An Author Happy

Seriously, the amount of emails I'm receiving from book reviewers, book clubs or book marketers etc about promoting my book(s). And it's got worse as most are now generated by AI.

If I thought for one instant it would boost my book sales... but sadly it just lines their pockets, not mine!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Readers are authors book reviewers. No author should pay for their book to be reviewed!

So if you do read a book, and you enjoy it, please leave a review.

It doesn't have to be war and peace. Just say in one or two sentences why you enjoyed it. And ideally leave it where you bought the book and maybe on Goodreads if you have an account.

If you hated it - you are only allowed to tell the author if they're filthy rich, famous or dead (ha ha!)

The Neighbour on Post Office Lane is out in paperback and eBook on 30 August 2026 - available to pre-order the eBook here: https://amzn.to/45GNJro

First Post Of The Year

This is a bit late to be talking New Year resolutions and all that malarky, especially if you set one, you've probably already given it up. Apparently that happened on the 9th January. 

I don't make New Year resolutions but I am trying to clear out the old, declutter, and work a little harder on me. I want to walk more, too. 

I'm looking to change my job (within the company, rather than leave) - this is where I trade hours for money and isn't really my career. I want a book published and will follow through with Plan B to self-publish if that's what it takes. And I want to build my UW business - because that offers me the time freedom then to write more. Win Win. 

I also need to blog more, don't I?

Anyway, a little late to the party, but if you're reading this, I do wish you a very happy and healthy New Year. What are your aims and goals for 2026? 

But remember you make your own happiness. Do not rely on other people to do this for you. You're responsible for You. Make it happen. Let 2026 be your year!

I'm in the business of offering people an option, it could even be the solution. I joined UW's Team Purple and it's the best thing I could have done! I make it easier, simpler and cheaper for people and get paid doing it. Leave a comment if this sounds like something you would like to learn more about. 

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! 

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. 

A Doubt In My Storytelling

I went to Telford the other weekend for a company event with UW. 

UW is a FTSE250 company and as a partner I help people save money on their bills, and it helps me earn an additional income, so I have the time freedom to write. 

I was with my friend and mentor, Sue, who introduced me to the business just under four years ago. She is also an avid and prolific reader - in that she prefers a physical book, not an eBook. Her favourite books are the Outlander series. (She was reading them before the series.) She also likes prosecco so this could be why we get on so well. 

If we're not discussing UW, we are talking books whilst sharing a bottle of prosecco! 

Anyway, she'd read Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage, then Plus One is a Lucky Number - I had gifted her a copy of my paperback in the old cover. 

She said that she found Plus One easier to get into than Maeve Binchey's Circle of Friends! After finishing Plus One she asked me which one should she read next, so I said One Fine Day. 

On Sunday, before the event truly started, while we perused the stalls and grabbed a coffee, she told me she'd finished One Fine Day in four days on her trip to/from Brussels. She loved it and couldn't put it down. Incidentally, she loved the other two books too, and she admitted that the romance genre wouldn't be her usual go to, but she had thoroughly enjoyed my books. 

The reason I'm sharing this is because I have been doubting my storytelling. With rejections for my latest manuscript, where I was hoping it would find a home with a bigger publisher, I've been wondering if I need to rethink my stories, even the genre I write in. 

However, on Sunday, as we were empowered and inspired by brilliant stories from ordinary people, I made the decision that I will continue with romance. I write a damn good story! I just need to find the right publisher. 

I do worry I don't write a strong enough conflict, but if truth be told, when I'm reading a story and it just feels so unbelievable, I can find myself rolling my eyes. So, I write stories that my reader can get invested in, believe, and most importantly, the hero is someone they could meet and fall in love with.

If you've read any of my books, and enjoyed them, please ensure you leave a review where you purchased the book from. This really does help the author. 

Obviously, if you hated it - and you're within your rights to feel that way, I'm not everyone's cup of tea - I'd rather not know...