10 Years Published

On Tuesday, I celebrated ten years published as an author. 

Plus One is a Lucky Number, my debut novel, was published on the 29th August 2013.

Can you believe that's ten years and how they've flown! 

I can remember the day the email dropped into my inbox by HarperCollins' imprint One More Chapter (HarperImpulse back then) and offered me a two book deal. It was a good job I was sitting down! 

I now have six books traditionally published, 3 of which are in Audible.

I'm a bit slower than some of my author colleagues but as we say in UW and the personal development that I do, don't compare your journey to others.

Rachel Brimble & Jane Lark

We are all in our own race - if you want to call it that.

Anyway, a massive thank you to all the lovely ladies who could join me on Tuesday. And to those that sent messages. I knew not everyone could come as it was a work day. 

Unfortunately we couldn't go out in the garden as hoped, due to the great British weather. 

It's glorious sunshine today and over 23 degrees.... Of course, the schools go back tomorrow. 

Anyway, here are a couple of photos from the day! But if you head over to my Facebook page, you'll see more. 

Hello Autumn

 

Here we are, September already drawing to a close, and I've realised, yet again, I haven't blogged in a while.

It doesn't help that I'm sending out a newsletter every month now, in the hope for more subscriptions and more readers. Does this mean blogging is a thing of the past?

To be honest, I think I prefer to blog... 

Since the kids have been back at school, (YAY) I've been juggling a lot of things and so maybe my lack of blogging can be forgiven. 

As well has going to work work (as I call it - which is the Post Office, where I have to turn up or I'll not get paid), I've also got a 3-book contract to adhere to, I'm doing a few hours a week for a local business, and I'm actually trying to start up something new myself, in the hope it will become my much more rewarding job that allows me to stay home and write. The alternative is a full time job, which would mean my writing dream pushed further back. (productivity will be much slower!) On the days I work at the Post Office, my brain can't focus on writing, so I hate to think what a full time job would do to my inspiration.

Add running around after two teenage boys to the list too! I appear to be juggling a lot of balls at the moment, and this Covid-19 era is also a stressful time. 

I will admit I love the summer. I love the long, lighter days, and the warmer weather. I prefer flipflops to boots and shorts to jeans. However, next month is my birthday month, and I have a few dates with friends in the diary to look forward to. So Autumn isn't all bad.

I don't want to think about Christmas (especially as I work in a Post Office) so I'll take one month at a time. What about you? 

If you'd like to read last month's newsletter, click here.  I announced the winner of my competition! The next one should be out early October - if I get my act together. (Did I not mention I'm very busy at the moment?)

July's News...

Hey, if you haven't seen it or you haven't subscribed yet, July's newsletter went out last week... or was it the week before? 

Anyway, there's a competition to win a signed paperback of Plus One is a Lucky Number but only to subscribers! 

Click here to read! 

3-Book Contract With Sapere Books

I've had to keep this a secret for a couple of weeks now, and hold in all my excitement by sitting on my hands, and not posting on social media.

But yes, finally I can reveal why I was drinking Champagne at the weekend!

I've signed a 3 book contract with Sapere Books!

Mega EXCITEMENT!

And I'd been saving this bottle for a long time! I have been dying to open it - let me tell you!

It's been three years since I last had a book published and I was starting to doubt myself and my writing. This really couldn't have come at a better time for me.

I can't wait to be working with Sapere's team and starting sharing my Kittiwake Cove series.

I've found that my favourite Italian restaurant in Weston is delivering. So this weekend, I might just have to treat myself to a slap-up Italian meal! I have plenty of prosecco so I think this calls for another bottle of bubbly.

You will need to be a little patient, as the first of the Kittiwake Cove series won't be out until Spring 2021. But all good things come to those who wait, huh?

Right, I'm off, I have a book to write...

One Fine Day Too

As you may know, I'm in the middle of reading my own book One Fine Day. You may think this is a bit bonkers. Maybe it is. However, it's been such a long time since I wrote the book, let alone then got it published in 2015, that I wanted to rediscover the characters again.

I've been begged into writing Ruby's story so many times, and I've actually now come up with an idea.

If you haven't read it, Steve Mason is a Hollywood actor trying to find true love. But how will he know if the woman loves him for him, or for his Hollywood hunk status - and money!?

When he returns to Bristol with his love life in tatters, his little sister Ruby, who's not so little anymore, and much bossier than he remembered, helps him don a disguise in the hope to find his Mrs. Right.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book as I got to throw in lots of superhero references in, especially when it came to my favourite: Superman. No one guessed Clark Kent was Superman, right? So can Steve Mason hide behind the disguise of Stuart Fisher?

Anyway, Ruby didn't start out in my mind to be a huge character, but she did. And now she's going to get her story. Well, when I get around to writing it. At the moment I'm just gently chipping away at it as I do need to concentrate on my Kittiwake Cove series.

Have you read One Fine Day? Would you like to see Ruby's story? Callum and Alice are definitely going to feature, but I don't want Steve stealing the limelight so he may have brief mentions... besides, he's busy off filming his latest blockbuster!

The Positives Of Lockdown

We're in week 4 of lockdown now. This will start to become testing times for even those who have been okay with the isolation and social distancing.

It must be much harder on those who live alone. At least I have two boys and a budgie to chatter to.





And I am fortunate to be able to go to work, so at the end of a week of staying home, and only leaving my house to exercise, I do see civilisation. (I use that word loosely because some of our customers are far from civilised, and I wish they would treat retail workers with a lot more respect, but that is another blog post!)

As I writer, I'm also far from bored staying home. I can either write or read. In fact, I made a list of things I want to do, but really, I should be writing! So, I'm not sure if lockdown is giving me more time or not really.

The one true positive about this is that I do have time to cook. I enjoy cooking meals from scratch. I'm no longer trying to get one boy to football, or the other to hockey/athletics. Therefore, I can start tea when I'm ready, and if we have it at 5.30pm, 6.00pm or a bit later, it really doesn't matter.

And the boys have been involved in baking - now we have flour!









We're also getting to spend more time in the evenings together, so I've got more quality time with my boys. The only downside is we can't go on a day trip to our favourite places. But I do make us go for a walk, and we get to chat to each other while exercising, and discovering the local footpaths around our house that we wouldn't normally walk.

The Easter holidays were challenging. Finding things to do in the garden and to stretch them out, so I could get them off the PlayStation for a bit each day got trickier.

Next week it's back to the home-schooling schedule, so they'll have academic work to keep them off their screens. And I should be able to get back to the writing.

Do you have any positives to take from the lock down? If so, I'd love to hear them.

Stay safe, stay home. Please remember to minimise your visits to shops - for essentials! Plan what you need to buy. This is not a time to browse.

Also remember, reading romance is wonderful, uplifting escapism.

Teresa x x x

How To Travel Without Leaving Home

In my latest newsletter (I hope that link works!) I said I was going to blog about some book recommendations. So here is the blog post!

As we're all stuck indoors for the foreseeable future, with holidays cancelled, I thought I'd recommend some of my favourite books and authors so that you could travel without leaving home.

We've been incredibly lucky for this lockdown so far, with the weather being very fair to us. It's almost as if Mother Nature knew, chucked as much rain at us as possible, and now is giving us a breather because she knows how much we need our gardens (if we're lucky enough to have one).

So grab your kindle or ereader, because downloading ebooks currently is the quickest way to get a book delivered, and there's no fear of any contamination and catching the virus.

Firstly, you could escape to Italy with Sue Moorcroft's One Summer In Italy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me want to drink cold, crisp glasses of white wine while I read it too.

Or you could travel to Greece with Mandy Baggot's My Greek Island Summer.  This is Mandy's latest novel, so I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it will be just as wonderful as her other books. And I just know Greece is her favourite place to be!

If you don't fancy going so far afield, and Cornwall is your thing, Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage turned three recently! It'll give you sun, sea and surf, and a dashing hero in the name of Harry Tudor.

Then, there's Fay Keenan's latest novel, The Weekender, which is set in rural Somerset. This book will allow you soak up the Mendips whilst sipping your favourite cider!

These should do you for now. And the best thing about all of these books - they are ALL are available in Kindle Unlimited!

I'll think of some more favourites and will post them in another blog post.

Romance offers great, uplifting escapism, which we all need right now on our need to social distance.

Stay home, stay safe, everyone. And keep reading!

Teresa x x x

p.s. I have given links to Amazon UK. However, please *search* the relevant author if you wish to purchase via other means. And if you love their book, please remember to leave them a review. They would love to hear from you.

World Book Day 2020

Happy World Book Day!

What are you reading? And where do you love reading? Bath, beach, by the pool or on the train to work? Or last thing at night, tucked up in bed? 

Or, what are you writing? 

Without authors there would not be books! We provide escapism, other worlds to explore, other lives to live. We enable adventures, reveal secrets, create suspense, and characters to fall in love with. We can even help shed a tear - of laughter or sadness. We evoke emotions.

Do you remember the first book that made you cry? 

Do you remember the first book that made you laugh out loud - in public? 

If you're fed up with this rain - will it ever stop? Should we build a boat? - and looking for a summery read, both Plus One is a Lucky Number and Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage are available in Kindle Unlimited. Just saying. 

Happy reading and/or writing! 

11th Day of Birthday

On the eleventh day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Tom Hiddleston

I would love to meet this guy in the flesh! My obsession started when I saw a YouTube video of him dancing, and it was instant love for the man! (I then stalked more YouTube videos of this man!) Nothing sexier than a man who can dance - in my opinion anyway.

Brilliant actor, fun guy (or at least he comes across that way). Blue eyes and blond hair! Love love love!

I have a Pinterest Board just for this guy too! He's on my inspirational hero list for writing.

10th Day of Birthday

On the tenth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Fiat 500

I swear, I need David Beckham's garage. There are too many cars I'd like to collect. One day, when I no longer need to take the kids on holiday to Cornwall, I want a Fiat 500. New model obviously. I love the powder blue, and I like the idea of a convertible!

I've actually written one into the book I'm currently writing! My heroine, Beth, drives one.

9th Day of Birthday

On the ninth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Room With A View

When I attended a writing retreat day the beginning of this year, I was able to work at a writing bureau (see photo above). It was by a window (to the left which you can't see but giving the natural light for the photo) and behind (as you can see in the photo), the door opened, to make you feel like you could be outside.

I dream of owning a house with a room I can use as my writing room, and it will have a view. The view will either be looking out to sea or the countryside. How inspiring would that be?

I also dream of owning a bureau. Every time I visit a National Trust property, I'm always admiring the writing bureaus. This one (below) is at Killerton House.

7th Day of Birthday

On the seventh day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Champagne

I do have a taste for Champagne, which I clearly can not afford. It stems from my years working for Procter and Gamble, and ordering champagne in business class flights! So yes, Champagne is definitely on my birthday wish list.

5th Day of Birthday

On the fifth day of birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Ford Ranger 

If truth be told, if I was rich enough, I'd have a garage like David Beckham's with all my favourite cars (and trucks). (I am my father's daughter!) And this would be there. More practical than the Mustang, it'll get me and the boys to Cornwall with all our holiday stuff and some! (I'd have the body cover on the back so it's like an estate car only bigger! And taller!)

4th Day of Birthday

On the fourth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me... (hope you're singing this along to the tune of the twelve days of Christmas).

The Cursed Child Theatre Tickets

My friend lent me the book which is actually a script of the story, and I would love to see this now. Only £75 a ticket, per show. Because of course there are two parts. And obviously I'd like to take my eldest so I'm looking at £300 - and I don't even know if they're good seats! 

3rd Day of Birthday

On the third day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Diamonds

Is it so wrong to want some diamond earrings?

I can't wear earrings anymore, well not cheap jewellery anyway. Gosh, and to think in my teens I wore all sorts of earrings! Now, it has to be real gold or silver, and even then, my ears may complain.

But who doesn't like diamonds?

Life's Acupuncture

With the kids off school, I've failed at writing, so today I thought I'd blog about something I've been mulling over lately.

Life isn't treating me badly in the grand scheme of things. I know I'm fortunate. I'm healthy, I've got a job (I think) and a roof over my head - although there is a leak, as water is dripping from my kitchen ceiling when the boys shower in the bathroom. I'm a published author too!

However, small things in life are niggling away at me. Little things keep going wrong. Like the leak!

A prime example is that I had my new sofa arrive yesterday. And it is LUSH. And I can't believe it fits perfectly and goes so well with the room. We can now watch the TV in comfort! And I've not parted with a penny! (I'm paying over 4 years interest free - thank you, DFS!)

However, the bench stool has a crack in the side of one of it's panels on the inside. (It has a storage compartment. In a small house it's all about storage for me.) I didn't notice it until the delivery men had left.

So it has meant getting in touch with DFS, and they're organising a new base to be made. Now it's all fine really, but it's just another niggle of life being annoying. Instead of the furniture arriving and everything is great. I've had to make a call, send off photos etc. I couldn't just receive the furniture with no problems.

And I thought the other day, all these things that seem to go wrong when I could do without it; it's like acupuncture. A needle gets twisted, causing a little pain. That's what these nuisances are.

The thing how acupuncture works is that those needles tell the body where to concentrate on the healing. So are these little pains from life, just making me stronger?

And maybe I'm noticing them because I'm stressed with the worry of making things work out. Is this all just part of the wobble?

I suppose I'd rather these little niggles, than something big going wrong in life, but sometimes it would be nice if something went right!

I Feel A Wobble Coming On

Life is good, I am happy but I am feeling a bit out of sorts. Not sure if it's the full moon, new moon, high pressure, low pressure or what, but I just have this niggle of stress going on. Anyway, I feel a wobble coming on.

It's not helping with a bad back. The exercise and the routine isn't what it should be, which I usually finds keeps any stress or depression in check.

However, I think I'm worrying about my future, especially as I've had my mortgage renewal come through. How fast another school year has passed, it won't be long before the boys are leaving, and I've got to think about my financial future. I need a job.

And I'm working on that, wanting to become a virtual assistant. But with that I am stressing too, that if I get this in motion, will I have enough time to fit it all in, from the writing, the part-time job I have to attend to give me a regular income, and actually feeding the kids and keeping the house clean. Don't get me started on epically failing on the decorating my house again this year. It's a good job my dear old Dad attends my garden.

But will this virtual assistant, as a self-employed job, be a regular enough income too?

I'm trying to be proactive, but it all feels very reactive at the moment. I don't know my future... and it's stressing me out!

Maybe at rapidly-approaching-forty-six, I thought I'd have someone to share this stress with, I wouldn't still be single, my future would be clearer. The feeling of wasting 14 months of my life on the wrong man can get me down sometimes. Even now.

I don't need a man, but one would be nice...

I suppose my biggest fear is that I may have to give up the writing. Or I won't be able to do it as often as I get to do it now. And the writing keeps me sane. It is my happy pill. But even if I get a full time job... I'm pretty sure it won't pay me enough, having been out of 'proper' work for over fifteen years.

And I don't have someone at home, bringing in the regular income. I am doing this on my own.

This is really hard.

I know money doesn't buy happiness, but it does ease financial stress.

So forgive me if I wobble.

Wisteria Season

I love this time of year. Spring bulbs and flowers, all bursting out and making us forget the winter dreariness. (I should really share the photos of our visit to Knightshayes in the Easter holidays... the flowers!)

And the birds are nesting and feeding their young like crazy. I'm such a twitcher!

I'm so excited, because for the first time this year, I have birds nesting in one of the bird boxes the gardener, aka Dad, has put in the garden. I thought it was Sparrows, but they are Great Tits. (I know, I know, the jokes I get...)

It's also that time of year again, where the Wisteria is out in full bloom. Unfortunately I don't have this growing in my garden though.

I was driving from Knaphill to Egham at the weekend, and I just wished I could have stopped the car and taken some photos of some beautiful buildings covered in Wisteria.

The flower is one of my favourite colours, and the house I grew up in was called Wisteria. Even though we didn't have the plant growing up it, I imagine once upon a time in its era, it would have done.

But its name was the inspiration behind calling the cottage in my book, Wisteria.

Anyway, this time of year reminds me Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage was launched. Two years old now... but still a great summer read.

I have 98 reviews on Amazon... could just do with a couple more!

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage:

"Picture perfect scenery, a self-possessed and feisty heroine and a brooding, handsome hero in the form of one Harry Tudor all combine to make this the perfect holiday read."

Amazon UK Ebook / Amazon UK paperback

Looking For Book-Bubers

(From Bristol that would be Book-babbers ha ha!)

There is always something that needs doing as mum, house owner, writer... 

Now I'm in need of BookBub followers. This is the new thing and publishers are looking for their authors to gather followers. BookBub is another platform to buy books through. You can find the book and then decide where you wish to buy it, whether it be Amazon, iTunes, Google, Kobo etc.

At some point, I will sit down and work out how to get a button on my website and blog, to lead my readers to BookBub. But the problem is, this will probably take up valuable writing time. And as I feel as if I've sat at my desk long enough today, it will have to land on the ever growing To-Do list.

So, anyway, for now, if you would all kindly follow me on BookBub I would be eternally grateful.

Clear HERE to follow me on BookBub.

Photos From The Weston Literary Festival

This Is What A Romance Writer Looks Like! 

It's been a week since Fay Keenan, Jan Ellis, Alison Knight and myself sat in front of an audience and discussed our writing methods, our inspirations and how we deal with negative reviews etc.

Sadly, the snow started falling quite heavily around 5pm and so this put some off attending the event. But we had approximately twenty people listening intently, and asking great questions! It was a fabulous night!




These sorts of events really help me recognise to myself that I am a writer, I have had books published. What I do is real!

This event was great for our own self-esteem and confidence about our writing experiences. The evening gave all four of us a real buzz! It was interesting to listen to Alison, Fay and Jan about their methods and preparations for creating a book.




Hopefully the Weston-super-Mare Literary Festival will take place yearly and we'll be on board again! Brilliant fun!

Thank you Zoe Scott for your amazing organisational skills in putting this event together and making it such a success!


Anyway, I've shared some photos of the event.


Sadly, Jenny Kane couldn't make it due to illness. She was missed dreadfully, but hopefully she'll make it next year!