I have a Sarah.
I have a Sarah. She’s five-years-old. Her favourite things in the world are Lego, princesses, dancing, making cupcakes and reading books. She’s tempestuous and demanding, alternating sometimes on a minute by minute basis from being a ball of pure sunshine to a dark cloud of a thunderstorm; she keeps us…
One Year of Covid19…
I remember it like it was yesterday. Friday the 13th, 2020. As chairperson of the local primary school’s PTA, I was running the committee’s AGM and annual quiz night, and had been at the school for hours getting ready. I had twenty quiz packs ready, music and snacks and even…
NaNoWriMo No No No
Well. Here we are again. It’s that time of year. The time all writers both dread and look forward to. NaNoWriMo. To be entirely honest, I’m more than a little bit rubbish at NaNoWriMo. Every year I sign up and every year I have the same result (I never finish).…
Some news…
I’ve been quiet recently, I know. During lockdown, I dedicated myself to my family and our mental wellbeing. My husband is a critical worker, and hasn’t had a day off since February. So, I took on the tasks of homeschooling my four year old and eight year old. I took…
Extract from new W.I.P…
So rather excitingly, Choclit are having an online book festival! There are lots of readings and giveaways and author news and recipes and all kinds of other things, to help give our readers a boost during these strange times. Although, it’s not just about raising happiness. It’s also about helping…
Ice cream in December? Really?
When I’ve mentioned recently to people that I have a novel coming out soon about Hanukkah set in a south London ice creamery, I’ve noticed more and more people giving me ‘the look’. You’ll know what ‘the look’ is of course, everyone does. It’s that expression of doubt mingled with…
Hanukkah days and Christmas Nights…
Here it is! The cover for book no. 3… ‘Hanukkah at the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery’. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The twee row of shops (just like Turnpin Lane in Greenwich, London, where this story is set), the snow, the lamplights, and the ice cream (my favourite). All set against…
And so it’s March…
Blink. What happened to Christmas? No, what happened to January? Actually, scratch that, where did February go? I have to admit to having been a busy bee these past two months, and March looks like it will be just as insane. My husband and I were sitting down yesterday to…
Reviews, reviews, reviews…
Once, I begged my husband to elope with me rather than put me through the agony of a wedding. He didn’t refuse, but reminded me very gently about all the people who wanted to be there to help us celebrate. ‘Just don’t make me be the centre of attention the…
Reacquainting myself with the Mistress of Romantic Suspense…
Confession: I don’t hate ‘Blue Monday’, or even January. I’ve always regarded January as a continuation of the Christmas period… the decorations are often still up, people aren’t quite firing on all cylinders after the holidays, and the cold nights are perfect for cuddling up and- my favourite thing of…
Release Day for ‘The Marked Lord’
It’s January 15th, 2019… which makes it release day for The Marked Lord! I’ve been excited for this day for months now (poor old Christmas didn’t really get a look in) and I woke up this morning and you know what? It’s been a good day. I think all writers have…
Mince Pies, Tinsel, Tea-towels and Zero Productivity: A Busy Mum’s Christmas
I’m sitting in the near-dark so that our fairy lights twinkle more brightly. My living room is covered in elves, ornaments, Christmas teddies and Christmas blankets (we have three. Why do we have three? I didn’t buy a single one of them. Are they multiplying in my loft? Actually, that…
Christmas is coming… for the next four months…
So. Mild panic. I have been asked to write a Christmas novel. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas and this time of year. I love the merriment, the food, the drink, and the sheer joy in the small faces of my children. I’m not so keen on Christmas…
RNA Winter Party…
My love for the RNA runs deep, stemming from my adoration for one of its founders, the late, great Netta Muskett. My mother was never what you would call ‘academic’, but when she was around fifteen (so this would be the late sixties) she won a book for an English…
Current WIP…
Now that The Marked Lord is out there and done, a friend called me to ask what I was working on now, or if I would write anything else. The truth is, I’m always writing something. I keep to a pretty intense writing schedule (if I don’t I find it very hard…
Cover Reveal Day…
I don’t know which I find more exciting. That lovely feeling you get when there is an acceptance letter in your inbox, which I can only describe as being almost like a shiver running down your spine before you get that kick of adrenaline in your stomach, or seeing the…
Baby steps…
Here it is. My long promised blog site. And yes, I know. It’s somewhat… delayed. I do have reasons for this, my own ineptitude where ‘website design’ is concerned being the primary. Strange how I can shop brilliantly on the internet while discussing Star Wars meta and feminist issues on…