The Christmas Cupid Publication Day

Today is the publication day of my 13th book, The Christmas Cupid and I'm so pleased I get to share Zoey's story with you!

I wrote the story back in 2020, working on it during Nanowrimo. My writing group usually met up in the library, but because of Covid, we met up on Zoom instead. We weren't sure how it was going to work but meeting up online worked really well. Obviously we missed meeting up in person, but it was great getting to see people and speak about our writing, even if it was on a screen. This year, we're able to meet up at the library again, but I'll always be grateful for the technology that allowed us to encourage and motivate each other!

The Christmas Cupid is a time-hopping romantic comedy bursting with festiveness and I hope you love Zoey's story as much as I do. If you're a newsletter subscriber, check your inbox because you should have my latest email with a subscriber-exclusive giveaway. If you haven't signed up to my newsletter and don't want to miss out next time, you can subscribe here

The Christmas Cupid is out in ebook and audio today but the paperback will be following on 8th December too.

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing my Book Extras, including the playlist, inspiration behind the book and a Christmas quiz.

‘Laugh-out-loud funny… Everything you want in a Christmas book and more!’ Jaimie Admans

One Day in December meets Groundhog Day in this hilarious Christmas rom com!

Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She might be an elf in the local toy shop’s Christmas department, but it’s hard to stay festive when you’ve just been dumped, you’ve had an extremely unfortunate haircut, and your boss volunteers you to walk on stilts in the toy shop’s Christmas parade.

But then something incredible happens.

Zoey is sent back to the start of December, with the chance to live the whole month again. The catch? She has to match six true-love couples by Christmas Eve. Now it’s not just her own love life she needs to fix… Grab the mistletoe, the Christmas Cupid is ready to matchmake!

A funny and uplifting Christmas romantic comedy for fans of Holiday Romance, One Day in December and Santa, Please Bring Me a Boyfriend!

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Spotlight Book: Everything Changes But You

I'll be throwing one of my books into the spotlight each month during 2022 and next up is Everything Changes But You

Be careful what you wish for...

Ally Richmond is dreading turning thirty and bidding farewell to her youth. And when her husband says he wants to start a family, she begins to panic.

Is this all that life has to offer from now on? Popping out babies and growing old gracefully? She wants a life crammed with glamour and spontaneous adventure, not one full of dirty nappies and night feeds.

When Ally makes a silly birthday wish for a new, exciting life, her wish is granted.

But when Ally is presented with the freedom and opportunities she craves, she soon realises this new life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that there really is no place like home. But can she find her way back - or is she stuck in this new reality forever?

Amazon UK | Amazon US

See more fun facts here

I like to post little 'Book Extras' (like you'd find on a DVD) for my books here on the blog, and for Everything Changes But You I created a Playlist, put together a quiz, shared a bonus scene and inspirational TV and films, introduced some of the characters, and asked which character are you?

A 2022 Catch Up

 It's been quite a while since I've posted a catch up (December, I believe - oops) so I thought it was about time I did one!

The beginning of 2022 started well; as my new diary says on the cover, Positive Mind, Vibes, Life. I'd been getting some work done on my house, which had all stopped over Christmas, but I was getting back on track with that. I was writing and enjoying life. And then I became ill.

My feet started to feel numb. Then my calves. Within a couple of days I was numb up to my stomach. When it started in my hands and arms, I could no longer work. By now, my feet, legs and torso were fine, but my hands were so numb I couldn't hold a knife and fork properly, I couldn't do my hair or fasten buttons, and my arms were so weak they were pretty much useless. And I was exhausted.

I had blood tests and it turned out my vitamin B12 was really low, which was causing havoc with my nervous system. It was a relief because the symptoms could have been indicative of much worse. I had a course of B12 jabs (6, 2-3 days apart, which sounds horrific for a wuss like me, but was actually very welcome after feeling so rubbish) and I've been having one every three months since. I'm so much better now. My fingers aren't quite right yet but they don't stop me doing anything anymore and I'm back to working again and getting back to normal.

I'm busy writing - my new book will be out in three weeks (you can pre-order here) and I'm working on a time-travel rom com that will be out in July 2023. The work has started back up on my house and I've been enjoying spending time in my little garden. I couldn't plant much this year (I managed some wildflowers, but my hands and arms were too messed up during the spring!) but luckily I had quite a few flowers that returned from previous years.

We had the heatwave, which I wouldn't have enjoyed so much if it wasn't for Costa and their air conditioning. We have one a short walk away, which came in handy.

My Instagram grid is definitely starting to get an autumn vibe - which I'm very happy about as it's the BEST season. There's even a teeny bit of Christmas creeping in (not sorry).

It's been pretty tough this year, but I've got brilliant friends and family and my daughters (and Luna!) have been amazing and really helped me. And now I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of 2022 has to offer!

If You're Starting A First Draft, It's Totally Okay To...

 

... plan out your dream cast of who will play the roles once your book is adapted for a Netflix series. Before you've even jotted down the first sentence

... create a playlist to accompany the book midway through Chapter One

... spend your writing time adding images to your Pinterest mood board. Your main character would find that meme hilarious

... switch off and daydream about your characters. Just smile and nod along and your family probably won't even notice you're in another world

... gaze at gorgeous book covers and wonder what your cover will look like

... buy all the stationery: pretty notebooks, a rainbow of pens and highlighters, stacks of post-it notes and revision cards, matching stapler and hole-punch, beautiful washi tape...

... drink all the tea

... and eat all the snacks. Writing fuel. Very important

... buy candles to set the mood: gingerbread and cinnamon for festive feels, freshly cut grass for a summer rom com, blood orange for a murder mystery?

... write a really shitty first draft. Seriously. Just get those words down. You can't edit a blank page

Read My Rom Com Short Stories For Free

 

Did you know that you can read my short stories here on the blog for free?

There are four categories to choose from:

Valentine's Day

Halloween

Christmas

General

To read the short stories, click/tap on the categories below, choose a story and enjoy!

If you enjoy my short stories and want more, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter, where as well as receiving book news and subscriber-exclusive giveaways, you'll get free short stories straight into your inbox!

And you don't even need to wait for my next newsletter for a free read as you'll receive my ebook quick read, Six Dates when you subscribe!

Spotlight Book: The Single Mums' Picnic Club

I'll be throwing one of my books into the spotlight each month during 2022 and next up is The Single Mums' Picnic Club

Katie thought she had the perfect family life by the sea – until her husband left her for another woman, abandoning her and their two children! She knows it’s finally time to move on but she’s unsure where to begin…

Frankie is shocked when gorgeous dog-walker Alex asks her on a date! As a single mum with her own business she struggles to put herself first, but maybe she’s ready to follow her heart?

George is used to raising her son on her own – but now he’s at nursery, her life feels empty. So when she meets Katie and Frankie at the beach, she realises that her talent for rustling up delicious picnics could be the perfect distraction!

But of course, life isn’t always a beach and as secrets begin to surface the three women’s lives are about to be turned upside-down…

Amazon UK | Amazon US

See more fun facts here

I like to post little 'Book Extras' (like you'd find on a DVD) for my books here on the blog, and for The Single Mums' Picnic Club I created a Playlist, put together quick intros and a quiz, and shared a little peek behind the scenes of naming one of the characters

Cover Reveal: The Christmas Cupid

 I'm so pleased to be able to share the gorgeous cover for my new festive release, The Christmas Cupid!

A Christmas countdown to remember!

Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She’s just been dumped, she’s had an extremely dodgy haircut that even the biggest woolly hat can’t hide, and then a tragic accident – involving an elf outfit, stilts, and a red double-decker bus labelled ‘The Santa Express’ – leaves her dead.

But then Zoey is given a second chance at life. Sent back to the start of December, if she can match six couples by Christmas Eve her life will be saved. Which gives her the perfect opportunity to win her boyfriend back too…

Can Zoey find love in time for Christmas?

A funny and uplifting Christmas romantic comedy for fans of Catherine Walsh, Josie Silver and Kristin Bailey!

Pre-Order UK | Pre-Order US

The Christmas Cupid is out on in ebook 14th October, with the paperback following on 8th December, but you can pre-order your copy right now.