Free Short Story Exclusive To Newsletter Subscribers

 

Natalie's friends have signed her up for a speed dating night with a sweet twist: five mini dates with a different delicious dessert to accompany each one. But who will join Natalie on her sixth date?

Six Dates is a quick read that's exclusively available to my newsletter subscribers and as well as a cute romantic comedy, you'll also get the recipes for the sweet treats Natalie enjoys.

As well as my usual book recommendations, giveaway and book news, I'll also be including the first part of a three-part short story in my next newsletter so make sure you sign up if you don't want to miss out!

A New Year Catch Up

We're over halfway through January (but it feels like this month has been going for at least six months) so I thought I would do a quick catch up of what I've been up to so far in 2023:

I'm currently editing my 14th book, which will be released in July. It doesn't have a title yet because although I can write an 80k+ novel, I can't think of a few more words to give my book a decent name.

The book is crammed full of summer, which is quite nice to dive into when it's so cold here at the moment. I've really enjoyed visiting Elodie in the sunshine while it's been snowing in reality! I'm time travelling again in this book, which is loads of fun and I can't wait to share Elodie's story a bit later on in the year.

I'm also thinking about the three-part short story I'm going to be writing and sending out with my newsletter. I already know it's going to have a magical time-hoppy element to it so I'm looking forward to starting it once this round of edits are done. If you'd like to read my not-yet-written story, you can sign up for my newsletter here.

I'm reading Josh Widdicombe's memoir, Watching Neighbours Twice a Day which is full of 90s nostalgia of popular culture. I was born in the same year as Josh Widdicombe so this book is the perfect trip down memory lane of TV and music (and yes, I do remember the 999 episode with the javelin through the neck. Vividly).

There's some great telly on at the moment: The Masked Singer, the return of Dancing on Ice, Call the Midwife and, for the mega-nerd in me, Only Connect. I've also been enjoying Marie Antoinette, which I wasn't sure I would, and I've finally started to watch Jane the Virgin on Netflix (which wasn't such a good move as it's being removed on 2nd February. I'm hoping to power through the first season at least).

I've also been re-watching the first two series of Happy Valley with my oldest teen so we can watch the third instalment. We've only got one episode of series 2 to go and I'm looking forward to jumping into a series I haven't watched yet.

I've started 2023 by Instagramming my usual combo of books, tea, Luna and sweet treats.

So that's my New Year catch up. I hope you've had a good start to 2023 :)

Are We Friends On Social Media?

You can usually find me knocking about on social media, posting bookish stuff (obviously) and pics of my pup, Luna (gorgeous). If this is something you'd be interested in, you can find me at the following places:

And don't forget, if you don't want to miss any of my book news or free short stories, you can sign up for my newsletter:

My newsletter go out 4-5 times a year and you'll receive a FREE ebook quick read straight away.

My Writing Goals For 2023

For the past couple of years I've set myself a few writing goals for the year and today I'm setting out what I hope to achieve in 2023

I'm currently working on the first round of edits for the book that will be published by HQ Digital in July. It doesn't have a title yet (because it seems I can write a whole book but not a teeny, weeny title) but hopefully I'll have one I can share with you soon!

I'm time-travelling again in this book and I can't wait to share Elodie's story with you.

I wrote a big chunk of Book 17 (which also has no title. I'm very, very rubbish at titles lately) as part of NaNoWriMo 2022 but I put it away over Christmas and now I'm working on my summer book edits. But I'm very much looking forward to getting back to Molly and Max's story.

I first had the murmurings of an idea for this story back in November 2019 but I had other books on the go and although I had the base for the story, I didn't have fully-formed characters or a proper plot until quite recently, so it's been a bit of a slow-burner!

I've got an idea for a short story that I want to write, but it's going to be on a not-so-short short story so I thought I'd write it in three parts and send it out in instalments as part of my 2023 newsletters.

If you'd like to read my not-so-short short story, make sure you've subscribed to my newsletter.

I've taken part in Nano for the past few years (and sometimes I've even 'won') and I love the community aspect of getting together (either in person or over Zoom). 2022's Nano was particularly helpful for me as it gave me my confidence back with writing, so I'm looking forward to taking part again this year.

So those are my writing goals for 2023. I'll keep you updated on my progress by the end of the year.

Have you set yourself any writing goals?

My Writing Goals 2022 - How Did I Do?

 

At the beginning of the year, I posted my 5 writing goals for 2022 - so how did I get on?

In 2022, I wanted to:

Publish Book 13

Take part in Nanowrimo

Draft 2 of Book 15

Write short story #1

Write short story #2

Book 13 is now known as The Christmas Cupid, which was published in ebook and audio in October and as a paperback earlier this month, so I can tick that one off my list!

Last month, I took part in Nanowrimo - and managed to reach the 50k goal!

You can see my updates about taking part here

I wrote the first draft of Book 15 over the summer of 2021 and I'd put it aside, ready to dive back into in 2022. I worked on the second draft during the beginning of the year. I loved working on Tessa's story and I can't wait to share it with you!

I wrote two short stories as planned this year: Roll With It and Groundhog Date, which I gave away in my newsletters.

If you haven't subscribed to my newsletter and don't want to miss out on the next free short story, you can sign up here

So that's how I got on with my writing goals during 2022. Let's hope I get just as much done during 2023!

The Christmas Cupid Paperback Publication Day

 

It's the paperback publication day for my latest book, The Christmas Cupid!

‘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

Giveaway!

If you're a newsletter subscriber, check your inbox because there should be my latest email with a Paperback Publication Day giveaway of a signed copy of The Christmas Cupid plus some chocolatey goodies.

If you haven't subscribed to my newsletter yet and don't want to miss out next time, you can sign up for free here

As always, I've been posting Book Extras on the blog, including the book's playlist, fun facts and inspiration, which you can find here

If you read The Christmas Cupid, I'd love to hear what you thought and reviews - even if they're just a line or two - are so important so I'll send you good festive wishes if you pop a few words over on Amazon :)

Nanowrimo 2022 - How Did It Go?

 

It's the 1st December, which means Nanowrimo 2022 is over.
How did you get on?

I have to admit, I wasn't sure I'd get anywhere near the 50,000 words mark during this year's Nano. I've 'won' Nano twice before (when I wrote huge chunks of The 12 Christmases of You & Me and The Christmas Cupid) but last year was pretty hectic and I only managed 20-25k. Nanowrimo2021 left me feeling frazzled and it really knocked my confidence as a writer as I struggled to juggle everything that was going on in my life.

But this year's Nano started really well and I was clocking up lots of words. Was it possible I could get down more words than last year?

By the second week, I'd managed to write pretty much the same amount that I got down during 2021's Nanowrimo, and by Week 3, I was really starting to believe that I could hit the 50k target. I was juggling everything that I had the year before but I was managing to keep everything up in the air so much better.

By yesterday, the final day of Nano, I had just less than 1,000 words to make the 50,000 words target, which I managed to hit in the morning.

I was so pleased to reach the goal, and not because it meant I 'won' Nano. It has given me my confidence back. I've really loved writing this month and although I won't have as much time to dedicate to writing during December, I'm hoping to keep up some of the momentum and carry it on in the new year.

To celebrate getting our words down, my local writing group met up in the evening for a meal and a catch up and it was so lovely to relax with friends after such a hectic month. I had tapas plus a massive brownie sundae (it is nearly Christmas and I've just written 50,000 words in a month, so I deserved it).

How did you get on during this year's Nano?