Writing The Little Teashop of Broken Hearts: Part Nine

I decided to keep a little diary while writing The Little Teashop of Broken Hearts, so I thought I'd share it here on the blog during the run-up to publication.

First Draft:

Week 9

Day 57:

So, The End is within reach. If I pull my socks up, I can have a first draft by the end of this week. It’s hard to believe that I’ve almost completed the first stage of a novel. When the writing slump arrived really early on, it threw me and I didn’t think I’d be able to pull it off. I knew what Maddie’s story was – although I’ve been thrown a few curveballs along the way, which I’ve loved – but getting the words out has sometimes been tough, and not just because my writing time has been limited over the summer holidays.

At the start of the holidays, I told myself I wanted to finish the first draft before the kids went back to school, so I’d better stop rambling here and get those words down!

Day 59:

The new series of The Great British Bake Off started last night and the technical challenge had the bakers making Jaffa cakes, which was funny because yesterday – only a few hours earlier – I wrote about Maddie baking homemade Jaffa cakes. I’m taking this as a sign. I haven’t decided whether it’s a good sign or not yet, but it’s definitely a sign either way!

Day 60:

It’s quarter to eleven on a Friday night and I’m still sitting at my desk. If this isn’t dedication, I don’t know what is.

Day 61:

The End is so close now! It’s been a hard slog at times, so I’ve bought myself the Miranda box set as a treat for when I finish the first draft. I’ve watched them all but as I don’t own any of them, I’ve been watching series one on Netflix again and again.

Day 62:

My goal was to finish the first draft of The Sweetest Kiss (now The Little Teashop of Broken Hearts) before my girls went back to school after the summer holidays and I can proudly say that with 8 days of the hols left, I have reached those blessed words ‘The End’. Yes, after 62 days and 84,123 words, the first draft is complete. Woo!

*Jennifer now collapses in a weeping heap*

The End: Reached

Brain: Frazzled

Word Count: 84,123

From fairy cakes to first dates!

Maddie Lamington’s dreams are crumbling around her. If she doesn’t come up with a plan to save her little teashop on Sweet Street soon, it might be too late…

So when she sees how the perfect apple crumble brings together her lonely father and faithful customer Birdie, inspiration strikes: she’ll set up a dating night involving all her sweetest bakes.

Luckily, seriously gorgeous Caleb is on hand to help sprinkle a little magic – and a lot of sugar! Could one night of scrumptious first dates fix Maddie’s heartbreak and save her beloved teashop, too?

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