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?