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Showing posts from November, 2019

The RNA: Finding My Tribe

My plan was to publish the second instalment of The Grown-Up Gap Year blog today. But then I read a comment about the RNA on twitter and my blog took a bit of a detour this week. In the article the author praises the writing association she has joined. Good on her. I’m happy for her. I know how lonely and isolated writing can be, and how amazing it is when you discover that you are not as alone as you thought. It’s a truly indescribably wonderful feeling when you find a group where you belong. But to slate another writing association purely on hearsay and rumours is, in my opinion, completely unnecessary and unacceptable. Many of us write across genres. We network with different groups. We chat on Facebook, twitter and in person whenever we get the chance. It doesn’t matter what group we are part of, or not part of. We are writers. We are united by a shared love of books and a passion to write. What else matters? I’ve been a member of the Historical Novel Society, the SWW

The Grown-Up Gap Year: The Plan

The Grown-Up Gap Year - The Plan I told myself, when I took my career break, that I would blog each week to chart my experiences. Well, it didn't exactly happen. As in, not at all. But, one of the things this break has taught me is that it's never too late. So here goes… It all began in summer 2018 when Katie Fforde contacted me to tell me she had selected me as a recipient of the Katie Fforde Bursary for 2019 . I was stunned, honoured and unbelievably excited. I can’t even begin to describe the magnitude and mixture of emotions that I felt reading her email. There were a lot of tears, combined with lots of jumping up and down while squealing. Yep, all at the same time. Which paused only for periodic re-reading of the email, just to make sure I hadn’t miss read it, because after all, it’s Katie Fforde and she couldn’t possibly have picked me, could she? Well, apparently she did. And in February this year I was awarded with a trophy to prove it. Though, I have to

Book Launch: A Convenient Marriage - Jeevani Charika

Today I'm joining in with the celebrations for the launch of A Convenient Marriage.  The book spans 17 years, and author, Jeevani Charika, asked the question; 'If you could talk to your younger self from 20 years ago, what would you tell them?'  For me the answer is simple, after a year of huge changes I would tell my younger self that one day she would be living her dream. She'd move to the coast, be writing books and running her own jewellery business. Of course, she wouldn't believe me. To be honest, it still surprises me too.  But what this last year has taught me, is to expect the unexpected. To seize the opportunities that come your way, even when they are scary.  But most importantly always follow your heart, even when it seems like the craziest thing to do. It's amazing where you end up when you do! Blurb: It was the perfect marriage… until they fell in love. Chaya is a young woman torn between her duty to family and her