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The Park Book, The Party, The Deadline and The Agent

I've been a terrible blog-keeper.  Again.

There's no excuse, other than I've been ridiculously busy.  Again.

I genuinely want to get into the habit of blogging regularly, and my plan (again!) is to post at least once a month, whether that's an update of what's happening with my writing projects, or something related to my interests (most likely books, music and theatre).  I'm going to schedule it into my phone, so if nothing appears you have every right to prod me on social media!

But for now I guess it's time for me to fill you in on my news...

THE PARK BOOK
 
 

Thank you to everyone who's bought, read and reviewed The Café in Fir Tree Park.  Since the ebook release on May 26th, so many readers have contacted me to say lovely things about Maggie, Fern, Lacey and Pearl.  Not to mention Paolo (and Matt, Warren and Carrick) who've also captured people's hearts!  I'm so proud of this book and knowing you're enjoying it too makes me very happy indeed.

The paperback is published on August 10th and can be preordered now.  

THE PARTY
 
 

I was fortunate to be invited to attend the Harper Collins Summer Party last Wednesday evening.  Held in the gardens at the gorgeous V&A museum in London, this milestone celebration recognised Harper Collins' 200 years of trading.



Although an annual event, this was my first time at the party.  What a wonderful night it was!  The weather was glorious, the setting perfect, and the drinks were well and truly flowing.  Being in the company of authors I admire such as the inimitable Judith Kerr (my dissertation was based around her classic children's book The Tiger Who Came to Tea!) and David Walliams was an absolute pleasure, and spending time with the Harper Impulse team was the best bit of all.  Thank you to everyone at Harper Collins for a brilliant evening that I'll never forget.



THE DEADLINE

I'm delighted to be able to share that book three is finished (except the line edits!) and will be published by Harper Impulse on October 13th.  Although I've been working on this book since last year's NaNoWriMo, it's felt like a bit of a whirlwind.  When I first started writing it last November I was also working on the final chapters of The Café in Fir Tree Park, and as the drafting of book three continued I was busy with edits and promotion for the summer release.  It's been a challenging time in many ways, but I can't wait to tell you more about 'the Christmas book' closer to release.
 
Joe and Clara's Christmas Countdown is a full-on festive romance set in present day Manchester and is available to preorder now

THE AGENT
 
 
The other very exciting news is that I now have an agent!  I'm going to be working with the brilliant Julia Silk at MBA Agents, and I know she's going to push me to do the best writing of my life.  I can't wait to set to work on our first project together, and am currently tightening up a synopsis before cracking on with the novel itself.
 
I hope you're all enjoying the sunshine and I'd love to know what you're planning to read this summer!  Personally, I'm loving Cressida McLaughlin's new release and plan to get stuck into Louise Pentland's Wilde Like Me over the school holidays. 
 
Happy reading!
 


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