Happy New Year!

2025 was a good year for me, writing-wise. I completed the 5th draft of my novel-in-progress and sent it to several trusted readers; I wrote a couple of brand new short stories and refreshed a couple of others; and  I had my best sales year to date. 

I also saw the Levellers in February, was invited to talk at the Castle Heritage Centre in Bude in April, saw Calamity Jane in July and Hamilton in August (twice), watched several Women’s Rugby World Cup games at Sandy Park, met up with a long-standing author friend, Elizabeth Seckman, attended the Looe Festival of Words Book Fair in October, and saw my youngest son graduate. 

A whirlwind of a year, and I've got loads planned for 2026. Stay tuned!

Here's a small splash of what I got up to...

I am so happy to share that The Clock in My Mother's House placed as a finalist in the 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards.

A couple of stories in this collection are my personal, all-time favourites; a couple of deeply personal ones (in a good way); and they all contain a scattering of in-jokes that I giggle at every time I read them. When putting stories together like this, you can never be sure which ones will resonate with the reader, so I'm thrilled to know I got it right.

Thank you to the judges and congratulations to the winners and finalists. You can see the entire list here.

Hey, look! You can now buy my books directly from me... ish. 

As well as selling my self-published books (under the imprint Lynher Books) through Amazon, I also sell them everywhere else, and to do this I use IngramSpark as a my printer and distribution network. They make my books available to all the big booksellers.

And now, you can buy directly from them, which is akin to buying directly from me. Without the costs associated with distributing to bookshops, I can earn a few extra pennies from each sale, which will go into my emergency chocolate bar fund - a very important fund on account of being in the middle of editing the first draft of a new novel).

So, here they all are, my beautiful books, waiting to be read.

My event on 11 April at the Castle Heritage Centre in Bude was fantastic, and I'd like to say a huge thank you to the events coordinator Katie for inviting me. There were some thought-provoking questions from the audience - some of which I don't think I've ever been asked before!

Afterwards, my husband - who drove me - treated me to a delicious lunch at the Brendon Arms, and we sat in the sunshine with a cider. Plus a stop off at Tre, Pol & Pen farm shop and restaurant for more sunshine and a coffee on the way home. The sky was cloudless and it was so warm. I remember thinking at both venues that I really should be taking some photos, and then promptly forgot. 

This year's vibe is living in the moment, and that seems to mean, for me, don't take photos just look at things instead. Great for my mental health, less good for social media 😉🤣

Do check the links and make time for a visit to any of these places if you're in the area - you won't be disappointed.

My first event of the year is organised. If you've ever wondered what kind of chaos surrounds me as I write, this is the talk you need to hear! 

I'll be talking about how it started, and how it's going, and sharing some top tips, probably 😎

If you're in or around Bude (or just like to drive) in April, come and see me. Apparently the food is delicious too.

2024 was a mixed year - a book launch in May, and then a slight case of writer's block for the rest of the year.

Writing isn't always easy - it pulls you apart and puts you back together in a completely different way; it stretches you to your limits, and it pushes you down into the depths of your emotions, trying to get the right word or sentence or paragraph onto the page. For me, that means I'll have a scene in my head so perfect that no words will do it justice. And yet, it's my job to make it so.

But I wouldn't be without it. I can't remember a time I didn't, and image a time I won't, write.

And that's all down to you, my wonderful readers, who buy and review and email to tell me how much they enjoy my work. So thank you!

Plans for 2025 are in flux right now, but my block as lifted and the words are back, so watch this space. In the meantime, please check out my back catalogue, and this amazing 4-book bundle from my publisher, and keep up with all my daily musings on Facebook or Blue Sky.

You can also keep up with my news via my monthly newsletter, which I'll be sending out at the end of this week, and giving away a copy of my latest novel. Sign up here, and receive three free short stories.

Looe is one of my favourite places. When I was a child, it's where my parents would take me for Saturday fish and chips, where I'd catch a train and hang out with friends, and where I spent a whole day making up answers to a questionnaire for a geography project. (Would you want to ask strangers why they'd decided to come to Looe on holiday when you were 14??)

Looe Festival of Words 2024 is being held from 1st - 6th October, with all manner of events and talks, and I'll be attending the book fair on Saturday, 5th.

The itinerary for the week is here.

Pop along to meet loads of local authors, grab some bargains, and have a chat. See you there!

The launch week for ONE TUESDAY, EARLY was hectic and fun and involved a lot of walking, only some of which was in the pouring rain. Here's what I got up to! 

Ten events: one Q&A session, one very short reading, a great discussion, several cups of coffee, one bag of Maltesers and a scone (different days), rain, wind, sun, tights, summer dresses, trousers and jumpers, lovely people who stopped and chatted, and being in bed at nine o'clock at least twice.

Thank you to everyone who came specially to see me, or happened across me and stopped to say hello.

​On a very cold and rainy day in April, I met with Claire Manning from ITVX to talk about ONE TUESDAY, EARLY. To watch, and see some of the areas featured in the novel, click the image below.

​​And on a much warmer May day, yesterday, I travelled to Truro to meet Julie Skentelbery. You can listen to the interview by clicking the image.

And then, (without having to leave my house at all), my very good author friend Melissa Ann Goodwin invited me onto her blog for a chat about all of my books and my writing in general. Click below to be whisked off to Melissa's blog.

And, finally,  if you've popped in to check the times and dates for my book signing - week beginning 13 May - then here's all the info you need.