I didn't expect to be announcing this quite so soon because my initial release date was some time in November. However...

The Boatman is available for pre-order on Kindle, and will be published 28 October 2023.

What changed?

Well, at the moment, everything I do is subject to a quick and sudden turnabout. In this instance, I never intended a big launch because it's a re-release of an older book. Originally, I was just going to slide it into my catalogue and subtly point it out to people.

Then I got this lovely new cover, and the work on it was more extensive, and I decided I wanted to show it off. And November is such a long way off!

In 2014, I published my second book - Our Beautiful Child - and at the beginning of this year, the rights reverted to me.

After a little bit of procrastination, this trilogy of ghostly novellas, has a new title, a new cover, and one or two surprises inside as well - at least, surprises if you read the previous incarnation.

You can't give me a Word document and expect me not to tinker with it. As part of a competition in my newsletter, one of the characters has a new name. Another has a new name because he had a larger role and I needed something less unassuming. Even the pub has a new name. Once I got started, I just couldn't stop.

The release date is yet to be confirmed, but I'll shout about it when the time comes. In the meantime, here's the new cover, in all it's spooky glory!

The Clock in My Mother's House received a lovely 5* review from Readers' Favorite this week.

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers’ Favorite:

The Clock in My Mother's House and Other Stories by Annalisa Crawford is a collection of ten short stories for fans of literary fiction and short prose with a paranormal twist.

Annalisa Crawford tells us that nothing is eternal and everything eventually comes to an end, even if it is a hotel of historical significance in "One Minute Silence." The author explores the depths of human relationships, focusing on the relationships between parents and their children. "The Fear of Ghosts" is a gripping story about the influence of heredity on human fate [...] This short story collection offers a range of well-developed characters, like old Hester in "The Woman in the Van." The author's beautiful writing style reminded me of the captivating prose of Virginia Woolf. Overall, The Clock in My Mother's House and Other Stories proudly continues the tradition of great British literature.

There are two major things I'm working on at the moment.

We're at the developmental edit stage of my next novel, which is due out next May. My editor sent it back a week ago with the most wonderful comments about it, and I've only got a few little niggles to iron out. I'm unsure about the title at the moment, which is why I'm not going to mention it just yet. It's The Novel With No Name for a little while.

The Clock in My Mother's House didn't win its category in the Rubery Book Award, but it did get a groovy sticker for its cover. Yes, I said groovy, it's a great word and I'm advocating it's return to common usage.

I also received some wonderful feedback from the judges, which you can read right here. You'll need to scroll down a little bit.

To grab yourself a copy, and find out why Rachel on Goodreads thinks I'm "a writer at the top of her craft", click here.

The Clock in My Mother's House has been shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award 2023 for Short Fiction!

This collection of short stories continues to astound me with all the love it receives from reviewers, so I'm delighted that the judges of the award have selected it for this honour.

The category winners are announced late this week/early next week, with the Book of the Year following soon afterwards.

​Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

A couple of months ago, Small Forgotten Moments won Silver in the Fiction (Adult) section of the Wishing Shelf Book Awards...

... and today I received the feedback, and I'm aboslutely delighted.

​
‘A smartly plotted mystery with a cast of memorable characters. A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
​

​
​Julia was fifteen when she survived a suicide pact. Her best friend, Rachel did not.

Now aged thirty, haunted by the trauma and guilt of that day, Julia hides within daydreams and lets real life pass her by. Yet even her dreams aren’t the refuge she hopes for. Cat, a surreal composite character. is determined to thwart Julia’s attempts to move on and find happiness.

This dark coming-of-age for adults will resonate with anyone who is still waiting to feel grown-up.

​Yes, that's right - with a new cover, new blurb, and (accidentally and unplanned) 2000 new words, Cat & The Dreamer is available for pre-order!

Currently only available to pre-order on Kindle, I'm hoping other links will go live in due course.

I'm absolutely thrilled Small Forgotten Moments has been awarded Silver in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2022.

Congratulations to all the other winners this year, and heartfelt thanks to the judges, comprised of readers who simply love books. The children's books were read and judged by children in eight UK primary and secondary schools, and the adult books by two reading groups, in London and in Stockholm.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll receive a real medal in the post, but until then, look ⬇️

I'm delighted that Small Forgotten Moments has been listed as a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2022.

The winners will be announced at the beginning of April, so I will have my fingers crossed until then!

Click here to learn more about the Wishing Shelf Awards

Click here to learn more about Small Forgotten Moments

Julia was fifteen when she survived a suicide pact. Her best friend, Rachel did not.

Now aged thirty, still traumatised by the memories of that day, Julia retreats into fantastical daydreams. But even there, she’s not free from the crushing guilt of being the one who survived. Her dreams are dominated by Cat – a spiteful combination of old school bullies, a cruel work colleague, and Rachel herself – who will do anything to crush Julia’s spirit. 

When Adam walks into her life, Julia sees his friendship as a chance to break free of the chains which have been holding her back all these years.

But will her guilt consume her before she can?