Yesterday morning, I received my copy edits for this summer’s book ‘Retreat To The Lakeside Cottage’. I knew they were on the way but it still comes as a shock when you open a manuscript, which you haven’t seen for a number of weeks, and realise - wow, I wrote that!
 
I've spent all of yesterday and today rereading the manuscript, alongside the editor’s notes. A third of the book remains but fingers crossed, I’m hoping job’s a good ‘un by tomorrow. 
 
If you haven’t pieced together certain blog posts, I’ll tell you … the story is about a writers’ retreat set in Hawkshead, Cumbria. My leading ladies are Brontë, Eve and Josie staying at the cottage for a one-week experience. Josie is the housekeeper, mentioned previously in my Lakeside Cottage series, Eve is a best-selling author and Brontë a complete newbie, who ‘scribbles’ as a secret hobby – mmmm, who does she remind me of? Me!
 
Anyway, the story is full of laughter, funny quips and actual writing tips interspersed throughout. I have included a disclaimer beneath the ‘acknowledgements’ as it is not based on any other author I know or who I’ve met during a writing retreat. 

Update: Done and dusted! I finished the task on day three so sent the manuscript back to the editor. I'm taken aback by how I feel about this book. It's a story that has been brewing in my head for many years so to actually read it feels surreal. That's one of the joys of writing - I'm still surprised at seeing the fruits of your labour. I always said I'd never write a 'how to write a book' book but amongst the plot there's a wealth of information and tips for aspiring authors which would have helped the unpublished me. 

​Many, many moons ago, I set myself the challenge of learning to play the piano. I had enquired about attending regular weekly lessons with several music teachers but nothing ever came of it, so I set about teaching myself. I could read the basic notes on a treble stave as I’d been taught at middle school - thank you, Mrs Brown, our music teacher.

My first lesson was to ask the internet ‘where is middle ‘c’ on the piano?’ Google answered without much fuss so I set about matching my knowledge of notes with the corresponding piano keys. A slow job to even play three blind mice but progress is progress, regardless of how slowly it occurs. What mattered was that in just twenty minutes sessions - I was learning to play the piano!
 
I chose a single piece on which to work. It wasn’t a beginner’s piece but I stuck with it plink-plonking my way through each session. Notably, right hand only because my brain could not and would not accommodate the idea of introducing the left hand. At the time, I was amazed how anyone is able to play two-handed, read the music and keep time! But I’m not one to give up, so I continued to practise, session by session.
 
When I had a question – I asked Mr Google. When I needed a demonstration, I asked Mrs YouTube and so it went on week after week, month after month. I’ll even admit … year after year because it has taken me a while. A friend advised me to buy a children's piano book which would assist my understanding and I was delighted when I completed each study book to find a certificate on the final page!

'Again' and 'repeat' are uttered and muttered during each practise session to the point of making myself laugh out loud at how strict I am with myself!
 
My daily sessions with Gertrude (my piano now has a name) have continued culminating in this our most important week, for I will attempt to play my three chosen pieces, numerous scales, arpeggios, sight reading and aural tests to sit my ABRSM grade one piano exam! 
 
I did have an hour-long piano lesson early in January 2024, mainly to ask the piano teacher if I was wasting my time. Thankfully, he said I wasn’t, so I booked and paid for my exam slot. I’m not aiming to achieve the world’s best grade, in fact if the truth be known simply attending, playing to the best of my ability and leaving the venue a happy bunny will be enough for me. Any grade is going to be a bonus for me, Gertrude, Mr Google and Mrs YouTube! 
 
I have no idea how long I need to wait for the actual result but I’ll be honest and share when it comes through. Wish me luck!

UPDATE: my exam was this morning. I played a blinder on two pieces but stumbled to a halt in the middle of one - ironically, the piece I've been playing the longest! How does that happen? Anyway, I restarted from the middle and finished it. What's done is done and there's no changing it so now, I'll wait for the result. Fair play to all those little ones who bound in eager and yet fearless!

UPDATE: 26th March - I secured a pass grade, or so my website log-in states. I'll take that! 

​Tuesday, 14th March 2017 – I was offered my first publishing contract with Aria, a subsidiary of Head of Zeus. A three-book contract which I had waited years to be offered, arrived via an email requesting I sign the electronic document. If you know my story you’ll know, I froze. The dream I’d been waiting for was before me yet 'fear' kicked in. I remember sitting for hours staring at the screen, reading and rereading the fine details over and over again without being any the wiser.
 
I eventually sought advice from others, received a phone call the next morning and signed later that day on Wednesday, 15th March. I can’t believe that was seven years ago! It seems impossible. How times flies! 

​If you’re a regular follower, you’ll know how much I love the history and masonry detail of grave yards. If you’ve attended one of my ‘author talks’, I freely admit to wandering around them in search of names and inspiration. I spent my last birthday doing just that after I’d attended the coffin works museum in Birmingham. 
 
During lockdown 2020, a section of a headstone was dug up in the back garden. Granted, that sounds weird but the house is built on an old chapel graveyard, hence the find. It didn’t freak me out, as you might expect but instead ignited my curiosity. 
 
The disused chapel was converted into flats decades ago, so previous research had informed me that 19 gravestones were ‘removed’ from the land prior to its sale for redevelopment. Whilst living here, I’ve often thought about the families and funeral gatherings which must have taken place on the land where I park my car, tend to flowers and drink my cuppa. Anyway, the section of headstone has sat in the downstairs clock room since that day. 
 
There are two main cemeteries where I live. One local, the other further afield - which is the older of the two, dating back to the 16th century. From library records, I understand that coffins were carried through the streets to the furthest cemetery for many years before our local cemetery was created in 1870. The chapel graveyard, which is my focus, was purely for the ‘dissenters’ of the area. 
 
Last week, I visited Warwick to deliver an ‘author talk’ at the library, so I booked a session at the County Records Office. I filled out the necessary forms to view an archive treasure and was duly delivered the baptism book for the chapel. A small but hefty book, with yellowed pages, beautiful copperplate handwriting and a distinct binding, which they laid upon a protective pillow. The first entry was for a Joseph Denham born in December 1795. I nearly fell off my chair. How am I being allowed to touch the pages of this book without gloves? Though to be fair having scoured it for over an hour, I left my finger prints on every page! The final entry was Rose Ellen Page dated 1st April 1900 – which made me smile. One surprising detail for each entry was the ‘superiority’ column stating first child, second child … tenth child of the family – I’d never seen that before.
 
My next request was the burial records. Remember I’ve always been told 19 headstones, so imagine my surprise when the register is delivered and its as hefty as the chapel’s baptism book. I’m expecting to see a few pages of details, nothing more. I’m also expecting to be able to narrow down my search for who’s grave stone piece sits in the downstairs clock room, as it shows part of a date year. Not a chance! 
 
There were approximately eighty pages of details, each with six or seven burials recorded. The first few pages began by stating burial location as ‘buried on the east side of chapel yard’ and ‘buried on the north side of chapel yard’ which I assumed were details relating to the older cemetery. Suddenly the location column began stating ‘buried at (older named) cemetery’. Then it became a mixture of both ‘chapel yard’ and ‘the (older named) cemetery’ for the rest of the register. I realised my error. I flipped back to the opening pages to reread page after page of names, dates and professions ‘buried in the chapel yard’. There may have been 19 headstones but there were far more graves recorded in the chapel’s register. I was shocked and saddened to realise so many must have been unmarked. I’ve spent the last week mindful of my discovery - as they say, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. But it can also be a beautiful thing, a brief connection with history and a reason to replant the flower beds.

In recent weeks, I have conducted 'author talks' at three libraries: Rugby, Nuneaton and Warwick. I always start with the essentials relating to my publication journey but allow the audience to dictate where the conversation flows. The advantage is that no two author talks are the same, even I laugh at the varied scope of where the book chatter leads us.
 
Topics mentioned:
Secret writer                                                                            Post-it notes
Writing groups                                                                         Isolation
​Graveyards                                                                               Libraries
Childhood                                                                                 Katie Fforde
Romantic Novelists’ Association                                            Publishers' cover designs
​Glitter                                                                                      Pupils and Sainsbury’s shelves
Fountain pens & purple ink                                                    Narnia
Cake                                                                                         London Writers’ Salon
Classic books                                                                          Doorsteps
Critical/constructive feedback                                             Topic of adoption/foundling
Family names                                                                           1986 trends
​Piano                                                                                        Easter Eggs
Agents                                                                                      Publishers
Genetics                                                                                  Writing retreats
Planning/plotting                                                                  Lilac trees
​Seeds                                                                                       Post-it notes
Isolation                                                                                  Agatha Christie
Peacocks                                                                                 Cute cottages 
Shetland ponies                                                                      Writing routine
Writing process                                                                      Stable beginnings/changing the ends
Shakespeare/poetry                                                              Heroes
​Women                                                                                   Writers’ block
Trains/London parties                                                          Emily Bronte
Village ‘talk’                                                                             Village life
Blended families                                                                     Signed books
National Novel Writing Month                                             The generation of ideas
Leap Year                                                                                Competitions
Debut nerves                                                                          Memories
Shifting time                                                                           Retirement
Future ideas                                                                            Book titles

After each ‘author talk’ the library asks for feedback, so I’m delighted to say I’ve received some gorgeous comments. Here are my favourite four:
 
‘Funny and very inspiring’
 
‘She doesn’t do the ‘buy my book, buy my book’ routine – which is refreshing.’
 
‘She involved the audience - she didn’t talk at us.’ 
 
‘I feel like I know her. That’s the best talk I’ve been to!’
 
If you’re interested in hosting an 'author talk’ be it for a book group, a writers’ group, book festival, a community event, conference or a library session – please email me for further details at [email protected]

I'm giving away a signed copy of TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE to one of my newsletter subscribers. The draw will take place on Thursday, 7th March at 6pm.

All you have to do to be included in the draw is visit my newsletter page (see the tabs above) and enter your email address. Simple. Good luck!


UPDATE: Congratulations Lauren Cope - I shall email you a.s.a.p.
This giveaway is now closed. You can still subscribe to my newsletter and be included in future signed giveaways.