Lying about your age can cause problems, especially if you’re no good at maths and lying doesn’t come naturally. At the age of fifty-six, and thinking about the Big Six-0, I decided to knock ten years off my age. When my daughter was informed, she said she’d knock ten years off too, making her twenty-six. My grandson looked up in horror. He was better at maths than me and declared, ‘But that would make me minus one. I don’t want to be minus one.’
We decided dropping ten years was not such a good idea so why did I do it again when approaching a publisher? The submission form asked for date of birth. I hovered over the keyboard before typing in 6.2.1960. My thought was that the publisher would think I had more mileage in me.
I’d been selling my writing for over forty years by then.
When asked what I’ve written it’s easier to respond with, ‘I’ve not covered poetry or pornography.’ I’ve written rude greeting cards, silly advertisements, flirted with journalism, sold articles and interviews, had hundreds of short stories published, a children’s book and several non-fiction books. I’ve also been a ghostwriter.
It wasn’t until the first lockdown that I decided it was time to get a novel published. There was an unpublished one, written around the turn of the century but it had never found a home. I dug it out, read it, and could see why. I had twenty more years of experience so set out to do a rewrite.
That was in 2020. I was 70 years old and ready to prove that you are never too old to have a new dream.
In 2023, Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt was published by Cahill Davis Publishing. Now the follow-up to that, Dilys Lloyd’s Dilemmas is out. If there was such a genre they would be classed as ‘mature romantic-comedy’.
The books have working class characters, the important ones all being over fifty. They have problems with jobs, weight, and lack of love lives, but they work hard, remain cheerful most of the time, have adventures and hide in Fred’s Fries for a decent meal when they come out of Flabfighters after being weighed.
My publisher arranged an interview for me with a media company. I was delighted and apprehensive. I’d interviewed many people during my time working for a local newspaper and one of the first questions asked is, ‘How old are you?’
That’s what happened with the media company. ‘I’m sixty-three,’ I lied and, once that hurdle was over, went on to discuss my debut novel and my life. Then came the question that tripped me up. ‘How long have you been married?’
I wasn’t expecting it. Out slipped the truth. ‘Fifty-six years,’ I said.
‘Married at seven?’ My interviewer was more than surprised.
I came clean. Then confessed to my publisher who was lovely, telling me that older people have more experience and therefore their writing is richer. Phew!
The cold weather is terrible for my skin. It gets dry and a lot of products make my skin red and sore. Enter Wonderbalm. Finally I have something I can use which actually works.
Winter can be rough on skin, hair, and everything in between, which is why WONDERBALM (£29) has become the must-have handbag hero for tackling those cold-weather woes. Compact yet powerful, this multi-use balm is a favourite among savvy shoppers and jet-setters alike. Whether it’s soothing dry hands, taming flaky scalps, or acting as an overnight lip mask, Wonderbalm truly does it all (and more).
With a nourishing blend of Olive Oil, Shea Butter, and Orange Peel Oil, it’s designed to deeply hydrate and restore skin and hair while fitting snugly in your bag. It’s no wonder customers rave about its versatility:
“I have psoriasis on my scalp on which can get really bad on my hairline and behind my ears. It can get really dry and flakey and is super embarrassing. I put this product on and instantly the itchiness subsided. Within a day the flaking stopped and was much smoother. Really lovely product and smells great too.”
“I use this on my hands and fingertips. The skin was cracking and was really sore. I have been using now for a few days and I can already see an improvement in the skin.”
“Every night – the best lip balm solution I have found!”
“I can’t stop recommending this product to friends and family! Have swapped out my cleansing balm, lip balms and hand cream for this one product! It really works wonders as an overnight lip mask to avoid any cracking from the cold weather.”
“I absolutely love it! I had really dry knuckles from UK winter and it’s basically gone away now”
“One pot wonder”
“I have been getting a dry, sore patch in between my fingers that has been flaring up occasionally. After using WONDERBALM it was feeling so much calmer and the redness had noticeably subsided.”
Why It’s Your Next Handbag Hero:
Dry Skin & Scalp Savior: Tackles irritation and dryness with antioxidant-rich Shea Butter and Orange Peel Oil
Compact Travel Essential: Perfect for handbags or carry-ons so there’s no need to pack bulky hand creams or multiple products
Cold-Weather Cuticle Care: Repairs cracked knuckles and soothes eczema-prone skin
Beauty Multi-Tasker: Use it as a cleanser, makeup remover, or an overnight lip and face mask for ultimate hydration
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu won the ultimate accolade of Museums & Collections of the Year in the 2024 Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards. The trophy was presented to Dr Jon Murden, the Museum’s Chief Executive at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London. The awards are an annual celebration of excellence in the UK’s historic motoring & motorsport worlds.
The award category nominees are assessed by an independent panels of specialist judges, handpicked for their expertise. The judges commended the Museum on the renewed focus on the social and cultural history of the motor vehicle. This has been evident with the Museum’s new gallery, Streets Ahead, and other exhibitions and events throughout the year. The “We had one of those” experience outside the Museum at Beaulieu, which enabled visitors to renew memories by sitting in the cars of their youth, was also commended. Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum was a finalist alongside the Tyrrell Shed at Goodwood and the British Motor Museum.
Accepting the award Dr Jon Murden, National Motor Museum Chief Executive said, “We are honoured and thrilled to have won this museums and collections of the year award. It has been a very busy year for us at the National Motor Museum. A year of re-identifying our purpose, telling the story of motoring, channelling the spirit of motoring’s past into a new range of social and cultural stories. It is really gratifying to see that appreciated. This award is a recognition of an amazing team of knowledgeable staff and volunteers who have contributed to our new displays and events throughout 2024.”
Jon Murden says, “The National Motor Museum is embarking on a masterplan that will transform the ways we look after, use, display and interpret our collections, and the stories we tell, all with the goal of making us attractive to successive generations of visitors, making us more sustainable and ensuring our continued economic viability.“
A full calendar of events and exhibitions is held at Beaulieu by the National Motor Museum, including Collection Centre Open Days, Classic Grille Evenings, Meet the Curator events and Transport Torques. Details are available at https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/events
In family life, managing health can often feel challenging. However, online pharmacies have changed how families approach wellness, making balancing health needs with the daily rush more straightforward. These digital platforms save time, ensuring essential health products are only a few clicks away. This shift allows parents to focus on their family’s well-being without the hassle of visiting a traditional pharmacy.
The Role of Online Pharmacies in Modern Family Wellness
Online pharmacies play a crucial role in supporting family wellness by offering easy access to various health products. Busy parents can browse and buy everything from prescription medicines to wellness supplements and personal care items, all from the comfort of home. This convenience benefits families with young children or those managing packed schedules, saving them from long, time-consuming trips to the pharmacy.
Safety and reliability remain top concerns for families, and reputable online pharmacies, like Oxford Online Pharmacy, implement strict safety protocols to ensure that all high-quality products are legitimate. Licensed pharmacy services adhere to healthcare regulations, giving families peace of mind when purchasing. The variety of products available through online pharmacies means that parents can find tailored solutions that suit diverse health needs, from allergy medications to essential vitamins for children.
How Online Pharmacies Simplify Medication Management for Families
Managing prescriptions for an entire family can be overwhelming, especially if multiple members have different medication schedules. Online pharmacies help ease this process by offering scheduled deliveries tailored to individual needs.
With regular shipments for prescriptions, families can rest assured they’ll always have essential medications on hand. This structure takes a load off parents, giving them more time and energy to focus on family health without constantly worrying about managing medication refills.
Another benefit of online pharmacies is their user-friendly platforms. Many sites are designed to make reordering medications quick and easy. Parents can view their medication history and reorder prescriptions without hassle.
Additionally, several online pharmacies, like Oxford Online Pharmacy, provide pharmacist consultations via chat or phone, offering professional guidance for medication-related questions. This personalised support is a comforting option, especially for parents handling more complex health routines for their children.
Benefits of Using Online Pharmacies for Family Health Essentials
Beyond prescription medications, online pharmacies provide families access to trusted health supplements. Parents can easily find a range of vitamins, minerals, and herbal products tailored to support their children’s growth and development. Having dependable health products within easy reach is invaluable for fostering family wellness.
Another big plus is the ease with which parents can compare prices. Online pharmacies often list competitive pricing, helping families make informed choices and save money on essential health items. This benefit is especially welcome in a tight economy, where every penny matters.
Privacy is also a significant advantage of online pharmacies. They offer families a discreet way to purchase health products, especially for conditions or issues that might feel sensitive or embarrassing to discuss in person. This privacy can make it easier for parents to manage personal health matters, relieving stress and allowing them to focus on their family’s well-being.
Supporting Mental and Emotional Health Through Online Pharmacy Options
Mental and emotional health is as crucial as physical health, and online pharmacies recognise this need by offering various supportive products. Families seeking stress relief or improved sleep can easily access herbal teas, sleep aids, and relaxation supplements online. The ease of accessing these products online can significantly help parents manage household stress and give them more time to focus on their mental well-being.
Online pharmacies provide a stress-free shopping experience, enabling parents to buy health products without the added pressure of in-store shopping. This flexibility frees up valuable time for families to spend together. Many online pharmacies also offer specialised self-care products, from skincare to relaxation tools, supporting overall family wellness.
By making self-care more accessible, we encourage parents to prioritise their health. This fosters a positive family atmosphere and strengthens mental health across the household.
Choosing the Right Online Pharmacy for Your Family
Selecting the right online pharmacy is vital for families looking for safe, reliable services. One of the first things parents should check for is safety certifications and genuine reviews. These are signs of a trustworthy provider. Oxford Online Pharmacy, for example, is a well-regarded option with a broad range of products and a reputation for high standards.
Customer support is another critical factor. A responsive support system makes a big difference when parents have questions about health products or need guidance with their orders. Reliable online pharmacies understand this and focus on delivering vital customer service, ensuring families can navigate their needs smoothly.
Finally, dependable delivery shouldn’t be underestimated. Parents should look for pharmacies that offer reliable, trackable delivery options, giving peace of mind that essential health products will arrive on time. Efficiently organising health essentials helps families feel secure on their wellness journey and confident in the support of their chosen pharmacy.
The largest and longest-running writer development programme in England is now open for entries, deadline 6 February 2025. Founded and produced by New Writing North with support from Northumbria University and Arts Council England, the Northern Writers’ Awards are now in their 26th year. The awards cover a range of genres including poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction, young adult, middle-grade fiction and short stories. The submission window for the awards varies but all winners will be announced in June 2025.
The Northern Writers’ Awards deliver crucial support for writers at an earlier stage than most literary awards, usually before an agent or publisher is involved. As such, they have an enviable track record for identifying some of the country’s best unpublished writing, providing a pipeline of new talent to the publishing and broadcast industries.
Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager (Talent Development) and Programme Leader (MA in Publishing), said: “Launching the Northern Writers’ Awards is always a highlight of the year for New Writing North. We continue to build the reputation of this flagship programme and could not be more proud of the impact of our Awards.We identify talented writers, create opportunities and guide writers towards their individual goals. We act as a bridge between industry and the exceptional artistic talent in the North. This work is made possible through the support of our lead partners, Arts Council England, Northumbria University, Hachette Children’s Group, Channel 4 and a wide range of industry partners and individual donors. I am also grateful for the expertise of our amazing judges and the continued dedication of the highly skilled team at New Writing North.’
Judges for 2025 include the Scottish poet and essayist Kathleen Jamie for the Northern Writers’ Awards for Poetry and the Northern Debut Awards for Poetry.
Kathleen Jamie’s poetry collections include The Overhaul, which won the 2012 Costa Poetry Prize, and The Tree House, which won the Forward prize. From 2021-24, Kathleen served as Scotland’s Makar, or National Poet.
The novelist and poet Kit Fan and interdisciplinary artist Tice Cin will judge the Northern Writers’ Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction, the Northern Debut Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction and the Northumbria Student and Alumni Award. Tice Cin is a music journalist, DJ, music producer, filmmaker, and author of Keeping the House, named as one of the Guardian’s Best Books of 2021. Kit Fan’s first novel is Diamond Hill, and his poetry collection The Ink Cloud Reader was shortlisted for the Forward Prize and T.S. Eliot Prize.
Agent Sandra Sawicka has been announced as a judge of the Northern Debut Award for Young Adult Fiction and the Young Northern Writers’ Awards. Sandra joined the Marjacq literary agency in 2014, with an interest is genre fiction, including horror, gothic, crime, and Young Adult fiction.
Just a reminder that the Hachette Children’s Novel Awards, for debut writers of middle-grade children’s fiction and early teen fiction, is already open for entries. Submission deadline is 13 January 2025, with two winners receiving £3000 cash prize and a programme of mentoring opportunities within Hachette Children’s Group and New Writing North.
The full suite of awards is made possible by a range of vital partnerships with Arvon, Bonafide Films, Channel 4, Hachette Children’s Group, Rollem Productions, Red Production Company, The Literary Consultancy, Newcastle University, The North Literary Agency, Oneworld Publications, The Society of Authors, ALCS, the Michael Marks Charitable Trust as well as generous donations from individual donors including the Hale family, Andrew McMillan and Benjamin Myers.
Further award categories open in February 2025, including the Tempest Prize for LGBTQ+ writers based in the North, The Finchale Award for Short Fiction, the Arvon Award, the Northern Promise TLC Read Awards and the Sid Chaplin Award for writers from working-class backgrounds.
Christmas is almost here and if you are anything like me you hate shopping. Don’t panic, Frost is here to help. We will have the perfect gift in our pages. You just sit back and scroll.
Anything from L’Occitane. L’OCCITANE Christmas Gift Guide 2024
Advent Calendar.
The Best of L’Occitane. An absolute gorgeous set of the best L’Occitane has to offer.
Le Grand Voyage. A perfect gift with the best skincare. Wow-worthy.
Shea Butter Body Care Collection. I love shea butter and this gift set from L’Occitane is one of the best.
For stuffing stockings. This luxury, independent, cosmetics brand, Doll Smash is gorgeous and such high quality. I love the stylish packaging and the palette leaves you spoiled for choice.
Then luxury, independent, cosmetics brand, Doll Smash have a huge range of giftable goodies. The Expressionism Eyeshadow Palette £42, that features twelve carefully curated and highly pigmented colours with 6 matte and 6 metallic shades is an essential. Secondly is the luxurious and ultra-glossy Crystal Glow Lip Oil £22- enriched with jojoba oil and vitamins to keep lips smooth and moisturized throughout the day, this non-sticky, fragrance free, lightweight, vegan oil is available in four delicious shades and is ideal for stuffing stockings. Frost Loves.
The Perfect Bra: Bravado Designs | Everyday collection | From RRP: £28.00 | Stockist: Bravado Designs
These are so comfortable and I usually hate bras. I actually bought another one after reviewing them.
Give the gift of comfort this Christmas, thanks to Bravado Designs Everyday lingerie collection. With an extensive range of sustainable options made from the softest eco-conscious quality fabrics, Bravado continues to offer comfort with a conscience. Known for their maternity & nursing bras, the lingerie experts support women from pregnancy, through to breastfeeding and beyond. The latest launches include the Balconette bra, offering a feminine and flattering sweetheart neckline, designed to lift from below the breast to accentuate a shapely silhouette. And the Sculpt, a best-selling design for a good reason, the bra will truly elevate the wearers day in more ways than one –seamless, wire-free and engineered beautifully.
Smart Toys & Games | IQ Gears | RRP: £12.99 | Stockist: SmartToys&Games
This is a brilliant gift for kids and adults. We have already had hours of fun with it and there is a lot of levels you can do. Love it.
Get those brains geared-up this Christmas with the award-winning compact IQ Gears! With up to 120 challenges, players 7+ must fit all the gears on the gameboard to make the cogs rotate!
The Puppet Company | ECO Sockettes | RRP: £19.99 | Stockist: The Puppet Company
These hand puppets are beautifully made and children love them. A great way to entertain.
For the big kids of the family, these fabulous, fun, knitted Sockette puppets with a squeaker in the tongue, are sure to get the conversation started around the Christmas dinner table! Designed to be both eye-catching and highly functional, these easy-to-use creations work well alone and look even more striking when used with some of their other Sockette friends! With larger than life characters, they are full of mischief with friendly faces and big mouths. Making a really unique gift, they are now made from recycled materials and embroidered eyes, with no plastic in sight.
Advent Calendar From Sockshop. Finding matching socks in the morning is always a pain. This advent calendar is joy encapsulated. Brilliant, comfortable socks which are high quality, along with a little fun everyday.
SOCKSHOP Advent Calendars Available for men & women
Priced at £59.99 with 10% of sales going to their partner charity Emmaus
Perfect Books For Children
The Story Orchestra. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A sound book which is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Classic. As fun as it is entertaining. I love this series and I have a few others in the collection now. Everything about this is perfect, from the illustration to the story.
Spin To Survive Deep Space Danger. A game-in-a-book where you survive on a space ship heading for disaster. It’s thrilling and perfect for family fun this Christmas.
Enter The World of Dinosaurs. Immersive 3D Viewer. See dinosaurs in 3D with this immersive 3D viewer. It has 30 dinosaur cards with facts and observational dinosaur games.
12 Days of SkinCycles Advent Calendar
Another gorgeous beauty advent calendar. The products are premium and full-size. This exclusive 12 Days of SkinCycles Advent Calendar – a curated selection of best-selling products in full sizes, is perfect for anyone who wants to experience the full range of clinical-grade skincare. It’s a luxurious way to count down to Christmas while treating the skin to scientifically backed, rejuvenating skincare. The advent calendar will be available for pre-order by November 1st.
With sustainability and ethics at the core of SkinCycles. Products are PETA-approved and coral reef-safe. They were also awarded the Butterfly Mark for r dedication to ethical beauty practices.
SkinCycles, a cosmeceutical skincare brand that merges advanced dermatology treatments with the luxury of at-home skincare – perfect for Christmas gifting!
The Perfect Gift for Film Fans. The official DC Cinematic book has landed, DC Cinematic Universe, published by DK books. Comprehensive and a great read.
See how DC’s characters, locations, costumes, and weapons have been adapted from page to screen and evolved over the decades. Witness some of the world’s finest actors, such as Academy-Award winners Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Christian Bale, Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Viola Davis, and others transform into the Super Heroes, Super-Villains, and supporting cast for their times.
ShelterBox Book Club
A charity book subscription service with a difference. Every six weeks our 2,000+ members receive a physical book in the post and access to exclusive online events like live Q&As with the authors and discussions with the other members.
It’s no ordinary book club. It’s a community of book worms, passionate about books and ShelterBox’s vision: No one left without shelter after disaster.
A UK based international disaster relief charity that supports people with emergency shelter, and basic items like solar lights, blankets and mosquito nets, when disaster or conflict has torn them from their homes.
The ShelterBox Book Club has been running for 6 years and since then over 90,000 books have been read and nearly £1.5 million has been raised.
It’s a perfect Christmas gift for a book lover. Every 6 weeks members vote their favourite choice from a specially selected shortlist reflecting the countries and cultures ShelterBox has worked in. The book with the most votes is the one that’s posted out to everyone to read.
Noughty’s 2024 Christmas Gift Shop – Perfect Haircare Gifts for Everyone. Haircare is so mood-boosting and these products are brilliant.
Noughty’s 2024 Christmas Gift Shop, a festive selection of natural, sulphate-free, and vegan-friendly haircare bundles perfect for gifting this season. With products designed for every hair type and concern, cruelty-free gift sets are ideal for Christmas. I loved the Sensitive Scalp Starter Bundle: £22.49 – Instant relief from itching and dryness, fragrance-free and ideal for eczema-prone scalps.
Biovene Barcleona – Great Products and Clean Beauty.
Biovene Barcelona has now launched at Morissons. These make great gifts, and stocking stuffers or add-ons for Christmas!
Biovène Barcelona is a multi-award-winning, socially conscious, brand, which promotes ‘Clean’ Beauty; and where transparency is found in the formulations of products without Sulfates, SLS, SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oil, microplastics, oxybenzone, hydroquinone, Triclosan, Triclocarban and less than 1% of synthetic fragrances. The brand does not test on animals and strives to provide product options that are either vegetarian or vegan.
Born in Barcelona, Spain, the brand embraces diversity in gender identity and culture, as it does in its world-renowned inclusive city. Spanning all over the globe, from Europe to the Middle East & America, Biovène Barcelona innovates prestigious products defined as ‘premium’ but accessible and believes beauty should be fair it of religion, ethnicity, or any part of life- it should not be limited the access to life and beauty.
The brand instils confidence and establishes itself as a trusted name by assuring consumers that products are made with integrity and free from harmful ingredients. Available from Morrisons.
We’re hurtling towards Christmas at a rate of knots, and I for one cannot wait. That said, there is much to do before I can relax, which is why I was so delighted to discover Somrus Coffee, a rum based cream liqueur.
Perfect as a gift, the bottle is covered in a stylish Christmassy, indented gold jacket which will not only stand out in the drinks’ cabinet, but as the standout present beneath the Christmas tree.
Certain scents and tastes immediately bring Christmas to mind, and in this respect Somrus Coffee does not disappoint, I will certainly be using it in some Christmas cocktails such as the one’s below, and poured over vanilla ice cream for a no effort Christmas dessert, Looking for words to describe the taste, I found myself instinctively smacking my lips (it helps me think – at least that is what I tell my wife.) Served over ice Somrus coffee is a smooth well balanced well gentle hit of alcohol and yes, lip smacking, with a subtle taste of coffee coming through.
SOMRUS Coffee Cream is part of the SOMRUS range of creams inspired by India and made for the world.’ SOMRUS has three flavours in the range; Mango, Coffee and Chai and has become the world’s most awarded cream since its launch in 2014. SOMRUS is new to the UK, having been a best-selling cream in the US and Global Travel Retail for many years and is marketed as a next-generation rum cream. SOMRUS Creams have a premium rum base, low viscosity, low alcohol by volume (ABV), no preservatives, no artificial flavours and are gluten free. SOMRUS Creams are made in the US with fresh Dairy Cream and 5 x distilled rum.
Somrus Irish Coffee: 1 part Irish Whiskey | 2 parts SOMRUS coffee | 4 parts freshly brewed coffee | Whipped cream – Combine the ingredients in a mug. Garnish with whipped cream.
Somrus Peppermint Mocha: 3 parts SOMRUS Coffee Cream | 2 parts Creme De Cacao | 1 part Peppermint Schnapps | Crushed candy cane | Syrup
Dip the rim of your glass in syrup and roll in crushed candy canes. Combine in a shaker with ice, shake then strain into your prepared cocktail glass and enjoy!
SOMRUS Cream Café Mocha: 1 part SOMRUS Coffee Cream | 3 parts hot chocolate
Combine the ingredients in a mug. Garnish with whipped cream and grated chocolate.
Somrus Coffee Cream Liqueur is definitely at the top of my Christmas list this year.
ABV: 15% for a 70cl bottle | RRP from £19.99. Available to purchase from Amazon and Master of Malt.
I finished reading The Commuter in a day. I raced through it. It’s a brilliant domestic thriller which had me hooked from the very first page. Here’s my interview with Emma.
The Commuter is your seventh novel. How does that feel? It’s a huge achievement.
It feels like a huge achievement! I started writing, submitting and getting rejections when I was in my late twenties, found an agent in my late forties and published my debut when I was fifty, so I definitely put the work in. I still sometimes pinch myself.
Does the writing get easier?
I think the writing does, the editing doesn’t. It’s a long hard slog full of dead ends, frustrations and moments when I want to run away from it all. But when it’s finally signed off the satisfaction is huge. Writing the first draft is such a pleasure. If only the first draft was the last!
Where did the idea for come from?
I’ve lived in London and used the tube all my life and I’ve always enjoyed the free newspapers. The Rush Hour Crush feature in the Metro is so intriguing. When I was a teenager I used to look for Mr Darcys, now I scan faces and wonder what I’d write if I fancied someone. No one so far! It seemed like there could be a thriller in there somewhere.
What is your writing routine?
I get up early, ideally around 6am, have breakfast and start work. Then I work fairly solidly until twelve, have lunch and go for a long walk to mull over what I’ve done and set up the next chapter for the next morning. I like routine and deadlines and I’m not very flexible. But it gets things done.
Do you have a favourite novel that you have written?
Yes, my favourite is Keep Her Quiet which came out in 2020. One of the protagonists is an arrogant male author. I loved writing him!
What books have you read recently that you loved?
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley-Heller. I recommend it to anyone who asks me what to read next.
Do you have any favourite authors?
Loads! JP Delaney for quirky concept thrillers. Stephen King for lessons in story-telling. Celeste Ng is fantastic for family based noir. Robert Galbraith because I adore Cormoran Strike and need to know what happens between him and Robin. I like American literature too. AM Homes is a favourite. I wish Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would publish another novel!
How did you get published?
Since it took me such a long time, that is a very good question. I had given up for a few years, then my oldest child went off to University and I felt like I had to have another go. I wrote two novels, both rejected, then started writing short stories and entering them in online competitions. These did well. I had about a 25% hit rate of first, second and third prizes and those gave me credibility in the eyes of agents. I needed that because I had zero connection to the publishing industry. I turned one of the prize winning stories into a novel and this time, instead of sending it out to a handful of agents, getting rejections and losing heart, I sent it to thirty within three weeks so that I wouldn’t give up at the first No Thanks. That worked. I had twenty-six rejections, four requests for the full manuscript and an offer. One of the best days of my life. My agent at the time, Victoria Hobbs at AM Heath, secured a deal with Transworld.
What advice would you give other writers?
Mark out your time, even if it’s only half an hour a day. Stick to a routine and write even if you don’t feel like it.
Learn to properly critique and edit your own work before you give it to anyone else – I did a course on this and it was invaluable (Jericho Writers).
Don’t give your MS to friends and family to read and comment on. It puts them in a difficult position. Instead, if you’re serious start saving up for a professional critique from a reputable company like Cornerstones, Jericho Writers or The Novelry. But don’t send them anything until you’ve gone the extra mile. (see learn to critique and edit your own work!)
Also, interrogate your ego. It could be getting between you and representation. There’s the ego that will organise a professional edit but not take the advice because it doesn’t agree. There’s the ego that has that one precious pearl of a book and can’t move on from it despite repeated rejections. There’s the ego which will only write ‘what I want to write’, and won’t look for the space where what it wants to write dovetails with what people want to read.
What’s next for you?
Next is a thriller about the devastating aftermath of a lie told by an angry and embarrassed teenage girl. That’s coming out in October 2025 and I’ve just sent a draft to my agent to take a look at before it goes to my editor. I have everything crossed! I heard today that she’s read a third of it and loves it. Hopefully the next two-thirds won’t change her mind.