I didn’t set out to take a break between books, but life, as we all know, has ways of not always taking the exact paths we plan. As well as spending time doing the fun things, such as travelling again after Covid, I was diagnosed with early-stage cancer for the second time in five years. I was fortunate to receive swift treatment, however, that, along with my father’s death, navigating a divorce and our young dog passing away unexpectedly was hard, so I took a step back to slow down, heal and spend some time with my family and friends.
The immense love and support I have received from so many people has been incredible. The writing community has been so supportive and I regularly meet up with other writers for coffee, chat and much laughter. I’m now back at my desk, in remission, energised, genuinely full of gratitude and looking forward to hopefully meeting and connecting with readers, travelling some more and spending time back in the world of books. I’ve really enjoyed the literary events I’ve been involved in over the past year or so and am looking to forward many more.
Writing has always been my passion and for my fifth book One Night Only I booked to go on a flight simulator experience with my three sons. They ‘got it’, I did not, so it’s a good job I always wanted to be cabin crew and not a pilot! It was good fun though, and it gave me even more of an insight into Nicole and how she compartmentalises her worlds. I also visited local airfields to get a feel for Nicole and Gabe’s world and on a recent holiday in Perth, I was able to walk in Nicole’s footsteps as one of the scenes is set in a luxury hotel in the city centre.
I’m currently writing my sixth book which is set both in the UK and abroad (I feel a research trip coming up) and have many ideas for the future, including something which I hope will perhaps help others going through challenging situations.
A huge thanks to anyone and everyone who has been in touch personally, and also to all the readers, bloggers, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, event organisers who are so brilliant at sharing their love of books and stories.