Love-bombing: No fairy tale. @dremmalk.bsky.social on themes from her new book, ‘The Psychopath Effect’. www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

We know what a psychopath is. At least, we think we do. In these troubled times, it feels like psychopathy is everywhere, corrupting all that makes our societies good. We need the truth more than ever. In this non-fiction, we will talk about the psychopath & why what we know about them is wrong.

This week will mostly be sponsored by stock signings and cheering loudly at Every Time We Burn being selected as March’s Waterstone’s Welsh Book of the Month. There will be signed copies scattered liberally across South Wales (apologies to the North & very West - I still love you!).

Oh god. She’s an author. Why did no one warn me my new mummy makes up stuff for a living? That’s not a stable income. How well she keep me in the manner in which I intended to become accustomed?

After losing our beloved nut job Dobby earlier this year, we reached the conclusion that one golden retriever just isn’t enough. And so, this happened…

🇬🇧🇺🇦 "Did you hear people cheering you on the street? You can see the support. And we will support as long as it takes. We want long-term peace," — Starmer to Zelensky

Fascinating article about why we probably shouldn’t panic just yet.

How LOVELY!!!

It is finally here. My first book birthday in a very long while. The Time Of The Fire is making its way out into the world. Duck and cover, people!

The last time I went to the GP for help because I was beside myself with joint pain, I was met with a shrug & a “You probably know more about this than I do”. I have lost all confidence in the medical profession at this point. We need to do better for Long Covid sufferers apple.news/A3phyjrQUS2q...

One tries to be flippant and light hearted, but chronic illness is tedious, depressing, constant and grinding sometimes.

Midway through a busy couple of weeks. Everything hurts. But I’m taking the advice of the gorgeous @janecasey.bsky.social. This is not a crash. It is a well earned rest. And I am taking a moment to be grateful to my Long Covid body for soldiering on. Good job, body. Have a biscuit!

Phase 1 of book launch complete! The Time Of The Fire peeked its nose out into the world at a preview London launch, courtesy of the remarkable Goldsboro Books. A lovely evening with wonderful people, many of whom I haven’t seen in far too long. Next stop, publication day…

What a week to have a book out about political corruption and powerful, abusive men! At least in my novel they get their comeuppance. My first Anna Sharpe thriller. Out today in all formats in the UK, and in eBook and audio in the US. #NotesOnADrowning annamazzola.com/notes-on-a-d...

I LOVED #TheTimeOfTheFire by @dremmalk.bsky.social. I'm delighted to be sharing my #BookReview today. hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-... @orionbooks.bsky.social @tracyfenton.bsky.social

For every doctor who has ever raised an eyebrow at a woman with a chronic post viral condition, I would like to point out that the female immune system has been found to have a more aggressive inflammatory response when threatened. Hence creating a greater vulnerability to chronic inflammation & LC.

It is January. That means publication month for The Time Of The Fire. But sometimes life overshadows art… My latest Substack, about the LA fires & the psychology of surviving the unthinkable. open.substack.com/pub/brainmee...

Delighted to see that The Time Of The Fire is a Prima Magazine pick of the month. This makes me very happy!

It is January. That means publication month for The Time Of The Fire. But sometimes life overshadows art… My latest Substack, about the LA fires & the psychology of surviving the unthinkable. open.substack.com/pub/brainmee...

“See, the thing is doc, I keep having this dream where I’m laying there, all nice and relaxed, and then a giant black cat comes and sits on my head. What do you think it means?”

My youngest was 20 minutes late out of school today. Because (checks notes) he had managed to tie his feet together. They had to get a Stanley knife. Multiple staff were involved in the rescue. Dear god.

GULP

The cat has the zoomies. The dogs are handling it well. Side note, does anyone have a giant butterfly net? Asking for a golden retriever…

Happy new year! I don’t do resolutions but if I did, they would be to remember that not every photo will be perfect, that life will sometimes put luminous necklaces on you & you can rock them or resent them but they’ll be there all the same. And that sometimes you DO get the Pringles can.

This time of year always reminds me of Christmas parenting my small children with the aid of one of those Santa apps. You know the ones that go “ho ho ho, and I hear you have been a GOOD BOY!” Which is great. But did you know there’s another version? The not so good version…

There might be SOME of you who are not terminally online so don't know #DuvetKnowItsChristmas used to make Twitter a wonderful place on Christmas Eve, so RING OUT THE BELLS, it's going to make this place wonderful now.

Today is Dobby’s gotcha day anniversary. His present was a new ball. He would like Luna to play with him with said new ball. I am not loving his chances.

My youngest has to dress as a cowboy for his Christmas show. And because of budgets and eco concerns I got his hat off Vinted. Last worn for a hen party. If there are blue lights in this show then I am stuffed…

This used to be a cushion. Then Dobby decided to make it his comfort cushion. It is now torn open & immensely sad. But still comforting. Apparently.

Hay on Wye has an awful lot going for it on your average day. Add a Christmas fair with a roaming Santa handing out presents to the kids, toasted marshmallows & carol singers, and Hay has taken towning to a whole new level. The town of books wins again.

Eldest bought the dogs treats as a Christmas present on his way to school. Dogs found them. Cat ate them. And he has no regrets.

Finished chapter. The most complicated chapter of the book. Brain broken now.

Due to weekend weather restrictions, activities across the weekend were severely restrained. A lot of sitting was done. So explain to me why I am now more sodding tired than I was on Friday??? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

Another day under weather warnings. Another weekend plan foiled by downed trees & power cuts. However, so far our power is still on, so we still have pretty fairy lights & the ability to cook food, & have thus far no damage. Could be so much worse.

Good morning. Survived the night in the red zone. Both dogs slept with us for safety reasons. I got the heads. My OH…did not. Apparently he isn’t keen that we repeat this experiment. The dogs disagree.

New parenting level unlocked - having to explain to my teen/ tween why the siren just went off on everyone’s phone & that no, it does not mean the purge is starting, & for the love of god would you put down the baseball bat… #weather #redweatherwarning

Hurrah! Thank you so much, Tracy! X

This giant doofus’s health hasn’t been the best lately. So when I arrived back from the school run & was not met by hysterical barking, I panicked a bit. Turns out, the TV had been left on. He was too engrossed in Christmas music videos to get up. I am less interesting than Bing Crosby.

This. This year has been absolutely crushing for so many authors. It’s becoming harder and harder for anyone who isn’t independently wealthy to be an author.

Good morning from a small dog with a big toy. She’s not actually asleep. She’s just pretending so I’ll stop talking to her about Wicked.

I say this as someone who saw Wicked on the stage 3 weeks ago, for the fourth time. Defying gravity is my all time favourite song & I read the book before it was turned into a musical. You could call me a hardcore wicked fan. I just saw the movie. My expectations were modest. AND IT WAS SPECTACULAR!

Good morning. I have decided that today is going to be a better day. Just…okay…no one tell the day, okay? Let’s not trigger it.

This is the face of a dog who had yet another seizure last night. This is also the face of a dog who has figured out that a 4am seizure means he gets to sleep in Mummy & Daddy’s bed. It’s possible this is the face of a dog who has learned to fake seizures…

Ah, I did wonder where Prince Andrew's PR's person went to work after the Newsnight interview...

Youngest’s primary school Christmas fete today. My child made a bauble. I had to pay for it. In other news, if anyone is interested in purchasing a kidney, do shout.

The dogs’ favourite show is, paws down, The Dog House. No interruptions, please. We’re invested.

Me: *stares into the abyss* The abyss:

I love this thread. I am 7 books down, still going strong and every day is a battle against the mean elves that live in my head, telling me rejections mean that I’m just not good enough. Rejections ARE the industry. It is a brutal one. Separating yourself off from that is a very good thing.