Mum & I visited our local fancy-schmancy @swanseastones.bsky.social today. Birthday books (for me) were bought & spirited away to a secret place where I hope they'll magically multiply into even more birthday books. Took a lovely shelfie of The Rose Garden & The Elopement too

Latest read: I soooo enjoyed Echoes of the Runes by @christinacourtenay.bsky.social Full of atmosphere, historical detail & adventure, it moves between present day Sweden & London, & the time of the Vikings. Sweeping, romantic and exciting. What a treat!

February's gone a bit grim and grey, hasn't it? Suddenly everyone seems to be commenting on it. And it's cold! Beach walks and books are the way through for me. Spring is coming.

Happy St Dwynwen's Day, everyone! The Welsh patron saint of love is celebrated on 25th January and what a beautiful morning it is for her ❤️ Cold, frosty and bright. Photos don't capture the sheer brilliance of the white waves but it fills the soul!

My latest read: Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins by @clairefayers.bsky.social is such a treat to dip into here and there through busy days. I love the way this author puts a unique spin on traditional myths and folktales, making them fresh, funny and bright.

Latest read: I absolutely ADORED this beauty by @juliakellywrites.bsky.social, the story of 2 estranged sisters fighting to save their dressmaking store. It's warm, heartfelt & engulfing, with that indefinablehappy-making quality. Out next month.

Time for an Earl Grey...

My latest read: Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld. As with all this author's books, it was vividly characterised, cleverly written and full of psychological insight

That's January for you - spring flowers and a woolly hat! Out and about this morning doing errands, now settling down to some lovely writing...

Helping my parents tidy their spare room recently, I came across these reminders of my school days and French A level! Further nostalgia - when I was tiny, Dad and I would read the Mister Men books together and our favourite was Mr Uppity (Monsieur Malpoli). Happy memories

Latest read: Most people know that books with a war setting aren't my cup of tea but I thoroughly enjoyed this vivid, emotional tale set during the Spanish Civil War by @maggiebrookesbutt.bsky.social I loved both the beautiful writing & the gutsy, humanitarian, heart-led heroine

Happy New Year! ✨️

Yesterday was a wide open, sweeping sort of day. This morning, let's be honest, I'm staying cosy in bed a little longer and reading.

The tide's out and the horizon's cloudy. A grey day but mild and somehow welcoming. Happy Friday everyone!

My latest read: Wooing the Witch Queen by @stephanieburgis.bsky.social a fabulous new romantasy due out Feb. Absolutely loved it! A gorgeous love story, a case of mistaken identity, a great adventure and wonderful characters finding their own strength. And it's FUN!

A cool and streaky morning - the Christmas decorations looking fab on the front. Today kicked off with cuppas and conversation with a friend, followed by errands. Next up, an afternoon of plotting and planning various endeavours with @bevrogers.bsky.social

With the nights drawing in and winter solstice approaching, I did a little photo shoot of some of my favourite winter-themed books across the genres. They wanted to wear feathers, and rightly so

My latest read: I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery is reading heaven. Emotional and exciting, full of love, truth and adventure, I read it in a flash. It also reduced me to tears whilst reading in a public place! Absolutely beautiful. Loved it

The weather is absolutely wild today. Gales, rain and dour grey skies. It ain't pretty! So here are some pics of yesterday's walk instead. Meanwhile, it's a slipper-boots and laptop kind of a day here at Rees Towers. Wishing everyone a cosy Saturday

Today, lastly but not leastly, I'm remembering my 3 contemporary novels, which make perfect stocking fillers or an extra treat on kindle. I'm deeply fond of them all; they were so much fun to write. It was creatively joyful to do something a little different

Utter joy!

So wonderful!

Latest read: Northern Boy by @ihussainwriter.bsky.social A dream of a book! Brilliant story, beautifully written. Tender, compassionate, wry. Fabulous hero, brilliant supporting characters, wonderful ending. I'll be thinking about it for ages. Loved it!

Every year I treat myself to one or two Christmas books for the festive season. I may have exceeded my quota a tad this year but I'm looking forward to each and every one!

Great news! The Little Christmas House is on a special Kindle Countdown to Christmas deal - just 99p til 24th December! It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

It's Avent tomorrow, folks! I love Advent. And I love Advent calendars. My parents give me one every year, even though I'm 52 💖 Because I'm old-school, I love the ones with pictures. I think this year's is super-pretty. I'm enjoying it like this for a day before the opening begins!

And today I'm remembering my 6th & 7th historical novels, The Rose Garden & The Elopement. Two of my very favourites to research & write, they're set in late Victorian Hampstead. Friendship, mystery, secrets, romance & strong women!

This evening I'm remembering book 5 The House at Silvermoor. Set in the South Yorkshire coalfield in the late 19th century, it wasn't the easiest book to write. But Tommy's one of my loveliest protagonists I think & I was so happy with how the story, the mystery & his friendship with Josie developed

Moody weather this morning - the ideal day for castles and Earl Grey. Then again, what day isn't?! A glimpse of beautiful Carreg Cennen Castle and farewell to Carmarthenshire after an unforgettable couple of days. What's next?!

More pics from yesterday's heavenly walk at Aberglasney Gardens. Is there anything more wonderful than trees? Good morning, everyone, have a happy Tuesday

Spent this afternoon at Aberglasney Gardens, one of my favourite places in the world. Although, as a writer, I'm obviously a words person, I have a very visual brain too, so days like these are not just soul food, they truly are creativity fodder. I've been walking, reading and sketching

OK I've caved! It's not December but the first Christmas film of the year is underway at Rees Towers. It's giving me all the festive vibes ✨️ ❄️🎄

Latest read: The Blackbirds of St Giles by @lilacaine.bsky.social One of the most exciting books I've read in ages. Daniel is such a real, believable hero with flaws & secrets & huge integrity. I was rooting for him from 1st page to last. An atmospheric, compelling read. Out January 2025

Today I'm remembering book 4, Darling Blue. (Also available as The Love Note.) Set in the 1920s, it's about wealthy Blue, who wants to be a journalist, her unhappy stepmother Midge & Delphine, a young woman on the run from a cruel husband. I had a ball researching this one

Oh look at this! A new novel coming from @hazelgaynor.bsky.social The backstory of Auntie Em from The Wizard of Oz. How amazing is that? And what a beautiful cover.

Another glorious day of blue skies, blue sea and biting cold. Beautiful out, but I'm also loving being inside and cosy with the laptop...

Today I'm remembering book 3, The Hourglass, the only dual timeline book I've written - set in 2014 & the 1950s. I loved writing it. The 1950s part was inspired by my mum's delightful tales of her childhood holidays in Tenby

Frost & sunshine! I know everyone's been talking about snow but it didn't occur to me to adjust my wardrobe - I nearly froze my face off! But boy was it worth it. A glorious, glinting morning. How could I not be inspired? Happy Wednesday, all!

My latest read: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore is wonderful - everything the gorgeous, gold-goiled cover promises! I read it in a trice - completely moreish, delicious small-town romance & escapism. I read it smiling. Truly relaxing

Walking at 7am in November. Sleepy, dreamy and beautiful. Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone!

Today I'm remembering Florence Grace, the dreaded book 2! 1st time writing under contract, stress! But also I was happy to be doing my dream job at last. Plus Florrie & Turlington had been kicking around in my head for years, so it was good to let them out! Plus the cover - I ❤️ that dress!

After a long, busy day, thinking about this morning's walk. Out early, enjoying the peace, admiring the views... no better way to set me up for the day

My latest read: The Story Spinner by Barbara Erskine. I really enjoyed this. Dual timeline - present day and late Roman Britain - with archaeology, a wormhole, a vengeful entrepreneur, a disappearing dog, the ghostly tramp of marching boots... It's pretty too, even under the dust jacket

Today I'm remembering my first published novel, Amy Snow. It'll have been ten years next April!! This book will always have a special place in my heart because it kicked off my entire journey as a published author 💜

Continuing my autumn obsession, more November ramblings from me. Happy Friday, everyone!

Had a wonderful pre-lunch interlude, writing by the sea in absolutely glorious sunshine. Such a treat to write in notebooks, rather than on a screen.

Hi, I'm Tracy, I write fiction - mostly historical but other things too. Nature is my passion and inspiration. Hope to connect with lovely bookish folk on here 💖