Was about to chuck my old rejections away, when I thought it might be helpful to share a few before they hit the bin. Yep I’ve been getting rejections since ye olde days of snail mail. And even after being published, the rejections still roll in. I’m out on sub at the mo, so preparing for more! 😳

Monday motivation: If you don’t ask, you don’t get. (And if you see a ground-level bucket of tantalising treats, you help yourself. Obviously.)

How I feel about January in general, and how I’m feeling about January 2025 so far…

Really chuffed to learn that my two funny books got borrowed from libraries more than I’d dared hope! OK, my expectations were self-protectingly low, but a massive thank you to anyone who borrowed or bought them. Hurrah for libraries, librarians, bloggers, booksellers and bookworms everywhere! ❤️

If you’re finding the doom & gloom overwhelming today, I recommend this brilliant news magazine to restore your faith in the world. Its quarterly issues provide a much-needed balance to the mainstream focus on bad news. Good things *are* happening - we just never hear about them!

New season alert! 🚨 This season is all about the myths and tropes of the different stages publishing. 📚 There's plenty of first hand expectation versus reality in the upcoming episodes! 📝 🔗 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... #WritingCommunity #writers #writingtips

If you’re feeling a bit like this about writing your novel, give me a shout. I may be able to help… Alternatively, there’s always chocolate. 😁

TV dinners until the Death Star is complete.

Looking for some UK based women, aged 40+ who have overcome a fear to talk about the experience, for a lovely positive piece in a women's weekly magazine. Will need to be named and pictured. Please get in touch if you can help! #journorequest Pls Share

As I promised myself to always celebrate the small wins, today I’m celebrating the fact that my agent loves my latest MS. This in itself means the world to me, (especially as my last MS didn’t go so well) so even if no one else loves it, one person does, and that’s a moment to savour!🥂🎉🏆 #YAlit

Can’t wait to read this! 🚩🚩🚩

Some great gift ideas for young readers, encompassing whacky inventions, pet dinosaurs, ghosts with goals, courageous hounds, grandparents and frenemies, and kindness revolutions… ❤️ #childrensbooks

Having seen some exciting YA/kids synopses-in-progress today from CBC students, I dug out one I wrote a while ago. Capturing the essence & plot of your MS on 1 page is a heinous challenge, so thought I’d share this for anyone currently struggling to do just that. It’s not perfect but it did the job!

How essential is snow in a Christmas romcom? ❄️ A. I NEED SNOW YO! ❄️ B. Makes snow difference to me! ❄️ C. LOLs are WAY more important than the flakey stuff! Interested to hear your views… #yabooks #christmasromcoms

I was asked to add a bit more woomph to my WIP. I wasn’t sure I could deliver that woomph, but after another round of edits, including a new first chapter and punchy prologue, I think I’ve found the woomph! Feeling excited about sending woomphed-up WIP back to my agent. 🤞 #YAbooks

7 days to go! Help us write the #5ActFestiveStory from Mon 9 Dec to Mon 16 Dec. You could be in with a chance of winning a free six-week online writing course place. #WriteCBC #WritingCommunity Find out how to take part: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/blog/how-to-...

This pic of my dog Arnie refusing to leave the park reflects how I feel about starting again on another social media platform.

Lookee here, it's a list of all the best Christmas reads from Good Housekeeping mag including yours truly... but also some others which I hear are quite good... 😁 www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle...

It’s Book Friday!

Fabulous starter pack of @uclanpublishing.bsky.social authors! (I might be slightly biased as I'm on there...) 📚💙 #uclan #booksky #authorstarterpack go.bsky.app/7ZmvUHn

Hi everyone. I’m a YA comedy author, editor & copywriter from Brighton UK. Here’s me at gorgeous bookshop Mr B’s in Bath last year! Currently working on a Christmassy teen romcom that’s nearly ready to search for a home. What else? J’aime le ping pong, les romans et Blondie!