Tag Archives: Milly Johnson

Reflections on 2018

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As 2018 draws to a close I’d like to say thank you so much to all of those who have made my year by buying, borrowing, reading and reviewing my books. Your kindness and support are hugely appreciated!

Thank you also to all those who take the time to read my blog. It has been a year since I started it and what a great year it has been.

As well as having my first book published with Ruby fiction, and gaining my first Amazon Best Seller badge,  I have met new people, travelled and tried new things.

A big thank you to the Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction team for making this  dream come true!

In June I had the privilege of going to the Arte Umbria writing retreat with Sue Moorcroft. It turned out I was the only other writer booked, and so I had Sue all to myself for a week. It was a lot of fun, with a great many words written. Sue and I shared chats on the terrace (as well as the odd glass of wine and slice of cake!). I learnt a lot, but I think one of the most valuable lessons was how much you can achieve by putting your bottom in a seat, focusing and cracking on with your work in progress. Without that trip, my new book wouldn’t have been finished by the end of the year.

Umbria with Sue Moorcroft

In July I went to the Romantic Novelist’s Association Conference in Leeds. Despite knowing a few people who were also going, I was very nervous. When I arrived, I had missed the start of my first seminar due to traffic and so decided to get a cup of tea, and gather my bearings.

As I stood making my tea Katie Fforde, Jill Mansell and Milly Johnson walked in! They set about making their drinks, while I felt awestruck and more out of my depth than when I arrived late. But I didn’t need to worry. They took time to say hello and Katie Fforde came and chatted to me as she made her tea, about – well, to be honest, I can’t remember what because I was busy thinking – “Oh my goodness, I am talking to Katie Fforde!” What a fantastic start to a wonderful weekend. The conference was informative. The main highlight, for me, was the opportunity to speak to so many writers and to spend time with fellow Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction authors.

Meeting the lovely Katie Fforde, Milly Johnson and Jill Mansell at the RNA conference.

From the conference came the spark of an idea and later in the year eight of us joined forces to create Apricot Plots, a group in which we work together to promote our writing and the romance genre. It is a lot of fun having fellow romance authors to work and promote with, and we have already formed some lovely friendships within the group. We’ve also been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received so far.

With fellow Apricot Plotters Angela Barton, Caroline James, Morton S Gray and Jane Cable. (Looking forward to meeting Tora Williams and Mariam Kobras in the future.)

Towards the end of the year, I stepped down as a director of the Chindi Authors, to make way for new authors and ideas. I am still an active member of the group and am ever grateful to my Chindi friends for their wonderful support, whether it be with fundraising or fathoming Amazon, they are always there.

Chindi Authors raising money for Cancer Research UK

Finally, on the cusp of December, I sent the sequel to The Purrfect Pet Sitter off to my publisher. It is currently with their reading panel, and so I am awaiting their response. Eeeek! I’ll let you know how that goes. All being well it means I’ll have a new book out in the first half of 2019. What a way to start the year.

I won’t be going to Umbria this year as my cheeky nephew has booked his wedding for the same time, but I will be off to the RNA conference again. Exciting times ahead and a new book promised to my publisher for July. Wish me luck. xx

The Purrfect Pet Sitter coming soon!

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If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will have found it hard to miss the exciting news that my new book, The Purrfect Pet Sitter, published by Ruby Fiction, is now available for pre-order and is due for release on 24th April. You can find it on all ebook retailers. And if you don’t have a Kindle or e-reader, you don’t have to miss out. Simply, download the free Kindle app on to your phone or tablet and order via Amazon!

With the pre-order underway, I have been focusing on promotion. This weekend was spent finishing off my book trailer. This one is extra special as my dog Hubble has a starring role. See if you can spot him (or the back of him!).

I have also created some cards to give out at events which is purrfect timing. Along with fellow Chindi Authors, I will be at the UK Southern Book Show, at the Worthing Pavilion, on 4th March, 9-6pm. It is a new event and should be a real celebration of UK authors. If you are in the area, come along and say hello. It will make a great day out for book lovers of all ages.

Finally, for now – obviously promotion is an ongoing thing – I have been contacting local newspapers. The Purrfect Pet Sitter is set largely in and around Littlehampton, encompassing Arundel, Houghton Forest and parts of Rustington. So if you live in the local area, you are sure to recognise some of the places mentioned.

In other news, I recently celebrated being with my hubby for 27 years. The time has flown by, and despite the curve balls that have come our way (it’s been 27 years after all) we still love each other oooodles! Here’s a couple of photographs from back in the 90s, and a more recent one taken in France when I was researching The Purrfect Pet Sitter.

My Reading – Size Doesn’t Matter (even a short review will do):

The Yorkshire Pudding Club by Milly Johnson: I always enjoy Milly Johnson’s books and this story of three friends and their journey to motherhood did not disappoint. It was touching, witty and laugh out loud funny at times, but also had me crying on more than one occasion. The characters were likeable and I was willing each of them to find their happy ending. A great read.

Step Away From the Sofa by Ellie Kennedy: This is a great little book packed with advice about how to live life to the full by experiencing the world around you. With suggestions that are accessible to most, in one form or another (should you be brave enough to take them on), Ellie Kennedy encourages her readers not to waste a moment. The range of fun activities suggested, will have you wondering why sitting on the sofa in a TV coma ever seemed appealing. With so many diverse suggestions to occupy yourself, some of which are free and all of which have elements of fun, physical activity, social interaction and a sense of achievement, there really is something for everyone. Add to that it is a joy to read as the author’s love for life and the world around her shines through. Also, now I’ve read this, I have realised I was one of the five strangers this author suggests you chat to a day, back when I sat next to her in a café in 2015. We have shared many lovely chats since!

 Have a happy book week 2018 everyone!

A special birthday and looking forward

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January has been a good month. It was my mum’s 80th birthday, and we celebrated by having afternoon tea with family and friends at the Roundstone Room, at our local Haskins Garden Centre. There was a projector and screen, so we were able to have a slide show running and to play home movies while we chatted, ate and played a playlist of Mum’s favourite songs.  It added a lovely touch of nostalgia for everyone there. The venue was great. It would be worth a look for anyone seeking a book launch venue as it held about fifty-five comfortably and there was a good supply of tea and cake!

On the new book front, Lyn Vernham from Choc Lit has sent me a proposed title and cover. We have spoken about a couple of tweak type things, but overall I am really excited and will keep you posted on how progress is going.

I mentioned previously that I have decided this is my year of getting out there and doing things. As a result of this, I have signed up to the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference in Leeds in July. Fellow Chindi Author, Angela Petch – who has recently had her novels, Tuscan Roots and Now and Then in Tuscany, published by Endeavour Press, is coming along too. We are going to be newbies together! For romantic novelists, the conference is said to be a lot of fun, as well as, “instructive, inspiring [and] the best networking event of the year.” I am looking forward to it.

My current work in progress is growing slowly. I got a little side-tracked with another novel I would like to write, but have decided to continue to research that and build up my notes, while working on the one I have started. My WIP (novel three) is currently at seven and a half thousand words, now you know, you can tell me off if that figure hasn’t increased the next time I post.

Size Doesn’t Matter (the new name for my little review section):

I finished Jane Lovering’s The Boys of Christmas and gave it five fabulous stars. The story has warm, likeable characters, a touch of intrigue and a gorgeous setting. A great read.

I’ve now started Milly Johnson’s The Yorkshire Pudding Club. I have read and greatly enjoyed many of Milly Johnson’s books. This one has been on my kindle for a while, and so I thought it was time it reached the top of my to-be-read pile.

Cinema:

On Friday my hubby and I snuck off to see Downsizing. It is an interesting, entertaining and at times, thought-provoking watch. I do like Matt Damon, and so I also feel the need to point out that my liking of this film had nothing to do with seeing his bum 😉

On Saturday we took our three youngest children (13, 10 and 7) to see The Greatest Showman. We all enjoyed it, and my house is now filled with songs from the soundtrack as we have all downloaded it. Hugh Jackman is very good in the role of Barnham, and of course, there is the lovely Zac Efron. It is great now my children are getting older that we can go and see films like this all together.

Next time:

My next post is already prepared, and with Valentine’s Day approaching I have a treat in store to share. I won’t give it away, but I will just say the lovely ladies at Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction have certainly been making me smile! xx