What's new

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25th  November 2021

Almost a year since I signed the publishing deal with the lovely folk at Agora Books, my debut novel The Girl in the Maze is out in paperback. Having a physical book in my hands makes it feel very real at last. It’s a story of three women, generations apart, linked by a terrible tragedy. You can order it from your local independent bookshop or at any of these outlets.  And you can read about the inspiration behind the story on my blog. There's also a blog about  my long journey to publication. 

Audiobook is out on 2nd December. 

23rd  November 2021

Next Wednesday 1st December, I'll be at The Feminist Bookshop in Brighton doing a reading of The Girl In The Maze and a Q&A with my Creative Writing Programme tutor Rosie Chard - who helped me to hone by debut into something palatable to a publisher! If you're local and want to come along, then you can book tickets here.

Thanks to Mark Slater at the Creative Writing Programme for organising and the lovely Feminist Bookshop for hosting. 

21st  November 2021

I've opened a mini library outside my house in Hove, East Sussex  to celebrate this week's publication  of The Girl in the Maze. It contains some of my favourite books and hand-me-downs from my  three teenage children. And of course a copy of The Girl in the Maze. I'm  hoping that the local community will get behind the project and both borrow books and donate ones they’ve already read.

18th November 2021

To celebrate Paperback Publication Day next Thursday,  I’m giving away two FREE signed copies of The Girl in the Maze  each with a beautiful bookmark and a handy Maze tote bag. 

To enter, simply subscribe to my blog. Deadline is midnight GMT 24/11/21. A winner will be chosen at random. 

8th November 2021

Last week's launch of my debut novel The Girl in the Maze raised £244 for Book Aid International,  the  charity which sends books to libraries, schools, universities, refugee camps, hospitals and prisons around the world.

More than 40 people came to the event, held in Clerkenwell, London, and grabbed a sneak preview copy of the paperback version of The Girl in the Maze, as well as free tote bags and bookmarks. 

28th October 2021

Five years after starting it, and 35 years after I said I wanted to write a book when I was a grown-up, my debut novel  is out in eBook today . It’s a story of three women, generations apart, linked by a terrible tragedy. Download it here . You can read about my long journey to publication on my blog. 

Paperback on its way on 25th November 2021. 

17th August 2021

I'm delighted to announce that the launch party for my debut novel #TheGirlInTheMaze on 4th November will raise funds for Book Aid International,  a brilliant charity which provides books to libraries, schools, universities, refugee camps, hospitals and prisons worldwide. 

Their vision is a world where everyone has access to books that will enrich, improve and change their lives. 

I've been a monthly supporter for a while now and I can't think of a better charity to fundraise for as part of the launch of my debut novel. 

The launch will take place on the evening of 4th November 2021 in London. You can find out more details and get a ticket here: https://bit.ly/GirlInTheMaze 

7th October 2021 

I'm very excited to have been featured as an inspirational woman by We Are The City, the network and website for professional women  started in 2008 by Vanessa Vallely. The interview covers not just the launch of my debut novel The Girl in the Maze later this month but also my day job as founder and chairman of the communications consultancy Magenta Associates. 

You can read the WeAre The City interview here

26th September 2021

I was so excited to be interviewed by Hannah, the Dorset Book Detective, on her blog  recently. We talked  about how I came to create my debut novel and what’s next for my writing career.

By day Hannah is  a corporate copywriter, by night she's a forager for books and poems. A book detective- from Bridport in Dorset!

Thanks Hannah for taking the time to chat. 

9th September 2021

I'm thrilled to be in the October issue of Writing Magazine talking about how I got my publishing deal, what it was like writing The Girl in the Maze and what my next book is all about. 

The issue is out now.  Thank you to Adrian Magson for setting up the interview. 

If you don't already subscribe to Writing Magazine, then it's definitely worth a read. Lots of top writing tips, interviews with authors, and list of competitions you can enter. Happy reading! 

7th August 2021

I'm so very excited to reveal the cover of my debut novel The Girl in the Maze. I absolutely love the claustrophobic feeling that the brilliant illustrator Micaela Alcaino created. 

The proof copy landed on my doormat yesterday which was brilliant moment,  It's one step closer to publication. 

You can pre-order the book here. 

8th March 2021

Just had my first author interview! The lovely Vince Stevenson from Boomers on Books chatted to me about my debut novel  The Girl in the Maze  which comes out in October this year. 

It was brilliant to talk to Vince about my journey to publication, the inspiration behind the book and what's next in my writing journey . Listen to the recording here and you can pre-order the book here. 

8th January 2021

I'm thrilled to announce that I've been signed up by Agora Books! They'll be publishing The Girl in the Maze  in October this year. 

Agora is part of Peters Fraser + Dunlop, one of the longest established literary and talent agencies in London. They are a digital first publisher with a diverse list of fiction including esteemed author Jeanette Winterson. 

Traversing four generations of women torn apart by familial trauma, The Girl in the Maze explores the complex relationship and challenges involved in both mothering and being mothered. 

I'm looking forward to working with the Agora team to bring The Girl in the Maze to market.  

18th December 2020

Exciting news to end the year!  The Girl in the Maze has been longlisted for this year’s Grindstone Literary International Novel Prize. Out of more than 800 entries, the novel was selected for a longlist of 24 unpublished novels.  The judges said: "To make it to the longlist is a big achievement and speaks volumes about your work. We have no doubt that each and every one of you will find success in the future."  

In the feedback on The Girl in the Maze, they said: "Your work exhibited an original and well-defined concept which served as a solid bedrock upon which the story was built. You showed innovation and unconventional thinking, presented new ideas, or variations on existing ideas, creating a strong sense of originality and believability. There was no doubt as to the effort placed in the creation of your conceptual backdrop, and it worked to the benefit of the plot and characters. Well done."

2nd December 2020

With lockdown 2 almost at an end, I'm thrilled to find The Girl in the Maze  on the Flash500 Novel Opening award longlist.

The judge's feedback was incredibly positive. "I was completely swept away by this," they said of the book's prologue. "It moved me, shocked me and, ultimately, made me want to cry. I was completely under your spell," they said.  

Hopefully this is another step on the road to getting The Girl in the Maze published! .  

30th September 2020

I’m so super excited to announce that The Girl in the Maze has won this year’s Lost the Plot Work in Progress prize. I literally cried when I found out it had won! This book has been part of me since my parents died five years ago, and I’m so thrilled that the judges loved it. 

The inspiration for The Girl in the Maze came when I was clearing out my late mother’s house. I didn’t discover anything which helped to explain our difficult relationship (and the one that she’d had with her own mother too) although I wish I had. But writing the story was a form of therapy in itself. 

I’m really hoping that winning this prize will bring me a step closer to getting The Girl in the Maze published. 

Thank you Agora and the wonderful judges. 

15th September 

The lovely people from Agora Books announced the shortlist today for the Lost the Plot Work in Progress prize and I’m on it – along with four others. Super excited! 

I found out when I was on a Zoom board meeting and squealed quite a bit – our MD wondered what was happening until I got my breath back and could explain. 

This is such an amazing honour. I’ve never entered a writing prize before, so to be shortlisted for my first one is a huge privilege.  

Thank you Agora and the wonderful judges. 

1st September 2020

Back in June 2020, just as lockdown was starting to ease and I was finishing the second draft of my novel, my brilliant editor Rosie Chard suggested I enter The Girl in the Maze for the Agora Books Lost the Plot Work in Progress prize. I sent it off and then forgot all about it. But today I got the email to say that I’d made the longlist. 

This is the first independent recognition that my writing is readable and, even enjoyable! My husband and a couple of friends have read The Girl in the Maze and said they loved it, but they’re not going to say it was awful, are they? 

Even more excitingly it gives me something else to put on my letters to agents – an added reason for them to read further and not just press ‘delete’. 

Thank you Agora Books!