welcome…
…to all my secrets on life as a published author
(I’m 7 traditionally published books in and I’ve learnt some stuff 😉)
I blog weekly about author websites, newsletters and life as a writer…
New posts published every Monday 😊
Want to learn more about me and my own publishing journey first?
(includes info on how I landed one of those mythical six-figure book deals!)
Read all about my own journey to publication →
Or scroll down to read all my other posts!
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My three words for 2025
Allow me to share this Instagram post with you that freaked me out recently…
Some honest thoughts about writing fiction as a career
My dad wanted me to be a lawyer. Like many (most?) writers, I was academic. I did well at school, I was pretty quick at most subjects and I was very good at English and assimilating a lot of information and then, well… writing about it in an accurate and relatively concise way.
Some honest thoughts on author blurbs
Another post that might get me into hot water but here we go anyway. The somewhat controversial topic of author blurbs. What do we think of them?
5 mistakes I made after getting a book deal
Like many authors, when I first got my book deal, I was completely overwhelmed. It’s such a huge goal - to get a book published - and for many writers, it takes so long to achieve that we often don’t look much past it.
Some honest thoughts on book publication days
My seventh novel, After The Fire, was recently published in both the UK and the US, by a division of Bloomsbury (of Harry Potter fame). Even when I type that now, it amazes me that it’s true.
The most nerve-wracking thing I've EVER done? 😱
I think writing this post might be even more nervewracking than launching a book. Maybe. Maybe not. Even so, I am super nervous to share something very exciting today, that I’ve secretly been working on for months!
Some honest thoughts about the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival
I’m back from Harrogate - my fifth trip to the annual Crime Writing Festival (not ‘Crime Festival’ as I have a habit of calling it and thus confusing/alarming my non-writing friends).
My number one tip for coping with life as a published author
Life as a published author is weird. It’s brilliant, exhilarating, satisfying, exhausting, nerve-shredding, anxiety-inducing and both satisfying and frustrating all at once. In my opinion, it’s quite unlike any other job out there, and no one really prepares you for it.
Why I hated writing full-time
For many aspiring authors, the thought of ditching the day job to concentrate on writing is one of the things that keeps them motivated and plugging away. It makes sense - writing is hard work. Mentally draining and often physically uncomfortable too. Trying to cram it around a day job is incredibly tough.
How I deal with bad reviews
If you’re having a novel traditionally published then there’s one thing that’s certain to happen: you are going to get a bad review.
Why I prefer one-book deals
I’m probably a minority here, I know. I know because I’ve asked a lot of my friends who are authors and they’ve pretty much all said they prefer the security of a two- or maybe even three-book deal.
The ONE thing I wish I had known before I got my book deal
I know, I know, it’s a bit of a click-baity title but please bear with me! I feel like this is the thing that NO-ONE talks about EVER. And for the life of me I can’t really understand why. Because if we did talk about it more it would take the pressure off all the debut authors out there who are having meltdowns.
30 things I've learnt from 5 years being published: no 2 – The size of your advance matters
The one thing we all dream of as an aspiring author is the day our agent calls us to tell us that we’ve received an offer from a publisher.
How not to be a dick when you get a book deal 😉
Apologies for the slightly tongue-in-cheek title for this post, but it was one of those ideas that just popped into my head randomly when I was walking home the other day and I thought – yes! I have a LOT to say on that subject!
Top tips for taking your own author headshot
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good author headshot! So many authors I work with absolutely hate having their photos taken but you will need a decent picture of yourself to use on your author website, social media platforms and probably on your book jacket too.
My publication journey (so far!)
It occurred to me recently that I’d never really shared much about my own journey to publication on here. But I think one of the reasons my lovely clients choose to work with me on their websites is because I know EXACTLY what it’s like to be a published author.
2021: my work year in review
I’m not entirely sure how to start this post! Last year, I said I hoped 2021 would be better than 2020, and we all know how that went. So I’ll skip past all that chat and move on to what I achieved this year work-wise!
Where to get help with your Squarespace author website
One of the things I love the most about Squarespace is the wealth of support there is out there on offer to people using the platform. And it’s really useful support too!
3 brilliant Squarespace features you may not know about
Squarespace, let me count the ways I love thee! There are many. I’ve become a proper Squarespace nerd ever since I trained as a Squarespace designer, and what I love the most is that Squarespace are constantly evolving the platform and adding new and exciting functionality.
✨ 30 things I’ve learnt from 5 years being published ✨
September 6 2023 marked 5 years since my first book was released 😲
To celebrate, I shared a new post about what I’ve learnt from being published EVERY DAY throughout the month.
Enjoy!
curious about my books?
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Essential Guide to SEO for Authors
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Author Website Content Guide
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Author Newsletters
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