Dreading the rellies? Christmas can be a minefield when today’s modern – often blended – families are suddenly brought together. But you can survive them
Category: books
The book’s out and I’d forgotten what it’s like…
I don’t mean the plot – though God knows I started writing it so long ago and it went through so many edits, that is

Jane’s latest novel… coming soon!
So exciting… Jane’s new novel is going to be published on 15th June. ‘Fresh, funny and wise’ – Katie Fforde Tess has downsized to a
Didn’t I have a lov-er-ly time…
Another to add to my list of fab festivals I have worked for. Had a great time at the Buckingham Literary Festival last weekend, interviewing three
The Archers come to town…
So fab to host the Archers event last Friday at the Pavilion in Broadstairs with ace scriptwriter Keri Davies, the gorgeous Annabelle Dowler (Kirsty Miller),
Colin Dexter – it was great to meet you too
Time to say goodbye to another luminary of the book world and to fondly recall the day in 2009 when I met Colin Dexter at the
The joy of Chez Castillon
April 2012 – the first time… You never really know someone until you live with them. A truth universally acknowledged by generations of women who’ve
New Year’s Resolutions for Writers…
By way of an intro I must tell you that I found these on my computer while looking for something else. They were written for
Doing NaNoWrimo??
I am not doing NaNoWriMo officially, but with a book to finish, another one to start, columns piling up, hundreds of emails to answer and
I couldn’t have put it better myself…
A lovely blog post here from the immensely talented Clare Mackintosh (watch out for her debut novel next year – it’s going to be astonishing)
The Wannabe a Writer TV Show
Here at last…. Am all very thrilled – and not a little nervously twitchy 🙂 – to announce the launch of the first half of
The Ab Fab ChipLitFest :-)
Well what a lov-er-ley time I had at this year’s Chipping Norton Literary Festival – a treat indeed. You would never believe the festival is
With friends like Mike :-)
Whenever I give one of my friends one of my books to read (some are too tight-fisted to cough up for one themselves :-)) I
100 Ways to Fight The Flab – Womag Review
100 Ways to Fight The Flab has its second review! “heartily recommend for all writers, both big and small” “I must say it’s quite brilliant”
Shortlists and radio shows
There – don’t they look pretty? Prime Time with the covers of the other lovely books shortlisted for the Romantic Comedy category of the RoNas.Very proud
Overly excited and thrilled
Am suitably delighted to report that Prime Time has been shortlisted for the Romantic Comedy category of the RoNas today. This is a massive honour of
100 Ways to Fight the Flab
I know I’m a bit of a show-off but even I wouldn’t display my bottom without good reason. These photos were taken as possible cover
Top Comment-leaver of 2012…
Yes, excitement, drum roll, etc. I am pleased to announce that… Tony Tibbenham has the doubtful glory of being crowned the most-frequent-commenter on this blog in
Plain Jane. Isle of Thanet Gazette. Friday December 21st 2012
This might not make entire sense to those not blessed with living on the Isle of Thanet but perhaps you would would wish for similar for
Thank you Sarah Salway!
Very pleased to be featured on Sarah Salway’s website and thanks Sarah for the plug for Thursday’s event at Canterbury, Waterstones too. Also thank you Edith for
Plain Jane column 16 November – public speaking & event with Lesley Cookman
As some of you may know, I write a fortnightly column – alternating with My-Mate-Mike (he who hovers just to the right of Genghis Khan and
Guildford Day Six
Yes a bit of a delay there but Saturday I was doing a workshop in HMP Send, Sunday I had taken to my bed with
Guildford Day Two
The end of the second day of Guildford Book Festival and tonight was Peter James and Ann Cleeves. Fab interviewees both – and both with
If it’s good enough for Harry….
Of course he was pictured in the Sun with his kit off and I’ve only made Writers’ Forum (and am still wearing a laptop) but
Room for a little one…
Room, indeed, for two little ones – or even two quite big ones (bedroom sizes generous). Due to a cancellation, there are now a couple
Hot tips for Writers – am in the spotlight with Writer’s Choice
The nice people at Writer’s Choice have put me in their ‘spotlight’. Thank you PDR! 🙂 If there’s nothing much on TV, you can read
Greetings from (not-so) sunny Swanwick…
Actually it has been sunny but just happens to be p***ing down as I type. I am here at the long-running Swanwick Writers’ Summer School in
Short story – Carla’s Gift
Here by popular demand (Tony said he liked it, Morgen said we could alway pop it up on the blog….) is a short story for
Freebies and bargains …
Someone was asking somewhere – but I can’t find the comment – when Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? was going to be cheap on
your free gift today
Is a copy – totally gratis – of my third novel ONE GLASS IS NEVER ENOUGH (and it often wasn’t, when I was writing it…)
text from terry
Text comes in saying “great review” (see yesterday). Also adds “let’s hope you sell as many as Fifty Shades of Grey…” Terry is a mate
Happy Git
Nothing like a lovely review to put a smile on one’s face… Long Live Sara Lawrence at the Daily Mail…
RNA Conference at last
Did two stints at the splendid RNA conference this year, brilliantly organised as ever by Jan Jones and Roger Sanderson. On Saturday, a panel
a right bleedin’ bargain
Even if I do say so myself. Wannabe a Writer? on Kindle, is a mere snip at 77p right now. Please pass it on.. Bargain. Photos
Loose Muse
No, I am not trying to summon the dead, lead the gospel singing or appeal to the Almighty*. This is me attempting to impart some
Fifty Shades of Wot?
Thank you to Neil, Gabriel, Donna et al at Thanet Waterstones where I had a most entertaining signing on Saturday. And even bigger thanks to
And the winner is…
David Rankin receives a copy of Prime Time plus a Wannabe book of his choice… If Clever Morgen was doing this there’d be thumbnails of
Prime Time paperback is now out!
Prime Time is officially out now! I am bracing myself to start peering in bookshops (does one copy mean they’ve sold em all or is
Prime Time paperback out 5th July
May 2012 Hello! I’m thrilled to announce that my latest novel, romantic comedy ‘Prime Time’, is now available for the Amazon Kindle and will be available in