IAn important word about the use of AI: My fiction and creative writing are entirely my own. I do not use AI to write my stories, develop my characters or create my books. Every story begins with my imagination and is written in my own words. I occasionally use an online dictionary and thesaurus, but my use of AI tools is otherwise confined to supporting aspects of my marketing and business activities, where appropriate.
The SECOND Novel in the new Travelling Heart Series is now available for pre-order!
Paris. A chance encounter. And a week that changes everything.
On their summer European interrailing adventure, Adie and Trudie excitedly arrive in Paris. Among the places they want to see is Montmartre, where for centuries artists from all over the world have gathered to paint, sketch and share their creative energy.
In Place du Tertre they meet an enigmatic painter, Étienne Dessaint, whose kindness leads to an unexpected friendship. But, beneath his outwardly calm demeanour, Etienne is being torn in two. His wife of thirty years no longer recognises him. He still adores her with all his heart, but he has also fallen in love with someone else.
Can he stay true to someone who no longer knows him? Does loving another woman mean betraying the one he promised to love forever? And how will his daughters feel when they discover their father’s hidden life?
As they become drawn into Étienne's complicated world, Adie and Trudie find themselves offering support, wisdom and sometimes a gentle dose of common sense. But Paris poses challenges for them too. While Adie starts to question whether they should be travelling together, Trudie has an experience that could shatter her confidence forever.
Forced to confront her own vulnerability, she must decide how it will define her future.
From the winding streets of the artists’ quarter to the famous landmarks, cafés and hidden corners of Paris, four unlikely friends navigate love, loyalty, loss, friendship, family and the prospect of new beginnings.
Sometimes the hardest question isn't who you love. It’s whether your heart is allowed to land where it really belongs.
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WELCOME, READER!
Thanks for stopping by.
Here's where you'll find all of my books in suggested reading order:
Announcing the new Travelling Heart Series...
Click here to go straight to the novel synopses
Stories of Hope, Healing
and a Little Bit of Magic
My novels explore the things that shape us: love and loss, friendship and family, resilience, recovery and the courage it takes to begin again.
I write about people whose lives have been changed by the unexpected, and who find themselves searching for a way forward. My characters face real-life struggles, complicated relationships and deeply personal challenges, but at the heart of my stories there is always hope.
Many of my books are connected through the fictional Lake District town of Torley, where familiar characters reappear and readers can return to the people and places they have grown to love. And at the heart of that world is Teapot Cottage; a rather special little holiday cottage with a habit of helping people find their way towards an unexpected new beginning.
My books are written for readers who enjoy characters they can care about, stories with emotional depth, and the feeling of escaping into another world for a while.
So, come and explore my novels! Hopefully I'll see you in Torley. You'll probably find me in Peg's cafe, Ye Olde Torley Tea Shoppe. I'll very likely be sitting with a lovely cup of hot chocolate and a big slice of Peg's famous jelly cake, chewing the fat with the 'witchy' Feen Raven, and trying not to laugh at Mark Raven's old-style Lancashire accent while his sister Sheila chips in and drops her 'aitches! I'll probably have a shopping bag at my feet, with something in it from Trudie Sangster's wonderful boutique in the town, because she has the best sales ever!
I'm More Than Just a Writer
I'm passionate about women's voices being heard.
Alongside writing fiction, I create podcasts, speak on issues affecting older women, and help women explore and bring their own stories to life.
I speak on podcasts, panels and platforms about older women's visibility, voice, identity and storytelling, and the importance of recognising the experience, wisdom and achievements women carry with them through life.
Available for talks, podcasts and panels on older women's visibility, voice, identity and storytelling.
My podcast, Your Silence Is Your Choice!, explores many of the issues facing older women as we continue to claim our active, valuable place in the world — and insist that our voices are heard.
Because our voices matter. Our experiences matter. And it is never too late to be heard.
