News, Glorious News!

Hello! Sorry I’ve been away a while -  it has all been amazingly and wonderfully hectic.

Back in July, at the Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference, I had a great (if slightly nerve-wracking) pitch with the lovely Hannah Ferguson, aka Agent Fergie, who is with the Hardman & Swainson agency. I was only a few chapters into my third novel, which she loved, but as it was still at a fledgling stage, I needed to get cracking, get writing, and show her what a great novel it could be.

And, after years of trying, I now have a literary agent -  and a very experienced and lovely one at that - to represent me! Thanks Hannah, I am so looking forward to working with you.

Me at the fabulous Book Wall at the Harper Collins offices

Earlier this month, I went down to London, like a real author, and went to meet my team at Harper Collins and have a look around their amazing offices, which are in the News Building right next to the Shard in the London Bridge area. Off I set on an early train from Berwick-upon-Tweed (up north in the border between England and Scotland) for my Big Day Out. And what a day out that turned to be! My second book “The Cosy Teashop in the Castle”, which is a contemporary romance set in a fabulous if quirky Northumberland Castle, was mid edits. The Harper Collins team said they loved it and felt it had such commercial potential they wanted to do a print run straight away and promote it big time like their more traditional titles. I’m under a digital first/print on demand contract for them at present. So wow – more dreams come true stuff!  And, icing on the cake, I was taken to a gorgeous chocolate-themed restaurant at the Borough Market which was looking all lovely and Christmassy,  and was wined and dined. Yes, it was a day for pinching myself! (I’m still pinching myself writing about it all now.)

With my lovely Harper Collins editors, Charlotte and Charlotte

Later that same day, I headed over to Marylebone to a chic pub, to meet up with my new agent Hannah and some of her fabulous authors, where we chatted and got to know each other over wine. I had a great couple of hours, and made some lovely new friends. Whizzed back to Kings Cross, got on my train, and felt a bit like Cinderella. Had that all really happened?! But yes, I have the photos to prove it.

Author meet-up with my fab agent, Hannah Ferguson

So, I am now working on the paperback proofs for “The Cosy Teashop in the Castle” which will be published in February 2016, and I need to write the rest of the third book, I’m now at 50,000 words and cracking on for a New Year first-draft finish. It’s a beautiful love story about hurting and healing, set on the stunning golden sands of Bamburgh beach in Northumberland, one of my favourite places to walk the dog. I’m still keeping up with the day job at our holiday park, and a busy family life too.

“The Cosy Teashop in the Castle” is all about striving for your dreams, and after all that hard work over many years, 2015 was the year my writing dreams came true! If you have a dream, work hard, stay positive and KEEP GOING! It can happen.

Good luck, and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2016 to you all!

Best wishes,

Caroline x