Looking Back and Moving Forward
It's that time again when I look back over the last year, referring to those goals to see how many I achieved and then put into writing my hopes for 2026. What will the year ahead bring?
At the end of 2024, I was thrilled to re-sign a contract with my publisher, Joffe Books/Choc Lit. It was for two novels, The Silent Sister and The Stolen Sister. Completing both books was obviously top priority for last year and I'm pleased to say that The Silent Sister was published on August 5th and The Stolen Sister will be published in seven weeks' time on February 24th.
These were my writing plans and goals for 2025. How did I do?
- to work on edits when they arrive for The Silent Sister (already submitted to my editor) ✅
- to complete the first draft of The Stolen Sister ✅
- to edit and polish it until it is as good as I can get it ✅
- to make a research trip to Crete where the novel is partially set ✅
- to submit to my editor by 1st May ✅
- to start a newsletter and build up a list of subscribers ❌
- to attend the RNA one-day event in August ✅
- to continue to support other writers ✅
- to write more flash fiction and short stories ❌
- to arrange more library and book-fair talks ✅(partially, but not as many as I'd have liked)
Thank you for all your support in 2025. I'd like to especially thank all of you who have bought or downloaded my novels. The number of reviews and ratings have blown me away and help so much to calm down the old Imposter Syndrome that's ever present!
In 2026, my goals will be less specific, perhaps. I'm currently working on a pitch to submit to my publishers for more novels and hope that my editor will like my ideas for a group of stories about grandmothers and granddaughters. As always with novels set in the past, the stories will involve a great deal of research so it will be some time before I complete a first draft. However, getting ideas down into an extended outline always helps me when I do start writing even though those ideas will evolve and change once I'm immersed in the new story. Here are my new goals:
- to submit a detailed written pitch for book seven to my editor
- to hopefully acquire a contract and begin to write the first draft
- to discuss ideas for further books
- to start a newsletter and build up a list of subscribers (This is going to be the year!)
- to attend the RNA Conference
- to continue to try to improve and learn more about the craft of writing
- to continue to support other writers
- to promote my novels locally
- to continue to enjoy writing stories to share with my lovely readers
🍀🍀Wish me luck! 🍀🍀
STOP PRESS - Here is the cover of book six. I hope you love it as much as I do. It's all down to my wonderful cover designer, Jarmila. 
'Lost letters. A secret Greek love affair. A daughter's search for the truth.
Crete 1963. Young artist Greta Ellis arrives at the sun-soaked port of Fáros Limáni, ready to paint and explore the beautiful Greek island.
When she meets passionate Andreas Papadakis, she is swept up in a world of colour, freedom and forbidden love. But when tragedy strikes, Greta is forced to make an impossible choice that will echo for decades.
Wales, 1984. After her mother Greta's death, silversmith Zoë Cartyer receives a sealed letter that upends everything she thought she knew. Greta's dying wish is for her ashes to be scattered in Crete, a place precious to her . . . but somewhere she has never spoken of.
Searching through her mother's belongings, Zoë uncovers a series of letters. Written in Greek and dated the year before she was born, they reveal a passionate love affair. And a tragedy that tore it apart.
Determined to know the truth, Zoë travels to Crete to follow the trail left behind in her mother's letters. Through olive groves and whitewashed villages of Crete, she begins to piece together a story of love, betrayal and loss - and discovers that her family was never as it seemed.
Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Barbara Davis, Angela Petch, Karen Swan, Amanda Weinburg or Anita Chapman.'
It's already on NetGalley and will soon be available to pre-order on Amazon.
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So exciting to see the cover of your next novel, and I will look forward to it. I am sure your editor will love the pitch for your next book. Your characters always win my heart and stay with me after I have finished the book.
ReplyDeleteYou have dedicated readers who are waiting for the next escape.