Escape Plan

How are you? I know, me too. But the end of January is in sight and publication day for my debut novel This Changes Everything is just two weeks away! So, a little more about it. The story revolves around Julia, her two grown up daughters Annie and Jess and what happens when Julia receives an invitation to go to Rome with her first love Patrick, a man she hasn’t seen for fifty years. Her daughters decide to follow her out there, without telling her, and what unfolds in Rome changes all their lives forever.

It’s a love story of sorts – first love, lost love, eternal love – and I decided to set the story in Rome and Cornwall for purely selfish reasons. Basically, it meant I could go on holiday (in my head at least) to two of my favourite places in the world when writing the book, usually with a virtual negroni or chilled glass of white in hand.

Most of all I wanted to write a story you can escape into, like a mini-break for the mind. To anyone who’s pre-ordered the book, thank you! It makes a huge difference, apparently. And if you do read it promise to let me know what you think, I’d love to hear. (Don’t forget to enter the competition to win a 24hr getaway to Lime Wood if you do pre-order, full details here).

For now, wine. This week both wines are from South Africa, where the sale of alcohol is currently banned. Producers have been hit hard by the pandemic and buying a bottle of South African wine is one small thing we can do to help.