Best Laid Plans, And All That...

And so, today, should be the first day of The Book Room’s writing retreats. Finally, after all of my talking about it!

We had a wonderful two days arranged, HAGS author Victoria Smith was due to be our first guest author, all rooms were sold, the guests were excited, we were excited, Victoria had even done that amazing feminist fiction and non-fiction list in anticipation. And then on Monday night, we realised we were going to need to postpone.

Why? Two words: Rail strikes. Three if you add in the expletive that we said when we realised.

When we had booked the dates, it hadn’t been a problem. But slowly we heard from one guest, then another… then another, that they wouldn’t be able to get home from the retreat on Friday. And then when we heard Victoria herself was having issues, it meant that we were going to have to postpone.

What a disappointment after all that planning.

We quickly rearranged, changing the date to June 1, but sadly it meant that two of our original guests couldn’t make it.

I managed not to get stressed about it, just disappointed. It’s been six months now since I founded The Book Room and one thing I have learnt is that in business you have to roll with the punches. How much effort and excitement have I put into thinking I had a shop premises only to be disappointed? Not once, not twice, but now three times. I didn’t even share with you my excitement at the last place that I thought I might have secured, and as quickly as the opportunity came up, it disappeared again.

Not my time. I do very much believe that when the right opportunity comes up, it will make itself known to me, and – crucially – it will stick.

In the meantime, I’m been collecting for my shop bottom drawer. Not only now do I have one room in my house stacked with stock from my pop-up that’s ready to go tomorrow if I find the right venue, but I have been collecting bits and pieces to go in that same fantasy shop too.

Who remembers that huge frame I had hanging in The Bloom Foundry window where I had my pop-up with Once Upon A Time in it? Here’s a reminder if not.

Well, those local might know already that Lucie is closing The Bloom Foundry (last I heard a tattooist has had an offer accepted) and as she’s having a big sale I bought two of those 5ft frames so they are now stacked up against the wall in my house alongside all the stock. I can imagine them hanging in my next shop window, or on the wall with Perspex shelves giving the impression that books are floating inside them – what do you think?

I did consider looking at The Bloom Foundry myself, but it’s such a big unit with a basement running the length of the shop and more space out the back. I really don’t need something that big, and why pay for all that space when you don’t need it?

Two other bits of housekeeping before I sign off. Thank you to all those who bought books for my bestfriend Jane’s fundraising efforts, for those who don’t know or can’t remember, I was selling an amazing curation of books about all types of disability and was giving away all profits to Mind Body Solutions, a yoga studio in Minnesota that my bestfriend has found invaluable, and which provides free online yoga sessions to people living with disabilities all over the world. You can remind yourselves of that post here.

Our efforts raised just under £40. Every little helps, so thank you!

Also, for those in or around Tunbridge Wells, we may not have our writing retreat but there are two opportunities to come and see me this week. As part of the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival, I am taking part in two events. Firstly, this friday at 4.30pm, I will be at The Amelia Centre discussing my writing life, and in particular my novel THE IMPOSTER, though I will also be talking about my ghostwriting.

You can buy tickets here.

Then, on Sunday, I am back there again in conversation with Rebecca Humphries to talk about her brilliant book and instant Sunday Times Bestseller WHY DID YOU STAY? A MEMOIR ABOUT SELF-WORTH.

I loved this book on publication so I’m looking forward to talking to Rebecca about toxic exes, how and why we get involved with them and crucially how to avoid them in the future – a subject close to my heart.

You can buy tickets to that event here.

And One Last Thing, ooh the title of my final book with Wendy Mitchell! Might as well give that a mention now, THANK YOU for all your pre-orders for this book. I am so proud of it and can’t wait for you to read it. Not long now. We heard this week that extracts will be serialised in the Daily Mail next month which is great news. Those who haven’t pre-ordered can buy ONE LAST THING here.

And also, really one last thing, don’t forget that places are still available for our second writing retreat featuring Sunday Times Bestselling author, Jennifer Saint on June 15th/16th. Jennifer will be discussing Greek Myths and I can guarantee it will not only be a fascinating retreat but it will inspire both your writing and your reading. I am re-reading ARIADNE in anticipation and it is just brilliant, as is ELEKTRA, and — though I have yet to read — ATALANTA.

Here’s the post to find out more details – we’d love to see you there and I checked, no rail strikes!

So that’s all my news. Good to catch up, and hope to see some of you at these events I have coming up!

• These posts will always be free to read but if you enjoy them there are various ways that you can support my writing. Firstly, you can buy a gift subscription for £5 a month, which not only shows your appreciation of my writing, but grants you 10% off purchases in my online shop with your own unique discount code.

You can also order from THE BOOK ROOM, you might not find something you want here in this newsletter, or even in the online shop itself, but you can send me a CUSTOM ORDER and I can usually get any book to you within 48 hours.

You also might be interested in joining one of THE BOOK ROOM’S WRITING RETREATS. Places are booking up on our next three author-led retreats and I’m thrilled that we are hosting incredible authors like Victoria Smith, Jennifer Saint and Monique Roffey. Find out more about each retreat and book here.

And if you haven’t got any money and you still want to support, then sharing this newsletter on your social media accounts might just persuade some others to sign up as subscribers or buy a book themselves!