SUMMER 2010
We are having a glorious early summer here on the Isle of Wight. From the window of my little writing room I can see the sea glittering through the trees and the air is heavy with the smell of honeysuckle and elderflowers. Piled on my desk are books ranging from Richard Dawkins to Stephen Hawking, the mystic tomes of Evelyn Underhill and William James and everything in between from Karen Armstrong to the modern mystics/philosophers Ken Wilber and Eckhart Tolle. I'm plunging myself into all this research for a possible non-fiction book looking into the extremes of spiritual beliefs and non-beliefs in order to discover a rational balance. Science and religion can so often seem opposed resulting in antagonism and fundamentalism. But surely we only know a fraction of what there is still to be known, experienced and discovered. Readers have often asked me about the spiritual views expressed by my characters and I would like to explore this in more depth. Of course I am not clever enough to discuss the astonishing and strange worlds of quantum physics, cosmology and the vast history of world religions which are each a lifetime's speciality. However, I am a human being who is curious and who also has had some experiences which give me confidence to realise that there is more to life than what I can know through the limitation of my five - or even six - senses. Maybe, oneday, there will be a scientific explanation and maybe the spiritual and scientific approaches are two different paths to the same understanding. Arrogance can be such a block to openness. Therefore I begin my research with lightness, a sense of humour and humility......
THE UNDERCLIFF NOVELS continue to sell and I enjoy the feedback and emails from readers.
ROCKEN EDGE is now published in Norwegian.
TRAMPLING SNOWDROPS has not found a publisher but is available as a PDF download or to put on e-readers. Email me on my contact me page for details.
SEPTEMBER 2009
Trampling Snowdrops
It looks increasingly unlikely that Trampling Snowdrops will be published as a paperback. As lots of readers have asked me when it will be available I have decided to publish it on-line, like many other authors are doing these days. Not so satisfying to read as a physical book, I know, but at least you will have the choice to print it out, download it to an e-reader, or curl up with your laptop!
If you would like a copy, email me from my contact me page on this site with your name and email address. I will email you the PDF file for £5, a percentage of which will go to charity.
Happy autumn reading!
SUMMER 2009
JUNE
The Island is swinging into holiday mood again. My little writing room Below Deck is swamped by foliage leaving me a narrow pathway between the trees to glimpse the sea. We've had the Old Gaffers Festival, the Rock Festival and the Round the Island Yacht Race, with Cowes Week, carnivals and plenty more events to come. The weather has been wonderful and the Island is prospering despite the recession.
 The Undercliff Novels are still being enjoyed. Many thanks to all my readers who have contacted me through this website. It is really lovely to receive feedback.
Blue Slipper Bay has just been published in Norway thanks to my agent Dinah Wiener seen here at The London Book Fair.
Trampling Snowdrops is now finished and I delivered it this morning (25th June) to Bill Barnard my publisher at www.coachhousepublications.co.uk I await the verdict and will post news as soon as I have any.
Enjoy the summer!
SPRING 2009
Rocken Edge is now available in a Large Print edition from Clipper (W F Howes Ltd) www.wfhowes.co.uk ISBN 978-1-40743-185-7
The German edition will be published around October this year and it has also been sold to Norway.
For those of you who read Writers' Forum, I feature in Writing Rooms in the March edition where I describe my writing hideaway. Tel 01202 586848. This is the place where I spend a great deal of my time at the moment immersed, in my fourth Undercliff novel.
Happy spring!
DECEMBER 2008
We have frost in The Undercliff and a friendly red squirrel (Decklan the Digger) who has stored enough nuts in the flower pots on our deck to sustain a whole army of squirrels for the winter.
Happy Christmas and a peaceful and fulfilling 2009 to all my readers from Wendy and The Undercliff Folk.
NOVEMBER 2008
The new edition of The Sorrow of Sisters published by www.coachhousepublications.co.uk is now available directly from them on-line or phone 01983 533625.
AUGUST 2008
Rocken Edge had a fabulous launch at Waterstone's on the Isle of Wight. I was wondering if anyone would come as so many people were on holiday, but the shop was packed. To add to the delight of the evening three of my little grandsons presented me with a birthday cake and balloons. That was the first of four book signing sessions which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is so nice to meet readers and chat about the books. Thank you to everyone who came along.
The Sorrow of Sisters is in the reprinting process and hopefully it won't be too long before it sits on the shelves again.
JULY 2008
Deckchairs, buckets and spades and beach huts are back in business. The Island has been rocked and rolled by the annual Festival and enjoyed the spectacular Round the Island Yacht Race. The sun has shone on all the events so far. The Undercliff boasts more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in Britain. If you would like to view this unique stretch of coast from the sea take the Undercliff Discovery Tour (see links page).
BOOK NEWS
Rocken Edge
Launch date 29th July 6pm at Waterstones', Newport, Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight has recently announced ambitious plans to become a world-renowned Eco-Island by 2020 www.eco-island.org.uk This set me thinking that it would be a great idea to have my third novel published and printed on the Island using recyled paper. Consequently I am thrilled to annouce that Rocken Edge is to be published by Coach House. www.coachhousepublications.co.uk and printed by Crossprint www.crossprint.co.uk
My agent Dinah Wiener came from London to be present at the signing of contracts and to join in what feels like a team effort. So Rocken Edge is at the printers with the publication date set for the 29th July (my birthday!) with a launch at Waterstones', Newport, Isle of Wight 6pm (come for a glass of wine), and a book signing morning there on the 2nd August. Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of anticipation and support.
The Sorrow of Sisters
The first print run has sold out but it will soon be back in print with Coach House Publications with a newly designed cover to blend in with Rocken Edge. Both cover photos are taken on the Island at Binnel Bay.
Blue Slipper Bay
This has recently been published in Germany in paperback after a year in hardback. It has also been released in audio version, CD and cassette by www.oakhillpublishing.com and is available as a download to Ipod etc through www.audible.co.uk
Trampling Snowdrops
My work in progress is shaping up. It is mainly set in St Lawrence but with excursions to the Herefordshire/Welsh border touched on in Blue Slipper Bay where old aquaintances reconnect.
APRIL 2008
'Spring always comes early to The Undercliff. Green woodpeckers yaffle through the woods; jackdaws, crows and rooks rise in clattering mobs from the tops of the elms and poplars. Gulls fight over the choicest nesting places on the cliffs and so many small birds flutter in the blackthorn that the bushes seem alive.'
P.179 The Sorrow Of Sisters.
'Peter left Sophie on the morning that her mother died. It was April the first. Dazed and exhausted, she concluded she was being fooled.'
P.20 Blue Slipper Bay.
'Nick noticed that spring had arrived in The Undercliff. Last year it must have passed him by - he didn't remember all this lush vegetation spiking out of the earth, fat sticky buds unfurling on the trees, carpets of camellia and magnolia petals littering the paths - pink and red and white. And there was so much yellow - daffodils, primroses, forsythia, cowslips, gorse. Cheerful, he thought.'
P22. Blue Slipper Bay.
BOOK NEWS
The Sorrow Of Sisters is still selling well, topping the 80,000 mark worldwide.
Blue Slipper Bay has recently been bought by Damm, Norway, and is now available on audio cassette and CD from Oakhill Publishing read by Lucy Scott. The German paperback version is due out soon. (info@oakhillpublishing.com)
info@oakhillpublishing.com
Rocken Edge is being translated into German by Random House, Blanvalet, and awaiting news from the UK.
Trampling Snowdrops, set in St Lawrence, is my work in progress.
DECEMBER 2007
The Island has been pounded recently by gale force winds. But now it is bright and cold as winter should be. We've even had a glint of frost in the sheltered Undercliff.
BOOK NEWS
The Sorrow of Sisters is now published in Norway, with a dramatic cover which I love.
Blue Slipper Bay is out in large print with another nice cover.
Rocken Edge has been bought by Germany and is being read by several UK publishers.
I have had a story published in a German (DER CLUB) Christmas anthology. It is called Der gefallene Engel (The Fallen Angel). I was invited to participate by the editor, Iris Gradler. To my delight, my name appears with such prestigious authors as Jeanette Winterson, Paulo Coelho, Nora Roberts and Bernard Cornwell - to name a few. I can't resist a bit of namedropping here, I am so thrilled!
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND WONDERFUL 2008 TO ALL MY READERS.
SEPTEMBER 2007
Autumn is arriving in The Undercliff, holidaymakers leaving, trees surrendering their leaves to the salty west wind . . . time to curl up with a good book.
The Sorrow of Sisters is now available in a large print edition. It is published by W. F. Howes/Clipper www.wfhowes.co.uk.
Blue Slipper Bay will also be available in large print and audio editions soon. If you are on the Isle of Wight there is a festival taking place over the next three weeks - Wight Words. Blue Slipper Bay has been chosen by Waterstones for an island-wide reading group. It will culminate in an event at Ryde Studio Theatre on Friday 5th October at 7.30pm. Waterstones said: 'Readers have been so enthusiastic about these brilliant books that we thought a chance to meet the author and discuss her writing would be a great idea.' Email manager@isleofwight.waterstones.co.uk for further details.
Rocken Edge is finished and in the hands of my agent.
Do drop in to the Transita blog where their authors share their news. www.transita.blogspot.com
JUNE 2007
Blue Slipper Bay – the second of The Undercliff Novels – is now out and about.
 Waterstone's gave me a tremendous book launch on June 19th. Despite a torrential thunderstorm, intrepid readers flocked in for two hours of signings, chat and wine. The County Press turned up and Waterstone's manager, Paul Armfield, gave a speech about the success of The Sorrow Of Sisters and how he expects Blue Slipper Bay to follow suit. He added that the books had captured the imagination of the island.
Another very enjoyable booksigning session followed at Niton Books in my home village of Niton on Saturday 23rd June from 10 am.
Lynn Hackles from Writing Magazine has featured me in her regular slot 'My Writing Day' - just in time for the launch (click here for a reprint of of the article). I have also heard this week that Blue Slipper Bay has been licensed for a Large Print edition by W.F.Howes.
A premiere hardback edition has now been published by DER CLUB. It is called Nur mit deiner Liebe and it is a slightly different version to the UK edition. In the summer of 2008 it will come out as a paperback in Germany published by Blanvalet, Random House
Recently, staying with my son who lives in New Zealand, I re-visited some of the places mentioned in Blue Slipper Bay. Nick – a main character – is married to a Kiwi girl, and recalls an exhilarating bungy jump, a gruelling tramp in the Abel Tasman National Park, and the joy and sorrow of the stunning Lake Tekapo. New Zealand is a beautiful country and it is easy to see why it was chosen as the location for the filming of The Lord of the Rings. I could envisage Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn trailing across the spectacular landscape.
The Sorrow Of Sisters – the first Undercliff Novel – is still selling well, (especially in Germany) and I am constantly delighted by the feedback and ‘fanmail’ which I receive. Reading groups particularly like it, and I have been invited along to share in their discussions and to talk about how I came to write it. Available in four languages and an audio version, it will soon be published in a large print edition.
Rocken Edge, the third Undercliff Novel, is about halfway through its second draft. My schedule has been delayed by the birth of another gorgeous grandson. He is well worth the hard work I need to do to catch up. I am now back in my little room, below the deck, pounding the keys.
Transita – my UK publisher – now has an authors’ blog. Do drop in.
www.transita.blogspot.com
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