It’s been a while, but my second novel, Heartsound, is out soon!
Set in Bath, Nottingham, London and Ljubljana, Heartsound is a literary coming-of-age novel that follows the fortunes of main character Chrissie through several decades.
The narrative plays out against a soundtrack of mostly eighties, nineties and noughties music, hence the title.
Here’s me on a recent visit to Bath, the setting for Chrissie’s early years.
Here’s the blurb
16-year-old Chrissie’s first love is a girl.
But it’s the eighties, and she fears rejection from the rural community she’s grown up in, so keeps her relationship secret.
When her friend vanishes, Chrissie bears her heartache alone. Decades later, her long-lost love resurfaces, but all is not as it seems.
It takes a global pandemic and a brush with death to spark the resolution Chrissie craves in this tale of taboo, broken promises, almost-forgotten dreams, and hope.
Publication plans
This is my second novel published by small independent publisher Inspired Quill. We don’t have a publication date as yet, as there have been some complications which caused delays.
It’s looking like I’ll be able to launch the novel in the new year, but I’m hoping to have some copies available in time for Christmas.
Don’t judge a book by its cover
The thing that’s taken longer than we thought is finding the right person to work on the cover. After a couple of false starts, my publisher has now commissioned a designer and I’m confident the book will look fabulous!
It’s important to get the right cover because it’s the first thing potential readers see. It’s what draws them in. It also gives an idea of genre, and what the book’s about.
I’m looking forward to doing a cover reveal once we have the finalised design.
The launch
I’m planning a launch event in the new year at Nottingham’s Five Leaves bookshop. I’m also considering a virtual launch for those who can’t make the physical one.
As soon as I have dates confirmed, I’ll post an update, along with details of who my two guest readers will be.
Although the official launch won’t be till January, I’m keeping everything crossed that the book will be out before Christmas. For Nottingham-based readers, I’ll be at the Woodthorpe Plant Shop Christmas Market on 2nd/3rd December where my publisher has a stall, and hope to have copies on sale.
The book will also be available to pre-order direct from my publisher via the Inspired Quill website. I’ll post an update once I have dates.
