Confession Time: I’ve Been Having an Affair

But not the sort that requires sunglasses, illicit meetings and a solicitor.

The sort that involves three open notebooks, ten browser tabs and many stolen hours away from my marriage.

The fact is that my new book, The Nile Cruise, comes out a week today, but I’m already obsessed with the next one.

Publishing a novel is a mystifying business. My friends think that the week before publication I’m floating around in a cloud of excitement, all the hard work behind me, sipping bubbles and practising ways to sign those gorgeous new books with an artistic flair.

In reality, I’m very happy, still in my pj’s at lunchtime, hair uncombed, wondering if my readers will enjoy another cruise based romcom because The Nile Cruise has, in fact, already packed its metaphorical suitcase and left the building while my next cruise story is filling my every waking hour.

Don’t get me wrong, I love writing. It is a dream come true to be doing something I dreamt of doing since I was a teen. Although my desk is currently scattered with untidy notes, scribbled thoughts and ideas written across sticky notes and journals, the jumble of information will ultimately transform into a brand-new story, and a very tidy desk.

Actual research is a must for me. I need to experience everything that I send my characters off to, and not by googling the subject. So just when I think I’ve done all that, the hard work of research, and the graft of actually being in situ and visiting all the places that I write about and noting it all down, back at my desk I realise I may have missed one tiny detail and I backtrack to get it right.

For example, a recent visit to a cookery class in Orkney to make traditional oatcakes from a third-generation recipe went well. Armed with all the information after several hours of baking and discussion (for a paragraph’s worth of writing), back in my writing hidey-hole I realise that I’m missing something. Two hours fly by, on an internet search for a very specific barley that is ground into a locally milled flour that gives the oatcake that distinct ‘crunch’.

What I’m trying to say is that The Nile Cruise, about to be published, is like my long-term partner, while the next work-in-progress is the exciting secret affair and has completely stolen my heart and overtaken my life.

The Nile Cruise is ready and waiting to meet readers, and when I glance at my copies, I feel a parental pride as my new book baby is about to be born. As one story learns to stand on its own two feet, another is hammering away in my brain.

And so, lovely readers, if you happen to download or pick up a copy of The Nile Cruise next week, thank you from the bottom of my heart. But don’t be offended if I’m already indulging in a wonderful love affair with the next novel.

My short story, A Fitting Tribute is published in this week’s edition of MY WEEKLY magazine.

I am interviewing today for the book programme on Talk Radio Europe.

And if you happen to be anywhere near North Wales, this Sunday 26th July, why not head over to the Berwyn Book Shop where I will be having a lovely chat with the very talented author, Katy Watson, about our books.

With love to you all, wishing you many happy reading hours.

Caroline xx

PS: Don’t forget to get in touch, I love to hear from you!