End of 2025 reflections

a Ukrainian sunflower

CHOOSING A NOVEL FOR 2026

I've worked all year on two new novels, but at some point I had to choose one to get ready for publication. Attending the Bournemouth Romance Writers Festival earlier this year, I chose to wear my sunflower dungarees. (You can see them in the pic on the home page of my website). No one knew me there but everyone liked my dungarees, so I decided that from now on, sunflowers are my image.

The Festival was fantastic – full of creative, bright (and in many cases well-known) women who earn a living from their writing. It was the most energising few days. I came back, full of optimism and ideas, and picked my Anna story as the one novel that needed to be birthed into the world. It's my love letter to Ukraine, a love story and a reflection on how love can pull us through bad times.

So that's where I'm heading to – January 2026. More to come.

And what are your reflections for 2025? Where is next year taking you?