Today I received the wonderful news that the combined ebook and paperback sales of The Accident now top 101,000! That figure is beyond my wildest dreams and I can’t quite believe it.
Fortuitously, today was also the day I’d arranged to have lunch with Avon publisher Caroline Ridding so we celebrated in Bristol’s only Michelin starred restaurant Casamia. It was such a treat. Seventeen different tasters and each one utterly delicious.
The textures, flavours and taste sensations were astonishing and each course was brought out by the chef who described the different ingredients.
Caroline and I had a wonderful chat about everything from family to ‘coastal’ resorts near Bristol, to my next book Last Girl Standing’s cover (I haven’t seen it yet but I now have a mental image), to my ideas for my third book. I was given some gorgeous presents from Jo Malone to celebrate The Accident’s success and went home feeling excited and full!
In other news Before I Wake, the US title for The Accident, was published earlier this month and the reviews are rolling in. I received a box of books a few weeks ago and they’re now sharing shelf space with the UK and Polish versions. I heard last week that The Accident is going to published in France. A foreign version I can actually read (sort of, I got a D at A Level!).
I’m hugely excited about Friday this week. A few months ago I was randomly contacted by one of the media team for The City of London (gov) and asked if I’d be interested in a behind the scenes tour of London that includes the Old Bailey, the Square Mile and Tower Bridge and a Q&A with Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf and lunch at La Sauterelle. A small group of novelists were being invited to help them generate ideas for locations, plots, themes etc. I have no idea how he found me but I feel ridiculously lucky. It’s a money couldn’t buy experience. I’m particularly excited about visiting the Old Bailey. I’m sure that will feature in one of my novels at some point. I’m allowed to photograph everything except the Old Bailey so expect a new blog post about my experience next week.
And finally, I’ve promised my editor (and myself) that I’ll get Last Girl Standing to her by the end of Thursday so I’d better get on with polishing the third draft. She’s seen and approved a seven page synopsis but I’m still nervous. After the success of The Accident this (very different) book has a lot to live up to!
i am never one to leave reviews, but i ordered this book unknowing a major part of it would be about domestic abuse. As i have just escaped an abusive relationship and am having issues protecting my child this book really spoke to me. it is incredibly well written and true to abuse, how it starts so minimal you don’t notice how that person manipulates you, ending with them holding complete control over your life. C.L Taylor has done a fantastic job representing how women fall into this vicious cycle of abuse and created an addictive storyline alongside it.
Thank you so much for getting in touch C. You’re absolutely right about the slow, insidious way domestic abuse begins. If it hasn’t happened to you it’s very easy to say ‘you should have just left at the first warning sign.’ I’m so sorry you suffered an abusive relationship and I’m glad you escaped. I hope you’re getting the help you need to protect your child. Stay safe. X