I just realised that the last blog post I wrote was on the 6th May when Her Last Holiday had charted at #12 in the Sunday Times Original Fiction chart after a part week of sales.

In an effort to chart the highs and lows of my career I thought I should write another blog to detail three highs that have happened this year.

1. After a full week Her Last Holiday charted at #8 in the Sunday Times Original Fiction chart making it my seventh book to become a Sunday Times bestseller.

2. I’ve made the shortlist for the Crime Writers Association Dagger in the Library shortlist. I’ve written eight crime novels and it’s the first time I have been shortlisted for a CWA award. The fact it’s an award that’s voted for by librarians means a lot. I am up against some amazing authors and I don’t expect to win but it’s definitely a career highlight.

3. I’ve been going to Harrogate Crime Festival aka Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival as a punter for YEARS and was a guest at the author dinner a few years ago but I am beyond chuffed that, this year, I’ll be a main stage guest, in conversation with Clare Mackintosh and we’ll be chatting all things psych thriller. If you are lucky enough to have (or get) a ticket we’re on at 8.30pm on the Friday night.

If you have read and enjoyed Her Last Holiday thank you so much. If you have a moment to leave a review on Amazon I would be very grateful – smarturl.it/herlastholiday

And in other news I’m now 10,000 words into book nine. I am attempting something I haven’t done before with this book, which is to write a quick ‘dirty’ draft, let it rest, then solve any issues and polish the prose in the second draft. It’s hard to let go of my perfectionist streak but I’m giving it a good go. I’m posting weekly updates on Instagram so do follow me there if you want an insight into my process.