C.L. Peache's Blog

How is it November already and everyone is talking about Christmas? I literally feel as if we were cruising in the sunshine and now we have stopped, winter has arrived overnight. ((It is November Peachy!)) I know but it’s very odd. ((Saying nothing)) After cruising for 7 months it seems very strange to settle back into life in one place. Which gives away for those who don’t know, that we made it back to Warwick and our winter mooring – hurrah.

Last week we cruised from 7am until just before dark most days. On the first day the canals opened we were number 34 in the queue of boats and only made it through two locks on the first day. It was a week of meeting lots of people who all helped each other out and proves how good the boating community is with only a couple we won’t mention. I had a close encounter with a mink at a lock. It scampered right up to me! I suppose they are not used to the locks being used as many of them have been closed since the end of August. Chris fell in the canal. The wind pushed us onto the opposite bank and we lost our chimney. Some of the pounds were empty of water and we had to refill them. It was an eventful week!

We made it back to Warwick on the Friday and they closed parts of the canals again on Sunday for the foreseeable future or until the reservoirs recover. As we are going into winter hopefully this will sort itself out by spring and when we need to cruise again.

Anyway, we are back and what now I hear you cry ((Cry? Everyone has fallen asleep!)) As we try to fit back into a routine I’ve been cracking on with my freelance work and have a plan for updating my website and running the writing workshop so that’s me busy organising all of those. Sales for Lost the Plot are going very well so I’m trying to keep up momentum by promoting on social media. If you’ve read and can leave a review that would be fab.

My thriller book is still out in the world and I have a 1-1 with book agent which is a paid session. I’ve sent over my cover letter, synopsis and three chapters of my book for review. This way I can find out what is and isn’t working before I submit to any more agents/publishers.

I’ve had an issue with Paypal just deciding to close my account after a couple of kind people bought me a coffee! It seems Paypal can just delete your account when they like and keep your money for 180 days so please be careful. I use Izettle to take payments for my books during events and my publisher pays me through paypal so it’s very annoying having to look for an alternative. Apparently I can just start a new paypal account ((oh so kind of the money grabbing corporate idiots!)) exactly Brackets but despite the faff for me, I’m not supporting a company who treats its customers like this. ((They will be quaking in their boots!)) They cancelled my account spouting some nonsense after I’d had to upload my passport and image to verify my account – sounds like paypal grabbing Digital ID to me. ((now it explains it!)) Anyway, my point is if you use Paypal do not leave any significant money in your account just in case!

I’ve started on my new witch story after a poll on Facebook and it seems zombies are out! This is very much just a story for me and you to enjoy ((You hope!)) and not to publish. I will add it to the end of the blog. Remember this hasn’t been edited. It’s from thought to page, like this blog ((Lord help us)) so don’t expect too much! ((It’s about a witch who lives on a narrowboat so not reflective of real life at all!))

That’s it for now. I have ten vlogs to edit which follows our journey back if anyone wants to subscribe and watch those. ((great sleep aid people)) Lost the Plot Youtube channel

Here is the story… I welcome any thought on what you think…. do you want to read more or not. ((I vote not))

Freya pulled the hatch shut and locked up her narrowboat. She glanced along the canal and smiled as the autumnal leaves floated daintily from the trees, the kaleidoscope of colours striking against the bright blue sky.

She stepped carefully off her boat, her wellies sinking into the already muddy towpath and she pondered on the juxtaposition of wearing a coat, thick jeans, a brightly coloured jumper her cousin had knitted and her Audrey Hepburn sunglasses slotted firmly in place on, some would say, her longer than it needed to be, nose. The glasses would soon be put into hibernation as the clocks changed that weekend and Summertime officially ended.

The chimney smoke twirled into the sky and promised a cosy afternoon under her blanket with a hot chocolate as she caught up on some life admin. Even Tarot readers needed to answer emails and she had a few days before she saw her next client. She wondered if the Tarot readers of the past would be shocked that she gave readings mostly over zoom.

‘Hi.’

Freya turned to see a couple walking their dogs, ‘Hi. Glorious morning.’ she called as she turned, wanting to enjoy the walk without distractions. It was lovely that people always wanted to stop and chat but she felt an overwhelming urge to go and visit the church she’d spotted on the canal map. One of the joys of this life was having the opportunity to visit and photographing churches which was one of her passions.

‘Do you live on the boat?’

Freya secured her camera strap over her head and put her keys and phone in her rucksack which already contained some water and a cloth.

‘Yes, just over a year now.’

As she spoke to the couple Freya was transported back to the day she had joined her friend who was having a midlife crisis and decided to buy a boat only to decide she didn’t like the idea of emptying the toilet. Freya, however had fallen in love with it and on a whim put down a deposit and bought the boat, much to her parents’ dismay at her constant rebellion to live an alternative life. Having not long escaped from a terrible relationship and the money from the house sale in the bank, it was just the change Freya was looking for and she’d thrived, even on the days she’d faced one challenge after another.

Finishing the conversation Freya said goodbye and started her journey to the church, her hand firmly secured on her precious camera. It had been the one thing she’d taken when she’d split up with Stuart. It had been her sister’s camera and only the fact that she’d lost her sister only a year ago stopped Stuart from arguing about her taking it. She would have let him have everything, she’d wanted a clean slate but her solicitor had made sure she walked away with the money she was owed.

Freya jumped as a duck flew so close she felt it’s wing glance her tussled main of auburn hair which she’d tried and failed to tame over the years. The duck called out its displeasure as if she’d been the one to get in its way.

‘Rude.’ Freya called after the departing duck as she walked past the swing bridge over the Oxford Canal and made her way along the gravelled tow path towards the bridge. Holding the camera close she navigated the wooden stile and jumped down into the muddy field which had been bone dry the other day.

Freya was surprised she had the fields to herself as normally there were dog walkers or ramblers a plenty in this area but there wasn’t a soul about. In the distance she could see the promised weather front incoming and she felt her stove fire calling to her.

‘Not yet.’ She mumbled under her breath.

She followed the path over a troll bridge and spun three times, something her friend, Ali always apologised for if they were together and anyone saw them. She would mouth, ‘it’s the tablets.’

Freya firmly believed that despite it being the daytime and the obvious reason that everyone knew trolls didn’t come out in the daytime, but if you turned three times then it would confuse the trolls and they wouldn’t be able to find you.

Safe from the trolls she was out of breath as she reached the top of the hill and took a moment to appreciate the enchanting forest as far as the eye could see and the large blue sky which judging by the dark clouds in the distance and the met office weather app was going to change very soon. Autumn was her favourite time of year, maybe because her birthday was smack in the middle of the month and made her very firmly in the Libra star sign. This month was always associated with parties and good times despite the impending lack of daylight hours.

Freya spun around at the sound of the wind…

It’s 4.18 am on Tuesday 30th September and I’ve just lit the fire and made myself a cup of tea. ((Tea?? Tea?? Now I know this is going to be a weird blog. Hold onto your sanity people!)) 

Being awake at this time has often heralded ((Oh Peachy knows good words at this time of the morning!)) the pains of either hormonal distress or some kind of work related stress or worry over making this creative life/ boat life work financially. I’ve written about it many times over the eight years since I started this creative journey.

It’s not only the final throws of this autumnal cold I’m recovering from which has me up at this time as I peek out the window at the reflection of the church shimmering on the river in Abingdon on Thames, not for the first time I marvel at this amazing life we lead, which comes with it’s own challenges.

I’ve finally done it… ((What? Given up waffling? Hurrah!)) what is going to mark the start of a potentially long process. As many of you will know, for the last eight years I’ve been working on this psychological thriller series ((Oh we know!)) and I have ticked off the final edits and pressed send and emailed it to an agent to start the submission process all over again. For those who don’t know, a lot of publishers require you to have an agent before you can submit your book to them. This is not the case for all publishers. Some fabulous publishers have open submissions and you can submit direct but I suppose having an agent who believes in your work and can guide you through the process of navigating the book world is something I haven’t quite managed to let go of yet and so here we are at 4 am thinking about the future. Anyway it has left my inbox and into an agents, so time will tell. ((About time!))

I’m proud of all the books I’ve written in the last eight years and every single one has brought me to this stage. I’ve self-published five novels and two novella’s and joined The Bombay Circle Press who have published three of my novels and a few of my short stories back when they were creating their own story and started the Saga Fiction App and now they are growing all the time and finding their niche in the publishing world and going from strength to strength.  I’ve also added stories to four books with the Fosseway Writing Group so I feel I have a bit more experience.

In between all this I’ve had a very successful couple of meeting for some freelance work I’ve been approached about. It’s an extremely exciting role and the projects ahead have countless possibilities, which follows on from the work I’ve already achieved with my self-publishing but also my work with Newark Book Festival. I don’t think I’m ever going to escape the book world now and that’s exactly the way I want it. ((Come on then. Spill the beans!)) Sorry, not just yet. It’s very early days but I will share as soon as I can. ((Just wasting our time!))

So, I think it’s hardly surprising I find myself awake at this hour ((you’re lucky it’s gone past the witching hour else people would be making assumptions)) but it’s nice to be awake with exciting adventures ahead rather than hormonal stress. Of course, it’s not without a little background stress and at the moment life is on the cusp of ‘what could be’ but wouldn’t life be boring without ‘what if’s’ ((well you say that but at this present moment you cannot get back to Warwick due to low water!))

That’s true. Hopefully there is going to be a window of opportunity to return to Warwick at the end of October when they are planning to try and open the canals for boaters to return to where they need to be. As you know, I want to run some mentoring and writing workshop at Saltisford Arm where they have the most wonderful workshop space which is about ten cartwheels from our boat ((I would pay to see you do a cartwheel Peachy. Cold. Hard. Cash!)) and it would mean another income from the workshops.

Lost the Plot has been loitering in the best seller list for months now which after all the hard work is wonderful to see. I’ve also had some amazing reviews on Amazon and I’m thankful for each and every one. Last month was my most successful sales month on Amazon! ((Which Peachy used to replace her coffee machine which broke under all the stress. There is only one way she achieves all this you know!))

To sum up. By the time you read this my thriller will have been sent out into cyber space to hopefully find someone who loves it as much as me. It could take up to a year to secure the right agent so it could be a long process. I’ve started my freelance job which I will share in another post and other than my head exploding with the information I’m loving it. The planned news on if the canals will open won’t be until late October so we will be pootling about on the Thames until we know more and then it will be all hands to the deck to return home in the very small window of time they are proposing to let boats move. Grab hold of your windlass and cross your fingers ((Ehhh??)) let’s go on an adventure…

Click on the link if you want to have a sneak peak at my books… Read Here

Thank you to everyone for the support on this journey. We are getting there people. I can feel it in my bones! ((That’s Arthritis! You’re 50 woman… how many times do i need to tell you!))

Oh I almost forgot! ((Oh what now!)) I’ve republished my novella, A Christmas Wish with a new cover created on Canva as I don’t have the pennies to have a designer do this and it seemed a shame for it to be loitering around not doing anything. Many of you reading this might have already read it so please don’t buy it again! The story isn’t new, just the cover and it’s only available in Kindle format. Read here… A Christmas Wish

Well, it’s been a busy old month since my last update…
((Don’t forget Peachy’s version of busy is very different to everyone else’s. As in, Peachy is just pretending to be busy!)) and it looks as if there are going to be a few unplanned changes to our winter plans. I will come back to that but first to the book update ((or lack of a book update you mean Peachy))

Yes, to confess I haven’t made the progress I intended with my thriller. I was doing well but then we ended up having to get a bit of move on and so were up and cruising the boat at around 8am ((Oh my tiny violin just snapped!)) for two weeks and cruising for around 5-7 hours a day and if I’m editing, then this has to be done in the morning because I don’t have the same focus in the afternoon ((Rubbish excuse! Although you are old)) so my deadline has changed until the end of September for finishing the final edit and submitting it to agents. ((yeah yeah. We’ve heard it all before!))

Other characters and stories are becoming demanding so I really do need to finish this book done so I can focus on a new story. I think it must be over 3 years since I’ve written a completely new story so I am ready to make up a new world. There is a witch who would like some screen time…

My publisher had a technical issue with their Amazon account which meant my books were basically unavailable for sale and someone changed the covers and probably tried to resell them. All that hard work by everyone and some cretin ((I can think of other words!)) stole them. It looks like it’s all sorted now but not a nice feeling to have my books messed about with and lose precious sales.

Last book update. My books are now springing up in a few places. One Step Ahead can be purchased from The Harbour Gallery in Jersey. As hinted at in the last blog a wonderful independent bookshop has opened in Newark on Trent and my fantasy series, Finding Love, One Step Ahead, Lost the Plot, Power of Nature and 187 Kilometres, turn left are available to purchase as well. I popped in to take some pictures so I will share them soon. It’s a wonderful feeling to browse around a bookstore and see my books on the shelves.  Please do visit Paul at Newark Bookshop and buy some of the fantastic range of books available.

In between all this I’ve been faffing with the board game I created from my fantasy trilogy series Festival of Time. Book one, Escape is free on kindle until tomorrow if you want to download a free copy.

On the cruising front we have hit a slight issue as due to the fantastic dry year we have had it means quite a lot of the network has been closed due to low water and we currently cannot get back to our home mooring in Warwick and as many are in the same boat ((oh you had to do it!)) I’ve contacted 4 marinas and they are all full so we could be facing a winter ‘on the cut’ which means we need to think about where we will be based on the network. We might have to buy a generator to provide electric when we are not cruising ((OMG What about your coffee machine!)) I know Brackets, I know! We do have our portable espresso machine which runs off batteries unless we can moor the boat in a costa drive through!

We had been planning to secure some temporary work over the winter months as the bank balance needs topping up but that could be a bit harder if we don’t have a fixed location. All the joys of living this life and whatever happens I’m sure it will be an adventure! I’ve also paused my vlogs until we start cruising on a new canal as I wanted to enjoy the cruise back down the Kennet and Avon canal.

The plans for mentoring and workshops might also have to go on hold as I might not have a fixed location in time to promote them, so I’m just going to have these plotted and ready to go should we manage to return to Warwick.

I think that’s it for this months ((Very late I hasten to add!)) update and hopefully next month I will have some book news to share and we will know where we will be for winter.
Thanks for reading and pray for rain! Peachy x

How is it the 1st August already? ((Well, we have this thing called a calendar. It’s been around for a while…)) Oh, someone is feeling sarcastic as usual. Don’t think you’re forgiven for last months blog takeover.

It feels as if it was months ago that I was whizzing around at Newark Book Festival. All those months of planning with the team and in four days it was all done! I was absolutely shattered after working and socialising around 12 hours days but the whole team and the volunteers were amazing and judging by the feedback in my inbox, everyone had an amazing time, so I think those 3am stress out moments were worth it!

Sadly, these four wonderful booky days were followed by a funeral for a good friend but in true style, it was a celebration of his life and as seems to happen now as you get older, it tends to be weddings or funerals where you finally catch up with people you’ve been meaning to see for months and years.

As I was so busy I didn’t have time to worry about my book launch event and before I knew it I was sitting in the Tudor Hall with my good friend, Maria interviewing me and about fifty people in the audience as I waffled about my writing life and new book, One Step Ahead. ((poor people I bet most of them were asleep)) I was a bit nervous when we started but soon settled into it. I couldn’t have imagined doing something like this years ago, so it shows how much my confidence has grown. I even had a ‘proper’ book signing queue. Also a few people wanted to chat more about the books they are working on. I ended up selling out of my copies of One Step Ahead and sold a few of my other books.

I was planning on developing a mentoring programme for authors ((Oh lord have mercy! Don’t do it people. Do not do it. It’s a cult. I’m warning you)) and also a selection of writing workshops once we are back at our winter mooring in Warwick. It’s still very difficult to work from the boat with the wi-fi and continuous cruising but I’m going to hopefully organise a few sessions with the people I met at book launch before then to see if I can help them with their journey , which is very exciting.

Now I’m back at the boat and the festival is finished baring a few admin jobs to tie up, I’m back to working on my psychological thriller ((FINALLY!)) and I’m really enjoying getting stuck into a full edit and preparing it ready to go back out into the submission world. I’ve found an agent which I’m going to send my details to. For those not in the know, an agent means you generally have access to the bigger publishing houses for future novels as normally they wouldn’t accept looking at a manuscript from an unagented author. But as you will know if you’re a regular reader of my blog there is also a specific publisher I’m also going to submit the novel to so we will see what happens. I’m hoping to have the book finished by mid-august and then it’s in the hands of the Gods what will happen.

Once this is done I’m going to work on the mentoring and writing workshops I’ve mentioned ready to promote those for November. We also have some other work planned for the winter but we haven’t signed on the dotted line yet. Also some of my books might be on the move to a new bookshop but I cannot share too much on that at the moment. ((Oh great update that is.))

Right as the summer storm kicks off in earnest, I’m off to crack on with my novel… wish me luck!
Peachy. x

((YOU ALL OWE ME BIG TIME! You should have seen the waffle Peachy was going to write. In the middle of the night whilst she was sleeping and dreaming of dismembering people in her thriller series, I set to and deleted her blog and changed it to bullet points. You’re welcome. I take payment through Peachy’s buymeacoffee fund which I’ve hacked and changed the password for. I’m saving up to create my own stationery business as Peachy keeps promising to do stuff and never gets around to it – you know what she’s like!))

((Grab yourself a few shots, neck them… now start skim reading… actually, this is probably the funniest blog to date…))

Peachy had her book launch in Jersey and people felt sorry for her so bought some copies of her latest mystery novel One Step Ahead which is set in Jersey if you didn’t know. If you don’t know it’s probably because you’ve been sensible enough to mute her on social media. If you’re still following her you need to seriously rethink your life choices. Don’t be fooled about the ‘it’s all about the location’. It’s just an excuse to go on holiday.She turned fifty. Who cares. Although after hacking her laptop I have been ensuring a zimmer frame image wanders across her screen when she is trying to work. Endless hours of entertainment.She won a short story competition by waffling about something she did years ago on the boat. Boring. She is going to be insufferable now. ‘ohhh. I won a competition’ How the judges picked Peachy’s I don’t know. They probably had heat stroke.They are still cruising the boat up the Kennet and Avon. Whatever, so are loads of other people. Somehow she’s found time to keep putting out vlogs. Was that a cheer from the back? Didn’t think so. Watch it if you’re struggling to fall to sleep. ‘oh look, here is another lock…’ like we have seen thousands already. Chuck yourself in and create some seriously good content.What else, I’m getting bored myself. Oh yes, Peachy has a book launch for that Jersey book again at Newark Book Festival on Sunday 13th July 12.30-1.30pm at the Tudor Hall, National Civil War Centre. You need to book in advance as for some reason Peachy thinks lots of people will want to come. Although I would totally go along just to heckle her from the back. Email her if you literally have nothing else to do and fancy having a laugh.

Link to the buymeacoffee – don’t forget all proceeds come to me. SHHHHH this is between us! #don’ttellPeachy

Struggling to sleep… Read One Step Ahead here or watch her vlogs YouTube Channel

((My work here is done. Out.))

It’s raining today in Jersey – how rude! So I thought I would spend the morning catching up on my freelance work and sorting out my book life ((Good luck with that. I have no idea what’s going on with your book life!)) Me neither, which is why writing it down here helps me to focus ((Oh dear. Your poor readers. Switch off now people))

I visited the Harbour Gallery in Jersey and finalised the book launch plans for One Step Ahead which is on Friday 20th June. I will be having an informal book launch in wonderful, creative surroundings. I highly recommended a visit if you come to Jersey, they celebrate all local artists and do lots of fabulous work with schools and young people. I will pop the link below. ((Why are you allowed then? You’re not local!)) Well, I have been visiting Jersey for over 25 years and One Step Ahead is based in Jersey, so that gives me a free pass. One Step Ahead will also be stocked in the Harbour Gallery which is wonderful.

I always like to share the reality of being an author and reviews make such a difference as they help other readers to find my books, the unfathomable algorithm which generally means it shows you things you don’t want, sometimes works. Anyway, every so often I remember to check my reviews as it gives me something to share on my socials and found this beauty for my New Zealand book…

I feel so very mean writing this review, but I have to confession to.make. I have read the author’s book on living on a narrowboat, which, having read a lot of narrowboat books, was so dull I couldn’t finish it. Feeling bad, I then read one of her novels I ordered to write something nice. It was awful, much like a story in a women’s magazine. So then I tried this. If I was going to New Zealand, I think this would be a very good guidebook indeed. I just wish she hadn’t used the word “stunning” on pretty much every page, although I can imagine much of NZ is.
I do think the author has a very engaging way of writing, and I imagine she’s a good and amusing companion. I wish I could go to New Zealand!

((Wow that is absolutely fabulous and no I didn’t write it!)) Now it’s a great review for my NZ book and so far the reader hasn’t left a bad review for the other books which I am very grateful. It is hard enough to push and strive all the time without a bad review knocking you back. I totally understand if people don’t like my books, the earlier you develop a thick skin, ((I’m saying nothing)) the better in this game, but equally, readers have a right to share an honest review. I personally never leave bad reviews for books as i know the hard work which goes into writing one. Anyway, I still received 4 stars so that’s good. ((Actually you can tell it wasn’t me as I wouldn’t say that about you being a good companion)) Also you have to balance out the good reviews received and hope more people like them than not!

On the same day I saw this review I heard from Saltisford Arm – where we have our winter mooring and they’ve sold their stock of Lost the Plot and I received a wonderful review in Waterways Magazine so it all balances out and is the up’s and down’s of this creative life.

I also received the first copies of my Jersey book, One Step Ahead and so had to do the standard unboxing video. Such an exciting feeling as this book has been on quite the journey to reach this stage of publication!

The next six weeks are going to be very busy with the publication of One Step Ahead on 19th June, my book launch in Jersey on the 20th June. Turning 50 ((Still saying nothing)) on the 24th June and then Newark Book Festival 10-13th July and my book event on Sunday 13th July! ((I’m tired just reading this!)) you and me both, but hopefully these events results in a few more sales. One day Rodney! We will also be exploring a new canal and hopefully the vlogs will keep coming over the coming weeks.

If you have read any of my books and enjoyed them ((a focus on enjoyed them!)) it would be wonderful if you could leave a review. Thank you. xx

Amazonlink – Fantasy, travelogues, thrillers, romance and more…
YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here
Bombay Circle Press – My publisher based in Mumbai
Powertheauthor – Buy me a coffee here – saving up to upgrade my website so i can have a virtual bookshop! Until then you can buy from Amazon
Harbour Gallery Jersey

To celebrate the 3rd anniversary of living on our narrowboat, Lost the Plot – my book about leaving land life for boat life is on offer for ONE WEEK ONLY for £1.99, so grab yourself a bargain whilst you can.  ((When you say a bargain? I suppose there are plenty of pages in it so when it comes to having to light the fires again it will be useful))

This blog is slightly early so I can let you know about the offer for Lost the Plot but also to share that my event for my latest mystery novel, One Step Ahead is available on pre-order and will be published on 19th June! Very exciting ((I cannot keep up with all your books!)) This book is the last novel which was commissioned by The Bombay Circle Press who were then known as Saga Fiction. They have come a long way as a publisher and so has this book which started life as an episodic story.

If you’re anywhere Newark on Sunday 13th July at 12.30pm – 1.30pm you can join me for my first book festival author talk and signing in the Tudor Hall, National Civil War Museum where I will be interviewed by fellow Fosseway Writing Crew and fabulous author, Maria Dziedzan. Very scary as my mum and family will be in the front row! If you would like to come, the event is free, but you need to book by emailing me : clpeache@gmail.com. I already have 29 people signed up to watch me make an idiot of myself so feel free to join them! ((I will be watching! Wouldn’t miss you making an idiot of yourself!))

I’m off to Jersey later this week to start the promotion for One Step Ahead and I will share lots of information about the story, the characters and the location for the book and how I was inspired by a walk to write, One Step Ahead. I will have a launch in Jersey on Friday 20th June but just need to finalise a few more details before I share this.

On the narrowboat front we had a very scary moment when the lock landing was full as they’d had an issue with the lock so there was a backlog of boats waiting and there were boats in the lock. The wind picked up so much it pushed us nearly onto the ropes which have danger signs everywhere as it’s a weir! There really was a moment I thought the boat was going to be stuck again it. Not the plan for our anniversary on the boat but we made it off eventually and through the lock and moored up!

In other news, I’ve entered a short story competition where you can win a few prizes, including £700 towards our canal and river licence and you’ve got to be in it to win it! ((or not)) I will share it on here once the competition is over ((Oh joy)).

Don’t forget Lost the Plot is on sale for £1.99 and One Step Ahead is available on pre-order for £3.99. Links below. Thanks to everyone who has booked my event in July so far and I will be in touch soon with the Jersey launch details.

Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday. The rain has just started here but I’m having a day of boat cleaning ready to share a tour of the boat and getting all my work, YouTube vlogs and admin jobs out of the way ahead of my Jersey adventure!Xx

P.S. I’ve been doing well with the vlogs so far so I’m returning to Sunday 6pm for the next four vlogs which I should finish and schedule today. x

To Buy… Lost the Plot
To Pre-Order One Step Ahead

I’m currently sitting at the dinette and the boat is temporarily moored underneath a huge road bridge as it’s the easiest place to moor up to use the waterpoint. I thought whilst I have an hour to wait whilst our tank fills up I will update you on what’s happening. ((Oh such joy you bring to our lives. How would we manage!))

The weather is still glorious! Can you believe it? Yes, I know, farmers, gardeners and probably we will be moaning soon if we don’t have any rain as we do need water for many different reasons but this has been the warmest April I’ve known in many years. I do remember ((Before records began)) probably 8-10 years ago when I broke up from the college I was working in and it was a glorious April and one year back in February 2002 or 2003 we were both doing temp work and were going to finish in the May but the weather was so nice we gave up early. ((I roll my eyes at your life. I really do!))

Anyway, what’s happening I hear you cry ((no you don’t that’s an echo because you’re old and have dodgy ears)) We are currently cruising down the Oxford Canal and soon to be arriving onto a part of the river Thames which leads to Lechlade on Thames. I’m really hoping I have a signal as the brochure is currently being created Newark Book Festival in July and all the events need to be on the website in the next two weeks so along with the other NBF team I need a signal!

I returned to Newark for a few days for work and to catch up with friends after enjoying a glorious April cruising the Oxford canal – what a stunning canal and as we have the car we can now explore a lot of the countryside. If you ever think the UK is a grim place to live then I challenge that you’re not getting out enough. I’ve travelled quite a lot in my nearly 50 years ((HAHA)) but I’m shocked how beautiful the little villages and the areas around this canal. If you have the time and money I highly recommend hiring a boat on this stretch. The wildlife and views are breathtaking.

It’s been much better than I thought having the car and our routine tends to be to cruise for a few hours and then walk back and get the car or if we’ve cruised far Chris goes on his pushbike. It means we see even more of the canal and the countryside which is wonderful. There are so many things we spot as we cruise along which we cannot look at properly as on the boat.

Due to working on NBF I’ve not had chance to do much on my thriller book but I have been having ideas which are going into the mixing pot. It’s getting their mum, I promise ((Lying to your own mother! Shocking!)) My Jersey book One Step Ahead has a publication date of the 19th June so that’s exciting. More to come next month on the events.

I had a lovely request from Waterways World which is a canal magazine asking for a copy of Lost the Plot to review so I’ve posted that to them so fingers crossed for a good review and a few sales. As I’ve mentioned before the margin for profit is very small now due to publication costs as this is a self-published novel and so I need to sell 4 books to even make the postage money back so here’s hoping!

Right, as I sign off for another month listening to the sound of the pigeons roosting inside the bridge and hoping they don’t decide to poo on the roof I bid you goodbye and I hope you’re enjoying this glorious weather. xx

YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here
Bombay Circle Press – My publisher based in Mumbai
Powertheauthor – Buy me a coffee here
Amazonlink – Fantasy, travelogues, thrillers, romance and more…
Lost the Plot – Story of our canal adventures

What glorious weather we are having. I hope everyone is managing to enjoy a slice of this beautiful start to April. Sorry this blog is a little late, I blame the dodgy internet connection ((Like anyone is surprised Peachy. It’s not as if we sit waiting for it and expect anything mind blowing to be shared)) In my defence, ((Oh, here we go. An answer for everything!)) We finally left our winter mooring at Saltisford Arm in Warwick on Monday 31st March and we are back out in the wilds of living on the cut for the next seven months.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be back out on the cut. We loved our winter mooring and have booked to return to Saltisford for winter as it’s the perfect place to stay, with lovely people but a boat is made to be on the move and not moored up going nowhere. I think The Plot is as happy as us to be out and it hasn’t missed a beat.

It’s been an exciting week in author world as the early reviews are starting to come in for my Jersey novel, One Step Ahead. It’s always a scary time waiting to hear what people think, especially as this novel has been literally years in the making as we delayed publication last year.

I have two book launch events planned now so it’s full steam ahead finalising those ahead of marketing them and I need to keep up with the online promotions for the books, which can be a bit hit and miss as my hormonal anxiety is still waiting in the wings but I’m doing my best and now we are back out the internet is not always very good. I blame the sheep and the hills.

I’ve started vlogging again and I must admit it’s nice getting back into filming ((After all that moaning you did Peachy!)) I know, I’ve decided not to put pressure on myself and just do them as and when. I’ve accepted we are unlikely to make money from the channel so it will just be a way of keeping a record for us and sharing with friends and family and if anyone wants to buy us a coffee or send a super thanks via YouTube then that would be fab but I’m not getting back into worrying about subscribers and views etc. This year is all about enjoying my time. ((well you will be 50 soon Peachy!)) I know, Brackets. 50! Me? How did that happen?

We’ve tackled 21 locks since we set off and I can tell you that my muscles know about it. But in a good way. As well as getting my work done I’ve been enjoying doing my jigsaws whilst binge watching Lost and I’m still working my way through my psychological thriller. It’s slow going but I’m enjoying being back in the world of Hope and Tom. ((He scares me!)) You and everyone else, Brackets. He’s a brilliant baddy if I do say so myself.

Right, signing off for this month. Hopefully next month I can share more about my author events ((Oh joy. Cannot wait)) have a lovely month and enjoy the sunshine whilst it’s here! xx

YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here
Bombay Circle Press – My Indian publisher based in Mumbai
Powertheauthor – Buy me a coffee here
Amazonlink – Fantasy, travelogues, thrillers, romance and more…
Lost the Plot – Story of our canal adventures available on Amazon

It’s been a busy time in author world since we last chatted. ((Oh yeah, because going to Malta was really a ‘research trip’ A likely story!)) It was! All trips abroad are potential locations for books and sometimes an author needs a break away to recharge the creative juices. ((Also, I cannot believe you awarded yourself ‘Employee of the Month’)) I’m self-employed. Who else is going to give me an award and I deserved it for the things I’ve had to overcome this last month. ((If I hadn’t broken my tiny violin last month I would be playing it for you now)) The Malta trip didn’t quite go to plan with outside stresses infiltrating it and I temporarily lost my phone but hey ho. The sunshine was lovely and Malta is a beautiful Island.

As many of you will know if you follow my Instagram or Facebook socials, I’ve really been struggling with anxiety due to my peri-menopause. I’m six years into this emotional and physical hormonal shit storm of a journey and just when I thought it was getting better, my brain decided it didn’t want to work. I lost the ability to do basic tasks and writing was just impossible. Anyway, I seem to be coming out of this, so hopefully normal life can resume and I can crack on with writing my psychological thriller as I was doing so well. 

As a consequence of the last few weeks. The full steam ahead on the marketing for my murder mystery book, One Step Ahead, was stalled but my publisher has been amazingly supportive and I cannot tell you the difference it makes when someone just says, ‘don’t worry about it, just feel better’. Also, my sales for my canal book have slowed due to the fact i’ve been unable to do any promotions but there are still a few sales trickling in which is nice and it seems popular on Kindle Unlimited. 

Just before my meltdown, I’d organised a book launch on Friday 20th June at the Harbour Gallery in Jersey which is equally terrifying and exciting and we’ve started contacting a few people about promotions and reviews for One Step Ahead, so hopefully all this will start coming together. I’m hoping this week I have enough brain power to start the social media plans.

We are due to leave Warwick in two weeks to begin our cruising plans for the year so it’s full steam ahead to get the rest of the boat jobs finished. I’m planning to share some vlogs of the journey and the boat jobs we’ve done but it will be as and when I feel like it. I’m simply unable to put any pressure on myself this year as I don’t know how I will feel from hour to hour, never mind day to day. I’m finding new ways of dealing with my anxiety so we will see how it goes. 

I hope all is going well for everyone and you’re enjoying these lighter nights and hopefully warmer weather incoming. Spring has well and truly sprung. 

On a positive note ((Positive? YOU? Come on now how much Baileys have you drunk??))  after 6 weeks I finally managed to get back into my Outlook emails – Microsoft if you’re reading this you really need to work on better communication! As a result, I’m aiming to move everything over to Google and cancel my subscription to Microsoft. Slowly does it though. I’ve also had a 1,000,000% improvement on my wi-fi connection changing from O2 to Lyca (part of EE) so hopefully those signal woes are over.

Thanks for reading if you’ve made it this far and thank you for all the support. It does make a big difference when I’m sobbing on the bed for no reason, well there is a reason as my body has decided to delete all my hormones i’ve relied on for the last 49 years! ((Pulling up your big pants didn’t work then Peachy?)) It doesn’t help that my body has decided to reject alcohol as a means to numb the pain. I’m pleased to say coffee is still on the menu, anxiety be damned! ((You without coffee does not bare thinking about!)) Pass me a mocktail…

Speak to you next time and hopefully I will have lots of book plans to share as well as pics and videos of our narrowboat adventures x

YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here
Bombay Circle Press – My Indian publisher based in Mumbai
Powertheauthor – Keep the words flowing here…
Amazonlink – Fantasy, travelogues, thrillers, romance and more…
Lost the Plot – Story of our canal adventures