I've just emerged from my editing cave to the reality that PRICKLY COMPANY will be out in the world in 12 days! I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that time was ticking down of course, but I've been so immersed in rewrites of my 2025 novel - currently called CLOSEST KEPT, though I doubt the title will stick - that I pushed thoughts of launch day from my mind. Mostly. (I did emerge from time to time for exciting interviews with various publications and to write a hedgehog inspired short story).

But now my edits have been sent off - until they return no doubt for a bit more work - and launch day is catapulting towards me. It's very exciting. Nerve-wracking too!

I've already received 68 early review of PRICKLY COMPANY on Goodreads, and they've mostly been very favourable. Thank you so much to everyone who's taken the time to read and review. It's hugely reassuring to see that the majority of readers 'get' and enjoyed my book.

So much soul-searching, creativity, hopes and dreams go into a novel, and then it's time to pass it over to you, the reader. I can't wait. Not just because I'm eager for you to meet my characters and I hope you'll enjoy the emotional roller coaster of the read, but also because I hope the book helps to raise awareness about hedgehogs and, if you live in a country where they're a native species, the ways we can help them to thrive. Hurrah!