……..when I hadn’t even dreamed about being a novelist, never mind written a book, I wrote short stories – still do.

And it was through short stories that I first saw my work between hard covers. Accent Press began a series of charity anthologies and I was in the first one – SEXY SHORTS FOR CHRISTMAS. After that came SEXY SHORTS FOR SUMMER and SEXY SHORTS FOR THE BEACH and I had a story in each of those, too. There was also SEXY SHORTS FOR CHEFS, but I didn’t submit to that one….I mean, I can cook, and I haven’t poisoned anyone yet, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

So, the anthologies. There were some famous names in there alongside me – Katie Fforde, Christina Jones, Bernardine Kennedy, Rosie Harris, Veronica Henry, Sarah Harrison, Adele Parks, Carole Matthews, Kathy Kelly. Or was it me alongside them? Whatever…..I was well-chuffed to be amongst them. And then a funny thing happened. I started seeing those names in those carousels in charity shops, and their books sort of leapt out at me. I couldn’t NOT buy them because I’d met the authors and they were, if not my bosom pals, then my writing chums. So I did. Even if I’d already read them. I think I bought the same  Carole Matthews’ title three times! I didn’t like leaving her there – I felt she, and all the others, had been cast out in a way by readers. Daft, I know. Anyway, I gave some of those books to friends – regifting, if you like. Ones I hadn’t read, I’ve kept. Some I donated to different charity shops.

But the thing is…..since joining the Romantic Novelists’ Association I’ve met many, many more novelists whose books are read, then donated to charity shops. I’m fairly charitable, but I’d be bankrupt if I bought them all! I try to walk right past those carousels (and the bookshelves) these days without looking. So, it got me wondering…..how do authors feel about their books being recycled, as it were? -  and for a lot less in money terms than the original price, although the reading enjoyment will remain the same.

Which brings me to this……how am I going to feel when I see my debut novel, TO TURN FULL CIRCLE, on one of those little carousels – unwanted, unloved, discarded for something else? I know, when I do, I’ll have to buy it. Daft, I know.

So, it started with a short story given away for charity – see above. And it’s sort of snowballed. I’ve just been sent the cover for the sequel to TO TURN FULL CIRCLE. It’s called ‘EMMA – there’s no turning back’. It will be published in January 2014, again by Choc Lit. In the meantime, while you wait, Choc Lit have published HOPE FOR HANNAH which is available as an e.book. You don’t see many of them on carousels in charity shops…..what do people do? just hit delete? Oh dear…I think I’m going to have to go and have a little lie down….and gaze at my new cover.