One Day, Someday

by Lynne Barrett-Lee

Can one day change your life? For Lu Fisher, ex-french teacher and fraught single mother, one day is pretty much like another: typing, translating, making endless cups of coffee…oh, and daydreaming about finally giving up her dull temp job and going back to college and her first love, studying art. Nights, however, are quite a different matter. Particularly those that involve the delectable Stefan, who tutors the local evening class on impressionist painters, and who is making a serious impression on Lu.

But one day is about to change her life. The day on which her irascible boss, Joe Delaney, breaks his arm in an accident and writes off her car. He’s sorry, of course, and yes, he’ll get her a new one, but in the meantime she needs transport and he needs a chauffeur. Simple, he says. She can drive his car instead. No matter that his Jaguar costs more than her house. Or, indeed, that Lu knows he’ll drive her up the wall..

One Day, Someday is a clever, funny novel about that time in a woman’s life when dreams begin fading and princes – handsome or otherwise – are getting thin on the ground. Lu’s always rather hoped that hers would show up someday – trouble is, that someday has been so long in coming, she’s not altogether sure she’d even spot him if he did…

‘An absolute joy to read‘ – Jill Mansell

‘A sassy comedy of romantic errors‘ – Cosmopolitan magazine

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Lynne Barrett-Lee


Born in London, I began my writing career as a teenager, when I was ‘discovered’ by a London-based literary agent, Annie Hallam, via a fan letter I sent to an actor who was her friend. Though life and love took precedence and I didn’t actually achieve publication then, I returned to my first love in 1994, as a mother of three, newly transplanted to Cardiff. My first paid-for piece of writing was a short article about being a mature primary school teacher training student, published in the Times Education Supplement. My world changed that day; I have yet to work as a primary school teacher.

I have been a full time author since the mid 1990s. My latest novel, a psychological mystery/thriller, called CAN YOU SEE ME?, probably constitutes one of my proudest achievements as a writer, since it’s a return to the genre I started writing in as a teenager - dark, edgy, ‘underbelly’ fiction, where nothing is as it seems.

I haven’t always been dark though. I also have eight romantic comedy novels and over a hundred published short stories to my name, most of the latter (which is how I learned my craft) appearing in UK Women’s magazines. I have also published two ebook guides to writing fiction, based on the short courses for adults I have taught for Cardiff University since 2009.

I also write a weekly column for the Western Mail Weekend magazine; something I have done since June 2006, with only a week off per year for good behaviour.

I began ghostwriting in 2007 and have since ghosted 26* full-length memoirs, most of which have been UK Sunday Times bestsellers. My titles include Giant George; life with the world’s biggest dog, and The Girl With No Name; the incredible true story of a girl raised by monkeys, which has now been published in 27 countries and is also the subject of a National Geographic documentary. It also led to me being asked to give a TedEx talk – about what it’s like to be a ghostwriter - possibly the proudest, and definitely the most terrifying day of my professional life.

Recent publications include On Duty For The Queen, for former UK Royal Press Secretary Dickie Arbiter, and the heartbreaking story of the Rebecca Aylward murder, Bye Mam, I Love You, which has garnered over 700 five star reviews. I am also the co-writer of the Julie Shaw series of gritty Bradford-based crime memoirs, the first of which, Our Vinnie, went straight into the bestseller lists. The fifth title, Bad Blood, published in October 2016, charted at number one in the UK in its first week.

My most recent ghosted work (and probably my personal favourite) is Fabulous Finn, the story of a now famous police dog, who was stabbed, almost fatally, when on duty with his handler Dave Wardell. Finn (now retired) has gone on to win multiple prestigious awards for his bravery, including a PDSA Gold Medal (the civilian version of the Dicken Medal – see Able Seacat Simon, below) and, most recently, the 2019 Crufts ‘Friends For Life’ award. Finn is also the RPD behind the campaign for Finn’s Law, to strengthen current legislation to protect service animals. It has just passed its third reading in the commons.

(Modesty usually forbids me from shamelessly plugging books I’ve ghosted, but I always make an exception for Finn. It’s a remarkable, heartbreaking, uplifting story, and I’m honoured beyond belief to have been the one to help tell it. )

CAN YOU SEE ME? is published by Thomas and Mercer, and is out on 01.01.20

For more information about me and my work, please visit
www.lynnebarrett-lee.com



Full list of published full-length works

*As well as the titles listed below, I am also the ghostwriter of a series of fostering memoirs (the author name is pseudonymous for confidentiality reasons) for one of the UK’s leading publishers. The first was published in 2011, and the nineteenth title will be published in May 2020.

Psychological thrillers

Can You See Me? (Thomas and Mercer

Reviews

[Marie Josell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story, and the characters. It took me a bit longer to read then it usually would because I had a lot of trouble following the English slang. Once I just started filling in my own meanings for the words I did not know it went a lot faster! :)

[Marjie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

I did not like many parts of the main character, she seemed a drama queen, but the basic story was good.

[Lisa Alfaro · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had trouble understanding the English slang and overall couldn’t get into the story, I struggled to get the gist of what was happening by page 2. Didn’t finish.

[MyChickLitLife · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another e-book. This one was read in segments on the tube, at Regent's Park, and in the waiting area at Pineapple Studios. I don't know about this one. The start and the end are weak. But the meat of the story is actually quite great. And the characters are nicely three-dimensional. The love-interest is one of my favourites for this year. But the end is so, so cheesy, I jut can't buy it.

Chick Liveability: The main character was bit lost, and looking for her purpose in life. I can identify with that. She also posed for a naked painting. Maybe not.

http://www.mychicklitlife.com

[Channa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't ever write review let a lone bad ones but I had to for this book. It was just horrible. I couldn't finish it and that says a lot. I have never not finish a book but I just couldn't take anymore of it. I was lost most of the time reading and when I got half way thru I just deleted out of my Kindle. I would have given it 0 stars if I could but since it was free I guess 1 has to do. Do yourself a favor and just skip this book. Worst 3 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beckie Treble · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read other books while reading this, but despite stopping half way for a while, i found that this isn't a bad book. The s4ory line was okay, but i found the main character, Lou really quite irratating. She was so caught up in herself, she moaned a lot andwas mad at the love interest for saving her when a client of theirs was trying to rape her. I really couldn't understand her. even tho i live not far from the place that the book is set in.

overall, not a bad book but not a good one either

[Trudi Jorda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok-- I admit it-- the author had me when she mentioned that a car is more than a car! Taking place in Cardiff was the final thing to make me happy. It shows all the fun and frustration we have trying to figure out who we are and what we are looking for-- how to follow our dreams and dare to be more than what other people expect of us! Enjoy this tale-- it's a pleasure!

[Madeline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry to report I just couldn't finish this book. I got as far as 10% and I was still waiting as to what the point was; I found myself reading the same sentences more than once too try and understand what Lu meant to say, or what her point was, seeing how she deviates A LOT from it. I'm just glad it was a freebie on Amazon.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of the reviews and I was worried that I wouldn't like it however I really did enjoy reading it. I am glad that the end was happy and if someone wants to come and whisk me away to Paris then I wouldn't say no! Her writing was really good and I found myself laughing at not only the speech but also from the actions I think we can all relate to some part of this story.

[Jo Notary]

432pgs, contemporary comedy, One Day, Someday is a clever, funny novel about that time in a woman 19s life when dreams begin fading and princes 13 handsome or otherwise 13 are getting thin on the ground. Lu 19s always rather hoped that hers would show up someday 13 trouble is, that someday has been so long in coming, she 19s not altogether sure she 19d even spot him if he did 26

[Robin Van Auken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about single parent /single woman angst. I admire the author's wit and pacing. A very funny book filled with colloquialisms. For a Yank like me, it felt like I was evesdropping while riding the Tube. Delightful and well done. I will read more books by this author.

[Maureen Vincent-Northam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our heroine, Lu Fisher, decides to join an art class as a mature student and falls heavily for the pretentious tutor, Stefan. Meanwhile, her boss breaks his arm and she is required to ferry him about in his Jag. The animosity between the pair is very funny, as are the ‘arty’ scenes.

[Sarahanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this. light and fun. the art aspect was entertaining. one thing that really grated though? the main character is a French translator yet her big moment in the last paragraph of the book she screws up basic French. how does that happen?!

[Michelle [Helen Geek]]

Free on Amazon 09/14/2012.

[a_tiffyfit · Rating 1 out of 5]

unfinished. wasn't holding my attention.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single mom trying to change her life, quits her teaching job, takes a part time job so she can get an art degree. Made me laugh!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Jill Mansell then you will enjoy this. Was a bit slow in parts but I got there in the end.

[Sarah c · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book very Entertaining. And I laughed out loud several times.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads as a light rom-com drama movie. Engaging yes and I entirely appreciate the development of the protagonist; quite fallible and flawed makes for a great rite of passage.