About me

Author of funny fiction
I’m the author of YA romcom The Thing About Lemons and middle grade children’s comedy, Clementine Florentine, both published by Fox & Ink (formerly UCLan).  

My first trad publishing deal in 2022 was quite a moment as I’d been writing novels (initially adult comedy drama, then YA and MG) for 20 years. Along the way, I’d gained and lost agents, received literally hundreds of rejections, enjoyed some (very humble) success at self-publishing, and had often come close to quitting what felt like the writing equivalent of a marathon without a finish line. However, in 2017 I signed with Lauren Gardner of Bell Lomax Moreton Literary Agency, and my teen comedy drama The Reinvention of Rolo Rawlings was shortlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award 2017 and longlisted for the Mslexia Children’s Novel Competition 2018. I thought I’d finally cracked it with Rolo, but alas, publishers turned it down. They liked my writing though, and, having been advised to try writing for middle grade, I returned to the drawing board and wrote Clementine Florentine. This was “The One” that, after 20 years on the outside of those impenetrable walls, finally got me into Fortress Publishing.

After The Thing About Lemons came out in 2023, I hit a bit of writerly turbulence. I wrote a whole 70,000 word YA manuscript that wasn’t quite working, so I put it to one side to explore a new idea I’d had for a YA Christmas romcom. That new manuscript, after a few delays and rewrites, is now out on submission. So watch this space… 

Editor & writing mentor
When I’m not churning out my own words, I love helping other authors strengthen theirs. So, if you’re a writer who could do with some help developing your manuscript and getting it ready to query agents, please go to my editorial services page to see how I can help you. I also work with the brilliant Curtis Brown Creative, giving editorial feedback to students on their Writing YA & Middle Grade fiction courses and providing mentoring, submission or full manuscript reports.

Events

If you’d like to enquire about booking me to speak at your school or event (virtual or IRL) please use the form on my contact page to get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.

Copywriter & messaging specialist

Fiction writing aside, I work as a commercial copywriter – writing, editing and developing creative ideas for marketing campaigns. (Please see my copywriting page.)

Writing aside…
I live in Brighton with my husband and ageing Chocolate Labrador, Arnie. When not at my desk, I can be found in the local park trying to coax Arnie home (using treats as bribery), while lying low from his legions of dedicated superfans. (He’s known locally as Glands of Glory.)

PS. All photos on this site are taken by and property of my other half, Chris Harrison.