Creating Sparks and Sentences - and Happily Ever Afters

Seasoned Love I think I've just referred to love as a piece of food, but we all know that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right?  Wrong! Seriously though, this month, October 2026, my husband and I celebrate our Ruby Anniversary! It seems impossible, and yet it is real! (That's forty years in case you weren't sure). The only advice I feel experienced enough to give, is to have the difficult conversations. Don't shy away from those awkward chats because then you are shying away from growth and progress.  The other piece of advice I would offer is to not lose yourself, AKA your identity, in a relationship. Try to maintain your interests and joys, because...  a happy you equals a happy two.  That's it, that's my 'secret' to success in a long-term relationship. Disclaimer: I am not a qualified couples therapist.  All opinions are my own, based on personal experience If you're after more specific ideas, like getting lost in a virtual...

 The 5 Life Languages When I was offered the opportunity to read and review The 5 Life Languages by David Ralston, I snapped it up without hesitation because it is exactly what is required for relationships to THRIVE. I knew I would find value and that you, dear reader, would too. Blurb: The 5 Life Languages: A New Way to Understand Yourself and Others unlocks the secrets to truly effective communication by revealing the distinct ways people speak, listen, and connect. Drawing on decades of counseling expertise, Dr. Dave Ralston guides you to recognize and appreciate these unique patterns, transforming confusion and tension into clarity and connection. With practical insights and actionable strategies, this book empowers you to communicate with confidence and purpose in every area of life. Discover the power of understanding the five Life Languages and watch your relationships flourish. My Five Star Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What I Loved: The book is categorized into five distinct language type...

When Life Has the Last Laugh Last month I was so happy that my stories were flying off my fingertips onto the proverbial page. Hah! And then the laughter (and by laughter I mean tears), flowed instead. My writing has come to a grinding halt, quite literally, with my laptop out of action.  Sure, I could write by hand, or on my Notes app, but let me tell you, dear reader, it is not the same!  Handwriting short stories is fine, lovely even, and I do love handwriting letters, which I did. And I did, in fact, also handwrite several short stories for my writing group - thank goodness for that outlet!  But my manuscripts and editing have had to wait and I couldn’t believe how much I missed writing every day. Instead, I occupied myself with building my miniature bookshop which was fun! Images to come as I’m unable to upload without my laptop, hence the emoji thumbnail. Anyway, enough drama and onto actual news.  My delightful reader and writer friends on Facebook recently ga...

And Author News  My fingertips are flying across the keyboard once more as my stories take off, and I'm overjoyed to tell you that the first draft of A Dangerous Liaison is complete.  Now the edits begin, but not before I complete the editing for Friendship & Fun  which has been 'breathing' while I was writing.  It's a bit like being a baker, I guess. You fill the baking trays with tasty treats you've put together, then put them in the oven to bake and transform into delightful morsels while you return to mixing dough into magical goods again. The reason I mention baking is because I've been on a conveyor belt of feeding, discarding, and baking sourdough breads and I'm a bit at the end of my tether. They don't seem to rise enough, though the flavour is good. The last one I tried was olive sourdough and it’s delicious if a little flat.  Anyway, I've been sulking a bit and left the sourdough starter in my fridge to ruminate over it's flaws. I ...

Five Star Review Please join me in congratulating powerhouse author, Helen Aitchison, on her latest release, and five star read, Finding Arthur Whittle . Release date: 31 July 2026 Blurb: He thought he knew who he was. Then he read his mother's letter. For fifty-two years, Harry has known exactly who he is and where he belongs. Then his mam dies, and the letter she leaves behind takes it all away. The man who raised him, the dad he has loved his whole life, is not his biological father. Grieving the mother he has lost and reeling from a secret she kept his entire life, Harry sets out to find the stranger whose blood he shares. He has a name. He has a city. He has no idea what he's walking into. But the search gives him more than answers. Along the way Harry finds unexpected friendships, a little grace, and the beginnings of a question he never thought to ask: what really makes a family? A warm, funny and deeply moving novel about grief, forgiveness, and discovering that fa...

The reveal you’ve all been waiting for 🙌🏻🙌🏻 My cover designers and I have been working tirelessly on the perfect look for Friendship & Fun (and romance undone) , and I believe we’ve cracked it! What do you think? Let me know in a comment and I’ll pass your feedback on to my cover designers. My favourite aspect of the cover? The woman’s hand placement on the male’s cheek. Why? Because strong woman know what they want! This is the third and final novella in A Midlife Romcom series and is set to release late-2026, BUT, preorders will soon be available 🥳🥳 Friendship & Fun brings the whole finale to a close with the folks from fictional Pelican Cove village declaring their love, friendship and commitment to each other with their active community-strong, social shenanigans! The first two books in the series, Love & Laughter , and Marriage & Mayhem , form the perfect backdrop for later-in-life romance, forging friendships and finding one's place in society. With a ...

With a Sixties Queen I'm back in the land of Aus but I’m not the same person I was when I left. I had setbacks and delays before our holiday and now I know why. Timing is everything. Everything. I had no choice but to sit back and let the delays shape our days. And I am so glad I did. It meant that I got the unexpected delight of celebrating my 60th birthday with my family overseas. I was treated like a Sixties Queen!  It changed my perspective and segued me into my 60th era with confidence and flair.  My sister, brother-in-law, and mom get all the credit for creating an extraordinary birthday celebration for me! My actual celebration at home was spectacular too. After f our decades together , my husband never ceases to amaze me. He organised a Scavenger Hunt for the entirety of my birthday day, without any assistance. These were just  some of the clues: - After your husband, your second love I confess my first answer was coffee. Then chocolate. Then, dear reader, I reme...