Today, I am joining the #ChocLitFestival with a focus on ‘Best Friends – even the furry kind!’ and I have news of TWO competitions.

If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll know that friendship plays an important role in my stories, both of the two and four-legged kind.

Like many people at the moment, I am missing catching up in person with friends. Aren’t we lucky to be able to text and video chat! But catching up virtually is not the same as a good old gossip and catch up over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Here’s a picture of me with two of my very besties, taken nine years ago. Having all met while working at the same school, twenty-years ago (yikes, that sounds a long time ago), we have gone through a lot together, including relationship ups and downs and bringing up seven children between us.

Like all good friends, we don’t have to speak or see each other all the time to know we are there for each other. My book, Maybe Baby, due out in paperback on August 4th, and now available for preorder, is dedicated to these lovely ladies.

In the Lisa Blake series, best friends Lisa and Felicity have lost touch. They have a lot of catching up to do. As they renegotiate their friendship, it becomes apparent they share a history, a close bond and a sense of humour. I love the fact that readers have enjoyed the friendship element of the story as much as the romance:

• Beauty Addict: “A truly heart-warming story of love, romance and most importantly, friendship. An absolute must-read.” 
• Stardust Book Reviews: “This was a delightful story of love and friendships that left me with a lovely warm feeling and a smile on my face!”
• Against the Flow Press: “An enjoyable, happy-ending story of friendship and love.”

COMPETITION TIME:

In honour of the #CHOCLITFESTIVAL and the theme of friendship, over on my Facebook page, I am offering you the chance to nominate a friend to win a paperback copy of The Purrfect Pet Sitter. Enter here.

Due to the current situation, the book will be sent directly from Amazon.

But we all know that friends come in all shapes and sizes, some are even furry!

My life has been made so much richer for having my three adorable Labradors in it. Dogs always play an important part in my books (they’ve had stories dedicated to them too), and my current work in progress is no exception.

COMPETITION TIME!

Head over to my Facebook page to enter to win the opportunity to name a springador puppy in my next novel. The puppy is a girl and was the smallest in her litter. Find the post, and leave your name suggestion here.

Good luck everyone, and enjoy the rest of the #ChocLitFestival with different authors participating every day for the next two weeks, there’s bound to be more competitions, giveaways and fun to be had!

Follow the festival on Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #ChocLitFfestival.