I think it is safe to say that 2025, although far from over, has been an eventful year for me.
I’ve been lucky enough to sign a 3 book deal with Hodder & Stoughton – more about that in the coming weeks – I’ve been unwell, got on yet another NHS waiting list, written over 300,000 words, come to the end of my contract to write for #RobinofSherwood, moved house, and more…
Moving house has brought about one other major change – the loss of my corner.
Those of you who have followed this blog and my writing for a while, will know that I was lucky enough to be “Writer in Residence” at my local Costa for over a decade.
This was an utter joy – and a total surprise to me when I was first granted my very own writing corner in an extremely friendly café. In that corner I’ve seen staff come and go, watched the local children grow into teenagers and then adults and, in some case, produce offspring of their own. I’ve made new friends, dodged stalkers, taught workshops, and laughed over countless coffees with old friends.
Since I left the area (the commute to my corner to work would be insane, even for a workaholic like me), I’ve tried to work out how much I wrote while sat next to my little plaque. After many recounts – and I’m not claiming to be 100% accurate here – I think it’s in the region of 35 novels, 200 plus workshops, 30-ish scripts and 12 or so short stories. and a few papers … so that’s in excess of a 1,000 000 words in 3 different genres, under 3 different pen names… (All washed down with more cups of coffee than I wish to calculate!)
These are just a few of the tales I wrote while tucked away at the far back of the café…
I’d like to extend a massive thank you to all the staff who made me so welcome; from Jules, Claire and Henry in the early days, to, more recently, Jenny, Josie and Millie – not forgetting Brogan who was a member of staff on and off for years!
Now, the hunt is on for a different corner, and my rather battered Costa cup is being retired.
Meanwhile, the words are still flowing, and my next novel – still coffee fuelled – will be out early in the new year.
Happy coffee sipping everyone (or tea!).
Jen xx