My First Two Months As An Author....

It’s hard to imagine that in September 2020, I was finishing my debut novel, writing for fun without an agent or publishing deal.

We had managed to travel to Greece as COVID restrictions began to lift, and my project which started at the beginning of the pandemic was still consuming my mind. Even on holiday, I woke early each morning, lured by the sound of the gently lapping sea, the scent of wild oregano swirling in the air and, as my fingers flew across the keyboard, I had no idea where the story I was writing would take me.

I could never had imagined in August 2022 I would be two months into publication having sold 25,000 copies of One last letter From Greece. It has been a nerve-wracking and thrilling journey in equal measure. The unbridled joy and bafflement at seeing my book on the shelves, receiving messages on social media from those who’ve enjoyed it and hearing about reader’s personal experiences of grief and other issues within the novel has given me daily pause to feel immensely grateful.

I have to pinch myself when another milestone is reached, entering the top one hundred in the UK Kindle chart or hearing the e-book rose to number 2 in America. What on earth is happening!? It feels like walking through the best dream.

The strange thing about the timelines of publishing, as I’m lucky enough to have a two book deal, is when the first comes out, I am finishing the second. It’s almost as if you have to segment your mind: one part is entirely engrossed in the new tale you’re trying to weave versus the need to speak about and promote a story you completed a year ago.

Nevertheless, One Last Letter From Greece is borne of my personal experience of losing my mum very suddenly in 2012. And the bitter sweetness remains, if she was still here, I wouldn’t have written this story. I would have written a story eventually, but not this one. But, as they say, when life gives you lemons…..

I am buoyed and deeply moved by the comfort my book has brought those picking up the pieces of their lives following bereavement, or experiencing the crushing heartbreak of miscarriage, or simply those who have revelled in the sheer escapism and romance of Sophie and Theo’s story. It is the greatest joy to hear from readers and something I was utterly unprepared for. Seeing pictures of the book around the world this summer has been fabulous- it looks good on a beach by the sea!

I am preparing to head off on my own Greek Odyssey in September and one of the stops will be Methoni, where One Last Letter From Greece is set. I will be sure to hug the ruined ramparts and thank them for being the most spectacular backdrop for my first novel. While I’m there, I will complete my edits on book two- as yet untitled- which will be out in May or June 2023.

It has been an astonishing journey and thank you, fabulous reader, for your support, it truly means the world as you’ve helped me to live my dream.

If you’d like to explore the places featured in One Last Letter From Greece, I wrote this piece for The Book Trail

Enjoy the rest of the summer and thank you so much again!

E x