New Book News

Only two more weeks until Baby Steps is published and don’t you love that cover! You can find out more about the book later in this post – but first I wanted to share some thoughts I’ve been having about my writing as publication day draws near.

Writing Romance

I write romance novels. So, as per the rules of this genre my novels have two main characters who meet, overcome any obstacles there might be to them falling in love, and then they enter into a happy-ever-after relationship. I accept those rules as it’s what my readers expect.

However I don’t accept some other rules dished out to me in the past by publishers and literary agents. Rules that suggest readers of romance do not want to read about anyone over thirty falling in love – especially if that anyone is a woman. Or the rule that romance readers don’t want to read about ‘difficult subjects’ such as cancer, bereavement or human rights.

Not all romances have to be rom-coms

While I enjoy reading romantic comedies, I don’t believe, that all stories with a romance at their hearts have to be light-hearted. They can be dark, they can be serious, they can make you think. I’d go so far as to say that sometimes they should make you think and they should reflect real life.

So, while I stick to the conventions when writing my contemporary love stories I also like to include some challenging issues for my characters to deal with along the way.

Women’s Rights

And one of the main things I always ensure is that my female characters are no pushovers. For one thing, they not only show that while the road to true love rarely runs smoothly, it also isn’t closed to those older than thirty. They also stand up for themselves and they value their hard won equality. They seek out and follow their own paths through life, making the decisions that are right for them.

They have the right of way when it comes to living their life – in romance and in every other way.

In Baby Steps, my latest novel, the female main character, Sophie has to deal with is an unplanned pregnancy. Fortunately she has choices. Choices fought for and achieved by previous generations of women. She exercises those choices.

In a far from happy coincidence, as I write this post, the news has broken of the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse legislation giving women the right to abortion. I find this to be a sad, distressing and backward step. And along with other backward steps that are threatened for women’s rights here in the UK, I must admit to being concerned for the future rights of my daughter’s and granddaughters’ generations.

Not Helpless

But concerned as I am, I refuse to feel subdued or defeated. I may not be a political activist, I may only be one small voice, but I will continue to uphold women’s right of way in my conversations, in my writing and in my life in general. We can all fight back in our own ways.

Meanwhile in happier news …

And breathe. The good news is my above-mentioned new novel, Baby Steps will be released later this month. So not long to wait now. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is it about?

Estranged from her mother, cheated on by her ex and grieving the loss of her brother, emotionally distraught Sophie Campbell decides she needs to focus on her career as a researcher for a TV and radio broadcaster. What she doesn’t need is a man in her life. And as for marriage and children – definitely not.

Honourably discharged from the British army following life-changing injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan, Steven Jackson is rehabilitated and embracing life to the full. Working as the manager of a support centre for military veterans brings him a great sense of pride and achievement. But he wants more. He wants to meet the love of his life, and to one day be a husband and father.

When Sophie and Steven meet through work, there’s an undeniable chemistry between the two thirty-somethings. But will Steven’s open, caring and patient ways be enough to break down Sophie’s barriers and allow a relationship to develop between them?

Set in the Scottish city of Glasgow, Baby Steps is a contemporary romance which tells a story of love against the odds.

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Baby Steps is a spin-off novel from Anne Stormont’s Skye Series of novels. Sophie is the daughter of Rachel one of the main characters in that series and features as a character in the supporting cast, as does Steven. However, Baby Steps can be read as a standalone.

When and where will it be available?

It will be published as an ebook and as a paperback on 18th July 2022. It will be available on Amazon or you can ask your local bookshop to order it in.

Want to Read the First Chapter of Baby Steps?

Subscribe to my newsletter – if you’ve not already done so – and as well as getting the free book of short stories that all my new subscribers get – you’ll also a sneak preview of the first chapter of Baby Steps in my next email. You can sign up here

As always, thank you for reading my post and please do feel free to leave a comment below.