I'm starting a new book, meeting readers & revamping my website!

But my fave thing about May was meeting all of YOU 💕

Hi Book Besties

Now that the Rachael Johns’ Book Club in-person retreat is over for another year (if you haven’t read about it yet, you can do so here), the next big thing on my agenda is doing the copy edits for THE LUCKY SISTERS, which will land this week. I love copy-edits so am really looking forward to getting stuck back into the book. After that I’ll be starting work on my next feel-good women’s fiction novel (SOMEONE ELSE’S FORTUNE), which I’m sure I’ll tell you more about as I write.

This next few months, aside from a couple of jaunts across the country to writing festivals (see my appearances below), I’ll be really focusing on my writing and spending less time on social media, so this is definitely the place to catch up on Rach gossip.

This month I’m particularly looking forward to heading over to Rottnest for a few days for a very special writing retreat with my friends

Anthea Hodgson Author

, Fiona Palmer and Rachael Treasure. We’ll all be at different stages of writing and editing, but the one thing we have in common is the drive to get a lot achieved in these few days on the island. I’m hoping I’ll be finished my copy-edits by then and can throw myself into the first draft of SOMEONE ELSE’S FORTUNE.

I LOVE the beginning of a new book, when the premise is all shiny in my head and full of potential and I’m getting to know my new characters, and what better place to do that than on Rottnest Island?

I’m also getting new author photos done tomorrow as the fab

Annie Bucknall

is creating me a brand new website, so wish me luck that they go okay. I’m not the best (as many of you will know) with having photos taken - I much prefer a good selfie, but apparently the pics on my website and book covers should be more professional.

In May I had the pleasure of interviewing

Anita Heiss

at Beaufort Street Books for her new novel, RED DUST RUNNING and we even dressed up, getting into character a little like Anita does when she researches her books.

I also had an absolute ball at the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival. I stayed in a gorgeous little AirB&B (am kicking myself for not making use of the outside bath) and spoke on a panel with old friends

Stella Quinn Author

,

Mary-Lou Stephens

and Sarah Williams, and also enjoyed a lovely breakfast event with authors Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward. Despite it being a soggy weekend, a good time was had by all. It was lovely to finally visit the gorgeous Rosetta Books (whom I follow online) but my highlight was meeting crime author Georgia Harper (who also kindly collected me from the airport and catching up with readers! Pics below.

x
Rach!

• ICYMI you can win a KOBO e-reader and a gorgeous butterfly necklace simply by preordering a copy of THE LUCKY SISTER. Preorder and enter for a chance to win.

  

• Have you read the new epilogue in the 10th Anniversary Edition of THE PATTERSON GIRLS? If not, what are you waiting for?

  

• Don’t miss my new rural romance serialised novel - MEANWHILE IN MERRYGLEN

✨28th June 2025

• A Literary Salon with Emily Paull and Rachael Johns - Bassendean Library, WA
  LEARN MORE

✨12th July 2025

• Riverina Readers Festival, NSW
  LEARN MORE

✨1st - 3rd August 2025✨

• Kimberley Writers Festival, WA
  LEARN MORE

✨15th - 17th August 2025✨

• Romance Writers of New Zealand Conference
  LEARN MORE

✨22nd - 24th August 2025✨

• Romance Writers of Australia Conference
  LEARN MORE

✨5th September 2025✨

• Beverley Public Library, WA
  10:30am - 12:30pm
  Please book by calling the library on 9646 1600

✨7th - 9th November 2025✨

• Sunshine Coast Fiction Festival, QLD
  LEARN MORE

Between the Lines pod - I had such fun chatting to book besties Chelle and Leanne (who I was lucky enough to meet at the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Festival) about THE BAD BRIDESMAID. This is a great bookish pod with lots of fun chats about the books Chelle and Leanne read, and also the occasional guest author interview.

Writes 4 Women AI ep - If you’re a writer or reader who hasn’t found the Writes 4 Women podcast created by

Pamela Cook

yet, then I highly recommend following it, but this recent episode on AI, and it’s future implications for readers and writers is a MUST listen for anyone who cares about books!

If you’re looking for a feel-good small town romance, you can’t go past Stella Quinn’s A SNOWY RIVER SUMMER.

The Nile for buying books online from a company that ISN’T Amazon. I also buy from Booktopia but recently re-discovered The Nile, which has very good pricing.