Writing Through Lockdown
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that trying to ignite a creative spark during lockdown was akin to trying to start a bonfire with a pile of soggy leaves. Yes, there were the banana bread makers, the crocheting newbies and the DIYers but I wasn’t in the right place for any of that. There was so much uncertainty about the virus and on top of that, financial worry and concern for my children’s wellbeing. With all of that going on in my head, there wasn’t much room for dreaming up a perfectly flawed hunk and happily ever after. The first few weeks of lockdown 2020 is now a hazy blur of sunbathing, BBQs and afternoon cocktails with the daily walk thrown in to boot.
As I write this, I realise it sounds much better than it was. The truth is, we were muddling through. I went through a phase of wanting to watch dark things on TV and binged thrillers and anything remotely pandemic based. I was definitely not in the right frame of mind for anything warm, cosy and humorous. Having said that, we tried to make the most of it and enjoy our time together. We had water fights, did jigsaws and knocked out some pretty terrible cakes once we got our hands on a bag of flour. Sitting down to write wasn’t an option early on. My children are at an age where they’re too young for phones but old enough to know that Boris banning them from seeing their pals is pretty serious stuff. Once Zoom school kicked in, they were happy and occupied so it was time to start tapping out some words. If they worked, I worked and it was as simple as that. As lockdown went on and we all adapted to the change, we started to find little elements of joy, new places to walk, a new takeaway to try or family party nights. We had several weekly Zoom quizzes and the mood lifted a little. That’s when spending all of that time with my children sparked an idea.
I’d never written a heroine with children before. Charlotte in Who Needs Men Anyway? had a baby towards the end of the book and Ethan in A Summer to Remember had a daughter but I’ve never had a warts-and-all, thrown into the thick of it ‘mum’ as a main character before and it’s an experience I know well and many people can relate to so that made writing this book quite good fun. I even dedicated The Single Mums’ Book Club to my children which they won’t know until they’re older (and will probably hate it).
Anyway, writing through lockdown was a challenge and it took a while to find my mojo — as it turned out, I’d been feeding and cleaning up after my mojo for the best part of nine years!
It’s 8:30am and I’m already utterly exhausted. My son has lost his football boots, my daughter is ready for school dressed only in her vest and knickers, and of course, my 1-year-old has filled his nappy for what feels like the tenth time this morning.
As for my husband? He’s decided marriage doesn’t suit him, and well… buggered off.
All hope of ‘me time’ has but dwindled to sipping half a glass of wine whilst shouting after the kids. But everything is about to change.
I’m taking control of my life! I’ve joined… a book club.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Wow… live a little.’ But my fellow book clubbers, Amanda and Janey, are my lifelines. They understand the daily struggle because they’re mothers too.
And in between the prosecco, Doritos and googling everything about Mr Darcy on SparkNotes, they’ve convinced me to go on a date with my boss.
A
single mum of three looking for romance… what could possibly go
wrong?
A
gloriously funny and relatable read for anyone who just needs a
little more ‘me time’. Fans of Why
Mummy Drinks and Has
Anyone Seen my Sex Life? will
snort with laughter at this utterly hilarious and heart-warming read.
Her third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018 and her debut, The Secret fo Falling in Love was optioned in 2020.
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