Wow, I can't believe that 2023 is nearly over. It's been such a great year for me with publishing Bell Time and Wedding Bell Time, and I'm so thankful for the amazing support I've received with both books. "Just like the first book, this was a clean romcom with seriously funny moments and plenty ofContinue reading "It’s Christmas!"
My La La Land Lightbulb Moment
Every writer needs an origin story. It just so happens that mine includes La La Land.
Solving the Rubik’s Cube
I've been thinking about the way that the process of writing often feels to me like trying to solve a Rubik's cube. Side note: my daughter is a bit obsessed with them. She has the normal one and then five other varieties, including the stainless steel one which has cubes of different sizes. Maddening! IContinue reading "Solving the Rubik’s Cube"
Write Mentor
I can't believe it was nearly a year ago I was applying for the Write Mentor summer programme. With lockdown and everything else, it was a pretty crazy time, so where I totally meant to write all about it... Life got in the way. Time to put that right! If you're an unagented writer, thenContinue reading "Write Mentor"
Comps – the Highs and the Lows
If you're preparing a query, you've probably read a thousand times that you need comps: other books to compare your own with and set it alongside. And there's varying conflicting advice on this too. Many people say it's best to go with titles published in the last two years, to ensure you're current and yourContinue reading "Comps – the Highs and the Lows"
Why reading helps me write
How can reading help you write?
First Draft tools
I'm chuffed that I recently finished my first draft of 'Bell Time', a contemporary rom-com set in a school. My main goal was to make sure it was much more tightly structured than my first novel, 'The Day of the Dice', where my first draft was 120k words. Waaaaaay too long! So I succeeded inContinue reading "First Draft tools"
#PitMad
On Thursday I took part in #PitMad, my second foray into Twitter pitching! Unlike #KissPitch, #PitMad is a broader pitching event, open to a wide range of genres. Quite a few of my Twitter friends were participating, and it was great to share our pitches, comment on them to help them gain traction, and retweetContinue reading "#PitMad"
#KissPitch 2020
On 14th February, I took part in a Twitter pitch aimed at Romance writers. This is where you post up to four tweets over a set time period (9am - 9pm EST), using the hashtag #KissPitch, and literary agents who are interested in finding new romance writers will 'like' your tweet if they would likeContinue reading "#KissPitch 2020"
Why I Write Clean Romance
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16 As a Christian, I know how frustrating it is to pick up a book and then discover the content makes it unreadable... Swearing, explicit love scenes, or morality that leaves you uneasy. ButContinue reading "Why I Write Clean Romance"
Small Town Marriage of convenience
She’s hiding from the world. He needs a wife fast. When a fake marriage solves both their problems, will they discover true love?Alaska. Vivian Locke knows the pain of betrayal. Still gun-shy seven years after her two-timing ex stole their New York restaurant, the talented pastry chef bunkers down while helping her folks run theirContinue reading "Small Town Marriage of convenience"
Small Town Inspirational Romantic Suspense
A forged signature. A splintering romance. And a stalker who won’t quit until death do they part. Rising designer Anabelle Dewhurst is stunned at the Queen’s Garden Party when Her Majesty congratulates her on an upcoming wedding—and requests an invitation. There’s only one problem: Anabelle’s charming, enigmatic boss and boyfriend, Brodie Maxwell, hasn’t proposed. BackContinue reading "Small Town Inspirational Romantic Suspense"
Sweet Small Town Opposites Attract Romance
I inherited a fortune… and ended up living with the man least likely to fall in love with me. How did that happen?The day I traded city chaos for small-town quiet, I didn’t expect to share a roof with Austin Adams—an ex–Navy SEAL turned accountant who folds his T-shirts like he’s still in basic training.He’sContinue reading "Sweet Small Town Opposites Attract Romance"
Swoony clean romance recs
Some romances make you laugh. Some make you cry. And then there are the ones that make you swoon — the soft smiles, the lingering glances, the quiet gestures that say everything without a single word spoken. Swoony romance is the heart of clean fiction. These are the stories that give you butterflies without everContinue reading "Swoony clean romance recs"
Forced proximity clean romance recs
If you love romances where two characters are thrown together and cannot escape the chemistry, then welcome to one of the most deliciously addictive tropes in clean romance: forced proximity. Whether they’re stuck in a cabin, sharing a room, trapped by a snowstorm, or thrown together by circumstance, forced proximity romances thrive on tension. TheyContinue reading "Forced proximity clean romance recs"
Workplace clean romance recs
There’s something irresistible about a workplace romance. Maybe it’s the shared projects, the late‑night deadlines, the stolen glances across a conference table… or the way two people who really shouldn’t fall for each other somehow do anyway. In clean romance, workplace stories shine because they focus on what makes this trope so compelling: the banter,Continue reading "Workplace clean romance recs"
Emotional clean romance recs
Some romances make you smile. Some make you swoon. And then there are the ones that reach right into your chest, settle there, and refuse to let go — the stories that stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Emotional romance is one of the most powerful corners of clean fiction. TheseContinue reading "Emotional clean romance recs"
Fake dating: clean romance recs
If there’s one trope that guarantees instant tension, sparkling banter, and a whole lot of heart, it’s fake dating. There’s just something delicious about two people pretending to be in love… only to realise they might not be pretending anymore. In clean romance, fake dating shines even brighter. Without spice to lean on, the emotionalContinue reading "Fake dating: clean romance recs"
Brother’s best friend: clean romance recs
There’s a special kind of magic in a brother’s best friend romance. It’s the perfect blend of forbidden tension, long‑standing connection, and that delicious moment when the person you’ve known forever suddenly feels… different. Add in the protective older brother, the secret glances, and the slow build of trust, and you’ve got a trope that’sContinue reading "Brother’s best friend: clean romance recs"
Sophie Toovey 