What It’s Like Getting Ready for Book Festivals and Author Events

Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a different headspace when it comes to writing.

Not the quiet, sit-at-my-desk-and-work-through-a-scene kind of headspace. More the “okay… now I actually have to talk about these books in real life” kind.

I’ve got a few things coming up, including book fairs, a panel at the Meetcute Festival in Borehamwood on 4th July, and a TikTok LIVE with a couple of other historical fiction authors. And it’s made me realise how different this part of the process is.

Writing is one thing. Talking about it is another.

When I’m writing, it’s just me and the story.

I can take my time. Change things. Sit with an idea until it feels right.

Talking about it, though, is a whole different experience.

You have to explain your story in a way that makes sense to someone who’s never read it. You have to sum it up without overthinking it. And sometimes you realise you’ve never actually said certain things about your work out loud before.

It’s a bit strange, but in a good way.

Getting ready for book fairs

Book fairs are coming up as well, which means I’ve been thinking about things like how to present my books and how to talk to readers who are just discovering them.

It’s not just about selling books. It’s about connection.

Someone might stop by your table, pick up a book, ask a question. You don’t know what’s going to catch their interest, so you just have to be open to the conversation.

That part I actually enjoy. It feels more relaxed than I expected.

Talking about the stories behind the stories

A lot of what I write is influenced by history and by my own background.

My mum’s journey from Dominica to the UK has always been in the back of my mind, even though my books are fictional. That sense of leaving one place and building a life somewhere new shows up again and again in my stories.

When I’m writing, that’s just part of the process.

But when I’m talking about it, whether that’s on a panel or a TikTok LIVE, it becomes more real. You’re sharing where the ideas came from, not just the finished story.

Going live (and hoping for the best)

Tonight I’ll be going live on TikTok with two other historical fiction authors. By the time you read this, it would all have taken place.

I won’t pretend I’m completely relaxed about it. There’s always that moment before you go live where you think, “Right… here we go.”

But at the same time, it’s a chance to talk about writing with people who get it. And hopefully, it’s a chance for readers to get a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into these stories.

From writing to being seen

I think this is the part of being an author that isn’t always talked about.

You spend so long writing on your own, and then suddenly you’re stepping out and talking about it. Meeting readers. Being part of events.

It’s a shift, but it’s a good one.

It reminds me that the stories don’t just sit on the page. They’re meant to be shared, talked about, and connected with.

If you’re around…

If you happen to be at the Meetcute Festival on 4th July, I’ll be on the historical romance panel, Perfect Timing, on the main stage at 1.30pm, which I’m really looking forward to. More to follow but tickets are going fast.

And if you enjoy stories about migration, identity and starting again, you can explore my novels, including Wherever You Will Go, which follows a young bride travelling from Dominica to London in search of her missing husband. And it's the follow up book, However Far We Fall, is the book I'll be talking about at the MeetCute Festival.