🌟 Tour Part II: My (Almost) UK-Wide Adventure

After the first leg of my UK tour, I swapped book groups and signings for something a little different — a day dedicated purely to writing, reflection, and learning.

The second part of my adventure took me all the way to Gillingham, Kent, for a one-day writing retreat with the lovely Karen from Mabel & Stanley Publishing.

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✍️ A Day of Words and Community

If you follow me on social media, you’ll have already seen a few snippets, but it really was such a great day.

It was wonderful finally meeting people I’ve talked to for over a year on video calls, as well as chatting with new faces — all at different stages of their author journeys and all writing such varied things, from children’s books to business titles.

We covered so many familiar topics for writers, including the ever-popular show don’t tell.

One thing I know I’ve been guilty of (though I hope I’m better now!) is adding too much unnecessary detail.

When I first started, I thought that to “build a picture,” the reader needed to know every last thing — what everyone was wearing, where they were standing, how the light fell across the room.

I’ve definitely learned that less is more!

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🖼️ Lessons From a Picture Prompt

We also did some practical exercises, which honestly scared me at first, but I ended up learning so much from them.

One of them involved choosing a picture and writing about the character we imagined.

I chose a historical image — completely out of my comfort zone — and quickly realised I probably should have stuck to what I know!

But it turned out to be one of the most valuable parts of the day.

It pushed me to think differently, to explore a voice and setting I wouldn’t normally attempt, and to trust my instincts even when they take me somewhere unexpected.

Every experiment, even the slightly awkward ones, teaches you something.

If anything, my only complaint is that one day just wasn’t enough.

There were so many people to talk to, ideas to share, and stories to hear.

I’d definitely love to do it again — maybe even for a full weekend next time!

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🚆 Adventures in Getting There

Of course, being based in Edinburgh meant a fair bit of travelling was involved.

Apart from a minor panic in Edinburgh’s rush-hour traffic for the train to London — and another brief moment of worry over the Gillingham replacement buses — it all went surprisingly smoothly.

Before I knew it, I was eating breakfast at St Pancras Station with time to spare, notebook in hand, ready for the final leg of my journey back to Edinburgh.

There’s something about long train journeys that makes you reflective.

Between chai latte stops and countryside views, I found myself thinking about how far this indie-author adventure has come — and how days like that retreat remind me why I started in the first place.

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💫 Coming Home Inspired

Writing might often feel solitary, but days like that prove how powerful community can be.

I came home tired, inspired, and ready for the next chapter — literally.

The next part of my tour kicks off next week with the Edinburgh Roadshow, and I can’t wait to see some familiar faces (and meet new ones!).

Keep an eye on my social media for updates and event details over the next few days.