Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m a Scottish author writing feel-good fiction with heart, humour, and just a touch of magic. Here you’ll find news, book updates, and the occasional recommendation of stories I’ve loved—but if you’re here for the books, dive straight in. I grew up on Scotland’s west coast, where science baffled me, but words (mostly) behaved. I once planned to be an actress, but a combination of practicality and questionable talent led me into journalism instead, studying at Napier College in Edinburgh. My career began as a junior reporter in Dumfriesshire, covering everything from prize-winning heifers to real-life heartbreak. After persuading my editor to let me loose on an entertainment column, I upgraded to slightly more glamorous assignments, plus the occasional brush with the bizarre. A move back west brought bigger stories and a higher crime rate – very Taggart: “There’s been a murrrrder…” From there, life took me further afield: London (yes, I worked on a video magazine – very vintage), Singapore (humid, and home to a magazine briefly banned for its artistic enthusiasm for naked male bottoms), and Australia, where I embraced beaches, BBQs and raising what I affectionately call Cost Centre One… followed by Number Two. A return to the UK – and later a move to Switzerland – brought new challenges, including driving on the “wrong” side of the road (with one minor wall incident) and ongoing battles with the French language, much to the amusement of locals. I found my way back to writing in 2016, thanks to an online fiction course, and haven’t looked back since. My debut novel A Clean Sweep was followed by A Clean Break, and then The Haunting of Hattie Hastings. I’m now best known for my Cranley Wishes series – uplifting, magical stories set in a small Scottish village, beginning with A Wish for Jinnie and followed by A Wish for Jo and A Wish for Wilma. A Wish for Beth will come out in June 2026. Other standalone novels included Lost in Translation and The Lexicon of Love.
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m a Scottish author writing feel-good fiction with heart, humour, and just a touch of magic. Here you’ll find news, book updates, and the occasional recommendation of stories I’ve loved—but if you’re here for the books, dive straight in. I grew up on Scotland’s west coast, where science baffled me, but words (mostly) behaved. I once planned to be an actress, but a combination of practicality and questionable...
A heartwarming romantic comedy with a ghostly twist.
A ghostly and gloriously witty romantic comedy – Some people just won’t take death lying down …
Hattie Hastings is happily married to lifelong sweetheart Gary, until a terrible tragedy leaves her widowed and heartbroken. Struggling to cope, she is left reeling when her deceased other half returns, popping up at the most inappropriate moments.
Love, magic lamps and bonnie Scotland… what more can a girl want?
After being dumped by her fiancé, losing her job and ending up in a sleepy Scottish village, Jinnie Cooper is determined to get her life back on track. First order of business: working for the charismatic Sam Addin at his run-down antique shop. When Sam gifts her a few items,...
The hilarious sequel to A Wish For Jinnie! Best read in order.
Jo Milligan’s café — A Bit of Crumpet — is her pride and joy. But icing cakes and baking pastries in the sleepy Scottish village of Cranley isn’t hitting the sweet spot.
Jo longs for some excitement in her life. The arrival of gruff stranger Harvey Quinn doesn’t fill her with joy. Nor...
Can't believe it's already Day 3 of my writing retreat at the glorious Chez Castillon in Bordeaux. After a grey and drizzly start, the sun has put its hat on, I'm wearing shorts and just enjoyed a gin and tonic with new writing buddies.
Even better, I've written just shy of 2K words, and — thanks to the amazing author host Jo Thomas — I've found exactly the hook I need to drive book 8 forward. A bit of juggling around to do, but I hope to leave at the end with several more chapters in the bag...
In a few days I'll be heading back to my 'happy place', a fabulous writing retreat in Bordeaux. This will be my third time, and I'm so looking forward to sunshine, delicious food and wine, and — of course — writing lots of words.
I finally managed to finish and edit Book 7 which has taken far longer than I would have liked. I've put it aside for now, and will focus on Books 8, 9 and 10 (she said optimistically) which will form a linked trilogy. I've already drafted out the opening chapters of...
