My second novel, The River Brings The Sea was published in December 2025. My debut, One Scheme of Happiness was published in 2020 by Retreat West Books. In August that year it was longlisted for Not The Booker Prize. I also write poetry and short stories.
Free Love, published January 2022, covers ground that will be familiar to fans of Tessa Hadley’s consistently brilliant novels and short stories. Her skill lies in the subtle way she dissects her characters’ inner lives, exposing their fears and desires. I read an advance copy courtesy of Net Galley and wasn’t disappointed. After struggling with … More Free love
What I love about this novel is the voice – throughout the narrative Amanda Huggins captures the slow American drawl perfectly and the dialogue feels authentically American which shows a real skill. As in all her other poetry and fiction the language is spare but beautifully nuanced. Crossing the Lines began as a successful short … More Crossing the Lines by Amanda Huggins
Editing my novel… very slowly … but today I finally sorted out a chapter which has always been problematic in terms of just about everything. One part of me said just scrap it. It’ll never work. It’s far-fetched, melodramatic and unlikely. But another part, the stubborn side wouldn’t give in. So I kept going. Writing … More Progress
At the weekend I get a train from King’s Cross to visit my daughter in Leeds. It’s over two hours, so lots of time to write. Comfy seats, an efficient service and I’m ready for my cup of tea so try to use the ‘at seat’ service to magically summon the buffet car attendant to … More I’m on the train!
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and I thought I’d share how I cope/struggle with my own mental health and how it feeds into my writing. I was a child who worried; I’m an adult who gets anxious and depressed. Talking to a friend the other day (also a writer) she said it’s those qualities of … More Mental health & writing
Well, this week has been fun… one straight out rejection, but one who asked to see the whole novel. For a few days I was in a state of bliss (she’s going to say yes, that’s it… publication, huge advance, broadsheet reviews, shortlisted for big prizes…) which alternated with the purgatory of each new email … More Hunting for a new agent
a range of synopses for all appetites from mid-morning snack to three course dinner… … More Hunting for an agent…
Asking for help is something I’m not good at… … More An end…or an opportunity?
“They spread out their jackets and lay down together on the warm bed of pine needles, bright stars shining between the tall spruce trees…” … More All Our Squandered Beauty
Recently I wrote an introduction to a fascinating panel discussion on immigration in the UK held by the Royal Society of Literature under their umbrella Only Connect… Today’s Only Connect is from RSL Member Ali Thurm, who has chosen the recording of our event The Good Immigrant with Vahni Capildeo, Eva Hoffman and Nikesh Shukla discussing what it means to be an immigrant … More Only Connect
Ali Thurm 