One giveaway and two radio interviews for this paperback writer

First sighting in the wild - at WH Smith's Travel, Heathrow Terminal 5.

The Farm at the Edge of the World was published in paperback last Thursday and to celebrate Hodder have kindly arranged a giveaway of 10 copies of the novel plus 20 boxes of sea salt and caramel and clotted cream fudge. 

All you need to do is visit the Bookends page on Facebook and mention your favourite childhood holiday adventure after clicking here. I'd enter if I could because the caramel sea salt, from the Buttermilk shop in Padstow, is mouth-wateringly good. Hopefully, you'll also enjoy the book.

I've also been on local radio discussing the inspiration for my novel, the setting, and how I write. Normally I hate listening to myself - "posh" says one child; "low" says another - but I think these interviews might be interesting and perhaps even useful to readers and writers.

Here I am talking to the perceptive Leigh Chambers, on Cambridge 105's Bookmark programme, 14 minutes 50 seconds in (for about ten minutes). To listen, just click here.

And here I am on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Jeremy Sallis's arts and entertainments show. I'm 2 hours 23 minutes in for nine minutes (until 2 hrs, 32) if you click here. I never know if you should admit to how difficult writing can be - but I'd be interested as a novelist or a reader in knowing the various stages of writing; and in hearing about the inspiration for a novel. Anyway, lulled by Jeremy, I divulge all...(or quite a lot...)

And now it's back to the brain ache of copy edits for Anatomy - and the excitement and daunting trepidation of starting a new novel: all those characters I'm creating want to get going but I'm not quite sure how to order them in my book.

The very best of luck with the competition - and if you do buy The Farm - half price from February 7-21 at WH Smith's with Woman magazine - I'd love to know what you think.  Happy New Year, and thank you for reading.

Publication day flowers from Hodder