Anstey Harris The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton

Anstey Harris is the author of The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton.




Thankfully, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Anstey in summer 2018.  Following my acceptance onto the MA programme for Creative Writing I felt I really ought to get up to speed with a  little extra education and saw a short course up for grabs under the watchful eye of Anstey.

With vocabulary to demonstrate the glass half full within her teaching that summer, I felt at home in my new writer world.  Of course, only to be further impressed when this talented author showed us a copy of her book which was soon to be released by Simon and Schuster.

Finding the authors lurking over on Twitter was a great way of keeping in touch and knowing where to find them.  Anstey has kept her twitter page up to date with all of the upcoming signings for the book.

I, for one will be going along with excitement.  You might even spot some up and coming authors from my university cohort as we are all going to pick Ansteys expert author brain!

Where and when?

You can find the book and signing at Waterstones, Rose Lane, Canterbury in Kent on 

Saturday 16th February between 14.30-16.00

THE uplifting novel of 2019 is coming in January. Grace is about to fall out of love and into life in The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton…#GraceTriumphs @Anstey_Harris pic.twitter.com/QIWqUcisSs

— Simon & Schuster UK (@simonschusterUK) November 29, 2018

My next few blog posts will be sharing stories of my own writer journey following some short pieces we created on Ansteys course.

Hope to see you at the book signing!

Louise xoxo 

How do you know if this is the right job for you?

Just occasionally, we get this feeling where we feel a little,

     “Ugh, I really don’t want to do that/can’t be bothered”

Then other times we feel,

     “OH goodness this is incredible, I could do this all day/totally loving this”

So how do you know well enough to recognize these things?  I addressed that in todays Motivational Monday video. 

Last week I was working on some exciting things.  Two of them left my stomach lurching and I knew I didn’t want to progress with this. One other project got me so so excited and I was totally buzzing with the progression of the work.

How do you know?

1.     Tap into how it is making you think as you begin to talk about it or think about it.

2.     Does the conversation in your head have you thinking you are less than keen?

3.     Is there a kind of lurching in your stomach at the thought of carrying through this task or job?

4.     Do you feel more than excited at the prospect of this ‘thing’ coming into fruition

5.     Are you giving this project your all?

Does this make sense to you are resonate? Perhaps you literally needed it spelt out and are now nodding along thinking ‘ahh yes’

My belief is these things are important in the big scheme of life. Contributing to your health and wellness as well as life excitements. 

As always, much love

Louise xoxo

Look back over 2018

Ok, yes we know it's cheesy and these are everywhere this early in January.

Indulge me a little?

I mean, after working hard on getting my first lot of MA coursework submitted like 35 minutes ago I'm literally craving to get my fingers back on this blog.  I missed you guys.  There definitely has been a serious lack of blogging in my life.  Which as you know by now is something I could do all day, every day. 

If you are subscribed to my Youtube you might know lots more than has been shared on this blog lately.  Things are CRAZY  Honestly.  Life is just Mad.  Mostly in a good way.  A rollercoaster and I'm determined to keep a check on life while I'm being thrown some challenges.

2019 travel is all on hold currently due to Mum's health which is difficult because of the review work I carry out but she must come first at this time. Nevertheless, there will be time even if it's just not right now. 

Happy new year! 

So it's now 2019 - Gosh.  I hope it brings you all you are wishing for and hoping life can bring.  Remember the law of attraction won't you! 

2018 was a year of incredible shocks and twists and turns for me in my life.  No-one was more shocked than me.  Suffice to say 2019 sees me entering a totally different person to the one I began 2018 with.  Better? Hmm, the jury is still out. 

My beautiful daughter has been working with me on my social media this past few moths and she very sweetly created a set of Instagram Stories over on my personal page. I loved it so much I decided to share them here with you too.  You can still see them over there if you are quick.

I'm still  in a slight turmoil if I keep the pseudonym on instagram or not.  I'll chat more with you about that in the coming weeks. The idea was to keep the SEO tidy between non-fiction and fiction. But I might just let you decide if you want to read science or romance. You aren't daft!

So, 2018....

It's been quite a year and some of these photos can never quite show what is internally happening.  Perhaps no photos can capture that.  

Meantime, see more on Instagram from me and Jasmine. 

Let us know you're over from here and we will give you a follow back too.  Love IG don't you!!

Wishing you everything wonderful for 2019 

Much love

Louise xoxo

Focus at this time of year?

Recently, someone with a kind heart reminded me to keep a focus on this blog.

Which of course, is right.  I have never made any secret of the fact this is my total passion and I could blog every day of my life, happily.  Joyously.

On top of the editing that goes alongside Youtube, such activities can be totally overwhelming if you are aiming to just live the normal life too.

Christmas focus

Do you find yourself struggling at Christmas? 

So much to juggle.  

The decorations, keeping the family happy, the food shopping, gifts, money, as well as work.  The list goes on.

Can I let you into a bit of a confession?

I was not feeling at all like Christmas this year! Which is so unlike me.  Finally I am there.  Although I have mountains of work to get through and I'm feeling that bit of a cold thing that everyone seems to have.  That aside, my social calendar has never been so full as this year and the music, dance, smiles and people I'm mixing with are giving me smiles which last for days.  Never have I felt so alive at Christmas.

However, trying to focus on all that needs to be taken care of is close to impossible.  We take on too much perhaps?

How can we make this a positive?

See this giving season as exactly that. Giving to others. Creating a nice time for them. 

Around and around you will see the rewards coming your way for all that you want to embrace as we head into the new year.

Sending hugs to all of you who might need them at this time of reflection. As we head into the new year we are all always full of 'I'm going to leave behind in 2018....' (fill in the blank) and '2019 is going to be full of....'

But let's do the new year post all by itself really soon?  

Dear Daddy - I miss you this Christmas

This Christmas I feel like I’m having a struggle.  Why?  Good question – I’m not sure but likely a myriad of reasons.

Dad has been gone now for 3 Christmas’ and this one feels tough.  Perhaps it’s my journey I’m on, maybe it’s my own future having had a shake up that has made me feel this way, I’m not sure.

At the card shop, when I was buying the Christmas cards, a simple one with “Dad” on it saw my hand reach out and pick it up.  I bought it. I’ve written to him.

“Dear Dad

I know this might be a bit daft. But Christmas isn’t the same without you.  I wish you were here.  Not for you, of course. As I know things are better where you are.  But I want you here for me.  To help with mum.  I want to make you Tomato soup for your starter and to warm your roll in the oven.  You always appreciated these efforts. 

We never throw the sweet wrappers at each other anymore in a game of catch.  Things just aren’t the same.

But I know you are up there working your magic.  I can feel things shifting. Thanks Dad.  Life is on the cusp and it’s very nearly ‘my time’.

On Tuesday I sing in the chapel – in the choir.  Remember when we went?  Just 6 weeks before you passed.  I said I would be singing there.  Took me 2 years but this one is for you.  You’ll love ‘Glory, Glory, Glory’.  Do your trick with the lights again?  Like you did in March when we sang Oh Danny Boy. I love it when you remind me you’re not gone.  I know you never told me, but I love you Dad.

Bubba xxx”