Well. It isn’t quite the publication day I’d imagined for my book – it feels wrong to be celebrating when there’s so much bad stuff going on in the world and we’re all so worried and tense.
But some things, once set in motion, can’t be changed, so The Runaway is available to download now – ebook only for the moment, with the paperback coming later in the year.
Most of the action takes place in Cornwall, where I spent happy holidays as a child. Nicola, Ed and Kelly move from London to St Ives. It was supposed to solve all the family’s problems, but…

Here’s an extract from the beginning of the book:

Nicola Seaton drained her coffee cup and sat back while Ed wielded his credit card for the waiter. What an amazing meal, and wow – how lucky was she? With their daughter at the table tennis club she’d joined a few weeks ago, Friday had turned into date night for her and Ed, and tonight was especially good. Kelly had gone to a friend’s for dinner straight after school. Nicola hugged herself. A whole evening for her and Ed to do what they liked with, and how lovely it was that after seventeen years, they still enjoyed a date as a twosome.
   Ed took her hand as they walked back to the car. ‘We should come back here with Kelly sometime. She loves Italian.’
   Nicola wrinkled her nose at him. ‘Are you telling me it’s boring when she’s not with us?’
   He wound both arms around her. ‘You know perfectly well I’m not. I’ll prove it at home, too.’
   Nicola kissed his chin. ‘I do like a proposition.’
   Anticipation flamed through her as they drove across London and parked outside their terrace flat. Ed kissed her as soon as they were decently inside, and Nicola held on tightly. He was a great guy for a cuddle, was Ed, he loved being held. Which was just fine by her.
   She leaned back to see his face. ‘Why don’t you go and slip into something more comfortable, and I’ll open a bottle of wine?’
   He moved towards their bedroom. ‘Shouldn’t that be my line? But you’re on.’
   Nicola pulled a bottle of Pinot Grigio from the fridge and stabbed in the corkscrew, vaguely aware of Ed’s mobile trilling out then falling silent. Humming, she twisted the corkscrew. Much as she loved Kelly, this was–
   The kitchen door crashed open and Ed stumbled into the room, his mobile pressed to his chest.
   ‘She’s dead!’ His face was grey.
   ‘What?’ The wine bottle fell on its side and rolled against the coffee machine.
   ‘Nic, she’s dead.’ 
   Nicola’s heartbeat thundered in her ears as the world swam.

I’d like to thank Sarah Hardy for organising the blog tour for The Runaway, and of course all the bloggers who are taking part – I really appreciate it, especially as many of you have more pressing concerns and worries right now. Huge thanks to my non-blogger ARC readers too, and virtual hugs all round.

Lastly, we’re all restricted now in what we can do, spending more and more time inside our own four walls. So we’re keeping the price of the ebook the same as the pre-order for the moment, 99p or the equivilant in your own currency. Click HERE to see The Runaway in your local Amazon Store.
And everybody – please stay safe.