March 2026 Update
What's news....
Welcome
Hello and welcome to all of my current and new subscribers and thank you for being here.
Writing News
The Italian Winemaker has been out for one month!
Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, bought, posted about or shared the book. I’m very grateful. If you’ve read it, I’d be even more grateful if you could post a review or rating on any of the platforms you use!
And if you haven’t read it yet, now is the chance to escape normal life for awhile, and take a trip to Italy.
In the hillside vineyards of Tuscany, passion grows where it’s least expected…
Marcella Armstrong has never taken life seriously until the father she didn’t know names her heiress to a multi-million-dollar wine estate.
Chief winemaker Rocco Berlusconi believed that Marcello Wines would one day be his. But with the arrival of the stuttering Australian girl, he is forced to teach her all he knows about wine to honour his mentor’s wishes.
Marcella is determined to prove she’s worthy of her family legacy, only it’s painfully clear no one wants her there, especially the exotic and enigmatic chief winemaker.
Rejected by his own family, Rocco has invested too much to give up on his dreams. When he learns that Marcella intends to sell the estate to a competitor, he will do anything to save the winery and secure his future.
All Marcella really wants is the freedom to live the life she desires. But she didn’t expect Rocco to help her to discover what she’s capable of. Or that the passionate Italian winemaker might fall for the millionaire’s daughter…
Other writing news
Written In Between has gone to the printers, well, not literally, but in layman terms, it’s ready for release. Are you keen to return to small-town Bellethorpe? Want to know what has happened to Emma and Cole? Not long to wait now…
The cover is gorgeous…stay tuned for more details to follow, releasing August this year.
What am I working on now?
As mentioned last newsletter, I planned an entire women’s fiction novel before abandoning it (for later, of course) and have chosen to proceed with the new idea that struck me more recently. It will be the first book in a series of three set on the Isle of Skye. It’s perfect really because I planned my entire overseas trip last year to go to Skye where I had snippets of novel ideas and while I came away with loads of story inspiration, I hadn’t found ‘the series’ I was searching for. But, now I have!
I’m dragging my heels in starting, however, I must say, very unlike me. I keep having thoughts of how to make the plot ‘better’ and more ‘perfect’ and, oh, I just have to do a bit more research, which means that I haven’t started yet! I do find, though, starting a novel the hardest part.
Next month I promise to confirm that I’ve started. A personal challenge to myself. Wish me luck!
Free books
This month I’m delighted to welcome author, Fiona McArthur who is offering all of you a free, sweet, medical romance!
Hello Dr Bennett!
Dr Bennett’s Babies - Healing Hands - Doctors By Specialty Series
Coogee is one of those beach suburbs in Sydney where you could just settle down for ever. Great surf, great restaurants, great hotels and fabulous old houses. And Coogee is not far from those iconic Sydney hospitals where Doctors By Specialty offer their particular healing.
This time meet Marcus and Tilly in the battle of the birth suites. Can the past that haunts Marcus, the hospital’s new obstetrician, be healed by everyone’s favourite, midwife Tilly?
Here’s the link:
What I’ve Been Reading
I’ve read some cracking books in the last month.
The Glass Key by Amanda Geard - simply stunning, dual timeline fiction set between Ireland and Norway. This was a bit personal for me as I visited both of these places last year and for the first time, learned of the WW2 history of Norway. Whole towns were bombed and this book is set partly in Bodo, one of those towns. The setting is exquisite, the writing divine, I couldn’t have loved it more. Releasing in June.
Every Lifetime After by Jennifer Ross (Jenny Ashford) - another dual timeline novel set in the English countryside with two very different women characters who are intrinsically linked. A touch of magical realism with characters you fall in love with, great setting and wonderful writing. Loved it.
The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains by Sarah Clutton - I’m very late getting to this one, and wish I’d read it earlier. So witty, so clever and an absolute joy to read.
You are Here by David Nicholls - super sweet novel of tragedy, loneliness and finding love again.This one is set on the coast to coast walk in Northern England. I really enjoyed it.
Book Club Books
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan - we all have those books where it seems as if everyone raves about it, but you just can’t understand the fuss…that’s me and this book. Set in America, interesting characters, small town life, intersecting lives, it’s dense and long and I’m struggling to finish.
What I’ve Been Watching
Bridgerton series 4 - Netflix - best season yet in my opinion! Loved Benedict and Sophie.
Muster Dogs - ABCIview - a bit of a slow season but still a joy to watch.
Winter Olympics - I didn’t watch much this past month because I was glued to Milano Cortina. Anyone else have it running 24/7? Loved it.
Remember to join my FaceBook group where we chat about books and what we have been reading.
Until next time,
Happy reading
Leanne x
Good luck!!!! That first 10,000 words can sometimes be tough - especially if it's a series you're beginning.
Starting is the hardest part. Can’t wait to read your latest work xx