I was completing a questionnaire the other day and one on the list was who inspired me to take up blogging. That would be Anne Goodwin who I met on a writer’s course a couple of years before. We bonded over long late night chats, the absurdities of our respective professions and our mutual determination to write that book that had been itching to emerge. Later she began her blogging odyssey, I subscribed and wondered at the confidence and quality of her contents. It was inspiring but could I…? Little me..?
‘Get on with it,’ was essentially her message and so, six years ago, off I went. And I’ve really not looked back.
Neither of us have. She wrote that book, me too. Hers remains a stellar debut and was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize. Sugar and Snails is tremendous, both character and plot driven and a compelling read. Not an easy one; the subject matter is one that strikes at the emotions at so many levels, but you won’t regret joining Diana on her journey.
I was lucky; I got to see it during several iterations, from the merely good to the distinguished and delightful work it is today. And the good news is you can enjoy it to by joining in during Freebie February (I made that up).
Basically sign up to her newsletter below and you can have it free during February. Truly you won’t regret it. If you’d like a taste this is the blurb:
At fifteen, she made a life-changing decision. Thirty years on, it’s time to make another.
When Diana escaped her misfit childhood, she thought she’d chosen the easier path. But the past lingers on, etched beneath her skin, and life won’t be worth living if her secret gets out.
As an adult, she’s kept other people at a distance… until Simon sweeps in on a cloud of promise and possibility. But his work is taking him to Cairo, the city that transformed her life. She’ll lose Simon if she doesn’t join him. She’ll lose herself if she does.
Sugar and Snails charts Diana’s unusual journey, revealing the scars from her fight to be true to herself. A triumphant mid-life coming-of-age story about bridging the gap between who we are and who we feel we ought to be.
Anne is the author of two novels and a short story collection. Her next novel will be out later in the year. Meanwhile to read for free her debut novel, Sugar and Snails about a woman who has kept her past identity a secret for thirty years you must subscribe to her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/sugar-and-snails-free-e-book
Go on, you know it makes sense!
And here are the social media linkies for you. Try her blog, too.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnJ5pbhSLho&feature=youtu.be
Website: annegoodwin.weebly.com
Twitter @Annecdotist.
Link tree https://linktr.ee/annecdotist
Amazon author page: viewauthor.at/AnneGoodwin
YouTube: Anne Goodwin’s YouTube channel
TanGental 
This sounds interesting, thank you!
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If you get the chance try her, Jacquie
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I’ve signed up to her newsletter 🙂
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Yay!!
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Lovely review, Geoff. Sounds like a winner!
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If you get the chance you’ll love her
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Sounds like a good read. Thanks for introducing Anne to us.
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Try her, she’s v special.
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As are you, dear Geoff!
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Thanks for sharing so generously, Geoff, and you know what I’m nagging about next! I’m so glad you’re enjoying blogging and as ever I’m in awe of your productivity. You’re one of the blogosphere’s shining stars.
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I forgot my password, changed it and then found id set up a two step authentication which I can’t access anymore and the important special code I need to get me past it is long forgotten. Bloody mail chimp. I’ve sent a mail (of course there’s no phone number) and… silence…
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Um, just replied to this and it’s disappeared! Commiserations, very frustrating. I’ll stop nagging until you can unlock those save addresses.
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Yay, they have come up trumps. I’ll do in tomorrow and see if i can make sense of it
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You convinced me. Just sighed up for newsletter.
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Thanks, hopoe you enjoy it.
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Oh hopoe! Nice word, wonder what it means!
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Isn’t a beplummed bird?!
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You’ll love it, honest.
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Great post Geoff and a generous offer from Anne – sounds like you both benefited from your meeting.. x
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I certainly did!
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It does sound very interesting. Thank you Geoff.💜💜
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If you get the chance try it. You won’t be disappointed.
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Glad you think so, Willow.
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💜💜💜
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An excellent advocacy
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Thanks for the review, Geoff. Anne’s book sounds most intriguing!
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It’s worth a punt
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👌
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Thanks, Pam.
Free to read till the end of Feb.
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Thanks, Anne! 🙏💕
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Great post, Geoff. And I was lucky (honoured) enough to meet you both while in London. You’ve both been much published since then. I’m still languishing. One day …
Congratulations to both of you on your successes.
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Thanks Norah. Wasn’t that fun? Will it come back!
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I’m not sure, Geoff.
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Lovely memories of our meetup.
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Indeed. I’m so pleased we got to do it. I was a little nervous about contacting you all (Lisa too) and I think you all said you were a bit anxious about meeting up, wondering if one of us might be an axe murderer or something more sinister. (not really) You and Geoff were okay though, as you had met each other before. I often think about the book boat on the canal.
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