In Autumn 2023, I was thinking about sisters, Jo and Amy March in particular, and what their relationship might feel like, now. I went on holiday to Sicily, wrote some pages, hated them and got bitten to bits by mosquitos.

In Spring 2024 I figured out a synopsis, wrote an outline, and told my publisher that I had an idea I was very excited about…and they told me they didn’t think there was a market for it. I felt depressed and demoralised. I sulked.

In Summer 2024 I worked out that it was mostly Marmee March I wanted to write about.

In Autumn 2024, I wrote a partial manuscript as fast as my fingers could carry me. And my agent found the perfect editor for the project, just as fast. Susannah at Century (Penguin) absolutely understood the book, and me. It was a huge confidence boost,

Then from Autumn 2024 onwards, I wrote and panicked and worried. What if I’d accidentally tricked all of these lovely people with the first 20,000 words of the manuscript, and the rest of the book wasn’t any good?

At the start of 2025 I published a different book (READ YOURSELF HAPPY), I ran the London Marathon, and I DESPAIRED. I was stressed and exhausted and overwhelmed. I couldn’t believe I’d ever, ever finish ALL GROWN UP. (I didn’t believe I’d ever finish the marathon, either. But I did it, very slowly…)

Today, I GOT TO HOLD IT! It’s a book! A beautiful hardback with an embossed cover and gorgeous endorsement quotes from AMAZING authors including Marian Keyes Jennie Godfrey Julia Raeside Lauren Bravo Claire Daverley.

I still remember the pain of the initial rejection. I was in my favourite cafe and I was too sad to finish my sandwich. That was almost exactly two years ago, and I’m SO glad I kept the faith.