Shouting the good news from the rooftops

No, seriously. You can probably hear me shouting now...

This month has been one to remember. From announcing new book deals to speaking at book club retreats to reading a whole heap of amazing books, there is SO much to recap this June.

But I thought, now I can officially shout it from the rooftops, I would start with the most exciting news of my life.

Yes, it is true - I am signed to Simon and Schuster!!

PINCH.

ME.

Seriously, please do - I need to check this isn’t all one big, exciting dream!

But let’s rewind a little so I can tell you a bit more about how this news came to be. A few weeks ago, I mentioned a project I’d been working on for the last few years. Nicknamed my ‘secret project’, I hadn’t really told anyone about it other than make vague secret project references on social media. It was my antidote to thriller writing, and something I had poured my heart and soul into it.

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it. The origins are so personal that part of me felt like keeping it to myself (my agent is glad I didn’t leave it on my computer as I had debated doing ha!). But there was something about the project that I loved. Something I thought (hoped) other people might love too.

So, unsure, I wrote a Substack about it. In the newsletter, I asked if I should brave sending this project off to my agent. Well, I did.

A lot of excitement and work behind the scenes has brought me to this moment… my new novel The Life Experiment will be released Feb 2026, signed by the one and only Anthea Bariamis of Simon and Schuster.

In the coming months, I will be sharing LOTS about this exciting project, but I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for your support over the last few years. I don’t think I would have the confidence to write in new genres or explore new parts of my creativity if it weren’t for you all. And I definitely don’t think I’d have said to my agent, ‘So, I’ve been working on a thing…’ if it wasn’t for you.

So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! It’s no exaggeration to say that you have, quite literally, changed my life.

Love,

Jess x

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Let’s Talk Writing!

I sold a book to Simon and Schuster, what do you mean I have to give more writing news?!

I joke, I joke.

Aside from soaking in this huge news and working on The Life Experiment’s edits, at the moment I am editing a thriller I hope to pass on to my agent.

Since announcing my S&S deal, I’ve had a few messages from people asking if I plan on giving up writing thrillers. The short answer is no. I love thrillers, both reading them and writing them. They are the books that have got me to where I am now and I would LOVE to continue having them published.

So, while I have no thrillers in the publishing pipeline at the moment, I’m working on changing that…

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Let’s Talk Books…

Okay, so this isn’t technically about a book, but it’s about a book club retreat. That still counts, right?!

This month, I was invited to be a speaker at the Rachael Johns’ Book Club Reading Retreat. Hosted by Rachael and fellow author Anthea Hodgson, the event saw 100+ readers and over ten writers fly to the Gold Coast for a weekend of panels, events, discussions, debates, socials and all-round bookish fun.

When I say I had the best time, I mean every word. Seriously, the best.

The readers I met at the retreat are some of the most wonderful people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet on this author journey. Warm, funny, supportive and true champions of books of all genres, everyone was so welcoming and friendly. It’s rare in life to be in an atmosphere that is made up of nothing but happiness, but Rachael and Anthea created one that was exactly that.

It was the best weekend ever… can I do it again already?!

In other bookish news, books I have read and LOVED this month are:

• The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

• The Haters by Robyn Harding

• Kit McBride Gets A Wife by Amy Barry

What books have you enjoyed reading this June?

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Dates for the diary

After another successful IG Live interview last month, this time with the iconic Katy Brent, I am thrilled to announce my July interview is with the one and only Dinuka McKenzie. I will be chatting to Dinuka about all things writing a book series, making us care for characters and smashing author goals!

Hope you can join us at 8pm on Sunday 7th July, IG Live.

As for an in-person event, Melbourne I am looking at you!

On Friday 26th July, I will be participating in a VERY exciting Sisters in Crime panel. Featuring alongside Sherryl Clarke and Jane Sullivan, we will be chatting crime fiction under the banner ‘High Stakes, Low Morals’.

The panel will take place at the Rising Sun Hotel in South Melbourne, SIC’s usual event venue. With the talk starting at 8pm, dinner beforehand is optional. Tickets can be bought here. It would be so lovely to see some of you there! We can have a gin & tonic together in celebration of amazing author events in Melbourne.

What are you up to this month?

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What are you bingeing/listening to?

I finally finished Bridgerton Series 3 and all I can say is… Pen, you are the best! I loved Polin’s friends to lovers arc so much, but for me the best part of this season was watching Penelope bloom. She owned her talents, found her confidence and followed her heart… a lesson for us all, I’m sure!

If you watched it, what did you think?

In other watching news, I watched the new Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman film, A Family Affair. If you’re a fun of silly, sweet films, I’d grab a bowl of popcorn and give it a watch.