Two fresh stories in the Dream, Believe, Achieve series are now available.
Along with the rest of the series, they are e-books for kindle on Amazon.
These stories that had been asking to be written for some time, and now they exist. 
There is at least one more coming this year, maybe more.
Lost Dreams, the fourth book where we meet Sandra, who has big dreams, but with the loss of someone close to her, she falters. Not sure if she has what it takes, it is her school friends who help put things into perspective.
Revealed Dreams is book five and we meet Lillian, who cannot wait to leave school. But then what? The real world isn't what she thought it would be, but a chance meeting and a rekindled friendship changes her outlook on life.
Find out more about the series and the two new books on the new book page on this website. 

Wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas.
With the closing of Writers Plot bookshop and its website, I needed to find a place where it was quick and easy for New Zealanders to get physical copies of the books rather than have them posted from overseas.
I have now set up a Ko-fi page and shop and books can be purchased there. The links are included on the Books pages on this website.
It will be an ongoing work in progress and hope that it makes it easier to purchase.
The ko-fi shop is at ​https://ko-fi.com/cblandy

All the best for the coming year - 

In the words of Tracy Chapman (almost) - Sorry, is all that I can say.
'Years gone by and still, words don't come easily.'
With summer looming, and now the Writers Plot Bookshop is officially and permanently closed from December 2024 , I can get back to my writing. With much thanks and a huge effort by my husband who ended up hauling books around the greater Wellington region.
I'm making an effort to get back into finishing off the next two books in the Nettie's Knit Shop series.
The next book - Broken Hearts and Promises is going to have a backstory book that goes with it, when I get it written. Many hours of research is going into it as I want to get it as historically accurate as possible.
In the meantime - happy reading and remember - Thornbury is not your average small town.
On a separate note - the beautiful Wellington Botanical Garden's Begonia House is under attack from the Wellington City council. It is a place I have visited often over several decades since moving to Wellington in 1976 to go to university. I am 100% behind saving this national treasure.
I think Nettie and her family may have to visit soon.
Happy reading and enjoy the summer days ahead.

I can't believe it is July already and we are definitely in the throws of winter. 
It has taken far longer to recover from major surgery than I had ever anticipated and sometimes the only way forward has been to stop, step back and do nothing.
Even writing!
Over the last 3 months, I have walked away from adding to my stories, but I am now feeling the urge to' get on with it' again.
I didn't like the name I had for the book with the cockatoo and it had started to take a life of its own. For those quick to spot these things, the title has now changed to 'The Colonels Inheritance'.
I have received lovely feedback from my Christmas novella and a request to have another for Christmas. I will aim to get one sorted, as I am currently trying to decide on which Thornbury residents you would like to know more about.
I have had comments from a reader after book one, wanting to know more about Amber-May and and Bluey and Mac. I'm pleased to say that I will do my best to add more about them in the stories.
So for now - I have two books I'm working on - and my sister has created the wonderful covers for them. I'm hoping to have at least one published this year, and I have a mock up of the cover for both - a little something to keep you in anticipation.
Oh - please ignore the due out date ... there is still a long way to go in the process.

In April 2022, my life changed. I retired, for good this time.
Health issues were draining me and I was struggling to finish my books. It was taking a toll as I battled to keep walking, stay healthy and, at times, to breathe. I thought it was stress related and thought my retirement would see me right. It didn't!
Thankfully, a new doctor has now picked up an issue I've been living with for the past 5 - 6 years. Medication and ongoing assessment has me feeling much better in just two weeks. 
I could finish Book 3!!! So thrilled, as it was well overdue.
​It is now available as a kindle version and the printed copies are on their way. 
The aim is to have the new books 'Died with Flowers' Book 3 and 'Christmas at the Hog and Frog' Book 3.1 at Featherston Booktown on the weekend of 11 - 12 June 2022. Then in the Writers Plot Bookshop.
While waiting for the books I think I'll get on with 'Broken Hearts and Promises'. This is taking a lot longer than expected as the historical component research is taking me on journey's that are not really required for my story. There are so many books to read and everyone has a distinctive view of the time. Maybe I should just stop reading and start writing.
Kindle version of 'Died with Flowers' link to Amazon.
​Kindle version of 'Christmas at the Hog and Frog' link to Amazon.

We have been lucky, being able to work from home and being in an area of New Zealand where we haven't continued to have daily cases. Not being able to go into the book shop in the afternoon has also been wonderful. It means I get to write!
With thanks to Rox for the cover, we are near to having the book finished. I'm currently getting the third Nettie Knit Shop Mystery - 'Died with Flowers', ready for editing. Nothing like seeing the cover to inspire further work. 
This will be the priority, but I also want to get 'Broken Hearts and Promises' moved along too. Could it be there are two books to come out in December 2021?
We can but wait and see how the rest of the year treats us.
The cover and a blurb to whet your interest are on the Books page have a look.
On another note - holidays:
We manages to get a weeks holiday in before we went into lockdown. Warmth, sun, good food and drinks, but most of all we had time to relax and appreciate what we had. It may by many months or even a year or so before we get away again. A few photos for your edification.

How many of us where hoping for 2021 to be the silver bullet that fixed what aided 2020? But it seems to have turned out to be just more of the same, slightly different with a whole new set of issues.
No better time than to stick your head in a book and take yourself somewhere that is away from the everyday grind.
To counter act all of that, book 3 of the Netttie's Knit shop series is coming along. This one has a working title of 'Dyed with Flowers' and there may be a wedding that Nettie and Mags need to plan. That's all the teasers you get for now, as some research into the back roads of the South Wairarapa have taken us on a few journeys this summer.
As autumn seems to have arrived with a distinct chill, Bob has some new recipes for us to try, and when we do, will post them here with photos of our bakes. 
In the meantime - enjoy photos of the South Wairarapa coast from our summer visit - beautiful when out of the wind.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Christmas Holiday break. I hope you have an enjoyable time, great holiday and get  to spend time with family and friends.
May the new year bring us all peace and serenity after the turbulent storm that was 2020.
For the last few weeks of the year, I have a book to proof read and fix with the aim to have it printed and out in the shops by the end of January 2021.
And - exciting news, there are two new books in the pipeline!
Book 3 tentatively named 'Died with Flowers' and a Covid-19 lock-down mystery 'Broken Hearts and Promises'. 
We have also some recipes to test for Bob which had been put on hold (along with everything else) while my broken wrist healed.
For now Bob has experimented with a couple of scone recipes and mashed them up with what he had in his pantry and fridge. They taste delicious, but feel free to add spices and orange zest/peel for added flavour. 
​Enjoy.
Download the recipe to print.

Well, it's been a year of challenges, some good, many not so good.
Lockdown went smoothly and I was thrilled I had plenty of time to work on Book 2, it was finished! Then came the editing and we were out of lockdown, this proved a struggle to find time and enthusiasm. Then, just at the final edits before sending it off to a fellow author for proof reading, I break my wrist! My right wrist, and I'm right handed.
I know - right?
Well, pleased to now say - the beta readers and my proof reader have copies, so while waiting, I've started Book 3 and a lockdown short story. It's tough - and can only be at the computer for no more than 30 min at a time, so will expect this to take some time. But I feel I am now back on track.
New launch - end of October. My current cast (new, improved and colourful) may come off 20 Oct - then it will be rehabilitation/physiotherapy to get the hand and fingers working again.
Also looking forward to getting back in the kitchen to try out some of Bob's new recipes, and back to my knitting which it still sitting on the coffee table waiting.

Fourth town for South Wairarapa? Headlines in the Wairarapa Times-Age on 10 March.
I've had a few people call me to ask if I had seen it and was the new town going to be Thornbury. It was a laugh but quite fortuitous - I had no idea that this was even a thought when I started writing about Thornbury three years ago.
From here I will be looking with interest into the development of this idea, and may of the town - just as long as the builders they get are not called Knox and Downes because that would be just a little bit too spooky.
Read the article here - https://times-age.co.nz/fourth-town-for-south-wairarapa/