April 20, 2009
The finished manuscript for my next book The Baby Sleep Bible has gone off to the publisher – phew! It’s been a fantastic experience writing it – it’s all about families finding the right baby sleep method for them, whatever their lifestyle. From co-sleepers to routine addicts to parents of twins, there’s an answer in this book! And like Sneaky Parenting, it has lots of “views from the trenches” from my cohort of brilliant Mums and Dads – thank you to everyone who contributed.
The Baby Sleep Bible is available to pre-order on Amazon now… so if you’re seeking some sleep solutions, or know somebody who is, you can claim your copy in advance!
The Baby Sleep Bible - out in September 2009
April 2, 2009
Today I was back on BBC Three Counties Radio with Lorna Milton – discussing the “big issue” of sleep, and how to get some. We had a great response from listeners, all desperate for tips on how to encourage their children to love their beds!
Many such parents have been contributing to my current book, which is all about the various sleep methods you can try, and which ones work for which families. It’s going to be a non-preachy guide to everything sleep-related, which will enable parents to choose the sleep approaches right for them – whether they’re an “all in the bed” kind of family, routine freaks, parents of twins (or more!) or just a family trying to establish sleep in the midst of chaos!
The book is due out this Autumn with Crimson Publishing - and I’m finishing the final pages in the next fortnight, so if you have any great tips you’d like me to include, I’d be delighted to hear them!
December 5, 2008
I was on BBC Three Counties Radio with Lorna Milton again this week – this time, with Allison Mitchell, whose management background inspired her to write her books The Manic Mum’s Guide to Magnificent Parenting and Time Management for Manic Mums. Allison has three children aged eight and up, and therefore has lots to say about teens and older children – so together we make a good team!
It’s a different experience doing Lorna’s Expert Hour with another expert – a bit like playing verbal ping-pong! – but great fun, and wonderful to meet another mother with lots of advice for real families with real – and often less than perfect – lives.
We should be teaming up again in the New Year…in the meantime, I will be concentrating on having a frazzle-free festive break, and on gathering those Baby Sleep experiences for the new book. Happy Christmas!
November 5, 2008
Hello again – after rather a long silence! I have been a bit preoccupied because I have recently signed a contract for a new parenting book with Crimson Publishing, which now owns White Ladder Press (publisher of Sneaky Parenting). The new book will focus on getting those little angels to sleep – it will have a unique angle in the “baby sleep” market, and I’m very excited to be doing it. I already have some willing parents lined up as contributors, standing by with their tales of sleep heaven and hell…
Tomorrow I am back on BBC Three Counties Radio with Lorna Milton for her expert hour – we will be focusing on tips for how to beat the credit crunch when it comes to clothes and equipment for your little ones. Do call in if you have any bright ideas!
And if anyone has a favourite baby sleep method which worked for them – or failed miserably – and would like to contribute to the new book, please get in touch.
July 31, 2008
It’s been a while since I blogged, because I have been awash with Evie’s end-of-term social events – she has just finished nursery, and starts “big school” in September – and last week I was in Spain on holiday with the family (gaining new tips for travelling for future books!). I’m home in the UK now, and today I was back on “Sneaky Parenting” duty, with an appearance on BBC Three Counties Radio, as the “expert” on the Expert Hour on Lorna Milton’s Afternoon Show.
I did this slot back in May, and that went well – so did today’s. Lorna was wondefully friendly and professional as usual – despite having had to eat a whole “extra-strength” chilli on air minutes before my slot as part of the previous feature! - and we had a good range of calls and emails. I find it really exciting to talk to “real” parents on air and hopefully be able to pass on some ideas they hadn’t thought of – and even to gain some ideas, as many listeners have good tips of their own.
I’m booked in to do the Expert Hour again in August, so I look forward to that, and the book still seems to be doing well on amazon.co.uk and in Waterstone’s and all other retailers.
I hope to have some very exciting news about another book soon – watch this space!
June 12, 2008
The local paper has written an piece on Sneaky Parenting and the book signing in Waterstone’s – it’s a good piece for them because so many of the parents who contributed tips and suggestions for the book are from the area.
It says the book ”tackles many of the difficulties faced by parents every day in a lighthearted and sensible fashion”, adding: ”Instead of telling readers what to do with their youngsters, Sneaky Parenting puts forward practical solutions based on what has worked for others.”
Actually, it’s rather nice to see a piece in the Observer, because my friends in Bishop’s Stortford and Much Hadham were such a huge help and exhibited enormous patience with my endless requests for help. Also, it’s rather nice to see that they’ve put my age down as 36 – only just got away with that, as I turned 37 last week!
June 11, 2008
A Dad-to-be has said some great things about Sneaky Parenting on his blog the Progenitor, which is all about his impending journey into parenthood. He says it is ”packed to the brim with helpful hints and tips from real parents, who have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt factory, and are certified experts in raising their own kids”. Thanks Progenitor!
May 31, 2008
Today I did an in-store book signing for Sneaky Parenting at Waterstone’s, Bishop’s Stortford. It seemed to go well – we sold all of the copies the store had, so the events manager was happy!
It was fascinating to be in a book store for a few hours, seeing the different types of shoppers – some browsing idly, some knowing exactly what they want and going straight to it, and some spending hours and hours looking at almost every title in the shop…
I noticed that a lot of the buyers were grandparents (so obviously parents too!) – I guess it makes sense that you would give a signed copy as a present to your children, if they’ve just become parents themselves. Or to your friends with new grandchildren. One proud Grandmother showed me pictures of her new Grandson, Charlie, who was just days old. As the mother of a Charlie myself, I loved seeing the pics of him all brand new in his hospital blanket, and was delighted to sign that copy!
Sneaky Parenting continues to do well, and get good reviews, which is obviously fantastic. The Herts and Essex Observer - my local newspaper – also came and took phots in-store today, and even managed to time it so that some Much Hadham friends (and contributors to the book!) were roped in to pose with me. Thank you so much to those of you that came in to say hello and provide a much-appreciated bit of crowd boosting!
