Want a free copy of Grounding?

To celebrate the paperback publication next week, here's a giveaway

A weird coincidence happened the other day. I was looking at an image my editor had sent of the newly designed cover for my book’s paperback edition. It’s an exciting, hand-in-the-mouth (is that the right phrase?) moment, seeing the cover of a book you’ve poured your heart into. You hope the new cover will appeal to new readers and give your words a second wind, but there’s alway a slight fear that you won’t like it. The picture I was looking at didn’t disappoint.

The paperback edition of Grounding keeps the wonderful picture of my garden painted by artist Neil Gower (who has also designed covers for William Golding, Bill Bryson and Rachel Joyce, so I’m in exalted company), but adds a zingy green background. I love it. It’s almost the same appley green as our front door and it feels vibrant and springlike.

I posted the cover pic on my social media and then, just a few minutes later, the doorbell rang. A delivery person handed me a cardboard box - containing 10 advance copies of the Grounding paperback. It felt serendipitous. Anyway, all this is to say that to celebrate the paperback launch on 2nd March I’m giving away TWO signed copies of the book EXCLUSIVELY to my newsletter subscribers. So if you’re looking for a Mother’s Day present for a green-fingered mama, or you just like freebies, send me an email at lulah.ellender@gmail.com along with any dedication you’d like me to inscribe. I’ll pick two names at random.

French cottage news

I spent a happy three days in half term at the cottage in Normandy I’m renovating. Duncan, the brilliant electrician, had nearly finished rewiring the whole house, which involved angle-grinding some bits of the walls off. As a result, everything downstairs was covered in a thick layer of dust. My two friends and their children gamely set about cleaning, scrubbing and painting, and slowly we got things into shape.

I’m an impatient person and have slapdash tendencies when it comes to DIY, so this whole process has been a good lesson in learning to accept what is in my power to achieve, and what is way too ambitious. On the second day I decided that, in order to feel we’d made progress, I had to at least finish the kitchen.

Two coats of Atelier Ellis Triple Warm White colour match paint (from this ace company who colour match eco-friendly, durable, lovely paint), three worktops sanded and oiled, and one towel rail-fitting later, it looked pretty darn good. The units and kickboards need fixing and the ceiling needs painting, but it’s feeling so much brighter. My favourite thing is the Hammershoi print some friends bought me for my 50th birthday last year. I love how she’s leaning over a worktop, just as I do to chop lemons and make coffee in front of her. Though my friend said it looks like she’s checking her Instagram…

My friend’s husband saw a beaver down at the little stream, one of the boys made friends with a neighbour and played football for hours in a sun-filled field, and we all ate amazing galettes from a nearby village market, so everyone was happy.

I’m currently plotting a retreat plan and will announce the details soon, so stay tuned if you’re a writer looking for peace, space and creative inspiration.

Here’s some more pics:

Recommendations

I’ve just finished reading Kerri ni Dochartaigh’s new book, Cacophony of Bone. It’s hard to describe - think lyrical prose, poetic fragments, beautiful nature observations and lots of reflections on loss, loneliness and motherhood. Highly recommend if that sounds like your bag.

I also saw Women Talking at the weekend. The acting was incredible and it’s such a powerful story. It was billed as ‘uplifting’ but I didn’t really feel uplifted by the end, more furious and flattened and stunned - in a good way. I went with a friend who was feeling fragile and I’m not sure it was the best choice, but if you’re feeling strong and want a film to lose yourself in, go see it.

Thanks for reading. I hope you’re having a good week and enjoying the tentative signs of spring emerging around us.