Sometimes, taking a break is the right thing to do. I know it now, having spent the first five months of 2017 desperately trying to finish my third novel (Destination Wedding, a.k.a. April in Africa) while juggling home renovations, family visits and helping to sell a big boat.

By June all was done, and I was too. When I boarded a ship to take me from North America to Europe, I had no desire to write. It wasn’t the dreaded writer’s block – in fact, being on the high seas gave me some great ideas for the fourth Petra Minx adventure if ever I get that far! And I wasn’t sick or unhappy, far from it.

I just needed to take a step back, to stop striving in the way I was brought up to do, and to enjoy doing something different for a few months. So I explored the south coast of the UK, indulged in wonderful food and wine in Spain, met a delightful professional harpist, and finally got to visit the magical town of Seville. 

Now I’m back in the saddle and re-writing the beginning and the end of the novel. It will be a better book with a new title and I’m having fun doing it!   

We all get stressed out and feel overwhelmed by the immensity of the tasks facing us.