Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape. There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone. I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha. I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then. When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time. I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.

Book Extract: The Little Campsite by the Sea by Elizabeth Holland

Published November 2, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth Holland to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Little Campsite by the Sea.

Beth never planned to return to Llancariad—or to see Rhys again.

Beth Alden hasn’t been home in years. The small seaside village of Llancariad holds too many painful memories, but when her mother suffers a fall, she has no choice but to go home.

As Beth settles back into life in North Wales, she’s forced to confront how much time has passed and how much her mother needs her. While trying to save the family’s struggling campsite, Beth’s past catches up with her, stirring her anxiety and reminding her why she left.

Then Rhys Howell, her childhood best friend and first kiss, offers to help.

Rhys has never forgotten Beth or the kiss that changed everything. As they work together to revive the campsite, their friendship reignites, along with feelings he’s spent years trying to ignore. But while Rhys can imagine their future together, Beth is adamant she must go back to her life in the city.

Can Beth find the courage to stay, or will she run back to London, breaking both their hearts?

Elizabeth has shared an extract with us. We hope you enjoy.

*****beginning of extract*****

The Little Campsite by the Sea is a friends-to-lovers cosy romance set in North Wales. Beth and Rhys were childhood friends until something came between them. Before they could rekindle their relationship, Beth left for London. Now, a decade later, she’s home, and she’s not particularly happy to see Rhys again…

As he opened the gate, Rhys’s heart rate picked up. He could hear the thrumming in his ears, and his feet froze in place. Straight ahead, parked at the front of the house, was a car he hadn’t seen in a long time. He had many happy memories of being picked up in that car and driven back to the campsite. Although they weren’t talking at the time, Rhys had heard that on her seventeenth birthday, Evan had gifted his daughter the car. The woman he’d seen last night with her smile—had it really been Beth?

“There you are,” Carys called from the bench on the terrace. “I hope we’ve not put you out this evening.”

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A Moment With… Sarah Reynolds

Published November 2, 2026 | By Laura

What better way to kick off a new week than by welcoming Sarah Reynolds to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Traces of Alys.

1995- 15-year-old Emma sends her family a bunch of flowers and disappears. Her best friend Kate blames herself. That night in west Wales, Idris and his son find a crashed car, a teenage girl and a man trying to kill her.

The girl can’t remember who she is. Their neighbour says it’s her missing daughter, Alys, finally home, and takes her in. Twenty years later, a body is found during renovations at a local park where Emma was last seen.

Kate believes that she has, at last, found the end of Emma’s story; instead, it is only the beginning, as finally secrets will have to be faced.

A family mystery about escaping, finding home, and what- or who-is left behind.

To talk about how characters are the answers to plotting, it’s over to you, Sarah.

When it comes to plotting, your characters have all the answers…

Traces of Alys is a novel with a strong plot. The narrative interweaves the lives of two women and there is more than one big plot twist along the way, but I didn’t start out with a roadmap in mind. In fact, I barely thought about the plot at all.

Like most of my stories, this novel began with a character. The first voice I heard belonged to Kate: at home with a newborn, sleep-deprived and wondering if she was losing her mind. I have been this woman myself. And yet Kate was not me. A bit like children, characters are born from the writer but grow into independent beings altogether.

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Novel Kicks Book Club: Well, That Escalated Quickly by Sarah Turner

Published November 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club.

Hello November.

This year has just flown by. We’re heading towards the end of the year already, and I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely ready for some cosy evenings, a blanket, a hot chocolate and, of course, a good book. November always feels like that little pause before the madness of Christmas begins. Haha!

As you would have already seen from the title, this month’s book pick is Well, That Escalated Quickly by Sarah Turner.

I have to say, the title alone caught my attention. It immediately made me chuckle… in a good way. We’ve all had those moments when life takes an unexpected turn and things seem to spiral rather quickly. Sometimes all you can do is laugh, pick yourself up and see what happens next. I’m looking forward to seeing what Sarah Turner has in store for us with this one.

As usual, anyone can join, whether you’ve already read the novel or will be reading along with me. I have placed a question in the comments below to kick off the discussion.

I really hope to see you there.

About Well, That Escalated Quickly –

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Book Spotlight: Death the Second Time Around by Jeanine Englert

Published October 31, 2026 | By Laura

I’m happy to welcome Jeanine Englert to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on her book, Death the Second Time Around.

Burying her husband the first time was hard. . . but the second time might just kill her.

Priscilla Newberry’s move to Obley, England was supposed to be a fresh start for her and her young daughter. But when the body of her late husband she believed long dead is found at her former home in Clun, she is pulled reluctantly back into the past and an inquiry case to find out who murdered him now and why.

Widower Augustus Travers is driven to protect the people of Clun in his new role as Constable, but nothing could prepare him for his first case: finding a man murdered, especially a man who was believed to already be dead and the late husband of a woman he could lose his heart to if he wasn’t careful.

As the clues unfold, Priscilla and Augustus find themselves in a harrowing race against time as they face the past and the consequences of death the second time around.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Tide Line

Published October 30, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.)

Today’s prompt – The Tide Line.

Every morning, the tide leaves something unusual on the beach outside your character’s home: a single glove, a child’s shoe, a perfect blue shell. One morning, it leaves something that belongs to them—something they lost years ago.

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