Book Extract: Flowerpot Romeo By Simone Goodman
Please join me as we welcome Simone Goodman to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Flowerpot Romeo.
For readers who loved About a Boy and One Day — but wanted more women in the room.
Sebastian Wilson wasn’t aspiring to be anybody’s hero. He just wanted to be an actor.
Instead, spurred on by his unimpressed agent, he pretends to be an Irish busker. Charmingly drifting through London’s Islington, burdened by an inability to face himself, he unwittingly changes the lives of the women he meets.
A lonely dame of the stage and screen.
A single mother making ends meet.
An underworld wife on the brink of divorce.
And Fiona, whose best friend he’d sooner avoid…
Life rarely consults the script — especially when Romeo the cat enters the scene, a tiny agent of chaos.
Simone has kindly shared an extract from Flowerpot Romeo with us today. We hope you enjoy it (there is also a chance to win a £25 Amazon gift card below.)
(Warning – brief mention of mild drug use.)
*****beginning of extract*****
Wilson, a thirty-two-year-old aspiring actor, has been encouraged by his eccentric agent, Isadora, to hone his craft by pretending to be an Irish busker. On his first day in character, he meets Fiona — and promptly lets her walk away. Now he’s wandering after her through Islington, hoping fate will do the work he didn’t. Instead, he finds himself vaulting a low railing and landing behind a hedge.
*****
Behind the O2 Academy at Angel, Wilson takes a single puff on the joint from Raf and Teddy then immediately stubs it out. He hasn’t touched drugs since his backpacking stint in Asia and has no intention of starting again now.
Fiona and her cat headed this way, but there’s no sign of them now.
by 
Book Extract: Nero the Hero By Samantha Mattocks
It is my pleasure to be welcoming Samantha Mattocks to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Nero the Hero.
Prepare to meet your new favourite superhero as Nero the Hero reveals his secret!
Nero is no ordinary dog. This miniature schnauzer has a beard, a bark, and a secret. When danger strikes, he transforms into Nero the Hero, a powerful protector with extraordinary abilities.
Alongside his human, twelve-year-old Jack, Nero dives into fast-paced adventures filled with mystery, heart, and just a touch of fun. But when Jack makes a brave mistake and finds himself in real danger, Nero must face his greatest challenge yet to save his best friend alone.
Perfect for readers aged 8-12, this highly illustrated chapter book blends action-packed fantasy with an engaging, accessible style, making it ideal for reluctant readers and confident young bookworms alike. With short chapters and dynamic illustrations, Nero the Hero is a thrilling start to a children’s fantasy series about friendship, bravery, and daring rescues.
Fans of Claude and The Hounds of Penhallow Hall will love this action-filled adventure starring a heroic dog and the boy who believes in him.
From the author of the popular Magical Mister Mishkins series, Samantha Mattocks introduces a bold new hero first seen in The Magic of Mister Mishkins. Beautifully illustrated by Gerda Smit, this is a story full of adventure, loyalty, and the power of believing in something extraordinary.
Samantha has shared an extract from Nero the Hero with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Welcome to my post celebrating my latest book, Nero the Hero! This is my third highly illustrated younger Middle Grade book, and I cannot wait for you all to read it.
Nero is a spin-off book from my Magical Mister Mishkins series. However, it is a very different story. It follows the adventures of a young boy named Jack who spends the summer with his nan, Jean, and her dog, Nero.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Repeating Encore
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 Repeating Encore.
Your band finally gets its big break: a sold-out stadium show after years of playing dingy clubs. The energy is electric. The crowd is screaming. You’re in the zone, playing better than you ever have.
by Cover Reveal: The Twenty Dates By Ko Porteous
I am very excited as we help to unveil the cover for The Twenty Dates, the upcoming novel from Ko Porteous.
The kids have left, assuming love endures. But can yours?
Book #2 in The Empty Nesters Series
Claire’s marriage is in (total!) crisis. Her husband, Mark, is distracted, presumptuous, and utterly clueless – smart scales for their 19th wedding anniversary? Really? Perhaps she’d be better off alone. At least there’d be less laundry.
When Claire suggests separating, Mark panics. He asks for one last chance: twenty dates, one for each year of their marriage, to prove they’re better off together than apart.
What follows is a series of adventures Claire never saw coming – some mortifying, some exhilarating, and some that make her question everything she thought she knew. About Mark. About marriage. And about the woman she’s quietly become while she wasn’t paying attention.
As the dates tick down, Claire must decide: is the spark still there – or has their marriage simply run its course?
OK, so now we know a little about the book, it’s time to reveal the cover. Are you ready?
Drumroll…three…two…one…
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Revision
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.
These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story. All the previous tasks are listed below.
Task 9 – Revision
Based on the analysis you did from the last task, revise your story. Focus on the following –
- Cutting: Remove scenes that don’t move the plot forward
- Connecting: Add transitions or details that make cause-and-effect clearer
- Deepening: Expand moments where stakes or character change happen
- Pacing: Speed up or slow down sections as needed
by Book Club
