Gruffalo

Hi everyone, just a reminder that my new book "Under a Hopeful Sky" has 4 chapters out with Chapter 5 out at 8pm today. I would love you to give it a read if you haven't tried it yet. It's not about Joe and Dianne I'm afraid and is a real attempt at a proper book so the build will be slower than fan fiction but I hope it's something people will still be able to relate to and enjoy. Do let me know what you think, I try to reply to all my comments.
          
          Love Gruff xxx

STOP PRESS: NEW BOOK STARTS TOMORROW! Under a Hopeful Sky will launch tomorrow at 8pm. Please see the new announcement at the end of Through The Looking Glass. Hope you love it as much as I am enjoying writing it.
          
          As ever, here's a sneak peek...
          
          "Quite what it was he was asking of her she had not understood right then but when the familiar front door closed behind her and she walked towards her car she already knew that he was asking something important of her, a wish that only she could choose to grant or not grant and that he – the man she had set on a pedestal all her life - was now depending on her."

Well it's taken me half the night but Chapter 16 - The Tour, the final chapter of Joe and Dianne Through the Looking Glass is finally done. I will try to publish it at the usual time of 8.30pm UK time. Much more thanks etc to come when I am more awake but for now here's a final sneak peek...
          
          She felt the growing excitement of the people around her as they filed into the great walkways around the outside of the building, a happy buzz of anticipation building steadily which made her heart beat a little faster and her stomach tingle. Finally reaching the designated doorway on her ticket, Alice made her way into the arena. The size of it quite took her breath away. She realised she hadn’t really thought what the inside of the 02 might look like and in her head had been expecting something a little more like a theatre instead of this space which seemed to have more in common with the Colloseum in Rome than a playhouse. It was such a huge space with banks of seating rising up on all sides and a massive central performance area similar in size to an ice rink.
          
          I hope you like it, Love Gruff xxx

Hi everyone,  hope you've had a good week and welcome to my new followers. Just to let you know Chapter 15 of Joe and Dianne - Through the Looking Glass will be published tomorrow at the slightly later time of 9pm UK time (I have to pick up the children from a rehearsal so can't make the usual time) Here's a sneak peek in the meantime...
          
           It seemed such a long time ago now and looking back Alice realised that so much seemed to have changed since she had last seen the couple she had grown so fond of. She sighed, life had moved on for her and for the better but if she was honest she still missed them, missed their unexpected arrivals in the café, missed the energy and air of possibility about the future they seemed to bring with them and left lingering behind and most of all she missed watching them fall deeper and deeper in love with each other. There was no doubt in her mind that they had played such an important role in shaking her out of the shocked stupor she had settled into after Matthew’s death, reminding her that life and love were precious gifts to be cherished and celebrated. She had known back in December that they were saying goodbye and her head told her to accept their leaving as you would the tying off of a bright thread in the tapestry of life but her heart hadn’t quite let them go yet, perhaps it never would. 
          
          A brief word of warning....this chapter might not quite be what you expected but if you read right to the end I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 
          
          Thanks as ever for all the likes and comments, do let me know what you think. It so encouraging to read them and  I love replying to you all.
          
          Love Gruff xxx

Sorry for the delay this week - Chapter 14 - Finals week of Joe and Dianne - Through the Looking Glass is finally up! Gruff xxx

Hi everyone, just a quick one to say Chapter 14 - Finals Week of Joe and Dianne - Through the Looking Glass should be out tomorrow. Due to the upside down day I know tomorrow is going to be it may be published earlier or later then usual, sorry not to be more precise! Anyway here's a sneak peek for you....
          
          Wanting to make it cosy and welcoming for the evening shoppers, Alice had made sure the heating was turned well up and it was warm in the café. Obviously feeling the difference in temperature, the boy unzipped his thick puffy coat and pulled the hat from his head. Alice gasped - she could not quite believe what she was seeing. His hair, already in Alice’s opinion far too long and prone to falling across his face, was red. Not ginger but a somewhat darker echo of the girl’s own striking colour. The boy self-consciously pushed it away from his forehead and caught her eye. He grinned sheepishly, “I know, it’s terrible isn’t it? But I said I would and a promise is a promise.” 
          Alice nodded as if she understood perfectly while the mother inside her screamed silently “What have you done to your hair you silly, silly boy? Who put you up to this? You look ridiculous.”
          The girl who was watching their exchange from her usual seat grinned and called out, “I think he looks cute.”
          “It’s certainly very striking,” was the only sentence Alice could trust herself to say as she brewed their usual coffee orders and handed them over. 
          
          Hope you enjoy it! Only 2 more chapters to come after this one.
          
          Love Gruff xxx

Hi guys....I've just added a photo and comment at the end of Joe and Dianne - Through the Looking Glass - Chapter 8 -  Paso Doble Week if you're interested. Something happened this weekend which was quite sweet and relevant to that chapter so I just had to mention it.

Hi everyone, hope you've had a good week and for those of you at school in the UK or with children at school in the UK lots of love as you crawl your way towards the end of term - not long to go now!
          
          The next chapter of Joe and Dianne - Through the Looking Glass - Chapter 13 - Semi-Finals week will be out tomorrow at about 8.30pm UK time. Here's a sneak peek for you....
          
          The mother had noticed her daughter’s absence from the table and was already walking towards her with her hand outstretched ready to lead her away. “I am so sorry!” The red head smiled at her “It’s no problem, she’s fine. I don’t mind – why don’t you let her stay and chat for a bit while you finish your coffee?” The mother looked torn but her daughter turned her eyes on her mother “Please Mummy….” Then in a stage whisper, “I think she might be Ariel.” The mother’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked properly for the first time at the red head and Alice noticed a deep blush spread up her neck and across her cheeks. “Oh….um….well if you’re sure? Sorry she’s a bit obsessed with Disney cartoons at the moment.” She retreated to the table at the back of the room, retrieved her phone from the table and began to tap at it furiously, always keeping half an eye on her daughter now chatting away happily to one of her cartoon idols.
          
          As you can see Dianne makes a little friend! Don't forget to like and comment, I'm always happy to answer questions.
          
          Lots of love, Gruff xxx

Whoop whoop 10k reads on Through the Looking Glass everyone.....thank you so much for taking the time to read my ramblings. Actually still pretty astounded that even one person actually wants to read anything I write so to think that there have been 10000 reads is properly mind blowing! Here's to the last 4 chapters! Lots and lots of love Gruff xxx

HI everyone, hope you've had a good week. The next chapter of Joe and Dianne - Through the Looking Glass (Chapter 12 - Salsa week) will be published tomorrow at about 8.30pm UK time. Here's a sneak peek just for you....
          
          He took the plate from her, glanced over his shoulder at Alice’s special duo and said “I expect I know who your favourites are then, do they come in here often?” She was a little taken aback by his chummy familiarity and knowing how important it seemed to them to keep their feelings for each other secret Alice just smiled at him. Her forehead wrinkled as she considered the enquiry again. What on earth did he mean “your favourites”? Surely she hadn’t given away her obsession with the couple already? They had barely been in the café ten minutes and for the majority of that time Alice had been occupied serving behind the counter. “They’re pretty special aren’t they?” he tried to draw her in again leaning in to whisper, “I think they’d make a great couple.” Alice felt slightly unsettled by this man. He seemed cheerful and friendly but something told her that discretion may not be a word he understood very well - there was certainly something of the gossipy old woman about him despite his wide smile and well-groomed appearance. Unconsciously employing her plumiest Cambridge accent, Alice replied, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean. I’m much too busy to waste time wondering about my customer’s lives.”