BOOK TOUR: EMMA HITS THE ROAD (VIRTUALLY)

Well, blow me down – SIBLINGS: EMMA’S STORY is officially out in the world, and Emma is currently swanning around the internet on her very own virtual book tour. That means she’s popping up on blogs, websites, social media – basically anywhere that’ll have her. She’s loving it. Me? I’m absolutely shattered. 😅

That said, Emma pulled in a fantastic review yesterday, and even I got a bit of a shout-out! Thank you so much Bookworm Whitlock86 on Instagram …

It’s moments like this that make all the hard graft worth it. I don’t need a shiny trophy or some swanky international award – although, full disclosure, if the Nobel Prize for Literature came knocking, I wouldn’t exactly turn it down. (Let’s be real though – if the legendary Hilary Mantel didn’t bag one, I probably have about as much chance as a chocolate teapot in the Sahara.)

Anyway! Back to what I was saying before I got distracted by dreams of literary grandeur – it’s not the razzle-dazzle that keeps me going. It’s knowing that someone read my book, got it, and took the time to say something lovely about it. That’s the real gold.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to EMMA – and give you a peek at what SIBLINGS: Emma’s Story is all about…

Family is supposed to be your safe place. But what happens when lies break all trust? …

Emma has always longed for love and honesty, but her world has been built on betrayal. Her parents lied. Her partner deceived her. The people closest to her turned out to be strangers hiding secrets.
Through the chaos, Emma’s sister, Holly, remains her only anchor -her unwavering ally in a sea of distrust. Together, they seek to uncover the truth: about their family, their past, and themselves.
Can the bond between sisters heal wounds others have inflicted? Or will the truth destroy what little they have left?
Poignant, gripping, and ultimately hopeful, SIBLINGS: Emma’s Story is a tale of heartbreak and resilience, exploring the depths of family bonds and the courage it takes to rebuild a broken life.

If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can find the book on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1835742335 or order it from any good bookshop or library.

WHY I WRITE

Someone recently asked me why I write, and it got me thinking. Just why do I bother? AI seems to be taking over – many people simply do not want to pay for a book nowadays and expect it for free – plus it ties down all my free time because if I’m not actually writing, for sure I’m thinking about the plot or the characters. I sometimes think I must be crazy .

The latest SIBLINGS book, Emma’s Story, (to be published June 2025) took me almost a year to write – yes – a year! And a big chunk of that time was spent in rewriting, checking, formatting pages and scrutinising for grammar or typo errors. And I haven’t even mentioned the time it takes to gain a publisher and work with them (I’ll not even go there).

Yet … I write … and I’ve decided I write because it’s as essential to me as breathing. Even if no one ever read a word, I’d still write—because I have to. It’s how I make sense of the world, how I explore emotions, and how I bring characters to life.

I’ve written since childhood, and I’ve many absolutely terrible stories and novels hiding in the loft that were developed along the way to becoming a published author. These days, I write women’s contemporary fiction—emotional, gritty, and full of heart. In the past, it was academic books and articles that I was writing, but I much prefer fiction; it allows me to create, to imagine, to step into lives far removed from my own.

As for how I write—well, that depends. If you mean physically, it’s straight onto a computer (I abandoned handwriting long ago). If you mean mentally, it’s a chaotic mix of plotting, improvisation, and moments of sheer panic when my characters refuse to behave. I start with an outline, but it rarely survives the journey. Some nights, characters even wake me up, demanding rewrites. It’s maddening, but resistance is futile—they won’t let me sleep otherwise.

I have no fixed schedule. I used to write at stupid o’clock in the very early morning before needing to get ready for work, or organising the school runs, but now I write whenever inspiration strikes—so long as it’s quiet. Writing isn’t just something I do; it’s who I am. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’d love to hear from you if you write (and it doesn’t have to be novels) – why do you do it?

SIBLINGS KIT’S STORY

Kit said she was fine. She lied.

She said she didn’t care. She cared deeply.

Kit’s story is one of control, deception, infertility and guilt, but most of all it’s one of a young woman who longs to be loved. Her life is dominated first by her alcoholic mother, and then by Tom, her controlling partner. When his abusive behaviour comes to a head, she escapes the relationship, and takes her first tentative steps towards becoming a stronger woman.

A journey on a luxurious cruise liner is going to be one of the most challenging of her life, but whether it has a happy ending or not depends on how brave Kit can be and whether she can shake off the shackles of her past.

For Kit, there is everything to play for, but time is running out…

It you’re adopted (as I am) or involved in the world of missing children and adoptive families then I think this book will resonate with you as it did with Miss A.C.Bourne on Amazon (see her review below)

My goodness! What a page turner. I haven’t been pulled into a book so fast for a long time. I can’t wait for the next in the series. Kitty is such as well rounded, down to earth character. I like that she is one of us, one of the girls. She’s identifiable, with the vulnerabilities that hang about like stubborn stains after dysfunctional relationships but the determination to take back control and recover. She’s given a taste of luxury living and a taste of new love, but doubting herself, she doesn’t know what to do with either. How human even though she is stronger than she thinks and is moving on.
Could journeys towards discovery be the series theme? The setting is inspired, a great way to present the different characters and used superbly to add suspense but it is moving from one place to another

5 stars What a Page Turner. I was pulled in so Fast. Revisado en España el 15 de diciembre de 2023 Miss A. C. Bourne.

SIBLINGS Kit’s Story is available on Amazon. £9.19 pre order price. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Siblings-Kits-Story-Hilary-Coombes/dp/191585329X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hilary+coombes&qid=1695305394&sr=8-1 or at good bookshops.

OTHER PUBLISHED BOOKS

SHORT LOVE STORIES

In love?
Out of love?
We’ve all been there …
And every aspect of love is in this
book, from cradle to grave.
So sit back, relax and
let love wash over you.

Paperback. £3.99 4.70 euros. 5.38 dollars. Also available on Kindle

After the birth of my grandson 17 weeks early I wrote this book to raise money for premature baby charities and research. 100% of the profit goes to this cause and it has raised £250 to date.

SHORT LOVE STORIES is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Short-LOVE-Stories-Book-ebook/dp/B07FXX7H6Z/ref=sr_1_4?crid=29TU0GRKUFYD6&keywords=hilary+coombes&qid=1695306601&sprefix=hilary+coombes%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-4 or at good bookshops

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BEYOND PROMISES

BEYOND PROMISES is Charlie’s story and you share fifty years of it alongside him. 

In the late 1960’s his  powerful father forced him to leave Carmen, the woman he loved. He soon found himself lost and alone exiled in Spain, where he was thrown into a criminal world for which he was not cut out. Becoming a father figure to a local boy trapped him and forced him to confront his own childhood .

Throughout the years, thoughts of his one true love never left him, but would his memories of her be enough to help him escape? 

This is a story of passion, heartbreak and humour and you will be spellbound until the very last page … don’t take my word for it here read the 5 Star review below plus others on Amazon.

Without giving too much away I loved this book so much, I felt that a Part Two could be written or a version told from the other main character’s point of view. Hilary has a rare ability to write a story that is unpredictable – lots of surprises.

S.Taylor

BEYOND PROMISES is available on Amazon. Paperback £7.49. Kindle £1.99 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Promises-HILARY-COOMBES-ebook/dp/B075C86W3Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PDQQ1LXKG10X&keywords=hilary+coombes+Beyond+Promises&qid=1695306843&sprefix=hilary+coombes+beyond+promises%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1 or at good bookshops

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THE HEN PARTY … topped Waterstones Fiction List on publication

As the survivor of a difficult childhood, Bern has always lived her stormy, flamboyant life as a fighter.

Now in her fifties, organising a hen party in the popular Spanish resort of Benidorm is easy, but booking a party also means she must deal with the consequences when one of her companions reveals a secret that has repercussions for everyone. 

Bern finds herself in a Spanish police cell and is forced to confront her deeply buried feelings, her past and face up to the way she is living her life. 

THE HEN PARTY is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hen-Party-Hilary-Coombes-ebook/dp/B01BCVQ2ES/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DKLG9EDK4RSI&keywords=hilary+coombes+THE+HEN+PARTY&qid=1695307522&sprefix=hilary+coombes+the+hen+party%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1 or at good bookshops