Emma Goodall Series

The Emma Goodall series began life as a short story, entitled 'Lunar Crescent', written in January 2011. I started Lunar Crescent the novel on 21 May 2011. Altogether it took me forty-seven days over two months to complete the first draft.

I finished the seventeenth and final draft on 25 October 2012. I submitted the opening chapters to numerous agents. The general reply was: "It isn't right for us." I guess I need to write graphic crime or come up with a vampire serial to get on their lists, but I'd rather be original.

I published Lunar Crescent on 6 August 2013.

Agents informed me that the second installment in the Emma Goodall series - Kissing Cousins - also wasn't right for them, thus I published it in January 2014.

Same happened with Book 3 - Mixed Up - which I published in August 2014.

What makes Lunar Crescent different to its sequels is that the first book features Emma's boyfriend Lee as narrator, whereas the others are written in third person. Kissing Cousins is my personal favourite of the three.

 

The character Kate Golden was inspired by several photos from a shoot featuring American model Jessica Ahlborn. I wanted to credit her in all three novels, but owing to technical difficulties, four years passed before she responded to my Facebook message asking if she objected to being credited in my books.

 

I'd like to use this space to thank Jessica for unknowingly inspiring me to invent Kate Golden. This appreciation extends to my short story collection, as Kate appears in Bats & Bellybuttons. More details on how the photo inspiration transpired may be read on the Cash ’n’ Carrots page.

 

Thanks for Kate, Jess!

 

All Emma Goodall books may be read as stand-alone novels whilst a thread of continuity will be apparent to readers who follow the series.

 

Synopsis for Lunar Crescent: Emma Goodall 1

 

LUNAR CRESCENT is set in the English city of Hull, blending humour, pathos, drama, romance, action, and a touch of the detective story. Themes include insecure relationships, unfaithful partners, greed, deceit, and how childhood bullying has affected the main characters into adulthood.
Easy-going Lee earns the affections of the plain-speaking Emma. The handsome couple meet a childlike woman called Vicky. Her quirky behaviour brings a series of changes into their world, including incidents with the emergency services.

 

When Vicky is accused of arson, Emma believes she’s guilty, while Lee and friends take the law into their own hands, determined to prove Vicky’s innocence.

 

Synopsis for Kissing Cousins: Emma Goodall 2

 

KISSING COUSINS is set in East Yorkshire, blending humour, drama, romance, and action. Themes include relationships, jealousy, friendship, greed, deceit, and sexual desire.

 

Emma Goodall is an ambitious no-nonsense beauty. Tara Goodall is a cunning heartless beauty. A rivalry grows between them when Tara causes mischief and mayhem for Emma, her boyfriend, and her vulnerable friend Vicky.

 

Tara instigates scams and scandals, aiming to seduce Emma’s boyfriend and fleece Vicky of her savings. Flights and fights ensue between the clashing cousins and their supporters.

 

Synopsis for Mixed Up: Emma Goodall 3

 

Despite the cover picture, this is not a book about an owl, though Vicky has a passion for these birds. When Emma takes Vicky to a wood in hope of spotting an owl they make a couple of unexpected discoveries ...

 

An unstable couple move down the same quiet street in Hull as Emma. They bring drugs, violence, misery, and death with them.

 

No-nonsense Emma is determined to be rid of these antagonistic neighbours. A sequence of misunderstandings leads to tragic consequences.