Dear Neighbour
Five strangers. Four weeks. One letter that will change everything…
My debut novel tells the story of Alice, a single mum living in Leeds, her next-door neighbour Bill, a widower still grieving his wife’s death a decade earlier, and the other residents of their street. Published in hardback in 2023 and in paperback in 2024, it’s a novel about surviving austerity, the power of community and found family, and the real definition of home.
Dear reader...
Back when my publisher was first getting ready to share proof copies of Dear Neighbour, they asked me to write a letter to readers that could be sent out along with book. I wrote a thing about my personal connection to the novel’s themes of austerity, housing insecurity, community and mutual care; my time living on a Leeds full of artists, activists, queers, witches and weirdos; and the experience of writing Dear Neighbour during a global pandemic and accompanying mental health crisis. That letter went on to be included as an intro to the book, and you can listen to an audio version of it via the link below.
Listen to the letter here
Interviews and events
When Dear Neighbour was published, I got to do a lot of talking about my ongoing obsessions: class, queerness, community, creativity and surviving under capitalism through connection and mutual care. I loved taking part in Hachette’s annual Pride in Writing event, along with interviews for New Writing North, my pal Janelle Hardacre, and the brilliant Bisexual Agenda podcast.
But my favourite part of Dear Neighbour being published was the launch event I put on in Manchester in June 2023, sharing extracts from the book alongside performances from some incredibly special guests. It was a totally joyful time being surrounded by beloved family, friends and community, and you can find out more about it at the link below.
Read more here
Celebrating the Dear Neighbour paperback on World Book Night
The paperback edition of Dear Neighbour was published in April 2024, and I celebrated by taking part in an amazingly joyful World Book Night event at Blackpool Central Library. Featuring beautiful live performances from Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ choir, an impromptu vogueing workshop and various other shenanigans, it was an incredibly special evening, made possible in part by the Northern Bookshelf Live programme by New Writing North. You can read more about the event via the link below.
Find out more here