Happy November!

Introduction

• Looking back over the year.

• How many books?

• Tiger!

  
  

  Hello! I’ve written over 160 books on art, history, and creativity, but this is my first blog post! I’m excited to share some behind-the-scenes thoughts about writing, art, and inspiration.

  
  

• This past year has been a whirlwind of manuscripts, museum visits, and endless cups of coffee...

  
  

  When you write non-fiction books, the first stage is planning, the second is writing samples, and the third is actually researching and writing. These are all time-consuming activities, but we're not finished there! Oh no. Once the wonderful designers have arranged everything and the brilliant editors have gone through it all, the first layouts come back, which usually need some adjusting and proofreading. Then, after you've moved on to other books, the second layouts arrive! That's when you check that everything is exactly as it should be before it goes to the printer.

• So long hours are spent researching and writing. (Researching is definitely not just checking the internet!) It's going to archives, interviewing people, poring over hundreds of written words and much more.

  
  
  
  

TIGER

18 months after my last pet died, this August, I adopted Tiger from Cats Protection. He's adorable, but in a split second, he can delete everything I've written that day, so I've learned to save constantly! The love (and bites, chews, licks, nudges and warm laps) you get from a pet is worth everything.

Looking BACK AND Ahead

Upcoming Books

• So I can't tell you all the books I've written this year, as those that aren't published yet are still a secret! However, here's a taste of some I've written and are either out already or will be soon! Henri Matisse, Hilma af Klint, art forgery, dogs, cats and flowers in art, allegory, modern and contemporary art, practical how to draw books, how to draw faces, Paul Klee, Michelangelo... that's it, I can't yet tell you about others I'm still working on!

  
  

• In addition, I visit lots of fabulous literary festivals to talk or run workshops about my books and more, and always have the best time meeting new people. Some are planned for 2026, but more about that soon.

• If you are considering a job as a writer, please know that it is incredibly time-consuming, so you really must love it. If you have the passion, then it's the best job ever. (Although my original career was as a copywriter for Saatchi's and JWT, and that too was the best job ever.)

• In future posts, I’ll be sharing some of the most surprising and delightful art facts I’ve uncovered — perfect for art lovers, teachers, and fellow creatives.

• What would you most like to know about writing or art? Please let me know in the comments or on Instagram!

Bye for now x