I grew up in Hastings, East Sussex and I’ve always written for pleasure, but my career took me in a very different direction (Law and Banking - please don’t hate me!) and I lived and worked in London for many years. Until I became seriously ill and had to reconsider my future. Life’s like that, isn’t it? I moved back to Hastings and, once I felt a little better, began to concentrate on writing.

It's been an exciting journey since then. I’ve become a bestselling author, set up my own imprint, Crescent Gate Publishing, and have been an Amazon KDP All Star (which means my stories are in the top 100 most-read/borrowed in the Amazon UK store) almost every month for several years. I’m a member of The Society of Authors, and NINC, which is a group for professional writers.

I write quickly and I write full-time, so I’m always working on at least two books – but I still have health issues, and that means I have to take ‘enforced’ breaks sometimes. My personal life also takes second place when I’m writing. My friends say that when I finally ‘pop my clogs’ they’ll make sure my headstone reads: ‘Let me finish writing this chapter and I’ll be with you.’ I’m determined to find a better, work/life balance. Famous last words!

I have two rescue cats, Florence and Jonty. They were both 13 when I adopted them in December 2021, after my beloved Portia passed away, so they’re getting on in years. They’re both very active and love chasing one another around the house and garden, and Jonty thinks he’s a mountaineer. Florence had a large cyst on the top of her head when I adopted her but I’ve had it removed and it’s healed so well that she’s as good as new. As you can see in the photo, they often ‘help’ me when I’m writing my books.

When I’m not writing, I’m reading, researching, daydreaming or planning trips I’d like to take – but probably won’t. I also love swimming and I’m lucky enough to have a small swimming pool in my garden. Pottering in the garden is another love, as are cooking and generally messing about in the kitchen, especially at Christmas. I absolutely adore Christmas. I'm also a huge fan of snow. Yep. I love the stuff. So naturally, I’m at my happiest when I’m writing a Christmas book!

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Already love my books? Then join my Facebook group and help me choose titles, settings, and more, plus you’ll get a chance to win some lovely giveaways. Here’s the link: Emily Harvale’s Readers’ Club.

Well, that’s quite enough about me! I hope that wherever you are in the world, life is treating you well.

Lots of Love,