Hello, my Substack lovelies. I know I have been desperately quiet on here and totally slacking, but in fairness, I have been working hard in the background. This is why I’ve never asked you guys to pay for this content, not because I don’t value my own work but because I’d have felt HUGE pressure to keep up the commitment while also writing books and producing my podcast, both of which take up an enormous amount of time and energy. But I have an exciting update, and this community is always where I want to bring those.
My second novel LONG STORY is being published on May 29th! I announced that last month, but now I have a cover to show you all, and a pre-order link with a stunning prize incentive. Without further ado….
TA-DA!
Thar she blows! Isn’t she gorgeous?! Ugh, I really love this book.
I learned SO MUCH writing Reality Check (which is out in handbag friendly paperback size with a snazzy new cover in April, stay tuned for more on that) that I ploughed in to this novel, which incidentally, I was writing as my firstborn came out. Some day soon I shall mull over my debut experience here, but I digress…
LONG STORY is the tale of Alex and Tara, two best friends who met at a Dublin stage school when they were 11. Tara went on to be a hugely famous actress, like an Irish Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock, while Alex decided against a life in the spotlight and became a writer and podcaster focused on pop culture. Their lives may have diverged, but the two women remained close as can be despite physical distance, mismatched lifestyles and wildly different careers.
But then two things happen that threaten to crack their friendship along its fault lines. Tara’s seemingly steady A-list marriage falls apart, and a spectre from their past, the enigmatic Sean Sweeney, releases a tell-all memoir. What he has to say changes everything, and sets in motion a rollercoaster of events that will make you laugh and cry and want to scream. Two best friends, one old flame, well… it’s a long story.
I wrote this book because I have always been preoccupied by female friendship, a fact I attribute to both growing up an only child, and watching Beaches every Saturday with my cousin. LONG STORY is my tribute to the heroines whose closeness formed my own impression of what friends should be to one another, albeit perhaps a warped one. From Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters to Romy and Michele, Elphaba and Glinda and of course, CC Bloom and Hilary Whitney, all of them and much more are tied up in my fictional besties.
If you enjoyed Reality Check, you will definitely enjoy this (and may see some of your favourites pop up in its pages!). I think every author prefers their latest release because you naturally exhibit growth and learn along the way, but I do think LONG STORY is a broader novel, one that will appeal to those who DGAF about reality tv.
Pre-orders are huge for any author, so I have snagged a great prize to encourage you to part with your hard-earned cash before the actual release in May - the Ultimate Girly Getaway at the stunning Farnham Estate, Co Cavan. Every pre-order of LONG STORY from Eason will be entered in to a draw to win an overnight stay for up to eight in one of the luxury 4-bedroom Resort Houses.
Arrive to a delicious afternoon tea, then catch up on all the gossip whilst enjoying full use of the hotel’s award-winning spa facilities including indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool and Water Mint Thermal Suite. Later, return to the comfort of your contemporary yet homely haven for a fun evening of mix-your-own cocktails and freshly-made pizza ready to pop in the oven.
Begin the next day with a hearty full Irish breakfast in Maxwells restaurant and make sure you leave time to explore the estate’s 11km of woodland walks.
For more information visit www.farnhamestate.ie
Terms & Conditions Apply. Prize is subject to availability, non-transferable and not valid for Christmas, New Year’s Eve or bank holiday weekends.
Now, don’t say I don’t ever give yiz anything! I can personally attest to the fabulousity of Farnham, as I stayed in one of the resort houses with my mother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law a couple of years ago and we had A BALL. We were so communally feral at the loveliness, we all spontaneously jumped on the swings on the way back from breakfast like large children. Whoever wins will have a great time, and don’t feel like you have to fill up the whole gaff - bring whoever you like!
Thank you as always for the support, it literally means the world to me.
Tis a funny week - I turn 39 tomorrow, I’ve loads of fun planned, I’m beavering away on my 2026 novel and I’m in pre-production for season two of You Had Me At Hello, but there is a low-level gnawing sense of unease present that I think we’re all experiencing due to everything going on around the world, fire and brimstone and social media bans and orange men beginning second terms. As Scheana Shay would say, it’s all happening. I hope January hasn’t been too hard on you, and there’s light at the end of the tunnel (although I hate to break it to you, February ain’t much better). High-ho!
Loads of love,
Vicki x
Fair play to you and have a great Birthday!
Congratulations Vicki, no stopping you! looking forward to it dropping in the postbox xx