Iceni Columnist Keri Beevis

It is amazing, isn’t it, how one decision can change everything?

This time last year, I was in a negative place in my day job, my fourth (and first Norfolk based) book was awaiting feedback from my old publisher, and other than that, life was pootling along, much the same as always. Above: Keri Beevis

A year later, I am with a new publisher, have a bestselling book (not just in the UK, Dying To Tell recently went top 10 in Australia), plus there have been audio and foreign rights deals from the Czech Republic and Italy. I went a little nuts when I found out about the Italian deal.

The land of pizza wanted my book. (Of course, you can guess how I celebrated).

It really is bonkers trying to get my head around the fact thousands and thousands of people have been reading my little Norfolk-based tale, and the success of my book has given me the one thing I desperately craved. Time.

As of mid-February, I have reduced my day job hours and now have a full official writing day each week. It is bliss.

Of course Mama Beev ‘popped in’ on my first writing day, just to say hi. But I will forgive her as it was the first one.

Book success and more time to concentrate on writing hasn’t made me any less scatty and it would appear I have a new thing?

‘You do?’ I hear you cry. ‘What is it, Beev?’

My new thing, dear readers is ‘surprise lunches’.

Now, rather than nipping to the shops for a sandwich at lunchtime, I have been making an effort to prepare my own lunch to take into the day job.

As I am more of a night owl than an early bird, I tend to do this in the evenings then grab my lunch from the fridge before heading out of the door.

One lunchtime I reached in my lunch bag, looking forward to the egg salad I had lovingly prepared.

Imagine my horror when I opened the lid and realised I had picked up the wrong Tupperware container? Do you know what I had brought for my lunch?

A red onion.

Now, you would think it would be a case of lesson learnt. Oh no, not with me.

Yesterday I opened my lunch container and found a block of Roquefort cheese.

My desk colleague, after howling with laughter at me for a solid three minutes, told me I looked like someone had burst my balloon.

Note to self. Must try harder.

My new Norfolk based thriller, Dying to Tell is now available to buy in paperback and Kindle. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter for more information.