Two bits of excellent news to report. 

Since Poppyseed was released early (4 days ago) she has jumped really quickly up the book charts and given her mother (me) quite something to celebrate. 

This morning she was at no.18 in amazon's wedding and pregnancy diary list. This afternoon she is at no.9 in that list and no.66 in pregnancy and childbirth books. This is out of millions of books. I am happily gobsmacked!

A few days, before release, she was sat languishing in the six figure mark, and now she is leaping up like crazy. Much like her namesake actually, who now having learned to walk, is attempting some very tricky climbing maneuvers. Oh how life reflects art! 

This afternoon I was very happy to appear on BBC Leicester, with Rupal Rajani. You can listen back to this for a week here... In the interview I get emotional as I read from the book, and chat all about pregnancy, hypnobirthing, spirituality and stingy nipples! Enjoy!

This time last year I was recovering from birth and getting to know the little pale pink pinch of blossom that is my beautiful daughter Ivy. In the past year my girl has learned to walk and talk, stumble and fall, get back up and start all over. The days of her being a little 'poppyseed' developing behind the closed doors of my belly seem very long ago. Yet the love story that started, perhaps even before her conception, has continued unabated. That's not to say all has been roses. We have had our hormones and sleepless nights like any other parent-to-be and new momma should! Without gushing too much it's been the most wonderful adventure of my life - who needs Everest?

Now the book which charts the ups, downs, soulfulness and human moments of my pregnancy is birthed to the world. It's all there for anyone to see, my spiritual la la, my fits of morning sickness, my fears, my love, my moments of weakness. All tangled up with love letters to my daughter, a changing marital landscape and the ever essential baby related DIY!

Dear Poppyseed is a huge departure from my previous two books. Whilst they were personal, this goes under my skin to the bone, to the soul, to the womb. I hope it acts as support and inspiration for any parent ploughing forth with pregnancy, a little unsure, a little excited, a whole lot in love! Whilst my previous books dealt with my spiritual leanings, this book deals in life, my life, the making of life. It's a whole other animal, and yet so intrinsically the same. For what else are our souls on earth to be, other than human, and to embrace all the icky, sticky, beautiful human-ness which that entails.

I hope you enjoy the book, and if you do, then please share it with friends and mommas to be!

Here is a trailer for Dear Poppyseed, to give you a little taste. 

Here is the book page on my publishers website.

My little Ivy turned one at the weekend! She had a lovely party, made so much more special because she skyped with her Great Grandpa (Papaw) from his hospital bed where he was recovering from a bypass. 

A new post of mine is currently live on Huffington Post. It covers my soulful pregnancy learning and advises how important it is to go deeper than purchases and pushing preparation during the nine months of baby making!