The Love at First Sight Tour

come and hang out with me!!

👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 Hi! If you’re new to these parts, the short version is this: I’ve worked for myself for a long time, writing 15 (!) books, largely done from home. It sent me a bit doolally, being alone that much and also working within an industry that hasn’t always treated me kindly. That’s why I started writing How to Build a Life, now delivered to thousands of readers in over 80 countries. I’d been desperate to unpick why I seemingly had a dream career but life in general felt so underwhelming. I figured out that my brain likes writing but my soul needs something else, so at the start of this year - in addition to still writing my novels - I took a job in a high school mixing teaching and pastoral work. In one million ways this makes no sense at all, apart from the fact that working out of the house with teenagers is making me really very happy. I’m almost 40, a solo parent by choice, and knowing all this means you’re all caught up. WELCOME.

I haven’t done events for my novels in a while, now, because it’s hard when you’re a solo parent and also write to a book a year schedule. But! It is really important for me to do something this year, to mark the release of Love at First Sight and get face-to-face with readers - readers of either my books, or this newsletter, or folks who simply get my face on their social media feeds occasionally. So hi, hello, here I am to say 2025, babies!! Let’s do this!

My team and I have decided on three events: an in-conversation evening, a writing class, and a panel at a festival. All of them are regional instead of London-centric, because I do think it is fairer that way sometimes. Why should London have all the fun! (Although London, you’ll be top of my list next year). I would so love to see you at any and all of them, if you’re able. I’m a pretty relaxed speaker, will likely go off-topic as I answer anything you want to know, and as per my life philosophy will always choose truth over the nicely-packaged response. Historically, my events have been a lovely group of like-minded people where people make friends with one another too. Come alone if you like! You’re sure to make a pal. Or bring everyone you know! But if you do, pinky-promise to talk to that person by themselves over there? Okay, cool. Thanks.

Let’s get together and talk about love at first sight even being possible, how to build a life, all the ways the publishing industry lets down its authors, and all the ways writing stories is a life-saver. Let’s figure out how you can write stories too, compare chin hairs, unpick The White Lotus season 3, sound out how now we’re nearing 40 we’re letting all the bullsh*t slip away, how hard it is to sometimes let the bullsh*t slip away, how to stop a Victoria sponge filling sliding out the sides, why year 9’s are so good, parenthood, solo parenthood, all of it.

Everything is ticketed, so be sure to book!

I’ll be at Waterstones Nottingham for a chat and to sign some books on Wednesday 18th June - tickets here.

I’ll be at Waterstones Leeds doing a wee writing class and generally hanging out on Monday 23rd June - tickets here.

I’ll be at the Love Stories Etc Festival with bunch of other romance authors on Saturday 26th July - tickets here.

🌹And don’t forget, you can pre-order the book here🌹

(pssst! If you would like to interview me for your blog, Substack, magazine or podcast, please do send through your request to me@laurajanewilliams.com. I’m busy, but not too busy for you. I’d love to make it work!)

And if you missed the behind-the-scenes of it all…