I headed to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to uncover more about the city that never sleeps.
Return to the blue bar…
In March, I returned to Dubai and the Novotel World Trade Centre – the scene for many an escapade within Sandstorm, and also home to the legendary blue bar. It felt great to be back in a place that inspired me so much, and is also the setting for one of the raunchiest scenes in …
World Book Day 2022
For the second year in a row, I took part in World Book Day through an online interview with a Year 6 class in Bury – where my old university friend, Vicky, is a teacher. This year was special, however. Firstly, Vicky didn’t have a chance to edit the questions, meaning that I was asked …
“No swearing please – I’m a church warden.”
Dating trials for racy novelist… As the author of the racy novel Sandstorm, and with another in the embryonic stage, I really should be the mistress of all things romantic, and erotic, in the bedroom and very definitely beyond. However, I am instead wonderfully single. My creativity comes from lingered moments from years before, as …
Sunday, Sunday…
I love Sundays. It is often the day where I am most creative – and yet it is also the day that I tend to relax the most. For me, it is a day to look at my diary and see what is coming up in the week ahead; does anything need moving, is there …
My Taste of East Anglia: Chris Page
As written by Samantha Mattocks for nourish magazine issue 02, out November 2021. For more information on my work, please click here. All photography © Chris Page Meteorologist and Weather Presenter for ITV Anglia, Chris Page is a familiar figure on our television screens. Chris was brought up in Norwich, and after living in Exeter …
Sandstorm new cover reveal!
I am so excited to share with you the new cover for my debut novel, Sandstorm. The original cover image was a painting by my dear friend, Shannon Lawlor, chosen with the Arabian horse in mind. However, Sandstorm quickly reached people not familiar with the world of the Arabian horse and thus a new cover …
progress
Goodness, Facebook has reminded me that today marks 13 years since I published my poetry and photography collection, progress. The poetry was written during one period of my life, the photography taken during another, and yet they came together to create a magical, glossy book. I remember several people crying with the emotion of progress, …
International Women’s Day 2021
To all the women who think that they are not good enough – you are. To all the women who think they are useless and unworthy – you are valued. To all the women who think they are ugly – you are beautiful. To all the women who think that they are unlovable – you …
Mad March hares
It was something of a relief to turn over the calendar to a new month this morning. January was full of dark and grey days and, in spite of it being my birthday month, I struggled. Then came the rain and snow of February, and it felt as though winter would never end. Spring always …