Welcome to the blog! Whether you are currently sheltering from the elements or just looking for a light-hearted escape, grab a Diet Coke and settle in.
If you happen to be in Scotland right now, you’ll know that our “glorious” summer has arrived in its usual style: it is absolutely tipping it down. The sky has settled into a permanent shade of porridge and I am officially on umbrella number two after the first one collapsed due to overuse.
But a bit of torrential rain isn’t enough to halt the literary grind. In fact, a recent family weekend trip to Ardrishaig proved to be the perfect excuse for some essential, high-stakes location research for my upcoming Scottish contemporary romance books…
The Hazards of Location Research on the West Coast of Scotland
Because the stunning West Coast of Scotland serves as the backdrop for my Highland romance series, weekend trips to various bits of it are strictly professional. Research, right? The scenery was doing its job beautifully (mist-covered hills, dramatic views over the loch) until we decided to seek shelter in a local pub.
The atmosphere inside was brilliant. The place was absolutely packed with young people celebrating a victory for the local football team. The music was loud, the energy was fantastic and it felt achingly hip and cool.
That was until a young woman stepped out from the crowd, looked me dead in the eye and asked, “Can I talk to you?”
“Of course!” I replied, assuming she’d spotted my inner cosmopolitan author wisdom and wished to avail herself of it.
She smiled warmly. “I really love talking to old people.”
***
I mean, I suppose being approachable is a compliment? Truth be told, the elasticated waists and 9pm bedtimes were embraced a long time ago. More importantly, I have fully mastered the art of the public transport ‘disapproving tut’. You know the one. Specifically deployed when a fellow passenger refuses to use headphones, subjecting the entire carriage to their full-volume FaceTime calls or ruddy TikTok streams.
Confessions on the Writing Process: The Daily Battle with Procrastination
When I’m not being humbled by teenagers in pubs, I’m usually attempting to hit a daily writing target. The current aim is for 1,000 words a day, split into two manageable 500-word blocks. I use Brain.fm to lock in my focus and stop the endless browsing of recipes online.
On paper, it sounds incredibly disciplined. In reality? It is a daily battle against procrastination.
I flit between news sites, tackle unnecessary housework, make soup or repeatedly tell the cat that she is beautiful. Anything to avoid the blank page.
Why are so many writers fiercely compelled to create things when the actual process is something we actively avoid? Is it a profound quirk of human creativity? An inbuilt instinct that we have to do, rather than want to do? Or am I just a glutton for punishment?
Coming This August: Highland Proposal
Happily, the procrastination hasn’t stopped the books from happening. The latest instalment in my Highland Romance series, Highland Proposal, is officially launching on August 5th, 2026.
If you’d like an early sneak peek, I will be sending out links for free Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) very soon in exchange for an honest review. If you want to grab one, make sure you’re signed up to website updates.
About the Book:
Mhari Colquhoun is an expert at playing it safe in the quiet village of Lochalshie. But when her on-off boyfriend, Lachlan Forrester, proposes, her world shatters. It’s not romance—it’s a transaction.
Lachlan needs to win a £100,000 bet against his sister, and Mhari needs a financial lifeline. The plan is a simple fake engagement with a clean break once the money is in the bank. But in a small Scottish village where everyone knows your business, the news spreads like wildfire. Swept up in chaotic ceilidhs, overbearing wedding planners, and a disastrous “Mr & Mrs” quiz, the lie grows and so does the tension.
Mhari must decide if she’s playing for the money, or for keeps…
On the Horizon: A Brand-New Glasgow Romance
Once the heather hills of Lochalshie are out in the world, I’m trading the countryside for the city streets. I’m currently working on a brand-new contemporary romance set in Glasgow called High Heels & Pink Glitter.
The story follows three different characters navigating the messy mayhem of modern love:
- Stephanie: Celebrating her 42nd birthday and determined to quit the bad boys for good. Unfortunately, she’s currently juggling an intense attraction to the world’s worst man and a ferocious crush on someone completely unavailable.
- Nate: Launching an exciting online business but lonely as hell. When a Hollywood A-lister crosses his path, it should be a dream come true, so why can’t he stop thinking about the woman he keeps accidentally insulting?
- Ryan: On a desperate, time-sensitive quest to find his long-lost father, but as the meeting approaches, panic sets in.
It’s a story filled with tangled romance and plenty of relatable humour. If you enjoy chick-lit and romantic comedy books by authors like Marian Keyes, Mhairi McFarlane, or Beth O’Leary, this one will be right up your street.
Indie Book Spotlight: Joy Skye’s Sublime Retreats
While I go and face my next 500 words, I want to share some love for a fantastic fellow Vinci Book author. If you need some literary sunshine to counteract the rainy weather, Joy Skye’s Sublime Retreats boxset is currently on offer for just 99p/99c!
This three-book romantic comedy collection whisks you away to Greece, Croatia, and Italy:
- Corfu Capers: Divorcée Kate Delaney wants to prove she’s fine on her own, until her holiday plans go sideways and she lands in the arms of the laid-back Pericles.
- Clueless in Croatia: Actor Leonard Lupine escapes for some peace and quiet, only to be thoroughly unsettled by his sharp-tongued concierge, Isabella.
- Falling in Florence: Sofia Marino is focused entirely on her dream job, but a work trip to Italy with a brooding colleague named Adam changes everything.
It’s the perfect dose of sunshine, laughter and second chances. You can grab the boxset from Vinci Books.
Thank you for reading. Stay dry and happy book hunting!
Emma x
Emma Baird is an award-winning writer, specialising in romcoms and fiction that focuses on relationships, and a type 1 diabetic. She is also the co-author of The Diabetes Diet, co-written with a doctor. Most importantly, she is the guardian of one very spoiled cat…
Discover more from Pink Glitter Publishing
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
