Julia Roberts Author

Find out about Best Selling author Julia Roberts

Two of the Three Rs…

If you love reading and writing, read on because later in this blog there is a competition to give away a signed copy of my most recent book, My Mother’s Secret and also a fabulous Christian Lacroix notebook. To be honest, it’s a bit of an apology for the lack of a blog last week and will also sugar the pill of me telling you that going forward I’m reducing the blog to fortnightly.

There are a couple of reasons. One is that I write a QVC blog fortnightly and sometimes find I’m repeating myself, but the main reason is that I’m trying not to spend too much time looking at a computer screen while I still have an ongoing issue with my eye. It’s ten weeks since my cataract operation, and after initial progress in the first few days, my sight hasn’t improved at all. I’ve had numerous appointments, tests and opinions, but the bottom line is I can’t see clearly out of it, even though everything looks healthy according to the experts. It means I’m facing further surgery to try and put things right. I have an appointment on Monday and a consultation the following Wednesday where I’m hoping a decision will be made on ‘what happens next’.

The bonus for those of you who read my blogs regularly is that I’ll endeavour to do more ‘giveaways’ on here and you can read about what I’ve been up to on my ‘work’ blog as I always keep it very chatty. In fact, on the next blog there will be a competition to win a signed paperback from my QVC colleague, Jackie Kabler… more on that later.

So, to bring you up to date with my gardening, you’ll be pleased to hear that I got the veg trug planted, and most things are coming along nicely. I have tomatoes and peppers forming and the kale is looking particularly healthy.

The only casualty in the trug is the lettuce – only one survived, but at least that is growing well. The runner beans are rampant, and my house has been filled with the aroma of sweet peas and the cheerful yellow colour of mini sunflowers for weeks.

I also have five or six clematis dotted around the garden that bloom at different times and they have been floriferous too. I think it’s a result of all the rain we had prior to the recent hot spell. Whilst it might not to be our taste, my garden has certainly loved it. Everything is blooming bigger and better than usual and the upside for me was not having to traipse up and down the garden with a watering can in hand as I’ve had to do this past week! All the plants that love ‘a drink’ (and by that I don’t mean a G&T) are in their element this year.

I love the sunshine, but I must admit it has been a bit hot of late even for me, particularly at night-time. Although I can get off to sleep okay as I’m usually shattered, I’ve been waking up several times a night in a puddle of sweat! Fortunately, we installed an aircon unit last year in my loft writing room otherwise I would have been in danger of melting. 

To add insult to injury, I’ve worked every day except Tuesday throughout the mini heatwave and now that I have a few days off the forecast is predicting cloud and heavy downpours. It means I won’t be lounging around in the sun reading, one of my favourite pastimes but will most likely be indoors painting walls. We decided on a colour for the family room. It’s a Farrow and Ball shade called Scotch Blue… a very dark bluey/purple. If it looks good, I’ll put photos on the next blog, if it doesn’t, I won’t!

As I mentioned earlier, there will be the chance to win a Jackie Kabler book on my next blog (Aug 6th). Jackie, who enjoyed phenomenal success with her book, The Perfect Couple last year, is my featured author on Between the Lines. She has very kindly agreed to offer a signed copy of her latest book, The Happy Family which is out in paperback on the same day as my next book, The Woman on the Beach is published, Aug 19th.

Speaking of which, there are now nineteen NetGalley reviews and I’m delighted to say all but one are four or five stars. The most recent says:

‘What a page-turner… a perfect book to add to your summer reading list. Three close as can be friends, a tragic accident, and lives are altered forever… until a chance glimpse of someone on the beach.’

I couldn’t have put it better myself, and if it has whet your appetite remember it is already available to pre-order here.

Well, the moment you’ve probably all been waiting for, it’s competition time. I asked my husband to get me a notebook from our local boutique gift shop to add to the signed copy of My Mother’s Secret to make it a bigger prize. I nearly fainted (and not from the heat) when he came back with a leather-bound Christian Lacroix! BUT you are worth it, AND it gave me an idea for the question.

Edina Monsoon was fond of wearing Christian Lacroix fashion outfits in which well-known British sitcom? Was it:

  1. Completely Gorgeous
  2. Absolutely Fabulous
  3. Utterly Divine

Please leave your answer in a comment below before midnight on 5th August and I’ll announce the winner on the blog on 6th August (UK only) – good luck.

Right, I’m off to do some painting and possibly read a few more chapters of Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan. I don’t even remember buying this for my Kindle but I’m so glad I did as I’m really enjoying it.

Maybe Wilfie, our son’s cat who is currently here with us for his holiday while his ‘mum and dad’ are on theirs, will curl up on my lap while I read. It’s been an absolute joy having him back with us for a couple of weeks, and he’s been so well behaved, he can definitely come to stay again.

Have a great weekend

Much love

Julia xx

Share

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. The answer is Absolutely Fabulous. Sorry to hear you are still having problems with your eye .

    Reply

  6. Hi Julia. I’m sorry your eye isn’t as good as you’d hoped at the moment. I trust your vision will soon be like the answer to the quiz :
    2. Absolutely Fabulous
    xx

    Reply

  7. Hi Julia
    Lovely blog! Sorry your eye remains problematic.
    The answer to the question is Absolutely Fabulous.

    Reply

  8. Hope you get your eye sorted soon.
    The answer is Absolutely Fabulous which I’m sure your new book is!

    Reply

  9. Hi Julia.

    Quiz answer is number 2, Absolutely Fabulous.

    Do hope your eyesight problem gets sorted soon.

    Love

    Graham x

    Reply

  11. The answer is: 2. Absolutely Fabulous.

    That Christian Lacroix notebook is absolutely exquisite!

    Reply

  13. Hi Julia the answer is Absolutely Fabulous. Love all your books and would love to win a copy of your latest. Take Care love Breda x

    Reply

  16. 2. Absolutely Fabulous. Take care Julia can’t wait fir the new book to drop into my kindle and I am sure it will be Absolutely Fabulous as always x

    Reply

  22. So sorry about your eye Julia I hope you get answers soon sending love to you 😘. The answer is Absolutely Fabulous keep well xx

    Reply

  23. Hi Julia,

    The answer to your competition is
    2. Absolutely Fabulous
    So sorry to hear that you’re having problems with your vision, hoping you can get it sorted out very soon 🙏🤞 Wilfie is a beautiful boy and clearly very happy and at home with you 🐾🐱 Xx

    Reply

  38. Hi Julia, the answer is Absolutely Fabulous. Wish I was as confident as you in trying out new colours!!

    Reply

  40. Hi Julia
    Sorry to hear things haven’t been straightforward with your eye, hope things improve soon.
    The competition answer is
    B) Absolutely Fabulous🍀🤗

    Reply

  44. Hi Julia, The answer is B Absolutely Fabulous. I would be thrilled to receive a prize from you.

    Hope your eye situation gets better soon

    Kindest regards
    Karen Cockfield ( pronounce Coefield)

    Reply

  53. Hello Julia,
    The answer is 2 Absolutely Fabulous. Sorry you are having problems with your eye. Your clematis is lovely. I love reading your books.
    Thank you.

    Reply

  56. Absolutely Fabulous
    Your garden is looking great, my cat has taken to sleeping in our veg bed so not sure our turnips will grow 😆

    Reply

  60. 2 Absolutely Fabulous
    I can’t wait to read the new book. My collection is sitting and waiting to be joined by another. How you find the time and headspace for your writing I just don’t know! However you do it, keep on keeping on!

    Reply

  61. Absolutely Fabulous

    I have read all your books and loved them as I am sure I will this one as well.

    Reply

  62. Answer. Absolutely Fabulous

    Julia I have loved all your books and I am sure this one will please.

    Reply

  66. Hi Julia, sorry to hear of the problems with your eye. The answer to the competition is Absolutely Fabulous x

    Reply

  68. Hi Julia

    Lovely to read your blog and I hope you get your eye sorted soon.

    Absolutely Fabulous competition!! That’s the answer btw!!

    Take care.

    Angela

    Reply

  69. Hiya Julia

    The answer is Absolutely Fabulous.

    Sorry to hear about your eye problem, hope you get it sorted,

    Much love
    Elizabeth

    Reply

  71. Hi Julia

    The answer is Absolutely Fabulous. I am looking forward to reading the new book.

    I hope your sight gets sorted soon.

    xx

    Reply

  74. 2 Absolutely Fabulous

    great your plants, veg and flowers are doing so well. My sunflowers didn’t grow and neither did the Sweet peas.

    Reply

  77. Absolutely fabulous
    Looking forward to reading your new book really enjoyed your other novels.
    I hope you get eye sorted 😊

    Reply

  81. Hi Julia,
    the answer is Absolutely Fabulous
    keeping my fingers crossed as winning date is my birthday 6th August,
    hugs, Doe XXX

    Reply

  88. Hi Julia,
    The answer is:-
    Absolutely Fabulous.
    Love reading your blogs Julia.
    Would be amazing to win this prize! An ‘absolutely fabulous’ present to me on my birthday which is 6th August!
    Kindest Regards xxx

    Reply

  93. Hi Julia the answer is absolutely fabulous, hope you and your family are keeping well and been a long time fan of yours for many years now best wishes love pete XX 🤩😻

    Reply

  95. Absolutely Fabulous
    I would love to win a copy of your book Julia,
    It looks absolutely fabulous as does that beautiful notebook
    Take care and thank you for your blogs and qvc updates x

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact me

Share

Visit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On Instagram