There is a very specific kind of energy in a room full of readers. It’s a quiet, electric buzz... a shared understanding among people who have all, at some point, stayed up until 3:00 AM turning pages, crying over fictional characters, and falling in love with worlds built entirely out of words.

Yesterday evening, I stepped into that exact energy at Waterstones in London to meet E.L. James.

As a contemporary fiction author who writes high-stakes, emotional dramas like Reasonable Lies, meeting an author who completely redefined the modern publishing landscape was a milestone I won't soon forget. 

Beyond the excitement of getting her new book, Land of Ghosts, signed, the evening turned into something even more meaningful than I could have imagined.

When it was my turn to meet her, the digital connection we'd built over Instagram messages came to life in the sweetest way, she immediately recognised my pen name and wrapped me in the warmest hug! We did a true "book swap" right there: I handed her a signed copy of Reasonable Lies, and she signed Land of Ghosts for me. Holding each other’s books side-by-side felt like a full-circle moment I will cherish forever.

The trip left me reflecting deeply on what it actually means to write stories that connect. Here are my three big takeaways from London, and why this experience reinvigorated my love for writing for you.

1. Emotional Courage on the Page Works

Whether you’re writing intense romance, psychological suspense, or tear-jerking drama, the stories that resonate most are the ones that don't pull their punches.

E.L. James built a global phenomenon by leaning unashamedly into high-stakes emotion, passion, and conflict. Standing in line surrounded by readers holding well-loved copies of her books was a powerful reminder: readers don't want safe stories. You want to feel everything... the grief, the secrecy, the heart-in-your-throat suspense, and the quiet moments of hope that follow.

Handing Reasonable Lies directly to her was a powerful grounding moment. It reminded me why I write raw, emotional fiction in the first place: because vulnerability creates connection.

2. The Indie & Contemporary Book Community is Unmatched

Writing can be an incredibly solitary job. You spend months alone at a desk staring at a blinking cursor, living entirely inside your own head with characters who feel like real people to you.

Events like this strip away that isolation. Chatting with fellow readers in the queue, sharing favourite tropes, laughing about our shared "emotional book hangovers," and experiencing such genuine warmth from an author I admire reminded me how vibrant this community is. The book world is vast, but moments like this make it feel like a close-knit family.

3. Every Great Story Starts with a Risk

Seeing an author who started as an indie writer and went on to reach millions of readers worldwide is the ultimate reminder that every story begins with a leap of faith. Publishing a book, putting your heart out there for strangers to read, takes nerve. But seeing how much those stories mean to readers makes every ounce of fear worth it.

I walked away from London with a treasured signed book, a huge smile, a hug that meant the world and a fresh spark of inspiration to get back to my keyboard and keep writing the stories living in my heart.

Over to You, Rosettes…

If you could sit down for coffee with any author, living or past, who would be at the top of your list, and what is the one question you’d ask them?

Drop a comment on my socials and let’s talk books! ☕📚

Thank you so much Erika - I hope you enjoy reading Reasonable Lies! See you again soon!