You know that horrible sinking feeling when you go to a place in a car park, thinking your car is going to be there, and it's not? It’s a damn horrible feeling, huh?

I've never been one to conform. I always push the boundaries of whatever I do, whether it was rebelling against the constraints of society as I grew up, or rallying against being told what to do (yes, I was a HORRIBLE teenager!) or writing.

Well, it's November, and November can be an important month in writer-world. November means NaNoWriMo. What does that mean, you might ask?

I’m often asked what it takes to write a book. Having finished my 19th novel about twelve hours ago, I reflected on the question, whilst sitting on the patio with a wine, screaming: ‘thank god that’s done!’.

So, I compiled a list.

I'm really excited that my 15th novel is coming out in early November. I know I say this often, but if you'd told me 11 years ago that I would write one novel, let alone 15, I'm not sure I would have ever believed you!

Guess what? On Monday, my fourteenth novel went to print. Who would have thought that eleven years after Red Dust was published, I'd still be tapping at the keyboards and playing with my imaginary friends?

You told me you'd like to read a bit of STARTING FROM NOW...

Here's the prologue and first chapter.

• Prologue

• Chapter One

STARTING FROM NOW doesn't hit the shelves until October 5, but you've got the opportunity to get your hands on a copy, a month early!