Book birthdays in UK & US January 2023

It’s my actual birthday this month - plus two book birthdays for Owner of a Lonely Heart! My gorgeous second chance story of fate, friendship and creating your own version of family is out in paperback in the UK today – hooray - and published for the first time in the US on January 17!

Owner of a Lonely Heart is a novel that also features 3 of my favourite things: Bristol, English beaches and a border terrier dog… the story centres on bravery, good and bad dads, good and bad dogs, and the power of connection.

So far, readers are loving it. And now it’s in paperback (as well as ebook and audio, of course), it’s even better value. So if you’re in the mood for a book to lift your spirits and give you a taste of sunshine, Owner of a Lonely Heart is the book for you!

Which cover do you like best?

 Buy the book on Amazon UK  

 Buy the book on Amazon US  

 Buy at Waterstones.com in the UK  

 Buy for international delivery from the Book Depository  

My book just 99p - & my dog on the radio!

Owner of a Lonely Heart, my book about leaving loneliness behind and taking a risk – with the help of a therapy dog – is on special offer at just 99p in the UK till Thursday 14 September.

And if you want to hear all about how our dog inspired the book I took her into our local radio station. You can listen here: and also see the little video I made here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by aka Eva Carter & Kate Helm (@katewritesbooks)

Owner of a Lonely Heart out now!

I’m celebrating the publication of Owner of a Lonely Heart on a writing retreat in France - which has given me the chance to pose with my ‘book baby’ in truly beautiful surroundings. You can buy the book as an audiobook, e-book and hardback from today in the UK from Amazon!

I’ve also been lucky enough to have some fantastic authors read the book in advance and share their thoughts.

You can buy the hardback for delivery anywhere in the world on The Book Depository, or in the UK, at Bookshop.org or via Waterstones.com

I’m very proud of this book, which I wrote during lockdowns and caring for family members under pretty tough circumstances. It is an emotional rollercoaster of a story, set in the city of Bristol. The characters are brave but isolated, until fate - and a stubborn terrier - bring them together in the middle of a July heatwave.

And while I’m celebrating, I’m also working on my next book as Eva Carter. I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather do it!

Unboxing my new book - with the dog's help!

It’s always a big treat to get the first finished copies of my latest book - and this time, I decided to get our little dog involved involved. She inspired one of the storylines, as the book features a border terrier who visits hospital patients - just as our fantastic little ‘canine therapist’ does! I buried some of her treats inside before I took a look at the books, so we were both very happy, as you can see in this video. It’s such a pretty cover, isn’t it?

The book is out on July 7 in the UK!

You can buy the hardback for delivery anywhere in the world on The Book Depository, or in the UK, at Bookshop.org or via Waterstones.com

Buy on Kindle or audiobook and check out my Amazon Bookshop link with all my top summer reads

Introducing... Owner of a Lonely Heart

It’s time to reveal the BEAUTIFUL, joy-filled cover for my next Eva Carter novel which is called OWNER OF A LONELY HEART…

Isn’t it gorgeous? The book is set during a summer heatwave in Bristol, and the cover designer has recreated the Clifton Suspension Bridge in a balmy evening – I think it’s so upbeat and colourful.

Here’s more about the book:

What are you most afraid of . . . ?

Gemma is terrified of slowing down, because if she does, she’ll have to admit how lonely she’s felt since losing the love of her life. So she fills her days with work and taking her dog, Bear, to comfort young patients at the local hospital. That's enough, isn't it?

Dan is scared of anyone getting to know the real him. He’s the life and soul of every party, but he’s certain that if people find out what he’s done, everything will fall apart.

Casey is Dan’s twelve year old daughter – though they barely know each other. She’s starting four weeks of treatment for a benign tumour, and is scared this summer could be her last.

When Gemma, Dan and Casey meet one scorching July, the connection is instant. Yet they’re all used to protecting themselves from heartbreak by keeping their distance. Now that fate – and a small, scruffy terrier – have brought them together, can they find the courage to connect?

A story of bravery in all its guises, Eva Carter's Owner of A Lonely Heart is about taking the plunge even when it frightens you – because it's never too late to find the people who make your world make sense.

This is a book I was writing while I was caring for my dad last year and – reading it again – I realised how much the story is about fatherly love, as well as the romantic kind.

YOU CAN BUY THE HARDBACK FOR DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON THE BOOK DEPOSITORY, OR IN THE UK, AT BOOKSHOP.ORG OR VIA WATERSTONES.COM

BUY ON KINDLE OR AUDIOBOOK AND CHECK OUT MY AMAZON BOOKSHOP LINK WITH ALL MY TOP SUMMER READS

After the miracle…

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month - so I wanted to share the stories of six amazing survivors whose portraits I took, showcasing the items that reflect the amazing second chances they’ve had since beating the odds and surviving cardiac arrest. You can see their portraits below.

I took the photos as part of my research for How to Save a Life which was itself inspired by my experience of giving CPR to my partner. This is the perfect time to discover how quick and simple it is for you to learn CPR, with options for online or face-to-face.

Plus you can read the stories below and do visit the SCA UK Facebook page to discover even more inspiring examples of survival!

Charlie

‘Oscar’s drawing represents my family, including my granddaughter Tallulah. To be here watching one growing up and another born is literally the most miraculous thing about surviving.’

Helen

‘My necklace signifies that I will continue living and growing for years to come. It was bought by my husband after my cardiac arrest. The heart shape reminds me of what happened in a good way, how far I have come and how much I am loved.’

Ann

The bracelet she’s holding was a gift from her two grandsons. ‘Five years on I feel good in myself, mentally and emotionally. A day at a time, I don't look too far ahead, and that's quite sufficient for me.’

Charlotte

‘I have placed 13 defibrillators with my husband in our local area. We are now “heartsafe” meaning we have a defibrillator every 700 metres in my town. So the defibrillator signifies our achievement in saving other potential lives for many years to come.’

Chris

‘The mug was a present from my granddaughters just after my 50th, so it’s very special for that reason. I should not have been here for my 50th, but here I am. You hear about people not wanting to reach 50, but in my case, I was over the moon.’

Willem

‘The wooden cutting board was a gift from my son and it’s my reminder of what I could have missed had I not survived my arrest. Seeing my son grow up and having the time to spend with him is priceless.’

Beautiful Italian and Romanian editions of How to Save a Life

I love seeing new editions of my books in different languages - and especially seeing the differences in design. Look at these two beauties - the Italian and Romanian editions of How to Save a Life.

Il Bacio della Vita means ‘The Kiss of Life’ - and this cover, from Mondadori, is a fab minimalist take on the UK cover.

The Romanian edition is SO different - the heart motif rendered in blossom with such gorgeous colours. I think the novel is romantic as well as gritty in places so this is a great image.

Which do you like best?