Rock Your Year: make 2021 the best it can be

Let’s face it, 2020 won’t go down in the history books as the best year ever… but as I write this, on New Year’s Eve, I am focusing on the things I can change - and that includes a complete update of my free download about making changes in your life. It’s available to members of my Book Club the instant you sign up right here…

The booklet is 20 pages long, plus free worksheets you can print off . I’ve given it a new title, too:

Rock Your Year

We can’t always be sure a year will go as planned - but we can take steps that’ll help us make the best of what life throws at us… and that’s the focus of the new book.

Do you want to be happier, healthier & more productive?

Are you overwhelmed by all the changes you’d like to make to your life?

Or maybe the pandemic has made you feel everything is out of control?

2021 and beyond…

2020 has left no one untouched by worry, frustration and loss. In the face of the uncertainties and awful headlines, we can feel powerless and trapped.

You might think that planning in these times is a mistake, or a waste of time. After all, so many things are beyond our control, right?

For me, planning is a source of fresh hope and new starts. And it doesn’t have to be done in December, or in the last few minutes before a new year. You can do this at any time of year.

You also don’t have to make goals for a whole year – this same process can help you plan for the next 3 months, six months or any period that works for you.

3 Steps to making the most of 2021

The 3-step process is simple and energising and it’ll help you:

1.  Review: what makes you happy and fulfilled

2. Refocus: identify what will make the biggest difference to you and those around you:

3. Resolve: to improve your life, whatever the challenges you face.

Why listen to me?

As someone who has struggled with depression, I can be a ‘glass half-empty’ person. But this annual process of looking at what matters most, and how I can put that first, makes a difference to my quality of life on a daily basis.

This approach has helped me:

• Lose weight and keep it off (even during pandemic lockdowns)

• Pivot my freelance work several times to focus on what gives me most creative satisfaction;

• Use grief to motivate me to become a keen runner;

• Move to a city I love.

These are all big changes that didn’t happen overnight. But what my process does is identify my dreams and see the smaller steps I need to take to make them real.

Imagine what this could it do for you…

Your dreams and ambitions will be different to mine. But the sooner you clarify those and start taking actions to get you where you want to be, the sooner things will change for the better.

Short of time? Feel like focusing on yourself is selfish?

Maybe you feel spending time reviewing your dreams is selfish when others are in need. But the happier you are, the more energy you have to support the people you care about.

It doesn’t take long to do the three-steps – and it’ll help you save time by ditching stuff that no longer matters to you.

To download the free e-book, or have it sent to you e-reader, just sign up for my free book club.

Two Eva cover reveals - I love them both, how about you?

The moment when your book’s cover arrives is always a heart-stopper (and even more so when your book itself is about what happens when a heart stops and restarts). So I am very happy to reveal the cover for my Eva Carter book, How to Save a Life. Or in fact, two covers – one for the UK and one for the USA.

I love both – though they are quite different.

With the UK cover, the designer did a lot of tweaking of the three figures – they’re quite impressionistic, but we added a stethoscope to hint at the medical themes in the book, and a bag to show the rootlessness of one character. We agonised about socks and hair-styles. And tried lots of different colours. I love this final colour as it’s close to the Brighton blue that the beach huts and railings are painted down here.

The American cover was designed completely separately but also has a heart motif, sets against a dramatic landscape and sky full of fireworks.

As the book begins on Millennium Eve, with a disaster unfurling as the celebrations begin, that feels so right too.

I’ve also had a sneak preview of my German cover which is very different again and also has a different title – I will share that soon.

I couldn’t ever choose between them - but I’d love to know:

Which is your favourite?

You’ve seen the covers, now watch the trailer… :)

If you like One Day in December by Josie Silver, One Day by David Nicholls and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, you'll fall in love with How to Save a Life... Jo...

Spice up your life with a quick veggie tikka masala

In November 2020, I got the dreaded text saying I had to self-isolate as I’d been in contact with a person who had tested positive for Covid19. It was a tough couple of weeks - thankfully I was well and so was my partner - but tasty food become even more important to spice up those looong days indoors.

My partner was able to go out, walk the dog, come back with supplies – my sympathies and respect to anyone who has had to do this in a busy household with little help.

I will admit my chocolate consumption went up. But I managed a couple of fast days and this is one of my favourite recipes (from 5:2 Veggie & Vegan) that uses warming spices to up the flavour and raise mood – chilli can increase the endorphins every time. Better still, it works for Fast Days - and normal days too.

Paneer/tofu tikka masala, 301/245 calories

Vegetarian/Vegan option/Gluten Free

Vegetarian version with paneer and Greek yogurt: 301 cals

Vegan version with tofu and coconut yogurt: 245 cals

Paneer is a mild but versatile Indian cheese; the calories vary a lot depending on brand, so look for a lower-fat version (I used Savera), or use tofu. Homemade masala marinade is delicious and quick to make with a hand blender, but you could save time by buying a paste – again, calories vary.

Serves 2

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 6–8 minutes

200g paneer, 348, or firm tofu, 230, diced

1 onion, chopped, 38

1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped into small chunks, 30

100g tomatoes, roughly chopped, 20

½ teaspoon coconut oil,  21

2 level tablespoons strained Greek yogurt, 29-40, or coconut yogurt, 55-195

Chopped fresh coriander, to serve, 2

Tikka masala paste, serves 2, 47 calories per serving with lowest-cal vegan yogurt/57 with lowest-cal dairy yogurt

1 teaspoon each whole coriander and cumin seeds, 10

1 teaspoon each turmeric, cayenne pepper and garam masala, 15

2 garlic cloves, crushed or roughly chopped, 8

4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated, 8

1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped, 4

2 tablespoons tomato purée, 20–46

50g strained full-fat Greek yogurt, 48–65, or coconut yogurt 28–98

1. Place all the paste ingredients in the beaker for a stick blender (or a tall jug: you don’t want chilli or garlic in your eye). Blend together until the whole mix is thick and fragrant. If using ready-made paste, stir 3 tablespoons into the yogurt, adding a little extra turmeric and garam masala if you have them. Place the mixture in a sealed plastic container until needed.

2. Mix the paneer or tofu into the paste to coat. Let it marinate in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight if you have time.

3. Fry the onion, pepper and tomatoes in the coconut oil in a medium saucepan for 2 minutes. Now add the paneer/tofu and paste to the pan with 50ml water. Cook, stirring gently, for 4–5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Stir the last bit of yogurt through just before serving. Add the coriander as a garnish, or serve with cauliflower or steamed basmati rice.

P. S.  The second portion keeps in the fridge (but maybe padlock it in the meantime, it’s that delicious). For a halloumi version, make the tikka paste and fry with the vegetables and tomato sauce. In a separate non-stick frying pan, fry 100g of reduced-fat halloumi (230 calories) in 1/2 teaspoon of oil, until browned on both sides. Add to the curry sauce and serve immediately – halloumi is salty so doesn’t need extra seasoning.

From my book, 5:2 Veggie and Vegan - full of delicious, healthy recipes & inspiring weight loss stories.

I've opened a bookshop - buy from your sofa & help local booksellers

I’ve opened a bookshop! Well, an online bookshop… and the good news is, if you shop from it, you will help local bookshops in these tough days.

Check out Kate’s Bookshop

I reckon most booklovers have a fantasy of creating their own book store - think of the gorgeous new book smells, the joy of recommending your special titles to others, the comfy chairs for browsers… OK, my version isn’t quite like that but it is a place where I can share what I’ve been reading and loving and I hope you’ll check it out.

I’ve created a few different lists - not only by books, but titles I’ve loved reading this year.

Bookshop.org is a really exciting alternative to the huge internationals, and I’d definitely urge you to check it out.

But if you prefer to shop on Amazon, I have my own page there too.