Ellie Barker Writes

30/07/2025

Holy macaroni!

So today - nearly 5 years after I put it out in the world my first novel The Pink Coffee Shop has made it to the top 1,000 in the whole of the Kindle Store. It’s hanging out next to and is having a wonderful time.

It had 3 million rejections ( maybe not quite 3 million but it felt like it)… two cover changes and spent a long time feeling a little sorry for itself as it hung out on its own.

But all thanks to my gorgeous supportive family, friends, Next Chapter Lovelies on my mailing list and now the power of the incredible and just brilliant it’s having it’s very own Next Chapter.

Together my books and I are learning that while there are no guarantees when it comes to Next Chapters, the possibilities are endless and that, for us is the magic.

All my novels and podcasts are created in the hope they will help you find your magic too.

Thank you so, so much from The Pink Coffee Shop, Cookie and me.

Happy Wednesdays Gorgeous People and Happy Enjoying Your Own Magic too.

29/07/2025

When I first ever thought about writing a book my mission was to write the sort you can read in one day on holiday - easy reading- the kind you can’t put down and then talk about a little bit over a summer evening sip.

When my gorgeous friends/readers send me pictures of their holibobs with my books - it is one of the most special feelings in the world.

It’s why I’ve added a new question on my Next Chapter podcast - What is the book you can’t put down on holiday?

So Happy Tuesdays gorgeous people and Happy Gorgeous Supportive Friends too. They really do make dreams come true.

P.S The Pink Coffee Shop has a special 0.99 Kindle deal just for a day or two.

14/07/2025

Wow! Look at this - Do We Really Have to Do This? is up for a special deal - 0.99p for your Kindles...

Latest review: "I really felt I was in Strawberry village and it felt like the perfect summery feel good read. Especially if you need a little pick me up."

Thank you Bargain Booksy x

Your next binge-worthy read doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Scoop up today’s best bargain eBooks while they’re hot: www.bargainbooksy.com/featured-books

Valerie Power Author DM Searle Ellie Barker Writes Laurie Sanford Charles R Hinckley

27/06/2025

This week’s Next Chapter Nibble is from one of my own very favourite authors . I felt so lucky to have her on my podcast as her books have been my favourite holiday read for years.

I thought with the sun shining this was the perfect time to hear her wonderful words again.

You can listen in all the usual podcast places.

Go on have a Next Chapter Nibble!

Happy Friday gorgeous people and Happy Sunny Sundowners with Next Chapter Nibbles too!

17/06/2025

If you are feeling a little lost on this Tuesday, Herman has some wonderful advice which he gives to Grace in my latest novel What Really Happened To Me?

Everything is based on real life advice and wisdoms I’ve picked up along the way of my own Next Chapter living. Only Herman lives near Lemon Cove in Antigua and I well, don’t. (But I do love you Bristol!)

Happy Tuesdays gorgeous people and Happy Finding What You Truly Love too.

17/06/2025

If you’re feeling little lost and don’t know where to begin Herman gives some wonderful advice in my latest novel ‘What Really Happened to Me?’

It’s all based on real life research I’ve picked up along the way of my own Next Chapter living - only he lives near the wonderful Lemon Cove in Antigua.

Happy Tuesdays gorgeous people- and Happy Finding What You Truly Love too x

03/06/2025

Sometimes a small ‘tweak’ is all we need - and who doesn’t need the odd little tweak?

The wonderful gives some great advice in this week’s Next Chapter Nibble!

She has recently written a book all about how her year in her garden with her lovely vegetables brought her back to life.

(You can listen in all the usual podcast places and it’s just a delicious nibble of inspiration at 13 minutes long!)

Happy Tuesdays gorgeous people and Happy Gorgeous Vegetables and Nibbles too.

x

28/05/2025

The people you surround yourself with are so important. I learn this every day in Next Chapter Living and I always think about these brilliant words from .

In fact I think a lot about our conversation back in Series 11 which is why it’s this week’s Next Chapter Nibble.

You can listen in all the usual podcast places.

Happy Wednesdays gorgeous people and Happy lovely people around you too.

x

20/05/2025

A few words of wisdom from Beatrice this Tuesday evening who comes from my latest novel What Really Happened to Me?

( Beatrice is a massage therapist who lives in Lemon Cove in Antigua with her friend Claudia. She works at Antigua House Hotel and her treatments are thought to be some of the best in the world. If you ever find out what is in their lemonade, I’d love to know )

Happy Tuesday gorgeous people and Happy Magical Lemonade and Lemon Coves too

x

29/04/2025

I promise I will stop going on about ‘The Award’ soon…

But I would love to just say one of the reasons I have been able to do my job is because of my very special and incredible friends.

I have a small, lovely, precious number of women in my life I could not live without. I see them often in my most unglamorous ( think running clothes and not overly fragrant ) state. They do incredible jobs, run brilliant lives which I watch in awe - but which aren’t always for everyone to see like ours. They have encouraged me and listened- bought coffees, fizz, helped me, left marzipan and flowers on my step. When life is kind they celebrate, when it’s a little cruel they pick me up.

They have their own ups and downs but are always by my side — even when busy lives get in our way.

It’s this kind of love I write about most in my books. Sometimes I wonder if the world really needs more books about friendship. But then I think we can never have too much of this kind of love.

Anyway - that’s enough of the lovey dovey I promise.

Happy Tuesdays gorgeous people and I hope your days have been full of this kind of love too.

X

28/03/2025

Do you deep down know you should be doing something else in life but still think you can’t?

And what does it really take to create your favourite pub?

Well these are just 2 of the questions answered in this conversation with the brilliant from .group

Charlie Luxton had no idea a chance conversation would lead him to a job helping create the incredible Soho House which would one day be a global brand.

He also had no idea a lunch with a friend in a place ‘somewhere near Salisbury’ would be the start of him creating his own group of pubs and restaurants around Wiltshire and Somerset with his partners.

Today they have:







This is a conversation of what happens when friendship and listening to your intuition meet. It’s a story of how Charlie has built a wonderful life he loves not just for him but his family too. It also contains tales of love at first sight and a yellow Aston Martin- I mean what more could you want for your weekend walk?

Thank you Charlie for being such a wonderful guest.

And thank you for introducing us- you worked your magic again.

You can listen in all the usual places and at elliebarkerwrites.com

Happy Weekends gorgeous people and Happy Favourite Pubs too

x

27/03/2025

Last night my husband Rob Murphy and I were completely honoured and humbled to be invited to Buckingham Palace by the King and Queen.

They were celebrating regional news and around 500 of us were there.

I have worked for regional news for more than 25 years. In my own opinion it’s a ( sometimes hidden) gem of our wonderful world.

International and national headlines can be big and scary - and while of course important - can focus on what’s wrong in life.

But regional news shows everything that is really right and the wonderful magic that’s always here. Our stories cover the resilience, magnificence and often humour of people who tell us they are ordinary but we know they are anything but.

I will always be biased but I believe I work in the best regional newsroom in the (yes) world I work alongside the most talented reporters, presenters, producers, production specialists, crew and production journalists who I know will one day take over this world.

We get to create live television every day. I have made lifelong friends and if I ever feel a bit not great for whatever reason - walking in our newsroom always cheers me up.

On top of all this regional news has also given me my husband and our two boys ( and Cookie).

Thank you to everyone at Buckingham Palace for making us feel so welcome. It’s a night we will never forget.

But most of all thank you Regional News for letting me be a tiny part of your world…

And for giving me my own world too.

I couldn’t ask for more.

Happy Thursdays gorgeous people and Happy Wonderful Worlds too

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