Down-on-his-luck journalist Jack Sutherland has one last shot to resurrect his career: an exclusive profile on the magnetic, larger-than-life culinary empire builder, Serendipity Brown. Arriving at her magnificent estate beyond Johannesburg’s city borders, Jack is drawn into a sensory world of vibrant flavours, sharp wit, and deep secrets. Officially, he’s there to capture the real woman behind the famous recipes. Unofficially, he’s hunting for the truth behind her husband Richard — a dodgy attorney who vanished without a trace three years ago, leaving her legally bound but penniless. As Serendipity prepares her upcoming cooking demonstrations, a riotous circle of eccentric guests descends upon the house: from a preening food blogger and a diamond-touting society host to a brilliant, non-binary tech genius. Everyone is playing a game of observation. Jack is tracking Serendipity like a hawk, but Serendipity is an expert at pulling the strings. Beneath the flow of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, the fragrance of garlic and blistering cherry tomatoes, a quiet game of deception is simmering. Who is hiding the truth, and what really happened to Richard Brown?

My first chapter is live: Down on his luck, journalist Jack Sutherland pitches a profile on famous foodie Serendipity Brown, tasked by his editor to uncover her husband Richard's disappearance. Jack arrives at her art nouveau-style estate, Bishops Ridge farm, and is boisterously welcomed by the flame-haired chef. Serendipity settles Jack into her missing husband’s former study, fueling his investigative instincts. Over strong drinks, she invites him to her upcoming cooking demonstrations at her home. My novel: A week-long demo by a famous cook has four guests hide links to her missing husband. A romance with a visiting journnalist uncovers the truth. I'll be posting a chapter at a time on my site. (I hope I'm allowed to post this, @Issy McCann?)

I've no doubt that each of us here has varied reading tastes and habits so feel free to answer in broad or general terms. Do you happen to read/write the same genre or do you create and consume stories in different spaces? If the latter is true, what elements of your recreational reading influence you in your writing?

And passed on to three agents and Patrick Gleeson!

Think about how you handle leftovers or beautiful dry ingredients. You don’t just toss them loosely into the fridge or pantry—if you did, everything would spill, mingle, and turn into a chaotic mess. You use containers because they keep things fresh, safe, and perfectly organised. Your precious time — and your writing — needs that exact same love. - Without a dedicated container for your writing, your brilliant ideas spill out, creative momentum evaporates, and progress wilts. You end up spending all your energy starting over from scratch instead of picking up where you left off. - Let’s clear the air — your busy life is not the enemy of writing your book, blog, or article. The real enemy is simply a lack of structure inside that busy life. - Instead of stressing over how to find more hours in the day, start creating containers for the time you already have. If you have the burning desire to write, you absolutely have the time. - The 3-Part Rule: A true writing container has three specific parts that protect your creative blocks, making that time beautifully non-negotiable. It keeps your drafts fresh until they are ready to transition into their final container: a published reality. - Let's chat in the comments. How are you storing your creative ideas right now? Are they neatly contained, or are they currently spilling all over your busy schedule?