It’s Good Friday. I’m standing at the top of a mountain in Johannesburg, the sun is beaming down, and I can’t stop smiling. The view is stunning, the sky is wide open, and I feel like I’ve climbed something huge—physically, emotionally, and creatively.
Kissing The Pearl is still with the publishers, so launch day isn’t quite here yet… but it’s close. So close I can feel it in my chest. That excited, fluttery feeling that comes when a dream’s just about to become real.
Today feels symbolic. A pause. A deep breath before the big moment. And right on cue, just below the mountain, I spotted something that always shows up when life is shifting—a bird paradise in full bloom. It’s a plant that carries deep meaning for my family and has this beautiful habit of appearing at new beginnings. Seeing it today felt like a nudge from the universe.
A reminder that a new chapter is coming, and it’s one filled with joy, courage, and all the sapphic chaos I poured into this book.
I cannot wait to introduce you to Lucy and Alex. They’ve lived in my head and heart for so long—and soon, they’ll be heading off into yours. I hope Saltmere wraps around you the way it did me: warm, a little mysterious, and full of possibility.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for climbing this mountain with me. I’ll shout when the book is live—because when it is, I want you right there with me to celebrate.
Until next time x
Sometimes the best journeys begin with no map at all—just a feeling that it’s time to turn the page.
Jamie Loghan
