Three Days Left in Crete

I’m in the final few days of this Crete stretch, and as usual, the end creeps up faster than I expect. One minute I’m settling into a routine, the next I’m counting backwards from three and trying to work out how much I can realistically get done before we start the long drive home.

This trip has been a mix of writing, launch prep, launch chaos and the usual Crete rhythm — paddleboarding or swimming when the weather behaves, working from the balcony, time with new friends and Rupert supervising everything with great playfulness.

It hasn’t been a holiday. It never is. But it has been a reset of sorts. A different pace. A different headspace. Enough distance from the UK to think clearly, but enough structure to actually get things done.

My Crete Friends and neighbours Gregorian Easter Weekend

Don’t Die For Me, Argentina launched while I was here, which meant the usual flurry of posts, messages, reviews and the slightly surreal feeling of watching something you’ve worked on for months suddenly belong to other people.

Now that the first week is over, the dust has settled a bit. The book is out there. People are reading it. Some are already arguing about who they trust in the riding group. A few have sent messages that stopped me in my tracks.

It’s been a quieter launch than some authors shout about online, but it’s been steady, genuine, and exactly the kind of response that matters — real readers, real reactions, real engagement.

My daughter, her boyfriend and her best friend joined us out here for her 21st birthday and that is one of the benefits of returning home to the UK, more time with her.

We leave on Thursday night and start the five‑day trek back to the UK. It’s long, it’s tiring and it’s become part of the routine now — ferries, motorways, service stations and Rupert acting like he’s head of logistics.

It’s not glamorous, but it does give me thinking time. There’s something about being in transit that forces you to take stock. You can’t do much except sit, plan and occasionally swear at Google Maps.

This time in Crete has been practical more than anything:

• I wrote, edited, started, finished, launched and passed to my ARC Team three different books - each at a different stage.

• I remembered what a normal pace feels like.

• I got some distance from the noise.

• I resigned and started my notice period.

And now I’m heading back into a period of change — the last stretch before I leave my job and shift into full‑time writing. I wrote about the decision already, so I won’t repeat it here, but being in Crete for the run‑up has helped. It’s given me space to line things up properly instead of stumbling into it.

Once I’m home, it’s back to the usual rhythm. I’m not rushing into the next book announcement. This week and month is still all about Don't Die for Me, Argentina out in the world. Behind the scenes and what is coming next I'll start talking about over then next few weeks.

For now, I’m just finishing up here, packing the last bits, and getting ready for the drive.

Three days left.

Plenty still to do.

But I’m ready to head home.

Have a great week and watch out for travelling pics as we go.

Love

Helen