THE QUACK

" It was my first lesson in love. No matter how much you love someone, you can’t hold on to them forever… unless you want their skin to fall off. "   After watching Toy Story 5, I found myself reminiscing about my own favourite childhood toy, Jack Rabbit.   Skip Introduction: 3:40 Read | TheQuack.blog Sound/music | Soundstripe.com   Follow me | @marynewnhamwrites   Bad Dates Club is coming out in...

Her enthusiasm for getting people into a room baffled and pained him.   This week's Quack is about the time mum opened up her home to the public to showcase her late partner Richard Nott's studio and art collection. Guest starring a whippet named Wesel. Please note this Quack covers sensitive topics.   Skip introduction - 3:47 Read | TheQuack.blog Sound/music | Soundstripe.com   Follow me | @maryn...

'I was in the woods surrounded by pixilated men tied to trees...' In this week's episode, I visit an immersive Viking experience in Canada Water. I had visions of crossing wild seas and battling Vikings... but it wasn't *quite* that.    Read | TheQuack.blog Sound/music | Soundstripe.com   Follow me | @marynewnhamwrites   Bad Dates Club is coming out in September 2026. Preorder it here. Buy Amy Elm...

‘Is there ever a time you feel more peer pressure than when you’re with your partner’s friends?’    This week is about friends and partners and those vital first impressions. Includes a facepalm moment involving Tequila.    Read | TheQuack.blog Sound/music | Soundstripe.com   Follow me | @marynewnhamwrites   Bad Dates Club is coming out in September 2026. Preorder it here.

'Biological clocks were ticking; hairlines were receding; we had no time for dating games. And yet, there were games. So many games...'   This Quack is about my rusty dating years and how that time inspired my second novel, Bad Dates Club.    Read it | Thequack.blog Follow me | @MaryNewnhamWrites  Sound & Music | Soundstripe.com Preorder Bad Dates Club wherever you get your books. Coming 10th...

'We were doing leg circles when a man farted so loudly that it disturbed my inner peace for days...'   This week, we go on my "Yoga journey" from a fancy Reformer Pilates studio to a hot-pod yoga tent in North London... and all the mishaps along the way.    Photos on TheQuack. Blog Follow my IG | @MaryNewnhamWrites Read my novel | Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy  Sound and music credit | Soundstripe.c...

"Oh! Maybe I should come as the Easter Bunny!' 🐰   On this week's Quack, I go back to the 90s, when the Easter Bunny didn't quite live up to my expectations. And all these easter eggs have me thinking about my own eggs...   Skip introduction | 4:01 Visit | TheQuack.blog (for photos) Follow me | @MaryNewnhamWrites Sound | Soundstripe.com Buy my book - Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy   Subscribe for fu...

"We watched in awe as the husband emerged from the sea with his new wife on his shoulders..."   It's time for some winter sun. Roman and I went on holiday to a (not-so) inclusive resort in the Maldives and encountered a very interesting bunch of people.    Skip Intro: 3:00 Vist | TheQuack.blog Follow | @MaryNewnhamWrites Sound and Music | Soundstripe.com   Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy is out now!

“Can you sign this one for my personal trainer? Say thank you for looking after my dad.”   To wrap up 'The Story of Writing A Novel' series, I officially launch my debut novel into the world. To celebrate, I overordered merchandise and threw a book launch at INK&84 in North London.  Skip introduction: 2:25 Order| Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy at Ink Visit | TheQuack. Blog Follow | @MaryNewnhamWr...

On the last episode of How to Author, I talk to Sunday Times Bestseller Laura Marshall. (Friend Request, My Husband's Killer, Kiss Marry Kill). We talk about her success as a thriller author, building a life around full-time writing, and question how important social media is for an author. A fantastic chat full of solid advice for any writer out there.   Laura's latest book, 'Kiss Marry Kill', is...

"Drink water, compliment one stranger a day, travel to somewhere hot, travel to somewhere cultural, save the environment, and wear a red Slipknot mask..."   Happy 2026! This week's Quack is about goal culture. Is it me, or are we trying to achieve too much? Even the arts have goals now.    Preorder Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy. Read | TheQuack.blog Follow | @marynewnhamwrites   Sound | Soundstripe....

On today's episode of the mini series, How to Author, I talk to romance novelist, Georgia Stone. (Friendship Fling, The Roommate Rule). We talk about Georgia's journey from Bookstagrammer to self-publishing her first novel, to signing a book deal with Hodder. We discuss writing routines, building author communities, and using social media effectively. It's a bubbly conversation filled with tips an...

In the first episode of the mini-series 'How to Author', I talk to best-selling novelist Fiona Gibson. ('The Woman Who Ran Away From Everything', 'The Full Nest', 'When Life Gives You Lemons'). We discuss Fiona's author journey, balancing family life, handling negative reviews, and her writing ticks. It's a lively conversation (lots of giggling) with solid advice for any writer.   Books You can pr...

“'This isn’t happiness' is about a woman’s inner turmoil when the intimacy vanishes from a relationship…” *Puffs cigarette*   On this week's episode, I try my best to be cool as I launch my book, 'This isn't happiness', in Germany.   Visit: TheQuack. Blog Buy: This isn't happiness (German translation) Preorder: Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy (UK version) Follow: @MaryNewnhamWrites

In the lead-up to the launch of my debut novel, Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy, I am asking three established authors for advice about the author life. Join me here on The Quack for the first episode of HOW TO AUTHOR—coming Monday, January 5th.  Follow: @marynewnhamwrites Visit: TheQuack. Blog  

"I, an adult, had made some characters in my head, and now I’m in a boardroom, having a professional discussion with another adult about them..."   It's Part 4 of the Story of Writing a Novel, and some remarkable things are starting to happen. Includes a failed therapy session and the creation of a Liverpudlian stripper.    (Note: there is some swearing in this episode. Also note, some dialogue ha...

"We paused in front of the bed, where there was a display of red and white balloons." 🇫🇷🎈 I had my first romantic getaway in Paris. I was so concerned about discovering unflattering details about my new boyfriend that I had completely forgotten just how tricky I could be to travel with.   Visit | TheQuack. Blog Follow | MaryNewnhamWrites Sound | Soundstripe.com Preorder | Amy Elman Doesn't Feel S...

I couldn't risk wasting time on real men when I had fictional men to worry about.   This week, we continue the story writing the book. This is the part where I try to get an agent and fail at dating — also known as 'The Cringe Era'.   Listen to Parts 1 and 2 before this episode.   Visit | TheQuack. Blog  Follow | @MaryNewnhamWrites Skip Introduction | 3:15 Sound | Soundstripe.com   Preorder Amy El...

"I should have kids with names and a strong opinion on Peppa Pig, but somehow, at 34, I have found myself back in London..."   This week is about my move back to London as a 34-year-old. After leaving with a bad taste in my mouth at 26 (which inspired me to write a terrible poetry book), I never thought I'd come back to live in The Big Smoke, but here I am... maybe it's where I was supposed to be...

"Oh, Mary, Mary, Mary, how do you expect to be a published author if you can't even score a high grade on a short story?"   This week on The Quack, we continue the series 'The Story of Writing a Novel.' I head back to university to do a Master's in creative writing. There is a drama involving my Metamorphosis book and a sharp learning curve about verbs.    Preorder Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy. Vis...

 'That’s right, I thought in my haze, I have a boyfriend now.' On this week's Quack, I celebrated my 34th birthday by taking my new boyfriend to his very first spa. Unfortunately, it was not the relaxing experience I had promised...   Follow | @MaryNewnhamWrites Visit | TheQuack.blog Music | Soundstripe.com CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER AMY ELMAN DOESN'T FEEL SEXY 

This month has been a bit chaotic, so I will be returning on September 17th with more facepalm stories. Thank you guys! x

It seemed barbaric, and yet, she was so casual about it, as if she were demonstrating how to season a chicken.   With the help of Reddit reviews, I'm choosing my next birth control method. This episode also includes some seriously great ideas for male contraceptives.    If you want to know more about birth control, click here .   Skip Introduction| 2:04 Sound | soundstripe.com Follow | @MaryNewnha...

"It would be called Can of Worms. Sunday Times Bestseller list, here I come."   In this first episode of the series, I am going back to the very beginning when I attempted my first novel.    Skip Introduction | 2:21 Visit | TheQuack. Blog Sound | Soundstripe.com Preorder Amy Elman Doesn't Feel Sexy on Amazon and other popular book stores. 

I made the mistake of asking Dad, “But do billboards actually work?” I may as well have asked if Tottenham Hotspur was a synchronised swimming team.   This week is about growing up in an 80s advertising family and working out what my dad did for work.    Skip Intro | 2:11 Visit | TheQuack. Blog Follow | @MaryNewnhamWrites Sound| Soundstripe.com