Catherine Balavage Yardley
@catherineby.bsky.social
Author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest. Freelance writer. Editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine. Words in The Sunday Times, Mslexia, The Bookseller, The Guardian, Metro.
I’m in Metro writing about how hosting at Christmas just isn’t worth it when you have small children. #christmas #christmasseason #freelancewriter #journalist
metro.co.uk/2025/12/13/h...
metro.co.uk/2025/12/13/h...
Hosting Christmas for the family nearly killed me
I decided that was the last Christmas we would host, nor would we leave our house.
metro.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I’m in Metro writing about how hosting at Christmas just isn’t worth it when you have small children. #christmas #christmasseason #freelancewriter #journalist
metro.co.uk/2025/12/13/h...
metro.co.uk/2025/12/13/h...
Enid Blyton is one of the reasons I wanted to become a writer. I was obsessed with the Famous Five so much that I wanted to be called George. Now my 10-year-old is reading her work and ‘loving it.’ It’s a full-circle dream. #book #enidblyton #famousfive
December 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Enid Blyton is one of the reasons I wanted to become a writer. I was obsessed with the Famous Five so much that I wanted to be called George. Now my 10-year-old is reading her work and ‘loving it.’ It’s a full-circle dream. #book #enidblyton #famousfive
Jilly Cooper, Sophie Kinsella and Joanne Trollope all gone in the same year. What a terrible loss for publishing.
December 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Jilly Cooper, Sophie Kinsella and Joanne Trollope all gone in the same year. What a terrible loss for publishing.
Tis the season for people to try and sell me pictures of my children and artwork that they make for ££££. Don’t they realise I have an IP stake in these little humans?
December 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Tis the season for people to try and sell me pictures of my children and artwork that they make for ££££. Don’t they realise I have an IP stake in these little humans?
Reposted by Catherine Balavage Yardley
"Buy yourself a huge box of chocolates and eat one for every rejection. Self care is important while being on submission."
Author @catherineby.bsky.social shares her advice on how to stay sane while your #writing is out on submission.
Read: www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/how-s...
Author @catherineby.bsky.social shares her advice on how to stay sane while your #writing is out on submission.
Read: www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/how-s...
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
"Buy yourself a huge box of chocolates and eat one for every rejection. Self care is important while being on submission."
Author @catherineby.bsky.social shares her advice on how to stay sane while your #writing is out on submission.
Read: www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/how-s...
Author @catherineby.bsky.social shares her advice on how to stay sane while your #writing is out on submission.
Read: www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/how-s...
I love Elissa Soave’s books, and Common Ground was no different. A fantastic book full of brilliant, well-rounded characters. Set in Lanarkshire. It’s amazing to see Uddingston and Lanarkshire represented. A community fights to keep their allotments. Will they succeed?
December 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I love Elissa Soave’s books, and Common Ground was no different. A fantastic book full of brilliant, well-rounded characters. Set in Lanarkshire. It’s amazing to see Uddingston and Lanarkshire represented. A community fights to keep their allotments. Will they succeed?
Because life is full of little joys, and some big ones ❤️🥂
December 4, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Because life is full of little joys, and some big ones ❤️🥂
I was in The Telegraph at the weekend talking about the secret to a happy marriage. #marriage #journalist #freelancewriter
December 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I was in The Telegraph at the weekend talking about the secret to a happy marriage. #marriage #journalist #freelancewriter
I did an author event at Northcote library and the amazing librarian, Courtney, said that loads of people had taken my book out. She compared me to Taylor Jenkins Reid and they agreed! It was definitely a moment.
December 1, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I did an author event at Northcote library and the amazing librarian, Courtney, said that loads of people had taken my book out. She compared me to Taylor Jenkins Reid and they agreed! It was definitely a moment.
Black Friday is rubbish this year. Most things have between £4-6 off. Hardly a bargain. #BlackFriday
November 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Black Friday is rubbish this year. Most things have between £4-6 off. Hardly a bargain. #BlackFriday
When you let the four-year-old make their own breakfast. #parenting
November 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM
When you let the four-year-old make their own breakfast. #parenting
When you have been girl bossing too close to the sun, head to Champneys and get them to unmangle your back. #workworkwork #selfcare #massage
November 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
When you have been girl bossing too close to the sun, head to Champneys and get them to unmangle your back. #workworkwork #selfcare #massage
No, I haven’t stolen my neighbours cat. He came in all by himself with minimal bribery and meowing from me. 😇 #cats #purebreed #purebreedcat
November 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
No, I haven’t stolen my neighbours cat. He came in all by himself with minimal bribery and meowing from me. 😇 #cats #purebreed #purebreedcat
Publishing is a long game. It’s also a tough industry. Here are some lessons I have learned. What would you add? #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #publishing #authorcommunity
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Publishing is a long game. It’s also a tough industry. Here are some lessons I have learned. What would you add? #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #publishing #authorcommunity
My 4yo: What do you love?
Me: Gives him a list which includes 'my friends.'
My 4yo with a look of shock: You have friends?!
Me: Yes!
4yo: Who are your friends?
Me: Gives him a list.
4yo: Oh, I never realised those people were your friends.
😂
Me: Gives him a list which includes 'my friends.'
My 4yo with a look of shock: You have friends?!
Me: Yes!
4yo: Who are your friends?
Me: Gives him a list.
4yo: Oh, I never realised those people were your friends.
😂
November 17, 2025 at 11:44 AM
My 4yo: What do you love?
Me: Gives him a list which includes 'my friends.'
My 4yo with a look of shock: You have friends?!
Me: Yes!
4yo: Who are your friends?
Me: Gives him a list.
4yo: Oh, I never realised those people were your friends.
😂
Me: Gives him a list which includes 'my friends.'
My 4yo with a look of shock: You have friends?!
Me: Yes!
4yo: Who are your friends?
Me: Gives him a list.
4yo: Oh, I never realised those people were your friends.
😂
Me: Do you love books?
My 4yo: Are you still a writer?
Me: Yes.
4yo: Then I still love books.
My 4yo: Are you still a writer?
Me: Yes.
4yo: Then I still love books.
November 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Me: Do you love books?
My 4yo: Are you still a writer?
Me: Yes.
4yo: Then I still love books.
My 4yo: Are you still a writer?
Me: Yes.
4yo: Then I still love books.
I was captivated by the blurb of this book. It looks amazing. Such a clever concept from @eleanortuckerauthor I’m going in… Published by @hera_books
You could look 20 years younger. Would you do it?
You could look 20 years younger. Would you do it?
November 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I was captivated by the blurb of this book. It looks amazing. Such a clever concept from @eleanortuckerauthor I’m going in… Published by @hera_books
You could look 20 years younger. Would you do it?
You could look 20 years younger. Would you do it?
They won’t tell you this, but nothing is more attractive than accountability.
November 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
They won’t tell you this, but nothing is more attractive than accountability.
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I don’t think we talk enough about how nice it is to cancel things and do absolutely nothing.
November 10, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I don’t think we talk enough about how nice it is to cancel things and do absolutely nothing.
I’m one of those parents who let their kids play with sand, play dough and paint in the house. At least one of us is having fun. It’s definitely stressful, but I just relax and tell myself they’re having fun and cleaning it up is not that bad. My husband does not agree 😂😂 #letkidsbekids #sand
November 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I’m one of those parents who let their kids play with sand, play dough and paint in the house. At least one of us is having fun. It’s definitely stressful, but I just relax and tell myself they’re having fun and cleaning it up is not that bad. My husband does not agree 😂😂 #letkidsbekids #sand
My husband and I nicknamed our kids ‘the kraken’ when they were younger. When they were in the pram, we would say ‘should I release the kraken?’ The in-joke was funny until they asked what a kraken is. Turns out being compared to an ancient sea monster isn’t a compliment.
November 8, 2025 at 8:42 PM
My husband and I nicknamed our kids ‘the kraken’ when they were younger. When they were in the pram, we would say ‘should I release the kraken?’ The in-joke was funny until they asked what a kraken is. Turns out being compared to an ancient sea monster isn’t a compliment.