International Women’s Day is March 8 during what is also Women’s History Month in many countries.

It’s a day to recognize women’s achievements, particularly in ways that have made a positive difference to society or for women and girls (for example, women’s contributions during both World Wars and winning the right to vote).

While I acknowledge and appreciate the trailblazing women who have come before me, many ordinary women have also inspired me.

Here are four things these “unsung heroines” have taught me.

Putting the kettle on for a cuppa makes life better

From my British female family and friends, I learned the restorative power of a cup of tea.

In life crises big and small, ‘I’ll put the kettle on’ is for me synonymous with listening, caring and meaningful conversations.

Women writers need other women writers

Throughout my writing career, I’ve been blessed with a supportive community of other women authors.

These women encourage me when things go wrong and are my cheerleaders when I succeed.

They inspire and console me and are there for me in writing and life, keeping me going in the roller-coaster business of publishing.

Writing is rewriting

Long before I wrote fiction for publication, while studying at a British university I wrote a postgraduate thesis.

At the circa twenty-fifth draft of an especially troublesome chapter, my research supervisor, one of a few women then in a senior academic role, said that rewriting wasn’t only making the work stronger.

It was also making me stronger.

I still hold to that advice personally and professionally.

Motherly wisdom…for Mothering Sunday

This coming Sunday, 10 March, is British Mother’s Day. Since English Rose was born in England it’s a time to celebrate my ‘mum life.’

However, I also celebrate the wisdom I gleaned from my own mother.

From ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ to ‘roll with the punches,’ my late mother’s voice is still woven through my daily life.

Along with ‘good manners never go out of style’ and ‘stand tall, say what you mean and don’t mumble,’ her wise words stand the test of time.

And finally a writing update…

In case you missed it in my monthly reader newsletter (subscribe here if you haven’t already) and you’d like to support me in my next book release, The Cowgirl Nanny for Harlequin Heartwarming, out in April, here’s how:

The Cowgirl Nanny is going on a review tour with JustRead Publicity Tours from April 10 to May 10.

If you’d like to read an advance ePub copy and post a review on sites like Goodreads, Amazon or BookBub, find out more & sign up here.

If you don’t review books, you can still support my book release in other ways.

Pre-order The Cowgirl Nanny in large-print paperback or ebook from Harlequin or other retailers here.

Ask your library to purchase it and/or mark it “want to read” on Goodreads.