Do you know how it feels to be INVISIBLE?

She's been invisible so long she doesn't even recognise herself...

Caring for her dying husband has made Fran invisible. She's just part of a system no one sees.

But when Jim confesses his secret, Fran’s grief is overwhelming. And the situation is worse than she could have imagined. As Fran struggles to come to terms with her new reality, four disparate people are brought together in love and determination to be a very modern kind of family.

Invisible is a searingly honest portrayal of modern life.

 

Get your car fixed for FREE!

AutoAngels are on the lookout for their next car projects. 

If you have a car that need work and have a great human interest story, get in touch with the producer at carmen@autoangels.co.uk. 

If you are selected, your car repair will be done for free.

UK ONLY

Drum roll please......... Nominations are now live on our website, so all those lucky enough to have been notified, get on over there to see what your nominations are for!

A massive thank you to everyone who sent in films this year - we have extended the Sunday to a full day of screenings just so we can screen more of your amazing films than ever before.

We luck forward to seeing you there and hopefully at the awards evening for a great networking and social event.

Award evening ticket price includes a drink from the bar and buffet.

https://www.stratford-upon-avon-filmfestival.com/nominati...

AutoAngels have their own radio show!!!

AutoAngels are delighted to announce that they now have a monthly radio show, hosted by Garage Talk Online. Carmen and Ben will be talking about AutoAngels episodes and all things automotive, and inviting listeners and guests to join in on the fun.

Auto Angels – Driven by Stories launches on Thursday 13 August 2026 at 12:30pm and will be broadcast monthly on Garage Talk Radio.

https://www.garagetalkonline.co.uk/.../auto-angels-comes...

 

Envisage International Film Festival is now open for submissions. The science fiction and fantasy festival will be running in 2027 alongside its sister festival which focuses on horror and all things terrifying. 

And along with a veritable feast of fantastic films, visitors can also browse a large hall filled with traders of all things horror and sci-fi. 

Filmmakers please submit your film via Film Freeway. Traders get in touch via info@birminghamhorrorfilmfestival.com.

 

News, News and More News

2026 has been busy. So busy in fact that we are halfway through the year and I haven't even updated this blog with all the news of what's been going on in  the last few months!

So are you ready for it? Here goes... The follow-up book to Cursed will be coming out soon. This was a book I was never sure I was going to write. I mean all books have their natural endings, but sometimes... and only sometimes, there is a further story to be told, another adventure to be had. 

That's how it was with Cursed. Constance had found and lost the love of her life several times over and the ending quelled the fire in my heart. Somewhat. But there was always the bigger picture waiting. 

I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't yet read Cursed, but suffice it to say you won't be disappointed in the follow-up, TRINITY, which will be out soon. To view Cursed. click here.  

I have also been busy writing new films and producing AutoAngels. If you haven't caught up with this great new show on YouTube yet, you are seriously missing out. 

In each episode we have a brand new story, a great human-interest narrative that drives our female mechanics to take on the car and fix it for free. Along the way there are some great hints and tips and a truckful of great viewing. Take a look at an episode here.

We were delighted to announce a few week ago that we have the full support of Shell behind us and we have some lofty ambitions to roll out across the UK within the next 12 months. This is us at Shell HQ in London.

As if that wasn't enough, I have been working quietly away behind the scenes to arrange the next Envisage International Film Festival as well as Birmingham Horror Film Festival and its associated Fear and Future Convention. I'm proud as punch to announce that this will now be held in partnership with Evolve Theatre and Dudley College of Technology, in July 2027. More news on that is to follow. 

Finally... I have been getting organised for our Stratford on Avon Film Festival which will be held on the 15th and 16th August at the Bear Pit Theatre. It promises to be as sparkling an event as last year's festival and we have some great films to show. 

So by now you can probably see why I have been so absent from here and I hope I have your forgiveness. I promise not to leave it so long next time!

Carmen x

Science fiction fan?

Envisage International Film Festival is thrilled to announce that the amazing cosplay team, Central Legion, will be appearing at the festival being held at Millennium Point on the 10th-11th January. 

As always they will be available for photo ops and happy to pose with everyone.

£2.50 per block of films. 

£5 full day of films. 

Pay on the door. 

Come and say hi! 

FILM FREEWAY - Pay attention

Hello all you filmmakers, directors, producers and writers out there. Listen up, because this is for YOU. 

You might already know that I run several film festivals; Stratford on Avon Film Festival, Birmingham Horror Film Festival and Convention, and Envisage International Film Festival - and if you didn't, well now you do. 

The vast majority of films we receive as submissions are great, BUT and it's in capitals for a reason - there are many that come into each of the festivals  under the wrong category. Now we are fair and honest people, so when that happens (and because we have the luxury of running three different festivals) we try to contact the filmmaker, offer a free code to transfer their film to the correct festival and out of the one they have incorrectly sent it to. But this is time consuming for both parties and may mean that a film misses a deadline for submission. 

So this is a plea to all filmmakers out there. CHECK the criteria for the festival you intend to submit to. I can't tell you how many family dramas Envisage gets, even though it is clearly marked as a sci-fi and fantasy film festival. And if you don't, and the festival will not transfer the film (unlike us) the reality is that you are likely wasting your money.  So beware!

Thanks!

*** COMPETITION TIME!!! ***

With so much going on, I thought it would be nice to host a competition to win a signed copy of one of my books and to include a personalised  message. 

To enter, head over to my facebook page and simply tag a friend, it's that simple. Good luck!

A nice surprise!

 It's always so lovely to find a new review on Amazon. 

Most of my books only have a few reviews but every single one of them is genuine and not a paid-for service. 

So check out Invisible now. 

Get ready for it...

I'm reposting a post from a few years ago because I have just finished editing this book, ready for release. 

The Owners Volume 5 - coming soon. 

I have got to stop crying!

I have just written chapter seventeen, where one of my most beloved characters dies and I am heart broken. I didn't want him to die and I even tried to resuscitate him but his death was central to the plot and unavoidable.

And so I am grieving.

Unfortunately  this is not the only time in the past week I have cried. I watched the film District 9 the other night and it had me in floods of tears as well!

So now I have to add that to the list of film I can't watch without having a blubber. Here are my top ten...and in no particular order.

1. King Kong - I LOVE that hairy beast!
2. Truly, madly, deeply - the actors are so real and it gets me every time,
3. Dirty Dancing - I figure that's a kind of odd one here, but I cry!
4. District 9 - obviously!
5. Ghost - there's a definite Patrick Swayze theme here [ahem!]
6. The Lion King - yes I do know it's animation but when the daddy lion holds the cub up....
7. The notebook - oh my God I cried from start to end
8. I am legend - just because he is so alone [and the dog dies]
9. Schindler's list - they almost had to remove me from the cinema
 and finally,
10. Up - another animation which my children did not entirely understand in all its subtleties but I did.

There are of course many, many others, some of which have yet to be written.

But the hardest of all are the ones you write for yourself...

Have a great weekend and do something fun. I sure hope to.

Hear all about it!

Today I will be on Black Country Radio, on the Leigh Perry Drive Time Show, around 3pm.  I'll be talking about AutoAngels, why we do what we do and how you can get involved. 

I hope you can catch it. xx

Finalists announced!

I'm thrilled to be announcing that AutoAngels is a finalist for this amazing award.

To be recognised for the work we are doing, and so soon after our launch is just amazing. Keep your fingers crossed for us! 

OUT NOW!

I am delighted to say that Volume 4 of the Owners series is out now and available as an ebook and in paperback.

Hear me talk about my books and other projects.

This Sunday at midday you can hear me talk about my most recent books, films and other projects on the Listen with Lee show on Black Country Radio.

http://www.blackcountryradio.co.uk/.../black-country-xtra/

It's also available on demand at https://www.blackcountryradio.co.uk/.../black.../on-demand/

Thanks to Lee Benson for being an amazing interviewer and for inviting me onto his show.

Are you bored? Need something fresh?

Do something more exciting. Get your tickets now!

https://filmfreeway.com/StratfordonAvonFilmFestival/tickets

Earlybird submissions still open

Love science fiction and fantasy? So do we! 

That's why we run Envisage International Film Festival - a WHOLE FESTIVAL dedicated to the very best independent science fiction and fantasy films. Hosted in the amazing Millennium Point, it's set to be a festival that will thrill and delight audiences. 

So if you have a feature, short or micro short, submit it now. Earlybird submissions are still open and you might just end up being the proud owner of one of these...

And don't forget we also have a horror festival and convention, Birmingham Horror Film Festival and the all genre festival, Stratford on Avon Film Festival. 

So get submitting now!

Happy World Book Day!

 

I had intended to publish another book, Volume 4 of this series in fact, for World Book Day - in other words, today. 

But if you've scrolled through these blog posts, you'll have seen how busy I've been. And the truth is that what you are seeing here, is only a fraction of the projects I have underway. 

So hold onto your hats as there's more to come. And I promise Volumes 4 and 5 of this series will be out soon. 

WE HAVE LAUNCHED!!

 For the past two years I have had to keep something under wraps as we filmed episodes and prepared for the big reveal. 

Yesterday we went live. 

AutoAngels means so much to me. The ethos of helping people and giving back to the community is at the heart of nearly everything I do. But it's not just about fixing cars for people, it's about encouraging people to enter the world of mechanics and STEM in general. 

So please take a look, subscribe and share - because we all need some angels in our lives. 

Come talk to me about my latest book releases.

Tickets can be purchased here or via Facebook.