Olivia's Luck: A witty and captivating story of a woman taking charge of her chaotic life

Written by Catherine Alliott

Narrated by Caroline Doughty

"I don't care what color you paint the sodding hall. I'm leaving."

When her husband Johnny suddenly walks out on ten years of marriage, their ten-year-old daughter and the crumbling house they're up to their eyeballs renovating, Olivia is completely devastated.

Where did she go wrong? How could she not have noticed his unhappiness? But Olivia doesn’t have time to entertain what ifs.

Not when she's got three builders camped in her back garden, a neighbor with a never-ending supply of cast-off men she thinks Olivia would be drawn to and a daughter with her own firm views on . . . well, just about everything.

Will Olivia’s luck ever change, or will she finally start making her own luck?

• Language: English
• Publisher: noshooz inc
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781948224437

Catherine Alliott

'People often ask me if I always had a burning desire to be an author, and the honest answer is no, in fact, it almost happened by accident. I was working as a copywriter in an ad agency and tired of writing blurb for soap powder, began writing a novel under the desk. I had no thought of publication, was just doing it to relieve the boredom, but I must say it was a bit of a shock when my boss walked in one day and said we're not sure you're entirely committed and gave me the sack! Actually, I think that galvanized me and I was determined to finish it. I did, but it took a while: I was working freelance, and then pregnant with my first child so it wasn't at the forefront of my mind. When my son was born I discovered babies slept for great chunks of the day, so I revisited it, tapping it onto a computer my brother gave me. (The first draft was in long hand, I'm a complete Luddite by nature, and actually, still write my first draft into note books.) My husband persuaded me to send it to an agent who took it - amazingly and then a few weeks later I had a publisher too. The Old Girl Network came out about a year later and the first time I saw it in a shop, I was so startled I ran out again! I'm convinced it was easier back then to get published, these days it's far more competitive because there are so many girls doing it I'm glad I started early! I've written a few more since then, but some things don't change: I still get a thrill when I see them around. I hope you enjoy the books, I certainly have a lot of fun writing them.' ​