Welcome to my website and thank you so much for visiting.
I write uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in stunning Yorkshire. My Whitsborough Bay books take readers/listeners to the North Yorkshire Coast and my Hedgehog Hollow books transport them deep into the countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
My books are about real people living real lives. You’ll find plenty of warm and fuzzy moments between the pages but you may occasionally find yourself tearing up and reaching for the tissues. I love my characters so, no matter how tough the going gets, I make sure they get their happy ending. Of course, with a series, it may take a few books to fully get there!
My favourite subject at school was English and I always loved the aspects of my day job in HR which involved writing but I never considered writing a novel until my manager told me that my business reports read more like stories and joked that I should write a book. As soon as a plot idea presented itself, that’s exactly what I did.
I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers Scheme in 2012 and stayed in the NWS for three years. The critiques I received through that were invaluable in helping me prepare my debut manuscript for submission.
In September 2013, I felt ready to let my debut novel, ‘Searching for Steven’ into the real world and sub’d him to a publisher for the first time. A year later I received two x three-book publishing deals! I chose to go with UK-based So Vain Books.
My debut novel, Searching for Steven, was released on 3rd June 2015 and the rest of the trilogy followed within the next 14 months. Sadly, my publisher ceased trading and I acquired my rights back. I re-released those books as an indie author along with a further five new books. With nine books under my belt, I decided it might be time to try and secure another publishing deal.
In March 2019, I was thrilled to receive a 9-book publishing deal from Boldwood Books, to release a mixture of new books and some of my back catalogue. My first book through them – The Secret to Happiness – was released in September 2019.
They refreshed the series that So Vain Books had published as a four-book series called ‘Welcome To Whitsborough Bay’. All the books had a fresh edit, new titles and gorgeous new covers ahead of their release in the first quarter of 2020 and, on the back of the success of these, Boldwood offered me contract addendums for the rest of my backlist, taking my publishing deal up to twelve books.
July 2020 saw the start of a brand new series set in a hedgehog rescue centre, Hedgehog Hollow. This new setting has become a reader favourite and soon became a six-book series. The final instalment came out in September 2022.
I’m delighted to have signed another twelve-book contract with Boldwood Books, all of which will be brand new books. The first in this contract – Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café – was released in August 2021. This is set just outside Whitsborough Bay above Starfish Point; home to a colony of over 200 common and grey seals. There was a sequel to this story out in spring 2022 – Spring Tides at The Starfish Café and the final part – Summer Nights at The Starfish Café – will be out in spring 2023.
I have an MA in Creative Writing with distinction which I achieved through Open University in late 2019.
You can find out more Jessica-shaped news, competitions and new releases by signing up to my newsletter. It’s produced by my publishers and has a two-stage sign-up process to wheedle out robots!
http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter
I’d be ever so grateful if you could follow me on Twitter @JessicaRedland, like my Facebook page and follow this blog although I confess I’m lax at keeping up to date on Twitter. Ooh, and I’m on Instagram … but I’m a bit rubbish at that too!
And if you ever fancy looking at some visual inspiration for my books, you can find a board per book on Pinterest.
Thanks for reading.
Jessica xx
Jessica Redland Author 
Hi Jessica I am an avid reader, just love a good storyline, your name popped up as a recommendation from Amazon, I must say I started reading the Whitsborough Bay Series, I thoroughly enjoyed them, really bonded with all the characters, you really brought them to life, I could not wait to see where the character’s stories would lead them, thank you so very much for wonderful story lines, I really didn’t want to lose these people when the final book finished, I am so very happy on the start of reading another of your books, A Secret to Happiness that I find Sarah is still with us, so very glad you are going to keep these characters in future books😀😀 WELL DONE on such fantastic writing, I have passed your name on to family & friends, you have certainly got another reading fan in myself 👍
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Huge apologies, Maureen. I must have completely missed this notification and have only just seen your lovely comment. Thank you so much for visiting Whitsborough Bay and for loving the stories and characters. I’m so delighted you enjoy their appearances across other books. I always try to do this in a way that seems very much in-keeping with the story for those who haven’t read my other books but it’s like seeing old friends again for those who have read them. Thank you so much for the recommendation to friends and family. I appreciate that so much. Apologies again that I didn’t respond. I’m normally so good at keeping up with comments! Thank you for such kind words xx
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Your books our amazing
I have read all up to date
And reread the Carly‘s cupcakes and chocolate pot and chocolate shop now for Christmas I’m not sure the amount of hot chocolate they make me drink is safe lol 😂
Brought my crazy love back for hedgehogs not sure my fella happy about house covered in anything hedgehog related lol
All your books are so cosy and give me such a warm feeling learn to speed write please lol 😂
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Thank you so much for your lovely message and for reading all my books so far. That gives me such a warm and fuzzy moment. Really appreciate your support and kind words. Loving that your house is full of hedgehog merch! They’re too adorable to resist. I have so many hedgehog-related items now and keep spotting new ones x
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Just listen to your 2 new books 🥰 the excitement as didn’t no new ones was out
No hesitation no doubts got them n listened and as always 5⭐️
Can’t wait for more
My must have author
Thankyou for being amazing and giving us more story’s gotta start a physical collection soon
But your narrators are amazing too you picked so well xxx
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Thank you so much, Maderlaina. I’m so honoured to be a must have author for you and so delighted you’re enjoying the narrators. They’re so talented. Thank you so much for the lovely feedback x
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Just finished the Bumblebee Barn book… not ready to say goodbye😿 Thank you for your lovely books… no hedgehogs where I live, but I wish there were 😊
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Thanks so much, Tracy. Great news that you loved it so much. Sorry to hear there aren’t any hedgehogs where you are, but hopefully discovering them through my books is the next best thing 🙂 x
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I just finished listening to all of your books and can’t wait until the cat cafe book is out. I am really going to need you to step up your pace haha!
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Thanks so much, Linette. Glad you’re enjoying them and really appreciate you listening to them all. Hope you enjoy Christmas at the Cat Cafe just as much although, with 4 books out each year, I’m afraid upping my pace is impossible! x
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Im also from Teesside and love the North Yorkshire coast. When I read the first of your Whitsborough Bay I fell in love with it. To find you weaving together so many stories around the Bay is completely wonderful. Though I love physical books my lifestyle includes lots of walking so audible is my medium of choice and I find myself transported to the bay by your wonderful writing. Thank you so much!
Pam.
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How lovely that you’re from the same area as me! Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Pam. I always love to hear about when it is that audiobooks get listened to and can imagine it’s such lovely escapism out walking with a story in your ears 🙂
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