Some news from the lighthouse

28th August 2026:

There is some rather lovely news to share. An Improbability of Puffins has been named one of three finalists in the Darley Anderson & Associates Characters Most Wanted competition. 

I entered because the competition began with character. What does your character love? What do they fear? What would they fight for? What would they risk everything to protect? That felt rather close to the way I had written this novel.

Ellie may inherit the lighthouse, but she could never hold the book on her own. There is Karensa in the bakery, Beryan behind the camera, Cal watching the weather, Jonah carrying more than he expected, Maisie listening through the radio desk, and Frank trying to make grief behave like paperwork. Then there are the islands themselves, which have never been very good at remaining in the background.

So I am enormously pleased, and still slightly surprised, that these characters have made it this far. The three finalists are Banking on It by Flo Goodrham, An Improbability of Puffins by Blair Penhaligon and Curious Devices by Daniel Culver. Thank you to everyone at Darley Anderson for reading, and congratulations to Flo and Daniel.

For now, I think this particular puffin is allowed to sit on the rock for a minute.