Lucy Barker Author

Happy pub day to Alice Bell! I was literally thinking this morning - I really want to read a proper murder mystery. And then my preordered copy of this bloody beaut donked onto my doormat. Don’t talk to me. I’m READING

Well. I guess this was inevitable. Mrs Wood and Miss Finch encounter my daughter’s felt tip pens.

Babe. You do this every month. You’re NEVER going to make banana bread. Let it go.

THE FACE OF A WHO FORGOT TO DRESS HER KIDS FOR WORLD BOOK DAY. They only needed to wear bloody PJs too. FFS. I mean. It’s not like I write books for a living or anything. Just dropped off a panicked pj parcel in a shower of shame.

I mean. It’s not like I write books or anything for a living.

is here!!! Cannot wait to read this absolute barnstormer of a debut by the immense talent of . CONGRATULATIONS on your publication day 🥳🐅🥳

Another face. This time after an evening meeting some incredible fellow authors and speaking to a roomful of gorgeous book bloggers - book people are hands down the warmest, most welcoming people in the world. Thank you to everyone who was so enthusiastic and kind about Mrs Wood tonight. I’m sorry for my terrible handwriting. And now TO BED 🥳🥳.

The face of a debut author after - bit giddy, bit hoarse, bit red wine. Meeting all of the wonderful indie booksellers tonight was beyond my expectations - what an enthusiastic, warm, fun and bookishly brilliant bunch of people they are. Thank you so much for being so welcoming to dear old Mrs Wood. I genuinely cannot wait to visit you ALL.

I have two: *silhouette* has outfoxed me forever. And, since having children and needing to use it more frequently than I ever thought possible: *diarrhoea*.

LOOK AT THIS! It’s the brilliant debut from and I FINALLY HAVE MY COPY🥳🥳🥳. Have been dying to get my sticky mitts on this since I saw your cover reveal and it is even more beautiful IRL 🥰. CONGRATULATIONS, Heather. Cannot WAIT to get stuck in🥳🥳

An ugly jug. But it’s MY ugly jug. Thank you so much to the patient and talented for such a nourishing first class - it was so good to flex my creative (ha!) muscles off the page. Can’t wait to fill my home with loads of wonky s**t on my journey to become a Master Potter.

Long overdue visit to the hairdressers with BFF Nora Ephron for company ❤️

Wondering what you should be devouring this June? THE OTHER SIDE OF MRS WOOD that’s what, according to the Daily Mail 🥳🥳

NEW YEAR, NEW READS: A sneak preview of the novels to devour in 2023 COMING SOON: Fom heart-throbs to hauntings, kidnaps and con artists, our top critics give a sneak preview of the novels they'll devour in 2023

Pretty sure Mrs Wood would’ve received the news of being included on such an illustrious list with far more decorum than I managed.

27 new books that will be taking over your reading list in 2023 Thrillers, fantasy, romcoms, family sagas, comic reads... these are the new books you cannot miss.

Well if I don’t toot my own horn, I’m not sure who else will! has made the Big Fiction Books of 2023 list according to AND the Books to Devour in 2023 list in the 🥳🥳. Can you BELIEVE it?!? Never in my life would I have imagined my words would be in such incredible company!

You want news? I’ll give you news! My debut novel, ‘The Other Side of Mrs Wood’ will be published by in the UK and in US on 8 June 2023. 😭🥳🤯I KNOW!

I’m now going to toot my own horn because this is my party. So my EDITOR (I know 😭) described the book in the announcement as: ‘one of the warmest, wisest, funniest novels I have ever read. The pitch – two rival mediums battling it out in the cut-throat world of Victorian London’s most exclusive séance tables – is completely irresistible, and the novel itself is even better.’ I KNOW. Brace for lots of pictures of me looking excitedly bonkers for a while until I realise that Book 2 ain’t going to write itself.



Want ALL THE DETAILS? 👉https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/rights/fourth-estate-scoops-debut-from-barker-in-significant-two-book-deal

Welcome to my Author page! My debut novel, THE OTHER SIDE OF MRS WOOD, is published in June 2023 by 4th Estate and Harper and available to preorder ALREADY from all good booksellers.

Set in 1873 London, THE OTHER SIDE OF MRS WOOD tells the tale of two warring Mediums and is VERY loosely based on the real-life rivalry between esteemed Mediums Agnes Guppy and Florence Cook. The opening 10k words won me second place in the Curtis Brown First Novel Award 2019, and after a *lot* of hard work and support from my wonderful agent, I finished it and am thrilled that Mrs Wood will be published in June 2023 absolutely everywhere.

I live in beautiful Bath with my husband, dog and two kids.