South Norfolk-based romance author Nicola Knight has a new novel out today and this time she’s swapped Christmas for summer! Here, the Head of Communications at Redwings Horse Sanctuary explains the story behind Washed Up
Can you remind readers who you are and what you do?
My name is Nicola Knight, I’m a romance author originally from Ipswich and now based in Harleston, in South Norfolk. For my day job I’m head of communications at Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
How are all the horses (and the donkeys wearing Arsenal footless socks!) doing over at Redwings?
Oh my gosh the donkey socks!! That story has gone global, I’ve never known anything like it – the day I got a call from the actual real life Washington Post about our donkeys wearing donated socks from Arsenal, I nearly fell off my chair. We’ve been on national TV, radio and in the newspapers as well as online in everything from Match of the Day to LADBible, and not just in the States, but India, Singapore, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, even Azerbaijan!
They are all doing great thank you. It’s been a tough few months as we’ve sadly had to close two of our visitor centres in other parts of the country, but our supporters have been amazingly supportive and we know it’s difficult for all charities out there at the moment, as it is for everyone. I’d really encourage everyone to come and see us at our Norfolk and Essex centres this summer, entry is free and our sock-wearing donkeys in particular would love to see you!
We last featured you in 2024, before your debut novel came out – what has happened since then?
I’m so grateful for your support! My debut The Night Before Christmas had a lovely response and was even nominated for Debut of the Year at the Romance Novel Awards in London, another falling off the chair moment. My publishers very kindly offered me another book deal on the back of that, and last year the sequel was published, called The Day After Christmas, which has had so many lovely reviews, people seem to really enjoy going back to Felicity’s world of animal rescues – and gorgeous James of course.
As much as I’d love to write about Felicity forever, last year I had an idea for a new story while visiting Guernsey with my family. I pitched it to my publisher, and they loved it – so here we are!
What can you tell us about your new summer romance book?
It’s set on the tiny island of Herm, just off Guernsey. And I do mean tiny, no roads, no cars, less than two miles long. It’s all about what happens when a mysterious stranger gets stranded on the island in the middle of a storm and all he wants to do is get off. Until he meets a local girl, that is, who is thoroughly unimpressed with him at first but then just can’t get him out of her head. There’s a love triangle, opposites attract, forced proximity, all your favourite romance tropes and of course gorgeous beaches, beautiful landscapes and a couple of donkeys too!
How did you find writing about a different season for the first time?
Ah the topsy turvy world of the author! Usually, I’ve been writing Christmas books in the summer and this year I was writing a book about summer in December. Very peculiar. It’s certainly a test of the imagination but Herm Island is a place very close to my heart as we’ve visited a lot of times over the years, so it wasn’t a hardship picturing my characters there no matter the weather. Call it wish fulfilment!
What’s next for you?
Lots of promotion fun for the new book including an evening event at Diss Publishing on Friday 7th August where I’ll be chatting all things romance with wonderful historical fiction writer Jenni Keer, and an event at Barrow Books in Swaffham at the end of August. And then I’ll be writing the next novel, of course, always something new to write. I might be tempted to go back to Herm as there are a couple of characters with some unfinished business…
Washed Up, by Nicola Knight (Bloodhound Books) is out today, August 6 2026.
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