Clara didn't set out with a big plan for her life, but by listening to her heart, it's taken her exactly to where she feels she's meant to be.

Clara only started practising yoga as a way of coping with her busy life when she wasn't always the best at saying 'no.' She decided to learn how to teach it all around her job as a digital creator.

A chance conversation led Clara to creating Bristol YogaSpace - a little gem in an area called Bishopston in the city.

Clara doesn't just teach yoga - she's built her own community and life filled with something she loves. Clara believes it's all about finding the space to listen to our own hearts - and she gives you some wonderful advice to help you do the same.

To learn more about Clara and Bristol YogaSpace click here: https://www.bristolyogaspace.co.uk/

For your copy of my romantic comedy novel Do We Really Have To Do This? click here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Really-Have-This-Strawberry/dp/1838296549

And to browse all my Next Chapter Collection of Novels click here: https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/bookshop

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Imogen Clark says she advises her children to create their own luck - and she leads by example - by following her own heart Imogen has done exactly that in her own life.

First she became a solicitor in Leeds, a job she loved, but left when she had her children. One day she had a dream about writing a novel – so she had a go, but had no idea where this would take her. Today she writes contemporary fiction about families and secrets. Her books have sold nearly 2 million copies and they’ve topped the Amazon Kindle charts many times. She also writes under the pen name Izzy Bromley for lighter feel-good fiction.

Imogen says her favourite day of the week is Mondays and she’s created a life she truly loves around her family, work and love of travel. I’ve admired Imogen’s work for a long time and she's been a big inspiration to me – she’s funny, humble and gives some wonderful advice and I’m so excited I can now introduce her to you.

To discover more about Imogen and her wonderful books click here: https://imogenclark.com/

To discover more about me and my feel-good fiction and to keep in touch with weekly doses of Next Chapter inspiration you can find me here: https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/

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Farrah Storr has not only been the editor of Elle Magazine, she’s also been the editor of Cosmopolitan as well as launching Women's Health magazine too. She was listed as one of the 1,000 most powerful people in the UK in 2017 plus she’s won numerous awards including Editor of the Year.

And now she’s changing the way we consume our media – as Head of writing partnerships at Substack. Farrah has also written a book called The Discomfort Zone: How to Get What you want by living fearlessly. It’s all about the obstacles we face and how rather than skirting around them – actually working through them is the most exciting and magical route you can ever take.

In this Next Chapter Nibble Farrah begins with how she began working in magazine journalism.

To listen to the full episode click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s8-ep1-from-editor-of-elle-magazine-to-changing-the/id1551090298?i=1000601349900

And if you'd enjoy stories of Next Chapters by Next Chapter novel collection is here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Really-Have-This-Strawberry/dp/1838296549

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Tracy worked as a cancer nurse for 25 years - specialising in breast cancer and later becoming a Macmillan nurse. It’s safe to say Tracy has seen first hand how precious life is – and has spent many years with women and families at their most difficult times. But then Tracy had to make her own difficult decision to leave the job she loved and move back to Cornwall.

It was as she navigated this change, Tracy realised she had so much more she wanted to give so she decided to become a coach and founded The Wellbeing Wisdom Club – she helps women tmake the changes they need whatever their age and her brilliant Instagram account has more than sixty five thousand followers

Tracy is open brave, and yes at times this conversation gets a little emotional. But Tracy believes it’s by being open and vulnerable we can really find what is meant for us and live a life we love. This is what Tracy has done and she believes you have everything in you to do the same.

To learn more about Tracy's work you can find her here: https://wellbeingwisdomclub.com/

To read more about Grace Leven in my novel What Really Happened to me click here:

And to keep in touch with me (and I've love that) you can sign up for my weeklyish dose of Next Chapter inspiration here

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Today I’m going to share part of an episode which has had a big impact on many of my listeners.

If you ever watched 60 minute makeover with Peter André you may remember a lovely carpet fitter called Dave Wilson.

But what viewers didn’t see was Dave was hiding a drinking problem which had become out of control and was at one stage drinking a bottle of vodka a night. Today he is a Sobrietry Coach with more than 130 thousand followers and a hugely successful podcast - One For The Road. We begin with Dave telling us how he began drinking as a teenager.

To learn more about Sober Dave's work today you can find him here: https://www.soberdave.co.uk/

To learn more about me and my uplifting Next Chapter novels which are filled with the love, hope and community we all need - you can find me here: https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/

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Mamma Mia! Here we go again! I'm so,so sorry but how can I resist this.

I love all my Next Chapter conversations but this is one which resonated with me such a lot - I thought I would share it with you again.

One simple conversation and the story which would become one of our biggest musicals and Hollywood films of all time was born.

Catherine’s work has received an Olivier award, a Tony award, a Golden Globe nomination, a Bafta, a National Film Award…among many, many others. But here is what’s so special about Catherine, she is one of the most down-to-earth loveliest people you could ever wish to meet.

Catherine tells us what really happened when she met Bjorn and Benny, she talks about the moment she found out Meryl Streep was going to star in the film, and how friendships have seen her through all her Next Chapters.

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As we head towards the summer holidays, you may be thinking what book to take with you to read by the pool. One of my very favourite authors is Jill Mansell and she came on the podcast back in series 6

Jill writes romantic comedies and has sold millions and millions of books - but before this she worked for 18 years in clinical neurophysiology for the NHS . Here Jill begins with the story of how she started writing.

To learn more about Jill's wonderful books click here: https://jillmansell.co.uk/

To learn more about my uplifting Next Chapter novels (and why wouldn't you?) click here: https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/

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AJ says he was a really shy child growing up – he says he often didn’t feel very good at anything and wasn’t invited to parties.

However, as he got older and his confidence grew he became a broadcast journalist before spending 8 weeks in the Big Brother House.

But inside AJ was still struggling at the time. What he didn’t know then, was a woman had come to the live audience to cheer him on because she’d been so touched seeing his story while she watched at home. What AJ also didn't know was that this woman, Victoria Hyde, would later change his life.

I interviewed Victoria back in episode 1 of this series – but today AJ is not only doing his dream job as an award-winning bestselling historical fiction author but he also organises book parties with Victoria bringing authors, readers and reviewers all together.

Now in this conversation we cover such a lot – AJ tells us about coming out as a gay man at university, what really happens after going on a show like big brother and how some of his darkest moments paved the way to happier times.

This is a story of love, friendship and what can really happen when you make your dreams come true, not just for your sake but for all the people who were shy children at the back of the class too.

To find out more about AJ West's historical fiction click here: https://ajwestauthor.com/

To learn more about me and my uplifting romantic novels click here: www.elliebarkerwrites.com

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