I've written my debut book. In secret.

And it's about something I've been sitting on for years *taps mic*

the ruin

I've got two big pieces of news that I’ve been keeping under wraps for a long time.

What happens when the only place you've called home (London) is unable to support the kind of life you dream of?

Three years ago my husband and I made a life-changing decision and it is now finally, really happening.

*inhale*

1) We are uprooting our entire lives and moving to Portugal. We are building a house powered by the sun on a 3-acre patch of countryside with a ruin, just outside Lisbon. We are doing this to answer a calling to the land.

and…

2) I've written a book about it! It's my debut book. And I wrote it completely in secret. Almost no one has known about this book, until now.

My debut book is called Pathways.

It's on sale now for a limited time, until 27th May only (then it’s gone).

Worldwide print delivery and e-book available.

Only at the link below.

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Pathways is my debut two-book special

It’s part memoir, part manifesto and part guide. Here’s how I describe the books:

To the Land: Consider any aspect of the current human experience and there's a very good reason for doing things differently. This is an honest look at the absurdities of modern life and why I am quitting the only way of living I’ve known, to pursue a very different one of self-sufficiency in rural Portugal.

To Purposeful Living: Mini essays and thought exercises to help us face a simple question: how can we cut through the noise to identify the things that make us feel good and fulfilled?

This news will be a surprise to many I know

Other than my family, only my closest friends and some colleagues have known about the move to Portugal.

But I didn’t even tell them that for the past six months, I’ve been writing this book.

It’s been the most top secret thing I’ve ever done. And the secrecy was entirely self-imposed.

(I will be writing about the reasons I chose to keep this project completely confidential.)

*exhale*

I'm so thrilled, proud - and quite terrified - that this double announcement is now out in the world.

⭐ Note: I will be living in Portugal but my work will remain mostly UK-based and abroad. And I will routinely be in London every few weeks. So don't worry UK friends and colleagues, you haven't got rid of me that easily x

the land

It’s been a wild few months

Getting a book published has been a completely new experience for me.

Working with JP Watson, founder of The Pound Project (an independent UK-based publisher who puts writers and readers first), on my exclusive debut has been a dream.

There’s so much I have to say about this whole thing.

How the book came to be in the first place. The practicalities of how I actually wrote it when I wouldn’t have even called myself a ‘writer’ prior to starting this newsletter.

(and yet I’m now about to become a published author..?!)

And more.

I am forcing myself to stop for now otherwise it’s information overload.

But I will be sharing it all here, on A Day Well Spent.

a very on brand JP and I

Extra special things included in your order

When you order Pathways, you get the two books written by me.

Plus:

📕 A foreword written by my dear friend and bestselling author

Emma Gannon

(Emma does not usually write forewords — I feel so honoured she made an exception for my debut).

📕 Three beautiful postcard prints designed especially for the book, by talented artist and illustrator Georgia-Maia Oliphant (I think you will love these — they are gorgeous!)

📕 An invite to the below exclusive and interactive virtual event, where JP Watson and I will be talking about the book. You’ll get to ask me questions and I’ll be doing a live reading too.

Me and the book are on tour during May

During the short three weeks that Pathways is on sale (from now until 27th May only — then it’s gone), I will be talking about the themes of the book in some online and in person events.

Three weeks is a small window — I’m packing these in. I am so looking forward to them, they’re going to be great!

You are all invited to these conversations. I would loooooove to meet some of you in person.

We’ll be talking about growing food, the crazy world we live in, what it means to live with purpose and intention, and so much more.

⭐ Note: If you show me a receipt of your book purchase at one of the in-person events, I would be delighted to sign one of Georgia’s gorgeous and exclusive illustrated Pathways prints, for you to take home. I will have a bunch with me!

Event details

📆 6th May — podcast

Cooking the Books with

gilly smith

— our episode was recorded just a few hours before I shared my double announcement with the world = a great conversation. Listen here on Spotify or wherever you usually get your podcasts from (listener numbers were up 246% for this!)

📆 8th May — Substack Live, 11:00 GMT

Kitchen Hang with

Rosie Birkett

— enjoy this conversation between two good friends about big life things here.

📆 17th May — Fleet Street Festival of Words, London, 12:30

Panel discussion: The Evolution of Food Media and How We Consume It with

Jimi Famurewa

and Melissa Thompson, more here.

— use code FOW50 for 50% off ticket price

📆 27th May — INK82 Bookshop, London, 18:30

In conversation with

Emma Gannon

, more here.

📆 31st May — British Library, London, 13:00

Panel discussion: Gardening to Feed Body, Soul and Society with

Kathy Slack

, Claire Ratinon, Pam Warhurst and Jenny Linford, more here.

📆 August TBC — Salted Books, Lisbon

More info on this to come!

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Pathways is my limited edition debut two-book special and it’s on sale for 3 weeks only, until 27th May.

Then, it’s gone.

It’s done.

It’s over.

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That’s a small window of time

And lives are busy. So I would recommend ordering yours today in case you really want a copy, but just don’t get around to it and miss the boat entirely.

That would be sad; we don’t want that.

Your print books will be published and posted to your address, wherever you are in the world, on 6th June.

Consider this little package landing on your doormat a glorious gift to your future self!

I still can’t really believe the first book I have ever written, will soon be in people’s hands. A real and tangible thing to hold and keep and treasure.

It will be on people’s bookshelves…

I really and truly hope you enjoy Pathways.

On sale now, until 27th May. Worldwide delivery.

“PATHWAYS is a book I’ve been longing to read …

This book is about celebrating life’s plot twists—a reminder that our path in life is often never linear, straight forward, or what we initially expected. It’s also an introspective piece, questioning why so many of us feel trapped, sick and stifled by the modern world we live in.”

— Emma Gannon

“Not content with overturning the life she’s always known, she’s taken on the burden of writing about it – with no details spared – and the results are both magic and moving.”

— JP, The Pound Project

“It’s compulsive reading.”

— Rosie Birkett

A special THANK YOU to my treasured community of regular readers and commenters of A Day Well Spent, for your patience, support and engagement.

This is why I’ve been so busy! And why I’m not growing any veg this year — I won’t be here at harvest time!

When I say this book wouldn’t exist without you guys, I really mean it. So much so that I have a small but special reveal I will share with you soon, something about the book. To come!

To celebrate Pathways being on sale from 6th - 27th May, anything I publish on A Day Well Spent will be free to read and the comments open to everyone, for the duration of this period ❤️

leyla.kazim

A post shared by @leyla.kazim

Please tell your friends :)

And I would, of course, love to hear your thoughts about this news (and whether you think I’m crazy for leaping so blindly into the unknown…) — eeep!

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