Chrissie always believed that Richie loved her, had loved her for all the twenty-three years they’d been together, loved their three daughters and their house in Highgate and their happy, lively existence. But if she really was the love of his life, why had he never given her the one thing that would have made her life perfect? The ring she wore was not a wedding ring, and it did not bring her the security of marriage. That belonged, still, to Margaret, back in Newcastle where Richie had started off as a musician, before he became famous. Margaret and her son Scott never saw Richie, and had never met the three girls. They were his other family, not mentioned but always in Chrissie’s mind, an obstacle to her complete happiness.

And then, suddenly and shockingly, Richie is no longer there, and Chrissie and the girls have to learn to manage without him. The presence of the other family becomes, all at once, impossible to ignore – not least because they are involved in Richie’s will. Old resentments, and feelings of abandonment and loss, have to jostle with the practicalities of money and property...

Music in The Other Family
Not only does music feature very strongly and emotionally in The Other Family, but it has also produced three real, recorded songs. Joanna wrote the lyrics and her friend, Jason Kouchak, wrote the music and performed the songs. The first two recordings are available here to download, with a third to follow shortly.

Song 1 - 'Chase the Dream'

Download the song as an MP3

Download the lyrics

Song 2 - 'Look My Way'

Download the song as an MP3

Joanna reading an extract from The Other Family

To see Joanna reading an additional exclusive extract, vist her Facebook page.