Before Tides & Typewriters, there was the gossip.

Tea, Gossip, and Other News is a short prequel that drops you straight into the heart of Forthaven Bay — where everyone knows everyone, and secrets never stay buried for long.

Pour yourself a cup, settle by the window, and listen in on the whispers that ripple through the village before the tide turns and get ready to meet your new favourite busybody.

Three divorces, one teapot, and a clipboard full of chaos— Meet Mags Kellow, Forthaven Bay’s resident organiser, librarian, and professional meddler.

When the May Fayre committee spirals into disaster, Mags decides the village needs a little romance to go with its jam-smeared chaos. Her latest mission? Pairing up Callum Ross, the grumpy lighthouse manager, with Nora Hart, the new reception teacher who blushes every time he speaks.

Between flying scones, gossiping neighbours, and one extremely rude seagull, Mags brews a perfect storm of comedy, warmth, and seaside charm.

And when the bunting comes down, she spots her next challenge across the square—quiet librarian Bea Whitmore—and the spark of a brand-new operation begins to bubble…

Because in Forthaven Bay, love’s never out of season. It’s just waiting for Mags to make a pot of tea.