As many of you will recall our blog had a total makeover back in January. Fran and I thought it would be nice to update you on what’s been happening behind the scenes since then and highlight a few successes.
New Look Same Passion
As we said at the time the revamp was to improve the experience for our visitors and didn’t in any way represent a change in our mission, values, and goals. We remain focused on sharing honest conversations about mental health and the power of supportive friendships. Check our announcement post A Fresh Look for Gum on My Shoe for a reminder of what changed and what didn’t. The revamp seems to have gone down well. Here’s what our dear friend Andi shared with us.
I found the new website very easy to navigate AND I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s warmer, like I’m in a room with you & Fran & your guests as opposed to viewing a virtual site. I like it a lot!
Thanks, Andi!
Let us know what works for you, anything that doesn’t, and what you’d like to see more or less of in the future. You can reach us by leaving a comment on this blog post or via our contact page.
Guest Posts by Lovely People
As part of the makeover I expanded our guidelines for guest bloggers. I’m delighted to say several of you have taken up our invitation. In March we shared a fascinating excerpt by Charity Megan Riley from the introduction to her 2025 novel Bipolar Dreamer.
My long-time friend Lisa Judson has written a great post about open swimming which is scheduled to go up in May for the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. There’s a rumour she might write further pieces for us so be sure to watch out for that. (No pressure, Lisa!) We have two or three other people interested in guesting with us too, which is brilliant.
If you fancy getting in on the act we’d would love to have you. Check out the guest guidelines on our contact page.
In at 43
It was a very pleasant surprise to learn that Gum on My Shoe features at number 43 on Feedspot’s list of 100 Best Mental Health Blogs to Follow in 2026. There are another 99 blogs on the list, many almost as fabulous as ours, so take this as an opportunity to check them out too!
Join Our Lovely Subscribers
As part of the revamp I moved our email subscription provider to FollowIt. It’s easier for me to manage and also makes for a better experience for our lovely subscribers. The FollowIt directory is another place to find great content, no matter what topic or theme you’re interested in.
Fran and I share a new post each Wednesday with additional content every now and again. Make sure you don’t miss out by receiving each new post direct to your email inbox. The service is free, you can tailor the frequency and amount of updates you receive from us, and you can unsubscribe at any time. What’s not to like? Subscribe via our contact page or this direct link.
Free Book Giveaway for World Bipolar Day
We recently ran a five day Kindle giveaway for our books High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder and No One Is Too Far Away: Notes from a Transatlantic Friendship to mark World Bipolar Day. Thanks to everyone who shared out details of the offer and of course to everyone who grabbed a free copy! We hope you’re enjoying the read and invite you to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
What’s Next?
You can expect more great stuff in the coming months including further guest posts, a spotlight on some of the podcasts and speaking engagements Fran and I have done in the past, articles for Mental Health Awareness Week in May, and a look at what happened at my recent ultrasound scan. Spoiler alert: I’m fine!
Until next time.
Fran and Marty
Photo by Markus Winkler at Unsplash.
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