Author interview – Victoria Scott

1) Which childhood books and authors were your favourites? Do you think they influenced you in wanting to become an author?

I was obsessed with Roald Dahl. Particularly Matilda, which came out when I was a little girl. I was given the hardback as a present. I still have it, and my daughter is reading it.  I loved his sense of humour, his playful language and his ability to create characters that were both relatable and often fantastical. His books taught me that it is possible to write stories that are both entertaining and meaningful.

2) How did you get your first book published?

I started my debut novel, Patience, about 10 years before it was published, but then forgot about it for a long while. What finally pushed it over the line was a Faber Academy course, which gave me the impetus to finish it. I then sent it out to agents, and was very lucky to get two offers.  After I’d chosen my agent, we worked on the manuscript for a few months, before sending it out to publishers. Then a month or so later, we had two offers from publishing houses. It was such an exciting, dreamy time.

3) If you had to write a non-fiction book, what subject or person would it be about?

Patience, was inspired by my sister Clare, who has Rett syndrome. Despite the fact we’ve never been able to speak to each other, we have an “unspoken language,” something I was determined to feature in the book; the bond between Patience and her sister Eliza is incredibly strong. If I ever have time, I’d like to write a non-fiction book for other siblings of disabled people, sharing my childhood experiences. I felt very isolated as a kid, thinking I was the only one, and now I’m much older, I know that’s not true.

4) How do you come up with titles for your books?

Patience, my first novel, was named after the Take That song. Patience the character is an enormous Take That fan (as am I in real life!) so it made sense, and it’s also a book about being patient, and being a patient, so it made sense on lots of different levels. My second, Grace, was a deliberate link – another virtue. Grace is the name of the baby in the book, and the characters also have to demonstrate ‘grace’ in the way they behave. My third novel, The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, was originally going to be called Constance (another virtue!) but my editor changed it. I think it was the right decision. It gives people more of an idea about what to expect from the novel.

5) When you’re being interviewed about the books you’ve written, do you ever forget the names of your characters?

All the time! I was doing a live radio interview recently and realised I couldn’t remember the name of the character. It was really annoying, as I had a good point to make! I’ve created so many characters now, and when you’re writing something new, your brain often dumps what went before. Or at least, mine does, anyway.

6) What’s the strangest thing you have researched (or Googled!) for a book you were writing?

Probably trying to find out how the residents of houses on Thames islands in the Victorian era got their drinking water. You’ll have to read my next novel to find out why 🙂

7) What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

I’m just about to finish Janice Hallett’s The Appeal, and goodness it’s a clever book. It’s compulsive and imaginative, and I wish I’d written it! Although I don’t write crime (yet) I do love reading it.

 8) What’s your least favourite household chore?

Ironing. I simply don’t do it. I have a handheld steamer instead for quick fixes in the morning.

9) Do you have any rituals when you start writing a new book?

Not really, except that I always light a candle next to my desk when I write. I love the scent and it sort of sets the scene. I also always write a synopsis first with the ‘hook’ for the book, and this then helps me to brainstorm the plot, which I write into a spreadsheet with a chapter outline on each line. Oh, and I always have a cup of fresh coffee!

10) Tell us about your latest book and upcoming book. Also please add your links for your blog/website, social media links, etc.

My latest novel, The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, is an uplifting, emotional read which feels like a warm hug. It’s got a 4.5 average on Amazon, which is amazing. It’s free via Kindle Unlimited and also available in audio and paperback. You can buy it here: https://amzn.to/3M5hwAQ

My next book is The House In The Water, writing as Victoria Darke, with Boldwood, publishing May 27th. It’s a dual-timeline historical mystery. https://www.boldwoodbooks.com/book/house-in-the-water/

http://www.toryscott.com

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Toryscott

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriascottauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaScottJournalist

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@victoriascottauthor

Big thanks to Victoria for joining me on my blog today!

Publication Day for Heidi Swain’s The Holiday Escape

I always love Heidi Swain’s books and I pre-ordered this one way back in August. As well as being a brilliant writer, Heidi also has to be one of the loveliest people I’ve met online. So I’m thrilled to celebrate her publication day with a few questions and answers, which I hope you enjoy reading too.

If you could escape for a holiday to somewhere you’ve created in your books, which fictional destination would you visit and what would you do there?

That’s a tricky question, because I would love to visit every setting I’ve created. Christmas at Wynthorpe Hall with the Connelly family would be idyllic, wouldn’t it? However, as we’re heading towards summer (allegedly) and I’m a huge fan of having a go at different crafts, I’m going to pick a visit to Hollyhock Cottage which features in The Holiday Escape.

Ally and her dad host the most wonderful artistic weekends in Kittiwake Cove and I’d love to stay there and try my hand at making some more silver jewellery. I took part in a silver stacking ring making workshop a while ago and I loved it.

How do you come up with the names of your characters? Do they announce themselves, or do you have to work to find out what they are called?

With great difficulty is how I come up with them and no, they never announce themselves! I’m not even going to attempt to add up how long I spend working on assigning characters the right names. I’ve quite recently discovered that film credits are a superb source for both first names and surnames, but it hasn’t helped speed the process up.

Even though I’ve never had a character land complete with a name, it didn’t take me long to settle on Bella in Home for Christmas, but she’s been the exception not the rule. Whatever the name ends up being, it absolutely has to be the right fit and that can take hours, days, weeks of baby name website searching, and now, film watching!

What word count do your publishers ask for? Do you have issues with over-writing or under-writing?

All of my books are around one hundred thousand words. Some go over by a few thousand, but never under. I tend to write a pretty solid first draft and it’s always about that length. Funnily enough, it isn’t something I think about, it just somehow happens. I hope I haven’t jinxed it now I’ve acknowledged it!

You have some of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen. Please tell us a little about the process of the covers being designed and what input you have.

Thank you so much. I’m delighted you like them and I absolutely love them, too. Predictably the current one is always my favourite!

As soon as my editor has the roughly drafted details of what the book is going to be about, she briefs the art department and Pip Watkins works her magic. Pip has designed all of my covers and I very rarely ask to have anything changed. In fact, I can’t remember the last time… The team might have a few options to consider with regards to colour choices for the design, but we always love the same one.

I consider myself most fortunate that I’m able to express an opinion and could ask for things to be altered if I wasn’t happy. I know not every author has that opportunity and I’m doubly blessed given that Pip hits the jackpot every time.

What will you be doing on publication day? Do you still get excited about each new release?

As a rule, I spend around seventeen hours on social media on publication day. I kid you not! I literally go from one social media platform to another, thanking everyone for their kind likes, shares and comments. It’s epic! And then of course, there’s the traditional and thoroughly fabulous publication day party created and hosted by Sue Baker on Facebook.

This time around I’ve also got an in-person event happening on the actual day. My local library has invited me along for an evening celebration and I’m really looking forward to that.

I’ll have a breather on Friday and then it’s over to Downham Market in the heart of Wynbridge country for a morning of fun, photos and hopefully lots of signing in No8 The Old Book Shop.

I do still get excited about each new release, but I’m always jittery about how the book is going to be received. I’ve celebrated eighteen times now and the nerves haven’t gone away yet so I’m not expecting this time to be any different. Here’s hoping everyone loves it!

Imagine you were invited on all the skilled reality TV shows – Sewing Bee, Bake Off, Pottery Throw Down, Strictly, etc. – but you could only pick one. Which would you pick and why?

Well, I’m not skilled in any of these but I did recently have a go at making a pinch pot at my local library and loved it, so I’ll say Pottery Throw Down. It’s not only the skill that I’m drawn to, but also the wonderful camaraderie between the contestants and hosts. Everyone is always so supportive – apart from when Keith gets a bit slap happy with his bucket of course – and I love watching everyone bond throughout the series.

If you don’t mind, Karen, I’m going to take this opportunity to say that it doesn’t matter if you’re skilled, proficient or otherwise when it comes to having a go at things. I throw myself in at the deep end all the time these days because it really is about taking part. If you enjoy doing something, then do it, irrespective of whether you get a polished end result. If you never try, you’ll never know. A decade ago, I didn’t have a single book with my name on and now I’m writing my twentieth. Life’s short folks, so dive in!

The Holiday Escape Blurb

Her dream holiday is his everyday life. His dream holiday is her normal life. What happens when they collide?
 
Ally and her dad, Geoff, run the family business, a creative retreat, from their home Hollyhock Cottage in picturesque Kittiwake Cove. They give their guests their dream break, but Ally hankers after glamourous city living, fancy restaurants and art galleries.

Ally’s survival strategy is to escape out of season, take a break abroad and pretend to be the person she always imagined she would be. She meets Logan while she’s away and he turns out to be exactly the kind of distraction she’s looking for.

With her spirits restored, Ally returns home, picks up the reins again and sets her sights on another successful season, but when Logan unexpectedly arrives on the scene, she soon realises she’s in for a summer that’s going to be far from straightforward…
 
A story about bringing a holiday home – and what happens when what goes on on holiday comes back to bite you…

Heidi Swain Author Bio

Although passionate about writing from an early age, Heidi Swain gained a degree in literature and flirted briefly with a newspaper career before she plucked up the courage to join a creative writing class and take her literary ambitions seriously.

A lover of vintage paraphernalia and the odd bottle of fizz, she now writes feel good fiction with heart for Simon and Schuster. Her debut novel, The Cherry Tree Café was published in July 2015 and she became a Sunday Times Bestseller in 2017. Her 2022 Christmas title, A Christmas Celebration was awarded the RNA Popular Romantic Fiction Award in 2023.

Heidi currently writes two books a year and is represented by Amanda Preston, LBA. She lives in Norfolk.

Links

Website: http://www.heidiswain.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Heidi_Swain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterHeidiJoSwain?ref=hl

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heidi-Swain/e/B00YNN3LDI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1620727029&sr=8-1

Publisher: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/

                  http://booksandthecity.co.uk/

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash

I was excited to read this book, as I loved the first book in the series (Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove) where we meet Meredith, who makes a new start in life by buying a lighthouse on impulse. This book (book three) features Meredith’s mum, Lydia and her story. Meredith is in there too, of course, so we get a chance to catch up on other characters and see how they are doing.

Lydia, lives at Bay View Cottage and is 71. I love older characters and Lydia is fab! She is divorced from Peter, her fifth husband.

The community of Driftwood Bay is wonderful. I love finding out who everyone is, how they get on and what they do. There’s such a great cast of characters here, but a few need special mention.

There’s Martin whose job reminds me of The Repair Shop on TV and I enjoyed finding out about the projects he was working on and their stories. He suggests him and Lydia enter the local dance competition and this brings forth a load of memories from Lydia’s past.

Lydia’s next door neighbour Celia is a similar age to Lydia and has a wonderful array of animals – two horses, four goats, chickens and a dog called Hobson. Her sister Dianne is moving in to look after the house and animals while Celia is away. We find out about her in this story.

Finally, special mention to the brilliant Vi. I love her, she’s hilarious! (Just don’t give her a letter to post!)

I can really relate to Kim’s writing, especially her authentic characters, wit and humour. I was already laughing along at page 2 at a situation I could relate to with delivery drivers. Her writing is an absolute joy to read, the warmth comes off the pages and you can tell she adores her characters. She tackles some serious subjects too, but everything is handled beautifully. Plus there’s the gorgeous setting. I think even I could be persuaded to do some early morning beach yoga if I lived there!

Another absolutely brilliant read from Kim Nash! Highly recommended.

BLURB

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove

It’s never too late…

After five husbands and five broken hearts, Lydia feels like she’s always been chasing something. But now she’s found her purpose, and having moved to Driftwood Bay to spend more time with her daughter Meredith, she’s happier than ever. 

But there’s still life in these old bones yet! With her newfound sense of identity, she’s keen to re-explore the things that made her happy as a younger person. Lydia’s passion was dancing – she used to compete in her younger years, and there’s no place she’s more at home than on the dancefloor. 

So when widower and antiques restorer Martin tells her about a big dance competition, she’s ready and raring to bring more joy into her life. But while making memories with Martin, the more she realises that both of their hearts need restoring too…

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/memoriescornishsocial

Author Bio:

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, romantic, feel-good fiction and has wanted to write books since she was a little girl. The Cornish Cove series is set in the fictional seaside village of Driftwood Bay in Cornwall and is published by Boldwood Books. She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni, is Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) and is a book blogger.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.nash.10

Twitter https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kim_the_bookworm/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/KimNashNews

Bookbub profile: Kim Nash Books – BookBub

Author interview – Dr Sarah Brown

I absolutely LOVED this book when I read it recently and reviewed it here on my blog. Following this, the author found me and we had an online conversation. What a lovely and interesting woman. So today, I am very happy to feature her on my blog, this time in an interview format – see below. I would highly recommend her book too, it’s a must-read for any cat lovers!

Dr. Sarah Brown

Which childhood books and authors were your favourites?

I was a big fan of Enid Blyton – The Magic Faraway Tree and the Wishing Chair series were my favourites.

How did you get your first book published?

I initially co-wrote a couple of scientific cat books with other cat behaviour researchers – these were published by academic presses and were a great introduction for me to the writing process.  I was then lucky enough to get a contract with Ivy Press to write a fully illustrated cat book aimed at a more general audience.  Once that was published, I finally put together a proposal for the book I had always wanted to write and sent it to agents I thought might be interested.  To my huge excitement it got accepted by the wonderful Alice Martell from the Martell Agency, and Alice helped me hone my proposal until it was good enough to approach publishing houses. After an anxious wait, Dutton, an imprint of Penguin in the US, made me an offer and I went on to write “The Hidden Language of Cats – How They Have Us at Meow”.

If you had to write a fiction book, which genre would it be in?

Well, it would almost certainly involve cats! I have thought about maybe a children’s story about a cat and its adventures.

How do you come up with ideas for your books?

Lots and lots of research and reading of scientific papers about cats, looking for topics and facts which I think might resonate with readers and which I can develop into bigger themes.

How much did your studies influence you wanting to write about cats?

My studies were a huge part of me ending up writing about cats.  I studied two colonies of cats for my PhD over 30 years ago and have worked with cats ever since. I felt there was so much I wanted to share about my experiences and discoveries along the way.  I wanted to get people looking at and thinking about how their cats communicate, and to dispel the myth that cats are cool, aloof or uncommunicative.

How did your daughter Hettie come to be involved with the illustrations in your book?

When I was writing my proposal, I knew I wanted to include some very simple line drawings in the final book.  I can’t draw at all but Hettie [see below] is a great artist so I asked if she could do a few quick sketches for me, just to show the publishers the sort of thing I had in mind. 

They loved the drawings and so once I started writing the book, Hettie and I worked together on more of them.  We would sit at the kitchen table and throw ideas around and she would put them into sketches, or I would send her a photo of a terrible drawing I had scribbled, and she would come back with a simple but elegant interpretation of it!

What’s the strangest thing you have researched (or Googled!) for a book you were writing?

Although I mainly research scientific studies of cats, I often also search for studies about other animals and their different means of communication.  I went down a bit of a rabbit hole looking at strange adaptations and uses of tails in the animal kingdom, in particular how dinosaurs and some modern-day lizard species use their tails as weapons!

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Most recently Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, but I previously loved Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

What’s your least favourite household chore?

I think vacuuming is the worst!

Do you have any rituals when you start writing a new book?

I have a big whiteboard that I scribble all over with ideas for chapters and themes – I love being able to rub things out and then rearrange them in different ways.  A bit later on I move on to a nice new notebook!

Tell us about your book.

My current book is called “The Hidden Language of Cats – How They Have Us at Meow”.  Published by Dutton in the US and Penguin Michael Joseph in the UK. It is also available in French, Spanish, Korean, and German.  The book is all about how cats communicate, both with one another and with people.  I wrote it in the hope of changing the reputation that cats have of being uncommunicative – they have so much to tell us, we just have to look a bit closer!  It is a blend of scientific information and stories of the cats I have worked with or owned over the years that help illustrate some of the science.  Throughout the book there are dotted black and white line drawings of cats doing what cats do – drawn by my daughter Hettie.

AUTHOR BIO

Sarah Brown gained her PhD on the social behavior of neutered domestic cats while working at the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. She has since worked as an independent cat behavior counselor, as a consultant for the cat-toy industry, and has conducted research for and worked with several UK animal charities. She authored The Cat: A Natural and Cultural History, which has been published in three languages; cowrote The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat, 2nd edition; and contributed to The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behaviour, 3rd edition. Sarah lives in London, England, with her family, her dog, and her cats.

The Call of The Nightingale Cover Reveal

COMING SOON!!!

Book Blurb: 

Alice is a typist, living with her dying mother in the 1950’s. Her sheltered upbringing is no match when cupid comes calling and she and her new boss, Behrooz Azadi fall in love. They throw convention to the wind and marry, just before her mother sadly passes away. Alone except for her husband, Alice must follow him when he is called to return to his native Persia, or Iran as it was later to be known. By this time, Alice is a mother at the tender age of nineteen, stepping into an unknown world steeped in history and where females should be subservient to their husbands.
Against a backdrop of political unrest and intrigue which involves her own husband’s family, Alice must somehow fight for her own personal freedom, for the right to bring up her four daughters in a way that will enable them to move forward in a fast changing and frightening Iran. At times, this means disobeying her husband, striking out for women’s rights and later, clashing with her own daughters, when they embrace Islam. Will Alice be able to accept and embrace the changes her now beloved Iran is facing? Will bending be enough before something breaks?

Kitty Barnett’s second novel with Provoco skilfully blends romance, English stiff upper lip and political intrigue in a foreign country into a mesmerising account of a young woman growing up amidst turmoil and a fight for the country and the traditions she has grown to love. Her first novel, Three Sisters, part of a series of five books, is also available now.

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The House at the Edge of the Woods

The main characters in the book are a married couple Ben and Rebecca. Ben’s mum was murdered in 1993, when he was seven years old. He met Rebecca at a party when she was 33 and after a whirlwind romance, they got married. That was six years ago now and they live in a cottage with two dogs.

Ben works as a plumber but enjoys his vegetable garden and beekeeping. Rebecca becomes an artist and is commissioned by millionaire Pieter Blake to paint the ceiling of his huge house – Marchboys House – using a fairytale theme. As the ceiling becomes more covered with beautiful and intriguing images, things start to become a bit strange. Pieter begins to ask questions about Ben and his mother, but why is he so interested?

It’s an intriguing story. Not only about the circumstances surrounding Ben’s mother’s death, but there’s a lot unsaid. Rebecca seems like she’s hiding something too – or at least not saying everything – from the start. Could it be that they’re all hiding things from each other – Ben, Rebecca and even Pieter? And there’s Pieter’s young daughter, Emily, who is being brought up by her grandparents, after her mother died – strangely echoing Ben’s own childhood.

The book is written in a style different to what I was expecting. It seems more literary fiction than thriller. Instead of the pacy, action packed style associated with psychological thrillers, this is something else. It is slow paced and almost thoughtful, contemplative. I found the first hundred pages or so (Part One of the book, written from Rebecca’s point of view) very slow, but when we move on to Part Two (from Ben’s point of view), finally some of the questions are answered, though these lead to more questions instead of definitive answers, but I read Part Two really quickly and found I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

We also get to see Pieter’s viewpoint of events and then, all the different strands of the story weave together, much like branches in a scary fairytale forest.

It’s interesting finding out what happened and it kept me guessing and did hold my interest, once we got to Part Two and beyond. Not a perfect book, but well worth persevering with.

An unsolved murder lingers over a newly married couple as they try to build their life together. Until they meet someone who knows more about the case than they should. On the verge of finding out the truth, will they face the questions they’ve never dared to ask and the memories they’ve tried hard to bury?

From an award-winning short story writer

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase, and Victoria Hislop

The HOUSE at the EDGE of the WOODS

Rachel Hancox

11th April 2024 | Penguin | Paperback Original | £8.99 | pp.400

When Ben was seven, his mother was murdered in the woods while he waited for her in their car.

The case made the front pages, but her killer was never found. Thirty years later, Ben has a safe, grown-up life: a job, a ramshackle cottage and, most importantly, a happy marriage to Rebecca.

His mother has receded to the corners of his mind, lingering only in the nightmares that won’t quite go away.

Then Rebecca takes on a new job, painting a fairy-tale fresco for a wealthy businessman who starts asking questions about Ben’s mother…

Is it time for the truth to come out – and for Ben to face the questions he’s never dared ask before?

RACHEL HANCOX read Medicine and Social and Political Science at Cambridge, qualified as a doctor three months after getting married, and has juggled her family, her career and a passion for writing ever since. She worked in Paediatrics and Public Health for twenty years, writing short stories (for which she’s won many awards) alongside NHS policy reports, and drafting novels during successive bouts of maternity leave.

When she’s not writing, Rachel spends her time singing, cooking, gardening and pottery, and has five children, three dogs and a cat. As someone once said, she thrives on chaos. She lives between Oxford and Cumbria with her husband and youngest children.

Rachel is available for interviews, features, and events.
For more information, please contact Hana Sparkes:

hsparkes@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk | 07825 858420| @hanasparkes

Media praise and reader reviews for Rachel Hancox:

‘I couldn’t put it down!’ 
Sam Blake, bestselling author of Three Little Birds and Something Terrible Happened Last Night

‘The narrative is multi-layered and bound by emotional integrity.’ 
Candis Magazine

‘A compelling story of love, relationships, and the grief of two families suffering
traumatic losses.’ 
Peterborough Evening Telegraph

‘Make sure you have plenty of tissues nearby, you are going to need them.’ 
Reader review

‘A touching and engaging read.’ 
Reader review

‘A compelling, complex book about the twisting paths of life, loss and hope.’ 
Reader review

 ‘Beautifully written and I can’t recommend it enough, it’s just so brilliant!’ 
Reader review

‘It kept me turning the pages as I was drawn into all their lives.’ 
Reader review

 ‘A book full of emotion, and a really great read.’ 
Reader review

‘A truly lovely story that I would absolutely recommend.’ 
Reader review

How Soon Is Now? by Paul Carnahan Cover Reveal

Blurb

Troubled ex-journalist Luke Seymour discovers an untapped talent for time travel after being recruited to rescue the stricken leader of The Nostalgia Club, an eccentric band of time travellers who meet in the back room of an Edinburgh pub. As he hones his skills and learns the stories of the Club’s members, Luke delves deeper and deeper into his own past – where the terrible mistake which scarred his life is waiting…

Author Bio: Paul Carnahan is a former national newspaper journalist-turned-writer who lives and works in Central Scotland. ‘How Soon Is Now?’ is his first novel – a second, ‘End of a Century’ will follow later this year.

Author’s Website: www.paulcarnahan.com

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Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh is a Morwenna Mutton Mystery – in fact, book two in the series. I read and enjoyed the previous one – Foul Play at Seal Bay – and was looking forward to catching up with everyone again.

It’s April. We catch up with Morwenna (62) and her family, with nice reminders of who everyone is. Morwenna likes swimming in the sea with her friends (the SWANs) and has a new electric bike and a busy life with work and the odd bit of sleuthing when necessary.

There’s her daughter Tamsin (28) and her granddaughter Elowen (6), who is a brilliantly funny character, very authentic. Morwenna’s mum Lamorna (82) lives nearby, as does Morwenna’s ex Ruan. There’s a gorgeous cat called Brenda too and even the cat jumps out of the page and is right there in front of your eyes. Judy Leigh has such a wonderful talent for bringing all her characters to life.

We are back in Seal Bay in Cornwall for another murder mystery. The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrive in the area and are performing the Cornish version of King Arthur. One of them is Daniel Kitto (82), who is Lamorna’s old flame! He owns the theatre company and is promising to move to Seal Bay, rekindling Lamorna’s hopes of them getting back together.

But then… there’s a murder!!!

I don’t want to tell you any more of the story, because I’d recommend you read this wonderful book yourself and discover all its joys as it unfolds…

I have read lots of Judy’s books in all three genres she writes as (one as Elena Collins) and have loved all of them. As well as the humour and wit in her novels and the fabulous characters and stories, her settings are excellent too. In the Morwenna Mutton series, Seal Bay comes to life with its coast, all the little shops around and the people who live and work in the area. It’s all so easy to picture and you feel like you are there, right in with all the action. Having said that, I’m just popping into the Proper Ansom Tearoom for a pot of tea and a scone…

BLURB

Bloodshed on the Boards

There is excitement in the air as the travelling theatre arrives in Seal Bay.

When The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrives in Seal Bay to perform a Cornish version of King Arthur the locals flock to be entertained. But for Morwenna Mutton, sexagenarian librarian, wild swimming enthusiast and amateur sleuth, the theatre brings intrigue too. Actor and director Daniel Kitto is not the most popular member of the cast and unbeknownst to him, his role of Uther Pendragon on the opening night is to be his swansong.

In front of a horrified audience, he collapses during the dying moments of the performance in a pool of fake blood, and although the police are content that the causes of his death are natural, Morwenna isn’t so sure. And once it becomes clear that there are a number of people who stand to gain from Daniel’s death, Morwenna’s investigation takes a dangerous turn.

If you love Miss Marple and The Thursday Murder Club, then you’ll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/bloodshedboardssocial

Author Bio –

Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyleighuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyLeighWriter

Instagram: Judy Leigh (@judyrleigh) • Instagram photos and videos

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JudyLeighNews

Bookbub profile: Judy Leigh Books – BookBub

The Cottage in Sweet Meadow Park by Liz Davies

The story is set in Sweet Meadow Park in South Wales. Molly Brown is 29 years old, an estate agent and has just bought Sweet Meadow Park Cottage, a run-down place she has loved since she was little and is thrilled to now own. But it needs a lot doing to it.

She meets her neighbour, the elderly Bill and his dog Patch, who are brilliant characters. They introduce her to a stray black dog she calls Jet. She takes him in and well, Jet was probably my favourite character of all.

Jack Feathers is 34 and the Parks and Highways Officer. He isn’t having a great time. His job might be in jeopardy, his sister Della wants to sell the house they share and his ex-girlfriend Chantelle is reluctant to let him go. He soon encounters Molly and they both find each other attractive, but they have very different ideas about the future of Sweet Meadow Park.

The book is really easy to get into. I was interested in Molly straight away, she comes across as a strong woman, but who also has a vulnerable side, so she is very realistic and you soon come to care about her. I was also interested to see how the house would develop and change over time, as well as the park itself.

I really enjoyed the book and wanted to find out what was going to happen. I even got up in the middle of the night to read another chapter. I hadn’t read this author before, but I’ll definitely be looking for her books in the future.

BLURB

The Cottage in Sweet Meadow Park

Enjoy a stroll in the park with this uplifting story of love, friendship and following your dreams.

When Molly Brown buys a derelict cottage in the middle of a rundown park, she hopes to return both the cottage and the park to their former glory. However, Molly soon begins to wonder whether she’s bitten off more than she can chew, especially when the good-looking guy from the council refuses to help.

In his role as Parks and Highways Officer, Jack Feathers doesn’t want to waste public funds on an overgrown, unloved park, no matter how gorgeous Molly is. But when he finds himself needing somewhere to live, Molly makes him an offer he can’t refuse – to move into her spare room, rent-free.

The catch? He has to help bring the park back to life.

It seems to be an ideal solution, until… Molly falls for Jack, the park is vandalised, and she realises he is still in love with his ex.

And soon Molly begins to regret letting Jack into her home, her life and her heart.

A delightful romance full of warmth, humour and community spirit, perfect for fans of Jessica Redland and Suzanne Snow.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/CottageSMP

Author Bio –

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love.
She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat – she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.
She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van and travel the world in it.

Social Media Links –

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/LizDaviesAuthor

Publication Day – A Prayer for Junie by Fran Clark

Huge congratulations to the lovely Fran Clark! Her latest book is out – A Prayer for Junie.

Available from – https://mybook.to/APrayerForJunie

The Blurb

Newly married Junie has found love but she has no idea who her husband really is. When her life is in danger, there is only one way this relationship can end.

Philomena has known Junie’s abusive husband, Gregory, since they were children and has grown to fear him. Set apart from the rest of the village community on a secluded plain, the women develop a strong bond. While Philomena plots to run away with her, Junie hopes the child she is carrying will change her husband’s violent behaviour.

When Philomena’s friendship is put to the test, she soon discovers how far she will go to protect her friend. Now a death on the plain and Junie’s disappearance has the whole village talking.

Can Philomena live with what she has done and will she ever let go of Junie’s memory?

In this powerful novel of lies, love and compassion a mystery unravels.

“A Prayer for Junie is a compelling and atmospheric story about friendship, love and the lengths people will go to in order to save those they care about.” Caroline Bishop, The Other Daughter, The Lost Chapter

Book 1 in the series – Holding Paradise – is currently only 99p for a limited time!

https://mybook.to/HoldingParadise