Tag: Adrienne Vaughan

Travel to a Magical, Mystical Destination with Adrienne Vaughan

Pack your bags and travel to Ireland, with Mia

The mystical ‘That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel’ enchanted me, so I asked Adrienne Vaughan to tempt you with a magical extract.  As it is Valentines’s Day, Adrienne has kindly organised a free, signed copy for the lucky competition winner.  Will Leela deal you a lucky tarot card?

 

 

 

Dear Readers,

That Summer at The Seahorse Hotel

I am delighted to present an extract from That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel – my brand new romance novel.

This is the story of a family with secrets, but one particular secret has tainted all their lives. Now, with crisis looming, it looks like the revelation of this secret will change everything, forever.

Set on the Irish coast, The Seahorse Hotel is a mystical, magical place. This extract features the housekeeper Leela and her Tarot, a guiding light which has seen the family through many dramas over the years.

It’s the perfect story to sweep the reader away to another time and place. Set in the present day yet laced with memories, The Seahorse Hotel, brings a web of lies, intrigue and betrayal to the fore and with the family at a crossroads, makes you wonder if the shadows of the past will blight their future or give them the faith to forge their own way in the world.

Enjoy your stay! 

Adrienne Vaughan

Extract from That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel by Adrienne Vaughan

‘Fenella sat back as Leela’s fingers glided across the pack; gold and purple shapes and swirls.’

Leela dealt until there were nine cards face down between them. Moving left to right, she turned the first card over.

“Remind me, which is this?” Fenella said, touching the card.

Leela hushed her. “Wait until the hand is out. I need to see the complete picture.”

Fenella sat back as Leela’s fingers glided across the pack; gold and purple shapes and swirls. Turning them over she watched the jewel colours of the illustrations, faded now, corners worn, and was again the little girl in the library, entranced as Mrs Fitzgerald, diamonds flashing, tapped each card, explaining every symbol and the impact it would have on the life of the person before her.

“What is it?” Fenella asked.

Leela kept her eyes fixed on the cards.

Take a seat in Archie’s world: ‘Champagne makes everything better’

“You’re at a crossroads.” Leela pointed at the Hanged Man. “The road you decide to take will be life changing. There’s turmoil, conflict in close relationships.” She tapped the Ace of Cups. “I love this one, emotional happiness, home and family.” She thought for a moment. The Seven of Swords lay before her. “Hmm, this fella, possibly betrayal, someone getting away with something. Wonder what that could be?”

Fenella looked away, a squall was building out in the bay.

More about That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel

Mia Flanagan has never been told who her father is and aged ten, stopped asking. Haunted by this, she remains a dutiful daughter who would never bring scandal or shame on her beautiful and famously single mother.

One family, one secret – that changes everything forever

So when Archie Fitzgerald, one of Hollywood’s favourite actors, decided to leave Mia his Irish estate- she asks herself – is he her father after all?

That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel is a tale of passion, jealousy and betrayal – and the ghost of a secret love that binds this colourful cast yet still threatens, after all these years, to tear each of them apart.

One family, one secret – that changes everything forever

Praise for Adrienne Vaughan

‘The story-telling has the same charm and magic I’ve always found in a Maeve Binchy’ Elaine G (Top 100 Amazon Reviewer)

 ‘Adrienne Vaughan writes just beautifully – all of life is here – and I loved every moment.’ Welsh Annie (Top 1000 Reviewer Vine Voice)

‘I think all Adrienne Vaughan’s books are just fabulous.’- Nikki Bywater, book blogger.

More about Adrienne Vaughan

Adrienne Vaughan

Adrienne Vaughan has been making up stories since she could speak; primarily to entertain her sister Reta, who from a very early age never allowed a plot or character to be repeated – tough gig!
As soon as she could pick up a pen, she started writing them down. No surprise she wanted to be a journalist; ideally the editor of a glossy music and fashion magazine, so she could meet and marry a rock star – some of that came true! And in common with so many, she still holds the burning ambition to be a ‘Bond Girl’.

Adrienne is a fun, lively author and this translates into her writing: she is a natural storyteller.

Adrienne felt exhausted but happy when she had finished writing That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel. She said, ‘This book, like some of the characters, was wilful and demanding. I miss Archie, but in many ways, he’ll always be around now.’

Meet Archie and the rest of the entertaining characters That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel.  Pack your bags, go to Ireland to find out what happened ‘that summer’. Read the enchanting story from the author who believes in mermaids…

Read my review of That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel. I can thoroughly recommend this enchanting novel – it is a triumph!  Meet Adrienne Vaughan in my Chat Room.

You can enter Adrienne’s competition to win a signed copy of this novel if you email her at:  mailto:adrienne@adriennevaughan.com.  Mark the subject of the email ‘Competition Entry’.  Good luck!  

See Adrienne’s fabulous new website .

 

Please see all my extracts and excerpts at Book Extracts and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Lights, Camera, Action!

That Summer at The Seahorse Hotel

That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel

Adrienne Vaughan

 

 

 

 

 

Lights, Camera, Action: ‘Addicted to theatre and film’

Open Adrienne Vaughan’s That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel to enter the world of Hollywood glamour.  Allow the camera to reveal a bird’s eye view of the enchanting Irish coast. Observe the long shot of the ‘regal and resplendent’ Georgian mansion.  Pan across to the sea lapping, like a temptress, on the shore.  Dissolve to the medium closeup of a red-haired beauty sitting at the water’s edge like a mermaid.  Cut to the hero and fade…  Don’t worry if you can’t imagine these scenes, just let Adrienne Vaughan’s words roll into your imagination and paint the picture for you. Let this author enchant you with the setting and enigmatic characters as she adds colour.

‘ “Is it a mermaid?” the little girl whispered.”’

Enjoy the sight of ‘the sun dripping over the horizon as the night’s velvet promise smeared the purple sky.’  As you visualise the scene, you will be intrigued by the hidden secrets.  For instance, who is Mia’s father, and how does this relate to the lyrical prologue at the beginning of the narrative?  Mysteries linked to the characters’ lives and the history of the place are cleverly interwoven into the fabric of the narrative.

Fairy godfather ‘resplendent in vintage smoking jacket and silk cravat’

Like a skilled seamstress, Adrienne Vaughan has sewn the narrative together.  But, everything is held together by the wonderfully flamboyant Archie, a Hollywood screen legend.  Before dying, Archie, the fairy godfather, weaves his magic and leaves threads of happiness for the characters in the story. Oh, how I adore Archie’s philosophy of life!  He is ‘teasingly playful and lethal at the same time’ – he even knows how manipulate destiny.  He has enjoyed a decadent lifestyle at Galty Manor, but he has shared it with the people he loves – and made them all his forever family.  And his home is a haven for lost souls.  He knows how to make everyone feel better, including the actress, Fenella, who has ‘beauty and brains’.  For Archie, ‘Champagne makes everything better.’ Fenella and Trixie concur that ‘a girl needs champagne, vitamin C and good mates’ when Mia is heartbroken.

Is Archie Mia’s father?  This question bubbles throughout the novel.  Such is the charm of Archie that one wills him to be the father. Mia is tormented by the same question.  Archie sets up meetings designed to make Mia evaluate on her own life. Archie compares ten year old Pearl to the younger Mia and says the child is ‘amazing’.   Mia reflects ‘when do you grow out of being amazing’.  It would seem Archie orchestrates encounters and experiences to help his precious loved ones to remember who they are.  Indeed, he writes his own plays and seems to be determined to influence the events in his loved one’s lives.  I loved this hint of magic and the essence of fairy-tale running cleverly through the novel.  The novel examines the concept of family and the way others can play a significant role in a person’s life. There is a heart-warming message threaded throughout the characters’ turmoil.

Just like on the silver screen, this novel celebrates the ‘power of dreams’.  Take several leading ladies, a mermaid Cinderella and a fairy godfather.  Let the dreams take you to the magical coast of Ireland where the ocean displays ‘a myriad of colours sparkling and inviting’. But, be prepared for tales of ‘a dark stormy night’ and some dark events. This story will beguile you, as it pulls you into the drama and mystery where ‘black clouds of angry clouds split across the orange sky’. You may not want to leave ‘the busy, happy house’ unless you wander down to the summerhouse or take a trip on Archie’s yacht. You are sure to find ‘a perfect day for memory making’ when you visit the glorious house and setting.  Sadly, Archie will exit centre stage, at some stage; happily, he will have a plan for the loved ones waiting in the wings. But who will inherit his fortune and will his sister live happily ever after? What does Sister Agnes know about the past? Long after you have finished this novel, and the credits roll, you will be thinking about the magic of this story and its layers of meaning, behind the scenes.

Adrienne Vaughan

More about Adrienne Vaughan

Adrienne Vaughan has been making up stories since she could speak; primarily to entertain her sister Reta, who from a very early age never allowed a plot or character to be repeated – tough gig!
As soon as she could pick up a pen, she started writing them down. No surprise she wanted to be a journalist; ideally the editor of a glossy music and fashion magazine, so she could meet and marry a rock star – some of that came true! And in common with so many, she still holds the burning ambition to be a ‘Bond Girl’.

You can also meet Adrienne in my Chat Room.

You can contact Adrienne Vaughan at:
Website: www.adriennevaughan.com
Twitter:@adrienneauthor
Facebook: Adrienne Vaughan
List of novels written:
The Hollow Heart
A Change of Heart
Secrets of the Heart
Fur Coat & No Knickers (Short story collection)

 

Please see all my reviews at Books In Handbag and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Meet the author whose characters make her leap out of the bath

Adrienne Vaughan

 

 

 

I had just parked my car, at Chartwell House, when Adrienne Vaughan arrived in Scarlet O’Hara, her ancient red soft-top. She was accompanied by Winston and Wellington, adorable Cocker Spaniel brothers.  The dogs were very friendly and happy to get out of the car, following a long journey from Leicestershire. Laughing as the boys bounded off to sniff out the venue, Adrienne removed an over-sized tweed cap to reveal unruly chestnut hair. Her vintage Harry Hall hacking jacket adorned with an elegant horseshoe brooch was perfect. The chocolate moleskin jeans with suede ankle boots, silk shirt and classic pearls completed the striking outfit. Adrienne looked very elegant, with ‘a touch of Hollywood glamour’, and she could have stepped onto a set of Dynasty, with ease. (I love this, my sister and I adore the Collins sisters, wonderful, talented, hardworking girls. Jackie was such a heroine of mine.)

Jessie:  Wow!  I love your vintage clothes.  The brooch is stunning, where did you get it from?

Adrienne:  Thanks! the horseshoe brooch was a gift from my husband, we attended the Derby as special guests of the organiser, he had a ‘good day’ as they say and the brooch has seven lucky diamonds embedded in it, I love it.  I found the classic pearls for £10 in perfect condition, in their box in a charity shop in Lutterworth.

Jessie:  What about the handbag?

Another collector’s piece bought for me by my mom in Dublin in the 1980s, when I first started working on magazines, it’s a ‘folded’ mag, called Papa Razi.

Jessie:  I did expect you to be wearing a scarf rather than a hat.

Adrienne: Only the Queen can wear a headscarf with real style, although when I had my gorgeous dressage horse Marco, myself and the rest of the girls ALWAYS wore headscarves in honour of the Queen’s birthday

As we walked towards Chartwell House, we admired the lily pond reminiscent of Monet’s Garden.  Stopping to take photographs, we took it in turns to keep an eye on the dogs but they were very well behaved.  I carried a vintage picnic basket as we searched for a suitable spot to chat.  Finally, we found a beautiful place in a walled garden.  Wrought iron chairs and tables were arranged on a patio area with a stunning view of the garden.  There were archways of roses and flowerbeds crammed full of flowers – a perfect setting for a romance novel. 

Adrienne placed my vintage Bronte tweed blanket on the table while I started to unpack the picnic.  I had prepared some homemade scotch eggs, coleslaw and sourdough bread. I had also made a fresh tomato salad with tomatoes from my greenhouse. I opened two bottles of Guinness as a nod to Adrienne’s Irish heritage.

Jessie:  I assume that you like to drink Guinness.

Adrienne:  I’m very proud of the fact I was brought up in Dublin 8 which is where Guinness HQ is based, but I must admit it’s not my tipple. I do love Irish whiskey, however and recently discovered one called Writer’s Tears … perfect! The food is great.  How did you know that this would my favourite picnic?

We were so absorbed in the food, drink and the setting that we almost forgot about the interview. Adrienne is lively, fun and incredibly easy to chat with.  Authors love to talk about their work so I prompted Adrienne by removing her book from my bag.  The book is entitled The Hollow Heart and has a wonderfully tempting image on the cover.

Jessie:  Summarise your book in two sentences.

Adrienne: Investigative journalist, Marianne Coltrane uncovers a devastating travesty of justice and with more than her career at risk, takes off to the west of Ireland to save her sanity. There, she meets Ryan O’Gorman, an actor seeking sanctuary from the media and a very dangerous fiancée. What can possibly go right?

Jessie:  I haven’t read the book so could you read an extract to tempt me?

Adrienne:  … the whole episode confirmed one thing; he was the love of her life, but love of her life or not, she would never play second fiddle to Hollywood, his career or anyone else besides.

Jessie:  I know that your books are very popular.  Let’s face it who wouldn’t like ‘romantic suspense with Irish roots and a touch of glamour.’ What do the reviewers say about your book?

 ‘The story is just wonderful, moving from the cut-throat world of investigative journalism, through glamour, glitz and mayhem, and on to the perfectly-drawn setting of Innishmahon, where it continues as a very moving love story with an uncertain outcome and a gripping tale of the lives of a cast of characters I really took to my heart.’ Welsh Annie, Top 500 Reviewer

‘Completely compelling from start to finish. Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, so many different depths and very unpredictable. Not your average romantic story, twists and turns throughout which leave you surprised until the very last page.’ Amazon Customer.

‘This book had me laughing, crying and hoping things would turn out right. If this is the author’s first book, things bode well for the next one.’ L.A. Topp

Jessie: How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?

I missed them all, desperately! Luckily my husband had read the manuscript, so when I told him I was busy plotting my next book he looked at me askance and asked, “Why? The Hollow Heart ends at a beginning. Go back, so we can find out what happens next.”

So I did … genius! Except A Change of Heart was so difficult to write I nearly threw myself off the nearest bridge. Luckily again, I have an earth angel, the historical novelist June Tate, my mentor, she managed to haul me back from the brink – all’s well that ends well.

Who would you like to read your book and why?  This could be another author, someone famous, a friend or a member of your family.  

Meryl Streep. She’d read it and decide she just has to play Miss MacReady in the movie. Great! Because Meryl has the wherewithal to make that happen, and by the time it does, she’ll have roped in Pierce Brosnan to play Father Gregory and Aidan Turner to play Ryan. I already have Bill Patterson ‘signed up’ as Marianne’s gruff Scottish editor Jack. And as for Marianne, well, I’d leave that to Meryl. Though, of course, I haven’t really given it much thought, Jessie, as you can tell.

Why should I keep your book in my handbag?

It’s pure escapism and can be read as quickly or as slowly as you wish. First read, it’s a pager turner, a gripping, roller-coaster of a story that moves right along. The second read is more layered, with descriptions becoming more vivid and the reader’s emotional connection to the characters deepening – well, that’s what I’ve been told, which is extremely flattering and a bit humbling too.

What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?

‘In the first glimmerings of daybreak, with the deathly moon merging its last candlelight in the blueing east, they walked slowly back.’ Sadly, not my work, but an excerpt from Demelza by Winston Graham. I’m late to discover this wonderful author, who allegedly described himself as ‘the most successful author no one’s ever heard of.’ He writes like a dream. I’m always jotting things down that I hope will inspire me to be a better writer.

What is the biggest challenge for an author?

In what today is an extremely crowded, shouty, ‘look at me, I’m the next best thing’ marketplace, I would say visibility. The Americans – brilliant marketeers – call it ‘discoverability’ – meaning how do authors find their readers? It’s more difficult for an indie author – like me – but still hard work even for those with publishers behind them who, at least, give them a shove onto what they hope might be the right platform. We’re very grateful to people like you, and indeed all book bloggers/reviews/flag wavers, without your support most of us would sink without a trace.

What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?

‘Never, never, never give up!’ Winston Churchill and ‘Write Crap!’ Julie Cohen. I know Julie slightly better than I know Winston, obviously.

As Winston Churchill is one of her heroes, Adrienne asked to meet at Chartwell. Following the chat, we packed up the picnic and went on a tour of Chartwell.  The interior of the house was bathed in light and so inviting.  It was a joy to see Churchill’s painting.  However, we were both struck by the atmosphere of the informal dining room overlooking the garden. There was a glint of mischief sparkling in Adrienne’s eyes as she looked around the room, and I could tell that she was imagining a dinner party.

Jessie:  Who would you invite to dinner?

Oscar Wilde, of course and because we’ll have two Winstons – Winston Churchill and Winston the spaniel, I’d ask the author Winston Graham – to make three, we won’t forget any names that way and my other fave Agatha Christie – our cat is named after her (because we never know who she’s going to kill next!).

I’d be very quiet though, in total awe of all these ‘greats’ and might not be able to eat any lunch at all!

Have look at this.  I love this picture with one of my heroes, Oscar Wilde, in Merrion Square Park, Dublin. I climbed up to give him a Christmas kiss and there, stamped across his laconic smile was a perfect print of pink lips. Someone had beaten me to it!’

Adrienne is:

… a writer of romantic suspense with Irish roots and a touch of Hollywood glamour.

… always leaping out of the bath to write down what her characters have just said to her, they do pick their moments

… is desperate to be able to write faster, but a book is like a painting, it’s not finished till it’s finished and only the author/artist knows when.

Adrienne: Thanks for the chat and the food – it’s been a fun day.  I loved the Guinness but want to leave you with a bottle of Writer’s Tears to drink when you get home.  I hope you’ll raise a glass to the release of my next book, Scandal of the Seahorse Hotel, which is currently being considered by a number of well-known publishers.  The cover reads, ‘Every summer has a story, but how can one secret ruin so many lives?’

Adrienne was great company and made me laugh throughout the interview. She was forever telling a great yarn so effortlessly and with great humour.  I predict that her books are very entertaining.  I wish her every success with her new release.

You can contact Adrienne Vaughan at:

Website: www.adriennevaughan.com

Twitter:@adrienneauthor

Facebook: Adrienne Vaughan

 

List of novels written:

The Hollow Heart

A Change of Heart

Secrets of the Heart

Fur Coat & No Knickers (Short story collection)

 

Please see all my interviews at My Guests and my blog at jessiecahalin.com.