Contemporary Fiction Archives - Books in my Handbag Blog

Jo Lambert on Creating a Sense of Place

I love to celebrate authors who have connected with me over the years. Jo Lambert lives east of Bath, and she has written an impressive seven books. Books are a destination for readers, and Jo creates a powerful sense of place in her romantic suspense novels. I invited Jo to tell me about the inspiration for the sense of place in her writing.

A SENSE OF PLACE – Pure imagination, reality or a little of both – what’s best for you?

As an author it’s not only about developing the plot and creating the characters, it’s also getting the setting right. Whether you are writing a psychological thriller or contemporary romance set in the city or the suburbs – or maybe like me, using a rural/small town community – creating the perfect backdrop can occasionally throw up some problems. That is why personally I’ve always found it easier to base my fictional locations on actual places.

My first novel When Tomorrow Comes was set in rural West Somerset. For this I used my own experiences of village life. Of course it’s not just using familiar places, it can also include buildings such as houses, pubs and hotels. They can all be used to help the writing process. In Summer Moved On and Watercolours in the Rain, set in South Devon village of Lynbrook, The Bull Inn is actually based on a local village pub I still visit. Similarly Lynbrook Hall is a real place about five miles away from the pub. It was for sale while I was writing and the on line estate agent’s photographs were a bonus in helping create my fictitious manor house.

Set in Cornwall Shadows on the Water is a story of family ties, lost love and tangled loyalties

My current novels are set in Cornwall. For A Cornish Affair, I used a hotel I’d seen while staying in Richmond. It was totally right for the one central to the book which sat on a cliff overlooking a small coastal fishing village. And for my latest novel, Shadows on the Water, I’ve taken parts of Fowey and Dartmouth and blended them into the estuary town of Kingswater.

Another useful aid is Google Map. In one of my novels my character was in Verona, a place I had visited several years before. During her stay she had gone on walkabout in the city. Apart from The Arena and Juliet’s Balcony I had a very hazy memory of our day trip there. Luckily Google Map came to the rescue. It enabled me to ‘walk’ in her footsteps and describe the things she was seeing, giving the whole scene a far more authentic feel.

In the end, of course, it depends very much on individual preference. Some writers are happy to use their imagination while others set their stories in real places. And then there are those like me who ‘borrow’, taking reality and remoulding it to suit the story they are writing. It’s all about what works best for you really.

I also enjoy the freedom to create a new village based on places I have encountered in my travels. The place wraps itself around my characters and listens to their hopes, dreams and sadness. Jo Lambert has recently released Shadows on the Water. Set in Cornwall Shadows on the Water is a story of family ties, lost love and tangled loyalties. I look forward to visiting Jo’s destination.

Jo Lambert is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. She has been writing since 2008

More about Shadows on the Water

After the tragic death of her fiancé, Ava Warren is slowly rebuilding her life. She has a supportive family, great friends and a job she loves, managing holiday letting company Estuary Escapes in her home town of Kingswater. Another relationship is the last thing she wants or needs. Until one evening she meets Alex Penhaligon.

Alex’s father Sam owns Heron’s Gate Vineyard and Alex has recently returned from California, where he has been working for the past five years. A case of mistaken identity gets them off to a bad start. But discovering his error, Alex is anxious to make amends and soon persuades Ava that he’s not quite as arrogant as she thinks he is. As their friendship begins to turn into something much deeper, Ava wonders whether she can at last put the past behind her and make a new future with Alex.

But someone is watching. A man who not only thinks Ava should be his but also holds a long term grudge against Alex. And he’s determined to get his own way irrespective of the lengths he has to go to or who gets hurt in the process.

Social Media Links –
Website: http://jolambertbooks.com
Blog: http://jolambertwriter.blog
Twitter: @jolambertwriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jolambert185
Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jo-lambert-6 4644530
Instagram: jolambertwriter185

Please see all my guests’ posts at Mail from the Creative Community and also my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.

A Summer’s Tale with Lynne Shelby

The magic of Covent Garden cast its spell on me. Having seen the brilliant trailers for ‘The One I Want’, I felt as if I had walked into the pages of the novel. Lynne Shelby greeted me on a balmy summer’s evening wearing a sleeveless, coral-coloured linen dress, and flat strappy sandals. Laughter of revellers, in the cafes and bars, rested on the warm air. Bottles of cool wine sat on tables and tempted us to join the merriment.

Lynne: Oh. I am so tempted to crack open a bottle of white wine, but I want to watch some street theatre.

Jessie: Me too. Let’s go.

We stopped to admire some mime artists performing an entertaining scene behind an invisible locked door. Finally, one of the mime artists handed a rose to Lynne and mouthed the words: ‘You’re the one that I want.’ Strange. Did he know about Lynne’s new novel? Amused, we headed to the nearest a bar. We sat outside and ordered sparkling wine.

Jessie: The cover of your novel is delicious. What’s the novel about?

Lynne: Theatrical agent Lucy Ashford falls for film star Daniel Miller and is swept up into his celebrity lifestyle. But can Lucy tame the A-list bad boy, or she just one more girl in Daniel’s long line of conquests?

Lynne grabbed her book from her bag and instantly read an extract to me.

‘Lucy, tell me honestly. Is there something going on between you and Owen?’

‘There honestly isn’t,’ I said, taken aback. Where was this coming from?

‘I’m not attracted to him.’

‘Does he know that?’

Jessie: I love it. You get straight into the drama. I want to know more. How has the book been received by the reviewers?

Lynne: I’ve been so delighted by reviewers’ responses to the book. One reviewer described it as “a wonderful story – and a really perfect summer read.” Another said: “The story sweeps you away in a flurry of stardust that will leave you wanting an encore…” and another: “It’s a smart, sharp and sophisticated glance behind the curtain into London’s theatreland. I loved it!”

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

When I’d finished writing ‘The One That I Want’, I was both elated and slightly stunned all at once! I’d enjoyed spending time with my characters nearly every day for almost a year, and I did miss them when I was no longer writing about them. My heroine, Lucy, who is thrust unexpectedly into the glamourous world of showbusiness, but manages to keep her feet on the ground, is the sort of person who’d make a good friend in real life. The book is a stand-alone story, but it’s also the first in a ‘series’ of books set in and around London’s Theatreland, and I’d like Lucy to have a ‘walk on’ role in another book so that we can keep in touch!

Theatrical agent Lucy Ashford falls for film star Daniel Miller, and is swept up into celebrity lifestyle.

Jessie: 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.

Lynne: I’m always delighted when a reader tells me that they’ve read and enjoyed my book. One of my dreams is to have one of my novels made into a film or TV series, so it’d be fabulous if a Hollywood director read ‘The One That I Want’ and thought it would make a good script!

Jessie: Why should I keep your book in my handbag?

Lynne: Because it’s an entertaining story that gives an authentic picture of the glamourous world of showbusiness, but it also shows the importance of friends and family.

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

Lynne: ‘She goes to Greece – Why?’

(I need to get the heroine of my WIP to Greece, but not for a holiday – hopefully she’ll come up with a reason for her journey!)

Jessie: What is the biggest challenge for an author?

Lynne: With so many books published each year, I think a lot of authors would say that getting your book seen by readers is a greater challenge than writing it.

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

Lynne: To keep on writing even if your first efforts aren’t all you want them to be, because you can edit a first draft, but you can’t edit a blank page.

Jessie: Tell me three facts about yourself.

My ideal night out is a visit to a West End Theatre to see a play or a musical. I love travelling, especially exploring a foreign city. Being an author is the best job ever.

Biography

Lynne Shelby’s debut novel, ‘French Kissing’ won the Accent Press and Woman magazine Writing Competition. She’s done a variety of jobs from stable girl to legal administrator, but now writes full time. She lives in London with her husband and has three adult children who live nearby.

I am sure Lynne’s novel is vibrant and fun like her. Our chat certainly made me want to find out more about ‘The One that I Want’. Do you fancy a trip to theatreland? A perfect summer read awaits…

Contact details:

https://www.lynneshelby.com/

@LynneB1

https://www.facebook.com/lynneshelbywriter

https://www.instagram.com/lynneshelbywriter/

Please see all my author interviews at My Guests and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Handbags and Gladrags and Reviews

Take pity on a precious Amazon review

banished to the missing in action queue.

My sparkling five stars now long gone,

but on my blog the accolade lives on.

Hip, hip hooray for blogs and handbags.

Let’s celebrate and don our gladrags.

Alas, this rhyming has gone awry.

Authors will live to fight another day!

Relax, take a pew and celebrate a review.

Cheers, Jena for all that you do!

Jena’s Review of You Can’t Go It Alone

‘This is the debut novel and it is a complex and vivid tapestry of a story’

When you first see the cover of this book, I hope you like it as much as I did. Are you intrigued? A woman stands, alone and at a distance, surrounded by calm water, an expansive horizon, and a clearing sky. What does this tell you and what does the title, You Can’t Go It Alone make you think? What about the tagline- love, laughter, music and secrets…?

These features draw you into the story, don’t they?

Debut author Jessie Cahalin has created a lovely book world that blends good story telling with positivity and love. This book is what is called “character-driven”. These intriguing and captivating characters are ready to share their stories with you. The characters range from birth to the end of life. You will be drawn to their problems and secrets, hopes and dreams.

My sparkling five stars are in cyberspace

What ties them all together are two things: their village and the new arrival- Sophie, the main character. While Sophie has her own struggles, she is a caring and nurturing person and she becomes the “glue” for her family and friends.

“…join me in a toast to Sophie She is such a great addition to this community and has brought us together.”

The characters are well rounded; they do interesting things and they think about life in interesting ways. One of my favorite characters is the young neighbor girl, Daisy. She is about five years old and is at that magical age where an adorable little girl blooms and changes into a big girl. The author is spot-on with her depictions of Daisy- she abounds with energy, exuberance, and joy.

Readers will also enjoy the family of Rosa and Matteo. And I wanted to ride around the countryside with Jeanie and Max in their camper van Molly.

As an American, I enjoyed “spending time” in the village of Delfryn, in Wales. “Waiting patiently above the luscious green hills, the autumn sun looked down on the nineteenth century church.” Through the book, I “saw” the lovely scenery, mountains and historic sites, and I “visited” with friends at the charming local café. “Let’s go to the Olive Tree tonight”, was a frequent and happy exclamation. I even spent a day or two in Cardiff!

I highlighted many parts of the book and I am sure that readers will find their own favorite parts and they will bond with the characters just as I did. This book shows us the ups and downs of life. We see that family and friends can smooth the road by rejoicing in the good times and sharing their love in the harder times. I cared about the characters and I know readers will, too.

Love and romance waft their way into the story, too. The romance is mostly sweet, but there is a bit of spice, “The unmade bed became their island, clothes strewn on the floor as if washed up on the shore.”

This is the debut novel and it is a complex and vivid tapestry of a story. First books can be somewhat like the little girl Daisy- loveable, engaging, but with a few growing pains. Author Cahalin is on her way to becoming a gifted storyteller. It seems the author has planned more books so that is good news for the fictional folks of Delfryn and good news for readers! Enjoy!

Read the complete article at:

http://www.jenabooks.com/books-are-a-gift/

Visit Jena’s blog at:

http://www.jenabooks.com/

Please see more at My Writing and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Tag: Contemporary Fiction

Jo Lambert on Creating a Sense of Place

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A Summer’s Tale with Lynne Shelby

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Handbags and Gladrags and Reviews

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