Tag: Jessie Cahalin

Wasting Words on the Dock of the Bay

This coffee shop, in Cardiff Bay, is one of my favourite writing places.

This coffee shop, in Cardiff Bay, is one of my favourite writing places.  I like to abandon my laptop for a notebook and pen.  There is something reassuring about forming every single letter with my biro. With the onset of autumn, I remembered a blog post I forgot to publish last October, because I had been absorbed in the agony of the editing process.  I wrote this post when editing You Can’t Go It Alone.

My imagination roams free in this setting.

Once my coffee cup is empty, I let the pen wander across the page.  Hoping to catch some dialogue from the unsuspecting customers, I listen with my best writer’s ear.  I am happy here in this café suspended above the water.  Alas, the sound of my beeping phone collides head on with my imagination.  I stop writing and must look at the email from an insurance company.  I wonder if writers had less distractions prior to the digital age, so I google ‘writing quotations’. 

Virginia Woolf pops up on my phone, but she doesn’t look happy and she says:

Sitting on the dock in the Bay wasting words

‘Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.’

Obviously, Virginia never had to cope with the disruptive influence of a mobile phone. I decide my imagination has been temporarily locked by my phone: it is a twenty first century condition called ‘beepitis’.  Fortunately, I do not need to re-boot my imagination as it starts up again. I am trying to re-work a menacing scene in my book. Hoping to get inspiration, I look at the murky water from the window.  Despite the distracting background noise, I make a list of adjectives. The shopping list of words stares at me, defying me to write something coherent. It is useless! 

I decide to drive home via Cardiff Docks to gather some words for a scene in my novel. It is a sinister setting.

I decide to drive home via Cardiff Docks to gather some words.  I drive off absorbing the atmosphere of the autumn’s day and watch the leaves dance across the road.  Almost forgetting to stop at the red light, I look out for the sign to the docks, but realise I am driving over a new road.  I hate the massive construction with barriers at each side.  Finally, I drive through the docks and stop to pull over to make some notes for finishing touches to a scene.  I am considered with suspicion. I ignore the onlookers and write until my car beeps me to tell me there is something wrong with a filter.

Clearly, I need ‘a room of my own’ to write.

Time to go home to my laptop: time to find ‘a room of one’s own’, time to sculpt my manuscript and stop wasting time and listing words. The truth is the book is almost done but I don’t want to let the characters live their lives without me.

My book costs less than the price of a coffee and will last longer.

You Can’t Go It Alone has been available since May.  I have been delighted with the reviews. Reviewers have enjoyed visiting Delfryn and getting to know the inhabitants.  The agony of the editing process was worth it, as it helped readers to connect. In celebration of my thirteenth review, I am reducing the cost of the kindle format next week.  Of course, I would be delighted to receive more reviews.  My book is less than half the price of a coffee and will last longer.  Indeed, one reviewer wrote:

‘An intricate, thoughtful story of real people whose life will continue long after the author has typed the end’ Perdisma, Amazon reviewer

Here is a snapshot of my most recent reviews:

Reviewers have enjoyed visiting Delfryn and getting to know the inhabitants.

‘It’s a roller-coaster of a novel in which the beautiful Welsh countryside and weather take a leading role. I was gripped by these characters, and by Cahalin’s fascinating touches.’ Professor Maggie Humm

‘The author has a real feeling for character and place… Her ideas around plot and how a story unfolds are original, and well executed, with a good balance of lightness and shade.’ Welsh Annie, top 500 Amazon Reviewer

You Can’t Go It Alone is available on Amazon.

 ‘The author is not afraid to face life’s most challenging problems head on. What appeals about the novel is that she does not ‘go on crusade’ but underpins these problems with a deep, rich humanity …’ John Broughton, author

‘Complex and vivid tapestry of a story’ Jena. C. Henry, USA author, blogger and reviewer

‘As a debut novel, You Can’t Go It Alone is an accomplished read. Eloquent, moving and packed with vivid imagery…’ Audrey Davis

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Hay Festival’s Tent of Dreams and Beyond

We traversed the huge reception area to explore the warren of walkways, all undercover.

The Hay Festival tent welcomed us in all its fabulous, festive glamour.  Camping could be an option for holidays, if tents were presented like this bookish village.  We traversed the huge reception area to explore the warren of walkways, all undercover. Uninhibited by an event schedule, I took in: the shops, food hall, cafes, bars, live music and restaurants.

An overwhelming sense of calm dominated the entire experience so far removed from loud music and food festivals. Bookworms snuggled in every nook and cranny digging into their latest treasure.  If people looked up, they smiled at fellow readers.

One bookworm carried a bag with the logo: ‘imagine the world’.

I wonder how many book destinations were spinning around in the atmosphere as people relaxed into their imaginations? As bookworms travelled around the tent, there was no pushing and shoving or frayed tempers.  Everyone queued with grace while using the time to read.  One bookworm carried a bag with the logo: ‘imagine the world’.  Instantly, I inquired where to purchase the bag, she explained a route through the warren to the Hay Bookshop.

On route to the Hay Bookshop, I spotted glorious illustrated menus of bookish events.

On route to the Hay Bookshop, I spotted glorious illustrated menus of bookish events

I long to attend Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry reading but knew I couldn’t stay until 10pm. His ‘Dance hall style, big mouth chanting’ hooked me when I listened to his performance at university.  Instead, I searched for a book of Benjamin’s poems in the bookshop.  Distracted by the authors signing books, I took photos of the marvellous queues waiting.  How wonderful to meet the readers personally and realise your writing has connected.  For me, the queues of readers inspired a little envy. ‘One day’, I whispered to myself before making a purchase.

‘You Can’t Go It Alone’ sat in a deckchair, sheltered by my umbrella, and soaked up the atmosphere.

Welsh rain poured mischievously in the open areas but no one worried. Readers sat with the umbrellas sheltering their books as they sipped coffee and wine.  Deckchairs waited patiently for the sun to arrive.  My book attended the festival and demanded a look around.  ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’ sat in a deckchair, sheltered by my umbrella, and soaked up the atmosphere.  A delightful woman, from California, came over to meet my book.  She also had a selfie with my book and said she would look up Books in my Handbag Blog.  I do hope she reads this post, as the impromptu meeting was a highlight of my day – she was so kind and enthusiastic.  I wanted to tell her more about Sophie, Rosa, Olivia and Pearl but stumbled on my words.

A delightful woman, from California, came over to meet my book.

Following the visit to the bookworms’ tent, we strolled into the village of Hay.  On the road to the village front gardens were teeming with flowers, coffee, cakes, books, journals, bric-a-brac, home-made jams and clothes.  We bought freshly baked Welsh cakes from an improvised stall on a gate post. The Poetry and Prosecco experience captured my curiosity.

A Prosecco shack was under construction, as I looked at a stall with poetry and handprinted cards and messages. Francesca Kay, a performance poet, presented her poems in hand designed seed packets.

Francesca Kay

She wants her poems to present a seed of an idea and had no intention of presenting the poems in a book.  Poems are presented on cards, in matchboxes and anything that inspires her.  Francesca’s first printing press lived in her kitchen and now she has an entire studio. For Francesca, the printing ink is a language, and she waxed lyrical how the ink makes different impressions on various surfaces and in various conditions.  Indeed, she explained ‘making an impression’ originated from the printing process.  Her stall of tactile tweets was so much to take in, I couldn’t decide what to buy.  The creative challenge to the conventional printed book forced me to reflect on my determination to see my book in print.

Her stall of tactile tweets was so much to take in, I couldn’t decide what to buy.

Perhaps, I need explore the spoken word.  Maybe, I could commission Francesca to print some quotations from the book.  Who knows?

I will return to Francesca’s website, and I will return to the Hay Festival.  The whole experience made an impression on my creative appetite. People encountered made the adventure unique.  I may not have met with Benjamin Zephaniah, but I did meet a performance poet who was printing her work using her own language.

How wonderful to meet the readers personally and realise your writing has connected. Cressida Cowell greets her readers.

While writing this blog post I received reply to a tweet from one of the festival marshals.  Ironically, he met with Benjamin Zephaniah and said, ‘He brought poetry to life for me as a young teen, some time ago, it was so great to meet him. And he was so friendly and lovely too!’ I am satisfied to have received this insight, as it reinforced my impression of the poet.

 

I took in: the shops, food hall, cafes, bars, live music and restaurants

I wonder what impression I would gain of the festival if I spent a couple of days there and experienced the atmosphere in the evening. I would like to attend some of the formal events, in the future, but have realised the festival is so much more than a bookish wonderland I expected to find.  The Hay Festival is a festival of creative minds and the logo ‘imagine the world’ has captured the magic.

 

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Accidental Vineyard

The accidental viticulturists: Judith and Colin Dudley at Parva Farm Vineyard

People who follow their dreams make my heart sing: people who find their dreams accidentally make my heart sing and dance.

On moving in to Parva Farm, Judith and Colin discovered vines on the neglected, bracken infested land.  The vines planted in 1979 survived, so they decided to cultivate them, without any prior knowledge of viticulture.  The first yield, in 1998, produced fifty six bottles, then in 2006 they went on to produce eleven thousand bottles.  We have marvelled as an abandoned vineyard has been brought to life to produce award winning wines.

They adapted their farmhouse to include a shop and wine tasting room.

Colin and Judith grow a variety of grapes including: Bacchus, Seyval Blanc, Muller Thurgan, Pinot Noir and Regent.  They adapted their farmhouse to include a shop and wine tasting room.  Tours of the vineyard, with excellent views of the abbey, are available for the more adventurous.  There is always a warm welcome!  We have visited Parva Farm Vineyard for two decades because we like to hear about the latest developments in their narrative.  Their achievements seem like a dream, but behind the scenes, I am sure there is a great many ups and downs.  Judith and Colin’s story has attracted visits from Countryfile and the Hairy Bikers. This delightful, industrious couple battled on quietly to become the first vineyard in the area.  The vineyard, on the hillside, can be seen for miles and is testimony to their determination.

We have marvelled as an abandoned vineyard has been brought to life to produce award winning wines.

Nowadays, Judith and Colin tend the vines and keep sheep on their land – they have exceeded their dreams.  These accidental viticulturists have become experts at nurturing the vines, but they accept that some years one will have bad years: they cannot control the Welsh weather

Authors can take inspiration from vine growers.  The story is nurtured, pruned and cultivated.

Award winning sparkling wines at Parva Farm Vineyard

Sometimes the narrative flourishes like the healthy vine, but on other days there are too many off shoots to the narrative. On other occasions there is a drought of ideas. It is essential to keep working and chasing the dream, as there may be a dream waiting around the corner.

If one is struggling, then you could take a break and visit some people who can infect you with their enthusiasm.  As a reward for your labour, you could reach for a bottle of the Regent wine.  It tastes of cherry pie and vanilla and will warm your heart.

I confess, a visit to Tintern and the vineyards did contribute to the inspiration of my fictional Welsh village of Delfryn

I confess, a visit to Tintern and the vineyards did contribute to the inspiration of my fictional Welsh village of Delfryn.  In my novel You Can’t Go It Alone, Olivia and Marcus walk to a vineyard and taste some wine.

‘As Olivia and Marcus trekked along the river, they searched for a sight of the vineyard.  Sunlight danced on the river and caressed the trees.  Signs of moss and water damage clung to the row of houses on the opposite side of the road.  The spring sun glowed on Olivia’s skin, as she stopped to glance towards the proud Delfryn Abbey.  Olivia turned around to point out the vineyard on the hill.  Neat rows of naked vines yearned for the heat of the summer sun.  The steep hill leading up to the vineyard distracted from her favourite view of the village.  Buoyed by the promise of wine tasting, Marcus rushed ahead while Olivia struggled to breathe.  The gravel crunched as an old pickup truck climbed up the hill in front of them; a cloud of dust made Olivia cough until she almost fell over.’

The young Marcus, in my novel tastes the wine and his observations remind me of the Tintern wine.

As a reward for your labour, you could reach for a bottle of the Regent wine. It tastes of cherry pie and vanilla and will warm your heart.

‘The Seyval Blanc is citrusy, light and refreshing.  I prefer the Pinot Noir and the flavours of red berries.  Oh, and the hint of vanilla.’

Cheers, Judith and Colin and thank you for the inspiration!

I urge you to visit Parva Farm to sample Welsh wines, sparkling wines and cider – you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

Contact Colin and Judith Dudley:
https://www.facebook.com/ParvaFarmVineyard
Website:
http://www.parvafarm.com/

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Flying Rhinos with Ivy Ngeow

Ivy Ngeow

During a visit to Singapore, I arranged to meet Ivy at the East Coast Lagoon Food Village.  We sat beneath a canape in the busy food hall.  Although warm, there was a refreshing sea breeze.  The aroma of fish oil, garlic and seafood combined to make my stomach rumble: the choice was overwhelming.  I wandered from one stall to the next unable to make my choice. I ordered a prawn noodle dish and Ivy chose seafood laksa. She wore white shorts and a halter neck lime green top and her bag was a leopard print mini backpack.

 

Jessie:  Ivy, tell me a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? How did this inspire your writing?

Ivy: I was born and raised in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The house that we moved into was built in 1949. The house had a room covered from floor to ceiling in bookshelves and lined with really books (classics, modern classics, fiction, non-fiction, all pre-1979) that the previous owner had left behind. I started to read them whenever I was bored. My mother was a school teacher and she used to bring home about 10 books every fortnight from her school library. I read them all too. I also remember my mother taking me to join a library when I was 8. This was the Sultan Ismail Public Lending Library in Johor Bahru. I absolutely loved reading and could not stop. Books were great friends and I grew up with them and they with me.

Jessie:  Growing up in Malaysia then studying in Middlesex must have presented a contrasting experience.  What were the main differences?

Ivy: Middlesex University was an eye-opening experience. I went in there thinking I was going to be Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, George Eliot et al but Middlesex made me who I am today. I found my writing voice there. I was given a reading list consisting of books I would never read in a million years. I became aware that I could and do have a totally unique narrative. I became Ivy Ngeow the writer. And this narrative was what has made me stand out amongst 1500 entrants to win the Middlesex University Press Literary Prize of 2005.

Hand drawn by the author: Ivy Ngeow

Jessie:  I’m aware you have won awards for your writing – many congratulations.  Tell me about Cry of the Flying Rhino. I am also intrigued by the title.

Ivy: Cry of the Flying Rhino is a modern crime novel set in the railway town of Segamat in Malaysia and the Borneo jungles. Chinese GP Benjie has to discover his tattooed indigenous wife’s secrets, and true identity, after he was forced to marry her by her foster father. The  title is a nickname for a famous endangered species. You will have to read it to find out what the flying rhino is and why it cries.

Jessie:  How has the book been received by the reviewers?

Ivy:  I am so pleased with the reviews.  These two are from Amazon:

“This book is an absolute delight. Fantastic plot, wonderful insights along the way, entertaining variations in perspectives.”

The dark, misty, mysterious Borneo jungle where treasures and dangers await at every opportunity

“Unique insight into a mysterious culture. If you want to learn about non-Western cultures, the old gods and traditions associated with them, birds and plants of Borneo, the effect of colonisation, then read this book. It has all that and much more.”

Here are other reviews:

“…the dogged doings of vastly unique characters – personages from a large scope of social and ethnic spectrums, individuals whose stories we increasingly crave as we speed toward the at once incredible and inevitable intersection of the novel’s five main arcs. Anyone impressed, anyone imprinted upon and inspired by Lalwani, Roy, Chatterjee, Burgess, Lowry, or Orwell, will be correspondingly affected by Ngeow.”

– Jason S Polley, Associate Professor, Department of English, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Tattoo children to make sure the art never dies

“When reading this vivid and vibrant novel, I am immediately thrust back into the jungles, the small towns, the sweaty heat, the barrage of animal noises, the pungent smells and tropical odours, Ngeow has so well depicted throughout.”

– Vaughan Rapatahana, poet, literary critic, essayist and novelist

Jessie: Please read a brief extract from your book.

Ivy: ‘A careless suburban one night stand lands Benjie in trouble. He’s forced to marry a wealthy Scottish landowner’s adopted daughter, Talisa. When two Iban men arrive from the jungle looking for her, Benjie wonders who she really is.’ Jessie:  Wow!  That sounds very intriguing. How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?

Ivy: I was surprised particularly when an unexpected plot twist came about and I was excited to be able to work that in. I was also sad that it had ended, and I wanted to keep going with the next phase of the characters’ lives. I missed Pastor Bernard most of all. I still think of him every day even though years have passed since I wrote the book. He is British and has been living abroad working on the mission for years. He is an amateur botanist. Although he is clever, kind and amusing, he occasionally has a sharp tongue. He is firm when he has to be, and he would not hesitate to go out of the way for someone in need. He welcomes little luxuries or acts of kindness and generosity from the congregation he preaches to, but he is not keen on big shows of ostentation because he is very used to survival in the jungle and the hard way of life. In all, he is very much like me.

Mushrooms in the Borneo rainforest: do you know if they’re edible or poisonous?

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.  

Ivy: My family and close friends have read the book. However, I would be keen for Felicia Yap, author of Yesterday, to read it as she is Malaysian.

Ivy Ngeow

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

Ivy: It has a smart, dark and mysterious cover, it has a great title, it will go with most outfits and it’s thin.

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

Ivy: Today, we are filming on a yacht. This is not any film. This is a film that should not be made.

Jessie: What is the biggest challenge for an author?

Ivy: To keep going, keep trying and not giving up.

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

Ivy: Read, read, read. Read anything and everything. Reading improves maturity, experience, exploration of ideas and reading is the only tool for writing that you’ll need.

About Ivy

Ivy Ngeow, award-winning author of Cry of the Flying Rhino (out now) and Heart of Glass (out soon). She was born and raised in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Her fiction has been published in many journals including the Straits Times, Marie Claire, and broadcast on the BBC World Service. She has an MA from Middlesex University where she won the University Press Literary Prize in 2005 and her debut novel Cry of the Flying Rhino won the 2016 International Proverse Prize.

Ivy’s new novel:

Heart of Glass is a dark tale about obsession, greed and music set in 1980s Chicago and Macau. It is a pacy literary crime noir thriller exploring the darkness in human nature, written in first person narrative. 

Contact details:
Twitter: @ivyngeow
Website/blog: www.writengeow.com
TRAILER:
https://youtu.be/nRDowKLhuW0

 

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

 

Twelve Steps to Apple Soufflé Heaven

Apple Soufflé Heaven

I love reading the books in my Handbag Gallery, but sometimes I need a sweet treat.  During the glorious apple season, I love to bake an Apple Soufflé.  Warning!  This is heaven and highly addictive.  I would like to share twelve steps to heaven with you.

Soufflés are often considered to be the pinnacle of home baking and guaranteed to win you a lot of fans and happy friends. The most difficult aspect of making a good soufflé is in making a very thick custard stirred with a drop of patience. If you can get the hang of this, then you should be able make a great soufflé every time.

Ingredients
250 ml whole / full-fat milk
100g caster sugar
40g plain flour
3 medium-sized apples
juice of 1 Lemon
4 eggs
1 vanilla pod (or vanilla extract if don’t have)
6 ramekins
softened butter for ramekins

  1. First make the custard. Add the milk and 50g of the caster sugar to a pan and heat. The milk needs to be hot but not boiling and check that it doesn’t get a skin on it.
  2. As the milk is heating, separate 2 eggs. Keep the egg whites aside in a bowl for use later. In a different bowl add the 2 egg yolks and the other 2 eggs, the flour and the seeds from the vanilla pod. Beat together well with a wooden spoon. Tip: chopping board, split the vanilla pod with a large sharp knife. Turn the knife slightly on its side and flatten the pod out and the scrape the seeds out. Put the used pod into a jar with sugar in and it makes a beautifully fragrant and flavoured sugar for future use!

  3. Pour hot milk into mixture of two egg yolks, two eggs and flour

    When the mixture is smooth, pour in the hot milk into the bowl with the mixture and mix well. Then pour this back into the pan and onto your cooker on a medium heat. Keep stirring. Take care to not over-heat the pan as this can cause it to split. Stir until it becomes very thick, stiff but still smooth, without lumps.

    Take care to not over-heat the pan as this can cause it to split.

    Tip: If you are unsure or nervous turn the heat down and stir for longer. Stirring continuously will help stop lumps and the custard splitting. When done leave aside to cool for about 30 minutes.

  4. Whilst it is cooling, peel and core the apples. Dice into very small pieces and put into a small bowl and cover with the lemon juice.
  5. Pre heat your oven to 190 degrees C / 375 F or Gas Mark 5. No fan required.

  6. Whisk up the two egg whites until soft peaks

    Take the bowl with the egg whites, that have been set aside, and add the remaining 50g caster sugar. Whisk the egg whites until you have stiff, glossy peaks. This takes a few minutes.

  7. Get the ramekins and wipe the insides with some of the softened butter. Tip: I usually find this easier with a small piece of greaseproof paper.

  8. Stir until it becomes very thick, stiff but still smooth, without lumps. Tip: If you are unsure or nervous turn the heat down and stir for longer.

    Add the diced apples to the cool custard and mix in.

  9. Then add the egg whites to this custard and apple mixture and fold in. Tip: Add in a 3rd of the egg whites and mix it in vigorously first. Then add the remainder and then fold this in more gently with a spoon to keep more of the air in.
  10. Spoon the mixture into the ramekins, up to the rim. Smooth of if needed with either your fingers or a knife.
  11. Place the ramekins onto an oven tray and bake for 15 minutes, until risen and firm.

  12. Souffle Heaven

    Remove from the oven and serve immediately in the ramekins.

 

 

 

I confess, I abandoned my writing to watch the Great British Bake Off.  I fancied my chances at writing a book of recipes.  It took quite a lot of time to make the soufflés, take the photos and write the recipe. I hope you will try the recipe.  Please share any of your baking successes.  Happy baking!

 

Please see all my food related posts on Writing on a Plate and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Sadie’s Wars: Powerful and Deeply Moving

This historical saga of an extraordinary Australian pioneer family continues into a new generation

I have been idle for two days and it is Rosemary Noble’s fault. I travelled from innocence to experience with her character, Sadie.  She had my ear as soon as I walked into this thrilling family saga.  This hard-hitting, realistic document of challenging times deals with: propaganda, inequality, domestic violence and loss. Insight into Australia and England placed me in the centre of the historical periods.

Strategic juxtaposition of Sadie’s life during World War One Australia and World War Two Grimsby is brilliant.  Noble explores how our experiences make us react in the future thus providing depth to Sadie’s character.  Wounded by past troubles, Sadie makes decisions that made me want to sit her down and give her advice.  Tempting questions hang artfully in each chapter of this novel.  The trajectory of the plot is driven by the intense drama: the action never stops.

A photo of Sadie (she is the standing bridesmaid). This is the only one I have. She is a bridesmaid for her brother, Joe and his wife, Olive. Grandma Jane is sitting next to her. (I found this photo on the author’s website).

I moved from the air raids and community spirit in Grimsby to Sadie’s privileged life in Australia. Neither the ‘uninterrupted sky changing from purple to cobalt’, nor the ‘endless grey skies’ of Grimsby can shelter Sadie from the harsh reality of life. In her innocent years, she is brainwashed by war propaganda then learns about the impact on people as she moves through her life.   Sadie is raised to ‘obey your father until you marry then obey your husband.’  Like her contemporaries, the social straightjacket causes Sadie pain.  Noble shows the inequalities between men and woman at the turn of the century and contrasts it with changing attitudes in post Second World War Britain.  Historical events, attitudes and politics are artfully woven into the narrative fabric of the novel.

Chateau Yering as it is today

Details of a wealthy life in Australia at the turn of last century intrigued me.  I lingered on the verandas and looked at the ‘rich grassland and vineyards as far as the eye could see, framed on by majestic mountains.’ I admired Sadie’s wardrobe of beautiful clothes but realised her wealth and over-protection of her father made her more vulnerable. At every turn, I felt empathy for the young Sadie who is isolated by her ignorance.  ‘Her marriage seemed like a distant dream and her husband merely an actor in it’, and I wanted to chat with Sadie.  Noble explored love so beautifully in the novel.  There is an enchanting, exciting love story, as Sadie learns what real love means.

The wiser, experienced Sadie charmed me.  I sat with her as she waited to discover if her sons would return safely from the RAF. Noble takes the reader into the heart of air raids in Grimsby.  The air raid provides a backdrop to the inner turmoil Sadie suffers, and all these emotions are vividly connected to experiences of the past. Events in post-World War One Australia were shocking.  An intelligent, powerful and deeply moving novel from Rosemary Noble.

About the Book

An astonishing tale, spanning continents, where truth is stranger than fiction. This historical saga of an extraordinary Australian pioneer family continues into a new generation.
Sadie is brought amongst the vineyards of the Yarra Valley whilst her work-obsessed father reaps riches from the boom years before the Great War.
With post-war depression looming, Sadie’s only option is to flee from her disastrous marriage, seeking refuge in Cleethorpes, a small seaside town in northern England.
Years later, when her sons are in RAF Bomber Command, she receives a letter from her long-lost brother which forces her to confront the past and her part in her family’s downfall.
Can old wounds be healed?
Will she find new love?
Will this second war destroy everyone she saved?

Rosemary Noble is the author of Sadie’s Wars and the Currency Girls Trilogy. This is her favourite writing spot.

About Rosemary

Rosemary worked as a college and university librarian and has a life-long love of social history and reading. Researching family history led to an interest in Australia where Search for the Light ends and provides the setting for the sequel, The Digger’s Daughter. A third book in the Australian series, Sadie’s Wars, is now available.

Rosemary is a member of Arun Scribes Creative Writing Group and a member of CHINDI (Network of Independent Authors). Her third book, Ranter’s Wharf is set in England during the first half of the nineteenth century. In odd moments, she writes flash fiction for Paragraph Planet and Drabble.

For more information read my interview with Rosemary here or visit Rosemary’s blog at https://rosemarynoble.wordpress.com/

 

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

Treasure the World Around You

An ancient solitary tree beckoned me to attempt a footpath through a wheatfield

Walking has been a gift throughout this year. I feel fitter and healthier because we have walked over twenty miles a week. During the jaunts, we have discovered new destinations in our local area and opened our eyes to the natural world; ever-changing light also worked its magic.

I had no idea how many local lanes we ignored during twenty years of living in beautiful South Wales. Adventures were confined to the familiar tourist destinations, yet there were places on the doorstep. We discovered a lane in Michaelstone that leads to a footpath across farmland. An ancient solitary tree beckoned us to attempt a footpath through a wheatfield, and we were rewarded with a view of the Somerset coast. Once we reached the tree, we encountered a man following the same route. He made us aware of the original road ancient travellers used to reach London, and we considered how landmarks such as trees would have been landmarks in ancient times. As the man talked, he looked out to sea because his ancestors used to live in Somerset in the eighteenth century, and said he felt connected to them. Was he waiting for them to return? He seemed to disappear very suddenly into the distance.

It felt as if nature had conspired to present us with a glimpse of a Monet painting.

Though we have walked the same routes many times now, seasons and sightings of wildlife have rewarded us with different perspectives. Previously, we may not have had time to see the dragonfly waiting on a tree or spot bees on flowers. We never really paid attention to the livestock in the fields close to the house, or the progress of crops in the farmer’s fields. During the dark days of lockdown, we searched for colour and found it in our garden. Bluebells stood proud at the back of our garden and enhanced the character of the tiny shed. Furthermore, alliums planted in autumn 2019 presented vibrant displays throughout the spring and summer, attracting bees, insects and birds.

When Lockdown eased, we were able to visit Dryham Park in South Gloucestershire and could not believe our luck when we were able to get close enough to photograph deer in the park.

When Lockdown eased, we were able to visit Dryham Park in South Gloucestershire and could not believe our luck when we were able to get close enough to photograph deer in the park. The presence of these magnificent creatures had a calming effect. Dyffryn House, closer to home, tested us with torrential rain when we visited but we endured it and captured images of the rain sparkling on lily pads. It felt as if nature had conspired to present us with a glimpse of a Monet painting.

Our lives have been fraught with challenges, but seasons have remained constant and soothed us. Wildlife continue to keep themselves busy with their daily lives and remain calm until they sense a predator. There is so much to see in your local area if you look closely.

Bluebells adorned the back of our garden and enhanced the character of the tiny shed

All the best for 2021!

Have you discovered hidden treasure in your local area during lockdown?

 

Please see my writer’s gym workout, all my Handbag Adventures and also my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

All Aboard the Runaway Creative Train: The Year of the Handbag

In March, I discovered my husband had published my manuscript on Amazon. Clutching the lilac handbag, I went into a bit of a panic.  The delete button on my laptop did not remove the book from Amazon. There was no chocolate in the house, so I ignored him by reading a book.   Little did I know, he’d presented me with a ticket to begin a creative writing journey via social media.

While waiting to board the creative train, I watched YouTube footage about how to engage in social media. I wish I had known about Neetsmarketing rather than shouting at the lovely people who were trying to explain.  Fortunately,  there was light at the end of the tunnel, Sue Moorcroft was the first person to accept my friend request on Twitter.    Her response to my book review and ideas to promote ‘Just for the Holidays’ lit the creative spark, and she helped me to understand Twitter. The sound of the whistle jolted the pistons in my imagination.

Once I had boarded the creative train, some wonderful people waved me off. The first review request came from Angela Petch.   Her reaction to my review of ‘Now and Then in Tuscany’ fuelled the creative enthusiasm and the train started to increase pace.  She also agreed to join me in a whacky race to meet up with Sue Moorcroft’s character, in France.  Angela introduced me to Patricia Feinberg Stoner and Rosemary Noble.  Rosemary ‘Ranter’s Wharf’ made me rant on behalf of my ancestors. Patricia’s book is funniest book I have ever read about becoming an accidental expat, in France. It was a great day when Patricia sent me her ‘Rude Book of Limericks’, and I realised she had quoted me on her front cover.

I crashed into the inspirational Diane Need, in the Midlands, when my creative ideas were heading in all directions.  Diane’s heart-warming, fun novel was a great read on the journey.  Jan Ellis asked me to review one of her books and sent me a book parcel, and this was the ticket to my new collection of books. Jan is currently writing a blog post about the contents of her handbag, and I know it will be amusing.

On my creative journey abroad, I stopped off to meet Patricia Furstenberg. She took me on a magical journey back to my childhood through her children’s books.  She is also my Twitter guru and is Queen of the Hashtags.  At her stop, Patricia introduced me to Jennifer from ‘Jennieration’.  Jen is a ‘fearless thinker’ who delights in language, culture and creativity. Jen’s daughter, Ella, is the youngest author in my Handbag Gallery, and she wrote a wonderfully creative guest post.

While speeding along the tracks of creativity, I met Carol Cooper.  And I was thrilled when she came up with the idea of interviewing the interviewer.  She looked inside my handbag and made me reflect on my journey. Angela Petch also asked me questions about the editing journey.  At this point, I reached a bit of a crossroads, I had neglected my writing.  The blogging train had been gaining speed and getting out of control.  I decided to get off at the next stop and visit my book again.

Locked in my study, in ‘Editingland’, I couldn’t resist interacting with Wendy Clarke.  I stopped over at ‘Silent Night’ to present an extract, and found Wendy incredibly supportive.  She featured me in her blog, and wrote a generous blog post about how to use software to market a book.  What a wonderful stopover!  I would never have found out about this if I had not boarded the creative train via social media.

Finally, I realised the creative train isn’t out of control.  Sometimes, one shouldn’t worry too much about the final destination, but one does need to interact with others on the journey.  ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’ so I recently asked Angela for support. Angela will talk to me about my editing next year.  My interactions with Adrienne Vaughan and Jan Brigden also gave me a lovely boost on my journey.  Caz Greenham, the children’s author, has convinced me that Eric Seagull exists. I now live inside the creative world with authors. It was lots of laughs with the hilarious Lisa Mary London.  However, it was frightening inside the Dutch woods and the world of Imogen Matthews’s characters.  She is mailing a guest post to Books in Handbag about how she stumbled on a forgotten World War Two.  I will be travelling back in time to the seventeenth century with Anna Belfrage.

Having established my seat on the creative journey, my role as blogger has gained pace in 2017. Thanks to the response of the writing and reading community, I have had a wonderful year. My role as an ‘accidental’ blogger and supporter of writers has pushed me towards an exciting, unknown destination. Each day, I open photos of handbags and develop more interactions with wonderful authors.  Next year, I will launch an initiative for readers with Anne Williams. I hope that many others will hop aboard the new initiative to celebrate reading.

While writing about my journey, Judith Barrow has just tweeted that she has ‘enjoyed being part of the journey’.  The people I have met on my journey have made the whole adventure worthwhile, as I get to peer through the window at their writing world.  Sue Bentley’s friendly comments always make me smile as I head towards my unknown destination.

A big thank you to everyone for supporting my blog – your enthusiasm has fuelled my creativity and put me on track. Have a wonderful Christmas! Best wishes for 2018! Hope you will join me for more adventures in 2018. 

For me, this has been the creative year of the handbag and new friendships!  How can you sum up your year?  The Year of …

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my blog at jessiecahalin.com.

Real folk in One Hundred Tiny Threads

I urge you to read One Hundred Tiny Threads

Judith Barrow’s ‘One Hundred Tiny Threads’ reawakened my reading addiction.  I stretched on a Devon beach, during a heatwave, but sat in Lancashire during 1911. Vivid figurative language moved me from the colours of a Monet painting to a Lowry painting.

One Hundred Tiny Threads is the prequel to Judith’s Howarth family saga but was the perfect book to begin with.  Bill was trapped down the mine and the explosion deafened me.  I stood in the dark, grimy streets as the ‘knocker-upper’ tapped on the Winifred’s window. I forgot the heat of the sun as ‘frost patterns covered the panes of the windows’.  ‘The clatter of clogs’ on the cobbles turned my head to the dark streets and ‘the feeling there was a shadow lurking around the corners’.

A life beyond the grocer’s shop counter ruled over by Winifred’s domineering mother.

Despite shivering with Winifred, I found warmth in her friendship.  Winifred presented me with an honest account of a woman’s plight during the beginning of the last century.  Her rebellion against her dominant mother placed me firmly on Winifred’s side.  I was driven mad to discover Winifred’s mother’s secret; I could not fathom her bitterness. Barrow demonstrates why Winifred needs to befriend Honora, a suffragette, and why she finds comfort in Conal’s arms.  Every strand of the characters’ backgrounds is woven into their actions and responses.

I stretched on a Devon beach, during a heatwave, but sat in Lancashire during 1911. ‘The clatter of clogs’ on the cobbles…

I felt for Winifred.  Her naivety and love for Conal present tender moments.  How I ached for Winifred’s happy ending.  The narrative wrenches the heartstrings and punches your senses, but the strands of the plot are taught and well structured. But there is no time to mollycoddle the characters: there’s ‘nowt’ you can do as the characters face life, love and loss. I advise you set time aside and listen to the characters’ voices and let the gritty drama unfold.  The dulcet tones of the Lancashire people rattle your emotions with the powerful dialogue. Be aware of Ethel who makes the ‘air seem rancid with hostility.’

The artfully woven narrative is populated with real folk: ‘good Northern stock’.  I couldn’t abide the hardship yet couldn’t stop reading.  I found myself thinking about the characters when not reading.  The folk got under my skin.  Barrow is not afraid to introduce some horrible people and conflict.  I loathed Bill because he is a hard-faced, rotten man.  Yet, I was forced to explore the motivation for his character.  It was most annoying to feel empathy for Bill. I wanted to banish him from the book and leave him to rot in a dark alley. Barrow made me understand the motivation for this bloke’s actions. 

‘…all they wanted was equality in voting’

Winifred was isolated from her mother Ethel and inhibited by the era but wanted to shake off the corset of stifling expectations.  Ironically, Winifred’s mother inhibits her more than her father.  Barrow demonstrates how women like Ethel were trapped by their own boundaries and expectations: fear of society’s rejection isolates those who have dared to follow their hearts.  Women such as Winifred who dared to articulate the inequalities of women in normal settings:

Women such as Winifred paved the way for the birth of the modern woman. 

‘…all they wanted was equality in voting; to be able to have as much as their husbands, their brothers, their fathers.’

The Suffragette Movement, World War One and the Irish War of Independence are threaded into the fabric of the novel.

Barrow squeezes every drop of empathy from her reader, because she explores the complex psychological motivations of the characters.  It is testimony to Judith Barrow that she creates such powerful characters.  The rhythms of the characters’ words are combined with the ebb and flow of the narrative to produce a phenomenal drama of epic proportions.  I am delighted there are more books to read in this family saga.  However, I am fearful for Winifred’s plight in the remaining novels. shh – don’t tell me what happens.  I am not sure Winifred has made a good choice of husband, but he does believe Winifred ‘was the one woman to keep him on the straight and narrow.’  Narrative perspectives of Winifred and Bill provide clever contrast in life experiences. The basis for their relationship is dynamic, yet I sense some threads will fray in the other books. Florence said, ‘men will have their way’; I hope this is not an omen.

The Suffragette Movement, World War One and the Irish War of Independence are threaded into the fabric of the novel. Hard times exasperate the loneliness suffered by the characters.  I urge you to read One Hundred Tiny Threads to find out more about the texture of these characters’ lives – you won’t be disappointed.

Judith Barrow, author

Connect with Judith at:

Website: https://judithbarrowblog.com

Find out more about Judith at:

Twitter: @judithbarrow

 https://www.facebook.com/judith.barrow.3

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

Forget Sparkling Happy Ever After with Sue Bentley

I dare you to read this book.

Forget the sparkling happy ever after of fairy tales when you enter the world of We Other by Sue Bentley.  I dare you!  Trade in the beautiful fairy dust for dark energy. Inhabit the shadows of the forest and satisfy yourself with the occasional chink of light.  Is this the real life of faeries?  Do they really exist on the edge of darkness? We Other challenged me to ask these questions.

I was shocked that this sinister world resonated with me.  Sue Bentley connected with my childhood fears yet managed to explain it.  Oh, my goodness, such intricate plot spinning.  You’ll be caught up in the web once you let yourself believe in another world that exists between good and evil. 

Don’t be afraid to enter the world of We Other and the flesh-eating faeries

Don’t be afraid to enter the world of We Other and the flesh-eating faeries.  You will be safe with Jess.  Let Jess’s story guide you into the world where shadows hover on the edge of reason.  There is depth to this fantasy and guidance for teenagers who are searching for their identity. Jess undergoes a metamorphosis and finds her wings.  Do you remember finding your wings as a teenager and learning to fly out there in the real world? Did you wear armour over your true identity?  Through fantasy, Bentley explores teenage identity and a battle with harsh family life. The book has many layers of meaning to explore so dive in.

Inhabit the shadows of the forest and satisfy yourself with the occasional chink of light.

This genre of book is a first for me, as I had abandoned fairies in dusty old books long ago.  We Other is something different.  Despite the narrative twisting and turning in my stomach, it captured me an evoked my imagination.   I savoured each imagining and lingered in the world of Jess.  There is a haunting intensity in every sentence.  I now know why my subconscious is always dubious of letting me go into the woods.  Having read We Other, I am a believer.  Are all animals and humans real or are they faery-kind?  Who knows?  Be careful of what magical, sinister creatures lurk in the hedgerow.

Let Jess’s story guide you into the world where shadows hover on the edge of reason.

‘Faery and the world of humankind occupy the same space. Made of different fabrics, they overlay each other.  The barriers can only be crossed by those who know.’

This explanation captures the mysterious essence of the book, but if you read We Other then you will experience this philosophical explanation for yourself.  I adored the complexity of Jess and the way she coped with the stark challenges of poverty and her mother’s alcoholism: her life is ‘harsh and joyless’.  I was equally charmed by the mesmerising encounters in the world of faery.  The complex narrative is grounded in the beautiful relationships between the characters.  Read the book and it will ‘feel like something physical, spreading tendrily through your mind.’ Sue Bentley weaves an ‘other worldly’ tale and leaves questions stranded in your mind.  I challenge you to spend time ‘mortalwise’ and faerywise when ‘time moves to a different tune’. When reading the book, a plague of dragonfly and midges hovered over my garden and this made me think about what they might be according to Bentley’s explanations.

Sue Bentley

‘Something in the air gathered around her and crackled faintly.  There was an internal gathering…’ Beware the sinister spirits when you enter the Dark Court.  I guarantee you will get lost in this story. When I visited ‘fingers of light stole through the branches of an ancient wood.’

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

Are you ready for a real Game of Thrones? – 1066

Real Game of Thrones

Are you ready for a real Game of Thrones?  Glynn Holloway’s debut historical novel: ‘1066: What Fates Impose’ is now available.  I asked the author to explain why a reader should delve into his novel.

Dear Readers,

I am delighted to present, 1066: What Fates Impose, a novel about the fall of Anglo-Saxon England.

William the Conqueror

The extract I have chosen is from the opening chapter, which shows William the Conqueror on his deathbed. The dying king is filled with guilt and haunted by the horrors he inflicted on the English.

The reason I picked this extract is because it has a lot of impact. I felt I needed this, and also, I think the guilt he feels on his death bed and the consequences he feels he will have to face in the afterlife, poses the questions at the beginning of my novel:

Did William really think he had a claim to the English crown?

How much responsibility did he accept for the deaths of tens of thousands?

If you want those questions answered, and a lot more besides, put my novel in your handbag. If you do, you’ll be in possession of a book filled with: family feuds, court intrigues, papal plots, assassinations, loyalties, betrayals, a love triangle and a battle or two. Everything, in fact, that made living in the eleventh century such fun.

With Best Wishes

Glynn Holloway

Extract

1066 What Fates Impose

With the very last of his strength he raises his head to look around the room. There are his sons, the bishop, his brother and . . . ‘Oh God, oh God Almighty. No not him! Not now!’

His eyes bulge as he is gripped by terror. Before him, unseen by the others, stands a blood drenched warrior, tall and proud as an oak, fresh from the battle field, his lank and sweat soaked hair hangs down his shoulders, his once handsome face made ugly by an eyeless socket. As though to steady himself, he leans on his battleaxe, resting his hands on its iron head. He stares impassively at William with his single eye, blue and deep as the ocean, a stare mead all the more intense by its singularity.

William has seen him, or thought he had seen him, a number of times over the years glimpsed in crowds or spotted in enemy lines, but never has he seen him so clearly, so close and for so long as he does now.

‘Have you come for me?’ he asks.

A trace of a smile appears on the face of the apparition, who turns, swinging his axe over his shoulder as he does so, before stepping, with a swift backward glance, silently out of the room.

Hopelessness descends on the king; his temperature rises, and he feels hot again. He wants to break free from the heat, but escape is impossible. Was he like a pagan king of old to be consumed by fire?

The is hot, black and silent.

End of extract

About 1066 What Fates Impose

England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland.

Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies who will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold.
Intelligent and courageous, can Harold forge his own destiny – or does he have to bow to what fates impose?

Jessie:  What do the reviewers say?

‘An extremely promising debut – highly recommended’. Steve Donoghue – Historical Novel Society

‘A Brilliant and Entertaining Novel of the Events that led to 1066.’  Glenn Cook – Vine Voice – Amazon Hall of Fame – Top 100 Reviewer

‘Excellent and Gripping Story.’ Avid Reader – Amazon Hall of Fame – Top 50 Reviewer

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

I was pleased that I’d actually managed to finish it; there were times when I thought the day would never dawn. I did miss some of the characters, particularly King Harold and Earl Godwin.  completing my novel felt a bit like saying goodbye to friends I knew I’d never see again. Harold and Godwin won’t appear in any sequel but there are other characters who will put in an appearance, one of them I’d quite like to never hear of again, but that’s the price of a good villain I suppose.

Glynn Holloway

About Glynn Holloway

G K Holloway lives in Bristol with his wife and two children. After reading a biography about Harold Godwinson, he studied the late Anglo-Saxon era in detail. When he had enough material to weave together facts and fiction he produced 1066 What Fates Impose. 

http://www.gkholloway.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/G-K-Holloway-219766941394283/
@GlynnHolloway

 

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

 

New 2020 Vision

I can see clearly now the blurring has gone.

It is almost 2020 and I have discovered I do not have twenty twenty vision.  I can see clearly now the blurring has gone. It turns out that my Kindle companion was a way of coping with my less than perfect sight, and I have astigmatism.  Joy of reading a physical book has been revived for me.  To look at the front cover, blurb and mark my favourite pages is a luxury I had forgotten.

I will take a step at a time and negotiate the paths no matter how difficult they are.

I am currently drinking in the stories of the books but without picking up my review notebook.  Maybe this is because I can see the words now and don’t need to break from the strain of reading.  It is wonderful not to suffer the terrible migraines that previously impacted on my day.  And I know why I was constantly complaining about the way the light reflected on my book or keyboard.

Now I have clearer vision, I intend to reread a printed version of my work in progress. I will read it without a review pen in hand and think about weaving in some secrets.  I am attempting to consume my work in progress as a reader viewing the novel for the first time. Whilst on handbag leave ideas have been popping and bubbling, and I hope they come into focus.

For the time being, I am abandoning the kindle for the book so will need a considerably bigger bag.

I must admit I also rather like my glasses as a new accessory.  Books in Handbag with Glasses could be a new direction for me.  I’ve also spied an opportunity to shop for snazzy glasses cases.  For the time being, I am abandoning the kindle for the book so will need a considerably bigger bag.  However, I must confess I am not getting along very well with the varifocals as they make me a little dizzy.  I need to focus on one thing at a time.

I will take a step at a time and look forward to the destination.

My vision for 2020 is to write, write, write and to look ahead.   I have no specific resolutions. Adventures will come into focus as the year unfolds.  I will take a step at a time and negotiate the paths no matter how difficult they are.  I look forward to you all joining me on my adventures and feel privileged to have your company.

“The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.” -Maya Angelou

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and the strength to let your dreams unfold and surprise you.  I will leave you with Maya Angelou’s advice:

“The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.”

 

Please see all my Handbag Adventures and my blog and website at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my first novel is available here.

Christmas Eve in Delfryn

The tangled vine around the door of Vine Cottage is laden with fairy lights.

It’s Christmas Eve in my fictional village of Delfryn, and you’ve arrived in front of a row of quaint cottages made of Welsh slate. A garland of holly and pine is artfully arranged above the doors of the three cottages.  The tangled vine around the door of Vine Cottage is laden with fairy lights. No one answers the door, so you decide to check the address stored on your phone. Reaching into your pocket, you find an envelope marked ‘Christmas Turkey Recipe’.

Once you are inside Vine Cottage, Sophie makes you some hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, ginger biscuits and marshmallows.  She returns to the pile of presents, wrapping paper and bows. ‘I’ve got so much to do,’ she complains.

Reaching into your pocket, you find an envelope marked ‘Christmas Turkey Recipe’.

Jack searches through recipe books and asks you, ‘Do you have a failsafe recipe to cook tomorrow’s Christmas dinner?  I’ve bought a free range turkey from Delfryn Farm but haven’t had time to perfect a recipe.’

You realise the magical significance of the envelope found in your pocket.  ‘There’s a recipe inside of this envelope,’ you soothe then hand over the envelope.

This will take around 4 to 4 ½ hours.

Ingredients

  • Turkey 3-4 kg (including giblets)
  • Bottle of dry white wine or sparkling white wine
  • Variety of fresh herbs (such as Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Marjoram, Bay Leaves) – 3 handfuls
  • 4 Juniper Berries
  • Pinch of Saffron
  • ½ pack of butter (leave out at room temperature before using)
  • 1 pack Bacon (225g) – preferably streaky
  • 2 lemons
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Beef Dripping / Fat or Goose Fat
  • Water
  • Potatoes for Roasting (such as Maris Piper, King Edwards) – approx. 1kg for 4 people
  • Variety of Root Vegetables (such as Parsnips, Carrots, Squash, Sweet Potato, Swede, Turnip) – approx. 1kg for 4 people
  • Wholegrain Mustard – couple of spoons
  • Cornflour – 2 or 3 teaspoons

Method

  • Take the turkey out of the fridge at least an hour before cooking
  • Remove the giblets from the cavity of the turkey and place in a pan with 2/3 wine. Add a handful of the herbs (no need to chop), the Juniper Berries and the Saffron, some salt and pepper. Put on a slow simmer. May need to top up with water as it dries out.
  • Peel and chop up the root vegetables and place in a large baking tray (needs to deep enough to take juices that will come out of the turkey).  Chop up a handful of herbs quite finely and add these, the remaining wine, juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper. Then add some water to just cover the vegetables.
  • Chop up the remaining herbs and mix in with the softened butter
  • Pre-heat the oven to 165 C / 325 F / Gas Mark 3 (with a fan) or 180C / 350 F / Gas Mark 4 (without a fan)
  • Take the turkey and gently prise the skin slightly apart from the meat (but do not remove it). Take the herb butter and spread it between the meat and the skin as far as you can. This will help to keep the turkey moist whilst cooking.
  • Then take the rashers of bacon and spread over the top of the turkey. This will help to protect and baste the turkey further.
  • Place the turkey onto the tray of vegetables and cover with aluminium foil and place in the oven and cook for approx. 3 hours (A larger turkey will be at least ½ hour longer)
  • After approx. 1 ½ hours, whilst the turkey is cooking, peel and chop up the potatoes for roasting. Place the potatoes into a pan, cover with water, add salt and bring to the boil. Boil for around 15 minutes or until the potatoes start to break up slightly. Strain them and leave to dry out for a few minutes.
  • Whilst the potatoes are boiling add the beef dripping or goose fat to a roasting tray and put in the oven. Heat the oven to 220 C / 425 F / Gas Mark 7.
  • After 2 ½ hours, you will need to remove the foil and the bacon, so that you can brown the turkey skin
  • When the potatoes have dried, and just after the foil has been removed from the turkey, remove the hot roasting tray with beef dripping or goose fat from the oven and add the potatoes. Stir well to coat the potatoes and return to the oven. Ideally the potatoes will break up slightly, but don’t worry if they do not. This adds lots of crispy bits. Cook for about an hour or until golden brown and crispy at the edges.
  • Remove the turkey when cooked, cover with foil and rest for half an hour.  To test the turkey, pierce the turkey and check that the juices are clear. Add any juices that come from the resting turkey to the sauce (there may be a lot!). N.B. The potatoes should still have ½ hour to cook.
  • Strain off the liquid from the turkey and roast vegetables and place in a large frying pan.
  • Strain the stock from the giblets and add it to this pan.
  • Add the remaining wine, some grated peel from the final lemon and the juice of that lemon.
  • Boil the sauce rapidly and reduce it down. Taste the sauce to see if reduced enough. If it tastes watery or weak, leave to reduce longer. Skim any fat off the top and put aside in a bowl (to use later or discard). Put in into a jug to serve.
  • Mix the cornflour with a few teaspoons water and add to the sauce to thicken it, stirring well whilst doing it. Add the mustard to the sauce. Add some extra pepper.
  • Serve

Once you are inside Vine Cottage, Sophie makes you some hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, ginger biscuits and marshmallows.

This recipe is a gift from Delfryn. Thank you so much for stepping into Delfryn and my blogging world. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my lovely readers and friends.  May your dreams come true in 2019.  In the meantime, happy reading and writing. Thank you for your support and friendship! You are all bright stars shining as I continue my writing adventure and it wouldn’t mean anything without your kind words.  So let’s raise our glasses to kindness this Christmas and New Year.

 

Please see all my food related posts at Writing on a Plate and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Moments of Joy

The Tryo must have spent a lifetime perfecting their art and teasing out every single note.

Enchanted by a musical trio, we joined a crowd as they danced, swayed and tapped their feet to the beat.  The international language of joy spread across everyone’s face.

Situated next to the Roman Forum, musical notes suspended us in a moment.  The entertainers beamed at their audience’s response.  As I tapped my feet, I realised how few people placed money in the guitar case, and no one would part with ten euros to buy the compilation.   Many people expected the impromptu entertainment to be free.

The Tryo must have spent a lifetime perfecting their art and teasing out every single note.  I tried to imagine their stories.  Who were the loves of their lives?  How did they manage perform the music with such soul? As a gesture of kindness from a writer to musicians, I decided to pay the ten euros for the CD. The trio smiled again but looked a little surprised.  My action prompted a few others to buy the music.  I do believe that people had forgotten that we can’t always expect to be entertained for free.  Alas, other people continued to record the music on their phones and never looked up.  However, I did hear the happy clang of coins hitting the guitar as I walked away.

Here I am feeling happy in Delfryn Abbey (inspired by Tintern Abbey).

Listening to the CD at home takes me back to Rome and a moment that bonded a diverse group of people in the city of Romance. This weekend, I was suspended in another moment of joy when readers, across the world, paid ninety nine pence for ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’. My book climbed the charts, and I performed my happy dance.  I imagined the coins falling into my handbag ready for me to buy a coffee and another book.

Olivia, Rosa and Matteo’s Olive Tree Café and music venue.

I do wish I could gather the readers of my novel together, smile at them and say thank you to them for buying my words.  I would love to be able to invite the readers to the Olive Tree Café, in You Can’t Go It Alone, and ask Rosa, Olivia and Matteo to perform music for them.

Presenting You Can’t go It Alone

Wishing you all moments of joy.

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures.

 

The Romance Novelists’ Association as my Shield

When Jessie Met Angela

A knight from the House of York

As a Yorkshire lass visiting Lancaster, I entered the city with trepidation.  Would I be safe?  Would I be welcome?  With my white rose hidden in my handbag, I approached Lancaster University and entered the magical world of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

I exchanged my white rose for a pink lanyard, grabbed a black bag of bookish goodies and planned my battle for the day.  A wave of nerves washed over me when I saw my name listed on the one-to-one timetables.

RNA
Romantic Novelists’ Association is a shield protecting writers

With the ‘Sound the drums and trumpets’, the day commenced with a meeting of authors on the New Writers’ Scheme led by the wonderful Immi Howson.  Listening to the success stories of the NWS authors made me realise the Romantic Novelists’ Association is a shield protecting writers and giving us to tell our stories.   Writing can be a battleground and as many said, ‘we all have downs’, but with the support of the RNA one can survive ‘the slings and arrows’ of the process.

Encouraging smiles and greetings from fellow authors lifted my heart throughout the day. Lynda Stacey, my fairy godmother, prepared me for the first meeting.  Members of the South and West Wales Chapter offered constant support. Surrounded by the warmth of the writers, I calmed down and looked around for familiar faces.

When Jessie met Angela

But the ‘sound of drums and trumpets’ heralded again and a knight from the House of York pushed me towards a writing heroine, Angela Petch.  Her presence glowed in the room and I knew I would be safe from the ‘slings and arrows’ of my writing doubts. She handed me a notebook with ‘Dream big because dreams do happen’ written on the cover; these words started to ring in my ears for the rest of the day.  It was overwhelming to meet this lovely lady in person and snatch chat time between meetings.  Her kind words armed me with confidence, and I mused on how I felt as if I have always known Angela.

She handed me a notebook with ‘Dream big because dreams do happen’ written on the cover; these words started to ring in my ears for the rest of the day.

The one-to-one meeting with the industry professionals were enjoyable but too short.  My writing was praised, and I began to smile again.  It was a pleasure to introduce Pearl and Jim to new people, and I was delighted everyone loved naughty Doreen.

Being involved in the RNA is ‘a kinda magic’ that enables authors to slay the self-doubts and carve out a pathway towards achieving one’s dream.  All I can do now is wish on a star, edit, write and ‘dream big’.

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.

Patricia Feinberg Stoner’s Giggling Goggles

Tales from the Pays d’Oc

At Home in the Pays d’Oc made me giggle, and I was delighted to experience more divine comedy in a bundle of short stories. Do you fancy a tipple of laughter?   I can thoroughly recommend ‘Tales from the Pays d’Oc’ – what a treat! 

Patricia’s Tales from the Pays d’Oc are tasty morsels of France spiced with other cultures.  I peeped into the worlds of Morbignan and St Remy les Cevennes via Patricia’s giggling goggles and it appealed to my nosy nature. How I enjoyed the ‘babble of accents’ from: French, Dutch, German, Swedish and English inhabitants.  The ‘gossip fest’ tempted me throughout the stories.  Amusing and poignant observations are thrown in for good measure. For instance, I learned that ‘serious drinking won’t begin for an hour’ at ten o’clock.

Story: The Poet, the Thief and the Indian Prawn. Snatched the prawn from his plate almost in mid-air and hit the ground running

Oh, how I waited impatiently, in the café, for the news.  Who was dead?  What happened?  I even found myself adding details and was taught a naughty lesson.  Gossip was the only temptation to move me away from the market.  I drooled as ‘the fruit stalls spilled a cornucopia of cherries and strawberries and peaches, their scents voluptuous and enticing in the heat.’

I may have also been tempted by the character of Karl who is personified by the ‘big, butch vehicle’.  Hilarious!  Alas, we owned one of those ‘high – falutin’ ‘Bland Rovers’, so he may not have approved. The ending of the story made me laugh and laugh.  Patricia blends the humour so skilfully that I am in awe – again!

Story: Oops! The nearside front wheel slithered into thin air and they lurched to a stop.

Armageddon Falls carried me along the flow of the narrative.  The author is skilled at building simple details of the characters, hinting at conflict and absorbing the reader in the dialogue. She manages to demonstrate how people would bemuse the French inhabitants.  I felt certain the author would teach the Americans a lesson.  How can an artist declare, ‘when you’ve seen one vine, you’ve seen them all’?

All the characters are vibrant, and I love the way the style of each story reflects the personalities.  Sheer genius in every single morsel of these bite size temptations.  The enigma of the ‘boy in the pool’ is beautifully conveyed.  Who is he?  The mystery of the summer visitor combined with the mystery of the boy in the pool is brilliant.

Story: A-sitting on a Bench Sitting on the bench they have their measure of the place, but don’t expect to gossip with this crowd if you are ‘anglais’

The dog named ‘Useless’ who becomes a Greek goddess is great.  I loved this dog!  Moreover, I wanted to eat the truffle omelette on my snow-covered patio.  Indeed, animals are also wonderful, intelligent characters in the collection of stories.

Let’s not forget the eccentric French characters who throw themselves into: truffle hunting, boar hunting, village fetes, food, parties’ wine and, of course, amorous liaisons.  French culture is explored, dissected and presented on a plate. The villagers are stubborn and reluctant to change but sometimes surprise you.  There are amusing, everyday incidents, but as you weave in and out of the characters’ lives, you get to meet them several times.  The ‘good ol’ boys’ are a constant presence throughout the stories.  Sitting on the bench they have their measure of the place, but don’t expect to gossip with this crowd if you are ‘anglais’ like Henry or even a Parisienne.  You could listen to Josephine, the town crier, and find out how she is taught a lesson.  Perhaps you’d like to join the Saturday Club to discover why the ‘swing doors flung open, and on a roar of “Ou est -il donc?”’ Has Kiki been up to his ‘old tricks’ or are you in the middle of a western?  Beware of the raging woodman!  Admire, the author’s wonderful turn of phrase and stand back when Paulette grabs ‘a fistful of blonde hair with a struggling, protesting eighteen-year-old attached.’ Discover how Patricia manages to rub a little salt into the wounded pride of the various characters. No one escapes her witty observation.

Story: Cheeky ‘… and don’t come back!’

Morsels of Morbignan are ‘tres amusant’. Each story made me declare: ‘Ah, or ‘Je vois’ or ‘oh la la’.  The author transported me over the English Channel and made me think in schoolgirl French (minus the accents).  Desperate for the denouement of each tale, I burnt a stew, but it was an excuse to open a bottle of French wine.  These stories would make a perfect Sunday evening TV series.

Cheers, Patricia!  I can’t wait for more tempting morsels.

About Patricia

Patricia Feinberg Stoner began her career as a graduate trainee with the Liverpool Daily Post.

Quickly discovering she was a terrible reporter, she switched to feature writing and since then her career has revolved around the written word, as a journalist, advertising copywriter and publicist. For many years she was international press officer for Granada Television, leaving to set up her own publicity business, The Good Word.

Once a dyed-in-the-wool Londoner, Patricia now lives in West Sussex with her husband Patrick, also a writer. She is a member of CHINDI independent authors.

Her first book, ‘Paw Prints in the Butter’, is a collection of humorous verse about cats, sold in aid of WADARS, a local animal rescue charity. She followed this with ‘At Home in the Pays d’Oc’ which, she says, is the story of two accidental expatriates in the south of France. The book won a Five Star Book Award from One Stop Fiction.

November 2017 saw the publication of Patricia’s third book – ‘The Little Book of Rude Limericks’. Despite the title, she warns that not all of the limericks in the book are rude: in fact, some are perfectly polite. However, there are exceptions.

Her latest book revisits the Languedoc with a collection of short stories: ‘Tales from the Pays d’Oc‘. In its pages you will discover what Matthieu was doing in the olive tree, who stole the Indian prawn and who rescued two hapless Americans at Armageddon Falls.

 

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

Golden Chapter: Roger Bray’s Blood Ribbon

During this golden season in the UK, I bring you Jena’s latest Golden Chapter from Roger Bray.

During this golden season in the UK, I bring you Jena’s latest Golden Chapter.  She reached down under the table for her handbag and found a thriller by Roger Bray. Roger was born in the UK but lives far, far away on the Gold Coast, Australia.  I am delighted to present a truly golden collaboration across three continents.  It’s time to hand over this feature to Jena, a supportive American author and blogger.

I peered in to my golden handbag to see the first chapter of this Thriller/Suspense Crime Fiction. I want to note that the author included thanks to bloggers and reviewers by name in his dedication section at the beginning of the book. Nice touch!

I’ve got a golden handbag
And with a golden handbag…
it’s a golden day…
to read…

The first chapter is short but packs a punch. The author sets the table which made me want to stay for the main course.

The story is told in the third person. The words are simple and low-key, as they set the tone that something out of the ordinary is happening. We learn that it is near midnight, and an unnamed person is driving across the Nestucca River Bridge. This person is referred to as “he”.

We are not given any physical details about this person, but we do learn that he is precise and careful. He drives slowly, with headlights off, on a trail to the river. He uses a military-style shovel to dig a hole in the sand seven feet deep. He believes he is an expert at covering his tracks. He pulls on disposable latex gloves.

It’s time to hand over this feature to Jena, a supportive American author.

A body is in the trunk of his car, wrapped in a metallic lined thermal blanket. He checks the pockets on the body’s clothing, to make sure they are zipped so nothing can fall out. (Note to Handbag lovers doing mysterious things at night- make sure things don’t fall out of your bag!)

But he does forget about something, although he does his best to fix his mistake. After placing the body in the hole he dug, he is careful to smooth and cover the disturbed sand. These unsettling acts contrast with the description of the gentle breeze blowing off the Pacific.

He appears to be cool and composed. Yet, he thinks several thoughts that are peculiar. As he views the body, he pictures what we assume is his victim as “serene, happy, lovely.” He uses a ribbon to tie the hair of the deceased, making sure the ends are of equal length.

Gold Coast Hinterland

The chapter ends with man examining a “mini constellation of his own making.”

And yes, we must stop here! Ready for some questions?

  1. I’m sure you have many questions based on this first chapter. Who is the man? Did he kill someone? Has he done it before? Who is the victim? Does this first chapter make you want to find out more? What other questions do you have?
  2. What does the title Blood Ribbon mean to you, now that you’ve been introduced to the first chapter?
  3. From the cover blurb, we learn that a young woman is found alive, bleeding and injured. Is she the Chapter One victim or another victim?

If you’ve read and reviewed the book, please share a link to your review in the comments. Thanks!

Happy Reading and Stay Golden!

Jena C. Henry

Roger Bray’s Blood Ribbon

About the Book

When a psychology student survives a brutal encounter, a series of unsolved murders may be her only clue to stop the next attack…

Orphan Brooke Adams has reinvented herself after a troubled past. Now a confident psychology student, she surrounds herself with a close-knit group of friends who won’t let their past traumas ruin their big plans for the future. But when a weekend getaway ends with a bloody, savage attack that nearly leaves her dead on the beach, she’s determined not to let the traumatic experience define her.

When she’s approached by a retired cop turned PI, Brooke is shocked to learn there’s a striking similarity between her incident and a series of killings from 35 years ago. Will Brooke piece together the unsolved beach murders and reclaim her future, or will a clever killer put her six feet under the dunes?

Blood Ribbon is a tightly-woven standalone thriller. If you like dark mysteries, chilling suspense, and survivors battling incredible odds, then you’ll love Roger Bray’s gripping page-turner.

Roger Bray

About Roger:

I served in the Royal Navy, and as a Police officer in Australia. Seriously injured and medically retired I enrolled in university which relit my passion for writing.  Three books published and another on track.  If my writing brings some pleasure into people’s lives, then I consider it a success.

I have always loved writing; putting words onto a page and bringing characters to life. I can almost feel myself becoming immersed into their lives, living with their fears and triumphs. Thus, my writing process becomes an endless series of questions. What would she or he do, how would they react, is this in keeping with their character? Strange as it sounds, I don’t like leaving characters in cliffhanging situations without giving them an ending, whichever way it develops.

My life to date is what compels me to seek a just outcome, the good will overcome and the bad will be punished. More though, I tend to see my characters as everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, but in which we may all find ourselves if the planets align wrongly or for whatever reason you might consider.

Contacts:
Twitter: @rogerbray22
https://rogerbraybooks.com/

 

Please see all the chapters at Jena’s Golden Chapters and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Memories

We aimed to find photos that capture laughter!

‘I leave you with a sense of humour and memories. Think of me when funny things happen.’ That’s what my late father told us when we discovered he had only got weeks to live. He insisted that we didn’t sit around the hospital bed and weep but laugh at memories. He started a conversation with, ‘Do you remember when…’, and then engaged us in funny stories of past events. Everyone in the ward laughed along at the stories – it was magic. I can still remember my dad holding his belly as he laughed out loud. What a great way to distract us all from the sadness! That was thirteen years ago.

Dad’s philosophy helped us through this year. As we haven’t been able to get together with extended family, we have treasured memories of past events and shared photos of past get togethers. We aimed to find photos that capture laughter!

I found a photo of me when I was about nine years old.

I found a photo of me when I was about nine years old. I urged Mum to take a photo of Dad reading the newspaper, so we could record the progress of his bald head and present the photo as evidence. He loved this and said, ‘Hair today, gone tomorrow.’

Photos that capture a moment are a gift. For example, in Northumberland, I decided to take a closer look at the sea and when I jumped off the wall, I was rewarded with a splash from a freak wave. I was the only walker who did not escape the water, and my husband was able to snap the moment as he was taking photos of the sea at the time.

I decided to take a closer look at the sea and when I jumped off the wall, I was rewarded with a splash from a freak wave.

‘Please tell me that wasn’t planned,’ said an elderly gentleman, crying with laughter.

‘No, it was especially for you,’ I replied.

He held his stomach as he waited for the laughter to subside. It felt as if Dad was there with us in that moment, instigating his usual mischief.

Of course, sharing stories and old photos is not the same as the face-to-face contact, but it cheered us up. For us, Dad is an absent present in those moments of hilarity and it’s comforting. My heart goes out to those people who have lost their loved ones, and I am thinking of you and wishing you comfort in those memories captured in your heart.

Which photos capture your fondest memories and make you smile?

 

Please see all my Handbag Adventures and also my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.

Home is Where the Heart is

Morley in the seventies. Nothing much has changed apart from the cars parked on the roadside. Photo from David Atkinson Archive, Morley Memories.

Hiraeth is a delicious Welsh word as it captures that nostalgic longing for home. As a Yorkshire lass living in Wales, I often yearn for Morley, a town in Leeds, where my family still live. Yet I also feel at home in certain places in Wales that connect to the spirit and soul of place I long for. Maybe it’s the spirit of the industrial past that connects me to South Wales.

Morley is a large town in West Yorkshire that was constructed from the blood, sweat and tears of coal and textiles. The stone buildings of Morley are crooked and leaned towards me with whispers of secrets. I always identified a beauty in the urban landscape of home and feel so happy when I return to visit my family. There is a community spirit in Morley and people will always chat and make me laugh.

I imagined Jim driving along this road in his Zephyr. The photo is from Wales online and is captures Cardiff fifty years ago.

Last year, I stumbled on some newspaper photos of Cardiff in the sixties and seventies and the people huddled together chatting connected me to a familiar community spirit and evocated a nostalgia. When imagining the people’s stories, I met Pearl and Jim, characters from my novel, Loving You (working title), searching for their dreams in a fictional Welsh town near to Cardiff.

Photo of the Welsh factory woman in the sixties is from BBC News in an article written by Gwyneth Rees, BBC Wales News

Pearl is a seamstress who dreams of becoming a singer. Jim is a car mechanic who yearns to be an artist. Secrets about Pearl’s late father thrive in Aberynys as people still gossip about him. Pearl and Jim’s dreams push them together and pull them apart. Pearl is immersed in a community, but Jim is a loner. Both characters are shaped by their lives in Aberynys and want to escape in different ways. Pearl’s friends in the sewing factory are influenced by the people my grandmother brought to life for me when I was a child, and their sense of humour is both northern and Welsh. Of course, a colourful cast of characters also barged into the book, and my fictional town of Aberynys is a port which was also influenced by visits to Barry Island, Cardiff Bay and the Valleys.

This photo of the Valleys inspired Aberynys.

Aberynys is the nostalgic place in my heart: a place built on stories I listened to when chatting to folk in Yorkshire and Wales. I created a place name with lyrical Welsh words: Aber is the Welsh word for estuary and ynys means island. Aberynys is a montage of my life experiences and a place that makes folk dream their dreams. Loving You remains one of my works in progress as I just love to visit the place in my heart where I can seek sanctuary from what is happening to us all at the moment.

Which place do you call home and is this different to place you live in now?

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and My Writing. 

Falling in Love with the Romantic Novelists’ Association

Presenting (clockwise): John Jackson, Rhoda Baxter, Lynda Stacey and Anne Marie Brear

A tiny oak door opened into the warmth of the Romantic Novelists’ Association event, and a hearty welcome glowed from Lynda Stacey and John Jackson.  The guests of the RNA York charmed me, and I fell in love with a family of romance writers.

I found a home and a place to rest my bag for a while.  Word wizards distracted me from the beauty of the medieval setting. I wondered how many years of writing experience the authors had amassed between them. Would I be able to cram all the authors novels into the nooks and crannies of the ancient Merchant Taylors’ Hall?  It was obvious there would need to be bags and bags of books.   Inspired by the moment, I invited authors to be photographed with their books in their handbags.

The ancient Merchant Taylors’ Hall

Readers are now invited to take a seat beside the fire and meet the heroes and heroines of my narrative. Look at their books and the range of genres available. I must admit I did suffer from book cover envy when presented with the glorious front covers. Besides admiring books, I discovered gems of advice from the writers. Authors told me about the magic of Canva, Photoshop and Word Cloud. Magic words that certainly did not echo around the room six centuries ago.

What a palaver! I attempted to take a selfie with Milly Johnson and Rhoda Baxter.

Chat with the word wizards encouraged me to step outside of my Books in my Handbag Blog and talk about writing my book.  I found myself spellbound by Milly Johnson who had the power to conjure my Yorkshire accent from the depths of my handbag.  I was back home, in Yorkshire, with friendly writerly folk. Milly reassured me the writing process is still agony for her after sixteen books.  Rhoda Baxter joined the conversation, and I could have listened to the comedy duo all afternoon. If only I had recorded the conversation.  I am in awe of how Milly and Rhoda manage to write comedy with such flair.  They explained that comedy is channelled through the characters and flows naturally – words of comedy experts.  In a classic comedy moment, I fumbled with my phone to take a selfie with Rhoda and Milly but had the lens pointing at the table in front of me. Flummoxed by technology, I felt ‘as daft as a brush’, but the grand lasses just laughed.

Chair of Romance Novelists Association, Nicola Cornick. This is the kind lady who poured me some tea.

Suspended in the glow of the RNA heaven, I became lost in the moment until the afternoon tea arrived at our table. Chair of Romance Novelists Association, Nicola Cornick, poured me tea from an enormous teapot that was the size of a small house.  We ate buttery scones, zingy lemon drizzle cake, and indulgent chocolate brownies with chips.  Well, you must have chips at a northern afternoon tea. I almost forgot the delicate array of posh sarnies.  The happy nattering of the RNA family filled the room until the guest speaker was introduced. It was time to ‘shut me cake ‘ole’.   

Jean Fullerton, guest speaker, showcasing her popular historical fiction.

Guest speaker, Jean Fullerton, spoke passionately about her writing journey. She also celebrated popularity or the romance genre and challenged prejudice. Congratulations to Jean on her successful historical fiction novels set in the East End of London. According to Jean, ‘to write about life is to write about love.’  She handed over her gift of hope that, ‘sometimes, just sometimes, love does win and dreams come true.’

That day, I fell in love with the RNA and it is my dream to be adopted by this family one day. I forgot to take photos of the cakes because I was busy eating them and chatting. Overwhelmed by the RNA world, I departed into a rainy Saturday afternoon.  I regret I did not see, blogging legend, Anne Williams and the authors I have met in the Handbag Gallery. Despite the realisation I need glasses, I had a ‘reight good time’ and found ‘me’ old Yorkshire accent hiding in the medieval hall. I hope to move back to Yorkshire.  I would also love to meet Sue Moorcroft in the future.  The tiny oak door was left ajar, so I can return next year. I look forward to finding out if the magical medieval setting may inspire some more romance stories.

Meet (clockwise): Lesley Field, Ellie Gray, Ros Rendle, Chrissie Bradshaw, Sylvia Broady and Rosemary Smith

Congratulations to Lynda Stacey on a wonderful event.  Best of luck with the release of her new book, ‘The Fake Date’.  I am looking forward to interviewing her, with the book due to be released on 18th September.

Earlier this year, I chatted with Rhoda Baxter about my blogging adventure and was delighted to feature on the RNA website.

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.