Owing to the rise in popularity of audio books, talking books are now featuring in the Handbag Gallery. Improved digital technology has made the audio book more accessible to readers. I invited bestselling author, Imogen Matthews, to explain how she transformed her words into a talking book with the help of a BAFTA nominated actor. Imogen has charted her book’s journey into the audio world.
At the beginning of this year, I decided to turn my novel, The Hidden Village, into an audiobook, but had no idea where to start. The audiobook market, I’m told, is booming, especially among young people who like to listen to books on their commute, in the gym, when out cycling and running or at home preparing a meal.
Amazon’s ACX (http://www.acx.com/) can take you through the process step-by-step and made it sound fairly straightforward. They would help with everything, from finding a narrator to providing guidance on how to produce my audiobook and getting it distributed onto Amazon and other distribution channels. So far so good. ACX has a big database of narrators all waiting to audition for your book and all you have to do is decide the type of voice, tone and accent you want for your book. I listened to a few narrators and although there was nothing wrong with any of them, I didn’t feel the right connection I so wanted for my book.
In the meantime, some other options arose, which sounded a great deal more exciting. Early on, I had the chance to work with a well known British stage and TV actor and was blown away by his audition…but work got in the way and he simply couldn’t commit as he was on tour in a musical until June. Maybe he’ll be free for my next book?
Liam Gerrard narrated the audio version of The Hidden Village
My disappointment was short-lived after I was introduced to Liam, a BAFTA nominated actor, who has narrated dozens of books. Together with his audiobook producer, the delightful Catherine, an Englishwoman based in the US, they have created and produced my audiobook, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Working with Liam was a dream. We had several phone conversations in which he asked me searching questions about the narrative, characters and foreign words. He took the job seriously and must have read my book multiple times to get under the skin of each of the characters (of which there are many!). I trusted him to go away and narrate the whole story, which I then listened to, all 9 hours and 37 minutes, over the course of a weekend in April.
It was a very strange and wonderful feeling hearing the words I’d written being brought to life by an actor. Liam added layers of meaning and tension to the story I honestly hadn’t realised were there. It made me realise that my role, as an author, is merely to tell the story – and from then on in, the reader/narrator takes over.
I did think of asking Imogen to present the audio version of her article. What do you think of audio books?
Introducing Imogen
About Imogen:
Imogen Matthews lives in Oxford, England and is the author of two romantic fiction e-novels. The Hidden Village is her first historical fiction novel. Born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father, the family moved to England when Imogen was very young. She has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods. It was here that she discovered the story of the hidden village, and together with her mother’s vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her next novel.
The Hidden Village: Deep in the Veluwe woods lies Berkenhout, a purpose-built village of huts sheltering dozens of persecuted people.
Deep in the Veluwe woods lies Berkenhout, a purpose-built village of huts sheltering dozens of persecuted people. But the Germans can find no proof of its existence. The whole community pulls together to help the Berkenhout inhabitants adjust to a difficult new life and, above all, stay safe.
Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, struggles to adapt to living in Berkenhout, away from her family and friends. As weeks turn to months, she’s worried they’ll abandon her altogether. Young tearaway Jan likes to help, but he also enjoys roaming the woods looking for adventure and fallen pilots. His dream comes true, until he is found out. Henk is in charge of building the underground huts and organizing provisions to Berkenhout, but his contact with the Germans arouses suspicions.
Whom can you trust? All it takes is one small fatal slip to change the course of all their lives forever.
On our pilgrimage to Canterbury, we decided to stop in Wye in Kent, for provisions. When we collected our daily bread in Wye Bakery, I found myself lost in another age. Allow me some creative liberty in my tale…
The quaint Wye Bakery is accessed via an ancient corridor constructed three hundred years ago.
An ancient, mysterious corridor constructed three hundred years ago
Walking through the corridor transported my imagination back in time. The Franklin, from The Canterbury Tales, invited us inside to taste the bread. Alas, we did not wish to dip the lovely bread into wine, particularly at such an early hour. We thanked the Franklin for his hospitality and bid him to return to Chaucer’s England. The ancient vision dissolved, as the aroma of fresh bread brought us back to the present day.
Mother and daughter are passionate about the health benefits of traditional, slow baking.
Inside, we were greeted by the baker Mrs Hickson, and her daughter. Mother and daughter are passionate about the health benefits of traditional slow baking. It is hoped that Mrs Hickson’s daughter will be able to apply her Nutrition Degree to the business.
The pastries were buttery, crumbly and utterly delicious. The bread had a wonderful robust structure and a delicate taste like sour dough. Is there anything more comforting than simple bread and butter? One could taste the attention to detail in every single crumb.
I heard Robert Browning say:
‘If thou tasteth a crust of bread, thou tasteth all the stars and all the heavens.’
‘If thou tasteth a crust of bread, thou tasteth all the stars and all the heavens.’
I urge you to visit Wye Bakery. It is refreshing to listen to Mrs Hickson wax lyrical about a business that consumes sixteen hours of her day. Taste the delights of the labour of love that could be your daily bread.
The river meandered through the valley and spring was in the air in Delfryn.
It is lockdown and planes are grounded, so I am forcing my fictitious friends to visit restaurants, parties and the fairground. I am delighting in the hustle and bustle of the crowded locations and soaking up the atmosphere more than ever before. A lockdown cannot lock my imagination and the silence helps me to find the words.
I have selected my seventies outfit, added some powerful eyeliner and made my way to a Valentine’s party
My work in progress, Loving You (working title) is set in the seventies so I escaped to another time and place. I selected my seventies outfit, added some powerful eyeliner and made my way to a Valentine’s party in a café located in Dockers Row, Aberynys. Lorenzo and Stella Ferrari introduced a community to Italian food. It may be a simple menu, but I enjoyed the comforting aroma of garlic. Food was plentiful and the atmosphere was heavy with the laughter. I departed from the café before there was any sign of love, but I heard some soulful singing. There were whispers of strike action at the sewing factory from some of the other guests. I may need to share some of my store cupboard recipes with the factory girls.
Welcome to Aberynys, the home of my characters.
I bought a lovely red Mini Cooper and followed a Ford Zephyr out to Delfryn. Oh, it is so beautiful there. The river meandered through the valley and spring was in the air. I spotted a young man absorbed in a painting. I did not chat to Jim as I found myself back here in front of my laptop when the news headlines disturbed the flight of my imagination. Cake o’clock with and strong pot of filter coffee always gets me through the days at the moment.
I bought a lovely red Mini Cooper and followed a Ford Zephyr out to Delfryn.
Time to leave reality again, I travelled to France via Roseanna Ley’s novel, Her Mother’s Secret. I met a writer in the novel who explained that:
‘The writer could be as selfish as he pleased. He could nip into that other world whenever the urge arose, returning to reality only when the necessary work was done.’
I love nipping in and out of reality and I find myself breaking simple rules of life to shake it up. I can have cake for breakfast, bacon and eggs for tea and make up a silly dance to Abba music if the mood takes me. I don’t care if the neighbour sees me dancing in the garden room: anything goes at the moment.
Book yourself into a good book or write yourself into the places you miss. I am going to love you and leave you and wish you the power of your imagination to help you through this difficult time.
I had no idea what to expect from an anthology entitled ‘Paisley Shirt’. I drifted along with the words and became hooked. Enigma, shock and a wry smile accompanied me as I read these stories. Each evening, I sipped another story and savoured the unanswered questions. I searched beyond the words and entered the territory of the unsaid. As I travelled in the gaps between the words, I admired the meaning squeezed into the story. Even the child’s perspective temps the reader with the innocent gaps in the narration.
‘Stepping back as the glass shatters, his blood speckles the paintwork.’
Some stories are presented as vivid a flash of emotion whispered in black and white tones while other stories are sounded in blast of colour. Aldwin explores: love, domestic violence, families, political asylum, memories, loneliness, divorce, other cultures and more. She is not afraid to challenge her reader and is skilled at presenting economical use of dialogue. This compressed narrative form showcases Aldwin’s poetic style. To unravel each story would spoil the surprise for future readers.
‘The gift is an entry into his world.’
Tension spins in the narratives like a storm waiting for the finale, but the reader often must imagine the conclusion. Aldwin writes,
‘And there was something tuneful about Australia. Sitting on the veranda at night, listening to the rhythm of the cicadas or hearing the wind ripple through the gumtree that build to a crescendo when the storm came.’
Here in ‘Blue Skies’, Aldwin captures the way I felt when reading the flash fiction. Even the titles of the story add to the compressed meaning of the narrative form. Indeed, one must have blue sky thinking to appreciate flash fiction and look into the characters’ world.
Indeed, one must have blue sky thinking to appreciate flash fiction and look into the characters’ world.
As a tribute to Gail’s writing, I have presented words that left images on my mind. Images presented throughout the post are a snapshot of emotions that flashed in my mind long after reading. The poetic quality of this writing conjures powerful images, and I hope they will tempt you to read on.
The stories have also inspired me to experiment with this genre and have enjoyed reading the language into shape. Indeed, Gail explained:
‘I write every day and love to see my stories change direction and become more textured through redrafting and editing.’
“‘If she lives it will be thanks to God’, said the doctor, ‘If she dies, she will not be alone.’”
About the Anthology
‘Paisley Shirt‘ is a fascinating collection of 27 stories that reveal the extraordinary nature of people and places. Through a variety of characters and voices, these stories lay bare the human experience and what it is like to live in our world.
Gail Aldwin
About the Author:
Gail Aldwin is a prize-winning writer of flash fiction, short stories, and poetry. Her work can be found online at Ink, Sweat & Tears and Slamchop and in print anthologies including What I Remember (EVB Press, 2015) Dorset Voices (Roving Press, 2012) and The Last Word (Unbound Press, 2012). Gail works collaboratively with other women writers to develop comedy for the screen and stage. With the Dorset Writers’ Network, Gail supports isolated writers in rural communities. She is an experienced teacher who delivers workshops to young people and adults in community settings.
‘Autumn is the best time of year for me to write because the tranquillity inspires reflection.’
The light is magical in October and bathes everything in a warm glow. There is also a stillness in the air, suggesting nature is waiting to go to sleep so that it can create more colour in the spring. Autumn is the best time of year for me to write because the tranquillity inspires reflection.
As leaves flutter to the ground, characters come to life. The promise of the festive season hovers as winter waits patiently to present the first shimmer of frost. It is no wonder, then, that I am delighting in penning a Christmas scene at the moment.
I am writing a novel set in World War Two. It is a joy to escape to the era where my grandmother was a young woman and the festive season required creativity. At Christmas time, my grandmother made her own festive wreaths and table decorations with foraged holly, ferns and berries and added bows and gold paint. She told me stories of how my great grandfather spent months making and renovating toys in the lead up to Christmas. I have given this resourceful nature to the characters. Everyone was creating Christmas decorations the last time I visited my novel.
‘Thanks to my grandmother’s memories of the era, love and laughter are shining in the scene packed with friends and family.’
Thanks to my grandmother’s memories of the era, love and laughter are shining in the scene packed with friends and family. Furthermore, families are collaborating to celebrate Christmas and there are some heartwarming moments, especially when gifts are exchanged. Romance is also sparkling but a mystery lurks beneath the Christmas magic.
‘As leaves flutter to the ground, characters come to life’
When I listen to the characters chat, I reflect on how we can create a unique Christmas without all the expense. Recent events have made me very aware of how much people matter and my characters teach me new things all the time. I am excited to share this heartwarming story one day, but for now I am enjoying the process of cutting back the scenes and walking amongst the words that have fallen.
Wishing you all a calm and creative autumn.
For more information about my writing and how Wales inspires my stories, please click on the links to the Frost Magazine below.
Each day the hills became easier and easier until I broke out into a consistent fast pace – almost jogging.
Writing takes me to another place and lets my mind travel. Alas, my imagination doesn’t burn off the calories and wandering through cyberspace does not count as exercise. In January, I knew I had to fight the constant fatigue caused by a sedentary lifestyle and word workouts. As a writer my income does not furnish me the opportunity to pay £700 in gym fees, so I used my imagination to build a fitness regime. Back in cyberspace, I found new trainers and decided to rediscover the power of walking.
At first, I completed half a mile each day and thought it better than no exercise. On my travels, I found concealed lanes and grabbed snippets of people’s lives along with stray sentences from conversations. I soon became hooked on the daily escape from my desk and decided to switch off my phone. Each day the hills became easier and easier until I broke out into a consistent fast pace – almost jogging. Within a month, I travelled to supermarket on shanks’s pony rather than firing up the car. I also let my mind do some walking when I pound the pavement. It is a two mile round trip. My rucksack replaced my handbag as is a brilliant way to carry the shopping and enhance the benefits of the walk. On opening my front door, a flood of words arrived without any effort. Better to let the words walk out of the mind rather than squeezing them out when sitting stationary at the laptop.
Within two months, the exercise boosted my energy and inspired me consider other changes to my lifestyle. The easy change was to reduce the portion sizes of my food. I love food and have no idea how these portions have crept up. I blame my husband’s wonderful cooking. I also abandoned my trusty builder’s tea for a selection of green teas as they aid digestion. I learned that green tea is loaded with antioxidants so thought I’d give it a try. Believe me it was difficult to give up my mug of dark brown Yorkshire tea, but as my habits changed, I became accustomed to it. Now I can’t face the many cups of brown tea and prefer the light refreshing tea; sometimes I rehydrate with a cup of warm water. Though I admit I do still drink my filter coffee as I can’t resist the aroma and taste. Habit had turned me into a serial tea drinker.
Cheers to your health and a creative approach to staying healthy and happy.
Over time I also noticed my stomach was swollen and uncomfortable. Having taken antibiotics, I researched the dangers and noted they can upset the gut flora. I realised that sauerkraut could make a difference. The bought sauerkraut is pasteurised, so I had to make my own. It did improve my digestion and I love it. Little did I know there is a whole trend in the consumption of fermented food. I highly recommend the homemade sauerkraut but be warned that you need to buy a fermentation jar with an air release valve. It is also essential to use salt without an anti-caking agent – it must be pure salt.
Researching healthy foods, I also stumbled on Greek yogurt which is a probiotic with many benefits. I have switched my plain yogurt for this delicious alternative. I eat the yogurt with chopped walnuts. The nuts have vitamins and minerals we require for a balanced diet. I love the texture of the Greek yogurt and like to pretend it is ice-cream. Sometimes I add a little Manuka honey to the combination. Pure luxury!
I love a happy ending! These simple changes have made a huge difference. I have a spring in my step again and am full of energy again. However, I must admit that I do allow myself treats and still can’t resist an afternoon tea: it’s about achieving a balance.
However, I must admit that I do allow myself treats and still can’t resist an afternoon tea: it’s about achieving a balance.
The journey to better health has been painless and I wanted to share them with you. Cheers to your health and a creative approach to staying healthy and happy.
If you have any health and wellbeing tips then please pass them on by leaving a comment. I am also happy to answer any questions.
The Sunshine Blogger Award empowers bloggers to celebrate other bloggers who are creative and bring positivity to the blogging community.
A nomination from Patricia Furstenberg for the Sunshine Blogger Award greeted me on a drizzly day in Wales. Patricia is a talented author and blogger and her kindness shines.
The Sunshine Blogger Award empowers bloggers to celebrate other bloggers who are creative and bring positivity to the blogging community.
Having blogged for three years in March, I am thrilled to receive this accolade and my first award. I never dreamed my blog would lead me to a global community of sunshine people. Connecting with people via my blog has gifted me with some lifelong friends and gives me such a warm feeling.
Here are the 11 questions set by Patricia for her nominees, with my answers:
Share one thing about yourself that would surprise your followers. I have a terrible fear of heights and once tried to get off a ski lift when it was ascending. I soon came to my senses when I saw how small the pine trees appeared from the lift.
Which do you prefer, mountain or sea?
The sea, the sea! I always visit the sea when I need inspiration. I like to let my mind wonder out to the horizon. I love to sit in a pier coffee shop when the weather is stormy.
The sea, the sea! I always visit the sea when I need inspiration.
What is the highest / furthest point you travelled to?
I have managed to walk up Pen y Fan one step at a time. We travelled to Singapore to stay with friends. What an experience! Singapore is so clean and never stops. The food markets were vibrant. I would like to return and then travel on to Australia.
You stand on a 1m high brick wall. Would you jump off or climb slowly?
I was once chased by a bull, made the leap of faith from a high wall and was absolutely fine. I may try it again!
If you would only start your writing career now, where would you begin?
I would begin by writing career by making an application to join the RNA News Writers’ Scheme. The support from the scheme is wonderful for a new writer.
Which animals you feel it represents you best?
I am like a loyal dog who values friendship and kindness, but sometimes I like to be let off the lead to roam free and explore new territory. And at other times I like to crash out in front of the fire and sleep.
Are you an early riser or night owl?
I do get up early but tend to have my writing inspiration in the evening, and I am certainly more creative when I have had lots of sleep.
Was writing your first choice as a career? If not, what was it?
Writing was always my dream, but I pursued a career in education. I thoroughly enjoyed making a difference to children’s lives and inspiring their creativity. I am blessed to have the opportunity to pursue my own creativity these days.
What is your comfort food?
Yorkshire puddings are my comfort food and the best ones taste like sunshine to me. The taste and smell takes me back to the lazy Sundays of my childhood.
Best way to relax and recharge?
I walk daily. Walking untangles any plot niggles, let’s me spend time with my characters and energises me.
What is your favourite word?
At this time of year my favourite word is hygge. The quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being is evoked in one simple word – hygge. Though I am not sure I say this word correctly.
I also discovered this lovely quotation from The Book of Hygge.
“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly, “one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.” -Hans Christian Anderson”
― Louisa Thomsen Brits, The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Well
Congratulations to the shiny sunshine people I have nominated
Blogging takes me to a happy place, and I love it when people join me. Thus, it is fitting to acknowledge some sunshine friends by nominating them for the Sunshine Blogger Award.
Congratulations to the shiny sunshine people I have nominated. I want you receive recognition for reaching out with your creativity and kindness. I appreciate you may not have time to respond with a blog so do not feel under pressure. I am happy for you to simply enjoy the glory and celebrate with coffee and cake.
If you choose to accept the Sunshine Blogger Award nomination, there are a few rules:
Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your blog post.
Nominate 11 new bloggers & their blogs. Do leave a comment on their blog to let them know they received the award and ask your nominees 11 new questions.
Here are 11 questions for my nominees:
Which three photographs would you present to capture your life? Feel free to include these in this post if you can.
I believe laughter is one of the best tonics in life. When was the last time you could not stop laughing?
Explain the last act of kindness you showed to a friend or stranger.
Do you prefer the winter sun or the summer sun? Explain your response.
Describe your perfect Saturday evening.
What sorts of characters do you prefer to meet in novels?
Give one sentence of advice to yourself when you were sixteen.
Is there a friend from the past you would love to get in touch with and why?
What is your food heaven and food hell?
Share your favourite recipe.
If you could travel back in time where would you visit and who would you take with you?
The gentle sun glowed on the Spanish Steps and caressed the nude tones of the buildings huddled together.
The gentle sun glowed on the Spanish Steps and caressed the nude tones of the buildings huddled together. I paused. The silhouettes shuffled in the streets below. Ancient bells chimed and clattered in a duel with electronic beeps.
I rested on the steps and shared the moment with the strangers.
I rested on the steps and shared the moment with the strangers. Removing my sunhat, I retrieved my notebook from my rucksack. The shining steps bathed in orange light tempted me to rest my legs.
‘Madam stand up please,’ demanded a woman dressed in a yellow jacket.
Words had dissolved into the shadows so I stood up to snap some photographs and hoped the light wouldn’t hide from the frames. Part of the crowd, I waited for a space to capture impressions of the moment.
‘So sorry,’ I apologised when I nudged a couple of British women with my rucksack.
The women turned their back on me, closed the gap for my camera and removed phones from their pockets. ‘For goodness sake, why does everyone try to steal our view?’
Ancient bells chimed and clattered in a duel with electronic beeps.
I grabbed their words before re-joining the scene. And then a siren clawed at noise of lives tuning up for play.
Whispers fluttered playfully amongst the languages flowing down the steps towards the fountain. A moped grumbled. Previously, I complained about the incessant noise of Rome but here it softened into a symphony. Words now loitered on the shining cobblestones, so I picked them up with my pen. I synchronised with the heartbeat of Rome and connected with the romance of the city.
A tunnel of perfume and the clomp of footsteps announced a woman with brownish orange hair coiffured tightly to her head like a helmet. The shadow of her late husband followed her. Lovers sighed. There were touches, glances and giggles. No one bought thorny red roses from the men trying to sell romance.
Ancient bells chimed and clattered in a duel with electronic beeps.
An arm moved around me. ‘When we came here twenty years ago, you raced me to the top of the steps,’ said my husband, now tired of waiting for me to make notes.
We joined the silhouettes in the streets and searched for a restaurant.
Discovering an author’s writing journey always intrigues me. I met inspirational Lesley Field at the Romance Novelists Association Tea. Lesley gave me the courage to pursue another adventure for my own characters. It is an honour to present Lesley’s story.
Every journey starts somewhere and mine started with a cup of tea, a magazine and a short story I’d just read. I thought, I could do that.
I had the pleasure of meeting Lesley Field at the RNA Tea.
A short while later I came up with a story-line, sat down at the laptop and started to write. It was supposed to be a short story but it soon became more. In May I was in our local Smith’s and there was a lady doing a book signing. I hovered, as one does, and eventually plucked up the courage to approach. She asked if I wrote so I told her about the book I had finished and submitted to Mills and Boon. I asked if this was her first book, she kindly told me no, it was her 18th. That was my foot in mouth moment. It turned out the lady was Val Wood, Hull’s answer to Catherine Cookson. She gave me a lot of lovely tips and said to let her know how matters progressed. A rejection came from Mills and Boon, I had no idea of what publishers required back then. I e-mailed Val Wood to let her know. She told me not to give up and to keep submitting.
Val Wood gave me a lot of lovely tips and said to let her know how matters progressed.
About 6 weeks later I received an e-mail from Val inviting me to attend the next meeting of her Romantic Novelists Association Chapter, The Flying Ducks. I learned about the New Writers Scheme (NWS) and managed to get on this in January 2013. By this time I had written a further contemporary novel, so submitted this for critique. When the critique arrived I thought, well this is it. If they say its rubbish I know I can’t write. But they didn’t. I had a very good critique, and the reader commented I had the tenacity to succeed.
So, I could write contemporary, but could I write historical? I sat down and had a go. I submitted that book to MuseItUp publishing and in 2014 received a contract from them. That novel, “Dangerous Entrapment,” was shortlisted for Historical Novel of the year 2016 by the RNA.
Saunders-Lies and Deception is set in Banff in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
You may wonder what happened to the first novel I wrote in 2012. Well, in 2013, while on a coach tour in America, the plotline for a sequel to that book came to me. In fact it wouldn’t leave me alone. So I wrote that. Then a third plot line came along. I now had three books in a series, which is my Saunders series. The first book, “Saunders Lies and Deception,” was published in May 2018.
With 4 books published and 4 more contracted, my journey continues…
Biography
Lesley Field is an award nominated author of Romantic Novels and should not be confused with any other writer of the same name.
Lesley lives in North Yorkshire, often described as “God’s own county.” Before retiring she spent her working life pursuing personal injury claims. Now at a time when she should be thinking of early nights and cocoa, she finds herself writing somewhat “hot” novels. Her first published novel “Dangerous Entrapment” was her first historical novel. She also writes contemporary novels which are usually based in Canada, which she calls her “heart home.” Having achieved publication so soon after starting to write she hopes that, “Dangerous Entrapment,”(1st book in the Duchess in Danger series) is just the beginning.
About Lies and Deception
This is the background for “Saunders-Lies and Deception” and the adventure that inspired the writing journey
Set in Banff in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. A magical place in the winter and a hub for tourists in the summer. Come and meet the Saunders family. With prestige and money you would think they had everything, but a dark secret lies hidden, a secret that is about to be uncovered, and the lies and deception will change the family forever. Follow Sarah and Jeff’s journey in Book 1. Sarah had everything, a handsome loving husband, a young son, then suddenly it was all snatched away. Defeated by outside forces, she made a new life for herself. But never forgot the life she once had. Risking everything if she was discovered, she returned to Canada, and crept back into Banff like a thief in the night. The last person Jeff thought to see was Sarah, but walking down the aisle at his son’s wedding, he saw the one person he had never expected to see again. When his eyes met hers shock quickly turned to anger. Tracking her down was easy, then he had one question. Why? The answer was not what he expected, nor one that he could believe. Or could he? He was everything she once wanted, and he gave her everything she needed. Except one thing, trust. Could she believe what he said now? Could she risk being hurt again? Can the lies and deception be overcome? Book 1 in the Saunders Series, “Saunders-Lies and Deception.”
I’ve become so familiar with the seafront in Penarth that I’ve never ventured from the main path. Contented with the changes in the light, I found comfort in the same view. On Boxing Day, crowds of people in Penarth forced me to walk a new path above the seafront.
An unfamiliar perspective of Penarth pier that allows me to look at the bigger picture
As I looked down on a familiar view from a new perspective, I released some of the characters in my work in progress. Maybe these characters will remain forever lost or appear in another story. Who knows? I’ve worked in my tiny writing room, with my cast of characters, for many months. In the new year, I will print out my work in progress, read it aloud and look at it from a fresh perspective.
I realised that I needed to release some of the characters
It’s certain I will remain with Pearl and Jim who will also need to digress from their familiar paths. Alas, they can’t text each other, connect via social media or email each other. When the characters are a distance apart, they must physically travel to meet up or write a proper letter. They can’t even use a landline as they don’t have telephones.
As the sun sets on another year, I wish you and my characters some happy and new destinations.
Attitudes and beliefs in this era continue to shock me. My twenty first century perspective means I can support my characters a little yet cannot control their anxiety. The girls in the factory are currently on strike and they can’t google the legislation to find out more. It would’ve helped if they could connect with the Dagenham strikers in a Facebook Group, but social media is decades away. Of course, they’ve seen the headlines and the world seems to have gone on strike. And I’m in despair because some of the women have been tempted to parade in a fashion show of clothes for the bosses. In future, they will learn about the Miss World protests. I know these destinations are ahead of them but how can I navigate them and force them to take new paths?
Like me the characters are facing January, but the January of 1970 was a harsh one. I have twenty ideas for the title of my next novel and all suggestions include the word ‘love’. Love will guide my characters. In the words of Dylan Thomas. ‘Though lovers be lost, love shall not…’
As the sun sets on another year, I wish you and my characters some happy and new destinations.
Even though life changes as we age- we must strive to stay as gold as we can.
Jena Henry is an amazing supporter of authors, and she dashes around social media leaving her trail of golden comments. I cannot imagine how we would cope without Jena’s positive, fun online presence. I wanted to find out more about this lovely lady, so I read her novel –The Golden Age of Charli. Jena’s book gave me a great insight into her positive philosophy and prompted me to ask further questions. I wanted to get to the heart of her catchphrase – ‘staying golden’.
Jena: Hello Jessie and thank you for inviting me to ramble on and on with you. I’m sure you know that I am a big fan of both you and your Handbag Gallery, so I hope after we chat, we will have some time to browse the handbags and see the latest books that you have added.
Right, we’ll move on. I suppose you want to talk books and writing? And me?
Sharing our books and ideas has developed a wonderful friendship across the miles.
Jessie: Jena, it’s been great fun getting to know you over the past year. Sharing our books and ideas has developed a wonderful friendship across the miles, and I love my Ohio t shirt. I admire how much you have achieved in your life, and your infectious positivity. Introduce yourself with three achievements that make you proud.
Jena: I never think too much about myself that way- but I’ll try.
I’m still here! Which encompasses having a happy marriage and a happy life, amazing kids.
And I achieved two goals that were important to me:
I graduated from Law School.
I finally wrote a book! (plus 2 more)
Sharing our books and ideas has developed a wonderful friendship across the miles.
Jessie: What do you mean when you say ‘stay golden’ and when did you invent this phrase?
Robert Frost inspired me with his poem,
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
The last line, “Nothing gold can stay”, is used in the powerful conclusion of S. E. Hinton’s coming-of-age book “The Outsider’s” (also a movie). “Stay gold Ponyboy”, one friend tells the other, meaning “stay innocent.”
As I am now a golden ager, and my book series is “The Golden Age of Charli”, I borrowed the concept from Frost and Hinton and adopted “Stay Golden” as my affirmation. Even though life changes as we age- we must strive to stay as gold as we can. I wrote a post on staying golden and here it is: https://www.jenabooks.com/stay-golden/
Jessie: You’ve reached the glorious years of retirement, and your positive philosophy inspired me to connect with you. What are your five golden rules to make the most of retirement?
Jena: Retirement…the golden years…the sunset years…the years where we all ask, “What’s a weekend?” because it really doesn’t matter anymore- every day is a day to rejoice. The desire to thrive is really the key. Many people face challenges with health and other circumstances, so I don’t mean to make it sound like every senior adult is able to frolic, and I’m truly grateful every day for all my blessings.
After busy and active decades of building a career, a family, a life…retirement can be a jolt or even a let down. Where is our purpose now? Here are my five rules to get you thinking.
Prepare for your retirement
Focus on healthy living
Discover something new and fun to do
Do something good for someone else
Give thanks each day.
Jessie, you are at the perfect age to start planning for your golden years! You have plenty of time to get your finances and retirement plans, your health, and your interests developed. You already have the golden, optimistic mind-set!
Jessie: Now you are enjoying retirement, what word words of advice would you give to Jena in her twenties.
Jena: Don’t worry, I know you were eager to finish college and move out from home and now that you’ve done it, you’re feeling a bit shaky but… EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT BETTER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE! All the life stuff- career, marriage, kids… piece of cake! (yes, I try to be over-encouraging with young people!)
Plus- so many cool things are coming! Technology, computers, the internet, big screen TVs, ereaders for books, smart phones, smart homes, streaming movies and tv shows, so much better than the three tv channels you get now!
And, you WILL write a book. You won’t vacation on the moon, in fact you’ll never move far away from your hometown. The Cleveland Indians will not win a World Series, and you won’t get back to Paris, but you will visit China. And even though you don’t not know what sushi is right now, but you will love it!
Jessie: Tell us why reading is important to you.
Jena: Reading is my superpower and helps me to stay golden.
I have always been an ardent reader. And now I am enjoying being a passionate reviewer. I post reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and my website. https://www.jenabooks.com/category/promotions/
Currently, I am considering if I can do more to connect with and serve and promote writers, authors, bloggers in even better ways. Any ideas for me?
Jessie: Apart from books, what other hobbies do you have?
Jena: As you may know, I am an avid sports fan, and we stay current with most sports, from local to professional. And now thanks to you I’m learning more about British sports! I’m happy to chat about Baseball- I root, root, for the home team which is the Cleveland Indians! I also cheer on the “real football” team, the Cleveland Browns and I’m most passionate about our pro Basketball team, The Cleveland Cavaliers!( Until last year, we had the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) LeBron James. I believe you have never heard of him?) My husband and sons also follow motorsports.
Jessie: What was a key influence in your life?
I am thankful I was born, grew up, and have always lived in Ohio. Ohio is a mid-western state with contrasts- cities and farms, conservatives and liberals, even Amish. Church and community are important. And one thing unites us all- The Ohio State University and its championship football program.
When someone starts the cheer of “O” “H”!…We all know to shout back “I” “O”.
And Ohioans are also quick to form OHIO with their arms and we share photographs of this all over social media.
Here is a photo my niece took, that shows OHIO on the side of a barn, near the city where we live. (Photo by mackmarie.com)
And Ohioans are also quick to form OHIO with their arms and we share photographs of this all over social media.
Jessie: You are also an author of a great collection of books about retirement. Pinpoint the exact time when you decided to write your trilogy. What was the biggest writing challenge?
Jena: I always wanted to write a book. After 40 years of dreaming, my husband said to me “Well, if you ever want to write a book, you should get started. Time is running out.”
Perhaps a bit harsh- but it worked. The idea of Charli came to me and I got to know her and write about her.
No real challenges. I am so proud of my books and me. I wrote a three-book fiction series, The Golden Age of Charli. I love all my books because they are just what I wanted them to be- fun, positive and encouraging. My books are loosely based on my experiences and the experiences of about 50 million other women! For more info
Thanks again Jessie! Time for tea and cake?
Jessie:I thoroughly enjoyed Jena’s book and it made me reflect on my future retirement as a golden goal to be enjoyed. I’ve learned it’s never too early to plan my golden years. Here is my review of The Golden Age of Charli : GPS
The Golden Age of Charli is a novel, memoir and self-help book. It cleverly guides the reader through the familiar frustrations encountered by retirees who have lost their way. However, the dominant ideology of this book can be applied to anyone who is searching for a ‘raison d’être’.
Charli McAntic has reached her ‘sunset years’ and yearns for a new adventure as she stares at a photo of Audrey Hepburn in the hairdressers. Alas, Charli and Pud drink to ‘joie de vivre’ but they seem to be on automatic drive mode. It is only Charli who muses ‘why wasn’t I content?’
Page (before the health program) Me, Henry at high school graduation, Charles
Aug, their son, observes, ‘We need to boost your wild side, Mom’: his cute observation made me smile. Although she is on the verge of an exciting era, Charli is uncertain about stepping off treadmill of life that has sustained her. I yearned for Charli to navigate through her sunset years and ‘do something meaningful.’ Charli explains, ‘I don’t want to change my life; I just want to search for more meaning to add tapestry to my life.’ I understood she needed to weave a little je ne sais quoi into her life to achieve fulfilment.
Alas, Pud is content to play golf, and I was impressed Charli introduces her frustrations rather than shouting at him. I wanted to chastise Pud who didn’t respond to his wife but organised to exercise with Connie. Connie’s character is well drawn and added to the tension.
As the novel progresses winter draws in and the weather parallels changes in the narrative. Language used to convey the seasons is poetic and symbolic. ‘The winds roared harder and the wheels of the seasons changed to late autumn.’ Read the book to discover whether Pud and Charli find their ‘Technicolour moment’. Will the storms and winds of Ohio shake up their life or will calm be restored?
Explore life through Charli’s perspective as she evaluates her life with warmth, honesty and vulnerability.
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?
Inspiration for the Black Bull
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.
Inspiration for Tarwin House Hotel
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
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.
The ritual of making tea always punctuates the flow of my day. I meander to the kitchen between words. Making the tea helps my thoughts to flood out. Builder’s tea is my preference, but a friend challenged me to try something more refined. Thus, we went to Bath in search of tea and Jane Austen.
Bath Market has a wonderful array of teas. The selections are stored in jars like a sweetshop, but woe betide you if you venture to pick up the jars. The assistant will guide you through the tea sniffing journey.
Selections are stored in jars like a sweetshop
I noted the different textures of the tea leaves: some leaves are larger and crisp while others are smaller and smoother. It was all rather overwhelming to learn selecting tea can be an art form.
I was forced to make my selection on the scent rather than the taste. I pontificated for some time. It had to be Lapsang Souchong, because I liked the sound of the words. It is a black tea, and the aroma of the tea leaves is beautifully smoky. The assistant said, ‘It is packed full of antioxidants and supports well-being.’ The tea sounded like a medicine delivered by a therapist. Apparently, ‘ this tea strengthens the immune system, prevents cardiovascular diseases and fights inflammation.’ Moreover, the Lapsan Souchong can assist with a hangover. What more could one ask for?
Which tea would you choose?
My selection was carefully wrapped in a parcel, labelled and presented to me. I couldn’t wait to try the tea at home. Initially, the tea was smoky with a hint of disinfectant. However, as the tea reached room temperature, the taste was pleasantly smoky and quite soothing. As I drank the tea, I decided to write this blog post.
According to Lin Yutang, ‘There’s something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.’ And this seemed to work for me after the taste of the disinfectant had subsided.
I did meet with Jane Austen on another trip to Bath. On this occasion, I heard whispers as I strolled past the Royal Bath Crescent. A woman’s voice confided:
‘But indeed, I would rather have nothing but tea.’ Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
I prefer builder’s tea
Perhaps, the esteemed Miss Austen visited one of the grand houses to take tea with the lady of the house. However, I suspect tea making was also a glorious, thought-provoking ritual for Jane Austen.
Let me know what you think of speciality teas. Do you prefer a robust builder’s tea or a speciality tea? Is coffee the only fuel for your words?
Having parked the car, in Tourrettes sur Loup, I grabbed my multi-coloured handbag and huge sunglasses. Carol Drinkwater had spotted the frantic tourist trying to manoeuvre the oversized BMW, and waved at me from the other side of the road. She was dressed in jeans and a T shirt. Her handbag was a chic bright mauve sporting a Giorgio Armani label.
Tourrettes sur Loup
Strolling along the cobbled streets, I admired how the weather and time had sculptured each building in the medieval village, perched on the hilltop. We realised the streets would have looked identical post World War Two; one of the eras presented in The Lost Girl. Our conversation moved to Carol’s novel, The Lost Girl.
Jessie: I am looking forward to reading The Lost Girl, but I am saving it for the winter months, back in Wales. Can you capture the essence of the novel in a few sentences?
Set in a changing Paris by Julien Klenz
Carol: The Lost Girlis a heart-rending story of loss and enduring love. November 2015: Kurtiz, an English woman in her forties, is searching for her missing teenage daughter who she believes is living in Paris. In a café on the right bank Kurtiz falls into conversation with an eighty-year-old actress, Marguerite, who, when the terrorist attacks of that weekend begin, takes Kurtiz under her wing and together, through shared stories of their past, they find what they are both looking for.
Jessie: I can’t wait to immerse myself in the narrative. Can you tempt me with a few sentences?
We stopped outside of a terracotta house where every stone seemed to have been artfully placed. Carol retrieved the novel from her designer bag.
Carol: This tiny section is set very close to where we are now, just outside Grasse. It is the young Marguerite with a young man at her side, an ex-British soldier. He is about to buy the plot of land where they were lazing in the grass, and about to ask her to marry him.
‘… The afternoon was silent save for the humming insects. She heard a cart’s wheels turning in the distance, the bray of a donkey, but there was no one in sight, just the two of them and the perfumes emanating from the hills around them. …’
As Carol read aloud, she attracted an appreciative audience. The audience applauded, and we decided to seek sanctuary in a café. Carol bowed her head graciously then smiled at the group of people.
Jessie: You paint the scene beautifully with your words. Tell me, how do find inspiration for the language choices? Does it take you a long time to shape the choices?
Carol: I work through the text of my books over and over. I need to feel the language and sometimes after having made a ‘clever’ choice I go back to a simpler edition. As I grow older and have been at my desk for more and more years, I find the direct approach is better. Clean simple text usually paints the best pictures.
We found a bistro in the main square. An elderly, French lady, resplendent in her finery, was about to leave and presented her table to us. Her theatrical manner was reminiscent of Marguerite Courtney, in the Lost Girl: such a contrast to the elegant, kind and unassuming Carol Drinkwater. I ordered a mineral water and Carol ordered a citron pressé.
The Lost Girl by Carol Drinkwater
Jessie: The spontaneous positive response of your appreciative audience, earlier, speaks tomes about the quality of your work. How has your book been received by the reviewers?
Placing her glass on the table, Carol then searched on her phone for a link to The Lost Girl, on Amazon.
Carol: OK. Here are some reviews:
‘wonderful story, beautifully told, and with a great ending!!!’ -Reader review on Amazon
‘Mesmerising, haunting and extraordinarily relevant. The Lost Girl is one of Lovereading’s novels of the year.’- Lovereading
‘A brilliantly told story set against that dreadful night. The characters are superbly written . . . I couldn’t put it down.’ – NetGalley Reviewer
Jessie: As the reviewers indicate, the characters in your novels are always so real and engaging – it is obvious that you become attached to them. How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?
Carol: I missed both of the two principal female characters. I felt as though they had both become my close friends and I longed to spend more time with them. I still talk to them, one of them in particular.
Jessie: I’m intrigued and wonder if that means another book.
Carol: I am writing a new novel now. Also set in France and also moving between two time frames.
Carol Drinkwater The Lost Girl
Jessie: I am delighted to hear about a new project. Let’s get back to The Lost Girl. Who would you like to read The Lost Girl and why?
Pausing for thought, Carol laughed aloud before speaking.
Carol: The brilliant lovely producer who sees The Lost Girl as a film and makes it happen.
Jessie: You write scenically and draw the audience into the tension. And in The Lost Girl, you have captured a bleak event, through your imagination forever – it is a story that must be told.
Carol: Yes, I agree, it is a story that needs to be told though I also appreciate that for some the events are too new. Having witnessed the real thing, I needed to recount those events giving them flesh and blood…
Carol Drinkwater
Jessie: The Lost Girl is safely stored in my handbag. Why should I keep your book in my handbag?
Carol: Because it is a story with a miracle at its heart and, from time to time, we all need one of those. Through the bleakest of days, though we may not be aware of it, hope and redemption are always present. The light always returns. The sun always rises.
Jessie: Beautiful, inspirational message. You are so blessed with your ability to craft words: your books will be a legacy to generations of readers. What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?
Carol: It has nothing to do with The Lost Girl. It is for the novel I am writing now. Here goes:
‘N B and R B were lovers for fifty years.’
Jessie: You have intrigued me yet again. There are so many delicious possibilities in this sentence. You have told many stories, work so hard and have success that many aspiring writers can dream of. What is the biggest challenge for an author?
Carol: To keep going, to write every day, to keep the faith during the slow and arid patches, to believe in oneself. (I wish I could follow my own advice sometimes!)
Jessie: What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?
Carol: Turn up at your desk every morning. No one else is going to write your book for you.
Jessie: It must also be a challenge to combine your writing with the work on your olive farm. Having devoured your wonderful memoirs from the Olive Farm series, I am curious if your olive crops have survived the terrible drought.
Carol: Olives are not too susceptible to drought because it is a drought resistant tree. Our biggest challenge is to remain organic, and so far we are winning that battle.
Jessie: Your memoirs indicate you have survived tough times. What have your learnt along the way?
Carol: I have found that life can be heart-breaking. I have known emotional rejection and loneliness. Through the journey of so many ups and downs, I have come to realise that kindness and laughter are two of the richest gifts I can share and enjoy.
Carol Drinkwater is one of my all time favourite authors, and I suggest you check out her work – you won’t be disappointed. I am currently reading The Lost Girl and will blog my review in the future. My reviews of some of Carol’s other novels can be found at: Books in Handbag
Carol shares her thoughts and dreams
About Carol Drinkwater:
Carol is an award-winning actress and Sunday Times bestselling writer. She was probably most famous for her role of Helen Herriot in the fantastically popular TV series, All Creatures Great and Small. She lives on an olive farm in the south of France with her husband, Michel, and several dogs.
For me, the thrill of chasing ideas is the most exciting element of the writing process.
Words can take us to any place and any time. I was delighted to discover words I wrote in my notebook during a summer holiday in Devon. My thoughts were scattered on the page, so I picked them up, revisited my photo album and returned to a time when I suffered a creative drought.
Words let us travel to any place, any time and any season.
The heat stifled ideas and frazzled my creativity. I complained the holiday cottage was too dark for me to write. After a few days, I worried my ideas had taken leave. I blamed the environment because small windows trapped the darkness in the room, and I seemed to have reached a dead end with the story.
I found the ideal house for an author.
Entering A la Ronde, created by Jane and Mary Parminter, confirmed that the correct environment is essential. My creativity opened again as soon as I wandered around the eighteenth century house. I found the ideal house for an author. Imagine a sixteen-sided house that allows you to follow the light around the house. Perfect!
In this house, I would be able to chase my ideas around and around in circles until I found the correct room to write. Ideas travel around like the wheels of a windmill until I get them on paper and stop them circling. Sometimes, I release ideas too early and they must be abandoned. For me, the thrill of chasing ideas is the most exciting element of the writing process.
I am honoured that Angela wrote a letter to explain the inspiration behind Tuscan Girl. Sit back and enjoy a writer’s tour of Italy.
Bestselling author, Angela Petch, released ‘Tuscan Girl’ last week. I started to read the novel on a stormy Saturday night and awoke at dawn to finish the book. Lost stories of war, hidden treasure and buried memories gripped me. As a writer, I wanted to learn how this talented author manages to weave such captivating stories. I am honoured Angela wrote a letter to explain the inspiration behind Tuscan Girl. Sit back and enjoy a writer’s tour of Italy.
In the Tuscan Apennines, where I spend six months of every year, I can step out of our front door straight into wild countryside. Our area is less populated after post war exodus, when people left for work abroad and in big cities and so I come across many ruined houses along the mule tracks that crisscross our hills and valleys.
Each abandoned dwelling holds a potential story and my imagination goes into overdrive, trying to guess what might have gone on within these walls, now strangled with weeds.
Many of the old houses are being eaten up by old man’s beard
When I was seven years old, my father accepted a job in Rome as deputy head of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. They were formative years and I picked up Italian like a little sponge. I’ve wheedled out stories behind these houses by chatting to elderly friends and through my research. We are lucky to have the national archive of diaries in nearby Pieve Santo Stefano and I’ve spent hours poring over handwritten resources.
Bruno sitting outside the house owned by his son, who had just returned from collecting wild mushrooms.
One of my friends is Bruno Vergni, one hundred years old last January 13th. I met him seven years ago on one of my hikes. I stopped to chat as he pruned an apple tree and, to my huge surprise, he responded in English. He explained that he had been a POW in Nottingham, having been captured in Libya early in the war.
I researched more about Bruno’s war and he is now one of the main characters in “The Tuscan Girl” (albeit tweaked with my own ideas). He now lives with his son, but in my story I have placed him in one of the semi-deserted hamlets called Tramarecchia.
Pieve Santo Stefano holds Italy’s collection of diaries – a wonderful resource
A favourite walk is up to the beautiful Alp of the Moon, (1,400 metres). We stopped to picnic by a pile of stones and read a sign posted by the local partisan association. Up here, in the summer of 1944, a group of young men planned their resistance missions. After researching and meeting a local historian, Alvaro Tacchini, more ideas for my book were gleaned.
An abandoned chapel, two houses on the outskirts of the village, empty because of a brothers’ squabble, the outline of a Medici fortress… all ruins waiting to be written about in future books.
Angela’s explanation connected me to Alba who treks around the remote Tuscan villages and rebuilds the ruins in her paintings. She discovers ‘The paths…like arteries leading to the heart of new stories.’ I enjoyed treading these paths with Alba and look forward to more stories.
I want the RNA to continue to be brilliant in all the ways it already is – supportive to new writers, friendly, welcoming and a real voice for professional commercial authors.
As a Leeds lass, I had to discover more about the dynamic Yorkshire woman who is Chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I invited Alison May to chat about the RNA and her writing.
Jessie: It is wonderful to finally meet you. Tell me, who is Alison May, the writer?
Alison: I’m a total control freak (which is helpful for writing novels – you basically get to invent a whole world and be god of it). If it was socially acceptable, I would live on toast and chocolate the whole time. And I have an uncontrollable tendency to take on one thing more than I have time to do – at the moment that one thing is ‘being Chair of the RNA’ so quite a big time-consuming thing!
Jessie: Chair of the RNA is a prestigious role and such an honour. What does your role as Chair of the RNA involve?
Alison: Essentially everything that goes wrong is my fault, and everything that goes well is down to the brilliant and inspirational management committee and volunteer team I have around me. On a practical level being Chair involves, hosting RNA events, chairing management committee meetings, representing the RNA at industry events and meetings, and, responding to whatever crises come up unexpectedly. And the start of 2020 has brought more crisis that any of us was expecting, so at the moment I’m mostly working on ways that we can respond to the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown and support our members virtually.
And I also write collaboratively with Janet Gover under the penname, Juliet Bell. Juliet writes stories inspired by misunderstood classics…
Jessie: What is your vision for the RNA?
Alison:I want the RNA to continue to be brilliant in all the ways it already is – supportive to new writers, friendly, welcoming and a real voice for professional commercial authors. I want to see us develop the education and professional development opportunities we provide for our members. I want the RNA to be a critical friend to the publishing industry – it’s great for us to build close ties with romantic fiction publishers, but it’s also vital that we remember that we’re an author focussed organisation and authors’ interests and publishers’ interests overlap but aren’t always precisely the same.
I’d also like to see us become more inclusive. At the moment, like much of the publishing industry, we can be a bit white and straight and middle class. It’s really important to me that writers who have been under-represented in publishing know they have a place within the RNA.
Mostly though I want authors of romantic fiction to be proud of their genre and of what we create. There can be snobbery around commercial fiction, especially around commercial fiction that is often written and read by women. I am simply not at home to those sorts of attitudes. Romantic fiction rocks.
All That Was Lost is my most recent title writing solo as Alison May though.
Jessie: What are the essential ingredients of a great romance?
Alison: People who want to be together and a really good reason they can’t be.
Jessie: Why did you join the Romance Novelists’ Association and what has it offered you?
Alison: I joined the RNA in 2011 as a member of the New Writers’ Scheme. The NWS gives unpublished authors a critique on their novel in progress, but also means that you can attend RNA events as a member. In that first year I went to conference and the Winter Party and joined my local chapter. The conference was a two day whirlwind knowledge dump of a huge amount of stuff about how publishing works that would have taken years to learn without the RNA. Since then the RNA has become my village. Writing is incredibly solitary. A support network of people who get the emotional ups and downs of writing and publishing is essential. And I think the RNA provides the very best support network there is.
Jessie: It’s obvious you are a perfect ambassador for the RNA. I love the fact that it has become your village as I feel the same way. I am impressed you have written six books.
Alison: I’ve actually written 8 (I think!) – some of them were novellas though so are published separately and together which makes counting tricky! And I also write collaboratively with Janet Gover under the penname, Juliet Bell. Juliet writes stories inspired by misunderstood classics – most recently, The Other Wife, which was inspired by Jane Eyre. All That Was Lost is my most recent title writing solo as Alison May though.
Jessie: Capture All That Was Lost in one sentence.
Alison: One lie – told for a lifetime. What would that do to the girl you used to be?
Jessie: Can you tempt me with an extract from the book?
Alison: She’s stylish, but never threatening. She could be other mother of the bride at an elegant country wedding … but she’s not. She’s Patrice Leigh, the woman who’s built a fifty year career on the claim that she can talk to the dead.
Jessie: Wow! The final sentence evokes mystery. What did the readers say about the novel?
Alison: I am delighted with the responses. Readers really connected with the subject and the characters and loved the humour.
‘I love the touches of humour Alison writes into what is, in essence, a very sad tale.’
‘I am not going to forget Patience/Patrice any time soon. She is one of the most original characters in any novel I’ve read recently.’
‘I loved this book – couldn’t put it down. It was thought provoking and I am still thinking about it many weeks later.’
Jessie: How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?
I think the characters, especially Patrice, from this book have stayed with me more than any other book that I’ve written. I don’t miss them exactly. I definitely don’t think I’ll ever write a sequel but they’re all still there inside my head.
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. Perhaps it could even be a friend or family member that has passed away.
Alison: The person I most want to read this book is Jack Thorne. He’s a playwright and screenwriter and I’m a huge fan of his work from The Cursed Child to National Treasure and lots of other things beside. I have a recurring fantasy where he reads All That Was Lost and adapts it for TV and I believe that if I mention this enough in interviews and online it might one day happen! (If I’m allowed a second person I also have a very similar recurring fantasy about Lin Manuel Miranda and a Broadway hip hop musical version.)
Jessie: What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?
Alison: ‘If you change Alice back to Anna you can reuse the Annabel line.’
And it’s true. I can.
Jessie: What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?
Alison: ‘Work out what your dream is and follow it.’ Once you get to the point of having a completed manuscript there are a lot of people who will tell you that you ‘must have an agent’ or that ‘looking for an agent is a waste of time and you should self-publish’ or whatever else might have worked for them. And that’s fine but the right option for them might not be the right option for you, so work out what you really want and pursue that first.
Jessie: What do you when you are not writing?
Well at the moment a lot of my time is spent on RNA projects, but asides from that and writing, I also run a novel-writing tutoring and mentoring business. That means I work one-to-one with authors and also offer manuscript critiques and teach group workshops and lead residential retreats. I LOVE teaching. It’s basically my happy place. And I’m super-proud like a mother hen of all my past students. I have three shelves above my desk. One has my own published books on it, but the other two have books by former students. Those shelves are my absolute pride and joy!
When I’m not teaching, writing or working on RNA stuff, I love baking and reading and sleeping. Sleep is really excellent.
Alison joined the RNA as a member of the New Writers’ Scheme in 2011 and won the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2012. All That Was Lost is the sixth novel, but she also writes as Juliet Bell, in collaboration with Janet Gover. Alison also runs writing courses and is currently offering virtual Book Doctor appointments on a ‘pay what you choose’ basis. I am impressed with her innovative approach to supporting others at this challenging time.
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.”
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 Trio 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 believe 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.
Jenny Kane is the author of several contemporary fiction novels including, Romancing Robin Hood (Littwitz Press, 2018), Abi’s House, (Accent Press, 2015), and the Another Cup of Coffee series (Accent Press, 2013). As Jennifer Ash she writes the medieval mysteries, The Folville Chronicles, as well as audio scripts for ITV. Jenny is a self-proclaimed accidental author. She is also a former archaeologist and medieval historian.
Jessie: Tell us more about Jenny Kane/Jenny Ash.
Jenny: I am workaholic, coffee drinking, author who writes her books from the corner of my favourite coffee shop, in Devon.
Jessie: How have you managed to build your brand as an author and sustain your success?
Jenny: The first genre I wrote was erotica. I didn’t mean to, and I certainly didn’t see that career coming, but for some reason I found myself composing scenes of smut.
After five years of kinky thinking, I decided to have a go at writing a story where everyone kept their clothes on. It was most liberating! To my surprise, that novel, Another Cup of Coffee, was well received.
With the writing market changing all the time, I’ve always been wary of putting all my eggs in one basket, and so, after writing eight granny friendly novels, I had a go at writing about my personal passion – medieval crime. Oh- and I write children’s picture books too. I have three pen names.
Jessie: Do your pen names have different identities?
Jenny: As Jenny Kane I write contemporary fiction and romance, as well as children’s picture books.
As Jennifer Ash I write medieval murder mysteries (The Folville Chronicles) as well as audio scripts for ITV and Spiteful Puppet.
My first pen name was Kay Jaybee- only investigate her if you are over 18 and enjoy erotica.
Jessie: How did you manage to become the resident writer in Costa Coffee shop How wonderful!
Northmoor House: the writers’ residential retreat rub by Jenny and Alison
Jenny: I’ve always been a coffee shop writer. I get too distracted by things that need doing around the house if I attempt to write at home. When a Costa opened in Tiverton, I started to write in there. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing, but after I’d turned up every day for several months, the staff started to enquire, and soon I was part of the furniture. So much so, that they offered to hold a book launch for me when Another Cup of Coffee was published.
When I turned up for the launch, I found that I had a new table in the far corner of the cafe with a plaque on the wall, stating it was Jenny Kane’s Corner! I was speechless. I had corner- just like Winnie the Pooh!
I’ve sat and worked in that corner every day since. It’s lovely. Mostly I’m left alone to write, but it’s not unknown for folk to pop by for a chat or to have their books signed.
So far I’ve written 12 full length novels, 4 scripts and countless workshops and short stories at that table.
Jessie: Tell me about the writing workshops you offer. How do you balance the workshops and writing?
Jenny: I’ve been teaching creative writing on and off for the past twelve years. However, 2 years ago, my friend and fellow writer, Alison Knight and I, pooled our resources and set up the creative writing business, Imagine.
We provide workshops for beginners and cover every element of fiction writing from character development to location building, plotting, short story writing and the skills you need to get your butt on a chair and make yourself write.
Our most popular courses are our life writing masterclass and the Novel in a Year workshop series. These run over a year, and take people from their first word, to preparation for submission to an agent or publisher.
I split my working day between writing (7am- 12pm) and prepping for workshops (12.30pm and 3pm). After that I go to work, before editing/proofing my students work in the evenings.
Jessie: Summarise your latest release in two sentences.
Edward’s Outlaw by Jennifer Ash is a murder mystery set in Rockingham Castle during the fourteenth century
Jenny: Edward’s Outlaw by Jennifer Ash is a murder mystery set in Rockingham Castle during the fourteenth century. Placed in the castle for her own protected, Mathilda Folville, finds herself playing detective in order to save her husband’s life and her family’s reputation.
Jessie: List a maximum of three quotes from the reviews that you have had.
Jenny: For The Folville Chronicles by Jennifer Ash – “Ellis Peters meets Jean Plaidy… via Robin Hood.” (Review from Goodreads)
For Abi’s House by Jenny Kane – “Reading a Jenny Kane book is like opening a journal by a much loved friend. I’m spirited away into a world of warm, friendly and interesting people. To places that I not only want to visit but actually live in. Shops, cafés and pubs that I want to be my locals and life that I want to experience and be a part of. Abi’s House gives you all of these feelings and left me with a huge smile on my face and a glowing in my heart. More of this wonderfulness please!!” (Review from Amazon)
For Another Cup of Coffee by Jenny Kane – “‘This book is definitely my cup of coffee
Gosh, where to start with this review?! The characters: you laughed with them, cringed, hated, wanted to shout at the book because you cared so deeply. Every character had their own story, and I loved that this was intertwined with Amy’s story, waiting to see how it panned out. Big round of applause for Kane for the characters on its own….Another Cup of Coffee itself: very realistic and a delight from start to finish. I felt like I was sitting on the outside looking in all the time, and I’d known this group of people for my entire life…. A timeless piece and one worth picking up big time. This book is definitely my cup of coffee (sorry, I had to). (Review from Bookmark That)
Jessie: Present an extract from your latest novel that will tempt a reader.
A young woman of my build, with similar hair, has suffered a violent death in the room allocated to me.
“…A young woman of my build, with similar hair, has suffered a violent death in the room allocated to me. A room in which I was intended to be trapped under lock and key….”
Jessie: How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?
Jenny: I also feel a little bereft when I finish a novel. It’s such an intense process. The character’s live in your head 24/7 for months. When I finished Edward’s Outlaw it felt particularly strange as it bought me to the end of an intense three book writing experience- (The Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter Outlaw and Edward’s Outlaw – the first 3 books in The Folville Chronicles) The lead character, Mathilda, is someone I’m very fond of- I miss her now that I’m writing a different series (as Jenny Kane- name a secret as yet!)
Mathilda will be back however, as there is another story coming as part of The Folville Chronicles in 2020.
Jessie: What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?
Jenny: Check about the vinegar.
Jessie: What is the biggest challenge for an author?
Jenny: Not losing heart. It can take a long time to succeed, and even then the financial rewards are feeble. It can be very hard to stay positive when you’re surrounded by celebrities getting paid a fortune to write (often poorly) simply because they can cycle fast or once ate bugs in the jungle.
Jessie: What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?
Jenny: Cut down on your adverbs. My work was awash with them at first. I hadn’t realised how much they were slowing my plots down.
Jessie: How do you support other writers and what common mistakes do fledgling authors make?
Jenny: Always be positive. Writers are usually full of self doubt (I know I am), so we need to encourage and support with time and kind words.
New authors often make the mistake of rushing the editing process- usually because they are so keen to get their work out into the wild. If in doubt- edit once more- and if you can afford it- pay a professional to do that last check for you.
Jessie: Tell me about the writers’ retreats you have organised.
Jenny: As well as workshops, Imagine runs a residential retreat at Northmoor House on Exmoor every October. This year the event runs from 7-11th October.
The week involves as much private writing time as you like, one-to-one mentoring from Alison Knight and myself (on request- no addition charge) and an evening with guest speaker, Kate Lord Brown.
The retreat price includes all meals and accommodation in an original Victorian house- complete with the original free standing baths! (Bring your own bubbles!)
Book soon – we’d love to see you there- but there are only 3 rooms left for 2019.
Imagine also provides day long Location Inspiration Days. These take place in a variety of stunning locations, where you are encouraged to use the setting to create your works of fiction.
Our next events are on 19th June and 11th Sept at the Old Farmhouse and Chapel, in Ashcott, Somerset. You can find details at www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk
