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.
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 …
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.
Meet the members of RNA South Wales and West Chapter meeting.
Desperate to fall in love, my characters have been demanding my attention for months. They tease me with the knowledge I am writing a manuscript for the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. I’ve been travelling back to the seventies with my book folk, Pearl and Jim et al, and we’ve had fun, tears and tantrums. Pressing pause on the lives of Jim and Pearl, I attended the RNA South Wales and West Chapter meeting.
I discarded my writing clothes and magic slippers. Resisting the temptation to visit Narnia in my wardrobe, I hunted down a skirt, lamb’s wool jumper and shoes. Pearl was a little concerned about the choice of footwear and wanted me to wear suede knee length boots. I shrugged at her concern because I felt the writer should be in charge for once.
It was a joy to meet a group of writers who had also emerged from their writing caves. I discovered that there was a Norwegian writer, a writer of erotic fiction, a family saga author and romantic suspense author in our midst. I didn’t ask which characters they’d locked in their caves back home, or if they’d left their companions in a good place.
Sue, an employee of House of Fraser, took us on a journey through the decades of the store that started life as Howells
The writers adjusted to daylight and ordered drinks before the speaker arrived. Sue, an employee of House of Fraser, took us on a journey through the decades of the store that started life as Howells. We learned of the Howells family and the changing face of the store. The stories led us behind the scenes of the store to meet with the resident ghosts of Howells’ past. As our imaginations travelled down the hidden subterranean corridors of the attic rooms, we were introduced to a woman dressed in grey and a man in a top hat. The woman in grey chiffon danced in Jan Baynham’s imagination and will no doubt arrive in one of her stories.
My characters continued to knock on my imagination throughout the meeting. I have since discovered that Evonne Wareham has a very effective way of dealing with petulant characters. This is the kind of advice I need to keep me on track. I am sure I saw the man in a top hat sitting at our table during discussions. He wandered through my imagination and into the café where he barged Pearl and Jim out of the way.
It was fascinating to observe the way a wall of the old chapel is embedded into the store.
After the meeting, the man in the top hat led me to the site of the former chapel where the shoe department is now located. It was fascinating to observe the way a wall of the old chapel is embedded into the store. New stories and new characters created a fog in my mind.
As the handbag lady writer, I couldn’t help wishing I could nip back in time one hundred and fifty years to grab a vintage bag for the Handbag Gallery. I would like to chat with Mrs Howells to discover which book she would like to place in the gallery. I am sure I could also persuade Mr Howells to sell books in handbags.
The RNA Chapter marked a new chapter in my writing career. I learned that I need to press pause on a chapter of my book occasionally. Leaving the writing cave gives my imagination a boost, and I am excited at the prospect of getting to know this group of local authors and hope to find out more about their characters.
Take a look at Jan Baynham’s experience of the meeting at:
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 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.
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.
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’.
I hoped thoughts of my characters wouldn’t disturb my enjoyment of the performance.
The orchestra tuned up prior to the Russian State Ballet’s performance of Cinderella. The discordant notes reminded me of the collection of ideas for my work in progress and blog posts. I hoped thoughts of my characters wouldn’t disturb my enjoyment of the performance.
The ballet opened with a clock projected on the screen and dancers represented the mechanism. Time ticking reminded me it was already the end of another year and it was almost time to press the button on my New Writers’ Scheme application.
My work in progress is still a pumpkin waiting for the final transformation.
A forlorn Cinderella appeared on stage, like the character of Sophie I have left behind in my second novel. The erratic movements of the stepmother and ugly sisters reminded me of the clunky sentences I have abandoned. But these characters distracted me with their humour. The man playing the wicked stepmother was expressive in both physical and facial movements. He had planned every single movement to correspond with the music. I feel as if I choreograph every single movement of the characters in my book and sometimes it appears forced, until the characters take on a life of their own. Doreen, in my work in progress, possess the same sort of pantomime dame presence as the stepmother but she isn’t wicked.
Cheers to Lizzie Lamb and Lynda Stacey
A malevolent force dominated the ballet: good wrestled with evil. The evil dissolved when the fairies appeared and then they distracted me from my writing. During my blogging year, I have also encountered my very own fairies who have added magic and to my year. Lynda Stacey invited me to the RNA York tea and encouraged me to apply for their New Writer’s Scheme, while Lizzie Lamb, an RNA member, is always on hand to provide me with indie author expertise. Angela Petch and Jena Henry are my fairy godmothers. They have become twinkling stars on my Books in Handbag Blog. As I write, I know exactly what Angela and Jena will ask.
Jena Henry and Angela Petch are my fairy godmothers
‘Who are the ugly sisters and wicked stepmothers?’ I hear my fairy godmothers ask.
Well, I am like the wicked stepmother trying to force my characters to fall in love or get back home before it’s too late. Male and female characters can get ugly when they don’t want to behave.
Transfixed, I watched the transformation of Cinderella and marvelled at the re-telling of a classic. Good, beauty and the truth prevailed when the story ended. This confirmed I must pursue a love story in my second novel.
After the bows for the ballet, the curtain dropped, lights went on and the spell was broken. My neighbours rattled their sweet packets and settled down as the dusty, blue curtain closed. Having been transported into a dreamlike state, I knew I would pursue Pearl and Jim’s romance further but with a backdrop of humour and the seventies.
With a letter from the RNA, my new year has a happy beginning.
My work in progress is still a pumpkin waiting for the final transformation. Happily, I have just discovered I have been accepted on the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. With a letter from the RNA, my new year has a happy beginning. I can’t wait for the RNA reader to add some magic. The RNA Conference and RNA York Tea will also be significant events in my year.
I spent four hours in a department store and didn’t buy anything, not even a handbag, instead I shopped for characters. Jenny Kane led a writing workshop for the RNA South Wales and West Chapter and inspired me to reconnect with the characters in my work in progress. Former archaeologist and medieval historian, Jenny is a self-proclaimed accidental author. I was lucky enough to grab a coffee and time for a chat with Jenny, so I could tell you more about this lovely lady from Devon.
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: Why should I keep your books in my handbag?
They’ll provide some much needed escapism- and make you smile.
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
About Jenny:
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.
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, Kent, for provisions. We collected our daily bread in Wye Bakery, Kent, and I found myself lost in another age. Allow me some creative liberty in my tale…
The quaint Wye Bakery is accessed via an ancient, mysterious 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.’
Indeed, the taste of the bread is heavenly. I only wished that we could have consumed the bakery’s cakes, in the lovely coffee shop opposite.
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.
I filled my bag with bread and cakes, rather than books on this day
I filled my bag with bread and cakes, rather than books on this day. At the time of writing this article, the adjacent shop was being renovated to house the bakery. I hope to return to see this finished, but if you have visited recently then email me about it.
While waiting to board the creative train, I watched YouTube footage about how to engage in social media. I wish I had known about 
Once I had boarded the creative train, some wonderful people waved me off. The first review request came from 
On my creative journey abroad, I stopped off to meet 
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. ‘
