MEET THE COVER DESIGNER

Continuing my series focussing on some of the wonderful people I’ve met on my writing journey, today’s guest is cover designer Berni Stevens.  As an independent author it was important for me to ensure my covers were appealing and professional. I needed the right designer to transform my ideas into reality and I’m so glad I found Berni! Berni created all three covers for the Eliza Kane books, as well as the re-issue of The Theatre of Dreams.  Berni was recently nominated for an industry award by the Romantic Novelist Association in recognition of her work.  And, not only does Berni create covers, she also finds time to write her own novels too. 

Welcome to the blog Berni. Can you start with telling us a bit about how you got started in your career as a cover designer? 

Thank you for inviting me. As a child, I was always either drawing or writing – or both. I used to write stories and ‘illustrate’ them. And of course, I was an avid reader too. I think I would always have been involved with books somehow.   

My first year at art college offered several different career paths from fashion and photography, to illustration, textile design and graphics. I was a bit torn, as illustration had always been my intention, but looking around at some of the superbly talented illustrators in my year, made me realise I should think about a more ‘commercial’ approach. 

After a few months working for a small advertising agency, I went for an interview at a publishers in Mayfair, and I just knew this was the industry I wanted to be in.  In the beginning, I worked on both covers and promotional material for some years – at W H Allen, Fontana paperbacks (part of HarperCollins) and Michael Joseph (who had just been bought out by Penguin.) Then I just sort of graduated into cover design from there and never looked back.  

When did you cross-over into writing your own novels? 

I had a short story published by the Dracula Society in (about) 2002 and the editor of the anthology said my story read like the beginning of a novel. I’d never thought about attempting a full-length novel but paranormal romances were starting to take off round about this time, so I thought I’d try. This was pre the Twilight saga, but there were quite a few adult paranormal romances around by American authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon, Charlaine Harris and Laurell K Hamilton. I used to write on the tube journeys to and from work, but I didn’t do anything with my scribblings for some time. Another editor friend kindly read it and gave me some very sound advice in how to make it better! Eventually, I plucked up the courage to send it out into the world where it was taken up by The Wild Rose Press and finally published in the US in 2011. 

When you are writing your own books, do you always know straight away what the cover will be? 

No, almost never, it’s actually quite difficult to design for yourself, being that close to the story. I wasn’t allowed to be involved with the WRP cover at all – which incidentally I didn’t like much. I was simply given a form to fill in regarding descriptions of the main characters, setting etc.  Having seen a lot of the American fantasy covers with bare-chested Chippendale type men, I had asked not to have a male hero on the cover. But they put a male hero on the cover anyway, who incidentally bore no resemblance whatsoever to my hero, and the title lettering read as Hedgling when actually the title was Fledgling. But I think this experience has stood me in good stead and helped me understand authors better. 

I know you work with a diverse range of authors, are there any genres you won’t design? Alternatively, do you have a favourite genre to work with?

I’m not keen on the Science Fiction genre design-wise, although I do like Science Fiction books and films. The design for this genre is very specific and incredibly difficult if you’re not very experienced in the field. The illustrators who work on the genre are brilliant and I really admire their work.  I love working on quirky romances, Rom Coms, paranormal romance, ‘cozy’ mysteries and thrillers. 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked for on a cover? 

I designed a Steampunk romantic thriller once which was a lot of fun. Obviously, I needed the hero and heroine to be dressed in the appropriate clothes and I needed a few steampunk balloons for the background!  

But the strangest request I had, was for a table with about ten photographs on it and there were detailed descriptions for every single photograph. It was eBook only and I had to politely remind the author that the content of the photos would never be visible on Amazon.

It must be wonderful to look on Amazon or wander through a bookshop and see your designs on the shelves. What would you say has been your proudest career moment? 

Print books tend not to be taken by bookshops as often as they used to be, times have changed. Celebrity biographies and cookery books rule a lot of the shelf space as well as the celebrity fiction.  Bookshops rarely take the kind of point-of-sale material we used to do at HarperCollins either, and I was always the ‘mad person’ straightening the POS in various shops if it was one of my designs! Proud moments for me, has to be seeing a lot of books with my covers all together on a shelf in The Works or on tables in local garden centres. 

But possibly my proudest moment is when the CEO of one publisher I worked for, held up the cover I’d designed for a David Bowie biography, and said she couldn’t even begin to say how brilliant she thought it was! (I knew I liked her!) It was a labour of love of course, as he’s one of my favourite musicians ever. 

David Bowie’s one of my ‘heroes’ too….That must have been quite a moment. What’s coming up next with your writing? 

I’m working on two sequels at the moment, and actually I’m a bit stuck with one of them. Usually if that happens, I ditch the bit that’s annoying me and rewrite it until I’m happy with it. But it’s been very busy cover-wise for the last few months and the covers always come first. The Christmas covers tend to start coming in earlier each year – and they are very important! 

With two busy careers, you probably don’t get a lot of time to relax, but how do you like to spend your spare time? 

Five years ago, I trained as a Zumba instructor, I’ve always liked dance and originally trained in ballet, tap and modern jazz. I was a member of the Pineapple Dance Studios for years, until I went freelance and worked from home. (It became cost prohibitive). But I do take a Zumba class every week. I don’t make much money as I have to hire the studio and most of the money I make, goes to pay for that, but I love taking my class and we all have a lot of fun. 

Also, my husband and I go out to the American desert when we can and hike canyons. We like to search for Native American ruins and rock art to photograph. 

And we go to as many live concerts as we can afford (my husband is an ex rock drummer).

About Berni

Berni Stevens lives in a tiny, ancient cottage in Hertfordshire – which really will look fabulous when all the work’s done! (It’s taking a long time). She trained in graphic design and photography and has been a book cover designer for more than twenty-five years. 

She’s long been a fan of Agatha Christie’s, but her favourite novel ever is Bram Stoker’s Dracula

She loves to dance and is a licensed Zumba instructor, Hiking canyons in the American desert is another passion as are the many rock concerts she and her husband go to. 

Her first novel was published in the US in 2011. She has had six books published so far, and intends to write more! 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Berni-Stevens/author/B007C5GDRU

https://www.facebook.com/berni.stevens.5/

https://www.instagram.com/berni.stevens.5/

https://www.bernistevenscoverdesign.com/

Many thanks to Berni for sharing her cover designing experiences with us – she’s had quite a career. I’m sure you’ll agree the Eliza Kane covers perfectly depict that vintage look of the Isle of Wight.

The pink thrift of Freshwater Bay transformed onto the cover of The Puzzle of Pine Bay

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MEET THE BOOK CLUB ADMIN

Continuing my series of introducing readers to those special people I’ve met on my writing journey, today’s guest is Sue Baker. When you’re a shy, retiring writer like me you need people in your corner, especially people who have those social media skills you lack. Sue is one of those special people! She has just set up the Riveting Reads and Vintage Vibes Facebook Group after being an administrator for several other Facebook book clubs, sites where authors and readers gather and meet and discuss their love of books (and for authors that doesn’t just mean talking about their own novels!) These groups are invaluable to indie authors like me, providing opportunities to reach new audiences.  To top it all, Sue organises some amazing online launch parties, all in her own time.  So how does she do it – and why?

Sue, welcome to my blog. What prompted you to set up a Facebook book club?

For several years I have worked on Facebook book groups as an administrator or a moderator and I love all the amazing opportunities it gives me to engage with authors and other readers. (Not to mention the huge amount of brilliant book recommendations!) One of the aspects of moderating these groups that I particularly enjoy is the helping to set up the friendly communities, where authors and readers can chat together and support each other. When the last group ended, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and to create a group from scratch to run by myself and so Riveting Reads and Vintage Vibes was born, it’s the perfect mix for me as I adore all things retro and bookish. I’m so grateful for the support I have received , it’s been an amazing couple of weeks, and I have lots of ideas brewing for the coming months. 

Your launch parties are legendary, they must take some planning. Tell us exactly what is involved.

Ahhh, the publication celebrations! They came about thanks to an author friend, Isabella May. Isabella did a similar thing on her Facebook page and she was kind enough to allow me to borrow her idea! It’s basically a day of sharing posts on the group linked to themes in the book being celebrated and I try very hard not to give away any spoilers! I read the upcoming book, taking notes of ideas for posts as I read, then I create the posts, which I always share with the author before adding to the group. They are usually a mix of fun quizzes, food/setting/music-based posts and my review. I love the challenge of creating the party, it’s always a fun day and I enjoy seeing the interactions between readers and authors. 

The parties you’ve organised for me have been great fun and I love the way you take aspects from each book and turn them into questions and quizzes. It’s very much appreciated! What’s the best thing about running the book clubs?

I love the friendly community feel of the groups, where people pop on and end up chatting away with each other. It’s brilliant to provide a bridge between authors and their readers, I’m still amazed how lucky we are to get the opportunity to engage directly with the people who are writing the books we are reading! I will never tire of feeling excited when an author comments or messages little old me! I enjoy supporting authors, especially those who are just starting with their writing journey. It’s exciting being part of a books journey into the world! 

I know you are a prolific reader, how many books on average do you read each week?

I am blessed to be a really fast reader! Even as a child I read books quickly, I’m sure my teachers thought I had pretended to read a book, but I could answer their questions about the story every time! 

I read about three books a week, sometimes more if I’m off work or not got anything planned to do! I have an audiobook on the go and read a couple of either electronic books or paperbacks.

That’s answered my next question! I was going to ask what’s your preference, paperback, Kindle or audio.

I am addicted to audiobooks! I was very late to the audiobook party but once I tried them, I absolutely loved them! I listen in the car on my commute to work and in the evenings whilst I do my colouring in app, it’s the best way to relax! I also am a fan of using a Kindle, I have the app on my phone and so I always have lots of books available at any given time!

Can you remember the first book that inspired your love of reading?

Absolutely I can! It was The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was probably about seven when I first read that book and at 51 years old I am still reading her Little House books. I do enjoy reading books from my childhood, they are like a comfort blanket to me

Where is your favourite place to read?

At the moment my reading chair that faces our garden. In the summer, in the garden ( weather permitting) I do keep dropping hints for a summerhouse to read in but it’s yet to appear! 

Hopefully you’ll get that summerhouse one day. Besides reading and running the Facebook groups, what other hobbies do you have?

I love walking, I have a gorgeous whippet called Mabel, so we get out and about most days. I also love connecting with nature, visiting a beach or woods is always a means to recharge my batteries. I do a lot of my planning for the groups on walks too. 

Sue and Mabel the whippet

I enjoy walking too – it’s great for plotting! Finally, for someone who loves books so much, I have to ask – have you ever wanted to write your own novel?

Lovely Heidi Swain is gently encouraging me to try writing! I’ve had a go at her monthly writing prompts on her newsletter, and I have enjoyed the challenge! I do write poetry, my auntie was amazing at writing poetry and as a child she inspired me to try and so from time to time I do dabble with writing, but it’s for my own enjoyment really, I’m no Robert Frost!!! 

Sue with author Heidi Swain

About Sue

I’m Sue, I live in rural West Norfolk with my husband Simon and our two boys Joe (14) and Tom (10) with our dog Mabel and cat Gatsby. 

I work part time at a veterinary clinic ( inspired by the books of James Herriot from my teenage years) 

I have always loved reading and have embraced social media for its ability to bring people together. Sharing the book love has become part of my life now and I love every minute of it! 

Many thanks for Sue for taking part. Becoming part of an online Book Club community is a great way to share your love of books and find out about new authors. Check out Riveting Reads and Vintage Vibes here https://www.facebook.com/groups/837160114481344/

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MEET THE EDITOR

It’s back to business this week as I continue my theme of highlighting some of the fabulous people I’ve met on my writing journey. Today’s guest is Anna Britton. Anna is a freelance editor who worked with me on all three Eliza Kane books, and this week she is celebrating the publication of her debut novel, Shot in the Dark. I’m intrigued to know how she found the editing process with her publisher. But first, let’s hear about the book…

Welcome to the blog, Anna. Tell me a bit about Shot in the Dark. What drew you towards the crime genre? 

Shot in the Dark opens on a young woman running through a moonlit forest. She climbs a tree, believing she is safe. Then three shots ring out through the forest. 

The next morning, the body of Melanie Pirt is found. Detectives Gabe Martin and Juliet Stern are tasked with finding her killer. But a lack of forensic evidence, tightened resources, and suspects who will not stop lying make this the toughest case they’ve ever faced. 

I didn’t set out to write crime, but the scene of Melanie running through the forest popped into my head and I rolled with it! The story flowed from there, and Gabe is a character who I have really loved unpacking. She’s determined and strong, but often feels dragged down by traumatic experiences of her past. I loved writing her and Juliet’s partnership, and I hope readers will enjoy their story! 

How did it feel having your work edited by someone else? Were there any arguments?! 

Ha – fist fights all over the place!  

My editor was such a joy to work with. She totally got the story I wanted to tell and helped me get there. We made massive changes to Shot in the Dark, and I feel so happy with all of them. They have made the story much stronger. 

I think I recognised, maybe because of being an editor myself, that someone knowledgeable and kind is only ever going to give advice that they feel is going to make the story shine. My editor didn’t mind when I didn’t want to make a change, so long as I had a good reason, and she trusted me to know my story best. 

A sign of a good editor! I know we haven’t always agreed on aspects in my books but the story always became better because of the editing process. Can you tell me a bit about how you got started as a freelance editor? How many books/authors do you work with at one time? 

I started out reading friends’ stories for free, but quickly realised that the way I analysed stories and engaged with them critically was slightly different to what I was seeing elsewhere. I naturally thought about the plot as a whole and questioned characters’ motivations, picked up on bigger issues with their writing and focused on their strengths and what they could do more of. 

I started out taking on a few clients while I was still working at a library, but things snowballed quickly! I was able to switch to editing as my sole income, which was lovely as it gave me lots more time for my own writing too. Now I take on one or two bigger editing projects a month, but the bulk of my work is with long-term mentees. I love walking alongside other writers as they figure out their stories and develop their craft. 

What, in your opinion, are the most common mistakes authors make in their manuscripts? 

This is a tricky question, as each writer and story is so different. I know for myself that in one novel I will be really conscious of not over-telling, but in another it will slip in. I might be hot on describing the setting and characters one day, but then forget that readers can’t see inside my head on another. I genuinely feel like each writer has unique skills and weaknesses, and my job as an editor is to help them focus on their strengths while being conscious of their weaknesses. 

I think one big mistake a lot of authors make again and again is not trusting their gut. People send me their manuscripts with a list of questions or areas to focus on, and when they flag something to do with writing technique, character, or part of the plot, nine times out of ten, they’ve identified one of their issues. Sometimes, it’s because they weren’t sure how to fix it, but sometimes they just weren’t trusting themselves enough! 

Has scrutinising other people’s work has made you super critical when it comes to reading? Can you switch off, or do you find yourself thinking if I’d edited this book I’d have suggested this/that? 

Oh no, I totally switch off. Editing uses a very specific part of my brain that I am very happy to let rest when I’m reading for pleasure. Reading has always been such a joy and an escape for me – so I’m glad that my editor brain can be turned off! 

What’s your favourite genre of book to read? 

I’m not totally sure I have a favourite genre – I’m a massive mood reader so careen between sci-fi and romance and YA and historical depending on how I’m feeling. In all stories, I need strong characters I want to root for until the end.  

I know you didn’t ask, but some of my favourite authors are Becky Chambers, Natasha Pulley, Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth Strout, and Jane Austen. I would like to sit down to dinner with all of them (we would bring Jane back to life) and listen to them talk about crafting stories. 

What comes next after Shot in the Dark? 

Shot in the Dark two! (This is absolutely not its name.) I’ve signed a three-book deal with Canelo, so I am currently busy working away on Gabe and Juliet’s second adventure. This one is even more twisty than the first, and I’m loving diving back into this world! 

Shot in the Dark is published by Canelo on 26 October 2023

Blurb

Run.

Moonlight slants through the trees on the ancestral Dunlow estate, where a young woman runs for her life. Gunshots break the silence.

The next morning, the body of seventeen-year-old student Melanie Pirt is found.

DS Gabe Martin is more than ready to take the lead on her first murder case. Determined to prove herself to the cold and mysterious DI Juliet Stern, Gabe can’t afford any distractions – especially not ones that wake her in the night, reminding her of a past she’d rather forget.

Because while Gabe and Juliet have few leads, there are plenty of suspects. And every one of them is lying…

Buying link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shot-Dark-unforgettable-detective-Detectives-ebook/dp/B0C4SWBBMS/

Social media links (Twitter Instagram Bluesky) @BrittonBookGeek

Many thanks to Anna for coming onto the blog. I wish her every success with her new book. You can find out more about Anna and her editing and mentoring services at https://www.annabritton.co.uk.

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Meet the Podcaster

Writing a book can be an lonely process. I’m easily distracted and when I’m in a creative spurt I like to lock myself away and keep my head down. But when it comes to publishing and promoting, a shy retiring writer like me has to come out of isolation. These are not my areas of expertise and I need all the help I can get. I’ve made many new friends along my writing journey who are involved in different aspects of the publishing and marketing world. I thought it would be interesting to run a series featuring some of these wonderful people who have talents and skills I could never master! I’m starting with writer DJ Bowman-Smith, who set up her own podcast. Over to you DJ.

Hi, I’m DJ Bowman-Smith and this is a short post about the Words and Pictures Podcast.  

The podcast is just over a year old – I’m now on my 63rd episode. I began it because I thought it would be interesting to talk face to face with other authors. Although I am on social media and I make many connections, there is nothing like speaking to someone directly. Writers of all genres interest me and I want to talk to them all about their writing and their book covers. Every week I get to welcome all kinds of writers at different stages in their careers. It’s always inspiring.   

Each show starts with a section I call ‘at my desk’. Here I discuss my own writing experiences, my process and anything another writer might find interesting or useful. Now and again, I record a whole episode solo to speak in more depth about a topic.  

 Writing is a solitary occupation. I started the podcast with writers in mind, and on the way found readers. I know for a fact that lots of readers listen in to hear a favourite author speak, or to learn more about what writers do and how they do it. 

 I research each author and compile a short list of questions. During the interview, I have the questions near just in case. But the trick to interviewing somebody successfully is to listen to what they are saying and ask them a question about that.     

The actual nuts and bolts of running the podcast is more time consuming than people may realise. Setting up the interview time and answering questions can take a few emails. More recently I have made an FAQ page for the podcast which saves time. The interview lasts 40 minutes. Editing the sound files takes about an hour and a half. Adding the intro and outro, the music and loading it onto my host site Podbean is another hour. Show notes and the tagline need to be written and an e-mail with all the episode links sent to the guest. When this is done, I make a TikTok ready for the Monday morning when the podcast goes live. And of course, I post through my other social media accounts linking in the guests where possible. Each episode takes about four hours.  

In the future, I hope to monetise the podcast so that it can cover its costs. The host site Podbean has to be paid and I also use Auphonic for some episodes to improve sound quality. The Words and Pictures Podcast is doing well. Achieving enough listeners to interest advertisers will probably take another year. 

Find the Words and Pictures Podcast on your favourite app, ask Alexa, links on my website: http://www.djbowmansmith.com

About DJ

DJ Bowman-Smith is a multi-genre author whose current passion is paranormal women’s fiction. This genre features a mature protagonist and a fantasy element. This is appealing because DJ can’t help adding a touch of make believe to anything she writes and she herself is a woman of a ‘certain age’.

DJ plans to write more in The Mid Witch series and more books with older, strong-minded female main characters.

She is the author of a dark fantasy epic which runs to four books, and she also writes for children under the pen name Tiger Molly.

DJ is an artist and enjoys creating her own book covers and illustrations. She writes for magazines and hosts the Words and Pictures Podcast every Monday. DJ lives in the UK on the South Coast with her husband and a fast and friendly whippet called Evie. She has two grown-up daughters who live in London.

DJ’s latest book, The Mid Witch, was published on 19 August 2023.

Blurb

One Woman’s Struggle with midlife and Magic

Lilly is facing the fact that her husband is a philandering bastard, and she needs to move on now her children have flown the nest. Losing her job has not helped her dire financial straits, and her almost ex-husband wants to sell her ancient family home against her wishes. As she grapples with rude estate agents, stray dogs and hot flushes, a new problem emerges – she’s becoming a witch.

This paranormal women’s fiction is a funny and poignant take on midlife with a pinch of spice, a touch of magic and a relatable older heroine you can root for.

Buying link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mid-Witch-Paranormal-Womens-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0CG4RV954/

I love the sound of this book and isn’t that cover gorgeous? Many thanks to DJ for coming onto the blog and explaining the intricacies of podcasting. And don’t forget to check out Words & Pictures – DJ features some great authors, including me!

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Book Chat with Karen Hollis

In my final book chat interview of the summer I’d like to welcome author Karen Hollis to my blog. Karen, who lives in Lincolnshire, has chosen the magical location of Stonehenge for our chat, so naturally my first question has to be why Stonehenge? Over to Karen….

It’s my favourite place in the world. I’ve only been there once, maybe 5 years ago. I wasn’t expecting to feel anything special, but it was so breathtaking, I cried!!!

That’s quite a reaction, although I think it’s impossible to visit the site without acknowledging it’s unique sense of history and mystique. (Note to self, it would be a great setting for a novel…)

Welcome to my blog, Karen. Please tell me about your latest book.

My latest novel came out in April. It’s called Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay and it’s a second chance romance between two single parents – a divorced man aged 48 and a widowed woman aged 50. They both have children aged 11 and spend the summer in a caravan in Lincolnshire where they meet up.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?

I’m a pantser and I love seeing what happens! I have some ideas of what will happen, but often my characters decide otherwise and that’s the best bit. I have one novel on my laptop that is planned, I know everything that happens in each chapter, but when I was writing it, I got bored because I knew what was going to happen.

In my current WIP, guinea pigs suddenly became a part of the story!!

I’m a total pantser too, and love it when the characters start dictating the plot. When I’m surprised by a turn of events I know readers will be too! Where do you do your writing?

At home, on my bed. Not great for my back, as my chiropractor keeps telling me. But I live in my mum’s house (I’m her carer), so my bedroom is like my office space.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if you do, what’s your cure?

Not too often thankfully. I write non-fiction as well as fiction and always have several projects on the go, so if I’m stuck on one thing, I’ll try to work on the other. I write lots of books on gymnastics and am always interviewing gymnasts, which is pretty much my dream job! So if the novels aren’t working, I’ll concentrate on interviewing gymnasts instead.  

What inspired you to first put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard, and start writing novels?

My parents were journalists, so I’ve always been surrounded by people writing. As a kid, Dad would take me to the theatre and he’d be interviewing someone while I watched.

I first self-published a poetry collection in 2003. The novels came later. I have often started novels, but until probably three years ago, I could never finish one. I’d get halfway through and the gremlins on my shoulder would tell me it was rubbish, so I’d stop writing.

It’s only through finding some amazing, supportive authors online (especially the Chick Lit and Prosecco Facebook group) that I finally had the confidence to finish a novel. Welcome to Whitlock Close came out in 2022.

How many unfinished novels have you got on your laptop?

There’s Welcome to Whitlock Close 2 and a cosy mystery that I’ve started and still intend to finish. Then there’s maybe another four that I’ve started, but I’m not sure if I’ll go back to. I’ve nearly finished my WIP which is exciting.

How do you come up with names for your characters?

Most of the time, they tell me. They turn up in my head, I can see what they look like and they tell me their name. Now hopefully, other authors reading this will completely understand this and not think I’m mad.

In my WIP, there’s a cat called Poppy. My son, who’s 11, said “Did you name her after Poppy in my class?” I said “No, she told me her name was Poppy.” He then told me I must be mad, because that couldn’t happen, the characters come from my head, therefore so do the names. Well, yes, but it’s not quite that straight-forward to explain!

Only very occasionally do I struggle with names. A character in Welcome to Whitlock Close was called Tony, but I also had a Toby so I had to change Tony’s name, but it took a couple of tries before I found the right name.

I’m totally with you on the name thing. Sometimes my characters go through several name changes before I find the right one that fits. Other times the name is there before the character!

About Karen:

I was born in Lincoln, England in 1969. I loved writing from an early age, being the daughter of two journalists. I am a mum to five children and have three grandchildren. I have had over twenty books published and have written about a variety of topics including motherhood, poetry, Doctor Who and gymnastics. My first novel Welcome to Whitlock Close came out in 2022 and my second one Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay in 2023.

IG – https://www.instagram.com/karenlouisehollis/

Blog – https://iheartbooks.blog/blog/

Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/KarenLNHollis

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Karen-Louise-Hollis/e/B00NSLQME6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1691925796&sr=8-1

Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C1H5BFBG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Blurb

Becki is fifty and a single mum to eleven-year-old Jemima, after being widowed five years ago.
Dan is forty-eight and a single dad to eleven-year-old Freddie, after his wife left him five years ago.
They have both given up on love.
But when they all go to Silver Sands Bay on the Lincolnshire coast for the summer, will they be able to put the past behind them and find love again?

Many thanks to Karen for taking part, and inviting me to Stonehenge. Now I just need to come up with a good name for a Druid….

BOOK CHAT WITH JODIE HOMER

Today I’m having a chat with author Jodie Homer. I first met Jodie through the fabulous Chick Lit & Prosecco Facebook Group which is a wonderful meeting place for writers and readers of romantic fiction. I’m catching up with Jodie in her local coffee shop, The Dark Horse, in Solihull.

Hi Jodie, thanks for inviting me to Solihull. What’s your new book called and what is it about?

Married By Thirty is a book all about second chances. My main characters make a marriage pact when they are teenagers. Freya leaves town only to return all these years later so there’s a will they won’t they going on. There’s also someone else in the house that only Freya can see and while Freya and James get closer they have to find out all about this person in the house and who are they.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?

The first draft. I know that sounds really strange but I call it a brain fart on paper because you don’t even have to write sentences really with a first draft. It’s just an idea of a story and no one judges you for first drafts because they are just the idea going down on paper.

Where do you do your writing?

I am actually really boring. We have a two seater sofa and I sit next to the coffee table with my drink and my laptop and I write. I wish I had a cool studio or office to write but I don’t get a lot of time to do my writing.

I know you have a young family so I’m amazed you have any time to write at all! What inspired you to first put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard, and start writing novels?

I’ve always wanted to write but when I first joined Chick Lit and Prosecco I made friends with loads of authors and they all told me to go for it. I also watched Facebook Lives of them explaining how to write and the different ways to write and it definitely made me think I could do this too.

How many unfinished novels have you got on your laptop/in your notebooks?

I have one unfinished novel on my laptop and that’s only because I’ve only just started it. I’ve been good at actually finishing them. I actually keep thinking I have no more ideas in me and then the words will flow and another first draft comes out.

If you could pick one character from your books to meet in real life, who would it be and why?

Annie from A Magical Christmas on the Isle of Skye. She would be so much fun to have on a night out. She was actually really fun to write as well.

In a dystopian future you’re only allowed to keep one book from all the books on the shelves in your house. Which one would you choose?

I think it would have to be the first Shopaholic book by Sophie Kinsella but I also love her standalones so I would maybe have to close my eyes and just choose one of them, otherwise it would be so hard to choose.

I’m a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella too. I think the Shopaholic series has influenced many romcom writers over the years and reading about Becky Brandon/Bloomwood would certainly keep a smile on my face in a grim dystopian world!

About Jodie

Jodie lives in a small village in Solihull with her husband and two children. She loves nothing more than dancing around embarrassingly to 90s music and eating mint chocolate. Jodie enjoys reading and writing books full of romance and swoon-worthy fictional men.

Married by Thirty will be released on 31 August 2023.

Buying Link https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BWHB7YY8/

Blurb

Almost fourteen years ago, Freya and James made a pact to marry if they were both single at thirty. When Freya inherits Mulberry Manor and its rumoured ghost, she returns home and enlists James’ help in figuring out the truth behind the ‘haunted house’. But it’s not just the house that is being a little weird. Can James and Freya figure out the mystery of Dahlia Mulberry without the spark between them setting both their lives on fire? And now they’re both thirty… when the clock strikes midnight, will they really put a ring on it?

Social media links

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jodietheauthor

Twitter

https://twitter.com/umbrellacafe


Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/jodie_loves_books/

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21824053.Jodie_Homer?ref=nav_profile_l

Many thanks to Jodie for taking part.

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Book Chat with Fil Reid

This week I’ve travelled to Newbury to chat with historical author Fil Reid. Fil is a member of West Berkshire Writers who meet at the Teashop by the Canal at the Wharf in Newbury, which is the spot Fil has chosen for our interview – and very cosy it looks too!

Hi Fil, and thank you for inviting me to Newbury. Tell me, what is your latest book called and what is it about? 

My latest book is Guinevere: Warrior Queen, book four in my Guinevere series, out on July 8th. It takes my heroine Gwen, a girl who fell back in time to the late fifth century in book one, The Dragon Ring, further through my retelling of the Arthurian legend. Arthur has just pulled the sword from the stone and been declared High King, and Gwen is his queen, but there’s trouble ahead for them both. A mix of adventure, romance and the fascinating mythology of the Dark Ages. I’m also working on a four book regency romance series for publication in the second half of 2024. 

Sounds like you’ve got a lot going on! What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? 

I love every part of writing but am not nearly so fond of doing publicity! I have Asperger’s Syndrome (now usually referred to as High Functioning Autism) so putting myself out there is especially hard for me. Whereas sitting by myself with my earphones on and just keeping my head down and writing is much easier. I love the research, and the rabbit holes that takes me down. Did you know a third of the population of Paris had syphilis shortly after it arrived in Europe thanks to their habit of kissing each other on the lips when they met? Who’d have guessed? I love writing and that wonderful sensation when the story is just telling itself and I can barely type fast enough to keep up with my characters, who have an unnerving way of going off at tangents to tell their own story, not of my making. And I love revising my stories. 

Like you say, who knew about those Parisians! It is amazing what interesting facts we authors can pick up along the way. Where do you do your writing? 

On board our canal boat, a slightly different writing spot to most people, I imagine. One of these days I’m going to write a book about canal boat dwellers! I have a nice corner with all my reference books and my computer and printer, and quite often the cat as well, who likes to make her gibberish contributions to my books by walking across my keyboard from time to time. 

Working on a canal boat sounds idyllic. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? 
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say no, never. Which probably means I’ll get it right after finishing this questionnaire! I think my solution to it, if I had it, would be to write something totally different. My short stories are nothing like my historical romance novels and are much darker.  

What inspired you to first put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard and start writing your novels? 

I first started writing on a children’s typewriter at age five, then moved on to writing pony stories as those were the sort I read. By hand with self-drawn illustrations. In my teens I liked Mary Stewart books so made forays into writing her sort of romantic adventures in exotic locations I’d never been to. In my early twenties I first tried to write a book about King Arthur, not knowing back then that he, along with horses, was my Asperger’s Obsession. Then when my youngest son was about eight I wrote him a series of books. When we moved back to the UK from France I was determined to do a lot more writing. I think I’d say three things inspired me – the great books I read, horses and King Arthur. 

How many unfinished novels have you got on your laptop/in your notebooks? 

Only one I think, a YA SciFi story. I’m quite organised and determined so if I start something I generally finish it before moving on to anything else. 

That’s quite a jump from Arthurian legends to Sci Fi! How do you come up with names for your characters? 

Easy. For my Arthurian stories I do a LOT of research so the names of the main characters, such as his fellow kings, all come from ancient genealogy lists. Then I use a website with Celtic names for lesser characters. So most of the characters in my Gwen books really existed, or rather, their legends really exist. For the regency novels, which are set in Cornwall, I consulted lists of genuine Cornish names and chose the ones I liked best. So my heroine of book one is called Morvoren – which means ‘maid of the sea’ or ‘mermaid’ – so the book is called The Cornish Mermaid. For dogs and horses I have lists of regency names I can use. There are always horses in my books. 

If you could pick one character from your books to meet in real life, who would it be and why? 

Haha. I’d have to pick Merlin from my Gwen books. I wouldn’t really want to meet Arthur as he is very much a Dark Age king with a distinctly chauvinistic attitude to women, even though he ends up married to a girl from the 21st century for twenty years! She thinks she’s changed him, but in the end discovers that change is only skin deep. Merlin, on the other hand, has a much more malleable personality and time does change him, despite him originally showing himself as the arch manipulator.  

Hollywood comes calling and you’re offered big bucks for film rights to one of your books, but you have absolutely no say in how it’s adapted. Do you sign on the dotted line? 

Do you think I’m nuts? Of course I do! That would be my absolute dream and I would not jeopardise it by one iota by being awkward. If they’re willing to pay me good money for it, then I’ll take it and run. 

In a dystopian future you’re only allowed to keep one book from all the books on the shelves in your house. Which one would you choose? 

That is so hard because I tend to fall in love with every book I read. Can I have the whole Encyclopedia Britannica? Or does that count as more than one book? It would be great if there were no longer any online resources to have a paper one to use for research. Failing that, something funny. I just was tidying our garage and came across my really ancient copy of Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome. I’d forgotten how hilariously funny it was. Maybe I’d take that, but only because at the moment it’s the book I’m in love with. Might be different next week. 

About Fil

Fil Reid writes historical fiction/romance novels from the canal boat where she lives with her husband. She’s mum to five and granny to seven and has Asperger’s Syndrome, which she sees as her superpower. It enables her to concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of all else – her writing. She’s been writing on and off since she was five years old when she received a Petite Children’s Typewriter for her birthday. At first, she wrote exclusively pony stories, but now she’s more interested in historical fiction. In 2021 she won the Dragonblade Write Stuff Competition and a three-book publishing deal. This year she has three more books in her Guinevere series out, and next year four Regency romances set mainly in Cornwall. 

Guinevere: Warrior Queen 

It’s been almost three years since Gwen, a 21st century librarian, fell back through time to become King Arthur’s Queen Guinevere. Arthur’s drawn the legendary sword from the stone and beaten his jealous brother. The only thing left to do is prove to his fellow kings that he’s worthy of the title High King of all Britain. Not an easy task. 

And at the same time, the countdown through the list Gwen knows of Arthur’s legendary twelve battles is flying past, bringing the thirteenth, fatal Camlann, ever nearer. With history revealing itself as so close to legend, all of Gwen’s fears seem likely to come true. 

While Arthur is away fighting Irish invaders in the far west, messengers arrive from the north, requesting urgent help. Gwen is forced to lead a party of her husband’s men across the River Severn in search of Arthur’s army. But she’s heading towards the inevitable realization that there are no true victors in war. 
 
Can there be a happy ending for Gwen and Arthur, or is it written in stone that he must die? 

Buying link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Warrior-Queen-Guinevere-Book-4-ebook/dp/B0C6FSVHRJ/

Many thanks to Fil for taking part.

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Book Chat with Judith Mortimore

This week I’m delighted to welcome science fiction writer Judith Mortimore to my blog. We’re keeping our feet very firmly on planet earth for our chat as Judith has invited me to her beautiful garden in Gloucestershire.

Hi Judith. What’s your latest book called and what is it about?

‘The Canopus Conundrum’ – due out this month – is book two of the Uncharted series, light space adventures with romance.  Colonel Kovis and Prefect Gloriana must solve a mystery and a crime, but their biggest challenge may be finding out each other’s secrets.  I know a lot of romance readers avoid science fiction, but mine is ‘cozy’ and I promise there are no lengthy descriptions of machinery!

The book sounds amazing – and very original! Where do you do your writing?

I am fortunate to have an office with plenty of space, although to be honest a lot of it is taken up by embroidery paraphenalia.  I really need to finish some projects!

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if you do, what’s your cure?

When I did my PhD a few years ago, I lost my fiction writing ability completely.  I got it back by doing ‘Nanowrimo’ several years running until I found my stride again.  I asked myself what I wanted to write – the answer was SF, and romance, so that’s what I’ve been writing and since I made that decision I haven’t had a problem with writer’s block!

What inspired you to first put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard, and start writing novels?

I was the sort of child who made their dolls enact stories, so I guess I was ‘writing’ before I could even write.  I spent most of my teens and twenties writing fan fiction, and only in later years have turned my hand to creating my own worlds.  I read a lot, too.

How many unfinished novels have you got on your laptop/in your notebooks?

Far too many!  Although ‘Leaving Meridiana’ (book one in the series) is the only one published so far, I have written seven books in that series with more planned, two stand-alones (one of which will probably have a sequel, if I ever have time) … and then there’s the massive fantasy novel that should probably be published as a two-parter!

You sound like a very busy person! How do you come up with names for your characters?

They tell me their names!  I did start the SF series by picking the names of obscure stars, but now I just jot down names I come across that sound futuristic and appeal.  If I really can’t come up with anything, I use an online name creator (there are a number of them).

I think characters do pick their own names. I know it’s taken me several false starts to find names that are the perfect fit.

If you could pick one character from your books to meet in real life, who would it be and why?

Captain Asterion – because he’d show me around his space cruiser, and I’d really love to see it!  Mind you, that’s cheating a bit, since many of the other characters from my novels would be around!

I wouldn’t mind being shown round that space cruiser too! Many thanks to Judith for taking part.

Author Bio

J A Mortimore writes space opera/fantasy with romance.  She started writing fiction at a young age and has never stopped.  She wrote fanfiction for many years in a number of fandoms in the days when publishing involved stencils and a duplicator.  She has been active in science fiction and media circles for longer than she cares to think about.  She is retired and lives in Gloucestershire, UK with two friends, a number of cats, and far too many books and half-finished manuscripts.

Whilst her longer fiction tends to involve romances, she admits to being at the mercy of her protagonists, so how their relationship develops is different from couple to couple.

She is currently a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and the British Science Fiction Association.

Judith is currently offering a free copy of the novella which introduces her Unchartered series to readers who sign up to her newsletter, (but you can unsubscribe after you get the novella). LINK: subscribepage.io/HtlH0s

Is someone out to destroy Bendos Platform?  What Flight Lieutenant Zaran overheard could mean nothing – or it could mean everyone on Bendos platform is at risk, including his mother.  When nobody but fun-loving Professor Phaedra will take him seriously, he must race against time to find out the truth before it’s too late.

Buying Links

Leaving Meridiana https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leaving-Meridiana-Uncharted-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0BZ9R61YC/

The Canapus Conundrum https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canopus-Conundrum-Uncharted-Book-ebook/dp/B0C7RZ9HQY/

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Book Chat with Liv Thomas

This week I’m delighted to welcome author Liv Thomas to my blog. Liv, who writes under the pen name of Isabella Connor, hails from the same part of the south coast of England as me, but we’ve travelled to one her favourite places for our chat, the beautiful little village of Adare in Limerick, Ireland, where we’re enjoying a cuppa in the sunshine and sampling the local freshly baked scones.

Firstly Liv, tell me about your latest WIP.

The working title is ‘An Irish Dawn’ and is a follow up to Beneath an Irish Sky. The main plot follows Luke and Kate as parents, and also sees Luke confront some of the characters in the first book who gave him a hard time (understatement).  It’s mainly about Luke and Kate, following a specific incident, but I can’t say anymore! Let’s just say it’s about ‘rediscovery’.

It’s easy to see why Liv is inspired by the beautiful Limerick countryside

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if you do, what’s your cure? 

I do suffer from writer’s block, generally as soon as I’m in front of the laptop!  However, when I’m walking over to the supermarket or wherever, I have the most amazing ideas and everything falls into place.  Of course, when I get home I’ve forgotten it all…  When WB does strike, I like to keep the momentum going so will often continue with dialogue in script form, then return when inspiration strikes to fill out the narrative with description etc. At times, I try really hard to cast myself as the reader and not the writer, and think about what I’d be hoping to read next in the story.  It works sometimes!

What inspired you to first put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard, and start writing novels? 

I read books from a very early age and they inspired me to put pen to paper, also from an early age. 

I was definitely inspired by Enid Blyton but I read other writers too…I would read my favourite books more than once, Little Women, What Katy Did, Heidi amongst others. I loved creating my own characters and my own scenarios – even though initially, i.e. before I was ten, a lot of it was probably plagiarism…

I was exactly the same. I loved Enid Blyton as a child and definitely made up my own stories based entirely on other authors’ works!

How many unfinished novels have you got on your laptop/in your notebooks? 

At least three. Sometimes you stall and if another idea pops up at the same time it takes preference.

How do you come up with names for your characters?  

Well, believe it or not, the characters in Beneath an Irish Sky chose their own names. It really was quite bizarre, but most of them didn’t need thinking about and it was almost like we knew them as people already, and their names just ‘tripped off the tongue’.  For those characters who weren’t as familiar to us, we used the usual methods like looking at name lists.  I found Facebook useful too – I’d choose someone who was the age of the character and look through their Friends. Bit cheeky maybe.  

You say “we”…tell me more

Beneath an Irish Sky was the first novel I had published, written in collaboration with Val Olteanu. Val lives in Canada and we wrote the entire novel using email and phone calls. We’ve never actually met.  

That’s amazing! I can’t imagine writing a novel with anyone else, let alone someone I’ve never actually met. You must be totally intune!

Now for the moral dilemma….Hollywood comes calling and you’re offered big bucks for film rights to one of your books, but you have absolutely NO SAY in how it’s adapted. Would you sign on the dotted line? 

That’s a difficult one.  I’d probably hold out for as long as possible because if they wanted it that badly they’d surely be flexible. If it came down to a choice between ‘no say’ or ‘no movie’ I honestly don’t know. Part of me would definitely be very protective and I wouldn’t want to sign it over to someone who would dramatically change things – but in reality, it would be silly not to consider it.  However, I’m looking at that from the point of view of someone who isn’t a best-selling author – if I was, I think I’d ask to see what plans they had for my baby, and if I didn’t like those plans, I’d say no.

I think I’m with you on that one!

In a dystopian future you’re only allowed to keep one book from all the books on the shelves in your house. Which one would you choose? 

Am I allowed to keep my own?  Because I would definitely keep the one that started it all, Beneath an Irish Sky. I’d want to keep that to remind me of the good times before freedom fell! If not, it would probably be the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or does that count as three?

You’re allowed to keep your own!

Liv with her lovely mum

About Liv

I was born in the South of England and have never lived anywhere else, though my heart is firmly in Ireland.  I worked for the NHS in various clerical/admin positions, including a hectic six years in the Emergency Department. Before that, I was a secretary for a Trade Union area representative. I love music and my tastes are pretty diverse – Nathan Carter, Matt Cardle, Bryan Adams to name a few. My idea of heaven would be the Irish countryside in a cosy cottage full of Westies and a room just for books. 

 

Beneath an Irish Sky

Jack Stewart is a wealthy businessman; Luke Kiernan is a Traveller who has grown up with violence and rejection. When Jack married Annie Kiernan, it was the most exciting thing to happen in the affluent village of Baronsmere since the baker too put much yeast in the bread mixture, and it was a match which was never given the approval of Jack’s ruthless father and snobbish mother neither of whom sympathised when Annie disappeared a year after the marriage.  Following a road accident in Dublin some twenty years later, Jack is asked to go to Dublin to identify his wife’s body, and whilst there, he learns he has a son he never knew about. When the injured Luke is taken back to Cheshire by his father, he harbours a desire to punish those who made his mother suffer. Two very different worlds collide and there are shocking secrets and lies from the past that make sure life will never be the same again, either for Jack or Luke. It seems that the past might be too painful to allow them to find some common ground and build a relationship, but when love enters both their lives just when they need it, will their hearts soften?  Or will Luke’s violent uncles make life even more difficult, because Luke left Ireland with something they want.

Many thanks to Liv for taking part.

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Book Chat with Charlie Cochrane

This week’s Book Chat guest is author Charlie Cochrane. Charlie lives near me in Hampshire and since we first met at a Romantic Novelists Association southern branch lunch a few years ago, we discovered we had many things in common, including a mutual admiration for a wonderful Greek dentist called Nikos… But today we’re talking books not dentistry. Charlie has chosen TeaCups Cafe in Romsey as the location for our get-together.

Hi Charlie, and thanks for inviting me to Romsey. I’m loving the eclectic crockery collection on show here at TeaCups! Tell me what your latest book is called and what’s it about?

The Deadliest Fall. It’s a romantic mystery, set in 1947 (partly in and around a thinly disguised Stockbridge, Hampshire.) Leslie Cadmore’s tormented about whether the death of an acquaintance in a wartime training accident was really murder and whether his ex-lover, Patrick, was the killer. Leslie ends up teaming with the ex to establish the truth. Oh, and he’s got a dog, who threatens to steal the story.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?

Discovering what happens in the narrative. I’m a total pantser and rarely know where a story will go—or ‘whodunnit’—when I start writing something new. It may sound odd but when I’m crafting a novel, I feel like I’m listening to the story being acted on the radio, and as I’m hearing it unfold, I’m adapting it for the page.

I’m a complete pantser too and enjoy watching my characters dictate the plotlines. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if you do, what’s your cure?

I don’t think I’ve ever suffered a total block but there have been times when I’ve been right, royally stuck. I’ve got two contrasting solutions. One is to go and do something else completely: either short term, like a mindless, physical task (cleaning the kitchen floor works well) or, in the longer term, working on another project. That’s to let my subconscious mind have a shot at solving the plot point I’m wrestling with and which my conscious brain can’t solve. The other method is to write through the problem. It doesn’t matter if I produce a load of drivel that eventually gets deleted, somehow the process jogs my writing  muscle memory and a decent bit of prose emerges.

Mundane tasks also work for me, it’s amazing how quickly inspiration strikes when I pick up an iron…

How do you come up with names for your characters?

For surnames, I usually scroll through the BBC Sport site, looking at rugby or cricket teams, until I find the right fit for my character. In terms of a given name, I start with the era, which is how I came up with Leslie for one of my leads in The Deadliest Fall—a suitably mid twentieth century name. Otherwise, I try to find something that’s convincing for the character and setting but not stereotypical. 

If you could pick one character from your books to meet in real life, who would it be and why?

You don’t half ask a girl some tricky questions. My first thought was Jonty Stewart—who’s one of my Cambridge Fellows Edwardian amateur detectives—because he’s handsome, got an impish sense of humour and could tell me all sorts of amusing stories about his other half, Orlando Coppersmith. Then I had second thoughts and decided I’d half more fun if I met Jonty’s mother. We could have hours of fun discussing our offspring and swopping tips on successfully raising a brood.

Orlando Coppersmith – now that is a great name!

Imagine if Hollywood comes calling and you’re offered big bucks for film rights to one of your books, but you have absolutely NO SAY in how it’s adapted. Would you sign on the dotted line?

Absolutely not. Seriously, if they wanted to tinker with my plots and characters and I had no right to argue my point, I’d have to send them packing. I’m sure I can hear the blessed Dame Agatha Christie spinning like a top in her grave over the travesties of adaptations her books have undergone and if one of mine suffered the same I’d be mortified.

Charlie, you’re my first guest to turn down the megabucks, although I agree this one would be a moral dilemma for me too. Our books and characters are very precious!

Final question – in a dystopian future you’re only allowed to keep one book from all the books on the shelves in your house. Which one would you choose?

Oh. Oh! Could I have “Death at the President’s Lodging” on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and “The Charioteer” on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, please? I’ll forego books on Sundays as recompense.

Why those two? The sheer majesty of the writing. Mary Renault can say more in one or two words than most writers can on a whole page and Michael Innes can’t half produce a devious murder plot. I regularly reread both books so they’d be such a comfort.

I think that’s cheating Charlie, but I’ll let it go! Many thanks for taking part.

The Deadliest Fall Blurb

Some truths can’t be left buried.

The second world war may be over, but for Leslie Cadmore the scars remain. His beloved dog died, there’s a rift between him and his lover Patrick, and his father inexplicably abandoned the family for life in a monastery. Fate’s been cruel.

A chance meeting with Patrick’s sister stirs old memories, and Leslie starts to dig into both his father’s motives and long-unanswered questions around the death of Fergus Jackson. The worst of a group of disreputable pre-war friends, Fergus was a manipulative rake who allegedly fell on his own knife in a training accident. An accident for which Patrick was apparently the only witness.

Leslie’s persuaded to meet Patrick again, and the pair easily fall back into their old dynamic. They uncover connection after surprising connection between their hedonistic old friends and not only Fergus’s murder, but Mr. Cadmore’s abrupt departure. As their investigation deepens, Leslie and Patrick’s bond deepens too. But no reconciliation can occur until Leslie knows for sure that his erstwhile lover wasn’t Fergus’s killer.

Pre-order link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C5W5VB4Y/

About Charlie

Because Charlie Cochrane couldn’t be trusted to do anything grown up, she writes cosy mysteries. These include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, the contemporary Lindenshaw Mysteries and her 1950s Alasdair and Toby series where two actors play Holmes and Watson both onscreen and off.

Charlie is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, and has regularly appeared at literary festivals, reader conventions and author conferences.

Links: Website: http://www.charliecochrane.co.uk

FB: https://www.facebook.com/charlie.cochrane.18

Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliecochrane

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