Victoria Cornwall's Blog, page 2

Daughter of the House Cover Reveal!

I am delighted to reveal the cover and blurb for my latest release

Daughter of the House

***

The daughter of the house is often overlooked …

Evelyn Pendragon is spirited but lonely, and largely ignored by her parents whose attentions are taken up with her brother, Nicholas: the expected heir to the family’s Cornish estate and the one who will carry on the Pendragon name.

Stifled by her aristocratic existence, Evelyn finds companionship in an unlikely place when she befriends Drake Vennor, an apprentice gardener on the estate.

But when Evelyn’s life is thrown into turmoil by a tragedy, she realises just how much she has come to rely on Drake. Will family expectations and the burden of the Pendragon name mean she must turn her back on him when she needs him the most?

Exclusive Extract – young Evelyn Pendragon is hiding behind a rose bush and about to see, for the first time, the boy who will change her life forever …

She looked through the spikey stems to spy on the head gardener, Timmins. He had stopped working and was leaning casually on the handle of his shovel. His back was to her, so she was unable to see his weathered face, but she could tell that he was looking towards the entrance of the rose garden. She followed his gaze, eager to see what had interrupted his work.

Standing in the rose archway was a boy she did not recognise. Despite keeping his eyes respectfully lowered, Evelyn could see a deep militant furrow marking his brow. He stood quite still, his serviceable dull clothes and pubescent body a stark contrast to the floral garlands that framed him.

Filled with curiosity, Evelyn lengthened her neck to get a better view. The boy looked too uncomfortable in his surroundings to be a member of the outdoor staff. He must be looking for work. Unfortunately, thought Evelyn, he looked too angry, his chin too stubborn and his stance too militant to please Timmins, who despised insolence in all its forms. It would be best if the boy turned away now and saved himself an ear bashing.

A muscle worked in the boy’s jaw as he lifted his gaze to look at Timmins. To Evelyn’s surprise, he nervously cleared his throat. The subconscious act enabled Evelyn to see what she had not seen before. It was not obstinacy she was witnessing, but paralysing unease at the fear of rejection.

A wave of empathy for him rose up inside Evelyn, filling every empty part of her. She could feel what he was feeling, as surely as if she was standing in his place, every rapid beat of his heart, every breath that he took which did not seem to quench the thirst for air. She felt it all, as she knew the fear so well …

Available to pre-order TODAY! Just click HERE.

Due for release as an eBook and audiobook on the 16th April, 2019

EBook published by Choc Lit

Audiobook published by Soundings

I hope you like the book cover as much as I do.

Now in Large Print!

I am delighted to share the news that The Thief’s Daughter is now available in large print. To celebrate the release of this new format, it also has a wonderful new cover which captures the original, but keeps it unique to the publisher, W.F.Howes.

So if you know someone who requires a larger print book to be able to read and enjoys Cornwall inspired fiction, suggest The Thief’s Daughter to them. It’s the first novel in the Cornish Tales Series, which are all stand-alone tales with romance and drama at their core.

Available to buy from W.F.Howes website.

 

Hello 2019!

What’s in store for 2019?

I can’t believe that January is already a third of the way through! It feels like the older I am the faster time flies!

So what plans do I have this year regarding writing and book releases?

I hope to release two more novels from the Cornish Tales Series in 2019. The actual dates and titles are still to be confirmed, however I can tell you that the estimated date of publication for the first one is this spring.

It will tell the story of Nicholas’s mother and how she met and fell in love with the man who became the greatest passion of her life. For those of you who don’t know, Nicholas is the hero in A Daughter’s Christmas Wish. Having said that, you don’t have to read A Daughter’s Christmas Wish to enjoy this new book as all the books in the Cornish Tales Series are stand-alone novels and can be read in any order.

At the moment I don’t have an estimated date for the second book which will be released later in the year, but as soon as I do I will let you know.

If only my desk was as clean and stylish as this!

In the meantime, I’ve started writing another book for the Cornish Tales Series. I have no idea if it will be good enough for publication, however I’m enjoying the process and that is what writing is all about.

Available as an eBook and audio book

Finally, I’d like to thank all the people who have bought and read A Daughter’s Christmas Wish this winter. I’m thrilled with the positive feedback I’ve received. It means so much to me to know that readers have enjoyed Nicholas’s and Rose’s story as much as I did writing it.

Publication Day for A Daughter’s Christmas Wish!

I am delighted to share the news that A Daughter’s Christmas Wish is now available as an

ebook and audiobook!

A Cornish Christmas wish sent across the ocean …

Christmas, Cornwall 1919

A promise to a fellow soldier leads Nicholas to Cornwall for Christmas, and to the teashop managed by Rose; the youngest daughter of a family whose festive spirit has been blighted by their wartime experiences.

But as Nicholas strives to give Rose the best Christmas she could wish for, he begins to question whether his efforts are to honour his friend, or whether there is another reason …

Extract

Nicholas recognised the woman in the tea shop immediately, despite having never met her before. He had no doubt it was her. He had gazed at her face more times than he cared to admit to and knew every feature as well as his own. She was the first thing on his mind upon waking and the last when he closed his eyes at night. She even visited him in his dreams – an intangible presence that would not stop haunting him after all this time. What would she think if she knew he carried her photograph in his pocket and had done so for more than a year? Yet she probably didn’t even know he existed. He knew a lot about her, though, and why she carried so much sadness in her eyes.

I am so excited to bring you this Christmas novella set in Cornwall a year after the Great War. It is a countdown to Christmas at a time when England is still learning to live in peacetime again. This festive novella is my way of honouring those who died in WW1, those who survived and those who waited at home. So join Rose and Nicholas, as Christmas approaches, and follow their journey through the festive snow.

To download the ebook please click HERE

To download the audiobook please click HERE

Out and About!

Writers can get themselves locked into a social media bubble and end up promoting their new releases to the same audience over and over again. This habit can leave potential new readers out in the cold as not everyone is on social media. Last year I gave a talk to the St.Wenn W.I. on “How To Write Romantic Fiction“. Buoyed up by their positive feedback, I made a promise to myself to try and reach more readers outside the boundaries set by my WiFi signal at home.

Keep notes of dates, venues, times and correspondence.

This choice required some planning ahead as many clubs and groups book their speakers well in advance, so last year I reached out to the Women’s Institutes (W.I.) in my area and offered to be a guest speaker for the following year, 2018. I was delighted when my requests were accepted.

Projector and screen at the ready!

In March my W.I. tour began in earnest, starting with the meeting at St.Breward. The W.I.s at Bodmin, Newquay (Beaches & Cream), Egloshayle & Trevanson, Liskeard and St.Kew soon followed.  All the members gave me a warm welcome, tea and delicious (usually homemade) cake to round off an enjoyable visit. I met some lovely ladies, many of which are avid readers, and I’m very grateful that they allowed me the opportunity to introduce my novels to them.

Wadebridge Wheels Event

Between these visits I also attended the Wadebridge Wheels event in July, Helly’s International Guitar Festival in August and St.Wenn Community Lunch Project in September where I was able to meet new readers, undertake book signings and make some new friends.

Hellys Festival

In October I visited Tregolls Lodge Book Club, in Truro, to share my journey to publication and the inspiration for my novels.

One of the many presentations undertaken this year

I had at least one event planned for every month. Although my presentations have finally come to an end, I still have a possible radio guest slot and a couple of Christmas fairs booked in.

Have my travels helped me to reach a new audience? Yes, most definitely! Were the visits worth it? It takes time to prepare for, and travel to, the different venues. It can also be nerve-wracking. Will I find the venue? Will the projector work? Will my talk interest them? However, I’ve met some lovely people, made new friends and enjoyed every minute as the welcome is always warm.

Meeting Howard and Jean at Tregolls Lodge Book Club

So if you are a writer, get out and about. Your visit will be appreciated and there is nothing better than talking to like-minded people who love to read.

 

A Daughter’s Christmas Wish Cover Reveal!

I am delighted to reveal the cover and blurb for my latest release

A Daughter’s Christmas Wish.

***

A Cornish Christmas wish sent across the ocean …

Christmas, 1919

A promise to a fellow soldier leads Nicholas to Cornwall for Christmas, and to the teashop managed by Rose; the youngest daughter of a family whose festive spirit has been blighted by their wartime experiences.

But as Nicholas strives to give Rose the best Christmas she could wish for, he begins to question whether his efforts are to honour his friend, or whether there is another reason …

Available to pre-order TODAY! Just click HERE.

Released 20th November as an ebook and audiobook

Published by Choc Lit and Soundings

Exclusive Extract!

Nicholas recognised the woman in the tea shop immediately, despite having never met her before. He had no doubt it was her. He had gazed at her face more times than he cared to admit to and knew every feature as well as his own. She was the first thing on his mind upon waking and the last when he closed his eyes at night. She even visited him in his dreams – an intangible presence that would not stop haunting him after all this time. What would she think if she knew he carried her photograph in his pocket and had done so for more than a year? Yet she probably didn’t even know he existed. He knew a lot about her, though, and why she carried so much sadness in her eyes.

Nicholas and Rose are waiting for you to join them in Cornwall as the count down to Christmas begins.

 

The Captain’s Daughter Hat Trick

The Captain’s Daughter is available as an audiobook from today!

Narrated by Emma Powell and published by Soundings, I am so delighted that Janey Carhart’s tale is now available to a wider audience. To listen to a sample of the second novel in the Cornish Tales series, please click HERE.

Inspired by the National Trust property in Cornwall, Lanhydrock House, and the barren landscape of Bodmin Moor, I like to think this novel is a cross between Downton Abbey and Wuthering Heights.

There is something very special about achieving a publishing hat trick by having a novel released in every available format. Today, The Captain’s Daughter has achieved just that.

To download the audiobook version click HERE

To buy the paperback version click HERE or order from your local bookshop. To download the ebook click HERE

In the meantime, I have had to put my “work in progress” aside again as I have had an email from my editor informing me it’s time to start preparing my first Christmas novella for publication later this year. I can’t wait to tell you about it and share the cover, but until then I am happy to share this very special moment of The Captain’s Daughter achieving a publishing hat trick by being released as an audiobook today.

Raising Money for The Chestnut Appeal

The summer has been a busy time for me. I have given several W.I. talks, attended Helston’s International Guitar Festival as a guest speaker, celebrated and promoted the ebook and audio release of The Daughter of River Valley and the paperback release of The Captain’s Daughter.

However, not every event I have attended this year has been writing related …

You may recall that last year I went to the Wadebridge Wheels event, in Cornwall, where I helped to raise money for the Restormel Mind Association by challenging the public to set their fastest time driving slot racing cars. Yes, I know, not the usual thing a writer gets up to, but it was for a good cause. I wrote a blog post about the day and you can read it HERE.

The slot racing was very popular and at the end of the day we were invited to return in 2018, so in July my husband and I trundled into Wadebridge in our camper, Ruby, and set up the track all over again.

This time we were given a more prominent spot, as all the money raised from the slot racing track would be donated to the Wadebridge Rotary’s chosen charity for the year – The Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer.

The Chestnut Appeal was founded in 1999 and has since gone on to be at the forefront of prostate cancer care in the region by supporting the very latest in treatments and technology. They would not be able to help in this way if it wasn’t for community fundraising and donations from the public.

Some men are not great at seeking health advice. Quite often it is the woman in their life who encourages them to seek help when they discover there is a problem. This is just as well as one in three men, over the age of 50, have some cancer cells within their prostate. Nearly all men over the age of 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Fortunately, most of these cancers grow extremely slowly and, particularly in elderly men, will never cause any problems. However, in a small proportion of men, the prostate cancer does grow more quickly and may spread to other parts of the body. This means that a man should remain vigilant for any changes in their body and seek help when required.

The symptoms of prostate cancer can be found HERE. Please check them out and if you are concerned about your brother, husband, boyfriend or father, do encourage them to get themselves checked out by their GP. If you are a man reading this, just remember, silence is your enemy. Please tell someone and seek medical advice if you are experiencing symptoms. I have lost members of my own family due to late diagnosis. It is better to check it out and be reassured that all is well, than try to ignore the problem, which may never go away.

On a more happier note, the event was great fun and we raised a lot of money.  I met lots of great people who were enjoying a fabulous day out. Someone, somewhere, will benefit from the donations given to the Chestnut Appeal. If you would like to donate to this charity, please click HERE.

Now we are in mid August and I am back to editing my “work in progress”. I hope it will become the sixth book in the Cornish Tales series and although the story is complete, it still needs a little “polishing” before I  am happy to submit it to my publisher for their consideration. Due to my summer commitments, it has been a while since I have been able to work on it. Sometimes writing has to go on the back-burner, and my recent new releases and contribution to the Chestnut Appeal were valid and worthy reasons to do it.

The Captain’s Daughter Is Out in Paperback Today!

As of today, The Captain’s Daughter is now available in paperback! It can be ordered online or from your local bookshop. If they don’t have it in stock, just ask your local bookshop to order it in for you.

The Captain’s Daughter was inspired by the kitchens and servants’ quarters of Lanhydrock House, in Cornwall, and the rugged landscape of Bodmin Moor. It is about trust, acceptance, betrayal and the true meaning of family, but at its core is an enduring love felt by a man for one woman – The Captain’s Daughter.

This novel is the second book of The Cornish Tales Series. Although all the books in this series are stand-alone tales and can be read in any order, they are linked by family and the descendants of Jenna, the heroine of the first book in the series, The Thief’s Daughter.

Seeing your own book in print for the first time is an emotional moment.  I have to admit, I was a little nervous as I was unsure how the cover of the ebook version would transfer to the printed page. I think you can see the relief on my face when I catch a glimpse of the cover as I open the box. As always, my publisher, Choc Lit, had done a fabulous job.

As a reader, I have to admit that there is nothing quite like holding a book in my hands or seeing it on the coffee table waiting for me to read some more of the story inside. I keep my favourite books so I can revisit their tales at a later date. It is strangely comforting to see them sitting on my bookshelf, like ornaments and keepsakes, each one reminding me of the time I bought it and read it for the first time.

As a writer, it is thrilling and humbling to know that somewhere a reader will feel the same about one of my novels. The audio book version will be out in the Autumn.

If you are a South West of England retailer who would like to stock authentic Cornish fiction for your customers, The Captain’s Daughter can be ordered from Tor Mark, the book distributor for the south west.

 

The Inspiration for The Daughter Of River Valley

The Daughter of River Valley is the third novel of my Cornish Tales series, which are all stand-alone novels, linked by family ties. It tells the story of Beth Jago, a spirited, independent heroine who lives alone in an idyllic Cornish valley. This simple way of life, and a home she can call her own, is all Beth has ever wanted, so why is she starting to receive threats and finds an intruder in her home?

One frying pan to the head and she robs the stranger of his identity. Should she leave him to die or nurse him back to health? His good looks and vulnerability may help her to decide … or will Beth take on more than she bargained for?

***

The Daughter of River Valley was inspired by two events in my life. As a teenager, I briefly lost my memory (and vision) as a result of a head injury. Thank goodness they both returned very quickly, but the memory of this surreal experience stayed with me. The hero suffers from a longer period of amnesia than I did. He cannot remember who he is and, more disturbingly, if he is as dangerous as his nightmares suggest. It makes him both frustrated and vulnerable, which was enjoyable to write.

The second event was a visit to Rocky Valley in Cornwall. I based River Valley on this beautiful part of the North Cornish Coast. It is owned by the National Trust and I have been a regular visitor ever since. Although I have changed parts of the valley and added a myth or two, it does have both a tree, where visitors hang their tokens and ribbons, and a river which carves a path out to sea.

So if you want to escape reality, you could always visit Beth Jago’s River Valley. It is the only place she feels at home and she will do anything to protect it … as her unexpected visitor soon finds out.

To buy links can be found HERE