Victoria Cornwall's Blog, page 5

Pre-release Book Launch Event

“Are you having a book launch event?”

The question caught me off-guard, which was silly since I have a double book release coming up – the paperback version of The Thief’s Daughter and the ebook version of The Captain’s Daughter. I decided I was and launched into action to arrange one, whilst secretly worrying that no one would actually turn up …

The Old Inn

The event turned into a pre-release book launch celebration and, thankfully, was a great success. Thank you to The Old Inn for hosting it. It was the perfect venue to celebrate my Cornish based fiction, as it prides itself on giving a “Proper Cornish” welcome and claims to be the  highest pub in Cornwall.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who dropped in and said hello. You made the event very special for me.

The event lasted two hours. A gentle, constant flow of people dropped in to say hello and purchase one the first paperback version of The Thief’s Daughter to be made available to the public.

The release day is only a week and half away and there are lots of things planned to help celebrate it. A blog tour will start on the Choc Lit Blog and will last through to the end of October. Watch this space for links to the blogs taking part.

On Wednesday, 4th October, I will be heading for Radio Cornwall to appear on the Debbie McCrory Show , whilst on Thursday, 5th October, I will be on CoastFM Radio chatting to John Pestle on the Coast Afternoon show.

I hope you will join me in my celebrations and pop back to read the posts or listen to the interviews. If you don’t have time, why not sign up for my quarterly newsletter for a round-up of the posts, news and updates as I would love to keep in touch.

As both novels are about women who face (and overcome) difficulties in their lives, I thought it was fitting to donate a portion of the proceeds from the event to a charitable organisation whose aim is to develop a girl’s potential in order to make a difference to the world – my local Brownies & Guides.

The moment I see The Thief’s Daughter in paperback for the first time.

EBook available to download from all eBook platforms 

Paperback available to purchase online (including Amazon ) and from all good bookshops.

Video Post

The Captain’s Daughter Cover Reveal

Today has been the cover reveal day of THE CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER. Thank you to Jo Lambert and Annie’s Book Corner for jointly hosting the reveal. Also thank you to my publisher, Choc Lit and their Tasting Panel and Stars for bringing it to publication and their input into the design of the cover.

The Captain’s Daughter is currently available to pre-order from Amazon at a special promotional price.

Exciting News!

I have been rather busy over the summer, but I am delighted to say that everything is finally coming together so that I can share some exciting news. Actually, two bits of exciting news.

The paperback version of The Thief’s Daughter will be released on the 3rd October. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon and from your local bookshop today. After the 3rd October, if you can’t find it on the shelf of your local book shop, just ask them to order it in for you. I am told that it is perfect for Poldark, historical fiction and historical romance fans. Christmas is not far off, so if you know anyone who likes to read, this might just be the gift you are looking for.

“An evocative and well-researched historical novel that depicts all the rugged beauty and dangerous reality of life in 18th century Cornwall. Tense and suspenseful this is a wonderfully romantic page-turner.”   Romantic Novelists’ Association

The Thief’s Daughter was a finalist in the RNA Joan Hessayon Award, awarded the Crowned Heart by InD’Tale Magazine and was awarded a Discovered Diamond badge.

My second piece of news is that the next novel in my Cornish based series, The Captain’s Daughter, will be released on the 3rd October as well.

I have spent the summer preparing the novel for publication. The editing phase is now complete and the book cover will be revealed on Tuesday, 12th September. This novel is very close to my heart and I am delighted that Choc Lit and their Tasting Panel chose to publish it.

The Captain’s Daughter was inspired by Bodmin Moor and a rather grand historical house in Cornwall. In my mind the story is a mixture of Downtown Abbey, Wurthering Heights, Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. I originally self-published this novel under a different title and pen name and was delighted when InD’Tale Magazine awarded it a Crowned Heart Award in 2014. I am thrilled that it will now reach a wider audience when it is released as an eBook by Choc Lit next month. If you fell in love with Jack Penhale from The Thief’s Daughter, just wait until you meet the hero in this next book. Watch out for further details and updates on my Twitter and Facebook page.

So that’s my news and I can’t wait to share the cover with you once it has been officially unveiled on Tuesday!

Celebrating Read A Book Day

On 6th September it was Read A Book Day, a national celebration to encourage us to take a break from our busy lives, grab a book and spend the day reading.

So when I was invited to meet the staff and residents of St.Breock Residential Home in Cornwall, as part of Read A Book Day, I was delighted to accept.

The staff of St.Breock Residential Home were very welcoming and it soon became clear, after chatting to the residents, how varied everyone’s reading tastes were. Magazines, detective novels, historical romantic fiction and historical non-fiction were just some of the genres that were mentioned.

An enjoyable cream tea followed and then I read two short stories, which both received a round of applause! At the end of the visit I was presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers. I had a very enjoyable afternoon thanks to the warm welcome from the staff and residents. Although I brought two stories with me, the residents had stories of their own to share, which included being an evacuee during the war, skinny dipping in the sea as a child and memories of a Cornish romance …

Reading is a great way to escape the stresses of the day, but it also has many other benefits. Reading provides mental stimulation and may slow, or even prevent, Alzheimer’s and dementia. Reading also increases knowledge and improves vocabulary and it can help to improve memory by stimulating the need to recall characters and plot-lines.

However, as one would expect, reading becomes more difficult with age as vision deteriorates, dexterity and concentration decline and books become less accessible. Large print and audio books can help. Fortunately the residents of St.Breock Home are well catered for in this department.

Although Read A Book Day is over, it is never too late to escape the present and lose yourself in a book. Sometimes life gets too busy and this inexpensive pastime gets forgotten. However, reading has a lot of health benefits as well as being fun and relaxing. So treat yourself, grab a book and indulge. You are worth it.

Thank you to the residents for providing their consent for their images to be used in connection with my visit to St.Breock Residential Home. 

Spreading the Word …

Authors often wonder how to spread the word about their books, particularly if they are at the beginning of their writing career, as I am. Book launches, talks,  book signings and adverts are just some of the usual avenues used by writers. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, although I think the best way will always be word of mouth from reader to reader.

A few months ago my husband suggested that a vintage car event might be the perfect opportunity to spread the word about The Thief’s Daughter. Of course I was sceptic as a car show is not the usual place to promote an historical romance. However, when he told me we would be raising money for the  Restormel Mind Association, a charity which supports adults with mental health problems, promoting my novel took a back seat as I was happy to be involved.

1 in 4 people suffer from mental health problems

Each year, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem, whilst 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week. The prevalence of mental health problems mean that any one person will know several people, whether acquaintances or family members, who have suffered or are suffering from a mental health problem. The symptoms can be visible or invisible, mild or severe and the effects can be far reaching and at times, devastating.

Ruby, our camper.

With this in mind, in July we set off for Wadebridge Wheels, which is held at the Royal Cornwall Show Ground, near Wadebridge and organised by the local Rotary Club. The money raised through tickets sales and registrations go towards their chosen charity. We helped to add to the funds by holding a slot car racing competition and as it was a vintage vehicle event, our camper, Ruby, came along too.

Husband setting up the track.

We set off early, as we knew it would take several hours to erect the gazebo and set up the racing track. I couldn’t resist having a go myself and surprised my husband … and myself … when I didn’t crash the cars.

Me having a go.

The gates opened at 10 o’clock. Despite the rain, we had a steady stream of families happy to pay £1 to have a go. Ages ranged from 5 to 65 years old and included boys, girls, teenagers and adults. Several customers spied my chocolates and went home with a free bookmark so perhaps my husband’s suggestion that it would be a good opportunity to spread the word about my book wasn’t so absurd after all.

The money we collected helped to boost the overall funds raised by the Rotary Club, bringing the total amount taken over the course of the day to a new record.

Did giving away free bookmarks and chocolates help spread the word about my book? In truth, I have no idea. However, I had a fun time and met some lovely people who enjoyed reliving their childhood and introducing their own children to the world of slot racing. It also meant that we were able to help a charity whose work supports people in a time of their life when they could do with a little help. And everyone, no matter your circumstances in life, needs a little help from time to time  …

 

Goodbye Dear Friend

Alfie, my black Labrador, has been my constant companion throughout my writing career.  His place is on the carpet to my left, snoozing, while I tap away on the keys of my laptop. He has several “places”. The kitchen doorway, where he bounds into the room to greet me in the morning. Sitting by my chair at the kitchen table at meal times, with an expectant look on his face. Taking on the role of my shadow as I go about my daily chores. Walking beside me on one of our many walks together.

Alfie has many places … or at least he had. Unfortunately, my writing buddy passed away this week with a suspected brain tumour. He died peacefully, in the sunshine and in our company. It is still hard to believe that only 24 hours before we were enjoying a long walk in the countryside. We were ill prepared for his passing, despite knowing that one day his death would be inevitable.

So now we are learning to live with the empty space at our table, the absence of his joyful greeting in the morning and the empty space on the carpet as I write. It is impossible to explain the grief one feels at losing a beloved family pet, especially when there is so much greater suffering in the world. However, the grief and tragedies of others make our own feelings of loss no less easier to bear for the memories of his love, devotion and boundless joy is everywhere and are both a comfort and a reminder of all that we have lost. One day I will be able to write again without noticing the empty space on the carpet to my left, but it will take time and I have the strange feeling he is still beside me, even if I cannot see him in the way that I would like.

Tribute To A Best Friend

Author Unknown

Sunlight streams through window pane

unto a spot on the floor….

then I remember,

it’s where you used to lie,

but now you are no more.

Our feet walk down a hall of carpet,

and muted echoes sound….

then I remember,

It’s where your paws would joyously abound.

A voice is heard along the road,

and up beyond the hill,

then I remember it can’t be yours….

your golden voice is still.

But I’ll take that vacant spot of floor

and empty muted hall

and lay them with the absent voice

and unused dish along the wall

I’ll wrap these treasured memorials in a blanket of my love

and keep them for my best friend until we meet above.

Festivals and a Summer Party

This week has been a busy time for me. At the start of the week I was a guest on The Bandwagon blog as part of the Cornish Reading Challenge and later attended the Art Cafe in St.Ives as part of the St.Ives Literary Festival.

The week ended in London when I attended the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Summer Party and the Joan Hessayon Awards. Want to know more?

The Cornish Reading Challenge was run by Vikki Patis on her blog, The Bandwagon, and celebrated  writers from the South West and Cornish based fiction. In the guest post, I talked about my family tree and how living in Cornwall has changed through the generations.

Later in the day, I was heading to St.Ives and to the Cafe Art, in Drill Hall, which is a contemporary arts cafe with a changing programme of exhibitions and events. It is often used by the St.Ives Literary Festival to host their Free Speech event, which is an opportunity for aspiring writers and poets to read samples of their writing and poetry. It also serves great coffee, sandwiches and homemade cakes!

I was a guest speaker prior to the Free Speech event, and was delighted to have the opportunity to read the first chapter of The Thief’s Daughter and undertake a Q&A session from the audience. I also stayed to hear their poetry and readings, which was very enjoyable. Although it was raining outside, the vibe inside was warm, cosy and friendly and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

A couple of days later, I was on the train to London, where I met up with fellow Choc Lit author, Morton S.Gray. We were both contenders for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award. The list of contenders is made up of authors whose debut novels have been accepted for publication after passing through the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers Scheme. After some cake and coffee at the hotel, it was time to get ready and leave for the event. First, we met up with other members of the Choc Lit publishing team for drinks, then on to the main event at the Royal Overseas League.

And here are all the finalists, minus Jen Gilroy who was unable to make it. Kate Field, with her debut novel, The Magic of Ramblings, won the Joan Hessayon Award and I am delighted for her.

Left to Right. Front Row:- Arabella Sheen, Emily Kerr and Terri Fleming.

Left to Right. Middle Row:- Lynda Stacey, Victoria Cornwall (me!) and Morton S.Gray.

Left to Right. Back Row:- April Hardy, Kate Field, Vivien Hampshire and Abbey MacMunn.

At the end of such a busy week, it was only natural for me to think about the moment when my love for fiction really began. I came to the conclusion it had something to do with a spider called Charlotte and you can read all about it here.

Now it is time to  return to work. I am currently writing a new book and expect the edits for my next book to arrive any day now. I think I will have a lot to keep me busy over the next few weeks, so for now my high heels and party dress are back in the cupboard to gather dust. Or at least they are until next time!

Announcement: The Thief’s Daughter is a Contender for the Joan Hessayon Award!

Today the Romantic Novelists’ Association has announced the contenders for the Joan Hessayon Award and I am delighted to say that my debut novel with Choc Lit, The Thief’s Daughter, is one of them!

The Thief’s Daughter is one of a 11-strong shortlist, made up of authors whose debut novels have been accepted for publication after passing through the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers Scheme. Membership of the scheme is highly sought after as only 250 places are offered to unpublished writers writing in the romance genre each year.

The Joan Hessayon Award is sponsored by author and gardening expert, Dr. David Hessayon OBE, in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member of the RNA and a great supporter of its New Writers’ Scheme. I am also delighted to discover that two of my fellow Choc Lit authors, Morton S. Gray, with her debut The Girl on the Beach, and Lynda Stacey, with her debut House of Secrets, are also contenders.

The Award will be announced and presented at the RNA’s Summer Party, on the 18th May at the Royal Overseas League in London, which means this Cornish maid will be travelling to the big city next month! RNA parties are always fun, as it is a chance to meet fellow RNA members (who I have already connected with through social media) and an opportunity to make new friends.

There are a lot of unsung heroes and heroines (mainly heroines) who help to run the RNA. Most do this in their own time while navigating their own writing careers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the RNA for the support and friendship the association has given me on my journey to publication. Whoever wins the award on the 18th May, I still feel blessed that I am a contender and in such worthy company.

The Choc Lit Tour Kicks Off!

The Choc Lit Tour Bus

This month saw the start of the Choc Lit Tour of England. The Choc Lit “bus” will stop at various towns and cities over the next few months. Each event will consist of a panel of Choc Lit authors sharing their experiences of becoming published writers, followed by an informal question and answer session. There will also be an opportunity for aspiring writers to pitch their manuscripts to the Choc Lit editor in attendance. There will also be chocolates, a goody bag to take away and a chance to chat and mingle in an informal atmosphere.

(L to R) Me, Linda, Margaret and Laura.

The first event was held on Saturday, 8th April at Exeter Library. It was my first Choc Lit event as a published author and joining me on the panel were Margaret James, Linda Mitchelmore and Laura E. James. Laura and I kicked off the event with a live Facebook video, which was a new experience for the both of us. However, trying something new did seem a very fitting way to start the first Choc Lit Tour.

Margaret, Linda and I shared our journeys to publication, while Laura gave an informative talk on social media. The audience was interactive and interested, which always makes things so much easier.

The Choc Lit Panel

Was I nervous? A little. Did I make any mistakes? Yes, a few! Did I have fun? Absolutely! We also had a fun quiz (nothing too serious) with prizes for the winner and runner up. Some members of the audience had booked an appointment to pitch their novel to the Choc Lit editor in attendance. Pitching a novel is always a nerve wracking event, however opportunities like this are rare in the South West so it was too good to miss. Well done to all those who had the courage to pitch yesterday. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

Goody bags waiting to be grabbed.

The afternoon ended with a chance to chat and mingle. I met a lot of lovely people at my first Choc Lit event. I hope my contribution helped those that aspire to be published and entertained those who just love books as much as I do. Everyone left with an amazing goody bag, which was worth more than the ticket for the event.

The next stop for the Choc Lit tour bus is on Saturday 20th May – 1.30 – 4 pm at Southampton Central Library. The author panel will include Laura E James, Isabella Connor, Jan Brigden and Evonne Wareham.

The bus will then head off to stop at Stockton Central Library, Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday 17th June – 1.30 – 4 pm. The panel of authors at Stockton Central Library will be made up of Jane Lovering, Kirsty Ferry, Lynda Stacey & AnneMarie Brear.

If you think you might like to attend, check out the Choc Lit website for ticket information and, should you hop on board, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did yesterday.

Linda and I having a chat before the event starts.

Free chocolates and books to buy.

The panel talk in session.

My favourite part, chatting to those that came to the event.

Exeter Library