Victoria Cornwall's Blog, page 6

The Thief’s Daughter

Multi layered and exciting The Thief’s Daughter is one of those sweeping Cornish sagas that immediately whisks you back in time to a bygone age when deadly feuds existed and where danger lurked on every corner … The author has done a great job of telling creative historical fiction … The history feels authentic and there is a good sense of atmosphere which conjures the wild beauty of Cornwall, so that it becomes easy to place yourself there in the eighteenth century. The characterisation is strong and nicely developed, and the plot, at the centre of the story, is both exciting and believable.

All in all, a good debut from a talented new writer.

Quote Source: Jaffareadstoo Book Review Blog

The meeting of two minds.

There is something special about meeting someone new, striking up a conversation and discovering that you have something in common. It could be a hobby, a mutual friendship or something major, like an illness or a tragedy, but in that moment you know that they understand where you are coming from, just as you understand them. No words are needed to explain, persuade or defend yourself. You can both just dive into the nitty gritty of the topic and share the joy, the despair and the wisdom you have gained from the thing you have in common. This is why support groups, conventions and “meet ups” are so popular.

It is the “meeting of minds” for those who need support or just want to have fun.  At the beginning of this month, I grabbed the opportunity to have some fun, as I went to my first Blogger & Author event. I came away feeling supported and glad that I had gone.

The Farmers’ Union.

It was held at the Farmers’ Union, in Exeter. Coming from a farming background, I felt strangely reassured when I approached the building and saw half a cow protruding out of the wall. Thankfully it was not a real one.

I arrived on time, however the event, hosted by Kim Nash and Holly Martin, was already building up momentum. Authors (some I recognised) and bloggers were already mingling, swapping experiences, business cards and generally having a good time. More soon arrived, and although it can be a bit daunting to strike up a conversation with a stranger, it helps to know you already have something in common.

Me in the midst of it all.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who share their passion for books. Many do it on a voluntary basis, whether it is reviewing, contributing on reading panels, being a beta reader or hosting a blog. It takes a lot of time, with no monetary gain, yet it helps make the “book world” a thriving, interactive and fun place to dive into. Their contributions identify new talent and provide great support to both established and new authors alike.

The event lasted for three hours. Time flew by and I suspect a few stayed on far longer. I met many people so please forgive me if I have missed you out. A stag party dressed as Top Gun invaded the event half way through and temporarily put me off my stride. Is this an obligatory thing at such events? I do hope so. There was the lovely Sal from Sal’s World of Books , Rachel from Rachel’s Random Reads, Tracie from Passionate About Books, the fabulously named Storm from The Writers’ Newsletter (I am so jealous of your name!), Dawn from Book Aholic Dawn and Claire from Claire Loves To Read.

Other blogs you might be interested in are Angela Wooldridge Blog, Laura Bambrey Books, Shaz’s Book Blog and the twitter account Devon Book Club. Don’t forget that many authors also run their own blogs, so check out their websites.

Two Choc Lit authors. LauraE.James and I found each other in the crowd.

So if you are an author or a blogger and you are invited to attend a similar event, or you see an open event advertised, do consider going. It might be a little daunting at first, and it may seem that everyone already knows everyone else, but as soon as you strike up a conversation with someone, chances are that they will be happy to chat and are in the same boat as you.

 

A Wander through Whitby!

Today is a double publication day for fellow Choc Lit author, Kirsty Ferry! The Girl in the Painting is out in paperback and The Girl in the Photograph is out on all eBook platforms.

I am delighted that Kirsty has chosen today to visit my blog. To celebrate, Kirsty is taking us for a wander through Whitby – a very important location in her books. Are you ready to go?  It’s over to you, Kirsty …

Kirsty Ferry

My Rossetti Mysteries series has its heart in Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast. Some Veil Did Fall is largely set there, the town welcomes Cori and Simon in The Girl in the Painting, and is located only a few miles away from Staithes, where The Girl in the Photograph is set. But the heroine of The Girl in the Photograph, Lissy, keeps going back to Whitby – whether it is to torment her brother and sister-in-law, or  to ‘hide’ from Stefano, her  ex-boyfriend in the Abbey grounds. And I use the term ‘hide’ rather loosely! Whitby is famous, of course, for its Abbey and its connection to Dracula and Bram Stoker, but just in case you want to know more about the town itself, I’m going to mention some of the things that you might just want to keep an eye out for if you ever go!

The Whalebone Arch

The Whalebone Arch

In the newer part of the town, a huge arch made of whalebones stands sentinel. There has been an arch there since 1853, celebrating the important role of Whitby in the whaling industry – so an arch would have been standing there in 1865, when Ella and Lydia were wandering around the town looking for fabric for Ella’s wedding dress in Some Veil Did Fall.

St.Mary’s Church

St Mary’s Church

Once you’ve crawled on your hands and knees up the 199 steps (or is that just me?) you’ll come to St Mary’s Church. It stands on the east cliff, in the shadow of the Abbey, overlooking the River Esk estuary. The picture I have here is from the BBC – unfortunately, a landslip happened very close to the church which must have been rather nasty, as you can see. The churchyard was used as a setting in Dracula (and in Some Veil Did Fall, Ella and Adam were married there), and when I visited on a night-time during Goth Weekend, there were various people strolling around the graveyard, promenading beneath black parasols, swathed in frock coats and lace. A little shiver did run up my spine as I wondered exactly how many of these shadowy figures were indeed corporeal beings and how many weren’t …

The Ebor Jet Workshop

Ebor Jet Workshop

Truly a gem within those cobbled streets. It’s an extremely quirky jet workshop, based in a converted house, complete with Victorian fireplace, intriguing staircase and two figures dressed in Victorian mourning gowns by the fireplace. It’s got much more character, in my opinion, than the sparkly, more commercial jewellers, and that’s why I got my jet locket there. You can also see the craftspeople working on the jet and watch how the jewellery takes shape. Whitby is famous for jet – it was the heart of mourning jewellery in the Victorian times and has a strange, Gothic fascination all of its own. Not bad for a precious stone that started off as a fossilized monkey puzzle tree. The workshop – or something very similar – has cropped up in a new novella I have written. So you may see it, sort of, between the pages at some point in the future!

The Pannett Art Gallery and Whitby Museum

The Pannett Art Gallery and Whitby Museum

A wee bit off the beaten track, but so much worth a visit! I literally do not know how they cram so much stuff into that place. The Pannett Gallery and Museum is a short walk uphill from the city centre, situated in a beautiful park. But I would strongly recommend making the trek if you can. The Gallery has a permanent exhibition of artwork from the Staithes Group of artists, a group who are integral to The Girl in the Photograph. This group of artists existed in the late nineteenth century and took their inspiration from the French Impressionists. They captured the day-to-day life of the people of Staithes and their work is wonderful. There is a fascinating display of jet in the museum, and don’t miss the Hand of Glory – a dried and pickled hand of a criminal, turned into a candlestick holder!

Number 6, Royal Crescent

Number 6, Royal Crescent

I stumbled across this by accident on one of my visits to Whitby, and was so excited when I realised what it was. A plaque on the wall of this stunning townhouse proclaims that Bram Stoker stayed at the guesthouse between 1890 and 1896. He must have liked it so much, he came back over the period of a few years. The guesthouse was run by Mrs. Emma Veazey, and Bram’s wife and son joined him there for a three week holiday. Three ladies from Hertford, Isabel and Marjorie Smith and their friend Miss Stokes, stayed there at the same time, and it has been suggested that Bram based the characters of Lucy, Mina and Mrs Westenra on these three ladies.

The Whitby Bookshop

The Whitby Bookshop

Last but not least (because this is a short piece!) is the Whitby Bookshop, on the glorious little street of Church Street. This gorgeous, independent bookshop is crammed with books and stationery, including an upper floor which is reached by an awesome spiral staircase. This bookshop is where I did a book signing on Goth Weekend, dressed as a recently undead Vampire’s victim. Great fun. So if you’re in the vicinity, please do pop in – you might just see one of my books on the shelf.

To buy The Girl in the Painting click  HERE   

To buy The Girl in the Photograph click HERE

For more information on Kirsty Ferry, follow her on Twitter @kirsty_ferry

The ups and downs of February …

I am delighted to share the news that I have signed a three book contract with my publisher, Choc Lit, confirming that The Thief’s Daughter will be the first in a Cornish based series. It is a dream come true for me and I can’t wait to see them out in the big wide world. As soon as I know  their release dates, I will share them with you.

However, not everything I have experienced this month has brought a smile to my face.

My beloved writing companion, Alfie, has not been well. He has started to suffer from fits and has also been diagnosed with a grade II mast cell tumour. His operation to remove the cancer was a success, but at present it is unclear what is causing his fits. I fear they may be related. However, for now he is happy and content and does not understand what all the fuss is about, so we will continue to give him all the love he deserves.

The month ended with a guest appearance on the Life Of Writers Blog when I shared my top 5 writing tips. It was an honour to be asked and I hope that some aspiring writer will find my contribution of use.

Looking ahead, next month I will be attending a private function for writers and bloggers. It will be my first and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone. It should be fun and I look forward to sharing the experience with you when I return, but for now, where is Alfie’s lead? I think it’s time for a much deserved walk!

Novel Points of View Blog -The Holy Grail of Writing

It is my turn on the Novel Points of View blog again this week. Today I am chatting about The Holy Grail of Writing. Drop in to see what I am referring to, what I was doing at the time and what instigated such musings. Here is a clue … it involved avoiding suicidal rabbits and a song about clowns. Click HERE to read more.

Choc Lit on Tour!

Choc Lit is coming to a town near you and I am delighted that the Choc Lit tour is kicking off at Exeter Library on Saturday, 8th April between 1.30 and 4.30pm. It is a great way to support local libraries and have some fun, too. I, and some of my fellow Choc Lit authors, will be at the Exeter Library Choc Lit Day, so if you’re in the area we’d love for you to join us for an afternoon of author chats, a Q&A session, fun quizzes and, of course, chocolate!

For writers, there will also be the opportunity for a one-on-one pitch session with Choc Lit editors in attendance. Put the date in your diary. Tickets will be on sale very soon. Email info@choc-lit.com to register your interest and come along. I would love to meet you!

Romantic Fiction Recommendations.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. To get us all in the mood, some friends and I took part in a collaborative post about our favourite romantic novels. Click HERE to find some amazing recommendations. I have certainly added to my book list … and you might just too.

This week TV presenter and author, Debbie Flint, is featu...

This week TV presenter and author, Debbie Flint, is featuring The Thief’s Daughter as her book of the week. To take a peak, click HERE.

A beautifully written historical romance, that delves int...

A beautifully written historical romance, that delves into the dangerous world of smuggling and questions how far you can and should go, even for those you love. I cannot wait to read more from Victoria Cornwall!

5 Stars!

Quote Source: Old Victorian Quill

Writing the Thief’s Daughter and my hopes for the future.

Today is the penultimate stop of my blog tour to promote the publication of The Thief’s Daughter. Who better to drop in on than friend and fellow writer Amanda James. Needless to say, we had a glass … or two … of Prosecco and chatted about the inspiration for, and the characters in, my debut novel. As the blog is called Mandy’s Musings, it was only natural for me to muse about the future … which involved a shopping trolley and a can of baked beans. To find out more click HERE.