Morton S. Gray's Blog, page 12

My Writing Journey by Linda Middleton

I’m delighted to welcome fellow Choc Lit/Joffe Books author Linda Middleton to my blog. Linda is going to tell us a little about her writing journey and more about her recently published novel Things They Never Said…

Firstly, a big thank you for inviting me onto your blog and letting me tell you a bit more about myself and my debut novel.

I’m delighted that Things They Never Said has finally been published, it’s a book I’ve been writing on and off for many years.

It’s actually the first book I ever began to write. At the time I had not long completed a degree in Hotel Management so my love of cooking was the inspiration behind my heroine, Liz Cartwright, who is a private chef. I had the idea that I could write for Mills and Boon so as soon as I had written the first three chapters I eagerly sent it off to them. Of course, it was rejected.

I came across their rejection letter not long ago, typed on a typewriter which shows how long ago that was. The letter said that the chapters were well written, but it wasn’t for them and not to work on it any more. So I shoved it into the proverbial drawer and wrote other things, but I kept going back to it. I submitted it through the New Writers Scheme at the Romantic Novelists’ Association twice and each time worked on the feedback I was given.

The published Things They Never Said is very different novel to the original version, with the exception of Liz and Alex, who remained as the main characters. I’m glad now that I didn’t listen to the advice I received, but I must admit I don’t blame Mills and Boon for rejecting it as it was then.

In the meantime, I’ve worked on other novels but for a while concentrated on writing short stories for women’s magazines. I had several published, particularly in The People’s Friend. During that time, I was part of an online writers’ group, a small group of lovely ladies all writing for women’s magazines. Their feedback has helped me grow as a writer and their support has been invaluable. For anyone starting out as a writer I would recommend joining a writing group. It can be difficult though to find the right group for you and it’s important not to let negative feedback put you off. Learn to trust your instinct about the feedback being given. In your heart you’ll know if it is genuine or not.

I’d almost given up on being traditionally published when I sent my book to Choc Lit, and was seriously considering self-publishing. It makes a huge difference being accepted by a publisher because it shows that someone else believes in you. Now, my writing is more than just ‘mum’s hobby’ which can be interrupted at will for ever so much more important things like being a taxi service.

When I was eighteen I moved from Cheshire to London, where I lived for nine years before moving back up north to Chester. I still live in Chester with my husband, sons and two cats. My youngest son is at university whilst the eldest lives at home. I have an older step-son who has given us three grandchildren. Life is certainly busy. Things They Never Said is set in both Cheshire and London.

To keep in touch with Linda you can use the following links:

Twitter: @middletonwrites

Facebook: linda.middleton.735

Forgive me for smiling, as your writing journey sounds quite similar to my own. I too flirted with Mills and Boon and joined a writing group and the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Good luck with the novel. Mx

About Things They Never Said

Sometimes letting go of the past is the only way to embrace the future . . .

Life hasn’t been easy for Liz Cartwright. The death of her brother, Danny, when she was a teenager was devastating.

But Liz has worked hard to put her life back together, and she’s finally where she wants to be. She’s just landed her dream job: catering for an exclusive dinner party.

But on the night of her big break she locks eyes with the man she hoped she’d never see again. It brings Liz’s life crashing down once more.

Because once upon a time Alex Sinclaire was her brother’s best friend. But he let Danny down in the cruellest way. Liz has always blamed him for what happened to Danny — and to her.

But Alex doesn’t remember things the same way. And despite his wealth and success, life hasn’t been easy on him either.

It seems there are things that both of them left unsaid.

Maybe it’s finally time to say them . . .

Buying Link – Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oVpCUo

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

Why I Wrote The Shakespeare Sisters by Juliet Greenwood

I have long been a fan of Juliet Greenwood’s writing. I loved her novels Eden’s Garden and We That Are Left. Juliet is now writing for Storm Publishing and her first book for this imprint is The Shakespeare Sisters. Juliet is going to tell us why she wrote the book…

Thank you for the invitation to be featured on your blog! It’s a pleasure to be here, and I’ve enjoyed writing about why I wrote my latest book, The Shakespeare Sisters, which has just been published by Storm.

My original inspiration for The Shakespeare Sisters came from my long-held ambition to attempt the challenge of writing a series, and particularly one based on the different members of a single family.

I’ve always been fascinated by how families operate, with influences from the past taking each member in a different direction, and particularly when it comes to sisters. My mother was one of five sisters, who had their battles but were always very close, so my childhood was filled with the intricacies of their relationships, particularly in the summer when us kids were sent off to amuse ourselves while the adults talked.

The history of those five sisters is one that has influenced all of my family, and particularly the women. Much of their past, and therefore ours, comes from the time when my grandfather set off to find gold in Australia, which might have been with good intentions, but the practical upshot for his wife, my grandmother, was being left with small children and no means of support. We are talking about a time, not so very long ago, when women had few rights and even less ability to earn, and no childcare unless it was a grandmother. A truly frightening position, if you look through a woman’s eyes. It might have been different if my grandfather had been successful, but, like many men who went around the world to seek their fortune, he returned destitute.

It’s only been as I’ve grown older that I’ve realised the impact that has had on the family. My grandmother may have had no choices, but she made sure each of her five daughters received an education and trained as a teacher, one of the few occupations open to women. Of course, they were immediately sacked once they married, but it meant that if anything went wrong they all had a means of some kind of financial independence. It also resulted in me, and all my female cousins, having a university education, at a time when it was generally seen as fairly pointless, as all we were going to do with our lives was to hoover the living room floor while our husbands worked.

My family may not have owned a crumbling Tudor mansion like Arden House, but they all had dreams and ambitions, just like the Shakespeare sisters, and a determination to beat the odds and follow their own paths. So I loved writing Rosalind’s story, and I’m equally loving writing the next instalment. It’s been a joy seeing where my heroines’ bids for freedom and independence will take them. I can’t wait to see where they go next!

I’m also really enjoying returning to the landscape of my childhood, near to Stratford-upon-Avon, along with the traditional village activities of choral societies and amateur dramatics that took place, and were also where people socialised before social media. That has also brought back memories of aunts and uncles and a bye gone era.

And the names? Well, that’s down to my grandfather, too. He loved reading Shakespeare, getting up early before he went to work in the factory he never escaped. He also named his daughters after Shakespearean characters – a tradition that has been carried on with at least one of his granddaughters. 

How fascinating! Mx

About Juliet Greenwood

Juliet Greenwood has always been a bookworm and a storyteller, writing her first novel (a sweeping historical epic) at the age of ten. She grew up near Stratford-upon-Avon, and was inspired by an extended family of enthusiastic amateur actors and singers.

After studying at Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked at a variety of jobs, including creating puppet shows with underprivileged children and collecting oral histories of traditional villages before they are lost forever. She finally achieved her dream of becoming a published author following a debilitating viral illness, with her first novel being a finalist for The People’s Book Prize and her first two novels reaching #4 and #5 in the UK Kindle store.

Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales, set between the mountains and the sea, with an overgrown garden (good for insects!) and a surprisingly successful grapevine. She can be found dogwalking in all weathers, camera to hand.

Social Media

Website:          http://www.julietgreenwood.co.uk/

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/juliet.greenwood

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/julietgreenwood

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

Storm: https://stormpublishing.co/

About The Shakespeare Sisters

Four motherless sisters, raised by a distant father in a crumbling, ivy-choked country estate. A terrible war on the horizon that will tear an ancient family apart. 

Stratford-upon-Avon, 1940. Rosalind Arden, born into one of the oldest families in England, has grown up running wild through the walled gardens and secret passages of historic Arden House, known to have once been frequented by Shakespeare himself. But centuries of squandered wealth have left the family destitute, and Papa Arden plans to replenish the coffers by securing hasty marriages to the highest bidder for Rosalind and her sisters. Passionate and headstrong, Rosalind is quickly running out of ways to avoid this fate.

But then war comes to England, and not even Arden House can remain untouched. As food shortages grip the villages and England is shrouded by black-outs, Rosalind is unexpectedly swept into the orbit of soft-spoken aspiring architect Guy Thompson… just weeks before he’s sent to fight. Heartbroken, Rosalind knows she can’t return to the golden prison of Arden. With little more than a leather-bound book of Shakespeare in tow – a secret bequest from her mother – she runs away to London. There, she throws herself into the war effort, photographing the heart-wrenching aftermath of the blitz – building a life for herself she never thought possible.

Until death comes to Arden and Rosalind is called home to devastating news. With Guy having inexplicably cut contact and her father on the edge of ruin, Rosalind must choose between the life she has made for herself and saving her beautiful, broken Arden House, home to the man who has only ever tried to bend her to his will…

A heartbreaking and unforgettable story full of mystery that will have you reaching for the tissues. Perfect for anyone who loves Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley and Dinah Jefferies.

Buying Links: The Shakespeare Sisters: https://geni.us/50-Storm

Morton’s Review – 5 Star

I am still missing this book now that I have finished it and do hope that there will be a sequel.
 
I was a bit worried at the start of reading as my knowledge of Shakespeare’s works is not vast, but this didn’t matter at all. I loved the feisty Rosalind and could, through the skill of the author, put myself in her shoes, especially at the start of World War Two. I kept praying that she would make the right choice for a life partner too.
 
Having read another review that said the reader was swept away into the world of the Shakespeare sisters, I would completely agree. A great read that has me wanting more.

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

The Ideas Behind Summer at Croftwood Cinema by Victoria Walker

Pleased to feature Victoria Walker this week. Victoria has just published her latest novel Summer at Croftwood Cinema and she is sharing with us how the book evolved. We live close to each other, but still haven’t managed to meet up for a chat and coffee … yet!

I’m delighted to be back on Morton’s blog, this time in celebration of the release of my latest book, Summer at Croftwood Cinema. It’s the first book in a new series, so I thought I’d share the reasons behind my choice of location and how I decided on the main idea behind the book, the renovation of the cinema.

Croftwood is a fictional town in Worcestershire. It’s heavily based on Great Malvern but is smaller, flatter and a convenient mash-up of a few other local places. Malvern is best known for the hills and although I walk on them almost every day, they don’t make an appearance in this book. But above is a lovely photo taken from the very top of the Worcestershire Beacon, to get you in the mood.

I love reading series set in small towns. I think the first one I came across was Debbie Johnson’s Comfort Food Café series. Visiting different characters in the same familiar setting and being able to catch up with the characters I read about in the last book is very appealing and I wanted to bring that into my writing.

Oliver’s coffee house features in the first two books in the series and is the heart of the community. In my mind, it’s situated where Cafe Nero is but the aesthetic of it is based heavily on a fantastic coffee shop in Malvern called Abbey Road. The staff in there were kind enough to make a latte for me in an Oliver’s mug with a heart on the top for a TikTok video! The vibe of this is exactly what I wanted to capture in Croftwood and they do the most amazing cakes. It’s a daily challenge not to call in for a cake, obviously I give in once or twice a week.

The cinema idea came to me because I used to be a projectionist at Malvern Cinema back in the day, so I know enough about how a cinema works to not need to do a huge amount of research. Call me lazy, but write what you know! There is also an amazing independent cinema in Evesham, the Regal, where you can watch a film in comfort, book seats and a table if you like, and have snacks and drinks brought to your table. I loved this idea and it certainly is a twist that sets this cinema apart from its large scale competitors.

Croftwood Cinema is a mash-up of Malvern Cinema and the Regal with a pinch of fiction that expanded the space behind the cinema screen, where in Malvern we used to store spare bits of chairs, into a fantastic events space that has doors that open onto the park.

Malvern Cinema is part of the Malvern Theatres complex which sits on the edge of Priory Park in Great Malvern. For Croftwood Cinema, I had an image of a standalone building that might sit on the edge of this park, neglected but being prettily swallowed up by rhododendrons. It’s a great park with something for everyone; a brand-new play area, a bandstand, a duckpond where we used to catch minnows with our fishing nets, and some beautiful trees. I walk through there almost every day and in the sunnier months, sit in the sun for a while if I have time. I wrote almost all of my book, the Island in Bramble Bay, on a bench in the park over a summer of lunch breaks a few years ago. 

I hope you’ll love Croftwood and hanging out at the cinema with Patsy, Oliver, Matt and Ed. And if you want to catch up with them again afterwards, the next book in the series, Twilight at Croftwood Library, is out at the end of the summer.

About Victoria Walker

Victoria Walker has been writing romantic fiction since a visit to Iceland in 2014 inspired her first novel. As well as writing, she spends her free time dressmaking, knitting and reading an inordinate amount of contemporary romance, occasionally punctuated by the odd psychological thriller and saga. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Blog: www.victoriaauthor.co.uk

Twitter @4victoriawalker

Instagram @victoriawalker_author

Facebook Victoria Walker – Author

About Summer at Croftwood Cinema – Croftwood Book 1

Patsy Clements lives in Croftwood. It’s been her sanctuary for three years while she rebuilt a life for herself that is safe and happy. Out of necessity, she has learnt to live without ambitions or dreams, but she does have her best friend Oliver who means everything to her.

Oliver Jones owns the trendy local coffee shop and establishes himself as the town entrepreneur when he buys the derelict old cinema in the park. He wants his best friend Patsy to be his business partner, helping him with the challenge of bringing it back to life along with local architect Matt, and Ed, an amateur projectionist.

After lying low for three years is it a mistake for her to change the life that has kept her safe or is it time to start living again? Will stepping into the limelight tempt fate and mean her past catches up with her and can she survive if it does?

Join Patsy and Oliver in the small town of Croftwood for a summer where friendships are made, challenges are everywhere and romance blossoms at the cinema in the park.

Amazon link to Summer at Croftwood Cinema here

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

Why I Wrote My Novel A Deadly Inheritance by Jane McParkes

Another new visitor to my blog this week, as I welcome Jane McParkes. We are both members of the Birmingham group of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and it is great to chat with her when we meet up. Jane has recently published A Deadly Inheritance with a very specific background intention. I’ll let Jane tell you more …

Why I wrote this book

Thanks so much for hosting me, Morton and giving me the opportunity to explain the background to my new cosy crime mystery series, which some people might find a little unusual…

When I first began writing A Deadly Inheritance, my intention was to write an entertaining murder mystery set in Cornwall. However, I’ve always been environmentally aware and there’s no disputing the fact that we are facing a massive climate crisis which we can no longer simply ignore. So, I found myself researching and imagining a better world that includes positive environmental solutions and green characters as the norm and, being a writer, that’s what I created.

I soon discovered that there is a whole new movement out there, called ‘positive green fiction’ and that I was a part of it. Detailed scientific studies carried out at UK and US universities have proved that doom-laden and dystopian stories leave readers feeling helpless, fearful and they just switch off. On the other hand, when readers are immersed in a good story with all the usual ingredients of character, setting, tension etc, they are transported to the story world, connect with the characters and often change their attitudes and beliefs to those of the story’s protagonists, either short or long term. Stories which include positive role models, green ideas and solutions that are embedded within a traditional genre and aimed at a mainstream audience far more likely to inspire hope and actually change readers’ behaviours.

Consequently, although I wrote A Deadly Inheritance primarily to entertain, I am delighted when readers tell me they have picked up and acted upon the green messages embedded within the story. Reviews so far show that readers have enjoyed the Cornish setting, the characters, friendships, plot twists and the mystery element. Others have enjoyed the eco element and have said that my story has inspired them to look at their lives and businesses to see what they can do to make them more sustainable.

My hope and the hope of all green fiction writers is that the positive sustainable ways of living we create and write about will be found beyond the pages of a novel before it’s too late…

Now that really is fascinating. Thank you for sharing and good luck with the book. Mx

About Jane McParkes

Jane McParkes is the author of the Olivia Wells Mysteries, a new Cornish cosy crime series  with a green twist and is full of environmental friendly characters, ideas and positive green  solutions, all set against the backdrop of a traditional murder mystery.

Jane’s love of mysteries was sparked as child by Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and she has  always written in this genre, but it was the diagnosis of a rare but treatable cancer and the Covid pandemic that gave her the impetus to finish the first novel in the series and seek publication.

Jane is married, has two grown-up children and spends most of her days with her two dogs and writing buddies, Margot and Geoffrey. 

Social Media & Website links

Website: www.janemcparkes.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/JaneMcParkes  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneMcParkes

Instagram: @JaneMcParkes 

About A Deadly Inheritance

Eco -architect Olivia Wells returns from her successful life in New York to the Cornish village of Penbartha intent on fulfilling her god-father’s bequest to expand and oversee a co-working community of eco and creative entrepreneurs in a converted railway building.

Opposition to her endeavours soon surfaces and it becomes clear that not everyone is committed to the cause. Then, the day after an unexpected argument with someone she considered a friend and ally, Olivia finds her murdered body.

The tight-knit Cornish community hampers police investigations and when the forensic evidence places Olivia firmly in the frame, she is persuaded to put her trust in an unlikely accomplice. Using their unique combination of skills, they work together to try to clear her name, but their sleuthing gets them caught up in a dark web of secrets and lies. 

Will Olivia be able to find the killer before they make her their next target, or will this inheritance turn out to be the deadliest of all?

Book buying links :-

www.janemcparkes.com – for eco-friendly paperbacks and free goodies 

https://amzn.to/3GVXGW7 – for eco-friendly e-books 

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

Where I Write by Lynne Hackles

I’m delighted to welcome Lynne Hackles to my blog. I’ve actually known Lynne for quite a few years, as I met her when I used to attend a writing class in Pershore run by author, Sue Johnson. If I remember right Lynne was a guest speaker.

Lynne has been a writer for many years and has published non-fiction titles, short stories, articles and more, but this blog is to celebrate her debut novel Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt, which is published by Cahill Davis.

Well, this is fun. Once upon a time I interviewed Morton and now she’s returning the favour by asking me about my debut novel, Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt (published by Cahill Davis). Thanks, Morton. This is something I’m really good at – talking about myself. It’s how I passed the audition to get onto Deal Or No Deal back in 2006. ‘Talk about yourself for a bit,’ the sound technician said and off I went with ‘I was a child bride and a teenage mother.’ They almost had to beg me to stop. Now I shall write pages and pages about Where I Write. Don’t panic. I’ve edited them down to a sensible length.

From December 2016 until March 23rd 2020, we, that’s the LSO (Long Suffering One) and I lived in a motorhome. We’d decided to have an adventure, and travelling all over England, Scotland and Wales sounded like a good idea. We set off in the winter, thinking if we got fed up we’d go home. We called the motorhome Sid because it was an Elddis which was the maker’s name spelled backwards. Each evening I would sit at the table and write about that day’s adventure on my laptop. During the day I would find time to write my regular columns for Writing Magazine and critique my students’ assignments. I’d also write short stories.

Every night the two sofas in Sid had to be rearranged to make up a bed. It was a pain we could do without so we traded in Sid for Bill, named that because it was a Bailey. Bill Bailey, get it? Bill was 7.4 metres long and had the luxury of a decent sized shower room and separate bedroom so I would sit on the bed propped up by pillows and write. It was a much better arrangement and all the extra storage Bill had meant there was space for books. Many campsites had books where you could take a few and leave others in exchange. It was a good life until…

March 23rd 2020. We were on a site in Malvern, Worcestershire. Malvern had been our home for many years. The chief warden knocked on our door and told us we needed to evacuate the site by noon. It was lockdown and all the campsites were closing. We had nowhere to go. Our house was in the process of being sold. Some friends offered us a space on their drive and we spent seventeen weeks there. Being unable to find a place to buy we ended up renting a barn conversion and my writing room here is huge. Much bigger than the whole of Bill. I only use a third of it. I sit at my desk – three polished scaffolding planks attached to sewing machine treadles – with a wall filled with bookshelves behind me. I try not to look ahead as there are a couple of bits of furniture that don’t fit anywhere else.

There’s also a pile of boxes – some filled, others empty. I call them my Boxes Of Hope as they’re ready for our move. This place was supposed to be temporary but we’ve been here three years now. I live in hope that we will be moving to a permanent home very soon.

Barn conversions have high ceilings which mean in winter, when the heating is on, I could roast chestnuts on the ceiling but my feet are frozen. Luckily, I have Little Sid. He’s a back-up heater. A tiny Dalek shaped machine that turns in a half circle when switched on. He came on all our travels with us. 

Noise is not a problem as the barn conversion is on a 650 acre country estate where the only sound is of birdsong. There are three houses here and one of those is currently empty. We have woods, fields and lakes to roam but that’s for the afternoons. Mornings are for writing. It sounds idyllic but it can be lonely. There are no people around and no traffic passing by. It’s half a mile to the gate and three miles to Tenbury Wells, the nearest town. 

The neighbour who moved away didn’t take his cat. He said it was feral and could look after itself. ‘It’s as feral as a budgie,’ I said, and that became the cat’s new name when he moved in with us. Now I have some company in my writing room as Budgie sleeps on the daybed all morning while I work. Neither of us is disturbed when the LSO creeps in to place a big mug of tea on my desk. 

About Lynne Hackles

Lynne has had over 700 short stories accepted by women’s magazines. She’s written advertisements, greeting cards, articles, non-fiction books … It’s easier to tell you what she hasn’t done. Three things. Up until lockdown she had never written a novel but that’s been achieved now and she has sent off the sequel to her publisher. She says she won’t ever be doing the other two – poetry and pornography.

You can find Lynne on Facebook or take a look at her website. www.lynnehackles.com

About Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt

Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt is more com than rom. It really doesn’t fit into a genre. Gail and her best friend, Dilys, are in their fifties, and some characters are even older and still manage a bit of romance. Who’d have thought it? 

For fifty-something Gail Lockwood the new millennium starts with redundancy. Her To Do list reads, ‘Get a job. Pay off the suite. Do roots and nails. Get a man and get laid.’ Not easy when her boss, the flamboyant Bradley Jones, has jetted off to Spain, and the job centre has nothing for a woman whose only qualification is a Brownie badge.

Unemployed and firmly sandwiched between her eccentric mother and problem daughter, a single mother who always seems to need last minute baby-sitting, Gail needs help so invents her own imaginary agony aunt to help guide her. But as she navigates through the job market, her mother’s new boyfriend and an accident that brings her old boss back into her life, Gail starts to realize that sometimes the most important things can’t be put on a to-do list. Will Gail’s agony aunt help her navigate the ups and downs of life whilst still achieving everything on her list?

Buying Links:-

Waterstones – https://www.waterstones.com/book/gail-lockwood-and-her-imaginary-agony-aunt/lynne-hackles/9781915307019

Foyles – https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/gail-lockwood-and-her-imaginary-agony-aunt/lynne-hackles/9781915307019

Amazon – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gail-Lockwood-Imaginary-Agony-Aunt/dp/1915307015

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

An Extract From The Venice Secret by Anita Chapman

A new visitor to my blog this week as Anita Chapman shares an extract from The Venice Secret. Over to Anita to tell us more …

Thank you very much for hosting me on your blog, Morton.

The Venice Secret is a dual timeline novel set in an English country house and Venice. Rachel, a twentysomething is stuck in a rut when she finds a painting in her grandmother’s loft with a note, written in 1782, addressed to Philippa and from the mysterious ‘R’. The novel goes back in time to tell the story of Philippa who is on the verge of destitution after her father dies. She becomes a governess at the local country house, but when the earl proposed she become his mistress, escapes to Venice as companion to bluestocking, Lady Cordelia.

Extract from The Venice Secret:

It took a week to reach Lyon from Paris, and then we progressed through Switzerland, via the Mount Cenis pass where our carriage was dismantled and transported by mules whilst porters carried us on sedan chairs. I was at the front with Lady Cordelia following. Snow blanketed the peaks, and small drifts formed around the paths. Mountain air was the crispest I had ever breathed; so cool and clear and I inhaled it into my lungs.

As we approached the pass, Lady Cordelia cried out. ‘Please stop,’ she said.

The porters continued, and I gestured to one of the men who carried me. ‘My companion is speaking.’

The porters shouted at each other in Italian, so fast that I could not understand a word, then they stopped and put us down.

‘I feel giddy,’ Lady Cordelia said.

‘My friend has vertigo,’ I said to one of the porters who carried me.

He waved his arms all around him and made a display of breathing in and out loudly to explain to the others that Lady Cordelia seemed to be suffering from a lack of oxygen due to our altitude, although this did not impact me. One of the porters laid out a blanket for her on the grass, and I helped her to sit down.

‘This has not happened before,’ she said.

I nodded and sat beside her on the blanket. Wild flowers sprang up all around us in yellow and pink and purple; a small consolation. I lifted Lady Cordelia’s flask from around her neck and held it to her mouth as if she were a small child. Her face was as white as the snow on the peaks of the mountains surrounding us, and once again I questioned if she were entirely in good health. A stream babbled nearby and I went to refill our flasks. No water could be cleaner than this. I approached the stream, edged with clumps of snow and scooped up the cold, clear water into our flasks, and took a sip from mine. Water directly from a mountain stream, a new and exhilarating experience. I gave Lady Cordelia back her flask and she took a sip.

‘Good clean water for us both,’ I said.

‘You are most kind, Philippa.’

‘While you rest, I shall study the flora. Then, if you are feeling better, we should progress in order to give you access to more oxygen below,’ I said.

‘You are right,’ she said. ‘Let us continue once you are done.’

I picked a purple flower to press in my journal as a keepsake. Lady Cordelia gestured to the porters, and we returned to the sedan chairs. As we progressed along the rocky path, I refrained from looking down at the drop thousands of feet to the valleys below, green and lush with mountainsides filled with hundreds of trees, and dotted with wooden chalets. I had not seen such height, nor wonder in my lifetime, a comfort as I prayed to the Lord to keep us all safe. If one of the porters were to lose concentration for a mere moment or trip over a rock, it would be the end of us all. Casting this thought aside, I remained optimistic as we succeeded with our crossing, and then made our descent to Italy.

About Anita Chapman

Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child. 

Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. 

Website and social media links:

Website: https://anitachapman.com (also found at https://neetsmarketing.com).

Twitter: @neetschapman https://twitter.com/neetschapman

Facebook Page: Anita Chapman Author https://www.facebook.com/neetschapman

Instagram: @neetschapman https://www.instagram.com/neetschapman

TikTok: @neetschapman https://www.tiktok.com/@neetschapman

About The Venice Secret:

One hidden painting. Two women born centuries apart. A secret uncovered.

In 2019, Rachel is stuck in a rut when she discovers what appears to be a Canaletto painting in her grandmother’s loft along with a note addressed to Philippa in 1782. With help from Jake at the local art gallery, Rachel endeavours to find out if the painting is an original and uncovers a secret from the past.

In 1780, governess at Chipford Hall, Philippa is offered the role of mistress by Earl Rupert. She escapes to Venice as companion to bluestocking, Lady Cordelia who reveals a secret that changes both their lives. They do their best to keep the secret from Lady Cordelia’s social circle, but their nemesis is determined to reveal all and ruin them.

Buying links for The Venice Secret:

Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ES3oGy

Amazon US: a.co/d/gOH1xVZ

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

What Makes A Successful Author? by Sally Jenkins

I’m delighted to feature Sally Jenkins on my blog this week, as she answers the question – What makes a successful author? I have known Sally for many years now as we both belong to a sub-group of the Romantic Novelists’ Association who meet in Birmingham. Sally has just published Little Museum of Hope with Ruby Fiction, now a part of Joffe Books. Over to Sally …

When I give talks about my writing, I’m often asked, ‘What makes a successful author?’ There’s no simple answer – otherwise we’d all reach the stellar heights of JK Rowling and Richard Osman!

However, since I signed a publishing contract with Ruby Fiction for my novel, Little Museum of Hope, I’ve been thinking more about that question. This novel has been ten years in the making, so why has it successfully found its publishing home now?

It all started around 2013 when I read a newspaper article about the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb. The concept behind that museum stuck in my head. It is a place bursting with stories about people who have suffered in life – and haven’t we all at some point? Individuals donate objects to the museum that remind them of their heartbreak, such as a cuddly Snoopy received from a man who went on to be an unfaithful husband, or the snazzy boots bought by adulterous man to impress his mistress or a drawing made by a stranger on a train.

Inspired by The Museum of Broken Relationships, I created a fictional museum in Birmingham, UK and devised a series of short stories, each focusing on a single donor and the object they brought to the museum. Then literary ambition took over, and after speaking to a publishing professional at an event in London, I realized these stories could be brought together into a novel. All I needed were a couple of narrative threads to bind the individual stories into a compulsive longer read. Easier said than done! I created Vanessa, whose husband leaves her on the same day that she is made redundant. She opens the Little Museum of Hope to fill the void but has only ten months in which to start turning a profit.

Two early donations to the Little Museum of Hope – a jar of mud and a teddy bear

None of the above explains the novel’s eventual success in finding a publisher and, for a long time, the book could have been described as ‘a failure’. Every submission received a rejection – until a tweet got ‘liked’ in a Twitter pitch competition. The tweet was: A contemporary museum that holds the detritus & stories of broken hearts. Plus, curators with their own tale to tell. As a result, the full manuscript received detailed agent feedback. I followed the advice, including rewriting and changing the point of view of large sections of the book. But the agent decided not to proceed any further with it. This was a massive disappointment but it also gave me absolute confidence in the concept behind the book and I continued to submit – until I secured another agent!

This agent worked with me on three more rounds of editing before the novel went on submission to the big publishers. None of them wanted it.

I wrote another novel which the agent loved but that didn’t sell either.

By now, I was almost 60 and felt unable to waste more time writing another book that still might not appeal to the big boys and I suggested we try the smaller, digital-first publishers. My agent gently explained that, financially, this wasn’t worth her while and so I decided to submit independently. And, hey presto! (OK – not quite that quick) Little Museum of Hope found a home.

So, what is important in making an author successful? In my opinion it’s persistence in the face of continual rejection plus the willingness to act on any feedback received. 

By coincidence, those are the two qualities that Vanessa has to work on when trying to get the Little Museum of Hope into profit.

About Sally Jenkins

Sally Jenkins lives in the West Midlands of England. When not writing, she feeds her addiction to words by working part-time in her local library, running two reading groups and giving talks about her writing. Sally can also be found walking, church bell ringing and enjoying shavasana in her yoga class.

Follow or contact Sally using the following links:-

Website/blog – http://www.sally-jenkins.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/sallyjenkinsuk

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sallyjenkinsuk

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sallyjenkinsauthor

Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/AHkMP

About Little Museum of Hope

A jar of festival mud, a photo album of family memories, a child’s teddy bear, a book of bell ringing methods, an old cassette tape, a pair of slippers …

These are the items that fill the exhibit shelves in Vanessa Jones’ museum. At first glance, they appear to have nothing in common, but that’s before you find out the stories behind them …

Because Vanessa’s Little Museum of Hope is no ordinary museum – its aim is to help people heal by donating items associated with shattered lives and failed relationships, and in doing so, find a way to move on, perhaps even start again.

The museum soon becomes a sanctuary for the broken hearts in Vanessa’s city, and she’s always on hand to offer a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a listening ear.

But could the bringer of Hope need a little help moving on herself?

Buying link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Museum-Hope-Guaranteed-heartstrings-ebook/dp/B0BW4SZXRQ/

Little Museum of Hope is now available on Kindle Unlimited!

Good luck with your book, Sally and bravo for persevering! Mx

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

An Extract From The Cruise by Caroline James

It is my pleasure this week to share an extract from the fun novel The Cruise by Caroline James. Published by One More Chapter, this novel has been riding high in the Kindle Top 100 books on Amazon this week. I was fortunate to read an advance copy of the book and will share my review below. Highly recommended for a little escapism and a real treat…

Morton, thank you for inviting me to your popular blog. I am thrilled to share an extract from my new novel, The Cruise, with you and your guests.

My characters are three friends in their sixties. Kath is widowed, Jane unmarried, and Anne is almost-divorced. They join the Diamond Star, a luxury ship for those of a certain age, to set sail on a Christmas cruise, little knowing how their troubled lives are about to change. In this extract, the friends have set off on an island tour of Barbados with local guide, Errol.

Jane, Kath & Anne

Extract from The Cruise

Errol headed east for their next stop. The coast featured rugged stone formations with panoramic views and was a perfect journey for the sightseers, with undulating landscapes and rustic scenery. He parked under overhanging trees beside a secluded cove where a natural pool lay ahead, enclosed by low-lying cliffs. 

They stared out at the calm blue waters.

‘You want to swim?’ Errol asked as they piled out.

‘I’m first in,’ Anne called out and stepped out of her shorts. She untied her blouse and revealed a pink bikini. 

‘I’ve got a swimsuit in here somewhere.’ Kath rooted about in her bag and beamed when she found one. Once aqua blue, the garment was faded and worn, but Kath didn’t care as she reached for a towel.

Jane puffed out her cheeks. She longed to dip in the water, but she hadn’t swum for ages and could hardly swim fully clothed as she hadn’t anything suitable to swim in.

‘Did you bring a spare T-shirt?’ Kath asked, sensing Jane’s discomfort.

‘Yes.’

‘Well, slip it on,’ Kath encouraged, ‘there’s no one here to watch us change.’ 

Jane looked around the deserted beach. Errol had disappeared into the folds of a hammock slung between two trees, and circles of grey and white smoke drifted above his prone body as the hammock gently swayed.

Shark Bay from The Cruise

‘Oh, sod it,’ Jane said as she stood on the pink and white sand. ‘Why not?’ she exclaimed and, in moments, had flung off her clothing and slipped the T-shirt over her head. 

‘You only live once!’ Anne shouted as she splashed about in the waves, encouraging her friends to join her. ‘Dive in, it’s gorgeous.’

Holding hands, Kath and Jane strode across the beach. They gasped as they waded into the water, but like children, they were splashing about in no time.

‘This is heaven,’ Kath said as she lay on her back and stared at the sky, swishing the smooth sea with her fingers.

‘It’s what holidays are made of.’ Anne laughed.

‘Look at me,’ Jane giggled, and as Kath and Anne watched, she gripped the edge of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head.

‘Bloody hell…’ Kath gasped.

‘Well, I never!’ Anne laughed.

‘Seize the day!’ Jane cried as her bare breasts bounced and her broad buttocks dipped beneath a wave. She emerged triumphant and punched the air. The sun smiled from the heavens, and their sing-song words echoed around the little cove. ‘What happens on the island, stays on the island!’

About Caroline James

Best-selling author of women’s fiction, Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that often features in her novels. She is based in Lancashire but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, which includes talks and lectures on cruise ships, Caroline is a member of the RNA, the SWWJ and the SOA. In her spare time, Caroline likes to swim in a local lake or walk with Fred, her Westie.

To keep in touch with Caroline, you can use the following links:-

Amazon Author Page

www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Newsletter sign up

BookBub Profile

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author

About The Cruise

Three friends set sail on a luxury cruise…

Will they be able to catch a husband on the open seas?

When widowed Kath, unmarried Jane and almost-divorced Anne decide to set off on a Caribbean cruise, they have no idea how their lives are about to change! The friends leave behind heartache and disappointment and, determined to find Anne a new husband, swap Christmas turkeys and BBC reruns for crystal waters, white sandy beaches and smooth golden rum. Throwing caution (and tradition) to the wind, they begin to husband hunt on the luxurious cruise ship. But will Anne get her wish, and will the friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star?

With a cast of colourful characters from naturist Bridgette, con-artist gigolo Dicky and Londoner Selwyn, who is letting his old life go as he too embraces the ne – all is revealed in this sparkling new novel by Caroline James.

The Cruise – Publishing as an eBook on 20th April 2023 / Paperback July 6th 2023  

Publisher: One More Chapter for Harper Collins UK

Buying Links:  Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo

(Universal link –  https://mybook.to/CruiseK ) 

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

Books link:   https://author.to/CJAuthor

Morton’s Review of The Cruise – 5 Star

What a fun read!
 
I got attached to all of the characters in this book, well maybe not Dickie, but particularly Selwyn and Jane. Each character has their own story to tell and this carried me along through the book. I have not been on a cruise, but would like to at some point in the future.
 
With amusement, intrigue and sadness too, this book has something for everyone. I love Caroline James’ way of storytelling and the fact she uses older characters.

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited 

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

A Taster of Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Helena Dixon

It’s always a pleasure to feature Helena Dixon on my blog. This time we have a taster excerpt from Murder at the Beauty Pageant, book 12 in the Miss Underhay murder mystery series out on 2 May 2023 and published by Bookouture.

Thank you so much for hosting me, I’m thrilled to give you a taster from Murder at the Beauty Pageant, which is set in Dartmouth, May 1935. It features the silver jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. Very timely with the upcoming coronation of King Charles III! The final of the Miss Europe beauty pageant, won by Miss Spain took place in Torquay in June of that year.

Here’s what is says on the back of the book to set the scene!

Kitty Underhay is awarding first place… to murder.

Spring, 1935. Newlywed Kitty Underhay has been enlisted by her old nemesis Mrs Craven to help organise the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Dolphin Hotel. Being bossed around by her arch enemy is not quite what Kitty had in mind for the start of her married life, but she’s excited to launch the glamorous show. Sparkling smiles are quickly replaced by audible gasps however, when one of the girls goes missing during the interval…

When pretty Peggy Blaine is discovered dead. Kitty can’t help but notice that none of the other contestants seem particularly shocked. Can jealousy over a sash and a diamante tiara be a motive for murder?

But when she discovers the threatening notes the young women have received, Kitty enlists her husband Matt to figure out who’s scaring the competitors. However, before Matt can speak to them, another entrant turns up dead after an apparently accidental overdose. Taking part in a beauty pageant seems to have turned into a fatal occupation!

The daring duo are sure that someone close to the girls is responsible. But can they sort the harmless face powders from the fatal poisons before it’s too late? Or will Kitty and Matt find they are next to be crowned… with death?

Here is the extract!

Matt ran a finger under the stiff, white collar of his evening shirt. The room was stuffy and filled with cigar smoke from the other gentlemen seated around the various mahogany tables. He never particularly enjoyed these kinds of events, but it was good business practice to attend. He would far rather have spent the evening at home with Kitty.

There had been much discussion about the Miss Europe beauty pageant to take place in Torquay in a few months’ time. Matt suspected it would be a quite different event to the smaller, more decorous parade that Mrs Craven was planning for the celebration of the King’s jubilee.

The meeting eventually closed and everyone began to move, ready to take their leave.

‘Ah, Captain Bryant, allow me to introduce you to Sir Vivian Hardcastle. Sir Vivian, Captain Matthew Bryant.’ Matt found himself being addressed by the mayor who was accompanied by a tall, distinguished-looking man with a deep tan and faint flecks of silver at the temples of his dark brown hair.

He had seen Sir Vivian’s name in the newspaper the previous day in a report about a series of lectures the man was intending to give at the museum.

‘I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, sir.’ Matt shook hands with the Egyptologist as the mayor slipped away to greet another of his acquaintances.

Sir Vivian glanced about as if keen not to be overheard by any of the other men in the room. ‘I say, Bryant, I hear that you’re a private investigator?’

‘Yes, sir, that’s correct.’ Matt’s interest was immediately piqued.

‘I wonder if I might have a word in private?’ Sir Vivian gave another furtive glance around the rapidly emptying room.

‘Of course.’ Matt led the way discreetly to a darker corner of the room, out of earshot of any of the remaining attendees. ‘How may I help you?’

Sir Vivian drew his silver cigarette case from his pocket and extracted a small, dark, exotic-looking cigarette before proffering the case to Matt.

‘No, thank you, sir.’ Matt waited while the man lit up and took his first inhalation of smoke.

‘It’s a rather delicate family matter. My stepdaughter, Victoria, I rather fear she may have become involved with bad company.’ Sir Vivian paused and took another pull from his cigarette. ‘You appreciate this is all confidential? The girl is quite touchy and does not get on with my other daughter, her stepsister, Araminta. I don’t know how much of this is Araminta stirring up mischief or if Victoria is indeed in trouble.’

‘I see, what kind of trouble, sir?’ Matt asked.

‘Drugs, cocaine to be precise. The curse of the modern age.’ Sir Vivian grimaced. ‘Victoria assures me that she takes nothing stronger than aspirin, but I have travelled extensively, and I know the signs.’

‘I see. What is it that you wish me to do, sir?’ Matt was curious about what the man wanted. He obviously had something in mind.

Sir Vivian finished his cigarette and extinguished it in a large crystal ashtray. ‘I want you to find out who might be supplying her with the stuff.’

‘Have you spoken to the police at all, sir?’ Matt knew that his old acquaintance Inspector Greville, now newly promoted to chief inspector, had extensive knowledge in this department.

‘No, not yet. If you can determine who it is, then I’ll be happy to let the police take it further. My main concern is Victoria.’

‘And do you have your own suspicions as to who may be supplying her, sir?’ Matt asked.

Sir Vivian shook his head. ‘Nothing definite. It could be any of that deuced crowd she runs around with. I want this to remain a private matter, for my daughter’s sake and of course, my own. We have a reputation to maintain.’

Matt nodded. ‘Very well, sir, I’ll make some discreet inquiries.’ He had the feeling that Sir Vivian had a very good idea who he suspected but wasn’t prepared to share his suspicions at this point.

‘I’ll find a way to introduce you to the girls,’ Sir Vivian said.

Matt agreed, and with a faint feeling of misgiving, watched his new client walk away. There was something that seemed just a little off with Sir Vivian’s request.

Sounds most intriguing! Have a lovely publication day, Helena. Mx

About Helena Dixon

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.

You can find Helena on Instagram, on Twitter as @HelenaDixon and on Facebook Nell Dixon | Facebook

Murder at the Beauty Pageant is available as ebook, audiobook and paperback and already has 5* reviews on Netgalley.

Buying Link Here –  https://t.co/NgZxQO7251

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Morton S. Gray news – all of my six Borteen Novels are now available on Kindle Unlimited! Details here

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Now available on Kindle Unlimited

The Truth Lies Buried – Now available on Kindle Unlimited

The Girl on the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books

Why I Wrote The Girl Who Escaped by Angela Petch

Delighted to welcome Angela Petch back to my blog to celebrate the publication of her new novel The Girl Who Escaped published by Bookouture. Angela is going to explain to readers why she wrote this book and it is absolutely fascinating. Over to Angela …

Most of my Italian books have a connection with  family or  Italian friends who have inspired me. I have to really be interested in a work in progress in order to write from the heart.

Nonno Luigi Micheli (above) was my half-Italian husband’s grandfather – or Nonno, as we say. In my book, The Girl Who Escaped, he is Luigi Michelozzi and as you might guess, his personality is based on Nonno. Here he is at our wedding near Urbino, his beloved city and the main location in my story.

Luigi was ardently anti-fascist and there were often heated discussions at mealtimes but he was also very modest. After he died, we discovered papers where he had meticulously recorded everything – including his activities during World War Two. Hidden away was a medal, received for bravery as an active partisan. He never boasted about this but he had risked his life by altering details of the Jews who lived in Urbino, to save them from persecution. He was the city registrar in the town hall and kept up the pretence of being a member of the fascisti so that he could be of use in the resistance, with the information he garnered. Penalty, if discovered, was death. As he had two young children at the time, my husband’s grandmother, (Nonna), was understandably anxious. But he was a very principled man and nothing would dissuade him from the fight for liberty.

I read many books during my research, including a compilation of accounts in Italian contributed by people from all walks of life and I was staggered to learn that 80% of Italian and foreign Jews in Italy were saved. Elsewhere in Europe, 80% of Jews lost their lives. This statistic, plus the descriptions of the very different kinds of internment camps for Jews in Italy, were vital material for my book. But I wasn’t surprised.  Ordinary Italians risked their lives to harbour refugees and escaped POWs during World War Two. They are a generous and hospitable race. What did surprise me, was when I visited the Jewish museum in Ferrara and could find no mention of this bravery. As if this was a perfectly normal thing to do: to save the lives of fellow human beings, despite grave personal danger. Of course, there were harsh antisemitic laws passed by Mussolini and not everybody was big-hearted, but still, the numbers speak for themselves.

I have dedicated my book to Luigi and the brave Italians who saved lives. The plight of Jews in Italy during this period is a little-told story and I hope I have done it justice.

Little did I know when I married my lovely half-Italian husband almost forty-five years ago in Castel Cavallino, a hamlet near Urbino, that I would one day have a book published about events that occurred in the war in this beautiful area. 

About Angela Petch

Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award-winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.

Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.

Angela’s gripping, WWII, Tuscan novels are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.

To connect with Angela, you can use the following links:

Blog: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJaneClarePetch

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Angela_Petch

Instagram: @angela_maurice

About The Girl Who Escaped

Italy, 1940. The girl sobs and rages as her father tells her the terrible news. “Italy is entering the war alongside Germany. Jews are to be arrested and sent to camps. We have to be ready.”

As fascists march across the cobbled piazzas and past the towered buildings of her beloved home city, twenty-year-old Devora’s worst fears come true. Along with her Jewish parents and twin little brothers they are torn away from everything they love and sent to an internment camp huddled in the mountains. Her father promises this war will not last long…

When they are offered a miraculous chance of escape by her childhood friend Luigi, who risks everything to smuggle vital information into the camp, the family clambers under barbed wire and races for the border. But Devora is forced to make a devastating choice between saving a stranger’s life and joining her parents. As shots fire in the moonless night, the family is separated.

Haunted by the question of whether they are dead or alive, all Devora can do for their future is throw herself into helping Luigi in the Italian resistenza in the fight for liberty. But posing as a maid for a German commander to gather secret intelligence, Devora is sure she sees her friend one night, in a Nazi uniform…

Is Devora in more danger than ever? And will her family ever be reunited – or will the war tear them apart?

An absolutely devastating but ultimately uplifting historical novel about how love and hope can get us through the darkest times. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Rhys Bowen and Soraya M. Lane.

Read what everyone’s saying about Angela Petch:

‘Wow! Just Wow!… phenomenal… A novel I will never forget… Brilliant… 5 glorious stars for whisking me away to Italy… beautiful… I LOVED this novel!’ Cindy L Spear, 

Buying link for The Girl Who Escaped: https://geni.us/B0BYC1V9NHcover

Tha nk you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge – Now available on Kindle Unlimited Amazon

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe – Now available on Kindle Unlimited – Amazon

Sunny Days at the Beach – Now available on Kindle Unlimited –Amazon

Christmas at Borteen Bay – Amazon Kindle and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried – Choc Lit, Amazon

The Girl on the Beach – Choc Lit – Amazon

Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books