Morton S. Gray's Blog, page 15

Why I Love Writing Christmas Books by Vicki Beeby

I have loved every one of Vicki Beeby’s books set in World War 2. She is definitely one of my favourite writers, so I’m pleased to welcome her back to the blog to talk about her love of writing Christmas books.

A Wrens’ Wartime Christmas published by Canelo is available now and I have included my review of this great read at the end of the blog post. Over to Vicki …

Thank you so much to Morton for inviting me on to your blog to talk about Christmas books. What is it about the festive season that inspires so many stories? I can’t speak for anyone else, of course, but I can explain why I love writing about Christmas.

Light and dark

When I’m putting my characters through the mill, it’s good to be able to write about Christmas preparations for some light relief. My first Christmas book, Christmas with the Ops Room Girls, is set during the Blitz and covers the aftermath of the Coventry bombing as well as a story arc involving a evacuee who is being badly treated. Including the WAAF pantomime and a carol singing scene in the story prevented it from getting too dark. As one of my characters says in my latest Christmas book, A Wrens’ Wartime Christmas: ‘With so much tragedy in the world, we need to remind ourselves that Christmas is about bringing light into the darkness.’

Christmases Past

Being a history buff, I love sharing snippets about how Christmas was celebrated in the past. I particularly enjoy finding out about how ingenious some people were at stretching their rations during the war and making decorations when paper was in short supply. In A Wrens’ Wartime Christmas, Mary and her friends make a Christmas tree out of driftwood and they crochet stars from string as decorations. I had a lot of fun writing those scenes!

A time for family

Friendship and found family are themes that run through all my books. I love writing about groups of people forming close friendships who would never have met had it not been for the war. In my Wrens series, Iris, Mary and Sally are befriended by a middle-aged couple who have a croft near the signal station where they work, and their bonds strengthen as the series progresses until the group act very much like a family.

With the holiday season being a time for families, writing a Christmas book can really add an extra dimension to the found-family theme, and it was a sheer joy to go to town on it in A Wrens’ Wartime Christmas. I took tremendous satisfaction in showing how the group pull together to be a family for each other when they are all missing their own families and grieving those they have lost. I even made myself cry in a few places!

Of course, as well as writing Christmas books, I also love reading them. I have a stack of Christmas books lined up on my kindle, and I can’t wait to get stuck in!

About Vicki Beeby

Vicki Beeby writes historical fiction about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War.

Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write.

In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves.

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

Twitter: @VickiBeeby

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VickiBeebyAuthor

Website: vickibeeby.co.uk

About A Wren’s Wartime Christmas

After her fiancé died in the sinking of the Royal Oak, Mary finds herself stationed in Orkney, still battling her grief. With Iris and Sally by her side, she is gradually overcoming her loss and is surprised to be helped by the irascible Joe.

Joe is a signalman aboard the Kelpie and his cheeky Morse code signals to Mary while she’s on shift bring her cheer and exasperation in equal measure. With Christmas round the corner, Mary is opening herself back up to the festive spirit – and to love.

But the Germans keep slipping through Scapa Flow’s defences, somehow without triggering any of the Navy’s alarms. Could someone on land be guiding them? If so, can Mary, Iris and Sally figure out who and stop them before more lives are lost?

A wonderfully heartwarming and gripping saga, perfect for readers of Johanna Bell, Kate Thompson and Daisy Styles.

Buying Links:

Amazon:  mybook.to/WrensChristmas

Kobo: kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-wrens-wartime-christmas

Apple: books.apple.com/gb/book/a-wrens-wartime-christmas

Morton’s Review of A Wren’s Wartime Christmas

Five Stars Plus

I loved being back on Orkney with the characters, Mary, Iris and Sally, who we first met in A New Start for the Wrens. I was reading this at a time when I needed to be absorbed by a story and this book was a sheer tonic whisking me away to Orkney. With just the right mix of mystery, intrigue and romance. I could imagine myself on the headland near the Wrens’ signalling station, smell the air and see the sea and the heather covered land. Orkney is now most definitely on my “to be visited” list. 

I even sat and read this book in the middle of the day, which is unheard of for me. Can’t wait for the next episode to find out what happens to my favourite characters. Sheer tonic.

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 published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

Where I Write By Kirsty Ferry

My regular contributor, Kirsty Ferry is with us today to talk about where she writes. Kirsty has had to Christmas books out recently – a paperback version of Holly’s Christmas Secret and Flora’s Christmas of New Beginnings. Both books are published by Choc Lit. Over to Kirsty …

Thanks for having me on your blog again, Morton! I’ve had two Christmas books published recently – the paperback version of book three in the Pencradoc series, Holly’s Christmas Secret, which has been extended and doubled in size from its original ebook novella; and the third book in the new Padcock series, Flora’s Christmas of New Beginnings. As they are both the third books in the series, I think I’ll list three places where I have written or otherwise worked on these books…

One.

On my lap in front of the TV!

I quite like doing edits in front of the TV. I usually have a cup of tea to hand (or a glass of wine if it’s a weekend!) and something on in the background on TV that I don’t have to think about. As a family, we have enjoyed all the series’ of Grimm and The Mentalist. If I mention to my husband I have edits to do, he automatically knows we will be ‘watching’ something we’ve already seen for a few nights until I’ve sent the edits back. He doesn’t mind rewatching stuff and so long as I chip in with a relevant comment or two, he thinks I’m engaged in the programme as well as editing. I am a woman therefore I can multi-task. And I’ve trained him well enough to provide me with snacks and things throughout the evening, so I don’t actually have to move my bum from the sofa, until I’m done for the night.

Two.

On the dining table!

My dog likes this one. He has a permanent blanket just in front of the dining table, and he curls up on it and keeps me company while I work. I like to fuel myself with coffee when I write at the dining table, and the odd biscuit crumb sometimes finds its way into his lair. I suspect that’s as good a reason for him to take up residence there as any. He was well-trained in lockdown – or maybe I was well-trained in lockdown. He lay on a blanket by the computer in the spare room when I worked from home – and he still does do that when I work from home now – and he got lots of biscuits then! He’s my little co-worker, but it’s a shame I can’t train him to answer emails for me in my day job, or work out a plot point in the saggy middle of a novel for my writing.

Three.

In bed!

I actually don’t know a writer who doesn’t do this, but maybe some people are more disciplined than me and don’t work in bed. If I’m home alone and hubby is at work, and child is at Uni, and I have a deadline approaching, I’ll gather up my laptop, mouse mat and mouse, make a cup of tea or hot chocolate and toddle off to bed – with the dog hot at my heels! He gets plonked on the bed, and I climb in, plump up my pillows behind me, and set the laptop up; then I can easily work for a couple of hours on edits or, especially, on a new story. It’s my place of favour at the minute to get ‘new’ work done, and I’m not quite sure why this is. Possibly because there are less distractions upstairs, so I can focus – and all I have to contend with is the dog lying up against my legs and gently snoring…

About Kirsty Ferry

Kirsty Ferry is from the North East of England and lives there with her husband and son. She won the English Heritage/Belsay Hall National Creative Writing competition in 2009 and has had articles and short stories published in various magazines. Her work also appears in several anthologies, incorporating such diverse themes as vampires, crime, angels and more.

Kirsty loves writing ghostly mysteries and interweaving fact and fiction. The research is almost as much fun as writing the book itself, and if she can add a wonderful setting and a dollop of history, that’s even better.

Her day job involves sharing a building with an eclectic collection of ghosts, which can often prove rather interesting. 

For more information on Kirsty visit:

www.twitter.com/kirsty_ferry
https://www.facebook.com/kirsty.ferry.author/
www.rosethornpress.co.uk

About Holly’s Christmas Secret

Once upon a Cornish Christmas …

It’s almost Christmas at the Pencradoc estate in Cornwall which means that, as usual, tea room owner Sorcha is baking up a festive storm. And this year Sorcha is hoping her mince pies will be going down a treat at ‘The Spirit of Christmas Past’ exhibition being organised at the house by new local antiques dealer, Locryn Dyer.

But as Locryn and Sorcha spend more time together, they begin to uncover a very special story of Christmas past that played out at Pencradoc more than a century before, involving a certain ‘Lady’ Holly Sawyer, a festive dinner party and a magical secret encounter with a handsome author …

About Flora’s Christmas of New Beginnings

It was meant to be a romantic Christmas getaway …

Except Flora’s boyfriend Paul is more interested in whether there’s WiFi in their holiday cottage than he is in the pretty village of Padcock where it’s located. It seems he’s incapable of taking time out from his work for gossip mag darling Maxine Marling – or Maxine Marmoset as Flora not so secretly calls her (well, she does look like a marmoset!) – to spend time with his actual girlfriend.

But as Flora discovers the friendly and festive community of Padcock with its eccentric but lovable locals – including dreamy musician Geraint Davies – she begins to question her London life and lots more besides. Especially as a certain marmoset becomes ever more present on her Christmas break for two …

But luckily Padcock is a village where fresh starts happen – and maybe Flora is in line for her own Christmas of new beginnings.

Buying links

All books and formats available from here: Kirsty Ferry (choc-lit.com)

Thank you for joining me again, Kirsty. It won’t be long before I’m wishing you a very merry Christmas, so good luck with the 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.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

My Favourite Things by Victoria Walker

This week I have a lovely post from author, Victoria Walker. Victoria has just published the second book in her Icelandic Romance Series – Hideaway in Iceland. She is going to tell us about some of her favourite things …

Thank you, Morton, for inviting me onto your blog! It’s been a very busy publication week for my latest book, Hideaway in Iceland so it’s been great to take some time out to think about my favourite things. I have so many that I could have written many blog post’s worth about them but I’ve chosen the things that bring me joy every time I use or every time they catch my eye. 

My Favourite Things

This little cat is very special to me. It used to belong to my grandad and sat on a shelf in an alcove at Nan and Grandad’s house. I’d make a beeline for it and just look at it, I loved it so much! I’m intrigued now as to why my grandad had such a thing. Did someone give it to him? Was it a souvenir from somewhere? I’ll never know but that little cat warms my heart every time I see it. 

Also in the picture is a very new bubble glass pot that I bought recently on impulse and LOVE. It’s got my favourite houseplant in it, a string-of-hearts plant which is one of my most successful plants as I’ve managed to take cuttings. Houseplants have never been very successful for me; they almost always end up dead but this one seems to love my erratic care, so it has a special place in my affections.

A few years ago, we got a Nespresso machine, fully expecting it to end up banished to the back of a kitchen cupboard after six months. As it turns out, it is probably the most used appliance in the house, aside from the kettle. During lockdown we began religiously having a cup of coffee at ten-thirty every morning and when I went back to work in the office, I really missed it. I started to make a coffee to take with me but every coffee cup I used leaked until my husband bought me this. It is fantastic, just the right size for me and keeps the coffee nice and hot and leak-free on my drive to work. And it’s pink.

This was my great-grandmother’s sewing machine. My mum managed to save it when my great-aunt’s house was being cleared out. I didn’t know what I wanted it for because I have a modern sewing machine, but I knew it had to be saved. Some years later I had a vague thought that I might have a go at free-machine embroidery and asked my dad if he could get rid of the dodgy electrics that someone had converted it into an electric machine with. He loves a challenge and scoured the local auction rooms for a similar old machine so that he could nick the hand-crank mechanism off it. It only cost him £7. Bargain! So, he converted it and I began to feel guilty that I wasn’t using it. Then lockdown happened and the wonderful Poppy Treffry began her embroidery clubs. Google it, she’s brilliant. I signed up to the first club and have done all of them since and I love this machine. The engineering is beautiful, it’s so easy to tinker with and sews like a dream. It does mean I have to move the embroidery hoop around with one hand, but I’ve got used to it and although I wouldn’t want to have to sew an actual garment or anything on it, I am so happy that I’ve found a use for it that brings me so much joy.

I always read before I go to sleep, usually for about an hour, maybe longer if it’s a really good book! My husband hates the light being on – I am sure I am not the only person to have this problem – so he quite quickly bought me a Kindle. This is probably my fourth one and is quite new. I was very excited about the new feature to have the book cover showing even when it’s off because before that, I would read books without really recognising them afterwards as I just had them in a list on my old Kindle. On a recent holiday I read four books. I had only taken three and therein lies the beauty of an e-reader. Aside from the fact that our bag was overweight, and we had to cram some beach towels into our hand luggage and books would only have added to that problem, I bought a book while I was sunbathing! I don’t think there was anywhere I could have bought a book where we were staying and obviously it would have been disastrous to have nothing to read. I flipping love my Kindle, it might even be my absolute favourite thing. I don’t go anywhere without it. And the font can be enlarged. Say no more.

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.

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

Blog: www.victoriaauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @4victoriawalker

Instagram: @victoriamakes

Facebook: Victoria Walker – Author

About Hideaway in Iceland – Icelandic Romance Book 2

PR executive Anna Mortimer has clinched the deal of a lifetime for the hottest celebrity couple to have their wedding covered by a glossy magazine, but when things don’t go to plan, she loses her job. With no job and no life outside of work to fall back on, an invitation to stay with her friend, Rachel, in Iceland is a well-timed distraction.

Ned Nokes has just left the most successful boy band in history to go it alone. With the eyes of the world on him, he escapes to Iceland in search of solitude while he plans what to do next. Not used to trusting anyone outside of the band that has been his life for the past ten years, he finds friendships in Reykjavik that he never expected.

Visit Iceland at its most beautiful as autumn turns to winter and find out whether the magic that helped Anna’s friend Rachel find her happy ever after, is still there…

Amazon link to Hideaway in Iceland is here

About Snug in Iceland – Icelandic Romance Book 1

Rachel Richards is stuck in a rut. Her boyfriend Adam barely notices her most of the time and her life in London isn’t as exciting as it should be. When the company she works for, Snug, asks her to oversee the opening of a new store in Iceland, she jumps at the chance for a change of scenery. Exploring Reykjavik with the help of Icelandic tour guide Jonas, Rachel discovers that life is out there waiting to be lived. As she falls in love with Iceland, she begins to see what is important to her and wonders whether the life she left behind is what she wants after all…

Amazon link to Snug in Iceland here

Thank you for joining me on my blog, Victoria. Your books have been added to my to be read pile. Good luck with the series. 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.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

Nearly November And That Means … by Morton S. Gray

It is nearly November and that means it’s nearly time for the annual NaNoWriMo writing challenge to write 50,000 words during the month of November. I’ve taken part in this challenge many times since 2010 and some of the books started in November have been published.

2010 – Pendle Cottage – 52,000 words written.

2011 – Wickenham Court – 50, 168 words written.

2012 – Written in the Coffee – 50,024 words written.

2013 – Millie’s War and Strange Inheritance – 50,106 words written.

2014 – Who is Harry Dixon? – 50,071 words written – This novel became my first published novel as The Girl on the Beach after winning the Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Star competition in 2016.

2015 – Divided Hearts – 50,278 words written

2016 – Mandy’s Story – 50,050 words written – This novel became my fourth published novel Sunny Days at the Beach published by Choc Lit in 2020.

2017 – Family Lost and Family Found – 33,352 words written.

2020 – Buzz’s Story – 50,019 words written.

2021 – Experiment – 13,217 words written.

So, since 2010, I’ve clocked up 449,285 words written in November months as part of this challenge. The years I didn’t make the 50,000 word target were years when other things ended up taking priority in my life.

Having not reached the target in 2021 and having such a turbulent year in 2022 make me slightly nervous to take part this year, but I’ve decided that I’m going to go for it and try something a little different too. I remind myself that even if I don’t write the full 50,000 words the words I do write are still valuable.

If you fancy a go at the writing challenge then check out the NaNoWriMo website here.

I start work on a new project Disappearing to Find Myself on Tuesday 1 November 2022. Wish me luck and I’ll let you know how I get on …

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 published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

Extract From The Legacy of Halesham Hall by Jenni Keer

I’m so pleased to welcome Jenni Keer back to my blog. This post was actually scheduled to be posted on the day of the Queen’s funeral, so Jenni asked me to delay in respect. I always love featuring authors I know in real life, so I’ll start this blog post with a photo of Jenni and myself at the 2022 Romantic Novelists’ Association conference.

Today, Jenni is sharing an extract from her recently released novel The Legacy of Halesham Hall …

I’m absolutely delighted to be back on Morton’s fabulous blog. My fourth novel, The Legacy of Halesham Hall, came out on 15th September 2022 in audio, eBook and paperback.

It’s been an exciting year for me, with my last book, The Secrets of Hawthorn Place, going into The Works nationwide after Christmas, and about to hit 2000 reviews on Amazon. It’s been such a joy to see how well this book has been received, but it also sets a high bar! I’m quite nervous about the launch of Halesham Hall, as it’s my first purely historical novel, with dual timelines set in 1899 and 1920. I hope my readers are as enthusiastic about Sidney and Phoebe’s stories as they were about Molly and Percy’s journeys …

My new book follows the two Bellingham brothers, Sidney and Leonard, as they cope with the disappearance of their mother, and being forced to remain with a bitter and twisted father. Clement Bellingham sets the boys a series of puzzles to decide who shall inherit the Bellingham Board Games Company, and the family home – Halesham Hall.

Twenty years later, young Phoebe returns to the Hall to discover the truth behind the estrangement of the brothers. But she risks everything by returning, including her heart …

So, without more ado, here’s an extract from the novel. This section is set in 1899, in rural Suffolk, and at just six years old, a young Sidney Bellingham’s world is about to fall apart …

“Shadows danced across my bedroom wall as the warm breeze shifted the curtains through the open gap in the window. The clouds of earlier had drifted across to the west but the rain had merely given temporary respite and the heat still hung over us – smothering and heavy. My quilt was too heavy to sleep under, and my nightshirt clung to my body as I tossed and turned in restless frustration, more unsettled than usual because I had misplaced my bedtime rabbit toy. There was the sickly sweet smell of summer blooms in the night air, mingled with a less fragrant humid dampness. 

One of the exterior doors to the Hall opened and closed, possibly the door from the kitchens, and the accompanying vibrations travelled up the walls. The sound wasn’t loud, but in the still of the night, and with my sash window open, I heard it. I didn’t have a clock in my room but knew it was late because the house was barely breathing. Gone was the heartbeat that pulsated steadily throughout the day: the bustle of Daisy up and down the stairs, the quick tapping footsteps of Mrs Murray prowling the corridors to scold idle staff, and the clanging of pans from Cook, especially when Father changed his dinner plans at the last minute. Instead there was only the whisper of the hot shifting air playing with the curtains and the sounds of my own breathing.

I slid from under the sheet and wondered who could be entering, or possibly leaving, the house at this time? Was Daisy was sneaking out to see the young man from Halesham that Cook said she was sweet on? Or were we being robbed? Some gypsy traveller making off with our silver? Perhaps the gardening hand Father had dismissed so angrily a few weeks ago was back for revenge? I crept to the window and peered out, but didn’t have a clear view of the kitchen door as it was beneath me. I could hear shuffling, so I scampered next door to the nursery, which jutted further forward as part of the L shape of the house, to investigate.

The boxed Bellingham games had been returned to the ceiling-height cupboard after my temper that afternoon, but the floor was still strewn with my toys. Streams of moonlight gave the palest touch of colour to the objects about the room, and I carefully picked my way through them as I headed towards the window and clambered on to the brick box beneath it. My eyes, already accustomed to the gloom, fell upon a figure wrestling with a large bundle below. Was it one of the servants, doing something they ought not to be? It was certainly a woman, small and slight.

But in my desperation to see better, I tipped forward and fell with a crash towards the windowsill. The figure beneath, alerted by the noise, cast a desperate glance upwards, before scuttling across the courtyard and into the shadows of the trees that edged the gardens.

My heart began pounding so loudly I thought it might burst from my chest, and I gripped hard at the windowsill to calm my panicky breaths. I could not make sense of what I’d just seen. 

Because the pale, frightened face that had looked up to the nursery had been that of my mother.”

What is says on the back of the book:-

A love that seems lost, may still yet be found, for real love always endures.

1890. One summer evening changes everything for Sidney and Leonard Bellingham when their beloved mother disappears from the family home, Halesham Hall. Left with their bitter father, they are taught to trust no one but themselves, with brother pitted against brother to see who is worthy of inheriting the Bellingham Board Games company. But the series of twisted games they are forced to play will have far reaching consequences.

1920. Phoebe Bellingham arrives at Halesham Hall determined to solve the puzzles that will allow her to claim back the Bellingham inheritance. But this legacy involves more than one secret, and soon Phoebe realises that the stakes are higher than she ever could have imagined.

To buy the book you can use the following link:

The Legacy of Halesham Hall smarturl.it/LHHJK

I had great fun writing this novel, as Halesham Hall is a weird and wonderful building, built by a madman, and with a series of puzzles incorporated into the very fabric of the house. It was a real opportunity to let my imagination run wild. And I adored the slow-burn romance, which I hope you will too.

So, thank you, Morton, for having me back on your virtual sofa. It always a pleasure to pop by.

Jenni x

Thank you, Jenni and a pleasure to have you on my blog. Mx

About Jenni Keer

Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique furniture restorer husband. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework but with four teenage boys in the house it remains a mystery. Instead, she spends her time at the keyboard writing commercial women’s fiction to combat the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere, with her number one fan #Blindcat by her side. Much younger in her head than she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance team.

You can keep in touch with Jenni on the following social media links:

Twitter @JenniKeer

Facebook JenniKeerAuthor

Instagram @jennikeer

TikTok @jennikeer

Buying links:

The Legacy of Halesham Hall smarturl.it/LHHJK

The Secrets of Hawthorn Place smarturl.it/SHPJK

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 published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

Extract From Mistletoe And Mayhem At The Little Shopping Mall By Hannah Pearl

This week I’m joined by Hannah Pearl whose new novel Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall was released by Ruby Fiction on 30 September 2022. Hannah is going to share an extract from the book with my blog readers …

Hi Morton, 

Thanks very much for welcoming me to your blog to celebrate the launch of Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall.  I found that after all the chaos of the last few years, I needed to write something that was just fun and festive. This book has everything from a would-be thief, a heroine with a very sweet tooth and a hero who looks good in a cowboy hat and not much else. I’m hoping it’ll help to put a few smiles on a few faces this winter and it’s lovely to have the chance to tell people a little bit about it.

Here is an extract from my book. It’s Halloween and the first late night opening event of the season: 

“I didn’t take the photo of Damian that went viral. I may have zoomed in on my phone to inspect it more closely, just to make sure he wasn’t identifiable, of course, before reposting it to all of the mall’s social media accounts. Everyone loves a cowboy, after all. Especially when he’s using those muscular arms to carry shopping bags for a little old lady. She was gazing up at him in admiration, and by the hundreds of retweets that the picture gained in just a few minutes, I reckon a lot of other people were doing the same. 

We’d sold quite a lot of tickets to decorate a pumpkin in advance, but once that photo began circulating we had an awful lot more people turn up all of a sudden too. We’d covered the costs within the first hour, and after that the crowds of teenage girls who came to admire our very own cowboy and the number of mums who suddenly didn’t mind so much when their kids begged to stay up longer swelled the coffers nicely. 

‘Is it always this busy?’ Damian asked, as kids jostled round his legs to get to the buckets of sweets that he carried. 

‘No,’ I had to admit. ‘It’s not.’ A family walked past, the dad carrying a very sleepy looking werewolf in his arms while the mum pushed a laden buggy. The seat where the kid should have sat was instead filled with a couple of pumpkins, the faces drawn on in black ink and covered in glitter. Multiple bulging bags hung from the handles. Evidently they’d come for the Halloween event and stayed to visit the shops. 

‘Did you find everything you needed this evening?’ I asked them. 

‘And then some,’ the mum answered, passing a bit of one of Nina’s brownies to the child to keep him happy while we talked. ‘I’ve walked past this place so many times but I’m always in a rush to get this one somewhere.’ She gestured at her child who was now yawning deeply. His costume was so cute I couldn’t help but check to see if he had werewolf fangs as well. He didn’t, but I swear his incisors looked sharper than they were meant to. The spookiness of the evening was clearly getting to me. He began to cry. ‘I’ll be back to do my Christmas shopping,’ she promised, as the dad started to tap his toe, clearly also in need of getting home. It was a full moon. Perhaps he needed to get inside before he joined his son in howling. 

‘Can I sneak off for a drink?’ Damian asked. ‘I never thought it would be hot work wearing so little, but I think I’ve had about a hundred people ask me to help them carry their shopping and I’m gasping.’

I grinned. ‘Come on, Nina made up a batch of Halloween-themed sangria, complete with grape eyeballs floating in it, and a juice based version for the kids. Let’s see if she has any left. I reckon we’ve earned a glass.’ Thankfully, despite not having an off-licence on site, we had a licence that allowed us to serve drinks at our events. It was one of the admin tasks that I never minded keeping up to date. It was always worth doing. ‘How do you manage when you don’t have helpers for bag lugging usually?’ he asked, as I put my arm through his and led the way to the cafe. 

‘Funnily enough, it’s never been a problem before.’ “

Ooo that sounds such fun! Good luck with the book. Mx

About Hannah Pearl

Hannah Pearl was born in East London. She is married with two children and now lives in Cambridge.

She has previously worked as a Criminology researcher, as a Development Worker with various charities and even pulled a few pints in her time.

In 2015 she was struck down by Labrynthitis, which left her feeling dizzy and virtually housebound. She has since been diagnosed with ME. Reading has allowed Hannah to escape from the reality of feeling ill. She read upwards of three hundred books during the first year of her illness. When her burgeoning eReader addiction grew to be too expensive, she decided to have a go at writing. In 2017 she won Simon and Schuster’s Books and the City #heatseeker short story competition, in partnership with Heat magazine, for her short story The Last Good Day.

You can use the following links to keep in touch with Hannah:

Twitter: @Hannahpearl_1

Blog: https://dizzygirlwrites.wordpress.com/

About Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book. I love getting into the festive spirit by reading Christmas romances, and I hope that readers can do the same with Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Christmas Mall.  I find that at the moment I really just want to read something fun and uplifting, and I hope that is what this book can offer, alongside a little bit of early Christmas spirit!

Countdown to Christmas with mistletoe, mayhem, meddling friends and mystery men …

There’s a saying about all work and no play – but there’s never a dull moment for Caroline working at Holly Walk Mall, especially at Christmas. When she’s not dealing with orders from Ian, ‘the manager who can’t manage’ as her friend Rachel puts it, she’s overseeing the usual late-night shopping sessions, Santa’s grotto construction and, most importantly, the sampling of many delicious festive treats at the Italian café her friends Nina and Marco own.

But when a new jewellery shop moves in and brings ‘mysterious guy with the cute bottom’ to Holly Walk, Caro isn’t yet aware just how much mayhem she’s in for in the countdown to Christmas. With strategically placed mistletoe, revealing cowboy outfits and even a bit of sleuthing, could this festive season turn out to be the liveliest yet for both Caro and her beloved Mall?

Book buying link: here https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B7S641TM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1

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 published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms –Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

Inspired by the Lake District by Suzanne Snow

My special guest this week is Suzanne Snow, author of Snowfall Over Halesmere House for Canelo. I happily met Suzanne at the 2022 Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference, where we shared many great conversations and laughter. Suzanne is going to tell us about how living near to the Lake District inspires her writing. Over To Suzanne …

As I writer, I’m inspired by many things and a love of landscape is one of them. Living close to Cumbria and being able to visit regularly continues to be a joy and helps hugely with research as my second series, Love in the Lakes, is set there. Along with the farms that shape much of the county, I love discovering more about Cumbria’s thriving arts, crafts, and culture, and it was this that I wanted to bring into the series.

Snowfall Over Halesmere House is the first book and it’s set around a Georgian holiday home and group of artists’ studios. I visited lots of studios when doing my research and Brougham Hall, near Penrith, is a favourite. The Hall was built in the 14th century and was rescued from dereliction in 1985. Some parts of the building are still undergoing restoration, and a variety of artists and craftspeople have made it their base. This image is one I took on my last visit, when I found some Christmas gifts and a beautiful vase which sits in my writing room.

Brougham Hall

Deciding on the artists’ studios at Halesmere House was a lot of fun, and I have a jewellery maker who is inspired by the natural world and uses recycled silver in her creations. Marta loves to create elegant candles filled with natural scents, and Sandy is a ceramist who is also the local rector. Each play their part in the books and Ella, a chef who has taken a temporary job at Halesmere, finds creative ways of bringing the artists and the holiday business together.

Perhaps the Lake District is familiar to you, and you’re a frequent visitor? Or maybe you’ve never been and would love to go. There is much to do, and it’s as beautiful as you might expect, with views of the fells soaring to the sky and towns lively with outstanding, independent shops. Hill Top is a must see for fans of Beatrix Potter’s books and a lake cruise on Windermere is always fun. 

But if you head east into the Eden Valley and towards the splendour of the North Pennines, maybe stop off at Brougham Hall and discover its history, as well as its very talented artists and craftspeople. And if you do, Brougham Castle, now a ruin and the former home of Lady Anne Clifford until she died in 1676, is a brilliant location for hide and seek, and we’ve played lots of games there over the years.

Cumbria is one of my favourite places, and I love drawing inspiration from all I see around me there.

About Suzanne Snow

Suzanne writes contemporary and uplifting fiction with a vibrant sense of setting and community connecting the lives of her characters. A horticulturist who lives with her family in Lancashire, her books are inspired by a love of landscape, romance, and rural life.  

Her first novel in the Thorndale series, The Cottage of New Beginnings, was a contender for the 2021 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and she is currently writing the Love in the Lakes series for Canelo. Suzanne is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. Join her mailing list to download Max’s opening chapter to Snowfall Over Halesmere House.

Website: Suzanne Snow Author

Facebook: Suzanne Snow Facebook

About Snowfall Over Halesmere House

Welcome to Halesmere House, where romance might be just around the corner…

After years of living in the past, Ella is ready to start building a future. The perfect opportunity presents itself when she is offered a short-term role at Halesmere House in the Lake District and tasked with kick-starting its artists’ residence. She can’t wait to start and explore a new career in an inspiring location.

But when Ella arrives at Halesmere, she wonders if she’s made a huge mistake after she clashes with Max, the new owner. Max has his own reasons to be unsettled by her presence, but despite his misgivings it seems everyone else loves having Ella around. As a single dad, it’s his children’s attachment to her that bothers him most. Who will pick up the pieces when Ella leaves?

What Max doesn’t know is that Ella is falling for more than just the Lake District and the community around her. Can her temporary job lead to a permanent happy ending?

A tender and uplifting Christmas romance for fans of Heidi Swain, Karen Swan, and Sue Moorcroft.

Download Max’s Opening Chapter

Buying Link: Snowfall Over Halesmere House

Link to Suzanne Snow’s other series: Welcome to Thorndale

Thank you for joining me on my blog, Suzanne and I look forward to continuing our friendship into the future. Good luck with your new series. 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.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms –Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

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My Inspiration For Writing Into A Cornish Wind By Kate Ryder

This week my blog guest is Kate Ryder. Her latest novel Into a Cornish Wind was published on 28 September 2022 by Embla Books. I was fortunate to read an advance copy of the novel, so I will include my review below. Kate is going to tell readers about her inspiration for the book …

Thank you, Morton, for inviting me on to your blog today, following publication of my latest book, Into a Cornish Wind.

Ever since childhood I’ve had a love affair with Cornwall but I had to wait until well into adulthood before swapping the South East of England for this wonderfully diverse county. I find the Cornish landscape evocative and inspiring, and I like to work my way around the county for the locations of my novels. Shortly after publication of Beneath Cornish Skies, which is set around Morwenstow on the north Cornish coast, Australian readers propelled it to the #1 eBook on the whole Amazon Australia kindle store, where it stayed for several weeks! I was also delighted when it was shortlisted for the RNA 2022 Fantasy Romantic Novel award.

All my books have a strong otherworldly/supernatural theme and they are set in real places (no made-up Cornish names for me!). It’s important that I research as thoroughly as possible so that not only facts stand up when under close scrutiny, but also descriptions of the various settings are a true account.

I wrote Into a Cornish Wind during several periods of lockdown and I was restricted to visiting the beautiful south Cornish coastline via google. The heroine, Kat Maddox, is an illustrator with a London publishing company but she’s offered the opportunity to take a sabbatical for a few months in Fowey. What fun it was researching properties for her to stay in, but it was hard not getting carried away with the idea of moving there myself (although the property prices put me off somewhat!). I discovered a house on the waterfront that was the perfect base for Kat, and a charming tapas bar immediately opposite provided the setting for a few chapters.

Kat is commissioned to illustrate a non-fictional book about the West Country’s landed gentry through the ages, which requires her to visit several country mansions and ruined castles in the area. Unbeknownst to the historian author, it’s a dream assignment for Kat as she has a ‘gift’  that enables her to sense the history of any subject once her drawing pens touch paper.

When I first started to flesh out the hero, Mac, I only had a vague idea of his backstory, but it took me by surprise when he demanded to be a yachtsman – although, in hindsight, how could he not, with the story centring on the delightful sailing town? However, this caused a problem… I have limited yachting experience! I studied numerous YouTube sailing videos and reacquainted myself with someone who’d sent me a friend request on Facebook a few years before, who just so happened to be a keen sailor… true serendipity at play! With his assistance and the observations of a couple of beta readers experienced in all things nautical, I wrote the boating chapters.

The counties of Cornwall and Devon have many properties steeped in history and it was tricky deciding which ones to include, although there was no hesitation about the one that captures Mac’s imagination. I confess that I have insider knowledge of this property, as during the 1980s my sister and her family owned it. The fine Grade II listed country house – reputedly the site of the tryst of the doomed Tristan and Isuelt – has deeds and leases going back to the mid-14th century. Tragically, it caught fire in 2019 and much of its history went up in flames. 

Here’s a photo of me, back in the day, riding my Arab along its driveway whilst being careful to keep my horse’s hooves off the immaculately mown lawn!

About Kate Ryder

Kate Ryder is an international bestselling author of romantic suspense and timeslip/magic realism. Represented by the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, she is published by Embla Books and Aria Fiction, and is also a member of the RNA.

Originally from the South East of England, today Kate lives on the jam-first Cornish side of the beautiful Tamar Valley with her husband and a rehomed half-Bengal cat. When not writing she gravitates towards the coast, theatre, music and art, although the latter always makes her yearn to pick up a paintbrush. But, as there are only so many hours in the day, instead she paints pictures with words!

Her books include:

BENEATH CORNISH SKIES – a beautiful romance with a shimmer of ghostliness – achieved #1 eBook in the Amazon Australia Kindle Store, peaked at #83 in the Amazon UK Kindle Store and was shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Novel Awards 2022.

SECRETS OF THE MIST – a mysterious timeslip romance – not only reached #49 in Amazon UK Kindle Store but also #1 bestseller in various categories in the UK, Canada and Australia. 

SUMMER IN A CORNISH COVE – a contemporary romantic suspense set on the beautiful and wildly rugged Lizard Peninsula – was nominated for the RNA’s 2018 Joan Hessayon award. Readers begged for a sequel and Kate duly obliged with (standalone) COTTAGE ON A CORNISH CLIFF.

INTO A CORNISH WIND is a romance with a twist of otherworldliness. 

Keep in touch with Kate:

Website: www.kateryder.me

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateRyder_Books

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateryder.author

Instagram: @kateryder_author

About Into a Cornish Wind

Kat Maddox has had her fair share of terrible relationships. And after discovering that her latest boyfriend has been hiding an entire other life from her, it’s time for a fresh start.

Accepting a job on the Cornish coast, Kat begins a new chapter in Fowey. She is immediately drawn to the beautiful Cornish landscapes and swiftly an old feeling begins to emerge. Ever since she was young, Kat’s had a ‘gift’ – when her paintbrush touches canvas, she’s able to see the history of her subject as if by magic.

Consumed with trying to discover what this could mean, she crosses paths with local sailor, Mac. Though this isn’t the first, or the last time, they’re destined to meet. As Mac and Kat grow closer, she begins to wonder whether she should open her heart to love one more time…

Available in eBook, audiobook and paperback: https://amzn.to/3nCCE4T

Thank you, Kate. I loved Into a Cornish Wind and have put my review below:-

5 Star: A gentle, slow-burn romance which I was reading at a very hectic time of my life, so it helped to soothe my senses. A hero, Mac, with a painful past, a heroine, Kat, who doubts love and men, interwoven with an otherworldly insight and a strong sense of place. I do not always like present tense written books, but with Kate Ryder this enables the chapters to be absorbed effortlessly. I am now left with a desire for a sequel and the need for a holiday in Cornwall.

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 published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms –Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

Is A Designated Writing Space Important? by Celia Anderson

My guest for 26 September 2022 is Celia Anderson as she asks the question – “Is a designated writing space so very important?” Celia has a new book for Harper Collins, Coming Home to Mistletoe Cottage to be published on 27 October 2022. Over to Celia …

Is a designated writing space so very important? 

I’m currently a writer on the move…or almost, anyway. After spending my whole life in the Midlands, in what was coalfield country (but to be fair, is now much greener) I’ve always had a longing to live by the sea. My daughters decamped to the north for Uni but then both did an about-turn and ended up on the south coast, finding lovely partners, good working lives and now, miraculously, producing a gorgeous baby each.

After much heart-searching, it’s time to follow them and make a whole new chapter of happy memories – grandparenting, wandering along the seafront and ambling over the downs. In my teaching life, I was tied to this area because I loved the school I worked in so much. Also, to elderly and ailing parents who needed a lot of love and care. Now, these responsibilities aren’t there anymore and although they’re very much missed in many and different ways, I can take off and see the world if I want to.

But what about my writing space? At the moment, I usually work right in the centre of the house, mainly because I’m so nosy. From my desk, I can see a large pond over the fence, complete with ducks and swans, squirrels jumping around in the garden and the street outside (where not much happens, but there’s always a chance it might). Better still, I’m near to the kitchen for tea and coffee, the wine/gin fridge for later and the loo, after too much of either.

And now? The new house, if all goes to plan in this brave new world of solicitors, surveys and contracts, is much, much smaller and has a pocket handkerchief courtyard instead of a garden. It’s quirky and fun, is near to the train station for adventures and trips back to the homeland and barely ten minutes’ walk from the sea. But what am I going to look at while I’m procrastinating? My desk will of course come with me. It belonged to my dear dad and it’s probably my most treasured possession. However, it’s going to need to live upstairs, in a place that will be a visitors’ bedroom, study and wardrobe space combined.

Having said that, although my handwriting is akin to the scrawl of a five-year-old, I can write pretty much anywhere if I’ve got my laptop with me. Dining table, kitchen table, trains, boats and planes and also, quite contentedly, in bed. Where my desk lives shouldn’t be an issue…should it? And will the temptation to drop everything and get out the Playdoh and Lego be too much of a distraction? When the smallest members of the family recently met us at the seaside house to do a recce, it has to be said that the cuddling took precedence.

At the moment I’m juggling like crazy; getting ready for the publication of my first Christmas-themed book, my fourth novel for Harper Fiction, writing the next on my list, which is coincidentally based in and around Brighton , and starting a whole new project – an online course on writing children’s fiction so I can co-author a middle-grade book with a friend after we move. All this, plus sorting through years and years of memorabilia, accumulated furniture and sundry random items that have been gathered in the twenty-six years I’ve been in this house. It’s a confusing time. 

Also, living in the centre of the country it’s easy to get to local writing meet-ups. The Belmont Belles based in Leicester are a wonderful source of inspiration, and I’ve loved travelling around Britain to all the different RNA conferences. There are lots of handy writing buddies to talk to within easy reach and many friends/family members who patiently listen to my musings about plot holes etc. I know there are groups on the south coast and nearby, and I even know a few authors down there already, but I’m having sudden flashbacks to gawky schooldays; shy, tongue-tied for once and unsure of whether anybody will ever want to talk to me.

So, to sum up these rambling and somewhat anxious thoughts, it’s time to take stock and give myself a stern talking-to. Writing can happen anywhere. New inspirations will happen, and further books with more than a hint of mystery and magic will materialise. A much-loved desk can just as easily live in the corner of a bedroom as a living room. Walking down a flight of stairs to make a cup of tea is hardly a trial. (Descending for more wine might be a wobbly issue but we’ll deal with that when it happens.)

In short, at sixty-three years old I’m jumping right out of my nest. I’m sure it won’t take too long to feather the new one. The advantages are many; 

Family on hand to hugToddlers to cuddleThat great big sea on our doorstepThe south downs a hop and a skip awayNew writing friends to make and groups to join (eek)Numerous coffee shops just around the corner – another writing optionLess rooms to not cleanInteresting places to explore that will no doubt become the settings for future booksA whole lot of fish and chips

I think I’m ready. Nearly. Wish me luck!

About Celia Anderson

Previously a teacher and assistant head, Celia Anderson now writes full time and is an enthusiastic member of the Romantic Novelists Association, having graduated from their wonderful New Writers’ Scheme. She writes stories with a strong flavour of magical realism and her fourth such novel with Harper Collins, Coming Home to Mistletoe Cottage, will be published in October 2022.

Celia loves flower arranging but tries to avoid gardening, plays the piano very badly and is a jigsaw addict. She is a doting grandma to Ida and Levi and has tried several times to learn to knit them jumpers without much success (or joy). Some hobbies are probably best left alone. 

Instead, she loves walking, reading, having large bubbly baths, eating, and drinking wine. Over the years, research has shown that all of these activities bar the first may be done simultaneously, although this can be messy. Her next ambition is to co-write a children’s book with a friend who has some amazing ideas. Watch this space…

To keep in touch with Celia, her social media links can be found on the following link: https://linktr.ee/celiaanderson

About Coming Home to Mistletoe Cottage

Amid the salt marshes and rolling fields of Periwinkle Bay, Magda Conway is enjoying her retirement in ivy-clad Mistletoe Cottage… 

Yet with three weeks to go until Christmas, as the fairy lights twinkle and the trees go up around the village, her peace is disrupted when she’s left in sole charge of her two mischievous grandchildren.

Before long, she’s at her wit’s end—but high on a kitchen shelf lies her mother’s handwritten recipe book. And as she turns to it for advice, she finds more than just recipes between its tattered covers: there’s a pinch of magic too, and maybe even a sprinkling of love . . .

Coming Home to Mistletoe Cottage is published on 27 October 2022 and can be preordered here

Celia’s last book The Secret Gift of Lucia Lemon is only 99p in Kindle version until the end of September!

Years of mystery lie inside, just waiting to be unravelled…

After fifty-eight years of playing it safe, Lucia Lemon wants something more from life. If only she knew what…

Until she receives a package in the post from an old friend that will change her life forever. Inside, she finds a bundle of cash, a collection of old maps, and a beautiful compass that no longer points north.

Holding the compass in her hand, Lucia suddenly feels hopeful – for the first time ever, life feels full of possibility and the open road is calling. If only she’s brave enough to answer it…

The Secret Gift of Lucia Lemon can be purchased on the following link here

Thank you for joining me on my blog, Celia and good luck for both your move and your new book! 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.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit for other options.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks  and also a s a paperback and audiobook.

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms –Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.

My Tribute to Queen Elizabeth by Morton S. Gray

Having lost my own mother in July, my first thoughts on hearing about the death of the Queen were that my mother would have been so upset. She would also have loved watching the amazing pageantry and spectacle of the funeral, although no doubt lamented the fact that she had fallen asleep through much of it.

Didn’t those pall bearers do well, lifting and carrying the coffin time and again? You could almost hear the sigh of relief when they placed it for the final time. I watched in awe for most of the televised event. I got worried about all those horse droppings ending up on carefully polished shoes! My emotions were quite even, until they brought out the Queen’s pony and her corgis and that finished me off!

When I think back to my life under the Queen’s reign, I realise that she has always been a part of our lives, from her face on the back of the bank notes and coins, stamps and the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day. My sister and I went to Dudley in 1977, when Elizabeth visited for her Silver Jubilee. The photograph below gives an idea of the size of the crowd. I am on the photo, but at the time it was taken someone was waving a flag in front of my face, so you can hardly see me.

Although, like everyone else I am sad at the passing of the Queen, I believe she gave a great example of devotion to duty and carrying on despite adversity. I think she was given a spectacular send off and admire everyone who took part. I just hope the royal family are now allowed some time and space to recover and rest, as I am well aware given my own experience, that the enormity of what has happened only hits you when the formalities are over.

I think it just remains to say:

God Save the King!

Back next week with a blog featuring Celia Anderson.

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