Morton S. Gray's Blog, page 17
June 27, 2022
Why I Became A Writer by Helga Jensen
A new visitor to my blog this week as Helga Jensen, author of A Scandinavian Summer joins me to talk about why she became a writer – fascinating story! Over to Helga …
A huge thank you to Morton for including me on her fantastic blog.
I became a writer as I am former cabin crew and saw some amazing things when I travelled the world. Having seen such wonderful sights, I wanted to share what I had seen with people who may never have the chance to explore some of these places. Visiting the Taj Mahal in Delhi, for example, was such a wonderful experience that I wanted to tell the world! Similarly, staying in Africa with a Masai Mara tribe and going on safari was another unbelievable experience. I was also very fortunate to be selected to fly on private jets for royalty. There were gold taps and pyjamas laid out on the bed on board the aircraft and I thought, wow, nobody would ever believe this. So, there was always this seed in my head that one day I would write about my experiences, even if they might sound far-fetched!
I trained as a journalist 18 years ago and thought I could find my way to writing books that way. I still work as a freelance journalist but was thrilled to receive a two-book publishing contract in 2020. There are two things I insist on with my books: that I take the reader to a fabulous setting abroad and that the protagonist is over forty. Although I have yet to write about my actual life experiences, I love taking the reader on a journey somewhere glamourous.
My first book was set in New York and my second in Denmark. I have recently signed a new two-book publishing contract and am working on book three, which will probably be set in Paris. When I am not working, I am doing a PhD, and the book I am working on is set in Sri Lanka and the Middle East. Therefore, every book I have written most certainly has a travel element. For me, this is absolutely perfect as, whilst I may have hung up my airline uniform, I still go on an adventure every day with my books, and I hope the readers will enjoy the trip.
About Helga Jensen
Helga Jensen is a freelance journalist and award-winning author. In 2020 Helga secured her first two-book publishing contract with Hera books. Her debut, Twice in a Lifetime, was published in June 2021, and A Scandinavian Summer was published the following summer. A further two-book publishing contract was signed with Hera Books in 2022, and Helga is now working on her third novel.
Helga has a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University and a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. Helga is currently studying for a Creative Writing PhD.
Social media contacts
Twitter – @HelgajensenF
Instagram – @Helgajensenauthor
Facebook – @Helgajensenfordeauthor
About A Scandinavian Summer
It’s the right time for love, but is it the wrong place?
After the tragic, premature death of her husband Anthony, Martha has spent all her time focused on her teenage daughter Rosie in their small Welsh village.
But with Rosie leaving the nest, and Martha’s own job on the line, it feels that life is passing her by.
Inspired by her love for Scandi-noir dramas, Martha impulsively books a trip to Denmark, determined to push herself out of her comfort zone – even if the thought terrifies her…
Her trip to the tiny island of Fano becomes something much more: in the form of a handsome stranger, Lars. Can Martha find love under the Scandinavian skies… but more importantly, can she find herself?
You can buy A Scandinavian Summer and Twice in a Lifetime here:
AMZ: amzn.to/3JdMRO6
Kobo: bit.ly/3J5FyrT
Apple: apple.co/35X1tDk
Hive: bit.ly/3GHtlJn
Thank you for joining me and good luck with your books and your PhD! 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.
June 20, 2022
Where I Write by Carol Thomas
This week I’m joined by good friend Carol Thomas, but before I introduce her, I have to say a heartfelt thank you to all of my readers who contacted me after my personal blog post last week – you can read the post here – I was so touched by all of the suggestions for filling the creative well and for improving your state of mind. I plan to do a follow up post soon to pull all of the suggestions together for those who might need them. The response made me feel very happy and definitely helped, so thank you.
My blog guest this week, Carol Thomas, writes wonderfully heart warming stories and a little bird told me that the paperback of A Summer of Second Chances published by Choc Lit is available from 5 July 2022, but it is already there for your Kindle. Over to Carol as she tells us about where she writes …
Thank you for inviting me onto your blog to talk about where I write, Morton.
As I don’t have a dedicated writing space in my house (there are five of us at home and always a list of chores competing for my attention), I tend to write out and about. Cafés are a great space with the bonus of the opportunity to people-watch. However, rather than share the interior of my favourite local cafés with you, I thought I would share some of the writing spaces that inspired aspects of my latest novel, A Summer of Second Chances.
Volunteering at Cancer ResearchWhile volunteering in my local Cancer Research UK charity shop, I often kept a notebook and pen on the counter, writing between customers. I found the charity shop, with the range of donations – each with its own story – and mix of customers, an inspirational place to write. A Summer of Second Chances is primarily set in a charity shop, so it was an immersive space to write scenes set inside All Critters Great and Small (the charity shop in my story).
When I started writing the novel, I also had an office in the market town of Arundel. The view from the window looked across a range of higgledy-piggledy rooftops.
Arundel office viewI sometimes heard snippets of conversations from the surrounding windows and gardens and often thought about the lives of the people within the houses. The close community I imagined became a part of the book. While Arundel has a medieval castle at its heart (also visible from my office window), my fictional village has Dapplebury House at its heart, the ancestral home of Henry Bramlington – the reluctant heir to the estate and family title.
Arundel office viewSo, while I don’t have a dedicated writing space, I greatly enjoy writing out and about. The places I find myself in are woven into my stories. The rhythms of the voices I hear and the imagined lives of those around me inform my writing. One day, I hope to have a home office, but I am not sure I would ever want to write purely in a single space.
About Carol Thomas:
Carol Thomas lives on the south coast of England with her husband and four children. She has been a primary school teacher for over twenty years and has a passion for reading, writing and people watching. When she is not in school or spending time with her family, she can be found loitering in cafes drinking too much tea and working on her next book.
Carol writes contemporary romance novels with relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads.
Website and Social Media Links:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | TikTok
About A Summer of Second Chances:
A heart-warming romance full of love, friendship and four legged friends!
Does first love deserve a second chance?
Ava Flynn sometimes feels like the clothes donated to her charity shop have seen more life than her, but ‘maximum dedication for a minimal wage’ is what it takes to keep her mother’s beloved wildlife charity, All Critters Great and Small, running especially in the village of Dapplebury, where business is certainly not booming.
But when Ava’s first love, Henry Bramlington, returns to the village, suddenly life becomes a little too eventful. Henry escaped Dapplebury many years before, but now he has the power to make or break the village he left behind All Critters Great and Small included. Can Ava trust the boy who ran away to give both her and her charity a second chance?
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Available in paperback and ebook.
Published by: Choc Lit
Purchase Links: Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | GooglePlay | Nook |
Other books by Carol Thomas:
Maybe Baby: http://getbook.at/MBAmazon
The Purrfect Pet Sitter: http://getbook.at/TPPSAmazon
Crazy Over You: http://getbook.at/COYAmazon
Thank you, Carol and I bet you miss that office view! I love your books and have included my review of A Summer of Second Chances below. Mx
5 stars – Loved Everything About This Book
This novel took me through a whole range of emotions from laughter to tears. It is so much more than a romance. I want to live in Dapplebury, work at the charity shop and go to the pub event evenings! I’m in love with hero, Henry and the lovely dogs in the story. I think I might have completely fallen out with best friend, Mary if I was heroine Ava though. Loved the journey the book took me on and would love a sequel.
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.
June 13, 2022
Filling the Well by Morton S. Gray
Something a little different for my blog today. If possible I’d like some audience participation.
I recently found myself at quite a low point, overwhelmed by normal life I guess (I’m a middle generation – mother with dementia, son at university, poorly dog at the moment!). I’m not out for sympathy, that isn’t the point of this blog at all. What I’d like to achieve is a list of suggestions for people to dip into if they need to “fill the well”.
I set out for an art course on Saturday and decided that I felt like a tube of paint I was trying to squeeze the last bit out of, but I have to say that taking a day out of routine for myself and concentrating on something totally new has worked wonders and I feel much brighter. My “art” is by no means peppered with masterpieces but I enjoyed meeting new people and trying a powder paint technique that I’d not come across before. The course was also held in a beautiful garden and that was lovely too.
Reading obviously fills my well too. I found myself resorting to my go to comfort read – Wintercombe by Pamela Belle. Being out in nature is helpful for me, be it gardening or walking the lanes near my home. Cuddling the grandchild is a real tonic. Another go to remedy for me is crochet and my newly discovered mosaic and tapestry techniques.
So, if you are up for the challenge, please leave some suggestions in the comments below for filling the well for those of us who might need a pick me up … Thanking you in advance. 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.
June 6, 2022
What I Do When I’m Not Writing by Helen Yendall
Helen Yendall joins me on my blog this week to talk about what she gets up to when she’s not writing.
Helen’s debut novel A Wartime Secret was published earlier this year by HQ (Harper Collins) and she’s currently writing her second novel, due out in November 2022.
Over to Helen…
Many thanks to Morton for inviting me onto her blog
Before I was a writer I was an avid reader and that hasn’t changed. Favourite authors of mine include Kate Atkinson, Joanna Cannon, Sarah Waters, Liane Moriarty, Clare Chambers and Marian Keyes. I always have a book on the go, even if I only manage a page or two before falling asleep at night and at the moment I’m reading the fabulous debut by Bonnie Garmus, ‘Lessons In Chemistry’.
I’m also on the Steering Group of the Evesham Festival of Words and as part of that, I run a book group which meets once a month. It’s a great excuse to meet in a pub and talk about books and it also means I read outside my usual ‘book comfort zone’.
I’m lucky enough to live in a nice part of the world – the Cotswolds – and I spend a lot of time walking my dog, Bonnie, in the countryside. It’s a cliché but having a dog really does force you to get away from the desk and get some exercise, so it’s definitely a Good Thing.
I can’t claim to work out tricky plot issues when I’m walking though, as so many writers do. Bonnie’s a very lively spaniel, always sniffing something out and if I don’t keep a very close eye on her, she’s off, chasing pheasants, hare or deer (she never catches them!).
In addition to walking, I try to squeeze in as many visits to the local swimming pool as I can (even though we now live in a rural location, I’ve never had a pool so close. It’s just a 12-minute drive away). I used to be able to go 2 or 3 times a week but these days, it’s more like 2 or 3 times a month. I also go to Pilates once a week with my friend from next door. The class is held in the village hall and we go to the café afterwards for a restorative coffee and chat.
I’m a member of a local tennis club and I try to play as much as possible but it’s not as often as I’d like.
I’ve been teaching creative writing to adults since about 2005, when someone who was double-booked, asked me to take over an adult ed. evening class. Talk about baptism of fire!
‘Teaching’ writing – I have learned – is as much about inspiring and giving students confidence as it is about the nuts and bolts of constructing a story or a poem.
I currently have 3 daytime classes, so those take up a fair bit of my time. They’re leisure classes, for enjoyment rather than a qualification and although some students have been published – or aspire to be – many simply want to flex their writing muscles. We always have a laugh in the classes and they’re a lot of fun.
The one thing you won’t find me doing very often is watching TV. I haven’t got Netflix and I’ve never seen Bridgerton or a single episode of Peaky Blinders. Someone told me once that if you want to write, you have to give up something and I’ve given up TV, almost completely. I do still watch the odd thing (The Split and Derry Girls, for example) but as evenings (as well as mornings) are the best times for me to write, that’s another reason I have to give TV a miss.
But I do have another weakness: Twitter. I could easily while away hours on Twitter every day but I try to restrict myself to a few minutes at a time. Lots of people say they don’t ‘get’ Twitter but I find it a great resource for writers (and readers). I actually saw the competition that secured me an agent, on Twitter. As long as you block the weirdos and mute all the words you don’t want to see in your feed, you can have a lot of fun – and a lot of laughs – on Twitter.
About Helen Yendall
Helen Yendall has been writing ever since she could pick up a pencil.
After many (many!) years spent writing short stories, articles and poetry, she got an agent in 2020 (Robbie Guillory at Underline Literary Agency), finished her first novel and secured a 2-book deal with HQ Digital (Harper Collins).
She’s a member of the RNA (Romantic Novelists’ Association).
Helen has a degree in English and German and has worked in a variety of marketing and export roles in factories, a camping club, a university and a children’s charity, all of which have provided inspiration for her fiction.
She likes the way fiction can help make sense of the world and that, as a writer, she can give good people the happy ending they deserve.
Helen blogs at: www.blogaboutwriting.wordpress.com
Follow her on Twitter: @helenyendall
About A Wartime Secret
My debut novel, A Wartime Secret, published by HQ (Harper Collins) is set in wartime Britain, when feisty Eastender Maggie Corbett moves from London to the countryside, thanks to her job in a merchant bank. The inspiration came from the real story of a bank that moved from the City to Upton House (now owned by the National Trust) at the outbreak of World War Two.
There are mysteries and secrets (of course!), a romance and a few surprises along the way. Although it’s set during the war, it’s an upbeat story and I hope it will make the reader smile. One reviewer described it as ‘Eastenders Meets Downton Abbey’, which I rather like!
England, 1940. Can Maggie keep her family – and her secret – safe? An emotional and heartbreaking wartime novel for fans of Diney Costeloe, Dilly Court and Mandy Robotham.
When Maggie’s new job takes her from bombed-out London to grand Snowden Hall in the Cotswolds she’s apprehensive but determined to do her bit for the war effort. She’s also keeping a secret, one she knows would turn opinion against her. Her mother is German: Maggie is related to the enemy.
Then her evacuee sister sends her a worrying letter, missing the code they agreed Violet would use to confirm everything was well, and Maggie’s heart sinks. Violet is miles away; how can she get to her in the middle of a war? Worse, her mother, arrested for her nationality, is now missing, and Maggie has no idea where she is.
As a secret project at Snowden Hall risks revealing Maggie’s German side, she becomes even more determined to protect her family. Can she find a way to get to her sister? And will she ever find out where her mother has been taken?
It’s available from Amazon here
WH Smith (online) here
It’s also in The Works’ shops and on-line here
Thank you, Helen. I wish you every success with your books. 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.
May 30, 2022
What I Do When I’m Not Writing by Eva Glyn
This week we are treated to international travel as we find out what author Eva Glyn gets up to when she’s not writing. I have included my own review of her latest book An Island of Secrets published by One More Chapter at the bottom of the post. Over to Eva …
When I’m at home, I write every day. Write, or edit. Or sometimes both. So that means when I’m not writing, I’m actually away.
I love to travel and that reflects in my Eva Glyn books. You could say Croatia is my speciality, but now lockdown is over I’m back on the road at every available opportunity and these are some of the places I’ve visited recently.
Rome:
A specialist history holiday led by Oxford don and historical novelist Harry Sidebottom. And yes, we did talk books, but not the exclusion of all else. I had never been to the eternal city before and fell instantly in love. As soon as we checked into our hotel we headed out; it was a holiday weekend and the streets were thronged, but we found a streetside table in a restaurant near the Piazza Navona and ate delicious pasta and watched the world go by.
Over the course of a week we visited both forums, the Palatine hill, the Colosseum and, the highlight for me, Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli. All in all a fabulous trip, immersed in the past, which is a place I love to be.
Devon:
Not exactly a million miles from home in Cornwall, but having our Christmas cruise on the Danube cancelled due to covid we decided to take a break much closer to home, choosing the sparkliest, most festive places we could think of to visit.
The absolute highlight was the illuminations in the gardens of Killerton House. Now we’d seen lights before; at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Eden Project, the RHS garden at Wisley but nothing had prepared us for this. It was absolutely incredible; rows of heart-shaped arches, trees festooned or flooded with lights, a flickering ball of flame. Just brilliant.
Komiza:
Perhaps adding this to a list of places I visited when not writing is a little disingenuous because I was actually there to research An Island of Secrets, and did write some of the book there. I’ve blogged elsewhere about this aspect of our trip, but of course there was some downtime too. Coming after eighteen months when foreign travel had been practically impossible, being in a small Croatian village was absolute bliss.
Although much of the days were taken up with work, early in the morning I would walk down to Gusarica beach to swim in front of the beautiful church that played a desperately sad part in Guy’s wartime story in my book. In the evenings we would eat at one of the harbourside restaurants and I could imagine my modern protagonists, Leo and Andrej, doing just the same. A dream come true for a writer and a fabulous holiday as well.
Even so, as an author, you never switch off completely. Although no words flowed onto my laptop… or ipad.. or phone… in Rome, there was a moment when I saw a street artist rushing to collect the pictures whisked away from him in the breeze. The image stayed with me, so watch this space.
About Eva Glyn
Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.
Her last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by her friendship with a tour guide she met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life had proved invaluable. An Island of Secrets is her second novel set in the country, is a dual timeline looking back to World War 2, and was published this month, also by One More Chapter.
Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and has been lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for twenty-five years. She also writes as Jane Cable.
To keep in touch with Eva you can use the following links:
Twitter: @JaneCable
Instagram: @evaglynauthor
Facebook: Eva Glyn, Author
Bookbub: @EvaGlyn
About An Island of Secrets
That was then…
Seventy-five years ago, British SOE spy Guy Barclay arrived on the island of Vis. His mission was meant to be easy, but when he stumbled across an execution on a remote hillside, everything changed and he was forced to leave behind the woman he loved in war-ravaged Yugoslavia.
…This is now
As ninety-three-year-old Guy’s days draw to a close, he asks his granddaughter, Leo Holmes, to go looking for answers. Given that her marriage has imploded and her City job is on the verge of killing her, Leo agrees and rents a house on Vis.
But as Leo’s search takes her down unexpected roads – and into the path of a gorgeous local, Andrej Pintaric – she begins to wonder if this journey down memory lane might yield unexpected results for more than just her beloved grandfather…
You can buy the book here – https://mybook.to/AnIslandOfSecrets
Morton’s Review of An Island of Secrets – 5 Stars
I savoured this book. I like reading timeslip stories but often find that I am more invested in either the story in the present or the one in the past, however with Eva Glyn’s book I felt equally invested and committed to both sets of characters – Guy and Ivka in their wartime reality and Leo and Andrej in the present day.
The setting of the island of Vis is lovely and it made me want to visit it in the future. The author painted the role of the place and its inhabitants in World War 2 very realistically.
I was cheering on the side lines for Leo and Andrej and at one point dissolved into tears as I had become so involved in their relationship.
Eva Glyn has a lovely, lyrical, almost haunting way of writing that I enjoyed very much.
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.
May 23, 2022
What I Do When I’m Not Writing by Shelley Wilson
This week my guest is Shelley Wilson. I have met her in real life once, but we didn’t have nearly long enough time to chat. Hoping to remedy that at some point.
Her latest book, The Last Princess, is out on 24th May 2022, published by BHC Press Books. Shelley is going to tell us what she gets up to when she’s not writing. Over to Shelley …
Thank you to Morton for letting me join her for a chat about what I do when I’m not writing. It’s strange to imagine there might be a moment when an author isn’t writing, but yes, we need to fill our creative well somehow, and I do that by solo travelling in my camper.
I’ve always loved exploring and visiting new places, even before I bought my camper. Where my parents and kids enjoy returning to the same places or resorts year after year, I’ll always try to seek out somewhere new. I also love finding locations from books (and films) I’ve enjoyed.
In 1997 I bought a retro 1975 orange and white VW camper as I’ve been obsessed with them for as long as I can remember. Back then I was newly married and had this idealistic view of happy holidays. When my first son arrived a year later we took him on a few trips to test the camping-with-kids water. He loved it!
Unfortunately, you could see the tarmac through the holes in the floor of the cab and as it was my only means of transport with an 18-month old it became problematic when it broke down – which it did, often!
Selling that van was the right thing to do, but my desire to own another VW camper in the future always lurked in my subconscious. I even hired one on the Isle of Wight and spent a week with my kids chugging around the island.
It took me 20 years to manifest Snoopy – yes, it’s the law to name your camper – but he is the best investment I’ve ever made.
During the first lockdown, I spent hours online looking at all the amazing places we ‘couldn’t’ visit. I would dream of future trips and the wonderful areas I was going to explore as soon as the world opened up again. At the same time, I watched a dear friend my age struggle with epilepsy and have her driving license taken away. I also mourned the loss of my mum’s younger sister. These two amazing ladies were the voices in my head telling me to stop waiting and start living, so I contacted CamperKing in Banbury and bought one they were converting in the shop at that time.
In August 2020, in between lockdowns, I picked up my gorgeous VW camper and booked as many trips as I could. I managed to get to Kingsbury Water Park, Stratford upon Avon, Whitby, and Somerset before we were put in lockdown again.
Once the UK started opening up again in 2021 I set off on more travels to Northumberland, Edinburgh, Wales, Norfolk, and the Lake District. I was free!
Solo travelling might seem frightening to some, but I take care to choose campsites that are reasonably busy, close to amenities, and have EHU (electric hook up). Some of the sites are Camping and Caravanning Club or Caravan and Motorhome Club sites of which I’m a member, and there’s always a warm welcome and staff on hand to help if you need it. I’ve been fortunate to meet some amazing people, but being on my own allows me the freedom to do what I want, when I want.
Most of my trips have been writing related in some way. When I went to Whitby and Northumberland I was researching for books. Other trips have given me the time and space to get edits finished, and some have inspired future stories.
That’s the beauty of travelling. There is so much to see and do, often on your own doorstep that can sow the seed of a new story idea.
I know Morton is a fan of Bamburgh, and I must say it’s been one of my favourite spots to visit. The fact that my new book is also set in the area helps! I’m heading back for another camper trip at the end of May so I can take a physical copy of The Last Princess to the place that inspired the book – it’s an Instagram post waiting to happen!
Where next? I’ve just been to Glastonbury (the town, not the festival!) for a week, and plan to head back up North in the summer. The beauty of having a fridge, gas stove, and a table means I can throw my laptop in the camper and move my ‘office’ to the beach for the day if I want. Working on the go is something I highly recommend.
If you spot a 50-year old solo traveller with back fat and grey hair then it’s probably me! Feel free to stop me and say hello.
Keep exploring!
Shelley x
Thank you, Shelley. I am in awe of your travels and love watching your social media posts. We must have that coffee … Mx
About Shelley Wilson
Shelley is an English multi-genre author. She has written nine young adult/middle-grade supernatural, fantasy, and historical novels, a children’s meditation book, and six motivational self-help titles for adults.
She is a proud single mum of three and lives in the West Midlands, UK. Shelley loves travelling in search of stories, paddle boarding, Tudor and Viking history, supporting Leeds United, and obsessing over to-do lists!
Her latest book, The Last Princess, is out on 24th May 2022, published by BHC Press Books.
To keep in touch with Shelley, you can use the following links:-
Author website: https://shelleywilsonauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorslwilson/
Publisher: https://www.bhcpress.com/Author_SL_Wilson.html
About The Last Princess
The Last Princess, is out on 24th May 2022, published by BHC Press Books.
Northumbria, 866 AD
Edith still has much to learn about the art of ruling a kingdom, but when her family is murdered, she’s faced with the challenge of staying alive.
As a young woman in Anglo-Saxon England, Edith finds it hard to be heard above the Eldermen who are ripping the kingdom to pieces, but nothing can prepare her for the arrival of the pirates and the Vikings. Torn from her homeland and sold into slavery, she’s determined to survive at any cost.
Finding allies in the unexpected and enemies closer to home, Edith clings to her dream of returning home one day to reclaim her throne and to exact revenge on those who harmed her family.
To buy your copy of The Last Princess use one of the following links:
BHC Press – https://www.bhcpress.com/Books_Wilson_The_Last_Princess.html
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Early Praise for The Last Princess:
“This fast-paced historical novel builds on an obscure Anglo-Saxon king’s life to tell an empowering tale of a girl’s journey to fully embrace a new world, a new culture…as she grows into her own as a warrior. Edith’s fierce and often violent quest for revenge is juxtaposed with lovely, life-affirming moments of friendship and love in an engaging first-person narrative.” – Kirkus Reviews
“I LOVED this quick fantasy read. I can’t wait to share with my students once I get a copy.” – Dawn, Teacher & Goodreads Reviewer
“WOW! I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it! This story is absolutely amazing.” – Rebecca, Goodreads Reviewer
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.
May 16, 2022
My Real Life Heroes by Claire Sheldon
Claire Sheldon joins me on my blog this week to talk about her real life heroes. Claire has recently released her third book for Ruby Fiction – A Burning Lie. Over to Claire …
When I started to think about my real life heroes, I thought of my favourite music groups or my favourite celebrities, but then I remembered who my new book A Burning Lie is dedicated to and these people are truly my real life heroes.
The fire service, as you will know from my pervious post for Morton here, have a big place in my life with my husband being a retained fire fighter. Several of his colleagues helped me with parts of my novel A Silent Child and one of them even has a starring role.
When I had the idea of wanting to “blow stuff up” in A Burning Lie I knew that it couldn’t be just my characters, Jen, Chris and the team dealing with the aftermath, there would be others. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue of course would be there and no doubt team Stapleford and my husband.
The East Midlands is lucky enough to have a Hazardous Area Response Team who are part of the ambulance service. They mobilise and go out to major incidents such as the explosion in my book. There would also be a knock-on effect to our two university hospitals and the NHS.
Then there is the police force where Chris and the team come in, but in reality the East Midlands have a Special Operations Unit so it would come down to these guys to investigate the who and why of what happens.
These everyday people are my heroes – ordinary people putting themselves in harms way in order to keep us all safe.
I have included a couple of links about the HART teams – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_5OEfop4e8 – HART video https://www.emas.nhs.uk/your-service/hart/
Thank you, Claire. Your chosen real life heroes sounds very worthy of your choice. Good luck with your new book. Mx
About Claire Sheldon
Claire lives in Nottingham with her family, a cat called Whiskers and a dog called Podrick.
She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and as a result of the disease had to reduce her hours working in insurance for an Insolvency Insurer. This spare time enabled her to study a creative writing course which inspired her to write her debut, Perfect Lie and later A Silent Child.
When Claire isn’t working she enjoys reading crime novels and listening to music – the band Jimmy Eat World is her biggest muse! Claire is also an avid reader and book blogger. The inspiration for her novels comes from the hours spent watching The Bill with her grandparents and auntie; then later, Spooks and other detective programmes like Inspector Morse, A Touch of Frost and Midsomer Murders.
To keep in touch with Claire you can use the following links:-
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ClaireEESheldon
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/clairesheldonauthor
About A Burning Lie
When a deadly explosion brings secrets and lies to light …
A city shaken to its foundations by a fire in a well-known music venue. A nightclub owner seemingly more concerned about money than the lives of the young people who fill the dancefloor at the end of every week. A dangerous bomber still on the loose.
All things that Detective Jen Garner must face in her first week of local level policing whilst trying to start afresh and finally make a break with her past.
Working alongside DI Chris Jackson, it’s crucial that Jen connects the dots to bring the culprit to justice. But it seems that everywhere Jen turns there is somebody with something to hide – and whilst she and her team attempt to unravel a web of lies years in the making, could the bomber be getting ready to strike again?
Buying Link : https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Burning-Lisa-Carter-Files-Book-ebook/dp/B09VQ4BZPM/
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.
May 9, 2022
What I Do When I’m Not Writing by Henriette Gyland
This week, I’m joined by Henriette Gyland, another author I have known for many years now. She writes in a variety of subgenres such as psychological suspense, romance mystery and historical fiction (as Ella Gyland). Her most recent historical novels focus on Denmark during World War II, and as she’s Danish herself, she says that she’s thoroughly enjoyed writing and researching these stories. Today Henriette is going to tell us what she does when she’s not writing. Over to Henriette …
Well, everything else, really! I have a house and a small garden, as well as three cats and a couple of young people who come back home from time to time, so there’s plenty to do. And then there’s The Other Job – I work as a technical translator on a freelance basis, and when work comes in, I often have to drop everything else and just get on with it.
But what I really like to do with my time when I’m not writing/translating/tidying up after cats (delete as appropriate) is to KNIT. You could say I’m obsessed with it, and that would be pretty accurate.
I finished this cotton top just in time for spring/summerI learned to knit when I was about eight years old. My mother had been working on a project, handknitting identical jumpers for me and my younger sister, both made of cotton in a muted rose red and with a pre-made appliqued butterfly sewn on the chest. She’d already finished my sister’s and was working on mine. She seemed to be taking forever, though, so I decided to lend her a hand when she was busy with something else. How difficult could it be? It looked easy enough.
To cut a long story short I made a terrible mess …
Fortunately, my mother understood that I wasn’t just being naughty but genuinely interested so she sat me down by the kitchen table with a ball of yarn and the thickest needles she had, and taught me a simple garter stitch (i.e. knit only, no purl).
I’ve never looked back. Knitting is what I do to unwind, to be social (I’m a member to two knitting groups, one involving wine …), to give my busy hands something to do, and even occasionally to cheer myself up on days when I’m in a low mood. In other words, knitting is essential to my happiness and mental health – it’s been a lifeline, particularly these last couple of years of uncertainty and lockdowns.
Medical experts agree. See these posts online, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/knitting-reduces-anxiety-depression-chronic-pain-slows-dementia-research-knit-for-peace-uk-a8254341.html or https://mhanational.org/blog/mental-health-benefits-knitting
I’ve always got at least two projects on the go at the same time so I can choose between Easy, Intermediate or Advanced based on mood – if I don’t have a project to indulge myself with at the end of a long day, I can get a bit jittery. In my office I have boxes full of yarn, numerous knitting books and magazines for inspiration, and a whole basket full of knitting needles in practically every size. These are my treasures, like Uncle Scrooge and his swimming pool full of coins 
My “treasures”So, what do I make? My wardrobe is bursting at the seams, and I’ve got to the stage where I don’t actually need anything, so I’ll have to start making clothes for other people soon. A warning to my family: there may be soft parcels under the Christmas tree this year …
Working from home I’m most comfortable in layered clothing. Sitting still all day can make me feel a bit cold, so an extra layer helps, but pottering around the garden during a screen break makes me feel hot, so I wear mainly tops and cardigans. And of course, it’s quite nice to have these items in several colours – I’m nothing if not colour-coordinated. Don’t wish to scare the cats too much 
My Secret Santa present for a friend who has a pugSome readers might look at these pictures and say, “I don’t think I can ever do something like that” and then give up. Please don’t. There are plenty of tutorials online, and some magazines also have a tutorial section, e.g. Knitting Magazine or The Knitter, which are very helpful. It doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby either. With several crafts fair all over the country you can usually pick up a bargain, like end-of-line yarns and discontinued colours, and if you stock up on bargain buys (I do!), you’ll have enough for several projects. The one I go to religiously is The Knitting & Stitching Show at London’s Alexandra Palace, but you can see many other fairs advertised in various knitting magazines. Then there’s eBay and Facebook selling groups like the UK Yarn Exchange where people are getting rid of yarns they no longer need. Some charity shops also sell yarn, although that’s a bit pot luck.
I hope I’ve inspired you to pick up a set of needles, and wish you happy knitting!
Thank you, Henriette – I would echo all of the above, including the wool everywhere, but my favourite craft is crochet. In fact, I know so many writers who also indulge in wool crafts, I’ve even joked about forming a wool and writing group. Mx
About Henriette Gyland
Originally from Denmark, Henriette Gyland has lived in London for many years, surrounded by her family, cats, books and the Scandinavian hygge she tries to create everywhere she goes. As a linguist she loves playing with words and language, and she’s addicted to story-telling. She also believes strongly in social responsibility and sustainable living.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website: https://henriettegyland.wordpress.com/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/EllaGyland
Twitter: @henrigyland
Instagram: henrigylandwrites
Books by the Author
The Helsingør Sewing Club / The Day The Germans Came (US title)
Inspired by the incredible true story of how the people of Denmark saved their Jewish neighbours during WW2
Helsingør, Denmark, 1943
In the midst of the German occupation during World War Two, Inger Bredahl joins the underground resistance and risks her life to save members of Denmark’s Jewish community and help them escape to Sweden.
Copenhagen, 2018
Inger’s granddaughter, Cecilie Lund, is mourning her death when a mysterious discovery while cleaning out Inger’s flat leads past and present to intersect. As long-held secrets finally see the light of day, Cecilie learns the story of her grandmother’s courage and bravery, and of the power of friendship, love, and standing for what’s right…even when you have everything to lose.
An inspiring tale of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community.
Buying Links:-
Amazon UK: mybook.to/THSC
Amazon US: tinyurl.com/yc7yv3tr
A Lion Is Not Just For Christmas
Is there life after the circus has left town?
Circus performer Justine Belmont works with big cats, but when the circus is disbanded and the old lion is sold to a private menagerie at a stately home in Norfolk, she is asked to spend a few weeks settling him into his new environment. When she arrives at the estate, however, she receives a mixed welcome.
The groundsman Tom Yates resents her presence as he doesn’t feel he needs her help with the lion. He revises his opinion when he sees the bond between her and the big cat, and she and Tom grow closer, although Justine remains torn about her feelings for him. The lady of the house, Priscilla – who is married to the reclusive owner, Lord Brooks’s, grandson – is not so easily convinced. She perceives Justine as a threat for the male attention and her plans for the manor. And her two young daughters are a little too curious about the lion for their own good.
When unsettling events occur, Justine begins to wonder if there is more to Priscilla’s animosity than meets the eye. Can Justine keep herself and everyone else safe until it’s time for her to leave again and start a new life elsewhere?
Buying Link: Amazon: mybook.to/ALINJFC
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.
May 2, 2022
What I Do When I’m Not Writing by Berni Stevens
This week I’m joined by Berni Stevens who writes for Choc Lit and is the cover designer of all of my published novels too! She has recently released Laughing All the Way and It’s Only Rock and Roll. Today she is going to talk about what she gets up to when she is not writing …
Hello,
I’m thrilled to be here today – and a big thank you to Morton for hosting me.
I always find it difficult to write something when I can write about anything – if you see what I mean? But Morton has given me a few guidelines which has helped hugely. So I’ve decided to write about the things I do when I’m not writing … I’ll try to make it interesting!
My ‘day job’ is book cover design, and has been for a very long time now. I finished art college after a four-year course, and my first job was as junior designer for a small advertising agency in London. Not to put too fine a point on it, it was a disaster. The three designers (all male) had been at the same art college together, and were totally unimpressed to find the boss had recruited a young woman to ‘join’ their team. I was given the worst jobs – and no projects – told to make coffee or otherwise ignored. I was miserable to say the least.
Luckily for me, I saw a junior designer was needed by a small Mayfair publisher, and skedaddled off for an interview one lunch time. I got the job! The company was a lot of fun, they published all the Dr Who books at the time, and we often had fans dropping in – usually in costume – begging for posters and any point-of-sale material we might have. The first Sales Conference I went to even had a Dalek on loan from the BBC. (Yes, I did get inside it).
I’ve worked for most of the large London publishing houses at one time or another. Both as a full time employee and later as a freelancer. It’s interesting how alike they all are and yet how differently the various art departments work. I learned far more as a freelancer than I ever did in-house.
My website shows a selection of my cover designs, but there aren’t too many of the newer ones uploaded yet. https://www.bernistevenscoverdesign.com/
I’ve always been a keen dancer – from the age of seven in fact – I did ballet, tap and jazz and I was a member of the Pineapple Dance Studios for most of the time that I worked in Central London. (And I was close enough to whizz off to a lunchtime jazz class if I wasn’t too busy!) About eighteen years ago I discovered Zumba as well, and fell completely in love with that. The instructors at my local gym weren’t particularly reliable, so I decided to take the instructor’s course in 2019. Now I teach my own class at a different gym. I barely break even moneywise as I have to hire the dance studio, but I was never in it for the money – just for the love of dance. Everyone in my class is there for the fun of dancing too, and we laugh a lot. Sometimes we even sing!
My husband Bob and I go to a lot of rock concerts and always have done. I met him at art college and he was a drummer in a band at the time, so I went to his gigs as well. You can see how Izzy and Seth came to be …
Having already written a couple of vampire books (another passion), music would always have popped up at some point to join the party. There is something about the atmosphere at a live concert that’s always excited me – especially the Bowie concerts we were lucky enough to see. When Bowie died, it felt as if a light had gone out in the world for me. He’d always been there … this amazingly creative, innovative presence. When I read he’d trained in graphic design, I felt sure it was the career path for me and (so far) it has been.
David Bowie live at Hammersmith Odeon on Ziggy Stardust tour.My love of Bram Stoker’s Dracula led me to the Dracula Society sometime in the late 90s. Since becoming a member, I’ve (somehow) found myself on the Committee and designing their quarterly newsletter … And before anyone asks, we’re a literary society for fans of Gothic literature, film, theatre and art. Oh and by the way, we don’t run around wind-swept hills dressed in cloaks and fangs! Take a look at the website maybe – http://thedraculasociety.co.uk/
Another addiction shared with my husband, is the love of the South-West deserts of North America. Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. We’ve been going out there for twenty-five years and still haven’t seen it all. Bob is a dedicated hiker – I’m just a rookie even now. But the scenic landscapes made by those amazing canyons and deserts have to be seen to be believed. Obviously, we haven’t been able to get out there for some time because of the pandemic; we kept optimistically booking the flights, only to have them cancelled. We currently have flights booked for sometime very soon, and have everything crossed that we’ll make it. But I’m not going to jinx it by saying the date out loud!
My father always told me I had too many hobbies and perhaps he was right, but I’ve never had much sympathy with people who say they’re ‘bored’ when actually I always think there are not enough hours in the day. Even as a child I was writing, drawing, painting or dancing … until I discovered horse-riding, and then I did that too. My one regret is that I’ve never been able to afford a horse of my own. (But I still want one!)
Goodness, what an interesting post. I do hope you find some time to sit down sometimes and good luck with your new book. Mx
About Berni Stevens
Berni Stevens lives in a four-hundred-year-old cottage in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, son and black cat. She trained in graphic design and has worked as a book cover designer for more than twenty years.
Books and art remain her passion, and her love of the paranormal began when she first read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, aged fourteen. She is now on both the committee and the book panel of the Dracula Society, a society for fans of gothic literature and film.
Berni writes contemporary and fantasy romance.
To keep in touch with Berni you can use the following links:-
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/berni.stevens.5/
Twitter : https://mobile.twitter.com/Berni_Stevens1
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/berni.stevens.5/
About Laughing All the Way
If you received a mysterious invitation for a fun-filled festive train ride the week before Christmas, would you go?
When teacher Dee Nicholls receives her invitation, she isn’t sure what to make of it. Surely it’s some kind of joke to get her out of bed early on a weekend? Perhaps a clever festive marketing ploy?
But as the Christmas countdown begins, it becomes clear that Dee isn’t the only “Jingle Bells Express” invitee. There are other people out there who have received the same invitation: Tom the intern, Rachel the aspiring writer, Dylan the musician and his dog Muttley – and they’re not the only ones!
Could the unusual festive journey they eventually take together, show them all the true meaning of Christmas, and also that happiness is sometimes right in front of you – if you just take the time to look?
You can buy Laughing All the Way here
About It’s Only Rock and Roll
Is the rock and roll lifestyle all it’s cracked up to be?
Being the girlfriend of a rock star isn’t all glitz and glamour – at least that’s what Izzy Grant has found since she started dating Seth Roberts of Scarlet Gryphon fame; it’s actually a lot of waiting and wondering and worrying as Seth travels the world whilst she’s stuck in London. Can she ever rely on Mr Cool to settle down?
But rock gods get insecure too, and whilst Seth is jetting off to far-flung locations to perform sold-out shows, he worries that Izzy will find a “Joe Normal” and opt for a more ordinary life. Plus, he could do with some support when a certain entitled rock star girlfriend gets too big for her Jimmy Choos and threatens to break up the band.
There is a solution, but are either of them willing to take the plunge?
You can buy It’s Only Rock and Roll 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.
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.
April 25, 2022
What I Do When I’m Not Writing by Caroline James
This week’s feature is from Caroline James, an author I’ve known for a number of years now and she’s in the Apricot Plots group of writers too. Caroline has just published The Spa Break with One More Chapter and its the next book on my to be read pile. Caroline is going to tell us what she gets up to when she’s not writing her fabulous books …
Huge thanks to Morton for inviting me onto her lovely blog to discuss what I do when I’m not writing. During the day-to-day practicalities, which involve helping my husband run his business and writing my novels, I also have many hobbies and interests.
Rural cyclingKeeping fit is essential to me, and I swim regularly in a nearby lake or pool and walk with Fred, our Westie. One of my greatest passions is rural cycling for pleasure. My bike and I are the best of friends and go out and about as often as possible. For me, there is nothing like the wind to wake you up and sunshine on your face. In my early twenties I lived in Kensington in London and worked in Knightsbridge. I used to cycle to and from work, and riding through a city gave me instant awareness of the highway code and how to cycle in heavy traffic. I’ve always enjoyed cycling and take the opportunity whenever I can.
Cycling in California in my younger daysThese days, I live in a rural town in Lancashire, and there are some fabulous places to potter about on a bike. It’s a vacation environment, too, with many holiday parks within easy reach. I love to amble about and wind my way through rows of chalets and caravan pitches where the atmosphere is relaxed and happy. At a nearby marina, close to the canal, there is a café which is a perfect pit stop as it sells the best ice cream in Lancashire. Wallings coconut flavour is my favourite, and every mouthful is a holiday sensation.
Seaside cyclingIn recent months, I’ve had health issues, and the bike lay dormant in the garage. I’d entered into a 50 km ride in the coming weeks, but unfortunately, that won’t happen now. However, my strength is building and I shall soon be winding my way along the west coast, where there is a wonderful cycling path. I enjoy the stretch from Morecombe to Lytham for some seaside cycling. With the coast to my right and lots of lovely cafes along the route, it is one of my ‘happy places’ at whatever time of year.
There are perils to be faced when cycling. I try to steer clear of main roads, but even on quieter country roads, I have ended up in a ditch when vehicles hurtle by, seemingly unaware of the heavily padded lump cursing from the roadside. I ended up on a car bonnet when a driver wouldn’t stop at a roundabout, and on narrow roads have had many a car door opened as I tried to cycle past.
Blackpool hosts a Ride the Lights event in August, and the esplanade is closed to traffic. I shall don my disco helmet and ride along with hundreds of happy cyclists enjoying a vehicle-free fun ride.
Ride the lights in BlackpoolLancashire has lots of hills, too, and there are times when I ask the question, ‘Shall I go electric or stay manual on my bike?’ I envy the fabulously fit cyclists who all whizz past me and seem to fly up and down dales. But I get there eventually, even if I partly walk the ride at times. For now, I’ll rely on my own peddle power.
Happy cycling everyone!
With love,
Caroline xx
Thank you for your post, Caroline and I do hope you are back to full health soon. Mx
About The Spa Break
Caroline’s new novel The Spa Break is out now!
The laugh-out-loud romantic comedy of the year for fans of The Book Club with Jane Fonda A weekend at the spa will leave four old friends with a whole lot more than they’d bargained for…The glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives! There for a girls’ weekend to celebrate Bridgette’s impending seventieth birthday, the spa soon has these spicy sexagenarians realising that there are unexpected benefits to age and experience, and that over the hill certainly doesn’t mean out of the game…in any respect…
To buy The Spa Break you can use the link here
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 the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can.
A public speaker, which includes talks and lectures on cruise ships world-wide, Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association, the Society of Women’s Writer’s & Journalists and the Society of Authors.
In her spare time, Caroline can be found swimming in a local lake, cycling or walking with Fred, her Westie, in the beautiful Lancashire countryside.
To keep in touch with Caroline you can use the following links:
Website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Twitter: @CarolineJames12
Facebook: Caroline James Author
Books by Caroline James:
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.
