Chris Penhall's Blog, page 5
October 17, 2022
Lizzie Chantree talks to BBC Essex presenter, Tony Fisher, about our October buddy-writing session
Fellow author Lizzie Chantree and myself decided we wanted to encourage people to get together and write in a supportive and relaxing environment, whether they are published, not yet published, or don’t want to be published and simply want to write. We are most comfortable in coffee shops – in fact I would say that they would be described as our natural environment.
So, we’ve hosted a couple of daytime free buddy writing sessions at Fete Grays Yard in Chelmsford and on October 20th, we’re hosting an evening session.
Here’s Lizzie chatting to Tony Fisher about it on his BBC Essex show
https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e1pcfej
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October 3, 2022
Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall by Hannah Pearl
As the nights are drawing in, many of us are thinking ahead to Christmas, so if you’re looking for a book to cosy up with on cold winter evenings, A Countdown to Christmas
Thanks very much for welcoming me to your blog to celebrate the launch of Mistletoe and Mayhem and the Little Shopping Mall.
The book starts in October, with a series of (mis?)adventures in the run up to Christmas, so it’s perfect that it was released on the 30th September! Readers can hopefully join Caroline and Damian as they celebrate Halloween and Bonfire night and hope to uncover just what is really going on at Holly Walk Mall in time for the big day.
About Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping `Mall
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?
Extract:
I opened the wrought iron gates and used my new key to release the shutters behind them. I’d booked our cleaners to do an extra shift and they’d arrive shortly to help tackle the debris from the night before. First though, Marco had agreed that just this once I was allowed to help myself to a fancy coffee. He must have been in a good mood the night before. Either they’d made a killing or he’d helped himself to too much sangria.
I was debating the choices, whether to go for a creamy cappuccino or the intense hit of an espresso to wake me up, when I heard the gates rattle again. I turned, expecting to see Maureen with her mop bucket, but instead Christopher was waiting for me to open them, carrying a large briefcase.
‘Any chance of an early start?’ he asked.
I sighed. ‘Christopher, I’ve told you before, you’re not allowed in until eight o’clock. I’ve got a lot of clearing up to do. I can’t have the gates open unsupervised yet.’
‘It won’t take me long,’ he said, showing me his case. He tried to offer a placating smile, but it was more creepy than endearing. ‘Just a few bits to unload. I don’t want to leave these not locked up safely.’
It was tempting to let him in just to keep the peace, but if I gave in every time he tried to break the rules I’d have no chance of ever upholding them again in future. ‘No, I’m afraid
not. Not today. I can lock the case in my office until opening time if you like but that’s the best I can offer.’
His face dropped and he looked like he was about to snarl, before he thought better of it. ‘I’ll be back at eight. Mind you’re ready to let me in then, and I’ll be having a word with your boss about this.’
‘So will I,’ I called back, but he was already getting back into his car. As he drove off, I realised that he’d been parked on a double yellow line. I muttered to myself. ‘Maybe I should have let the bugger in – he might have got a ticket.’
The morning passed quickly, in a blur of sweeping up and packing away the Halloween decorations. There were hundreds of messages on our social media about Cute Cowboy from the night before, but it seemed wise not to reply to them. I didn’t want Damian to feel uncomfortable that we were focusing on his image too intently. Though I may have checked the posts a few times, just to keep an eye on what was being written. It was purely professional to do so. Well, partly professional.
Ian turned up just before lunch. He did not look happy. ‘I take it you’ve seen Christopher,’ I said. It was annoying not to get a chance to explain my side of the story first, particularly as I doubted he’d listen to me now he’d evidently made his mind up.
‘Yes. How hard would it have been to let him in a few minutes early? He says you were extremely unpleasant towards him.’
‘I abided by the rules. If he did too, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. I didn’t have time to keep letting him in and out the gates. We had an incredibly successful evening yesterday and I needed to tidy up before we reopen today.’
‘Yes, I’ve heard about the naked man that you plastered all over the internet. Hardly the look we’re going for.’
‘He wasn’t nude. He was in costume. Have you even talked to any of the shopkeepers about yesterday? They’ve been very nervous about the rent increases. Last night was an important source of income for them. I think you’ll find that they seem a lot happier today.’
He huffed, so I decided the best thing to do was to walk away before I totally lost my temper. Thankfully my frosty mood melted once I reached the main concourse; Martha came out to greet me and told me that she had the best evening’s takings that she had ever had.
Marco and Nonna wouldn’t let me pay for my lunch, not that I could eat much as I’d been handed a box of cookies on my way to them. They promised to box up the leftovers so that I could have them for tea. Damian texted as I sat at the counter.
‘Is that your cowboy?’ Nina asked, trying to lean over my shoulder to see my phone.
‘He’s not mine. But yes. He wants to know how everyone is today.’
‘Much better, thanks to him. I think we’ll be okay for whatever bills Ian charges us this month. We’ve not stopped even this morning, with people coming in hoping to see the cute cowboy again.’
Marco set a cup down on the counter for the customer behind me. It clattered so hard that coffee spilled over the rim and I grabbed a napkin to catch it before it dripped on the floor.
‘Don’t mind him,’ Nina said. ‘He’s jealous.’
‘Pah,’ Marco scoffed. ‘I had bigger muscles than that in my day.’
Nina squeezed his arm. ‘You did, mi amore, but sadly your day was forty years ago.’ She laughed and patted his cheek. He frowned until she walked past and squeezed his bottom. ‘But I still fancy you.’
‘That’s all that matters.’ He turned to me. ‘I hope your cowboy loves you like this too. Your mama and papa, they loved each other. Never had eyes for anyone else. You deserve the same, cara. Now, here’—he passed me my takeaway bag—‘I put some extra cookies in
so you can share them if you see him later. Tell him he’s too skinny, these will put some flesh on his bones.’
‘There was nothing wrong with him from the photo I saw,’ the lady behind me said.
Further down the queue, there was a cough and I looked past her to spot Christopher. I wondered if he was going to take the chance to apologise for his earlier outburst or whether he wanted to have another go at me. Instead, he tipped his head to one side. ‘Your cowboy, did I know him from somewhere?’
I shook my head. ‘No, he’s new.’
‘I could have sworn he looked familiar.’
‘You should be so lucky,’ said the woman next to me.
I clutched my bag and dashed back to the office. I wanted to write to Damian to let him know that we were okay, but that perhaps next time we ought to lower his profile just in case.
Book buying links: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
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.
Find out more about Hannah here:
Twitter: @Hannahpearl_1 Blog: https://dizzygirlwrites.wordpress.com/
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June 24, 2022
A Vacancy For a Village Vet – Joanne Boden
I do love a romance where the protagonists have to grapple with the past before they can move on. And this book is just the ticket for that. So, I invited Joanne Boden to answer a few questions about the book, and how she writes – amongst other things of course!
Tell us about the book
A Vacancy for a Village Vet is set in the cosy village of Middlefern. Daniel Jackson returns after fifteen years to take over his grandfather’s veterinary practice. Not only does he have to adjust to life in the country after living in London, he also has to face his actions from fifteen years ago when he said goodbye to the village and his childhood sweetheart, Hannah Kennedy, who still lives and works in the village as a home carer.
The story revolves around these two characters as they grow to know each other again, and realise that the feelings they once had for each other may just be rekindled.
How old were you when you started writing?
I started writing from a very young age, around eight or nine. I always had several exercise books full of stories or doodles and ideas. Many of them were based on books I’d read from the library. I still have notebooks today full of doodles and story ideas.
Did you always want to be published or initially did you write because you just wanted to?
Being a published author was never an end goal for me when I started writing. I enjoyed the process of creating stories and gained huge satisfaction from being creative. Over time I gained insightful criticism and encouragement about my writing that made me think that perhaps I might be able to publish my work. It’s a tough road though.
Writing books is very time consuming – how do you fit it around your other commitments?
It is time consuming and it takes me roughly six months to write a book. When I start to write I usually have a very rough sketch of what will happen. I find it helpful to write each day and usually make time to write for two to three hours, if I can. Some days I will write for longer stretches of time, depending on what is going on. The main thing is to write each day and to not worry too much about the word count. Once I have the first draft I breathe a huge sigh of relief.
What comes first – the plot, the characters or the location?
I usually start with the two main characters. I create a clear picture of them in my mind, who they are, where they’re from, their likes and dislikes, what drives them etc. One I feel I know them inside and out I then choose a location and flesh out a rough plot, and it is very rough as it usually changes as I write. I find I move scenes around or think, ah this needs to happen now or I’ll get rid of a particular scene, but I find it can be flexible as the story is always character led.
How do you feel when you finally finish the last edit and press send?
Nervous–always nervous. I know that I have done enough and my absolute best, but there is always that nugget of donut that it won’t be liked. I’ll be honest, it is still nerve wracking.
I only have one book idea at a time! Do you, or have you loads of characters and plots flying around your imagination when you’re writing your other books?
I really wish that I only had one book idea at a time. When writing A Vacancy for a Village Vet I had the idea for Bluewater Bay book 2 more or less fleshed out and a notebook with ideas for book 3 in the series, plus three other notebooks with ideas for a three book series set around a bed and breakfast. But when I’m writing a first draft I hide those other notebooks so I can concentrate on my work in progress.
What are you working on now?
I am writing Little Bluewater Bay book 3, as yet it is untitled. This book focuses on Lucas who runs the General Store and Angel who is a photographer, who is in the bay for three months to work. I’ve just hit the 40,000 word mark. It’s a lot of fun to write. I love writing the first draft as anything goes.
About Jo Worgan
Joanne lives in Lancashire with her husband and their two sons. When she is not busy writing, she likes to take her boys to the local museums, cafes, and walks in the countryside.
Joanne has published 4 non-fiction works aimed at parenting children on the Autistic spectrum, based upon her experiences as a mother of an autistic son. She has also self published a contemporary romance novel, Picking Up the Pieces.
Joanne writes contemporary romances with gorgeous heroes.
Social media and website links:-
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JoBodenAuthor
Twitter https://www.twitter.com/JoBodenAuthor
About A Vacancy for a Village Vet
From big city high-flyer to little village vet …
Hannah and Daniel were teenage sweethearts, but then Daniel left their sleepy village of Middlefern and his grandfather’s veterinary practice behind for the bright lights of London.
Now, fifteen years later, the prodigal grandson has returned to temporarily take over the village practice with a veterinary qualification and his dog, Sammy, in tow. Daniel is ready for rabbits with tummy aches, guinea pigs who’ve lost their squeak, plenty of cow complaints and a whole lot of memories – both good and bad. But is he ready to see Hannah again?
Of course, a high-flying city vet like Daniel was never planning to stay in Middlefern for good – especially given his history with the place. But could another, even more important, vacancy convince him to change his mind?
Choc Lit https://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/a...
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May 31, 2022
Chris and Lizzie’s Buddy Writing Meet Up – why not come!
I have just come back from the Hay Book Festival and I am once again full of ideas and energy – the kind of energy you get from being around people who feel the same way about certain things that you do. In this case, it is books. I don’t speak to the majority of people who attend – basically there are thousands and even someone with my interest in talking to loads of people all the time can’t do that (not in two days anyway) – but I know they love reading. Some may love writing. Some may want to write but haven’t yet started.
What I’m trying to say is that, when you write, you don’t have to be alone all the time. Sometimes you need to be, but you can sit in cafes and write and be alone with other people around you – the same goes for a library, or a bench in a park, or on a beach..you can write anywhere. And I have discovered over the past few years one of my favourite things – buddy writing – in which you sit in a cafe with a friend or two, grab a coffee or two, write a bit, chat a bit, write a bit, chew over ideas, write a bit…and so on and so forth. When I do it, I don’t even have to talk about my book, it’s enough to know the people with me are writing too. The whole experience motivates me and makes me feel connected.
This is why myself and fellow author, Lizzie Chantree have organised a free Buddy Writing Meet Up in Chelmsford on Tuesday 5th July. We both know how good for you writing can be, whether you are published, want to be published, or have never written before. We also know how helpful it is to be around other people who feel the same way
(This photo is an example of an outside meet-up..)
The session is at Fete Grays Yard in Chelmsford between 10.30 and and 12.30 and the idea is you book yourself on it, grab yourself a coffee, or tea, or juice, and or cake etc, come upstairs to this lovely space, and write. We’ll start off with a thirty minute writing sprint – just see how it goes, nobody will be checking your word count or anything – then we’ll have a break, do another writing sprint then hang around after that for a chat so you can meet your fellow writers.
It’s not a workshop, it is simply a way to connect to other people with the same interest which will help you to write more or start writing.
Here’s the link to book yourself in
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May 17, 2022
A Burning Lie – Claire Sheldon
Fellow Ruby Fiction author, Claire Sheldon has written the third in her series in The Lisa Carter Files, A Burning Lie. Set in her home town of Nottingham, it follows Jen Garner and her return to street level policing.
Q – tell us about the book 
A Burning Lie is set once again in Nottingham, Where a packed music venue is attacked during a concert leaving many injured and dead.
The whole team are back again to investigate Jen Garner has decided to give street level policing a go, after realising she can’t really go back into the fast paced environment she keeps being dragged back into. DI Chris Jackson is battling with his health and a possible life changing diagnosis. And as Chris says at one point ‘Hannah probably has her feet up on the desk doing her nails.’
Q – it’s the third in a series – how are they connected?
The series is called “The Lisa Carter Files” which is Jen’s alter ego from back in the day of her undercover work. They are all set for the most part in Nottingham and feature the Nottingham special ops unit along with character’s from Jen’s past. Perfect Lie and A Silent Child both have main stories that mean Jen gets dragged back into her old life as an undercover detective whereas in A Burning Lie she decides to give street level policing ago.
Q – Tell us about Jen Garner
Jen moved to Nottingham about 10 – 13 years ago after she met her husband while she was out in a nightclub with her then best friend Chloe Seaward. She and James married and have two children Melanie and Alex. She’d been hiding her past from James and those around her playing the perfect wife and parent until the past came knocking on her door and she had to make the decision to go back to her past and solve the murder of her best friend. Since then she has decided that she misses the buzz of policing so is deciding to give street level policing a go in Nottingham with DI Chris Jackson’s team where she is at the beginning of A Burning Lie.
Q – how do you write – do you plan the book in advance or do you just start writing and see what happens?
I think my editor wishes I’d plot, but I pretty much make them up as I go along and then rush around trying to find glue and sticky tape to make them work. I think I do kinda plot but not to the extreme of some people, I just come up with ideas and just go with it and see where I end up.
Q – Where do the ideas come from?
I was brought up watching The Bill for starters, then later on followed Spooks and other high octane police drama’s and a lot of day dreaming… In my head I wish I was Jen, though my son and daughter are called Alex and Melanie.
But since finishing Burning Lie I have started several none starters trying to find the right story I want to tell….
Q how does writing make you feel?
At the most part I enjoy it, but I think I get fed up of it far to easily! I also get major imposter syndrome and then start thinking this is sh!t and it all goes downhill from there. Sometimes I compare it to Parkrun on a Saturday where I think it’s a good idea at the time, start running and get to WTF am I doing and then it’s getting myself over the line. Though like my hubby tells me you must enjoy it or why would you still be doing it!? Think that goes for Parkrun too…
Q do you have any tips for aspiring writers who haven’t plucked up the confidence to put pen to paper yet?
I’d tell them to go for it, what’s the worst that can happen? You don’t need to make a facebook announcement or anything just write for yourself and who knows where it might lead. We all started somewhere and unless you do start then who know what might happen
Q what are you working on next?
Hopefully what will be book 4 in the Lisa Carter files, I don’t want to give too much away as I’ve had so many false starts but its happening currently….
Find out more about Claire via
https://twitter.com/ClaireEESheldon
https://www.facebook.com/clairesheldonauthor
https://csheldonblog.wordpress.com/
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.
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?
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April 29, 2022
Meet Me on the Buddy Bench – Hannah Pearl
Tell us about the book
Meet me on the Buddy Bench is the story of Sam and Ava. They’ve both had a really tough time and it’s all about how they have to rebuild their lives. It’s not how they expected life to look for either of them, but it’s all about how they can find ways to support each other and be happy despite the difficulties.
Ava is a teacher. She becomes ill, experiencing waves of dizziness and absolute exhaustion. She struggles with her sense of identity when so much has changed. Sam is a doctor. His wife passed away and he has become isolated, or would have if it weren’t for his friend Alex who kept him going and then ensured that he saw a grief therapist. Now her job is at risk due to lack of funding and he finds himself volunteered to run a marathon to raise the money they need to keep her in post. It is on these runs that he sees Ava again on a bench and they get chatting, discovering that their friendship brings much needed comfort and company, and maybe even unexpected love.
I think it’s very emotional, hopefully heartwarming but also with some humour.
I love the idea behind this, where did it come from?
I have ME, as does Ava in the book, and I wanted her to have some of the same symptoms that I did to take the opportunity to raise some awareness of the condition. I wanted to find a balance between writing about the reality of having ME and the difficulties that this causes, but also to have love and friendship at its core, because reading romance books has been such a source of comfort and joy to me at the most difficult times with my health. I think it’s heartwarming, despite the difficult subject matter, because sometimes, even when life isn’t perfect, having people you love can make it memorable and worthwhile and worth fighting for anyway.
How did you get the ideas for your previous books?
For Evie’s Little Black Book, I’d read a few books where the main character got back in touch somehow with the one who got away, and I absolutely loved them! But, they did make me wonder, what if the one who got away wasn’t the one after all? Though in my Daisy series, it turned out that he was after all! With It’s My Birthday, I wanted to write a main character who was closer to my age, and we both approached forty at a similar time.
What comes first – the plot or the characters?
I’d say a bit of both. I often have the characters and a brief outline of the plot fairly early on, but I’d say that I know the characters more than I know the tiny details of the plot when I actually start writing usually. I try to know where they’re going to end up and roughly how they’re going to get there, but I add a lot more detail as I go. Sometimes I feel like I know the characters so well I have a dozen scenes in my head that don’t add much so I don’t always actually write them, but they help me to understand motivations and interactions and what they need to overcome to be happy by the end of the book.
How do you weave writing around your other commitments?
With difficulty! Because my ME limits my energy and concentration so much, I have long stretches of time where I don’t write much, but I absolutely love it when I can write, especially if I have a good spell and can get so deeply embedded in my writing frequently so that I can pick it up more quickly at each session. I find that I can edit more efficiently than I can write because it takes me less concentration to get back into the scene. I miss it when I don’t write more but it’s sometimes good to have that time to work ideas out in my head before I start and to make lots of notes. Sometimes I’ve started a story, had to put it down for a while but when I’ve come back to it, it’s been really satisfying to have a few thousand words down already and I come back to it fired up to add more.
How did you feel when you got your first book published?
I couldn’t believe that it was real. It felt like I’d been writing away quietly for so long, not really knowing how or if I’d ever get to share my stories that it was amazing to actually see the books published. I love how supportive the Choc Lit team are and I feel so lucky to be a part of that.
How do you feel now?
I still get nervous! This will be my first new book for a little while and it has been a really personal one to write, so I hope that people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
Enjoy yourself. Write when you can but be kind to yourself when you can’t. Follow writers you like on social media (not in real life, that would be creepy 
) Follow publishers that you like. Try writing competitions. Have a thick skin. Rejections just mean that your book wasn’t a good match for that publisher, it still might find it’s true home somewhere yet
Meet me on the buddy bench
When an ordinary park bench becomes a lifeline …
As a primary school teacher, Ava Lam is familiar with the ‘buddy bench’: a rainbow painted bench where sad or lonely children can sit to show they need a friend.
But are buddy benches just for kids? Ava might have assumed so – until she finds herself sobbing her heart out on a park bench and a kind stranger sits down next to her.
The stranger, Dr Sam Stone, has a house, an impressive job and he’s even training for a marathon – all things that have become painfully out of reach for Ava in her new and scary circumstances. But whilst Sam appears to have everything figured out, it seems he needs a sympathetic ear just as much as she does.
Is the encounter a one-off, or could the ‘buddy bench’ begin to represent a source of comfort and support that will become precious to them both?
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.
Links to buy:
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/meet-me-on-the-buddy-bench
Follow Hannah Pearl on:
Twitter- @HannahPearl_1
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April 28, 2022
Carrie Elks on being a hybrid author
Essex-based author, Carrie Elks was scouted by a literary agent after she wrote Twilight fan fiction, which led to her very first book being published in Brazil
She is now a very successful hybrid author, meaning some of her books are traditionally published and some are published by herself. Hugely prolific, she has already had one book out this year called Leave me Breathless – and has another one coming out soon called Lost in Him.
We chatted recently about how she works and what its like having your novels translated into many different languages, amongst many other things of course..
Click here to listen
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981006/10519901
Lost in Him
She’s his best friend’s little sister. Completely off-limits. And now she’s moving in with him…
When Gabe Winter’s best friend calls with an unusual request – give his broken-hearted little sister a roof over her head for a few months – he readily accepts.
But he doesn’t expect Nicole to be quite so enticing. Or for her to bring out all the feelings in him. Feelings he thought he’d buried long ago, beneath his easy-going façade and womanizing reputation.
But now they’re spending late nights watching movies together, snuggled beneath the blankets with popcorn in their hands. And there’s inches between her lips and his.
It’s wrong but it’s also inevitable. He’s falling for the one woman he shouldn’t want.
He’s in over his head, but drowning never felt so good.
About Carrie Elks
Carrie Elks writes contemporary romance with a sizzling edge. Her first book, Fix You, has been translated into eight languages and made a surprise appearance on Big Brother in Brazil. Luckily for her, it wasn’t voted out.
Carrie lives with her husband, two lovely children and a larger-than-life black pug called Plato. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found baking, drinking an occasional (!) glass of wine, or chatting on social media.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://carrieelks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieElks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieElksAu... Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carri... Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Elks/e/...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrie.elks/ Pinterest: http://uk.pinterest.com/carrieelks1/ Newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/e4u8i8
CONTACT DETAILS Carrie can be contacted via email carrie@carrieelks.com
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March 31, 2022
Seven little tips to help you put pen to paper (or hand to keyboard)
It took me quite a few years to actually get my first book published. The House That Alice Built won the Choc-Lit Search for a Star competition in 2019, and since then there’s been New Beginnings at the Little House in the Sun and Finding Summer Happiness. In June, my fourth novel, set in Lagos in Portugal’s Algarve will be arrive. 
I wrote, because I got something out of the process itself – disappearing into another world, creating something that was entirely from my own imagination, expressing things in my way, working though subjects and themes that interested me and by doing all of that somehow calming my mind for a while.
So, I want to encourage other people to take those first steps to put pen to paper, whatever the reason. You may have a burning desire to be published, or you could want to do it because you have something to say, but you’re not sure whether you want other people to see it or not.
Either way, actually starting can be daun
ting. I mean, if you’re writing a novel, for example, that’s around 80,000 words stretching into the distance. I’m not sure how far 80,000 words would stretch, but I suppose it depends on how many letters are in each word….
Here are a few little tips to help you get started:
1 There is no correct way to approach writing, so don’t put pressure on yourself do it the way other people do. You have to learn what works for you, whether it’s sticking to a word count, a certain amount of time spent on it, fitting it around other commitments or doing it when you feel like it. Remember, when you first start, you are doing it for you, so you need to enjoy it.
2 Allow yourself to make mistakes. Don’t expect it to be perfect right away. You may write a wonderful sentence followed by something that doesn’t make any sense – you can go back and change it when you’re ready to.
3 Read books if you want to write novels, watch tv programmes and films if you want to write scripts, listen to songs if its lyrics you want to write – basically, discover the world you want to be part of by learning from others.
4 Give yourself little tasks to help you along – you write the backstories for your characters, write short scenes with them in even if they don’t get used in the finished work, try a spot of flash fiction so you can have a finished piece and gain a sense of satisfaction for that (if you’re writing a novel or screenplay, it’s quite a long hall, so it’s nice to have pieces of writing done and polished along the way to give you a lift)
5 Talk to other people who are writing too – it makes it feel so much more accessible to have people with the same interest around you, and can be a real motivator. There are lots of groups around, whether you want to meet in person or online.
6 Do a course if you can. There are long ones, short ones, expensive ones and ones that are much cheaper. Whether you do one or not, bear in mind that whether you are writing your first or tenth book, poem, song lyric or screenplay, you are always learning and improving – that’s half the fun.
7 Dare to dream. Every writer does. That’s why we write in the first place.
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March 25, 2022
It’s Only Rock and Roll – Berni Stevens
We all love a bit of rock and roll, so the latest book from the very talented Berni Stevens really hits the mark! I invited her onto the blog to ask a few questions, not only about the book, but also how writing makes her feel. Plus, she shares a few tips for budding authors.
Tell us about the book
It’s the next chapter (so to speak) in the lives of Seth and Izzy, who first appeared in Izzy’s Christmas Star. I felt there was (and is) more to tell, and I really wanted to go on tour with the band! It’s the longest period of time that Izzy has spent with Seth … Will the relationship work … or will everything go horribly wrong?
It features Izzy Grant and as you mentioned, she was in another of your books – tell us about her
In the first book Izzy is working hard for a degree in English, and earning a bit of extra money by teaching Zumba at the local gym. She’s fun-loving and a little bit fiery. This book opens around her graduation, and she spends some time wondering whether Seth will be able to come back for it, because he’s on tour on the other side of the world. (Strictly speaking he would never have been able to … but it’s fiction!) He’s divorced and wary of making a big commitment again, and she wonders whether he ever will.
Why did you decide on the rock and roll background for the novel?
Music has always been very important to me, and my husband was a drummer in a band when we first met at art college. We’ve always gone to as many concerts as possible, and of course, once I met him, I went to all of his I do find the world of musicians fascinating, they really are a different breed. I’ve met a few famous musicians over the years too, and the nicest by far were Rod Stewart and the Faces. (I was fourteen!) Rod was just lovely and I fell a little bit in love with him! I got to present him with a portrait I’d done and he was so complimentary about it – which considering it was way before art college – was very sweet of him. I have a photograph which was taken for the Brighton and Hove Gazette, which records just how awful the portrait was! (And I look like a rabbit in headlights).
But I think music would always have popped up in a book at some point.
You’re also a (fabulous!) book cover designer – have you designed your own book cover, and what do you think about when you are coming up with the ideas?
Awww that’s kind … thank you! Yes I did design my own cover. It’s actually more difficult designing for myself because it’s harder to be critical of the ideas. Sometimes it’s difficult to actually have any ideas, because I’m too close to it. Luckily the final decision isn’t mine, and there are always a few people around to point out what’s wrong with it!
Did you always want to write?
Yes always. As an only child, I spent every spare moment from an early age, either writing or drawing. (My son was the same). I thought I’d be the next Monica Dickens at one point (I was always horse mad too), and then I changed my allegiance to Agatha Christie …
It wasn’t until I went to work for HarperCollins and met Monica Dickens’s great, great, (not sure how many greats) niece, that I realised she was related to Charles Dickens! And of course, HarperCollins have always published Agatha Christie too. At one point, I was the only member of staff who’d read all of her books – and I was in the art department!
How does it feel when you first put pen to paper (or rather hands on keyboard?)
It depends on whether I have an idea in my head or not. If I do, then usually I can’t wait to get going and start writing. It feels exciting and sometimes I have trouble stopping.
What does it feel like to send the book off after the final edits?
It’s a divided feeling to be honest … jubilation (and relief) because it’s finished and everyone’s happy, and yet there’s always a bit of reluctance to let it go. It’s a bit like sending your child to nursery for the first time. Will anyone be horrible to your baby? Those kind of fears.
What are your tips for budding authors?
Read, read and then read some more. You can never read enough. Also, write all the time, jot down ideas, titles, anything that pops into your head. The more you write, the easier it becomes – well that’s the theory. Listen (surreptitiously) to people. Dialogue is so important. Especially children’s dialogue. It’s difficult to be inside a child’s head – but they really are genuinely funny. If a dialogue doesn’t ring true in a book, it ruins the whole book for me.
What are you working on next?
I’m writing a Christmas story with some of the characters from Laughing All the Way. Some haven’t fared too well since we left them, and they need a helping hand. And I really think Izzy might need help with her wedding … plus she hasn’t even met the prospective in-laws yet, and they’re none too impressed by that. (Bad Seth!)
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?
About Berni Stevens
Berni lives in a 400-year-old cottage in Hertfordshire, with her husband, black cat, an ever-growing family of goldfish who think they’re piranha, and occasionally her son when he needs feeding up!
She trained in graphic design and has worked as a book cover designer for over twenty-five years for both publishers and many self-published authors. Any ‘spare’ time is taken up with jazz dance and Zumba (she’s a licensed Zumba instructor), going to as many rock concerts as she can, and hiking canyons (whenever she can afford to) in the stunning Utah desert…
Books:
Dance Until Dawn, Berni’s UK debut was a paranormal romance, followed by its sequel, Revenge is Sweet. Her first festive RomCom was One Magical Christmas in 2018 and Izzy’s Christmas Star followed the festive RomCom theme in 2019. Laughing all the Way on the Jingle Bells Express was published in 2021, and now her latest and the sixth book to be published by award-winning publisher Choc Lit, is It’s Only Rock and Roll which revisits hunky rock god Seth Roberts and Izzy Grant. This time Scarlet Gryphon are on part of their world tour, but not everything is hunky dory.
Find out more about Berni here
https://www.facebook.com/berni.stevens.5/
https://twitter.com/Berni_Stevens1
https://www.instagram.com/berni.stevens.5/
https://www.bernistevenscoverdesign.com/
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March 2, 2022
Queen of the Desert by Marie Laval
Another fabulous Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction author has a new book out. This time it’s Marie Laval, who’s family connection to North Africa inspired her to write the book.
So, I’ve invited her onto my blog to ask her a few pertinent questions about Queen of the Desert
QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Thank you so much, Christine, for inviting me on your blog to talk about my writing and my latest historical romance novel, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, which was published by Choc Lit UK on February 25th. Isn’t that cover gorgeous?
Tell us a bit about the book
QUEEN OF THE DESERT is set in 1845 and is a historical romance full of action, adventure and treasure hunting…. It is mostly in North Africa where the hero Lucas Saintclair is hired as a guide by Harriet Montague to travel to the South of the country where she is hoping to be reunited with her father, a British Museum archaeologist. Harriet believes that her father was captured by Tuaregs in the far South of the country and is desperate to rescue him.
What was the inspiration?
I have always been fascinated by history, ancient worlds and mysteries, and I really wanted to set a story in North Africa – a part of the world I have dreamt of visiting for many years and where my mother was born and grew up. Writing QUEEN OF THE DESERT was a fascinating process, not only because I absolutely loved the developing romance between Lucas and Harriet, but also because I felt I was travelling with them through Algeria’s breathtaking landscapes and discovering the fascinating cultures of some of the people they encountered on their way. One particular group of people are at the centre of the plot: the Tuaregs, also called ‘The People of the Veil’ or the ‘Blue Men of the Desert’ because of the indigo veil all men wear from around the age of fifteen.
It sounds very cinematic – are you a fan of things like The Mummy and Indiana Jones?
Yes! I do love Indiana Jones, and I quite liked The Mummy, although it got a bit silly at times, and films like Benjamin Gates and National Treasure which I watched with my children. But one film that I particularly liked was the 1950 film adaptation of King Solomon’s Mines with Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger.
When did you first put pen to paper and begin to write your first novel?
I used to write short stories, many of them inspired by my mother’s tales of her childhood in Algeria. I always wanted to write romantic novels, but being French I wasn’t confident that I could actually write a full length novel in English until I attended a one day workshop about writing romantic novels and it inspired me so much that I decided to go for it…
You’ve written a lot of books – do you have a writing routine?
I work full-time as a teacher and I have a family, so my writing time is very limited. However I do try to write a little, or at least to do a bit of research, every evening, but these past few months it hasn’t always been possible.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
To keep going, write what they love and stay true to themselves.
What are you working on now?
I have several projects on at the moment and my head is full of different plots, ideas and characters I want to write about, but I am finding it difficult to devote enough time to my writing, which is very frustrating. I hope that I can find enough time to settle down and complete at least one of my stories this year.
About QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Sometimes the most precious treasures exist in the most barren and inhospitable of places …
Harriet Montague is definitely too much of a gentlewoman to be frequenting the backstreet taverns of Algiers. But her father has been kidnapped whilst on an expedition to the tomb of an ancient desert queen, and she’s on a mission to find the only person who could save him.
It’s just unfortunate that Lucas Saintclair, the man Harriet hopes will rescue her father from scoundrels, is the biggest scoundrel of the lot. With a bribe in the form of a legendary pirate treasure map, securing his services is the easiest part – now Harriet must endure a treacherous journey through the desert accompanied by Saintclair’s band of ruffians.
But on the long, hot Saharan nights, is it any wonder that her heart begins to thaw towards her guide – especially when she realises Lucas’s roguish façade conceals something she could never have expected?
QUEEN OF THE DESERT is available as ebook from Amazon and Kobo
About Marie Laval
Originally from Lyon in France, Marie now lives in Lancashire and writes historical and contemporary romance. Best-selling LITTLE PINK TAXI was her debut contemporary romantic novel with Choc Lit. A PARIS FAIRY TALE was published in July 2019, followed by BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC in November 2019 and bestselling romantic suspense ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU which was shortlisted for the 2021 RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Award. HAPPY DREAMS AT MERMAID COVE is her latest contemporary romance. QUEEN OF THE DESERT is Marie’s second historical romance, following on from ANGEL OF THE LOST TREASURE which features another member of the Saintclair family.
She also writes short stories for the bestselling Miss Moonshine anthologies, and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. Her novels are available as ebooks and audiobooks on Amazon and various other platforms.
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