Anne Allen's Blog, page 4

☺☺Promotion Time! The Guernsey Novels Books 1-3 Reduced ☺☺

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the publication of Dangerous Waters, I’ve decided to offer the first three Kindle books at the bargain price of 99p/99c – from 24th February to 2nd March only. Three titles for less than £3/$3 – it’s a steal!

Here’s the link to all the books http://Author.to/AnneAllen

Please let family and friends know about the offer – the more the merrier ☺

For those of you who have read all five in the series, book 6, The Betrayal, is coming along nicely, and I hope to see it published by early summer. Will be launching a cover reveal in the near future.

Happy Reading!

Annex

 

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♫♫PROMO♫♫ Echoes of Time only 99p/99c !!

From 24th – 27th November ONLY, Echoes of Time is available on Kindle for 99p/99c

So for those of you who haven’t yet bought Book 5 in The Guernsey Novels series, here’s your chance to grab a bargain.

And if you have bought it, then please feel free to tell your friends and family.

Here’s the link http://myBook.to/EchoesofTime

Betrayal, injustice and revenge echo down the years…

1940. Olive marries farmer Bill Falla. The Germans occupy Guernsey.

All too soon Olive realises she’s made a mistake.

Her life changes when she meets Wolfgang, a German officer-

but there’s a price to pay. . .

2010. Natalie Ogier returns to Guernsey to escape an abusive relationship – only to be plagued by odd happenings in her beautiful cottage on the site of a derelict and secluded farm. Disturbing dreams, disembodied voices and ghostly visions from the past. She becomes increasingly ill at ease as someone else’s past catches up with her own…

Her only immediate neighbour, Stuart, is the grandson of the original owners, Bill and Olive.

Thrown together in a bid to find out what really happened to Olive, can they each survive the repercussions of the past and move on?

REVIEW

‘A powerful family drama packed full of mystery and intrigue. A stunningly good read.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review

Book 1, Dangerous Waters, is still priced at 99p/99c and available here http://getBook.at/DangerousWaters

Happy Reading!

Anne x

 

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♫♫PROMOTION TIME♫♫

In celebration of my latest book, Echoes of Time, launching on 15th August, I’ve reduced the price of the kindle versions of Finding Mother and Guernsey Retreat, to match that of Dangerous Waters.   Only 99p/99c!!! From 12th -19th August ONLY so please get your skates on if you wish to grab a bargain. And remember Echoes of Time is available for pre-order NOW. Will be downloaded to your kindles on Monday 15th.

To buy any of the series just click here http://Author.to/AnneAllen or on the image of the books

And for anyone lucky enough to live in Guernsey, I’ll be at The Press Shop on Friday 19th August between 12 and 2.00 to sign books or chat- or both!

Happy Reading

Annex

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♫♫ Hear Ye, Oh Hear Ye ♫♫ Echoes of Time is now on Pre-order!

My latest book, No. 5 in The Guernsey Novels series, Echoes of Time, is now on pre-order for kindle, lovely readers!

Publication date 15th August. You can either click on the cover above or go here http://authl.it/5n6

And here’s the all-important blurb:

Betrayal, injustice and revenge echo down the years…

1940. Olive marries farmer Bill Falla. The Germans occupy Guernsey.

All too soon Olive realises she’s made a mistake.

 Her life changes when she meets Wolfgang, a German officer-

but there’s a price to pay. . .

2010.Natalie Ogier returns to Guernsey to escape an abusive relationship – only to be plagued by odd happenings in her beautiful cottage on the site of a derelict and secluded farm. Disturbing dreams, disembodied voices and uncanny visions from the past. She becomes increasingly ill at ease as someone else’s past catches up with her own…

Her only immediate neighbour, Stuart, is the grandson of the original owners, Bill and Olive.

Thrown together in a bid to find out what really happened to Olive, can they each survive the repercussions of the past and move on?

This book differs from my previous novels in that I wrote it in dual-time. You can read Olive’s story alongside that of Natalie and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it!  The paperback will be published on 15th August alongside the ebook and I’m off to Guernsey for the formal launch on 19th August. I’ll be offering a book-signing at The Press Shop between 12 and 2pm, if any of you are local.

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♫♫ Promo on Finding Mother and New Price of Dangerous Waters ♫♫

Finding Mother, book 2 in The Guernsey Novels, is reduced to only 99p/99c from Friday 14th – Sunday 16th August for the Kindle version

 

You can buy it here – Amazon

And the price of Dangerous Waters, book 1 in The Guernsey Novels, has been permanently reduced to 99p/99c!!

This means you can buy both ebooks for less than the price of  a coffee ☺

Buy Dangerous Waters here –  Amazon

Please spread the word to your friends!

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“My heart belongs to…”

This is a post I wrote for Karen at http://myreading-corner.blogspot.co.uk
 Guest Post by Anne Allen, author of The Guernsey Novels: “My heart belongs to…”

I’m delighted to welcome Anne Allen to My Reading Corner.   Anne is the author of four novels set on the beautiful island of Guernsey.  I’ve read and enjoyed Finding Mother (reviewed here last year) and have the remaining three to look forward to.

Anne’s fourth novel, The Family Divided, was published in June 2015 and is available in paperback, and e-book for Kindle.

Anne has written a lovely post about her love of Guernsey, I hope you enjoy.


Readers, I fell in love at first sight. Marriage was not an option as the object of my love was an island, the second largest of the Channel Islands – Guernsey. I didn’t know it then, but it was to loom large in my life from that day on. It was August 1997. Do you believe in serendipity? I do, as my life has been full of such events and this was probably the most life-changing moment of all. A few months previously I had met some wonderful ladies on a self-awareness course in Glastonbury (where else?) and we had formed an instant connection. Two of them were sisters and had children of a similar age to my three and they kindly invited us over to stay with them in Guernsey that fateful August (I had been widowed a few years earlier).At the time I had just moved from Rugby to Teignmouth to be by the sea, but falling in love with Guernsey – and the islanders – caused me to re-think my long-term plans. Among my new friends were complementary therapists like myself (I was a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist) and I began to dream of setting up a residential natural healing centre in Guernsey. Well, a year later I had sold my house in Teignmouth and thought I’d bought a small guest-house in St Peter Port. Suffice to say the deal fell through shortly after the four of us arrived in my laden car, all our furniture etc en route to storage. I was devastated, but looking back I can see it was just as well, for at the time interest rates were sky high and I would not have survived financially.

Instead I set up my psychotherapy practice and clients trickled in while we moved from one rental to another. Guernsey has an unusual two-tier housing system, which meant I could only live Open Market, in more expensive housing. In spite of this I was happy to be in the island, building up friends and clients and exploring all the gorgeous beaches and stunning cliff paths. The way of life was so different to anything I had previously experienced: a mix of great watering-holes and restaurants and a laid-back approach to daily life. The gentle pace suited me and, although I knew I could never afford to buy a property, I was determined to hang on and build up my practice.

One friend had a boat and we would go out for fun trips with our children, mooring up in one of the lovely south coast bays. The boys would jump into the sea and splash around while us girls lay decorously on deck to top up our tans. What was not to like? It was idyllic. Guernsey was considered so safe that people didn’t bother locking their houses or cars!

The small sister island of Herm is my favourite place ever. It’s tiny – about a mile by a mile and a half – and there are no cars or bikes. You can walk around the dirt lanes in peace and safety, making it a great place for families. I took my children camping there one year and we had a wonderful time. There’s nothing to beat barbecuing on the beach on a warm summer’s evening☺

A few years later I met someone and we lived together in a beautiful farmhouse on the west coast in Perelle; a happy time. In the garden was a German bunker which my partner had renovated and is featured in my first novel, Dangerous Waters. Previously I had lived in various parts of Guernsey and try to incorporate them into my books. I’m often told by readers with a local connection that they recognise my descriptions. I strive to be accurate as there’s an island full of people who could rise up and shoot me down in flames if I make a mistake!

Guernsey has an interesting, but poignant, history. The German Occupation of WWII has left an indelible mark on the psyche of the islanders, even those who were not born then. Liberation Day, May 9th, is celebrated every year, and this year was the 70th anniversary, marked with more events than usual. Thousands of children were evacuated in 1940, shortly before the Germans arrived, and their lives were changed forever. Some never returned, having settled in England, causing upset to the families on the island. All my books have a reference to this period in honour of the impact it has had.

I wrote Dangerous Waters in homage to Guernsey and the wonderful times I had there. Although it’s not possible for me to return to live, I visit frequently. Not only does my elder son live there, but I love to catch up with friends and undertake research for my books. Now, if I were to come into a fortune – perhaps a lottery win or a best-seller?! – I could buy a small pied-a-terre and fly over once a month. Bliss!






About Anne:

Anne’s a late-comer to writing, having only started in her, ahem, middle years, (assuming everyone will live to 100 from now on, yes?). She often had the ‘itch’ to write but was focussed on her career as a psychotherapist and bringing up three children on her own. Then some years ago she was a reluctant entrant (pushed by her mother!) into a writing competition run by Prima magazine. They wanted a True- Life story and she won the first prize of £500 ☺ Deciding that writing wasn’t such a bad idea, she wrote her first novel, Dangerous Waters, a romantic mystery and eventually published it in 2012. Now retired as a therapist, she has devoted more time to writing, and has since published three more books, all forming The Guernsey Novels – a series of stand-alone stories with links to earlier ones. They are Finding Mother, Guernsey Retreat and The Family Divided.

A restless soul, she’s moved around quite a bit, as far south to Guernsey and then Spain, learning that the sea is part of her soul. She now lives in Devon to be near her daughter and grandchildren. Happiest in warmer climes, her ideal would be to spend part of the English winter somewhere warm, possibly Spain, to recharge body and soul. And to make more frequent visits to her beloved Guernsey. So, if and when she writes that bestseller…!






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Interview With Author Anne Allen – by Sacha Black

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ANNE ALLEN

Please welcome, Anne Allen to this weeks author interview. You can find Anne, on her website,Facebook, Twitter, or buy her books on Amazon.

What are you currently writing/working on?

My fourth book in The Guernsey Novels series, The Family Divided. Each story is a stand-alone romance/mystery/family drama, but with links to the successive books. Original main characters pop up later so readers get to find out what happens to them over a period of time. I plan to publish The Family Divided by June 2015.

When and how do your characters come to you? Is it in a moment of inspiration, an epiphany? Or do they grow in some murky recess of your mind?  

When I start planning a book, the main characters are the starting point. I have a rough idea of the plot line but the characters are what drive the story. They can start partly formed in my mind and develop as I go along– there’s no great eureka moment. I always start with a mini bio for each character and add to it as I get to know them better. It’s like meeting new people in real life – initially you have that first impression of them and then, as you see more of them, you learn their history, foibles etc.

There’s an acceptance that authors often write in traits or characteristics of themselves into their work, is there any part of you in any of your characters?  

Ooh, now this is getting personal! I think writers subconsciously include their own traits when writing characters of their own sex, which is why there can be similarities between their characters in all their books. With regard to myself, all my female protagonists are intelligent (!!), love reading, aren’t particularly domesticated, and can be brave when necessary. Oh, and their heart rules their head ☺

How do you develop your characters? Do you let them brew in your subconscious, use character interview sheets, or something completely different?

The short bio is the starting point and the characters develop as they encounter various situations. In other words, I don’t necessarily start by thinking “So and so will say or do this,” but let them respond spontaneously. I know it seems weird but the characters do seem to take over and surprise me!

Are you a planner, or free writer?

A little of both. I absolutely need an outline at the beginning and draw a sort of large circle, writing the main stages of the story on it, leaving room in the middle to make notes. This usually gets modified once I’m underway, but still helps me know where I’m going as the end is always at the top, next to the beginning. I do get side-tracked and find myself bringing in unplanned events or situations, which actually make it much more fun. I enjoy the unpredictability of writing a novel – you never know quite what might happen to your characters along the path to The End.

When you are developing a book, what tools or techniques do you use, e.g. timelines, mood boards, character interviews, scraps of notes?

I use timelines to keep track on which day, week, month I’m writing about. All my stories take place over several months and I need to allow for seasonal changes etc. I also write notes and rough outlines for each chapter.

Has your technique changed over time?

Yes. When I started my first book, Dangerous Waters, I knew little of writing a novel and just wrote what came into my head with little planning. Definitely a seat of the pants job! I ended up seeking professional advice and subsequently re-wrote the book a number of times before publishing. I think anyone’s first novel is the biggest learning curve and I would hope my technique has improved by now.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Do you actively look for it?

My initial inspiration is drawn from Guernsey, the setting of my books. I lived there for many happy years and think it has lots of stories to tell. The Channel Islands were the only part of the UK to be occupied by Germany during WWII and this aspect also offers ideas. All my books have a reference to something which happened at that time. I also draw inspiration from old houses and the secrets they hold and from my experience as a psychotherapist.  

What kind of an environment do you write in? Day/night/silence/music/desk/sofa etc  

I write at my desk in my small study, mostly during the day with the occasional overtime at night if the muse is in full flow. Whether or not I put on background music – always non-vocal – depends on my mood.

Half way into writing my first novel, it’s taking over my brain! What advice can you give me on completing it? Or maybe an easier question. What do you wish you had known about writing a book before you started?

The main point about writing is that it should be enjoyable – if it isn’t, something’s wrong! That’s not to say it’s easy, it isn’t. Writing a book is hard work and our brains need a rest at times. I tend to do something completely non-cerebral, like going for a walk, making fresh soup or bread (my domestic skills are improving slowly ☺), or watching television. The hardest part of writing a book is knowing what to leave in or take out. Which is where an editor comes in. I ended up cutting over 10,000 words from the first draft of Dangerous Waters after a professional critique. Nowadays, I’m much more aware of the problem of ‘padding’ or ‘overwriting’.  

The publishing industry is in decline across the board. Do you think things like the Kindle are bridging the gap, is there still the same love for the written word, or is it being diluted by the modern obsession with tech and gadgets? 

Tricky one to answer. Mature people who grew up pre-technology innovations, like myself, will probably remain true to the written word. I think ebooks will help to keep younger readers buying books but today’s children are being bombarded with videos and games which require less concentration than books. So the future depends on what happens when these children grow up. I would like to think books will still play a big part in their lives.

50 Shades of Grey author EL James was reported to make around £100k a day at the book’s height, and the upcoming film will make her millions. Do you find it a shame that the most lucrative and famous book franchise of the moment is one so widely derided for its lack of literary value? Or is it just good to have a book going mainstream?  

Not having read the books I can’t comment on their literary merit, but do think it’s a shame that “mummy-porn” was as successful as it was. Personally, I loved the Harry Potter books, which are not only well-written, but open up children’s (and adult’s) imaginations in a good way. I’m not convinced the success of 50 Shades has done much for books or writers overall.

If a fascist regime was burning the worlds libraries, what books would you save?

All the old classics, like the Austens, Dickens, Trollopes etc and the vast majority of contemporary books. Most of the books in libraries are worth saving as they all have something to offer society, even contentious ones like 50 Shades. For me personally, I’d be glad of my kindle and digitization ☺

Which publishing route have you taken? Did you always know you were going to go down this route, and if so why?

I have self-published under my own imprint, Sarnia Press, but did originally try the traditional route. For several years I approached agents but kept receiving rejections. A couple of agents did take the trouble to write personal letters of encouragement which soothed my wounded ego a little. Self-publishing wasn’t an option when I wrote my first book in 2006, but by the time I had re-written and edited it over the following years, it was becoming both viable and respectable.

What do you wish you knew about the publishing process before you started?

How complicated and what hard work it is to do solo. I used a publishing company, Troubador, to publish Dangerous Waters as I did not have the confidence or knowledge to do it myself. Troubador is a traditional publisher with a self-publishing imprint, Matador, which offers a service to authors for a price. They are good but expensive and I learnt so much from that experience that I went solo with my subsequent books, employing a professional editor, proofreader and cover designer. It still requires quite an investment but I’ve easily recouped the costs.  

What is the best advice you could give to aspiring novelists like me? Or what was the best advice you were ever given?

Write as if you’re writing for yourself, your own sense of satisfaction and achievement. Don’t write with the idea of making much money – very few writers achieve the luxury of being well-paid, full time authors. The market is flooded with millions of books being published annually so the odds are rather stacked against us!

Is fanfic to be welcomed as it broadens interaction and the readers experience or a scourge that devalues the ability of an author?

As I’m not a reader of fanfic I can’t comment, except to say it seems to be a cop-out on the writer’s part if they need to piggy-back on another witer.

I am finding more and more, that writers often have several creative outlets. Do you? Or is writing your one source?

Long before I took up my pen I had to be creative. It was a way for me to express myself and I learnt to mosaic, paint furniture, sculpt, interior design and renovate properties. I no longer practice these forms of creativity, finding my writing is more than enough these days.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?  

I’ve already been various ‘things’ in my life and feel this is right for me now in my autumn years. But if I’d ever managed to crack drawing or painting…

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Strictly speaking, I never thought that. I wanted to see if I could write a book, which isn’t the same thing. I was encouraged to do this after winning a true-life short story competition in Prima magazine, with the prize of £500 in M&S vouchers. Having enjoyed writing ‘compositions’ at school and essays at university, I’d often toyed with the idea of writing something substantial, but never got around to it. Now, it feels right to be a writer ☺  

What authors do you admire, and why?  

There’s so many! I loved Daphne Du Maurier, Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart and Georgina Heyer when young and have since come to admire Charles Palliser, Robert Goddard, Erica James, CJ Sansome and Barbara Erskine among others. I appreciate good writing and stories offering twists and turns, as well as a ‘proper’ ending. I hate being left in suspense!

To find out more about Anne, her  author bio is below:

Anne’s a late-comer to writing, having only started in her, ahem, middle years, (assuming everyone will live to 100 from now on, yes?). She often had the ‘itch’ to write but was focussed on her career as a psychotherapist and bringing up three children on her own. Then some years ago she was a reluctant entrant (pushed by her mother!) into a writing competition run by Prima magazine. They wanted a True- Life story and she won the first prize of £500 ☺ Deciding that writing wasn’t such a bad idea, she wrote her first novel, Dangerous Waters, a romantic mystery, published in 2012. Now retired as a therapist, she has devoted more time to writing, publishing her second novel, Finding Mother, in October 2013 and a third, Guernsey Retreat, in August 2014. A fourth, The Family Divided, is due in 2015.

A restless soul, she’s moved around quite a bit, going south to Guernsey and then Spain, learning that the sea is part of her soul. She now lives in Devon to be near her daughter and grandchildren. Happiest in warmer climes, her ideal would be to spend part of the English winter somewhere warm, possibly Spain, to recharge body and soul. So, if and when she writes that bestseller!

Re-blogged from SachaBlack.co.uk

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Author Interview Anne Allen & 5* Review of The Family Divided – Re-post from joliffe01.com – Jane Hunt Writer

Author Interview Anne Allen – 5* Review The Family Divided ( #4 The Guernsey Novels series)
JULY 3, 2015 ~ JOLLIFFE01


Andy Batiste, at loggerheads with his degenerate cousin, seeks to discover the truth of his family history. Why was his pregnant grandmother forced to flee to France? What really happened to her husband during the German Occupation, sixty years ago? Who accused Edmund, the elder son and Batiste heir, of being an informer? Was he really a traitor – and who murdered him?
With Edmund’s brother Harold now head of the family, enjoying the wealth which ought to have come to Andy’s father, the family is forever divided. Andy yearns to clear Edmund’s name and restore his father to his rightful inheritance.
Into the conflict comes Charlotte Townsend, newly divorced, lonely and struggling with writer’s block and the consuming threat of impending loss. She returns for healing at Guernsey’s natural health centre, La Folie, and becomes involved in Andy’s family affairs.
Together they embark on a hunt for the truth…
Amazon UK
Amazon
What inspired you to write, ‘The Guernsey Novels’ series?
Initially I only thought of writing one book, ‘Dangerous Waters’, as my homage to Guernsey where I had spent many happy years. Even when I wrote the second, ‘Finding Mother’, it didn’t occur to me I was writing a series! Writers are always told to ‘write what you know’ and I knew Guernsey pretty well so it seemed the obvious starting point. It was almost incidental that I allowed characters from ‘Dangerous Waters’ to pop up in Finding Mother, but readers seemed to like that and it’s been a feature of all my books since.
Your stories have atmospheric settings and memorable characters, are they inspired by real people and places or a product of a vivid imagination?
I appreciate the compliment, Jane! The settings are mainly real, Guernsey providing its own atmosphere beautifully. I do invent the homes of my characters but base some of them on properties I know. For example, Jeanne’s and Molly’s cottages in ‘Dangerous Waters’ are quite similar to my old home in Perelle on the west coast of Guernsey. The characters are probably an unconscious mix of real people and imagined. I would never knowingly use a real person in case it wasn’t a flattering portrayal and easily recognisable!
‘The Guernsey Novels’ are a mix of contemporary and historical. Would you like to write a purely historical, mystery novel?
Interesting question. Although I do a certain amount of historical research now, I’m not sure I could cope with the full immersion in the past needed to write a purely historical novel. Perhaps something to think about for the future…☺
Your stories always have great dialogue content; do you find this easy to write? Have you any tips for writing realistic dialogue?
Writing dialogue was hard for me initially, but has become easier with each book. As a psychotherapist I was used to hearing people talk and even now enjoy ear-wigging on conversations. I think if you really listen to how people talk to each other it becomes easier to write more natural dialogue. The key is to listen to different generations – speech changes dramatically from one age group to another. For example, my own children are in their thirties and I use their choice of expressions etc for my main characters in that age group.
What genres of books do you read, when you’re not writing?
Funnily enough I really enjoy historical mysteries! My favourites are those by C J Sansom as they are so detailed and I can imagine myself at the Tudor court. I also read some crime and thriller but am not keen on anything too gory. Books which focus on relationships and family, as opposed to pure ‘romance’ are also high on my list.
Your latest release in ‘The Guernsey Novels’ series is ‘The Family Divided’. What can you tell us about it?
The Family Divided follows Andy Batiste as he searches for the truth behind the split in the family. His grandfather, Edmund, was murdered shortly before the end of the Occupation in Guernsey, after being labelled a traitor. He left a young widow who didn’t realise she was pregnant when she fled to France weeks later having been cast aside by her husband’s family. Edmund’s younger brother subsequently inherited the family estate instead of Edmund and when his son James moves to Guernsey years later, he gets nothing. Andy wants his father to receive his due inheritance and rightful place in the family.

Andy is helped in his search by Charlotte Townsend, recently divorced and enjoying her second visit to the natural health retreat at La Folie. Charlotte, a publisher and newbie writer, has been struggling with her novel and when she learns of Andy’s quest, is eager to help and together they embark on the search for the truth.
Where’s your favourite place to write? What is it about your writing space that you like?
I rarely write anywhere other than at my desk in my small study. I used to write longhand and then type it up on my PC, meaning I could write anywhere. But two years ago I had problems with my right hand and, after an operation, decided to cut down the strain by only typing.

My space is cluttered but comfortable. I have a fairly large desk and a super cream leather office chair that supports my back. Essential for any writer! The room was the single bedroom of my house and when I moved in I made it my study, including writerly things like bookshelves and filing drawers.
How much research is necessary prior to writing your stories? What does this involve?
Most research is focused on the Guernsey Occupation, which features in all my books. I was lucky enough to talk to people who lived through it and there are numerous published first-hand accounts. It’s a major influence on present-day Guernsey and Liberation Day – on 9th May – is a public holiday. I do some research for the contemporary major element of the stories but this might only involve such things as legal issues. Guernsey law is based on French law and can be quite different to English.
Have you written any other books?
No – not yet.
What’s next for Anne Allen and her writing? Will there be more Guernsey Novels?
I’ve started mapping out book 5 of The Guernsey Novels which will be a little different to the previous books. Called ‘Echoes of Time’ it’s a tale of betrayal, injustice and revenge, with a strong reference to the Occupation but set mainly in the present. There’s a slightly supernatural feel to this one and I’m looking forward to writing it. And there will be some familiar faces making an appearance ☺
 Thank you for talking to us Anne. Here’s my review of The Family Divided #4 in The Guernsey Novel series.

The catalyst for this story is an incident in World War 2. A death accompanied by malicious rumour divides a family. Charlotte, who we met in ‘Guernsey Retreat’, makes a welcome return. ‘The Family Divided’ maintains the mystery and gentle romance, characteristic of this series. This story casts Charlotte in the role of detective as she unravels the secrets and rumour buried in the Batiste’s family’s past, to help and stay close to her new friend Andy Batiste.
 Well paced, this story explores the growing relationship between Charlotte and Andy, and lets us glimpse the lives of previously introduced characters, Jeanne, Louise and Malcolm. I liked the disparity between Andy’s family and Charlotte’s and how it allows both characters to grow and develop. Charlotte’s investigation is believable and what she discovers builds to a tense and well resolved ending.

If you like your mystery with vivid imagery and sweet romance you will definitely enjoy The Guernsey Novels series.

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Read my reviews of the first three books in The Guernsey Novel series by clicking on the links below:
Dangerous Waters
Finding Mother
Guernsey Retreat

The Family Divided by Anne Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anne Allen

Jane Hunt Writer First Steps

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♫♫Double Celebration – New Book – The Family Divided – and New Covers♫♫

I’ve had a busy few weeks not only editing and polishing my latest book, The Family Divided, but also liaising with a designer over new covers for the earlier three books. And here they are!! Blast of a trumpet, someone please . . . .

Sweet dreams are made of this. . . Re-post from Seumas Gallagher

. . . .sweet dreams are made of this… ev’rybody’s got one…

by Seumas Gallacher

…it’s not that long ago when Master Richard Gere and that nice Julia Roberts lassie romanced the heck out of us in Pretty Woman… quite apart from the fabulous theme tune by the incomparable Roy Orbison, there’s a bit at the end of the movie that sticks with me… as the closing credits roll, a guy walks across the set and says, ‘this is Hollywood… everybody’s got a dream’… LUV that!… and so it is to be well borne in mind, fellow quill-scrapers, when yeez write yer masterpieces… yeez are in the business of creating dreams … one of the biggest reasons I read is to escape into the fantasy of sumb’dy else’s imagination… sumb’dy else’s dreams… the creative juices are unlimited when an Author is the God of all that he/she controls within the pages of their narrative… forget for a minute the standardised formulae for writing a story… yes, yes, yes, I know, Mabel, there’re ROOLS to be followed, like give it a start, a middle, and an ending–and all the other good stuff like plot development, character arcs, and suchlike… but the dreams that flow from the scribbler’s psyche are much more important… without the dream, there is no story… without the dream, there is no escape valve for yer readers… and daft as it sounds, without the dream, there is no dream…

…I watch and observe people every day going about whatever they go about… kids, families, employees, taxi drivers, waiters, managers, hotel guests, travellers… folk I meet in elevators… they all have dreams… they don’t say that, but yeez just know… give them half a chance to talk to yeez, and the dreams in one form or another come flowing out… it’s called living… sum’times it’s ambition… sum’times it’s just putting one foot in front of the other to make it until tomorrow… but all dreams nonetheless… and as Authors, yeez are all dream-makers… enjoy… see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!…

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Thank you, M’Lud, for your words of wisdom. Always a pleasure to read your blog ☺Anne

 

 

 

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