Victoria Walters's Blog, page 30
January 31, 2018
What I read in … January 2018
January feels as if it’s been going on forever this year but at least I’ve read some good books, which has brightened things up a bit. I read four novels and one non-fiction book over the month.
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My non-fiction pick was Read This If You Want To Be Instagram famous. As an Insta addict, I couldn’t resist picking this book up. It’s basically tips from popular accounts but all of them have been on there years, before the algorithm issues, and I didn’t find it all that helpful.
The Hourglass is a lovely novel set over two time periods following two women in Wales. Tin Man is a short and moving novel about a man, his wife and best friend. It’s interesting but wasn’t as absorbing as the author’s debut for me.
The Couple Next Door is a compelling thriller about a baby going missing. It’s one that’s easy to pick up and devour with lots of twists and turns.
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My favourite read of the month though is Practical Magic. I saw the film years ago but never picked up the book and it’s an enjoyable, quirky read about two sisters and their magical family. I’ll definitely be reading the prequel in the future. And now I want to see the film again!
What book cheered you up this month?
Victoria
xoxo
January 22, 2018
What to watch on Netflix
I’ve had Netflix for about a year now and because of how much is on there, I still struggle with choosing what to watch. There are some shows I love and am loyal to but quite a few I’ve been disappointed in as well. So I thought I’d share some of the TV series I’ve enjoyed and see if you guys have any recommendations for me!
The Crown
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The Crown is a compelling and classy show based on real events as we follow The Queen from her marriage and coronation. It feels like a BBC costume drama and I absolutely love it. Full of drama, history, fab acting and gorgeous period clothes and sets. Don’t miss it!
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
I wonder if the title of this US comedy show puts people off because it really is a gem. We follow loser-in-love Rebecca as she follows her ex to a new town and tries to win him back. The show develops though into a really interesting look at mental health as well as being funny, and the best part is each episode contains at least one musical number. The songs are super clever and it’s really unlike anything I’ve watched before.
The Good Place
This US sitcom has filled the 30 Rock hole in my life. Crazy and funny, it’s set in heaven and stars the adorable Kristen Bell. There’s also a brilliant twist to it and it cheers me up every time I watch it.
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Anne With an E
A solid adaptation of the brilliant Anne Of Green Gables Books, it’s perfect Sunday night viewing and I’m really looking forward to season two.
13 Reasons Why
Wow this is a hard-hitting show. I read the book years ago and it’s a fairly faithful adaptation of the YA novel about a girl who commits suicide and leaves a boy at her school tapes explaining why she did it. The show is much more graphic than the book though and I do think some scenes were a little too uncomfortable to watch but it was certainly gripping.
Jessica Jones
If you’re a Wonder Woman fan I think you’d enjoy this Marvel TV show about a private detective with super strength. A bit slow moving to start with but has an amazing villain played by David Tennant and you root for Jessica from episode one.
Riverdale
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My final pick is a complete guilty pleasure. A teen drama with a mystery each season, it’s very stylised and has a distinctive tone to it. I’m a little bit in love with Jughead the be honest. If you liked Pretty Little Liars I think you’ll be hooked by this show too.
So, are you a fan of any of these? What are your Netflix picks? Give me all your recommendations please!
Victoria
xoxo
Have you downloaded Random Acts Of Kindness for FREE yet?! Go, go, go!
January 21, 2018
Want to beat those January blues?
January is, let’s face it, a miserable month! Especially here in the UK at the moment because the weather is cold and wet and grey plus we’re all poor after Christmas and everyone is suffering with a cold.
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But don’t worry, I have something to cheer us all up! The first part of my new serial, Random Acts Of Kindness, is now FREE to download hurrah! It’s just for a limited time so make sure you head over to Amazon and add it to your Kindle today!
Here’s the link you need:
Random Acts Of Kindness FREE download
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I’d love to know what you think after you’ve read so please pop a review up or comment here.
I hope you all enjoy and it brightens up your January a little!
Victoria
xoxo
January 6, 2018
My Books Of 2017
Each month last year, I wrote a blog post about all the books I’d read that month and picked the one I enjoyed the most. I was interested to put that list together to see my 12 favourite books I read in 2017.
I think it’s clear I have wide-ranging tastes – the list includes thrillers, romances, ghost stories, adult and YA fiction, and a mix of recently published, older books and classics. Possibly because I work in a bookshop, but I love to discover new authors and try new books and I’m hoping my 2018 books will be as interesting.
Here we go then – my books of 2017:
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So, what do you think? Which have you read and enjoyed? What do you think I’d enjoy reading this year?
Victoria
xoxo
January 5, 2018
Books read in December 2017
There was a definite festive slant to the books I read last month but with everything Christmas going on, I only managed three novels and one non-fiction book:
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I love a good lifestyle book especially when they look pretty in photos! Tanya’s Christmas is a festive how-to guide with crafts and recipes and lots of details about how Tanya Burr spends Christmas. If you’re a fan of hers, you’ll love it and I can’t wait to do some baking from it.
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The Hygge Holiday is a fun women’s fiction novel all about how letting in all things cosy can make your life better. I’m a bit obsessed with all things Danish so I had to pick this one up.
My next festive read was Heidi Swain’s Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells, which is a lovely Christmas romance that won’t fail to warm your heart! My publisher’s gave me this one and I definitely want to read more from this author.
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My pick of the month is a book I’ve been meaning to read for years and is probably the best known Christmas book out there – A Christmas Carol 
January 1, 2018
Dear 2018
It’s that time again when we look back on the year as a new one begins. I must admit I’m not sorry to see the back of 2017! On top of my thyroid issues, someone drove into the back of me giving me whiplash and I had to go to A and E twice, having never been in my life before. But on the other hand, I also got a new book deal and part one of my serial was published just a couple of weeks ago.
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I’m hoping that 2018 is a kinder year. Obviously I’d like my four part serial Random Acts Of Kindness to do well. I think all writers dream of that bestseller list. I’m thankful for all the good reviews it’s received so far, and fingers crossed that continues and word of mouth spreads.
Above all, I’d like the year to be a happy and healthy one. I really didn’t think my thyroid could cause so many issues but it’s an ongoing battle to be on the right medication and feel like myself again. I would also like to be less anxious about my health and try not to let stress get me down. Easier said than done but I will try!
Last year, I wanted to be more positive and this is still an ongoing goal. There’s a whole host of new books coming out on self-care and, along with kindness to myself and others, I think that’s a good focus for the New Year too.
As a smaller goal, I’d love to reach 2,000 followers on my instagram this year. I’ve really enjoyed the app and photography is lots of fun so I’d really like to carry on posting regularly and building that up too.
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I hope that you all have a happy new year and that 2018 is everything you hope it will be. I’d love to know your goals for this year so please do share in the comments!
Victoria
xoxo
December 19, 2017
Random Acts Of Kindness Chapter One
I’m thrilled to share the first chapter of my new book Random Acts Of Kindness, a novel in four parts, as a pre-Christmas treat for you guys! I would love to hear what you all think, and please do share far and wide!
I hope you enjoy …
Victoria
xoxo
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Chapter One
The endless green countryside stretched out as far as Abbie Morgan could see from the train window. The urban blanket of London had transformed into the rolling Surrey Hills as she made her way to the small town of Littlewood. It had been a nightmare of a week and her head was still pounding. Her suitcases were wedged in beside her, another painful reminder that this wasn’t a quick visit to see her younger sister, Louise, she was actually moving in with her. Hopefully not for long, but still . . .
Abbie sighed and leaned her head against the cool window so that her shoulder-length dark curls fell across her cheek, screening her from her fellow passengers. She was relieved that her train carriage was relatively empty, save for a mother and daughter a few seats away, so she could dwell on recent events in glum peace. She had lived in London for five years since leaving university and couldn’t believe she was being forced to part ways with it. But when she had been made redundant from her job at City PR, where she had worked for the last two years, she knew there was no way she could stay in the city she loved. The worst part was that her ex-boyfriend, Jack, a partner at the company, had been the one to deliver the news.
Abbie’s phone on her lap buzzed with a call. ‘Hi, Lou,’ she greeted her sister, forcing a smile into her voice, if not fully onto her face. She was grateful to her little sister for putting her up but wished she didn’t live in such a tiny town. At least the train would be quite quick for getting back to the city if she had interviews to go to.
‘I’m so sorry I won’t be there to meet you from the train,’ Louise said. ‘I won’t be much longer though. Do you want to meet me at the café near the station and we can go home together?’ Louise was a nurse at a hospital in the next, larger town, and her shift would be over soon. Abbie agreed to the plan and got directions to Brew. Louise said she was excited to finally show her town to Abbie, who hadn’t had any time since getting the assistant job at City PR to make the trip out of London. Louise had always come to stay with her when she had time off instead. To Abbie, London was the place that everyone should want to be, so she had been surprised that Louise had settled somewhere so quiet.
The train soon drew into the small station of Littlewood. Colourful hanging baskets adorned the platform. It made a stark change from the graffiti Abbie was used to seeing on her old commute. She heaved her two wheelie cases off the train and rattled along the platform with them. She had sent the rest of her things to her parents’ house in Cornwall.
After struggling through the barriers with her bags, she began to walk to the café – which turned out to be in the grounds of a grand stone house perched on top of a hill looking over the small town.
The uphill walk was not at all easy in her favourite four-inch-heeled boots, but when you were as tiny as she was, you needed the extra height at all times, so she dragged herself and her bags towards the stately home. Louise said the café stood at the beginning of the estate and was the best place in Littlewood for coffee. And, God, Abbie needed a large cup.
She heard a faint noise in the wind behind her, but she kept up her brisk London pace, thinking it was probably someone after money or something. That was usually why people tried to get your attention nowadays.
Finally, she made it to the top of the hill. The café was just through the imposing iron gates of the stately home. There was a green and gold sign proclaiming the house to be Huntley Manor – a luxury hotel, apparently. Abbie glanced at the tall, light-brown stone building as she made her way to the cute-looking café on the edge of the green. The hotel looked as if it could have been lifted out of a Jane Austen novel and Abbie resolved to explore it soon.
Abbie gratefully pushed open the door to Brew to escape the light drizzle of rain starting to fall on top of her shoulders, and she went up to the counter to order. The café was cute and colourful with small, round wooden tables with a vase of sunflowers on each and slate chairs in different shades of blue, a black and white tiled floor and a large counter at the back with a vast array of delicious-looking cakes. Abbie breathed in the fresh coffee smell that lingered on the air. She loved cafés and this one felt like home as soon as she walked through the door.
‘Good morning!’ said a lady with a messy grey-haired bun and big smile, leaning on the counter to greet her. Her apron was blue and white with ‘Have a Brew!’ written on it in big letters. ‘What can I get you?’
‘A large latte, please.’
The woman started making it immediately and glanced back at Abbie as she did so. ‘I haven’t seen you in here before, have I?’
Abbie shook her head. ‘No, I’m here to stay with my sister.’
‘Well, I’m Joy and I own Brew with my husband, Harry. He’s in the back making sandwiches. Welcome to Littlewood,’ she said cheerfully, sliding Abbie’s drink across to her. She moved to the till.
Abbie reached for her bag, but her hands grabbed air instead. ‘Oh no!’ she cried, looking down at her cases in horror.
‘What’s wrong?’ Joy asked, leaning over the counter to see.
‘But I picked it up off the train, I’m sure I did,’ she said out loud, shaking her head. She had kept her handbag balanced on top of one of the wheelie cases so she didn’t have to carry it on her shoulder. ‘I can’t find my bag,’ she admitted to Joy.
‘Oh, dear, I’m sorry,’ Joy said, sympathetically.
Abbie checked around her again, a sinking feeling in her chest. ‘What am I going to do without it?’ she said. If living in London had taught her anything, it was to keep a tight hold of your belongings at all times. She’d have to cancel her cards immediately. Oh, God. Her phone was in there. She started to feel panicky at the thought of not having it with her. How would anyone get in contact with her?
‘Look, try not to worry. You’re in Littlewood now and everyone looks out for one another here. I’m sure someone will find your bag and deliver it back to you. Go and sit down and drink your latte; you’ve had a shock and you need your coffee.’
‘But I can’t pay for it,’ Abbie admitted, her cheeks turning pink. She had never lost her bag before. This week was just going from bad to worse.
‘Don’t be silly, it’s on us.’ Joy grabbed a brownie and put it on a plate. ‘This too.’
‘Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly accept . . .’
Joy waved off Abbie’s protests. ‘Sit down, I insist. You can pay next time, after you find your bag.’
Abbie wished she shared Joy’s faith that her bag would be found. She carried the brownie and latte over to her table, hoping Louise would hurry up and get there so she could use her phone to ring the bank.
The door to the café banged open, making Abbie turn with a start. ‘There you are,’ a woman cried, waving something at her. ‘I’ve been chasing you from the station.’ A little girl followed her inside the café; both of them were pulling suitcases. ‘Your bag fell off when you went through the barrier,’ she said, a distinct accent to her brisk tone, holding up what Abbie could now see was her lost handbag.
Abbie recognised her from the train carriage and breathed a huge sigh of relief. ‘Oh, wow, thank you so much,’ she said, amazed that the woman had followed her all the way to Brew to get it back to her. She took it from her. ‘I’m so grateful.’
The woman, who looked a similar age to Abbie’s twenty-eight years and had a sharp, blonde bob, smiled. ‘Of course. I would be so upset if I lost mine.’
‘See? I told you it would turn up,’ Joy called from the counter. ‘All’s well that ends well.’
‘It certainly wouldn’t have got back to me so quickly in London,’ Abbie said. She pulled out her purse. ‘And now I can pay you.’
‘No, this one is still on us,’ Joy said, firmly. ‘What would you like?’ she asked Abbie’s saviour just as a tall, round-bellied man came out of the kitchen with two plates of egg and cress sandwiches for an elderly couple sitting by the door. ‘This is my husband, Harry,’ Joy told them. ‘And I can see you’re new to Littlewood too,’ she added to the blonde woman who had seated her daughter with their bags at the next table to Abbie.
‘I’m Eszter. This is Zoe. We’ve just arrived in England from Hungary.’
‘Well, we hardly ever get any newcomers and now we have three! Coffee?’
Joy took Eszter’s order and brought her drinks to the table. She glanced at Abbie who was marvelling at how delicious her brownie was. ‘You look so familiar; have we met before?’
Abbie shook her head. ‘No, but my sister Louise lives here.’
‘Is that Louise Morgan?’ Joy asked, her eyes lighting up.
‘That’s right, yes.’
Harry came over and put his arm around his wife. ‘We know Louise well, lovely girl, she helped looked after me in hospital and started coming in here then. Drinks too much coffee for a nurse, though.’
Abbie smiled. ‘It runs in the family.’
‘So, you’re here to stay with Louise, and what about you?’ Joy asked Eszter.
‘We’re here to see family too. Well, sort of family, anyway.’ She sipped her coffee with a nervous look on her face. She glanced at her daughter, who had long, fair hair and the same sharp eyes as her mother. ‘It was a bit of a rush decision to come here. We don’t even know where we’re going to stay.’ She bit her lip, then smiled quickly when Zoe looked at her. Abbie suspected she was putting a brave face on things and was intrigued by their story.
‘I’m sure we can help with that,’ Joy said. Then she clapped her hands together. ‘And, Abbie, I just remembered, you must put Eszter’s kindness to you up on the board,’ she said, gesturing to the large chalkboard that hung across one wall. It was filled with chalk scribbles in various styles of handwriting and colours.
‘What’s that?’
‘This is our Kindness Board. If anyone has an act of kindness done to them, they write it up on the board. We started it this summer and it’s already filling up. Eszter finding your bag is definitely worthy of being up there,’ Joy said, going back around the counter to make Louise’s regular coffee for her arrival. She held out a piece of chalk to Abbie.
‘A Kindness Board?’ Abbie glanced at her, wondering if it was a joke, but Joy told her to go on up. Sensing everyone’s eyes on her, Abbie went to the board and looked at some of the entries already up there. Feeling like she was back in school, she added Eszter’s random act of kindness to the board.
My lost handbag was returned to me by Eszter. Thank you for your act of kindness!
She added a smiley face to it.
‘And now you’ll have to pay her act of kindness forward,’ Joy said from behind her.
‘Huh?’
‘In Littlewood, if someone is kind to you, you repay their act by being kind to someone yourself.’
Abbie stared at Joy, wondering if she had walked into some kind of cult. ‘That’s a thing?’
Joy laughed. ‘We are trying to make it “a thing”, yes. Ever since Harry was in hospital, and the whole town rallied around us and helped us keep Brew going, we have tried to be kind to the community when we can. Harry thought having a board in here would encourage others to do the same.’
‘Is it working?’ Abbie was sceptical. She was certain no one had ever been what she would call ‘kind’ to a stranger back in London.
‘You’ll have to come back and tell me if it works for you.’ Joy went to serve another customer and Abbie watched her go, wondering if she was really expected to pay Eszter’s kindness forward.
Was kindness something that could be sprinkled around as if it was confetti?
If you enjoyed the first chapter, you can download the rest of part one for just 99p HERE!
December 17, 2017
How Do You Choose How To Tell A Story?
Once you have an idea for story, the next step is to decide how you’re going to tell that story.
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I’ve ended up using two very different ways of telling a story for my first two novels. The Second Love Of My Life, which was published last year is written from the first person perspective of my main character Rose. It’s also written using present-tense. The reason I chose this style was because I knew from the very start that the novel was about Rose’s journey as she tried to move on from the sudden death of her childhood sweetheart and husband. I wanted readers to really be inside her head and heart, to feel her grief and pain, and be there as she rebuilt her life. It’s an intimate voice. I lived Rose’s life with her as I wrote the book, and I hope readers do the same when they read it.
When it came to write my second book Random Acts Of Kindness, which is being published as a four part serial, I knew I needed more than one main character. Firstly, I had four parts to write and to keep the readers interest, I needed lots of twists and turns plus I wanted to include as many Acts Of Kindness through the story as I could, and I felt this would work better with a larger cast of characters.
I ended up creating three very different characters. I wanted each of them to have a different relationship to kindness so they could each go on a journey and discover how kindness had the power to change their lives.
This meant writing in the third person but we keep a close proximity to each character and chapters follow a particular point of view. This is because I love readers really getting into my character’s heads and hopefully feeling everything that they feel right alongside them.
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Deciding how to tell your story is important. You want to tell it in the best way you can, you want to draw your reader in and not let them leave, and to make them feel something as a result of reading it. Above all the style you choose needs to work for your story and your characters.
My novels appear to be written very differently but I hope both are heart-warming and life-affirming. The latest publishing buzz word is “up-lit” which I really like because I want my writing to be up-lifting, no matter how I choose to tell the story. It’s also fun to try out different styles and it’s always a challenge when you use a different way of telling a story so your writing always stays fresh.
How do you decide how you want to tell a story?
Victoria
xoxo
December 15, 2017
A Gorgeous Set Of Covers
My Random Acts Of Kindness series has a full set of lovely looking covers now hurrah!
Each cover has a little picture that has a role to play in the story and I just love all the colours. I think the covers really match the cosy, country, up-lifting vibe of the story and hopefully you’ll agree once you read them.
All the parts are 99p and you can order them here!
What do you guys think? See below!!
Victoria
xoxo
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An emotional, cosy, community read that will reaffirm your faith in human kindness; perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Penny Parkes and Jo Thomas.
Welcome to Littlewood, a small town community with a big heart. Abbie has fled London and the humiliation of not being able to make rent after being made redundant. Louise, seriously unlucky in love, has thrown herself into her career at the local hospital. And Eszter, who has travelled from Hungary with her daughter, Zoe, hopes to reach out to the mother-in-law she never met while her husband was still alive…
Can a little bit of kindness really change your life? Three very different women are about to find out…
‘A really lovely story – heartwarming and life affirming’ Jo Thomas, author of The Honey Farm on the Hill
‘An entertaining and timely reminder that a Random Act of Kindness can change not only someone’s day, but also someone’s life’ Penny Parkes, author of Practice Makes Perfect
‘Such an uplifting, warm story, with characters I already feel like I know. I loved every minute of it!’ Cressida McLaughlin, author of THE CANAL BOAT CAFÉ series
‘A heartwarming read – cosy and comforting. I loved it!’ Heidi Swain, author of Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair
‘Victoria Walters has such a wonderful, fresh voice and the characters in this series really do leap off the page. The perfect pick-me-up for those long winter nights, and a timely reminder of the importance of kindness in every part of life’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House
December 13, 2017
It’s A Kind Life
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I can’t believe that I haven’t watched It’s A Wonderful Life before now. I always see it on Best Christmas Movie lists and I thought it was about time I picked up a copy and gave it a whirl. Who doesn’t love a festive film?
I’m so glad I did. It’s A Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey, a man who through his life has had to give up on dreams of leaving his small town and instead taken on the family business, married and settled there. His life has always been about putting others first and helping those in need.
When everything seems to be going wrong, he stands on a bridge and considers ending his life. Enter his guardian angel who shows him what life would have been life if he hadn’t existed. Because of all his kindness, so many lives would have been ruined without him.
It was so lovely to watch a film so rooted in kindness just when I’m writing my Random Acts Of Kindness serial. It showed that kindness is something that can touch peoples lives and make them better, and that if you put kindness out in the world then it will come back to you.
At the end of the film, the town rallies around George and repays his kindness back. It’s such a heartwarming ending and I love the idea what kindness can set off a chain like that – if everyone paid an act of kindness forward, the world would be a much better place.
Have you seen It’s A Wonderful Life? What did you think?
Victoria
xoxo
Random Acts Of Kindness Part One is available to download now:
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