Samantha Tonge's Blog, page 16

Publication Date for the Sequel!

I am very excited to reveal that the sequel to Doubting Abbey should be published in the middle of July! I cannot wait to see the cover! Click on The Sequel link at the top of the page and you'll find some clues as to what it is all about.

There is one particularly sexy hero Gemma becomes very fond of, and the photo below gives us some clues to his character.



I can't wait to tell you more! Look out for news over the next couple of weeks!

Identity Exchange Interview With... Author Amy Bird

Hello, Amy - your debut novel, Yours is Mine, which was published last July by CarinaUK, features a life-exchange . Two women swap lives for 3 months - a bit like Gemma pretending to be Abbey in Doubting Abbey - but one of your characters has evil intent. Can you give us a brief synopsis, without giving away the plot-ending?



Kate, our protagonist, is persuaded to participate in the ‘experiment’ of swapping identities, thinking it is part of a PhD study, and that it will help get her spark back while her military husband is overseas. The other woman, Anna, who planned it all, has a very different motivation, which unfortunately only becomes clear too late for our heroine. Gaps start appearing in Anna’s cover story, but Kate is too busy enjoying Anna’s life to notice. In particular, she is enjoying flirting with Ben, a fellow student in a drama class that Anna signed up to but hadn’t previously attended. When Kate succumbs utterly to Ben’s charms, despite her marriage, a chain of events unfolds that reveals the real reason behind the ‘experiment’. And that Kate getting her own life back will not be so simple as she thought.
In Doubting Abbey, Gemma has to pass herself off as aristocratic friend Abbey, for two weeks - but is helped by the fact that she knows her friend inside out, looks vaguely like her - plus the people she has to fool haven't seen the real Abbey for years anyone, due to a family estrangement.How on earth do your two characters pull off the life-exchange?
Anna, the antagonist, has planned it all very well. There is nothing in her life in London that will require Kate to pass herself off as Anna to people who know Anna really well. There are the usual gyms, doctors’ surgeries and dry cleaners to contend with, but the women are both brunette and of a similar build, so detection is avoided. Anna asks Kate to ‘keep warm’ a romance – but it is an on-line one, so again, their secret is safe. Anna works (she says) as a freelance proofreader and is on a research break from her thesis. So again, no interaction. From Kate’s point of view, she is working remotely up in Northumberland, following the death of her father, and is only communicating with her employers through phone and post. The relationship with her own husband is long-distance, and (for reasons that become clear) only by email, so Anna just has to adopt Kate’s epistolary style. Or, indeed, to make it her own. But Anna has researched everything well, so she knows exactly what route to take. So convincing is Anna’s subterfuge that even when she stops trying to mimic Kate, the pretence has become so real that Kate’s life is threatened with destruction.




The main challenge for me was making this plotline credible, although Doubting Abbey is, to a degree, a farce and requires the reader to suspend a bit of belief - what was the main challenge for you as the author?
I agree that encouraging a reader to suspend their disbelief is a big challenge with this sort of story. You either buy the premise, or you don’t. The big thing for the reader to get their head round is that Kate would agree to surrender her identity. She is in a very vulnerable place. She has just nursed her father through terminal cancer, all alone up in isolated Northumberland, and her military husband has gone away overseas. Add to that a degree of naivety, and it becomes possible to imagine her taking up an invitation that seems to allow her a temporary escape from her current existence. She wants it to be genuine. Plus Anna can be very convincing. I think also, in a thriller-meets-chicklit like Yours is Mine, part of the excitement for the reader is knowing that the set-up can’t be genuine, and the tension rises as the protagonist gradually starts to realise it too. As one reviewer very kindly put it, the book has ‘the deliciousness of those horror movies where you find yourself shouting at the screen “don’t go into the darkened basement to investigate the strange noise, you silly woman”’. Whether or not the reader has suspended their disbelief, Kate certainly has, and therein lies the danger.
If you could swap lives with anyone famous, who would it be and why?
Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, seems to be doing quite well, and we would both still get to write thrillers. So I can see that working…
Some of the best comedy books, in my opinion, thrust the main character into an unfamiliar environment - such as a life exchange - what do you think is characteristic of some of the best thrillers?
I think the same can be said for thrillers, but in a different way. If you look at Gone Girl, or Before I Go To Sleep, or even classics like Rebecca or The Ministry of Fear, the protagonist is taken out of their ordinary world and finds themselves in a situation or environment that is unknown to them. They must then survive – or not. What’s doubly scary about Yours is Mine is that Kate’s own life ultimately becomes unfamiliar territory. When she tries to reclaim her existence, she finds it is all altered. S
Thanks so much for joining me today, Amy and good luck with your new book,  Three Steps Behind You!
The blurb for Yours is Mine:
How far would you go to get your life back?
Kate Dixon is miserable. So when an email arrives from psychology student Anna, offering her a no-strings-attached, three month long life-exchange, she jumps at the chance. After all: what has she got to lose?
But she doesn’t bank on how much Anna has invested in the swap. How long she’s been watching, putting her immaculate plan together as she waits to enter Kate’s life. And as more comes to light about Anna’s past, Kate finds herself in a desperate race to protect all she holds dear.
Leaving your life in someone else’s hands is a dangerous game; Kate’s about to find out just how seriously her opponent is playing.
About Amy Bird...
Yours is Mine is Amy Bird’s debut novel, part of a three-book deal with CarinaUK. It became a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching the coveted No. 1 spot in the Amazon.com Women’s Crime chart. Amy has an M.A. in Creative Writing from Birkbeck and is an alumna of Faber Academy. Born in Hampstead, but raised in the North East of England, Amy has now returned North London, where she lives with her husband, dividing her energies between writing and working part-time as a lawyer. Her second book, psychological thriller Three Steps Behind You, the tale of a crime writer who believes he has to experience everything in order to write about it, is out now.
Why not buy Yours is Mine here in UK or here in US?!
Find Amy on Twitter here
Amy's website

Aristocratic chat with ... author Katie Oliver!

Hello Katie! Great to see you here. Now, like my debut novel Doubting Abbey, Mansfield Lark (blurb at end) features a rundown stately home - can you describe it to us and explain why it is verging on ruin?




When the story begins, Mansfield Hall is in serious disrepair.  The carpets are threadbare, and there are ugly brown water stains on the Robert Adam ceilings; the roof needs repairing, the boiler is on its last legs, and the plumbing is so ancient that only a rusty trickle of water comes out of the spigots.
The Earl of Locksley and his family can no longer afford the upkeep on the sprawling estate.  The family trust that’s covered the costs thus far has all but evaporated.  Mansfieldis a historic home, but it’s not a stately.  His lordship refuses to allow tour groups to traipse through his home, nor will he relinquish it to the National Trust.  He’s a proud and stubborn man.
It’s loathsome to him, then, that he must turn to his rebellious (but filthy rich) son, rock star Dominic Heath, for financial help.

Like yours, my book also features an earl - I loved writing about aristocratic life as it is so different to mine. What was the appeal for you?

Honestly?  I’ve always wondered what it must be like to live in a grand old house.  Maybe it’s because of all the films and television shows I’ve watched – Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Bright Young Things, “Downton Abbey” – but I pay almost as much attention to the sweeping staircases and carved library ceilings as I do to the plots!
Living in such an immense house is wonderful, surely; but it’s also fraught with responsibility.  For despite the English gardens and follies by the lakes, the long galleries and morning rooms swathed in silk, there is a great deal of expense to be borne.  And, of course, there are future generations of the family to consider.

Would you have rather lived upstairs in past centuries, in a stately home, or kept up to date with all the gossip in the servants' quarters, downstairs?

Well, my initial answer is that I’d like to have lived upstairs.  Having servants to draw your bath and dress you, never being required to fix dinner or mop a floor – that would indeed be wonderful! 
But life in those days was so restricted for women, and so circumspect, that I think the reality was probably far from our romantic imaginings.  I can’t help but believe that living below stairs, although certainly much harder, would prove a lot more interesting!

I loved your debut book, Prada and Prejudice. The second in the series is called Love and Liability - and now Mansfield Lark. Presumably you are a massive Jane Austen fan?

Jane Austen wrote books that still resonate with us today, because she understood human nature so well.  She wrote about universal themes – love, family, pride – things that we all relate to.  Her characters, too, are unforgettable.  Is there a more romantic hero than Mr Darcy in all of literature?
But while I love her books, I would never dare to try and “reimagine” them, as other writers have done (and done very well, I might add).  No, I prefer to write about things I observe in my daily life – amusing things, confounding things, frustrating things – and fictionalize them, just as Jane Austen documented the foibles and follies of the people in her own day and time.




Would you ever consider writing a story set in the past, like hit TV series Downton Abbey, or are you very much a contemporary writer?




I would love to write a Regency romance!  I’ve written (well, half-written) one and it was great fun to write.  I love the comedy of manners, the sharp wit, the history, and the clothes.  The main reason I’ve stuck to modern-day settings is because I haven’t the time to do the meticulous research required to do justice to a Regency.  (Those Regency readers are a tough audience, I hear!)

Out of the three books, which is your favourite character?

Oh, hands down, Dominic Heath, the recalcitrant rock star, is my favorite character, probably because he’s my polar opposite.  He gets to do all of the things I’d love to do – sing rock songs onstage, sling a guitar, behave badly, and plow his way through a succession of women (well, for me it’d be men, obviously).

What is it like being published by a digital-first imprint?

It’s been great, if a little intense.  When my three books were initially bought by Carina UK back in August of 2013, I had no idea they’d publish them so quickly, and in such quick succession.  From a marketing perspective it was brilliant; but from a personal perspective, since I’m still working full time, it was a bit stressful! 
But I’ve loved every crazy minute.  Carina’s art department design some of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen.  And my editors, Helen Williams and Lucy Gilmour, are excellent (and very, very patient).

Are there only three books in the series? If so, what can we expect from you next?

I’m working on two more books – I’ve started a new Natalie and Rhys story, set in a Scottish castle. It’s the Christmas holidays, and Nat and Rhys have been invited to her friend Tarquin’s family castle. There’s a gruff, mysterious groundskeeper, a house guest who isn’t quite what she seems, and a family secret.
And Natalie has a secret of her own, one that might jeopardize her brand-new marriage to Rhys...
The other book is finished, but I’m adding in a subplot featuring a new character, an Anglo/Indian pop singer named Christa.  The plot centers on Gemma, who has a massive falling out with Dominic, and Jack Hawkins, the sexy arms dealer from Mansfield Lark.  It promises to be adventurous and fun.
As for a third book - I’ll probably revisit Holly and Jamie and see how they’re getting on.  Something from Jamie’s past comes back to haunt him.  And his mother turns up on Holly and Jamie’s doorstep for an extended visit, and she’s driving poor Holly crazy...
Thanks for visiting, Katie, and good luck with your future writing!

Katie's Bio:
I was born in Washington DC and have lived in the Northern Virginia area all of my life.  I have two sons, both grown.  When they left home, I decided to seriously pursue my dream to write.  I love romantic comedy and chick lit, so I chose to specialize in those genres.  I wrote in the evenings and weekends (I still work full time) until I completed two books.  I’m also an active blogger.
I’m currently represented by the Holloway Literary Agency and recently sold my first three books to Carina UK, a division of Harlequin UK.
I love to write, and I love it even more when readers tell me how much they enjoy my books!
Why not visit Katie's website?
Or buy her book, in the UK or US?
BLURB FOR MANSFIELD PARK:
A present day Mr Darcy in Disguise?
Gemma Astley has succeeded where so many others have failed. She has somehow managed to tame tearaway rock star Dominic Heath and stop his womanising ways for good. But just as they find happiness, Dominic’s secret aristocratic past becomes public knowledge, and everything changes…not necessarily for the better.
Dominic is actually Rupert Locksley, heir of Mansfield Hall, a crumbling stately home that needs major financial investment to save it from ruin. Dominic’s mother pleads for his help, but his father, the earl, is on the verge of disinheriting him. Meanwhile, Dominic’s new status as Mansfield’s long-lost heir attracts the attention of cut-throat gold-digger, socialite Bibi Matchington-Alcester, who means to make him hers at any cost.
Gemma and Dominic will need to test the strength of their foundations – as well as those of Mansfield Hall – if either are to remain standing.
Book 3 in Katie Oliver’s Dating Mr Darcy series

Downton Interview with... Author Lydia Laceby!

   Hello Lydia, great to see you here, especially as like me, you are a fan of the wonderful Downton Abbey – from a writing point of view, what is it you like about the series – the characters, plotlines or setting…?




When I read, I prefer setting interspersed around dialogue and action and (don’t hate me) often find myself glossing overreally long descriptive paragraphs – something I probably shouldn’t admit as an author.That said, I absolutely adore the setting of Downton Abbey which surprises me. I think the story and plotlines could take place in any era with a few tweaks (even in modern day with nannies, maids and cleaning ladies) so for me, it is the stunning setting which is the most captivating.     Yes, it is beautiful, isn’t it? So, out of the characters, which would you like to be able to take the credit for creating, and why?
I love Daisy’s character. She’s so sweet and tries to do the right thing and is constantly thwarted. I really, really hope she ends up living on the farm with her father-in-law! We’re a season behind here in Canada so I apologize if I’m (hopefully!) stating something that has already come to be!
        My lips are sealed! Out of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite?
I love Becky in my debut novel, Redesigning Rose. She’s spunky and feisty and comes to Rose’s rescue. She takes her in and helps her heal. And although she’s a bit, uhm, difficult at times, I would love to have a friend like her as she is so completely different to me. Not to mention that she’s a whole lot of fun!
 Sounds like a great read! Why do you think Downton Abbey has become so popular and when writing do you consider your target readers and consciously try to make the book appealing to them?
I think its popularity stems from the unique glimpse into both the glamorous lifestyle of those living upstairs as well as the lives of those who wait on them downstairs. There is something for everyone with this show whether to relate to or envy. Of course, that it is visually stunning doesn’t hurt either.
I think it is natural to want to target readers, but I think writing for yourself and staying true to your voice and style is important. Coming up with a unique idea and running with it is one thing. Concocting one just because you think it will sell and forcing yourself into that writing box is another completely, and one I tend not to practise. If I have to live with these characters and this idea for what could be years, I have to like it myself!
What is your writing fantasy? Mine is to have one of my novels adapted for TV or the big screen.
Watching the Oscars faithfully every year, I drool over the best adapted screen play, dreaming of one day having my name displayed as the author of the novel, or - heavens help me - walking up on stage with those who transformed my novel into a screenplay. I’d also settle for being on the NY Times Best Sellers List. Not asking for much, am I?

 Well, dreams are important! Who would you cast as the hero/heroine (or both) in you latest book, Redesigning Rose?


I’m actually going to steal from Downton now! I think Joanne Froggatt would make a brilliant Rose.

   In the 1970s Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, used to write romantic novels under the name of Rebecca Greville. Would you like to write a different genre under a pseudonym?
When I first started writing, I began with crime novels, specifically serial killer type material. Yep. That’s actually true. Then I discovered Bridget Jones and found myself unable to write anything else and I’m not sure I could - or want to - at this point. Watching James Patterson evolve though, is a pseudonym even necessary anymore with his titles expanding to include “First Love” and “The Christmas Wedding.” Although, then again, he is James Patterson.

   Fellowes used to do a lot of acting (and was even in Fantasy Island!) Have you any other creative talents?
I’ve recently discovered I’m not horrible with a camera. I also enjoy knitting and cooking, both of which can be creative. Don’t ask me to draw or paint something, though, unless you want a good laugh. Although I can splatter paint on a canvas like nobody’s business if you don’t mind abstract. I’m very good at that!
  Carson or Mrs Hughes?
Mrs Hughes!
Upstairs or Downstairs?
Fine dining in divine dresses and lounging in bed reading while breakfast is brought to you? Sign me up! Never mind that I wouldn’t survive one night in those tiny beds downstairs!
 Dinner with Hugh Bonneville or Maggie Smith?
Can I have high tea with Maggie Smith instead? I can listen to an older women talk about their lives for hours on end and to do so with such an icon over mini Thank you so much for joining me, Lydia! I’ll just ring for Carson and he will see you out…!
http://lydialaceby.com/
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Celebrity Big Brother - the Final!

And the winner is...




As those of you who've read my debut romcom Doubting Abbey know, it features a reality show Million Dollar Mansion, in which run-down stately homes vie with each other to win a million dollars, to secure their financial future.

I guess it was inevitable that I would eventually write about this subject. The reality show genre is one I have always favoured. From the very first Big Brother to Celebrity Love Island and Strictly Dancing, there's something fascinating about watching people - famous or ordinary - strive to achieve something out of their comfort zone, whether that's to live in a house with a bunch of strangers, to the Rumba or ski-jump... It can inspire and the emotional  journey they undergo is always good viewing.

So this year's Celebrity Big Brother? It's been one of the best, yet, at the same time, uncomfortable to watch. Clearly some participants are in the house out of financial need, not a burning desire to live through the Big Brother experience. Jim and Dappy, both lovely, have been the biggest surprises to me - along with Liz Jones who, despite her tough hack reputation, came across as a gentle woman. After the turmoil of the Lee, Casey and Jasmine love-triangle, and Jim and Linda's backbiting, the last couple of days have been a pleasant end to a rollercoaster series. Daddy Jim, bonkers Dappy or True Gent Ollie to win, please.

Here is what some of my fellow writer fans of the show think:

Eve Mitchell - author of Seven Days, out with Scholastic Feb 15
I've enjoyed this series, even though I've watched the majority of it behind my cushion, cringing. I've can't help thinking so much is scripted now - especially the fake Ollie (grow some balls) and Sam (who?) relationship. I would like Luisia to win I think, but I really don't mind.

CL Taylor - author of The Accident, a tense, edge of your seat psychological thriller
Definitely one of my favourite CBBs - a little short on comedy (other than the Liz Jones bath scene) but full of sex, scandal and screaming rows. I like to pretend I watch reality TV because I'm an author and it's a form of people watching but the truth is it's TV that doesn't require me to engage my brain and, after 12+ hours of the day job, novel writing and toddler wrangling that's more than welcome!

Karen Clarke - short story and romantic comedy writer
This is the best series ever of CBB in my opinion, thanks to the mix of characters, which I'm sure was more good luck than management on Channel 5's part! I've never changed my mind so many times, liking someone then going off them, then liking them again. I didn't think I'd like Liz Jones, but did and actually wouldn't mind if Jim Davidson won and I NEVER thought I'd say that!

Kelly Florentia - writer of women's fiction
It can't be easy. I think certain cirumstances bring out different aspects of your personality. Generally, people would describe me as a laid back kind of person, but I think I'd go mad in there.

Portia MacIntosh - author of Between a Rockstar and a Hard Place, out 12th February from Carina UK 
This series of Celebrity Big Brother had been amazing. I think the reason it has been so great is because the celebs involved seem to have momentarily forgotten that they're celebrities at all. They're being housemates - falling out, getting together, making fools of themselves and most importantly making us laugh. Celebs can be so uptight and overly concerned with their public image, so this series has been a nice change.


So what do you think? Who's your winner? And what will we all do with our evenings after tonight's final?!

Aspiring Novelists - Learn From My Mistakes

Not a pretty sight, is it? Or some, might say, it's impressive. Either way, that pile represents the work I've put in, over the years, in trying to get published.

I'd written, ahem, let's just say a few novels before getting a publishing deal for my debut romantic comedy, Doubting Abbey . A bit like kissing lots of frogs to find your prince, quite a number of submissions went out, over the years, before I found Harlequin's Carina UK.

So what mistakes did I make along the way? Here's the benefit of my knowledge for you.


1 - Don't set yourself a New Year's Resolution of "to get published" like I did, as this is an unrealistic goal. Set yourself small achievable (and therefore ego-boosting) steps such as "this year I will complete my novel" or " this year I will take the plunge and send my book out to agents".

2 - Don't write novels for years, without writing short stories as well. The short form will help you in so many ways and really focus your eye on chapter structure and padding in your work which needs to be cut out.
Also, if you make a short story sale, this will be a real boost and form of validation, if your novel rejections are  piling up.

3 -  Don't nudge about submissions too early. I am the most impatient person on earth and in retrospect some of my early nudges probably resulted in a straightforward rejection. Having said  that don't wait forever either - you deserve the courtesy of a reply within a few months. 


4 - Get feedback on your work. I didn't do this with my first novel until I'd written the whole thing. Join an online forum like WriteWords where you can join groups and get critques. Or, if you can afford it, get an editorial report done on one of your manuscripts, from agencies like Cornerstones and BubbleCow (both of which I have used to my satisfaction.)

5 - To save unnecessary tears, try to accept, early on, that your journey might be a long one. When I started out, in my late thirties, writing novels, I was convinced I'd be published by the age of forty. That was very naive looking back. I had a lot to learn about my craft.

6 - Don't mentally hinge all your self-worth on becoming a published author. I did this for a long time and it's not good for the soul. Remind yourself of all the other things you are great at - being a parent or partner or in your full-time job... Writing may be your vocation but if your journey to publication is a rocky one, you must try to distance yourself from the criticism, disappointments and rejection you will meet. Yet another " no" from an agent does not mean you are a failure - it means you are forging your way forward, getting your work out there.

7 - And finally, my journey to publication has been a rollercoaster of emotions and dress sizes... Try not to get into the habit of eating chocolate over the keyboard!

New Spring Cover for Doubting Abbey!

I am thrilled  reveal the new spring cover for Doubting Abbey! With its pretty cherry blossom and warm green lawns, it will doubtless sweep away any winter blues!


I am currently writing the sequel which promises more of Gemma's bonkers escapades. I'm very happy to know i'm going to be spending every day of the next few weeks with her!

Downton Interview with... Author Lynn Marie Hulsman!

Hello Lynn, great to have you visit my Doubting Abbey blog! I hope you enjoyed the Downton Xmas special as much as I did -  particularly the ending with Mrs Hughes and Carson in the waves! I'm wondering if we can e expect a Lady Chatterley- esque affair between Edith and the farmer...! 


 Which character out of the series would you love to take the credit for creating? I’d love to have thought up those sharp put-downs given to the Dowager Countess! There's no denying that the Dowager Countess has the best one-liners, and perhaps the sharpest point of view. She's so quotable! How could anyone NOT love her? There's another great character on the other side of the green baize door, though, who is richer and more well drawn in my opinion: Daisy. As a kitchen maid, she has little power and little chance for advancement. She's offered a chance to marry a servant whose father has a little money and property, but doesn't jump at the chance because she feels it's immoral. She considers long and hard before deciding that the kindest thing to do it to give him his dying wish. When she later falls in unrequited love with Alfred, she models the ideal of "if you love something, let it go" and finds a way to wish him well when he chooses a future that has nothing to do with her. For an innocent, uneducated girl of the time, she shows great introspection and wisdom. 
  Yes, it is wonderful watching Daisy mature, as the series progresses... So who is your favourite character out of your own novel, Christmas at Thornton Hall? Without a doubt, it's Juliet, the protagonist. She's a young woman with a lot of strength and a lot of skills. She's at a crossroads in her life. Characters facing forks in the road, struggling with choices, are my favorites. She makes a lot of rookie mistakes on her journey, and has to live with the consequences. She learns as she navigates and effects change.   My debut novel Doubting Abbey features a stately home, Applebridge Hall… Can you tell us a bit about your own creation, Thornton Hall? Thornton Hall exists only in my head, but I can see every door, stair, and archway. The drive off of the main road to the house is impossibly long as the family owns acres upon acres of land. It's a stately home in the Cotswolds featuring the duality of inherited English country houses: It's at once luxurious and crumbling. Stocked with ancient rugs, heirloom silver, and antique furniture, it's walls are filled with mice and the floorboards creak and complain from age. Money, however, allows the family to kit it out with modern conveniences such as a top-shelf Aga, specialty ice-makers, central heating, and a fleet of cars and trucks for every occasion. There's a fireplace in nearly every room, and there's so much fine wood, leather, and flagstone, that it could be mistaken for a gentleman's smoking club. The land is populated with outbuildings, such as cottages for the staff, a slightly less stately home for the family to branch out into, an apple store, stables, and even an orangerie. I certainly wouldn't mind staying in one of the bedrooms outfitted with ultra-high thread count sheets, or cuddling up to read with a hot toddy in the library.  It sounds like the perfect destination for a weekend break! 



Which male character out of Downton attracts your romantic attention, and can you tell us a bit about your novel’s hero? My ego says Lord Grantham, because like all women I fancy myself to be so special that I could unmelt the heart of someone proper who wears his emotions close to his vest if given half a chance. I think he's handsome, and alpha. You can't argue with that as an attractive combination. My middle-class upbringing, however, launches me toward Branson. His bravery in flouting convention, and the strength of his ideals are as attractive to me as they were to Lady Sibyl. My novel has two heroes, arguably. Our girl, Juliet, thinks with her body and her emotions more often than she does with her head. One object of her curious desire is Jasper Roth, a powerful American banker who knows his own mind and takes what he wants. She delights in knowing that she is something he wants, but cannot snap his fingers or pull out his wallet to acquire. The other magnet for her attention is Edward, the Hall's head chef. Ex-military, he's a renegade with tattoos and his own morality, but he knows the rules and how to navigate within their parameters. He's a heady combo of the perfect soldier and servant and outlier.
  Funnily enough the hero in Doubting Abbey is also called Edward...!
Would you rather live upstairs or downstairs? While I think it's more interesting downstairs because the folk there don't have to worry as much about societal constructs. However, as I answer these questions, I'm just really tired. Lots of holiday cooking, cleaning, driving, and unpacking has left me depleted. So, today I would most decidedly like to be upstairs. I want someone to bring me tea, lay out my dinner, and dust the corners of my house. Even if it means I have to put on a ball gown the minute I step out of bed. 
  Who do you root for most - Edith or Mary? Edith! Poor girl. She's the Jan Brady or the Fredo Corleone of the Crawley family. The horrors Mary has visited upon her, thwarting her chances at happiness with men, incense me. Mary already has high status. She doesn't need to lower Edith's. I like that she began as so meek and unsure, and it now beginning to see that she deserves her slice of the pie, even if it comes at the cost of other peoples' comfort.
  Who would you prefer to employ as your personal chef - Mrs Patmore or Daisy? I can't see breaking them up. I'd pay whatever it would take to keep them as a team.
  Julian Fellowes is also an actor – are you creative in any other way, apart from writing? Yes, I'm a performer.I left college with a double major in theatre and English. I did an apprenticeship at The Williamstown Theater Festival and had a chance to work with Austin Pendleton, Frank Langella, Ed Begley, Jr., James Whitmore, and other greats. I co-founded an all-femail sketch comedy group that performed at Caroline's and headlined at the Austin, TX Big Stinkin' Comedy Festival. I did stand-up for years, and hosted shows at Don't Tell Mama and Rose's Turn. Currently, I'm the artistic director of ComedySportz New York, an improv company that does both training and performance. On the home front, I cook and bake, and am happy to have had the opportunity to co-write and write cookbooks. 
 That sounds really interesting, Lynn Marie! Thanks so much for joining me and best of luck with your book!  Thank you for having me, Sam! I'm so excited that Rom Com and Chick Lit is making a comeback with new presses, new authors, and new books like Doubting Abbey.
Lynn Marie lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Find out more here.
Why not buy Christmas at Thornton Hall, published by digital-first Harper Impulse, here.
"At 28, Juliet Hill is finally ready to be a grown-up. Her New Year's plan of leaving behind a career as chef to the rich and famous in order and go back for her Ph. D in psychology is sure to satisfy both her ultra-logical psychiatrist mom and her buttoned-up lawyer boyfriend. She'll be on the right road to stability right after one last Christmas stint in private service at Thornton Hall, arguably one of the grandest estates in the swanky Cotswolds region of England (think The Hamptons, but with thatched roofs). Unfortunately, true to her nature, she can't convince her brain to override her heart when sticky situations arise involving lies, paternity, a one-night stand and poison mushrooms! Is a sane and predictable life in the cards for our passionate pastry prepper? Can this creative girl toe the line, leaving her secret spice blends and unpredictable men behind? On the road to womanhood, sometimes decisions are made for us, and other times we have to cook up our own destiny. Join Juliet's journey as she straddles the line between romance and reason."

Downton Interview with... Writer Morgen Bailey!

Hello Morgen! As a fellow Downton Abbey fan, no doubt you are looking forward to the Christmas Special. What would your fantasy storyline be for the plot of that episode, if you were behind it? Mine would be for Carson and Mrs Hughes to finally (please!) get together and for Mr Bates NOT to be revealed as having anything to do with the suspected murder of vile valet Green. I couldn’t face another jail storyline.

Hello, Sam. Thank you for inviting me. They've killed off too many characters recently so I'd not have any more... which may surprise those who know me as I do it often enough in my own stories. The Bates' are due some good fortune but I suspect if they found out they were going to be parents that would throw another spanner in the proverbial works. It's about time Daisy had some fun, and Isobel Crawley and the doctor got together.

In your book The Serial Dater’s Shopping List, journalist Isobel MacFarlane must date 31 men in a month and she labels them ‘Mr Could Be Right’, ‘Mr Not Bad.,’ etc – how would you label a couple of the men in Downton, if you got to date them? I would label Thomas Barrow ‘Mr Not On Your Life’!

Ah yes. I remember him from Coronation Street (he's far better in this). Would it be too sad to say that I like Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) as he was one of my favourite characters from Notting Hill (one of my favourite films)? He'd be my Mr Safe (although there's a sparkle in those eyes) and Matthew Crawley my Mr Yum (I was NOT happy when they bumped him off). The ex-chauffeur, Brandson, is cute too, although a little young, I fear.

Which character in Downton would you like to take the credit for creating? For me, it has to be the Dowager Countess with her sparkling one-liners.

Words are what make the show and she certainly has some corkers. I do like women with gumption and that's often where British movies / TV shows excel (dare I say, without alienating your US readers?) often action/banana skin-reliant US movies. Isobel gives the Countess a run for her money on more than one occasion so I'd be proud of her.

Out of everything you have ever written, which character are you most proud of creating and why?

Oh my goodness. Mmm. I've written eight novels and 400+ short stories so that's a tough one but one that springs to mind is April (from April’s Fool (short story)). She's a tough cookie. Issy (our aforementioned journalist) is no pushover either and if you / your readers read the book they'll see she stands up for herself.

Julian Fellowes , the writer of Downton, is also an actor – are you creative in any other way?

I love drawing cartoons, although unlike my writing, I struggle from imagination. One of my 2014 wish-list items is to draw more (and learn to lip read - I'm studying the latter locally next month, and for free, as I'm a fellow tutor!). 

Upstairs or downstairs?

  Upstairs, I'd love to wear brighter colours and be waited on.

Lady Mary or Edith?

Sorry, Edith, but it has to be Mary - it's her sharp tongue - although Sybil was feisty. Edith will get her moment, I'm sure. She has had meatier roles of late.

Mrs Hughes or Mrs Patmore?

Mrs Patmore's hilarious. Mrs Hughes has her moments, and yes, get your act together Carson!, but it's Mrs P for me. Lucky escape from Mr Tufton 

Thanks for joining me, Morgen and enjoy the Christmas Special!
 You're very welcome, Sam. Thank you for asking me. I look forward to it. (Sky+ planner at the ready).

 Based in Northamptonshire, England, Morgen Bailey (“Morgen with an E”) is a prolific blogger, editor / critiquer, tutor, speaker, and podcaster. Chair of two writing groups, she is a freelance author of numerous short stories, novels, articles, and some poetry. Like her, her blog,  is consumed by all things literary. Her books are available to buy from US Amazon and UK Amazon Morgen's email is morgen@morgenbailey.com.

Reality Show Interview with... Author Georgia Hill!

Hello, Georgia, lovely to have you on the blog as a fellow writer of reality-shows. In Doubting Abbey aristocratic contestants strive to win Million Dollar Mansion, to save their run-down estates… Can you tell us a little about the reality show Who Dares Dances in Say it with Sequins?
Hi Samantha! Thank you so much for inviting me on here. I absolutely loved Doubting Abbey, by the way! Who Dares Dances, which is the reality show in Say it with Sequins: The Rumba, is a mixture between Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity, Get me out of Here! Contestants have to learn to dance but also face a series of bizarre challenges, dreamed up by the director. I had great fun thinking up nasty things for the celebs to do!

The cover is gorgeous and really reminds me of Strictly Dancing – are you watching this year’s show and who have you most enjoyed watching? Mark Benton has really entertained me this year – brilliant!
I have to confess to being a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing with the Stars in the US). I never miss a series and have even gone to see the live shows, which are great fun. I’ve just booked to see Pasha Kovalev, my favourite pro-dancer, perform in his own show next year. I can’t wait. The cover of Say it with Sequins is absolutely gorgeous – I love it. I was away when it was emailed through and my husband tried to describe it down the phone – very funny and he didn’t do any justice at all to Alexandra’s beautiful design! Usually, I have a favourite dancer who I develop an enormous crush on but that hasn’t happened this year. Pasha remains my passion (he’s clever and a reader too, what a man). I’ve enjoyed watching Mark Benton and Dave Myers has made me laugh until I cried.
Having created a fictional reality show, does this mean you are a fan of the genre? I am, my favourites being Celebrity Big Brother and the jungle I’m a Celebrity…
I think I am a fan of reality TV, to some extent. I love Come Dine With Me and Four in a Bed but it’s really Strictly that does it for me. I love it.

Often, in the TV shows larger-than-life characters take part. In Million Dollar Mansion the Croxley family’s opponents, the Baron of Marwick and his son, are indeed larger-than-life. How would you describe your characters in Who Dares Dances?
Well, Bob Dandry, the director of Who Dares Dances is definitely larger-than-life and not in a good way (we learn more about him in later books). Jan, the Russian pro-dancer, is larger-than-life too – he’s about 6’5” – and mean!

Sum up your main character in three words.
Julia Cooper, my main character in Say it with Sequins: The Rumba, is talented, funny, insecure.

If you could take part in any of the current reality shows, which would it be? Have to say, I would LOVE to learn to dance properly – and wear those outfits!
Well, I’d have to say Strictly, of course but I’d be a ‘dance disaster’ as Craig would say. I’d work my leg-warmers off, though, if it meant wearing those gorgeous dresses every week and being held in the muscular arms of a hot pro-dancer. Pasha maybe?! Not to mention it’s a great way to lose weight and get fit!

What sort of contestant would you be in the jungle?
I’d be AWFUL! No way, could I eat those bugs. Ugh. And – all that endless sitting around in the heat and getting bored – I have a very low boredom threshold and would probably end up making trouble, just for the sake of it. And trust me, no one would want to watch me wearing a bikini in the outside shower …


Georgia Hill writes contemporary romantic comedy, written with love. She lives in a tiny village in Herefordshire, with her two beloved spaniels, husband (also beloved) and a ghost called Zoe. Say it with Sequins: The Rumba is the first in a series of three novellas, for Harper Impulse.
Who Dares Dances is a reality TV show with a difference. Not only do contestants have to learn to dance, they also face a series of bizarre challenges.When Julia Cooper signs up, all she wants is to revive her flagging acting career. When she meets dare-devil Harri Morgan, though, the attraction is instant – and hot!
Forced to perform a sexy rumba together, the sequins really start to fly. Will they score the perfect ten, or is their romance destined to be a dance disaster? Find out in Say it with Sequins, the first in a series of three novellas.

Why not pre-order the first book now?! Available here