Pippa Croft's Blog, page 3

A best-seller – before publication!

I’m posting this today because it’s publication day On Thursday – that’s less than 40 hours away!

To my amazement and delight, Summer at the Cornish Cafe is an Amazon Top 100 best seller already. In fact it reached #58 yesterday which is beyond even my wildest dreams.

I won’t have chance to get to the blog on Thursday, when I’ll be on Twitter and Facebook to chat with readers. Come and say hi @PhillipaAshley – ask anything you want.

I’m also going to meet my Coffee Crew writer friends for a special lunch to celebrate.

For now, I have to focus, somehow, on finishing book 2 in the Penwith Series, Christmas at the Cornish Cafe. Just as summer is here, I’m writing about Harbour Lights festivals, turkey dinners and Christmas shopping. It’s a hard life, lol.

Thanks to everyone who’s already pre-ordered the book and if you haven’t, its’s so close now, you may as well.

It’s still only 99p – but move fast.

PS You may have seen I ran a Twitter contest for a gorgeous pack of Cornish goodies last week. There were hundreds of entries. Watch out for another one next week.

The post A best-seller – before publication! appeared first on Author Phillipa Ashley.

Cover reveal for Summer at the Cornish Cafe

Ta da!

I’m very excited to finally reveal the cover of my new romantic novel, Summer at the Cornish Cafe.

I hope you love it as much as I do – in fact, I think it’s as delicious as a Cornish cream tea! It’s available for preorder on Amazon UK HERE for just 99p and Amazon US HERE. It’s also on Amazon Australian, Canada, Italy, India etc

Publication day is coming up fast on May 5th – to celebrate launch month, there will be some gorgeous Cornwall and Poldark themed giveaways and goodie bags on offer.

Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter @PhillipaAshley or my Facebook author page for all the latest news, contests and giveaways.

More news about Summer at the Cornish Cafe

So, spring has finally srung here in Staffordshire. I absolutely love this time of year, with Easter a few weeks away and summer just around the corner.

Now the daffodils are in bloom, I feel that it’s OK to be telling everyone about a book called Summer at the Cornish Cafe. I’ve had a sneaky glimpse of the cover and I can honestly say, I whooped with joy. Authors are always nervous and excited about seeing their covers for the first time and but I think this one is as gorgeous as a clotted cream topped scone eaten overlooking the Cornish coast. It’s going to be revealed in a couple of weeks and will then be splashed all over this site.

For now, I CAN share the ‘blurb’ – which is on Amazon now for pre-order at the bargain price of 99p.

One summer can change everything . . .



Recommended for readers who loved Summer at Shell Cottage, The Cornish House, Tremarnock and Poldark.

Demi doesn’t expect her summer in Cornwall to hold anything out of the ordinary. As a waitress, working all hours to make ends meet, washing dishes and serving ice creams seems to be as exciting as the holiday season is about to get.

That’s until she meets Cal Penwith. An outsider, like herself, Cal is persuaded to let Demi help him renovate his holiday resort, Kilhallon Park. Set above an idyllic Cornish cove, the once popular destination for tourists has now gone to rack and ruin. During the course of the Cornish summer, Demi makes new friends – and foes – as she helps the dashing and often infuriating Cal in his quest. Working side by side, the pair grow close, but Cal has complications in his past which make Demi wonder if he could ever truly be interested in her.

Demi realises that she has finally found a place she can call home. But as the summer draws to a close, and Demi’s own reputation as an up and coming café owner starts to spread, she is faced with a tough decision . . .

A gorgeous story exploring new beginnings, new love and new opportunities, set against the stunning background of the Cornish coast. Phillipa Ashley has written a feisty, compelling heroine who leaps off the page and encourages you to live your summer to the full.

Recommended for readers who loved Summer at Shell Cottage, The Cornish House, Tremarnock and Poldark.

I hope that’s whetted your appetite!

You can see from the photos above, I’ve also been doing some research for the books, by spending a morning shadowing cafe owner Marie at Mim’s Cafe, at Bridgtown near Cannock. It’s a sweet little cafe with delicious breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. Mim’s also developing a reputation as a literary venue thanks to its regular book clubs which take place twice a month, where booklovers meet to eat cake, talk about their favourite reads and meet authors.

I’ll be there in November – until then, I look forward to sharing the cover of Summer at the Cornish Cafe with you after Easter. Enjoy your spring.

Hurrah: I can finally share my exciting book news!

It’s a bright, cold, sunny morning here in the Midlands and I am SO excited because finally I can share my exciting news!

I’ve signed a three-book deal with the fantastic Avon Maze publishing imprint – they are part of Harper Collins. The books are a continuing series set in Cornwall and the first one is called:

Summer at the Cornish Cafe

It’s out on May 5th – not long to go.

It’s available to pre order from Amazon now -and it’s just 99p! – and it would be the perfect read for summer days, for your holidays and for fans of baking, Cornwall and Poldark of course.

It features a smouldering, gorgeous hero (Cal Penwith) with a mysterious past and a young heroine (Demi Jones) who’s overcome some tough challenges to pursue her dream of opening her own cafe – it has lots of drama, baking, beaches, secrets and gorgeous Cornish scenery plus recipes from the fabulous Budget Food Mummy blog.

It’ll be followed by Christmas at the Cornish Cafe in November 2016 and Confetti at the Cornish Cafe in spring 2017.

I don’t have a cover or blurb yet – but keep watching Twitter (which has gone #cornishcafe crazy today) and my Facebook pagesfor more news and chances to win gorgeous Cornish and Poldark themed goodies.

All the books will be available as e books for your Kindle and Tablet and as print copies.

Can you tell I’m just a little bit excited?

Love

P x

You & Me, Always – the Jill Mansell book launch party

Getting my book signed by multi-million best-seller, JIll Mansell. And fangirling!

Morning,

Sorry, I may be a bit blurry and bleary, having gone to bed at 1am and woken at 5.45am, still hyper from Jill Mansell’s fantastic launch party for You & Me, Always, last night.

At the start of the week, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make the party, which I’d been looking forward to for months. Happily, I felt a lot better and was perked up by the chilly wind in London, and meeting up with lots of authors. My daughter also came along – it’s not often that family can share in publishing events, but this one was open to guests and fans of Jill’s too. I’ve been reading Jill’s warm, witty and wise rom coms for over a decade – I love them and left, proudly clutching my gorgeous blue hardback.

Scores of fans and writers rocked up to the talk and launch which was held on the roof top event space at Carmelite House, Headline’s headquarters. My first four books were published by Headline Little Black Dress so it was great to see their swish new pad. The views over the Thames and the London skyline were spectacular – though it was a brave soul who ventured out.

Author, Janet Gover with Bloggers @Gingercatblog and Sophie Hedley and author, Giselle Green.

Many of the best loved women’s fiction authors had turned up to celebrate Jill’s 27th novel, including Jenny Colgan, Katie Fforde, Rowan Coleman, Carole Matthews and Kate Harrison. I also bumped into dozens of RNA friends, editors and bloggers.

Before you think that my writing life is a series of glamorous parties, I’m back down to earth today, sitting in a dressing gown and jeans (for warmth) finishing my edits on the new series.

I’ve given up telling you I’ll have some exciting book news soon but … I’ll have some exciting book news very soon.

Any moment. Yeah…

Love

P x

When Authors met Book Bloggers

Afternoon from a windswept UK. I’m curled up under a blankie, with the heating on, because I have – yuk – a bug, probably Norovirus but am happily recovering.

After feeling a bit better, I managed to do some editing on the new series (which will be announced soon, I promise!) and finally report on the Author Book Blogger meet-up at the weekend in Brum.

Here I am with historical author, Tora Williams

It took place in the Bacchus Bar – an amazing subterranean pub-restaurant, with a classical theme. Organised by Kim the Bookworm, we had our own section of the bar but even that space wasn’t enough to hold over 40 writers and bloggers who’d descended on the city.

Some of the authors there were old friends, but there were also many writers new to me, and lots of book and lifestyle bloggers. The authors included Cally CL Taylor, Mel Sherratt, Elaine Spiers, Holly Martin, Elizabeth Hanbury, Georgia Hill, Sheryl Browne, Alison May, Sue Moorcroft and more.

With Linda’s Book Bag, Novel Kicks, Sophie from Reviewed the Book, Kim the Bookworm and Crime Book Junkie to name a few, it was a true cross-genre meet-up that also included wrestling and book bloggers, The Blossom Twins!

Gutted not to have been able to speak to everyone but it was fantastic to hear the bloggers’ side of our story – they do so much in publicising their love of books, reading and reviewing – all for nothing more than the love of reading.

These events are going to be a regular fixture in different locations, and it’s down to Kim that they have been such a success so far.

Right: I’m off to hunker down and hope my germs and lurgy have been banished in time for the launch party of Jill Mansell’s new novel, You & Me, Always in London on Thursday.

Ever wondered what a literary agent does?

Told you I’d be updating the blog more this year, with news for readers and writers.

Today, my agent, Broo Doherty, is at the Romantic Novelists Association blog revealing what she does all day and what she looks for in a novel.

Next month I’m celebrating ten years since I sent my first novel, Decent Exposure, to her and in all that time I didn’t know the answer to one of the questions on the blog.

And one of the statistics in the interview is terrifying… guess how many manuscripts she receives every year?

The answer’s here.

Meantime, did you know you can catch up on lots of RNA authors latest book news by following @RNATweets and the hashtag #Tuesnews on Twitter?

Back to my editing now, and a large mug of tea and a fleece blanket – it’s cold, wet and windy outside. Roll on spring!

P x

Happy New Year – it’s going to be a corker

Hello and welcome to 2016, I hope it’s going to be a good one for you, whatever your plans. I’m looking forward to a very busy year in which I’m hoping to share some exciting news about a new series of books.

I spent a quiet Christmas with my family. We all shared some time together relaxing after our turbulent year. For New Year, Mr B and I escaped to the peace of the Lake District, watching the midnight fireworks over the lake on a clear moonlit night. The area has been hit by some serious flooding and its people are still recovering, but it’s so beautiful, it always makes me feel calm and happy.

Mr B took this picture of some gorgeous Herdwick sheep which is so cute, I just have to share.

The Lakes also inspired my debut book, Decent Exposure. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since it was published. In October I’m going to mark that with a big celebration.

Before then, however, there are 1000s of words to be written, books to be edited and brought to my readers. Thank you for supporting me throughout the past decade, and please carry on reading and reviewing my books if you like them – authors need reviews more than ever!

Later this month, I’m looking forward to being a guest at the London launch of the amazing Jill Mansell’s new novel and to catching up with book bloggers and writers at a mega meet-up in Birmingham. I’ll post pictures and promise to update the blog more this year – because I plan on having a lot more to tell you.

Hope you have a brilliant January and that 2016 brings you all you’re dreaming of,

Phillipa xx

G’day and Kia Ora!

Hello everyone…

Or should I say ‘Kia Ora’ because just over a week ago I was enjoying an amazing 3-week trip to New Zealand and Sydney, with my husband. We’ve been dying to visit NZ and Australia most of our lives and In November we finally got round to actually doing it.

It was a hectic buit incredible journey from the Coromandel in North Island to Milford Sound in the South Island. Every twist of the road brough a fresh, jaw-dropping view and the Kiwi and Maori people were the friendliest hosts you could wish for.

We finished the holiday with a three-night stop in vibrant, sunny and fun Sydney – heading straight from Bondi Beach to the airport!

It’s a bit of a shock to return to the soggy, grey UK where we have around two weeks to ‘do’ Christmas!

If you’re wondering aboutbook-related news, watch this space.

Until then, hope your Christmas is a peaceful and happy one, wherever you’re celebrating.

Love

Phillipa xx

Romance novels go to the movies with the #BFILoveFest

Love Love? Love Movies? Love Books? Join us for a celebration of the love story. Sign up for Free for the @BFI and HarperCollins BFILoveFest virtual festival on 20 – 22nd November https://bfilovefest.eventbrite.co.uk

HarperCollins and the BFI are delighted to announce their second collaboration – a virtual romance festival called #BFILoveFest taking place over the weekend of 20-22 November.

I’m delighted to be taking part in the Q&A where I’ll be revealing my must-see romantic movies plus my favourite fictional and screen couples.

The festival is an enquiry into love in literature and cinema and is part of BFI LOVE in partnership with Plusnet, the BFI’s major UK-wide celebration of LOVE on the big and small screen, running October – December 2015. The season will celebrate a broad sweep of film and TV through three key themes: The Power of Love, Fools for Love and Fatal Attractions. Timeless love stories are at the heart of the programme, with screenings of films including DrZhivago, True Romance, and Brokeback Mountain, as well as a diverse programme of talks, lectures and discussions with eminent film and TV directors, actors and screenwriters.

The aim of the #BFILoveFest is to explore the links between romantic fiction and film. The festival hopes to excite conversation and fuel debate, provoking questions such as who are the greatest fictional lovers? How has the representation of love changed in the last 50 years? Where does the future of romance lie in the digital age?

The festival will include author debates, digital forums and a further programme of events on Facebook and Twitter.

You will need to register HERE to be sent the full programme.

The #BFILoveFest is open to everyone and free, so please share and get involved.



Lots of fabulous romance authors will be involved and we’re planning an exciting and fun programme of activity on social media. There will also be give-aways, tickets & great competitions.

See you soon, hopefully with exciting news.