The real secret behind The Secrets of Villa Rosso
[image error]
My next guest is Linn B Halton, whose novel The Secrets of Villa Rosso is set in gorgeous Calabria. Stories about villas with secrets always appeal to me! She’s here to talk about the inspiration behind her book:
And there’s also a chance to win a signed paperback! [image error]
Some places stay with you forever…
When Ellie Maddison is sent on a business trip to Southern Italy, she’s reminded why she loves her job – set amongst rolling vineyards and rich olive groves, the beautiful Villa Rosso is the perfect escape from her life back home. But what Ellie isn’t prepared for is the instant connection she feels to the estate’s director Max Jackson, or the secrets they share that are as intertwined as the rambling vines that cover Villa Rosso.
It’s not long before Ellie finds herself entangled in the history of the place, trying to understand the undeniable effect Max is having on her. As their relationship grows, what will Ellie discover about this idyllic villa and those who have walked through its doors?
What started as a simple work trip will change Ellie’s life forever.
Published by Harper Impulse – eformat and paperback
Read chapter 1 here
WIN A COPY OF THE SECRETS OF VILLA ROSSO!
For a chance to win a signed paperback just leave a comment below or in the Facebook event. This prize is available internationally.
What was the inspiration behind your book?
I didn’t want Castrovillari to be simply the setting: it had to be more integral and vital in the storyline to bring out a different sort of passion.
The original idea was based on a kernel of truth. And this is the first time I’ve aired that fact. The idea of someone having two perfect soul mates is an incredible dilemma and one I was a witness to many years ago.
When I approached the person involved to say that I wanted to use that as the essence for a story, it turned into my tribute to their very personal struggle. Even though it happened a long time ago. So, with agreement, and given that I write fiction, I wanted to try to recreate the same depth, courage, heart-break and outcome in a way that didn’t dilute the enormity of the situation at the time.
It took probably a total of three years to piece together how it was going to unfold. The setting reflected not simply the beauty, but the passion in a harrowing way; the very real and disastrous olive harvest in 2014 had affected so many families’ livelihoods. Struggle and anguish doesn’t get any more real than that.
The “secret” reflected the reality of a situation that was outside of any one person’s control. But when all the elements of the story came together it served to demonstrate the complexity of life and the possibility of links between the past, present and future. My personal belief is that this life will ultimately take us where we are meant to go because it’s a part of our learning process.
And as for the real-life story? It had a happy ending tinged with an inevitable sadness and sense of loss. But I believe as an observer it was the ending it was supposed to have – but that can only be said with hindsight. Just like Italy, it touched my heart and my soul, and that’s why I wrote this story and why it could only ever be set in Calabria.
How did you choose the setting for your story?
The Secrets of Villa Rosso is set in the countryside close to Castrovillari, a historic town in the foothills of Calabria. The fictional villa is typical of so many wonderful, sprawling villas surrounded by olive groves in the area. The livelihood of the owners and the local people is dependent upon a good harvest, as the fruit grows and ripens in the Calabrian sunshine.
My husband and I have taken several road trips around Italy, as well as visiting many of the main tourist destinations. But it’s only when you venture out into rural Italy, away from the crowds, that you can really hear that Italian heart-beat. The love and respect for the land shown by those whose lives still revolve around the agricultural industry made me fall even deeper in love with the country. And one such trip made me “file” away a whole host of wonderful memories ready for just the right story.
The passion of the people we met on a tour, when we sampled olives and virgin oils from various growers, seemed to encapsulate both the evocative smells and the ambience of the region. It was simply too memorable to ever forget. Every time I eat an Italian olive or dip my bread into Balsamic vinegar drizzled into a fragrant Italian virgin olive oil, I am transported back in time. Italy left a mark that touched my heart and it will always be special to me.
[image error]Linn writes chick lit, cosy mystery/romances, romcoms and women’s contemporary fiction.
She’s a hopeless romantic, self-confessed chocaholic and lover of strong coffee. For Linn, life is all about family, friends and writing.
At the weekend, she can be found either in the garden weeding, or with a paint brush in her hand – house renovation and upcycling furniture is another of her passions! Oh, and she does enjoy the occasional glass of White Grenache…
Born in Bristol, she lives in Coed Duon, in Wales with her lovely husband and Bengal cat, Ziggy.
Her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award. She also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman for Aria Fiction.
An Amazon UK Top 100 best-selling author with A Cottage in the Country in November 2015, Under the Stars also became a best-seller in November 2016 and A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love in January 2017. She also writes for Aria Fiction under the pen name of Lucy Coleman.
