Thursday chat about new beginnings…

Another week, another author to introduce to you from my friendly writing group.

Meet Georgia Hill, a prolific women’s fiction author, who writes uplifting stories and is published by Bloodhound Books. I haven’t read Georgia’s books yet, but uplifting sounds good: just what we need in this gloomy climate. “Romances to escape with”.

I am intrigued by the heroine of her new book: New Beginnings at Lullbury Bay

Daisy is a florist and she’s learning about the meaning of flowers from Mia. Love this! What would Mia make of the bouquet I have in my sitting room at the moment? Sent to me by my own publisher last week.

Anyway, over to Georgia and her excerpt.

Huge thanks to the lovely Angela for having me on her blog. I’ve read the extracts from her previous guests with interest and now have an enormous To Be Read Pile!

Here’s mine from my newest book, New Beginnings at Lullbury Bay:

“Mia warmed to her theme. ‘It was literally a language. Even how the ribbon was tied was symbolic; to the left meant the message was about the sender, to the right it was about the person receiving it. An upside-down stem meant the opposite of the bouquet’s message and if you left thorns on the roses it said there was everything to fear. It was all amazingly complicated and subtle. Pretty cool, eh? And the Victorians would have known all the meanings, right down to the teeny tiniest nuance.’ There was a stunned silence. She gazed at the two bemused faces staring at her. ‘What? Oh my eggs, Daisy, didn’t you know flowers had meanings?’”

Georgia, why did you choose the excerpt above?

A contemporary romance set in a seaside florists, the book’s subplot concerns the mysterious ‘Walter’ who has requested a bouquet be delivered to an empty house every month over the summer. It causes great excitement especially when Mia, an expert on the Victorian language of flowers, explains those chosen have special meanings and that they tell the tale of a tender love story. I had great fun researching what flowers meant something appropriate and which were in season at the right time!

This sounds really intriguing. I will have to read it to find who Walter is. And why he’s sending flowers. I love a mystery. Thank you, Georgia, for your intriguing excerpt. I know it’s not easy to convey the feel of a book in very few words but you have me hooked.

About Georgia

Georgia Hill writes warm-hearted and up-lifting contemporary and dual narrative romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There’s always a dog. It’s usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. She lives near the sea with her beloved dogs and husband (also beloved) and loves the books of Jane Austen, collecting elephants, and Strictly Come Dancing. She’s also a complete museum geek and finds inspiration for her books in the folklore and history of the many places in which she’s lived. She’s worked in the theatre, for a charity and as a teacher and educational consultant before finally acknowledging that making things up was what she really wanted to do. She’s been happily creating believable heroines, intriguing men, and page-turning stories ever since.

Reading Georgia’s bio, I suddenly had a vision of a house full of elephants. I hope they are not real, Georgia! It’s been great to chat today. Many thanks.

Twitter/X @georgiawrites

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/georgiahillauthor

Website www.georgiahill.co.uk

Her latest book, New Beginnings at Lullbury Bay, is now out and you can purchase it by clicking on that link.

Thursday at the seaside…

Today I’m introducing you to talented Morton Gray whom I met a few years ago at RNA Conference (Romantic Novelists’ Association). Lately, we’ve been communicating about sourdough making – I think she has more success than I have. You can read about Morton’s many interests on her blog.

Over to Morton as she explains the background to her series set in Borteen.

Thank you so much, Angela for sharing an extract of my seventh novel for Choc Lit, now an imprint of Joffe Books. A New Arrival in Borteen Bay is a standalone title and part of my series The Secrets of Borteen Bay.

This is what it says on the back of the book:-

FALL IN LOVE WITH AN UTTERLY IRRESISTIBLE, BRAND-NEW ROMANCE ABOUT FRESH BEGINNINGS AND LETTING GO OF THE PAST.

Skye knows it’s now or never. It’s time for her to reveal herself to the father she’s never met.

So she hops on a plane from Dublin to the English seaside town of Borteen.

But between the father she’s just getting to know and her worried mother, Skye realizes that the past is never that simple as a whirlwind of secrets turns their world upside down.

And now Skye has Adam, the hunky guy next door, to contend with. He’s determined to show her there’s room in her life for love.

Skye thinks they’re better off as friends, but Adam has other ideas. Even when she reveals a secret of her own.

Will Skye allow history to repeat itself? Or will she let go of the secrets of the past and open herself up to the future?

This uplifting and feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Beth Moran, Shari Low, Jessica Redland, Sue Moorcroft or Isabella Connor.

And now, for Morton’s excerpt:

I chose the following extract as it gives an insight into the fledgling relationship between Skye and Adam …

“Adam seemed anxious to get her sitting down, herding her almost, but trying not to actually touch her, and she guessed her features had taken on a deathly white pallor as she had become so shaky.

‘I’m not very experienced with herbal tea, I’m afraid. What do I ask for?’

‘Chamomile, or if they haven’t got that something with ginger, please.’

‘Oh, and I’m Adam by the way.’

She didn’t let on that she knew his name already. ‘Skye.’

‘Nice name.’ He turned away after smiling at her.

She took the chance while he was at the counter to check her face in her little handbag mirror. It confirmed she looked as white and stressed as she’d thought.

Adam wasn’t away long. He came back with obvious concentration on his face as he balanced their drinks on a tray. She watched his long fingers unload a strong dark coffee on his side of the table and a cup, spoon and teapot in front of her. There was a plate with a Danish pastry and a spongey-looking cake on another.

‘I know I shouldn’t make assumptions, but I got this gluten- and sugar-free almond thing for you.’

Skye laughed then, a real belly laugh that reduced her to tears again. Adam looked rather uncomfortable and perplexed when her vision cleared sufficiently for her to see him once more.

‘Am I that predictable, so much of a stereotype?’

‘I don’t know. I didn’t want to do the wrong thing, but it seems I have . . . again.’ He went to pick up the plate from in front of her.

‘No.’ She stayed his hand. ‘I laughed so much because you’re spot on. It’s probably what I would have chosen for myself anyway.’

He took a sip of his hot coffee and grinned. ‘So, I had got it right?’

She nodded, giving him a smile.”

I like this image, Morton. It’s a neat brainstorming idea and offers intriguing questions for the reader. I imagine it was also a useful tool when writing and keeping the story on track.

About Morton S. Gray

Morton lives in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Morton worked for many years in the electricity industry in staff development and training. She is a qualified hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She enjoys crafts, history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.

You can catch up with Morton on her website/blog www.mortonsgray.com, on Twitter – @MortonSGray, her Facebook page – Morton S. Gray Author – https://www.facebook.com/mortonsgray/ and Instagram – @mortonsgrayauthor – https://www.instagram.com/morton_s_gray/

Book buying link: A New Arrival in Borteen Bay

Series Link: The Secrets of Borteen Bay

Addendum to this morning’s post!

I blame the sourdough making I’ve embarked on and the visit to London, the trip to a specialist for my husband, the babysitting, the Pilates exercises, the ironing, cooking, dancing around the kitchen… But in truth, it’s me, doing my usual messy stuff on social media.

I realised this morning that I had posted two versions of the same blog, so I deleted one and that had a couple of photos relevant to the post. Grainy photos from 1976, showing my first excursions to Pantalica, back in the day when it wasn’t a UNESCO site. Happy times.

So here you go, people, if yours were deleted. I’m not going to lie down in a darkened room because the sun is shining and there’s gardening to do. Life is not all about writing…

Memories of weekend camping trips into the Pantalica gorge. Reached along a disused railway line that linked Syracuse to Ragusa.

A glimpse into the past

This Thursday morning, it’s my turn to present a short piece from my book, published two days ago.

I was overjoyed with a recent review of The Sicilian Secret posted on #Netgalley. Here are a few lines relevant to my post this morning.

 A Netgalley review – 5 stars

“Paige’s trip to Sicily is an intriguing one. I was transported to this gorgeous setting through the author’s divine descriptions. Angela Petch’s personal experience of the region is clearly noted and utilised. There was a familiarity about the environment as I followed the characters into both beautiful and frightening terrain. Even though I have never been to Sicily, I felt as if I had. Angela has a knack for drawing emotion out of you through her atmospheric scenes, believable characters and complex plots.”

In all my books, I try to write about what I know, to introduce what I hope are little-known facts about Italy during World War Two. Sicily is an island where I worked for over two years in my early twenties. A lot has changed since then: the places we used to visit are more touristy now and, indeed, one of the main locations in The Sicilian Secret has been designated a UNESCO site.

Noticeboard at entrance to the ancient site of Pantalica in eastern Sicily

Pantalica is a place where my then boyfriend (now husband) and I used to go on our free weekends. It was a wild, desolate canyon steeped in history where we camped with our two dogs and clambered up and down steep cliffs to explore caves.  These hundreds of openings have been variously tombs and dwelling places dating back to the Bronze age. Geologists consider this Iblean Plateau to be the northernmost edge of the African continental crust. The area also has a multitude of microclimates and the flora and fauna are spectacular. Small wonder that it is now a World Heritage site. Unfortunately, in the past, the caves have been plundered but they are now safeguarded.

Quite apart from all these factors, all those years ago when I didn’t know half its history, I always felt it was a very special place. And that was reinforced by a research visit last year. Pantalica had to absolutely appear in my next book. It’s a destination that turns out to be the crucial missing cog in the wheel of mystery presented at the beginning of the story.

So, here is my short extract:

“Paige walked on, the path leading her through a disused railway tunnel and out into the light again. She emerged to the spectacle of hundreds more – no thousands more – tiny doorways in the cliffside. She stood for a moment holding her breath at the sight. Pantalica seemed like the end of the earth: beautiful and wild. But what on earth had it got to do with her mother?

The scene before her held such a unique sense of history and was almost indescribable. The guidebook had told her that besieged Siculi had adapted homes from tombs in ancient times. They were the original inhabitants of Sicily, and she shivered as she imagined how many dead might be buried in these little dwellings. Maybe there were still bones in some.”

No spoilers, but Pantalica holds an important clue for resolution of the mystery set at the beginning of my new novel.

I’m delighted with the reviews already posted on #Netgalley:

“a captivating read from start to finish” ; “atmospheric”; “complex and interesting characters”; “beautifully researched”; “sumptuous descriptions of the landscape, people and food”; “profoundly moving”; “a story of love, danger and sacrifice”.

Available also on audio (at the moment on offer at 99 pence for a limited time, narrated by the talented Ashley Tucker and on Amazon in paperback and Kindle (including Kindle Unlimited. Why not grab yourself a copy?

Link for purchasing The Sicilian Secret

I hope you enjoy and it would be great if you could leave a #review if you do pick up a copy. Thanks so much for reading this.

Now, to sort my ideas for the next book!

Thursday with Luisa Jones

I’ve been asked by a couple of readers if I’ve read all the books I’m introducing in this mini-series on my blog.

Hand on heart, I have not read them all. I know I (and perhaps many others) tend to largely read the same kind of book but it’s good to stretch reading wings and dip into other genres and styles. Not every book will please every reader but we will never know if we are missing out unless we try. The idea of inviting various authors to share a short extract from one of their books was born when I was editing my own book, to be released in a few days time. As I read my words in The Sicilian Secret for the umpteenth time, I wondered which extracts I could pick out to give a feeling of the book. I’ve won a couple of flash fiction competitions and this was on my mind. My novels recently have a wordcount in excess of 100,000. No matter what we write, each word should count. It’s so easy to waffle (I know I am guilty of this). So, I set a limit of 150 words. It’s not easy, but I believe it is doable.

This week, Luisa Jones is my guest. I have read her book and it is gritty, informative, romantic, sad and a wonderful debut historical novel. I shall post my review below.

Here is Luisa’s extract from The Gilded Cage

Naked admiration lent a kind of rough beauty to his face. His expression, and the closeness of him; the way his eyes had focused on her parted lips, so intent and filled with concentration. It was madness, but she couldn’t help herself. She leaned forward, closing the short distance between their bodies, and pressed her lips against his. They were warm, his breath was warm. She’d never before experienced a kiss that was gentle, from soft, generous lips. For a long, golden moment there was a marvellous tenderness that filled her with a kind of molten glow.

This extract depicts a scene of passion, all the more intense as the reader already knows how hard the heroine’s life has become, but let Luisa explain why she chose these lines.

I chose this extract from my historical novel The Gilded Cage because it’s a turning point for my main character Lady Rosamund Fitznorton. Trapped in an abusive marriage, her relationship with the working-class Joseph Cadwalader brings about not only a new independence when he teaches her to drive, but also an awakening to physical pleasure through a gentleness she’s never experienced before.

Here is my own 5-star review of Luisa’s book.

I’ve recently re-read D. H. Lawrence’s “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and (she says in a low voice), to be honest, I enjoyed The Gilded Cage more. Some of the themes are similar: unfulfilled young bride, sexual awakening, lovers from different social classes etc. “The Gilded Cage” is written with a touch of period voice – but it’s also written in 2023 and therefore more accessible. I loved it. There’s a hint of Downton Abbey meets Upstairs, Downstairs. But “The Gilded Cage” is its own book and beautifully written. The vintage tone is very fitting: “There was reverence in his touch, and wonder in his countenance.” And: “Suddenly the desires she had discovered within herself seemed dangerously transgressive.” This book will sound marvellous on audio.
There’s a lot going on and the sexual scenes are on opposite ends of the scale. I’m not going to give spoilers, but there is cruel sex and there is beautiful, passionate, sensual sex – both very hard to write. The subject is tricky and the author has dealt with it head-on, with courage and skill. The characters are complex and vividly drawn. I was thoroughly convinced by them all. I felt so sorry for the heroine Rosamund, who, as a woman living at the end of the nineteenth century, has such a rough deal and such resulting low self-esteem, “whiling away her days reading and playing the piano,” when she is not preyed on by her older husband. “Living with Sir Lucien was like living on the slopes of a volcano.” “It was better for the staff to see her as a social misfit than as the filthy, debased creature she knew she really was.” I wanted to take the poor young woman in my arms and comfort her.
How wonderful that the motor car brought her freedom to escape for a while from her cage and embark on “a secret life”. Her life as a result became more complex, bringing issues for both parties and it was this part of the book that I enjoyed the most, wondering how the story would develop. I might have taken off half a star at what I felt was rather a convenient ending, but I didn’t because I still couldn’t put the book (aka my kindle) down.
I enjoyed reading at the back of the book about the author’s research into motoring during this period. In fact, I was totally immersed in this world and look forward to reading more from the pen of this talented author. Thank you for transporting me in the Wolsey 24/30 Limousine-Landaulette and into your clever story. More!
I received an early copy of this book from Netgalley and I thank the publishers for the opportunity. This is my honest review.

Luisa A Jones lives in South Wales, and takes inspiration from the Welsh countryside, towns, history, and of course its people. Her writing explores the dynamics within relationships, the pressures that mental health issues can exert on people, and how these can be overcome.

Luisa studied Classical Studies at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London. Her previous jobs have included tour guide in an historic house; teacher in both primary and secondary schools; careers adviser; and corporate trainer/assessor.

Luisa loves using her creativity for crafting and baking, as well as writing historical and contemporary fiction with romantic elements. She and her husband are the proud owners of Gwynnie, a Volkswagen camper van built in 1974, which inspired the story behind Luisa’s first book, Goes Without Saying. They have three children, a dog, and two cats.

Becoming an author fulfilled a lifelong ambition. Her first historical novels in The Fitznortons series, The Gilded Cage and The Broken Vow, were published by Storm Publishing. She is currently writing another novel for Storm, set at the outbreak of WWII.

Book link The Gilded Cage

www.luisaajones.com

Tweets by Taffy_lulu

Facebook

Instagram

Bookbub

Buying links

Wishing you the best of luck in all your writing as you go forward, Luisa. And thanks for dropping by.

To Florence on a Thursday

Oh how I love the diversity of books. So far in my Thursday chats we have had a variety of genres. What it shows me is there’s a story to suit everyone.

And oh how I love the city of Florence. I lived here for over one year at the ripe old age of twenty and fell in love, not only with a handsome young Florentine (as you do), but with the rich history and atmosphere of this place, known as “the cradle of civilisation”. So, it is my absolute privilege and honour to introduce you to a fellow Florentine lover (no – not him…). Meet Angela Sims and her adorable smile. Let’s read an excerpt from her book, The Rose of Florence

“The noise hit him first and dragged him from his sleep. Screams of hysterical women…and men; shouts of panic from those trying to escape; clashing of metal on metal, as blades continued to fight. As he looked around, he saw blood, so much blood. One man sat next to him, deathly pale and still, while the red pool around him spread across the paving stones, the gash on his thigh still bleeding but slowly now. A young boy, no more than six years old, stood in the middle of the piazza, crying and looking around for his parents. Sitting on the steps of the Duomo, he saw a woman sitting still, her hair escaping from its net, her sleeves and skirt torn and bloody. She held a young man in her arms. He was clearly dead. The emptiness in the woman’s eyes would haunt his dreams forever.”

I’m fascinated by Angela’s reasons for choosing this excerpt. It’s so hard to convey much in a few words, but this extract is very powerful and intense. Yes, it’s bloody, but history is not easy and especially not the history of renaissance Florence – a jewel worth fighting for.

This may be a strange excerpt to choose, as it tells nothing of the characters or storyline, but I chose it because this is what inspired The Rose of Florence – The Pazzi Conspiracy, a deadly assassination plot in Florence’s Cathedral, the Duomo. I read about the historical events that happened in 1478, but I wondered what happened to the people whose stories were not recorded? This is how the story of The Rose was born.

I haven’t read this book yet but it is definitely on my wish list. I love Angela’s posts and photographs sent from her beloved Florence. It’s too long since I popped to visit and as I only live two hours away, I am going to remedy this shameful lapse and hop on a train this summer to wander round the sights and alleyways. And the experience will be all the better after reading Angela’s book, I’m sure.

Author Bio

Angela’s background is in healthcare, working in the NHS for many years, and she has been a University lecturer since 2010. Her writing experience was limited to a Masters dissertation, purely academic, but the research skills learned during that process were soon put to use in researching her favourite topic, the Italian Renaissance. It didn’t take long before the seeds of a story began to germinate, and The Rose of Florence blossomed.

She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) and the New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) in 2020 and found the encouragement and resources available taught her so much about the process and skills needed to write fiction. Her debut novel, The Rose of Florence, was published in January 2023 by Romaunce Books Ltd, and she is currently working on her second novel, Hiding the Flame.

On a personal level, Angela lives in Cardiff, South Wales, with her husband and two cats. She has two grown-up daughters and a gorgeous granddaughter. When not working, reading or writing, she loves to cook, spend time in the garden, and at every opportunity, travel to Italy to eat, drink and absorb the wonderful atmosphere. She likes to call that research!

You can find out more about Angela by clicking on these links:

Facebook: http://Angela M Sims – Author (@angelamsimsauthor)

X: http://: @AngelaMSims1

Instagram: http://: angelamsims1

Website: https://angelamsims.co.uk

Grazie mille, a thousand thanks, Angela, for visiting my blog and sharing the inspiration for your books. And in bocca al lupo (good luck: go in the mouth of the wolf) for your next Florentine work of art too. As we say: crepi: (may the wolf die first).

Romance on a Thursday

So, today is actually my birthday, so I don’t mind meeting a new author and dipping into some romance one little bit. Meet Liz Davies, who is going to help me on this. Today is also publication day for her new book. Congratulations!

xr:d:DAFX2jjkQag:699,j:7496651862066955753,t:2311250

Now, how’s that for a chocolate box image? I want to wander up that path and step right inside that cottage. Will there be a cream tea waiting for me? Scones with jam and cream? Maybe a glass of bubbly? Or at the very least, tea in a real teapot…Let’s read an extract.

He gave the woman her crowbar back and eased the board to the ground, mindful of splinters, then he looked at her.

Her expression had softened and he realised she was rather pretty, despite the smudges of dirt across her face. Dark hair, caught up on the top of her head, fell in wisps around her cheeks and the back of her neck, and large blue eyes stared back at him. Her lips were curved into a smile, and his eyes were drawn to them. They looked very kissable.

Liz, this is all very lovely. Why did you choose this particular extract?

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today, Angela, and allowing me to share a bit about my latest novel, The Cottage in Sweet Meadow Park, which is out today!

I’ve chosen this extract because this is where Jack meets Molly for the first time, and it sets the tone of the book perfectly.  Sweet Meadow Park is based on a park near to where I live – although the real park is considerably better cared for than the one in the novel.

It’s great, isn’t it, when places you know inspire your writing. And I can see why from the photos you share with us below. It would be great to take a walk in that park today, but I plan to meander down to the sea near where I live instead. There’s a great cafe down there too.

Author Bio

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love.

She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat – she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.

She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van and travel the world in it.

She also writes heart-warming women’s fiction as Lilac Mills & uplifting romantic novellas as Etti Summers.

Thank you so much for sending over some romance today, Liz. I hear your wish for a campervan – on my wish list too. We recently travelled round New Zealand in one and I’d love to do the same round Britain and Europe, but my husband is not keen. I might run away one day and find that cottage …

Good luck with your new book. The cover is so enticing.

You can find Liz on these platforms.

X (formerly known as Twitter)

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Buying link on Amazon

To Norway, with Natalie Normann

This week, we’re off to Norway to meet Natalie. She writes cosy and contemporary novels as well as historical and other genres. That particular word – “hygge” – that we’ve come to know, springs to mind when I look at the cover below.

Natalie is on book number seventy-one… which I find simply amazing. Let’s read a short extract from one of the books she has written in English:

From Summer Island

“With the warm mug in her hand, Ninni went outside and sat down on the step to enjoy the silence and the wind – the smell of the island, she thought, and took a deep breath. Salty seawater and freshly cut grass, the sweet scent from the early blossoms on the old apple tree and the sharper scent from the juniper bushes by the road made her close her eyes for a moment. It was so good to be here, so safe. Perhaps she would never leave. Perhaps that would make her feel like herself again.“

Natalie tells us that Summer Island was amongst her first books written in English, and she had no idea what to write in the beginning. Then she realised that she loves Norwegian summers, and she wanted to share that.

The island is made up of islands she’s been on, and it served as the perfect setting for a place to heal broken hearts.

Oh wow! LOVE that, Natalie.

She shares photos of the island with us and tells me that the summers there are like those of Scotland. I was intrigued when I read the caption “Utsira”… I’ve heard that place mentioned so often on weather forecasts on the radio. But I didn’t realise it was in Norway. Another destination to add to my ever-growing bucket list.

The first two photographs are of Utsira and the third is Haugesund, summer

Bio

Natalie Normann is a prolific author, who has written stories across several genres. Since publishing her first historical romance novel in 1995, she has written also written thrillers and children’s books. From 2007 she wrote Historical Romance series in Norwegian. 2023 she published book #71.

Her ‘A Very Hygge Holiday books’; Summer Island and Christmas Island are her first books in English. The stories are cosy, contemporary romances set on a lovely, windy island on the West Coast of Norway.

At the moment she’s working on a new, exciting project historical romance novel, also in English, and can’t wait to share it with everyone.

Thanks, Natalie! Or should that be “takk”. 😉 And good luck with bringing us your novels in English. How talented you are.

You can find Natalie on the following social media platforms:

X (formerly Twitter)

Facebook

Instagram

Threads

Linktree

Thursday Chat with Jan Baynham

Today I’d like to introduce you to lovely Jan Baynham as she shares an excerpt from one of her books.

Over to you, Jan!

Extract from The Secret Sister

Claudia was entranced by the pretty, narrow streets of Castella di San Niccolò. The ones that led away from a main street, where shops displayed local crafts and produce, were so narrow it would be difficult to pass anyone even when walking. Brightly coloured ceramic pots containing plants stood on some of the steps. Looking up, she saw many buildings had balconies edged with metal railings, full of terracotta pots brimming with the fiery-red geraniums she was getting so used to seeing. Along one side of the street, she stopped to look at a beautifully detailed mosaic picture set in the wall.

A sense of place is important in all my novels and I chose this extract to illustrate how my character, Claudia, feels when she visits Sicily for the first time. It is so different to rural mid-Wales where she was born and brought up. Although the town is fictional, it was inspired by a street in beautiful Taormina.

Oh wow, Jan! These pictures bring back wonderful memories of when I used to work in Sicily. Everywhere you walk, there is a feast for the eyes and so much history. Having read your book, I know that you have captured all that in a cracking story. Thank you so much for sharing.

Love the cover and the title too.

BIO

Originally from mid-Wales, Jan lives in Cardiff. After retiring from a career in teaching and advisory education, she joined a small writing group in a local library where she wrote her first piece of fiction. In October 2019, her first collection of stories was published by Black Pear Press. Fascinated by family secrets and ‘skeletons lurking in cupboards’, Jan writes dual narrative, dual timeline novels that explore how decisions and actions made by family members from one generation impact on the lives of the next. Setting and a sense of place play an important part in all of Jan’s stories and as well as her native mid-Wales, there is always a contrasting location. She is published by Joffe Books/Choc Lit. The Secret Sister is her fourth novel.

She joined the Romantic Novelists Association in 2016 and is an active member of her local Chapter, Cariad.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter – @JanBaynham

Facebook – Jan Baynham Writer

Blog – Jan’s Journey into Writing

Instagram – janbaynham

Bookbub – Jan Baynham

BUYING LINKS

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com:

CAPTIVE ON A CAROUSEL OF TIME

Long time, no chat. Life has been as busy as ever and my blog has been neglected.

 I returned from an amazing two months visiting New Zealand and Thailand and it’s been good to spread wings, see new corners of the world and re-assess where I want to go in the next months.

I fell in love with New Zealand. When I was in my twenties and living and working in Tanzania, East Africa, my husband I were offered a job in New Zealand, but at the time we discarded the idea.

I know what-ifs are negative but if it were possible to turn back the clock, I’d be sorely tempted. What a country! How beautiful! How empty! What lovely people!  What adventures we had and how we walked off our socks. I so want to return. We now have a Kiwi daughter-in-law, so if we are good, maybe we’ll be invited back.

I have another big birthday coming up next month. My clock is ticking. I want to pack as much in to the remaining years as my body and mind will allow.

Next month Bookouture is publishing Book number seven. I can’t tell you the title as yet and in fact I haven’t even seen the cover they have designed. Watch this space. But here is a hint of one of the settings.

I have decided to take a break before I start writing another novel. I need the head space and time to hunt for different ideas.  Carpe diem – it’s time to think where and what to plunge into next… It’s a phrase that’s been used again and again since Horace in 23 BCE. Nothing original about my decision.

These photos will never put over the beauty that my eyes and head experienced New Zealand, but here are a few to share with you.

I am starting Thursday Chats later this week with author friends and have asked them to share excerpts from their novels. Hopefully I’ll help you discover new books to add to your pile of to-be-reads.

Speak again in a couple of days.