All posts by carol

Chatting to Vicki Beeby on the release of The Ops Room Girls.

Author Interview, , , , , , , , , ,

Congratulations on your three book deal with Canelo and the release of The Ops Room Girls! I love the cover and as it has just landed on my kindle, I’m looking forward to reading it.

Thanks, Carol, and thanks for giving me a spot on your blog!

To get us started, please tell us a little about your novel:

When working class Evie Bishop must seek a new future for herself, she is inspired to contribute to the war effort and joins the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as an Ops Room plotter. Posted to a fighter station, Evie befriends two other WAAFs – shy, awkward May and flirty, glamorous Jess. The three girls band together to overcome challenges, navigate new romances and keep their pilots safe in the skies. But the German bombers seem to know more than they should about the base’s operations, and soon Evie, May and Jess are caught up in a world more dangerous than they ever imagined…

It sounds great. What was the inspiration behind the story?

I’ve always been a fan of old World War Two films, and often wondered what the women were doing in RAF films who could be seen in the background, placing blocks on a map. When I started researching for a novel about WAAFs, I remembered these women, and discovered that they were called ‘plotters’. Their role was to plot incoming enemy aircraft so that squadrons could be directed to intercept them. I immediately realised this was the perfect role for my maths-loving heroine, Evie, and so the story developed around Evie and her friends serving in an RAF fighter station during the Battle of Britain.

I do enjoy books about friendship and when I interviewed you previously, for VE Day, I was hooked when you mentioned the three women in your story. I’d love to know more about each of them:

I love books about friendship, too, and I’m having a great time writing about Evie, May and Jess who each have their own book in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force series.

Evie Bishop is a maths geek, quiet, serious and very independent. She’s also a rather driven character—she spent her childhood in pursuit of her dream of getting into Oxford and has never had any real friends. I really enjoyed writing about how she falls for a certain handsome pilot and blossoms under the friendships she makes in the WAAF. Which brings us to…

…May Lidford. She’s tall, awkward and shy. She joined the WAAF to escape her bullying father and was posted to the Motor Transport section. As a result of her downtrodden past, she suffers from a lack of backbone, and it’s going to take a lot of encouragement from Evie and Jess to get her to stand up for herself.

Finally, there’s Jess, who is very different from the other two. She was an actress before she joined the WAAF and is glamorous, confident and a complete flirt. While she says she joined up to meet pilots, she might have had other reasons, which will become apparent over the course of the series.

There’s a brief mention of romance in the blurb, how strong is the romance element? 

There’s romance for all three of my heroines, and I would say it’s a significant part of each book. However, your question has really made me think because I changed my mind about the prominence of the romance sub-plot during the progress of book one. I set out to focus far more on the romance, with May and Jess being only minor characters. However, I fell in love with the friendship as I wrote, and Jess and May took a more prominent role than originally intended. I would now say the friendship carries an equal weight with the romance storyline, if not stronger. I’d love to find out what readers think!

Writing about the past necessitates detailed research, have you discovered any surprises along the way?

It’s always the little details that I enjoy discovering. I was particularly amused to learn that the WAAFs were issued knickers as part of their uniform—enormous black (or navy—I’ve read conflicting reports) monstrosities with elastic at the legs as well as the waist. They were universally hated and called ‘blackouts’.

Oh goodness, they sound like my horrid high school PE shorts!

With the book out just yesterday (whoop whoop) I know it’s early days, but are there any early reviews you could share that have truly made you smile?

I’ve been blown away by the reviews on NetGalley and from other authors who were sent ARCs. One in particular that made me all emotional was from the author, Terri Nixon, this part in particular:

“I can’t say enough about the gorgeous writing – such a smooth, effortless style, allowing the reader to sink into the story of these girls and their frightening, but rewarding, new world. We live every moment with them, from the panic and uncertainty of a desperately important new job, to the crumbly, cinnamon-sweetness of a Chelsea bun, to the bone-trembling impact of an enemy shell.”

Wow, what a great review and here’s the blurb:

When Evie’s dreams come crashing down, she’s determined to still make something of herself in these trying times…

It is 1939 and working class Evie Bishop has received a scholarship to study mathematics at Oxford when tragedy turns her life upside down. Evie must seek a new future for herself and, inspired to contribute to the war effort, joins the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as an Ops Room plotter.

Posted to a fighter station on the Sussex Coast, Evie befriends two other WAAFs – shy, awkward May and flirty, glamorous Jess. Faced with earning the approval of strict officers and finding their way in a male dominated world, the three girls band together to overcome challenges, navigate new romances and keep their pilots safe in the skies.

But the German bombers seem to know more than they should about the base’s operations, and soon Evie, May and Jess are caught up in a world more dangerous than they ever imagined…

And those all important links to buy: Amazon | Kobo | Google | Apple

Thank you so much for stopping by Vicki and I wish you every success with The Ops Room Girls and the rest in the series. xx

About the author:

Vicki Beeby writes historical fiction about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War.

Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write.

In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves.

Discover more about Vicki Beeby ( who also writes as Tora Williams) and her work here: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Apricot Plots

Join me next week when author Gina Hollands shares a Feel Good Friday read! xx

Feel Good Friday with Helen Bridgett.

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , ,

 

It’s Feel Good Friday on my blog, and I am welcoming Helen Bridgett as she shares a wellbeing top tip and an extract from her new novel, Summer at Serenity Bay.

Welcome to my blog, Helen, please share your top tip to promote wellbeing:

Many of us spend a lot of time in front of computers and writing all day can cause so much back and shoulder ache. My top-tip is very simple – just get out and walk. Go for a walk in the fresh air every day for at least half an hour. As well as being good for the body, it will clear your mind. I often find that any niggles I’m having with my writing sort themselves out while I’m strolling along.

And apart from walking – laugh a lot! Find a TV show, read a romcom, go out with friends – anything that makes you smile. Who doesn’t feel better after a really good giggle?

I’m all for promoting a good giggle, especially inspired with by a romcom. With that in mind, tell us a little about your latest novel:

It’s the story of two friends who work together to create a rather unconventional Wellness Retreat in a village on the Northumberland coast. In order to promote the retreat the friends get involved in a reality show and as a result, a group of celebrities descend on the village bringing with them some fun and some scandal.

It sounds great, please share a ‘feel good’ extract:

They sat down on the sand looking out at the sea, saying nothing but listening to the hypnotic sound of the rolling waves over the sand. Chloe lay back and closed her eyes letting her entire being just drift, shortly afterwards she felt Roisin lying down beside her.

‘What are you thinking about now?’ asked Roisin.

Chloe considered the question but she hadn’t been thinking at all, she’d relaxed completely but an emotion had taken hold of her and was nudging the edges of her mouth upwards into a big smile. She pushed herself up onto her elbows and looked across at her friend,

‘I’ve got this feeling that anything could happen here, you’re going to make it Roisin.’

‘I feel that too,’ smiled her friend, ‘it’s a magical place.’

I love that extract and you inspired me to go in search of your blurb to find out more:

What happens when you send a group of celebrities to a tiny seaside village?

Advertising executive Chloe Walsh thought she was visiting her friend Roisin to get away from it all, but little does she know her kooky friend has a master plan to breathe some life into her sleepy seaside village through a new wellness retreat – and she needs Chloe’s skills.

So starts a community effort to put the retreat, Serenity Bay, on the map. Everyone from Andy at the Surf Shack to Tony at the chocolate shop is involved – even Roisin’s Gran has a few ideas!

But Chloe strikes gold almost too soon, attracting the attention of a major production company. Now a colourful group of celebrities are preparing to descend on Serenity Bay to film a reality TV show. Is the village ready for the fun and scandal that are bound to follow?

It sounds a great read, while I was on Amazon I preordered it! If others are tempted to do the same you can preorder Summer at Serenity Bay here: Amazon | Ruby Fiction And you won’t have long to wait as it’s due out on July 14th.

I know writers are always thinking about their next project, so what can we expect from you next?

In January Ruby Fiction will be publishing my second book which will be rather different. It’s a crime novel featuring an amateur sleuth – I’ll say no more for now!

Oh, goodness, very different. Best of luck with both novels.

Finally, before you go, please answer five quick fire questions for fun: 

Mountains or beach?  Ooh – hard one. I really do love both. A beach in front of mountains?

Sun or snow? Snow – especially when it’s freshly fallen.

Paperback, ebook or audio? I’m really getting into audio books at the moment.

Sweet or savoury? Savoury – crisps over sweets every time!

Dog or cat? Dog – I have a chocolate Labrador called Angus who ensures that I get out for that walk every day.

 Oh I have a big soft spot for chocolate Labradors!

Thank you for stopping by my blog and I look forward to reading Summer at Serenity Bay. xx

About the author:

Helen Bridgett lives in the North East of England. Outside of writing feel good fiction, Helen loves the great outdoors and having a good laugh with friends over a glass of wine. Helen lives with her husband and their chocolate Labrador, Angus; all three can often be found walking the Northumberland coastline that inspired Serenity Bay.

You can find out more about Helen and her work here: Twitter | Facebook

Don’t miss Vicki Beeby stopping by next week to chat about her latest novel, and another on my tbr list, The Ops Room Girls.

Lockdown for the family Thomas.

Events, Writing & Reading, , , , ,

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a personal blog, just because life and other things have taken over.

In a house with three school-age children, the start of lockdown took a bit of adjusting to. There are five of us, a Labrador, a guinea pig and two hamsters in our three bedroomed house. Ordinarily, it’s not until late evening that we are all in together, with work, school, clubs and so forth pulling us all in different directions.

With the start of lockdown, it was like someone had hit pause. Suddenly we were all home, and we all had time together. The days stretched out long and empty before us, and we could establish our daily rhythms and routines. I’ll confess (except for not being able to see close family members, which was very hard) it was lovely to just be for a moment.

During this time we played together, ate dinner together at a reasonable time every day, and chatted about all sorts, as a family. We learnt new ways to keep my eighty-two-year-old mum company with online chats and talking to her through her window. My nine-year-old son started growing vegetables. My teenager made daisy chains, picked up knitting again and got creative, while my usually sporty daughter devoured books and had time to cook (something she really enjoys).  And I did scavenger hunts via Facetime with my two gorgeous grandchildren – who I still can’t wait to hug again. We also joined neighbours in clapping for the NHS.

Of course, I am aware that this time of hitting pause, isn’t the case for everyone and I know how fortunate we’ve been to have each other for company, and to have been together while others have been sick, lost loved ones, and been at the front line working in hospitals. My son has asthma and so until it was deemed safe, five weeks ago, I was unable to go into the school I work in. I’m hugely grateful to all teachers who have worked throughout, healthcare workers and those who have kept businesses going.

And I don’t want people to think we’ve taken lockdown as a holiday. Thomas Towers, as my eldest likes to call our house, has been busy.

Yes, I am a teacher, but writing is also a job. If you’ve ever tried it, you’ll know it is not nearly as easy as it sounds to put eighty to a ninety thousand words down in the right order, so that by the end you have a story that will entertain and hold readers throughout. And so beavering away, often in our van, I am proud of the fact that in this time I have finished two books. A novel and a Christmas children’s book – both of which were started before lockdown, I hasten to add (I’m not superwoman, haha). 

Here’s a sneak peek at the Children’s book, coming in September. I have also illustrated this one which was quite therapeutic and an escape from thinking during lockdown, too.

As well as this, despite his school not sending work (they suggested daily reading and times tables), I’ve homeschooled my son with English, Maths, and another Curriculum subject every single school day since lockdown started, because I deemed it important. Nine-thirty until two-thirty has been ‘school’ time. He’s been the perfect pupil, keeping me on my toes and thoroughly entertained. And I’ve worked on things that always bugged me when I looked at his school books – the joys of having a teacher as a mum. 

At the start of lockdown, a love of paper aeroplanes inspired DT, Maths, English and Science. Excuse the lockdown hair, though this was back when it was short, you should see it now!

Supported by work sent by the school they attend, my girls have kept studying too. My teenager has worked incredibly hard as she’s in year ten and will be taking her GCSEs next year. And my twelve year old has done the same, completing school work with a great attitude, as well as entertaining her younger brother during breaks and after ‘school’. 

I’m immensely proud of them all. We haven’t had a single tantrum, or refusal to get up and get on, albeit that the girls have had the flexibility to work at times that suit them. The house has been calm and relaxed as everybody found the rhythm of what worked for them. Of course, the children have been affected by what’s gone on, they’ve missed their big sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew terribly. They miss seeing, and hugging, their nanny, auntie (who has delivered amazing food parcel treats to the door), and other grandparents. And they’ve missed their friends.

So now, things are changing again, my twelve-year-old is at football training once more; my teenager has school appointments with teachers, and is horse-riding again. I am back at work, leaving my husband as a supply teacher to our son, while I go in two days a week. He is doing OK delivering the work I have left, though I asked him to mark more neatly – this homeschool has standards 😉 And we can start seeing other family members and friends which is lovely, though still from a distance. 

Life is getting busier again, and I want to hang on to my babies, I want to hold on to our precious time together. It will be strange letting them go again. We still have family dinner together every night, I hope it lasts, but as September comes around and more time pressures are introduced we’ll have to see how that works. I hope as life gets fuller, we remember what is precious and continue to find the positives from what has been, and continues to be, an extraordinary time in history.

 

Feel Good Friday with Kirsty Ferry.

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , , ,

 

Happy Feel Good Friday, and welcome to Kirsty Ferry as she celebrates the forthcoming release of Lily’s Secret.

It’s lovely to have you back on my blog, Kirsty. And congratulations on the new book. Before we dive into that, as we’re living in such strange times at the moment, I am asking all my Feel Good Friday authors if they have a top tip to promote wellbeing?

Do something nice for yourself every day – it doesn’t have to cost money. You can have a nice bubble bath or take a flask of coffee somewhere on a walk, and take the time to sit down and drink it quietly. Don’t feel guilty about doing your ‘thing’. It’s your time and to help you. For me, if I can, I like to do something creative as well – during lockdown, for example, I got out my art stuff and painted some pictures.

I also learned bookbinding. I couldn’t resist treating myself to these papers for it, and am already planning on how gorgeous the books will look!

What lovely things to do, and great advice, especially about not feeling guilty – something I think many people do when they take time for themselves.

I know this is an exciting week for you, please tell us a little about your new novel:

Lily’s Secret is the second book in the Pencradoc Cornish Secrets series. It’s a sequel to A Secret Rose, and centres around a modern-day aspiring actress called Cordelia, and Lily Valentine, a glamorous Victorian actress with a scandalous secret. Cordelia finds the two worlds clashing in a way she never anticipated, and there are ghosts and mystery aplenty… The extract below is when Cordy “meets” Matt, a fellow visitor to Pencradoc.

Matt strolled back to the car and brought out his luggage. One case of clothing, one case of art equipment and of course his easel. Balancing them all carefully, he headed up the steps, feeling his way with his toes, unwilling to trip as he went inside the Hall.

He made it as far as the bottom of the grand staircase, but then his toe connected with another shambolic pile of luggage and he stumbled over it all.

He dropped his case of clothing, but saved the easel and his art equipment – despite a few choice curses echoing around the hallway as the case crashed onto the floor and burst open, scattering his T-shirts and socks all over the floor.

‘Hmm. Sorry about that …’

Matt snapped his head up, anger bubbling up inside him as he opened his mouth to respond to the speaker and direct a few of those choice curses towards them.

‘… but you really should have been looking where you were going.’

He stopped, the words dying on his lips as he tried to formulate an answer. On the bottom of the steps was a tall, graceful redhead. Her hair was held back from her face by a green polka dot hairband, and she had a definite 1960’s vibe going on with her black-and-white checked capri pants and green halter-neck top. She was a woman who didn’t appear to lack confidence as she stared at him out of bright blue, curious eyes. He blinked. He knew her from somewhere; he was pretty certain he’d seen her before.

Oh you left us on a cliff hanger there! But luckily we don’t have long to wait to be able to read more. Lily’s Secret is out on 7th July and can be preordered here Amazon | Choc Lit.

I know you are always busy, what can we expect from you next?

I’ve started a fourth book in the Cornish Secrets series, but I haven’t got very far with it. However, there is a Christmas book already written and submitted so hopefully we’ll get to spend a Christmas at Pencradoc this year!

Wow! Good luck with it.

Finally, before you go, I love to ask my guests five quick fire questions for fun:

Sun or snow? Sun. Definitely. I never used to mind snow until I learned to drive. Then I began to hate it!

Paperback, ebook or audio? Paperback. I can take it in the bath with me and if I drop it, it won’t kill the book or the device…

Cinema or Netflix? Depends – I recently discovered live streams of ballets at the cinema so I love them, but I can’t really rock up at the Odeon with my PJs on and a glass of wine like I can do in the comfort of my own home!

Popcorn or pic n mix? Pic n mix – I love giant strawberries, wine gums and fizzy laces! Popcorn is healthier but gets boring much more quickly!

Hotel or hostel? Hotel. I have standards and prefer not to share a toilet!

Fab answers, Kirsty. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. xx

About the author:

Kirsty Ferry is from the North East of England and lives there with her husband and son. She won the English Heritage/Belsay Hall National Creative Writing competition in 2009 and has had articles and short stories published in various magazines. Her work also appears in several anthologies, incorporating such diverse themes as vampires, crime, angels and more.

Kirsty loves writing ghostly mysteries and interweaving fact and fiction. The research is almost as much fun as writing the book itself, and if she can add a wonderful setting and a dollop of history, that’s even better.

Her day job involves sharing a building with an eclectic collection of ghosts, which can often prove rather interesting.

You can follow Kirsty, and find out more about her work here: Facebook | Twitter | website | blog

Don’t miss author, Helen Bridgett, stopping by for Feel Good Friday, next week. xx

 

 

 

Isabella Muir: For the love of dogs!

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , ,

Welcoming, Isabella Muir as she celebrates the release of her latest cosy crime novel, Crossing the Line, and chats about one of my favourite things … dogs!

Over to you, Isabella:

For the love of dogs…

What is it about our four-legged friends that turns pet lovers into hopeless romantics?  Well, we’re not called pet ‘lovers’ for no reason!  My otherwise sensible and serious husband only has to see a dog – any shape, any size, any age – and he goes all soppy, making a fuss of the creature, who is often quite bemused by the whole experience. And I’m just as bad, which means neither of us can pass a dog on a walk without having to stop for a chat and a cuddle.

So, it was inevitable that I include a dog in my latest novel, Crossing the Line, even though it’s a crime story! Max, the lively Beagle, arrives at a critical part of the story when he joins the Rossi family. Six-year-old Stevie Rossi has been pestering the family for a pet for ages. Following a tragic event that rocks the seaside community of Bexhill-on-Sea, it seems like the perfect time for Stevie to have his wish granted. After all, having a dog around will always lighten the mood and is the perfect way to chase away all negative thoughts!

Despite his aunt’s advice, Stevie insists on taking Max to the summer beach bonfire, as we see here in this brief extract from the book…

‘Stevie was asking about it, last night, when I was putting him to bed. I told him he’s got Max to think about now. Most dogs don’t like fireworks.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He told me that Max isn’t most dogs.’

Max and Stevie are clearly well suited –  they are both as spirited as each other. A dramatic incident occurs at the bonfire…but don’t worry, Max is completely fine!

Crossing the Line is the first of a new series of Sussex Crimes, but it is not the first time dogs have appeared in my stories. In The Tapestry Bag – the first in the Janie Juke series of crime mystery novels – we are introduced to Charlie, the German Shepherd, the much-loved guide dog, who supports Janie’s father, Philip, who is blind.

It seems I can’t write a story without having at least one dog as part of the plot to give me a helping hand!

I am with your there, Isabella. I do love dogs in novels, they are generally a great judge of character and lend a little something extra to a story.

About the book:

Crossing the Line – tragic accident or cold-blooded murder?

Crossing the Line is the first in a new series of Sussex Crime stories, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi. He has been a detective for many years, but felt compelled to retire early because of a tragedy that happened almost outside his front door. (No spoilers!)

In Crossing the Line, Giuseppe travels to England to spend some time with his cousin, Mario, who runs a seafront café in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. Travelling to England to escape one tragic death, Giuseppe then comes face-to-face with another. The body of a teenager is found on a Sussex beach, and Giuseppe is drawn to the case – a case with no witnesses, and a case about which no one is prepared to talk.

National news reports of a missing twelve-year-old in Manchester spark fear across the nation. The phrase ‘stranger-danger’ filters into public consciousness. Local reporter, Christina Rossi, already has concerns about her local community.

As the sea mist drifts in and darkness descends, can Giuseppe and Christina discover the truth and prevent another tragedy?

 Set in July 1964, Crossing the Line is the perfect summer escape. If you have seen the Italian police series, Montalbano, you’ll know all about charismatic Italian detectives. Combine that with the atmosphere and flavour of life in the ‘swinging sixties’ and you have all you need for a cracking read.

Crossing the Line is available now from Amazon as an ebook, or paperback – you can also read it for FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Grab your chance for a FREE book when you sign up to Isabella’s mailing list to keep up to date with the latest news on Sussex Crime! https://isabellamuir.com/ 

Isabella’s books are on my kindle waiting to be read, and my mother-in-law has recently read the whole of the Janie Juke series and highly recommends it.

About the author:

Isabella Muir is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of the 1960s. Researching all aspects of family life back then formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then has gone to publish five novels, two novellas and a short story collection.

Her first Sussex Crime Mysteryseries features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot – using all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.

Her latest novel, Crossing the Line, is the first of a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who arrives in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to find a dead body on the beach and so the story begins…

Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.

Discover more about Isabella and her work via: Twitter | Facebook | website | Goodreads