Tag Archives: Carol Thomas Author Blog

Exciting book news!

Writing & Reading, , , , , , ,

I am very excited to share the news that my new book, A Summer of Second Chances, is now available for preorder.

It is due for release on April 27th 2021 in ebook format, though I believe the paperback will be released at the same time, or soon after. I will update on Facebook and Twitter when I know more.

Here’s the gorgeous cover by Choc Lit’s cover designer, Berni Stevens. I am so pleased with it. I am a little bit in love with the chocolate Labrador, who is called Granger in the story, and I so want to move in to Dapplebury House.

 Here’s the blurb:

Does first love deserve a second chance?

Ava Flynn sometimes feels like the clothes donated to her charity shop have seen more life than her, but ‘maximum dedication for a minimal wage’ is what it takes to keep her mother’s beloved wildlife charity, All Critters Great and Small, running – especially in the village of Dapplebury, where business is certainly not booming.

But when Ava’s first love, Henry Bramlington, returns to the village, suddenly life becomes a little too eventful. Henry escaped Dapplebury many years before, but now he has the power to make or break the village he left behind – All Critters Great and Small included. Can Ava trust the boy who ran away to give both her and her charity a second chance?

Preorder available here: Amazon (other retailers following soon)

In case you are wondering why it is being released by Choc Lit and not their imprint Ruby Fiction (as the Lisa Blake series was) the answer is simply that this book fits the Choc Lit criteria of being written from both the female and male perspective. It was a lot of fun to write.

To find out more about the inspiration behind A Summer of Second Chances, take a look at my Pinterest board. When I start to write, I like to collect pictures for inspiration. Gathering them together helps me focus on the mood and connections within the story. Here are just a few of the pictures you will find. 

I hope you like the look of A Summer of Second Chances. This is always a nerve-wracking time waiting for early reviews to come in. Thank you to all those who have preordered already; your support is hugely appreciated.

In other book news, Maybe Baby is now available in ebook, audio and paperback. The eagle-eyed among you may spot the paperback in some stores on the high street as shops begin to open their doors on April 12th. 

And finally, please sign up for my newsletter, it would be great to have you on board:

Thank you for reading. xx

#WritingWednesday with Claire Sheldon: Selecting a Writing Course.

Guest Post, Writing Wednesday, , , , , ,

I am delighted to announce the return of #WritingWednesday, with a post from fellow Ruby Fiction author, Claire Sheldon, who shares her experience of selecting a writing course.

Over to you, Claire …

With so many ‘how to’ courses and books out there, it can be difficult to decide where to seek advice when it comes to writing. I bookmarked many websites, downloaded every bit of software that promised to help, and joined multiple forums hoping to find that magic formula that would kick start my journey to publication.

While bigger, well-known courses offered the advantage of making contacts, they charged hundreds of pounds, with no guarantee of a book deal at the end.

Authors run many courses. For example, in my genre, there are good courses run by Roz Watkins (DI Meg Dalton series) and Alex Davis (Derby Quad), to name two. During lockdown, Alex even ran courses allowing attendees to pay what they could afford. But with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know what to do and which to attend.

There are promises of help everywhere, but ultimately it is down to you to find what works for you and then to work hard it!

For me, attending an adult education course run by my local council’s education department provided the help, support and encouragement I needed. The course wasn’t rigid in its structure, and I enjoyed being joined by other adults, some of whom had come from book groups, while others, like me, were just keen writers.

On the course, I met John Gibson, my tutor, who, after working together for over a year, I credited in my debut novel, Perfect Lie – thanking him for his time and inspiration. This novel was published in 2020 by Ruby Fiction. Achieving my goal of being published proved that the right course, hard work and dedication can pay off.

Here are some of the benefits I found, taking an adult education class:

  • Run in termly “blocks”, there was no upfront year-long financial commitment. If I wanted to continue when I reached the end of each term, I could.
  • There was no homework – though this may not be true of every course.
  • I was given access to a variety of different tasks to inspire and encourage my writing style.
  • Reading my work aloud became easier as confidence in my ability and trust in my classmates grew.
  • Working hard led to a writing deal!

My experience proves that you don’t need to go on an expensive course as viable alternatives are available.

Finally, while sharing writing tips, I would also recommend being active on social media:

  • Make contact with authors you aspire to.
  • Follow agents and publishers you wish to submit to.
  • And take chances!

If you want it badly enough and are willing to work for it, that publishing deal will happen. Just beware that the journey can take years, not months.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and sharing your experience and tips.

Claire writes gripping crime thrillers with twists you won’t see coming and is currently celebrating the release of her second novel with Ruby Fiction – out this week. 

The blurb:

The streets are no place for a child …

After a traumatic event that almost ripped Jen Garner’s family apart, life is finally starting to get back to normal.

Then a woman’s body is found in the river. Shortly afterwards, a young boy is discovered wandering the streets. He refuses to speak to anyone, just repeats one name over and over, to the confusion of most of the local authorities –but Jen knows exactly who he’s asking for, and it’s enough to make her blood run cold …

Available in ebook and paperback: Amazon UK | Kobo |

About the author:

Claire lives in Nottingham with her family, a cat called Whiskers and a dog called Podrick.
She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and as a result of the disease had to reduce her hours working in insurance for an Insolvency Insurer. This spare time enabled her to study a creative writing course which inspired her to write her debut, Perfect Lie.

When Claire isn’t working she enjoys reading crime novels and listening to music – the band Jimmy Eat World is her biggest muse! Claire is also an avid reader and book blogger. The inspiration for her novels comes from the hours spent watching The Bill with her grandparents and auntie; then later, Spooks and other detective programmes like Morse, A Touch of Frost and Midsummer Murders.

 Discover more about Claire Sheldon here: Twitter | Facebook

Review of Georgina Troy’s Winter Whimsy.

Blog Tour, Blog Tour Review, Book Review, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , , ,

Today, I am delighted to join the blog tour for Georgina Troy’s Winter Whimsy, the third in the Boardwalk by the Sea series.

About the book

Zip up your puffer coat, winter has arrived!

When Lexi Davies discovers that her father has sold the fishermen’s cottages she runs as holiday lets and where she also lives, she is heartbroken. Then, when Oliver Whimsy arrives at the boardwalk and announces that he is the new owner, Lexi realises that the future she was looking forward to enjoying at her cottages is over.

Oliver might be handsome, wealthy and very sexy, but he’s new to the island and has already made a terrible impression on the locals. When he offers Lexi a job, she’s unsure whether she should accept. Unfortunately, she has little alternative if she wants a roof over her head for the winter.

As Lexi gets to know Oliver better, she discovers there’s far more to Oliver Whimsy than she or anyone else had imagined. Just what is the heartache Oliver’s trying so desperately to hide and why was he so determined to buy the cottages? Lexi wants to find out, but in order to do so she’s going to have to spend time with him…

My review:

This is the first book I have read by this author. While it is the third in the Boardwalk By The Sea series, I read and enjoyed it as a standalone story. I greatly enjoyed getting lost in the lovely descriptions of the Jersey coastline. The characters were likeable, especially the leads Lexi and Oliver. I also liked the community around the Boardwalk and the touch of snow that added that all-important wintery feel. The ending was warm and cosy; overall, the story offered a moment of escapism at this time, when we can all do with a big hug and a smile.

Purchase Links: Amazon UK | Amazon US

About the author:

Georgina Troy is a pseudonym of author Deborah Carr, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Poppy Field, Broken Faces and the Mrs Boots series.

She was a finalist in the Contemporary Romance Category of the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2016 (RoNAs) with A Jersey Kiss, book 1 in her Jersey Scene series.

Georgina lives on the island of Jersey with her husband and three rescue dogs and is 1/3 of The Blonde Plotters.

Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Huge thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources, and to the author, Georgina Troy for the advanced copy. I look forward to reading  more in the series. xx

Review of Helen J Rolfe’s Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack.

Blog Tour, Blog Tour Review, Book Review, , , , , , ,

Today, I am delighted to join the blog tour for Helen J Rolfe’s Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack.

The blurb:

Heritage Cove is in full swing for the festive season and as the temperature dips, who will be lucky in love this Christmas?

It’s December in Heritage Cove and along with the village Christmas tree, frosty mornings and the promise of the most wonderful time of the year, the new waffle shack is about to open. And its owner isn’t a stranger to the Cove, because after all this time, Daniel is back to make amends with his brother Harvey – as well as a few other locals he might have offended along the way.

Fairly new to the village, local blacksmith Lucy has kept up the pretence of being with her ex for the sake of his gran but she’s fed up with all the lies. Determined to come clean and live the life she wants to live, she’s devastated to find that her attraction to Daniel is tainted by the fact he’s hiding a few things of his own. And his secrets are ones she isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to get past.

Heritage Cove is full of friendship and community; it’s a welcoming place people visit and never want to leave. But will it work its magic for Daniel and Lucy?

My review:

This was a sweet (in more ways than one) festive read, with plenty of feel-good family and friendship filled moments. I liked both Lucy and Daniel and was interested in learning more about them as the story progressed. The ending is all the more lovely as a result of the issues they have to overcome.

I loved Heritage Cove and its inhabitants, who were warm and welcoming and a pleasure to spend time with. The community Christmas tree sounded a delight, as did the waffles served in Daniel’s waffle shack. The descriptions frequently made me hungry!

This is the second in the Heritage Cove series but can easily be read as a standalone story (I hadn’t read the first). Overall, it was a sweet festive read, ideal for snuggling up with on a winter evening.

Purchase link.

Follow the tour here: 

About the author:

Helen J Rolfe writes romantic fiction and contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community.

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen’s books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries where she thinks her readers might like to escape to.

Helen loves to hear from readers so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. She can be found via: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 

Many thanks to Helen J Rolfe for the great read, and thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources, for inviting me to take part in the tour and providing an advanced read copy.

My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads. x

#WritingWednesday with Angela Petch: Structural Edits.

Guest Post, Writing Wednesday, , , , , , , , , , , ,

I am delighted to welcome my final (for now) #WritingWednesday guest, Angela Petch, as she talks about structural edits. Over to you, Angela …

You’ve typed The End after several months of creating your story. But “it ain’t over”. Now comes the structural editing.

“A novel is a game for two players. The book may get written in solitude but it kicks into life only when a reader’s imagination collaborates with that of the writer…” (Lindsay Clarke from The UEA’s “The Creative Writing Coursebook”).

Here are a few ideas I’ve used over the years.

  • If you have Beta readers who look through your work, be careful that they’re not friends who will only be kind. Ask them to be honest (but not brutal). Negativity bruises. Pay for a professional editor if you can afford it. It is worth it in the end.
  • If are lucky enough to be with a publisher, then start something new while you wait for your editor’s responses, because:
  • You need to distance yourself from your work to turn yourself into a reader. Schedule at last two weeks to put away your manuscript and come back to it as if you are not the author. That way, you have more perspective and it will be easier to take on board revisions and comments.
  • Divide an A4 sheet in two, vertically. Type your chapter summaries on the left and leave the right hand blank to insert your editor’s comments. This is far easier than trawling through your manuscript when you need to refer.
  • Ideally you will have created a timeline beforehand. (Use an old diary). I’m not a spreadsheet person, so I use a strip of paper and pin it to my noticeboard). Plus, a family tree, especially if you write historical novels in dual time. And have your character sketches handy, so you don’t muddle character descriptions and traits. I pin photos of places and characters up and look at them frequently. (They speak to me sometimes).
  • Always make a copy of your manuscript with the editor’s comments and work on that copy. Use the comments box (under review on your bar) and insert reminders to yourself as you work. (They can be deleted eventually).
  • I have listened to Julie Cohen’s excellent talk on using coloured post-its (listen here). It is a brilliant way to see the imbalances in your story: where you need to break a long sequence and bring in another so that your reader does not lose their way; where one character’s story might be too dominant etc. Remember that you know everything that happens and everyone it happens to in your story (hopefully 😉), but it has to be absolutely clear to your reader too. Once you allow your book to be published, it does not only belong to you.
  • Finally, take breaks. I use a timer so that I don’t hunch over my laptop for hours. And do stretching exercises for your neck and shoulders. Be kind to yourself and set rewards. (But not always chocolate. A walk is perfect for untangling thoughts and ideas).

About the author:

Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.

Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.

Angela’s gripping, WWII, Tuscan novels are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.

Discover more about Angela Petch and her writing here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Amazon | Apricot Plots