Tag Archives: Carol Thomas Author

Stories that will make you smile: Kirsten Hesketh

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A big welcome to Kirsten Hesketh, as she shares an uplifting extract from her exciting debut novel, Another Us. 

Hello Kirsten, how are you keeping in this strange new world? Do you have a top tip to promote wellbeing?

Hello Carol. We’re all OK thank you and I hope you are too. I’ve found myself in the slightly strange position of having a fuller house than normal as daughter’s A levels have been cancelled and my son is home from university. Also having my debut come out next week in this very strange new world takes some getting used to. Part of me wants to celebrate this lifelong dream coming true and part of me feels that that is so totally inappropriate with everything else that is going on – so I flip between the two.

I don’t have any real tips to promote wellbeing save to say that as emotions and moods can change so quickly, it’s best to take it one day at a time. I have also found my daily walks in the beautiful Chilterns to be a life-saver.

Can you tell us a little about the story?

My latest novel is also my debut novel and it is being published by Canelo on May 14th. Another Us is the – hopefully – ‘funny, compassionate and poignant’ story of a marriage under pressure. Emma and Daniel’s son, Jack, has just been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and Emma is horrified to discover that 80% of such marriages are doomed to fail. Can she save her own marriage against the odds?

It sounds a great read, could you share an uplifting extract?

Sure. This is the beginning of the book – which I hope fits the bill:

‘Mum?’ Jack stopped stirring his Coco Pops and stared at the plumber. Chocolate milk dripped from his spoon and Jack blotted it with the forearm of his sweatshirt. ‘Mum, why is that man so ugly?’

The moment hung, poised, like the one droplet of brown milk about to plop off the edge of the table. 

Of course, it had to happen now; on a Monday morning when I hadn’t engaged my brain and there was breakfast to finish, teeth and hands to clean and bags to gather before school. And it would be thisparticular Monday morning, September 14th. The date that had been eyeballing me from the calendar for weeks. At least Freddie, our teenager, had already taken himself off to school. He would have cackled with loud, delighted laughter and made the whole thing twice as bad.

If that was possible. 

What were the options?

Think, Emma.

Think!

Plan One: ignore the question and move on. But eight-year-old Lily was rigid with appalled fascination and the plumber was staring at me in mute humiliation, so this was unlikely to do the trick.

Plan Two: the whispered apology. ‘So sorry. Jack tends to blurt stuff out. Tells you how it is.’ No. No.Definitely not an option. Jack was right; the plumber was – how could I put this nicely? – aesthetically challenged. Bald pate. Receding chin. Protruding teeth. How on earth could I say anything without making it twice as bad?

Plan Three: ‘Jack, sweetie,’ I said. ‘You must stop calling everyone ugly. It’s getting very boring.’

That was quite clever.

But Jack just screwed up his face. ‘Don’t lie, Mum,’ he said. ‘I’ve never said it before.’

The plumber gave us all a ‘look’ and went upstairs without a backward glance. 

There was no Plan Four.

With a teenager with Aspergers I think it sounds a great read. We’ve had this situation when my daughter told a close family member they were fat 🙂 I’ve preordered my copy and can’t wait to read it. Find out more and preorder Another Us here.

What can we expect from you next?

Something quite different. I’m thrilled to have signed a two book deal with Hodder for a story set in London during the First World War. The first will be published in 2021.

Oh Wow! Congratulations, how exciting.

Thanks so much, Kirsten, for stopping by and best of luck with Another Us and your WWI story.

About the author:

Kirsten Hesketh has a background in advertising and now runs her own consultancy specialising in psychological interviewing and focus groups. Over the past 25 years, she has interviewed the Great British public on everything from Rolos to razors.

Married with a teenage son, daughter and two exceptionally fluffy moggies, Kirsten is also a keen amateur archaeologist and loves to spend her weekends hacking through the mud on a local Roman dig. She is also a staunch supporter of Wycombe Wanderers – especially when they are winning!

Another Us is her debut novel.

Discover more about Kirsten and her work, here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Sister Scribes.

Don’t miss author Lucy Keeling, sharing an extract from her latest novel, on Friday 15th May! xx

Stories that will make you smile: Jane Cable

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This week, I am delighted to welcome, my good friend Jane Cable to my blog, to share an uplifting extract from her forthcoming novel, Endless Skies.


How are you keeping in this strange new world? Do you have a top tip to promote wellbeing?

Because I normally work at home and I don’t have any family I visit regularly, lockdown is easier for me than it is for many people. Plus I can walk in beautiful countryside from my own front door, and that certainly helps to maintain a positive frame of mind – as does chatting with friends on audio and video calls. My top tip is to be as kind to yourself as you are to others – don’t sweat the small stuff and cut yourself some slack.

I love your tip, and I love the cover for your latest novel (revealed just last week), can you tell us a little about the story?

Endless Skies is a contemporary romance looking back to World War Two, set in the Lincolnshire heartland of Bomber Command. Archaeology lecturer Rachel has a habit of bad relationships (I think we all have friends like that!) and even with her most recent affair costing her her job she is reluctant to change her attitude towards men. But as the history of a former airfield begins to haunt her and she meets octogenarian Esther, she begins to wonder if the lessons of the past could teach her something too.

It sounds a great read, could you share an uplifting extract?

After a week in Lincoln, twiddling my thumbs and waiting for term to start, boredom has become my enemy and I’m in danger of the wine bottle becoming my only friend. As ever, running is my saviour, my sanity check. Pounding the pavements and towpaths in the autumn sunlight lifts my spirits and makes me feel rather less alone.

Tonight I decide to try the other side of the canal. My route crosses the road bridge that cuts the university campus in two, separating the student union and lecture blocks from the serried ranks of identical halls of residence. By Monday the place will be teeming with students and at least some of my days will be governed by timetables, thank the lord.

The road loops around the back of the buildings to the towpath. I pound alongside the water, my steps in time with the lap of the swell against the holiday barges. Then my route swerves behind a boatyard I hadn’t noticed from the other bank and I’m briefly shaded by trees. Out in the open again a car creeps along behind me so I divert onto the grass to let it pass.

The big black houseboat is impossible to miss, its Cornish flag fluttering in the breeze. The guitar player is flicking ash from his cigarette into the water. I look away, towards the makeshift allotments squeezed between the towpath and the railway, so I don’t see the terrier trotting alongside me until I have almost fallen over it.

I stop and gaze at the bright little eyes staring up at me and the wagging tail.

“Don’t mind him,” the guitarist calls. “He likes a run. He’ll go with you if I don’t call him back.”

“Doesn’t bother me.”

The man laughs. “Me neither. Don’t worry if you lose him — he knows his way home.”

The terrier is undemanding company as he scampers along, claws clicking on the concrete. Sometimes he races into the undergrowth and once he stops to bark at a train. The towpath on this side of the canal is quiet; most of the boats deserted, already shut up for winter perhaps, canvas stretched tightly over their decks. Eventually the road becomes a grassy track before petering out at a low industrial building with an elongated pond behind it. I watch a family of swans feed in front of the sluice gates before retracing my steps, the terrier once again at my heels.

Now there are two men sitting on the deck at the back of the barge. The otherbloke is much younger than the guitarist.

“Brought Toast back then?” the older man calls.

I stop to draw breath before answering. “You were right — he’s no trouble — quite good company, in fact.”

“You can take him any time you’re passing — just give him a shout.”

The younger man is leaning against the rail and I am acutely conscious of my none too clean leggings and the sweat-marks on my lycra top.

“Well, Jem,” he says, “perhaps we should offer our new friend a beer for her trouble.”

“Another time — right now I need a shower. I… I live opposite… not far…” I feel myself crumble beneath those black, black eyes.

“I know,” he says. “I’ve seen you.”

I try to recover myself. “Yes… well… you’ll see me again.” And I take off down the path at what I hope looks like an untroubled pace.

Oh goodness, that has got me hooked. I’ve preordered my copy and can’t wait to read it. To find out more about Endless Skies, and to preorder (release date 27/7/20) click here.

What can we expect from you next?

I have just completed my first dual timeline novel, which will be published by Sapere towards the end of the year. It’s set in 1815 and 2015 when two very different women arrive in Cornwall… but when you’re a stranger in a new place, how do you know who to trust? If I tell you the working title of the book is The Man Who Talks to Ghosts it will give you quite a big hint about one of the main protagonists!

I will look forward to it. Thanks so much, Jane, for stopping by and best of luck with Endless Skies; as our friend Caroline James says, ‘it’s got best seller written all over it!’.

About the author:

Jane Cable writes romance with a twist of mystery under the overall banner of ‘the past is never dead.’ Jane published her first two novels independently and has since been signed by Sapere Books. She is an active member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and moved to Cornwall almost three years ago, where she lives with her husband. When not locked down they enjoy exploring the county’s history, visiting pubs and restaurants, and travelling abroad.

Discover more about Jane and her work, here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Apricot Plots | Sister Scribes .

Don’t miss author Kirsten Hesketh, sharing an extract from her debut novel, Another Us, on Friday 8th May! xx

Review of Emily Harvale’s Chasing Moonbeams in Merriment Bay.

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Joining the blog tour for Emily Harvale’s Chasing Moonbeams in Merriment Bay, I am delighted to share my review.


The blurb:

Cat has found true happiness in Merriment Bay. Will a discovery in Devon Villa change that?

Cat Devon is finally with the love of her life – and she couldn’t be happier about that. But discovering the identity of her real dad and the fact she has two half-brothers was a shock. Getting to know her new family is now a priority.

Kyra Devon is only eighteen, but she’s more mature than her mum in many ways and is coping far better with everything that’s happened. Kyra knows what she wants and unlike Cat, she’s not going to let opportunities slip away.

Mary Devon has regained her daughter and her granddaughter, but she’s grieving for her mother, and also for the loss of the love she thought she’d found. Putting on a brave face may not be the best way for Mary to get over it.

When a long-lost painting called Moonbeams Kiss is discovered in a hidden cellar beneath the floorboards in Devon Villa, a story of love, loss and treachery unfolds, bringing with it repercussions for each of the Devon women.

This is Book Two in Emily Harvale’s Merriment Bay series which is interconnected to her Wyntersleap series. Each series can be read alone, but several characters appear in both series.

My review:

This is the first in this series I have read, and it took me a while to get to know all of the characters and their connections. I felt a little as if I had entered in the middle of the action, and needed to catch up. However, that didn’t last; I soon got to know and like the Devon family, their loves and associates. There is a good mix of characters across the age spectrum, and all have their own story (though not all are explored in this book).

The secret in the cellar grabbed my attention, and I liked this development, and the ramifications of it. I also liked the possible love interest it brought about for one of the younger Devons. But I’ll have to read on in the series to find out how that turns out.

Overall, this books felt like a favourite soap, where the characters welcomed me into their lives for a while and provided a lovely bit of escapism, at these uncertain times.

Click to buy here.

Follow the blog tour, as Chasing Moonbeams in Merriment Bay moves on to its next stop:

About the author:

Emily Harvale writes novels, novellas and short stories about friendship, family and falling in love. She loves a happy ending but knows that life doesn’t always go to plan. Her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily loves to connect with her readers and has a readers’ group in which many have become good friends. To catch up with Emily, find out about the group, or connect with her on social media, go to her website.

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she now writes full-time. She’s a member of the SoA and the RWA, an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. When not writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies – and will do anything to avoid both. Emily has two mischievous rescue cats that like to sprawl across her keyboard, regardless of whether Emily is typing on it, or not.

Thank you for the great read, Emily, and thanks also to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources, for the advance copy of the book. My reviews are added to Goodreads and Amazon UK. xx

Stories that will make you smile: Jan Baynham

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Welcoming Jan Baynham as she shares an uplifting extract from her debut novel, Her Mother’s Secret.

Congratulations on the release of your novel, Jan. It is on my kindle and I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you, I hope you enjoy it.

How are you keeping in this strange new world? Do you have a top tip to promote wellbeing?

We are now three weeks into this ‘strange new world’ and it still seems surreal, doesn’t it? At first, I was obsessed with watching every news programme and revolving my afternoons around COVID-19 briefings, not being able to believe what was happening. That has settled down now and I realise that being out in the garden in the sunshine, for example, is more important than watching every update. They will be repeated later on in the evening. One thing I’ve noticed is that I’m not able to concentrate very well. I’m grateful to have had blog posts to write about my debut novel that was published by Ruby Fiction on 21stApril. I attend a weekly Pilates class normally but during the lock down the instructor has provided a variety of online classes on most days.

My top tip is to get outside every day. I’m fortunate to have a garden where I can sit, read or take meals when it’s been warm enough. I’ve also taken advantage of the daily permitted walk with my husband. Being out in the fresh air, making ourselves go out every day and putting steps on our FitBits, has definitely improved our well-being.

Tell us a little about your debut novel:

‘Her Mother’s Secret’ is mainly set on Péfka, a fictional island in southern Greece. In 1969, Elin Morgan leaves Wales after finishing art college to spend the summer months studying at a painting school in Greece. She records everything in a diary but, while there, something happens that causes her to never paint again.  The secrets of that summer remain with her until she dies twenty-two years later. Elin leaves the diary to her daughter, Alexandra. Through reading it, Alexandra discovers she didn’t fully know her mother as well as she thought and is shocked as the secrets from her past are revealed. Following in her mother’s footsteps, in 1991 Alexandra travels to Greece to find out the truth and what really happened in that summer of ‘69. I wanted to explore the relationship between a mother and her daughter and why she couldn’t reveal her secret to her even on her deathbed. By leaving the diary for Alexandra to read with her blessing, perhaps Elin had wanted to clear her conscience.

I love the cover and the premise. Could you share an uplifting extract?

Alexandra

1991, Péfka, a small island off the Peloponnese, Southern Greece

The journey from Piraeus on the Flying Dolphin passed quickly. In no time, I arrived at the island of Péfka and took in the view of the harbour and the town behind it. Lemon, pink and white-painted buildings with terracotta ridged tiled roofs glistened in the strong sun. They formed a guard around a pretty stone quayside, filled with every kind of sea-going vessel from luxury yachts to humble fishing boats. A large flag-pole dominated the jetty that jutted out into the water and sported the distinctive blue and white Greek flag. The view was not a complete surprise. I’d read my mam’s diary many times, and I knew exactly how Péfka harbour and its quayside would look.

June 21st 1969 

Péfka harbour is very picturesque. A mix of marshmallow coloured town houses with balconies and fishermen’s stone cottages. Gleaming white motor launches bob on the deep aquamarine water alongside schooners, exuding affluence. Yellow canvas parasols shading the diners at Xante’s taverna look like a field of sunflowers. I’ve arrived in paradise!

When I’d first read the diary entry about arriving on the island, I had been sceptical about the flowery language she’d used but as I stepped onto the quayside, I took a deep breath. Mam had not exaggerated. The parasols were now a bright blue but the taverna was still Xante’s. Flowers tumbling in abundant tresses from terracotta pots and urns adorned the fronts of houses and shops, balconies and steps. I spotted the Parthenis boutique where Mam had bought the dress she’d worn to the painting school party. It was as if time had stood still here and through the diary, I felt I was returning not visiting for the first time. One thing had changed though. The horse and carriage taxis were still lined up along the quayside as Mam had described but now there was a motor taxi rank on the other side of the marina. Taxi drivers, chatting and smoking, leaned on the blue-striped bonnets of their gleaming white vehicles waiting for their fares.

The sun beat down on my bare arms and legs. I pulled my straw hat further over my forehead. No wonder you loved it here, Mam. The colours alone make it an artist’s heaven. I stifled a sob and tried to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. If only Mam had shared her love of painting with me instead of denying this part of her life had ever existed. I didn’t know what I was going to find out by coming to Greece, to this island, but I was sure my mother wanted me to come. 

Available in ebook, and coming soon in audio: Google Play | Kobo | Amazon UK | Amazon.com | iBooks | Nook

What can we expect from you next?

My next novel is already with my publisher. It is another mother/daughter story involving secrets. It’s set in 1946 and 1965, in rural mid -Wales. In this novel, the daughter, Jen, is reeling from a secret that is exposed as she is on the brink of going to training college. Her quest for the truth takes her to Sicily. Her family has been fractured by things that happened before she was born and she is determined to bring the family back together.

About the author:

After retiring from a career in teaching and advisory education, Jan Baynham joined a small writing group in a local library where she wrote her first piece of fiction.  From then on, she was hooked! She soon went on to take a writing class at the local university and began to submit short stories for publication to a wider audience. Her stories and flash fiction pieces have been longlisted and shortlisted in competitions and several appear in anthologies both online and in print. In October 2019, her first collection of stories was published. Her stories started getting longer and longer so that, following a novel writing course, she began to write her first full-length novel. She loves being able to explore her characters in further depth and delve into their stories.

Originally from mid-Wales, Jan lives in Cardiff with her husband. Having joined the Romantic Novelists Association in 2016, she values the friendship and support from other members and regularly attends conferences, workshops, talks and get togethers. She is co-organiser of her local RNA Chapter and a member of the Society of Authors.

Find out more about Jan Baynham and her novels here: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook |

 Thanks so much for stopping by Jan, and I wish you every success with the book. Don’t miss Jane Cable on May 1st, sharing an extract from her latest novel, Endless Skies. xx

Stories that will make you smile: Caroline James

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Welcoming Caroline James as she shares an uplifting extract from her latest novel, Hattie Goes to Hollywood.

How are you keeping in this strange new world? Do you have a top tip to promote wellbeing?

I work from home, so in many ways nothing has changed on the work front other than not being able to undertake any public speaking events or host workshops, but I’ve really struggled not seeing my family and friends. We live quite rurally so are lucky that there is space around us and my daily exercise has been to go out on my bike. But this has been different. To experience the countryside with no cars, trains or planes and to hear nature in its pure form is wonderful. Exercise is a great source of wellbeing for me, as is baking and we’ve been having the odd treat with comfort foods such as cakes and scones (and my favourite tipple of raspberry gin). I think we all need a treat in these uncertain times as we find our individual route through this difficult journey.

Tell us a little about your latest novel:

My novel, Hattie Goes to Hollywood was published recently and it is the first in a new series of mysteries. The main character is retired hotelier, Hattie Mulberry who has inherited her aunt’s dilapidated cottage in the village of Holllywood in Cumbria. She envisages a quiet life but when her neighbour asks her to investigate a suspicious suicide, Hattie’s career takes a new direction and her private sleuthing business is born. During the hottest summer in years, Hattie discovers there have been three recent suicides in Hollywood and she determines to find out why. There are plenty of shenanigans, mischief and even romance as temperatures and tempers rise and Hattie has her work cut out to discover the truth. The book is available in all formats including audible and has received some great reviews, which makes all the hard work of writing so rewarding and I hope that readers enjoy Hattie and her further escapades.

Could you share an uplifting extract?

Having been called away, Hattie returns to her run-down cottage to discover that her handyman has been busy…

Hattie parked in Lovers Lane and climbed out of her car. She left her luggage on the back seat but picked up her handbag and deposited various bits and pieces accumulated during her journey. A half-eaten sandwich and a glossy magazine joined the remains of a packet of sweets.

 She stood at the gate and looked at her cottage. After a three-week absence, everything looked the same. The front garden was neat, the lawn trimmed, and the last trailing fronds of wisteria hung heavily around the front door. But as she stepped onto the path, she peered curiously around the side of the cottage and, doing a double take, she stopped in mid-stride.

 Gone were the many piles of bricks and Alf’s debris and, as if by magic, a building had emerged. It adjoined the kitchen, overlooking the back garden.

 Hattie gasped. How on earth had they finished it so quickly?

 A neat little conservatory with a brick base, pretty windows and a roof made of attractively wrought iron and glass, stood proudly with views of the pond and fields beyond.

 She moved cautiously forward. There was no sign of Alf but there was every indication that while she’d been away, he’d worked tirelessly with his team. Hattie ran her fingers over the smooth sill of the conservatory and slowly guided herself to the entrance. The door was unlocked, and she turned the handle and gently pushed. The interior was bright and inviting and Hattie’s eyes were wide as she took in her new surroundings. A two-seater sofa lay along the furthest wall. Covered in cushions, it matched a colourful rug, that lay on polished stone flags. In the centre was a low circular table with a mosaic patterned top, was home to a collection of scented candles and various succulent plants, arranged attractively in a stone tray. A comfortable looking armchair was tucked beneath the window and Hattie crossed the tiled floor to sit down. Her fingers fumbled beneath the arms of the chair until she found a small control panel. As she pressed a button, her feet began to rise, and the back of the chair lowered.

Hattie sighed with pleasure and couldn’t contain the wide grin that spread across her face. It was heaven! She nestled a soft cushion into position behind her head and closed her eyes. After a few moments, she reached out to pull a cord on a window blind and watched as the view on the other side was magically revealed.

 Beyond the garden and fields, the setting sun hovered above the trees that surrounded the holly wood, the fading rays shimmied across the surface of the pond and, as the day began to diminish and darkness descended, the garden suddenly came to life. Hattie was enchanted as she watched hundreds of tiny twinkling lights dance along the boundary walls, their rays reflected on the inky pool. A movement on the water caught her eye and she leaned forward to see the shadowy shape of a duck creating tiny waves as it paddled along. Hattie watched Drake commandeer his pond and when she realised that a smaller figure was paddling in his wake, tears came to her eyes and she smiled.

 Her duck had company and, by the look of things, the hen was making herself at home.

Such a lovely moment in the book, for Hattie and Drake (who I loved). I think we could all do with a lovely conservatory like Hattie’s to relax in right now – do you think she’d send Alf round for me?

My review and links to buy:

Having read previous books by Caroline James, I was delighted to see that Hattie, a larger than life character of earlier novels, returns in this, the first of what promises to be an entertaining, cosy crime series.

Hattie is as wonderful and feisty as ever, as she moves to the Cumbrian village of Hollywood, where some suspicious deaths pique her curiosity. Being naturally nosy, she soon finds herself taking on the role of private investigator.

I love Hattie’s no-nonsense approach to life. She certainly says it how she sees it when it comes to dealing with those around her. Though, I did feel for her love interest and hope we see more of their relationship in future books. I also enjoyed her friendship and banter with Harry the Helmet, the local policeman.

The characters are all well-drawn, with individual personalities and their own secrets to come to light – some I loved and some I deplored for their actions (as is the author’s intention). I adored Drake, a duck that adopts Hattie and her home, soon after her arrival. For me, his presence even overshadowed the dog in this book, and that’s saying something coming from me!

While there are some references to previous stories, this can definitely be read as a standalone book, and I look forward to the rest of this new series.

Available in ebook, paperback and audio, click to buy, here. Also available nationwide from all good book shops.

What can we expect from you next?

I am currently finishing the follow up to my novel The Best Boomerville Hotel. The manuscript has been on my desk for some time and during Lockdown, I have had an urge to finish it. I have also got the outline ready for Hattie & the Heirloomwhich will be the next novel is the sleuthing series.

About the author:

Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, consultant and food writer, Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association and writes articles and short stories and contributes to many publications. In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Find out more about Caroline James and her novels here: Website|Twitter|Facebook | Blog

 Thanks so much for stopping by Caroline. My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads. Don’t miss Jan Baynham up next on my blog, sharing an extract from her debut novel. xx