Tag Archives: Kirsty Ferry

Writing Wednesday: Tips for Writing Love Scenes.

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As this Writing Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day, I have joined forces with my fellow Choc Lit (Joffe Books) romance writers to share top tips for writing love scenes …

Carol Thomas (that’s me). I write feel-good contemporary romance and romantic comedy novels that will make you smile.

  • Having a strong emotional connection between characters, built in earlier chapters, adds to the moment.
  • Building physical tension through anticipation, subtle gestures, longing glances, and dialogue hints adds to the satisfaction of the love scene when it happens.
  • Physical intimacy needs to be consensual and driven by shared enthusiasm.
  • The love scene itself should involve a balance of passion, emotion, and sensuality, some of which will be played out before the audience, while some won’t.
  • I like leaving readers space for their imagination to take over; the things that fulfil the desires of my characters might be a turn-off to the reader, and I wouldn’t want to jolt them out of the moment.
  • Love scenes should never appear for the sake of being there, they should enhance character development and add to the story.

Discover more about me and my novels here.

Lucy Keeling is the author of fun, sexy stories with all of the happily ever afters.

  • If you’re writing your first ever steamy scene and it reads a bit like flat pack assembly instructions (insert part A into part B ), go back and remember to use all the senses.
  • This is an opportunity to show off a deeper understanding of your characters.
  • Oh, and keep an eye on the logistics.

Discover more about Lucy Keeling and her work here.

Ella Cook writes emotional, heartwarming romance that will lift your spirits:

  • I’m going to be controversial and say that, much as the best moments of intimacy in life aren’t planned, neither were the ones that got the best feedback from readers for me. I guess what I’m saying is let the characters go with the flow. If they’re the type of people – or at least one of them is – minded to privacy, then don’t feel like you have to fling the door open and show the ins and outs of their love life.
  • But equally, if your lead character is the type who thinks nothing of keeping her (admittedly rather more subtly shaped than most) vibrator in her bathroom, then she’s probably not going to shy away from talking about sex, either. So, if you want to write about it – write in line with our characters: get into their head spaces and let the reader see what they’re thinking, how they’re reacting and feeling.
  • Oh, and avoid biological terms – it’s a romance novel, not a biology textbook!

Discover more about Ella Cook and her work here.

Kirsty Ferry is the writer of spellbinding timeslips, unforgettable romantic comedies and uplifting contemporary romance novels.

  • I always leave the reader at the bedroom door. I’d never try to write a scene like that!
  • It’s nice to do an ‘almost kiss’ scene and have them get interrupted by a phone or something. I was told they’d kissed too early in my first book, so I usually try to hold off a bit for them.

Discover more about Kirsty Ferry and her work here.

Liv Thomas is one half of the writing duo who writes the utterly enchanting love stories set in Ireland by Isabella Connor.

  • It depends on the context and the relationship between the couple. If it’s a solid relationship, I tend to make it emotional as much, or more, than physical and let the reader feel a slow tempo.

Discover more about the work of Isabella Connor here.

Sue McDonagh writes uplifting, unputdownable romance novels:

  • Hilariously, the sex in my first novels had to be toned down as they were a bit too explicit. The pivotal sex scene in my last book was so toned down (less is more) that my poor editor wasn’t entirely sure whether they’d actually had sex or not, and I had to re-write it several times. I’ve learned that balance is the key.

Discover more about Sue McDonagh and her work here.

I hope you enjoyed our tips and they prove useful next time you write a love scene. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, and happy writing!
Carol x

Location, Location, Location with Kirsty Ferry.

Guest Post, Location!, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , ,
I am delighted to welcome fellow Choc Lit author Kirsty Ferry to my blog to talk about the setting of her latest novel Bea’s Magical Summer Garden.  Over to you Kirsty …

My new book, Bea’s Magical Summer Garden, features – well – a magical summer garden. I have taken some liberties with the location of the Garden and removed it plant by plant from Dilston Physic Garden, near Corbridge in Northumberland, to an unspecified location near Edinburgh in Scotland. I probably wouldn’t have located it near Edinburgh if I’d thought ahead, but I needed to do that because it is part of the Schubert the Cat series of books, which began with Every Witch Way.

Every Witch Way follows the adventures of Nessa, who lives in Edinburgh when she heads off on a Halloween road trip across Scotland to find out more about a legendary witch. I blithely gave Nessa four brothers, and when I realised each brother needed a book, the location stuck – because Schubert is an incredibly meddlesome cat and needs to be within easy access of each of his ‘uncles’ to help them find love. And I will forever be grateful to Joanne from Portobello Books, who helped me work out where pirates might have been executed on the Sands of Leith for It Started with a Pirate!

We first meet Bea, the owner of the Garden,  in the fifth book, It Started with a Wedding –  her cousin Fae is the heroine of that one; and, if you’ve read It Started with a Wedding, you’ll know why Bea’s Garden was a perfect setting for a lot of the action.

So the ‘real’ Magical Garden is quite a bit further south, but if you are ever in the area, I completely recommend you go. The place is an amazing mishmash of eclectic, scientific and spiritual; each plant, for example, has a sign in front of it telling you the folklore and magic side of things and the scientific health and wellbeing information. Dilston was created by Professor Elaine Perry, who is a prominent UK neuroscientist and is one of the most interesting and lovely people I have ever met. The first time I set foot in Dilston, I knew it had to appear in a book someday.

The wider estate that Bea’s Magical Summer Garden is set on, Glentavish Estate, is completely out of my imagination. The hidden gates that separate Glentavish House from Bea’s Garden owe a lot to ideas that sparked when I first read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett as a child, and maybe look more like something from Wallington in Northumberland, only with a higher wall!

Wallington in Northumberland

The Temple to the Four Winds that is alluded to in the book was inspired by the one at Castle Howard – only it is much, much smaller. When you read the book, you’ll get the idea why that had to be so!

The Temple to the Four Winds at Castle Howard.

I could genuinely draw you a map of how the ‘estate’ looks in my mind, but then it might spoil it for your imagination. I do hope you’ll read the book, though, and see it the way I see it. Because then I’ll know I’ve done a decent job writing it…and the locations might make sense when they are all plopped down in Schubert’s world.

This is the website for the real Magical Garden if you want to check it out: Dilston Physic Garden.

About the book

What’s not to love about Bea’s Garden?
Its higgledy-piggledy layout, fascinating plants and occasional resident black cat makes it the most charming place to visit on a sunny afternoon. Plus Bea has bees – and her Honey Festival is sure to create a buzz.

But not everyone thinks Bea’s Garden is the bee’s knees.

The Man at the Big House next door has been a thorn in Bea’s side for the longest time, with his unnecessarily snippy letters about her beautiful climbing plants ruining his ‘clean lines’. Could he and his poisonous project manager Carla pose problems for her Festival? Or can Bea rely on the Man’s cousin – and her newest annual pass holder – Marcus Rainton to fight her corner?

With bee best friends, big black cats, a secret garden gate and a surprising identity reveal, Bea’s Garden is surely in line for its most magical summer yet!

Buying Links can be found here: Kirsty Ferry (choc-lit.com)

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 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, Kirsty, and for sharing this insight into the setting of Bea’s Magical Summer Garden. xx

A New Feel Good Friday Read from Kirsty Ferry.

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It Started with a Wedding: An uplifting and fun romance for the new year from Kirsty Ferry.

I am always in awe of fellow Choc Lit author Kirsty Ferry as, as well as being a talented artist, she is also a prolific writer; And neither of these things are her day job! Her latest novel, the fifth in her Schubert series is released later this month (22/2/22 – what a memorable date). As she prepares for the launch, I thought I would share a little about her latest fabulous, feel good read.

The blurb:

It’s one thing to be asked to plan your sister’s wedding; it’s quite another when your sister is Nessa McCreadie …

Alfie McCreadie wants his twin sister Nessa to have the best wedding ever, but he’s not happy at being roped in as wedding planner – especially as, unbelievably, his main assistant seems to be Nessa’s cat, Schubert. Anyway, Alfie is a scientist. He might know his protons from his neutrons, but what does he know about weddings?

It’s Nessa who points him in the direction of Bea’s Garden, just outside Edinburgh, where he’s tasked with picking a “very-relevant-bouquet”. It’s there he meets Fae Brimham, who might be prettier than any bouquet bloom but doesn’t seem impressed by Alfie’s sensible, scientific side.

But when Nessa and Schubert are involved, surprises are bound to happen and, despite less-than-perfect first impressions, perhaps something new and beautiful can still blossom for Alfie and Fae …

This is Alfie’s story in the Schubert series. They can all be read as standalone stories.

Currently available for preorder, release date 22nd February 2022.

What folks are saying about It Started with a Wedding:

  • “Entertaining fun.”
  • Great for fans of magical powers, mythical spirits and the belief that cats are minds readers (of course they are)!”
  • “A quirky light-hearted romance.”
  • “I was very happy when this book was announced, and even more while reading it.”

Best of luck with the new book Kirsty. I hope it will be a huge hit. 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

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

 

 

 

Kirsty Ferry joins my Christmas Countdown!

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

Today, I am delighted to welcome Choc Lit author, Kirsty Ferry, as she joins my Christmas countdown!

Welcome to my blog Kirsty, I would love to know how your characters will be spending Christmas…

They’ll be having an extended celebration – if Zac can reach Ivy in time! She’s in Glastonbury, just around about the Winter Solstice. So they might get involved in the celebrations there, by climbing the Tor and visiting the Chalice Well. Then, if, say Ivy heads up to the Isle of Skye where Zac lives, they might have a more traditional Island Christmas, with church, food and drink, the company of good friends, a pub or two and finish it all curled up in front of a roaring fire at Zac’s converted croft. It’ll all be revealed in the book!

OO, it sounds fabulously festive and to tempt readers further here’s the blurb:

How far would you go to be with the one you love at Christmas? How far would you go to be with the one you love at Christmas?

The Isle of Skye is a magical place, especially at Christmas, and there’s no place Zac Fallon would rather be. But whilst Zac has everything he needs on Skye, there’s still something missing – and that something is a somebody called Ivy McFarlane.

Ivy used to work with Zac but then spread her wings and moved to Glastonbury. He’s missed her ever since. Now it’s almost Christmas and Zac realises that the Ivy shaped hole in his life is too big to bear. So starts his festive mission to the mainland – but will he be back in time to spend Christmas in Skye? And, more importantly, will Ivy be with him?

Buying links: Amazon | Audio

With plenty going on for your characters in the lead up to Christmas, I’d love to know how you will be spending this festive season…

The celebrations will start on Christmas Eve, when we will go to the Family Crib Carol Service at our local church with a big group of friends. The kids have all grown up together and remain very close. Every year we get a photo of them in the same place outside the church. Then we will go home and watch Muppets Christmas Carol and order in a Chinese. Then drink prosecco and wait for Santa – putting out his prosecco, a mince pie and a carrot for Rudolph. Christmas Day we will visit my parents, then come home for lunch. The after that it’s pjs, chocolate, trashy tea, more prosecco, chocolate and relax!

I love the fact that Santa gets prosecco at your house; I must work on the fact that my children leave him milk 😉 Before you go, Kirsty, I’d love you to answer five quick questions from my Christmas selection:

Mince pie or Christmas pudding? Mince pie – I can wolf on down on the hoof, therefore I don’t have to invest any time in sitting down and eating properly.

Favourite Christmas film? Tough one. Either Elf or Muppets Christmas Carol.

Black forest hot chocolate or gingerbread latte? Gingerbread latte. If I had a black forest hot chocolate during the day I’d fall asleep!

First Quality Street flavour to disappear from your tub? Runny caramel, then chewy caramel then strawberry creams.

Who did you play in the school nativity? I can only remember being in one. I was an angel, complete with tinsel halo.

Thank you so much for joining my Christmas countdown and I wish you and your family a fabulous festive season! xx

About the author:

Kirsty Ferry is from the North East of England and won the English Heritage/Belsay Hall National Creative Writing competition in 2009 with the ghostly tale ‘Enchantment’.

Her timeslip novel, ‘Some Veil Did Fall’, a paranormal romance set in Whitby, was published by Choc Lit in Autumn 2014. This was followed by another Choc Lit timeslip, ‘The Girl in the Painting’ in February 2016. ‘The Girl in the Photograph’, published in March 2017, completes the Rossetti Mysteries series. The experience of signing ‘Some Veil Did Fall’ in a quirky bookshop in the midst of Goth Weekend in Whitby, dressed as a recently undead person was one of the highlights of her writing career so far!

Kirsty’s first timeslip novel ‘The Memory of Snow’, commended in the Northern Writers’ Awards, is set on Hadrian’s Wall, with the vampire tale ‘Refuge’ set on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. She has also put together a collection of short stories, a non-fiction collection of articles and writes Gothic Fiction under the pen name Cathryn Ramsay.

Kirsty has had articles and short stories published in Your Cat, Peoples Friend, Ghost Voices, The Weekly News and It’s Fate, and her short stories appear in several anthologies. She was a judge in the Paws ‘n’ Claws ‘Wild and Free’ Children’s Story competition in 2011, 2013 and 2014, and graduated from Northumbria University in December 2016, having achieved a Masters with Distinction in Creative Writing.

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

Don’t miss author Kitty Wilson, joining my Christmas Countdown, on Thursday 19th December! xx