Tag Archives: Ruby Fiction

Feel Good Friday with Caroline James.

Feel Good Friday, Guest Post, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A very warm welcome to fellow Apricot Plots author Caroline James, who joins me on this Feel Good Friday!

What do you consider to be the top three feel-good things about Boomerville at Ballymegille?

Beautiful Southern Ireland is the backdrop for the book and readers will feel welcoming Irish arms wrap around them as soon as they begin reading and are invited to join in with the craic. The guests at Boomerville Manor arrive with emotional baggage and leave it all behind as they discover new experiences at this retreat for those of a ‘certain age’. Hattie & Jo, the manager and owner, are caring and warm and with Hattie’s effervescent personality, that creates mayhem wherever she goes, there are plenty of shenanigans along the way.

Please share a review that made you smile. What about it did you like?

 The following review for Boomerville at Ballymegille made me smile from ear to ear because the reader completely ‘got’ the book. It is written by Being Anne Reviews, who is an award-winning reviewer, which made me smile even more with pride.

“A wonderful story of friendship, support and pulling together. The very definition of heart-warming and feelgood, and I loved every single moment. And I must – without any detail, of course – say that I thought the ending was absolutely perfect, and entirely what I’d rather been hoping for. Without question, this was one of my books of the year.”

What is your favourite place to enjoy a good read?

I love to snuggle in bed on a Sunday morning with a good book. My biggest treat is to have breakfast in bed and my lovely hubby makes a mean scrambled egg and smoked salmon on toast. With a mug of tea and Fred our Westie snuggled in too, I am in reading heaven.

Five quick questions for fun:

Favourite biscuit? Marks & Spencer sort of thick hobnob with chocolate on one side. Crisp, firm and perfect for dunking.

Swimming pool or the sea? I’ll swim anywhere, wild-water in a lake, and especially in the sea. This photo was taken on New Year’s Day, before lockdown, shortly before we plunged into a wild and freezing cold Irish Sea.

Paperback, ebook or audio? I love audio books. I can listen as I do the housework or, a real pleasure is when I’m cycling in the countryside. A bit of ‘me time’ and a good audio book on my headphones – perfect.

Netflix or cinema? We have a gorgeous cinema not far away that has an forty or so seater screening area. There are rows of double velvet sofas with tables in between, cushions and stacks of leg room. It is such a treat to go there, a lovely night out.

Boomerville at Ballymegille

The blurb:

Join Hattie and Jo as they head to Southern Ireland to open Boomerville Manor, a holiday retreat for guests of ‘a certain age’. There’s Irish craic and shenanigans aplenty for the colourful cast of characters as everyone gathers for the grand opening.Meet Melissa, an ex-cabaret singer running from her abusive husband, and Bill, a bachelor bullied from beyond the grave by the ghostly voice of his mother. Along with local bobby Harry the Helmet, ageing aquatic team the Boomerville Babes, eccentric artist Lucinda Gray, and heartthrob Finbar Murphy, they gather in Ireland and the fun begins. But murder is in the air and there’s mischief afoot. Will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?

Set in the beautiful Irish countryside, ‘Boomerville at Ballymegille’ is a heart-warming story of friendship, fears and new beginnings.

Purchase here.

About the Author: 

Best-selling author of women’s fiction, Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that often 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, which includes talks and lectures on cruise ships world-wide, Caroline is also a consultant and food writer. She is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association, the Society of Women’s Writer’s & Journalists and the Society of Authors and writes articles and short stories, contributing to many publications. In her spare time, Caroline can be found walking up a mountain with her two Westie dogs, sipping raspberry gin or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Books by Caroline James:


Boomerville at Ballymegille | The Best Boomerville Hotel | Hattie Goes to Hollywood | Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me | Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me | Coffee Tea the Chef & Me | Jungle Rock

Discover more about her novels or contact Caroline here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Amazon

Thank you for the great post, Caroline. It is always a pleasure to have you on my blog. Rather you than me with swimming in wild water 🙂 but the cinema looks lovely! xx

#WritingWednesday with Carol Thomas: Character Juxtaposition.

Writing & Reading, Writing Wednesday, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Character Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is a great way to highlight differences between characters. Used appropriately, it can also invite comparisons – these comparisons allow the author to explore their characters more fully. Similarly, the reader is lead to consider the opposing characters more deeply as they observe not only their actions within the novel but also their interactions.

While authors often like to bring juxtaposing leads together (opposites attract and all that), I like to explore female friendships within my novels and often have them as the opposing characters to see what they bring out in each other.

Crazy Over You

In my novel Crazy Over You, Abby Turner has been married for fifteen years when she discovers her husband has had an affair. In contrast to Abby, her best friend, Melissa, is engaged and soon to be married. The pair are at different stages of life and facing different points of change in their relationships. Writing the scene where Abby attends Melissa’s wedding enabled me to explore Abby’s feelings about love and marriage in light of all she has been through. It makes for an honest, thought-provoking and engaging read that challenges the reader to consider their own feelings on Abby’s situation.

The Lisa Blake Series

In the Lisa Blake series, The Purrfect Pet Sitter and Maybe Baby, Lisa has been in a difficult relationship. After suffering a loss, she returns to her hometown, reuniting with her once best friend, Felicity, who is married with four children. Her life is busy and hectic. Felicity and her husband have their own problems to solve while Lisa is embarking upon a new relationship while dealing with issues from the past. I loved exploring Lisa and Flicks’ developing relationship. The juxtaposition works, especially as their differences mean they complete each other in ways only true friends can.

A Summer of Second Chances

In my latest novel, A Summer of Second Chances, the heroine, Ava Flynn, is running a charity shop to support her mum’s beloved charity, All Critters Great and Small. In contrast, her best friend Mary is a wildlife officer who appears to have life sorted. In juxtaposing these characters, I explored their strengths and vulnerabilities. In the village of Dapplebury, despite popular belief, things aren’t always what they seem. I enjoyed exploring the motivations and emotions of these characters through their support for each other.

(A Summer of Second Chances is out on April 27th 2021 and is now available for preorder.)

In summary …

Exploring the interplay and interactions between juxtaposing characters helps the author and, importantly, the reader understand those characters on a deeper level. It allows the character to experience and comment on situations they might otherwise not encounter. Drafting out juxtaposing characters or situations is also a good writing exercise!

Join my newsletter before the 1st May 2021 to enter to win a signed paperback of The Purrfect Pet Sitter.

 

#WritingWednesday with Angela Barton: Processing Emotions through Fiction.

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

Processing Emotions through Fiction.

Writing, like reading, is a means of escape. I strongly believe that creative writing is a curative pathway, an instrument of healing. It’s a safe outlet for negative emotions such as grief, anger, jealousy or anxiety. It safely helps us to explore our emotions, the reasons behind them and hopefully, find a solution through role-play using the written word. By sharing negative emotions with my fictional characters, I’m distancing myself from my own heightened feelings. I was able to express anger through writing towards the end of You’ve Got My Number. I have a calm personality and very rarely get angry so I would have found it difficult in reality. I’d been deeply hurt by a loved one and my trust had been broken. I simply gave my problem to Tess, my protagonist in YGMN, and while I sought a solution and helped her to regulate her emotions, by default, I was doing the same for myself.

For me, writing helps to organize my thoughts and gives meaning to difficult experiences. In Magnolia House and Arlette’s Story, I expressed grief following the death of my father. Having a mild obsessive compulsion, writing helped me to process why I focus on the number three and why it makes me feel safe. So once again, I gave the same obsession to my hero, Daniel, in You’ve Got My Number. He and Tess spoke about the problem and in talking about it and facing it head on, Daniel began to manage his fears. I no longer have that mild obsession, although number three is my favourite number!

Creative writing helps to release anger in a healthy, productive way that utilises our mental capabilities, rather than draining us physically. Novel writing is a typically longer way of negotiating your emotions. I’ve found that filtering my emotions on to a page has been a positive experience for me. The efficacy of using the written word as a mode of coping with suffering is wholly dependent on how you prefer to process grief. Many subconsciously bottle up their emotions and release them in one explosion of anger and sadness when they reach the climax of a story, while others slowly uncover their emotions through using their characters to discuss them between themselves.

If you prefer to eradicate negative emotions as quickly as possible and don’t like to linger on the bad feelings associated with them, then choosing to write out your feelings over weeks or months may make you uncomfortable, in which case, a diary entry or journal may be a better option for you. On the other hand, if taking your emotions and implementing them in a long piece of work is more your style, then perhaps applying them to a narrative will be more cathartic for you.

Whatever way you choose as a coping strategy when things go wrong, please don’t choose to bottle up your emotions and pretend they don’t exist. Like the genie in the bottle, they have a way of sneaking up on you later. Talk, write, compose, paint… but let it out. X

Books by Angela Barton:

Click below to find out more:

You’ve Got My Number | Arlette’s Story | Magnolia House 

Author bio:

Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She has three grown up children and adorable six-year-old twin granddaughters. Angela is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching for her novels. In 2018 Angela signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction.

In addition to writing, Angela also relaxes by making landscapes using free motion sewing on a machine. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and a reader for their New Writers’ Scheme. Angela is also a member of Nottingham Writers’ Studio, the Society of Authors and Ellipses and Ampersands’ fiction critique group.

Discover more about Angela Barton and her novels here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Pinterest | Amazon | Angela is also a member of Apricot Plots.

#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

Feel Good Friday with Gina Hollands.

Author Interview, Guest Post, , , , , , , , , ,

Welcoming Gina Hollands, as she shares her top tip for wellbeing and an extract from her feel good Friday read, Little Village of Second Chances.

Hello Gina, I’ve been gathering lots of good advice from fellow authors and would love to hear your top tip to promote wellbeing?

Treat yourself! Do whatever makes you happy with the time and money you have to do it. For me, an absolutely blissful day would be a day off work, head into town, have a coffee (on my own!) and buy myself something nice to wear. A bonus would be to go out for dinner that evening so I can show off my new purchase!  I’m sure to feel fantastic after all that, especially if there’s a glass of wine and a big nosh up involved!

That sounds great, I think we are all missing doing those things at the moment.

I love the cover of your new book, and the fact it is about a second chance romance. Tell us a little more about it:

Little Village of Second Chances is a modern day romance set in a Yorkshire village. It’s about two people who really don’t want to fall in love with each other because they’re on opposing sides. Both these people, Sarah and Shay, have had very challenging things happen to them in their pasts, to the point they’ve almost given up on finding happiness again. Despite their past heartaches, Sarah and Shay enjoy plenty of light and (I hope!) funny moments, which I’d like to think create a heart-warming read.

My aim was to create an accessible and enjoyable romance with characters readers can relate to. Shay and Sarah try their best to be good people but, like all of us, they have their flaws, and they have to work these out if they hope to have a bright future together. Although they’re both fiercely independent , they find a strength in each other that helps them thrive.

Accessible, enjoyable and relatable, some of my favourite words when it comes to picking a  feel good read.

And just for a bit more of a tease, please share an extract:

‘How about we go down here?’ Shay nodded towards The Shambles, the quaint old street lined with overhanging timber-framed buildings, all leaning forwards slightly as if whispering into each other’s roof eaves. ‘I know a great little wine bar about halfway down.’

The Shambles was Sarah’s favourite street in York – where she often used to treat herself to the odd purchase after she’d been paid or at least a coffee in one of the quintessentially English cafés. Tonight, however, she didn’t think venturing down the ancient street was such a good idea.

‘Um.’ She looked down at her heels. ‘I’m not sure I’m wearing the appropriate footwear to navigate those pavements and cobbles.’

‘That’s easily solved.’ Without warning, he swept her up into his arms.

She let out a yelp and flung her arms around his neck, where his hair was starting to curl up at his jacket collar.

‘I’m far too heavy for this,’ she yelped.

‘Trust me,’ he said. ‘You’re as light as a feather compared to Mrs Grey.’

‘What?’

‘Never mind.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, you crazy man.’ She laughed, as he strode down the middle of the cobbled roads much to the amused glances of everyone they passed. She’d never seen him like this before – jolly and carefree. It was a version of him she liked. Very much. She rested her head in the crook of his neck, enjoying his warmth and the strength of him pressing against her. If only she could lose herself to the happiness of this moment. Instead, confusion whirled inside her. Since leaving hospital and moving in with Shay, he’d been distant – aloof with her even, but tonight something about him was different. Was it because she’d mentioned moving away? Was he in high spirits because he knew they wouldn’t have to dance around each other for much longer?

‘Here we go, my lady.’ He set her down outside a tiny, cosy-looking wine bar with fairy lights crisscrossed in its dark windows. The swirly silver writing on the door told her it was Romans. She’d never been inside before but had heard from her colleagues in the office it was the most romantic bar in the whole of the city.

Aw, that brought a smile to my face. Little Village of Second Chances was released on June 23rd and is available in ebook and audio: Amazon | Kobo | Audio

As writers are always thinking of their next project. What can we expect from you next?

I’ve just started my new novel, a romcom set in Worthing. I like to write characters who feel that they could be real and who are living through the mundanity of normal life when romance strikes! I write the books I’d like to read – humorous escapism but with a good healthy streak of real life. I’m hoping my new novel will be ready and published by 2021.

That sounds great. Good luck with it, as you know, Worthing is not far from where I live, too. 

Before you go, please indulge me by answering five quick fire questions inspired by my nosey nature:

Cinema or Netflix? Cinema! Preferably The Dome on Worthing’s seafront.
Sweet or savoury? Yes.
Tea or coffee? Yes again.
Starter or dessert? Triple yes.
Who would you give your last Rolo to? I’d eat it myself. In the bathroom. When nobody’s watching.

Ha, I think there was a theme to your answers there!

Very best of luck with Little Village of Second Chances and thank you so much for stopping by. xx

About the author:

Originally from Yorkshire, Gina Hollands now lives by the sea in West Sussex with her husband and son. When she’s not working in her job in marketing and PR, or writing her latest book, Gina can be found dancing everything from lindy hop to salsa, shopping (she loves clothes far too much for her own good), eating out (she hates cooking far too much for her own good), or relaxing, which generally involves reading a book someone else has written or indulging in her new hobby of learning to play the piano. She has a sneaky suspicion she may be a musical genius in the making, but isn’t about to give up the day job just yet.

Discover more about Gina and her work here: Twitter | Facebook | Blog

Don’t miss Angela Britnell sharing an extract from her latest novel, A Summer to Remember in Herring Bay, next week.