I live in an area that has been in ‘Tier Three’ for some time, with the highest rates of Covid19 and it feels as though we have been isolating for a long time now, in addition to the current nationwide Lockdown. I am fortunate that I work and write from home but I so miss the contact with others face to face, to meet up for a coffee, a chat and a hug. For those of you, like me, unable to see relatives, especially anyone who is ill or going through a difficult time, I’m sending out a big virtual hug to you all.
BOOK PROMO
We’re giving you an early Christmas offer, my ‘Coffee Tea’ series is currently reduced to only 99p/99c per book. These books have received very generous, wonderful reviews by kind readers and are described as feel-good fiction with lots of twists. So treat yourself – grab a coffee and something delicious to munch and snuggle down for a duvet day of reading.
Have you been trying any online courses during this difficult time? I am a WI member and discovered that the very clever ladies who organise speakers have put scores of classes and talks online. I had three blissful hours listening to the life story of artist Freda Khalo as we learned how to paint a watercolour in her style. I’m not very good, but I really enjoyed giving it a go.
CHRISTMAS BAKING
Christmas is approaching, have you started to prepare? I haven’t done a thing. Its difficult to plan as family members who have to isolate through illness will not be joining, even if we are out of Lockdown over Christmas. But I will make a Christmas cake this weekend and if it turns out well, will post the recipe in the next newsletter. I’ll make a pudding too.
Have you got a favourite Christmas cake recipe? Do share it, send me an email: caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk – I love to try your recipes and will credit and add to my website if they turn out well.
The audio version of my latest book Boomerville at Ballymegille is now in production and it has been great fun working with narrator Gill Mills again. She is a wonderful actress/narrator and seems to completely ‘get’ my characters. It is fascinating to hear ‘Hattie’ being bought to life again and all the old friends from Boomerville. As the author, I almost feel as though I am listening to someone else’s book!
I hope that the sun is shining in whatever part of the world you are reading this.
Please stay safe, keep well and look after each other.
Just a short post here to say that my new novel Boomerville at Ballymegille is only 99p/$1.20 this weekend. So, if you want to download a copy to your e-reader, grab the bargain while you can. The story has received some fabulous reviews, I am so grateful to readers for sharing, and seems to be a feel-good book all round – just what we need right now.
I hope that you are all staying well and taking good care of yourselves during this horrible pandemic. I live in a ‘high risk’ area and with the many limitations we are being extra careful.
As a comfort during these difficult days, I find that I am reading and baking more than usual and if you are too, I have added a couple of bargain book deals below, plus a lovely recipe for you to enjoy this weekend and don’t miss my special choccie/book giveaway too, detailed below.
THANK YOU
My post today is to thank all the wonderful bloggers and reviewers who have taken part in the online book tour for my new novel Boomerville at Ballymegille. The reviews have been fabulous and I am so thrilled that both readers and bloggers are enjoying the story. If you want to book into Boomerville this weekend, you can download the book here:
To complete the bargains this weekend, Hattie Goes to Hollywood, which follows Boomerville at Ballymegille, is only 99p ($1.20) – so load up your e-reader, put your feet up and have a lovely relaxing weekend!
Would you like to jet off to the Caribbean for a few hours? I am offering a signed copy of my best-selling novel Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me plus a lovely box of personalised chocolates for one lucky reader to kick back and enjoy. Simply head over to my Facebook page and comment why you’d like to win. If you’re not on Facebook please email your answer to: caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk Good luck!
And if you fancy something to nibble whilst you’re reading, try my Raspberry & Coconut Slice – an easy recipe that is so delicious. Make plenty because it won’t last long! It is my hubby’s favourite tea-time treat.
Publication day has arrived! I am thrilled to tell you that my new novel, Boomerville at Ballymegille is now available as an e-book and paperback (audible coming soon) and you can download it here:
The pre-publication reviews are wonderful and I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the bloggers and reviewers who are taking part in the online book launch over the next two weeks.
Boomerville is back!
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.
WINNER OF THE ‘TEDDY’ COMPETITION
DRUM ROLL…
I decided that as so many readers entered the draw to win a lovely ‘Teddy’ from Boomerville at Ballymegille, and because your entries were so wonderful, that there will be THREE Teddy puppies heading to new owners. Congratulations to LINDA, KELLY AND KAREN who will all be getting an email confirmation today.
The puppies look forward to their new homes!
PROMO
And because its publication day there is of course a lovely PROMO for you.
You can download the follow up to Boomerville at Ballymegille for only 99p/$1.30 until 15th October by following the link here:
This is a short newsletter to let you know that my new book, Boomerville at Ballymegille is publishing on Tuesday 6th October and to celebrate, I have a lovely giveaway…
WIN A ‘TEDDY’
Win a ‘Teddy’
Teddy is the puppy who we meet in the book. Teddy has had a poor start in life and needs a good home. Would you like your very own ‘Teddy’ ? I have a gorgeous gift wrapped Teddy, just waiting for one lucky reader. Simply head over to my Facebook page to enter and tell me why you’d like to win a Teddy. If you don’t use Facebook, send me an email on caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Don’t forget that The Best Boomerville Hotel is only 99p (UK) at the moment and you can pre-order Boomerville at Ballymegille too so it lands on your e-reader on Tuesday paperback available too).
If the weather is wet and gloomy this weekend, why not snuggle down with one of my favourite recipes. Scones are so delicious and so easy to make but feel like a real treat. Made in minutes, you can indulge yourself. I asked my Facebook friends which they preferred, fruit or cheese and the majority who replied said cheese!
Today, I am joined by Carol Thomas – a successful author of women’s fiction/romance, who also writes for children. Her new book Being a A Friend at Christmasis now available and is absolutely delightful. A book that I will be putting in all the Christmas presents for the little ones in our family this year.
The book is beautifully illustrated, by Carol, and I am delighted to chat to this very talented author about her writing life.
What inspired a successful writer of romance to create a children’s book?
I didn’t set out to write a children’s book, but my first, Finding a Friend, came to me almost fully formed. It was one of those moments, as a writer, you know you should note down. I had been reading my son a bedtime story, looked at a picture of him and our dog on his wall, and just started saying it. It then took just over a year to complete and publish the book, with the illustrations being done by the very talented Drew Bristow, an illustrator living in Brighton.
Being a Friend at Christmas, is the second in the Little Pup series, though each can be read as a standalone story. In this story, Little Pup is looking forward to his first Christmas in his new home, but he remembers the dogs he left behind in the shelter. He has a plan, but he needs Father Christmas’ help to make his wish come true. I can’t resist happy endings, maybe it’s the romance writer in me, but I knew I wanted to write this book soon after the first came out. It became a labour of love during lockdown, especially as I illustrated it too.
The illustrations are delightful – have you had any formal training?
That’s very kind of you. No, though for some time I doodled and kept sketchbooks, partly because I like drawing and find it relaxing, but also because it was encouraged as part of my teacher training. I must admit that having the illustrations in Finding a Friend as a guide helped and lockdown gave me the time I needed to practice and create the pictures.
Author Carol Thomas
What age group is the book marketed to?
It is written for under 7s. As a teacher, I wanted to write books that could be shared and enjoyed again and again. The text is purposefully rhythmic and rhyming to engage early readers, while little ones can join in and anticipate words and phrases. The illustrations are colourful and each story can inspire a conversation about the puppy’s thoughts and feelings.
The story and verse are charming, did it take long to put together?
For Being a Friend, I was writing to an idea and wanted to ensure I followed the same rhythm and rhyme scheme as Finding a Friend, and so it did take a little longer to complete. For a long time, I had most of it written but couldn’t make a couple of verses fit. I stepped away for a couple of months and returned to it afresh. I am thrilled with it now.
Going forward: Children v Adult writing – what do you prefer?
I enjoy both. Ruby Fiction, an imprint of Choc Lit, publishes my romance books, and so I have to prioritise time for them, but I also love creating children’s books, that I self publish. The process is different for each but ultimately rewarding.
Did you find the self-publishing process difficult?
I’d say challenging rather than difficult. There are still things to do with the process I’d like to be better at and to know more about but I am proud of what I’ve achieved. Being traditionally published too, I think it’s good to have the insight into both routes to publishing.
What can we expect from you next?
I am marketing Being a Friend at Christmas. I have a novel currently with my publisher, Choc Lit (fingers crossed they like it) and I am writing a Christmas novel that I hope will come out in 2021. I am crazily busy as I have also recently taken on a new teaching role working in year six, and, of course, must ensure I have quality time with my family and dog too – especially as they keep me sane!
Carol Thomas writes for both adults and children: Her contemporary romance novels, have relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads; while her children’s books have irresistibly cute, generally furry characters young children can relate to.
Its been an absolute pleasure to chat to Carol and don’t forget that you can purchase Being a Friend At Christmas now, I think it is a perfect book for children and not just at Christmas.
Huge congratulations to Tracey McCann who won this month’s competition. Bertie Bear and his travelling bag, plus a signed copy of The Best Boomerville Hotel are on their way to Tracey.
Look out for the next newsletter, where there is a chance to win ‘Teddy’ the gorgeous puppy from Boomerville at Ballymegille which is publishing on 6th October.
Pre-publication reviews from bloggers are wonderful for Boomerville at Ballymegille and I am over the moon and so grateful to book reviewer Jena Henry for her 5* review, which you can read here:
On my recent travels to Scotland I tried lots of delicious food, especially seafood on the west coast, but this tart is simply the best I have ever tasted and I am thrilled to share the recipe with you. Ecclefechan Butter Tart is very easy to make and absolutely gorgeous – treat yourselves!
September has arrived and I managed to take a much-needed break to beautiful Scotland. travelling along part of the Northern 500 – a route around the coast that begins and ends in Inverness.
Looking towards Skye
Views along the way
It was wonderful to go walking in the hills in Highlands and on some truly stunning beaches on the west coast. Too chilly to swim but warm enough for a paddle.
Cromarty
A really interesting town north of Inverness is Cromarty, situated at the tip of the Black Isle on the southern shore of the mouth of Cromarty Firth. Here you can see at least 14 huge oil rigs that have been towed into the estuary due to the collapse in oil demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Locals I spoke to object to the rigs being there and hope that the situation is short-lived and the rigs will return to work when drilling resumes in the North Sea. I thought that there was something quite captivating about them and found the view fascinating. Cromarty is a gorgeous little place and well-worth a visit.
I am thrilled to announce that my next book Boomerville in Ballymegille will be published on October 6th. The book is based in southern Ireland, in a fictional town based on the fishing port of Kinsale – a place that holds many happy memories for me.
Beautiful Kinsale
For those readers who enjoyed The Best Boomerville Hotel you can now travel to the Emerald Isle and virtually stay at Boomerville Manor in Ballymegille. Join in with the shenanigans at the opening party where guests are sure to get more get more than they bargained for. Early reviews are great and you can pre-order the book here:
“Caroline writes quite beautifully – a perfect escape read” Cathy B Book Reviews
Boomerville is back!
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.
With lockdown easing, Bertie, the gorgeous bear from The Best Boomerville Hotel, would like to go travelling again. If you would like to WIN a Bertie Bear, complete with his own travelling bag and a signed copy of The Best Boomerville Hotel, simple head over to my Facebook page and say where you would take Bertie on his travels:
If you don’t use Facebook, drop me an email with your answer (caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk) and you will be included in the competition.
We continue to live in a difficult time with the pandemic very much still in evidence. I wish you all, wherever you are in the world, a safe and healthy passage on this journey. Please stay safe and look after each other.
On the publication of Summer Days at the Beach, Author Morton S Gray shares her lockdown recipes and tells us why food features in her novels.
For the last nine months, we have been a household of five after some complications with a house move, which I won’t go into here! Most of the meal preparation has fallen to me and I have found this a little stressful, especially during lockdown when five of us were homeworking and eating three meals a day too. How to keep meals fresh and interesting when the last thing you want to do is to cook again?
Inevitably, some of my staple meals find their way into my books. My husband’s favourite food is beans on cheese on toast, so I can rest assures that if all else fails that meal will be well received by him. (This meal featured in my novel The Truth Lies Buried).
I am always very conscious of the addition of food and drink in my novels. In my latest book, Sunny Days at the Beach, my heroine takes in an abandoned teenager and finds herself making not only packed lunches, but having to think more about meals than when she was a singleton.
Mandy, the heroine, prepares another of my staple meals – bacon, cheese and vegetables with pasta, affectionately known in this house as clean out the fridge pasta! Nick, the teenager in the book is obsessed by pizza and tries to order it at any restaurant they visit. Nick gets tuna and mayo sandwiches for his school packed lunch and discovers a liking for berry smoothies from the beach-side café.
Sunny Days at the Beachhas a gin distiller as a hero. My unsuspecting husband was ‘treated’ to a visit to a gin distillery for his birthday, thinly disguised as my research trip! At the distillery, we learned all about the botanicals, or flavourings, added to the gin to give it a unique taste. I will admit to being fascinated by the possibilities for flavouring gin and some of this filters through into the book.
Gin Botanicals
I’m always alarmed by how much tea and coffee my characters drink in a book, but then I drink a fair few cups a day myself!
Clean out the fridge pasta recipe
Ingredients
Meat – you can use cooked bacon, ham, cooked chicken or even mushrooms.
Vegetables – whatever you have to hand – I usually steam a combination of peas, sweetcorn and edme beans.
Cooked pasta.
Grated cheese.
Mayonnaise (mixed with mustard if you like it).
Salt and pepper to taste.
When your ingredients are cooked combine them all in a large saucepan with the cheese, salt and pepper and a generous helping of mayonnaise. Mix and serve. It really is that simple. Enjoy!
About the Author – Morton S Gray
Morton lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the tiny white dog, in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.
Her debut novel The Girl on the Beachwas published after she won the Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Starcompetition in 2016. This story follows a woman with a troubled past as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her son’s new headteacher, Harry Dixon.
Morton’s second book for Choc Lit The Truth Lies Buried is another romantic suspense novel, The story of Jenny Simpson and Carver Rodgers as they uncover secrets from their past.
Christmas at Borteen Bay is Morton’s first Christmas novella. It is set in her fictional seaside town of Borteen and follows the story of Pippa Freeman, who runs the Rose Court Guest House with her mother, and local policeman Ethan Gibson, as they unravel a family secret as Christmas approaches.
Morton previously worked in the electricity industry in committee services, staff development and training. She has a Business Studies degree and is a fully qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She also has diplomas in Tuina acupressure massage and energy field therapy. She enjoys crafts, history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.
You can catch up with Morton with the following links:-
From party nights at the pub to sunny days at the beach …
Craft shop owner Mandy Vanes has always enjoyed a commitment-free singleton lifestyle — in fact, she’s well-known for her wild ways in her small seaside town on the coast.
But when local teenager, Nick Crossten, turns to her for help, Mandy has the opportunity to prove she can be a responsible adult. Although things get tricky when gin distillery owner Graham Frankley comes to town with some unexpected news.
Could this mean that Mandy the party girl is finally ready to grow up?
I’m thrilled to have Vicki Beeby stop by my blog today as she celebrates the publication of her wonderful new novel, The Ops Room Girls which was published by Canelo on 16th July. Grab a coffee and sit back to enjoy this post as Vicky talks to me about her writing life.
Author Vicki Beeby
What started your journey into the world of writing?
I’ve always known I wanted to write books one day, but I only knuckled down to writing novels about ten years ago. From my teens to my early thirties I wrote a daily journal, and I think that was a good introduction to the discipline of regular writing. In my twenties, I also started writing fan fiction, well before I knew fan fiction was actually a thing. I liked to write about minor characters and give them a story of their own. When I discovered internet sites where you could post fan fiction, I dared to upload a few stories and was encouraged by the feedback to keep going. After a while I wanted to create my own characters and worlds, so started writing original fiction. It still took a lot of perseverance to get my first publishing deal, but I don’t think I would have started if it hadn’t been for the encouragement I got from fellow fanfic authors.
What is it you most enjoy most about being an author?
I love the whole process of starting out with a spark of an idea and developing it into a complete story. At times the process can be painful, but nothing can beat the kick of holding a book in my hands, knowing that the words inside came from my own head.
Tell us about your latest book and why you chose to write it.
The Ops Room Girls is the first in a series called The Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. It follows the story of Evie Bishop, a working-class girl who joins the WAAF near the start of World War Two after having her hopes of an Oxford Scholarship dashed. She is posted to the operations room of an RAF fighter station where she befriends two other WAAFs – shy, awkward May and flirty, glamorous Jess. The book is set against the background of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain and follows Evie, Jess, and May’s adventures as they embark upon romances and join the struggle to keep their pilots safe.
I love watching old war films but have always been frustrated that the action mostly centres on men. You would occasionally see women in the background, but you never discovered what they actually did. In particular, I was curious about the women in some scenes in the Battle of Britain films, who could be seen pushing blocks around a chart on a large table. When I found out what their job involved, and the vital work they did during the Battle of Britain, I knew I wanted to tell their story.
Who are your top three favourite authors and why?
Rosemary Sutcliff Douglas Adams & Marion Keyes
Rosemary Sutcliff – I fell in love with history and historical novels thanks to her. Douglas Adams – I love his sense of humour and his way of looking at reality and twisting it. Marian Keyes – What can I say? She’s a goddess. I’m in awe of how she can write about dark stuff like addiction, grief and depression and still make her books funny and uplifting.
What are your writing plans for the next year?
I still have to write the third book in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force series, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into that. After that, I’d like to write another World War Two series, although I haven’t fixed on what to focus on. I’ve got a list of story ideas that came to me when researching the current series so I’ll read through them and see which ones spark more ideas.
How do you celebrate on publication day?
I’m not one for elaborate celebrations, but I do take time off work so I can enjoy the day properly. When my first three books were published—medieval romances under the pen name Tora Williams—I went out for breakfast with my mum to celebrate. With lockdown, celebrations will be even more low-key. I’m in a bubble with my mum, so I’m going to take a cake around to her house and she’s ordered a cream tea by post. I’m such a party animal!
It was such a pleasure to talk to Vicky and I am currently reading and loving The Ops Room Girls – watch out for my review soon. You can follow Vicky on the links below:
Caroline James Author 