Writing Romantic Suspense by Evonne Wareham

 I am delighted to welcome Evonne Wareham to the blog today to talk about her latest novel, A VILLA IN PORTOFINO, which was recently released by Choc Lit UK, and why she loves writing romantic suspense. I must say that I have to agree with her about the appeal of the genre. I love reading and writing romantic suspense novels and I cannot wait to read A VILLA IN PORTOFINO. And look at that gorgeous cover!

Many thanks to Marie for inviting me on to her blog today as part of the blog tour for the third in my romantic suspense series set on the Riviera – A Villa in Portofino.

It took me a long time and a lot of experimenting before I discovered that romantic suspense was the genre I wanted to write. It ‘s a genre that can get complicated though, as Marie will probably agree, because as well as a full scale love story, with proper emotional development, you also have to have a satisfying crime narrative. And the two have to dovetail together. It’s romance, but romance with an edge. And quite possibly a few dead bodies. It’s the genre where I feel most at home, although I’m never quite sure what admitting to like writing mayhem and murder says about me. I like to think I’m redeemed from my criminal tendencies by insisting on a happy ending for my love story.

I always say that when I write I plot the crime element and let the love story take care of itself, which is sort of true. The characters do kind of take over when you let them loose. We all know where this thing is going, so let’s just get on with it. The love story has to stand up on its own though, not just be an add-on, so all the stages of attraction and discovery have to be there and the course of true love rarely runs smooth. What would be the fun in that?

The crime element ramps up the tension and the genre can cover a wide spectrum – spies and law enforcement, serial killers and witness protection, historical settings, protagonists with paranormal talent, even plots that border on horror – anything that comes under the heading of crime writing and which can sustain a love story as part of the action.

My current Riviera series is at the lighter end of the spectrum, sunshine, food, art, glamour. The first book, Summer in San Remo, has only a smidgeon of crime, but the subsequent two are a bit darker - and things definitely go up a few notches in the scary action stakes in both in the last couple of chapters. 

When I was writing A Villa in Portofino I wanted to explore the mysteries and secrets within a family, not all of them intentional. My heroine, Megan, inherits the villa from a great-great aunt of whom she knows next to nothing. Deciding that she will make the villa her home she begins to unravel the secrets of her aunt’s life, but what she doesn’t know is that someone else is watching her, with their own agenda.  On the surface everything is fine, but disturbing events from the past begin to break thorough – are they sinister or not? The reader sees what my villainess is doing to manipulate the situation without Megan being aware of it, to the point where the plots cross and Megan’s growing attraction to hero Gideon is in jeopardy. I was looking for a sense of mounting threat and menace, where the reader knows more than my protagonists.  I hope it has worked. I’ll have to wait for readers to tell me.

Bio

Evonne is an award winning Welsh author of romantic suspense - more crime and dead bodies than your average romance. She likes to set her book in her native Wales, or for a touch of glamorous escapism, in favourite holiday destinations in Europe. She is a Doctor of Philosophy and an historian, and a member of both the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Crime Writers’ Association.

Why not find out more about Evonne? Twitter and Facebook

Website  www.evonnewareham.com

Blog  www.evonneonwednesday.blogspot.com

A Villa in Portofino

Third in the ‘Riviera’ Series of romantic suspense: love and mayhem in the sunshine of the French and Italian Riviera

From chambermaid to “got it made” …
When hotel cleaning temp and poetry academic Megan Morrison finds out she’s inherited an Italian villa and small fortune from her estranged great-great aunt Olwen, she doesn’t quite know how to react. That is, until she travels to Portofino to see Il Giardino delle Rose for herself. Then she knows exactly what she has to do: live there!
Enchanted by the beauty of the house and gardens, fascinated by the history, and more than a little intrigued by handsome hired landscape gardener Gideon West, Megan can immediately see the villa’s potential as a dream home.
But having long-lost relatives sometimes means long-lost secrets – and it seems that Olwen had plenty of those. Could these secrets and a jealous obsession be powerful enough to drive Megan out of the house that she’s already fallen in love with?

Available as an e-book from

Amazon Kindle, Apple, Barnes and Noble /  Nook, Kobo,  Google playbooks

Goodreads Reviews

How a story is born... Inspiration for HAPPY DREAMS A MERMAID COVE

Happy Dreams at Mermaid Cove is the third of my novels set in the Scottish Highlands... and it definitely won’t be the last. I have always felt a very special attraction for Scotland and its wild, romantic and magnificent landscapes. 

Coral Beach on Skye Curtesy of Pixabay

I have only been there twice but my dream would be to travel all around the Highlands, then stay in a cottage near the sea for a few weeks, perhaps even on the Isle of Skye where my story is set - although not in the Arrandale Peninsula, since I made it up!  

Isle of Skye Curtesy of Pixabay

Getting the setting just right was essential for my story and I spent a long time reading about different Hebridean islands, including Muck and Rum. One of my favourite books was the fascinating A Drop in the Ocean by Polly Pullar and Lawrence MacEwen – the laird of Muck - about his family, his work and his life on Muck. In the end I had to choose an island big enough and with enough people living there to have a mobile library service and I decided on Skye. However, having never visited the area I didn’t want to get anything wrong, so I invented Arrandale and its Gaelic name of Fearann nan Aislingean Sona- the Land of Happy Dreams.

My inspiration for Happy Dreams at Mermaid Cove was the photo of a yellow mobile library on a deserted Scottish road that author friend Melinda Hammond posted on Facebook at the beginning of 2020. It captured my imagination so much that I started writing a story about it straight away. 

Highlands Mobile Library Curtesy of a friend!

I knew a little about mobile libraries because a very long time ago, I actually worked in one in the Wigan area for a few weeks, and what fun it was. Of course Wigan and its surroundings are very flat, unlike Arrandale, and there were no Highland cows crossing the road or fierce storms battering the countryside... and no mermaids.

Blurb

From the big city to a little yellow mobile library on the Isle of Skye ... When Jenna Palmer agrees to the new position of mobile librarian on the tiny Arrandale peninsular of the Isle of Skye, she knows she’s signing up for difficult working conditions and mediocre wages. But Jenna needs to get away, and a little yellow mobile library called Buttercup could be her escape to happier dreams ...
However, whilst Jenna can get to grips with foggy island roads, local mermaid legends and even big purple monsters, she never expected to have to contend with a boss as grumpy as Daniel McGregor, or a young book lover as enthusiastic as his niece, Katrina.
Arrandale might represent Jenna’s safe port in a storm, but could she and Buttercup also become a beacon of hope to Daniel, Katrina and the entire island community?

HAPPY DREAMS AT MERMAID COVE is available as an ebook, audiobook and paperback on Amazon and as an ebook from Kobo.

ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU Finalist in the RNA Awards!

I am delighted to announce that my romantic suspense novel ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU, which was published last October by Choc Lit, is a finalist in the prestigious RNA Awards in the Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller category. 

It is a great honour and I am absolutely over the moon that the story has made it to the final five. The awards ceremony will be virtual this year and takes place on 8th March, and actor and radio presenter Larry Lamb will host the awards.

Blurb:

Will Amy’s dreams of a Provençal escape come true?
There are many reasons Amy Carter is determined to make Bellefontaine, her farmhouse hotel in the French countryside, a success. Of course, there’s the time and money she’s put in to making it beautiful, but she also has something to prove – particularly to people like Fabien Coste.
Fabien is the owner of the nearby château, and he might just be the most arrogant, patronising man Amy has ever met ... unfortunately, he’s also the most handsome.
But as rumours circulate in the local community and secrets about the old farmhouse begin to reveal themselves, Amy quickly sees the less idyllic side of life at Bellefontaine. Could Fabien be the man to help prevent her Provençal dream from turning into a nightmare?

Escape to the Little Chateau is available from Amazon and kobo

My Inspiration for ‘A Mother’s Secret By Jan Baynham

Inspiration for Jan Baynham's 'A MOTHER'S SECRET' 

I am delighted to welcome fellow ChocLit UK / Ruby author Jan Baynham today. Jan's debut novel A MOTHER'S SECRET was released in April 2020. Today she is telling us about her inspiration for writing the novel.

I have always been intrigued by family secrets and the fact that these sometimes do not come to light until after a person has died. I read of someone who was sorting through her mother’s things after her death and found a diary. In there, the young woman learned about a part of her mother’s life she knew nothing about. The ‘what ifs?’ started in my head. At the time, I’d been reading a novel where the rustling in the trees sounded like whispers and inanimate statues took on the form of ghosts of the people they represented. Perhaps the whispering could show the presence of a past family member. Always fascinated by the bond between mothers and daughters, this was basis for ‘Her Mother’s Secret’. 

Very often, the close relationship between mothers and daughters means that they would know things about each other no one else would. I wanted to explore how my character, Alexandra, would feel when she found out about her mother, Elin’s secret life. How could her mother have kept this from her? How would she feel? I needed Elin to have been able to keep her secret from everyone, even her own mother, until she died.

I decided that Elin would be an artist, having just finished art college. She travels to Greece to further her painting skills and while there, something happens that she never mentions again. I chose a setting where the colours would be more vibrant and intense perhaps than in her home country of Wales. In awe of the wonderful palette of colours seen in every landscape, Greece was my obvious inspiration. Every holiday has inspired me with contributions to create characters and settings that are hopefully authentic showing the climate, the vivid colours of the sea and the flowers as well as the warmth of its people.

BLURB:

A secret left behind in the summer of ’69 …

It’s 1969 and free-spirited artist Elin Morgan has left Wales for a sun-drenched Greek island. As she makes new friends and enjoys the laidback lifestyle, she writes all about it in her diary. But Elin’s carefree summer of love doesn’t last long, and her island experience ultimately leaves her with a shocking secret …

Twenty-two years later, Elin’s daughter Alexandra has inherited the diary and is reeling from its revelations. The discovery compels Alexandra to make her own journey to the same island, following in her mother’s footsteps. Once there, she sets about uncovering what really happened to Elin in that summer of ’69.

BIO

After retiring from a career in teaching and advisory education, Jan 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 short listed 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. She writes about family secrets and the bond between mothers and daughters. Partly set in the last year of the 60s, ‘Her Mother’s Secret’ takes you to sun-drenched Greece, her favourite holiday destination.

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.

‘Her Mother’s Secret’ is available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Mothers-Secret-Summer-69-ebook/dp/B085CHV3VQ/

You may find out more about Jan here:

Twitter: @JanBaynhamhttps://twitter.com/JanBaynham

Facebook: Jan Baynham Writer  https://www.facebook.com/JanBayLit/

Blog: www.janbaynham.blogspot.co.uk                                         

 Thank you very much for coming on the blog today, Jan!

A PARIS FAIRY TALE - Five Random Facts about Ancient Manuscripts!

Ancient manuscripts and A PARIS FAIRY TALE

By Marie Laval

 When I started writing A PARIS FAIRY TALE, I embarked on a fascinating journey through the ages and the history of illuminated manuscripts. The story took a long time to research but since research is one of my hobbies, it was a pure joy. 

I read articles and books on the subject – my two favourite books being the wonderful Meetings with remarkable Manuscripts by Christopher de Hamel and Master of Death by Michael Camille – but I also registered on a couple of courses on Ireland and the Book of Kells run by Futurelearn (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/book-of-kells) and on art trafficking (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/art-crime), both so very informative and completely free!

The main plot of A PARIS FAIRY TALE revolves around a manuscript which everybody believed destroyed in a fire, but which mysteriously resurfaces and which the heroine, Dr Aurora Black, is asked to authenticate and value. The manuscript in question is the Heures de Turin, a genuine illuminated manuscript, which was indeed lost in the great fire of the Turin University Library. Therefore, the story of it being found again is completely fictional!

So what did I learn in the course of my research? Lots and lots of fascinating facts but I will limit myself to five.

1.     Most manuscripts from medieval Europe were written on vellum, or animal skin, usually calf, sheep or goat. The production of one single book would usually require the skins of a whole flock.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

2.      The largest illuminated manuscript is the Codex Gigas, currently located in the National Library in Stockholm. Also called The Devil’s Bible because it is believed to be cursed, it is nearly nine inches (22cm) thick and 36 inches (92cm) tall, and is said to have required more than 160 animal skins to complete. It was created in the 13th century in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia. The ‘most mysterious’ manuscript is the Voynich manuscript, written in an unknown writing system no professional code-breaker or cryptographer has yet managed to translate. It has been carbon dated to the 15^th century, and features hundreds of very peculiar astrological, anatomical and vegetal illustrations.

3.     The most common pigment used in illuminated manuscripts was red. The most precious was ultramarine, obtained from lapis lazuli, which came all the way from Afghanistan and was more precious than gold.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

4.     When book production was no longer the monopoly of monasteries and guilds of illuminators were established, many workshops employed women to paint borders, letters or miniatures in manuscripts, but Christine de Pizan (1364-1430) was the first ‘woman of letters’ to make a living by writing, illustrating and producing books for the French court.

5.     As a deterrent against theft and vandalism, scribes would write dramatic curses in manuscripts threatening thieves with excommunication, disease and pain. Here are two examples of such curses: “May the sword of anathema slay if anyone steals this book away”  or  “If anyone take away this book, let him die the death; let him be fried in a pan; let the falling sickness and fever size him; let him be broken on the wheel, and hanged. Amen.”

A PARIS FAIRY TALE

Is Paris the city of happily ever afters?

Workaholic art historian Aurora Black doesn’t have time for fairy tales or Prince Charmings, even in the most romantic city in the world. She has recently been hired by a Parisian auction house for a job that could make or break her career. Unfortunately, daredevil journalist Cédric Castel seems intent on disrupting Aurora’s routine. 

As Aurora and Cédric embark on a journey across France, they get more than they bargained for as they find themselves battling rogue antiques dealers and personal demons, not to mention a growing attraction to each other. 
But with the help of a fairy godmother or two, could they both find their happily ever afters? 

A PARIS FAIRY TALE is available as an ebook and Audio book from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paris-Fairy-Tale-heart-warming-recommended-ebook/dp/B07SV2VTJL/ref

BLUEBELL'S CHRISTMAS MAGIC

BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC, my first ever Christmas romantic comedy, was published by Choc Lit UK on November 19th.

As random as it seems, the inspiration for Cassie Bell's story was a family holiday in the Lake District, Christmas cracker jokes and the 1980s band Bananarama – and in particular the song ‘Cruel Summer’. It does seem a bit strange, but that's how inspiration works for me. Even if I can usually pinpoint the exact moment or place when I got the first idea about a new story, the process of creating characters and a plot line usually takes me a long time and is a complete mish-mash!

I first had the idea for BLUEBELL when staying in a tiny cottage in Coniston, which is one of my most favourite places in the UK and one I try to visit every year. The scenery there is beautiful, the village so quaint and lovely, and the lakeside is just wonderful. One of the places I particularly love is Brantwood, which was John Ruskin’s house. The view of the lake from the terrace is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Last time we went we stayed in a holiday cottage near a very old farmhouse with strange round chimneys, which gave me the idea for Belthorn Manor where the hero Stefan Lambert comes to stay to forget all about Christmas…

Lake Coniston

No Christmas would be complete without Christmas cracker jokes, and I had a lot of fun finding some to put into the book – some of them were supplied by my friends and my children, and others I made up myself (but I won't say which ones)!

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

What about Bananarama and their song ‘Cruel Summer’? Well, in my story, Cassie Bell always wears dungarees when she does her cleaning job, and she ties her hair up with a scarf, like the singers in the clip. She also used to be in a Bananarama tribute band when she was younger.

I hope that BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC will be the first of a series of standalone romantic stories set in the same Cumbrian village of Red Moss, and I am now working on the second novel.

Blurb

A gorgeous new Christmas story from the author of bestselling novel Little Pink Taxi
A flick of a feather duster and a sprinkle of Christmas magic …
Cassie Bell is used to mess. Her cleaning business, Bluebell Cleaning, is well known in the Cumbrian village of Red Moss. However, now it’s almost Christmas and Cassie has a slightly messier situation to deal with than she’s used to.

She’s been hired to help Stefan Lambert, an injured army helicopter pilot who’s staying at the local Belthorn Manor whilst he recovers. Stefan resents Cassie’s interference and is definitely not looking for Christmas cheer. But Cassie prides herself on sparkling surfaces – so, can she bring some festive sparkle to Stefan’s life too?

You can buy BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC as an ebook and audio book here from Amazon UK

Author Jenny Twist takes us to beautiful Morocco!

I am continuing my tour of Africa and the authors of the romantic suspense anthology ESCAPE TO AFRICA, which will be released by the World Romance Writers on July 14th as an ebook, and on July 15th as a print book.

Let your wild side free and Escape to Africa! Come along on an adventure through these 6 stories brought to you by 6 best-selling, award-winning authors.

You’ll uncover tales of an undercover operative in Casablanca, a safari guide in the Serengeti, students on holiday in Morocco, time-traveling agents in Tripoli, vengeance in Algeria, and deadly secrets in Carthage. Each of these stories will captivate you with love, danger, intrigue, and excitement. What better way to Escape?

Hello Jenny and welcome. What were your initial thoughts about the theme for the anthology?

When World Romance Writers told me the theme for the next anthology was to be romantic suspense set in Africa, I told them I couldn’t do it since I know nothing about Africa and I don’t even know what romantic suspense means. Then one of my friends said, “I know for a fact you’ve been to Morocco. You’ve got pictures of it all over your Face Book page.” I felt like a complete twit.

Of course I know Morocco. I’ve been there twice and loved it both times.

The problem was it sort of didn’t feel like a foreign country. For a start it’s practically just down the road from me. I live half-way up a mountain in Spain and on a clear day I can see the Rif mountains of Morocco poking over the horizon.

The other thing is that the part of Spain I live in was ruled by the Moors for hundreds of years and was, in fact, the last Moorish stronghold when the Christian monarchs finally drove them out. Our buildings, our landscape and much of our culture was shaped by the Moors. So when I went to Morocco, I found it very familiar.

The major difference was that everything was miles cheaper than in Spain and that you can’t have a beer with your lunch. The only place you can drink alcohol is in tourist hotels. That is, in fact, for me, the only thing that prevents Morocco from being a paradise.

Casa Joya, Jenny's house

How lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place, and in a hot climate. Having suffered many Lancashire rainy and grey summers, I can only envy you! What you tell us about the setting of your story?

Tangiers is a typical tourist town, full of shops, restaurants and hotels. The hotel where we stayed was a delightful example of Old Raj splendour gone to seed. Beautiful carved wooden panelling, a huge ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ staircase sweeping down beneath a gorgeous stained glass skylight. The reception rooms and bars were luxuriously furnished. It was all a little shabby but somehow endearing.

However, upstairs was rather different. At some point someone had had the bright idea of refurbishing all the bedrooms in formica and white plastic. Even the headboards and bedside tables were plastic. This gave you the uncomfortable feeling that you were in a Wendy House.

The pianist in the bar was a total delight. I won’t describe him here, since he figures in the story and I don’t want to spoil it. Just take it from me we had one of the most entertaining nights ever.

Moroccan market, courtesy of Pixabay

We didn’t go on any of the wonderful tours on offer in the hotel lobby, nor did we accept the services of any of the ‘guides’, so perhaps our experience wasn’t typical. We just wandered through the streets, shopping and stopping to eat from time to time. I bought two leather handbags, my friend bought a djellaba (the loose, flowing, Kaftan-like garment beloved of tourists) and my husband bought a pair of bright orange slippers with those pointy toes that curl up at the end. I’ve never seen them since. I wonder what happened to them?

They sound like the kind of fun slippers a genii might like! Where else did you visit in Morocco?

Blue door, Chefchouen

Later we visited Chefchouen . . . it was a joy. The town was founded by Jews driven out of Granada by the Christian monarchs. It is typically Spanish with narrow, winding, cobbled streets lined with stalls, a Moorish fort and a delightful place by the riverbank where the women still do their washing. I was told they all have washing machines but for large or heavy things, such as carpets, they still go to the river. Indeed, when we went we saw all the carpets hanging over the walls to dry.

But the really amazing thing about Chefchouen is that the houses are painted blue! This is nothing to do with Smurf films. Legend has it that that was the Granada style and they brought it with them.
Granada is not painted blue now, so maybe Chefchouen is your only chance of seeing what Granada might have been like under the Moors.

Chefchouen

I would go back. I intend to go back. The next time we have guests who are staying long enough to make it worthwhile I want to go again. It seems a shame not to share it. Meantime I have written about it.

I was lucky enough to read your fast-paced romantic suspense story before anybody else, and I really enjoyed it!

Incidentally I still don’t know what romantic suspense is. I googled it and nobody else seems to know either with any degree of confidence. Therefore I have written a sort of thriller with a romance in it and introduced as much suspense as I could.
I would be really grateful for comments on this when the book comes out.

I am sure you will get lots of compliments on your story, Jenny. Thank you very much for being my guest on the blog today.

Here is the blurb for Jenny Twist's story - An Object of Desire
Two students on holiday in Morocco discover that two sinister looking characters are following them. They meet an attractive man who offers to take them to their next destination. All seems well until one of the girls disappears.

ESCAPE TO AFRICA is available for pre-order at the special price of £0.99  here

Escape to Africa by the World Romance Writers

Exciting news...I am delighted to announce that ESCAPE TO AFRICA, the new anthology of romantic short stories by The World Romance Writers, will be released at the end of March 2017.

I am very proud to have a story included in the anthology, together with authors Denysé Bridger, Lynn Crain, Alicia Dean, Gemma Juliana and Jenny Twist. All our stories have romance, suspense and adventure aplenty, and are set in various countries in Africa - from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, to Kenya.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

The Ravine of the Wild Woman, a tale of love and revenge, is set in Algeria in 1865. Those of you who read this blog or who read my historical romance THE LION'S EMBRACE might remember that I have always been very interested in the history of Algeria, mainly because it's where my mother was born and brought up, but also because it has stunning sceneries and fascinating people and cultures. My mother used to tell us lots of stories about her childhood in Algiers and a small seaside village called Suffren, as well as about various places she visited in Algeria. I still miss her very much, and I know that writing stories set in Algeria is my way of remembering her and staying close to her.

The Ravine of the Wild Woman is a real place in the suburbs of Algiers - Le Ravin de la Femme Sauvage, in French - is close to the Birmandreis Forest, and was named after a poor creature who lived there, alone and scavenging for food, in the 1840s. Who was she really? Some people said she was a melancholic young woman who had been abandoned by her lover, others claimed she was a mother who had lost her mind after her children got lost in the forest one day...

To know which of these two stories I chose, you'll have to read the book!

Here is the blurb

The Ravine of the Wild Woman

Algeria, North Africa, 1865.

Lenora Sharp is Azerwal's perfect woman. Brave, determined and unconventional, she is also related to the man who stole his name, his childhood and his identity - the very man and he has vowed to destroy, even if it takes him all the way to hell. Will love get in the way of revenge, and will Azerwal lose his heart before he loses his soul?

A SPELL IN PROVENCE is awarded a CHILL WITH A BOOK Award

I was delighted to receive the news yesterday that my contemporary romantic suspense A SPELL IN PROVENCE had been awarded a CHILL WITH A BOOK Award.

This is an award given by readers who take account of the following five points:

1. Were the characters strong and engaging?

2. Was the book well written?

3. Did the plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?

4. Was the ending satisfying?

5. Have you told your friends about it?

A SPELL IN PROVENCE got a YES for all five questions!

Blurb:

Passion and mystery in the hills of Provence when an ancient spell weaves its dark magic.

After losing her job in England, Amy Carter uses her redundancy payment to start a new life in France, turning Bellefontaine, an overgrown Provençal farmhouse, into a successful hotel. Though she has big plans for her new home, none of them involves falling in love — least of all with Fabien Coste, the handsome but arrogant owner of the nearby château.
As romance blossoms in the beautiful Provençal countryside, disturbing events at the farmhouse hint at a dark mystery — a destructive, centuries-old attachment between the ladies of Bellefontaine and the ducs de Coste. As Amy struggles to unravel the mystery, she begins to wonder if it may not just be her heart at risk, but her life too.

A SPELL IN PROVENCE is available from Amazon here both as ebook and paperback, and from Áccent Press Accent Press.

Welcome to Eleanor Smythe and REFLECTIONS!

Today I am delighted to welcome Eleanor Smythe to talk about her latest release, REFLECTIONS, a contemporary fiction Whodunit which was released last December.

 Hello Eleanor and thank you for coming on the blog today. Can you tell us a little about you? 

I’m not really sure what you would want to know about me. I’m a very open person. I don’t mind answering questions. I don’t like toothpaste tubes being squeezed from the middle. I can’t work if my environment is untidy. I have to keep things in order and I’m not a hoarder, which means I clear out cupboards quite regularly. You can always ask me questions by visiting me on:

authoreleanorsmythe@gmail.com

www.@facebook.com/authoreleanorsmythe

www.eleanorsmythe.blogspot.com

Http://Twitter@authoreleanor1  

 Oh dear... I think you might have a nervous breakdown if you ever came to my house! What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write?  

I can’t remember ever thinking I wanted to be anything in particular, I certainly never said I want to be an author. However the thought must have been there because I was 10 or 11 years old when I told my Mother, ‘One day I’m going to write a book. My friends would say I want to be a nurse, a dancer or a teacher. I would say, ‘I don’t want to be anything in particular, I just want to write a book. I didn’t think I could be a published author, in those days it was only something one would dream of… I believe my mother actually laughed… Okay dear dream on. She didn’t say it quite like that, but I imagine you get my point.  Thanks to the internet all things have been made possible. You could say I’ve fulfilled a childhood dream. 

It is indeed wonderful that you fulfilled your dream. Tell me, where do you get your ideas for your stories? 

It’s a bit like growing an oak tree from an acorn. I have a character in mind, they just seem to appear from nowhere. I nurture them imagining them in various situations and work out how they might cope or develop. I build them a community of family, friends and enemies if necessary. The story tends to unfold as I dig into their lives.  It probably helps that I listen to people and their stories, a mind full of what if this and what if that. My previous profession as an Occupational Therapist gave me the experience and skill to listen, assess and ask questions. I do this with my characters. I know it sounds a little crazy, but I open my mind and listen to them as if they were real. 

It doesn't sound crazy at all! All my characters live with me for  months and I get terribly in love or very annoyed with them! Can you tell us about REFLECTIONS?

I loved writing Reflections. It digs deep into Sally’s past, talks about the parents she never really knew or understood. It’s  her parents love story, a look into their past as much as hers… she learns about her family roots. Discovers that she can have a future without her ex-husband Brian, and a marriage she didn’t think she’d ever recover from. Her strength of character shines when she begins to plan and live for the future.

In three words - What kind of man is your hero? 

Intelligent, reserved, lonely

What about Sally, your heroine? 

Determined, emotional, strong

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on a book titled Pink Hair and Murder. Set in current times, somewhere in Essex, although I’m not intending to be specific about the area. It features a group an elderly people in their 80’s. I’m not wanting to give to much away as I’m yet to write the blurb on this. However I can tell you: The coroner’s report clearly stated natural causes. Stan’s wife is convinced he was murdered following information that confused her. The will is read and reveals that half the house should be split between the wife of 55 years and the mistress of 40 years…huge shock for Irene who is determined not to sell and seeks out revenge. A sad story in parts, but full of humour and one liners. The story tells of betrayal, loyalty between friends and of course the murder. An interesting twist at the end. 

I love the title! How do you promote your work? What do you find the hardest?

I tend to use social media. Face book, twitter, good-reads and Brook Cottage Books for my tours. I’m not good at marketing or promoting myself. I have found that side of things quite daunting. Until my first book was ready to be publish, March 2015, I’d never been involved with social media sites. It’s still quite new to me really. I’m chugging on and I’m always ready to listen and take advice or suggestions.  

Choosing the name of my characters is something I love doing. How do you choose the name of your characters?

This isn’t always easy. I’m conscious not to use the name of anyone I know. If my character begins to remind me of anyone… this has happened, I make changes to their personality within the plot and I’m even more particular about the name. Often a name just falls into place but it is something I’m very aware of. 

What was your best ever moment as a writer?

This is an easy question for me to answer. The moment I received an acceptance from Amazon to say my first book was live…that was the best feeling I had as a writer. My goal to write a book had been achieved.

One last question...Do you find it difficult to come up with titles for your novels? 

Once the story line takes shape it seems to fall into place. So far I haven’t found it to be a problem.

WORD ASSOCIATION FUN TEST!

1. day … light, time, dream

2. night… mare, sky, vision

3. winter… cold, damp, fire

4. summer… sun, sea, swim

5. romance… love, cuddles, roses

6. writing… books, silence, relaxing

7. music… dance, soothing, memories

8. hair… long, short, curly

9. love… husband, family, nature

10. ring… bell, tone, wedding. 

Thank you Marie for inviting me and for taking part in my tour. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and look forward to visiting your blog.

You are very welcome, Eleanor. Good luck with REFLECTIONS!

 Author Bio

Eleanor Smythe was born in the East end of London but struggles to call it home as she moved away in her teens, and continued to live in various parts of the UK. After raising four sons, she went on to obtain a degree in Occupational Therapy. Although she took the opportunity to work in various medical settings, her greatest passion was working with clients within the community, where she claims real life takes place. 

Now retired and living primarily in Portugal Eleanor has more time to pursue her love of writing. Always intrigued by the way in which individuals cope with life's challenges and how they overcome the twists and turns of life, her stories embrace inner emotional turmoil that her characters might feel. They are brought to life by showing humour, tragedy, conflict, betrayal and emotions that many of us face daily. 

Her debut book, The Other Side of Town continues to receive positive reviews while her second book, Reflections, was recently released. 

Eleanor and her husband’s love of travel, which has led to the recent acquisition of ‘Dolly the Camper Van’. Dolly will enable them to pursue their individual hobbies of fishing and writing in new and exciting environments. Eleanor will be blogging about their adventures as well as inviting others to share their own.

Blurb

Sally must deal with the grief of losing her father, a man she knew very little about. After his funeral she takes time out to be alone and reflect on her life. 

To find out the truth about him, she first has to make amends with her estranged mother and half sisters, who she hasn’t spoken to for almost twenty years. 

In the meantime, Mr Leriche from Interpol opens a fascinating old case file, about a stolen painting potentially worth millions. Before long Sally finds herself in the middle of a criminal investigation. Having discovered she is the sole beneficiary to her father’s estate, she must decide whether to develop the business or walk away. 

Reflections is an emotional journey of love and loss and the revealing of family secrets…Life is never quite what it seems until we dig deep.

Excerpt

Sally had never imagined she would be sitting in the back of a black limousine with blacked out windows on her way to her father’s funeral. In fact, she had never expected to attend the funeral of either of her parents. Having been estranged from her mother for almost twenty years, and never knowing her father, the possibility seemed highly unlikely. 

Mixed feelings—of gratitude and a deep sadness for the years that had been lost—washed over her as she searched her handbag for more tissues. She had spent so many years believing her mother had abandoned her, when in fact the truth proved to be very different. It left her with feelings of guilt. Her own stubbornness had prevented her from removing the barriers she’d created between herself and her mother. Her interpretation of events, seen through the eyes of a child, had been allowed to expand in her mind, festering into resentment. 

The tears rolled down her face as she reflected on her childhood, her marriage and her family. The past four years had also taught her about perception, how misleading things had been, because she hadn’t been open to others and their opinions and views. Sally had previously believed her world to be unshakable, as long as she blocked out her past, but that had proven not to be the case. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflections-Eleanor-Smythe-ebook/dp/B018STVSEG/