Q&A with Tracy Rees

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog... Tracy Rees

Tracy Rees was born in Swansea. She studied languages at Jesus College, Cambridge, then moved to London. She worked in medical publishing for eight years then retrained and worked as a counsellor for people with cancer and their families for five years. She has also been a waitress, bartender, shop assistant, estate agent, classroom assistant, university lecturer and workshop leader. Tracy lives on the Gower Peninsula of Wales, dividing her time between Wales and London. She was the winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition and the Love Stories Best Historical Read award and was shortlisted for the RNA Epic Romantic Novel of the Year award.

1.      What was your favourite childhood book/author? 

Oh so many!! I was a total bookworm, always immersed in a fictional world. Among many others, I absolutely loved the Jinny books by Patricia Leitch. I read and re-read the whole series and have done so since as an adult! I adored the bond between headstrong Jinny and her wild horse Shantih, and the themes of the beauty, fragility and importance of the natural world, and art, and creativity. Just gorgeous stuff.

 

2.      What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point? 
One way or another I’ve always written – I think because I’ve always read. When I was about three I started scribbling down short poems, inspired by the Flower Fairies books by Cicely M Barker. Those were my earliest reads along with Enid Blyton and I loved being in those magical worlds so much it seemed second nature to try to create my own. But it took a LONG time before my ability came anywhere close to my passion. In fact even now all my ideas seem far more wonderful in my head than when I actually write them down. I tried writing at intervals over the years but life, jobs etc always got in the way. I was forty before I started really taking myself seriously. I think before that I always thought it was a vain fancy – I think a lot of people who long to write dismiss their dream in that way. Once I did start prioritising it, though, things started happening very quickly – a poem shortlisted here, a short story published there… Then a year or so later I won the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition, Amy Snow was published and the rest in history. It was a long journey to get to that point but completely worth every step.

 

3.      Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos? 
Um… creative chaos…

 

4.      What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 
The easiest part for me is dreaming up ideas and starting new stories, new worlds. The hardest part is halfway through when the doubts start setting in. I have to be really bull-headed to plunge ahead at that point. Then it gets all lovely and joyous again towards the end of a first draft, when I sense it all coming together. Second draft and editing stages also have their own challenges and rewards. It’s a very different headspace, much more analytical, which sometimes can be a relief, because progress is more tangible and measurable, but sometimes feels a little dull in comparison to the creative flow!

 

5.      Which other authors are you influenced by?
Again, so many! In fact, I would say “other authors” in general – because it’s so very inspiring and nourishing to read the wide variety of literature that’s out there. I think it’s important to read in my own genre and outside it as well. I love to read old favourites I know I can rely on, as well as new authors – sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes thrilled. It all feeds in to what I’m doing as a writer. Some of my favourites are Tracy Chevalier, Salley Vickers, Elizabeth Berg, Sarah Addison Allen, Mke Gayle… I could go on…

 

6.      What does literary success “look” like to you?
For me it’s two things really. The first is practical – to be able to earn enough money to keep writing. Of course more would be lovely, but as long as I can just about afford to keep earning my living as an author, keep writing my stories every day, I really am happy. The other aspect to it is to have a measure of creative freedom. We hear a lot about “brands” and “genres” these days and commercial wisdom encourages us to build a brand. I do this to some extent but I also try to vary what I do within my genre and also, when opportunity allows, branch out and try new things. That way, the thing I most love doesn’t become workaday or repetitive. I do feel really, really blessed to be in a position to write the books I do.

 

7.      How do you select the names of your characters?
Oh gosh, names! I love names! I’m a bit strange like that. Names are very often the first thing that pop into my head – the starting point. Sometimes they appear in my head out of nowhere. I love that. Other times, I need a name for a minor character and I’ll leaf through a book of baby names trying to find the right fit. (I usually end up spying several other names I really want to use too, and so my cast of characters grows and grows!).

 

8.      Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand? 
I don’t think I’ve done that yet but now you’ve suggested it…

 

9.      What do you hope your readers take away from your book?
I hope that my books are heart-warming, escapist and ultimately uplifting. I would love readers to take away a warm feeling, a sense that good things are possible no matter what difficulties occur in life, and hopefully a sense that the characters are friends. I love it when people tell me that my books got them through a bad week, or that they’re missing the characters now that they’ve finished reading. Those are the things books have done for me as a reader so it feels like the highest praise.

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 

I think the perfect sweet treat would be a chocolate brownie made by Gower Cottage Brownies. They’re made locally to me and are quite literally the BEST brownies I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve tasted plenty!

The House at Silvermoor

It’s the story of Tommy and Josie, who are brought up in neighbouring villages on the south Yorkshire coalfield at the turn of the century. Both their fates are carved in stone: Tommy must go down the mines to earn a living at the age of fourteen; Josie will grow up and marry a miner. They will never leave the mining life. But Tommy has always dreamed of more and they’re both fascinated by the local aristocratic families who have their keeping, and over time they become entangled in the fates and secrets of the grand houses.

AVAILABLE HERE

Website: www.tracyrees.com

Twitter: @AuthorTracyRees

Q&A with Lynne Shelby

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog... Lynne Shelby, author of ' The Summer of taking Chances.'

I write women’s fiction/contemporary romance. When I’m not reading or writing, I can usually be found exploring a foreign city, writer’s notebook, camera and sketchbook in hand, or in the audience at the theatre.

I live in London with my husband, and I have three adult children who live nearby.

1.      What was your favourite childhood book/author?

My favourite childhood book was Prince Caspian by C S Lewis, which I originally read when I was seven and re-read many times. I enjoyed all the Narnia books, but this was this was first one I came across – I remember seeing it in a bookshop, and thinking that the cover, with a boy galloping a horse through some woods, looked very exciting. Like so many children, I fell completely under the spell of a story about a magical land where animals could talk.

 

2.      What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point? 

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. I have a vivid memory of writing a story when I was five about sheep escaping from a field – although it was only three sentences long! When I was fourteen I submitted a novel I’d written to a publisher, and although they didn’t publish it, a kind editor sent me a letter encouraging me to go on writing – I’m so glad I took her advice. It was, however, several decades – and half a dozen manuscripts in different genres – later, that I ‘discovered’ romantic fiction, and realised that this was what I wanted to write. In 2014, I spotted a nationwide competition with the prize of publication for a women’s fiction/romantic novel, which I entered and won with the ms that became my debut novel, French Kissing, which was published in 2015.

 

3.      Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos

When my children were young, I wrote anywhere – in a car waiting for them to come out of ballet class, or in the kitchen while I was cooking – but when my eldest moved into her own flat, her old bedroom became my writing room, where I now have a desk set up under a window, and shelves for books. When I first start writing a novel, my desk is set out neatly, with just my laptop, a coffee mug and a couple of objects that I’ve chosen to inspire my story, but as I write, it becomes ever more cluttered, with pens and papers scattered across its surface, while post-its with my scribbled notes spread from my cork notice board to all around the walls, and reference books pile up all over the floor. I do tidy up the room between writing each draft of a book, but it soon returns to a state of creative chaos.

 

4.      What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 

The hardest part for me is getting to the end of a first draft. Advice for authors is to write a first draft as fast as possible without editing, but I must admit that I can’t always prevent myself from tweaking it as I go along – although this is something I’m consciously trying to avoid doing in my current WIP. The easiest part is the editing. I find it great fun to add details and colour to a story.

 

5.      What does literary success “look” like to you?

For me, literary success is having people read and enjoy a book I’ve written. When I see that someone I’ve never met has gone to the trouble of writing a glowing review or when someone comments on social media how much they’ve loved one of my novels, I’m a very happy author.

 

6.      How do you select the names of your characters?

My main characters tend to rock up in my head fully formed with their own names, demanding that I tell their story. For minor characters I choose names that I like, although I try to avoid picking the names of family or close friends. I find it fascinating how names go in and out of fashion, and I always check which names were popular in the year my characters were born.

 

7.      Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand?

I don’t have secret ‘messages,’ but I do sometimes put in an anecdote that a friend will recognise from being present at the event I’m describing.

 

8.      If your book were to be made into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role? 

It’s a dream of mine to have one of my books made into a film! Several members of my family and a lot of my friends are actors, so I’d suggest to the casting director that they play my characters.

 

9.      What do you hope your readers take away from your book?

I hope that when my readers reach the last page of my books they are satisfied that my characters are where they meant to be.

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 

Genoa fruit cake, please – my favourite!

The Summer of Taking Chances

‘Ten years from now, imagine where we might be…’

When Emma Stevens was seventeen, she and Jake Murray were both living in the small seaside village of South Quay, dreaming of glittering careers on the stage. Jake left the village to go to drama school, and the following year, Emma planned to do the same…

Ten years later, Jake is living in London, a successful and well-known actor, while Emma is still living a quiet, uneventful life in South Quay, working in a local hotel. Then Jake returns to the village for the summer…

AVAILABLE HERE - OUT NOW!!

Q&A with Nicola Gill

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog...
Nicola Gill

Nicola Gill lives in London with her husband and two sons. At the age of five, when all of the other little girls wanted to be ballet dancers, she decided she wanted to be an author. Her ballet teacher was very relieved.

When she’s not at her desk, you can usually find Nicola reading, cooking up vast vats of food for friends and family or watching box sets. Occasionally she even leaves the house…

1.  What was your favourite childhood book/author? 
My earliest reading memory is falling in love with Enid Blyton’s Mr Meddle series when I was four. I was living in South Africa with my mum for six months and desperately missed my dad (my parents were divorced). Every week, Dad would send me a Mr Meddle book.

 

2.   What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point? 
Well, I was five when I first announced I wanted to be an author (weird kid!) so I’m not sure exactly what inspired me. I think I just always liked telling stories.

 

It’s taken me a *while* to get to this point. I didn’t start trying to write fiction until I was nearly forty. I think this was for all the usual reasons – family, work – but also because I lacked the confidence to try. When I did eventually start writing, like most authors, I had a long and bumpy journey to publication.

3.  Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos? 
I’m normally quite tidy but when I’m getting near to the end of a draft, my desk gets messier and messier and I start to feel as if I’m drowning in post-it notes.

4.   What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 
I think the easiest part of the writing process is when your book really takes hold and almost seems to be ‘writing itself’. You know the characters and the story well and it’s just a matter of getting it down on the page.

 

Conversely, the hardest part of writing is when you feel that nothing is flowing and that you don’t know what to write next. When this happens you just have to force yourself to keep going and have a lot of tea and biscuits!

 

5. Which other authors are you influenced by?
Ooh, lots! I’m an avid reader and love lots of different genres. Here are a few of my favourite authors: David Nicholls, Nick Hornby, Curtis Sittenfeld, Katherine Heiny, Jonathan Tropper, Celeste Ng, Marian Keyes, Anne Tyler. I could go on!

 

 

6. What does literary success “look” like to you?
That’s a really interesting question and I think the truth is that it’s human nature to move to move the goalposts. What I mean by that is that it’s easy to think: I will be proud of myself when I finish a book/ get an agent/ get a publishing deal and then forget to feel like that when you achieve those things.

It would obviously be lovely to sell a gazillion books worldwide, be massively critically acclaimed and have my books adapted for the screen. But, in the meantime, I think it’s important to celebrate all the milestones along the way.

 7.      How do you select the names of your characters?

My process for selecting character names is quite random and I often just ‘feel’ that a certain first name suits someone. That said, it’s important to take into account things like age and background. I try to avoid names of close family and friends too

8. Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand? 

I don’t knowingly hide ‘messages’ for the select few but it is interesting to see what different readers take from a story. For example, I got a really lovely message from someone who had been inspired to call her estranged sister after reading We Are Family. I felt enormously touched by that.

 

9.  If your book was to be made into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role? 
If we choosing actors for We Are Family, I’d love Roisin Connaty to play Laura and Felicity Jones to play Jess. Oh, and we’d need someone fabulous to play their uber-difficult mum – maybe Kirstin Scott-Thomas?

 

If I’m allowed to pick actors for my other book, The Neighbours (please, I love this game!), I’d go for Karen Gillan as Ginny and Patsy Kensit as Cassie.

 

10.  What do you hope your readers take away from your book?
As long as readers enjoy the book, I’m happy. That said, I’d love it if it helps anyone to understand that there is no ‘right’ way to deal with grief and that it’s not linear.

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 

 

I agree that a good book, a cup of tea and a piece of cake is the perfect combination. My favourite types of cakes are the plain, unshowy looking ones that taste fab. I’m not mad about buttercream icing which means I don’t really like cupcakes. However, a nice slice of lemon drizzle, or banana cake or the coconut and raspberry slice from the Roasting Tin cookbook … mmm!

WE ARE FAMILY 

Released 3rd September 2020

Laura and Jess might be sisters, but they’re very different people. Laura is laid-back, eats cheese in bed, and takes life as it comes. Jess, meanwhile, is the classic overachiever: Chief of Chivvying, Queen of all WhatsApp groups. They’re family, but they’re not exactly friends.

When their mum dies, the sisters struggle to agree on anything, from where to scatter the ashes to whether “passed away” is an acceptable term. 

Will they realise how much they need each other before it’s too late?

AVAILABLE HERE

Please visit Nicola's website or social media for more:

https://nicolagill.com

Instagram: nicolagillauthor

Twitter: @Nicola_J_Gill

Q&A with Rosie Green

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog.... Rosie Green.

Favourite childhood book/author?
I adored Enid Blyton as a child and devoured everything she wrote, but I think the most well-worn, dog-eared copy was probably Five on a Treasure Island.

What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point?From the age of about nine, I wanted to write a book and get it published. I tried a few times over the years, but didn’t get serious about it until I reached a certain milestone birthday. It took me five years to write a book good enough to land an agent, and then another year or so after that to find a publisher willing to take a chance on me. Getting ‘the call’ from Helen at Avon on that August day in 2014 was one of the most exciting things that’s ever happened to me.

Describe your writing space.
I used to have an actual study to write in, but my lovely teenage son has now commandeered it for a music studio! I don’t mind because he’s got a real talent for music, but I’m not sure my back likes me much for spending a lot of time sitting on my bed to write. The space itself is definitely more ‘organised chaos’ than neat and ordered.

Easiest and hardest part of the writing process?
I really look forward to writing the last few chapters. All the hard work of establishing setting and character, and plot development, is behind me and the ending practically writes itself. Conversely, the middle of a book can be the hardest to write – I’m filled with enthusiasm for my plot and characters at the start, but by about 20,000 words, I can start to feel a bit bogged down. The ending is still so far in the distance and it can sometimes seem an impossible task to actually get there.

Which other authors are you influenced by?
Marian Keyes. Sophie Kinsella. Ian Rankin. P D James.

How do you select the names of your characters?
It’s just instinct, I suppose. I guess I choose names I really like for my nicest people! There’s also a practical element, though – you don’t want to confuse readers by having two characters with similar names. In my current release, Log Fires & Toffee Apple Cake, the main character is called Carrie, and originally, I also had a ‘Caroline’ in the book, until my editor pointed out that they were probably a bit too similar. So then she became ‘Maggie’.

Do you hide any secret messages in your books?
I don’t. But funnily enough, I have a friend who sometimes reads things into a book I’ve written that I swear aren’t actually there. (Maybe she’s right, though, and it’s emerging from my subconscious!) 

What do you hope your readers take away from your book?
My aim has always been to entertain and provide an escape from everyday life, but I also hope my main characters are inspiring – they’re ordinary women who are facing big challenges but they tackle them with courage and make it out the other side, a little wiser for their experience.

Sweet treat?
My main character in A Brambleberry Manor Christmas runs her own catering company, so I’ve had lots of fun designing scrumptious menus – including the very delicious white chocolate and cherry roulade cake. (I’ve included the recipe in the book!)

My latest book - A Brambleberry Manor Christmas, out on 23^rd December – is packed with lots of festive delights.

Jenny Wilkes is dreading Christmas after the tragic events of the previous festive season. The one bright spot is that her catering company seems to be doing well – she’s been asked to cook for a house party at the wonderful Brambleberry Manor, her friend Fen’s family home. Meeting the lovely Will, one of the guests, gives Jenny hope for the future, and the Little Duck Pond Café girls are great at raising her flagging spirits – but there’s nothing like a bitter and stroppy step-daughter to put a spanner in the works! Can Jenny find her happy-ever-after against all the odds?

Available HERE

Q&A with Victoria Walters

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog... Victoria Walters, author of 'Hopeful Hearts at Glendale Hall.' 

About Victoria:

Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. Her moving debut novel THE SECOND LOVE OF MY LIFE was chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for an RNA award. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star. 

She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry (named after Harry Potter). Victoria is not only obsessed with books but loves buying slogan tops, mugs and notebooks, and posting them all on Instagram.

1.     What was your favourite childhood book/author? 

This is tricky as I was such a bookworm and I read so many books – some of my favourites when I was young were the Famous Five books, Roald Dahl especially Matilda, Tracy Beaker… when I was a little bit older I was obsessed with the Sweet Valley High books and I also loved Point Horror. When I was about twelve, I discovered Jane Austen and she is still my favourite to this day.

 

2.    What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point? 
Just my love of books really. I was an only child and just loved reading. I think though the Twilight series gave me the real push to start – I was so hooked on that series and wanted to write a teen series myself. However, I couldn’t get my teen books published, and then I had the idea for what became my debut women’s fiction novel (The Second Love of My Life), and the rest as they say is history!

 

3.    Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos? 
It’s neat to be honest and I’m not really a neat person but to be productive, I like my desk to just have my laptop and a notebook and a pile of the books I’ve written so far to inspire me. I also like to light a candle now the days are become darker earlier.

 

4.      What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 

The best part for me is writing the first draft, I love just getting the story out on the page. I enjoy editing less and once you’ve read the book like five times, it can get a bit boring but I just try to focus on making it as best I can for readers.

 

5.      Which other authors are you influenced by?

I think I’ve been influenced by Jane Austen. With my Glendale Hall series, I like to include a letter in each book and that came from her books, often the male charters write a letter to explain themselves and I love that as a device. I also think she inspired my love of a romantic ending and happy ever afters.

 

6.      What does literary success “look” like to you?

I would love to have a Sunday Times bestseller or a TV or film made from one of my books but that feels like winning the lottery really. I would like to see the Glendale series grow and grow and maybe hit the top ten on the Kindle charts, that would be amazing. We’ve managed the top 100 so far…

 

7.      How do you select the names of your characters?

As Glendale is set in Scotland, I looked up popular names, and traditional Scottish names and picked ones that seemed to fit the characters really. It’s not easy though, male names are harder I think.

 

8.     Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand? 

I definitely feed in titbits from previous books in my Glendale Hall series so if you read all the books you’ll get the little nods, I also use my favourite things in my books like movies or food or books that I’m sure you’ll notice, and of course there is that letter to look out for when you’re reading them!

9.     If your book was to be made into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role? 

I find this so hard because I see them clearly in my head! I did kind of base the Minister of Glendale, Brodie, on James Norton who played Grantchester so that would be amazing if he took on the role.

 

10.  What do you hope your readers take away from your book?

Kindness, community, family, loyalty, believing in yourself, going after your dreams, that love comes in all different forms, and to try to always follow your heart. I hope that my books are uplifting and inspiring and leave you with a big smile on your face!

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 
I think a hot chocolate with lots of cream and sprinkles and some Scottish shortbread would work perfectly for the Glendale Hall books!

What happens when love takes you to unexpected places?

Heather Douglas appears to have it all. But living on a farm in the Scottish Highlands with her partner, Rory Fraser, all while bringing up their adorable toddler, Harry, isn’t easy. As a former librarian, Heather is worried that she’ll never fully fit into life on Fraser Farm. And after the death of her beloved mum five years ago, Heather feels lost, as well as guilty for holding back accepting Rory’s marriage proposal because she can’t imagine her wedding without her mother.

So when ex-boyfriend, Stewart, appears in the village of Glendale, it’s a shock to the system. The man who broke her heart years ago now has big plans for the neighbouring farm and wants Heather to be part of the development. Knowing that she’s living a very different life to the one they had planned at university leaves Heather wondering if she has made the right choices since she and Stewart broke up. Especially when things start to go very wrong on the farm ...

This Christmas, Heather will need to face her fears and let go of the past or risk losing everything. She will need love, faith, and a whole lot of hope

OUT NOW - AVAILABLE HERE 

Find Victoria on Twitter or Facebook

Q&A with Eliza J. Scott

Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog.... Eliza J.Scott...

Hi Jenn, thank you so much for inviting me to take part in your author Q&A. So, without further ado, I’ll dive straight in…

 1.       WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD BOOK/AUTHOR?

I’d have to say Enid Blyton and her books about the Enchanted Wood and the Faraway Tree. It was while looking them as a small child, I first realised I could actually read; not just a couple of words, but lots of them put together to make a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page! I can still remember that feeling of utter happiness! I was also enthralled by Beatrix Potter and the exquisite drawings in her books; the perfect fuel for a young imagination! Happy memories.

2.       WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING AND HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN YOU TO GET TO THIS POINT?

I’d say my love of books and reading is what inspired me. As a child, I always used to feel an overwhelming urge to write after I’d finished reading a book. I used to make my own – complete with drawings – out of pieces of paper folded together. I’d scribble little stories about mice who lived in tree trunks or a girl called Emily who was always getting into mischief. I wanted to be a writer from an early age, but those dreams got swallowed up by life, getting a job, getting married, having a family, buying a building renovation … all the usual things. I started writing seriously again when my youngest daughter started secondary school, but I kept it to myself and used to write in secret! I’ve got notebooks full of drafts for different stories – my Life on the Moors series came from these, as has the seaside series I’ll be starting next year. But it was a trip to the Festival of Writing at York that really spurred me on; I came away from that feeling very fired up. So, to sum up; it’s taken a heck of a long time to get to this point!

3.      DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING SPACE – NEAT AND ORDERLY OR CREATIVE CHAOS?

It’s a bit of a mixture actually – though the chaos isn’t creative! My writing space is a little room just off the living room – we call it ‘the snug’. It needs a total revamp, but I moved in to write during lockdown as my usual space (the kitchen table) was proving impossible to work from with everyone being at home full-time. It’s still home to a bit of junk (that’s yours, Mr S, if you’re reading this!) which is slowly disappearing, but I’ve been buying lots of lovely bits and bobs to decorate it with when it’s finally cleared. I have my desk in there, and I like everything on it to be neat and orderly; only papers, notebooks and files relating to my current WIP are allowed!

4.      WHAT IS THE EASIEST AND HARDEST PART OF THE WRITING PROCESS?

For me, the hardest part is definitely writing the blurb! Ughh! Just thinking about it puts my stomach in knots! The easiest part is when I’m describing scenery from the North Yorkshire Moors, which I can see from the windows of my home. I can’t help but feel totally inspired whenever I look out at them.

5.      WHICH OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY?

Ooh, this is a tricky one to narrow down as there are so many wonderful authors out there. I’d say my favourites would have to include Milly Johnson, Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain (fully-fledged member of the Swainettes club here!), Cathy Bramley, Carole Matthews, Catherine Alliott, Santa Montefiore, Emma Davies, Jules Wake/Julie Caplin, Freya North, Karen Swan … oh, heck, I could go on forever!

6.      WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

When a reader takes the time to get in touch to tell you how much they enjoyed your books. It’s just the best feeling; heartwarming and humbling in equal measure – it still takes a bit to sink in! – and I appreciate it enormously.

7.      HOW DO YOU SELECT THE NAMES OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

I don’t have a process really, they just pop into my head when I’m drawing up their profile. They pretty much always stick too.

8.      DO YOU HIDE ANY SECRET ‘MESSAGES’ IN YOUR BOOK THAT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND?

No, I’ve never done that. I’d love to find out who does, though! That’s very intriguing.

9.      IF YOUR BOOK WAS TO BE MADE INTO A FILM/TV PROGRAMME, WHICH ACTORS WOULD PLAY WHICH ROLE?

For A Christmas Kiss and A Christmas Wedding at the Castle, I’d have to say Henry Cavill for Zander and Holliday Grainger for Livvie, with a very cheeky black Labrador for Alf’s role!

10.  WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR READERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK?

The same as I hope for myself when reading a book: the opportunity to be transported to a fictional place where I can immerse myself amongst the pages and forget about what’s going on around me. That’s become increasingly important this year.

LASTLY, JENN (THE COMFY CHAIR) LIKES TO ENJOY A GOOD READ SNUGGLED UP WITH A CUP OF TEA AND A PIECE OF CAKE … WHAT CAKE OR SWEET TREAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO ACCOMPANY YOUR BOOK?

I can’t think of anything nicer than snuggling up with a book and a large mug of Yorkshire Tea (no sugar, just a splash of milk!) and a couple of ginger biscuits for dunking!

Thank you for your fabulous questions, Jenn, I had great fun answering them. And, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful members of the book community – whether they’re a reader, a blogger or an author – for all of their support and kind words. It’s such a warm, friendly and inclusive community to be part of. Thank you!

My latest release – A Christmas Wedding at the Castle – is my second festive romance novel and book #5 in the Life on the Moors series. It follows straight on from A Christmas Kiss and catches up with Livvie and Zander – and the very cheeky, but adorable black Labrador, Alfred. There are plenty of appearances by the usual cast of friends, and we get to know quite a bit more about the slightly reclusive Freda Easton; she’s their nearest neighbour on the moors. On top of that, a couple of secrets and a last-minute disaster threaten to scupper Livvie and Zander’s plans. It’s a romance story with a thread of friendship running through it and plenty of laughs along the way. As with all of my novels, there’s a happy ending, but the road to it has the odd bump and detour!

If you like the sound of it, you can grab a copy here:

ELIZA J SCOTT - AMAZON UK

ELIZA J SCOTT - AMAZON USA

                                                               

ABOUT ELIZA

Eliza is proud to be a member of the RNA. She lives in a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden, fighting a losing battle against the weeds.

When she's not reading or gardening, Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favourite things: tea and cake. Her biggest weakness is ginger biscuits dunked in tea.
Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming romance stories with relatable female characters. She enjoys exploring the dynamics of female friendship, with a key feature of her books being how women pull together and support one another when things get tough.
Eliza's novels will always have happy endings.

 Social Media Links –

Twitter:  @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: @elizajscott

Facebook: @elizajscottauthor

Blog: www.elizajscott.com

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Amazon Author Page:

UK:  www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

US: www.amazon.com/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

 

Q&A with Jaimie Admans

 Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog.... Jaimie Admans, author of 'The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane.'

Jaimie is a 35-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots. She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.

1.      What was your favourite childhood book/author? 

Judy Blume, no question! I don’t know how old I was when I read my first book by her, but I’d guess around eight or nine, probably a bit young to be reading them, but I found that her books really spoke to me and talked about issues that I had and didn’t realise that other people had them too! My absolute favourite book of hers is Tiger Eyes, which found me at a tough time when I was around twelve, and that was the first time I really connected to a character and felt like the book was written about me.

 

2.      What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point? 

I have no idea what inspired me to start. I grew up wanting to tell stories and was always playing around with words and starting stories in different genres, but I think things changed when I started reading romantic comedies and realised that I loved them and that was the kind of thing I wanted to write. As for time, I wrote my first whole novel in 2006 (it was beyond dreadful!) and had no aspirations to get published, I was just doing it because I loved it. I self-published a few books in 2012, and then got my first ‘proper’ publishing deal with a novella in an anthology in 2015, and then my first book deal in 2016, and now I’ve got seven books out and two more scheduled for next year!

 

3.      Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos? 

I actually have two – one is an exercise bike desk in the bedroom, it’s literally an exercise bike with a desk for a laptop instead of handlebars, and when I’m feeling lazy (most of the time, to be fair!) I sit in an armchair in the living room with my little netbook on my lap!

 

4.      What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process? 

Easiest is planning a book when all the ideas come at once and unexpected things slot together and it all feels fresh and exciting, quickly followed by the first draft, which is the main thing I absolutely love – just getting to escape into another world and live a different life for a while. The hardest part is definitely revisions, when my editor has read the first draft and sends me a letter detailing everything that’s wrong with it, and gives me a few weeks to fix it! I don’t mind them in the sense that I know they make the book better overall, and having someone else look at it and tell you what works and what doesn’t is invaluable, but the process of having to pull apart a book, add things and take things away, and then re-stitch it back together in a way that somehow still makes sense is so daunting for me!

 

5.      Which other authors are you influenced by?

All the other incredible authors who write in my genre, some of whom I’ve been lucky enough to get to know through social media. To see people struggling through first drafts and plodding through revisions, and still produce amazing book after amazing book is inspirational and reminds me that no matter how challenging something is, I can get there too!

 

6.      What does literary success “look” like to you?

That’s a good one because I think the goalposts move as you move on in your career, if that makes sense? When I started out, all I wanted was a book in paperback, when I got that, I wanted the paperback to be in a shop, and then another paperback in another shop, and so on. Once you get one thing, you always want more. Amazon Top 100 for one book, but then you want it for the next book as well. Generally, I think the ultimate success is just finding readers who love your books, who talk about your books, who wait for your new releases, who really ‘get’ what you’re trying to say and love your characters as much as you do!

 

7.      How do you select the names of your characters?

Baby name websites are brilliant! Sometimes characters appear in my head with their names in tow and I know what their names will be before anything else, but more often than not, I end up trawling baby name websites trying to find something that fits (and that I haven’t used before!) Also, whenever I hear a name I like, I write it down in the hopes that it will fit a character at some point in the future!

 

8.      Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand? 

I do! There are a couple of certain phrases that I try to sneak into each book in one way or another, and I also try to shoehorn in references to my previous books, usually in the most vague way possible, but I love knowing readers who’ve read them both will get the references!

 

9.      If your book was to be made into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role? 

James is easy because I pictured an actor while I was writing, and that’s Peter Porte – he’s a gorgeous actor who does the Hallmark-type made-for-TV movies, and Nia’s a bit more difficult because I pictured a real person when I was writing, but I’d like Nia to be played by someone a bit quirky, I think Zooey Deschanel would be the perfect fit for her!

 

10.  What do you hope your readers take away from your book?

That you’re never too old to believe in the magic of Christmas! And that nutcrackers are awesome and everyone should have one!

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book? 

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! I’m going to say Peppermint Bark seeing as it’s mentioned a lot in the book, and I made a lot of batches of it while writing for ‘research purposes’!

The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane

Ebook is out now, paperback released on10th December

After making a wish to finally find Prince Charming, Nia accidentally knocks over and breaks a human-sized nutcracker and runs away. When she returns to pay for the damage, she stumbles across a man in exactly the spot where she left the broken nutcracker. A very gorgeous, very charming man. But he couldn't actually be the nutcracker... Could he?

Available HERE

For more information check out:
jaimieadmans.com

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