Thursday 31 August 2017

All Change!

The last couple of weeks have taken me (and my books) in yet another different direction, which is one of the reasons I didn’t post my usual Thursday blog last week. Everything seemed to be up in the air – but a lot can happen in a week!

For various reasons, which I won’t go into here, my association with the publisher who accepted my books at the beginning of July didn’t work out, and it was a mutual (and amicable) agreement to accept this.

Which meant that I had to find a way forward – and I’m delighted to announce that yesterday I signed a contract with Tirgearr Publishing who will re-publish my four Mist Na Mara books initially, and hopefully some of my other books, too, at a later stage. As Tirgearr is based in Ireland, it seems to be a very appropriate place for my Irish books to find their new home!

I’ve already received a very warm welcome from Kemberlee and from other Tirgearr authors, some of whom I already know, and I look forward to getting to know more in the future.

After what has been somewhat of a roller coaster during the past four and a half months since my publisher Rebecca Vickery regretfully announced the closure of her publishing company, I now feel very settled, and I’m looking forward to working with Kem and her team. For the time being my books are all offline, but they will go back once the editing and proof-reading has been completed and new covers have been designed.

So – watch this space!

In the meantime, please consider joining me and other Tirgearr writers – and readers – at the Tirgearr Publishing Reader Group on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/tirgearr.publishing/

See you there, hopefully.

Thursday 17 August 2017

Carol Warham visits my blog today

My guest today is Carol Warham whose debut novel, Resolutions, was released last week by Tigearr Publishing.

Welcome, Carol, and please tell everyone a little about yourself.

Writing has been my love since childhood, when I started by making small comics for my dolls and friends. I progressed to training as a journalist for a short while, but soon realised that was not the career for me. Marriage, two daughters and a busy working life meant I didn’t write for a number of years. However once things settled down I returned to writing and was lucky enough to have published short stories, poems and holiday articles.
In recent years I have become a judge in the short story section for the HysteriaUK competition and also for the RNA’s romance novel of the year.
Earlier this year, I, also, represented my local book group on BBC Radio Leeds, talking about books and the work on my novel.
I’ve lived in Yorkshire for over thirty years. I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by some beautiful countryside, which is ideal for my other passion of walking, often with a dog called Sam. This lovely area is the ideal location for my first novel, Resolutions.

What do you think makes a good romance novel?

In my opinion, a good story is pivotal to the novel. This must then introduce characters the reader becomes involved with, either loving or hating them depending on who they are. Every romance novel needs to have a happy ending.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Plus anything you want to say about how you create your plots e.g. from a basic idea or from the characters or ???)

I am very much a pantser. I let my writing flow without any planning at all, although this can mean I have a lot of work to do when I start the editing. The plot for Resolutions came from a location and the name of a town in Florida, U.S.A. The story and the characters followed on from there.

How do you know when to stop ‘tweaking’ your manuscript?

You don’t, or at least, I don’t. I had to finally decide to ‘let it go’, or I would have been tweaking and changing parts for ever. Even now I cringe at certain sentences or paragraphs and wish I could change them.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received/read?

The first piece of advice which really surprised me was to read the manuscript aloud. This really helps to hear where the story doesn’t flow. It definitely works and I would say that is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever had.
After that it is to edit, and edit properly, taking your time and check everything, especially grammar and spelling.

What’s your cure for ‘writer’s block’ or when you’re stuck at some point in your story?

I don’t have a cure. If I need to, I walk away and go and do something else, in the hope the ideas will form. It’s also helpful to have friends you can discuss the story with. They can really help you look at where the story is going and what you need to carry on with it.

What, for you, is the easiest part of writing? And what’s the hardest?

The easiest part is definitely the first draft, when the story is coming alive and I’m learning about my characters. I found editing hard, time consuming and at    times very frustrating, but then I had a lot to learn.

Please give a short ‘blurb’ about your latest release plus publisher, release date, where it can be obtained – and any other details you want to include.

Resolutions was published by Tirgearr Publishing on 9th August 2017. It is available as an e-book through Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and Nook.

Blurb:
Carly Mitchell returns to the small town of Yeardon in Yorkshire almost a year after running away on her wedding day. Now she wants to try to make amends with Steve, his family, and the townspeople who had prepared a huge party to celebrate her New Year’s Eve wedding.
She intends to stay only for a few days at the Resolution Hotel, owned by Steve’s parents. However, her plans change when Steve’s father is taken ill, and she feels obliged to step in and help with running the hotel. This also means having to deal with Steve’s antagonism since he has never forgiven her for humiliating him.
A further complication comes in the form of Ben Thornton, the local doctor, to whom Carly feels an immediate attraction. They enjoy getting to know each other and falling in love, until a famous model from Ben’s past arrives in the town, and stays at the hotel.
Steve attempts to get his revenge on Carly by driving a wedge between her and Ben, and by threatening to reveal what he knows about Ben’s troubled past unless Carly leaves town.
The resolution lies in Carly’s hands as she struggles between wanting to flee from the town again and wanting to stay with the man she has grown to love.

Here is a short extract from when Carly arrives back in her home town of Yeardon. I hope you enjoy it.

Would she ever be able to walk through this town and into the shops again and receive a warm welcome? What sort of greeting would anyone give her now? What sort of greeting did she deserve? Yeardon had been a wonderful place to grow up. It was one of those towns where you knew everyone and they knew you.
Her mind a maelstrom of anxiety, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Who would have believed anyone’s hands could shake so much?
On the far side of the town she turned into a drive, which led down a short, narrow lane to an hotel, a converted mill owner’s house. After finding a space in the car park, she switched off the engine, but remained in the car for a few minutes. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes.
The drumming of the rain on the roof was not reassuring. The weather seemed to be giving a further warning to leave now while she could. She peered through the rain- splattered screen at the sign above the front door. In copper plate script, it read ‘Resolution Hotel’. The building looked well-kept and fresh. Business must be going well for Jim and Abi.
“Well, here goes.”
Her words, spoken out loud, helped to break the tension as the knots tightened inside her. After all she couldn’t sit there all night, could she? Inhaling deeply, she grabbed her overnight bag and willed her legs to move. Her head down against the biting rain; she ran up the five steps and pushed open the heavy oak front door.
Jim Sinclair sat at the desk. A single lamp broke the shadows in the reception area. These competed with the twinkling lights of the large Christmas tree in the corner. She was glad she’d rung the day before to ask if it was possible to book a room. He didn’t say there weren’t any vacancies as she’d expected him to. She scrutinised him for a few seconds. Jim had put a little weight on but he looked well. He was his usual casual self in slacks and rolled up shirtsleeves.
Shaking off the rain as best she could, she waited by the door. Her heart pounded as she struggled to find something to say.
Jim saved her the necessity. “Well now, can’t say I ever expected to see you back here again, especially now.” He put down the book he had been reading. “Abi’s taken it hard that you’ve decided to come back, especially after not hearing a word from you for nearly twelve months. I had to persuade her to let you stay here.”

Thanks for having me on your blog Paula. It was a pleasure to answer your questions.

Contact details


Thursday 10 August 2017

'Irish Inheritance' excerpt

“A house in Ireland?” Jenna Sutton stared over the mahogany desk at the lawyer. “Someone I’ve never heard of has left me a house in Ireland?”
The white-haired lawyer peered over his steel-rimmed spectacles. “A half share of the house, Ms. Sutton. Along with a half share of what, at current exchange rates, amounts to approximately fifty thousand pounds.”
Jenna shook her head and swiped several strands of hair back behind her ear. “I don’t understand, Mr. Moore. Why would this Helena Keating leave me a house and twenty-five thousand pounds? How does she even know about me?”
“Ms. Sutton, I can only give you the information passed to me by the law firm of Daniel McGrath in Dublin. We were instructed to find any descendants of James Oliver Sutton—”
“My grandfather.”
“Yes, and as far as we can ascertain, you are his sole descendant. I understand your father died in an automobile accident about twenty years ago. My condolences.”
“Thanks, but I was six when he died and only have some vague memories of him.” She frowned. “Do you know what the link is between this woman and my grandfather?”
“That wasn’t part of our instructions.”
“Have you any information about her?”
Mr. Moore pushed his glasses back up his nose and flipped through the papers in the blue manila folder on his desk. “Miss Keating was born in 1920 in County Galway, Ireland, and died last year in Dalkey, near Dublin, where she has lived since 1940.”
“So she was—” She did a quick calculation in her head. “About fifteen years older than my grandfather.”
The lawyer picked up another sheet of paper. “Yes, he was born in April, 1936.”
“I wasn’t aware he knew anyone in Ireland, and I’m pretty sure he never went over there. He lived his whole life in a small village in Kent.”
She couldn’t imagine her grandfather being anyone’s toy boy either. He’d been devoted to her grandmother. So what on earth was his connection with this Irish woman?
Another thought occurred to her, and she looked at Mr. Moore again. “You said I had a half share of the house and the fifty thousand pounds.” Even saying the words seemed surreal. She hadn’t yet wrapped her mind around what the money meant. “Who gets the other half?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Sutton. I don’t have that information. The Dublin law firm is dealing with the estate. Our job was simply to—”
“Yes, okay, to find the descendants of my grandfather.”
“I’m sure Mr. McGrath will be able to tell you more when you meet him in Dublin.”
“When I meet him in – whoa, who says I’m going to meet him?”
“Mr. McGrath has suggested an appointment at two-thirty on May 10th, to be followed by a visit to the house the next day.”
“May 10th? That’s—” Another quick calculation. “That’s next Tuesday.”
“Yes. Will that be a problem? I would be more than happy to contact your employer and request leave of absence for you.”
“Erm – well, I’m an actress and – and kind of between jobs at present, so I don’t have an employer.”
“I see.” The lawyer cleared his throat, and Jenna had the impression she might as well have said she was a nightclub stripper. “That simplifies matters, of course.”
She chewed her bottom lip. Not really, but maybe Charley would lend her the money for a quick trip to Dublin.
No, hold on. If she was due to inherit twenty-five thousand pounds plus half a house, perhaps she could get an advance.
“Actually, no, it doesn’t. The thing is I’m – erm – I have some cash flow problems at the moment.” Slight understatement, Jenna.
“I understand, and in that case, on the basis of Miss Keating’s will, I can arrange for our bank to advance you a small loan to cover your expenses.”
“Great. Thanks.” She cocked her head to one side. “Why does this Irish lawyer want me to go to Dublin?”
“As the executor of the will, he has visited the house and requires you to visit, too, before you make any decision about it.”
Jenna narrowed her eyes. “Why?” Visions of a dilapidated Irish cottage flashed through her mind. Had the roof fallen in? Was it riddled with wet or dry rot? Or overrun by rats?
“I’m sorry, Ms. Sutton, I don’t have—”
“That information,” she finished off for him. “Seems like I need to curb my curiosity until I get to Dublin."


'Irish Inheritance' is available for Kindle and also as an Audiobook at

Thursday 3 August 2017

An 'interview' with my hero

My first two Irish novels were re-released earlier this week, so here’s my imaginary interview with Guy Sinclair, the hero of the first book in the Mist Na Mara series, IRISH INHERITANCE.

I’m at Dublin Airport, hoping to catch Guy Sinclair who has just arrived from New York. Oh, there he is! Guy, can you tell us why you’ve come over to Dublin?
(Guy stifles a yawn.) Yes, of course, although you’ll have to excuse some incoherency. I managed to sleep for a while on the flight, but these overnight flights are a killer, aren’t they? Anyway, yes, I’m here to visit a Dublin lawyer, Daniel McGrath.

A lawyer? Why?
Good question. My New York lawyer told me I’ve inherited a half share of a house here in Ireland from some 90-year-old dame who died last year.

You don’t know who she is?
No, never heard of her. Someone called Helena Keating. She named my grandmother in her will, and, as my father died a few years ago and had no brothers or sisters, it seems I’m the only living descendant of my grandmother.

Where’s this house you've inherited?
I don’t know and, to tell you the truth, I’m not really interested in it. I’m only here because the lawyer insisted I had to see it before making any decision about it. It would have been much easier to stay home and simply instruct him to sell it.

You said you had a half share in the house. Do you know who has co-inherited it with you?
No idea. My lawyer didn’t have that information. Maybe it’s someone who’s as mystified as I am about all this.

If you want to sell the house, presumably this other person will have to agree?
Good point, but I’m hoping there won’t be any problems about that. I’d much rather have the money than a house in Ireland.

Well, I wonder who is Guy’s co-inheritor – and whether he will change his mind about selling the house?


Irish Inheritance
The last thing English actress Jenna Sutton expected is to inherit money – and half of a house in Ireland! When she discovers the handsome American artist she’s met at the airport is the recipient of the other half of the house, Jenna wonders what kind of trick fate is playing – for she certainly doesn’t need a man complicating her life now that she’s on the verge of stardom!
Guy Sinclair has fallen on hard times and sworn off actresses after being burned by his “ex”, Suzie. Selling the house he’s inherited – or his half of it – could be the new start he’s needed to get back to painting what really matters – art, not signage. But it doesn’t take more than five minutes in the presence of Ms.Jenna Sutton to make Guy realize that there’s much more than a house at stake here – his heart could be forfeit, as well.
Curious about their unknown benefactress and why they are considered ‘family’, Guy and Jenna discover surprising links to the original owners of the house. As they begin to unravel an intriguing tale of a 19th century love affair, they have no choice but to give in to their own attraction for one another.
Unavoidable events pull them back to their separate lives in London and the United States, and tension builds over their impending decision about the house - to sell or not to sell? And once that decision is final, what will become of them?
Will their IRISH INHERITANCE bring them together - or drive them apart forever?

Reviews:
U.K: “Once this book had its hooks in me, I read from beginning to end, non-stop. I could not break away. The sense of mystery and drama is brilliantly balanced and the characters are believable, likeable, and compelling. The scenes, as they are set in the mind's eye, bring a magical quality all of their own. It is one of those stories that, when you realize it is drawing to a close, you feel you want to make it last somehow. There are not enough stars available - this is the best story I have read in a long time.”

U.K: “A lovely absorbing story of a mysterious inheritance in the superb Irish countryside, so excellently described. I empathized with Jenna and Guy, wanted things to go well, and the questions posed kept me turning the pages. I thoroughly recommend this story.”

U.S.A: “Paula's description of the scenery and charm of the Irish countryside is amazing but most of all, I love the story. What a great plot, characters and setting. Could not put it down.”

U.S.A: “A beautiful story within a story, so much more than a romance. I loved the historic puzzles that ultimately link the lives from another time to the present day characters. And a mysterious Irish estate with its own secrets that ultimately draws all the characters together. The journey uncovering family histories, long forgotten, propels you through the story as much as the modern day characters and the relationships they forge. I very much enjoyed my first trip to Ireland via this book.”

Available from Amazon USA http://amzn.to/2vizJVz