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Book and a Brew with Ritu – A Month In Provence by @GillPlusFive #NewRelease #BookReview @BoldwoodBooks

11 Jul 2023 4 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: A Month In Provence, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book and a brew with Ritu, Book Review, Gillian Harvey, New Release

Loving this series!

Peeps, I am extremely excited to have another fabulous author and interweb friend come to visit and have a chat! Gillian Harvey is here to chat about all things writing, and her newest release, A Month In Provence!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Gillian! Let’s get you set with a drink, first.

I have tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or masala chai, here. I must admit I am not the best coffee maker, so my trusty Tassimo will have to do!

Coffee, please!

And what would you like to nibble? I have all the usual, biscuits, carrot cake, and even samosas, but I did pop over to the supermarket to grab a few pastries, in case you preferred them!

Ooh, a bit of everything, thank you!

Gillian, I have read a few of your books now, and they have all been based in France. Tell me, did your writing journey start before you moved out there? What or who inspired you to start writing?

I always loved reading as a child, and can remember having the ambition to be an author when I was around five years old! I loved writing short stories and poems as a child – and still remember the thrill when a poem of mine was read out in assembly when I was about seven.

The Arctic

It’s big and cold,
With snow and ice,
I wouldn’t think
It’s very nice
Not much sun
Too much snow
I’m glad I’m not
An Eskimo

Despite having this ambition, I never really ‘believed’ I’d become a published author. It seemed to be the sort of thing that happened to other people. I finished my first book aged 24, but it was when I moved to France aged 31 that things really started to take off.

I had PND after having twins in 2012 (I have five children now, so busy times) and wanted to do something to engage my brain. I took a freelance writing course, not really expecting to get anything published.

A couple of years on, I had established a career as a freelance writer – and now regularly write for national publications. The course also helped me to understand more about my potential readers and shape my work accordingly.

I finally landed an agent in 2016, only for my first book to be published slap bang in the middle of the pandemic in May 2020. I released my second a year later.

But it was when I started to write for Boldwood last year that things really took off. ‘A Year at the French Farmhouse’ released in September 2022 has – to date – sold over 100,000 copies, and I’m so excited for what the future holds.

This is all so exciting, and inspirational!

I can tell that living in France has inspired your last few books, heavily. Do you go visiting all these place for research before you write?

I’ve lived in Limousin, France for over a decade now, and my first ‘French set’ book ‘A Year at the French Farmhouse’ was set in my local area. ‘One French Summer’ – my second read, was set close to Bordeaux – an area I’ve been on holiday a few times. So those ‘research’ journeys took place long before the books took shape!

Now I’m starting to explore areas of France to set my new novels, and I try to visit in person or set novels in places I’m familiar with from holidays or trips to give that authentic feel. Google Earth is also very helpful to refresh my memory!

God bless Google Earth!

I always ask this one, but do you have a special place where you write? An office, a writing nook? Or are you one of those writers who can grab their notebook or laptop and write pretty much anywhere?

I just need a bit of peace and quiet. Sadly, this can be a rarity! At the moment I write in my office in the eaves of our house. I used to have a lovely room downstairs set up, but as the children grew, I got shunted upstairs (my choice, but it doesn’t mean I don’t regret it sometimes!). I can sympathise, especially in the lats house we lived in!

Still, my little nook has become a haven for me to sit and think and write when I get the chance.

Do you have a favourite out of all your books written, so far? Do you have any finished manuscripts that you think would never see the light of day?

I find that each book I write I love more than the last. I never know whether that’s because my writing is improving and evolving all the time, or just because the latest one always seems exciting, shiny and new!

I have several manuscripts that almost made it but didn’t quite. I used to think I’d try again with them one day, but now I enjoy writing so much and feel my writing is better with each novel – I see them as part of the learning process. Although at the time, rejection was TOUGH!

Let’s get back to the book of the moment, A Month in Provence. Your main character, Nicky, has been through a lot, and sacrificed so much for the decade leading up to when we as readers, join her. What was your inspiration for her story?

I’m fascinated by the idea of second chances. When I first started writing for women’s magazines back in 2012, I was in my early 30s. At the time, like many people, I had rather fixed ideas of what women at ‘midlife’ were like. But interviewing so many people for real lives, I discovered so many women that changed my perceptions! Women seem to get a rebirth at this age – perhaps because kids have flown the nest, or there’s been a change in their lives.

It made me realise I had fixed ideas about this life stage.

When I started writing, it was all about women in their 30s, and I was even encouraged by one editor at a former publisher not to stray into the 40s. But I believe that the world needs to wake up to how brilliant these years can be. I don’t think I fully ‘knew’ myself until I was 40. Maybe the old adage that ‘life begins’ at this age is true. Being a woman of that certain age, too, and an avid reader, it makes my heart happy to have main characters I can relate to, so thank you!

Nicky is someone who’s ‘frozen’ in time after a trauma a decade before. Her world shrank as she focused solely on her children and making sure they had a good childhood. Now they’re independent adults, she hasn’t realised she’s still ‘stuck.’ It takes a chance offer from a friend to shake up her world and make her realise it’s time for a brand new life.

I loved the idea of her becoming a reality TV star! (I do love a bit of reality TV to help forget life, sometimes…) Is this something you have ever envisaged yourself getting involved in?

Like many people I’m fascinated by reality TV. I used to love it when it first became a ‘thing’ (Big Brother 2). But over the years I think some of it just plays for the ratings. And we all know now how much ‘reality’ TV is shaped and staged. There’s a bit of that in ‘A Year in Provence.’ Oh, gosh, yes. Loved the early Big Brother shows, but now I am being forced to watch Love Island with my daughter, and it is quite painful!

But I also love the fact that certain shows (Britain’s Got Talent, etc) can take someone from zero to hero – give someone a chance that maybe they’ve missed out on in life. ‘The Great B&B Rescue’ in ‘A Month in Provence’ is that kind of show – it forces Nicky out of her comfort zone and gets her to tap into her talents in a way she may not have done without the pressure of the cameras.

Robert was one of those slow-burn heroes who you begin to love more and more as you read the book, and peel away layers. He also needed that make over, along with his business. Did you enjoy writing his transformation?

I loved writing Robert. It was a challenge to make him a likeable character without giving too much away at the start. I used his dog, Buster, to give hints that he must be quite a nice guy. He’s always affectionate to the dog, and the dog is fiercely loyal. It’s just humans he struggles with at times.

His transformation in the book was great fun to write – and the makeover chapter is one of my favourites!

Another one of my standard questions… what is next on the horizon? Any tidbits you can share with my readers, about what is coming next, from you?

I’m just working on edits for my next novel – also set in France – about Mark and Emma, a couple who buy a chateau but bite off more than they can chew. They are also struggling with infertility (something I’ve been through myself). When Mark falls down the stairs and ends up in hospital all seems lost. Can Emma find the strength to save the chateau alone?

Another one I can’t wait to read when it’s ready! And, since the topic of my next book is infertility, I am extra interested!

Thank you so much for popping over for a visit, Gillian!

Thanks for having me, Ritu!

The Blurb

Interior designer Nicky always used to know how to make the best of things. Ever since she lost her husband though, things haven’t been easy. She’s had to raise her two daughters alone and she’s so proud to see them all grown up, and she knows that’s down to her. But she can’t help but feel like she doesn’t know what to do with her life now… But then her best friend begs her to help out. Jenny is a TV exec and her new renovation show is in peril. Only Nicky can help. The catch – Nicky needs to fly to Provence… tomorrow. To renovate a tumbledown B&B. Jenny doesn’t mention the fact that the grumpy B&B owner Robert seems to need a makeover too. Or that the budget is next to nothing… Will Nicky be able to turn the B&B’s fortunes around, save her friend’s job, and maybe even find some happiness for herself, under the blazing hot French sun this summer…? Totally gorgeous, escapist, uplifting fiction that lets you escape to sun-soaked Provence. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jennifer Bohnet and Debbie Macomber

My Review

A Month in Provence by Gillian Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gillian Harvey is fast becoming one of my must-read authors, so I snapped up the chance to read her latest release, A Month In Provence.
I always love it when characters are of a certain age, where I feel I can relate to them all the more, and our MCs are exactly that in this book.
Nicky is a woman who has been grieving for ten years, always putting her daughters first and never allowing them to feel the gap created when they lost their father. Her best friend offers her the opportunity of a lifetime. A way to reclaim some of the dreams she dared to dream before her world was rocked to the core.
She finds herself in Provence for a month as a business advisor and interior designer and, most importantly, a TV presenter, as she heads a reality TV style project to do up a floundering B & B Business.
Robert is the owner of said business. In the beginning, he is a bit grumpy and stand-offish, but with layers to peel, giving us a glimpse of a much more sensitive soul with a story as tragic as Nicky’s.
I loved how they built a tentative friendship over the month that she resides in his ailing B & B, and all the misdemeanours as they attempt to get things ship shape for the TV crew that keeps surprising them,
The cast of side characters is also a joy to get to know, from the local business owners to Nicky’s two daughters, and not forgetting Buster the dog!
Honestly, I loved this story so much. It is filled with hope, and there are emotional moments as well as some giggles, too. I read this within a few hours and wished there was more to come!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Author Bio

Writer  Journalist  Author

Freelance writer and author Gillian Harvey lives in France with husband, Ray and their five children. She regularly pens articles and short stories for UK magazines including Woman’s Weekly and People’s Friend. She also writes opinion pieces and has been published in Independent, Guardian, Metro.

Gillian started her career in the teaching profession working at secondary school level. After moving to France in 2009, she started freelance writing for publications in the UK, France and the US.

Gillian has written a monthly column in Writing Magazine since 2020. She has previously been columnist for Prima Baby and Living France magazines.

Gillian’s first novel ‘Everything is Fine’ was published worldwide with Orion in May 2020. Her second, ‘Perfect on Paper’ was published in UK May 2021. She has since moved to Boldwood Books where she published the best-selling ‘A Year at the French Farmhouse’ and, most recently ‘One French Summer.’

And click below to find Gillian on Social Media!

Social Media Links

https://linktr.ee/gillianharveyauthor

Book and a Brew with Ritu – What Would Jane Austen Do by @lcorbettaauthor #NewRelease #BookReview @0neMoreChapter_

20 Jun 2023 8 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book and a brew with Ritu, Book Review, Linda Corbett, New Release, What Would Jane Austen Do?

Loving this series!

Today, I am thrilled to welcome Linda Corbett, a fantastic author, and writer friend of mine, to chat about her latest release, What Would Jane Austen do?

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and relatively new to publishing author, Linda Corbett on my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things bookish, but especially her latest release, What Would Jane Austen Do?

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Linda!! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai. I know our hero loved a coffee. I do have a Tassimo if you prefer a fancy coffee?

Thank you, Ritu, for inviting me to your blog! I’m one of those odd people that don’t do hot drinks even though I invented a coffee-drinking hero, so if you’ve got anything in the cold drinks line, that would be fabulous. Or is it too early for a celebratory glass of Prosecco as we both have books coming out in the same month?

I think that Prosecco may be in order in that case!

We can do some lovely homemade biscuits, or my daughter, Lil Princess made fairy cakes! If you’re feeling adventurous, I can get out the chevda, too. It’s a type or Bombay mix!

Homemade fairy cakes sound delicious, thank you!

Now, I know that your latest release brings you up to a tally of two (very good!) published books. Tell us more about your journey to become a published author.

It’s been rather a rollercoaster of a journey over the last ten years. I wrote my first (not very good) attempt at a novel back in 2012, and that’s definitely staying in the drawer! Two years later, I wrote another book that got one full request from an agent. Then another two books followed that got a couple of full requests in between all the rejections. The problem with getting lots of boilerplate rejections is that you have no idea where you’re going wrong: you don’t know what you don’t know. At one point, I paid for a manuscript appraisal – very informative but obviously a significant cost. I missed out on joining the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2017 but joined in 2018, and getting detailed critiques as part of the membership fee was enormously helpful. Then in 2020, I was awarded the Katie Fforde Bursary, which gave me a massive boost of confidence and the impetus to write what became book five. However, it was on the sixth attempt, after 221 rejections, I got that magic yes!

What a journey! That YES was absolutely magic!

Do you have a favourite out of the two that have been published? I know that with your love of guinea pigs, your first book, Love You From A to Z, must be extra special!

Ooh, that’s a tough question! As you know, I’m ever so slightly obsessed with guinea pigs and anything piggy-related, so of course, Love You From A-Z holds a special place in my heart, and it was also my debut novel. However, over the course of writing What Would Jane Austen Do? I’ve become very attached to those characters too, so I don’t think I could possibly choose. Do you have a favourite?

I think I’m a bit like you. It’s hard to choose one, isn’t it? I suppose, with my two so far being linked, I have lived with these characters for a long time, and writing book three too, means that they are all forever in my mind! But Marriage Unarranged is definitely special because that’s where it started!

I always like to ask about your writing space, if you have one. Is it somewhere peaceful, or are you overrun with your fur babies?

I’d love to tell you I had a cosy writing nook or a desk with a fabulous view of the countryside, but that would be a total fib! Being very short means that conventional desks are the wrong height, so I write on my laptop – usually on the sofa, occasionally in the garden. The guinea pigs are in another room, although I can still hear them squeaking when they think they need more treats or attention. Or every time the fridge door opens!

And, has romance always been your favourite genre to read, and write?

I like to read a variety of books – something that makes me laugh out loud is always a tonic, and I enjoy a good mystery or cosy crime, but I always come back to romance. In today’s world where the news is often full of unrest and bad news, you can’t beat a happy ever after, can you? As far as writing is concerned, other than a few short stories, my previous novel attempts are firmly in the romance genre. However, I’d love to have a go at writing a cosy crime one day. Possibly with guinea pigs in…

Now, that I would pay to read!!

Before I go off on more of a tangent, let’s have a catch-up about your latest release, What Would Jane Austen do? I was lucky enough to get an ARC and I loved it! Thank you! (Review below!) What made you want to write a book that ties with the legendary Jane Austen? I can see that Maddy, your main character, takes much solace from her words.

I am a Jane Austen fan, but I can’t claim any credit for the title – that was the brainchild of my lovely editor. She suggested it and asked what I thought. Around the same time, my friend was telling me about her visit to West Horsley Place where they filmed the BBC series Ghosts. Have you been there? It’s a fabulous place! Anyway, the house had been inherited by Bamber Gascoigne from his great-aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe. It clearly sparked my imagination and these two strands combined. So… Maddy is a massive Jane Austen fan and out-of-the-blue, she inherits a house in the country. Even after she’s lost her job, she takes comfort from Jane Austen’s advice and is very protective of Ms Austen’s reputation. I had great fun dropping in little hints, references and quotes from the Austen canon, but have been assured by readers that you don’t need detailed knowledge of Ms Austen’s works in order to enjoy the book.

Do you think it would be easy living with a writer as moody as our fictional Crime fiction author Cameron Massey (or Luke to those who know him well!)? I loved the irony of his pen first name being an anagram for Romance, though he seems to detest the genre!

I think you’d have to be a strong character to live with Cameron Massey! He enjoys a bit of verbal sparring and detests lukewarm opinions, but luckily my heroine, Maddy, has strong opinions of her own, even though in the early part of the story, the two of them don’t always agree! And of course, she gets to know the real man behind the snarky author image.

And, what would you do if you were to inherit a sprawling mansion, as Maddy does? Would you happily move there for a year, or say no thank you?

As long as it wasn’t completely falling apart, I’d jump at the chance! I’m married to an IT and DIY Expert so he’d have the house sorted in no time. However, had I been living there by myself as Maddy is, I’m not sure I’d have been quite so keen. Luckily for Maddy, she makes lots of new friends so she’s not lonely for too long.

And I’m sure my readers would love to know… what do you have in the pipeline? Is there anything up your sleeves, already?

I am currently tinkering with the book I wrote before Love You From A-Z, but at the same time I’m finding it hard to leave behind the villagers of Cotlington. They’ve been in my head for so long now that they feel like real people! Do you find that as a writer? I’m also tempted to start something new as I’d really like to write another book with guinea pigs in. Decisions, decisions…

I can absolutely relate to that! When I finished Marriage Uarranged, the characters wouldn’t leave me alone. The next two books were never planned, but there you go! And, I do have a few other ideas, including another partly written story that I’d love to complete!

Now, I hope the Prosecco was chilled enough, Linda! I can’t believe we’ve finished a bottle!

Thank you for inviting me, Ritu.

My pleasure 😊

Peeps, I can’t wait to read whatever Linda brings out, next, and the idea of popping back to Cotlington is tempting!

Purchase links follow.

The Blurb

It’s a truth often acknowledged that when a journalist and Jane Austen fan girl ends up living next door to a cynical but handsome crime writer, romantic sparks will fly! When Maddy Shaw is told her Dear Jane column has been cancelled she has no choice but to look outside of London’s rental market. That is until she’s left an idyllic country home by the black sheep of the family, long-not-so-lost Cousin Nigel. But of course there’s a stipulation… and not only is Maddy made chair of the committee for the annual village literary festival, she also has to put up with bestselling crime author –and romance sceptic – Cameron Massey as her new neighbour. When Maddy challenges Cameron to write romantic fiction, which he claims is so easy to do, sparks fly both on and off the page…

Available in ebook & paperback

mybook.to/WhatWouldJaneAustenDo

My Review

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know when you read a book and want to start it all over to feel all the feels?
Well, that was my reaction to What Would Jane Austen Do?
I loved Linda Corbett’s debut and was excited to get my teeth into this second novel, and I was not disappointed.
Maddy Shaw is reeling after losing her agony aunt column, Dear Jane, in a national magazine. She attends one last interview commitment, meeting an extremely moody crime writer with an extremely simple view of romance. (Topical since so many out there have been trying to rubbish our beloved romance genre!)
Life is not going her way, considering she may have to move out of her flatshare with her best friend in London since she has no income until an unexpected bequest in the will of a deceased relative leaves her with rather a lot more than she could ever have expected, considering she never met the infamous Cousin Nigel.
Armed with her meagre belongings, Maddy moves into Meadowhall, a large house, for the requisite twelve months, fully intending to sell up and leave when the year ends, but you know what? You never know what the future will hold…
I loved everything about this book, from the fantastically appropriate Jane Austen quotes that started each chapter to learning more about the lodger she ends up taking in to keep herself financially afloat. Luke has a lot more about him that I won’t mention. You need to read about that yourself!
As the story unfolds, Cousin Nigel is also a dark horse, revealing secret after secret posthumously.
There is the literary festival, which I loved, ghost hunting, and a gorgeous canine hero who will steal your heart!
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.

Author Bio

Linda Corbett lives in Surrey with her husband Andrew and three permanently hungry guinea pigs. As well as being an author, Linda is a member and former Treasurer of Shine Surrey – a volunteer-led charity that supports individuals and families living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. For many years she also wrote a regular column for Link, a disability magazine, illustrating the humorous aspects of life with a complex disability, and she is a passionate advocate of disability representation in fiction. When not writing, Linda can be found papercrafting, gardening, or cuddling guinea pigs. What Would Jane Austen Do is her second published novel.

Find Linda by clicking the following links!

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/lindacorbettauthor

Tweets by lcorbettauthor

https://www.instagram.com/lindacorbettauthor

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards @mredwards #BlogTour #BookReview @fmcmassociates

30 May 2023 5 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Keep Her Secret, Mark Edwards

Today I am bringing you a fantastic psychological thriller by four million copy best selling author Mark Edwards, Keep Her Secrets.

The Blurb

The perfect girlfriend. The dream holiday. The most deadly secret …

Standing on top of a mountain in Iceland, Matthew can’t believe his luck. Not only is he finally taking the trip of his dreams, but joining him for the trip is his college girlfriend, Helena. He knew the moment he saw her at their college reunion, after all those years, that he wanted a second chance. While they’ve only been back together for a week,
he knows this is it. She’s the one. That is, until Helena takes one step back, trying to get the perfect picture, and falls …
As Matthew scrambles to the edge he finds Helena precariously hooked by her rucksack belt on a small ledge. Desperate to get help, Matthew nearly misses Helena cry, ‘I deserve this’, just before she is rescued.
Suddenly Matthew’s perfect girlfriend isn’t looking so perfect after all… but when she confesses her secret to him, he knows he’ll do anything to keep her safe. Only to discover that he wasn’t the only one listening to her confession.

With blackmail in the air, Matthew must decide – how far is too far to keep her secret?

My Review

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another captivating read by best-selling psychological thriller author Mark Edwards!
Matthew is in a good place, having rekindled his university romance with his old girlfriend, Helena.
Only, on a trip to Iceland, faced with losing her life, Helena confesses to something which has far-reaching consequences for both their lives.
I can’t say much more about the story because then I would give the twists away, but I can say that I was hooked from the moment I picked this book up! I was reading in the bath, as you do, and before I knew it, the water was cold, and I was nearly at page one hundred! Needless to say, it didn’t take me long at all to finish this book!
I won’t say it was an easy read – which psychological thriller is? But it swallowed you whole, and you just want to keep reading to find out which twist will be revealed next!
There were moments I felt so sorry for Helena, but then doubts crept in and would get swept away again… And I did feel for Matthew, dragged into a situation he would never have been in had he not met Helena again after all these years.
But the ending. Wow.
And I always thought rollercoasters had a firm end in sight…

About the Author

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. He has sold over 4 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists
numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The House Guest. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His most recent book is The Hollows, published in July 2021.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children and two cats.

He tweets at @MrEdwards

Website: markedwardsauthor.com

Book and a Brew with Ritu – Instant Karma Book 5 in the Hart’s Ridge Series by @kaybratt #NewRelease #BookReview #BookAndABrew

26 May 2023 10 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book & A Brew With Ritu, Book Review, Hart's Ridge, Instant Karma, Kay Bratt

Yes, we are back with another Book & A Brew with Ritu post!.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and hugely prolific author, Kay Bratt, to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things bookish, but especially her latest release, Instant Karma, book five in her Hart’s Ridge series. It’s out TODAY!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Kay! I will apologise in advance, but I am feeling a fangirl moment happening over here! Let’s get you set with a drink first. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai. I do have a Tassimo if you prefer a fancy coffee? Or maybe a sweet, iced tea? I know that is big over the pond, and I have been practising!

Ha! You know how I love my Southern sweet tea! But I grew up drinking hot tea, black with tons of sugar, and it’s still my comfort drink. Let’s go with that.

We can have some lovely homemade biscuits or my daughter, Lil Princess made fairy cakes! If you’re feeling adventurous, I can bring out some pakoras!

I’m all about fairies! Have you seen some of my fairy houses I’ve put out this year? I really do it for the grandkids. Making those memories of the silly Nana who had fairy houses tucked around her yard and fairy doors on trees.

Oh, what a special thing to do! Well then, it better be fairy cakes!

I am so thrilled to have you over, Kay. You have been a real inspiration to me over the last few years. When I was invited to join the Book Tribe group on Facebook by Amanda Prowse (My Book Friends, now), I didn’t realise how many friendships I would make, as well as learning about so many more amazing authors, you being one! I’ve read many of your books, and you write on such varied themes. Can you tell us a little bit about how and why you started writing?

First, let me say that when you talk about making friends with us authors, you really mean it. It’s not just an author/reader relationship. We are truly friends and can feel the love you send over the pond to most of us. And we were so happy to welcome you into the circle of being a published author! You worked so hard on your first book, and it was exciting to see it so well received.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. 😊

Like you, as a child, I loved to write short stories and poetry.

Do you remember your first short story? Tell us about it!

You know, I don’t remember my exact first story, but I will never forget an early poem which was about the relationship between my brother and me as children! I wrote it when I was around 9 years old. It was a typical love-hate relationship, so the poem showed that, too! And one memorable story I wrote was a fictional account of getting married and how I was feeling as a young British Asian girl. It won Highly Commended in a writing competition at school, too! I guess that segued into my Chickpea Curry Lit-style novels!

I remember mine! It was written when I was 11. My sister and I had just gone through a terrible tragedy in which we saw our best friend mowed down and killed by a car as we were all crossing the highway. The teacher knew I was shut down and asked me to write it out, to express it on paper.

I’ve always found that writing my feelings out helps immensely, so I am not bogged down with negative or worrying thoughts or energies. I guess it is why I blog.

As a young adult, journaling was the way that I worked through the hard things I was dealing with in life. I took that into my adulthood, and when I spent nearly five years living in China and volunteering in the local orphanage, those journal entries became my first published book, called Silent Tears; A Journey of Hope. A few years later, I was back on home ground and off and running with my writing career. I now have 31 books published, with three more to come before the end of 2023.

You really are an inspiration to me, Kay. And you’ve explored quite a range of genres in your writing too. Is there a favourite of the different genres you have written?

While now I concentrate on writing women’s fiction and small-town mystery, I truly loved writing historical fiction set during the Cultural Revolution in China in the mid to late 60s. The research I lost myself in was fascinating, especially because of China’s closed-door policy. Most of the world had no idea about the travesties that were happening there at the time. That book is called The Palest Ink.

Ritu, when writing your first novel, did you enjoy the research you put into it?

I did. A lot of the background, including locations and general information, as well as stigmas and family relationships, were things I live with daily. Though none of the books I write are autobiographical in any way, there is still a lot of ‘me’ in them. But I did research to make sure my memory wasn’t skewed since the books are set in the year 2000 and onwards. It was like a trip down memory lane, getting old photos out, as well as talking to different people to make sure I was on the right track. With my soon-to-be-released book, Straight As a Jalebi, given the MM romance within it, I also had to research India Legislation, as well as get sensitivity readers to make sure I was on the right track. And now, I am interviewing people to help me formulate the basis of the storyline for book three!

I would love to give you a little space to talk about the fantastic work you do with rescuing and fostering animals, especially about your special fur babies. I know they take up a huge space in your heart, as well as a lot of your time. It amazes me how you still manage to write so much, given all you do for them!

I’m a director with a small rescue called Yorkie Rescue of the Carolinas, and I use my platform to advocate for displaced pups. We have also fostered more than a dozen dogs, with some of them ending up permanent Bratt Pack members. I’ve been known to put myself in dangerous situations to make life better for a dog and have negotiated myself out of trouble for it more than I can count.

I love to read the positive updates, but it can break a person’s heart when you post about some of the pups in need of homes!

I always like to ask about your writing space. Is it somewhere peaceful, or are you overrun with your fur babies?

Because I’m an empty nester, it’s peaceful for the most part, but my three fur kids are always with me in my office. They nudge me now and then to remind me to take a break and walk around, take them outside and stretch our legs.

Ritu, what is your writing space like?

I am lucky enough to have a lovely writing and reading space on a floor of my own in our home! We live in a dormer bungalow which means most of the living space is downstairs. However, the attic was converted into a strange-shaped room with a little toilet up there, too. Usually, I can be up here undisturbed, but Sonu Singh does like to come and sit with me, either to keep me company or to miaow at me, asking for treats! Sometimes he commandeers my chair or gets on the desk to block my work, but for the most part, he lays there being my furry muse!

Now, I could talk about animals all day. I know Sonu Singh would love that, but the reason you are here is so we can have a little catch-up about your latest release, Instant Karma. This is the fifth book in an eight-book series, set in the fictional town of Hart’s Ridge. I have loved each of the books so far. Again, this is a genre different to your past books. Each one has a link to a crime story that might or might not be inspired by a real event. How do you go about researching these crimes?

The research comes naturally to me because I’m a true crime addict! I love shows like Forensic Files, 48 Hours, Snapped, and all those good ones. For the first book in the series, I was on the interstate doing a six-hour round trip to pick up grandkids and was listening to HLN on satellite radio and heard the episode about a girl who was driving home from work and missing. I thought it would make a great novel, and my character, Joni Stott, was born.

Oh, it was a great read, so your inspiration worked well!

I love Taylor Gray, the female main character who is the thread to tie all the books together. I love how you have woven her character development into each book, as well as introducing us to the different members of her family as the series develops. Do you feel a special affinity to any of them, in particular?

Taylor is probably the one I connect with the most, as from the time I was growing up until I turned around 50, I was the sibling that was the natural-born peacemaker and tried to bring everyone together for family events. I finally realized that it took too much of my own emotional energy, and I eventually let the pieces of our fractured family fall where they may.

Taylor came from a broken family, and I did too, and like her, I worked hard to climb out of the mire and make something of myself. I have this one vivid memory that lingers around me all the time. I was around eighteen and had fled the apartment that I shared with my husband after he’d physically attacked me. He took my purse, my car keys, and there weren’t cell phones then. I ended up sitting outside a gas station on the curb, crying as I hugged my knees and wished I had somewhere safe to go. People passed me, looking at my face, then looking away quickly. I wished so badly that one would stop and just ask if they could help.

I was financially broke and emotionally broken, but something inside me wouldn’t let me give up. I went back and did another five years with my abuser, but I kept improving myself as I worked through each situation. Now, three decades later, I’m married to a wonderful man (just had our 29^th anniversary). I’ve had a successful career in Human Resources, a fulfilling mission in China, and I’ve sold over a million books.

Who would’ve thought!?

As I said, you are an inspiration!

Back to the Hart’s Ridge series, all three of Taylor’s sisters have tiny bits of personality from my own sisters, though I’ll never tell which ones to which sister! That could get me in a load of trouble! I do like to explore family issues that are loosely inspired by my own experiences. For example, you’ll see many of my books have a mother-daughter conflict and the journey to forgiveness they take, and I think that’s my soul yearning for a better relationship with my own mom.

Ritu, does your book have any of your life experiences mirrored in the themes?

I think, as writers, there is always a bit of us in our writing. I can recognise traits that I have given to certain characters that may or may not mirror people I know, but there is no one character who is based on one person. Though the father figure, Mohinder has a lot of qualities like my own Pops. And I may have heard of events that inspire my stories, but none so far have mirrored my life or that of anyone I know. The third one will be closer to home as its main subject is infertility, and we went through quite a journey to fall pregnant. My two kids are my miracles. They are hard work as teens, but like blessings to us. While the story won’t be mine, it brings back a lot of feelings from a very tough time in my life, so is hard but also cathartic to write.

A bit of a topic change again! There are always dogs in the books, which I love, and this time we even get a horse and a special bird, too, called Baby. Do you try and write an animal character into each book you write?

I really don’t intentionally set out to write an animal character, but it sort of happens as I’m fleshing out the characters. Animals are a big part of my own life, and I think I can’t imagine a set of people where at least one of them doesn’t have a pet. Animals are such amazing gifts from God, put here to bring people comfort.

Oh, I 100% agree with you on that! Sonu Singh has been a godsend to us, and we would love a canine companion, but while we are all working or at school, it would be unfair to have a pet who has to be carted to care everyday or home alone for long times. We just enjoy any time we get with friends and the neighbour’s pups!

I was honoured and thrilled to have a little mention as a character in book 4, Borrowed Time (check me out as a lawyer!), and I saw Ritu mentioned at the beginning of this book, too. Thank you for that, Kay. You truly made my day when I read that! She even had curly hair and loved to smile!

Yes! I had fun putting you in there, Ritu! I’m so glad you recognized her, and hopefully, you picked up on the soft and encouraging personality I gave her that mirrors yours!

You’re making me blush!

Do your books include any cameos from your real-life family or friends? Don’t you find yourself sometimes wanting to stick someone in there and be mean to them? (ha .. kidding..maybe)

Hee hee! Cheeky! There are so many times when I want to, but I just know it will get back to that person in a roundabout way! I did tell my lovely beautician that a character in book three may have a similarity to her… but no meanness!

Now, I know there are at least three books left in the series. Are these all you are working on at the moment, or do you have other projects on the go? (I don’t know how you do it all, honestly!) I know my readers would love to know!

Nope! I’m also working on writing a prequel to the series, as well as a book in an upcoming multi-author series. This is the year of writing myself into the ground, but I have big plans to relax a bit more next year. My close friend tells me I say that every year, but we’ll see!

I look forward to that! And I also agree that you need to have a little breathing space, as well, as much as I love your books, I know how much it can take out of you to write.

Looks like your teacup is empty there. I would offer you a top-up, but with our time differences, I know it may be hard to stay up for another!

Thank you so much for popping over, Kay, it has been a pleasure to have you here on But I Smile Anyway. 😊

Very thankful that you invited me, Ritu, and happy you are in my life.

The feeling is mutual, Kay!

Peeps, I do hope you get the Hart’s Ridge bug, because it is a pleasure to catch!

Now, as I mentioned before, I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Instant Karma, so let me share the blurb and my review.

The Blurb

In Instant Karma, the fifth book of the Hart’s Ridge small-town mystery series by Kay Bratt, Deputy Taylor Gray is hoping for a break after the recent crime wave that hit her town. But when a stranger shows up unexpectedly, she realizes that danger never takes a holiday.

Meanwhile, Cate Gray is cautiously optimistic in her hope for a solid future, and when karma finally seems to be on her side, she dares to dream of her own happily ever after.

But in Hart’s Ridge, nothing is ever as it seems. As secrets are uncovered and tensions rise, readers will be on the edge of their seats, unable to put down this suspenseful tale.

If you’re a fan of small-town mysteries with well-drawn characters and an engrossing plot, then you won’t want to miss Instant Karma, the latest book in the Hart’s Ridge series.

Instant Karma is book five of the new Hart’s Ridge small-town mystery series, written by Kay Bratt, million-copy best-selling author of Wish Me Home and True to Me.

My Review

Instant Karma by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adore these Hart’s Ridge books by Kay Bratt and was thrilled to get a copy of Instant Karma, book 5 in the series, as an ARC.
This time, along with keeping up with Taylor Gray, the main character whose thread runs through all these books, we get to know more about her sister, Jo, and her son. Until now, readers haven’t had a chance to get to know much about her, other than that she is a single mother, so getting the background on her was another stepping stone to being immersed in the Gray family.
It was wonderful to see how Kate, Taylor’s mother, continues to build on her dream of an animal sanctuary, meaning we get to meet all wonderful animals, too!
Since there is always a crime or mystery to solve, we also have a chance to peep into the life of Faire, one of the long-term residents of Hart’s Reige, but someone who has become an almost recluse, with her bird, Baby, as her main company. Fearful of a lonely future, with not much money left in her coffers, Faire offers a room in her house to a lodge, which brings more than just rent money to the table.
Another truly wonderful read!
I can’t wait for number 6, and am even more excited knowing there are 8 in total!

Buy a copy of Just Friends For Now, HERE!

Author Bio

As a writer, Kay used writing to help her navigate a tumultuous childhood, followed by a decade of abuse as an adult. After working her way through the hard years, Kay emerged a survivor and a pursuer of peace–and finally found the courage to share her stories. She is the author of more than a dozen full length books, with ten of those published by Lake Union Publishing. Kay writes women’s fiction and historical fiction, and her books have fueled many exciting book club discussions. Her works have been translated into German, Korean, Chinese, Czechoslovakian, and Estonian.

As a rescuer, Kay currently focuses her efforts on animal rescue and is the Director of Advocacy for Yorkie Rescue of the Carolinas. As a child advocate, she spent a number of years volunteering in a Chinese orphanage, as well as provided assistance for several nonprofit organizations that support children in China, including An Orphan’s Wish (AOW), Pearl River Outreach, and Love Without Boundaries. In the USA, she actively served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children in Georgia, and spear-headed numerous outreach programs for underprivileged children in the South Carolina area.

As a wanderer, Kay has lived in nearly three dozen different homes, on two continents and in states from coast to coast in the USA. She’s traveled to Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Central America, Bahamas, and Australia. Currently she and her soulmate of more than 25 years enjoy life in their forever home on the banks of Lake Hartwell in Georgia, USA.
Kay has been described as southern, spicy, and a little sassy. Social media forces her to overshare and you don’t want to miss some of the antics that goes on with her and the Bratt Pack.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and then buckle up and enjoy the ride. You can find a full list of her published works at www.kaybratt.com — To be notified when new books are released, please sign up for my monthly email newsletter at www.kaybratt.com

Book and a Brew with Ritu – Just Friends For Now by @Lucy_K_Author @ChocLituk #NewRelease #BookReview #BookAndABrew

23 May 2023 2 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book and a brew with Ritu, Book Review, Just Friends for Now, Lucy Keeling

Yes, we are back with another Book & A Brew with Ritu post!.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome fabulous Rom-Com author, and friend of mine, Lucy Keeling to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things writerly, especially her newest release, Just Friends for Now. It’s out TODAY!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Lucy! Let’s get you set with a drink first. Now would you prefer a coffee of some sort? I have a Tassimo machine. I can stretch to that! Or maybe a cup of tea, a chai latte, or would you like to be brave and have a traditional homemade Indian masala tea? (Maybe we should do a Mimosa brunch like the one served in Lulu’s!)

Well, I would love to try an Indian masala tea, especially after reading your books, it sounds delicious. Although maybe after our catch up, we should go and do a bottomless brunch somewhere and just have all the giggles.

Oh, my goodness, that would be such fun! We have to, most definitely, one day! But for now, if we’re going masala tea, I can bust out the samosas and pakoras (fried potato and vegetable fritters), but I have biscuits, specifically shortbread, too!

I adore samosas and pakoras so absolutely count me in! But and this will come as absolutely no surprise I also love biscuits so I’ll have whatever you’re having, don’t go to any trouble just for me.

Right, well I’ll just lay a whole spread out, then!

Now that first, inevitable question… Why writing? Was it always a dream? How did you end up getting published?

I’ve always written, or at least attempted to. In fact, I’m now wondering if I wrote because I have always been obsessed with stationery (and therefore would ask for stationery every birthday) or if I’m obsessed with stationery because I’ve always been a writer. (Fellow stationery addict, here. I 100% understand your obsession!)

As for how I ended up being published, well…

My publisher was running a competition. I entered, and although I only came in second place, I was offered a three-book contract as a result. Woohoo! It makes it sound like it’s so easy, so what I will add, if that’s ok, is that for many years I honestly didn’t know you could plan a novel. I really thought that an author would sit at a desk, be inspired, and the words would just flow. So every single attempt at writing, I’d run out of steam around Chapter 5. When I discovered that you could plan it out, it completely changed everything. There are so many misconceptions out there about writing a novel, I know! I think I was the same at first, but now, in book three, I have realised I can’t be a Pantser all the time. I am now a Plan-tser!

I love your Just Friends Series! Can you tell me where your passion for writing Rom-Coms stems from?

Firstly thank you so much. I still can’t get over the fact that people actually read my stories.

But why romcoms? Well, I adore reading them. It’s that simple. I’ve loved reading them and watching them. In fact, I remember being like 10, maybe, and my favourite movie was Overboard – Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn. In fact, it probably is still one of my faves, to be honest. Do you like watching Romcoms, and if yes, do you have a fave?

I do indeed love them! I love both Western ones and Bollywood ones, too! But my all-time fave has to be Pretty Woman! I could watch it over and over!

Do you have a favourite from the books you have written so far?

Ohhhh, I don’t know if I can pick a favourite. Can you pick one of yours? What I will say is that there’s something in each book that I’ve really loved exploring. In the first one, I wanted to look at how the female love interest can be the one that makes the big gesture. The second one was exploring how relationships, friends or romantic, can help people grow. Mya’s story in the third was looking at strong women and how they don’t have to change when they fall in love. Book 4 this one is looking at barriers that we might put in our way. A friend of mine once told me to get out of my own way, and I’ve sort of explored that. However, as well as themes, I also go trope heavy. So we have book 1 – best friend’s brother. Book 2- fake dating. Book 3 – Enemies to lovers, competitors even! Book 4 – bang to get it out of their systems, with a grumpy sunshine combo. And I have LOVED every single trope! Do you have a favourite trope or one that you’d love to write about?

Oh, I know, Lucy, it is a hard question and perhaps very cheeky of me to ask! I think Marriage Unarranged will always have a special place in my heart because it took me so long to write and launched my dream. I feel book 3 will be very dear to me because the subject matter is close to my heart… I am not big on writing to trope, as such, but I do love Enemies to Lovers and Second Chance Romances.

Where do you like to write? Do you have a special room at home, or are you one who is spread across the dining room table, like I was when I wrote my first book?

I have a little desk in my bedroom, but like you, my first two books were written on the kitchen table. It was only when I was sent home, in the pandemic that I added a desk to the bedroom, and there you have it. I’m a lot closer to the post-its but further away from the tea and biscuits. So….

Certain distractions we have to try and fight… But I make it worse by having a stash of snacks in my writing room! (And I wonder why my clothes are getting ever tighter…)

We have known each other for a while now. I think I ‘met’ you on Twitter first during Lockdown, then it extended to Facebook and, The Gram, and TikTok, too. How do you cope with the pressures of keeping on top of all the different social media channels you are active on? (I’m constantly juggling life with keeping up to date on my blog, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, with a few visits to TikTok, and trying to use the time wisely to write, too!)

Firstly, you are a joy to know virtually, and one day, I hope to meet in real life!

Aw, Lucy! You are such a sweetheart! And,yes! We need to do that bottomless brunch! I would love to meet you properly!

But, oh, my days there, is so much to do, Ritu! I know you’re the same as me, working as well as writing, and then the social media stuff as well, it’s a lot. I wish I knew the secret, I really do, but I don’t. But I can tell you that because of the lack of time, when I do post, I’m usually really honest. Too honest. Much too honest. I’m a complete oversharer. I know that some people can curate an online image, but no, sorry, what you see is very much what you get. And it’s almost always too much, lol. Should anyone want an unfiltered Lucy Keeling in their lives, their best heading to my Instagram, lol.

I LOVE the unfiltered Lucy Keeling!!!

Coming back to the Just Friends series, how did it feel to finally be writing about the fab four again?

Well, as my contract was for three books and you’ll know from book 1 my intention was to make sure each of the main female leads were going to have their HEA. But pandemic times and all that meant that there was a slight delay in book 4 coming out (sorry again to those that were waiting). While I’m so excited for everyone to read about Paige, I am really sad that the series is over, but I’m hoping I’ve given them all a lovely HEA send-off. (You have done the series proud!)

And this is your first stab at writing FF romance, with a few sizzling scenes, too! Dare I ask, what kind of research was needed for that? Did you launch into reading more sapphic books, or talk to women, to get a realistic feel?

Hahaha. Lots of reading, lots of research, and lots of chats with people that didn’t mind me being a little bit nosey. For me, it’s really important that as an author, I reflect the world around me. The world around me includes the LGBTQ+ community. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous.

I know that feeling, what with my MM romance in Book 2! It is nerve-wracking, but, I hope, what with my great sensitivity readers, and my other advance readers (Thank you, Lucy!), that I have done the relationship, and story justice!

Paige has a psychic ability in this series. Do you know anyone who has this gift? If you did, how would you use it? (Aside from knowing exactly where your next release would sit in the best seller’s chart – which it will!)

I don’t or I don’t think I do. I spent too long thinking about this and realised I was massively overthinking it and actually, if I had like any sort of psychic ability, I’d use it to get a lottery win. Sorry, I know that’s boring, lol. What about you?

I think the Lottery win would be up at the top, somewhere, too, as well as seeing what life has in store for my kids, so I can help guide them…

I was lucky enough to read an arc of Just Friends For Now and truly enjoyed it (Review follows after the Q&A). I feel sad that it is the end of the series. I loved getting to know Paige, Sophie, Polly and Mya. I’d love to see a spin-off about the adventures of Connie! But, if that isn’t available, can you share anything with our readers about what is in the pipeline for you and any future releases?

Did it work for you as an end-of-series book? It did! I was really trying to finish it in a way that it was rounded off for all of them.

How brilliant is Connie! One of my all-time favourite characters to write. She is fabulous!

I’m currently trying to figure out what to write next. I have two ideas, and I just don’t know which one to focus on. Does this ever happen to you? How do you know what to work on?

I have a little notebook with ideas I have jotted down, and right now, the focus is on the release of book two, Straight As A Jalebi, and writing the first draft of Book three. After that, I am not sure what I will concentrate on. I have a couple of ideas for novels or novellas spinning off from the Ristay Series, but I also have a fairytale retelling which I started, using the Indian part of me as inspiration for the story… That is something I would love to finish.

Oh! Looks like the cups are empty, and the plates, too!

Lucy, it has been a pleasure having you over for a Book & A Brew chinwag!

And I also want to add a huge thank you for your support over this whole series, I’m so grateful Ritu, thank you so much x

It has always been, and always will be, a pleasure, my dear friend. 😊

Peeps, honestly, you need to go and start the Just Friends series if you haven’t already. It is such fun!

Now, as I mentioned before, I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Just Friends for Now, so let me share the blurb and my review.

The Blurb

Just friends for now … but how about later?

Bar owner Paige can’t deny that there’s just something about Melanie and her prim and proper librarian look that messes with her mojo. But Melanie is no librarian; she owns Lulu, the new super Instagrammable brunch spot in town, boasting bottomless mimosas and prime selfie opportunities. If anything, Melanie and Paige should be rivals, probably not friends – and definitely not anything else.

But when they both team up to work on a community project, and then Melanie finds Lulu the subject of a malicious online review campaign, they might find that staying just friends is going to be a little trickier than either of them could have imagined …

Book 4 in the Friends series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. This is Paige and Melanie’s story.

My Review

Just Friends for Now by Lucy Keeling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was thrilled when I heard there was a fourth in the Just Friends series by fabulous author Lucy Keeling, and I sped through it!
Each book in the series centres on a different friend in a tight circle of four, and Just Friends for Now is about Paige (or Book as her gran, Connie, calls her – I LOVE that!) and her love life.
Paige owns Barbarella’s, a bar, and has a kind of psychic gift that has been playing up recently. She is feeling broken. She hasn’t been in a relationship for a while, but the entrance of a new business owner, setting up another establishment nearby gets her hackles up.
Or at least she thinks that’s what is happening.
Then we have Melanie, the competition. She’s stressed. Her business, Lulu’s, seems to be going well, but she is on the go constantly, what with helping her sister raise her son, as well. Then there is the friction she feels emanating from that other local bar owner, Paige…
I won’t tell you what happens. Otherwise, why would you go and grab your own copy? Needless to say, I loved this FF romance, with plenty of sizzle and drama and a fantastic conclusion!
It was great to catch up with the rest of the gang, Sophie, Mya and Polly, and seeing how the friends all get together to help the latest one of them in a pickle.
Several other characters we get to know, including Connie, Paige’s Gran, and Cleo, Melanie’s bar manager, are just fantastic. Real feisty women!
I have to admit to being rather sad about the fact that it is the end of a much-loved series, but the epilogue made me all warm and fuzzy, and I guess we can only hope that maybe, just maybe, Lucy Keeling might want to resurrect some of these characters in the future…

Buy a copy of Just Friends For Now, HERE!

Author Bio

Lucy Keeling is an author writing fun, sexy, stories with all of the happily ever afters.

When she’s not typing at the kitchen table, she’s arranging and then re-arranging to see her friends for the occasional spot of day drinking.

Lucy is currently writing the third book in a Contemporary Romance series, the first of which was Runner-Up in ChocLit’s ‘Search for a Star’ competition. This story has become her romantic comedy debut ‘Make It Up To You’. The second book in the series ‘Just Friends’ has been described as ‘unputdownable’ and ‘A fabulous will they won’t they love story with moments of hilarity sprinkled throughout’ and is available now.

Follow Lucy on her Social Media Channels – She’s lots of fun, especially on TikTok and Instagram!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lucy_K_Author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucykeelingbooks

Amazon: Author Page

Instagram: @lucy_k_author

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucy_keeling