Today I am bringing you a beautiful story written byZhang Ling, Where Waters Meet.
The Blurb
A daughter discovers the dramatic history that shaped her mother’s secret life in an emotional and immersive novel by Zhang Ling, the bestselling author of A Single Swallow. There was rarely a time when Phoenix Yuan-Whyller’s mother, Rain, didn’t live with her. Even when Phoenix got married, Rain, who followed her from China to Toronto, came to share Phoenix’s life. Now at the age of eighty-three, Rain’s unexpected death ushers in a heartrending separation. Struggling with the loss, Phoenix comes across her mother’s suitcase—a memory box Rain had brought from home. Inside, Phoenix finds two old photographs and a decorative bottle holding a crystallized powder. Her auntie Mei tells her these missing pieces of her mother’s early life can only be explained when they meet, and so, clutching her mother’s ashes, Phoenix boards a plane for China. What at first seems like a daughter’s quest to uncover a mother’s secrets becomes a startling journey of self-discovery.
Told across decades and continents, Zhang Ling’s exquisite novel is a tale of extraordinary courage and survival. It illuminates the resilience of humanity, the brutalities of life, the secrets we keep and those we share, and the driving forces it takes to survive.
Where Waters Meet is a heartwrenching story about a daughter and her journey to discovering the truth about her mother’s life after her death. Phoenix, or Yuan Feng, travels from Canada to China in search of answers and peace for her mother, Rain, or Chunyu, from the only living relative left on her mother’s side, her mother’s sister. The novel is told in a bit of a disjointed manner, moving back and forward from the present to various times in the past. It took me a while to realise that the ‘past’ chapters were based on a manuscript that Phoenix is writing and sending back to her husband, George, in Canada, about her mother’s life and her own. Once I got into the swing of it, I was intrigued. I wanted to know the secrets of Chunyu. I felt the trauma of a young woman during the war-torn era in China, with the communist regime, facing famine, with a young daughter and a husband who couldn’t help due to injuries while in service. I feel like I wanted to know more from Phoenix about how she felt when hearing about the most shocking parts of her mother’s past, which is not revealed until the final quarter of the book, as it is not something any child would expect to hear. But I was invested in the story and felt the raw emotion of adult Phoenix and the young Chunyu before she could leave China with her daughter.
About the Author
Zhang Ling is the award-winning author of nine novels and numerous collections of novellas and short stories, including A Single Swallow, translated by Shelly Bryant; Gold Mountain Blues; and Aftershock, which was adapted into China’s first IMAX movie with unprecedented box-office success. Born in China, she moved to Canada in 1986 and, in the mid-1990s, began to write and publish fiction in Chinese while working as a clinical audiologist. Since then, she has won the Chinese Media Literature Award for Author of the Year, the Grand Prize of Overseas Chinese Literary Award, and China Times’s Open Book Award. Where Waters Meet is her first novel written in English.
Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and romance author, Bettina Hunt, to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things writerly, especially her newest release, A Girl Like Me.
Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Bettina! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai?
Hello Ritu, thank you so much for having me today!
I would love a chai, please 😊
If we’re going with masala tea, I can offer you some homemade pakoras, but I also have some chocolate chip cookies, freshly baked by my daughter! What’s your preference?
Ooh, now pakoras would be lovely, yum! Thank you.
Fantastic! Here we are. I’ve got the chutneys ready, too!
Now, I know you have already published a few books, and your latest comes after a little break. Tell us more about your journey to becoming a published author.
I’ve always wanted to be an author but I’ve always loved to write and so whether it’s been poetry or setting up a school magazine in secondary school, I’ve always been writing in one way or another. At university, I had a website which had restaurant reviews and bizarrely my job application journey, but it disappeared overnight when Geocities was taken over by Yahoo. Years later I started a successful beauty and afternoon tea blog but I still loved creative writing, so on a Friday I would write a poem or a short story to share on what I called The Friday Column. One of those stories became my first published book A Tempting Trio. Since then I’ve written part of a series (2 of the books are out already with another two books planned) and another standalone story set in two locations – High Heels on the Beach.
And, is there a favourite out of all the books you have written, so far?
Isn’t this like asking a parent which is their favourite child?!
It is! I’m sorry! But, I still like to ask… 🫣
Ha ha. But, if I had to choose, I would say my latest A Girl Like Me, because it’s so personal to me and is written from the heart.
I think those are the books that will always have a special place…
I see you making all your home improvements regularly, on Instagram, but is there a special writing space you have in your house, or is there somewhere else you prefer to write?
I write anywhere I can, but my favourite place is the office in our house. I love it because the ambience is perfect, It’s so calming and is a great workspace. I find I’m always so productive when I’m working in there. Unfortunately, I have to share it with my husband so don’t have access to it when he’s working from home.
Boo! But, at least you have a part-time space!
I am a huge lover of romantic novels of all sorts. What pulled you towards that genre?
For me, I love a happy ever after and the idea that out there someone perfect for you exists. I love romantic comedy films. I like to laugh and have that heart-warming feeling when I finish watching them and the same applies to books in that genre. I love romance mixed with comedy so for me romcoms are a natural fit for my character. And I love reading books in the same genre.
Ah, me too! And, what with the way the world is, right now, we could all do with a bit of a warm, fuzzy feeling from our reading, at least!
Now, let’s come back to your new release, A Girl Like Me. First off, I loved it! (Review below!) It’s fiction, but also a very personal book, given what our main character Olivia discovers about herself. What made you want to write about Dyspraxia?
Oh, I’m so pleased you loved it! That makes me so happy!
I wanted to write about a character with Dyspraxia because I have this condition, but I only made this discovery when I turned forty! Now my life makes sense. It has explained a lot!
I thought the basis would make a good fictional story and Olivia would make a great character. I wanted to create a character who was dealing with similar challenges to the ones I faced, but who was able to find her own way and thrive despite them.
I think that comedy can be a really powerful tool for addressing serious topics in a way that’s relatable and engaging for audiences. For me, the key was to strike a balance between the funny moments and the more serious ones – to make sure that the comedy never felt like it was making light of the challenges that the character was facing. I also tried to draw on my own experiences and those of others with dyspraxia to make sure that the humour felt authentic and true to life.
I totally get that. It’s why I write what I do, and why. It’s taking a serious but almost ‘taboo’ subject and bringing it out f hiding, for people to begin talking, and understanding.
I hope that people will come away from the book with a greater understanding of what it’s like to live with dyspraxia, and with a sense of empathy and compassion for those dealing with similar challenges. But I also hope that they’ll see that it’s possible to overcome those challenges and live a fulfilling and happy life.
I hope that the story will be inspiring and uplifting for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in, or like they were struggling to find their place in the world.
I think it will. 😊
I loved Caspar, her knight in shining armour. If A Girl Like Me was made into a film, who would play your main characters?
Gosh, that is a hard question because I don’t write with actors in mind although I did imagine the book as a film whilst writing it… So I think Olivia would have to be Emilia Clarke as I saw her in Last Christmas and knew that she would be perfect for the role.
For Caspar I would quite like to screen-test Henry Cavill for the role – He’s played Superman and Olivia likens Caspar to Superman so it would be fun to have him playing the part!
Yes! I can picture them in these roles! Perfect casting.
Do you think you would write any sort of follow-up to Olivia and Caspar’s story, as she rides the wave of success in her career, and juggles living with Dyspraxia?
Funny you should say that. I am toying with the idea of a sequel or two. I may or may not have the titles already so watch this space.
And that’s how my series was born, too! I always thought I’d write that story, then I’d be done, but so many thoughts came into play after writing it, and then the questions from reader feedback made me think of the next two books… and if things work out, there might be at least another three books and/or novellas that could come after… but, let me finish writing the third, first!
Betinna, I’m sure my readers would love to know… what do you have in the pipeline? Is there anything up your sleeves already?
Well as mentioned I have the sequels in the Without a Hitch series to write, I did start writing them, but life got in the way, as it tends to do. I also have the framework of an idea for a Christmas story which was shortlisted in a Penguin novel competition and another romance book which I’ve already created the cover for! I have a book that I wrote a few years back that needs editing – so that might be my next one. It’s a fun story with female friendship at its heart.
I know all about life getting in the way, my friend, as you are well aware! 😳
But, wow! Lots of lovely Bettina Hunt books in the pipeline! I am extremely happy to hear that! Peeps, you should really get these downloaded. They are wonderful reads!
Thank you so much for popping over, Bettina! I hope the chai wasn’t too strong, and the pakoras were crispy enough for you! 😊
And thank you for inviting me, Ritu.
My pleasure 😊
Peeps, you can read the blurb for A Girl Like Me and my review below!
Purchase links follow.
The Blurb
Cute and clumsy bumps into train man in a meet-cute that readers have described as ‘brilliant.’
She’s been asking the question, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ He holds the answer, but will knowing the truth change anything?
When perennially clumsy thirty-something, Olivia, falls into the arms of a stranger, she thinks nothing of it, after all, this sort of thing happens to her all the time. You see ordinary, everyday, tasks that other people seem to manage with ease have always been a struggle for Olivia so over the years she’s developed coping strategies. And, if they don’t work, well she can always rely on her friendly support network to help her out, right?
But when a new boss arrives at the advertising agency where she works, Olivia’s forced out of her comfort zone and fighting to prove herself.
And when Caspar, the mysterious and perfectly together stranger who saved her life, begins appearing everywhere she goes, she can’t help wondering, could she also be falling in love?
Not your (neuro) typical boy meets girl story.
A Girl Like Me is a romantic comedy that celebrates the power of love, the beauty of differences and the courage to be yourself, flaws and all.
Find A Girl Like Me HERE and all Bettina’s other books here!
I will start by gushing. I LOVED this book! Olivia, the main character, is as clumsy as they come. She is always tripping up, dropping things, missing her mouth… and always at inopportune moments. Thankfully she has some great friends and colleagues who help get her through some sticky situations, considering there are plenty of people out there, ready to undermine her for the same quirks. Then a knight in shining armour saves her life after a particularly dramatic clumsy episode. I don’t want to go into all the details. Otherwise, what is the point of you reading the book? But it’s safe to say that there are characters readers will fall for. I loved Devinder, her work colleague and one who has known her for a long time. They get along like a house on fire, and he is one of her heroes, too (but not the romantic kind!) She also has a supportive housemate, Russell, and another warrior of a best friend, Steph, in her corner. Then there is Caspar. I loved Caspar. He is a breath of fresh air. An honest guy with a heart of gold and genuine feelings. Bettina Hunt delves into a world of undiagnosed dyspraxia in a sensitive manner, with lightness and humour.
Author Bio
Bettina Hunt lives in the East of England with her husband and two young sons. She writes uplifting romantic comedies and women’s fiction with fun and relatable heroines.
An avid reader from a very young age, she wrote her first story whilst in primary school and was invited to take it into Reception and read it to the class. The positive feedback she received that day made her aspire to be an author and that childhood dream is now a reality.
Bettina loves comedy, cocktails and afternoon tea. She can’t dance but loves to sing. She does all her own stunts but rarely intentionally. She has Dyspraxia and is on a mission to raise awareness of what it’s like to have this condition, starting with her latest fiction novel – A Girl Like Me.
You will find her on all the usual social media channels where she’d love to hear from you.
Today, I am thrilled to welcome Kiltie Jackson, a fellow author at Spellbound Books and a great writerly friend, to chat about her newest release, The Bay Of Lost Souls.
Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway Kiltie! Now, the first thing we do is get the drinks sorted.
Hi, thank you for having me. A drink sounds lovely.
Thanks to that trusty Tassimo, there’s tea and coffee, but I can make you a masala chai if you prefer!
I’m mostly a coffee drinker, but I would love to try a masala chai if it’s not too much trouble. Thank you.
No trouble at all. I love converting people to the magic of masala chai!
And, seeing as your main character Perrie, was such a whizz with her baking, I could offer you some Victoria sponge that Lil Princess made, or I have some delicious Kenyan chevda (it’s like a Bombay mix, but this one is synonymous with the Kenyan Indians!)
I’ve never been able to decline a piece of cake, and today is not that day, either.
A woman after my own heart! Okay, so let’s get started!
I always love to find out more about where a fellow author’s journey started. When did you realise you wanted to write, and how was your journey to becoming a published author?
Unlike many authors, I didn’t grow up with a burning desire to write. I was too busy enjoying the labours of others, although was often asked why I didn’t write a book of my own, to which I’d reply it would impede my reading time, which, I can confirm it absolutely does! Lol Over the years, I dibbled and dabbled with writing bits here and there but never with the intention of doing it seriously. Finally, in October 2016, I had the lightbulb moment to actually put some effort into this writing malarky and in January 2017, I returned to one of the dabbles – it seemed a shame to waste the 17 chapters I’d already written – and it became my debut novel, ‘A Rock ‘n’ Roll Lovestyle’.
I like to ask this one, because I’m a nosy so and so, but could you tell me where you like to write? Do you have a writing room/desk, or are you a writer who likes to take their laptop/notepad out and about?
I have a study which is all mine, and it’s where all my creations are created. It needs to be completely quiet when I write so I’d be no use in a café environment which some writers prefer.
What a beautiful space! It is wonderful to have that area that you have cultivated just for your creativity. I love my writing room!
Have you ever written a book that you feel will never see the light of day?
My usual writing genre is ladies’ fiction, but I have written a psychological / revenge thriller. The 2nd draft has been completed, and it’s waiting for the first edit. After that, I will ask a few of my most trusted readers, who also like their thrillers, to read it and to feedback their thoughts. Their opinions will decide what happens to it after that.
Now that sounds rather juicy!
Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written so far?
Of my works currently published, my fourth book, ‘A Timeless Lovestyle’ is my favourite. I love the historical aspect of it and it was quite enlightening trying to view the 21st century through the eyes of a woman from the 19th century. I do, however, have a new publication coming out in July 2023 and that is my overall favourite. I can’t say too much yet but it was a book that wrote itself and took only four weeks to create from start to finish.
Oh, to have a book that writes itself in such a short time… actually I just dream of a solid block of time that is mine, alone, to write!
I have read a couple of your other books too, and each is a slightly different genre. Which do you prefer writing in?
I don’t have a preference – I simply write the stories that come into my head. I never think about genre or where they might fit on the bookshelf, I just write them as they present themselves to me.
That is very much my process, too. I don’t write to market so to say, more what my heart wants.
Now, I invited you over to have a little chat about The Bay of Lost Souls. Yet another type of book, with a bit of a serious undertone, when you look at the issues covered in Perrie’s secret. What inspired this story?
In my standalone novel, ‘Radio Haha’ I have a fictional seaside town, Broatiescombe Bay, which I fell in love with. When that novel was completed, I wasn’t ready to let it go and, the next thing I knew, I had a new story brewing in my brain which was based in the Bay. So, in this instance, I was my own inspiration! Lol!
Ha ha! I love it! And I’m glad you did, because it was a great story.
I loved the feline characters, Timothy and George. I know you are a cat lover, like me. Do you have an outdoor run at your place that could rival the one that Perrie has for them in her cottage garden?
We would love to have a cat run for the Moggy Posse but I have a shared access garden which means we are unable to create something attached directly to the house. If we only had a couple of felines, like Perrie, a detached run would be okay, but when you have seven… well, you’ve heard the expression, “like herding cats”!
Seven! Well, I find it hard enough to deal with the two kids, hubby and our one feline, so I don’t know how you cope!
And, since we have bonded over our drinks and snacks, any sneak peaks at what is coming from Kiltie Jackson in the future?
I’ve already touched on the new standalone being released on the 29th July, and which is very different from Bay of Lost Souls – it’s set in London, so no seaside. After that, the second book in my ‘Since Forever…’ series will be launched in January 2024 with another new series being thrust into the world in June 2024. So, it’s a little busy for the next eighteen months.
A lot coming our way from you. Kiltie! You heard it here, Peeps! I highly recommend you go and check out the lovely Kiltie’s books. I have enjoyed all the ones I have read so far!
I hope you enjoyed your masala chai and cake, Kiltie. It’s been lovely having you here. 😊
Thank you for inviting me, Ritu.
My pleasure 😊
Peeps, you can read the blurb for The Bay Of Lost Souls and my review below!
Purchase links follow.
The Blurb
Can you move on from the darkness in your past, or will it always lurk in the shadows?
Perrie Lacey arrives in the quaint seaside town of Broatiescombe Bay laden with luggage, two cats and a desire for six months of solitude. The remote cottage she’s rented up on the cliff-top should guarantee her that.
Morgan Daniels, and his five-year-old daughter, Daisy, have been managing just fine since the death of his wife and her mother two years before. He’s content with being a twosome and has no intention of changing that any time soon.
When Perrie and Morgan bang into each other, quite literally, within an hour of her arrival, the plans she had for a quiet existence go out the window and as the weeks pass, they find themselves drawn to each other despite their efforts to push against the invisible force pulling them together.
Perrie, however, is carrying a secret she cannot share for doing so will put her new-found happiness at risk.
How big can a secret be before it tears you apart?
Find The Bay of Lost Souls and all Kiltie’s other books here!
Oh, Kiltie Jackson. Well, you’ve done it again, haven’t you? This is the third of your books I have read so far, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Each one I have read has a slightly different genre, and each has its own beauty. The Bay of Lost Souls centres around Perrie, a woman who is running from something to the isolated Broatiescombe Bay to be alone and come to terms with her life. Morgan is a single father to one gorgeous little girl, Daisy, who has his own tragedy to overcome. Fate rolls them into one another (literally), and the beauty of the bay, and a little girl obsessed with Disney princess Merida, try their hardest to seal the deal. The thing is, nothing is ever what it seems. I loved the bay and the little cottage Perrie moves into for her stay and her cats, Timothy and George. What a pair of characters! All the book’s characters are believable, real souls to whom you can relate. Daisy was a firm favourite, too, as a feisty little pre-schooler who knows what she wants. The secret Perrie carries is a big twist and causes all manner of drama, as it should, but everything is revealed and handled in an extremely sensitive manner. A love story with secrets, twists and turns, and adventure, too. Definitely worth a read.
Author Bio
Kiltie Jackson spent her childhood years growing up in Scotland. Most of these early years were spent in and around Glasgow, although for a short period of time, she wreaked havoc at a boarding school in the Highlands. By the age of seventeen, she had her own flat, which she shared with a couple of cats for a few years while working as a waitress in a cocktail bar (she’s sure there’s a song in there somewhere!) and serving customers in a fashionable clothing outlet before moving down to London to chalk up a plethora of experience which is now finding its way into her writing. Once she’d wrung the last bit of fun out of the smoky capital, she moved up to the Midlands and now lives in Staffordshire with one grumpy husband and another six feisty felines. Her little home is known as Moggy Towers even though, despite having plenty of moggies, there are no towers! The cats kindly allow her and Mr Mogs to share their home as long as the mortgage continues to be paid. Since the age of three, Kiltie has been an avid reader, although it was many years later before she decided to put pen to paper – or fingers to keyboard – to begin giving life to the stories in her head. Her debut novel was released in September 2017, and her fourth book was a US Amazon bestseller in Time Travel Romance. Kiltie loves to write fiery and feisty female characters and puts the blame for this firmly on the doorsteps of Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables and George Kirrin from The Famous Five. When asked what her best memories are, Kiltie will tell you:
Queuing up overnight outside the Glasgow Apollo to buy her Live-Aid ticket.
Being at Live-Aid.
Winning an MTV competition to meet Bon Jovi in Sweden. (Although, if Mr Mogs is in earshot, the latter is changed to her wedding day.) Her main motto in life used to be “Old enough to know better, young enough not
Today, I am thrilled to welcome Kim Nash, a fantastic author, and writer friend of mine, to chat about her latest release, Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove.
Today, I am thrilled to welcome amazing author Kim Nash to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things writerly, especially her latest release, Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove.
Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Kim! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Now would you prefer a coffee of some sort? Or maybe a cup of tea, or would you like to be brave and have a traditional homemade Indian masala tea?
If we’re going masala tea, then I can bust out the samosas and pakoras (fried potato and vegetable fritters), but I do have biscuits, and cake. (Might not be as delicious as Gemma’s offerings, but I can try!
Let’s go with masala tea then. I’ve never tried it, but hey, life is about trying new things – yes? I do love a coffee, but you got me with samosas and pakoras. Although I’m a sucker for biscuits and cake, too (especially lemon drizzle!)
I promise I’ll ease you in gently, with a mild masala chai, then!
Right. So, let’s get started! You’ve been a busy bee, over the last few years, with your writing. No less than six published novels under your belt! And all pretty much amazing books, from what I have read. (Three down, three on my Kindle waiting for me to read!) I know you have a love for Women’s Fiction. What drove you to write in that direction?
Women’s Fiction is my favourite genre. Those books with humour, too, even more so. I grew up reading Shirley Conran’s Lace (I’ve never looked at goldfish in the same way!), (Oh my goodness, me too! 😳 ) Jilly Cooper books (wow!) and Danielle Steele which were a lot less racy but so very emotional. My mom often came into me in the middle of the night to tell me off for reading late and then ended up having to give me a hug because I was sobbing my heart out. Then I really found my place with books by Carole Matthews, Jill Mansell, Katie Fforde, Jane Green, Lisa Jewell, Isabel Wolfe etc. That was when I realised that was the sort of book that, if ever got round to writing one, would be what I would choose to write.
How bout you Ritu?
Well, for a start, I think I grew up with a lot of the same authors as you. My mum was a Barbara Taylor Bradford and Virginia Andrews fan, too, and an aunt who lived with us was a Danielle Steele fan, who left many of her books with us! And I carried on reading, many of those same authors as you, as I grew up, too.As for my writing genre, I struggle to pigeon hole it, to be honest, as there is contemporary there, rom com, cultural, or desi fiction, issues that would be more women’s fiction, as well as moral issues that a writer friend of mine described as literary. All I know is that there is lots to find, in my stories, but why I write them? Because I wanted to be able to read stories with more characterss like me, too. Stories that I could relate to, as a British Indian woman, but something that anyone could read, as entertainment, and also maybe a little educational, too.
Have you ever wanted to try and write in a different genre? I know it scares the bejesus out of me!(Even though I seem to be stretching myself in single books, instead!)
Oh me too! I couldn’t write historical fiction because I don’t have the time or the patience for all the research, although I LOVE to read them. I couldn’t write a crime or psychological thriller because I’d scare myself to death. I couldn’t write erotic stories because when I read them I find myself pulling funny faces and concentrating too much about what body bits are going where (like a game of Twister!) I have considered writing a cosy crime which I might try at some point but I’m rubbish at working out a whodunnit so maybe the crime would never get solved. I do like uplifting feel-good fiction that I write now, so I’m not planning to move out of my comfort zone yet. I’m trying masala tea, that’s enough of something new for me. LOL!
Well, that’s a start, at least, Kim!
Where do you like to write? Do you have a writing room at home, or are you a nomadic writer, taking your notebook and pen, or laptop to different places?
I’m a bit rubbish at writing from home. There’s always something else to do that distracts me and I’m the Queen of Procrastination! I do have a writing area set up in my garden room. (That sounds posher than it is but it does overlook the garden!) I have candles and fairy lights and try to make it feel different from my working space. I work from home too, so it’s quite difficult to separate the two for me. And when your fifteen-year-old is standing next to you trying really hard to do as many keepy-uppies as possible and the dog launching himself at the window because he’s seen a squirrel or barking excessively when someone has the audacity to walk down the street, it’s not easy when you are trying to be creative.
I love to get away from home (wonder why! See above!) For instance, as I write this, I’m staying in my friend’s house in Wales and I’m looking over the bay and am actually drifting off quite a bit just staring into the distance. I love a writing retreat with writing pals. A lodge in the countryside, overlooking water if possible, is perfect for me.
Where’s your favourite writing spot?
The writing retreat sounds idyllic, Kim! But, right now, it is tough for me to be away from home, due to more personal reasons. Thaat being said, I have my own writing room/reading nook in our house, which is so cosy, and in the summer, I can set up in the conservatorywhere I get a lovely view of our garden, as long as the sun is out! I’m blessed to be in the heart of a village in Kent, so the peace is wonderful.
Is there any one of your books that has a special place in your heart? I know that is a toughie as they are all our book babies, aren’t they?
It is really tough. Amazing Grace, my debut, I suppose is the most special because I wrote it after my Mom died so there’s a lot of me in it. It’s about a woman who is grieving the loss of her Mom. Can you see where the inspiration came from? LOL! Mom was a huge reader and I would have loved her to see her daughter become an author. I hope she’d be proud. (I didn’t know your mum, Kim, but I can guarantee she would bee proud of all you have achieved. 🤗)
I have loved all my books in their own way though. The two Muddleford books because they’re based on Mudeford where I spent a lot of my childhood holidays, and Sunshine and Second Chances because it’s about women of a *ahem* certain age going on holiday together and inspiring each other to be the best versions of themselves that they can be and finding their own happy. And finally Escape to Giddywell Grange which is about redundancy and how it can affect you both mentally as well as physically.
I always think that those ‘hard to talk about’ issues, are great to use in our books, because there are plenty of people ot there probably in similar situations, and even if they cannot talk about it, they can read, and recognise situations, making them feel less alone. And the book can be a great vehicle for opening conversations about difficult topics.
Let’s get back to your latest release, Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove. Meredith, your main character is someone I feel many women could relate to. A certain age, with some responsibilities diminishing, and other problems raising their heads. But her impromptu purchase… now, that was a biggie! Have you ever done something like that?
Not really anything like that, but I am quite impulsive. I’m very black and white in my thinking. You either want something or you don’t, so I not really a ditherer. My ex for instance used to spend hours and hours researching for a new car. I’d ask what colour they were and pick the one that was my favourite colour. That’s my sort of decision making.
Oh, my goodness. Kim, were we cut from the same cloth? My decision process iss pretty much like that, too, while my husband can take three months to decide which restaurant he wants to go to! 😂
Many of your books are set in beautifully picturesque settings. Are they all places you have visited yourself?
They are although I haven’t been to Cornwall for years. It’s just so flipping far from where I live (Staffordshire) and the thought of wasting, I mean spending five hours at least in a car driving somewhere gives me the heebie-jeebies. Think of how much other stuff I could do in that time. Sunshine and Second Chances is set in The Algarve which is somewhere I adore. And Mudeford, where Muddleford is based on, has a very special place in my heart from childhood.
In this book we had Gladys, the gorgeous Labrador belonging to Vi. I do love a pet in a book. Do you have a furry muse at home, who helps you with your writing?
I do have a hairy hound at home, but I’m not sure he’s my muse! But he is gorgeous and I adore him. Roni is an English Setter who was rescued from Greece by a charity and we adopted him about 5 years ago. He just sighs a lot when I ask him to help me with a plot hole and he’s not really that up for helping with promotion either, as you can see from the photo here!
Oh, such a cutie!
I must tell you I devoured your latest offering in pretty much a day, because it was a story filled with hope and positivity. Will there be any more from Meredith and the gang, or is your next project something totally different?
I’m currently away editing Book 2 in the Driftwood Bay series, which follows Hopeful Hearts in the Cornish Cove. It will be out in October and will be Gemma’s story. Then Book 3 will be out next Spring and will be the story from someone else that you’ve already met, but I’m not ready to divulge who yet!
Care to guess Ritu? Or is there anyone you’d like to read more about?
Meredith’s mother, possibly? Well, now I am all excited at the thought of two more books to follow this!
Now, I hope you enjoyed the masala chai, and pakoras, Kim! And, thank you for popping over for a chat with me, it’s been a blast!
Thank you for inviting me, Ritu.
My pleasure 😊
Peeps, you can read the blurb for Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove, and my review, below!
Purchase links follow.
The Blurb
A perfect new start in Cornwall…
Meredith’s life is at a standstill. She’s stuck in a dead-end job, approaching fifty, and her dating life is a string of disasters. But one evening, while browsing the internet, she sees an ad for a lighthouse, and in a moment of impulsiveness, she makes a ridiculous bid for it.
With the help of local handyman Clem, she sets about renovating. And as they work together, a bond begins to form. But when Meredith finds out that Clem is keeping a secret from her, it changes everything. Will they find a way to build something more meaningful together?
A delightful story about community, friendship and having the courage to start over, perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Lucy Dillon
It’s been a while since I stepped into the gorgeous worlds created by Kim Nash and her characters, and I truly enjoyed this foray to the Cornish coast! Meredith made a bit of a drunken decision to purchase a lighthouse, miles away from the rest of her life, to have a fresh start, a project, and to put some distance between her and her old life that, apart from her best friend, seemed to have begun to stagnate. Well, what can I say? There are always dubious purchases made with the aid of alcohol when you aren’t feeling yourself, and when she arrives at her new, unviewed, apart from some stylised photos, home, she is in for a shock. And the shocks don’t start there, but at the local supermarket, where she encounters rude locals that get her back up from the off. I will not go into the story, as what would be the point of you reading it if I was just to regurgitate it here, but I will say that you won’t want to put it down once you start reading! Meredith is a character who will resonate with many women, especially those of a certain age. She had a fire in her belly that was dampened by her previous life, but the sea and sea air might have just reignited it rather than put it out completely! There are many characters to keep you wanting to read, not least Vi, who I think is an amazing woman. What a character! And her dog, Gladys, is just adorable! Meredith has old friends, but the new ones she makes as she begins what feels like a thankless task of renovating and restoring her purchase are a choice bunch. But there are always that core of locals who ‘hate’ newcomers. She has her work cut out, I’ll tell you. And, of course, there’s Clem… A brooding, moody man who ends up rather helpful in many ways. But will he be the one who helps her realise she is not just a middle-aged woman undeserving of a fresh start romantically as well as generally? The restoration of the lighthouse was fascinating to read about, too, and just reading the descriptions makes me want to go and stay in one right now! A wonderful read from start to finish!
CANNOCK COPYRIGHT SHROPSHIRE STAR STEVE LEATH 23/03/2023
Heather feature with author: Kim Nash, from Hednesford. Kim is pictured with her new book, with a selection of her books, and at her writing desk with a card featuring a Lighthouse that was given to her. The card sits on her writing desk and ended up being an inspiration for her book.
Author Bio
Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, romantic, feel-good fiction and has wanted to write books since she was a little girl. She has recently signed a 3-book deal with Boldwood Books and Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove is the first book in a series of books set in the fictional seaside village of Driftwood Bay in Cornwall.
She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni, is Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk.
When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog at Cannock Chase, reading, writing and binge-watching box sets on the TV. She’s also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Staffordshire and organises local and national reader/author events.
Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and fantastic author, Lizzie Chantree to chat about her latest release, The One That He Wants.
Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Lizzie! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. I know you like to meet with fellow writers over a cuppa!
I can offer you an English brew, or, if you fancy a little something different, I can always brew up some masala tea… or a coffee if you please? Or maybe a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows? Let me know. Snacks a plenty, too, from biscuits to something spicier!
Hi Ritu. Firstly, congratulations on your own brand new book! I can’t wait to read it. I do love English breakfast tea, but my weakness is a frothy latte. I would never say no to a snack, and although I try to eat healthily, I have a bubblegum drawer in my writing studio! Just don’t tell my children. Lol 😁
Aah, thank you so much, Lizzie. Yes, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind my end! But you know what that’s like! Let me grab you a latte, then and a few nibbles!
Right. So, let’s get started! I’d love to know where your writing journey started, Lizzie. Tell me what made you start to write novels.
I began writing as a kind of therapy. My youngest child was unwell for many years (she’s fine now), and I needed a way to keep myself awake at night to listen to her breathing. I decided to write a book, of all things! I filled it with the sunshine and laughter that was missing from my life at that time. I then hid it in a cupboard for five years until my daughter’s health began to improve. We now know she has contact allergies.
I am glad she is okay…. Children being unwell is one of the hardest things to comprehend. Now from that time you have a huge amount of stories under your belt!
Do you have a favourite of all your books?
I love them all, but my first, Babe Driven, is close to my heart. Writing that book helped me to get through a tough time in my life and my daughter proudly tells anyone who will listen that she was the catalyst for my new career, which is true!
I think your first book will always be something special, even if it never sees the light of day, especially as we know how tough it is to write any sort of book!
And, talking of writing, where do you like to write?
I adore writing by the sea or anywhere with cake, coffee and a great view. The landscape inspires me, and my pen seems to flow across the page. I often write the first 20 thousand words of my manuscripts by hand and enjoy the feel of pen and paper connecting to create something new.
I have often seen your posts of you out and about. Nature is just so inspiring! I have to admit to not being able to handwrite, as, despite bing a teacher, any writing of length makes my handwriting begin to look like a doctor’s and I can’t read it back!
I know you have a colourful past with business, too, with your lifesaving (or face-saving for many woman!) product Runaway Spray! Did that come before or after your writing started?
Before I began writing, I ran a retail and wholesale business for over fifteen years and designed my own product ranges. I invented Runaway Spray when I attended a very unusual university. We did a ‘four year in one’ course. 8am until 8pm every weekday. It was based in London and called, The School Of Communication Arts. I loved it there! They took around 35-40 students a year, and I was one of the youngest. It opened my eyes to design and marketing and showed me how to utilise my creative ideas. I was completely in awe of everyone there, as most had already been in creative industries for at least a few years. I joined straight from arts college.
That is an amazing achievement!
And to top it off, you do so much for the writing community with your fantastic Facebook group, Lizzie’s Book Group, which I love, as well as running the #CreativeBizHour conversation on Twitter on Mondays. How do you do all of this, on top of writing?
I do get tired! I also really love what I do, which helps. My mind is always looking for new avenues for creativity, so chatting to fellow creatives is an absolute pleasure and if I can share knowledge, then that makes me happy too. When I came into this industry, I didn’t know anyone or anything about publishing. Other authors and creatives took me under their wing and showed me where to find resources. I taught myself a lot under their guidance. If I can do it, anyone can! Networking was key to this success.
The creative community can be amazing, when you find your tribe, I agree, 100%. It was definitely because of my first community, formed on my blog that I got the confidence to decide to publish my poetry book, then Marriage Unarranged, with so much support and advice from this wonderful blogily I had found.
Before I go off on a totally different tangent, let’s chat about your latest book, The One That He Wants, book two in the Cherry Tree Series. I loved the first, and this one too! (Review is below!) Where did the idea come for this business park-related series?
Thank you for taking the time to read and review this book. I really appreciate you! Loved it!
The setting of Cherry Blossom Lane came naturally because Cherry Blossoms represent rebirth, renewal and new beginnings. The stories focus on a group of old school friends and the notorious Taylor ‘Heartbreak Brothers’ who live in their old town. There are invisible threads linking them all together throughout the series, but they all find ways to support, lift up and encourage each other, even if they sometimes fall in and out of love.
I love Sasha, the main character in this book, too. She is outwardly filled with so much confidence and advice, yet finds it hard to apply the same to herself! And she is a hot chocolate aficionado, too. Are you a hot chocolate fan, too?
I’m actually allergic to chocolate! I love that Sasha is unapologetic about who she is. She lacks confidence at times, but refuses to change for anyone – especially Oliver Taylor. A lot of it is bravado, but she learns about herself throughout the book, and I think the bit of self-reflection doesn’t do her any harm.
And, I already know there will be a third book, which I cannot wait for! But what else do you have in the pipeline? Any tidbits you want to share?
Thank you! I am excited to finish writing book three of my Cherry Blossom Lane series. I have also written a prequel to my Little Shop by the Sea series, which will be offered to my newsletter subscribers. The prequel is about the main character, Genie, before American heartthrob, Cal, crashed into her world. It was a lot of fun to write. Next up after that, is a book that I cannot wait to jump into. It’s set in London along a bustling riverside and based around assumptions, misunderstandings and sizzling romance!
How exiting! You know I’ll be there, ready to read!
I’m currently working on a series of seminars that I will be running this year in Essex, to help writers with their book marketing, launches and planning. They will be based on my book, Networking for Writers, but will include extra content. Book marketing can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be scary or expensive. It just needs a little imagination and a network of support. I run writing buddy sessions each month with fellow romance author, Chris Penhall, in Fete Graysyard Café in Chelmsford, Essex, where we encourage new and experienced writers to get words onto paper. If anyone is nearby, join in!
You truly are an awesome, encouraging person, Lizzie with so much creativity within you! I look forward to hearing more about the seminars, too!
Thank you so much for visiting, Lizzie. It’s been a pleasure.
Thank you for inviting me, Ritu.
My pleasure 😊
Peeps, there is more to come from lovely Lizzie so make sure you sign up for her newsletter!!
Now, as I mentioned before, I read The One That He Wnnts not long after it came out! Here’s the Blurb and my Review.
The Blurb
An exciting new romance read, from the author of, My Perfect Ex. After years of longing for a life that is just out of her reach, Sasha decides to take fate into her own hands and jump feet first into an exciting new job with her best friend Poppy. Now things are finally back on track, it’s time for Sasha to help plan a wedding and to start dating again… anyone but the best man, that is. When charismatic Oliver Taylor, best man and one of the town’s renowned ‘heartbreak brothers’ asks Sasha to be his plus-one for the wedding to escape the unwanted attentions of a mutual friend, circumstances beyond her control mean she has to accept. But then social media superstar, Devon comes onto the scene and starts shaking the foundations that Ollie is trying to rebuild. Will the past hold her back from an exciting new future, or will Sasha be brave enough to follow her heart? A irresistible, romantic story of enemies to lovers. Scroll up and one-click to lose yourself in the Cherry Blossom Lane series, today.
The One The He Wants, is the second book in a series of exciting romance novels set in Cherry Blossom Lane, by Lizzie Chantree.
I was absolutely into Cherry Blossom Lane with book 1, so I couldn’t wait to be reunited with the characters and learn more about what was happening with Sasha this time! And Lizzie Chantree did not disappoint. It was wonderful to see Poppy again, follow the lead-up to her wedding, and watch with intrigue the development of Sasha’s self-confidence and her romantic life. Ollie is the Taylor brother in the picture this time round, and he is certainly a complex character. There were plenty of ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ moments as different characters introduced themselves as prospective spanners in the works! I love how the intrigue has been built for the next book… And cannot wait for it to be out!
International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex.
Her motto is to always do what you love, stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too.
Lizzie is extremely active on Social Media, so if you want to follow her somewhere, I am sure there is something to your taste in this list!
But I Smile Anyway... 