A Question of Balance

It’s been a while since you’ve seen me here and with good reason. Someone else, lots of someone elses, have been doing my blogging for me and I didn’t want my personal efforts to be lost in the crowd.

Three weeks ago today The Ghost of Glendale was published as an eBook, the paperback having preceded it by three weeks. It was my first foray into the realms of self-publishing and in a way I cheated in as much as I had others far more experienced to do the work for me. I reaped the benefits of the professionalism of Rebecca Emin (Gingersnap Books) and Cathy Helms (Avalon Graphics) who formatted the book and produced the, in my opinion, spectacular cover.

Following all that, Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources took me on a whirlwind blog tour, hence the reason I haven’t posted myself. Rachel managed to assemble a group of people for whom I have a newfound awe and admiration to read, review and promote my book. Yes, folks, I’m talking about

THE BLOGGERS

that amazing fraternity who give up their time for no reward other than their love of reading. I have received some wonderful reviews for which I’m truly grateful but the thing that struck me most has been the consistency of the comments. I’d never written a mixed genre book before but it seems that romance and paranormal can go together. For those with a love of the Regency, I am happy to have portrayed the era effectively. To combine it with a ghost story was something else. Fortunately it seems I got the balance right. I had so much fun writing this book and when more than one compared it favourably with Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, well, I could ask for no greater praise. I hope you enjoy reading it. Here’s an excerpt.

“It was fortunate indeed that you weren’t present for I should certainly have given myself away, but I so wished you’d been there to enjoy the joke.”

            Phoebe and Duncan were sitting again on the fallen tree where they had first met, the horses standing contentedly by in the small clearing. He had thought she’d looked a little overwrought when they’d met earlier in the stable yard but after a good canter she was relaxed as ever in his company and smiling now as she related what had happened at the table the previous evening.

          "Does she always rub you up the wrong way?”

        "Almost invariably, but when I stayed with her in London I was able to hold my tongue. I was her guest and it would have been unforgivably rude of me not to.” Duncan could appreciate her logic. “Here at Glendale I will not have her cutting up my father’s peace. It seems to me that if I can inject some humour into the situation, be she never so aware, I am able to restrain myself.”

           "Is her understanding so inferior then?”

          "By no means. She is intelligent enough. Just that she has no sense of the ridiculous. I cannot believe how unalike she is to my mother who could make anyone laugh by merely a word or even only a gesture.”

            “I wish I could have met her."

I hope you can join me again next time            

Writing from the Heart

Those of you who know me or follow this blog will be aware that I’ve been writing for some time now, with four books, and many published short stories to my name. I began with short stories and the pleasure I get from constructing a whole new world in just one or two thousand words has never diminished.

However, in the fascinating world of fiction it is sometimes supposed (if you’re not an author) that writing is an easy occupation. That somehow an idea germinates – that bit is true – and then the words just flow onto the page. It does happen, occasionally, but most of the time it’s hard work, writing that first draft followed by multiple edits, loving it, hating it then hopefully loving it again. Then maybe another edit.

Just occasionally something magical happens and this was the case for me with my latest book. It was my addiction to the books of Georgette Heyer and love of the Regency that were the inspiration for The Ghost of Glendale. Like many others, I was practically weaned on the books of the queen of romantic Regency novels. While I don’t presume to emulate my idol, it has long been my ambition to attempt this genre, having previously concentrated on women’s contemporary romantic fiction. The Ghost of Glendale was that perfect experience. Straight from the heart and the words tumbling to get out. It isn’t the longest book I’ve ever written but it is, to date, my favourite.

Blurb

At twenty-four years old, Phoebe Marcham is resigned to spinsterhood, unwilling to settle for anything less than the deep love her parents had shared. That is, until adventurer Duncan Armstrong rides into her home wood, larger than life and with laughter in his eyes and more charm in his little finger than anyone she’s ever met before. Far from ridiculing her family ghost, Duncan resolves to help solve the mystery which has left Simon Marcham a spirit in torment for two hundred years.

This book was such a joy to write. There’s a ghost, a little bit of history, a couple of horses – I love horses – and the obligatory difficult relative. But above all there’s the relationship between the two main protagonists. They may have ‘lived’ nearly two hundred years ago but they are as real to me as anyone I know today – and they are fun! I hope you like them too.

Publication date is 25^th April but for anyone who is interested The Ghost of Glendale is now available to pre-order.

A special word of thanks to Debbie Viggiano whose advice has been invaluable and my particular thanks to Rebecca Emin and Cathy Helms who were instrumental in getting this book out there for me. .

See you next time.