Thursday 27 December 2018

Yesterday Uncovered with The Shame of Innocence by Nikki Copleston




This month on Yesterday Uncovered we slip back to 2000 to 2018



Sitting, in the shade, on a recliner at the side of my pool is Nikki Copleston, the author of The Shame of Innocence, so please help yourself to a glass of chilled bubbly, a plate of tapas, then make yourself comfortable and enjoy slipping back to the 2000s.



Tell us a little about yourself

I was a public librarian for many years, although I was always writing fiction in my spare time. When I was made redundant, I was determined to get published, so developed Detective Inspector Jeff Lincoln.


What inspired you to write about the 2000s?

I wanted to depict the sort of Wiltshire town in which I grew up – not a rural idyll but a place with as many contemporary problems as the big city. I wanted to write a contemporary series, to make it topical.


Tell us a little about the story and its plot without giving too much away

Two teenage girls, Emma and Lorren, from very different backgrounds, are found dead, and a third teenager goes missing. DI Lincoln is determined to find out who the killer is, but his new boss, DCI Bella Bax, doesn’t seem as keen to solve the case as he is.



Is any part of the story based on facts / real events?

By coincidence, the newspapers were reporting cases of young girls in care being groomed, about the time I was writing about Lorren, who has been in care most of her life, and who’s exploited in that way. From my career in local government, I came across cases of instances of corruption – not in my own authority! – and have used that experience.


Are any of the characters based on someone real or are they pure fiction?

I think most characters have elements of people I know or have come across, but in general they’re an amalgam of lots of different people.


If research was necessary what did this involve?

Looking on the internet and in textbooks for forensic information, and trying to establish what you can and can’t find out from mobile phone records – there’s no definitive answer! I also had to check which team won a particular football match that a character uses as an alibi.




Twitter @nikkicopleston


Thank you for stopping by and meeting Nikki

Next time we meet...






Until next time, I hope the sun is shinning on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x

Monday 24 December 2018

Merry Christmas

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas filled with love and laughter.  





You can also keep up with my pictures on Instagram @paulinebarclay

It may be Christmas, but I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x 

Thursday 20 December 2018

Yesterday Uncovered with True Colours by Elly Redding




This month on Yesterday Uncovered we slip back to 2000 to 2018



Sitting, in the shade, on a recliner at the side of my pool is Elly Redding, the author of True Colours, so please help yourself to a glass of chilled bubbly, a plate of tapas, then make yourself comfortable and enjoy slipping back to the 2000s.





Tell us a little about yourself

I can’t remember a time when I’ve not been busy scribbling away, creating a fantasy world all of my own.  Whether it was escaping from villains or falling for heroes, my drawers are full of notepads, of happy ever afters.  Only, sometimes, love doesn’t go quite as smoothly as we’d like.  Who would have guessed that Shakespeare’s Juliet was only faking her death?  Or that Leo and Kate would have such a short time together before the appearance of a whopping great iceberg?  What if we could alter fate, or at least their destiny?

With this in mind, I wrote the first in my trilogy of second chance romances.  I was thrilled when ‘True Colours’ won the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance in 2014 and equally delighted when it was Chill with a Book Readers’ book of the Month, as well as receiving third prize in the Independent Author Book Award “Words for the Wounded”

Now all I have to do is get cracking and publish the second in the trilogy, ‘In Too Deep’!


What inspired you to write about the 2000s?

Nowadays, as women, we have opportunities that our great-grandmothers could only have dreamt about.  We can vote, we can attend universities, set up businesses and rise to the very top, but we are still just as powerless when it comes to love.   I wanted to write a story that shows we can’t always have it all, however hard we try.  That we are just as human and fallible as our ancestors were, when it comes to affairs of the heart. 




Tell us a little about the story and its plot without giving too much away?

Could you ever trust again the man who broke your heart?  Kate Fenton thought she’d got the answer to that question all neatly sewn up.  Ever since she went to Saul Preston’s London art gallery, a month before their wedding, and found him with his assistant – who looked as if she was in the middle of a game of strip poker.

Three years later, she’s no longer so sure.  Saul’s back in her life with a new proposition – to accompany him on a trip to Majorca as his interpreter.  It’s an offer Kate can’t refuse, even though she knows she should.  Successful and rich, he’s just the sort of client her translation company is trying to attract – even if he is her two-timing ex!

Saul has never gone in for second chances.  He’s never had the time, but he knows exactly what he’s doing when he suggests the trip to Kate.  As gorgeous and infuriatingly easy to fall for as ever, he’s determined to rekindle their past.  And he’s only got three days to do it…


Is any part of the story based on facts/real events?

[I’ve not answered this question, as the story is purely fictional]

Are any of the characters based on someone real or are they pure fiction?

Whilst Kate and Saul are purely fictious, I did add a little of my own experience to Kate’s character.  I, too, am an asthmatic, and know, first hand, how frustrating and frightening it can be, when you’re struggling to breathe.  It doesn’t matter how strong you are mentally, or how determined you are to work hard and be successful, you cannot hide your vulnerability when you’re having an attack.  Although I’m sure Kate would probably fare a lot better if she could only remember to take her inhaler!


If research was necessary what did this involve?

Kate might know her ‘elevators’ from her ‘ailerons’, but I certainly didn’t when I started writing.  Fortunately, I know someone who does.  My husband, the son of a test pilot, is a font of all knowledge on all things aeronautical, and a very useful man to have around when I decided to bring aircraft leasing into Saul’s backstory.  And then, of course, there’s Kate’s translation business, where I’ve spent most of my life.  Nothing like writing from a little personal experience! 

Thank you, Pauline, for having me as a guest on your blog – it’s been great fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it!







(* Just in case anyone is interested, elevators are situated on the tail plane and help aircraft to go up or down, whilst ailerons are on the wings and help aircraft to bank – an ideal question for a pub quiz – possibly!)


Thank you for stopping by and meeting Elly

On Thursday we meet...





Until next time, I hope the sun is shinning on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x

Monday 17 December 2018

Yesterday Uncovered with Lies of the Dead by Shauna Bickley




This month on Yesterday Uncovered we slip back to 2000 to 2018


Sitting, in the shade, on a recliner at the side of my pool is Shauna Bickley, the author of Lies of the Dead, so please help yourself to a glass of chilled bubbly, a plate of tapas, then make yourself comfortable and enjoy slipping back to the 2000s.



Tell us a little about yourself

Hello Pauline and thank you for inviting me to share the sunshine by your pool.
I live in New Zealand but I was born and grew up in England. In the time between those two I’ve managed to do quite a bit of travelling.
I’ve written for years, mostly murder mysteries, but occasionally I like to mix it up and write a romance/click-lit novel. When I’m not writing or thinking about writing you can find me walking on the coastal tracks and beaches close to where I live in the North Island.

  
What inspired you to write about the 2000s?

If I’m honest, it’s probably because there is less research to do, but mostly because the stories and characters that come to me inhabit that era. Even writing relatively close to our current time period, the speed that technology changes does mean there is some research required to ensure I’m not using current technology or social media that didn’t exist just a few years ago.



Tell us little about the story and its plot without giving too much away

The novel is set mainly in a small Cornish village. Tom is told that his brother, Liam is missing, presumed dead with the death later considered a suicide by the police. Tom cannot believe that his brother killed himself, and so he and his sister Andi begin to search for clues.
Andi is also going through personal troubles as she has recently separated from her husband and this causes difficulties with their teenage twin daughters.
As Tom and Andi dig into Liam’s affairs they find themselves caught in the complex web of his criminal acquaintances and ultimately in great danger.

  
Is any part of the story based on facts / real events?

The novel is pure fiction, however during my research I was amazed at how many ‘fake’ suicides have been discovered around the world. The Cornish village is fictionalised to suit the requirements of the novel but it is based on a real village.


Are any of the characters based on someone real or are they pure fiction?

All my characters are pure fiction, but some do share quirks and characteristics that I notice, but not from people I know well.


If research was necessary what did this involve?

Compared to a historical novel there wasn’t too much research but I find that all novels require some research. For this novel I needed to find out journey times across various countries in Europe and the times of ferry services that would match the story plot lines. And there are always interesting quirks such as how much does one million pounds weigh and how many bags are needed to carry that amount. It’s amazing how much you can find on the internet. I do worry sometimes about getting mixed up in a murder and the police checking my internet browsing history!




Please add all your social media links below and make them hyperlinks if you can.








Thank you for stopping by and meeting Shauna

On Thursday we meet...



Until next time, I hope the sun is shinning on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x

Saturday 15 December 2018

Saturday Snap!

On this week's Saturday Snap it's a picture of the sparkling Christmas bauble on the seafront.





You can also keep up with my pictures on Instagram @paulinebarclay

Until next time, take care and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x 

Monday 10 December 2018

Yesterday Uncovered 2000 to 2018 with Jasmine Sea by Phillipa Nefri Clark




This month on Yesterday Uncovered we slip back to 2000 to 2018



Sitting, in the shade, on a recliner at the side of my pool is Phillipa Nefri Clark, the author of Jasmine Sea, so please help yourself to a glass of chilled bubbly, a plate of tapas, then make yourself comfortable and enjoy slipping back to the 2000s.



Tell us a little about yourself.

I live just outside a small country town in Victoria, Australia. I also live in my imagination, where characters jostle for my attention, and worlds invent themselves. Although living near a mountain range, I truly am happiest with my feet in the sea and a beach to myself.


What inspired you to write about the 2000s?

My Christie Ryan Romantic Mystery Series is set in a range of eras, spreading from the 1850s to 2018, but with the common thread being the latter. I love dual timeline stories and putting Christie into the present allowed me to use her as my portal into the past.

Tell us little about the story and its plot without giving too much away.
Jasmine Sea follows where The Stationmaster’s Cottage ended, only a few months along. Christie is settling happily into her new life in River’s End and the relationship of her dreams. But, her ex still wants the land her cottage occupies for his development plans, and his methods put people she loves into danger. She must face terrible risk in order to keep them safe. The story explores more of her childhood, and has a strong suspense theme.



Is any part of the story based on facts / real events?

No. Just my imagination.


Are any of the characters based on someone real or are they pure fiction?

A few have elements of people I know, mostly the really sweet ones.


If research was necessary what did this involve?

There is a yacht in this story so I spoke at length to a coastguard captain to ensure I could write with confidence about certain scenes. This highlighted to me the amazing work they do in our waters.




Phillipa’s links…




Thank you for stopping by and meeting Phillipa

Next Tuesday we meet...





Until next time, I hope the sun is shinning on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x

Saturday 8 December 2018

Saturday Snap!

On this week's Saturday Snap it's a picture of the nativity scene from last year's Christmas display on the Avenida.



You can also keep up with my pictures on Instagram @paulinebarclay

Until next time, take care and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x 

Monday 3 December 2018

Yesterday Uncovered 2000 - 2018 with Love is All by Joan Fallon




This month on Yesterday Uncovered we slip back to 2000 to 2018


Sitting, in the shade, on a recliner at the side of my pool is Joan Fallon, the author of Love Is All, so please help yourself to a glass of chilled bubbly, a plate of tapas, then make yourself comfortable and enjoy slipping back to the 2000s.




Tell us a little about yourself

I’m an independent writer and publisher and I’ve been writing both historical fiction and contemporary women’s novels since 2007. I moved to Spain twenty years ago with my husband and dogs, and I find it a wonderfully conducive place to write. From my office I can look at both the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, plenty to fire the imagination.


What inspired you to write about the 2000s?

I had been writing a lot of historical fiction, mostly set in medieval Spain at the time of the Moors and I wanted a change. The 2000s is notable for being a tumultuous time for women everywhere. At long last women are being recognised for the strong, competent and independent people they can be when not oppressed by out-of date chauvinistic opinions. From the #metoo campaign to battles for equal pay, they are standing up for their rights as human beings. And best of all, they are being listened to. Old behaviours and prejudices are being questioned; young fathers no longer think it’s just a woman’s job to bring up the children; football commentators can be men or women. In the 2000s the gender divide is narrowing and the world is changing. I like writing about women and the challenges they face. I have written a number of novels with a female heroine who refuses to let life get the better of her and shows herself to be both strong and resilient when faced with adversity; in Love Is All, Teresa is both of those things.



Tell us little about the story and its plot without giving too much away

Teresa is a normal woman, happily married with two grown-up sons and a comfortable life. But this life is shattered when her husband decides to confess that he’s been having an affair with her childhood friend. In her rage, Teresa runs from the house and drives off into a dark, wet night. She feels angry and betrayed by both her husband and her friend, and drives recklessly, thinking only of her husband’s words. In the atrocious driving conditions she loses control of the car and has a terrific accident.
When she later wakes up in hospital she discovers that she has Locked-in-Syndrome and is unable to move or communicate with anyone. She is literally locked inside her own body, a physical condition that proves to have ramifications not just for her but for all her family.
The novel is about her battle with her changed physical state and how she moves from despair and longing for death, to hope and a new life. But not all members of her family react to her condition in the same way.


Is any part of the story based on facts / real events?

The story is not based on a specific real event but rather on an accumulation of facts about people with the same condition. Some of whom I met, others who had written moving accounts of their struggle with living with Locked-in-Syndrome and personal interviews on the internet.


Are any of the characters based on someone real or are they pure fiction?

The characters are pure fiction, but like all my characters, certain aspects of their personalities are based on people I know or have met; this is unavoidable.


If research was necessary what did this involve?

There was quite a lot of research to be done; I had to research the condition itself and the medical treatment for it, much of which is changing all the time as new improved techniques are discovered. I’m sure in ten years’ time treatment for Locked-in-Syndrome will have changed dramatically.




Joan’s links…

LOVE IS ALL

 

WEB PAGE


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




Thank you for stopping by and meeting Joan.

Next Tuesday we learn about....




Until next time, I hope the sun is shinning on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x

Saturday 1 December 2018

Saturday Snap!

On this week's Saturday Snap, as it is 1st December I plan to share some festive pics for the newt few Saturdays. 



You can also keep up with my pictures on Instagram @paulinebarclay

Until next time, take care and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.


Pauline x