On this week's Saturday Snap a view over Oulton Broads
Until next time, take care and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.
Pauline x
Saturday, 19 January 2019
Saturday, 12 January 2019
Saturday Snap!
On this week's Saturday Snap it's a picture taken in Lowestoft, Suffolk
Until next time, take care and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.
Pauline x
Saturday, 5 January 2019
Saturday Snap!
On this week's Saturday Snap it's a picture taken in Utrecht, the Netherlands
Until next time, take care and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your heart.
Pauline x
Tuesday, 1 January 2019
Happy New Year!
Happy
New Year
I hope it will be
filled with love, laughter and good health.
Thank you for all your
kindness, support and friendship, it means much more than you will ever know.
To start the New
Year, I have some exciting news to share!
Many readers have
asked if I would consider writing more about Doreen Wilkinson from Sometimes It
Happens… after much thinking I have started writing a prequel to Sometimes It
Happens…
The Birthday Card (working title)
follows Doreen the weeks before she found herself catapulted in to a new life.
A publication date as yet to be decided and as soon as it is, I will be
splashing the details here.
In the meantime, here
are a few words from a reader who read Sometimes It Happens… over the
festive season.
Well... Sometimes It
Happens is now on my “Favourites” List!! What a totally delightful book!
Hilarious! So many
beautiful heart-warming scenes.
The entire book was
wonderful with its twists and turns and near-misses.
A perfectly uplifting
read.
Sometimes It Happens… is available in
Kindle
Paperback
From ALL Amazon sites
Thank you for
stopping by. Have a fabulous day and I hope the sun is shining on your face and
in your heart.
Hugs
Pauline
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
Thank you for stopping by and meeting Nikki
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.
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.
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...
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.
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....
Next Tuesday we learn about....
Until next time, I hope the sun is shinning on your face and in your heart.
Pauline x
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