A huge thank you to everyone for putting forward such amazing questions. I really enjoyed answering them and thought there was a fabulous selection of questions, covering so many aspects of writing.
Regrettably, we didn’t have enough time to answer them all but, as promised on the Zoom, here’s the ones we missed:
How do you decide on ideas for each series of books? Such as Hedgehog Hollow/The Starfish Café? (Tracy Burrington Brown)
Even though most of my books are in a series, none of them have started life that way. I’ve usually started with a standalone idea and it has evolved into a series in that setting. The first series actually intended to be a series is my Escape to the Lakes series.
Your stories have a lot of details about certain things; hedgehogs, RNLI etc. How do you decide what to focus on and how do you research these? (Joanne Geldard)
I always knew I wanted to write a story set in a hedgehog rescue centre because my auntie rescues hedgehogs and I knew I wanted to write one featuring the RNLI because I live by the coast. When I think of a setting or an issue, I then think about who the characters would be whose story that belongs to. I do lots of research online but nothing beats speaking to people and/or visiting a place. I visited Scarborough Lifeboat Station for The Starfish Café series, spent time with my auntie exploring how she treats hedgehogs for Hedgehog Hollow. I spent a day with a master chocolatier for Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop. I think this level of research helps make the story more authentic.
How do you come up with settings, names etc? (Heather Close)
My settings are fictional versions of places I’m passionate about. How I come up with the setting names is a mix of methods. Whitsborough Bay is a blend from the three place names that inspired it – Whitby, Scarborough and Robin Hood’s Bay. The name Hedgehog Hollow came from a former local hedgehog rescue centre called Sleepy Hollow. It closed down before I started writing the series and I loved the alliteration of adding Hedgehog to the Hollow part. The Starfish Café came from brainstorming with my editor trying nautical names with café/shack/bistro etc to find the one which sounded best. Some are directly from my imagination, some come from my editor and, recently, I’ve asked my Facebook group. Redland’s Readers, for inspiration.
How do you pick your characters’ names? (Claire Griffin)
Because of the genre I write, I try to pick fairly everyday names but sometimes I’ll throw in something a little bit different like Fizz in the Hedgehog Hollow series. She arrived on the page as such a vibrant individual, she needed a special name. For the main character in my next release, The Start of Something Wonderful, I picked Autumn Laine as something slightly different. I love the name Autumn and I thought it would be a great name to appear on illustrations. For ideas, I have a baby names dictionary from before my daughter was born which includes 50,000 names from around the world in it, and a spreadsheet of the 200 most popular boys and girls names in the UK for every decade since 1904. I’ve used the names of most of my friends and family members at some point, although never first name and surname together, and have often asked my daughter for the names of her classmates to give further ideas. Usually when I arrive at a name, I stick with it, but there have been occasions when, as that character develops, it just doesn’t feel right so I’ve changed it.
What is your favourite book writing snack? (Laura Cousins)
I don’t really have one. I love a bit of cake but it’s hard to write and eat! Doesn’t stop me, mind. My keyboard is always covered in crumbs!
Do you ever listen to music whilst writing? If so, who do you listen to and do you ever get inspiration from the songs? (Becky Sumner)
I love music but whether I listen to it or not depends on the stage of writing. If I’m working on a tough edit, I can’t have music on at all as I need to concentrate hard. I have several instrumental/chilled albums that I’ve listened to hundreds of times which make great background music. I’ve also got a few artists/bands whose albums I know really well so I can put those on and it also blends into the background. I definitely can’t listen to anything new/not so well known as I start listening to the lyrics instead of concentrating. I have taken inspiration from songs but this is more from listening to them while I’m out in the car when something resonates with me. In the Zoom, I mentioned that a song lyric from a Leona Lewis song triggered the idea for The Secret to Happiness.
Do you have a book where the story almost wrote itself? (Joanne Smith)
My first two Christmas releases – Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop and Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes – pretty much wrote themselves. I was originally aiming to make each of them a novella (17.5k – 40k words) so there was a smaller cast of characters and not so many sub plots. They both ended up being longer than a novella and the plots became a little more complex but I found them very easy and quick to write. If only all books were like that!
Which book has been your favourite to write and why? (Katie Penrose, Fiona Gardiner, Lucy Dunphy)
Coming Home to Seashell Cottage because I found who I wanted to be as an author writing that book. When I set out writing my debut book, New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms, I anticipated writing romcoms. Although there are a couple of dark moments in it, it’s generally a lighter, more humorous book. As I moved into the second book – Finding Hope at Lighthouse Cove – telling Elise’s story, it became more emotional and, by Clare’s story in Coming Home to Seashell Cottage, I really found me. I knew Clare had secrets and wasn’t sure exactly what they’d be. She was straight-talking and spiky and this book was going to reveal why. I loved her story so much. It has twists and turns and a lot of drama in it and, for me, represented a move into commercial women’s fiction and the type of story I write now.
Who decides which design goes on the cover for your books? Are you consulted or is it by someone else? Your covers are beautiful and very inviting. (Bethan Davies, Fiona Gardiner)
Aw, thank you very much. This is not my area of expertise but my publisher, Boldwood Books, are brilliant at this and I love how each author has their own brand. I usually get asked if I have any particular vision for what I’d like to see on there but my editor, Nia, has typically read the first draft at the time the cover designer is briefed and has a clearer idea of what would work well. I’ve had three different cover designers so far and have been so lucky to have such gorgeous covers. My absolute favourite is my newest one – The Start of Something Wonderful. Every time I look at it, I can imagine myself in the Lake District and it fills me with such peace.
Have you got any more plans to write more for Barney and Bumblebee Barn? (Debbee Fearnley)
Yes! Healing Hearts at Bumblebee Barn was meant to be a standalone story but, as often happens with my books, I had more characters appear whose stories I’d love to tell. I made a couple of suggestions to my editor for sequels but we decided to market it as a standalone book and see what the readers thought. There’d been a lot of disappointment about Hedgehog Hollow ending and I wasn’t sure how readers would react to Bumblebee Barn being a new setting while giving a glimpse of life at Hedgehog Hollow still. Readers loved it and there were so many requests for more so we’re planning a sequel for spring 2024 and a third book for 2025. Book 2 in the series will have Zara, Amber’s assistant, as the narrator along with a male perspective, but I’m not saying who he’s going to be until the book is written.
Will you be writing anymore Hedgehog Hollow books? (Michele Payne, Donna Moore, Sarah Smith)
I’m planning a prequel which will explore Gwendoline, Thomas and Terry’s story, but it’ll be some time before that’s written. I have no current plans to write any more Hedgehog Hollow stories as I told the stories I wanted to tell. There are other characters whose stories could be told (e.g. Samantha’s mum Debs) but we’ve already had insight into their backstories in other books and I don’t want to repeat what the reader already knows. The plan going forward is to continue with the insights through the Bumblebee Barn series. I’ll never say never but, after six books, I’m ready for new challenges.
I loved all your books, thank you. Do you any plans to continue with Starfish Cafe series? I feel there is so much to be explored, the older couple who visit the cafe daily and also Tori’s parents (Emma Blackmore Burston)
Betty and Tommy are lovely but I only ever introduced them as customers and have no feel for what their story would be. My characters have to talk to me and the pair of them haven’t done that. I think they’re happy with the part they have! Tori’s parents are fascinating characters and I loved creating them but lots of their story has already been told through Tori’s story in Spring Tides at The Starfish Café so I’d be duplicating what the reader already knows if I told their story which, as explained in the previous answer, is a reason why I haven’t continued the Hedgehog Hollow series. It’s the same with Nia who appears in Coming Home to Seashell Cottage. I often get requests to write about what happens next for her but I’ve already covered her backstory and future through Clare’s story. I love a cameo, though, and Nia has one in Summer Nights at The Starfish Café. Cameos are a great opportunity to catch up without having a full book devoted to that character.
How many ideas for your future books do you have stored in your head? (Joyce Williams)
About twenty but they’re in an ideas document rather than in my head (which is like a sieve) plus the plans for the Escape to the Lakes series so maybe about thirty in total so far! I tend to start with a concept/plot idea and then build it from there. This is why my last book deal with Boldwood was so big at sixteen books – because I have so many ideas with mileage. I also have a book which I started writing during my Masters which is nearly finished and another about 12k words in so will pick those up at some point too.
Will there be another series like Hedgehog Hollow? I loved the continuation of characters’ journeys through the books (Helen Rosbotham)
The honest answer is I don’t know. The approach I took to Hedgehog Hollow is the same as The Starfish Café series – having one consistent main character (MC) whose story unfolds across the whole series, with guest narrators whose story fitting alongside. It’s really hard to write with a consistent MC as I need things to happen to them in each book to make an exciting, interesting story. Given the age of my MCs in these two series – Samantha and Hollie – I could logically follow some key stages in their relationships with the partners they meet in book 1, but it would become samey if I did that again and again. My Escape to the Lakes series will have a different MC in each book but we will find out what happens to other characters who will dip in and out of the series. I’m really looking forward to writing in that way, especially as it allows me to write a much longer series.
What inspired you to set your new series of books in the Lake District? (Helen Jackson)
I love the Lake District. I’ve holidayed there since childhood and, as an adult, began to appreciate it so much more for the beauty of the lakes and fells. Keswick and the area around Derwent Water are my happy place and we’ve been on several holidays there over recent years and can’t get enough of it. I feel so inspired by the area and asked Boldwood a few years ago if I could write a series set there. They approved this but, with other plans for books, this has been the first opportunity to start this series.
Will you be spending more time in Cumbria in preparation for future books? (Allyson Storey)
Yes! Any excuse! My husband and I have a weekend away in July but it’ll probably be next year before we get back again after that… although the pull might be too great to wait that long! Although Willowdale and Willowdale Hall fictional, they’re inspired by real places and they are anchored in reality too as I use the fells, Derwent Water, Keswick and other surrounding places accurately. Therefore, being there is so vital for research. We were in Keswick over Easter and I had a big list of things I wanted to check for accuracy around views, distances and so on.
Are you planning any more series? (Madeline Lacey)
Not at the moment for this genre (see next question for other genres). The Escape to the Lakes series begins with The Start of Something Wonderful on 17th July and we anticipate it being a long series. I still have the next couple of books in the Bumblebee Barn series to write and my Hedgehog Hollow prequel. I’m going to be writing a sequel next year to Starry Skies Over The Chocolate Pot Café too, as it was always set up to have a sequel. There will be further Whitsborough Bay books too and it’s possible some of them may be a series, but there’s nothing firm on that yet.
Have you ever wanted to write in another genre, apart from romance? (Sheila Riley)
The previous question asked if I was planning to write further series and I said not in this genre but I do have plans for another genre. I’m going to try my hand at cosy crime which will be a series, out next year, although I don’t want to say too much about it now in case it’s a disaster and I don’t end up releasing it! I’d love to write a psych thriller and have a strong idea for one but not sure what I’d write after that. I’m not sure when I’d have the time to squeeze it in either. I’ve also considered historicals but would have to do so much more research that it’s not really viable, despite having a clear idea of what I’d like to write.
Could you please hold a book launch/talk in the north east please as I love you books and would love to be able to meet you? (Louise Tyrrell)
Aw, that’s lovely. Thank you. I love speaking at events but not every event is welcoming of commercial fiction and, if they are, they’re not always eager to embrace my genre which is such a shame. Some events approach authors and others require the author to approach them but it’s tricky getting the timing right for that and easy to miss out. I’m not sure where you are in the north east but I’m speaking at Richmond Walking & Book Festival on 21st September so that may be an option for you. Tickets go on sale early next month.
I feel you have raised a lot of awareness surrounding hedgehogs. Well done you!!! (Siobhan Curran)
Thank you! It means the world to me when I see reviews or comments from people who’ve learned something. I’ve even had readers help hedgehogs by getting them to their local rescue centre when, before reading my books, they wouldn’t have known the hedgehog was in trouble.
I love the Hedgehog Hollow series, how much do you love hedgehogs? (Karen Dean)
Lots! They’re such adorable creatures and it’s so sad that they’re vulnerable to extinction. The work that local hedgehog rescues do is incredible and I’m in awe of the individuals who give up so much time and money to help. I personally couldn’t do it as I know I wouldn’t be able to handle the grief of the loss which comes with the role. It’s also very demanding and there’s no way I’d be able to write if I looked after hedgehogs, so my part comes through raising awareness through my books.
When and how did your love of hedgehogs begin? (Kelly Zilz)
I’ve always thought they were gorgeous. My auntie rescues them and has done for about 45 years to they’ve been on my radar for a long time. My big passion is bears but my hedgehog love massively grew when I started thinking about writing a book set in a rescue centre and therefore undertook a lot of research into them.
Your love of hedgehogs has inspired a huge following of hedgehog lovers; if you could effect a similar outcome for another endangered animal, what would it be? (Claire Gosney)
I need to be careful to avoid being pigeon-holed into writing only about certain subjects but I think I have enough stories in my backlist at this point not to be pigeon-holed if I did add in another endangered species. As I write books in the UK, I’ll stick with indigenous animals. I love red squirrels and otters. Both may well feature in future Escape to the Lakes books as they’re found in that area of the country – no firm ideas yet, though.
Of the books you read last year which is your favourite? (Ann Cobb)
I love reading but don’t actually get through that many books. Sometimes I can read one a week. Other times it’s one in two months. I’m very selective on what I read because I have so little reading time and I’ve loved everything I read last year. I honestly couldn’t just pick out one of them.
If you could be written into another author’s book who would you choose and why? (Lynsey)
As a child, I really wanted to visit the Faraway Tree or go to Malory Towers so I’d love to revert to my childhood self and be a character in one of those Enid Blyton books. The characters seemed to have so much fun and go on such amazing adventures
Is there another author whose books you have read them all? (Katy Figgins)
There’s only one author whose entire back catalogue I’ve read: Sharon Booth. She’s my best friend and has nearly thirty books out and I love everything she’s ever written. I’ve also read most of Jo Bartlett’s books – she’s also a good friend and a fellow Boldwood author. I highly recommend books by both of them if you like my books as they both write gorgeous stories of love, friendship, family and community.
Do you have many men that are keen readers of your books like myself? (Keith Harris)
Thank you for reading my books, Keith. Most of my readers are women but there are a growing number of men who read my books and I love hearing from them. I wish more men would read this genre as there’s so much to it than I think many appreciate. I was thrilled when a lorry driver contacted me recently to say he’d tried one of mine on Audible after becoming a bit fed up with his usual crime/thriller stories. He became hooked and has since listened to them all while driving. I have a few men in my Facebook group, Redland’s Readers, and I have a book blogger on Twitter who is a huge supporter of this genre.
Thinking about the concept of Healing Hearts, how do you look after your own physical and mental health when you’re in the middle of writing a book? (Linda Hill)
Eek – I don’t! I have very little work/life balance as I love what I do so much and can get very absorbed in it. The problem with this is the amount of time I spend welded to my office chair and I really must get out and exercise more. I keep saying I’ll do something about it, but then I have another deadline to meet. I do have time – I just need to be better organised. My mental health is really good most of the time. I’m generally a positive person but, as I mentioned in the Zoom, I do suffer quite badly from imposter syndrome. Once I worked out where it had come from, I was able to deal with it a lot better. Unfortunately it does rear its ugly head every so often. Fortunately, I have a fabulous husband, amazing author friends and a brilliant publisher who can help me refocus when I’m struggling.
If one of your books was to be turned into a film and you was in it which of the characters would you most like to play and why? (Mary Metcalfe)
I love this question. It would have to be an evil one! There’s so much fun to be had from playing a baddie so I’d go for Debs or Chloe in the Hedgehog Hollow series or Larissa in The Starfish Café series.
In Summer Nights at The Starfish Café, there’s a secondary story alongside Hollie and Jake’s. In your mind, did those two characters get married? (Maria)
I’ve tweaked this question to avoid any spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read this book yet. In my mind, yes they do. It would be all very lovely and romantic. I’m thinking they’d probably go overseas with immediate family and closest friends for a more intimate wedding rather than getting married here, but they’d probably have a party in Whitsborough Bay to celebrate afterwards.
I adore the Whitsborough Bay series and have always wondered whether it was based on Whitby? (Susan Fox)
Whitby is one of three places that provide inspiration for Whitsborough Bay (the other two being Scarborough and Robin Hood’s Bay). It’s mainly modelled on Scarborough but there are clear Whitby elements. The river and swing bridge in South Bay are inspired by Whitby and the cobbles of Castle Street are more like the cobbled street on the Abbey side of Whitby, although Castle Street is wider than those streets.
If you could pick any destination in the world to go write your next book series from where would it be and why? (Cheryl Keith)
Assuming this means not writing about that place (as I love writing about the UK), then it would probably be New Zealand or Canada. I’m inspired by places with stunning scenery and have visited both before and would love to go back and be inspired once more by the beauty of those countries.
Thank you for all these amazing questions and all those we answered in the Zoom too.
Big hugs
Jessica xx