Guest blogger - Georgia Hill

A warm welcome to lovely Georgia Hill talking about her latest book and the inspiration behind it!

Huge thanks for having me on, Nell! Yesterday saw the publication of a book which has held a very special place in my heart for years. I loved writing Janey Trelawney’s Year of Surprising Triumphs. I always fall in love with my hero but this time I fell for the heroine too! A long time ago, a friend introduced me to the idea of snowdrop devotees – galanthophiles. She sent me some articles from a magazine and links to a few websites. Also percolating in my brain was the image of a studious and sexy accountant hero and a heroine who was a bit ‘out there,’ a little eccentric. I wrote the first scene, where Will watches Janey dance under the chestnut trees and then, as often happens, I got waylaid with writing other stuff. That first scene never left me though. Opposite my childhood home were three chestnut trees. I was a bit of an eccentric child, a bit ‘out there’ (probably still am) and loved standing underneath them listening to the breeze seething through the leaves. The sound that trees make in the wind is called ‘susurration’ – isn’t it a beautiful word? A re-watch of one of my favourite films, Calamity Jane, got me excited; I had the inspiration for some of the plot, mainly the bit where everyone is in love with the wrong person. The book wears its Calamity Jane influences lightly but, if you’re a keen film buff like Janey, you’ll have fun spotting them. I’m like Janey in some ways but especially when it comes to dyscalculia, which I believe I have to a mild degree and which ruined large parts of my high school life. I only wish I had her gardening skill; my ability to kill plants is legendary.

It’s funny how things trickle through your life and end up in your writing. All the above – and much, much more – ended up in Janey Trelawney, including a dim-witted and naughty spaniel! I must take this opportunity to add my thanks to Greg Poulos, who was very helpful in reminding me what a wonderful city Boston is, and my friend Debbie who supplied Janey’s ‘bra incident.’ I forgot to acknowledge you both – a terrible habit and I promise to make it up to you next time. I also need to thank my weekly Zoom group. You know who you are. You’ve gave valuable insight along the way and kept me sane-ish during Lockdowns. I wanted to read uplifting fiction during these (groan) unprecedented times and I wanted to write it too. I hope Janey fills that need. Love, Georgia x About the book! - Janey Trelawney's Year of Surprising Triumphs Janey’s life becomes more disaster movie than romcom when the ruthless Becca steams in to manage Cheney House. Her job as head gardener in peril and her self-confidence in tatters, Janey must fight back. Finding an ally in Will, who’s more Clark Kent than Superman, it’s up to them to save the day while owner Clare is away having her Shirley Valentine moment. It doesn’t help that everyone is in love with the wrong people! Why can’t people love the one who loves them back? Will Cheney House survive - and will Janey ever get her When Harry Met Sally happy ending? Find out in this warm-hearted romance from the author of the best-selling Millie Vanilla’s Cupcake Café, full of Gregory Peck look-a-likes, snowdrops, cake, and a cocker spaniel called Camilla. BUY THE BOOK HERE

About the author: Georgia Hill writes warm-hearted and up-lifting contemporary and timeslip romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There's always a dog. It's usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. Her books are firmly rooted in small seaside towns similar to the one she lives in and she loves history especially when it insists on rearing up and battering at the present. As a child she had an invisible friend called Gonky who lived on the third stair from the bottom. As an adult her invisible friends inhabit her head and refuse to leave until she commits them to paper. Readers of her books can escape into a warm bath of words and, no matter what challenges her characters face they will, ultimately, have a happy ending. Find her on Twitter as @Georgia Writes

Best seller

Whoo hoo, thank you to all my brilliant Canadian readers. Murder in the Bell Tower has its lovely best seller fl

ag today again. You can get your copy BUY HERE

Guest blogger - Lizzie Chantree

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. Visit her website at www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter @Lizzie_Chantreehttps://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree.

Lizzie's fabulous new book is released on 19th Feb! And it sounds amazing: The Little Icecream shop by the sea: Genie’s family is in crisis. Their seafront business is failing with the loss of Genie’s grandmother and her legendary ice cream flavours. Genie is determined to be the one to save her family’s heritage, but suddenly her mother wants to sell to developers and leave their shared history behind. Buying the business and taking on a sixty-eight year old business partner, Ada, with a mysterious past and a gorgeous but distracting grandson, Genie sets out to prove her parents wrong. Ada’s grandson, Cal, wants to protect his gran from ‘pensioner persuader’, Genie, but soon realises that living in a little seaside town and away from the paparazzi in Hollywood can actually give him time to heal. Hiding in a seafront business with its fiery owner and working as kitchen staff, is the only way he can think of to keep his ex-Hollywood glamour-puss, gran from harm. But his meddling might also ruin Ada’s second chance at love. Hiring a private detective and learning about Genie’s parent’s past makes Cal regret his own impulsiveness. The information he has unearthed could destroy their blossoming romance and turn Genie’s world upside down. Genie soon discovers that friends can become enemies and your closest family can have lied to you for your whole life.

Hmm, icecream and the seaside, what's not to love? Especially with a side serving of romance. Get your copy HEREBest of all its just 99p or 99c for the next 7 days!! Follow Lizzie on Twitter TWITTER Or on Facebook FACEBOOK

Starting Miss Underhay book 7

So, book 7 is officially underway and the first 8k is down on paper! This story takes us out of Torbay and into Yorkshire to a castle no less! Lots of fun to write and research. My first delivery of materials has just arrived. I had planned an in person trip for last summer to coincide with the Theakston Crime festival. Alas those plans bit the dust so I'm relying on memory of previous trips, famly knowledge and my lovely shiny new books and maps.

Murder at Enderley Hall is an Amazon US bestseller!

Huge thanks to my fabulous readers! Murder at Enderley Hall is in the top 50 today on Amazon US. HERE snuggled up next to Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books!!