Q&A with Rebecca Raisin

Thanks for having me here today, Simona!

1.    You’re newest book is called Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm, what is it about?

Lucy’s running from her past, and after a promise to her mother, seeking out a new life, a different direction. She’s a painter, and wants to travel the world but has limited funds. She stumbles across The Maple Syrup Farm, and its gorgeously gruff owner, Clay, who pegs her for a city slicker. Lucy can’t work out enigmatic Clay, but bides her time, until she saves enough to move on. When they find a stack of old journals, both of their lives are irrevocably changed. Would you keep a secret that big? Lucy has to decide whether to tell Clay what she knows, and risk losing the man who’s stolen her heart.

2.    It’s set in Ashford, a place your readers know well, can you tell us more about it?

Ashford is a small town in Connecticut, and somehow without much thought, the stories just evolved, all being set in the same location. I think it was mainly due to the fact I couldn’t bear never writing about CeeCee and Lil, again! I love those girls! So Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm is linked, by the town, or by friendships, but is a stand-alone. It was great fun exploring some new characters who are also both new to the tight knit community of Ashford.

3.    What is the inspiration behind called Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm?

The inspiration for this one came from a conversation with a guy called Graham who reads all my books. He’d looked up the real Ashford on Google Earth, and we were discussing what that town had as opposed to my fictional town. There were a few farms, and bigger rural type properties. That inspired me to think of something to write about on the outskirts of town. So then we got to talking about types of farms, and I thought of maple syrup because it’s such a lovely product to cook with, and the majestic trees are so hauntingly beautiful, and that was it!

4.    Can you tell us more about the main character(s)?

Lucy’s a total sweetheart, who after a recently painful past, wants to escape, discover who she is and what the world has to offer her.

         Clay’s gruff and rugged, with a huge chip on his shoulder, but there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye!

5.    How did you come up with the title of the book?

I thought about the journals and the secrets inside, which allude to a few things in the book, and it came from that.

6.    Imagine Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm would be turned into a movie, whom would you cast for the main characters?

Channing Tatum as Clay (SWOON!) And Jennifer Lawrence as Lucy :)

7.    What do you like most about being a writer?

Great question! All of it! I love when I’m so buried in a book that it encroaches into my real life…I’ve been calling Ashley Clay for weeks now by accident! I adore the writing and reading community, and how I’ve made real friendships with people I’ve never met – but will soon!

8.    When you are reading a book, what are you looking for in an author?

It depends on the style, or genre, but I love flowery, metaphorical writing. Or characters that you want to know more about, and be friends with. I love romantic comedy, and real life situations that you can relate to.

9.    Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate!

10. Silver or gold? Gold.

11. Cats or dogs? Cats :)

12. Sunrise or sunset? Sunset

13. Classic or modern? Modern

14. Call or text? Text

15. Picnic or nice restaurant? Picnic

16. Bright colors or neutral tones? Bright colours

17. Detailed or abstract? Abstract

About the author

I’m a full time writer from Perth, Australia. Love trying any genre of writing purely to see if I can do it! My debut novella Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe was published in December 2013 by Carina UK and was an Amazon bestseller in romantic comedy. I’d love to connect with you!

Rebecca on Twitter: @jaxandwillsmum

Website: http://rebeccaraisin.wordpress.com

The Life Intended – by Kristin Harmel

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

After her husband's sudden death over ten years ago, Kate Westhoven never expected to be lucky enough to find another love of her life. But now she's planning her second walk down the aisle to a perfectly nice man. So why isn't she more excited?

At first, Kate blames her pre-wedding jitters on stress. But when she starts seeing Patrick, her late husband, in her dreams, she begins to wonder if she's really ready to move on. Is Patrick trying to tell her something about his death and is there a chance his nighttime visits could be more than just wishful thinking?

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I was over the moon and really excited when I opened this bookpost, because I didn’t expect it and I always wanted to read a Kristin Harmel book, but never had the chance to. So thanks again to … at Quercus for sending me a copy.

The blurb of this book sounded very intriguing and the story was even better. Uplifting, moving and just perfect.

Oh and the cover is gorgeous, I fell in love with it immediately.

Kate is happily married to Patrick, the make such a cute couple. But then suddenly he’s taken away from her, dies in a car crash. Now 12 years later Kate hasn’t really moved on. She thinks of him often and wonders how life could have been with him, would they have children now?

Kate is with Dan now, but doesn’t seem entirely happy, she still says yes to his proposal though. When she starts seeing Patrick, in her dreams, she gets more confused and starts to think about what she really wants in life. Not only does she dream of Patrick, but there is also their daughter Hannah. It was so sweet to read about the three of them. These scenes very moving and emotional. It made Kate see life in a different way and when she finds out that their daughter is deaf she starts learning sign language.

Dan doesn’t really understand that. He also seems to dislike the idea of having children and wants Kate to stop having contact with Patrick’s mum Joan. Kate realizes more and more that Dan might not be the one.

Her sister Susan and her best friend Gina are always by her side. Although they seem to struggle understanding the whole dream story.

Through the sign language course new things open up to Kate. She gets to know Andrew, he teacher, and he brings her to work with deaf boys and girls, who are in the foster system. With her music therapy she is able to help these young teenagers and it’s a pleasure to read about these sessions. I also like the way she opens up to Andrew more and more. They get along really well and I kind of felt a spark between them.

The dreams always come back to her and they really wake Kate’s feelings of being a mother. They way she is with Hannah is adorable and maybe Patrick is trying to tell ger something.

These dreams really open her eyes and she changes things in her life and when everything seems lost again, a new door opens, with a lot of surprises, through one of the music therapy girl, but it’s great for Kate. And she might be able to find love and have a family after all.

This story is beautiful, poignant, heart breaking, wonderful, touching and so much more. The writing is brilliant, the characters are authentic and real and the scenes are so vivid and detailed. Kristin is such a talented author and I really want to read more of her stories. She put a lot of research into this book and I enjoyed learning more about foster care, music therapy (I always thought about doing this) and deafness. The story has a beautiful flow and it’s full of love and care. It’s thought provoking and gives a whole new light on life. I think the title is perfect; it fits the story in the most wonderful way. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE MASTERPIECE!!!

Rating:

My possible cast:

Kate: Bethany Joy Lenz

Patrick: Chris Evans

Andrew: Chris Pine

Hannah: Mackenzie Foy

Allie: Mika Abdalla

Kristin on Twitter: @kristinharmel Website: http://kristinharmel.com

Things No One Tells You About Being A Bookseller by Laura L.

The wonderful Laura from A Bookseller Blabbering write a little post about being a bookseller, thanks for joining me on Sky's Book Corner today. 

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I love my job working in Waterstones. I imagine it’s nearly every book lovers dream to work in a two floor shop full to the brim with gorgeous books. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to get offered a job last August and, with me coming towards the end of my first year at Waterstones, I can’t believe how much I’ve learnt. However, there are a few things I wish someone had told me before I started…

1.     You will get through a LOT of pairs of shoes.

Imagine spending all day long on your feet. Shelving books, unpacking deliveries, running around to find books for customers, showing customers where certain sections are and not having the chance to sit down until lunchtime. I seem to have got through SO many pairs of shoes – they just seem to get so worn down by all the walking around that nearly every month my pay check goes on a new pair of shoes…!

2.     Customers will assume you know EVERYTHING.

Sometimes customers ask you about a certain book and expect you to know exactly what they’re talking about. Even if they don’t know the title, author or even the colour of the cover, they still expect you to be totally magic and work out which book they’re talking about! Surprisingly, I am getting better at being psychic and often through a process of elimination I can work out which book the customer is after, however sometimes it’s just impossible!

3.     You want to cry every time someone destroys your display/shelves.

It takes a lot of patience to work in a bookshop. After making a lovely display table of books or shelving a whole section of books perfectly and in the right alphabetical order, there is nothing more soul destroying than someone ruining it. Whether it’s putting the wrong book back on the wrong shelf or taking a book off of a table and putting it back on a different one…ARGH! The pain…

4.     Every day your TBR/Wish List will grow.

Unpacking deliveries is one of my favourite parts of the job. Getting to see what is new, what is popular and what people have ordered is always pretty exciting. I love opening up a children’s delivery and seeing which new YA books have arrived and stroking their covers and, more often than not, putting one aside for me to buy at the end of the day! But when I have no money to buy any more books in a month, I start to add them all to my wishlist. I even carry around a bit of paper with me that I write new and exciting titles on…!

5.     At home your bookshelves become an extension of work.

My bookshelves at home are constantly under strict organisation and have to be perfectly ordered and looking gorgeous! At least at home I know that no one will come along and ruin my nice shelving…!

So, there are just a few things I wish someone had told me before I started! But even after long, stressful, busy days and after dealing with rude customers and feeling that the job is just too much, I realise that I am SO lucky to work where I do. I love my job. I love working with books, with my colleagues who love books just as much as me and seeing the smiles on people’s faces and the excitement when they discover a brand new book is just pure awesome.

I’m so lucky.