Title: What Happens in Cornwall
Author: T.A. Williams
Publisher: Carina UK
Publication Date: 20 July 2015
Twitter: @TAWilliamsBooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRTAWilliams
Blog/website: www.tawilliamsbooks.com
Today is my turn on the blog tour for What Happens in Cornwall… the fantastic new book from T.A. Williams. Keep on reading and you’ll find a fantastic Q&A with the author himself, including a special revelation about his next book, and a competition!
Blurb
For a very British summer holiday…
When archaeologist Sam realises her relationship is as dead as the skeletons she’s exhuming, she knows it’s time to make a change. But with bills to pay her options are limited…until a discovery on Rock Island in Cornwall gives her a reason to escape…
Head to the Cornish coast!
In Cornwall, questions are thrown up at every turn: who is the glamorous owner of Rock Island that the paparazzi are so interested in? How has the irresistible, but impossibly arrogant, history professor James Courtney managed to get so far under Sam’s skin? And will it ever stop raining so Sam can lose the cagoule and sip a cool drink in the sun? One thing’s for sure: there’s never been a holiday quite like this one!
Enjoy a summer of surprises and romance with What Happens in Cornwall…, the perfect retreat for fans of Fern Britton.
Review
As this is quite a long post already, I’ll keep my review short and sweet!
What Happens in Cornwall has a number of different storylines, all of which neatly intersect, along with a number of twists and turns which hold the reader’s interest. The story flows well and drew me in from the very beginning.
Samantha is an archology PHD student who is on the verge of splitting up with her longterm boyfriend Neil. She jumps at the chance for a weekend away and, after hitting some difficulties, she gets the opportunity to meet the mysterious owner of a private island off the coast of Cornwall. The island is a historical treasure and the owner agrees to allow an archeological dig to take place. All is going well until things take a turn for the worse in a number of regards, leading to some difficult situations for the group.
The characters are great. Whilst this is a romance, I found that I preferred to read about the developing friendships amongst the characters, particularly between Sam and Ann and, of course, the very funny Italians paparazzi, Beppe and Giancarlo. I think they deserve their own book!
The book has a bit of something for everyone – celebrities, paparazzi, mystery, romance, history, Italians, dogs….
What Happens in Cornwall… is a great, light-hearted and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Guest Post – Q&A
Hi Trevor! A big welcome from us over at Curious Ginger Cat and thank you for taking the time to do a little Q&A for our readers.
After reading your earlier novel What Happens in Tuscany, I was very excited to get my hands on your new book What happens in Cornwall, which was released by Carina UK on 20 July 2015. Our readers would love to hear more about you and your new novel.
Current Book
- The story is set on Rock Island Cornwall. Why did you choose this setting? Is Cornwall an area you are very familiar with?
Yes, I know Cornwall well. I was born in Devon (right next door to Cornwall) and, after living abroad for a while, I’m now back in Devon. So, for me to get to Cornwall is only an hour in the car. We always went to Cornwall on family holidays and it was then that I developed my love for the county (and surfing!)
- Who was your favourite character to write in the book and why?
I always like my main female lead character. My girls aren’t swooners or blubbers. They have their problems, but they get on with life. I also have a soft spot for Sam’s best friend, Becky, desperately on the lookout for a millionaire.
- The main character, Sam, is an archaeologist and I have read that you have a great interest in Medieval History. Is archaeology an area that you have previously worked in or would have liked to worked in?
No, my background is in teaching English. I developed an interest in medieval history about 30 years ago and I still read everything I can get my hands on about that period. I’ve actually got a trilogy of medieval novels sitting in a drawer, waiting for an interested publisher. Now…if you knew somebody like that by any chance…
- What did you find the most challenging about writing What Happens in Cornwall?
As ever, it’s trying to think myself into a female head. My wife and my daughter read my stuff first and I wait with baited breath for their verdict.
Being an Author, the Writing Process & Publication
- Was there a moment when you just knew you wanted to be an author, or was it more of a gradual thing? When did it all begin for you?
I’ve still got all 44 handwritten pages of “The Lake Dwellers”, written in pencil when I was about 13. Since then writing has been my relaxation and my drug.
- When looking back over your experiences regarding being a published author, what has been your favourite moment to date?
No question it was the email from Clio Cornish my editor at Carina UK, offering to publish my first book. After forty years of trying, that felt really, really good.
- I believe that What Happens in Cornwall is your 5th published book. How do you normally celebrate your publication days?
It sounds very boring, but the answer is fairly low key. Open a bottle of fizz, speak to a few friends and then get on with the next one. Sorry, I’m a boring old so and so really.
- What’s your writing process? Do you plan/plot the story or just start writing and see where it takes you? If you plan, how do you do it – notebooks, Post-It notes etc…?
Editors like to get a summary in advance. I find that terribly difficult as the book seems to take on a life of its own after a few chapters and leads me off in unexpected directions. No, it just sort of pours out (if I’m lucky). When it comes to forward planning of my writing (not other aspects of my life where I’m a bit of a control freak) I’m definitely a seat of the pants man.
- If you plan, does the book ever take a different path to what you initially intended?
Like I said before, I’ve had gay men change sexual orientation, characters end up half the age they were at the start. One of the most memorable was a female character in a thriller a wrote years ago who jumped into bed with the handsome hero within a few hours of meeting him. I was furious. What a trollop!
- How do you find inspiration for your next book? Do you continuously write down potential ideas or does it just come to you?
Ah, if only I knew. My hobby and exercise is long bike rides. It’s amazing how the mind chugs along as you ride. Some of my best ideas (like setting What Happens in Cornwall on an island) just popped out on a bike ride.
- If you were to dabble in a genre that you haven’t ventured into before, which genre would you choose?
I’d quite like to try my hand at an Agatha Christie type murder mystery, just because it would force me to totally pre-plan the thing and the discipline might be good for me.
More about the Author
- Do you get much time to read yourself? If so, what are some of your favourite books and/or authors?
I read oh so little. When I do get time to read, it’s mainly historical. I’m deeply into the First World War at the moment and I’ve got a shelf of books about that.
- What’s your favourite way to relax when you’re not busy writing?
A long bike ride. I know it sounds silly, but a 50 mile ride really recharges my batteries (and gives me an excuse to eat whatever I like that evening!)
- Once a book is finished, do you immediately have another book in mind or do you treat yourself to a break?
Like all true drug addicts, I can’t stop. I rarely stop for more than a week or two.
Final Question
- What’s coming next for your readers or is top secret for now?
Right, well, I can now reveal what has been a secret up to now. My next book is scheduled to come out in the autumn and the title is… drum roll… What Happens at Christmas…
Thanks so much for visiting Curious Ginger Cat – it’s been brilliant to find out more about you and What Happens in Cornwall!
Buy Links
Amazon UK: Kindle – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00YUTHNNY
Amazon US: Kindle – http://amzn.com/B00YUTHNNY
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25672068-what-happens-in-cornwall?from_search=true&search_version=service
Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-happens-in-cornwall-t-a-williams/1122082544?ean=9781474036580
About the Author
Firstly, my name isn’t T A. It’s Trevor. I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, “Dirty Minds” one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn’t possibly comment. Ask my wife…
I’ve written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I’m enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.
I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.
I’ve been writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she’s right.
Competition
The Curious Ginger Cat 