A Big Week for the Heroine Addicts... celebrating birthdays and books

Sometimes you wonder just how much you can cram into a week...well this week three heroine addicts have/had birthdays Anna, Julie and moi (and for one of them it was a big one ending 0). And as if that wasn't enough...Julie has a new book out today...Dear Thing

You can find it here

Claire and Ben are the perfect couple. But behind the glossy façade, they've been desperately trying - and failing - to have a baby for years. Now, the stress and feelings of loss are taking their toll on their marriage. Claire's ready to give up hope and get on with her life, but Ben is not. And then Ben's best friend, Romily, offers to conceive via artificial insemination and carry the baby for them.

Romily acts in good faith, believing it will be easy to be a surrogate. She's already a single mother, and has no desire for any more children. Except that being pregnant with Ben's child stirs up all sorts of emotions in her, including one she's kept hidden for a very long time: Ben's the only man she's ever loved.

Two mothers-and one baby who belongs to both of them, and which only one of them can keep.


And the small paperback of The Cornish House is out

You can find it here

Can a house heal a broken heart?

When artist Maddie inherits a house in Cornwall shortly after the death of her husband, she hopes it will be the fresh start she and her step-daughter desperately need. Trevenen is beautiful but neglected, and as Maddie discovers the stories of generations of women who've lived there before, she begins to feel her life is somehow intertwined within its walls.

But Maddie's dream of a calm life in the countryside is far from the reality she faces - and as she pulls at the seams of Trevenen's past, the house reveals secrets that have lain hidden for generations.

So please join us for cake and champagne to celebrate a fabulous week of birthdays and books!

Transformation

In writing, our characters are somehow transformed by the end of the book. They have taken a journey - whether physical or emotional. There will have been a fair bit of territory covered in the process.

This week has marked a transformation for me...I'm now a published author. Like my heroines I have passed through the hoops of burning fire (not literally guys!) to come out the other side a bit singed but triumphant. Years of hard work and dreaming have paid off.

Biddy, Liz, Julie and Pia

On Thursday we held a blog party here and on Thursday evening in London we had a physical launch...a heart in mouth moment for me. Thankfully I had three other Heroine Addicts with me to celebrate (we missed Anna and Susanna but happily drank their share of the fizz!)

It was a brilliant moment..but I will confess I didn't feel any different except for the deadline for book two that is looming.....that is until I saw The Cornish House on sale in WH Smith's in Paddington Station....and did a happy dance in the middle of the store!

While at the station I couldn't miss a cuddle with the bear himself!

Launch Party - The Cornish House!

It’s party time again here on the Heroine Addicts blog and today we are celebrating the launch of Liz Fenwick’s brilliant debut novel The Cornish House!  (I have had the privilege of reading an advance copy and let me tell you, you’re in for a treat :)

As usual, we are all bringing something to eat or drink and a suitable date.  As The Cornish House is obviously set in Cornwall, our theme is anything to do with that lovely county so please let us know what and who you’ve brought when you pop in to join us!  We’ll start with Liz, of course, the guest of honour:-

Liz has brought the Flag of St Piran for us to hang on the wall (thanks, Liz!), some scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and Hugh Jackman as her date since he apparently had something to do with inspiration for the book’s hero (can’t think why :).

 

I (Christina) have brought some champagne so we can toast Liz properly and I thought a charming pirate might be a suitable date, so who better than Jack Sparrow?  I’m sure he wouldn’t be above a bit of smuggling into the lovely Cornish coves and I would happily accompany him anywhere ...

 

Julie is bringing Paul Bettany, who Liz apparently saw in Cornwall once and failed to grab – too late, he’s Julie’s now!  She’s also found a Cornish Knocker ... no, sorry, that should be Cornish Knocker beer.  Interesting name!  Well, anyhow ...

Biddy’s escort is the fiddle-playing Seth Lakeman, and although he’s apparently from Devon, that’s near enough, isn’t it?  I’m sure he won’t mind crossing the Tamar for Biddy’s sake, especially when she’s bought some scrumpy just for him.

Susanna has arrived on the arm of Leon Ockenden (who hails from Looe, near her favourite Cornish village Polperro).  Their drink of choice is Cornish Lust – a strawberry and cream liqueur that is just magical!  [I’m beginning to think I may need to go to Cornwall more often since the choice of beverages is so ... er, exotic!]

 

Finally, Anna is joining us with the lovely Matthew McConaughey in tow – he looks like he’s just rushed out of the sea to be with her, what a hero!  And she’s invited the fantastic girls of Kemysk to entertain us with their dancing (perhaps Seth will play for us too?)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNxG6i0hcKc). 

So now the party is in full swing – please join us to help celebrate Liz’s launch!

Before we have too much of those wonderfully named drinks, we’ve asked Liz to give us five facts about The Cornish House:-

Which is your favourite scene in the book?  Such a tough question but I would have to say the last scene in the book.

Which scene made you smile?  Almost every scene with Hannah in it …her attitude just makes me smile but in particular her first meeting with Old Tom ...

Which character surprised you the most?  I would have to say Old Tom as I didn’t know he would be in the book until he appeared and I fell in love with him …

Which was the scene you hated writing the most?  That would give the plot away but let’s just say the one where Maddie feels the most pain …

Which book would your hero probably have on his shelf?  Ah, Mark’s bookshelves would be laden with glorious glossy architecture books but the well-worn copy of The Hobbit would say a lot more about him …

You can find The Cornish House here and in all good book stores!

Now, let’s party on dudes …