janbaynham Guest Post With Imogen Martin

My guest this week is no stranger to my blog. I'm delighted to welcome back another fellow Cariad author and good writing friend, Imogen Martin. Her third novel, The Mountains Between Us, will be published this coming Tuesday, February 18th, by Storm Publishing. Her wonderful books never fail to enthrall me.

Welcome, Imogen. With just two days to go before publication day, please tell us a little about novel three. Over to you!

The Mountains Between Us is the book I never expected to write.

My previous novel, To The Wild Horizon, is set in 1846 and is the story of pioneer Grace Sinclair.  She’s accompanied on her 2,000 mile journey to Oregon by the stern Captain James Randolph and they gradually fall in love. At the end of the book, they ride off into the sunset together. Whilst I loved these characters, I waved them off and thought their story was over.

Then lots of readers asked what happened next and wanted a further book. I didn’t think there was a strong enough story if Grace simply became an army wife. But then I remembered: the California Gold Rush! That happened in the middle of the nineteenth century, didn’t it? Little bit of Googling later, and yes: gold was discovered in 1848, on the America River, California. Perfect. 

If Randolph was looking for gold though, he couldn’t be in the army anymore. What happened in 1847 that could make the change? The United States was at war with Mexico – so Randolph must have been there, and something awful must have happened (these characters really do take on a life of their own!).

Now the book is written, this is how my publisher has described it:

A moving portrait of a marriage tested by trauma, secrets, and the wild promise of the California Gold Rush.

Oregon, 1848. Their love began on the perilous Oregon Trail, when Grace – an independent young woman on the run from the law – met her match in the surly Captain charged with getting her to safety.

Now their once-passionate marriage is fraying, as James, haunted by the crime that led to his dismissal from the US army, refuses to tell his worried wife what happened, and Grace hides her sorrow at her childlessness.

When rumours reach them that gold has been discovered in California, they set off, Grace praying that a new start will save them. At first their efforts meet with success, and she dares to hope that they can make a life for themselves in San Francisco – that her husband will return to the caring and steadfast man she married.

But when a fire takes everything they have, a devastated James decides to go out into the gold fields alone. There, he is captured by the worst of men.

Desperate and broken, only one person can save him. His wife. 

I am delighted by the reviews so far. One thing I wanted was that this book could stand alone. Whilst I hope you will read To The Wild Horizon, readers agree that you can easily start with The Mountains Between Us.

Buying link:

The Mountains Between Us is published on 18 February 2025.

UK: https://geni.us/763-al-aut-am

US & Canada: https://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Between-Us-heart-wrenching-California-ebook/dp/B0D464GLHX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DH2ARC3J34K9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Hd5mppSx9i5cCKMzz4t0DF_mYrrNsNaBlgSQ755o7vk.MKzu64ifauaGkCT4cTUfmq1IsVF9ds4By7aJS-F__Gk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+mountains+between+us+imogen+martin&qid=1739538359&sprefix=%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1

Social Media Links

Newsletter: subscribepage.io/EU9Ckx 

Website: https://imogenmartinauthor.com

Twitter / X : https://twitter.com/ImogenMartin9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImogenMartin.Author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imogenmartinauthor/?hl=en-gb

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/imogen-martin

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40418258.Imogen_Martin

Author Bio

Imogen writes sweeping, historical fiction set in nineteenth-century America.

As a teenager, she took the Greyhound bus from San Francisco to New York. Over those three days of staring out of the window at the majestic mountains and endless flat plains, stories wound themselves into her head: tales of brooding, charismatic men captivated by independent women.

Since then, she has worked in a coffee-shop in Piccadilly, a famous bookstore, and a children’s home. She has run festivals, and turned a derelict housing block on one of the poorest estates in the UK into an award-winning arts centre.

During 2020 Imogen was selected by Kate Nash Literary Agency as one of their BookCamp mentees, a mentorship programme designed to accelerate the careers of promising new writers.

Married with two children, Imogen divides her time between Wales and Sardinia.

She hopes her books will bring you the tingle of a new love affair whilst immersed in a different time and place.

Thank you, Imogen. I'm so glad you did write The Mountains Between Us. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. It took me to a time and place I knew very little about and it was a book I couldn't put down.

 Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7153812154

Thank you for reading. I highly recommend Imogen's new novel to all of you who'll enjoy a sweeping historical love story as I do. Writers, have you written a story you hadn't expected to write? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. Thanks!

You may also follow me on:

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FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

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Bluesky - Jan Baynham

For more information about me and my books, please visit my Amazon page.

Did you know that all my novels are available to read on KINDLE UNLIMITED for those of you who subscribe?

Shortlisted for Romantic Saga of the Year 2024

'I was transported to stunning Sicily and enjoyed the senses evoked through the setting and food. The mystery woven into the novel is compelling, and I love the art theme.'

Guest Post With Lilac Mills

If you read my New Year goals in my last post, you will have noticed that in 2025, I hope to support other writers. One of the ways I like to do that is to invite them to write guest posts for the blog.

The first of my guests this year is a fellow Cariad and author friend, Lilac Mills. I'm always in awe of the number of books Lilac has written but as well as being a prolific writer, she is always ready to support others with her experience. Her latest novel Surprises on the Scottish Isle was published by Canelo on 23rd January. 

I've asked her to tell you about herself and her new novel. It's over to you, Lilac! 

My bio states that I love making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually), and that is so very true. I’ve always loved anything crafty or arty and have tried my hand at quite a few over the years. One of my earliest memories is Christmas time in the first year in school making paper lanterns, and angels using card and gold doilies – Father Christmases out of loo roll inserts!

I used to draw and paint a lot, but although my pencil drawings weren’t too bad, I can’t paint for toffee. See?

I’ve also made some of my own clothes in the past and even made loose covers for a sofa and chairs. I’ve done quilting (harder than I thought it was going to be), embroidery, cross-stitch and knitting. I was pleased with my cross-stitch results, but anything I knitted was always a disappointment. No matter how hard I tried, I could never get the tension right. 

And as for needle-felting… This is how far I got! I keep going back to it and giving it another try, but I’ve been working on this kit for nearly two years, so I don’t anticipate finishing it anytime soon.

I’d like to do more crafting, but I never seem to have enough time, so writing a series set in a craft centre was a real treat, and I wanted to pick those crafts that I want to learn more about or have another so at.

Surprises on the Scottish Isle features dolls’ houses and all things miniature because my daughter reminded me of the dolls’ house I renovated for her when she was tiny. She wanted to know whether I still had it, but unfortunately I don’t. But it got me thinking that it’s something I would like to do again one day, especially when I see one in a charity shop that needs some TLC, like this one. In the meantime, I had my main character, Tara, make dolls houses for a living instead.

The craft centre in the story is loosely based on one I used to visit often when I lived in the West Midlands (that’s a part of England, for non-UK readers), and I must admit that I stole shamelessly from it, from the layout to the gorgeous crafty vibes. The real one doesn’t have a castle, but it should! I love castles and the older they are, the better as far as I’m concerned. Their history fascinates me and I’ve visited many over the years, so the temptation to put one in my latest book was too great to resist. And you must admit, Scotland has its fair share of stunning castles! Nature and the natural world also feature quite heavily in the book, so I suppose I could say that I’ve combined all my favourite things into one gorgeous story!

But that’s not all. I can’t not mention the most important aspect of the book - the romance! I simply adored writing Tara and Cal’s story, and I hope readers will fall in love with it just as I have. 

Blurb:

Will they get a second chance at first love?

When newly divorced Tara McTaigh spots an advert for a studio to let in Coorie Castle’s craft centre, she packs up her Edinburgh life and moves to the Isle of Skye, eager for a fresh start.

Little does she know that the castle’s estate manager, single dad Calan Fraser, is the man who broke her heart back at university.

Thoroughly done with romance, Tara decides to ignore Cal and focus on building her business – creating dollhouses to commission. But Duncoorie is a small community, and the two keep bumping into each other…

Just as she is starting to open her heart once more to Cal, a change in his life puts everything on the line. When a surprise storm threatens Tara’s safety, will Cal realise in time that love is worth the risk?

BUYING LINK:

Surprises on the Scottish Isle was out on 23^rd January and can be ordered here: https://geni.us/SOTSI

BIO: 

Lilac Mills lives on a Welsh hillside with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don’t get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually).

She’s been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet.

She loves long hot summer days in the garden, and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she’s usually writing, or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Website: https://www.lilacmills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilacMills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilacmillsauthor

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/lilacmills

Thank you, Lilac. I wish you good luck with Surprises in the Scottish Isle. You must be delighted with the wonderful reviews already coming in.

Thank you for reading. I'm sure you enjoyed finding out more about Lilac, the author behind the story, as much as I did. Writers, have you had a hobby that you've been able to use in your writing? Readers, what novel have you read where the author's hobby has piqued your interest to find out more? I'd love it if you commented. Thanks!

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Bluesky - Jan Baynham

For more information about me and my books, please visit my Amazon page.

Did you know that all my novels are available to read on KINDLE UNLIMITED for those of you who subscribe?

Shortlisted for Romantic Saga of the Year 2024

'I was transported to stunning Sicily and enjoyed the senses evoked through the setting and food. The mystery woven into the novel is compelling, and I love the art theme.'

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A new year means new writing goals. What will the year ahead bring?
At the end of last year, I re-signed a contract with my publisher, Joffe Books/Choc Lit. This time it was for two further novels, the working titles of which are The Silent Sister, partially set in Kefalonia, and The Stolen Sister, partially set in Crete. The first part of the year will be spent concentrating on both those novels. I missed taking part in NaNoWriMo24 due to getting the first draft of the Kefalonia novel ready for submission so instead, I shall be taking part in the RNA Cariad Chapter's own version of NaNo during January and February. The discipline of getting the bulk of a first draft written and reporting my progress to others in the writing group will be good for me. I shall also be meeting a writing buddy via Facetime each Friday to have a brief meeting to talk about our novels-in-progress. 

So what are my writing plans and goals for 2025?

• to work on edits when they arrive for The Silent Sister (already submitted to my editor)
• to complete the first draft of The Stolen Sister 
• to edit and polish it until it is as good as I can get it
• to make a research trip to Crete where the novel is partially set
• to submit to my editor by 1st May
• to start a newsletter and build up a list of subscribers
• to attend the RNA one-day event in August 
• to continue to support other writers
• to write more flash fiction and short stories
• to arrange more library and book-fair talks

🍀🍀Wish me luck! 🍀🍀

Thank you for reading and a big thank you for your wonderful support in 2024. 

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Bluesky - Jan Baynham

For more information about me and my books, please visit my Amazon page.

 Looking Back on 2024

Apologies for the lack of posts over the last few months. I last posted about 'hooks in books' on September 17th and that is the longest period without a post since I started the blog in January 2014. I have been writing, editing, attending meetings, giving author talks and selling books at book fair so I am very much still involved in the writing world.

Every year at this time, I look back and reflect on what my goals were for the year and consider how many I've managed to achieve. 

In 2024, I wrote 15 blog posts, way down on the year before. The year started well with nine of those being posts from guest writers who wrote about their forthcoming books. For me, supporting other authors is one of the most rewarding features of running a blog and I regret not inviting more writers onto the blog in the second half of the year. I love hearing about the 'stories behind the stories', the research writers have undertaken and about their writing journeys. 

Although 2024 was a lean year for blog posts, it was in fact the most successful for me since I started writing. In February, I remember my shock and thrill to receive an email informing me that my fourth novel, The Secret Sister, had been shortlisted in the Romantic Saga of the Year in the 2024 RONAs. I was sworn to secrecy until the shortlists were publicly announced on April 9th. I was bursting to tell someone! As you know, I absolutely loved writing that novel, having visited beautiful Sicily on a research trip the year before. 

Before the awards ceremony in May, in April, my first three novels were given new titles, covers and blurbs and this revamp resulted in considerably increased sales and ratings/reviews.

In May, my daughter and I took a whistle-stop research trip to Kefalonia where novel five is set. It was so good to walk in the footsteps of my characters. I was able to allow my senses to see, hear, taste and smell what Eleni would have done on her first visit to the stunning Greek island. I hope that sense of place will come over to you, the readers, when the book is published next year.

I

Back from the trip, it was down to London for the awards evening. What an amazing experience that was! I didn't win but was so delighted to have been shortlisted. You may read the blog post about the RNA Awards and the Joffe Garden party two days later HERE.

 

In 2024, I attended three book fairs and gave two talks about my books and my writing journey. As well as selling books, it was so good to talk about the stories and where my inspiration came from.

Giving a talk at Llandrindod Library
my home town.

All ready for the Winter Book Fair, Pontypridd.

In August, I attended the RNA Conference at Royal Holloway University. Again, it was excellent; I learned so much and enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones. 

I was pleased to have two of my flashes included in the Worcestershire LitFest Flash Fiction 2024 Anthology again this year. Because the date of the launch clashed with the Winter Book Fair, I read out one of them via Zoom.

In November, the year ended on a high for me. I signed a contract for two further books with my publisher, Joffe/ Choc Lit. With working titles of The Silent Sister set in Kefalonia and The Stolen Sister set in Crete, I'm excited to know that two more stories will be reaching my loyal readers. Watch this space for publication dates soon!

So how did I do in achieving my goals?

• to complete the first draft of The Silent Sister  - ✅                          
• to edit and polish it until it is as good as I can get it - ✅
• to submit to my editor - ✅
• to make a research trip to Kefalonia where the novel is partially set - ✅
• to start a newsletter and build up a list of subscribers - ❌
• to attend the RNA Conference in August at Royal Holloway - ✅
• to continue to support other writers - partially ✅. Have tried to share cand repost on social media but could do better on my blog! 
• to start researching and planning novel six, to be set in Crete - ✅.                                                                                      

Thank you for reading and for all your support in 2024. I'd like to especially thank all of you who have bought or downloaded my novels. The number of reviews and ratings have blown me away and help so much to calm down the old Imposter Syndrome that's ever present!

🎄🎄Happy Christmas to you all. See you in 2025! 🎄🎄                                                 .

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

BlueSky -  Jan Baynham‬

For more information about me and my books, please visit my Amazon page.

Hooks in Books

When I started submitting my first novel, I was told that, in order for it to be accepted, it would need to have a commercial hook. However, no one could ever tell me specifically what that was! Of late, as I embark on a new novel, I've been reflecting on what hooks my published novels have and what could be the hook or hooks in this new one.  

   

What is a 'hook in a book'? I think of a hook in a story as something that catches a reader's attention and makes them want to carry on reading - when you can't stop reading because you HAVE to know what happens next. Put simply, a hook grabs the reader's attention and pulls them into the story. 

'Story hooks work by reeling in the reader and making them want to learn more. Therefore, a good hook will create some sort of question (or better yet, multiple questions) in the reader's mind. They will simply have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.'

Hooks can take different forms. Here are some of those listed by Casie Bozay in her excellent blog post, 10 Story Hook Tips For Grabbing Attention that I've used in Prologues:

- starting with action, dropping the reader into a tense scene. In The Greek Island Secret, the novel opens with Sofia finding her son dead, apparently having taken his own life. 

'Sofia Simonides let out a scream and tottered backwards. Her pulse struggled to force blood around her veins. The body was slumped against the gnarled trunk of an ancient olive tree, his head hanging to one side and resting on the left shoulder. Andreas had a blue-grey pallor, his skin a candle-wax translucency. Sofia bent over and touched his cheek. It was icy cold.'

In The Sicilian Promise, we share with Joe the arrival of the dreaded telegram informing him his son has been killed in action in WW2.

'He opened the door to a solemn-faced young man in uniform. "Mr Joseph Howells? A telegram for you." The blood drained from Joe's face. As he took the envelope, his hand shook. His pulse raced so fast he steadied himself against the hall table. Please, God. Don't let it be what I think it is.'

- create intrigue about the characters. In The Secret Sister, Carlo has just arrived at a POW camp in mid-Wales.

'Thoughts of home made him uneasy as he realised, once again, that he might never be able to go back (to Sicily). He felt for the crucifix that hung around his neck as an image of his accuser entered his head.'

Hopefully, the readers will want to find out why Carlo can't return to his homeland after the war has ended and what has he been accused of? Who is his accuser?

- introduce something ominous. In The French Affair, Odile wheels her bicycle into the barn at the side of the farmhouse.

'She heard the rafters in the upstairs loft creaking. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her heart thumped. Several Nazis had been found hiding in neighbours' barns. They'd been trying to find out who was resisting the occupation and they were listening for evidence, She froze to the spot, hardly daring to breathe. Another creak. She wasn't imagining it.'

In my new novel, I've tried to introduce the possibility of something ominous to come after what should be a happy fun-filled evening.

'Greta smiled as she watched her new husband join in with the traditional Greek dancers, his blue eyes sparkling as swayed his hips and tried to dip in time with the others as they circled the dance floor. The haunting sound of the bouzouki music filled the busy taverna above the noise of the fun and laughter from the diners. Since arriving in Crete four years before as a naïve art student, she’d heard the instrument played many times but tonight, there was something unnerving about the dissonance of the music. She quickly dismissed the feeling when her three-year-old daughter wriggled down from her lap to join the dancers.'

These prologues are often short, sometimes no more than a page, but the hope is that they will pique the interest of readers to find out more. 

The advice in Casie Bozay's blog post is once we as writers have the reader's attention is to hold on to it. How can we do that? If the reader has too many unanswered questions, they will become frustrated but if they are answered straight away, the reader doesn't have a reason to read on. Getting the balance is crucial but not easy perhaps. Casie suggests:

'The best way to handle this is by answering some of the questions created by your hook while introducing new questions to keep the reader in suspense.'

So that is my task ahead as I write the first draft of a new novel. Wish me luck!

Thank you for reading. Writers, what hooks have you used in your novels? Readers, what makes you want to read on? 

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-baynham

For more information about me and my books, please visit my Amazon page.

Did you know that all my novels are available to read on Kindle Unlimited for those of you who subscribe?

Shortlisted for Romantic Saga of the Year 2024

'

I was transported to stunning Sicily and enjoyed the senses evoked through the setting and food. The mystery woven into the novel is compelling, and I love the art theme.'

 RNA CONFERENCE 2024

Just over a week ago, I travelled with my good writer friends, Sue McDonagh and Catherine Burrows to Egham, Surrey, for the RNA's annual conference. This year it was held at Royal Holloway University. Nothing could have prepared me for the stunning venue with its amazing architecture and history. The Founder's Building alone was both magical inside and out. After last year's event, I wondered how the organisers were going to top that conference but they did! I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and would like to publicly thank those organisers for their hard work and meticulous planning. 

We left Cardiff on Thursday 8th August by train and stayed in a Premier Inn not far from the venue so we could arrive early the next day when the conference officially started. 

We arrived by taxi to be greeted by a sea of excited faces to register and receive our goody bags and our keys for our accommodation. 

It was a very hot weekend and we were glad of the paper-heart fans we found in the bags. Here we are showing them off in the Welcome Meeting:

Courtesy of Virginia Heath

Over the three days, I attended some excellent talks and workshops, learned a lot and now need to reflect on that learning before I put it into practice. These included Sue Moorcroft's 'The Trickier Bits of Fiction', 'What's Your Hook?' with Fiona Lucas, Melissa Addey's 'How to Make and Use Book Trailers' and our fellow Cariad, Imogen Martin's 'Author IT for the Technically Challenged'.I definitely needed that one! The last two sessions on Sunday were ones I definitely gained a lot from, too - 'What a Great Idea!' delivered by Emma Robinson and, perhaps because setting plays such an important part in my own novels, Leonie Mack's 'Beyond Description: Using Setting to Enhance Your Story'.

The whole weekend was action-packed with a Hopeless Romantic Quiz on Friday night  - where I really was hopeless! - and the Gala party with its Barbeque and Disco on Saturday evening. Also included were the Joan Hessayon and Elizabeth Goudge awards, held in the stunningly beautiful Portrait Gallery. 

It was a wonderful conference. As well as all the learning, it was so good to catch up with old friends, meet others in person for the first time as well as make lots of new acquaintances.

Thank you for reading. What do you like most about attending conferences? What are the benefits? 

Thank you for reading. 

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-baynham

For more information about me and my books, please visit my Amazon page.

Did you know that all my novels are available to read on Kindle Unlimited for those of you who subscribe?

Shortlisted for Romantic Saga of the Year 2024

'I was transported to stunning Sicily and enjoyed the senses evoked through the setting and food. The mystery woven into the novel is compelling, and I love the art theme.'