Research Trip to Crete - Part Two

Sunset from Chania harbour

On the third morning of our stay in Chania, we awoke with a bang, literally! The whole apartment shook and immediate thoughts were of a possible earthquake. I have never experienced a thunderstorm like it. Fork lightning zig-zagged through the dawn sky followed almost immediately by deafening claps of thunder. The rain was torrential and it seemed like our plans for the day were dashed. We both received a severe weather warning on our phones. 

Critical weather warning

Flooded carpark after the storm

When the rain and thunder eventually eased somewhat, my daughter went to check on our hire car. Just in time, as it happened. Although we had a wet start to the day, the storm passed and we were able to continue with our research after all. 

Typical house in Chalepa, Chania

Our first stop was in the wealthier area of Chalepa where I wanted to find inspiration for houses for Dimitrios's parents and grandparents. We visited the house of Eleftherios Venizelos, a prominent leader of the Greek national liberation movement. He served as Prime Minister for over twelve years. His residence is now a beautifully preserved museum and although it will not appear in the novel, it was interesting to learn more about Greek political history at the turn of the 20th century. The whole area where his house is situated gave me ideas for the homes of a wealthy shipowner and his son. 

Secluded cove

From there, we explored the coast to find a secluded beach that could only be approached by boat. The roads became narrower and narrower with no passing places and we were able to look down on the small beach from above. 

The bay Dimitrios had chosen was a few kilometres out of Fáros Limáni. They turned off the main road and below them was a breathtaking view of a small secluded cove edging the aquamarine sea. The colours of the water changed through shades of turquoise and teal to a deep sapphire at the horizon. The last part of the lane came to a dead end and had been flattened out for a limited amount of parking where Dimitrios parked the scooter under some juniper trees. From there on, the beach could only be reached on foot. Taking their swimming things and bags from the two panniers on the scooter, they walked single file down the narrow stony path to the beach with Dimitrios leading the way. The smell was strong as their legs brushed the wild herbs in the coarse grass. 

On our way back, we encountered the second crisis of the day! A large bin lorry had broken down on the single-track road and had phoned for help. The only problem was that the break-down truck was in Chania, almost an hour away. 'Electrics gone,' said one of the men. It was the only way back so we resigned ourselves to sitting and waiting. Luckily, whatever the bin men did after a time, they got the vehicle going and after following them to a wider stretch of the road, we were able to go on our way. We stopped in a pretty seaside village where I decided would be the home of Greta's artist friend, Margot, and then visited Chania cemetery. 

Chania Cemetery

Through black metal gates set in a white-rendered wall, Zoë saw a sea of white marble. She entered, struck by the silence, hearing her breaths as she walked. Most of the tombstones and graves had a simple white marble cross mounted on a marble sarcophagus on which was an oval enamelled portrait of the loved one buried beneath. Some had candles and flowers while others had upright slabs of marble displayed at an angle on which inscriptions were written. The graves were placed very close together and were interspersed with narrow concrete paths. Zoë ambled along each row looking for John Carter’s name. She was about to give up when she found his grave tucked away in a far corner in the shade of an orange tree. His name in capital letters and underneath the date of his death in numerals, 15-05- 62, was written on a block of white marble, now grimy and green. Uncared for, there was no other inscription on the tombstone. Scorched weeds and grasses had grown through the white chippings bringing with them the sandy soil underneath and had died in the hot sun. She bent over and pulled some up, promising that when she moved to Fáros Limáni she would maintain John’s grave regularly like the ones that surrounded it. Poor John. Alone in a foreign graveyard, with no one to remember you.

Matala beach

The next day we left Chania and headed to Matala on Crete's south coast. Up in the mountains, we travelled through some torrential rain but by the time we got to the village famous for its hippie caves, the sun was shining again. Greta first visited the beautiful beach before the flower people arrived and it was the place where Zoë had chosen to scatter her mother's ashes.

Where Greta's ashes were scattered

Walking barefoot over the sand, Zoë made her way to the rock she’d picked out. The water was crystal clear and gentle waves broke around her ankles as she sat putting off what she’d gone there to do. Mam, I can see why you wanted to return. Crete is beautiful and I hope I’ve chosen the right place. Zoë took the urn out of her bag and unscrewed the lid. After checking no one was near, she took a deep breath, she slowly tipped the ashes into the water. Tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘Good-bye, Sleep well. I love you.’ The ashes mingled with the water and settled onto the flat rock underneath the surface of the water. Soon a wave came and washed them out to sea. ‘Return to nature, Mam.’ 

Our last night was spent in a hotel in Heraklion near to the airport for our return flight to Manchester the next day. It had been a whirlwind five days where I'd managed to tick off the things I wanted to see and find out. Since my return, I've been busy editing and tweaking the first draft of The Stolen Sister in the light of my research.

You may also follow me on:

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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.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Research Trip To Crete - Part One

Chania Venetian Lighthouse

Last week, I travelled to Crete with my daughter, Jo, to find out more about the area where novel six, with its working title of The Stolen Sister, is partially set. I've named the fictional town where much of the story takes place Fáros Limáni (Lighthouse Port in Greek). It's based on the town of Chania, famous for its Venetian lighthouse, on the north-west coast of Crete and was where we stayed in its old town for three nights.The dual timeline novel is set in the 1950s and the 1970s so by staying there gave us more of an idea of what Chania was like in both those eras. 

From the first draft of the novel, I'd made a list of places to visit, a list of things to check and, the best bit, typical Cretan foods to sample! My main character, Greta, was an artist who joined an art commune in the town. I decided on using one of the now derelict ship sheds situated close to the harbour as the building where the artists lived and painted.

Typical street in the old town

On the first full day in Chania, we first visited the Tourist Information Centre where a very helpful staff member was able to tell us what maternity services were like in Crete in the '50s, even ringing her cousin to check that she was born in a clinic rather than be delivered as a home birth which was common in Britain at the time. There were no ambulances, she told us, but a mother experiencing complications would be taken to hospital by taxi or car. She was also able to confirm some instances of stolen babies that I'd read about.

We spent the rest of the day visiting places mentioned in the novel. In the 1970 story, Zoë remembers playing in rock pools with a young boy and these on Nea Chora beach seemed ideal. 

It wasn’t far until she came to a row of small cottages on the street above a sandy beach. As she got nearer, the strong feeling of déjà vu returned. She stopped. Images of playing on the rocks and finding crabs in the rock pools came back to her. There was a boy she used to play with. Nikos... Zoë got out the photos from her bag and found one of two children playing on the beach. In the left of the photograph were the flat rocks she saw in front of her.

Tavernas and kafenía are mentioned a lot in the story and it only seemed right that we visited them!

Cretan beer, Charma

Dakos, a typical Cretan dish 

Traditional Greek salad

A rather large bougatsa 

Complimentary raki and 
portokalopita (Greek orange phyllo cake)

Greek yoghurt and honey

Eléni explained what each of the dishes were. 'Kali orexi. Bon appetit.' 

    'Dimitrios will tell you I'm not very adventurous when it comes to trying out Greek food but I am getting better, aren't I?' said Zoë.

    He squeezed her hand. 'You are. You're eating olives like a true Greek now.' They both laughed. 'But I don't think you're ready for the octopus.' He picked up a piece of pink grilled tentacle and began eating. 'There's a lot here you have already tried, Zoë mou.' He pointed to the dolmas, mini chicken souvlaki, the pitta bread and the hummus, as well as all the salads she loved. 'Echfaristo, Yiayia.Nothing too adventurous.'

    'The octopus was especially for you, agápi mou.' Dimitrios blew a kiss at his grandmother.

    'It looks wonderful, Eléni.' Zoë pointed to one platter. 'With the colours of all the fresh vegetables arranged around the bowl of tzaziki, it looks just like an artist's palette.'

Next time, Part Two will tell you about the critical weather warning we had on the Tuesday morning, a visit to Chalepa, a wealthy area of Chania, for inspiration for Dimitrios's parents' and grandparents' homes, finding a secluded cove and, on the last day, a trip to the hippie caves in Matala at the south of the island where Zoë scattered Greta's ashes. I hope you've enjoyed reading the first part and will return to read part two. Thank you. 

I'm excited to get back to the story of The Stolen Sister to tweak the first draft ready for submission in June. A huge thank you to Jo who again acted as my amazing tour guide and chauffeur for the five days. 

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.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Guest Post With Amanda Giles

Beside the Seaside

This week, I'm delighted to welcome another fellow Cariad author, Amanda Giles, to the blog. Her novel,The Beat of Our Hearts, will be published by Ulverscroft in July when you will be able to find it in your local libraries.

Welcome, Amanda. Please tell us about your lovely new novel.

Over to you!  

Thanks for inviting me on to your blog, Jan.

The Beat Of Our Hearts is my debut novel. Originally titled Drummer Boy, it’s been living in my writer’s mind for quite a while. As an 80s girl at heart, I remain a fan of the music. I’ve a romance story about a ‘New Romantic’ band tucked away in a box, which focused on the singer. However, drummer Jonny was always a favourite character. I was wondering about a romance for him when into my mind came Sian, fully formed. (It’s fab when that happens!) She was a Welsh army training sergeant, not given to the nonsense of the pop music world. I knew that one day they would have their own story.

We used to live in Hastings. It’s a vibrant town with a lively creative hub. Of course, it has a glorious history, 1066 and all that, but it relishes any excuse for a procession, preferably with fancy dress, fire, drums, and alcohol. May Day’s Jack in the Green is a favourite event, with a giant marched through the town and thrown off a cliff to release the summer. (As you do!) If you don’t wear green, then you will be ‘greened’ with face paint. On Hastings Day, 14th October, Kent and Sussex Bonfire Societies parade in bizarre fancy dress, blazing torches held aloft, banging drums, and quaffing beer. (Did I mention alcohol?) It culminates in enormous bonfires on the beach. Being an anarchic bunch, the grotesque effigies are usually political figures.

I honed my writing skills at Hastings Writers’ Group, one of whose founding members was author Catherine Cookson. I actually won the Catherine Cookson Cup in 2017.

We moved to mid-Wales in 2021. Sure enough, Sian and Jonny popped up to remind me of their existence. Bo the border collie brought their story to life, which begins with a journey from London to Llandovery. We explored their Welsh route, visiting Tintern Abbey and Raglan Castle, and sampled the Welsh cakes. I even marched into the Castle Inn on a whim, where they showed me the bedroom with the fourposter bed. However, I must confess I only ventured part way down Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls (gulp!). It was fascinating and became Sian’s family’s proposal point. Research can be a challenge but great fun.

Devil's Bridge

Proposal point at Rheidol Gorge

Breezy day at Tintern Abbey

Set in 1988, rock star drummer Jonny comes to the rescue of army training sergeant Sian, not with a white charger, but with a red… Well, you’ll find out when you read it. From rainy London to lush Welsh hills, they share, laugh, and squabble. But can they solve the mystery of the farm saboteur? Will Bo the border collie recover? And can Sian release past heartbreak to take a chance with a drummer boy?

The Beat Of Our Hearts was originally published by The People’s Friend, DC Thomson, in January 2025. It’s being republished by Linford Romance, Ulverscroft, in July 2025, and will be available in libraries.

Social Media

Facebook: Amanda Giles Author https://www.facebook.com/catinabasketauthor/

What do the readers say?

‘Read this yesterday, from start to finish. Really enjoyed the journey through Wales - like going home - and the devil's cauldron – my, that took me back. I remember being terrified on those steps as a child. It even made it into my 13th Century Welsh romance! Brava!!’ Sue Cook, author.

‘I really enjoyed this. "The Beat Of Our Hearts" is a fresh and engaging story with two very different but stunning main characters. Congratulations!’ Sandra Mackness, author.

‘I really enjoyed it.’ Enid Reece, author.

Thank you, Amanda. Your novel sounds great and I look forward to it appearing in my local library in the summer. I can't wait to find out if Sian and Jonny do get together. Good luck!

Thank you for reading. I'm sure you agree that Amanda's story sounds intriguing with two very different characters. Writers, have you ever had a fully formed character arrive in your mind as Amanda did? If so, we'd love it if you left it as a comment. Thanks. 

*** STOP PRESS - Not only have I finished the first draft of book six, The Stolen Sister, but the structural edits have arrived for book five, The Silent Sister. Watch this space for details about a publication date. 

There will be a break from guest posts now until May. The next blog post will be about my research trip to Crete where The Stolen Sister is partially set. Two weeks and I'll be there! 

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.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Guest Post With Jessie Cahalin

Meet Jessie.

My guest this week is another fellow Cariad, the wonderfully supportive, Jessie Cahalin. She hails from Yorkshire but has lived in Wales for many years. Her new book is out on Tuesday, 4th March and is already receiving fabulous reviews.

Jessie, welcome back to the blog! This week you're going to be appearing on a number of blogs so we're honoured that you've made time to join us. 

I think you're going to tell us more about your new novel so it's over to you.   

A Gift for Maisie Bloom: Jessie’s Book Launch

A Gift for Maisie Bloom is the story of a newly qualified teacher who becomes an accidental sleuth and falls in love. I hope everyone will love Maisie's company and enjoy an escape to my fictional village of Heatherbridge.

Heatherbridge is based on Kettlewell. This village in the Yorkshire Dales first charmed me when I was in primary school and it also inspired my love of hiking. You may be familiar with Kettlewell as it was used to represent Knapley in Calendar Girls. The place has always remained in my heart, and I dreamed of buying a cottage there when I was ten years old. Lucky Maisie Bloom inherits Tanglewood Cottage in Heatherbridge. 

The bridge in Kettlewell that inspired Back o’ Beyond Bridge

These Kettlewell cottages inspired Tanglewood Cottage

As a writer, I could build my dream cottage without the hassle of employing builders and making copious amounts of tea. Creating a Yorkshire village gave me the chance to travel in my imagination during lockdown.  It was such a joy to write an uplifting story that transported me to Yorkshire and then Paris. The characters burst onto the page, making me giggle at their shenanigans.

Jessie in Ilkley, singing the Yorkshire Anthem - On Ilkla Mooar Baht 'at

A Gift for Maisie Bloom is my debut romance novel, and I am excited to present Maisie and friends to readers. In fact, I loved visiting Heatherbridge so much that I am currently writing another story.

Here is a little more information about A Gift for Maisie Bloom:

You’re not supposed to fall in love when investigating your aunt’s disappearance.

When Maisie Bloom inherits her aunt’s cottage in Yorkshire, life is perfect, including her two love interests. But when mysterious mail and blog posts arrive, she discovers Aunt Ada was investigating the disappearance of a prolific author in Paris. Was it murder? Soon Maisie is hot on the trail.

But can you sleuth in Paris without falling in love?

What do the readers say about the novel?

‘This wonderful mystery is a gift for readers who enjoy cozy crime, intrigue and romance. Loved Maisie and I want to solve more mysteries with her. More please!’

Lizzie Lamb – RNA Indie Author Champion

‘Refreshingly different! Laugh-out-loud humour laced with whimsy, eccentric characters and delightful glimpses of the Yorkshire countryside and romantic Paris. Will Maisie find what she is searching for? I so enjoyed the journey. I love the pearls of wisdom sprinkled in this lovely story.’

Angela Petch – Bestselling author

More about Jessie:

Jessie is a northern writer who has lived in Wales for over half of her life. She writes romance books with an enthralling mystery to hook the reader. 

From an early age, Jessie spun elaborate stories to explain why her father wore cowboy boots and owned many rusty cars. Writing has always been her perfect escape destination, and she was thrilled to encourage her pupils to love the power of words and follow their dreams.

Website:    https://jessiecahalin.com/

Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/@BooksInHandbag

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

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

Book Links

Kindle UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DVQ9X7WX

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-gift-for-maisie-bloom

Apple

https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-gift-for-maisie-bloom-fun-romance-gripping-cozy-mystery/id6741367402

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=t9w7EQAAQBAJ&pli=1

Thank you, Jessie. Your novel looks and sounds wonderful. I'm so envious of Maisie inheriting beautiful Tanglewood Cottage! I can't wait for Tuesday when A Gift for Maisie Bloom will appear on my Kindle. 

Thank you for reading. I hope you found knowing more about Jessie's book as intriguing as I did. 

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.'

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:

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.'