Guest Post with Luisa A. Jones

This week, I'm delighted to be welcoming Luisa A. Jones back to the blog. Luisa's new novel, Before the Mountain Falls, was published last week by Storm Publishing. I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of Luisa's books so I was thrilled when she agreed to answer some questions about her writing and her fabulous latest book.

Luisa, welcome!

Thank you for inviting me to share some information about Before the Mountain Falls on your blog today, Jan. I’m a huge fan of your books, so it’s a pleasure to be here.

Thank you. Please tell us a little about yourself and your writing.

I'm a Welsh author of historical and contemporary romantic fiction. I'm particularly interested in families and relationships. My stories are emotional and character-driven, and are all mainly set in Wales.

What do readers expect when they pick up a Luisa A Jones book?

I hope readers expect to be drawn deeply into a character's mind, and how they think and feel as events unfold. My characters are people with problems, griefs and painful dilemmas. But readers can expect an uplifting ending.

What was the inspiration for Before the Mountain Falls?

When I researched evacuees in the Second World War for my previous book, What We Left Behind, I realised many young mothers and pregnant women were evacuated, not just the children we tend to think of. Originally, my main character, Norma, was going to be a young mum, but one morning I awoke with a very different scene playing in my mind like a film. I even had the first sentences in my head. From that moment, I knew Norma would be an unwed, pregnant young woman, let down by the father of her baby, who would be forced to take a creative, even drastic, approach to solving her own problems.

To introduce conflict, and to make for a more interesting story, Norma's Welsh hosts needed to be very different from her. I made Norma vivacious and irreverent – an irrepressible young blonde who wears make-up and likes to sing in the pub and go on dates. Her hosts, then, became staunchly religious, traditional, morally upstanding and teetotal. Her arrival would challenge their attitudes and shake up their household.

When researching Wales in the early days of the Second World War, I found out a lot about pacifism and learned that some Welsh nationalists objected to the idea of hosting English evacuees. This gave me more rich ingredients for conflict. I also learned about the eviction of fifty-four Welsh-speaking families from Mynydd Epynt, a mountain in mid-Wales, to clear the land as a military training area. I was so moved by this history, I knew I had to include it as a way to show the impact of the war on ordinary rural Welsh families.

Can you summarise your novel in just a few sentences?

Norma Sparrow, a pregnant Londoner who has been abandoned by her fiancé, reinvents herself as a respectable wife to escape scandal. Taking up a chance to be evacuated from London, she is billeted with a disapproving Welsh minister who is fighting his own battle against the modern world encroaching on his home. Soon Norma finds herself caught between the safety of the identity built on her deception and a love that demands the one thing she can’t afford to give: the truth.

Which came first, the characters or the story you wanted to tell?

The characters came first. The vision of Norma, then the Welsh Powell family she'd clash with.

When writing historical fiction, how do balance the history with the fictional story?

I love to include lots of historical details, but fiction won't sweep a reader up and make them feel immersed in the characters' lives if it reads like a history lesson. I aim to adopt the approach of collecting information in spadefuls, but using it with an eye dropper. I try to make the details inconspicuous – just a part of the character's everyday life. That way, it doesn't get in the way for a reader who knows nothing about the background, or indeed an expert who would be jarred by reading anything inauthentic. It's a delicate balance, and I can only hope I succeed!

Which scene was the hardest to write?

I can't say which was the hardest scene to write, without giving spoilers!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I've had to become a plotter so that my publisher knows if my next book idea is one they want me to write. I use Save The Cat as a structure, with a few tweaks. But my characters have a habit of introducing surprises as they come to life in my head while I'm writing.

How would you like your readers to feel when they've finished reading Before the Mountain Falls?

I'd love it if readers finish Before the Mountain Falls feeling uplifted, glad that things worked out for Norma, and hopeful for her future. It would be even better if they feel curious to find out more about Wales in the Second World War, and especially the evictions from Mynydd Epynt. Best of all would be if the story inspires someone to visit the mountain and enjoy the views that inspired Norma's reaction to the scenery in the book.

On a more general note, do you have a particular writing routine?

I don't really have a writing routine. I'm not very disciplined, and I'm very busy. Ideas tend to come to me slowly. For this book, I ended up booking a week's unpaid leave from my day job to blast through the last 30,000 words of the first draft, but it was exhausting (and costly!), so I wouldn't want to do that again except as a last resort.

Thanks so much, Jan, for allowing me to share on your blog today. Your feedback on one of the early drafts was so encouraging, and very much appreciated. It's a joy to be one of your “writing buddies”!

Thank you, too, Luisa. As you know, I've loved this latest novel right from its early draft. I'm thrilled, but not surprised, to see how well the novel is doing now it's been out in the world for just a few days. Congratulations!

Readers, here is my review of the novel. I hope you can tell how much I loved it!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8450653967 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BLURB:

She fled to survive. She lied to belong. The truth could shatter everything.

1939. Norma knows what the world does to women in her position. Pregnant, unmarried… abandoned. And when the man who promised to marry her is arrested for murder, she has only one option left: run.

A borrowed wedding ring. A fake name. A one-way ticket to Wales. Mrs Finch never existed before that train journey, but now she’s Norma’s only chance at survival.

The remote valley of Pontybrenin should be her hiding place. Instead, even as the world teeters on the brink of war, it becomes the first place Norma’s ever felt seen. Billeted with a stern church minister and his family, she finds friendship, family and a love that makes her want to stop running.

But every day she stays is another day someone might discover who she really is. And as she falls deeper into this life – and this love – Norma will have to choose between the truth that could destroy her and the lies that are slowly suffocating the person she’s becoming.

A deeply poignant tale of resilience, found family and second chances – heartwarming, captivating and impossible to forget. Perfect for fans of When the World Fell Silent and Anna Stuart.

BIO:

Luisa A Jones writes captivating and emotional fiction with characters you’ll root for from the first page. Her first historical novel in The Fitznortons series, The Gilded Cage, was a #1 Amazon bestseller in Victorian Historical Romance.

She is currently writing a new series for Storm Publishing, set in Wales during the Second World War. The first book, What We Left Behind, was published on 30th May 2025.

Luisa A Jones lives in South Wales but loves to travel all over Europe in her classic VW camper van. She studied Classical Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London and has always been fascinated by history.

BUYING LINK: https://geni.us/729-cr-fbo-am

WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: 

www.luisaajones.com 

https://www.facebook.com/Luisa-A-Jones-232663650757721/ 

https://www.instagram.com/luisa_a_jones_author/

Thank you for reading. I hope you like the sound of Luisa's new book. I highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction, beautifully told, with relatable characters, an authentic sense of time and place and an uplifting ending. 

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Threads - Jan Baynham

Bluesky - Jan Baynham

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

Four weeks tomorrow, The Stolen Sister entered the world. The ratings and reviews have steadily been coming in and stand at 322 at present. Thank you all so much. I'm blown away by the response it's been getting. It still has its orange best seller flag after over three weeks, #1 Historical European Fiction. 

' I have just finished The Stolen Sister by Jan Baynham - and I can honestly say it is one of the most beautifully written and emotionally affecting novels I've read for a long time. The writing itself is simply stunning. The author's descriptions are rich, vivid, and full of colour - I felt transported to Crete, wandering through olive groves and sunlit villages, feeling the warmth of the island and the depth of its history. The setting isn't just a backdrop; it breathes life into the entire story. At its heart, this is a story about secrets, identity and the long shadow of the past... A truly unforgettable read.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the amazing reviews that will stay with me. A HUGE thank you, lovely Goodreads and Amazon reviewer. 

 The Tregolls Review

The Tregolls Lodge Book Club, Truro, was set up by Howard Embery in 2017. The members of the club meet fortnightly to discuss what they are currently reading rather than all reading the same book before discussing it, as most book clubs do.

The club also produces its own e-magazine  packed full of author interviews, articles, book recommendations, book reviews and new releases. I was thrilled to be featured in the latest March/ April edition. 

What other authors are you friends with and how do you help you to become a better writer?

Writing can be a very solitary business and after retiring, I joined a small writing group based in a local library where I wrote my first piece of fiction. There I learned about writing courses held at the university. I enrolled and soon I was writing my first novel! Perhaps the best decision I made was to join the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writer Scheme where you submit your manuscript for a critique from published and more experienced authors. Without that, I doubt that I would be a published author. The support from the organisation and the many writing friends made, the conferences and workshops attended have definitely made me a better writer. Our local Cariad RNA chapter is thriving and we meet each month in person in Cardiff and every four weeks for an evening Zoom session. I meet up with one of those Cariad authors, Luisa A Jones, each Friday morning via Zoom where we talk about our current WiPs. Luisa writes historical fiction, too, and I value her insightful comments and encouragement. We are also beta readers of each other’s early drafts of our novels. Thank you, Luisa!

How do you select the names of your characters?

All five of my novels are dual timelines and set in two different locations, one of which is always Wales. Choosing appropriate character names that reflect the era and the country where the book is set hopefully adds a sense of time and place to the writing as well as authenticity. I look at the popularity of the Christian names at the time the character was born and at what surnames are common in that country. In my last novel, ‘The Silent Sister’, the Welsh sailor who becomes one of the heroes in the story is Tom (Thomas) Davies. Davies is the third most popular surname in Wales and Thomas was in the top ten choice for boys born in Wales in the early thirties when my character was born. His aunt who brought him up was called Gwladys, the Welsh version of Gladys, and one of his daughters is Bronwen. The novel is partially set on the Greek island of Kefalonia and the main character’s name is Cassia Makris, which is a common surname there. The little girl pulled barely alive from the 1953 earthquake is called Eléni, the second most popular girl’s name in Greece, and her surname is Mouzakis. Like many men in Kefalonia, another character is named Gerasimos (Simos, for short) after Saint Gerasimos, the patron saint of the island.

Do you read your book reviews and how do you deal with bad or good ones?

I read all my reviews and appreciate readers taking the time to write them. I’m very fortunate that I’ve had hardly any negative reviews although I have had some low ratings. When I do, I try to rationalise that not every story will please everyone and it’s not personal. The glowing, positive reviews give me such a buzz that readers are enjoying what I have written and that my books have made them feel better. When I’m struggling with parts of the first draft of a new novel, a good review is such a wonderful motivator to continue and see things through. I always remind myself that I felt like that at the same stage of the previous novel! I also use complimentary reviews to promote my books. Reviews are so important for an author so thank you lovely readers.

What was your hardest scene to write?

In The Silent Sister, there are several scenes where I was so engrossed in the emotions of my characters that I was on the verge of tears, but the hardest of all to write was when archivist, Simos, presents Eléni with a battered, green metal box found in the street where her entire family was killed and invites her to open it. Tissues were needed then!

What do you feel are your biggest achievements?

I was thrilled to get my first publishing contract for three books and that was a defining moment in my writing. I knew I wouldn’t be able to self-publish so having a publisher meant my novels would be edited and given a cover by professionals in the industry. My fourth novel, The Secret Sister was one of five shortlisted for the RNA’s Romantic Saga of the Year 2024. It didn’t win but that has been the highlight of my writing career so far. The fact that it was judged by readers meant a lot.

What advice would you give a budding novelist?

My advice would be to keep learning your craft to improve your writing. Although I don’t always follow my own advice, try to write every day to keep the creative juices flowing and see the improvement. Although it’s not easy, develop broad shoulders and try not to take criticism personally. Rejection is part of the writing process, but I’ve always tried to learn from it. Never give up. Wherever possible try to experience what your characters do. Walk in their footsteps, sample what they eat and drink, and imagine how you would feel in their situations. I feel strongly that this adds authenticity to your writing. If you enjoy writing your novels, the hope is that this will shine through, and the reader will enjoy reading what you have written.

What three words would describe your latest novel?

Secrets, grief, forgiveness

How important is the setting in the book?

For me, creating a sense of place is extremely important if readers are going to believe in the story. I always have two settings – firstly, beautiful mid-Wales where I was born and brought up and a contrasting area in sunnier climes. Wherever possible, I like to travel to those places and try to walk in the footsteps of my characters as one of the ways of immersing myself in the world I’m creating. I have taken research trips to Sicily, Kefalonia and this year to Crete for the last novel that came out in February 2026. I like to think that setting and a sense of place is one of the strengths of my novels, part of my brand perhaps, as it is often mentioned in readers’ reviews. And, of course, research trips are always enjoyable!

Do you have a favourite book?

Each novel is different and often it seems that the one that has just been published is uppermost in my mind as a favourite. The Stolen Sister was a joy to write and visiting the island as a writer researching the book as opposed to being a tourist made it very special. The fact that readers have reviewed it so positively and quickly has been wonderful.

Where do you write?

I always write in a small upstairs room that used to be my younger son’s bedroom before he left home. It has everything I need in one place - my desk with drawers containing notebooks, pens and highlighters etc., a computer, printer, as well as a bookcase. I recently invested in a comfy swivel chair which I love. Unlike several of my author friends, I don’t write in longhand first even though I can’t touch type. I write straight onto the computer (slowly) and in complete silence.

My newest book, The Stolen Sister, was also given a spot in the new books section. A big thank you to Howard and everybody ot Regolls book Club. I enjoyed answering the questions and hope you all enjoyed finding out more about my writing.

Thank you for reading. What question would you ask an author? I'd love to know and perhaps I could answer it.

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Threads - Jan Baynham

Bluesky - Jan Baynham

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

Three weeks ago today, The Stolen Sister entered the world. For the last few days, reviews and ratings have been stuck at 199 and I’ve been checking to see if they would reach a round number (as you do!). Today, I opened up Amazon and the number had risen to 228! It still has its orange best seller flag after a week, #1 Historical European Fiction.

Wow! Thank you all so much. 👏👏👏

 The Stolen Sister

The waiting is over! My sixth novel, The Stolen Sister, entered the world last Tuesday, February 24th, and I could never have imagined how well it has been received. A huge thank you to all you lovely readers who have downloaded it. On publication day itself, it was #1 Hot New Release in three categories - Historical European fiction, Women's Sagas and Saga Fiction and although it has started to slip a little today, by yesterday it had reached #129 in the Kindle Store. In addition, to currently be #1, #1 and #3 in the same three categories on Amazon.com is a bonus.

A massive thank you must go to my fabulous publisher, Joffe Books/Choc Lit Publishing for their super marketing, frequent promotional posts and especially for arranging the help of the wonderful Zoë of Zooloo's Booktours. The resulting reviews from book bloggers have blown me away!

The writing community is always generous with its support. While taking part in the first #RomFicFeb2026 throughout February, this has been so evident. Thanks to everyone, especially to the Cariads, members of my local RNA Chapter.

As with all my other books, I wrote countdown posts on each of the fourteen days before The Stolen Sister was published. The idea was to give readers a flavour of the novel and accompany it with a photo illustration. Here are a few that were the most popular:

COUNTING DOWN TO PUBLICATION

14 Days to go

"Zoë's pulse quickened as she unfolded the letter, looking down at the familiar script. Her throat constricted as she began to read.

'Dear Zoë

If you are reading this, I must have left this earth. Don’t be sad. Not all mothers and daughters have enjoyed the wonderful close relationship we had, yet, as I write this, I still worry about you. But I’m comforted by knowing you are a strong young woman. I know you will make a good life for yourself now you are dependent on no one. Follow your dreams, travel the world and keep making your beautiful silver jewellery. There is nothing to keep you in Wales now. You can go anywhere.

I have one final request for you, cariad. I’d like my ashes to be scattered off the Greek island of Crete. Can you do that for me? Treat it as the beginning of your adventures and the start of your travelling journey.

Good-bye, my lovely Zoë. I will always be by your side. I will always love you.

Love Mammy xxx'"

COUNTING DOWN TO PUBLICATION

12 Days to go

“‘First time in Matala? You’ll love it.’

The three chatted all the way and in what seemed like no time, they were driving into the village itself towards the beach. What Greta noticed first was the vibrancy of the sea colour. A whole range of vivid turquoise hues shimmered in the strong sunlight. One part of the water appeared as a deep, almost navy, blue, while another verged on shades of emerald.

Greta gasped. ‘The colours! They’re jewel-like. It’s a painter’s paradise. You were right, Andreas.’

‘Stunning, eh? See those caves to the right. One of those is going to be my home for the summer.”

COUNTING DOWN TO PUBLICATION

8 Days to go

"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 there, putting off what she’d gone there to do... Zoë took the urn out of her bag and unscrewed the lid. After checking no one was near, she inhaled a deep breath and slowly tipped the ashes into the water. Tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘Goodbye, Mam. Sleep well. I love you.’ The ashes mingled with the water and settled onto the flat rock underneath the surface. Soon, a wave came and washed them out to sea. ‘Return to nature, Mam.’"

How did I celebrate publication day itself? With a lunchtime meal at Rozafa, a Greek restaurant in Manchester, with my husband and daughter. The food was delicious and authentic, reminiscent of our meals in Crete earlier in the year. We toasted with ouzos, too! All that was missing was the hot Cretan sunshine. 🔆🌞🔆🌞🔆

After the excitement of the last week and taking part in #RomFicFeb for the last month, it's back to writing the first draft of book seven. More about that in future posts. 

Thank you so much for reading.

Here is another Netgalley review. As you can imagine, I was absolutely thrilled. Thank you, dear reviewer. It made my day! 

'I can honestly say it is one of the most beautifully written and emotionally affecting novels I’ve read in quite some time. The writing itself is simply stunning. The author’s descriptions are rich, vivid and full of colour — I truly felt transported to Crete, wandering through olive groves and sunlit villages, feeling the warmth of the island and the depth of its history. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it breathes life into the entire story... Atmospheric, compassionate and deeply moving, this is a story that lingers long after the final page. A truly unforgettable read.' 

You may also follow me on:

X/Twitter - @JanBaynham

FaceBook - Jan Baynham Writer

Instagram - janbaynham

Threads - Jan Baynham

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