Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!
Happy December, Happy #blogmas, everyone! Each year, for the past several years I’ve been engaging with you during this special month of posts which are inter-connected to either Christmas or a genre of interest which is being celebrated during the chase up to Christmas and/or New Year’s. I have been enjoying curating the guest features, spotlights and other showcases each year I’ve participated in #blogmas and this year, is no exception! I have a wonderful sequencing of posts for you – including a few author interviews featuring Head of Zeus authors which I’m quite excited about!
Today kicks off my Head of Zeus Christmas interviews with a #newtomeauthor, Ms Barone whose written a delightful Contemporary Christmassy Romance whose title first winked a dash of curiosity for me to pursue! I’ve since learnt this is one of three novels set round a theme of interest in ‘Cornish’ – whilst my conversation with Ms Barone tucks into the story a bit as we discuss her characters whilst I also wanted to broach a few questions about Christmas as a season and as a holiday we mutually love to celebrate.
I hope this will become one of the stories I can read next year for Christmas as it is strictly digital first right now for those who read ebooks! Once the titles I’ve featured by Head of Zeus go into audiobook editions, I have a better chance of finding them – as I am grateful Scribd carries their stories. Right now for those who read ebooks the first two stories of Little Cornish are available on Scribd for you. If they don’t go into audio, I’ll have to wait for the print editions to read them.
Why I wanted to host a spotlight & interview
for this new Christmassy story ‘No Room at the Little Cornish Inn’:
As the founder and host of @SatBookChat – I am constantly seeking to find new stories featuring strong women in the centre of Romance & Women’s Fiction. I read an equal amount of Contemporary and Historical stories within these genres of interest whilst encompassing all the lovely sub-niches of their literary styles as well. This New Year 2020 I am also seeking out Feminist Lit which celebrates the kind of stories I am enjoying to discover as well. All of which I try to champion and showcase in the chats I host on Saturdays – wherein writers, readers, book reviewers, book bloggers and the rest of the bookish community on Twitter get to engage with one another. Thereby as a regular reader of these stories I was delighted to find a #newtomeauthor to start seeking out to read!
I have a soft spot for stories set before, during and after the Christmas and/or New Year holidays – every year, I love to binge watch Christmas movies on tv (esp Hallmark or Lifetime) as much as I have small collection of beloved Christmas movies on dvd which I also love to binge watch every December & January. For me, Christmas extends to Twelfth Night in January and even a bit beyond – as I generally get into the festive spirit the week of Thanksgiving and have it until just before the start of February. Winter also marks my favourite season of the year – when the humidity is finally gone and I can pull out my sweaters and long sleeved shirts whilst enjoying the brisk colder air!!
What stood out to me of course is the overlay from “the” original Christmas story into a Contemporary Christmas Romance such as this one – where the story moves from having no place to stay to having a corporate woman on holiday with her son having to sort out why this particular Inn is malfunctioning. I’ve seen this played out a few times in Hallmark movies (ie. starring Brennan Elliott and/or Candace Cameron respectively) and I’ve always enjoyed them. There is something to be said for someone coming into a business at the moment its faltering and struggling to right its sails – you never know if it will fold, merge, sell or re-stablise and there is joy in the journey towards the ending seeing how hearts spark to life and sometimes in the midst of that kind of chaos romance can bloom!
This is why I was keen on learning a bit more about this story and why I am truly grateful I could interview the author during her blog tour this December.
Be sure to brew your favourite cuppa and enjoy this delightful holiday inspired Q&A!
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn
by Nancy Barone
Rosie Anderson was hoping to whisk her young son Danny away for a lovely Christmas with family, far from the hustle and bustle of her life in London. But then her boss at the head office – aka Susan the Sacker – suddenly assigns her to go in incognito and save a tiny inn in Cornwall from being closed permanently. Rosie doesn't know why The Old Bell Inn is performing so badly but it's on her to sort it out!
Hours in the car later, Rosie arrives at the inn to find she's been double booked – there are no rooms left. And she isn't there for more than a minute before she's butting heads with the manager, Irishman Mitchell Fitzpatrick. He seems to dislike her on sight, so it's confusing that he seems to get on so well with Danny... But if he's as terrible as his reputation, Rosie will have to be the one to fire him.
This really isn't the Christmas Rosie was dreaming of. But maybe, just maybe, it could be a whole lot more...
A sweet and uplifting Christmas romance, No Room at the Little Cornish Inn is perfect for fans of Philippa Ashley, Holly Martin and Jenny Hale.
Places to find the book:
ASIN: B0888WT8S5
Published by Aria Fiction
on 5th November, 2020
The Little Cornish series of stories:
[ although I am unsure if this is a dedicated series, all the stories involve ‘Little Cornish’ ]
New Hope for the Little Cornish Farmhouse (book one)
No Room at the Little Cornish Inn (book two)
Dreams of a Little Cornish Cottage (book three) ← forthcoming, 2021!
Published By: Aria Fiction (@Aria_Fiction)
a Digital First imprint of Head of Zeus (@HoZ_Books)
This is a Digital First Release!
Converse via: #NoRoomAtTheLittleCornishInn, #WomensFiction and #HeadOfZeus
Hello and thank you for the invite!
You’re quite welcome, Ms Barone! I was happy to have you become a part of my plans for #blogmas whilst having the chance to get to know you a bit better in the process. We would have crossed paths yesterday as well – as I was meant to participate in the #SweetChristmasChat hosted by Ms Conroy, however, I was struck down with a migraine – which kept me offline until now. It came upon me over the weekend and thankfully was only a three day migraine rather than the standard five which is harder for me to shake off.
I hope we will re-cross paths in the New Year during chats, as I’ll be announcing and helping to cross-promote Ms Conroy’s chats via the Twitter Chats I Recommend page where I announce #SatBookChat. You are welcome to attend my Saturday chat if time avails as well.
What inspired your story “No Room at the Little Cornish Inn”?
Barone responds: I was just about to go on holiday one Christmas when I considered how many people were having to work through the holidays so everyone else could enjoy themselves and how that was unfair. I also considered how many of them, given the chance, would have changed jobs and how difficult it is for some people. That’s when Rosie, Danny and Mitchell came to life!
I fully understand your inspiration – for years, my Dad was either on/off during the holidays given the nature of his industry and the demands of his job. In his retirement, my Mum had to undertake a new career and for most of the past five years she’s worked every holiday without fail; thankfully this year, it is working out to where she can take the holidays ‘off’ which is a bit of a rare blessing as she’s in the world of home health. I definitely know its hard when anyone has to work through the holidays and I love how this became the foundation of how you wrote the story!!
What do you love about Christmas Romances and how much fun was it to craft your own Christmas Romance?
Barone responds: I absolutely LOVE Christmas Romances! They are my bubble of magic, my little glass snowstorm containing a concentration of the best in life- family, friends, more time with our pets, laughter, a cozy blanket by the fire, good food, tealights and sleeping in.
I couldn’t agree more! I used to strictly reading Historical Christmas Romances but in the past several years, I’ve been drawn into reading more Contemporary Christmas Romances – which is a wicked new treat for me! I have been reading these lovelies since I was nine – which is how I first introduced myself into the Romance genre as I was reading those Victorian and/or Regency Christmas Romance anthologies!
What are your favourite Christmas traditions?
Barone responds: I’m a sucker for mince pies, decorating the tree, filling the stockings with lots of choccies, Christmas crackers and long winter walks after which we come in and have a nice cuppa and a biccie or four- and I’ve already started watching Christmas movies, old and new!
I know I should know what a ‘choccie’ and ‘bicce’ is but I admit, I had to search out those words to refresh my memory! I believe its chocolate and biscuits or is it cookies? My grandparents were infamous for baking during Christmas – they made the best cookies!! Like you, I love watching Christmas movies – our top favourites for the Classics are “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas” whilst we also enjoy “The Preacher’s Wife”. All the current favourites are from television with a few theatrical releases thrown in for good measure.
What do you look forward to most at Christmas & New Year’s?
Barone responds: Sleeping in! Seriously, the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day are when I sit back and enjoy life most, but at the same time it’s when I take stock of the year gone by, what I could have done differently, and what my new goals are.
I used to say it were the traditions my family and I would celebrate – however, as the years went past where we found ourselves with a smaller and smaller family to where we’re arrived at the last of us now, I can say I’ve missed the traditions we used to observe and celebrate. It was growing harder to maintain them with less people and now.. eh, you could saw we’ve switched things up quite a bit. One year we even saw a film at the theater and sometimes we have done non-traditional foods or celebrations as well. Walking in the brisk air is a favourite of mine but more recently I am enjoying our coffee klatches at the cemeteries as we have some incredible wildlife to observe.
Rosie seems to be having one of those kinds of holidays you can’t plan your way out of and have to roll with the punches in order to eek out a bit of joy. What do you feel was the greatest challenge Rosie was facing in order to have the Christmas she desired most?
Barone responds: Rosie’s priority was always her little boy Danny. Even when she realized she had no choice but to work during the holidays, her first thought was how to keep him happy and putting on a brave face for his sake while she was being threatened of losing her job on a daily basis. So apart from Danny’s happiness, Rosie was worried about survival.
I can see why – it is hard when your juggling everything as a single Mum but more important when you don’t want your child to think you’re sacrificing being with them in order to be the provider in the family. It is a hard line to walk and I look forward to seeing how you’ve delved into this issue and sorted things out for Rosie as well.
Mitchell seems to be conflicted about Rosie and her son Danny; what do you think made him so gruff and yet kind-hearted at the same time?
Barone responds: Mitchell, who, incidentally, is based on the gorgeous and gentle actor Aidan Turner whom I met at a photo shoot at the Wales Comicon 2019, is initially conflicted. Mitchell and Rosie start off on the wrong foot as he mistakes her reasons for being at the inn, which is why he is a bit gruff, also compounded by his own personal situation at the opening of the story. But once he understands what Rosie and Danny are all about, Mitchell’s protective instincts kick in!
I love this – it is wicked brilliant whom inspired the character (although, I don’t know Aidan Turner as well as everyone else – as I’ve not yet see the full series of Poldark!) whilst I love how the character Mitchell has a softer side within the gruffier bits he showed in the beginning! Those make the best characters, I think! We’re there is more going on with them than you first believe and of course, who wouldn’t love a bloke who cares about children!?
What do you think is the hardest part about undertaking an assignment Rosie was given and how was it to write her reaction to her boss’s request?
Barone responds: Rosie is a gentle soul who would never want to hurt anyone, least of all a stranger in difficulty (very much like herself) during the Christmas holidays. This assignment goes against everything she stands for. Her reaction to her boss is something I think we can all understand, i.e., feeling forced into doing something we dislike for the love of someone else. Plus Susan the Sacker- ugh! She is all that is cowardice and evil in the world. Who hasn’t had or heard of the Boss From Hell? I know I have!
lol Definitely! Susan reminds me of Melanie Griffith’s boss in “Working Girl” – which I still to this day believe is one of the best films for women in business (except for “The Devil Wears Prada”) – it is always a wicked good treat to see how you can rise through adversity and can get past a boss who never has your best intentions in mind. Rosie sounds fab to me and I hope others love reading her story!
What do you hope readers will find in the story which celebrates the spirit of Christmas and the joy we all must seek out whenever we can in life?
Barone responds: I hope that readers will find just that- Hope, Optimism and Joy. Rosie finds her way with the help of the proverbial salt of the earth Cornish people of the tiny (and fictitious) community of Little Kettering who embrace her and her little boy Danny in her time of need. And of course that dashing Irishman has his part, too! ;-)
Without Hope and Joy – we’d all be lost in this world – though I also lean heavily on my faith throughout the year as well. I can’t help but stay optimistic even if things are especially adverse or my health afflictions (ie. such as my chronic migraines) make reading, blogging and chatting quite compoundedly difficult. I love how there are storytellers out there (like you) who want to put that kind of optimistic spirit into their stories and also, give us all a bit of a lighter read with an uplifting ending! I might love devouring dramas (by film, tv or story) but I love my lighter reads as well as we all need a bit of a respite from the heavier dramas!
I hope to start reading your Little Cornish stories in the New Year – until then, know how much I was thankful to host you during this lovely blog tour and was grateful you enjoyed the questions I pitched which talked about your characters and shared a bit about why Christmas is a special holiday for you, too.
Jorie, I wanted to thank you kindly for having me on your blog! It was great to sit and think about Christmas Joy and story writing! Merry, merry Christmas to you and all the lovely readers who have supported me on my writing journey. May it be a Christmas of peace, love and health for us all!
And, a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you, Ms Barone!
Follow this Blog Tour:
NOTE: Similar to blog tours wherein I feature book reviews, book spotlights (with or without extracts), book announcements (or Cover Reveals) – I may elect to feature an author, editor, narrator, publisher or other creative person connected to the book, audiobook, Indie film project or otherwise creative publishing medium being featured wherein the supplemental content on my blog is never compensated monetarily nor am I ever obligated to feature this kind of content. I provide (98.5%) of all questions and guest topics regularly featured on Jorie Loves A Story. I receive direct responses back to those enquiries by publicists, literary agents, authors, blog tour companies, etc of whom I am working with to bring these supplemental features and showcases to my blog. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them: I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers. Whenever there is a conflict of connection I do disclose those connections per post and disclose the connection as it applies.
{SOURCES: Book cover for “No Room at the Little Cornish Inn”, book synopsis, author photograph of Nancy Barone, author biography, the extracts from the books and the blog tour banners were all provided by Head of Zeus and used with permission. Post dividers and My Thoughts badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: #blogmas banner and badge as well as the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2020.
I’m a social reader | I tweet my reading life
Happy December, Happy #blogmas!
Today kicks off my Head of Zeus Christmas interviews with a #newtomeauthor, Ms Barone whose written a delightful Contemporary Christmassy Romance!??
??❄️https://t.co/awgIRk0E1e#SweetChristmasChat @VivWrites | #bookbloggers pic.twitter.com/XMlu9FCLAD
— Jorie, the Joyful Tweeter ?? (@joriestory) December 1, 2020
Comments via Twitter:
Yay, so excited! https://t.co/5RKXq3KaUj
— Nancy Barone Author (@NancyNBW) December 1, 2020
I simply adore Nancy Barone’s novels. This particular one has put me in the right mood for Christmas holidays when I’ll sleep and take a break from teaching while enjoying the company of someone like Mitchell inspired by Aidan Turner! A big well done Ms Barone and keep on writing please!
Hallo, Hallo Ms Aquilina,
I dearly had hoped this lovely might have been available via Scribd (on audiobook) or rather futilely I had hoped one of my local/regional libraries might have snagged a copy themselves (in print). However, I haven’t yet secured a copy myself to read and enjoy – though from your comments, I can see I’ll be in right wicked company! You know I hadn’t connected the dots about Aidan Turner til after I posted my interview with Ms Barone!! I admit, I started to watch “Poldark” but hestitated until I could read/finish the stories themselves. I saw approx. 15 minutes of the first episode of the series – wherein I LOVED the emotional depth of how he protrayed the character. I was just stilled. I look forward to seeing the whole series once I sort out how to listen/read the books. I might check to see if their on Audible (as I have the Plus Catalogue script for six months) and/or if their on Scribd.
Thanks for sharing your Barone #booklove and for giving me such a delight of a comment to find on my blog! I appreciate your time and for adding to the loveliness of this post. This Christmas Eve, I’m catching up with my replies – it was a hard won year for family and I, and I wasn’t always able to respond as the comments came into my blog’s feeds. Please note how much I cherish them and how happy I am to hear from regular readers and visitors alike; it is kind to have notes to read as it helps me gauge how my content and posts are resonating with others. For that, know you’ve #blessed me!! A very happy holiday season to you and yours and a very blessed New Year’s 2021.
PS: If/when I can secure a copy of this novel, I’ll re-respond to your note to let you know my reactions!!
I love books with holiday flair. And can I go to this inn? I saw the art and it looks so homey! Anyway, wonderfil interview! It put me in the mood for all things Christmas haha! Oh, and I love the movie White Christmas!!!
*waves!*
Hallo, Hallo Greg,
I’ve not been able to respond to this kind note of yours nor return to adding commentary to your lovely book blog since I initially sorted out ‘how’. Forgive me. Most months of this year I was muddling through and just trying to keep surfacing on my blog – which I noticed a bit lately as I did a running total of books unread yet featured (ie. showcased, spotlighted, extracted, etc) which equated out a bit unequally to the books I’ve actually ‘read’. It was one of those non-bookish years apparently for me and yet, I kept ‘trying!’ dearly to read and to finish more each month. I also just recently sorted out how to listen to my LibroFM audiobooks (ie. the ALCs) as of last night, so that felt like an accomplishment all of its own as I have wanted to do more with those throughout the year (ie. blogging, reviewing, tweeting, sharing reactions, etc).
Seeing you pop up on this short interview this early #blogmas was an unexpected JOY. So thank you! You’ve always been such a kind friend to support me and leave me notes/comments on my blog. One of these days I’ll feel I can reciprocate properly. I spent most of #blogmas posting Fantasy showcases (you can read the abridged recap here) or Sweet Romances (see my retrospective on the event here) whilst I also turnt in a recapture of my abridged #SciFiMonth, too the first week of December!! Towards that end – I haven’t yet updated how the leftover stories are shifting forward into the first Sci Fi Month mini-event round Easter next Spring. I just couldn’t do more than what I was able to give to the event already.
Back on topic though! lol I love books with holiday flair myself – that’s why I like to open my blog to hosting showcases for #blogmas as its the one time of the year I can relax a bit, shine a light on some authors and find #newtomeauthors for my own readerly joy, too! You’ll find some journalled Christmassy memories on those posts or reveals about what I’ve been binge watching lately,… each top anchour I tried to tie into the book or where I was in December to add a more personalised touch as you know I don’t host traditional spotlights on my blog! (smirks) Those posts I’ve linked in this comment are some of my top favourites – along with the “Meet the SF Reader” and “Book Spine Poetry” I shared on this lovely for #SciFiMonth.
You’ll have to clue me into your top posts to read as December starts to release into January.
Ooh… I am so happy to know this!! I don’t oft find people who love “White Christmas!” We’re seeing it again this year, along with “It’s A Wonderful Life” (you would like my pinned tweet on Twitter right now!) along with a childhood favourite I found via Hoopla (as a regional library has this now!) which is “Babes in Toyland” starring Drew Barrymore!! We’re also seeing a family favourite from Hallmark Channel “The Christmas Card” and we might see a few extras, too. We love the films which are everygreen and timeless… the ones you never tire of seeing or of hearing the message of their hearts revealled.
I hope this Christmas week you’ve had a wonderful entrance into the holiday season. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas and a wonderfully lovely New Year full of blessings and joy. Here’s to reading each others’ blogs in 2021 and I promise to sort out how to leave you more notes on your blog!! Again thanks for being one of my favourite Jorie Loves A Story readers… your kindness has been a balm in the chaos.