Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

Today, I am happily able to spotlight a #newtomeauthor whilst participating in the final tours for Brook Cottage Books – today’s author has written a *Sweet Romance* kicking off a new series of which she is publishing through her self-published imprint ‘King Park Press’. I love finding authors who are taking the reins of their writerly careers into their own hands. I regularly *celebrate!* authors like Ms Robertson-King on my blog – such as Brenda S. Anderson, Nicole Evelina, MK McClintock and many others who have decided the best route for them in their publishing endeavours is to create imprints & publish their stories themselves. They undertake the creative freedom this provides them whilst being the keeper of their destinies.

An author I haven’t yet had the pleasure of joy to share my ruminations of thus far along is *Julie Lessman* who went from being traditionally published in the world of INSPY Romance to a bonefide Indie Author with the publication of her second series – she is someone who will be shining a light on my blog starting this holiday season when I can finally reveal my thoughts & musings on behalf of the prequel to the Daughters of Boston trilogy which kicked off a saga of *3!* trilogies following the O’ Connor family! This will be a specially keen part of my first year of joining #blogmas!

So you see, I have a healthy appetite for seeking out #IndiePub & #IndieAuthors who are re-defining the book world by seeking out alternative methods to publish. This time round – the story is set in Quebec – an unexpected blessing finding a Canadian Lit setting – where you happily find similarities to some of your favourite films which take the quirkiness of placing oppositional characters into a story about second chances, alternative paths to romance & the curious way in which fate intervenes on the plans you feel can’t be deviated from once you’ve established the path your walking.

These are the kind of stories you like to curl up inside just to see ‘what becomes’ of the characters – what do they decide is more important!? To walk through life alone, to risk their heart and take a chance on a love they never expected or to struggle to keep open to the possibilities that life has a way of giving you what you really want even if you never owned up to what it is yourself?

I must confess when I first saw it was being cross-related with two of the films I personally have always loved watching (ie. ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ & ‘Sleepless in Seattle’) I had a feeling it was the kind of novel I could get lost inside due to the uplift and heartwarming after effect it would have on me! Those are the kind of films I miss seeing release more regularly – we’ve lost a bit of that kind of afterglow in the cinema – we’ve lost so many lovely writers and directors (think Marshall & Ephron) it is a wait/see period now to see who will step forward and bring these kinds of gems back onto the silver screen.

Be sure to brew a cuppa of your favourite tea whilst your reading this convo!

It Happened on Dufferin Terrace
by Melanie Robertson-King

Miracle on 34th Street meets Sleepless in Seattle.
 
Toronto business consultant, Serenity Layne, knew the only person she could depend on was herself. Married to her career, she has no time for other pursuits and life’s intangibles.

Widowed for three years, Roger Scott, a data security specialist in Quebec City, is a single parent to his ten-year-old son, Adam.

On a day out on the Plains of Abraham with their black Labrador retriever, Roger’s cell phone rings incessantly. Adam has played matchmaker and put his father’s profile on a number of online dating sites.

The week before Christmas, Serenity is heading up a series of meetings after a six-month study of the Canadian retail chain, jonathans. After an unpleasant encounter with one of the store managers, she escapes from the boardroom of the Château Frontenac Hotel, only to be bowled over by Roger and Adam’s dog.

Guilty over the accident, Roger invites Serenity out for a drink by way of apology. Over the course of the week, and spending time together, feelings long dormant for Roger are re-awakened. At the same time, emotions foreign to Serenity fill her with contentment and happiness.

Will the couple get their happily ever after?

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

Find on Book Browse

ASIN: B07FD9JQVB

Published by King Park Press

on 22nd July, 2018

Published by: King Park Press (self-publishing imprint of author)

Formats Available: Paperback and Ebook

It Happened series

It Happened on Dufferin Terrace (Book One)

*more installments to follow, could be as many as *six!*

Converse via: #HolidayRomance + #CanLit and #SweetRomance

How did you approach writing the back-story about Serenity Layne being an expert in sales and store efficiencies? Did you approach a similar business to ask about how to round out this character or was there another method of research you used which clued you into how this character might best come to life? What was your favourite takeaway from her job?

Robertson-King responds: I wanted Serenity to be a successful businesswoman, but have to work harder than most to achieve this, rather than land the position because of wealthy family members. Thanks to grants, bursaries and student loans, she put herself through University and secured a position at Thacker, Price & Associates, where she worked her way up into the position she holds when the book opens.

Serenity had to be in a job where her motives are perceived by others as suspicious. Hence, retail consultant. In this field, she has to have a strong personality, yet be empathetic to the needs of the people. Because of her position, she must be knowledgeable with computers, and cloud-based software applications. The company I work for recently switched over to cloud-based accounting software, so I drew on the situations that unfolded in front of me. I’m a bit of a computer geek myself (studied programming in College) so shades of me creep into that area. Read More