Keep up to date with all Fogas news and Fogas giveaways on my Facebook page!
Thrilled to announce that my new series set in the Yorkshire Dales will be hitting bookshelves in just over a year. Written under the name of Julia Chapman, they will be published by Pan Macmillan in the UK and Thomas Dunne books in the USA. Watch this space for more details!
Just in time for Christmas, L'Auberge and The Parisian's Return have been given a makeover (see sidebar). Don't they look wonderful! I'd say they're impossible to resist...
The final instalment of the Fogas Chronicles, Last Chance in the Pyrenees, featuring all your Fogas favourites. Go on . . . treat yourself to a bit of Fogas!
Out on Nov 6th, a Christmas novella featuring all your Fogas favourites. Available in digital format only from all ebook retailers.
To celebrate the publication of A Christmas Wedding, I'm having another giveaway over on my Facebook page page. Giveaway ends Nov 5th 2014. Bonne Chance!
If you go down in the woods today...Actually, down to Coventry city centre on Sat 21st Sept! Because at 2pm I will be at the wonderful Central Library to launch the paperback edition of The French Postmistress. Do come along if you're in the area - it'd be great to meet you! And there will even be bears there...
To celebrate the paperback publication of The French Postmistress, I'm having another giveaway over on my Facebook page page. Follow the instructions to be in with a chance of winning. Giveaway starts Sept 1st 2013 and ends Sept 19th 2013. Bonne Chance!
To celebrate the tradepaperback publication of The French Postmistress, I'm giving away copies of the three Fogas novels. Hurry over to my Facebook page and follow the instructions to be in with a chance of winning. Giveaway starts April 5th 2013 and ends April 25th 2013. Bonne Chance!
With a redesign for the third book in the series, the cover for The French Postmistress has just gone live...over on my Facebook page. Nip over there for a quick peek and let me know what you think.
Karen Wheeler, author of the bestselling Tout Sweet books about her life in France, has invited me to take part in a blog-event entitled The Next Big Thing. So, here it is: a guide to what's happening next in my world of writing.
What is the working title of your book?
The French Postmistress.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
It's the third instalment of the Fogas Chronicles and takes up the story of Véronique Estaque, postmistress in a tiny commune in the French Pyrenees.
What genre does your book fall under?
Heavens. (That's not my answer, by the way!) Contemporary literature sounds so dry; comedy doesn't cover the bits that make you cry; drama is too dramatic; and romance is just not the way Christian Dupuy (my hero) does things. So I suppose it falls under 'Fogas'!
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Impossible to answer as I've been writing this book in my head since I started the series in 2009. While I'm writing one, the next one is taking shape. In fact, I already have the final scene for the fifth book in the series which is two years away yet…
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
When I'm at booksignings, I describe the series as a mixture of Lark Rise, Cranford and The Little World of Don Camillo. But set in modern-day France. And, in the case of this third book, with added bears.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
The series was inspired by the region I lived in for six years: the stunning Ariège-Pyrenees. This particular book was inspired by a visit from an officer in the Bear Reintroduction Programme who came to our auberge to tell us about bears. And of course, by Véronique Estaque!
What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
Apart from 300 plus pages of brilliant story? The cover…the series is getting a make-over. Watch this space.
And now, five writers I have asked to participate in return. So difficult to choose just five! But I decided to focus on a group that represents a broad base of genres, spanning from established writers right across to those just taking their first steps to publication.
Frances Brody, who writes the fabulous Kate Shackleton mysteries.
Andy Duncan, children's author and someone who has the funniest author page on Amazon ever.
Michelle Flatley, artist, sculptor AND (hot off the press) soon to be published writer!
Leah Fleming, writer of dramatic fiction which leaves her fans clamouring for more.
Liesel Schwarz, steampunk-rocker and a debutante published author.
Just back from a brilliant weekend at the French Property Exhibition in London and owe a huge thanks to all who stopped by the bookshop for a chat or came to my seminars on learning French and said 'bonjour'! Not only did I sell lots of books, I also enjoyed many wonderful conversations with avid readers - and not just British ones either (Polish, Spanish, Argentinean, Dutch, German...). Here's to more of the same at the France Show, Earl's Court, London, 18th -20th January 2013. See you there!
Next weekend (5th-7th Oct) is the French Property Exhibition at Olympia in London. As well as a wealth of gorgeous French homes for sale, there are also seminars on setting up a business, making the move and all the other 'stuff' you really ought to know before taking the plunge. I'll also be there, giving short talks on learning French and hanging out at the fantastic bookshop - which just happens to sell my books...! It's a great place to get ideas if you are contemplating moving to France or buying a second home. So do come along and make sure you pop in to the bookshop and say 'Bonjour'!
For more info: www.fpeolympia.com
My UK publisher has just bought the next three books in the Fogas Chronicles! So look out for the next instalment: The French Postmistress. It should be appearing in bookshops in early summer 2013. Perfect for packing in your suitcase with your shorts and suntan lotion! Watch this space for more details.
And finally, thanks to everyone who came along to speak to me in Waterstones in the Arndale Centre in Manchester on Saturday 8th September. I had a brilliant day. Hope you did too!
A string of book signings coming up for the summer - two revisits and two brand new stores!
Saturday June 9th at Waterstones Lancaster (Cornmarket branch) from 11am.
Saturday June 16th at Waterstones Manchester Deansgate from 11.30am - 3.30pm.
Saturday July 14th (Bastille Day!!) at Waterstones Salisbury from 11am - 3pm.
Saturday July 21st at Waterstones Leeds from 11am - 3pm.
And for those of you living in North Yorkshire, I'll be appearing at Settle Library alongside local author Leah Fleming on Thursday June 21st from 7pm. Should be a lovely evening with lots of chat and (rumoured only!) possible wine and snacks. Hopefully the start of regular events at Settle Library.
Three items of news to announce today: TWO book signings to celebrate publication of The Parisian's Return coming up: Saturday April 28th 2012, at Waterstone's Coventry, 11.00am - 3.00pm and Saturday 26th May 2012 at Waterstone's Nuneaton, from 11am. Come along and say hello - and if you met me at the same venues last year, let me know what you thought of L'Auberge! And last, but by no means least, news of a chance to spend an evening in my company... with supper and a copy of The Parisian's Return thrown in I hasten to add! The Bookshop, Colne has organised a fabulous evening get together on Wednesday 2nd May 2012 at the Alma Inn, Laneshawbridge from 7.30pm. For more details and tickets see the website as follows: www.thebookshopcolne.co.uk
Second of the Fogas Chronicles The Parisian's Return AVAILABLE NOW. Read more...
Thanks to everyone who visited the France Show last weekend - and especially those who took time out to come and talk to me! I had a fantastic three days and look forward to hearing from you all when you've finished L'Auberge...à bientôt!
The France Show will be taking place at Earls Court, London from Jan 13th to Jan 15th 2012. I will be giving talks on running a tourist business in France and also signing copies of L'Auberge. Come along and enjoy a day in France without leaving the UK... For more info go to: www.thefranceshow.com
News of TWO book signings coming up: Thursday December 15th 2011, at Waterstone's Salisbury, 2.30pm - 8.30pm (late night shopping) and Friday 16th December 2011 at Waterstone's Winchester, The Brooks, 11am- 3pm. Come along and say hello - and if you met me at the last Salisbury signing in August, let me know what you thought of L'Auberge!
Literary Lunch and Talk Sunday 23rd October 2011 from 11.30am at Restaurant Le Brantalou, Domaine de L'Espinet, Quillan, France. I'll be giving a talk entitled From Reality to Fiction: How Life in France Turned into a Novel. Talk + Apéritifs 7€ ; Talk + 3-course lunch 25€ Booking essential. For more info contact Tony at tony@lespinet.com or call +33 (0)4 68 20 88 88
The French Property Exhibition will be taking place at Olympia, London from Sept 23rd to Sept 25th. I will be giving one of the How To talks and also signing copies of L'Auberge. Come along and drool over all the amazing properties... For more info go to: www.fpeolympia.com
News of TWO book signings coming up: Saturday August 27th 2011, at Waterstone's Salisbury, 11.30am - 3.30pm and Saturday 3rd September 2011 at Waterstone's Deansgate, Manchester, 11am- 3pm. Come along and say hello...
Thanks to everyone who came along to the book signings on Saturday July 16th and made them such a resounding success.
Double book signing on Saturday July 16th at Waterstones. Join me in the morning at the Nuneaton store and if you have time, pop into the Coventry branch for the afternoon.
Celebrate National Reading Group Day by joining me and fellow author Emma Craigie at the Zetland Centre, in Richmond, Yorkshire at 3pm on Saturday June 25th. Afternoon tea will be served! Hope to see you there.
Book launch in the County Library, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland on Tuesday 14th June at 8pm to be introduced by Mrs. Fionnuala Kenny. All welcome.
First of the Fogas Chronicles, L'AUBERGE, available May 12th 2011. Order now at amazon.