Castles, Cake and Dreams

Hello! Just how important is the Setting of a story? And how much does it affect whether you choose to read a book? Are you drawn by a Cornish Romance, a countryside escape , some city pizzazz, or something exotic and faraway? 

“Hold Tight to Your Dreams”, my latest novel, is set in a stunning Northumbrian Castle. It places you in such a historic setting, yet it’s a modern Romantic Comedy. The story is about Ellie taking a chance on her dreams of running her own Tea Rooms (oh, yes, plenty of cake), leaving behind the city and her dull office job… and of course, being a romance, falling head over heels with the rather gorgeous estate manager.

 

I live in the amazing countryside of Northumberland UK, rolling hills, big open skies, farmland, moorland, and just a few miles away from the most stunning sweep of golden sand with a Castle towering over the beach at Bamburgh. There are castles inland too, nestled away in a valleys, or the focal point of market towns such as Alnwick. Castles, castles everywhere!

 

 

So this amazing county colours the settings of my novels. Like Ellie, I want you to as a reader to discover somewhere new, quite different, and somewhere that will soon begin to feel very special. Don’t you ever feel that you want to stop – step out of your everyday life, give up the safe but dull job? Turn a hobby you love into a career? Reach for your Dreams? 

 

As a writer I’m trying to do that too – reach for my dreams. I have always loved writing, but only now am I trying to make it into a career. Writing stories which explore our relationships and the ups and downs of life, hopefully to be published one day soon – fingers crossed! – so that readers can enjoy them too. 

 

I love how a story fits with its setting. And how the setting is not just a backdrop but can also empower the plot. It can give you a sense of getting away to somewhere new as a reader, like you’ve landed on holiday in your head. Even better when there’s a particularly hunky male in residence there too! 

 

And then of course, there’s the essential cake; chocolate, Victoria sponge with strawberries and cream – all in abundance in the Castle Tea Rooms, and the smells of scones baking; raspberry and white chocolate anyone? 

 

Where would you like a story or novel set? Any ideas for an inspiring location? Or would you like me to welcome you to the wonders of Northumberland and Ellie’s Tea Rooms? Please comment below! I’d love to hear from you.