Hello!
This new series has come together more quickly than the previous one, mostly because I didn’t have as much time to think about it! Welcome to Thorndale evolved over a few years and I signed the contract just after I finished the first draft of A Summer of Second Chances. When I pitched Love in the Lakes to my editor I had an outline of each couple and the first book, featuring Ella and Max, in my head. Now I’m planning Pippa’s story and have lots more details to add. Essentially hers is about a woman returning to Halesmere and not expecting to run into the man with whom she shared a first love and one wonderful summer. Watch this space!
I’ve always loved Arts & Crafts, and if you’ve read The Garden of Little Rose then you’ll have seen some of this movement featured in the book. This time I was inspired to create a holiday home based around a set of studios for artists, and Ella accepts a job to oversee the relaunch of both after the house has been sold. She’s getting to grips with new surroundings and finding a way forward into the future after an unexpected change in her previous career as a chef. She’s working for the Bentley family, who have a young dog and I made her an English Pointer called Prim, and she was definitely inspired by our own dog. They’re very loving, sensitive and energetic, and Prim uses all her intuition to surround her family with love and laughter. The book is set in December and there are various festive events to look forward to.
Cumbria is a place very close to my heart and living in Lancashire means that we’re able to visit regularly, which definitely helped with research. I spent some time on a private retreat back in September and the view was gorgeous, as you can see below:
Like most authors I write out of season and although we’ll soon be putting up our Christmas decorations, I’m off to summer for the next book. Everything is subject to edits, and it’s likely to feature a blacksmith as Pippa’s former love, a man who has travelled and is based at Halesmere for now. I haven’t quite decided what their future might hold yet and for me this a crucial part of beginning the book. Lots of writers don’t like to know their endings but I much prefer it as I see them as new beginnings. Pippa has connections in Cumbria and all her memories resurface when she begins to question her choices for the life she thought she wanted.
Book 3 will feature Rose, who’s acquired some land at Halesmere to quite literally grow her own business. She’s retraining as a florist and will use the land to produce her own flowers and plants. Of the three new books, Rose’s story was the one that came to me first and I’m close to having a full outline of the two main characters. The hero is a tree surgeon and a man who is determined to make Rose notice him. Their lives have been very different when we first meet them and I have a plan for the ending.
Stan and Pearl are a couple who’ve arrived in Book 1 and I intend for them to play a part in each story. Stan is a semi-retired carpenter and handyman at Halesmere, whose gruff exterior belies a soft heart and willingness to help the family. Pearl is a brilliant knitter, ace at social media and volunteers at the local community shop. They’ve been great fun to write and it’s always lovely when I reach a point in the books when the characters almost begin to write themselves. I’m looking forward to keeping on including them.
There are so many wonderful places to explore in Cumbria, and dozens of wonderful cafes, pubs and restaurants. One of my favourite pubs is the Old Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale and I hope to be finding my way there again next year. The Langdales is probably my favourite place in Cumbria (almost impossible to choose just one), and I love the area for the fells as well as the walks lower down and the pubs along the way. Cathedral Caves from Elterwater via a drink or a meal at the Three Shires Inn is another great day out and one I’ll do again. Ravenglass is a lovely village on the coast close to Muncaster Castle, and is usually much quieter than the more central towns.
Just a few early details on Love in the Lakes, and I’m excited about sharing the first book with readers in the summer of 2022.
Suzanne x