Today’s ebook publication day for Is This Love?
It’s kind of crept up on me as I’m busy with the next book (which has at least three possible titles …) and have been stopping to do the promo for Is This Love? whenever requested, without realising that Tamara and Jed would soon be let loose on the ereading public.
So, what can I tell you about the book? Well, it’s about the different types and qualities of love.
Tamara has never moved away from Middledip village out of love for her sister, Lyddie, who suffered a hit-and-run accident when she was a teen and needs more care than most adults. Jed, teenage sweetheart of Lyddie, left the village around the time of the accident and the story opens when adult Jed returns to explain who was driving the car that hit Lyddie. He’s a bit of a mystery, is Jed, having dropped out of society for a while at sixteen yet somehow managed to land a great job without a qualification to his name.
As a ten-year-old, Tamara had harboured a secret crush on Jed – and those feelings come rushing back. But now she can’t make up her mind about him. Is he one of the good guys?
Or not?
I had a lot of fun with this book. Tamara’s a yoga instructor and yoga is one of my passions, so the research there wasn’t difficult because my own yoga instructor, Gail, gave up her time to help me. But there’s an alpaca herd in the book, and millionaires, and a lot of money, all of which had to be investigated. I had to find out how much half a million pounds in £50 notes weighs and whether a woman with a bad leg could carry it, when alpacas have their babies and how to look after them (happily, I have other friends, Sue and Adrian, who keep alpacas), what a close protection officer does (Jed has a stepbrother, Manny, who heads up security for the millionaires) and other fascinating stuff … like what happens at a spa day. (I had to do a day and a weekend, just to make double sure I had it all covered …)
The less fun research was into acquired head injury. My thoughts are often with all those who have suffered.
The paperback of Is This Love? will be released on 7th November 2013. I received my author copies just before I went on holiday in mid-September. Pretty! It’s a sight that always makes my heart sing.
Good luck with the book, Sue. Looking forward to your workshop in Derby. Mx
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Thanks, Morton. I look forward to seeing you again, too. x
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Research can be fun – I’ve learned about all sorts of things I wouldn’t have imagined I’d ever need to know.
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I love it. Research for fiction, anyway. If I have to research which is the best phone or TV for me, I hate it. I just shut down.
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Oh yes! I really should start writing books based on what I want to research, though. Much more sensible!
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All the best with your new novel. Sounds like a fantastic story. Love the research trips – spa day. Brilliant and enjoyable no doubt. There has to be some perks here and there. Definitely putting it on my list.
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Thank you, Suzy! I hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
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What a lovely sight – a box full of your own books! It was just topped by the photograph of that handsome alpaca. I really feel for you, Sue … research is a tough business – all that basking around on spa days and gazing at cuddly alpacas, hee-hee. Happy Publication Day!
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Thanks, Lesley. I’m glad you understand how I suffer for my craft … 😉
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Thank you, Lesley! 🙂
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If there’s an alpaca involved then I’m your target audience. On my 39th birthday I paid $10,000 to our next door neighbours for a pregnant alpaca our Rhodesian RIdgeback chased into a feed trough (which was very strange since they were friends). So I’m very familiar with the accounting regarding valuable white cria babies, etc. But I would LOVE to read your book.
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Wow, Beverley, that’s quite a story! I think Sue and Adrian’s alpacas are more your ordinary everyday kind but there’s definitely a price tag attached.
xxx
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Based on this, I’m seriously considering researching Disneyworld…Really looking forward to the read 🙂 xx
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I’m sure I’m going to write a book where the heroine has a face lift and gets a toyboy …
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Sue, Is this Love sounds wonderful – I can’t wait to get my hands on it! I love your little teasers on the research you did – a fascinating glimpse into the book. Yoga, money and alpacas – ummm!
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Looking forward to the new book Sue – I am a bit of an alpaca fan – especially of the wool – which is fabulous to knit with. Expensive – but fabulous to knit and to wear.
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Thanks, Janet, and I hope that you like ITL? (Fibre, not wool. Sorry, but I’ve done my research … ;-))
Sue xxx
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Good luck with Is this Love? Just reading your blogpost has made me think I want to get back into going to yoga regularly – maybe reading the book will force me off my sizeable writer’s bottom to actually go do it!
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Thanks v much, Alison! Yoga’s so good for general health. I’m a huge fan. xxx
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I too am looking forward to another great read. I live yoga and when doing strange contortions in a class, often think it would make a good story. Glad you’ve written it!
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Thanks, Zana. I’ve done yoga for years and it always makes me feel good.
xxx
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I loved this book, Sue 🙂 I also have a very soft spot for alpacas! Wishing you lots of luck – I hope Is This Love? is a huge success!
xx
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Thank you, Berni! Much appreciated. 🙂
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*sigh* Yet another on my “Must Read” list!! Random Trivia: there’s a herd of alpacas down the road from us here in Evesham.
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Those alpacas get everywhere … I hope you enjoy Is This Love? when you read it, John. Great to meet you last night, at Knighton Library. Thanks for making the effort to come over and I hope that you had a smooth journey home.
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Ooh, alpacas – some of my favourite beasts, I remember taking my grandson to see them when he was little. They have lovely eyes. I’m looking forward to reading your new book, Sue – sounds like another winner!
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Thank you, Margaret. I hope that you enjoy it.
The eyes are amazing, aren’t they? Absolutely gorgeous. xxx
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What an interesting story this sounds, Sue, think I need a spa day in my next book!
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I can recommend it, Angela. x
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I have a friend who keeps alpacas. Book sounds amazing, Sue – as always.
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Thank you, Liv! Mwah! x
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Sounds like a fab story Sue, wish you lots of sales with it xx
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Thanks, Kim. 🙂 I appreciate that. xx
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Very much looking forward to reading this! And all that research – sounds tough 🙂
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Thank you, Christina. 🙂 xx And you know how seriously I take my research …
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Congratulations Sue (im behind as usual lol)
Im sure it will be a HUGE success 🙂
xx
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Oh thank you, Vikki! I so appreciate that. xxx
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