I live in Cheshire with my husband, mother-in-law and two dogs and am an auntie to 16 nephews and nieces, all of whom I adore.  As well as writing I work part-time for a software company that provides ticketing software, predominantly for the sport industry.  When I tell people that I’m a trainer for football clubs, they do tend to give me a strange look – I don’t exactly have a sporting physique.  I let them think about it for a few minutes before telling them I actually train people how to use our software.
 
I have a large group of friends, some of which I’m proud to say are those from my childhood.  My friends, old and new, are all wonderful people who regularly provide me with storylines – whether they realise it or not.
​

.Can you tell us a bit about where you live now, and where you were brought up.
I live in Wistaston, an area of Crewe and have lived in this particular house for fourteen years – half my married life.  I was brought up in various places; originally a little town in Stoke, called Goldenhill, then when my parents divorced and my mum remarried we moved to Alsager.  Eventually we moved to Crewe and then finally Nantwich.  When I married in 1988, I moved back to Crewe.
 
If you had a choice where would you choose to live, and why?
There isn’t anywhere exotic that I’d like to live, my choice would always be no more than half an hour away from my family.  They are extremely important to me and I couldn’t function without seeing regularly.
 
Have any places you’ve visited been the inspiration for a book?
Nantwich is my inspiration for Rickeby, the town where all my books are based.  Like Nantwich, it’s a market town with a community of characters that know each other, even if it’s only by sight.  I did base a couple of chapters of one book in Florence.  It’s a beautiful place and once I’d visited it I knew I had to include it in a book somehow.
 
How important do you think the setting is when you write a story?
It depends on the book, but for me the setting should be the backdrop to a good story.  While the reader needs to see it in their mind’s eye, I don’t think it should be the main character.  I like to think that my readers invest in my characters because I use the same town in every book, and characters pop up from other books, but it’s not an integral part of any plot. 
 
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
A perfect writing day for me would be writing over 10 thousand words, without any distraction and then realising that what I’ve written is funny, interesting and entertaining.
 
A general perfect day would be, a lazy morning reading, followed by lunch with the girls and a good old giggle.  Finally ending with an evening with Mr A, and our dogs curled up on the sofa, either watching TV or listening to music.  Alternatively, an evening with our friends and a few drinks and laughs would be just as good.  I’m a simple soul.
​

Nikki Ashton’s latest release Cheese Tarts & Fluffy Socks is out now, and is available from - Amazon

To find out more about Nikki and her books visit - 
 Amazon Author Page
Facebook Nikki Ashton Books
Twitter: @nikkerash
Website: NikkiAshtonBook.co,uk

​Complex, Enthralling Romance Novel Proves Sex & Work is a Cocktail Best Left Unshaken

The most recent in a long line of celebrated romance novels from Nikki Ashton, ‘Cheese Tarts and Fluffy Socks’ zeroes in on a steamy one-night stand that, unknown to either party, is about to kick-off a working relationship that is far more than awkward. A hotel badly in need of investment, a young entrepreneur has been sent in to decide if it’s a good investment, but the daughter of the owner is…well…you get the picture.

Darrington Hall hotel is barely keeping afloat, and it's up to Holly Jenkins to save it. Jumping from one crisis to another, dealing with an errant father, irate guests and enduring some highly charged professional differences with the man that Holly can't get out of her head, and it looks certain that she will fail.

Against the backdrop of a crumbling hotel, Cheese Tarts and Fluffy socks is a great read with funny and witty dialogue. Interspersed with some dramatic moments is a complex, fun and sexy love story that will make you smile and give you a warm glow.

Can you tell us a bit about where you live now, and where you were brought up.
I live in West Sussex on the south coast and have lived in and around the area since I was fourteen years old. I’m very lucky to have the coast within a few miles one way and the South Downs a few miles the other way. I was originally born in Hertfordshire but have also lived in Cambridgeshire. Growing up we moved around a lot within those counties, but it always had to be within commuting distance of London where my dad worked. Three years seemed to be the average time we spent in one house and as the moves usually entailed a change of area and school, I spent most of the time as ‘the new girl’.
 
If you had a choice where would you choose to live, and why?
Ideally, I’d love to be based in France – Southern Brittany to be exact. We have a second home there and have spent the last twelve years renovating the cottage. We love going over to visit as often as possible and, once there, we immediately relax into the quiet rural country life. I would, however, like to spend some months of the year in my favourite cities Paris, Rome and Barcelona. Don’t want much do I?!
 
Have any places you’ve visited been the inspiration for a book?
My first three length novels, United States of Love, Closing In and The Half Truth have all been set in my home county of West Sussex. There are some lovely towns in the area and, of course, the coastline – all make for a good setting. I think it adds to the realism too and local people like to be able to identify with the area and landmarks mentioned in the book.
 
How important do you think the setting is when you write a story?
I think it plays a very subtle, yet important role in a story. It sits quietly in the background for most of the time and weaves its way in to help support the story. When it gives the reader a sense of being there without sounding like a tourist guide, it’s really doing its job well.
 
‘The French Retreat’ is set in France, what made you choose this as the setting for your book?
I’ve wanted to write a book set in the area for a long time and recently I had the opportunity to do so. Admittedly, I was spoiling myself, but I enjoyed every minute of it and intend to write some more in the Falling for France series.
 
Can you tell us anything about the book?
The French Retreat is a romance and mystery story. It’s a novella of approximately 40,000 words and set in Southern Brittany – I used our own cottage as inspiration.  It follows the story of two people who have both ended up in France to get away from it all – both for very different reasons. It’s an uplifting story of human compassion, hope and love, with a little bit of mystery and adventure thrown in.
 
If you weren’t a writer, what would be your next choice of career?
I’ve worked in various secretarial positions in the past but more recently worked in education, so it’s probably something in the latter I would be doing.
 
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
Spending time with my family would come top of the list, followed by some time to work on a sewing project, read a book, bake a cake and go on a really long hike somewhere. Not sure there’s enough hours in one day for all that …

Sue Fortin’s latest release ‘The French Retreat’ is out now and is available from
Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.com
 
To find out more about Sue and her books visit –
Facebook     Facebook Author Page   Twitter      Website  
 

Excerpt
 Looking over, she spotted the MPV and a man striding towards her.
He had dark hair, just long enough to see the hint of unruly surfer type curls, his jaw was set in a firm line, as was his unsmiling mouth, and a pair of sunglasses covered his eyes. He wore a black tee-shirt, a pair of cargo trousers and desert boots on his feet.
‘Hi,’ said Marcie as he neared her. ‘Are you Will?’ She smiled at him.
‘Marcie Grainger?’ he said, not returning the smile.
‘That’s right, Ben’s sister.’ She held out her hand to him which, after a moment’s hesitation when she thought he was going to ignore it, he shook firmly.
‘Will Adams.’ He picked up her suitcase and began walking back to the car. ‘I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.
‘I didn’t know where to find you,’ said Marcie as she followed on behind. ‘Ben was a bit sparse with the details.’
‘Good job he told me to look out for a dizzy blonde carrying a suitcase, probably pink, and probably the same size as her.’ He opened the side door of the people carrier and slid the suitcase in.
‘He said that?’ said Marcie, not entirely sure she liked the description. Okay, she was blonde and her suitcase was pink and, yes, it was big, but she was staying for several weeks. It was the dizzy bit that bothered her most.
‘Yep,’ said Will, not expanding on the reasoning. ‘Front or back?’
‘What?’ said Marcie. She wished he would take his sunglasses off, at least then she would be able to see his eyes. It was good manners to at least make eye contact when you met someone for the first time. He wasn’t bloody CIA for God’s sake.

***

I am so pleased to welcome June here today - an author I've been lucky enough to meet in person. I was recently invited to speak at a library event (you can read more here), June was in the audience and during a chat afterwards I discovered she'd self published two books. After swapping emails I'm delighted that she agreed to answer a few more questions! So, over to June...

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about the setting for your book?
A. My first book - Seasons of Change - is set in England and the south of France.
I chose the south of France as one of the locations because it is one of my favourite holiday destinations and it was a good way to refresh my memory of some of the nice places I had visited.  

Q. If you had a choice where would you choose to live, and why?
A. Palm Springs, California. 
It’s a beautiful location surrounded by mountains with fantastic weather and lots of challenging golf courses. My husband would be permanently happy although  I’d have to transport all my remaining loved ones with me, as it’s just a bit too far away for family get-togethers. 

Q. Can you tell us a bit about where you live now.
A. I live and have grown up in Warrington.  Despite its industrial beginnings, Warrington is now a well-established, expanding town and well located for travelling to several of the nearby northwest cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Chester.
Many country walks are only a short drive away and some of the most beautiful areas of the Lake District are less than an hour away.

Q. Have any places inspired you to write, and why?
A. I’ve only recently started writing so find that, wherever I am, I begin to think “This would be a good setting for a storyline!!”  It’s becoming almost obsessive!!!
Realistically, I probably find holiday locations the most inspirational, because I’m more relaxed when on holiday and therefore more able to consider my writing.

Q. How important do you think the setting is when you write a story?
A. I think the setting is very important as in my mind it creates a framework within which the story can then develop.

Q. What’s your idea of a perfect day?
A. Enjoying a shared pursuit with one of the special people in my life – knowing that they were having as good a time as me.
Then returning home and sitting in the garden, on what would hopefully be a warm summer’s evening, watching the sun go down, reflecting on the day’s happy moments – possibly accompanied with a nice glass of wine.

Q. What inspired you to write your first book?
A. I was going through a difficult period in my life and found that writing enabled me to refocus and remain positive.

Q. Can you tell us anything about your next book?
A. I’ve already written my second book “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back” which is the sequel to “Seasons of Change” and follows the next phase in the group of friends’ lives. I’m currently toying with writing a third, maybe in a different genre.

Q. If you weren’t a writer, what would be your next choice of career?
A. I would have liked to be a successful sportswoman.

June Walker Smith's book 'Seasons of Change' is out now. To find out more about her and her books visit -
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