Karen Aldous: Under a Tuscan Sun

We welcome Karen Aldous to the RNA blog as she celebrates publication of her fifth book.

Karen this is your fifth novel. Can you tell us something about your path to publication?

Number five, since 2014. I still can’t believe it! My path to publication however began in 2012. I’d

begun The Vineyard, the novel that had been in my head for years, whilst I was sat with Mum during her chemo in 2011 when she would nod off, and with that time, I began the first chapters. As it grew, I made a conscious decision to attempt the RNA New Writer’s Scheme which luckily I got on to in January 2012; a great impetus! The following day, I saw in Writer’s News, a local creative writing class, The Write Place, and immediately phoned and joined. Both organisations provided so much expertise and encouragement, perfectly syncing with my journey, that it wasn’t long before I found the confidence to start sending my work out. At the same time I sent my partial for critique with the RNA NWS, I also sent it to a novel competition, and although I didn’t win, I was contacted and got the opportunity to meet an editor who asked me to send it once complete. I did so a year later and eight weeks later, received a two-book contract. Mum had passed three months earlier to that offer, but having the chance to chat about the fact that she had followed her passion for dancing, I’m so grateful that she inspired me to follow mine.

You have such beautiful settings for your books. Are these based on your holidays or your dreams?

Both actually! I absolutely adore Europe and travel inspires me enormously. The stunningly beautiful French Riviera, and Provence inspired both the first The Vineyard, and third, which is titled, The Riviera, but in-between, I wrote The Chateau, which was inspired by a dream. I saw a woman repeatedly being dunked in deep water by a guard in a medieval doorway. Although the dream didn’t indicate the actual location, I instinctively knew why Montreux in Switzerland was constantly calling me. The Chateau de Chillon was the perfect setting for Agnes-Francescia, the unsettled spirit.

The main character in One Moment at Sunrise I met when I arrived at a beautiful villa close to the Canal du Midi, again in southern France. Her sadness prompted me to ask her questions and her story tumbled from her mouth and into my notebook. And, similarly with Under a Tuscan Sky, Elena, my main character’s nonna, voiced her troubles to me when I was on a recce for my daughter’s wedding - we stayed at a medieval farm with a beautiful villa and, the character Elena introduced me to her daughter Roz and her abandoned granddaughter, Olivia. Imagination is a wonderful tool that can take you anywhere, I happen to love immersing myself in beautiful locations – as long as I have a notebook in my hand!

How do you plan your books? Do you start with your characters or the plot?

Definitely characters - as you gather from the last answer, but once I have that character’s problem firmly fixed in my head, the other characters emerge to help and I begin to get create the outline. Once I’m happy that I have an interesting story, or plot if you prefer, I begin my character profiles and plan my scenes.

Tell us about your writing day.

Rarely do I have a typical writing day. I run a small business which I mainly only service now, but am blessed to be in a position to also care for my grandchildren, so my writing gets done on my days off mainly. If I’m not planning or researching, I like to shut myself away to get into the zone, starting early and walking the dog in-between which is great thinking time as well as much needed exercise when sitting all day.

Have you thought about writing in a different genre?

I’ve begun two dual-timeline novels which I’ve researched and aim to pursue, I love reading this genre and the way two lives can become so interwoven. It’s a difficult genre to do because you want your reader to fall in love with both characters from two eras, so yes, it’s my new challenge.

Have your readers met the character’s from Under a Tuscan Sky before and can you see yourself returning to this lovely part of the world in your writing?

Some readers may have met a few of the characters in a short-story I wrote recently for My Weekly magazine. It was published at the beginning of June. However, Under a Tuscan Sky is a stand-alone book. Having said that, I would love to write another story set in Tuscany, it’s such a beautiful region.

If we could jump forward five years where would you like to see your writing life?

Bearing in mind just how quickly the last five years have flown, five years are not so far away in the publishing industry. Of course I would love to keep writing, improving as I go and entertaining readers. I would love to hold my own paperback in my hand, but if I wrote a novel that readers loved and recommended to friends and, more ambitiously, it hit the Sunday Times Bestseller List, that’s where I’d love to be in five years.

Links

AmazonUK: Under a Tuscan Sky

Twitter: KarenAldous_

Facebook: KarenAldousAuthor

Website: KarenAldousAuthorWebsite

Book blurb:

When Olivia Montague’s grandmother passes away, she decides it’s finally time to make some changes in her own life. So she breaks up with her ‘going nowhere’ boyfriend and embarks on a journey to her nonna’s home in Tuscany.

Until now, Olivia has always believed that she’s incapable of love, after being abandoned by her parents as a baby. But with each day spent at the gorgeous villa nestled in the rolling Italian hills, she feels her heart begin to flutter …

And when handsome antiques dealer Hugh St. James arrives on the scene, she realizes things might be about to change forever!

About Karen:

Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Thank you, Karen and good luck with your book.

If you wish to be featured on the RNA blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

Karen Aldous: The Riviera

Welcome to Karen Aldous who is celebrating the publication of her third novel, The Riviera.

Congratulations, Karen. Can you tell us how you decide on the fabulous settings for your books?

Thank you for inviting me along to the fabulous RNA blog. The Riviera. It is a sequel to The Vineyard but can so easily be read as a stand-alone novel. Settings, come from my love of travel. Wherever I go, I like to imagine myself living in these exotic places and dream up a life – who knows how we construct subconsciously - but my characters tend to be created from this process. I do know that most places I visit, a character comes to life and I’m often inspired by the sheer beauty of a landscape such as Provence in The Vineyard and, The Riviera. Cannes captured my imagination for Lizzie because she was young and drawn to a buzzy, cosmopolitan environment.

How much planning do you undertake before you start to write?

I generally write an outline or synopsis once the idea grabs. For example, when I visited the Canal du Midi last summer, I stayed in this fabulously spacious villa which inspired a character who, I imagined living there. Immediately I sketched the outline of a very lonely girl who, by choice becomes an island within her gorgeous surroundings. I began asking her questions as to why and how she made the choice she did and then asked her how she would find happiness. From there, characters emerge who have brought about her isolation and sadness, and, those who will help her discover a brighter path. This will lead to exploration of all the characters motivations and conflicts. Once the summary is complete, because it is subject to change at any time if another idea works better, I gather the major scenes on cards to begin my structure. More cards are added with important events and then arranged into order to create the time-line. This is added to excel on word so that I can easily manoeuvre scenes, dates or anything new from research which needs to go in. This process can take weeks, months even, but, builds over time and, can be added to as I’m writing another project.

Can you tell us how you promote your e-books and meet your readers?

Before I was published I had a Facebook account so naturally told my family and friends as well as my writer friends. Many were lovely and bought my book and from there it’s been rather organic. When I first published The Vineyard last year, I hadn’t been on Twitter long but to my surprise, there were lots of wonderful readers, book bloggers and reviewers who, from their own love of books, were keen to read it and blog about it. I was astounded at this community. Reading is their passion and they are only too happy to write an honest review and, interview you. I believe book bloggers have such an influence. They have brought my books to the attention of their followers and fellow readers.  Along with these, my amazing fellow authors from CarinaUK and many I’ve met online and chat or Tweet to have been hugely supportive.

I’ve also featured on travel, French ex-pat, Lifestyle blogs such as Pink Ink or LLm – who are other authors lifting other authors and, have been so generous.  Admittedly, it took me a while to work out how it all worked but, I really can’t thank them all enough.

Of course, a major marketing tool for the ebook is a book tour. My Book tour for The Riviera begins on the 7^th September. Amazon or Carina, my publisher also arrange price promos periodically too which I think help ebooks reach readers who wouldn’t normally take a risk on a new author at a higher price, so this strategy is a great help to both us writers and readers. It has been building on online communities which have helped me reach my readers.

What is your typical writing day like?

Gosh, there is no typical day. I’m constantly racing around with grandchildren and a small business I run but, I write anywhere so even when collecting my granddaughter from school, I have my notebook. I’m at my desk from Friday to Sunday and most evenings. Just now however, I have the luxury of writing most days with the children on holidays which is great. My mind can focus for longer periods.

Can you give us a clue to your current work-in-progress?

Yes of course. The house which is set on the beautiful Canal du Midi where Evie, my main character’s only mode of transport is her bike, and it’s a perfect setting for cycling. However, it is heart-breaking. Although she has a beautiful home, the man who has made her so many false promises is controlling her life. She is isolated in so many ways and has to find her way off of this figurative island.  It is only after a near tragedy, when she meets the gorgeous film-maker, Ben that she begins to take a first step.

How do you see ‘Author Karen Aldous’ in five years’ time?

A very interesting question! When I began writing, my dream was to one day be read, to be published. That dream is now a reality. I have readers enjoying my novels. So, as any writer knows, the compulsion to write is something that’s within and, so is the compulsion to improve and aim a little higher; to reach more people and provide gripping entertainment. So that is the next step. First and foremost, I want readers to enjoy my books and so it’s important for me as a writer to not only keep writing but to improve it and offer them something more. I’ve learned so much from my wonderful editors and long may it continue. Learning is always beneficial and, for me, fun, so I do read a lot not only to enjoy, but to discover, how and why something another writer has created, makes it so good, and compelling.

I also love the many workshops and seminars with other writers which the RNA make so accessible. They’re full of new information besides reading books as aids. So, in the near future, I’d like the opportunity to explore a bit more. Become more adventurous, explore ideas and creep further out of my comfort zone. I’d also like to be helping new writers achieve their dream. Now is a good time to start planning a path for my writing future and increase my chances and my desire to reach more readers, so that within five years, I’d like to see Author, Karen Aldous on the Sunday Times or NY Times ‘Best Seller’ list and, dare I add, at the top!

LINKS
Amazon  
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Blog

Thank you Karen and good luck with The Riviera.

The RNA blog is brought to you by,

 Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

If you would like to write for the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

Karen Aldous: Joan Hessayon award contestant 2015

This year we have fifteen contenders for the Joan Hessayon Award. The winner will be announced at our Summer Party on 21^st May. We will be interviewing all fifteen of the ladies in the coming weeks.

Welcome to Karen Aldous, the first of our contenders for this year’s award.

Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?

Many moons ago when in my late teens. Before children. However, it was a few years ago, 2011 when I was stunned into action. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, my healthy mum! So I cut my workload and accompanied her during Chemo. With so many drugs, she slept most of the time so I took along my Kindle and my notebook and pen. It was then it hit me. We never know what’s around the corner! I needed to fulfil my dream of being published before it was too late. I joined the RNA NWS in January 2012.

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

I graduated with The Vineyard. In 2012 I submitted two-thirds of it to the NWS. The feedback was positive and I worked on the suggestions. I submitted three chapters and synopsis to the New Talent Award and, although I didn’t win, I was invited to a one-to-one with an editor, November 2012. She asked me to submit the whole manuscript which I did on the same day it was resent to the NWS, August 2013.

How did you find your publisher?

That same publisher CarinaUK accepted it and offered me a two-book contract eight weeks later, November 2013. If I had completed it the first year, I may have been published a year earlier. I could have shared the news with my Mum. Sadly, she passed away in July 2013.

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

Reviewers and Bloggers are diamonds. As soon as it was released reviewers got the word out on their blogs and, a few weeks later, when I got to grips with it all, I booked a Blog Tour which, combined with the publisher/Amazon promos, widened the audience. I had already set up Facebook and then gradually got to grips with Twitter where I made friends with many authors and bloggers and we support one another.

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

I’ve since written my second novel The Chateau which was released last October. My publisher offered me a further two-book contract so I’m just finishing my third and planning my fourth for later this year. I’ve also had the privilege of meeting lots of authors through the RNA events and I’ve grown so much as a writer working with my editor, my local writing class, other authors. I’m still learning. I can’t thank everyone enough.

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

My gorgeous children treated me to a special celebratory dinner at a lovely local restaurant called The Vineyard and we had loads of bubbly!! Then more bubbly with my friends and then more with my writer friends at The Write Place. Even the grandchildren had bubbles – the soapy kind though!

About Karen: 

Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Karen gets much of her inspiration from her travels and if she had to choose, France, Greece, Switzerland and Italy would be her favourite. However, wherever she goes, she discovers a new character emerges in 'Karen's World'. She likes to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives - but struggle to control them! And, of course there's always a gorgeous hunk or two!

Links:

The Vineyard Amazon UK

The Vineyard Amazon US

Website: Karen Aldous Author

Thank you, Karen and good luck with your writing career.