Date Published: 7 September 2021
Publisher: Alcove Press
England, 1931
Astra Davies finds herself in rather a tight spot when her parents die suddenly, leaving her with a heap of debts and damaging family secrets to sort out. Unwilling to enter a loveless marriage with a wealthy suitor, she instead makes the audacious decision to make her own way in the world.
But the road to financial independence is a rocky one, fraught with hazards and heartbreaking choices. A brainless business partner threatens to ruin both her reputation and their company. Family mysteries and startling discoveries make her question her parents’ motives and her relationship with them. And when she catches the eye of the extremely eligible (and rather poor) Earl of Dunreaven, Astra winds up directly in the crosshairs of her longtime nemesis: the wealthy, influential Lady Millicent, who’s now hell bent on bringing her down for good.
Astra will have to dig deep and call on strength and skills she never knew she had if she’s going to prove to herself and the world that she is more than just a pretty Bright Young Thing.
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
You never really know what you’re capable of until you’re up
against it! And: sometimes you have to let go of things (even things that are
precious to you) in order to move on and grow.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The first draft. It can be a real slog sometimes, and it’s hard to resist
editing as you go (and also hard to resist cringing as you read how terrible it
is). I just keep telling myself to keep moving forward, and don’t worry about
how bad it is, I’ll go back and fix it on the second, third, fourth or 10th
draft!
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I’ve written two published books and, if I’m being honest, this
one’s my favourite!
If You had the chance to cast your main character from
Tuppence Middleton, without a doubt. She’s not as well known as
other actresses, but I think she’d fit Astra to a T!
When did you begin writing?
When I was very, very young. I was always making up stories as a
child. I started writing long fiction when I was about 13 or 14.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
First draft through all the revisions probably took around 18
months. My second book took much longer to get from first draft to published
novel—nearly 20 years!
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
I can’t remember any
particular writer making me want to write when I first started, but I can
definitely say that now I’m really inspired by Hilary Mantel. Reading Wolf
Hall made me seriously reassess how I approached language in story.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Probably the initial planning process. You have a spark of an
idea, and you start building on it and as you do, you get more excited about
what’s to come. I love that feeling of an exciting new beginning!
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Tragedy sparks new beginning
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the
future for your writing?
I’m in the very early stages of a novel about a young woman who marries
into royalty and definitely encounters some drama.
About the Author
She moved to the glorious, history-soaked city of Edinburgh nearly 10 years ago and felt like she'd finally come home. She now lives by the sea in an East Lothian town with its very own castle with her husband, sons, and bulldog, Isla.
Her debut novel, All Stirred Up, was published by Alcove Press in 2020.
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