Welcome to 2019 and Jo Lambert’s new novel – Wicked Game
Hip – Hip – Hooray – It’s Publication Day
Tell us a little about yourself, Jo
Hi Lizzie and thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog. Well, what can I say about me? I’m a country girl who despite living a few years in the city has now migrated back to village life. I’m married and share our home with my husband’s other ‘love’ a green MGB GT. We live on the eastern edge of Bath so have a great city/country life balance. I worked all my adult life in PA or Office Management roles and after reducing hours for a couple of years, decided to close the door on my 9 to 5 to concentrate on my writing full time. As an indie author I’ve written seven novels, five set in West Somerset and two in Devon. In June 2018 I signed a contract with Choc Lit for my eighth book The Boys of Summer set on the north Cornish coast. I write modern romantic sagas with plenty of drama in the mix.
What would be your typical writing day?
Every day, with the exception of weekends, I take an hour out each morning and walk. My allocated time for writing usually begins after lunch and finishes around five. I rarely set a word count for each day as it depends on where I’ve got to with the WIP. If I achieve 2500+ then I feel I’ve done a good day’s work. It’s very easy to let writing take over your life, and because of that I feel it’s important to have a structured day. So I try to set aside time for non-writing activities – cooking, regular catch ups with friends, lunch out, cinema, theatre, even shopping – the sort of things that get you away from the computer for a while.
Tell us how the writing process works for you …
I have never written a novel which has been fully plotted.
Rather I set certain key events and then begin to write. So much can change
during the journey from beginning to end and that for me means I have to be
flexible – to have the ability to change things that don’t work and if
necessary swap characters around or delete them from the story. In The Boys of
Summer for instance I ended up swapping my hero and antagonist because the
other way round they simply weren’t working.
I also find lots of external things influence me as I write. Drama on
TV, a book I’m reading, music or even having a conversation with someone. One
quite innocent event or remark can take my thoughts off in a particular
direction and bring about improvements to the story I’m writing. Although it would be great to be able to
simply sit down and write a story from beginning to end, I guess we all write
in the way we’re most comfortable with. Me? I take the scenic route. Maybe it
takes longer but it works for me.
mapping the way forward
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I grew up listening to stories from my maternal grandfather. He was a grand old countryman who entertained us, his grandchildren, with tales which he tended to embellish – making it even more exciting to our young ears. Maybe this rubbed off on me, who knows, but there was always something there that wanted to tell stories – and not just tell them, write them. As I got older, college, career and marriage all conspired to keep that creative spark in me pushed very firmly to the back of the queue. Eventually a story came into my head and simply wouldn’t go away. Despite having a busy life, including a full time job I managed to squeeze in the time to begin writing. The result was When Tomorrow Comes, the first book in the Little Court series and everything took off from there.
Tell us a little bit about where you set your novels
Growing up on a farm in rural Wiltshire it seemed natural for my books to have country flavour – a case of write what you know. It’s not all about country life though. I have a bit of a ‘thing’ about Italy and various locations there have featured in more than one of my novels.
Please share your favourite reviews from previous books –
Summer Moved On – ‘What I really like about Jo Lambert books is that there are never any dull moments. The drama and romance comes thick and fast. The pace of the book builds up to an amazing story. The characters in the book are so alive and real that you will become emotionally involved and fall deep into the story.’
Watercolours In the Rain –I very much enjoyed Summer Moved On, but Watercolours in the Rain is even better. Finding out what happened to Jess, Talun and Lily – and all the other minor characters – was like hearing about friends and what happened to them. I was fascinated to see how Jo Lambert managed to get the “right” ending – very cleverly written, I thought.
Please share the Blurb and link to your current book
WICKED GAME
Fashion designer Thérèse D’Alesandro has recently moved into Westhead Manor with daughter Felicia and stepson Marco. Joining forces with neighbour Ella Benedict, she is about to open a bridal boutique at Ella’s exclusive wedding venue Lawns at Little Court. Marco has both the looks and charm to guarantee him any woman. Any woman, that is, except the one he wants: Ella’s niece Charlotte. Marco knows he should walk away as not only is she the most exasperating female he has ever encountered she’s currently in a relationship with rock star Christian Rossetti. But the chemistry between them is undeniable and sensing trouble brewing between Charlotte and the egotistical singer he is prepared to wait.
Charlotte’s cousin Lucy has discovered Christian’s guilty secrets – ones he has been keeping safely hidden from everyone. Determined to cause mischief and at the same time settle her own score with the arrogant star, she sets in motion a chain of events which eventually brings Marco and Charlotte together. Rossana Caravello is due to inherit the one of Italy’s premier vineyards on her twenty first birthday in September. Aware this would make an excellent addition to her husband’s international business portfolio, Thérèse plots to push the young heiress and her stepson together. Rossana is already besotted with Marco, but if the plan is to have any chance of success first she needs to get rid of Charlotte…
Well, that about wraps up this interview. Thanks for appearing on my blog, Jo. I wish you mega success with your new novel and all your writing endevours.
It’s always a pleasure to receive a review from someone who’s bought, downloaded and read your novel. Most of the reviews I’ve received are balanced and constructive, but you can’t please everyone – and some reviews reflect that. In my opinion, the best reviews are the ones where the reader ‘gets your novel’, falls in love with your hero and roots for your heroine all the way to the final page. So thank you, dear reader, for buying my novels and sharing your views with me.
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Here are some reviews for my latest novel: BOOT CAMP BRIDE
there’s something extra special in Lizzie’s books. It was there in “Tall, Dark and Kilted”, her previous novel, and it’s definitely present and correct in “Boot Camp Bride”
Funny, sexy and a good story, with a hint of mystery
perfect blend of excitement, romance and humour
It’s a perfect romance novel for these long dark evenings and has a good mystery tale to carry you along
I always fall in love with my sexy heroes and it looks as if my readers do, too!
I found myself falling for him, just like his leading lady
Brave, compassionate, noble and – of course – jaw-droppingly sexy
The wonderfully named Rafael Fonseca-Ffinch is a total hunk
Ffinch is the alpha male with a chink in his armour so beloved by romance readers
The fascinating Rafael is shrouded in mystery
(I loved) the mysterious but irresistible Rafael Ffinch
And you can’t beat a feisty, up-for-anything heroine
Lizzie writes great heroines
Fliss in “Tall, Dark and Kilted” was fun, feisty and realistic
In “Boot Camp Bride”, the heroine Charlee (is) the sort of friend you’d happily hang out with
Lizzie has the knack of creating great female protagonists who quickly get the reader onside, cheering them on
I loved the Ugly Betty/Bridget Jones style character in Charlee
Charlee is just divine – full of fire and fury
I love evocative settings – in Boot Camp Bride it’s the haunting Norfolk Marches
fast-talking heroine, a deliciously erudite yet haunted hero, rollicking through all sorts of high jinks in the wilds of North Norfolk
Lizzie also uses locations extremely well and paints them very vividly
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her descriptions of (the north Norfolk coast) and its windswept marshes and big skies reminded me of this hauntingly beautiful part of the country
Lizzie Lamb paints as beguiling a picture of the magical Norfolk marshes, as she did of the Scottish Highlands
And finally . . .
Boot Camp Bride will be available on Amazon Countdown from Monday 23rd December until Monday 30th December.
Lowest price £0.99/ highest £1.99 – but the clock will be ticking
As one reviewer put it . . .
(Boot Camp Bride is) Funny, sexy and a good story, with a hint of mystery. Don’t just sit there go out and buy it. You won’t be disappointed
Lizzie Lamb - author 