One summer they’ll never forget…
Meet Sabine, desperately fighting to save her little kiosk from closure whilst turning down her friend Owen’s proposals, time and time again.
Cue Harriet, returning to Dartmouth after thirty years, haunted by the scandal that drove her away and shocked by a legacy that threatens her relationship with her journalist daughter.
Enter Rachel, the mysterious newcomer who has an unexpected chemistry with a local widower, and who sets in motion a chain of events she could never have predicted…
One thing’s for sure, as the autumn tide turns, there’ll be more than one secret laid bare!
Isn’t that cover and description just perfect? I’m going to talk (again) about that little group of authors I have – you know, the one where I buy all their books but they never make it onto my reading list? Yes, I’m afraid author Jennifer Bohnet is yet another member. But I’m going to put that right very soon – The Little Kiosk By The Sea is published for kindle by Carina on 18th August, and will be going straight onto my “must read” list.
I’m pleased to say she hasn’t held my appalling previous behaviour against me, and I’m delighted to welcome Jennifer (Jennie) Bohnet to Being Anne…
Maybe you’d like to start by introducing yourself Jennie…
Thank you Anne, it’s lovely to be here. I’ve lived in France for 16 years now. After 11 years down on the Cote d’Azur where Richard was a guardien for a villa, we moved from the Mediterranean coast to a small quirky cottage in Finistere, Brittany. A bit of a culture shock to say the least! When I’m not writing I love reading, cooking and having friends around for lunch – lunches that follow the French tradition of lasting for several hours.
I’m always fascinated by your life – is it really the way it sounds, in your cottage in Brittany, living the dream?
In many ways it is Anne, but as with anywhere there are drawbacks. The main drawback for me is the language. 16 years in France and despite having passed ‘O’ level French many, many years ago I’m ashamed of my French. Living in a small village where nobody speaks English, my French has improved somewhat in the last four years and I get by, but It seriously limits my social and cultural life. No easy eavesdropping for inspiration for me – unless of course I overhear some English ex-pats talking!
We’ve known each other for quite some time on social media – and I think I can proudly say that I have all your books in my kindle library. What kind of reader do you think would enjoy your books?
You do? Gosh thank you Anne. It’s amazing how quickly the years go by isn’t it? As I write what I enjoy reading, women’s contemporary fiction, I see my reader as someone who reaches out for a book to spend an hour or two with characters she can identify with and a story that takes her on a bit of a journey.
And this time the romantic and exotic location of your book is… Dartmouth?
I met my husband when on holiday in Dartmouth, South Devon and we moved there six months after we married following a whirlwind romance. Both my children were born there and I regard Dartmouth as home. I love the place. And yes it is romantic. Ancient buildings with lots of history, a castle at the head of the river and the Royal Naval College perched on the hill overseeing things. Anyone who has never been I urge you to go, it’s a special place and its beautiful.
The events in The Little Kiosk By The Sea all take place over one summer season in Dartmouth. The Kiosk is the link between the lives of several people. Sabine, Harriet and Rachel are all having to face up to secrets from their past, secrets they’d rather stayed hidden. There’s Johnnie too, whose life is turned upside down on a visit to family in Brittany. A visiting American, ‘BB’ in town searching for his ‘English connection’ finds himself embroiled in a secret that threatens to tear lives apart. I think the sentence ‘Past secrets, present day lies, bring life changing events’ sums up my book.
What writers do you admire? If someone said “her writing reminds me of…”, what comparison would give you the most pleasure?
Oh that second question is a difficult one Anne. Writers I read and admire? JoJo Moyes, Veronica Henry, Erica James, Jill Mansell, Katie Fforde, Judy Astley among others. A reviewer did once mention my name (in a good way I hasten to add) in the same sentence as Maeve Binchy which thrilled me to bits.
Tell me more about the publication of your books – some of your early books were self published, but you’re now with Carina?
Three of my earlier books were published by Robert Hale in hardback and as e-books. Ulverscroft Large Print published two and it’s those two, ‘French Legacy’ and ‘For the Love of the Sea’, that I retained the rights for and published myself on Amazon. The other four have all been published by Carina. So strictly speaking I’m not a true self-published author although I may try self-publishing a collection of short stories in the future.
Oh, I think a glass or two of bubbly on the day is in order don’t you? And I’m hoping a visit to Dartmouth will happen around September/October time. My son and daughter with their families still live there and I plan on treating us all to dinner in one of the good restaurants overlooking the river.
And what’s next? Are you already writing?
Yes, I’ve got one more book to write under my current contract for CarinaUK and I’ve got ideas for another couple of novels buzzing around in my head, one of which is beginning to show signs of being my next project.
Thank you Jennie – I think it’s going to have to be a pre-order on The Little Kiosk By The Sea, don’t you? The very best of luck with it…
Jennifer Bohnet is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany. The saying ‘Life is what happens while you’re deciding what to do’ is certainly true in her case. She’s always written alongside having various jobs: playgroup leader, bookseller, landlady, restauranteur, farmer’s wife, secretary/PA – the list is endless but does provide a rich vein of inspiration for her stories.
For three years she wrote a newspaper column in The South Hams Group of Newspapers (Devon)where she took a wry look at family life. Since living in France it is her fiction that has taken off with hundreds of short stories and several serials published internationally. if you like stories set down on the French Riviera, Antibes, Cannes and Monaco, then take a look at Follow Your Star and Rendezvous in Cannes. Her other books too have passing references to the South of France.
Allergic to housework and gardening she rarely does either but she does like cooking and entertaining and wandering around vide greniers (the French equivalent of flea markets) looking for a bargain or two. Her children currently live in fear of her turning into an ageing hippy and moving to Totnes, Devon.
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Great interview Anne
Thank you so much for this Anne. I really enjoyed answering your questions. For some reason google has put my account into Richard's but it's me here really! Jennie
Love Dartmouth too ladies, it's been our holiday destination for many years. Great post, thank you!
Thanks Linda – Jennie was a dream interviewee!
And I enjoyed putting the piece together too – wishing you massive sales with this one! x
Thanks Jo! x
Great interview. So very interesting. Makes me want to reads the book.Story has the feel of a contemporary Maeve Binchy, I think.. Looking forward to reading it.
Thanks Wendy – and I'm sure your comment will make Jennie very happy! x