There I was, browsing on Facebook – as you do – and I happened to stumble across Apricot Plots. It was a page that I hadn’t noticed before, so I took a closer look – and was really delighted to discover that it was an exciting new venture from a group of authors, several of whose books I’ve already enjoyed and featured or reviewed here on Being Anne. With a lot of help from one of their number, Morton S. Gray, I’m really delighted to be able to tell you more…
Where did the idea of Apricot Plots come from? And why the name (I do like it, by the way!)?
Apricot Plots is a supportive group of authors born from a workshop at the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference in 2018. The workshop suggested that authors band together to talk to readers and mutually support each other in marketing ventures and that’s what we are hoping to do.
We went through a long process of deciding a name for our group and I believe it was a throwaway comment from Angela Barton that led to Apricot Plots. Now we’ve got the name its great.
Who are the Apricot Plotters?
There are eight of us – Angela Barton, Jane Cable, Morton S. Gray, Julie Houston, Caroline James, Mariam Kobras, Carol Thomas and Tora Williams. We all write very different books, but our linking feature is that they all have romantic elements.
What can readers expect to see on your Facebook page and Twitter feed?
Our header on Facebook says:
Welcome to Apricot Plots where visitors may be inspired to trigger a creative spark or take a moment to spend time with our authors. As writers, our general theme is romance, but we all branch off into the sub-genres of comedy, crime, mystery and history and appeal to many readers. Apricot Plots will highlight our news, offers, competitions and give-a-ways and, we hope, become a place for those interested in reading and writing to engage and enjoy our work.
Happy reading, writing and ‘Apricot Plotting’ xx #ApricotPlots.
That says it all really. We will also have book launches, competitions and giveaways on the pages.
You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter – and watch out for our hashtag #ApricotPlots!
What do you all hope for by being part of the group?
Angela Barton: I’d like to see Apricot Plots as a place our followers look forward to clicking on because we’ll offer humour, support, interesting articles, quality giveaways and advice. For us Apricot Plotters, I’d like our group to be somewhere we can encourage, support and promote each other and each other’s work.
Jane Cable: I love linking up with other bookish people and Apricot Plots will be a wonderful place for me to do so.
Morton Gray: I find it so much easier to promote other peoples’ books than my own, so I’m hoping I can do that with Apricot Plots and that the group will do some marketing for me too. I hope it will be a place where we can bring together the readers of our books and have some fun.
Julie Houston:I was really excited when Caroline suggested I join the others with this new venture of Apricot Plots. Writing can sometimes be a lonely old occupation, sitting at the computer, imbibing too much coffee and chocolate and now I feel I’m part of a new little club. I’m hoping there’ll be some advice when I can’t decide if to do Instagram or when Caroline tells me I should be using Mailchimp!
Caroline James: Writing can be a lonely business at times and by being a member of Apricot Plots, I hope to engage with my fellow authors, to enjoy being in like-minded, motivating company which can be shared with our readers through social media.
Mariam Kobras: To be honest, I’ve never joined a writer group before because I actually hate talking about writing instead of actually doing it. Which was a mistake! I love being a member of Apricot Plots! I’m not alone out there anymore, and that’s the best thing in the world. Being in a group makes us all stronger, and to me, it’s like coming home.
Carol Thomas: I am excited to be a part of Apricot Plots with this lovely group of inspirational ladies. I hope we will be able to provide mutual support to each other and help to spread the word about our books to readers, while also inspiring new writers. As we’ve been getting to know each other behind the scenes, I also feel that we are forming new friendships, which is a wonderful bonus!
Tora Williams: A group where we can engage with other readers and also support and be cheerleaders for each other.
I’ll let the plotters introduce themselves…
Angela Barton: I’m a lavender farmer and author living in France. My novel is called Arlette’s Story and has been published by Ruby Fiction.
(I had the great pleasure of meeting Angela at the RNA afternoon tea in York a few weeks ago – and you’ll find my review of Arlette’s Story here. I really loved it…)
Jane Cable: I write romance with a twist of mystery. I’ve had an up and down year since my publisher went into liquidation but I’m hoping to be able to announce better news soon. My most recent book is The Faerie Tree, a second chance romance about what happens when a couple meet again twenty years after their brief affair and discover their memories of it are completely different.
(Jane and I go back a long way – ever since I reviewed her first book, The Cheesemaker’s House, in 2013. She wrote me the most perfect guest post for her recent anniversary tour, and there’s also the chance to read my review again – you’ll find it here. Maybe you’d like to see my review of The Faerie Tree too? You’ll find it here, along with another lovely guest post.)
Morton S. Gray: I write “romance with a mystery to solve” for Choc Lit. My latest book is The Truth Lies Buried with a Christmas novella Christmas at Borteen Bay out on 13th November 2018.
(To my great shame, I still haven’t managed to read one of Morton’s books – but I did feature an extract from The Truth Lies Buried, and you’ll find it here. And I’m delighted to report that I will be reading an advance copy of Christmas at Borteen Bay, and sharing my review on publication day.)
Julie Houston: I write romantic comedy with a bit of a twist. My fifth book, A Village Affair will be published by Head Of Zeus/Aria on 6 November 2018. Book six, Holly Close Farm is out 5 February 2019.
(I so enjoy Julie’s books – you’ll find reviews here on Being Anne of Looking For Lucy and An Off-Piste Christmas. And I’m delighted to report I’ll be reading and reviewing A Village Affair for the publisher’s blog tour, and really looking forward to it – look out for my review on 12th November!)
Caroline James: I write romantic comedy. My latest book is The Best Boomerville Hotel which is all about having the best of times in our middle years and beyond. The book has been described as, ‘Britain’s answer to the Marigold Hotel’ and there is a follow-up coming soon.
(Caroline’s been one of my favourites for a very long time – I’m a big fan of Jo and Hattie! – and you’ll find my review of The Best Boomerville Hotel here. Looking forward to that follow-up, Caroline!)
Mariam Kobras: I started writing ten years ago. So far I’ve written five novels, and they were all published in the USA by Buddhapuss Ink. Right now I’m between projects and enjoying my grandsons. My latest book is Waiting for a Song, Book 5 in the Stone Series.
(Mariam, I’m sorry I haven’t yet discovered your lovely looking series – I’ll be taking a closer look…)
Carol Thomas: I write contemporary romance with relatable heroines, whose stories are mixed with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads. I was delighted when my latest book, The Purrfect Pet Sitter, was published by Ruby Fiction, and I am currently working on the sequel.
(I was delighted to host a guest post from Carol back in May – you’ll find it here. I’m kicking myself that I haven’t managed to fit in the reading – I’ll look forward to that sequel, Carol!)
Tora Williams: I write historical romance for The Wild Rose Press. My debut, Bound to her Blood Enemy was released in June, and I have a Christmas Novella, The Gift of Time, out in November 2018.
(Good to meet you Tora – your books look very much my cup of tea, and I’ll look forward to catching up!)
Thank you so much, ladies. I’m very much looking forward to following all your news and activities at Apricot Plots – on Facebook and Twitter!
Thanks so much for this introduction, Anne!! Julie x
My absolute pleasure, Julie! xx
Best of luck with your new venture!
Thank you, Jessie x
Thanks for your support, Anne – and for yours, Jessie. It means a great deal to us all.
So interesting, good luck ladies and I have tweeted. Happy October all.
Thank you, Jane. x
🙂
Thank you for featuring us on your blog, Anne. It is much appreciated. xx
What an interesting article and so many authors to discover…and rediscover !