It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for The Peacock House by Kate Glanville: published by Headline Accent on 9th September 2021, it’s now available as an e-book on all major platforms, in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and support.
The moment I spotted this book I could tell it was one I might love. Poignant and heartwarming, love and family secrets, the stunning scenery of North Wales – it really does have “Anne would love this one” written all over it, hasn’t it? And I was then gutted as I realised there was no way I could fit another book into my May reading list – but I’ve certainly purchased the audiobook version to enjoy at my leisure later.
1943
Evelyn dreams of escaping Vaughan Court and the loveless marriage that led her there. Then, at the height of the Second World War, a single moment changes her life and tethers her to the house for ever.
2016
Decades later, life has given as much as it has taken from Evelyn. Although a bestselling author, Evelyn still cannot escape the painful hold of the past.
Aspiring journalist Bethan hasn’t been back to Vaughan Court since she was a little girl. But the opportunity to interview her grandmother’s oldest friend – the Evelyn Vaughan – leads her back to North Wales. As Bethan learns about Evelyn’s life, she realises the ghosts of the grand house are yet to be laid to rest. And soon she’s determined to uncover the secrets hidden within…
So, no review today – but I’m delighted to welcome Kate Glanville as my guest, to tell us more about her writing journey…
I’ve always loved writing and have had many stories ‘living’ in my head all my life.
As a child I was constantly trying to write and illustrate books, and I loved writing stories and essays at school. Unfortunately, my spelling is absolutely terrible – (as an adult I was diagnosed with dyslexia) so my essays would come back with many more red lines than positive comments. Though I did have a very inspiring teacher in my final year of primary school, Miss Pellow. She loved my stories and told me I should become a writer despite my spelling. It was lovely that thirty-three years later I was able to send Miss Pellow a copy of my first novel and thank her for her early words of encouragement.
After school I went to St Martins in London to study fashion design, but I would always have some sort of idea for a novel in my head and be writing story outlines in my sketchbooks instead of ideas for clothes.
When I left college, I started a hand decorated pottery business and didn’t really have time to write, though every now and then I’d sit down and try to start a novel. When my children were very little I wrote and illustrated stories for them. I did try, unsuccessfully, to get some of the stories published. I wrote one about their granny (my mother) called My Naughty Granny – I had a letter back from Walker Books saying that the granny in the story was much to badly behaved to be believable!
I was over forty when I decided I was going to try to finish a novel. I was inspired by a close friend who had been diagnosed with cancer telling me that if there was ever anything I’d wanted to do in my life I should do it as soon as possible, as you never know what’s around the corner. I confided in her that I’d always wanted to write a novel and she encouraged me to just get on with it. Sadly my friend passed away before A Perfect Home was published but I dedicated it to her memory.
I spent over four years on A Perfect Home, writing long hand in note books as my typing is so slow. A lovely lady in the village agreed to type everything up for me. I remember she told me my manuscript was better than her library book at the time and I was overjoyed! I never actually asked her what book she was reading from the library!
After I had finished the first draft the author Charlotte Bingham, who was a pottery customer of mine, suggested I should send it to Cornerstones Literary Consultancy to get their opinion. This was the best advice I could have had as Cornerstones were wonderful, very encouraging and helpful. After suggesting some changes to the initial manuscript, they found me an agent.
My first contract was with Penguin in the U.S. which was very exciting. I then signed with Accent Press in the UK. By that time I’d written Heartstones – which took me less time to write than A Perfect Home, especially as I managed to type that myself on my laptop (though I’m still a one finger typist!) Accent Press published Heartstones in 2014 and I also got publishing contracts in Germany and Norway. Stargazing came out in 2017 and The Cherry Tree Summer and The Peacock House were both published in 2021. All five books are now published by Headline as well as Bastei Lubbe in Germany and available as audio books.
Despite having had five books published in three languages I still find it hard to think of myself as a professional writer, and often forget to mention it if people ask me what I do. I think for so long it had been a secret ambition I feel shy about talking about it. I remember those red lines all over my school exercise books and feel I can’t possibly be any good!
My pottery business is very much my day job and I tend to write very early in the morning or late at night, usually in bed. However, recently I’ve been trying to allocate whole days, and even weeks to writing, especially as I’m so excited about the novel I’m working on at the moment. Fairy Hill is a dual time story set in a small village on the edge of Dublin. My parents are from Dublin and as a child Ireland was this almost mythical place we were always meant to return to and never did. I love writing about it, as it has such a romantic place in my heart.
I have lots of ideas for other novels and I hope to spend the rest of my life writing now I actually managed to start. There’s nothing better than getting the stories out of my head and onto the page, it’s incredibly rewarding, as is holding an actual book full of words I’ve written in my hand.
I’m a strong believer that you’re never too old to start on the writing journey, and that no amount of red lines should make you think you can’t be a writer if you really want to be one.
And your success is really inspiring, Kate – wishing you the best in all you do, and I’ll look forward to catching up with The Peacock House…
About the author
Kate Glanville was born in West Africa to Irish parents. Kate now lives in the small town of Llandeilo in West Wales with two dogs, two cats and the youngest of her three children.
She graduated in 1990 with a degree in fashion design at Central St. Martins, London, and worked in the textile industry before becoming a ceramic artist.
Kate’s tableware designs have been sold in shops and galleries all over the world including Liberty, Conran Shop, Fortnum & Masons and Fired Earth. Among her many customers Kate has produced work for The Prince of Wales, Madonna, Roger Daltry and Robbie Williams. As well a successful career as a visual artist Kate has been writing stories since the age of eight, but it wasn’t until the age of forty that she had the confidence to show anyone!
Kate’s novels are romantic with a sense of mystery, often with dual time lines – beautiful old houses are central to every novel and dark family secrets are always waiting to be uncovered.
This sounds right up my street too. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Thanks for the blog tour support x
So interesting to read this, Anne. I love Kate Glanville’s books – they’re always a fantastic read!
I hadn’t come across her books before, Sara – and I’m rather looking forward to listening to this one!