#Feature: Secrets of the Shell Sisters by Adrienne Vaughan @adrienneauthor #guestpost #newrelease #RosshavenRomances #romance #RespectRomFic #SecretsoftheShellSisters

Back in May, I was delighted  to help spread the word about Summer of Secrets, sharing my review of that first book in the new series of Rosshaven Romances from the lovely (and extremely talented!) Adrienne Vaughan (you’ll find that post again here). Today, I’m even more thrilled to share news of the second, Secrets of the Shell Sisters, recently published by The Paris Press and now available for kindle (just 99p for a limited time, or free via Kindle Unlimited) and in paperback. Another absolutely gorgeous cover to draw you in – and I really wish I could share another review today, but that will have to wait until November. Instead, it’s a real pleasure to be sharing a guest post from Adrienne.

Let’s take a closer look at the story…

“That’s like believing in Father Christmas,” he said. “Or mermaids,” she replied gravely.

 

Meet the Morgans. Three very different sisters, who each blame themselves for their mother’s mysterious disappearance. Now over forty years on, they are in crisis.

 

Cassandra – the eldest − runs the family’s quirky, cliffside hotel for years. But the business is in trouble, and it seems a secret from the past is determined to resurface and destroy all she’s worked for.

 

Greer – the youngest – walked away from a glittering career to live alone in London. The mistress of a powerful man, she’s left stranded on the very day they were to start a new life together. Now she has no choice but to return to the family home – but what kind of welcome can she expect.

 

And Orla – the middle sister, whose obsessive shell collecting and messages from the ‘sea-people’ dominate her life. But Orla knows things. She knows Greer is coming home to a new future, that Cassandra’s dark secret will change their lives and their mother never really left at all.

 

And there’s another secret, something they all share … but of course, nobody’s telling.

Doesn’t that look wonderful? Perhaps you’d like to add it to your reading list too! So let me hand over to Adrienne – musing about something so many authors will be familiar with, The Art of (Not) Writing…

When Anne asked if I’d be a guest on her fabulous, award-winning blog, I was delighted. With a brand-new novel on the shelves, it was a golden opportunity. Great! Fantastic! Thank you!

 

I opened my notebook, selected a pen and … a full hour, one cold cup of coffee and two excellent doodles later … hadn’t come up with one word. Hmm…

 

So, before taking myself off to ‘urgently’ dust a shelf or take the bin out, I decided to face my demons head on.

 

And there they were, that old devil Procrastination and right beside him, his sibling Research – also known by her pseudonym – Timewaster.

 

I defy any writer to claim these two demons do not appear at least once during any full-on writing session. Always arriving unbidden to distract and detain the Muse, as she sits ‘rigor mortis’ like in front of the blank screen or page.

 

Don’t for one minute think I’m belittling research – not at all. It’s the backbone to many stories – but goodness, it sweeps you away. Suddenly, I’m surrounded by Greek mythology and Roman emperors. Recipes for mead and lists of poisonous plants, pile up beside sailing times to the Caribbean − depending on what kind of vessel my characters choose. Hang on, none of my characters are going to the Caribbean!

 

You get the picture.

 

So, determined to put something down, I glanced around my writing space for inspiration and lo and behold there it was.

 

A solid, glittering collection of the finest examples of procrastination and timewasting research I’ve ever seen. And because I’m a novelist – it takes me a while to write a book − I’ve been living with these ‘fine examples’ for some time. I’m fond of them, treasure the memory of finding them, or of having been given them and yes, in many cases these companions (for that is what they have become) have inspired storylines, character traits and plot twists.

 

So beguiling are these wonderful items, I thought you might like to meet them …

 

My new novel is Secrets of the Shell Sisters, so naturally you’d expect shells, but my first timewasting trip took me to an antiques shop where I discovered Mauritia, a mermaid rag doll with wire wool hair. She was sitting on a shelf behind a Victorian fireguard and now each of the ‘sisters’ in the novel have one, made by their mother before she mysteriously disappears.

Mauritia is one of three mermaids sharing my writing space. Next is Mary the Mermaid. She’s from Ireland – where the ‘sisters’ live – and is a beautiful silver sculpture, gifted by my sister. Mary sits overlooking my desk, and her flowing hair is echoed when one of the ‘sisters’ submerges in a water butt and her hair floats to the top. This came from much gazing at Mary; procrastination at its best.

My third mermaid is a tiny bronze of The Little Mermaid, discovered on a research trip to Age Concern. She sits on a bookcase beside the conch shell – acquired during another timewasting session back at the antiques shop. This now features as one of the ‘sisters’ special shells and is the centre piece of my own collection.

One of the characters in the other Rosshaven book, Summer of Secrets, has a gift for Tarot reading and I was delighted to conduct many hours of further Tarot research when she appeared in the ‘sisters’ book too. Staring at the beautiful illustrations was so procrastinating, I had to put the pack somewhere I couldn’t see it.

 

Then there’s research of shells themselves …who knew there were so many different ‘families’ and that some shells found on our shores are prehistoric? And how many writers can boast a clutch of Gastropods beside their keyboard? The Usborne Spotter’s Guide to Shells became my bible. I still check my latest finds against the beautiful photographs in this little book.

Yet what of actual, proper, ‘get out from behind your desk’ research?

 

The ‘sisters’ run a hotel and I was pleased to list in acknowledgement all the inspirational hotels – including the Grand Hotel Europe in Saint Petersburg – we’ve visited.

 

And finally with the wind in my hair and the taste of salt on my lips, my last piece of research for this book. On a boat off Ireland’s Ancient East Coast − where the novel is set − the captain pointed out a swirling whirlpool of water at the mouth of a cave, explaining this is a merging of tides. Perfect – exactly what I needed for a pivotal scene in the novel.

 

And ta da! My work here was done, apart from the writing of course.

 

So perhaps, far from berating my demons, I should welcome them in. Just not for too long, or I’d never finish a book.

I love that post – thank you Adrienne, and I’ll look forward to catching up with the results of all that research in November!

About the author

Adrienne Vaughan writes spell-binding, page-turning romantic suspense.

Her  Heartfelt Series – The Hollow Heart, A Change of Heart and Secrets of the Heart – is set on an island off Ireland’s west coast and features a feisty investigative journalist, and her irresistible West Highland terrier. Adrienne studied at the Dublin College of Journalism and loves animals, especially dogs.

Her collection of short stories and poetry, Fur Coat & No Knickers was shortlisted for the Irish Carousel Prize for Anthology and includes Dodo’s Portrait, shortlisted for the Colm Toibin International Short Story Award at the Wexford Literary Festival in 2018.

Summer of Secrets and Secrets of the Shell Sisters are the first two books in a series of sweeping family dramas, each with a touch of Irish magic.

All her books are heart-warming, uplifting reads, featuring her trademark gripping style, and laugh out loud moments.

Adrienne, husband Jonathan, and two cocker spaniels – Wignell and Watson − divide their time between rural Leicestershire, the Wicklow mountains, and coastal South Devon. Agatha Christie – the cat (we never know what she’s going to kill next!) – takes care of things while they’re away.

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