Hello, and welcome to my June Newsletter.
I’ve recently returned from a lovely holiday in Corfu, where we stayed in a peaceful resort called San Stephanos. It was beautiful and ideal for a relaxing holiday. The photo is of another picturesque village called Paleocastritsa, which is just around the coast from San Stephanos and one of my favourites. The photo is taken from a place in the mountains called Bella Vista, and it’s easy to see how it got its name. I love the heart-shaped bay.
Whilst we were in Corfu, we took part twice in a quiz at The Three W’s Cafe. We joined another lady called Wendy, and the first time round we were pleased to come second and win a shot of “something!” However, the second time round we excelled ourselves and came first – and we won a mug with The Three W’s logo!
Wendy is a regular at the quiz, and as she already has several mugs, she kindly let us keep it. This is a photo of Bryan (right) and me with Wendy (left), the quizmaster, and Margarita, the owner of the cafe.
As regular readers will know, we are in the process of moving house and had hoped to be settled in well before our holiday, but unfortunately, that was not to be. As anyone who has been involved in a chain of buyers will know, searches, surveys, and solicitors are not to be hurried! However, we packed everything we could before we went to Corfu, and are now looking forward to moving soon. Perhaps then I’ll be able to find things again!
Old Sayings
On Tenterhooks
In the past, after it was woven, wool was pounded in a mixture of clay and water to clean and thicken it, a process called fulling. Afterwards, the wool was stretched on a tenter or frame to dry it. It was hung on tenterhooks. Therefore, if you were very tense, like stretched cloth, you were said to be on tenterhooks.
A Walk along The Hartland Cliffs
Having been away on holiday, I don’t have much writing news this month, so I thought I’d share my blog about possibly my favourite walk in North Devon, though we are spoilt for choice with so much lovely scenery around.
See what you think – I’m sure you will enjoy the amazing views.
https://marciaclayton.co.uk/a-walk-along-the-hartland-cliffs/
My Writing News
My New Book
I’m pleased to say my new book is coming along nicely. I hoped to finish writing the first draft before going on holiday, but I didn’t quite achieve that. However, I took the chapters I had written with me and was glad of the time to read them through without any distractions. Despite noticing a few typos that can be corrected during editing, I’m generally pleased with it and relieved not to have noticed any glaring plot holes. I’m not sure about a title yet, but it might be called The Rift, as a few of the characters aren’t getting along too well!
Hartland Book Festival on Saturday, 14th June 2025
I’ll be having a stall at the Hartland Book Festival again this year, so if you’re in the area, please feel free to drop by for a chat! It will be held in Hartland Parish Hall, EX39 6BL, between 10 am and 3 pm, and coffee and cake will be available.
This Month’s Special Offers – 99p
All of my books are free to read if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. However, if you want to grab a bargain, these books will be reduced to 99p on the following dates:
Betsey – the Prequel to The Hartford Manor Series – will be just 99p from 5th to 12th June. You can find it here: http://mybook.to/Betsey For those who haven’t read it, here is a bit about the book:
Set in 1820, Betsey is the prequel to the Hartford Manor Series.
Betsey, a sadly neglected child, is shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years. As she does her best to care for her little brother, Norman, she is befriended by Gypsy Freda, an old woman whose family is camped nearby. Freda’s granddaughter, Jane, is also fond of the little girl and is concerned about her. Thomas, the second son of Lord Fellwood, happens across the gypsy camp and becomes besotted with Jane. However, Jasper Morris, the local miller, also has designs on the young gypsy, and inevitably, the two men do not see eye to eye. Betsey is drawn into their rivalry for the attention of the beautiful young woman, and she finds herself promising to keep a dangerous secret for many years to come.
The Rabbit’s Foot will be reduced to 99p from 26 June to 3 July
Sam, a tramp all his life, inherits wealth beyond his wildest dreams, but all he wants is to find Marrok, the son he abandoned at the age of five. A moving Victorian family saga.
My Book of the Month
Best Served Cold by Hilly Barmby
About the Book
A mystery woman enters Lily’s life. At the launch of her latest children’s book, a member of the audience asks Lily for a strange inscription in her copy of the book. Why does this unnerve her? Later, while celebrating in a local bar, Lily and her best friend Alice spot the same woman. Her name is Rose. Putting aside earlier unease, a new friendship between the three is formed. Rose offers to help Lily re-enter the dating scene after a bad breakup, and they come across Jack, Mr Perfect on Paper. Is Jack the answer to Lily’s prayers? Lily quickly falls for handsome Jack. Is he too good to be true? The past is the past, or is it? Soon after the pair start dating, bizarre things start to occur to Lily, things are moved or they go missing, and, what’s worse, her precious artwork is damaged. Who did this to her? Surely it couldn’t have been her new boyfriend, her new friend Rose, or even her oldest friend Alice? They all have a motive. Perhaps Lily did this all herself. Who can she trust? In fact, can she trust herself? Or has a ghost from Lily’s past come back to haunt her?
My Review
This is an intriguing story with a great plot, and it held my attention from beginning to end. Lily provides an unusual inscription in a copy of her book for a woman attending the launch. Later, Lily and her best friend, Alice, see the same woman in a local bar and the three strike up a friendship. Lily, let down by her previous partner, is nursing a broken heart, and her friends are determined to help her get back into dating. In looking at an online dating site, they come across Jack, who appears perfect, and after a few dates, Lily falls for the handsome man. However, strange and unexplainable things start to happen, and Lily begins to think she is losing the plot – or is there some other reason? I won’t say more for fear of ruining the story, but suffice it to say this was a compelling read with a great ending. Highly recommended. You can find the book here: Best Served Cold: A completely gripping, page-turning psychological thriller
Well, that’s all for now, so thank you for continuing to follow me and until next time, I hope you keep safe and well. Hopefully, my next newsletter might come from my new address – provided my internet access has been sorted out by then!
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