Lisa and I first met, way back in 2011 at the RNA Conference as wannabe authors and have been friends since. We have quite a lot in common, especially both being mothers to boys. (Lisa has three, I stuck at two).
Starbucks or Costa?
Not fussy, especially if someone else is paying ;) Cappuccino every time which is a bit strange seeing I only every drink black coffee at home.
Thanks so much, Lisa, for popping over to my blog. Congratulations with the publication of your debut novel and good luck with the sales and reviews!
Lisa grew up in the village of Bussage, near Stroud, in the Cotswolds until she returned to Cheltenham as a teenager. She is married to her very own hero, Matt, and has three sons, Hamish, Archie and Laurence. Her first encounter of a romance author was chats over the garden wall between her father, Godfrey, and Mrs Cooper from the neighbouring village of Bisley. It came as quite a surprise in later life to find that Mrs Cooper was in fact Jilly Cooper! Lisa’s writing inspiration now comes from other Cotswolds authors including Jill Mansell and Katie Fforde.
Lisa writes contemporary romance with a light-hearted tone. What interests her most is people, their interactions, emotions and relationships. It’s probably why her career to date has been based in property; she confesses herself that she is ‘naturally curious’.
When she’s not busy writing, helping Matt run his electrical empire, or being her sons’ taxi service Lisa enjoys running with her gun dog, Sparky. They are both currently training for the Stroud half-marathon although Sparky’s motivation lies much more in chasing bunny rabbits.
Lisa is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme and attributes this supportive and informative scheme to her winning the Choc Lit Search for a Star competition 2016 with her debut novel, Meet Me at Number Five.
What if finding happiness was a race against time?
Grace Cavendish knows a thing or two about horses – but what she doesn’t know is that her husband, top horse racing trainer Charlie Carrisbrook, is having a literal ‘roll in the hay’ right under her nose.
When the painful truth is revealed Grace has no choice but to move in with her highly-strung grandmother Clara and cousin Hennie; a single mum who has renounced men (at least that’s what she says!)
Determined to start again, Grace takes a job at the local restaurant, Number Five. And whilst serving up coffee and cake is a far cry from the stables, she enjoys it – especially as she gets to work alongside the rather scrumptious Sam Whittaker.
But the past is racing to catch up with Grace. Can her life still be a romp to victory or will a devastating secret stop her dead in her tracks?
Amazon UK: goo.gl/xc4Dxd
Amazon: goo.gl/cnirgC
Kobo: goo.gl/XHd8dC
iBooks: goo.gl/16tMWo
Choc Lit: goo.gl/FYD8kF
Author Links:
Twitter: @lisahillie
Facebook: goo.gl/bcjhE1
Website: www.lisahillwriter.wordpress.com
I am thrilled to have Lisa on my blog as a published author! And I can't wait to read her book.
Hello Lisa. Tell me, which of your characters is your favourite, and why?
So, Meet Me at Number Five is about heroine, Grace, who is desperate to have a baby but four days before she is due to start her first round of IVF her husband, Charlie, announces he’s got another woman pregnant and also heroine, Hennie, who is Grace’s cousin and is a single mum who has renounced men because all the hot ones take one look at the children and look away and those who aren’t frightened off by the children are dull. Hennie lives with Grace and Hennie’s Nana, Clara, who is the matriarch of the family; a septuagenarian racehorse owner who likes to live the high life. Clara is by far my favourite character; she is glamourous, forthright, kind and loves to be the puppeteer and meddle in everyone’s affairs (nothing like me, of course).
Did you manage to get the first book you wrote published, or is it tucked in a drawer somewhere?
No, the first book I ever wrote was called Meant to Be. I was a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme and it received a fantastic critique report but after going on a writing retreat with Julie Cohen I could see why it didn’t work so I rewrote it entirely and entitled it Heart in the Right Place. It’s set in Yorkshire and is about a heroine called Lottie who is the daughter-in-law in a family of estate agents and is desperate to have more than a part-time role whilst looking after her three kids. When the famous period drama actor, Tom Thorpe, arrives on the scene and offers Lottie the opportunity to act as a Relocation Agent for celebrity friends of his, it drives a big wedge between Lottie and her husband Drew and they go on a journey to overcome their differences. Heart was shortlisted in the 2015 Choc Lit Search for a Star competition and, having edited it some more, is currently under review with Choc Lit again so hopefully my original heroine, Lottie, will have her time in the limelight very soon.
Do you have a favourite author?
Yes and she knows how much I love her! I started reading Jill Mansell when I finished my A-Levels in 1998 and pretty much spent the entire summer reading her back catalogue. I think she is an inspiring author; I love her ability to make her stories about some quite serious subjects but with a light hearted tone too. She’s extremely talented. My favourite novel is Head Over Heels and it eventually inspired me to try and write a novel of my own.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee! I never drink tea; if you cut me open I swear caffeine would spurt forward!
I think this is why we get on so well. Our love for coffee!
So, Meet Me at Number Five is about heroine, Grace, who is desperate to have a baby but four days before she is due to start her first round of IVF her husband, Charlie, announces he’s got another woman pregnant and also heroine, Hennie, who is Grace’s cousin and is a single mum who has renounced men because all the hot ones take one look at the children and look away and those who aren’t frightened off by the children are dull. Hennie lives with Grace and Hennie’s Nana, Clara, who is the matriarch of the family; a septuagenarian racehorse owner who likes to live the high life. Clara is by far my favourite character; she is glamourous, forthright, kind and loves to be the puppeteer and meddle in everyone’s affairs (nothing like me, of course).
Did you manage to get the first book you wrote published, or is it tucked in a drawer somewhere?
No, the first book I ever wrote was called Meant to Be. I was a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme and it received a fantastic critique report but after going on a writing retreat with Julie Cohen I could see why it didn’t work so I rewrote it entirely and entitled it Heart in the Right Place. It’s set in Yorkshire and is about a heroine called Lottie who is the daughter-in-law in a family of estate agents and is desperate to have more than a part-time role whilst looking after her three kids. When the famous period drama actor, Tom Thorpe, arrives on the scene and offers Lottie the opportunity to act as a Relocation Agent for celebrity friends of his, it drives a big wedge between Lottie and her husband Drew and they go on a journey to overcome their differences. Heart was shortlisted in the 2015 Choc Lit Search for a Star competition and, having edited it some more, is currently under review with Choc Lit again so hopefully my original heroine, Lottie, will have her time in the limelight very soon.
Do you have a favourite author?
Yes and she knows how much I love her! I started reading Jill Mansell when I finished my A-Levels in 1998 and pretty much spent the entire summer reading her back catalogue. I think she is an inspiring author; I love her ability to make her stories about some quite serious subjects but with a light hearted tone too. She’s extremely talented. My favourite novel is Head Over Heels and it eventually inspired me to try and write a novel of my own.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee! I never drink tea; if you cut me open I swear caffeine would spurt forward!
I think this is why we get on so well. Our love for coffee!
Starbucks or Costa?
Not fussy, especially if someone else is paying ;) Cappuccino every time which is a bit strange seeing I only every drink black coffee at home.
Thanks so much, Lisa, for popping over to my blog. Congratulations with the publication of your debut novel and good luck with the sales and reviews!
Author Bio:
Lisa writes contemporary romance with a light-hearted tone. What interests her most is people, their interactions, emotions and relationships. It’s probably why her career to date has been based in property; she confesses herself that she is ‘naturally curious’.
When she’s not busy writing, helping Matt run his electrical empire, or being her sons’ taxi service Lisa enjoys running with her gun dog, Sparky. They are both currently training for the Stroud half-marathon although Sparky’s motivation lies much more in chasing bunny rabbits.
Lisa is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme and attributes this supportive and informative scheme to her winning the Choc Lit Search for a Star competition 2016 with her debut novel, Meet Me at Number Five.
Blurb:
What if finding happiness was a race against time?
Grace Cavendish knows a thing or two about horses – but what she doesn’t know is that her husband, top horse racing trainer Charlie Carrisbrook, is having a literal ‘roll in the hay’ right under her nose.
When the painful truth is revealed Grace has no choice but to move in with her highly-strung grandmother Clara and cousin Hennie; a single mum who has renounced men (at least that’s what she says!)
Determined to start again, Grace takes a job at the local restaurant, Number Five. And whilst serving up coffee and cake is a far cry from the stables, she enjoys it – especially as she gets to work alongside the rather scrumptious Sam Whittaker.
But the past is racing to catch up with Grace. Can her life still be a romp to victory or will a devastating secret stop her dead in her tracks?
Amazon UK: goo.gl/xc4Dxd
Amazon: goo.gl/cnirgC
Kobo: goo.gl/XHd8dC
iBooks: goo.gl/16tMWo
Choc Lit: goo.gl/FYD8kF
Author Links:
Twitter: @lisahillie
Facebook: goo.gl/bcjhE1
Website: www.lisahillwriter.wordpress.com
