Party time with Nell Dixon

October 3, 2011

Morning. That’s a slightly bleary ‘morning’ from me because I got back last night from a fantastic but exhausting weekend in Croyde, North Devon. It’s one of the surfing hot spots of the UK. We body boarded, had some great pub meals and relaxed on the beach enjoying the unexpected and wonderful October weather.

So back on a Monday morning which should be grey and dull but isn’t because it’s the launch party for my writing buddy, Nell Dixon’s, new book: Renovation, Renovation, Renovation. It’s an inspired title for a book I read as a manuscript. It’s funny, warm and romantic with a ghostly twist. Now, here’s Nell to tell you all about it:

Renovation, Renovation, Renovation is a contemporary romance with a twist. One of the residents at Myrtle Cottage, a fifteenth century house is a rather mournful ghost called Mary Ann. She was resident during a turbulent period of English history when Oliver Cromwell was coming to power and civil war raged throughout the country. Mary Ann’s story becomes entwined with that of Kate, the current owner bringing glimpses of the past into the present.

Here’s a small excerpt.

“Hey, Kate, can you get me the torch from the kitchen?” Steve’s voice was muffled but excited.

I went and collected the torch from the junk drawer and passed it to him. “What have you found?”

He’d pulled a crate into the fireplace and balanced on it, shining the torch into the flue. Knowing my luck he’d happened on some protected species of bat and we’d have to abandon the whole project or live in the Hammer house of horrors for evermore. I could hear him scrabbling around.

“This is so great.”

“What?” My curiosity was piqued in spite of myself. Maybe he’d found treasure – some previous owners nest egg of sovereigns perhaps?

Decorated with yet more dust and soot, he emerged from the fireplace clasping a small dirty brown object in his hand.

“I never thought we’d be lucky enough to find one of these. I’ve heard about them but never, ever thought I’d find one.” An excited grin split his face and he looked like a small boy who had just been given the world’s biggest treat.

He held the object out towards me almost reverently. “It was on a ledge, quite high up inside the chimney.”

As I looked more closely I could see that what he’d found appeared to be a child’s shoe. Much worn and filthy dirty from its time in the chimney. I failed to see why Steve was so excited.

“You do know what this is, don’t you Kate?” Steve touched it carefully with the forefinger of his other hand. Again a cool movement of air swirled around my feet and ankles.

“It’s a shoe.”

“It’s a spirit trap.”

© Nell Dixon 2011

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon.com

Comments

1. On October 3rd, 2011 at 8:28 am
   Rachel Lyndhurst Says:
   

   Best of luck with your lovely new book, Nell! X

2. On October 3rd, 2011 at 9:43 am
   Nell Dixon Says:
   

   Hugs, thanks Rachel.

3. On October 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 pm
   Debs Carr Says:
   

   Love the title and am enjoying the book so much.

4. On October 3rd, 2011 at 12:51 pm
   Nell Dixon Says:
   

   Thanks Debs.

5. On October 4th, 2011 at 3:21 am
   Stevie Carroll Says:
   

   I like the look of that one.

6. On October 15th, 2011 at 11:24 am
   Dave McKinney Says:
   

   You are busy busy busy. Congrats on your release and I wish you many more successes in the future. I like how you describe the woman causing the man to release his inner cavemen. To me that ia a comical phrase.