I’m far from being a natural sailor. I’ve sailed round half of Britain with my head in a bucket for the sake of a man who is never happier than when he’s surfing through molten glass waves with the wind filling the sails. I’m grateful for my creature comforts and that doesn’t mean a strip wash in a bucket or waiting for my teeth to stop chattering so I can pray for my freezing sleeping bag to warm up.
 |
| In calmer waters! |
How strange then to discover that it’s only through being completely out of my element, sailing this beautiful and wild coast of West Wales, that I have felt most alive. The artifice is gone, the modern world recedes, the soft support systems stripped away; you come face-to-face with yourself. It’s long lonely passages at sea, nights at anchor, gently rocking under a sliver of a new moon which have brought me happiness and love, given me the space and peace to make clear decisions and enfolded me during the pain of bereavement.
Those memories also worked their way into my imagination and into my writing; Turning the Tide began when I ‘saw’ an image of a troubled young woman sitting by the water’s edge. Move Over Darling, my second contemporary novel, is influenced by the Welsh coast where I live and for Follow a Star, which will be published by Choc Lit next summer, I couldn’t resist returning to the fictional seaside town of Little Spitmarsh, the location of Turning the Tide. Here’s a bit about Follow a Star…
Sometimes your heart’s the only navigator you need…
May Starling’s had enough of her demanding career and even more demanding ex. Responding to a ‘crew-wanted’ ad, she follows her dreams of escape only to find herself at sea with red-haired Bill Blythe.
Bill warns May that close-quartered living can create a boiling pot of emotions, but even May is surprised by the heat building up inside the vintage wooden boat. And when May and Bill tie up at Watling’s Boatyard in Little Spitmarsh, May’s determined to test her new-found feelings on dry land.
But May’s dream of escaping her former life is in danger of being swept away when several unwelcome blasts from the past follow her ashore, all seemingly hell-bent on reminding her that it’s never that easy to clear the decks.
For your chance to win a bonus prize of a copy of Move Over Darling simply leave a comment below saying who you’d like to be marooned at sea with and I’ll pick one lucky winner on Dec 8.
And you can enter the Coastal Romance Christmas Giveaway here
Comments
Have fun
Helen
Have fun
Helen
Margaret, that's a great answer - a BBF for every mood! I'd like some more to time to cuddle up with a good book too!
Chanpreet - that's made me laugh... I like your thinking!
Helen, I think you'd quickly have company if all the Hugh Jackman fans discovered where he was! Thanks for visiting.
Elizabeth, that's SO romantic. There have a been a couple of occasions when I've longed to be air-lifted OFF our boat, but on the whole I'm happy to be with my favourite skipper, Tom.
sherrygloag @gmail dot com
Annie Seaton's a lovely author. I like Jenny Schwartz too. You're brilliant as well, of course!
I have my copy of Move Over Darling and I'm waiting for the chance to move back to Little Spitmarsh again. That should be fun....
If I were to be marooned, it would be with The Great Dane. I've always said that he can do anything, with anything, anywhere - resourceful man! There's that, and there's the fun factor - I don't have as much fun with anyone else as I do with him!
Pondside, I'm forever hopeful of seeing your part of the world... just need to sell quite a few more books first! I think I'd have taken a bet on you taking the Great Dane on your voyage! Good to hear from you.
Chanpreet, I'll DM you on Twitter re addresses!