Helena Fairfax

What a glorious Easter weekend it’s been. Yesterday there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and I spent the whole day tidying up the garden ready for planting out some bedding plants. So good to have a day warm enough to sit outside, drink tea and share the rest of my Easter eggs with my lovely guest, Rachel Brimble. I still have lots of chocolate left. In fact, I have plenty, since the Easter eggs my husband bought me were “buy one, get one free.” Welcome to Yorkshire, Rachel, home of the canny shopper!

Where do you live, Rachel? I live in a small market town near Bath – I moved here about fourteen years ago, before that, I lived on the outskirts of Bristol.

I know Bristol well, as my daughter used to live there. Great place to live, and the countryside around is lovely.

(And I love your author photo, by the way!)

Where is your favourite place in the world?  One of my favourite foreign holidays was Rhodes – gorgeous. Also love a log cabin in North Wales where the Brimble family have gone almost every year for the last seven years. In the house? The bath ;)

We used to holiday in North Wales every year, too. Hell’s Mouth beach is my favourite beach in the world!

Being a writer is a great job.  What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? When I was fifteen, I worked a Saturday job in a discount beauty store – the boss wasn’t the nicest person in the world…even though he offered me a full-time job when I was leaving school at 16. The answer was a pretty clear NO!!

It’s such a shame when I hear bad bosses have totally ruined someone’s job. Come on, bosses of the world, lighten up!

What book do you wish you’d written?  So many! Would have to say almost anything by Jodi Picoult or Philippa Gregory

What’s your favourite song?  I love She by Elvis Costello

Great choice!

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them?  Ooh, tough question…maybe Anne Boleyn and I’d ask her for the truth!

Oh, I’d love to meet her, too. Or any of the Tudors.

What’s your happiest childhood memory?  Being surprised by my dad with an electronic typewriter – I haven’t looked back since, lol!

What a fabulous present!

If you had to marry a fictional character, from film, television, or books, who would it be?  Pretty much any of Nora Roberts’ heroes – I tend to fall in love with each and every one of them!

I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read any Nora Roberts, even though so many people love her books. Seems like I have a treat in store!

What’s the most important lesson life has taught you?  Treat others how you’d like to be treated yourself – I never forget that lesson and do my best to ensure my daughters don’t either.

That’s a great lesson. 

And finally, please tell us about your latest book, where we can find it, and where we can find your blog/website.

My latest release is a Victorian romance by eKensington – WHAT A WOMAN DESIRES is set in Bath and Biddestone and tells the reunion romance between actress Monica Danes and groom, Thomas Ashby.

Here are the blurb:

From country girl to actress of the stage, one woman dares to live her dreams—but is she brave enough to open her heart…?

Monica Danes always wanted more than the village of Biddestone had to offer. After a failed courtship to a man of her parents’ choosing, she fled for the city of Bath and never looked back. Today, Monica is the undisputed queen of the theater—a wealthy, independent woman. But when she is called home in the wake of tragedy, Monica returns—intending to leave again as soon as possible.

Thomas Ashby has been a groom at the Danes estate since he was a boy—and has been enamored with Monica for almost as long. He knows he isn’t a suitable match for his master’s daughter, despite the special bond he and Monica have always shared—and their undeniable attraction. But now that she’s returned, Thomas has one last chance to prove himself worthy—and to show Monica a life, and a love, she won’t want to give up…

Buy links

Amazon US /  Amazon UK  / Barnes & Noble

Bio

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington–her debut was released in April 2013, followed by a second in January 2014 and the third is released Jan 2015.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links:

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Facebook Street Team – Rachel’s Readers

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Thanks so much for dropping in, Rachel. It’s been lovely to meet you. I love the blurb to your latest release! Wishing you all the best with it, and thanks so much for helping me finish my Easter eggs :)

If you’ve enjoyed Rachel’s interview, or have any questions or comments at all, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you!