Internet Friendship

Something a little different for my blog this week. Victoria Cornwall and I have both had new Christmas novellas released in the last few weeks. We both signed with Choc Lit about the same time and since then we have become good friends and communicate most days. We decided to answer some questions about our friendship.

What does your internet friendship mean to you?

Morton– I always know that Vicki will be there if I need to ask for an opinion on something and she is good at noticing if I’ve missed something on social media that I should respond to. We have shared highs and lows, good times and bad about our writing, our families, pets and ourselves. Vicki is probably one of the first people I think about to tell when something happens and it somehow helps that she lives so far away from me and can be a little more detached. (I live in Worcestershire and she’s in Cornwall).

Victoria– Writing is a lonely job and, in my opinion, can only be fully understood by another writer who has experienced the same journey. It’s good to know that I can discuss, rant, confide, confess and share good times with someone who really understands. I can also message Morton at any time, from anywhere and within hours, if not minutes I will get a reply that understands, encourages or give me a firm kick up the virtual bottom.

What did you think when you first met in person?

Morton– It was lovely to meet Vicky for the first time in real life. I was nervous, as even if we were good friends on the internet it didn’t mean we would get on in real life – I needn’t have worried we’ve had a great time on the three occasions we have met, in Worcester, in London and in Oxford. The one thing I always forget is that she has a Cornish accent. Lol.

Victoria– I was a little worried. We were both finalists for a Romantic Novelists’ Association Award and we had arranged to attend the ceremony together. When she arrived at my hotel room door, she looked just like her photograph, which was great, but she was also so friendly, excited about the evening ahead and full of laughter that any worries I did have instantly evaporated.

How can you help each other if you write such different genres?

Morton– We don’t really critique each other’s work, unless it is a short piece on which we need an opinion. We more often offer moral support, a listening ear and help in sharing tweets and Facebook posts. It’s nice to know that someone understands when you are struggling with writing or editing. I have read and enjoyed all of Vicki’s novels.

Victoria– Morton is right. Perhaps that is the key to our successful online friendship, to not make a habit of critiquing each other’s work, but provide much needed support in other ways. We have different writing styles which we both respect and enjoy. It also makes reading the final published version so much more exciting as we are unaware of the plot or the twists to come.

You wrote your Christmas novellas at the same time. Was this an advantage or a disadvantage?

Morton– I found it helpful, as I knew someone else was going through the same ups and downs as I was. Sometimes all you need to help on the journey is a good listening ear and encouragement, especially when you are trying to be Christmassy out of season!

Victoria– It was advantageous for me. We wrote the novellas the same time, worked with our editors to prepare them for publication around the same time, even saw our covers within the same month or so. There was no competition between us regarding who had written more words, but it kept me focused so my novella was finished in plenty of time. A common phrase we would often message to each other would be “I need to add more Christmas!” Those words were a bonding session in their own right!

Which character did you like best in each other’s Christmas novella?

Morton– When asked that question, I felt I should say Nicholas, the hero of A Daughter’s Christmas Wish, but actually my favourite character was Rose, the heroine. She has been through a lot with both her mother, brother and her fiancé, but still she gets up every day and carries on running her tea shop. She is strong and resourceful, despite her trials and tribulations and I admire that.

Victoria– As soon as I read Christmas at Borteen Bay I messaged Morton to tell her I’d fallen in love with the hero, Ethan. He’s stable, supportive, understanding and totally believable. He is ‘a keeper’ who has never really got over the love of his life. What’s not to like?

 

We hope you enjoyed our celebration of our friendship.

 

Our books

Morton – Christmas at Borteen Bay

Christmas has a way of bringing family secrets to the surface …

Christmas is a bittersweet time for Pippa Freeman. There are good memories, of course – but some painful ones too.

Then her mother is implicated in a mysterious occurrence in their home town of Borteen, and Pippa wonders if she’ll ever experience a happy Christmas again – especially when a family secret is revealed.

But when police officer and old school friend Ethan Gibson offers his support, Pippa begins to realise that even though her life has been turned upside down, a happy and hopeful Christmas isn’t impossible …

Buying Links for Christmas at Borteen Bay

Ebook     Amazon Kindle      Kobo      Choc Lit

Audiobook    Audible

 

Victoria – A Daughter’s Christmas Wish

A Cornish Christmas wish sent across the ocean …

Christmas, Cornwall 1919

A promise to a fellow soldier leads Nicholas to Cornwall for Christmas, and to the teashop managed by Rose; the youngest daughter of a family whose festive spirit has been blighted by their wartime experiences. But as Nicholas strives to give Rose the best Christmas she could wish for, he begins to question whether his efforts are to honour his friend, or whether there is another reason …

Buying links for A Daughter’s Christmas Wish

Ebook: https://books2read.com/u/bppJPg

Audiobook: https://goo.gl/cYCXxs

 

Thank you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available now as both an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Audio, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Choc Lit for other buying options.

The Truth Lies Buried is available from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks

The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available as a paperback and from all eBook platforms – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.