This week I have a sobering post from Angela Barton, which explains how a true life occurrence ended up in her third novel for Choc Lit/Ruby Fiction, You’ve Got My Number. Over to Angela …
It’s said that reality is stranger than fiction. Sometimes you read something that seems far-fetched in a novel and you begin wonder whether it’s true or not, therefore distracting you from the storyline.
I’ve written a short thread in You’ve Got My Number, about a parrot! It happened to us some years ago and I thought I’d share it in my latest novel. After all, they say that writing about something helps you to overcome it.
My hero’s twin sister, Denise, finds a breast lump and visits her GP. The doctor tells her to come back in two weeks to see if the lump has gone and informs her that, “there are more sparrows in the sky, than parrots.” This was said to my husband. He’d gone to his doctor to explain that he felt ‘different’ but couldn’t quite explain why. Instead of doing a few tests, he dismissed my husband with the parrots and sparrows quip.
In my story, a week later, Denise is clearing up after her sons and takes some dishes to the sink. Unbelievably, a parrot is sitting on a fence in the garden. This is just what happened one morning after my husband’s visit to his GP. Maybe his illness was exotic, instead of something ordinary.
Several weeks after seeing the parrot, my husband had a grand mal seizure. He was taken to hospital and I went with him for a scan. We reached reception and looked at each other in disbelief. Behind the reception desk was a large colourful poster with the heading, Parrots Of The World, with images of parrots from different countries. We felt it was a bad omen but tried to stay positive.
When the scan was read by my husband’s consultant, it showed he had a brain tumour. Thankfully, it was successfully operated on, but I always wished we’d gone back to the GP and told him his illness was a parrot, not a sparrow!
Is Denise’s lump serious or just a scare? You’ll discover what happens in You’ve Got My Number.
Wow, Angela, that must have been a very scary time. So glad the operation was successful Mx
About You’ve Got My Number
There are three reasons Tess Fenton should be happy. One, her job at the Blue Olive deli may be dull, but at least she gets to work with her best friend. Two, she lives in a cosy cottage in the pretty village of Halston. Three, she’s in love with her boyfriend, Blake.
Isn’t she?
Because, despite their history, Blake continues to be the puzzle piece in Tess’s life that doesn’t quite fit. And when she meets intriguing local artist Daniel Cavanagh, it soon becomes apparent that, for Tess, love isn’t as easy as one, two, three …
Buying Link
You’ve Got My Number: http://amzn.to/35Q19jB
About Angela Barton
Angela Barton was born in London and grew up in Nottingham. She is married with three grown up children and adorable five-year-old twin granddaughters. She is passionate about writing both contemporary and historical fiction and loves time spent researching for her novels. In 2018 Angela signed publishing contracts for three of her completed novels with Choc Lit’s new imprint, Ruby Fiction.
In addition to writing, Angela also relaxes by making landscapes using free motion sewing on a machine. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and a reader for their New Writers’ Scheme. Angela is also a member of Nottingham Writers’ Studio, the Society of Authors and Ellipses and Ampersands’ fiction critique group.
To keep in touch with Angela, you can use the following links:
Thank you for sharing your story, Angela. I hope the book is a tremendous success. Mx
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 now from all eBook platforms – Choc Lit, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Apple iBooks. This will be available as a paperback and audiobook.
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.
Morton S. Gray - Author 
Oh gosh! Even knowing about your husband Ange, this still makes tough reading. And how awful to have been dismissed by the GP. Definitely, the type of thing that has to be written and processed. Thank you for sharing your experience. Great, thought provoking post, ladies. xx
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I really wish you’d told that GP Ange! And yes, Carol I knew about it too but not this aspect 😱
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Mamma mia – I do believe in these little signs – some people call them coincidences, some miracles… but we need to listen. Good luck with your new book, Angela and thanks for this article, Morton.
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Yes, I’m a firm believer in signs too! Thank you for commenting 😀
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