Thank you for the … Zoom

I think it’s fair to say we have all been through the mill this year with all of the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic! There have been several groups that have kept me sane during this time and I thought it might be nice to focus on one of those groups this week in order to say thank you.

The group of friends and writers I’m having a shout out for this week are my local coffee writers. Up until lockdown we used to meet in a coffee shop once a month to support each other with chat, book news and writing advice.

So, what happened when lockdown started? Well, one of these writers, Lynn Forth, valiantly rallied us for a weekly Zoom. We can’t always all make it, but if anything we have become a closer knit group and have supported each other through this difficult period. A bonus has been that Georgia Hill, who a little while ago moved away from the area and hasn’t often been able to make our physical coffee meeting, has been able to take part once again.

I won’t divulge the subjects we have been discussing in our Zoom meetings, but needless to say there has been a lot of laughter, great advice and sharing of knowledge. I don’t think I will ever forget Lynn Forth‘s signalling system for when we are running out of time either, lol.

As a thank you, I thought it might be nice to talk about these authors and their writing, so here goes …

Lyn Forth

You can find Lyn’s Amazon author page here. She can be contacted at lynnforthauthor.wordpress.com. Twitter: @lynnforth or her Facebook page.

Lynn Forth went to live in Accrington when she was 11 and still has the accent to prove it. She now lives with her family in Worcestershire. A lifelong fascination with words and people, led to her studying English and Psychology at University and, as a lecturer at the local College, she tried to pass on her enthusiasm to students of all ages.

An avid reader, she runs two book clubs and, as a bit of a movie buff, she enjoys the discussions at a local Film Club. Although not a big exercise fan, she enthusiastically participates in the fun and music at her Zumba sessions and at home encourages a riotous array of flowers in her garden.

She now writes romantic comedies full of sparky dialogue set in sunny foreign climes, which, of course, she has to visit for the sake of research.

Her debut novel, Love in La La Land, combines this love of films, humour as her heroine Jane encounters the glamour and glitz of Hollywood. Her second novel, Love, Lies and Café au Lait, was inspired by a visit to Nice and evokes Accrington Annie’s delight in living in such a sophisticated city, although, perhaps, all is not quite as perfect as it seems. Her third novel, The Girl Who used To Be Me, features her much-loved character Reen on her home ground in Marbella where Kate meets not only Reen’s family but also her fabulous pink plastic flamingos. 

Georgia Hill

You can find Georgia‘s Amazon author page here

Find her at www.georgiahill.co.uk, Twitter @georgiawrites and at her Facebook page.

Georgia Hill writes warm-hearted and up-lifting contemporary and timeslip romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There’s always a dog. It’s usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. Her books are firmly rooted in seaside towns similar to the one she lives in and she loves history especially when it insists on rearing up and battering at the present.

As a child she had an invisible friend called Gonky who inhabited the third stair from the bottom. As an adult her invisible friends live in her head and refuse to leave until she commits them to paper. Readers of her books can escape into a warm bath of words and, no matter what challenges her characters face they will, ultimately, have a happy ending.

Alison May

You can find Alison‘s Amazon author page here. She also co-writes as Juliet Bell here. Find out more about Alison at www.alison-may.co.uk, on Twitter @MsAlisonMay and her Facebook page.

Alison May was born and raised in North Yorkshire, but now lives in Worcester with one husband, no kids and no pets. There were goldfish once. That ended badly.
Alison has studied History and Creative Writing, and has worked as a waitress, a shop assistant, a learning adviser, an advice centre manager, and a freelance trainer, before settling on ‘making up stories’ as an entirely acceptable grown-up career plan.

Alison is a member of the Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and won the Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2012. She was shortlisted in the Love Stories Awards, 2015, and for the RoNA Rose, 2016. Alison’s latest novel, All That Was Lost, is a gripping story about lies, love and loss.

Janice Preston

You can find Jan‘s Amazon author page here. For more info go to: www.janicepreston.co.uk, Twitter @JaniceGPreston or Facebook

Janice Preston writes emotional and sensual historical romance. Although all her novels are standalone reads, she loves to write stories set in the same Regency world, and many of her books include book-hopping characters.

When Janice isn’t writing she enjoys reading, swimming, pottering about the garden when the sun is shining, and travelling whenever she can. She fuels her imagination with endless cups of coffee, is far too keen on unhealthy food, and is an expert procrastinator.

Liz Hanbury

You can find Liz‘s Amazon author page here. Visit her website at www.elizabethhanbury.com to find out more, or link up on Twitter @Liz_Hanbury or Facebook.

Elizabeth Hanbury is a best selling author of warm and witty Regency romance for UK and US publishers.

A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Society of Authors, Elizabeth drinks too much tea and is addicted to cake, long walks and anything that makes her laugh. She lives in a village in the heart of England and writes whenever she can sneak away to her desk.

Nell Dixon

You can find Nell‘s Amazon author page here. Nell enjoys hearing from readers and you can read her news and contact her via her website at http://www.nelldixon.com visit her blog at http://www.nelldixonrw.blogspot.com, find her on Twitter @NellDixon and friend her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nell-Dixon/228642037151856

Helena Dixon splits her time between the Black Country and Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, a crazy cockapoo and a tank of tropical fish. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. Her addictions of choice are coffee and reality TV. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime.

Morton Gray

You can find Morton‘s Amazon author page here. You can catch up with Morton on her website www.mortonsgray.com, on Twitter @MortonSGray, her Facebook page.

Morton lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the tiny white dog, in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Her debut novel The Girl on the Beach was published after she won Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Star competition. Her Christmas 2020, Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe is her fifth title for Choc Lit.

You can see from our book photographs that we all write very different things and really I love this as it means we are never short of things to discuss. We laugh, we help each other with brainstorming and support. I’m proud to belong to this group and I hope that we continue to meet virtually and physically for many years to come. Looking forward to our next Zoom already …

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.

New Book for Christmas 2020 – Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe available for pre-order as an eBook now – Amazon Kindle

Bestseller Sunny Days at the Beach is now available as an eBook and audio download – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and at Choc Lit.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is available 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 and also 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.