Inspired by the Lake District by Suzanne Snow

My special guest this week is Suzanne Snow, author of Snowfall Over Halesmere House for Canelo. I happily met Suzanne at the 2022 Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference, where we shared many great conversations and laughter. Suzanne is going to tell us about how living near to the Lake District inspires her writing. Over To Suzanne …

As I writer, I’m inspired by many things and a love of landscape is one of them. Living close to Cumbria and being able to visit regularly continues to be a joy and helps hugely with research as my second series, Love in the Lakes, is set there. Along with the farms that shape much of the county, I love discovering more about Cumbria’s thriving arts, crafts, and culture, and it was this that I wanted to bring into the series.

Snowfall Over Halesmere House is the first book and it’s set around a Georgian holiday home and group of artists’ studios. I visited lots of studios when doing my research and Brougham Hall, near Penrith, is a favourite. The Hall was built in the 14^th century and was rescued from dereliction in 1985. Some parts of the building are still undergoing restoration, and a variety of artists and craftspeople have made it their base. This image is one I took on my last visit, when I found some Christmas gifts and a beautiful vase which sits in my writing room.

Deciding on the artists’ studios at Halesmere House was a lot of fun, and I have a jewellery maker who is inspired by the natural world and uses recycled silver in her creations. Marta loves to create elegant candles filled with natural scents, and Sandy is a ceramist who is also the local rector. Each play their part in the books and Ella, a chef who has taken a temporary job at Halesmere, finds creative ways of bringing the artists and the holiday business together.

Perhaps the Lake District is familiar to you, and you’re a frequent visitor? Or maybe you’ve never been and would love to go. There is much to do, and it’s as beautiful as you might expect, with views of the fells soaring to the sky and towns lively with outstanding, independent shops. Hill Top is a must see for fans of Beatrix Potter’s books and a lake cruise on Windermere is always fun. 

But if you head east into the Eden Valley and towards the splendour of the North Pennines, maybe stop off at Brougham Hall and discover its history, as well as its very talented artists and craftspeople. And if you do, Brougham Castle, now a ruin and the former home of Lady Anne Clifford until she died in 1676, is a brilliant location for hide and seek, and we’ve played lots of games there over the years.

Cumbria is one of my favourite places, and I love drawing inspiration from all I see around me there.

About Suzanne Snow

Suzanne writes contemporary and uplifting fiction with a vibrant sense of setting and community connecting the lives of her characters. A horticulturist who lives with her family in Lancashire, her books are inspired by a love of landscape, romance, and rural life.  

Her first novel in the Thorndale series, The Cottage of New Beginnings, was a contender for the 2021 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and she is currently writing the Love in the Lakes series for Canelo. Suzanne is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. Join her mailing list to download Max’s opening chapter to Snowfall Over Halesmere House.

Website: Suzanne Snow Author

Facebook: Suzanne Snow Facebook

About Snowfall Over Halesmere House

Welcome to Halesmere House, where romance might be just around the corner…

After years of living in the past, Ella is ready to start building a future. The perfect opportunity presents itself when she is offered a short-term role at Halesmere House in the Lake District and tasked with kick-starting its artists’ residence. She can’t wait to start and explore a new career in an inspiring location.

But when Ella arrives at Halesmere, she wonders if she’s made a huge mistake after she clashes with Max, the new owner. Max has his own reasons to be unsettled by her presence, but despite his misgivings it seems everyone else loves having Ella around. As a single dad, it’s his children’s attachment to her that bothers him most. Who will pick up the pieces when Ella leaves?

What Max doesn’t know is that Ella is falling for more than just the Lake District and the community around her. Can her temporary job lead to a permanent happy ending?

A tender and uplifting Christmas romance for fans of Heidi Swain, Karen Swan, and Sue Moorcroft.

Download Max’s Opening Chapter

Buying Link: Snowfall Over Halesmere House

Link to Suzanne Snow’s other series: Welcome to Thorndale

Thank you for joining me on my blog, Suzanne and I look forward to continuing our friendship into the future. Good luck with your new series. 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.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge published as an eBook, paperback and audio download too – Amazon Check on my Choc Lit author page for other purchasing options here 

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe published as an eBook, audio and paperback – Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook Books, Google Play and Choc Lit for other options.

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

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.