This week, Joanne Boden author of The Old Bookshop of New Beginnings for Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books is here to share some of her favourite things with my blog readers. Over to Joanne …
Hello Morton and thank you so much for inviting me on your blog to celebrate the publication of my novel, The Old Bookshop of New Beginnings, book two in the Little Bluewater Bay series. I had such a great time writing Harry and Beth’s story.
I thought it would be a fun idea to share some of my favourite things with you, so here goes.
The first cup of tea and morning pages
This year I started to write morning pages. This is when you write three pages of longhand, just writing what’s on your mind, with no filter and not caring if there are spelling mistakes or even if what you are writing makes any sense. I make myself a cup of tea, sort out breakfast for my youngest son who wakes early and then I sit and write in the background of breakfast tv. It sets me up for the day as I like the feeling of getting all my thoughts, feelings and whatever is on my mind down on paper and out of my head. I’m probably not explaining it in the right way, but if you want to find out more look up Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist’s Way who came up with the idea.
Reading
I read every day and get through two to three books a week, one usually being an audiobook, one a physical book and one an ebook. At the moment I am listening to Daisy Jones & the Six and I really think this is the best way to read this book, (I have read a physical copy), it’s amazing as it has a full cast of narrators. I’ve also listened to Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson recently, and I found it much easier to digest by listening to it as the book is very, very, long.
A walk along the canal/village/river
We are very lucky in that we live in a beautiful part of the country where we have lots of opportunities to walk in green spaces and by open water. We have several circular walks we can do in the village that include walking by the canal and a river walk along the Lune. Just getting out in the fresh air and walking always makes me feel better. My youngest son also enjoys his canal walk with me on a Sunday afternoon
Coffee shops
Going for a coffee is my way of treating myself. I always opt for a filter or an Americano, nothing fancy, although sometimes I will have a chai tea. There’s something so nice about sitting in a coffee shop surrounded by people while I listen to/or read a book. It’s pure escapism. And to be honest I love people watching.
Country Music
I love country music. I mostly listen to contemporary country, my favourites being Luke Combs (I love his new album and have had it on repeat), Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen and Randall King to name a few. But I also like to listen to older stuff from George Strait, James Taylor and Tim McGraw (I love his album, Set This Circus Down)
Browsing in bookshops and the library
One of my favourite things is wandering around a bookshop or browsing the newly added books in the library. I love that unique book smell. I like finding books that I haven’t heard about and picking one up on a whim. I like being surrounded by books and as daft as it sounds as soon as I step foot in a bookshop I feel instantly calmer and relaxed.
Reading romance (fantasy, historical, western….basically any)
Romance is my go to genre to read, although I do read other genres. I’ve recently got into fantasy romance and have binged my way through A Court of Thorns and Roses and the other books in the series, as well as the two Crescent City books by Sarah J Maas. I know these books have their critics but I just find them hugely enjoyable and pure escapism. I also love reading what I call cowboy romance, my favourite authors being Diana Palmer and Carolyn Brown. I’ve also read the new Elise Silver books. But my all time favourite romance author has to be Nora Roberts and I am slowly making my way through her backlist. I’m reading Black Hills at the moment.
Making bread while listening to an audiobook
I think there is something so therapeutic about working with your hands. For some people it is gardening and feeling the soil, for me it is kneading bread. I don’t even care how well the bread turns out because for me it’s more about the process of making it. That initial knead and then waiting a few hours for it to rise before kneading it again. The last few times I’ve made bead rolls using the Hairy Bikers recipe they’ve turned out really well.
Watching Gilmore Girls
We all have a comfort show and mine is Gilmore Girls. I have specific episodes that I will watch to make me feel happy. My all time favourite being the one where Luke and Lorelai dance at the wedding (if you know, you know). It’s the main reason I pay for my Netflix subscription, that and Stranger Things.
Thank you once again for inviting me on your blog, Morton. x
What a fascinating list of favourite things, some of which I share. I love morning pages too and coffee shops and romance books and reading and walks. Lol we can be sisters! Mx
About Joanne Boden
Joanne lives in Lancashire with her husband and their two sons. When she is not busy writing, she likes to take her boys to the local museums, cafes and for walks in the countryside. Joanne has published 4 non-fiction works aimed at parenting children on the Autistic spectrum, based upon her experiences as a mother of an autistic son. She has also self published a contemporary romance novel, Picking up the Pieces.
Joanne writes contemporary romances with gorgeous heroes.
Follow Joanne on Facebook @JoBodenAuthor and Twitter @JoBodenAuthor
About The Old Bookshop of New Beginnings
Can two lost souls find themselves in Little Bluewater Bay?
In the space of a single day, Harry Taylor achieves the impressive feat of losing a girlfriend, his London flat and his bookshop job. So, when his cousin Lucas invites him to his home in the seaside village of Little Bluewater Bay to recuperate, Harry jumps at the chance.
Beth Smith works at a diner and is quickly overstaying her welcome sleeping on her friend’s sofa. Overhearing a conversation about Little Bluewater Bay reminds her of better times, and she decides to throw caution to the wind and try her luck for happier memories in the coastal village.
Could a bookish business proposal and oldest new bookshop in Little Bluewater Bay lead to the new beginnings Beth and Harry so desperately need?
Buying links:
Amazon https://mybook.to/OldBookshop
Choc lit website link https://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/the-old-bookshop-of-new-beginnings/
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, paperback and large print – 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.
Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books
Morton S. Gray - Author 