Novel Research by Anni Rose

This week’s blog post by Anni Rose, author of Recipe for Mr Christmas published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books on 31 October 2023 took my breath away! I am in awe of the numerous things Anni is trying for the research for her books – see what you think …

Hi Morton, thank you for inviting me on your blog today. Seeing as we’re talking about Recipe for Mr Christmas I’ve brought some cinnamon bun twists with me for you to try. In this book, which is out on 31 October 2023, so I’m very excited – my main character Susie goes on a viennoisserie course to learn how to make croissants and the like. Obviously for research purposes I had to do the same and I have to say cinnamon twists were my particular favourites from that day – well those and the doughnuts. Enjoy.

I love writing, I’ve always said it is my happy place but Recipe for Mr Christmas was super fun to write. I like to think of this book as a tribute to my mother’s cousin Mary whose Christmas letters and cards were always a joy to receive. She and her husband travelled all over the world, and as they were both painters and sculptors, they didn’t so much photograph places as paint them. They always used to fill their Christmas letters, always written in the third person, with amazing pictures and stories from places they had visited. All about things they had done and people they had met.

On various occasions I’ve attempted similar letters, but never managed to make them nearly as interesting. However, their letters did give me an idea for a character I thought would be fun to write and she was. Cue Susie Keane. In Recipe for Mr Christmas, Susie actively goes out and tries new things, just so that she can send a breath-takingly exciting letter that year, but in doing so rediscovers a side of herself that she’d forgotten and of course a new relationship – well, it is a modern-day love story after all. 

Me, I never tried pole dancing. No point, I had enough problems trying to climb a rope at school, but this year I have been all over the place in the name of research. 

The only trouble is my list for next year is just as long. Quite often, someone will say, ‘And have you tried …’ And I think that sounds great, so I add it to my list. But this year, I have to say, I have become pretty ace at making samosas. And I’ve booked an introductory session for Open Water swimming next week. 

I was part of an audience for a radio show being recorded in London. Oh, and then there was the Wuthering Heights experience. That was at the back end of June, celebrating Kate Bush’s 65^th birthday, dancing with about 500 others on Folkestone harbour arm in a red dress to Wuthering Heights. Quite ridiculous, but great fun. And interestingly as we danced and sang our hearts out, we managed to attract a pod of dolphins, I think that’s the right word. They surrounded the harbour arm, I guess they must have thought one of their number must be in distress if they were making that much noise.

October saw us taking the dogs to the local lido for their swim with your dog weekend. Manic but tremendous fun. 

I haven’t yet learned to ride a motor bike although I did the practice theory and hazard perception tests though – very tricky. And an electric bicycle is on the cards!

December’s looking interesting too, with tickets for Crossness pumping station and Donny Osmond, not on the same day I should add. 

I suppose my sign off now should include the whole team Rose including the dogs. Perhaps not, but thank you for having me on your blog today, Morton. I’ve really enjoyed myself, but must go – have to register for Glastonbury (research for the next book you understand).  Anni xxx

About Anni Rose

Anni was born and raised in Berkshire, she emigrated to Wiltshire eight years ago, where she now lives with her husband, sister and two dogs.

As a child, she loved writing fiction, producing reams of stories, most thankfully lost over the years. 

On leaving school, the need to earn a living sort of got in the way of any creative ambitions and she became an accountant where her only published work apart from regular financial reports was the employees’ handbook.

A local writing course and an encouraging group of writing friends re-ignited the fiction flame many years later and she went on to win or be short listed in a number of writing competitions and had short stories published in Writers Forum, My Weekly and Sophie King’s ‘How to Write your Life Story’.

These days she would describe her writing as contemporary romances with a healthy dollop of humour thrown in. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and was delighted to have been signed by Choc Lit. in 2020. 

Away from writing she can usually be found either walking the dogs, on horseback, behind a camera, or enjoying one of her husband’s curries or sister’s bakery treats.

Social Media Links

Twitter: @AnniRoseAuthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnniRoseAuthor

Website: https://anniroseauthor.co.uk

Instagram: anniroseauthor

About Recipe for Mr Christmas

Sometimes second chances take a little time . . .

Susie Keane is mourning the death of her husband. They had a wonderful forty years of marriage, but now she’s unsure of what to do with her life.

Then the arrival of the annual Christmas card from the oh-so-perfect Bailey family gives Susie the push she so desperately needs. Next year, she’ll be the one with the exciting stories to gloat about.

Hello cooking courses, motorbike-riding lessons and pole-dancing classes. Goodbye moping about and feeling sorry for herself.

But then something happens that Susie isn’t prepared for. A school reunion.

And she definitely isn’t prepared to meet a man who does the impossible. Bob Diamond is the first person to put a smile on Susie’s face.

Bob lost his wife eighteen months ago and knows exactly what Susie’s going through. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s a singer and guitar player in a band. Together, perhaps they can fall back in love with life?

With Bob by her side, Susie discovers that, sometimes, the most unexpected gifts of all are the ones that bring two lonely hearts together . . .

To buy Recipe for Mr Christmas click here

Thank you for visiting Morton S. Gray’s blog. For those of you who haven’t yet read any of my books yet, the good news is that all of the six published titles are currently only 99p as eBooks or available free on Kindle Unlimited.

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About The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series

The Girl on the Beach

The Truth Lies Buried 

Christmas at Borteen Bay

Sunny Days at the Beach

Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe

Summer at Lucerne Lodge

Thank you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. 

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Published by Choc Lit an imprint of Joffe Books