Erin has buried herself away in Magpie's Rest, the family home, and left her promising stage career. By hiding away, she is avoiding the pain of returning to London and the acting world where her ex-fiancé is enjoying success and a new relationship. When she meets charismatic Texan Jackson McGee, she wrestles with her feelings for him. Should she trust another man?
Heather is juggling babies, work, a rocky marriage and running on wine. An overheard conversation makes her ask, would Mark ever cheat on her? Can the sisters help one another to face their fears, dust off and revive those dreams and find joy in life?
Title: The Barn of Buried Dreams
Author: Chrissie Bradshaw
Published By: Amazon
Publication Date: 2nd October 2018
Links: Amazon
Author Q and A
Did you always want to be a writer?
In my late twenties and thirties, I juggled my career with being a single parent and my dreams of writing novels, finding my ideal man or travelling had to be put on hold. My energy was used up with the school run, a challenging job and after school activities. Luckily, I loved my job and loved my daughter so I was tired but happy and fulfilled. Those childhood years are precious and we can’t grab them back even though we sometimes think the summer holidays are never ending! My three dreams were buried away but eventually they all saw daylight. My younger self would be amazed to know that I'd be a happily remarried, well- travelled author, one day.
What other jobs have you had?
I started out teaching and rose through the ranks. I was determined to succeed because I was a single parent who had a hefty mortgage. Eventually I became a headteacher. It's a ' jack-of-all-trades' position and, after discovering that many of my days were taken up with sorting out the blocked toilet, the leaking roof, the maintenance of school playing fields and other jobs that did not involve learning, I looked for something new. I became a literacy consultant for the city of Newcastle and left finance meetings, blockages and leaks behind without a glance. I loved getting back to young people, books and working to raise literacy standards in our inner city schools.
What made you write that first novel?
It was a bloody great storm in my G cup that kick started it all! I was fit and healthy so I surprised when I found out I had an aggressive breast cancer but I didn’t ever think ‘why me?’ Why not when it happens to 1 in 8 of us women? I felt numb as I prepared for the treatments and prepared for the worst scenario. Would my time be far shorter than I’d ever imagined?
Secretly (I didn't want to upset my family) I set about writing a bucket list. I’m good at writing lists but not so great at carrying them out! This was the most important list I’d written. I thought about writing and the pleasure it gave me so that went on the list. I thought I would quite like to do a lot of things but nothing compared to writing. My real regret was not ever getting down to writing those novels in my head so my bucket list was short. Write a novel!
As soon as my ‘chemo fog’ lifted, I got to work on an idea I had been playing around with for far too long. At that point, I didn’t care if my novel was published or not as long as I finished it. That was my promise to myself.
It was amazing and quite nerve-wracking waiting for the first sales and reviews. I got great pleasure every time someone took the trouble to write one! Like all authors, reviews are my feedback and help boost my sales so I can't thank readers who make time to review enough. I do love writing for the group of readers I have in mind and think of my readers as friends who, like me, love to escape into a book.
Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story.
After a few months of agent rejections, some kind and some one-liners, I decided to find a publisher myself. After my cancer experience, I wasn't sure that I had the time to wait around for years to see whether my first novel would fit an agent’s list. I see now that I was impatient and I made mistakes. Luckily, I'm resilient and it's all about learning. I'm not with the publisher now - never explain, never complain - but I should have taken more time to consider. I eventually took my debut novel back, gave it a beautiful new jacket to match my new novel and embraced being an indie author. I've already said that we must help to make our own dreams come true. My books are out there now and proof of that.
What other books have you written?
'A Jarful of Moondreams' was my debut novel. It tells the story of the Moon family's eventful summer involving sparring sisters, secrets spilling out of their ‘moondream’ jar and love is in the air. Because writing this was my escape from troubling times, it had to have an upbeat ending. Reading is all about escaping for a little while isn’t it?
The characters from this first novel cross over into my new release ‘The Barn of Buried Dreams’ but the novels are stand alone and can be read in any order.
Where is your favourite place to write? ( can we please have a picture)
I have an office to store things but I write in several ' hidey holes' around my house and I often write with my laptop on my knee in bed. I like a change! This is today’s writing corner.
Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
Oh yes! I have to put the poor souls through the mill and then I feel dreadful leaving them there because I'm really fond of my characters. When I finish a book I miss them. That's how Heather Douglas, a minor character in my debut novel, reappears in a main role in this latest book. She demanded a storyline of her own. I really gave her a hard time.
What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
1 Just do it. There's no right way.
3 Have a plan. Be realistic. Keep going until you finish that first draft.
Which authors inspire you?
I have a huge list. At the top are JoJo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Jane Green, Lisa Jewell and Jane Fallon.
What is your new release. 'The Barn of Buried Dreams' about?
It's about sorrow and joy and how women struggle and juggle and often lose sight of their own dreams.
If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
Hang onto a Dream - The Fleetwood Mac version is perfect for this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eDI6rfarNk
Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
I am a tiny bit in love with Jackson McGee, the handsome Texan businessman who harbours a secret and falls for my heroine, Erin. I hope my readers will fall for him too. He should be played by Scott Eastwood. Scott has his father Clint Eastwood's piercing eyes and is just the right age to play Jackson.
About the Author
Chrissie Bradshaw, the 2016 winner of the Romantic Novelist's Elizabeth Goudge writing trophy, is a seasoned tea drinker and a tenacious trainer of her welsh terrier, Oscar. She likes the odd glass of prossecco too. Chrissie has always loved match-making a book to a reader. Writing the kind of book she loves to read takes this a step further. When Chrissie is not writing or reading, you will find her walking Oscar on the beach, trying to avoid the gym and spending time with her family and friends.
Her instagram account is chrissie_bradshaw_author
Her blog is newhenontheblog.com
and she has a Chrissie Bradshaw author page on Facebook.
She would love to hear from anyone who reads this blog.
Nice one Chrissie B, Scott Eastwood does make an excellent Jackson McGee!
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