It gives me great pleasure to be part of the launch celebrations for Coffee, Tea, the Caribbean and Me by Caroline James in association with Brook Cottage Books. Coffee, Tea, the Caribbean and Me was published by Ramjam Publishing Company on February 12^th 2016. It can be bought here in the UK and here in the US.

Caroline James shares her Top 10 Writing Tips too and I think there might be hope for me yet as an aspiring novelist after reading them!

There’s also a super competition, open internationally, to enter to win a copy of Coffee, Tea, the Caribbean and Me at the bottom of this blog post.

 

Coffee, Tea, the Caribbean and Me is a romantic comedy – the sequel to Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Me, which shot to number 3 on Amazon and was E-book of the Week in the Sun.

Continuing the Coffee, Tea… series, join Jo and Hattie as they romp into their middle years and prove that anything is possible!

Coffee Tea The Caribbean & Me was a top ten finalist at The Write Stuff – London Book Fair 2015. The judge’s comments included, “Caroline is a natural story-teller with a gift for humour in her writing.”

Coffee Tea The Caribbean & Me, is a a story about friendship and that there is hope in middle years, romance can happen and life really does begin again.

Set in Cumbria, London and beautiful Barbados.

‘The time to be happy is now…’

Jo remembers her late husband’s words but is struggling to face the lonely future that lies ahead. A heartbroken widow, the love of her life, husband Romany John, has died suddenly and Jo finds herself alone with ghostly memories at Kirkton House – a Cumbrian Manor that until recently, she ran as a thriving hotel. Her two sons have moved away; Jimmy to run a bar in Barbados and Zach, to London to pursue a career as a celebrity chef. Middle-age and widowhood loom frighteningly and Jo determines to sell up and start again, despite protestations from colourful friend, Hattie and erstwhile admirer Pete Parks. Hattie convinces Jo to postpone any life-changing decisions by enjoying a Caribbean holiday in Barbados and their holiday sets off a course of events that brings mayhem and madness to Jo and her family.

Confused and anxious for her future, can life really begin again for Jo? Is there hope in middle years and can romance happen?

Caroline James Shares Her Top 10 Writing Tips

It’s never too late to write. Frank McCourt was 66 when Angela’s Ashes was published. James A Michener wrote 40 books after the age of 40.

Make your own space for writing – a place where you feel totally comfortable.

Stop procrastinating – just turn up at the page and write

Use note pad and voice recording apps when you are out and about – or the traditional note pad

Develop your own style and don’t try to emulate others

Allow yourself to write badly – the main thing is to keep writing

Start a blog – a great way to get your writing flowing

Start or join a writer’s group and get support from fellow writers

Don’t proof or edit until the end – let your writing flow

Believe in yourself – don’t die wondering

ABOUT CAROLINE JAMES

Caroline James was born in Cheshire and wanted to be a writer from an early age. She trained, however, in the catering trade and worked and travelled both at home and abroad. Caroline’s debut novel, Coffee Tea The Gypsy & Me shot to #3 on Amazon and was E-book of the Week in The Sun newspaper. Her second novel, So, You Think You’re A Celebrity… Chef? has been described as wickedly funny: ‘AbFab meets MasterChef in a Soap…’ The manuscript for Coffee Tea The Caribbean & Me was a Top Ten Finalist at The Write Stuff, London Book Fair 2015 and the judge’s comments included: “Caroline is a natural story-teller with a gift for humour in her writing.” Her next novel, Coffee Tea The Boomers & Me will be published autumn 2016.

Caroline has owned and run many catering related businesses and cookery is a passion alongside her writing, combining the two with her love of the hospitality industry and romantic fiction. As a media agent, Caroline represented many well-known celebrity chefs and is currently writing a TV script and accompanying book about the life of a well-known chef. She has published short stories and is a member of the RNA and The Society of Authors. Caroline writes articles on food and celebrity based interviews and is Feature Editor for an online lifestyle magazine. When she’s not running her hospitality business and writing, Caroline can generally be found with her nose in a book and her hand in a box of chocolates, she also likes to climb mountains and contemplate life.

Find out more about Caroline on her website, follow her on Twitter and email here via caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

 

GIVEAWAY 

1st Prize – A copy of the book – UK winner (paperback) / Outside UK (ecopy)

Click here for a chance to enter and win!