AuthorInTheSpotlight – Jo Lambert @jolambertwriter

Following on from my review of her latest novel Shadows on the Water yesterday, today I’m delighted to welcome Jo Lambert. She has been answering my Author in the Spotlight questions so read on to find out more about her.

First of all, would you tell my blog readers a little about yourself?

I live on the eastern edge of the City of Bath. For the last seven years I’ve been a full time author. In total I’ve written ten novels. Five of these have been withdrawn for updating and republishing – currently a work in progress. I’m a cat lover although currently we have a mog-free house. I’m also a bit of a chocaholic and enjoy Chinese food which tends to throw my ‘must eat healthily’ mantra right out of the window. My favourite holiday destination is Italy, especially the Lakes and Lake Garda has featured in one of my novels. I am an active blogger and a NetGalley reviewer.

What inspired you to start writing?

From an early age I loved reading. I was very proud of my collection of Famous Five and Secret Seven stories bought with birthday or Christmas book tokens (I used to get a lot of those!). I also had an uncle who sent me all the childhood standards – Black Beauty, Children of the New Forest and The Wind in the Willows to name just a few of them. I guess for me writing was a natural progression from reading. I had always enjoyed English Lit and Language at school and had to do something with my overactive imagination!

In a nutshell, what is your latest book about?

Set in the Cornish estuary town of Kingswater, it’s my usual blend of drama and romance. It’s written from central character Ava’s perspective. I haven’t given her an easy journey but then all of my heroines have to work hard for their happiness. After losing her fiancé in a tragic accident she has thrown herself into her job, managing a holiday letting company and is back socialising with a group of old friends. When she unexpectedly meets Alex Penhaligon, whose father owns a local vineyard, things don’t go too well. But gradually he manages to win her over. However their happiness is short lived when someone determined to destroy the relationship succeeds. Alex leaves the UK for good, while Ava is left to pick up the pieces of her life again. And that’s it! Any more would be giving far too much away…

The story is about family loyalty, jealousies and lost love. Do Ava and Alex eventually get their happy ending? Well you’ll have to read the book to find out.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

I’m usually awake by six each morning and use the time before the alarm goes off to read. But when I have a writing project I tend to focus on the next chapter, plot issues – or in this case trying to find a suitable title for the book. I had already sifted through a lot of options but Shadows on the Water, which arrived out of the blue, was definitely that much needed lightbulb moment.

Do you have a work in progress just now?

Yes, it’s book two in the series. As I was writing Shadows on the Water it occurred to me that two of the characters had their own story to tell. I’ve nearly completed the first draft of this second book and hope to publish early in 2021. It’s great to be able to continue the series with characters who have become old friends – and makes the writing a lot easier!

What’s your favourite book you’ve read in the past few months? Or favourite three if you really can’t choose!

Although I’m a romance writer, I’ve become very addicted to crime/psychological thrillers. Sheryl Browne is a great favourite of mine and her latest The New Girlfriend caused me to begin my review with ‘Wow! Just wow!

The New Girlfriend: A totally gripping and addictive psychological thriller by [Sheryl Browne]

Carol Wyer’s Somebody’s Daughter was another must for my TBR pile.

Somebody's Daughter: A gripping crime thriller packed with mystery and suspense (Detective Natalie Ward Book 7) by [Carol Wyer]

And throwing a romance into the mix, I absolutely loved Jan Baynham’s debut novel Her Mother’s Secret.

What are you reading just now?

My Darling by Amanda Robson, yet another psychological thriller written from several viewpoints.

If you were on Desert Island Discs, what one book would you take with you?

Here I’m going to cheat a little because my choice is one book with four separate titles within its covers – Daphne Du Maurier, Four Great Cornish Novels. I purchased this back in the 1990s when I belonged to BCA Book Club and it gave me Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, Frenchman’s Creek and My Cousin Rachel in one big volume.