Today I'm delighted to welcome Karen Aldous to Rachel's Random Reads, and she has written us a lovely post about her inspiration for her new book, One Moment At Sunrise. I can't wait to read it, and hope you all enjoy the post.
A traditional French villa, blue shutters, a central sweeping staircase, cool marble flooring, high ceilings, contemporary décor with tasteful furnishings, French doors leading to a vine-covered terrace and the crystal-clear waters of a pool, overlooking the most magnificent canal ever built! This was the moment inspiration struck. My character appeared before my eyes; wheeling a bike in through metal gates, her cheeks pink, her expression – melancholic. Her head hung low as she entered the echoing walls of her home. Why? She lived in this stunning villa, had a gorgeous little girl, and her man - so what was wrong? Why was she so swarmed in darkness?
Cycling under dappled light along gently rippling waters, through ripening vineyards bursting with fruit under a Mediterranean sun, my character sobbed out her loneliness to me. I would stop and sit on the banks of the canal whilst my notes tumbled on to the page; her story gradually revealing itself. My villa wasn’t beside the canal du midi, it was in a village several kilometres away but, it was fitting that Evie lived and breathed the canal.
It was after a visit to Bezier and seeing the statue of Jean-Paul Riquet that I began to explore the visionary and the history of the canal-du-mid in more depth. This is where I found my character had more in common with some of its past characters too. Inspired from my research and discovering just how instrumental the Pyrenean peasant women were in building this monumental canal I was moved by the fact that they failed to ever receive recognition for their contribution. I felt their story had to be told and developed the plot to include them. So by finding strength from a chance encounter with Ben, a film director and, unwittingly absorbing the plight of the peasant woman from the past, my character Evie is able to discover and recognise just how she could use her own resources.
This blend of past and present gave me such a stir because the common theme was disempowerment; strong, intelligent women who had so much capacity and talent as individuals became so overruled, isolated and immersed in self-doubt.
One of the reasons I love being a fiction writer is because anything is possible; if it doesn’t exist, you can invent it, if you need to find out more, you research, then you can explore. Let your characters speak to you, tell you their problems, then you can help them. Like many writers of women’s fiction, my motivation for my characters, is not just about finding romance and living happy ever after, I wish my characters to be strong independent women who find fulfilment in some form for themselves.
Escape to the south of France with the irresistibly compelling new story from Karen Aldous – the only book you’ll need this summer!
Nothing will ever be the same again…
Evie Grant has spent two years hidden away in a quiet French village, longing to escape her beautiful villa with its blue-shuttered windows. Maybe this summer, the father of her child will keep his broken promises and return to whisk her away to another life. One way or another, Evie’s determined to stop feeling like his dirty little secret…
Yet when a mysterious stranger almost knocks Evie off her bicycle early one morning, her world begins to change in ways she never expected. Embarking on a painful journey of self-discovery, Evie begins to face her darkest fears and shatter her fragile dreams. But can she ever truly break free from her gilded cage and learn to love again?
Amazon UK | Amazon US
Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!
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About Karen Aldous
Karen gets much of her inspiration from her travels and if she had to choose, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and the USA would be her favourites. However, wherever she goes, she discovers a new character emerges in 'Karen's World'. She likes to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives - but struggle to control them! And, of course there's always a gorgeous hunk or two!
Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Giveaway
This giveaway is for a £15 Amazon Voucher and a copy of the book as first prize and a copy of the book as second prize.
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