Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? - Special Edition with Sandy Barker - #RRR10thBirthdayCelebrationWeek #Giveaway

 

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show.  Well it was new back in 2016 when I ran this for 6 months and it was a lot of fun.  So I've brought it back for one Friday only as part of my 10th Blog birthday celebrations.. 

Today I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

There is a giveaway too, also supplied by today's guest, and anyone who wants to guess the lies and fills in the gleam widget below, will be entered, regardless of whether you are correct or not. 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning contestant, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

I’m a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic, and have lived and worked across the world.

My first novel, One Summer in Santorini, a romantic comedy set in Greece and inspired by our real-life love story, was published in 2019 by One More Chapter (HarperCollins), sparking the 5-book Holiday Romance series. Also with One More Chapter are my Christmas Romance series, celebrating my favourite time of year, and The Dating Game, a stand-alone romcom set in the world of Reality TV.

My 5-book romcom series with Boldwood Books is about the Ever After Agency, a bespoke matchmaking agency based in London, with a brilliant cast of characters and settings around the world. And I've signed with Boldwood for 5 new standalone romcoms – the first coming late 2025.

Thankfully from that intro, I do know who it is having read all their books, if you haven't guessed its Sandy Barker! 

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Sandy hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Who is your favourite author?

Michael Connelly – he writes detective thrillers set in LA. As a reader, I enjoy reading out of my genre and his books are as far from the romcoms I write as I can get. I’ve met him – and he signed a copy of his latest release for me.

2) What book do you wish you had written?

The Women by Kristin Hannah is one of the most extraordinary books I’ve ever read. I don’t know that I wish I had written it specifically, but I aspire to write with that level of depth and intensity.

3) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

A sailing trip in the Greek Islands where I met my partner Ben.

4) What superpower would you love to have?

Invisibility. I’d love to be a fly on the wall and see what really goes on behind closed doors, especially where important decisions are being made.

5) What is the most annoying interview question you have ever been asked?

Do you ever want to write ‘proper’ books? As a romance author this is beyond insulting. 

6) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

I’m doing it – I’ve wanted to be an author for decades.

7) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve?

Waking up somewhere tropical, going on a sailboat, eating seafood and basking in the sun while reading, swimming off the boat, exploring the coastline – with Ben and close friends and family.

8) Which cocktail describes you perfectly, and what’s in it?

A French 75 – gin (for my don’t-mess-with-me, straight up approach), Champagne (because I like to be a little fancy sometimes), sugar (because I’m mostly a sweetheart), a twist of lemon (because when provoked, I can be tart).

9) If you could only read one author for the rest of your life (and I’m aware that’s a very scary question), who would you choose and why?

Probably Liane Moriarty. She’s among my faves and I’ve only ever disliked one of her books. She’s a terrific storyteller.

10) Besides reading, which I am guessing is a given, what other hobbies do you have?

During the pandemic I got into cross stitch – the funnier the better, such as irreverent sayings or memes.

11) What is your best childhood memory?

The trip we did when I was seven – we spent 2 weeks in the UK meeting family and my great-grandad took me and my sister into ever shop on the high street to introduce us. Then we spent a month in the US, including the most American Christmas in the snow, then we went to Disney World!

12) What would your ideal pet be?

A cat and a dog who are best friends.

13) What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to music? 

I’m a tragic Swiftie. 

14) Can you let us in on an embarrassing secret?

If you’ve read my books, you already know them all. Bahahaha.

15) If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

I’d buy a house with room for guests somewhere beautiful then pay for my loved ones to come visit whenever possible.

Thank you so much Sandy for these great answers, and I can safely say you 100% do write proper books, they are all fabulous. And I'm very excited to hear you have more books coming with Boldwood Books! 

For this week only if you have a guess at the lies, whether right or wrongly you will be entered into a draw to win this lovely prize:

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of One Summer in Santorini (Open INT)

There was something in the air that night. . .

Sarah has had enough of men. It’s time to rekindle her first true love – travel – so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.

The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new, but then a gorgeous American man boards her yacht… And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos.

Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling or stick to her plan to steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta and find her own way after all?

The perfect holiday read to escape with this summer, for fans of Annie Robertson’s My Mamma Mia Summer and Mandy Baggot’s One Last Greek Summer.

Giveaway open internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 15/4/25. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone!

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? I will be back next week with the answer reveal (so long as I remember!). 

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize!