Tag Archives: UpLit
SPARKLEMAS 9: Meet David Myers
Meet DAVID MYERS – Cerrie's ex-boyfriend who is also the Deputy Head at the school where she works. He cheated on her and broke her heart, but could he be trying to win her back?
David is ambitious and driven, with a very high opinion of himself. But I wanted to show readers that Cerrie loved him for five years, so there had to be something she could love about him. He's good-looking and charming when he wants to be, but he differs from Cerrie in so many ways. As the story progresses, we see him soften a little – which should set alarm bells ringing for Cerrie. But where matters of the heart are involved, could she believe he wants to make amends this time…?
David was great to write because I loved writing a flawed character and the tension between him and Cerrie was really interesting to explore.
Here's an excerpt from Christmas in St Ives – this is where Cerrie finds David already waiting with new teacher Tom Keller in the hall for the first nativity rehearsal together:
My dream actor to play David in the film version of Christmas in St Ives (because dreams can come true, can't they?) is NICHOLAS HOULT – known for Skins, Warm Bodies and About a Boy. I think he has the perfect mix of looks, charm and edge to bring over the complexities of David's character:
NICHOLAS HOULT as DAVID MYERS (Photo: DarkHorizons.com)
Come back tomorrow for another 24 DAYS OF SPARKLEMAS exclusive… Every day between now and Christmas Eve I'll be sharing all kinds of sparkly goodies. Don't miss a present from me this December! xx
COMING 14th JUNE 2018 – Preorder NOW –
Posted in Books, Christmas, Cornwall, Exclusives, Features, Free stuff, Writing
Tagged Christmas in St Ives, Cornwall, Ebook, feel-good fiction, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Nicholas Hoult, novella, Pan Macmillan, prequel, romcom, UpLit, writing
SPARKLEMAS 7: Meet St Ives!
Posted on December 7, 2017 | 1 comment
Meet ST IVES – the real star of Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Quite simply, I'm in love with this place – and Cornwall in general. St Ives is a special location for me, Bob and Flo and our families. I love everything about it and have visited in every season. From its beaches to its quaint winding streets and hidden treasures, St Ives is unique and I knew I wanted to set a book there.
Here are my five favourite bits of beautiful St Ives:
Porthmeor Beach
Breathtakingly beautiful – I wrote several scenes of Somewhere Beyond the Sea sitting on Porthmeor Beach. My favourite beach and always feels like coming home.
Porthmeor Beach is Bob and Flo's favourite for sandcastles and races to the sea.
St Ives Harbour
Looking from the town towards Downalong. I never get tired of this view.
Looking towards the town – you can see St Ia's church on the right.
Harbour Beach is Flo's favourite to dig when she has a new spade for her holiday!
I took this on my birthday in January. The perfect sunset to end a perfect Porthmeor day.
You can just see my lovely Mum-in-law sneaking out of the photo on the left!
Looking down Fore Street towards St Ives Bakery and the approach to the Post Office.
Looking up Fore Street's cobbles towards the Baptist Church and the Poppy Treffry shop
Cyril Noall Square is the inspiration for the courtyard where Seren's dad's gallery MacArthur's is located.
This sign outside a shop in Fore Street inspired Seren's dad, Mark MacArthur's, theory of life.
Porthgwidden Beach
On our anniversary last year, Bob got up early to write this message on Porthgwidden Beach – aww! I chose Porthgwidden for Aggie's coffee hut because of this.
The lovely shell and seaweed heart Bob made for me on Porthgwidden Beach. This inspired the seaglass stars you'll read about in Somewhere Beyond the Sea!
Find your own adventure in Cornwall: go to www.visitcornwall.com for lots of lovely ideas and places to visit right across the county, or if you fancy staying for a while, www.aspects-holidays.co.uk have a fab range of cottages, apartments and holiday homes to choose from.
Tagged 24 Days of Sparklemas, Christmas in St Ives, Cornwall, exclusive, locations, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Pan Macmillan, romcom, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, St Ives, UpLit
SPARKLEMAS 6: Meet Tom Keller
Meet TOM KELLER – the new Aussie teacher who is volunteered by the Head of St Piran's primary school to help Cerrie with her beloved Christmas play. He's admittedly gorgeous and an instant hit with her colleagues, but is there more to him than it seems?
Tom appears at a time when Cerrie is feeling most vulnerable: it's the first staff meeting at St Piran's School since her very public break-up with her ex (and Deputy Head of the school) David, and everyone is watching them to see how they react to each other. In a surprise move, Gloria Masters the Head introduces Tom and completely upstages Cerrie's former flame. But Cerrie's relief is short-lived when Gloria announces Tom will help Cerrie with the play.
I loved writing Tom because he begins as a bit of an enigma and I liked the slow reveal of his personality, as seen through the effect he has on everyone else. He was also a bit of a surprise: I wrote Somewhere Beyond the Sea before Christmas in St Ives and in the original draft of the novel Cerrie was married and we never heard about her home life. When I decided to focus on her story in Christmas in St Ives, I wanted to give her a love story of her own. I was as surprised as Cerrie and her school colleagues when Tom Keller appeared! I then went back to Somewhere Beyond the Sea and rewrote Cerrie's scenes to fit the story, which made her a much stronger character. I love it when serendipities like that happen in my writing!
Here's an excerpt from Christmas in St Ives – this is the first time Cerrie and Tom lead a rehearsal together and Cerrie has just asked him to play the music she's written for the play:
My dream actor to play Tom Keller in the film of Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea (because dreaming it makes it happen, doesn't it?!) is the very gorgeous CHRIS HEMSWORTH – most well-known for playing Thor in the Marvel Avengers films.
CHRIS HEMSWORTH as TOM KELLER (Photo: GQ.com)
Tagged Chris Hemsworth, Christmas books, Christmas in St Ives, Cornwall, dream cast, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Pan Macmillan, romcom, UpLit
SPARKLEMAS 5: Meet Kieran Macklin
Posted on December 5, 2017 | Leave a comment
Meet KIERAN MACKLIN – a photographer with a quick wit and a hidden love. He's the Third Amigo to Seren and Aggie and known for his cheeky sense of humour, but Kieran is hiding a secret…
In Christmas in St Ives we see him realise what's going on (no spoilers! Read the novella to find out more!), but three months later in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, things are about to become a whole lot more complicated. How long can he run from the truth?
Kieran was a blast to write. He's cheeky as they come (I reckon he'd even give Ed Steinmann from Fairytale of New York a run for his money in that department!), but deep down he's battling his heart, his past and his fierce loyalty to his friends.
Here's an excerpt from Kieran's story in Christmas in St Ives:
My dream actor to play Kieran in the films of Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea (because of course BBC Films and Richard Curtis are avid readers of this blog and, you know, are probably looking for the NEXT BIG THING…) is JAMES NORTON – as seen in Happy Valley and Grantchester. (Photo: Pinterest)
JAMES NORTON as KIERAN MACKLIN (Photo: @jginortononline)
Posted in Books, Cornwall, Exclusives, Features, Free stuff, Writing
Tagged 24 Days of Sparklemas, books, Christmas, Christmas in St Ives, James Norton, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Pan Macmillan, romcom, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Summer, UpLit, writing
SPARKLEMAS 4: Meet Aggie Keats
Meet AGGIE KEATS – owner of a beachside coffee hut on Porthgwidden Beach, who is harbouring a secret.
She's Seren's best friend and the first to offer an opinion about what Seren should be doing with her life. Something has just happened that has thrown everything she thinks she knows about a close friend into question – but will she act on what she feels, or pretend it never took place…?
I love Aggie. She's ferociously independent, funny and fearless, but also hugely loyal, strong and a great friend. Aggie's lines are some of the most enjoyable I've written in both Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
Here's an excerpt of Aggie's story from Christmas in St Ives:
My dream actor to play Aggie in the films of Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea (because a girl's got to dream, right?) is CHANEL CRESSWELL – as seen in This is England, Trollied and My Name is Lenny.
CHANEL CRESSWELL as AGGIE KEATS (Photo: CBGActors)
Tagged 24 Days of Sparklemas, books, Chanel Cresswell, Christmas, Cornwall, dream cast, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Pan Macmillan, romcom, St Ives, Summer, UpLit, writing
SPARKLEMAS 3: Meet Cerrie Austin
Meet CERRIE AUSTIN – a teacher with a recently broken heart who adores her job at St Piran's Primary School, working with a class of seven-year-olds.
She's Seren's close friend and the voice of reason on the Save the Parsonage campaign committee. In Somewhere Beyond the Sea next year you'll see her continuing story. But Cerrie's story forms the heart of Christmas in St Ives, so no spoilers here, but hopefully you'll love her as much I do…
Here's an excerpt of Cerrie's story from Christmas in St Ives:
My dream actor to play Cerrie in the films of Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea (which, you know, is completely possible..!) is TUPPENCE MIDDLETON – as seen in Dickensian and War & Peace.
TUPPENCE MIDDLETON as CERRIE AUSTIN (Photo: itv.com)
Tagged 24 Days of Sparklemas, books, Cornwall, dream cast, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Pan Macmillan, romcom, Tuppence Middleton, UpLit, writing
SPARKLEMAS 2: Meet Seren MacArthur
Meet SEREN MACARTHUR – a talented jewellery-maker torn between her family and future.
Seren's story is told in full in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, but she's introduced in Christmas in St Ives. I've adored writing Seren – she's bold and practical but also capable of dreaming and fighting through the worst circumstances. She's determined, strong and capable of so much more than right now she thinks she is.
Here's an excerpt from Christmas in St Ives:
My dream actor to play Seren in the films of Christmas in St Ives and Somewhere Beyond the Sea (which, of course, will happen…) is CHARLIE B. MURPHY – as seen in Happy Valley, Philomena and the incredible To Walk Invisible.
Charlie B. Murphy as SEREN MACARTHUR (Photo: IMDB)
Tagged 24 Days of Sparklemas, author exclusive, books, dream cast, love story, Miranda Dickinson, Pan Macmillan, publishing, romcom, UpLit
HERE IT IS! My BIG, SPARKLY Reveal!
I promised you an exclusive and it's a big one…
Here, in all its sunny gorgeous glory is the cover for my ninth novel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, out on 14th June 2018!
I've been so excited to share this cover with you because it completely captures the feel of the story. Seren MacArthur and her chocolate Labrador Molly on the front, heading down to the beach to hunt for seaglass. And the beach is actually Gwithian Beach, which plays a vital part in the novel, with Godrevy Lighthouse in the distance. The back cover is going to have a gorgeous surprise on it, too, so I'll tell you about that very soon…
Somewhere Beyond the Sea features characters from the prequel, Christmas in St Ives and is by far and away the best book I've written so far. I loved every stage of writing this book, set in my favourite place in the world. It's an unashamedly romantic love story, warm and uplifting, with a cast of characters I hope you'll love as much as I have.
You can preorder Somewhere Beyond the Sea right now – and, for a sneak-peek of the characters and the first chapter of the novel, the prequel novella Christmas in St Ives is available now.
I'm absolutely thrilled with the cover – what do you think?
Come back tomorrow for another 24 DAYS OF SPARKLEMAS exclusive… Every day between now and Christmas Eve I'll be sharing all kinds of sparkly goodies. Don't miss a present this December!
Posted in Books, Cornwall, Exclusives, Features, News
Tagged books, Christmas in St Ives, Godrevy, Gwithian Beach, inspirational, love story, Miranda Dickinson, novels, Pan Macmillan, romcom, seaglass, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, St Ives, UpLit, writing