Hello
27 October 2009
Well hello there, this is my first ever blog and how nice it is to be able to tell you about my new book Coming Home, which is very dear to my heart.
When my editor asked me to write a book about Christmas, last November, she was very specific about what she wanted. It had to have a warm, feel good quality, with a twist in the tale, a moral and a happy ending!
Ummm thought I, she’s not looking for much! I was under the influence of woozy painkillers at the time as I’d just had a major op and was recovering, having been told to take at least three months off work. I’d been looking forward to having an excuse to do nothing, ignore the chaos on my desk and just read, read, read with no feelings of guilt. Well it was a nice dream but once the idea had been put in my head these characters began to appear, Alison Dunwoody, a feisty redhead just would not go away. I gave up trying to read One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell (only got to finish it a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it.) and started to write the tale of two sisters who lead very different lives.
Writing about the lead up to Christmas brought back such happy memories for me. Our parents made Christmas SO special and exciting for the six of us (four brothers and a sister). Making the puddings was the start of it and how my mother put up with the lot of us around the table cutting the cherries, mixing the fruit, whisking the eggs-we all got a chance to whisk an egg- was something else, she had great patience.
I became immersed in the lives of the two sisters and their tangled relationship and forgot my surgery and tapped away on my laptop like a maniac using my memories to add to the tapestry of the tale.
A very dear friend of mine, Aidan Storey a healer and counsellor who works with the healing energies of Angels, came to stay for a few days to give me healing and encouragement. I’d long been trying to persuade him to write his story. He’d always seen Angels from a very young age and thought everyone else could see them too. Tragically his happy, carefree life was brutally shattered by two teachers who abused him when he was eight. But the way he turned his life around and chose forgiveness over bitterness and hate is an inspiration. So many amazing things have happened to him in his life I felt he should write a book. I nagged so much he started writing out in my kitchen, and over the following months he wrote the most powerful book, which ended up in an auction for the rights to publish.
My own publishers were successful in acquiring it and now we are having a joint launch party and doing loads of events, together, which I will put up when I have the details. This time last year neither of us had a notion of writing a book and here we are, going into the bookshops to sign and what a thrill it is to see his shelf of books alongside mine. Aidan’s book is called Angels of Divine Light and it’s flying off the shelves. So my nagging was all in a good cause. (And we’re still friends even though he’s accused me of kidnapping him and forcing him to write.)
Just off to do an interview and get my photo taken. Uuggg! I do hate that part. Would far prefer to be blogging now that I’m getting the hang of it.
23 comments
Written by Estelle on 02 November 2009 at 13:12:00
bought the book and wanted to keep it for December but have a bad cold and need some nice comfy reading. Just started and loving the first few pages, especially as I visited New York last year and I can imagine the places you have mentioned. Loved reading this blog too
Written by Shirley Whelan on 04 November 2009 at 17:04:00
I purchased this book 2 weeks ago and tried to keep it until Christmas but couldn't as once I get a Patricia Scanlan book I just have to read it straight away! I have to say this book is a gorgeous story, really heartwarming with wonderful characters. Enjoyed it immensely as I have all of your books and as usual I hate finishing them as I feel as if I know the characters by the end.
Written by Anne Somers on 13 November 2009 at 00:04:00
I live in Sydney and was home in Ireland for my mam's 80th birthday when I saw your two latest books on the shelves at Easons in October. Have just finished Coming Home which I absolutely loved. You brought back all the great memories I had of Christmas too. You're such a great writer - love all your books. Keep up the good work! And when are you going to come to Sydney to sign books?!
Written by petra proost on 16 November 2009 at 16:16:00
Hello Patricia,
Thank you very much for "Coming Home", which I bought in Dublin (I fell in love with that city) while on a city trip. I have a question, though, Will there be a sequel to "Happily ever After"? 'I'm dying to know what will happen next, as to my humble opinion, the story has not ended yet. So...... Please????/
love,
Petra
Written by Maureen Costello on 26 November 2009 at 17:48:00
When books follow on would it be possible for it to say so on the covers as I often read out of sequence, eg I think Promises promises and Mirror Mirror follow on. Thanks, love your books. Maureen Costello, Portugal
Written by Anne Somers on 18 January 2010 at 22:57:00
Hi Patricia I've just finished Happily Ever After and it was just fantastic. Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to the next one! Keep up the good work! A x
Written by Mar on 23 February 2010 at 13:04:00
HI Patricia, Just read your book "Coming Home" Really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to anyone. Thank you Mar
Written by Pat Perry on 16 March 2010 at 13:06:00
Hi Particia, just read Happy Ever After another craking read. will there be a follow up, would like to know what happens to Melissa and what Tom had to say. Thanks
Written by Theresa Hourihan on 17 May 2010 at 16:55:00
Hi Patricia Have just finished reading Happily Ever After. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Is there a sequel to this as cant wait to find out what happens next? Thanks Theresa
Written by wendy casey on 11 July 2010 at 23:43:00
hi patricia, just finished reading happily ever after. please tell me there is another book continued on as i dont want them to end, enjoying them so much. Thank you, wendy
Written by Marie Sixsmith on 13 July 2010 at 20:44:00
Hi Patricia i have just finished Forgive and Forget and Happily Ever After. I really enjoyed them. Please tell me if there is a follow up on the way. I hope so! I want to know what happens to Melissa and Debbie! Thanks Marie
Written by Fiona Molloy on 19 August 2010 at 14:53:00
I loved Coming Home, it was a wonderful warm Christmassy read Please please let there be a sequel to Happy Ever After, thank you.
Written by Margaret Bollen on 20 September 2010 at 15:20:04
Love all your books and have just finished reading Happy Ever After? which I really enjoyed! Your books are warm, real and touching. Please never stop writing.
Written by Tara Bush on 15 January 2011 at 13:57:00
Patricia how wonderful it is to see a new one of your books come onto the shelves and know that you are going to have a week of pleasure, picking it up each day that you have a spare moment when the children are quietly eating there lunch or have just gone up to bed. I loved Coming home and avidly await the sequel to Happy Ever After so thank you for the pleasure you have brought to myself and many other people over the past years, where you have transported us into the lives of all the new characters. I hope you are recovering well from your operation and I look forward to many more years of enjoyment from your books Thank you
Written by Helen Johnson on 20 January 2011 at 10:54:00
Really need to know if there is a follow up to Happy ever after, cos if there isn't there should be!
Written by Julie Molloy on 28 February 2011 at 23:26:00
Hi Patricia. Just finished reading "Coming Home", excellent book. Just wondering if there is another book following "Mirror Mirror". I got completely engrossed in it. It took me several months to find it and i am dying to see if it is happy ever after for all the charactors. Please tell me there is another one.
Written by Natasha Dickie on 27 March 2011 at 09:45:00
Hi Patricia, Loooooooove your books ! Please tell us there will be a sequel to Happy Ever After ! :)
Written by Victoria Pinder on 02 June 2011 at 05:35:00
Hi Patricia,
I'm a big fan of yours all the way from NZ. Could you please advise if you have a follow up to Happy Ever After?
Thanks Victoria
Written by Sarah Meyrick on 25 July 2011 at 01:05:00
I too have just finished reading Promises Promises, and Mirror Mirror. I feel there is so much more that could happen to the characters. I absolutely couldn't put the two books down, every opportunity I could, I was reading a few pages. I now feel so sad cos I have finished them. It would be fantastic to have a follow on to these books. We really need to know if Ellen and Doug have that happy marriage, how Miriam and Ben, and Emma and Vincent (and particularly Julie Ann get on as she continues growing up-if indeed she makes it that far!!!!). I would like to know if Denise finally gets rid of Jimmy McMahon and can have a happy life, and how Suzy, Alexandra and Chris get on with their lives. Please please make this series a Trilogy. I loved the era, the setting and the way Ellen particularly made a success of her life after a very rocky start. I hope to hear soon that you have some ideas for a third. I wait with bated breath. By the way, I have loved every book I have read so far of yours. I started with Francescas Party and that was enough to have me hooked on your books! Thank you so much Patricia.
Written by Irene Ashley on 11 October 2011 at 16:45:00
Dear Patricia Scanlan,
I discovered your books about a year ago and have become a massive fan. The sentiments in them have helped me through some very difficult times. I started by buying your latest books and am now buying back copies. Could you please tell me what was the follow up to Promises, Promises?
Keep on writing, I'll keep on buying and enjoying I'm sure!
Written by Irene Ashley on 11 October 2011 at 16:48:00
Dear Patricia Scanlan,
I discovered your books about a year ago and have become a massive fan. The sentiments in them have helped me through some very difficult times. I started by buying your latest books and am now buying back copies. Could you please tell me what was the follow up to Promises, Promises?
Keep on writing, I'll keep on buying and enjoying I'm sure!
Written by Michile Ashling on 14 January 2012 at 18:55:00
I love all your books, Mirror Mirror & Promises Promises especially, but I felt the story wasn't finished.
I hoped that Vincent & Emma would be taught a lesson re Julie Anne as it seemed their snobby behaviors and their terrible parenting were almost condoned. Poor Miriam never did really get from under the thumb and poor Denise was left in that abusive marriage. I was glad that Ellen got her happy ending but seemed so much more to tell.
I'd love Julie Anne to get pregnant at 16!!!!
Written by Nicola Russell on 25 January 2012 at 14:52:00
Please could you tell me if there is a book after Happy Ever After? I could not put it down.