Author Jane Cable Answers all our Questions

1. Latest Book: The Lost Heir
2. Can you give us the ‘elevator pitch’ version of your latest book.
   In Poldark’s Cornwall, Lady Frances swears that her spirit will not rest until her secret is out. But two hundred years later, what will be the cost to Carla and Mani of discovering it?

   At the beginning of lockdown, teacher Carla Burgess needs to make some changes to her life. She no longer loves her job, and it’s certainly time to kick her on-off boyfriend into touch. But then, while walking on the cliffs she meets, Mani Dolcoath, a gorgeous American with a dark aura.
   Mani is researching his family history, and slowly their lives and their heritage begin to entwine. The discovery of a locked Georgian tea caddy in the barn on her parents’ farm intrigues Carla, but then she starts to see orbs, something that hasn’t happened since her grandmother died. They terrify her and she’ll do anything to outrun them, but will she lose Mani’s friendship in the process?
   Cornwall, 1810
   Harriet Lemon’s position as companion to Lady Frances Basset (Franny) perfectly conceals the fact they are lovers. But when Franny is raped and falls pregnant their lives are destined to change forever.
   The one person who may be able to help them is Franny’s childhood friend, William Burgess, a notorious smuggler. But he has secrets of his own he needs to protect. Will his loyalties be divided, or will he come through?

3.  Tell us something about yourself that we likely don’t know! The more obscure the better!
   I once fell in love with a Saab Aero Convertible called Midi.
4. Do you write in silence, or with music? If you write to music, give us the top three songs on your writers’ playlist this week.
   Silence.
5. Are you a plotter or pantser?
   I become more of a plotter with every book I write, but my characters still have other ideas.
6. Have your characters ever ‘gone off-script’ – hijacked your story and taken it in a direction you didn’t expect?
   All the time. You can’t ignore them.
7. If you could spend time with any character from any of your books, who would it be and what would you do?
   I think it would be Antonia, from The Olive Grove, which I wrote as Eva Glyn, especially as she runs a boutique hotel on the gorgeous Croatian island of Korcula. She doesn’t have much time off during the season, so I guess we’d just chat and chill over a few glasses of local wine.
8. Which of your characters can you say you would least get along with in real life?
   Kitto from The Lost Heir. He’s so self-centred I’d want to give him a good slapping.
9. Do you read your reviews?
   Yes. Thankfully they’re mainly good ones, but sometimes trends emerge in the things people don’t like about a book and I can learn from that.
10. What has been the toughest criticism you have been given since becoming a published author?
    When I handed in The Olive Grove to my publisher and it wasn’t good enough. But they gave me detailed feedback and all support I needed to make it absolutely brilliant. I think I really learnt to be a writer over those few weeks – and the book is my best selling ever.
11. What is the best compliment you have received?
    When people say they can’t wait for my next book to come out. There’s no better feeling.
12. Do you have a day job when you are not writing? If so, what do you do?
    Not anymore, but I used to run my own accountancy business.
13. Can you name three authors who have inspired your writing?
    Only three? OK then… Elizabeth Buchan, Rosanna Ley and the queen of Cornish romance, Liz Fenwick.
14. What was your favourite book as a child?
    The Chalet School series, without a doubt.
15. What scene in your latest book was the hardest scene to write (without giving away too many spoilers!)
    I always find prologues hard, because they obviously have to intrigue but not give too much away.
16. Do you have any other author friends? If so, can you name a few and have any of them given you a piece of advice you would consider invaluable on your publishing journey?
    I have wonderful author friends. Too many to mention really and I don’t want to upset anybody so I’m going to be random and tell you who messaged me most recently. It’s Angela Petch, who I have known since we were both indie authors in Chichester and now writes fabulous Second World War books set in Italy for Bookouture.

For Bonus Points – Answer our fabulous frivolous questions!

What is your biggest fear?
We live in Cornwall so I’m not particularly keen on the idea of a seagull getting into the house. They’re all nasty beaks and bird shit.

If you could have any superhero power, what would it be?
For no-one, anywhere in the world, to be lonely.

If you could write one line to be etched into your tombstone, what would it read?
No tombstone – I’d rather be scattered from the north Cornish cliffs.

If you could give your younger self ONE piece of advice, what would it be?Focus on your writing sooner because getting published is only going to get harder.

You can purchase Jane Cables latest book: The Lost Heir here.