The Waverley Gazette

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Woodbridge Emporium: Jan Ellis's The Bookshop Detective, and A Summer of Surprises on display in Suffolk

Romance in France, romance in London, romance in Devon.

Jan Ellis lives in Wells, Somerset and is an academic. So just how does an academic turn her hand to writing a funny romantic novel? And funny with an edge? For example, in The Bookshop Detective the main character Eleanor has got married for the second time, but refuses to move in with her husband. She does not want to leave the lovely sanctuary of her tiny cottage, attached to her business, a bookshop called ‘The Reading Room’ in a seaside town in Devon.

And in French Kisses, published 4^th May by Waverley Books, Rachel is suddenly left alone with her two children in France, when her husband leaves her for the children’s dance teacher. Rather than fall apart, Rachel has to create a new job for herself to maintain a life for her and the children. With a little help from her friends and family, she turns the house into a cosy B&B.

Is there a theme emerging here?

Born and brought up in Manchester, Jan Ellis now lives in Somerset. For many years Jan lived and worked in London. Creative and resourceful, Jan herself wanted a different life and ended up moving to the country. Her female characters all also to seem to have something of the city-life-turned-country-living gal about them, but in a working, real way. None of them are ladies who lunch.

‘You write about what you know,’ Jan Ellis says on this point. ‘A London Affair is about a young woman who is pushed one way by her parents and boyfriend, and instead goes to London to work and try a new life. In French Kisses, Rachel is determined to fight for her way of life and find new ways to stay put. In An Unexpected Affair (the first story featuring bookshop owner Eleanor Mace), Eleanor moves from London to Devon, but finds she has just taken her problems with her. So she discovers an old flame online and sets off to the South of France (with her sister as protection) to find a man she last saw in her twenties’.

The second novella with An Unexpected Affair is A Summer of Surprises is a gentle humorous story of one woman’s efforts to rebuild her life that is entertaining and wry.

Jan Ellis writes about ordinary women who need to work for a living. They live down to earth lives, and don’t have love dropping into their laps on page one.

All the books are available from Waverley Books and can be ordered from bookshops or online.

A dog, a pair of ears and a place in the west country...

We asked Jan Ellis, author of just published 'The Bookshop Detective' where she finds ideas for her books. Jan has a new book coming out in May - 'French Kisses and A London Affair', two novellas in one book. Jan has shared her thoughts on why setting is important, and what a writer should use everyday... Writing about what you know is one successful element. And it sounds like a dog is vital.

Q Where do you find inspiration for your books?

A When I began writing fiction, it made sense to use things I was familiar with. My background is in publishing and I still work in the book trade, so it seemed natural for my character Eleanor Mace to own a bookshop. And – like me – she has moved to the West Country from London.

I’ve also picked up some great ideas by eaves-dropping on local conversations. For example, when Eleanor gets a dog in A Summer of Surprises and An Unexpected Affair, she realises that everyone knows the dogs’ names, but not necessarily those of the owners. ‘You know who I mean – Mitzi (long-haired dachshund, yappy). She’s left her husband and taken up with Jaffa (golden retriever, dribbles a bit, but sweet natured).’ That’s exactly the kind of conversation I have dog-walking!

Jan Ellis

https://www.waverley-books.co.uk/store/product/21_rights-available/146_the-bookshop-detective-by-jan-ellis/