I’ve decided that maybe I ought to promote my books more – I write about them when I’m writing them – but it’s mainly the actual writing, and I write about them when they are published – but it’s usually just an extended blurb, and I mention them from time to time but usually just in passing, so maybe I need to do more than just mention them!
The first novel I wrote which went out into the world was ‘Farholm‘. I was inspired to write it from the idea of being on an island and how different life would be from being in a place which had transport links other than a ferry running a couple of times a day. The idea had probably been in my mind for a while but began to take shape when we were holidaying in Northern Ireland and spent our days on the beaches with our very young children. Across the sea was the island of Rathlin, which reminded me of adventure books I’d read as a child. A couple of years later we caught the ferry and went over to Rathlin and had a marvellous day there. It’s quite a romantic idea to think of living on a small island but of course the reality is probably very different from most people’s dreams and imaginings.
Somehow I began to have a story running in my head, of someone visiting an island for a particular reason, of her being on the little ferry and watching the island getting nearer and nearer and maybe rather than excitement there is a certain dread. She shuts her eyes, a mixture of nerves, anxiety and queasiness overcomes her –
The ferry to Farholm Island was bucking and weaving against the current and Deke felt her gorge rise. If this bloody boat hits one more bloody wave then I am going to throw up… It hit a wave. She held on….
Which is more than the woman next to her did; with a groan of despair, the green faced woman vomited all over the legs and feet of the man sitting beside her.
One of the problem I had writing the book was a worry that readers might think there would be some sort of romance between Deke and Michael – which there absolutely isn’t, and I hope I signalled that! They have both lost people very dear to them, and they both believe that they might understand what happened, and thus find some peace, some closure. However, ‘Farholm‘ is what I might as a child have called an ‘adventure’ book. There is danger, there are life-threatening situations, the island is covered in fog, people go missing, there are islanders who can be trusted and some who are dangerous.
Here’s the blurb:
Devastated by the death of her young husband, Deke Colefox is determined to find out all she can about the man she married, Niko Nicolaides and decides to go to his family home on Farholm Island.
Dr Michael Cabus has his own secret reason for visiting the island; he too wants to find the truth about a beloved stranger.
Deke and Dr Cabus arrive on the same ferry as a beautiful girl who then disappears. The islanders fear the worst as two other young women were horrifically murdered the previous year.
Deke and Michael each have a personal interest in finding the missing girl, and finding her before she meets the same fate as the other two. Their desire for answers leads them to face uncomfortable truths and their lives are put at risk in an unexpected and terrifying way.
…and here’s the link for e-book readers:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FARHOLM-Lois-Elsden-ebook/dp/B007JMDAFO/
… and here’s the link for the paperback:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FARHOLM-Lois-Elsden/dp/B08M2FXYKP
Lois Elsden 