Jill Mansell | Fiction with License
March 7, 2011
Hello, Fresh Fiction, and thanks so much for inviting me to chat to you about my
latest book, STAYING AT
DAISY'S. To start with, it has yet another stupendous cover (I love my
Sourcebooks covers so much!). Secondly, it's pretty much the only novel I've
completely set in a real place. Castle Combe is one of the prettiest villages in
the UK and I live close by. The original Dr. Doolittle film starring Rex
Harrison was filmed there. The Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe is one of my
favourite places to visit - it's just amazing, and the restaurant is fab too.
(This is not an advert, it's just true!) I did of course change the name of the
village and hotel for the book... I absolutely love using a hotel as the setting for a novel. So much can happen,
and anyone might turn up. Before writing this book, I interviewed a couple of
hoteliers who told me some truly amazing stories...of guests stealing the
curtains and curtain poles in their rooms, of a guest dying and having to be
carried down the stairs and out of the hotel whilst a wedding party was in full
swing, of a husband eating dinner in the restaurant with his girlfriend when his
wife walked in, and subsequently having to hide in the kitchen for the next
three hours until she left again... So you see, there's nothing new, nothing a novelist can make up that hasn't
happened in real life. Some might call my books slightly far-fetched, but that's
just dramatic license - zipping the action up a bit to keep the reader
entertained. Otherwise you might get bored and that simply isn't allowed!
Everything that happens in this book HAS happened in life, just not to such a
small community. There's a plot thread in there to do with a broken washing
machine that culminates in a situation that may seem mad, but it actually
happened a few years back and featured in all the UK newspapers. We writers are
thrifty characters, you see - nothing is ever wasted! I'm so grateful for all the lovely feedback I've had in the past from my US
readers - it really does mean the world to me that you're enjoying my books. And
for those of you who are yet to try them...go on, give me a go! If you love
films with romance and comedy in them and delicious Cotswolds settings - yes, The
Holiday , I mean just like YOU! - you’ll hopefully enjoy STAYING AT DAISY'S. I
really hope you will! STAYING AT
DAISY’S BY JILL
MANSELL—IN STORES MARCH 2011 Life is Easy, It’s Men She’ll NEVER Figure Out… When hotel manager Daisy MacLean meets cocky sports hero, Dev Tzack, it’s a now
brainier—stay away. He is arrogant and sarcastic—but also incredibly sexy. Daisy
tries her best to steer clear of him, yet soon comes to realize he is the one
guest she can’t bear to see leave. Thens he learns a devastating truth: most
peope are not who they seem to be, for better or worse… ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jill Mansell is the
author of over 20 women’s fiction novels, with over 4 million books sold
worldwide. Compared to Jilly Cooper and Jane Green, Jill currently lives in
Bristol, England, with her partner and their children, and writes full time.
Actually that’s not true; she watches TV, eats gum drops, admires the rugby
players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the
internet marveling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she’s
completely run out of displacement activities does she write. For more
information, please visist www.jillmansell.co.uk.
Comments
40 comments posted.
Re: Jill Mansell | Fiction with License
Oh it's good to see you here, Jill! I've read quite a number (though not all - I'm a bit behind with the "older" ones) of your books and love them. Am currently really looking forward to your newest book "To the moon and back" :-) ! Keep up the good work, and before I forget, the book covers are just adorable! (Birgit Lehner 5:55am March 7, 2011)
Sounds like fun watching rugby players. Being American and not interested in sports for more than tight ends, I have no clue what a rugby player does. I would imagine it's quite fun to watch them though. There are many things I should do but find other things to do instead. Sounds like we have something in common. (Christina Harrison 6:05am March 7, 2011)
Love the idea of the hotel setting. Love the cover too! (Dawn Staniszeski 8:35am March 7, 2011)
It's so true that anything can happen in hotels and airports. And THE HOLIDAY is one of my favorite rom-com's. I've never read any of your books but this one sounds fun. (Mona Garg 9:01am March 7, 2011)
This sounds like a lot of fun!! (Clicia Tremblay 11:30am March 7, 2011)
I believe that the events in "real life" are frequently more unusual than anything in fiction! (Marguerite Guinn 12:02pm March 7, 2011)
Oh this sounds like such a fun read, we need this right now. Thank you for writing it. (Elizabeth Parzino 12:29pm March 7, 2011)
Sounds like another great read to add to my list of books to read! :) (Colleen Conklin 1:41pm March 7, 2011)
Oh my gosh! The title alone makes me want to curl up and read this book!! (Pat Willoughby 2:34pm March 7, 2011)
(Georgia Barry 2:36pm March 7, 2011)
Would really enjoy winning - need a lift in my life. (Georgia Barry 2:37pm March 7, 2011)
Great book cover - dog, flowers and a UK village! Blessings, Marjorie (Marjorie Carmony 3:49pm March 7, 2011)
If you wrote over 20 books, it sounds like I have some catching up to do!! I found your blog very entertaining, and the first thing I noticed when my page came up, was your cover!! I too, thought it was very colorful, and so sweet!! If your book is half as entertaining as your blog was, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I have a dear friend who lives in Sussex, and I'm sure this book will be similar to hearing one of his stories. Congratulations on your new book. (Peggy Roberson 3:49pm March 7, 2011)
I really liked the cover for the book! The little dog is adorable! And it looks so much like spring, it could give me Spring Fever! My grandmother ran a rooming house when I was growing up. I learned a lot of life lessons at her house. I've always wanted to go to England, and it's wonderful when an author can transport me there! (Sandy Fielder 4:06pm March 7, 2011)
Everything I've read so far about the book makes it sound like it will be good so I would like to read it. Also before becoming a stay at home mom I used to run hotels so I know all about that hahaha (Cindi Mitchell 4:14pm March 7, 2011)
I love a sarcastic character! (MaryEllen Hanneman 4:20pm March 7, 2011)
i want to read stay at daisy's (Debbi Shaw 4:27pm March 7, 2011)
Your book cover is simple, yet intriguing especially with the dachshound. I like how your heroine simply couldn't steer clear of the sportsman who had no problem with arrogance. It reminds me of several people that have crossed my path, too. (Alyson Widen 4:30pm March 7, 2011)
Real life can seem very UNreal at times---so I can see how you can use real life stories in fiction after you dress them up a bit. (Sue Farrell 4:36pm March 7, 2011)
Oh, I would love to stay at Daisy's. Sounds wonderful. (Mary Preston 4:43pm March 7, 2011)
Hi Jill, I'm so delighted to meet you, even if it is in blog. I love that you decided to write about an area that you know. It shows in a book and makes the story more appealing. The doxie is a nice touch and gives a story warmth. You just got a new reader and fan. Thank you for the contest---an extra nice touch. (Rosemary Simm 4:55pm March 7, 2011)
It's a great cover and sounds like an interesting story. (Maureen Emmons 5:07pm March 7, 2011)
The real life stories about hotel life are amazing. I have an idea Staying at Daisies is even more fascinating. (Anna Speed 5:56pm March 7, 2011)
Love the idea of a hotel setting....sounds like a great read! (Gina Borkowski 6:15pm March 7, 2011)
Wow this looks like a great read!!!!!!!! (Joanne Bozik 6:22pm March 7, 2011)
Thank you for your post, Jill. I've read that truth is stranger than fiction because fiction writers have to make their material believable. Nonfiction writers don't.
Your new book sounds like a fun read. Good luck! (Mary Anne Landers 6:57pm March 7, 2011)
Wish I could stay at Daisy's for a few days. (Connie Barham 7:15pm March 7, 2011)
Sounds great. I work in a hotel and would really enjoy reading this book and putting it in our lending library at work. (Sheila True 7:53pm March 7, 2011)
So much can happen in a hotel... a chance meeting, a handsome stranger, a mysterious woman. I'm sure you won't disappoint us. (Pamela Stewart 8:32pm March 7, 2011)
this book sounds like so much fun! (Diane Sallans 10:00pm March 7, 2011)
I need your books to escape from the kids and long days work while I take a nice bubble bath, every night. (Stephanie Bondlow 10:49pm March 7, 2011)
I would love to read this book. It sounds like a great escape. (Ginger Hinson 11:13pm March 7, 2011)
Sounds like Daisy has her hands full with that crowd. I worked at a hotel many years ago and I swear there was as much drama on the inside as with our guests.
Sounds like a fun read. (TinaMarie R 11:51pm March 7, 2011)
Sounds good to me! I love the UK and everything European. The Holiday is one of my favorite Christmas times movies, even if Jude Law is a cad in real life! :D (MaryAnne Banks 11:51pm March 7, 2011)
Love a classy book cover. The hotel theme is truly one of "unending stories". I've missed you somehow, but will look for your book/books. Sounds like a fun read! (Jean Merriott 12:04pm March 8, 2011)
The Manor House Hotel sounds like a great place to stay. Your book sounds like a fun read, and I love the cover! (Yuka Liew 12:10pm March 8, 2011)
Your story sounds very intriguing. (Ann Garland 1:21am March 8, 2011)
Hotels are like villages all pulled into a tightly confined space. Anything can happen and usually does. What a great plethora of characters to choose from. I really like the possibilities. Sounds like a fun read! (Sandra Spilecki 6:29am March 8, 2011)
This book definitely sounds like a "Calgon" moment. (Lisa Richards 9:35am March 8, 2011)
This is going to be my book I read at work on Sundays, when I only have one kid to watch at the daycare. (Stephanie Bondlow 12:50pm March 10, 2011)
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