Our novel Escape to Pumpkin Cottage was inspired from a weekend’s stay in Symonds Yat. We live two hundred miles apart, (Anna in Derbyshire and me in south west Wales), and visiting each other means a long journey on the M50 and M5. We often saw the sign for Symonds Yat, hearing high praise of its beauty. That first weekend stay in an Airbnb along the river’s edge sealed it for us. This would be where we would set out next novel.
We often begin with a setting and then start to flesh out the plot and characters. We did all the touristy bits, visiting Symonds Yat Rock, Puzzle Wood in nearby Coleford, Herford and the market town of Ross on Wye. All gave us ideas for the novel, but it was whilst we wandered the winding and precipitous paths of Symonds Yat West that the characters and plot points really came to life. We saw lots of cute cottages and bed and breakfasts overlooking the River Wye and, in the middle of the village, a rather grand and imposing guest house with a car park. It was this that gave us the inspiration for the warring bed and breakfasts as it seemed to have the potential for lots of humour and farcical moments. We wondered what would happen if the guest house, which we portrayed as rather old-fashioned, was suddenly threatened by a new bed and breakfast, run by a younger person, with an eye for interior design and Instagrammable photos.
Our novels tend to be community based and we enjoy creating a cast of quirky and loveable characters. However, even though we tend to lean towards comedy, we try to give our stories heart. Escape to Pumpkin Cottage explores the theme of loss as Jenny Foster’s husband has early onset Alzheimer’s and Pippa Mason lost her mother quite recently. Both could be allies if they could get past their rivalry, but emotional pain can make people behave in strange ways. This is certainly the case with Jenny as she is not very likeable or empathetic at first, and can be quite spiteful.
The novel is set during autumn, which helped us create lots of cosy scenes and seasonal celebrations, such as harvest festival, Halloween, Bonfire Night, before ending at Christmas. We visited Symonds Yat about three times as research and it really is best seen in its autumnal clothing. We spent many a cold night ensconced by the fireplace in Ye Old Ferrie Inn, a fifteenth century pub in Symonds Yat, and it became the heart of the community in the novel, renamed The Trout!
Lots of people are intrigued by our writing process as we are a mother and daughter writing team. We began writing together during the Covid Pandemic and it was a way of keeping us ‘close.’ We usually write using two narrative viewpoints, four in an earlier novel, and Anna tends to write the younger characters and I write from an older woman’s perspective. I hope this is part of our appeal as we write across the generations. We write a chapter each and then send it to each other. We don’t ever plan too heavily, but sketch out ideas at the start and begin writing. As the novel progresses, we tend to plan in more detail. Many ask us if we have any disagreements and of course we do. You have to bear in mind that in our chapter, we might have to write the words of the other character. For example, in Escape to Pumpkin Cottage, there was a comic scene in a hot tub and I put words into the mouth of the younger character which Anna writes. When she read the chapter, she scrapped them and said no younger person would say what I had written. I must admit I was a bit miffed, but she was so vehement in her argument that I felt compelled to give in. We do often change each other’s words, but usually with the other’s consent. You really can’t be too precious about your writing and have to put your ego aside. We always say what we liked or disliked about each other’s previous chapter and I think our novels are better for this honesty.
One of the lessons we’ve learned through writing our books – we’ve just started book number six – is that you do have to write a very rough first draft and give yourself permission to write very badly. Years ago, I used to edit and hone endlessly and never finish anything. Writing as a duo means we have to write the chapter and then send it on, meaning there is the pressure of accountability. I know that once Anna has sent her chapter, I have a few days, possibly a week, before I need to write and send mine. It has worked so far. At first, we did, of course, go through the multiple rejections all writers face. Some publishers felt we write too similarly and others that we are very different. I definitely think we share a similar style and sense of humour.
We’re often asked if we’d like to write on our own. It is probably something we’ll consider in the future. I like writing scripts and have written a script for one of our earlier novels, Poles Apart. For now, though, we’re very happy writing as a team, especially as Anna has a busy life as a doctor with a two-year-old. She writes on her phone whilst feeding her son, so her time is very limited. One thing budding authors often neglect to consider is that writing is just part of the process and there are many edits before its published. Then there is the whole issue of marketing your book… You can’t rest on your laurels and leave it to the publisher. You have to be proactive on social media and advertise your books as much as possible. As a mother and daughter writing team, we can at least share the burden and, believe me, that’s a huge advantage.
(c) Anna and Jacqui Burns
Website: https://www.annaandjacquiburns.com/
About Escape to Pumpkin Cottage:
Riverdean is nestled in the picturesque Wye Valley, and Pippa Mason has big plans to renovate run-down Pumpkin Cottage into the bed and breakfast business of her dreams. Pippa is settling in and even starting to fall for handsome local Jake when problems start coming thick and fast …
Jenny Foster has enough on her plate running Riverside Lodge – she did not need another B&B on her doorstep. When a spat between Pippa and Jenny escalates they will have to see if Riverdean is big enough for the both of them.
Order your copy of Escape to Pumpkin Cottage online here.
