It’s been some time since I’ve had Sarah E. Ladd share at Relz Reviewz, so I’m delighted to have you back to celebrate the release of her third Cornwall novel, The Light at Wyndcliff. Oh, how I love the lighting on this cover! Just stunning.

Sarah chats all things Cornwall Novels today, as well as describing her most difficult character to write, her heroine’s greatest fear, and what she’s been reading!

Enjoy the bookchat and be sure to enter the giveaway below, thanks to the generosity of Sarah’s publisher, Thomas Nelson. All the best to everyone 🙂

Over to you, Sarah!

In the small Cornish village of Pevlyn, secrets are as treacherous as the rocky English shores.

Cornwall, England, 1820

Raised on the sprawling and rugged Wyndcliff Estate near the dangerous coast of South Cornwall, Evelyn Bray lives with her grandfather, a once-wealthy man now reduced to the post of steward. Evelyn is still grieving her father’s death and her mother’s abandonment when a passing ship is dashed against the rocks.

Liam Twethewey is a mere two and twenty when he inherits Wyndcliff Estate from his great uncle. His optimistic plans of opening a china clay pit to employ the estate’s tenants meets unexpected resistance, and rumors of smuggling and illegal activity challenge his newfound authority.

Brought together by troubling questions surrounding the shipwreck, Evelyn and Liam uncover even darker mysteries shrouding the estate. But as they untangle truth from deception, their loyalties separate them—and their budding love might not be strong enough to overcome the distance.

This latest Regency romance from Sarah E. Ladd evokes the captivating worlds and delicious dramas of Jane Austen, Daphne du Maurier, and Winston Graham.

Bookchat with Sarah

Share a little about your characters, Evelyn and Liam.

Evelyn and Liam were such fun characters to write!

But, then again, I’ve written about Liam before. 🙂

Liam’s full name is William Twethewey, and all three books in The Cornwall Novels series follow the adventures of the Twethewey family. I first wrote about Liam in The Governess of Penwythe Hall when he was an adolescent. I enjoyed following his character into adulthood and exploring how his past shaped his future. He is determined and curious, eager and headstrong — which makes for a dynamic hero.

Evelyn is very different from Liam. She comes from a sheltered past, and even though she was born into wealth, her family now lives in reduced circumstances. Her father is dead, her mother has abandoned her, and she’s living with her grandfather. Even so, she is determined to find her way in the world and find a place where she truly belongs.

What is Liam most passionate about?

Liam is passionate about fulfilling his family’s expectations and proving himself in his own right. He always knew that one day he would inherit Wyndcliff Estate, and he’s keenly aware that success rests on his shoulders.

What’s Evelyn’s greatest fear?

Evelyn, more than anything, fears being alone and without family. So that is what becomes her passion … carving out a corner of the world where she truly belongs.

Describe your book in 5 adjectives.

Atmospheric. Brooding. Unexpected. Suspenseful. Hopeful.

What was the working title?

Okay … my working title was REALLY creative.

Are you ready?

It was: Cornwall Book 3.

🙂

Share a favourite line or passage from the book that made you smile

There is one line in particular that struck me while I was writing it:

“We remember things the way we want to remember them. Just like we judge the present in the manner we wish to see it.”

Isn’t that true? How often do we remember something better or worse than it was? Or how often do we determine how we are going to think about our current situation without really considering all the facts? Just food for thought ….

Which character’s name was the hardest to choose? Why?

Well, since I had already written about Liam Twethewey, his name was pretty much set. But I actually did quite a bit of research to make sure Evelyn’s name fit the location and was appropriate for the time period. Who knew you could actually find a research book that dealt with the history of Cornish first names!

Which character did you enjoy writing most?

I really enjoyed writing Mary. Mary is a young child in this story who was involved in a shipwreck. It’s so interesting to shift perspective and experience the story’s events through the eyes of someone very young. Children are incredibly observant, and often they pick up on things differently than adults do. I love exploring that.

Which character gave you the most grief?

Quite honestly, Evelyn’s grandfather gave me the most grief. The reason I say this is because when I sat down to write the book, I intended to write him a completely different way, but the story kept tugging his character in a different direction. In order to keep him in line with his motivations, his storyline had to take several unexpected turns that resulted in major shifts I didn’t see coming!

What’s something that didn’t make it into the final copy?

In the early stages of the book, Evelyn’s friend Jenna played a much larger role. Over time and edits, however, her role become much smaller.

How gorgeous is the cover? Is it one of your favourites?

YES!

Hands down, yes.

I adore book covers that show the setting, and I am grateful that so many of mine do. But this cover … with the sea … it tells an entire story in just one picture, doesn’t it?

Share some books you have loved reading this year.

Reading and writing go hand in hand. In order to write, I first read a LOT of research. I have been reading for fun as well. I recently read Mimi Matthews’ Fair as a Star, and currently I am reading an early copy of Abigail Wilson’s The Vanishing at Loxby Manor. Both books are great!

What’s in your writing pipeline?

Right now I’m working on a brand new Regency series set in Yorkshire – the land of the Brontes! I’m writing the first book now. It doesn’t have a title quite yet, but it should soon!

Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever.

Relz Reviewz Extras
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Visit Sarah’s website
Buy at Amazon: The Light At Wyndcliff or Koorong