The Happy Home for Broken Hearts - Rowan Coleman

(Note to reader: I’ve TWO COPIES of ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’ to give away and all details can be found at the end of this post)

Ellie Woods spends her days immersed in the escapist pages of the romantic novels she lovingly edits. But her reality is somewhat less rose-tinted. Once upon a time, Ellie had her ‘happily ever after’ moment when she married her beloved Nick, but fifteen years later her husband’s tragic death leaves her alone with their soon-to-become-a-teenager son, faced with a mountain of debt, and on the verge of losing the family home.

On the brink of bankruptcy Ellie finally succumbs to her sister’s well-meant bullying and decides to rent out some rooms. And all too soon the indomitable Allegra with her love for all things Lavender, Sabine on secondment from Berlin and estranged from her two-timing husband, and unreconstructed lads’ mag aficionado Matt enter her ordered but fragile existence - each with their own messy life in tow…

Out today (Happy Publication Day!), ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’ is an ideal summer read, one that manages to find that perfect balance between humour and heart. I loved the characterisation, I loved the emotional depth and poignancy, I loved the humour and I especially loved the nods to the publishing world. This emotionally satisfying novel is really very ace and a perfect anecdote to a wet summer day.

It’s no secret, bestselling author Rowan Coleman is a super talented writer and I absolutely, wholeheartedly and utterly recommend ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’ to you.

You can buy ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’ here.

Where did you find your inspiration for ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’? I started with the character - Ellen Woods, who appeared in a short story I wrote for a women’s magazine. I thought she was interesting, so I took her out of that story and put her into another situation. My inspiration concerning the plot really came out of the blue, I was writing another book entirely when I realised something quite fundamental about Ellen that changed the direction of the book.

Do you believe in ‘happily ever after’? I want to - but its very rare that one of my books will end that way, nice and neatly with all the ends tied up. I tried to do that with ‘The Accidental Family’ - for the readers who care so much about the characters, more than for me. But since then I’ve had tons of people asking me what happens next and will be there be another book - so although I long for a happy ending, I’m always interested in what happens to Cinderella next - hence my second novel After Ever After.

Do you plan out the entire novel before you start writing? I do loosely - I always say its easy to get lost if you don’t have a road map, but the most fun about writing is when its really flying and you take a turn you didn’t expect - which is what happened with ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’.

How long does a first draft of a novel take you to write? Between three and five months - which might not seem like a long time but I spend a long time thinking about the characters, which I count as work!

This is your eighth novel. Do you have an idea for your ninth or even your tenth? And do you ever share early drafts of your writing or is your agent the first person to read it? I’m writing my ninth at the moment, and I had the idea for it about two years ago. I have an idea what I want to write about for my tenth, and also an idea about a completely new style of book which I’d probably write under another name. I don’t let ANYONE read it until I give it to my agent and editor.

Do you have any top tips on self-editing your work? I’d say don’t get obsessed with getting one bit right before you move onto the next. Quite often I can’t fix the start of a book until I’ve written the end, so no matter how much you might want to perfect one section, write the whole book - then edit.

If you weren’t a (fabulous) writer, what would you like to be (when you grow up)? I would like to be an opera singer - or the other night I dreamt I was a singer in a Parisienne Jazz band. Of course the fact I can’t sing is a BIT of a drawback.

And, just in case it has changed since I last asked, do you in any way know Simon Cowell? I do NOT know Simon Cowell BUT I did have a burger at the next table along from David Hasslehoff (sp?) who does know Si - so we’re practically besties!

I have TWO COPIES of ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’ to give away! All you have to do is leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) August 24, then I’ll pop all names in a mug and ask a small child to select TWO winners. This competition is open to all.

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About the author: Rowan Coleman worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years before winning Company Magazine Young Writer of the Year in 2001. Her first novel GROWING UP TWICE was published in 2002 and was a WHS Fresh Talent winner. Since then Rowan has written eight novels for women including THE ACCIDENTAL MOTHER, THE BABY GROUP, and THE ACCIDENTAL WIFE. Rowan has also written the RUBY PARKER series for girls, about thirteen year old child star Ruby Parker. Recently Rowan has published the first novel in a paranormal trilogy NEARLY DEPARTED under the name Rook Hastings. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her family. You can visit Rowan at her website, on Twitter and on Facebook.