ON LOCATION
Heidi Swain discusses setting up the beginning of a novel about friends, linked by a much-loved book, and holidaying together in the place used for a book-to-film adaptation
Heidi Swain
Having written a total of fifteen books for my publisher, Simon & Schuster, over the last seven years, all of which fitted neatly into three different series, it came as something of a surprise when my editor asked if I would consider writing a standalone title.
My only experience of writing a standalone came from my time writing my debut, The Cherry Tree Café which, at the time, I had no idea would become the first book in the Wynbridge series.
As 2022 had already started with a raft of exciting challenges and celebrations – Ihad turned fifty, hit a deadline and moved house all on the same day in the spring – Idecided that one more for the list would make the year a truly memorable one and enthusiastically embraced the task!
Inspiration for The Book-Lovers’ Retreat landed courtesy of a comment made by my daughter while we were watching a Netflix series. I had fallen in love with one of the houses two of the characters lived in and my daughter told me that the property was available to rent, but was booked up for at least the next two years. An online search confirmed what she had said and, imagining myself staying there, the spark of the idea for my next book was born.