Joan Fallon
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Thank you Ernest Hemingway

27/9/2014

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I have often been asked who was the author who most influenced my writing and invariably I have fudged the answer; I've read everything from Tolstoy to William Boyd, I'd say.  And that is true; I have been a voracious reader all my life, something that comes from being an only child in the pre-digital age.  It is only recently that I have come to realise that the writer to whom I owe the most gratitude is Ernest Hemingway,  Now I am not a heavy drinking (not really), smoking, womanising, macho man but I have always loved his sparse, carefully worded and sensitive prose and unwittingly I have tried to emulate it.
A short while ago I met an exceptional woman; she was an American living in Spain with her husband.  She had contacted me through my web page because she had enjoyed one of my books and as she was living close by, wondered if I'd like to meet for coffee.  We spent an enjoyable morning, sitting in a cafe, overlooking a very blue Mediterranean Sea and talking about books and more importantly about Ernest Hemingway.  She had her own website; it was called the Hemingway Project and was dedicated to all and everything about Ernest Hemingway, her hero.  She had attracted all kinds of followers, many of whom had new tales to tell of Hemingway and photos and letters to share with her and her readers.
As we were talking I realised to my shame that I had not read any Hemingway since my teens; I couldn't even go home and take down a copy to refresh my memory.  As a teenager all my reading was from books taken from my favourite place, the local library; that was where I learnt of the great writers: Steinbeck, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Maupassant, Balzac, Hardy, Scott Fitzgerald and many, many others.  So when I got home that evening I went straight to Amazon and ordered the Hemingway books that I had loved in my youth: 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' was top of the list.
Just recently I have been reading a wonderful book by Donna Tart; her writing is vivacious, colourful, all-encompassing and riveting.  I couldn't put the book down, even though it was eight hundred pages long and made my arms ache holding it.  But as I read it I knew that I could never hope to emulate her; it was like admiring a beautiful dress on another woman but knowing that it would not suit you.  It wasn't until I started re-reading 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' that I suddenly realised where my fascination with Spain and its history had come from and who had been the greatest influence, albeit without my knowing it, on my writing.
So thank you Ernest Hemingway and thank you Allie Baker.  Get well soon.
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Researching the novel THE SHINING CITY

6/8/2014

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I knew from the start that writing a novel set in Moorish Spain would take a lot of work.  I only had a general idea about what life was like in al-Andalus and most of that was really only relevant to Granada.  The Moors had been in Spain for over seven hundred years, from the time of the Moorish invasion in 711 AD until the capture of Granada in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs.  There had been many rulers and many forms of government.
I was intrigued by the ruined palace of Madinat al-Zahra, just outside Córdoba, which was built between 936  and 947 AD and I decided to set my novel in the forty years from 947 to 987.  A short period of time, in the scale of things and therefore much easier to research, or so I thought.  Not so.  Writing a historical novel requires great attention to detail and when you are completely unfamiliar with that period, it requires a great deal of research and discipline to get even the smallest details correct.
How could I make my characters come to life if I didn't know how they behaved, what their homes were like, what they wore, what they ate and even how they ate.  I had to learn about the royal court as well as the common people, what it was like to be a soldier, a slave, an artisan.  Most of my research was done by visiting Moorish sites and museums, reading books on the subject and, of course, trawling the internet.  One of the first things I learned was that life in Moorish Spain changed dramatically over seven hundred years - what was true in Granada in the year 1400 was not the same  in Córdoba seven hundred years earlier.  I had to focus my research.
Then of course came the hard part - what to leave out.  I had to include enough research to bring the period to life without boring my reader.  After all this was a novel about love and adventure, not a history book.

THE SHINING CITY is available in paperback and as an ebook

SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDITOR'S PICK (HISTORICAL NOVELS SOCIETY REVIEW)
The Shining City by Joan Fallon is a beautifully told story set in tenth-century Spain which focuses on a city in southern Spain that flourished for a brief time only: Madinat al Zahra.

Built by the caliph, it becomes a rival to the capital, Cordoba. The book covers many aspects of the times: history, culture, religion and day-to-day life. Giving great attention to detail, Fallon depicts court etiquette with the same confidence as minor details, such as bakery and food preparation. I knew comparatively little about Spain under Muslim rule and found myself easily and entertainingly educated.

The characters are well chosen and developed, likeable and driven by their dreams and ambitions. This is a story of the little man seeking his fortune with insights into the rules of Muslim life, life at court, slavery, loyalty, betrayal, forbidden love and human tragedy.

The book is very well written, perfectly paced and atmospheric. It feels authentic, has a good story and a fascinating topic.

The only thing I can criticise are the colours chosen for the cover which makes the writing difficult to read, and maybe the chosen font size and type inside the book could be improved? A very enjoyable read.

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HOLIDAY READS

1/5/2014

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Welcome to 'Last Minute Books' - a blog tour featuring a number of authors who would like to check that you've thought of absolutely everything for your holidays. Suitcase packed? Shoes, sandals, trainers, jeans, shorts, dresses, trousers, blouses, shirts......... sunglasses.... suntan lotion....  best smile? And, of course, forgive us do..... But your holiday reads too? Don't forget your reading device. You might prefer printed books but don't forget to pack that kindle or kobo - if that's what you prefer.


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Sit back, rest, relax, enjoy the sunshine and let your mind slip away. It's holiday time. 



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Let's see what questions the tour master has for our favourite authors and we'll try and find some book recommendations for you. Indeed, all our author friends have to answer the same questions - But are their books the same? Let's see what JOAN FALLON has to say about holidays.




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Q. Where would you recommend for a holiday, Joan Fallon?

A. I love Spain.  It is country with so much variety, good wine and great food.  I particularly like Galicia, in the north-east corner of the country.  The countryside is very green and the coastline is stunning with everything from towering cliffs to rocky inlets and estuaries and lots of coves with sandy beaches.  The seafood is the best in Spain and the locally produced white wine, Albariño is magnificent.  It is the perfect place for walking, cycling, golf and beach holidays.

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Q. What kind of holiday do you particularly enjoy?

A. I like to move around, travelling from place to place by car, exploring the countryside in a slow, relaxing way.   For a holiday to be successful, part of the pleasure is to enjoy the local food and wine.  I also like to be able to take my dogs with me, so prefer the countryside to the town.  Having said that, I also enjoy 'city breaks' and the cities in Spain have so much to offer.

Q. If you could pack someone special into your suitcase who would it be and why?

A. Only my husband.

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Q. How do you relax on holiday or are you one for rushing around seeing the sights?

A.  I have to admit that I find it hard to relax and even when that is my stated intention I find myself rushing about to see something new.



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Q. Which books would you recommend for this year's holiday and why?

A. I would recommend The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. This delightful book transports the reader to the Japanese countryside in the years before World War II. The main protagonist is a young Chinese man, recuperating from TB in a remote part of Japan. While he is living there, Japan invades his country. He floats in a world of calm and serenity, blocking out the horrors that are occurring in China, and makes some unlikely friends. The people that he meets change his view of the world. Gail Tsukiyama writes very evocatively in a slow, melodic style. Not for everyone but if you are someone who likes to savour your books slowly, you will enjoy this one.

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A quite different book, but equally readable is  My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, the first book in her Neapolitan trilogy.   
This is a very enjoyable book which takes the reader into the world of post-war Naples. Beautifully written and well translated, this book leaves you wishing to know more about the characters and especially the two friends who are the protagonists of the story.



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And my third choice is Capital by John Lanchester.  This is set in modern day London and is the story of the families who live in one particular place Pepys Road.  It is an excellent read, lucid and fast moving. Lanchester is a wonderful observer of people. A highly recommended read for anyone who knows London or thinks they do.

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Thanks for taking part in this chat. Have a great holiday everyone. Now don't forget your last minute books. But why don’t you take a short trip with me through cyber space and CLICK on  the following AUTHORS ON TOUR to see what they recommend for a good holiday read.

Jerrie Alexander 
Warren Bell 
J G Harlond 
Khalid Muhammad
Corinne Champagne 
Paul Anthony  


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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY FAYRE

10/3/2014

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Being an ex-pat living on Spain's Costa del Sol, it's nice from time to time to get together with other ex-pats and the Costa Women's group is great for that.  It's an opportunity to meet women from all walks of life and of a wide range of nationalities - Brits, Scandinavians, Finns, Germans and, of course, Spanish.  Last Saturday was International Women's Day and Costa Women helped to organise a charity fair at the Tamisa Hotel in Mijas.  It was to raise money for the Mijas Women's Refuge - a worthy cause.  It was well attended by both visitors and participants.  What a wealth of talent there is along this coast - there were women who painted, who made beautiful knitwear and others who made jewellery, beside those that baked cakes and made wonderful jams and chutneys.  The cake stalls were my favourite and I couldn't resist buying a few delicious cup cakes to take home for tea - each one different and a work of art.  
I had gone along to the fair as a participant, with two other local authors, Jane Harlond and Lorraine Mace, to display my books in Authors' Corner, as we nicknamed it.  We had plenty of interest in our work and chatted to a lot of nice people; we got rid of quite a few bookmarks and business cards but actually made few sales.  Chatting later we came up with two observations - most people like to buy ebooks these days; they find them more convenient and cheaper to buy.  The other observation was more surprising - at least half the women that we spoke to did not read.  Yes they read a book if they were on holiday but most had neither the time nor the inclination to pick up a book, never mind buy one.  It left us both surprised and depressed.  Lifelong readers of the written word, we found it hard to understand that not everyone felt the same as we did.
The first book I ever published was Daughters of Spain, a true account of what life was like for women in Spain during the Franco years.  As I chatted to the women who stopped at our Authors' Corner, I felt how appropriate it was to be there on International Women's Day and how far we women had travelled since then.


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2 new book reviews from HNS INDIE REVIEW

2/2/2014

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THE ONLY BLUE DOOR

HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY INDIE REVIEW January 2014


Most of us are familiar with child evacuation during World War 2, but I wonder how many know about child migrants who were sent to South Africa, Australia and Canada to avoid danger? The Only Blue Door follows the story of Maggie, Billy and Grace, siblings who become victims of the good intentions of people believing them to have been orphaned during the Blitz. Shipped to Australia to start a new life, the children are separated and so begins Maggie’s struggle to prove her mother still lives and to bring the family back together.Based on actual events, this beautifully written story had me gripped and emotionally attached to the characters and their struggles. Apparently well researched, it provides some insight into the long term impact of the events unfolding between 1939 and 1945, without being clichéd. The tireless work and battles with ‘red tape’ of the organisations involved in evacuation and subsequent repatriation of thousands of children over this period, is aptly represented in the story.

The writing style is engaging and accurate, with fully rounded and believable characters. I will not only be recommending this book but also looking to read more of this authors work. Not every story has a happy ending, but maybe this one does?

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SPANISH LAVENDER

Reviewed by the Historical Novel Society Indie Review January 2014


In January 1937, Elizabeth makes the decision to stay in Civil War-torn Spain while her family returns to England. Her decision was, initially, made so that she could photographically record the impact of the war on Spain and her people. Finding herself alone in Malaga, she makes friends with two men, one who would be the love of her life, the other she would later marry. Seventy years later, a secret is unravelled by her granddaughter and a world of lies unearthed.

Spanish Lavender is, first and foremost, a love story. A naïve Elizabeth alone in a devastated city finds friendship and love with a young Spaniard by the name of Juan. When he becomes injured on the road to Almeria, he is taken to hospital but with no room for either Elizabeth or their mutual friend, Alex, they are separated and Elizabeth believes Juan dead.

Tragic, uplifting and beautiful, Spanish Lavender doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, but neither does it concentrate on them. It is vital to remember that Spanish Lavender is a story of love.

The final third of the book suddenly leaps forward by seventy years, and here we meet Kate, the grandchild of Elizabeth. Initially a little confusing, this section helps answer some of the questions raised in the earlier section.  A riveting read and one for reading while wishing for warmer weather!

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The Christmas Blog Tour sponsored by Paul Anthony Associates

14/10/2013

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Welcome to the Christmas Blog Tour: A group of authors entertaining their readers with some thrilling tales of fiction. Let's find out what they are up to at the moment. Santa Claus wants to ask some questions. Indeed, they’ve all been asked the same questions as they introduce themselves and their work. So, let’s hear what they have to say. First up is JOAN FALLON

Q. Whereabouts do you live, Joan?


A. I’m very lucky; I live in one of the nicest places you could wish for - two minutes from the sea, in the sleepy village of Benajarafe in southern Spain.  It’s the perfect place for a writer to live and work.  And best of all, you can eat your Christmas dinner outside on the terrace - no snow and no snowmen.  


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Q. Would you describe yourself as a full time writer or do you have another job?

A. I don’t have another job - I used to be a teacher but my only profession these days is writing.  I spend, on average, 20 - 30 hours a week either writing or promoting my books.  Of course, if I’m in the middle of a book, I don’t like to break off and so end up working more hours.  I prefer to work in the morning when my mind is fresh and keep the afternoons and evenings for leisure time and family.

Q. How do you spend your leisure time? 

A. I play golf at our local golf club.  I used to be very serious about my golf but I now find that it takes me away from my writing so I limit myself to one game a week.  I like to walk my dogs; I read a lot and spend time with friends.  I’m also very keen on the cinema and TV dramas (I think I would like to try my hand at script writing one day).  Living where we do, we usually get quite a few friends visiting us during the year and it’s nice to take them out and show them the area.  At least once a year we also make a point of travelling to some part of Spain that we haven’t visited before - and trying the wine and local dishes.  I am also very interested in local history and many things I discover end up in my novels.

Q. Name three people you would like to entertain for Christmas dinner and why?

A.  Hilary Mantell because I’d like to pick up some writing tips from her and because she looks like she has a good appetite and would enjoy Christmas dinner.

Johnny Depp because he is handsome, a great actor and I would imagine a very entertaining dinner guest.

John Pilger, journalist and author because he would be a stimulating conversationalist and keep us awake after the Christmas pudding.


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Q. If you could live anywhere in the world this Christmas, where would it be?
 
A.  Venice - I think spending Christmas Eve in a gondola, drinking champagne and seeing the city would be magical.

Q. If you had one Christmas wish, what would it be?

A.  I have quite a few unrealistic ones but one, that has at least a slight possibility of being granted, is to have all our family together for Christmas dinner (and someone else to cook it).

Q. Describe yourself using only three ‘Christmas’ words.

A. This is hard - I am not really a Christmassy person.  Words like jolly and jovial don’t apply to me.  The best I can do is sparkling (especially in congenial company),  reflective (because Christmas is a time to look back as well as forward) and hospitable (because I like to organise a good party.)


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Q. What makes Christmas special for you? 

A  Having the family together and watching the children enjoy themselves.


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PictureSPANISH FRIENDS ENJOYING CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Q. What is your favourite childhood memory of Christmas?


A. That’s difficult because the memories have a way of running into each other.  I would say it was probably when I was very young and was so excited that Father Christmas had eaten the mince pie and drunk the brandy that my parents had left out for him - too young to realise that he would never have fitted down our narrow chimney!

Q. What is the worst Christmas you have ever experienced?

A. That is a sad one - it was the first Christmas after my son died.  We tried to make Christmas as happy as usual for the sake of my daughter and our parents, who always spent Christmas Day with us, but it was hard.  Christmas is the time when everyone thinks of their loved ones and the happy times they have shared.  When one of them is missing it is heartbreaking.


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Q. Are you currently published for Christmas or do you have a ‘work in action’ you can tell us about?

A. My latest published book is THE ONLY BLUE DOOR.

Q. Tell us about your work and what influenced you to write in this exciting genre?

A. It is the story of three English children who become separated from their mother during the Second World War and are wrongly identified as orphans.  They are sent to Australia as child migrants - the two girls go to an orphanage in Melbourne and the boy is sent to a farm school in Western Australia.  It is a sad story based on actual events but despite all the hardships that they face, they manage to pull through.  The main character, a girl called Maggie, desperately tries to find their mother and reunite the family.
There is not much about Christmas in the book except that the only way they can count the years they have been in the orphanage is by counting the number of Christmases that have passed.

Q  Do you have a particular character that figures consistently or are you in the stage of developing a lead character?

A. I suppose Maggie is the lead character but her mother, Irene and her brother, Billy also have major roles to play.

Q. Where can we find out more about your work? 

A. You can find out more about me on my web page: www.joanfallon.co.uk and my books are listed on Amazon:

www.amazon.co.uk

www.amazon.com

They are also on Smashwords and listed on Goodreads.

Q. And where can we follow and support you on social media sites?

A. I have two Twitter accounts: @joan_fallon which is to do with writing and  @notesonspain which is all about things Spanish.

I am also on Facebook and Linked-in


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Q. Santa Claus thanks you for taking part in this interview, JOAN FALLON and wishes you good luck with your writing in the years ahead.

A. Thank you. Can I invite you to meet my friends in this wonderful world of writing? Just click on the names below and you’ll find yourself reading a different set of answers to the same questions. Please support my friends and fellow authors by visiting their sites and checking out their contribution. Thank you for joining me on my blog tour.

PS You do believe….. Don’t you?   Naturally

1. AMY METZ

2. MARIA SWAN 

3. JENNIFER DEGL 

4. JEAN REINHARDT

5. CERI LONDON

6. MEG JOHNSTON

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Interview on Mijas 3.40 TV

20/6/2013

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Last week I drove to Fuengirola to meet Karen McMahon, an interviewer with the Mijas International section of Mijas 340 TV.  This excellent local television channel serves both Spanish and foreign residents on the Costa del Sol.  Karen's weekly programme is varied and entertaining so I was flattered to have been invited to take part.  
As usual I overestimated the time it would take me to get to the studio and arrived an hour early.  I always calculate how long it will take to make the journey, add on half an hour for finding the place and another half an hour for traffic hold-ups, punctures, breakdowns, emergency stops, police traps etc.  None of which have ever happened, so far, but one can't be too careful. Consequently I usually always find myself arriving far too early and have to look for a local bar to hide in until it is time to present myself, exactly on time and not looking too eager.  However there was no obvious bar or cafe in the area, except the one in the studio itself.  It was far too hot to sit in the car for an hour and anyway, it would have looked a bit suspicious.  I didn't want anyone to think I was on a stake-out.  So I sauntered up to the bar and ordered a coffee.  This was obviously the staff canteen and, as it was lunchtime, people were coming in for their lunch, which by the way looked excellent.  I could hide here, in plain sight, I told myself.  However it didn't take long for the waitress to recognise me as a foreigner and not an employee of 3.40. 
 'Have you come to see Karen?' she asked. 
 'Yes, but my appointment is not until 4pm,' I answered.  
'I'll go and tell her that you're here,' the woman said with a smile.
My cover was blown.  A couple of minutes later, my charming host arrived and sat down beside me.  We went through the questions and the procedure for the interview and then straight into the studio to do the filming.
I have done a few TV appearances before, once as a guest on This is Your Life and another time as a guest on the Carol Vorderman show, (Steve Redgrave, a friend of many years, was the subject on both occasions) but they had both been a few years ago, so I was slightly nervous.  I needn't have been.  After the technician accidentally dropped the body mike down the front of my dress, I giggled, relaxed and was ready for anything.
It was an enjoyable experience and I was very grateful that Karen had invited me to talk about how and why I had decided to become a writer.  

To see the interview click on http://www.mijascomunicacion.org/index.php/340-television or watch it on Facebook


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    Joan Fallon is a writer and novelist living in Spain.

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