Finally getting to meet the gorgeous Jo in person...#major fan-girl moment (Berkelouw Books Mona Vale - April 2019)
I first fell in Josephine Moon's tantalising tales back in 2015, when I read her enchanting debut The Tea Chest https://josephinemoon.com/books/the-tea-chest/ As a tea devotee, this book hit all the right spots and her eagerly awaited her second novel, The Chocolate Promise https://josephinemoon.com/books/the-chocolate-promise-the-chocolate-apothecary/ literally had my mouth watering.
Josephine infuses her passion for food throughout several of her novels but also tackles serious issues like the decimation of our bee population https://josephinemoon.com/books/the-beekeepers-secret/ and the emotive issue of organ donation in her 2019 release The Gift of Life https://josephinemoon.com/books/the-gift-of-life/
She allows her readers to go armchair travelling. In Three Gold Coins https://josephinemoon.com/books/three-gold-coins/ she takes us to my dream destination of Italy and her latest delectable release is set in the breathtaking Cotswolds region of England.
Jo's characters draw your into their lives and leave you missing them when the story ends. Her wonderful stories are wrapped in the most exquisite covers, none more so than The Cake Maker's Wish.
And with a pastry chef for a daughter, the Persian Love Cake recipe in the back of the book will definitely be gracing a plate in my home soon.
So without further ado, I'll hand you over to Josephine.xx
Q1: What piece of advice do you wish you'd been given when working on your very first manuscript?
A: I know this isn’t the answer you were expecting, but I am glad I didn’t have any particular advice for The Tea Chest. I wrote it while I was living in a tiny rural town, quite disconnected from many people and social media was still reasonably young and not what it is today. I had no expectations that it would ever be published (I’d had nine manuscripts knocked down before then), so I wrote it free of the pressure of knowing anyone else would ever read it. In hindsight, it was such freedom to write without a thousand different external critical voices in my head. It was a beautiful experience.
Q2: If you could have written ANY book besides your own, what would it be?
A: Black Beauty.
Pretty as a picture...Jo's writing space is as divine as her book cover!
Q3: What is the first book that made you cry?
A: Charlotte’s Web.
Q4: Coffee, tea or ? (what is your favourite drink?)
A: Definitely tea, which is why I wrote The Tea Chest. I’m a hard-core masala chai fan, in particular. I learned to drink coffee after my son was born and I was juggling a tiny baby and the external pressures of book contracts. Coffee is for survival, tea is for love. (Tea is for love...you've got that right Jo. Shelley.xx)
Q5: What is the next book on your TBR (to be read) pile?
A: The Resilience Project by Australian author Hugh van Cuylenburg. I read quite a bit of non-fiction as well as fiction and so many people have raved about how good this is.
Q6: Choose one male & one female character from your novel. In a film adaptation, who would you love to see play them?
A: From The Cake Maker’s Wish, Helge from Norway would be played by Chris Hemsworth, and senior resident Madeline McCarthy would be played by Judi Dench.
Q7: Name one thing you couldn't live without?
A: Aside from the obvious (my family), I’m going to say animals. I physically ache if I’m disconnected from my furry family for any length of time.
'Sunshine is very special to me for many reasons, but not least of which is that she brings me an endless array of things from around the house that she feels might be useful for me while I'm writing. In this case it's a book by Anh Do, and let's face it, who wouldn't want his comic genius to lend an author a helping hand. Sunshine keeps me company when I write and lifts my spirits when I'm down. She is also a huge clown and makes me laugh often, which is a priceless gift.'
Q8: What is your dream holiday destination?
A: Hm, very tricky! There are so many great places I still want to get to, both in Australia and overseas. I’d like to go back to Ireland and Wales and I haven’t been to Scotland yet and I would love to see it in summer (only because I am a very sooky Queenslander who loves the sun).
Q9: If you had to choose a career besides writer, what would it be?
A: There are so many! My job and career resume is heavily diversified already but if I have to choose just one then think I’d like to be an educator at Australia Zoo.
Q10: How long does it take you to complete your first draft?
A: It invariably takes me six months to write a first draft, which is incredibly slow when you’re on a book-a-year deadline. The only exception has been The Beekeeper’s Secret, which took four months, and that was because the main character of Maria turned up every day with something to say. She was an absolute gift of a character, one who arrived fully formed and with a big story to tell.
'Life in the village isn’t always sweet and simple . . .
When single mum Olivia uproots her young son Darcy from their life in Tasmania for a new start in the English Cotswolds, she isn’t exactly expecting a bed of roses – but nor is she prepared for the challenges that life in the picturesque village throws her way.
The Renaissance Project hopes to bring the dwindling community back to life – to welcome migrants from around the world and to boost the failing economy – but not everyone is so pleased about the initiative.
For cake maker Olivia, it’s a chance for Darcy to finally meet his Norwegian father, and for her to trace the last blurry lines on what remains of her family tree. It’s also an opportunity to move on from the traumatic event that tore her loved ones apart.
After seven years on her own, she has all but given up on romance, until life dishes up some delicious new options she didn’t even know she was craving.
An uplifting and heartwarming story about the moments that change your life forever, human kindness and being true to yourself.'
Praise for Josephine Moon:
‘A mountain of heart, an abundance of soul and a banquet of mouth-watering food.’ Good Reading
‘You can’t go wrong with a book by Josephine Moon.’ Vanessa Carnevale
‘A delightful page-turner and a truly moving tale.’ Better Reading
Proud, official sponsor of Story Dogs, Australia www.storydogs.org.au/
Proud to sponsor an Australian student through The Smith Family www.thesmithfamily.com.au/
'Authors for Townsville' fundraising coordinator, 2019
'Authors for Farmers' fundraising coordinator, 2018
Thank you Jo for being my July 1st Author Stalker victim. xx
The Cake Maker's Wish is available through all leading bookstores and online.
If you would like to find out more about Josephine, you can find her here:
Website: josephinemoon.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JosephineMoonAuthor/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/josephine_moon/