My guest on Patricia’s Pen today is the lovely author, Tania Crosse, who writes the most gorgeous books. Tania’s here today to chat about her writing so without further ado it is over to Tania.
My Writing
Tania Crosse
Hello, everyone! And a huge thank you to Patricia for having me as her guest today!
Let me start by telling you a little about myself. I’d wanted to be an author since I was a child. I’d always written stories, but it wasn’t until my family had grown up that I had time to pursue my dream. On a visit to Morwellham Quay in Devon, once the greatest copper port in Queen Victoria’s Empire, I experienced several flash visions of Victorian characters, so vivid that they inspired what became my debut novel. I then turned my attention to nearby Dartmoor, its wild, savage beauty and fascinating history. Just imagine living in this unforgiving, brutal landscape in days gone by! So I set about writing a series of exciting, dynamic tales to interpret different aspects of local history, all packed full of poignant drama.
Originally published between 2004 and 2014, I’m delighted that the series has recently been re-released by Joffe Books, with two titles reaching Amazon Number One Best-seller! Each book can be read individually, but it’s best to follow them in order if possible.
Let me tell you a little about Book One, THE HARBOUR MASTER’S DAUGHTER. In the late 1860s, Morwellham is facing a devastating era of change that mirrors the troubled coming of age that Rebecca, spirited daughter of the harbour master, must experience. It is both a passionate and, at times, harrowing love story, and a tale of intrigue and deceit among a community already fighting for its survival. As Rebecca struggles to secure her own future, she discovers the port is in jeopardy from the same enemy and she alone can save it.
In Book Two, THE RIVER GIRL, the young heroine, Elizabeth, is brought up on her uncle’s lowly tenant farm on Dartmoor. The subject of jealousy, obsession and revenge, can she ever be in charge of her own destiny or will she remain a hostage of her past? Even the man she comes to love holds a dark secret, and they each have to face their demons in a terrifying climax.
The sagas that followed are based on different aspects of the area’s history, the clues being in the titles! We have THE GUNPOWDER GIRL, THE QUARRY GIRL and THE RAILWAY GIRL, before we move from the Victorian era to WWI with THE WHEELWRIGHT GIRL and THE AMBULANCE GIRL. But there are also two Dartmoor stories set in 1950s, LILY’S JOURNEY and HOPE AT HOLLY COTTAGE, currently published by Allison and Busby.
But it doesn’t end there. I went on to write four 20th Century sagas for Aria Fiction, set in London & the south-east: NOBODY’S GIRL, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, THE CANDLE FACTORY GIRL and major-award winning THE STREET OF BROKEN DREAMS. So, what next? Well, I’m currently writing a saga that starts in Ireland before moving to Plymouth and going through the Blitz and beyond. Quite a marathon task! But do you know what? I just love the challenge!
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About Tania Crosse
Tania Crosse was born in London, but at a young age, moved to Surrey where her love of the countryside took root. She wanted to be an author since childhood, but after obtaining a degree in French Literature, life took over. It wasn’t until her children were older that she began writing seriously. She has now had published nine historical novels set on her beloved Dartmoor, while The Street of Broken Dreams, the last of four Twentieth Century sagas set in London and the south east, won Best Saga in the 2020 awards of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Two of her Devon titles have obtained Best Selling status on Amazon.
Links
Patricia M Osborne 