What is Call It Love all about?
Call It Love is the second instalment in my Speak Its Name series. When I wrote the first story, To Light A Fire, I didn’t even think it would be a series. To get the chance to revisit the characters after the bombshell ending of the first story was a treat.
To Light A Fire was written years ago and shelved while I focused on other things. Fast forward to 2020 and I submitted it to Pride Publishing on a whim. It was the best thing I've done in a long time.
As we were editing the first story, my editor suggested there was potential for more. As soon as it was suggested, I instantly agreed. I wanted to know more about anti hero Charlie Fitzwilliam. He wasn’t the main character in the first book but he seemed to demand attention whenever he came onto the page.
Charlie’s story was left up in the air after To Light A Fire. For those who haven’t read it, I won’t spoil things but let’s say a cat was out of the bag. Call It Love picks straight up where we left off. Charlie has been summoned to Portugal by his father, Earl Fitzwilliam. He is there with Charlie’s mother and two sisters, sweet talking a Portuguese port manufacturer into investing in the family business. After World War 1 a lot of big stately homes were forced to close, and the aristocracy were desperate to keep things on an even keel.
Things don’t go all that well in Portugal and Charlie finds himself on the run. As luck would have it, he meets handsome bookseller, Michael Leonard. The course of this young love doesn’t run smoothly, and Charlie must draw on all the reserves he has to make things work.
Writing historical drama is hard work. There is so much fact checking that goes on it can be hard to keep things flowing. I have no idea how people managed before the internet. I seemed to be googling all the time.
I loved writing this story. It allowed me to really get into the heads of the characters. Charlie might be brash and spoilt but I do like him. Mild mannered Michael is perfect foil for him too. I hope you enjoy it too.
Call It Love is out on 1 March.