by Lisa Swift | 11 Dec 2020 | News
Gracie Taylor is a pen name for Lisa Swift, who also writes as Mary Jayne Baker. This is her first historical novel
Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has acquired World All Language rights (including dramatic) to a new novel by Gracie Taylor in a deal with Laura Longrigg at MBA Literary Agents.
Titled Edie’s Home for Strays in the UK and Edie’s Home for Orphans in North America, the World War Two story was originally inspired by the true story of Ferne Animal Sanctuary set up by the Duchess of Hamilton, who realised that with so many going to war, a lot of animals lacked homes to take care of them.
Tilda McDonald, Senior Commissioning Editor at Avon said: ‘I cried a lot of happy tears reading Edie’s Home for Strays, which is a brilliantly uplifting, heart-warming Home Front read that will appeal to all animal lovers. Avon are proud and delighted to publish it.’
Gracie Taylor grew up in rural West Yorkshire. After university she spent time in several different cities, but eventually returned to settle in the Dales. Gracie Taylor is a pen name for author of romantic comedies Mary Jayne Baker, and uplifting women’s fiction Lisa Swift, who also won the RNA’s Romantic Comedy of the Year Award 2020. This is her first historical novel.
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by Lisa Swift | 10 Feb 2020 | News, Ramblings
I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for my second book as Lisa Swift, The School of Starting Over! The blurb is given below.
Nell’s going back to school… but now she’s learning lessons of the heart
Reception class teacher Nell Shackleton has a plan. At least, she had until she arrived at her new home of Humblebee Farm, a dilapidated farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors. But so what if the roof’s full of holes, the back door’s hanging off and there’s a sheep in the front room? Because sometimes a new beginning means starting at the bottom… right? Xander Scott is one of the youngest headteachers Leyholme Primary School has ever had. But managing over-zealous parents and their semi-feral kids proves a tricky task for shy Xander – as does keeping his mind on the job when his feelings for the new Reception teacher become more than strictly professional… At 43, Nell’s new friend Stevie Madeleine has given up on love. After losing her wife, Stevie’s decided that her four-year-old daughter Milly and cocker spaniel Red are the only girls she needs in her life. That is, until larger-than-life dog-walker Deb arrives on the scene. But will the secrets of Stevie’s past stop her new romance dead in its tracks? Meeting Xander and Stevie brings joy back into Nell’s life – but when old secrets start to surface, there may be some hard lessons to learn for them all… A gorgeously uplifting and hilarious romantic comedy that will delight fans of Milly Johnson, Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.
