Interview with Phillipa Ashley – Author of An Endless Cornish Summer and many more

INTERVIEW WITH PHILLIPA ASHLEY

What was the inspiration behind An Endless Cornish Summer?

Most of my books come about from three elements coming together: the central idea, the characters and a location. The idea for a woman – Rose – who was looking for her bone marrow donor was actually suggested by my doctor daughter who used to work at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The setting came to me on a visit to the Helford Estuary in October 2018. The tranquil creeks, lush scenery and waterside community made an indelible impression on me and I started to imagine who might live in the cottages along the banks. After that, the characters just flew into my mind. I returned in 2020 to visit a local boatyard and went out on a yacht around the estuary for research. Sometimes I think I have the best job in the world. 

You have set a number of books in Cornwall; do you have a favourite part that you like to visit?

I love every part of Cornwall but if I had to choose a favourite, I’d say the far west near Land’s End. It’s so wild and unspoiled, with some stunning remote coves for wild swimming and beautiful views over the ocean. You can find a quiet spot even on the busiest summer’s day.

What encouraged you to first start writing fiction books?

I honestly never meant to write a book. I began in the most unexpected way after watching the TV series North and South in 2004. I suddenly had the urge to write a fanfic about the characters and joined an online creative writing group where we shared our stories for fun. Just over a year later, I’d written my first novel, Decent Exposure, which was published by Headline in 2006 and made into a Lifetime movie called 12 Men of Christmas. 

Do you have a set routine for writing? What do you do if the ideas stop flowing?

I generally start writing quite early – before seven am some days – and carry on until lunch. Then I try to get out of the house for exercise or to see friends, before working again before dinner. If I come to a thorny point in a novel, I try to move on to a different part or brainstorm with my agent or my group of close writer friends. Going for a walk or run often helps relax my mind and start the ideas flowing again. 

We love it when you create a series of books,  do you have plans for any more?

At the moment I’m at different stages with all three books in my new Falford series, which are set around a fictional estuary village in south Cornwall. An Endless Cornish Summer is the first, and I’m currently doing edits on A Special Cornish Christmas. I’ve also started my Summer 2022 novel, also set in Falford. After that I might write another book set in the Lake District, where the mountains and lakes are a great source of inspiration.

6. What make a perfect weekend for you?

Any weekend spent with my husband, daughter and her partner. In fact, we’ve just enjoyed a holiday in Cornwall, where we celebrated my parents’ Golden Wedding anniversary. We visited Lands’ End and arranged for photos of them to be taken by the signpost then had a barbecue overlooking Porthcurno beach. That was very special.

See our review of Phillipa Ashley’s new book – An Endless Cornish Summer