Thursday 21 April 2016

Blog Tour & Guest Post - One Moment at Sunset by Karen Aldous




Escape to the south of France with the irresistibly compelling new story from Karen Aldous – the only book you’ll need this summer!

Nothing will ever be the same again…

Evie Grant has spent two years hidden away in a quiet French village, longing to escape her beautiful villa with its blue-shuttered windows. Maybe this summer, the father of her child will keep his broken promises and return to whisk her away to another life. One way or another, Evie’s determined to stop feeling like his dirty little secret…

Yet when a mysterious stranger almost knocks Evie off her bicycle early one morning, her world begins to change in ways she never expected. Embarking on a painful journey of self-discovery, Evie begins to face her darkest fears and shatter her fragile dreams. But can she ever truly break free from her gilded cage and learn to love again?


Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/One-Moment-Sunrise-Karen-Aldous-ebook/dp/B01ARSC5RK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459592226&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+aldous



Themes - One Moment at Sunrise
The very first theme that my novel explores is loneliness. Once I began asking my character Evie why she felt so abandoned, I discovered her pain was due to isolation and powerlessness. Evie is an intelligent young woman raising a child in the south of France. She thought she was doing the right thing for her daughter by staying in a relationship with the father and trying to make a go of it. What she didn’t realise was how much she gradually came to depend on him and the depths that being alone could take her. Like so many young mother’s she felt that hapiness would naturally follow, but without the support of her partner and her family, that wasn’t the case.
The research I uncovered was interesting in that it suggested many of those who find themselve alone in the world yearn for love or friendship but once the emptiness sets in, is exacerbated further by avoidance of social situations or contact. It is the fear of being rejected further which apparently leads to seclusion which, if not recognised or addressed can manifest to a deeper level of depression. At first, I was keen to portray this significant part of my character’s suffering and how it affected her mind with detail of her emotions and what she was experiencing but, after writing the chapter, I couldn’t face taking a reader through such a dismally dark tunnel when the whole purpose of a novel is to escape.
What was encouraging was to discover that so much help is out there today compared to what used to be. Mental health is now widely recognised with not only books and the internet to help but cognitive therapies which allows sufferers to try out new social skills and begin to overcome their fears and mental blocks. Some sufferers also found that making friends on social media was beneficial and had completely turned their lives around. Unfortunately, my character didn’t have this access. Her partner denied her. He was also quite manipulative and controlling, playing on her weakness. Evie was in such a powerless state when I met her and for her that One Moment at Sunrise has such an impact on her future. I hope you enjoy Evie’s journey and discover for yourself how her journey ends.
You can buy Karen’s latest book:
You can follow Karen on:
Twitter: KarenAldous_


Karen Aldous enjoys village life on the edge of the north-downs in Kent with easy access to the buzz of London. Not only does she love the passive pleasures of reading and writing, she also craves the more active pursuits with her family and friends such as walking, cycling and skiing especially when they involve food and wine!

Karen gets much of her inspiration from her travels and if she had to choose, France, Greece, Switzerland, Italy and the USA would be her favourites. However, wherever she goes, she discovers a new character emerges in 'Karen's World'. She likes to write about strong independent women who can direct their own lives - but struggle to control them! And, of course there's always a gorgeous hunk or two!




Giveaway

This giveaway is for a £15 Amazon Voucher and a copy of the book as first prize and a copy of the book as second prize.






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