Blog Tour - Dreaming of Christmas by T A Williams

Today I am pleased to be taking part in Canelo's Blog Tour to celebrate the publication of T A Williams new release, Dreaming of Christmas.

It’s the dream Christmas: snow, mountains… and, er, an ex-boyfriend. But can Zoe still find love in the Alps?

Dumped on Christmas Eve by her long-term boyfriend, it's been a rough year for Zoe Lumsley. But then she gets an invitation she can’t refuse: an all expenses paid skiing holiday with old university friends.

The bad news: her ex, Grant, will be there with his new girlfriend. But so will her former flatmate Billy, the organiser, and in the meantime he’s done rather well for himself. As Christmas in the Alps approaches, it'll be great to see the old gang. Some more than others...

Perfect for readers of Tilly Tenant, Holly Martin and Philippa Ashley, this is the perfect magical Christmas getaway from the bestselling T.A. Williams.

T A Williams always writes fantastic books which are set in great settings, and this one is set in the Alps, a beautiful back drop for another of Trevor's fantastic stories. Dreaming of Christmas is a great festive read which will get readers into the festive spirit, wishing that they too could be in the Alps.

To celebrate the publication of Dreaming of Christmas, T.A. (Trevor) Williams  has joined me on my blog and talks about his latest book, Dreaming of Christmas and just how useful a dog can be to a writer.
 
   When I say a dog can be useful to a writer, I am not talking about the undeniable health benefits for us humans of having a dog and taking it for regular walks. Particularly for writers, it is essential not to stay glued to the computer all day long. However, what I’m referring to is how a non-speaking character can be of practical help to a writer. It’s not just as an homage to my dear departed black Labrador, Merlin, that there’s always a dog in my books.   

 First of all there are the walks. Nothing could be more normal than for the main (usually female in my books) character to take the dog for a walk. This offers the writer the opportunity to get into the heroine’s head without it seeming contrived or boring. She can stop for a break, sit on a rock and chat to the dog. There’s no shame involved, we’ve all done it. Yes, all right, dogs aren’t renowned for their insightful comments or witty repartee, but they are damn good listeners – a lot better than me, for example (ask my wife). One person going for a walk alone could easily be construed as depressing, but with the company of the faithful hound, it’s quite acceptable. And when you’re out for walks, you can stumble over secrets, overhear things and see stuff you aren’t meant to see. All very useful for the writer.   

 The dog is also a very good catalyst. What I mean by this is that the dog can make things happen. For example, it can run off and lead the heroine into uncharted territory, where she maybe bumps into the hunky hero. The dog can push our heroine into the hero’s arms or drag her away at the crucial moment. Dogs can also embarrass the characters by jumping onto laps, upsetting plates or farting under the table. The Labrador puppy in Dreaming of Christmas is Austrian and, as such, could only ever be called Arnie. He has a thing for chewing shoes, and while doing this he manages to trip Zoë, our heroine, propelling her into the arms of Billy.     

Dogs are excellent readers of mood. Anybody who has a dog will know that they sense if we are unhappy, excited or lonely. There’s something very reassuring about having a big dumb animal pad across the floor to rest its head on your knee and gaze at you with its big brown eyes, the very end of the tail wagging in silent sympathy. Dogs, they say, are good readers of character. A dog in a book who growls at one of the characters is an easy way for the author to cast doubt in the readers’ eyes as to just how good a person this might actually turn out to be.
   And dogs are funny. Apart from tripping people up, dogs can raise a smile by stealing food, sticking a cold, wet nose into embarrassing places or knocking things over. And don’t forget that dogs can appear at the most inopportune moments. For a writer, dogs are comic gold dust.    Dogs can also have the opposite effect. Everybody who has ever had a pet knows the heartache that can be caused by a sick or lost animal. Dogs in books can introduce pathos just as easily as mirth. In short, the dogs in my books are vital components.   

 I hope you like Arnie the Lab and that you enjoy Dreaming of Christmas. I had a lot of fun writing it and I hope that shines through.   


Thank you to Canelo and Trevor for inviting me to take part in the tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.