AUTHOR NEWS FROM CAROLINE JAMES

What inspired the idea of Boomerville, a retreat designed for the ‘young at heart’?

Boomerville grew out of a country-house hotel in Cumbria that I once owned, which provided the perfect inspiration for a later-life retreat full of laughter, mischief and second chances.

What was the most fun scene to write at Boomerville?

Any scene featuring Hattie, the hotel’s irrepressible manageress, who simply cannot resist meddling in the guests’ lives, with the aim of improving them.

How did you approach writing a romance that celebrates love later in life?

I wanted to show that love doesn’t have an expiry date and can appear at any moment if you’re brave enough to embrace it.

What message do you hope readers take away about starting over at any age?

That it’s never too late to start again if you’re brave enough to walk through the next open door, no matter what has gone before.

If you could spend a weekend at Boomerville, which activity would you sign up for first?

Without hesitation, I’d visit the Shaman’s tepee and let him work his mysterious magic with his potions and lotions — though a weekend might not be long enough!