Interview with author of new romance release English Ivy, Betsy Talbot

Finally: Contemporary Romance for Women Over Forty! 

Ever Have to Choose Between Work and Love?

After years of working at the US Embassy in London, forty-two-year-old American Ivy Cross is desperate for change. She longs to recapture her adventurous spirit and spice up her life before this little rut turns into a gaping chasm. Madrid-based CEO Ruben Alegre both infuriates and intoxicates her, and if he only lived closer she'd consider risking her heart. When the opportunity for an incredible new job in Berlin arrives in the form of billionaire Christof Brandt—a sworn enemy of Ruben— she wonders if the offer is too good to be true. Her Late Bloomer friends are split down the middle, offering support but no clear decision. Will she find a future with Ruben? Start a new career in hip and gritty Berlin? She can’t have it both ways. There are no easy answers, but Ivy can't deny that her life is about to change in a very big way.
Note: The Late Bloomers Series of contemporary romance are standalone novels and do not have to be read in order. But they are more fun if you do!

Available to buy from the following sites....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   iBooks   Kobo   GPlay   Paperback

The Inspiration for This Book and Series

We sat down to talk with author Betsy Talbot about English Ivy, The Late Bloomers Series, and why she writes romance for women over forty.

BVB: What gave you the inspiration to write a romance series about five over-forty friends?
BT: Looking in the mirror! After reaching the ripe old age of forty myself, I began noticing that a lot of my books were about people younger or older than me. There were fewer stories of women in this stage of life, and I longed to read more about them. We have different needs and motivations than we did in our twenties and thirties, and I want entertainment that reflects that. It probably doesn’t hurt that my life took a profound upswing in my forties, and I wanted to celebrate this stage of life because of it!

BVB: What happened in your forties?
BT: When I was thirty-seven, my brother had a heart attack. A year later, a good friend suffered a brain aneurysm. Both of these incidents caused me to question what I was doing with my life. My husband and I asked each other what we’d change about our lives if we knew we wouldn’t make it to the age of forty. Without hesitation, we both said we’d like to travel the world. So in 2008, we began the two-year process of saving money and downsizing to two backpacks to travel the world. We left right before my fortieth birthday.

BVB: Your books revolve around travel. Is this because of your lifestyle?
BT: Yes and no. Yes, because I’ve had some crazy/scary/wonderful experiences around the globe, and this is a fun way to share them. But also because my characters are on the threshold of middle age, wondering what they will make of the second half of their lives. Change is the overriding them of my books, and there is nothing I know of to better facilitate change than to put yourself in a new environment. Ideas, habits, assumptions, and relationships all get a fresh look when you change your surroundings, and it helps me to tell the Late Bloomers stories when I take them out of their comfort zones.

BVB: What’s next for you?
BT: I’m already at work on Book Three: Tiger Lily. There are five books total in the series, and five short stories to go alone with them. I have my work cut out for me! I’m also enjoying hosting The Quickie Romance Podcast, where I narrate an excerpt from a popular romance book every week. One thing I love about the romance genre is the collaborative and supportive nature of the authors. There is a lot of cross-promotion and help that doesn’t seem to exist in other genres. It is a delight to be part of this thriving community.

BVB: Where can readers find more about your work?
BT: Readers can download a free adventure starring all five women of The Late Bloomer Series at my website, BetsyTalbot.com. While there, check out the past episodes of The Quickie Romance Podcast as well as the series for aspiring authors on How I Became a Romance Writer and the photo series Where She Does It, featuring the work spaces of romance writers.

The best way to take advantage of all the resources, including future stories, free books, and fun extras like my exotic travel photos, is to sign up for my email list on the home page. You’ll always get first peek at everything I produce.

BVB: Thanks so much for coming by to visit us at Beck Valley Books.

Readers, to order Betsy’s latest book, English Ivy, click here. Happy reading!

Sharon x

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