Café-ing – Misty Mornings at The
Potting Shed
Many
thanks to Rachel for inviting me to her fabulous blog, to chat about my latest
novel – Misty Mornings at The Potting Shed – the third book in
#thepottingshed series.
Following
on from Frost Falls at The Potting Shed and Bluebell Season at The
Potting Shed, this autumnal story introduces a new facility to the Devon
based garden centre – the Forget Me Not Café.
I’m
not a terribly good gardener, but I do love being around plants, whether in my
own garden, in the countryside, or in a garden centre. These days, within most
garden centres, there lurks a café of some sort – and if there is one thing I
love more than being surrounded by plants – it’s being able to enjoy a good cup
of coffee while being surrounded by plants.
And
if that coffee is accompanied by a scone…all the better!
Prior
to the café opening at The Potting Shed, it’s manager, Jo, ran a refreshment
stand from his bright orange VW camper van in the garden centres grounds. Now,
as Misty Mornings begins, Jo and Maddie (The Potting Shed’s owner) are
celebrating their first week of the Forget Me Not café being open – and Jo
being safe from the rigours of British weather as he works.
Blurb
Don't miss out on the third
lovely book in the brand new series by #1 Kindle bestselling author Jenny Kane.
Welcome back to The Potting Shed! As
Maddie and Sabi re-open the doors of their family-run garden centre. Business
is booming, and it's time to give back to the community that has kept The
Potting Shed afloat, by opening the Forget-Me-Not dementia café.
But, as the doors to the café open,
Sabi is offered the chance of a lifetime, that could take her away from The
Potting Shed for weeks, café manager Jo's frail, elderly mother is taken ill,
and Maddie's partner, Ed, takes a job in a faraway city just when Maddie needs
him more than ever. A new member of staff is desperately required – who will
join Sara, Jo and Ivan as the busy autumn season fast approaches?
Within the opening chapters of Misty
Mornings, Maddie and the team are considering how they can give something back
to the community that has helped them grow from a small nursery to a thriving
garden centre. It is Jemima – known as Jem – who has an idea that appeals to
both Maddie and Jo – but could it be an idea that Jo comes to regret? …
Here’s an extract from Misty Mornings
at The Potting Shed to whet your appetite…
‘You know your niece is a
genius, don’t you?’
Maddie hadn’t taken more than a single step into the
café when Jo announced Jemima’s brilliance across the room.
‘Of course she is.’ Maddie’s eyes twinkled. ‘Her
parents are very clever, and her aunt, well…’
A giggling Jemima waved from the other side of the counter.
‘Thanks, Aunt Maddie!’
‘What particular act of genius has Jem dreamt up this
morning?’
Jo paused in the act of collecting up stray cake
crumbs with a damp cloth. ‘I was chatting to Michael, mum’s carer at Charlton
Lodge. They’re desperate for activities at Mum’s care home. Jem suggested we
hold a dementia café here once a fortnight or monthly. Although, obviously, if
you hate the idea, then…’
‘I don’t hate the idea.’ Maddie looked thoughtful.
‘How do they work exactly? I’m guessing a small group of residents come here,
we provide coffee, cake et cetera – maybe an activity of some sort? Or would it
just be a change of scene and conversation over a drink?’
‘I’d have to talk to Michael about that – and find
out if they are even interested in the first place. But in theory, do you like
the idea?’
‘Very much.’ Maddie beamed. ‘Great idea, Jem.’
Jemima threw her ponytail over her shoulder. ‘It’s
obvious really. This place is called the Forget-Me-Not Café. Where better to
have a dementia group visit? You could get them talking about the old days and
the memories would flow.’
Maddie headed to the café’s till. ‘Have a word with
the home then, Jo.’
‘I will, thanks.’ Jo’s smile became tight as an
unsettling potential consequence of such a café group began to niggle at the
back of his mind.
Memories…
what if Mum has one of her forgetful moments? What if she…?
Jemima laid a hand on her friend’s baggy jumper
sleeve. ‘You okay? You’ve gone pale.’
‘I’m fine.’ Giving himself a mental shake, Jo waved
towards the wall clock. ‘Just noticed the time, that’s all. In ten minutes,
those doors will be open, and we haven’t got the bacon and sausages started for
the sarnies yet.’…
If you would like to read
Misty Mornings at The Potting Shed, it is released for publication on 14th
September 2023, and is available for pre-order from:
Amazon UK, Amazon US,
Kobo, Nook and Waterstones as an ebook or
paperback.
You can also preorder the story
in audio format: Amazon UK, Amazon US.
Many thanks for inviting me over
today.
Jenny x
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Bio
From the comfort of her cafe corner in Mid
Devon, award winning author, Jenny Kane, wrote the contemporary women’s fiction
and romance novels, Misty Mornings at The Potting Shed, (Aria, 2023), Bluebell
Season at The Potting Shed, (Aria 2023,), Frost Falls at The Potting
Shed, (Aria, 2022), Winter Fires at
Mill Grange, (Aria, 2021), Spring
Blossoms at Mill Grange, (Aria 2021), Autumn
Leaves at Mill Grange, (Aria, 2020), Midsummer
Dreams at Mill Grange (Aria, 2020), A
Cornish Escape (2nd edition, HeadlineAccent, 2020), A
Cornish Wedding (2nd edition, HeadlineAccent, 2020), Romancing Robin Hood (2nd
edition, Littwitz Press, 2018), Another Glass of Champagne (HeadlineAccent,
2016), and Another Cup of Coffee (HeadlineAccent, 2013).
Jenny has also written 3 novella length sequels
to her Another Cup of.....books: Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press,
2013), Christmas in the Cotswolds
(Accent, 2014), and Christmas at the
Castle (Accent, 2016).
Jenny is also the author of quirky children’s picture books There’s a Cow in the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s Biscuit Tin (Hushpuppy, 2015)
Under the pen name, Jennifer Ash, Jenny has also written The Folville Chronicles (The Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter Outlaw, Edward’s Outlaw, Outlaw Justice - published by Littwitz Press, 2016-2020), The Power of Three (Spiteful Puppet, 2020) and The Meeting Place (Spiteful Puppet, 2019). She has also created several audio scripts for ITV’s popular 1980’s television show, Robin of Sherwood. (2017 – ongoing)
Jenny Kane is the writer in residence for
Tiverton Costa in Devon. She co-runs the creative writing business, Imagine. Jenny teaches a wide range of
creative writing workshops including her popular ‘Novel in a Year’ course. (www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk)
All of Jennifer Ash’s and Jenny Kane’s news can
be found at www.jennykane.co.uk
@JenAshHistory
@JennyKaneAuthor
@Imagine_Writing
Jennifer Ash https://www.facebook.com/jenniferashhistorical/
Jenny Kane https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011235488766
Imagine www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk
As Kay Jaybee (erotica- over 18’s only) you can
find her at www.kayjaybee.me.uk
Many thanks Rachel, Jenny x
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