Even the best laid plans can go awry . . .
Successful business woman Miriam Ryan appears to have it all — Director of a popular catering company in London, she is famed for her high-profile events.
But like anything that is picture perfect, there are cracks under the surface. Worn out with constant catering and entertaining, Miriam retreats to the Welsh village where she spent carefree summers as a child.
When Miriam arrives she finds her quiet solitude disrupted by her welcoming neighbours keen to include her in village life. Not only that, but the cottage she has rented comes with an overlooked condition: a supper club she is expected to run!
Through the weekly dinners Miriam gets to know the villagers, especially a grumpy but gorgeous astronomer who has a habit of turning up when she least expects it.
Soon she realises that maybe it’s time to allow a little bit of summer happiness into her life.
And Miriam is about to discover that you won’t find happiness without breaking a few eggs . . .
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Novelist Chris Penhall chats about writing and stuff - this episode is about my Welsh-set book - Finding Summer Happiness
In which I read an extract from my novel, Finding Summer Happiness which is set on the south Wales coast in Pembrokeshire and explain how I use the scene to illustrate a character’s personality.
Jan 20, 2025

Novelist Chris Penhall on writing and stuff
Chris Penhall is a writer of contemporary fiction and loves talking about books and writing. She also worked in radio so loves audio too, and has combined them both into - tah dah....a podcast!
Its a random mix of chat about inspiration, ideas, how to get started, and how to finish a book! Plus some extracts from her novels and other book and related stuff that comes into her mind
Chris Penhall is a writer of contemporary fiction and loves talking about books and writing. She also worked in radio so loves audio too, and has combined them both into - tah dah....a podcast!
Its a random mix of chat about inspiration, ideas, how to get started, and how to finish a book! Plus some extracts from her novels and other book and related stuff that comes into her mindListen on
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