Embracing Change by Victoria Cornwall

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Embracing Change by Victoria Cornwall

This week Victoria Cornwall joins my blog to discuss change and her books. Over to Victoria …

Thank you for inviting me onto your blog, Morton. It’s always lovely to chat with you about writing and publishing as we had our debut books published around the same time, in 2017, and by the same publisher, Choc Lit. Neither of us knew that a major change was heading our way a few years later. In March 2023, Joffe Books acquired all of Choc Lit’s 250 titles (including ours). Change, by definition, is to make different or replace and when faced with any change in one’s life, it can be an unsettling experience until everything settles down. Big changes were ahead of us!

Joffe said at the time “We aim to build on the list’s exceptional quality and to find new opportunities to reach even more readers.” Joffe Books kept their promise by revamping their newly acquired list. Six novels in my Cornish Tales series received beautiful new covers which helped to extend their reach and find new readers.

Changing book covers is not a new practice in the book industry. In fact, first print additions of certain classics can be worth a lot of money. Only one book (from those originally acquired by Joffe) did not get a revamp at the time. However, I’m pleased to share the news that it has now had a makeover too! However, unlike the others, this book has undergone a bigger change than the others … a new cover and a new title!

Why change the title? The story is set during WW2 when the American G.I.s came to Cornwall to prepare for D Day. Jo and Anne’s love story was inspired by the intercultural relationships that blossomed in the country during the ‘friendly invasion’ of young American soldiers.

I made a great effort to accurately portray how the American soldiers spent their time in England, the cultural differences they faced and how these affected their relationships and outlook. It was also important to accurately portray what their hosts thought of having so many American young men in their community. The love story is at the centre of the plot, but I wanted the reader to feel and understand the conflicts, confusion and misunderstandings between cultures during that era.

Although the original title, Waiting For Our Rainbow, was meant to reflect the sentiment of waiting for peace it soon became apparent that it could also be confusing as the rainbow can symbolise many things these days. In the past it was peace/hope however the more modern interpretation also includes diversity or, sadly, a child born after the loss of a previous child. If you have a stronger connection to the latter meanings, the title could be perceived as not accurately reflecting the story inside. With this in mind, I was pleased when my publisher, Choc Lit, made the difficult decision to change the title in addition to the cover! Hence, The Cornish Affair was born!

I love this new title as I think it reflects what the story is about and compliments the first book in the Love In War series, which is called The Paris Affair. Authors’ input into the covers and titles of their published work can be limited … and rightly so. It takes a team of experienced people to produce something that is commercially pleasing. The aim of authors and publishers is for readers to find their books and enjoy them. If they share the books that they have enjoyed with their friends… well that is the cherry on the cake! A change like this involves discussions and planning but always has the best intentions. Readers remain at the centre of any decision. With this in mind, I hope you like this change as much as I do.

However, as I said at the beginning of this post, change can be an unsettling experience. I don’t want a reader, who has previously enjoyed Waiting For Our Rainbow, to buy it again by mistake. So how do I try to stop this from happening? I can share the news of the change on blog posts just like this one!

Some people thrive on change; others prefer their routines. Of course, I am mindful change can be both traumatic and life altering, but regarding smaller changes I think that, ultimately, a little shake-up now and then can remind us to re-evaluate our behaviour and attitude, build confidence and breathe new life into situations or, in this case, a product. Change will happen in our lives. Change is inevitable. However, I have learnt that it is our choice whether we embrace it, challenge it or ignore it… and how we react might just leave a longer impression on those around us than the actual change itself.

The Cornish Affair and The Paris Affair will form the Love In War series which is a WW2 trilogy. The third book will be published by Choc Lit in early 2026!

About Victoria Cornwall

Following a career in nursing, a change in profession finally provided Victoria Cornwall the time to write. Her books have subsequently reached the finals of the NEW TALENT AWARD at the Festival of Romantic Fiction, the RNA’s JOAN HESSAYON AWARD, the 2021 RNA’s Goldsboro Books HISTORICAL ROMANTIC NOVEL AWARD and have also been nominated twice for the RONE Best Indie or Small Published Book Award by InD’tale magazine.

Victoria grew up on a farm in Cornwall and can trace her Cornish roots as far back as the 18th century. It is this background and heritage which is the inspiration for her Cornish based novels. She is married, has two grown up children and likes to read and write historical romance with a strong background story, but at its heart is the unmistakable emotion, even pain, of loving someone.

Social media and website links

Website https://victoriacornwall.com

X – @VickieCornwall https://x.com/VickieCornwall

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/victoriacornwall.author

Instagram @victoria_cornwallx https://www.instagram.com/victoria_cornwallx/

About The Cornish Affair

Would you give your heart away if you knew it could only end in goodbye?

It should have been a time of romance and excitement for Anne – but it’s 1941 and the war is raging. So instead, she spends her days repairing spitfire wings and reminding herself that the real sacrifice is going on far away from her Cornish village.

When the news breaks that America has entered the war, it brings cautious hope to Anne and her family. And as the Jeeps filled with GIs eventually roll in, it seems their little community is to play a pivotal role in the next stage of the fight.

But the Americans don’t just bring Hollywood glamour and optimism, they also bring something more tantalising – so when Anne meets handsome Joe Mallory, she has to remind herself of exactly why he’s there; that any relationship between them could only end in goodbye.

But is the inevitability of ‘goodbye’ powerful enough to stop what has already begun to blossom?

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