Thank you so much for taking the time to read Come a Little Closer. This story has been in my head for several years, and I loved writing it. I do hope you enjoyed reading it too.

The idea came to me on a trip to Myanmar, a wonderful country, although I’m pleased to say I didn’t meet anyone like Thea or the doctor on my travels! My father was stationed there during the war. He went when he was just seventeen years old, and I often wonder how it must have felt to be in such an alien place before television had made everywhere seem so familiar. He was the inspiration for Pops.

I was pleased to be able to get my readers closer to Tom in this novel. I love his character more with every book, and I do hope that comes across in my words. His life isn’t particularly extraordinary, but there is always something cropping up that lets us see his human side – either through his relationships or through his slightly dodgy but hopefully intriguing brother Jack. I love him too.

Of course the very best thing about publishing a book is getting a response from you – the reader – and I have been delighted by the amazing feedback I’ve received over the last seven years. I keep in touch with many of you through Facebook, Twitter and a newsletter that I send out regularly, in which I share some of the books I have enjoyed and host other writers talking about their novels. There is occasionally a competition (with, of course, a prize) and I love it when someone offers to be a featured reader and tells me all about where and when they like to immerse themselves in a book.

If you’d like to subscribe or be a featured reader, we’d be pleased to welcome you and keep you up to date with new releases, special offers and other goodies. Just go to www.rachel-abbott.com/contact and submit your details.

If you belong to a book club, I have included some reading group discussion notes on the following pages, or you can print them off online here if you would like to share them with your book-lover friends. I hope they get the conversation moving!

I’m going to be out and about at festivals and other events throughout the year – details on the blog and website and in the newsletter – and if you get a chance to get along to any of them, please come and say hello.

Of course, I’d love to know what you think about Come a Little Closer, so feel free to tweet me, leave me a message on Facebook or a review on Amazon. Every author loves getting reviews, and I’m no exception.

Thanks again for taking the time to read Come a Little Closer.

Best wishes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR