Angelena Boden retired from running her own international training consultancy and happily settled in rural Shropshire. Her greatest pleasure is her garden and having long conversations with the visiting robins. Her books include Edna’s Death Café and Love Bytes Back.
Hi how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?
A: Thank you for inviting me. I’d love a mocktail please. You choose!
So where did we first meet in real life?
A: We haven’t met in person but we became acquainted in 2016 and developed a telephone and Twitter friendship. I really hope we get to meet up in London this year.
What were your first impressions?
A: I found you to be very approachable and fun to chat to.
Apart from writing do we have anything other else in common?
A: Neither of us suffers fools gladly!
True! I’ve read Edna’s Death Café so tell me aboutits sequel.
A: My latest book is Love Bytes Back published by Troubador. It’s the second book in the
Edna Reid Series. When
lonely widow Kitty Merriweather moves to Derbyshire’s Hope Valley, she joins
the Silver Rose online dating site because it offers a safe place for the over
sixties to find romance. There she meets the enigmatic Harvey, a scientist
working on a conservation project in Bali who promises her “hot days and stormy
nights.”
Love blooms quickly but Kitty breaks all the rules laid down by the agency,
putting herself at risk. When little things don’t add up she dismisses them as
being unimportant. Nothing matters more than her plans for them to live happily
ever after. When she confides in her new friend, Edna Reid, octogenarian and
former café owner, Kitty gets angry at Edna’s implication she is likely the
victim of a scam. The more Edna hears about Harvey, the more she is convinced
he’s only interested in Kitty for her money. Using her knowledge of computers
Edna finally uncovers the truth, but where does black magic and murder fit into
this intriguing cosy mystery?
Are you working on anything at the moment?
A: I’ve been working on a novel based a memoir for the past two years. It’s called Chasing Peacocks and is about my time in Iran. It’s now finished and edited but as for its future…
What would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?
A: I’d love to do a Q/A with the former Bishop of Edinburgh – Richard Holloway. His latest book, Waiting for the Last Bus is one of my absolutely favourites.
What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?
A: Invite my daughters for a celebratory dinner and to hug my grandson.
Is there anything lockdown has made you think about/want to do?
A: My lockdown life hasn’t been much different from my ordinary life, although I do miss my long coastal walks. I’ve completed an online course in First Aid Mental Health and I hope to offer my services to our local hospital.
You can find out more about Angelena Boden and her books here.