Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
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Celia Moore is the author of the Fox Halt Farm series, a unique blend of romance, suspense, and secrets. Celia lives in Devon in the South West of the United Kingdom and is a keen gardener and runner too – always accompanied by her scruffy border x jack russell terrier called Tizzy. MOORE 1967 – NOW
In 1967; the year I was born, my parents were living on a small farm near Moretonhampstead (and I have a treasured old photo of my Dad with his two plough horses, Blossom and Pleasant). He used to work the horses on the rocky fields there. He could plough up to an acre a day, and B and P always knew to stop if the plough was about to hit one of the many rocks sticking out of the ground.
Later, we moved to a farm near Whiddon Down and had a small dairy herd. It never made any money and my parents eventually sold it. Dad then worked in the cheese factory in North Tawton. A massive change for him in his fifties but he said he loved the regular wage, lack of worry and set hours – and he loved the camaraderie of his work mates most of all – it is lonely on a farm sometimes.
I left Devon in 1986 to study for my degree in London and then worked for Lloyds Bank in their head offices in London, Bristol and Taunton for 10 years as a Chartered Surveyor.
In 2000, I left the office life behind to start a new adventure in North Wales training to become an outdoor instructor – teaching rock climbing, canoeing, mountaineering, and even skiing. And I climbed everything I could in the beautiful national park. I moved to Somerset in 2002 and started teaching in an outdoor education centre where school groups would come on adventure weekends and weeks. I also taught children excluded from school too and I ran special programmes for children in care. I added more qualifications to my name including archery, rifle shooting and mountain biking. I ended up managing one of the centres. It was fulfilling work – I loved watching the children who weren’t academic shining in front of their classmates as they showed off their new skills etc. The activities also allowed teachers to see some of their pupils in a new light too. The children gained so much.
When, in 2008, I met my husband, it didn’t seem fair to expect him to put up with my all-consuming job. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me – and I gave up my job and came to live with him back in Devon – Home at last! By the way, I had actually been in primary school with Paul but I hadn’t seen him for 26 years when we met up again!
Today, I work for lovely customers keeping their gardens nice, eating their cake and drinking tea. Many have lost their other halves to cancer and with my friendship I feel like what I do now, is wholly appreciated. In winter 2016, I started blacksmithing creating organically inspired items for gardens (sundials, bird feeders, arches etc.) but that is on hold at the moment while I write…
My debut novel was published in November 2017 …and Culmfield Cuckoo its sequel is available from 20 March 2019
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
CULMFIELD CUCKOO – it is the sequel to FOX HALT FARM which was originally inspired by a dream that wouldn’t leave me – a strange situation the main characters found themselves in. I pictured them all in one place and at a certain point in their lives where all of their life stories had become wholly intertwined- but in ways, that not all of them realized. My book explored how they came to be there.
Although my earliest memories are of living on a dairy farm, Fox Halt Farm is a story about people, who I created in my mind – none of them are perfect, they are scarred and flawed. But like us all, they are simply striving to find happiness.
The novel begins in 1986 with Billy May and her family struggling to keep their dairy farm – my fictional Fox Halt Farm is just outside Okehampton and the
beloved cows are in the danger of having to be sold – the future of the whole farm is at risk.
At this same time, Richard MarcFenn is running a thriving multinational business in London.
When Billy and Richard’s very different worlds collide, it has consequences for them, their families and their friends and the story Fox Halt Farm details the following twenty years of their lives.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write whenever I can – I simply love writing and my border terrier x jack russell, Tizzy is often sat on my lap helping me not to eat too many Rich Tea biscuits with my endless cups of tea.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Maeve Binchy is my most favourite she just makes me feel like I am part of the family I’m reading about.
What are you working on now?
Just starting the final part of the Fox Halt Farm Trilogy, working title is ‘ A GREEN TREE ‘ inspired by the Chinese Proverb ‘Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.’
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My facebook page Celia Moore Books
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Simple but so hard… Never give up.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep the reader in mind with every word you write.
What are you reading now?
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Jonathon Livingston Seagull, Tuesdays with Morrie, Under The Greenwood Tree and Silas Marner
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