Unlike Anna, from New Dreams at Polkerran Point, my first ever encounter with south-east Cornwall—in particular, the stretch of rugged coastline which runs from Gribbin Head, past the wide harbour-mouth of the Fowey River, the quaint village of Polperro and on to the fishing port of Looe—wasn’t as a child. It was on my first honeymoon.

The marriage didn’t last, but my love-at-first-sight for this part of Cornwall endures to this day, and I’ve returned regularly ever since. In fact, my second proposal took place in Nelson’s Restaurant in the village of Polperro, and I’m pleased to say I got it right this time around and have been happily married for over 32 years!

Inspired by the county’s beauty, and its undeniable ability to lift my heart and soul the moment I cross the Tamar from Devon into Cornwall, I decided to write a book set there. It’s evolved, as you know, into five novels—The Little Cornish Cove Series—and the first book is out two weeks’ today, with the second and third following next year.

Polkerran Point is inspired by the many charming coastal villages in this part of the county, but most significantly, by two settlements either side of the River Fowey: the town of Fowey itself and the village of Polruan, nestled opposite each other across the wide waters.

After many fabulous stays in Fowey, I re-imagined this beautiful setting into a much smaller sheltered bay with a working harbour and an old stone bridge over the much narrower River Polwey—this is the fictitious village of Polkerran Point. I’ve even drawn a map of the village, showing key locations, including the two main properties from the first book, Westerleigh Cottage and Harbourwatch, which are perched on their respective cliffs on opposite sides of the bay.

The setting for Westerleigh Cottage is inspired by a real property, Castle Keep in Polruan. This house is much more modern in design than Aunt Meg’s cottage, though they are both equally substantial in size.

Likewise the location for Harbourwatch, perched on the cliffs opposite Westerleigh, is that of Point Neptune in Fowey. Again, the actual property is a little different, in that the existing one is a tad smaller and less gothic in style but you can see from the photo below their relative positions across the water.

~o0o~

New Dreams at Polkerran Point is still available for pre-order here, and the  cover reveal for the next instalment, Escape to Polkerran Point, is coming Monday. I hope you love it as much as I do.

I’ve recently been told the second book will be published on 22nd February 2024, and I can tell you now, I won’t be having quite the release-day celebration I’d have hoped for. We already have plans that night for a very unromantic evening—tickets to see Harry Redknapp in conversation in York! 😱

See you next week, when we’ll be on the countdown to release, and I’ll be frantically—but very happily—packing for yet another trip to Polkerran Point… I mean Fowey!  😋