Behind the scenes of my research ft. Emma Hannigan

Author Emma Hannigan takes us behind the scenes of her research of her latest novel The Wedding Promise…

I would love to say that I plan the venues of my novels meticulously visiting each place with a beautiful leather bound note book and a fountain pen so I can take notes. It would probably be far better if I immersed myself in local life in the village and lived a similar life to Shelly for a week. But The Wedding Promise was written purely from my imagination and the setting was loosely based on a village I visited eighteen years ago.

But I didn’t find it difficult to imagine being in this picturesque village and it made sense to me that such a stunning setting could help someone who is choked by grief.

I once went to Malaga on a Spanish exchange while at school. So I adore the Spanish culture and language. I loved attempting to evoke the sounds and smells and the stunning vistas that Marbella and the mountainous ranges above it offer.

In fact, since writing the novel, I’ve been badgering my family to go there again! We spent a week in Elviria last year but due to the dense heat and the fact we were only there for a short time with several teenagers, we didn’t venture up the mountains. But I sincerely hope it won’t be another eighteen years before I make it there again.

I hope my readers will enjoy being taken on the journey to a pretty little town high above the hustle and bustle of the Costa del Sol. I hope you will be able to close your eyes and inhale the rich aroma of strong coffee with magdalena sponge cakes while seated at a little round table on a cobble stone path while bougainvillea hangs in a riot of colour against sun parched buildings on either side.

I hope you enjoy reading The Wedding Promise as much as I enjoyed writing it. It took me away to a happy place, I hope I manage to bring you along too!

Escape to Spain and get your hands on a copy of The Wedding Promise here

Photo by Patrick Baum on Unsplash