Christmas at the Crescent is a heart-warming and romantic Christmas tale about Josie, a single mum who is bringing up her baby, Titus, but is finding it tough. Although she adores Titus, she's lost sight of who she is a little bit and her ambition has been put on hold. When Harry, a screenwriter, moves into the flat upstairs to rewrite a script, Josie starts to live a little. Her ex, Giles, is not best pleased, but as he was the one who abandoned her in the first place, he doesn't have the right to interfere. Does he . . . ?!
Veronica Henry
What made you set the book in Bath?
I went to school in Bath, and I have lots of friends there now, and I've always thought it would be the most perfect setting for a Christmas story. I've always longed to live in one of the crescents, and wondered what went on behind those Georgian facades. So one day I opened an imaginary front door and found out!
Tell us about the Bath Christmas market!
It's quite magical! Hundreds of little Alpine-style chalets are set up in the streets around the Abbey, selling everything you could possibly want for the perfect Christmas - hand-made toys, jewellery, delicious foodstuffs, decorations . . . Twinkling lights and the scent of mulled wine add to the atmosphere.
What is Christmas like in your house?
Pretty chaotic, with three boys, but I keep it fairly traditional. The hardest thing is for Santa to keep the stockings equal . . . but my favourite bit of the day is when we all gather first thing and they open them. There's always some new music, which we put on straight away, and some silly stuff, and tons of chocolate. Then I put on the soundtrack of The Snowman and have a glass of champagne and a cry before I get lunch ready. As long as I don't run out of chipolatas or roast potatoes, it's all OK!
Who do you most like to read at this time of year?
Oh, some wonderfully verbose and atmospheric Dickens. I'm going to try and read A Christmas Carol with my youngest this year, so he doesn't think it's a Muppet movie for ever (though A Muppet Christmas Carol is truly wonderful ...)
Why are your books perfect for getting people into the festive season?
I think they capture both the fun and excitement of preparing for Christmas, but also reflect the difficulties of a very emotional time of year. It can bring everything into very sharp focus, forcing people to bring about change. Which in Christmas at the Crescent is a good thing, without giving too much away! I also love describing food, and as Josie is a fantastic cook I can really go to town on this. And of course the decoration of a Regency flat in Bath is crucial to setting the scene: I have always wanted a Georgian front door to hang a wreath on. And there is ice-skating and a snowball fight - both crucial to the plot. I'm basically describing my fantasy Christmas!
Please tell us a bit about the character of Josie.
With the arrival of Titus, Josie's life really has been turned upside down, which is exacerbated by the fact they were abandoned by Titus's father Giles. She is very capable and determined, but also vulnerable, and as anyone who has struggled with a small baby knows, it is pretty tough and exhausting no matter how broad your shoulders are. And as she is on her own, there is little time for her to indulge herself. Harry brings a bit of warmth and sparkle into her life - but she has to question if he is the right man not just for her but for Titus. She has more than just herself to think about now.
What is next for you?
I'm writing a sequel to The Beach Hut, called The Beach Hut Next Door, set over a long, hot summer like the one we've just had. Jealousy, passion, reconciliation - it's got it all going on! My favourite character at the moment is a taciturn lobster-fisherman with a dark family secret. He is very closed and mysterious. It's up to artist-in-residence Jemima to unlock the past and help him let go. It's a bit strange writing about sun-drenched shores while the wind is blowing a gale outside, but then I wrote Christmas at the Crescent in the height of the summer . . .