Author

Belinda Jones (aka Molly James), Bestselling Local Author

Bestselling local author Belinda Jones (aka Molly James) reveals how Torquay inspired the plot of her new novel ONE DAY TO FALL IN LOVE!

For the first 20 years of my novel writing career I set my romcoms a world away from my Devon roots - an overwater bungalow in Tahiti, a coffee plantation in Costa Rica, a salsa club in Cuba… Then one day my publisher proposed an idea for a time loop story and suddenly I could see every scene playing out on my English Riviera doorstep!

        In One Day to Fall in Love, heroine Rena signs up for the Love Guaranteed dating app promising her true love in 24 hours, what she doesn’t know is that those 24 hours will repeat until she figures out who her dream match is! With all that repetition, I knew each encounter needed a distinctive backdrop so the reader could keep track of the different days. Torquay was ideal. You can’t mistake the the shadowy stalactites of Kents Cavern for the sun-kissed figurines at Babbacombe Model Village. Food options range from takeaway fish & chips (complete with seagull serenade) to the Michelin-starred Elephant restaurant. One minute you can be learning about the ten botanics distilled in Torbay Gin, the next you’re perusing poisons in the Agatha Christie Potent Plants Garden!

        Instead of having to travel to do my research, I had 40 years of explorations to draw upon! I would think of a scenario and then run through the possible settings, sometimes picking a place for contrast, like historic Cockington Court for an all-too-modern online dating workshop. Or adding to the tension of a family reunion by suspending dad and daughter on the English Riviera Wheel!

        I knew I wanted the renovation of the exquisite art deco Torquay Pavilion to be a key part of the plot so it made sense for my leading lady to work ‘next door’ at the Princess Theatre. This 1,500 seat, pier side venue opened in 1961 with the legendary Morecambe & Wise. While I was writing the book Michael McIntyre was testing out new material, prompting tears of laughter with his off-the-cuff banter with the audience. I knew then that a significant male character was getting a career change to A list comedian!

        That’s the beauty of writing on location, ideas are all around you. Spending time at WeSUP cafe (now Soak Lifestyle at Torre Abbey Sands) I would admire harmonious husband and wife owners Sean and Laura and imagine Rena having a crush on the cafe barista and her best friend working as a paddle board instructor! I loved that I could have the book’s friendship group all living and working within walking distance of the glittering, glamorous sweep of the bay. That view never gets old. In fact, one of my favourite ways to work on the dialogue was to stroll between The Grand and The Imperial hotels, having imaginary conversations, pausing at one of the many benches to make notes en route.

        The more time I spent finding the right words to describe a view (like the Capri-esque Cary Arms terrace with its unique dolphin sighting bell), or ‘researching’ cream teas (the ginger one at Angel’s is heavenly!), the more I realized this book was more than just another romcom - it is also a love letter to Torquay.

One Day to Fall in Love by Molly James is out now, published by Quercus.