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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Children in Read @childreninread.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Once again the wonderful @janefallon.bsky.social is supporting Children in Read. If you are an author or Illustrator and would like to take part in this year's event simply reply to this post for further details. We go live online 5th Oct. All proceeds are in aid of B.B.C. Children in Need

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Celebrations at the Beach Hotel is back in The Works. (Not non-fic, of course, but at the end of the fiction shelf!) #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction @herabooks.bsky.social

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

“If you’re looking for a cosy, feel-good read set in a charming #seaside town, this story really hits the spot.” 5 🌟 Celebrations at the Beach Hotel War is over, but is it just beginning between sisters Annie & Alice? #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction #saga @herabooks.bsky.social

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

#HistFicMay Doing this, something else will always catch my eye and I’ll start looking into that and get involved, even if it isn’t necessarily relevant. But sometimes I do discover something relevant, which can lead to a new part of the story, so it will have been worth it. 3/3

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

For instance, when looking in the archived newspapers to see what was being reported about the war or on at the picture house, or at the 1911 census or 1915 Kelly’s directory to see what businesses there were. 2/3

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

#HistFicMay 10 What’s your strangest rabbit hole? There's been a few rabbit holes, but often they're useful. I do love research, particularly primary research (with original records, as opposed to secondary research, with books), & can easily get sidetracked by something. 1/3

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 9 4/4 There are a lot on Wales and the valleys too, though I found ‘Struggle or Starve’, first-hand accounts of women’s lives in the South Wales valleys, particularly enlightening (as you can see by all the post-it notes!). #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFictionBooks

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 9 3/4 This is just a selection of the books I’ve used. I’m lucky that there are so many history books about Littlehampton. #HistoricalFiction

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 9 2/4 For the weather, I often look at the Met Office Digital Library online. But there are many, many more useful online sites.

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 9 1/4 Which source do you always go back to? Online, I’m often on the Library of Scotland’s historical map archive. For the War in the Valleys series, I was constantly on the Library of Wales newspaper archive, which goes up to 1919. See more in comments.

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

1/2 I found out that he enlisted in World War 1 but was given a medical discharge several months later, having never fought, due to tachycardia. It may not sound ground-breaking, but it’s what sparked the idea for my first Valleys novel. 3 m

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 8 1/2 What has been your greatest research discovery? Probably the discovery of the army medical record of one of my Welsh great-grandfathers, which I found on the Ancestry website. He was called Hugh Morgan. Read more in the comments.

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 6 & 7 3/3 One of my People’s Friend’s Pocket Novels was set in the early 70s in Littlehampton. The photo is of me as a teen in the 1970s (not looking impressed!) was taken by the Oyster Pond in Littlehampton, with the Butlin's funfair building behind.

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

HistFicMay 6 & 7 2/3 I’d love to write some novels set in the 1920s, and also have a love of the 1950s and 1960s. This photo is of the Beach Hotel in the 1960s, taken by my dad, #HistoricalRomance

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

#HistFicMay 6.& 7 1/3 What is your favourite era to write / read about? So far, my series have been set in World War 1, which I’ve enjoyed, but my new series will be set in the late 30s and World War 2. Read more in the comments. #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

#HistFicMay 4 Do you always / ever write happy ever afters? I always write happy ever afters! Apart from being historical, they’re also romances, so I couldn’t leave my lovely ladies (and their beaus) unhappy. #HistoricalRomance

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

#HistFicMay 3 Standalone or series? My historical fiction novels are all part of a series, or two in fact. The Wartime in the Valleys series is made up of four books and set in the Rhymney Valley. The Beach Hotel series has six books, and is set in Littlehampton in Sussex. #HistoricalRomance

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

#HistFicMay 2 Who inspired you to become a writer? I guess that would be my mum. She often made up stories for me when I was young and sometimes recorded them on our reel-to-reel (remember those?). She also wrote poems, usually funny ones. Me and Mum c1967 #HistoricalRomance

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

A walk in to the meadow and orchard near me. There are a couple of wild flowers in the meadow now, but in the summer it'll be full of them. The orchard is a public one, and anyone in the village can help themselves to the apples, plums and damsons in late summer. #SpringMeadow #Spring #Orchard

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The Welsh poppies are out in my garden! They've appeared all over the garden every year since we moved here, 38 years ago. Such happy flowers. 😊

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

"Heartbreak in the Valleys took me in and swept me away. I absolutely loved it." Reader review. In the midst of despair, can Anwen find hope again? Shortlisted for the 2021 RoNAs Historical Romantic Novel Award. Available on Amazon, Kobo & other outlets. #HistoricalRomance #saga

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Take a visit to the #Sussex #seaside and meet the women of the Beach Hotel this #Easter. It's #WW1 and the women there have many of their own battles to fight. Paperback - Ebook - Audio New Start 99p in Kindle & on Kobo #SagaSaturday #HistoricalRomance #saga #HistoricalFiction

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 28: What is your next book about? The final day of Romantic Fiction February, and here's what's coming up... #RomanticFiction #Romance #RomanceReaders

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 25: Which film is most like your book? See the pictures to read about the connection between Dark Days at the Beach Hotel and the film Wicked Little Letters, via a book called The Littlehampton Libels. #RomancticFiction #Romance #HistoricalRomance

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 24: What is your main character's greatest fear? Each of the main characters in the different Beach Hotel books have their own fears, but all are scared of what the war might mean for them and their loved ones. #RomanceBooks #RomanceFiction #Romance

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 23: Main character’s greatest strength? Edie Moore in A New Start at the Beach Hotel has determination & treats everyone with respect, whatever their class (unlike some!). Determination is a common characteristic among many of my characters. #RomanticFiction #RomanceReaders

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 22: What are your support systems as a writer? Writing friends! Some I've known for years from writing classes, conferences or writing weeks, & we’ve all supported each other on our journeys to publication. @romanticnovelists.bsky.social & the SWWJ are also great support systems.

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26: Day 21 - Do you plot your books? Yes, definitely, but there's always some wriggle room for changes and new ideas. #Romance #HistoricalRomance #RomanticFiction #RomanceReaders

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26- Day 17: WHERE DO YOU WRITE? Although I have a study which houses most of my writing things - folders, research books, notebooks, a desk etc, I find myself mostly writing in the dining room at the moment. #RomanceFiction #HistoricalRomance #Romance #RomanceReaders

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Days 13 & 14: FAVE #ROMANCE BOOK/AUTHOR Many years ago, I found ‘The Herb of Grace’ by Elizabeth Goudge, which I loved and still do. I read her other novels, including the 2 others in the Damerosehay trilogy and enjoyed those too. #ValentinesDay2026 @romanticnovelists.bsky.social

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Happy #ValentinesDay! Start a new #HistoricalRomance book today. Love in #WW1 Beach Hotel series - set by the seaside Wartime in the Valleys series - set in Wales #SagaSaturday #RomFicFeb26 #RomanticFiction #RomanceReads #Romance #Love

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 11 Clothes: what do your main characters wear? The pictures (created for a Christmas promotion) give you some idea of what they looked like. #Romance #RomanceReads #RomanceFiction

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 10: Introduce your Meet Cute: Stormy Skies at the Beach Hotel, set in 1918, has a ‘Meet Cute’ when Fanny first encounters Walter on the promenade, as you’ll see in this extract… #RomanticFiction #HistoricalRomance #RomanceReads #RomanceBooks

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

#RomicFeb26 Days 8 & 9: Introduce your main character & love interest Main character and love interest from A New Start at the Beach Hotel... #RomanticFiction #RomanceReads #HistoricalRomance

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Susie Sharp @susiesharpwrites.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Day 6 of #romficfeb26 - introduce the time period. My #books are set firmly in the here and now — #midlife, modern life, Wi-Fi included. But the setting is #tuscany, where history is everywhere. I love that contrast: contemporary women finding their way in timeless places. #womensfiction #amazon

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 6: Introduce your time period The time period for both my Beach Hotel and my War in the Valleys books is World War 1. The war would have had different impacts on the settings of these two series. #RomanceBook #RomanticFiction #FictionBooks

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 5: Introduce your book’s setting My Beach Hotel series is set in Littlehampton in Sussex, where I was brought up in the 1960s and 70s. The Wartime in the Valleys series is set in a coal mining village in the Rhymney Valley in Wales, which I call Dorcalon. #RomanticFiction #Romance

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Heather Walrath | Historical Fiction Author @heatherwalrath.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

In all its many forms, love has the power to shine light into the darkness, inspire hope where there was none and help people understand that no matter what they may face, they don’t have to go through it alone. #romficfeb26 #historicalfiction #romancebooks #romancereader #booksky

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Lynne Shelby Writer @lynneshelby.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

It’s RomFicFeb26 Day 3 Today, authors are celebrating romantic fiction by asking they write romance? Why do I write romance? Because I love a love story! #RomFicFeb26

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Christina Courtenay @christinacourtenay.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

**SPECIAL DEAL for UK readers - ONLY 99p!** RIPPLES THROUGH TIME – a #dualtime #romance featuring #Vikings, #buriedtreasure and #ghosts from the past! @RNAtweets #TuesNews #RomFicFeb26 @headlinebooks geni.us/ripplestime

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Luisa A Jones Author @luisaajones.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 3. I’ve always adored love stories. I find it uplifting to follow a character’s emotional journey to finding connection and the love they deserve with someone else. I also enjoy exploring the ups and downs of relationships. #respectromfic

A book with a red string heart tied around it

Prompts for #RomFicFeb26. Day 3 Why Romance fiction?

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Heather Walrath | Historical Fiction Author @heatherwalrath.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

For day two of #romficfeb26, I'm shining a spotlight on my emotionally engaging debut historical novel, its pages threaded with heart, hope and romance. ❤️ The Diva's Daughter is available now! #historicalfiction #romancebooks #romancereader #bookish #bookrecs #author #readers #booksky

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Reposted by Francesca Capaldi Author

Luisa A Jones Author @luisaajones.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 2. I write emotional historical and contemporary fiction exploring the messy truths of the human condition. I love creating flawed and relatable characters readers can root for from the first page. My second #WW2 book, Before The Mountain Falls, will be launched on 19th March.

6 novels by Luisa A Jones: The Gilded Cage; The Broken Vow; What We Left Behind; Before the Mountain Falls; Goes Without Saying; Making the Best of It. Text: Timeless & emotional fiction www.luisaajones.com

Prompts for #RomFicFeb26. Day 2 Introduce your writing / WIP

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Francesca Capaldi Author @francesca-capaldi.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

#RomFicFeb26 Day 2: Introduce your writing Here's how I started writing, and a little about my books. #RomanceReads #HistoricalRomance Click on #RomFicFeb26 to read about other #romance writers.

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