Meet the Author: Lesley Pearse - and apply for copy of her latest book Without a Trace.

[RachelMumsnet]

This month we're introducing bookclubbers to author Lesley Pearse. Lesley's latest book Without a Trace is an epic post-war tale of love and hearbreak. If you fancy reading, apply for one of 50 free copies. Furthermore all those who review the book or join the discussion about the book on this thread before 30 September will be entered into a prize draw to win a fabulous Breville Pick & Mix Stand & Hand Mixer with accessories worth over £300.

Find out more about the giveaway and Lesley's novels here.Meanwhile we caught up with Lesley and asked her a few questions about her own reading habits:

Q&A with Lesley Pearse

What are you reading now?
LP: A.N. Wilson's The Victorians. You might think this boring but it's enthralling.

What is the last book you bought someone as a gift?
LP: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. I'm always buying it as a present because it is a very funny book written in the 30s about Country life. An absolute hoot.

Is research a big part of your writing process?
LP: Absolutely. I love history so reading about is a pleasure, but I also like to go to places I'm writing about to get the feel of it.

What's your favourite of your novels to date?
LP: It used to be Never Look Back. But now I think its Belle

Do you have any peculiar writing rituals or habits?
LP: Not really, lots of cups of tea, breaks to clean out the knife box or dead head the roses. Any excuse not to write but have a break.

What advice would you offer to aspiring writers?
LP: Stick at it. So many people start writing and at the first bit of criticism give up. If you want something badly enough you can have it. That is if you practise hard.

This sounds fantastic. Got everything crossed I win a copy.

There's a form there and in order to win a copy, you need to fill in your name, address and postcode.

I'm not sure people will be happy to do that right now

I love Lesley Pearse books- completely get lost into them.

Never Look Back is my favourite.

Agree with worra. Im not about to put my personal details up.

oh I love Lesley Pearce and do hope I win a copy! Have read nearly all her previous books!

I adore her books and would love to do another review for mumsnet. Fingers crossed.

Looking at the code - the form is within an iframe (sucked in from elsewhere)
The page it comes from is using https
The page is hosted by wufoo.com on mumsnet1.wufoo.com
wufoo is part of parent company surveymonkey (established a while)
their security statement is here: www.wufoo.com/security/
looks okay...

what happens to the data after that is another issue - but no reason to think there is a problem with this, probably one of the safer bits of code around at the moment :)

I have filled in the form (to show confidence :)) with a deliberate typo so that if the data is leaked I will know the source :)

Fingers crossed I get this book. I love Lesley Pearse!

I have read all her books and love the emotive way she writes.

I have quite a few of them on my kindle and when I finish the list I go back to the start!

My favourite author. I hope I win a book.

Fingers crossed, I love all her books. Never look back and Gypsy are my favourites.

I am reading gypsy again are the moment. No other author like her. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Would love to review.
Fingers crossed.

Lesley Pearse is one of my favourite authors, cannot wait to read the new book !

Hey all, we sent the names and addresses of the 50 copies in late August but appears the books haven't been sent out yet. Sorry for the delay in picking this up but we've been a bit pushed with lots of people on annual leave our end. As soon as we hear they've been sent off, we'll email those who have been allocated books and post up on this board.

ooh exciting!

Would love to try this book. I've never read any Lesley Pearse novels, but a good friend has recommended her books so hope I'm on the list to win a copy!

Ooh still hoping. I have loved Lesley Pearse's novels for years.

Eeek mine has arrived today! My first win since cannon and ball awarded me a football and a fiver in 1979 on blackpool pier! Looking forward to snuggling up and having an evening reading!

nothing here still - did you get an email surprise?

No it just appeared in the post today. I had forgotten I had entered!

Just checked letter. There is no date on it and I've binned the envelope.

guess I didn't win then - already had todays post and not got anything in there either bummer!

Received my book this week. Read it already! Many thanks Mumsnet, Penguin and, of course, Lesley Pearse!

Just returned from holiday and the book was waiting for me - thank you so much.

thanks for the book. it was a lovely surprised as I had forgotten that I had entered.

I absolutely loved the book and couldn't put it down. Thought the descriptions of London and the country were lovely and I really liked the characters and the interplay between them.

My one criticism would be of the character George. He seems a bit "thinner" than the other characters, which seems poor given that he is fairly important.

What does everyone else think? I have to say it usually takes me aaaages to read a book and I have whizzed through this one fairly quickly. I would definitely read others by Lesley Pearse.