Talking Location With author Kim Nash – THE ALGARVE

20th November 2020

#TalkingLocationWith... Kim Nash, author of Sunshine and Second Chances, romantic comedy set in the ALGARVE

I chose The Algarve as the location for Sunshine and Second Chances because it’s one of my most favourite holiday destinations in Europe.  We’ve had many holidays there over the years, both holidays with and without children and it’s perfect for both.  In under three hours (from the Midlands where I live), you can fly into Faro airport. By the time you’ve taken off, read your book for a bit, had a cuppa or a G&T, had some nibbles, you’re down on the tarmac again with a number of fabulous holiday destinations just a short taxi or bus ride away.

According to research The Algarve has over 300 days of sunshine a year and I know I’ve been before in December and it’s been a very pleasant 18-20C degrees and definitely t-shirt weather in the daytime and an opportunity to get some winter sun on your body.  It does cool at night, but then in the winter months, you’d probably expect it to.

The places I write about in my book are Albufeira, with its enchanting cobbled streets and tourist shops, restaurants and cafes which overlook the golden sandy beach, and Vilamoura, with its glamorous marina location, glorious sunsets and again many bars, cafes and restaurants around the marina where you can watch the world go by and dream about the lives of the rich and famous who live on the impressive yachts moored there.  Other lovely towns and villages to enjoy visiting are Lagos, Alvor, Praia de Luz, Burgau, Portimao – the list is endless.

The Portuguese people are friendly and helpful, and nothing is ever too much trouble. The food is amazing too.  Pastel de Nata are the most amazing sweet custard filled open pastries with a caramelised sugar topping and you can get them at nearly every coffee shop and supermarket ! Yum! A really naughty snack!  Delicious freshly caught seafood is never far away in the many restaurants you can dine at.  Sea bass and sardines, are very popular as is a traditional dish called Cataplana which is usually a fish stew, but can also be made with meat! The dish is served in a clam-shaped copper cooking pot which is called a Cataplana hence the name.

I’ve stayed in hotels, apartments and villas, my personal favourite is always a villa holiday because I can be as lazy as I want and eat and drink when I want.  Life for us is reasonably hectic at home, so lazing around the pool all day is perfect for me.  I LOVE getting up early, sitting outside and watching the sun come up while reading or writing.

Sunshine and Second Chances is the story of four 50 year old friends who go on holiday to a luxury villa set just on the outskirts of Vilamoura. If I visited a villa like that, I know that I’d never want to leave.  EVER!

However, if you are not a lazy mare like me, there is so much to see and do if you want to be active. Scenery at The Algarve is absolutely stunning.  From hidden caves to rugged headland, from chapels to ancient castles, from gorgeous walks, to adrenaline filled water sports, and not forgetting the many golf courses which The Algarve is renowned for, there’s something for everyone, both adults and children alike.

For those who just want to chill out, you can choose between glorious long golden stretches of beach or secluded sandy coves.  Watch out for that sea though, there’s quite a current in some places and being The Atlantic, it’s not the warmest sea in the world!

They say write what you know and I’d follow that with write where you know too.  If you’ve never visited then perhaps you could use the internet to virtually visit a place.  Google maps is a perfect opportunity to search local areas and there are always many pictures available to give you a real sense of atmosphere and ambiance.

Sunset and Second Chances was published in ebook and paperback in June 2020.  In September, it was nominated for the 2020 Kindle Storyteller Award.

KIM NASH

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