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Jersey author Rebecca Boxall has built a niche writing seasonal romances that don’t shy away from serious topics.
Her seventh novel, Christmas at the Cabin, is set in Jersey and follows four characters as they navigate homelessness and grief – but still find love and comfort in the cosiest season.
Express spoke to Rebecca about the novel and her writing journey...
Originally from the UK – but having lived in Jersey for more than half her life – Rebecca's books use familiar settings for islanders (Bean Around the World and Jersey Library are among the spots making appearances). However, she does admit to occasionally taking some liberties – such as by covering the island in snow.
With an English degree and a career in law, Rebecca started writing novels and self-publishing on Amazon.
Pictured: Rebecca's books include familiar Jersey places, like the Library.
She was breastfeeding her second child in the middle of the night when she got an email from the Seattle-based Lake Union Publishing, an imprint of Amazon Publishing.
After initially thinking it was a scam, she spoke to the publishers on the phone and eventually worked with their London office.
“It all snowballed from there,” she said.
She has since built a specialism writing novels set at Christmas. Having grown up in a vicarage, Rebecca has written her dad, a vicar, into some of her books, and frequently uses vicarages as a setting where characters find refuge.
Inspired by Rosamunde Pilcher, Rebecca described herself as “massively into Christmas”.
“I come from a big family, it’s always been a big thing.
“Now, I’ve got three young kids myself, so it’s about having those old traditions and creating new traditions as well. It's so nice. And I've kept copies of all my books for them to read when they're older as well at Christmas time.
“It's a time of year that I love. And I think that a lot of people, especially at the minute, when the world seems quite a dark place.
“People want to be able to, at that time of year, take some time out, sit by the fire with a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate and really enjoy a feel-good read.”
She describes her latest book as a "love story", adding: "There are actually two couples who come together and all four of the people are interconnected."
One of Rebecca’s main characters, Jed, is homeless.
To find out more about homelessness in Jersey, Rebecca spoke to Carl Blackmore at Sanctuary Trust.
“There's a lot more homelessness than you would imagine in Jersey.
“It's not just the people that you might see on the streets, but also sofa surfing, or staying with friends. That kind of thing is also classed under homelessness.”
While the subject matter might be serious, Rebecca said she hoped that her latest work would help islanders "take a little bit of a break" and feel a "warm, cosy glow".
The Sanctuary Trust, which supports the island's homeless community, has been Bailiwick Express and Connect Magazine's charity partner throughout 2023.
Sanctuary does not receive Government funding, so relies on its own fundraising efforts and donations from the public. Every little helps: a monthly standing order of £50 would go towards the cost of providing meals for one of our residents.
Click HERE to support the charity.
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