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Another Day in Paradise Book Tour

Cover Blurb

A warm-hearted, autobiographical story about the location and lifestyle in a small village in the Algarve, as seen through the eyes of Karen, and her husband Nick, who made the move seeking a quieter, more serene way of life. What lurks in the shadows of paradise, however, is a life-changing illness she has struggled with in the past and now comes to the fore. They have made Portugal their home. Will they be able to navigate the health system and succeed in getting her the urgent operation needed, to prevent her from spending the rest of her life in a wheelchair?

Other Titles By the Author

Karen Telling

Author Bio

Karen was born in Scotland and moved to Hampshire, England with her family at the age of 5.

She married Nick in 1987 and they bought a house together in Nick’s home village of Crowthorne in Berkshire.

After running their metal finishing business for several years, they sold up and moved to Carvoeiro in Portugal with their two dogs Gem and Samson, in 2003.

As a lifelong animal lover, Karen has rescued and bottle fed countless abandoned puppies and kittens. She also supports and contributes to a number of small, local charities including the Algarve Network for Families in Need, and crochets blankets, hats and hand warmers to be distributed by the charity.

Karen and Nick continue to live in their little piece of paradise.

The Book Tour

Day 1 - Favourite Quotes

“…things aren’t always the way they look from the outside.” (Andrew Bell)

‘Talking to her made me count my blessings.’ (Deb Barwick)

“We walked out of the estate agent’s office, got back into the car and Nick started the engine. With just enough packed into the roof box to get us through the next three or four days traveling, we headed out of the village and on to the motorway, next stop Folkestone.” (Eileen Tilley)

"I was just glad to be home." (Eleanor Dixon)

“Oh well, if things get tough, I can always weigh you in for scrap,” Nick murmured. (Kirsty McKay)

‘I began to wonder if someone deliberately followed us from house to house, dropping kittens for us to find?’  (Yvonne Weston)

"The vet examined him, wearing the obligatory gauntlets and informed us that Harry was in fact a female. She was now around seven or eight weeks old, in good health and received her first vaccination." (Tim Marshall)

Day 2 - Character Summaries

Protagonist, Karen Telling. I enjoyed the way her surroundings became just a distraction, although the old seemed reviewed through skeptical, almost indifferent, eyes. There is a desire to move forward, the inertia and lack of a routine goes to show how we should never wish too hard for our dreams to come true. It’s as though we need tragedy, stress and drama to be happy. She gives the impression that “all that glitters ain’t gold.” (Andrew Bell)

Karen Telling (the author). This book is autobiographical and written, of course, in the first person, giving readers a progressive and intimate viewpoint of a very special journey. Karen spares herself no blushes, sharing personal thoughts and feelings of deeply emotional events without restraint. As the book progressed, I felt my connection to the author. As she shared her trials and achievements, both small and large, I became more and more invested in outcomes, hoping for the best when things went badly and having a small internal cheer when better times came. (Deb Barwick)

Karen: I admired the fact that rather than just dream about a change in her life, she actually put it into motion. As someone who has considered buying a place in the sun before, I at times envied her courage to make the move. As someone who also experiences pain on a daily basis, I could relate to Karen’s struggles. We also share a love of animals and I enjoyed hearing about all the cats and dogs she welcomed into her life and got upset when something happened to them, due to my own experience of losing pets. I loved how she and her husband, Nick integrated themselves into the Portuguese community, making friends, learning the language and finding work. (Eileen Tilley)

The Taxi Driver was a character that stood out for me, after the author’s major surgery. It was his generosity of spirit and desire to help that made me connect to him. It reminded me of the many similar people I have met in my own travels. (Eleanor Dixon)

Karen: There are many lovable characters in Karen’s story, and whilst I do have a huge soft spot for the animal kingdom, it was Karen herself that I resonated with the most. As a writer with a long-term disability, I could relate to all of Karen’s frustrations, and the strength of her character when she found herself in a situation of battling against the demands of her own body. Karen and Nick’s obvious love for each other and their family, as they continued to strive for what was most important to them, and the camaraderie and humour, reminds me very much of my own relationship with my husband. Both he and I fully understand just how much it takes to keep on going, and not give up on your dreams, and so I can honestly say on behalf of us both that Karen is a true inspiration. (Kirsty McKay)

Karen: Karen is the main character with her husband Nick, and of course she is the one that the reader engages with the most. Vivid descriptive passages in the book makes it an hugely enjoyable read, we feel the emotions of the couple as they make the change of a lifetime moving to Portugal, and all that endures.There is nothing to dislike about Karen’s character, she is kind and warm hearted, and we are devastated with her at the loss of their animals, and the news that she needs major surgery that her insurance will not pay! We are willing on the couple’s search for a permanent abode, and their different employment options in another country. A very scary thought for most people! Karen’s emotions are very vivid and real, the prose takes us into the story throughout the book. As she describes the wonderful people they meet, the reader also feels a connection. A lady I can identify with in many ways, Karen is such an excellent storyteller. The more we learn about her, the more likeable she is! (Yvonne Weston)

Harry/Tink: One of my favourite characters in the book was the kitten called Harry (later Tink) that Karen and Nick took in. The story reminded me somewhat of my own cat, who was similarly misidentified early on and also similarly grumpy. Harry (aka Tink) comes across as a clever handful, and the efforts to care for her in spite of her unwillingness shows the patience and care the author has for her animals. (Tim Marshall)

Day 3 - Favourite Excerpts

‘”If I don’t operate, one day your spine will break,” which he demonstrated with a twig-snapping gesture.’ Such a short excerpt but one that, for me, summed up the strength and fortitude of the author. So many trials, worry, and pain, and yet she continued to smile, look to the future, and to strive for that wonderful life that she and her husband had set their hearts upon. (Deb Barwick)

“A little face appeared on the other side of the boundary wall between us and the next door neighbours, attracted by the sound of our voices and we saw a small grey and white tabby cat with huge, bright blue eyes.” (Eileen Tilley)

Gem, a rescued German Shepherd cross, was 14 and quite laid-back, probably because she was losing her hearing and her sight. We’d adopted her when she was about 18 months old; her black muzzle had now turned completely grey. We hadn’t even expected her to make the journey to Portugal as she had several health problems and was none too steady on her back legs, but it seemed she was determined to accompany us to our new home. As she plodded on and as our moving date drew closer, we had to quickly get her paperwork and vaccinations sorted so she could join us on our adventure. (Eleanor Dixon)

“I was just finishing putting the cutlery away when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. Something had walked through the open door and on into the living room. I followed quickly in case it was some kind of wildlife or even a bird. I arrived just in time to see Catkin, tail held proudly aloft, as she stalked into the room. She passed the dogs, stretched out on the sofa, without so much as a glance, jumped onto an armchair and started to give herself a hood wash. The dogs didn’t move a muscle, I think they were in shock.” (Kirsty McKay)

I had no idea of the long road of recovery that lay ahead and how my life would change completely. How I would never again know a pain-free day, never again sit on a chair like a normal person, or be able to walk up or downhill, how I would eventually be described as Totally and Permanently Disabled… I get this, because I too am in a similar situation. The weird thing is the first time saying aloud that you are permanently disabled, then the first person you tell. (Yvonne Weston)

We walked out of the estate agent’s office, got back into the car and Nick started the engine. With just enough packed into the roof box to get us through the next three or four days travelling, we headed out of the village and onto the motorway, next stop Folkestone. This promised to be a very different experience from our first trip to Portugal and I couldn’t help my mind returning to those heady, carefree days of sixteen years ago. The past suddenly seemed incredibly important. Had I known what our future would bring, that I would find myself lying in a hospital bed, not knowing if I would ever walk or even sit upright again, I wonder now if we would have embarked on this venture at all. But hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing. (Andrew Bell)

On my first evening alone, one of her sons noticed me struggling to eat from my prone position and offered to help. This time I didn’t hesitate to accept. Still chatting away to his mum, he washed his hands at the basin in the corner and came to expertly fillet my fish, piling the flesh on one side of the plate with the Dettol vegetables and scraping the bones to the opposite side, out of my limited reach. It was such a kind and unselfconscious gesture, as if totally normal to be cutting up a stranger’s food for them. The next night, he didn’t even ask, just went and washed his hands and prepared my meal. He continued to do so every night for the rest of my stay. I will always remember how grateful I was, when feeling so vulnerable and alone, for that simple action; it cost him nothing but meant everything to me. (Tim Marshall)

Day 4 - Video Interview

Day 5 - Reviews

Overall star rating 4 stars: A heartwarming and uplifting book that had me quickly turning the pages and staying up late at night to want to read more. I’m now excited to read the sequel, Our Little Piece of Paradise. (Eileen Tilley)

Overall star rating 4 stars: Another Day in Paradise by Karen Telling is a gentle meander through the memoirs of the author as she and her husband leave England to settle in Portugal. I can imagine it would be interesting for someone who has done the same or is about to do so. Karen and her husband had some amazing experiences and showed true grit to overcome them. I love their dedication to the animals they took with them and the ones they adopted while there. (Eleanor Dixon)

Overall star rating 4 stars: I really enjoyed this well written account of Karen’s and her husband, Nick’s, decision to move to the Algarve and create a new life, having lost their hearts to the country when they first visited as tourists. For anyone considering moving from the UK to abroad, this engaging story covers some of the challenges faced as Karen and her husband set out to achieve their dream of paradise. What I particularly loved about this story is the way in which Karen shares her frustrations in a manner that demonstrates her strength of character, her ability to accept situations for what they are, and to look beyond them, having not given up at the first hurdle. Particularly when she is faced with her greatest challenge yet, the decline of her health and disability diagnosis. Her story is truly heartwarming, as she and her husband open their arms to those in need of love and a supportive home, and extend their family, despite their own apparent difficulties. The photographs throughout the book were a lovely touch to help readers connect emotionally to the events that were shared. Karen’s story moves at a good pace, keeping her readers engaged. Although the story does jump around in places where Karen moves between events in time. This doesn’t spoil the reader's enjoyment of the story, but if you are one who likes to follow an account in the order of events as it occurs, it may at times be distracting. As Another Day in Paradise is a true account of events, it is hard to comment on the author's character development, but the way in which Karen describes herself, husband, and family in the story, is written in such a way that is easily relatable and takes the reader on the journey with them. Therefore, I was able to form an emotional connection. There were moments in the book that reminded me of a film I particularly enjoyed, called the Money Pit, which really made me smile and like the characters in the film, Karen and her husband persevered through their difficulties. I admire their determination and courage to keep on working to achieve their aspirations. (Kirsty McKay)

Overall star rating 4 stars: I enjoy travelogue/adventure books like this, but it takes a special writer to make the tale enthralling from start to finish. Karen Telling definitely is special. A move to another country is something a lot of people dream of, and there are a lot of British expats across Europe. We all have a nightmare of needing major surgery in another country, and this is a factor that dissuades some from making the dream a reality. It is all dealt with increasingly well in Karen’s book, and without giving too much away, we are sympathetic to her plight and wish her recovery is speedy. The couple’s menagerie has a starring role throughout the book, we can feel their emotions when the good and the bad strikes. An excellent and entertaining read! (Yvonne Marrs)

Overall Star Rating 4 stars: Another Day in Paradise offers glimpses into retrospective moments of the author’s life as she moves to the Algarve in Portugal. It’s written in a very personal style, with memories of sometimes small and sometimes very large moments told with varying degrees of detail, told in the same way that one might relate any story. It doesn’t necessarily have a definite structure or a clear intent of message, but it’s a story about life, which isn’t always so smooth. My favourite parts of the book were those that related to animals or the more heartfelt moments such as the unexpected kindness of strangers. (Tim Marshall)

Overall Star Rating 4 Stars: Not a genre I would ordinarily have chosen, this book is an autobiographical snapshot of a time in the author’s life that is both inspiring and enjoyable. Produced in paperback, the grammar, punctuation, and formatting are of a high standard, making for an easy read and allowing the reader to immerse in the story effortlessly. For me, the first section of the book read a little like a private journal or a travel log, and it did slow a little. I did also wonder, more than once, why Karen and Nick decided to move to Portugal after their first holiday experience. Crowds of tourists, parking spaces as rare as rocking horse poo, grumpy waiters, and a near-death cliff-top experience would not have made me want to return. However, the joy given by the many animal companions, and the pace of the latter stages of the book certainly quashed my earlier doubts, and made up for the slower first chapters. The photographs interspersed throughout the book added depth to an already well-rounded prose. The author’s style - chatty, personal, and very relatable - makes this a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys true-life adventures, has a love of animals, or perhaps is thinking of seeking a new life abroad. Lots of useful information is included within the pages about the many pitfalls of moving to sunnier climes. (Deb Barwick)

Overall Star Rating 4 Stars: Good things, happen in their own time and the lack of routine and structure can quickly spoil the idealistic vision. The dream is always better than reality. (Andrew Bell)