The first two novels of my five part Clifton Chronicles Series took a cast of memorable characters from the ravages of the Great War to the opulence of 40s New York, and followed Harry Clifton as he fought for survival amidst the perils of War and the betrayal of friends. To celebrate the release of Best Kept Secret we’re giving you another chance to win a limited edition Ingersoll watch and a signed copy of Best Kept Secret in hardback. Read on to find out more! 

50 days. 400 hours. That’s how long the first draft of book four has taken me to write, long-hand, here at my home in Majorca. Don’t get confused, because book three, Best Kept Secret, is actually published in just a couple of weeks, on March 14th. I have to work a year in advance, so when one book is hitting the Tesco bookshelves, I’m already working on the next.

I come to Majorca because there are no distractions – I don’t have to answer the phone, or go out to dinner or visit the theatre. I sit in my writing room looking out over the beautiful Bay of Palma with the Tramuntana Mountains in the distance and I can think through plot, do some research, and write in total silence – well, except for the occasional dog barking nearby.

I would imagine very few writers work in the same way. Personally I’m extremely disciplined, and like to follow a set routine, writing in four, two-hour blocks – 6-8am, 10-12noon, 2-4pm and 6-8pm. I have a large silver two-hour egg timer on my desk that Mary bought for me many years ago, and it’s proved very useful for keeping me on track. I’m a lark, so my PA tells me my handwriting is always better in the first session, and gradually gets worse as the day wears on.

A typical writing day will always include a couple of long walks – I find walking clears my head, especially if I’m wrestling with a tricky part of the plot, or introducing a new character. If the weather’s good I’ll eat a light lunch out on the terrace (in January!), and then in the evening I’ll relax by watching an hour or so of TV, maybe a film or a drama series – on this trip I’ve watched Parade’s End and The Paradise, and have become hooked on Borgen – it’s the Danish equivalent to The West Wing.

It’s back to London next week to a full schedule of interviews leading up to publication day, and then in early March I’m looking forward to going to Dubai to speak at the Emirates Literary Festival, followed by a book tour to India – 4 cities in 7 days.

I hope you’ll all enjoy catching up with the Clifton and Barrington families in Best Kept Secret. Do let me know.

Now to celebrate the release of the latest book in my Clifton Chronicles Series, Best Kept Secret, Tesco are giving you the chance to win a limited edition Ingersoll watch and a signed copy of the book! As well as this 5 runners-up will win a copy of Only Time Will Tell and The Sins of the Father in paperback!

To be in with the chance of winning simply answer this question in the comments section below:

Jeffrey Archer’s Clifton Chronicles series paints a vivid history of the entire twentieth century, but if you could live in any period of history when would it be and why?

Pre-order Best Kept Secret online now or buy it in store from the 14th March!

Terms and Conditions

1. This competition is for one winner to receive the first prize – an Ingersoll watch and a signed copy of Best Kept Secret in hardback. And five runners-up to win a paperback copy of Only Time Will Tell and The Sins of the Father.

2. The Winners will be selected at random in accordance with these terms and conditions by Tesco whose decision will be final.

3. The Winner may see their entry posted on the Tesco Books Blog and Twitter account.

4. There is no purchase necessary to enter.

5. The competition opens at 12pm Midday on 5th March 2013 and closes at 11.59 on 25th March 2013. Any entries received outside these specified times and dates will not be eligible for entry into the competition.

6. The competition is open to any UK residents aged 18 or over except employees of Tesco, their families, or anyone professionally connected to the competition either themselves or through their families.

7. Only one entry per person allowed. Second or subsequent entries will be disqualified. Entries will not be accepted via agents, third parties or in bulk.

8. Tesco Books is not responsible for contacting or forwarding prizes to entrants who provide unclear or incomplete information or for entries lost, misdirected, delayed or destroyed.

9. Tesco Books reserves the right to alter the prizes or cancel the competition without notice. No cash alternatives to prizes will be provided.

10. The Winner will be published on the Tesco Books Blog within 5 working days of the closing date.

11. Entrants information will not be shared and will be deleted once a winner has been notified accordingly.

12. Tesco Books will only use email addresses of the entrants, and the winners’ postal addresses, in compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with our privacy policy. The emails from the entrants and from the winner with their postal addresses (including any other record of the address), will be deleted respectively after the end on the competition and after the prize has been posted.

13. By entering the competition each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.

14. This competition is being organised by Tesco Books.