Interview with Keith Anthony…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I live in Buckinghamshire and enjoy hiking in the Chiltern countryside, though I’m determined this year to start cycling again. I’d also like to learn wildlife photography. I play classical and finger picking blues guitar, but hit a musical ceiling a long time ago. At school I liked languages: I’ve since spent short periods of time living in a number of European countries, often trying to learn their languages too, though with mixed success… Balkan languages are super hard! I’m also interested in spiritual matters, but always with many more questions than answers.

Times and Places is about a couple who lost their 24 year old daughter a decade previously. They go on a cruise, meeting lots of colourful people but, amidst various misadventures, their emotions finally come to a head. There are plenty of flashbacks to their daughter’s life and to the aftermath of her accident, and these often involve locations I love. My story has some quietly spiritual parts to it, but I sought to mix in lots of observational humour, pathos, romance, natural beauty and light gothic horror to create a thoughtful but very accessible read.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I went on a cruise and it struck me as a perfect setting for a novel: on board you are trapped with strangers to love or loath, ships call at interesting ports and cruises are ripe for humour and satire.

I once ventured on a silent retreat and was interested by how the mind responds to being taken out of the modern world. I decided to send Fergus there too, to think through his anxieties and his faith, but the reader is left to make up their own mind: they are entirely free to think him crazy!

Finally, I wanted to capture the beauty of the places I love – the Isles of Scilly, Slovenia, the Chilterns – and to use them to evoke a slightly mystical natural backdrop to a poignant story.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

I’m half Fergus, with his anxieties and spiritual wonderings, and half his daughter Justine, with her love of nature, wildlife and romantic train journeys. But there are also bits of them that are not me at all, and bits of me that are not them.

How do you pick your characters names?

Fergus and his wife Sylvie, I have no idea! They just came to me and felt immediately right: I never looked back. And Justine was the name of an early crush… it was a non-starter of course, but somehow the name has stuck. Casey (her boyfriend), as in the story, was named after a cat I once briefly looked after, though he (the character not the cat!) insists on using his nickname of “Jones”.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

Nowadays, with computers, pre-planning is less key: you can keep going back and forward through the text, deleting what doesn’t work and adding complications, details, side stories etc. Eventually, you have a first draft of your book! So my process is to have an idea and a general plot and then to start writing. It took about 6 months, though the polishing and editing then took three times as long.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

I don’t have favourite authors, more favourite books, but I would definitely say Jonathan Coe. I love his mix of humour and pathos and how multiple strands come together in the end. I’ve tried to emulate that in “Times and Places”.

Otherwise, I enjoy anything which is poignantly sad, such as “What was lost”, or which is about people who struggle to fit in, “Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine” and “The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry” being two recent examples.

I like contemplatively spiritual books such as “Life of Pi” but they must avoid being preachy. In terms of the classics, I’ve hardly scratched the surface, but I read “Wuthering Heights” back to back twice, and was shocked by the ending of “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”. I love the depiction of the natural world in both.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Maybe Roald Dahl… he had unsurpassed imagination and lived quite locally to me, though I never saw him. My question would be “why did you come and give a talk at my school on the one day I wasn’t there?” Apparently he went down a storm with the pupils, even if not with all the teachers.

Were you a big reader as a child?

No, not as a teenager at any rate, much to my Mum’s frustration, she was an English teacher and has always been an avid book lover. When I was very young, I remember her patiently reading to me the fairy tales of Ruth Manning Saunders – still super atmospheric by the way – amongst much else. Later I did really enjoy reading several children’s series, including the Willard Price “Adventure” books, but describing myself as having been “a big reader” would be a lie.

When did you start to write?

I kept a detailed diary every day from 1990 through to 2003, which I think really honed my ability to write naturally. I first started writing children’s stories about five years ago, though I do remember an atmospheric one called “Paradise Farm” which I wrote for a friend’s son much earlier. My latest story was very recent, for my goddaughter’s 7th birthday earlier this month: “The juggler of poisonous frogs.”

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

Either that disturbing ending to “Tess”… or the ending to “The Book Thief”, giving Rudi a chance to say what he needs to say. But I admit I’ve only seen that film, so perhaps I should choose Tess.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

I like the casual style of “The Catcher in the Rye” and even now relate to its angst and to the dreamy job of watching over children playing in a rye field, catching any who run out dangerously close to the nearby cliff… though I imagine in real life that could be quite stressful! Anyway, I understand why Holden Caulfield wanted to do it. A few parts are dated now… but it reached me as a teenager and even today I suspect it still reaches teenagers other books can’t touch.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Not sure… maybe “Stepping out of the dream…” I feel that is what I have done with my book… I always wanted to write one, now I have. I hope this gives me confidence and opportunities to do more of the things I’ve previously only dreamed about.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

If it is not cheating (because the book itself remains on my list), I would say Rudi from “the Book Thief”. I’d be his Catcher and leave him somewhere safe. I hate to think that there were (and still are) countless real Rudis in the world… they all deserve(d) much better. Towards the end of my book Fergus reflects similarly.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on marketing “Times and Places”… but I do have a potential idea for a second novel, though I haven’t started it yet, so there’s a long, long way to go. And I’m told the second book is the hardest… actually they put it rather more strongly than that, so don’t hold your breath.

Do you have a new release due?

Judging by my first novel, I’d say in about two years!

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Well I have only had one so far and I took the day off work to enjoy the moment. I did naively venture to my local bookshop: my novel wasn’t in the window, nor was it on a display, and it wasn’t on a bookshelf either… I sloped off consoling myself that it must still be out the back somewhere. I’ve since learned that Waterstones have ordered copies, so they are out there…

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Please follow me on Twitter, @KeithAnthonyWS, or write to me via my publisher, the Book Guild. I would love to hear from anyone who reads my book, for better or worse, or relates to its themes!

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

This is nearly 1,500 words, I think that’s probably already too much!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Keith 🙂

Times and Places

Ten years after his daughter Justine’s death, an anxious Fergus embarks on a cruise with his wife. On board, he meets a myriad of characters and is entranced by some, irritated by others and disgusted by one. These turbulent feelings, combined with a sequence of bizarre events, only lead to his increased anxiety.

In a series of flashbacks, Justine enjoys an ultimately short romance, a woman concludes she killed her and an investigating police officer is drawn into her idyllic world. Fergus, haunted by poignant memories, withdraws in search of answers.

Back on the cruise, Fergus reaches breaking point, fearing he has done something terrible. By the time the ship returns, his world has changed forever.

“Times and Places” spans Atlantic islands, the Chiltern countryside, Cornish coasts and rural Slovenia, all of which provide spectacular backdrops to a humorous and moving tale of quiet spirituality.

Purchase from Amazon:

http://amzn.to/2o9hgF0

Purchase from Book Guild –

https://www.bookguild.co.uk/bookshop-collection/fiction/times-and-places/

Purchase from WH Smith –

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/times-and-places/9781912362141

Purchase from Waterstones –

https://www.waterstones.com/book/times-and-places/keith-anthony/9781912362141

Author Bio –

Keith was born and brought up in the Chilterns, to where he returned after studying French at university in Aberystwyth and a subsequent spell living in west London. He has a love of nature, both in his native Buckinghamshire countryside, but also in Cornwall and wherever there is a wild sea.

Keith has been lucky enough to spend time living in France, Spain, Belgium, Serbia and Croatia, as well as being a regular visitor to Germany, and languages were the only thing he was ever half good at in school. Since graduating he has worked in government departments, but between 2005 and 2008 he was seconded to the European Commission in Brussels and, thanks to a friend from Ljubljana he met there, has travelled regularly to Slovenia, getting to know that country well.

Keith’s other great love is music and he plays classical and finger picking blues guitar, though with persistently limited success. He has always enjoyed writing, including attempts at children’s fiction, and in 2016 he began work on his first full book with “Times and Places” the end result: an accessible, observational story, mixing quiet spirituality with humour, pathos and gothic horror, and setting it against a rich backdrop of the natural world.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/KeithAnthonyWS

Giveaway –

Win 3 x Signed copies of Times and Places (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Check out the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Enjoy!

Interview with Lorraine Hellier…..

Thank you for inviting me to your blog.

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I live near the cathedral city of Lichfield, Staffordshire, overlooking the Trent and Mersey canal. I visit local schools, libraries and bookstores offering Author Visits and Creative Writing Workshops. I love to travel and a visit to New Zealand inspired this novel, “The Elf King,” which is the first of a trilogy. It is a story of the love and loyalty of family and friends on a perilous journey.

I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a local group of writers who support and encourage each other.

The sequel is “The Elf Quest,” official publication April 2018, copies now available.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I’m rarely short of ideas but have to make notes of them while I focus on the project I am working on. I often dream or get an idea just as I’m waking. Sometimes travelling, pictures, TV, a chance remark or conversation sparks an idea.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Without realising, it’s only when I look back on a story, I discover there’s a little of myself in some characters. Unconsciously I use traits of family members but the characters don’t look anything like them.

How do you pick your characters names?

Names of characters are often where I begin something new. Once I have one character I may research others which will work together: For example the flowers and herbs for names of the characters in “The Elf King.” I often just make up a name if it is a fantasy character or use a mythical name.

I resorted to a telephone directory once though.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I brainstorm an idea, make rough notes and I usually know the beginning and end of the story. It’s up to the characters to get me there!

My first draft is always longhand. I type up chapter by chapter rephrasing along the way. Edit, critique with other writers, Edit, Edit, Edit… read aloud. Edit again. Before publisher gets a look!

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

This is difficult because they can frequently change. I love classics like Charlotte Bronte. I also like Anthony Horowitz YA novels. Recently I find I want to support new authors Patrice Lawrence, Eugene Lambert, Peter Bunzi.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

J. R. R. Tolkien. Can you take me to Middle Earth and share your inspirational thoughts?

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I almost always had a book in my hand. To the extent I would be told to “put that book down and help with the washing up!”

When did you start to write?

I started writing around 2000. I returned from living and working in Guernsey, Channel Islands full of ideas for children’s stories. I joined a writers group and took a writers course. I learnt a lot from other writers and still appreciate their advice and support.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Probably something like “On my Own” as everything I have achieved has been through my own efforts.

What are you working on right now?

The third book of my Elf Trilogy

Do you have a new release due?

“The Elf Quest” book two of Trilogy, official publication date is April 2018 but is now available.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Readers can contact me via my website http://www.lorrainehellier.com and follow my Facebook page Lorraine Hellier, Children’s Author.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

“The Elf King” is a traditional style “fairytale,” approach reading it with that in mind rather than expecting references to modern technology.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Lorraine 🙂 I live not too far away from you!

The Elf King

Bay Leaf is the new Elf King and must take his Oath of Allegiance. His sister, Sweet Pea, demonstrates her love and support on a perilous journey to the Mountain Shrine.

An enchanted book offers advice and guidance from their ancestors and warns Sweet Pea to take care of her brother. Will her interference resolve Bay Leaf’s heartache?

Purchase from Amazon UK –

http://amzn.to/2EHNCi6

Author Bio –

Lorraine writes from her canal-side home near the cathedral city of Lichfield, Staffordshire. She visits local schools offering Author Visits and Creative Writing Workshops. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators supporting and encouraging other members.

Lorraine loves to travel, a visit to New Zealand inspired this novel.

The sequel “The Elf Quest” will be published April 2018.

Social Media Links

Website http://www.lorrainehellier.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Lorraine-Hellier-Childrens-Author-205398739480807/

Check out the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Enjoy!

Interview with Susan-Alia Terry…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I always loved to read, but didn’t consider writing until my early-to-mid 40s. Mid-life crisis? Possibly. Probably. I was bored in my current job and the question running around my mind was “Is this it?” Given that I could have another 40 to 50 years (or more) ahead of me, continuing in that vein seemed a bit bleak. So I went about exploring my creative side. Since I love music, I decided to give that a try. I found out that I have no patience for learning an instrument. Since I love reading, I decided to give writing a try. Once I dropped my pre-conceived notions about writers, I instantly fell in love. In 2016 (at 52), my first book, Coming Darkness, was released. I can easily see doing this for the next 50-plus years!

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

The idea for Coming Darkness grew out of a dream. In that dream, a bunch of goth kids went to a graveyard to summon Satan. Lucifer, played by a very stylish David Niven, shows up and tells them how stupid they all are.

The dream stuck with me, and from it I wrote that scenario with Lucifer and Kai. While the scene didn’t make it into the final novel, it was the springboard for the story.

In general, my ideas come from all different places. I’ll be watching a movie and somebody will say something and that will create a seed of an idea. Same thing can happen while reading. The most innocent thing can spark an idea that I want to build on.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

No. At least not intentionally!

How do you pick your characters names?

Sometimes they tell me what their names are. Other times I feel it out. It sounds weird, but I know how the name feels (and possibly the first letter), and while I’m scouring lists of baby names I’m looking for a resonance to that feeling.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

When I started writing Coming Darkness, I had no idea what the story was. All I knew was that I wanted to build a story around a Lucifer that not only had never been to Hell, but also was not The Devil. He still hated humans, but all the rest of it was untrue. I also had Kai and Roberta.

I wrote a bunch of scenes, trying to get a sense of the story. I tried Mind Mapping. I got a huge piece of paper and wrote down character names and ideas. Then I circled some I thought were on a similar path and drew lines connecting groups with conflicts etc. It was an interesting exercise, and slightly helpful.

The thing I’m most comfortable with though, is both writing and daydreaming the story. I write some and then let my mind and imagination flow, and they feed on each other. I may imagine a scene, but then when I sit down to write it, it becomes something else entirely. That sparks my imagination further and it takes off until I write the next bit, and so on.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

In no particular order: Clive Barker, Anne Rice, Stephen King, R.A. Salvatore, Lee Child

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was, but I didn’t pay attention to authors. I read a lot, but I rarely recalled the author’s name. It didn’t occur to me that there were actual people behind the stories. The covers attracted me and the blurbs sealed the deal. There were a handful of authors I knew: Judy Blume was one, Alan Dean Foster was another, but for the most part, I didn’t pay attention to who wrote the books I read. Looking back, there was something really freeing about picking up a random book and reading it without regard to who wrote it or what anyone else had to say about it.

When did you start to write?

I started writing poetry in college, and I played around with writing on and off afterwards. It wasn’t until around 2004 that I started really thinking about it, and it wouldn’t be until another 2 or so years until my first National Writing Month when things started getting serious.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

I wouldn’t have killed Sirius Black.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

No, because the book wouldn’t be the same. A book is the product of the author: their life’s experiences, their personality etc. I couldn’t write their book. Now, would I like one of my books to emulate the success (either commercially or artistically) of other books? Absolutely.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on the revisions to the follow-up to Coming Darkness.

Do you have a new release due?

Hopefully this year will see the release of the follow up to Coming Darkness, tentatively titled Dreaming in Shadow.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

When Coming Darkness was released, I basked in happiness. It was a perfect day. I’m looking forward to feeling that way with each successive release.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I can be found on:

On my website: susanaliaterry.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanaliaterry

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@susan_alia

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Thank you Kerry, for the opportunity to be your guest on this tour! I also want to thank all of my readers, and I hope they will continue to read and enjoy my work for years to come!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Susan :-)

Coming Darkness

Archangel Lucifer lives a comfortable life of self-imposed exile with his vampire lover, Kai. When the other Archangels come to him with a problem — Heaven is gone and their Father is missing — he refuses to get involved because not only is it not his problem, but it’s probably some elaborate ruse they’ve cooked up to lure him back into the fold. When he’s personally attacked, he finds that he’s wrong on both counts. There are other powerful gods at work, gods who believe the current creation is flawed and must be destroyed.

Kai is thrown off balance when Lucifer disappears, and his life begins to spiral out of control. In the past, he never cared that he was looked down upon and called Lucifer’s pet. But with Lucifer absent, he’s left to navigate a world that doesn’t respect him. Since the only true currency is respect, he must gain it the only way his enemies will understand, through blood.

Purchase from Amazon –

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D7MM5IM/

Author Bio –

They say it’s never too late to find and pursue your passion. Turns out they’re right. Although Susan loved to read, she didn’t start writing until she was in her late 40’s. A stint in grad school helped her hone her craft, and now she happily spends her days making up stories and figuring out how best to emotionally (and sometimes physically) torture her characters.

Social Media Links –

Website: http://susanaliaterry.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanaliaterry

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@susan_alia

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/SusanAliaTerry

Creativia Author Page: http://www.creativia.org/focus-passion-and-purpose-fantasy-author-susan-alia-terry.html

Check out the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Enjoy!

Welcome to my stop on Kathryn Hitchins’ #TGD blog tour 🙂

I have the pleasure of sharing a very interesting interview with the author herself…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

My author name is K A Hitchins and have been writing seriously since 2012. I’ve written four books and am currently writing my fifth, all of which might be described as contemporary, commercial fiction. My debut novel, The Girl at the End of the Road, was published by Instant Apostle in March 2016, followed by The Key of All Unknown in October 2016. Both books were short-listed for the Woman Alive magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award 2017, with The Key of All Unknown reaching the final three. My third novel, The Gardener’s Daughter, was released this month (March 2018). I live in St Albans, Hertfordshire with my husband and two children, together with our Rhodesian Ridgeback, four guinea pigs and two hamsters.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I am a member of a writer’s group, and the idea for The Gardener’s Daughter came from an exercise where we each picked a couple of photos from a selection of magazines and spent about fifteen minutes in class writing a story based on the photos. I picked a picture of the Eden Project in Cornwall and a photo of caravans in a holiday camp. From the juxtaposition of these two places, the idea for the novel was born.

The idea for ‘The Key of All Unknown’ arose from a flash fiction exercise, again generated by my writing group. I began writing five hundred words from the point of view of a woman in a coma, and it expanded into a 75,000 word novel! I’ve often speculated what it would be like if I was suddenly faced with a potentially life threatening condition. I’d seen my own father die from cancer, and had sat by his side as he slowly slipped away. I’d wondered if he’d been able to hear me from inside the coma, and whether he was afraid or peaceful as he faced the end. This book gave me the opportunity to explore the idea further.

My debut novel, The Girl at the End of the Road, was my first response to the loss of my father and various other stresses going on in my life at that time. I started to jot down my feelings as a way of helping me cope with my grief. To give myself some emotional distance, I projected those feelings onto a male character, Vincent Stevens, who is upset and depressed after losing his job, girlfriend and swanky apartment in the credit crunch. The whole process was enormously cathartic.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Some of my characters, such as Vincent Stevens mentioned above, share some of my emotions or experiences. It’s almost impossible not to reflect myself in my writing in some way, however objective I attempt to be. I try and avoid basing my characters on people I know, though sometimes I pinch snatches of conversation and jokes from my friends and family.

How do you pick your characters names?

Picking names is quite difficult. I dodge names of people who are close to me if I can so that they don’t think the character is based on them. I chose the surname ‘Hewitt’ for a female character in ‘The Gardener’s Daughter’ and a male friend has already asked if I chose it because of him. It didn’t even occur to me at the time. I often google baby name sites and flick through the telephone directory. Some names just don’t suit certain characters, so I can end up changing names half way through writing a book which can be very confusing!

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I walk our dog for about an hour every morning when I plan out in my mind what I’m going to write that day. I don’t have much time, as I’m a Trustee of a small children’s charity working in West Africa, and I also work part-time for my publisher supporting other authors with their social media. I carry a notebook with me everywhere, and often jot down ideas while I’m sitting in the car waiting to collect the children from school. When I do have time on my laptop, I usually have my notes and the scenes I have already planned out in my head so I am able to type them up pretty quickly.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Ben Elton because he’s always readable, clever, witty, and a scathing commentator on the evils and stupidities of contemporary life.

Margaret Atwood, particularly for The Blind Assassin. which is a brilliant example of an unreliable narrator and the use of flashbacks.

Jane Austen for her acute observations of human behaviour, her wit and for giving us Mr Darcy.

Jodie Picoult for tackling challenging issues in a very readable way.

John Grisham, for continuing to produce gripping page turners, even if they are all variations of the same basic plot.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I’d like to meet Ben Elton and ask him to run for Parliament. It would certainly make parliamentary debates more entertaining.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes. I was also a big day dreamer and would completely lose myself in books. Reading was a way to escape the greyness of everyday life in the 1970’s. During the summer holidays I would be able to read four to five children’s novels a day. There was much less daytime television in those days and of course no computers or DVD’s, for which I’m very grateful.

When did you start to write?

I’d dreamed of being a writer throughout my childhood and teens. As soon as I realised stories were created by people and weren’t magically ‘just there’ to be plucked from the library shelves, I knew I wanted to create these worlds for myself and for other people.

I left school at sixteen, went to secretarial college and began working in London from the age of 17. I kept writing in the evenings and enrolled for writing classes and residential weeks. Finally I listened to the advice I was receiving that I ought to study the works of English literature and I signed myself up to do an English A level in evening classes, eventually managing to secure a place at Lancaster University to read English, Philosophy and Religious Studies when I was 21.

However, at the age of 28 I gave up writing after a particularly brutal heartbreak. The rejection silenced my voice. I no longer believed I had anything to say that was worth listening to. I stopped believing in the magic of fiction and in the happy ever after. It was time to knuckle down, put my dreams aside and concentrate on the real world, which meant earning enough to pay the bills.

It wasn’t until I had another heartbreak, the loss of my father, that I suddenly started writing again. It was as if a switch had been flicked off in 1991 and then flicked back on again in 2012. I had twenty years of pent up emotion and the words came pouring out: I finished The Girl at the End of the Road in two months.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

A story I find endlessly fascinating is The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. At first sight, it seems like a straightforward clash between good and evil, but it’s more complex than that. Dr Jekyll has invented a potion that allows him to present a respectable face to Victorian London, whilst transforming at night into Mr Hyde to indulge his wicked desires without fear of being caught. It’s not that Jekyll is all good and Hyde is all evil. Jekyll is a mixture of both. He enjoys turning into Hyde and living a secret, immoral life. It’s only when Hyde commits murder that Jekyll realises things have gone too far. By then it’s too late; Hyde has grown stronger and can now appear without the need of the potion. At the end of the book, Jekyll chooses to kill himself before Hyde takes over his body completely. Although Jekyll is a complete hypocrite, pretending to be one thing whilst being another, I feel a lot of sympathy for his dilemma at the end and I wish there had been a way for him to defeat his evil alter ego without having to die.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

I love Elisabeth is Missing by Emma Healey. It’s a beautifully crafted murder mystery seen through the eyes of Maud who suffers from dementia. She struggles to understand the present but also worries about things that have happened in the past. There are two missing women – Elizabeth and Sukey. Their stories are separated by seventy years but become intertwined in Maud’s fragmented memories. In the great tradition of the detective novel, the plot both conceals and reveals, challenging the reader to make sense of the jigsaw puzzle of recollections to find out what happened and whodunit. A gripping read with a satisfying ending. Of course, I wish I’d written it!

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Girl with a small voice begins to speak up.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

I’d like to meet Anne of Green Gables, that feisty, funny and above all unabashedly passionate girl created by L M Montgomery. She’s a red-haired, freckle-faced orphan who faces the world with absolutely nothing but the sheer force of her personality. I’d take her for a cup of coffee at the hair dressers where she could choose to have a complete restyle and colour change, followed by a trip to shops for a new wardrobe of clothes.

What are you working on right now?

I’m writing a novel about two families who live next door to each other with a shared adjoining wall. Each has a daughter who is forbidden from speaking to the neighbours, and each family has a dark secret which the girls begin to unravel when they agree to work together.

Tell us about your last release?

My last book was published in October 2016. The Key of All Unknown is the story of brilliant scientific researcher, Tilda Moss, who wakes up in hospital unable to speak or move and with no recollection of what happened to her. Determined to find answers and prove to her family and doctors that she’s not in a persistent vegetative state, she searches for clues in the conversations she overhears in her hospital room and in the fractured memories that haunt her. On the edge of death, and questioning the value of her life, Tilda’s only hope is to find the key of all unknown.

I was delighted when it reached the final three in the Woman Alive magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award 2017 and I had the very great pleasure of attending the gala dinner in September 2017.

Do you have a new release due?

My current book, The Gardener’s Daughter, is due out this month (March 2018). It’s a YA adventure which can be enjoyed by adult readers too. It’s about a girl’s search for her biological father. Here’s the blurb:

Motherless nineteen-year-old Ava has always believed brilliant botanist, Theo Gage to be her father. But when a chance discovery reveals she is not his daughter, her world falls apart. Determined to discover her true identity, Ava impetuously runs away and enlists the help of inexperienced private detective, Zavier Marshall. Pursued by shadowy figures, she takes on a new name and follows in her dead mother’s footsteps to work at the mysterious Fun World Holiday Camp. Penniless and cut-off from everything she’s ever known, and trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a ruthless criminal gang, will Ava survive in a world where she’s more valuable dead than alive? Will she discover the shocking truth behind her mother s death? And will she find her real father before it’s too late?

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

That’s an interesting question. My first book, The Girl at the End of the Road, was released on 24 March 2016. I expected to spend the day on social media posting and tweeting about the book and basking in the congratulations of my friends and family. I certainly didn’t think I’d be rushed into hospital.

When I woke on launch day, there was a rash of red spots on my throat and arms which didn’t blanch when pressed. I was queuing at the receptionist’s desk at my local surgery at nine o’clock sharp and was shown straight in. As soon as the doctor saw me, he telephoned the hospital to say I was on my way. Once in Accident and Emergency, I was fast-tracked through the system. Three hours later a registrar from the Haematology Department explained that I had idiopathic thrombocytopenia: normal blood platelet readings are between 150 – 400 per microliter of blood. A life threatening reading is anything below 20. My platelet levels were 3. My immune system was destroying my platelets and my blood could no longer clot.

The irony of my situation didn’t escape me. I was half way through the first draft of my second novel, The Key of All Unknown, a book about a woman in a critical condition in hospital. As she lies in bed, she desperately tries to remember what happened to her and questions the beliefs she’s built her life upon. Now I was lying in a hospital bed thinking about the meaning and purpose of my own life.

The next day I was sent home with high dosage steroids. Although physically exhausted, my mind was wide-awake because of the medication. I decided to continue writing my manuscript, tapping away on my laptop during the night while everyone else was asleep. Having just experienced my own life-threatening moment and spell in hospital, ideas poured out of me. Within a week I’d completed 30,000 words and finished the first draft.

Because I submitted the manuscript early, the publication date was brought forward from January 2017 to October 2016. I held a small launch party for family and friends, but can’t remember what I did on the actual publication day. I’d finally been weaned off the steroids by then and was suffering some miserable withdrawal symptoms and because the publication date had been brought forward I sadly hadn’t had time to plan a proper promotional strategy or blog tour.

I’m hoping that the release of The Gardener’s Daughter will go more smoothly!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Website Link http://www.kahitchins.co.uk

Twitter @KathrynHitchins

Instagram kathryn_hitchins

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Kathryn 🙂

Motherless nineteen-year-old Ava has always believed brilliant botanist Theo Gage to be her father. But when a chance discovery reveals she is not his daughter, her world falls apart. Determined to discover her true identity, Ava impetuously runs away and enlists the help of inexperienced private detective, Zavier Marshall. Pursued by shadowy figures, she takes on a new name and follows in her dead mother’s footsteps to work at the mysterious Fun World Holiday Camp. Penniless and cut off from everything she’s ever known, and trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a ruthless criminal gang, will Ava survive in a world where she’s more valuable dead than alive? Will she discover the shocking truth behind her mother’s death? And will she find her real father before it s too late?

Check out the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Enjoy!

I am delighted to be joining in with Caroline James’ The Best Boomerville Hotel blog tour 🙂 

Interview with Caroline James…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book please?

Hi Kerry, thanks for hosting me on your lovely blog. I am a UK based author and have been writing books for the last five years. My new novel, The Best Boomerville Hotel, was inspired by a hotel that I used to own in the Lake District. It was a lovely old building and with an eclectic group of guests checking in and out each day and stories were constantly in my head waiting to be told. When I was planning the book my research found that one in three people over the age of fifty in the UK are single and I thought it would be fun to create a virtual hotel for this age group and beyond to discover new experiences, from conservative to whacky, and discover how to make the most of the rest of their lives. Boomerville has tutors who include a Shaman who runs classes in a tepee, a clairvoyant called Queenie who sits in an old gypsy caravan, alongside James, a creative writing tutor, Potter Paul and Lucinda an eccentric artist. Guests often learn more than they bargained for!

Where do you get your ideas from?

My working life has been spent in the hospitality industry and it has been a wonderful area to exploit when thinking of new ideas to write about. I’ve had some amazing experiences on my travels and met some fascinating people.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

No. They are a figment of my imagination or elements of characters that I come across and then expand. Characters form themselves as you write and get to know them. They often surprise me by what they do!

How do you pick your character’s names?

A name must feel right for the character I’m writing about. I create a list and just know when it fits.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

Stolen hours, usually early mornings. Not every day but now, when writing a novel, at least four full days a week.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I’d love to sit down and chat with Arnold Bennett who wrote in the 1900s. He often wrote from a woman’s perspective and I would like to ask him how he managed to do this because he had great empathy. Willy Russell also achieved this quite brilliantly with Shirley Valentine and I think it is a great skill.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I always loved books although I hated school.

When did you start to write?

I never thought I was good enough and didn’t have the courage to write but six years ago I realised that if I didn’t have a go I would die wondering. My debut, Coffee Tea The Gypsy & Me was born and went straight to #3 in women’s fiction on Amazon. It was the best decision I ever made.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

No. A good book leaves me in admiration of the author and encourages me to write better.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Life on the Edge

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be?

I’d love a couple of hours with Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders. I don’t think we’d be drinking coffee…

What are you working on right now?

A novel called Hattie Goes to Hollywood which is a detective story so quite a change for me and the follow up to The Best Boomerville Hotel.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Sit at my desk with a glass of bubbles and work social media then enjoy a lovely meal with family and friends.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I love to hear from readers and can be contacted on all the links below.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Caroline 🙂

Thank YOU Kerry and happy reading everyone xx

Caroline James Links:

http://www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

http://www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter:@CarolineJames12 https://twitter.com/CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineJames/

The Best Boomerville Hotel Links:

Amazon: http://mybook.to/TBBH

Kobo: https://goo.gl/VRh2XT

Ibooks/Google: https://goo.gl/2aq7sz

Itunes: https://apple.co/2lZrl6F

Enjoy!

Happy Publication Day, Audrey Davis 🙂

The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part Two

The story continues …

Hattie is used to her deceased husband Gary dropping in and out of her life. His timing might not always be great, but at least he’s still around. Although – when Hattie tentatively tries a spot of dating – his interference isn’t entirely welcome. Best friend Cat is lapping up her new relationship with teacher Jamie, but ex-husband Stewart isn’t prepared to fade into the background. Hattie’s mother Rachel faces a daunting battle, one she doesn’t want to burden family and friends with. But there’s someone waiting in the wings who might be more than a shoulder to cry on. Gary still doesn’t know what his mission on earth is, and spirit guide Clarence isn’t offering any clues? Will an encounter with another provide him with answers, or put Hattie in an impossible situation? Prepare for more laughs and tears in the second instalment of a trilogy which takes a darkly comic look at life … and the afterlife.

Warning: Cliffhanger ending

Purchase from Amazon UK –

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunting-Hattie-Hastings-Part-Two-ebook/dp/B079WN5F5G

About Audrey Davis

Audrey Davis survived secondary school on the West coast of Scotland. Rubbish at science but not too bad at English, she originally wanted to be an actress but was persuaded that journalism was a safer option. Probably wise. She studied at Napier College in Edinburgh, the only place in Scotland at that time to offer a journalism course.

Her first foray into the hard-nosed newspaper world was as a junior reporter in Dumfriesshire. Duties included interviewing farmers about the prize-winning heifers to reporting on family tragedies. She persuaded her editor to let her launch an entertainment column which meant meeting the odd celebrity – or just the downright odd. From there, she moved to the loftier rank of senior reporter back in her home patch. Slightly more money, less farm animals but a higher crime rate. As Taggart would say: ‘There’s been a murrrrder!’ After a stint in London on a video magazine – yes, she is that old – Audrey moved to Singapore with her fiancé. She tried valiantly to embrace the stinking heat, humidity and lack of jobs, although she did work briefly on a magazine which was banned by the government for ‘artistic’ use of naked men’s bottoms.

Next on her adventures was a land Down Under where her main focus was raising Cost Centre One (aka firstborn) and coming to terms with the imminent arrival of Number Two. Still, she loved the Aussie way of life – BBQs, beaches and bring your own booze to restaurants – so it came as a blow when OH announced a move back to the UK. Not a job between them, the climate a possible deal breaker and an Exorcist-style vomiting infant on the flight home didn’t bode well …

Always a survivor, Audrey sought out similar-minded friends (i.e. slightly bonkers), got the children into a good school and thought about taking up writing again. Sadly, thinking about it was as far as she got, unless you count shopping lists. Then, hubby drops another bombshell. Switzerland. As in – it’s packing time again. Off to the land of cheese, chocolate, scarily efficient trains and a couple of teeny, tiny issues. Like driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road and speaking a foreign language (French). The former was conquered fairly quickly (we’ll skip over the wall demolition in week two), the latter remains an ongoing battle of the hopeful against the hopeless. At least she provides amusement for the local workforce. It wasn’t until 2016 that Audrey rediscovered her writing mojo with an online Writing Fiction course. From there, her first novel – A Clean Sweep – was born, although it took a bit longer than nine months from conception. A short, darker prequel – A Clean Break – followed, and in November 2017 she published the first in a novella trilogy, The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part One. Part Two is published on 21 March 2018, with the conclusion following in May/June. After which she might have a wee lie down …

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/audreydavisbooks

Twitter- https://twitter.com/audbyname

Check out the rest of today’s Publication day posts and the following blog tour with these awesome book bloggers…..

Enjoy!

I’m delighted to be joining in with Soulla Christodoulou’s The Summer Will Come blog tour 🙂

Interview with Soulla Christodoulou…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I’m a former Business Studies Teacher and have vast experience in marketing and business prior to teaching. I have three almost grown up boys and live in Finchley in North London, very close to where I grew up.

I gave up teaching to work part-time in marketing again and to set up my own English tutoring business and creative writing classes in January 2015. Since then I have written two novels and a collection of poetry. My novels are Broken Pieces of Tomorrow (women’s fiction, semi-biographical) and The Summer Will Come (historical fiction, 1950s Cyprus and London) ) and Sunshine after Rain is a collection of poetry created around old phrases and sayings.

I also hand write personal letters of love and support to women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I send these to a charity called Girls Love Mail who distribute the letters to patients across California and last year one of my letters was selected for inclusion in the Dear Friend book – a collection of these letters – which raises awareness and funds.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

All my ideas come from real life experiences, either personal or shared by friends, family or in the case of my WIP, a chance connection on Twitter.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

My first novel Broken Pieces of Tomorrow has a number of characters based on people I know and their experiences, although these have been embellished for the development or pace of the story. This second release The Summer Will Come was inspired by a number of stories my own parents shared with me about their move to from Cyprus to London in the 1950s. These tales prompted me to look at the history of the island at that time and hence this dictated the historical context of the book.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Gosh, you know what Kerry I’d say they just come to me and if they feel right I use them. I have, on occasion, changed the name of a character mid-way either because I’ve received a comment about a name or because the character’s journey takes them on a different journey which somehow doesn’t resonate with the original name I chose for them.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I tend to write when I’m in the mood which is most days. If I’m not in the mood I rarely force myself…I go out, do something different, away from my writing space, and come back refreshed and ready to work again. I tend to write in the mornings, straight after breakfast and often work all day through to dinner time.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

I enjoy some of the classic writers like Jane Austen and Louise May Alcott but as an adult I’ve really enjoyed the writing of Maeve Binchy, Joanna Trollope and Victoria Hislop and Maya Angelou…I know that’s more than five and I could go on and on!

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

It would be Maeve Binchy and I would ask her about her story and inspirational processes and how she brings out story after engaging story and how she captures the essence of a place; does she visit the places her books are set in? How much time does she spend there? Are the characters based on real people she’s met? I find her books totally immersive and I have read many of them more than once.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I read all the time Kerry…and even read the dictionary! I was way ahead at primary school with reading sets for my age and used to be sent to the library to read independently.

When did you start to write?

I’ve always written…I’ve got notebooks full of ideas and little mini stories and scenarios. But I began to write more seriously when my mum was diagnosed with cancer. I found that life began to get on top of me and I vowed in December 2014 that in the new year I would find something to take me away from all the stress at home and at work. I found a fabulous creative writing course, joined the classes and the rest, as they say, is history!

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

I would cure Beth in Little Women and let her live. Her presence would be stronger and she’d change the views and lives of her sisters in such a way that she finds her place; be accepted for who she is. Her sisters would help her come out of herself and she would become a wonderfully creative scholar and musician; a quiet ‘butterfly’. Her death really upset me and as one of three sisters I can’t imagine how I would cope losing one of them at such a young age. I still cry every time I read the story or watch the film.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

I would love to write a ghost story…I have a chapter written from many years ago…but I’ve never re-visited it. But the idea is still there. I love the idea that someone who has passed can still have an impact on your life and the outcome of the way you live.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Finding me…partly because, looking back at my life, I’ve ‘fitted in’ in the way that was expected of me by others or the role I played out…my parents, my colleagues, my husband, my employer, my teaching job, my marketing job…and admittedly, I put a lot of pressure on myself to conform and to be perfect. In my late forties, something in me changed and I am living life on my terms, the way I want. I’ve since talked to many different people about this and it’s not uncommon to reach a point in your life where something tells you to find your purpose and live it. I’ve found me!

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Oh wow Kerry, this is a great question. I would invite Beth from Little Women. I would take her to Hampstead Heath in late Spring, early Summer, and we would sit on one of the benches overlooking the huge lake and we would talk about feeling different; feeling never quite pretty enough or good enough. I would ask her why her love of music didn’t save her from death and why it didn’t heal her soul when I know that it can. I’d tell her that everyone has a role in the family and being a home-maker is a huge and important role and that one day, we all find ourselves, and realise we are enough.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on an online relationship story that develops between two people…I’m 43,000 words into the first draft of the story and have very recently presented one of the chapters to my writing critique group. I’m also exploring the impact of Cerebral Palsy on the development and quality of life for a grown man in it and I have connected with a wonderful man on Twitter who has kindly shared his experiences with me. His insight has given me far more in terms of material and understanding than any website I’ve used.

Do you have a new release due?

I don’t have a new release pending after The Summer Will Come but hopefully the next book will be available within the next 18 months.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

With my first novel Broken Pieces of Tomorrow I celebrated at home with my family. This time around I am celebrating with my family and friends in a lovely little coffee shop in my local area and I have the Book Blog Tour booked as you know.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I tweet, post and share lots of information and tit-bits about my writing life and my life, in general. I’m quite open with my ideas and like to share my inspiration with other writers and readers.

TWITTER

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I write a weekly blog post which features A Cup of Conversation, my author interview series as well as other writing related blog posts. I would love to welcome your readers and hope that they will join me and if anyone would like to contribute in any way please contact me.

Thank you so much for your wonderful interview questions Kerry. I wish you all the best and hope to connect with you again soon.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Soulla 🙂

The Summer Will Come

Set in the 1950s, the story begins in Cyprus. EOKA, British rule, and the fight for Enosis (unity) disrupt the world of two Greek Cypriot families, living in different villages on the island. They are desperately trying to cope with the unpredictability of this fractious time. Circumstances over a five-year period push both families to escape to London where, as immigrants, they struggle to settle, face new challenges, trauma and cope with missing their homeland’s traditions and culture. Both families’ lives cross paths in London and it seems that happier beginnings could be theirs. But at what cost? A story of passion for a country in turmoil, family love, loyalty and treachery and how, sometimes, starting over isn’t always as imagined.

Purchase from Amazon UK –

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1976908043/

Author Bio –

Born in London to Greek Cypriot parents Soulla Christodoulou spent much of her childhood living carefree days full of family, school and friends. She was the first in her family to go to university and studied BA Hotel & Catering Management at Portsmouth University. Years later, after having a family of her own she studied again at Middlesex University and has a PGCE in Business Studies and an MA in Education.

Soulla is a Fiction author and wrote her first novel Broken Pieces of Tomorrow over a few months while working full time in secondary education. She is a mother of three boys.

She is a compassionate and empathetic supporter of young people. Her passion for teaching continues through private tuition of English Language and Children’s Creative Writing Classes as well as proof reading and other writing services.

Her writing has also connected her with a charity in California which she is very much involved in as a contributor of handwritten letters every month to support and give hope to women diagnosed with breast cancer. One of her letters is featured in a book ‘Dear Friend’, released on Amazon in September 2017.

When asked, she will tell you she has always, somewhere on a subconscious level, wanted to write and her life’s experiences both personal and professional have played a huge part in bringing her to where she was always meant to be; writing books and drinking lots of cinnamon and clove tea!

She also has a poetry collection, Sunshine after Rain, published on Amazon and The Summer Will Come is her second novel. She is currently working on a third novel Trust is a Big Word about an on-line illicit relationship that develops between two people.

Catch up with the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Enjoy!

Hiya!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Frank Westworth to Chat About Books.

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I’m Frank Westworth, author of three full-length crime-thrillers – so far – and a small pile of short stories. They’re all linked, although not in an entirely predictable way – and share a cast list. That said, they’re written from more than one perspective, hopefully. They’re all based around the working life of an ex-soldier who after leaving the army carried on contracting his services to a government agency.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Mostly from following news stories down the years, being surprised at how many of them are inaccurate – according to those actually present at the scenes – and having an enquiring mind…

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

All of them are, to a greater or lesser extent. It’s less difficult to maintain a character’s identity if they’re based around a person familiar to the author. The secret lies in fictionalising folk to the point at which although they might – just might – recognise themselves, they shouldn’t be offended.

How do you pick your characters names?

That varies. I didn’t have the lead character’s name sorted for a long time, but the other major characters’ names came to me before I wrote them. So having found, for example, the dirty blonde (a waitress I saw in a London pizza joint) I wrote the character around her and a backstory I made up for her. Likewise the Hard Man, who was a previous boss…

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I’m pretty methodical. I sit down at a desk that’s not the office I work in – I’m a magazine editor by trade – and use a small dedicated laptop to write fiction. It’s not net-connected and has no distractions. I’m also very habit-based, so surround myself with only the objects I associate with writing fiction, trying to prevent it reading like a series of magazine articles.

I always know the scene I’m writing before I write it, so have the characters and roughly what needs to happen. Then I just make it all up!

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Only five? In no order, then: Jack Grimwood, Lee Child, Walter Mosley, James Crumley, RJ Ellory

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Haruki Murakami. And, simply … How?

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes. I read everything I could lay my hands on. Nothing has changed. I still read endlessly.

When did you start to write?

While I was at primary school. I always loved writing stories, inventing characters, situations, cliffhangers and adventure stories.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

That’s a curious one. One of my own books? I’m easy with the endings of all of them. Other writers’ books? I wouldn’t presume. An ending is much harder to write than a beginning…

Is there a book you wish you had written?

There are several. Hard to choose just one. Probably The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Must Try Harder.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

That’s a crazy question! Jack Reacher, maybe. And we’d need to visit an OK Diner and stare out the window at nothing and no one for a long time. In silence.

What are you working on right now?

Two short stories and a fourth thriller novel in my established universe, and a SciFi novel.

Tell us about your last release?

The most recent full-length novel is a crime-thriller, The Redemption Of Charm. Each of the novels is – in theory, anyway – about one of three sisters; Charity, Chastity and Charm. They’re called the Killing Sisters because… that’s how they earn a living! Stoner, my ex-soldier, has to either face Charm or walk away. That’s the nub of this story.

Do you have a new release due?

A new short story, Six Strings, has just been released. The short stories are prequels which take place before the Killing Sisters novels. This is one of those ‘what if?’ stories. What happens when the authorities can’t prosecute a known bad guy – in this case a drugs dealer. In my universe, they hire someone like Stoner.

Amazon US: www.amazon.com/dp/B079FWDPS8

Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079FWDPS8

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/38569336-six-strings

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Nothing special at all. Maybe a nice cup of tea after a walk along the Cornish cliffs.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Author Facebook page: www.facebook.com/killingsisters

Author website: www.murdermayhemandmore.net

Author Amazon page: www.amazon.co.uk/Frank-Westworth/e/B001K89ITA/

Author Goodreads page: www.goodreads.com/author/show/576653.Frank_Westworth

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Just to say thanks to all the people who’ve read and reviewed the various Stoner stories; I really enjoy their thoughts and comments.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Frank 🙂

In a former life, JJ Stoner was a hard-faced military man. Now, discreetly and deniably, he resolves sticky situations for the British authorities. So when the Drug Squad can’t convict a particularly unpleasant pusher, Stoner is tasked with permanently solving the problem. But before he can deploy his very particular skill set, an old acquaintance steps out of the shadows and delivers disconcerting intelligence…

Six Strings is a quick thriller, an hour’s intrigue and entertainment. It features characters from the JJ Stoner / Killing Sisters series. You don’t need to have read any of the other stories in the series: you can start right here if you like.

As well as a complete, stand-alone short story, Six Strings includes an excerpt from The Corruption Of Chastity.
There’s also a behind-the-scenes blog from author Frank Westworth, who shares some of the secrets of Stoner’s shady existence.

Please note that Six Strings is intended for an adult audience and contains explicit violence.

Feedback from reviewers for the Killing Sisters / Stoner stories:

‘When the fighting starts, you want JJ Stoner on your side.’

‘A fast-paced, high-powered thriller… Terse and stiletto streamlined and sharp as the blade of a knife.’

‘Imagine an intimate encounter between Jack Reacher and the girl with the dragon tattoo: that’s JJ Stoner and the Killing Sisters.’

‘Gritty story-telling at its best, with a plot that fires from the hip.’

‘It launches you straight into the mayhem and, like its protagonist, JJ Stoner, takes no prisoners.’

‘Fast-paced action, gritty dialogue and hard-nosed, resolute characters.’

‘Sharp. Staccato. Smart. Lovers of long, luxurious, lyrical prose should read this to see how the other half writes.’

‘The tightly-written prose has more than a touch of the Elmore Leonard about it – sparse, sharp and often witty as well.’

‘There is hardly time to draw breath in this fast-moving adventure introducing a frighteningly capable executioner.’

‘Serial killings and strange sisters, hard as nails hit men and shady superiors, sleazy blues and sometimes seedy sex.’

‘A punchy and compelling tale of an ice-cold assassin, more nuanced than your average hired killer. The writing is sparse and crisp, the dialogue frequently laced with sardonic British edge.’

‘Clever dialogue and plenty of descriptive narrative providing context for the violence, depth to the characters and shape to the story.’

‘Your first meeting with JJ Stoner does nothing for the man’s chances of being nominated for any awards for unbridled compassion or for turning the other cheek.’

‘Oh my, this book surely packs a punch. The writing is bold and blunt, with horrific things said in a matter of fact way.’

‘The writing is clever and inventive, paying few dues to existing genres or styles… There is a hint of Derek Raymond in the more visceral physical descriptions and the sense that we are looking at a dark and dystopian oil painting.’

‘A brilliant read, along the lines of Jack Reacher.’

‘The dialogue is snappy, the characters are sharply developed, and the plot moves effortlessly forward.’

‘Intelligently written, with excellent characterisation, sharp wit and punchy back-n-forth dialogue.’

‘The author makes no apologies for Stoner’s pragmatic attitude towards the elimination of his targets, and the result is a solid, well thought through action thriller, intelligently handled.’

‘Rich and ambitious, this violent tale plays out with memorable scenes interspersed with writing to savour. A feast of poetic prose wrapped in noir.’

‘Sophisticated story-telling, written in a mature style, and targeted at a mature audience.’

‘The novelette has a terse, spare style and winds the reader in – definitely a page-turner. Move over Ian Fleming, JJ Stoner could replace James Bond…’

Enjoy!

Hi everyone,

Meet Dave (and Derek)…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

My pen-name is ‘Dave Philpott’, and alongside my dad ‘Derek’ I write letters to famous pop stars and rock groups regarding their lyrics, either pointing out genuine ambiguities or completely and deliberately getting the wrong end of the stick for comedic purposes. We are acting as deranged and audacious members of the public listening to the radio and demanding answers, politely but firmly, with absolutely no right or authority to do so.

The artist, who has been ‘primed’ beforehand and gleefully agrees, then writes a hilarious letter back to us, either admonishing us for our stupidity or admitting that we’re right. This book is a collection of the best letters and responses, compiled into a book.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

They jump out at us when we are exposed to pop music on the radio, or when it’s piped into Superdrug when we’re shopping. We were in a supermarket the other day, for example, and heard Wet, Wet, Wet warbling:

‘’I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes.. love is all around me…’’

‘’Sounds more like pins and needles to me, mate’’ I thought. ‘’We’d best get onto them, especially if, as they just admitted, the feeling grows. They best get down the doctor’s’’

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

They are overblown and exaggerated versions of us… and probably most of our fanbase.

How do you pick your characters names?

We wanted generic, mundane names that conjure up images of your next door neighbour

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

It is extremely unusual and dictated by the nature of the project. We wrote to hundreds of artists (but were still picky as they had to fit the ‘vibe’ of the book) asking if they wanted to be involved. We’d only dedicate our efforts to crafting a silly but painstakingly constructed letter once we’d got a definite thumbs up from them. Some letters take hours or even weeks to draft. The book, which took 2 years to put together, expanded in content in a very organic fashion; we’d go days or weeks even without writing, and then 4 pop stars would come back in a day and then 5 the next, so we would then be flat out writing for 6 weeks.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Between the two of us, Wilbur Smith, Campbell Armstrong, Ernest Hemingway, Norman Mailer and Franz Kafka

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

E.L. James or Stephanie Meyer or Dan Brown and I’d probably ask them if they could please, please, please stop writing.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Prolific, yes. I had a love of literature from a very young age and found it the perfect way to escape into imagination. Obviously this was before the days of distractions such as the internet and video games and so was what I did to turn my mind away from day to day worries.

When did you start to write?

My first experience of writing was when I was about twelve years old. I was obsessed with the Loch Ness Monster and read copiously on the subject. I came up with a story which involved a Great White Shark somehow finding its way into the Loch and going head on in a battle with the Monster. It might sound far fetched but somehow it seems to have forewshadowed films such as Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

The Outsider; I’d probably let him off and tell him not to do it again.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

The Vampire Lestat, I read it some years ago and was totally captured by it. It was a brilliant take on the folklore and legend around vampires and brought it effortlessly into the 20th century.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

“Do Give Up The Day Job’’

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

‘It would be Alex from A Clockwork Orange, I’d take him to McDonalds and when asked what size coffee he wanted I’d butt in and say ‘De Large”.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on something completely unrelated to this book. I can’t really say too much about it as it is a very new idea and still under development.

Tell us about your last release?

The last thing we released was the first volume of these letters entitled ‘Dear Mr Kershaw’, an altogether more lengthy and difficult process. Not only did we have fewer ‘ins’ to pop stars at that time but we took it upon ourselves to crowdfund, print and distribute the book ourselves from start to finish. It did amazingly well, far better than we could’ve hoped. It was seven years in the making and was a total labour of love. It’s also still available to buy through Amazon! http://amzn.eu/fNuOtwF

Do you have a new release due?

Yes! Dear Mr Pop Star. Which is due to be released around July to September. It is, in essence, a follow up to Dear Mr Kershaw and features about 100 letters from us with replies from the pop stars concerned. Everyone involved has been amazing, really getting into the spirit of things and crafting really funny answers to our frankly ridiculous inquiries. We had some great names in the first book, but this time we’ve outdone ourselves. We have everyone from Devo to Eurthymics with plenty of others in between.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

We generally feel a sense of relief, settle down with a pot of tea and some chocolate Hob-Nobs and vow to each other that we are never, ever going to do this again.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

We post regular updates on the progress of the book on our official Unbound page ( https://unbound.com/books/dear-mr-pop-star/ ) and we can also be found on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilpotts/ ) where we have a community of lovely friends.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I guess the question we get asked the most is ‘Are the replies genuinely from the real bona fide pop stars?” and the answer is absolutely yes… It has been amazing to see how the Facebook community has rallied around us to make some of the connections for us, we love how interactive it has all been and we’ve made some good friends as a result. We like to welcome people into our silly little world and hope that your readers join us too.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Dave 🙂

Bought to the printed page on the back of the cult internet sensation and an immensely successful Crowdfunding campaign contributed to by many of the artists involved, ‘’Dear Mr. Kershaw’’ is the result of 7 years’ surreal and quite bonkers work. ‘’Derek’’, with help from his friend ‘’Wilf’’, is a retired gent who back in 2008 set out on a bizarre crusade, writing good old-fashioned letters to pop and rock stars regarding lyrical inaccuracies and ambiguities in their most famous songs and often hilariously getting the wrong end of the stick. The letters are eminently publishable in their own right, mixing sharp wit, confusion and biscuits with trips to the shops and unarguable logic in relation to questioning the offending chart hits under scrutiny. What makes this book an essential purchase however is that, with the missives online for all to see on what was becoming a hugely popular website, the artists quite unexpectedly started to reply.

‘’Dear Mr. Kershaw’’ features over 65 of the best and funniest letters and responses from famous and legendary names spanning every reach of the pop, rock, metal, prog and punk spectrum, all relishing their involvement ‘’in character’’ and revealing their own in many cases hitherto unknown humorous sides. Amongst those to be saluted for their great sportsmanship are Noddy Holder, Billy Bragg, Was Not Was, The Stereo MCs, Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics, Saxon, Tom Robinson, Stiff Little Fingers, Rick Wakeman, Paul Heaton, Squeeze, Toyah, Howard Jones, The Divine Comedy, Kim Wilde, and of course the gentleman himself Mr Nik Kershaw

Also includes 100 ‘’mini-letters’’ and Polymer Animal Popstars

Highly recommended to anyone who likes music and laughing

Hi all, today I have the pleasure of welcoming David Ahern to Chat About Books.

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I’m an Irish writer who grew up in a theatrical family. I used to make serious TV and wanted to do some fun stories for a change. The Madam Tulip books make me smile. I hope they do the same for readers.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Staring into space, mostly. If I stare for long enough, ideas will come just so I can get something to eat.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

No. And if they were, I wouldn’t admit it.

How do you pick your characters names?

They just come ready-made with the character. I don’t ever have to agonise about that.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

This is going to be not at all helpful: I sit down and write. Sometimes I work things out a little ahead of where I am; sometimes I just go with the characters. Then I rewrite. And rewrite. And…

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Patrick O’Brien (magnificent sea stories), Flann O’Brien (hilarious genius), David O’Brien (you won’t ever have heard of him). Mostly my favourite writers are called O’Brien. But apart from O’Briens (and I am descended from O’Briens, I admit), I adore EF Benson (Mapp and Lucia) and Dorothy Sayers. I worship at all four feet of Wodehouse and Thurber. I secretly (of course) admire Le Carre, but could be lying.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Homer, and I’d ask if he had any idea at the time what he was starting.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Insatiable, secretly reading under the bedclothes with a torch. My good luck was a wonderful local librarian who let me into the adults section when I was supposedly too young.

When did you start to write?

I honestly don’t remember, but I was terrible at it; I do know that.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing. It doesn’t belong to me.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

Lots. All mine. Books I should have been writing when I was doing other things.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

‘Okay, when do we start?’

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Dr. Maturin from ‘Master and Commander’ by Patrick (yes) O’Brien. And I’d take him to the Natural History Museum in London.

What are you working on right now?

Madam Tulip mystery #4

Tell us about your last release?

Madam tulip and the Knave of Hearts. English aristocrats, crime, the art business. Even an upcoming royal wedding.

Do you have a new release due?

‘Madam Tulip and the Bones of Chance’ due out April 12 in paperback and ebook. Get it on Amazon.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Beach, beach, beach. I don’t care about the weather. Just let me out there.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I love when people connect with me. Anyone can email me from my website – http://www.davidahern.info. Or say hi on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/DavidAhernWriter

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Madam Tulip is the most believable heroine out there. She’s real.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, David 🙂

MADAM TULIP AND THE BONES OF CHANCE

A surprise role in a movie takes actress Derry O’Donnell to a romantic castle in the Scottish Highlands. But romance soon turns to fear and suspicion. Someone means to kill, and Derry, moonlighting as celebrity fortune-teller Madam Tulip, is snared in a net of greed, conspiracy and betrayal.

A millionaire banker, a film producer with a mysterious past, a gun-loving wife, a PA with her eyes on Hollywood, a handsome and charming estate manager—each has a secret to share and a request for Madam Tulip.
As Derry and her friend Bruce race to prevent a murder, she learns to her dismay that the one future Tulip can’t predict is her own.

Madame Tulip is the third in a series of thrilling and hilarious Tulip adventures in which Derry O’Donnell, celebrity fortune-teller and reluctant amateur detective, plays the most exciting and perilous roles of her acting life, drinks borage tea, and fails to understand her parents.

Pre-order here…..

If you haven’t read the first two books yet, you will find them HERE

Author bio…..

David Ahern grew up in a theatrical family in Ireland but ran away to Scotland to become a research psychologist and sensible person. He earned his doctorate but soon absconded to work in television. He became a writer, director and producer, creating international documentary series and winning numerous awards, none of which got him free into nightclubs.

Madame Tulip wasn’t David Ahern’s first novel, but writing it was the most fun he’s ever had with a computer. He is now writing the fourth Madam Tulip adventure and enjoys pretending this is actual work.

David Ahern lives in the beautiful West of Ireland with his wife, two cats and a vegetable garden of which he is inordinately proud.

You can learn more about David Ahern and Madam Tulip on his website http://www.davidahern.info

Connect with David Ahern on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidahernwriter
and Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/daveahernwriter