Chat About Books is 4 today! 🙂

Time certainly does fly when you’re having fun!!

A BIG thank you, as always, to all who contribute towards, read, like and share my blog posts. It really does mean the world to me.

I love how many awesome books I’ve had the pleasure of reading and how many amazing people I have met in this last four years. You’re all awesome!

Here’s to year five!

Cheers!

X

happy reading!

Kerry x

Welcome to my stop on Holly Bidgood’s The Seagull’s Laughter blog tour, with Kelly @ Love Books Tours!

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Tours for arranging the following interview with Holly Bidgood…..

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

My name is Holly. I am the author of two novels – The Eagle and The Oystercatcher (Published 2016 by Wildpressed Books) and The Seagull’s laughter (due to be published in November 2019). The Eagle and The Oystercatcher is a literary coming-of-age novel set in the Faroe Islands during the Second World War, when the islands were occupied by the British army; while The Seagull’s Laughter takes its inspiration from further north, following the generally dark path of Greenlandic folktales and recent Greenlandic social history.

I currently live in Hull with my husband and three very small children. By day I run a therapeutic weaving studio, working mostly with vulnerable adults, and struggle with vast amounts of laundry.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

The idea of “North” forms the basis of most of my writing. I have always drawn my inspiration and ideas from wild northern landscapes – places such as Iceland, Shetland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. I feel such a strong pull towards the traditional edge-of-existence ways of life in these environments, and the stories and folk tales that have grown out of this sense of place. I studied modern Icelandic and Old Norse at University College London, so I suppose it all ties together in my writing.

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

I don’t consciously base characters on people I know, but I’m sure there must be elements of certain people in there somewhere. I tend to write for escapism, so I feel that my writing is quite removed from my everyday life.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

I really don’t know how I pick my characters’ names! They just come to me, I suppose, as the character takes shape in my head. Later on I may realise that a character has (entirely coincidentally) the same name as a friend or family member, then I worry that they might think the character is based on them!

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

My writing process generally consists of committing very few words to the page in one sitting, and agonising over every sentence. Although I feel driven to write, the process of extracting it all coherently from my head is utterly exhausting and quite laborious. But I enjoy being able to return to that same landscape in my head where the story unfolds.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

It’s been so long since I actually managed to sit down and read a book, I can barely remember! Off the top of my head: Kurt Vonnegut, Charlotte Bronte, Aldous Huxley, Daphne Du Maurier and Terry Pratchett (quite a mix!).

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

I think I would most like to meet Terry Pratchett and ask him how he managed to extract the Discworld from inside his head and write it all down in so many interlinked novels. He has a fantastic imagination and a great sense of humour in his writing.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I don’t think I did much else! I remember reading the same books a few times, if I really liked them – I think I read The Lord of The Rings trilogy about three or four times before I was a teenager.

When did you start to write?

As soon as I was able to, from the age of about six. My parents still have folders full of my various poems and short stories that I wrote as a child. I didn’t write much as a teenager, I was too critical of anything that I tried to put down on the page.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?
Is there a book you wish you had written?

I remember being really upset by the ending of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It is one of those books that I read in one sitting, cover to cover, and have never forgotten. But although the ending is so distressing, it really couldn’t be any other way. I’m sure I read somewhere afterwards that Aldous Huxley had considered – or perhaps even planned – a different ending: one in which John the savage would find a new life somewhere else. But of course, that wouldn’t have been nearly as poignant.

I sort of wish I had written the How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell! I love the characters, her imagination and her humour, and the magic of the world she creates. And I love dragons.

(I LOVE How To Train Your Dragon!)

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

“I woke up this tired”

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

I would probably invite the main protagonist (who remains nameless) from Naïve Super by Erlend Loe. We would go somewhere wild and spacious, somewhere by the sea, where we could both get some peace from the chaos of modern life and talk about how overwhelmed and confused we feel about the universe and life in general. And maybe just sit in silence for a bit. I think we would get on quite well. My Norwegian is a bit rusty, though.

What are you working on right now?

I have a couple of ideas for new novels, but as yet these ideas exist only in my head. I don’t get any time to write at the moment. Life is currently too busy, the children are too young and my brain is too overworked; I hope things settle down sometime soon, I would really like to get back into writing.

Tell us about your last release?

My last release was my first release. It is a literary novel entitled The Eagle and The Oystercatcher, and it follows the story of Kjartan, who is eighteen at the time the Second World War breaks out and the British army occupies the Faroe Islands – his home. This was a time of huge social and economic change for the Faroe Islands, coupled in the narrative with Kjartan’s “coming of age” and the struggles he has surrounding his feelings for his best friend, and his anxiety about the war. The narrative is steady and atmospheric – it rains a lot.

Do you have a new release due?

Yes: The Seagull’s Laughter will be released in November this year. It follows the stories of Malik, a young Greenlander who is guided by an ancestral spirit only he can see; his father, Rasmus, an English explorer who he never even got the chance the meet; and Martha, a young woman fleeing domestic violence, whose path crosses Malik’s on his lonely travels. The narrative is inspired by Greenlandic folktales – which as a rule seem to be fairly dark and often morbid – and driven, as per usual in my writing, by the longing for wild, far-flung places and the search for Home.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

The best way is to follow Wildpressed Books on Facebook and Twitter and any other social media. If you are in Hull, you can keep an eye out for any writers’ events organised by Phil and Tracey of Wildpressed!

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

By day I help to run Life and Loom, a social and therapeutic weaving studio in Hull. We are just getting started and need all the support we can muster. You can look us up on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/lifeandloomstudio/

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

Pre-order HERE

happy reading 🙂

 

Yesterday Steph and I enjoyed another lovely book blogger / author meet up.

For those who attended, we can’t thank you enough for joining us and making it such a lovely day 🙂

Follow, like and share the book love with these lovely people…..

Margaret Moxam

https://maggiemoxom.artweb.com/maggiemoxomaol.com

 

Zoe Sharp

Rachel Gilbey

Misha Herwin

Jan Edwards

@Jancoledwards

Award winning writer of  #crime, #folkhorror and #supernatural #fiction Reiki Master and cat herder janedwardsblog.wordpress.com//

Jill Doyle

Alison Lingwood

Author

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portal-Murder-Alison-Lingwood/dp/1480225320/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1570391554&sr=8-1

 

Yvonne Bastian & Mum, Julie

Samantha Tonge

Sue Eaton

https://www.facebook.com/havepencanwrite/

 

Steph Lawrence & Mick Williams

Mary Mae Lewis

Author

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Where-Theres-Will-Woman/dp/154898082X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mary+mae+lewis&qid=1570392302&sr=8-1

 

Esther Chilton & Graeme Cumming

Save the date!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2458309034251599/

Hope to see you there!

Kerry & Steph

X

ICYMI…..

Our first #Stoke-on-Trent #bookblogger / #author #meetup – 12th May 2018 😊

#author #bookblogger #meetup #StokeonTrent

#BookBlogger #Author #MeetUp 01/06/19 @StefLozBookBlog

 

 

Hi and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature 🙂

On the first Friday of each month I like to have a little look back at what I was reading during the same month in previous years, since starting my blog. 

Feel free to join in!

Here are my reviews from October 2018 + a link to previous October FBF’s…..

#HushHush by Mel Sherratt @writermels @AvonBooksUK #BlogTour #BookReview

 

The Christmas Wish by Tilly Tennant @TillyTenWriter @bookouture #BlogTour #BookReview

 

The Black Hornet (James Ryker Book 2) by Rob Sinclair @RSinclairAuthor @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview

 

Without Rules by Andrew Field #BlogBlitz #BookReview @AFwithoutrules #damppebblesblogtours #WithoutRules

 

#LiesBetweenUs by Ronnie Turner @Ronnie__Turner @HQDigitalUK #BlogTour #BookReview #WhereIsBonnie?

 

#FlashbackFriday with @TillyTenWriter @KatCroft @paulanthjones @ScarlettMoffatt @BCopperthwait @JaimeRaven1

 

Have you read any of the above?

 

The Walls is another book which has been on my Netgalley list for far too long, but WOW, it was most definitely worth the wait! What a compelling story! I read and enjoyed Baby Doll some time ago, so I was keen to add The Walls to my TBR list. I have not been disappointed. I’m just sorry it’s taken me this long for it to reach the top of my list.

Kristy is a single mother, having had her son in her teens, and has built a career as a press agent, working with convicted criminals on death row. Her son hates her job, but she does what she has to do to keep a roof over his head, as well as that of her poorly father. It does sound like a lovely home also and one she is right to be proud of. She is quite an inspirational character and instantly likeable.

When she meets Lance, through her son, she soon starts to develop feelings for him, but she’s nervous about letting her guard down. He seems like a dream come true though and she decides she deserves some romance in her life. Her son is thrilled for them and life seems good. That is until they are husband and wife and a different Lance begins to dominate their relationship.

I cannot even begin to imagine living in an abusive relationship, but the way Kristy keeps it hidden from everyone she knows, and loves is quite typical of what I understand of abused women. These men are just the lowest of the low. It’s heart-breaking to think how many women, and men, suffer at the hands of those who supposedly love them. I can totally understand how and why some reach absolute breaking point and snap.

Kristy reaches that breaking point when Lance uses her love for her son and father against her. I can’t say I blame her!

This has been an absolutely, captivating and heart-wrenching read. I could almost feel Kristy’s desperation and determination. Lance’s biggest mistake was threatening her family and Kristy plans to make sure he is unable to ever carry out those threats. She knows the system also, so feels she has an advantage, but will she get away with it? Does she even want to? Will she ever be able to move on without constantly looking over her shoulder?

Very clever writing! LOVED it!

Hollie Overton is an excellent writer. I have just purchased The Runaway and very much look forward to reading it.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy of The Walls via Netgalley.

 

ICYMI…..

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

happy reading 🙂

 

Intimate Strangers

Is there such a thing as too perfect?
Lisa Millar wasn’t supposed to fall in love with a guy on the Internet. But she did.
Other than living over five thousand miles away in America, AJ Williams is seemingly her perfect match. Strikingly handsome, musically talented, plays hockey and has a typical college-guy life.
In a moment of carpe diem, Lisa flies from Ireland to Alabama to surprise her internet-beau and finds herself face to face with an inconceivable reality that she couldn’t possibly have prepared for.
How well can you truly know someone you meet online?
Will true love win out, or will AJ’s secret life be too much for Lisa to bear?

Purchase Links:

US paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Strangers-Millar-LasairionaMcMaster/dp/1916178405
US Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Strangers-Lisa-Millar-Book-ebook/dp/B07TYG9V8M
UK Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intimate-Strangers-Lisa-Millar-Book-ebook/dp/B07TYG9V8M
UK paperback:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intimate-Strangers-Millar-LasairionaMcMaster/dp/1916178405

Author Bio –

Lasairiona McMaster grew up dreaming of an exciting life abroad, and, after graduating from Queens University, Belfast, that is exactly what she did – with her then-boyfriend, now husband of almost ten years. Having recently repatriated to Northern Ireland after a decade abroad spanned over two countries (seven and a half years in America and eighteen months in India), she now finds herself ‘home’, with itchy feet and dreams of her next expatriation. With a penchant for both travelling, and writing, she started a blog during her first relocation to Houston, Texas and, since repatriating to Northern Ireland, has decided to do as everyone has been telling her to do for years, and finally pen a book (or two) and get published while she tries to adjust to the people and place she left ten years ago, where nothing looks the same as it did when she left.

Social Media Links –

FB: https://www.facebook.com/QueenofFireLas/
Blog: http://www.lasandcolgotexan.com/
Twitter: @QueenoffireLas

Follow, like and share the book love with these awesome book bloggers…..

happy reading 🙂

 

Blurb

A Spooky Tale: A Walk With Our Teacher

When the teacher decided to take the class out on a walk the children did not want to go…
But…
What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
Why did the class not feel well?
Read the book to find out.

A fictional tale based on a real class walk around the neighbourhood. Where would your walk take you?

Purchase link…..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spooky-Tale-Walk-Teacher/dp/0993073743/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1552161090&sr=8-2&keywords=a+spooky+tale

Author Bio

Have you ever been on a Playbus?
Not an ordinary bus taking you on a journey, exciting though this is, but a bus stuffed full of toys and imagination!
When my two children were young, they attended a playgroup on such a bus and as a volunteer I became involved with the committee running the project. The bus really got into my blood and became a work of the heart. I ended up painting the bus as well as working in the groups and raising the profile of the project and its work. As part of the committee and later as a play-worker, I was involved in raising necessary funds to replace the old bus with a newer project. It really was a fun journey to be involved in.
I taught in the local school for over 20 years but during this time I remained involved with all aspects of the playbus project in my spare time, assisting in fund-raising events, as well as working voluntarily in after school play clubs and holiday play schemes.
I left teaching to write the history book about the original bus.
I now work as a supply cover teacher and have been able to tell the many children I meet and teach about the bus as well as show them the photograph. The children were always curious and asked lots of questions about the playbus. This led to me telling a story which I eventually wrote down.
Jay-Jay is the fictional story to go with the factual project.
Over the last few years I have been able to share the fictional story in each school I visit. I always leave a book behind as I go in case they might like a closer look.
I have also been asked by the schools I’ve worked in to provide some work for the children around the book. This has led to me producing a scheme of worksheets to support the story.
In addition, I have undertaken author bookings and I always love sharing the story book and most of all love the feedback and book reviews which the children give me. Many of their comments and opinions I have been able to use on my website blogs.

I have other book ideas in draft or indeed still in the telling but for now I can turn my attention to the next part of my bus journey!

Media Links

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spooky-Tale-Walk-Teacher/dp/0993073743/ref=la_B00DDXKEDO_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1539596042&sr=1-4

Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=sue%20wickstead&src=typd

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

happy reading 🙂