Publisher: Cornerstone Digital (1st September 2016)

Well, this is an emotional roller-coaster of a read.

I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters, especially the rich and somewhat entitled ones, but their story is completely captivating.

The story switches between 1980, when 17 year old Kelly Lund is convicted and jailed for the murder of a seemingly well respected Hollywood director, John McFaddon, and her teenage life prior to her murder charge, and 2010 when Kelly is free, but living an odd existence with her husband, Shane, who stood by her throughout her prison sentence. They don’t have an intimate marriage, they don’t even share the same bedroom, and Shane is very understanding. Kelly blames her struggle with intimacy on being in prison for 20 years. I did feel quite sorry for Shane.

We get to know two very different Kelly’s as the story progresses. Teenage Kelly, prior to 1980, hanging out with and getting high with her Hollywood friends. Spiralling out of control as she grieves for her sister and learns that John McFaddon isn’t the man he is portrayed to be. 2010 Kelly is much quieter. Grown up, but somewhat detached from the world. She only seems happy when in the arms of her neighbour, Rocky 3.

When her Father-in-Law is found shot dead, Kelly is obviously a prime suspect, but did she really risk her future by killing again? Was she ever guilty of killing anyone?

I hope that has piqued your interest because I don’t want to say much else for fear of giving anything away, but I totally recommend you read it then I’d love to have a chat with you about it. What Remains Of Me is thoroughly gripping. There are many twists and turns, some shocking and totally unexpected. I didn’t have a clue what was going on for most of it, although I thought I had it sussed a few times. It kept me guessing the whole time. Quite complex characters with far from straight forward secrets to reveal. Brilliantly written with all the pieces of the puzzle fitting together nicely by the end.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley.

Buy your copy HERE

Description

People don’t need to know you’re a murderer.
They just have to think you could be…

June 1980: 17-year-old Kelly Lund is jailed for killing Hollywood film director, John McFadden

Thirty years later, Kelly is a free woman. Yet speculation still swirls over what really happened that night.

And when her father-in law, and close friend of McFadden is found dead – shot through the head at point-blank range – there can only be one suspect.

But this time Kelly has some high-profile friends who believe she’s innocent of both crimes.

But is she?

‘You’ll stay up late to read this’ Laura Lippmann

‘Full of crackling energy and heartache’ Megan Abbott

‘An exceptional book by an exceptional writer’ Alex Marwood

I am delighted to welcome Catherine Hokin today 🙂

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

My name is Catherine Hokin. I’m a Glasgow based writer and my debut novel Blood and Roses, a work of historical fiction about Margaret of Anjou and her role in the fifteenth century Wars of the Roses, came out in paperback and kindle in 2016. I also write contemporary short stories which are a bit twisted!

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

My historical fiction is based on real people, strong women who have played an important part in history but whose voices have either been forgotten or distorted. Margaret of Anjou, for example, was turned into a mad witch by Shakespeare and that stuck even though it’s completely wrong! When I’ve found the character who interests me, then I go hunting for the ‘gaps’ – the things that they did/which happened to them that we know about but we don’t know the reasons why. That’s where the story telling starts.

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

I do use personality traits from people I know that I think will fit the character – like a lot of writers I’m always collecting quirks – and I also use myself. I used my experience as a mother of a teenage boy in Blood and Roses – he’s read it and he forgave me! There’s a mad tyrant in book 2 who’s based very much on a real person but I’m not saying who…

How do you pick your characters names?

A lot of them are real but for supporting characters I use common period names. For my short stories I use ones that match with a particular characteristic: Alice in Stolen Moments lives in a macabre fantasy world, Cara in Kitchen Nightmares is very caring.

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

I’m a planner. Lots and lots of research with masses of notes, pinboards and Pinterest; a first draft which is a research/story dump and then storyboarding. I’m a big fan of Story by Robert McKee – it’s my template.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

AL Kennedy, Angela Carter, Emma Donoghue, Terry Pratchett, Kate Atkinson

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

Gabriel Garcia Marquez – I want to know how he managed to hold all the crazy plot strands of One Hundred Years of Solitude together and write such an amazing book. And George RR Martin – seriously, how can it be taking this long…

Were you a big reader as a child?

Huge, I read anything and everything I could get my hands on. I’ve always loved stories.

When did you start to write?

I wrote my first pieces about 25 years ago but life and children got in the way and I put it all aside. I started properly again about 4 years ago when I could find headspace to do it. For the last 6 months I have been writing full time which is an absolute joy – it may not last so I’m relishing every minute.

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

That’s a toughie – being honest probably The Handmaid’s Tale as I loved it but didn’t think the ending worked. Although I’d prefer Margaret Atwood to do it than me.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

One Hundred Years of Solitude, it’s a breathtaking sweep of genius – I don’t think my brain is big enough though.

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

The Chance sisters, Nora and Dora, from Angela Carter’s Wise Children. Afternoon tea at the Savoy and then cocktails – they’d have a wealth of stories and hopefully a few tricks to help us get away without paying.

What are you working on right now?

I’m in that strange writer place of being involved with 3 books at different points. I’m still doing a lot of promotional stuff round Blood and Roses, my second novel (set in the fourteenth century) is with my agent and I’m at the first draft/nervous breakdown stage of book 3 which is set in the twelfth century, sort of.

Do you have a new release due?

My lovely agent is sending out book 2 and we are keeping everything crossed. It’s tough out there – she is looking for a different publisher and it’s not easy. At least she gets the rejections first though…

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Through my website at https://www.catherinehokin.com/, on twitter @cathokin and through my author Facebook page Cat Hokin Please say hi at any or all!

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I blog on the 22^nd of every month for the History Girls author collective – there’s 30 of us and there’s some great stuff on there.

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

Buy your copy HERE

Publisher: Yolk Publishing (11th January 2016)

Blood and Roses tells the story of Margaret of Anjou (1430-82), wife of Henry VI and a key protagonist in the Wars of the Roses. This is a feminist revision of a woman frequently imagined only as the shadowy figure demonised by Shakespeare – Blood and Roses examines Margaret as a Queen unable to wield the power and authority she is capable of, as a wife trapped in marriage to a man born to be a saint and as a mother whose son meets a terrible fate she has set in motion. It is the story of a woman caught up in the pursuit of power, playing a game ultimately no one can control…

Wow!

I’m not very good at reviewing short stories, but when Dan Klefstad sent me a copy of The Caretaker, which is to be published on 1^st February in the lit journal Crack the Spine (Issue 210), I read the first page as my curiosity got the better of me. I do like a vampire story! Needless to say, that first page ensured I read the rest. It might not be many pages long, but they are captivating and chilling. It’s a vampire story, but quite unique.

I have permission from the author to share this quote with you all, from the opening page –

“Dear Applicant, Congratulations. Out of hundreds of applications, yours stood out…..But, I must warn you: The more you read, the more my employer will consider you a threat if you decline our offer. If you have no intentions of taking the job, delete this message now before reading further.”

I’m sure you can see now why there was no way I could not read the rest!

I liked how the story starts as a job interview of sorts, leading to initial training, for a job which is far from conventional. That first contact would have had scared the **** out of me, but I guess the generous salary and benefits would more than pique the interest of many!

We learn how Daniel started his career. He offers his advice and shares his initial experience with the new applicant.

Well written, creepy and brutal!

I’m glad to hear that Dan Klefstad hopes to expand this in to a full length novel. I think it will prove to be a great read.

Many thanks to Dan Klefstad for sending me a manuscript of this intriguing vampire story.

I will share the link when The Caretaker is published on 1st February.

In the meantime, you will find Dan’s other books on his Amazon author page

And if you missed it, check out my Q&A with Dan here – Q&A with author, Dan Klefstad

I am delighted to welcome Tracey Sinclair to my blog today 🙂

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

I’m an author and freelance writer and editor who lives in Brighton and I write in a mix of genres – including a romcom set in my hometown of Newcastle, Bridesmaid Blues, and a series of funny, snarky paranormal books set in London, called Dark Dates.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Everywhere! Sometimes from life – the basic plot of Bridesmaid Blues, in which the heroine has to be bridesmaid at a wedding where her ex was best man – came from my life (really!), but otherwise I’m inspired by lots of things.

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

Yes! I do weave a lot of my own traits into my protagonists – both Luce in Bridesmaid Blues and Cass in Dark Dates have a lot in common with me – and I often base characters on people I know, albeit it very loosely. I don’t want to make someone too close a fit in case I offend them, or have to kill them off!

How do you pick your characters names?

That’s always a struggle – though I did name Laclos, the vampire in Dark Dates, after one of my favourite authors. But often characters go through several names before one sticks.

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

I tend to scribble down ideas, scenes and characters sketches in long-hand for a few weeks – or even months – before I start a first draft, which I then write long-hand: sometimes I do a second long-hand draft then type them up and do multiple rewrites. As someone once said, most writing is rewriting!

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Oh, god, this changes all the time, but consistent favourites are Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, John Connolly, Barbara Kingsolver and A L Kennedy.

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

Alas I will never get to do this, but I would have very much liked to have had a pint and a chat with Terry Pratchett.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Oh, yes – I’ve always read voraciously.

When did you start to write?

I’ve been writing as long as I remember, but I had my first short story published when I was 17.

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

I wouldn’t, but there are scenes I would rewrite or omit, or small things I would change. I don’t think anyone is ever completely happy with their final version.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

Whatever I am reading at the time, if it’s good. I’m currently reading Samantha Ellis’ biography of Anne Bronte and envying her light but informative style, and I just finished Michelle Paver’s Thin Air and wanted to be able to write so eloquently and creepily.

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

Ooh, tough one. I would happily have a night out with either of the hot guys from my books: Cain would want to go to the pub, Laclos to a trendy bar, I’d be happy to just stare at them!

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a sequel to the last Dark Dates book, Angel Falls, which ended on a cliff-hanger so I feel I have to keep reassuring people I’m writing the next one, and a few other projects at the moment. Lots in the pipeline, hopefully.

Do you have a new release due?

Nothing immediate – I put out 2 books last year so I’m still in the drafting stage of things now.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Via my website, Facebook or Twitter:

www.facebook.com/darkdates

www.darkdates.org

@thriftygal

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I love interacting with readers and bloggers so do come say hello…!

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

Luce knows she should be thrilled when Jenna asks her to be bridesmaid – after all, they’ve known each other since childhood and Jenna is the best friend any girl could have. But it’s hard to get excited about weddings when you’re terminally single and the best man is the boy who broke your heart: Jamie, the groom’s dashing and irresistible brother. How can she face the man who dumped her when she’s still so hopelessly in love? Then again, maybe this is the perfect opportunity – after all, where better to get back together than at a wedding?

So Luce has six months to figure out how to win back her ex, but she has plenty else on her plate – from an old friend returned to Newcastle with an announcement of her own, to a youthful colleague who may or may not have a crush on her and a mother who is acting very strangely indeed… and that’s all before a mysterious, handsome American walks into her life.

Sometimes being a bridesmaid isn’t all confetti and champagne…

‘A smarter, funnier Bridget Jones’ Diary for the 2010s – great pithy writing and instantly likeable characters’ Caroline Green, award-winning author whose books include Dark Ride, Cracks and Fragments.

All Cassandra Bick wants is to be left to get on with doing her job. But when you’re a Sensitive whose business is running a dating agency for vampires, life is never going to be straightforward – especially when there’s a supernatural war brewing in London, a sexy new bloodsucker in town and your mysterious, homicidal and vampire hating ex-lover chooses this moment to reappear in your life…

Witty, sharp and entertaining, Dark Dates is a heady mix of vampires, witches and werewolves – with the occasional angel thrown in – and introduces Cassandra Bick, a likeable heroine destined to join the ranks of fantasy’s feistiest females.

After narrowly averting a supernatural war in London, Cassandra Bick just wants life to get back to normal. Or as normal as life can be when you run a dating agency for vampires, your best friend is a witch and the oldest, strongest and sexiest vampire in town is taking a very personal interest in your business. But when a vicious new supernatural enemy threatens her friends, Cass finds herself once again fighting for the fate of her city – and having to face some demons of her own.

Snarky, sexy and fast paced, Wolf Night will leave you breathless.

Wolf Night is Book 2 in the Dark Dates series, the Chronicles of Cassandra Bick.

It isn’t easy to surprise Cassandra Bick. When you run a human-vampire dating agency, your colleague is a witch who is engaged to a shifter and your business partner is one of London’s most powerful (and sexiest) vampires, there’s no such thing as a normal day at the office.

But when a mysterious Dark Dates client brings a dire warning of a new threat to the city’s supernatural community, Cass and her friends realise they are up against their deadliest foe yet – and that this time, the danger is far closer to home than they could ever have imagined.

Sexy, snarky and with more bite than a crypt full of vampires, Angel Falls is the latest in the Dark Dates: Cassandra Bick series.

The hunter just wanted to be left alone – one last drink before leaving London forever. Then the vampire Laclos walked into the bar, and suddenly his night wasn’t looking so quiet after all…

There’s a new hunter in the city and he’d targeting Dark Dates – the vampire/human dating agency run by Cassandra Bick, who also happens to be the woman that both Cain and Laclos love. These two fierce rivals must work together to stop him before he drags London’s vampires into the spotlight and destroys Cassandra’s life – that’s if they don’t kill each other first.

It’s Christmas in London but Cassandra Bick, owner of the human/vampire dating agency Dark Dates, doesn’t feel much like celebrating. There’s a rogue vampire running loose on the streets and Cassandra and her friends must try to stop him before he strikes again – even if that means enlisting the help of Laclos, the flirtatious vampire with very definite ideas of what (or who) he wants to unwrap this Christmas…

You will find all of Tracey’s books on her Amazon author page

Enjoy!

Tuesday 7 February, 7pm

Dark in the Day

We’re used to weird dreams, but what about the wide-awake weird?

Dark in the Day is a collection of short stories penned by established writers of the weird and by writers new to the genre… and what better way to celebrate the publication of this anthology than with a reading at City Central Library? Hosted in conjunction with Staffordshire University, you are invited to join Storm Constantine, Rosie Garland, Paul Houghton and Staffordshire University Creative Writing graduates for an evening of delightful and alarming tales of oddness.

This is a free event. Contact City Central Library to book your tickets (01782 238455; central.library@stoke.gov.uk)

Tuesday 14 March, 7pm

6X6 Reading Café

Six writers – Six readers – Six minutes

We’re thrilled that 6X6 Reading Café is entering its second year. If you’d like the chance to take part, take a look at the 6X6 blog at https://6x6writingcafe.wordpress.com/ for writing guidelines and submission details. There’s no theme this time, and you have until 27 February to submit your work.

Anyone is welcome to attend the reading café, and hear the best writing from the local area.

This is a free event. Contact City Central Library to book your ticket (01782 238455; central.library@stoke.gov.uk)

Friday 28 April, 7:30pm

Harry Baker

We’re very excited to welcome World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker to Stoke-on-Trent.

Harry Baker published his debut anthology ‘The Sunshine Kid’ with Burning Eye in December 2014. The subsequent show of the same name was voted ‘Best Spoken Word show’ of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015. Now a fully-fledged maths graduate and full time poet/adventurer, his work has been viewed millions of times worldwide, as well as being translated into 15 different languages. Amongst other things he is currently working on the joint ‘Harry and Chris’ project with Jazz Musician Chris Read, following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh fringe 2016 and UK Spring 2017 Tour.

Tickets: £3, including refreshments. Contact City Central Library to book your tickets (01782 238455; central.library@stoke.gov.uk)

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books; Main Market Ed. edition (11th February 2016)

My review

We meet Caddy who, in her own eyes is very ordinary. Too ordinary! Living in a nice house with a Dad who is a Doctor and a Mum who works with the Samaritans. She goes to a private all girls school, which she knows costs a fortune, and she wants for nothing. Other than a more interesting life.

As she turns 16 she vows that this will be the year she will find a proper boyfriend, lose her virginity and experience a “Significant Life Event”. She shares this goal with her best friend, Rosie. She has been best friends with Rosie for years and they are still the best of friends, despite attending different high schools. They tell each other everything and spend all of their spare time together. That is until Suzanne comes along. Suzanne attends Rosie’s school and they become close, much to Caddy’s annoyance. She’s not used to sharing her best friend. However, over time, she too becomes close to Suzanne. Suzanne is exciting. She seems to not care about school or anything really. For Caddy, Suzanne is exactly what she needs to bring her out of her shell. However, Suzanne has a painful past and one she’s likely to never get over. She obviously needs more help than she is receiving and I felt so sorry for her, despite her destructive behaviour.

As a parent, I could totally sympathise with Caddy’s parents. What parent would want their 16 year old daughter sneaking out in the middle of the night? We don’t want our well behaved children being led astray by so called bad influences. Their reaction to things that go on throughout the story was very believable for me. As much as I respect my children’s right to choose their own friends, I would certainly have something to say if their behaviour put them at any risk.

However, this story does highlight just how we never know what someone else might be going through and that their reckless actions can be a cry for help.

It was interesting how the dynamics of the friendship between Caddy, Rosie and Suzanne shifted over such a short time. Rosie soon became the jealous one as Caddy and Suzanne became close, but this jealousy turned to concern as Caddy took more and more risks just to spend time with Suzanne. I felt sorry for Rosie then as feeling left out is awful.

It was hard to guess where the story might lead. My heart was breaking for Suzanne and I truly hoped she would get the support she needed to start building a new, positive life for herself.

I could totally see why Caddy was drawn to Suzanne. At such an impressionable age, a lot of teenagers are trying to fit in and be what they see as interesting. No-one wants to be the boring one.

They’re having a great time until an accident happens during one of their many middle of the night adventures, and their friendship changes forever.

Beautiful Broken Things is so beautifully written, I was drawn in from the very beginning and it didn’t let me go until the very last page. It’s a very powerful story about friendship, family, child abuse and mental illness. It’s aimed at a teenage/YA audience, but honestly, I have thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. It is most definitely a book that will stay with me and one I will happily recommend.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley.

Buy your copy here – Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

Description

I was brave
She was reckless
We were trouble

Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated. As Suzanne’s past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realizes, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own.

About the author

Sara lives in Brighton and does all her best writing on trains. She loves books, book people and book things. She has been writing ever since she was too small to reach the “on” switch on the family Amstrad computer. She gets her love of words from her dad, who made sure she always had books to read and introduced her to the wonders of secondhand book shops at a young age.

Sara is trying to visit every country in Europe, and has managed to reach 13 with her best friend. She has also lived in Canada and worked in India.

Sara is inspired by what-ifs and people. She thinks sad books are good for the soul and happy books lift the heart. She hopes to write lots of books that do both. BEAUTIFUL BROKEN THINGS is her first book and a dream come true.

Hiya! I hope you’re having a good January so far.

Now that I have had my book blog for more than a year, I thought I might try out this new feature on the first Friday of each month. I thought it might be nice to re-share my reviews for books I read during the same month the previous year.

Here’s what I read in January 2016…..

https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/the-good-kind-of-bad-by-rita-brassington/

https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/the-astonishing-return-of-norah-wells-by-virginia-macgregor/

https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/beside-myself-by-ann-morgan/

https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/dead-secret-by-ava-mccarthy/

Have you read any of the above?

Feel free to join in with Flashback Friday and do share the link to your post in the comments if you do 🙂

Have a fab weekend!

A great giveaway…..