From the author / publisher…..

 (Advance paperback copy from publisher)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (13th September 2016)

A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Follow You Home and The Magpies.

It was the job she had dreamed of since childhood. But on her very first day, when an unnerving encounter drags up memories Sophie Greenwood would rather forget, she wonders if she has made a mistake. A fatal mistake.

What is her ambitious young assistant really up to? And what exactly happened to Sophie’s predecessor? When her husband and daughter are pulled into the nightmare, Sophie is forced to confront the darkest secrets she has carried for years.

As her life begins to fall apart at work and at home, Sophie must race to uncover the truth about her new job…before it kills her.

 (Kindle copy from Leslie Garland)

Publisher: Leslie W P Garland (2 Dec. 2015)

Comprising four intriguing novella length contemporary folk or fairy stories, which contain a hint of the supernatural, together with more than a passing nod towards philosophy and religion:-

The Little Dog.
A story of good and evil, and retribution.
This first tale of The Red Grouse Tales is told by Bill, a retired forester, and takes the form of most of the stories in our lives, namely, that we have no idea that we are living a story until later when previous events suddenly seem to fall into place and make some kind of sense. Bill recounts a week in his early working life when he was paired with an older, unsavoury and unpopular colleague. While driving to their place of work they find a little dog sitting beside the forest haul-road way out in a remote part of the forest. Bill wonders what the little dog is doing there and as the week progresses finds himself becoming emotionally attached to it while also becoming increasingly concerned about just who is his objectionable workmate. His concerns heighten when he notices that the little dog is no longer present at his usual spot and cannot help but feel that his workmate has something to do with the dog’s disappearance. Troubled, Bill has a conversation with his local priest in which they discuss the nature of sin and evil. The next day events suddenly take an unexpected turn and the young naive Bill starts to learn some awful truths.

The Crow.
A poignant tale of misunderstanding, dying, blame and bitterness.
The second story in The Red Grouse Tales series centres on our almost desperate desire to leave something to mark our life upon this earth. It is told as a history recounted by Dave, of the time when he, as a child, was taken by his mother to a hospice where he met a dying and embittered old Irish priest known as Mad Father Patrick, who told him about the school days and subsequent rise of a local councillor, Reginald Monday, and of his (Monday’s) involvement in the construction of a dam which flooded the valley. The tale is told with a blend of fantasy, biblical quotations and philosophical musings, but how does Mad Father Patrick’s fantasy end and just why is he so bitter?

The Golden Tup.
A dreadful tale of paradise being cruelly taken by latent evil.
The third The Red Grouse Tale explores the possibility of evil being in a place. It is told by Verity, a farmer’s wife, who opens her story by recalling how a young couple were arrested a few years previously for killing their new born baby. Through a series of flashbacks we learn how this couple had created their rural idyll, how an enigmatic man had come into their lives and how their idyll and relationship had gradually fallen apart. With references to Milton’s Paradise Lost, though the story is not about the Fall of Man, we learn how their paradise was lost. As the young wife gradually reveals a dreadful past, Verity realises that she is holding something back, but what? What is the terrible truth that caused her and her husband to kill their baby?

The White Hart.
A happy ghost story, if there can be such a thing!
The fourth story in The Red Grouse Tales series is told by a bachelor and keen fell-runner, Pete Montague and takes the form of his recalling three strange incidents which he initially thinks are unconnected. The first is his encounter with a little albino deer which he finds in the forest when he is out for a jog. The second is that of a chance meeting with a beautiful girl at a remote chapel and of their conversation in which she tells him the story of the daughter of the family which built it. And the third incident ……

 (e-book from Simon Maltman)

 (e-book from Rosalie at Blackbird Digital)

 (e-book from Laura Briggs)

It’s the career move of a lifetime, and Julianne can’t believe it’s hers: a position as an event planner at a country house in Cornwall, England, beginning with the wedding of a celebrity! If her old firm’s senior planner back in the States hadn’t fallen suddenly sick with the chicken pox, Julianne would never have found herself chosen for a life in one of England’s most beautiful coastal counties, surrounded by rugged shores, quaint cottages, elegant gardens and a house to die for.

But life in Cornwall isn’t exactly as Julianne imagined it. Her first bride-to-be is a resentful, petted snob, the groom is immature and bored, and the Cornish staff of Cliffs House has a difficult time believing that an event planner from a mid-level position can handle a wedding this big. And then there’s a personal matter — the handsome, sometimes charming, sometimes standoffish gardener Matthew Rose. He and Julianne have a strangely complicated relationship somewhere between friendship and attraction. But with a secret in his past, and a scheming bridesmaid plotting to have Matthew all to herself, will Julianne find a way to untangle her feelings and the problems of planning a perfect Cornish wedding?

 (e-book from Dan Klefstad)

Most people take comfort knowing their family and friends will remember them after they die. For Susan Shepherd, “remembering” is bullshit. She wants an eternal shrine to her sacrifice: a book that never goes out of print.

Shepherd served her country in the Gulf War, got shot while serving her community as a cop, raised an ungrateful daughter by herself — and for what? A diagnosis of terminal cancer and she isn’t even fifty. If you were in her shoes, you might agree that nothing short of national perpetual acknowledgement will do.

She’s glad you feel that way; she just wrote a memoir and sent a flurry of query letters, hoping a publisher will memorialize her with a best-seller. After hitting Send, she waits not-at-all patiently for an editor to decide if her story will sell enough copies — that is, if her life really mattered.

 (e-book from publisher)

Dani, Meg, and Charlotte have bonded over babies, barbeques, and backyards, but when they escape for a girls’ weekend away, they can’t bring themselves to return to lives that don’t seem to fit anymore.

Harried Dani can’t explain why she feels so discontented until she meets a young gallery owner who inspires her to rediscover the art that once made her happy.

Dependable Meg faces up to a grief that threatens to swallow her whole and confronts a marriage built on expectations.

Flamboyant Charlotte, frustrated with her stagnated life and marriage, pursues a playboy Irish singer and beachside business opportunities.

All three of these women thought they would be different. None of them thought they’d be facing down forty and still wondering when life starts. What they do when they realize where they’re headed is both inspiring and wildly entertaining.

GIRLS’ WEEKEND is a fun, yet poignant romp through the universal search of who we are, why we love, and what makes us happy by an author who is quickly emerging as one of our most incisive storytellers.

 (e-book from PA)

***This novella is the prequel to Luminosity****
***Re-edited March 2016, with new scenes and a few surprises***
Life was full of nothing but darkness for Nathan Stevenson until Jasmine appeared in his life. She brought his innermost desires to the surface. She burned her way through to his heart to become embedded in his soul. He knew she was dangerous but would she break down his wall as he dreamed of her touch and fought against the impulse to protect her?Would their love be enough to defeat his demons? Was he strong enough to resist her or would her light burn irrevocably?

 (e-book from PA)

***Re-edited with new scenes****
Jasmine Johnstone’s life was relatively normal until she was forced to live with the Stevenson family. As she stayed she found she had no choice but to battle mythical creatures. Strengths she never knew she possessed began to surface, surprising those around her. Her only chance of surviving the rising tide of evil was Nathan Stevenson. Could she really trust him as he fought against his love for her? With the world against them and time running out, would their love be enough to defeat demons?

 (e-book from PA)

Life has never been easy for Jasmine Johnstone, but failing for Nathan Stevenson brings a whole new level of difficulty. Since she arrived at his home he’s blown hot and cold with her, turned against her and revealed a deadly threat. He is sworn to kill her, and fights against his love for her more than ever, but he knows he can’t live without her.
As they run from monsters, and each other, can their love survive?

 (e-book from Jean Nicole Rivers)

In the remote, eastern European town of Borslav there is St. Sebastian orphanage, a place where people discard their unwanted children. For the American, Blaire Baker, it’s the perfect place to volunteer her services. Paired with a cheerful volunteer nurse, Blaire is enthusiastic about the possibilities, but is quickly discouraged when she encounters the nefarious nature of the staff and the deplorable conditions of the facility and the children.

From Netgalley…..

Pub Date 01 Dec 2016

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

Pub Date 15 Sep 2016

Callum has a family secret. Yasmine wants to know it. Juliette thinks nobody knows hers. All Ruby wants is to reinvent herself. They are brought together by circumstance, torn apart by misunderstanding. As new relationships are forged and confidences are broken, each person’s version of events is colored by their background, beliefs, and prejudices. And so the ingredients are in place for a year shaped by lust, betrayal, and violence. Sometimes growing up is seeing someone else’s side of the story.

Pub Date 06 Oct 2016

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn’t always been this overweight; mother-of-twoBrid Riordan hasn’t always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn’t always felt that her life was a total waste.

So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke – a former love of both Brid and Evelyn – the village’s dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad, Holding is a masterful debut. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters, and explore – with searing honesty – the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

Purchased / freebies…..

 (Kindle first, Prime member August freebie)

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (1 Sept. 2016)

The body of a young woman is found on the streets of East London, in the shadow of the City’s gleaming towers. No ID on her, just hard-earned cash. But there is no doubting the ferocity of the attack.

DI Simon Fenchurch takes charge but, as his team tries to identify her and piece together her murder, they’re faced with cruel indifference at every turn—nobody cares about yet another dead prostitute. To Fenchurch, however, she could just as easily be Chloe, his daughter still missing after ten years, whose memory still haunts his days and nights, his burning obsession having killed his marriage.

When a second body is discovered, Fenchurch must peel back the grimy layers shrouding the London sex trade, confronting his own traumatic past while racing to undo a scheme larger, more complex and more evil than anything he could possibly have imagined.

 (Paperback from book sale on holiday)

Publisher: Harper (13 Aug. 2015)

One lied. One died.

When one sister dies, the other must go to desperate lengths to survive

After a tragic accident, still haunted by her twin sister’s death, Abi is making a fresh start in Bath. But when she meets siblings Bea and Ben, she is quickly drawn into their privileged and unsettling circle.

When one sister lies, she must protect her secret at all costs

As Abi tries to keep up with the demands of her fickle friends, strange things start to happen – precious letters go missing and threatening messages are left in her room. Is this the work of the beautiful and capricious Bea? Or is Abi willing to go to any lengths to get attention?

When the truth outs, will either sister survive?

 (Paperback from book sale on holiday)

Publisher: Penguin (23 Oct. 2014)

One abandoned baby. Two sisters with a secret. One chance to rewrite the past.
Over seventy years have passed since sisters Rose and Connie Doughty found an abandoned baby near their home on the island Scribbly Gum. With no one to take care of it, Rose and Connie took the baby in as their own.
Since then the ‘Munro Baby Mystery’ has brought fame and fortune, putting Scribbly Gum on the tourist map, especially for the island’s annual celebration.
But now, with Connie dead and outsider Sophie Honeywell about to move into her home, Rose begins to wonder if they made the right decision all those years ago. How much longer can they cover up the lie that has sustained their community for generations? And what other secrets are about to be revealed?

 (Paperback from book sale on holiday)

Publisher: Penguin (20 Jan. 2014)

In the heart-warming Lost and Found, discover tales from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home that celebrate the power of animals to transform people’s lives.

We hear from the young boy whose Battersea dog helped him to deal with a serious autoimmune disease, and from a woman whose Staffie was the friend who got her through cancer.

We meet the couple who were brought together by a Battersea dog; the man who took on a three-legged kitten which changed his life; and the former Battersea hound who became a search and rescue dog.

Read these and many other powerful stories from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Lost and Found has something for dog and cat lovers alike, and is perfect reading for fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Paul O’Grady’s For The Love Of Dogs.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the UK’s oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats. The Home aims never to turn away a dog or cat in need of help, reuniting lost dogs and cats with their owners or caring for them until new homes can be found. Battersea also works to educate the public about responsible pet ownership. Every year the Home cares for over 9,000 lost, abandoned and neglected dogs and cats, and in 2010 the home marked its 150th anniversary.

 (Paperback from charity shop)

Publisher: HarperCollins (12 Mar. 2015)

With family like this, who needs enemies…

There are some families that welcome newcomers with open arms, then there are the Butlers. An East End family no good girl wants to marry into…

Jo fell for Vinny Butler’s good looks, but she’s stood at one graveside too many and now she’s buried her heart as well.

Michael Butler was always the nice one, until he started running the family business. Nancy is desperate to leave, and though she would never turn her back on her children, every step they take in their father’s footsteps destroys her a little more.

As the old saying goes – you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer…

But you keep your family right where you can see them.

Book three in the Butler family saga. Read the whole series in order: 1. The Trap 2. Payback 3. The Wronged 4. Tainted Love

I didn’t realise it was book 3 when I bought it. I’ll have to find the first two now! 😉

 (Charity shop)

Publisher: MacLehose Press (1 Jan. 2010)

Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden are murdered, and Salander’s prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society – but no-one can find her.

Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium, does not believe the police. Using all his magazine staff and resources to prove Salander’s innocence, Blomkvist also uncovers her terrible past, spent in criminally corrupt institutions. Yet Salander is more avenging angel than helpless victim. She may be an expert at staying out of sight – but she has ways of tracking down her most elusive enemies.

 (Charity shop)

Salander is plotting her revenge – against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release.

With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.

 (Charity shop)

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading ‘soul’ who has been given Melanie’s body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves – Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she’s never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

 (Charity stall at Sandown Regatta, Isle Of Wight)

WINNER OF THE SHAMUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

“I defy anyone to guess the identity of the killer or to put this book down.”

Five years ago, the serial killer known as the Night Hunter vanished without trace after murdering five women. Now another killer claiming to be the notorious Ed Fagan is back prowling the streets of Dublin in search of new victims – but Saxon, former FBI agent turned true crime author, knows that it can’t really be him. Joining forces with Detective Superintendent Grace Fitzgerald of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, Saxon soon finds herself in danger as the body count starts to rise and old secrets come to light. The Dead won the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel and was long listed for the Sunday Independent/Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year award.

 (Charity shop)

Bee Bearhorn had a number-one hit single in 1985 – and was never heard of again. Fifteen years later she is found dead in her flat and nobody seems to care …

But Ana Wills always day-dreamed about the exotic half-sister she hasn’t seen in years. And when she comes to London to clear Bee’s flat, she uncovers a life more exotic than she imagined: a secret country cottage, mysterious weekends away, and even a missing cat.

With Bee’s closest friends – mad Lol and strong, silent Flint – Ana sets out to discover exactly what did happen to Bee Bearhorn, the one-hit wonder …

 (Charity shop)

The magical new novel from Sunday Times top ten bestseller, Milly Johnson

Life is full of second chances…if only you keep your heart open for them.

Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Leni Merryman’s Teashop on the Corner, specialising in cake, bookish stationery and compassion. And for three people, all in need of a little TLC, it is somewhere to find a friend to lean on.

Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. And now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward.

Molly Jones’s ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it is too late.

And Will Linton’s business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again.

Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop on the Corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs it most…?

A story of love, friendship and second chances that will warm your heart and rekindle your hope.

 (Charity shop)

Love isn’t an exact science – but no one told Don Tillman. A thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don’s never had a second date. So he devises the Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie – ‘the world’s most incompatible woman’ – throwing Don’s safe, ordered life into chaos. But what is this unsettling, alien emotion he’s feeling?

 (Charity stall at Sandown Regatta, Isle Of Wight)

A second collection of incredible and heart-warming canine stories from around the world, from the bestselling author of The Dog That Saved My Life.

Animals have accompanied man into battle since war first waged. Since those times, many stories have been told of the bears, camels, cats, dolphins, monkeys, mules, rats and other creatures that have served with the Armed Forces during both world wars and beyond. The four stories in this book represent the devotion and unquestioning loyalty of the canine companion in the darkest days of war.

From the stub-tailed Bull Terrier that became a hero of the First World War, and the most decorated dog in history, after his bravery in the trenches of Flanders, to the remarkable loyalty of an Iraqi stray dog who attached himself to British troops in North Port and then patrolled their camp every night, protecting them from being attacked by the vicious packs of dogs living in the desert, each is an incredible tale of wartime bravery as well as an example of inspiring commitment and courage.

 (Charity shop)

THE SENSATIONAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2016

A tragic accident. It all happened so quickly. She couldn’t have prevented it. Could she?

In a split second, Jenna Gray’s world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she is haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of a cruel November night that changed her life forever.

Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness in her future. But her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating . . .

 (Charity stall at Sandown Regatta, Isle Of Wight)

John Green’s witty yet heart-breaking tour de force. The multi-million #1 bestseller, now a major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Added to my wishlist…..

Publisher:

Kindle – Penguin (18th July 2016)

Paperback – Penguin (11th August 2016)

Set in the seaside town of Oldcliffe, Local Girl Missing centres around Frankie and Sophie. They were best friends as kids/teenagers, but Sophie disappeared when she was 21. It was assumed that she had fallen off the old pier, drunk, so death by misadventure was declared even though her body was never found.

Frankie could no longer face living in Oldcliffe and has since moved to London, managing her father’s hotels. She’s always kept herself busy, trying not to think too much about Sophie. She has a successful career, nice home, nice car, but she’s never been so lucky in love. Now she’s 39 years old and is suddenly contacted by Daniel (Sophie’s brother). Remains have been found and he needs her help and support in identifying them as it’s believed they may be Sophie’s. So, Frankie returns to Oldcliffe for the first time in years and all sorts of secrets are revealed. I won’t say more than that as I don’t want to give anything away, but this was a fab read. Very cleverly written! I finished it quite late last night. I was going to save the last couple of chapters for this morning, but I just couldn’t! My heart was literally racing towards the end! Loved it!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I am more than happy to recommend!

Buy your copy here – Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

Description:

Twenty years ago
21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night.
She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier –
and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca.

Now
A body’s been found.
And Francesca’s drawn back to the seaside town she’s tried to forget.
Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out.
Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn’t returned.

Everywhere she turns are ghosts from her past.
The same old faces and familiar haunts of her youth.
But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night then now’s the time to find out – isn’t it?

Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear – your family, your sanity and even your life . . .

About the Author

Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years writing features for women’s magazines and national newspapers, but she’s dreamed of being a novelist since the age of seven. She finally got her wish after winning the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award, with her first novel, The Sisters. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children.

Publisher: Penguin (28th July 2016)

This is the first book I’ve read by Liane Moriarty, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Truly Madly Guilty had me gripped from the start. I found the characters interesting, although not all necessarily likeable all of the time. I was itching to find out more about them.

Erika’s and Clementine’s friendship is an odd one. They’ve been friends since they were little, but Clementine seems to resent the fact that her mother included Erika in pretty much everything as she was growing up, almost as though she feels like she’s been forced to be her best friend and it has just become a habit. They are polar opposites! I did feel quite sorry for Erika at times, but I could also see how she might grate on someone. Anyway, they stayed in close contact as adults and Erika is Clementine’s daughter’s God Mother. So, when Erika needs help, she feels like Clementine is the obvious person to go to, but Clementine isn’t so sure she can offer the help needed when first approached.

The story centres around a barbecue, which they are all invited to, at Erika’s neighbours house. They are hopeful that the afternoon will provide some much needed relaxation and give them time to think about what is being asked of them. None of them could have imagined how that day would end.

I loved the build up to this life changing event. Throughout the book we flit back between that day and since. As the story progresses we learn more and more about the characters and their relationships with each other. The whole thing flows really well, creating suspense. I had to keep reading to find out what was so awful about that day at the barbecue. I have to say that I was imagining all sorts of scenarios, but as usual I got it wrong!

Overall an excellent read.

I’ll be off now to add Liane Moriarty’s other books to my TBR list 🙂

Many thanks to the author and publisher for approving my request on Netgalley. I will happily recommend!

Buy your copy here – Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Description (via AmazonUK):

Despite their differences, Erika and Clementine have been best friends since they were children. So when Erika needs help, Clementine should be the obvious person to turn to. Or so you’d think.

For Clementine, as a mother of a two desperately trying to practise for the audition of a lifetime, the last thing she needs is Erika asking for something, again.

But the barbecue should be the perfect way to forget their problems for a while. Especially when their hosts, Vid and Tiffany, are only too happy to distract them.

Which is how it all spirals out of control….

I attended the 6×6 Reading Café, with my friend Gayle, on 14th June and really enjoyed it. We will be going again 🙂 I highly recommend if you’re local enough to attend, or happy to travel. Tickets are free!

Today I am very pleased to welcome Dan Klefstad to my blog. Dan very kindly agreed to answer my questions. I’m sure you’ll enjoy his answers…..

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

I want to tell stories that blend a life story with a letter addressed to a specific person. So my novel Shepherd & the Professor is the fictional memoir of Susan Shepherd — Gulf War vet, cop and single mom — but it’s also a query letter to an unnamed editor at an unnamed publishing house. At first I worried about addressing a story to one person (the editor) about whom Shepherd and the reader knows nothing. Then I realized when you (or your protagonist) speak to one person, you’re speaking to everyone who reads it — That is, if you make it an honest revealing of your main character. I hoped this would make it especially easy to identify with my protagonist, or even the addressee. Now I’m ready for the reader to judge.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I’m going to say something most writers say, and then I’ll put a spin on it: Write what you know; then use your imagination. I started with very basic characteristics belonging to my wife Susan, myself, and the university town we live in. Then my imagination took over and blew up several traits into things that might be, or could’ve been, or could never possibly be. I wasn’t happy with the story until I created an alternate universe that barely resembles the one I live in.

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

Continuing with the above, every character is a composite or completely made up. I’m pretty sure no one will accuse me of modeling a character after them. And why would I? If your aim is to write a compelling story, then using everyday people will keep it stuck on the ground. Very few of us are so interesting that we could inspire a page-turner by ourselves. That’s actually a compliment if you think about it: How many friends do you have? Now think about how many friends Sean Penn has, or someone equally fascinating? I’ll bet you’re way ahead on that count.

How do you pick your characters names?

I pick the first name that comes into my head and stay with it awhile. After revisions, after the story evolves, I go back and change some names. In the case of Shepherd, I picked Susan Shepherd right away and it stuck. She’s a protector by nature, so Shepherd made sense all the way to the final edit.

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

I have a day job so I write on weekends or vacations. I don’t try to force anything, though. The true words will only come when they’re ready — or when you’re ready for them. A lot of emotionally dishonest prose gets written when writers are on a tight deadline, or have a big contract to fill.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have two who influenced my writing a lot so far. Novelist Robert Hellenga (“Snakewoman of Little Egypt”) often writes from the perspective of female narrators, and he gave me the courage to try that. Poet Amy Newman wrote a book called “Dear Editor” that inspired the query letter aspect of Shepherd. Both are written in the first person, which I find the most compelling way to tell a story.

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

Ernest Hemingway: Was there really nothing — nothing — left to say?

Were you a big reader as a child?

If the subject interested me, yes. When I was a pre-teen I was fascinated by horses, so I read all the Black Stallion novels. Then I was into Dungeons & Dragons and read all the fantasy I could get a hold of.

When did you start to write?

I was sixteen when I saw the TV series “Reilly: Ace of Spies” starring Sam Neill (remember that?). I immediately wrote a spy novel based loosely on that character and period. It was terrible but my mother encouraged me to keep writing, so I did.

What are you working on right now?

OK promise not to laugh? I’m writing a short story about a man who’s the guardian for a vampire. He watches the home while the creature sleeps. He pays the bills, and arranges for an uninterrupted supply of blood. Now, after decades of service, the man is about to retire. This is also a fictional memoir which doubles as a letter to one person: the man who will succeed the guardian. In addition to the confessional element, this story is also a guidebook on how to care for a vampire. I’d like to turn this into a novel.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Well, Shepherd took me five years to write. Now that I’m getting the hang of it, I hope to have this one done in half that time.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I’m the only Dan Klefstad on Facebook and Twitter, to the best of my knowledge, so I’d begin there. I’m pretty quick with a reply. I’m also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/10cnd_tkZlI

Let me share another bit:

Shepherd & the Professor is my first paperback release. But it started out as an e-novella called Dr. Shabbaz which has a similar plot told in third-person. After publishing it, I realized how bored I was with telling a story in “Third P” so I turned it into a fictional memoir. Then I added the query letter aspect. There: Now you know the most important part of my process — Revise, revise, revise!

Many thanks to Dan for joining me on my blog today 🙂

Publisher: Black Rose Writing; 1 edition (22nd April 2016)

Most people take comfort knowing their family and friends will remember them after they die. For Susan Shepherd, “remembering” is bullshit. She wants an eternal shrine to her sacrifice: a book that never goes out of print.

Shepherd served her country in the Gulf War, got shot while serving her community as a cop, raised an ungrateful daughter by herself — and for what? A diagnosis of terminal cancer and she isn’t even fifty. If you were in her shoes, you might agree that nothing short of national perpetual acknowledgement will do.

She’s glad you feel that way; she just wrote a memoir and sent a flurry of query letters, hoping a publisher will memorialize her with a best-seller. After hitting Send, she waits not-at-all patiently for an editor to decide if her story will sell enough copies — that is, if her life really mattered.

Buy your copy HERE

Today I am very pleased to welcome Melissa Grunow to my blog.

Melissa’s book, Realizing River City, was published on 14th February 2016. Melissa has very kindly sent me an e-book copy to add to my review list. You will find the link to buy later on in the post, but in the meantime enjoy Melissa’s Q&A…..

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

I’m a Michigan-based author of the memoir Realizing River City that was published in February 2016 by Tumbleweed Books. It’s my first book, but my work has also appeared in such literary journals as Creative Nonfiction, River Teeth, Yemassee, New Plains Review, Blue Lyra Review, and Limestone, among many others.

I have an MFA in creative nonfiction from National University and an MA in English from New Mexico State University.

Although I’ve written and published short stories in the past, most of my current work is focused on creative nonfiction, such as personal essays and short narratives.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Since I write creative nonfiction, I pull most of my content from personal experiences and observations.

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

If other people show up in my work, they are usually real people.

How do you pick your characters names?

I use real names most of the time.

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

Usually a new piece is triggered by a memory of a scene or even a moment. I jot it down in a journal or on a Post-It and let it ruminate until I think of a way to connect it to a bigger issue. Thematically, my work is often focused on relationships, identity, belonging, and health, so once I make connections between scenes and theme, an essay can start to come together. I write slowly and revise extensively, reconsidering structure and purpose with each review of the piece. I also make sure I spend some time away from the work and go do other things so that I have a fresh perspective when I come back to it.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have many! I adore the writings of Maggie Nelson, Augusten Burroughs, Dorothy Allison, Dinty W. Moore, Charles Baxter, Wendy C. Ortiz, Jill Talbot, and Cheryl Strayed. The list grows as I discover new books and new authors.

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

I wish I would have had the chance to meet Judith Kitchen before she died. If I could have a sit-down chat with her, I would ask her to share her thoughts on how writers can overcome barriers to success while still remaining humble and open to learning and growing so their writing keeps getting better. It’s something I struggle with all the time, and I know others do as well, yet nobody really talks about it.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Most definitely. I was pretty restricted on what I could watch on television and movies I was allowed to see, but I was able to read nearly everything I wanted, so I read all the time. I actually used to get in trouble for reading because I would hide out in the bathroom to finish a book or put off my chores just to get through another chapter.

When did you start to write?

I started writing a little in high school and college. My work didn’t really go anywhere, but I learned a lot. I started writing seriously and publishing in 2012, and I haven’t stopped.

What are you working on right now?

My primary project right now is a collection of essays that examines the concept of place and belonging as they pertain to identity and the uncertainty that exists for all of us when confronted with issues that never saw resolution. The twenty essays will examine situations and encounters that raised unanswerable questions, shoddy memories that shudder with remnants of doubt, and always a subtle sense of guilt that has surfaced from introspection and the passage of time. Ultimately, the collection will be a chorus of voices that are finally getting a chance to speak without inhibitions or limitations in search of an absolute, yet illusive, truth.

I was recently hired by Literary Arts Review to be a contributing writer and columnist. I’ll write articles about the literary lifestyle for each issue as well as a monthly piece for “The B-List Writer” column. The first issue is due out September 1, so I’m really excited about that.

Additionally, I’m interested in getting more involved in teaching workshops, presenting at conferences, coaching new writers, and engaging more with authors at various events. The support I got from others while I was working on my memoir was invaluable, and it’s time for me to pay it forward.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Oh, I wish I knew! I don’t have any forthcoming publications right now because I’ve been so focused on writing material for the new book and doing readings and interviews for Realizing River City. I’m hoping to have new work out in early 2017, though. Fingers crossed!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I always love to hear from readers! I have a contact form on my website www.melissagrunow.com as well as resources for Book Clubs.

I’m also reachable on Facebook, www.facebook.com/MelissaGrunowAuthor and Twitter, https://twitter.com/melgrunow.

Readers can even post questions on Goodreads (and also give ratings and write reviews) at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28699641-realizing-river-city.

Many thanks to Melissa for answering my questions 🙂

Publisher: Tumbleweed Books (14th February 2016)

It’s a story about loss, love, compassion, and finally redemption.

At times, life can feel like a challenging feat of survival. Whether it’s living through abusive relationships or figuring out the complexities of what it means to be a woman searching for love, Realizing River City is a memoir that proves how despite the troubles we may face, there is hope in the way we continually risk ourselves in search for the life we want to live. In her poetic exploration of past relationships, Melissa Grunow’s honest words do not falter in the face of so much loss. Taking the rage we all feel about grief and pain, and funneling it into truth, beauty, and ultimately redemption on each page, Realizing River City is about discovering how the most important relationship is the one we have with ourselves.

Realizing River City

Just the Right balance of vulnerability and strength.

You can purchase your copy here – Realizing River City by Melissa Grunow

Review

Happy Publication Day Roma 🙂

Today I am very pleased to welcome author, Roma Brooks to my blog.

Roma has very kindly sent me an e-book review copy of her novel, Wicked Summer (book 2 in the Cape Harriet series), which I will be reading as soon as possible (what this space for my review!). In the meantime, I have a Q&A with the author herself for you to enjoy…..

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

I have always wanted to write. I put it off as something to do later but that day never came. Last year, I started writing something for NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month, a project that encourages budding authors to write 50K words in November. It is highly motivating being part of a global platform of like minded people. I didn’t end up with a complete novel but it got me putting words down on paper. I got a feel for what sort of genre I was really interested in, and that paved the way for the Cape Harriet series.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

From life itself! There is no one to one correlation or nothing very concrete. A multitude of things you see around you, read about or experience come together to form some sort of impression on you. Some things linger on in the mind for a long time, and they morph into the concept of a story.

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

I like to think my characters are regular people, the kind you have come across in life. A character is like a quilt made out of scores of different pieces of cloth. They are real, but they have been built bit by bit. There is a sense of people I have met and interacted with over the course of life. So far, I haven’t used a person I know well as an inspiration though.

How do you pick your characters names?

I spend a lot of time on this. I believe the name is important – it gives a sense of the person. I look for names that are going to match the personality portrayed. I also consider the age and ethnic background of the person. I generally shortlist a few names for every character. Intuition or gut instinct also plays a big part in making the final choice. I have a mental image in my mind for the character, and the name should match it. For example, in Wicked Summer, the mother’s name is Mary. She is a wise older woman who keeps her opinion to herself most of the time, but intervenes when absolutely necessary. She lives her life with elegance and grace. I wanted the character to be larger than the name. Ultimately, I settled on Mary because it is a simple name and the first thing I think of when you hear it is ‘mother’.

In Clipper Beach, the main character is called Sandhya which means dusk or evening. Sandhya is a troubled young woman who is facing a serious decision in life. She’s young but past the first blush of youth, past first love. Her vibrant personality is a bit dampened now due to circumstances. The name had to be South Asian considering the character’s ethnicity, easy to pronounce and short enough to remember. Sandhya was my final choice because it seemed to click.

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

The writing process is continuous. I’m more of a ‘pantser’, or spontaneous writer, but I still do an outline. I decide the general concept, then think of the characters. I know at a high level what is going to happen next. But once I start writing, it is all imagination. For example, Wicked Summer begins with the flight journey of Iris, a 40 year old mother with four kids. I close my eyes and imagine the whole process of taking a long flight. Waking up early, packing, leaving for the airport, security lines, the long flight with no food, cramped spaces, anxiety of arriving in a new place, and four whining kids – all of it gives me a sense of what these people will say and do when the flight lands, what state of mind they will be in. The words flow from there.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have many favorite authors so it is hard to name any one. As a child, I was very fond of Enid Blyton. Then I discovered Stevenson and Austen. Then I discovered Jeffery Archer. Then I discovered John Grisham and Clive Cussler. And so on. Nowadays, I have a favorite author every week.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Oh yes. I have always been glued to a book. My day starts and ends with a book. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When did you start to write?

I have been writing in my head forever. I didn’t really start writing fiction until last year. Now I wonder why.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on the next book in the Cape Harriet series. It will be set around Christmas. I want it to be a story of hope and love, one where your most farfetched dreams come true. Holiday spirit will be very much in evidence, and as always, there will be lots of yummy food.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Book 3 is coming at Christmas time.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I like using Twitter to stay in touch with fans. You can connect with me there @romabrooksauth. I love getting emails from readers, so you can also write to me at romabrooksauthor@gmail.com.

Many thanks to Roma for agreeing to answer my questions 🙂

Publication Day – 15th August 2016

Buy your copy here – Wicked Summer by Roma Brooks

Wicked Summer Blurb

A fun family summer holiday on the beach takes an unexpected turn.

Wicked Summer follows the Bloom family as they spend a once in a lifetime vacation at Cape Harriet, a charming seaside town on Virginia’s scenic Eastern Shore.

All Mary Bloom ever wanted was to celebrate her 60th birthday at the beach. The extended Bloom family converges at the Rising Tides Inn, where their slightest whim is catered to.

Forty something Iris is the perfect suburban mom, holding her four kids and husband on a tight leash. 36 year old Hyacinth is single, successful and the self-proclaimed brains of the family. At 26, Poppy is a top travel blogger, wandering across countries most people only dream of visiting.

The rivalry among the sisters is as strong as ever, and each sister is dealing with it in her own way. So while Iris taunts and needles, Hyacinth takes the high road and shows disdain. Poppy suffers silently, lost in her own inner turmoil. None of them has an inkling of the storm that is about to break loose in their lives.

Soft shell crabs and salt marshes will be forgotten as shocking secrets are revealed. Everyone seems to be guilty of hiding something.

Set in idyllic Cape Harriet, Wicked Summer takes the reader on a thrilling roller coaster ride with plenty of laughs, tears and intrigue with heartwarming emotions, scrumptious food and never a dull moment.

Author Bio

Roma Brooks writes stories featuring real life characters, the kind you would come across in your own family. Her books will make you laugh, cry, love, hate and bite your nails. She dreams of retiring to a seaside town like Cape Harriet where the gentle waves of the ocean lull you into sweet dreams.

Excerpt

Zadie flushed with pleasure. “Fresh ingredients make a big difference. The cheeses are made right here in Cape Harriet at Fern’s Dairy Farm. And the bread is also baked fresh in our local bakery. The peppers are from my garden, roasted this morning.”

“Go ahead, cut the cake,” Zadie urged Kevin who had decided to stop attacking the grilled cheese and seemed ready for something else.

Kevin immediately cut out a huge slice, then cut it in half. Four layers of yellow cake with buttery snow white frosting, sprinkled with generous amounts of coconut brought on another chorus of approval.

“Shouldn’t Hyacinth be here by now?” Mary thought out loud. “What time is it?”

“4:30,” Maddie informed her. “She was near Annapolis an hour ago.”

“Oh, she should be here by 6:30 then. Summer time is busy around here. And the single lane roads are slow going,” Zadie explained.

“I still don’t understand why she wouldn’t let me come in the car with her,” Amber wailed. “I’m an adult now, aren’t I?” 

“You can ask her when she gets here,” Mary said soothingly, wondering the same thing. She couldn’t always explain her daughters’ behavior.

“You bet I will, Grandma!” Amber said resolutely.

“When is Poppy getting here?” Iris wanted to know. “I thought she planned this whole thing.”

“Oh, Poppy’s been here for a while,” Zadie said with adoring eyes. “She’s such a darling.”

Kevin raised his hand to high five her, and Zadie met his hand with full force, gaining his instant approval.

“Aunt Poppy’s something, isn’t she?” His hero worship was clear in his eyes and voice.

Iris cleared her throat. She didn’t like her kids idolizing her youngest sister.

“Poppy’s gone into Delaware for a meeting. She’ll be back tonight.” Mary answered Iris’s question.

“What kind of meeting? It’s not like she’s got a job!” Iris said, not even trying to hide the derision in her voice.

Zadie and Mary looked at each other and beamed. 

“We’ll let her tell you about it. That sister of yours is a gem, that’s for sure. We are so honored to have her here.”

“Is this about her next trip?” Maddie burst out excitedly.

Haven’t read book 1 yet? Download here – Clipper Beach by Roma Brooks

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Kerry. x

Publisher: Ebury Digital (28th July 2016)

4/5*

I have to start by saying that the author first attracted me to this book. I find Shappi Khorsandi’s stand-up comedy hilarious! I had expected Nina is Not OK to be hilarious too and it is at times, but mostly I found it quite sad.

Nina is 17. She lost her Dad when she was just 9 years old and is obviously still grieving. She struggles with the fact that her Mum has moved on with Alan, but she loves her baby sister and wouldn’t be without her (they are so cute together). However, she is spiralling out of control. Following in her fathers footsteps.

Nina has the usual teenage worries, with friends, family issues and college, but to me she seemed much older than her 17 years. Maybe because I was 18 before I had my first boyfriend, I found Nina’s antics quite shocking. I certainly hope my daughter doesn’t behave this way at 17! She would be grounded until she’s 35!! Seriously, I know all teenagers need to make their mistakes in order to grow up, but 17 seems really young for some of Nina’s behaviour. Maybe I’m just really old!! It certainly highlights how easily having a few drinks with friends can turn from being a bit fun into a dangerous situation.

I did really like Nina. I was completely drawn to her character and felt really sad for her, even though she could be a brat to her mother! (These scenes really did show her immaturity!)

I don’t want to say too much because of spoiling the story for others, but she certainly doesn’t deserve the way she is a treated one Saturday night. She is a very likeable character with more than the average teenager has to deal with, and I very much wanted her to be OK.

I’ve found this book quite difficult to review. I can’t find the right words to do it justice at all! I don’t want you to think it’s totally depressing because it really isn’t. It’s very well written. It WILL make you laugh! It will make you cry, I’m sure. I was obviously reading it as a mother of a teenage daughter.

I will be interested to see what others think of it. I would certainly recommend it.

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

Buy your copy here – Nina is Not OK by Shappi Khorsandi

Description (via AmazonUK):

Nina does not have a drinking problem. She likes a drink, sure. But what 17-year-old doesn’t?

Nina’s mum isn’t so sure. But she’s busy with her new husband and five year old Katie. And Nina’s almost an adult after all.

And if Nina sometimes wakes up with little memory of what happened the night before , then her friends are all too happy to fill in the blanks. Nina’s drunken exploits are the stuff of college legend.

But then one dark Sunday morning, even her friends can’t help piece together Saturday night. All Nina feels is a deep sense of shame, that something very bad has happened to her…

A dark, funny – sometimes shocking – coming of age novel from one of the UK’s leading comedians. NINA IS NOT O.K. will appeal to fans of Caitlin Moran and Lena Dunham.

Review