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

Publisher: HQ (12th July 2016)

5/5*

I finished All Is Not Forgotten at 00.35 this morning as I couldn’t sleep until I got to the end. It is a fantastic read! Not a particularly pleasant read, given the subject matter, but brilliantly written. I was well and truly gripped. It is tagged as “the gripping thriller you’ll never forget” and that is a more than fair assessment of this book. I’m pretty sure this one will stay with me.

15 year old Jenny is brutally raped, but she remembers nothing about it thanks to an experimental treatment which has erased the memory. This is agreed to by her parents in the hope that she will be able to move on without the horrific attack affecting the rest of her life. Her physical wounds heal, but Jenny is no longer herself, the fun-loving Jenny her parents and friends are used to. Was erasing her memory the best treatment for her after all?

All Is Not Forgotten is narrated by Jenny’s psychiatrist. I really enjoyed the fact that it is written from a psychological perspective. Psychology fascinates me, it always has. I’m not sure I liked the doctor’s character, but he is certainly interesting. He is obviously passionate about his job, but came across to me as feeling quite superior to others. Then again I guess you would have to have plenty of self-confidence to be a successful psychiatrist. I’m not sure I would want to be married to one! Anyway, he is determined to help Jenny to remember that horrendous night as he believes it is the only way she will ever be able to truly move on. As we follow Jenny’s treatment, along with her parents (individually) and other patients, shocking secrets are revealed and emotions run high as the investigation seems to go cold. With Jenny having her memory wiped there is less to work on. Will they ever find out who is responsible for this horrific crime? I thought I knew where the story was going a few times, but as usual I was wrong!

Completely compelling! A scary read, though, especially with having teenagers of my own.

How easily your life could change just by being at the wrong place at the wrong time!

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

Buy your copy of All Is Not Forgotten HERE

Description (via AmazonUK):

For fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, All Is Not Forgotten is the next ‘grip-lit’ sensation.

You can erase the memory. But you cannot erase the crime.

Jenny’s wounds have healed.
An experimental treatment has removed the memory of a horrific and degrading attack.
She is moving on with her life.

That was the plan. Except it’s not working out.
Something has gone. The light in the eyes. And something was left behind. A scar. On her lower back. Which she can’t stop touching.
And she’s getting worse.
Not to mention the fact that her father is obsessed with finding her attacker and her mother is in toxic denial.

It may be that the only way to uncover what’s wrong is to help Jenny recover her memory. But even if it can be done, pulling at the threads of her suppressed experience will unravel much more than the truth about her attack.

Review

About the Author

Publisher: Bookouture (14th July 2016)

5/5*

This book is HILARIOUS! I have absolutely loved it! And, how fab is that cover!?!

Melody Bittersweet sees dead people! She’s totally cool with it though, it runs in the family. Her Mother and Gran happily help people to connect with their loved ones who have passed, at Blithe Spirits, but Melody embarks on a new venture of her own – The Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency – with the help of her best friend, Marina, and Glenda who has worked with her family for years and is naturally organised. Artie soon joins the team also.

Their first ever job involves a big old house belonging to the Scarborough family. The current heir to the property is keen to sell, but prospective buyers are being put off by ghostly interferences. Both Melody’s team and a rival medium (who also happens to be Melody’s ex-boyfriend) are hired to rectify the situation. The successful party winning the payment. The game was on!

It isn’t long until Melody meets the three Scarborough brothers, Douglas, Lloyd and Issac, who are tied to the property as a result of Douglas’ murder years before. One of the other brothers was the murderer, but it was never proven which one it was, hence them all being unable to move on. Melody soon realises that she’s going to have to solve the murder in order to help the brothers find their peace. Along the way she finds out some interesting family history and the story gets quite emotional towards the end.

The characters in this book are just awesome, including the ghosts! The way they bounce off each other and the random conversations they have sometimes are honestly laugh out loud funny! (It’s quite difficult trying not to laugh when reading in bed next to my husband who has to be up for work at 5.15am!) I would totally love to work for The Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency!

Fabulous writing by Kitty French! I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Honestly I can’t express enough how much you need to read this book to see for yourself!! I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I have.

Many thanks, as always, to Bookouture for my auto-approval status on Netgalley.

You can buy your copy of this fabulous book here – Melody Bittersweet and The Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency by Kitty French – currently only 99p on Kindle!

Description:

Welcome to Chapelwick, home of the brand new and hilarious Girls Ghostbusting Agency series, where things really do go bump in the night.

When Melody “I-See-Dead-People” Bittersweet wakes up jobless and alone on her twenty-seventh birthday, she realises she can’t leave her life in the hands of her magic eight ball any longer. She starts her very own ghostbusting agency with best friend Marina, geeky, keen Arthur, and, of course, a one-eared pug called Lestat.

But the team’s very first job at the vast, gothic Scarborough House puts them in direct competition with Melody’s ex, the rakish, despicable Leo Dark.

The house is haunted by three eccentric brothers. Douglas was murdered in his prime (and his cricket whites), while melancholy Isaac and shifty Lloyd lived into old age. Was the family right to exile Isaac, or could someone else have had the means, motive and opportunity?

Whoever solves the crime and gets rid of the ghosts gets paid.

Can Melody and her crew untangle the mystery and bring the brothers peace before Leo? Or will his distracting sexiness, Melody’s bonkers family, and her “vintage” (read: shocking knacker) 1973 Ford Transit, cause the agency to fall at its first hurdle?

This is the PERFECT choice for fans of Janet Evanovich, Gina LaManna and Jana DeLeon, who’ll find themselves crying with laughter as they join Melody and her crew on their spooktastic adventure.

About the author:

USA Today best selling author Kitty French writes sexy, escapist romance hot enough to burn your fingers…

The USA Today best selling Lucien Knight series has been a hit around the world, and Kitty is now writing and releasing the Regular Sex series of half hour erotic reads, a weekly issue to make sure your weekend starts with a bang!

SIGN UP FOR KITTY’S NEWSLETTER for all the gossip and release information by emailing on kittyfrenchwriter@me.com

Kitty is also the disreputable alter-ego of a romantic comedy writer Kat French. She writes full time, and lives in England with her husband and two little boys.

You can get in touch with Kitty on facebook and via her blog – http://www.kittyfrench.blogspot.co.uk, or you can find her on @kittysbooks on twitter.

Check out all of Kitty’s books on here on her AmazonUK author page

As only two ladies entered the giveaway to win a paperback copy of this lovely book, Anna at RedDoor Publishing has agreed to send them both a copy so…..

Congratulations Jo Robertson @ Mychestnutreadingtree and Jill @ Jill’sbookcafe .

If you could email me your addresses please, I will get your book sent out to you 🙂

Thanks for joining in with the giveaway

Kerry. x

Today I am very happy to be kicking off Jessikah Hope Stenson’s A Single Drop Of Perfect & other stories Blog Tour. This is Jessikah’s first ever Blog Tour, which is very exciting 🙂

I have my review of Jessikah’s collection of short stories to share with you, but first of all I have a fab Q&A for you to enjoy…..

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

I’m Jess, I’m currently studying for my degree in English at the University of Exeter where I’m also the Chief Editor of PearShaped Music Magazine. I take as many creative writing modules as possible in my degree and have a book blog (called Read By Jess) where I post some flash fiction, but mostly book reviews. After university I want to start a career in publishing but I’ll always continue to write fiction because it’s my therapy. The dream is to work full-time as a published author, but I know that’s probably a long way off at the moment. Also, I don’t want to close myself off to any opportunities. I never intended to get interested in journalism and then I spent last summer writing for a magazine in Belfast – who knows where life will take me. A Single Drop Of Perfect is my first published book and it’s a collection of five short stories which focus on, well, perfection! There’s a strong focus on relationships, including romantic, familial, platonic and even the love for your pet. Sometimes a perfect moment might happen when you least expect it and I think that’s such a wonderful part of life.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Well for the first story, A Single Drop Of Perfect, it’s based off personal experience. I was basically in a friendship where the other person felt led on and I found it really difficult to ‘let them down’, if that’s even the right way of saying it. Another story, The Lemon & The Lake is based on a phobia I suffer from. While today there’s a growing understanding of mental illness, I feel like this particular phobia is often misunderstood. I won’t say what it is as I don’t want to ruin the story! The story called Wounds is based on loads of different stories people have told me. I know of a young girl who was attacked by her grandmother’s dog and my publisher was telling me about her dog who attacked her aunt and they realised it was because he was ill and in pain, but the authorities were calling the dog aggressive. Basically, I just think people massively misunderstand animals. The other two stories What Isla Did and The Edge Of A Smile aren’t personal at all, they came from a random part of my brain… I have no idea.

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

My friends say they can see a bit of me in some of my characters but other than that not really. Lorenzo in A Single Drop Of Perfect is based on someone I know, but I exaggerated some of his personality and ignored others, so it doesn’t represent him anymore. I find that basing a character on someone you know can hold you back in describing them. Oh and there’s also Miguel who is mentioned in The Lemon & The Lake and he’s based on a real person.

How do you pick your characters names?

Mainly I just google baby names and scroll through them endlessly. I want a name that suits the character, isn’t too common but that people can pronounce – that’s harder than you’d think! I also hate using the names of people I know, it’s creepy!

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

I feel the urge to write, I grab my laptop and start writing. I edit right at the end.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have loads but right now it’s probably either Holly Bourne or Morgan Matson. Their YA summer reads are heaven.

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

Probably Stieg Larsson who wrote The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy. He unfortunately died before his books became successful so I’d love to know what drove him to write so many words on those characters and how he developed such complex plots and kept on top of contradictions, because as a writer that’s what I find so hard and he was an expert.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes definitely! And I still am. I keep track of every book I read (and use GoodReads which is so helpful). I always read at least a book a week but in the holidays I try and read a book a day.

When did you start to write?

When I was 14 I was set a homework task to write a prologue to a story and then my mum asked me what would happen next in the story so I kept writing… 70,000 words later I was done! Since then I’ve written three novels and lots of short stories.

What are you working on right now?

I’ve just finished writing my first novel which I think is actually good enough to be published. It’s a psychological thriller and I’m hoping that I can get that published this year.

When can we look forward to a new release?

Hopefully sometime between now and Christmas!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

My book blog: http://readbyjess.blogspot.co.uk/

My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Jessikah-Hope-Stenson-490555721101437/

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessikahHope

My GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/52805994-read-by-jess

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Jess 🙂

My Review

5/5*

A Single Drop of Perfect is a collection of five, hard hitting short stories. Each one very different, but all with a strong focus on human emotion.

A Single Drop of Perfect

We meet Carla who is anxious about starting University, dealing with a long distant relationship, a boring job and a friendship which crosses a line.

What Isla Did

I found this quite disturbing. Isla’s parents are torn apart by grief when Isla is killed by a train, accidentally, or so they believe. We see things from Jenna’s point of view, Isla’s older sister.

The Lemon and The Lake

This story explores the importance of making memories and the anxiety of never having enough time.

Wounds

This story highlights how children cope (or don’t cope) when their parents divorce and a step-parent comes into their life. Also, the bonds we share with our pets.

The Edge Of A Smile

I found this story quite sinister!

Many thanks to Jessikah for my kindle copy of A Single Drop Of Perfect & other stories. I have thoroughly enjoyed them and would happily recommend.

Publisher: Excalibur Press (22nd February 2016)

Buy your copy here – A Single Drop Of Perfect & other stories by Jessikah Hope Stenson

Description:

A Single Drop Of Perfect
Carla’s on the cusp of adulthood. As her final weeks in the family home draw to a close she struggles to keep a grip on her true self. With her boyfriend hundreds of miles away, Carla battles with loneliness, finding comfort in unexpected places and experiencing moments of perfection that can never be replicated.
What Isla Did
Isla was young, brave and creative. She is remembered as a golden girl and their beloved daughter, but no one can be perfect.
The Lemon And The Lake
June and Max are exploring the gorgeous countryside of Granada. However, where there’s perfection, there’s horror.
Wounds
Helen’s new husband Steven brings his dog Wilf into the family home. When Helen’s eight year old daughter Maisie finds herself in hospital, suffering from a vicious dog attack, Steven has a lot to answer for. Moral and ethical questions arise when Helen is determined to have Wilf put down in spite of Steven’s desire to keep is beloved pet alive.
The Edge Of A Smile
Walking home at night, university student Heidi is accompanied by a stranger named Bryony. Both of them have secrets which will destroy the other.

Don’t forget to follow the rest of Jess’s fab Blog Tour…..

Enjoy!

…..From Netgalley…..

Pub Date 28 Jul 2016

The electrifying new novel from the international bestselling author, Liane Moriarty 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…

Pub Date 11 Aug 2016

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SISTERS – ONE OF THE BEST SELLING DÉBUTS OF 2015 – COMES A TENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER RIPPED STRAIGHT FROM THE HEADLINES . . . 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 . . .

Pub Date 25 Aug 2016

Joanna has spent ten years married to a monster.

Everyone thinks she has the perfect life, but behind closed doors she lives in constant fear of her husband.

Escape seems impossible – and then a stranger offers her a chance to flee.

On the run with her young daughter, Joanna finds herself in the mysterious town of Morro. With no memory of how she got there. And no idea of what the town truly is.

Joanna faces a rare and terrible choice – stay safe, or return to face the fight of her life, to save herself and her little girl.

Pub Date 01 Sep 2016

Can you ever truly know the one you love?

Fran Hall and her husband Nathan live in a farmhouse on the edge of the Fens with their two children. One February night, when Fran is woken by her baby, she finds the bed empty beside her and Nathan gone. Searching the house for him she makes a devastating discovery.

As Fran finds herself under intense police scrutiny, she and her two small children become more isolated as she starts to doubt whether or not she really knew Nathan. Was he really the loving husband that Fran had trusted him to be?

As police suspicion grows the questions for Fran begin to mount. Is there something that she is hiding from them – something that she has kept hidden from everyone, including her husband?

From the author of The Crooked House comes another stunning psychological thriller about family, secrets and the lies we tell ourselves. For fans of Gillian Flynn and domestic thrillers, The Loving Husband draws readers into a marriage where nothing is as it seems.

…..From the Author/Publisher…..

 (e-book copy from Mark Nolan)

Self-published 1st January 2016

A mysterious killer who calls himself The Artist is assassinating wealthy lawyers in San Francisco. When photo-journalist Jake Wolfe accidentally takes his picture during a murder, The Artist adds Jake to his kill list and he becomes a target in a deadly game of cat and mouse that only one of them can survive. How far would you go to protect your loved ones from a killer? Jake is a veteran who wants to leave his secret past life behind him, but the reluctant, flawed hero finds that he can’t ignore his duty and his personal moral compass.

This gripping thriller is full of suspense, plot twists and surprises. It features a cast of interesting characters, including several strong-willed women, two wise-cracking San Francisco Police Homicide Inspectors, one highly intelligent dog, and a philosophical killer who shares Jake’s admiration for Van Gogh paintings but still plans to kill him anyway. As Jake gets closer to unraveling a merciless conspiracy, his life gets turned upside down and the danger level increases, adding to the growing suspense. This entertaining page-turner starts out as a murder mystery and then shifts gears into a high-speed action thriller that takes you on a roller-coaster ride to the riveting ending. A good read for those who enjoy mysteries, suspense, action and adventure, vigilante justice, unique characters, witty dialogue and a little romance too. Now on sale in over a dozen countries around the world. Be the first among your friends to read it.

Fans of new Kindle Unlimited novels will be happy to know this book is one of the best financial thrillers in kindle unlimited books.

 (e-book from John Nicholl)

Be careful who you trust…
The Mailer family are oblivious to the terrible danger that enters their lives when seven-year-old Anthony is referred to the child guidance service by the family GP following the breakdown of his parents’ marriage.
Fifty-eight year old Dr David Galbraith, a sadistic predatory paedophile employed as a consultant child psychiatrist, has already murdered one child in the soundproofed cellar below the South Wales Georgian town-house he shares with his wife and two young daughters.
Anthony becomes Galbraith’s latest obsession and he will stop at nothing to make his grotesque fantasies reality.

The book includes content that some readers may find disturbing from the start. It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.

 (e-book from John Nicholl)

‘If you like psychological suspense thrillers, this is as good as it gets.’ Frank Scozzari, bestselling author.

Even the darkest secrets can’t stay hidden forever…

When twenty-nine-year-old Cynthia Galbraith struggles to come to terms with her traumatic past and the realities of prison life, a prison counsellor persuades her to write a personal journal exploring the events that led to a life sentence for murder.
Although unconvinced at first, Cynthia finally decides she has all the time in the world and very little, if anything, to lose. She begins writing and holds back nothing: sharing the thoughts she hadn’t dare vocalise, the things that keep her awake at night and haunt her waking hours.

 (e-book from Melissa Grunow)

Publisher: Tumbleweed Books (14 Feb. 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.

 (e-book from Roma Brooks)

Release date – 15th August 2016

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 heart warming moments, scrumptious food and never a dull moment.

(e-book from Stephen David Hurley)

Release date – 25th September 2016 (paperback edition to follow on 13th October 2016)

What if the secret to being charismatic were actually a gene you could inherit, and pass along to your children. What if this “X-factor” could make you a star? Welcome to the world of Cease de Menich, a sixteen-year-old actress in New York City who gets cast as Joan-of-Arc in a reality-drama, only to discover her “acting gift” has been passed down through her bloodline for almost six-hundred-years. Cease finds the plot of the drama reveals dark secrets from her past—an abusive mother, a brother who committed suicide—and the reader must decide if she’s a reliable narrator or a terrified girl who’s succumb to the pressure of fame and the abuse of her past.

 Cease & Desist is a dark, contemporary YA thriller with a supernatural twist. Readers of books like I Let You Go and The Girl on the Train will enjoy this coming-of-age story, which struggles with the realities of sexuality, violence as entertainment, and mental illness. Cease & Desist has excellent crossover potential into the adult marketplace.

 (e-book from the publisher via message on Facebook from Lyn Farrell)

Publisher: Legend Press (2nd May 2016)

A striking debut from the winner of the 2015 Luke Bitmead Bursary.

My new shrink asks me, ‘What things do you remember about being very young?’ It’s like looking into a murky river, I say. Memories flash near the surface like fish coming up for flies. The past peeps out, startles me, and then is gone…

Amanda secludes herself in her bedroom, no longer willing to face the outside world. Gradually, she pieces together the story of her life: her brothers have had to abandon her, her mother scarcely talks to her, and the Wacky Man could return any day to burn the house down. Just like he promised.

As her family disintegrates, Amanda hopes for a better future, a way out from the violence and fear that has consumed her childhood. But can she cling to her sanity, before insanity itself is her only means of escape?

 (e-book from Rosy Thornton)

Publisher: Sandstone Press (21st July 2016)

A collection of linked short stories, all set in and around the small village of Blaxhall in the sandlings of coastal Suffolk, which is the reason for the title, ‘Sandlands’. The collection is inspired by the landscape of the area and its flora and fauna, as well as by its folklore and historical and cultural heritage. Six of the twelve stories focus around a particular bird, animal, wildflower or insect characteristic of the locality, from barn owl to butterfly. The book might be described as a collection of ghost stories; in fact, while one or two stories involve a more or less supernatural element, each of them deals in various ways with the tug of the past upon the present, and explores how past and present can intersect in unexpected ways. The stories uncover what is real and enduring beneath the surface of things.

 (e-book copy from Rosa Temple)

Publication Date – 1st November 2016

You’ve heard the saying, ‘opposites attract’ haven’t you? Well meet 27 year old Alex Marshall, a party girl with a penchant for free flowing Prosecco, and her devilishly handsome scientist boyfriend, Charlie, who loves jazz and dinner for two.

Alex and Charlie are together for 11 blissful months until Alex goes out of town and does something she will later regret. Was she drunk? You bet. Does she want Charlie to know? Well what do you think?

With the couple about to spend their first Christmas together will Charlie be the forgiving kind or will Alex be Single by Christmas?

This is a feel good, Christmas novel with very few mince pies, not much snow and absolutely no mistletoe – just a couple of best friends, a sociopathic nemesis and a lot of drinking.

…..Purchased/Downloaded…..

 (Kindle first prime member freebie)

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (1st August 2016)

When Sara Hardy inherits a cottage in the small town of Redemption, Connecticut, it is just the break she needs to draw a line under her past—to begin again, on her own.

Sara never thought she’d be starting over. She was married, successful, and the mother of a beautiful girl. But the life she thought was on the right path has taken a series of wrong turns…

Meanwhile Jake Mathieson has a lot on his plate. Still reeling from a tragedy for which he feels responsible, he finds himself unexpectedly caring for his six-year-old nephew. In desperation, he comes to Redemption to enlist the help of his Aunt Cilla, a widow with demons of her own.

Jake is intrigued by Cilla’s cautious new neighbor. Like him, Sara is desperate to put the past behind her but not quite sure how to begin. Can Redemption offer either of them a second chance to find hope and happiness—perhaps even to take a risk on new love?

A broken heart hurts, but it can also be fun……

Ever been in a bad relationship? Ever discovered that you were being cheated on?
As Cassi, a 30-year old single woman, leaves a long-term, unhappy relationship, she struggles with the pain and anguish of a broken heart. When, by chance, she meets a handsome stranger, he introduces her to a world that she didn’t even know existed. As she begins to slowly forget all about her broken heart she learns to have fun again. It is then that her life starts to spiral out of control and all she can do is laugh and hang on tight. Through her trials and tribulations, Cassi has to find her inner strength and keep a smile on her face even in front of adversity.

Story of a Secret Heart is about breaking up . . . and breaking down. It’s about the roller-coaster ride of a breakup and all the dating and relationship stories in-between.

Based on a true story

I was recently on the blog tour for the 4th book in this series – Prima Facie **Blog Tour** Q&A with author, Netta Newbound . Netta is a new-to-me-author so, naturally, I have added the first in this series to my TBR list.

Publisher: Junction Publishing (17 Nov. 2014)

An Edge of your Seat Psychological Thriller Novel

Amanda Flynn’s life is falling apart. Her spineless cheating husband has taken her beloved children. Her paedophile father, who went to prison vowing revenge, has been abruptly released. And now someone in the shadows is watching her every move.

When one by one her father and his cohorts turn up dead, Amanda finds herself at the centre of several murder investigations—with no alibi and a diagnosis of Multiple Personality Disorder. Abandoned, scared and fighting to clear her name as more and more damning evidence comes to light, Amanda begins to doubt her own sanity.

Could she really be a brutal killer?

Content Advisory: This book is intended for mature audiences and contains graphic and disturbing imagery

…..Added to my Wish List…..

Today I am delighted to welcome Rosy Thornton to my blog. Rosy has very kindly sent me an e-book copy of her latest book, Sandlands, which I have added to my review list. In the meantime Rosy agreed to answer my questions 🙂

Enjoy!

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

Hello, I’m Rosy Thornton, and to date I’ve written five novels (More Than Love Letters, Hearts and Minds, Crossed Wires, The Tapestry of Love, and Ninepins), the last of which won the East Anglian Book Awards prize for fiction. My current book, Sandlands (published on 21^st July by Sandstone Press), is my first collection of short stories.

The sixteen stories are all set in the same small village in strip of coastal Suffolk known locally as the ‘sandlings’ or ‘sandlands’. As well as a setting and a few shared minor characters, they are linked by their common themes: of the natural world, wildlife and the relationship of people to their landscape, and also how the past can make itself felt in the present in various unexpected ways. Some of the stories are ghostly or magical; some are poignant and sad; one or two are (I hope!) funny.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

That’s an easy one, with this book in particular. The village where the stories in Sandlands are set is my own village of Blaxhall, where I acquired a home about four years ago now. The place is utterly beautiful and has an amazingly diverse natural habitat, endowed with a rich variety of wildlife, and it is that which inspired my stories. Nine of the sixteen stories take as a central motif a particular species of animal or bird, flower or butterfly. The opening scene of the first story in the book, ‘The White Doe’ – which is also, in fact, the first one I wrote – is of a woman watching from her bedroom window in the early morning as a string of roe deer come up a bank into her garden and through to the lane, and one of the deer is white. That was me: my bedroom window, my garden, ‘my’ white doe. Of course, the character who developed as I wrote the story isn’t me, and what happens to her is all invention – but it began with what was in front of my nose, with the wildlife all around me.

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

Absolutely not. Given that I have set my stories in the village where I live – a small community, with only just over 200 inhabitants – and have made no attempt to rename or disguise it, I think it is very important to stress that my characters are not based on anyone I know! As the old disclaimer on the movies goes, ‘any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental’! I should especially like to stress that Raymond, the rather morose landlord of the village pub who pulls pints gloomily in several of the stories, is in no way based on the warm, hospitable and sunny landlord of the real life pub. (Please don’t bar me, Mike!)

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Character names, for me, always have to have a reason behind them. At a very basic level and for reasons of authenticity, with Sandlands I made extensive use of a list of old Suffolk surnames. But it’s not just about choosing appropriate names for the time and place in which the story is situated, I also like choosing names which have a meaning connected to the theme or content of the story or the attributes of the particular character.

For example, one story (‘Whispers’) is about a man who is in a rather depressed and isolated place in his life, surrounded by self-imposed walls, and who has purchased a derelict Martello tower on the Suffolk coast. I called him Dr Whybrow – a name which means ‘fortress’. Another story (‘High House’) has a central character by the name of Mr Napish, which is my shortened and anglicised version of Ut-Napishtim, a figure from Babylonian legend. I can’t tell you what the legend is about without spoiling the end of the story!

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

I’m not sure I would dignify what I do with the word ‘process’. Most stories begin with one tenaciously preoccupying idea, which gnaws away at me for a few days or weeks, until it solidifies into the shape of a story. Then I have to think where the way in is – where it begins – and that’s often the hardest part. Once I’ve started, it usually then all splurges down onto the page fairly fast. Followed by being put away for a week or so, before being taken out again, re-read and either chucked in the bin or else edited into something resembling a half-way decent story. Is that a ‘process’?

Were you a big reader as a child?

Definitely. I remember the Saturday morning trip to the library to change my books being a highlight of the week – the children’s sections had big floor cushions and I can still remember exactly what they smelt of! – and how I couldn’t wait to be alone in my bedroom with my new hoard. I especially liked animal books, the sadder the better. Black Beauty, Sajo and her Beaver People, Tarka the Otter, The Call of the Wild. But I read anything and everything – whatever I could lay my hands on.

When did you start to write?

Not until my forties. Fiction, that is to say, because I had always written: I write academic legal books and articles as part of my day job as a university law lecturer. But although I was a voracious reader (I must have read two or three books a week from my teens onwards) writing fiction is not a thing that it had remotely occurred to me I’d be able to do. We lawyers are famously rather pedantic, narrowly analytical thinkers, not given to flights of imaginative fancy.

Then, eleven years ago at the age of 41, I watched the BBC’s adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel North and South and was smitten. I’d always loved the book – and now fell under the spell of the very beautiful Richard Armitage who played the mill-owner, John Thornton. So I went online to chat about the adaptation and the book – and found fellow devotees writing North and South fanfiction. I’d never heard of this phenomenon before, but was beguiled, and soon tried my hand at writing my own… and three months later found I had written a full-length pastiche sequel to Gaskell’s novel!

It was complete tripe, of course, but by then I was in the swing of the thing, and carried straight on afterwards to write my own first original novel.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have too many to mention. I love the nineteenth century classics – Austen, Eliot and Gaskell in particular – and the period fiction of authors such as Barbara Pym, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Bowen and Penelope Fitzgerald. But I also love many contemporary writers: Hilary Mantel, Ali Smith, Kate Atkinson, Sarah Waters, Deborah Moggach, Esther Freud, Andrea Levy, Helen Dunmore, Jane Smiley, Lorrie Moore, Barbara Trapido… The common factor is probably that they tend to be women.

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

Given my reasons for starting out in fiction-writing, it would have to be Elizabeth Gaskell really, wouldn’t it? And I could ask her what she thinks would have happened next, after Margaret and John get together at the end of North and South. What intrigues me especially – and the thing I most wanted to explore in my fanfiction – is what on earth Mrs Thornton senior would have to say about the matter.

What are you working on right now, and when can we look forward to a new release?

I have an idea for a new novel, but so far that’s all it is: an idea. A setting, a rough shape, a few hazy, half-formed characters, but no actual words yet on the page. I’m sure it will emerge in due course… but it may take some time. Sorry!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Readers can visit my website and leave comments or messages for me there:

http://rosythornton.com

They can also find me on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rosy.thornton

And on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/rosy_thornton

Thank you so much, Rosy, for joining me on my blog today 🙂

Publisher: Sandstone Press (21st July 2016)

A collection of linked short stories, all set in and around the small village of Blaxhall in the sandlings of coastal Suffolk, which is the reason for the title, ‘Sandlands’. The collection is inspired by the landscape of the area and its flora and fauna, as well as by its folklore and historical and cultural heritage. Six of the twelve stories focus around a particular bird, animal, wildflower or insect characteristic of the locality, from barn owl to butterfly. The book might be described as a collection of ghost stories; in fact, while one or two stories involve a more or less supernatural element, each of them deals in various ways with the tug of the past upon the present, and explores how past and present can intersect in unexpected ways. The stories uncover what is real and enduring beneath the surface of things.

Buy your copy here – Sandlands by Rosy Thornton

Why not check out all of Rosy’s books? You will find them all here on her Amazonuk author page