Interview with Judith O’Reilly…..

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

I’m a former journalist with the Sunday Times, Newsnight and Channel 4 News. I started off writing nonfiction – Wife in the North and A Year of Doing Good. Wife in the North was based on a viral blog about moving from London to Northumberland, while for A Year of Doing Good, I did a good deed a day for a year. They were both published by Penguin.

I originally brought Killing State out myself a year ago and I was very fortunate in getting in great blurbs from some very generous big name writers, it also picked up reviews in national newspapers and sold into WHSmith travel outlets in train stations and airports. Off the back of that success, I got an offer of a two book deal with Head of Zeus. The hardback of Killing State is out any day (jumps up and down in excitement) and book 2, Curse the Day, at the end of the year.

Killing State is action adventure with a political twist and launches a new hero called Michael North onto the scene. North is working for an extra governmental agency and is very good at killing bad guys. But when he is ordered to kill a female MP, he realises he can’t do it and that the only way to keep her alive is to help her find her best mate who has disappeared.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I was a former lobby correspondent and political producer so the political context to the book comes naturally to me. Lord knows it’s an interesting time politically, and the book knocks things forward a year or so to a time when we’ve left the European Union and Trump’s America has pulled out of Nato – we’ve privatised the Army as a way of keeping up our defence spending.

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

Someone said to me once that what writers don’t realise is that all your characters emerge you’re your own psyche – good and bad. If I look at my main characters, the hero is highly intuitive (courtesy of the bullet he took to his brain when he was a serving soldier). Well, we all like to think we are intuitive, don’t we? The main female character, the MP called Honor Jones, would go to the brink and beyond for her best mate and I have to say friendship is incredibly important to me. And the hero’s sidekick Fang is a stroppy teenage genius. I certainly wasn’t a genius but I went from being labelled precocious to pretentious when I was a kid basically because I read a lot of books, so I think I have a good handle on how she feels about stuff. Plus I have three teenagers of my own so I have any amount of research close to hand to help when I need to channel Fang’s obstreperousness and bad-ass attitude.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Michael is probably a Catholic thing to do with the archangel Michael who is often depicted suited and booted as a warrior with a sword.

Honor (my female lead) is a good person and as difficult as she feels she has to be. You have to be careful with being too obvious with names because you want to cue up the reader subconsciously rather than with a huge neon lit arrow.

I’ve riffed on a couple of family names and I’m guessing that is because I’m used to and like the sound of them. I didn’t really think about it, but apparently members of my family were a bit surprised when they read the book.

Generally, names come quite easily. You play around with them, roll them around in your head a bit, ask yourself whether it feels right. The only habit I need to be careful about is sometimes you end up choosing a few names for different characters which all start with the same letter.

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

Work on the craft of writing all the time. Don’t ever be satisfied with what you write. Always try to be better. Work hard at it and then work harder. Accept the fact your caffeine levels are going to be way too high.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Aaaargh, there are so many but if you nailed me to a wall.

Lee Child

Robert Harris

Margaret Attwood

James Patterson

John Le Carre.

Mick Herron.

Raymond Chandler

Philip Kerr

Martina Cole

Anthony Trollope

Dan Brown.

Did you say 5? I’m very bad at counting. Seriously, I think I’m dyscalculic.

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

Really good question. It would be James Patterson and it would be how do you keep people turning the pages. I try to be aware of something they call ‘micro-tension’ – upping the ante, instilling conflict in emotions and ideas. It’s supposed to make you keep reading. That is what I am after. That ‘can’t put this down’ effect. I’m not writing literary fiction. I’m telling a story and I want you right there with me till I’ve told it.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Huge, enormous, weren’t we all? Twelve library books on the family’s tickets. Not to mention school library books. Easily a book a day. I was an only child. Books were everything. I’m terribly short sighted as a result, but a price worth paying. (The fact my kids don’t read like I do makes me want to weep. I mean, they play sport! Where did that come from? Not form 5ft 2inch, stumpy, bespectacled me let me tell you. I used to run away from the netball at school. I was so bad I was ordered off the hockey pitch the only time they let me play.)

When did you start to write?

As a kid, I had short stories published in the local evening paper and a story published in a kid’s anthology.

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

Well I know it would ruin a brilliant and tragic love story but I do think Cathy and Heathcliff should have got together.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

The Handmaid’s Tale. I studied in Canada for six months and discovered Margaret Attwood and read it years ago. Mindblowing.

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

I’ve already written two in a way. Both my nonfiction were effectively memoirs so Wife in the North and A Year of Doing Good (just the year you understand. I figure the rest of my life I can live it how I please.)

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

I would take Philip Marlowe for coffee. I’d be willing to overlook the fact he called me a dame and probably arrived hung over. He’d have to arrive first so I could make an entrance because that’s what dames do. I’d take him to a café called Flat Whites in Durham which has excellent coffee and oodles of atmosphere.

What are you working on right now?

Just in the last throes of editing Book 2. I’ve written it, just about to submit it, then the editor will get back with her suggestions. I’ll make the revisions then move on to research for Book 3. I’m ticking over ideas wise for Book 3 as we speak.

Tell us about your last release?

The synopsis reads like this:

Michael North, assassin and spy-for-hire, is very good at killing bad guys. But now his shadowy bosses at the dark heart of the British government have ordered him to kill an innocent woman – and North can’t bring himself to do it.

The woman is Honor Jones MP, a rising star in Westminster politics. She has started asking dangerous questions about the powerful men running her country. The trouble is, Honor doesn’t know when to stop. And, now that he’s met her, neither does North. 

There is lots of zeitgeisty jeopardy in it and bad guys and guns and nailbiting tension (I hope) and there’s also some really great women characters with strong dynamic relationships. Women who don’t take any rubbish from anyone, who seize control of their lives and refuse to let go.

Do you have a new release due?

Book 2 Curse the Day I haven’t really talked about anywhere yet but since you ask…

North (and his stroppy teenage sidekick Fangfang) is dragged into another adventure, this time, working alongside Mi5. He’s tasked to discover who is behind the leak at an important UK tech company and to keep the company’s founder safe – a woman who’s just been attacked in her own home. What could possibly go wrong? That would be everything.

(I’ve been told it’s a bit Killing Eve and a bit Lisbeth Salander from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books)

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

I am desperately dull these days. I have had big launch parties in the past but this time I am planning pizza with the kids. I’m part of a book group and I’d like to have a celebratory coffee with some of them if they can find the time. Maybe I’ll take the day off? I work seven days a week (not all day but every day). That seems a bit shocking now I’ve written it on the page. Does the world stop turning if you take a day off? Shall I find out?

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Please. I love that.

Tweet me @judithoreilly

Email me through my website www.judithoreilly.com

Sign up to the newsletter.

Or just email me at judith@judithoreilly.com

Some writers say writing is solitary and that’s a good thing. I can find it lonely, so if u read the book and u want to comment, reach out.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Yes, if anyone is reading this and they want to write a book. Don’t quit the day job or you put way too much pressure on yourself.

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

Thanks for the interest. Judith x

Blurb

WHAT IF THE PERSON YOU’RE ORDERED TO KILL IS THE WOMAN YOU WANT TO PROTECT?

Michael North, assassin and spy-for-hire, is very good at killing bad guys. But what happens when his shadowy bosses at the dark heart of the post-Brexit British government, order him to kill an innocent woman and North can’t bring himself to do it?

The woman is a rising political star, Honor Jones, MP.  She has started asking dangerous questions about the powerful men running her country. The trouble is, Honour doesn’t know when to stop. And, now that he’s met her, neither does North…

AUTHOR

Judith O’Reilly is the author of Wife in the North, a top-three Sunday Times bestseller and BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Judith is a former political producer with BBC 2’s Newsnight and ITN’s Channel 4 News, and, when she isn’t writing novels, she writes for The Sunday Times.  Judith lives in Durham.

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2US2ilA

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours

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

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

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

Here are my reviews from March 2018 & a link to an earlier March Flashback Friday post…..

#SilentVictim by Caroline Mitchell @Caroline_writes #BookReview #PublicationDay

Will To Live (Detective Kay Hunter crime thriller series Book 2) by Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett #BookReview

#FlashbackFriday with @KFrenchBooks @mjamesfiction @TillyTenWriter @Helen_Bridgett @ChristieJBarlow @MTilburyAuthor

Have you read any of the above?

What were you reading this time last year?

Feel free to join in!

Kerry x

Welcome to my stop on Vanessa Robertson’s Death Will Find Me blog tour! 🙂

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours for arranging the following interview with Vanessa Robertson…..

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

My name’s Vanessa Robertson, I’m from the Midlands but have lived in Scotland for the last twenty years. In 2015, I was a winner at Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect event. Death Will Find Me is the book I pitched and is out now. It’s a crime thriller set in 1920 and is about a woman who, when her husband is murdered, has to prove her own innocence by finding the actual killer. In a wider sense, it’s about the way that even after the Great War – any war for that matter – the things that people had to do can still haunt them.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

All sorts of places – odd newspaper stories, conversations in the village shop, a podcast… I think writers are like sponges – we notice things and file them away at the back of our minds to ferment and one day a story emerges, often quite by chance. But ideas breed ideas and the more you write the more ideas seem to appear.

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

No. Although my heroine Tessa has not-quite-a-love-interest who is named after a school friend of my brother-in-law’s. I’ve never met the real Bill Henderson, but I’ve always just thought it was the perfect name for my Bill who is a truly good and loyal person.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

The main characters generally appear with their names. As soon as my heroine came to me, I knew that she was called Tessa Kilpatrick. I have no idea where that came from. And her friend Hetty appeared out of the blue while I was writing a scene set at a party and I just knew her name from the start. For minor characters where I do have to think of a name I just work through my son’s school friends, old phone directories and so on.

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

I’m not organised enough to have anything you could call a process. I wish I did. I have a friend who is a meticulous plotter and I’m in awe of that. I tend to use Post Its to work out a plot and I turn that into a linear outline of about 5k words. And then the first draft is me telling myself the story and then the next draft is telling the story to my readers. It’s not the fastest and most efficient way of working but it suits me.

I’m about halfway through the first draft of the second Tessa Kilpatrick novel at the moment and I’m pleased with how it’s coming together.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

I can’t! I was a bookseller for too long, I might offend people!

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

I’m very lucky in that my background in bookselling (my husband and I founded The Edinburgh Bookshop) means that I know a lot of writers but I’d love to meet Jilly Cooper. She’s such a consummate storyteller. Riders and Rivals in particular are impossible to put down. She does humour and romance and sadness so well, in the same chapter at times. If you can keep a dry eye when Sailor dies in Riders then you have no soul.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Absolutely. I was allowed to have my Young Adult borrowers ticket early because I’d read everything in the children’s section. Then I went through the YA section and was allowed my adult library card. That was a momentous day. I read widely and I do remember when I was about 14 that I’d added a DH Lawrence novel to my pile (probably to see why people had made such a fuss about Lady Chatterley) and the librarian raised her eyebrows at me and put it back on the trolley.

When did you start to write?

I wrote a lot as a child – I had a blue portable Remington typewriter that I used to bash what were almost certainly truly dreadful stories out on. Then I stopped in my early teens because I went to quite a bitchy girls’ school and it was best to keep your head down and not stand out. And then when I was an adult I wanted to write but didn’t think it was feasible – I felt I’d done the wrong degrees and so on, as though you had to apply for it like a job. Then I ended up owning a bookshop and realised that I was perfectly well-qualified, I just had to tell a compelling story and do it well. When we sold the bookshop I decided to devote more time to writing and here we are.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

I can’t think of any. I’d like to have written something hugely well-respected but I’m happy writing what I write. Obviously the royalties from something like Harry Potter or 50 Shades of Grey would be nice. But I don’t tend to waste energy on wishing I’d done things, I prefer to concentrate on what I am doing and what possibilities lie ahead. I’m beginning my writing career in my 40s and I don’t have time to waste on regrets.

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

I’d never be so vain as to write an autobiography. Maybe I could hire a ghost writer to do it and they could make me sound more exciting?

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

I don’t know about coffee but I wouldn’t mind taking Rebus out for a pint. His creator has a great sense of humour and I’d like to know if his creation does too. We’d go to The Oxford, obviously. And I would love to invite Rupert Campbell-Black out for a champagne-fuelled long lunch and see how utterly outrageous and indiscreet he was.

What are you working on right now?

I’m writing the second Tessa Kilpatrick book – currently untitled – and then I’ll be spending a bit of time on another project that’s on the back burner – a thriller set in the art business. And I have another couple of ideas… Maybe I do need to learn to write faster!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

My website is www.vanessarobertson.co.uk and if you join my readers club then you’ll receive the odd update, free short stories and so on. And I can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Ness_Robertson and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ness_robertson/

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

Scotland, 1920.
Meet Tessa Kilpatrick; heiress and war-time covert operations agent.

Finding her husband – the feckless James – with another woman at a 1920s country house party, she demands a divorce. But when his body is discovered in a lonely stone bothy the next morning, Inspector Hamish Rasmussen sees Tessa as his only suspect.

Back in Edinburgh, links to another murder convince Rasmussen of her innocence. He enlists her help and together they set off on a pursuit that will bring Tessa once again face to face with the brutality of war as well as revealing to her the lengths that desperate people will go to in order to protect those they love.

Will Tessa be able to prevent a final murder or will she become the killer’s latest victim?

This book will be perfect for anyone who’s enjoyed the work of Catriona McPherson, Sara Sheridan and Jessica Fellowes. 

Book Funnell Link 

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nkzqkoy5in?fbclid=IwAR3qIZZZqnHDKMWd3u50Jvp2rDFdcRKof80PnmIMMeBK5QaqvkIVfkk9Xow 

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2T79REr

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my stop on Stephen J Willis’ Forest of Riddles blog tour!

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours for arranging the following interview with Stephen J Willis…..

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

My interest in the arts started in the acting world, wherein I had a few TV spots, like playing a pilot in the TV series Mile High on Sky One, and was even in an award-winning short film called Casting Call. I have written books in different genres. I have two novellas, based on true stories, a thriller and a very short ghost story. This current teen series is: The Christopher Daring Adventures, book1: Spirits of the Dead, book2: The Forest of Riddles, book3: The Steampunk Spiders.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

They come from various aspects of life and have built up from over the years. I read a cross-section of books and am interested in all sorts of films and documentaries. I constantly make notes for things to use in the future.

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

Yes, a mixture normally. But I’d never say incase the people found out…

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Some names just seem to site nicely, whereas others I need to use deeper meanings for. I may use names with deeper meanings depending on the persons ethnic background too.

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

1) I work out an overall story

2) I list key moments/scenes/scenario/characters/plots/interests/worries/etc

3) I bullet-point each chapter, then add sub-subjects

4) I then begin to write each chapter. Although not necessarily in order

5) I then review if further layers or sub-plots are needed

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

1) James Herbert

2) J.K. Rowling

3) Dan Brown

4) Christopher Fowler

5) M.C. Beaton

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

James Herbert (back in the day) and ask where he got all his intel. Some of the stuff he wrote about was so secret I wonder how he found out.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Not really. Just the odd Roald Dahl or Enid Blyton. But in my mid-late teens I became more interested in positive business mind-set, and so would read and listen to constructive books and tapes all the time. Only in my twenties did I start back in to literary books.

When did you start to write?

I wrote my first basic story when I was 14 years old. It was called Liberation, but it was never finished. I wrote various bits and bobs over the next twenty years, but never took what I was doing seriously.

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

Only one of my own shorter ones: The Figure in the Mist. I’d add a final twist, that I always wished I’d added.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

The Harry Potter Series I suppose.

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

Lies aside, let me tell you the truth

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

Robert Langdon, (Dan Brown novels) and I’d take him to Brighton for a walk around the Lanes and sea front, before sitting down for a coffee at one of the wonderful coffee bars on the actual lower promenade.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on book 3 of the Christopher Daring Adventures, the current title is: The Steampunk Spiders. I am continuing Christopher’s journey to find his missing brother and father. This book is sort of the catalyst for the main overall theme of the series. Here we start to pick up pace the science fiction and fantasy genres, with more mysteries, riddles and unusual creatures.

Tell us about your last release?

In September 2018, I released two books together from the Christopher Daring Adventures, book1: Spirits of the Dead, and book2: The Forest of Riddles. Throughout the series, Christopher and his friends must overcome various despicable foes as they battle with riddles, codes, creatures of the night, deathly spectres and secret orders, as they go in search of Christopher’s missing brother and father. I had two brilliant book signings, one in October and one in December of 2018.

Do you have a new release due?

It is too early for that yet, and so has not been planned. I am only on chapter 11 of the new book.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

I’ve celebrated to be honest. I am normally too tired or distracted with the next project to give it much attention. But now that you have pointed it out, I think I need to stop and acknowledge what has been achieved!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

They can subscribe to my Newsletter on my website and get a free audio book in the process. As well as all the latest news, they will get the short audio ghost story: The Figure in the Mist sent to them. http://www.stephenjwillis.com

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

1. Some of the fascinating facts within my stories are true, and some, equally, are not — I shall leave it up to you, the reader, to decide which is which…

2. My short ghost story: The Figure in the Mist will be played in its entirety on MeridianFM radio in February 2019.

3. The next book to be launched will actually be a psychological drama about a spiritual shaman. It is a stand-alone book and is a tough, yet eye-opening look, into the realms of the mind, the spirit and the body.

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

Blurb

Throughout the series, Christopher and his friends must overcome various despicable foes as they battle with riddles, codes, creatures of the night, deathly spectres and secret orders, as they go in search of Christopher’s missing brother and father.

Within a tall whispering forest, night-time eyes blink in mesmerized wonder at a magical blue spectacle that dances all about them in the silence. So enchanting is this mysterious woodland, that it bewitches all that dare to cross its path.

But as darkness falls and the creatures stir, something else awakens deep within. For under the watchful eye of an unknown foe, a creeping menace ponders the fate of these dancing lights.

Invited to stay with his grandfather, Charlie, over the spring holidays, Christopher, along with his best mate Jason and new friend Poppy, venture up by train to the beautiful landscapes of Scotland. Here, they must unravel the many secrets weaved amongst sacred symbols and enchanting nocturnal lights that are hidden within this magical forest. For they alone hold the key to solving an ancient entrapment of a lost civilization.

With an unusual mix of science, technology, cosmology, fantasy fiction and a dash of the spiritual self, the Christopher Daring Adventures is a  thrilling ride into the impossible.

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2Nh5pkA

Tour Schedule

Follow, like and share the book love…..

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my stop on Jo Baldwin’s The Good Friend blog tour! I am DELIGHTED to be sharing my review of this awesome book with you all. 

Many thanks to Anna, at RedDoor, for the opportunity to take part.

I have literally just finished this book (25^th February, 23:15) and I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest!

I can’t even begin to tell you how tense this story has been, from the very first page.

The story is told by Jenny who is reunited with her best friend, Kath, after several years apart, living very different lives. Jenny is an Olympic swimmer, her career (and Dad) moving her to Australia to train and compete. Kath now lives in rural France with her husband, Tom and daughter, Rosa. However, Tom is Jenny’s ex-boyfriend and, we soon realise, the love of her life, so visiting them for the summer was never going to be easy for Jenny. It all sounds like quite a simple story of lost love and regret when I put it like that, but OH MY, there is SO much more to it!

This book is so full of suspense and tension. I still feel like I haven’t breathed properly again yet. The ending has left me feeling emotionally exhausted.

This is an absolutely compelling, character driven story. Full of secrets, manipulation, jealousy and misplaced trust. It’s set in the most beautiful of places, which a sharp contrast to the ugliness festering throughout the story. Jo Baldwin has created a very cleverly written psychological thriller here which deserves to be a bestseller (I’m sure it will be!). I can’t believe it’s a debut novel. I was totally captivated and can’t wait to read whatever Jo Baldwin writes next.

Many thanks to Anna at RedDoor for my review copy.

If only she knew what sort of friend I really am . . .

Once upon a time, Jenny and Kath were best friends. Or were they?

Their reunion after eight years apart – when Jenny pays a visit from Australia where she’s settled – begins as idyllic. But all too soon, things begin to unravel and once the past is uncovered, there’s no going back.

This beautifully written, gripping and unforgettable psychological drama about love, lies and obsession will keep you reading long in to the night.

Keep your friends close, but your best friends closer

One click, you know you want to…..

happy reading 🙂

I so wish I’d had time to read this sooner, but it was totally worth the wait! I love this series. Rachel Amphlett never disappoints, I just love her writing style and her characters are extremely likeable. It’s like catching up with old friends with each new book. Well, kind of like when you catch up with old friends at a funeral…… It’s not under the happiest of circumstances, but you’re glad to see them again all the same (if that makes sense!).

Kay Hunter is back and, along with her team, is faced with a mummified body which has fallen through the ceiling of a relatively new office building. As always, nothing is quite as it seems and all sorts of secrets are uncovered as the investigation progresses. Dodgy business practices amongst other things, which I’m sure goes on in the real world too! I had absolutely no idea which way the story would go and was totally shocked by the end and also a bit sad. Absolutely brilliant writing, as always.

Kay Hunter is definitely a favourite of mine. She has a good team, all of whom I warmed to quickly. They are dedicated professionals, but we do see a personal side to them which I like. Kay’s relationship with Adam is heart-warming, especially considering the grief they share. I love that each book features some animal or other which Adam brings home from work (as a vet)!

Kay’s difficult relationship with her mother is very believable and quite sad.

In my opinion this book has it all and is exactly what I look for in a police procedural/crime thriller. Each and every one of the books in this series has been thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend!

Via AmazonUK…..

When a mummified body is found in a renovated building, the gruesome discovery leads Detective Kay Hunter and her team into a complex murder investigation.

The subsequent police inquiry exposes corruption, lies and organised crime within the tight-knit community – and Kay’s determination to seek justice for the young murder victim could ruin the reputations of men who will do anything to protect their business interests.

But as Kay closes in on the killer, tragedy strikes closer to home in an event that will send a shockwave through her personal life and make her question everything she values.

Can Kay keep her private and professional life under control while she tries to unravel one of the strangest murder cases of her career?

Praise for Bridge to Burn:

“With this seventh book, this series is as fresh as ever!” – Goodreads

“A gripping storyline with twists and turns all the way through” – Goodreads

“Another gripping, intense ride that captivated me from start to finish” – Goodreads

Have you discovered the Kay Hunter British detective murder mysteries yet?

1. SCARED TO DEATH
2. WILL TO LIVE
3. ONE TO WATCH
4. HELL TO PAY
5. CALL TO ARMS
6. GONE TO GROUND
7. BRIDGE TO BURN

The Detective Kay Hunter crime thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett: page-turning British police procedurals for readers who love Peter James, Ann Cleeves, and Peter Robinson.

What readers are saying about the Detective Kay Hunter series:

“Reminded me at times of Chris Chibnall’s Broadchurch series” – Crime Review

“Hunter is a force to be reckoned with” – Goodreads

“A series that goes from strength to strength” – Goodreads

USA Today bestseller Rachel Amphlett writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Kay Hunter British detective series, the Dan Taylor espionage novels, the English Spy Mysteries featuring Eva Delacourt, and a number of standalone crime thrillers.

Rachel is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.

Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers as well as her own stores at http://www.rachelamphlett.com.

You can stay in touch with Rachel via her Reader’s Group by joining at http://www.rachelamphlett.com.

happy reading 🙂

Gravy Train has been a highly entertaining crime thriller, full of dodgy characters who don’t care who gets hurt as long as they get what they want.

Sandra is an instantly likeable character. A forty something hard-working pub landlady who dreams of a better life, in a posher pub, in a nicer area. I can’t say I blame her given the number of customers who refer to her as Grandma! I’m forty something and would not be impressed in the slightest.

One rowdy night in the pub, Sandra overhears customers discussing details of a betting scam and she suddenly sees that better life she dreams of becoming more of a reality. Having talked her initially reluctant husband, Mike, into placing a bet they collect their £80,000 winnings only to be mugged as they leave the betting shop. I mean, how gutted would you be! They might have gained the money in a less than honest way, but even so I would be crying, so I could totally feel Sandra’s pain.

From this point on the money generates a lot of interest amongst many people, who seem to think they have the right to help themselves to other people’s property, but none of them seem to be able to hold on to it.

Greed dominates this story. There’s absolutely no loyalty. It is quite violent in parts, but also quite amusing in others. I love how Mr Ball is ‘affectionately’ known as BollockFace!! LOL!

Most of the characters throughout this book are extremely unlikeable, but fascinating in their own ways. I did feel sorry for Sandra. Her desperation poured off the pages, bless her. I’d rather be poor than do what she does in the hope of seeing her money again though.

A brilliantly written, compelling read which I will happily recommend to all.

Via AmazonUK…..

Crime pays. So barmaid Sandra thinks when she overhears details of a betting scam and wins herself and fat husband Mike eighty thousand pounds. But they’ve reckoned without mugger Lenny, lying in wait outside the betting shop door. And he’s reckoned without a top-notch car thief, his own devious boss, a fellow gang-member with a grudge, and Sandra’s unpleasant almost-Uncle George.

Chaos ensues as a whole bunch of disparate—and desperate—characters chase the bag of money around Birmingham’s back streets. Plenty of them help themselves to the cash, but none of them are good at hanging onto it. As they hurtle towards a frantic showdown on the banks of the local canal, will any of them see their ill-gotten gains again? Or will their precious gravy train come shuddering to a halt?

Praise for GRAVY TRAIN:

“Tess Makovesky’s Gravy Train is a terrifically entertaining, raucous and rough ’n’ tumble Brit Grit crime caper that will leave you breathless.” —Paul D. Brazill, author of Last Year’s Man, A Case of Noir, and Guns of Brixton

“Gravy Train is my kind of crime fiction. Real people, real stakes, real fun.” —Jay Stringer, author of Ways to Die in Glasgow and How to Kill Friends and Implicate People

“…a dash of Snatch, a pinch of The Italian Job, a little The Long Good Friday—but all Tess Makovesky.” —Jason Beech, author of Moorlands and City of Forts

“When lives collide, sometimes it’s kismet—and sometimes it’s crime. Makovesky weaves the threads of these lives to a tight slam-bang conclusion you won’t forget.” —Graham Wynd, author of Satan’s Sorority and Extricate

“Gravy Train is a witty and gritty crime caper with a clever plot and lowlife characters you will love to hate. Highly entertaining.” —Deborah Swift, author of The Lady’s Slipper and Past Encounters

“If you love a rollicking, gritty, humorous crime caper, with a cast of disparate but entertaining characters, then Tess Makovesky’s Gravy Train is a gem of Brit Grit crime fiction you won’t want to miss.” —Matt Hilton, author of Dead Men’s Dust and Marked For Death

“Makovesky writes with a distinct voice and has a verve for language.” —Graham Smith, author of Watching the Bodies and The Darling Dead

Liverpool lass Tess is now settled in the far north of England where she roams the fells with a brolly, dreaming up new stories and startling the occasional sheep.

Tess writes a distinctive brand of British comédie noir and her short stories have darkened the pages of various anthologies and magazines, including Shotgun Honey, Pulp Metal Magazine, Out of the Gutter Online, Betty Fedora, ‘Exiles: An Outsider Anthology’ (Blackwitch Press), ‘Drag Noir’ (Fox Spirit), ‘Rogue’ (Near to the Knuckle), and ‘Locked and Loaded’ (One Eye Press). Her debut novella, a psychological noir called ‘Raise the Blade’ is available now from Caffeine Nights Publishing.

You can follow her ramblings (both literary and literal) at her blog: http://tessmakovesky.wordpress.com/

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my stop on Eva Jordan’s Time Will Tell blog tour!

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours for arranging the following interview with Eva Jordan…..

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

Hi, my name is Eva Jordan. I was born in Kent but have lived most of my life in a small Cambridgeshire town in the UK. I would describe myself as a lover of words, books, travel, and chocolate. I’m also partial to the odd glass or two of wine now and again. I am both a mum and stepmum to four adult children, all of which have provided me with some of the inspiration behind my three novels, 183 Times A Year, All The Colours In Between, and Time Will Tell––which take a humorous, but sometimes tragic and poignant look at contemporary family life. I also write a monthly column and book review for my local lifestyle magazine The Fens.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

183 Times A Year is an exploration of domestic love, hate, strength and friendship set amongst the thorny realities of today’s divided and extended families, and in particular focuses on the mother/teenage daughter relationship. Initially it was the women in my life, including my mother, daughters, and good friends who inspired me to write my debut novel, and they continued to inspire my second novel, as did the idea of modern family life in general, whether it’s the one you start out with, or the one you gain along the way. All The Colours In Between is a tale of love and loss, of friendships and betrayals, and coming of age, with a liberal sprinkling of humour. Like the first two novels, family life is still very much at the heart of my third novel, Time Will Tell, however, unlike the previous books, this story takes a step back in time to 1960s London when, although only fifty or so years ago, life was very different.

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

My Dad was definitely the inspiration behind the character of Salocin, and Cassie is loosely based on my daughter, especially with her malaprops and spoonerisms, but they are separate to them, very much characters (albeit fictional) in their own right.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Sometimes a name will come to me, or I might choose a name in homage to someone special, or to another fictional character, for instance, Lizzie, which is short for Elizabeth, is named after my paternal grandmother and Jane Austen’s fictional character Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. At other times, if I’m struggling, I’ll search the internet and see what names were popular around the time my character would have been born.

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

My other half runs his own business consultancy, and while he spends most of the week travelling, I’m at home doing the paperwork for the company, fitting in some writing in between. I learned how to type when I left school (many moons ago!), so I prefer working on a computer or laptop, although I do have many notebooks filled with ideas and research. I like peace and quiet when I write so I generally try and aim for a couple of hours each morning, but if that isn’t possible I’ll fit it in when I can. I love a cup of coffee first thing, too, and can’t start the day, or my writing, without one. I used to have a writing goal of at least 2000 words a day, but last year proved to be a particularly difficult one for me in terms of health problems, including family members and myself, and more often than not I wasn’t hitting my target, which made me feel a bit low, the focus tending to be more on what I wasn’t achieving rather than what I was. So I decided I needed to look at things differently, have a better positive mental attitude, and now I’m just happy if I manage to write every day, whether it’s 500 words or 5000! As for ideas, they come to me everywhere and anywhere, in the shower, out walking the dog, having coffee with friends. I’m a great people watcher too, and am always asking myself “what if…”

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Honestly, I don’t have 5 favourite authors. I have lots and lots of favourite authors. Plus my reading is quite broad, so I’ll name the first 5 that immediately spring to mind, but that doesn’t mean I prefer them above the many other authors I love.

Stephen King

Charles Dickens

Margaret Attwood

Philip K Dick

Anna McPartlin

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

Alive – J. K. Rowling. Dead, Sue Townsend. Why? Because, as well as being hugely talented, they both come across as strong, independent women with a good dose of humour and integrity to boot. I would ply them cake, coffee and a glass or two of fizz, and then ask them everything and anything about writing.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I loved to escape into books. The three books that stand out from my childhood are Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

When did you start to write?

It’s a cliché but I wrote as a child, had some moderate success with poetry and short stories in my twenties, but didn’t start seriously writing until my forties.

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

Knowing how much effort goes into the writing process I would never want to re-write the ending of a book, no matter how disappointing, confusing, strange, happy or sad. The story, first and foremost, belongs to the writer – they have written that ending for a reason. Besides, sometimes when a book doesn’t end how you image it will, like Jonathon Coe’s Number 11 for instance, it stays with you. Every now and again I find myself reflecting back on that particular book, wondering what on earth the ending was about.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

I love the Harry Potter books (and the films); they are pure escapism for me. I also love the Adrian Mole Diary novels by Sue Townsend. Her style of writing definitely influenced my debut novel, 183 Times A Year.

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

It’s not a life… It’s an adventure!

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

My Dad is always telling me, when life gets tough, laughter is the best medicine, which it is. Which is also why I love to thread a bit of humour among the more serious, darker moments throughout my novels. So, with that in mind, I think I’d invite Helen Fielding’s wonderful Bridget Jones out for a drink. We wouldn’t go for a coffee, though. I’d probably take her to Tonight Josephine, a relatively new cocktail bar in London’s Waterloo that I’m hoping to try at some point this year and whose motto (in bright pink, blinkity blink neon) is, “Well behaved women don’t make history”. Then, over a couple of cocktails and a lot of laughter, I’d like to think Bridget and I would talk crap and put the world to rights for a few hours.

What are you working on right now?

My fourth novel, no title as yet. It’s a bit of a love story, but with a twist.

Tell us about your last release?

My current release is Time Will Tell, the third and final story concerning Lizzie Lemalf and her madcap family. There are, like the previous two novels, some humorous moments, however, there are some very dark ones too. After the death of a much-loved family member, Lizzie is struggling with life. She is also doing her level best to keep her family together, especially as the recent death of a well-known celebrity has them all in a spin? The police suspect foul play; Lizzie and other family members suspect one another, which sets Lizzie on a journey to look for answers, only to find herself being dragged back to the past – to 1960’s London to be exact, and the former life of her father that, up until now, she has never been privy to. Every family has its secrets. However, they also say the past comes back to haunt you. Surely the truth will out? Maybe, but only time will tell…

Do you have a new release due?

I’m busy working on the fourth novel and hope to have it finished by the end of the year but I don’t have a specific release date at the moment.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

During the day I’ll meet with any friends and family that are about, probably over coffee and cake, and during the evening I‘ll have a glass (or two!) of prosecco.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Website: EvaJordanWriter.com

Twitter: @evajordanwriter

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

Instagram: evajordanwriter

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Yes, I love hearing from readers that have enjoyed my books, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a question, either about my stories or the writing process in general. Also, big thanks to you, Kerry, for having me on your blog today and for your brilliant questions.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Eva 🙂

Blurb

Eva Jordan’s much-anticipated follow up to the bestselling `All The Colours In-Between’.

Writer, Lizzie Lemalf, and her loving but somewhat dysfunctional family are still grieving over the loss of a much-loved family member. Lizzie is doing her best to keep her family together but why does the recent death of a well-known celebrity have them all in a spin? The police suspect foul play; Lizzie and other family members suspect one another.

Lizzie begins searching for answers only to find herself being dragged back to the past, to 1960’s London to be exact, and to the former life of her father, that up until now she has never been privy to. Every family has its secrets but how can the past hold the key to a present day celebrity death? They say the past comes back to haunt you. Surely the truth will out? Maybe, but only time will tell…

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2RRTv5r

Follow, like and share the book love…..

happy reading 🙂

Interview with Janet Stock…..

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

A I’m a 51 year old mum of a teenage son, who after dithering about for years decided last year, to take my writing seriously and self-publish at least one book. I ended up self-publishing 3 books last year, Dark & Fluffy, Dark & Fluffy Vol II and 500 Words. The Dark & Fluffy 1 & 2 are an assortment of short fiction works, and 500 Words consists of 5 flash fiction pieces that I wrote for my website. I am currently promoting Dark & Fluffy II.

Q Where did/do you get your ideas from?

A My ideas are always floating around in my head, and I don’t always know where they come from, they just pop in, or alternatively I deliberately take a topical subject such as the Windrush scandal and the suffragette commemorations and write stories around those themes.

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

A I think most of my characters are based on people I know, either consciously or sub-consciously. I have a couple of teenage characters in my short stories that have reacted the same way my own teenage son would. The main character in the novel that I am currently working on reacts to some situations in the same way I think I would have done at a younger age.

Q How do you pick your characters names?

A Some names are ones that I think fit the character or the time period, some are influenced by family, and some are just there, the right name for the character, like Benedict the main character in my novel. There’s no reason for that name other than he is Benedict.

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

A When I sit down in front of my computer, I always write something, it doesn’t matter what I write, it doesn’t need to be perfect first time. Getting words on paper is the important thing. If I’m writing a short story, I just get it all down, normally in one sitting, then edit it afterwards. For a novel, I plan the story then spilt that into chapters. I then get to know my main characters inside out. Then I use my plan to write the book. If it’s a historical work, I get the story down first then overlay the historical details on top.

Q Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

A Stephen King; Bernard Cornwell; J K Rowling; Edward Rutherford; William Shakespeare.

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

A Stephen King. I’d ask him if I could collaborate on a novella with him, or the same with David Walliams, I think he’s the modern day Roald Dahl, I should imagine it would be great fun to write a book with him. I’m in awe of J K Rowling, if I met her, I’d ask her how it feels to be a celebrity author, and if the pressure of being so successful is a strain on her. It must be nice having the money etc but there must be enormous pressure as well. How do you top something as successful as Harry Potter?

Q Were you a big reader as a child?

A Yes, I was always reading. I read Enid Blyton, Tove Jansson and Ursula le Guin.

Q When did you start to write?

A I started writing as a young child. I took it up again about 10 years ago, and then last year I decided to try and make this my career.

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

A I wouldn’t so much re-write, but maybe add to the end of Pride & Prejudice. It would be nice to have a final scene say a year or so after Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are married and see how life is for them. Is Elizabeth happy with the life she has chosen, is it all she thought it would be?

Q Is there a book you wish you had written?

A Harry Potter.

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

A She Got There Eventually!

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

A See the answer above reference Pride & Prejudice – probably Elizabeth Bennett, later in her life. I’d take her to a cocktail bar and get her to really open up about her married life as Mrs Darcy.

Q What are you working on right now?

A Right now I am working on the first of 3 medieval historical fiction novels. It’s the story of a young boy’s ambition to become one of the most famous and powerful minstrels ever known.

Q Do you have a new release due?

A My focus this year is to complete book 1 of my 12^th century trilogy mentioned above, I intend finishing it this year. I have been writing this book on and off for 10 years, and self-publishing Dark & Fluffy II has given me the confidence to pursue bigger things. I hope to publish my novel the traditional way, i.e. with an agent and a publishing house. This is my ultimate dream.

I will also be self-publishing Alternative Histories later this year, a book that takes pivotal moments in history and looks at what-if scenarios. I have already showcased this idea in Dark & Fluffy II, in the story Queens of England. This is a story based around the idea of what could have happened if Queen Elizabeth I had not executed Mary Queen of Scots.

Looking further into the future, I will be self-publishing a novella called The Rue Stone. I have already self-published this as a short story, in the first Dark & Fluffy, and I have had lots of feedback all with a common thread; people felt a bit short changed after finishing the story and they would like to read more. I’ve taken on this feedback, which I agree with, and will now work on this to extend the story into a longer format.

After that, then it will be back to books 2 and 3 of my historical trilogy.

Interwoven with completing these books is an idea I have for a novella called A Tale of Two. This will be a story of two people, a man and a woman, who have an affair. The story will be told in two distinct parts, one from his point of view and one from hers.

Q What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

A Smile, get a fluttering in my stomach that I did it, and then put it all over social media.

Q How can readers keep in touch with you?

A fb Janetstockwriter  www.janetstockwriter.wordpress.com

Twitter @janetstock12

Q Is there anything else you would like us to know?

A Now I’ve started writing I don’t intend to stop, I have a very large ideas folder so will be writing for many years to come. Look out for me!

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

Dark & Fluffy: Volume II

Following on from Dark & Fluffy, this collection is a further nine short fiction pieces. The title Dark & Fluffy II, reflects the general styles of the stories/prose in the book. Some are a bit darker, and may be a bit uncomfortable to read, Death by Testing and The Broken Arrangement fall into this category. Others are happier, feel good pieces like The Disney Club. Whatever your preference, I’m sure you’ll find something that will grab your attention.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Fluffy-II-Janet-Stock-ebook/dp/B07LDRKL5D

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Fluffy-II-Janet-Stock-ebook/dp/B07LDRKL5D

Author Bio

I am married with one teenage son and have always been a keen reader and writer since being young. I was born in Lancashire but have lived in Lincoln for over 30 years.

Several years ago I decided to take my writing seriously. I completed an OU course in creative writing and a Writers Bureau course. Initially I concentrated on short story writing, and when I turned fifty this year, I self-published my first book, Dark and Fluffy.

I love writing short stories, but my main goal is to have a novel published. Ten years ago, I started the first book of a trilogy of novels called The Little Servant (The Wait’s Son). I am still working on this, but now I have a serious intent to get this finished this year.

My favourite genre is medieval fiction, Bernard Cornwell is my favourite author. I also like to read Edward Rutherford, Stephen King, and Dean Coontz.

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

With thanks as always to Rachel.

happy reading 🙂

We had such a lovely time at today’s meet up at the North Stafford hotel, Stoke-on-Trent. A MASSIVE thank you to all who came along and made it such a fab event. To those who couldn’t make this one, you were missed and we hope you can join us next time 😊

It has been great catching up with ‘old’ friends and meeting new ones. A big thank you to my partner in crime, Steph. I wouldn’t want to do this without you. Thanks, as always, for sorting everyone out with name tags. You’re a star!

Take a look at Rachel Sargeant (@RachelSargeant3): https://twitter.com/RachelSargeant3?s=09

Take a look at Steph (@StefLoz): https://twitter.com/StefLoz?s=09

Take a look at Susan Boulton (@BoultonSusan): https://twitter.com/BoultonSusan?s=09

Take a look at Kiltie Jackson (@KiltieJackson): https://twitter.com/KiltieJackson?s=09

Take a look at Caroline Venables (@thedivinewrite1): https://twitter.com/thedivinewrite1?s=09

https://www.facebook.com/scribblersue/

Take a look at Noelle | CrimeBookJunkie 🕵️‍♀️ (@nholten40): https://twitter.com/nholten40?s=09

Take a look at Abigail Osborne (@Abigail_Author): https://twitter.com/Abigail_Author?s=09

Take a look at Rachel Emms (@emms_rachel): https://twitter.com/emms_rachel?s=09

Take a look at Sarah Hardy (@sarahhardy681): https://twitter.com/sarahhardy681?s=09

Take a look at Anne Cater (@annecater): https://twitter.com/annecater?s=09

Take a look at Rachel Gilbey (@gilbster1000): https://twitter.com/gilbster1000?s=09

Take a look at Caroline England (@CazEngland): https://twitter.com/CazEngland?s=09

Take a look at Heide Goody (@HeideGoody): https://twitter.com/HeideGoody?s=09

Take a look at 📚🐛Kim Nash📚🐛 (@KimTheBookworm): https://twitter.com/KimTheBookworm?s=09

Take a look at Jo Robertson (@jocatrobertson): https://twitter.com/jocatrobertson?s=09

Take a look at John Pye (@CathedralOfLies): https://twitter.com/CathedralOfLies?s=09

Take a look at David Beckler (@DavidBeckler1): https://twitter.com/DavidBeckler1?s=09

Take a look at Tess riding the Gravy Train Makovesky (@tessmakovesky): https://twitter.com/tessmakovesky?s=09

Sue Eaton’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/havepencanwrite/

Take a look at Graeme Cumming (@GraemeCumming63): https://twitter.com/GraemeCumming63?s=09

Take a look at Jill (@JillsBookCafe): https://twitter.com/JillsBookCafe?s=09

https://www.facebook.com/mickwilliamsauthor/

Take a look at Rachel McCollin/McLean (@rachelmcwrites): https://twitter.com/rachelmcwrites?s=09

Take a look at Misha Herwin (@MishaHerwin): https://twitter.com/MishaHerwin?s=09

Take a look at J.F.Burgess (@burgess1012): https://twitter.com/burgess1012?s=09

Take a look at NicHaleWriter (@nic_writer): https://twitter.com/nic_writer?s=09

Take a look at Jan Edwards (@Jancoledwards): https://twitter.com/Jancoledwards?s=09

Take a look at Jen Lucas ✍📖📚 (@JenMedBkReviews): https://twitter.com/JenMedBkReviews?s=09

Looking forward to the next one already!

Hope you can join us –

https://www.facebook.com/events/542108392961360/?ti=cl

Photos from September’s meet up…..

ICYMI – Our first ever Stoke-on-Trent meet up…..

https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/our-first-stoke-on-trent-bookblogger-author-meetup-12th-may-2018-%f0%9f%98%8a/

Thanks again!

Kerry x