Chat About Books

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming A J Dalton to my blog 🙂

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

Hi there, I’m Adam and I publish fantasy (mainly with Gollancz) under the name of A J Dalton. My best known trilogy starts with Empire of the Saviours, which sold well in Germany for some reason. Either the Germans have good taste or no taste whatsoever! Oh, and I’m the UK’s leading author of ‘metaphysical fantasy’ (www.ajdalton.eu), mainly because all the others are dead. It wasn’t me! What’s metaphysical fantasy? Well, the short answer is that it’s fantasy that deals with pantheons of gods and considers the nature of belief/religion. My latest title is The Book of Angels. It’s really not too bad. If you don’t like it, I’ll buy it back off you.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Well, there’s this ideas shop through the fog at the end of Old Compton Street. You can’t miss it. No, I actually get ideas from my head. Isn’t that how everyone gets their ideas? But your brain needs fuel or raw material to process, so I read tonnes of fantasy. I’ll sometimes read something and think: ‘Hmm, that’s not very good – I wouldn’t have written it like that – I’d have written it like this – oo, that’s a good idea, maybe I will write it like that!’ It’s not copying, it’s like writing the photo-negative of what you’ve read. Hope that makes sense.

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

Well, I tend to think an author can only write what they know. If they describe particular emotions, therefore, then they need to understand that emotion in such a way that they’ve either experienced it themselves or they’re capable of it. What that means is that if you combine all the characters in my book, then you might get an approximation of me. If I had to choose one, it’s probably Torpeth, the crazy naked holy man from Empire of the Saviours.

How do you pick your characters names?

I’ve taught English-As-A-Foreign-Language for twenty odd years. I’m a bit of an expert on Anglo-Saxon v. Latin. I’ll select affixes from various words and fudge them together usually. Long Latinate names are used for civilized oppressors/elites and short Anglo-Saxon names are used for the rougher oppressed peoples.

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

Hmm. I tend to write a chapter as a story arc in itself. There will be a moral dilemma, an attempt to tackle the dilemma and then a showdown and outcome (usually a bad one until the last chapter). I don’t plot out each chapter really, as I believe if you create a good character and give them an interesting predicament, the character will write the story for you. I have a range of characters who ultimately bump into each other and have to thrash out their differences. Then they all come together at the end. It’s a very episodic approach, sure, but I think life’s like that. Mine is, anyway. I write long-hand, with a pen! If you’re not familiar with what a pen is, check it out on Google. It’s very useful technology, a pen. My first draft is all but final draft, although I make slight edits as I type things up.

Do you have a favourite author?

I love the gothic darkness of Christopher Marlowe – he wrote Doctor Faustus, etc. I prefer him to Shakespeare, actually. I’m not the biggest fan of Tolkien – sorry if that’s blasphemy. Tolkien is all very worthy, but a tad ponderous. No, I grew up reading Raymond E. Feist’s Magician. And I’m a friend of his on facebook. I’m sooo not worthy!

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

I would meet Christopher Marlowe and ask him what he did to end up with a knife in his eye in a pub in Deptford. I’d also ask him if he’d ever seen a demon, as he was one of the first writers describing such beings. Apparently, when one of his plays was performed back in the late 1500s, an ‘extra’ unscripted devil appeared on stage, and everyone thought it had to be the real thing conjured by accident. Many books I’ve written, like Necromancer’s Gambit, have demons in them, and I’m fascinated by the idea of them.

Were you a big reader as a child?

For sure. I blame the parents myself. It’s when I was given Feist’s Magician at the age of 15 that I decided the fantasy genre was for me.

When did you start to write?

I sent my first manuscript to a publisher at the age of 15. It was derivative pish (called ‘Elven Sacrifice’ or something), but we’ve all gotta start somewhere. Over the years, I tried with seven different books, and didn’t really get anywhere. But I was getting better, and I’d developed some very good ideas, ideas I recycled much later on. My breakthrough was at 39, with Necromancer’s Gambit. I kind of got lucky. It had a black cover when every other author was copying Trudi Canavan’s white book covers. Then six months after Necromancer’s Gambit came out, Twilight hit the cinema and ‘dark fantasy’ was born. My sales rocketed. It was luck, but you kind of make your own luck too.

What are you working on right now?

Well, I’ve done The Book of Orm and The Book of Angels for Kristell Ink Publishing in the last few years. The follow-up, called The Book of Dragons, should be out April 2017. Also, my PhD on the sub-genres of fantasy is being published by Luna Press Publishing at about the same time.

Beyond that, I have a couple of novels being considered by publishers. One is a scifi called Lifer and the other is a fantasy called Dragon God. Not sure if a publisher will take them on, but if they have any sense they will.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

My website is www.ajdalton.eu and people can contact me through that. I also provide on the site lots of advice to aspiring authors (as I teach Creative Writing) and commentary on fantasy publishing. Or I’m on Twitter as @AJDalton1… or on facebook as Adam Dalton. Happy days!

Many thanks to Adam for answering my questions!

Publisher: Gollancz (17th May 2012)

In the Empire of the Saviours, the People are forced to live in fortified towns. Their walls are guarded by an army of Heroes, whose task is to keep marauding pagans out as much as it is to keep the People inside. Several times a year, living Saints visit the towns to exact the Saviours’ tithe from all those coming of age – a tithe often paid in blood.

When a young boy, Jillan, unleashes pagan magicks in an accident, his whole town turns against him. He goes on the run, but what hope can there be when the Saviours and the entire Empire decide he must be caught?

Jillan is initially hunted by just the soldiers of the Saint of his region, but others soon begin to hear of his increasing power and seek to use him for their own ends. Some want Jillan to join the fight against the Empire, others wish to steal his power for themselves and others still want Jillan to lead them to the Geas, the source of all life and power in the world. There are very few Jillan can trust, except for a ragtag group of outcasts.

His parents threatened, his life in tatters, his beliefs shaken to the core, Jillan must decide which side he is on, and whether to fight or run …

Publisher: Gollancz (21st March 2013)

Ancient Gods begin to stir and demand resurrection…

A naked and crazy holy man leads a young warrior into the realm of the dead…

In fear for his life, a young member of an evil race flees his home…

An uneasy peace has settled upon Jillan’s remote corner of the Empire, but he cannot return to his previous simple life. Tricked into a bargain with the manipulative God of Mayhem, he is forced to embark upon a journey that will leave his hometown undefended. Unsure of his fellow travellers, pursued by assassins and spies, he must discover the means by which to raise up the old gods and defeat the cruel Empire of the Saviours.

Meanwhile, the Empire’s vast army of Saints and Heroes descends upon Godsend. Jillan’s beloved Hella and a few loyal companions resist the dark magicks used against them for a while, but the Saviours cannot allow such resistance to go unpunished…

And from another realm, the Declension watches. Their servants, the Saviours, have suffered setbacks. The God of Mayhem is loose. A young boy with wayward powers is on his way to Haven, where he may find a way to destroy them. A renegade member of their race is rampaging through their realms.

Everything is going to plan.

Publisher: Gollancz (17th April 2014)

The gods will see you brought down…
The spirits of your ancestors will have their revenge upon you…
The Saviours will drain you of your very soul.

In claiming a place in the world, mortals have won many enemies for themselves. The ancient gods are jealous and conspire against them. The King of the Dead looks to lead his armies into the land of the living. In their own realm, the mighty Declension watches and waits, as events begin to unfold precisely as they had always planned.

Jillan and his companions are beset on all sides, yet are plagued by self-doubt and internal division. When the final battle for survival begins, both they and their gods face extinction. They are easy prey for the warriors of the Declension, who are intent upon stripping Jillan of his magic and raising up their empire once more.

His friends and beloved Hella taken from him, Jillan is captured and tortured. He is ultimately broken and condemned to work in a mine, to see out his days labouring in misery for the enemy he has fought against his entire life.

He is a man without hope.

Publisher: Kristell Ink, Grimbold Books (23rd September 2016)

“Contains secrets, warnings and delights. A must-read.” – Kate Sultrow

Would you want to be an angel? The pay’s terrible and you get nothing but complaints from dissatisfied mortals.

This exciting new collection brings together the writing talents of international fantasy author A J Dalton, Matt White (prize-winning scriptwriter), Caimh McDonnell (writer for Mock the Week), Sammy HK Smith (friend to gods and demons), Andrew Coulthard (award-nominated short story writer) and Michael Bowman (widely worshipped by those who know about such things).

“Divine, divisive and downright dastardly!” – Carl Rhinebeck

You will find all of A J Dalton’s books on his Amazon author page

Enjoy!

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (6th October 2016)

I love Graham Norton as a chat show host, so I was very intrigued when I noticed he had written a novel. I had no idea what I was expecting, but I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed Holding.

Holding isn’t a fast-paced crime thriller with lots of gory details (like a lot of the books I read). It’s a beautifully written mystery which draws you in from the very beginning. There are wonderful characters, some of whom I loved and others not so much, but all very real.

Sergeant PJ Collins serves the community of a remote Irish village called Duneen. Not much happens in Duneen, but some of it’s residents have their issues. Most are just getting on with life, whilst others are struggling to hold theirs together.

PJ has become somewhat bored with his life and job. He’s unfit and overweight partly thanks to his housekeeper, Mrs Meany, feeding him up. I warmed to Mrs Meany immediately. Her story is heart-breaking.

When human remains are found on an old farm, PJ is faced with the first serious case of his career. As the investigation progresses, more secrets than anticipated are revealed. For some, life in Duneen will never be the same again.

Holding seems to me to have been written with great affection for it’s characters and their stories. It made me smile and brought a tear to my eye. I highly recommend.

I sincerely hope Graham Norton will be writing more fiction in future.

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

Buy your copy HERE

Description:

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

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

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

Graham Norton’s masterful debut is an intelligently crafted story of love, secrets and loss.

Reviews:

I am very pleased to be joining in with Jessikah’s Trace This Scar blog tour. I recommend that you add this book to your reading list, if you haven’t already.

Publisher: Excalibur Press; 1 edition (2nd October 2016)

My review

Trace This Scar is quite an unsettling read. The main character, Daphne, I found quite odd. She’s not one I warmed to at all, even at the beginning. She seems mostly happy with her husband, Rich, and she also enjoys her job at the bookshop. Rich’s ex-girlfriend, Gina, won’t leave them along though. When Gina suddenly disappears Rich is charged with her murder and is sentenced to 16 years in prison. Daphne is alone, with no money and suffering abuse from Gina’s family. The description of her life at this point, alone in her cold and filthy flat is pretty dismal. I almost started to feel sorry for her, but it isn’t long before she takes a shine to Jamie.

Jamie has recently been asked to move out of his parents house. He’s 26 and they (well his Dad) feel that he needs to start standing on his own two feet. He happens across the bookshop where Daphne works and somehow manages to bag himself a job there and Daphne invites him to stay at her flat. This in itself seemed rather odd to me.

Anyway, Jamie and Daphne soon become close, but it isn’t long before he realises things aren’t as they seem and he finds himself wondering just what he’s let himself in for. When Rich’s friends turn up at the flat, the situation takes a serious turn for the worst.

I was fascinated by Daphne’s story, despite not liking her at all. She is convinced her husband is innocent and I was keen to discover if indeed he was. The twisty storyline kept me guessing until a good way through the book, when I started to have my suspicions. I was not, however, prepared for the truth! And the ending was very creepy, in my opinion.

Buy your copy HERE

Description

A Lie. A Betrayal. A Murder. Daphne has everything she’s been dreaming of since the day her parents died when she was a teenager. A husband, a home and a job. The only problem is her beloved Rich’s ex girlfriend Gina who won’t leave them alone. Filled with jealousy, Gina’s interference soon escalates into harassment. But one day, Gina disappears. When Rich is sentenced to sixteen years in prison for murdering Gina, Daphne refuses to believe he is guilty. But what else could explain his mysterious disappearances? And if Rich didn’t kill Gina… … Then who did?

About the Author

Allow me to introduce book blogger, Amy Sullivan!

Amy has very kindly agreed to answer 20 random questions from you lovely people (Thank you for joining in Amy!) 🙂

If you’re reading this, please do send me a question. It doesn’t have to be book related. Let’s see how random we can make Amy’s interview!

I’m Amy and I’m a wife and mom to three little monkeys, two girls who are eight and five and a boy who is two. I’ve always been passionate about reading and a few months ago, with my husbands support and encouragement, I decided to start my blog. Besides reading, I’m a reality TV junkie, the trashier the better! 😳😂 I even still watch soap operas, the Young and the Restless if you’re wondering. I know, I know, my DVR is positively shameful. I like wine and think I’m a bit of a foodie and my dream way to spend my day is on the beach, with a good drink and a book. Cliche, but true! (I feel like I’m setting up a online dating profile 😂)

Amy blogs at https://novelgossip.com/

Please send me your question for Amy via email – bellaboobos11@outlook.com or feel free to PM me on Facebook or DM me on Twitter (links below)

Thanks in advance for joining in 🙂

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Colette McCormick to my blog. 🙂

Colette’s book, Things I Should Have Said and Done, was published by Accent Press on 15th November 2016.

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

I fit writing in and around my job with one of the country’s leading charities. I am a Yorkshire lass by birth but now live in the beautiful county of Durham. My book, “Things I Should Have Said and Done,” is listed as a “supernatural romance” but I’m not sure how that happened – I just put Ellen and George together and they developed their relationship themselves.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Random thoughts usually. I got the idea for “Things I Should Have Said and Done,” while I was talking to my husband on the phone.

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

No

How do you pick your characters names?

Seriously, they are usually the first names that pop into my head – I kid you not. That being said, I do tend to use George a lot though I have no idea why.

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

Generally, the first draft is a case of just getting it down and then I read through it again changing as I go. I’ll then set it aside for as long as I can before going through it a third time. I try to make sure that the first draft is completed six months before it’s due to be at the publishers.

Do you have a favourite author?

Not really, I tend to go for a book that I like the look of rather than an author.

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

Thomas Hardy so I could ask him why he based his character Tess on me. At school, I was the only one who could understand why she behaved the way she did.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I read a lot of Enid Blyton. I loved the Faraway Tree.

When did you start to write?

When I was at primary school. I’ve always loved writing stories.

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

I loved “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr but I sort of wished that we had left the characters in the war rather than finding out what happened to them afterwards.

What are you working on right now?

A murder set in the 1950’s

Do you have a new release due?

My second novel is due out next year though there isn’t a firm date yet.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

https://www.instagram.com/colette.mccormick/

https://www.facebook.com/colette.mccormick1

http://withinkfromthepinkpen.blogspot.co.uk/

or find me on twitter @colettemcauthor

A big thank you to Colette for joining me on my blog today 🙂

Publisher: Accent Press Ltd (15th November 2016)

Ellen never knew what hit her. But when a drunk driver runs a red light her life is over in an instant. Her small daughter survives – and Ellen, hovering in the borderland between life and the afterlife, can only watch as her loved ones try to pick up the pieces without her. Her husband Marc, struggling with being a single parent. Naomi, her little girl, blaming her mother for leaving her. And Ellen’s mother, full of guilt, slowly falling apart. Ellen isn’t ready to let go. She doesn’t want to say goodbye. She is confused, angry and hurting for her family and herself. And that’s where George comes in. He is her guide through her confusion as she witnesses the devastation among the living. With George at her side Ellen learns that even though she is dead she is not helpless. There are things that she can do from beyond the grave to influence what happens in the world she left behind. But George is new to his ‘job’, and has issues of his own. A working arrangement starts to become something neither of them expects. It is only after death that life can be fully understood.

Buy your copy HERE

I am thrilled to be today’s stop on Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection Blog Tour.

Crafts, Choirs and the Cotswolds at Christmas: Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection

Jenny Kane (@JennyKaneAuthor)

Hello there, I’m delighted to be here on day three of my blog tour, to celebrate the release of my seasonal anthology, Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection.

With the launch of this collection, I’ve been looking back at the three festive novellas which make up its mince pie and coffee filled pages; Another Cup of Christmas, Christmas in the Cotswolds, and Christmas at the Castle.

Blurb for the Jenny Kane Christmas Collection-

There is something very special about Christmas…

Kit Lambert, Pickwicks’ writer-in-residence, takes centre stage in ‘Christmas at the Castle’. Already nervous about appearing at her very first literary festival, in the grounds of a magnificent Scottish castle at Christmas time, Kit suddenly finds herself co-organising the whole thing – and trying to repair old friendships – with the deadline fast approaching…

When I wrote the original novel in the Another Cup of…series (Another Cup of Coffee), everything revolved around the staff and regulars of the Pickwicks coffee house in Richmond. However, by the time I reached the third story, I wanted to have a change of background. So in Christmas in the Cotswolds I decided to take Megan, Pickwicks regular waitress, away from her day job in Richmond, and send her into the countryside on a very festive mercy mission.

I adore the Cotswolds, and have always wanted to write a story based there. And what better time of year to set a story in one of the most beautiful parts of England than Christmas- with a choir, romance, and an awful lot of mulled wine!

Here’s a little extract for you…

… Megan looked up from the child-sized seat where she’d been perched cutting out angel’s wings ready for the imminent arrival of a group of pre-school children, and straight into a pair of earnest green eyes that peeped through a floppy fringe of ginger hair. ‘Joseph Parker?’

‘Call me Jo. It’s an impressive space you have here.’

Pulling herself out of her snug chair, Megan shook the carpenter’s proffered hand. ‘It’s not mine. It belongs to Izzie.’

‘Miss Spencer-Harris?’

‘That’s right. I’m Megan, I’m just helping out.’

‘By making paper angels?’

Megan smiled, ‘Part of Izzie’s business includes running craft sessions; in this case for a group of nursery school children. I’m standing by with the safety scissors to play Mary Poppins while Izzie gets on with rescuing her church. As I said on the phone, everything is a bit urgent because of the Cotswold Choir coming in five days. Thanks ever so much for turning up so fast.’

‘Not at all,’ Jo pulled on a bandana, not too dissimilar from Izzie’s, wiping his fringe from his face to reveal a multitude of freckles. ‘I was having a break until the New Year, but I’m very fond of the Cotswold Choir, so I’m happy to help.’

Fishing a huge bunch of keys from his pocket Jo took a step nearer the broken chancel, ‘If I could take a look at the chancel, then I’ll fetch what I need from my van.’

The sound of scraping grew louder as they approached the chancel. Izzie was busy halfway up the ladder, clearing out old grouting before re-pointing the stones that been loosened by the fall of the branch. Knowing Izzie would be concentrating hard on what she was doing, and not wanting to startle her, Megan was cautious as she called, ‘Your knight in shining armour is here!’

Without turning, Izzie shouted down, ‘Oh God, you’re not telling me my mother has sent another no-hoper my way with wedding bells in his eyes, are you?’

Blushing, Megan tried to explain her friend’s retort, ‘I’m so sorry, Jo! Izzie’s mother is rather set on finding her daughter the perfect match, and …’

Jo laughed as he held up a hand to show it was OK. ‘Don’t worry about it. I get a fair bit of that from my own mother. It’s all, “Honestly, Joseph, you’re thirty years old, when are you going to stop playing with planks of wood, get a career, and find a nice girl?”’

Megan laughed. ‘Yes, that’s pretty much Izzie’s mother to a T as well.’

Realising that her visitor was not waiting in the south aisle as she’d assumed, but was within hearing range, Izzie hastily climbed a little further down the ladder, one hand outstretched in greeting, ‘I’m so sorry! You must be Megan’s miracle carpenter.’

‘Well it is nearly Christmas, the perfect time for miracles concerning carpenters called Joseph.’ Jo grinned, turning his already attractive face into a very handsome one. ‘Happy to help – now where would you like me to start?’

Ignoring the voice in her head that was telling her this was the first hot-looking man she’d set eyes on in ages, Izzie said, ‘Could you examine the wood in the chancel roof? The building listings people tell me, as it is case of rescuing things rather than updating them, I can replace any timber in the roof that needs replacing to keep the place safe, but I’m not sure where to start. It’s only one joist that’s cracked, but I don’t want to just wrap it in parcel tape and hope for the best.’

Jo nodded, ‘If you don’t mind climbing down I’ll take a look. Then if I fetch my ladder, we can crack on together. I should have most things I need with me, although I only guessed at the timber required. I might have to go to the timber merchants.’

Megan had a sudden sensation of being in the way, and winked up at Izzie, ‘I’ll go and make sure I have enough wings then shall I?’

Shooting Megan a look that clearly told her that she should start matchmaking at her peril, Izzie said, ‘That would be great. The children arrive at ten, and Mrs V will be here soon with today’s cakes and stuff.’

Izzie was about to climb down to make way for Jo when something in the stonework caught her eye, ‘Hang on, there’s another bit of branch got lodged on the wall here.’ Izzie tugged at it, but nothing happened. ‘Honestly, this stuff is like Velcro.’ She took her pocket knife from the bib of her dungarees and went to slice it away from the brickwork.

Jo got closer to the bottom of the ladder. ‘Hey, I’m not sure that’s a branch, It’s a bit low down; it might be a …’

But he was too late….

You can find Christmas in the Cotswolds within my Jenny Kane Christmas Collection, along with Another Cup of Christmas and Christmas at the Castle.

Amazon UK- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jenny-Kanes-Christmas-Collection-Short-ebook/dp/B01M0ICD7A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474386377&sr=8-2&keywords=jenny+kane%27s+christmas+collection

Amazon.com- https://www.amazon.com/Jenny-Kanes-Christmas-Collection-Short-ebook/dp/B01M0ICD7A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474387008&sr=8-1&keywords=jenny+kane%27s+christmas+collection

Many thanks for letting me visit today,

Jenny xx

Thanks so much for joining me on my blog, Jenny. It has been a pleasure being a part of your fabulous blog tour! 🙂

Bio-

Jenny Kane is the author the contemporary romance Another Glass of Champagne, (Accent Press, 2016), Christmas at the Castle (Accent Press, 2015), the bestselling novel Abi’s House (Accent Press, 2015), the modern/medieval time slip novel Romancing Robin Hood (Accent Press, 2014), the bestselling novel Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013), and its novella length sequels Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), Christmas in the Cotswolds (Accent, 2014), and Christmas at the Castle (Accent, 2016). These three seasonal specials are now available in one boxed set entitled Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection (Accent, 2016)

Jenny’s fifth full length romance novel, Abi’s Neighbour, will be published in June 2017.

Jenny’s first medieval murder mystery, The Outlaw’s Ransom will be published in December 2016 under the pen name, Jennifer Ash

Jenny is also the author of quirky children’s picture books There’s a Cow in the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s Biscuit Tin (Hushpuppy, 2015)

Keep your eye on Jenny’s blog at www.jennykane.co.uk for more details.

Twitter- @JennyKaneAuthor

Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/JennyKaneRomance?ref=hl

Jenny also writes erotica as Kay Jaybee.

A big thank you to Zoe for taking part in my #AskMeAnything feature! And, a big thank you to all who sent me a question for Zoe.

I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

I have two children, both teenagers.

I have a university degree, but have been lucky enough to have been a stay-at-home mom for the last fifteen years.

I love to read all genres from Historical Fiction to Contemporary Romance and everything in-between.

Most days, aside from reading, I spend my time cycling, hiking, volunteering, or running my kids here, there, and everywhere.

I started my blog to be able to share my love of reading and my thoughts and reviews with a larger audience.

Zoe’s Interview

1 – How far do you think a writer’s location affects their writing style?

• I think location affects a writer’s style in the language, humour and dialect used.

2 – What’s your favourite literary villain?

• White Witch – Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

3 – I don’t know many Canadian authors – who would you recommend?

• There are many great Canadian authors, Lawrence Hill, Michael Ondaatje, Louise Penny, Alice Munro

4 – In Canadian bookstores, is it mostly Canadian authors or is it easy enough to get books from international authors?

• In Canadian bookstores, it is easy to all international authors, especially from the US and the UK.

5 – What makes a book jump from 4*s to 5*s for you and keeps you reading well past bedtime?

• For me a book makes that jump from 4* to 5*s if it captivates me to a point that I don’t want to put it down; makes me laugh more than I have for a while; or has an ending that is completely unpredictable and satisfying.

6 – What are your 5 favourite characters from books you have read, across any genre??

• Ove – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
• Don Tillman – The Rosie Project
• Elizabeth – Pride and Prejudice
• Harold Fry – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
• Inspector Gamache – The Chief Inspector Gamache Series by Louise Penny

7 – If you were told you could never read another word again, what would you do instead?

• Enjoy the outdoors and cycle more.

8 – What is your proudest achievement?

• Raising two wonderful kids.

9 – Who is your favourite author, who you have met?

• I don’t really have one favourite author. There are just so many good authors out there. I have had the opportunity to meet Chris Cleave and Michael Crummey which was great.

10 – What’s your favourite bread?

• A fresh french baguette

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

• Gone Girl. I really enjoyed that book, except the ending. I thought the ending was a little weak. I felt after all the destruction and havoc wreaked there should have been some kind of punishment or retribution.

12 – What has been the most challenging moment of your adult life?

• Living 3,000 miles away from my family (Mom, Dad, etc.)

13 – Which author would you really like to meet?

• J.K. Rowling
• I would have also really liked to meet Jane Austen

14 – Would you like to write a book?

• Not really. I enjoy reading them too much.

15 – A book you’d love to see made into a film? (Maybe with casting?)

• Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – Mark Strong (Harold)

16 – What’s your favourite time of the year?

• My favourite time of year is fall. I love the leaves changing colours and the crispness in the air.

17 – What’s the best surprise you’ve ever had?

• When my husband proposed after 4 months of dating.

18 – Do you have a holiday destination you return to time and again or do you like to discover new places?

• I love to visit new places, although Hawaii is definitely one of my favourites that I don’t mind revisiting now and again.

19 – Favourite read so far this year?

• Ooh. Tough one. I have given (5) books this year a perfect rating for different reasons. If I had to pick only one I would have to say The Girl and the Sunbird by Rebecca Stonehill.

20 – What did you want to be when you were 10 years old?

A lawyer.

Zoe blogs at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com/

If you are an author or book blogger would like to take part in my #AskMeAnything feature please feel free to email me a little bio, including a photo of yourself, to bellaboobos11@outlook.com

Thanks!

I am very excited to be taking part in the While You Were Sleeping blog tour! I loved this book! Kathryn Croft is a fabulous writer and Bookouture have done it again. They really do have the most awesome authors!!

Publisher: Bookouture (16th November 2016)

My review

I was over the moon when Kim at Bookouture asked me if I would like to be part of the blog tour for Kathryn Croft’s While You Were Sleeping, which was released on 16^th November 2016.

Having read and enjoyed The Girl With No Past last year (my first ever blog review!) I was sure I would enjoy While You Were Sleeping and I wasn’t wrong!

While You Were Sleeping introduces us to Tara Logan. Wife to Noah, Mum to 17 year old Rosie and 11 year old Spencer. Rosie is somewhat troubled and is a constant worry for her parents. Spencer is the complete opposite and Tara often finds herself feeling guilty for not paying him enough attention because of Rosie’s behaviour. I’m sure lots of parents would relate to this. I am a parent of two teenagers who are as different as chalk and cheese!

One afternoon Tara pops across the street following a message from her neighbour. She stays for a glass of wine, but the next thing she knows it’s morning and she’s waking up in bed with Lee, with no memory of how she ended up there or if anything happened between them. When she realises Lee is dead, having been stabbed to death, she panics and leaves the scene of the crime. I can’t judge. Who knows how any of us would react! I’m pretty sure I would have called the police, but that’s easy to say.

Tara knows she didn’t kill Lee, of that much she is sure. Who would want him dead, but leave her alive?

A murder investigation begins and before long Rosie becomes a prime suspect. Tara is convinced she wouldn’t be capable of such an horrendous crime though, she just needs to prove it.

As the investigation progresses I pretty much suspected everyone! The twists and turns kept me turning those pages. I thought I had it sussed on several occasions, but I changed my mind after almost every chapter! I was totally wrong the whole time!

Needless to say the situation puts a lot of strain on Tara’s and Noah’s relationship and he moves out. Before long Tara finds herself drawn to the detective investigating their case. This is the only part I struggled with, if I’m honest. I get why Tara would be drawn to Holden, as she’s feeling vulnerable and he makes her feel safe. I can understand he might be attracted to her, but their kiss seems to happen quickly, whereas I would think a detective would wrestle with his professional ethics for a bit longer at least, before acting on his attraction to someone whose case he is investigating. Having said that I don’t know any detectives. Maybe this happens all the time!? This didn’t spoil the story for me in any way, I just didn’t find this part entirely believable.

Overall, While You Were Sleeping is an intriguing story which draws you in and doesn’t let you go until you find out the truth. The utterly shocking truth!! I couldn’t quite believe what I was reading! Brilliantly written, as expected. If you’ve never read a book by Kathryn Croft, you really should. Why not start with this one? I highly recommend!

Many thanks to Bookouture for my auto-approval status on Netgalley and for allowing me to join in with this fabulous blog tour. 🙂

While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft

UK: http://amzn.to/2eK2Xjy

US: http://amzn.to/2ePtpvC

You wake up to find the man beside you is dead.
He is not your husband. This is not your bed.

Tara Logan adores her perfect little family: husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her happiness is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour, Lee Jacobs’ bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara flees home and stays silent, holding her breath as the investigation grips the neighbourhood.
But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara starts to wonder if someone in her own life knows what really happened that night. And when the police turn their questions towards her, Tara realises she has to find out.

But what will it take to uncover the real story, and can she survive the truth?

A gripping, shocking psychological thriller, with a twist that will take you by surprise.

About the author:

Kathryn worked in HR and management training before her passion for literature led her to train as an English teacher. She spent six years teaching secondary school English; a job she believes was invaluable to her writing career. Kathryn now devotes all her time to writing.

www.kathryncroft.com

Make sure you catch up with, and follow, the rest of the blog tour with these awesome book bloggers…..

My review of The Girl With No Past (My FIRST EVER blog review!!) –

The Girl With No Past by Kathryn Croft

Hi all!

Allow me to introduce book blogger, Lorraine Rugman…..

Lorraine has very kindly agreed to answer 20 random questions from you guys. So, if you’re reading this, please do send me a question 🙂 Your questions don’t have to be book related. Let’s see how random we can make Lorraine’s interview!

Here’s a little bio from Lorraine…..