Welcome to my stop on J S Ellis’ In Her Words blog tour with Love Books Group Tours!

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

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

My Name is Joanne and I write under the pen name J.S Ellis and I wrote my debut psychological thriller In Her Words. I’m also working a mystery thriller novel a dystopian series. I also started a you tube channel recently all about crafting thrillers.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I get my ideas from reading and movies and when I’m commuting where I put my headphone and build stories in my head.

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

No, not really. All the characters are fictional purely fragments of my imagination.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Usually I would know what I’m going to name the characters before I start writing the book. If I don’t know what to name or I’ll be in doubt, I look in baby name sites or look at the end credits of movies/tv show to get idea of names.

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

I’m pantser so I don’t plan out my novels or do elaborate outlines. I’ll have the idea and make a list in bullet points with where I plan where the story needs to go, I do the basic what if question and divided act 1 to 2 and 3 and I start writing. I would know the ending before I start writing, though.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

George Orwell

Partick McGrath

Charles Bukowski

Nicci French

Taylor Jenkins Reid

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

Taylor Jenkins Reid and I would ask her where did she learn to write like that, that lady can write a good a story. I would ask her for tips crafting such emotional stories.

Were you a big reader as a child?

As child no, I wasn’t in fact funnily enough I hated reading. At school they used to make us stand and read aloud, as a dyslexic child, it made me stammer with nerves. I got into reading later on in my teens and thanks to reading, it improved my dyslexia.

When did you start to write?

At sixteen while I was doing my O’Levels I had this dream and I wanted to write it down and I couldn’t do anything else but to finish it. I still have that story written down in a notebook with a pencil.

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

Brave New World but not because I didn’t enjoy it. I enjoyed it a lot but it was confusing to me, that book most of time I couldn’t’ understand what was happening and then ended and I was so disappointed. Maybe, I would have made it clearer as the story was rather complicated in my humble opinion.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

1984 for sure.

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

The confessions of the grumpy introvert xD

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

Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) there is a local coffee shop in Malta surrounded with books you can have coffee or cake and read. What more could you want?

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I’m working on two projects one is resting while I give the final revision and send it off to my editor. It’s an adult dystopian which will be a series. And the other is a thriller/horror novel about a guy whose dad dies in sudden a heart attack after he got married. The father and son had estranged relationship, so Franklin the main character didn’t meet his father new bride. He later finds you she was survivor in mass murder that killed her friends and her boyfriend at the time.

Tell us about your last release?

In her words is about Sophie she’s an accountant with drinking problem who writes in diary to keep account of her on goings. She hides her drinking from her husband, one night she goes out with her friend and wakes up the next day with bruises all over body and no memory what happened her.

Do you have a new release due?

In Her Words is coming out on 7^th May it’s available for pre-order at the moment. The first book in a dystopian The Chaperon will come out later this year or beginning of the next year.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

This my debut so I’m not sure maybe I open a bottle of wine and eat some cheese.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I would love to hear to hear from readers they can reach me through my website https://joannewritesbooks.com or through these social media accounts https://www.instagram.com/joannewritesbooks

https://www.facebook.com/joannewritersbooks/

https://twitter.com/Joannewriter

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18812201.J_S_Ellis

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ-lGYeUVzDC0I87ng4buFg?

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

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

Back of the Book…..

While she seems to have it all, Sophie Knight
is looking for more. When gorgeous and carefree Michael Frisk walks into her
life, he offers the excitement and passion she desires.

Sophie is willing to risk everything she has.
After all, she is used to concealing things from her husband—like her
alcoholism, her unhappiness. But soon she has more to hide. She wakes up one
morning in an alcoholic haze and finds bruises on her body, but has no recollection
of what happened to her. Was she raped?

When unsettling notes and mysterious phone
calls start, Sophie wonders whom she should turn to. Is Michael the cause of
the frightening things happening in her life, or is he the answer to her
problems?

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2Jq3NXq

Author Info

J.S Ellis is a thriller author. She’s currently working on an adult Dystopian series called
the Chaperone. She’s also working on another thriller novel, for now, it’s called
Opium, as it’s still a wip.

J.S always liked to scribble from a young age but started writing by the age of sixteen.
She spent all this time, enhancing and learning about the craft. Writing is her
passion books are her obsession.

She has a degree in Creative Writing, English literature, and digital marketing. She
works in an accountancy firm. She lives in Malta with her fiancé. When she’s
not writing or reading, she’s either cooking, eating cheese, and chocolate, or
listening to good music and enjoying a glass of wine or two.

The Lynmouth Stories

Beautiful places hide dark secrets …

Devon’s very own crime writer L.V Hay (The Other Twin, Do No Harm) brings forth three new short stories from her dark mind and poison pen:

– For kidnapped Meg and her young son Danny, In Plain Sight, the remote headland above Lynmouth is not a haven, but hell.

– A summer of fun for Catherine in Killing Me Softly becomes a winter of discontent … and death.

– In Hell And High Water, a last minute holiday for Naomi and baby Tommy becomes a survival situation … But that’s before the village floods.

All taking place out of season when the majority of tourists have gone home, L.V Hay uses her local knowledge to bring forth dark and claustrophic noir she has come to be known for.

Did You Know …?

Known as England’s ‘Little Switzerland’, the Devon village of Lynmouth is famous for its Victorian cliff railway, fish n’ chips and of course, RD Blackmore’s Lorna Doone.

Located on the doorstep of the dramatic Valley of The Rocks and the South West Cliff Path, the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth have inspired many writers, including 19th Century romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who honeymooned there in 1812.

PRAISE FOR LV HAY:

‘Well-written, engrossing & brilliantly unique’- Heat World

‘Prepare to be surprised by this psychological mystery’- Closer

‘Sharp, confident writing, as dark and twisty as the Brighton Lanes’- Peter James

‘Prepare to be seriously disturbed’ – Paul Finch

‘Crackles with tension’ – Karen Dionne

‘An original, fresh new voice in crime fiction’ – Cal Moriarty

‘The writing shines from every page of this twisted tale’- Ruth Dugdall

‘I couldn’t put it down’ – Paula Daly

‘An unsettling whirlwind of a novel with a startlingly dark core’ – The Sun

‘An author with a fresh, intriguing voice and a rare mastery of the art of storytelling’ – Joel Hames

Purchase Link –

http://myBook.to/LynmouthStories

Author Bio –

Lucy V Hay is a script editor for film and an author of fiction and non-fiction. Publishing as LV Hay, Lucy’s debut crime novel, The Other Twin, is out now and has been featured in The Sun and Sunday Express Newspaper, plus Heatworld and Closer Magazine. Her second crime novel, Do No Harm, is an ebook bestseller. Her next title is Never Have I Ever for Hodder Books.

Social Media Links –

 http://www.twitter.com/LucyVHayAuthor  http://www.facebook.com/LucyHayB2W  http://www.instagram.com/LucyVHayAuthor

happy reading 🙂

I cannot even begin to tell you how achingly beautiful this book is.

Iona Grey has broken my heart all over again.

I know my words will never, in a million years, do this book the justice it deserves. You need to read it for yourself to understand. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I absolutely adored Iona Grey’s previous novel, Letters To The Lost. I talk about it, a lot! I have been patiently waiting (for four years) for her next book and I can tell you that The Glittering Hour has most certainly been worth the wait, although I truly hope I won’t have to wait another four years for another book by this amazing author.

I practically squealed with excitement when the publisher sent me an invite to view The Glittering Hour on Netgalley, but unfortunately due to previous commitments I was unable to dive in immediately, although resisting it was hard work I can tell you! Anyway, it didn’t download to my Paperwhite, for some reason, and by the time I had realised it had already been archived, but never mind because I bought it anyway and I have the paperback on pre-order. I will be adding the audible narration also.

In 1925 Selina Lennox is well known as one of the ‘Bright Young Things’. Her life consists of enjoying parties with her friends, drinking and sometimes slightly risky activities which often result in their pictures appearing in the newspapers and fashionable magazines. She knows she will be expected to settle down one day and she is determined to enjoy her youth in the meantime. Then the untimely death of a cat brings her face to face with Lawrence Weston and her life changes forever.

Lawrence is a struggling artist with a passion for photography and is the most endearing of characters. I pictured him as extremely good looking. Tall, dark and handsome in a bit of a rough and ready kind of a way. I totally understood how Selina fell for him so easily, but I do believe, looks aside, that everyone has a soul mate and these two are most definitely each other’s. They reminded me so much of my husband and I except I cannot begin to imagine how I would ever give that up, especially to satisfy the expectations of family and society as a whole. Having said that, I could, sort of, understand Selina’s fears. Not so much her fear of what others might think, but her fear of loving so deeply and of being so emotionally overwhelmed. My heart broke for her, but especially for Lawrence. This story is just so full of raw emotion and I know it will be another one which will stay with me for a very long time to come.

When we meet Alice, Selina’s daughter, almost a decade later she is residing with her Grandparents as her parents are away on a business trip. Alice is 9 years old and the love between her and her mother is palpable. They keep in touch via letter, but obviously miss each other dearly and my heart went out to them both. Even more so as the story progresses and we learn that not all is as it seems. When I thought this story could not be any more heart-breaking it shattered my heart all over again as the chapters revealed the truth behind Selina’s absence. I sobbed so much I could barely read the words. It’s just so sad, but also hopeful in the end. I’d love to hear about how life pans out for these lovely characters after the closing chapter of this book. I have to hope that they find happiness and peace.

Via AmazonUK…..

The epic and long-awaited new romance from the author of Letters to the Lost, winner of the RNA Award.
‘Emotionally fraught, evocative and redemptive, The Glittering Hour has been well worth the wait. What a superb novel – Iona Grey really is back with aplomb’ Fiona Mitchell, author of The Maid’s Room
‘Poignant, beautiful and sad. A must read!’ Katrina Oliver
‘Deeply captivating, engaging and so irresistible. I could not put it down!’ Petra Quelch
‘An enchanting, evocative read’ The Sun

1925. The war is over and a new generation is coming of age, keen to put the trauma of the previous one behind them.

Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing whose life is dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure; to parties and drinking and staying just the right side of scandal. Lawrence Weston is a struggling artist, desperate to escape the poverty of his upbringing and make something of himself.  When their worlds collide one summer night, neither can resist the thrill of the forbidden, the lure of a love affair that they know cannot possibly last.

But there is a dark side to pleasure and a price to be paid for breaking the rules.  By the end of that summer everything has changed.

A decade later, nine year old Alice is staying at Blackwood Hall with her distant grandparents, piecing together clues from her mother’s letters to discover the secrets of the past, the truth about the present, and hope for the future.

ICYMI…..

#LettersToTheLost by Iona Grey @Iona_Grey Simon & Schuster @simonschuster #Netgalley #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

I need an instant pot! I may have to invest in one.

The paperback version of this cookbook has gone straight on my wish list too.

It starts with an introduction to “the diversity of Indian cooking: regions, spices and kitchen basics.” It includes an excellent glossary of spices, herbs, fats and oils and an in-depth guide for using an instant pot.

I do love to cook Indian food and I definitely enjoy eating it! This book has totally inspired me to try making my own pastes and I look forward to trying out some of the mouth-watering recipes featured. I’m reviewing the kindle edition and the black and white photographs look delicious so I can imagine how enticing the colour versions would be.

I have never tried traditional Indian breakfasts, but I love the sound of ‘steamed rice & lentil cakes’ and ‘cracked wheat breakfast pilaf’ to name just a couple of recipes.

I pretty much like the sound of all the recipes in this book to be honest, including the naan bread which sounds amazing.

If you love to cook and are a lover of Indian cuisine then you need to add this book to your collection.

Many thanks to the author and to Rachel @ Rachel’s Random Resources for my kindle review copy. I highly recommend.

Instant Indian – Classic Foods from Every Region of India Made Easy in the Instant Pot

Discover favorite foods from all over India with the first regional Indian cookbook authorized by Instant Pot!

Rinku Bhattacharya — cookbook author and founder of Spice Chronicles — has put together a collection of 100 authentic recipes that showcase the diversity and range of the foods of India, where every state and region boasts its own unique dishes. Whether you crave takeout favorites or want to be introduced to lesser-known specialties, this cookbook brings the best of India to your table in an instant!

The Instant Pot® lends itself perfectly to Indian recipes, making flavorful, nutritious Indian fare (like simmering-all-day dals, legumes and all manner of curries) in minutes instead of hours. Instant Indian features numerous vegetarian and vegan options , and nearly all recipes are gluten-free.

With step-by-step instructions and color photos throughout, Instant Indian makes Indian cooking easy and fool-proof using all the functions of this popular appliance.

Purchase Links

US – https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Indian-Classic-Foods-Region/dp/0781813859/

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Instant-Indian-Classic-Foods-Region/dp/0781813859/

About Rinku Bhattacharya

​

Rinku Bhattacharya (spicechronicles.com) was born in India, and now lives in a house with a vibrant backyard in Hudson Valley, New York with her husband, an avid gardener, and their two children. Rinku’s simple, sustainable approach to Indian cooking is showcased on her blog, Spice Chronicles, and in her Journal News column “Spices and Seasons.”

Rinku has been teaching recreational cooking classes for the past nine years, and works extensively with local area farmer’s markets on seasonal demonstrations and discussions. Rinku is also the author of The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles (Hippocrene Books, 2012), winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2013 for Best Indian Cuisine. She writes for the Poughkeepsie Journal, the Journal News, and several online sites, and is a frequent guest on CT Style TV.

https://twitter.com/Wchestermasala

https://www.instagram.com/spice_chronicles/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rinkub/?autologin=true

https://www.facebook.com/spicechronicles

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

happy reading & cooking 🙂

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming DB Carter to Chat About Books 🙂

Many thanks to Laura @ Cameron Publicity for arranging the following interview.

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

I am D B Carter, I live in Devon, England with my wife. We have three wonderful grown-up children. After 30 years of careers in art, science and business, I have followed my lifelong dream of becoming an author.

My first book, “The Cherries” has just been published, and it is a present-day drama with a dash of romance. It’s about everyday life, how we respond to the problems and traumas that people suffer, from bullying and self-harm to bereavement, anxiety and mental health. Through love and mutual understanding, we can help people to heal.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

From the world around me, from my own experiences and the lives of others that have touched mine, as well as books and films; but many ideas just come to me.

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

There are aspects of friends and family incorporated into the main characters, but I doubt anyone would recognise themselves. Susan has characteristics in common with my wife and my sister, but she is very much her own woman. Luke is the man I would like to be, I suppose.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Sometimes they are my own tribute to a fictional character that I have enjoyed. For example, Susan is the real name of the eponymous hero in ‘Educating Rita’, which is a play, film and book that I would recommend to anybody. Susan’s mother, Marian, is an oblique reference to Miriam in Sons and Lovers. Neither of my characters is like their literary influence, but they are a private homage to wonderful creations that I have enjoyed reading.

However, in real life I am terrible at remembering people’s names, so I also pick ones that will stick. Even so, I have a long piece of paper beside my laptop which lists all my characters. Occasionally, I have inadvertently changed a name half way through and only realised at the end – thank heavens for ‘Find and Replace’.

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

Planned chaos

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Anthony Trollope, R F Delderfield, Thomas Hardy

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

Charles Dickens and I’d ask him what would have happened at the end of his unfinished work, the Mystery of Edwin Drood

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes. Enid Blyton, Malcolm Saville, JRR Tolkien, E Nesbit, and countless more authors. I would also buy the books of films I enjoyed, as we didn’t have a VCR in those days.

When did you start to write?

I always have, for my own interest. I started to write “The Cherries” a few years ago and found that I was happier than I had been in a long time.

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

Is there a book you wish you had written?

I’d expand on the finish of “The 39 Steps”. I love the book, but I found the ending very abrupt.

I think that I, like many people, would like to have written Pride and Prejudice.

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

“A Series of Fortunate Accidents.”

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

Samuel Pickwick. We could go for a cup of tea to our lovely local farm shop.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I once cuddled a tiger.

What are you working on right now?

My second novel, presently titled “The Wild Roses”. It is quite different from my first book, but still very much in the drama genre.

Tell us about your last release?

“The Cherries” was released a few weeks ago. It is a drama with a dash of romance, and it tries to touch upon the issues of modern life in a gentle and respectful way.

Do you have a new release due?

Not yet, but hopefully not too far off.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Well, I’ve only had one, so it is hard to draw a pattern. All I can say is that no celebration could be complete without my wife as a part of it.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I’m on Facebook and Twitter, @DBCarterAuthor

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Just that I am grateful to anyone who reads my book, and I would always love to hear from people with their honest feedback

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!

When they have broken you, when you have been humiliated, bullied, deserted and destitute, can you find a place where you may dare to be happy?

Susan travels with her mother, escaping a life of heartbreak and poverty in the city, to live with their one remaining friend in a small rural village.

At twenty Susan is still bound by the trauma of her youth, but starts to blossom into womanhood, thanks to the tender encouragement of Luke, the eccentric occupant of ‘The Cherries’, who lives surrounded by books and art. It is a journey of tears and laughter, helping to heal mind and spirit.

But can the past ever be truly behind you?

Feeling safe and secure at last, mother and daughter nurture artistic talents that they had long since thought worthless, and their lives take directions they could never have imagined.

Yet, amongst the kindness and love in their new community, there lies hidden grief and a long-suppressed secret that must come to light. Something that might force Susan to another life beyond the confines of the village.

happy reading 🙂

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I’m a massive fan of Rachel Amphlett and you will know what an absolute pleasure it is for me to be joining in with her The Friend Who Lied blog tour, with Book On The Bright Side Publicity 🙂

Many thanks to Sarah @ BOTBSPublicity for the opportunity to be a small part of this awesome tour!

My review…..

WOW! I have absolutely LOVED this book! It grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let me go until I finished it late last night (05/06). There was no way I was going to sleep until I knew what had really happened.

I can’t say much without spoiling it, but the story is told from the perspectives of different characters, each having their own chapters, which I love. There is Lisa, Hayley, David, Bec and Simon, plus the mention of a Greg, who all met at University and have been friends ever since. They seem like a normal bunch to start with. However, Lisa’s kidneys are failing and she is in desperate need of a transplant otherwise she won’t have long to live as she isn’t a suitable candidate for dialysis.

The group arrange a final night out together, as things don’t look hopeful, but the night ends abruptly with a tragic accident. One which Lisa can’t remember, but when she comes round she discovers Simon has died and she has been given his kidney. What really happened that night though. Will they ever know?

What follows is an extremely tense, suspenseful journey to the truth. It’s a tangle of secrets and lies and had me wondering if any of these friends were ever truly friends in the first place. The truth is nothing short of shocking! It just goes to show that your past isn’t always buried and may come back to bite you on the bum at anytime.

Absolutely brilliantly written, as Rachel Amphlett’s books always are. I just love her writing style. If you haven’t read any of her books before then you honestly don’t know what you’re missing out on. Why not give this one a try!? If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, you will love it!

Book Description:

What she doesn’t know might kill her…

Lisa Ashton receives a last-minute reprieve from death two weeks before her birthday. Regaining consciousness, she is horrified to learn one of her friends has been killed – and saved her life.

As she recovers, she uncovers a trail of carefully guarded reputations, disturbing rumours, and lies. Soon, Lisa begins to wonder if one of her friends is hiding a terrible secret.

Because five of them entered the escape room that day, and only four got out alive.

And someone is determined to cover their tracks before she can find out the truth.
Can Lisa find the killer before someone else dies?
The Friend Who Lied: a twisted psychological thriller from USA Today bestseller Rachel Amphlett – perfect for fans of The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley and Friend Request by Laura Marshall.

Author Bio:

Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor and English Spy Mysteries espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter British police procedural series.
She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.
Praise for Rachel Amphlett
“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” ~ Robert Bryndza, USA Today bestselling author ofThe Girl in the Ice
“Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns” ~ Angela Marsons, bestselling author of the Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series.

Social Media Links:

Email: info@rachelamphlett.com

www.rachelamphlett.com

Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

Instagram: @RachelAmphlett

Facebook: Rachel Amphlett

Purchase Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/the-friend-who-lied

Apple Books

https://books.apple.com/book/the-friend-who-lied/id1461832054

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rachel_Amphlett_The_Friend_Who_Lied?id=59OVDwAAQBAJ

—

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my stop on Candace Robb’s A Conspiracy of Wolves blog tour with Love Books Tours!

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group for arranging the following interview with Candace Robb…..

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

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

I write historical crime fiction, so I have two broad sources. I delve deep into historical research for my ideas, as well as reading the literature of the period. And, for the crime element of my books, I study humanity and the psychology of communities in crisis. Visiting historic sites in the UK can also provide ideas—geography, weather, the layout of town and countryside have all fed me ideas. The city of York is one of my richest sources of inspiration. I have two active historical crime series at present, both set in late medieval York. My current book is the 11^th in the Owen Archer mysteries, a series that has spanned 1363 to 1374 (so far) and, though based in York, has on occasion taken my sleuth, a former captain of archers, to southwest Wales, Windsor, Westminster, and Yorkshire at large, from Leeds to Scarborough and stops in between. The Kate Clifford mysteries (three so far) are more firmly set in York and begin in 1399, with a focus on the conflict between Richard II and his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, now King Henry IV in the third book. Not only does my research for the two series overlap, but so do some of the characters, and, of course, the city of York, which is a crucial part of all the books. So far it’s not a tangle, but provides a rich crossover of ideas—some that might not work for one series are just the ticket for the other.

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

Oh, that would be telling! But I do have fun with historical figures in my books—Geoffrey Chaucer is a favorite of mine.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

With care for being as historically accurate as possible. I also do my best to avoid confusion—not always possible when including historical figures.

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

A nutshell? I do my best to write every day.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

I never know how to answer this. On what day? In what genre? And the moment I name 5, I’ll regret all I left out. I read eclectically and enthusiastically.

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

Geoffrey Chaucer. First I’d engage him in general chit chat to see whether I’ve caught his essence in my books. And then I’d ask the big one: Did you rape Cecilia Chaumpaigne? He might not tell the truth right away, but it would be interesting to see how he handled that hot potato.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I devoured books. All sorts. My mother convinced the librarians at our local library to give me an adult card when I was 11 because I’d exhausted the children and teen sections. I was in heaven! I loved the experience of being so lost in a story that I surfaced confused about the weather or the time of day.

When did you start to write?

I told stories before I had the idea to write them down. The first things I wrote down were poems. You know the sort, rhyming, silly, but so much fun.

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

Is there a book you wish you had written?

Re-write the ending of any book? All the books with unsatisfying, Pollyanna endings. But they’re immediately forgettable. Don’t remember!

I wish I’d written Madeline Miller’s Circe. It is perfect. Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls is a close second.

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

Circe No, that’s wish fulfilment. I honestly don’t know. I’ve never wanted to write memoir.

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

One of mine? Magda Digby. To the Glen of the Patriarchs near Mt. Rainier. We’d brew something together over an open fire.

Someone else’s character? Circe. Again, I can’t imagine her in a cafe. We’d be near the sea, drinking something herbal and empowering out of polished stone cups.

What are you working on right now?

The 12^th Owen Archer. I hate to say much more about it, except that it involves music and vicars choral. But one has little to do with the other. Or Owen may decide otherwise.

Tell us about your last release?

A Murdered Peace is the third book in the Kate Clifford series.

It is deep winter in York, 1400. The Epiphany Rising, meant to relieve the realm of Henry the usurper and return King Richard to the throne has, instead, spelled his doom. As long as Richard lives, he is a threat to Henry; so, too, the nobles behind the plot. The ringleaders have been caught, some slaughtered by folk loyal to Henry as they fled west, and the king’s men now search the towns for survivors.

A perilous time, made worse for Kate Clifford by the disappearance of Berend, her cook and confidante, shortly after Christmas. Her niece saw his departure in a dream—he said he was honor bound to leave. Honor bound—to a former lord? One of the nobles who led the uprising? Is he alive? She is hardly consoled when Berend reappears, wounded, secretive, denying any connection to the uprising, but refusing to explain himself. When he is accused of brutally murdering a spice seller in the city, Kate discovers a chest of jewels in his possession. Some of the jewels belong to her old friend Lady Margery, wanted by the king for her husband’s part in the uprising. For the sake of their long friendship, and the love she and her wards bear for him, Kate wants to believe Berend’s innocence. So, too, does Sir Elric. And he has the powerful backing of the Earl of Westmoreland. All Kate need do is confide in him. If only she trusted her heart.

Do you have a new release due?

My current release is A Conspiracy of Wolves, the 11^th Owen Archer, and the return of the series after a long hiatus.

1374. When a member of one of York’s most prominent families is found dead in the woods, his throat torn out, rumours spread like wildfire that wolves are running loose throughout the city. Persuaded to investigate by the victim’s father, former Captain of the Guard Owen Archer is convinced that a human killer is responsible. But before he can gather sufficient evidence to prove his case, a second body is discovered, brutally beaten and stabbed to death. Is there a connection? What secrets are contained within the victim’s household and circle of friends? And what does apprentice healer Alisoun know that she’s not telling?

Teaming up with Geoffrey Chaucer, who is in York on a secret mission on behalf of Prince Edward, Owen’s enquiries will draw him headlong into a deadly conspiracy.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

I like to be spontaneous, so it’s never the same.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Follow me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/CandaceRobb), Twitter (@CandaceMRobb), Book Bub, Goodreads. Sign up for my newsletter on my website (www.candacerobbbooks.com), and, of course frequently check there for news, events, and my latest blog.

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

Blurb

1374. When a member of one of York’s most prominent families is found dead in the woods, his throat torn out, rumours spread like wildfire that wolves are running loose throughout the city. Persuaded to investigate by the victim’s father, Owen Archer is convinced that a human killer is responsible. But before he can gather sufficient evidence to prove his case, a second body is discovered, stabbed to death. Is there a connection? What secrets are contained within the victim’s household? And what does apprentice healer Alisoun know that she’s not telling? Teaming up with Geoffrey Chaucer, who is in York on a secret mission on behalf of Prince Edward, Owen’s enquiries will draw him headlong into a deadly conspiracy.

The Author

Candace Robb has read and researched medieval history for many years, having studied for a Ph.D. in Medieval & Anglo-Saxon Literature. She divides her time between Seattle and the UK, frequently visiting York to research the series. She is the author of ten previous Owen Archer mysteries and three Kate Clifford medieval mysteries.

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2YHDW0v

happy reading 🙂

Blurb…..

Their backgrounds could hardly be further apart, their expectations in life more different. And there is nothing in the first meeting between the conference planner and the university lecturer which suggests they should expect or even want to connect again. But they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. Both have unresolved issues from the past which have marked them; both have an archaeological puzzle they want to solve. Their stories intertwine and they discover together that treasure isn’t always what it seems.

Author Bio –

Gilli Allan began to write in childhood – a hobby pursued throughout her teenage. Writing was only abandoned when she left home, and real life supplanted the fiction.

After a few false starts she worked longest and most happily as a commercial artist, and only began writing again when she became a mother.

Living in Gloucestershire with her husband Geoff, Gilli is still a keen artist. She draws and paints and has now moved into book illustration.

Currently published by Accent Press, each of her books, TORN, LIFE CLASS and FLY or FALL has won a ‘Chill with a Book’ award.

Following in the family tradition, her son, historian Thomas Williams, is also a writer. His most recent work, published by William Collins, is ‘Viking Britain’.

Social Media Links –

https://accentpressbooks.com/collections/gilli-allan

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gilli-Allan/e/B004W7GG7I

http://twitter.com/gilliallan (@gilliallan)

https://www.facebook.com/GilliAllan.AUTHOR

http://gilliallan.blogspot.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1027644.Gilli_Allan

https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/rna_author/gilli-allan/

Check this out…..

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SN5NWJ2

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SN5NWJ2

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

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

Here are my reviews from June 2018 (plus links to previous FBF posts)…..

My Mourning Year: A Memoir of Bereavement, Discovery and Hope by Andrew G. Marshall @andrewgmarshall @RedDoorBooks #BookReview

Call to Arms: (Kay Hunter British detective crime thriller series Book 5) by Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett #BookReview

Hell to Pay: (Kay Hunter British detective crime thriller series Book 4) by Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett #BookReview

One to Watch: A Detective Kay Hunter mystery, Book 3 by @RachelAmphlett #BookReview

Seven Bridges: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries Book 8) by L J Ross @LJRoss_author #BookReview

#FlashbackFriday with @Jancoledwards @SteveScaffardi @MTilburyAuthor @RachelAmphlett #LesleyWelsh & @kerrywk

Have you read any of the above?

What were you reading this time last year?