In September...

... I read:

• The Lies You Told Me by Jessica Ruston
• From Ashes by Molly McAdams
• Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements
• The Deception Artist by Fayette Fox
• Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
• The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway

... I took part in the Three Wishes Blog Blitz, with a short story and giveaway

... school started again so I bagged myself a new writing schedule

... made the Big, Scary Decision to self-publish my book

... set up a facebook page (and still have little clue of what I'm doing)

... had a chat with author Georgina Troy

... took part in the Beyond Grace's Rainbow blog tour

... chose my Book of the Month and Cover Star

... had guest posts from Kathryn Player, Alicia Rades, Trish Hills and Jan Ellis

... and took part in Victoria Loves Book's feature, in which I picked 5 fictional characters to be deserted on an island with.



Book Of The Month: September

 

I've read some fantastic books since starting this blog and I'd like to give some of them a bit more recognition. So I've decided to add a new feature to the blog and give a special mention to one outstanding book each month. Feel free to add your thoughts of the chosen book in the comments below or even recommend an outstanding book of your own.

September

 

 

 

Klara's mother disappeared when she was a young girl. Klara never knew where she went and then it was too late to find out as she learned her mother had died.

 

Years later, when Klara is married and thinking of starting a family of her own, she receives a mysterious letter. Enclosed is a key, which promises to answer the questions Klara has about her mother. The key belongs to a lock-up, inside of which Klara discovers her mother's possessions, including a diary she kept as a young woman.

 

I really enjoyed The Lies You Told Me, following Klara as she discovered who her mother was and what made her tick. I connected with Klara and felt for her as she finally found the long-awaited answers to her questions.

 

 

You can see my full review here or click here to see previous Books Of The Month



Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream by Abby Clements

 

 

Amelia Grey is fed up with her life in East London, living in a cramped flat on a busy street and dealing with a classroom full of teenagers who have little desire to learn. As a child, she dreamed of living in the countryside and, after discussing it with her husband, they realise there is nothing stopping them from making the move. Both Amelia and Jack can commute to their jobs in London and while they don't have a huge budget, they can afford a cottage, leaving a little left over to bring it up to date.

 

Amelia and Jack move into their new cottage and set about achieving their dream. But the house needs a lot more work than anticipated and the move begins to take its toll on their relationship.

 

I've been looking forward to reading Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream as I enjoyed Abby Clements' previous books. The cover called out to me as it screams autumn, which is my favourite season. The book is perfect for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate, relaxing while poor Amelia tackles the huge renovation project.

 

Although Amelia is a likable character, she doesn't always make the best choices. I wanted her to have the beautiful home she'd always dreamed of but I didn't want her to lose Jack in the process. I thought she and Jack were a good pairing, with a lovely set of friends to support them so I began to worry as the move put strain on their marriage and it began to suffer.

 

I loved the sound of the cottage and its beautiful garden. With it came the mystery of the previous owner, Eleanor, and her earlier life. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and I would have liked to have got to know Eleanor more, to explore her past a little deeper and find out what happens next, if anything.

 

Amelia Grey's Fireside Dream is a lovely book to curl up with now that summer is on its way out.



Guest Post: Jan Ellis

When my novella came out in July, I was intrigued by the reactions I got from friends: these ranged from jaws dropping in disbelief to barely suppressed hilarity. This is not because I can’t write – I write other stuff for a living – it was more the thought of a cynical old bag like me writing ‘chick lit’ that set them off.

The more polite amongst them said things like, ‘Gosh, I didn’t know you were writing a novel!’ My response to this was that I wasn’t, or at least I hadn’t intended to. So how did it happen? Well, I was originally approached by Endeavour Press to write a history book, but we couldn’t agree on a topic. ‘No problem,’ they said. ‘Have a go at some women’s fiction instead.’ Now, the first rule of being self-employed is to say ‘Yes’ to everything and figure out how to do whatever it is afterwards. Ignoring the fact that I hadn’t written stories since the age of about ten, I whizzed over a proposal, contracts were signed and off I went into the great literary unknown.

Fortunately for me, once I sat down and thought about the settings and the basic plot, I was amazed by how quickly ideas flowed. As soon as my heroine Eleanor Mace appeared, the personalities of her mother Connie, sister Jenna and other family and friends followed on quite naturally.

What I know about is non-fiction, so it made sense to me to put the characters in settings with which I was familiar. I wanted everything to be as realistic as possible so that readers would be caught up in Eleanor’s adventure and care which of the various men who cross her path she ends up with. As a result, her bookshop, the seaside town in Devon, the London locations and the city I call Chevandier are all based on real places. The main characters do a lot of eating and drinking, so I had fun checking that I had the correct food and wines for the French locations, and that the Eurostar timetables worked!

Two-thirds of the way through, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. Smug in fact. Then I fell for the wrong male character, completely mucking up the story. Eventually, I figured out how to get everyone back on track, but it was an unsettling experience. I had heard ‘proper’ novelists talk about characters taking over and, frankly, had thought it was nonsense – and here were mine rebelling.

So apart from not to take anything for granted, what have I learnt? Well, that most of us probably do have a story to tell, even if it doesn’t always go the way we might expect it to. After all, we tell each other stories every day: what we did at work, what our children got up to at the weekend, what the new neighbours have been doing. Write it down. You might surprise your friends – and yourself! 

An Unexpected Affair (Endeavour Press Ltd, £2.99) is available as an e-book from Amazon. You can find out more about Jan Ellis, read an extract from the novella and see photos of the settings at: http://jlravenscroft.wix.com/janelliswriter.

You can follow Jan on Twitter at JanEllis_writer

Blog Tour: Beyond Grace's Rainbow

Today I'm pleased to be taking part in the blog tour for Beyond Grace's Rainbow with a Q&A with the author, Carmel Harrington.



Can you tell us about your book?
Beyond Graces Rainbow tells the story of a young single mother, Grace Devlin who finds out that she has cancer. She needs a bone marrow transplant from a family member, but as she is adopted this means that she must find out who her biological family is, which is a secret that has been veiled in secrecy for over 30 years.

To make matters more complicated, Liam, Graces ex-boyfriend and father to her son, is back in town and is determined to prove that he is worth a second chance. But can Grace dare to love again, especially now as she faces the biggest fight of her life? It is an extremely emotive story that will make you both laugh and cry in equal measures.

What was your inspiration for Beyond Grace's Rainbow?
The idea to explore what it would be like to be very sick and need the help of an unknown biological family actually came to me following a conversation with my best friend, who is adopted herself. We were chatting about how hard it is for adopted people to not know their family medical history, when they have not managed to trace their biological parents. So I decided to make Grace adopted who is suddenly faced with a double whammy – firstly she has cancer and secondly she needs to make a brave decision to start looking for her unknown parents.

What has been your greatest experience of being a published writer?
I have had quite a few over the past few weeks since HarperImpulse announced that I was joining their team, I’m not sure I could pick just one! Seeing the new book cover, working with such a team of professionals in HarperImpulse, reading all about my book in newspapers and the radio and tv interviews. It’s all been so much fun. But what I can tell you is that it has been everything and more than I ever could have imagined.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors
Keep believing in yourself, especially in those moments that are darkest. It is a tough industry to break into, but with hard work, determination and the right talent, it will happen for you. Just keep dreaming.

What was the first book you ever bought yourself?
Oh that is a really good question. Because I can remember the first book I ever borrowed from our library, but I am trying to work out what the first book I ever bought actually was! I am pretty certain it would have been one of Dean Koontz’s novels.

What was the last book you read?
The Outlaw of Cedar Ridge by Lori Connelly

Finally, what are you working on at the moment?
I’ve started working on my third book which is actually a sequel to Beyond Graces Rainbow. It takes up the story about a year later and catches up with old friends and also introduces some new ones too.

You can find out more about Carmel and her book on her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads and you can buy the book from Amazon.

Guest Post: Trish Hills

MY LIFE IN BOOKS BY TRISH HILLS



1. Charlotte's Web by EB White. This is the first book I remember reading as a child. I still have my really old, battered paperback copy and also found a beautiful old hardback too. This book is so beautifully written and so poignant. I can't read it any more, it makes me cry, but I still hold it fondly as a favourite.

2. The Babysitters Club Series by Ann M Martin. This series basically shaped my “tween” years. They were fun, clever, inspirational. The girls (Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, Mallory, Jessie, Stacey, Dawn) formed a club to give childcare to all the neighborhood kids. They were organized, professional, caring and most of all, fun. I started babysitting aged 12 because I wanted to be like them. I even became a qualified first-aider and got my babysitting certificate!

3. Pet Semetary by Stephen King. This was the first “grown-up” novel I ever read. I was terrified but wanted to read something naughty that I wasn't supposed to. I was hooked! I quickly devoured every Stephen King book I could lay my hands on. I started collecting them and even when I moved from Canada to the UK in 2000, I brought my collection of around 20 hardbacks and 30 paperbacks with me. That was half of my packing allowance, but I wasn't letting them go! I now have over 100 SK books, many of them multiples. I don't read them so much any more. I find his style has changed since his life threatening accident. But I still get his new hardback for Christmas every year!

4. Jemima J by Jane Green. One of the first books I bought when I arrived to start my new life in England. Aged 23, I'd never heard of “chick-lit” and the cover was pretty so I picked it up. A whole new world opened up for me with that book! I was hooked on these happy, fun, realistic books. I kind of related with Jemima and wanted her to have her happy-ever-after. I'd never had such strong feelings for a character and their out-come before!

5. The Alchemist by Pauolo Cohelo. If ever a book enhanced my life, it was this one. I read it when I was at a particularly low point in my life and it really opened my eyes. It changed the way I was looking at things and made me re-evaluate my situation. It taught me that “when you want something, all of the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” If you really want something and you are willing to work for it, you will get there. It's a moving, emotional and inspirational read. One that I recommend to anyone who is struggling to find their path in life.

6. Dearest Rose by Rowan Coleman. I adore Rowan, I really do. I think she's kind, funny, down-to-earth and a brilliant writer. I read Dearest Rose in about 2 days, which is quick for me. I didn't want to put it down. I cared so deeply for Rose and Maddie. I cried, I laughed and best of all, I cheered for her. (I actually did!) This was such a moving, heartbreaking, empowering story. I think every woman should read this book and then go tell Rowan how much you loved it!

7. Like Bees To Honey by Caroline Smailes. I stumbled across Caroline by accident while tweeting with Rowan Coleman. I noticed Caroline is from the North West, like me. So I emailed her. I hadn't read her books but we started chatting. Long, easy emails were exchanged and I found out she was doing an event in my town. So I borrowed Like Bees To Honey from the library. I devoured the book in one sitting, something I had never done before. I was haunted by the characters, the words and the setting (Malta). No author had ever given me chills like that before! If you haven't read this, I urge you to! It will grip you and you will be hooked by the unique style of writing and the beautifully flowing words.

8. Wish You Were Here by Victoria Connelly. Ok, I put this on the list for a different reason. I loved this book. I really, really did. I adored the characters and the male hunk Milo. I loved the setting, the Greek Island of Kethos. But most of all, I loved that this was the first book I was ever asked to review. Handbag.com sent me this in the first bundle of review books and I was so proud and excited to be doing something I had always dreamed of! This was the first of many books and it has opened up so many doors for me.

9. Sunlounger Stories by Various Contributors and Belinda Jones. I've never been a huge lover of short stories, but having been offered the chance to review this, I was quite excited as it features some of my favorite authors. I changed my opinion completely! The stories were all fabulous and fun! Love, lust, passion, excitement, sun, sea, sex and sangria. What more could a reader ask for?? Each story was just long enough to make you care but short enough to make you desperate for a bit more. Delicious!! Added to that was the fact that my blog review got more hits than I'd ever had before and the banter on Twitter surrounding it was amazing! As was the long, fun email chat I had with Belinda! So much fun!

10. Secrets And Rain by Cally Taylor. As I said, I was never a fan of short stories. I am now. I love Cally's writing anyway so was excited to get a review copy of this collection of 12 short stories. I started reading it on my phone in a local tea rooms. Big mistake! I was sobbing into my brew after just a few lines of the first story! So beautifully written and so emotional! **Totes Emosh!** I adored every single story and even fell for one of the male leads! Sigh! Heartbreaking, sweet, full of hope, sad, joyous, adorable, I don't even have the right words! But this collection did more than just make me cry. It made me write! I, like most people who read a lot, have always wanted to write. I knew of the New Rose Prize short story contest but never thought of entering. After reading Sunlounger Stories and this one, I decided to give it a go. And I wrote around 1500 words in one sitting, barely even having to go back and make any changes. I decided to submit it (after some encouraging words from another author friend). EEEK! So now I just have to wait and see...

So there you have it! My life in books... I hope there's something in this lot that makes you want to read one of my favorite books.


You can find Trish on her blog or twitter:@TISHYLOU

The Lies You Told Me by Jessica Ruston

When Klara was a little girl, her mother left her. She and her father, Henry adjusted to life without the glamorous former model, Sadie but then another blow was delivered to young Klara; her mother was dead.

Klara didn’t probe too much into the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death – where Sadie had gone and why and what had happened to her. She was young and as she grew up, she learned how much her questions hurt her father and so she let it be and pushed her need for answers aside.

But years later, when Klara is married and thinking about starting a family of her own, she receives a strange letter and a key, claiming it holds the answers to what happened to Sadie. The key leads Klara to a lock up unit and begins a journey of discovery and mistrust as Klara follows the trail of her mother’s disappearance.

I’d been looking forward to reading The Lies You Told Me for quite a while as I was intrigued by the blurb and I wasn’t disappointed. The story opens with Klara receiving the key and note, signed by the mysterious N.R and I was quickly drawn in, wanting to keep reading to find out what secrets Klara would discover. Klara never really knew her mother as she was so young when she left but she begins to learn so much more about the younger Sadie and what made her tick, along with the reader.

I liked the character of Klara, even if I was never entirely sure why she kept the key and her discoveries from her husband, Mark. Although Klara and Mark didn’t have the best starts in life, I think they made a lovely, strong couple and I hoped that Klara didn’t jeopardise her marriage by keeping secrets from Mark and her actions as she tried to learn more about her mother.

The Lies You Told Me is an intriguing book, layered with mystery and powerful emotions and though it took a while for me to have any notion of where the book was heading, I enjoyed being led there immensely.