Pam Lecky's Blog, page 13

The Mallory Saga Series: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today I am delighted to host Paul Bennett on the blog tour for The Mallory Saga Series

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/06/blog-tour-mallory-saga-books-1-5-by.html

The Mallory Saga Series Blurb

Follow the Mallory family as they attempt to live a peaceful life on the PA frontier in 1756. They face tragedy and loss as they become embroiled in The French and Indian War – Clash of Empires. In Paths to Freedom, the colonies are heading to open revolt against King George III, and the Mallory’s are once again facing the spectre of war. Crucible of Rebellion continues the Mallory story through the early years of The Revolutionary War. Book 4, A Nation is Born completes the Revolution and The Mallory’s have played their part in the victory. In book 5, A Turbulent Beginning, the nascent nation finds it hard going to establish a peaceful existence. The Natives of this land resist the westward expansion of white settlers.

[Trigger Warnings: Violence and battle scenes, mild sexual content, and profanity.]

A Nation is Born (Book 4)

As the Revolutionary War shifts south, and west, so too, the Mallory’s find themselves right in the thick of it. On the banks of the Congaree River in South Carolina, and on the Wabash in the Northwest Territory, war is not the only problem they face. Revenge stirs among the embers of war, and the issue of slavery becomes an issue for the Mallory’s.

This series is available to read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Series in order:Clash of Empires: https://books2read.com/u/m2eDQoPaths to Freedom: https://books2read.com/u/47YyVECrucible of Rebellion: https://books2read.com/u/mg7xPzA Nation Is Born: https://books2read.com/u/bPgpNxA Turbulent Beginning: https://books2read.com/u/m2eDQdAuthor Bio: Paul Bennett Paul Bennett

Paul was born in Detroit when the Big Three ruled the automobile industry, and The Korean Conflict was in full swing. A lifelong interest in history and a love of reading eventually led him to Wayne State University where he majored in Ancient History, with a minor in Physical Anthropology. However, to make ends meet, those studies were left to the realm of dreams, and Paul found himself accidentally embarking on a 50 year career in computers. A career that he has recently retired from in order to spend more time with those dreams….7 grandchildren will help fill the time as well.

He now resides in the quaint New England town of Salem, Massachusetts with his wife Daryl, just a few minutes’ walk from the North River, and the site where the Revolution almost began.

The Mallory Saga is the culmination of Paul’s love of history, and his creative drive to write stories. With Nightwish and Bruce Cockburn coming through his headphones, and many cups of excellent coffee, Paul hopes to carry the Saga into the late 19th century, bringing American History to life through the eyes and actions of the Mallory family.

Social Media Links:Website: https://clashofempires.wordpress.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/hooverbkreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mallorysaga/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bennett-49b4b626/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hooverpar/BookBub: https://partners.bookbub.com/my_booksAmazon Author Page: https://author.amazon.com/homeGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

Cragside: A 1930s Murder Mystery: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host MJ Porter on the Blog Tour for Cragside: A 1930s Murder Mystery. See below for an excerpt from the book.

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-cragside-1930s-murder-mystery.html

Cragside: A 1930s Murder Mystery By M J Porter

Lady Merryweather has had a shocking year. Apprehended for the murder of her husband the year before, and only recently released, she hopes a trip away from London will allow her to grieve. The isolated, but much loved, Cragside Estate in North Northumberland, home of her friends, Lord and Lady Bradbury, holds special memories for her.

But, no sooner has she arrived than the body of one of the guests is found on the estate, and suspicion immediately turns on her. Perhaps, there are no friendships to be found here, after all.

Released, due to a lack of evidence, Lady Ella returns to Cragside only to discover a second murder has taken place in her absence, and one she can’t possibly have committed.

Quickly realising that these new murders must be related to that of her beloved husband, Lady Merryweather sets out to solve the crime, once and for all. But there are many who don’t want her to succeed, and as the number of murder victims increases, the possibility that she might well be the next victim, can’t be ignored.

Journey to the 1930s Cragside Estate, to a period house-party where no one is truly safe, and the estate is just as deadly as the people.

[Trigger Warnings: Description of murder scenes and bodies]

Buy Links:Universal Link: books2read.com/CragsideAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Audible-Cragside/dp/B09WGTRGQ1/Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cragside-m-j-porter/1141311981Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/cragside/m-j-porter/9781914332838Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/cragside-1Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/cragside/id1617307479Audio: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Cragside-Audiobook/B09WH16CH9

Cragside – Excerpt – Lady Ella and Detective Inspector Aldcroft discuss their suspects

“So,” Aldcroft turns to me. “We have a number of suspects who while thinking they have an alibi, actually don’t. Miss Lilian Braithwaite is one of them, as are Lord and Lady Bradbury and Mr Hector Alwinton. They were all alone at one point or another yesterday afternoon, after luncheon and before the victim was found.”

“I’m intrigued by the notion that Lord Bradbury heard dogs barking and came to let his hounds inside. Lilian is adamant she arrived back only just as the body was discovered.”

Aldcroft nods, brooding.

“Yes. She might well have returned earlier. Slit our victims throat, and then scampered back along the road way. No one was looking for her. It was expected that she’d be a long time, because the dogs needed a good run, and it’s a fair distance to Cragend quarry and back.”

“But why?”

It always comes back to this. Why had Lady Carver and Mr Harrington-Featherington  needed to die? What did they know, or suspect, that made someone so desperate that only their death could make them feel safe?

“There’s been a great deal of speculation that this is all connected to your husband’s death.” There’s sympathy in Aldcroft’s voice. Not many ever show it. Most people believe me guilty. It’s taken my clever solicitor to argue for my innocence, and to pick apart the terrible report that the London detective cobbled together, with all his supposed witnesses.

I turn, hearing the scuff of a boot over the stones, and see my driver, Williams. I’ve not seen him since he returned me to Cragside yesterday, but he seems well enough. That pleases me. I know that Williams isn’t happy with his room in the servants wing. It’s quite distant from the main body of the house.

Williams nods at me. He’s dressed in his usual chauffeur garb. He looks smart but competent. I notice that he has flushed cheeks and mud along his boots and trouser bottoms. Where has he been?

“Detective Inspector,” Williams voice is gruff. He has no love for Aldcroft, and is unaware that we’ve reached an accommodation to help one another. I couldn’t find him earlier to let him know everything that had transpired last evening, and yet I believe he knows enough for I suspect where he’s been.

“I walked to Cragend quarry and back early this morning. I’ve taken all the different routes, past Slipper Lake, and along the carriage drive, and even through the many rock paths. I did find some evidence of dog prints on the higher path, but nowhere else, and yet, I discovered this,” and Williams holds out what can only be the murder weapon, its edge sharp and glistening with menace as he holds it in a white handkerchief, “crammed down the side of one of the rock paths. I’ve marked it and can show you exactly where it was.”

Aldcroft beckons one of his constables closer, as he peers at the sharp knife.

“Have you an evidence bag?” he asks them, and the youngster rushes to get one from a black bag, similar to a doctors bag, lying on the ground close to the garden alcove door.

“Put it in here,” Aldcroft instructs Williams. “But first, hold it out so I can look closer at it.”

Williams, watching me the entire time, does as he’s asked. Aldcroft grunts softly.

“It seems as though there might be a fingerprint in the gore. I’ll have someone look at it. Now, place it in here, carefully.”

I watch the two men as the knife’s lowered into a brown paper bag. Williams is entirely loyal to me. Aldcroft isn’t, and yet I can determine that both men see this as yet another indication of my innocence, if more were needed.

“Explain what you think happened,” Aldcroft asks my tall chauffeur.

I nod swiftly, to show that Williams should speak freely with the Detective Inspector. It warms me to know that he would have been circumspect if I’d implied it was necessary.

“I think the dogs were walked yesterday afternoon, but I don’t believe they went as far as the quarry.” I consider how Williams knows this, but servants often know everything that happens in a country house such as this. “While accepting that it rained a great deal last night, I don’t accept that it would have entirely washed away paw prints, not when the animals have such sharp nails that dig into the ground.”

“How far do you believe the dogs were walked?” Aldcroft queries. I’m pleased he considers Williams observations.

“No further than just beyond Slipper Lake.” Williams speaks of a lake that Edmund’s father constructed for fishing. It’s half way to the top of the slope, a more gentle climb for a man in his older years.

“So far enough away that their howls might not have been heard. But, what of Miss Lilian Braithwaite? She said she walked them to Cragend quarry.” I’m impressed that Aldcroft shares such insight with Williams. I consider then that they might have already spoken about what they think happened.

“She may well have done, but Miss Braithwaite returned by a different route to the dogs. I believe she tied them up, and left them while returning to the house to kill Mr Harrington-Featherington.”

Aldcroft’s lower lip twists in thought, but he doesn’t dismiss the suggestion.

“And what? She discarded the knife when rushing back to the dogs via a different route?”

“Possibly, yes. It’s certainly a quicker route if you needed to run.”

“And then, she returned more slowly, bringing the dogs as her alibi.”

“But why would Lilian have wanted to kill Mr Harrington-Featherington ?” I muse. “I can’t see that she could have been involved in my husband’s murder, either. She didn’t know either of us before our house party. Why then would she have felt the need to shoot him with a pistol?”

Williams is shaking his head, as perplexed as I am.

“I don’t know the answer to those questions, but there’s certainly something strange going on, even if she’s not responsible for leaving the knife wedged down one of the stone steps. She didn’t walk to Cragend quarry. Or rather, she didn’t take the dogs all that way or there would be prints in the mulch.”

“Couldn’t she have taken a different route.” I press. I know how many routes there are to Cragend. There’s anything from a gentle walk to a more strenuous climb.

But Williams shakes his head. “The paw prints simply stop. The dogs stopped there. They didn’t go any further.”

Author Bio: MJ Porter

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, as well as three twentieth-century mysteries. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author’s writing destiny was set.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.mjporterauthor.com/Blog: https://mjporterauthor.blog/Twitter: https://twitter.com/coloursofunisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006592412433LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mj-porterauthor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_j_porter/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/coloursofunison/_saved/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mj-porter?list=aboutAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MJ-Porter/e/B006N8K6X4/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163404.M_J_PorterLinktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Vicky Adin on the blog tour for Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner.

The book is part of Vicky’s series: The New Zealand Immigrant Collection – suspenseful family saga fiction about overcoming the odds

You can follow the tour by clicking on this link: Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/05/blog-tour-gwenna-welsh-confectioner-new.html

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner by Vicky Adin

Against overwhelming odds, can she save her legacy?

Gwenna’s life is about to change. Her father is dead and the family business on the brink of collapse. Thwarted by society, the plucky sweet maker refuses to accept defeat.

Amid the bustling vibrancy of Auckland’s Karangahape Road, she promised her father she would fulfil his dreams and save her legacy. But thanks to her overbearing stepbrother that legacy is at risk. Gwenna must find hidden strengths and fight for her rights if she is to keep her promise.

She falls in love with the cheeky and charming Johnno, but just when things are beginning to look up, disaster strikes. Throughout the twists and turns of love and tragedy, Gwenna is irrepressible. She refuses to relinquish her goal and lets nothing and no one stand in her way. Blind to anything that could distract her, Gwenna overlooks the most important person in her life, putting her dreams, her family, and her chance at happiness in jeopardy.

[Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, death.]

Buy Links:

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

Universal series links:

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner: https://books2read.com/u/38eQDrBrigid The Girl from County Clare: https://books2read.com/u/md67KWThe Costumier’s Gift: https://books2read.com/u/3n57eKAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2ZAmazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2ZAmazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2ZAmazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2Z

Vicky Adin

Vicky Adin is a family historian in love with the past. Like the characters in her stories, she too, is an immigrant to New Zealand, arriving a century after her first protagonists and ready to start a new life.

Vicky Adin

Born in Wales, she grew up in Cornwall until aged 12. Her family emigrated to New Zealand, a country she would call home. Vicky draws on her affinity for these places in her writing. Fast forward a few years, and she marries a fourth-generation Kiwi bloke with Irish, Scottish and English ancestors and her passion for genealogy flourishes.

The further she dug into the past the more she wanted to record the lives of the people who were the foundations of her new country. Not just her ancestors but all those who braved the oceans and became pioneers in a raw new land. Her research into life as it was for those immigrants in the mid-late 1800s and early 1900s gave her enough material to write about the land left behind and the birth of a new nation for many years.

Vicky holds a MA(Hons) in English, is a lover of art, antiques, gardens, good food and red wine. She and her husband travel throughout New Zealand in their caravan and travel the world when they can. She hopes that younger generations also enjoy learning about the past through her stories as much as she had in writing them.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://vickyadin.co.nz/Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickyAdinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickyAdinAuthor/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-adin-82b74513/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickyadinauthor/?hl=enPinterest: https://nz.pinterest.com/nzvicky/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicky-adin Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Adin/e/B006JTB0VEGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543974.Vicky_Adin

A Conversation with Author Karen King

Today in the Library, we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Karen King who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author. I’d also like to congratulate Karen, as it is publication day for her latest novel, The Spanish Wedding Disaster.You are very welcome, Karen, please introduce yourself: Karen King

Hello, everyone. Delighted to be here. I am a multi-published author of both adult and children’s books. I’m delighted to say that my thrillers, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and my romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea became Amazon International bestsellers. I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. I now live in Spain where I love to spend my non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with my husband, Dave, when I’m not sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.

Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?

Although I’ve written in a variety of genres, I’m now concentrating on writing thrillers and romance novels. Whilst these seem two completely opposite genres I find that they go together well, as they both explore the complexity of relationships. My tag line is that I write about ‘the light and dark of relationships’. Romance is where love finally goes right whilst in the psychological thrillers love goes drastically wrong. I love exploring both ends of the spectrum.

Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

Oh yes, my kindle is groaning! I’m a bit of an eclectic reader and will read most things apart from gory crime or erotica. I love reading romance and thrillers, the genre I write for, but I also enjoy fantasy, mystery and historical novels. I like to read autobiographies too, and biographies of historical figures. I find it fascinating to read about people’s lives and the things they’ve overcome.

Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?

I’m traditionally published. My current publishers are Bookouture and Headline Accent.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I think being a working class girl has influenced my writing, I don’t tend to write about the jet set! Also the places I have lived have certainly influenced the setting of my novels. My thrillers are often set in the Midlands, whilst my romances are mainly set in the more glamourous locations of Cornwall and Spain.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

Getting the first draft down. I’m never satisfied with what I write and if I wasn’t strict with myself I would keep rewriting each paragraph and probably not get further than the first chapter! But I make myself put bum to seat, fingers to keyboard and write straight through the first draft. I don’t stop to edit unless I get seriously stuck, in which case I will go back to find out why. It’s often because I’m writing from the wrong character viewpoint or using the wrong tense. Once I solve that I carry on writing the first draft. Then I edit like mad.

What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?

Give your character a problem and solve it in an unexpected way. I started my writing career working for children’s magazines and often had to deliver to very tight deadlines – and this was the days before email (I’m a dinosaur!). Once when I had to come up with a couple of short stories and post them the same day my editor gave me that tip. I’ve never forgotten it, and it’s the basis I still work from.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I find it easier to write in the morning, as soon as I get up, the words seem to flow better then and there’s nothing like knowing that the daily writing has been done and the rest of the day is mine. But if I’m on a deadline I’ll write any time of the day, even well into the early hours.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I’d probably be a teacher. I was about to start my teacher training when I was offered regular work writing for children’s magazines, so I chose that option instead. I was writing children’s books up until a few years ago and often visited schools to talk to the children about my work, and run creative writing workshops, I loved it and felt that I had the best of both worlds. I also taught creative writing at Falmouth University and for evening classes so I did get to be a teacher too, albeit for adults.

If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?

I think it would have to be the time of the ancient Egyptians. I’m fascinated with the pyramids and would love to see how they were built, and why.

You have been chosen as a member of the crew on the first one-way flight to Mars – you are allowed to bring 5 books with you. What would they be?

OMG! I would never go on a one-way flight to Mars. I’d want a return ticket or you wouldn’t get me in that space ship! As to what books I’d take, well the first two would be a massive book of magic and a huge book of jokes in case we meet any Martians. Hopefully if I could frighten them with my tricks or entertain them with my jokes they wouldn’t harm us! Next on the list would be a handbook on survival so I could be prepared for any emergency, and a thick notebook and pen so I could write down my experiences. If I could get a collection of Sophie Kinsella’s books all bound into the one book I would definitely take that, I think I’d need some light relief.

Please tell us about your latest published work.

The Spanish Wedding Disaster

Some people are romantics. Some aren’t. When Sophie and Maddie are summoned to a mysterious, top-secret meeting by their best friend Kate’s partner, and told that he’s planning to whisk Kate away for a surprise wedding in Gibraltar, it’s immediately clear that bubbly florist Sophie is a total romantic. And that freewheeling, purple-haired Maddie is not.

Soon, Maddie finds herself reluctantly organising venues, planners and ceremonies; trying not to think of her own memories of Andalucía, and those she’s lost touch with there. Meanwhile Sophie’s hoping this dreamy gesture might spur on her own boyfriend to similar plans . . . and absolutely not thinking at all about Kate’s gorgeous brother-in-law-to-be.

But Kate’s got no idea what’s going on. And as the stress piles up and the group jet off to the sunny south, it seems it’s not just Kate who might get a surprise in Spain – one that could change everything . . .

Buy Link: http://smarturl.it/thespanishwedding

If you would like to know more about Karen and her books, please check out her links: https://linktr.ee/KarenKing

New Release from William Todd

Today on the blog, I am delighted to be hosting William Todd, one of my favourite authors. William’s new release, Murder in Keswick, a Sherlock Holmes mystery, is a great read.You are very welcome, William, could you tell us a little bit about the background to the book?

I always enjoyed the stories of Sherlock Holmes when he left the confines of London. The Final Problem, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Devil’s Foot, and The Disappearance of Lady Carfax are some of my favorites, and the latter introduced me to the English Lake District. Ever since, that rugged and lovely setting has held a great fascination for me. I decided with this story to once again take the great detective and his raconteur to the Lake District.

Keswick was chosen quite by accident, but once I started my research, I realized I could not have picked a better place. All my research initially was done through the usual Google and Wikipedia routes, but I happened upon a kindly gentleman, a retired constable, who lives in the area, and he was an absolute treasure trove of information and even seemed keen to help out a Yank Anglophile like myself. We corresponded by email throughout the story’s writing. He sent me old photos and articles, a history of the area, and just general information I might need to make the story more complete—things I never would have found online. He had also written a book about a terrible accident that happened on Derwentwater at the time my story takes place, which was quite a happy coincidence. I mention this tragedy at the end of the story, and I mention him and his book in my acknowledgments.

This is one of four books I have written on the great detective. My others are, A Reflection of Evil, Elementary, and The Mystery of the Broken Window, which will all be coming out through Spellbound Books over the next few years. My hope is that when someone reads any of my Sherlock Holmes stories, they feel, although not ever being able to completely replicate the master ACD, I have at least come close and that this story and the ones to follow do justice to that great intellect that is Sherlock Holmes.

Murder in Keswick by William Todd

While on a well-deserved holiday in the Lake District to get away from the toils and troubles of London, Holmes and Watson find no respite.

As soon as they exit the train, they hear news of a grisly murder which is making its way around the murmuring commuters. A local aristocrat, Mr. Darcy, has been found missing his head!

And that very night, the wealthy widow finds a stranger in her home who, upon seeing her, abandons his plans and quickly leaves. She believes the intruder to be the murderer of her husband who is now after a large sum of cash she keeps in the house safe.

Unsure if the would-be thief is the murderer or an opportunistic burglar, Holmes devises a plan to catch the burglar, all the while investigating the murder of Mr. Darcy.

Here’s a wee snippet to whet your appetite…

Holmes read my disgruntled countenance when he turned to me. He said, ‘It was foolish to think evil had not yet stained this beautiful countryside. I dare say, Watson, that when it rears its ugly head out here, so far removed from more authoritative eyes, it may even thrive.’

I did not try and hide my disappointment, and I knew that it would be fruitless to try and convince him to leave this to the authorities, so with a sigh of resignation I asked, ‘What is the plan of action then?’

‘We shall check in to the King’s Arms, find out where the constabulary is, and pay the local authorities a visit.’

I nodded solemnly and picked up my baggage.

Noticing the devastated look on my face, Holmes only blinked at me emotionlessly then turned on his heel. Making haste towards the station entrance, he said over his shoulder, ‘come, come, now Watson. Did you not want me to relax on holiday? Well, what could be more relaxing than solving a murder?’

Buy Link: Murder In KeswickA little bit about William

William Todd has been writing for over 20 years, primarily gothic horror stories in the style of Lovecraft, Poe, and Shelley. Loving all things Victorian, he was keen to read (and later to write stories inspired by) the works of Arthur Conan Doyle. The first book he ever read cover to cover was Hound of the Baskervilles, which also fed his appetite for horror. William Todd has written two short story compilations of gothic horror, Dead of Night and Beyond the Gossamer Veil and one sci-fi/horror hybrid genre Something Wicked This Way Comes. He has also written multiple Sherlock Holmes pastiches, Murder in Keswick, A Reflection of Evil, Mystery of the Broken Window, and Elementary—a short story compilation. Two of his short stories were part of MX Publishing’s New Sherlock Holmes Stories with proceeds going to a charity for special needs children housed in Undershaw, the very home Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles. Writing for the books was a special privilege because his daughter, Alina, has Down Syndrome. In 2022, he just finished his first YA/historical novel The Fall of the Hermit King, which is under review for publication, and in the meantime has started yet another Sherlock Holmes compilation.

Spotlight on The Accursed King: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today I am delighted to be hosting a stop on the Blog Tour for The Accursed King by Mercedes Rochelle – Book 4 in The Plantagenet Legacy Series                   

Publication Date: 18th April 2022 – Publisher: Sergeant Press

The Accursed King Blog Tour

The Accursed King: Blurb

What happens when a king loses his prowess? The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God’s greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry’s health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid. Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn’t willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn’t count on Hal’s dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.

Series Buy Links:A King Under Siege (Book 1): https://books2read.com/u/mKdzpVThe King’s Retribution (Book 2): https://books2read.com/u/mBzGwAThe Usurper King (Book 3): https://books2read.com/u/b6RZMWThe Accursed King (Book 4): https://books2read.com/u/3RLxZL The Plantagenet Legacy Series Buy Links for The Accursed King by RegionAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accursed-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B09X89CMLCAmazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/Accursed-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B09X89CMLCAmazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/Accursed-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B09X89CMLCAmazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Accursed-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B09X89CMLCAuthor Bio:

Mercedes Rochelle

Mercedes Rochelle

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended! Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Social Media Links:Website: https://www.MercedesRochelle.comTwitter: https://www.Twitter.com/authorRochelleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.netBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelleAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mercedes-Rochelle/e/B001KMG5P6 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-accursed-king-plantagenet.html

New Release from Anna Campbell

Happy Publication Day to Anna Campbell!

The Worst Lord in London , Book 1 in Anna’s new series, Scoundrels of Mayfair.

Headlong into the unknown…
Independent, willful Kate Starr has cherished a penchant for handsome Lord Shelburn since she was sixteen years old, but as a mill-owning industrialist, she moves in a different world from the libertine earl. Then one fateful day, Shelburn invites her to accompany him in a scandalous race, and immediate physical attraction swiftly turns into blazing passion.

The hunter caught…
Leighton Anstey, Earl of Shelburn, glories in his reputation as the worst lord in London. His fame as an irresistible seducer is unrivaled, although his amours are notable for their explosive heat, not their longevity. The dashing lord has never met a woman who can hold his wandering attention, until he tumbles into a liaison with a mysterious woman who enthrals him, body and soul.

A brief encounter or a forever love?
Neither Kate nor Shelburn views their torrid affair as more than a shooting star, flaring red-hot for a brilliant instant, then destined to fade to nothing. But does the fiery desire raging between them blind them to the chance of finding lifelong happiness together?

Pre-order & Buy Link: The Worst Lord in London

A little bit about Anna … Anna Campbell: Photo Credit Robyn Hills http://www.robyngraphs.com.au

Australian Anna Campbell has written 11 multi award-winning historical romances for Avon HarperCollins and Grand Central Publishing. As an independently published author, she’s released more than 30 bestselling stories. Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set stories, including RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (three times), the Heart of Excellence (twice), the Write Touch, the Aspen Gold (twice), and the Australian Romance Readers’ favorite historical romance (five times). She’s currently working on her new series, Scoundrels of Mayfair, set amidst the glamour and sensuality of Regency London.

Anna loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at:

Website: www.annacampbell.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaCampbelloz

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anna-campbell

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Campbell/e/B002NKV1HQ

A Conversation with Historical Fiction Author Kathryn Gauci

Today in the Library we have Kathryn Gauci, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author. 

You are very welcome, Kathryn, please introduce yourself: Kathryn Gauci

Thank you for inviting me to the Library, Pam. It’s great to be here with you. I was born in Leicestershire, England, and studied textile design at Loughborough College of Art and later specialised in carpet design and technology at Kidderminster College of Art and Design. After graduating, I spent a year in Vienna, Austria, before moving to Greece to work as a carpet designer in Athens for six years. There followed another brief period in New Zealand before eventually settling in Melbourne, Australia, where, among other things, I ran my own textile design studio for over fifteen years. After thirty years in the textile industry, I wanted a change and began writing almost ten years ago. 

Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?  

Historical fiction. I love the combination of history and life experiences that this genre brings. Following the lives of the various characters, their situations and emotions, I feel it brings history alive and gives us a glimpse into what life was like for them. They become real people and I can connect with them.  

Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others? 

I’m definitely an avid reader but wish I had more time to read purely for enjoyment, as reading for research takes up so much time. I read almost anything from factual books to historical fiction, biographies, thrillers and suspense, and mysteries. I don’t read sci-fi, paranormal, dystopian, or certain romance genre novels. 

Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?  

Apart from one of my Greek books, which is published with a traditional Greek publisher, I am self-published. 

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing? 

My country of origin – England – has not necessarily had an influence on my writing, but I have certainly been influenced by living in Europe as a whole, particularly living in Greece, which inspired my Greek/Turkish novels. The rest of Europe inspired my other WWII books. 

Do you have a favourite time of day to write? 

Any time after 11:00 a.m. I am not an early riser.  

If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles? 

For my WWII books set in Europe, I would have to choose Sebastian Koch and Erika Marozsán or Isabelle Adjani. For the books set in Greece and Turkey, the same actresses and the Turkish actor, Kivanc Tatlitug, for a lead male role.  

You have been chosen as a member of the crew on the first one-way flight to Mars – you are allowed to bring 5 books with you. What would they be? 

Freedom or Death by Nikos Kazantzakis, The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andric, The Kite-Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Two Women by Alberto Moravia, and Dracula by Bram Stoker. 

Please tell us about your latest published work.

The Viennese Dressmaker: A Haunting Story of Wartime Vienna.  

Based on actual events. 

Vienna 1938: Austria’s leading couturier, Christina Lehmann, sits at the pinnacle of Viennese society. Her lover, the renowned painter, Max Hauser, is at the height of his career. But Max harbours a secret, and it is only a matter of time before the Gestapo finds out. The situation takes a dramatic turn on Kristallnacht, when the pogrom against the Austrian Jews escalates and one of Christina’s Jewish seamstresses is brutally murdered. 

In order to protect both Max and her couture house, Christina begins a double life, plunging her into the shadowy world of Nazi oppression, fear, and mistrust fuelled by ancient hatreds. 

As Vienna descends into chaos, hunger and disillusionment, will her deception be enough to save Max – or will it end in tragedy? 

Buy Link: The Viennese DressmakerIf you would like to know more about Kathryn and her work, please see her links below:

Website: https://www.kathryngauci.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006545417928

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/KGauciAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00OPW68SM

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-gauci-409a638b/

Twitter @KathrynGauci

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathryngauci/

New Release from Amy Maroney

Today, I am delighted to bring you news of a new release from the very talented Amy Maroney. Sea of Shadows is the second book in her Sea and Stone Chronicles.

Sea of Shadows by Amy Maroney

1459. A gifted woman artist. A ruthless Scottish privateer. And an audacious plan that throws them together—with dangerous consequences.

No one on the Greek island of Rhodes suspects Anica is responsible for her Venetian father’s exquisite portraits, least of all her wealthy fiancé. But her father’s vision is failing, and with every passing day it’s more difficult to conceal the truth.

Rhodes

When their secret is discovered by a powerful knight of the Order of St. John, Anica must act quickly to salvage her father’s honor and her own future. Desperate, she enlists the help of a fierce Scottish privateer named Drummond. Together, they craft a daring plan to restore her father’s sight.

There’s only one problem—she never imagined falling in love with her accomplice.

Before their plan can unfold, a shocking scandal involving the knights puts Anica’s entire family at risk. Her only hope is to turn to Drummond once again, defying her parents, her betrothed, even the Grand Master of the Knights himself. But can she survive the consequences?

Greece

With this captivating tale of passion, courage, and loyalty, Amy Maroney brings a lost, dazzling world to vivid life.

Sea of Shadows is Book 2 in a series of stand-alone historical novels packed with adventure and romance.

Buy Link: https://mybook.to/SeaOfShadowsA little bit about Amy … Amy Maroney

Amy Maroney studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, an award-winning historical fiction trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Her new historical suspense/romance series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus.

If you would like to know more about Amy and her wonderful books, please check out her social media links below:

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/wilaroney

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/

Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/

Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: author.to/AmyMaroneyAmazonPage

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney

Her Last Betrayal: New Release from Pam Lecky

Today is Publication Day!

Initially, I hesitated to write a story set during World War 2, unsure what I could bring to it that would be unique. And then it dawned on me that few had written about the war from a neutral Irish perspective. Luckily, all I had to do was delve into my family and local history and Her Secret War, the first novel in the Sarah Gillespie Series, was the result.

Essentially, the stories in the series are about spies and fifth columnists, a subject covered in some depth by Tim Tate in his book, Hitler’s British Traitors. This was the source for much of my background information and threw up a few plot ideas too (always a bonus!). [Buy Link: Hitler’s British Traitors]

Betty Lecky, Birmingham, 1940s

My mother and her sisters left rural Ireland to work in Britain during WW2. One aunt followed her boyfriend, who had joined the RAF, and she worked in a munitions factory. Another aunt wanted to study nursing, and my mother was a ‘clippie’ (bus conductress) on the Birmingham buses. Neither book is their story, but there are glimpses of their experiences hidden throughout the fiction. The German attack on North Strand, which opens the first book, happened only a few miles from where I grew up. As a young child, I passed the bombed-out sites regularly, knowing nothing about them. I was in my late teens before I heard about the bombing and the relevant history.

Her Secret War by Pam Lecky

For me, the greatest challenge was getting up to speed on day-to-day life. I knew a lot about the overall timeline and events of the war, but it was the nitty-gritty details of life on the Homefront which would ground the stories in reality. Thankfully, there is an enormous amount of material out there, from eyewitness accounts and books to newsreels.

My heroine, Sarah Gillespie, is Irish, and the first novel in the series begins with the infamous bombing of neutral Dublin by the Luftwaffe in May 1941. The opening chapters take place during the bombing and its aftermath before the story moves to England. Like many Irish, Sarah has family living in the UK. They welcome her to their home when her own family is killed. Without giving away the plot, Sarah’s nationality leads to complications, and she is forced to decide where her loyalties lie. The complex relationship between the Irish and their ex-colonial masters interests me, and I explore it to some extent in both novels.

Her Last Betrayal by Pam Lecky

Her Last Betrayal continues Sarah’s story. She is now employed by MI5 and must work with a new colleague, a US Naval Intelligence officer, who is hostile and suspicious of her motives. There mission is to track down IRA members who are facilitating British fifth columnists and Abwehr agents entering and leaving the UK. Just as they appear to be making progress, one of the MI5 team is revealed to be a German mole. Their mission thrown into chaos, Sarah and Tony must learn to trust each other if they are to survive.

Again, I referenced Mr Tate’s excellent book only to find that the port used by the IRA was only alluded to as being in South Wales. I knew the UK National Archives document reference number, but the text in question was only available to view in person, not online. Due to Covid, I could not travel to Kew to look at it. So, in the meantime, I had to make an educated guess (Fishguard seemed likely as it connected Cork and neutral Lisbon at the time—a possible route).

As the deadline for finalising the book approached, however, I panicked and took a chance and messaged Mr Tate directly through social media. A few weeks later, he responded and emailed all the information I needed. But, as it transpired, the identity of the port used by the IRA for smuggling people in and out of the UK, remains a mystery. The document Mr Tate had seen only mentioned South Wales. And then the bombshell: the British Secret Service had destroyed the other file which identified the exact location. Although disappointed, at least I had an answer. And let’s be honest, a bit of mystery is music to the ears of a writer of espionage tales!

Her Secret War was published in October 2021 and is available in all good bookstores and online. Her Last Betrayal is published today, 14th April 2022 and is available in all good book stores and online. I am currently working on the third novel in the series, as yet unnamed.

Buy Link: Her Secret WarBuy Link: Her Last Betrayal