Pam Lecky's Blog, page 16
May 22, 2021
New Release from Pauline Morgan
Retired housewife, Pauline Morgan, relocated to her native Northern Ireland. She has been writing since 2000 and decided to write about her experiences in various houses she lived in and, as a result, self-published the paranormal Special Houses. Pauline previously joined the Romantic Novelist Association and participated in their New Writers Scheme and she is also a member of an online writing group, Writers Ink VIP. Pauline has written four short stories which have been published in Woman’s Way magazine and a further two have been published in the iconic Ireland’s Own Magazine. She enjoys entering Flash Fiction competitions and was long-listed in the Kanturt Flash Fiction. Her first poem, Airborne, was posted on the Pendemic.ie website, in March 2020.
Pauline’s primary focus is on women’s fiction.
Her debut novel is about escape from mistrust, secrets and choosing between nosy friendships or loneliness, and was published by Spellbound Books on 21st May 2021.
Pauline, please tell us a little about your new release.My novel is The Ballynoon Friendship Circle, published by @SpellBoundBks. I wrote it about my experience of relocating to a village and joining a friendship group. Thus, the idea of writing about a friendship was born. I made up my mind to have an older protagonist to give her a second chance of finding love. The cosy story is about new beginnings, second chances and learning to lay the ghosts of your past to rest.
The reviews are going well on Amazon and Goodreads. Not forgetting the wonderful blog tour organised by @zooloosBookTours
If you would like to purchase a copy, here are the links:
May 6, 2021
New Release from Lizzie Chantree
Shh… It’s Our Secret, by Lizzie Chantree
Thank you for inviting me onto your blog today and for the amazing support of the launch of my latest book.
There are lots of ways to boost your mental health and wellbeing and having people around that you love and trust can help. In my latest book, Shh… It’s Our Secret, Violet struggles with self-confidence and self-worth.
She feels that her friends and her sister, all view her as a failure. The customers in the rundown café bar that she works in have become her confidants, including two eccentric pensioners, who feel like they have to act as her unofficial bodyguards when her secret ‘escapes’ into public knowledge. Violet will have to find out who has betrayed her and to step out of the shadows and find her voice.
Book Blurb:
Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them.
Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house.
When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidently discovers her closely guarded secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain undiscovered?
A little bit about Lizzie…International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at http://www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter @Lizzie_Chantree https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree.
Lizzie Chantree
Book links: Lizzie Chantree.
Universal book buy link: The little ice cream shop: viewbook.at/IceCreamShopByTheSea
Universal book buy link: Networking for writers: viewbook.at/NetworkingForWriters
Universal book buy link: If you love me, I’m yours: viewbook.at/IfYouLoveMe-ImYours
Universal book buy link: Ninja School Mum: viewBook.at/NinjaSchoolMum
Universal book buy link: Babe Driven: viewbook.at/BabeDriven
Universal book buy link: Love’s Child: viewBook.at/Amazon-LovesChild
Universal book buy link: Finding Gina: viewbook.at/FindingGina
Universal link: Shh… It’s Our Secret: mybook.to/ItsOurSecret
Social media links:
Website: www.lizziechantree.com
Author page: https://www.viewAuthor.at/LizzieChantree
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391757.Lizzie_Chantree
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_chantree/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LizzieChantree/pins/
FB Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/647115202160536/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lizzie-chantree
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lizziechantreeauthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnCop-RlAcGqggZG3JfE-Mw
April 24, 2021
A Conversation with Anne McLoughlin
Anne McLoughlinYou are very welcome, Anne, please introduce yourself: Born in Dublin, I now divide my time between there and my home in rural Wexford.
With my working life in television production with RTE behind me, I’ve now embarked on a new career in my retirement. Writing a novel was always an ambition, but until recent years I didn’t have a strong enough inspiration to spur me on, but that’s all changed now, since I had a brainwave.
Highly commended in the Colm Tóibín International Short Story Competition in the Wexford Literary Festival, this gave me the encouragement to really get stuck into working on my ‘Lives’ trilogy.
A 3-book deal with Poolbeg followed.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?I didn’t choose a particular genre, I just sort of fell into Historical Fiction as my novels span a one hundred and forty year timeframe – from 1838 to 1978.
Researching my family tree led me to County Clare and the USA and during the process I uncovered fascinating stories. The inspiration for my books came from that experience and gave me a host of ideas for a fictional family tree series.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?I’ve always been an avid reader since I was about five years of age. A bit of a nerdy child, never without a book on the go. I’m a member of a couple of Book Clubs and I’ve read novels that I myself might never have chosen, but I’ve discovered some gems amongst others choices.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?One of the good things that happened for me during the pandemic was getting the 3-book deal with Poolbeg Press. Kept me busy during lockdown which was great. I’m always one who has to have a project.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?Despite having been brought up in the city I’ve always felt very connected to the Irish countryside and nature. Setting my stories in rural locations feels for me as if the writing is coming from my soul, so it flows easily. I’d find it very difficult to write a city based book.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?I can’t write to order. For example writing on a theme, unless it is something that I feel strongly about or have experienced, I find that very difficult.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?Don’t try and imitate anyone else. Find your own voice, it will come eventually. And keep writing every day, no matter how short.
If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles?For the part of Johanna I would cast Lola Petticrew as the young Johanna and Charlene McKenna as the older Johanna. Both are in the current TV series of Bloodlands. Great actresses and bear an amazing facial similarity to each other.
Johanna’s brother Hugh, the successful businessman and her troubled nephew Declan? I’m not sure. I think I’d have to audition a few lads for those parts.
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?They’d have to be books that I’ve not read before. Life is too short to read a book twice – too many still out there waiting for me to dive into. However, if I had to take my favourite authors, amongst them would be David Park and Kent Haruf, both beautiful sensitive writers who get right to the heart of the human spirit. Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge would have to come so I can see what the bold Olive is up to next and Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Olifant. Perhaps something by Kristen Hannah – always plenty of reading in her books.
Please tell us about your latest published work.My debut novel LIVES APART is a tale of emigration from Ireland to America after the famine. A family saga of betrayal, tragedy and survival.
It tells the story of young Johanna McNamara, who, in 1877 leaves her quiet life on the family farm in County Clare and emigrates to America to join her successful businessman brother Hugh.
Full of hope, she is determined to make a success of her life. However, tragedy strikes before she finds her feet in this new world, and she must put the care of others before her own needs.
Back in Ireland, farming life for the family continues through the seasons, with her brother Art struggling to deal with his troubled son Declan. Sending him to the USA is an option that might help turn him into a man. But little does Johanna know what lies ahead with the arrival of a nephew, whose act of betrayal will blow her life apart.
Set in Ireland, Boston, San Francisco and Nova Scotia ‘Lives Apart’ explores sibling relationships and how a disastrous action can reverberate through the lives of the extended family. It also looks at the experience of emigration, both for those who had the courage to venture across the Atlantic and those they left behind.
LIVES APART by Anne M. McLoughlin is the first in the ‘Lives’ trilogy, published by Poolbeg Press and is available as an eBook or Paperback from Amazon and Book Depository.
If you would like to know more about Anne and her work, check her out on Facebook:April 16, 2021
A Conversation with Derville Murphy
Hi everyone, delighted to talk to you all! I am a newbie author. But you know, I feel that it was inevitable I would end up writing novels. I started out as an architect – left the profession to study art history – fell in love with academia – and got hooked on writing. Now I am fortunate enough to be able to do what I really enjoy – I paint, and I write novels. I live in Dublin, I am married with two children and two adorable twin grandchildren.
Derville MurphyWhich genre do you write in and what draws you to it?My first novel, The Art Collector’s Daughter, was described as an historical psychological thriller. It moved forwards and backwards in time between World War 2 and the present day. It looks at Nazi stolen art and owning art objects – and what happens when this becomes an obsession. My second novel, If Only She Knew, was described as an historical drama. It was inspired by research I did into a Victorian artist written out of history because she dared to voice nationalist sympathies.
I was drawn to writing the book about the artist out of a compelling need to tell her story. History fascinates me, and I feel there is a need to look beyond the cold hard facts, and to try and really understand historical figures. But if I was to classify my genre, it would be art-related and not necessarily historical fiction.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?I read widely. I really like psychological thrillers, mysteries, crime anything that has a good plot and convincing characters. I particularly like novels that are centred on art. I don’t tend to read pure romance. I am currently reading, White Ivy, by Susie Wang about a Chinese girl whose dream is to assimilate into wealthy American society. It is written with a sharp wit and a keen eye on the insecurities of both cultures. On audible, I am listening to Shuggy Bain by Douglas Stuart, it is bleak, and desperately sad – a tale of poverty and addiction. Although it is wonderfully written, right now I feel like I need to immerse myself into something more uplifting. I am not sure I will finish it.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?I currently have a three-book deal with Poolbeg Press for books distributed by Amazon as eBook and paperback. I suppose that is hybrid.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?Douglas Kennedy, Jessie Burton and Kristin Hannah.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?I lived in England till I was thirteen, then moved home to Ireland. Being Irish in England, then being the English girl in Ireland has meant I am invested in both cultures. Although my novel, If Only She Knew is predominantly from an historic Nationalist perspective, it also sees those times through English eyes.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?Starting off – thinking that I am going to spend the next year or so doing this. I suppose, I find it hard to commit to a story. I try to get over this by focusing on subjects that I am interested in, that I want to learn more about. In that way, hopefully, the book is also a journey for me as well as for the reader.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?When you think you have finished your novel, you have only started. Leave your book for three months and then come back to it – then edit, edit and edit again.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?Yes, six o’clock in the morning. My mind is crystal clear then. By lunchtime, the fog starts to drift in!
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?I was working as an art consultant before my first novel was published, and I enjoyed that very much. But I don’t have time for it at the moment. If I wasn’t writing novels I would probably be painting. I work in oils mostly and usually have an art project on the go while I am writing. For, If Only She Knew, I did a series of paintings investigating different aspects of the artist’s life.
If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles?I always thought that The Art Collector’s Daughter would make a great Netflix thriller. I would suggest Nicole Kidman as the artist Sylvie Vasseur, and Ralph Fiennes would make a brilliant bad guy, Nicholas Courtney.
If you could live the life of an historical figure for one day, who would you choose and what would you get up to?I would be Leonardo da Vinci’s studio assistant, and spend the day talking to him to understand his extraordinary vision as an artist and inventor.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?I would certainly enjoy being alive at the end of the Victorian era. it was a time of rapid change, industrially, intellectually, and artistically. Provided of course, that I was born into a wealthy, liberal family and I didn’t have to wear corsets. [Pam: Ha-ha; I don’t think the corsets were optional, unfortunately!]
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?They would be James Joyce’s Ulysses, (at least I might get to finish it); The Complete Works of Shakespeare; Seamus Heaney’s New Selected Poems; Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and E.H. Gombrich’s, The Story of Art.
Please tell us about your latest published work.If Only She Knew described as, ‘Peaky Blinders meets Pride and Prejudice’, is an historical drama set between the art and criminal worlds of Dublin and Manchester. Wilful and spirited, Julia Benson, is disinherited by her father – and forced to be financially dependent on her sister’s controlling husband. When Julia’s Fenian lover goes missing, she tries to find him and unwittingly becomes involved in a plot so dangerous that it could destroy her life, and any chances of Irish Home Rule forever.
Buy Links: If Only She Knew is published by Poolbeg Press and is available as an eBook and paperbackSOCIAL MEDIA LINKShttps://www.dervillemurphyauthor.com
https://www.facebook.com/derville.murphy
https://twitter.com/DervilleMurphy
April 14, 2021
New Release from Tony Riches
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, is one of the most intriguing men of the Elizabethan period. Tall and handsome, he soon becomes a ‘favourite’ at court, so close to the queen many wonder if they are lovers. The truth is far more complex, as each has what the other yearns for. Robert Devereux longs for recognition, wealth and influence. His flamboyant naïveté amuses the ageing Queen Elizabeth, like the son she never had, and his vitality makes her feel young. Robert Devereux’s remarkable true story continues the epic tale of the rise of the Tudors, which began with the bestselling Tudor trilogy and concludes with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09246T7ZT
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09246T7ZT
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09246T7ZT
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09246T7ZT
Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of best-selling Tudor historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the history of the Wars of the Roses and the lives of the early Tudors. Tony’s other published historical fiction novels include: Owen – Book One Of The Tudor Trilogy, Jasper – Book Two Of The Tudor Trilogy, Henry – Book Three Of The Tudor Trilogy, Mary – Tudor Princess, Brandon – Tudor Knight and The Secret Diary Of Eleanor Cobham.
For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his blog, The Writing Desk and find him on Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches
March 26, 2021
New Release from Catherine Kullmann
I’m delighted to bring you news of a new release from my very good friend, Catherine Kullmann. If you love the Regency period, you will adore her books.
Catherine Kullmann was born and educated in Dublin. She has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. Widowed, she has three adult sons and two grandchildren.
Catherine has always been interested in the extended Regency period, a time when the foundations of our modern world were laid. She loves writing and is particularly interested in what happens after the first happy end—how life goes on for the protagonists and sometimes catches up with them. Her books are set against a background of the offstage, Napoleonic wars and consider in particular the situation of women trapped in a patriarchal society. She is the author of The Murmur of Masks, Perception & Illusion, A Suggestion of Scandal, The Duke’s Regret, The Potential for Love, and A Comfortable Alliance
Catherine also blogs about historical facts and trivia related to this era. You can find out more about her books and read her blog (My Scrap Album) at www.catherinekullmann.com
Her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/catherinekullmannauthor
Pam, thank you so much for inviting me to talk about my new book, A Comfortable Alliance. It is another Regency novel and starts in 1821, six years after the battle of Waterloo.
In July 1815, Helena Swift helped nurse her fiancé until he died of the wounds he suffered at Waterloo. Afterwards, locking away all dreams of the heart, she retreated to a safe family haven. Now, on the shelf and happy to be there, Helena has perfected the art of deterring would-be suitors.
Will, Earl of Rastleigh, is the only son of an only son: marriage is his duty. One of the great prizes of the marriage market, he shies away from a cold, society union. While he doesn’t expect love, he seeks something more comfortable. But how to find the woman who will welcome him into her life and her bed, and be a good mother to their children?
When Will meets Helena, he is intrigued by her composure, her kindness and her intelligence. As their friendship develops, he realises he has found his ideal wife, if only he can overcome her well-known aversion to matrimony
Will succeeds in slipping past Helena’s guard. Tempted by the thought of children of her own, and encouraged by her mother to leave the shallows where she has lingered so long, Helena accepts his offer of a marriage based not on dangerous love but affectionate companionship and mutual respect.
But is this enough? As Will gets to know his wife better, and the secrets of her past unfold, he realises that they have settled for second-best. Can he change the basis of their marriage? Will Helena risk her heart and dare to love again?
You can buy A Comfortable Alliance here: mybook.to/AComfortableAlliance
March 4, 2021
A Conversation with Author Amy Maroney
Thank you for having me on the blog, Pam! I live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with my family, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning my hand to historical fiction. When I’m not diving down research rabbit holes, I enjoy hiking, drawing, dancing, traveling, and reading. I am the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?
I write historical fiction. My family lived in Germany for two years when I was an impressionable middle-schooler. Whenever we found an English language bookshop, I bought as many used historical romances as my mother would allow. This early foray into the thrilling combination of history and fiction kicked off a lifelong passion for the genre. I’ve subsequently lived in Europe three more times, and each experience deepened my love of European history, its landscapes, and its cultures.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a small child. As a kid I loved mysteries and fantasy series, but I also devoured nonfiction titles. Historical fiction continues to be my favorite genre, but I occasionally branch out into psychological thrillers, women’s fiction, science fiction, and Swedish crime mysteries.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?I am an independently published author. That means I hire a team of professionals (cover designers, mapmakers, editors, and more) to help me produce and publish my fiction. I love working this way. It gives me a lot of flexibility and it challenges me by forcing me to wear lots of different hats.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing? All the authors of the books I’ve read over my lifetime. I’m a firm believer that reading makes a good writer. Absorbing and comparing different writing styles, whether it’s conscious or subconscious, forces me to think about what I could be doing better. I also was very lucky as a young person to have journalist parents whose love for reading and writing was passed on to me. They taught me a lot about good editing.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?I’ve been drawing and painting for the past twenty years or so, but as my author career has taken off I’ve had to step back from art. I think if I wasn’t writing, I would be drawing and painting instead. I have a strong creative streak and I’m not happy if I’m not engaged in some kind of art practice.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?My books focus on the late medieval/early Renaissance era in Europe (1450-1500). I find this a fascinating time in history. Europe is emerging from the devastation of the plague, the Renaissance is blossoming, the merchant class is making great strides, there’s an incredible maritime economy connecting all these vibrant societies, women still wield autonomy in powerful abbeys and convents. It’s all wonderful fodder for fiction.
Please tell us about your latest published work.
My Miramonde Series tells the story of a Renaissance-era woman artist and an American scholar linked by a 500-year-old mystery.
In Book 1, The Girl from Oto, the heroine of the series is born into a ruthless and violent noble family; her mother names her Miramonde, ‘one who sees the world.’ Raised in a convent, Mira becomes an extraordinary artist—never dreaming she will one day fulfill the promise of her name.
Mira’s modern-day counterpart, Zari Durrell, is a young American scholar doing research in Europe who discovers traces of a mysterious woman artist in several sixteenth-century paintings. Soon she’s tracing a path through history to Mira herself. But the art world ignores her findings, dazzled by a rival academic’s claim that the portraits were in fact made by a famous male artist.
Get The Promise, a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, and check out my blog here: https://www.amymaroney.com/. Or connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
The Girl from Oto can be purchased on all the major online platforms at: https://books2read.com/u/4ED9VA
February 27, 2021
A Conversation with Author Sharon Dempsey
Sharon DempseyI’m a Belfast based crime writer. The first in my new crime series, ‘Who Took Eden Mulligan?’ was published in February by Avon Harper Collins. I am also a PhD researcher at Queen’s University, exploring class and gender in crime fiction.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?SI work in the crime fiction genre. Crime fiction is above all else concerned with the study of human behaviour. When characters are placed in an extreme situation it is fascinating to see how they react. But at the same time as a writer of crime fiction I feel a responsibility to treat my characters justly and for my victim and their family to have space and room to explore their grief.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?I read everything. I would never limit myself to one genre though crime fiction is probably my go to comfort read. I have just finished The Last House on Needless Street by Caitriona Ward and it has totally blown me away. A strange gothic tale that pushes boundaries and creates new spaces metaphorically for the self. Truly hair raising, inventive and compelling.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?Traditionally published.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?Probably crime writer Tana French. I love her murder squad series. Faithful Place was my favourite. Her latest book, The Searcher, is a wonderful novel that proves that literary fiction and genre fiction can go hand in hand.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?Yes, definitely. I grew up in Belfast during the Troubles and we are a society ripe with stories and now, post-conflict, is the time to tell them. I feel strongly that exploring society through a fictional lens is the best way to get to the emotional truth. But my work doesn’t always have the Troubles backdrop. My stories have universal themes. Northern Irish crime writing has really come into its own with writers like Claire Allan, Kelly Creighton, Brian McGilloway and Stuart Neville. I am proud to be part of that new wave of crime writers from here.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?I suppose the editing is my least favourite part. The first draft is often the most exciting part, where you are telling yourself the story and it’s fresh. I’m learning to appreciate the editing part too.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?Whatever you are writing finish it! I think starting out we all have many unfinished projects. You can’t submit something until it is finished.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?Usually mornings but I work at all hours. Pre lock down, I usually wrote during school hours, but I am always thinking about the story and will happily record notes on my phone or iPad at all times of the day and night. There is no switch off button when I’m writing.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?I’d probably still be in journalism. As long as I’m writing, I’m happy.
If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles?Oh, good question! I think I need to give that some thought.
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?Gerald Durrell books Corfu books, My Family and Other Animals. Michael McLaverty’s Call My Brother Back (1939) describes the uprooting of 15 year old Colm MacNeill from Rathlin to a Belfast in the grip of the Troubles of the early 1920s. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Tender by Belinda McKeon, and Margaret Attwood’s Alias Grace. Sorry that’s six!
Please tell us about your latest published work. Who took Eden Mulligan? is a modern day murder investigation wrapped in a historical cold case.‘They’re dead. They’re all dead. It’s my fault. I killed them.’
Those are the words of Iona Gardener, who stands bloodied and staring as she confesses to the murder of four people in a run-down cottage outside of Belfast. Outside the cottage, five old dolls are hanging from a tree. Inside the cottage, the words “WHO TOOK EDEN MULLIGAN?” are graffitied on the wall, connecting the murder scene with the famous cold case of Eden Mulligan, a mother-of-five who went missing during The Troubles. But this case is different. Right from the start. Because no one in the community is willing to tell the truth, and the only thing DI Danny Stowe and forensic psychologist Rose Lainey can be certain of is that Iona Gardener’s confession is false …
If you would like to know more about Sharon and her books, please check out her links below:twitter @svjdempz
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SharonDempsey13
Instagram sharondempseywrites
February 26, 2021
A Conversation with Author Hannah Byron
Hannah ByronHannah Byron (penname of Hannah Ferguson) was born in 1956 in Paris, France. She is of British/Irish/Dutch descent and lives in The Netherlands. Next to writing historical fiction, she is a part-time translator for a Dutch university.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?I’ve recently rebranded to historical fiction for the simple reason that I love history but I also think we can learn lessons from the part. That is, if humanity wasn’t so stubborn!
I wanted to try out my skills as an HF author with a backdrop that was intense and broad, a time that forced humanity to its knees, not once but twice. Hence the First and Second World Wars. I also wanted to set my novels in a time of budding feminism, a time when women started liberating themselves from apron strings and childbeds. Hence the 20th century.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?Yes, I always have 2 or 3 books on the go, 1 or 2 on my Kindle, 1 Audiobook for my hikes and usually a craft/marketing non-fiction for the business. I tend to read fiction in my own genre, yes but certainly not only about the world wars.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?Proud Indie.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?I’m heavily influenced by the early Russian, European, and American masters … and by the stacks of Harlequin novellas I used to read. A cocktail of the absolute best with the quick and dirty is a favourite of mine.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?Since Covid and travel restrictions, yes. Before I was always focused on the UK and Ireland as my home base outside Holland, but these days I yearn for Paris where I was born. Most of my heroines at least have some connection to Paris. The book I’m currently writing is called The Parisian Spy … and well, you can guess where it’s situated.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?Depends, can be anything from starting a book after the plotting is done, to the middle part to keeping at it, to editing. I tend to be rather unsure and critical about my own work. At times, that can become counterproductive and make me slip into writer’s block for a while. I also find it hard with the current market to immediately embark on the next book when the previous one is done. As an Indie you have no choice but to produce more books as fast as you can.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?Keep going, find your own voice, believe in yourself, don’t give up before you’ve written 1m words, stay in touch with other writers.
If you could live the life of an historical figure for one day, who would you choose and what would you get up to?I’d be my absolute hero Leo Tolstoy and learn to write as he could. And have a philosophical chat with him, of course.
Please tell us about your latest published work.My first book In Picardy’s Fields came out in September. People can read it for free if they join my newsletter.
On 10 December my second book in The Resistance Girl Series called The Diamond Courier came out. Here’s the blurb:
England, 1940
A young rebel on a quest for independence finds herself squashed between Communist love, Jewish diamonds, and German greed.
Lili Hamilton cannot marry Iain Brodie, her best friend and her Tory father’s right hand at Betteshanger Colliery. Given the distance she sees between her parents, she will not, at nineteen, settle for domestic life. But her aspirations as a political journalist are thwarted when she is sent off to a finishing school in Switzerland in 1939.
On her way, she meets Leo Oppenheim in Paris. Not only is Leo the leader of the British Communist Party but also the prodigal son of London’s richest diamond merchant.
In a time of historical change, as World War II erupts, and after a mine strike causes a rift between her and her family and Iain, Lili moves to London, pursuing her Communist ideals and free love. But Leo needs money and has his eye on the largest diamond center in Europe: Antwerp.
Nazi Germany, too, is in dire need of Antwerp’s diamonds for its war machine.
On Leo’s command, Lili infiltrates the Jewish community in Belgium and befriends both the Goldmunz family and the Nazi leader. Despite the horrors of war, despite witnessing the murder of a comrade, she becomes the diamond courier between Antwerp and London via Vichy France.
Until she is caught in 1943 …
The Diamond Courier is a young woman’s fight to liberate herself from her privileged upbringing, for which she pays the highest price. Will she ultimately choose politics over love?
Social Media linksWebsite: https://hannahbyron.com
Newsletter signup: https://hannahbyron.com/HBNews
Facebook group: https://hannahbyron.com/HBrs
Facebook Author Page: https://hannahbyron.com/HBfb
Instagram: https://hannahbyron.com/HBin
BookBub: https://hannahbyron.com/HBbk
Pinterest: https://hannahbyron.com/HBpn
Linked In: https://hannahbyron.com/HBli
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HannahByron8
Book links:Links to Amazons for In Picardy’s Fields.
Amazon US: http://hannahbyron.com/IPFam
Amazon UK: http://hannahbyron.com/IPFuk
Amazon CA: http://hannahbyron.com/IPCca
Amazon AU: http://hannahbyron.com/IPFau
Links to Amazon The Diamond Courier
Amazon US: https://hannahbyron.com/DCam
Amazon UK: https://hannahbyron.com/DCuk
Amazon CA: https://hannahbyron.com/DCca
Amazon AU: https://hannahbyron.com/DCau
February 20, 2021
A Conversation with Penny Hampson
Today in the Library we have Penny Hampson, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.
You are very welcome, Penny, please introduce yourself:Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Pam. It’s great to be able to chat. I’ll start by telling you a little about myself.
Penny HampsonI came to writing rather late in life, having spent most of my adult years bringing up my family and then working as researcher in an academic library. It was only when I made the difficult decision to give up working full time to enable me to care for a close family member that I decided to write my first novel. I’d been juggling both caring and work for ten years and it was beginning to get too much.
Of course, being a historian meant my first book was going to be an historical novel. I joined the New Writers’ Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, who were very helpful in critiquing my work and introducing me to other authors. A Gentleman’s Promise was eventually published in 2018. I’ve now written three historical novels, and one contemporary mystery/romance novel, with more to follow. I feel I’ve got a lot of catching up to do having started so late!
I live in Oxfordshire with my family, and when I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?
I write historical and contemporary. All my stories contain a mystery and a romance. I love books that have a happy ending, or certainly a happy for now. Life today is challenging for everyone, so I like to think my stories offer an escape from these difficult times, and because I’m passionate about history, even my contemporary stories have an historical element.
I started writing historical romances, because I’m a great fan of Georgette Heyer, and I wanted to capture the sense of time and place that she so cleverly manages in her stories.
Although I’ve branched out into contemporary stories, I’m still aiming for a sense of place with my locations, but now I can have female characters who are not hemmed in by historical social restrictions. I’ve also enjoyed introducing a paranormal element, which allows me to bring in some history, because where do ghosts come from? The past, of course!
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?Yes, I love reading, though these days most of my reading is for research. I don’t get much time to indulge my leisure fiction reading, it usually consists of just half an hour before bedtime. I enjoy most genres, especially those with a mystery at the core, anything historical and preferably with a romance. With the change in my own writing direction, I’ve started reading more ‘dark’ fiction too, and enjoy Stephen King’s spooky stories.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?I’m a hybrid author. My historical novels are all self-published, but The Unquiet Spirit, my first contemporary novel is with a publisher. It’s good having total control over one’s stories and how they look, but the costs of professional editing, proofing and covers are significant. These are costs which I consider to be essential before releasing my books.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?My times for writing usually occur in the afternoons, though I have been known to carry on until the early hours if I’m on a roll and nothing more urgent (like meals,etc) needs to be done.
I share a rather cramped office with my husband, so it can get a little difficult at times, especially when I am trying to write a tense, emotional scene and he is swearing at his computer (we both do that!). However, the good news is that I have been promised a study of my own; our spare bedroom will, hopefully in the not too distant future, be transformed into a super-duper writer’s workspace, with room for all my research books, maps, and other bits and pieces.
If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles?I think that A Bachelor’s Pledge would make a good film, it has intrigue, adventure and romance, not to mention some fantastic locations set as it is in Cornwall and Bath. I can imagine James Norton as moody Phil Cullen and Maisie Williams as a determined Sophia Turner. Keeley Hawes would be fabulous as the scheming Ruth Newbody.
If you could live the life of an historical figure for one day, who would you choose and what would you get up to?What an intriguing question. I think if I was going to live the life of an historical figure for a day, I’d choose someone like Jane Austen. I’d love to be able to see inside her head and observe the world through her eyes. I love the pithy descriptions of characters that she does. She had a warm relationship with her sister, so I think that would be nice to experience. As someone who doesn’t have a sister I’d love to be able to share my thoughts with another female like Jane does with Cassandra. I’ve often wondered if the relationship between Lizzie Bennett and her sister Jane was based on Austen’s own experience. It would also be interesting to discover who she based the character of Mr Collins on!
Please tell us about your latest published work. .Set in 1810, A Bachelor’s Pledge tells the story of Phil Cullen, a secret agent and Sophia Turner, an orphan he rescues from a house of ill-repute.
Secret agent Phil Cullen is upset when he discovers that the young woman he rescued from Mrs Newbody’s establishment has absconded from his housekeeper’s care without a word. Thinking he has been deceived, he resolves to forget about her… something easier said than done.
Sophia Turner is horrified when she is duped into entering a notorious house of ill-repute. Then a handsome stranger comes to her aid. Desperate that no one learns of this scandalous episode, Sophia flees to the one friend she knows she can trust. With luck, she will never see her mysterious rescuer again.
Months later, Phil is on the trail of an elusive French agent and Sophia is a respectable lady’s companion when fate again intervenes, taking their lives on a collision course.
Traitors, spies, and shameful family secrets – will these bring Sophia and Phil together… or drive them apart?
Thanks again for having me as a guest on you blog, Pam. It’s been lovely chatting to you.
My pleasure, Penny.
***
If you’d like to know more about Penny and her work, check out her links below:Links:
Blog: https://pennyhampson.co.uk/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/penny_hampson
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/pennyhampsonauthor
Facebook Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/pennyhampsonwriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Penny_Hampson
Amazon Author Page (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Penny-Hampson/
Amazon Author Page (US): amazon.com/author/pennyhampson
