Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 6
February 27, 2025
New Release Book Blast Ghost Encounters Helen Hollick with Kathy Hollick #GhostEncounters #Ghosts #NorthDevon #FriendlyGhosts #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @HelenHollick @cathiedunn
I‘m excited to announce the new release of Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held today on February 28th, 2025. Author Helen Hollick, with Kathy Hollick, share eerie tales of ghosts in North Devon, England – and not all is fiction! Ghost Encounters was published by Taw River Press on 27th February 2025 (201 pages).
Below are highlights of Ghost Encounters and author bios for Helen Hollick and Kathy Hollick.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-ghost-encounters-by-helen-hollick-with-kathy-hollick.html
HIGHLIGHTS OF GHOST ENCOUNTERS:THE LINGERING SPIRITS OF NORTH DEVON
Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon
By Helen Hollick
With Kathy Hollick
Blurb:
Everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile. Actually, most of them are not.
You either believe in ghosts or you don’t. It depends on whether you’ve encountered something supernatural or not. But when you share a home with several companionable spirits, or discover benign ghosts in public places who appear as real as any living person, scepticism is abandoned and the myth that ghosts are to be feared is realised as nonsense.
It is a matter for individual consideration whether you believe in ghosts or not, but for those who have the gift to see, hear or be aware of people from the past, meeting with them in today’s environment can generate a connection to years gone by. Kathy and Helen Hollick have come across several such departed souls in and around North Devon and at their 18th-century home, which they share with several ‘past residents’.
In GHOST ENCOUNTERS: The Lingering Spirits Of North Devon, mother and daughter share their personal experiences, dispelling the belief that spirits are to be feared.
Ghost Encounters will fascinate all who enjoy this beautiful region of rural South-West England, as well as interest those who wish to discover more about its history… and a few of its ghosts.
(Includes a bonus of two short stories and photographs connected to North Devon)
cover design: Avalon Graphics
cover artwork: Chris Collingwood
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters
This title will be available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIOSABOUT HELEN HOLLICK
Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen might not see ghosts herself, but her nautical adventure series, and some of her short stories, skilfully blend the past with the supernatural, inviting readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur.
In addition to her historical fiction, Helen has written several short stories, further exploring themes of historical adventure or the supernatural with her signature style. Whether dealing with the echoes of the past or the weight of lost souls, her stories are as compelling as they are convincing. Through her work, she invites readers into a world where the past never truly lets us go.
Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant.
Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and, when she gets a moment, writing the next book…
ABOUT KATHY HOLLICK
Diagnosed as severely dyslexic when she was ten, Helen pulled Kathy out of school at fifteen to concentrate on everything equine.
When not encountering friendly ghosts, Kathy’s passion is horses and mental well-being. She started riding at the age of three, had her own Welsh pony at thirteen, and discovered showjumping soon after. Kathy now runs her own Taw River Equine Events, and coaches riders of any age or experience, specialising in positive mindset and overcoming confidence issues via her Centre10 accreditation and Emotional Freedom Technique training. EFT, or ‘tapping’, uses the body’s pressure points to aid calm relaxation and to promote gentle healing around emotional, mental or physical issues.
Kathy lives with her farmer partner, Andrew, in their flat adjoining the main farmhouse. She regularly competes at affiliated British Showjumping, and rides side-saddle (‘aside’) when she has the opportunity. She produces her own horses, several from home-bred foals.
She also has a fun diploma in Dragons and Dragon Energy, which was something amusing to study during the Covid lockdown.
Authors’ Links:
Helen Hollick
Website Twitter Facebook Bluesky
Blog: supporting authors & their books
Monthly ‘newsletter’: Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse
Kathy Hollick
Facebook: North Devon – Taw River Equine Events
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
February 25, 2025
Carolyn Hughes A Woman’s Lot #Medieval #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @writingcalliope @cathiedunn
It is my pleasure to welcome Carolyn Hughes back as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between February 24th – 26th, 2025. Carolyn Hughes is the author of the Historical Fiction, A Woman’s Lot (The Second Meonbridge Chronicles), independently published by the author on February 5th, 2025 (audiobook: 12 hours and 15 minutes).
Below are highlights of A Woman’s Lot,, the author bio of Carolyn Hughes, and a clip of her audiobook.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-a-womans-lot-audiobook-by-carolyn-hughes.html
HIGHLIGHTS: A WOMAN’S LOT
A Woman’s Lot
(The Second Meonbridge Chronicle)
by Carolyn Hughes
Narrator: Alex Lee @alexleeaudio
Blurb:
How can mere women resist the misogyny of men?
1352. In Meonbridge, a resentful peasant rages against Eleanor Titherige’s efforts to build up her flock of sheep. Susanna Miller’s husband, grown melancholy and ill-tempered, succumbs to idle gossip that his wife’s a scold. Agnes Sawyer’s yearning to be a craftsman is met with scorn. And the village priest, fearful of what he considers women’s “unnatural” ambitions, is determined to keep them firmly in their place.
Many men hold fast to the teachings of the Church and fear the havoc the “daughters of Eve” might wreak if they’re allowed to usurp men’s roles and gain control over their own lives.
Not all men in Meonbridge resist the women’s desire for change – indeed, they want it for themselves. Yet it takes only one or two misogynists to unleash the hounds of hostility and hatred…
If you enjoy immersive historical fiction with a strong authentic feel, set in a time of change and challenge, especially for women, you’ll love A Woman’s Lot, the second MEONBRIDGE CHRONICLE. Find out for yourself if Meonbridge’s “unnatural” women stand up to their abusers!
Praise:
“This book exceeded all my expectations. I did not read this story. I lived it!” ~ The Coffee Pot Book Club
“A treat for all the senses…totally true to its time and setting…”~ Being Anne
“I didn’t so much feel as if I were reading about medieval England as experiencing it first hand.”~ Linda’s Book Bag
“An absorbing account of the times.”~ Historical Novel Society
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jzKJY
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Audiobook Links:
Audible: https://buff.ly/4gw1xs3
Audible UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/A-Womans-Lot-Audiobook/B0DW4HR5HW
Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Womans-Lot-Audiobook/B0DW4FZLCZ
AUDIOBOOK CLIP: A WOMAN’S LOTThe Coffee Pot Book Club · A Woman’s Lot – Emma – by Carolyn Hughes
Audiobook Clip Link: https://soundcloud.com/cathie-dunn/a-womans-lot-emma-by-carolyn-hughes
AUTHOR BIO: CAROLYN HUGHES
Carolyn Hughes has lived much of her life in Hampshire. With a first degree in Classics and English, she started working life as a computer programmer, then a very new profession. But it was technical authoring that later proved her vocation, word-smithing for many different clients, including banks, an international hotel group and medical instruments manufacturers.
Although she wrote creatively on and off for most of her adult life, it was not until her children flew the nest that writing historical fiction took centre stage. But why historical fiction? Serendipity!
Seeking inspiration for what to write for her Creative Writing Masters, she discovered the handwritten draft, begun in her twenties, of a novel, set in 14th century rural England…
Intrigued by the period and setting, she realised that, by writing a novel set in the period, she could learn more about the medieval past and interpret it, which seemed like a thrilling thing to do. A few days later, the first Meonbridge Chronicle, Fortune’s Wheel, was under way.
Six published books later (with more to come), Carolyn does now think of herself as an Historical Novelist. And she wouldn’t have it any other way…
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook Bluesky
Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
February 24, 2025
R.N. Morris Death of a Princess #HistoricalFiction #CrimeFiction #Russia #Mystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @rnmorris @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome R.N. Morris as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between February 24th – March 7th, 2025. R.N. Morris is the author of the Historical Crime / Mystery, Death of a Princess (Empire of Shadows, Book #3), released by Sharpe Books on 5th November 2024 (192 pages).
Below are highlights of Death of a Princess, the author bio of R.N. Morris, and a guest post entitled, “Rabbit Holes,” about the historical background for the book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-death-of-a-princess-by-r-n-morris.html
HIGHLIGHTS: DEATH OF A PRINCESS
Death of a Princess
(Empire of Shadows, Book #3)
by R.N. Morris
Blurb:
Summer 1880.
Lipetsk, a spa town in Russia.
The elderly and cantankerous Princess Belskaya suffers a violent reaction while taking a mud bath at the famous Lipetsk Sanatorium. Soon after, she dies.
Dr Roldugin, the medical director of the sanatorium, is at a loss to explain the sudden and shocking death.
He points the finger at Anna Zhdanova, a medical assistant who was supervising the princess’s treatment.
Suspicion also falls on the princess’s nephew Belsky, who appears far from grief-stricken at his aunt’s death.
Meanwhile, investigating magistrate Pavel Pavlovich Virginsky arrives in Lipetsk from St Petersburg, seeking treatment after a nervous breakdown.
Against his better judgement, Virginsky is drawn in to the investigation. But is he getting closer to the truth or walking straight into a deadly trap?
Triggers: Description of illness, death, violent crime, murder, sexual references, sexual threat.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mvOpq8
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIO: R. N. MORRIS
Roger (R.N) Morris is the author of 18 books, including a quartet of historical crime novels set in St Petersburg featuring Porfiry Petrovich, the investigating magistrate from Dostoevsky’s great novel Crime and Punishment. These were followed by the Silas Quinn series set in London in 1914. He has been shortlisted for the CWA Duncan Lawrie Gold Dagger and the CWA Historical Dagger.
A former advertising copywriter, Roger has written the libretto for an opera, modern retellings of Frankenstein and Macbeth for French school children. He’s also a scriptwriter for an award winning audio producer, working on true crime and history podcasts including The Curious History of your Home.
His work has been published in 16 countries.
Married with two grown-up children, Roger lives in Chichester where he keeps an eye out for seagulls.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Threads
Bluesky Pinterest Amazon Author Page Goodreads
GUEST POST BY R.N. MORRIS:RABBIT HOLES AND RESEARCH
From a research point of view, setting a series in nineteenth century Russia is a bit of a double whammy. Not only do I have to research the period. I also have to research the place.
It’s a challenge, I’ll be honest. I’m not Russian. I don’t speak Russian. And I don’t live in Russia. I can’t just walk out of the front door and go and have a look at a street or building that features in my story, as I could if I’d set it in my hometown of Chichester.
Death of a Princess is actually the seventh Russian-set story that I’ve written. To my amazement, I seem to have built up quite a good feel for the period and setting. There’s a kind of cumulative effect. All the reading and research I did for previous books must have lodged somewhere. Even if I can’t quite recall the exact details of an interesting fact or a historical incident, I have pretty good idea where to look for it. I’ve collected a small library of books on Russian history and society. I’ve got books on industrialisation, entertainment, sex, social inequality, the Russian worker, Russia through women’s eyes, vodka, cuisine… One of my favourites is Mapping St Petersburg by Julie A. Buckler, which even contains a chapter on urban legends.
But I think the book I return to most is The Last Great Tsar, Edvard Razinsky’s biography of Alexander II. It’s not because Alexander features directly in my books (though he did make a cameo appearance in A Razor Wrapped In Silk). But the biography also tells the story of the terrorists who opposed the tsar and repeatedly tried to kill him. Death of a Princess revolves around a group of such proto-revolutionaries, who I’ve loosely based on historical figures described in The Last Great Tsar. Razinsky’s book also gives a really good account of the politics of the period and the key personalities involved.
Biographies and memoirs are a great way to approach the past as you see it through the eyes of people who were alive then. I also like to read novels from the time, especially the works of Dostoevsky but other authors too, such as Tolstoy and Turgenev. The nineteenth century was a tremendous period for Russian literature.
For my first four novels, I took the investigating magistrate from Dostoevsky’s masterpiece Crime and Punishment and made him the central character in his own series of investigations. So there’s always been a slightly literary aspect to my books – each one referencing a particular Dostoevsky novel. More broadly, I find novels give me a sense of the social milieu, and just a sense of what it might have been like to be alive then.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, whose novel Crime and Punishment inspired my seven Russian-set books
Naturally, I still want to keep adding to my bank of knowledge and understanding. So I will look for new material to give me fresh insights. For my previous book, The Crimson Child, I read a biography of the tsar’s mistress, whom he eventually married, Princess Katerina Dolgurokova. It contained transcripts of their correspondence, which was incredibly intimate at times.
For Death of a Princess, I discovered a travel book called The Land of the Nihilist: Russia, its People, its Palaces, its Politics. The book was written in 1888 by American journalist William Eleroy Curtis. It’s interesting as it gives an outsider’s view of the country. I’m not sure I used anything specific from it, though Curtis does describe the interior of a train carriages of the era which certainly helped me to imagine one particular scene.
One of the characters in my novel has a homely way of speaking and uses traditional Russian sayings and proverbs. I managed to find an old illustrated book of Russian idioms with literal translations and equivalent sayings in English. It was very useful, though I had to be careful to use it sparingly.
The internet is of course a great source of information. The great danger is that you find yourself falling down rabbit holes and don’t actually find anything useful – and certainly not the thing you were looking for. I sometimes think googling is just a delaying tactic. You know you should be getting on with the real work – the writing – but you just need to find one more vital snippet, which of course you never find. At that point you have to fall back on the most powerful resource you have, your imagination.
The web is especially good for images and maps. These can help me picture the world I’m writing about. When I first visited St Petersburg (after I’d written my first novel A Gentle Axe) I had built up such a strong visual impression of the city that I felt like I was walking into my own imagination. I didn’t do the usual tourist things while I was there. I walked the streets looking at the architecture of ordinary buildings, looking at the types of windows and the arrangement of courtyards. I’m sure I must have looked very suspicious – like a burglar casing out target properties.
While I was there I met a local man called Andrey, who showed me round his home city. Afterwards, I sent him a copy of A Gentle Axe. I was very nervous about my book being read by a genuine St Petersburgian, especially as I had written that book before visiting the city. But he was kind enough to say that it had an “authentic St Petersburg atmosphere”, which pleased me enormously.
My books aren’t just historical novels, they’re crime novels too. So as well as researching period and place, I occasionally have to look into some quite gruesome topics. For Death of a Princess I corresponded with an expert on poisons – Gail Bell, the author of The Poison Principle. Gail very generously shared some of her research and answered my very specific and, to be honest, bizarre questions. I’m only grateful she didn’t call the police!
The thing about research for me is that it provides me with the confidence to start writing the story. For the actual writing, I close the books and let my imagination take over. One thing I try to avoid of course is just putting things in the story because they are interesting snippets that I have discovered in my research. If something doesn’t move the story along, or help me create the atmosphere I’m going for, then I’m afraid it doesn’t go in.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
February 20, 2025
Barney Campbell The Fires of Gallipoli #TheFiresOfGallipoli #HistoricalFiction #WWI #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @eandtbooks @cathiedunn
I‘m delighted to welcome Barney Campbell as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between February 17th – 21st , 2025. Barney Campbell is the author of the Historical Fiction / WWI Fiction, The Fires of Gallipoli, released by Elliott & Thompson on February 13th, 2025 (320 pages).
Below are highlights of The Fires of Gallipoli, Barney Campbell’s author bio, and an excerpt from his book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-the-fires-of-gallipoli-by-barney-campbell.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE FIRES OF GALLIPOLI
The Fires of Gallipoli
by Barney Campbell
Blurb:
The Fires of Gallipoli is a heartbreaking portrayal of friendship forged in the trenches of the First World War.
‘In this vivid and engaging novel of war and friendship, Barney Campbell shows us once again that he is a natural writer. This is a novel of men at arms of the highest quality.’ ~ Alexander McCall Smith
Edward Salter is a shy, reserved lawyer whose life is transformed by the outbreak of war in 1914. On his way to fight in the Gallipoli campaign, he befriends the charming and quietly courageous Theodore Thorne. Together they face the carnage and slaughter, stripped bare to their souls by the hellscape and only sustained by each other and the moments of quiet they catch together.
Thorne becomes the crutch whom Edward relies on throughout the war. When their precious leave from the frontline coincides, Theo invites Edward to his late parents’ idyllic estate in Northamptonshire. Here Edward meets Thorne’s sister Miranda and becomes entranced by her.
Edward escapes the broiling, fetid charnel-house of Gallipoli to work on the staff of Lord Kitchener, then on to the Western Front and post-war espionage in Constantinople. An odd coolness has descended between Edward and Theo. Can their connection and friendship survive the overwhelming sense of loss at the end of the war when everything around them is corrupted and destroyed?
The Fires of Gallipoli is a heartbreaking, sweeping portrayal of friendship and its fragility at the very limits of humanity.
Triggers: Battle scenes
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XkEq6
AUTHOR BIO: BARNEY CAMPBELL
Barney Campbell, author of The Fires of Gallipoli, was brought up in the Scottish Borders and studied Classics at university. He then joined the British Army where he commanded soldiers on a tour of Helmand Province, Afghanistan at the height of the war there.
That experience inspired him to write his first novel Rain, a novel about the war, which was published by Michael Joseph in 2015. The Times called it ‘the greatest book about the experience of soldiering since Robert Graves’s First World War classic Goodbye To All That’.
Barney has walked the length of the Iron Curtain, from Szczecin in Poland to Trieste in Italy. He currently works and lives in London.
Author & Publisher Links:
Website Twitter Instagram Bluesky
EXCERPT: THE FIRES OF GALLIPOLI
Autumn turned into winter. The battalion moved a mile to the north-west of the blind crests to relieve a unit that was deemed combat ineffective following the twin heads of a failed attack and a virulent strain of dysentery that had torn through it.
Progress up to the line was appallingly slow, rivulets of loose earth and rocks running down the trench walls to line the bottoms with obstacles. To Edward, sleep-deprived and hallucinating in the cold, it was as though he was a giant treading through a twilit valley, the countless little landslips becoming mighty waterfalls tumbling down the sides into the plain below. His feet – as they stumbled on the pebbles and stones – were great hammers that crushed houses and villages. He realised he was grinning and that the sounds that punctuated his progress were his own short bursts of laughter. He took several gulps of air to snap out of it and hoped that no one had noticed him in that state.
The next day, the men got used to the tiny strip of ground that was now their home, titivating the line and getting to grips with the lie of their land.
And then came the evening. The normal weather of the daytime, no different from the hundred that had preceded it save for winter’s siphoning away its daily ration of heat, passed into a squally, adolescent late afternoon with fast-moving clouds scudding across the sky before a vast grey blanket was pulled across it.
At seven o’clock the first drops spattered down onto them, tiny pinpricks to start but growing soon to fat droplets that sounded like sleet as they hit helmets and hands clenched round rifles. They kicked up sand round the rims of the tiny craters they bored in the ground, soldiers craning their necks back to let them fall onto parched tongues. Within ten minutes, the rain had whipped up to a tempo that would not drop for three days, skin, uniform and ground all now equally saturated and the men sitting there like cattle, morale and discipline melting away.
After half an hour, Edward had never seen the men so low, so visibly deflated, so defeated. The wind picked up and up, each gust bringing waves of freezing rain onto their scant, thin uniforms. They started to shiver uncontrollably, some lucky ones seeking shelter under the flimsiest tarpaulins. Those who couldn’t sat in the bottom of trenches that had quickly become swamps, hands thrust into pockets, their necks bent forward over their chests as rifles were cast into the mud, sentry duties abandoned, anything military forgotten about. Each minute rammed home that the biggest threat to their survival now came not from the Turks but from the weather.
The darkness was total, with the moon entirely obscured. The mud grew into an ooze that sucked in anything that fell on it, a slick, slippy filth that afforded no purchase for their boots, the leather already sodden and chafing. Edward held off from looking at his watch for as long as he could, but eventually broke and saw its luminous hands tell him it was only nine o’clock; it felt like four in the morning. He was so cold that he knew that to sit and sleep might be fatal; he had to keep moving, so he began a lonely plod up and down the trench, slipping and sliding, cutting himself a dozen times, anything to keep moving, anything to encourage the men.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
February 13, 2025
Book Spotlight Murder on West Lake I. M. Foster #HistoricalMystery #CozyMystery #RomanticMystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @IMFosterMystery @cathiedunn
I am pleased to spotlight the book, Murder on West Lake (South Shore Mystery series Book #3), by I. M. Foster in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held today on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2025. Murder on West Lake is a Historical Mystery that was published independently by Inez M. Foster on December 9th, 2024 (438 pages).
Below are highlights of Murder on West Lake and I. M. Foster’s author bio.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-murder-on-west-lake-by-i-m-foster.html
HIGHLIGHTS: MURDER ON WEST LAKE
Murder on West Lake
(South Shore Mystery series Book #3)
by I. M. Foster
Blurb:
A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel’s heart froze. He knew that voice all too well.
After a pleasant afternoon of ice skating on the frozen waters of West Lake, local librarian Kathleen Brissedon stumbles across a gruesome sight in the nearby gazebo. It only takes a moment for her beau, assistant coroner Doctor Daniel O’Halleran, to determine that the victim was murdered.
To protect Kathleen from the ghastly sight of the man’s slashed throat, Daniel insists she return home while he examines the body further. Though the immediate cause of death appears obvious, he fears the subsequent autopsy will uncover more questions than answers, and it’s clear that he has his work cut out for him if he’s going to find the person responsible.
Kathleen has no intention of remaining demurely at home, not when there’s a murder to solve. Slipping back to the scene, she conducts her own investigation. Though her discoveries prove interesting, Daniel is too concerned about her safety to stifle his annoyance, especially after the killer makes a second attempt closer to home. But as the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place and Daniel starts closing in on the truth, the killer sets their sights on him.
With the danger increasing, Kathleen intent on assisting in the investigation, and his family descending on Patchogue to spend the Christmas holidays, Daniel has his hands full.
Will he and Kathleen be able to put their heads together and discover who is behind the attacks, or will the killer continue to plague the tranquil South Shore village unhindered?
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mlO8vq
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIO: I. M. Foster
I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth-century archaeologist.
Inez is a historian and librarian, who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys doing the research almost as much as she does the actual writing of the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook Instagram Threads
Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
February 4, 2025
Nitin Nanji Lalji’s Nairobi #HistoricalFiction #AfricanHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn
I‘m delighted to welcome Nitin Nanji as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between February 3rd – 7th, 2025. Nitin Nanji is the author of the Historical Fiction, Lalji’s Nairobi, which was independently released on 30th August 2023 (282 pages).
Below are highlights of Lalji’s Nairobi, Nitin Nanji’s author bio, and an excerpt from his book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-tour-laljis-nairobi-by-nitin-nanji.html
HIGHLIGHTS: LALJI’S NAIROBI
Lalji’s Nairobi
by Nitin Nanji
Blurb:
British Gujarat, 1905.
Despairing of the social injustices and crippling taxes under the British Raj, Lalji, 19, flees to British East Africa hoping to build a better life using his natural business skills and acumen. But he soon finds unexpected dangers in his new home- turbulent politics and war with German East Africa- as well as some surprising opportunities. A combination of luck, coincidence, and his flair for commerce lead to early success.
Then, just as he is at his most vulnerable, a new threat emerges from where he least expects: from within his own family.
Can Lalji beat overwhelming odds to fulfill his hopes and ambitions?
A story about survival, faith, ability, humanity, and a deep desire to succeed.
Buy Links:
*The ebook will be free to download on Kindle from February 4th – 8th, 2025*
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mgoPW6
This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.
BOOK TRAILER: LALJI’S NAIROBI(© The Historical Fiction Company)
AUTHOR BIO: NITIN NANJI
Historical novelist of Indian parentage, born and raised in Kenya, educated in England, writing about India and East Africa under the British Empire.
Nitin has come to writing his debut novel after retiring as a doctor. Born in Kenya before its independence he came to England at the age of fifteen. His parentage is Indian, his grandfather having moved during the British Raj from Gujarat in India to Colonial East Africa as an economic migrant.
‘Lalji’s Nairobi’ is set in the early part of the last century, inspired by the stories of Indian migrants who settled in East Africa. A ‘rags to riches’ story of the experiences of Lalji as a determined young businessman who grapples with the challenges of living in the new colony.
Within the backdrop of a racist administration, Nitin immerses the reader into the times and norms of colonial society and shows how Lalji achieves rapid success despite difficult odds, leading a team of four compatriots from his village.
The novel is well-researched and retains the undertones of the era. Nitin’s intimate knowledge of the three cultures of the colony (British, Indian, and African) succeeds in making this an enjoyable and authentic read.
‘Lalji’s Nairobi’ is now an award-winning novel that recently won acclaim from the prestigious New Generation Indie Book Awards as a ‘Finalist’. It also earned Five Stars and the ‘Highly Recommended’ award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company, which has recently also awarded the book with a silver medal in the Blixen Africa Category.
Author Links:
Website: www.nitinnanji.com
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nitin-nanji
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Nitin-Nanji/author/B0CBHJCKXB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/187785812-lalji-s-nairobi
EXCERPT: LALJI’S NAIROBI
The next morning brought an early visitor to their door in the shape of the village Sarpanch, Thakorbhai. The Sarpanch was the elected head of the village and led the Panchayat. His role was to officiate over disputes, collect fines and enforce the law with the help of the police.
Thakorbhai was a large man with short legs and a bull neck. He sported a moustache that was long and curled upwards at the ends, like two cobras poised to strike. When he sat on a chair, he folded his legs under him and they disappeared under his enormous belly. The children of the village were thrown into fits of giggles at this sight as he looked like an overgrown hen sprawled over her eggs. For that reason, he was also known unkindly as ‘Murgiben’ (mother hen).
He invited himself into the yard and sat down on Parshottam’s charpoy. He had come about the story going around that Parshottam’s son was to head out to Africa. He knew Parshottam had been making inquiries about the next meeting of the Panchayat and thought the two matters may well be connected.
“You are right, I was hoping to have the matter considered at the Panchayat,” said Parshottam before calling out for Lalji to join them. Rambai appeared with a tumbler of salted buttermilk for the Sarpanch and joined in the chorus calling for Lalji.
“What does the boy say?” inquired Thakorbhai.
“He hasn’t made up his mind. See, I was thinking with the lack of prospects here after the famines and with the tax situation….”
“You leave the tax situation to me, Parshottam,” bellowed Thakorbhai. “We need to know if the boy is willing to go and take his chances!”
At that instance, both Lalji and Naran appeared. They paid their respects to the Sarpanch by bowing to him and gesturing to touch his feet hidden under his belly.
“So, what’s your decision young man?” he inquired of Lalji. “Are you ready to cross the big ocean and arrive at the opposite shore to start a new life, away from your family?”
Lalji seated himself down in a squatting position and looked straight at the Sarpanch. Without hesitation announced, “Yes, I willl be taking the vaan and see what destiny has in store for me. It is my role as the eldest son.”
“Shabhash (well said), my boy! That’s the right answer.” The cobras parted to reveal pink gums.
“The son of Dhiraj will be accompanying him, so as he is not alone,” interjected Parshottam.
Thakorbhai waved the idea away as being of no consequence. He told Parshottam his son was in a different league from many and he was supportive of the idea. He mentioned others had considered it before but no son of the village had made the journey.
“The reasons are many but the fact is no one has had the strength of character to take the step. If I was twenty years younger, I would have given the same answer as Lalji here,” he said.
Turning to Lalji he asked, “Would you lead a group of three others from here to go with you?”
Lalji was taken aback by the question, having never considered himself as taking on such responsibility. He didn’t feel unable to lead, but he wanted to know whom the Sarpanch had in his mind.
“It would be you as their leader with Nizar the hardware merchant’s son, and Ramji the eldest son of Karsan the builder. Then there’s that idle son of Dhiraj your father has been talking about.”
“But I hardly know them. Will they follow my wishes?” inquired Lalji.
“Leave that to me. I have spoken to Karsan and Noormohammed about that and they have both pledged their sons will do as you say. They have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time to get their sons to Africa. They are good boys and want to succeed for their families. They need sound advice and guidance from someone who is mature and responsible. None of them are capable of it on their own. They all need to be led by someone sensible and smart.”
“But I am eighteen and I think they are older,” responded Lalji. The words seem to stop the Sarpanch in his tracks momentarily. He retorted dismissively, “Arre! When I was your age, I ran both the shop and farmed the land. And I did the accounts for my elder brothers. Ability trumps age!”
Having gulped the buttermilk in one long action with his head tossed back. Then he got up briskly to leave, adding, “I hear you have an Arab sea master in mind, Parshottam. For my part, I will speak to my contacts in Porbander to find out who they should contact in Africa. I suggest you start putting together enough food and grains for the journey for him.” The two cobras were drowned in buttermilk.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
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January 29, 2025
Book Review The Usurper King Mercedes Rochelle #HenryIV #Plantagenet #Lancaster #Medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @authorrochelle @cathiedunn
I’m delighted to welcome Mercedes Rochelle again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between January 9th – 30th, 2024. Mercedes Rochelle is the author of the following two Historical Fiction / Medieval Historical Fiction books in the The Plantagenet Legacy Series: The Usurper King (305 pages) and The Accursed King . The Usurper King and The Accursed King were published by Sergeant Press on April 5, 2021 and April 18, 2022 respectively.
Below are highlights of both books, Mercedes Rochelle’s author bio, and my 5-star review of The Usurper King.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-henry-iv-usurper-king.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE USURPER KING
THE USURPER KING
(Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy)
by Mercedes Rochelle
Blurb:
From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.
First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn’t take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard’s disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.
To make matters worse, even after Richard II’s funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn’t stay down and malcontents wanted him back.
Universal Buy Links:
The Usurper King: https://books2read.com/u/3nkRJ9
HIGHLIGHTS: THE ACCURSED KING
THE ACCURSED KING
(Book 5 of The Plantagenet Legacy)
by Mercedes Rochelle
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.
Universal Buy Links:
The Accursed King: https://books2read.com/u/b5KpnG
The Plantagenet Legacy Series Links:
Amazon US Series Link
Amazon UK Series Link
All titles in the series are available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIO: MERCEDES ROCHELLE
Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it’s coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers.
Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Her new project is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” taking us through the reigns of the last true Plantagenet King, Richard II and his successors, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. 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 University 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.
Author Links:
Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/authorrochelle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle
BOOK REVIEW: THE USURPER KING
The gallant knight Henry Bolingbroke is welcomed by the French Court even though he has been declared an outlaw and banished by his cousin, King Richard II of England. Henry’s decision to risk returning to England in 1399 AD to claim his inheritance after his father’s death sets the stage for political unrest in the Medieval Historical Fiction, The Usurper King (Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy).
At the urging of Archbishop Arundel, Henry gathers an army and forcibly takes his estates while Richard II is on military campaign in Ireland. Winning the support of other English nobles, Henry confiscates land from those who oppose him and orders his soldiers to destroy much of Cheshire. He quickly gains enough power and support to declare himself as King Henry IV and imprisons Richard II. However, loyalty between Henry IV and his fellow noblemen and son, Prince Hal, is tested. Henry’s fortunes quickly reverse after he announces that Richard II has died of starvation in prison. Thereafter, he faces uprisings from powerful nobles. The novel ends in 1403 at the Battle of Shrewsbury waged between Henry’s army and rebel forces led by “Harry Hotspur” Percy, a former supporter. The story continues in Book 5, The Accursed King, in the series.
The Usurper King is a plot-driven story about political machinations amongst various noble families fighting for power. The meticulous research by Mercedes Rochelle is on display with her vivid Medieval descriptions of landscapes, festivals, battles and alternative history based on rumors that Richard II had escaped. Various points of view weave in and out of the narrative, at times changing in the same scene. The multiple perspectives give insight on the revolving door of loyalty and betrayal among the various factions.
Scenes told from the perspective of Henry and his evolution from an unjustly banished knight to an usurper of the throne is engaging. As Henry grasps for power, his blossoming romance with Joan of Navarre and growing friction with his oldest son, Prince Hal, add a deeper layer to the complex historical figure. One of the most fascinating scene is how an arrow is surgically removed from Prince Hal’s face after the Battle of Shrewsbury, based on actual accounts. A cast of characters, a map, and author’s note are additional bonuses.
I highly recommend The Usurper King for its blend of gripping political intrigue of nobles pitted against kings, cinematic battle scenes, sweet romance, and historical detail of Medieval England.
January 27, 2025
Eleanor Swift-Hook The Fugitive’s Sword #HistoricalAdventure #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @emswifthook @cathiedunn
I‘m delighted to welcome Eleanor Swift-Hook as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 20th – 31st, 2025. Eleanor Swift-Hook is the author of the Historical Adventure, The Fugitive’s Sword (Lord’s Learning), released by Schiavona Books on 8th October 2024 (305 pages).
Below are highlights of The Fugitive’s Sword, Eleanor Swift-Hook’s author bio, and a guest post entitled, “On Research and Rabbit Holes.”
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-the-fugitives-sword-by-eleanor-swift-hook.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE FUGITIVE’S SWORD
The Fugitive’s Sword
(Lord’s Learning)
by Eleanor Swift-Hook
Blurb:
Autumn 1624
Europe is deeply embroiled in what will become the Thirty Years’ War.
A young Philip Lord, once favoured at King James’ court, has vanished without a trace, under the shadow of treason.
Outside the besieged city of Breda, Captain Matthew Rider faces the brutal reality of wintering his cavalry in the siege lines, until he crosses paths with Filippo Schiavono, a young man whose courage and skill could change everything.
Kate, Lady Catherine de Bouqulement, arrives in London prepared to navigate the dangerous politics of King James’ court to ensure troops are sent to her mistress, the exiled Queen of Bohemia.
Within Breda’s walls, a foundling named Jorrit unwittingly stumbles into a lethal conspiracy when Schiavono hires him, supposedly to help sell smuggled tobacco. But Schiavono’s plans go awry and they are compelled to flee the city, only to be captured at sea.
If Schiavono is unable to prove his loyalty and ruthlessness to a savage Dunkirker privateer captain, both he and Jorrit will face certain death.
Meanwhile, in London, Kate is forced to fight her own battle against those seeking to coerce her into their schemes and finds herself trapped in a terrifying and deadly power struggle.
Driven by violence, treachery, and the sea’s merciless tides, their fates collide.
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/TheFugitivesSword
AUTHOR’S BIO: ELEANOR SWIFT-HOOK
Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years’ War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
The Soldier’s Stand, book two in Lord’s Learning and the sequel to The Fugitive’s Sword, is now available for preorder and will be released on 25 February, 2025.
She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook Bluesky
Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
GUEST POST BY ELEANOR SWIFT-HOOKON RESEARCH AND RABBIT HOLES
I suspect there are as many different approaches to historical research as there are writers of historical fiction. Some are as diligent as historians in seeking to track down primary sources, and will spend months or even years hunting out a scrap of information left unseen or unconsidered in an archive, and take long trips to the places their book will be set so they can absorb the atmosphere. At the other end of the spectrum there are those who give a volume of popular history a quick once over and then dive straight in with their own take on how things were.
My approach is somewhere between those examples, but a good bit closer to the former than the latter. I try very hard to get period details right and to track events through my books as they occurred. Where possible, I aim to weave my characters and their doings through the loopholes of history, those places where there is a historical lacuna, a ‘we don’t know for sure’. But I may also bring them into the mainstream of known events and if they tramp upon the ground of solidly known history, I do my best to keep their footfall light and where it might mislead, mention that in my author’s notes. Above all, my duty as a writer of historical fiction is to write a thunderingly good story, but it has to be one set in as solid a historical setting as I can achieve.
Regrettably, I don’t have the option to physically visit and trawl far-flung archives, or have expensive trips to exotic locations, so I base my initial research in solid secondary sources, academic books written by those who have spent years studying the period. Once I have that foundation I can zoom in on whatever specifics I might need to tell my tale.
For me research tends to be of two kinds: that which I do before I ever set finger to keyboard (that broad foundational reading I mentioned), and that which I do in the middle of a sentence when I realise I don’t actually know how that particular item of clothing was fastened.
The joy of the internet in either kind of research is that it places vast amounts of information before you. Often this is easy to access and with just a couple of mouse clicks you can find lists of the most popular names in the era or the terms used to describe different sorts of woollen cloth, freely available books (thank you Internet Archive and Project Gutenberg) and even academic articles and research papers.
Internet Archive Servers: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
If you wish to ‘visit’ a place you have no chance to travel to then Google maps allows you to get some idea of the landscape, look and feel of the area, and many historical towns and buildings have their own online presence and even virtual tours to add to that. Original sources are reproduced online many in free to access form (Early English Books Online and British History Online to name but two). The issue can become not having too little available, but getting lost in it all for an entire afternoon when one should be writing. I can wind up going down not just a rabbit hole but an entire warren of rabbit holes around a single fascinating point.
Wikipedia gets very poor press for accuracy, but it can be a fabulous gateway to richer sources, and the library of historical pictures it has is immense. Art galleries and museums often offer images and details of pictures and artefacts. Then there are specific sites I keep bookmarked that will tell me what day of the week it was on a certain (pre-Gregorian calendar) day of the year; or the phase of the moon on that day, or whether a specific word was in use at the time or not. And if I just can’t get by without that one specific primary source, be it a map or a letter, most often one can request a digital copy to be made by a friendly archivist and emailed for just a small fee…
With so much available, it is amazing that there are still moments when there is no answer to a question, no description/picture of a specific object, place or person. But history, even of just one small era, is huge, and for all the research one does, the odd detail can still slip through the net. My aim is to be as thorough as I can, to ‘fess up’ when I have shifted something from true, and to use my research to create a solid world for my characters to inhabit, which runs as closely to how the world would have been at the time as I can manage.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
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January 15, 2025
Gregory Michael Nixon Diomedes in Kyprios #HistoricalFiction #MythicalFiction #HistoricalMyths #Cyprus #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @doknyx73 @cathiedunn
I‘m delighted to welcome Gregory Michael Nixon as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 13th – 17th, 2025. He is the author of the Mythico-Historical Fiction, Diomedes in Kyprios (The Diomedeia II), released by Historium Press on November 19th, 2024 (243 pages).
Below are highlights of Diomedes in Kyprios, Gregory Michael Nixon’s author bio, and an excerpt from his book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-diomedes-in-kyprios-by-gregory-michael-nixon.html
HIGHLIGHTS: DOMEDES IN KYPRIOS
Diomedes in Kyprios
(
The Diomedeia II series
)
By Gregory Michael Nixon
Audiobook Narrator: Simon de Denet
Blurb:
This is a historically-based novel with authentic, mythic, and fictional characters interacting across the extraordinary panorama after the Fall of Troy and the Hittite Empire during the Bronze Age Collapse. Diomedes leads his Akhaians (Achaeans) to the Isle of Kyprios (now Cyprus) to meet his lost love, Lieia, the ex-queen of the Hittites. Kyprios is where the Peoples of the Sea have gathered before their final assaults on Canaan and Aigyptos (Egypt).
But Diomedes unexpectedly meets the avatar of the Goddess Aphrodite at her Temple in Paphos, the city of her birth. Will she take him from Lieia? Will his wanderings end, or will he head back to sea to seek redemption from the past in the further unknown? Aphrodite must also deal with the beautiful, impetuous youth, Adonis, who swears he would die for her.
The Bronze Age Collapse was a time of such chaos that empires fell, royalty was overthrown, palaces and temples were destroyed, and the hierarchy of the gods was doubted, yet people’s self-reliance emerged like never before, and the ancient Great Goddess of the Cycles of Time, who had been suppressed, began to regain her former dominance.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/BEGKASr
Links to Historium Press 2 nd Edition:
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Diomedes-Kyprios-Gregory-Michael-Nixon/dp/1962465713
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Diomedes-Kyprios-Gregory-Michael-Nixon/dp/1962465705
Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/Diomedes-Kyprios-Gregory-Michael-Nixon-ebook/dp/B0DM2QWNL6
Audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/Diomedes-Kyprios-Diomedeia-Book-2/dp/B0DHLR8YN4
AUTHOR BIO: GEORGE MICHAEL NIXON
Gregory M. Nixon is a retired university professor who, after spending his professional years publishing academic papers, was pleased to discover he still had an active imagination. He moved alone to a nice cottage overlooking magnificent Okanagan Lake in western Canada to create his mythico-historical novels set after the Trojan War and the fall of the Hittite Empire during the Bronze Age Collapse. Nigel, an outdoor cat, also sometimes lives with him.
Author Links:
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/doknyx
Website: https://authorgregorynixon.com/
Twitter / X: https://x.com/doknyx73
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGregoryNixon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doknyx86/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gregory-michael-nixon
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B8YCWGLV
EXCERPT: DOMEDES IN KYPRIOS
“I have one more question for you, O Captain, but it is to do with here and now.” Teukros nodded. “It seems we are headed south, likely toward Ugarit. Do you intend to bypass the east coast of Kyprios entirely?” Diomedes was no longer smiling.
“Ah, you have a seaman’s eye for direction, I see,” Teukros said, unconsciously grasping a mast rope just as the Turms hit a trough between waves. At this, Diomede did allow a half-smile, for he did not consider himself a seaman. He did not like life at sea, often being seasick but suppressing the symptoms. “We are heading south to ride Boreas, the north wind. Soon you will see the long eastern peninsula of Kyprios and then we shall come about in the opposite direction. As the day wanes and the wind dies down, we shall enter the northern current. It makes for a longer journey, but as a sea captain yourself, I’m sure you know it’s what we must do. The main current will take us back around the big island west toward Morphou Bay, which is, I’m guessing, your destination.”
In the evening, Diomedes told the captain and a few others who understood his speech that his goal was ancient Paphos on the western side of Kyprios. Seeing no reason to obfuscate, he told the truncated tale of the promise he had made to Lieia, the Hatti Great Queen, in the depths of the Underworld, that he would be there to meet her. The romantic story moved everyone, but Teukros himself was so stirred he pledged to take Diomede right to Paphos harbour. He grasped Diomede’s wrist and further swore that he would stand by him on this extraordinary adventure until he was no longer needed.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
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January 9, 2025
EJ McKenna No Good Deeds #NoGoodDeeds #HistoricalFiction #FeministWestern #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @EJMcKennaWrites @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome in the new year with E.J. McKenna as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 6th – 10th, 2025. E.J. McKenna is the author of the Historical Fiction / Western Fiction, No Good Deeds, released by Historium Press on November 5th, 2024 (330 pages).
Below are highlights of No Good Deeds, E.J. McKenna’s author bio, and an excerpt from her book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-no-good-deeds-by-e-j-mckenna.html
HIGHLIGHTS: NO GOOD DEEDS
No Good Deeds
By E.J. McKenna
Blurb:
Annie Schaeffer is no stranger to violence. Born of an outlaw father, she was sold to a traveling show at the age of six, now finally escaping as an adult.
On the run and wounded, she finds an unlikely ally in Nathan Healey – a member of the Needham Boys gang.
As she earns her place among the outlaws, Annie’s survival hinges on her lethal skills and growing bond with Nathan.
Nate’s moral compass shifts with his circumstances, especially when those he loves are involved. Upon meeting Annie, he finds himself drawn to a woman determined to live differently to the expectations others place upon her; to live freely and fairly. The way he has always wanted.
Annie’s quest for independence takes a dark turn as the gang begins to collapse. Betrayal runs deep, and the cost of trust is high.
No Good Deeds is a gripping tale of resilience and retribution in the untamed West, where loyalty is fleeting and justice is won at the barrel of a gun. Annie Schaeffer’s story is one of fierce determination, as she battles her past and the outlaws who seek to control her fate.
Triggers: Violence in the form of fist fighting and gunfighting, some scenes of graphic violence
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/X6XQ8i
AUTHOR BIO: E. J. MCKENNA
E.J. McKenna is a freelance writer in the UK with a great interest in American History, and a degree in English and American Literature with Creative Writing from the University of Kent.
At the end of 2023, she co-created a creative writing app for people of all ages to improve their writing skills in a fun, relaxed environment.
Born and raised in the UK, but a lover of traveling, she has a fascination with all social history across different countries and cultures. One of her favourite historical periods is the Victorian era, especially with United States history.
“The juxtaposition between the established countries of Europe, and the new world of America is fascinating to me. So many people trying to survive harsh frontier life, while trying to continue the uptight decorum of Victorian society.”
A huge advocate for feminism and human equity, her writing centres around determined female protagonists in traditionally male roles, tackling the perceptions of women in history. Her strong female protagonists go out of their way to change their society’s expectations for the fairer.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
Instagram Threads Amazon Author Page Goodreads
EXCERPT: NO GOOD DEEDS
“Women ain’t never wanted to be tied to a fella like some lost child, and they ain’t fanatical about bein’ regarded as such.” He exhaled a long line of smoke. “Now, I don’t believe the reason for it is politics, but you best believe when a woman is tired of nonsense, they’ll let you know it. And some of them just know the easiest way to steal everythin’ off a man. From his heart to his britches.”
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
