S.D. Mayes's Blog, page 3
November 19, 2017
Hay Festival Book of the Year update
Nominations and awards are very important to us authors, trying to get our books recognised in a saturated market. However, today I have hope. I have just received a copy of a nomination review for Hay Festival Book Of The Year from Clare Campbell, a Daily Mail journalist. Her wonderful words are below.
If you think Letters to the Pianist is a great book and worthy of a wider audience, you can just copy and paste your review into their nomination page - (if you've read it obviously) or write a review if you haven't already. And by entering you could win a prize - 30 essential books of the last 30 years to mark the Hay Festival's 30th anniversary.
The deadline is 23:59 on Wednesday 22 November - only three more days!
Here is where you vote: https://www.hayfestival.com/book-of-t...
'Letters to the Pianist’ by S.D. Mayes, kept me reading long into the night. A gripping and multi-layered plotline, and authentic characterisation, which had me half in love with one of the central characters, Edward, by the conclusion, are set against an atmospheric WW2 backdrop. Loosely based on the author’s own family experience, (she lost her grandparents in the Blitz) the book is also a moving and complex exploration of personal and cultural identity, looking in depth at what it means to be both part of a family and a wider close-knit community.
Following a serious head injury during an air-raid, Joe Goldberg regains consciousness with no memory of his former life in the East End as a Jewish married father of three. He then discovers that he might have savant syndrome, which gives him an amazing skill as a classical pianist, (a little understood but well-documented neurological phenomenon). His talent leads him into a new romance with an aristocrat, and to being feted by Fascist sympathisers in wartime London society.
As Edward struggles to remember his former identity, his subconscious unease with his new circumstances continues to grow until, purely by chance, he is finally reunited after four years with his beloved daughter, Ruth, and his past unravels before him. Together they must then battle to defend their country against the terrifying forces who seek to overthrow it. Fascinatingly informative, this book is a five star read, which lingers in your mind long afterwards.
If you think Letters to the Pianist is a great book and worthy of a wider audience, you can just copy and paste your review into their nomination page - (if you've read it obviously) or write a review if you haven't already. And by entering you could win a prize - 30 essential books of the last 30 years to mark the Hay Festival's 30th anniversary.
The deadline is 23:59 on Wednesday 22 November - only three more days!
Here is where you vote: https://www.hayfestival.com/book-of-t...
'Letters to the Pianist’ by S.D. Mayes, kept me reading long into the night. A gripping and multi-layered plotline, and authentic characterisation, which had me half in love with one of the central characters, Edward, by the conclusion, are set against an atmospheric WW2 backdrop. Loosely based on the author’s own family experience, (she lost her grandparents in the Blitz) the book is also a moving and complex exploration of personal and cultural identity, looking in depth at what it means to be both part of a family and a wider close-knit community.
Following a serious head injury during an air-raid, Joe Goldberg regains consciousness with no memory of his former life in the East End as a Jewish married father of three. He then discovers that he might have savant syndrome, which gives him an amazing skill as a classical pianist, (a little understood but well-documented neurological phenomenon). His talent leads him into a new romance with an aristocrat, and to being feted by Fascist sympathisers in wartime London society.
As Edward struggles to remember his former identity, his subconscious unease with his new circumstances continues to grow until, purely by chance, he is finally reunited after four years with his beloved daughter, Ruth, and his past unravels before him. Together they must then battle to defend their country against the terrifying forces who seek to overthrow it. Fascinatingly informative, this book is a five star read, which lingers in your mind long afterwards.
November 18, 2017
Hay Festival
I've had some amazing reviews for Letters to the Pianist in the last six weeks since it was released.
If you've read Letters to the Pianist and liked it enough to consider voting for it in the HAY FESTIVAL BOOK OF THE YEAR, you would make this author very happy. You just have to write a minimum of 100 words.
The deadline is 23:59 on Wednesday 22 November - only four more days!
Here is where you vote: https://www.hayfestival.com/book-of-t...
.
If you've read Letters to the Pianist and liked it enough to consider voting for it in the HAY FESTIVAL BOOK OF THE YEAR, you would make this author very happy. You just have to write a minimum of 100 words.
The deadline is 23:59 on Wednesday 22 November - only four more days!
Here is where you vote: https://www.hayfestival.com/book-of-t...
.
November 16, 2017
Book Cover Contest
I'm thrilled to say that Letters to the Pianist has been nominated for Best Cover Award in In'DTale Magazine, which is fabulous news.
The voting ends Monday, at midnight. So please do vote for my book cover if you get a chance.
You will need to set up an account to vote, but it only takes a few minutes. You just click on the option box underneath the book images for Letters to the Pianist
.
Thanks and wish me luck. The link is here:
http://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-...
The voting ends Monday, at midnight. So please do vote for my book cover if you get a chance.
You will need to set up an account to vote, but it only takes a few minutes. You just click on the option box underneath the book images for Letters to the Pianist
. Thanks and wish me luck. The link is here:
http://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-...
November 12, 2017
Paperback Book Giveaway
For those of you who missed out on winning a hardback edition of my WWII suspense novel, Letters to the Pianist, I have a new giveaway that will run for one month, from today - Remembrance Sunday.
This time it's for a signed paperback edition and it's worldwide - so anyone, anywhere, can win a copy.
Three paperbacks are on offer.
And in honour of the Goldberg family, whom my story revolves around, the giveaway will end on the 12th December - the first day of Hanukkah.
Good luck,
S.D.
This time it's for a signed paperback edition and it's worldwide - so anyone, anywhere, can win a copy.
Three paperbacks are on offer.
And in honour of the Goldberg family, whom my story revolves around, the giveaway will end on the 12th December - the first day of Hanukkah.
Good luck,
S.D.
November 6, 2017
BOOK EXTRACT
I hope you enjoy this book extract from my 1940s suspense novel, LETTERS TO THE PIANIST - set in Britain, during and after WWII.
Letters to the Pianist
This extract is taken from a third of the way into the story, when Edward is visiting his father-in-law's country estate in Shropshire with his wife, Connie. The family and some mysterious guests have just eaten game for dinner, after taking part in a rather sinister pheasant shoot, and Edward has just seen the entire table, including his wife, raising a toast to Hitler. Confused and overcome with nausea he covers his mouth with his hand, and staggers towards the door.
This gives you a snapshot of the central theme of the story - how the protagonist, Edward - a Jewish man with no memory of the past, is attempting to make sense of the strange family he has married into.
Stumbling into their bedroom, Edward flopped down onto the four-poster bed. Connie swept through the door after him, her signature Chanel permeating the air like a scented breeze. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he felt her stroke his forehead, feeling the coolness of her fingers contrast with the heat emanating from his brow.
‘How are you, darling?’
He wrinkled his forehead. ‘I don’t feel well.’
‘But you must eat, Eddie. Are you going to join us later?’
He groaned. ‘I’ve got one of those awful migraines. Do apologise for me.’
Connie leant over and kissed him on the lips, stroking his cheek as he turned his face away.
‘Is everything all right, darling?’
‘I just didn’t think you were an Adolf fan?’
Connie pouted and folded her arms. ‘Oh, so that’s what this is about. Honestly, Eddie, you are being silly. I merely raised an innocent glass of claret to a dead man. We must all learn forgiveness for the damned, and I can’t sit there like a party pooper. Daddy would have thought me terribly improper for disrespecting his comrades.’
‘Forgiveness,’ said Edward, staring at her blankly.
‘Yes, Daddy’s philosophy has always been to raise a toast and bless your enemies. It’s a family superstition … in case you meet them in hell.’ Connie giggled.
He closed his eyes, feeling more confused than ever.
‘Do come down when you’re hungry, darling.’ She stood up and smoothed down her dress. ‘I can tell chef to fix you something light, perhaps some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon?’
‘Thank you,’ he said wearily. He waited for the door to shut, relieved to be left alone. Family superstition. Could that really be true? Despite the many times he tried to whitewash it, there was something about his father-in-law's nature that was deeply disturbing. It was like hearing a violinist play a rapturous melody that lifted your spirits until, without warning, there was that one shrill, discordant note, so unbearably, piercingly out of tune, that it made you want to scream for it to stop.
Letters to the Pianist
This extract is taken from a third of the way into the story, when Edward is visiting his father-in-law's country estate in Shropshire with his wife, Connie. The family and some mysterious guests have just eaten game for dinner, after taking part in a rather sinister pheasant shoot, and Edward has just seen the entire table, including his wife, raising a toast to Hitler. Confused and overcome with nausea he covers his mouth with his hand, and staggers towards the door.
This gives you a snapshot of the central theme of the story - how the protagonist, Edward - a Jewish man with no memory of the past, is attempting to make sense of the strange family he has married into.
Stumbling into their bedroom, Edward flopped down onto the four-poster bed. Connie swept through the door after him, her signature Chanel permeating the air like a scented breeze. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he felt her stroke his forehead, feeling the coolness of her fingers contrast with the heat emanating from his brow.
‘How are you, darling?’
He wrinkled his forehead. ‘I don’t feel well.’
‘But you must eat, Eddie. Are you going to join us later?’
He groaned. ‘I’ve got one of those awful migraines. Do apologise for me.’
Connie leant over and kissed him on the lips, stroking his cheek as he turned his face away.
‘Is everything all right, darling?’
‘I just didn’t think you were an Adolf fan?’
Connie pouted and folded her arms. ‘Oh, so that’s what this is about. Honestly, Eddie, you are being silly. I merely raised an innocent glass of claret to a dead man. We must all learn forgiveness for the damned, and I can’t sit there like a party pooper. Daddy would have thought me terribly improper for disrespecting his comrades.’
‘Forgiveness,’ said Edward, staring at her blankly.
‘Yes, Daddy’s philosophy has always been to raise a toast and bless your enemies. It’s a family superstition … in case you meet them in hell.’ Connie giggled.
He closed his eyes, feeling more confused than ever.
‘Do come down when you’re hungry, darling.’ She stood up and smoothed down her dress. ‘I can tell chef to fix you something light, perhaps some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon?’
‘Thank you,’ he said wearily. He waited for the door to shut, relieved to be left alone. Family superstition. Could that really be true? Despite the many times he tried to whitewash it, there was something about his father-in-law's nature that was deeply disturbing. It was like hearing a violinist play a rapturous melody that lifted your spirits until, without warning, there was that one shrill, discordant note, so unbearably, piercingly out of tune, that it made you want to scream for it to stop.
November 1, 2017
Giveaway Winners
Hallelujah 🎊The book giveaway for Letters to the Pianist finally ended at midnight on Halloween, after running for a month. There were an amazing 1,554 entrants, and two winners were randomly chosen to receive a signed hardback. So I want to say a big congratulations to Marcia in Ohio, and Zach in Queensland, Australia. Your book will be winging its way to you very soon ✍️ 📚 🎊
Letters to the Pianist
Letters to the Pianist
