P.J. Roscoe's Blog, page 9
January 5, 2015
'Echoes' giveaway on Goodreads
December 30, 2014
Echoes has won!!
'Echoes' has been awarded an 'Honourable Mention' in the London Book festival being held in the British library in January. I am still in shock I think, but feeling very happy for the recognition. As it happened, I only put it in last minute. I was sent an e-mail to remind me I only had three days left. I took it as a sign that I was meant to put 'Echoes' in - so I did!
Goes to show we must trust our instincts and follow our heart otherwise we might never achieve anything.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-PJ-Ros...
So far this book as won the e-book category in the Paris book festival. Awarded an 'Honourable Mention' in the New England book festival and now this - who knows what might happen?
I have a forthcoming radio interview on January 10th with the author Michelle Jordon and I am looking for other authors to allow me a blog tour. No idea what that is, but I'm hoping kind people will help me with that.
May I wish everyone a fantastic new year and may the Goddess bring you all that you need.
Love and hugs
Paula xxx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Goes to show we must trust our instincts and follow our heart otherwise we might never achieve anything.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-PJ-Ros...
So far this book as won the e-book category in the Paris book festival. Awarded an 'Honourable Mention' in the New England book festival and now this - who knows what might happen?
I have a forthcoming radio interview on January 10th with the author Michelle Jordon and I am looking for other authors to allow me a blog tour. No idea what that is, but I'm hoping kind people will help me with that.
May I wish everyone a fantastic new year and may the Goddess bring you all that you need.
Love and hugs
Paula xxx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas everyone
so here it is. Christmas. It's crept up on me like a sexy stalker - I want it to happen, but not really, not yet as I'm so busy and at a good place in my writing of my fourth novel!! (Just written a sexy bit!!) So it's difficult to walk away and switch off to enjoy the festivities - sometimes!
Once the Bailey's kicks in I'll be fine, but whilst I'm absolutely sober it jerks at my brain that it's there to be written and enjoyed and finished!
So, I'm off - for that well earned drinkie and relax. I sincerely hope that all my readers finds true peace and joy and manage to relax from their every day stresses to enjoy being with whomever they choose to be with during the festivities.
Merry Christmas and many blessings for the New year. May the Goddess bring you all that you need. Blessings of Yuletide to you all.
Paula xx
See you in 2015 x
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Once the Bailey's kicks in I'll be fine, but whilst I'm absolutely sober it jerks at my brain that it's there to be written and enjoyed and finished!
So, I'm off - for that well earned drinkie and relax. I sincerely hope that all my readers finds true peace and joy and manage to relax from their every day stresses to enjoy being with whomever they choose to be with during the festivities.
Merry Christmas and many blessings for the New year. May the Goddess bring you all that you need. Blessings of Yuletide to you all.
Paula xx
See you in 2015 x
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
December 11, 2014
Cold and busy, ho, ho ho!
Just checked to see when my last blog was and cannot believe it was November 19th! Where has the time gone? I have said that sentence and heard it from so many people this last week alone - where indeed has the time gone?
I know that with 'Echoes' release http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-PJ-Ros... it has been an extremely busy time whilst fighting the freezing cold that threatens to stop me from typing!
We are giving away six copies of Echoes on Goodreads - so please check it out and add your name - perhaps you'll be one of three in the UK and three in the US to win? I wish everyone who enters lots of luck and may I say, you'll enjoy it in January/February, but what a shame you haven't got cosy with it during the holiday season! Also a lovely gift for Christmas - I'm terrible at marketing, as I hate to push, but oh joy to have knowledge that people have received my book as a gift!?
And so I say to you, what will you be doing to keep warm and snug this year? Curling up with a book? Mine perhaps?!!!! Or with a loved one - even better! Or a onesie ... or are they so last year now?? A hot totty, a glass or two or three of something naughty ... with a book - mine??!!
While many will be enjoying themselves one way or another, I ask you to spare a thought, some spare change, a gift, your time, to those who are struggling through no fault of their own. To the starving, the abused, the lost and lonely, the forgotten, the homeless, the innocent children I say, you are not alone. You are loved, though it may feel as if you are forgotten, you are not. There is kindness, I have seen it and I strive to be kind every day and there are so many more of us out there.
Together, this world can be so beautiful, so make it so and share love and kindness.
Enjoy and live.
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
I know that with 'Echoes' release http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-PJ-Ros... it has been an extremely busy time whilst fighting the freezing cold that threatens to stop me from typing!
We are giving away six copies of Echoes on Goodreads - so please check it out and add your name - perhaps you'll be one of three in the UK and three in the US to win? I wish everyone who enters lots of luck and may I say, you'll enjoy it in January/February, but what a shame you haven't got cosy with it during the holiday season! Also a lovely gift for Christmas - I'm terrible at marketing, as I hate to push, but oh joy to have knowledge that people have received my book as a gift!?
And so I say to you, what will you be doing to keep warm and snug this year? Curling up with a book? Mine perhaps?!!!! Or with a loved one - even better! Or a onesie ... or are they so last year now?? A hot totty, a glass or two or three of something naughty ... with a book - mine??!!
While many will be enjoying themselves one way or another, I ask you to spare a thought, some spare change, a gift, your time, to those who are struggling through no fault of their own. To the starving, the abused, the lost and lonely, the forgotten, the homeless, the innocent children I say, you are not alone. You are loved, though it may feel as if you are forgotten, you are not. There is kindness, I have seen it and I strive to be kind every day and there are so many more of us out there.
Together, this world can be so beautiful, so make it so and share love and kindness.
Enjoy and live.
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
November 19, 2014
Echoes is coming!
Well, it seems the universe has finally brought me what I want for Christmas a few weeks early - 'Echoes' is out now! The Kindle version should be available from today, the paperback in the next day or two.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6FUt...
This is where you can see the final cover - yes, that's me on the back!
Following on from the launch will be a press release, a blog tour and anything else, so if anyone would be kind enough to have me on their blogs as a guest, I'd be honoured to know you. I would of course reciprocate - I believe in helping each other in this large world. I would like to thank at this stage Michelle Cornwall-Jordan who hosted me on her blog in October http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...- a fabulous woman and author who has kindly said she'd have me back on her radio show asap. Here's the original interview we did in January - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indierev...
I hope to be talking with Michelle again in January 2015.
And that's what I have found since becoming an author - the kindness of people, of strangers who help one another in this vast world. It gives me hope that we can become a better place and I remembered something I read not too long ago -
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
For me, this changed my outlook on life and people and it makes me want to give back, it pushes me to enjoy life and never merely exist.
In love and light my spiritual friends. xxx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6FUt...
This is where you can see the final cover - yes, that's me on the back!
Following on from the launch will be a press release, a blog tour and anything else, so if anyone would be kind enough to have me on their blogs as a guest, I'd be honoured to know you. I would of course reciprocate - I believe in helping each other in this large world. I would like to thank at this stage Michelle Cornwall-Jordan who hosted me on her blog in October http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...- a fabulous woman and author who has kindly said she'd have me back on her radio show asap. Here's the original interview we did in January - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indierev...
I hope to be talking with Michelle again in January 2015.
And that's what I have found since becoming an author - the kindness of people, of strangers who help one another in this vast world. It gives me hope that we can become a better place and I remembered something I read not too long ago -
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
For me, this changed my outlook on life and people and it makes me want to give back, it pushes me to enjoy life and never merely exist.
In love and light my spiritual friends. xxx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
November 14, 2014
Editing, editing and editing!!
Okay my dear readers, firstly let me apologise for not writing sooner - as you may guess from the title, I've been editing! I finally received 'Echoes' from my publisher and have spent most of my waking hours working through the book. Now, a week later, it is done and hopefully flows better. I must admit to my shock at seeing quite a few red writings.
I had considered myself a fairly well written lady, but it seems my literacy is still Welsh thinking that to my eyes looks fine, but when someone else reads it, they can see a better way of flowing that sentence.
There weren't many typo's, but as I had the chance, I changed a few things around myself and added a couple of sentences to help explain a scene better. I've even added a photograph - not sure if it'll stay???
Now editing is hard enough and I'd like to thank my editor Andree Robinson-Neal for the patience it must have taken! Though it was lovely to hear that my story was enjoyed and particularly the many twists and turns that keep a reader guessing.
It was weird for me to return to a story I had considered done and dusted after having won a few competitions. I guess that's why I was surprised at the amount of editing needed!
It was like visiting an old friend. We'd been on a long and sometimes painful journey to get to this point. I have made many mistakes, the most being impatient and launching it when it wasn't 100%.
Now though, with this publisher behind me, I hope it is up to the mark and people will enjoy reading it.
I would like to also thank my family at this point yet again, for being patient with me. xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
I had considered myself a fairly well written lady, but it seems my literacy is still Welsh thinking that to my eyes looks fine, but when someone else reads it, they can see a better way of flowing that sentence.
There weren't many typo's, but as I had the chance, I changed a few things around myself and added a couple of sentences to help explain a scene better. I've even added a photograph - not sure if it'll stay???
Now editing is hard enough and I'd like to thank my editor Andree Robinson-Neal for the patience it must have taken! Though it was lovely to hear that my story was enjoyed and particularly the many twists and turns that keep a reader guessing.
It was weird for me to return to a story I had considered done and dusted after having won a few competitions. I guess that's why I was surprised at the amount of editing needed!
It was like visiting an old friend. We'd been on a long and sometimes painful journey to get to this point. I have made many mistakes, the most being impatient and launching it when it wasn't 100%.
Now though, with this publisher behind me, I hope it is up to the mark and people will enjoy reading it.
I would like to also thank my family at this point yet again, for being patient with me. xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
November 3, 2014
people
people come in all shapes and sizes, all manner of personality traits make this world an interesting place to live. if we were all the same - how dull it would be. However, there is one trait I cannot abide and that is selfishness towards others.
Selfishness creates an anger and frustration in another human being who is being treated abhorrently. This is a feeling which is almost uncontrollable to stop as it is raw hurt that someone, be it a stranger or someone known is willing to behave in such a manner that is going to hurt you.
I am not supposed to be here today. I am supposed to be coming home from a much needed break, yet, we had to come home yesterday because of pure selfishness. Two women renting the holiday cottage attached to ours arrived on Saturday evening (we arrived Friday afternoon) with two dogs, who did nothing but bark, howl and fight.
Now, we chose the cottage for the peace and quiet and beauty. The scenery on Anglesey, looking out onto the sea is stunning - ruined by these two women. They refused to listen to reason or compromise - they didn't even attempt to stop the dogs - they were there, deal with it - was their attitude. You cannot work through that when the peace has disappeared, it's time to leave. Our daughter who the weekend was for is Autistic and she was very upset, did they care - no.
I would love to hear people's opinions on this as sadly I did lose it and we had a small shouting match as I actually wanted to hurt this woman as she had hurt my child by her selfishness. Wrong, I know, but i am a Mother as well as human.
I don't want to dwell on people's negative side though, people can be so noble and caring and loving and I will keep remembering that.
So loving people, tell me why you are wonderful!
Paula
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
Selfishness creates an anger and frustration in another human being who is being treated abhorrently. This is a feeling which is almost uncontrollable to stop as it is raw hurt that someone, be it a stranger or someone known is willing to behave in such a manner that is going to hurt you.
I am not supposed to be here today. I am supposed to be coming home from a much needed break, yet, we had to come home yesterday because of pure selfishness. Two women renting the holiday cottage attached to ours arrived on Saturday evening (we arrived Friday afternoon) with two dogs, who did nothing but bark, howl and fight.
Now, we chose the cottage for the peace and quiet and beauty. The scenery on Anglesey, looking out onto the sea is stunning - ruined by these two women. They refused to listen to reason or compromise - they didn't even attempt to stop the dogs - they were there, deal with it - was their attitude. You cannot work through that when the peace has disappeared, it's time to leave. Our daughter who the weekend was for is Autistic and she was very upset, did they care - no.
I would love to hear people's opinions on this as sadly I did lose it and we had a small shouting match as I actually wanted to hurt this woman as she had hurt my child by her selfishness. Wrong, I know, but i am a Mother as well as human.
I don't want to dwell on people's negative side though, people can be so noble and caring and loving and I will keep remembering that.
So loving people, tell me why you are wonderful!
Paula
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
October 20, 2014
Articles and writing and life
So, it's Monday and it is full Autumn here in North Wales. I sit here huddled in a shawl whilst typing another chapter of 'In-between Worlds'. This is me having a break!!
I wrote an article last week on '12 things NOT to do in an interview'. Not my usual article to write, but I really enjoyed spreading my wings and trying something else - as it happened, it is quite hilarious (one reviewer told me!) and if I may say so, a damned good article!
It's not serious, as I like to have a lightness about my articles - those who read them will know this obviously! and can be found here on The news in Books site
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/12-thin...
My next article with this website will be about authors goals - needs some thought!
You see, me personally I only have one goal, to be able to turn to my husband and say, "It was worth the fight - you can now relax and let me write and it'll be okay - my books sell so much we can live off the royalties".
Now some might read this and think, how arrogant and big-headed - well, to you I say, please don't judge me.
Our lives have never been easy, neither has most peoples, I know, however, I can only dream from my own perspective. My husband works too hard in a job he hates for pittance all because he loves me. I dream of him finding a job that he'll love and where he will be respected for all that he can do - so if anyone out there wants a kind, caring man who has excellent knowledge on computers, music etc, let me know.
I work part-time offering holistic therapy, in-between writing articles, my books and being Mum. I'm now a Chakradance facilitator, so I am offering healing sessions - look on website I am in the UK if interested. So life is fairly busy - great!
So, it's weird how articles just spring up in my head. I stared at the blank page for seconds, then it dribbled out of my brain and the article was done in ten minutes! Not big headed, but reality, I have a full head - be it articles, stories or plain crap - it's there and it's there for you. So please red my articles, my blog, my books, my whatever and engage with me. Come and be healed and have fun and enjoy life, it's my goal to offer joy to people whether it be through paper or my hands or through dance and music - I am here for you, so use me!
Love and blessings
Paula x
Freya's Child
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
I wrote an article last week on '12 things NOT to do in an interview'. Not my usual article to write, but I really enjoyed spreading my wings and trying something else - as it happened, it is quite hilarious (one reviewer told me!) and if I may say so, a damned good article!
It's not serious, as I like to have a lightness about my articles - those who read them will know this obviously! and can be found here on The news in Books site
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/12-thin...
My next article with this website will be about authors goals - needs some thought!
You see, me personally I only have one goal, to be able to turn to my husband and say, "It was worth the fight - you can now relax and let me write and it'll be okay - my books sell so much we can live off the royalties".
Now some might read this and think, how arrogant and big-headed - well, to you I say, please don't judge me.
Our lives have never been easy, neither has most peoples, I know, however, I can only dream from my own perspective. My husband works too hard in a job he hates for pittance all because he loves me. I dream of him finding a job that he'll love and where he will be respected for all that he can do - so if anyone out there wants a kind, caring man who has excellent knowledge on computers, music etc, let me know.
I work part-time offering holistic therapy, in-between writing articles, my books and being Mum. I'm now a Chakradance facilitator, so I am offering healing sessions - look on website I am in the UK if interested. So life is fairly busy - great!
So, it's weird how articles just spring up in my head. I stared at the blank page for seconds, then it dribbled out of my brain and the article was done in ten minutes! Not big headed, but reality, I have a full head - be it articles, stories or plain crap - it's there and it's there for you. So please red my articles, my blog, my books, my whatever and engage with me. Come and be healed and have fun and enjoy life, it's my goal to offer joy to people whether it be through paper or my hands or through dance and music - I am here for you, so use me!
Love and blessings
Paula x
Freya's Child
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
October 8, 2014
Autumn is here and 'Echoes' is coming!
Life never runs smoothly, at least never for me. The latest curve in my life is my re-launch of my first novel 'Echoes' which was taken on by Christine F Anderson Publishing. it is due out on the 24th October - I'm reassured, yet it is the 8th and I've still not seen it to re-edit if needed!
Now, the publisher has had some personal bad news which is awful and my thoughts and prayers go out to her. I can't help but think selfishly and wonder if this will delay my launch?
Even as i write those words I feel like a terrible person. A few more days shouldn't hurt, should it if necessary? Will my baying public wait for my book?? (I'm laughing my arse off now!!) Baying public!!
I've re-read the above and I sound bitter - am I? Maybe? I mean, no one reads these posts do they? At least, no one lets me know they do. No one wants to ask me anything on 'Ask the author' on Goodreads so I'm beginning to wonder what the hell am I doing this for?
Now, I know we all have days like this - so here's mine! If I stop writing today would anyone notice?
Okay, I hear a couple of ladies crying in the background as they've been so patiently waiting for novels three and four! But apart from my loyal ladies, why am I doing this?
For myself? yes, I love writing, we've established that in an earlier blog (no one read??)
Stress is my new best friend lately. I feel overwhelmed with writing articles and books and faerie stories and feeling like I'm doing it for no apparent reason other than to keep myself sane. Is that a good enough reason do you think?
Now, the publisher has had some personal bad news which is awful and my thoughts and prayers go out to her. I can't help but think selfishly and wonder if this will delay my launch?
Even as i write those words I feel like a terrible person. A few more days shouldn't hurt, should it if necessary? Will my baying public wait for my book?? (I'm laughing my arse off now!!) Baying public!!
I've re-read the above and I sound bitter - am I? Maybe? I mean, no one reads these posts do they? At least, no one lets me know they do. No one wants to ask me anything on 'Ask the author' on Goodreads so I'm beginning to wonder what the hell am I doing this for?
Now, I know we all have days like this - so here's mine! If I stop writing today would anyone notice?
Okay, I hear a couple of ladies crying in the background as they've been so patiently waiting for novels three and four! But apart from my loyal ladies, why am I doing this?
For myself? yes, I love writing, we've established that in an earlier blog (no one read??)
Stress is my new best friend lately. I feel overwhelmed with writing articles and books and faerie stories and feeling like I'm doing it for no apparent reason other than to keep myself sane. Is that a good enough reason do you think?
October 1, 2014
Latest reviews of Freya's Child
This is not one of my usual reads, but I enjoyed it, particularly the beautifully poetic language at the beginning.
A village massacre in Viking times. A present-day archaeological dig at the site of the massacre, the lead archaeologist of which, Kathryn, has been suffering terrible recurring nightmares. And a married couple – Robert and Helen -- whose marriage is in a bad way after Robert’s neglect and obsession with his career and then his mental breakdown, cause simmering resentments in Helen. These are the separate elements of the story. All three strands come together when the warring couple move to the husband’s home town in the Wirral, the location of the dig site, in the hope of salvaging their shattered marriage.
But soon their marriage comes under other pressures. Charlotte (‘Cherry’) their small daughter, starts talking to imaginary friends; friends who turn out to be not so imaginary and not so friendly, after all. A visit by the married couple to the archaeological site with their little daughter renews Robert’s friendship with Tony, his boyhood friend.
Strange, spooky and frightening events happen at the site of the dig and at the home of Helen and Robert, our married pair. The lead archaeologist, Kathryn, has been suffering terrible nightmares since long before the dig; since childhood, in fact. She has a burning need to get in contact with the past – her past –and expunge it, or the nightmares will never end. But the dig has suffered fierce local opposition, led by a forceful character named Mr Merton. A string of criminal acts occur, including theft and murder. The continuation of the dig is in danger and with it Kathryn’s hope of ridding herself of her nightmares.
Charlotte’s inexplicable collapse after visiting the dig and touching a rune stone, brings the archaeologists’ support and help when the child is hospitalised suffering from the sudden onset of a coma-like illness. The doctors can’t understand what has caused this illness and, even after conducting various tests, seem unable to do anything about it. Helen, Charlotte’s mother, sure, in her heart, that her child needs to be rescued from the past and those who are determined to keep her to compensate for the loss of their own child during that long-ago massacre, is convinced the only hope for Charlotte is for them to go back to the dig site and conduct certain rituals.
The climax comes during a desperate attempt to drag the child out of her coma and near-death situation, when present and long-distant past come together in an exciting finale.
Apart from a few typos and the unusual line spacing in the paperback -- neither of which detracted from the story -- I found this an expertly told tale. The transition from times past to times present and back again were smoothly-handled. I found the characters believable and their actions thoroughly understandable -- what wouldn't a parent do to save their child?
Recommended. Four stars. A tale of good and evil convincingly told.
Geraldine Evans - Author
Reviewed By Bill Howard for Readers’ Favorite
Four stars
The mystery thriller, Freya’s Child, packs plenty of spine tingling action into a combination of odd twists as an archaeological dig uncovers more than just a few old relics. PJ Roscoe has put together a tale that combines second lives, second sight and nightmares into one as Robert and Helen not only struggle with a marriage gone sour, but are suddenly in way over their heads as their daughter Charlotte, “Cherry,” begins talking about her new friends that she has been seeing in their new house on a regular basis. The problems of their marriage are suddenly put on the back burner as ghostly kidnappers make an attempt to steal their child. Meanwhile, Kathryn has a problem of her own. She has insisted on opening up the archaeological dig at a site where she believes that an old Norse village once stood. It’s not just any Norse village, but her village, the one that she lived in at one time, perhaps in a past life. The vivid details of her nightmare have been with her since childhood, but they have taken a much deeper hold on her once she begins the dig. As the ghosts from the past become more active and the nightmares become more intense, Kathryn’s path collides with that of Robert, Helen and Cherry. Even those who are not prone to believe in ghosts and past lives must suddenly admit that something strange is going on. Together the lot of them must solve the mystery to save a little girl’s life and to bring some peace to themselves.
PJ Roscoe has written a chilling thriller that will keep you turning pages in spite of yourself. Freya’s Child draws past and present together in a conflict of souls that is all too real. PJ does a great job of drawing parallels between the lives of the Norse individuals of the past and those who are in the present. Though at times, I became a little bit weary of the conflict between Robert and Helen, there was enough excitement and action continuing with Cherry and with Kathryn to keep me turning pages. Suspenseful, chilling and probing, Freya’s Child goes beyond just telling a thrilling story and presenting a mystery to be solved, but also looks deeper into the troubled souls of individuals seeking all sorts of answers to bring peace.
I am so happy with these reviews. I have looked through the book to find these 'typo's' and so far most had already been dealt with in another edit last year, but I did find a couple mentioned which us humans had missed, so will change those asap.
Typo's. Minor mistakes. How often as authors do we glare at these feedbacks and forget the approval of the reviewer? I know I do and did. I saw four stars - yippee! Then read on to the review - Yippee! Then saw at the end the dreaded word, 'Typo's' and froze - "but we went through it three times!" "And when I found some more, I changed it yet again?" "Am I blind? Am I stupid? Am I such a bad writer that I can't even see a small typo???"
All of these went through my head until my husband pointed out what I say all the time - "You are human aren't you? The person who edited it is human, right? And books you've read lately that have apparently been edited by professionals are human, right? So, if people are put off by a couple of typo's like extra comma's or a space that shouldn't be there because of your limited knowledge, then perhaps they wouldn't know a great story if it stared them in the face?!"
Good point perhaps!!?
I try my best. My stories are good, no, great, but I am human, I must keep reminding myself!
A village massacre in Viking times. A present-day archaeological dig at the site of the massacre, the lead archaeologist of which, Kathryn, has been suffering terrible recurring nightmares. And a married couple – Robert and Helen -- whose marriage is in a bad way after Robert’s neglect and obsession with his career and then his mental breakdown, cause simmering resentments in Helen. These are the separate elements of the story. All three strands come together when the warring couple move to the husband’s home town in the Wirral, the location of the dig site, in the hope of salvaging their shattered marriage.
But soon their marriage comes under other pressures. Charlotte (‘Cherry’) their small daughter, starts talking to imaginary friends; friends who turn out to be not so imaginary and not so friendly, after all. A visit by the married couple to the archaeological site with their little daughter renews Robert’s friendship with Tony, his boyhood friend.
Strange, spooky and frightening events happen at the site of the dig and at the home of Helen and Robert, our married pair. The lead archaeologist, Kathryn, has been suffering terrible nightmares since long before the dig; since childhood, in fact. She has a burning need to get in contact with the past – her past –and expunge it, or the nightmares will never end. But the dig has suffered fierce local opposition, led by a forceful character named Mr Merton. A string of criminal acts occur, including theft and murder. The continuation of the dig is in danger and with it Kathryn’s hope of ridding herself of her nightmares.
Charlotte’s inexplicable collapse after visiting the dig and touching a rune stone, brings the archaeologists’ support and help when the child is hospitalised suffering from the sudden onset of a coma-like illness. The doctors can’t understand what has caused this illness and, even after conducting various tests, seem unable to do anything about it. Helen, Charlotte’s mother, sure, in her heart, that her child needs to be rescued from the past and those who are determined to keep her to compensate for the loss of their own child during that long-ago massacre, is convinced the only hope for Charlotte is for them to go back to the dig site and conduct certain rituals.
The climax comes during a desperate attempt to drag the child out of her coma and near-death situation, when present and long-distant past come together in an exciting finale.
Apart from a few typos and the unusual line spacing in the paperback -- neither of which detracted from the story -- I found this an expertly told tale. The transition from times past to times present and back again were smoothly-handled. I found the characters believable and their actions thoroughly understandable -- what wouldn't a parent do to save their child?
Recommended. Four stars. A tale of good and evil convincingly told.
Geraldine Evans - Author
Reviewed By Bill Howard for Readers’ Favorite
Four stars
The mystery thriller, Freya’s Child, packs plenty of spine tingling action into a combination of odd twists as an archaeological dig uncovers more than just a few old relics. PJ Roscoe has put together a tale that combines second lives, second sight and nightmares into one as Robert and Helen not only struggle with a marriage gone sour, but are suddenly in way over their heads as their daughter Charlotte, “Cherry,” begins talking about her new friends that she has been seeing in their new house on a regular basis. The problems of their marriage are suddenly put on the back burner as ghostly kidnappers make an attempt to steal their child. Meanwhile, Kathryn has a problem of her own. She has insisted on opening up the archaeological dig at a site where she believes that an old Norse village once stood. It’s not just any Norse village, but her village, the one that she lived in at one time, perhaps in a past life. The vivid details of her nightmare have been with her since childhood, but they have taken a much deeper hold on her once she begins the dig. As the ghosts from the past become more active and the nightmares become more intense, Kathryn’s path collides with that of Robert, Helen and Cherry. Even those who are not prone to believe in ghosts and past lives must suddenly admit that something strange is going on. Together the lot of them must solve the mystery to save a little girl’s life and to bring some peace to themselves.
PJ Roscoe has written a chilling thriller that will keep you turning pages in spite of yourself. Freya’s Child draws past and present together in a conflict of souls that is all too real. PJ does a great job of drawing parallels between the lives of the Norse individuals of the past and those who are in the present. Though at times, I became a little bit weary of the conflict between Robert and Helen, there was enough excitement and action continuing with Cherry and with Kathryn to keep me turning pages. Suspenseful, chilling and probing, Freya’s Child goes beyond just telling a thrilling story and presenting a mystery to be solved, but also looks deeper into the troubled souls of individuals seeking all sorts of answers to bring peace.
I am so happy with these reviews. I have looked through the book to find these 'typo's' and so far most had already been dealt with in another edit last year, but I did find a couple mentioned which us humans had missed, so will change those asap.
Typo's. Minor mistakes. How often as authors do we glare at these feedbacks and forget the approval of the reviewer? I know I do and did. I saw four stars - yippee! Then read on to the review - Yippee! Then saw at the end the dreaded word, 'Typo's' and froze - "but we went through it three times!" "And when I found some more, I changed it yet again?" "Am I blind? Am I stupid? Am I such a bad writer that I can't even see a small typo???"
All of these went through my head until my husband pointed out what I say all the time - "You are human aren't you? The person who edited it is human, right? And books you've read lately that have apparently been edited by professionals are human, right? So, if people are put off by a couple of typo's like extra comma's or a space that shouldn't be there because of your limited knowledge, then perhaps they wouldn't know a great story if it stared them in the face?!"
Good point perhaps!!?
I try my best. My stories are good, no, great, but I am human, I must keep reminding myself!
