Devon Book Club discussion
Writer's and Booksellers Corner
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New from Devon Authors
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I asked Morwenna to tell me about what being a writer means to her and this is what she told me
"When I was six, I wrote an endless story about a frog. I started writing it in school time, and kept going pretty much without stop for a week. I never finished it, but I never looked back.
Writing has been for me an outlet, and escape, a compulsion, a torture and a joy – but it has been the one constant in my life.
I’ve always loved finding scrawled messages, tickets and postcards in second-hand books, and I’m forever making note in margins and underlining sections that resonate with me – stories are fluid and inextricably linked.
And that’s what drove The (D)Evolution of Us - the inextricability of stories; the fact that even the most seemingly insignificant actions we make can have a profound affect on others; that what we perceive to be happening isn’t necessarily what is actually happening.
Writing simultaneously helps me question the world, and make sense of it. It allows me to explore lives I haven’t lived, and to really put myself in other people’s shoes. It makes me feel less alone, but also like I’m guarding a precious secret. It’s freedom, and it never ends.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the novel!"
The Book:
"… the water was red and translucent, like when you rinse a paint brush in a jam jar. The deeper into the water, the darker the red got. No, the thicker it got. It wasn’t water, it was human. It was Cath.
Cath is dead, but how and why isn’t clear-cut to her best friend, Kayleigh.
As Kayleigh searches for answers, she is drawn deeper into Cath’s hidden world.
The (D)Evolution of Us questions where a story really begins, and whether the world in our heads is more real than reality."
The (D)Evolution of Us is available on Kindle from May. You can pre-order now.
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I have been chatting recently to Geoff Duck who has just published his debut novel 'Coat With Long Sleeves' through Matador - "a novel that explores what happens when you have too much time on your hands for your own good".
Coat With Long Sleeves is a psychological thriller based partly in North Devon (where he lives). It explores the retreat of nature in the deep countryside of North Devon , the unravelling of traditional farming society and the lingering influence of pagan folklore in the rural imagination. With its mysterious sacred groves and ancient farmhouses, macabre carvings of green men in medieval churches and dark wooded valleys, the scene is set for a story of psychological intrigue and suspense
It sounds like a fabulous, different and very interesting book to me.
I was fascinated to hear about the inspiration behind the book. Like his protagonist Geoff found some smoke blackened thatch in the roof of his farmhouse in when poking a hole in the ceiling. This made him think about what if he could find something up there that he knew FOR SURE was hidden five hundred years ago, something harvested by a medieval peasant and set there half a millennium ago? It might be anything.
It didn’t take Geoff long to make the connection with the natural world and how it’s changed over time. And how the way people live has changed, but also how the way people THINK has changed. And then to link it to their supernatural beliefs and the green men in the roof bosses of the church and to the Nymptons – George, Bishop’s, King’s and the mysterious Queen’s that no one can quite place – all sacred groves, all ancient and echoes of pre-Christian worship, and all still here just a few miles down the road.
You can find out more about Geoff and his work here www.geoffduckauthor.com
looks fabulous. going to put it on my shelf
Mod
Certainly an unusual book - I look forward to reading it myself
Thank you Ian for welcoming me and I look forward to sharing my reads. I am an author who is Devon brought up - Exeter - ex Mount St Mary's for those who remember the convent school. I now live in rural Buckinghamshire but return home frequently.
Ian, kindly suggested I shared my book details here. My debut novel, The Third Magpie - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
came out in paperback in March - not great timing! This week I am part of a Random Things Tour and have had some lovely reviews on Twitter. It is on special offer for the digital (99p) but if you are interested in a dystopian love story, & prefer paperback, I can send then with free p&p to the UK. Just contact me here, on twitter @msclementsbook or via the publisher's website.
http://pgupbooks.co.uk
Thank you.
PS - currently reading - 'THE HUNTING PARTY' & 'THE SCAPEGOAT' - You can't beat a bit of Du Maurier!
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I am an author who is Devon brought up - Exeter - ex Mount St Mary's for those who remember the convent school. I now live i..."
Fantastic - thank you. Hope it goes well and I'll give it some air time once we are the other side of our #nonfiction fortnight
Thank you IanCurrently getting inspiration for book 2 while walking around my home county 😊
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Currently getting inspiration for book 2 while walking around my home county 😊"
Excellent - great to hear it. Hope the words come easily
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"...With notes of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and touches of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and The Durrells in Corfu, I was completely captivated by Dennison's cleverly crafted plot, well-developed characters, and masterful take on England's sub-tropical paradise." –Ellie Alexander
Death at High Tide (Minotaur August 2020) is the first book in her new Island Sisters Mysteries set in the idyllic Isles of Scilly.
When Evie Mead's husband suddenly drops dead of a heart attack, a mysterious note is found among his possessions implying that Evie owns the deeds to a small hotel on Tregarrick Rock, a tiny island in the Isles of Scilly.
She and her sister visit the hotel but are in for a disappointment. The foul-tempered hotel owner claims he's never heard of Evie’s husband and the other island inhabitants, ranging from an ex-con receptionist to a vicar who communicates with cats, aren't any easier to read.
When a body is found on the beach and then a second soon follows, Evie and Margot find themselves prime suspects with the local constabulary who claim there was “no crime on Scilly until you came along.”
Stuck on the island at high tide and with only a handful of residents, the sisters find they must unravel the island’s secrets that span generations—along with several of their own—if they want to make it back alive.
Hannah was born in Hampshire but grew up in Devon before spending twenty-five years living California. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. For many years Hannah taught mystery writing workshops at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program in Los Angeles, California.
She writes the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries and the Vicky Hill Mysteries both set in the wilds of the Devonshire countryside where she now lives with her two high-spirited Hungarian Vizslas.
For more information on Hannah, please visit her website www.hannahdennison.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Sins as Red as Scarlet tells the True Story of Bideford’s Tumultuous Past
Local author and historian, Janet Few, has just released her second historical novel, which is set in Devon. Sins as Red as Scarlet is based on actual events that took place between 1640 and 1682; a time when the Age of Reason had begun and scientific thought was ousting superstitious belief. The menacing days of the witchfinder had all but gone. Nevertheless, in Devon’s county town, three impoverished women were condemned to death for the crime of witchcraft. They came from Bideford, a prosperous port, with flourishing tobacco warehouses and ships departing for the Newfoundland cod-banks or taking pottery across the Atlantic. It was a time of plague, of war and of religious dissent, all of which fashioned the prejudices and fears of the town’s inhabitants.
There is also a modern strand to the book, which follows sixteen-year-old Martha, as she researches the seventeenth century history of her home-town and comes to realise that human nature does not change; intolerance and peer pressure have always exerted their power. Yet there have been and still are, those who stand aside from the bigotry and the victimisation. Probing the motivations and beliefs of Bideford’s seventeenth century residents, Martha comes to understand how past events might lead ordinary people to become the victims, the accusers, or the accused. In the process, Martha finds a new resilience, enabling her to rise above those who seek to demean her.
Janet, who is known internationally in the world of genealogy, has meticulously researched the life of each of her characters, using the techniques of the family historian. In this way, she has uncovered some facts that are not widely known about the individuals who feature in her story.
She says “My work as an historical interpreter means that I live in the seventeenth century, in the guise of my alter ego Mistress Agnes. She is a formidable goodwife of a certain age, who leads a somewhat chaotic life during the time of the English Civil War. Writing this book was a wonderful opportunity to use both my knowledge of the social history of that time and also my genealogical background, as I describe Martha’s research. I am fascinated by human behaviour and I was keen to draw parallels between witchcraft accusations and modern-day bullying.”
There are plenty of topical references in the book; the general election, Brexit and Bideford’s ‘Little White Town’ controversy all get a mention but writing the part of the novel that is set in 2020 was particularly challenging, Janet reveals. “Firstly, I had to remember what it was like to be sixteen. As I am still waiting to grow up, this wasn’t too difficult. What was more of a problem was that a significant part of the narrative takes place between June and September 2020 and the writing was almost complete when it became apparent that 2020 would not be an ordinary year. After much consideration, I decided that Martha should inhabit an alternative version of the year 2020. Although the seventeenth century portion of the book is based on fact, this is after all a novel. So, COVID-19 does exist in Martha’s world but its effects are far less severe.”
Always keen to collaborate with others who work in the creative industries, Janet has published the book through the North Devon publishing collective Blue Poppy Publishing http://bluepoppypublishing.co.uk. As with her previous novel, Janet worked with musician Dan Britton http://danbritton.co.uk, whose family are rooted in North Devon. He has composed a compelling companion song to the book. The powerful cover was designed by local artist, Robin Paul, of The Branch Line http://facebook.com/TheBranchLine. In addition, on the day that Sins as Red as Scarlet was launched, Janet’s earlier novel, Barefoot on the Cobbles, also based on a real Devon tragedy, became available as an audio book. This has been produced by Devon-based voice artists Circle of Spears Productions http://circleofspears.com.
Sins as Red as Scarlet can be obtained from Bideford bookshop, Walter Henry’s, from Blue Poppy Publishing and from the author. The first 500 purchasers who order directly from Janet, will also receive a complimentary copy of her social history of the seventeenth century Coffers, Clysters, Comfrey and Coifs. For details of this offer see http://thehistoryinterpreter.wordpres.... Sins as Red as Scarlet is also available on Kindle from http://amazon.co.uk/Sins-Red-Scarlet-....
Mod
The Blurb
"Happily ticking off her ‘forty things at forty’ bucketlist in 2019
Emma, wife and mother to two young children, hadn’t included a breast cancer diagnosis. Rather inconveniently a summer of fun was replaced with hospital appointments, scans and the commencement of ‘The Poisoning’
(chemotherapy).
Using her slightly sweary and dark humour Emma takes you on a ‘Bridget Jones diary’ style chronological journey in her quest to kill ‘Lumpy’. From sensible practical tips and advice to her weekly mini blogs to manage her ‘Cancer comms’, ‘chemo sitter’ rotas for friends to entertain her on treatment days and Uncle Fester at Halloween she shows you the
highs, the lows and everything in-between.
She also shares the real time conversations and words of loved ones. One thing’s for sure - Cancer could take her hair but she was damned if it was taking her humour.
£2 from every paperback sold will be donated to FORCE cancer charity."
I asked Emma to tell me about herself and she told me:
"I am married to Darren, the co-owner of two small humans and Beagle Arthur. Lawyer by day, now author by night I’ve just self-published my first book ‘Take my hair (but not my humour; one mum’s journey seeing off breast cancer’
What do I do for shits and giggles? I love:
Reading – criminal and psychological thrillers (anything a bit dark and stabby), legal thrillers.
Music – anything, especially dance, trance and happy hardcore but definitely not loud shouty stuff.
Driving, travelling, comedy, laughter, cuddles.
Cosy nights in watching films and getting heavily involved with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.
The occasional night out (very occasional these days!)
Getting outside in the fresh air.
And, I asked, what does publishing this book mean to you? Her answer..
EVERYTHING
I didn’t set out to write a book.
I find writing very cathartic and had started journaling to help clear the crazy thoughts and emotions from my head as I started this unexpected journey. I also started sending weekly update messages to all my friends and family which I quickly dubbed my ‘cancer comms’. Everybody got the same
message after ‘Happy Chemo Tuesday’ with a little update.
Then after calls of ‘You’re so funny you should write a book’ I thought ‘I bloody well will.’
I didn’t have a clue how to write a book but I knew I wanted a
chronological account where I could take the reader with me and experience the highs and lows as they happened. I also realised it could be used as a great source of practical tips and information so included everything I thought would be useful.
I didn’t know how it was all going to end but I just knew I needed to start. So at first it was for me. Then it was somewhere to document all the love and support in the words of my friends and family. And then I realised if I shared it I could help other people not just going through cancer but also offer a different perspective for their loved ones.
I always dreamt of writing a book but funnily enough cancer gave me both the time and the topic.
How can you contact Emma and buy the book?
www.lightboxblogger.co.uk
Insta & FB @lightboxblogger
The book is available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book. Emma has her own ‘special edition’ copies she is trying to sell directly. They are lovely quality and have photos in the middle. The Amazon ones don’t.
She is asking people to email her at Emma@lightboxblogger.co.uk for details of how they can get hold of them. If she sells direct she has more to donate to FORCE!)
Congratulations on your publication day Emma and I hope that the book does really well
Thank you Ian for posting, and best wishes to Emma. It can't have been easy to negotiate the rigours of cancer treatment and writing a book at the same time. I take my hat off to you. Good luck with the sales.
Mod
Good luck wi..."
Apologies for me very, very tardy reply. I think that the book has done very well and has hit bestseller lists so that is wonderful to see
I've just published a novel entitled The Long Acre. I've worked on Dartmoor for many years, taking out treks and helping on the family farm. My three children grew up swimming in the rivers and helping round up the sheep and cattle, two of them now work on farms in Devon and in Cornwall. I think that the outdoor life gets into your blood, so during the first Covid-19 lockdown, when I wasn't able to travel to the moor from my home in Chulmleigh, I threw all my spare time into finishing The Long Acre, which is all about people who live and work outside and up in the hills.
I thought, if I can’t go out there, at least I can write about it.
Here is an extract from a review by the writerPaul Salveson, which I think describes the book beautifully:
'Novels about English rural life are fairly common, but this is a bit special. The usual ‘rural’ novel is usually about a city dweller’s take on country life, usually about the perils of middle-class ‘incomers’ coming to terms with life beyond London. Rachel’s novel (her first) isn’t like that at all. It’s about real people who are ‘of the soil’, going back generations. Maybe its nearest similar work is Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s Scots Quair, particularly Cloud Howe. But that was about a very different time, and place. This is now, in England’s West Country, facing huge social and economic stresses from the decline of farming, development pressures and how farming people cope – or don’t. '
https://www.long-acre-rfrancis.com
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Now I feel somewhat under pressure! Yes Scots Quair is fantastic. I wouldn't personally claim to be up there just yet.
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Haha - no pressure at all. Here to support you whenever it works for you - but I do love Sunset Song Lewis Grassic Gibbon
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Exmoor author, Hazel Prior has written two books. Her debut novel, which is set locally, is entitled ELLIE AND THE HARP MAKER and is a quirky and lyrical love story. It is inspired by Hazel's love of music (she is also a harpist) and the countryside. Her second novel, AWAY WITH THE PENGUINS, just came out this year and has already been selected for both BBC Radio 2's Book Club and Richard & Judy's Book Club.
It tells the story of a feisty octogenarian millionairess and her adventures in Antarctica with some penguins. Although there are underlying messages about caring for our world and each other, the book is a fun, uplifting read, which is apparently ideal for lockdown!
About the book:
Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea, perhaps with a ginger thin on the side. She enjoys watching a good wildlife documentary. She is never seen without her ruby-red lipstick. Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because at eighty-five her days are spent mostly at home, alone.
She can be found collecting litter from the beach (‘People who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’), and shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’).
Veronica doesn't have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway... And she has no idea where she's going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.
But today... today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this...
A warm, witty, inspiring story of late-life discovery which asks the powerful question: Is it ever too late to change our world?
"This year's Eleanor Oliphant . . . Funny, bittersweet and wholly original."
~ Daily Express
"I love this gorgeous book. Unflinching, stubborn, funny and moving, Veronica is an unlikely heroine who will sneak in and capture your heart"
~ Trisha Ashley, Sunday Times bestselling author
"A glorious, life-affirming story. I read it in a day. I’m going to buy it for so many people this year!"
~ Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author
I'm just finishing reading Away with the Penguins. It's a wonderful, feel-good piece of escapism. A must for just about any Christmas stocking. Really proud that Hazel's an Exmoor writer - hope she's already working on something new!
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Hi Dianne - I am sure she is but I'll ask her and let you know
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This is both a guide and history on the impact of London on Dylan, and the lasting legacy of Bob Dylan on the London music scene. Bob Dylan In London celebrates this journey, and allows readers to experience Dylan’s London and follow in his footsteps to places such as the King and Queen pub (the first venue that Dylan performed at in London), the Savoy hotel and Camden Town. This book explores the key London places and times that helped to create one of the greatest of all popular musicians, Bob Dylan.
Keith and Jackie met at university and have always been fascinated by Dylan. They went on a pilgrimage through London, visiting the locations that were important in his journey and, more recently, set up the Dylan Room at the Troubador Club.
The idea was originally to set up a guide book that would help Dylan fans find their way around London on a Dylan tour, illustrated on a map at the heart of the book.
Keith's family is Harberton based and he is moving to Ashburton later this year.
The book was launched on 4/2/21 by McNidder & Grace Ltd
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"Hi, I'm James. I'm twelve years old now, but when Mum and I came up with the idea to write this children's book, I was nine. I hadn't been a Chorister for very long, but I already loved it.
We had heard about lots of Choristers who had come back to the Choir as adults because they loved it so much. That's what made us think of an idea for a ghost choir, so that people could sing in the choir forever.
I look a bit different in the picture above than what I look like now (in the photo below) because I have alopecia. It took me a while to get used to being bald but I don't mind any more. In fact, I think it's OK and I'll miss it if my hair ever grows back!
I love my school, Exeter Cathedral School, especially that it's really old and I can imagine that there really are secret passages. There's supposed to be one under the Head's desk but I haven't tried to find it (yet)! I love rugby and playing goalie in hockey. I'm not so keen on cricket but I do like playing it with my friends.
We do lots of music at school as well. Did you know that Chris Martin from Coldplay went to our school? Cool! 'Shows that the school is really good at music ... and so is Chris! :-)
I did the drawings for the inside of our book and Mum drew the cover. Mum and I talked about the ideas for the pictures and she taught me how to draw stuff that I didn't know before - like how to draw a Griffin. I did the drawings in pencil, then Mum went over the outlines in pen so that they would show up clearly in the book.
I've been doing the drawings for a long time so I think the first ones look a bit childish now. I did loads during lockdown. Sometimes I got fed up with drawing so many pictures - over 140 of them - but I was very pleased each time I finished one.
It feels like the book has taken ages to make, but we wanted to stick at it so that we could raise money for the school and the Cathedral. You see, I really am the boy in the book and it's even true that we don't have live TV and our car is a Cringemobile. The people at the school and Cathedral have been brilliant so we want to thank them for my Choristership. I hope you like our book.
About the book:
Tiggs and The Midnight Choir has been described as ‘Harry Potter for children who sing’, a children’s fiction book that’s a great read for all ages. This is a contemporary ghost story in which a mythical
creature, a young boy and an ancient cathedral choir prove that both modern and medieval mischief can be just as much fun!
Better still, it was written from the heart. The story began when James became a Chorister at Exeter Cathedral. But the dusky smells, haunting sounds and chill air of the ancient Cathedral, which became part of everyday life, aroused a sense of adventure in both James and his mum.
Using real life as a backdrop, they decided to add a blend of imagination and history to create this exciting, comedy suspense. Mum, Julie, wrote the words and James illustrated the book with over 140 quirky, fun drawings. James completed the final drawings during lockdown. At this time, he lost all his hair to alopecia, but illustrating the book took his mind off his worries. James says: ‘It’s not just the ghosts and secret passages that I like about our book. It’s also about friendship and getting over fears. When I lost my hair, it was scary going back to school and singing at the Cathedral again, knowing that I’d be the only bald Chorister! It’s also cold with no hair! But my school and choir friends were fantastic and really cheered me on. It’s like that in the book – James in the book
feels different but he has great friends who help him through, like they did for me in real life.’
This heart-warming story uses the backdrop of Exeter Cathedral as a Christian platform from which to promote respect for differing cultures, religions and beliefs of an after-life. James and Julie hope that the story will inspire other children to overcome hardship, while funds raised from the sale of the book will support his school and the Cathedral, enabling them to offer to other children the exciting life that they have given to James.
Email: info@tiggstheguardian.com www.TiggsTheGuardian.com
Book sales: ‘Tiggs and The Midnight Choir’, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
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About Victoria:
Victoria was a criminal defence barrister for many years before becoming a writer. Her debut crime novel, The Smart Woman's Guide to Murder, was published last year, and is a finalist in the People's Book Prize. Readers can vote for the book here https://peoplesbookprize.com/.../the-.... It was also announced as In Search of the Classic Mystery's Book of the Year 2020. Body on the Island is the second book in the series. She also writes Adapting Agatha about adaptations of Agatha Christie’s novels and has spoken at various literary festivals, including Crime in the Countryside. Victoria is also an award winning short story writer, having won the Gothic Fiction Short Story Award 2019. She has had short fiction published in various literary journals and magazines.
About the book:
This is the second book in the Smart Women’s Mystery series, a dark, comic take on the classic whodunnit. Ursula Smart is the unreliable narrator who, with her mother Pandora, Aunt Charlotte and friends, embarks on a survival course to the Outer Hebrides. Abandoned on an uninhabited island, without food, electricity or any form of communication, they fight for survival not only against the gruelling conditions, but also whatever is killing them one by one. Is it one of their own group or is there something else on this eerie island shrouded in folk lore, with only one manor house and a tiny chapel for shelter? Why is the beach littered in bones? Why has Aunt Charlotte eaten all the tea bags? Is the whistling they can hear from the island or is someone, or something, else out there? To survive, the Smart women must stop sniping at each other long enough to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.
Like her first book, this looks like a fabulous read and I know I can't wait to settle down with my copy.
I'm sure you'll all join with me in congratulating Victoria both on her previous success and on the release of the new book.
Mod
I asked Susie to tell us about her writing:
"I’ve been working on my fantasy series, Blood Gift Chronicles, for over fifteen years. As life evolved, so too did the stories, adding layers to those tender early drafts. Writing is a solitary pastime, so it’s great to find community within the realm of books; Monday evenings with Devon Book Club on Twitter are a personal highlight. As an avid reader across genres, I’m always happy to champion books I love. Thanks to Devon Book Club for allowing me a moment to champion my own.
This post follows the recent release of The Warder: Book 2 of Blood Gift Chronicles. Glimpsing a box of new books delivered to the door, and that first sighting of your brand-new release never grows old. Since then that excited flurry hasn’t yet faded. I’m thrilled with the end result and hope you enjoy it too.
For those new to my books, it follows Return of the Mantra: the story of a young woman’s search for justice and her own identity, a fight back against oppression to restore the old ways. Themes around wildlife and the environment continue, as we return to the story ten years on in The Warder.
What would you sacrifice to save those you love? In a land of gifts and curses, is anything what it seems to be?
I’ve lived alongside my characters for a long time, working on their development as the series progresses, watching them age and grow, seeing how they respond to challenges in their changing world. And there is plenty to challenge, both from the extraordinary to the more mundane. From the beginning, it was important to me that, while in the fantasy genre, character arcs face themes that are relevant to the society as we know it; in particular, highlighting and tackling social injustices.
The lands in the books are distant yet familiar: from the land of Shendi with its sweeping deserts and coastal town, to new lands as the series progresses and the world unfolds. If I listen carefully, I can almost hear the eagle’s cries ring out from the mountain summits overlooking the grasslands. Other themes you can expect to find in this morally grey world are animism, magic, dragons and being true to oneself.
http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/produ...
A little about Susie:
Devon has been Susie’s home for over fifteen years. Originally from Yorkshire, she started out as a science teacher, then went on to spend four years living and working out in Africa when she was in her twenties. From teaching TEFL in the Sudan, and adult literacy in South Africa, she returned to the UK and worked in a range of support roles, including in a women’s refuge. Over time she increasingly prioritised the time to write.
Published by Stairwell Books, Susie reads widely and is influenced by authors such as Ursula Le Guin, Patricia McKillip and Octavia Butler. She loves working in the fantasy genre for its limitless creativity and flexibility to incorporate contemporary issues. She lives with her wife, Kate, close to the river Exe and a bike ride away from the sea, and loves exploring the Devon surrounds, and taking part in local community projects. When she’s not writing she can be found painting canvases to fill the white-washed walls of home. To find out more visit her blogsite, where she writes a regular blog about writing, books, painting and Devon Life.
www.susiewilliamson.blog
Thank you for having me, Devon Book Club xx
Had a look at the books, right up my street. Pleased to see that we have the first book in Devon Libraries, once I've ploughed through my current pile I shall put in a reservation.
Ley wrote: "Had a look at the books, right up my street. Pleased to see that we have the first book in Devon Libraries, once I've ploughed through my current pile I shall put in a reservation."I hope you enjoy...
Mod
"I moved to Devon with Richard, my partner thirty years ago and for the last fifteen we have developed a small production company called Riversmeet. Books, plays and performing have always been central to our lives, Richard is an author and playwright and I’m an actor and producer. Over the last eighteen months we have branched out into setting up a small press and publishing two books, one of short stories and one poetry both by writers we really admire. Then of course lockdown came and we had to cancel forthcoming plays.
After feeling pretty glum for a while we started turning our play scripts into short films. We started with Rebels in Heaven a play about the English Civil War which should have been on in London last May and then moved onto filming pieces from a new play about the time in 1812 Percy Bysshe Shelley spent in Lynton in North Devon suspected of sedition and watched by Home Secretary Lord Sidmouth.
Then we started developing literature courses. Richard teaches literature to University Students but has always wanted to try a new approach to get more people enjoying so called ‘difficult’ books, it’s called the Slow Learning approach to reading.
Slow Learning in this context is the opposite of fast food and multitasking. It recognises that for many people education can consist of a rush from one topic, one book, to the next and then at the end a piece of paper that all too often represents nothing much more than itself.
In Slow Learning the process is all-important, the difference between the end and the process is akin to the difference between information and knowledge.
So how does this work in practice? Well Richard wanted to start with his favourite book James Joyce’s Ulysses, which I had to confess I had failed to read several times! At the start of each section readers receive a ten minute video ‘guide’ to the chapter/section then about ten days later we gather for a guided discussion on zoom. Some people enjoy the group discussion and a couple prefer just to use the videos to support their private reading. We started last September and five months on our group is still with us!
I’m doing the course too and it has shaken me out of the reading rut I had got into on an endless diet of crime fiction. I’m still enjoying my favourite genre (just finished the most recent excellent Val McDermid) but I’m getting a lot from stretching myself in a supported way. So next up is The Mrs Dalloway course which we will start on the 22nd March and will have six sections over twelve weeks. To my surprise I find I’m actually looking forward to another adventure in modernist literature.
https://riversmeetproductions.co.uk/
https://www.spotlight.com/5659-9085-0286
Mod
A little bit about Joseph:
Born in Barnstaple, North Devon Joseph spent his childhood living in Woody Bay before moving to Woolacombe. His writing career began late in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown with the creation of 'The British Empire of Magic' the first novella of a trilogy. You can enjoy his work now via Amazon Kindle & paperback.
About The Book:
The British Empire of Magic
Prince Jacob is faced with an impossible task: The Queen's throne is threatened and her country thrown into chaos. He must choose between his best friend or his destiny to be the next ruler of the British Empire of Magic.
To introduce his book, Joseph has set up a Facebook event
LIVE ON 28/03/21 at 18:00hrs
Joseph will give a live chapter reading of The British Empire of Magic followed by a discussion, questions and answers with readers. You can comment below with your questions and Joseph will be pleased to answer them after the reading.
Links:
Facebook Live Event Link - https://fb.me/e/2lPAl8iSv
Amazon Book Link (5 star reviews) : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XC2HX7V
Ian wrote: "One of the pleasures of this community is when I can help a debut writer to bring their work to wider notice. This evening I'm pleased to introduce Joseph Jordan and his novella "The British Empire..."Thank you so much for sharing this. ❤️
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With that series having drawn to a close at the end of World War I, Rosie's readers might like to know that they can now follow the family into World War II. In "Her Patriotic Duty", as well as being reunited with Naomi Colborne and Kate Channer, we meet a grown up Esme, and her cousin, Lou as, in keeping with their mothers before them, they grapple with life in wartime Britain. But, while Esme unexpectedly finds herself training to be a decoy woman within the Special Operations Executive, in the subsequent title, "Her Heart’s Choice", we find Lou coming of age in the rather less glamorous surroundings of Plymouth dockyard.
"Her Patriotic Duty: An emotional and gripping WW2 historical novel" is available in ebook, paperback, audio and large-print formats. "Her Heart's Choice" is now released as an ebook, with the paperback edition available from April 2021 and other formats to follow later this year.
It is a pleasure to see the work of our community's writers continuing to develop and I am sure that you'll join me in wishing Rosie well as she celebrates the launch of her latest work.
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My pleasure - hope you have a great event
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And, to get us started, I'd like to share with you a book that is not just beautiful to explore but has a wider, heartfelt purpose, Hope In The Hedgerows , edited by Penny Adie MBE
Penny's introduction to the book says so much
"Whenever I went for a ramble. I would take snapshots: twigs, shoots and bugs suddenly had an importance in life. A flower that was in bud one day would be in bloom the next...."
"I hope this little book will bring cheer to anyone who reads it. The individual texts have profoundly moved me."
"World over, we depend on music...... Where would we be without it?
Hope In The Hedgerows is, in many ways, a simple book. Its collection of images, poems and reflections, submitted by people from all walks of life, are beautiful and engaging. Yet, taken together they capture 2020 and the far-reaching effects of the pandemic.
All proceeds got to Help Musicians, a charity formed 100 years ago in 1921 by Gervase Elwes, Elgar and Vaughan Williams to help, support and offered the opportunity to empower musicians through all stages of their lives.
I've been struck, during the last year, how books, music and art can combine to achieve something really special and Hope In The Hedgerows is a lovely example of that.
https://www.hopeinthehedgerows.co.uk/
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For Emma Davies, this is certainly true - yesterday saw her hat trick of publications in just 7 months with the publication of "Connections".
I was delighted to feature the first, "Take My Hair" (but not my humour), 7 months ago and, since then, Emma has contributed to two collections "Girls Who Refuse To Quit" and yesterday "Connections".
Connections’ is a short story collection written by a mixture of professional and amateur, prolific and first-time authors. There is something for everyone here, as the authors are writing with different styles in different genres. ‘Connections’ explores the relationships we make – whether they are fleeting or last a lifetime, happy or sad, monumental or fanciful. These stories will take you from a cosy coffee shop to the stars and back again.
I asked Emma to tell me about her journey and this is what she told me:
"I’ve always loved reading. My mum said the other children at nursery would run out to greet their parents at the end of the day. I’d get cross that I had to leave my comfy little nook, immersed in a book!
I’d always dreamed of writing a book but didn’t so many people?
In 2019 I was happily ticking off my ‘forty things at forty’ bucket list when out of the blue I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
Suddenly mine and my young family’s summer of fun was turned on it’s head.
I’d always found journaling cathartic, so once again I scribbled my thoughts out onto paper so I could process them. To manage the lovely messages I was getting from well wishers I started a weekly text blog to manage my ‘cancer comms’. As the blog became more elaborate and comedic, and after cheers of “you should write a book” I thought “I bloody will.”
‘Take my hair (but not my humour): One mum’s journey seeing off breast cancer’ , my ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ style chronological journey, was self-published in October 2020.
You can grab special edition copies with photos (oh you won’t get that on Amazon) directly from me by emailing emma@lightboxblogger.co.uk
Here’s the link to Amazon https://amzn.to/3dHJhie
That’s where my fantastic journey with Jen Parker of ‘Fuzzy Flamingo’ started Fuzzy Flamingo Editing and Design - Fuzzy Flamingo At the time I was looking for editors I was recommended to Jen. After hearing how Jen had been personally touched by cancer I knew it was a match meant to be in bringing my labour of love to fruition.
Shortly after I was fortunate to be involved in a collaboration project by Cassandra Farren who was the original author of ‘The Girl Who Refused to Quit.’ She was looking for authors to contribute a chapter to ‘The Girls Who Refused to Quit, Volume 3’. Once again I found myself on the exciting journey of launching a book (February 2021) but this time I shared the buzz with fourteen other female authors.
Here's the link to Amazon https://amzn.to/3xeF0KB
Meanwhile, Jen had started her amazing ‘Fuzzy Flamingo Book Club’ on Facebook and was looking for writers to contribute short fiction stories. After tentatively asking her “do you think I’ve got a fiction story in me?” and her enthusiasm I thought ‘why the hell not!’
‘
People ask me how I find the time. In all honesty writing is my self-care time. It’s my time to escape and let my creative ideas (which I didn’t even realise I possessed) flow onto the page.
Cancer has taught me not to wait, to seize the opportunities. My story ‘Stop wishing, start doing’, inspired by my travels following university in my twenties was published on 23rd April 2021 along with twenty one other amazing authors.
Third time’s a charm – here’s the link! https://amzn.to/3tKqcRV
I believe there is a book in everyone. You don’t need to have it all mapped out, or feel overwhelmed at the thought, you just need to start. That’s when the magic happens.
I'm sure you will join me in wishing Emma well for the future and in congratulating her on the publication of Connections, the next step in her wonderful writing journey.
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I asked Kathy to tell us about the book:
"I thought I’d share how I came to write my latest novel. During this last difficult year I have been luckier than many, able to retreat into my own private writing world and it has been a welcome escape from the confusion and anxiety which has engulfed us. For me, trying to use the time constructively, the multiple lockdowns gave rise to a fun and challenging new project. I have often been asked about writing a sequel to one of my previous stand-alone novels but have not yet found a follow-up story that worked for me. But the idea came to me early last year to write a series of mysteries, each with the same main protagonists and taking place in a different setting each time. And for this project I returned to a subject which has been a lifelong passion for me: art, and, more specifically in this case, art restoration. As you can imagine, the research has been fascinating.
In this new series, Hannah and Nathan are art restorers, working for a private firm, and are sent all over the UK and Europe to work on clients’ paintings. And wherever they go, mysteries abound, some artistic, some more sinister. A Crack in the Varnish is the first book in this series and it’s set in the south of France. It’s 1990 and there’s not a single mention of a pandemic! But regular readers of my novels will recognise my familiar style: intriguing and character-driven, sometimes emotional, occasionally amusing. Of course, Hannah and Nathan don’t get on. They don’t want to work together. But that might change. We’ll have to see… This is the set-up of the story:
Hollywood actress, Esther Langley, has a home in the hills of Provence, an old converted abbey where she keeps her precious art collection. Now she has four paintings in need of restoration: one modern work, fire-damaged, and three crumbling old masters. It looks like a straightforward job for an experienced art restorer like Hannah Dechansay, and who wouldn’t relish a few months in Provence?
But living and working on Esther’s estate isn’t easy. It’s a tortured household, haunted by a tragic death. There’s guilt and recrimination in the air and relationships soon start to unravel. Was the death an accident? Everyone has a different version to tell. There’s something sinister going on and everyone, it seems, has something to hide.
I hope it will give as much pleasure in the reading as it did in the writing."
Kathy will be at the Harbour Bookshop, Kingsbridge from 11 o’clock on 29th May, signing paperbacks of A Crack in the Varnish. (Usual Covid safety precautions will be in place.) I know she's love to see you there but if you can’t make it, the bookshop will also mail copies out to order: ring 01548 857233.
For more information and links to the platforms where it is on sale, please visit Kathy's website: www.kathyshuker.co.uk
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Jacob, now King of the British Empire of Magic, and his imperial city are under siege from Thomas, King of the Dark Knights and his American allies. Jacob devises a plan to rescue his father from the White Islands and sends his partner, Co-Regent Lord Elliot, to Dover Cliff to retrieve the Members of Parliament before King Thomas can find them and take complete control of the Empire, but Jacob and Elliot grow suspicious that a traitor could be at the highest level within the Royal Council. Meanwhile, the last command of Queen Ellaryne to send Royal Lady Camilla Kerr to the French Kingdom of Magic to plead with King Jean for aid is failing. Camilla is lost within the maddening Finders Maze.
Suspicions grow and betrayal looms as truths are revealed and enemies become friends and allies become foes. The fight for the throne and future of all MagiFolk hangs in the balance as Jacob must stop Thomas from his ultimate goal… to wage a final war upon the human world
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09618Y46...
I'm breathless just reading the trailer!
Hope it does well Joey - onward to the third in the trilogy
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Anna was brought up between London and a farm just outside Totnes and, she told me, "nothing could be more delightful than having my first book celebrated by lovers of Devon and Devonian writing – particularly since one of the chapters of the book is all about the story behind the utopian community Dartington Hall."
Anna told me that read History at Cambridge, where she also completed a doctorate on Dartington. She currently lives in London with her husband and first child, born as she finished writing her book, but, she said, they are "scheming about how to move to join her extended family who all live in Devon".
The Utopians is the remarkable story of six experimental communities - Santiniketan-Sriniketan in India, Dartington Hall in England, Atarashiki Mura in Japan, the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man in France, the Bruderhof in Germany and Trabuco College in America - that sprang up in the aftermath of the First World War. Each was led by charismatic figures who dreamed of a new way of living. Rabindranath Tagore, Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst, Mushanokoji Saneatsu, G. I. Gurdjieff, Eberhard and Emmy Arnold and Gerald Heard all struggled to turn ambitious ideals into reality. They - and their fellow communards - left their jobs, their homes and their social circles. They faced mockery and persecution, penury, hunger and discomfort, and their own doubts about whether their efforts to change society would ever make a difference.
Anna's account of these collectives, from creation to collapse, reveals them to be full of eccentric characters, outlandish lifestyles and unchecked idealism. They were dramatic, fractious places where high ideals collided with the need to feed the chickens, clean the toilets, bring up squabbling children and grow the grain for the daily bread. These communities were small in scale and dismissed in their time. Yet, a century later, their influence still resonates in realms as disparate as progressive education, environmentalism, medical research and mindfulness training. They provided, and continue to provide, a rich store of inspiration for those who aspire to improve the world.
Tributes to Anna's book:
'Neima is a historian of rare and wonderful powers. Considering her chosen utopians with a precious mix of shrewd realism and questing open-mindedness, she honours both practicalities and dreams. I finished this book newly persuaded of what the interwar years can teach us about the future. I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know, and looking to Neima as an inspiring new voice in non-fiction.’ - Alexandra Harris, author of Romantic Moderns
'Neima's book, impeccably researched and beautifully written, will be an inspiration for anyone looking to an alternative future today.' - Stella Tillyard, author of Aristocrats and The Great Level
'Deeply interesting and a pleasure to read, The Utopians illuminates the history of "social dreaming" at a time when it has never been more needed.' - Alison Light, author of A Radical Romance, Common People and Mrs. Woolf and the Servants
This looks like a wonderful book and I look forward to reading it.
Mod
‘Dear Emma’ tells the story of Harry Clarke, a young boy evacuated from London at the height of the Blitz during WW2 to a farm on Dartmoor, where life as he knows it changes forever. It’s a story that reflects on themes of friendship, courage, grief, loss and love and a story with a strong sense of place. Dartmoor becomes a very special place for young Harry, and those of us who are lucky enough to live on it or nearby can truly understand why.
This was particularly poignant for me as I had recently been discussing the experience of evacuees with my mum, now 93. Her experience was different as, evacuated from London, she was sent to Cambridge but it made me think about the stories of so many children from that time.
As you all know I love to get to know a little about our Devon-based writers as I think it adds to our sense of their writing. I asked Eleanor to tell us about herself and this is what she said:
"I am 26 years old and a graduate of Plymouth and Bath Spa University in English Literature and Creative Writing.
I live in a little cottage on the southern tip of Dartmoor with my dog Tubs, and I work for Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled, a charity that offers riding therapy to children and adults with a wide range of disabilities and additional needs.
I started writing ‘Dear Emma’ three years ago whilst studying in Bath, and many, many (many) drafts later, it was published on the 24th May 2021. I still can’t quite believe it and it doesn’t seem real, it feels so strange to hold in my hands a copy of a book I have written and it still hasn’t sunk it.
I am sure you will join me in wishing Eleanor Halton every success with this book and her future writing career.
Mod
When she isn't writing, editing, eating, running around after her kids, or imagining how much better life would be with the addition of a springer spaniel, she occasionally finds the time to make hats.
Harriet's also the founder of FaRoFeb (Fantasy Romance Feburary), a month-long online event celebrating the fantasy romance genre. For more information, visit www.FaRoFeb.com, or @FaRoFeb on Instagram.
I asked Harriet to tell us a little about her life in Devon and about her new book Nation of the Sun which is published on 20th June:
"I grew up in Devon, living in Tiverton, and going to secondary school in Exeter. I rowed for Exeter Rowing Club, and have fond memories of working at Mango's, on the quay. My Dad still lives in Devon, just outside of Woodbury.
I've been living in New Hampshire for the last two years, and am about to move back to the UK. We're looking forward to spending the summer with my husband's family in Cornwall (I'm aware this is the wrong side of the Tamar...!). (but we'll forgive her that - ed)
Nation of the Sun is paranormal romance, set in our world. It features ancient nations of people who reincarnate, who live among us in secret. It's set in the present, but has an A Discovery of Witches meets Outlander kinda vibe, given the importance of the characters' past lives.
More about the book:
'I’M OBSESSED WITH THIS ENCHANTINGLY INTRICATE WORLD.’
USA Today Bestselling Author, Graceley Knox
Amari has a perfect life. She's a successful food critic, and is marrying a high flying human rights lawyer. But the day before her wedding, a stranger, Caspar, tries to solicit her help. She sends him away, but can't shake the feeling that she knows him.
When Amari's new husband has to leave the country before their honeymoon, Amari tells Caspar she'll help him. But Amari and Caspar are attacked by an assassin, forcing them into hiding at the London headquarters of the Pagan Nation. Here, she discovers she's an ancient and powerful demon, someone who reincarnates, and Caspar is her soulmate.
As she's drawn into Caspar's world of standing stones and feuding nations, Amari can't deny the deep connection that pulses between them. But she can't remember her past, and the Pagans have secrets they refuse to reveal. Why did Amari avoid Caspar for a hundred years? And what happened between Amari and the leader of a rival nation in the past? To determine if she can trust Caspar, if she should help him, she must wake her demon soul, and bring back her memories. For one thing is certain: when that happens, the tables will turn.
You can find out more about H.R. Moore here
www.hrmoore.com
www.FaRoFeb.com
Mod
Stephanie will be well known to many of you. Her wonderful series of books, featuring Juno Browne, has a very loyal following. Juno is a somewhat accidental, often hapless, but ultimately annoyingly (to the local police) successful amateur sleuth. Crime finds her in the most unlikely of circumstances. Since her arrival on the scene, the murder rate in Devon has risen somewhat! For those new to Stephanie and her books, you've a real treat in store.
About The Dartmoor Murders:
When Juno Browne buys a wardrobe for her antique shop, she doesn’t expect to find a dead body inside. And when the man she bought it from is found battered to death in his blazing cottage the hunt is on for a double murderer. This time Juno is wary of getting involved in a murder investigation. But when a stranger arrives who has a personal interest in the victim, she finds herself dragged into a quest to solve the mystery, with disastrous results.
This is the 4th in the Devon Mystery series featuring Juno Browne, domestic goddess, reluctant antique shop owner and amateur sleuth, set in the town of Ashburton.
Previous novels in this series are: Dead in Devon, Dead on Dartmoor, From Devon with Death.
Stephanie Austin has enjoyed a varied career as a teacher, artist, astrologer and dabbler in antiques. This meandering career path has provided much of the inspiration for Juno and her eclectic collection of friends. She lives with her husband in Torquay where she attempts to be a competent gardener and cook.
I loved The Dartmoor Murders. It has great plot twists, warm humour, and a range of endearing, sometimes infuriating and always interesting characters. It is mingled with romance, a canine friend or two and a wonderful setting in Ashburton and the surrounding Dartmoor area.
To enter our giveaway for Dead In Devon leave a message below and, if you would, please share this post. The closing date is noon on Tuesday 22nd June . (UK only I am afraid). Good luck.
Ian wrote: "I love that we are able to maintain the connection with people who have left Devon but whose hearts are still here. I have been chatting with Harriet Moore, who writes as H.R. Moore currently livin..."Perhaps we should start a sub-group: Exiled Devon Authors.
I have been indulging in some serious Devon & Cornwall nostalgia over the past few years writing my Bob Robbins Home Front Mysteries, which have become a series along the lines of Foyles War meets Arsenic and Old Lace. Book 2 'Private Lives' is set in Bideford and allowed me to travel back to WWII North Devon - which was before my time (!), although I doubt much had changed, apart from losing the railway line and gaining a housing estate on Bowden Green, where the GI camp used to be. I tweaked place names a bit to avoid upsetting locals - there are some rather sinister events in the story - but otherwise, it's Bideford as I remember it. Crime fiction is hard to get right, but I really enjoyed writing this particular black comedy: http://viewbook.at/PrivateLives
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Hi - great to hear from you. Sounds like you had a lot of fun writing it. Hope it does well. I'd be happy to share it more widely on our other platforms if that's helpful?
Thank you, Ian. Each of the Bob Robbins Home Front Mysteries is set in Cornwall (Looe and surrounding area) or Devon (Bideford area and Plymouth). I'd be delighted if you could share this on other platforms. Here's a link to my web page so people can see some of the historical and geographical background to the stories: https://www.jgharlond.com
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My pleasure - can you drop me a line by e-mail with a bit of bio and something about the books. I know I have it somewhere from years ago but my filing isn't that good!
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About Teresa Bulford-Cooper:
"Having been married for over 40 years and a mother of two amazingly talented daughters & Grandmother to two super star Grandsons, I live in a quiet little hamlet in the depths of the Mid Devon countryside where I love to spend quiet time surrounded by nature. My passion is helping people to become the best they can, build their confidence and address any issues they are holding onto, setting them free to live the life they dream of.
I'm a qualified, certified professional Life coach, Certified NLP Trainer, Former Harley Street Clinical Hypnotherapist, PGCE teacher, Business Mentor and been in business for over 40 years, which I think qualifies me as an expert and ideally placed to coach people starting up their small business . I love helping women on that exciting time when they decide to start up their own businesses. Right from their initial spark and continuing throughout their journey and very proud to have helped thousands of people both in a personal aspect and a business one.
Wanting to leave a legacy to all business startups I wrote my book in the hope that it will help people along their way. There are so many pitfalls and plates to spin starting out and it’s helpful to know that it can be done! You can read my story - warts and all - where I tell you of my mistakes along the way in the hope that you avoid them! There are hundreds of tips, practical advice and coaching exercises in my book “Ladies Let’s Get Going.” Wellbeing is at the heart of it to ensure you have a good life/work balance. It’s an easy dip in/out book which people tell me is a great read and which they found very useful."
You can download a free ebook by Teresa called "15 ways to build your confidence and feel like a Million Dollars!" here teresabulfordcooper.com/resources
Teresa has been recognise nationally and picked up a few awards over the years including:
Venus awards Most Influential Woman semi finalist 2019. Finalist in The International Coaching awards 2018. Finalist in The International Coaching awards 2019.
You can find out more about Teresa here:
https://www.teresabulfordcooper.com
Tel: +44 (0)1363 775935
e.hello@teresabulfordcooper.com
Author of “Ladies Lets Get Going”
& "A Pocket Book of Confidence”
https://www.teresabulfordcooper.com/shop
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D.A. Holwill new book in the Wicker Dogs series. Part 2: The Bellever Hagstone is available from Monday (see below)
About the book:
After more than two centuries, Lady Melissa Dewer’s current body is wearing out.
Luring Patrick, the last of the Dewer bloodline, and his long-term girlfriend Polly to her remote Dartmoor town proves easy. Tricking them out of a child neither of them want to have will not.
On moving to their new home, Patrick finds a dismembered foot in a stone circle and soon discovers that, in Dourstone Nymet, there is always a mysterious disappearance during their ancient Winter festival.
Once Polly falls unexpectedly pregnant, Lady Melissa takes her under her wing and, amid rumours of Patrick’s infidelity, persuades her not to get rid of the baby.
It looks like Lady Melissa will get her wish and, unless Polly wakes up to the manipulations of this remote town and its odd traditions, it could be Patrick that disappears, along with her unborn child.
A little about the author
D.A. Holwill lives in a cottage on the edge of Dartmoor with a wife, an adopted Alaskan Malamute and too many cats in a town that you should never refer to as a village where they absolutely never practice human sacrifice.
Writing as Dave Holwill, Dave is also the author of four rom-com books, including the popular Weekend Rockstars series (two books so far).
You can but Wicker Dogs Part 2: The Bellever Hagstone through this link
mybook.to/wickerdogs
If you sign up to Dave's www.daholwill.com there is also a tie in to a free novella
We wish you every success with the new book Dave
Mod
If you enjoy dystopia, magic and an action-packed story (with a strong dash of feminism) this is for you. I finished it at 10.30 last night and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The story mainly takes place over 15 days, much of it located in the West Country (with Boscastle featuring strongly) but, in a mad dash around the world (no travel restrictions in this tale), we also are taken from the US, to Europe and to Russia. The moon features strongly too and there may even be a scene or two that takes place out of our world.
The Coven is not just about magic and a great plot, it also explores mysogyny and patriarchy. This is not, however, an attack on men and, indeed, a key message I took from the book is the power that comes from equality.
Congratulations once again to Lizzie/Lucy and I know you'll join me in wishing her as much success with the Coven as she has had with her wider work.
If you want to find out more about the Coven and Lucy's wider work you can do so here.. https://lucyvhayauthor.com/how-i-wrot...
Devon Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Time Diary: A Barstewards Tale (other topics)The Stranger in Room Six (other topics)
Murder Under The Rock: The Markham Twins Investigate (other topics)
Dance A Fearful Jig (other topics)
By a Hand Unknown (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lewis Grassic Gibbon (other topics)Natalie Trice (other topics)
Daisy Burton (other topics)
Jill Treseder (other topics)
The first is Susmita Bhattacharya, an Indian-born British writer who lived for many years in Plymouth and developed her writing career during that time. She is a frequent visitor to Devon and I look forward to building our friendship with her through this community. (Also, aren't the book covers arresting? I love them)
Susmita won the Winchester Writers’ Festival Memoir Prize in 2016 and her novel, The Normal State of Mind (Parthian/Bee Books) was longlisted for the Words to Screen Prize at the Mumbai Association of Moving Images (MAMI) festival in India. She has been shortlisted for, and won, numerous prizes and awards and her work has been commissioned by magazines and for BBC Radio 4. Her most recent collection of short stories, Table Manners, was published by Dahlia Books (2018). It won the Saboteur Short Story Collection Prize in 2019, was finalist for the DLF Hall & Woodhouse Literary Prize and will be serialised for BBC Radio 4 Extra in January 2020. She lectures at Winchester University, facilitates the Mayflower Young Writers workshops in Southampton (An ACE funded ArtfulScribe project), and is a mentor supporting BAME writers for the Middle Way Mentoring project. Currently, she is working on her second novel.
Book Blurb – The Normal State of Mind (Parthian) – Longlisted for the Word to Screen Prize, Mumbai Academy of Moving Images, 2018
It’s the end of a millennium. India has made tremendous progress in science and technology, but in these times of economic boom can a friendship between two women give them the power to defy society, and law, to reach for their dreams? Dipali, a young bride, is determined to make her marriage a success story. But her plans are cut short when her husband is killed by a bomb blast in Mumbai and she struggles to find her place in life. In Calcutta, as Moushumi’s parents discuss potential husbands, the school teacher prefers to escape to her high-flying lover. But how long can she keep her forbidden affair secret beyond the safe walls of glamorous art crowd parties? In the midst of communal riots, India too has to make her own decisions about which traditions she must keep, and which she ought to let go. At the end of it all, who can decide what is the normal state of mind?
Table Manners short story collection (Dahlia Publishing) – Winner of the Saboteur Award for Best Short Story Collection 2019, finalist in Hall and Woodhouse DLF Prize 2019; serialised for BBC Radio 4 Extra
A parrot takes on the voice of a dead husband. Two women in search of god and marriage learn what it means to love. A man living in exile writes home.
From Mumbai to Venice, Cardiff to Singapore, this collection of stories of love and loneliness in the urban landscape are delicately nuanced and sprinkled generously with sharp observations of the human condition.
A captivating first collection which introduces us to a powerful new voice.
Non fiction:
http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/at...
http://susmita-bhattacharya.blogspot....…
http://susmita-bhattacharya.blogspot....…
News:
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/…/1660229...
https://theasianwriter.co.uk/2015/…/2...
https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/…/19/susm...