Tag: Books

Creative Inspiration at Octavo’s Bookshop

A vast, grey building stood proud amongst other worn buildings.

Cardiff Bay discarded its gloss, as I walked through an alleyway to reach Octavo’s Bookshop and Bar. A vast, grey building stood proud amongst other worn buildings.  A large bar dominated the entrance to Octavo’s Bookshop and Bar. Confronted with: a coffee machine, rows of cakes, books and a selection of alcoholic beverages, I had found heaven. Seating was placed in every area of the shop thus combining reading and socialising.  I couldn’t decide whether to install myself in one of the lazy reading areas or sit at a table.

I had found heaven

A table near a shelf of gifts for writers beckoned me.  Having ordered my Americano, I read the lunchtime menu and selected A Tale of Tuna Cities: a tuna melt.  The blank page of my notebook glared at me. I attacked it with a confessional statement: ‘I need to start another story’.  Time to move on from debut novel.  ‘Where do I begin?’ I asked my notebook.

Pearl’s letter to Jim appeared on my notebook. I have sent my characters out into world, but they haunt me. Remnants cornices, the bar and size of the rooms prompted me to visualise Pearl in this place during the seventies.

Where do I begin?’ I asked my notebook.

Sat at a battered table, she removed her red gloves and started to tug at the beer mat.  Her sleeves soaked rested in a puddle of beer.  Though she waited to find out more details of the audition, she thought of Jim reading her letter.

A familiarity about the place transported me into Pearl’s world. I couldn’t get Pearl out of my head.  I had to find out more about the history of the place.  I felt certain the building must have been a pub at some time in the past; a sense of history nudged my imagination.

I searched for a seventies photo of Bute Street and it looked familiar. Indeed, the street looked exactly like the place Pearl visited in my book.

I discovered the building is the oldest surviving building in what was known as Tiger Bay. Tiger Bay was also the home of the wonderful legend – Shirley Bassey.  Originally, the location of Octavo’s Bookshop was the Bute Dock Hotel.   I searched for a seventies photo of Bute Street and it looked familiar.  Indeed, the street looked exactly like the place Pearl visited in my book.  I could hear Pearl’s footsteps echoing down the alleyway, as she searched for her B&B. I stumbled on the place I created for my book, and Pearl asked me to go back and tell her story in another novel.

Octavo’s Bookshop is a welcoming, calm bookish environment that invites the customer to linger, read and create

Before paying, I looked around the shop and spotted a poster telling me ‘We are on the same page’, perhaps this was another message from Pearl.  On leaving, I received a new bag and a gift, because I spent over five pounds. Octavo’s Bookshop is a welcoming, calm bookish environment that invites the customer to linger, read and create.  I had a wonderful time exploring the books on offer.  The staff are proud and enthusiastic about the bookshop.

Handbag clasped at my side, I strode with confidence from Octavo’s Bookshop and back to Cardiff Bay. My literary travels often take me down numerous side streets and alleyways that echo with past lives.  Two young men stubbed out their cigarettes before commencing a conversation. Darkness lingered in the alleyway and puddles.  Looking ahead, I refused to shiver.  A seventies mini pulled up, and I spotted Jim, Pearl’s husband.

Jessie’s novel ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’

‘On opening the car door, Jim called, ‘Pearl.’ A passing truck muffled his voice.  Heavy traffic prevented Jim from crossing the road for a little while.  Jim peered in each alleyway.  Then he heard the clip, clipping of heels on the pavement.  Distant echoes stopped.  Where had Pearl gone? He increased his pace.  Loud voices echoed.  As he got nearer, he recognised Pearl’s voice, but it was shrill and ugly and strangled with fear.’

 (Extract: You Can’t Go It Alone)

Maybe, Cardiff Creative Quarter inspired me.  Who knows?  The calm, bookish atmosphere certainly inspired me to retreat to my characters’ world.

Meet Pearl and Jim on Being Anne’s Blog

https://beinganne.com/2018/07/back-to-the-70s-you-cant-go-it-alone-by-jessie-cahalin-booksinhandbag-feature-giveaway/

More About my debut novel:  You Can’t Go It Alone

Love, music and secrets are woven together in this poignant, heart-warming narrative.

Set in a Welsh village, the story explores the contrast in attitudes and opportunities between different generations of women. As the characters confront their secrets and fears, they discover truths about themselves and their relationships.

The reader is invited to laugh and cry, with the characters, and find joy in the simple things in life. Listen to the music and enjoy the food, as you peek inside the world of the inhabitants of Delfryn.
Let Sophie show you that no one can go it alone.

Who knows, you may find some friends with big hearts…

Jessie Cahalin

About Jessie

Jessie is word warrior, bookish blogger and intrepid virtual explorer. She loves to entertain with stories, and is never seen without her camera, phone, notebook and handbag. Fellow authors have deemed her ‘creative and quirky’ and she wears these words like a blogging badge of honour.

Having overcome her fear of self-publishing, she is now living the dream of introducing the characters who have been hassling her for decades. Her debut novel, You Can’t Go It Alone, is a heart-warming tale about the challenges women still face in society. The novel has light-hearted moments and presents hope. As C. S. Lewis said, ‘We read to know we are not alone.’

Connecting with authors via her Books in my Handbag Blog is a blast. She showcases authors’ books in the popular Handbag Gallery and has fun meeting authors in her virtual world. Communicating with her authors still gives Jessie a creative buzz.

Jessie Cahalin hails from Yorkshire but lives in Wales with her husband. She loves to travel the world and collects cultural gems like a magpie. She searches for happy endings, where possible, and needs great coffee, food and music to give her inspiration.

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Champagne for the First Golden Chapter

Can you hear the champagne corks popping? Launching Golden Chapters with Jena, C Henry and Lizzie Lamb

Champagne corks are popping. Take Me, I’m Yours is the perfect title to launch the Golden Chapters.  Jena stepped inside Lizzie Lamb’s world to peek at the first chapter of Take Me, I’m Yours.  Here’s what Jena found :

I reached into my golden handbag and chose Take Me, I’m Yours – A Wisconsin love story, by Lizzie Lamb. I haven’t heard of, let alone read, many books set in Wisconsin. A quick check of Wikipedia shows less than twenty-five novels are placed in The Badger State. (Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods is one.) I couldn’t wait to read the first chapter and find the romance in America’s Dairy land.

Will all the scorching stares turn into something even hotter?

India Buchanan is enjoying a picture postcard-type day. She’s painting her fence, on a sunny morning at her house overlooking Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin. Then, with a rev from a motorcycle to announce his presence, she is confronted by a tall, angry, formidable stranger, used to having his own way.

India and the motorcycle guy exchange scornful stares, snarky tones, streetwise stares, defiant stances, mocking salutes and India even receives “a slow scorching once over.”

She feels vulnerable, like a commodity, but no man is going to get the better of her. “You’ve got something I want real bad…” he says.

This unexpected visitor turns out to be her family’s sworn enemy. And all because of a feud which has festered for the last hundred and fifty years.
The chapter ends,

“Look all you like, MacFarlane,” she called even though she knew he couldn’t hear. “This house will never be yours.”

Author Lizzie Lamb has many fans and I am sure they will be delighted to settle down and read her latest novel. Wisconsin is an out of the ordinary setting, which has me interested. A family feud is intriguing. The author writes with an engaging style that quickly introduces us to the thoughts and feelings of the heroine, India. From the first chapter, I can tell that India is a strong character, but has she met her match?  Will all the scorching stares turn into something even hotter?  I’m intrigued if India has some secrets.  India shares a bit of her backstory- she came from England to New York. Do you think she has some secrets? Will any kilts make an appearance for the Lizzie Lamb fans?

Jena with a golden handbag…it’s a golden day…to read…

If you’ve read and reviewed the book, please share a link to your review in the comments. Thanks!

Thanks! Happy Reading and Stay Golden!

Jena C. Henry

The sizzling book tempted me to purchase a copy. I need to find out more!

About Take Me, I’m Yours

Jena couldn’t resist the photo of the book in the Handbag Gallery

India Buchanan plans to set up an English-Style bed and breakfast establishment in her great-aunt’s home, MacFarlane’s Landing, Wisconsin. But she’s reckoned without opposition from Logan MacFarlane whose family once owned her aunt’s house and now want it back.

MacFarlane is in no mood to be denied. His grandfather’s living on borrowed time and Logan has vowed to ensure the old man sees out his days in their former home. India’s great-aunt has other ideas and has threatened to burn the house to the ground before she lets a MacFarlane set foot in it.

There’s a story here. One the family elders aren’t prepared to share.

When India finds herself in Logan’s debt, her feelings towards him change. However, the past casts a long shadow and events conspire to deny them the love and happiness they both deserve. Can India and Logan’s love overcome all odds? Or is history about to repeat itself?

Welcome to the world of Lizzie’s amazing romantic comedies.

About Lizzie Lamb:

After teaching her 1000th pupil and working as a deputy head teacher in a large primary school, Lizzie decided to pursue her first love: writing. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, wrote Tall, Dark and Kilted (2012), quickly followed by Boot Camp Bride. Although much of her time is taken promoting her novels she published Scotch on the Rocks, which achieved Best Seller status within two weeks of appearing on Amazon. Her next novel, Girl in the Castle, reached #3 in the Amazon charts. Lizzie is a founder member of indie publishing group – New Romantics Press, and has co-hosted author events at Aspinall, St Pancras and Waterstones, Kensington, talking about writing and the research which underpins her novels. Lizzie latest romance Take Me, I’m Yours is set in Wisconsin, a part of the USA which she adores. She has further Scottish-themed romances planned and this summer will tour the Scottish Highlands in her caravan researching men in kilts. What’s not to like? As for the years she spent as a teacher, they haven’t quite gone to waste as she is building up a reputation as a go-to speaker on indie publishing, and how to plan, write, and publish a debut novel. Lizzie lives in Leicestershire (UK) with her husband, David.

Would you like to have the first chapter of your novel sampled and reviewed? Find out more at Golden Chapter Reviews.

Please see my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Hay Festival’s Tent of Dreams and Beyond

We traversed the huge reception area to explore the warren of walkways, all undercover.

The Hay Festival tent welcomed us in all its fabulous, festive glamour.  Camping could be an option for holidays, if tents were presented like this bookish village.  We traversed the huge reception area to explore the warren of walkways, all undercover. Uninhibited by an event schedule, I took in: the shops, food hall, cafes, bars, live music and restaurants.

An overwhelming sense of calm dominated the entire experience so far removed from loud music and food festivals. Bookworms snuggled in every nook and cranny digging into their latest treasure.  If people looked up, they smiled at fellow readers.

One bookworm carried a bag with the logo: ‘imagine the world’.

I wonder how many book destinations were spinning around in the atmosphere as people relaxed into their imaginations? As bookworms travelled around the tent, there was no pushing and shoving or frayed tempers.  Everyone queued with grace while using the time to read.  One bookworm carried a bag with the logo: ‘imagine the world’.  Instantly, I inquired where to purchase the bag, she explained a route through the warren to the Hay Bookshop.

On route to the Hay Bookshop, I spotted glorious illustrated menus of bookish events.

On route to the Hay Bookshop, I spotted glorious illustrated menus of bookish events

I long to attend Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry reading but knew I couldn’t stay until 10pm. His ‘Dance hall style, big mouth chanting’ hooked me when I listened to his performance at university.  Instead, I searched for a book of Benjamin’s poems in the bookshop.  Distracted by the authors signing books, I took photos of the marvellous queues waiting.  How wonderful to meet the readers personally and realise your writing has connected.  For me, the queues of readers inspired a little envy. ‘One day’, I whispered to myself before making a purchase.

‘You Can’t Go It Alone’ sat in a deckchair, sheltered by my umbrella, and soaked up the atmosphere.

Welsh rain poured mischievously in the open areas but no one worried. Readers sat with the umbrellas sheltering their books as they sipped coffee and wine.  Deckchairs waited patiently for the sun to arrive.  My book attended the festival and demanded a look around.  ‘You Can’t Go It Alone’ sat in a deckchair, sheltered by my umbrella, and soaked up the atmosphere.  A delightful woman, from California, came over to meet my book.  She also had a selfie with my book and said she would look up Books in my Handbag Blog.  I do hope she reads this post, as the impromptu meeting was a highlight of my day – she was so kind and enthusiastic.  I wanted to tell her more about Sophie, Rosa, Olivia and Pearl but stumbled on my words.

A delightful woman, from California, came over to meet my book.

Following the visit to the bookworms’ tent, we strolled into the village of Hay.  On the road to the village front gardens were teeming with flowers, coffee, cakes, books, journals, bric-a-brac, home-made jams and clothes.  We bought freshly baked Welsh cakes from an improvised stall on a gate post. The Poetry and Prosecco experience captured my curiosity.

A Prosecco shack was under construction, as I looked at a stall with poetry and handprinted cards and messages. Francesca Kay, a performance poet, presented her poems in hand designed seed packets.

Francesca Kay

She wants her poems to present a seed of an idea and had no intention of presenting the poems in a book.  Poems are presented on cards, in matchboxes and anything that inspires her.  Francesca’s first printing press lived in her kitchen and now she has an entire studio. For Francesca, the printing ink is a language, and she waxed lyrical how the ink makes different impressions on various surfaces and in various conditions.  Indeed, she explained ‘making an impression’ originated from the printing process.  Her stall of tactile tweets was so much to take in, I couldn’t decide what to buy.  The creative challenge to the conventional printed book forced me to reflect on my determination to see my book in print.

Her stall of tactile tweets was so much to take in, I couldn’t decide what to buy.

Perhaps, I need explore the spoken word.  Maybe, I could commission Francesca to print some quotations from the book.  Who knows?

I will return to Francesca’s website, and I will return to the Hay Festival.  The whole experience made an impression on my creative appetite. People encountered made the adventure unique.  I may not have met with Benjamin Zephaniah, but I did meet a performance poet who was printing her work using her own language.

How wonderful to meet the readers personally and realise your writing has connected. Cressida Cowell greets her readers.

While writing this blog post I received reply to a tweet from one of the festival marshals.  Ironically, he met with Benjamin Zephaniah and said, ‘He brought poetry to life for me as a young teen, some time ago, it was so great to meet him. And he was so friendly and lovely too!’ I am satisfied to have received this insight, as it reinforced my impression of the poet.

 

I took in: the shops, food hall, cafes, bars, live music and restaurants

I wonder what impression I would gain of the festival if I spent a couple of days there and experienced the atmosphere in the evening. I would like to attend some of the formal events, in the future, but have realised the festival is so much more than a bookish wonderland I expected to find.  The Hay Festival is a festival of creative minds and the logo ‘imagine the world’ has captured the magic.

 

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Norwegian Summer Island with Natalie Normann

Meet Natalie in one of her favourite coffee shops.

I met the ancestor of a Viking and she is very friendly.  Alas, she didn’t arrive in Cardiff in a longboat, but she did have stories to tell me about her beautiful Norway.  It is my pleasure to introduce you to Natalie Normann, a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA), who resided in the South Wales and attended the local writers’ group.  Natalie will release Summer Island in September and it is set in Norway.  I always love travelling to other countries via books and wanted to discover more.

Jessie:  Natalie, I’m sad you have returned to Norway and won’t be in the local RNA meetings.  It’s nice to have some time to chat.  Tell me, have you missed Norway and what did you love the most about Wales?

Natalie: I fell in love with Wales and Cardiff the first time we were here which was two years before we moved. There’s so much fascinating history – even Norwegian history! I’ve already used some of what I learned, in my current historical romance series, by moving the characters to Cardiff in 1919. I had great fun with that. Also, I was surprised and pleased at how friendly people are in Wales. I’ve made great friends and I hope to get back. Next time I’ll either drive myself or hire a driver so we can explore more of Wales.

Jessie:  I’m so impressed you have secured a publishing deal with One More Chapter. What is Summer Island about?

Natalie: Summer Island is about taking the time to find out what makes you happy in life.

Summer Island is about taking the time to find out what makes you happy in life.

Ninni is recovering from a bad break-up and the island is her favourite place in the world. It’s where she goes when she needs to take a break.

Jack is a chef at a posh restaurant in London. He finds out  that his biological father has left him a farm on a Norwegian island. At first he thinks it has to be an internet scam, he’s never met his father, but when he quits his job over an argument with his boss, he decides to go and see what this is all about.

Jessie:  What inspired you to write this book?

Natalie: I have a thing for islands. I love them. Norway is always praised for the fantastic mountains and the gorgeous fjords, but we are actually one of the countries in Europe with most islands. People have lived on them for generations and it’s a way of life.  I wanted to see if I could capture some of what makes summers in Norway special and the island is perfect for that.

Harbour view at Utsira island, outside Haugesund. ‘I wanted to see if I could capture some of what makes summers in Norway special and the island is perfect for that.’

Jessie:  Give us an insight into the setting and why you think we should all visit Summer Island?

Natalie: Summer Island is the kind of place you wish you  could go to when your heart is broken. A place to heal, even. Everything is so busy these days and on an island things slow down. You have time to think and just be. Right now, when we all have to isolate and we are more or less in lockdown everywhere, an island seems like the place you want to be. I wouldn’t mind, myself.

Present a 35 word extract from your novel that will tempt a reader.

‘And here I was thinking Norwegians were so hospitable,’ Jack said, clearly enjoying himself. He made no sign of leaving.

‘You’ve read the wrong guidebook, I’m afraid.’ Ninni pulled the computer closer to her.

Jessie: Which characters would you like me to meet the most on Summer Island and why?

Natalie: That’s a tough question. I’m fond of all of them. Maybe Alma. She’s the heart of the island, the one who keeps everything together. She grew up in a time when the men; the fathers, husbands and sons, went away at sea for months at the time, even years, and women stayed home to take care of the homestead and the family, handle the finances and whatever challenges they had to face.  Alma is tough and kind, she doesn’t put up with anything, and shows her love by feeding people she cares about. I like her.

Traditional pier and buildings at Utsira.

Jessie: Did any of your characters misbehave when you were writing the book?

Natalie: Not misbehaving, but some of them certainly surprised me. I didn’t have them all ready before I started to write, so some characters was unexpected. Like the hippies, for example. They just showed up one day while I was writing something else.

Jessie: Who would you like to read your book and why?  This could be another author, someone famous, a friend or a member of your family.  

Natalie: Family and friends have mostly read it already,. I would love if it Milly Johnson read it. I picked up her book «The perfectly imperfect woman», to read on the train to my very first Romance Novelist Association conference. This was my first Milly Johnson book and I decided to read it because there was a Norwegian in it. I loved it, and when I met her in the lunch line at the conference we chatted, I asked her to sign my copy, and she was funny and friendly. Made me less nervous about the whole conference. And also, I know she loves Norway.

Jessie: Why should I keep your book in my handbag?

Natalie: I think if you want a break from the stress and worries, it can give you that. I hope so.

Jessie: What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?

Natalie: I have several of those, usually one for each project. On the most recent it says: research Foundation doctors.

Jessie: What is the biggest challenge for an author?

Natalie: To finish that first draft, so that you have the confidence of having a whole story. Then what you need is perseverance. Stick with the writing. And when I say that, I mean finish the manuscript, do the revisions, the editing, the submissions and even when it seems there’s nothing happening, keep going. There are some writers who write a book, gets it published and becomes an overnight success. For most writers, it’s a long game. And the only way to be writer and to be a better writer, is to write.

Jessie: What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?

Natalie: My first editor told me this. She bought my first short story and wanted me to polish it, rewrite, actually. She told me that what I feel when I write is what the reader will feel when they read it. I try to remember that, so that if I’m bored when I write, I know readers will be too. It also helps when I really don’t want to ‘kill my darlings’, but I know I have to.

Natalie used to be a translator of fiction and non-fiction. She studied literature and history at Uni, and used to read romance novels in the hallways. It was frowned upon by her professors and the other students, of course. She loves to travel and she has lived in Spain, England and Wales – and hope to go back soon. I really do hope she can return to Wales very soon as the Cardiff group of writers ( Cariad Chapete) miss her and her lovely sense of humour.  I can’t wait for the release of her novel Summer Island and have already preordered it. 

Your contact details and book links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatalieNormannAuthor
Twitter: @NatalieNormann1
Instagram: natalienormann
Pinterest: https://no.pinterest.com/natalienormann3

 

Please see all my author interviews at My Guests and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.

A Bookshop for my Handbag:  Griffin Books

Griffin Books in Penarth

Imagine walking into a bookshop and buying the entire shop.  Three years ago, Mel Griffin bought a bookshop.  It was an honour to meet the woman who is living my dream.  Step inside Griffin Books, located in Penarth, and turn the pages of Mel’s bookshop story. Meet Elin who is the social media guru for the business.

Jessie:  Owning a bookshop has been my dream since I was a little girl.  Tell me about your story.  Why did you decide to buy a bookshop?

Bookshop in my Handbag

Mel:  As a teenager, I had a Saturday job in a bookshop and dreamed of owning one. Having worked in a global IT company for thirty years, I decided it was time for a new challenge.  I visited this bookshop regularly and it rekindled my ambition to own a bookshop.  The owners talked of retirement, so I asked if they wanted to sell.  An impromptu question changed my life. Following a two year hand over period, I received the keys in 2014.

Jessie:  It must have been exciting to receive the keys to your new life.  Wow!  This sounds like the narrative for a feel-good story. 

Mel:  I suppose it does but it is also hard work. It was great fun to rename the bookshop then build a new identity.  My daughter helped me to choose the name.  Initially, we were considering ‘Books, Books, Books’. In the end we decided to use our surname – Griffin – which then enabled us to create a great logo based on the mythical creature.

Jessie:  How has the bookshop changed?

Rachel and customers present reviews and recommendations for the readers

Mel:  I’m trying to emphasise contemporary literary fiction as well as more popular fiction and the classics.  The stock is split equally between: fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature.  I aim to stock unique books: different to the supermarkets.  I’m delighted when my customers compliment me on my choices. Customers, friends of Griffin Books, are encouraged to write the reviews we display around the shop.  I select books to suit my regular customers’ taste – it is their bookshop.  For example, I bought the first in Julia Chapman’s Dales Detective Series with a customer in mind – the customer then wrote a very positive review which built up a bit of a following for Julia locally, eventually resulting in an invitation to the author.  We hosted a lovely afternoon tea with Julia where she talked about the series and her future writing plans.

Jessie:  Is it the customer focus that gives your bookshop its unique identity?

Elin:  We have a regular customer base and it’s a friendly, warm environment: the bookshop is the hub of Penarth.  Customers know we can make recommendations. But, the bookshop’s ethos involves more than selling books. We reach out to the community in lots of different ways.

Mel:  Yes, this is a bookshop for the local community. The monthly book club is so popular we have set up a second group. Story time for the under-fives is great fun.

We also like to tackle issues to support the wellbeing in our community.  Recently, we organised an event to help people reconnect with those suffering from dementia. We invited two local, self-published authors who had written about dementia.  Elizabeth Webb-Hooper’s ‘Pennies from Heaven’ is about her personal experience of caring for a father with Dementia. Jane. M. Mullins’s ‘Finding the Light in Dementia’ is written from her viewpoint as a dementia nurse. Members of the local community supported the event and it was very successful.

To celebrate World Book Day, we visited the local schools and took the free books to the pupils.  We are also happy to act as a base for ticket sales for local events.

Jessie:  I’m impressed with the way you’ve developed a significant role in the community.  I noted you narrowly missed Independent Bookshop of the Year 2018. Do you work with other independent bookshops?

The author events have also been building up over the years

The author events have also been building up over the years, because we have been working with Bookish, Crickhowell and Cover to Cover, Mumbles: we have formed the South Wales Independent Bookshop Consortium thus enabling us to attract higher profile authors. On Sunday, 3rd June, former Chancellor and PM Gordon Brown will be featuring in an event to talk about his memoirs: My Life, Our Times. Griffin Books is also organising the Penarth Literary Festival from 6th – 8th July. This will have an emphasis on writing from and about Wales, including local authors.

Jessie:  What is the most popular genre?

‘Children’s books are the most popular genre.’ Elin

Elin: Children’s books are the most popular genre.  I featured A Year in the Wild, by Ruth Symons and Helen Aspornsiri, on Instagram. Children like the experience of choosing a book here, as we have such a vibrant selection.  I have been coming here since I was a child. I completed my Work Experience here and now I am working here.  I love it!  It is exciting to watch the business develop.

Jessie:  Elin, your enthusiasm is evident, and your job will inspire job envy amongst the bookish community. I love your tweets about the statements your customers have made – so funny.  

Mel, do you have plans to buy more bookshops?

Mel:  No, I want to keep my arms around this shop where I am living and feel part of the community.  I’m dedicated to developing the shop as the hub of the town.

Reading Journeys

Step inside Griffin Books, located in Penarth, and turn the pages of Mel’s bookshop story.

I was made to feel very welcome in Griffin Books.  Walking into the shop is like stepping into a friend’s house.  It was incredible to go behind the scenes and find out more about the life of a bookshop.  I certainly don’t think there is much time for reading.  However, I couldn’t resist finding out what inspired Mel and Erin’s reading journeys.

Mel, Elin and Rachel laughed about the impact of Enid Blyton Chalet School Series and Malory Towers Series.  Apparently, they enjoyed the midnight feasts, skiing and adventures.  Mel recalled reading Swallows and Amazons books at the age of six.  She is currently reading Midwinter Break by Bernard Maclaverty.

Meet Rachel, Mel and Elin at Griffin Books.

I recommend you visit Griffin Books if you like to talk about books. Mel, Elin, Rachel, Dawn and Annie will be delighted to welcome you and offer you a complimentary cup of coffee while you browse.  A bookshop very similar to Griffin Books was responsible for inspiring my own love affair with books.  I wish I could cram this entire bookshop in my handbag, so I could escape there at a moment’s notice.

The quirky vintage appearance of this shop symbolises the essential old-fashioned focus on the customer.  However, the website and social media pages display Mel and her team’s vision for a twenty first century bookshop that reaches out to the community.

I hope Griffin Books will celebrate Independent Bookshop of the Year 2019.

 

Please see all my adventures at Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Cheers! Golden Chapter Reviews with Jena C. Henry

Selecting books is a voyage of discovery for intrepid readers.  My love of books has connected me with readers around the world. A letter from an American blogger and author has opened another door on my blog.  Jena will hop on her boat to visit the latest editions to the Handbag Gallery.  Peek at the letter received from Jena C. Henry and find out how she hopes to discover new books and connect with readers.

Jena will hop on her boat to visit the latest editions to the Handbag Gallery.

Dear Books in My Handbag,

Your site is an elegant showroom of books and handbags. Even more, it is a curated collection of possibilities, opportunities and dreams. So much to explore!

The Readers Recommends page invites readers to share a composed photo of their favorite book and handbag, along with a short testimonial. My Guests presents biographies of authors.

And then there are the rollicking Handbag Adventures and My Reading reviews and the Bloggers Café pages- a potpourri of enticements for readers and writers.

The best page is the Handbag Gallery, with its beguiling photos of books and handbags. Each author has taken care to display the book to its best advantage. Over 260 captivating titles are presented, each linked to a retail site.

Am I in book lovers’ heaven? Yes! I want to read and review every book and get to know each author.  So many tempting titles, so little time- what can I do?

How about this- I will encourage other readers to join with me! Here’s what I’m thinking- I will read the first chapter of a book and post a short review, which will include questions. If you’ve read the book, please comment and share a link to your review, and/or answer my questions (without too many spoilers)! If my review encourages you to read the book, let us all know about that, too!

As Carol Drinkwater said, “I love your book blog and am honoured to be there amongst such class”.

And as our favorite author said, “You Can’t Go it Alone”.  I’m looking forward to some delightful conversations about books. The Handbag Gallery is gorgeous to view. It’s Golden! Let’s open the book covers, ruffle the pages and sing these stories.

Your book friend, Jena C. Henry

I have built a new doorway into my world of books and handbags for Jena.

Jena is right, I can’t go it alone with my Handbag Gallery.  We do need to delve into the books and find out more about what is in there.  I have built a new doorway into my world of books and handbags for Jena. In return, Jena has provided an empty golden handbag.  Apparently, the handbag belonged to her character Charli from the Gold Age of Charli series.  Jena will look at any new books in the gallery and place opening chapters in the golden handbag.  Each month Jena will feature her Golden Chapter.  Will you be the lucky author?  Jena will prioritise authors who interact with us via our blogs and social media.

Good luck! I wonder who will be placed in Jena’s golden handbag.

We invite our bookish friends to place a new book release in the Handbag Gallery and she will peek at the opening chapters. 

Good luck!  I wonder who will be placed in Jena’s golden handbag.

Let me introduce you to Jena. Jena is an author, beta reader, book blogger and reviewer.  Check out her YouTube channel where she presents a book in a minute. Here she is wearing the scarf sent to her by my character Sophie.

Let me introduce you to Jena. Here she is wearing the scarf sent to her by my character, Sophie.

Jena C. Henry is an active, optimistic gal who is a wife, mother, non-profit volunteer and bon vivant. She created the book series, The Golden Age of Charli, to encourage, entertain and share her joy of living and laughing.

Jena presents writing workshops to help creatives achieve their dreams of writing and publishing. She is a blogger, book reviewer and beta reader.

Jena C. Henry holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron School of Law. Now retired, she and her husband live in tropical Ohio where they enjoy their two adult children and extended family, friends and darling dog.

When she is finished tidying her house, Jena likes to relax on her front porch and read and write. She enjoys fine dining, traveling to visit family, and lounging by lovely bodies…of water. 

Contact Jena

Amazon Universal  author.to/JenaBooks

Website: http://www.jenabooks.com/book/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenabooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.c.henry/

Google Plus https://plus.google.com/110683677816270622079

YouTube channel  Jena C. Henry https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLicS_dElaiY2qhhafiLQ?view_as=subscriber

Links to my book trailers. One is 30 seconds, one is 60 second

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZLp93LwXuQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRdgxX9ZPbE

 

 

Please see my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Kindness on your Doorstep

I am sending you all a big wave, a smile and hope you’ll grab yourself a coffee and send me a message.

Step inside my virtual front door to celebrate kindness, pop in for a virtual chat and see if you want to accept a doorstep challenge.

Chatting with friends and family on the phone and via social media made me realise how much we value the freedom to interact with each other and strangers.  Everyone said they missed daily interaction when out shopping, and even commented on how they loved to chat at the bus stop. To bridge the ugly social distancing gap, I have telephoned people so they can displace anxiety then embark on a happy chat. Others commented on the fact they were going for walks in the countryside, but people were walking metres away from them and it made them feel as if they didn’t exist.  Today, I shouted greetings at other people on their walks and loved the smiles beaming at me.

Let’s open a virtual door to celebrate the kindness of neighbours.

As the books in handbag lady, I considered how books have always been my companion and a welcome escape.  I will place books in bags and take them to neighbours who want a collection of good reads to help them escape. A friend here in Cardiff has decided she will bake Welsh cakes, wrap them up beautifully and leave them on neighbour’s doorsteps.  Obviously, we will telephone them to see if people want the gifts first.

A bag of books ready for delivery

Other friends are pooling their resources and swap goodies rather than fighting for goods in the supermarkets.  Again, we place them on the doorstep.  It makes sense and does encourage us to dig deep into the cupboards for those unwanted items.  I have found home for all those cosmetic gifts sets I have been storing for years.  It’s like Swap Shop all over again, and now I am showing my age.  Nod now if you remember that Saturday morning show from the eighties.

Kindness is free so let’s share it.  I have left a recipe for you on my virtual doorstep.

Welsh cakes for neighbours

Here is a Welsh cake recipe.  Feel free to share another recipe via the comment boxes.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/welsh-cakes

Here is my virtual kindness challenge.

Could you call on someone who is self-isolating and leave them a bag of goodies on their doorstep?  The challenge is you can’t buy anything new and must create something from whatever you can spare in your home?  Sharing really is caring.

Wishing you all good health! You are always welcome to visit my blog and leave a comment, or you can find me on Facebook and Twitter.  I make of point of responding to comments, so there is no need to be alone.  I am sending you all a big wave, a smile and hope you’ll grab yourself a coffee and send me a message.  Stay safe, everyone and we’ll get by with a little help from our friends!

 

Please see all my Handbag Adventures and also my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.

A Feast of Christmas Stories

‘A unique collection of stories that warm the heart but avoids sentimentality. Wit and humour sparkles in the stories.’ Lady Bracknell.

As the festive season approaches, I have been looking for books that capture the Christmas spirit. My concentration levels have suffered recently so I have found short stories to be the perfect escape. It is wonderful to read a complete story each night. Having discovered ‘A Feast of Christmas Stories’, I asked Patricia Feinberg Stoner, contributing author and editor of the anthology, to capture the essence of the magical collection.

With the nights getting darker and longer, and Christmas approaching fast, it’s time to seek out books to curl up with by the fire.  ‘A Feast of Christmas Stories’ is an anthology of seasonal tales with a Sussex flavour, produced by the authors’ network Chindi.

In this book of sixteen short stories you will find something to please every taste, with contributions from best-selling authors such as Beryl Kingston, Carol Thomas and Angela Petch, as well as less well-known but no less accomplished writers.

If ghosts are your thing, sample ‘Moon Shadows’ by Bruce Macfarlane, ‘Stranger on the Shore’ by Angela Petch, and ‘Tiny Tim and the Glittery Reindeer’ by Christopher Joyce.  If you prefer dragons, take a look at Christmas through the eyes of the Knucker, a local beast who’s a lot less fierce than his reputation suggests.

Alan Readman’s ‘Side by Side’ and Phil Clinker’s ‘Christmas Repeats’ are set in very different eras and locations, but both will have you reaching for the tissues.

Two sisters feature in two very different tales.  The many fans of Beryl Kingston’s novels will love ‘The First Christmas of the War’, a poignant tale of sibling rivalry, while ‘Pudding’ by Lexi Rees is a truly feel-good story with a succulent Sussex Pond Pudding at its heart.

What would Christmas be without presents?  Maralyn Green and Susanne Haywood have very different takes on the subject.  Susanne’s heart-warming ‘The Gift’ reminds us that Santa so often goes unappreciated, but ‘The Christmas Present’ by Maralyn Green – easily the sauciest story in the book – suggests an indulgence every lady of a certain age might hope to find in her stocking.

For a taste of crime at Christmas, look no further than Peter Bartram’s ‘The Mystery of the Phantom Santa’.  Peter is the author of the much-loved ‘Crampton of the Chronicle’ series of cosy mysteries, featuring Colin Crampton, intrepid crime reporter. In the final story of the book, Colin is desperate to find a news story on Christmas Eve which doesn’t involve elves and mistletoe and Santas.  With strange goings-on in the alleyway, Colin’s reporter’s nose soon detects that the stranger in the fur-trimmed, scarlet-hooded cloak is no merry bringer of gifts for children.  Suffice it to say, Crampton gets his story.

 

Please see all my Guests’ Posts and also my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.