Tag: Crime

Woolf Scholar’s Novel Choice

Maggie Humm

‘Without a doubt, Lullaby will be one of the most unsettling, absorbing, un-put-downable novels of 2018,’ according to Professor Maggie Humm.  Intrigued, I invited the internationally acclaimed Woolf scholar to tell me more about Lullaby by Leila Slimani.

It was a delight to receive mail from Maggie Humm, as all her academic books were once crammed into my student rucksack. I am honoured to step aside so that Maggie Humm can challenge us with her review of a novel from a newly-refreshed sub-genre of literary fiction.

Leila Slimani Lullaby

Lullaby Leila Slimani

As Match of the Day might say ‘leave the room if you don’t want to know the result.  Lullaby recounts an apparently simple scenario. Louise, a nanny of indeterminate age, is hired by Paul and Myriam, a successful middle-class Parisian couple, to care for their two children, baby Adam and Mila.  Louise is tiny, with immaculate finger-nails, constantly wearing the Peter Pan collared blouse of the novel’s cover. Soon she transforms her employers’ lives for the better: the children adore her, she unobtrusively cooks, cleans and anticipates all their desires and needs. The kind of woman you’d never spot in a crowd.

In flashback, and through multiple characters’ interactions with Louise, we come to understand and empathise with her past: a loveless childhood, poverty, and domestic and sexual violence. Unusually, and intriguingly, these features are not presented as completely explanatory reasons for her final violent act – the murder of the two children. Myriam and Paul are occasionally caring and thoughtful employers whose actions to some extent compensate for Louise’s past traumas. And their kindness becomes the problem. Louise is desperate to live full-time with Paul and Myriam, to have them ‘adopt’ her. Until she kills.

‘…isolation from other nannies in the park’

Although none of the stories are told in first person we inhabit the minds of differing characters almost in real-time at key turning points: the nanny’s sensual exploration of the apartment where she will kill; her physical disgust with men during sex; her isolation from other nannies in the park; the warmth and beauty of a Greek island holiday with her employers and children. This ‘sticky mess’, as Heiser says, takes over our emotions and our  bodies. We can feel Louise on our skin, even taste what she eats.

Lullaby joins a newly-refreshed sub-genre of literary fiction recreating real-life crime, exemplified by another best-selling French novel Emmanuel Carrère’s The Adversary; combined with a women’s fiction genre of apparently affectless short sentences as in Elizabeth Strout’s My Name is Lucy Barton

‘It could be any Western urban capitalist city.’

These novels focus on the gap between what we think we know and what we experience in the diurnal life of the novel – a technique often characterised as metamodernist. That is, novels which deal with structures of feeling after postmodernism. Lullaby appears intensely intimate – narrating the lives of each person in the lead up to murder. But, as a metamodernist novel it also portrays (very subtly) ways of feeling and thinking about contemporary issues: immigration, poverty, homelessness or the threat of homelessness, women’s bodies and misogyny played out in the physical geography of Paris. It could be any Western urban capitalist city.

Lullaby is also a woman’s novel (although not without interest to male readers hopefully). Clothes, jewellery, cooking and meals, women’s physical differences from men, are all as significant as actions, and trigger and shape actions in many cases. For example, Louise takes the children out to dinner one evening hoping that her employers will be able to have sex undisturbed, and produce the new baby that Louise needs to retain her place. The children are disconcerted by being dragged around strange streets to eat and when they return Louise discovers that the wife went early to bed alone. Louise’s ensuing anger (hidden from Myriam and Paul) contributes to the build-up to murder. The significance of meals and fashions were themes of the great modernist writer Virginia Woolf, but what makes Lullaby essentially metamodernist is the way in which Lullaby displaces and undercuts notions of the feeling subject by the continual unknowingness of motive and desire. Rather than arriving at a resounding ending – a Joycean ‘yes she said, yes she said, Yes; or Woolf’s Lily Briscoe’s ‘I have had my vision’ (note the present perfect containment),  Lullaby ends with the reader alongside the female detective, re-enacting the murder. In The Adversary the narrator leaves behind the protagonists, drives back to Paris, deciding ‘that writing this story could only be either a crime or a prayer.’ Lullaby forces the reader to become Louise ‘who takes a knife from the cupboard,’ and to recreate the murder ourselves in our minds.

Without a doubt, Lullaby will be one of the most unsettling, absorbing, un-put-downable novels of 2018.

Manuscript of Talland House is waiting for a front cover

Maggie Humm is an Emeritus Professor, University of East London. An internationally-acclaimed Woolf scholar, the author of 14 books both for an academic and general readership, the last 3 focused on Woolf and the arts, the topic of Talland House – her debut novel. Talland House was shortlisted for the Impress and Fresher Fiction prizes 2017 (as Who Killed Mrs. Ramsay?). A short story ‘Cult Love’ was ‘highly commended’ by the National Association of Writers’ Groups (2018).

Maggie Humm’s debut novel Talland House was shortlisted for the Impress and Fresher fiction prizes 2017 (as Who Killed Mrs. Ramsay?).

Talland House will be released soon.  Maggie’s manuscript is waiting for a front cover but even the manuscript looks tempting.  Maggie will send a photo of her book in a handbag when it is available.

In the meantime, here is an overview of the novel:

Talland House   

The Royal Academy, London 1919. Lily Briscoe has a painting displayed. She’s put her student life in picturesque St. Ives behind her: her friend and substitute mother Mrs. Ramsay disliked Lily’s portrait of her it seemed; Louis Grier, her tutor, didn’t seduce her as she’d hoped. Ten years on she’s been a suffragette, a nurse in WWI, and now a successful artist. But then Louis appears at the exhibition. He tells Lily that Mrs. Ramsay died suddenly and Lily has to investigate. And she realizes that she still loves Louis.

 

Please see all my guests’ posts at My Guests and my blog and website at jessiecahalin.com.

 

Golden Chapter: Roger Bray’s Blood Ribbon

During this golden season in the UK, I bring you Jena’s latest Golden Chapter from Roger Bray.

During this golden season in the UK, I bring you Jena’s latest Golden Chapter.  She reached down under the table for her handbag and found a thriller by Roger Bray. Roger was born in the UK but lives far, far away on the Gold Coast, Australia.  I am delighted to present a truly golden collaboration across three continents.  It’s time to hand over this feature to Jena, a supportive American author and blogger.

I peered in to my golden handbag to see the first chapter of this Thriller/Suspense Crime Fiction. I want to note that the author included thanks to bloggers and reviewers by name in his dedication section at the beginning of the book. Nice touch!

I’ve got a golden handbag
And with a golden handbag…
it’s a golden day…
to read…

The first chapter is short but packs a punch. The author sets the table which made me want to stay for the main course.

The story is told in the third person. The words are simple and low-key, as they set the tone that something out of the ordinary is happening. We learn that it is near midnight, and an unnamed person is driving across the Nestucca River Bridge. This person is referred to as “he”.

We are not given any physical details about this person, but we do learn that he is precise and careful. He drives slowly, with headlights off, on a trail to the river. He uses a military-style shovel to dig a hole in the sand seven feet deep. He believes he is an expert at covering his tracks. He pulls on disposable latex gloves.

It’s time to hand over this feature to Jena, a supportive American author.

A body is in the trunk of his car, wrapped in a metallic lined thermal blanket. He checks the pockets on the body’s clothing, to make sure they are zipped so nothing can fall out. (Note to Handbag lovers doing mysterious things at night- make sure things don’t fall out of your bag!)

But he does forget about something, although he does his best to fix his mistake. After placing the body in the hole he dug, he is careful to smooth and cover the disturbed sand. These unsettling acts contrast with the description of the gentle breeze blowing off the Pacific.

He appears to be cool and composed. Yet, he thinks several thoughts that are peculiar. As he views the body, he pictures what we assume is his victim as “serene, happy, lovely.” He uses a ribbon to tie the hair of the deceased, making sure the ends are of equal length.

Gold Coast Hinterland

The chapter ends with man examining a “mini constellation of his own making.”

And yes, we must stop here! Ready for some questions?

  1. I’m sure you have many questions based on this first chapter. Who is the man? Did he kill someone? Has he done it before? Who is the victim? Does this first chapter make you want to find out more? What other questions do you have?
  2. What does the title Blood Ribbon mean to you, now that you’ve been introduced to the first chapter?
  3. From the cover blurb, we learn that a young woman is found alive, bleeding and injured. Is she the Chapter One victim or another victim?

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

Happy Reading and Stay Golden!

Jena C. Henry

Roger Bray’s Blood Ribbon

About the Book

When a psychology student survives a brutal encounter, a series of unsolved murders may be her only clue to stop the next attack…

Orphan Brooke Adams has reinvented herself after a troubled past. Now a confident psychology student, she surrounds herself with a close-knit group of friends who won’t let their past traumas ruin their big plans for the future. But when a weekend getaway ends with a bloody, savage attack that nearly leaves her dead on the beach, she’s determined not to let the traumatic experience define her.

When she’s approached by a retired cop turned PI, Brooke is shocked to learn there’s a striking similarity between her incident and a series of killings from 35 years ago. Will Brooke piece together the unsolved beach murders and reclaim her future, or will a clever killer put her six feet under the dunes?

Blood Ribbon is a tightly-woven standalone thriller. If you like dark mysteries, chilling suspense, and survivors battling incredible odds, then you’ll love Roger Bray’s gripping page-turner.

Roger Bray

About Roger:

I served in the Royal Navy, and as a Police officer in Australia. Seriously injured and medically retired I enrolled in university which relit my passion for writing.  Three books published and another on track.  If my writing brings some pleasure into people’s lives, then I consider it a success.

I have always loved writing; putting words onto a page and bringing characters to life. I can almost feel myself becoming immersed into their lives, living with their fears and triumphs. Thus, my writing process becomes an endless series of questions. What would she or he do, how would they react, is this in keeping with their character? Strange as it sounds, I don’t like leaving characters in cliffhanging situations without giving them an ending, whichever way it develops.

My life to date is what compels me to seek a just outcome, the good will overcome and the bad will be punished. More though, I tend to see my characters as everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, but in which we may all find ourselves if the planets align wrongly or for whatever reason you might consider.

Contacts:
Twitter: @rogerbray22
https://rogerbraybooks.com/

 

Please see all the chapters at Jena’s Golden Chapters and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Talland House and the Mystery of Mrs Ramsay’s Death

Maggie reading on St Ives beach being filmed by a French TV crew.

I have waited over a year for the release Talland House by Maggie Humm. According to the blurb, “Talland House takes Lily Briscoe from the pages of Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse and tells her story outside the confines of Woolf’s novel…” It is an honour to introduce you to Maggie Humm.

Maggie Humm is an international Woolf scholar, she is the author/editor of fourteen books, the last three of which focused on Woolf and the arts. Talland House was shortlisted for the Impress and Fresher Fiction prizes in 2017 (as Who Killed Mrs. Ramsay?) and the Retreat West and Eyelands prizes in 2018.

Jessie: Tell me more about Talland House.

“Maggie Humm has brilliantly filled in the edges beyond Woolf’s canvas…” Lauren Elkin

Maggie: Talland House re-imagines Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse from the point of view of Lily Briscoe the artist character. Set between 1900 and 1919 in picturesque Cornwall and war-blasted London, the novel tells Lily’s emotional journey in becoming a professional artist: her love-life, mourning her dead mother, as a suffragette, nurse and solving the mystery of Mrs. Ramsay’s death. The novel contains a prequel to To the Lighthouse and many fictions of Woolf’s life, including her family, the artists and friends she knew.

Jessie: What was the initial inspiration for the novel?

Virginia Woolf’s wonderful, quasi-autobiographical To the Lighthouse. I first read it as an adolescent after the death of my mother and fell in love with the mother-figure Mrs. Ramsay. Only years later did I discover that Woolf’s mother Julia Stephen was 49 when she died and Virginia 13 – the exact ages of my mother and me when my mother died. There’s something so extraordinarily moving about mothering in To the Lighthouse. In the novel Mrs. Ramsay dies suddenly and in parentheses (apologies to those who haven’t read the book!). The death is unexplained – the most surprising death in 20th century literature. I knew I had to write a novel discovering how Mrs. Ramsay died!

Jessie: How long have you been working on the book? Did it involve any special research?

Years! I took a UEA/Guardian diploma in creative writing followed by nine months of mentoring with The Literary Consultancy and much revision.

The research was huge but so enjoyable. As a Woolf scholar (my last three books focus on Woolf and the arts) I’d read all Woolf’s writings and writings by her family and friends. For Talland House I read Cornish newspapers for the times Lily is in St. Ives for weather, incidents, and atmosphere. I loved being in the airy, light map room at the top of the British Library looking at old photos of St. Ives for housing types, street scenes. I read artists’ memoirs, art journals of the turn of the twentieth century for a sense of artists’ lives and studios. I read everything on-line about World War I in London and how it felt to be there, for example, when the Germans suddenly switched from Zeppelins to Gotha bombers in 1917. London and St. Ives almost became characters in Talland House. I googled about music halls, other leisure pursuits, clothes, transport, and the accurate names of buildings and visited all Lily’s places. Lily gradually took over my life, my feelings, even my physical characteristics. She’s always early for appointments, she’s an only child with a dead mother, and her fingers are the shape of mine. Sometimes I wondered if I existed outside the novel!

Jessie: I am intrigued and want to delve into your writing. Please present some extracts from the novel so that will transport us to the settings in Cornwall.

Talland House

“Talland House…a kind of home, a place where she’d always wanted to return, and she’d missed it with the sadness of missing an old friend, a real person.”

“Lily glanced up at the house. Over the years, Talland House had come to mean more and more to her, a kind of home, a place where she’d always wanted to return, and she’d missed it with the sadness of missing an old friend, a real person. There was a special spot—the steps from the drawing room into the garden where Mrs. Ramsay liked to sit—at a specific moment of the day—early evening when the low sunlight caught the bright escallonia hedge—and it looked magnificent.”

St Ives

“Here no one knew her, here there were no family responsibilities, here she could be herself or whatever herself would become.”

“Lily had a glorious view of St Ives’s harbour, the seagulls twisting iridescent in the sun, a lighthouse seemingly close enough to touch. The weeks ahead spread out before her like a freshly washed sheet. Here no one knew her, here there were no family responsibilities, here she could be herself or whatever herself would become.”

Beach and Godrevy

“The beach began to empty as families took their children home for tea, and Lily rested on the top bar of the promenade railings looking out over the glare of the sea at Godrevy Lighthouse, hearing distant cries, the pat-pat of sails flapping against the rigging, the waves lapping. Now she felt the whole of the past could be present, as if her childhood days inched forward as slowly as the tortoise in the garden at home.

Godrevy Lighthouse

“It was pure joy to be with Mrs. Ramsay, lit by gleams from Godrevy…”

“It was pure joy to be with Mrs. Ramsay, lit by gleams from Godrevy, the conversation from the dining room too faint to understand. Mrs. Ramsay’s face seemed atop a statue, marble and firm. She looked so commanding suddenly, and Lily felt the rich essence of female connection, a fervent intensity because they were both women and Mrs. Ramsay was a mother. She gave Talland House a point of view, a sense of life, of its odd but necessary capacity.”

“Maggie Humm has brilliantly filled in the edges beyond Woolf’s canvas; she has a deep, awe-inspiring understanding of the role of the visual in Woolf’s work, and here she reveals that she also has a novelist’s gift to create something new, that has its own imaginative life, from that understanding.”

-Lauren Elkin, author of the award-winning Flaneuse

Find out more about Maggie Humm and her writing at:
http://www.maggiehumm.net/

 

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.

Body in the library and thriller in handbag

Karl Holton

 

 

 

 

From a darkened corner of the room a figure appeared. ‘The Weight of Shadows’ is all he said, before collapsing at my feet; an ornate handled knife buried in his back. What could the victim’s last words possibly mean? 

Greenway House

I met with author, Karl Holton, at Greenway House, and he had staged a dramatic introduction to his new book.  He is an Agatha Christie fan and it seemed fitting to visit her holiday home.  The house is deemed ‘the loveliest place in the world’, on the website, and it certainly lived up to expectation. I marvelled at the glorious view of the River Dart. Appropriately, Karl wanted to conduct the interview in the library. I inspected the library for a body, again, but it was safe.  The light and airy library seemed a fitting place to inspire the great Agatha Christie.  Karl waxed lyrical about the house and gave me some interesting facts about the great author. 

Karl:  Did you know that this house inspired Dead Man’s Folly? It’s one of the Poirot novels and it was the last ever ‘Poirot’ made by David Suchet playing the role of the great detective. They made it right here in the house and this was what she did so well; she adapted what she knew directly into the narrative.

Jessie:  No, I wasn’t aware of that. I love the Poirot novels – they are great fun.  My husband can watch Poirot programmes all day. Who is your favourite TV Poirot? I like Albert Finney. I’m not sure if that was TV or film.

Karl: For me, David Suchet is the quintessential ‘Poirot’.

Jessie:  Of course, yes he was brilliant – he was Poirot.  We digress, can you tell me about ‘The Weight of the Shadows’?

Karl delved into his rucksack.  Strangely enough, his rucksack was full of his favourite Agatha Christie novels, and he proceeded to display some of the novel on the table.  Finally, the actor, who had performed earlier, reappeared with a copy of Karl’s novel. The cover of ‘The Weight of the Shadows’ is modern and suggests a fast-paced plot set in London. 

Karl: At one level ‘The Weight of the Shadows’ is an entertaining crime thriller mystery with plot twists and turns. At another level it is the first six days at the beginning of a series that introduces some interesting characters and a narrative that has subtle and, I hope, thought provoking subjects.

Jessie:  Crime thrillers are always popular.  It’s a great genre to establish a fanbase. What have the reviewers said about your new book?

Smiling, Karl started to recall some of the reviews. 

Karl: “an intriguing plot, thoughtful, profound themes, complex troubling characters, and language that make us shudder for its honesty, clarity, and confidence” – Piaras O Cionnaoith

“irresistible book, impossible to put down” – Bookgirl Sulagna

“a story that is intense and heart-pounding!” – Elaine Emmerick

Jessie:  I’m impressed that you have already commenced your second book. We are in an ideal place to read.  Can you read an extract from the book to tempt the reader?

Karl:  It’s a real privilege to read here in Agatha Christie’s library.

Benedict was motionless with one thought. Never give up.

She pushed the tip of the blade in and under the skin on his chest, near his heart.

Karl: This extract is only a few words, but the importance of these at the start of the narrative is significant.

Jessie: A great choice – you certainly hook the reader into the narrative.  I can tell that you enjoyed constructing the narrative and the characters.  How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?

Karl: The euphoria of finishing was quickly met by the realisation that as an indie author the work had just started. Apart from the marketing, reviews, social media etc. I remembered that I needed to start working on the second book in the series.

Given the second book in the series starts the day after the end of this first book I’ve not really had the opportunity to miss the characters.

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.  

Karl: If I were choosing an author it would be Agatha Christie. We could discuss the pace of the plot and sub-plots.

If it were someone famous (and alive) I’d ask Stephen Fry to review the book. Within the series I’m going to try to examine and compare some cognitive and emotive subjects through the plot, characters and narrative. I’d really like to discuss these with him.

Karl Holton

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

Karl: Well I hope it has a plot that keeps you guessing and is enjoyable as it begins to reveal itself. If you read some of the reviews you will notice that it’s not clear what the connections are at the start and then the plot arcs entwine; that’s very deliberate.

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

Karl: ‘Nice nails’ – you’ll have to read the book to see why I might have written that down.

Jessie: What is the biggest challenge for an author?

Karl: This is a really interesting question because it will very much depend upon what type of author you want to be. A full-time author who wants a publisher to do everything for them will have a very different set of challenges compared to an indie with a job who is happy selling a few books a month. I’m going to give you my answer based upon what I am, which is an indie who is trying to make this my full-time job.

My single biggest challenge is becoming known enough so that people take a chance and buy, read and review the book. As an indie author, you have no one to help this happen so you need to do it and this takes a significant amount of both time and commitment. In a world where we have over 200k books published in the UK per year and possibly 1 million in the US, just being seen is a challenge that any aspiring author should not understate.

I have discussed this issue with other authors, both published and indie. Personally, I think many really talented authors will either give up or just never be seen because they get lost in this ‘jungle’.

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

Karl: Get an editor.

About Karl

Karl is a chartered accountant who previously worked in financial markets for over thirty years. He has collected books his whole life with a focus on London and crime fiction. He is married with two children and lives in Surrey.

Karl is very animated when talking about his book. It is clear he is dedicated to his writing and is very industrious.  Many reviews say that the book is ‘spine tingling’ and ‘irresistible’   I do hope that Karl’s debut novel is successful and wish him the best of luck with his novel.

Contacts:

Blog = http://karlholton.com

Twitter = @KarlHolton

Facebook = @KarlHoltonAuthor

Email = info@thuja.co

 

Please see all my interviews at My Guests and my blog at jessiecahalin.com

Nail-biting thriller in my handbag to read on the go

Jenn Bregman 

 

 

 

 

Author, lawyer and adventurer, Jenn Bregman, stopped off in Wales whilst visiting the UK.  She stayed in the Brecon Beacons Mountain Range, so I drove out there, from Cardiff, to meet up with her. The year before, Jenn had just completed a reverse summit of the Grand Canyon, after having trekked up the 14,265 foot Quandary Peak in Colorado; she was on a roll to tackle even more hiking. We agreed to walk the summit of Pen y Fan and to chat at the same time.  I packed a picnic so that we could stop on route to chat.

The clouds over head looked ominous but we did not let that deter us from ascending the mountain.   The refreshing temperature was ideal for the climb over the rocky footpath.    As a lawyer, Jenn wears lots of formal suits, so she loves to really mix it up her outfits outside work.  She was wearing a red and white handkerchief shirt with her work-horse khaki hiking pants. Her brilliant green jacket matched her multi -pocketed rucksack. There was a copy of her book peeping out of one of the pockets of her rucksack.

Jessie:  I haven’t read your book so can you tell me more about it?

Jenn Bregman

Jenn removed a, well worn, copy of her book, ‘The TimeKeepers’.  The dramatic cover of a clock set against a background of the City of Los Angeles in muted blues and stark black, couldn’t have screamed “thriller” better.

Jenn: When attorney Sarah Brockman witnesses a random horrific car crash, she is thrust into the darkest shadows of Big Law greed and murder where she must not only confront a cunning and deranged adversary, but her own secret fears, if she is going to win.

Jessie:  The book sounds thrilling and complex.  Where did you get the ideas for the narrative?  Did your research it or do you have experience in this area of life?

Jenn:  It is all pulled from my experiences as a lawyer.  I worked in Big Law and I wanted to do work that made a difference.  Fortunately, I have always worked in firms that had the highest standards of ethics and personal responsibility, but in my practice, I came in contact with others that I could imagine could do things like some of the cunning and deranged antagonists in the book.

Jessie:  This kind of suspense legal thriller is very popular.  What do the reviewers say?

Jenn removed her mobile phone to search for the reviews.

Jenn:

Publishers Weekly: “Bregman’s legal thriller featuring a plucky solo practitioner fighting for the little guy should appeal to John Grisham fans.”

Ridgely’s Radar: “OMG! Do you want a fast moving, edge of your seat, twisting and turning book that you can’t put down?  Well, I have a book for you and . . .this is a MUST READ!  I was so scared to turn the page and find out what happened, it was heart pounding suspenseful and I didn’t want it to end.  I really hope the author brings back a sequel . . . loved the characters and want to know what happens next!”

White Rhino Report: “The author dials in more than the average ratio of plot twists and surprises.  The pace of the action is break-neck, and the characters are colourful enough to be interesting and amusing.  I could not wait to find out what would happen next, and found myself rooting strongly for Sarah, and for Sam.”

Jessie:  I get the impression that the style of writing is controlled and the tone is edgy. Am I right?

Jenn: The story is character and dialogue driven and the action is break-neck.  You don’t catch your breath until the very end when all the pieces come together in a powerful conclusion that makes you wonder what the characters are going to do next.

Jessie:  Can you read me a brief extract from the book that captures the essence of the novel?

Jenn:  “But that was all it was — a small detail.  Neither she nor her lawyer would ever find the money.  It was too well hidden.  He made a note to transfer last month’s draw to his accounts at Obelisk Holdings.  Some details he did care about.”

Jessie: How did you feel when you finished writing your book? 

Jenn: Utterly exhausted.  I couldn’t even look at it for about two weeks!

Jessie: I think that it is normal to want a break from the book when it’s finished. Who would you like to read your book? 

Jenn:  I would like young women to read this book and know that they ARE good enough, that they can fight, and that they can WIN!

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

Jenn: Once you start, it’s like Lays potato chips – you can’t put it down!  I’ve had people tell me they were reading it at stoplights.  Not the best idea, to my mind.  But if you have it with you, you can read a couple quick pages while waiting in line at the bank, or at the car wash, or on the train!

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

Jenn: “Move it, now!”

Jessie: What’s the biggest challenge as a writer?

Jenn: Finding, not only enough time, but enough emotional and mental space to write.

Jessie:  Do you dedicate your time to writing or do you have to juggle it with another career?

Jenn:  I have twin 5 year old boys . . . ’bout sums it up!

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

Jenn: Finish the darn book already!

More about Jenn…

I am an explorer and adventurer who does, at least, one scary thing a day. My scariest to date is probably worming my way up to meet John Grisham at Book Expo/Book Con after my book signing in June and giving him a signed copy of my book!

I love animals to a fault, if there is such a thing. I have nurtured lizards, newts, turtles, cats, rescue animals of every persuasion growing up, but then had two rescue pug dogs that I still consider my first set of twins.

I am a horrible cook. My favourite story is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for 20 where I bought most of the side dishes from a local food store.  Somehow, I couldn’t get even the side dishes warmed up satisfactorily in time so people were eating mashed potatoes that were cold at one end of the fork and warm at the other!  People were so kind, no one said a word until I sat down, started eating and started laughing at myself.  It turned into one of our best Thanksgivings ever!  I guess the take-away is “be thankful for your gifts and be thankful for the gifts of others!”

Best of luck to Jenn with her debut novel – ‘The TimeKeepers.  It is a fast-paced thriller: so, tighten your seatbelt, check your brakes and try not to skip a red light.  Prepare to plunge headlong into the depraved underbelly of Big Law and big money where greed is king, murder incidental, and winning is the only thing that matter.

 

Please see all of my interviews at My Guests and my blog at jessiecahalin.com.

Delving into the Dark Past with Thorne Moore

Author, Thorne Moore stays for a chat

Following Thorne’s presentation at the Cardiff Literary Festival, we made our way to a department store café for a chat.  Shoppers drifted home as we walked through the Cardiff.  The sunshine slowed us down as we strolled towards the department store.  We ordered Americanos and sat in the corner of the café. Thankfully, the store’s air conditioning meant a cooler temperature inside.  We took time to sip the coffee and take in the atmosphere.

Jessie:  I love your name – Thorne. Tell me more about your name.

Thorne:  Okay, yes, my parents put Barbara Frances on my birth certificate. Why they did so I don’t know, because they have never used either name. At home I was called Sue. So, when I came to write, I couldn’t figure out which name to use. Sue was too personal, and Barbara was too official, used by headmasters and bank managers. But I was deeply involved in family history research (long before the internet made everything easy), and one place I visited in London had a visitors’ book where I could record family names I was interested in. I put “Thorne” as it was my mother’s Pembrokeshire family, and a few weeks later I received a letter addressed to “Dear Thorne.” I thought, perfect! Especially as I had a customer who insisted on calling me “Barb,” which I HATE, so I thought a thorn is a barb. And it was a nicely unique name. There can’t be many Thorne Moores around… except, when I first Googled me, (writers do, you know) I came across one startling entry – a plan to drain Thorne Moor. I wasn’t ready for that.

Jessie:  When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Thorne:  I’ve always loved writing.   The headteacher tried to persuade me to be a lawyer, but I didn’t want to absorb myself in legal language.  I studied history at Aberystwyth University.  The library, where the archives were located, faced the sea, So I used to stare at the sea and imagine my stories.  My stories have always distracted me, and I have mountains of them in the house.  I became a librarian and surrounded myself with stories.  I had a notion, I would be able to dream up stories between stamping books.  Librarians do far more than I had anticipated.

Long Shadows

Jessie: Tell me about your publishing journey.

Thorne: I was sending manuscripts off to publishers for years (back in the day when you could just send manuscripts to publishers). Then I got serious and found an agent. I’d written A Time For Silence and she liked it. She offered it around and found a publisher who liked it. In fact loved it. Loved it so much she was passing it on to the editor for a second opinion. The editor also loved it. My agent told me to have my pen ready to sign the contract and… instead, the publisher asked if I had any other books. Well, I had just about finished another and was working on a third. The publisher didn’t fancy the sound of either. Did I have any others? My agent pleaded with me to come up with something. I had, that week, heard an item on the news that had triggered the possibility of a new story in my head, so I explained it in a line or two. The agent passed it on and the publisher said “Yes, brilliant, tell me more.” My agent asked if I could come up with a full synopsis. A tall order, as it had merely been an idea floating in my head a day before, but I worked on it and she sent it off. “Yes!” said the publisher. “That’s exactly what we want. Can we see the full book please?” My agent was going to explain, in exasperation, that I hadn’t even started it yet, but I asked her to tell them to be patient and I’d do it. I did. I wrote Motherlove. I managed it in about 3 months, and it needed some tweaking and smoothing, but I did it. My agent was impressed. Just to remind the publisher what we’d been talking about, she sent them the synopsis again. The publisher replied “No, we don’t fancy this.’ At this point, publisher, agent and writer all parted company, thoroughly irritated with each other. I went on to submit A Time For Silence to Honno.  Initially, it was rejected but a different editor accepted it.  This confirms how subjective the whole business is and no one should give up.

Dilapidated Pembrokeshire Mansions that inspired the setting

Jessie:  What is your latest book about?

Thorne:  Long Shadows is about the history of a decaying mansion.  The stories in the mansion are set in the fourteen century, seventeenth century and Victorian era.  Each era is presented as a separate novella.

Jessie:  What inspired you to write the book?

Thorne:  There were many abandoned mansions in Pembrokeshire.  I used to walk through the grounds of one house and imagine the lives that had happened there. I wrote Shadows, which is about one such mansion and how my present-day character, Kate, can sense dark shadows of events that have happened there in the past. Long Shadows explains those mysteries, so it gives me the opportunity to look a t the history of a house and its occupants over many centuries

Llys y Garn 14th Century

Jessie:  Has the book received good reviews.  I note you have gained hundreds of reviews for your books over time.

Thorne:  Yes, people have enjoyed the narrative and the drama. Let me read you some reviews:

“Totally had me hooked from page one… Highly recommended if you love a good psychological thriller” – Brook Cottage Books

“I devoured this book. Beautifully written, frighteningly real” – Chill with a Book

“A compelling blend of mystery and family drama with a gothic twist… The author’s ability to create an atmosphere is exceptional” – Judith Barrow

“Thorne Moore is a huge talent. Her writing is intensely unsettling and memorable” – Sally Spedding.

Jessie:  Did you find it difficult to walk away from your characters?  Is there a character you missed?

Thorne:  Well, that’s a difficult one as there are some horrible characters.  Angharad from the 14th century is the most pleasant character because she never gives up and goes for a slightly unusual conclusion.

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

Thorne:  I don’t know, let me think.  Well, with three novellas to choose from you could dip in and out of the book, and each one is in a different style, with a different theme and a very different conclusion. And it might encourage you to read Shadows too.

Jessie:  I am not familiar with domestic noir.  What is it? 

Thorne: I don’t write police detective novels, or traditional whodunnits. I write about the effects traumatic events like crimes have on ordinary people, whether as victims, perpetrators or survivors. Effects that can last through generations. It’s about the why, not the how.

Jessie:  Please read an extract of your novel to give me a sense of the style:

Thorne:  The extract is from the start of the 17th century novella, called “The Witch,” and it’s the story of Elizabeth Powell, who has just been born in the house, though her father doesn’t know it yet. 

“A cacophony of cawing and the sky above Llys y Garn was suddenly black with rooks. An omen? Devereux Powell frowned. He had no skill in interpreting omens, although his head was well equipped for other matters. Matters of money and business were his domain, not superstition and devilry.

  Hinges creaked as the door of his chamber opened. His mother stood before him, in her Presbyterian black, tall, unbowed by age, her eyes as watchful as they had ever been, though time had withered her flesh and greyed the hair under her white cap. Superstition and devilry incarnate. If there were an omen in the flight of rooks, she would know it.”

Jessie:  What is the last sentence in your notebook?

Thorne:  I don’t have a notebook.  I tend to plot family trees and dates.  I write the story and adapt as I go along. But, if no one tells me to stop I would rewrite the story forever.

Jessie:  What is the best advice you have been given as a writer?

Thorne:  CUT!  I go with the flow and don’t like to interrupt my ideas. I go back and chop. For instance, my editor told me I needed to tone down one character, who was too pantomime. I realised she was quite right, so I looked at him again and decided to cut him out entirely. A much better idea. He was just getting in the way with unnecessary confusion.

Llys y Garn is a rambling Victorian-Gothic mansion with vestiges of older glories.

Jessie: Do any of your characters misbehave?

Thorne:  As the characters become three dimensional, they behave differently to how I expect.  One man, in Motherlove, for example, would not behave according to my expectation.  I had to rewrite the scene according to how he told me he would behave,

Jessie: What are the obstacles you face when writing in your genre?

Thorne:  Recently, I was writing a book, The Unravelling, set in 1966 and in 2000.  I had no trouble remembering exactly how it was to be a child in 1966, but 2000 was an entirely different matter. You’d think it wouldn’t be so different to today but it was. A character was trying to trace someone, and yes there was internet, but no broadband. It was all dial-up modems. People used Yahoo and Altavista, not Google. There was Friends Reunited but no Facebook. I had forgotten when the technology that we take for granted had developed.

Jessie: What is next for you?

Thorne:  I am organising the Narbeth Book Fair with Judith Barrow at the moment – in its 7th year, I think.  I am tweaking one book and have a whole new idea that I am itching to get on with. Don’t stop me now, I’m having a good time.

Who would you like to read your books?  This could be someone famous, a member of your family or someone who has passed away?

Thorne:  I want everyone to read my books.  However, it would be great if the Guardian reviewed my books. Maybe one day…

Thorne is witty and full of fun. I enjoyed speaking with her and finding out about her writing journey.  She has written for decades but remained determined to tell more stories.  It is amazing how she wrote stories years ago and is beginning to rework them.  I am in awe of someone who has so many stories in her head; no wonder she found it difficult to concentrate when studying historical documents.

Thorne Moore was born in Luton and graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in history and from the Open University where she studied law. She now lives in Pembrokeshire, which forms a background for much of her writing, as does Luton. She writes psychological mysteries – domestic noir – and her first novel, A Time for Silence, was published was in 2012 followed by Motherlove and The Unravelling. She has also brought out a book of short stories, Moments of Consequence. Her most recent novel, Shadows, was published by Endeavour in 2017. Thorne is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association.

Llys y Garn 19th Century

About Long Shadows:

Llys y Garn is a rambling Victorian-Gothic mansion with vestiges of older glories.

It lies in the isolated parish of Rhyd y Groes in North Pembrokeshire. It is the house of the parish, even in its decline, deeply conscious of its importance, its pedigree and its permanence. It stubbornly remains though the lives of former inhabitants have long since passed away. Only the rooks are left to bear witness to the often desperate march of history.
Throne Moore’s Long Shadows: Tales of Llys y Garn comprises a trio of historical novellas that let us into secrets known only to these melancholy birds.

The Good Servant is the story of Nelly Skeel, loveless housekeeper at Llys y Garn at the end of the 19th century, whose only focus of affection is her master’s despised nephew. But for Cyril Lawson she will do anything, whatever the cost.

The Witch tells of Elizabeth Powell, born as Charles II is restored to the English throne, in a world of changing political allegiances, where religious bigotry and superstition linger on. Her love is not for her family, her duty, her God or her future husband, but for the house where she was born. For that she would sell her soul.

The Dragon Slayer tells of Angharad ferch Owain in the early decades of the 14th century. Angharad is an expendable asset in her father’s machinations to recover old rights and narrow claims, but she dreams of bigger things and a world without the roaring of men. A world that might spare her from the seemingly inevitable fate of all women.

In these three tales the rooks of Llys y Garn have watched centuries of human tribulation – but just how much has really changed? If you enjoyed the kaleidoscopic sweep of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas you will appreciate Long Shadows.

 

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