M. W. Arnold is celebrating the release of his saga novel – A Wing and a Prayer. When I discovered the novel is about women pilots, I had to find out more. I invited Mick Arnold to tell me why he decided to write A Wing and a Prayer.
‘How many people do you know who say, often as a throwaway, I could write a book! Then go on to say, if only I had the time.
‘A Wing and a Prayer’ isn’t one of those books. However, it also wasn’t planned. A couple of years ago, I wrote and had my first book published, ‘The Season for Love’, a contemporary Women’s Fiction story. I followed this up with a bout of ill health which lasted the best part of two years. Good author friends suggested it would help to write something new, instead of taking up an unfinished project. The theory was, by going for a new, unrelated project, I could take myself somewhere I hadn’t been before. It worked.
‘Strong female characters and the true British stiff upper lip to keep calm and carry on in order to find out what happened! This book was more than a wonderful story, it was also a history lesson and I just loved it!’ Amazon Reviewer
Write what you know; is also said. I love history and the same day this was suggested to me, I caught a program on television about the women (men did the same job) pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary who ferried aircraft to the operational squadrons. Now, that sounds interesting, I thought. So, I spent the whole of the rest of the day scrolling through the internet for anything along the same lines.
I’m usually a pantser but on this occasion, I found myself planning out a saga novel. I’d only ever read a couple but with help and suggestions, again from the same friends, I knew what it needed to read like. Quicker than I’ve ever done, this novel came together and the The Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club was born! I didn’t set out to write a mystery into the story of how four girls from different parts of the world find a way of living and working together, yet the first scene in the story sets the scene with one of the girls sisters being found dead in the cockpit of a Tiger Moth biplane!
I served for over sixteen years in the Royal Air Force, travelling all over the world and, of course, the United Kingdom. Some of the bases I served on were once visited by these brave people I’ve written about and I feel honoured to play a small part in keeping their story alive and in, perhaps, bringing it to a new audience. Their bravery needs to be heard about and with this story, the first in the ‘Broken Wings’ series, I hope to be able to perform this task I’ve set myself.’
M W Arnold lives near Northampton, UK and is known to his family and friends as, Mick.
M W Arnold lives near Northampton, UK and is known to his family and friends as, Mick. He was in the Royal Air Force for 16 years, visiting many different countries and very much enjoying himself. If he ever meets the Queen, he will have to thank her. He began writing as these characters needed their own voices. For a few years now, he’s been a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, a wonderful group of writers who’ve welcomed this bloke into their fold with open arms.
She is a talented, multi-genre author who has helped many aspiring writers to realise their dreams.
Recently, I listened to Jill Barry, a local Welsh author, chat with Roy Noble on BBC Radio Wales. Captivated by Jill’s life story, I could not resist inviting this bestselling author to my blog for a chat. She is a talented, multi-genre author who has helped many aspiring writers to realise their dreams. As a former Butlin’s Red Coat, hotel receptionist and air hostess, Jill has collected characters and stories. She writes pocket novels for D C Thomson so you have probably seen her name on the newsstands. The House Sitter, published by Headline Accent, is Jill’s first novel in a different genre.
Jessie: Jill, you have topped many kindle charts with your romance and historical romance novels, but The House Sitter is very different. Is there any romance in your latest novel?
Jill: The House Sitter is a psychological suspense but does have a frisson of romance. I had lots of fun plotting the twists and turns. The central character is quite nasty, and she surprised and intrigued me.
The House Sitter is a psychological suspense but does have a frisson of romance.
Jessie: Tell me why I should keep your novel in my handbag.
Jill: I am not sure you will be able to keep The House Sitter in your handbag for very long, Jessie. You will be keen to reach the end.
Jessie: Choosing novels is one of the greatest pleasures in life. I always feel as if I am waiting to drop myself into another world. I admit I do feel a little scared of The House Sitter as the title is so evocative. Read the blurb of The House Sitter and give me a glimpse of the novel.
Jill: The year is turning, and in The Sugar House, deep in rural mid-Wales, change is also afoot. When retired couple, Eddie and Suzanne Deacon plan a return to England, they’ve either forgotten an important promise made to a longstanding friend or had no intention of keeping it.
This photograph was taken in the remote mid-Wales village where Jill used to live. The building in the background is the old church and in my mind forms part of the view from the house where Eddie and Suzanne Deacon live and which they have put on the market.
Jessie: Wow! The House Sitter is steeped in mystery. You have me hooked. Can I trouble you for an extract, please?
Jill: Of course, Jessie. I am always delighted to introduce my books to new readers with large handbags.
“Do you mean now?” Ruth eyed the slice of mountain range visible through her window, its distant peaks veiled in misty cobwebs.
“The sooner the better, to be honest. We have some important news, though I’m afraid it’ll come as a shock.”
Jessie: Oh, my goodness, I am on the edge of my seat now. What have your readers said about The House Sitter?
Jill: My pleasure! I have been very pleased with the reviews.
‘Spine-chilling with an undercurrent of mystery and deceit.’
‘An impeccably plotted tense tale, The House Sitter explores what lengths people go to in desperation. Deceitful and dark, it’s a great novel to curl up with on these toe-nipping winter evenings. Just be sure to lock your door…’
‘What Barry does best is to allow the reader to laugh at the ridiculous in her characters as well as to make them care, even perhaps slightly for the unbalanced Ruth, who appears lonely and vulnerable beneath her confident façade.’
Dylan the black cat belongs to Ruth Morgan, the house sitter.
Jessie: How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?
Jill: I was sorry to leave Ray and Bethan’s story unfinished as I found their unspoken attraction for one another intriguing. My book group read the novel and all wanted to learn the result of that pent-up longing! So, a sequel could be on the cards…
Jessie: Did any of your characters misbehave when you were writing the book?
Jill: The plot revolves around house-sitter Ruth’s horrendous behaviour and sometimes I felt surprised when up popped another malicious prank.
Jessie: Who would you like to read your book and why? Jill: I’m a great admirer of author Harriet Meg Evans and have been in touch with her via social media. Harriet very kindly asked when my novel was due out and it would be amazing if she decided to read The House Sitter.
Of course, I do expect to tempt my usual readers with something a little different. I am going to be bold and say most readers love to indulge in mystery and suspense.
Jessie: You have every right to be bold, and you have certainly tempted me to purchase a copy of this book. I am so impressed with the way you have explored a new genre.
Jill: It is wonderful of you to say so, Jessie. Maybe The House Sitter could inspire authors who long to write outside their usual genre into challenging themselves by writing something different.
Jessie: Writing stories seems to be in your heart and soul. I imagine your notebook is a trusty companion. Please, do tell me the last sentence in your notebook.
Jill: Tabitha disguises herself as a boy, deeming it safer than remaining in female guise.
Jessie: You certainly have an eye for a great story. Once again, I am hooked. I don’t know where you get all your ideas from. You must be constantly writing. What is the greatest challenge for you as an author?
Jill: For me, it’s concentration. Yes, even though I enjoy writing! There are so many distractions and social media, whilst valuable, is a hard taskmaster. I know many other authors feel the same.
Jessie: What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?
Jill: The best advice I’ve ever received as a writer came from my former tutor, Menna Elfyn. Her wise words were: ‘No piece of writing is ever wasted’.
Jessie: This really helps me as a fledgling author. I will save those deleted scenes use for a rainy writing day. Perfect! Before you go please tell us one secret about yourself that may surprise us.
Jill: Long before I thought of writing outside the romance genre, I volunteered as a role player for trainee police officers. So, I’ve experienced being handcuffed, have been locked in a cell, also sampled a cup of police canteen tea!
About Jill Barry:
Jobs like hotel receptionist and cabin crew provide magic moments and help inspire my writing. Since settling back in Wales, I’ve joined writers’ groups, gained my MA degree, also tutored and mentored. I hope to continue entertaining my readers and to walk, read and bake, plus keep up with my wonderful friends.
On Saturday, I received a mysterious parcel. It contained: cough sweets, keys, some out of date Boots vouchers and a copy of An Unexpected Affair. My husband looked at me quizzically, until he read Jan Ellis’s guest post. You are invited to solve the mystery. Read on, if you would also like to receive a parcel.
Inside Jan’s Handbag
‘…the usual flotsam and jetsam that managed to accumulate in her handbag…’
When Jessie asked me to write about the contents of my handbag, I thought, What a great idea. Which one shall I choose? The smart, black bag that makes me feel like a grown-up or the less smart into which I can comfortably cram a Jack Russell? Then I looked inside a couple of the bags that lurk by the front door and decided that it wasn’t such a great idea after all. Who wants to read about my dusty cough sweets and out-of-date Boots vouchers? Years ago, I had a friend who found a manuscript and a pork chop in hers. Now, that’s impressive and clearly worth sharing with the world.
Step inside of Eleanor’s bookshop for a mystery
Then I remembered that one of handbags had made a guest appearance in An Unexpected Affair, a novella featuring Eleanor Mace and her Devon bookshop. As this was the first fiction I’d written since the tender age of seven, I thought I’d better stick to what I knew best. Hence the contents of Eleanor’s bag:
Extract
‘…she stomped up the road to the campervan, ruffling her hair…’
Stepping onto the sunny street the wind whipped across her face as she stomped up the road to the campervan, ruffling her hair. By the time she had been to the bank and the post office, and walked the short distance to the vehicle, she was completely dishevelled. She peered at her reflection in the wing mirror, unsuccessfully trying to dislodge strands of hair from her sunglasses as she dug in her bag for the keys.
“Damn and blast it,” she said to no one in particular. It was, she decided, one of the perils of approaching middle age that you spent a great deal of time talking to yourself.
She was crouched on the pavement, unpacking the usual flotsam and jetsam that managed to accumulate in her handbag when she saw a pair of slightly scruffy deck shoes appear at her side. Above them two tanned knees descended from a pair of khaki shorts.
“Are these what you’re looking for?” Daniel Pearce stood there with the keys to her van in one hand and an old-fashioned string bag in the other. “You must have dropped them as you left the shop.”
“Gosh, yes, thanks,” said Eleanor, hastily stuffing the used tissues, old lipsticks, broken biros and dog chews back into the dark recesses of her bag where they belonged and rising to her feet. Daniel was standing between her and the sun, causing her to squint, despite the glasses.
“I’ve come down to get some fish for my father,” he explained, waving the shopping bag in the air. “It’s Friday. Fish day,” he added with a frown.
Coming from London, Eleanor had initially found it odd that you could only buy certain products on certain days. Sure, the supermarkets stocked the usual range of pre-packaged goods, but if you wanted the best local produce, you went to the weekly market behind the library.
“Mackerel,” he added.
“How lovely.”
[ends]
You are, I’m sure, agog to find out whether Eleanor and Daniel end up sharing a fish supper after this unpromising encounter or whether their relationship turns out to be as messy as those cough sweets. Fortunately, one lucky reader is going to find out!
Would you like to receive a parcel from Jan Ellis?
Win a free copy of A Summer of Surprises and an Unexpected Affair
Jan Ellis began writing fiction by accident in 2013. Until then, she had led a blameless life as a publisher, editor and historian of early modern Spain. She fell into fiction when a digital publisher approached her to write a history book, then made the mistake of mentioning romcom, which sounded much more fun. Jan’s stories have small-town settings with realistic characters who range in age from young teens to eighty-somethings.
Popular author, Anne Allen, released ‘The Betrayal’, on 22nd October. ‘The Betrayal’ is the sixth book in the Guernsey Series. Anne Allen has kindly selected an exclusive extract for Books in my Handbag. The dual-time novel unfolds in the present day and during World War Two. It is set against the backdrop of the German deportation of the Jewish community, in Guernsey, and involves a stolen Renoir painting.
Treachery and theft lead to death – and love.
‘The Betrayal’ is tense, powerful and spellbinding.
Anne will introduce her new novel, present an extract and tell you more about the intricate narrative.
Dear Readers,
I am delighted to present my latest in the Guernsey Novels series, ‘The Betrayal’.
This extract is from the beginning of the book and is the prelude to the modern part of the story, giving you a taste of the tension throughout the book.
Keep a copy of the book in your bag to dip into whenever you have a moment, you won’t regret it!
Happy Reading☺
Anne x
Presenting the extract:
Guernsey 2011
Something was wrong. The alarm didn’t blast out as he pushed open the back door of the shop. Standing still, he heard a noise. Someone was in the shop. Or more accurately, the basement. Nigel paused as he closed the door quietly behind him, his heart hammering against his ribs as he debated what to do. Whoever was in there knew how to disable a burglar alarm otherwise lights would be flashing and a discordant wail would be piercing the air. Best to shut them in the basement and call the police. Following the thought, he crept into the main shop, guided by the dim light coming through the rear window. His eyes adjusting to the dimness, Nigel tried to pick out the area where a rug should cover the trapdoor. For a moment he wondered who could have known about the basement, only discovered a few weeks before when they completed the renovations and replaced the flooring. Odd. And why the basement when the shop was full of valuable antiques?
Crouched at the edge of the hole, light from a torch casting shadows below, he was about to push the open door downwards when a hand snaked up and grabbed his arm.
Teresa Bichard and her baby are sent by her beloved husband, Leo, to England as the Germans draw closer to Guernsey. Days later they invade…
Leo, of Jewish descent, is betrayed to the Germans and is sent to a concentration camp, never to return.
Teresa returns to find Leo did not survive and the family’s valuable art collection, including a Renoir, is missing. Heartbroken, she returns to England.
Nigel and his twin Fiona buy a long-established antiques shop in Guernsey and during a refit, find a hidden stash of paintings, including what appears to be a Renoir. Days later, Fiona finds Nigel dead, an apparent suicide. Refusing to accept the verdict, a distraught Fiona employs a detective to help her discover the truth…
Searching for the true owner of the painting brings Fiona close to someone who opens a chink in her broken heart. Can she answer some crucial questions before laying her brother’s ghost to rest?
Who betrayed Leo?
Who knew about the stolen Renoir?
And are they prepared to kill – again?
What do the reviewers think of ‘The Betrayal’?
‘I am a huge fan of Anne Allen’s Guernsey series in which various locations are lovingly described. With the ‘suicide’ of her twin brother, this book has an orally different feel as Fiona tries to get to the bottom of it. With an undiscovered Renoir and links to WW2 this book has a much darker feel to it.’ Julie Ryan
‘Great characters and of course a love connection with a happy ending.’ Karen’s World
‘Having read Anne’s last book, Echoes of Time, I couldn’t wait to read her latest, and I wasn’t disappointed. The novel alternates between WW2 and 2011 and is set on the beautiful island of Guernsey. The Betrayal features twins, Fiona and Nigel, who discover a Renoir within the walls of their antique shop in 2011. When Nigel is found dead, and suicide is suspected, Fiona refuses to believe that her brother would end his own life and she sets out to uncover the truth. Unravelling the mystery will carry her on a journey back to 1940, and to the dark days of the German Occupation and the deportation of Jews.’ S. Charlton
And finally…
A late-comer to writing, Anne was a psychotherapist in a previous life. Readers are lucky that Anne decided to tell her stories. Anne admits her characters do get under her skin and she misses Fiona and Michael, in particular. I look forward to discovering more about the characters and solving the mysteries presented by this delicious time-slip novel.
Forget the sparkling happy ever after of fairy tales when you enter the world of We Other by Sue Bentley. I dare you! Trade in the beautiful fairy dust for dark energy. Inhabit the shadows of the forest and satisfy yourself with the occasional chink of light. Is this the real life of faeries? Do they really exist on the edge of darkness? We Other challenged me to ask these questions.
I
was shocked that this sinister world resonated with me. Sue Bentley connected with my childhood fears
yet managed to explain it. Oh, my
goodness, such intricate plot spinning.
You’ll be caught up in the web once you let yourself believe in another
world that exists between good and evil.
Don’t be afraid to enter the world of We Other and the flesh-eating faeries
Don’t be afraid to enter the world of We Other and the flesh-eating faeries. You will be safe with Jess. Let Jess’s story guide you into the world where shadows hover on the edge of reason. There is depth to this fantasy and guidance for teenagers who are searching for their identity. Jess undergoes a metamorphosis and finds her wings. Do you remember finding your wings as a teenager and learning to fly out there in the real world? Did you wear armour over your true identity? Through fantasy, Bentley explores teenage identity and a battle with harsh family life. The book has many layers of meaning to explore so dive in.
Inhabit the shadows of the forest and satisfy yourself with the occasional chink of light.
This genre of book is a first for me, as I had abandoned fairies in dusty old books long ago. We Other is something different. Despite the narrative twisting and turning in my stomach, it captured me an evoked my imagination. I savoured each imagining and lingered in the world of Jess. There is a haunting intensity in every sentence. I now know why my subconscious is always dubious of letting me go into the woods. Having read We Other, I am a believer. Are all animals and humans real or are they faery-kind? Who knows? Be careful of what magical, sinister creatures lurk in the hedgerow.
Let Jess’s story guide you into the world where shadows hover on the edge of reason.
‘Faery
and the world of humankind occupy the same space. Made of different fabrics,
they overlay each other. The barriers
can only be crossed by those who know.’
This explanation captures the mysterious essence of the book, but if you read We Other then you will experience this philosophical explanation for yourself. I adored the complexity of Jess and the way she coped with the stark challenges of poverty and her mother’s alcoholism: her life is ‘harsh and joyless’. I was equally charmed by the mesmerising encounters in the world of faery. The complex narrative is grounded in the beautiful relationships between the characters. Read the book and it will ‘feel like something physical, spreading tendrily through your mind.’ Sue Bentley weaves an ‘other worldly’ tale and leaves questions stranded in your mind. I challenge you to spend time ‘mortalwise’ and faerywise when ‘time moves to a different tune’. When reading the book, a plague of dragonfly and midges hovered over my garden and this made me think about what they might be according to Bentley’s explanations.
Sue Bentley
‘Something
in the air gathered around her and crackled faintly. There was an internal gathering…’
Beware the sinister
spirits when you enter the Dark Court. I
guarantee you will get lost in this story. When I visited ‘fingers of light
stole through the branches of an ancient wood.’
‘I’m going to try a different approach with this,’ he said. ‘We call them fantasy shots?’
In response to my request for foodie extracts, Susan Willis presented me with something that wasn’t quite what it seemed. I marvelled at the glorious pictures of food, but there wasn’t any recipe or cooking. Feast your eyes on the extract from The Girl in the Dark. Find out what is simmering in the kitchen.
Extract
Kim arranged six of the Chantenay carrots.
When Kim carried coffee into the room they all busied themselves preparing for the shoot. Thankfully, her mind was occupied with preparing the carrots and green beans to look as appealing as possible, rather than staring at Alex. He looked even more attractive prowling around the room with the big camera in his hand. Editorial still shots of the vegetables were first taken on a plain black background. Kim arranged six of the Chantenay carrots with their green tops uppermost into an attractive pile all facing in the same direction. She looked at Alex, who smiled and asked her to slice one lengthways and balance it on top of the pile.
‘We need to make it look sweet and tender,’ he muttered. ‘I’m loving the bright orange colour on the black background, and I’m thinking of whizzing them around with water droplets.’
Kim blanched the green beans to help to keep the green colour bright
Kim agreed and began to pile the green beans with their trimmed ends uppermost in an attractive pile on a wood board. She smiled at Alex, as if to say she was on the same wavelength, in fact, one step ahead. Kim blanched the green beans to help to keep the green colour bright and they worked out a design scattering the cut ends on a white cloth. By the time Alex had finished cropping and working his magic on the computer, they looked amazing.
He stood beside Kim chatting while she trimmed the cauliflower for the overhead shot. ‘I’m going to try a different approach with this,’ he said. ‘We call them fantasy shots?’
Kim could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck and her knees trembled – she was having fantasies of her own, but they didn’t include cauliflowers!
About the Novel
The Girl in the Dark
The Girl in the Dark is the latest Grip Lit novel from Susan Willis. A thrilling romantic suspense story that will keep you turning pages long into the night.
When Kim goes to old friend, Sidney’s, photography studio to start a new food styling contract she meets his new assistant, Alex. Kim is catapulted from her mournful existence into an explosive romantic relationship with Alex. Sidney, however, is wary. He thinks, there’s something not quite right about Alex, and urges caution.
Will Kim look back and wish she’d listened…
Susan Willis
Susan Willis is a published author of three novels, and five novellas’. She lives in the North East of England surrounded by family and friends. Following publication of a love story about a chef and her boyfriend, she wrote more foodie-based love stories and wove them into her first novel, ‘Yes Chef, No Chef’.
Now Susan has ventured into romantic suspense with her latest novel, The Girl In The Dark.
Set in her home town of Durham City, this storyline is not a who done it thriller, but, a psychological page-turner which she loved writing. We can only hope the heroine hasn’t put her trust in the wrong man?
Best of luck to Susan with this novel.
I had never really considered the role of a food stylist until I read this extract. When I take photographs of food for tweets and posts, I tend to photograph exactly what I have cooked. Food is all about the taste for me. However, recipe books are probably bursting with these creations.
Have you ever followed a recipe from a cookbook and realised your creation looks nothing like the photograph?
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?
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?
What does the title Blood Ribbon mean to you, now that you’ve been introduced to the first chapter?
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!
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.
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.
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.
“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
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.
Secrets, art, Spain and Yorkshire are always winning ingredients for me. Intrigued by Connectedness, when it arrived in the Handbag Gallery, I invited Sandra to tell us more about the inspiration behind her book. She was kind enough to respond and offer a giveaway.
Dear Readers,
I am delighted to present an extract from Connectedness, the second in my ‘Identity Detective’ series of adoption reunion mysteries.
When her mother dies, Justine returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire where she decides to confront her past.
Justine Tree’s art sells around the world, but does anyone truly know her? When her mother dies, Justine returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire where she decides to confront her past. She asks journalist Rose Haldane to find the baby she gave away when she was an art student, but only when Rose starts to ask difficult questions does Justine truly understand what she must face.
I firmly believe that daughters do not tell their mothers everything, and vice versa. I didn’t. Did you?
Happy reading!
Sandra Danby
Collaging on the track in Istan, Spain
Extract from ‘Connectedness’ by Sandra Danby
The clouds hurried from left to right, moved by a distant wind that did not touch her cheek. It felt unusually still for May. As if the weather was waiting for the day to begin, just as she was. She had given up trying to sleep at three o’clock, pulled on some clothes and let herself out of the front door. Despite the dark, she knew exactly the location of the footpath, the edge of the cliffs; could walk it with her eyes closed. Justine lay on the ground and looked up, feeling like a piece of grit in the immensity of the world. Time seemed both still and marching on. The dark grey of night was fading as the damp began to seep through her jeans to her skin. A pale line of light appeared on the eastern horizon, across the flat of the sea. She shivered and sat up. It was time to go. She felt close to both her parents here, but today belonged to her mother.
Three hours later, she stood at the graveside and watched as the coffin was lowered into the dark damp hole. Her parents together again in the plot they had bought. It was a big plot, there was space remaining.
Will I be buried here?
It was a reassuring thought, child reunited with parents.
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, ARTIST JUSTINE TREE HAS IT ALL… BUT SHE ALSO HAS A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
Is Justine strong enough to admit the secrets and lies of her past? To speak aloud the deeds she has hidden for 27 years, the real inspiration for her work that sells for millions of pounds. Could the truth trash her artistic reputation? Does Justine care more about her daughter, or her art? And what will she do if her daughter hates her?
Justine’s tale of art, adoption, romance and loss moves between now and the Eighties, from London’s art world to the bleak isolated cliffs of East Yorkshire and the hot orange blossom streets of Málaga, Spain.
A family mystery for fans of Maggie O’Farrell, Lucinda Riley, Tracy Rees and Rachel Hore.
Praise for Sandra Danby
“This is a novel that I found hard to put down as it swept me along on a roller-coaster of an emotional ride. I had to pull myself together not to burst into tears.” Isabell Homfeld, book blogger, Germany
“With her well-defined, sympathetic characters, layers of meaning, and sensual, all-engaging descriptions, the author takes us on a highly-emotional and gripping journey through the art world, exploring love, loss and human weakness, all coming together in a truly heartfelt conclusion.” Liza Perratt, Book Muse book blog
“Evocative and descriptive prose brings places to life with sights, sounds and scents. Justine becomes a very sympathetic character as layers are peeled away and more and more of her past is revealed.” Cathy Ryan, Between the Lines book blog
A proud Yorkshire woman, tennis nut and tea drinker, Sandra believes a walk on the beach will cure most ills.
A proud Yorkshire woman, tennis nut and tea drinker, Sandra believes a walk on the beach will cure most ills. Unlike Rose Haldane, the identity detective in her two novels Ignoring Gravity and Connectedness, she is not adopted.
One of the great things about writing this series is that I continue to write about Rose, of whom I am very fond despite her occasional spikiness. To me she is a real person. I grew to love Justine too, perhaps because her birthplace in Yorkshire is also mine. She has also left me with a lasting love of art, which I continue to indulge by buying beautiful art books and wishing I could paint. Despite many attempts at watercolours, I really am hopeless. Perhaps it is time for some lessons.
Enter Sandra’s prize draw to win a signed paperback of Connectedness. Simply leave a message via her website https://www.sandradanby.com/contactstuff/ and mark your entry ‘Connectedness competition’. Good luck!
The language in the extract paints a picture and engages me. Connectedness has received high praise from established bloggers is presented as a gripping read.
Folks, I am suffering from cottage envy. Author, Helen Christmas sent me pictures of her chocolate box cottage, with an English country garden. She has an enviable writing room, with a view. The colours of her summer garden will lift your spirits. Indeed, Helen’s sunny letter provided me with the desire to write and the need to purchase a new home. I invite you to retreat to Helen’s life, in the country, via her blog post. Let’s dream about the idyllic writer’s life…
17th century thatched cottage passed down through five generations
My husband, Peter and I are blessed to live in a 17th century thatched cottage passed down through five generations. We not only love our home but live near close to Bognor seafront. I escaped the rat race in 1999 by which time we had set up a small website design business at home. In summer we spend time maintaining our walled back garden, growing vegetables whilst sharing our home with a beautiful white cat, named Theo (after Peter’s Great Great Grandfather) and doting border collie, Barney.
In summer we spend time maintaining our walled back garden
In the time I have lived here, I’ve become fascinated with the conservation of period property as we endeavoured to protect our cottage. We did come up against the might of our local council who purposefully made planning applications difficult. In fact there was one planning officer in particular whose underlying duplicity astounded me and was perhaps the inspiration behind some of the scenes in my book series, ‘Same Face Different Place,’ a mystery thriller which spans 4 decades.
Working from home gave me the freedom to reflect on life, especially when walking Barney along the beach
I began my writing journey in 2011. Working from home gave me the freedom to reflect on life, especially when walking Barney along the beach; such musings included the various social changes I’d observed. I remember the 70s when Labour were in government and despite the power of the trade unions and strikes, there was more camaraderie. People looked out for each other. Next came the 80s. As a student, it was an exciting time, the clothes, the outrageous styles and the music; a time when everyone craved more money but sadly, it turned into an era of greed. With less compassion in society, it makes me wonder if people forgot life’s simple pleasures, something that our home has made us appreciate. It made me want to write a novel that embraced all these different decades.
I have always loved reading and cannot deny the influence of certain authors: Leslie Pearse for her loveable characters and unforgettable stories; Martina Cole who opened my eyes to a world of psychopathic gangsters. But most poignant of all was Ken Follet’s ‘Pillars of the Earth’ a saga which explored the conflict of Medieval times and the impact wielded by men in power.
Going back to my own writing, once started, I began to get up at dawn to get at least a couple of hours in before work. Much of my writing takes place in our peaceful office with Barney curled up at my feet and nothing but the cry of gulls on the beach.
Whilst thinking about my writing space, there is just one more thing I would like to mention; there is a very special picture in the office of Peter’s ancestors, all of whom lived in this cottage. In fact this inspired a particular scene in my second book ‘Visions.’
In fact this inspired a particular scene in my second book ‘Visions.’
The misty faces of three generations (including their father, just a baby at the time) added an element of comfort to the atmosphere and even though the sepia-toned picture contained an eerie quality, it emitted the sense that someone was watching over them.
I definitely feel something when I gaze at that picture; it breathes a sense of nostalgia into my world and feels very reassuring, which is wonderful for a writer…
Helen is certainly blessed with inspiration, and it is wonderful she appreciates her life. Helen writes romantic suspense. She has written a saga spanning decades. Her work sounds fascinating. Interesting, how the environment and experiences make us and inspire us. Many thanks to Helen for writing to my blog.
About Helen
Helen Christmas enjoying her life
Helen J. Christmas lives on the south coast of Sussex in a very old thatched cottage with her husband. With a love of writing since childhood, she started her decade spanning thriller series ‘Same Face Different Place‘ in 2011. Her first book ‘Beginnings,’ set in 1970s London, combines romantic suspense with a hard-hitting conspiracy thriller.
Writing is something she juggles around family and social life. Helen is self employed and enjoys running a web design company from home with her husband, accompanied by their faithful border collie and a fluffy white cat.
We have busy lives and among my many hats, I am a writer, a blogger, photographer and website designer. I love networking with other authors and readers and when I’m not engrossed in work, I enjoy gardening, cooking, reading books, films and fine wines.
Same Face Different Place is a mystery suspense thriller, set across 4 decades. The first book ‘Beginnings’ is based in 1970s London against a backdrop of organised crime and police cover-ups. Part thriller and part romance, it has been likened to books by Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers and received some pleasing reviews.
The next part of the saga, ‘Visions’ resonates through the 80s, packed with nostalgia from the music and fashion to the politics under Margaret Thatcher’s government.
Book 3 ‘Pleasures’ continues where ‘Visions’ left off, a thrilling coming of age story, where the younger generation are drawn to designer drugs and raves. This book ends with a dramatic trial at the Old Bailey, where pieces of the mystery are unpicked and justice is served…
But nothing is straight forward with this complex cast of characters; as the main heroine, Eleanor, must once again protect her family from the evils of her enemies. The final episode, ‘Retribution’ concludes with a terrifying campaign of revenge and is published in 2 parts, ‘Retribution – Phase 1’ and ‘Retribution – End Game.’ With the characters reunited in an epilogue in 2012, I am pleased to say, the series was completed in summer 2017.
Do you like my new crown? I thought I’d wear it for this royal celebration.
It’s time for an almost royal welcome for Veronica Cline Barton. Having found a gold tiara to accessorize with Jena’s latest addition to her Golden Chapter, I’m ready to meet Veronica Cline Barton’s characters and offer a genteel curtsey. On second thoughts, I think I’ll sit back and listen from the comfort of my throne. Has anyone seen Jena? Ah. I see her walking along the red carpet. Is she wearing a crown?
Sorry I’m late. I’ve been searching for the next chapter in our Golden Chapter story. Do you like my new crown? I thought I’d wear it for this royal celebration. I’ve recently made friends with many of you in the UK, so I chose The Crown for Castlewood Manor for my Golden Chapter Review. A charming heroine with American and English roots, a stately home, a titled gentleman, and a cozy mystery- sounds Golden to me!
The Crown for Castlewood Manor
The blurb for Castlewood Manor begins, “The English ancestral manor of Cherrywood Hall is ready to compete for selection in an upcoming British TV period drama series.” I know what you are thinking- sounds like Downton Abbey! Yes it does, but I was put in mind of a different TV show, The Patty Duke Show which was an American sitcom that aired from 1963 to 1966.
The premise of the show involved the hijinks of Patty, a rambunctious American teen, and her refined identical cousin from the UK, Cathy. Both girls were played by Patty Duke and as they say, hilarity ensued. The bouncy theme song included these memorable lines,
OK, I will now close my “golden age of tv handbag” and get to the First Chapter Review of The Crown for Castlewood Manor by Veronica Cline Barton.
The first chapter, Beaches of Malibu, August, is fun and well-written as we meet the heroine of the book, Gemma. She gives us a succinct summary of her life:
“My name is Gemma Alexandra Lancaster Phillips, and I’m a twenty-seven-year-old California girl, born and bred. I was newly awarded my PhD. I have an American Lancaster family and an English Lancaster family.”
Aha! And as we soon learn, the British side of the family needs Gemma’s help. A Marquess and a stately home, Castlewood Manor are involved. (In addition to almost-royalty on the English side, Gemma’s Ma-ma is a successful American film star.)
The latest book in the series; The Crown for Castlewood Manor – Deadly Receptions
We are also treated to an intro to the California nature of our girl Gemma. Whether she is dining at an upscale Malibu bistro, confronting a misbehaving boyfriend, or howling at the moon, Gemma wants to make her own mark. But does she really know what awaits her at Castlewood Manor?
Sounds like a golden beginning to an intriguing cozy mystery. (Or cosy, for my British friends.) Gemma is smart, beautiful and lively, with a tinge of self-doubt. Get to know Gemma and her English cousins!
Victoria Cline Barton’s Golden Handbag
Many thanks to Jessie Cahalin for letting me browse her Handbag Gallery. If you have read The Crown for Castlewood Manor, we’d love to hear from you in the comments. Haven’t read the book? Then let’s discuss it! Here are some questions to get us started.
Have you visited a stately home in America or the UK? Do you have a favorite?
Are you good at solving cozy mysteries as you read them?
I liked Gemma’s attributes. What makes a good protagonist?
Lights, Camera, Action: ‘Addicted to theatre and film’
Open Adrienne Vaughan’s That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel to enter the world of Hollywood glamour. Allow the camera to reveal a bird’s eye view of the enchanting Irish coast. Observe the long shot of the ‘regal and resplendent’ Georgian mansion. Pan across to the sea lapping, like a temptress, on the shore. Dissolve to the medium closeup of a red-haired beauty sitting at the water’s edge like a mermaid. Cut to the hero and fade… Don’t worry if you can’t imagine these scenes, just let Adrienne Vaughan’s words roll into your imagination and paint the picture for you. Let this author enchant you with the setting and enigmatic characters as she adds colour.
‘ “Is it a mermaid?” the little girl whispered.”’
Enjoy the sight of ‘the sun dripping over the horizon as the night’s velvet promise smeared the purple sky.’ As you visualise the scene, you will be intrigued by the hidden secrets. For instance, who is Mia’s father, and how does this relate to the lyrical prologue at the beginning of the narrative? Mysteries linked to the characters’ lives and the history of the place are cleverly interwoven into the fabric of the narrative.
Fairy godfather ‘resplendent in vintage smoking jacket and silk cravat’
Like a skilled seamstress, Adrienne Vaughan has sewn the narrative together. But, everything is held together by the wonderfully flamboyant Archie, a Hollywood screen legend. Before dying, Archie, the fairy godfather, weaves his magic and leaves threads of happiness for the characters in the story. Oh, how I adore Archie’s philosophy of life! He is ‘teasingly playful and lethal at the same time’ – he even knows how manipulate destiny. He has enjoyed a decadent lifestyle at Galty Manor, but he has shared it with the people he loves – and made them all his forever family. And his home is a haven for lost souls. He knows how to make everyone feel better, including the actress, Fenella, who has ‘beauty and brains’. For Archie, ‘Champagne makes everything better.’ Fenella and Trixie concur that ‘a girl needs champagne, vitamin C and good mates’ when Mia is heartbroken.
Is Archie Mia’s father? This question bubbles throughout the novel. Such is the charm of Archie that one wills him to be the father. Mia is tormented by the same question. Archie sets up meetings designed to make Mia evaluate on her own life. Archie compares ten year old Pearl to the younger Mia and says the child is ‘amazing’. Mia reflects ‘when do you grow out of being amazing’. It would seem Archie orchestrates encounters and experiences to help his precious loved ones to remember who they are. Indeed, he writes his own plays and seems to be determined to influence the events in his loved one’s lives. I loved this hint of magic and the essence of fairy-tale running cleverly through the novel. The novel examines the concept of family and the way others can play a significant role in a person’s life. There is a heart-warming message threaded throughout the characters’ turmoil.
Just like on the silver screen, this novel celebrates the ‘power of dreams’. Take several leading ladies, a mermaid Cinderella and a fairy godfather. Let the dreams take you to the magical coast of Ireland where the ocean displays ‘a myriad of colours sparkling and inviting’. But, be prepared for tales of ‘a dark stormy night’ and some dark events. This story will beguile you, as it pulls you into the drama and mystery where ‘black clouds of angry clouds split across the orange sky’. You may not want to leave ‘the busy, happy house’ unless you wander down to the summerhouse or take a trip on Archie’s yacht. You are sure to find ‘a perfect day for memory making’ when you visit the glorious house and setting. Sadly, Archie will exit centre stage, at some stage; happily, he will have a plan for the loved ones waiting in the wings. But who will inherit his fortune and will his sister live happily ever after? What does Sister Agnes know about the past? Long after you have finished this novel, and the credits roll, you will be thinking about the magic of this story and its layers of meaning, behind the scenes.
Adrienne Vaughan
More about Adrienne Vaughan
Adrienne Vaughan has been making up stories since she could speak; primarily to entertain her sister Reta, who from a very early age never allowed a plot or character to be repeated – tough gig!
As soon as she could pick up a pen, she started writing them down. No surprise she wanted to be a journalist; ideally the editor of a glossy music and fashion magazine, so she could meet and marry a rock star – some of that came true! And in common with so many, she still holds the burning ambition to be a ‘Bond Girl’.
Travel with Jennifer S Alderson to Amsterdam and find out what has happened to some missing Dutch masterpieces. Jennifer asked me to hide the paintings in the Handbag Gallery, but if you read the novel then the secrets will be revealed. A pesky amateur sleuth will guide you through the mystery. Sit back in your armchair, turn back the clock to World War Two. Time to immerse yourself in a narrative, inspired by detailed historical research, and meet the author’s favourite characters.
Dear readers,
I am delighted to share an extract from my art mystery set in present-day and wartime Amsterdam – The Lover’s Portrait.
Home of Jacques Goudstikker, a prominent Dutch Jewish art dealer. His story, along with others, inspired the novel.
It is the second novel following the adventures of my travel and culture loving protagonist, Zelda Richardson. This time she’s discovered a cache of priceless artwork is hidden somewhere in Amsterdam. Trouble is, someone else is prepared to do anything to find the missing masterpieces first – even murder.
This extract is set in Amsterdam in the spring of 1942 when the Nazis occupied the city. Since the German Army stormed into the Netherlands two years earlier, bombing raids, neighbors disappearing, and food shortages have become normal occurrences. Philip Verbeet and Arjan van Heemsvliet are hiding the artwork Zelda will later search for. Their actions and conversation provide clues as to why these paintings must be hidden away.
I have chosen this extract because it introduces you to heart of the mystery, as well as two of my favorite characters in the novel.
Based on the many lovely reviews posted about my novel, if you love art, history and a good mystery, you will enjoy The Lover’s Portrait. And reading it now is a great way to prepare for the release of my next art-related mystery, Rituals of the Dead, on April 6th!
Happy reading!
Take care,
Jennifer
Presenting the extract
EXTRACT (From Chapter One):
June 26, 1942
Just two more crates, then our work is finally done, Arjan reminded himself as he bent down to grasp the thick twine handles, his back muscles already yelping in protest. Drops of sweat were burning his eyes, blurring his vision. “You can do this,” he said softly, heaving the heavy oak box upwards with an audible grunt.
Philip nodded once then did the same. Together they lugged their loads across the moonlit room, down the metal stairs and into the cool subterranean space below. After hoisting the last two crates onto a stack close to the ladder, Arjan smiled in satisfaction, slapping Philip on the back as he regarded their work. One hundred and fifty-two crates holding his most treasured objects, and those of so many of his friends, were finally safe. Relief briefly overcame the panic and dread he’d been feeling for longer than he could remember. Preparing the space and artwork had taken more time than he’d hoped it would, but they’d done it. Now he could leave Amsterdam knowing he’d stayed true to his word. Arjan glanced over at Philip, glad he’d trusted him. He stretched out a hand towards the older man, “They fit perfectly.”
Philip answered with a hasty handshake and a tight smile before nodding towards the ladder, “Shall we?”
He was right, Arjan thought, there was still so much to do. They climbed back up into the small shed and closed the heavy metal lid, careful to cushion its fall. They didn’t want to give the neighbors an excuse to call the Gestapo. Not when they were so close to being finished.
Philip picked up a shovel and scooped sand onto the floor, letting Arjan rake it out evenly before adding more. When the sand was an inch thick, they shifted the first layer of heavy cement tiles into place, careful to fit them snug up against each other.
As they heaved and pushed, Arjan allowed himself to think about the future for the first time in weeks. Hiding the artwork was only the first step; he still had a long road to go before he could stop looking over his shoulder. First, back to his place to collect their suitcases. Then a short walk to Central Station where second-class train tickets to Venlo were waiting. Finally, a taxi ride to the Belgian border where his contact would provide him with falsified travel documents and a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz. The five Rembrandt etchings in his suitcase would guarantee safe passage to Switzerland. From Genève he should be able to make his way through the Demilitarized Zone to Lyon, then down to Marseille. All he had to do was keep a few steps ahead of Oswald Drechsler.
Just thinking about the hawk-nosed Nazi made him work faster. So far he’d been able to clear out his house and storage spaces without Drechsler noticing. Their last load, the canvases stowed in his gallery, was the riskiest, but he’d had no choice. His friends trusted him – no, counted on him – to keep their treasures safe. He couldn’t let them down now. Not after all he’d done wrong.
When a Dutch art dealer hides the stock from his gallery – rather than turn it over to his Nazi blackmailer – he pays with his life, leaving a treasure trove of modern masterpieces buried somewhere in Amsterdam, presumably lost forever. That is, until American art history student Zelda Richardson sticks her nose in.
After studying for a year in the Netherlands, Zelda scores an internship at the prestigious Amsterdam Historical Museum, where she works on an exhibition of paintings and sculptures once stolen by the Nazis, lying unclaimed in Dutch museum depots almost seventy years later. When two women claim the same painting, the portrait of a young girl entitled Irises, Zelda is tasked with investigating the painting’s history and soon finds evidence that one of the two women must be lying about her past. Before she can figure out which one and why, Zelda learns about the Dutch art dealer’s concealed collection – and that Irises is the key to finding it.
Her discoveries make her a target of someone willing to steal – and even kill – to find the missing paintings. As the list of suspects grows, Zelda realizes she has to track down the lost collection and unmask a killer if she wants to survive.
The Reviews
“Gripping mystery that explores the provenance of artwork that was hidden from the Nazis during World War II and reappears in 2015… As the narrative unfolds and the truth is revealed, the suspense is intensely magnetic and the characters equally captivating.” – BookLife Prize for Fiction 2016, No. 14 in Mystery category (8 out of 10 stars)
“Well worth reading for what the main character discovers – not just about the portrait mentioned in the title, but also the sobering dangers of Amsterdam during World War II.” – IndieReader
“The Lover’s Portrait is a well-written mystery with engaging characters and a lot of heart. The perfect novel for those who love art and mysteries!” – Readers’ Favorite, 5 star medal
Jennifer S Alderson, author
Jennifer: I am an avid traveler, journalist, art historian, and long-time expat, who draws inspiration from my own adventures and interests when writing.
Writing this novel was a three-year labor of love that combined several of my passions. Finishing it was exhilarating and frightening at the same time. Of all the characters I’d invented, I missed Arjan van Heemsvliet the most. He was such a kind soul; I’ll miss chatting with him.
In a nutshell my novel is about: missing masterpieces, Nazi blackmailers and a pesky amateur sleuth.
About Jennifer
Jennifer S. Alderson worked as a journalist and website developer in Seattle, Washington, USA, before trading her financial security for a backpack. After traveling extensively around Asia and Central America, she moved to Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands. There she earned degrees in art history and museum studies. Home is now Amsterdam, where she lives with her Dutch husband and young son. Jennifer’s travels and experiences color and inform her internationally-oriented fiction.
I am delighted to showcase Jennifer’s The Lover’s Portrait: An Art Mystery. She has been inspired by art, travel and history – a perfect trio for me. I adore books that give me an insight into an unknown history. The strapline is intriguing:
When a Dutch art dealer hides the stock from his gallery – rather than turn it over to his Nazi blackmailer
Jennifer S Alderson Rituals of the Dead
Jennifer’s next mystery – Rituals of the Dead – is available as pre-order – release April 6th.
Zelda is pulled into a world of shady anthropologists, missionaries, art collectors, and smugglers, where the only certainty is that sins of the past are never fully erased. Set in Amsterdam and Dutch New Guinea, art, religion, and anthropology collide in the exciting thriller, book three of the Adventures of Zelda Richardson series
I appeared in KT Lee’s fictitious Indiana Polytechnic campus. KT greeted me on the steps of the foreboding redbrick building. KT wore her hair in a messy bun and her handbag was jet black with a cheerful purple stripe. We went straight to a coffee shop, but I noticed that I had morphed into an animated character, just like the characters on her book covers – yikes! I was ready for my mission to spy on the world in KT’s novel.
The novel takes place at the fictional Indiana Polytechnic.
Students milled around as we negotiated the long corridors to a student-run coffee shop at the top of the building. Strangely, my footsteps didn’t make a sound and after three steps were in the coffee shop. Furnished with modern plastic chairs and purple sofas, we settled down in a corner. The musty smell combined with the disinfectant reminded me of my university days. I relaxed as I observed the students with their feet up on the coffee tables and chairs. The students’ relaxed demeanour reminded me of the carefree student days when all I worried about was my coursework deadlines.
KT handed me an Americano and a chocolate chip muffin. A woman in a smart business suit winked at KT when she entered. Curious, I watched the woman as she turned away, examining her phone.
Jessie: Great to meet you at last. I must say I feel right at home in the world of your novel, yet the woman over there looks like a spy.
K.T: Don’t worry, she’s with the FBI. She’s just taking a break during her investigation of my character, Dr Ree Ryland. I am keeping my eye on them both and have got their stories under control.
K.T’s latest novel: Calculated Deception
Jessie: I’m intrigued. Can you tell me more about your novel?
K.T:In Calculated Deception, the FBI traces shipments of weapons components to Dr. Ree Ryland’s lab and she becomes the primary suspect in their investigation. When they realize she’s being used as a pawn by an unseen enemy, she turns down their offer of a protective detail and instead offers to help them find the criminal hiding among her friends and colleagues.
Jessie: Ah, now that makes sense. The book sounds great. What do the reviewers say?
K.T:Here are a few comments I’ve received about Calculated Deception – I’m so thrilled to hear readers are enjoying it!
“The book is well written, keeping the reader interested till the end. A thriller, with a smart scientist protagonist, and a romance makes this an excellent read.” – Goodreads reviewer “This story was captivating and kept you interested throughout the book. It was a good mix of thriller, suspense, possible international terrorism, and a little romance. I loved it and will be reading the next one in the series soon!” -Shannon Waugh, Book Reviewer (via Goodreads)
K.T’s lab puppy whose love for tennis balls regularly gives her breaks from writing at night
Jessie: I am intrigued by the concept of your novel. Please can you read an extract?
KT: “I’m in. But I want all the way in. If you are going undercover, I want to help. If you have a team meeting, I want to be there. If this is that important, I want to be a part of it. All of it.”
Jessie: How did you feel when you had finished writing your book, and did you miss any of the characters?
K.T: Excited and a little surprised! Writing a full-length novel snuck up on me a little bit. Calculated Deception started off as a small story idea that I just had to write down and grew into a full-fledged novel over the course of many months. Then, after finishing the first draft, there was quite a lot of editing and more learning to do. However, even before it was even fully finished, I knew there was more to my character’s stories, which is why I chose to write more books and call it The Calculated Series. I waited until three books were ready and quick-released them late last year (Calculated Deception [Book 1] and Calculated Contagion [Book 2] as well as Calculation Extortion, a prequel novella [currently free]). So I haven’t had to miss the characters at all!
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.
K.T: My mom reading Calculated Deception and enjoying it is still just the absolute best thing to me. Many people believe that all moms will love their children’s work no matter what, but they don’t know my mom! She will never tell you something is good when it isn’t for the same reason she will tell you if you have broccoli in your teeth. I was quite nervous to have her read it because I knew I would get the honest truth from her, even if it wasn’t good news. When she read the final version and loved it, it really helped boost my confidence that the book was ready to go.
K.T’s novels in the handbag gallery
Jessie: Why should I keep your book in my handbag?
K.T: Calculated Deception is fun, page-turning suspense featuring women in STEM teaming up with government agents to fight crime. My goal is to let you escape for a little while and hopefully even make you laugh as you’re turning pages. Books in The Calculated Series contain elements from spy thrillers with the focus on characters and small community feel of a cozy mystery. There is a little sweet romance as well. When you are stuck in the middle seat on a four hour flight with strangers on either side of you who have claimed the armrests, this is the book you want to read.
Jessie: What is the last sentence written in your writer’s notebook?
K.T: I do a lot of my writing on my laptop so it can come with me anywhere but I have a copy of “The Man in the Arena” taped to the folder that holds my handwritten character notes. I tend towards perfectionism, which can be absolutely stifling for creative work. This is my reminder that I can be brave enough to write books and put them out there!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
Jessie: What is the biggest challenge for an author?
K.T: For me, it’s the simple act of putting myself out there. I’m an engineer, used to forming answers that can be verified by testing or calculations. To produce something that has no right answer and then ask people to review it is quite intimidating! I only joined Twitter and Instagram last year and wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been a lot of fun to engage with writers, engineers, scientists, and other interesting people. I’m so glad I went for it!
Jessie: What is the best advice that you have received as a writer?
K.T: Find other writers you can connect with. Not only have they helped me with the technical issues, my small community of writer friends is empathetic and encouraging and it’s been a joy to get to know such great people. Plus, they understand and can laugh with me about all the craziness that comes with publishing!
K.T. Lee is a writer, mom and engineer who grew up on a steady diet of books from a wide variety of genres. When K.T. began to write the kind of books she wanted to read, she mixed clever women and the sciences with elements from thrillers (and a dash of romance) to create The Calculated Series.I am intrigued by the hybrid of the romance and spy thriller genre – it is great to meet strong heroines.
Popular author, Anne Allen, released ‘
Dear Readers,
Teresa Bichard and her baby are sent by her beloved husband, Leo, to England as the Germans draw closer to Guernsey. Days later they invade…
‘I am a huge fan of Anne Allen’s Guernsey series in which various locations are lovingly described. With the ‘suicide’ of her twin brother, this book has an orally different feel as Fiona tries to get to the bottom of it. With an undiscovered Renoir and links to WW2 this book has a much darker feel to it.’ Julie Ryan
Karl: Did you know that this house inspired 
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 ‘
I have always loved reading and cannot deny the influence of certain authors: Leslie Pearse for her loveable characters and unforgettable stories; Martina Cole who opened my eyes to a world of psychopathic gangsters. But most poignant of all was Ken Follet’s ‘Pillars of the Earth’ a saga which explored the conflict of Medieval times and the impact wielded by men in power.
