Sunday 25 March 2018

Bitten



                                                                         


In the not-too-distant future, Italy is in disarray. It has voted to leave the EU in an attempt to regain control of its laws, finances and commerce. Even so, the country's economy is shrinking and its national debt rising. There is a marked escalation, too, in unemployment, bank loans and immigration. Production and service companies are in difficulty. The only thriving business areas are the black market and organised crime. There is discontent and protest on all sides.

In Florence, the local Mafia boss, more accustomed to gunrunning and trading in plutonium, is involved in organising a silent auction for the sale of one of the world's most valuable lost paintings - a sixteenth-century masterpiece, which was appropriated in World War II by Stalin's Trophy Brigade. A British art expert is set to buy the picture on behalf of his client, a South American billionaire - yet surprisingly two Italian undercover intelligence agents, acting as antique dealers, submit the winning bid. 

All the while, human beings continue to harm the Earth by destroying land, sea, air, animals and trees. Global climate change, polluting the atmosphere, depleting the ozone layer: these are some of man's crimes against Nature. But time is running out. Nature has lost patience with humans. Unless something is done immediately to reverse the destruction of the ecosystem, Nature will retaliate by deploying the terrifying forces at her command. And as a first step in wreaking her revenge, she instigates a reign of terror by the deadliest creature on Earth. 

About the author

Alan Moore
                                                                                     
Born in Surbiton, Surrey in 1944, Alan Moore lives in Barnes with his wife, Amber.  They have two daughters and a son, who between them have two boys and two girls.  Alan was educated at Oundle School in Northamptonshire and at London University, where, as an external student, he obtained a BA degree in English.  Thereafter, for 25 years, he single-handedly ran his own book publishing company, which at one stage was producing up to twenty titles a year.  Rather late in life, he is now publishing his own book.  An avid collector of books and classical LP records, he plays the piano and sketches. 

Interview with Alan Moore

Welcome to Allthingsbookie Alan.

How did you get started on your writing journey?
         Having been a book publisher who produced the works of a whole range of writers, I wanted to see if I could be an author too.

 Are there any poets or writers who influence you? How so?
         As far as style and characterisation are concerned, my main    influence is Robert Harris.  Other modern writers whose works I  admire include Peter Ackroyd, Sarah Dunant, Ian McEwan, Philippa Gregory, Victoria Hislop and Hilary Mantel.

Where did inspiration for your novel come from?
         Mosquitoes like me.  Whenever I go to the South of France,       they line up on the windowsill licking their proboscises.   Seeing them as a cross I have to bear, I thought what would happen if they launched indiscriminate mass attacks against everyone?

 Who do you think would like your story and what kind of readership are you aiming for?
         Readers who enjoy a fast-paced, relatively complex thriller.

What is the message you are trying to get across in your book?
         That man should stop destroying the environment before it is too late and Nature exacts retribution for his selfishness and          thoughtlessness by mobilising the terrifying forces at her command
.
 What is your writing process like?
         From Monday to Friday I try to write 400 - 500 words a day. At weekends, apart from watching TV, I look over the passage I've written during the week and usually come to the conclusion that I had better write it again! 
  
 Do you have any writing quirks?
         No.  But I do have other unrelated quirks, which I won't go         into here.

 How do you go about editing your story?
         I use the services of a professional editor.

How did you go about getting published?
         I didn't want to contact a traditional publisher, because I am only too aware of the time it takes to get a decision and to produce the book. Instead, I approached Amazon KDP Publishing, who produced my book in three months from submission of the final typescript.

 What are the best and worst parts about writing?
         Sitting there in a dream trying to think of something to write.

What plans do you have for the future of your writing?
         I plan to write a book about the many interesting experiences I had when I was in my twenties.  Hopefully, it will be funny and not at all worrying and pessimistic like Bitten.


Thank you for joining us with what sounds like a thought-provoking novel.

Saturday 24 March 2018

Sunshine and secrets


                                                                   
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When newly heartbroken, michelin-starred chef Millie Harper is offered a job overseeing the setup of The Paradise Cookery School she jumps at the opportunity. Leaving London and her memories of heartbreak behind she hops on a plane to the hilltop cocoa plantation in St Lucia.
But this beautiful island break might be more work than she’d expected….  With only two weeks to have the kitchen installed, cocoa pods going missing from the plantation and the notoriously relaxed island workmen to contend with, she’s going to need some help. Gruff but charming estate manager Zach Baxter, is only too happy to offer his opinions. As the two clash heads can they remain focussed on the job in hand and get the cookery school finished in time?
Pack your bags and jump right into the sun and secrets of The Paradise Cookery School. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Oliver and Kat French.

About the author





Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines.

When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter.

Her husband and young son were willing samplers of her baking creations which were triple-tested for her debut novel, The Runaway Bridesmaid. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea – china plates and teacups are a must.

My Review

This is the first book by Daisy James that I've read but it certainly has a winning combination; what could be better than combining food and the Caribbean? The setting is exquisite and even though I've never visited Saint Lucia, this book transported me there and to be honest I was sorry to leave. The descriptions of the food are just as delicious and gave me cravings for the rest of the day. Of course, there is romance too as well as drama in the form of a last- minute rush to complete the renovation of the kitchens before the guests arrive. A lovely escapist read!



                                                                                                             

Sunday 18 March 2018

The Wildflowers


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Tony and Althea Wilde. Glamorous, argumentative ... adulterous to the core.

They were my parents, actors known by everyone. They gave our lives love and colour in a house by the sea - the house that sheltered my orphaned father when he was a boy.

But the summer Mads arrived changed everything. She too had been abandoned and my father understood why. We Wildflowers took her in.

My father was my hero, he gave us a golden childhood, but the past was always going to catch up with him ... it comes for us all, sooner or later.

This is my story. I am Cordelia Wilde. A singer without a voice. A daughter without a father. Let me take you inside

Harriet Evans


I was born in London in 1974 and grew up on the mean streets of Chiswick, where I went to school. I was a completely undistinguished pupil in every way, except I absolutely loved reading and drama. My only achievements from the age of 5 to 18 were, a) winning a doodling competition at primary school (of a witch flying in the sky with balloons in her hand), b) I was head chorister of the church choir, which believe me is not something that wins you cool points with anyone you know apart from your granny.

After school I went to Bristol University and did Classical Studies, which was great, I absolutely loved Bristol and I liked being a student and being with people who didn’t know my shameful head chorister past. I left university and adventurously headed straight back down the motorway to London again.

I wanted to get into magazines, but the only place that would employ me was the Lady magazine, which turned out to be one of those awful first jobs where you think your working life will always be like this: I was wholly unequipped for office life, its politics, its mundanity, its tensions. I did, however, learn how one polishes chandeliers and a lot about interesting road signs in Devon.

A couple of months later I was lucky enough to get into publishing, first at Penguin, where I worked for seven years, progressing from secretary to editorial director, publishing mainly women’s fiction. I left in 2003 and went to another publisher, Headline, where I worked until May 2009.

In the meantime, I started writing in the mornings before work, and in 2003 I sent the first few pages of my book to an agent under a pseudonym. Eventually, to my great joy, this led to a publishing deal with HarperCollins in the UK and Simon and Schuster in the US, who have now published all five of my novels. FIVE books, that’s crazy!

In 2008 I left my job to write full time. I was extremely happy at Headline, working with authors such as Penny Vincenzi, Emily Barr, and Louise Bagshawe, and coming up with initiatives like rejacketing Jane Austen’s novels to appeal to a younger female audience. But it became harder to balance the two jobs, and writing won out, and I know I’m very fortunate to be in a position to write full time, though I missed the office something chronic the first year after I left. It’s awful going to work on a rainy Monday morning, but there’s something great about walking down the road with your iPod in and your coffee in your hand ready to attach another day. When you’re inside all day wearing loose clothing and glasses you don’t feel quite the same…! 

I am passionate about commercial fiction, especially commercial women’s fiction, which seems to me to come in for an extraordinary amount of bile and patronising comment, in contrast to the same kind of books by men, which get reviewed, discussed, accepted into the canon with far greater ease. Books about young women’s lives, their jobs, romances, nights out, what they like doing, are seen as frippery and silly; books about young men’s lives covering exactly the same topics are discussed and debated, often accepted as valid and interesting contributions to the current social and media scene.

Last year my boyfriend and I bought a place together in Angel. I am getting used to living in North / East London - it’s strange being able to walk to Brick Lane when I’ve always been no more than 5 minutes from the M4 but I love it round here. I have my own study which is great - previously I was writing in bed or on the sofa, which is not conducive to knuckling down. It is conducive to having a quick nap though… I miss it.



My Review

A difficult book to review as I found it enchanting yet disappointing at the same time. I loved the setting; 'idyllic' childhood at a Cornish beach house with some larger than life theatrical characters. On the other hand, this family saga was told initially from the daughter, Cordelia's, point of view. However, later on it switched to the adult's point of view and became somewhat confusing and to be honest overlong. if this had been offset by a happy ending then perhaps it would have left me with a different perspective but even the ending was sad. There is some wonderful descriptive writing, some memorable characters who show all their foibles and eccentricities yet my overall feelings were of sadness mixed with poignancy.

Jane Seymour - The Haunted Queen


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Acclaimed author and historian Alison Weir continues her epic Six Tudor Queens series with this third captivating novel, which brings to life Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII’s most cherished bride and mother of his only male heir.

Ever since she was a child, Jane has longed for a cloistered life as a nun. But her large noble family has other plans, and, as an adult, Jane is invited to the King’s court to serve as lady-in-waiting for Queen Katherine of Aragon. The devout Katherine shows kindness to all her ladies, almost like a second mother, which makes rumors of Henry’s lustful pursuit of Anne Boleyn—who is also lady-in-waiting to the queen—all the more shocking. For Jane, the betrayal triggers memories of a painful incident that shaped her beliefs about marriage.

But once Henry disavows Katherine and secures his new queen—altering the religious landscape of England—he turns his eye to another: Jane herself. Urged to return the King’s affection and earn favor for her family, Jane is drawn into a dangerous political game that pits her conscience against her desires. Can Jane be the one to give the King his long-sought-after son or will she meet a fate similar to the women who came before her?

Bringing new insight to this compelling story, Weir marries meticulous research with gripping historical fiction to re-create the dramas and intrigues of the most renown court in English history. At its center is a loving and compassionate woman who captures the heart of a king, and whose life will hang in the balance for it.
 

Alison Weir 

Alison Weir (born 1951) is a British writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.

Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college.


My Review

As ever, Alison Weir paints a vibrant picture of Tudor life, transporting the reader to another time and place. I think Jane Seymour is my favourite wife of Henry VIII, perhaps because she is more relatable to the reader than his other wives. Alison Weir portrays her as devout and sympathetic to the Catholic cause. We see her empathy for Katherine of Aragon, the true queen, and her dislike of Anne Boleyn. Of course, it can be difficult to distinguish what is true and what is fabricated in this kind of book but the notes at the back are very revealing and it's interesting to see how the author interprets what information is available whilst filling in the dots. I found this book very readable and not at all like a biography with some of the turns of phrase seeming remarkable modern. I think it's fair to say that Jan Seymour was haunted literally and figuratively by the spectre of her predecessor. Even at the end,  Alison Weir turns the established viewpoint on its head regarding the manner of Jane's death. This is looking to be a promising series.

Monday 12 March 2018

Whippoorwill



                                                                                                         

Barely fourteen, Ceci Prejean is a tomboy running wild in the hot Louisiana summer. After breaking the nose of a
local boy, her father decides to enlist the aid of Hecubah, a beautiful Creole woman, with a secret past, who takes
Ceci in hand and turns her into a lady.
Now, eighteen-year-old Ceci meets and falls passionately in love with a handsome young northerner, Trent Sinclaire.
Trent is a cadet at the West Point military academy. He acts as if he knows Ceci. They begin a torrid affair, even as
the southern states begin to secede from the Union.
Only weeks before their wedding, the Confederate army attacks Fort Sumter and the civil war begins. Trent is called
to active service in the north, leaving Ceci heartbroken in the south.
Swearing vengeance on the union, after the untimely death of her family at the fall of New Orleans, Ceci meets with
infamous spy master, Henry Doucet. He initiates her into the shadowy world of espionage.
After her failure to avert the catastrophe at Gettysburg, Ceci infiltrates the White House. There, she comes face to
face with Abraham Lincoln, a man she’s sworn to kill. Forming a reckless alliance with the actor, John Wilkes Booth,
she is drawn deeper into the plot to assassinate the President of the United States. A Confederate spy in love with
a Union officer, her next decision will determine whether she lives or dies...
“Although a great deal has been written about the American Civil War, hardly anything has been written about female
spies,” observes R. L. Bartram. “Whippoorwill brings a fresh new perspective on this fascinating period.”



About the author





With Historical Romance as his preferred genre, Robert has continued to write for several years. Many of his short stories have appeared in various national periodicals and magazines.
His debut novel “Dance the Moon Down”, a story of love against adversity during the First World War, gained him considerable critical praise, being voted book of the month by “Wall to Wall books”
His second novel “Whippoorwill” tells of a passionate affair between a young southern woman and a northern man at the beginning of the American Civil War.
He is single and lives and works in Hertfordshire.


Extract

Trent was lucky. The Confederate musket ball that was intended to kill him merely grazed his brow. He lurched violently back in his saddle. His horse reared wildly, throwing him, unconscious to the ground, directly into the path of his own cavalry advancing only yards behind him.
 At the far end of the field, Sergeant Nathanial Pike and his men, engaged in the hasty formation of a skirmish line, watched helplessly as the scene unfolded. As Trent hit the ground, a Confederate soldier appeared out of the shadows. Small and slight, little more than a boy, he lunged forwards, grabbed the officer by the lapels of his coat and dragged him out of the path of the galloping horses. Throwing himself across the man’s prone body, he shielded him from the pounding hooves. The cavalry thundered past oblivious, in the half-light, to the fate of their captain.
As the danger passed, the rebel rose to his knees and appeared to search the unconscious man.
 “God damn thieving rebs,” Pike snatched his pistol from its holster, his thumb wrenching back the hammer. Before he could take aim, the rebel stopped searching. He leaned forwards and, cradling the officer’s face in his hands, bent down and kissed him, full on the lips, long and hard. Pike’s pistol, arm and jaw dropped simultaneously.
 Something, some noise, some movement, made the rebel look up and glance furtively around. He jumped to his feet and, with a final backwards glance at the fallen man, melted into the shadows, like a wraith.
 It was some moments before Pike’s jaw snapped shut, his teeth meeting with an audible click. He rounded on his men. “Did you see what I just saw?” he demanded.
 His question was answered with shrugs and scowls. Not one man there could swear he hadn’t dreamed it. Then suddenly, they heard it, far off, plaintive and eerie, the cry of a whippoorwill.


Interview with Robert Bartram

Welcome, Robert - Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Robert Bartram. I’m single and live in a comfortable old house in Hertfordshire that looks out onto a large wooded garden. Writing is my first love, but I also enjoy going to the theatre, collecting antiques, well bric-a-brac really, I’m not interested in its value, only the history. Also eating out with friends and, of course, reading.

How did you get started on your writing journey?

I was bitten by the writing bug at age 17. I started by writing short stories, experimenting with various styles and genres, including fantasy and science fiction. Eventually I sent some of my short S/F stories to agent Marie Griffiths, unaware that she’d already retired and, in any case, only handled romance for women’s magazines. Nevertheless, she must have seen a spark of merit in my work because she suggested I try my hand at some romance shorts. After several attempts, she finally managed to place some of my stories with main stream magazines. I can’t describe how I felt when I saw my first story in print. I still get a buzz out of it today.
Eventually, I graduated to novels. Staying with the romance genre, I incorporated my love of history and became a writer of historical romance. My debut novel “Dance the Moon Down” a story of love against adversity set against the background of World War One, achieved a good deal of critical acclaim. It gained 35 five-star reviews and was nominated as book of the month on “Wall to Wall” books.

Let's talk about your novel! What is it about?

My second novel “Whippoorwill” is also an historical romance set against the American Civil War.
Barely fourteen, Ceci Prejean is a tomboy running wild in the hot Louisiana summer. After breaking the nose of a local boy, her father decides to enlist the aid of Hecubah, a beautiful creole woman, with a secret past, who takes her in hand and turns her into a lady.
Now eighteen, Ceci meets and falls in love with handsome young northerner, Trent Sinclaire. Trent is a cadet at the West Point military academy. They begin a torrid affair, even as the southern states begin to secede from the Union.
Only weeks before their wedding, the civil war begins. Trent is called to active service in the north, leaving Ceci heartbroken in the south.
Swearing vengeance on the Union, after the death of her family at the fall of New Orleans, Ceci meets with infamous spy master, Henry Doucet. He initiates her into the shadowy world of espionage.
Infiltrating the White House, Ceci comes face to face with Abraham Lincoln, a man she’s sworn to kill. Forming a reckless alliance with the actor John Wilkes Booth, she’s drawn deeper into the plot to assassinate the President of the United States. A Confederate spy in love with a Union officer, her next decision will determine whether she lives or dies.
Even though it’s set against a war time background “Whippoorwill” is primarily a romance. The war is there only to add authenticity, plus cause and effect. Plus, of course, conflict.


How is the title significant?
That becomes clear once you read the book, but to say more would give too much away.
( Well, it's certainly intriguing, Robert!)

Where did inspiration for this come from?

I always knew I wanted to write a novel set against the American Civil war. The main problem was how to make it different from all the others. At first, I was going to make my heroine a soldier. Believe it or not, almost a thousand women, from both sides, disguised themselves as men and fought along side the regular troops. However, I very soon discovered that was hardly a new idea. Then I came across some old articles about women spies. For example, Rose O’Neal Greenhow, C.S.A, who having acquired an important piece of information, took a horse and rode twenty miles through enemy lines to deliver it herself. The more I read about these courageous women the more impressed I was. That’s when I decided to make my heroine a spy. It was their courage and fortitude that inspired to write this book.

Who do you think would like your story and what kind of readership are you aiming for?

Hopefully everyone. Having said that, my target audience is mainly women, who like a strong female protagonist and an absorbing romance, set in an historical background. Anyone from sixteen to sixty, although I’ve had one ninety-two-year-old reader who loved it.

What is your writing process like?

I always write in longhand first. I find it’s easier that way. I can write as fast as I think, without having to worry about which keys I’m pressing. Nothing goes into the computer until the last hand-written draught is finished and corrected. I prefer to write at night, it’s quieter then and I can hear myself think. Usually from 11 pm to 3 am. When I’m engaged on a book, I write every day, seven days a week, pausing only for a gulp of black tea from the pint mug on my desk. During an average night, I usually get through seven or eight.

What are the best and worst parts about writing?

The best part about writing is when the plot comes together and starts to work for you. You begin to build your world and people it with your characters. There’s nothing else quite like it. When I wrote my first novel “Dance the Moon Down” I felt I had to write within certain literary constraints. In hindsight, it’s a decision I regret. When I wrote “Whippoorwill” I wrote exactly what I wanted, and it made all the difference. When I wrote the last word of the last line, it was like saying goodbye to an old friend. If I hadn’t exercised an author’s restraint, the novel might have ended up ten thousand pages long. Hopefully, less is more. Which brings me neatly to the last part of the question. What’s the worst part about writing? When it stops.

What plans do you have for the future of your writing?

Certainly, another novel. An historical romance, as it’s my preferred genre, but I haven’t decided what it will be yet.


Thank you so much for taking part.