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587 ratings | 489 reviews | avg rating:4.24

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Gill James has read 22 of 60 books.

37%

Gill James

Goodreads Author

Born

in West Bromwich, The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.gilljames.co.uk

Twitter

gilljames

Genre

Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction

Member Since

July 2012

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Gill James writes novels for middle grade and young adults and short fiction for everyone. Her current work consists of a cycle of novels set mainly in Nazi Germany and of some texts of experimental fiction.

She is published by Crooked Cats, Tabby Cat Press, The Red Telephone and Butterfly. She is an associate lecturer in Creative Writing at Salford University, UK, where she formerly worked as a senior lecturer. She has published several academic papers.

Her stories are published on Litro, CafeLit, Alfie Dog, Ether Books and in several anthologies.

She offers workshops on creative writing, book-building, creative writing in other languages and the Holocaust and life in Nazi Germany.

Reviews by Gill can be found in Armadillo Magazine, IBBY, Tr ...more

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Combine Editions
Gill James’s books

Average rating: 4.26 · 178 ratings · 75 reviews · 94 distinct works

	The House on Schellberg Street 4.52 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Complete Guide to Learning a Language 3.10 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2003 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Prophecy 3.73 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Babel 3.27 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Spooking 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Clara's Story: A Holocaust Biography (The Schellberg Cycle Book 2) 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Best of CaféLit 12 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Best of CaféLit 4 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	140 x 140 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Girl in a Smart Uniform (The Schellberg Cycle Book 3) 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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229 posts
Gill James's Blog

Keeping the Lid on Social Media

Social media can be a boon and it certainly can help the isolated writer feel more connected with the world. During the Covid 19 pandemic it has probably been a life-line for many. It is powerful tool. But it also may become a tyrant and we have to make sure we master it and it doesn’t master us.

I start my day with a visit to either Twitter, Linked-in or Facebook. This time of year though,

Series by Gill James

The Peace Child Trilogy (2 books)
by

Gill James (Goodreads Author)

3.54 avg rating — 26 ratings

Gill is Currently Reading

Gill James is currently reading

Elmet

by Fiona Mozley

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Nov 25, 2019 12:29AM

Gill’s Recent Updates

Gill James rated a book The Glass Key by Amanda Geard (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I should have liked this book more. I love the 1940s setting and I also enjoy novel where this is connected with the modern day but in this one it ddin'rt work as well as I would have liked it t to a litle; irritated with Anna, an couldn’t understand ...more
Nov 01, 2026 09:50AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gill James liked a quote “Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it.” Truman Capote
Oct 24, 2026 02:32AM · like · more quotes by Truman Capote
Gill James rated a book it was amazing Böser Wolf (Bodenstein & Kirchhoff #6) by Nele Neuhaus	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This story is gripping throughout. Not only is there great tension and fast pace, the characters are believable and rounded an we feel empathy for them. Great writing and storytelling..
Oct 16, 2026 08:18AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Böser Wolf by Nele Neuhaus. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Böser Wolf by Nele Neuhaus <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gill James rated a book it was amazing The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fascinating narrative which crosses between World War II and the present day. Believable and colourful characters in both eras.
Oct 09, 2026 12:47PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gill James rated a book it was amazing The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
From dystopia to utopia and back again. An upbeat ending, thank goodness. Could it come to this? As ever, excellent writing and story-telling.
Oct 09, 2026 12:43PM · like · see review
Gill James rated a book The Price of Loyalty by David M. Deanshaw	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
this engaging and interesting. The ins and outs of hedge funds and insider trading were a little beyond me.however.
Oct 09, 2026 12:38PM · like · see review
Gill James rated a book The Adventures of Portly the Otter: Untold Tales from the Wind in the Willows by M.G. Leonard (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a complementary story to Wind in the Willows and take place mainly whilst Mr Toadiss in prison this. takes me back to the second year of junior school when our teacher read The Wind in the Willows over a series of days ; such a happy time. Th ...more
Oct 09, 2026 12:35PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Adventures of Portly the Otter by M.G. Leonard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Adventures of Portly the Otter by M.G. Leonard <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gill James rated a book it was amazing The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
From dystopia to utopia and back again. An upbeat ending, thank goodness. Could it come to this? As ever, excellent writing and story-telling.
Oct 09, 2026 11:17AM · like · see review
Gill James rated a book it was amazing Desert God (Ancient Egypt #5) by Wilbur Smith	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 09, 2026 11:17AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Desert God by Wilbur Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Desert God by Wilbur Smith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gill James rated a book it was amazing The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fascinating narrative which crosses between World War II and the present day. Believable and colourful characters in both eras.
Oct 09, 2026 11:17AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Gill’s Quotes

“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”
― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time

tags: deadlines, humor, humour, work, writing

32210 likes

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

tags: 1970, inspirational, stories, writing

31672 likes

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway

tags: good, writing

19445 likes

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
― Madeleine L'Engle

tags: books, children, difficult, grown-ups, write, writers, writing

16964 likes