Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "non-fiction"

Those of you who follow my blog will know that Julie Elizabeth Powell is one of my favourite authors. I met her here on Goodreads in 2008 and we've become great friends. This weekend 28th/29th and 30th April 2012, Julie is offering two of her books free on Kindle. The books she is offering are very special to her because they tell the story of the tragic circumstances surrounding her daughter's death. This giveaway coincides with the date that would have been her daughter's 30th Birthday. Julie's daughter, Samantha, was born with a heart condition which resulted in her death.The novel Julie created Gone is a fantasy that introduces the world of Avalon and is based on her daughter's life and death. Julie says that the title is 'Gone' because the book came about as she was wondering where her daughter had 'gone' after her heart stopped and she died for the 'first' time at the age of 2. Her daughter lived for a further 17 years but was unable to communicate. The other book she is offering free this weekend is Slings & Arrows which is Julie's story about what happened to her daughter, it's non-fiction and very moving.

I would recommend that you download your free copies of these two books this weekend and get to know the writing of Julie Elizabeth Powell. She is a truly inspirational lady and a wonderfully gifted writer.



Here are the links you'll need:

Slings & Arrows, Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Slings-Arrows-e...

Gone, Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-ebook/dp/B...

Gone, Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-ebook/dp...

Slings & Arrows, Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slings-Arrows...

Today I am thrilled to be introducing you to author K B Walker. I've known Kimm for a few years now. I think she was one of the first authors I met when I started to think about self-publishing my books in about 2008. We've kept in touch since and she is a lovely person.

I enjoyed reading Kimm's poignant and inspirational memoir A Life Less Lost. I was excited to hear that Kimm has recently published a novel Once Removed. I'm very much looking forward to reading it. Kimm's a very talented writer. When I heard she had a new book out I decided it was about time I introduced her to all of you.

As well as agreeing to answer my questions, Kimm is very generously offering to give away a Kindle or pdf version of Once Removed and a paper version or a voucher for a digital copy of A Life Less Lost from Smashwords

To be in with a chance to win a copy of one of her books, please leave a comment below, or simply 'like' this blog post. Winners will be picked on 10th June 2012.

Here's my interview with Kimm:


I read your memoir 'A Life Less Lost' in 2009. It's very moving and inspirational. What made you decide to publish a memoir at the time?



It was a story I wanted to tell and in 2004 I finally had the opportunity. The first draft poured out in 4 months but then it took 5 years to polish it. By that time I was doing speaking engagements and people were disappointed there weren’t copies to buy. When I had the opportunity to speak alongside Adrian Plass, I decided I couldn’t wait for the slow wheels of publishing and did it myself.

Your son's battle with cancer is featured prominently in your memoir. Has he read the book, and if so did he give you any feedback on it?

A very interesting question, Maria. James gave me permission to write and sell the book but he hasn’t read it. His father and brother have and were surprised by the different ways in which we each experienced and remembered what happened. James says it’s taken him long enough to come to terms with his own interpretation of events and he doesn’t want to cope with mine.

You self-published A Life Less Lost, but with your new book, a novel, you have decided to use a publisher. What was your reason for not self-publishing this time?

As you know, Maria, self-publishing is extremely hard work. But I was losing confidence in myself as a writer. I needed that seal of approval that someone who didn’t know me thought enough of my book to take a risk on it.

How did you go about looking for a publisher for your novel?

I studied the Writers & Artists Yearbook for people most likely to be interested in my story and then checked out their websites and submission guidelines. I met and spoke to a PR person at an author event and she asked to see a sample and recommended three publishers. But none of that came to anything. Once Removed doesn’t fit easily into any genres so was too risky for the more established houses. A friend suggested a few e-publishers who are trying to build a presence in the market and actively seek out new and unusual work. I studied their websites and went for Crooked {Cat} Publishing, who quickly signed me up.

I'm looking forward to reading your new novel, 'Once Removed'. Can you tell us a bit about it and how long it took to write?



It’s about a young teacher who suspects one of her pupils is self-harming. Abby risks everything to try to help Beth but it all goes horribly wrong. It looks at the impact relationships have on us but also the way in which our own self-image affects those relationships.

I’ve had much to learn about writing (I did science at university!) so have taken courses, worked my way through self-help books and written lots of other things alongside this novel and my memoir. In seven years, Once Removed has been through many transformations. I’m certainly hoping my next book will take less time!

You have said that an experience in high school gave you the idea for Once Removed. Are you able to elaborate on that?

In high school, a girl felt close enough to me to reveal the razor slashes she’d made in her legs. I didn’t know what to do. At fourteen, new to the school and recently bereaved, I basically ran away. But I still wonder about that girl and what’s happened to her. In the '90s, when self-harm was in the media, I did some research and a story was born which explores this complex behaviour through the eyes of these two characters.

I saw on your bio that before you published your memoir, you'd had several poems, short stories and articles published and won a handful of local prizes, as well as being invited to speak at events in the UK and US. Can you tell us a bit more about these?

I’ve won competitions run by Huddersfield Authors’ Circle, been shortlisted in a Huddersfield Literature Festival competition and won second prize in a short story magazine. I learned a great deal about dialogue working collaboratively on two radio plays, even though they weren’t taken up. These were early on, when I was writing widely to get feedback and learn the craft. I’ve had articles published in various places and edit my church magazine. My poems appear in several anthologies but my main passion is for novels. They are what I read and know the best.

The speaking events began out of the blue and grew from there. I did set up a mini ‘book tour’ when I went to the States to visit my family. We went to five states, slept in ten different beds and sold over seventy books. More sales have followed but they’ve been slow. I plan to do more promotion over the Internet, once things settle down with Once Removed.

You have a book trailer for Once Removed. Who produced that?

My youngest son, David, is a filmmaker working for Bluprint. He and a couple of friends made it for me as well as the one for A Life Less Lost.

What's your opinion of book trailers in general? Have you ever decided to buy a book after seeing the trailer?

Personally, I have such a huge pile of books I want to read I haven’t used book trailers but when you are an unknown author you have to try everything to get some attention.

Which do you prefer reading e-books or print, and why?

I resisted getting an e-reader for ages but eventually the shrinking luggage allowances convinced me and I love it! I read walking my dog and don’t need to take my mittens off to turn the page, can read while eating my lunch without the book closing and in bed without my hand getting cold. It’s dangerously easy to buy the next book immediately after finishing the last one, too.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their work that you like?

That’s a hard question! I like Jodi Picoult, although her books do get a bit samey. I love the way she explores complex social issues through realistic characters. That’s what I’ve tried to do with Once Removed. But I also love crime writers like Jo Nesbo and historical fiction authors like Bernhard Cornwelland Philippa Gregory. C.J. Sansom usefully combines both genres! I like interesting stories like A Thousand Splendid Suns and We Need to Talk About Kevin. I love the Fire and Ice fantasy series (A Game of Thrones ) even though I don’t usually like fantasy. I like anything with good characters and pace, really.

Are you working on any other books at the moment?

At the moment, I’m spending all my writing time trying to promote Once Removed. But next month I plan to get back to my new novel inspired by an agoraphobic woman who vanished.

When you're not writing, what's your favourite pastime?

Reading has been a passion all my life. I also enjoy sports like skiing, swimming, badminton and walking. I’ve a big soft spot for animals and live on a farm, although we’re not farmers. Baking, eating out, cookery programmes and cookbooks fill a big chunk of time. Recently I’ve discovered an interest in growing food, losing hours in the garden.


Thanks for being a fabulous guest, Kimm!


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You can find out more about Kimm and her books at her website and on her publisher's website

And don't forget to leave a comment below, or 'like' this blog post for your chance to win a book! Good luck!

A couple of years ago, I was asked by my good friend and fellow author Stacy Juba to contribute a true story for an anthology she was putting together. Stacy has a novel titled Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, a wonderful mystery about an unresolved murder case. When she was promoting the book, she came up with the idea of asking various other authors what they were doing 25 years ago. In all, 52 authors contributed a story. The collection, 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror: 52 Authors Look Back is currently available free on Amazon and other eBook websites.


Ebookasaurus.com are promoting the book at the moment. Follow this link for details: http://ebookasaurus.com/2015/01/25-ye...

The book contains the story "The Red Man", which is a true story from my teen years.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It goes without saying that this a life-changing book for anyone who reads it. I learnt about Anne Frank's Diary when I was a teenager, about the same age as Anne was when she wrote her diary. I decided to read it because I couldn't remember if I'd ever read the whole thing when I was younger or whether I only read certain parts.

It is fascinating because it's a diary; there is something intriguing about reading someone's diary anyway, but this is no ordinary diary. I couldn't help wishing for a different ending to this young girl's story even as I was reading it, even though I knew the ending already.

Anne was a very typical teenager with all the angst, all the dreams, all the hopes and insecurities. Her diary sets out the goings-on in the 'secret annexe' where she and her family along with another family and others were hiding from the Germans during World War II, for fear of being shot or taken to concentration camps. The daily fear that Anne and the others would have felt comes across so strongly in this journal. The way members of the household would argue over the littlest things gives us an idea of the amount of stress they were under. Despite all they were going through, it seems that the people in the annexe were ultimately always there for each other and they had grown close to each other, even though they often couldn't stand each other!

I found Anne's writing to be very thoughtful. It seemed that she was going through a difficult time trying to balance her own needs and trying to deal with her changing moods. In her final journal entry we get an insight into what the real Anne was like when she tells how she often hid her real self from the others because of what she feared they would say or how they'd react. She was definitely a deep thinker and there are many quotes floating around the Internet from this book, passages from this diary that make you think and make you question the world around us.

When the diary ends, it is an abrupt ending. It's heartbreaking because it's just another diary entry from quite a high-spirited Anne telling her diary (which she calls 'Kitty') about the day, and then the book ends. We all know that in the days that followed that diary entry the family would have been captured and taken away to the concentration camp where they were killed. It really brings home the fact that this young girl's life was cruelly cut short and that she had so much more to offer the world.

Anne Frank's dream was to be a journalist and then to become a world-famous author. Ironically, she achieved both of those dreams with this diary. This young girl's writing has captured the imagination of a generation. She was wise beyond her years and one thing she has taught us with this very honest diary is that people are human and we all have the potential for good and bad within us. Hopefully, one day her dreams of a more tolerant and peaceful world will also become a reality.



View all my reviews

I've been following Shelley Wilson on Twitter for a while. She's very friendly and supportive. She divides her time between fiction and non-fiction writing. I haven't read her books yet, but have heard about her YA fantasy trilogy. It sounds great. I invited Shelley here for a chat to find out more about her writing.

INTERVIEW WITH SHELLEY WILSON



Welcome to my blog, Shelley! Thank you for joining me. Please introduce yourself.

Hi Maria, thank you so much for inviting me over for a chat. My name is Shelley Wilson, and I live in Solihull in the West Midlands with my three teenage children, a fat fish, and a loopy black cat called Luna.

Hahaha!

I write non-fiction for adults in the self-help and personal development genre as well as young adult fantasy fiction - I’m like the Jekyll and Hyde of the book world! My background is in Holistic Health, so the self-help books are a bit like my day job role. Writing my young adult books is pure self-satisfaction. I might be in my mid-forties, but I’m a huge YA fan.

Tell us about your latest book.

Just recently, my non-fiction book has been getting a lot of airtime. I was incredibly fortunate to appear in the June issue of Writers’ Forum Magazine, and around the same time, I hit the number one spot on Amazon’s bestseller list for self-help and women’s fiction. All of this is fabulous news, but it also means that my poor fiction books get overlooked. So, to put this right, I’m going to share my YA news with your readers.



My Guardian Series is a fantasy trilogy based around the protagonist, Amber Noble. She is a sixteen-year-old Oracle, who has a ton of special powers thrust upon her and struggles to cope. She never believed in magic, so it’s all a bit much for her to accept. Her family is spread across the realms, and her BFF is kidnapped by supernatural soldiers. It’s tough being a teenager! She embarks on a series of quests throughout the books, getting caught up with witchcraft, faeries and demons as she saves friends and family, and vanquishes evil along the way. The final instalment, Guardians of the Lost Lands, comes out in November and goes much deeper and darker than the first two – I’m really excited about this one as we find Amber clinging to her sanity as the reader is taken on a whirlwind of emotion and action.

Guardians of the Dead (Book 1)
Guardians of the Sky (Book 2)
Guardians of the Lost Lands (Book 3)

Here’s the blurb for Guardians of the Dead (book 1):




One girl holds the key to an ancient pact that could destroy the world…

When sixteen-year-old Amber Noble’s dreams begin to weave into her reality, she turns to the mysterious Connor for help. His links to the supernatural world uncover a chilling truth about her hometown and a pact that must be re-paid with blood.

As her father alienates her, and the Guardians take her best friend, her true destiny unfolds, and she begins a quest that will see her past collide with her present.

Drawn deeper into the world of witchcraft and faeries, it is only at the end of her journey that she realises how much she could lose.

How long did it take you to write your last book?

For all three books in the trilogy, I used NaNoWriMo to pen the first draft. For anyone who doesn’t know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, an online competition to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. I love this competition as I’m a bit of a deadline freak. I block out chunks of my day in the diary and write consistently. Even my family and friends know that I’m ‘unavailable for comment’ during November!

I only use NaNo to write the first draft – without this, I wouldn’t have anything to work with. It then takes me a couple of months to do the re-writes and edits. Book one was written in nine days; book two took me thirteen days, and the final instalment took me just over twenty days. I’ve already plotted out the next book I want to write for this year.

You're a fast writer!

What’s your favourite genre to read?

When I was a teenager, I would devour my dad’s Wilbur Smith books and steal my mum’s Mills & Boon novels.

Hahaha, I went through the Mills & Boon phase too. I think I read them all in my teens :)

As I hit my twenties, I went through a horror phase and lapped up anything written by James Herbert.

Ooh... I did that too!

At each stage in my life, I seem to have read books that weren’t aimed at the age I was at that time, and never more so than when I reached my mid-thirties and discovered young adult books. It was Maggie Stiefvater who initially hooked me in with her Shiver series which was about werewolves. For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with the supernatural, mythology, and science-fiction and fantasy, so to discover a vast array of books on these very topics was delightful. The coming of age element is easy to read, and as I have a Peter Pan complex, it helps me to keep my teenage mind alive inside the forty-four-year-old body!

LOL I'm like that too. I like a good fantasy book. They're great for the imagination, I think :)

Young adult books don’t waffle. You are thrown straight into the action and tend to be swept along at breakneck speed. There is normally plenty of action, some PG snogging, and the good guy always wins. As ‘real life’ frightens the hell out of me, I’m quite thankful that I can escape into an alternate reality.

The passion I have for reading YA fantasy highlighted the need to write my own teenage books. Its development over the years is exciting, and I look forward to seeing what happens next for this genre.

Who does your cover design? Is there anyone you’d recommend?

Twitter is a wonderful place to meet people from the writing community and it’s thanks to this social media platform that I met my publishing partner, Blue Harvest Creative. I call them ‘publishing partner’ because they do so much more than just design my covers. These guys are fabulous to work with, taking your synopsis and turning it into a living and breathing product – I adore my YA covers and have received so many compliments about them – I can’t wait to see what book three will look like in November.

BHC not only create award winning cover designs but they also produce enchanting chapter headers for the interior, taking the theme of your book right the way through. BHC also provide Facebook and Twitter banners for your book launch, a full formatting service, and they can provide merchandising such as bookmarks and mugs, etc. They are hugely supportive of independent authors and have a dedicated author site. BHC is a full-service company who I would highly recommend – http://www.bhcauthors.com/

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

I wrote a blog post dedicated to this particular question a while ago – it’s one of my most popular posts. I’m fortunate to have three amazing young adults under my roof; my eldest son is 18, middle son is 15, and my daughter is 14. It’s certainly come in handy when I needed to ask a YA related question! However, being a teenager, and especially a 16-year-old in this day and age is a tough job. We didn’t have the lure of social media twenty-four-seven when I was 16, in fact, we only had five television channels and if you needed to call your mum for a lift then you’d have to use the big red phone box on the corner of the street!

LOL It's amazing how fast technology has advanced, isn't it?

I offer my daughter plenty of advice on a daily basis. Some of it she accepts with grace, but most of it only gets me an eye-roll. One piece of advice I do repeat often – and this is something I wish someone had told me when I was younger – is to be yourself! Don’t let anyone force you into doing something you don’t want to do, or be someone you don’t want to be.

That is excellent advice

It’s far too easy for teenagers to be swayed by the group (more so for girls I think) but staying true to who you are is the best strategy. I love the quote, ‘In a world of Kardashians, be a Helena Bonham Carter.’

What social media sites can you most often be found on?

Too many! I love social media. As a fairly sociable character, it gives me endless opportunities to meet new people, chat with old friends, and talk about topics that interest me with like-minded people. The writing and blogging community is fantastic, especially as I don’t have any other writer friends in my local area. There’s only so much ‘book talk’ my kids will put up with!

LOL

I’m incredibly active on Twitter where I’ve made some wonderful friends. On Facebook, I have three pages - one is personal, one is for my motivational blog (facebook.com/resolutionchallenge), and the other is my YA Fantasy Author page (facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson). I love the YA page as my followers are really interactive, and we have a lot of fun. I spend equal amounts of time on Twitter and Facebook as they provide my highest referrals to my blog and Amazon pages.

I love Pinterest, but don’t use it for business yet. I tend to create a board for every new book I write and pin all my character and scene inspiration to it. It’s nice to share this with my YA audience when I’m getting ready to launch a book.

I’ve recently joined Instagram to try and engage with my YA audience, but I got sidetracked by the incredible book bloggers and the gorgeous images they post! I need to sort my account out and stop drooling over all the ‘shelfies’.

I think I'm one of the only people who hasn't joined Instagram yet... it's on my to-do list

My kids have banned me from using Snapchat, but Terry Tyler told me that this is the place to be for my target audience – I wonder if I could sneak on without my kids knowing?

Hahaha!

I’ve also looking into Tumblr but can’t quite get my head around it. I do have a LinkedIn account but rarely look at it.

Not sure if it’s classed as a social media site but I do enjoy popping on Goodreads and joining in with some of the discussions. I’ve found tons of great books on this site.

If you could invite 3 writers (past or present) to dinner, who would you invite and what would you cook?

I love this question! I’ve had to write a list and then methodically cut people until I’m left with my final three – I clearly have far too much time on my hands! Firsts off I would have to invite J.K.Rowling; as a single mum and lover of magic, I think the two of us would have a lot to talk about. Then I’d ask Joss Whedon to attend so I can try and convince him to write another Vampire Slayer television series. Finally, I would invite the late James Herbert so I could find out all his horror writing tricks. What would I cook? Hmm, could be tricky as my pièce de résistance is probably fish fingers, chips, and beans. I’d probably order pizza for delivery – more time to chat if I’m not stuck in the kitchen!

Thank you so much for letting me join you on your blog, Maria, it’s been great fun.

Thanks for being a fabulous guest, Shelley. I'm looking forward to reading your books.

Author links:

Website: http://www.shelleywilsonauthor.co.uk
Blog: http://www.shelleywilsonauthor.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthor...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/resolutioncha...
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/singlemum101/
Amazon: http://www.amaon.co.uk/Shelley-Wilson...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorslwil...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Goodreads YA: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I first heard about Valerie Lull when I was asked to review her book a few years ago. Ten Healthy Teas, a handy guide for anyone who is new to tea drinking or who would like to try new flavours of tea.



Valerie has a blog where she posts about the health benefits of different food and drinks. It's very interesting and informative.

She has since published two more similar books: Ten Spices: for Health and Longevity, and her latest The Sweet Side of the Stinking Rose; How to Use Garlic to Feel Good and Live Longer.

When I heard she had a new book out, I invited Valerie here for a chat about her writing and inspiration.

INTERVIEW WITH VALERIE LULL



Welcome to my blog, Valerie! Please introduce Yourself.

My name is Valerie Lull. I am passionate about good health and longevity. I was brought up vegetarian so I had a head start on healthy living. I worked for many years in mental health and at the age of 58 I made a career change. I went back to college and took herbal studies. Then I started a writing a blog and I have written 3 books.

Do you have a day job or write full time?

I am retired and I write part-time.

Where does your inspiration come from?

I think it is more a matter of perspiration than inspiration. If I waited for inspiration to strike I would not get much writing done.

LOL :)

I make it a goal to get in at least 20 minutes of writing a day. There is something about holding your newly published book in your hands that is extremely gratifying. It’s like giving birth and holding your precious baby for the first time. The reward is worth everything.

How long did it take you to write your last book?



About two years. I usually have two or more projects going at the same time. I work on one until I get tired of it than go to another. When I’m tired of that I come back to the first one.

That's a good way to work. I think it helps to take a break while working on projects so that you can go back to them with a different perspective. That's how I usually write my books and stories :)

What is your favorite genre to read?

English Mysteries. I’ve always been fascinated by British mysteries and drama. My father was Canadian and we spent a lot of time in Canada with relatives.

What genre do you write in?

I write in the niche of health and wellness. I have tried writing fiction and it was a disaster. I just do not seem able to put a story together and make it work.

Non-fiction is where I do best. I have done a lot of academic writing.

Do you do your own editing or use a professional?

I started out doing my own editing and having 1-2 friends read the manuscript for input. I learned from experience that that is not so good. I still have my friends look over my manuscript, but it does make a difference having another unbiased pair of eyes read one’s manuscript. Especially someone neutral that is not close to you. They can give you a whole different perspective and point out obvious things that you have missed. Your friends will often say nice things, but one really needs a professional. Now that I have learned my lesson I work with a copy editor, and then at the end of the process a proofreader.

That's good advice. I think most writers follow the same path before they realise that it's always best to get someone to have an objective read of anything you're working on before you publish it.

What’s the best time of day for you to write?

I work best in the evening. Often I wake up around midnight and am wide awake. I write for an hour or so then go back to sleep. I do write during the day, at least 20 minutes, often longer. I like it quiet with no distractions. I love music but not when I’m writing.

You sound similar to me :)

Apart from writing, what are your favorite pastimes?

Watching mystery videos, playing with my cat, crochet, talking with friends and relatives on the phone, going to a group called Tea Talks that meets once a week, and vegetarian cooking.

Thank you so much for joining me here, Valerie! I'm looking forward to reading your latest book. I love reading your blog posts!

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Author links:

Website/blog: http://www.valerielull.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lullval
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookTenHealt...

You probably hear about the new releases from the big publishing houses, but you may miss announcements from independent authors about their new books. I've heard about a few new releases from some of my favourite indie authors in the past few months, so I thought it would be nice to promote them here.

I haven't read any of them yet, but I know that these authors usually write stuff that I enjoy. I hope you'll find something in the list to add to your to-read lists.

Maisie - by Julie Elizabeth Powell




About the book:

Maisie is special. Yes, she is blind, yes she’s an orphan and yes, few know her roots. But inside, she sparkles, more than an angel, more than those majestic stars that layer the universe in glory. Some see this sparkle while others deny its existence and insist she is nothing more than a brat, one that even her own parents didn’t want.

Maisie also has a secret. One she’d never share because if she did, she knew they’d lock her away in one of those places the others talked about - where all the weird people go.

Even Maisie doesn’t understand it all, but knows that one day she’ll meet the woman and the boy...those that she believes are part of her dreams, in a land where she can see, where colours are vibrant and the moon shines as bright as the sun.

What is the truth, and will Maisie ever find it?

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B073...

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The Glass City, by Jen Knox



About the book:

WINNER of Prize Americana for Prose, Jen Knox’s The Glass City is a shrewd yet playful collection that explores the dangers of extremes with a subtle, skillful elegance. In these sixteen stories, weather becomes a mirror for the internal struggles of Knox’s indelible cast of characters. An aging acrobat looks for connectivity online as her city floods, two sisters are tasked to spread their mother's ashes on flowers that no longer exist, a man's scars become tattoos as he attempts to outrun truth, a reluctant host shares an island's secrets, and families survive natural disasters that shake out lies and bury inhibitions.

Buy the book:

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/099...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0996...

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Tipping Point, by Terry Tyler



About the book:

'I didn't know danger was floating behind us on the breeze as we walked along the beach, seeping in through the windows of our picture postcard life.'

The year is 2024. A new social networking site bursts onto the scene. Private Life promises total privacy, with freebies and financial incentives for all. Across the world, a record number of users sign up.

A deadly virus is discovered in a little known African province, and it's spreading—fast. The UK announces a countrywide vaccination programme. Members of underground group Unicorn believe the disease to be man-made, and that the people are being fed lies driven by a vast conspiracy.

Vicky Keating's boyfriend, Dex, is working for Unicorn over two hundred miles away when the first UK outbreak is detected in her home town of Shipden, on the Norfolk coast. The town is placed under military controlled quarantine and, despite official assurances that there is no need for panic, within days the virus is unstoppable.

In London, Travis begins to question the nature of the top secret data analysis project he is working on, while in Newcastle there are scores to be settled...

This is the first book in the Project Renova series; the second, Lindisfarne, is due to be published in September 2017, with the final instalment in the middle of 2018. A collection of outtake short stories, Patient Zero, is in progress, and should be available around December 2017.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B074...

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CONDEMNED: An Overview of Execution Methods Throughout History, by Darcia Helle



About the book:

Non-fiction: From hangings to beheading to lethal injections, Condemned brilliantly outlines the shocking, often-cruel conduits connecting early execution methods with modern-day executioners.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07562J92P
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07562J92P
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07562J92P

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The Book of a Thousand and One Destinies, by Gareth Lewis



About the book:

A paranoid Sultan, an Assassin found only in stories, and a Storyteller caught up in their battle.

Once upon a time, a great Sultan was plagued by an Assassin who struck at him with stories and lies. A young Storyteller is gathered with her colleagues, and forced to share her stories with the Sultan before their voices are stilled forever.

In a war of destinies, enslaved jinn, and comparative truths, the Storyteller must tread dangerous ground in what may be her final recital.

A fantasy novella.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Thousand-...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Thousan...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Book-Thousand-O...

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Incognito, by Khaled Talib



About the book:

Specialist Ayden Tanner is dispatched by a covert division of the global hacker group, Anonymous, to find the pope who is missing.

A frantic search begins in Italy and beyond its borders amid speculation that the Holy See may know more than they are telling.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Incognito-Khal...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Incognito-Kh...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Incognito-Khale...

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Femme Fatale, by Dominic Piper



About the book:

When private investigator Daniel Beckett foils an assault on a young girl in London’s West End, it leads to an offer of work from a sinister and unlikely source in Soho’s Chinatown.

But what starts out as a straightforward missing persons’ case soon takes on a more ominous aspect as he discovers a trail of blackmail, sadistic violence, conspiracy and murder, plus an influential, privileged and poisonous presence that seems to permeate all spheres of society.

The perpetrators, however, are not expecting to encounter an individual like Beckett; an intelligent, amoral and fearless individual with a skill-set that points to a covert and violent past.

Acquiring an entrancing and mysterious female associate, his investigation leads him into London’s electrifying burlesque scene where it seems some of the answers may lie.

But no one is as they seem, and the truth is unexpected and disturbing.

Femme Fatale is the third novel by Dominic Piper featuring private investigator Daniel Beckett.

Buy the book:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B073...

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Condemned: An Overview of Execution Methods Throughout History by Darcia Helle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I wasn't going to read this book because the idea of reading about execution methods seemed just a bit too dark (even for me... a dark fiction writer!). I did download a copy onto my Kindle, however, to support the writer as she's a brilliant fiction writer and I always enjoy her books. "Condemned" is her first non-fiction book. One day, I started reading it out of curiosity. I know from reading Helle's fiction that she is not someone who includes unnecessary gore in her books, even though she writes quite dark crime fiction. I was hoping that "Condemned" would not be too gruesome. Helle's writing style is engaging and the approach she's taken with this book is a kind of conversational study, looking at the history of execution. Because of the subject matter, there are some upsetting and hard-hitting parts, but I think that the writer has got the balance right so that it's not a painful read but is instead a fascinating one.

It's an eye-opener, both revealing and educational. I learned a lot about how the approach to execution has changed over the centuries, and the different methods that were/are used and why they were developed, etc.

It was interesting to read about how public executions were once a common thing. It really does make you think about human nature. The real life cases that are discussed in the book also make you wonder about the systems that are currently in place. Helle makes it clear in the book that she is against the death penalty but it's not a book about why capital punishment should be scrapped. It's, as the title states, an overview of the past and current systems. Helle has highlighted, using real case studies, many flaws with the lethal injection and electric chair methods that are still in use today in the USA.

This is a well-researched and an informative book. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to find out more about what types of methods of execution exist. It's probably not an exhaustive list but it covers many and varied methods and gives a succinct history. It also includes quotes from many people involved in the whole process, from those who invented the devices/methods to those who carry out, or have carried out, the executions.

"Condemned" is narrated in a clear and concise way. I was hooked from the start.

An insightful and thought-provoking read.



View all my reviews

Here's a list of ten of the best books I read this year.

If you're looking for something to read, try one of them - you won't be disappointed!

(Slight Return) - Neil Schiller



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075PBR6F6/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075PBR6F6/

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Dark Flash - Maria Haskins





My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Flash-M...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Flash-Mar...

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Redhead - Jason McIntyre




My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Redhead-Dove...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Redhead-Doveta...

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Condemned - Darcia Helle



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07562J92P
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07562J92P


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Dark Flash 2 - Maria Haskins



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0776NSXR2
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776NSXR2

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Forever Freaky - Tom Upton



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-Frea...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Freaky...

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Deathbed - Jason McIntyre



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N1QQSDJ/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1QQSDJ/

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Invisible Victims - Kat McCarthy



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

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The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002361MLA
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002361MLA

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Stuff The Turkey - Tara Ford



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine




My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eleanor-Olip...


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The Guest Cat



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guest-Cat-Ta...


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I Hate (love) Brussels Sprouts



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brussels-Spr...

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Under



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-David-...

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WaR: Wizards and Robots



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WaR-Wizards-...

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Stark Contrasts




My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stark-Contra...

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What Does This Button Do?: An Autobiography



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Does-Th...

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Unwed (Dovetail Cove, 1976)



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unwed-Doveta...

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24 Stories: of Hope for Survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire




My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/24-Stories-S...

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Dark Flash 3



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Flash-3...

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Whispers In The Tower



My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whispers-Tow...