Cheryl Burman's Blog: Blog posts for readers and writers

At some 700 pages, The Schimmering is not a quick read. But I happily picked up this book during my reading times throughout the day, and quickly became engrossed in the tale of our three ‘heroes’.

What I love about this author’s writing is her originality. Her characters and her stories rarely fit neatly into any boxy genre and The Schimmering, while it is fantasy, is no exception. You can’t anticipate how things will work out, what will happen to the characters, to the plot itself. Which m...

As a fan of Alex Banwell’s Just Benny series, I was intrigued to read this novella exploring the background of Ola, Benny’s often dour dad. And certainly the story enriches the character, although it can be very much read as a standalone.

Set in the 1970s, Ola has left his homeland of Denmark, hoping to also leave behind childhood memories of his drunken, abusive father. He wants to live quietly, with no ties, no responsibilities. He quietly suffers the slurs of those, including his boss, wh...

A bone a heart the law a promise – which of these was broken? was penned in response to a writing workshop prompt.

She hated breaking promises. But there was no choice, right?
She lifted her sling-bound arm, grimacing. Explaining how that had happened was a step too far. He was such a, well, upright guy. Best word for him, upright. Nice, kind, polite, respectful to his elders. She thought of him, these days, in the same way she thought about the vicar. The one they’d had a chat with about the ...

The wall came tumbling down was penned over ten minutes at a writing workshop – don’t judge me!

It was hardly Humpty Dumpty. Nothing childish or fun about it at all. Irene stared at the pile of rubble which – as short a time ago as yesterday evening – had been an ancient stone wall, overgrown with moss and ferns, dividing her garden from the woods beyond.
She shifted her gaze and scowled. Yes, the new gap had allowed the fruit, flower and veg predators in. And they had had a wild time.

Wh...

‘That old sofa? You want to keep it?’
My son shook his head, bemused. ‘It’s worn through. Look.’ He strode across the room, leaned to brush the worn upholstery.

I could see his point, now he mentioned it. The thinnest patch was to the left, near the rounded arm, which also showed whitish patches I hadn’t really noticed, covered as the arm normally was with cushions. Old cushions.

‘Look at those tatty cushions.’ My critical boy carried on. He plucked at a frayed corner. ‘Like something the...

My first book of hers, and the thing I most enjoyed was the atmospheric writing which built this half-real half-imagined world and its various characters.

When Leo Martin is sacked from his post as Minister of Culture for not being sufficiently on side with the fascist-like government, he’s sent back to his old school high in the mountains, Montverre. His cover story – he’s not being publicly shamed, yet – is that he’s taking time out to immerse himself in what was once his great obsession, the c...

A scene from River Witch that in the end didn’t make the cut. It was definitely one of those ‘killing your darlings’ moments. Having it here on my website helps assauge the guilt!

Hester’s oldest brothers bring the story home. They heard it in the Red Lion, on the other side of the river, where they were waiting for the ferry. It was the middle of the day, not late, not at that point in a public house’s daily routine where the stories are stretched to the limits of their truth, when men s...

Fyneshade by Kate Griffin was a mixed bag for me.

Shortly after the death of her grandmère – a woman wise in the ways of herbs and spells – Marta is packed off to be the governess of a 10 year old girl in an ancient, grand and isolated house in the north of England.

What she finds when she arrives is very different from her ambitious visions of a rich (available) widower and a child who would be her charge only until she got said widower into the marriage bed. But as Marta begins to learn the...

Learning to Swim was a satisfying read, one of those books where the story is simply about growing up.

As a young teenager with highly conventional and buttoned-up parents, Abigail loves being drawn into the highly unconventional world of her good friend Frances’ family – Mr Radley, Lexi the mother, and big brother Rad.

Of course, Abigail carries a secret candle for the distant Rad, but just as her patience is rewarded two events – one tragic, one laughable – drive her from the Radley family...

This second book in Jodi Casstevens-Short’s Willow Springs cosy mystery series is a worthy follow up to the first, with bodies, near deaths, mysterious threats, red herrings and a generous helping of romance. Also, again, humour and lots of yummy food – I swear I put on kilos just reading it!

We’re a year on from Murdered by the Books and things are quiet in Willow Springs. Jillian’s bookstore is thriving, as is her relationship with hunky firefighter Travis. Jillian’s two sisters are doing ...