Devon Book Club discussion

Delighted to say that Ley Holloway has won the copy of Geoff Ducks fabulous book Coat With Long Sleeves

I'm delighted to announce that the winner of the giveaway of The Soulistic Journey is Rebecca Craft. I'm sure you are going to love this book. So sorry that there could only be one winner but the book is widely available.

So many entries for Victoria Dowd new book Body On The Island but there can only be one winner I'm afraid. This time the name out of the hat is Elizabeth Ducie who entered here on our Goodreads community. Congratulations Elizabeth. Thanks to everyone who entered. Please do try again - another giveaway coming soon.

WHILE PARIS SLEPT Ruth Druart
18 years to write
2 years on the path to publication
Rights sold for 19 countries worldwide, translated into nearly as many languages
Published last week in e-book and in the US and Australia
And, now, published 4th March 2021 in the UK in hardback as one of Headline Books leading titles for the Spring
And I have 5 copies to GIVE AWAY to celebrate the launch with Ruth.
I am not going to do the usual introduction to Ruth as we've been enjoying her Diary of a Debut Writer but I asked her what publication day is like. She told me that
"it feels like my book is ready to leave home and make its own way in the world. Time for me to let go"
"How does it feel to be her publisher?", I asked her editor, Sherise Hobbs (no relation), who said
‘The journey towards publication is such a long road for an author and it’s thrilling when Publication Day finally arrives. We are so excited for Ruth, and it’s wonderful to see how her warmly her debut novel is being received, both in the UK and the US, but also all around the world.’
About the book:
"One woman must make the hardest decision of her life in this unforgettably moving story of resistance and faith during one of the darkest times in history.
Santa Cruz, 1953. Jean-Luc is a man on the run from his past. The scar on his face is a small price to pay for surviving the horrors of Nazi occupation in France. Now, he has a new life in California, a family. He never expected the past to come knocking on his door.
Paris, 1944. A young Jewish woman's past is torn apart in a heartbeat. Herded onto a train bound for Auschwitz, in an act of desperation she entrusts her most precious possession to a stranger. All she has left now is hope.
On a darkened platform, two destinies become intertwined, and the choices each person makes will change the future in ways neither could have imagined.
Told from alternating perspectives, While Paris Slept reflects on the power of love, resilience, and courage when all seems lost. Exploring the strength of family ties, and what it really means to love someone unconditionally, this debut novel will capture your heart."
I am so delighted for Ruth and her team at Headline and her agent, Sheila Crowley from Curtis Brown Literary and Talent Agency and wish them every success with the book.
And so to the giveaway. To enter the draw for one of the 5 copies simply share this post and leave a message below for Ruth, adding that you'd like to be entered BY NOON ON SUNDAY 7/3/21 (UK ONLY)
You can find out more about Ruth and her work here https://ruthdruart.com/

Congratulations Ruth, I know how much hard work is involved in writing and marketing a book. I got my copy of 'Whilst Paris Slept' early this week, and have just started reading it. So far, I'm impressed!

Cynthea Gregory

This is lovely to hear! Thank you so much.
Yes, lots of work, but work I loved.
Ruth

Thanks to everyone who entered the draw for RuthDruart While Paris Slept. Our 5 winners are @sarahsansom76 @beccakateblogs on Twitter and Erica, Alex and Sarah from our Goodreads community. We'll get the books in the post to you as soon as possible

It's publication day TODAY for Devon writer Karen Maitland of her latest book, The Drowned City. To celebrate with us, her publishers Headline Books have kindly offered our community 5 hardback copies of the book. Details of how to enter the draw to win a copy are at the end of this post.

About The Drowned City:
1606. A year to the day that men were executed for conspiring to blow up Parliament, a towering wave devastates the Bristol Channel. Some proclaim God's vengeance. Others seek to take advantage.

In London, Daniel Pursglove lies in prison waiting to die. But Charles FitzAlan, close adviser to King James I, has a job in mind that will free a man of Daniel's skill from the horrors of Newgate. If he succeeds.

For Bristol is a hotbed of Catholic spies, and where better for the lone conspirator who evaded arrest, one Spero Pettingar, to gather allies than in the chaos of a drowned city? Daniel journeys there to investigate FitzAlan's lead, but soon finds himself at the heart of a dark Jesuit conspiracy - and in pursuit of a killer.

More about Karen and her work:
Karen has written a number of wonderful novels and I asked her to tell us more about The Drowned City and her last novel, A Gathering of Ghosts, and also something about her and her writing process. This is what she told me:
"Dartmoor and the Devon Tsunami

My medieval thriller, A Gathering of Ghosts, is set on Dartmoor in 1316, during the great famine. At the heart of the story lies a holy well deep beneath the priory of the Sisters of the Knights of St John, who provide shelter for travellers crossing the moor to reach the port of Fowey. Dartmoor then was like Wild West, with starving people flocking there to stream for tin. Runaway bondsmen and outlaws also fled to Dartmoor, because tinners were under the protection of the King and they couldn’t be seized. Thanks to a badly-worded law, tinners could dig anywhere, destroying crops, diverting streams and driving off livestock, which brought them into violent conflict with the locals.

I’ve explored the many remains of tin streaming on Dartmoor – leats, spoil heaps and the ruins of blowing houses. Much of my research about the processes involved was done in the excellent Tavistock Museum. But researching the Priory was more difficult. I found academic papers on-line about the lives of the sisters in that order. And the records of the Knights of St John indicate that there was a priory of sisters on Dartmoor from which money for the order was collected, but the priory vanished in the 14th century. I’d love to discover its exact location and see if a dig could unearth any remains.

I incorporate a number of old Dartmoor legends into the novel, and was surprised that many readers wanted to visit the places which feature in the novel such as Wistman’s Wood, Dewerstone or one of the knocking caves. The more sinister the tale, the more they want to see it.

My new novel, The Drowned City, is set in Bristol in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot, but it also has a Devon connection. It opens with a terrible disaster that devastated the South West for several years. On a calm January morning in 1607, a great storm-surge or tsunami swept up the Bristol Channel, flooding the low-lying areas of Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and South wales.
The giant wave rolled inland as far as Glastonbury Tor, 14 miles from the coast, destroying villages and covering 200 square miles of farmland with salt water. 2,000 people died.

According to the reports printed in 1607, in Barnstaple the flood burst through the locked doors of many houses, one of which belonged to a man called James Frost. He, and two of his
children, were killed when the wave caused the walls to cave-in.
In Appledore, a full-laden, 60-ton ship under full sail was swept so far inland it could never be re-floated. The wave is estimated to have reached 25 ft in height, travelling at 38mph and there have been several scientific investigations into what triggered it, which were immensely useful in providing the factual details, but it was 17 th century broadsides and chapbooks that gave me the eyewitness accounts of the “dazzling mountain” of water and the terror that followed, the kind of details that would fire the imagination any historical novelist."

One of the key features of Devon Book Club is that we come to know our local writers. Their books are not just a delight in themselves but all the richer for feeling that we reading the work of a friend. For those of you who have not had the chance to meet Karen here is a little more about her:

Karen Maitland is an historical novelist, lecturer and teacher of Creative Writing, with over twenty books to her name. She grew up in Malta, which inspired her passion for history, and travelled and worked all over the world before settling in the United Kingdom. She has a doctorate in psycholinguistics, and now lives on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon.

I loved both of these books. As well as being a gripping story, A Gathering of Ghosts revealed much of Dartmoor's history and legend. It is beautifully written, very evocative of Dartmoor at that time (and, in many ways, today) and I know you'll love it. I even learned the origin of the children's(?) story of the 3 Little Pigs.

How to enter the Giveaway:
To enter, simply, respond to the event invitation saying you'd like to enter and, for an extra entry, share this post with your friends by Noon on Easter Monday. (UK Only)

If you've read any of Karen's books I'd love to hear about that too.

Good luck

Every day is a feature day this weekend and, today, I am delighted to offer a new giveaway, an audio book by Jack Lench (NB this one comes on a USB card so you don't need an e-reader). Not only is this book set in Devon but its narrator, Paul Webber Love Audio , is a Devon-based voice artist, audio producer and professional DJ.
I asked Jack to tell me about Illicit Deception:
"THE STORY BEHIND THE BOOK – ILLICIT DECEPTION
My novel, Illicit Deception was published last year as an e-book, paperback and also an audiobook. A follow up book, Running Flush has just been released. The third in this trilogy will be released in June.
My father was a Devon man and so moved back there when he retired from teaching maths. My parents bought a house in Shaldon, Devon so for many years so I used to visit them with my wife and children. My kids loved the smugglers tunnel, climbing on the rocks and crossing over to Teignmouth in the water taxi. As a family, we had many meals at The Ness or tea on the terrace when it was privately owned by two couples.
My main character in the book, Robin Ashurst, is the manager of a hotel called The Limes, set in Devon. The description of this fictitious hotel was inspired by my wonderful memories of The Ness. I also mention famous landmarks like Haytor, Exeter railway station, the pier at Teignmouth, the Brunel railway line and the China Clay docks as well as and many pubs we used to visit.
Essentially, ‘Illicit Deception’ is about people not being who they say they are. It takes three tiny pieces of history and adds/ changes one small intrinsic fact. In doing so, changes the course of history.
Robin, my protagonist, is the manager of a run-down hotel in Devon but unwittingly gets caught up in a world of espionage, international subterfuge and exposing government secrets. Life is never the same again for Robin when a cantankerous old lady with a French accent checks into The Limes Hotel. Her companion is a young, innocent and naïve granddaughter called Antonella. After the old lady suffers a fatal heart attack, the story takes a sinister twist when it is discovered that the old lady’s life was full of disturbing secrets and jewel theft.
About the author:
Jack has a fascinating story in his own right. He told me:
"I had a wonderfully happy childhood in Suffolk. I attended an agricultural college in Bedford then headed off to Germany with some mates to work on a building site. I have managed a 200 acre farm in Saudi and travelled to most parts of the world as an engineer. While I lived in Saudi, I used to write letters and postcards to my father, telling him about life in the desert. He always told me that I could tell a good story and was an articulate writer. I’ve lived in Italy and run many diverse businesses over the years, from selling quality Persian rugs at antiques fairs to an exhibition and event company.
I write books and short stories as a hobby. I spend my life now behind the wheel of a van crossing Europe as a courier/driver. As such, it gives me plenty of time to think about characters, my characters, how to construct the story lines and how the plot will evolve. It keeps my mind active and I enjoy it. When I reach my pitstops en route in Italy, France or Switzerland, I record my days thoughts on my laptop and write the chapters."
About Paul Webber:
Paul has been in the radio industry for over 30 years, mainly as a presenter at stations such as Radio Exe, Orchard FM, Breeze South Devon, Choice FM, Spirit FM and many others.
Now he runs his own audio production company, Love Audio Productions and operates from his state of the art studio in Devon. Pauls authoritative but warm voice, fluent narration and ability to produce any accent is the perfect choice for any on hold production, voice-overs, corporate announcements, video narration or audiobook.
You can find out more about Jack and Paul on their websites
www.jacklench.com
www.loveaudio.co.uk
To enter the draw to win a copy of the audio book just reply to the invitation or leave a message below, saying that you would like to be entered by 8PM on Wednesday 7/4/21 (UK Only) and share this post with your friends.

We had a huge (the biggest ever) number of entries for Karen Maitland's new book The Drowned Cityfrom
Headline. Thanks to all those who entered. The winners are
@alfiemilo @walk1961 on Twitter Amy Bell Worfell on Facebook and SallyR and Hana Cole from our Goodreads community. I'm sure this book will do really well.

Delighted to announce that the winner of the giveaway of Illicit Deception by Jack Lench is Caroline who entered through our Twitter community. Thanks to everyone who entered. Sorry that there could only be one winner

It's nearly the weekend and it's World Book Night and to celebrate, I've a wonderful book giveaway (details below) for you - the Times bestselling book, Sistersong, by Lucy Holland which was launched on 1/4/21 by Black Crow. Congratulations to you all.
Lucy told me this about the book:
"Betrayal. Magic. Murder.
Sistersong is inspired by a murder ballad called The Twa Sisters, an eerie tale of how a young woman drowns her sister out of jealousy and a harper creates a harp from her bones. The ghastly instrument needs no fingers to pluck it; it reveals the truth to the girls' father, the king, and justice swiftly follows.
But so many questions go unanswered by the ballad. What if the crime was provoked? What if it was an accident? Could it be a combination of both – the result of a dark secret inextricably bound up in events that threatened the sisters’ very homeland? I set out to find these women, so they could tell you the real story"
More about the book:.
A tale of three siblings and three deadly sins. In a magical ancient Britain, bards sing a story of treachery, love and death. This is that story.
For fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Lucy Holland's Sistersong retells the folk ballad 'The Two Sisters.'King Cador's children inherit a land abandoned by the Romans, torn by warring tribes. Riva can cure others, but can't heal her own scars. Keyne battles to be seen as the king's son, although born a daughter.
And Sinne dreams of love, longing for adventure. All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people's last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky - bringing Myrdhin, meddler and magician.
The siblings discover the power that lies within them and the land. But fate also brings Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart. Riva, Keyne and Sinne become entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, and must fight to forge their own paths.
It's a story that will shape the destiny of Britain. Sistersong is a powerfully moving story, perfect for readers who loved Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale.
About Lucy:
I asked Lucy to tell me about herself and this is what she told me:
"I’m lucky enough to live in Devon on the Jurassic Coast, a part of the UK with a long and fascinating history. The Westcountry was the last region to fall to Saxon Wessex in the early medieval age, and its tribal chieftains were fiercely independent, even during the Roman occupation of Britain. When I discovered that genuine Sub-Roman remains were found on Peak Hill in Sidmouth, a few miles from my house, I knew I had to set Sistersong there, to lead readers amongst the green hills, secret glades and dramatic coasts that Devon is famous for".
More about Lucy:
Lucy Holland is the author of The Times bestselling SISTERSONG, a reimagining of the folk ballad ‘The Twa Sisters’ published by Pan Macmillan in April 2021. As Lucy Hounsom, she wrote The WORLDMAKER Trilogy. Her first book, STARBORN, was shortlisted in the 2016 Gemmell Awards for Best Fantasy Debut. She works for Waterstones Booksellers and co-hosts the intersectional feminist podcast ‘Breaking the Glass Slipper’, which won Best Audio in the 2019 British Fantasy Awards.
LINKS:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/silvanhistorian
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lucyhounsom
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/silvanhisto...
Website - http://lucyhounsom.co.uk/
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter the giveaway reply to the invitation saying why you'd like to read the book by 5PM on 27th April (UK only I'm afraid) Good luck.

Thanks to everyone who entered the draw for Sistersong by Lucy Holland - we had dozens of entries across our various platforms. That's no surprise as it looks like a wonderful book.
The winner of the draw is Kelly Dowell who entered on our Facebook page. Congratulation Kelly - please send me your address and I'll ask the publisher to send your copy to you as soon as possible.
Sorry that there couldn't be more winners and I hope you'll all join in with future giveaways.

And now I have a bank holiday special for you - a giveaway (see below for details of how to enter) of Kathy Shuker new book
"A Crack in the Varnish"
Kathy is well known to many of you, having been a founder member of this community. It has been a delight to watch her writing career develop over the last 7 years and I am so happy to share her latest book with you. This is what Kathy told me about it:
"In this new series, Hannah and Nathan are art restorers, working for a private firm, and are sent all over the UK and Europe to work on clients’ paintings. And wherever they go, mysteries abound, some artistic, some more sinister. A Crack in the Varnish is the first book in this series and it’s set in the south of France.
It’s 1990 and there’s not a single mention of a pandemic! But regular readers of my novels will recognise my familiar style: intriguing and character-driven, sometimes emotional, occasionally amusing. Of course, Hannah and Nathan don’t get on. They don’t want to work together. But that might change. We’ll have to see…
This is the set-up of the story:
Hollywood actress, Esther Langley, has a home in the hills of Provence, an old converted abbey where she keeps her precious art collection. Now she has four paintings in need of restoration: one modern work, fire-damaged, and three crumbling old masters. It looks like a straightforward job for an experienced art restorer like Hannah Dechansay, and who wouldn’t relish a few months in Provence?
But living and working on Esther’s estate isn’t easy. It’s a tortured household, haunted by a tragic death. There’s guilt and recrimination in the air and relationships soon start to unravel. Was the death an accident? Everyone has a different version to tell. There’s something sinister going on and everyone, it seems, has something to hide."
I'm sure you'll agree that it sounds like a fabulous read.

To enter our giveaway draw just respond to the invitation or leave a comment below saying why you'd like the book by 5PM on Saturday 5th June - UK only I am afraid due to cost of postage.

Ian wrote: "And now I have a bank holiday special for you - a giveaway (see below for details of how to enter) of Kathy Shuker new book
"A Crack in the Varnish"
Kathy is well known to many of you, having been..."

Thank you, Ian, for putting the word out and organising this for me. And on a BH weekend too! Hope you've had a chance to enjoy the sunshine.

Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "And now I have a bank holiday special for you - a giveaway (see below for details of how to enter) of Kathy Shuker new book
"A Crack in the Varnish"
Kathy is well known to many of you,..."

All in a bookish day's delight Kathy. And yes I did - how about you?

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "And now I have a bank holiday special for you - a giveaway (see below for details of how to enter) of Kathy Shuker new book
"A Crack in the Varnish"
Kathy is well known t..."

Thank you, yes, I enjoyed the sun too - doing some much needed gardening!

Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "And now I have a bank holiday special for you - a giveaway (see below for details of how to enter) of Kathy Shuker new book
"A Crack in the Varnish"
Kathy is ..."

Weeding of a different kind!

Delighted to announce that the winner of Kathy Shuker's new book A Crack in the Varnish is Louise Wain who entered through our Facebook Community. Congratulations to her and thanks to all who entered - more giveaways coming soon so please keep your eyes out for more opportunities

Delighted to announce that the winners of the giveaway of Dead in Devon by Stephanie Austin are Morwenna Blackwood Carol Jackson and Richard White who entered on Facebook, Kathy Shuker who entered through our Goodreads community and Victoria Dowd who entered through Twitter. We had over 70 entries so congratulations to our winners. Could you all please message me with your addresses.
Sorry that so many of you will be disappointed but please look out for more great giveaways, coming soon

Advertising events like these Giveaways has just got more difficult as Goodreads has discontinued that option on its community pages (apparently due to lack of usage). So I would ask you to watch the Giveways thread very carefully for new offers.

Earlier this week, I shared the work of Teresa Bulford-Cooper with you. Continuing my continuing conversation with Teresa she has offered one of her books to us a giveway.

Reflecting on the challenges we have all faced during the last 18 months, Teresa felt that her book "Ladies, Let's Get Going: Starting and Growing Your Dream Business" might strike a chord with those of you who are rethinking your lives and may be considering starting up a business. The pandemic has brought immense challenges but it can also be a time for renewal and for making real the dreams that have laid dormant, waiting for the right moment.

In "Ladies Let's Get Going", Teresa shares hundreds of practical tips to help you to get started in business. You’ll discover how to lay firm foundations, stay sane, enjoy the journey, and make sure that your wellbeing is at the heart of everything that you do.

“Feel empowered, hear that roar within you, let it out, and unleash that amazing woman that you are.”

To enter the draw for our giveway, just leave a comment below by 5PM on Friday 2nd July saying that you'd like to win a copy. (UK Only I am afraid). Good luck!

As we head towards the weekend I have a fantastic new giveaway for you, Tom Vowler latest novel, Every Seventh Wave, published by Salt Publishing.

Tom is a long-standing friend of Devon Book Club and it was a great pleasure for me to read Every Seventh Wave. I have no hesitation in recommending it to you. Beautifully written, in Tim's compelling, lyrical style, it is a moving and thought-provoking story and I know you'll love it as much as I did. (Details of the giveaway competition are below)

About the book:
Hallam returns from prison to his childhood home – a dilapidated house on the sea-battered north Cornish coast, a place where land and water embrace in perennial, furious exchange, where he ekes out a living repairing nets, the spectral presence of wreckers and smugglers riding the south-westerly. It is a home built on a tapestry of sound: a dozen different winds, waves that growl and pummel, the rark of gulls. A place to heal, to forget.

But when a young Romanian woman strides fully-clothed into the sea one evening, their interlocked fates serve only to marshal all the brutality of Hallam’s past life.

EVERY SEVENTH WAVE is a literary tale of the fates we tether ourselves to, how seemingly benign encounters can provoke both hope and devastation.

Praise

‘True to the realities of its Cornish location and the torque of its characters' histories, this is a story of contemporary urgency - vividly written, morally complex, unforgettably moving’
Graham Mort

‘A stunning novel of precarious lives lived on the fringes, and suffusing the whole thing, the sea's implacable presence. I
found it touching, moving and disturbing in equal measure’
Wyl Menmuir

‘Compelling, intense, bracing and raw as the waves themselves’
Miriam Darlington
‘The writing is like old magic, working its way inside.
Beautiful and searing’
Ríona Judge McCormack

‘The novel grips from the first page with a sense of
lurking danger and characters who have
within them the sea's silent depths’
Linda Cracknell

‘Tom Vowler writes with attentiveness and empathy,
crafting a moving and compelling story of love,
loss and the possibility of redemption’
Ben Smith

I asked Tom about what lay behind his decision to write Every Seventh Wave and he told me:

“I wanted to write a novel that explored the horrors of people-trafficking, how beneath the façade of rural idylls lurks the phenomenon of domestic slavery. The book is also a paean to the ocean, how the cycles and rhythms of the sea shape those who rely on it for work or for play; how the sea is both giver and taker of things. There are elements of the gothic here too, but also it is a literary thriller, perhaps even a love story of sorts.

The cliff-side house at Westward Ho! in North Devon was an iconic landmark during my childhood, inspiring great curiosity and intrigue, its proximity to the ocean, its mystery and allure. It always appeared unoccupied, yet tiny signs of life remained evident. Who lived there? Would we ever see them? It was the perfect setting from which to start my story. And although there is no location named in the book, those who know the West Country will recognise much of its locales.”

You can find out more about Tom and his work at http://www.tomvowler.co.uk/

To enter the giveaway and to have a chance to win a signed copy of Every Seventh Wave just leave a comment below, asking to enter by 6pm on Sunday 11th July

This sounds like a great book. Please enter me in giveaway. Thanks

Ooh, yes please!

Marcia wrote: "This sounds like a great book. Please enter me in giveaway. Thanks"

Hi Marcia - thanks - duly entered

Ruth wrote: "Ooh, yes please!"

Hi Ruth - its s great book. I've entered you.

Thanks to Tom Vowler and Salt Publishing for the giveaway copy of Every Seventh Wave. I am delighted to announce that Marcia Clayton was the first name out of the hat.

This was a hugely popular competition with nearly 100 entries across our platforms.

I am sorry that there could only be one winner.

A new giveaway will be coming later this month so please do enter again.

I've a new giveaway to offer to you today - and I know many of you (especially lover of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice) are going to love this one - Charlotte by Helen Moffett

About the book:
Charlotte Lucas is plain, poor and reaching a dangerous age when she accepts the proposal of buffoonish clergyman Mr Collins. Married life will propel her into a new world of secrets, grief, unexpected love and friendship, and a kind of freedom.

This powerful re-imagining takes up where Austen left off in Pride and Prejudice. Charlotte offers a fresh, feminist addition to the post-Austen canon, brimming with passion and intelligence.

About Helen:
Helen is an editor, writer, poet, teacher, and scholar.

She writes poetry, academic work, commercial fiction and much more and says that she loves to teach and to work with writers as an editor. She is an environmental activist and has worked on a range of collaborative projects.

Helen lives in South Africa but has long been an active contributor to our community and it is a pleasure to share a little of her work with you.

You can find out much more here https://www.helenmoffett.com/about

The Giveaway:
To enter the giveaway simply leave a message below saying that you 'd like to be entered by noon on Saturday 7th August. (UK Only I'm afraid) Good luck.

This sounds like an interesting book. Please enter me into the giveaway. Thanks

Marcia wrote: "This sounds like an interesting book. Please enter me into the giveaway. Thanks"

Will do - thanks for your interest

I'd like to be entered please. Thank you!

Thanks Carrie. Duly entered

hi Ian, thought I'd already responded to this. It sounds amazing please enter me in the draw. Thanks

Ley wrote: "hi Ian, thought I'd already responded to this. It sounds amazing please enter me in the draw. Thanks"

Hi Ley - you did - just giving people options to enter via the e-mail or the post :)

Sounds very interesting. I would love to read this.

Teresa wrote: "Sounds very interesting. I would love to read this."

Duly entered Teresa - I have been delayed in doing the draw - just on it now

Oh just seen this! Shame. Have added to my to be read list. Looks just my kind of book, thanks Ian

Megan wrote: "Oh just seen this! Shame. Have added to my to be read list. Looks just my kind of book, thanks Ian"

You'd love it Megan - even I enjoyed it and you know I'm not the greatest fan of Jane Austen :)

An introduction to a new author Alison Huntingford and a giveaway of her book, The Glass Bulldog
(see below for details of how to enter)

Introducing Alison:

"Being the only child of two only children, I have always felt a distinct lack of family. This led me to research my family history and what I found there fascinated me. I grew up in Devon (and currently live in Ivybridge) but was not born here, however I have always felt a strong connection to the county. Therefore when I found that actually I am descended from a very old Devonshire family, the Finnimores, I was delighted.

A chance snippet of information in a parish archive about my great-great grandfather, Tom Finnimore, sent me off on a voyage of discovery. Arrested and imprisoned for stealing six chickens at the age of 16, he somehow survived to have a family and a second chance. The more I found out about his life the more vivid it became until I was compelled to write up Tom’s story.

I have spent years carefully researching the facts of his life and the context of the time, and can say that I feel it represents a realistic picture of the life of the working class poor in Victorian Britain. Though it is a fictionalised account, all the main events actually happened as told, and I have tried to be as accurate as possible, especially with names, dates and places. The novel covers a period of over fifty years from 1832 to 1885. This was a challenge in itself to portray, but I felt that if I made the book any shorter it would not be doing justice to Tom."

About the book:

One mistake can change your life…. Exeter 1833
Since the recent cholera outbreak, and the tragic loss of his little sister Annie, young Tom Finnimore has been struggling to cope in a dreadful new job. Following a lovers quarrel he foolishly steals some chickens, but unfortunately is caught in the act.

After a traumatic time in prison, Tom finally gets to start again, with his first love by his side. However, life with the beautiful but foolish Mary Ann doesn’t work out and Tom is left alone again, broken hearted.

The handsome widow, Phyllis, gives Tom another chance of happiness, but when her family discover the dark secret of his criminal past, they threaten to destroy him.

On the verge of retirement, the couple realise that Tom’s past could still ruin their daughter’s happiness and prevent her from marrying the man she loves. Can Tom find peace and redemption at last?


ABOUT Alison:
I asked Alison to tell me more about herself and her work:

"I have a degree in Humanities with Literature and have always enjoyed reading, especially the great writers of the 19th Century, such as Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. A great deal of my working life has been spent teaching English and maths to young people in the workplace.

I have done many different jobs in my working life, from nursing to shelf filling and everything in-between! Having lived long enough now, I realise that life very rarely goes to plan. The Glass Bulldog is my first novel but there is another one due out shortly, again based on the true stories of my ancestors. I feel the lives of ordinary people can be just as sad, funny, dramatic and interesting as anyone famous. We are all just struggling to survive.

My writing takes place anywhere and everywhere, even whilst sitting in the car. I find driving is a great way to free the mind and inspire the imagination, and I've often had to pull over in order to get stuff down on paper. I always write the first draft by hand, as I think better that way, then redraft and amend it as I type it up.
In my spare time, when I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our cats and rabbit, listening to folk and world music, going to the cinema and trying to grow vegetables, with limited success!

Alison's second book ‘A Ha’penny Will Do’, comes out this autumn - I'll share more about that nearer the time

Entering the Giveaway:
To enter, just leave a comment below saying that you'd like to be included in the draw. Competition closes 6PM on Wednesday 18/8/21 (UK Only I'm afraid)

You can find out more about Alison and her work here https://www.alisonhuntingford.com

Congratulations, Alison. Writing your interesting historical novel must have had its challenges, but seeing it in print makes all the hard work worthwhile - in my experience anyway. Btw - I understand exactly about having to stop while driving to make notes. I sometimes used to arrive home after work on auto-pilot while writing early drafts of my first published novel. It was a dodgy road, too.

Love these personal insights. Hope all is well with you Jane

Pleased to announce that the winner of the giveaway of The Glass Bulldog is Kate Horsfell who entered through our Facebook page

Sophy Layzell , a very active member of our community, has kindly offered us 3 copies of her new book, released on 25th September Invisible Thread. Read on for details about Sophy, the book and how to enter...
The Invisible Thread:
In response to her mother's call Stella has returned to the world she once knew, to help bring her family back together.
Held together by the fragile invisible thread that binds each family together, Catherine, David and Charlie must navigate life without Stella.
But what happens when that thread is stretched to its limit? Will it eventually snap? And if so, how will they find their way back to each other?
From her slumber under the earth, Stella responds to her mother’s call. Convinced she must help unravel the knots in her family’s relationship, she sets out to try and bring her family back together.
About Sophy:
Sophy Layzell was born in Laos, brought up in Gloucestershire and now lives just over the border in Somerset. She tells me that she was lucky to have had a childhood full of wonderful stories. Adventures created for her by her father were the best way to start the weekend, and Tintin read aloud by her brother (with accents) were a highlight of her youth.
"Without stories, Sophy says " I would have had no sense of place, history and no dreams from which they could grow."
(I am sure you will all agree with that sentiment)
Sophy’s compelling new novel is about hope and love that crosses and transcends all worldly boundaries.
Beautifully drawn and moving Invisible Thread is about the certainty that even after the blackest of nights there will be a new day. It sounds fabulous and I can't wait to read it.
The Giveaway:
To enter the giveaway and win one of the 3 signed copies all you need to do is like this post and respond below saying that you'd like to be entered. Closing date is noon on 16th October. UK only I am afraid
Good luck

Please enter me for this giveaway. I love the sound of this new novel by Sophy.

I'm pleased to announce that the winners of Sophy Layzell's book Invisible Thread are Abigail Yardimci, Ellie Davies and Sally-Ann White who entered through our other platforms.

Another giveaway is hot on the heels of this win - tune in later today

A different kind of offer for you this afternoon...

Jane G. Harlond WWII West Country who-dunnit Local Resistance is now available on Audible. This is the first in the popular Bob Robbins Home Front Mystery historical crime series (think Foyle’s War meets Dad’s Army and Arsenic and Old Lace). Stories are set in the Bodmin and Looe area, except for Book 2, Private Lives, which features Bideford in North Devon.

Narrator, Lorna Bryant, who is also an actor and singer, lives in Sidmouth.

Jane’s publishers, Penmore Press, are offering 5 free audio books of Local Resistance in return for honest reviews. To get your Audible code for the https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo contact Jane at jgharlond@telefonica.net

Here’s a universal link to different book seller platforms for the ebook & paperback so you can see more information: http://getbook.at/LocalResistance

If you decide to contact Jane it would be great if you'd let us know below

Hi everyone. Today, I'm delighted to introduce Elise Valmorbida and her work and offer a new giveaway courtesy of Laurence King Publishing Ltd. Elise is a writer and teacher of creative writing and, as you'll learn, has a fascinating background and a wide canon of work.


"Writers, teachers, diarists, wordsmiths and good-lifers: get a hold of this great book! It's playful, serious, encouraging and rigorous at the same time." Tobias Jones The Guardian


Elise is an award-winning author, designer and film-maker and has taught for over 20 years at Central Saint Martins, Arvon Foundation and in a range of other settings.


The Happy Writing Book: Discover the Positive Power of Creative Writing is a unique guide for those who want to get started and those who want to develop their creative writing practice further.


Her guidance is inspiring, engaging and real and includes elements of memoir, anecdote, science, philosophy, music, film, visual arts, literary criticism, popular culture, meditations, practical tips and exercises.


Elise has published essays, articles, poems, 3 works of non-fiction and 4 novels including the most recent Madonna Of The Mountains (Faber) which I have previously featured here.


Lisa Shakespeare from Laurence King has kindly made available 2 copies of The Happy Writer for our Giveaway. To enter, just leave me a message below and, if you have Instagram, follow Elise there. The closing date for entries is noon on 14/11/21 (UK Only).


I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Elise about her work. You can find the full interview here https://youtu.be/m25SXSJJV74