Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion

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Dark Observation
2023 Featured Authors Archives
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Catherine Cavendish - Featured Author - Dark Observation - February 1, 2023 - February 28, 2023

Catherine wrote: "Thank you so much, Marie. Delighted to be here. Happy New Year everyone. Hope you enjoy Dark Observation!"
Thank you so much for being here with us Catherine!
Thank you so much for being here with us Catherine!

Thank you!


You're right, the war rooms are kinda creepy and atmospheric. Looking forwards to reading this.

Hi Gareth. Good to have you here

Welcome, Denis! Looking forward to chatting with you
Netanella wrote: "I will be here as well. Good times with this crew!"
Cool Netanella! Happy to see you will be here with us as well! :)
Cool Netanella! Happy to see you will be here with us as well! :)

That's great. Thank you, Jenny. Looking forward to chatting with you here

Thanks Netanella. Great to see you here!

Thanks, Graeme. Eligos is waiting...

(Thought I'd slip this novella in before Dark Observation).
Graeme wrote: "Hi Marie, just finishing up 'Sisters of the Crimson Vine,' and then I'll join in.
(Thought I'd slip this novella in before Dark Observation)."
No worries at all. Start at your own pace - Catherine is here with us all month. :)
(Thought I'd slip this novella in before Dark Observation)."
No worries at all. Start at your own pace - Catherine is here with us all month. :)


First chapter completed. I love Gran already, and the three generation vacation in London.
Nora wrote: "Hi! I’m new to Goodreads groups so please bear with me! This looks like a really interesting read-I’ll pick up a copy in the next few days and get started."
Welcome to the group read Nora. :)
Welcome to the group read Nora. :)
Netanella wrote: "I started tonight - this book lines up nicely with our current unit on World War II in my class, so I'm pretty excited about that.
First chapter completed. I love Gran already, and the three gene..."
Cool Netanella. :)
First chapter completed. I love Gran already, and the three gene..."
Cool Netanella. :)

Kai wrote: "Definitely in! Gonna start reading this tomorrow as I’m just finishing up with a book. Looking forward to it!"
Welcome to the group read, Kai! :)
Welcome to the group read, Kai! :)
message 33:
by
Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover
(last edited Feb 02, 2023 05:26AM)
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
4% into the story. Do not read the spoiler "unless" you are this far into the book.
I started this earlier this morning and already loving the atmosphere along with (view spoiler)
I started this earlier this morning and already loving the atmosphere along with (view spoiler)

The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I have been lucky enough to stay myself. It is the most wonderful, luxurious place. Yes, it's pricy but it's also one of the friendliest hotels I have ever stayed in. Staff treat everyone as being special so Heather, Vi and Connie would have felt perfectly at ease even though they, like me, were not used to such luxury.
If you ever get the chance to stop there for even one night, I would say grab that opportunity with both hands. Everyone has stayed there - Winston Churchill and his wife, Clemmie, treated it as their second home during WW2. Spencer Tracy said that when he died, he didn't want to go to heaven, he wanted to go to Claridge's. Actors, writers, artists, politicians, royalty, sports celebrities, models, musicians - you name it, they've stayed there over a period spanning more than 175 years.
So much history lies within those walls and my short time there has inspired a number of stories. When I was staying there, my husband and I went on a trip to Churchill's Secret Underground War Rooms - a trip you will be making soon, in the pages of Dark Observation...
Catherine wrote: "Hi everyone! Lovely to see you all here and to discover some of you have already started reading.
The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I have been lucky enou..."
Love that story Catherine which really answered my question I was going to ask of how did this story come about as you stayed in the hotel and your brain started weaving a story, right? :)
The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I have been lucky enou..."
Love that story Catherine which really answered my question I was going to ask of how did this story come about as you stayed in the hotel and your brain started weaving a story, right? :)
Catherine wrote: "Hi everyone! Lovely to see you all here and to discover some of you have already started reading.
The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I have been lucky enou..."
I love when you read with us Catherine! Thank you for already sharing the background of this story. Also, I absolutely love Spencer Tracy! Of course I adored him in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, but my favorite Tracy/Hepburn movie is Desk Set.
The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I have been lucky enou..."
I love when you read with us Catherine! Thank you for already sharing the background of this story. Also, I absolutely love Spencer Tracy! Of course I adored him in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, but my favorite Tracy/Hepburn movie is Desk Set.

The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I ha..."
Absolutely right, Marie. I know I'm not the only one to be inspired by that hotel. It oozes atmosphere. Crime authors have set murders here, there have been mysteries, romances...you name it. And plenty of ghost stories because, let's face it, if those walls could talk...

Just started 5 minutes ago."
Hope you're enjoying it, Graeme!

The first setting of the story is Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, London where I ha..."
He was a wonderful actor - the epitome of the best Hollywood ever produced, in my opinion

Thanks, Catherine. Good sense of mystery to start with. Now I'm curious to find out more.

Thanks, Catherine. Good sense of mystery to start with. Now I'm curious to find out more."
I'm glad I've grabbed your attention, Graeme.
It's one of the things I love about writing. As I never plot too much in advance, what happens next is always a mystery to me...until it happens

I love the small details of the descriptions of the daily life during the bombings and the war. How much research did you do into this aspect of social history? Did you use any particular texts, or was it more anecdotal evidence from friends and family?

I did quite a lot of research as I always try and be as authentic as possible. Of course, it did help that this was very much my late Mum's era but, during the course of my preparations and while writing the story, I referred to my bookshelf of published diaries of Mass Observation (especially those of Nella Last), as well as various books covering Churchill's underground war rooms, his working relationships with staff (especially secretaries) which provided me with some lovely little details and various other social histories of WW2 and also biographies of both him and his mother. A book on Nazis and the Occult was also extremely helpful - but I won't say in what way yet as others may not have got to that part yet!
I am 40% into the story! It has been speed throttle ahead today! lol I got caught up in everything within the story and couldn't put it down!
Thoughts so far:
(view spoiler)
I do have a question, Catherine but going to have to put it in a spoiler as it is spoilery. lol
(view spoiler)
Thoughts so far:
(view spoiler)
I do have a question, Catherine but going to have to put it in a spoiler as it is spoilery. lol
(view spoiler)
Netanella wrote: "The answer to that last question, Marie, is very spoilery!"
LOL!! I will be lucky to even get an answer to it till probably the end of the book! 😂 🤣
LOL!! I will be lucky to even get an answer to it till probably the end of the book! 😂 🤣
Synopsis of story:
Eligos is waiting…fulfil your destiny
1941. In the dark days of war-torn London, Violet works in Churchill's subterranean top secret Cabinet War Rooms, where key decisions that will dictate Britain’s conduct of the war are made. Above, the people of London go about their daily business as best they can, unaware of the life that teems beneath their feet.
Night after night the bombs rain down, yet Violet has far more to fear than air raids. A mysterious man, a room only she can see, memories she can no longer trust, and a best friend who denies their shared past... Something or someone - is targeting her.
Goodreads Author Profile of Catherine Cavendish:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Link to buy the book from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...
Please welcome, Catherine Cavendish!