A little while ago Books That Matter did a giveaway over on Twitter for a subscription to their book boxes. Whilst I didn’t win, I did receive a 20% money off code. Having had a look at their site I decided it would have been rude not to use the code and so I bought…
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex – review
Published by Picador Publication date – 4 March 2021 Source – review copy Cornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside. The clocks have stopped. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week. What…
Paul Braddon – Q&A
Paul Braddon is the author of The Actuality, which was published by Sandstone Press on 18 February 2021. Paul kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Actuality. It is called The Actuality and has as its protagonist a female AI created in the image of a woman she…
Characters are like onions by Mark Lowes – guest post
Mark Lowes is the author of Feral Snow which was published on 1 October 2020. Mark has kindly written a guest post about fictional characters. Characters are like onions… ‘Ogres are like onions…’ (Shrek, 2001). I often think about this quote when dealing with fiction. Why? Not only because it’s from one of the greatest…
Jodie Chapman – Q&A
Jodie Chapman is the author of Another Life which was published by Michael Joseph on 1 April 2021. Jodie kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Another Life. Another Life tells the story of Nick and Anna who fall in love on the cusp of adulthood, but Anna comes…
Don’t Turn Around by Jessica Barry – extract
Jessica Barry is the author of Look For Me (previously known as Freefall). Her latest novel, Don’t Turn Around, is published by Vintage on 15 April 2021. Today I have an extract from the book. Chapter 6 TWO AND A HALF YEARS EARLIER Rebecca’s palms were slick with sweat, and she wiped them discreetly down…
Eleni Kyriacou – Q&A
Eleni Kyriacou is the author of She Came to Stay, which was published by Hodder & Stoughton in paperback on 25 February 2021. Eleni kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about She Came to Stay. She Came To Stay is set during the Great Smog of 1952 and is…
Under the Reader’s Radar – celebrating the quiet novel
There are thousands upon thousands of books published each year. Only a small percentage of those make it to the best-seller list. That doesn’t mean that the rest aren’t worthy of reading. It may be that they are written by self-published authors who don’t have the marketing knowledge or a small independent publisher who doesn’t have…
A. J. Gnuse – Q&A
A. J. Gnuse is the author of Girl in the Walls, his debut novel, published by Fourth Estate on 1 April 2021. He kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about Girl in the Walls. Girl in the Walls is the story of eleven-year-old Elise, an orphan who has snuck…
V. L. Valentine – Q&A
V. L. Valentine is the author of The Plague Letters, published by Viper Books on 1 April 2021. She kindly answered a few of my questions. 1. Tell us a little about The Plague Letters. It puts you right smack in the middle of the last great plague epidemic to hit London – in 1665….
