Daughter of Catalonia by Jane MacKenzie

1935. Luis, a charismatic Spaniard, elopes with Elise and they move to a small village in Catalonia. 

But little do they know that war will soon rip them apart. 

Some twenty years later, stifled by her life in England, their daughter Madeleine sets off to learn the truth about her father's death in the French Resistance - returning to the village she once called home. 

Under the heat of the Catalan sun, she soon finds herself confronting her past, facing the shocking secrets of war, and opening her heart to her own love story.

Published by Allison & Busby on 17 April 2014, Daughter of Catalonia is Jane MacKenzie's debut novel.

Opening in November 1942 as Madeleine and her family make their way across the mountains, escaping from Nazi occupied France.  Madeleine, her brother Robert and their Mother Elise intend to return to Elise's English home whilst their father Luis will stay in Catalonia, fighting the cause for freedom.

The story moves forward twenty years.  Elise is dying, having never recovered from the death of her beloved Luis - the man she eloped with, the father of her children, the husband she never saw again after leaving him on that mountain pass in 1942.  After Elise's death, Madeleine is determined that she will escape from the stifling life she leads in her Grandparents house. Her aloof Grandmother and her cold Grandfather were bitterly disappointed by their daughter's choice of husband, and both Madeleine and Robert have suffered ever since.

Almost on a whim, Madeleine travels to France, to Catalonia, to the village of her early childhood. She is determined to find out more about her Father. How did he die? Why did her Mother never speak about him?

In France Madeleine discovers much more than she bargained for, uncovering secrets and lies that are both shocking and life-changing, but also discovering a love that could heal the pain that she inherited from her mother.

Daughter of Catalonia transports the reader to the small close-knit communities in the Catalan region of France, communities who are still scarred by the events of the War. Communities that hold their secrets close, but have long memories.

Jane MacKenzie is a skilled author who magically brings the region to life.  There are some novels that make the reader want to visit the setting immediately, and this one of them. The small towns and villages, the searing heat, the dusty shop fronts, the winding streets.  The village squares with their cafes and shops, populated by characters who are lifelike, colourful and so well created.   The author has captured the feeling of a small community devastated by the events of the war, split by the actions of some, and connected by the loyalty of others.

The plot moves quickly and Madeleine is an interesting and complex character. Sometimes childlike and innocent, but also world-weary and downtrodden, she is complemented by the cast of French characters, each of whom have a large voice and presence in the story.

The small French town setting and the wholesome and incredibly realistic characters that live there make this novel special.  The story is compelling and meticulously researched.  An evocative multi-layered story, I enjoyed it very much.

My thanks to Lesley from Allison & Busby who sent my copy for review.

Jane MacKenzie has lived and worked in many far flung corners of the world, including the Gambia and Switzerland. Having built her own business and enjoyed a spell working at CERN in Geneva, Jane realised her dream of writing. She splits her time between the Scottish Highlands and Roussillon in the South of France, the region which inspired Daughter of Catalonia.

For more information about the author visit her website www.janemackenzie.co.uk
Find her on Facebook  and on Twitter @JaneFMackenzie

The Accident by C L Taylor ~ Review, Author Q&A, Giveaway

Fast-paced and suspenseful The Accident is perfect for fans of Before I Go to Sleep, Gone Girl and Sophie Hannah. 

A gripping psychological thriller about the deadly secrets your children can keep … 

Sue Jackson has the perfect family but when her teenage daughter Charlotte deliberately steps in front of a bus and ends up in a coma she is forced to face a very dark reality. 

Retracing her daughter’s steps she finds a horrifying entry in Charlotte’s diary and is forced to head deep into Charlotte’s private world. In her hunt for evidence, Sue begins to mistrust everyone close to her daughter and she’s forced to look further, into the depths of her own past. 

Sue will do anything to protect her daughter. But what if she is the reason that Charlotte is in danger?

The Accident by C L Taylor is published on 10 April by Avon Books.

Before I even start to talk about the book, I have to tell you about the fabulously creative marketing by the team from LightBrigade PR.  It was just amazing, and I was incredibly spooked by it.  The lead character in the story receives various items in the post and this is what the marketing was all about. Of course, I had no idea what was going on!

On the first day, I received a plain black envelope that contained a page from a diary (April 10th - publication day), the words 'keeping this secret is killing me' was written on it.
On the next day, another black envelope arrived - all that was inside was a picture of a baby scan, with 'Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth' Deuteronomy written on the back.

Now I was confused!  A baby?  Who do I know that is going to have a baby, and so soon? And what was with the life for a life stuff? This was just weird.

Day three arrived, and by this time even my husband was getting quite excited.  No black envelope ...... a black parcel instead, and inside that a black box tied with a ribbon, and inside that .... a proof copy of The Accident.

Amazing, and impressive ...... and certainly made me look forward to reading this one.   I finished it early yesterday, what did I think?
Here goes ....

Fifteen year old Charlotte is lying in a hospital bed in a coma. She stepped out in front of a bus. Her mother Sue is convinced that this was not an accident. She doesn't believe that Charlotte was distracted by her phone, or her iPod, or someone across the street. Sue thinks that Charlotte tried to take her own life. She has a reason to think that because she read her daughter's diary, she read the entry that says "keeping this secret is killing me".

Sue is determined to find out the truth, to find out what this secret is. She's suspicious of everyone - of her husband, of Charlotte's boyfriend, her best friend, her teachers, she knows that someone knows something but nobody is talking.

Sue is a troubled, nervous woman. Wife of a Member of Parliament, mother to the beautiful Charlotte, but she appears almost neurotic at times, she's paranoid and suspicious. Her husband and step-son obviously worry about her too, they lived through Sue's breakdown in the past. Are her suspicions real? Is Sue having another mental breakdown? Is she reliable? Can we trust her?

Alongside the main thread of the story, the author has included diary entries dating back twenty years. This is Sue's past story, written in her own words and tell the story of her relationship with James, her ex-boyfriend. It is these diary entries that explain to the reader just why Sue acts as she does today. Sue was broken by James, broken almost beyond repair, and although she has managed to make a new life, it's clear that inside her there are still some pieces that haven't yet healed.

The Accident is a tense, tightly plotted and incredibly compelling story. There were times during the story that I felt chilled by the menace, so much so that I actually had to put the book down for a while. The story builds, the pace quickens and the suspense is quite electrifying.

C L Taylor has dealt with some disturbing issues within The Accident. The story is steeped in secrets and lies and how these can impact on relationships with those closest to us.  Using stark language that doesn't hide anything, the reader is exposed to violence in the form of physical attacks, sexual assault and most chillingly; emotional abuse. Having once been in a relationship with a man who was extremely emotionally abusive, it was these passages that affected me the most - the authenticity of the writing, the exact mannerisms and words - this is extremely impressive writing.

Incredibly convincing, The Accident is a gripping read that will stay in my head for a long time.

My thanks to the team at LightBrigade PR and Avon Books who so cleverly sent out my proof copy.

I have two proof copies of The Accident to give away.  Entry is simple, just complete the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

I was delighted to meet Cally Taylor at the launch party for Rowan Coleman's The Memory Book, we were able to have a quick chat before I had to dash off.   I'm delighted to welcome her here today to Random Things, she's been lovely enough to answer a few questions for me - thanks Cally x

Do you read reviews of your novels? Do you take them seriously? 

Sometimes I wish I was the sort of author who doesn’t read their reviews and who keeps writing in a happy, secluded little bubble totally unaware of the impact her novels are having on the world at large – but I’m not.

I know I shouldn’t google for reviews of my books because, like most writers, I’ve got paper-thin skin, but I can’t help myself. I also stalk Amazon and Goodreads to see what readers are saying but I only tend to do it when a book is newly released to see what the reaction is like. Once a book is a couple of years old I stop paying attention – though a positive review will always make my heart leap! 

How long does it take to write a novel?    

It really depends on whether I’ve planned the novel beforehand or whether I’ve ‘pantsed’ it (made it up as I go along). I wrote ‘The Accident’ when I was on maternity leave with my son and, because his naps were only 45 minutes long, I had to tightly plot the novel beforehand so I could start writing the second he fell asleep. As a result the novel didn’t need much of a rewrite and I completed it in about nine months.

The novel I’m working on now has taken longer – over a year and counting. I wrote the first draft as part of Sally Quilford’s ‘write 100,000 words in 100 days’ challenge from January until April last year. I only had the vaguest idea of the plot when I started and I made it up as I went along. I then had to stop working on it for several months so I could do the UK and US edits, copyedits and proofs for ‘The Accident’ and only started rewriting in January of this year. I didn’t realise what the book was really about until I’d finished the first draft so I’m having to do a fairly extensive rewrite and it’s taking time. The next novel I write I’m going to plot within an inch of its life before I start writing. I’ve learnt my lesson – I’m not a panser!

Do you have any writing rituals?   

I have to make sure I’ve got a drink and some chewing gum before I start writing and I can’t write if my feet are cold so I always make sure I’ve got my thick skiing socks to hand in case I need them (I hated skiing but the socks are great!).

What was your favourite childhood book?

‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton. I know Enid Blyton has a lot of detractors these days but I adored that book. I loved the characters and couldn’t wait to find out which wonderful or terrifying land they’d discover at the top of the tree next. That book fired my imagination and made me want to be a writer too.

Name one book that made you laugh?

I’m currently reading Rowan Coleman’s ‘TheMemory Book’ which is about a woman with early onset Alzheimer’s. You wouldn’t think a book like that could make you laugh but Claire, the main character, is so wonderfully warm and witty. When I read the line 'I bet it's better being demented on BUPA. Like NHS dementia, but with nicer food and Sky TV' I laughed out loud.

Name one book that made you cry?

‘A Monster Calls’ by Patrick Ness. It’s a book for children about a boy whose mum is dying from cancer and it’s so beautifully, tenderly written. It could have been terribly mawkish and sentimental but, instead, it was raw and honest and I cried buckets when it ended.

Which fictional character would you like to meet?

My first thought, when I read this question was ‘I bet everyone says Mr Darcy’. My second thought was ‘I’d like to meet Hannibal Lector actually’. Is that weird? I’d be utterly terrified of course and he’d have to remain safely behind bars but I did a lot of research into sociopaths before I started writing ‘The Accident’ and he’s such a fascinating character and a quintessential sociopath.

Which book would you give to your best friend as a present?

I’ve been recommending Julie Cohen’s ‘DearThing’ to everyone I meet. It was my favourite book of last year and I think the paperback version is going to be a meteoric success when it comes out in May. It’s about a woman who offers to be a surrogate for her best male friend and Julie deals with the subject with a tender, delicate touch whilst infusing the story with humour, tension and warmth. I can’t recommend it enough.

Are you inspired by any particular author or book?

I love Roald Dahl and hold him completely responsible for my love of a dark tale. I still remember reading his entire ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ back list as a teenager and being fascinated, horrified and compelled all at the same time. He’s the master of suspense in my eyes.

What is your guilty pleasure read?   

I used to read trashy magazines on the train to work but I gave them up this year because a) most of the celebrity ‘news’ is made up b) it’s the same old thing week after week and c) I could use that time to read a novel instead.

Who are your favourite authors?

 Margaret Atwood, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Alex Marwood, Iain Banks, Raymond Carver, Maggie O’Farrell, Lisa Jewell.  

What book have you re-read?

‘After You’d Gone’ by Maggie O’Farrell. I won’t say too much about it so that I don’t give away any spoilers but I felt like I’d been punched in the emotional guts when I finished that book. I was mentally reeling for days. I read it several times after that initial read and have been planning to re-read it again soon. I haven’t read it since I became an author and I’m curious to see how she achieved the effect she did.

What book have you given up on?

I give up on quite a lot of books these days because my attention span isn’t what it was and life is too short to finish a bad book. The last book I gave up on was a book club choice – ‘The LastWerewolf’ by Glen Duncan. I just couldn’t get into it. Sorry Glen!

About the author (from www.cltaylorauthor.com)   CL Taylor lives in Bristol with her partner and young son. Born in Worcester, she studied for a degree in Psychology at the University of Northumbria, Newcastle then moved to London to work in medical publishing. After two years she moved to Brighton where she worked as a graphic designer, web developer and instructional designer over the course of 13 years. She currently works as a Distance Learning Design and Development manager for a London university.

Cally started writing fiction in 2005 and her short stories have won several awards and been published by a variety of literary and women’s magazines. Her psychological thriller THE ACCIDENT will be published in the UK by Avon HarperCollins in April 2014 and by Sourcebooks in the US in June 2014 (with the title ‘Before I Wake’). She is currently working on her fourth novel, a psychological thriller about friendships, mind control and murder.

Find out more at www.cltaylorauthor.com    Twitter @callytaylor  and Facebook

Complete the Rafflecopter Form to enter to win a proof copy of The Accident

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Six Degrees of Separation ~ Meme

It is claimed that every person on this planet is linked to any other in six or fewer steps.

But what about books?

Can we link them together too?

In 1929, Hungarian writer and poet Frigyes Karinthy wrote a short story called 'Chains' in which he coined the phrase 'six degrees of separation'.
Authors Emma Chapman and Annabel Smith have launched a new meme, based on the idea in Karinthy's story.  
On the first Saturday of every month they will choose a book and then link it to five other books to form a chain.

They have invited their readers and other bloggers to join them by creating their own chain leading from the selected book.

The books can be linked in obvious ways - for example; books by the same authors, from the same era or genre, or books with similar themes or settings.  Or they can be linked in more personal or esoteric ways; books that were read on the same holiday, or given by a particular person, or that are a reminder of a particular time or event.

The great thing about the meme is that each participant can make their own rules and a book doesn't need to be connected to all the other books on the list, only to the ones next to them in the chain.

The book chosen for the first post of the meme is Hannah Kent's thrilling debut, Burial Rites, which has been shortlisted for the Stella Prize and longlisted for the Bailey's Prize.

My Six Degrees of Separation Book Chain

First up is Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, a historical novel set in Iceland.

I'm linking this to Frozen Out by Quentin Bates - a modern-day Icelandic police thriller.

Bates' lead character is  female detective Gunnhildur Gisladottir and she leads me to one of the most famous female sleuths in literary history; Agatha Christie's Miss Marple - solving yet another mystery in The Body In The Library.

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for 10 days - she was eventually found in a hotel in Harrogate. I met author Jodi Picoult in Harrogate, her last novel was The Storyteller which features the story of a survivor of the Holocaust.

This leads me to The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, a young adult novel that is set in Auschwitz concentration camp.   I will be handing out copies of this one on World Book Night which leads me to my final book; Toast by Nigel Slater - the book that I handed out during the first World Book Night a couple of years ago.

Thus we have moved six degrees of separation from Burial Rites to Toast.

This was fun!  Please check out the other bloggers who have contributed at Emma Chapman's blog page and to find out how to take part, and the rules, check out the relevant page 

BOOK BREAK - the new online book show series - Episode 3

Log on during your lunch hour for the third of ten monthly shows where author Alexandra Heminsley is joined by Clare Donoghue, Liz de Jager and Matt Cain who will be sharing their debut novel experiences.

Broadcast date: Friday 4^th April

Broadcast time: 12:30pm 

In episode three of BOOK BREAK, anchored by author Alexandra Heminsley (Running Like a Girl), we are joined by three new debut talented authors…

Clare Donoghue, a former city lawyer whose debut novel Never Look Back is set in South London, will have Peter James fans gripped.

Banished, a debut YA novel, was written over a seven year period by Liz de Jager while she ran the popular book review website My Favourite Books.

And Matt Cain, former culture editor of Channel 4 News and currently a columnist for Attitude, draws on his experience and celebrity knowledge with his debut novel Shot Through the Heart, an LA based Hollywood romance.

This month we take a step inside Helen Rappaport’s ‘Writer’s Room’ to see what writing rituals she has and how she gets into the zone, and put our quickfire questions to author Jo Rees.

We’ll also hear from three aspiring authors in the first of our Life’s A Pitch segments – but who will our debut novelists pick as the best of the bunch?  If you think you’ve got a great idea for a book, send your 30 second pitch to bookbreak@macmillan.com for a chance to feature in a future show.

Follow #bookbreak on Twitter, subscribe to the Pan Macmillan YouTube channel or watch the broadcast right here at 12:30pm on Friday 4th April. 

WEBTV SHOW LOGISTICS 

Alexandra Heminsley is joined by Clare Donoghue, Liz de Jager and Matt Cain for Book Break which will be broadcast at on Friday 4^thApril at 12:30pm

http://www.studiotalk.tv/show/book-break-the-new-online-book-show-series-episode-3

Aspiring authors are invited to send their 30 second pitches to bookbreak@macmillan.com

 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

Website: http://www.panmacmillan.com/

Beautiful Day by Kate Anthony ~ Review & Author Interview

Today is the day that things are going to change for Rachel Bidewell. 

She will walk through the doors of Clifton Avenue Care Home and start a new life. 

Rachel is returning to work. And as she discovers, juggling a new job, three children and an ex husband can feel like drowning. 

Someone needs to throw her a lifeline... 

Philip doesn't seem like an obvious lifesaver. He has just lost the one person who ever cared for him and, even as an adult, he doesn't know how to live in the real world. 

But might Philip and Rachel each have something the other needs? 

This is a story of unexpected friendship; of the messy, muddy territory of those broken by life - and what it takes to fix them. It reminds us that the very darkest of days can be funny, heart-warming and even beautiful. 

Rachel finds hope in the places she least expects in Kate Anthony's stunning first novel, Beautiful Day.

Beautiful Day is the debut novel from Kate Anthony, and is published by Penguin on 10 April.

The cover art for Kate Anthony's Beautiful Day is absolutely gorgeous, add the enticing blurb on the back of the book and this has the potential to be the most wonderful of reads.

It is!  That old well-worn cliche really does apply to Beautiful Day, I honestly did resent having to put it down for even a moment, and if it had been possible, and I had no work to do I would have sat and read the whole thing from cover to cover.

Rachel's life has gone completely and utterly belly up.  Her husband and father of her three children has left, found himself a younger model. The children are not coping too well; there's bed-wetting and angry outbursts to cope with.  The live-in au pair is useless and Rachel is about to start working for first time in ages.

The Clifton Avenue Care Home is a residential home for adults with special needs, and Rachel is quickly allocated as key worker to new resident Philip.   Philip has led a sad, lonely life with his elderly mother.  He has no social skills, very little speech, smells a bit ripe and his toenails resemble cheese and onion crisps.  Despite this, and despite Rachel's chaotic personal life, they form a bond.  Rachel also forms a bond with deputy-manager Rob, a guy who wears his trousers so short that it is almost ironically fashionable, but also wears his heart on his sleeve - unlike some of the other staff in the home.

Rachel's home life spirals out of control a little bit more each day and it is only her loyal and dedicated mother-in-law, and her work at Clifton Avenue that keeps her sane ..... just.  Battling with her feelings around her ex husband and his new woman, whilst trying to protect her children from further harm, her own welfare comes a long way down on her list of priorities.

Beautiful Day is an accomplished and quite elegant debut novel, written with authority and flair, it is clear that the author has a wealth of experience in social care.  The character of Philip is so perfectly created, his sadness and vulnerability scream out from the pages, yet he can still make the reader chuckle at times.  Some would say that Rachel is a bitter and angry woman, indeed the author comments on just that in her interview at the back of the book.  I like Rachel. I think she has every right to rant and to rage and to be angry at the world.  OK, at times she can be a little harsh with her children, but I doubt that there are many of us who could keep it all together, at all times in similar circumstances.

Rachel's ex-husband Dom is a fool. I hated him, he's superior and patronising and an idiot. His young lover Deborah was welcome to him in my eyes.  Towards the end of the story, Rachel writes a letter to Deborah outlining her feelings, about Dom, about Deborah and about herself. This letter is the real Rachel, the person underneath the harassed, miserable and quite vulnerable lady in the rest of the book. The letter, and Rachel's wonderful relationship with resident Philip shows just how strong and kind and caring Rachel really is.

This is a novel that deals with many issues, but is never complicated.  The break down of a marriage, and the effect on the children and wider family. The social services system and what can go wrong, but also how repairing it can be with the right staff who are there for the right reason. It's also a journey for Rachel, a chance for her to discover who she really is, and to find that she's more than just a wife or a mother, and that she's a person of worth in her own right.

A warm and poignant story, well written with humour and with grace. A story that deals with difficult, often complex issues in a sensitive and realistic way.

My thanks to Francesca from Penguin who sent my copy for review.

Kate Anthony grew up in the Midlands. On graduating, she began working as a residential social worker firstly with young offenders and later with vulnerable adults. She then joined the BBC, working as a producer in comedy for some years before moving to an independent production company as a drama producer. She lives close to Brighton with her family.

For more about Kate: @KateLAnthony

I'm really thrilled to welcome the author, Kate Anthony here to Random Things today.  Kate has answered a few questions:

Do you read reviews of your novels? Do you take them seriously?  It’s early days and a ‘Beautiful Day’ is a debut novel I’ve only had one review so far and I read that with my teeth clenched and through half-shut eyes.  Fortunately it was a good one! I’ll definitely read future reviews and would like to think that I’ll be thick-skinned enough to take what is constructive from any bad ones and move on, but in reality I’ll probably be a nervous wreck. 

How long does it take to write a novel?     ‘Beautiful Day’ took me about three years to write, my second book has taken much less time than that.  With ‘Beautiful Day’ I was writing as a secret pleasure and so had to focus on it in short, sharp, guilty bursts at strange hours.  Now I am writing full-time, I would hope to finish a book in a year to eighteen months but I should imagine everyone is different.

Do you have any writing rituals? I write in the library and always head straight to the café when I arrive to purchase a cup of tea and a banana.  If the café is closed or for some reason bananas are off the menu, I get twitchy and worry my stomach will start to groan at around eleven, and I’ll get black looks from my fellow workers.  I can of course always have an apple or an orange or on a really throw caution to the wind day, a piece of toast or a croissant, but it’s a banana that really sets me up.

What was your favourite childhood book? 'Ponda and William’ by Barbara Softly – I’ve just Googled it to check that I remembered the author’s name correctly and seeing the cover has made me go all wobbly and nostalgic.  Ponda is in fact a panda and he is William’s pyjama case.  However, when William visits his Cousin Winifred, Ponda comes alive and he and William take part in all sorts of adventures from kite flying to hedgehog chasing.  My mother used to read the book aloud to my sister and me when we were very little.  We still have our ancient copy at home but now it’s all yellow and faded and the front cover is hanging on by a thread, but it is a family treasure.

Name one book that made you laugh? That’s a very hard question as it’s almost impossible to name only one. I remember being asked to read a passage from ‘My Family and Other Animals’ by Gerald Durrell, aloud to the class when I was about twelve.  The teacher thought I was being silly because I couldn’t stop laughing and told me to sit down.  I remember feeling mortified and hard done by, because I had genuinely found it utterly hilarious.

A grown-up book would be ‘Their Finest Hour and a Half’ by Lissa Evans.  The character of Ernest Hilliard, a washed up old ham from the silent movies, now being asked to act in films made by The Ministry of Information in the 1940’s, is one of the most perfect comic creations I have ever encountered.

Name one book that made you cry? 
‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’ by John Irving had me wiping my mascara off my chin.  I read it in one sitting and felt utterly pole-axed at the end of it.  For a while it became the book that I would casually lend to prospective boyfriends and if they didn’t like it I knew we were doomed.

Which fictional character would you like to meet?I would like to meet Emily Bronte’s Heathcliff to discover whether he was in fact the ultimate romantic hero who I fell in love with when I was about seventeen; knee-tremblingly handsome, a force of nature, untamed and passionate, wild and charismatic.  Or, if he was ultimately a bit of a git who ruined everyone’s lives and killed puppies.

Which book would you give to your best friend as a present? She’s just had a baby so it would have to be ‘Dazzling Diggers’ by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker.  I think every parent has that one book they’ve read so many times they could recite it word for word on their deathbed.  Mine is ‘Dazzling Diggers.’  We had a bookshelf aching with children’s books given to us when my first son was born, and all he wanted to read any time of the day or night, was ‘Dazzling Diggers.’   You couldn’t skip any pages; you couldn’t alter one word or even read it in a different way to the way he was banking on.  I remember being ecstatic on the day he moved onto ‘Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel’ by Virginia Lee Burton, but today if I ever stumble across a copy of ‘Dazzling Diggers’ I whimper.

Oh, I’d also give her a copy of ‘Beautiful Day’ to add to the other hundred copies she has pre-ordered from Amazon at gunpoint.

Are you inspired by any particular author or book? Bernard MacLaverty is probably the author that I go back to most often.  I was given the new version of his collected stories for Christmas so now I have it next to my bed.  I recently re-read his short novel ‘Lamb.’  I was almost scared to return to it after a number of years, in case it wasn’t as powerful as I remembered.  I need not have worried – I found it as deeply affecting as I had done the first time I read it, if not more.  His short stories are so deft and constructed with such skill, that on a good day they leave me inspired, and on a bad one ready to jack the whole thing in.

What is your guilty pleasure read?    If I’ve had a truly terrible day and am lolling in the bath with my brain turned to muesli, I will seek out a Harry Potter.  I know the stories so well having read them to the children when they were young, listened to the spoken word tapes for hours in holiday traffic jams, and seen the films not only in the cinema, but on DVD and television.  However, I always enjoy reading a couple of my favourite chapters.  I also have a weakness for ‘Anne of Green Gables.’  Alternatively, I find a copy of ‘Heat’ that one of my nieces might have left behind and read that cover to cover and hope nobody walks in.

Who are your favourite authors? 

An eclectic list and in no particular order I’ve gone for a Top Twenty: Yohan Mistry, Colm Toibin, Khaled Hosseini, The Bronte Sisters, Jane Austen, Philip Pulman, Hilary Mantel, Thomas Hardy, Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Barbara Trapido, Hilary Boyd, Joanna Trollope, Anthony Trollope, Daphne du Maurier, Lissa Evans, John O’Farrell, Evelyn Waugh and John Steinbeck.

When I read this back I will think of another thousand people who I've left off the list and kick myself.

What book have you re-read? James Joyce ‘The Dubliners’ is a book I have re-read again and again.  I had a very good teacher who guided me through it when I was a useless sixteen year old and tried to make each short story resonate with my own experiences.  I re-read ‘Counterparts’ the other day, the tale of a sad, lumbering bully of a man, who takes his frustrations out in the pub and on his young son.  It was a story that didn’t stand out to my younger self and yet I found it almost too painful to read.  That is why it is a book that needs reading and re-reading because every time you return to it you find something completely new.  The final story of the collection ‘The Dead’ is my favourite.

My son has just pointed out that I’m re-reading John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ at the moment to keep him company as he has to read it for school.  It is also one of my favourite all-time books because it is just so bloody brilliant.

What book have you given up on?‘Goldfinch’ by Donna Tartt – not because I didn’t like it but because it is so damn heavy I can’t chuck it in my handbag and read it on the train.  Also, I’ve yet to meet anybody who didn’t love it and I’m beginning to worry that I won’t and then I’ll have to go and live in a cave.

Fatal Act by Leigh Russell

A glamorous young TV soap star dies in a car crash. 

Returning for her sixth case, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is baffled as the driver of the second vehicle miraculously survives - and vanishes. 

Another young actress is murdered and, once again, the killer mysteriously disappears. 

Geraldine unwittingly risks her sergeant's life in their struggle to track down a serial killer who leaves no clues.

Fatal Act was published as ebook by No Exit Press on 12 December 2013, the paperback edition is released on 29 May 2014.

Fatal Act is the sixth DI Geraldine Steel story from Leigh Russell, I reviewed her last book Stop Dead back in August 2013.

I mentioned in my review of Stop Dead that I hadn't read any of the previous novels in the series, but this did not spoil my enjoyment or understanding of the story.  Fatal Act works perfectly well as a stand-alone story too.  The author cleverly updates the reader about Geraldine's past without straying away from the current plot at all.

Geraldine Steel and her colleague Sam are heading up a murder investigation. When the body of a successful young actress is found dead behind the wheel of her powerful sports car, it is assumed that she died from her injuries and that this is a regular, if tragic, road traffic accident. But where is the other driver?  How did they escape unharmed?  It soon becomes clear that this is not an open and shut case, and that this might, in fact, be murder.

As Geraldine and Sam work hard on trying to unravel this mystery, a prime suspect is identified, and although Geraldine has her doubts as to his guilt, her superiors are determined that he is their man.  When another young girl is found murdered, and she too has links to this suspect, it seems that Geraldine may have been wrong after all.

Leigh Russell writes very well. Her short sharp paragraphs within each punchy chapter work so well to keep the story moving at a fast pace. Geraldine is a complex character; lonely but very bright, she often makes decisions about her personal life that are questionable. At times she appears to be very vulnerable, especially when dealing with male colleagues.  However, she is loyal and she is not afraid to put herself in difficult situations, from dealing with her superiors, to facing up to a potential killer.

The murder mystery is well constructed, with a few red herrings planted along the way, enough to keep the reader engaged and guessing until not quite the end in my case, but certainly until the last few chapters.

I enjoyed this well paced, cleverly constructed story, and was pleased to get to know a little more about Geraldine Steel and her colleagues.  I'm certainly watching out for the next in the series.

My thanks to Real Readers who sent my proof copy for review.

Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree in English. For many years a secondary school English teacher, she is a creative writing tutor for adults. She is married, has two daughters, and lives in North West London.    Her first novel, Cut Short, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award in 2010.   This was followed by Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead and Fatal Act, in the Detective Geraldine Steel series. Cold Sacrifice is the first title in a spin off series featuring Geraldine Steel's sergeant, Ian Peterson.

For more information about Leigh Russell, her books and upcoming events, visit her website www.leighrussell.co.uk,  follow her on Twitter @LeighRussell

York Literature Festival ~ Lunch with Rowan Coleman

On Wednesday I hopped on the train to York and met my friend Anne, who blogs at Being Anne.  We had tickets for the Literary Lunch with Rowan Coleman, part of the York Literature Festival and  held at the Dean Court Hotel in the shadow of York Minster.  We'd booked months ago, and both of us had been looking forward to the event so much.

Rowan Coleman's most recent novel, The Memory Book was published by Ebury in hardback on 30 January this year, the paperback edition will be released in September.  Both Anne and myself have read and reviewed The Memory Book, and we both adored it.  You can read my review of The Memory Book, and also check out Anne's review on Being Anne.

I was lucky enough to attend the launch party for The Memory Book down in London, on the day of the tube strike!  It was a fantastic party, and Rowan made us all really welcome.

We arrived at Dean Court just before 12.30, and what a beautiful building it is.  In the perfect spot, overshadowed by the magnificent Minster and with warm, friendly, welcoming staff.  We spotted Rowan as we arrived and were greeted with hugs and another lovely welcome.  We made our way to the dining room which was set out with tables of six, with crisp white linen tableclothes, sparkling glasses and nibbles on the table. We soon started to chat with our fellow guests and settled down to listen to Rowan talk.

Rowan is a great speaker, she's funny and real and made her guests feel very comfortable. She had lots of funny stories to tell, about her past and about her family, but most importantly, about The Memory Book. It was interesting to get some insight into how the story came about, and how it evolved into what is truly a wonderful story.

Lunch was served.  It was absolutely delicious.  Anne and I were not sure what sort of lunch to expect, and this was above all expectations. Beautifully cooked, tender lamb with roasted vegetables and the most buttery soft fondant potato, and to follow; a trio of lemon desserts - my absolute favourite, and each one was just delicious.  Coffee and beautiful chocolates were the finishing touch.

Rowan then came back to answer questions from the guests, again she was funny and warm and honest - a real pleasure to listen to.

It was totally delicious way to spend a rainy Wednesday afternoon, although I'd booked the time off work, it felt very naughty to be spending lunch in a beautiful hotel, sipping a glass of wine and eating delicious food whilst listening to one of my favourite people speak.  It certainly makes a change from a rushed sandwich (if I'm lucky) and endless meetings!

Dean Court Hotel staff were wonderful hosts, the event was managed perfectly by the team from the York Literature Festival.  We enjoyed our day so much.

Find out more about York Literature Festival on their website www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk, follow them on Twitter @YorkLitFest and on Facebook

Find out more about Dean Court Hotel on their website www.deancourt-york.co.uk, follow them on Twitter @DeanCourtYork and on Facebook

Rowan worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years before winning Company Magazine ‘Young Writer of the Year’ in 2001.   Her first novel Growing Up Twice was published in 2002 and was a WH Smith Fresh Talent winner.  Since then Rowan has written ten novels including The Accidental Mother, The Baby Group, and Dearest Rose, which won The Festival of Romance Best Romantic Read 2012, The RoNA Epic Romance novel of 2013 and was shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year 2013.  Her latest novel is The Memory Book, published January 2014.
Rowan now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband, and large family of four children, including surprise toddler twins.

Find out more about Rowan on her website www.rowancoleman.co.uk, follow her on Twitter @rowancoleman and on Facebook