Guest Post: Carol Cassada

When most people think of romance novels, they tend to think of a book with a lot of sex scenes. While most romance novels do consist of those types of scenes, many choose not to include them or have it happen behind closed doors. I’ve read and written books with these different types of scenes, and I when someone asks me which I prefer I say it depends on the type of story.

For instance in my book Going Home Again, there’s no love scenes, the only romantic gestures are kissing and hugging. The reason I chose not to use sex scenes is because I thought it would take away from the story. The plot revolves around photographer Rachel Mitchell, who returns home following the death of her mother to comfort her family. While on her trip she reconnects with her ex-boyfriend Cole Ashton. As the two spend more time together, their feelings for each other grow and Rachel begins thinking about her life and if she made the right choices.

When I started writing Going Home Again, I wanted it to be a sweet, love story about two high-school flames reuniting. If I had included a sex scene, then I don’t think the story would have been as good.

There are times when I think its fine to use sex scenes, but there are other times when I don’t think it’s necessary. I know those scenes get readers excited, but I also think its fun to tease readers and let their imaginations go wild with what happens next.



Book Blurb:

Fashion photographer Rachel Mitchell was living the good life in New York; she had everything she ever wanted. However, the death of her mother sends Rachel home to Virginia to be with her family. Upset she seeks comfort from her ex-boyfriend Cole Ashton and they start to reconnect. Their reunion makes Rachel question her life and she’s left with a difficult decision, either stay in New York or start a new life with Cole in Virginia. Which will she choose?

Bio:

Carol Cassada is a writer from the small town of Ringgold, VA. From a very young age Carol developed a love of reading and by the time she reached high school she decided on a career as a writer. After graduating from Old Dominion University in 2008, she began her writing career. Throughout the years she's released 5 books, including the romance/soap opera series Westmore. When she’s not busy writing, Carol loves to spend her time playing with her three dogs and two cats.

Blog: http://www.carolcassada.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dramacjc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Carol-Cassada/233360543344573

Purchase links:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374705

http://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-Again-Carol-Cassada-ebook/dp/B00GCQC5L8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389570921&sr=1-1&keywords=carol+cassada

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/going-home-again-carol-cassada/1022904303?ean=2940045416030

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/going-home-again-5

Xmas Wishlist - Jaimie Admans

Ampersand necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/164659990/ampersand-necklace-sterling-silver-chain



I love ampersands! I don’t know why, maybe it’s a writer thing! I have a massive wooden one on the wall above my computer and looking at it reminds me that I should be writing more words, so maybe that’s why I like them. I don’t really do dainty little necklaces like this one, but for some reason I really like it, although have stopped myself buying it as I’d be so afraid of breaking it I’d probably only ever wear it on really special occasions!

New Kindle, and/or never-ending Kindle battery



I absolutely love my Kindle, I don’t know how I ever survived without it, but the most frustrating thing in the world is either when you settle down in bed, all ready to curl up with a book, and the battery dies. Or when you get to a vital part, the heart-in-throat moment of a thriller, and the damn thing turns itself off and the charging icon comes up on the screen! Then you have to wait quarter of an hour while it’s plugged in before you can even turn it back on and sit in front of the plug socket to finish the chapter! My Kindle has rapidly deteriorated this year in terms of battery life and how much warning it gives before switching off. It’s a couple of years old now so perhaps it’s coming to the end of it’s life, but I wish there was such a thing as a never-ending Kindle battery, or at least some emergency contraption you could plug into it to give it an extra boost until you’ve got past the exciting book moments!

A bookshelf with unlimited space



A common problem faced by all booklovers – how much space books take up! I love paperback books, but I hardly ever buy them anymore due to my multiple bookshelves being full! Let’s face it, even full is an understatement. Full-to-bursting or about-to-explode also work. I always buy the ebook versions of books now, and try to get my fix by lovingly stroking paperbacks in the shops and toddling off home to my Kindle which has almost unlimited space but is sadly lacking that real-book smell.

Comfy reading chair and/or nook



It might sound silly but the only place I have to read is in bed! The sofa is in the living room which is always too noisy for reading, so my only reading option is the bed! I would love a little reading nook, you know, a cosy chair surrounded by shelves of gorgeous books… I might need a bigger house first though!

Once Upon A Time notebook
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/heatheralsteaddesign/product/once-upon-a-time-notebook



Like lots of people I know, I have an addiction to stationery! Pretty notebooks, pens, note cards, boxes. Notebooks are my biggest downfall, I always swear I won’t buy any more but then I find the stationery section in a shop and they’re all just so pretty, it would be wrong to walk out without at least one! Of course, I now have so many notebooks that it will take me three lifetimes to get through them, and I still make a beeline for the stationery section! It’s impossible to resist a nice notebook! I tell myself I can count them as ‘writerly expenses’ but my notebook drawer(s) could supply ten writers by now!

A multitude of books that people have recommended to me this year.



There are so many books on my to-read list that sound amazing! I follow quite a few avid readers on Twitter and almost every day someone will recommend a book that sounds brilliant, I just need more hours in the day to read them all! I won’t write the list out or we’d be here all night, but there are so many books I really want to read, I would be thrilled to find any of them under the tree this year!

Ferrero Rocher



No Christmas list would be complete without mentioning food of some sort, and I couldn’t possibly read all those books without some kind of sustenance by my side, so I’ll have a giant box of Ferrero Rocher, please! They’re my absolute favourites! I’m actually really lucky at this time of year because my birthday is a few days after Christmas, so no sooner have I eaten the boxes people bought me for Christmas, I get given more!

Thanks, Santa!

Xmas Wishlist - Jo @ Cometbabesbooks

Hi Everyone

I volunteered to take part in Sheli’s Xmas wish list feature in October. I am new to blogging and only created my blog in September, so I am especially thrilled that Sheli has allowed me to be apart of this

My wish list is:-

A Diary to organise my blog, I always seem to be on the last minute getting posts ready or reading books for blog tours, for 2014 I would like to be a little more organised.

A Nexus 7, been told these are one of the best tablets after an IPad.

A case for a Nexus 7, to make it easier to type my tweets and blog

I have also asked for Amazon vouchers, I’m sure these are must for all bookish fiends as I have 110 books on my wish list in Amazon, if not Amazon vouchers then of course I want books, books and more books.

Topping my wish list are the following books, despite the fact that my TBR pile seems to be getting out of control.

April Fools by Karli Perrin, I still have April Showers to read, but loved Karli’s Christmas offering The Gift.

The Elemental World series by Elizabeth Hunter, read the Elemental Mysteries Series earlier in the year and these tie in with the Characters in those books.

All the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

The Keys to the Kingdom Series by Garth Nix

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

Top of my wish list is
In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran

Hope Santa brings my wish list and everyone else’s wish list.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thanks again Sheli.

Jo xx

My twitter is @cometbabe

Please come and visit me on my blog: cometbabesbooks.blogspot.co.uk

Xmas wishlist - Louise

There are so many fantastic things out there for the discerning bookworm so I’ve tried to be very good and limit myself to 5 items and I hope you appreciate how much restraint this is taking for me!

 

1. Firstly, as a full time mum to a wonderfully lively 3 year old, top of my wishlist would be an afternoon of peace and quiet on a wonderful sofa, under a cosy blanket with a drink, snack and of course a good book.  As I don’t drink tea I would have a hot chocolate and it would be lovely served in one of these with the chocolate bar too of course!!

2. I love and collect nearly as many bookmarks as I do books and think this is one of the cutest I have seen.

3. I have been lucky enough to get a new Kindle Paperwhite this year and as Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books in the world I would love one of these to keep my Kindle safe from a toddler’s hands!!

4. Although I usually have so many books on my bookshelves that I don’t usually need bookends, I think these guys are so cute I’d have to make room for them!!

5. I think that this may be the only book in the world where I couldn’t give a hoot about the words, it’s all about the pictures :)

Thanks to Sheli for asking me to be part of her Christmas feature.  I wish her and you a lovely, bookish Christmas.   Louise

I review for Laura at  http://shelovestoread.weebly.com/

I tweet at @jaustenrulesok

North Pole Reform School Blog Tour - Guest post by Jaimie

Dream Movie Cast for North Pole Reform School

 Mistletoe: Marla Sokoloff



Best known for TV movies and the starring role in one of my favourite Christmas films Christmas In Boston, I think Marla would make a great Mistletoe. She always seems happy and smiley, and I think Mistletoe needs that. She starts the book hating Christmas, and I think she needs to lighten up a bit and smile more at first, and she needs to be likeable. Marla seems like a very likeable actress, and a very good Mistletoe!

Luke: Jeremy Sumpter



Best known for playing Peter Pan in the 2003 live-action version, I have to stress that I’m talking about the grown-up Jeremy Sumpter here! He’s done loads of films and TV series in the past few years. I think he’s got the perfect mix of cheeky grin, messy hair, and bright mischievous eyes that make Luke so attractive!

Xmas Wishlist - Shaz @ Shaz's Book Boudoir

When Sheli asked me to write a guest post about what book related gifts were on my Christmas wishlist it was actually quite difficult to narrow it down as there have been so many fabulous books published in the last couple of years that I’ve not had the chance to read yet.

Top of the Christmas wishlist is a cover for my new Kindle Paperwhite that I treated myself to in October as I didn’t realise my existing cover wouldn’t fit it.



This is the one I’ve chosen as it combines two of my favourite things other than books, the colour purple and butterflies although sadly it’s currently out of stock but secretly hoping it becomes available again soon http://www.casehappy.co.uk/kindle-paperwhite-satin-effect-slim-case-516-p.asp

As my first chance cover is not currently available I have also added this one as a substitute choice http://amzn.to/17HEPYd



So now onto a selection of the books that are currently on my Amazon wishlist which was a lot harder to narrow down!
I don’t generally buy Trade Paperbacks as I normally wait for the regular paperback publication but I’ve read some really good reviews for The First Time I Said Goodbye by Claire Allan http://amzn.to/18h47zc



Would you hold on tighter if you knew you were saying goodbye forever? In 1959, factory girl Stella Hegarty finds herself falling unexpectedly for the charms of a handsome US marine based in Derry. Caught up in a whirlwind of romance, Stella finds herself planning a new life in America with her beloved Ray. But when tragedy steps in, both their lives are thrown into turmoil and they come to realise they may have said their first, and last goodbye. In 2010, Annabel Jackson, reeling from the loss of her father, agrees to accompany her mother Stella back to Ireland to meet her family for the first time. In Derry they both start to realise that sometimes you have to say goodbye to what you thought you always wanted, in order to find what you have needed all along..

Next book I would love to receive is The Birthday Girls by Pauline Lawless as I’ve read and enjoyed all of her previous books. http://amzn.to/1egn2Zg



They'd met on their first day at school four little girls who were all very different from each other but who somehow became close friends. Their friendship has now lasted thirty-five years. As their birthdays all fall in the same week they long ago made a pact to spend each big decade birthday together. So far they'd managed it. Now as their thirty-ninth birthday looms, Angel, a famous Hollywood actress, announces that this will be her last birthday. Terrified of aging, she absolutely refuses to turn 40. So Lexi, the mother hen of the group and an artist, invites them to Florida for a week-long celebration of this, their last birthday together. Brenda, mother to five grown-up children, flies in from Dublin, eagerly looking forward to her first foreign holiday ever. Mel, however, has to be prised away from New York where she is a successful partner in a law firm - Mel is a workaholic with no other friends or love in her life. The four come together for the celebration but soon things start to unravel and the week ends disastrously. Lexi is distraught. Can their friendship endure? Only time will tell.

Having just bought The Murder Wall, the first book in the Kate Daniels series by Mari Hannah I’d like to read the other books in the series before the fourth book, Monument to Murder, is published next year. http://amzn.to/I57k9a
Settled Blood http://amzn.to/1eqU4GY

When a young girl is found dead at the base of Hadrian’s Wall, it’s not long before Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels realises her death was no ordinary homicide. She was thrown from a great height and was probably alive before she hit the ground. Then a local businessmen reports his daughter missing, has Daniels found the identity of her victim, or is a killer playing a sickening game? As the murder investigation team delve deeper into the case, half truths are told, secrets exposed, and while Daniels makes her way through a mountain of obstacles time is running out for one terrified girl.

Deadly Deceit http://amzn.to/17ZJ0M3

Four a.m on a wet stretch of the A1 and a driver skids out of control. Quick on the scene, Senior Investigating Officer Kate Daniels and partner DS Hank Gormley are presented with a horrifying image of carnage and mayhem that quickly becomes one of the worst road traffic accidents in Northumberland’s history. But as the casualties mount up, they soon realise that not all deaths were as a result of the accident . . . On the other side of town a house goes up in flames, turning its two inhabitants into charred corpses. Seemingly unconnected with the traffic accident, Kate sets about investigating both incidences separately. But it soon becomes apparent that all is not what it seems, and Kate and her colleagues are one always step behind a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

The fifth and final book I’ve picked to choose for this feature is one that’s not out until January so it can be pre-ordered to receive as a late Christmas present or earlier birthday present, The Winter Folly by Lulu Taylor http://amzn.to/17HMIwX



In this house there are many secrets…
It is 1965 and young Alexandra Crewe obediently marries the man her father has selected for her. But very soon both she and her husband Laurence realize that their marriage is a disaster. When real love finds Alexandra, plucking her out of her unhappy existence, she is powerless to resist. Her home becomes Fort Stirling, a beautiful Dorset castle, but Alexandra fears that there will be a price to pay for this wonderful new life. When tragedy strikes, it seems that her punishment has come, and there is only one way she can atone for her sins…

In the present day, Delilah Young is the second wife of John Stirling and the new chatelaine of Fort Stirling. The house seems to be a sad one and Delilah hopes to fill it with life and happiness. But when she attempts to heal the heartbreak in John’s life, it seems that the forces of the past might be too strong for her. Why does John have such a hatred for the old folly on the hill, and what happened to his mother when she vanished from his life? As Delilah searches for the truth, she realizes that perhaps some secrets are better left buried...

I’m sure I’ll probably do a blog post on what I did actually receive for Christmas so hopefully one or two of these will be featured!

Blog: http://shazsbookboudoir.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shazs-Book-Blog/321640731239228
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShazsBookBlog

Xmas Wishlist - Kirsty @ Love of a Good Book

Friends often scream out 'No way. you don't need anymore books!' When they see my Christmas list.
But as any bookworm will tell you, there is no such thing as too many books!

And this Christmas is no exception:

I'm very lucky to be sent books before they are released, so for Christmas I'm asking for books people love and have read time and time again.

Here are some on my list:

I keep hearing wonderful things about 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' from Laura http://shelovestoread.weebly.com/
I'm really excited about reading the book that Laura found life changing.

Megan from http://readinginthesunshine.wordpress.com/ has recommended 'The Time Travellers Wife' now I've seen the film of this but I've been told the book is amazing.

Victoria from https://victorialovesbooks.wordpress.com/ loves 'The Lady of Hay' and has highly recommended this to me.
And I mentioned recently on my blog http://theloveofagoodbook.wordpress.com/ that I've not read any Jane Austen and I find this something I need to rectify, so I am also going to ask for Pride and Prejudice.

Now I've all these lovely new books on my list, I couldn't imagine anything better to carry them in other than a Cambridge Satchel
https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/collections/colour/pinks/
My particular favourites are the pink and brown colours.

The thing about being a bookworm is that books can come in many forms and I love this book charm to add to my Pandora bracelet
http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791109

Im obsessed with books, reading them, touching them and pictures of them so when I saw this, I just fell in love.
How gorgeous is this skirt, it has my dream library on it!
https://www.thehunt.com/the-hunt/EBrKk4-beauty-and-the-beast-library-skirt

Since I probably won't be able to wear the skirt until it's sunny, I'm going to ask for a nice snuggly hoodie and this one seems highly appropriate http://www.zazzle.co.uk/funny_i_need_more_books_t_shirt-235759418099397237

And finally since it's Christmas, I wouldn't mind discovering this hot book-boy under the mistletoe!





Have a fantastic Christmas all!
Kirsty

@loveofagoodbook
@minionsofbooks

Xmas Wishlist - Ems @ Afternoon Bookery

1. Book quote mug - this last year has seen my love for books grow, and rekindle what was once a grand love affair, this sums up my feelings, and well I need something for the copious tea I get through?





2.I Capture the Castle hardback - this is a beautiful edition, I never read this book as a child, but I admit I saw it in Waterstones and ever since I have fallen in love and clearly need this in my life, stat.





3. Mary Poppins hardback - likewise, I spied this and the cover is beautiful I dont recall ever reading the book only ever watching the film but I cant turn down something as beautiful as this.

4. Sherlock Holmes Cluedo - this is another thing that has taken my fancy this year, I mean it's like the best show into one of my favourite games, that been said I'm sure I would only play it christmas day and that be it, but indulge me?

They are the main things im hankering after on my book life this year - thankyou for having me!! :)
you can find me at; www.afternoonbookery.blogspot.com or @afternoonbooker

Xmas Wishlist - Zoe @ The Book Lovers

Hey everyone!

For those who don't know me, I'm Zoe and own my own blog over at The Book Lovers. Today, I'll be letting you know which books I am excited to be getting this Christmas – courtesy of myself buying them for me!

For people that know me, you know that my kindle is my baby and that if I want an ebook, I just go to Amazon and 1-Click it...I admit, I am a 1-Click addict and my wages are mostly spent on me not understanding a little thing called 'Savings', but books are technically savings to me ;)

My parents don't buy me books for Christmas and that is mainly down to me. Ever since I had a kindle, ebooks are just instantaneous. If I want a new book, I'll go search for one on Amazon and download it; if I want the paperback of that book, well it's either not available or I have to wait months for it to become available. I have no patience – hence why I dont ask for books for Christmas.

Also I only buy the paperback copies of books that are a favourite of mine....and despite not receiving books from the 'rents, my grandparents HAVE to buy me one every year so this year I had decided that they can buy me The Edge OF Never – J.A Redmerski...This is MY favourite book and I have yet to purchase it, so what better way than opening it up from my grandparents on Chrsitmas day?

The three books that I am excited for this month, for myself to buy as a present are:

1) The Sweetest Game (#3)– J. Sterling
“It’s one hell of a sledgehammer to the chest when your baseball career comes to an end. It’s like you finally realize that baseball never loved you back. All the sleepless nights, the hours spent at the gym trying to stay fit, the conditioning, the training, the mental preparation, the holiday’s missed, the birthday’s passed, the memories you didn’t get to make with your family…all for what? It’s not like baseball lost any sleep over you. She didn’t stay awake for nights on end trying to figure out how to make you a better player. She didn’t care. Baseball’s a business. A sport. A game. And as much as my entire life has been wrapped up in it, it’s time to let it go.”
- Jack Carter

Out on Christmas day!

2) A Beautiful Wedding (#2.5)– Jamie McGuire
You know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But what do you really know?

Why did Abby pop the question?
What secrets were shared before the ceremony?
Where did they spend their wedding night?
Who else knew about it . . . and didn’t tell?

Everything about Abby and Travis’s elopement was top-secret . . . until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)—and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.

Out the 10th December

3) Castle Hill – Samantha Young
Braden Carmichael never imagined he’d fall as hard and as fast as he did for Jocelyn Butler. He also could not have anticipated how difficult it would be to convince her to give in to love. But now that he has her, he’s never letting go. He’s got it all planned—the passionate proposal, the dream wedding, the sexy Hawaiian honeymoon—even the perfect family they’ll start.

After trying to flee from her painful past, Joss is finally allowing herself to embrace the future. But when things start moving faster than she anticipated, she finds herself panicking over something Braden can’t understand. After everything they’ve been through, Joss is sure that their love can survive even her worst fears. But, this time, she may push Braden too far—and risk losing everything all over again…

Out 3rd December


What are the books you are most excited about this christmas?

My Xmas Wishlist

Well December is here once again! So to celebrate the festive season here at Sheli Reads I am running a Christmassy feature in the run up to the big day where lots of lovely guest posters will be telling us what bookish treats and goodies that they are hoping for from Santa this year!

So to start us off, I am posting my bookish xmas wishlist!

Something Borrowed, Someone Dead by M. C. Beaton



I'm hoping that Santa will bring me the latest Agatha Raisin book! Over the last two years I have made my way through the other 23 (I think!) books in the series and it has become a guilty pleasure which is in the same category as Midsomer Murders for me. I think Agatha Raisin books are becoming a staple Christmas present for me, like the Beano annual! This is the blurb:

Gloria French was a jolly widow with dyed blonde hair, a raucous laugh and rosy cheeks. When she first moved from London to the charming Cotswolds hills, she was heartily welcomed.  She seemed a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly.  But she had a nasty habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, just small things, a teapot here, a set of silverware there.  So it's quite the shock when she is found dead, murdered by a poisoned bottle of elderberry wine.  Afraid the murder will be a blight on the small town, Parish councillor, Jerry Tarrant, hires private detective Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer.

But the village is secretive and the residents resent Agatha's investigation. Of course that doesn't stop the ever-persistent Agatha from investigating and sticking her nose where no one wants it—especially as the suspect list grows. And, as if it isn't enough that Agatha's ex has reentered the picture, the murderer is now targeting Agatha!

With M.C. Beaton's Something Borrowed, Someone Dead  the bossy, vain, and absolutely irresistible, Agatha Raisin continues to be a fan favorite.

I have also had my eye on this canvas book bag for ages. http://www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/i-capture-the-castle---dodie-smith---canvas-shopper-1056-p.asp



I read I Capture the Castle a few years ago and absolutely loved it! I've been tempted by this bag ever since :-)

As no full on reading session is complete without a cup of tea, I'd also like this mug: http://www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/go-away-im-reading-bone-china-mug-1185-p.asp

Just in case anyone was in any doubt about what I was doing, I think the message is nice and clear!

Lastly, I'd love to have a proper study/library space!



Somewhere like this would be amazing! I have bookshelves, a small desk and an armchair in our box room, but it would be amazing to have a space like this where I could work, write, read and relax. I'm not sure Santa will fit this in his sack (or our house) though! Maybe one day ...

What bookish goodies would you like Santa to bring you this year?

 

Cover reveal: The Property of a Gentleman

The Property of a Gentleman by Catherine Gaskin - Published 5th December 2013
A poignant, thrilling tale, full of history, intrigue and romance.

Shortly after her mother's death in a Swiss plane crash, Jo Roswell is sent from the London auction house where she works to the remote Thirlbeck – stately home of the Earl of Askew. Jo's task is to evaluate the house's contents for a sale, but she soon finds herself drawn into the complex lives of Thirlbeck's inhabitants, each with their own secrets and desires.

Jo is absorbed by the tragic story of The Spanish Lady, whose young life was cut short at Thirlbeck many centuries earlier. She also encounters La Española, the brilliant diamond which, according to legend, brings disaster to all who try to possess it. And she is shocked to learn of her own mother's connection to Thirlbeck.

Meet the residents of Thirlbeck

Robert Birkett, the Earl of Askew: returning to Thirlbeck after many years abroad, a decorated war hero who also spent time in prison after a fatal car accident for which he was blamed.

Carlota, the Spanish Condesa: the Earl's sophisticated companion, who yearns to leave the cold of Cumberland for the warmth of the Mediterranean sun.

Nat Birkett: the local farmer, and single father of two young boys, who is the reluctant heir to Thirlbeck. His passion is for the land rather than titles and possessions.

Gerald Stanton: Jo's wise mentor and friend, who is like a father to her.

George Tolson: the brooding keeper of Thirlbeck, who jealously guards it from unwelcome strangers.

Jessica Tolson: George's intelligent but fragile granddaughter, who must be protected from herself.

Jo will struggle with difficult discoveries as she unlocks the puzzles which link Thirlbeck's past and present residents.

About Catherine Gaskin
Catherine Gaskin's own life story reads like a novel. Born in Ireland and raised in Australia, she studied music at the conservatorium in Sydney, before becoming a bestselling author at the age of just seventeen. After moving to London she met her future husband, a US TV executive, on a blind date. The couple lived in Manhattan for ten years, before moving to the Virgin Islands, followed by Ireland, and then the Isle of Man. After her husband's death, Catherine returned to Australia where she spent the rest of her life.

During her lifetime Catherine Gaskin's books sold over 40 million copies worldwide, and she was known as “The Queen of Storytellers” and “The Girl with the Golden Pen.”

Author spotlight: Janice G Ross

How far would you go for love?

How far would you go? Would you throw caution to the wind? Set aside common sense? Part completely with doubt? Give all possessions away? Forget what once was? Would you be willing to do it all for love? How far would you go for love?

In Jumping Ship, the pre-release novella to the Island Hopping series, we learn exactly how far Petrina Dugal would go for the sake of love. Pet, as the twenty-something woman is known, is tied to a miserable marriage. It’s all that she’s ever known. Pet never knew love, never expected love, never felt love, never inhaled love and most certainly never tasted love. And then love walked into her door, right in front of her brutish husband.

Pet’s love is mysterious and enticing, rolled up in visual perfection. Michael Chen instantly captures ever ounce of emotion that Pet had bottled up. Pet and her Mikey love with every ounce of their being, until circumstances become crucial. They make a decision that what they have created is much more important than any promise that ever existed beforehand. And to show how far they would go for love, Pet and Mikey flee.

Pet and Mikey’s story is only a portion of the entire Island Hopping series, but significant nonetheless.


Excerpt

Pet gazed into his eyes and immediately felt relieved. In that moment, Roger didn’t matter. More important to the ill-treated woman was the savior at her side. She hunched forward. Roger could only see her back if he were to look over. She was able to position herself just right and able to tilt subtly into her suitor. Pet would tip closer and pull back, drift in and then out. She marveled in his perfection. Mikey’s arms were veiny and muscular. The slightest flinch revealed athletic splendor. Her mouth fell open, as she unknowingly marked him. When her gaze reached his lips, she tensed up and huffed. Faith had it so that he even had the urge to bite down on his bottom lip at the time. And she noticed. Boy, did she notice.


Synopsis

The year was nineteen seventy-five. Pregnant seamstress, Petrina Dugal, became a runaway at the age of twenty-six. She ran away from a brutish husband, Roger, and a well-loved South American home in Georgetown, Guyana; at the heart of her rebellion – an enigmatic lover named Michael Chen. Pet and Mikey, as they became affectionately known, allowed love to blossom in front of her police officer husband and an intrusive community. Were they not aware of the dangers? Or did the pursuit of love trump obligations?

Pet and Mikey’s journey to their new life took them through a multitude of the Caribbean’s treasure trove of islands – Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, and Saint Lucia. More than a month later their voyage landed them at JFK airport, in New York USA. And they disappeared, as though their existence was a myth. During this time, barren couple, Pearl and Edward Riley stumbled upon a newborn baby girl. Her cries could only be heard by a true mother, which Pearl immediately became. Bundled up with their new child, they discovered a parcel of artifacts and a scribbled note that read: Sakkara.

Sakkara Riley grew up with two loving parents – adoptive parents to be exact. She never knew the circumstances surrounding her discovery, until the age of sixteen. The personal artifacts that were handed over had haunted her from that point on. After eight more years, including much research and probing, she was given the opportunity to begin her journey of self-discovery.

“Jumping Ship” provides the introduction to Sakkara’s attempts to commune with her true heritage.

The second installation in the series, Island Hopping: Trinidad & Tobago is due out the 14th of February.









Janice G. Ross’s Bio

Janice G. Ross was born in Guyana, South America and migrated to the USA in 1980. She is an author. She enjoys writing about social issues and personal experiences. Her debut release was entitled Damaged Girls. She uses the three books in that series to detail the effects of different forms of abuse, discussing issues that are known to be taboo. Her latest release, Jumping Ship, is a dedication to her country of birth and an introductory novella to the Island Hopping Series – due out in 2014. It’s poised to be a colorful and emotional experience of life, love and family.
Janice enjoys reading. And is drawn to stories with distinct characters that she can love or hate, characters she can form alliances with or characters that she can swear off and despise. She is also weak for a good cultural tale, preferably in the form of historical fiction. Janice loves to be taken off guard by clever language and settings. Janice is also a devout supporter and promoter of other authors through social media. She hosts a weekly show, Cultural Cocktails, on the largest social radio network, Blog Talk Radio.

Guest post: KK Hendin

Today I've got a guest post from the very lovely KK Hendin! Enjoy!


Why New Year’s Resolutions Are Not Always A Terrible Thing

God, I am the world’s biggest cliché sometimes.

Once upon a time, it was January first, and I decided that 2013 would be a good year to make a New Year’s Resolution. Mind you, I had never really made one before. But I guess I was feeling optimistic, because I made myself a lovely little list of resolutions for the year of 2013.

One of them was finish at least one manuscript, and self-publish, if that was what I felt was best for the book. There were other ridiculous resolutions on that list that never really happened, like figure out life. But much to my shock, I wrote the words The End many times this year- namely, with Heart Breaths.

I wrote Heart Breaths at a very weird kind of time in my life- I had just parted ways with my job, I had paused school, and ONCE AGAIN, I had no idea what I was doing with my life. (This last bit seems to be a bit of a reoccurrence, truth be told.) I had finished a book and a half, and there was a story tickling my brain.

And so since I suddenly had all this magical free time when I wasn’t looking for a job, I started to write. And I wrote. And wrote. And wrote. And wrote some more.

Writing is a very personal experience- even when you’re not writing an autobiography or something about yourself, pieces of you still end up in what you write. Writing fiction for me is a way to sort through my jumbled thoughts by having others go through similar situations as I have gone through, or I’m going through at the moment. Luckily, I can say that I haven’t gone through the same things that Maddie has gone through, or Gabe, but there are aspects about what they struggle with that were and continue to be intensely personal.

Letting people in, even after being hurt. Learning to trust people. Opening your heart, even with the possibility of getting hurt. Standing up for yourself. Learning to trust yourself.

They’re all things that so many people are struggling with- not just me, and not just Maddie and Gabe. Heart Breaths was a book that helped me explore what it meant to open your heart up after being hurt, and learning that you are so much stronger than you think. And that sometimes, you don’t have to try to do it all yourself- that there are people who love you that are more than willing to help you find your brave.

Heart Breaths is a story of friendship, love and redemption. And beaches J
I mean, just look. How could I not include this?




(picture via: http://www.obxlistings.com/wp-content/uploads//_slide_image/51-e5231325.jpg)

It may not be the typical New Adult release, but at the heart of it, it’s the same. About two people trying to figure out how to navigate the weird world of semi-adulthood, and maybe, if they’re lucky, try to navigate the world of love.
God, I’m such a sap ;)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
KK Hendin's real life ambition is to become a pink fluffy unicorn who dances with rainbows. But the schooling for that is all sorts of complicated, so until that gets sorted out, she'll just write. Preferably things with angst and love. And things that require chocolate.
She spends way too much time on Twitter, and rambles on occasion over atwww.kkhendinwrites.blogspot.com.

LINKS:
BLOG: http://www.kkhendinwrites.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kkhendin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KK-Hendin/425268687590642?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7231267.K_K_Hendin

Author spotlight: Tara Ford

When Tara Ford contacted me asking if I would review her new book, Calling All Services, I jumped at the chance! I will be reading and reviewing the book in the coming weeks, but wanted to share some of the information about the book with you beforehand as it looks great!

Alex Frey, successful businesswoman, wife and mother to a busy and demanding family, doesn't find it easy to take a break. So when she's hospitalised with a mysterious illness, paralysed and afraid of what the future might bring, frustration meets fear and she can't wait to escape the hospital, get back in control of things and return her family to the normality of salmon paste sandwiches. At home, her husband Grant is determined to manage the kids, Alex's parents, his sister and anything else life can throw at him while his wife is away recuperating. But what else can possibly go wrong while Alex is in hospital? The Frey family is about to find out...

The book is available in paperback and Kindle formats and can be purchased at Amazon.



Tara Ford lives in Hampshire, UK with her husband, children and a naughty husky called Meika. In between writing she enjoys taking care of her numerous Koi fish but occasionally she also has to live with a frustrated heron that frequents the garden fence and peers longingly into the well protected pond.

Tara’s writing career began at the tender age of 15 when she wrote a beautiful love story as part of her English literature homework...

Her writing career came to an abrupt end at the tender age of 15 when the teacher tore up her story, exclaiming that the content of the essay was highly unsuitable material for school. Although it had not been in the realms of 50 Shades of Grey, Tara’s first attempt at a short story had been shunned.

Over 3 decades of child-rearing, fish-fostering and dog walking later, Tara has realised her dream of writing. Her first book, Calling All Services, a women's fiction/humour story, was released in July 2013. She has always wanted to write in this genre but until a couple of years ago, she could never quite think of a good storyline. Then a sudden and frightening illness and some time spent in hospital gave her the beginnings of a novel which would eventually turn out to be the first book of four in the Calling All... series.

Tara has completed the second book in the series, Calling All Dentists, which she hopes to publish, early 2014. Her third novel, Calling All Customers is currently an early stage, work in progress and her plans are to release this in 2015. Tara has ideas for a further series, again in the women’s fiction/humour genre, to be written in the future. Her ultimate dream would be to write a new book each and every year.

Tara’s debut novel, Calling All Services is a peep into the lives of one family, over the course of one unusually, eventful week. A rollercoaster of emotions will have you laughing, crying and cringing as the week unfolds to reveal one disaster after another. Will the members of the Frey family ever be the same again?

Contact details:

Website & Blog:  http://taraford.weebly.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/Tara.Ford.Author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/rata2e

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7125535.Tara_Ford

Pinterest:  https://pinterest.com/rata2e2/

Google+:  http://bit.ly/1bg9SdO

Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=tab_pro

Book Links

Calling All Services UK: http://amzn.to/11zjwVi  15 – 5* Reviews

Calling All Services US: http://amzn.to/196dCAp

Guest post: Zoe @ The Book Lovers

I have a treat in store for you today! Zoe from The Book Lovers has kindly agreed to write a guest post talking about her blog, why she blogs, and her favourite genre, NA. I asked Zoe if she wanted to add any pictures, and for some reason she sent me this one....






Hi everyone *waves*

My names Zoe and my blog is The Books Lovers. I’ve had this blog for a year now and I have met some of the most amazing friends through our love of books. I started The Book Lovers due to the excessive amount of books I go through (it’s slowed down a lot since I’ve got a full time job now). I used to go through two or three a day, and after speaking to my friends about setting up a review blog and they told me to go for it. I was nervous but I already recommend books to my friends and lend my books out so I thought “why the hell not” and so The Book Lovers was born.

My blog mainly focuses on New Adult with a hint of Young Adult and Erotica. My friends always tease me about reading sex books but I shrug it off because I love the books I read and why should I feel weird about sex scenes? You will notice I go off on tangents, so sorry in advance.

I used to spend a fortune on books, and when I got a kindle for Christmas a few years back that is when I discovered a whole array of books; books that I hadn’t seen in the shops and bookstores and books that were so cheap that I could buy about 7 eBooks for the price of one. I had my kindle for about a year before I started up my blog and if I’m being honest, I had no idea about self-publishing and the whole book community. I just downloaded books that looked awesome. My first NA book was actually Beautiful Disaster – Jamie McGuire. I had seen it by chance on Amazon and once downloaded I read it straight away. I adored it.

So when I began my blog, I had no one to show me the ropes, I had to figure out everything alone. From knowing what books tours were, to wondering what on earth Arcs were and how to join in with everything I saw on my TL. I think that’s why I always go that extra mile to help new blogs out because I know how lost I was when I first started and I’d hate for anyone to feel that way when they first begin.

Over the course of the months, I had built up my blog, knew what I was doing and making friends and author friends along the way. I support new blogs, new authors and I love promoting their work and chatting with them. Self-pub authors really are the best. Of course all authors appreciate their readers and fans, but I think without us, self-pub authors wouldn’t get the light of day, and that is why I love them. They are so gracious that you want to read their book, that you leave a glowing review and that you just love their books. I have a great group of author friends and I’m so happy to actually call them friends. I am actually meeting up with a few (and my lovely book blog friends) in November for a book event and I cannot express my excitement. I’ve been chatting to them for moths and now it’s time to meet them!

Sheli asked me to write my top indie authors and dear god, there are just so many, but I’m going to narrow it down to the ones that have supported me and my blog and I have been with from the very start.

1)      Karli Perrin – Author of April Showers and April Fools (Out Dec 2013)

2)      Emma Hart – Author of The Memories series, Mauve Legacy series, The Game series

3)      Kerry Heavens – Author of Just Human and Still Human

4)      Rachel Brookes – Author of Just Breathe

5)      Laura Beege – Author of These Things About Us

6)      Terri Anne Browning – Author of The Rocker series

7)      Jade C Jamison – Author of so many bleeding books that I love hahha.

8)      L.M Augustine – Author of Click To Subscribe and Two Roads

 

Okay, so I couldn’t push it down, because I love all of these authors! I have been with most of them since the beginning and I couldn’t ask for better friends. Push aside the fact we talk a lot, I always keep my reviews honest as I would never give them 5 stars just for knowing them. I always give them what I think the book deserves.

But yes, these eight indie authors definably deserve a read. They write amazing books that will suck you right in until the very end where you’ll be like ‘where did the time go?’ You won’t want to put their books down at all.

I was umming and ahhing about adding more to the list, but the majority of the authors I love have been snatched up by publishing houses, which they definitely deserve so fingers crossed these beauties do soon!! (I know Emma has an agent which is amazing news!!)

The reason I love these authors is because they write something different. New Adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and furthering their education and career choices and in every book you can definitely see some part of the character in yourself, whether it’s the fears, college life, leaving home, finding yourself, having sex – there is something you can relate to in an NA book and I think that’s why I read NA a lot. The one book character I relate to a lot of Camryn from The Edge Of Never – J.A Redmerski. The reason I relate to her is because she’s lost, and she just packs a bag one day, gets a bus ticket and doesn’t know what she’s going to do, she just wants to get away, make the pain go away. During the trip she meets Andrew and he shows her how to live, how to concur her sexuality and let go of her past and learn who she truly is.

And this is what I want to do. Just pack and leave, find myself and find where I belong. Maybe find love along the way too.

I sobbed so much during this book that when I saw my mother, she asked me who had made me cry. She laughed when I told her it was a book. But see, this is why I love the NA genre. You can really connect to the story, the characters, how they are feeling and how they deal with everything. It’s real. Not that other books aren’t, but NA is something I don’t think I could ever stop reading. (can you imagine when I’m forty and still reading about 20 years olds…) but there are so many great authors that you should all just go and read and then come back and let me know how much you love their books ;) big promise I know.

If I haven’t sold you on at least picking up one NA books then I haven’t done my ‘job.’ But I am hoping that if you do decide to take a chance on NA, please let me know what you are reading and if you enjoyed it. Come follow me @TheBook_Lovers and come chat books with me. I don’t bite….too much ;)

A big thank you to Zoe for this fantastic post!! I'm very tempted to try out an NA book now, I hope you are too!!

Cover reveal: North Pole Reform School

I am very pleased to be a part of the cover reveal for Jaimie Admans' latest book, North Pole Reform School!

Mistletoe Bell hates Christmas. So would you if you had a name like hers. Her Christmas-mad parents make the festive season last all year, and with another Christmas looming, Mis doesn’t think she can take any more. After her carelessness causes an accident at school, it seems like things can’t get any worse.

Then she wakes up to find The Ghost of Christmases Ruined in her bedroom.

She is taken to the North Pole, to a reform school run by elves determined to make her love Christmas. Stuck in a misfit group of fellow Christmas-haters with a motley crew of the weird and even weirder, watched over by elves day and night, she doesn’t expect to meet cute and funny Luke, who is hiding a vulnerable side beneath his sarcastic exterior. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with him.

But all is not as it should be at the North Pole. A certain Mr Claus is making the elves’ lives a misery, and pretty soon Mistletoe and Luke are doing more than just learning to like Christmas.

A YA romantic comedy in which Santa is the bad guy, teaching reindeer to fly is on the curriculum, and zombies have a fondness for Christmas music.
-
Suitable for older teens and upwards due to bad language.

I think it looks and sounds fantastic and am really looking forward to reading it! If it's anything like the rest of Jaimie's books we are in for a great read! North Pole Reform School will be published for Kindle on 6th November 2013.


Link to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18498255-north-pole-reform-school

Guest post: Red and White

And now for something completely different! I'd like to welcome Karen D'Or to Sheli Reads for her guest post about the recent trend for Tudor fiction.

Red and White

In California’s wine country, the grape harvest starts well before fall — the fruit ripens fast during the sweltering midsummer days when our vineyards seem like magnets for the summer sun, trapping the heat between the hills and valleys that define our terroir. Those heat wave days can quickly turn into sudden thundershowers, threatening the crops with mildew and ruination.

It is turncoat weather. If grapes aren’t harvested in time a precious vintage may be lost.

As long summer days come to a close, and the erratic harvest weather sends me home earlier on Saturdays, I open a bottle of local Pinot Noir and settle in to watch BBC’s The White Queen, the poorly-reviewed ten episode production based on Philippa Gregory’s three books: The White Queen, The Red Queen and The Kingmaker's Daughter.

Each Saturday night I turn on satellite TV to watch the small screen rendition the War of the Roses (WOTR). It is an time that historian Allison Weir calls an “unfolding pageant of treason and conflict.” I’m vigilantly watching the show because this year, surprisingly, the fictional tales of the historic conflict between the (red) Lancastrians and the (white) Yorkist roses/houses are my favorite bedtime reading: escapist, romantic, devious, epic, and always volatile.

Sure, I’ve grabbed Ms. Gregory’s popular WOTR novels, but even before The White Queen TV show landed in the U.S, I’d found other fiction authors who have tackled the pivotal century with careful plot development, thoughtful character interpretations, and insights into the mercurial relationships within, and between, the two houses. Since Sheli Reads loves good historical fiction, I’m delighted the saucy Welsh blogger invited me to guest post this week so I can share my thoughts on a few key re-tellings of this era.

Tudor Rose: the Story of the Queen Who United a Kingdom and Birthed a Dynasty

Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote Tudor Rose: the Story of the Queen Who United a Kingdom and Birthed a Dynasty sixty years ago. Tudor Rose brightly weaves the history of Elizabeth of York, the White Queen’s eldest daughter, and the most recent common ancestor of all English monarchs. Elizabeth shines through as a naturally cheerful girl who develops into a wise and warm queen. The book moves quickly, is carefully researched, and is well worth reading. However, towards the end Barnes tosses in a few strange fictional twists that seem both implausible and rushed.

 



Rose of York Trilogy

Written more recently, and with a stronger Ricardian slant, is Sandra Worth's Rose of York trilogy, three books framed by the decades long love story of Richard III and Anne Neville. The author won several awards for the series including Francis Ford Coppola/Ray Bradbury/Moxie Films-sponsored 2003 New Century Writers Award. The trilogy kept my attention, and Worth writes with compassion and clarity. Although Worth’s presumption of a “love at first sight” tormented romance between Richard and Anne is rather charming, I don’t agree with the journal of the Richard III society’s reviewer that the trilogy is a “masterpiece.” Entertaining, yes, but the author may have gone a bit too far in de-vilifying Richard.

The War of the Roses

In spite of the entertainment value of the novels, for me the most compelling read is the 1995 non-fiction classic from Alison Weir. Weir is the highest-selling female historian in the United Kingdom. This is a long (496 pages) and riveting book. It is a great introduction to the WOTR era; for a historian Weir is imminently readable with a strong narrative compass. Because of her uncanny ability to make historical facts evocative and moving, Weir’s insight is often more worthwhile, and compelling, than some of the fictional accounts which often unfairly collapse years and decades into just a few words.

 



 

As the days grow shorter, I recommend that you grab some juicy WOTR reading. You might even consider breaking out of the historical novel groove to explore a renowned nonfiction guide to this unstable period by turning to Alison Weir’s War of the Roses nonfiction classic. Weir brilliantly tells the “astonishing and often grim story of power struggles that involved some of the most charismatic figures in English History.”

By all means, time travel back to the fifteenth century: get lost in and around vivid landscapes like Pembroke Castle in West Wales, or Ludlow Castle in Shropshire where Edward IV sent his son the Prince of Wales before…. well, if you don’t already know, you’ll find out!

And as you delve into these devious WOTR times, I suggest you cozy up with a glass of ruby-red wine, perhaps a 2008 Dry Creek Valley Meritage. If you aren’t yet loyal to the reds, and if your leanings are more toward a chilly, seductive, wheat-hued dry white, consider the award-winning 2010 Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay.

Unlike in the volatile choices during the War of the Roses, there are no losers in this decision between Red and White.

 

Karen D’Or

28 September 2013

 

Background: 

Karen D’Or (B.A. in English Literature and M.A. in Business Administration) has a 30-year career writing for corporations and non-profits. Karen is a successful grant writer and researcher in Sonoma County, California, where her practice raises millions of dollars for local social service agencies. Her college boyfriend recalls her writing as “remarkably fresh, witty, sharp, expressive and clever.” Www.musingly.me is Karen’s first blog venture launched to fulfill those lofty expectations of three decades ago. Twitter @musinglyme

 

 

The Funny Adventures of Little Nani

Little Nani is a little girl who likes helping people. However, when she helps people the results can be a bit unexpected. Why is that? Little Nani is a witch! Or at least she wants to be a witch. With her magic wand, she will try to cast different spells to help her friends, but she won't be successful all the time. Follow Little Nani in her funny adventures and meet her extraordinary friends. Funny ostriches, horses that love reading, super-fast turtles, grumpy zombies... Little Nani has lots of friends! You can also draw your own characters! Little Nani is willing to become a good witch. Will she manage to do it? Who knows? Read the stories and discover what happens next!

My opinion: I read this book hoping for a lovely children's book and wasn't disappointed!

We follow the adventures of Little Nani as she meets lots of new friends and tries out her magic that she has learnt online! The book is really a collection of short stories, each with a new adventure and new friends to meet. It is really well written and gives a modern take on some more traditional fables.

I think that I would have really enjoyed this as a child. It is suitable to be read with parents and includes drawing activities or children and is definitely a book that children who can read alone can also enjoy.

This is a really lovely children's book with brilliant illustrations that could easily go on to become a modern classic. I read the ebook version on my iPad and the illustrations and colours showed up really well.

My rating: A fabulous four stars





Giveaway

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Find it on Amazon

About the author:

Cinta Garcia de la Rosa is a Spanish writer who has loved the written word since she discovered she was able to read books at age 5. Since then, she has become a bookworm and reads around 100 books every year. She also writes, every day, compulsively, even in the middle of the night. You cannot control when inspiration hits you, can you? She writes in English because she is convinced that in a previous life she was British, so writing in English feels more natural to her than writing in her native language. Yes, she is crazy like that. Cinta Garcia is the author of "The Funny Adventures of Little Nani", a collection of short stories for children, and "A Foreigner in London", a short story published on Smashwords.


Follow The Author:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CintaGarciaRosa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cinta-Garc%C3%ADa-de-la-Rosa-Author/333755993341596
Pinterest:http://pinterest.com/CintaGarciaRosa/boards/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=255957890&goback=%2Ermg_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=tab_pro
Tumblr: http://cintascorner.tumblr.com/
Blog: http://cintascorner.com
Website: http://www.cintagarciadelarosa.com

Book shelf clean up!

So it's a dull, cold and rainy Sunday. What better time to clean up my book shelves and TBR piles!

I have been ruthless and put some books aside for charity that I know I will never read again, or will just never get to. I've still got a pretty mammoth TBR though!

Here is my TBR and the smaller bedside pile for books I am currently reading or want to get to very soon!





And here are a selection of my book shelves! I have more with reference books, annuals, autobiographies, cookery books and books from when I was a child, so these are just a select few!











These books obviously don't include the huge number I've got on my kindle! I may have a problem with book buying...

My next job is to tidy my study where two of my book cases are to make it a nice cosy place to read! But I think I deserve a sit down with a cup of tea and a book first!

Author interview: M. Jonathan Lee

Over the summer I was very lucky to be contacted by the fabulous M. Jonathan Lee asking whether I would like to review his book The Radio. I was very glad I accepted as I loved the book and you can read my review here.

Jonathan has been kind enough to agree to be part of (or subject to, I'm not sure which!) my first author interview here at Sheli Reads.





1. Hi Jonathan, welcome to Sheli Reads. Firstly, I have to ask what inspired you to write The Radio?

The Radio had been in my mind for literally a decade. I wanted to write a story about someone who was downtrodden who finds a release in escaping from his day to day life by immersing himself in the radio. I also wanted the character to have a back-story that made him have an overwhelming need to escape every day life.

2. It takes real talent to get the right balance between humour and tragedy in a book and you have certainly managed it. How did you manage to think up the hilarious scenes in the book?

Thank you. I think that a lot of things in life bring humour even in the saddest moments. The Radio is semi-autobiographical and a lot of the humour has been a coping mechanism. The comedy scenes simply come from an amusing thought which may have popped into my mind and then I exaggerate and expand it to the nth degree!

3. Who is your favourite character in the book?

It would have to be George. Although I'm some thirty years younger, we do share a few traits. I am also extremely fond of Mollie. She is a close second to George and will develop in the second and third books in the trilogy.

4. Do you know any real life people like Auntie Lesley?

Ha! Absolutely right I do. Lesley's character is a mix of a number of people who I know pretty well, but obviously can't name here! I do remember one reviewer saying that she was just too unbelievable to be taken seriously. That is so untrue, that reviewer should move to my area...

5. What can we expect from you next?

The Radio ends with a twist, and is part of a trilogy. At the moment however, I am writing The Page, a thriller and another with a twist. The story goes...
Following a tragic car accident, Michael Sewell is alone and lost for the first time. The loss of his wife, Margaret after thirty years of marriage has left a hole far greater than Michael could have imagined.

Persuaded to go on holiday alone for the first time since this accident, by his daughter Jane, a page blown from a book crosses the pool and sticks to his chest.

The words from the page resonate with Michael, describing in detail the recent events in his own life.

Now, Michael must delve into his past and face his future, taking him and his family on a horrifying and tragic journey toward the truth.

6. What is your first book related memory?

That is a superb question and not one I've been asked before. My earliest memories involve a character called Bobby Brewster. These were short stories about a boy who bizarre things happened to; such as his wallpaper coming to life or an old vinyl record that he played which spoke to him. I think I was around 5 when I read them. They started my obsession with stories with a twist which carried on to my favourite - the master, Roald Dahl.

7. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Pretty much, yeah. When I realised by ten that footballer (too small) and rock star (no musical talent) were out of the question, I started writing. I self published my first magazine aged 11 and sold over 800 copies over 6 editions.

8. Which writers inspire you most?

Interesting question. I'm not sure that it is specifically writers, more the stories. There are so many fantastic stories to tell and so many ways to tell them. It's the imagination of the writer that appeals to me. I do love Stephen King, Mark Haddon, Iain Banks, A M Homes, Nick Hornby and of course, Roald Dahl to name a few.

9. What book do you wish you could have written?

The Life of Pi, perhaps my all time favourite book.

10. When I'm working I like to have a cup of tea, and sometimes a packet of crisps to keep me going. What food or drink do you enjoy when writing?

I'm not a big eater generally so there would be no food. Just can after can of full-fat Coca Cola.

11. And last but not least, if you were an animal, what would you be?

Hmm. Another good question, I'm not a huge animal fan, but absolutely love my bed so you can pick anything at all that hibernates.

Thank you Jonathan for letting me interview you and for being such a good sport!

You can find out more about Jonathan and his writing here.