As a result of poor eye sight I didn’t learn to read until relatively late, although ironically I went on to teach and inspect English so I have some sympathy with those who struggle with reading and writing. When I heard that Denise Ersalahi Erguler is a writer who is dyslexic I felt I had to invite her onto Linda’s Book Bag to find out a bit more about her experiences. Denise has just published her first children’s story, The Adventures of Shifting Jack: A New Home on 7th July 2016 and I had intended to feature Denise at the time but personal events overtook me. The Adventures of Shifting Jack: A New Home is available for purchase in e-book on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Adventures of Shifting Jack

Jack has always known that he and his little sister, Lily, are different to other children, but he doesn’t know why – until the family moves to North Cyprus.

Jack thinks he’s going to like it here; school is okay, he makes new friends, and Lily is happy too. Then one afternoon, Jack and Lily are involved in an earthquake and their world is turned upside down. Jack not only finds out his dad isn’t exactly his dad, but that none of his family is exactly human either…

The whole family is thrown into danger, and Jack knows it’s his job to protect Lily, whatever that takes. In pursuit of illegal animal hunters, a strange school teacher, and the truth, Jack does his best – but he is only nine years old, will his best be good enough?

Writing with Dyslexia

A Guest Post from Denise Ersalahi Erguler

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to you Linda for giving me the opportunity to post on your blog.

Writing for me has always been something of a challenge, as I am dyslexic. I love to read, always have, particularly fantasy and science fiction, I don’t have a problem with reading. My dyslexic affects my writing. When I was working as an interior designer, I sent an email to a client following our meeting. He telephoned me to ask if I meant what I had written, I was taken aback and re-read the email, I still couldn’t see anything wrong and it took my husband to point out that I had sent the email to Dead Dave, not Dear Dave! Of course I called him back and apologised. These days I get everything I write checked before it goes ‘public’.

My dyslexia was never picked up on at school, the teachers thought I was a bit stupid. I get numbers and letter mixed up, for example, I use a 3 instead of an E. It wasn’t until I read an article about dyslexia, that I realised it was something I had.

I have always been creative, more in an arts way, but a few years ago I was struggling to find something I wanted to read, so I started to dream up a story. Each night before I went to sleep I would visualise a scene. Then I started to write it all down.

My first book is an adult novel about aliens and shifters and it was while I was reading some excerpts out to my son, that I thought about writing a children’s book. His eyes lit up when I talked about shape shifters and that’s how The Adventures of Shifting Jack came about.

I have learned that if I read what I’ve written out loud I can pick up many of my mistakes, but I also have a very good editor and proof reader in Anne Hamilton of Write Right to help with all the spelling and grammar. I think it’s really important not to let something like dyslexia hold you back; there are ways around it.

About Denise Ersalahi Erguler

Denise Ersalahi Erguler moved to North Cyprus 10 years ago from London where she lives with her husband and two children. In her past life, Denise was an interior designer concentrating on open office space. Now, she helps runs the family business, a successful fabric and home furniture store. Denise writes for children and adults, and The Adventures of Shifting Jack is her first children’s novel.

You can follow Denise on Twitter and catch up with her on Facebook.

I am so grateful to Frances Gough at Headline for a copy of Late Summer in the Vineyard by Jo Thomas, in return for an honest review. Late Summer in the Vineyard was published by Headline on 11th August 2016 and is available for purchase in e-book and paperback from Amazon UK, Amazon US, W H Smith, Waterstones, from all good book sellers and directly from the publisher.

Late Summer in the Vineyard

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Emmy Bridges has always looked out for others. Now it’s time to put down roots of her own.

Working for a wine-maker in France is the opportunity of a lifetime for Emmy. Even if she doesn’t know a thing about wine – beyond what’s on offer at the local supermarket.

There’s plenty to get to grips with in the rustic town of Petit Frère. Emmy’s new work friends need more than a little winning over. Then there’s her infuriatingly brash tutor, Isaac, and the enigmatic Madame Beaumont, tucked away in her vineyard of secrets.

But Emmy will soon realise that in life – just as in wine-making – the best things happen when you let go and trust your instincts. Particularly when there’s romance in the air…

My Review of Late Summer in the Vineyard

With her depressed Dad relying on her to cover the arrears on the mortgage and the bailiffs at the door, Emmy needs to earn some money fast so when fate sends her to France this could be the boost she needs – or just another disaster.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Olive Branch by Jo Thomas (you can read my review here) I wondered whether this latest book would match such an enjoyable reading experience but she has done it again. Late Summer in the Vineyard has all the elements required for a perfect read be it on the beach or on a cold winter’s afternoon, but with a quality to the writing that lifts it far beyond generic women’s fiction.

What Jo Thomas does so evocatively is to set the scene. I was transported to France through the brilliant use of the senses so that I could see the early autumn mists swirling, smell the heady aroma of fermenting grapes and, frequently agonisingly, taste the brie, the crusty bread and the stews. In fact, I think Late Summer in the Vineyard should come with a warning – you’ll want to eat more as you read!

The characters are so realistic that I found myself wondering what they were doing when I wasn’t reading about them. I have a new role model to aspire to in Madame Beaumont whose feisty attitude and compelling background make her so much more than a minor character. Jo Thomas always seems to balance major and minor roles so that each person feels real and vibrant. What I think works so well is that the characters are not idealised and perfect, but Emmy, Isaac et al are rounded and believable.

I loved the plot of Late Summer in the Vineyard too. Real life is complicated and Emmy’s is no different. Whilst this is a romantic read and I expect there to be positive resolutions (you’ll have to read it for yourself to see if those expectations are met), there is such a wealth of really interesting authoritative detail woven into the story so that I have a much better understanding of the wine making process than before I started reading. However, the skill is that Jo Thomas provides the authenticity in a way that is utterly natural and integral to the story making the story a delight to read. This is brilliant writing.

I don’t know the extent to which Jo Thomas plans the themes and how much they arise naturally out of the realistic characters, but they give a depth and credibility to the narrative. We too frequently judge others by appearances or rely on others for our own happiness. Late Summer in the Vineyard teaches us to grasp life with both hands and make our own lives and luck. It also shows the importance of family and belonging.

I thought Late Summer in the Vineyard was very much like the wine that is described. It is smooth, velvety and satisfying – with a je ne sais quoi that adds that little bit extra making it a wonderful read.

About Jo Thomas

Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children.

Find Jo Thomas on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Having been to Guernsey 70 times en route to Jersey for work and never having got off the plane I am delighted to be interviewing Anne Allen as her latest story in The Guernsey Novels series, Echoes of Time, is published today 15th August 2016 by Sarnia Press in e-book. At least I can travel vicariously to Guernsey! Echoes of Time is available for purchase here and although it is book five in the series all Anne’s books can be read as stand alone stories. All of Anne’s lovely stories are available here.

Echoes of Time

Betrayal, injustice and revenge echo down the years…

1940. Olive marries farmer Bill Falla. The Germans occupy Guernsey.
All too soon Olive realises she’s made a mistake.
Her life changes when she meets Wolfgang, a German officer-
but there’s a price to pay. . .

2010. Natalie Ogier returns to Guernsey to escape an abusive relationship – only to be plagued by odd happenings in her beautiful cottage on the site of a derelict and secluded farm. Disturbing dreams, disembodied voices and uncanny visions from the past. She becomes increasingly ill at ease as someone else’s past catches up with her own…
Her only immediate neighbour, Stuart, is the grandson of the original owners, Bill and Olive.

Thrown together in a bid to find out what really happened to Olive, can they each survive the repercussions of the past and move on?

An Interview with Anne Allen

Hello Anne. Congratulations of today’s publication of Echoes of Time. Thank you so much for agreeing to answer some questions on my blog about your writing.

Firstly, please could you tell readers a little about yourself?

I live in Devon, by my beloved sea. I have three grown-up children and my daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. I was born in Rugby, to an English mother and Welsh father. As a result I spent many summers with my Welsh grandparents in Anglesey and learnt to love the sea.  My restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. I contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns. My other son lives in London which is great for city breaks.

By profession I was a psychotherapist but have now retired to write full-time. At the back of my mind the itch to write was always present but seemed too time-consuming for a single mum with a need to earn a living. I’ve now published five books in The Guernsey Novels series and mapped out the story for the sixth, due out in 2017.

When did you first realise you were going to be a writer?

Ten years ago I finally decided to pick up my pen after being ‘pushed’ by my mother to enter a true-life story contest run by Prima magazine. To my delight and surprise I won! The prize was £500 of M&S vouchers and a boost to my confidence as a writer. I started my first novel, Dangerous Waters, at that time but it wasn’t until 2012 that it was published.

If you hadn’t become an author, what would you have done instead as a creative outlet?

Over the years I’d had many creative ‘itches’, learning to mosaic, paint furniture, interior design and sculpt. So there’s never been a shortage of creative outlets!

How do you carry out the research for your novels?

Anything to do with contemporary Guernsey has been quite easy as I lived there for so long. I also make frequent trips over to refresh my memory and catch up with my son and friends and do a spot of research. My work as a therapist has helped with the issues raised in my stories, such as tragedy or adoption. All the books reference the German Occupation in some way and I’ve completed a large amount of research on that period. Fortunately there’s a mass of documents and books available and I’ve been lucky to talk to islanders who lived through it.

Which aspects of your writing do you find easiest and most difficult?

The easiest is writing the outline of the story and the hardest is filling in the gaps.

(Oh, I know that feeling Anne!)

What are your writing routines and where do you do most of your writing?

I’m a bit of a procrastinator so don’t start writing until I’ve completed essential tasks such as checking on Facebook, twitter and anything else that doesn’t require too much effort. Then the all-important coffee has to be made and drunk…By late morning I’m ready to work and will continue, if the Muse is willing, until early evening with a break for lunch.

I write in my study as I use my PC. I used to write by hand and then type it up, but after a problem with my right hand which involved an operation, I only write the brief outlines of each chapter before typing. And I can’t cope with noise and distractions so would never be able to write in a café or on a train.

(I think it’s the lot of many writers to procrastinate and social media is a great way to do so, so you’re in great company Anne.)

When you’re not writing, what do you like to read?

My choice is quite eclectic. I enjoy historical fiction such as the books by CJ Sansom and a mix of contemporary fiction including the works of Erica James and Robert Goddard. I like stories with depth and plots which make me think. But I’m happy to try new authors!

Do you have other interests that give you ideas for writing?

Well, I love dramas on television and visiting the theatre and museums and probably, unconsciously, pick up ideas from these.

Which of your characters would you most like to be and why?

Jeanne, from Dangerous Waters, as I fell in love with her man, Nick.

If one of your books became a film, which would you choose and why?

Readers have told me they think Dangerous Waters would make a great film as it’s particularly visual and even includes a police car chase. I’m just waiting for the film rights offers…

(Fingers crossed!)

How important do you think social media is to authors in today’s society?

It’s invaluable. Authors now have the opportunity to interact directly with their readers and vice versa, unheard of in the past. The worldwide reach of Facebook and twitter, for example, brings authors closer to their readers who can buy their books in any country in today’s digital society. I tend to use it for promotion, particularly if I have a new book launching or a price discount.

If you had 15 words to persuade a reader that a Guernsey Novels book should be their next read, what would you say?

If you love beautiful settings, a mix of love, mystery and drama then you’ll be hooked!

Is there anything else you would have liked to be asked?

I’d like to point out that although my books form a series, each story is a standalone and could be read out of sequence. However, they are linked by characters who keep popping up, meaning if you don’t want to know what happened to them too soon, it’s better to read them in order. Just saying! Oh, and book 5, Echoes of Time, is out on 15^th August.

Thank you so much, Anne, for your time in answering my questions.

About Anne Allen

Anne was born in Rugby to a Welsh father and an English mother. As a result she spent many summers with her Welsh grandparents in Anglesey and learnt to love the sea. Now she is based in Devon to be near her daughter and 2 small grandchildren. Her restless spirit has meant a number of moves, the longest stay being in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns. Her younger son is based in London – ideal for city breaks.

You can visit Anne’s website, her Amazon Author Page and find her on Facebook. You can also follow Anne on Twitter.

As the summer rolls on, what better way to enjoy it than with a brand new e-book, Wicked Summer, by Roma Brooks out today 15th August 2016. Wicked Summer is available for purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

To celebrate Wicked Summer’s release. Roma Brooks has kindly agreed to a guest post on Linda’s Book Bag, all about two things we really need – food and families.

Wicked Summer

Wicked Summer follows the Bloom family as they spend a once in a lifetime vacation at Cape Harriet, a charming seaside town on Virginia’s scenic Eastern Shore.

All Mary Bloom ever wanted was to celebrate her 60th birthday at the beach. The extended Bloom family converges at the Rising Tides Inn, where their slightest whim is catered to.

Forty something Iris is the perfect suburban mom, holding her four kids and husband on a tight leash. 36 year old Hyacinth is single, successful and the self-proclaimed brains of the family. At 26, Poppy is a top travel blogger, wandering across countries most people only dream of visiting.

The rivalry among the sisters is as strong as ever, and each sister is dealing with it in her own way. So while Iris taunts and needles, Hyacinth takes the high road and shows disdain. Poppy suffers silently, lost in her own inner turmoil. None of them has an inkling of the storm that is about to break loose in their lives.

Soft shell crabs and salt marshes will be forgotten as shocking secrets are revealed. Everyone seems to be guilty of hiding something.

Set in idyllic Cape Harriet, Wicked Summer takes the reader on a thrilling roller coaster ride with plenty of laughs, tears and intrigue with heart warming moments, scrumptious food and never a dull moment.

Of Scrumptious Food, Sparring Families and Cape Harriet

A Guest Post by Roma Brooks

Family is something I hold very dear to my heart. I am convinced that the love within families is what makes the world go round. This is the one thing that is a constant no matter where you are in the world, no matter what your ethnic background. We may aspire for great things in life, from the material to the very sublime, but none of our achievements have any meaning without family.

I created Cape Harriet to be a very positive, feel good type of place. With a former chef and inn keeper as a main character, food was bound to play a big part in the series. That doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen there. In Clipper Beach, Book 1 in the series, we read about the tragic history of the eponymous Harriet. We also read about the grief the Strathmores are living with every day of their lives.

Wicked Summer is the story of yet another family, the Blooms. The Blooms come to Cape Harriet for Mary Bloom’s 60^th birthday. Some come willingly, some grudgingly. They all have varying expectations. 40 something Iris and 36 year old Hyacinth are both dreading having to stay in some shady hovel. Little Danny is excited to see the ocean for the first time. 19 year old Amber’s counting days until she heads off to college. And at 26, Poppy’s training for something big. But they all seem to agree on one thing. The food! The delicious, fresh and seasonal food at the Rising Tides Inn, lovingly dished by Pete and Zadie Strathmore, the inn owners, brings the Blooms together.

As we read Wicked Summer, we come across a lot of surprises. The book begins with Poppy’s big announcement, and it seems like the tone is set after that. Every day of the week brings new shocks, some more severe than the other. At such a time, the fresh seafood – oysters, crabs, trout, flounder, and fresh garden produce – berries, vegetables and so on, bring a smile to everyone’s face. Zadie seems to think her food can solve all problems, because she turns up with a new gourmet creation at every meal.

Linguine with fresh clams, chocolate chip pancakes with caramel sauce, cobblers, tacos and of course, pimento cheese, are just the tip of the iceberg. If that sounds run of the mill, foodie readers are in for another treat with the Cape Harriet Summer Festival.

So if the thought of hand churned ice cream and creamy chowder makes you smile, if barbecues on the beach alongside crashing waves make you nostalgic, come to Cape Harriet for a Wicked Summer.

To find out more about Cape Harriet, Wicked Summer and Roma Brooks, follow the author on Twitter.

My enormous thanks to Elizabeth Preston at Simon and Schuster UK for a copy of Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley in return for an honest review. Lily and the Octopus was published on 14th July 2016 and is available for purchase from Amazon UK, Amazon US, W H Smith, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble and all good book sellers.

Lily and the Octopus

Companions come in all shapes and sizes.
Companionship lasts forever.

Lily and the Octopus is a novel about finding that special someone to share your life with.
For Ted Flask, that someone is Lily, and she happens to be a dog.
This novel reminds us how to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.

Reminiscent of The Life of Pi and The Art of Racing in the Rain, with spins into magic realism and beautifully evoked universal truths of love, loyalty and loss, a hilariously sardonic and not altogether reliable narrator, and one unforgettable hound who simple wisdom will break your heart and put it back together again, Lily and the Octopus captures the search for meaning in death and introduces a dazzling new voice in fiction.

My review of Lily and the Octopus

Lily and the Octopus is just a story about a man, Ted Flask, who loves his dog, Lily. There are really only a few characters explored, the Dachshund Lily, the narrator Ted and the ‘octopus’. It ought to have a high ‘So what?’ factor and yet it is so much more in a beautifully poignant, heart wrenching tale of love, loss and grief that I could relate to completely. Substitute my Dad for Lily as we deal with his own octopus, a recent devastating stroke, and every word felt like an echo of my very soul.

Steven Rowley writes with such passion in an allegorical, mystical and compelling manner. The narrator, Ted, is not altogether truthful and reliable at times and there are passages of surprising violence, but this only serves to underline the gut wrenching emotion he is feeling. There is rage, sorrow, anger and the deepest of love that is so all encompassing that towards the end I read with tears (or eye rain) streaming down my face. As well as Ted’s connection with Lily, we get to see a real man; one who struggles with a range of relationships with family, friends and potential boyfriends so that it is impossible not to want the best for him, to want to hold and comfort him too.

Alongside this emotion is also lightness of touch and humour. Self effacing and aware of his own ridiculousness the first person narrator is not above a wry and sarcastic turn of phrase. I found the writing really effective. The variety of sentence length, the vibrancy of the present tense, the naturalness of the dialogue, the touches of description all combine in a vibrant new voice that I think will be a huge success. Comparisons have been made with other writers and books but I think this is erroneous. Steven Rowley has a unique style of his own that is almost impossible to define. I cannot recommend Lily and the Octopus highly enough. To quote Lily I! LOVE! IT!

You can find out more about Steven Rowley on his website, on Facebook and by following him on Twitter.

Once again I’m thrilled to be supporting Brook Cottage Books in spotlighting a smashing book. This time it is Before You by Kathryn Freeman and I have my review below. A contemporary romance, Before You was published by Choc Lit on 7th June 2016 and is available for purchase on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Kathryn recently featured on Linda’s Book Bag with a guest post all about how writing what you know isn’t always easy and you can read that post here.

Before You

When life in the fast lane threatens to implode …

Melanie Hunt’s job working for the Delta racing team means she is constantly rubbing shoulders with Formula One superstars in glamorous locations like Monte Carlo. But she has already learned that keeping a professional distance is crucial if she doesn’t want to get hurt.

New Delta team driver Aiden Foster lives his life like he drives his cars – fast and hard. But, no matter how successful he is, it seems he always falls short of his championship-winning father’s legacy. If he could just stay focused, he could finally make that win.

Resolve begins to slip as Melanie and Aiden find themselves drawn to each other –with nowhere to hide as racing season begins. But when a troubled young boy goes missing, everything is thrown into turmoil, including Aiden’s championship dream.

My Review of Before You

Having previously had her heart broken by one racing driver, press officer Mel has no intention of getting involved with playboy Aiden as he joins the Delta team.

Before You is a smashing romantic read. The glamorous world of F1 motor racing makes for an interesting and engaging backdrop for the romance and I have a much greater understanding of how that world works as a result of reading this story.

The characters of Mel and Aiden in particular are really well drawn and even the more minor participants like Frank are realistic and lifelike. The backstories have been well thought out so that readers get a real sense of who they are and how they have become the people presented in the story. Kathryn Freeman has a lovely touch when describing sexual moments so that there is an eroticism and sensuality without the language being overly explicit or saccharine. She also writes completely natural and engaging dialogue.

I found the plot raced along as the love interest between Mel and Aiden developed and was challenged by others and circumstances. I was never entirely certain what the outcome might be, which led to a greater satisfaction in the reading.

The only minor complaint I have is that I would have liked a little more detail about the exotic locations of the races as, even though they are not essential to the narrative, they do add to the picture of the F1 world and I love travel and finding out about new locations.

Before You is an ideal read to escape the mundanity of life into the glamorous arena of motor racing where drivers are flawed, handsome and sexy. I really enjoyed it.

About Kathryn Freeman

Kathryn was born in Wallingford, England but has spent most of her life living in a village near Windsor. After studying pharmacy in Brighton she began her working life as a retail pharmacist. She quickly realised that trying to decipher doctor’s handwriting wasn’t for her and left to join the pharmaceutical industry where she spent twenty happy years working in medical communications. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer, juggling the two disciplines of medical writing and romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) the romance in her life is all in her head. Then again, her husband’s unstinting support of her career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.

 You can follow Kathryn on Facebook, on Twitter and visit her website.

Click here to enter to win a paperback copy of Search for the Truth, another of Kathryn’s lovely books.

I’m delighted to be bringing you one of the first glimpses of A.J Waines’ latest novel Inside the Whispers, the first in a new series featuring Dr Samantha Willerby. I read A.J Waines’ wonderful No Longer Safe a while ago and you can see my review here. Inside the Whispers will be released in e-book and paperback on October 20th 2016 and the e-book is available for pre-order on Amazon UK and Amazon US or your local Amazon site.

I’m also ridiculously excited to find myself quoted on the back cover!

Inside the Whispers

Where the most Dangerous place – is inside your own head…

Following a London Tube disaster, three traumatised survivors turn to clinical psychologist, Dr Samantha Willerby, for help – but she’s mystified when their stories don’t add up. Her confusion turns to horror when one by one, instead of recovering, they start committing suicide.

When her partner, Conrad, begins to suffer the same terrifying flashbacks, Sam is desperate to find out what is causing them and a mysterious and chilling crime begins to unravel.

Then the flashbacks begin for Sam…

The first book in the Dr Samantha Willerby Series, INSIDE THE WHISPERS is a tense, haunting Psychological Thriller that will leave your nerves in shreds.

Inside the Whispers is available for pre-order here.

 About A. J. Waines

AJ Waines topped the UK and Australian Kindle Charts in 2015 with her number one bestseller, Girl on a Train. Following fifteen years as a psychotherapist, she is now a full-time novelist with publishing deals in France, Germany (Penguin Random House) and USA (audiobook).

Her first novel, The Evil Beneath, went to Number One in ‘Murder’ and ‘Psychological Thrillers’ in the UK Kindle Charts and Dark Place to Hide stayed for several weeks at Number One in ‘Vigilante Justice’. In 2015, she was featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Times and was ranked in the Top 20 UK authors on Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing).

You can follow A J Waines on Twitter, on Facebook, on her blog and by newsletter.

 

I’m delighted to be featuring another Choc Lit author, Liz Harris, today in association with Brook Cottage Books to celebrate Liz’s historical romance The Lost Girl. The Lost Girl was published by Choc Lit on 8th August 2016 and is available for purchase in e-book and paperback on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

I’m so disappointed that personal events meant I didn’t have time to read The Lost Girl in time for this blog post, but I do have a giveaway with Brook Cottage Books to win an e-copy of the book. You can enter at the bottom of this blog post.

The Lost Girl

What if you were trapped between two cultures?

Life is tough in 1870s Wyoming. But it’s tougher still when you’re a girl who looks Chinese but speaks like an American.

Orphaned as a baby and taken in by an American family, Charity Walker knows this only too well.  The mounting tensions between the new Chinese immigrants and the locals in the mining town of Carter see her shunned by both communities.

When Charity’s one friend, Joe, leaves town, she finds herself isolated. However, in his absence, a new friendship with the only other Chinese girl in Carter makes her feel like she finally belongs somewhere.

But, for a lost girl like Charity, finding a place to call home was never going to be that easy …

About Liz Harris

Liz Harris lives south of Oxford. Her debut novel was The Road Back (US Coffee Time & Romance Book of 2012), followed by A Bargain Struck (shortlisted for the RoNA Historical 2013), Evie Unndercover, The Art of Deception and A Western Heart. All of her novels, which are published by Choc Lit, have been shortlisted in their categories in the Festival of Romantic Fiction. In addition, Liz has had several short stories published in anthologies. Her interests are theatre, travelling, reading, cinema and cryptic crosswords.

You’ll find Liz on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, her WEBSITE and GOODREADS.

Click here to enter to win an e-copy of The Lost Girl.

I’m delighted to be part of the celebrations of Learning to Fly by Jane Lambert. Learning to Fly is Jane’s debut novel and is available for purchase in e-book and paperback on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Today, Jane has kindly agreed to answer some questions about her writing and Learning to Fly.

Learning To Fly

Forty-year-old air stewardess Emily Forsyth has everything a woman could wish for: a glamorous, jet-set lifestyle, a designer wardrobe and a dishy pilot of a husband-in-waiting to match. But when he leaves her to ‘find himself’ (forgetting to mention the bit about ‘…a younger girlfriend’), Emily’s perfect world comes crashing down. Catapulted into a mid-life crisis, she is forced to take stock and make some major changes. She ditches her job and enrols on a drama course in pursuit of her childhood dream, positive that, in no time at all, she’ll be sexily sporting a stethoscope on ‘Holby City’, and her ex will rue the day he dumped her. Wrong! Her chosen path proves to be an obstacle course littered with rejection and financial insecurity. If she is to survive, she must learn to be happy with less, and develop a selective memory to cope with more than her fair share of humiliating auditions. She tells herself her big break is just around the corner. But is it too late to be chasing dreams?

An Interview with Jane Lambert

How have your experiences helped you in writing Learning to Fly?

My personal journey from glamorous, globe-trotting air stewardess to struggling actor inspired the theme of the book. Since becoming an actor and writer I’ve worked in all sorts of places to pay the bills. I have met so many people who feel trapped by their jobs or relationships and wish they’d had the courage to break free and follow their dream.

I wanted to write a book about how success is not necessarily a financial thing and doing what gives you fulfilment is healthier than focusing on your Christmas bonus. There are plenty of self-help books on the subject, written by authors far more qualified than me.

However, I wanted to write a romantic comedy with this theme at its heart – an ordinary, middle-aged woman starting over on her own and discovering true happiness and inner peace by taking control of her life – just as I did. The obstacle course the quirky Emily stumbles her way around provided the comedy and many of the events are loosely based on my own experiences – but I’d better not reveal which ones!

(You’ll have us all guessing now Jane!)

Does being an actress help or hinder your writing process?

It definitely helps to bring the characters to life.  When you play a character you have to know them as well as you know yourself. You fill in the blanks and create a backstory: where they live, where they went to school, their first kiss, their likes and dislikes, what music they listen to, have they siblings, their childhood memories and so on.

I use the same research with the characters in my writing. Before you make an entrance on stage you should know where your character has come from, what time of day and year it is and what their purpose is. These things affect the way they walk and talk and help to make them real and three-dimensional. I apply this method to the characters in my books.  

Do you think visually as you write?

Yes. As I write a scene I am transported to its location. I can see the characters, hear their conversations, feel the atmosphere. I use music to inspire me and have a Learning To Fly playlist.  

Is it hard not to produce a script rather than a novel?

I am writing my first screenplay and am finding the reverse: keeping a tight rein on my descriptive voice and allowing the visual and the audio to take over is challenging.

Are you aware of the naturalness of dialogue more as a result? 

Yes. People don’t speak perfectly and are not always confident in what they are saying. We interrupt one another, sometimes our sentences overlap, we get side-tracked, we mishear, conversations break down and awkward silences ensue. I bear this in mind when writing dialogue in the hope that my readers will find the characters flawed and believable.

 About Jane Lambert

Jane studied French and German, taught English in Vienna then travelled the world as air crew before making the life-changing decision to become an actress.

She has appeared in “Calendar Girls”, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” and “Deathtrap” in London’s West End .

Learning to Fly is Jane’s debut novel.  The audio book will be available in the Spring. Jane is in the process of writing the sequel, Marriage, Mafia & Mozzarella.

If you are in Edinburgh during the Festival pop along to Blackwell’s book shop at South Bridge on 18^th August at 6 p.m. when Jane will be talking about mid-life reinvention and what inspired her to write Learning To Fly.

If you can’t be there you can find Jane Lambert on Facebook and she has just joined Twitter where she’d love to hear from you.

You can find out more about and from Jane with these other bloggers:

My grateful thanks to Quercus Books for including me in their reading challenge #QuercusSummer and providing book three, The Lavender House, by Hilary Boyd in exchange for an honest review. The Lavender House was published in e-book and hardback on 4th August 2016 and is available for purchase from Amazon, W H Smith, Quercus and from all good booksellers.

I have also reviewed the other two books in the #QuercusSummer and you’ll find Last Dance in Havana by Rosanna Ley here and Florence Grace by Tracy Rees here.

The Lavender House

Nancy de Freitas is the glue that holds her family together. Caught between her ageing, ailing mother Frances, and her struggling daughter Louise, frequent user of Nancy’s babysitting services, it seems Nancy’s fate is to quietly go on shouldering the burden of responsibility for all four generations. Her divorce four years ago put paid to any thoughts of a partner to share her later years with. Now it looks like her family is all she has.

Then she meets Jim. Smoker, drinker, unsuccessful country singer and wearer of cowboy boots, he should be completely unsuited to the very together Nancy. And yet, there is a real spark.

But Nancy’s family don’t trust Jim one bit. They’re convinced he’ll break her heart, maybe run off with her money – he certainly distracts her from her family responsibilities.

Can she be brave enough to follow her heart? Or will she remain glued to her family’s side and walk away from one last chance for love?

My Review of The Lavender House

Four years after her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Nancy is going out for a friend’s birthday on an evening that will change her entire future.

The Lavender House is the kind of read that feels familiar and comforting because Hilary Boyd always writes with such authority and panache about relationships and ordinary life so that every word is completely believable. It’s almost as if she’s stepped into your head and understood your hopes, fears and vulnerabilities.

An aspect that (probably ridiculously) slightly marred the read for me was Jim’s hair and smoking. I loathe cigarette smoke with a passion almost bordering on pathological obsession and I can’t stand pony tails on men so it took me a short while to get over my own prejudices. However, these features also had the effect of making me wary of him like Nancy’s mother Frances and her daughter Louise so I could understand their emotions perfectly.

Most of the characters were rounded and realistic except perhaps for Christopher who felt a little too stereotypically pompous and self centered, although he is a minor character. It was scary how Frances echoed exactly my own mother so accurately – so much so that I won’t be passing on The Lavender House to her in case she realises! I did want to shake Nancy at times and thought that she ought to have put her own happiness first more frequently, but I felt the way in which her dilemmas were portrayed was very authentic.

The plot moves along with pace so that I found myself caught up in the action and wanting to know how life would resolve itself for Nancy but I did think there were perhaps a few too many blocks and obstacles for her. That said, I cared what happened to her completely.

The Lavender House touches on the kind of themes that can affect us all – loyalty to family, divorce, financial uncertainty, dealing with elderly parents – so that there is something here for all readers. I enjoyed the story very much – and even with a ponytail Jim won me over! I think The Lavender House would make a good holiday read.

About Hilary Boyd

Hilary Boyd trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, then as a marriage guidance counselor. After a degree in English Literature at London University in her thirties, she moved into health journalism, writing a Mind, Body, Spirit column for the Daily Express. She published six non-fiction books on health-related subjects before turning to fiction and writing a string of bestsellers, starting with Thursdays in the Park. Hilary is married to film director/producer Don Boyd.

Follow Hilary on Twitter.