Today I’m welcoming David Carraturo, author of Cameron’s Quest to Linda’s Book Bag to tell me a little about his writing. Cameron’s Quest was published on 22nd December 2016 and is available for purchase here.

Cameron’s Quest

Tuckahoe’s “Golden Boy” Chris Cameron had his future all mapped out. He was the big fish in the small pond as a star athlete and academic standout. Off to the University of Texas to play football, he was on track to make his Italian-American mother and Irish father proud.
His two blood brothers chose different paths. Soon after high school, Sal Esposito and Tony Albanese were swept into the life of organized crime. Imposing figures, the pair assisted with strong-armed activities for their capo. Away from that life, Cameron periodically returned to his neighborhood roots to assist his blood brothers in retribution and risk his promising future to avenge violent threats to his lifelong bond.
Filled with suspense and character twists, Cameron’s Quest is set in the 1980s and relives a time when an Italian-American family’s Sunday dinner table was the only setting needed for therapy sessions, interrogations, judgment, and jury for any punishment. This novel reminisces about the Mets’ championship season, Reagonomics, John Gotti’s underworld reign, and the pop culture of the time

An Interview with David Carraturo

Hi David. Thank you so much for agreeing to answer some questions on my blog about your writing. Firstly, please could you tell me a little about yourself?

My pleasure Linda, I am so honored that you reached out to me for this interview. I would consider myself a fulltime dad/husband and a part-time writer. Writing is one of my passions, and I brand it to my wife Teresa as an expensive hobby. I live in the northern suburbs of NYC in the tiny village of Tuckahoe and have worked in Wall Street sales and research since 1986. I am married with three beautiful, growing daughters who are now 21-18 & 14. In addition to writing, I have a passion for exercise and at 52 years old, I label myself “Diesel Dad.” I compete regularly in the Wall Street Decathlon to raise money for pediatric cancer research at Sloan Kettering. In the few moments I have to myself, I am also an avid poker player and rabid New York Mets fan.

And tell me a little about your latest novel Cameron’s Quest (without spoiling the plot of course!)

Cameron’s Quest is the third instalment of the Columbus Avenue Boys trilogy. I wrote the first part, Cameron Nation in 2011 and followed this up with Columbus Avenue Boys in 2012. Cameron’s Quest delves into the formative years of my protagonist, Chris Cameron. I actually have three protagonists, the other two being Sal Esposito and Tony Albanese. Cameron’s Quest tells a vivid story of how three blood brothers deal with challenges in the ever-changing years after high school. Chris Cameron was the town golden boy. He ventured off to higher education and to play college football at the University of Texas while Sal and Tony earned their degree as enforcers and earners for a powerful and ruthless organized crime family in the NYC area. Chris, Sal and Tony – the Columbus Avenue Boys – galvanize as one to face life threatening challenges as they hang onto the crossbar of life’s rollercoaster. The story is in the 1983-1988 time period, so the setting is quite nostalgic and if you lived through this era, you will relive many of the marquee events that transpired.

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

The running punch line I tell anyone who asks of this perennial B- student is that “people barely knew I could read, let alone write.” Looking back though, I had always loved to put pen to paper. I eagerly took a creative writing course my junior year of high school. I kept a notebook of my high school football season and even wrote made-up news articles prior to our championship 1981 season (I was quarterback). After college, on the train commute to NYC, I began to read and read and read. I became passionate about World War Two, politics, organized crime, the early 1900s and even time-period sagas. I read all of John Jakes. Twenty years ago, I even outlined a potential story about geriatric brothers playing poker and reminiscing about how they had lived unscathed through a life in organized crime. The point I am trying to make is that I could have never been a writer in my 20s or 30s as the core of my stories is certainly not literary prose, but the ability to bring characters, settings and events to live because of my life experiences – which continue to drive me to spur ideas, to this day.

What techniques did you use to create your 1980’s setting and why did you choose that era for Cameron’s Quest?

After Cameron Nation and Columbus Avenue Boys, the air pocket of time where I had the flexibility to develop a coherent and believable story was the 1983-1988 period. Questions remained after the first two works – Why did Chris Cameron leave his blood brothers and friendly confines of Tuckahoe behind and how did Sal and Tony’s fearsome reputations come about? I had much of the groundwork already laid out for me via the background stories and character development already written on. After that it was fun. I lived through the 1980s and graduated high school in 1982. God Bless the Internet to remind me of the music, clothes sports events, etc. I knew I had to interweave the Mets World Series championship 1986 season in some way. A little of this (Billy Joel, Cheers, Ronald Reagan, my favorite beer), a little of that (the memory of my grandfather, sporting events results, my glory days on the gridiron) and it all came together in a way I found was believable and made sense.

I know you’re really interested in World War 2. Do you have plans to write about that era too?

I wrote about this time period in Columbus Avenue Boys. I have read close to fifty books – fiction and non-fiction on the World War Two era. The Columbus Avenue Boys story is a “Godfatheresque” flashback story. Chris Cameron, Sal Esposito and Tony Albanese are not just blood brothers – they are also cousins and Tony’s grandfather is the last of the older generation and his early life is told via the flashbacks – beginning when all of their relatives emigrated from Italy in the 1880s through prohibition and tragic interactions with Bugsy Siegel and eventually to the war in the Pacific. My father served in the navy on the aircraft carrier. Intrepid and I had always wanted to honor him with a storyline. While he served in the late 1950s, through my research, I found out the Intrepid was in many battles in the Pacific theatre.  I had Vincent Scala (Tony’s grandfather) be a marine who fought in Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan and then returned to the states via a ride on the Intrepid. To be more authentic, I would research the Medal of Honor website of the era to find real-life hero stories as well.

How do you go about researching detail and ensuring your books are realistic?

I am a stickler to detail – down to the weather of the day. I could never have written without the Internet. As an example, say I was writing about June 1984, I would Google the month and in front of me would be a potpourri of events and details of the snapshot in time. I’d pull one or two that peeked my interest (Born to Run was number one on the charts, Diane said yes to Sam Malone on Cheers) and extrapolate from there. This is also the reason I only write about what I know very well. If you read Cameron’s Quest, Columbus Avenue Boys or Cameron Nation one thing I am certain about is that you will believe the story and characters are authentic (or even think they are non-fiction) and that you will be learning along the way – poker, history, economics, sports betting, politics, organized crime, Italian-American family life. I will never write about drinking tea with your pinkie out at a cotillion. My stories are about the salt of the earth and everyday life that many people can relate to.

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

Starting with the most difficult – I would say development of female characters and dialogue of are the hardest – because I am a dude. While writing Cameron Nation, my editor pointed this out in my early draft and it struck me as a major stumbling block. Therefore, my core female character, Sabina Cameron (Chris sister) was developed to be his opposite (liberal, do-gooder) and that helped a lot. In addition, I would say if I try and expound on areas where I have little to no knowledge, I tend to get sloppy and canned. While I am proud to say “I am a mile wide and an inch deep on many topics” there are areas in life that simply do not interest me. As an example, in real life, my father worked for GM and was passionate about cars – while I have zero interest (my wife knows exponentially more than me). Therefore, I give very little detail to cars and driving in my stories.

The easiest for me to write about is dialogue, settings and character development simply because I usually write about what I have experienced or passionate about. I am proud to say my dialogue is witty, authentic and educational. I pull from all areas of my life. Two quick examples are – 1. I have a cousin who is an imposing figure, yet has a tendency to cry at will – very emotional – so I used this trait for Tony Albanese. 2. Back in 1995, my wife and I went to Las Vegas for our one year anniversary. While playing poker, I sat next to an elderly, hunched over man who won a pot against a drunken twentysomething. The inebriated guy said “Old man, you’re kicking my ass.” Without missing a beat, the old man responded “I haven’t even started kicking your ass yet!” Fast forward seventeen years later and I used the exact line to come out of an elderly Vincent Scala’s mouth in Columbus Avenue Boys.

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

I never say, “today I am going to write the third part of my trilogy!” I can go days-weeks-months-years without writing, then I get an epiphany and I lock in. As a general rule, I never write more than a chapter a week. I get the draft down and then backfill and edit all past chapters. I write at all times of the day and night. When I am locked in, the story and characters takeover my life.

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

I read an eclectic mix of books, both fiction and non-fiction. My passion is World War Two and organized crime from 1920-2000s. I also read to get educated on topics like politics. However, I have even picked up chick-romance book from time to time. Most of my reading is done on the roundtrip 30 minute train ride from Westchester to NYC. John Jakes, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy were my early read-all’s from the 1980s.

I know you like to keep fit. How important do you think fitness is for writers? 

Fitness is a passion of mine and through the years I have always had the most business and writing success during times of intense physical activity. Exercise clears stress from the body and gives the mind time to think – in a solitary setting. There are twenty-four hours in a day for a reason, and exercise should be incorporated in everyone’s routine.

You’ve lived in the same area all your life. How has this fact impacted on your writing?

Parkway Casino in Tuckaho

I am 52 and have moved four times yet never out of the Tuckahoe, NY 10707 zipcode. My family has roots to Tuckahoe since the 1910’s. On top of this, Tuckahoe has a rich history of interesting events (the marble capital of the world, a 1903 prize fight, many Italian immigrants, and colourful characters). I am proud of my heritage and that many of the town folk are intertwined (many six degrees of separation stories).

Cameron’s Quest‘s cover makes me think of brotherhood and striving. How did that image come about and what were you hoping to convey (without spoiling the plot please!)? 

The image for Cameron’s Quest was “borrowed” from my writing partners (first fruits Entertainment, Maria and Kevin O’Bryan) and their short film, King’s Heart. The second I saw their image, I knew it would be perfect to have the Cameron’s Quest cover extrapolated. Their cover had one teen, while my cover has the three Columbus Avenue Boys.

If you could choose to be a character from Cameron’s Quest, who would you be and why? 

I do love all my characters but in my heart, I wish I were Chris Cameron. Many of his fictional storylines were derived from my experiences as well as what I wanted to be in life. He has some issues, but is who all men should want to be in life – IMHO.

If Cameron’s Quest became a film, who would you like to play Chris Cameron and why would you choose them?

Since I have been through this exercise already with my screenplay writing partners, Kevin & Maria O’Bryan, for Columbus Avenue Boys (which had been optioned for screenplay in 2013 by EUE Sokolow – but unfortunately went nowhere!) we have kicked around some big-time Hollywood names. Chris Cameron is half-Italian and half-Irish, so he does not have the same features of the stereotypical look of Italian tough guys Sal and Tony. I would say the leading candidate to play Chris Cameron (in his 30s) is Ryan Reynolds. Zac Efron may be able to pull it off for Quest. Tall, athletic and smart- any suggestions from your followers?

If you had 15 words to persuade a reader that Cameron’s Quest should be their next read, what would you say?

The Columbus Avenue Boy’s trilogy is a well-rounded saga of three blood brothers facing life challenges and persevering. Cameron’s Quest is the genesis of their journey.  More than 15 words, but it is a trilogy!

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

Linda, you are more than welcome. I am so honored you have given me this chance for fifteen minutes of fame.

About David Carraturo

David Carraturo is a life-long resident of Tuckahoe, a predominately Italian-Irish American community in Westchester County, New York. He has spent over thirty years working on Wall Street and is married and the father of three daughters. An avid poker player and organized crime/World War Two buff, he spends his free time with his family and exercising the mind and body to sustain happiness and success.

He loves to read a multitude of topics, both fiction and non-fiction but his true passion is anything related to World War Two as well as economics and politics. If you would like a novel reviewed, he is more than happy to review your work. War stories, Mafia reads, poker, economics and general American history would be his sweet spots for an educated review.

You can follow David on Twitter and find out more on Goodreads.

I have been lucky enough to meet lovely Faith Mortimer in person, interview her here for Linda’s Book Bag and read one of her engaging romances, A Very Distant Affair, reviewed here. Consequently, I’m delighted to have had the chance to read the latest in Faith’s stand alone Dark Minds psychological thrillers series, Paradise Prison.

Paradise Prison is released today, 7th January 2017 and is available for purchase here.

Paradise Prison

During a huge row, Gillian stands up to her abusive boyfriend. The consequences are horrendous and far-reaching.

Terrified, she flees her home, seeking anonymity abroad while coming to terms with the outcome of her actions.

In Portugal, Gillian meets Harry, a yachtsman, needing crew for his Atlantic Ocean-crossing. She applies for the job. Half-way into the journey, after confessing to her crime, Harry offers her refuge on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean which he says he owns.
Confused and depressed, Gillian imagines this is the answer to her problems. She needs time to lie low and consider her options; confront the authorities or live in obscurity? Harry is offering the perfect hiding place…or is he?

When things start going horribly wrong, she asks herself if she is alone on the island. But maybe the biggest question of all is why she gets the gut feeling Harry wants to keep her there at all costs?

What happens when she says … no.

My Review of Paradise Prison

When Gill escapes an abusive relationship in dramatic circumstances, this is only the start of her worries.

Although I found the subject matter of Paradise Prison outside my comfort zone, I have to say Faith Mortimer handles contentious issues with aplomb. She gives just enough detail to ensure the reader has a full understanding of events and situations without adding gratuitous detail merely to shock. I think this is very skilled writing.

The focus is on the two characters of Gill and Harry so that there is a claustrophobic feeling underpinning the narrative from the very beginning. That said, the occasional minor characters are vivid and lifelike so that they contribute well to the story when they do appear. The story is also enhanced by the detail of sailing as Harry and Gill sail from Portugal to the Caribbean. It’s obvious Faith Mortimer knows her way around a boat.

I wasn’t entirely convinced by the situation Gill finds herself in after Portugal but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story because the plot is incredibly fast past with an explosive start and a rapid series of events throughout. The short chapters really add to this feeling of pace. I found them quite ensnaring too, thinking I’d just read one more and before I knew where I was I’d read the whole book. I don’t want to spoil the plot so I’ll just say I found the ending very satisfying.

Reading Paradise Prison was hugely entertaining but it also made me wonder just how much general emotional baggage the ordinary population is carrying around. I think that, having read Paradise Prison, I might look at people differently now and wonder just what is happening inside their heads!

About Faith Mortimer

Faith Mortimer was born in Manchester and educated in Singapore, Malaya and Hampshire, England. A Registered nurse, she then changed careers to oversee a number of travel and sport related companies. Faith is happily married and has two children. Dividing her time between the south of England and Cyprus, she has written three series of books which are all standalone novels.

You can find Faith on Facebook, Twitter, her website/blog, on Goodreads and on Amazon US and Amazon UK Author Pages.

Having helped reveal the cover to Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner by Helen Cox and featured her with a smashing guest post all about where to eat in New York to go with her book Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner that you can read here, I’m delighted to be starting off the New Year Celebrations for Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner. As well as my review I have a great guest post from Helen casting the film versions of the Secrets and Fries series.

Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner was published on 16th December 2016 is available for purchase here.

 Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner

What brings Bonnie Brooks to The Starlight Diner? And why is she on the run?

As the front-woman in a band, Bonnie is used to being in the spotlight, but now she must hide in the shadows.

Bonnie only has one person who she can turn to: her friend Esther Knight, who waitresses at the Fifties-themed diner. There, retro songs play on the jukebox as fries and sundaes are served to satisfied customers. But where has Esther gone?

Alone in New York City, Bonnie breaks down in front of arrogant news reporter, and diner regular, Jimmy Boyle. Jimmy offers to help her. Can she trust him?

When the kindly owner of the Starlight Diner offers Bonnie work, and she meets charming security officer Nick Moloney, she dares to hope that her luck has changed. Is there a blossoming romance on the cards? And can Bonnie rebuild her life with the help of her Starlight Diner friends?

Casting The Secrets and Fries Series

A Guest Post by Helen Cox

As well as being an author and a cake addict, I’m something of a movie buff. I actually started out my writing career as a film reviewer. Consequently, I’m probably even more likely than most authors to dream of my books hitting the big screen in film format. I haven’t had any calls from Hollywood yet but you never know…

My dream director for a Starlight Diner movie would be Denis Villeneuve. Villeneuve has an impressive understanding of just how long to linger on a shot, showing more boldness than most other directors who are often too quick to cut away, and I was really impressed with how he sensitively explored the journeys of the female protagonists in Sicario and Arrival. His pictures have a moodiness to them that would complement the underlying grit of the Starlight Diner stories.

When it comes to casting, Rosamund Pike would be perfect to play Esther. Her work in Gone Girl astounded me. Amy Elliott Dunne is a deeply complex and transgressive character and the temptation would’ve been to make that a big performance. Pike’s understated and wry approach to the character was much more chilling, and ultimately more compelling. Her recent performance in A United Kingdom also had a subtlety and grace to it not everyone could have conjured. She is one highly watchable woman.

Daniel Brühl would be my pick to play Jack Faber. Most people will have seen him in Captain America: Civil War last year when he played villain Helmut Zemo. A casting choice that to my mind elevated the tone of the entire film. But I first saw Brühl in the film Goodbye Lenin! A black comedy about the fall of the Berlin Wall. He’s definitely got charm enough to convincingly play the somewhat over-confident Jack.

In terms of the newest addition to the Starlight Diner fold: Bonnie Brooks, I think Anna Kendrick has everything this role demands. Into the Woods and Pitch Perfect showcased her impressive singing voice and in Up in the Air, though it was a bit part, she perfectly portrayed the unease and uncertainty of ambitious young upstart Natalie Keener.

Finding an actor who can embody the conundrum that is lawyer-turned-reporter Jimmy Boyle, is no easy task but I’d be hoping Dan Stevens would at least give the script a look. Between his brooding performance in The Guest as the mysteriously edgy David Collins and his softer, gentlemanly offering in Summer in February (not to mention his time on Downton Abbey) he’d be the perfect fit for the tempestuous Jimmy.

Due to the fact she is widely known for her roles in nineties teen movies, thus linking with the nineties setting of the Starlight Diner books, I’d love to see Gabrielle Union cast as Mona. Judd Hirsch’s dry delivery would make him the perfect Bernie and Frank Langella would be an adorable Walt (see Robot & Frank for empirical evidence).

My Review of Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner

On the run from trouble, Bonnie might find that the Starlight Diner leads her out of the frying pan and into the fire.

A confession: I thought, based on the cover design, that Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner would be a frothy chick-lit that was an easy read but without any real merit or substance. I completely mis-judged the book and found it to be so much better than I had anticipated.

Helen Cox has written a great mystery with a lovely romantic element. I thought the fast paced plot was highly entertaining and thoroughly plausible. I enjoyed returning to New York through its pages and could easily see this story as a film as the descriptions are quite visual without being overbearing. I thought Helen Cox created setting very effectively, especially through the food and music she weaves into the narrative and her style is quick -witted and sassy. The naturalistic dialogue also contributes to a very authentic read. I thought there was a genuine American-ness to the story.

I enjoyed meeting the characters and not having read the first of these books Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner did not affect my pleasure at all. Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner can easily be read as a stand alone book. The characters seemed vivid and real and both Bonnie and Jimmy have a depth to them that I wasn’t expecting. I liked the way the author explored how family and past impacted on how characters respond in the present and I’d certainly like to read more about them in the future.

Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner is an effortless read because it is well written, not because it lacks substance as I originally feared. There are themes of belonging and family that many of us will recognise and empathise with as readers so that as well as enjoying a highly entertaining read, we have something to think about too. I highly recommend Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner as a smashing read.

About Helen Cox

Helen Cox is a book-devouring, photo-taking, film-obsessed novelist. If forced to choose one, Helen’s Mastermind specialism would be Grease 2. To this day, she still adheres to the Pink Lady pledge and when somebody asks her if she is a god she says ‘yes.’

After completing her MA in creative writing at the University of York St. John Helen found work writing for a range of magazines, websites and blogs as well as writing news and features for TV and radio. She has written three non-fiction books and founded independent film publication: New Empress Magazine. She currently lives in York and writes novels.

You can find Helen on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and visit her website. There’s more with these other bloggers too:

My grateful thanks to Charlotte Ledger at Harper Impulse for a copy of The Legacy of Lucy Harte by Emma Heatherington in return for an honest review. The Legacy of Lucy Harte is published by Harper Impulse in e-book today 6th January and paperback on 12th January 2017 and is available for purchase here or through the publisher links here.

The Legacy of Lucy Harte

‘Sometimes time is all we have with the people we love. I ask you to slow down in life. To take your time, but don’t waste it….’

Maggie O’Hara knows better than most that life can change in a heartbeat. Eighteen years ago she was given the most precious gift- a second-hand heart, and a second chance at life.

Always thankful, Maggie has never forgotten Lucy Harte – the little girl who saved her life. But as Maggie’s own life begins to fall apart, and her heart is broken in love, she loses sight of everything she has to live for…

Until an unexpected letter changes Maggie’s life.

It seems Lucy’s final gift to Maggie is much more than the heart that beats inside her. It’s a legacy that Maggie must learn to live by, a promise to live, laugh, fall in love and heal her broken heart for good.

Because as the keeper of a borrowed heart, Maggie’s time is more precious than most. She must make every cherished second count…

My Review of The Legacy of Lucy Harte

Maggie O’Hara lives thanks to a heart donated by Lucy Harte. But Maggie isn’t living life to the full.

The Legacy of Lucy Harte is a lovely book. Well written and with naturalistic dialogue I found it sucked me in to Maggie’s life. I didn’t much like Maggie to begin with and I think this is a strength of the book. Emma Heatherington creates a character in free fall following the break up of Maggie’s marriage.  Maggie is drowning in self-pity metaphorically and in alcohol literally and she’s not a pleasant individual to begin with. However, as the story progressed I grew to like Maggie more and more so that it was as if I was on the journey with her as she realises she needs to make the most of her life.

I thought the storyline might be too sentimental for some readers, myself included, but the author skilfully ensnared me so that I believed completely in the events and the emotions portrayed such that I read the final section in tears. The Legacy of Lucy Harte certainly pulls at the heart strings and I was very moved by it.

I thought The Legacy of Lucy Harte would be a simple chick-lit read and it does have those elements of thwarted love, romance and attraction, but it has so much more besides. There’s a thought provoking consideration of how our actions and misconceptions can impact on so many other lives. For those wondering whether registering as a potential organ donor is a good idea, I think The Legacy of Lucy Harte would definitely persuade them.

I sometimes feel the publicity straplines on books are overblown, but that on The Legacy of Lucy Harte  – ‘A poignant, life affirming novel that will make you laugh and make you cry’ is a perfect definition. The book made me reassess what I have to be grateful for in life and to redouble my efforts to make the most of every moment in life.

About Emma Heatherington

Emma Heatherington is from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone. She has penned more than fifty short educational films, plays and musicals as well as seven novels for Poolbeg Press, two of which were written under the pseudonym Emma Louise Jordan.

She loves spending time with her partner (the talented artist and singer/songwriter Jim McKee) all things Nashville, romantic comedy movies, singalong nights with friends and family, red wine, musical theatre, new pyjamas, fresh clean bedclothes, long bubble baths and cosy nights in by the fire.

You can follow Emma on Twitter and find her on Facebook.

My grateful thanks to Stephanie Naulls at Ebury Press for an advanced reader copy of The One by John Marrs in return for an honest review. Previously titled A Thousand Small Explosions, The One is published by Del Rey, an imprint of Ebury, in e-book on 26th January 2017 and in paperback on 4th May 2017 and is available for pre-order here.

Having really enjoyed reading The One, I’m delighted to say I will be interviewing John on 25th January 2017 so do come back then.

The One

How far would you go to find THE ONE?

One simple mouth swab is all it takes.

One tiny DNA test to find your perfect partner – the one you’re genetically made for.

A decade after scientists discover everyone has a gene they share with just one person, millions have taken the test, desperate to find true love.

Now, five more people take the test. But even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking – and deadlier – than others…

My Review of The One

When DNA is used to find your perfect love match in life, nothing can go wrong – can it?

For the first five chapters or twenty pages I didn’t think I was going to enjoy The One. I needed to attune myself to switching between characters and holding the different threads of the plot together. However, it didn’t take me long to find myself thinking I’d just read another chapter, and another, and another until I was so enthralled by the twisty, clever plot that I couldn’t tear myself away. The brevity of each chapter and the mini cliff hangers meant that there was an almost breathless pace at times that I loved.

And the plot is twisty. I did work out some elements and for others I had that ‘Oh. I wasn’t expecting that!’ moment, making for a highly entertaining read. I’d quite like to go back and read each of the different characters’ narratives altogether in one go to see if the experience is different as I think there’s a great quality to John Marrs’ writing that would stand up to several reads. I could also see The One as a brilliant television series.

The characterisation was entirely plausible and convincing – even for the more minor characters, so that there were several layers to the different strands. I warmed to some characters more than others which for me reflected what happens in real life, but I certainly wanted to know what happened to them all, especially Christopher, Ellie and Nick.

I also really appreciated the way in which John Marrs incorporated a range of themes. Whilst it’s possible to read The One simply as a highly entertaining thriller, it deserves more consideration than that too. Themes of relationships (obviously), nature versus nurture, sexuality, family, truth and honesty all ripple throughout the text so that there’s plenty for the reader to contemplate too. Reading The One really made me question the benefits and disadvantages of the internet and social media.

The One is my first John Marrs read and it certainly won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this cleverly conceived novel and highly recommend it.

Oh, and would I take a DNA test to find my perfect love match after reading The One? Not on your life!

About John Marrs

John Marrs is a freelance journalist based in London, England, who has spent the last 20 years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines. He has written for publications including The Guardian’s Guide and Guardian Online; OK! Magazine; Total Film; Empire; Q; GT; The Independent; Star; Reveal; Company; Daily Star and News of the World’s Sunday Magazine.

His debut novel The Wronged Sons, was released in 2013 and in May 2015, he released his second book, Welcome To Wherever You Are.

You can follow John on Twitter and find him on Facebook.

My enormous thanks to Ruby Mitchell at Hodder for a copy of The Words in My Hand by Guinevere Glasfurd in return for an honest review. The Words in My Hand is published by Two Roads Books, an imprint of John Murray Press, in e-book now and hardback on 14th January 2017 with the paperback available on 9th February.

The Words in My Hand is available for purchase and pre-order here and from all good booksellers including Waterstones and W H Smith.

Today I have my review of The Words in My Hand, but I loved it so much I asked Guinevere if she’d be interviewed about it so do please come back on paperback publication day 9th February 2017, to find out more.

The Words in My Hand

The Words in My Hand is the re-imagined true story of Helena Jans, a Dutch maid in 17th-century Amsterdam, who works for Mr Sergeant, the English bookseller. When a mysterious and reclusive lodger arrives – the Monsieur – Mr Sergeant insists everything must be just so. It transpires that the Monsieur is René Descartes.

Helena’s life, like that of so many women in history in history, is scarcely recorded. In The Words in My Hand she is a young woman who yearns for knowledge, who wants to write so badly she makes ink from beetroot and writes in secret on her skin – only to be held back by her position in society as a servant, and as a woman.

Weaving together the story of Descartes’ quest for reason with Helena’s struggle for literacy, their worlds overlap as their feelings deepen; yet remain sharply divided. For all Descartes’ learning, Helena has much to teach him about emotion and love.

When reputation is everything and with so much to lose, some truths must remain hidden. Helena and Descartes face a terrible tragedy and ultimately have to decide if their love is possible at all.

My Review of The Words in My Hand

When housemaid Helena encounters the infamous René Descartes, two totally disparate world collide with surprising effects.

My goodness The Words in My Hand is a wonderful, wonderful book. Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2016 it represents the kind of novel that epitomises perfect literary fiction for me.

Unique in style, Guinevere Glasfurd has an authorial voice that is almost mystical and draws in the reader so that the more of Helena’s story was revealed, the more hypnotised by the writing I became. At the risk of sounding pretentious, the writing reminded me of a stained glass window lit by the sun. The variety of sentence length and structure in the first person narrative approach was so beautiful to read. So many things came into exquisite focus for me reading The Words in My Hand. The quality of the descriptions is such that I was there with Helena in Amsterdam and Sandpoort in particular. Also, I had studied Descartes at university but had never really got an impression of the man and had certainly not thought about the women of the time. However, Guinevere Glasfurd’s meticulous research and fabulous writing was both thought provoking – how might women have fared –  and enlightening. I felt I really knew and understood the two main characters, Helena and Descartes perfectly. This really is history brought to vivid life.

Whilst there is a great plot as the relationship between Helena and Descartes develops, along with wonderful characterisation, what really made The Words in My Hand such an enthralling read for me was the exploration of language and the way in which it defines, constrains and liberates us as individuals. Helena’s desire for education and literacy underpin her entire being, and I felt there was a really intellignet feminist message without it being clumsy and inelegant. I found myself savouring the single word chapter titles, thinking back over the chapter and reflecting on how apt they were. The Words in My Hand is not a book to be rushed, but to be appreciated almost syllable by syllable. It is very special indeed and I adored it.

About Guinevere Glasfurd

Guinevere Glasfurd’s lives on the edge of the Fens near Cambridge. Her short fiction has appeared in Mslexia, the Scotsman and in a collection from The National Galleries of Scotland. The Words In My Hand, her first novel, was written with the support of a grant from Arts Council England. Guinevere Glasfurd manages the Words and Women Twitter feed, a voluntary organisation representing women writers in the East of England. You can find out more on her website.

My extremely grateful thanks to Ella Bowman at Little Brown for an advanced reader copy of Painkiller by N.J. Fountain in return for an honest review. Painkiller was published by Sphere in paperback on 29th December 2016 and is available for purchase from all good booksellers and directly from the publisher here.

Painkiller

I cannot go on like this. I feel such a burden to you. You are young and can start again. You deserve that chance. By the time you read this I will be dead. Do not grieve for me, for I am now without pain.

Yours truly for ever,
Monica

Monica suffers from chronic neuropathic pain. Every second of her life is spent in agony, and she is coping with it the best she can. However, there are whole years of her life which are a blur to her.

But when she finds a suicide note, written in her handwriting, she begins to question everything. She has no memory of writing it – so who did? And if someone tried to kill her once, what’s to say they won’t try again . . .

My Review of Painkiller

Monica is in terrible pain and the medication she takes has affected her memory, but that might be the least of her worries.

Crikey Painkiller is brilliant. I was enthralled by every word of it and found it to be a fabulous thriller. I must say something about the structure because it feels perfect for the novel. The character ‘titles’ serve to break up the text physically in the same way Monica’s memory is fractured, adding to the enjoyment in the read. I liked the use of the emboldened text and italics to add layers of meaning and challenge the voracity of assertions still further so that there are many layers to the story. There’s also quite a bit of white space on the pages that seemed to me to represent the gaps in Monica’s memory so well.

Monica is such a completely convincing character and finding that she was inspired, however loosely, by a real person made the narrative even more affecting. I loved the way the cover shows a fractured and distorted person, reflecting the character we meet in the story. There’s an unreliability to all the characters; Monica, Dominic and Niall especially, and things are never quite what they seem so that I had to keep changing my perspective and shifting my position. Painkiller is incredibly entertaining because of this.

The plot is extremely well constructed leading to a satisfying ending that is unpredictable and exciting. I kept thinking of a pit of writhing snakes as I read because the story line twisted and coiled, with interesting and dramatic scenes leading me to false assumptions that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Alongside the sheer entertainment of Painkiller is a poignant and relevant theme of what happens to those suffering huge pain on a daily basis and how it affects those around them. And it’s this that helps make Painkiller such a wonderful read for me. I always look for an emotional hook and alongside the cracking pace, the exhilarating story and the credible characters there’s that added extra layer of interest that pulls in the reader and doesn’t let them go. I thought Painkiller was a cracking thriller and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

About N.J. Fountain

NJ Fountain is an award-winning comedy writer, chiefly known for his work on the radio and television show Dead Ringers. He has also contributed to programmes such as Have I Got News For You, 2DTV and the children’s sitcom Scoop. He also writes for Private Eye.

You can follow N.J. Fountain on Twitter.

It gives me enormous pleasure to be starting 2017 with a guest post by lovely Sue Featherstone, co-author of A Falling Friend, as she is not only beginning a new year, but a whole new life and is telling us about it today. A Falling Friend, was published by Lakewater Press on 25th April 2016 and is available for purchase here.

A Falling Friend

After spending her twenties sailing the globe, making love on fine white sand, and thinking only of today, Teri Meyer returns to Yorkshire – and to studying. That’s when she discovers John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, and poet of all things depraved. What she doesn’t realise is even beyond his grave, his influence over her is extraordinary. To hell with the consequences.

Having gone out on a limb to get old friend Teri a job at the university at which she teaches, it doesn’t take long for Lee Harper to recognise a pattern. Wherever Teri goes, whatever she does, every selfish choice she makes, it’s all setting her up for a nasty fall. But Teri’s not the sort to heed a warning, so Lee has no choice but to stand by and watch. And besides, she has her own life to straighten out.

A clever, raw and hilarious character-driven masterpiece that follows the lives of two friends with the same ambitions, but who have vastly different ways of achieving them.

New Year, New Challenge

A Guest Post by Sue Featherstone

What do my sister, rush hour travel, and fictional characters Lee Harper and Teri Meyer have in common?

Any ideas?

It’s really quite simple: thanks to all of the above, I start 2017 as a pensioner.

After a lifetime in journalism and public relations, and nearly 20 years teaching journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, I closed my reporter’s notebook at Christmas and chucked my teacher’s red marking pen in the bin.

Officially, I’ve retired.

In practice, I’ve swapped teaching to do what I’ve wanted to do since I was nine years old – write full-time.

It’s taken a lot of soul-searching because, leaving a well-paid job (and a very enjoyable one too) seemed incredibly risky.

But 12 months ago, my sister, a hospital consultant, who is a year my junior, announced she was retiring. The NHS was turning into a shadow of its former self and she didn’t want to be part of it anymore. Within months she looked ten years younger. And God knows how many years happier.

Which started me thinking… The rush hour rat-race provided further food for thought.

I’ve been lucky – as an academic my schedule has been reasonably flexible. On non-teaching mornings I’ve been able work from home for a couple of hours and avoid rush hour travel altogether.

But this last year there have been a lot of early morning meetings and lots of standing cheek by jowl with other bleary-eyed commuters. And far too many times that I’ve had to suppress murderous thoughts towards those musically-challenged travellers whose tinny thump, thump, thump leaked from their headphones.

But it was Teri and Lee, who broke the camel’s back.

They’re the heroines [sic!] of A Falling Friend, my first novel with my friend and writing partner, Susan Pape, also a journalist and former journalism lecturer. After producing two successful journalism text books together, we decided to become proper writers and write a novel. It took us a long time because both of us were still juggling full-time careers. Eventually, however, it was finished and, after the requisite number of rejections, we secured a publishing deal with Lakewater Press.

A Falling Friend came out in spring 2016 and is doing very nicely. We haven’t set the world on fire – yet! – but we’ve attracted some good reviews and even earned a little bit of money. A sequel is now complete and will, hopefully, be published this spring. Book three will soon be underway.

I’m very grateful to Teri and Lee.

They taught me how much I love writing.

And, importantly, that I love it far more than I love teaching other people how to write – which, believe me, I’ve loved a great deal. I was very sorry to say goodbye to my wonderful Sheffield Hallam friends and colleagues and to our students too.

But I’m excited that, as 2017 begins, I’m no longer Sue Featherstone, journalist and academic.

But Sue Featherstone. Writer.

(And I wish you a happy new year and every success Sue.)

About Sue Featherstone

Sue Featherstone is a former journalist and public relations practitioner turned academic.

Her career started in local newspapers before switching to PR to become internal communications manager with a large utility company. She completed a degree in English Literature as a mature student and subsequently moved into higher education, teaching journalism to undergraduate students at Sheffield Hallam University.

At the beginning of 2017, Sue left Sheffield Hallam to focus on her writing.

Together with her friend and writing partner Susan Pape, she has written two successful journalism text books – Newspaper Journalism: A Practical Introduction; and Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction.

Their first novel, A Falling Friend, was published by Lakewater Press in 2016 and a sequel will follow in spring 2017. They now write about books at bookloversbooklist.

You can follow Sue on Twitter and visit her website.

 

Having previously loved reading The Sea Between us by Emylia Hall, my review of which you can read here, when it came to my turn to choose a book for my reading group I was delighted to see The Book of Summers on the List. The Book of Summers was published by Headline Review in 2012 and is available for purchase through publisher links here.

The Book of Summers

Beth Lowe has been sent a parcel. Inside is a letter informing her that her long-estranged mother has died, and a scrapbook Beth has never seen before. Entitled The Book of Summers, it’s stuffed with photographs and mementos complied by her mother to record the seven glorious childhood summers Beth spent in rural Hungary. It was a time when she trod the tightrope between separated parents and two very different countries; her bewitching but imperfect Hungarian mother and her gentle, reticent English father; the dazzling house of a Hungarian artist and an empty-feeling cottage in deepest Devon. And it was a time that came to the most brutal of ends the year Beth turned sixteen.

Since then, Beth hasn’t allowed herself to think about those years of her childhood. But the arrival of The Book of Summers brings the past tumbling back into the present; as vivid, painful and vital as ever.

My Review of The Book of Summers

When The Book of Summers arrives in the post with a message telling Beth her mother, Marika, is dead, the recollections presented in the book force Beth to reconsider her past and who she has become.

If I’m totally honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the presentational device of looking through the pictures and remembering the past, but within a few pages I was completely enthralled by Emylia Hall’s writing and I found that I couldn’t get Marika out of my head so that I was thinking about her when I wasn’t reading. I think it’s interesting that I enjoyed the writing increasingly as Beth began to write more about Hungary – in much the same way as Beth enjoyed her life more there than in England.

The Book of Summers is an intense, beautifully written representation of growing up. The depth of emotion is almost unbearable at times and I felt a range of emotions from joy to melancholy, sadness to elation along with Beth as I read. I know I have been totally captivated when reading about the central character feels as if I’m reading about myself and Emylia Hall created exactly that sensation for me. There’s quite a reduced number of characters which I felt added an almost claustrophobic potency to the story. Save for a couple of incidents, there isn’t a hugely developed plot – a young woman looking over a book of photographs – but the uncovering of the past, the exemplification of relationships and the challenges of growing up are all truly wonderfully authored.

The poetic quality of the narrative is beautiful. Every sense is presented so vividly and evocatively that I was there swimming in the lake, smelling the citronella and feeling the heat of cracked leather car seats on the backs of my legs. I can’t believe that Emylia Hall isn’t as much of an artist as Zoltan as she paints such a magnificent kaleidoscopic canvas of words.

The Book of Summers is the perfect coming of age narrative, representing the true emotion of what makes us human. I loved it.

About Emylia Hall

Emylia Hall was born in 1978 and grew up in the Devon countryside, the daughter of an English artist and a Hungarian quilt-maker. After studying English and Related Literature at the universities of York and Lausanne, she spent five years working in a London ad agency, before moving to the French Alps. It was there that she began to write. Emylia now lives in Bristol with her husband, the comic-book writer and children’s author, Robin Etherington. Her first novel, The Book of Summers, was a Richard & Judy Bookclub pick in 2012.

You can follow Emylia on Twitter and visit her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook.

Those of you who follow Linda’s Book Bag on a regular basis will know that 2016 wasn’t an especially good year for me personally and I wrote a bit about it in my ‘Best Books of 2016’ round up here where you’ll also find some amazing reads.

However, one element that has been a constant joy has been the world of book blogging. I have made so many wonderful friends through the blogging community and have been given so much support throughout the year that I’m incredibly grateful.

I have received books, messages, cards and gifts of support and each one has really touched me. I’ve done my best to support the fabulous bloggers, authors and publishers who’ve been there for me but haven’t always been as efficient as I’d like. To say thank you and to wish everyone a happy, healthy and successful 2017 I’d like to run a small giveaway.

To enter to win a £15 or $15 Amazon e-voucher, just click here. Open internationally, the giveaway closes at UK midnight on Saturday 7th January 2017.

Thanks so much everyone, for all your support, and Happy New Year xxx.