It’s another new to me author staying in for the evening on Linda’s Book Bag as I welcome Mark Anthony Tierno to tell me about one of his books.

Staying in with Mark Anthony Tierno

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Mark.

No, her book bag’s in the corner over there, this one’s mine.  The teacher said I could have it for–  What?  Huh?  Oh, that’s right; interview.  Sorry, I was having a flashback to grammar school.

Ha! As an ex-teacher previously known as ‘The Dragon Lady’, you might want to reconsider being here tonight, but thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Not a problem.  My old place is being redecorated so I really needed a place to stay…  Oh, interview again.  I mean– thank-you for having me on the program.

(My pleasure – I think!)

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

Well, it’s a little book in two volumes entitled Maldene.  It’s the first of my big epic fantasy series of 13 books.  And since one has to start somewhere, then might as well start withe the first one.  It reads a lot better than way.

(Start at the very beginning…)

What can we expect from an evening in with Maldene?

Probably the possibility of missing work for the next three days.  I’ve actually had readers get a bit caught up in it, which for a story that measures about 330,000 words (between volumes One and Two) is quite an accomplishment.  One blogger compared it as being Lord of the Rings meets The Odyssey.

(Crikey. That’s quite a definition! I don’t mind missing work as I’m ‘retired’ anyway!)

The book starts out as epic fantasy but the series as a whole is actually fantasy with some science fiction elements.  The Sci-Fi angle starts to rear it’s head in the second full novel, Maldene II:  Mysteries Of Olde.  For now though, well if you like dragons then you’ll see a big one at the beginning of the book, but that’s only the warm-up.  Our heroes journey across the far seas, across three continents of the world of Maldene, visit another world, and run afoul of the plans of the most villainous bad guy of them all:  Miro.

As for what makes Miro so bad, well that’s pretty much what the story revolves around.  He’s a long-burn villain, and you don’t really get to see him cut loose until Maldene VI.  He’s the guy lurking in the shadows, a villain with no soul but an incalculable intellect and power beyond anyone’s measure.  The type of villain you are free to boo at, as you try to fathom what his plan could possibly be.

(Miro sounds an interesting person!)

What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve brought a memory, the stimulus for what began the journey to Maldene.  As a kid I got really tired of watching the bad guys spout their complete plans before the good guys instead of just killing the punk.  I saw very few bad guys that were what I would call truly villainous.  So, I desired to create the ultimate villain  A guy with no scruples, the type that if he let you live then it was because it was all a part of his plan.  A villain who could plan centuries deep.

Of course, it takes a while to plan out a story epic enough to befit such a villain, and one must have a goal that this villain would find worth his time to go after.  Many years passed as I planned everything out, years during which I completed school and my degrees, years during which I helped my Mom take care of my Parkinson’s-ridden Dad (a story in itself).  When finally I started there actual writing of the series, things were looking pretty bleak; my Dad could barely walk, money was very low, and everything pretty bad off.  But then my Gandpa’s old house burned down (he’d passed away many years prior), which brought in enough money to get things moving a bit and that’s when I started the writing (while still helping out with my Dad, of course).  A side effect of this, is that when my parents saw me writing a book, and then another and another– well, the general mood rose.  The household was as bad as it could get, but my writing brought some much needed cheer and a smile or two as my mom told my Dad, “Bill, our son’s a *writer*!”

So that is what else I bring with me today… Hope.

Oh! That’s wonderful. I bet your parents were very proud of you. Thanks so much for staying in with me today Mark. I wish you every success with your series.

Maldene

Maldene is a world of magic and science, wizards and dragons; but home also to an incredible secret. One jealously guarded by History’s most villainous being: Miro. For centuries his presence has been plaguing the nightmares of gods and men; the world is in his thrall, there is no one willing to face him.

Or perhaps there is. The young wizard Sabu, and his elven friend Eldar, lead their companions on a journey to seek a destiny foretold them by a blind gold-skinned gypsy. Fighting a three-hundred foot dragon will be but the beginning of this quest, as they journey the globe in search of answers to the mystery of Miro’s villainy, and uncover the world’s long-buried secrets. For they are destined to lead a new battle against this most ancient of evils, to gather all beneath the banner of a mysterious King and face the unfaceable.

There is just one problem: Miro is counting on their success.

An epic in itself, but this is only half of this first novel of Maldene. Read the rest of it in Maldene Volume Two, and see the dramatic conclusion that but paves the way for far more to come.

Maldene is available for purchase here.

About Mark Anthony Tierno

A full-time author and ghostwriter, Southern California native Mark Anthony Tierno has crafted a truly epic fantasy novel that will take you to the ends of a world of magic, alien vistas, and ultimate evil.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Physics, which often plays well in his creation of other worlds, and is the author of both the Maldene series and his Inspector Flaatphut series, as well as others yet to be seen.  He has this one problem with writing, though:  he can’t stop!  When he’s not working on his own projects he’s working on someone else’s, and currently has ideas for a LOT more… if he can just find the time away from the rest of it.

You can find Mark Anthony Tierno on Facebook, visit his website and follow him on Twitter @MarkATierno.

Having taught in the same school as my husband in the past, worked with him in his photography business and spending pretty much 24 hours a day together for much of the last 35 years, I’m fascinated how professional relationships work when people are romantically involved with one another. Consequently, it gives me great pleasure to interview the authors of The Emissary, Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio who are also a married couple.

Published by Waterside Publishing, The Emissary is available for purchase through these links.

The Emissary

Maxwell Quinn, a laid-back, pot-smoking blogger based in Seattle, is no ordinary soul.  He is the reincarnation of Marcus, born 13,000 years ago in the land of Atitala during mankind’s Golden Age.  Since then Marcus has been reincarnated an exhausting number of times, and his energy is waning.  But his purpose remains clear – to guide mankind in its evolution and to reunite with his true love, Theron, his childhood sweetheart.  But evil always stands in his way – until now.

Mixing spirituality, fantasy, and adventure, authors Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio have written The Emissary (Waterside Press, October 2018), a sprawling novel that takes readers on an epic journey as they witness history through Marcus’s many lives.

As a child in Atitala, Marcus and his best friends Theron and Helghul enjoy the advantages of living in a peaceful, sacred world.  But chaos is on the horizon, and their ancient land is about to be destroyed.  To ensure civilization’s survival, the Elders of Atitala select a small group of Emissaries, including the three youngsters, who through many reincarnations are destined to lead humanity into an era of peace and prosperity.  But tragedy strikes.  Marcus and Theron are separated as they flee Atitala, while Helghul is possessed by the forces of evil.  Each time that Marcus and Theron are reunited through the ages, Helghul brutalizes them and forces them apart, determined to ruin all hope for mankind’s salvation.

The Emissary is the first book in The One Great Year series.  The concept for the series is based on documentation from more than thirty-one ancient civilizations, tracking the Earth through a 26,000 year cycle as it slowly wobbles on its axis.  Today NASA refers to this phenomenon as “the period of one complete cycle of the equinoxes around the ecliptic.”  Plato simploy called it “The Great Year.”  Using this as a unifying theme, Veitch and DeFazio also reference philosophies and archaeological sites that they researched long before they began writing.  Currently working on books II and III in The One Great Year series, the authors continue to travel in search of esoteric knowledge and cultural insights that will inspire their readers.

Intertwining the elements of great writing with deep philosophical thought and natural history, The Emissary is destined to become a classic.  It is an unforgettable tale of eternal love, betrayal, and the hope that binds us all.

An interview with Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag. Thank you both so much for agreeing to answer some questions about The Emissary.  How did your writing collaboration come about?

The Emissary was a story begging to be told. The inception of our collaboration still feels like divine intervention. We met by chance and began dating, but we were from two different worlds. Rene was a struggling actor-producer-writer who went globetrotting as soon as a check came in, and Tamara was a mother with deep roots in her community, a mural painting business, and a lifelong passion for writing. We fell in love, but our life paths didn’t make sense together. Just when our relationship seemed doomed, Rene heard a voice in his head saying, “write a book you idiot!” We instantly knew that was what we were meant to do. Rene had the perfect screenplay treatment tucked away, just waiting for us to bring it to life as a novel. Tamara was blown away by the fascinating reincarnation tale of eternal love, betrayal, and the hope that binds us all. We started writing the very next day.

We are now happily married and are thrilled to be releasing The Emissary, Book I in The One Great Year Series.

What an exciting journey. Congratulations on both The Emissary and a successful relationship!

How is your research allocated?

We visit the cities and countries we write about whenever possible. We have traveled South America, Asia, Europe and Africa, and it definitely helps our settings feel more authentic. In The Emissary, the location of Stone-at-Center is based on the ancient, mysterious monolithic site in Bolivia known as Tiwanaku. Seeing the pyramid, architecture and landscape firsthand during our visit there, helped us bring the setting to life. In general, Rene does the brunt of the research which adds up to years of detailed inquiry. Tamara also researches topics and individuals as she writes, in order to get details just right.

Travel and books – what a perfect combination. 

How do your respective arts backgrounds affect your writing?

Our backgrounds have had a huge impact on our work. Tamara has always loved words and hears the melody and flow in language. Studying literature, philosophy and history in university gave her a broad basis to draw from in our novels.  Rene has a background in video and film, and has a very visual outlook. His training and experience as an actor has also heightened our understanding of character development, dialogue and pace. Our combined skill sets make our books an exceptionally visual and entertaining experience.

So, how do you ensure continuity of style and approach?

People often think that we take turns writing chapters but in actuality, we write every paragraph cooperatively. We endeavor to honor the different strengths that each of us brings to the table. Tamara ensures the language and voice are consistent, poignant and high quality, and Rene ensures the storyline and details are accurate, fresh and exciting. Throughout the process we try to think like our main character Marcus and we ask ourselves what would a thirteen thousand year old man know that the rest of us do not?Together we have created an original story that we are excited to share with the world.

It really does sound a very intriguing read.

Are there any difficulties in writing collaboratively?

Any time you have two strong willed creative types working together, especially husband and wife, you can encounter difficulty. Working together we have run the full gamut of emotions but over the years, as we continued discovering the amazing material that is the foundation of The Emissary, we felt an overwhelming responsibility to tell this story right. It was vital that we give The Emissary the respect it deserved, because ultimately it felt bigger than both of us. It isn’t always easy but our relationship has grown stronger and we couldn’t be prouder of the work. We have completed Book I The Emissary, and Book II The Emerald Tablet, will be released in February 2019. Books III and IV in The One Great Year series are also underway!

It sounds like you have plenty to keep you both occupied!

What are the benefits of such an approach to writing?

Falling deeply in love while writing an epic love story has its benefits. The truth of the soulmate journey resonates through the story. We also recognize that by working together we significantly improve the quality of one other’s writing. We each bring different life-experiences and perspectives and we build on one another’s words and ideas. Writing can often be a lonely, fretful journey so we are grateful to share the highs and lows of this passion with the full support of our life partner.

I’d say that sounds ideal.

Who has the final say in the editing process?

We both have final say. If we can’t agree on something big, we don’t have the right answer yet. We have come to trust each other. If one of us has a strong point of view in a scene, the other will usually defer to his or her opinion. Though there have been long days when finding agreement has been difficult, we have learned to take a break, go for lunch, even wait a day or two. Eventually the right words and ideas come and we always write something we are both totally happy with.

Who has the greatest skill in writing description, dialogue, character etc?

That’s a great question! Tamara is the wordsmith. Usually Rene will lay down the outline and set the tone and character arc then Tamara turns it into beautiful, lyrical sentences. After that, we pass the manuscript back and forth until we are both happy with the outcome. That can take years, but now the time of The Emissary is finally here!

Congratulations to you both on The Emissary and here’s to many more years of writing together.

About the Authors

Rene DeFazio, who was born and rasied in Canada, currently lives in the Vancouver area with his wife and writing partner, Tamara Veitch.  Rene is an actor and producer with numerous film and television roles to his credit, as well as countless commercials and print ads.  A world traveler and lifelong adventurer, Rene has called upon his unusual and exciting experiences in co-creating the One Great Year book series of which The Emissary is the first installment.  His tireless research and first-hand knowledge of exotic locations, customs, sights, and smells help to bring this epic story to life.

Tamara Veitch is a writer, mural artist, and mother of three.  She grew up in Canada and attended Simon Fraser University, studying English and Psychology.  Tamara has had a lifelong interest in spiritual wisdom and has carefully researched ancient teachings from many traditions to ensure historical accuracy through the One Great Year book series.

You can find out more by following @OneGreatYear on Twitter and visiting the One Great Year website. You’ll also find One Great Year on Facebook.

My enormous thanks to lovely Katherine Sunderland at No Exit Press for a surprise copy of Paris in the Dark by Robert Olen Butler in return for an honest review.

Paris in the Dark will be published on 25th October 2018 and is available for pre-order through the links here.

Paris in the Dark

Autumn 1915. The First World War is raging across Europe. Woodrow Wilson has kept Americans out of the trenches, although that hasn’t stopped young men and women from crossing the Atlantic to volunteer at the front.

Christopher Marlowe ‘Kit’ Cobb, a Chicago reporter and undercover agent for the US government is in Paris when he meets an enigmatic nurse called Louise. Officially in the city for a story about American ambulance drivers, Cobb is grateful for the opportunity to get to know her but soon his intelligence handler, James Polk Trask, extends his mission.

Parisians are meeting ‘death by dynamite’ in a new campaign of bombings, and the German-speaking Kit seems just the man to discover who is behind this – possibly a German operative who has infiltrated with the waves of refugees?

And so begins a pursuit that will test Kit Cobb, in all his roles, to the very limits of his principles, wits and talents for survival.

My Review of Paris in the Dark

1915 Paris is under threat and not just from the Germans.

I thoroughly enjoyed Paris in the Dark, not least because it’s not my usual genre and it was so refreshing to read a spy thriller. More importantly, however, is the overall quality of Robert Olen Butler’s writing. I found that not only did I enjoy the story but I so admired the craftsmanship. Robert Olen Butler knows exactly how much information to reveal to the reader so that they are engaged and intrigued. He also has the perfect balance of sentence structure, realising that less is more at just the right moment. I loved this style.

I thought the title Paris in the Dark was inspired because much of the action takes place at night but Paris is both literally and metaphorically in the dark as Kit Cobb tries to work out who is behind a series of bombings. Careful attention to detail gives an almost cinematic picture of Paris in 1915 so that I could easily imagine the scenes and appreciated the authenticity of the writing.

There’s a fast paced and exciting plot that is enhanced and complemented by the developing relationships between Kit and those around him. For me, the greatest enjoyment came from the insight into Kit as a man as there’s a deep psychological aspect to the book too. Kit, and therefore, the reader, explores the concept of identity throughout. Kit is a reporter, a friend, a lover, a spy, an assassin and above all else a man not entirely at ease with any of his roles so that the reader is fascinated by his actions and responses. Reading Paris in the Dark has made me hungry to know more about Kit Cobb.

Paris in the Dark is a corker of a read, being atmospheric and exciting. It’s my first introduction to Robert Olen Butler’s writing but the sheer quality means I shall be reading more very soon. I thought this was such an effective and interesting read.

About Robert Olen Butler

Robert Olen Butler is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, and seventeen other novels including Hell,A Small Hotel, Perfume River, and the Christopher Marlowe Cobb series. He is also the author of six short story collections and a book on the creative process, From Where You Dream.

He has twice won a National Magazine Award in Fiction and received the 2013 F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Outstanding Achievement in American Literature. He teaches creative writing at Florida State University. A recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in fiction, he also won the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has twice won a National Magazine Award in Fiction and has received two Pushcart Prizes. In 2013 he won the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Outstanding Achievement in American Literature. He is the author of three historical novels, The Hot Country, The Star of Istanbul andThe Empire of Night, all part of the Christopher Marlowe Cobb series published by No Exit Press.

Reminiscent of Cobb, Robert Olen Butler trained as an actor, worked as a reporter, went to war and engaged in intelligence collection. He now teaches creative writing at Florida State University.

For more information you can follow Robert Olen Butler on Twitter @RobtOlenButler and visit his website.

I can’t believe it’s almost a year since Mark Tilbury was last here on Linda’s Book Bag. On that occasion I was interviewing Mark about The Liar’s Promise in a post you can read here. Today Mark has agreed to stay in with me to tell me about another of his books.

Staying In With Mark Tilbury

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag Mark and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

First off, thanks so much for asking me to stay in with you, Linda, and giving me the opportunity to talk about one of my books.

(My pleasure Mark.)

The one I’ve chosen is The Abattoir of Dreams. This was my third book, and a complete change in direction from my previous two, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused. I wanted to add a supernatural edge to my writing that was set in the framework of a psychological thriller.

(Oo. You managed that all right Mark. Although reading The Abattoir of Dreams was way out of my comfort zone I thought it was brilliant and reviewed it here. It even made it onto my books of the year!)

The basic idea for The Abattoir of Dreams came from a dream. It was a bit muddled, as most dreams are, but I held on to the gist of it, put it down on paper and made sense of it. As with most of my story ideas, they seem to come in the form of clues and odd one-liners (usually from the antagonist).

I think the dream was inspired by news that a high-profile figure had been named by a man in his forties as his abuser in a children’s home. Subsequently, the man said he’d made a mistake – no one leaning on him there, then– and the whole case was dropped. This made my blood boil. This poor guy had obviously been through hell as a child, and all these years later, the authorities still slammed the door in his face.

The finished book bore no resemblance to the dream, or the story in the news, but it focused on the plight of those kids in children’s homes who have been abused. I wanted to give them a voice, and I’m satisfied that the Abattoir of Dreams did that. There was so much more I wanted to say in the book, but I ended up cutting about 50,000 words to make it a more readable length.

I was pleased with the positive response to the book. The mix of genres seemed to work well, and although it was a hard-hitting read, and quite gut-wrenching, I think I conveyed everything I wanted to. I have to say, although the book is not for the faint-hearted, I had to leave out a lot of what goes on in those so-called care homes. The systematic abuse of children is appalling. There is so much more I want to say on the subject, but for now I’ll let The Abattoir of Dreams do the talking.

(I think you did a magnificent job in conveying your message Mark.)

What can we expect from an evening in with The Abattoir of Dreams?

Here’s a small snippet from The Abattoir of Dreams. The protagonist, Michael Tate, is in hospital suffering from amnesia and paralysis after leaping from a block of flats. He is accused of murdering his girlfriend before trying to commit suicide:

DI Carver took a picture from the breast pocket of his suit. He handed it to me. ‘This is what you did Michael. Take a good look. See if it jogs your memory.’

I gawped at the mutilated corpse of a naked young girl lying on a blood soaked double bed. Her hands were bound to the brass headboard with a scarf. Blood covered her upper body, and her long blonde hair was streaked a murderous shade of red. One eye stared at the ceiling, as if searching for salvation, the other, a bloody unrecognisable pulp, bore no relation to its sightless counterpart.

‘Becky Marie Coombs. Twenty-one years of age. Do you recognise her, Michael?’

Of course I fucking well don’t. How many more times? ‘No.’

(I found the manipulation of Michael absolutely chilling.)

Here are a few reviews from authors and book bloggers. So many kind and generous people out there willing to help and share. I have to say this has been the thing which has surprised me most about writing. I don’t quite know what I expected, but the level of helpfulness and encouragement has given me a renewed faith in people. The bloggers, fellow authors and readers have been so kind, and I can’t thank them enough.

Wow, this book stirred up so emotions in me whilst reading it. Mark did a wonderful job of creating credible characters and a heartbreaking story.
5* review from author, Mel Comley,

Extremely well told from the first person so you feel this is happening to you. You feel the pain, despair and total vulnerability – not to mention confusion. I’ve had this on my reading list for a while and was in no way disappointed…An author to watch for sure!!
5* review from author, Sarah England.

This book stirred up many emotions – anger, sadness, disbelief, horror, distress, shame (for the human race) and the desire for revenge. I can honestly say I have never experienced so many emotions at once whilst reading a book. I don’t think an author could wish for a better result than to have that much of an impact on a reader.
5* review from author, Jane James.

Mark Tilbury has written a roller coaster of a thriller for sure, but this novel is also a rich and harrowing story of the psychology of evil and those who strive to stop it, this is certainly one read that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.
5* review from Lorraine @ The Book Review Café.

Mark Tilbury has taken on a very dark and almost taboo subject and deftly created a story that deals with these issues sensitively and with compassion and the end result is a book that I honestly can’t recommend highly enough.
5* review from Neats @ The Haphazardous Hippo

(I agree with every word of those reviews – which you must be thrilled with Mark. Again, readers can see my review here.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve also brought along a photo of my mother who passed away twenty-two years ago. She came to me in a dream after finishing writing the first two books. I can’t remember all the detail, but it went something like saying I could do better. That I had to believe in myself. She was holding a hardback book with gold lettering embossed on the front. The letters were flashing. She held the book up and said,‘You can do this’. Of course, it was only a dream, but it was a defining moment that made me change direction and write The Abattoir of Dreams. I’m so glad I did, and proud that people are still talking about the book eighteen months after its publication. A special thank you to my mother, who was the only person to show enthusiasm all those years ago when Best magazine published one of my short stories. The Abattoir of Dreams is for her, and a massive thank you for all the unsung things she did for me.

Oh, that’s fabulous and actually, you just brought a tear to my eye. Thanks so much for coming back to the blog and staying in with me Mark. I can’t recommend The Abattoir of Dreams highly enough so thank you for sharing more about it.

The Abattoir of Dreams

The past is never far away.

Michael Tate has not had an easy life. With his father in prison, and his mother dead, Michael was sent to Woodside Children’s Home.

Now an adult, Michael wakes up in hospital from a coma suffering from amnesia and paralysis. Confused and terrified, he is charged with the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Becky. He also learns he attempted to end his own life.

Detective Inspector John Carver is determined that Michael is sent to prison. With no way of defending himself, Michael is left in his hospital bed awaiting transfer to remand.

But then strange things begin to happen and his childhood comes back to haunt him.

Can Michael ever escape the past?

Will he ever discover the truth about Becky’s murder? And why is DI Carver so eager to make him suffer?

The Abattoir of Dreams is a bitter sweet story of murder, innocence and abuse.

The Abattoir of Dreams was published by Bloodhound on 28th February 2017 and is available for purchase here.

About Mark Tilbury

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

After serving in the Royal Navy and raising his two daughters after being widowed, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found trying and failing to master blues guitar, and taking walks around the beautiful county of Cumbria.

You can follow Mark on Twitter @MTilburyAuthor, visit his website and find him on Facebook.

It’s an absolute delight to be supporting fellow blogger Ronnie Turner with her debut thriller The Lies Between Us today. I’m thrilled to be sharing my review.

Published by HQ Digital on 1st October 2018, The Lies Between us is available for purchase here.

The Lies Between Us

John has a perfect life, until the day his daughter goes missing.

Maisie cares for her patients, but hides her own traumatic past.

Miller should be an innocent child, but is obsessed with something he can’t have.

They all have something in common, though none of them know it – and the truth won’t stay hidden for long . . .

My Review of The Lies Between Us

Not everyone is quite what they seem!

I was so impressed by The Lies Between Us. This may be a debut novel, but it is assured, eloquently written and brilliantly plotted so that I was absorbed into the story from the very first moment. Ronnie Turner writes with a lively and vivacious style through a fantastic range of sentence structure that really appealed to me as a reader. The short chapters add a breathless pace too so that there’s an urgency and dynamism to the narrative.

The characters are vividly drawn and the first person sections are so chilling that I felt unsettled as I read them. What is so good is the utterly convincing portrait of obsession Ronnie Turner paints. She presents, with terrifying accuracy, the way in which love can become evil in an unbalanced mind. It’s hard to say too much without spoiling the story but I found the terrifying brutality contrasted and balanced by supreme love so effective.

Although I found keeping tack quite challenging at times, I loved the skilful manner in which the strands of the narrative are drawn together like inevitable DNA. I was entirely enthralled, entertained and often appalled in a manner that didn’t allow me to stop reading.

I found The Lies Between Us scarily convincing and completely absorbing. What a debut!

About Ronnie Turner

Ronnie Turner grew up in Cornwall, the youngest in a large family. At an early age, she discovered a love of literature and dreamed of being a published author. Ronnie now lives in Dorset with her family and three dogs. In her spare time, she reviews books on her blog and enjoys long walks on the coast. She is currently working on her second novel.

Ronnie’s debut novel, Lies Between Us, is published by HQ Digital.

To find out more, follow Ronnie on Twitter: @Ronnie_ _Turner, find her on
Facebook and Instagram or visit her website.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

It’s a very welcome guest here on Linda’s Book Bag today as Jan Ruth celebrates her latest book, Gift Horse, with a smashing guest post all about where she gets her ideas for writing.

I have previously reviewed another of Jan’s books, Away for Christmas, here.

Gift Horse is available for purchase here.

Gift Horse

Imagine living eighteen years of your life around a mistake…

Caroline Walker’s daughter suffers a horrific riding accident. Her distraught parents wonder if she’ll ever walk again, let alone ride. And when Mollie’s blood group is discovered as rare, her husband offers to donate blood. Except Ian is not a match. In fact, it’s unlikely he’s Mollie’s father.

Eighteen years previously, Caroline had a one-night stand with Irish rock star, Rory O’Connor. Caroline fell pregnant. Deeply flawed boyfriend, Ian, was overjoyed. And Caroline’s parents were simply grateful that their daughter was to marry into the rich, influential Walker family.

Caroline turns to Rory’s friend Connor; and although his almost spiritual connection with his horses appears to be the balm she needs, Caroline cannot forget Rory, or her youth – both lost to a man she never loved. Eighteen years on and after surviving cancer Rory lives as a virtual recluse in the Welsh mountains. Through his well-meaning but interfering sister, he is shocked to discover he has a teenage daughter. Or does he?

Someone has made a terrible mistake… someone is going to get hurt…

Ideas!

A Guest Post by Jan Ruth

Where do ideas come from? Even if I tell myself I’m done with writing for a while – and I do, frequently – something will eventually worm its way out of my subconscious. This mutation of daydreaming is often coupled with observations of other people and happenings in their lives, as well as my own, until eventually all of these considerations are pulled together and mulled over, like some sort of fictional tombola. And for me, it’s those personal stories which add an extra layer of reality to a work of fiction. Write what you know is all about understanding your subject thoroughly, and preferably having experienced some of it first-hand.

I’ve been working with disabled people through my local RDA (Riding for the Disabled) for some eighteen months. Then earlier this year I was offered the opportunity to train as an assistant to a therapist working for WITH (Welsh Institute of Therapeutic Horsemanship). This is all about people with mental health problems, and the astonishing success of equine therapy relies purely upon the interactions between people and horses. I hope my modest experience adds a touch of reality and richness to the story of Gift Horse.

Of course, I’ve touched on horse-whispering techniques, therapies, and mental health issues in the Midnight Sky series, and part of Gift Horse is a natural continuation of that theme, one which this time connects more directly to my main character. Caroline is a product of her sheltered upbringing. In direct contrast her flat-mate, Niamh, is part of a loud, sprawling Irish family – including the gorgeous but licentious Rory O’Connor; Caroline’s nemesis. Unfortunately, Caroline is intent on pleasing everyone except herself, and there’s a price to pay…

Gift Horse is a contemporary time-slip novel about the choices women make, the healing power of horses, and the devastating consequences of human error.

I tend not to plan too much, other than factual things like dates, and timelines. And I don’t have a messy desk with endless notes stuck to my screen or big notebooks overflowing with complicated scribblings. What I do have is a good instinct for the order of things. I think this comes from reading a lot of good fiction and learning why and how something works; what to hold back, when to reveal, how much to tell, what to show, which scene works best as dialogue, or narrative. This balance will be slightly different for every writer, the literary stamp of personal style?

If there’s a parallel to be drawn between trying to break into commercial publishing and staying true to myself as a writer, then for me it’s the creative freedom to write the books I want to write. So many mainstream books are all following the same trend, and some of them feel like different versions of the same book. This might sound a bit like sour grapes (yes, of course big sales would be nice too!) but I think I know I’m not a mainstream author. I actually enjoy going against the grain. I like to let a story grow and mature until it’s ready to be picked from the vine, and there’s a tremendous satisfaction in penning a story which is unique to me.

(And as a reader of your work Jan, I can vouch for the success of your approach! All the very best with Gift Horse. I’m so looking forward to reading it.)

About Jan Ruth

Jan Ruth lives in Snowdonia, a mountainous area of North Wales, UK. Jan writes contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic, often blending life in rural Wales with a touch of city business. Her style is best described as fast-paced and realistic, with a sprinkling of dry humour.

The real story began at school, with prizes for short stories and poetry. She failed all things mathematical and scientific, and to this day struggles to make sense of anything numerical.

Her first novel – written in 1986 – attracted the attention of an agent who was trying to set up her own company, Love Stories Ltd. It was a project aiming to champion those books of substance which contained a romantic element but were perhaps directed towards the more mature reader and consistently fell through the net in traditional publishing. Sadly, the project failed to get the right financial backing.

Many years later Jan’s second novel, Wild Water, was taken on by Jane Judd, literary agent. Judd was a huge inspiration, but the book failed to find the right niche with a publisher. And then Amazon changed the face of the industry with the advent of self-publishing. Jan went on to successfully publish several works of fiction under her own imprint, Celtic Connections.

After a brief partnership with Accent Press in 2015, Jan chose to return to the freedom of independent publishing.

Jan’s books are available globally here in paperback and for Kindle; and locally, you’ll find them in North Wales libraries and Hinton’s bookshop of Conwy.

You can follow Jan on Twitter @JanRuthAuthor, find her on Facebook and visit her website.

One of the absolute joys of book blogging is being there at the ‘birth’ of a book. Today I’m thrilled to welcome Julie C. Gardiner to stay in with me on Linda’s Book Bag on publication day for her latest novel in her Friendship and Secrets series.

Staying in with Julie Gardiner

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Julie. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thank YOU so much for inviting me!

A pleasure! Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

Tonight I’ve brought along my newest release, Forgetting Ophelia. It’s Book Three of the Friendship and Secrets series, and I’m absolutely thrilled to share it with you.

I understand it’s Forgetting Ophelia publication day Julie so huge congratulations. Tell me a little bit about what we can expect from an evening in with Forgetting Ophelia.

Forgetting Ophelia follows one woman’s transformation from “meek pleaser” to strong self-advocate. When her plans for the future go up in smoke, Lia Townsend must forge a new path to happiness or else remain mired in the past life of sacrifice.

(Hmm. I’ve never been a “meek pleaser” so I think I’d find this concept really interesting.) 

Best-selling author Robin Townsend calls Forgetting Ophelia “An emotionally compelling story about love, the lies we tell, and new beginnings. I couldn’t put it down.”

(That sounds like my kind of read!)

I hope you’ll feel for Lia too—that you’ll root for her, and celebrate her triumphs. There’s also a love triangle (or square) in this book. I never can resist a little romance.

(Oo, I think we all need a little romance in our lives!)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I had to bring along my three dogs, the constant companions in my life as an author.

(This is very much a cat household Julie so I hope they won’t mind!)

While my husband is at work all day, my rescue pups stay home with me.

You can usually find one or more of them lying across my laptop or pawing at my arm to get my attention. If I’m stuck on a particularly tough scene, I just throw on my shoes and we go for a walk.

Plus, my dogs don’t care about book sales or reviews; they love me just the way I am. (For the record, my husband does, too. I’m sure he’s waiting for me right now with a bottle of Champagne and a couple of glasses to celebrate the launch of Forgetting Ophelia!)

I’m sure he does Julie! Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me all about Forgetting Ophelia and happy publication day once again.

Thanks again for having me, Linda. It’s been a real treat, and I hope you enjoyed your time with my book in your bag!

I have indeed!

Forgetting Ophelia

Ever-hopeful Lia thinks she’ll be with handsome, brooding Jake forever. Until one day he completely blindsides her and makes her question everything she knows…

Lia Townsend is expecting a ring and a trip to Hawaii for her fifth wedding anniversary. Instead, her husband, Jake, walks out on her. Out of the blue.

Devastated, Lia vows to win back Jake and the perfect life they shared.

Because it was perfect, wasn’t it?

But as Lia searches for the truth behind Jake’s departure, cracks in the shiny varnish begin to show. And once she uncovers his secret, all that she once knew and believed in crumbles.

Lia’s eccentric mother, her best friend, and two vastly different men each pull her in new directions, and Lia attempts to push past the pain and start anew.

But Jake isn’t gone for good. When an accident rocks the lives of their best friends, Lia and Jake are thrown together. Will Lia choose to salvage her old life with the man who broke her heart – or was everything they shared an illusion?

Published by Velvet Morning Press, today 8th October 2018, Forgetting Ophelia is available for purchase here.

About Julie C. Gardiner

Julie Gardiner is a lapsed marathon runner and former high school English teacher who traded in her classroom for a writing nook. The author of Lily by Any Other Name, Letters for Scarlet, and its prequel Guest List, Julie lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and three dogs. When she’s away from my computer, Julie can be found with a good book, a glass of wine, or a pair of running shoes. Her best days feature all of the above.

You  can find out more by visiting Julie’s website, or following her on Twitter @juliecgardner, Facebook, and Instagram.

My very great thanks to Rox at The Book Publicist for sending me a copy of The Modern Shepherd by AlBaraa H. Taibah in return for an honest review.

The Modern Shepherd is available for purchase here.

The Modern Shepherd

“There is no prophet who has not tended sheep.” So goes a famous phrase in Islamic scripture, words that had long intrigued young MBA student AlBaraa Taibah. How does shepherding awaken one’s wisdom? Empower one’s leadership skills? Build one’s character? Why was shepherding the starting point for great leaders like Mohammed, Moses and Abraham? There must be a reason and lessons in shepherding to take away, he reasoned.

So AlBaraa made the decision to become a modern-day shepherd, to spend ten days alone with a herd of sheep in the Sahara Desert, attempting to learn what the scripture was talking about. Confronting the dangers of desert snakes, getting hopelessly lost in the dunes and nearly dying from dehydration, on the first day he asks himself, “Why didn’t I just take that leadership course back in Boston?”

What transpires is an adventure and a journey into consciousness that is as poetic and funny as it is profound. The Modern Shepherd is a journal of discovery and a leadership textbook unlike any other. Learn and laugh with AlBaraa as he acquires the secrets of being an effective leader from a stubborn flock of sheep.

My Review of The Modern Shepherd

Ten days tending sheep in the Nufuth Desert might be a life changing experience for AlBaraa H. Taibah.

A confession. I only agreed to review The Modern Shepherd because it’s quite a short book. A second confession. I thought The Modern Shepherd would be a sickly spiritual journey and my own lack of any religious belief would mean I didn’t enjoy it. I was foolish on both counts because this book is a highly engaging and entertaining account of one man’s experiences. I sat down intending to read a couple of pages to get a feel for the style and found myself drawn in and devouring the whole book in one sitting.

There were so many elements that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved AlBaraa H. Taibah’s self-deprecating style. There’s a diffidence and humility balanced with confidence and vitality that very much appealed to me. At one point when he was about to hurl a rock at a sheep I felt he represented the petty frustrations of all humanity in a simple act. I found the authorial voice vibrant and eloquent and the present tense account added to the immediacy of the events so that I could easily picture myself in the setting and actions. I thought the passages relating to AlBaraa H. Taibah’s leadership in school contrasted and complemented those parts set in the desert perfectly.

I really appreciated the lifestyle of a modern shepherd that AlBaraa H. Taibah presents. It made me grateful for my home comforts and taught me that possessions do not make me who I am. The need for patience (sheep can be recalcitrant and disdainful creatures!) and effort to achieve a sense of purpose is wonderfully conveyed without heavy handed preachiness. There’s real humour between the pages of The Modern Shepherd as well as some beautifully poetic language that I loved too. The quoted sayings at the start of each chapter were frequently very inspiring.

I was also extremely touched by the fact that part of the proceeds from the Modern Shepherd will go towards third world school development and felt that in The Modern Shepherd I had seen a true leader in AlBaraa H. Taibah as he is a man who walks the talk.

The Modern Shepherd was not what I expected. Part travelogue, part spiritual journey, part leadership manual, part biography it is a book that can be read and enjoyed on many levels. It enlightened and entertained me and I really recommend it.

About AlBaraa H. Taibah

AlBaraa H. Taibah has a degree in Architecture Engineering from King Kahad University in Saudi Arabia, and later gained a Masters in Education Leadership at Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. An in­fluential communicator and innovative entrepreneur, AlBaraa is a TEDx speaker and author who believes in the importance of education for national growth. He is a successful education leader with 9+ years of experience in multi-national societies, educational institutions, non-profit organisations and entrepreneurial start-ups.

You can follow him on Twitter @albara2.

I’m delighted to welcome Tamara Agha-Jaffar to Linda’s Book Bag today to tell me about one of her books as I happen to know it’s Tamara’s birthday. So, happy birthday Tamara!

Staying in with Tamara Agha-Jaffar

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Tamara. Thank you for agreeing to stay with me.

I’m delighted to be here. Thank you for inviting me. I love to talk about my passion for mythology and for women’s role in myth.

It sounds like I’m in for an entertaining evening. Which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you brought it?

I have brought along my first novel, A Pomegranate and the Maiden, based on the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone because this is the myth that launched me on my writing career.

(That sounds like a good choice to me!)

I was a professor of English for a number of years, and among the courses I taught was a course on Women Literature in which I included selections from Homer’s Hymn to Demeter. I love the poem because it focuses primarily on women, specifically a mother and her daughter. I encouraged my students to interpret the myth as metaphor and to recognize how its themes have an enduring relevance. The myth of the abduction of Kore/Persephone and its aftermath speaks to us on many levels: how to cope with trauma; the nature of the mother/daughter relationship; the stages of grieving; the impact of gender on our perspectives; the differences between male and female socialization; communication styles; etc. etc.

My students became so enamored with the myth that they encouraged me to write a book deconstructing it so others can benefit from its insights. I took their advice. My first book was born: Demeter and Persephone: Lessons from a Myth (McFarland 2002). This non-fiction book is an analysis of the myth from a feminist perspective.

(It sounds incredibly interesting. I love the way in which your students prompted your writing. It seems fitting somehow!)

The whole time I was writing the book, I kept thinking I would love to write a work of fiction based on this myth in which each of the characters speaks in the first-person point of view and describes the events from his/her gendered perspective. So as soon as I retired from academia in 2013, I plunged right into writing my first novel, A Pomegranate and the Maiden.

What can we expect from an evening in with A Pomegranate and the Maiden?

A Pomegranate and the Maiden retells the story of Demeter (the goddess of the grain) and her daughter Kore/Persephone (the goddess of Spring) from multiple first-person points of view. It begins with Kore/Persephone as a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. She attracts the attention of the god of the Underworld, Hades. He colludes with her father, Zeus, to trick her into opening a chasm to the underworld from which he emerges, kidnaps her to his deathly realm, and makes her his bride.

Learning of her daughter’s whereabouts, Demeter experiences the stages of mourning. She even engages in displacement by trying to appropriate another woman’s infant to fill the void she feels at the loss of her daughter. When that attempt is foiled, Demeter goes on strike and denies the earth its fertility. The ensuing famine forces Zeus to submit to her demands by releasing Persephone from the underworld.

Although Persephone is eager to emerge from the underworld, she intentionally swallows the pomegranate seeds Hades pops into her mouth. Eating food from the underworld commits her to return. So Persephone returns to the underworld for four months of every year. Demeter mourns the loss of her daughter during those four months and refuses to let anything grow. Winter ensues. Persephone’s emergence from the underworld is the catalyst for her mother’s joy. Spring ensues.

That is the outline of the myth in a nutshell. A Pomegranate and the Maiden explores each character’s psychology and gendered thoughts as they come to terms with the events. For example, Demeter is portrayed as the possessive mother who doesn’t want her daughter to grow up. Kore/Persephone wants to break away from mother’s binding constraints and find her own way. Zeus is the patriarch who tramples over a mother’s rights. And Hades is the lover who catapults Persephone into gaining independence from mother.

I first released the novel in paperback (2015) and then on Kindle. I recently released an audiobook version with me doing the reading (2018). I had a lot of fun doing it.

(It sounds to me, Tamara, that you have been able to explore the myth through so many different perspectives. Fascinating.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I have brought along my other books.

The first one is the non-fiction book that set me on my writing career: Demeter and Persephone: Lessons from a Myth.

I was still a Professor of English when this book came out. I became very interested in the depiction of women in mythology and religion and wanted to develop a new course focusing on women’s roles in myth and religion. I searched for a multicultural text that would work. But when I couldn’t find exactly what I needed, I wrote my own text book. Women and Goddesses in Myth and Sacred Text: An Anthology (Pearson 2005) was born. It is a multicultural text with excerpts from The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Hell, the Enuma Elish, and many other selections including those from Western, Asian, Islamic, Christian, African, and Native American traditions.

When an author conveys their absolute passion for a subject it really inspires me to read their work. You’ve certainly piqued my interest Tamara.

I have also brought along my second novel, Unsung Odysseys (Kindle 2016) I love anything Homer and have read The Odyssey many times. I thought it was about time we heard the voices of women who interacted with Odysseus as he made his trek home to Ithaca. Among the voices we hear in my novel is the voice of his wife, his mother, his nurse, the goddess Circe, and the nymph Calypso. Their collective voices provide an alternative perspective on Odysseus and his exploits.

Finally, I have brought a photograph of one of my favorite statues. It is Bernini’s statue of the abduction of Persephone. My husband and I were on vacation in Italy a few years ago. We went to the Borghese Palace in Rome because it houses paintings by Carvaggio, one of my favorite artists.

I was on the lookout for Carvaggio’s paintings when we entered one of the beautifully ornate rooms at the Borghese in which were displayed Bernini’s incredible statues. They were astonishing—all the more so because I wasn’t expecting anything quite so spectacular. There was his statue of Aeneas with his father and son as they escape from the burning walls of Troy, Daphne escaping from Apollo, and an amazing statue of Hades kidnapping Persephone.

The statue is over 8 ft tall and absolutely breathtaking. I love how Bernini captures movement as Persephone struggles to get away and Hades digs his hand into her flesh to prevent her escape. The detail, the size, the whole composition blew me away. I love anything Demeter/Persephone, so this statue was the icing on the cake for me on what was a wonderful vacation.

It sounds like the perfect trip for you! Thanks so much for a really interesting evening Tamara. I’ve so enjoyed staying in with you and Happy Birthday! 

Thank you Linda.

A Pomegranate and the Maiden

A Pomegranate and the Maiden is a multi-faceted re-telling of the story of Demeter and Persephone as told in Homer’s Hymn to Demeter. The many characters speak directly to the reader, presenting multiple perspectives of the same event. Among the voices we hear is that of the mother grieving for her lost child, the daughter struggling for independence, the father who tramples on a mother’s rights, and the lover who resorts to nefarious means to win his beloved. Each perspective is deeply rooted in the character’s psychology and gender. Woven within their narratives are stories familiar to readers of Greek mythology.

Against the backdrop of our own culture, which still diminishes the value of motherhood and marginalizes women of all ages, these voices speak to us through the centuries and offer new ways of seeing the world we inhabit.

A Pomegranate and the Maiden is available for purchase here.

About Tamara Agha-Jaffar

Tamara Agha-Jaffar has a Ph.D. in English Literature. She has been in academia all her professional life, serving as professor of English, dean, and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She retired in July 2013. In 2004 she was named Kansas Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation and received its CASE Award for the Advancement of Teaching. In 2010 she received The President’s Call to Service Award for her volunteer work in the community.

Tamara and her husband are empty nesters living in Kansas. She enjoys retirement and spends her time doing the things she loves best: reading and writing.

You can find out more about Tamara on her website, her Amazon Author Page and on Goodreads.