I’m going off piste for Linda’s Book Bag today and featuring a topic about which I know absolutely nothing as Todd R. Thomas stays in with me to tell me about his book.

Staying in with Todd R. Thomas

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

Thank you for having me! You seem to be exponentially more popular than I am.

(That made me laugh! I very much doubt it!)

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

It was an easy choice, since I have only written one. I brought Racing With “The Doctor”: Recollections from a Member of Jerry Crabb’s Sprint Car Pit Crew. It is the result of a 12 year project, which includes a 10 year hiatus in the middle.

What can we expect from an evening in with Racing With “The Doctor”: Recollections from a Member of Jerry Crabb’s Sprint Car Pit Crew?

I was a snot-nosed 18-year-old in 1985 when I attended my first sprint car race at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, and fell in love with the sport. As luck would have it, six years later I found myself, with zero experience, as a member of Jerry’s pit crew. I was an outsider and it was all new and shiny and interesting to me, so I would sometimes write things down as a way to keep memories from fading. After Jerry retired from racing I attempted to put my notes in a book-like format – then let it sit on my computer for 10 years. But it was always in the back of my mind, kept nagging at me, and wouldn’t shut up until I did something about it. I came across it again last year, continued working on it, and self-published in March.

(You’d be surprised how many authors tell me how long it has taken to get their book completed Todd.)

Hopefully the topic does not turn those away who are not familiar or interested in racing, because I’ve received positive feedback from readers who know little about the sport. I believe the below review received on Amazon describes it best:

Wonderful racing memoir! My brother recommended this book to me as a great read and he was right. I’m not a die-hard race fan by any means, but Thomas’ recollections of working his way up in a sprint car race crew are perfect for those with lots of knowledge about the sport, or very little like I have. We get to ride along with him as he learns the ropes as he works pit crew for racer Jerry Crabb, and I’m not going to spoil anything, but the climax race for Thomas’ team is one of the best I’ve read in a sports book. Great read. Great coming of age story. I can totally see this one as a movie someday. Thomas makes you feel like you’re in the pits with him as the engines roar. Definitely going to give it a second read!

(What a wonderful review. And actually, Todd, I think books are the perfect way to discover something new.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I brought the cowl from Jerry’s sprint car, which normally hangs on the wall in my man cave. It is a little amazing that it survived, because Sometimes Bad Things Happen (also a chapter title in the book) in sprint car racing. Note the name “Mr. Cool” refers to me. For some reason that was my nickname, likely given sarcastically.

Thanks so much for staying in with me Todd. I’ve learnt an awful lot about a topic I knew nothing about. Good luck with Racing With “The Doctor”.

Racing With “The Doctor”:

Recollections from a Member of Jerry Crabb’s Sprint Car Pit Crew

Jerry Crabb raced motorcycles, 3-wheelers, and 4-wheelers from the 1960’s into the 2010’s. At the age of 47, in 1990 he made his first start in a 410 cubic inch sprint car at Knoxville Raceway. In 1991 he built his own 360 cubic inch sprint car, and raced at Knoxville and several Iowa tracks until 2006. He was the winner of the 1998 Masters Classic at Knoxville Raceway. This book contains recollections from a fifteen year member of Jerry’s sprint car pit crew.

Racing With “The Doctor”: Recollections from a Member of Jerry Crabb’s Sprint Car Pit Crew is available for purchase here.

About Todd. R. Thomas

At the age of 18 in 1985, Todd Thomas attended his first sprint car race at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, and fell in love with the sport. As fate would have it, six years later the avid fan found himself as a pit crew member on Jerry Crabb’s sprint car pit crew, and he served in that capacity for 15 years. After Jerry retired from sprint car racing in 2006, Todd compiled the notes he took over the years and attempted to put them in a book-like format. It sat on his computer for 10 years until he came across it again in 2017. He continued working on the project and eventually published this book in March of 2018. Todd is a life-long Marion County Iowa resident.

I often wonder what my 18 year old self would have thought if they knew then what I know now about how life was going to pan out. Today I’m delighted to welcome Jay Mullings, author of The Thought Book 2 to Linda’s Book Bag to share some advice with his 18 year old self in a smashing guest post.

The Thought Book 2 is available for purchase here.

The Thought Book 2

The Thought Book II is a companion that builds the self esteem and confidence of its readers. TTB2 helps you to sustain your drive and quieten the voice of anxiety in your thoughts. No matter your career path or choice of goals, The Thought Book II contains what you need to strengthen your edge.

Top Three Things I’d Tell My 18 Year Old Self

A Guest Post by Jay Mullings

 It’s the year 2018 and finally we have a working time travel device (disguised as a smart watch). I am lucky enough to be chosen for its maiden trial. Seeing as time travel is risky, I am only allowed to have one interaction and that’s with my 18-year-old self. No one would ever believe 18-year-old spoke with a future version of themself.

Now I don’t have long before they find me. I’ve decided not too much good comes from going back in time but in the name of science here are the top three things I said to 18-year-old Jay.

Follow Your Passion

I spent the majority of my youth acquiring knowledge that is of little consequence to me now. Learning the inner workings of computers was a true waste of my talent. Studying for qualifications I have no use for was almost sinful.

Jay your true calling is (I didn’t spoil it for him) in your heart. Be passionate and don’t be scared to dream as big as possible with that crazy imagination you have! You know what it is and you should definitely pursue it. We smile at each other; I know myself all too well.

Be Formless

Growing up it was accepted as true wisdom to be a master of only one thing. “Well, in our future world you need multiple strings to your bow.” I tell myself this and I can see it causing an internal struggle. We go back and forth about a Jack-of-all-trades being a master of none. I retort, “Jack has multiple revenue streams and creative outlets for his skills. Jack is doing just fine. Do you really want to waste precious time debating this with the one person who has seen this movie already?” Stop hiding your secondary talents in pursuit of one. Try to sharpen them all or use them in service of each other.

Amplify Your Voice

I wrap things up by giving probably the best advice of all (I am well aware self praise is no recommendation). Speak up about the things you see and feel. You have really specific insight, be sure to share it. Most of all speak up about all the times you’ve been mistreated or singled out for being young, gifted and black. Don’t keep it all bottled up inside.

Share your bold, silly and funny views with the world. Don’t let the cruel people of the world silence you or wipe that broad smile from your face. Share your unique voice with the world. It might be a good idea to exempt this conversation between us though…

Okay, let me not leave you high and dry, I’ll answer a few of your questions quickly. No Arsene Wenger will never deliver the champions league for Arsenal. Thierry Henry leaves for Barcelona, wins the champions league and then plays in the MLS before coming back on loan for us. He has a statue outside the new ground as our record goal scorer. Chelsea wins the Champions League before we do, Leicester City wins the premier league, Spurs finish above us more than once, Manchester City becomes a force in World Football and America gets its 1st Black President. He does two terms and there are no assassination attempts. No Hilary Clinton does not succeed him; Donald Trump becomes President of The United States immediately after…

Why don’t you believe me?

(Ha! I have to agree that last fact is rather unbelievable Jay! Great advice to your former self though.)

About Jay Mullings

Jay Mullings, who is part of the ‘Sleepless Elite’, has thrived on just 3 hours a night for the past 6 years. Rather than limited sleep being a hindrance, Jay maximises these twilight hours by writing and developing his business Written Mirror Ltd.

You can follow Jay on Twitter @WrittenMirror.

My enormous thanks to Emma Welton of Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for Keep Your Friends Close by June Taylor and to Finn Cotton for sending me a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

It’s almost two years since June Taylor was last on Linda’s Book Bag when her first psychological thriller Losing Juliet had just been published by Harper Collins Killer Reads.  You can read that interview here. and I’m delighted to welcome June back again to introduce her latest book. I also have my review to share with you too.

Staying in with June Taylor

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

Thank you for inviting me.  Lovely to be here again.

As if I couldn’t guess, tell me June, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

 

I’m bringing Keep Your Friends Close, my second psychological thriller published by HarperCollins Killer Reads.  It came out in ebook on 26^th October 2018.  (Paperback 10^th January 2019).

(Oo. Belated Keep Your Friends Close happy ebook publication day June.)

It’s another standalone so you don’t need to have read the first one (but by all means do!)  I think Keep Your Friends Close is perfect for the darker winter nights.  So just make sure the front door is locked, curl up by the fire and get comfortable.  Expect to stay up late though as you may want to keep going until the last page is turned.

(I can agree whole heartedly. I thoroughly enjoyed Keep Your Friends Close and have my review to share in a little while. I’ll definitely be keeping my door locked!)

So what can we expect from an evening with Keep Your Friends Close?

Well I like thrillers that delve deep into characters’ minds, so it does get quite claustrophobic and tense at times. I wouldn’t say it’s scary, but it’s an uncomfortable and unsettling read for sure, with a few surprises along the way.  The main character is Karin, a young woman with a turbulent past who’s beginning to put her life back together.  But on her twenty-second birthday, everything changes.  The past won’t let go and if her ex catches up with her she knows that things could start to unravel pretty quickly.  Only it’s worse than she ever imagined when one of her friends is murdered.

(I know those who’ve yet to read Keep Your Friends Close will find this intriguing June.)

It’s hard to say a great deal without giving away spoilers!

(I agree – I struggled not to give anything away in my review! Everyone will just have to read it for themselves!)

Yes. But you know the saying: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.  Well hopefully this book will keep you second guessing.

(It will indeed!)

What else have you brought along and why?

I made a big bowl of popcorn because I think reading a good thriller should be like watching a movie.  Only better in a way.  If the writer has done a good job then there’s no better place than your own imagination.

You’ve certainly done a good job with Keep Your Friends Close June. Thanks so much for staying in and explaining a little bit more about it. I’ll share the book details and then you can read my review!

Keep Your Friends Close

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…

An addictive and shocking psychological thriller, full of twists you won’t see coming.

A friend who won’t let you escape.

When Karin is taken on a romantic break by her loving partner Aaron, she can’t wait for him to propose. But her surprise weekend quickly becomes a nightmare from which she may never escape.

Who wants everything you have.

They are staying by the beach at the Midland – a grand hotel where Karin used to work. And where Karin’s dangerous and obsessive ex, whom she has been trying to leave behind for years, is waiting patiently for her to return.

Who won’t stop until your life is in ruins.

Now all of Karin’s darkest secrets are being dragged into the light and her friends are turning against her. When one of them is murdered, Karin begins to realise just how treacherous relationships can be…

Keep Your Friends Close is available for purchase on Amazon, BookDepository, from Waterstones and Foyles.

My Review of Keep Your Friends Close

Life is vastly improved for Karin – but will it stay that way?

Crikey! Keep Your Friends Close is a twisty, keep the reader guessing until the final full stop kind of thriller. I found it exciting and compelling so that I didn’t want to leave it when ordinary life got in the way.

I can’t say too much about the plot as it relies on perfectly plausible though still shocking surprises, but I will say it is brilliantly thought through and skilfully delivered making for a very entertaining read.

I thought the characterisation was excellent. Because of the title I had my suspicions about every one of the people in this story, some of which were realised and some of which weren’t (but again I can’t say more). I found my reader response to Karin fascinating because I vacillated in my opinion of her throughout. At times I admired her, hated her, thought she was strong, pathetic (in the true sense of the word), self-centered, generous, intelligent and stupid and by the end of Keep Your Friends Close I still hadn’t made up my mind about her. She’s certainly a complex individual. I think it says something about the skill of a writer when the reader continues to contemplate the people they have created long after reading the book in the way June Taylor has here.

I thought the themes and issues underpinning the fast paced plot were so good. There’s an intelligent exploration of how our past can affect us, and of how we can manipulate and affect others and in turn allow ourselves to be manipulated and affected by them. Guilt, betrayal, obsession, identity, and trust are all woven throughout and I really appreciated the sympathetic presentation of the homeless who are an important aspect of Keep Your Friends Close. June Taylor exemplifies just how easy it is to spiral into difficult circumstances.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from Keep Your Friends Close, but what I found was a hugely rewarding read that kept me gripped from the first page to the last. It’s a super read.

About June Taylor

June Taylor is a UK psychological thriller writer. For many years she was a TV promos writer/producer before turning to writing plays and fiction.  She was runner-up in the 2011Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction competition with her YA novel.  Her debut Adult psychological thriller Losing Juliet was nominated for the Not the Booker Prize 2017.

Keep Your Friends Close is June’s second psychological thriller for the Harper Collins Killer Reads imprint.

June is active in her local writing scene, including serving on the Board of Script Yorkshire and taking part in Leeds Big bookend.

You can follow June on Twitter @joonLT and visit her website. You’ll find June on and Facebook and occasionally on Instagram too.

There’s more with these other bloggers:

As you probably know, I love to travel and this year, amongst other places I went to India for the first time. With that in mind I had to ask Janet MacLeod Trotter to stay in with me to tell me about one of her books (all of which look exactly my kind of read).

Staying in with Janet MacLeod Trotter

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

Which book have you brought along to share this evening and why have you brought it?

I’ve chosen In The Far Pashmina Mountains, my latest historical novel because I think it’s ideal for a cosy autumn night in, where we can escape to hot, tropical India and adventure!

(Never mind cosy autumn nights. I think In The Far Pashmina Mountains looks perfect for any time Janet.)

What can we expect from an evening in with In The Far Pashmina Mountains?

This is history and romance on a sweeping ‘canvas’ from the Scottish Hebrides to the Himalayas. Although my story and main characters are fictional, much of it is based on historical fact. It depicts the adventure and endeavour of the British in the early 19^th century who needed to make a living by going overseas. The hero – like my own MacLeod ancestor – has to leave the Isle of Skye for economic reasons and secures a position in the East India Company Army, seeking his fortune in India.

(You’ve got me hooked already!)

My heroine grows up in a Northumbrian lighthouse and this early tough life makes her the resilient and resourceful woman that she becomes.

A major part of the book is set in Bengal and in the mountains of northern India. It depicts life in colonial Calcutta in the precarious days before modern medicine or the comfort of electric fans – wine was cooled by wrapping bottles in wet cloths and hanging them between the trees!

When the action moves into the mountains, we get a glimpse of early hill station life in Simla (now Shimla) – a place dear to my heart as, nearly a century later, my grandparents and mother would live there in the 1920s. My granddad was a forester and from his diaries and old cine films I discovered that my plucky granny also went with him into camp and on long arduous treks into the Himalayas. They even took my mother as a baby, in her pram which was strapped onto poles and carried up the mountain paths!

(Wow! What a trip for them.)

Four years ago, on a fact-finding trip to India, I discovered the old house in Shimla where they had lodged when my mum was two years old – but that’s another story!

(You’ll have to come back another time as I want to know more now!)

The novel finally takes the reader to Afghanistan where the fate of the British and their families hangs by a thread.

In The Far Pashmina Mountains was chosen as a Kindle First book for September and has had some lovely reviews, such as: ‘Totally absorbing – were it not for tired eyes I would have read this book from cover to cover without a break!’

(You know I have no control over this and I am going to HAVE to read In The Far Pashmina Mountains don’t you?)

What else have you brought along and why?

Four things:

I have with me a copy of the register for the East India Company Army which shows my ancestor, Donald MacLeod, being promoted from Ensign to Lieutenant – his name is fourth from the bottom and incorrectly spelt!

(What a wonderful document to find.)

I also have a photo of the house on Skye where he lived until he was nineteen and went off to seek his fortune in India – sadly he never made it back.

I’ve brought along my Afghan jacket! When I was 18 I travelled overland to India on a bus and visited Afghanistan in November, so I know how cold it can get in the mountains in winter and have some inkling of the hardships my characters must have suffered.

(Having only just discovered what a wonderful country India is, I’m so jealous of that experience Janet. That’s a gorgeous jacket by the way too!)

When visiting Shimla on our recent trip, one of the tastiest meals we had was simple street food – spicy potatoes and dahl served with piping hotpuri (a small, round piece of bread made of unleavened wheat flour and deep-fried). So like my hero, we’ll sit around eating this – delicious!

Now, I have to say Janet, that you have been an ideal guest because In The Far Pashmina Mountains sounds like the perfect book for me, you’ve taken on a journey to an area I’d love to visit again and brought the kind of food I love to eat. Thank you so much for staying in with me and making it such an entertaining evening.

In The Far Pashmina Mountains

From shipwreck and heartbreak to treachery and war: can their love survive?

Abandoned as a baby and raised in a remote lighthouse off the wild Northumberland coast, Alice Fairchild has always dreamed of adventure. When a fierce storm wrecks a ship nearby, she risks everything in an act of bravery that alters the course of her life.

Aboard the doomed vessel is the handsome John Sinclair, a Scottish soldier on his way to India. The connection between them is instant, but soon fate intervenes and leaves Alice heartbroken and alone. Determined to take charge of her destiny but secretly hoping her path will cross again with John’s, she too makes a new start in colonial India.

Life there is colourful and exotic, but beneath the bright facade is an undercurrent of violence, and when the British invade Afghanistan, Alice is caught up in the dangerous campaign. When at last she hears news of John, she is torn between two very different lives. But will she follow her head or her heart?

In The Far Pashmina Mountains is available for purchase here.

About Janet MacLeod Trotter

Janet MacLeod Trotter is the author of numerous bestselling and acclaimed novels, including The Hungry Hills, which was nominated for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and The Tea Planter’s Daughter, which was nominated for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Novel of the Year Award. Much informed by her own experiences, MacLeod Trotter was raised in the north-east of England by Scottish parents and travelled in India as a young woman. She recently discovered diaries and letters belonging to her grandparents, who married in Lahore and lived and worked in the Punjab for nearly thirty years, which served as her inspiration for the India Tea Series. She now divides her time between Northumberland and the Isle of Skye.

You can find out more about Janet and her novels on her website and by following her on Twitter @MacLeodTrotter. You can also find her on Facebook.

It gives me great pleasure to be returning to poetry here on Linda’s Book Bag today, especially as all the profits from Persona Non Grata edited by Isabelle Kenyon will go to Shelter and Crisis Aid UK.

Isabelle has featured here on the blog before when I reviewed her own poetry collection This Is Not A Spectacle here, and another charity collection supporting Mind from Fly on the Wall, Please Hear What I’m Not Saying, here.

Persona Non Grata is available for purchase here.

Person Non Grata

With the global refugee crises being very much in the media at present, it is timely that a collection of poems should be published, which goes to the heart of how it feels to be displaced from society. Inspired by the concept of social exclusion, the collection, Persona Non Grata, which features exceptional poets across the globe, explores themes including homelessness, loneliness and mental health.

All profits from the book will be donated to Shelter and Crisis Aid UK. Isabelle, who is the editor of small press, Fly on the Wall Poetry, hopes that with the support of her readers, and the 45 poets involved in the anthology, she will raise an incredible amount for charity, providing support and advice for anyone who finds themselves homeless.

Isabelle said, “I am thrilled and proud to have edited and compiled this anthology to raise money for charity. This has been a brave, yet thrilling project which aims to give a voice to those who feel alienated from society for whatever reason. Reading the work of so many talented poets and being granted access to their inner thoughts, has been a great privilege. Knowing that the money we raise will be used to improve the lives of those who find themselves displaced, throughout the UK, is humbling.”

Shelter commented: “We are delighted that ‘Fly on the Wall Poetry Press publishes charitable anthologies – and anthology ‘Persona Non Grata’ is packed with poetry inspired by the concept of social exclusion. Without support such as this we would not be able to support the people who reach out to us for help with housing issues and homelessness. Thank you so much to everyone involved.” – Lindsay Tilston Jones, Regional Community Fundraiser: Manchester.

This book is the second anthology published by the press, which was awarded ‘Runner Up for Best Anthology’ at the prestigious Saboteur Awards this May. Both books are available to buy through http://www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk in both in paperback and Kindle formats, worldwide.

To support Isabelle’s charity book release, please visit www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk.

My Review of Persona Non Grata

55 poems divided into seven sections on the theme of being ‘outside’ society.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous anthologies written and edited by Isabelle Kenyon that I have read, but I think Persona Non Grata is the best yet. There is such a wealth of literary talent in these poems, aside from the very strong messages the words contain.

And the messages and themes in Persona Non Grata are strong, deserving to be heard. There’s everything from sexuality to homelessness, immigration to abuse so that I was very moved by the writing and actually I felt very uncomfortable at times too. The contrast between the bright lights and consumerism against the empty wallet of the man in Forgotten Hero, for example, made me question whether I would have noticed such a man on the bus – or indeed, done anything to help him. I will return to Persona Non Grata many times as every time I read a poem again I find something new – a nuance, a carefully placed line break, a single syllable – that adds depth and emotion. There’s a perfect balance of important themes and excellent writing in this anthology.

As well as appreciating the quality and messages of the poems, I found the biographies at the end of the anthology fascinating. The poets are of all ages, ethnicities and geographical locations which added to the feeling of authenticity for me. Reading Persona Non Grata introduced me to new authors that I want to find out more about.

I can heartily recommend Persona Non Grata. It is moving and accessible, well written and important. Reading these poems made me glad to be me and encouraged me to count my blessings. In the words of the final poem in the anthology, when it comes to Persona Non Grata, ‘Let’s celebrate’!

About Isabelle Kenyon

Isabelle Kenyon is a poet, blogger and book reviewer. Her poems have published online for Bewildering Stories and as a Micro Chapbook for Origami Poetry Press. Isabelle has also featured in poetry anthologies such as Anti Heroin Chic, Literary Yard, the Inkyneedles anthology, Poetry Rivals, and the Great British Write Off. Isabelle has won awards and commendations from The Wirral festival of Music, Speech and Drama,the Festival of Firsts, the Langwith Scott Award for Art and Drama and the Visit Newark Poetry competition.

You can follow Isabelle on Twitter @kenyon_isabelle and visit her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook.

I am delighted to welcome J. Gregory Smith to Linda’s Book Bag today. Greg has written several books and has kindly agreed to stay in to tell me all about one I think sounds brilliant.

Staying in with J. Gregory Smith

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Greg. 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? 

 

Thanks, Linda.  I brought my latest novel, Quick Fix, which is the first book in a new series called The Reluctant Hustler.  The series is written from the perspective of Kyle Logan, a truck driver who works for a military contractor and who has been injured over in Iraq by an IED.  When we meet him he’s recovered physically from the experience but the reverberations to his personal life have just begun. 

That sounds a very interesting read. Tell me, what can we expect from an evening in with Quick Fix?

The story is set in a colorful neighborhood in the city of Philadelphia called Fishtown.  It provides an ever changing background as the area transforms from blue collar to a more gentrified mix.  For Kyle, the changes reflect his own circumstance and we learn he left for the Middle East as much to escape his reality and growing distance from his wife as it was to seek adventure.

Once he finds more excitement than he bargained for, thanks to a bomb attack on his truck convoy, he returns home hoping to return to a normal life, even if it is too late to save his crumbling marriage. 

His plans collapse by his own hand, or rather his fist, when he caves to a moment of rage after being provoked by his wife’s new boyfriend.  Now suspended from work and facing certain termination, if not a criminal record, Kyle is open to temptation via his shady best friend who offers an easy lifeline to reverse his fortunes.  All Kyle has to do is drive for two nights work in what seems to be a victimless crime.

(Quick Fix sounds very exciting.)

What made the story setup so compelling for me is that I tried to create an imperfect protagonist and place him in a situation where we all know he should walk away, yet we understand why he might give in to the pressure.  Needless to say, all does not go as smoothly as promised and we see Kyle dragged into a world that lives by different rules with life and death stakes not just for himself but everyone he cares about.

(Which just goes to show that there is rarely a ‘quick fix’ to our problems!)

What else have you brought along and why?

 Fishtown in Philadelphia PA

The Philly neighborhood of Fishtown is a character all its own in Quick Fix, in some subtle (and not so subtle) ways.  The main character was shaped by it while growing up, tried to escape it by travelling around the world and now must rely on it for his survival.

Not only have you made me interested in Quick Fix Greg, you’ve made me want to travel to Fishtown too now! Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me all about it.

Quick Fix

Military contractor Kyle Logan’s luck has gone from bad to worse ever since he returned home to Philadelphia following an injury by an IED in Iraq. First, his marriage crumbles, then his career after he’s pushed to the brink and assaults his wife’s lover, who is also her divorce attorney.

When Kyle’s shady best friend turns up and offers him a “once in a lifetime” chance to regain his job and his life, all for just a couple night’s work, Kyle figures he’s got nothing to lose. The police, Philly Irish Mob and a couple of drug cartels all think otherwise.

Now forced to fight for his life, and those around him, Kyle must turn to allies from his old neighborhood in a desperate effort to stay alive and out of prison.

Quick Fix is one man’s fall into a world of unintended consequences that seeks to tread the razor-thin lines between right and wrong, loyalty and treachery.

Published by Red Acre, Quick Fix is available for purchase here.

About J. Gregory Smith

Greg Smith is the bestselling author of the thrillers, A Noble Cause and The Flamekeepers as well as the Paul Chang Mystery series including his breakthrough novel, Final Price and the sequels, Legacy of the Dragon and Send in the Clowns all published by Thomas & Mercer.

Prior to writing fiction full time, Greg worked in public relations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. He has an MBA from the College of William & Mary and a BA in English from Skidmore College.

His debut novel, Final Price, was first released as a self-published work before being signed to Thomas & Mercer and re-released. Greg is now working on new thrillers as well as a YA fantasy series.

Greg currently lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife and son.

You can follow Greg on Twitter @JGregorySmith3. You’ll also find him on Facebook.

Since I began blogging I’ve featured quite a few books from Unbound and today I’m pleased to welcome Sue Clark to Linda’s Book Bag to tell us more about the 1960s background to her novel Note to Boy.

Note to Boy is still being crowd funded and you can participate here. There’s a super video message from Sue all about Note to Boy here.

Note to Boy

A comic novel about what happens when the worlds of a 1960s fashion diva and a modern teenager collide: she wants revenge and her reputation back; he’d settle for a safe haven and a warm coat.

Outrageous former fashion celebrity Eloise Slaughter and introverted Kilburn council estate kid Bradley McCreedy are poles apart. She’s an extrovert, seventy-something, gin-soaked diva. He’s a seventeen-year old who’s learnt it’s safer to keep his eyes down and his mouth shut. She has a past she likes to boast about. He’s already given up on his future. Yet against the odds, as this comic novel describes, the two of them become a formidable team.

Bradley and Eloise’s relationship is volatile, not helped by her devotion to Bombay Sapphire gin and an increasing tendency to confuse the past with the present. While Eloise struggles with memories of long-ago betrayals and humiliations dating back to her days as a 1960s ‘shock frock’ fashion designer, Bradley grows in confidence and cunning. A locked room in Eloise’s chaotic London flat adds to the mystery.

Note to Boy is an entertaining romp that touches on universal truths: don’t write people off, just because they’re unimpressive or annoying; don’t let your past screw up your present; and value friendships, no matter where you find them. Oh, and it’s funny too.

London in the Swinging Sixties: Ode to an Era

A Guest Post by Sue Clark

Who doesn’t love the 1960s? Mary Quant. The moon landing. The Kinks. Georgy Girl. It was an exciting and vibrant time to be alive, especially if you were young – and makes for a great background to a novel. One of the main characters in my comic fiction, Note to Boy, spends much of her time reminiscing about her life in Swinging London, when skirts were short, morals flexible, and life was about having fun.

Why did I decide to focus on that era? How could I not? During the late 1960s and early 70s, when I was single and carefree, I was living in London. I worked for an American film company, shared a flat near Oxford Circus with three other girls, bought my clothes in Carnaby Street and went to the sort of parties where you might bump into a James Bond actor. Sounds glamorous, hey?

Not so glam when you’re living it. I was mere ‘office fodder’ at the film company, the occupant of the flat next door to ours advertised herself as a ‘model’ and the James Bond actor I met was the Australian whose name no-one can ever remember.

Ok, so real-life wasn’t quite so ‘fab’ and ‘trendy’. Nevertheless, those times have proved to be a rich source of material for meas a writer of humorous fiction. I wasn’t even particularly thinking of the 60s when I began the book. I wanted to write about celebrity, from the point of view of someone who’d had it and lost it.

The story concerns the unlikely friendship between elderly, former fashion guru Eloise Slaughter and downtrodden teenager Bradley McCreedy. Thrown together, they don’t get on. Why should they? They have nothing in common – except gradually they discover a common purpose. Then the fun starts.

Who, if anyone, did I base these characters on? Well, Eloise is a monster. Arrogant, demanding and deluded. So, of course, she couldn’t possibly be based on anyone I know. Most certainly she is not a self-portrait. I don’t hold court from my bed wearing a purple peignoir, knocking back gin. I prefer white wine and my dressing gown is pink.

Though I’ve never come across anyone as extreme as Eloise, thank goodness, I’ve hung around enough TV and radio studies and, as a journalist, interviewed enough well-known people to know there are some monstrous egos out there. No, I’m not revealing any names.

When are you likely to see Note to Boy in the bookshops? Soon I hope, although this could depend on you. It’s being published by Unbound and crowdfunded directly by readers. The more people support the book, the quicker it gets into print. As I write this, Note to Boy is 63% of the way to being fully funded. It’s all explained on the Unbound website.

If you like the sound of Unbound, please browse their titles. There are plenty of great ones. If you like the sound of Note to Boy, please click the ‘pledge’ button on those pages. Thank you.

(I have to endorse what Sue says; Unbound have some wonderful books and I have been privileged to feature many of them on Linda’s Book Bag.)

About Sue Clark

In a varied career Sue Clark has been a scriptwriter, journalist and PR copywriter. She’s worked for BBC radio and TV, local newspapers, and no end of corporates. Her TV and radio credits include: Alas Smith and Jones, Weekending, and The News Huddlines.

She’s interviewed John Humphreys and Ronnie Corbett and penned funny lines for Lenny Henry, June Whitfield, Tracy Ullman, Roy Hudd and David Jason, among others.

Although the comic fiction Note to Boy is billed as her debut novel, there are others lurking in desk drawers that may one day see the light. And there will be more to come!

She lives in an Oxfordshire market town much like the fictional setting of Midsomer Murders with her long-suffering husband. She has three children and one adorable grandchild.

You can follow Sue on Twitter @SueClarkAuthor.

I’m delighted to welcome Joanne C. Hillhouse to Linda’s Book Bag today because Joanne has agreed to stay in with me to chat about a book the title of which appeals to me as much as any other title I’ve come across!

Staying in with Joanne C. Hillhouse

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Joanne 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?

I’ve brought Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10^th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings (Insomniac Press, Canada)

I brought this one because the first half is a novella which is a beautiful love story. It was out of print for a time and with this edition it’s back in print, only I don’t think people fully realize. I had someone tell me recently they tried to get it but it was out of print, only to figure out that they were referring to the indeed out of print first edition, a novella published with Macmillan, UK.

(How frustrating!)

This Insomniac anniversary edition is the original story and some extras including honest to God fan fiction. It may have undersold, may still be underselling but several people have told me it’s their favourite thing I’ve written. I mean who doesn’t love a good love story, right?

(Right!)

Of course, it’s more than that but people, those who read it, really seemed to respond to these characters; I still get mail about it. In fact, one time I was televising a book club discussion to promote another of my books and one person got on the mic to declare Dancing Nude in the Moonlight their favourite book by me. That said, given that it hasn’t had the promotional push of my other books, I think potential new readers might not be aware that it’s gettable in ebook and print edition. So I wanted to bring it out of the house to meet people, re-introduce itself so to speak. Also the second half is a range of my short fiction and poetry, most previously published but never collected, so it gives a sense of the scope of my writing.

What can we expect from an evening in with Dancing Nude in the Moonlight 10^th Anniversary Edition and Other Writings?

In the excerpt below, the main characters, Michael who has been courting Selena and Selena who has been in but out, start to understand each other a little bit, and it begins with Michael griping about his mother:

“She bitter, Selena. She’s the most bitter woman I know, and she been that way long as I’ve known her.”

Selena felt a strange kinship with his mother, this woman she’d never met.

“I can understand that. Sometimes…,” and she paused and smiled, “well, until recently, I thought we existed for men to husk out and throw away. I’ve seen it happen with my mother. When my father took off, she was left with the three of us. Leaving was never an option for her. Then she got married again. And the man was good to her. He stayed around, you know. Gave her two boys. Provided for all of them. They had a home, better than a lot of other people.

“But I remember resenting him anyway, because it was like she got swallowed up by him. Things she never used to do, like smoke, she did because he did. Things she used to do, like go to church, she stopped, because he didn’t. And it happened so subtly, you almost couldn’t notice it.

“She’s a good, capable woman, but her life became about the men in her life; first her new husband, then the boys.

“And then my experience with Victor. I know how love, if it’s love, can eat you up. Somehow, it don’t ever seem to eat up the men, you know. It can make a woman bitter.”

A feeling of melancholy had settled over her, and he pulled her in close, still leaning against the railing. He kissed her lips lightly, put on a teasing smile. “I wish I could say I identify. But till now, I never been in love. And I have to tell you: it not nothing but sweet.”

And she found herself smiling in return.

(What a perfect flavour of the book Joanne.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I brought along pictures from one of my favourite nights ever. To underscore the love this book has gotten in spite of being my poorest performing book in print, a local bookstore (the Best of Books) a few years ago held a street fair (the Moonlight Street Fair) dedicated to it. I’m in the Caribbean and it was a Caribbean hot summer night and yet the street was buzzing.

Looking back on that night – a night of dancing (in keeping with the Dancing in the title) and a Moonlight Samba drink created by a local bartender (I think I got the name right; there was a Moonlight in the name in keeping with the book’s title) – I may not have all the money in the world but I have been blessed. The night included reading, book discussion, and just people mixing and mingling, and having a good time. It was like a party for my book and I didn’t have anything to do with planning it.

(It looks a fabulous evening.)

An award was given for a ‘Next Chapter’ writing contest – this contest was in response to readers’ request for more (that’s one of the popular responses I’ve gotten to the book, people asking for the next chapter) and this Next Chapter is one of a couple of pieces of fan fiction (yay, I have fan fiction) included in the revised edition of Dancing Nude in the Moonlight. The publishing industry is what it is but Dancing Nude in the Moonlight which has its second act and receives so much love in the little circle it occupies is a reminder that unlike bread a good story never goes stale. So, I’m just hoping more readers will discover, as we know well in the Caribbean, that Dancing is fun.

I hope so too Joanne. Thank you for staying in with me to tell me all about Dancing Nude in the Moonlight. I wish both you and the book every success. 

Dancing Nude in the Moonlight

Young Dominican single mother Selena Cruz is trying to make a new life for herself in Antigua, dealing with prejudice, poverty, and her interfering sister. When she meets handsome cricket coach Michael Lindo, her world is turned upside down.

The course of true love is never smooth, and Michael and Selena’s story is no exception as they try to bridge the gap between their two cultures and their personal expectations of love. Romantic and delightful, this novella by Joanne C. Hillhouse looks at immigration and cross-cultural relationships in a warm and very human way.

Dancing Nude in the Moonlight was first published in 2004, and it is reissued here along with selected poems and stories from Joanne C. Hillhouse’s wide collection of work.

Published by Insomniac Press, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight is available for purchase here.

About Joanne C. Hillhouse

Antiguan and Barbudan Joanne C. Hillhouse is the author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Fish Outta Water, Musical Youth, and Oh Gad! She freelances as a writer and editor, writing coach and workshop facilitator. She founded the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize programme to nurture and showcase the literary arts in her home country.

You can find Joanne on Facebook.

It’s a welcome return to Linda’s Book Bag for P.A. Davies today as he provided a smashing guest post introducing one of his books, Letterbox, here earlier this year. A little bird (actually, the lovely Caroline Vincent at Bits About Books) tells me it is P.A. Davies’ birthday today as well as a book birthday for Paul’s thriller Absolution so I’m delighted to be sharing such an important day with him.

Staying in with P.A. Davies

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag, Paul. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me and a very happy birthday.

No, thank you for inviting me in and for the birthday wishes. I’m honoured to be here.

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

So, this evening, I have brought along an old friend – aka George: A Gentleman of the Road – mainly because not only is he my readers’ favourite but also, because his story is, in my mind, inspirational and a reason to believe in the power of hope. It’s also pretty funny in a laugh out loud way.

What can we expect from an evening in talking about George: A Gentleman of the Road?

Being part of an adventure that will immerse the reader and hopefully change their perception of homeless people. It did mine.

It seems like only yesterday that I met this incredulous character yet it has already been over 10 years since he first thrust his polystyrene cup under my nose. And the rest, as they say, is history!

George was a homeless man from Glasgow, living on the streets of Manchester but, he was a homeless man with a difference. His life story was- and still is – wholly mesmerising and it certainly opened my eyes and warmed my heart; as it has done for those who have read all about his journey.

Of the novel – that is based on George’s life – people have left some wonderful comments:

“A sensitive and heart warming story”

“Made me smile, laugh and cry”

“A beautifully crafted life tale”

“It is very rare you find a book where you feel you are in it yourself’

… to list but a few.

(What lovely responses to what sounds like a fascinating book about a very interesting man.)

I will always appreciate people leaving a review about my novels but I was over the moon with the positive feedback that George’s tale got. It certainly seems to have hit the mark with the reader … just as it did the author.

Another reason for bringing George along, is to let you all in on some great news.

In the first quarter of next year, his fantastic tale will be brought to life – well, technically, back to life – as filming begins, based on the book.

I can’t say too much about it (very secretive the filming industry you know?) but it’s being produced in Alabama in the U.S. with a pretty substantial budget behind it.

(Wow!)

I’m massively excited and extremely proud of the journey I am about to embark on but, you know what? Without the brilliant reviews and positive blogs created by the readers, George might not have gotten noticed. So, may I send a HUGE thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts. You’re amazing!

(This is fantastic news Paul. I had no idea we would be making such an announcement. Many, many congratulations.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I have brought this photograph along which is most relevant to the creation of George: A Gentleman of the Road.

(Oh – tell me more.)

The top segment of the photo shows the coffee shop where I first met George all those years ago, whilst the bottom segment is how it stands now.

It kind of saddens me that a part of history and my connection to George has gone but I also believe that it serves as a poignant reminder to us all that nothing lasts forever … except, perhaps, George’s story!

With your book, Paul, both the setting and George will live on – that’s part of the wonder of writing. Thank you so much for staying in with me to tell us all about George: A Gentleman of the Road. I think it sounds a lovely book and such an exciting time ahead.

Thank you all for listening.  Best wishes. Paul.

George: A Gentleman of the Road

An author and a homeless guy, what do they have in common? Not much, until eighty-year-old George reveals his fascinating and heartwarming life story …

It is said that you should never judge a book by its cover, yet the moment I laid eyes on George, that’s exactly what I did!

And as I watched the aged member of Manchester’s homeless fraternity, walking slowly along the street, hoping to collect enough spare change in his dirty and tattered polystyrene cup to fund his next meal, I couldn’t help but think to myself … How do I possibly avoid giving this scruffy looking man any of my hard earned cash?

But in an unexpected turn of events and a surreal series of meetings, the man I had quickly pre-judged, revealed his extraordinary life.

Funny, sad and heartwarmingly bizarre. This is George’s story.

George: A Gentleman of the Road is available for purchase here.

About P.A. Davies

P.A. Davies grew up in Manchester, UK, a place he has lived in and around all his life – he loves Manchester and is proud to be part of the multi-cultural, modern city that houses two Premiership football teams and is the birthplace of many a famous band, such as Oasis, the Stone Roses, Take That and Simply Red.

For most of his life, he dabbled with writing various pieces, from poems to short fictional stories just for fun. However, following advice from a good friend he decided to have a go at writing a novel. Thus, his first novel Letterbox was conceived, a fictional take on the infamous IRA bombing of Manchester in 1996. It took him over a year to complete but while doing so, he found it to be one of the most satisfying and interesting paths he had ever followed. It comes as no surprise that the writing bug now became firmly embedded within him.

P.A. Davies’ second book was published in May 2013, ‘George: A Gentleman of the Road’, a true story about one of Manchester’s homeless. His third novel, ‘The Good in Mister Philips’, is an erotic novel (arguably set to rival Fifty Shades…!) and his fourth, ‘Nobody Heard Me Cry’ (Dec. 2015) is again a fact-based tale, this time of Manchester’s darker side. The thriller ‘Absolution’ (Oct. 2017) is his fifth novel. Currently, P.A. Davies is writing his sixth novel, titled ‘I, Muslim.’

To label P.A. Davies’ writings would be difficult because his works diverse from thrillers to touching novels to true-to-life tales embedded in a captivating story for the author is an imaginative and versatile storyteller.

You can find out more by visiting P.A. Davies’ website, finding him on Facebook or Instagram and following him on Twitter @padavies_ and Goodreads.

I think every family has a hidden secret and when I heard about Nadine Taylor’s book I simply had to ask her onto Linda’s Book Bag to tell me all about it because, as I hope you’ll agree, it sounds so intriguing. I am determined this one is not going to escape my TBR!

Staying in with Nadine Taylor

Welcome To Linda’s Book Bag Nadine. Thank you so much for staying in with me. Which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought my memoir/biography/historical romance If My Heart Had Wings: A World War II Love Story, chosen because it’s a fascinating true story that began with my discovery, at age 13, of a picture of my mother in an unfamiliar wedding dress. This led to Mom’s surprising revelation that she had been married to a pilot who was killed during World War II. Under pressure (mine), she gradually revealed the details of their love and marriage, his untimely death and what she did after that. But that was only the beginning. During the decades that followed, Lyndon continually “reappeared” in our lives in important ways, even long after Mom herself had passed on.

(How amazing. I think If My Heart Had Wings sounds utterly fascinating.)

What can we expect from an evening in with If My Heart Had Wings?

If My Heart Had Wings is my mother’s story, and to a lesser extent mine – her college romance turned quickie wartime marriage, the death of Lyndon in a fiery plane crash, and her decision to block her grief and rush into a new life by marrying my father, a man she hardly knew.

(I have a feeling many women of your Mother’s generation did similar things Nadine.)

Mom’s stories of Lyndon and the relationship they shared stood in stark relief to what was going on at our house thanks to Dad’s alcoholism and his penchant for venting his rage on those closest to him. The story of Lyndon, who seemed to be ideal, gave me hope that something better awaited me. For decades his memory seemed to be hovering, unleashed at times through secret stories told by Mom, the unearthing of old photos and wedding rings, the discovery of a trunk full of wartime gifts at the end of Mom’s life, and a mystery about his death that emerged after she passed on – a mystery that only I could solve.

(Gosh. What an inspiration for your book. Your Mum would be so proud of what you’ve achieved here.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve brought along the picture of my mother in a wedding dress that brought this amazing story to light. Who knows? If I hadn’t found this picture, I might never have known about this enthralling era of my mother’s life!

(Wow! She was absolutely stunning. What a wonderful photograph to have. I’m honoured you decided to bring it along this evening.)

I may have well over 900 physical books on my TBR Nadine, and over 1000 on my Kindle but, having heard about If My Heart Had Wings I know there’s going to be another added very soon! Thank you so much for staying in with me to tell me all about it.

If My Heart Had Wings

It’s 1943 and World War II is raging when 22-year-old Nina Raff receives the horrifying news that her pilot husband has been killed in action in India. Blinded by grief, she upends her life, moves across the country, and plunges into a dysfunctional marriage with a jealous alcoholic who forbids any talk of her former husband.

For the next twenty years, she is trapped in denial and stifling domesticity… until her teenage daughter finds an unfamiliar picture of Nina as a bride.

What unfolds is a tangled WWII love story of family secrets, lies, and a passion that never died, culminating in a mystery that must be solved!

If My Heart Had Wings is available for purchase here.

About Nadine Taylor

Nadine Taylor has authored, edited, and ghostwritten more than forty books, including New York Times bestsellers and national bestsellers, many of which have been translated into several languages and sold internationally.

A registered dietitian, Nadine began her writing career in the health field, editing the New York Times #1 bestseller The Arthritis Cure and penning the popular Green Tea: The Natural Secret to a Healthier Life, before branching out into the genres of memoir, psychology and business. Nadine lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Barry Fox, who is also a bestselling author.

You can find out more about Nadine on her website, on LinkedIn and by following her on Twitter @nadinetaylorfox.