When Only Child by Rhiannon Navin was first released I was thrilled to be able to review it and you can read that review here. Today I am delighted to welcome Rhiannon to Linda’s Book Bag to stay in with me.

Staying in with Rhiannon Navin

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

Thanks for inviting me, Linda.

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

I’ve brought my novel Only Child with me. The paperback edition comes out the 4^th of October and I’m excited to show off the beautiful new cover.

(Happy paperback publication day. I love the new cover too Rhiannon.)

Only Child is the first story I’ve ever written. It began as just a way for me to work through some pretty intense fears and worries I had for my children (I’ve got three) and turned into an amazing journey that led to this novel now having been published all around the world. It’s been terribly exciting and mind-blowing for this stay-at-home mum. Only Child deals with an unfortunately very timely subject and terrifying reality for parents here in the U.S.: a deadly school shooting. The story’s perspective is unusual, as it is a seven-year old boy named Zach who tells his story of having to live through a shooting and its devastating aftermath.

(I adored Zach’s perspective and only wish all the politicians would read Only Child too!)

What can we expect from an evening in with Only Child? 

Tears, most likely. My little narrator Zach survives a shooting at his school by hiding in a cloakroom with his classmates and teacher. But his older brother does not survive. While his family and community quickly begin to unravel and are consumed by their grief, Zach is largely left alone to navigate his many conflicting emotions. He retreats into his super-secret hideout and loses himself in a world of books and art. Armed with his newfound understanding, and with the optimism and stubbornness only a child could have, Zach becomes determined to help the adults in his life rediscover the universal truths of love and compassion.

(I can confirm the tears…)

I know many of your readers might be hesitant to pick up a story about a school shooting, which I can completely understand. But, they will quickly discover that Only Child is a hopeful and uplifting story. It is ultimately little Zach, who manages to lead his family and their community to a path towards forgiveness and a chance to heal, together.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster for him though, so keep the tissues close by.

(That’s a perfect description of Only Child. I hope more and more people will read it.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I brought my three kids. I couldn’t find a babysitter tonight, so I had to bring them along. I want to apologize for the mess they’ve made already. But it is very apropos that they’re here with me, while I talk to you about my book, because they really were the inspiration for the story.

(They are very welcome. I’ll get my husband to clear up later…)

While writing Only Child, I used them as my focus group for how Zach might act or speak. In a way, the process of discovering Zach’s character and writing his story brought me even closer to them because I paid more attention and watched them intently for clues: What are they thinking right now? How are they processing, expressing themselves? I call my kids by the wrong name all the time—even the cats’ and dog’s names sometimes—and because I hung out with Zach so much while they were at school, I even called them Zach once or twice. They were very confused.

(Ha! My father used to call me by the cat’s name so I know how they feel.)

In all seriousness though, it was a devastating thing to have to do, picture my own children in Zach’s situation. I hope that my story finds the people it’s meant to find and that it can make a small contribution towards a safer future for all our children.

(I quite agree. Only Child brings home so clearly how children are affected and we need a safer world for all children.)

Having so appreciated Only Child, Rhiannon, it has been a delight to stay in with you and hear more about it. Thanks so much and good luck with the paperback version.

Only Child

We went to school that Tuesday like normal.
Not all of us came home . . .

Huddled in a cloakroom with his classmates and teacher, six-year-old Zach can hear shots ringing through the corridors of his school. A gunman has entered the building and, in a matter of minutes, will have taken nineteen lives.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the close knit community and its families are devastated. Everyone deals with the tragedy differently. Zach’s father absents himself; his mother pursues a quest for justice — while Zach retreats into his super-secret hideout and loses himself in a world of books and drawing.

Ultimately though, it is Zach who will show the adults in his life the way forward — as, sometimes, only a child can.

Published by Mantle, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, Only Child is released in paperback today, 4th October 2018 and is available for purchase here.

About Rhiannon Navin

Rhiannon Navin grew up in Bremen, Germany, in a family of book-crazy women. Her career in advertising brought her to New York City, where she worked for several large agencies before becoming a full-time mother and writer. She now lives outside of New York City with her husband, three children, two cats, and one dog.

Only Child is her first novel.

You can follow Rhiannon on Twitter @rhiannonnavin and visit her website. You’ll also find Rhiannon on Facebook and Goodreads.

My enormous thanks to Jaime Frost at Harper Collins for sending me a Netgalley copy of The Book of Love in return for an honest review.

Fionnuala Kearney’s You, Me and Other People was one of the first books I reviewed when I began blogging and you can see my review (and the way the blog has evolved) here. I also reviewed Fionnuala’s The Day I Lost You here and it was my book of the Year in 2016 amongst some very stiff competition. You can find out more about that here.

Published by Harper Collins on 25th October 2018, The Book of Love is available through these links.

The Book of Love

One love. Two people. Twenty Years.

From the moment they met, Erin and Dom loved each other too much, too quickly. Everyone said it wouldn’t last. But they knew differently.

A wedding present, a notebook, brings them together through the good times and the bad. On the blank pages of their love story, they write down everything they can’t always say – the secrets, the heartbreak, the highs and lows. It’s where they see the best and worst of each other.

Falling in love is easy but staying in love is where the story begins…

This is The Book of Love.

My Review of The Book of Love

Erin and Dom use the book of love to record their thoughts.

I’m not sure I can write a review of The Book of Love because I simply do not have the vocabulary to describe what an impact this glorious celebration of love in all its forms has had on me. I feel simultaneously broken, uplifted and so emotional I can hardly see the screen to write through my tears.

I thought all the characters were wonderful but it was Dom who appealed to me most. The intensity of his relationship with Erin, his flawed and realistic nature and his unfailing love meant he infiltrated my thoughts even when I wasn’t reading about him. I ended The Book of Love feeling I had known Dom and Erin personally, shared the ups and downs of their lives and I wanted to hold them in my embrace.

The Book of Love is brilliantly plotted by Fionnuala Kearney so that the surprises on the way left me emotionally stunned. There are mysteries that unfold through magnificent storytelling. I genuinely gasped aloud a couple of times and occasionally I so wanted things to be different that my heart shattered. To have such a huge impact on the reader takes consummate skill and Fionnuala Kearney has it at its most wonderful. I can’t say too much about the plot because I would hate to spoil the read for others. However, I would say; be prepared to invest all your emotions without your consent because once you’re absorbed into The Book of Love your life, your heart and your very soul will not be your own. It’s fair to say that Fionnuala Kearney not only understands humanity in its very essence, she knows exactly how to convey that essence on the page in The Book of Love.

I’m not going to say more because I don’t feel up to the task of articulating what a wonderful, wonderful book this is. The Book of Love is compassionate, beautiful and raw. It touched me. It broke me and ultimately it left me feeling that, whatever life throws at us, love can and does endure.

I completely and utterly adored The Book of Love – mightily!

About Fionnuala Kearney

Fionnuala Kearney, pronounced Finoola Carney, was born Fionnuala Moore into a large Irish family. One of seven children, she discovered, age six, that she had in fact been christened Ann. That’s Ann with no ‘e’. Her parents had decided, for some reason to address her by her second name, saddling her with a life of dealing with unnecessary vowels.

At twenty she moved to London and marrying Mr Kearney proved to be the best thing she ever did (apart from the fact that the vowel thing escalated even further). Two daughters, both with deliberately simple mono syllabic names followed.

Earning a living meant working in property. She was for many years a home search agent (like Phil and Kirstie without the cameras). Dealing with high net worth individuals and celebrities, she decided one fateful day, five years ago, that it was time for a change.

Encouraged by her loved ones, she did just that. Five years later – years of penury in her garret spent learning her craft, with not a celeb in sight (except for an odd dose of the Kardashians on telly), she is often found talking to herself with yellow ‘post its’ stuck to her forehead.

She likes to write about relationships: a married couple, a mother and child, siblings, best friends… She likes to peel away the layers and see what’s going on beneath and then tell you all about it.

I’m delighted to welcome Grace Lowrie to Linda’s Book Bag today and would like to thank Katrin Lloyd for inviting me to be part of this blog tour in celebration of Before We Fall.  When I saw the blurb for Before We Fall I just had to ask Grace what she might do if she found herself in a similar situation to her protagonist Cally and luckily Grace agreed to tell me.

Before We Fall is available for purchase here.

Before We Fall

When Cally, an amateur ballet dancer, is suddenly diagnosed with cancer she runs away from her boyfriend, her job in a call centre and her safe life in Wildham in order to experience ‘real’ life in London. Taking a job as a stripper and flat-sitting in the top of an office tower she meets her obnoxious neighbour Bay; a tattooed, drug-taking, suicidal artist, haunted by the death of those close to him.

Despite their differences, the two strike up a friendship – Bay pushes Cally to try new things while Cally provides Bay with a muse – and they fall in love. But their secrets threaten to tear them apart and time is running out…

If I Received a Death Sentence

A Guest Post by Grace Lowrie

At the start of Before We Fall Cally learns that she may not have long to live. She reacts by walking out on her mundane life in search of new and exciting experiences in London – with mixed results. Linda has kindly asked me what three things I would do with my remaining time if I received similar news…

Despite the fact that mortality is a natural part of living, it’s hard to truly imagine how I might feel if confronted with my own imminent death. On the whole I’m content with my life and certainly wouldn’t want to leave it prematurely, but if I no longer had to worry about running a business, getting my flat fixed up or saving for retirement, I’d probably do something fun and slightly-less-responsible to start with – get a couple of tattoos, dye my hair blue and go all-night clubbing for example.

The second thing I’d do is buy a plane ticket and go visit my dad overseas in whichever country he is currently residing – because he’s my dad and I don’t get to see him nearly enough. Indeed making time to spend with loved ones would be a definite priority for me, but potentially difficult with a strict time restraint.

So the third and biggest thing I’d do is this – blow my savings on a luxury holiday abroad for me and as many of my friends and family as possible. Somewhere exotic like Bora Bora with five star accommodation, fabulous views and beaches, gourmet food on tap and a large pool for the kids. It would be a challenge to organise but I love the idea of treating my nearest and dearest to a once-in-a-lifetime holiday before I check out.

What would you do?

(Well I’d definitely not have the tattoos – no point in putting myself through pain Grace. I do agree about the holiday though… brilliant idea!)

About Grace Lowrie

Having worked as a collage artist, sculptor, prop maker and garden designer, Grace has always been creative, but she is a romantic introvert at heart and writing was, and is, her first love.

A lover of rock music, art nouveau design, blue cheese and grumpy ginger tomcats, Grace is also an avid reader of fiction – preferring coffee and a sinister undercurrent, over tea and chick lit. When not making prop costumes or hanging out with her favourite nephews, she continues to write stories from her Hertfordshire home.

You can find out more about Grace by visiting her website and blog, finding her on Facebook, Instagram, following her on Twitter @gracelowrie1 and Goodreads or visiting her Amazon page.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

Although I’ve only just come back from a pretty good trip, I’m already missing my travels so I’m delighted that Laine B Brown has agreed to stay in with me on Linda’s Book Bag and take me away through her book.

Staying in with Laine B Brown

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Laine. Thanks so much for staying in with me. Which of your books have you brought along to share?

The book title is Finding Myself in Puglia.

What can we expect from an evening in with Finding Myself in Puglia?

It is a personal Italian memoir of my experiences of living in Puglia, in Italy.  A little-known region of Italy, in the heel of the boot,  which is more like Greece than Italy.  Seafood is the main dish of the day and is often eaten raw and drizzled with lemon.  Although I never got used to eating something that looked as though it could still be moving on my plate.

(I can sympathise with that. I had raw fish and seafood in Japan the other year and I wasn’t entirely convinced!)

Living in Italy I learnt to value silence, learnt to feel comfortable living and risked my life on the Italian roads.  I did this, because I felt I had to and because I wanted to realise a dream, realizzare un sogno… 

(I think we could all do with more silence in our lives Laine.)

What else have you brought along this evening and why have you brought it?

I’ve brought Aperol Spritz to share and green olives, also a large plate of antipasti of Italian cured meats and buratta cheese.

That looks delicious. And who are all these people you’ve brought along?

I’ve brought Norah Ephron, Bill Bryson, Tim Parks, Luigi Barzini (who wrote about the Italian in 1964 and nothing has changed) and Elizabeth Gilbert. It will be quite a party!

It certainly will! Bill Bryson would have us in fits of giggles I’m sure! Thanks so much for staying in with me, bringing lovely food and telling me all about Finding Myself in Puglia, Laine.

Finding Myself in Puglia

An Italian memoir.
Laine gave up her job as a nurse, sold her home and gave away most of her belongings. She has three desires bubbling at the heart of her choice: to write a book, paint a picture and climb a mountain before she died.

A man with a van took most of her remaining belongings, along with her basset hound Basil, down to the heel of Italy over 1,500 miles away, where she would spend the next four years.

If it all seemed like a folly, then she was willing to take the risk. She moved to a house that she had only spent a week in the year before. She knew no one and yet she had surety in her resolve. She wanted to feel fully present in feeling unsafe and comfortable with the not knowing.

And so the journey began, a new language, a new life laced with humour and laughter under the warm southern Italian sun.

Come and join her…

Finding Myself in Puglia is available for purchase here.

About Laine B Brown

Laine B Brown lives in Norfolk with her basset hound Basil and Italian cat, Munchkin. Laine spent four years living in the heel of Italy where she penned her personal memoir, Finding Myself in Puglia.

You can find out more by visiting Laine’s website, finding her on Facebook or following her on twitter @Lainebbrown.

It’s a very warm welcome and a long overdue return to Linda’s Book Bag for Amanda James today. Previously I was lucky to interview Amanda here and today she stays in to tell me all about another of her books.

Staying in with Amanda James

It’s lovely to have you back on Linda’s Book Bag Amanda. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

​I have brought The Cornish Retribution, because it is publication day TODAY! Sorry for yelling, I’m just a bit excited. 😊

(You have every right to be excited. Happy publication day for The Cornish Retribution and congratulations.)

What can we expect from an evening in with The Cornish Retribution?

​Well, it’s the story of of Samantha Lane, a recent widow living in a big house overlooking the beach at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall ( my local beach). She’s a writer and had two books published, and until her husband was killed, she thought she’d make a proper go of it. She’d quit her library job to write full time.  After her husband’s death, everything changed, and her comfortable financial bubble is popped by something her husband did. Samantha returns from a school reunion in Sheffield where she grew up, to be faced with this new financial situation and has to come up with some ideas to make ends meet. One of her old boyfriends and his wife, with whom she’s now reacquainted, come to visit, and Dan, the boyfriend proposes a business investment. Sam is extremely reluctant to accept, as he cheated on her many years ago, but in the end sees no way out. With Dan’s help, she sets up a writing retreat – something I’d love to experience by the way!

(Oo. Me too. Maybe we could go together…)

However, the fallout from her decision has severe consequences for everyone concerned as we follow Sam in her struggle to keep her head above water and out of danger. Will she succeed? So, you can expect mystery, thrills and suspense!

(It sounds a cracker of a read.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I have brought freshly beaked scones, jam and clotted cream – thought we might have a Cornish Cream tea? I know it’s evening, but any time of day is right, isn’t it?

(As far as I’m concerned Amanda, ANY time is cream tea time!)

I also have a nice bottle of Cornish sparkling wine for later! Did you know we have a few vineyards here? No? Well, you do now 😊!

(Highly useful information that!)

I also brought two photos of the beach where A Cornish Retribution is set. It’s about fifteen-minutes from us on a good day, and it’s where I dream of living in a house like Sam’s in the future. Perhaps I’ll set up a writing retreat…I’ll have to win the lottery first though.

(And now, not only do I want to read A Cornish Retribution, but I want to go on holiday there too!)

Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me about A Cornish Retribution Amanda. Now, let’s crack open that Cornish sparkling wine and celebrate your publication day!

Thanks so much for having me, Linda! x

My pleasure!

A Cornish Retribution

A suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of domestic noir.

After a tragic car accident, Samantha is left widowed and bereft.  Her husband Adam was everything to her. But at least the home they shared together in Cornwall provides her with some security. Or does it?

Upon returning from a school reunion in Sheffield, where Sam met her old friend, Penny, and an old flame from her school days, Dan, she discovers that Adam had invested money unwisely and she is now penniless.

When Penny and Dan, who are now married, arrive in Cornwall to visit Sam, Dan comes up with a way in which Sam can keep the house. He suggests she turns it into a writing retreat. And he is willing to invest.

Despite his wife’s reservations, Dan gets his way but at what price?

Why is Dan so keen to help? Has Sam put herself in harm’s way?

Published by Bloodhound, today, 2nd October 2018, A Cornish Retribution is available for purchase here.

About Amanda James

Amanda James has written since she was a child, but never imagined that her words would be published. Then in 2010, after many twists and turns, the dream of becoming a writer came true.

Amanda has written many short stories and has six novels currently published. Her time travelling debut – A Stitch in Time was published in April of 2013 and has met with great success.

Amanda lives in Cornwall and is inspired every day by the beautiful coastline near her home. Five suspense/mystery novels are set there, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Summer in Tintagel and the Behind the Lie, Another Mother, Rip Current and The Cornish Retribution. The Calico Cat, a family drama/coming-of-age out now with Bombshell/Bloodhound.

Amanda can usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.

There’s more from Amanda James on her blog and you can follow her on Twitter @akjames61 and find her on Facebook. You can find all Amanda’s books here.

My enormous thanks to Dave Philpott for inviting me to be part of the blogtour for Dear Mr Pop Star and for sending me a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Published by Unbound on 20th September 2018, Dear Mr Pop Star is available for purchase here.

Dear Mr Pop Star

A collection of hilarious letters to iconic pop and rock stars with fantastic in-on-the-joke replies from the artists themselves: Eurythmics, Heaven 17, Deep Purple, Devo, Dr. Hook and many, many more…

For more than a decade, Derek Philpott and his son, Dave, have been writing deliberately deranged letters to pop stars from the 1960s to the 90s to take issue with the lyrics of some of their best-known songs. They miss the point as often as they hit it.

But then, to their great surprise, the pop stars started writing back…

Dear Mr Pop Star contains 100 of Derek and Dave’s greatest hits, including correspondence with Katrina and the Waves, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Housemartins, Suzi Quatro, Devo, Deep Purple, Nik Kershaw, T’Pau, Human League, Eurythmics, Wang Chung, EMF, Mott the Hoople, Heaven 17, Jesus Jones, Johnny Hates Jazz, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Chesney Hawkes and many, many more.

My Review of Dear Mr Pop Star

A compendium of letters and emails to, with replies from, famous music artists.

I have no idea how to write this review! Dear Mr Pop Star is utterly bonkers, hugely entertaining and often hilariously funny.

Normally I’d comment on plot but in this case there isn’t one (unless you might like to say that the authors have completely lost theirs!) What there is, however, is a fabulous reminder of songs and artists I’d forgotten about so that reading Dear My Pop Star brought memories flooding back. For that reason alone it’s a great read and it made me smile. A word of caution here too though. Reading Dear Mr Pop Star could bring earworms you can’t get rid of – I’ve had the flipping Worzels going through my head for days now!

Not all of the references were in my musical lexicon and I found reading Dear Mr Pop Star took me off on research through Google to see the relevance. I think this added to the fun of the read.

I really appreciated the insight into modern society with themes like global warming, grocery shopping and dinner parties, all written about with Derek’s inimitable syntax and vocabulary. Even better, I loved the replies from those artists who responded in similar style so that the reader gets a sense of them as characters as well as gaining an understanding of just how quirky the authors are. Derek is a true crusader, righting his perceived wrongs and the impossible claims in song lyrics. I only hope Elton John will heed his advice… My heart went out to the long suffering Jean and I’ll never look at a set of hot tongs in the same way again!

I actually read Dear Mr Pop Star in the order it is presented but I shall be returning to it at random as a real treat to dip into – a bit like eating a small square of the best quality chocolate after a meal. I’d definitely suggest opening this book at random and seeing what you get as it certainly is a ‘random’ read and none the worse for that. Dear Mr Pop Star is a treat and one which I think is best enjoyed little and often rather than all in one go.

In conclusion, I’d say Dear Mr Pop Star is unlike any other book I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I did need to lie down for a while after reading it!

About Derek and Dave Philpott

Derek and Dave Philpott are the noms de plume of two ordinary members of the public, working with help from a worldwide social networking community.

You can follow Derek and Dave on Twitter @DerekPhilpott. You’ll also find them on Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers:

My enormous thanks to Val at Maverick Children’s Books for a copy of Not Yet A Yeti by Lou Treleaven and illustrated by Tony Neal in return for an honest review. I’m sharing my review today because my Dad was called George, was one of the unicorns of life, and today would have been his 89th birthday. I miss him.

Published on 28th September 2018, Not Yet A Yeti is available for purchase here.

Not Yet A Yeti

All of George’s family are yetis, except for George.

George doesn’t fancy chasing ramblers or luring stray hikers to their doom.

Perhaps he has something else in mind?

My Review of Not Yet A Yeti

George wonders when he will be a yeti like the rest of his family.

Oh, this is a lovely children’s book. In common with all the Maverick children’s books I’ve read, Not Yet A Yeti is beautifully presented with glorious illustrations and a high quality feel.

There’s a smashing format of George asking questions that will be familiar to young children so that they will instantly feel comfortable with the story, even when George’s yeti family are being frightening to walkers in the hills.

What is so appealing about Not Yet A Yeti is the wonderful message that being different is not a bad thing. George doesn’t want to terrify walkers. Instead he wants to be a unicorn and rescue people. I loved the way there is a contrast between the cool images of some of the yeti pages and the glorious colour of George’s individual pages so that his difference is celebrated visually as well as through the text.

The language is so well balanced with challenge in some of the vocabulary like ‘survive’ and ‘massive’ as well as familiarity and repetition, making for a book that can be shared at home or in school or can be read independently as children become more confident.

Without wishing to go too far, I think Not Yet a Yeti would be super to share with children of indeterminate gender or who are adopted as the story makes it clear that it is perfectly acceptable to be different and reading it would enhance their self worth and esteem.

I think Not Yet A Yeti is a book that will soon become a firm favourite with adults and children alike. I loved it.

About Lou Treleaven

Lou Treleaven writes picture books and junior fiction and is published by Maverick Arts Publishing. Professor McQuark and the Oojamaflip was chosen for the Roald Dahl themed summer reading challenge in 2016 and Letter to Pluto has been selected as part of a school reading scheme. Lou also writes plays licensed through Lazy Bee Scripts, blogs here and runs a critique service.

You can follow Lou on Twitter @LouTreleaven.

About Tony Neal

Tony Neal lives in Leicestershire and is a graphic designer and illustrator working for publishing clients all over the world.

You can follow Tony on Twitter @Tonynealart and visit his website for more details.

Having had a fabulous trip to central India looking for tigers earlier this year I simply had to invite Ricardo Alexanders onto Linda’s Book Bag to take me back there through one of his books.

Staying in with Ricardo Alexanders

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Ricardo. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me. I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this evening.

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

I’ve brought along my second timeslip novel, Bollywood Invasion. Bollywood Invasion is a fantasy novel about a modern-day American boy wakes up in 1958 India as the reincarnation of John Lennon. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.

(That sounds such an unusual story!)

I choose Bollywood Invasion because it is unique book. It blends Indian cultural experience, time-travel and the legendary songs from the Beatles. With a plot that moves unexpectedly, and popular Beatles songs beautifully integrated with the story development, Bollywood Invasion takes the readers on a journey from Brooklyn to India, then England, and finally back to New York City, where the protagonist faces his destiny as Lennon’s reincarnation. An interesting question will naturally come: how the course of history would be changed if Lennon had known Chapman weeks before his murder?

(I’m thoroughly intrigued Ricardo. Not least as I’ve been to all those places so I’d love to revisit them through your book.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Bollywood Invasion?

Bollywood Invasion is probably one of the most unique coming of age stories that you’ll read this year or any other year.

Imagine you’re sixteen, and living in Brooklyn, being bullied by every kid who’s bigger than you. Then, BAM! You wake up as a young prince in 1958 India. The only thing tying you back to the 21^st Century is your memory of vintage Beatles music… In this distant past, you find love, sex, and even rock and roll. Little by little, you realize that you have reincarnated as someone you know very well… However, this realization is leading you toward a fate that you knows is coming…but cannot easily escape.

Doesn’t this sound interesting?

(It really does.)

Please allow me to share some pre-publication reviews:

“An imaginative…rock ‘n’ roll fantasy.” – Kirkus Reviews

“An engrossing saga that excels in unexpected turns of plot.” – Midwest Book Review

“A poignant romance, page-turner.” – Kaye Trout

(You must be really happy with those responses.)

Please also allow me to share a small excerpt when the protagonist first realizes he ends up in India. In this scene, Kamal is his servant at the royal family’s Mahal:

Okay, Okay, PJ. You ended up somewhere in India for no reason. But this is not too bad. John tried to calm himself down. All you need is an address and a phone call to your parents. They will somehow get the government involved and get you back home to Brooklyn.

“Raj Babu! Brak’fest is here!” Kamal opened the door.

He walked towards Kamal with shaky steps and asked, “What is this place?”

“You at Mahal, Raj Babu,” replied Kamal as he set down the tray on a table in front of the light brown sofa.

“What is the name of this place?”

“Raj Babu, you again feel funny?”

“Is that today’s newspaper?” asked John, then swooped down on the tray and grabbed it before Kamal could answer.

“Yes…”

John sat on the sofa with the newspaper in his hand, eyes wide. “This is not possible…” he muttered under his breath before he threw his head back and closed his eyes. “This can’t be…no…no! I am dreaming. This is all a dream…”

“I must call doctor…” Kamal hurried out of the room.

John opened his eyes again and looked at the newspaper. The black print was all jumbled up, except for one part, the part that read – “May 10, 1958.”

(You certainly make it very intriguing Ricardo!)

What else have you brought along and why?

I brought along a little secret of mine. In the past five years, I have spent countless hours in researching India and writing Bollywood Invasion. I learned that India is a country with a long history, rich culture, and omni-beauty. In its chaos, there’s a certain order and great vibrancy. Hearing such statement, many of my Indian friends often assume that I have visited their homeland. The truth is that I have NEVER been to India!  I learned about India from Google, from my Indian friends here in the States, and from the Bollywood movies. Here is another little secret, Three Idiots is my favorite Bollywood movie of all time and its Indian college setting helped me greatly in writing the protagonist’s Indian college experience in Bollywood Invasion.

Wow! You MUST get to India. You’re absolutely right. It is an amazing country.

Thanks so much for staying in to tell me more about Bollywood Invasion Ricardo. I think it sounds utterly unique!

Bollywood Invasion

A fantasy novel of a modern-day American boy’s journey back in time as the reincarnation of John Lennon.

Sixteen-year-old John Palmieri is living an average life in Brooklyn until one day he wakes up as a prince in India, thirty-five years before he was born. Suddenly, he finds himself with riches and power beyond his wildest fantasies.

Brooklyn is readily forgotten. Life becomes a constant stream of debauchery, coming to a stand-still only when he meets “the one.” However, love doesn’t come easy. He must become a better man and sing his way into her heart, a pursuit ignited by his memories of the vintage Beatles music on his iPod.

Will these legendary songs change John’s life? Can he escape Lennon’s tragic fate? Will he ever find his way back to Brooklyn at his own time?

His fate will unfold in Bollywood Invasion.

Bollywood Invasion is available for purchase here.

About Ricardo Alexanders

Ricardo is a descendant of the Great Yyu, a.k.a. the first king of China. He lives in Massachusetts and enjoys experiencing all kinds of cultures around the world. After obtaining his doctorate in science, he became fascinated with time-travel. As an aspiring writer, he loves to write time-travel fictions that blend fantasy, science, and real history together.

You can find out more on Ricardo’s website, on Facebook, on Goodreads and by following him on Twitter @alexanders_h.

My enormous thanks to the author Ashley Davidson-Fisher for a copy of her book La Petite Josette en Provence in return for an honest review.

La Petite Josette en Provence is available for purchase here.

La Petite Josette en Provence

La Petite Josette loves adventures and history and she is super excited for her trip to one of the most beautiful villages in Provence, France.

What will she find? A castle, knights, perhaps a “treasure” to take home? There’s so much to do before the trip, but with the help of her big sister, they’ll be on their way in no time.

Beautifully illustrated by the author’s daughter, this bilingual, French and English language adventure and learning book is designed to help teach children and adults basic, multi-language skills and to foster a love for exploring the world.

My Review of La Petite Josette en Provence

It’s time for a family trip to Les Baux-de-Provence.

I thoroughly enjoyed La Petite Josette en Provence and think it would appeal especially to young girls in the six to 11 age range, because not only is it an interesting story, but they would identify very readily with Josette. Similarly, adults learning French will also appreciate this book.

Alongside a lovely account of a day out, Ashley Davidson-Fisher manages to convey an accurate and appealing view of France and its culture so that children can learn as well as be entertained. There’s reference to geography, history and food so that there’s much to learn and discover here. The author is obviously a true Francophile. I could see La Petite Josette en Provence being perfect for families travelling in France.

I thought the balance of French to English was just right, affording an opportunity for French language learners to practice and enhance their skills in a way that was non-threatening and adults with little or no French could easily share this book with their children. I have to admit to a sneaky feeling of satisfaction at understanding the French even without the cleverly placed English and think language learners would attain a real sense of achievement reading La Petite Josette en Provence. Similarly, I thought the English vocabulary was an excellent balance of accessible and challenging vocabulary so that English language skills as well as French could be improved.

The illustrations in La Petite Josette en Provence elevate the story too as they are just beautiful. I particularly liked the way in which they related so closely to the text so that the French language elements such as the pic-nic items like ‘les tartelettes aux framboises’ are more understandable, allowing readers to absorb language without noticing.

La Petite Josette en Provence is a lovely story. It’s an educational and entertaining book and is beautifully illustrated. I really enjoyed it.

About Ashley Davidson-Fisher

Born and raised in Southern California, Ashley and her husband, Michael, fell in love with France shortly after arriving in Provence with their four young children in 2003. While Ashley was participating in her university’s study abroad program in Aix-en-Provence, Michael enrolled the kids into French public school and additional language-learning classes. The children quickly made friends and learned the language at lightning speed, but it took a lot more time for Ashley and her husband to make progress in the language.

In between schoolwork and classes, what better way was there to practice those new-found language skills? Adventures, bien sûr! Thanks to their little, white, station wagon named “François” and PB&J croissants (say what??!!), weekend and holiday road trips allowed the family to immerse themselves into the French culture while taking in the magnificent sights of the Provençal countryside. And voilà……just like that, a love of all things French was born.

Upon the family’s return to the USA, Ashley completed her Bachelor of Arts degrees in French Culture Studies and Business at California State University-San Bernardino. She loves traveling, hiking, photography and reading. Since 2010 Ashley has lived in Provence, France with her husband and their youngest daughter, Presley.

You can follow Ashley on Twitter @backyardprovenc and find out more about her and La Petite Josette en Provence here.

About Martinique Louise Fisher

Martinique is an illustrator from California. She is the oldest child of Ashley and Michael and has been drawing since she was two years old. At the age of thirteen she decided she wanted to become an illustrator and started building her portfolio. She has illustrated book covers, tarot cards, greeting cards, has been featured in online magazines, and has shown in galleries all over the United States.

Martinique has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts, in New York. You can find more of her art work on her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook.