Almost exactly a year ago I was delighted to head off to Mussoorie in a smashing guest post (here) from Merryn Glover when A House Called Askival was published. A lot has been happening since then, including my own visit to India, so I invited Merryn back to stay in with me and tell us a bit more!

Staying in with Merryn Glover

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

Thank you for having me!

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

This is A House Called Askival, my first novel and the one that arose out of a very deep place in me. It is set where I went to boarding school in India: Mussoorie, a hill-station in the far north, and although the characters are invented and their story is not mine, the novel still explores some very potent experiences from my upbringing. Mussoorie is an extra-ordinary place, with a town that looks ‘like the contents of an upended rubbish bin’ but spread across a range of the Himalayan foothills where the beauty stops you in your tracks. ‘The mountain fell away into the green swathe of the Dun valley where the twin sacred rivers coursed like ribbons of light.’

For more on why Mussoorie is ‘story gold’, I encourage readers to dip into this post I wrote for you last year. But far more than the setting, A House Called Askival is significant because it delves into some of the themes and questions that have been important throughout my life as the daughter of Australian missionaries in South Asia: crossing-cultures and finding home; the gifts and wounds of religious faith; reconciliation, forgiveness and the way of peace. I feel these questions are at the heart of many of the challenges facing our globalised world, a view expressed by Dr Carol Leon of The University of Malaysia when she reviewed Askival for Wasafiri magazine. ‘In the light of what is happening on the world stage today, A House Called Askival is a book which demands our engagement.’

(You make A House Called Askival sound utterly fascinating Merryn. I must try to get to is soon.)

What can we expect from an evening in with A House Called Askival?

Judging from the hundreds of responses I’ve had from the novel, it looks like you can expect a story that will take you to India, set up house in your being and fill you with characters who may never leave.  Perhaps there should be a Content Warning on the front about pesky tenants!

This is from Kerrie Warren, a gifted Australian artist:

‘Merryn Glover took me on an unexpected journey to A House Called Askival, all the way to India where my mind and emotions took up residence, and still linger. I’ve not been so affected by a novel for years and now miss being trapped within its pages.’

I always love that kind of response, because for me, a good book is one where you miss the characters at the end.  I’ve also been delighted at how many readers have found the portrayal of India so powerful, especially when they are Indian.  Here’s a review from Aditi Saha of Bookstop Corner

‘There are authors like Jhumpa Lahiri, Amitava Ghosh, Salman Rushdie, Neel Mukherjee, Kiran Desai, etc who have brought alive this country with rich descriptions through their stories… I would gladly put Merryn Glover’s name on the same list.’

As you can imagine, I felt hugely honoured by that praise!

(I bet! And having been to India earlier this year I now want to read A House Called Askival even more!)

The novel has a strong historical thread, going back to the 1930s and the Indian Independence movement (including a cameo appearance from Mahatma Gandhi, as described to me by a man who attended one of his meetings) but there is also a contemporary time-frame in which the estranged father and daughter must face the truth of history – their own and the nation’s – in order to forgive.

(Oo. I visited Ghandi’s house in Mumbai which is now a museum.)

It explores religious conflict on every level: the political and national, within communities and families, and within ourselves; and asks the simple, difficult question: How do we make peace? And it’s in the examining of those questions through the relationships that many readers have found real resonance, as in this response:

‘What will grab every reader: the deft portrayal of character, family dynamics, inter-cultural relationships … you will care deeply about the people of Askival.’

It’s only when we grasp that at the heart of every conflict and every story there are people – for whom we must care deeply – that we can begin to answer the difficult questions.

(You’re absolutely right Merryn. I think it is the place of literature to help us confront and answer those questions. A House Called Askival sounds a really important read as well an an entertaining one.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I have brought cake.  Because I’m aware that my book may sound terribly serious and, actually – though it has made several grown men cry – it is also quite funny. And there’s food. Lots of it, because threaded throughout the novel is the story of a unique cookbook.  It’s based on a real one that drew on the wide culinary experience of the international community of the Mussoorie hill-station. Begun in the 1930s as a collection of typed recipes from missionary women raising funds for a community library, it kept selling out and was expanded and developed over the years, becoming increasingly international in flavour. (Sorry about the pun!) There’s more about the cookbook on the My Reading Corner blog here but this is the chocolate Wacky Crazy Cake from it.  It’s a recipe I made as a teenager, it features in the novel and I still use it – making this one for my son’s seventeenth birthday.  He’s happy for me to share!

(Now, if you’re going to bring chocolate cake Merryn, you can come back at ANY time!)

Music is another important element in the story, as the main character, Ruth, is in a high school musical in Delhi that goes terribly, tragically wrong.  Another key character, Iqbal, is a singer of ghazals, a form of Urdu poetry and happens to be, like his father Iqbal, an exceptional cook. If Askival was made into a film, I’d love the soundtrack to be written by my high school friend Christopher Dicran Hale, whose music captures the India and Nepal we both grew up in.

(I love this music. It transports me right to India.)

Finally, I could also have brought an old rifle and a hundred beetles, but that could make folks a bit nervous, so I’ve left them safely tucked inside the pages of the novel where they wreak their own havoc.

(Phew! I’m glad to hear that!)

So, you can rest easy, listen to exquisite Indian music, eat chocolate cake and meet the people that inhabit A House Called Askival. Be warned, though: they may never leave you!

After everything you’ve told me Merryn, I won’t mind if they stay as long as they like. Thanks so much for staying in to tell me about this fascinating book. I am very much looking forward to reading it.

A House Called Askival

James Connor is a man who, burdened with guilt following a tragic event in his youth, has dedicated his life to serving India. Ruth Connor is his estranged daughter who, as a teenager, always knew she came second to her parents’ missionary vocation and rebelled, with equally tragic consequences.

After 24 years away, Ruth finally returns to Askival, the family home in Mussoorie, a remote hill station in the Northern State of Uttarakhand, to tend to her dying father. There she must face the past and confront her own burden of guilt if she is to cross the chasm that has grown between them.

In this extraordinary and assured debut, Merryn Glover draws on her own upbringing as a child of missionary parents in Uttarakhand to create this sensitive, complex, moving and epic journey through the sights, sounds and often violent history of India from Partition to the present day.

A House Called Askival is available for purchase here.

About Merryn Glover

Merryn Glover was born to a missionary family in a former palace in Kathmandu and brought up in Nepal, India and Pakistan.  Australian by passport, she did a teaching degree in Melbourne and has worked in education and the arts in Australia, India, Nepal and Scotland, now her home for twenty-five years.  Her writing has won awards and been published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers. Also a playwright, her fiction and drama have been broadcast on Radio Scotland and Radio 4. A House Called Askival, published in 2014 by Freight Books, is her first novel, and her second, set where she lives in the Highlands of Scotland, is with agent Cathryn Summerhayes of Curtis Brown.

Two days a week she works in the library at Kingussie High School where she loves being surrounded by books and young people, and works hard to get them together.  Travelling more with her imagination than a backpack these days, much of her writing explores themes of culture, identity, belief and belonging.

You can find out more about Merryn on her website, on Facebook, on Goodreads and by following her on Twitter @MerrynGlover.

It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome back Robert Crouch to Linda’s Book Bag. Robert has been kind enough to provide a guest post (here) shortly after Fisher’s Fables was released and another here to celebrate No Bodies. I simply had to invite Robert back to the blog to find out what else he’s been up to.

Staying in with Robert Crouch

It’s lovely to have you here this evening Rob. Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag.

Hi Linda. Thank you for inviting me.

I know you’ve been here before so which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I’ve brought along the first Kent Fisher mystery, No Accident, because it’s a testament to persistence and refusing to throw in the towel.

When I wrote the first draft many years ago, I had to abandon it two-thirds of the way through, unable to find a way for my protagonist, Kent Fisher, to solve the murder. It seemed I had created the perfect murder.

(That makes me smile! I love the idea of books getting away from authors!)

Several years later, I wrote an ending, though I still hadn’t solved the murder. A friend, who’s a published author, offered to help, but told me the story needed a lot of work. “Set it aside,” she said. “Write something different rather than waste any more time on it.”

But I couldn’t move on until I’d found a way to solve this murder. No Accident became a test of my will as much as my skill.

In 2015, I rewrote the first three chapters and sent them to an American publisher. He liked them, particularly the humour and asked to see the rest of the book. Then I spotted the publishing contract, attached to the email.

(Oh. How exciting.)

How could I even consider or sign the contract until I was satisfied with the story – and found a way to solve the murder?

Whether it was the publisher’s interest after years of rejection, or rewriting and cutting to produce the best novel possible, I don’t know, but I found a way to solve the murder and the novel was originally published in 2016.

Having finally got there, what can we expect from an evening in with No Accident?

Something different, maybe even unique in crime fiction, I hope.

When I created Kent Fisher, I had two aims.–

I wanted to show that an ordinary person could solve a murder.

Let’s be honest, whoever heard of an environmental health officer (EHO) investigating a murder? It sounds as implausible as it is unlikely until you learn that EHOs investigate workplace accidents. Having investigated several fatal work accidents, I knew it was a great way to disguise a murder, which is where the book gets its title.

(Oo. My next door neighbour is a retired environmental health officer. I’ll pop and get him when we finish our chat and you can compare notes!)

Having successfully solved a murder, EHO, Kent Fisher, then has the credibility to go on and solve more complex cases in No Bodies and No Remorse.

Naturally, he’s weighed down by more baggage than an airport carousel. This allows me to create an interesting backstory and cast of characters to make his life as complicated as it can be. Many bloggers and readers comment and become involved with these characters and relationships, which is music to an author’s ears.

(I bet!)

I wanted to pay tribute to the mysteries that inspired me – Miss Marple, Inspector Morse and the late Sue Grafton’s feisty Californian detective, Kinsey Millhone.

I wanted to write the kind of book I loved to read – an entertaining murder mystery/whodunit with a complex, twisting plot full of surprises, colourful characters, and humour to counterbalance the murders.

Crime Fiction Lover, which gave me my first ever review, summed it up beautifully:

Expect sharp dialogue and irreverent humour in this whodunit, which manages to pay homage to the traditional murder mystery, while striking a contemporary and irreverent note.

Since then, another reviewer said:

Kent Fisher is a wonderful creation, unique in crime literature.

I know this could put off as many readers as it attracts because crime readers are more familiar with police procedurals and hard-boiled private detectives, but the review always reminds why I write these stories.

(Actually, Rob, there are so many hard boiled private detectives that your series sounds like a breath of fresh air.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

Well, as you can tell from the attention you’re getting, I’ve brought my West Highland white terrier, Harvey. Apart from being cute, he’s the embodiment of Kent Fisher’s spirit (and mine). Harvey’s tenacious, determined (or stubborn, if you prefer) and independent, refusing to give up or conform.

(I love Harvey – and not just because he shares a name with my Grandfather! He’s quite friendly isn’t he? Doesn’t he distract you from your writing?)

While I was revising No Accident, he often slept by my feet. If I struggled with a passage, I often talked it through with him. He would sit there, ears pricked, tilting his head from side to side as he listened. Sometimes he would bark and wag his tail. I don’t think he was trying to tell me which solution to choose, but he always made me feel better and return to my writing with renewed enthusiasm.

(Brilliant.)

That’s why he had to be a part of the novels.

(I can imagine. Harvey is a real star!)

During the revisions of No Accident, I realised I had to create an animal sanctuary for Kent Fisher to live in and run in his spare time. It contained some rescue dogs, including a Westie that Kent rescued after it had been badly beaten by its owner. Kent loves the dog, finally taking him off the rehoming list to be his own. Kent names his new companion Columbo after his (and my) favourite TV detective.

And if you’ve watched the TV detective in the crumpled raincoat, you’ll know he never gives up either.

(I loved those programmes.)

Neither will Harvey until you give him another treat.

Then he must have one. Thanks so much for staying in with me tonight Robert and for bringing Harvey along. It’s so lovely hearing how No Accident came into being (with Harvey’s help) and I’m sure many aspiring writers will be encouraged by your story.

No Accident

A former gangster is dead. It looks like an accident. Only Kent Fisher suspects murder.

When the police decide Syd Collins’ death is a work accident, they hand over the investigation to environmental health officer, Kent Fisher, a man with more baggage than an airport carousel.

He defies a restraining order to enter Tombstone Adventure Park and confronts the owner, Miles Birchill, who has his own reasons for blocking the investigation. Thwarted at every turn, Kent’s forced to bend the rules and is soon suspended from duty.

He battles on, unearthing secrets and corruption that could destroy those he loves. With his personal and professional worlds on a collision course, he knows life will never be the same again.

Inspired by Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton, Robert Crouch brings a fresh voice and a new twist to the traditional murder mystery.

No Accident is available for purchase here.

About Robert Crouch

Inspired by Miss Marple, Inspector Morse and Columbo, Robert Crouch wanted to write entertaining crime fiction the whole family could enjoy.

At their heart is Kent Fisher, an environmental health officer with more baggage than an airport carousel. Passionate about the environment, justice and fair play, he’s soon embroiled in murder.

Drawing on his experiences as an environmental health officer, Robert has created a new kind of detective who brings a unique and fresh twist to the traditional murder mystery. With complex plots, topical issues and a liberal dash of irreverent humour, the Kent Fisher mysteries offer an alternative to the standard police procedural.

Robert now writes full time and lives on the South Coast of England with his wife and their West Highland White Terrier, Harvey, who appears in the novels as Kent’s sidekick, Columbo.

You can find Robert on Facebook and visit his website. You can also follow him on Twitter @robertcrouchuk.

My enormous thanks to Lucy Chamberlain at Legend Press for a copy of All That Was Lost by Alison May in return for an honest review. I have previously welcomed Alison May to Linda’s Book Bag with a fantastic guest post about Shakespeare as the ultimate romance writer that you can read here.

However, All That Was Lost marks a change in Alison’s writing and it is the first of her books that I have reviewed.

All That Was Lost will be published on 6th September 2018 by Legend Press and is available for pre-order here.

All That Was Lost

In 1967 Patience Bickersleigh is a teenager who discovers a talent for telling people what they want to hear. Fifty years later she is Patrice Leigh, a nationally celebrated medium. But cracks are forming in the carefully constructed barriers that keep her real history at bay.

Leo is the journalist hired to write Patrice’s biography. Struggling to reconcile the demands of his family, his grief for his lost son, and his need to understand his own background, Leo becomes more and more frustrated at Patrice’s refusal to open up.

Because behind closed doors, Patrice is hiding more than one secret. And it seems that now, her past is finally catching up with her.

My Review of All That Was Lost

Celebrity medium Patrice finds she can’t see everything that might be about to happen in her life.

I am used to the concept of Alison May as a romantic novelist so I wasn’t sure what to expect from All That Was Lost, but it is a triumph. What Alison May has produced is an intimate and affecting study of loss, grief and identity that is just wonderful.

As the cast list is quite narrow, having a focus mainly on Patrice, with Leo and Louise to a lesser extent, there’s a real sense of understanding and knowing the characters. Their lives interweave in a spellbinding way that ensnares the reader and makes them want to know what will happen to them. That said, the more peripheral people like Barney add a colour and depth that adds definition to the main characters, especially to Patrice who is such a magnificent creation. She is deceptive on so many levels, including to herself, and yet she is a heartbreaking individual too because Alison May gradually reveals her to the reader in such a convincing manner. I’m still worrying about Patrice after having finished reading!

The structure of All That Was Lost is so clever. As the narrative reaches its denouement in the present, the 1960s past is increasingly brought into focus, giving clarity and empathy. Alison May shines a very bright light onto the 1960s era so that society is conveyed painfully sharply through the microcosm of Pat’s family. I thought this was such skilful writing. There’s a fabulous story here that is all absorbing and engaging, but more important I think, are the themes explored. We see first hand how our lives are manipulated and changed by others, how we can lose sight of what is important, including our own identity and how we sometimes need extremes of grief and loss to redefine us and show us who we truly are.

I thought All That Was Lost was a glorious read. I enjoyed it so much because I found it touching, compassionate and human. Magnificent!

About Alison May

Alison was born and raised in North Yorkshire, but now lives in Worcester. She is a History graduate from the University of York and has a Creative Writing degree from the University of Birmingham. Alison has worked as a waitress, a shop assistant, a learning adviser, an advice centre manager, and as a creative writing tutor and freelance trainer for charities and voluntary organisations.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and won their Elizabeth Goudge trophy in 2012 for her short story Feel the Fear which was published in the RNA’s 2014 anthology.

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

Recently I’ve seen quite a bit about Young Adult (YA) fiction claiming it is a lesser cousin of adult fiction. I couldn’t disagree more. Some of the best books I’ve read have been YA books and I’m delighted to welcome M.J Mallon to Linda’s Book Bag today to tell me about her YA release.

Staying in with. M.J. Mallon

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

Thank you so much for inviting me Linda I really appreciate it.

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

I have chosen The Curse of Time Book One Bloodstone because it’s my debut novel.

What can we expect from an evening in with The Curse of Time?

We can expect an intriguing evening with The Curse of Time. Take a seat, grab a drink and let me entice you to find out more about my YA Fantasy debut novel, The Curse of Time.

Here’s what Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor) says:

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!”

(That makes The Curse of Time sound very appealing Marjorie. I bet you were thrilled with that response.)

It’s the first in a series of three intended books. All three will focus on the power of a magical crystal –Book One introduces you to the blood cleansing power of the Bloodstone.

The Curse of Time series features three fascinating Chronopage clocks invented by Dr John C Taylor, OBE: Book one: showcases the grasshopper, Book Two: the medieval fly and Book three: the dragon. All three images courtesy of Dr John C Taylor.

http://johnctaylor.com

http://johnctaylor.com

There are many intriguing elements within the narrative which will take you on a mystical, magical journey. Expect an abundance of light and hope in the beautiful, magical crystals that Amelina discovers. But with light elements of darkness, shadows, and sadness linger nearby. Meet Esme, a young girl captured in the mirrors of Amelina’s house. Discover Amelina’s dad – the victim of a terrible curse. Mysteries abound, and magical gifts bring art to life. The Curse of Time is a coming-of-age story. Fifteen-year-old Amelina must cure her father of a terrible curse that has struck at the heart of her family’s happiness.

(This sounds as if it’s going to be a brilliant series Marjorie.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I’m bringing along some very special guests.

My friend, artist Carolina Russo who lovingly painted two of my characters: Esme The Mirror Girl. And Eruterac, The Creature. Carolina’s blog is here.

(Oh – welcome along Carolina!)

Imagine what it would be like to chat with the mirror girl, Esme. She hasn’t had it easy. In her recent past poor Esme self-harmed whilst trapped in a cycle of self-hatred. Now a captive, she is no longer able to self-harm but her mood swings continue.Will Esme escape the double prison of her self-harm and the mirrored prison that she is locked in?

(Crikey – now I want to know more!)

The Creature’s coming too! He might want to sit next to you. Perhaps he might hold your hand but if he does he will drop a few bugs, worms, and the like in your lap. Does he scare you?

(Erm. He does. And I’d really rather he didn’t drop worms. I’m not keen on things without legs…)

Also why don’t you cuddle my black cat character Shadow? If you dare! Shadow is friendly but he doesn’t like to be picked up. He is the most powerful cat I have ever met but he has the kindest heart too. I adore the idea that looks can be deceptive. Do you agree?

(Aha. Shadow is MUCH more my kind of guest than The Creature. If you look round you’ll see cat items all round my home. He does look friendly, but maybe I’ll just stroke him first.)

The image of Lily (aka Shadow,) comes via my friends blog here.

I’ve brought along Amelina because well it would be wrong of me not to. She’s my main protagonist and I love her very much. She has had a tough life too. Who wants to be stuck in a terrible situation? She copes by writing Tanka, short-form poetry, she paints, and plays guitar. Amelina is a soulful girl who develops powerful skills using magical crystals.

(Amelina sounds far too talented for her own good. But she’s still welcome too!)

Then there is Ryder. The enigma. Who is he? And why is there smoke coming out of his mouth? Is that just a smoke-screen? Read The Curse of Time to find out whether he is a loveable character…

(Ooer! I hope that’s NOT cigarette smoke as I can’t abide cigarettes. If so, he’s going to have to stay in the garden as far away from the house as possible.)

The photos of Ryder and Amelina were created by my daughter Georgina Mallon.

Gosh – that’s quite a collection of things you’ve brought with you Marjorie. It’s been a breathless evening staying in with you and not just because of that weird smoke from Ryder! I’ve really enjoyed finding out all about The Curse of Time. Thanks so much for being here and chatting to me about it.

Thanks for having me Linda.

The Curse of Time

Fifteen-year-old Amelina longs for someone to confide in.  Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had.

The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house.

The Curse of Time is available for purchase here.

About M. J. Mallon

M. J. Mallon is a debut author who has been blogging for three years at her lovely blog Kyrosmagica. Her interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. Marjorie write Fantasy YA, middle grade fiction and micro poetry – haiku and tanka. She loves to read and has written numerous reviews here.

You’ll find Marjorie on Facebook and can follow her on Twitter @Marjorie_Mallon.

My enormous thanks to Emma Knight at Hodder for a surprise copy of The Rest of Me by Katie Marsh in return for an honest review. I love Katie Marsh’s writing and I reviewed My Everything here when I first began blogging (and how the blog has changed since then!). I have a review of A Life Without You here and of This Beautiful Life here which was also one of my books of the year in 2017.

In addition, I was thrilled to host a guest post here by Katie all about the playlists of her life when This Beautiful Life was published and honoured to attend the book’s launch.

Published by Hodder, The Rest of Me is available for purchase through these links.

The Rest of Me

Alex Fox knows there are lots of things she should be.

She should be the perfect wife to her chronically ill husband Sam, and the perfect mother to their two daughters. She should be excelling in her high-stress job. And she should be completing the demanding to-do lists she makes to keep herself on track.

Even if, just sometimes, she doesn’t have time to breathe.

When Sam’s condition worsens and Alex donates a kidney to save his life, her carefully scheduled existence starts to unravel – eventually forcing her to face up to a past that she has buried for years.

As the family she has fought so hard for threatens to fall apart, can Alex finally confront the mistakes that have shaped her – and rediscover what is most important in life?

The Rest of Me is an emotional and uplifting story which will make you laugh, cry and hug the people you love a little bit tighter.

My Review of The Rest Of Me

Alex Foxy Fox is superwoman until life reminds her we’re all human.

I have loved everything Katie Marsh has written so I was extremely apprehensive about reading The Rest of Me. I didn’t want to be disappointed. Oh – I wasn’t. I think The Rest of Me may be her best book yet. There’s a depth of emotion and raw honesty between the pages of The Rest of Me that hit me in the solar plexus and knocked me for six. I didn’t just read about the emotion in The Rest of Me, but rather felt it physically so that my heart feels a little bit bruised as a result.

Alex is so fabulous a character. I defy any woman (and that may sound sexist but I don’t care) to read about Alex and not understand her or feel a little bit of her personality in themselves. Her desperate need to maintain her shell of competence at all costs, her ‘self-bullying’ and her unhappiness as she loses sight of the real things in life that matter are all too familiar. I felt as if Katie Marsh had looked into my soul, understood me and had written a novel just for me to help me understand myself better. At the risk of being accused of hyperbole, I genuinely think Katie Marsh has a Shakespearean understanding of humanity.

The others in the story are perfectly depicted too. Izzy is a triumph and, although I don’t have children of my own, I can envisage mothers looking at their children anew having read The Rest of Me.

The wonderful plot is so clever. Aside from the major event of donating a kidney to Sam, Alex’s life is one we can all relate to as it revolves around juggling work and home. So often I wanted to step into the narrative, grasp Alex by the shoulders and shake her until she understood what she was doing – not because the story didn’t work, but because it worked so well I couldn’t bear what was happening to her. I was desperate for her to find happiness, and the depth of sadness I felt as I read is beyond description.

I genuinely believe reading The Rest of Me has changed me as a person. Once again Katie Marsh’s words have made me reappraise my life and helped me understand what is truly important. If you’ve yet to discover her as an author, what are you waiting for? Your life will never be the same again.

About Katie Marsh

Katie lives in south-west London with her family. Before being published she worked in healthcare, and her novels are inspired by the bravery of the people she met in hospitals and clinics across the country. Her first novel My Everything (available here) was picked by the Evening Standard as one of the hottest summer debuts of 2015.

She loves strong coffee, the feel of a blank page and stealing her husband’s toast. When not writing, she spends her time in local parks trying and failing to keep up with her daughter’s scooter.

You can follow Katie on Twitter @marshisms, visit her website and find her on Facebook.

One of the pleasures of running Linda’s Book Bag is discovering new, young authors and today I am very pleased to welcome Tori L Wilson to the blog to stay in with me and tell me about a book inspired when she was very young.

Staying in with Tori L Wilson.

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Tori, Thanks for staying in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I have brought along The Skeleton Lady. I got the idea for this book when I was only fourteen years old. My dad had passed away the year before and I was having a difficult time processing the emotional pain I was in, so I created the character, who goes by the name of the Skeleton Lady, as a sort of human embodiment of those feelings

What an interesting way to deal with grief. I’m not surprised you were struggling. Tell me more. What can we expect from an evening in with The Skeleton Lady?

The Skeleton Lady will bring an evening filled with twists and turns, wild emotions, love, hate, and much, much more! Follow Oliver and Kayte as they are met with pure evil in human form, and must figure out how to escape the bonds of their captors.

(This sounds intriguing!)

I’d like to share a review from Nada Hosny, blogger at Early Bookish Birds:

The skeleton lady gave me the creeps! The writing was so easy to keep up with, I loved the simplicity especially with such a short story, it made everything easier. the story had so many, so many hidden lessons: abusive relationships, pleasing society, learning to say no, compassion friendship and love. I connected with the characters on an emotional level even though the journey was quite short but this story with written with so much love and effort. Overall: such a small quick read with so many deep emotions, it truly touched my soul.

(That’s a cracker of a review Tori. You must be thrilled.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve brought a sketch of the main antagonist, the Skeleton Lady. On top of being an author, I am also currently in college, majoring in art education, and I love bringing the world of art in with the world of writing.

(I think the two mediums are often so closely linked Tori – an image can lead to writing and writing to images.)

Thanks so much for staying in with me to tell me about The Skeleton Lady Tori. I think it sounds fascinating and not a little scary!

The Skeleton Lady

Oliver Adams and Kayte Westin have been best friends since the first grade, when Kayte stood up against Oliver’s bully, earning his undying loyalty. The two are neighbors and are now attending their small town of Adairsville, Georgia’s local high school together, counting down the days until summer vacation. Oliver and Kayte both have feelings for one another besides simply friendship, however neither of them have been able to summon the strength required to confess their true feelings.

When the Skeleton Lady, a terrifying woman with brilliant red eyes and an extremely thin, skeleton-like figure, captures the two friends they must use their mental and physical strength to escape the clutches of their captors.

Will their love be enough to break the grasp of their tormentor’s clutches, or will they die trying? Find out in this exciting tale filled with twists and turns at every corner.

You’ll find The Skeleton Lady for purchase along with all Tori’s books here.

About Tori L Wilson

Tori Wilson is a young author who began her writing career at only nineteen years old. She is now twenty one years old and has had three books published. Tori lives in a small town and is attending college, majoring in art education. In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, painting, modeling Japanese fashion at local anime conventions, and studying foreign languages. Tori’s latest book, The Skeleton Lady, is a romantic suspense filled with action-packed twists and turns.

To find out more, visit Tori on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

I first met Tracey Scott-Townsend when I went to Oceans of Words, at which Tracey was speaking and you can see my write up here. I’ll be welcoming Tracey to Linda’s Book Bag on 6th October to stay in with me and tell me about one of her books, but today I’m delighted to share my review of So Fast, Tracey’s collection of poetry and I would like to thank her so much for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.

Published by Wild Pressed Books So Fast is available from Amazon, but Tracey will always send a signed copy if you contact her through her website.

So Fast

Motherhood, family, sense of place and reflections on the human condition are at the heart of this collection of poems, mainly written in 2017.

My Review of So Fast

A collection of intimate and personal poems about life and humanity.

Now here’s the thing. I am not a mother, I have never wanted to be and I don’t especially like children. The first two poems in So Fast are based around children and so you’d think I would be affected by them but by the time I’d got to the end of the second I was in tears. Tracey Scott Townsend has such a depth of emotion behind her poetry it really touched me. Reading on, I felt exactly the same about the rest of the collection and by the time I got to Perfect Memorial I was in utter pieces.

Indeed, reading So Fast I encountered a range of very profound emotions. You must have wanted to have them made me feel guilty and I was enraged by Ways not to treat Women. But oh my goodness, the sense of loss, of grief and love was almost too much to bear at times, especially in The Visit. I also loved the final, uplifting reassertion of identity in the last poem in the collection, Not Invisible.

The quality of Tracey Scott-Townsend’s writing is magnificent. Able to convey the emotions I have referred to, she can also create such vivid images of nature that the reader can picture the shore, a whale, a tern with absolute clarity. She invents compound words that capture perfectly what she is describing and knows exactly when a rhyme or repetition will enhance her message and when to pare down her words to the bare minimum for the greatest effect. Water plays a large part in her writing and her poems reflect its fluidity and ever changing appearance. I thought this was such skilled writing.

I found So Fast by Tracey Scott-Townsend an absolute gem of a collection. I fear it will be little known but it deserves to be praised amid the likes of writers like Maya Angelou, Dylan Thomas and Sylvia Plath. So Fast explores everything it means to be a woman, a mother, a lover and a friend. I loved every word.

About Tracey Scott-Townsend

Tracey Scott-Townsend is a novelist, poet and artist living in the East Riding of Yorkshire. She has exhibited widely across Britain and her previous books are published by Inspired Quill and Wild Pressed Books.

You can find out more about Tracey by visiting her website, finding her on Facebook and following her on Twitter @authortrace.

I know many readers love to get their reading teeth into a series so it gives me very great pleasure to welcome Matt Doyle to Linda’s Book Bag to stay in with me today as he has a couple of books in his new series on the go. Those who know me well will, I think, find the events of the evening amusing!

Staying in with Matt Doyle

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

No, no, thank you. It’s always fun stopping by new places.

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

I’ve chosen Addict, which was released last May by NineStar Press. It’s the first book in my crime noir / sci-fi series, The Cassie Tam Files, and the sequel The Fox, The Dog and The King just came out in July, so I wanted to get the first book out there a little more in the build-up. It’s been well received so far, which has been absolutely thrilling, so I’m hoping more readers start picking it up and enjoying too.

(How exciting to have two new books out in the world. Congratulations Matt.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Addict?

For one, you can expect a coherent mix of genres. A couple of reviewers have described it as Sam Spade meets Blade Runner, which is great because I binge watched both said cyberpunk classic and The Maltese Falcon in preparation for writing the book. It’s also had a bunch of other comparisons which I really liked too; the leading PI Cassie Tam has been compared to Jessica Jones (which actually gave me the kick to start watching the Netflix show), and the setting has been compared to the anime Psycho Pass before now, both of which really made me smile.

(Crikey – that sounds like an eclectic approach. Sounds really interesting and not my usual genre!)

What can we expect from an evening in with Addict?

You can also expect a journey through a near future world full of tech that’s a realistic advancement of what we have now.  We’re talking VR being used for business, but also becoming an addictive add-on to drug use. We’ve got animal roleplay using metal exoskeletons that have also been adapted for law enforcement. There’s AI pets that range from cats and dogs to miniature gargoyles. It’s all kinda derivative of a few modern favourites, but that was important for me, because I wanted to make this seem like a viable, albeit dark, future.

(It all sounds scarily possible to me.)

And let’s not forget Cassie herself! With her, you can expect the three S’s: smarts, stubbornness, and a lot of snark. She has a strong sense of justice, and is well established in her job, but she’s far from perfect. She’s also an out lesbian whose sexuality is not part of a coming out story, but rather just a part of her. The romance in the book isn’t a plot device for her to find herself, but rather a longer tale designed to be built over the course of the series.

So, to summarise … except pulp style sleuthing, cool tech, and a diverse lead.

(I like the sound of Cassie. I think we still don’t have enough diversity in fiction.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve brought a couple of things with me.

First, a pair of songs by The Tea Party: Temptation that you can listen to here and Babylon, here.

These songs actually link with the book a little. Even putting aside that Cassie is Chinese-Canadian and the band are from Canada, they lyrically deal with the concept of giving in to and being dragged down by temptation. New Hopeland, the fiction city that the series is set in, was designed to be a hub for world progress in technology, but it fell into corruption quite quickly. Now, the people who live and work there are faced with the temptation of the underworld every day, even if they sometimes don’t even know it. These songs were the ones that I listened to the most when working on the worldbuilding relating to the city itself. In a way, they’re kinda like the unofficial anthems of New Hopeland City.

(Many authors tell me they are inspired by music so it’s fascinating to hear why you’ve chosen these two pieces Matt.)

Next, I’ve brought a selection of horror films.

(O-oh! So not my genre. Pass me a cushion to hide behind.)

I’m thinking American Werewolf In London, The Exorcist, Insidious, and Nightmare on Elm Street.

(All totally terrifying Matt – and there I was enjoying our evening up until this point. Why did you bring such a selection?)

The reason is, Cassie Tam herself loves horror films … they just don’t love her. She’s drawn to watching them, and despite spending large amounts of time hiding behind pillows during, she does enjoy them. But they cause her to suffer from nightmares a lot. You’d think she’d stop watching, but there’s no way she’d give up something she enjoys just because of a few bad dreams.

(She must be mad. You make a start on the viewing and I’ll go and er … put the kettle on. It might take several hours to boil…)

Thank you, for the most part (!) for staying in with me to tell me all about Addict Matt. I was having a really good time until you brought out the films! Congratulations again on having The Cassie Tam Files out. Good luck with the series.

Addict

When PI Cassie Tam is hired to investigate the death of a local virtual reality junkie, she thinks it will be easy money. In New Hopeland, VR junkies die every day, and the local PD already declared it an accidental overdose on synthetic stimulants. But the more she digs, the more that things don’t add up.

To make things even more complicated, her client, the deceased’s sister Lori, is a Tech Shifter – someone who uses a metal exoskeleton to roleplay as an animal – and Cassie has always been wary of that community. That wouldn’t be a problem if Lori wasn’t fast becoming the first person she’s been genuinely attracted to since splitting with her ex.

Easy money, huh? Yeah, right.

Addict is available for purchase from Amazon, NineStar Press, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and the Apple Store.

About Matt Doyle

Matt Doyle lives in the South East of England and shares his home with a wide variety of people and animals, as well as a fine selection of teas. He has spent his life chasing dreams, a habit which has seen him gain success in a great number of fields. To date, this has included spending ten years as a professional wrestler, completing a range of cosplay projects, and publishing multiple works of fiction.

These days, Matt can be found working on far too many novels at once, running his pop culture website, and plotting and planning what other things he’ll be doing to take up what little free time he has.

To find out more, follow Matt on Twitter @mattdoylemedia, find him on Facebook or visit his website.

War related fiction has a special place in my reader’s heart so I am thrilled to welcome Caroline Beecham to stay in with me today to tell me about one of her historical novels.

I am also thrilled to be able to offer a paperback copy of the book we are discussing to a lucky winner in a giveaway at the bottom of this blog post.

Staying in with Caroline Beecham

I’m delighted to welcome you to Linda’s Book Bag, Caroline. Which of your books have you brought along to share with me and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought my second novel, Eleanor’s Secret, which was published in the UK in May by Ebury Press. It’s an engrossing wartime mystery of past deceptions, family secrets and long-lasting love, so it’s got broad appeal and isn’t just for lovers of historical and romantic fiction.

(Eleanor’s Secret sounds like the perfect read for me!)

Australian Cover for Eleanor’s Secret

It was published in Australia and New Zealand at the same time as the UK.

(How exciting to be out right round the world. I love that Australian cover Caroline.)

One Australian reviewer said, “Fans of Natasha Lester and Kate Morton will very much enjoy this new release and the dual time-zones mean the books will also appeal to a broader audience.” Debbish.com

That’s a great recommendation and I was also lucky that it was chosen as fiction ‘Pick of the Week’ by the Sydney Morning Herald. I really liked that a male reviewer chose it and commented, ‘Historical romance isn’t really my bag, but Beecham’s easy-flowing prose and astute structure make the pages fly.’

(Brilliant. It’s quite hard, I think, to appeal to both sexes so you must be thrilled with that response.)

The novel is inspired by the real work of the War Artists’ Advisory Committee War and a generation of courageous war artists during the Second World. It was a real privilege to research and write because like my first novel, Maggie’s Kitchen, it focuses on a lesser known part of the Second World War.

The idea came about when I discovered that of the thirty-seven artists given full time contracts, thirty-six were men and there was only one woman. This really sparked something for me because in wartime Britain women were taking on the majority of roles, yet that wasn’t reflected in the WAAC or the art world. I imagined there would have been female artists who had an issue with this, and Eleanor was one of them!

(Now I HAVE to read Eleanor’s Secret to find out more. I’ve never even considered women in the role of war artists before.)

What can we expect from an evening in with Eleanor’s Secret?

The book has dual timelines, the historical storyline focusing on Eleanor trying to achieve her ambition of becoming one of the few female war artists, and the contemporary storyline that sees Eleanor’s granddaughter, Kathryn, help to solve the wartime mystery:

London, 1942

When art school graduate, Eleanor Roy is recruited by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee, she comes one step closer to realising her dream of becoming one of the few female war artists. But breaking into the art establishment proves difficult until Eleanor meets painter, Jack Valante, only to be separated by his sudden posting overseas.

Melbourne, 2010

Although reluctant to leave her family at home, Kathryn can’t refuse her grandmother Eleanor’s request to travel to London to help her return a precious painting to its artist. But when the search uncovers a long-held family secret, Kathryn has to make a choice to return home or risk her family’s future, as Eleanor shows her that safeguarding the future is sometimes worth more than protecting the past.

(I am loving the sound of Eleanor’s Secret more and more – especially as Melbourne is my favourite Australian city!)

There is a lot to think about in the novel such as Kathryn’s interest in how war was depicted then and now; it couldn’t be more different recording conflict with drones now and the instant feeds compared to producing thumbnail sketches and then watercolours that took weeks to be sent home during the Second World War. Jack also has secrets that unfold as the storyline evolves that help explain his disappearances and gives a greater understanding of the cost to his family. I was interested in the sacrifices we make for the ones we love and this is a recurring theme in the book; how far our characters are prepared to go…

(That’s it! I don’t need to hear any more! Hang on a minute whilst I head off to grab my copy of Eleanor’s Secret. I’ll be back in a minute…)

Sorry about the delay! What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve brought along some of the research images as people seem to be very interested in these and the lives of the war artists, so I hope your readers will be too.

(I’m certain they will Caroline.)

These booklets were produced as part of a first series by British war artists in 1942 and a second series came out in 1944. The WAAC played an important role in recording the war, and for morale and propaganda in Britain and overseas, and these booklets were very popular. I really like this quote in Women, a booklet in the Second Series, in which artist Laura Knight wrote:

‘After what she has done in this titanic struggle, will she not guard what she has gained, and to Man’s effort add her own? If she can do what she has done in war, what may she not do in peace?’

The booklets were important for research but they also play a role in the story as one of the clues that helps Kathryn find out what happened to Jack. There are other clues that provide plenty of intrigue throughout the novel for those who want a mystery, but for those who want a night in with an engrossing love story, Eleanor’s Secret is also a romantic tale of long-lasting love.

(War Pictures by British Artists, Second Series, WOMEN, Oxford University Press)

Browsing through the catalogues of the Imperial War Museum enabled me to see works by war artists and there were some that were very evocative; I found the work of Edward Ardizzone really moving as he often captured civilians and troops in their day-to-day lives, which in some ways makes it harder to look at as you know what may be in store for them. I became so inspired by the artists and their works that I was thrilled to find this print by Edward Ardizzone in an online art sale. I would love to own a picture by a female war artist but since they are rarer, I might need to write a few more novels before I can do that!

Author, Caroline Beecham, with print by war artists and WAAC member, Edward Ardizzone

(I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know about Edward Ardizzone Caroline. You’ve not only introduced Eleanor’s Secret, but you’ve opened up a whole new area of interest. Thank you.)

As well as having these artworks for inspiration, I also interviewed a number of artists including Wendy Sharpe, who was official artist in East Timor, the first female war artist since the WWII. She was able to give a female perspective on working in difficult conditions and helped speculate on what life might have been like for Eleanor. She talked about the materials that would have been used and the processes but also of the feelings of volatility–of everyone on edge–and how this makes you aware of how things happen by chance.  British military artist, David Rowlands, was extremely valuable in helping colour Jack’s character and understanding the emotions and feelings of being on the frontline. And as someone who grew up watching BBCs Kate Adie, reporting from battle-zones, I was really grateful for a deeper understanding of what these artists and journalists went through; different time period and artistic tools but still the same emotions, sense of fear and unpredictability.

(Your research must have been utterly fascinating Caroline. What amazing people to have come into contact with.)

And if anyone is interested in finding out more about the research or the book there is more detail on my website.

(I’m sure there will be Linda’s Book Bag readers heading there right now.)

It has been genuinely wonderful spending an evening with you Caroline, and finding out all about Eleanor’s Secret. I feel honoured to have heard how you conducted your research and have found your information fascinating. Thanks so much for staying in with me.

Thank you so much for having me as your guest Linda and enjoy the rest of your evening. Warmest wishes, Caroline.

Eleanor’s Secret

Can Eleanor follow her heart in troubled times?

Eleanor Roy is determined to do her bit for the war effort after being recruited by the War Artist Advisory Committee. When she meets handsome artist Jack Valante, her dreams seem to be finally coming true when Jack promises to help her pursue her ambition of becoming an artist. But after a whirlwind romance, Eleanor is devastated when Jack is posted overseas.

When Eleanor receives some unexpected news she desperately tries to find Jack. But with the young couple torn apart by war, will they be reunited and find happiness at last?

Eleanor’s Secret is available for purchase through these links.

About Caroline Beecham

Caroline Beecham grew up at the English seaside and relocated to Australia to continue her career as a writer and producer in film and television. She has worked on a documentary about Princess Diana lookalikes, a series about journeys to the ends of the earth, as well as a feature film about finding the end of the rainbow. Caroline decided on a new way of storytelling and studied the craft of novel writing at the Faber Academy in 2012. She has an MA in Film & Television and a MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband and two sons by Sydney harbour.

You can find out more about Caroline on her website or follow her on Facebook and Twitter @CarolineBeecham.

Giveaway: A Paperback Copy of Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham

For your chance to win a paperback copy of Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham click here.

Open internationally. Please note that once Rafflecopter has chosen the winner, I will not retain your personal details!  Giveaway closes UK midnight on Thursday 16th August.

My enormous thanks to Denise Drew for sending me a copy of her children’s story The Adventures of Jilly and June in India in return for an honest review. Having been to India recently I was delighted to read this one!

Part of Denise’s books inspired by her travels, The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is available for purchase here.

The Adventures of Jilly and June in India

Jilly is a young girl who lives with her mother June and Jimmy the ginger tom cat. Their home is no ordinary house, but a magical flying that takes them on many hilarious adventures. Where do they go? Join them, and read to find out what happens when they arrive at the Taj Mahal and end up Bollywood dancing.

My Review of The Adventures of Jilly and June in India

Jilly and June set sail in their house and head to India.

The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is a smashing way to introduce children to another culture and country.

Firstly children will be captivated by the idea of simply putting in the coordinates and ‘sailing’ away in their own house to have many adventures. I can see this leading to several discussions about where they might like to travel so that The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is educational as well as entertaining.

I liked the fact that there is plenty of story to share so that The Adventures of Jilly and June in India would make a really good bedtime book. It’s a book that can be shared with an adult or read independently so that is has longevity and would reward more than one reading. With Jilly and June appearing to be mother and daughter, status is given to single parent families too which I feel is very worthwhile.

However, what I think works best in The Adventures of Jilly and June in India is the way in which children are presented with new experiences from the Indian culture, from attending an Indian wedding, wearing a sari and riding in a Tuk Tuk, through visiting the Taj Mahal to Bollywood dancing and trying new foods. There’s humour too making the book fun to read.

I think children aged 5-9 will find much to enjoy in The Adventures of Jilly and June in India.

About Denise Drew

Denise Drew was born in Liverpool in 1970. She has raised her daughter, as a single parent, since her daughter was two years old. Never deterred by being a one parent family, Denise worked full time, provided a loving home and continued life in a strong and positive light. As a small family, they were lucky enough to have holidays every year and this led Denise to dream of writing adventure stories about her and her daughter travelling the world.

Denise would say that she would love to pick up her house and take it on holiday with her, so they could have their home comforts. What an idea! A flying house. A magical house, with sails, that flies them to “wherever takes their fancy”.

You can follow Denise on Twitter @DeniseDrew70 and visit her website for more information.