Regular readers of Linda’s Book Bag know life has thrown a few challenges my way in the last few years and so it gives me great pleasure to be featuring a book today that I think might just help me out. Paul McGee is staying in with me to tell me more!

Staying in with Paul McGee

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

Hi Linda, thanks for hosting me.

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

 I’ve brought along my latest book How to Have a Great Life: 35 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Achieve Success, Fulfilment and Happiness (HTHAGL). I’ve brought this book along because of my eleven books, this is the one I’m most excited about and proud of! Its also the one that’s dedicated to my kids, and the first one of my books I’d like my (future) grandkids to read.

Gosh! That’s a lot of books! I’m intrigued. So, what can we expect from an evening in with How to Have a Great Life: 35 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Achieve Success, Fulfilment and Happiness?

HTHAGL aims to enhance your life, and bring increased success, fulfilment and happiness through bite-sized tips and tools. Its about learning through reflection, expressing gratitude to others and taking responsibility for yourself.

With HTHAGL I ask what it is that we want from life. I believe that when we are faced with challenges and overcome them that we feel most fulfilled. People are like elastic bands, we’re designed to be stretched and thrive in the face of resistance. Seeking fresh challenges—even those seem like a struggle—can be the antidote to a boring and unfulfilling life. Of course, periods of rest and recovery are crucial to feeling rejuvenated but just like that elastic band, we were never designed to have too much slack in our lives.

(Great analogy! I sometimes feel as if my elastic has perished through too much stretching so I’d love to hear more.)

I also want to promote self-acceptance. I want people to recognise and remember that we are enough. That we are OK. We live in a world that fuels our insecurities. We are told we need fixing. That we are falling short. We aren’t perfect. I want my reader to understand that they are okay, that they are enough, and that when it comes to improving ourselves, we should start from a position of self-acceptance rather than self-loathing. I want people to learn, grow and improve, rather than strive for perfection.

(Oh, I absolutely agree Paul. I’m one of those people who sets a goal, achieves it and then makes it harder just to make life difficult for myself. I think as soon as our evening is over I’m going to settle down with HTHAGL as it could be perfect for me.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

A lot of this book was inspired by my local surroundings. I’m lucky to live close to countryside, and I’ve found that taking time out for myself, to go walking, whatever the weather, really helped the writing process. One of the chapters in my book is called ‘Don’t take miracles for granted’ and I literally marvel at how amazing Mother Nature is. It’s easy to take it all for granted and live life on auto pilot but I take time to notice what’s under my nose and literally marvel at what I consider to be the miracles around us.

(Oh yes. I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure I feel so much better if I get out for a walk in nature.)

It’s been an absolute delight hearing about HTHAGL Paul so thank you for staying in to tell me all about it.

How to Have a Great Life

35 ways to success, fulfillment, and happiness.

How to Have a Great Life starts with you–your strengths and amazing potential and how to develop those. It helps you understand how to tap into your ability to grow, while equipping you with insights, inspiration, and practical tools to deal with whatever life throws your way in order to achieve success and live a happy and fulfilled life.

You already have many of the tools you need to succeed–you just need to know which ones to use and how best to use them. With no-frills, funny, and emotionally intelligent advice, Paul McGee will make you think, make you laugh, and make you take action to live your greatest life possible.

• Tap into your ability to grow
• Find insight and practical tools to deal with whatever life throws your way
• Slow down and live a more balanced life
• Re-gain time and brain space
• Improve the quality of your relationships with others

We are living faster and more frantic lives than ever before—and there’s no time like the present to catch your breath and live your best life possible.

How to Have a Great Life is available in all good bookstores and online, including here.

About Paul McGee

Paul McGee is one of the UK’s leading speakers on the subject of change, workplace relationships and motivation. His provocatively titled book SUMO (Shut Up, Move On) became an instant best seller and his book on Self Confidence reached number one in the WHSmith’s business book chart and remained there for a further 24 weeks. He has appeared on BBC Breakfast television and is a regular contributor to Radio 5live.

Building on his background in psychology, Paul’s aim is to deliver a practical, relevant message that can make an immediate impact on people’s professional and personal lives. His approach is considered both inspirational and humorous as he seeks to deliver a memorable experience that equips people with insights and ideas to increase their personal effectiveness and impact. He’s spoken for more than 1,000 organisations in over 40 countries to date, and from Todmorden to Tehran and from Bradford to Brisbane, Paul’s messages have resonated with a global audience.

You can follow Paul on Twitter @TheSumoGuy and visit his website. Paul is on Facebook and there is more with these other bloggers too:

One of the reasons I got in to blogging was because I used to review KS3 fiction for Hodder and write teacher resources to go with the books. Consequently, I always have an eye out for books aimed at middle grade readers, especially if I think they may appeal to boys. With that in mind, I had to invite Bruce Bernstein onto Linda’s Book Bag to tell me about one of his books.

Staying in with Bruce Bernstein

Welcome along to Linda’s Book Bag Bruce. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

My book is called You Gotta Have Heart. It’s my first novel. The book is a middle grade novel about an orphaned  kid growing up in New York City. I think kids and adults will enjoy reading the book.

(I like the sound of a book that can be shared by adults and children alike Bruce.)

What can we expect from an evening in with You Gotta Have Heart?

I think reading the book will give readers an appreciation of New York City and hopefully provide them with a look at the benefits of training in the martial arts. But I think the book is a lot more than just that.

(Well, having worked in New York City I’d be quite happy to be transported back there.)

Here’s a brief extract:

“When you get knocked down, you just keep getting back up. …You never give up.” Sensei paused for a moment and spoke louder. “That’s what takes real guts.” He stared at Alan intently. “You know, sometimes failures are your steppingstones to success.”

(This is so appealing Bruce because I worked in New York Schools across areas like The Bronx and I can see how relevant You Gotta Have Heart is.)

Here is one of the reviews of the book:

“…You Gotta Have Heart, has it all. …The plot, which follows a young orphaned boy as he comes of age, is inspiring, moving and unforgettable. …You Gotta Have Heart is most highly recommended.”- Readers’ Favorite

(Smashing praise.)

What else have you brought along and why?

I brought positivity. I wanted to write something that was realistic and inspiring. The book is largely based on my many years of experience studying martial arts and my knowledge of New York City.

I love the sound of You Gotta Have Heart Bruce. Thanks so much for introducing it to readers through staying in with me.

You Gotta Have Heart

Orphaned at a young age, all Alan Michaels wants is a place to belong. But the independent, street–smart kid, who lacks self-confidence, has no clue how to deal with disappointment – or a formidable bully who won’t back down. And New York City is a tough town to grow up in if you are a kid who doesn’t have much. But when he starts training at Sensei Hideki’s School of Karate, he hopes his life will change forever.

Determined to prove he’s got what it takes to become a true warrior, he pushes his body and mind to the limit. But just when the karate school starts to feel like home, tragedy strikes again. Does Alan have the courage and inner strength to overcome the odds stacked against him?

You Gotta Have Heart is available for purchase here.

About Bruce Bernstein

Bruce Bernstein is a fourth degree black belt in karate with extensive training in the martial arts. Before recently retiring, he had a solo law practice dedicated to protecting the rights of employees while working part-time as an administrative law judge in New York City. Bruce is a life long resident of New York City who also happens to be a licensed New York City tour guide. Like Alan Michaels, the hero of You Gotta Have Heart, Bruce also knows a lot about Central Park and New York City.

You can find out more on Bruce’s website.

I’m delighted to be part of the launch celebrations for Kitty Stuck by Emma Pullar, illustrated by Beth Pullar as I adore cats so what could be better than a picture book for review. I’d like to thank the author for a copy of Kitty Stuck in return for an honest review.

Kitty Stuck is published by A Spark in the Sand, a publisher dedicated to encouraging young people to pursue their dreams, both by publishing works created by young people and through books which engage their imagination and inspire them to ‘Dream Big and Work Hard’. Kitty Stuck, being illustrated by 12 year old Beth, was a perfect fit for the publishing company’s ethos. They hope to encourage more young people to pursue their passion in this way.

Published on 2nd August 2018, Kitty Stuck is available for purchase here.

Kitty Stuck

Here kitty kitty…
Kitty is a calamitous cat who keeps finding himself in sticky situations.

Luckily, his loving family help him get unstuck.

My Review of Kitty Stuck

Kitty keeps getting stuck – in all kinds of places.

Oh, I loved this picture book for children and in fact I only have one complaint about it – the marketing says it is for children aged 0-7. Huh! I don’t see why they should have it! Kitty Stuck would make a fantastic present for cat lovers of all ages. I thought it was just wonderful. I especially liked the image of Kitty stuck in a bowl!

However, given that this IS a book for children, I’d better make some comments about it with that in mind.

Firstly, I think the pictures are stunning. They are funny and engaging, bright and vibrant. The expressions on Kitty’s face are so evocative of Kitty’s feelings that they really entertain. I found them joyous and uplifting and they often made me laugh. I loved the added extra of trying to find an image where Mouse is missing so that reading Kitty Stuck is an interactive experience too. There’s just enough extra detail in the pictures (such as the question mark by Mouse when Kitty is hiding) to allow discussion between adult and child too. I appreciated the fact that this seems to be a multi-ethnic family too as encouraging diversity is so important in a child’s formative years.

The balance of text to image is perfect and the cursive style is naive enough to appeal to children whilst still being totally legible so that independent readers can access it. I liked the variety of vocabulary and the rhyme scheme that works so well. Again, words like ‘box’ and ‘socks’ afford an educational opportunity for older children to find out about homophones, homonyms and rhyme.

Kitty Stuck is a really lovely book for children (and adults) that is accessible, educational and totally, totally enjoyable. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

About Emma and Beth Pullar

Kitty Stuck is Emma Pullar’s second children’s book. Her first, Curly from Shirley, was a national bestseller and named best opening lines by New Zealand Post. Upon her return to the UK Emma shifted her writing focus to writing dark novels for adults until recently, when inspired by her 12 year old daughter Beth’s drawings of the family cat Rupert, she took up her pen and wrote Kitty Stuck.

Beth, a talented and dedicated young illustrator, hopes to use her royalties to develop her work by investing in art supplies, software and education.

You can follow Emma on Twitter @EmmaStoryteller and Instagram or visit her website for more details. You’ll also find Emma on Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

I really like the collaborative and supportive philosophy of publishing that Unbound has and I’m delighted to welcome another of their authors, Catherine McNamara to Linda’s Book Bag to stay in with me today.

Staying in with Catherine McNamara

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

Thank you so much for having me and my book!

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

I’ve brought along my new short story collection The Cartography of Others, recently published by Unbound. It’s a collection of twenty stories set from Mali to Sydney, from Paris to Hong Kong, from London to Ghana, and it’s been praised by Hilary Mantel. I’m hoping to share with readers a little of what inspired me to produce this collection.

(Gosh, Hilary Mantel is quite an endorsement. I love travel so I think The Cartography of Others will be just my kind of read.)

What can we expect from an evening in with The Cartography of Others?

The stories in The Cartography of Others explore the boundaries between people and the alluring otherness of place, the migration of the body and the heart. There is a lot of atmospheric story-telling about desire, place, disappointment, redemption, and the characters include musicians, travellers, infertile women, migrants, victims of illness or accidents, old lovers reuniting or new lovers forging tenuous alliances. I lived for many years in West Africa, and the rest of my adult life in Italy, France and Belgium, so the stories reflect my desire to find a place, understand the people around me, absorb unfamiliar environments and make a space there for my dreams.

(This sounds just wonderful to me. I may have well over 900 physical and more e-books than I dare count on my TBR but I can feel another one might be added now!)

Hilary Mantel read the collection and said, “McNamara’s work has a fierce, vital beat, her stories robust yet finely worked,her voice striking in its confidence and originality. She writes with sensuous precision and a craft that is equally precise. This is fiction that can stand up in any company.”

(You must be utterly thrilled by that comment Catherine. Wow!)

What else have you brought along and why?

I used to have an art gallery in Ghana so I’ve brought along a sculpture from Ivory Coast that is a favourite piece. A Baule woman who for me firstly represents bold and timeless African art forms in the face of colonialism, and secondly, the beauty of all womanhood. It’s a tribute to the places and people that inspired me, and a symbol of the sensuality at the heart of my stories.

(I love it – so evocative of both womanhood and Africa.)

I’ve also brought a photo of myself and my youngest child, born in Ghana.

Throughout the time I was there I lived hard and travelled a lot, observed everything that happened around me and thus gained material for many of the stories that make up this book. At the time this photo was taken I was doing everything but writing, so it’s also a sign to all of us that there are times when you let your life itself guide and enrich you, and other times when you must get your act together and work. It’s been a long ride from that shot to the publication of this book and I am grateful for it!

(I love that image. It looks to me as if you’re both moving on from your past at the same time as heading for a new adventure.)

Thank you so much for staying in with me Catherine to chat about The Cartography of Others. I think the stories sound fantastic and I’ve so enjoyed hearing your philosophy of life too.

Thank you for having me Linda. It’s been lovely to share some thoughts about The Cartography of Others.

The Cartography of Others

A Japanese soprano sets sail for arid, haunted Corsica where she seeks her lost voice. A nude woman at the window of a Hong Kong hotel watches her lover dine in an adjacent building, but is her desire faltering? With a young son and her photographer partner, a journalist traverses Mali to interview an irascible musician. A son relives his mother’s last hours before a hiking accident in the Italian Dolomites, while in London a grieving family takes in an ex-soldier from the Balkan wars, unaware of the man’s demons.

The Cartography of Others takes us from fumy Accra to suburban Sydney, from scruffy Paris to pre-fundamentalist Mali. Each bewitchingly recounted story conveys a location as vital as the fitful, contemplative characters themselves. Lives are mapped, unpicked and crafted, across vivid lingering terrains.

The Cartography of Others is available for purchase here.

About Catherine McNamara

Catherine McNamara grew up in Sydney, ran away to Paris, and ended up in West Africa running a bar. She was an embassy secretary in pre-war Mogadishu, and has worked as an au pair, graphic designer, translator and shoe model. Her collection The Cartography of Others came out in May 2018 with Unbound. Her book Pelt and Other Stories was long-listed for the Frank O’Connor Award and semi-finalist in the Hudson Prize. Her work has been Pushcart-nominated and published in the U.K., Europe, U.S.A. and Australia. Catherine lives in Italy.

You can find Catherine on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @catinitaly and Instagram.

It’s a real delight to review children’s books as they are a far cry from the Enid Blyton ones I loved as a child. I have featured Maverick Books on Linda’s Book Bag before when I reviewed the brilliant Buttercup Sunshine and the Zombies of Dooooom by Colin Mulhern here.

This time I’m reviewing a couple of books for younger readers; The Pop Puffin by Jill Atkins, illustrated by Kelly Breemer and King Carl and the Wish by Clare Helen Welsh and illustrated by Marina Pessarrodona. Both books are part of Maverick’s Early Reader range.

The Pop Puffin

Puffin wants to be a pop singer, but he needs to find a band.

Other birds join in with Puffin’s singing.

Will it be a good show?

The Pop Puffin is available for pre-order here and will be released on 28th August 2018.

King Carl and the Wish

King Carl is at the fair. He hurls a hoop and wins one wish from a wizard!

What will King Carl wish for?

King Carl and the Wish is available for pre-order here and will be released on 28th August 2018.

My Review of The Pop Puffin and King Carl and the Wish

These two books form part of Maverick Books‘ Early Reader Series within the Institute of Education book banding system and you’ll find the full selection of books here.

Both books are beautifully produced. They are just the right size for young children to handle and have the perfect length to keep focus and attention without overwhelming. The use of repetition helps reinforce the sounds and spellings in the vocabulary and there is sufficient challenge so that new words can be learnt too. The stories are fun and interesting.

The balance of text to image is just right. The images are really lovely as colours are vibrant and eye-catching with a style children can relate to and will love. As well as promoting literacy, both book have excellent value in other areas of the curriculum. Oracy and memory are helped by the small quiz sections at the end of the books and in King Carl and the Wish in particular, numeracy and counting to five are woven throughout the story. I can envisage The Pop Puffin as a brilliant way in to project work or Forest School activities for example, as children learn about different birds.

I thought The Pop Puffin and King Carl and the Wish were just delightful. They’re fun, vibrant, educational and entertaining. This series is perfect for school or home and children will love the books.

About the Authors and Illustrators

Jill Atkins

Jill lives with her husband in West Sussex, where she loves being near the sea. She has two grown-up children and five grandchildren. She used to be a teacher and now regularly helps in her local school.

Jill has loved books ever since she can remember and often read by torchlight under the bedclothes long after her mum told her to go to sleep. She has always enjoyed writing stories, and began storytelling when her two younger brothers were small. Her first book was published over 20 years ago and she’s had more than 70 books published so far, and counting!

Kelly Breemer

Kelly is a freelance illustrator based in the Netherlands. You can find out about her work by following her on Twitter @kellybreemer, finding her on Facebook or visiting her website.

Clare Helen Welsh

Clare lives in Devon with her husband and two children. She has over ten years experience teaching in primary schools – her colleagues say she never thinks small and when Clare says ‘I’ve got a good idea!’…they usually run and hide!

It was in 2013 that Clare began putting her wild imagination to good use writing picture books. In 2013 she won The Margaret Carey Scholarship for Picture Book Writers and in 2014 she was awarded Silver Medal in the Greenhouse Funny Prize for her picture book, Aerodynamics of Biscuits.

You can follow Helen on Twitter @ClareHelenWelsh and visit her website for more information. You’ll also find Clare on Facebook.

Marina Pessarrodona

Originally from Barcelona, Marina lives in Lyon. You’ll find Marina on Facebook and Instagram and can visit her website here.

I’ve had Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey on my TBR since it was first released but never got round to reading it so I was delighted when it was chosen as our August book in the U3A reading group to which I belong.

Elizabeth is Missing is published by Penguin and is available for purchase through the links here.

Elizabeth is Missing

Meet Maud.

Maud is forgetful. She makes a cup of tea and doesn’t remember to drink it. She goes to the shops and forgets why she went. Sometimes her home is unrecognizable – or her daughter Helen seems a total stranger.

But there’s one thing Maud is sure of: her friend Elizabeth is missing. The note in her pocket tells her so. And no matter who tells her to stop going on about it, to leave it alone, to shut up, Maud will get to the bottom of it.

Because somewhere in Maud’s damaged mind lies the answer to an unsolved seventy-year-old mystery. One everyone has forgotten about.

Everyone, except Maud . . .

My Review of Elizabeth is Missing

Maud has one thing on her mind – to find Elizabeth.

A confession. Initially I wasn’t keen on Elizabeth is Missing and I don’t really know why, although I’ll say more about that later. Perhaps it was a book I wasn’t in the mood to read. However, as this was a book for my reading group and the members I spoke to were all raving about it I carried on. Before I knew what had happened I was completely absorbed in the narrative and loving every carefully crafted, poignant and perfectly placed word. I ended up thinking Elizabeth is Missing was just wonderful!

Although there’s plenty in the plot to enjoy and uncover, I genuinely felt that the plot didn’t really matter. For me, the sheer delight in reading Elizabeth is Missing was in meeting Maud, in understanding who she is and why she is!

Maud is such a magnificent creation. Her failing memory, her dementia and her determination make her someone the reader cannot help but care about. Anyone who has encountered a loved one with similar issues will find the resonances so touching and realistic. My heart went out to Helen, Maud’s daughter. I had total empathy with her as her life is affected by her mother’s illness and obsessions. I think Elizabeth is Missing could provide solace for some readers and genuine insight for others. This is such beautifully modulated writing. The fact that this is Maud’s first person account makes it all the more affecting.

The structure of Elizabeth is Missing is brilliant. The sections segue between past memories and present events seamlessly so that Maud’s reasoning is perfectly understandable, even when she is most confused. The kaleidoscopic refractions of her memories are echoed by the items she collects and manipulates, giving the reader a true comprehension of who she is, making her warm, human and genuine. I thought the way the strands of the narrative are drawn together was so skilfully crafted that I ended the book with huge admiration for Emma Healey’s writing.

Having begun reading not entirely sure I was going to appreciate Elizabeth is Missing I ended the process completely convinced that I had read a book of true quality. I even wonder if my hesitancy at the beginning was deliberately created by the author – I had my doubts about Maud in the same way those around her in the story have doubts about her memories and recollections. And she is a somewhat unreliable narrator after all. However, through accomplished and consummate writing I was drawn in to the story until I felt I was almost a part of it too.

Elizabeth is Missing is a moving, emotional book that leaves an almost physical sensation in the heart of the reader. I loved it.

About Emma Healey

Emma Healey, a former bookseller, grew up in London where she went to art college and completed her first degree in bookbinding. She then worked for two libraries, two bookshops, two art galleries and two universities, and was busily pursuing a career in the art world before writing overtook everything. She moved to Norwich in 2010 to study for the MA in Creative Writing at UEA and never moved back again. Elizabeth is Missing, her first novel, was a Sunday Times Bestseller, won the Costa First Novel Award 2014 and was shortlisted for the National Book Awards Popular Fiction Book of the Year.

You can follow Emma on Twitter @ECHealey and visit her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook, Goodreads and Instagram.

With books dropping through my letterbox and into my inbox daily, it takes one that is a little bit different to catch my attention. When Rosa Fedele contacted me about her latest book, and having featured her here on Linda’s Book Bag before when The Red Door was published, I was intrigued and had to invite her to stay in with me and tell me more!

Staying in with Rosa Fedele

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

Hi Linda. So excited to join you and your fellow book- and (I hope!) art-lovers!

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

I’ve brought along my new illustrated suspense, The Legacy of Beauregarde, that came out into the world on 10^th July!

Oh. That sounds a bit different. Congratulations and belated Happy Publication Day. What can we expect from an evening in with The Legacy of Beauregarde?

This novel is a decadent and eccentric tableau of theatre and treachery, old secrets and betrayals; exploring friendship, guilt and obsession, and slipping between characters to gradually reveal a century-old mystery.

(It sounds fascinating. Tell me a bit more.)

It’s the second in my series of illustrated novels, after The Red Door, again taking place in Australia of the past: this time the year is 1990 and we are in a leafy and delicious part of Sydney named Hunters Hill.

As I wrote the story, the characters emerged in my mind and I’d make a sketch or paint a picture to illustrate exactly what my main protagonista looked like or how I imagined the front door of The Peach Pit to be. I always invite my social media followers along on the journey, to watch the illustrations evolve from inception through to the final image.Some of these paintings were discarded, some filed away … and only sixteen made the final cut.

(What a fascinating process.)

Here’s one that nearly got scrapped but was saved and became one of my secondary characters:

(Actually, I’m thinking of asking you to leave right now Rosa. No-one should be that talented! You’re making me feel very inadequate.)

Each of my books is built around an iconic Sydney building. The Seminary was inspired by an old Abbey; as in the book it is a majestic estate previously owned by the Catholic Church. Here’s how it looked circa 1880:

And here’s my main lady, Marcela: a beautiful, empowered, tenacious, yet troubled, soul.

(That’s such a beautiful image Rosa.)

Marcela and her family have lived beside The Seminary for four generations.After twenty years of abandonment, the Gothic Revival manor, steeped in both fanciful legend and rumours of haunting, is in dire need of heavy renovations.

The building is purchased by a wealthy couple with deep personal issues, and the wife is filled with grand ideas of how to remodel it. Not only that, she has arranged to have the renovation followed by a television crew (much like an Australian version of UK’s Grand Designs or America’s HGTV).

And that’s when Marcela’s problems begin.

(I love the sound of The Legacy of Beauregarde.)

Here’s a passage from the book, wherein Marcela tells a story of The Seminary and the great storm of 1899:

“‘1899 was a terrible year for the residents of Hunters Hill: beginning with a two-month drought which hit farmers and fruit-growers hard. Hot winds blew in from the desert, and bushfires struck. For weeks after, the town was shrouded in a layer of ash and red dust; gritty powder on every surface, clouding every window and crusting the sills, the fine cinereal dust coating every jug of fresh morning milk and gritting the corner of every eye.

‘Then, a boatload of patients from the Lunatic Asylum at Tarban Creek escaped, swam to Hunters Hill and terrorised the village. Mayor Joubert advised the frightened townsfolk to barricade their doors and protect their wives and children but, despite the heightened security, the Postmaster’s daughter was found one morning, dead and disfigured, on the steps of the Post Office, right next to the Wharf. The girl’s death sent shockwaves throughout the village, and many of the wealthier residents, including Justice Manning and the Camberwells, fled the peninsula to their country retreats in Bowral and Wentworth Falls. Even the family Jeanneau closed up their home and sailed on the next ship back to Europe. The Postmaster’s daughter had scarcely been buried when fierce storms hit the eastern seaboard and flooded the entire township, torrential rains collecting the ochre dust and forming churning rivers of red, down the cobbled streets and towards the harbour. Massive landslides occurred along the coastline, the ships slipped at Mort’s Dock sustaining great damage and many homes were washed away. The only positive outcome of the inundation was that the escaped lunatics were eventually found, concealed in a coastal cave, rounded up and shot. And it was during these storms the new priest appeared – a Frenchman who they said hailed from the Abbey at Vitreux – and moved into the Tower.

‘Nobody saw him enter; one day the Tower sat empty, the next day he had taken up residence in the topmost room. “He can’t speak English,” one of the brothers hinted. Another one laughed and told him he doesn’t speak at all. “He’s a Trappist, a member of the order who believes speech disturbs a disciple’s quietude and receptivity, strict observers of contemplative silence.” Cloaked in pale grey broadcloth and silent as death, they sometimes saw him staring out at them from the west window. “Why is he here?” asked one. “He seems awfully young,” remarked another. But the Rector refused to divulge any more information about the new tenant, his meals were passed through the door twice a day and, after the initial excitement, the denizens of The Seminary stopped thinking about him altogether … until some months later, when the Grey Friar’s body was found smashed and broken in the courtyard below.’

Claudia sat motionless, her mouth open. ‘Does anyone know why?’ she asked. The apple, unfinished and starting to brown, was cupped in her hand.

‘Beatriz suggested that he got expelled from his people in France and sent out here as punishment, that his shame was so great he flung himself from the window. That was what she told me and what everyone was led to believe …’

A cloud passed over, darkening the room. Marcela frowned. It felt as though the Tower itself was objecting to her tale and had thrown a disapproving shadow across the lane.

‘… but my mother had a different story.’

She stopped talking then and gazed out at the old Red Bloodwood, swishing and swaying with the wind.”

(Brilliant Rosa. You’ve really made me want to read The Legacy of Beauregarde now.)

I’ve loved what you’ve brought so far Rosa. What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve brought a little bit of trivia:

One of my characters, Stu, is a tradie working on the site of The Seminary. He’s also a finalist in a national music competition, similar to Idol or X Factor. The song he sings Gave Up On Me was composed by Aussie musician and actor, Domenica.

And, as they read the book, readers can listen to the tune here! Cool, hey?

(Very!)

It has been wonderful staying in with you to discuss The Legacy of Beauregarde Rosa. I’m so glad you came back to the blog. Thanks for staying in with me.

Thanks so much, Linda, for having me along and allowing me to wantonly inundate your blog with art, architecture and music. I hope you all enjoy reading The Legacy of Beauregarde as much as I loved writing it and, of course, creating the illustrations. Happy reading!

Thanks Rosa!

The Legacy of Beauregarde

‘You could lose someone down there, couldn’t you?

Anyone could get buried under the concrete slab, and no one would even know!’

The Beauregarde women have lived in the shadow of The Seminary for four generations. And there is nothing conventional about Marcela, or her family.

When the decadent and obsessive Gordana acquires the iconic Sydney property and invites a television crew to film the building’s transformation into a magnificent showpiece, strangers suddenly penetrate Marcela’s world, each with a dark secret of their own.

But Marcela conceals a sinister bond which inextricably ties her to the derelict estate, holding the power to not only unravel Gordana’s grand designs, but expose bloodstained treachery, long-buried betrayals and lies.

The Legacy of Beauregarde available for purchase here.

About Rosa Fedele

Graduate of the prestigious Julian Ashton Art School and finalist in many prizes including the 2017 Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, Rosa has exhibited at NSW Parliament House and Parliament House Canberra, as well as numerous galleries and exhibitions in Australia and worldwide. Rosa has studied at the NSW Writers Centre and is a regular contributor to arts magazines where she prepares articles and comprehensive tutorials.

“I love the dramatic use of light and colour, and often veer off into the world of whimsy, painting whatever takes my fancy – whether urban scenes or vintage cars. My style is constantly changing and evolving, and I’m always looking for fresh stimulation.  I am thankful that I am able to fulfil my passion for painting and writing, and the opportunities to capture a little moment of beauty to be enjoyed by future generations.”

Her debut novel, The Red Door, an illustrated suspense set in Sydney of the past, was a fulfilment of a lifelong dream, to interweave a story with pictures and draw the reader into her own bewitching, and slightly dark-edged, world. Her next illustrated novel The Legacy of Beauregarde is out 10^th July 2018.

You can follow Rosa on Twitter @rosafedeleart and if you’d like to order your very own limited edition print or giclée, see Rosa’s web site for more details. Rosa is also on Facebook.

It’s so exciting being part of the start of a book’s life and I’m thrilled to be helping to reveal My Name is Anna by Lizzie Barber.

This enthralling debut thriller about a young woman’s quest to uncover her identity will be published by Century, Penguin Random House in e-book on 6^th November 2018, and in hardback on 10^th January 2019.

My Name is Anna

Two sisters desperate to unlock the truth. But how much will they sacrifice to lay the past to rest?

Anna is eighteen today. She has been taught by her Mamma that cleanliness and purity are the path to God. But Anna is rebelling. She’s waited her whole life to visit Florida’s biggest theme park and now she’s going against her Mamma’s wishes. So why, when Anna arrives, is she so certain she’s been there before?

Rosie has grown up in the shadow of a missing sister she barely remembers. Her parents’ relationship has been fractured by fifteen years of searching for their daughter. Now Rosie is determined to uncover the truth, however painful, before it tears her family apart…

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to read My Name is Anna!)

About Lizzie Barber

Lizzy Barber studied English at Cambridge University and works as the head of brand and marketing for a restaurant group. Her debut novel, My Name is Anna, was the winner of the Daily Mail crime writing competition and she is currently hard at work on her next thriller. Lizzy lives in London with her husband.

You can follow Lizzy on Twitter @ByLizzyBarber #MyNameIs. You can also visit Lizzie’s website.