Author Q & A Wendy Holden - Born Survivors

Finalist in the 2015 Goodreads Book of the Year

About the Book:

Among millions of Holocaust victims sent to Auschwitz II-Birkenau in 1944, Priska, Rachel, and Anka each passed through its infamous gates with a secret. Strangers to each other, they were newly pregnant, and facing an uncertain fate without their husbands. Alone, scared, and with so many loved ones already lost to the Nazis, these young women were privately determined to hold on to all they had left: their lives, and those of their unborn babies.

That the gas chambers ran out of Zyklon-B just after the babies were born, before they and their mothers could be exterminated, is just one of several miracles that allowed them all to survive and rebuild their lives after World War II. Born Survivors follows the mothers' incredible journey - first to Auschwitz, where they each came under the murderous scrutiny of Dr. Josef Mengele; then to a German slave labour camp where, half-starved and almost worked to death, they struggled to conceal their condition; and finally, as the Allies closed in, their hellish 17-day train journey with thousands of other prisoners to the Mauthausen death camp in Austria.

Hundreds died along the way but the courage and kindness of strangers, including guards and civilians, helped save these women and their children. Sixty-five years later, the three 'miracle babies' met for the first time at Mauthausen for the anniversary of the liberation that ultimately saved them. United by their remarkable experiences of survival against all odds, they now consider each other "siblings of the heart."

In Born Survivors, now published in 21 countries and translated into 16 languages, Wendy Holden brings all three stories together for the first time to mark their seventieth birthdays and the seventieth anniversary of the ending of the war. A heart-stopping account of how three mothers and their newborns fought to survive the Holocaust, Born Survivors is also a life-affirming celebration of our capacity to care and to love amid inconceivable cruelty.

Title:               Born Survivors
Author:           Wendy Holden
Published By: Little Brown
Date:               May 2015
Link:               UK: Amazon     US: Amazon

We are delighted to welcome Wendy Holden to the blog to talk about Born survivors.

What was the inspiration behind this book?

It was luck. I was reading something online late one night about a woman who had died in Canada in her 90s. She had been a prisoner in Auschwitz – just like the three mothers in my book – and had given birth to a baby there, which had died. It occurred to me then that I have never read anything about babies born in concentration camps and my research led me to Eva Clarke and her late mother Anka. Eva lived just over one hour from me in Cambridge, England, and having spent an emotional day with her I asked if she would do me the honour of letting me write her mother’s story. She reached out, touched my arm, and with tears in her eyes said: “I have been waiting for you for 70 years.” I told her I believe her story to be unique as I had never found anything written about babies born in the Holocaust before. She told me that until 2010, she believed she was unique too but then discovered two other babies now living in America and they had since become very close. I knew then that I had to tell all three stories together in one volume spanning the war in Europe and chronicling Hitler’s attempted destruction of the Jews.

Did you always want to be a writer? 

It’s not as if I had a choice. I have written something almost every day since I was able – a diary, a poem, even a few sentences. I penned my first play when I was six. It was called The Queen’s Birthday Cake and won a competition to be staged at my school. I carry a notepad everywhere with me and there is also one by my bed to scribble ideas onto in the middle of the night.

What other jobs have you had? 

None, really. I was a journalist for 18 years and then I became an author. To pay my way through college I worked as a waitress.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?

Bittersweet. I had just lost both my parents in quick succession and they were the first people I wanted to call up and tell. When The Sense of Paper was finally published in New York in 2006, I was so excited – far more than I had been for my non-fiction books as this was all mine.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?

Never. Some days I may write better than others but I have never been unable to write.

What motivates you to keep writing?

A deep inner need to express myself. Without that outlet, I think my mind would implode.

Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa? 

When I was writing Born Survivors, I was deeply affected by the Holocaust and all its horrors even though I knew there was a happy ending. We live near the sea in Suffolk so my husband and I would take the dogs on long hikes to clear the cobwebs and get me away from the sadness.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Read, read and then read some more. Only by accumulating words, thoughts and ideas can your own brain start to sift through them and figure out what and how to put down your feelings.

Which authors inspire you?

There are far too many to choose from but all the usual suspects, along with the many wonderful poets whose work feeds my brain. I am a sucker for E.E. Cummings and for Daphne du Maurier and I’m currently rereading all the works of Charles Dickens in chronological order to chart his evolution as a writer. I am enjoying a lot of new writers and especially loved All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr last year. I also loved Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin, which was the closest I have come to the genius of To Kill a Mockingbird in a modern novel. I read a great deal of non-fiction too and love to be beguiled by the writing at the same time as learning something new, as I was with Deeper than Indigo by Jenny Balfour-Paul or pretty much anything by Simon Winchester.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells by Virginia Macgregor

A Writer’s Life by Ruskin Bond

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?

Chaconne by Sarah Chang

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book? 

Carey Mulligan or Alicia Vikander

What is your next book about?

It is a novel called The Whisper in the Stars and it tells the story of a master glassmaker who flees her homeland of the Czech Republic to escape a dark past and try to find happiness with an Englishman and their child. I am also writing a screenplay treatment for Born Survivors and working on an altruistic non-fiction project about dementia, which afflicted and ultimately killed my mother and grandmother. Life is never dull!

Thank you so much for joining us and for the fascinating insight into Born Survivors.

Sincerely
Book Angel x

Reviews:

“An exceptionally fresh history, a work of prodigious original research, written with zealous empathy.” New York Times

“A work of quite extraordinary investigative dedication… Married to (the) narrative skills, Born Survivors is a moving testament of faith.” Sir Harold Evans

“An incredible true story… In this meticulously detailed account, Holden compiles an enormous amount of information… The graphic history places readers in the moment and the story’s truth is chillingly portrayed. An engrossing, intense, and highly descriptive narrative chronicling the ghastly conditions three pregnant women suffered through at the hands of the Nazis.” Kirkus Reviews

"Holden weaves.. written, oral and recorded accounts, plus an array of historical records, into a spellbinding story of perseverance amid systematic abuse." American Jewish World

“One of the most important books of the year.” Last Word Reviews

About the Author:

Wendy Holden was a journalist for eighteen years, including a decade at the Daily Telegraph where she worked as a foreign and war correspondent. She is author and the co-author of more than thirty books, including several bestselling wartime biographies, including Tomorrow to be Brave, Till the Sun Grows Cold, and Behind Enemy Lines. She lives in Suffolk, England with her husband and two dogs and divides her time between the U.K. and the U.S.

Website and blog: www.wendyholden.com Wendy also invites you to follow her on Facebook at the.real.wendyholden, on Twitter @wendholden, at wendholden on Instagram and on Tumblr, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

The Good Neighbour by Beth Miller

After living next to the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
An addictive and gripping novel, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Daughter

Title:               The Good Neighbour
Author:           Beth Miller
Published By: Ebury Press (Fiction)
Date:               10th Sept 2015
Link:               UK: Amazon     US: Amazon

My Review

First of all I really liked the cover of this book, it was really eye-catching and would certainly draw my interest if I saw it on a shelf in the bookshop.

I found the story absolutely riveting and didn't want to put it down.

Minette and her husband Abe live in a road in Brighton with their baby girl Tilly and they are really happy to see the back of their next door neighbours who have made theirs and other neighbours lives a misery as they were always complaining about the noise etc.

Minette has been quite lonely since leaving work and is delighted to find that a lady called Cath has moved in with her two children, Davey and Lola. They quickly become close friends and Cath explains that her husband works away a lot but they skype regularly. Cath's son is in a wheelchair and her daughter suffers from allergies so Minette admires her strength at being able to cope. Cath soon becomes Minette's confidante and also persuades Minette to have time to herself and she will babysit.

It soon becomes clear that Cath is not all that she seems and as a reader we are given a glimpse of the kind of thing she is up to but Minette has to find out for herself. She also has to make some really tough decisions later on in the book when it comes to Cath's husband as when it's one word against another it is difficult to know who to believe.

I found the story totally gripping and also quite scary to see how easily some people can manipulate and some can be manipulated. Also it shows that a person who may not be easily manipulated ordinarily can become more vulnerable to it when their life circumstances have changed, such as having a young baby and craving adult company or being a child who does as they are told or even in Cath's friend Gina's case an overwhelming sense of loyalty.

My favourite characters were Minette and surprisingly Abe. Davey was my little hero and Liam was a gorgeous hunk. 

The manipulation that occurs in this book is extremely clever and the perpetrator ensures that everyone caught up in this tangled web will pay a price in one way or another.

A fast paced intelligent interpretation of manipulation at it's very best.

At the end of the book there were some interesting Book club questions and also an excerpt from Beth's other book 'When we were Sisters'

Thanks to Beth Miller and Ebury press for this copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

I have been told that I write like a tall blonde, so that's how I'd like you to picture me.

I've published two novels (more here) and a non-fiction book about The Archers (here).

Before writing books, I did a lot of different jobs. 

I worked in schools, shops, offices, hospitals, students' unions, basements, from home, in my car, and up a tree. OK, not up a tree. I've been a sexual health trainer, a journalist, a psychology lecturer, a PhD student, a lousy alcohol counsellor, and an inept audio-typist. I sold pens, bread, and condoms. Not in the same shop. I taught parents how to tell if their teenagers are taking drugs (clue: they act like teenagers), and taught teenagers how to put on condoms (clue: there won't really be a cucumber). I taught rabbis how to tell if their teenagers are druggedly putting condoms on cucumbers.

Throughout this, I always wrote, and always drank a lot of tea. I'm now pretty much unbeatable at drinking tea.

Visit Beth's page at www.bethmiller.co.uk

Author Q and A Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn

 

Ollie’s life is in crisis. Estranged from his father when he refuses to take over the family hotel, his artistic career is floundering, and his marriage is under strain. His wife, Jess, blames him, but is she as innocent as she appears?
Louise, Ollie’s sister, takes on the hotel in his absence, testing her emotional fragility to the limit. She knows her father considers her to be second best, and her husband is hostile to her new role.
As the action moves between London, Plymouth and Venice, the family implodes under the weight of past betrayals, leading to a nail-biting, fast-paced climax.
In another emotionally compelling novel from the award-winning Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn, the complex ties that both bind us to family and drive us apart are laid bare. Can Ollie heal the fault-lines before it’s too late? Above all, can he salvage his relationship with his young daughter, Flo, before tragedy strikes?


Title: The Broken Road
Author: Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn
Published By: Ravelling Books
Date: 6th December 2015

Link: Uk: Amazon Us: Amazon

Q and A with Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn

Hi Lindsay welcome to our blog today.

What was the inspiration behind The Broken Road?
I’m interested in writing about family dynamics, the ties that bind you closely to family, yet can also tear you apart. It seems to me the family has the potential to be a lovely, nurturing environment, but also a destructive force. Both my previous novels involved these tensions.

In ‘The Broken Road’, I wanted to explore the conflict between personal ambition and family duty and loyalty. What happens when an individual’s chosen path is at odds with family expectations? In today’s culture, we’re encouraged to think we can achieve whatever we want to, as long as we work hard enough. But I think the situation is more complicated, and our desires are sometimes thwarted by those who are closest to us. 

Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes, I’ve written stories since I was a child. I wrote four novels – by hand! – when I was at home with young children, although they’re still tucked away in a drawer. The demands of work and family stopped me writing for a number of years, but when I was able to, I did an MA in creative writing at Bath Spa University and I was hooked again! My first two novels have won awards, and it would be lovely to think the newly-published ‘The Broken Road’ might follow in their footsteps. Some of my short stories and flash fictions have also been successful in competitions and published in anthologies. 

What other jobs have you had?
I was an English lecturer in a further education college for a number of years. I enjoyed the teaching, but the external demands and burden of admin forced me out in the end. However, I still continue to teach creative writing part-time. When I was a student, I worked in a hospital laundry, a frozen food factory, as a Christmas post person, and a shop assistant.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?
It was a real thrill to hold my first novel in my hands. It was in 2010 – pre-kindle days – and I loved staring at its cover and stroking its pages! It’s still my favourite cover.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?
I’m not sure I believe in writer’s block. People don’t mention artist’s block or composer’s block, so why should we writers claim this as if we’re some special species? I’ve certainly had lots of times when I haven’t wanted to write, or I’ve sat at the computer and nothing would come. The only answer for me is to keep turning up at the desk. I sometimes compare it to physical exercise with my students. If you’re training for the London Marathon this year, you can’t say ‘I don’t feel like running today’; you have to get out there and run, no matter how slow or how painful the process is. For me, the same is true of writing.

What motivates you to keep writing?
That’s a particularly relevant question for me at the moment. With ‘The Broken Road’ published in December 2015, I begin 2016 without a writing project already on the go. In my blog yesterday, I complained about not knowing what I wanted to write next, or even if I want to write anything. People have been very kind and suggested I need a break, need to chill for a while or do something else. When I read the comments – all much appreciated – a little voice inside reared up at the thought of not writing, even though I’d suggested that myself. Without writing, what would happen to my imagination? What goes on in people’s heads if they’re not creating characters, making up plots? It sounds melodramatic, but I think I write because I need to – whether I want to or not!

Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
I do sometimes feel sad when my characters are lonely or depressed. But writing that makes me smile because I made the things happen which cause my characters to be lonely or depressed! It’s an interesting circle of emotion.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
· Read
· Write
· Rewrite

What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading The Farm by Tom Rob Smith. I’m not familiar with his work – apparently he wrote Child 44 which was hugely successful. It’s a psychological thriller, and I’m finding it compelling. It’s impossible to guess how it will turn out.

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
That’s an easy one. There’s a famous song by Rascal Flatts called ‘Bless the Broken Road’, and one of my ex-students sang it at my book launch. She has a beautiful voice. I loved having her sing it and would definitely use it for the soundtrack to the film.

Rascal Flatt’s version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-vZlrBYLSU

Holly Guest (my ex-student) - https://soundcloud.com/hollyguest23

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
I think I’d choose Ben Wishaw. I first came across him in a TV series called ‘The Hour’ a few years ago, but he’s in Suffragette and The Danish Girl, both films out recently. He’s the right sort of age for my character Ollie, who is tall, thin, dark-haired and edgy. I think he’d be perfect.

What is your next book about?
Ooh, that’s a tricky question! I’ve got an idea about a young Ethiopian woman who was brought out of Ethiopia when she was a child of eight and brought up in England by the white, middle-class family of the journalist who ‘rescued’ her. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but it’s a challenging project, and I’m not sure I’ve got the oomph to tackle it at the moment.

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book.
Thank you for inviting me on to your blog. I’ve enjoyed answering your questions, and I hope people who read ‘The Broken Road’ find it a good read.
www.lindsaystanberryflynn.co.uk

Sincerely
Book Angel x

About the Author

After a career teaching English in further and higher education, Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn, now works as a writer and creative writing tutor. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. Her first novel, UNRAVELLING, published in 2010, won Chapter One Promotions Book Award and The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Award for adult fiction and came second in the Rubery Book Award 2011. The judges said it is 'an enjoyable and captivating read', 'well written and intricate', and has 'a compelling narrative and strong dialogue'. Readers say 'I couldn't put it down.'
Lindsay's second novel, THE PIANO PLAYER'S SON, was published by Cinnamon Press in 2013 after winning their Novel Writing Award. A frequent comment from readers: 'I felt bereft when it finished.' Her third novel The Broken Road is out now.
   

Our Song by Dani Atkins

The stunning new emotional drama from ebook phenomenon Dani Atkins, author of Fractured.

This is the story of Ally and Charlotte, whose paths have intersected over the years though they've never really been close friends. Charlotte married Ally's ex and first true love, David. Fate is about to bring them together one last, dramatic time and change their lives forever.

Full of Dani's signature warmth and emotion, this is a gripping and emotional family drama. With breath-taking plot twists, Dani explores themes of serendipity, friendship and love. She fully engages the reader in the dilemmas faced by her characters. What would you do if your husband was the love of somebody else's life? And when faced with an agonising decision, could you put the past behind you and do the right thing?

Author: Dani Atkins
Title: Our Song
Publishers: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: Ebook 21st Jan 2016 Paperback 28th Jan 2016
Link: Uk: Amazon US: Amazon

My Review

As an aspiring writer, the advice I have heard a lot is to read more and this book is the perfect example of why you should do that. It's so beautifully written, each sentence is a work of art, like brushstrokes which join together to create a glorious painting and I am totally in awe of this author. I can't think of a better way to spend New Year's Day than reading this book so that's what I did.

The first part of the book is shocking as we find out what happens to two men who have never met but both end up in hospital, it is when their wives meet in the relatives' room that we find out how they are indirectly linked.

Ally is married to Joe and Charlotte is married to David, but David was Ally's first love, this brings out Charlotte's insecurities, however with both men in intensive care the two women realise they will need to put their differences aside for now and support each other through this difficult time.

The story is told from the women's point of view and as events happen we are taken back to the memories of when they first met the men they love and what happened to make them fall out with each other.

The twists and turns managed to shock me and make me cry, the agonising wait in intensive care wards was described so accurately that the pain felt tangible. The heartbreak is intensified by sacrifices which need to be made.

The characters were all very likeable although Ally was a bit hotheaded at times but her actions were understandable. I loved Max who didn't have a huge part but it was an important one.

I really don't want to give anything away about the plot because that would just spoil it but suffice to say I thoroughly recommend this book which has been so cleverly and carefully created and manages to capture the strength of the feeling of love so beautifully.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dani at an event in December and she is a lovely lady who deserves much praise for this excellent novel.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Dani Atkins was born in London in 1958, and grew up in North London. She moved to rural Hertfordshire in 1985, where she has lived in a small village ever since with her family. Although Dani has been writing for fun all her life, Fractured was her first novel. She has since written The Story of Us.

Author interview and Festive Fun Facts with Isabelle Broom

My Map of You by Isabelle Broom will be published on the 21st April 2016. Available to pre-order now.

About the Book

Holly Wright has had a difficult few years. After her mother's death, she's become expert at keeping people at a distance - including her boyfriend, Rupert.
But when Holly receives an unexpected letter explaining that an aunt she never met has left her a house on the Greek island of Zakynthos, the walls she has built begin to crumble. Arriving on the island, Holly meets the handsome Aidan and slowly begins to uncover the truth about the secret which tore her family apart.
But is the island where Holly really belongs? Or will her real life catch up with her first?

Title:     My Map of You
Author: Isabelle Broom
Published By: Penguin
Date:      April 21st 2016
Link: Amazon Available to pre-order now

Author Interview with Isabelle Broom

We are delighted to welcome the lovely Isabelle Broom to our blog today to tell us a little about her brand new book which is due to be published in April. We even managed to squeeze in some Fun festive facts.

How did it feel when you first got the news that your book was being published? 
Thank you! To be honest, it all felt very surreal. It all happened quite quickly after the manuscript went out on submission, so I felt a bit like my head was spinning! But it was just so amazing, and it still is. I called my mum straight away and she was so happy that she cried – that was a special moment.

Your first book is called My Map of You, what was the inspiration behind this novel? 
I always wanted to write a book set in Zakynthos, because I see the island very much as my second home and I have such a strong connection to it. Holly’s story very grew from the setting, and the island is a character in itself. My aim going forwards is always to make my various settings just as vital as the characters, because it’s so often the place that is the crux of the story. 

Did you always want to be a writer? 
Yes! I have been writing stories for as far back as I remember. My mum has notebooks full of my ramblings. Writing, to me, is the only thing in the world better than reading. It’s a magical process. 

Apart from Book Reviews Editor at heat magazine, what other jobs have you had?
I’ve worked in many bars and restaurants over the years, but I’ve been in the media industry since leaving university. I started at a local paper, where I was a junior sub editor, then eventually joined heat and worked my way up to my current position. 

Do you feel that reviewing books for Heat magazine has helped you to gain an insight into what readers are looking for in a book? 
It’s certainly afforded me the opportunity to read a far wider range of genres, and I’m a firm believer in the more you read, the better writer you become. I think that each reader is unique when it comes to what they’re looking for in a book, so I would always approach my own work in an open-minded way. A fellow author once told me that you should aim to write the sort of books you want to read, and I’ve always held on to that. 

What is a typical day like for you at the office? 
Well, as well as being the Book Reviews Editor at heat, I’m also the Deputy Production Editor, and so most of my day involves reading and subbing the pages of the mag. I tend to get around ten-to-fifteen books in the post every day, too, so I spend time entering new titles into the planner and working out which ones I want to review. There are always heaps of emails to be answered, too, and at lunchtimes I try to get out of the office and work on my own book. 

How do you manage to juggle writing with a full-time job? 
You just do. I mean, you really have to want to write, because it can be tricky motivating yourself when you’re exhausted, but for me it’s never been too much of an issue. I write on the bus to work, at lunchtimes, during any downtime I have and in the evenings, too. Weekends are great for nailing bigger chunks and editing what I’ve done during the week. It’s amazing how much you can get done if you just try to write a bit every single day.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it? 
Only very occasionally, to be honest, and I feel very lucky about that fact, because I know some writers do struggle with it. I usually find that a nice walk with the dog can give me the thinking time I need to push past any mental blockage.

What motivates you to keep writing? 
There’s nothing I enjoy more, it’s as simple as that. Even if I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a book deal, I’d still be writing every day. 

Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa? 
Oh, definitely. I went through a period of horrible, debilitating heartbreak earlier this year, and I certainly harnessed those emotions and fed them back into my characters. Hopefully they have become far more real as a result. I’ve never been affected by their moods per se, but I do begin to see them as real people and when they’re crying, I’m generally crying, too.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer? 
1) Write. It sounds so simple, but it’s the best advice. Nobody is going to write a book for you. Try to get some words down every day.
2) Read lots of books! Every single one will enrich and inspire you, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
3) Be honest. I always think the best writing comes from the heart. Don’t be afraid to share what you feel and what you’ve been through, even if you’re scared – it will add huge amounts of depth to your work.

Which authors inspire you? 
All of them. Writing a book takes passion, determination and a lot of hard work. They all deserve medals! I’m always inspired by authors who aren’t afraid to take risks and do something different and exciting. Just look at JK Rowling! She had so many rejections and never gave up. It’s hard to imagine a world without Harry Potter now, isn’t it? She’s amazing, brave and incredibly talented. 

What are you reading at the moment? 
Frazzled by Ruby Wax. It’s all about mindfulness and it’s brilliant! She’s a great writer and so witty, but almost unflinchingly honest. I’m also reading about Prague on a daily basis at the moment, as it’s the setting for my next novel.

If your book was made into a film, what song would you choose for the opening credits? 
What an amazing question! Well, I guess I would have to opt for something Greek with a plinky-plonky guitar. Zorba The Greek? Or anything by McFly, because I love them. 
Click here for Zorba the Greek dance

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
That’s easy – it would be Aidan Turner (aka Poldark) playing my Aidan. They have tallness, Irishness and handsomeness in common. Swoon… 


What do you hope readers will take away with them from your book? 
My Map Of You is very much a story about being true to who you really are and learning to accept that person. I fully believe that people are responsible for their own happiness – you can’t rely on another person to make you happy – and until you work out how to do that, you can’t be in a proper, honest relationship. I would like readers to go on the same journey as Holly, my central character, does, and stop being so hard on themselves. We are all unique and lovable, but so often we put pressures on ourselves that we never would on anyone else. Learning to be happy in your own skin is what it’s all about. 

I'm so excited to have won a competition to have a character named after me in your next book, can you tell us anything about it? 
The finer details are still secret at the moment, but I can tell you that the story will revolve around three couples that are all in very different stages of their lives and their relationships. They all come together in Prague and what happens over the course of five days changes all their lives forever.

Thanks for a fantastic insight into your world and now for some festive fun facts;

Festive Fun Facts

How will you be spending Christmas this year? 
Writing! It sounds like a cliché answer, but I have a deadline looming and really need to write every single day. I’ll be doing so at my parents’ house, though, surrounded by cats, dogs, family and lots of food! 

What is your favourite Xmas movie? 
Home Alone is a classic – and Love Actually is a big guilty pleasure of mine. I have to watch that every year, mostly to see Hugh Grant’s amazing dance routine. 


What is your favourite Xmas book? 
The Snowman. It has everything! And my mum met Raymond Briggs years ago and says he was an absolute gent. 


What is your favourite Xmas song? 
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, or Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree. I haven’t listened to enough Christmas music this year – must try harder! 

Click here to watch the video


What is your favourite Xmas memory?
Last year, my sister bought my younger brother a giant inflatable dinosaur for Christmas and blew it up before she wrapped it. That was some sight under the tree, I can tell you! I haven’t laughed so much in years.

Thanks you so much for joining us today Isabelle wishing you a very merry Christmas and lots of luck with your book which will be published in April next year. X x x

Sincerely
Book Angel x

About the Author

Isabelle Broom was born in Cambridge nine days before the 1980s began and studied Media Arts at the University of West London before starting a career first in local newspapers and then as a junior sub-editor at heat magazine. She travelled through Europe during her gap year and went to live on the Greek island of Zakynthos for an unforgettable and life-shaping six months after completing her degree. Since then, she has travelled to Canada, Sri Lanka, Sicily, New York, LA, the Canary Islands, Spain and lots more of Greece, but her wanderlust was reined in when she met Max, a fluffy little Bolognese puppy desperate for a home. When she's not writing novels set in far-flung locations, Isabelle spends her time being the Book Reviews Editor at heat magazine and walking her beloved dog round the parks of north London.
You can follow her on Twitter @Isabelle_Broom or find her on Facebook under Isabelle Broom Author.

Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper by Debbie Johnson

You’ve seen Mark Darcy in the reindeer jumper his mother gave him, now meet Marco Cavelli in this season’s Christmas knit!

For single mum Maggie, Christmas has always been a family occasion – her daughter Ellen filling the house with her bubbly warmth and mistletoe, her dad Paddy having one too many festive tipples, and the traditional family Christmas tree looking like a drunken elf vomited a rainbow all over it.

But this year, with both Ellen and Paddy away for the holidays, Maggie’s facing a truly blue Christmas – alone with nothing but a bottle of Baileys and an M&S turkey dinner.

Until walking the snowy streets of Oxford, Marco Cavelli quite literally crashes into her life – and, complete with broken leg, becomes her unexpected houseguest. All dreamy brown eyes and 6’5” of gorgeousness, the man is hotter and more delicious than a freshly baked mince pie.

Though Maggie always thought it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you never kiss a man in a Christmas jumper?

The next FABULOUS book from Debbie Johnson, author of best-selling Christmas number one, ‘Cold Feet at Christmas’ and the summer hit ‘Pippa’s Cornish Dream’.

Author: Debbie Johnson
Title: Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper
Publishers: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: 5th Nov 2015
Link: Uk: Amazon US: Amazon

My Review

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the title which I thought was really witty and when I received the book I loved the jolly cover, then I found out that Debbie Johnson was from Liverpool as am I so that was the cherry on the top.

The overall feeling I got from this book was one of warmth. It's a lovely story about a lady called Maggie who has brought her daughter Ellen up single handedly, although she luckily has always had the support from her own dad. Becoming a teenage mum complicated her life in more ways than one but she had a lovely relationship with her now eighteen year old daughter who was becoming more independent and grown up every day. 

Maggie was quite content with her lot until she quite literally bumped into Marco, a handsome American man, causing him to fall off his bike and break his leg, she feels so guilty that she reluctantly allows his sister- in-law to persuade her to look after him until Christmas. She has no intention of falling in love but being in close proximity to this hunk of a man she realises he is stirring feelings up that she had never had before, especially during the moment when she is taping his leg up so he can have a shower...Phew even I could feel how hot it was getting in there.

I loved the relationship that Maggie had with all the brides who's dresses she made so perfectly and the fact that they invited her to their weddings showed how highly they thought of her.

The relationship with Marco provides Maggie with a taste of happiness but also dredges up something from her past that she feels will cause him pain in the future. Will Maggie let Marco convince her that she definitely should kiss a man in a Christmas jumper? Read this fabulous festive and touching story to find out.

Huge thanks to Harper Impulse and Debbie Johnson for the review copy.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Debbie Johnson lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.She writes romance, fantasy and crime - which is as confusing as it sounds!

Her first humorous contemporary romance, Cold Feet At Christmas, a seasonal tale of snow-bound fun, was released by HarperImpulse last year, and became an Amazon top ten best-seller. Her latest, Never Kiss A Man In A Christmas Jumper, is out now. 

You can also find her supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, featuring Liverpool PI Jayne McCartney, on Amazon, published by Maze/Avon Books.

Debbie also writes urban fantasy, set in modern day Liverpool. Dark Vision and the follow-up Dark Touch are published by Del Rey UK, and earned her the title 'a Liverpudlian Charlaine Harris' from The Guardian.

You can find out more at www.debbiejohnsonauthor.com, or at www.facebook.com/debbiejohnsonauthor

Chickens Eat Pasta - Author Q&A with Clare Pedrick

Chickens Eat Pasta is the tale of how a young Englishwoman starts a new life after watching a video showing a chicken eating spaghetti in a mediaeval hill village in central Italy. Unlike some recent bestsellers, this is not simply an account of a foreigner's move to Italy, but a love story written from the unusual perspective of both within and outside of the story. As events unfold, the strong storyline carries with it a rich portrayal of Italian life from the inside, with a supporting cast of memorable characters. Along the way, the book explores and captures the warmth and colour of Italy, as well as some of the cultural differences - between England and Italy, but also between regional Italian lifestyles and behaviour. It is a story with a happy ending. The author and her husband are still married, with three children, who love the old house on the hill (now much restored) almost as much as she does. Chickens Eat Pasta is Clare's autobiography, and ultimately a love story - with the house itself and with the man that Clare met there and went on to marry. If you yearn for a happy ending, you won't be disappointed. It's a story that proves anything is possible if you only try.

Q&A with Clare Pedrick

Hi Clare and welcome to Sincerely Book Angels
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
Well first of all, in the very strict sense of the word, this isn’t a novel. My publisher bills it as a travel memoir, and it is sometimes classified as an autobiography, which makes it sound rather heavy and pompous, which is definitely not the case. In actual fact, Chickens Eat Pasta is my story, the tale of how I bought an old ruin in a remote part of central Italy as a young woman, and the love story that ensued – with the house itself and with a man I met there. Having said that, I went to great pains to write it more as a novel, with supporting characters and quite a bit of suspense. I would say the book is 95 per cent based on true facts, but I tried very hard not to make it too self-centred, and some of the other characters are so much larger than life that they almost take over the story at certain points.

Did you always want to be a writer?
In a sense I always have been a writer, because I earn my living as a journalist, and that’s a job I have done ever since I left university. Although of course, depending on your point of view, you may say journalists are not writers at all, but just hacks! As I soon found out, writing a novel, or travel memoir, or whatever you want to call it, is very different from writing an article for a newspaper, and a great deal more challenging. Though I never imagined it would be quite as demanding until I actually sat down and tried. The minute I bought this beautiful old house in Umbria, I realised that I would absolutely have to write a book to tell the story. As things turned out, it was to be a long time before I finished the book and got it published, and by then, events had taken over and it had turned into a love story, as well as the tale of my adventures in this spectacular, but very isolated part of Italy, where time has really stood still.

What other jobs have you had? 
As I said, I have been a journalist ever since I left university, although thinking carefully, that’s not completely true. Getting my first job on a newspaper was no easy task, and while I was waiting for my big break, i.e. for an editor to take me on as a trainee reporter, I needed to make some money to keep body and soul together. Then a job offer came from a very unexpected quarter. I was living in a rented cottage with my boyfriend on a gorgeous but quite out-of-the way farm estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with moat and peacocks in the grounds. And one day the owner told me that a Chinese man who rented a warehouse on the estate wondered if I’d like to work for him growing beansprouts! This Chinese guy was a real techie and had rigged up an ingenious electronic timer system that ensured his beansprouts were automatically watered at exactly the right time every few hours. My job was to keep an eye on all the switches and then harvest and pack the sprouts once they were ready and drive him and his beansprouts to Chinese restaurants to deliver them. I remember he was always invited in to lunch, and I was made to sit in the van while they brought some Chinese food out for me in a polystyrene dish. I was over the moon when a big newspaper group based in Bedford finally took me on and I was able to leave the beansprouts, and the unfriendly Chinese restaurant owners, behind.

The other job I do, as an (unpaid but hugely enjoyable) sideline to my journalism, is organising riding holidays here in the beautiful Umbrian countryside. I’m a qualified guide and take groups out for treks up into the rolling hills here, and although it’s extremely time-consuming, it’s a wonderful contrast to the hours spent sitting in front of a computer screen.

Lake Piediluco where I kept my rowing boat

How did it feel when your first novel was published?
Well of course I was extremely happy. I think any author gets a tremendous kick out of seeing their book in print at last, and I was particularly thrilled with the cover, which looked better than I had ever dared to hope. It’s taken from a beautiful watercolour of my house, done by a very dear childhood friend called Colleen MacMahon, so it meant a great deal to me to have it as the cover. But I also felt rather vulnerable when the book came out, and perhaps a little foolish. I suppose that’s because a very important part of my life is laid bare in the pages of Chickens Eat Pasta, and I have always been quite a private person. Luckily, people have been extremely warm and genuinely appear to have enjoyed reading my story. But when you write a book and put it out there for public consumption, you really are sticking your head above the parapet. That’s something I hadn’t bargained for, and it’s taken quite a bit of getting used to.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?
I’ve never suffered from fear of the blank page, or writer’s block in any form, and I think that’s probably because of what I do for a living. When you are a journalist, there is no question of sitting and waiting for inspiration. You have an allotted word count to fill, and a very strict deadline to meet, and however you are feeling, you just have to get on and get the story out. So when it came to writing my book, finding the words was never an issue. What certainly was problematic was finding the time and the peace and quiet that I needed to immerse myself in the story and do it justice as a writer. I have a husband and three children, so there was always a lot going on and the house could become pretty noisy. I would often get up early to work on the book before anyone was awake, especially in times like the Christmas holidays. But at a certain point, I think you just have to make a commitment to finishing a book, or at least to writing a certain number of chapters so that you can then start touting it to publishers. Otherwise, there will always be a hundred reasons for being distracted and the book just remains a dream in the back of your head. I know so many people who have had an idea for a book, but have never managed to get as far as writing The End. That’s a great shame, as it’s an extraordinarily satisfying experience.

Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
Oh very definitely! I should first explain that although on the surface, Chickens Eat Pasta sounds like the classic formula of foreigner-moving-to-another-country, in the vein of Under the Tuscan Sun, it’s not like that at all. For a start, there is nothing at all sugary about the way I have presented my experiences. On the contrary, I had some very difficult times, probably because I was only 26 and all on my own -- very unusual in that part of the world – so I was seen as easy prey by some people. When I was writing about some of these episodes, especially the charmless father and son who tried to cheat me out of part of my property, I felt my anger and disgust brimming over. Luckily, I also made some extraordinarily generous friends in this tiny mediaevel hill village, and they protected me and looked out for me in a way that I could never have imagined. Writing about them always brought a smile to my face, especially Ercolino and Angela, an Italian and his English wife who virtually adopted me as their own daughter – my own parents were dead – and saved me from countless scrapes, but always with great warmth and humour.

My house now

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Quite simply, I would say if you have an idea for a book, then make a start, be determined and carry on writing whatever the distractions. And finally, make sure you get it published. These days, with self-publishing, it’s so much easier that there’s really no excuse for not getting your book out there. If you can’t afford all the bells and whistles offered by some of the self-publishing companies, then you can turn out a very decent DIY product as an ebook for a trifling investment. Of course in all cases, there is a massive amount of work to be done after publication, in terms of marketing and running social media campaigns, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. But if you really are determined, becoming a published author has never been easier.

Which authors inspire you?
I love the travelogue style of Bruce Chatwin, H.V. Morton and Eric Newby, amongst others. The latter two wrote about Italy and I am a particular fan of Eric Newby’s Love and War in the Appenines. It’s the story of how Newby was captured while serving in the Special Boat Service in Italy in 1942. He remained a prisoner-of-war until 1945, but in the end he managed to escape, with the help of a young Italian woman called Wanda and her family. I hope I’m not spoiling the story by telling you that he goes on to marry Wanda. It’s a fantastic book that I never tire of reading. In fact, it’s time I read it again.

The village that became my second home

What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading The Violet Hour by Katherine Hill. It’s the story of how a relationship that seemed perfect unravels and falls apart, which I think is a very interesting theme, as I’ve noticed that couples who seem to have the ideal marriage often have dark secrets. On the whole, the book isn’t as enthralling as I had hoped, but I have decided to stick with it, though I have long ago decided that if a book doesn’t engage me – if I don’t actually care about the characters – then I’ll simply put it down. I’m making an exception in this case because the author paints an incredibly vivid portrait of marital infidelity by the leading female character, and it’s really very compelling indeed.

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
I love Ludovico Einaudi. He’s an Italian composer and pianist who writes and plays the most haunting songs. He’s done quite a few concerts in England, for example at the Royal Albert Hall, and I think if you heard his music, you might well recognise it. Quite a few of his songs have been used as film scores, so I’m sure I would be on the right track here. I’d like to think that he’d write a special one just for my film, but if not, Divenire (Becoming) would do very nicely. You can find it on YouTube here, so I strongly suggest you and your readers listen to it. It sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it.

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
As you may already have guessed, my favourite character is Ercolino, which isn’t his real name by the way, although it’s not that dissimilar. Ercolino is quite simply unique, so finding someone to project his very unusual mix of warmth, generosity and ability to work himself up into a frenzy at the drop of a hat – usually because of something I had done to infuriate him, such as order a cappuccino at the wrong time of day – would be quite a tall order. Whoever it is would have to have those laugh lines around his eyes, as Ercolino’s eyes virtually disappear into the rest of his face when he smiles, which is very often. He’d also have to be extremely small, as Ercolino only comes up to my shoulder. Dustin Hoffman would be perfect, or maybe Robert de Niro, though of course it should really be an Italian actor. I’m glad to say that Ercolino is still around, and he still gets cross with me and starts spouting torrents of malapropisms, the more worked up he gets. For some reason, he always speaks to me in English, and he loves telling me that I drive him ‘up the bend’ or that I’m a ‘bloddy pain in the harse’. You couldn’t have invented him if you tried.

Ercolino with Mamma outside their house

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book.
It’s been a great pleasure. Thank you so much for having me!
Click here to purchase

Sincerely
Book Angel x

About the Author

Clare and House

Clare Pedrick is a British journalist who studied Italian at Cambridge University before becoming a reporter. She went on to work as the Rome correspondent for the Washington Post and as European Editor of an international features agency. She still lives in Italy with her husband, whom she met in the village where she bought her house.