Author Q & A Bev Spicer - Memoir of an Overweight Schoolgirl

A prequel to the Bev and Carol adventures, this is a fun and funny memoir set in the sixties and seventies, in the market town of Bridgnorth. As a young girl, Bev is not as slender as she wants to be – she likes eating Curly Wurly bars, jam doughnuts and batter bits.

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'Overweight Schoolgirl Poisoned by Lard Overload Slips into Coma'

Against the odds, she gains a place at Bridgnorth Grammar School, where she becomes interested in boys, French and netball (not necessarily in that order). Bev remembers her hometown, her teachers and her first kiss. She takes us to her first Motown disco – a mind-blowing experience of epic proportions. All of this is set against the background of her parents’ divorce, her unconventional family life and her penchant for unhealthy snacks. If you were born in the fifties or sixties, remember pineapple chunks, The Man from U.N.C.L.E and going to the cinema with sixpence in your pocket, you might enjoy Bev's brand of unsentimental nostalgia and her whimsical style of writing.

Title:  Memoir of an Overweight Schoolgirl 

Author:  Bev Spicer

Links: UK:   Amazon   US:   Amazon

Author Q&A

Today we would like to welcome Bev Spicer to our blog to talk about her latest book.

What was the inspiration behind this novel?
I wanted to write more humour as I loved working on the Bev and Carol series so much. So I thought of writing a prequel about Bev’s school days incorporating lots of 60s and 70s nostalgia.

Did you always want to be a writer? 
Not really. It was when I moved to France with my family that I started writing – finding a permanent teaching job was impossible so I just sat down at my laptop one day and found I really couldn’t get up again!

What other jobs have you had? 
I’ve been a teacher and lecturer for most of my life and enjoyed it very much. Other jobs I’ve had include secretary to the British Leyland Data Centre Manager (a woman called Pam Pell – Hi Pam x), Sunday checkout girl at Tesco, and a blackjack croupier for Playboy, London.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?
I felt exposed, amazed and delighted.

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story. 
Well, my first completed novel A Taste of Lemons, had interest from two of the three agents I submitted it to, who asked to see the full manuscript. This is a cinch, I thought. After waiting weeks and weeks, I received almost identical rejection emails stating that my novel was not ‘a good fit’ for their lists. Peeved, but undaunted, I began writing another book – Bunny on a Bike – the story of my adventures in London as a Playboy croupier. I submitted it to only one agent (submitting is a very time-consuming process), who said that memoirs about ordinary people were not viable for a publishing house. I thought this was a fair comment. Then I heard of Kindle Direct Publishing. My book was well received and I began another in the series – One Summer in France, which has done very well indeed. My third Bev and Carol adventure, Stranded in the Seychelles, was to be the last in the series. Then came the prequel…

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

Never had it. I have no problem getting the first draft down, it’s the next five or six drafts which involve savage editing and endless honing that are the biggest challenge for me.

What motivates you to keep writing?
I don’t know. I think it’s probably just an addiction.

Where is your favourite place to write? 
In my almost renovated kitchen/dining room. It’s light and has a view out onto my French garden. At the weekends my husband invades my space with power tools and DIY profanities.

Do your characters’ moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
I don’t know whether we affect each other in terms of mood, but I do know that sometimes I wish they would leave me alone and let me get on with real life.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Don’t be in a rush.

Let your writing rest for as long as you can between drafts (I have multiple ideas on the go at the same time, so I always have something to work on from day to day).

Listen to and learn from intelligent criticism but never let a crass comment get you down.

Which authors inspire you?
Margaret Atwood,
Arnold Bennett.
Annie Proulx.
These are my current favourites.

What are you reading at the moment?
(Just as I write multiple books at a time, so I read a variety of authors concurrently – my brain is a strange beast that must be fed variety.)

The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
The Perfume Muse by Alex Johnson
Prime Numbers and the Riemann Hypothesis by Barry Mazur and William A Stein

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
Memoir of an Overweight Schoolgirl would open with David Bowie being played on an over-used and entirely scuzzy Sixth Form record player, amongst coffee making paraphernalia, and it would have to be Major Tom. Second choice would be You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman Turner Overdrive.

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book? 
It would have to be the funniest actress around at the moment (to play Bev). And that would be Melissa McCarthy. How about it, Melissa?

What is your next book about?
I have a finished second draft of my next DCI Alice Candy case. The first is already available – Locked Away. It’s more of a serial than a series, in that we follow the life of Alice Candy, ticking away in the background, as a new and complete crime is presented in each book. These stories are more plot driven than my more literary novels, but I still want characters with depth and individuality. Alice is certainly making me think and keeping me awake at night, but it’s all worth it. The more a character develops, the better. 


And now think about the books you've read and just give the first one that comes into your head for our quickfire 'Which book round.'

Which book has made you:
Laugh out loud? 
Charlie Brooker’s I Can Make You Hate – it’s much funnier than it sounds…

Cry your heart out? 
I don’t cry, but books like Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood hit me right in the solar plexus.

Want to read it again?
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx – I could never tire of her genius as a writer.

Think more?
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. I wish I’d taken sciences.

Wish it would be made into a film?
I wouldn’t wish such a thing on a good book…

Shocked?
Crash by J G Ballard (now that’s a film I don’t know whether I could sit through).

Scared?
Ghost Story by Peter Straub – read on long nights between teaching equally scary students in Milton Keynes.

Thanks so much for joining us today Bev and good luck with the book.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Bev Spicer was born in Bridgnorth, a small market town in the Midlands. Her father was an Observer for the RAF and an experienced glider pilot (Bev spent many a weekend at the Midland Gliding Club, where she too learned to glide). Her mother was a local beauty queen and county hockey player, who still lives in Bridgnorth.

Bev was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, and became a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in 1997, moving to live in France with her husband and her two youngest children ten years later, where she lives in a lovely Charentaise house (in need of renovation).

She is widely read and has travelled extensively, living in Crete, where she taught English and learned to speak Greek, and in Seychelles, where she worked for the government and co-designed materials which were used to teach at secondary school level. She now writes every day and teaches English in her spare time.

Her humorous memoirs have been widely praised for their light-hearted but intelligent style, and hilarious, fast-paced dialogue. Her more literary novels and short stories have been equally well received for their complex characters, impressive prose, and imaginative settings.

You can find Bev's blog here: http://baspicer.blogspot.fr/
Her Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/1D1fiWF
She's on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BevSpice

Blog Tour Author Q & A with Laura James

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - but how strong can one person be?

Griff Hendry knows what it is to be strong. After a turbulent past, he's dedicated himself to saving lives, working as a coastguard along the breath- taking shores of Dorset. It's Griff's belief that everyone is worth saving - which is why he can't forgive his father, Logan, for what he did.
Griff's future is plunged into uncertainty when his wife, Evie, tells him she wants a separation. The revelation is a shock and leads Griff to question what Evie could possibly be hiding - and she isn't the only one holding back. Griff's troubled stepdaughter, Tess, also harbours a dark secret.
As the truth is uncovered, Griff is forced to accept that perhaps he's never understood what real strength is.

Title:        What Doesn't Kill You

Author:    Laura James

Published By: Choc Lit

Publication Date: Jan 9th 2017

Links;         Uk: Amazon  US: Amazon

We are delighted to have Laura James join us today to talk about her new book.
Welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog and Happy New Year to you and your readers.

What was the inspiration behind this novel?

Initially, with What Doesn’t Kill You, the third, but standalone book in the Chesil Beach series, I wanted to examine the dynamics of a marriage gone wrong – what caused the problem, what would it take to get the couple together, how would the family react? Then when Britain, and in particular the south west coast, was hit by dreadful storms early 2014, I had the starting point for the novel – actual storms and metaphorical storms creating havoc for the hero, Griff Hendry, a coastguard.

Did you always want to be a writer?

I’ve always adored music, reading and stationery, so I think the clues were there from an early age. I’d spend hours on my own in my bedroom, listening to my favourite bands, and drawing, writing, or colouring. I produced my own comics, I’d write alternative lyrics to well-known tunes, and I’d put plays together. It was when I was studying for my A levels that the passion really took hold. I studied English and Theatre Studies, and loved every minute, and at that time I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and was so taken with a particular sentence that I was inspired to write a poem based on that line. It had such a beautiful rhythm to it. I entered my poem into the Hastings Poetry Festival and it was highly commended. It was a long time ago, but it encouraged me to keep writing.

What other jobs have you had?

I’ve worked in Personnel for the NHS, I was once an admin assistant at a local Watford newspaper, and I’ve worked in the insurance industry. My first job was in Ladies Fashion in British Home Stores. It was a Saturday job and I earned £9.60 for eight hours work. I recall spending my first three weeks pay on a 9ct gold necklace for my mum, which has now found its way back to me. I’m also a qualified part-time youth worker, but I think I’d have to take a refresher course if I ventured into that field again. I stopped when I was expecting my own youth.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?

I remember the moment Truth or Dare? went live. I was in my car, having left the doctor’s surgery, when I checked my email on my phone and found a notification advising the book was up on Amazon. I was so excited and wanted to share the news, but I had to wait until later that day as I was busy that morning. It was difficult to focus on anything else, though.

Once I returned home and accessed my pc, the nerves kicked in. It dawned on me that my book, the story I’d written over a seven year period, was now out there for anyone to read. What if readers didn’t like it? What if friends read it? What if I let the reader down?

A wonderful writer friend reassured me, saying the publisher had faith in it and it wouldn’t have reached publication if it was sub-standard.

That was over three years ago.

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story.

Knowing I was going into hospital for surgery to my left wrist, my mum passed me Jill Mansell’s Good At Games to read. I devoured the first half while waiting to go into theatre, and finished the book the next day. I loved it so much, I read through the additional pages at the back, which included a note from Jill Mansell explaining she was a member of the Romantic Novelists Association. When I investigated the RNA further, I discovered the New Writers’ Scheme – a scheme whereby, once a year, aspiring authors could have their manuscripts read and critiqued by an established author (a full member of the RNA). Having said many times to my family that I would one day write a novel, and being laid up with a hefty back slab cast on my left arm, I decided it was the perfect time to start writing.

I was fortunate to secure a place on the NWS the following January, and submitted Truth or Dare? for critiquing later that year. It went through the scheme twice and was picked up by Choc Lit. The NWS is an excellent scheme which allows you to develop as a writer, and the critiques and the RNA are priceless. I have learned so much and met so many fabulous, genuine and generous people. It changed my life.

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

No. I’ve had times when fatigue, pain or grief have knocked the stuffing out of me and I’ve stepped back from the writing, and recently I’ve set aside a work-in-progress with which I’ve been battling for over a year because it wasn’t working, but that’s not writer’s block.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and now fibromyalgia, so I have to manage my days according to how well I’m feeling and there are days when I can’t focus or get words onto the page, but that’s just how it is. Sometimes it’s good to have a little breathing space.

What motivates you to keep writing?

I love exploring relationships and issues and writing allows me to do this. I also adore words and their rhythms, and am thrilled when readers let me know they’ve enjoyed or been touched by the themes or characters in the books – that’s fabulous motivation to keep going.

Where is your favourite place to write? ( can we have a picture)

On a warm, sunny day, I head off to a beachside café, and on other days, I write from home. My desk is in the kitchen-diner. It’s handy. Close to the kettle. And the fridge.

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

Tears were shed in the writing of What Doesn’t Kill You, and I felt guilty at what I put the characters through. I talk to my family about Griff, Evie and Tess as if they are real, and when we visit Portland, where some of the story is set, I point out the characters’ favourite places. I’m always in character when writing, so I probably am affected by their moods, but I don’t think I carry that on once I’ve finished for the day. Great question. It has me thinking. Might have to ask the family.

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

If you write, you are a writer.

Persistence is key.

Read, read, read and write, write, write.

Which authors inspire you?

Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes, Jill Mansell, Erica James, Sue Moorcroft, Julie Cohen.

What are you reading at the moment?

All That Is Left Of Us, Catherine Miller. Gorgeous read.

The Christmas Promise, Sue Moorcroft. I love Sue’s writing. Drawn right in.

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

Oo. Great question. I think it would have to be Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), as this song helped get me through a tough time and led me to think about how people overcome difficulties and how the experience has changed them.

Or would it be better at the end of the film?

I’d love to have the opportunity to find out.

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

Griff is the hero of What Doesn’t Kill You and he bears a striking resemblance to TV wildlife presenter Steve Backshall … On the actor front, Matt Damon, but he’d have to dye his hair and maybe wear coloured contact lenses. Henry Cavill would work, too.

What is your next book about?

It’s in the early stages, but I can tell you it looks at the mother/daughter relationship.

And now think about the books you've read and just give the first one that comes into your head for our quickfire 'Which book round.'

Which book has made you:

Laugh out loud?

Good at Games, Jill Mansell.

Cry your heart out?

Love and Devotion, Erica James. Comes with an emotional punch.

Want to read it again?

Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons. Studied for O level.

Think more?

The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold.

Wish it would be made into a film?

There’s No Such Thing As Immortality, Sarah Tranter.

Shocked?

My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult. Love the twist.

Scared?

The Amityville Horror. I was a teen at the time. It scared the living daylights out of me.

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book.

 Thank you for having me. I’m off to root out Cold Comfort Farm …

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Possessing little in the way of domestic skills, and with an insatiable hunger to write, Laura E. James found a much better use than cooking, for the family kitchen. Tucked neatly in one corner is her very small, but very tidy desk from where she produces character and issue driven women's fiction, short stories and flash fiction. She considers her legendary affair with stationery, the urge to smell new books, and her mum's love of reading as the catalysts for writing.

Living in and enjoying the inspirational county of Dorset, her formative years were spent in Watford, a brief train ride away from the bright lights of London. Here she indulged her love of live music, and, following a spectacular Stevie Nicks gig, decided to take up singing, a passion that scored her second place in a national competition.

Now in her formed years, Laura is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists' Association's New Writers' Scheme, a member of her local writing group, Off The Cuff, and one eighth of 2015 RNA Industry Awards Media Star of the Year winners, The Romaniacs.

With her debut novel, 'Truth or Dare?', the first standalone in the Chesil Beach Books series, nominated for the Best Romantic Ebook 2013, her second, 'Follow Me Follow You', a 2014 Lovereading.co.uk editorial selection, and her third, 'What Doesn't Kill You', the first title under the new Dark imprint, Laura writes for the award-winning Choc Lit.
For further information, go to:

www.lauraejames.co.uk
www.theromaniacs.co.uk
www.facebook.com/LauraE.JamesWriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Laura_E_James

Laura E James
Romance without the soft edges.

My Favourite Things by Anne Cater, Blogger.

Food : Savoury and Sweet

I love food!  I love trying new foods and I’m a keen cook, although I can’t bake!
My favourite savoury foods are cheese; particularly Cheddar and Brie, and anything to do with potatoes.  Chips (proper, home-cooked), mash and my all-time favourite; Jersey Royals with real butter.
My favourite sweet foods are beautifully ripe cherries; I eat pounds of them during the summer.  I also love Wagon Wheels and those chocolate snowballs with marshmallow inside.

Drink: 

I can’t even begin to contemplate the day before I’ve had a mug of strong, milky tea, preferably Yorkshire Tea, I then drink gallons of the stuff throughout the day.  I also always have a bottle of water with me.  My favourite tipple is a glass of French Rose wine, or a pint of cider.

Film: 

I love the cinema and try to go as often as possible. My all-time favourite films are varied and include Mississippi Burning, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Momento and of course, Dirty Dancing.

Book: 

Ahh, is this a trick question? I have favourite books, but for different reasons. Books often become favourites because of the memories that they hold for me.  The Thorn Birds, A Woman of Substance, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Shadow of the Wind – all of these are very special to me.

Author: 

I can’t answer this. It’s impossible. However, Enid Blyton was my first love, she introduced me to adventure. She started my journey

Character: 

Meg from the Thorn Birds and Atticus from To Kill A Mockingbird.

Song:

Music is another of my passions. Books and music defined me when I was growing up. Again, like books, different songs have different memories for me. Pink Floyd’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, Whole Lotta Rosie by AC/DC and ANYTHING by The Little Angels will make me sing ….

Holiday destination:  Our very special place is Arillas, on the North West coast of Corfu. It really feels like coming home when I arrive and we’ve made so many friends there. My little piece of paradise

Animal:

Cats.  My own two; Costa and Nero are ridiculously spoilt and very naughty, but I wouldn’t be without them.

Person:

My husband Martin – he’s my partner and my best friend. We are not a lovey-dovey romantic couple, but we laugh, we laugh a lot.

Place to read:

I can and do, read anywhere.  I really enjoy reading on the train, it’s guilt-free reading time, but laying on a sunbed, next to the pool, in Arillas is the perfect reading spot.

Season:

Spring.  I detest Winter, and the cold and snow and frost.  That first sighting of daffodils and Spring lambs really ups my mood. I love the new beginnings and the thought of the summer ahead.

Inspirational Quote: 

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace”, said by Jimi Hendrix and tattooed on my arm.

Thing in the whole world:

Being with people that I love. Laughing and sunshine.  

I’m Anne Cater, and I blog at Random Things Through My Letterbox.  I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember.  I’m also the creator of Book Connectors on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1466353170351020/ 

I live in Lincolnshire with my husband Martin and my two cats, Costa and Nero.

I work at our local Hospice part-time and also do freelance work for small publishers.

My Blog : http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annecater

Blog Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/randomthingsthroughmyletterbox/?fref=ts

Thanks for joining us on My Favourite Things Anne.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

My Favourite Things by John Mayer,

Food:

This is an easy one. I always make my wife dinner on her birthday. I’ve done it so many times I could almost do it with my eyes shut. It’s roast lamb with all the trimmings. I know I’m Scottish but this English dish is far and away my favourite. In return my wife always makes us about a week’s supply of chocolate and caramel biscuits. Yum Yum.

Drink:

Is also an easy one; but my answer comes in two parts.

When we’re living in Scotland my answer has to be Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky. When we’re living in Greece, it would have to be a long cool glass of Ouzo mixed with my own grape juice. Delicious.


Film:

Well, my answer may be predictable, but it’s honest. It’s The Godfather Part1. I’ve seen this movie so many times I know the entire script, but I still love watching it every few months or so.

Book:

Is there a better book than J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye?’ Nothing has come close to it in the 50 plus years it’s been published.

Author:

For this answer I’m going to be a bit high-brow, but I make no apologies for that. It’s Alexander the Great’s Historiographer whose name was Kalisthenies.

Character:

My favourite book character of all time would have to be Salinger’s ‘Holden Caulfield’. He’s a tragic hero who represented the decline in post-WW11 values in America. The poor boy tried to hold on to his boyhood impressions of what adulthood would be like, but inevitably fails. I screamed into the last page when I read it for the first time.

Song:

John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. In 1967 I changed my name to John after Lennon. I never utter my given name. Imagine captured all the innocence of the 60s with a backward look from the 70s. It’s reputedly also the favourite song of President Barack Obama, so I’m in good company.

Holiday destination:

Oh my favourite holiday destination is the one I’m going to next. I love to travel and always think the expectation of getting there is greater than the actual experience. If I had to choose one place though, it would be Sir Richard Branson’s island in the Virgin Islands. A bit pricey but I’ve seen it on TV and it looks amazing.

Animal:

Our dear departed cocker spaniel ‘Gromit’ lives in my heart. She sadly died very young and was my one and only pet. My wife grew up on a farm and was used to animals dying, but it slaughtered me for months when Gromit died. In her short life she did give us huge pleasure. R.I.P. Gromit.

Person:

Other than family (obviously) my favourite person would have to be my friend Adonis. He’s saved my life not once, but twice: both times at sea. What a guy!

Place to write:

I love to sit in the Central Library in Edinburgh and look over to Parliament House. I was an Advocate (Barrister) for 20 years in Parliament House; now I write about the incredible stories that have swirled around there for the last 500 years!

Season:

Autumn in Greece, when the searing heat of the summer has passed and we’re still in shorts and sandals, but it’s only 28 – 32 degrees. Positively balmy.

Tradition:

I’m often called upon the ‘Toast the Haggis’ on Burns’ Night (Jan 25th). I love to recite Burns and the Burns Supper gives me a chance to drink my wonderful Lagavulin 16 year old.

Inspirational quote:

John Lennon ‘Imagine there’s no Heaven … No Hell below us … Above us only sky.’

Thing in the whole world:

At this time of my life I’d have to say ‘writing The Parliament House Books’ of course.

I don't write for a certain number of hours per day, I write when I’m ready and not before. To be published is to be judged by history. To me that’s the most serious matter imaginable. I hope I paint the hopes and aspirations of my characters onto the page. I lose myself in my writing so it doesn’t matter whether I write here in Greece or at home in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/theparliamenthousebooks/ and say hello. I love to receive reviews from sensible people, so feel free to read and review.

Bio:

To find out more about John please visit his website

http://www.parliamenthousebooks.com/

Click below to order the books.
http://tinyurl.com/jchacen The Trial
http://tinyurl.com/nrq3vg7 The Order

Thanks for joining us on My Favourite Things

Sincerely

Book Angel x

My Favourite Things by Carol Cooper, Author

Favourite food, savoury and sweet 

I prefer savoury things to sweet, and I especially love a Middle Eastern dip called babaghanouj (also spelled baba ghanoush). It’s made of aubergine, garlic and lemons, among other things. Like my character Laure from my novels, I am half Lebanese, and this is my favourite food, eaten with proper Lebanese bread which is like pitta but more papery. If I had to choose a sweet, it would be dark chocolate, ideally Swiss. 

Drink 

Bloody Mary, please, and not too much Tabasco. Oh, is it too early? Well, just a tomato juice then. My father used to make the best Bloody Marys and they remind me of happy times. Plus I like to think they’re healthy. 

Film 

Love, Actually, for its mix of wit and sparkling dialogue. The plot is a little unlikely in places, but the film is also poignant and full of great characters. I happen to love multi-stranded stories, as you’d guess from reading my novels. 

Book 

That’s a tough one, as I’m sure many authors tell you, but I’m going to choose Cocktails and Camels by my late mother. It was her first book and she wrote it while I was a child. She kept telling me to keep quiet because she was writing. It was annoying at the time, but now I can totally understand it. Cocktails and Camels was about growing up in Alexandria, Egypt, around the time of WW2, and it’s still one of the funniest books I have ever read. I have one cherished signed copy, which is just as well as it’s out of print. 

Author 

My all-time favourite has to be Kate Atkinson. She writes books that are consistently intelligent and entertaining, yet she never fails to surprise. What’s not to love? 

Character 

Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Although she’s just a child, she’s a natural leader, and she grows in strength and wisdom during the book as she learns what’s really important in life. And the ruby slippers are irresistible. 

Song 

Summer in the City by the Lovin’ Spoonful. Or Nights in White Satin. Or maybe Purple Haze? Damn, sixties music is just so good. 

Animal 

My ginger cat Mishmish. The name means ‘apricot’ in Arabic and in Hebrew. Ginger female cats are uncommon, but not that rare.  Mishmish is the third one I’ve had. She’s very affectionate, and I think she’s quite clever too. She now has her own column in an online publication called The Property Owner, which she writes under the pen name of Lady Marmalade.  

Place to write 

In a notebook, with a pencil. It doesn’t really matter where, but I do need some quiet. Later on, I transfer my scribblings to the computer. If I can read them. 

Season

I’ve always loved summer.  You don’t need a coat, tights, or a jumper, and the long evenings make everything seem possible.  

Inspirational quote 

“You cannot predict the future,” as Stephen Hawking said.  

Thing in the whole world 

Am I allowed to say my family? It’s absolutely my favourite thing in the whole world.  

Author Bio: 

Carol Cooper a doctor, journalist, and author. After a string of parenting books and an award-winning medical textbook, she turned to writing novels. She lives in North London and Cambridge, and has three grown-up sons who haven’t turned out too badly.

Published in July 2016, Hampstead Fever is Carol’s second novel. It follows the intertwined lives of six Londoners as emotions rise to the boil one hot summer. One Night at the Jacaranda is her first novel.

Blog Pills and Pillow-Talk

Twitter @DrCarolCooper

Thanks so much for joining us today Carol.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

Mince Pies & Mistletoe at the Christmas Market

Christmas has arrived in the town of Wynbridge and it promises mince pies, mistletoe and a whole host of seasonal joy.  Ruby has finished with university and is heading home for the holidays to save up for her trip around the world in January. Against her father’s wishes, she takes on a stall at the local market, and sets about making it the best Christmas market stall ever. There’ll be bunting and mistletoe and maybe even a bit of mulled wine.
 But with a new retail park just opened on their doorstep, the market is under threat. So together with all the other stallholders, Ruby devises a plan to make sure that Wynbridge is the first port of call for everyone’s Christmas shopping needs.
 The only thing standing in her way is Ruby’s ex, Steve. It’s pretty hard to concentrate on saving the world when he works on the stall opposite, especially when she realises that her feelings for him are still there…
This Christmas make time for some winter sparkle – and see who might be under the mistletoe this year…

Title:                    Mince Pies & Mistletoe at the Christmas Market
Author:                Heidi Swain
Published By:      Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 17th November 2016
Link:                     Uk: Amazon    US: Amazon

Our Review

A lovely feel good Christmassy read.

Ruby Smith has returned home to Wynbridge after having been away studying for four years.
She has decided to go travelling in the new year and in order to earn some money she accepts a job running a stall at the Christmas market, on behalf of the Cherry Tree Cafe.
Tensions run high at home as her dad is disappointed that she is not setting her sights on a better job.
She also realises that working on the Christmas market is a tad awkward because her ex boyfriend Steve works on the next stall. Also her dad is not popular with the stall holders as he works on the council and they don't trust him.

Heidi's description of working on a market stall was very realistic as whilst it may sound romantic Ruby was actually freezing cold most of the time and relied on the hot tasty goodies from the café and warm clothes to keep warm.

Some incidents that happened in the book struck a chord with me as my little village was unable to have lights this year due to funding cuts and they decided to put a Christmas tree up where no one can see it, so I could really sympathise with the residents of Wynbridge about this.

I loved the story of Ruby and her return to Wynbridge where she uncovers some family secrets that had altered the course of her life dramatically. Also it was lovely to be able to catch up with more of Heidi's characters from The Cherry Tree cafe and Skylark farm. The home crafted gifts that Ruby was selling on the stall all sounded brilliant and I wouldn't be surprised to find that Heidi had tried them all out for herself.

Heidi Swain has created a perfect little haven for readers to get lost in for a few hours and simply enjoy. Her characters are likeable and interesting, even those involved in longstanding family feuds.
This book is full of comfort and Joy and I'm very much looking forward to her fourth book for a little more indulgence.

Sincerely
Book Angel x

About the Author

Although passionate about writing from an early age, Heidi Swain gained a degree in Literature, flirted briefly with a newspaper career, married and had two children before she finally plucked up the courage to join a creative writing class and take her literary ambitions seriously.

A lover of Galaxy bars, vintage paraphernalia and the odd bottle of fizz, she now writes contemporary fiction and enjoys the company of a whole host of feisty female characters.

Heidi can be found at the keyboard at all hours of the day and night and quite often scribbling longhand in her car during her lunch break. She lives in stunning south Norfolk with her wonderful family and a mischievous cat called Storm.

Her debut novel, The Cherry Tree Cafe, was published on July 16th, 2015 and became an Amazon bestseller.

Blog Tour - Louise Jensen - The Gift

The perfect daughter. The perfect girlfriend. The perfect murder?Jenna is given another shot at life when she receives a donor heart from a girl called Callie. Eternally grateful to Callie and her family, Jenna gets closer to them, but she soon discovers that Callie’s perfect family is hiding some very dark secrets …

Callie’s parents are grieving, yet Jenna knows they’re only telling her half the story. Where is Callie’s sister Sophie? She’s been ‘abroad’ since her sister’s death but something about her absence doesn’t add up. And when Jenna meets Callie’s boyfriend Nathan, she makes a shocking discovery.

Jenna knows that Callie didn’t die in an accident. But how did she die? Jenna is determined to discover the truth but it could cost her everything; her loved ones, her sanity, even her life.

A compelling, gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist from the author of the Number One bestseller The Sister.

Title:      The Gift

Author:  Louise Jensen 

Published by: Bookouture

Publication date: Dec 16th 2016

Links:  UK: Amazon  US: Amazon 

A breathtaking extract from 'The Gift'

Later 

Run.

It’s dark. So dark. Clouds scud across the charcoal sky, blanketing the moon and stars. Dampness fills my lungs and as I draw a sharp breath nausea crashes over me in sickening waves.

My energy is fading fast. My trainers slap against the concrete and I don’t think I can hear footsteps behind me any more, but it’s hard to tell over the howling wind.

I steal a glance over my shoulder but my feet stray onto soft earth and I lose my footing and stumble, splaying out my hands to break my fall. The side of my face hits something hard and solid that rips at my skin. My jaw snaps shut and my teeth slice into my tongue flooding my mouth with blood, and as I swallow it down, bile and fear rises in my throat.

Don’t make a sound.

I’m scared. So scared.

I lie on my stomach. Still. Silent. Waiting. My palms are stinging. Cheek throbbing. Rotting leaves pervade my nostrils. My stomach roils as I slowly inch forward, digging my elbows into the wet soil for traction. Left. Right. Left. Right.

I’m in the undergrowth now. Thorns pierce my skin and catch on my clothes but I stay low, surrounded by trees, thinking I can’t be seen, but the clouds part and in the moonlight I catch sight of the sleeve of my hoodie, which, unbelievably, is white, despite the mud splatters. I curse myself. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I yank it off and stuff it under a bush. My teeth clatter together with cold. With fear. To my left twigs snap underfoot and instinctively I push myself up and rock forward onto the balls of my feet like a runner about to sprint. Over my heartbeat pounding in my ears, I hear it.

A cough. Behind me now. Close. Too close.

Run.

I stumble forward. I can do this I tell myself, but it’s a lie. I know I can’t keep going for much longer.

The clouds roll across the sky again and the blackness is crushing. I momentarily slow, conscious I can’t see where I’m putting my feet. The ground is full of potholes and I can’t risk spraining my ankle, or worse. What would I do then? How could I get away? The wind gusts and the clouds are swept away and in my peripheral vision a shadow moves. I spin around and scream.

Run.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

 About the Author

Louise is a USA Today Bestselling Author, and lives in Northamptonshire with her husband, children, madcap spaniel and a rather naughty cat.

The Sister is Louise's debut novel and it reached No.1 on the Amazon Kindle chart in both the UK and Canada and No.1 on iBooks. Louise's second book, The Gift, will be published on 16th December 2016.

Louise loves to hear from readers and writers and can be found at www.louisejensen.co.uk, where she regularly blogs flash fiction.     


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