Aldo Moon and the Ghost at Gravewood Hall by Alex Woolf

‘It was a dark and stormy night I began. The skies were racked with thunder that rolled in waves across the valley. Lightning forked through the dismal clouds and lit up the trees in brief, angry flashes.’

Actually, it was a beautiful evening. The only celestial illumination was provided by the moon, which shone through wisps of London fog, falling silkily on our rug. But that didn’t seem right for my story, which was to be in the gothic tradition and so required a more violent kind of weather.

Published by Scribo February 2013

240 pages

Summary from Hive.co.uk

Introducing Aldo Moon: abandoned at birth, raised at the Foundlings Hospital in London, then adopted by the well-to-do Carter family at the age of seven. The young psychic detective is always on the outside. Flamboyant, eccentric and a touch wild, Aldo has the ability to pick up 'ripples in the ether', which he uses to investigate intrigue and mystery in Victorian England. He is accompanied on his many adventures by the intrepid Nathan Carter, the story's narrator, and the prim arch-sceptic Lily Morelle. In this, their first case, the trio investigate the mysterious nightly noises at a rotting country house in the dead of winter. With the help of his companions, Aldo gradually uncovers a gripping, sinister secret at Gravewood Hall.

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

The story is told by Nathan Carter about the crime –solving exploits of his adopted brother, Aldo Moon – in the manner of Dr Watson writing about Sherlock Holmes. The narrator directly addresses the reader and uses deliberately old-fashioned vocabulary to match the Victorian era in which it is set. 

Along with uncovering the central mystery, the reader will learn about 19th century servants, divorce law and inheritance. The author clearly knows a great deal about the Victorian era and he contrasts scientific attitudes with more spiritual ideas through the different characters and events. The conflict between rationalist and psychic points of view is as relevant now as it was in the 19th century – and in this story, there is both deductive reasoning and apparently supernatural activity.

Alex Woolf has made an interesting mash-up of a traditional crime thriller and something more eerie. The result will suit the reader who seeks something like Wilkie Collins or Dickens. It is full of gruesome revelations set in a richly detailed, claustrophobic world. 

I should warn buyers that the title and the publisher’s summary suggest a relatively young readership. The cover, by David Proctor, which is very attractive with its unusual scrawly typeface and striking Gothic artwork, also looks suitable for the 9+ market .But some of the themes and scenes are definitely YA and could upset a more sensitive reader.

You will enjoy this if you are a confident reader fond of complex historical mysteries with a touch of the macabre.

The Big Break with D.J. McCune

I’m pleased to welcome debut author D. J. McCune, author of Death and Co, published by Hot Key Books this May, to talk about her big break into the publishing world.

1) I would love to know a little about your writing journey. What did you do before writing books?

I always loved writing stories even as a kid but it’s only in the last three years I started to get serious about it. Jobwise I was a TEFL teacher in Japan, a chalet girl in Switzerland, a residential social worker in a children’s home and a teacher. Working abroad helps you get ideas for books and learn more about what makes people tick – plus most of my working life has been spent with teenagers so it’s natural that I write about and for them. I’m able to observe them on a daily basis!

2) Your debut book, Death & Co. has just been published. How did you spend publication day?

It was a really strange day – the day that everything happens and nothing happens. I spent most of the afternoon  mooching about, not really settling to anything but enjoying the congratulations – including a beautiful bunch of flowers from my publisher Hot Key. I have lots of publicity type events over the next few weeks but publication day itself was quiet – the calm before the storm!

3) How does it feel to finally have your name on a book?

It’s brilliant! Only someone who’s a lifelong book lover can understand what it feels like to see your name on a gorgeous book cover. It’s a long journey – in fact I call my blog Notebook to Novel because when I started it I was an unpublished writer and it charts the ups and downs of getting from the scribble stage to the finished book.

4) Death & Co. is the first book in the series. How many will be in the series altogether?

There will be at least 3. Hot Key acquired it as a trilogy but in my head there were always more books. There are so many characters and I find the Luman world so fascinating I could just write and write about it! J 

5) Can you tell us a little bit about the book for my readers who have yet to set eyes on such a delight?

Death & Co is about Adam Mortson, a 15 year old boy who longs for a normal life – but can’t have it. He’s from a family of Lumen, humans who guide the souls of the dead into the afterlife. The book is really about Adam’s struggle to balance the demands of two very different worlds – the Luman world and his life at school where he hangs out with his geeky mates and struggles to pass exams and get his first girlfriend. He’s trying to live two lives at once without feeling totally comfortable in either the Luman world or the ‘normal’ world. Most people can identify with that at some point in their lives – feeling like you’re playing a game where you don’t actually know the rules! Adam isn’t a conventional teen / YA hero – he’s more of a geeky anti-hero than a slick romantic lead – but he has his own charm.

6) Where did you get your inspiration from for it?

Odd as it sounds – I was writing an email to a friend! I had a rotten cold and started writing, ‘I feel like death.’ Somehow this didn’t seem strong enough to convey my suffering so I wrote, ‘I feel like death’s ailing granny.’ When I wrote those words I felt a kind of mental PING; something around the idea of death having a family. I started writing Death & Co. there and then – and the rest is history J

7) How long did it take you to write?

I’m very much a ‘fits and starts’ writer by nature – I wrote for a couple of months, then took a few months off, then started writing again to finish the book. I’m not always the most disciplined person and I was working full time – plus I was pregnant and renovating a house! I used to sit and write in rare quiet moments – lunchtime at work, late at night; whenever I could squeeze it in really.

8) What was your first reaction when you found out your book was to be published?

Satisfaction – and huge excitement obviously. I’d had a good feeling about the book but it’s different to anything else I’ve read so it was always going to be a gamble for publishers (and publishers are notoriously risk averse!)  My lovely agent Gillie Russell had a good vibe from Hot Key Books – she just felt that Emily Thomas my editor ‘got’ the book right from the start – and she was right. 

9) Were you given any good writing advice that you would like to share with my readers?

Less advice and more what I’ve picked up along the way. Follow the idea wherever it takes you. Don’t edit at the start – jut get it down (every time I get stuck writing it’s because I’m trying to be too clever and get it all down pat first time). Let your characters lead the way. Write as often as you can. And if you’re serious about being a writer – persevere. If you quit at the first hurdle you’ll never see your name on a book cover.

10) Did you find it easy to get an agent?

Actually yes – but there was a bit of serendipity in the whole thing. I attended a writing class in the town where I live and my tutor Bernie McGill was impressed with some writing I showed her. She asked her agency if they could recommend a good agent for teen fiction – and by a quirk of fate they had just taken on my agent Gillie Russell. I sent her a sample… and the rest is history. (If you read my blog you’ll see this took place over a period of months, not overnight. Agents really are busy, busy people – plus I broke all the rules by sending my sample chapters before I had finished the book!)

11) Who is the one person that cheered you on and supported you through your writing?

It’s really tough picking only one person. Bernie and Gillie were both heroes but picking one with a gun to my head I would have to say my husband Colm. He’s a journalist and academic and he understands how tough it is to work on massive projects and put yourself out there with your work under scrutiny. He was always supportive, even when I was writing during dinner or late at night, usually singing along (badly) to my music playlist…

12) What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on the sequel to Death & Co. – part 2 of the trilogy. I’m really enjoying getting to know the characters more – and revealing a whole lot more about the Luman world. Book 1 was just the tip of the iceberg. Book 2 gives a lot more insight into the quirks of Luman life, especially for the female characters – but you’ll also get to read about Coming of Age for male Lumen – and it’s pretty painful! It’s also nice to see Adam getting slightly better at the whole romance thing. Let’s face it – he can’t get any worse.

Book Summary

Adam is a Luman, and it runs in the family. Escorting the dead from life into light, Adam must act as guide to those taken before their time. As his older brothers fall into their fate however, Adam clings to his life as a normal kid - one who likes girls, hates the Head and has a pile of homework to get through by Monday morning. When Adam gets a terrible premonition he realises that he must make a devastating choice, risking his life, his family and his destiny

To find out more about D.J. McCune:

Facebook / Twitter / Hot Key Books

There are two comps running through Movellas at the minute, one creative writing (on afterlife theme) and a brilliant one for graphic artists - looking for the official Death & Co artist (prize is a MacBook Air with complete Adobe Creative suite!!!). All details on the FB page

Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Book Covers Of Books I Have Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme organised by The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s topic is favourite book covers of books that I’ve read. I have struggled to limit myself to ten!

1) Die For Me by Amy Plum

I fell in love with cover before I even knew what the book was about! It’s my all time favourite cover. I’ve really enjoyed this series and I still have the final book to read. I’ll be sad when it finishes.

2) Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

There is something utterly magical about this cover. A series I’ve really enjoyed and still Book 3 to read.

3)Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones

 

Sadly I loved the cover more than I loved the book. I was attracted to the snow globe with it’s miniature world inside it.

4) Witch Song by Amber Argylle

I fell in love with the cover before I bought the book. I wanted it so badly, I bought the US version and had it imported.

5) The Apothecary’s Daughter by Charlotte Betts

This photo doesn’t do this cover justice. Up close, it reminds me of one of those old sweet shops with all the little jars full of tasty goodies.

6) Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

Another series I fell in love with when I saw the cover first. A brilliant series which I’ve nearly finished. All the covers are stunning, but this is by far my favourite.

7) The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner

I love this old fashioned black and white print. I wanted it as a poster but never managed to find one.

8) Starters by Lissa Price

I just loved the whole design of this cover. I can’t wait to see what the sequel looks like. It’s something about the two halves of the face that attracts me to it.

9) Broken by A.E Rought.

What a stunning cover for the modern retelling of Frankenstein. Just gorgeous.

10) Ruined by Paula Morris

I bought this book based on the cover and loved it. Set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, I was completely sold.

This was  really hard one to do. I could just keep adding awesome covers to this post, but it states ten so I’m stopping there.

The Originals by Cat Patrick

My part is first half.

I go to Student Government, Chemistry, Trigonometry, Psychology, and History at school, then do the rest of the day at home. I maintain that Mom was in a mood when she made assignments this year – math and science are definitely not my best subjects. When I reminded her of this, she said,’That’s exactly why you’re doing first half.’

Pages – 304

Published by Egmont in May 2013

Goodreads Summary

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mind-set has always been a de facto part of life...
Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

*******

Cat Patrick always has the most amazing story ideas when it comes to writing fiction. Possibly inspired by her own twins, she has created an original story  centring around a trio of clones, all living the same life. It sounds freakishly weird I know, but you have to read it to believe it.  I was completely intrigued by the whole idea behind the book.

The story is told in present tense from the point of view of Lizzie. Even though the girls are supposed to be the same person, their differences are evident early on in the book. I think the author did a fantastic job at portraying each girl individually so that they stood apart from each other. Ella is the happiest out of the three; she is content to carry on living as they are. As well as being the happiest,she is also the brainiest and at times appears to be the naïve one. Betsey is the calm, thoughtful and logical one; if they were just sisters, I would place her as the oldest. This leaves Lizzie, who comes across as more defiant; she wants her own life more than either of the others and you feel her desperation for change. They are living the life of one person – each attending school for a certain part of the day. The thought of trying to be one person when you are all so different must be draining and as the girls head towards being an adult, they are beginning to realise they don’t want to live this life anymore.

I didn’t like Lizzie’s mum at all. I felt suffocated by the way she treated the girls. Anyone would have broken free from such tight control. To the point where she even monitors their heartbeat alongside following them with a GPS system is just wrong. It isn’t until Lizzie falls for the charms of the gorgeous Sean, that Lizzie and her sisters begin to realise just how wrong their lives are. They start to doubt their mother’s decisions for their lives.

The book leaves doubts in your mind. As the mother of identical twins I know how important it is to nurture their differences, but when they were younger, I have to put my hand up at being guilty of occasionally dressing them the same. If I had that time again, I would definitely do it differently.  I felt this book emphasized the extremes that twins and triplets can be treated like in reality.

The book heads off on a fast pace and you find yourself totally engrossed in the story.  The beginning and the middle of the book really drew me in and I was desperate to find out how it would end. My  only little niggle with the book is that events at the end were not shown in detail, which left the climax a little flat. I really wanted to see what happened between Maggie and the girl’s mum, but unfortunately the information was relayed second hand.  I can see how this would have been difficult to show due to the story being told from the perspective of Lizzie.

Apart from that I really enjoyed the book and I’m intrigued to read more YA dealing with cloning. If you like your sci-fi a little bit different, then I would highly recommend reading this book.

The Write Way with Cat Patrick

As part of The Originals blog tour, I’m really pleased to welcome Cat Patrick onto the blog to talk about her writing.

Tell us a little about your new book, The Originals. 

The Originals is the story of the first human clones: A family that only science could have created. They are three identical sixteen-year-old girls, and because human cloning is illegal, they hide their existence by living as one person named Elizabeth Best. The way they do that is to split their days in thirds, with one clone attending school in the morning; the second handling classes in the afternoon; and the third being in charge of afterschool commitments like their part time job, college course, and cheerleading. The system works well until two of the clones fall for two different boys, which is an issue if you’re supposed to be just one person. Like my previous two books, in addition to the teen romance aspects, The Originals offers a bit of a mystery to round out the story. 

How did you get the inspiration for the story? 

I was having one of those moments when my to-do list felt like the job of not one but seven people, wishing I could be cloned and therefore better equipped to handle everything. I began to think about how high school students these days are so oversubscribed—so much more is expected of teens than it was when I was that age—and the idea sort of just sprinted ahead from there. 

What kind of research did you do for this book? 

It’s funny that I write about science so often when it was my worst subject in high school. For this project, I read a lot about cloning—human and otherwise—and consulted my friend and Science Advisor who, in my opinion, knows All the Things. So much of the book is about familial relationships—specifically sisterly ones—so I could consider my experiences with my own sister a lifetime of research on that topic. (The book is dedicated to her.) 

What is your writing process when you begin a new book? 

I’m not a fan of outlines. Normally, after getting an idea that sticks with me for a few days, I just begin mentally vomiting on the page. I like to see where the story takes me. To do that, I write without giving much brain space to concerns like whether my words are the worst words ever, or whether I’ve completely forgotten how to use a hyphen. I’m a brutal editor, so there’s always time for that later. But a first draft is my chance to get completely lost in an idea and see where I end up. 

When is your ideal time to write? 

I am most “on” in the morning, so that’s when I choose to write. I get up early and go directly to my home office. My husband gets our twins ready for school and I have a nice long stretch of writing time until I pick them up around noon. 

Do you write in silence or do you need music to help you? 

I love music, but as a word person, I’m always listening to the lyrics. If I write with music playing, I’ll start typing, “You can’t always get what you want…” into the story. So, silence. 

What authors inspired you growing up? 

Many, but the one that stands out is Ray Bradbury. I remember having this realization when reading Fahrenheit 451 that I liked a little sci fi strange with my fiction. In English, we had to write what felt like a tome back then on the author of our choosing, and Bradbury was my man. This was my senior year in high school, when I was spending a lot of time pondering where I wanted to go in life: I feel like, in a way, he helped me get here.

What’s next? 

I have a book I co-wrote with Suzanne Young (A Need So Beautiful, The Program) called Just Like Fate coming out in August of this year, which explores how our lives might be different based on one choice. Think the movie Sliding Doors for teens. 

I’m not really ready to talk about the book I’m writing yet, other than to say that it’s very different for me in that it’s more descriptive and told from many perspectives. Oh, and it has the most likely chance of being my first trilogy…assuming I get it written and sold.    

Is there any non-fiction book you’d recommend? 

I tend to be a bit death obsessed in my writing, so it doesn’t shock me that the non-fiction book that most stands out is Remember Me: A Lively Tour of the New American Way of Death by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. It’s about the different ways in which we honour loved ones after death. I’m also a tiny bit nerdy, so I loved business books like Freakonomics and The Tipping Point. 

Do you have a daily word count goal? 

Any words at all is my daily goal. Some days I write 4,000 words; others, I write 50. Consistency is preferred, but it’s not always doable when I’m running around with twin pre-schoolers. 

Advice for aspiring authors? 

Well, it sounds too simple but my advice is: Have fun. It’s very easy to get caught up in worrying about audiences and hyphens and getting an agent and the ticking clock and, and, and... 

I write because I’m not me if I don’t. I think most writers probably feel the same way. I find that when I’m writing for the fun of it—even if against a deadline—my very best words and stories come to the surface.  

Thank you Cat for coming on the blog today.

The Originals, Cat’s third book is out now to buy, published by Egmont.

To find out more about Cat Patrick:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Letterbox Love (33)

Britain at it's best, bringing you it's own version of IMM! All the books that came through my letterbox thanks to publishers and Royal Mail! This meme is hosted by the amazing Lynsey from Narratively Speaking.

For Review

Doll Bones by Holly Black was published by Random House earlier this month. I’m a huge Holly Black fan, as she was one of the first authors I read when I started reading YA. This is her most recent children’s book since finishing The Spiderwick Chronicles.  A chilling tale of ghosts, growing up and the power of stories. Thank you Random House.

Poison By Sarah  Pinborough was also recently published by Gollancz. I have to save the cover of this book is utterly gorgeous. I’ve been excited by this book ever since I set eyes on it.  Described a a wicked, delicious, sexy Snow White fairy-tale. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you Gollancz.

Race The Wind by Lauren St John is the second book in the One Dollar Horse trilogy. I read the first book a couple of weeks ago and Orion were kind enough to send me the next book. I loved the first book, which reminded me of great books such as Flambards and Black Beauty. Thank you Orion Children’s Books.

The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway is a lovely chunkster of a book. Ideal for fans of The Night Circus and The Snow Child, both of which I loved. This is a debut novel published by Michael Joseph on the 23rd of May. A historical adventure story about forbidden love. Sounds intriguing. Thank you Michael Joseph.

Bought

I went into The Works this week. Bad move on my part!

I bought the four books above.

The Painter’s Apprentice by Charlotte Betts. I actually had this one out from the library but never got round to reading it, so I was really pleased to pick it up as I love the author’s first book, The Apothecary’s Daughter.

Witch Light by Susan Fletcher, author of Eve Green. I was caught by the title. Only the mention of the word ‘Witch’ and I’m interested. This is set in 1692, in the mountains of Scotland. It’s about a wild young girl who has been imprisoned as a witch.

Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan. I love these foodie novels by Jenny Colgan. I read her cupcake novels last year and I couldn’t resist a sweet shop one!

Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris is published by Harper Collins. It is a high stake thriller with a mind bending sci-fi twist. I was quite intrigued by this book when it came out, so looking forward to reading it.

I

Revision and Self-Editing for Publication by James Scott Bell. This book was recommended to me on Facebook by the lovely ladies of SCBWI as a good book to help me edit with. I shall let you know how I get on.

Thanks for stopping by the blog this week. Happy reading.

The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins

‘My boyfriend could get into trouble if he gets caught.  He could go to jail.’  I moan softly.  ‘So could I.’

‘Anything you tell me is completely confidential.’ I sigh deeply.  ‘I wouldn’t know where to begin.’

‘At the beginning?’ she says.

So that’s what I do.  I start at the beginning like she says.

The day I met Suzie.

As Indie tells her story to the person on the end of the phone, she realises that Suzie has taken over her home, her friends, her work, her boyfriend – and her life.

Published by Hodder  Children’s Books in March 2013

361 pages

Goodreads Summary

Indigo (Indie) rings the Samaritans. She is frightened and desperate with no one to turn to. Over the course of one long night, Indie tells her story to the person on the end of the phone. She realises that her friend Suzie has taken over her home, her friends, her work, her boyfriend - and her life. After every few chapters we are brought back to the present moment, and see how piecing the story together helps Indie progress towards resolution.

******

Review by Georgina Tranter

At this moment in time Indigo’s life is set to plummet onto a course she never expected it to take.  She meets Suzie in the queue at college and things are never going to be the same again.  Before she knows it, Suzie has morphed into Scarlett, and is taking over Indie’s life, in more ways than one!  This is definitely a tale of caution; of what can happen if you be-friend the wrong person, but don’t see the signs until it is too late.

I really enjoyed this book by the shortlisted ‘Queen of Teen’ Chris Higgins.  I read it in one sitting as I really wanted to know what the future held for both Indie and Suzie.  Entwined in the story are Indie’s boyfriend Rick, her hairdresser boss Gordon, and Indie’s family.  It was fast-paced, and gripping and totally suitable for today’s teenagers. 

It was realistic without having to be too hard-edged and I could see how Indie ended up on the path she was on.  The book keeps you hanging on right up to the last sentence and I would fully recommend it.