The Big Break with Josephine Angelini

The Big Break is over the moon to welcome the delightful Josephine Angelini, author of one of my favourite books this year, Starcrossed. 

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog.
Thanks for the invite!

What did you do for a living before writing became your chosen career?
I was a nightclub bartender in New York City and Los Angeles for, like, a decade. If I never have to hear the words “Put Your Hands In the Air” or “Holler Back” or “It’s Your Birthday” again I will be a-okay with that.
In the beginning I was trying to write screenplays, but I never got the hang of them. I think I’m too much of a gasbag to limit myself to 90-110 pages. And yes, I’m aware that after ten years I probably should have taken the hint and explored other career options, but I’ve always been a tad stubborn (holler back, yo).

How long did it take you to write your debut novel ‘Starcrossed’?
It took me about a month to outline it and get a skeleton for the trilogy, and then it took me 8 months to write it.

What was your inspiration for writing ‘Starcrossed’?
I saw a copy of the Iliad sitting next to Romeo and Juliet on my bookshelf and wondered why no one had tried to do a modern day take on Homer’s classic, focusing on the love story, and set in high school. It was a good, old-fashioned Eureka moment.

I understand you husband was involved in getting ‘Starcrossed’ published, can you tell us a little bit about how he managed this?
When I finished my manuscript I had no idea what to do with it, and neither did my husband. He’s a screenwriter; so all of his contacts are in the movie industry, not in the publishing world. He turned to Facebook. A friend of a friend (the actual connection of how they “friended” each other is still a bit hazy) was a manager here in LA named Rachel Miller. She never takes unsolicited material, but she was a bit bored that morning, loves YA books, and decided to read the first chapter just for kicks.
She fell in love with my book and sent it that day to Mollie Glick, a literary agent in NYC. Mollie only promised to read one chapter as well, and ended up staying up half the night to finish it. The next morning I awoke to a manager and an agent and a few weeks later I had a publishing deal to boot. I didn’t even know that my husband had sent my manuscript to anyone. Thanks, honey!

What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?
The manuscript wasn’t supposed to go out wide for another week, so the call was unexpected. I was at the gym and trying to answer the phone and get off the machine without breaking my neck. My
agent got a pre-emptive offer from Harper Teen. I had to ask what that meant, and she gave me a number.
I don’t remember much of the middle bit of the conversation because all I could think was “Don’t drop your phone. You can’t afford another one right now. Oh, wait...”

How long did it take for your book to reach publication after the initial agreement?
I agreed to the deal in February of 2010, and my book was published here in the US on May 31st, 2011. It took longer to get the book out to stores than it did it write it, and I hear that my book got out there pretty fast!

What was happening to your manuscript during this time?
The first 4 or 5 months my book was in edits. I know that sounds like a long time, but actually, not that much of my book changed. It just takes forever to pass it back and forth between the editor, the editor’s boss, the multiple copy editors and whatnot. There are a million little things that can be tweaked along the way, and all of changes are mostly just to make the story clearer, more concise, and to iron out any bugs in the plot.

How did you keep yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?
I wrote book 2, DREAMLESS. Then I edited it. Then I started book 3 (still unnamed). I also started promoting STARCROSSED, doing interviews, guest blogging, and Tweeting my brains out. It isn’t enough just to write a book—you have to get people to buy it as well. Crazy, isn’t it? Before the first book was even out I was already a few chapters into the third book. It is a long process.

How did you celebrate on publication day?
I went out for dinner with a handful of friends, and my husband of course. I think I was in bed by 10. Honestly, pub day is the beginning, not the finish line. I’m working just as hard now to promote STARCROSSED as I was a few months before it came out.

Your book has received many excellent reviews, how does that make you feel?
Who wouldn’t feel great with all that ego buffing? But then again, my husband doesn’t let me read any negative reviews. I know they’re out there somewhere, but I’m blissfully ignorant of them. Its all sunshine a lollipops for me!

Can you tell us anything about the sequel to ‘Starcrossed’?
DREAMLESS is darker, and it has a lot more action. A large part of the story takes place in the Underworld, so as you can imagine, it’s grittier than STARCROSSED. Oh, and I also introduce a new character named Orion. Can’t wait for everyone to meet him!

Do you write full time now?
Yes, thankfully. This whole writing/promoting thing is a more than full time job. I don’t think I’ve taken a full day off in months—but I’m not complaining! This beats the heck out of slinging drinks until 4 in the morning.

Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?
I work in two shifts. In the morning I edit what I wrote the night before and plan out the next “beat” I’m going to tackle. Then I take a break and run errands and all that jazz. Then around 6 in the evening I sit back down and write new pages. I work like this so I can sleep on my work, look at it fresh in the morning, and make sure I like it before I move on.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
Well, I think the thread of this whole interview for me has been about how long everything takes. It took me years of writing without even getting agent for me to finally figure out what genre was right for me, and then even more time for me get to the point where I had something that was ready to publish. Then, even though the agent and publisher part went fast for me, there was a long time between the deal and the pub date.
I guess my advice to any aspiring writer is to be ready for a long haul. There’s this joke in the arts that everyone who makes it is actually a 7-year “overnight” success story. I couldn’t agree more. Don’t get discouraged—just keep writing.

Thank you Josie for sharing your inspirational story with us. I can't wait to get my hands on Dreamless next year.

If you haven't read Starcrossed yet, I strongly suggest that you do. It is available to buy right now.
To find out more about Josephine Angelini, please visit her blog here.

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Pages 344
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing on the 7th July 2011
Book kindly sent by publisher for an honest review

I was nine years old when my mother decided it was time I took part in the family business. I was pretty enough now, she said, that I might be of use. I'd grown into my ears and my long neck and might be clever enough to handle myself. Besides which, she claimed, she had no other option.


Let me set the scene - 1872, Victorian London. Instantly I am whisked back into a time where Gothic charm was all the rage. Violet, the heroine of the story has spent most of her childhood helping her mother  create elaborate and fake seances for the rich and famous people of London. Life begins to improve for the family as they become more well known for her mother's skills as a medium.

During a visit to Lord Jasper's mansion, for a weekend of mediumship, Violet is shocked to discover that she can actually see and hear ghosts. She doesn't want the skill of being a medium and becomes haunted day and night by the ghost of a drowned girl who wants her murder avenged. Violet will get no rest until she discovers the real murderer who  may just be about to strike again.

**********

As soon as I realised this book would have a Gothic feel to it, I wanted it. I am sure deep down I have my very own Goth girl fighting to escape motherhood and wanting to be free to dress in black and resemble Morticia from the Addams Family.  So, it was fantastic to be able to get my hands on this book early and absorb all that lovely gothicness! 

Right from the beginning, I found that the Victorian scene was set rather well and the smoggy Victorian London came alive again. The book is very atmospheric and eerie, a feeling that whispers in an out of each page throughout the book.

Violet is such a gutsy main character who deals with her new found talent at first with ill ease, but soon manages to cope with all that is thrown at her. Despite the abuse thrown at her from her mother, she is courageous through out. I loved Elizabeth, her friend from a noble background, who reminded me a little of Velma from Scooby Doo. She is determined to help Violet solve the mystery, as well as eat her way out of a corset. At times the story was funny and had me sniggering a little as Violet did a few rather daft things, then the book would delve straight back into the paranormal element to push you deeper into the unsolved mystery.  

I do love a good ghost story and this one definitely fitted the bill. I loved the way Rowena's apparition was described and the eeriness she added to the book. The murder was not easy to detect and I found the author threw in quite a few red herrings to distract the reader from the truth. I found the story to be jam packed with action that kept me thrilled until the murder was solved. There is  no time to rest with Alyxandra Harvey, she keeps you on your toes all the way through the book. 

Last year I read We Hear The Dead by Dianne K. Salerni, which tells the fictional story of the true life Fox sisters who actually fooled the world into thinking they were mediums. Both books showed a great amount of detail concerning spiritualism during the 1800's, however, out of the two books, I would have to say that Haunting Violet was actually much better, as it had more of a thrill and a mystery to it as well as an extremely good climatic ending. 

A truly enjoyable read that leaves you satisfied by the last word. I do hope we get to meet Violet again soon. 

Hot Books For July - The Adult Version.

So if you were around earlier, you would have seen the lovely books on offer within the YA/Children range. This is the post to look at the adult books on offer. There are some super exciting books coming up. 

Abacus

This book is getting a lot of attention in America, so I am really looking forward to reading it. Marcus Zusak described it as 'the bravest, most beautiful book' he has read in a long time. Click here to find out more.

Can the hapless Taras win Katya’s stubborn Russian heart as their love story plays out against the best and worst London can offer? This book is finally released in paperback. To find out more, click here.

Hodder and Stoughton

I do love a Sophie Hannah thriller! And I don't think this one will disappoint. Have you been watching Case Sensitive on ITV recently? Well if you have, you may have realised it is an adaptation of one of Sophie's earlier books. Click here to find out more. 

Signs of Life will break your heart. It is a true story of Natalie, who is four months pregnant and happily married when her husband suddenly dies in an accident. This book shows us her life over the next 18 months. Click here to find out more. 

Headline 

For those of you who love Elizabethan thrillers, then this is the one for you. Set in 1564, this book is full of compelling detail and narrative twists along the same vein of C.J. Samson. Click here to find out more.

Virago 

A warm hearted memoir of a London Irish family during the 1950's. Click here to find out more. 

An inspirational memoir by Suraya Sadeed, an Afghan woman from a wealthy family who became an exile in America after the Russians invaded. She made a happy and successful life for herself in Virginia with her husband and child. Then in the wake of her husband's sudden death she decided to return to Afghanistan to help those who had suffered throughout the years of the invasion, the reign of the Taliban and post 9/11 trauma. To find out more, click here. 

A tale of penny sweets, suburban back gardens, swimming trips and Butlins holidays makes way for something altogether more sinister. And it is this story that will pull you towards its unimaginable climax, leaving you - haunted? Heartbroken? Angry? Click here to find out more. 

So there you are. Lots of exciting books coming out in July. I may need to lie down for a rest now. 

Hot Books For July - the YA/Children version

Now wouldn't it be lovely if July was going to be as hot as the new books being released. I can dream, can't I!
Anyway for those who are being observant this morning you will notice this post is for hot books being published in the UK that appeal to the YA and child sector of the population. If this is not for you, then do pop back at 12 noon when I will be posting a Hot Books for adults. I hate to leave anyone out.
So let us now take a journey through the lovely UK publishers to see what delights they have in store for us this July.

Walker Books 

I can't start this post without two of my favourite authors. Firstly Zoë

 Marriott sees the release of her awesome book Shadows On the Moon. I read this last week and found it quite breathtaking. It is released on the 4th July.

Orchard Books

Secondly the delightful Keris Stainton brings out her gorgeous new book Jessie Hearts NYC. This book is must for anyone who grew up on a dose of American TV. It is published by Orchard Books on the 7th July.

Random House 

From their imprint Doubleday, we have Blood Magic coming out on the 7th July.  Tessa Gratton brings us her debut novel involving a spell book and  quite a bit of gore. Click here for details.

This is described as deliciously Gothic and creepy and comes from one of the UK's most prolific authors, Anne Fine. It comes out on the 7th July too. Click here to find out more. (Doubleday)

Orion Children's Books

 Now Helen Moss is being hailed as the new 'Enid Blyton' so I am rather intrigued to read this book. It comes out on the 7th of July followed rather closely by the rest of the series between now and September. I believe a total of six books to come our way. To find out more, click here.

Another author with that Blytonesque approach is Lauren St John who will be releasing the second book in her series of Laura Marlin mysteries. Dead Man's Cove, the first book in the series won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award for 2011 as well as Favourite Read 2011. To find out more, click here.


HarperCollins Children's Books

July finally sees the release of Hereafter by Tara Hudson. Described as 'a love story that crosses the divide between life and death.' A paranormal romance to help you get through the summer. To find out more click here.

Now who is looking for a good beach read, but want it YA rather than adult chick lit? Well this is the one for you. This is a follow up to Fortune and involves lots of globetrotting and back stabbing. 90210 style action. To find out more click here.


Bloomsbury Publishing

This is set in Victorian London and has that Gothic chill to it that is always a favourite with me. Violet takes part in seances with her fraudulent mother until Violet realises that she can really see ghosts and they seem to  have taken an unhealthy obsession with her. A fabulous read. To find out more, click here.

This story surrounds  Michaelangelo's most renowned statue of David. A statue that still to this day thousands flock to Florence to see. Mary Hoffman uses her narrative skills to bring the imaginary story of Gabriele to life, who is chosen to become one of Michaelangelo's models, drawn into a world of intrigue. Sounds exciting, doesn't it! To find out more, click here. The blog tours kicks off at Help I Need A Publisher on the 4th July, the same day the book is released.


Headline

For all you Glee lovers, look what Headline are bringing out. Excited? I can tell you are.

Mr. Schuester doesn't want the Glee club to lose its momentum over summer break, so he's talked Rachel, Finn and the crew into running a singing workshop for local kids. Out on the 7th July.

 Here is a link to find our more.

Simon and Schuster

You can't hit the summer without a road trip book and this one really fits this bill. Amy's mother has moved from California to the East Coast and expects Amy to drive to her new home. Yet Amy hasn't ventured behind the wheel of car since her father died, so she ropes in Roger, the son of an old family friend to play chauffeur. This is out on the 7th July.  To find out more click here. The blog tour for this book begins over at Daisy Chain Book Reviews on the 4th July.

In my household, Hilary Duff has reigned supreme for many years. I think I must have watched every episode of Lizzie Maguire - TWICE! So I am really intrigued by her first novel. This is a paranormal thriller filled with dangerous secrets and dark romance. Out on the 7th of July. Click here to find out more.


Catnip Publishing

This book been shortllisted for quite a few awards.
Powers and his son Boothe, alias MapHead,are visitors from the Subtle World – a world that exists side by side with our own. Previously, Boothe had an encounterwith a woman from Earth. Now twelve,MapHead has come to meet his mother for the first time. Click here for more information.

This is the third book in a series for the 7+ age range and finds a touch of Hollywood coming to Creakie Hall. How will the ghosts get on? With gorgeous illustrations by Tony Ross, this series has been rereleased and given a whole new lease of life, to be loved be a new generation of children. To find out more, click here.


Chicken House Publishing

 I have a bit of a soft spot for Cornelia Funke, especially her book Inkheart which I still love. Through a mirror is a dangerous world. For years, Jacob Reckless has enjoyed its secrets and treasures. Not any more. To find out more and read an extract, click here.  The blog tour for this book kicked off yesterday on My Favourite Books - go check it out here.

A gripping post-apocalyptical adventure set in the ruins of London about a desperate race to find a relic of extraordinary power. Spectacular science-fiction debut from Philip Webb. Doesn't this one look fabulous. To find out more and read an extract, click here.


Pan Macmillan

I can see all of you Alyson Noel fans going weak at the knees with the release of Everlasting this month. This series is HUGE - over 3.2 million copies of the books in this series published. This is the sixth and final installment in the series. To find out more, click here. 


Egmont Publishing

 The lovely Bryony Pearce sees the release of her debut novel Angel's Fury this month. Bryony will be appearing on this blog later in the year as part of The EDGE authors . If you want to know more about  The Edge, please click here.  The blog tour kicks off at Fluttering Butterflies on the 2nd of July, so don't miss it. 


One fallen angel walks the Earth to bring mankind to its destruction.... To find out more, click here. 


Templar Publishing.

 When a mermaid has a first kiss she bonds for life. So she really doesn't want it to be her obnoxious neighbour that she accidentally kisses. This book comes out on the 1st July. To find out more, click here. The blog tour started over at I Want To Read That yesterday. 

 Liberator is the long awaited sequel to Worldshaker, a whole new fantasy world for you to enjoy. Click here to find out more.

Atom Books

 July sees the release of not only Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer, but also the paperback version of Nightshade, the first book in this series. Calla can control her pack but not her heart...... To find out more, click here. 

In the Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota – and hopefully live to see another day. This looks like a fantastic thriller and comes out on the 7th July. Click here to find out more. 


Phew! There are some really hot books coming out in July. Where to start! Why don't you just buy them all. I intend to. 
Come back later if you want to see what fabulous adult books I think you might like. 

The Awfully Big Blog Adventure Literary Festival!

Have you heard about the first ever online literary festival that is taking place 'virtually' over at http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com/ on the 9th and 10th of July? It is going to be a HUGE!

If you have never visited the Awfully Big Blog Adventure then you should. It is full to the brim with posts from some of our best loved authors.

The online festival will include lots of our fantastic children's authors who will be posting for the event. From Liz Kessler to Lucy Coats and from Andrew Strong to Celia Rees. A whole host of exciting posts to keep you busy for two days.  Click here to see the itinerary. The festival will run from 9.30am until 7.30pm each day with new posts coming up every half hour. Expect to see some vlogs, interviews and great giveaways too.

If you are on Twitter, follow the hashtag #ABBAlitfest to find out more. There is also a dedicated Facebook page too.

I know where I will be on the 9th and 10th of July, how about you?

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Pages 479
Published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2011
Book kindly sent to me by tihe publisher for an honest review

I clung to the leather seat and felt my heart fall as the private plane rose into the sky, streaking away from India. If I took off my seatbelt, I was sure I would sink right through the floor and drop thousands of feet, freefalling to the jungles below. Only then would I feel right again. I had left my heart in India; I could feel it missing. All that was left of me was a hollowedd-out shell, number and empty.


Take a good look at that tiger on the cover! By the end of reading this book, you are going  to love him!

Kelsey has returned to America  without her gorgeous tiger boy Ren. She attempts to live a normal live until a few months down the line Ren decides to visit, followed closely by his brother Kishan. Kishan really is a bad boy and needs to be tamed. He is also cursed in the same way as Ren, only he appears as a black tiger rather than a white one.

Danger follows them to Oregan and it isn't long before one of them is kidnapped, forcing Kelsey on a dangerous trek to lift the second part of the curse. Will Kelsey be able to pull it off?

**********

After reading Tiger's Curse, it never crossed my mind that my allegiance with the white tiger would change. I left the book rooting for him to chase Kelsey across the world and never let her go. However by the end of Tiger's Quest, I was no longer his number one fan and had moved over to rooting for Kishan to win Kelsey's love. If you haven't read the second book yet I can imagine you being shocked by this decision and trust me I was too. Yet I can see you all changing sides rather hastily when you reach the end of the book.

Tiger's Quest is just as action packed as Tiger's Curse and the author keeps you on your toes the whole way through. There is so much going on within each chapter which keeps you rooted to your seat. You are desperate to help Kelsey get through each trauma and challenge she faces.

I loved the inclusion of the Silvernae, the tree nymphs. They seemed so angelic and pure in character. I felt like I had moved into a dream like state as I read through the pages they graced. They really were such beautiful characters. 

Just like the first book, the writing is intensely descriptive, allowing you to feel like you  are experiencing the book in 3D, only with all inclusive sensory action too.

The ending was left on another huge cliffhanger, which left in  despair as the next book doesn't come out until November. It was quite heartbreaking to see how Kelsey was treated after all the things she had suffered. It felt like it had all been for nothing. I have my suspicions as to why a certain tiger was treating her the way he did, but will only discuss them with anyone who has read the book. I don't want to give out spoilers!

This book is just as thrilling as the first one and will definitely be a series I want to see through to the end. Although I may need assistance for my withdrawal symptoms as I wait impatiently for November.  

On My Wishlist (6)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you can list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

OMG! I want this series. It looks and sounds utterly awesome. 

EXODUS

A startling, thrilling novel set in a dystopian future ravaged by global warming

It is 2099 - and the world is gradually drowning, as mighty Arctic ice floes melt, the seas rise, and land disappears forever beneath storm-tossed waves. For 15-year-old Mara, her family and community, huddled on the fast-disappearing island of Wing, the new century brings flight. Packed into tiny boats, a terrifying journey begins to a bizarre city that rises into the sky, built on the drowned remains of the ancient city of Glasgow. But even here there is no safety and, shut out of the city, Mara realizes they are asylum-seekers in a world torn between high-tech wizardry and the most primitive injustice. To save her people, Mara must not only find a way into the city but also search for a new land and a new home...

ZENITH

A startling, thrilling novel set in a dystopian future ravaged by global warming - ZENITH is the stunning sequel to the critically acclaimed, bestselling EXODUS.

Sixteen-year-old Mara and her ship of refugees are tracking the North Star, desperate to find a homeland in the melted ice mountains of Greenland. The vast, floating city of Pomperoy is just one of the shocks that are not in their navigation plans. Unwittingly, the refugees bring catastrophe in their wake for Tuck, a gypsea pirate-boy, and also for Ilira - a land whose inhabitants exist in a state of terror at the top of the world.

Back in the drowned ruins at the feet of the towering sky city, Fox is beginning his battle with the cruel, corrupt forces that rule the New World. But separated from Mara, his resolve begins to waver . . .

AURORA

A novel of extraordinary imaginative vision and emotional power – AURORA is the eagerly anticipated conclusion to the critically acclaimed, bestselling EXODUS and ZENITH.

Much of Earth is underwater – in the high mountains at the top of the world Lily survives with her mother and her people . . . but she feels trapped. Elsewhere, beneath the exclusive sky-cities that tower above the waves, Fox has been waiting too. But when Fox and Lily meet on a virtual plane, they realize the time has come to act. The world must be made whole again, even if it means losing each other!

The third and final installment in the brilliantly imagined, hugely romantic and poetically told 
trilogy set in a frighteningly realistic future.


All summaries taken from the Macmillian Website which you will find here. 

All three are published by Pan Macmillan and are available to buy now. 

Ember Fury By Cathy Brett

Pages - 232

Book published by Headline in 2009

Book - My Own Copy

Fizzzzz....crack...whoosh..

It was a tiny tongue at first, then it spread like a rippling, orange blanket over the floorboards and poured itself up the walls. My heart was pounding and there was a kinda buzzing in my head. I couldn't breath. I couldn't move. Then I gasped.

'Cool!'

Ember Fury is a force to be reckoned with. She is the daughter of a legendary rockstar who barely has time to speak her name, let alone spend some quality time with her. Her mother Amica, who was a famous artist, died when she was very young and since then she has been shipped about from one exclusive boarding school to another, with a little rehab in the middle for her addiction. You see Ember has a bit of a bad habit. She likes to set fire to things. Big things. 

After spending time in rehab again, she finally gets shipped off to the glamorous world of Hollywood to be baby sat by her extremely young and famous step mother. Ember does think she will enjoy her time in Hollywood until she meets Finn. For awhile he makes her happy and she feels safe. However when things go wrong, she turns to the only thing that soothes her. A flame.

*****

Before I beginning reviewing the plot of Ember Fury, I have to mention Cathy Brett's exceptional illustrations throughout the book. There is no doubt that the author is also a talented artist and she brings this book alive with her animations. It was a joy to read and I loved the way each double page looked completely different. This book is partly a graphic novel and will sit quite nicely in between the younger reader and the teenage market. It would be an excellent read for those reluctant readers who are still looking for a super cool book. 

I loved Ember straight away. She has that whole Avril Levine thing going on. Sassy, sarcastic and definitely an original. She really does light up the book like a flame bringing vibrant colours to the story. She shows how difficult being a teenager really is and deals with all the ups and downs the only way she knows how - by starting a fire.

Ember is a girl crying out for some affection and in desperate need of attention from her father. It takes him a long time to realise that he is actually missing out on his child growing up. Working through the most important years of her life. It takes something huge, for him to remove the blind spots from in front of his eyes. 

Within the book, Ember has an imaginary friend called Ned, who lived with his family in London during World War II. Now this is the only part of the story I struggled to understand. As Ember appeared to go back and forth in time to spend precious moments with Ned and his family, I found I wasn't sure whether he was real or not. Was he a dream, an imaginary friend, a ghost or real? It left me a little confused and I really would love some clarification in case I missed something within the book.

Apart from that, I really do think this is an extremely funky book. I felt that Cathy Brett really captured the teenage angst extremely well. At times the book and the illustrations brought humour to the story, which would otherwise be a rather poignant read about a young girl starved of love.  This book will keep you highly entertained and I look forward to reading the authors second book ' Scarlett Dead' soon. 

The Big Break with Paula Leyden

Today The Big Break welcomes debut author Paula Leyden who wrote the beautiful book 'The Butterfly Heart' which I reviewed yesterday. Click here to read the review.

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog.
Thank you Vivienne for inviting me, I really appreciate it. Perhaps one day I can reciprocate by interviewing you about your own book...

What did you do for a living before writing became your chosen career?
All sorts of things! I taught in Secondary schools, worked for a Rape Crisis Centre, was employed in Lawyers for Human Rights in South Africa, ran a human rights awareness campaign once we achieved democracy in South Africa, made submissions to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, ran a small catering business and bred horses (which I still do).

How long did it take you to write your debut novel ‘The Butterfly Heart’?
The Butterfly Heart took me about six months to write. A lot longer to think about though.

The book is set in Zambia, where I read that you grew up. How many of your own personal experiences have you drawn upon to write this book?
I drew on a lot of my own experiences and memories of Zambia while I was writing. It is a country I have a deep affection for and hope that my book reflects that. However the book is in no way
autobiographical, it is just drawing on things like stories my dad used to tell us, memories of the people and places in Zambia, knowledge of twins through my own children and images and ideas that run through my mind. From your own description of where you’d like to live, ‘hot and sunny’, I’d say Zambia would suit you well.

Is ‘The Butterfly Heart’ your first finished manuscript, or are there others lurking in the dark?
I finished writing one book before this one, it is called All Fall Down but has not yet found a publishing home. Since then I have written a few more, two others for children (one of which is coming out next year) and two for adults. Hopefully they will all find a home one day. But if they don’t I will still have been enriched by writing them.


How long did it take you to find an agent?
I was very lucky in getting an introduction to my wonderful agent Sophie Hicks, through Siobhán Parkinson (our own Children’s Laureate). I was then even luckier in that Sophie liked my writing (I had not written Butterfly Heart then, she initially saw All Fall Down) and she took me onto the books of Ed Victor. So in my case the search did not take too long. I feel extremely privileged to be with Sophie as she is, as I say in the acknowledgements in my book, a Wonder Woman amongst agents!

How many rejection letters did you get before it was accepted?
Walker Books was among the first two publishers that Sophie approached with The Butterfly Heart and they accepted it. And in fact the other one did as well, but too late. I do have a supply of
rejection letters on my first book - but I treasure them as they are all very positive about my writing. Maybe it was to soften the blow of the rejection, but I don’t mind.

How many times did you have to edit your book before the agent was happy to send it off to publishers?
My editing process starts at home - it had been read by my children as well as by my partner and they all had suggestions. My partner, Tom O’Neill, is a writer (author of Old Friends: The Lost Tales of Fionn MacCumhaill) and his comments and suggestions have been invaluable.
I would also always run things by Sophie as a book is in progress, and bounce ideas off her, but when it came to the final editing of this book that process mainly took place within Walker Books and I’d have to say it was a very good experience. I worked with Emma Lidbury in Walker and she is an extremely able and insightful editor, there is no doubt in my mind that she improved the book. She has a sharp eye.

What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?
A chain reaction would best describe it - disbelief, followed by euphoria followed by momentary fear .... my book? Out there in the wide world? Help! But that passed and the delight has remained to this day. I still look upon it with wonder.


How long did it take for your book to reach publication after the initial agreement?
After the initial agreement it took about two years.


What was happening to your manuscript during this time?
There was the editing process, the cover design process, the pitching it to the sales team, the blurb – and all the bits in between! The designer was wonderful and the process on all levels within Walker was very cooperative. It is never an easy process as any writer will tell you; you hand over what you think is a perfect creation and then the tweaking begins.

How did you keep yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?
I suppose I was writing the next one, as the book deal with Walker was for two books, still minding family and horses and at different times writing other stuff. Living life, just keeping on keeping on.


How did you celebrate on publication day?
On the day it was published, 3rd March this year, I spent most of the day in the wonderful Loughboy Library in Kilkenny talking to groups of ten to twelve year olds about the book. What better way to celebrate? We also celebrated as a family – and had a book launch a week later which was brilliant.
I have written a sequel to The Butterfly Heart and that is with Walker Books now. I have also just finished a novella set on Death Row in South Africa in the eighties. Wrote it in the form of a novella as the content is pretty intense – I do not think you could (or should) sustain that level of intensity or sadness for an average length novel.

Do you write full time now?
Not always as disciplined as I should be but it is my main occupation. I do other work as well but writing is my focus.

Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?
I write best early in the morning, so (when I am being disciplined) I would drop the children at school and come back home to write. Once I am settled into writing and know where I am going with it I work quite fast. But the problem perhaps with being the kind of writer who does not plan or plot meticulously is that I take myself down side streets when I write. Some of these are very productive and end up as books on their own. Others are dead ends.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
Everybody is different but the one piece of advice that I would give is: write. It is only through writing, writing more and then writing some more that you ever reach a point where you know where you are. Also (OK this is a second piece) be honest with yourself because it will show. Do not try to imitate, or fit into a particular genre that happens to be popular, or try to write something that does not fit with who you are. It will not ring true.

Thank you Paula for a fantastic interview. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel to The Butterfly Heart.

The Butterfly Heart is available to buy from all major book shops right now. 
To find out more about Paula Leyden and her forthcoming books, please visit her at her website here.

The Butterfly Heart by Paula Leyden

Pages - 200

Published by Walker Books 

Book kindly sent to me by the author for an honest review.

My friend Winifred didn't put her hand up today. Not once. She hardly put her head up. I kept looking at her sideways, waiting. But nothing. When the bell rang, she slipped out of the classroom as if she had never been there. Like a shadow. I stayed sitting for a while, wondering. Maybe she was having a quiet day. Surely everyone has those? Or maybe she didn't know any answers. No. Not likely.

The story is set in the butterfly heart of Africa. Bul-Boo and Madillo are desperate to help their friend Winifred from a fate no child should ever have to deal with. Winifred is slowly going into a decline. Out of desperation they plead with Ifwafwa, the snake man to help Winifred; to save her from her future. Ifwafwa agrees to help, but the girls find themselves impatient with his progress. Will he manage to save Winifred before it is too late?

When I get a book like this, it makes me realise how much I love book blogging. A few weeks ago the author approached me to ask if I would review her book, I quickly had to find out more about it as I had never heard of it before. I was extremely curious by the endorsement of the book by Amnesty International UK and immediately agreed to read it. As I began reading it, I found myself smiling with delight, because I had found myself a sparkling gem that needed to be seen by everyone.

The writing in this book is utterly beautiful. I found the story just flowed off the pages like a winding, lazy, river. It is one of the quiet books, where everything happens in a quiet way but produces immense results, leaving you feeling satisfied that everything has been dealt with. 

Bul-Boo and Madillo were an extremely entertaining set of twins. Madillo is just hilarious with her fabricated stories which she dramatically presents to everyone who will listen. Bul-Boo is the quieter of the pair and the most thoughtful, struggling to cope with the worries that seem to sit upon her young shoulders. 

The story goes back and forth between two different points of view. We see how frustrated Bulboo becomes as well as witnessing how Ifwafwa's mind works - slowly but surely. Ifwafwa is like a gentle giant, a snake whisperer of sorts; he reminded me of the character John Coffey in the film 'The Green Mile', a beautiful soul with magic in his essence.

I won't tell you what Winifred is facing in her future, as I don't want to spoil the story for you. However, on reading the story, I could understand how Amnesty International endorsed this book as it deals with basic human rights. The crimes committed against Winifred and her mother led to their human rights being taken away and still occur today in many civilisations all over the world. It is distressing to think that young girls suffer as much as they do and I do think this is one of those books that needs to be read to show the world how wrong it is and hopefully  help in bringing about change as one voice grows louder and merges with others into a choir. 

The way that Bul-Boo and Madillo deal with the situation that beholds Winifred, is through the eyes of a child, so we do not witness any graphic descriptions, we just see it simply as a child would see it.

This is a book I would recommend to be used in schools as part of PSHE. It is a poignant story told through the eyes of a child, but with  a little laughter and happiness thrown in too.  A must read for all. 

Really Random Tuesday

Really Random Tuesday is a meme created by Suko at Suko's Notebook which is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of.

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Firstly I am going to let you into a little secret. Come closer, listen very carefully and make sure no one is else is listening. 

I have three super duper brand new secret projects coming up on the blog over the next few weeks and two of them you can join in with. I shall leave you with that. No clues I'm afraid, apart from one.

One of my brand new super secret projects is a joint project with Kate and Elle over at The Book Memoirs. These are two transatlantic babes who are just fabulous and if you don't follow them then you should. We should be announcing the project  around the 18th of July. So watch this space.

The other two projects you will just have to wait and see.

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You may have noticed a few changes going on around the blog lately. Well there has been a huge change for me. I now own the URL for my blog which has led to a new name. 

My new blog name is Serendipity Reviews (didn't want to lose the Serendipity bit) and my new address is http://www.serendipityreviews.co.uk/

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The winners of the two SIGNED copies of AFTERWARDS by Rosamund Lupton are:

Jules at The Great, The Good, The Bad 

Books For Company

Well done to you both, an email is on its way to you to request your addresses so that we can forward the books onto you. 

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I am appearing on The Book Memoirs blog on the 6th July as part of their Guest Blogger Week, so make sure you pop by and I will give you a link. I am also appearing in a few super duper book tours over the next few weeks which I will let you know more about as soon as dates have been finalised. 

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