Unexpected Blog Break

Some of you may have noticed that I haven’t blogged a lot lately. In fact, I have only posted once in the last couple of weeks and to be honest, I feel bad. There has been a lot going on in my household as well as my head of late and I found myself for the first time since I started this blog in 2009, not wanting to do it anymore. To the point, I was ready to quit.  I’ve struggled to read anything since December started; my  plans to read all the new publications for January hasn’t even begun and the more I try, the more I resist. I don’t even wanted to write at the moment either. I haven’t picked up a pen since November and there is no urge within me to write. I haven’t even been on Twitter, which for me is rare. I think basically my batteries are completely flat and I need to recharge them. I desperately need a  break from it, to mull over the future and decide how I want to proceed with writing and blogging for next year.

For those of you who are probably now panicking that I might be quitting altogether; well I am not. I just need an extended break.

So after much thought and discussion with others, I have decided to continue my blogging break until the 6th January.  My husband and my children are at home, and I really want to spend time with them. I want a couple of weeks reading some old favourites and rediscovering my love of books as I seem to have lost it lately. I intend to be back in the blogging chair, raring to go with lots of posts I had hoped to write in December once the kids go back to school. It looks like I will have some new faces joining me to review books, thanks to my lovely pals at the Chichester SCBWI group, who have offered to help out. There will probably be some changes too, as I want to  develop a new weekend format which won’t revolve so much around books.

My dear readers, if I could ask you to bear with me and still be around when I get back. I’ve rarely taken any blog breaks and if they have, they were normally only for a couple of days, but this time I really do need it.

So for now, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I look forward to coming back to you more refreshed and buzzing in January.

The Sound Of Us by Ashley Poston

The only thing I hate more than Saturday night shifts at the bar are dentist appointments, and you have to be a sadist to like those. When I’m working without the manager, my mom, it’s worse, but she been MIA every weekend since the wedding.

Published by Bloomsbury Spark in December 2013

Pages -

America's favourite pop band, Roman Holiday, is done, dead, and so totally last year. For eighteen-year-old rockoholic Junie Baltimore, this is music to her ears. But when she discovers their sexy ex-lead singer hiding out on the boardwalk, her summer vacation becomes the cover story of the year.
She's willing to keep him a secret, but when a sleazy paparazzo offers her the cash she needs to save the bar her father left behind, could she sell out for the chance to save her future? Who is she kidding? That's a no-brainer...but she never planned on falling head over heels for the lead singer.

******

This book was a refreshing change and a surprising one as it is on the debut list for Bloomsbury’s new ebook imprint, Bloomsbury Spark which is launched this month. The reason I found it refreshing was probably the setting. Considering how influential the musical and celebrity environment is on the younger generations, there aren’t many books that embrace the pop star phenomenon. I can only think of C.J. Skuse’s Rockoholic And Bridget Tyler’s Drummer Girl that are set in the music world and it is definitely a subject to be explored further.

Junie is about to embark on the annual family holiday, only this time without her dad. Not long after his death, her mum remarried her high school sweetheart and lost interest in the family run bar that is struggling to survive. Junie refuses to let it go under and reluctantly goes away with her mum, where she literally runs into one of the most notorious pop stars around, Roman Holliday, who had disappeared off the face of the earth since the death of his band mate, Holly.  The two embark on an unlikely friendship, sparked by the tender flames of romance. There are a lot of similarities between Junie and Roman and their circumstances, which I do think helps to bring them together.

I loved all the characters. Each standing out proud and unique in their own way. Junie is one tough little cookie, not about to fall for a wallowing pop star…and yet Roman soon burrows into her affection. I loved Roman! He is the perfect blend of Adonis and geek; every girl’s dream.  Maggie definitely stands out from the crowd, in her desperate attempts to get noticed by every male possible. There is an incident in the book referred to as Plan B and all I can say is that scene is priceless. I could envisage most girls doing this as a possible option when all other avenues have been exhausted.

This really was an enjoyable debut with quite a few poignant moments. With hints of many of the great 80’s movies, such as Roadhouse and Shag, this has a lovely retro feel to it and certainly lifts your spirits by the end.  A solid and promising debut to put a smile on your face.

Other books being published with Bloomsbury Spark next week.

World After by Susan Ee

Everyone thinks I’m dead.

I lie with my head on my mother’s lap in the open bed of a large truck.  The dawn light etches the grief lines on my mom’s face while the rumble of the engines vibrates through my limp body.  We’re part of the resistance caravan.  Half a dozen military trucks, vans and SUV’s weave through dead cars away from San Francisco.  On the horizon behind us, the angels’ aerie still smoulders in flames after the Resistance strike.

*  *  *

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in November 2013

360 pages

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.  Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige.  Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.  Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose? 

*  *  *

Reviewed by Caroline Hodges

I only read Susan Ee’s much praised ‘Angelfall’ in the summer and was subsequently quite glad I’d jumped on the bandwagon late with the book.  Why? Because it meant less time to wait to the sequel! Hooray! 

World After picks up right where Angelfall left off and hurls us straight back into the action of Penryn’s destroyed world.  As with the first book, Penryn remains a worthy heroine – a complete match for Katniss Everdeen with her quick-thinking ways and loyalty to her family.     

If anything, World After is darker, more ruthless than the first novel.  There’s a gruesome scene involving some cannibalism and we find out just what happened to little Paige before Penryn finally found her in Angelfall.  We also see the cruel and ruthless side of humans as well as the dark side of angels we’ve already encountered in the first novel.

A small criticism is just how linear World After is to the first novel – the structure is pretty much identical.  Luckily Ee still manages to pull off a captivating novel with her talent for suspense and great characterisation.  There’s a fair bit of humour in there that you wouldn’t expect in a dystopian fiction; for example when Penryn carelessly re-names Raffe’s sword ‘Pooky Bear’.  

Speaking of Raffe; some readers may be disappointed that he is largely absent for most of the book.  This wasn’t much of an issue for me – I like Penryn as a character enough not to miss him, but the more romantically minded might wish there was more of a development in Raffe and Penryn’s relationship.  All is not lost however; there are some nice moments where Penryn gets to experience moments from her and Raffe’s past, kindly recounted to her by his sword.

Lastly, a word on Penryn’s mum.  It’s subtly done, but I like the way Ee has handled the relationship between mother and daughter in this book.  Where before she was the crazy lunatic, somehow in World After there is

method to her madness and a growing respect from Penryn for her mother.  I can’t help feeling that however the End of Days series ends, she will turn out to be a major catalyst.  

Susan Ee has delivered a worthy sequel to her astonishing debut and I am certain readers won’t be disappointed.    

 

How to Catch a Dragon By Caryl Hart and Ed Eaves

 

It's just not fair.

I've been at school all week, and now I have to do homework! How am I meant to draw a dragon if I've never even seen one?

Published by Simon and Schuster in January 2014

Pages - 32

Summary From Simon and Schuster

Albie's visit to the library quickly turns into an amazing adventure when he makes a new knightly friend amongst the bookshelves.

The brave friends set off on a daring quest, where they meet trolls, bears and a mysterious many-headed monster … but will they be able to catch a dragon?

Going to the library has never been so much fun!

*******

Reviewed by Liss Norton

Albie's trip to the library with Mum isn't quite what he was expecting in this picture book. Instead of sitting quietly and drawing a dragon for his homework, he finds himself caught up in a fantasy adventure with a young knight.  

There's danger along the way as Albie and Sir Cuthbert Clinkety-Clank set off on horseback to find a dragon. They meet a grizzly bear and a hungry troll, and then there's that monster in the cave … Fortunately nothing is quite what it seems and everything turns out happily in the end – although it looks as though there might be a problem with the car wash on the way home! But perhaps that's another story… 

This book is bursting with detailed and highly colourful illustrations. There are a couple of picture clues to spot which might help you guess what's coming next and the troll's slightly bonkers language is brilliant. A fun book for young children.

The Big Break (Part 1) with Lara Williamson

As publication for A Boy Called Hope, draws nearer, I am extremely excited to interview the forthcoming debut author, Lara Williamson, to discover more about her writing journey.

1) March 2014 sees the publication of your debut novel, A Boy Called Hope. How are you feeling about it all right now?

I think there is an entire butterfly house fluttering away inside my stomach at the moment. I’m both nervous and excited about the publication. But it’s all good and I’m looking forward to March 1^st.

2) You are a member of SCBWI. How has that helped your journey to publication?

The month I joined SCBWI I also entered Undiscovered Voices and I think that was the beginning of my journey to publication. There was a real buzz around UV at the time and I found myself being part of it, which was fantastic. When you’re writing it can sometimes feel like you’re in a bubble but with SCBWI there are lots of lovely, hardworking, like minded people who know what it feels like to be in a bubble too and they’re there to support you.

3) You were long listed for Undiscovered Voices in 2012, how did that feel?

It was incredible. At the time I joined SCBWI I wasn’t fully aware of just how fantastic Undiscovered Voices was but I soon found out. Being long listed really gives you a boost and gets you noticed by all the right people in the industry, which is something you’re very grateful for.

4) What advice would you give to any long listers who don’t get into the short list for the Undiscovered Voices 2014.

I didn’t make the short list and I remember being disappointed. I felt as though I’d get so far, maybe even see a finish line, but I could never quite jump the last hurdle without falling. Afterwards I submitted the UV manuscript to agents but this time things were different and I was able to say I’d been long listed and that really helped open doors. At the same time I thought I’d write something new – a story about what it feels like to be rejected but never give up hope. It turned into A Boy Called Hope and with this one I did jump the last hurdle. If I could say one final thing it would be this: not making the short list (or even the long list) is not the end. There are many routes to publication and you will find your own way.

5) How did you feel when you got your agent?

This was one of the best days ever. At the time I couldn’t believe it was actually happening to me because it was so amazing. I think I wandered around in a daze for a long time. Maddy is the loveliest most supportive agent I could ask for and even now I’m still thanking my lucky stars.

6) Who was the first person you spoke to when you found you were to be published?

Learning I was going to be published was a dream come true. I told my husband first because he’d been on the journey to publication with me. It’s always nice to have someone ride the ups and downs of the roller coaster with you. And when there’s an up you have got to celebrate it with the person who also helped you through the downs.

Check back here for part 2 of The Big Break with Lara Williamson next Thursday.

A Boy Called Hope by Lara Williamson is out on 1^st March 2014. To read the first chapter go to www.usborne.com/readHope. To preorder, please click the box below.

To find out more about Lara Williamson:

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Setting The Scene with Hannah Fielding

Today as part of The Echoes of Love blog tour, I am pleased to welcome Hannah Fielding onto the blog to talk about the characters and the setting for her novel.

The characters in The Echoes of Love were quite easy to write, once I ‘met’ them in real life! I saw my heroine, Venetia, in the street in Venice; she was one of those confident, impeccably groomed international women you often see in Italy. All my heroines have a little of me in them, and in this case she’s not always brave or clear thinking, but she is human, kind and sensitive. The hero, Paolo, was just as serendipitous: my husband introduced me to an Italian lawyer who had extraordinary charm, but who seemed to have been bruised by life. Later, I found it easy to build a tragic history around this figure.

The setting was perhaps the most fun part to write, because in the interest of research I convinced my husband that a trip to Venice was in order. Sheer heaven! I had a wonderful time immersing myself in the culture there, and exploring every nook and cranny of the city. This kind of field research is essential for me, because I have to know a place in order to capture it well on paper. I believe that the setting in a romance novel is essential for establishing a romantic mood and transporting the reader to the fantasy world I am creating, to capture not only their attention but also their emotions. The reader must be able to see, feel, taste, hear, smell everything my heroes and heroines are experiencing, and I call upon all the senses to render an authentic ambiance. The result, I hope, is a book that is pure escapism for the reader, transporting them to another place in such a way that they are lost in the story.

To find out more about Hannah Fielding please click below:

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Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse Written and Illustrated by Chris Riddell

Ada Goth sat up in her eight-poster bed and peered into the inky blackness.

There it was again.

A sigh, soft and sad and ending in a little squeak. Ada looked across the bedroom as she held up the candle and stepped out of bed.

Who’s there?’ she whispered.

Published by Macmillan Children's Books Sept 2013

220 pages in hardback edition http://www.panmacmillan.com/devpanmacmillan/media/panmacmillan/Books/width220px/goth-girl-1-978023075980001.jpg

Summary from Macmillan

Ada Goth is the only child of Lord Goth. The two live together in the enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall. Lord Goth believes that children should be heard and not seen, so Ada has to wear large clumpy boots so that he can always hear her coming. This makes it hard for her to make friends and, if she's honest, she's rather lonely.

Then one day William and Emily Cabbage come to stay at the house, and together with a ghostly mouse called Ishmael they and Ada begin to unravel a dastardly plot that Maltravers, the mysterious indoor gamekeeper, is hatching. Ada and her friends must work together to foil Maltravers before it's too late!

******

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

Goth Girl is a beautifully produced book from Macmillan, written and illustrated by Chris Riddell with wonderfully Gothick illustrations and humour. The girl inside me craves the gorgeous Regency outfit on the cover – which sets the tone for the whole thing. 

We get oodles of black and purple and silver on the cover – with skulls. Even the pages have shiny purple edges. Inside there are plenty of highly detailed and ever so slightly ridiculous pen drawings – and any book that includes foot notes written by an actual foot is fine by me.

The reader also gets a tiny bonus book tucked in at the end. I won’t give spoilers – but save it till last because it will make more sense then. It’s also beautifully produced though in a different style to suit its author: in a lighter verse and comic strip combination. Charming.

The main story itself is great fun with a nicely judged mixture of peril, adventure and silliness. It will appeal to confident readers who will enjoy, ignore or search out the clever references to characters really rather like Lord Byron, Mary Shelley and other Regency celebrities. All very literary – but with plenty of action to keep it going (and the odd truly dreadful pun). 

The children are central to the action, the adults wonderfully overblown and memorable and despite being sort-of historical, the female characters are strong and not just part of the background. Huzzah.

If I had anything to remark on, it would be that I’d like to see some members of the Attic Club have more adventures. I rather hope there will be further stories from Ghastly-Gorm Hall.

This book will absolutely delight its intended readership – and certain adults as well! I am very pleasantly surprised that it is in the Costa shortlist- and I hope publishers take note. The future of the printed book lies in beauty and quality and individuality like this.

Meet the Parents By Peter Bently and Sara Ogilvie

Sometimes you think that your mum and your dad

Are there just to nag you and boss you like mad.

Do this and do that – it's a terrible bore.

But here are some MORE things that parents are for…

Published by Simon and Schuster in January 2014

Pages - 32

Summary From Simon and Schuster

Parents are surprising.

You think that they're just there  to boss you about, but did you know they are also targets for ketchup? And tent poles for dens that are wonky? And towels for wiping your grime on?

In this book you'll discover many other handy uses for your parents – and find out what they love best. Apart from you, of course. 

*******

Review by Liss Norton

This picture book is a heart-warming celebration of family life. Parents definitely aren't just there to boss children around and here are pages and pages of wonderful pictures to prove it. 

Parents sort out all of life's little mishaps, whether you've dropped ice cream on a stranger's boots or lost some toys in the garden. The rhyming text is perfect and the illustrations expand on it with gentle humour, so there's plenty to talk about on every page. I particularly loved the double spread showing Mum as a donkey: it brought back so many memories! But all of the illustrations deserve close attention. Parents are sure to recognize themselves here, whether they're the dad trying to read while holding up the children's tent, or the mum napping on the sofa.

This is definitely a book to be treasured. I loved it!