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March 31, 2009 9:11 PM

Review: Stick or Twist by Eleanor Moran

At first glance Anna Christie seems to have everything: a loving boyfriend and glamorous job on a women’s magazine. However, all is not as it seems. Her career seems to have taken a wrong turn. Rather than becoming the foreign correspondent she always dreamed of being she has somehow ended up at Casual Chic, spending her days writing articles like ‘Fifty ways with a cherry tomato’ and ‘Impotence: why no marriage is safe’. The spark seems to have gone out of her personal life too.

While she knows a lot of women would kill to have the comfy, undemanding relationship she has with Adam, her boyfriend of ten years, she can’t help but feel that the trouble with comfy is that it is a bit dull, a bit routine and lacking anything that comes close to being called excitement. Just as Anna is starting to question if this is really what she wants from a relationship Adam gets down on one knee and pops the question she suddenly realises she has been dreading.

What should she do? Say yes, accept that things will never be exciting again? Settle down to a life of routine, unflattering nightwear, mechanical sex, babies, quilted loo roll and always wonder what might have been if she had been a little braver and made the break when she had the chance? Or walk away from the easy, familiar relationship she has and face the horrors of a newly single life camping out on a friend’s sofa and waiting to see who else is out there to spice up her life?

While she struggles with the implications of her decision she is given a make or break chance at work. She has the task of producing ‘a bridal show for funky young brides who thought they were too cool for convention but too in love to resist’. But can she pull it off when others in the office think that prawn vol au vents and jazz bands are the epitome of what is cool.

The book follows Anna’s ups and downs as she tries to make sense of her personal and professional situations and decide what she really does want out of her life. Stick or Twist is well written, easy to read and funny in places. There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested and keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to Anna in the end.

The only problem I had with the book was that I didn’t really like Anna as a character. She is a little shallow and didn’t find the mix of all the different aspects of her character wholly convincing. Her transformation by the end of the book seems a bit to convenient and the ending is perhaps a little too contrived. That said, I didn’t dislike her enough to put the book down. I did want to keep on reading to find out if it all works out for her – I just didn’t find myself rooting for her as I might have done if I have liked her a bit more or found her a bit more realistic.

On the whole this is a light hearted, fun read. Great for a holiday read – but be warned don’t even think about packing it if you are not sure the person you are going away with is the one for you.  

By Wendy Knowles

Rating 4 out of 5

Buy from Amazon

Posted by Aigua Media on March 31, 2009 in Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 30, 2009 9:58 PM

Goodbye from Helen

I’m afraid the time has come when I have to say goodbye. I’ve been writing for Trashionista for ooh, well over a year now, but it’s time to move on. I want to say a huge thank you to all the readers, commenters, authors and publishers who have made writing for this site so darn enjoyable. I will really miss it.

I will not be dropping out of the blogisphere however. Please do feel free to pop over to my personal blog to see what I’m getting up to next.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 30, 2009 in Announcements | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 27, 2009 7:09 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Julie Cohen

I told you I had a few author interviews up my sleeve didn't I? Well today I'm delighted to say Julie Cohen, fab author of Little Black Dress books One Night Stand and Honey Trap (I adored both of them), is our interviewee. Her latest release, Girl From Mars, is out in June.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A female comic book artist takes a vow (in Klingon) not to get a boyfriend. 

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

My lovely iMac is set up on the dining room table of our tiny two-up, two-down Victorian terraced house.  I write most of my books right there, in the scant hours when my toddler isn’t racing his cars around me.  If I get stuck, I move to writing in a notebook, and I try to go somewhere else in the house.  When I’m very lucky, I get to go to a coffee shop to write for an hour or two.  I have a great Brazilian café near me which is lovely and airy to work in. 

Your favourite chick-lit book?

I’m a huge fan of everything Marian Keyes has written, but my absolute favourite has to be Rachel's Holiday.  I can read that book over and over.  I think it’s so brilliant that though Rachel the heroine is seriously flawed, Keyes totally makes us care and shows us her heroine’s journey from self-deceiving addict to honest, loving woman.  Reading that book years ago really opened my eyes to intelligent, emotional chick-lit.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

I really do love flawed heroines, so my favourite all-time heroine is probably Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse.  She’s insufferably smug, spoilt and naïve and yet you like her so much, even as you’re laughing at her.  And when she does realise her faults, it’s genuine and touching.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

The most important thing is to read a lot and to write a lot.  Don’t wait for inspiration; use the time you’ve got and write your heart out.  Then write some more.  You don’t have to get it right the first time, because you can revise and edit later.  The more you write, the more you learn.

What are you reading at the moment?

Getting Rid Of Matthew by Jane Fallon.  I started it yesterday and I’m about halfway through.  The heroine, Helen, is another flawed woman who’s made a lot of bad choices and I’m looking forward to seeing how she gets out of the mess she’s made.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

I’ve got two more Little Black Dress novels to come (Girl From Mars, and Nina Jones and the Temple of Gloom) and after that, I’ve got a mainstream commercial women’s fiction novel coming out with Headline Review, in 2010.  I’m working on that now.  It doesn’t have a title yet, but it’s about a failed actress who takes over her identical twin sister’s life when her sister disappears.  It involves ice cream, soap operas and a transvestite sheep.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

 

Q: Superman or Batman?

A: Totally Batman.  Okay, Superman has amazing alien powers and you have to admit that Clark Kent is really, really hot, especially with those glasses, but Batman rids Gotham of evil with nothing more than a skin-tight costume, a kick-ass car and a near-pathological obsession with avenging his parents’ deaths.  Plus midnight blue is way sexier than bright blue.

 

Thanks, Julie!

 

For more check out her website.

 

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 27, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (3)

Meg Cabot and Read Our Lips

Meg Cabot and Michele Jaffe have created an advice vlog entitled Read Our Lips which they are hoping to turn into a regular feature. To find out more click on the clip below, or visit her website.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 27, 2009 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sarah Waters' New Website

Fans of Sarah Waters should check out her new website. Sarah's new book, The Little Stranger, is out at the end of May but you can read part one of chapter one on her site. Three more extracts will be added over the coming weeks. The site also includes Sarah's top ten ghost stories, frequently asked questions and a gallery of the books that have been adapted. Well worth a look.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 27, 2009 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 26, 2009 6:12 PM

MOVIE NEWS: The Romantics

Liv Tyler has signed up to play the maid of honour in The Romantics, an independent film adapted from the book of the same name by Galt Niederhoffer. The author will also write and direct the film.

The book is about two college roommates, Laura and Lila, and their group of friends. Ten years after college and it is Lila's wedding day to Laura's former boyfriend, Tom. Laura can't help but think about her relationship with Tom and things unfold from there.[via Empire]

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 26, 2009 in Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 25, 2009 7:00 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Rowan Coleman

I've got one or two author interviews up my sleeve and I'm delighted to say that Rowan Coleman is the subject of today's. Rowan is an author I have admired for some time. Not only does she write successful books such as The Baby Group and The Accidental Wife, but she also writes the Ruby Parker series of books for girls.

Hi Rowan, welcome back to Trashionista! Tell us about your latest book, The Accidental Family.

The Accidental Family is a follow up novel to The Accidental Mother. It picks up the story of Sophie, Louis, Bella and Izzy about six months after Sophie gives up her whole life to go and join Louis and his daughters in Cornwall. It explores their developing romance and what happens when reality comes crashing in to complicate things.

Had you always planned to write a sequel to The Accidental Mother?

I never planned to write a sequel to any of my novels! It's not something that would normally appeal to me. I have a head so full of ideas that it seems a bit mad to go back to an old one. But readers from all over the world kept asking me what happened next to Sophie and Louis and after a while I started to think about it and I found that the characters kept telling me their story and they wouldn't shut up! So in the end I relented and gave into them. I think it works as a stand alone book too, but I'm glad to be able to give the readers what they've been asking for.

Did you find it easier writing a sequel?

It was fun to be back with characters that I am so fond of again, but if anything writing a sequel is harder - you have to keep the same narrative pitch and make sure that the characters ring true and keep faith with the original. I wrote The Accidental Mother about four years ago now, so that was tricky!

What is coming next from Rowan Coleman (if you can tell us)?

I can't tell you the title because it's so brilliant I don't want anyone to steal it - it hasn't got 'accidental' in it though!! And I find it really hard to talk about a book while I'm writing it, suffice to say I am really enjoying working on it, possibly more than I've enjoyed any of my other books and I hope it will be a fun, romantic, compelling read!

Thanks, Rowan!

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 25, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 24, 2009 11:56 AM

BOOK NEWS: The Tent, the Bucket and Me

I was just having a wander through Amazon, when I came across this book by Emma Kennedy (actress and writer from Goodness Gracious Me, The Smoking Room and The Now Show). It resonated so much with me that I just had to write about it on here. It's about holidays in a time before Center Parcs when all you had was a tent (or a caravan in our case) a bucket and went off to Wales or France to create your own adventures. It has just been released and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Click over the cut for the blurb.

Growing up in the Seventies, we were on the brink of the modern age. But despite a brave new world of Casio hand-held calculators and digital watches, one thing remained the same: the family holiday. For the Seventies child, summer holidays didn't mean the joy of Center Parcs or the sophistication of a Tuscan villa. They meant being crammed into a car with Grandma and heading to the coast. With just a tent for a home and a bucket for the necessities, we would set off on new adventures each year stoically resolving to enjoy ourselves.For Emma Kennedy, and her mum and dad, disaster always came along for the ride no matter where they went. Whether it was swept away by a force ten gale on the Welsh coast or suffering copious amounts of food poisoning on a brave trip to the south of France, family holidays always left them battered and bruised. But they never gave up. Emma's memoir, "The Tent, the Bucket and Me", is a painfully funny reminder of just what it was like to spend your summer holidays cold, damp but with sand between your toes.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 24, 2009 in Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 23, 2009 2:44 PM

MONDAY FLICK: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Following on from the pilot episode last year, Mma Precious Ramotswe returns with her Ladies’ Detective Agency for six hour long episodes on a Sunday evening (BBC1). From the moment the title credits appear on screen (which are sympathetic to the book covers by Alexander McCall Smith), to the beautifully shot landscape and the dusty but colourful town, The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency does not disappoint.

Last night was the second episode (if you missed it you can catch up with BBC iplayer) and it is fair to say that I am hooked. Now I haven’t read the books (I tried but failed) so I don’t know how they compare or if the storylines are the same (anyone know?) but the first episode concerned a missing dog, an odd dentist who has good days and bad and a missing husband. These plotlines are hardly edge of the seat stuff, but they still hook you in and transport you to small town life in Botswana. There are some darker subjects that are also lightly touched upon. For example last night's episode involved, amongst other things, ivory smuggling.

Jill Scott who plays Mma Ramotswe is great but the supporting cast shine also. I love Mma Makutsi who is Ramotswe's secretary in particular (for a detailed list of characters click here). Each episode has its own mystery but gradually we are getting to know more and more about the lives of the supporting characters.

Already I am hoping there will be a second series.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 23, 2009 in Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 20, 2009 8:48 PM

Marian Keyes' St. Patrick's Day Message

I am a little late with this, but here is the fabulous Marian Keyes' St. Patrick's Day message. Talking about sales of This Charming Man, insomnia and painting a dog green. I kid you not.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 20, 2009 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK COVER: The Cupid Effect

I really like the Dorothy Koomson book covers. They are so crisp, clean and contemporary. The new one, The Cupid Effect, certainly doesn't disappoint. But I have to say I think my favourite one has to be The Chocolate Run.

You can read an extract from The Cupid Effect  (which I think has a great opening line) here. It is out in the summer. Click over the cut for the blurb.

Ceri D'Altroy's hero-worship of Oprah Winfrey is beginning to have serious repercussions. Bored with London life and writing yet another 'black is the new black' fashion feature, she's decided to take Oprah's advice and follow her heart's desire. Going back to college might not be everyone's dream but all Ceri's has ever wanted to do is teach...But though her professional life seems to be sorted, Ceri's personal life is still a no-go area. After six long, long, months without so much as a snog, she's given up hope of ever finding anyone who'll put up with her various idiosyncrasies. In fact just lately, her pent-up energies and frustrations seem to have been diverted into solving other people's romantic problems. Since arriving in Leeds she's reunited a happily uncoupled couple, encouraged her new flatmate to do something about his unrequited love and outed the closet relationship of two of her new colleagues. All this, in spite of her new life resolution to mind her own business. But is Ceri destined to always play Cupid? Or can she use some of her powers where they're needed most - to help herself? A delicious romantic comedy about love, life and good intentions…

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 20, 2009 in Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 19, 2009 7:33 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Cally Taylor

Now I know I use the phrase "I'm so excited..." quite a lot here on Trashionista. In my defence it is with good reason as I do get incredibly excited about good books. However, today, with this post, I have something that I think is extra special. An interview with newly signed author Cally Taylor. And it isn't because I know her (as I do, just a little bit) but because I think she has a fantastic career ahead of her as a writer. Her book, Haunting For Beginners, is out in October this year and this is her first ever interview.

Please describe your book in 15 words or fewer:

Lucy is dead and desperately trying to be reunited with the man she loves.

How were you ‘discovered’?

I bought a copy of the Writers and Artists Yearbook and wrote a list of all the agents who accepted chick-lit and women's fiction. The first one on my list was Darley Anderson (I really liked his name. I also thought he was a woman!) so I sent him my synopsis and first three chapters. That was on a Friday morning. The next Monday afternoon he rang me up and asked me for the whole manuscript. I was so excited I thought I might pass out but managed to get myself together enough to print it off, read it through (again) for typos and send it off. Six weeks later he rang me back. He liked it and it had a lot of potential, he said, but it needed some more work. I was absolutely gutted (I’d convinced myself that he'd send me a letter if he hated it and only ring if he wanted to sign me!) but, after a couple of weeks of sulking, I started to make the changes he’d requested and sent it back five months after his second phone call. Three months after that I received a phone call from Madeleine Buston. She told me that Darley had given her my revised manuscript to read on the train to Scotland and that she’d fallen in love with it. We talked about the book and her plans for it for a while and then I (tentatively) asked, “So are you my agent then?” and she said yes!

Have you always been a writer?

Yes, I guess so. As child I loved writing stories and making up plays and sent my first ‘book’ (an ‘illustrated’ story about The Evil Weed and his flower friends) to Penguin Publishers when I was eight. I even bound it myself – in pink wool! It was rejected, of course, but I wasn’t deterred.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

Before I start writing my books I scribble down lots of notes in the notebooks that I carry around with me everywhere. Ideas for characters and plot developments pop into my head while I’m on the train, walking to town and even in the pub and I always have to stop to write them down otherwise they’re lost forever. When I actually start writing a book I type straight onto the laptop which is on my very messy desk in my tiny, cluttered bedroom.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Tough one! It’s a toss-up between Ralph’s Party by Lisa Jewell and Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. Those were the first two chick-lit books I ever read and they opened up a whole new world of literature to me. I realised that yes, you could write books about modern women with flaws and dreams and complicated love lives, and that other women wanted to read about them too.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

My favourite female heroine ever or my favourite chick-lit heroine? My favourite female heroine ever would have to be Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. My favourite female chick-lit heroine is Cannie in Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

Read a lot, write a lot, get your novel critiqued by people you aren’t related to or friends with, and then polish it until it gleams before sending it out to agents.

Develop a thick skin. Criticism and rejection sting like hell but you have to learn from them, bounce back and keep writing.

One more thing - put your novel to one side for at least 3 weeks before you start editing it and then read it aloud – it will sound very different to the way it did in your head when you wrote it, and you’ll find it easier to spot the mistakes.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m reading Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. I think it was a Trashionista review that made me buy it in the first place and I’m loving it. I’ve only just started it and it’s already wonderfully magical and compelling.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

I’m working on my second book, currently titled “Dead Romantic”. It’s about two single people in Brighton and what happens when a couple of hapless guardian angels are tasked with making them happy.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

If you died how long would you want your partner to wait before he moved on?

Well I’d probably tell him that two years would be just about acceptable but secretly I’d want him to mourn me forever and never love anyone as much as he’d loved me!

Thanks, Cally!

To find out more visit her website at www.callytaylor.co.uk

The following is the blurb for Haunting For Beginners,

'"What would I do without you, Lucy Brown?" he said, and kissed me softly. I held his face in my hands and kissed him back. I felt that life just couldn't get any more perfect. And I was right, it wouldn't. By the end of the next day, I'd be dead. Lucy is about to marry the man of her dreams - kind, handsome, funny Dan - when she breaks her neck the night before their wedding. Unable to accept a lifetime's separation from her soulmate, Lucy decides to become a ghost rather than go to heaven and be parted from Dan. But it turns out things aren't quite as easy as that. When Lucy discovers that Limbo is a grotty student-style house in North London she's less than thrilled. Especially after meeting her new flatmates: grumpy, cider-swilling EMO-kid Claire; and Brian, a train-spotter with a Thomas the Tank Engine duvet and a big BO problem. But Lucy has a more major problem on her hands - if she wants to become a ghost and be with Dan she has to complete an almost impossible task. How the hell does a girl like Lucy find a girlfriend for the dorkiest man in England? IT geek Archie's only passions are multi-player computer games and his Grandma. But Lucy only has twenty-one days to find him love. And when she discovers that her so-called friend Anna is determined to make a move on the heart-broken, vulnerable Dan, the pressure is really on ...

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 19, 2009 in Book News, Brand new authors, British Authors, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 18, 2009 9:03 PM

BOOK NEWS: Air Confidential and top tell-all career books...

Wicked Whispers: Confessions of a Gossip Queen

Former 3am girl Jessica Callan released her tell-tale book in 2007, detailing life as a showbiz journalist. Jessica dished the dirt on both the nice celebrities, and...well, the not so nice ones. Working as one of the most renowned showbiz journos in the country, Jessica and the 3am girls were subject to a vast array of celebrity shenanigans...and so, she penned this scandalous diary.

Tabloid Love

What are your favourites?

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 18, 2009 in Book News, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Honour Thyself

Danielle Steel books have never really entered my radar. By chance I read the plot for her new one, Honour Thyself, and it certainly piqued my interest. Whether it's the obvious parallels to Princess Diana's last moments or that it just sounds gripping, I'm not sure, but perhaps may finally encourage me to pick up one of her books.

Carole Barber has come to Paris, with its rain-slick slate roofs and winding streets, to work on her novel - and to find herself after a lifetime in the spotlight. A legend of film and stage, Carole has set a standard of beauty and grace, devoting herself to her family and causes around the world. But on this cool November evening, as her taxi speeds into a tunnel just past the Louvre, a fiery instant of terror shatters hundreds of lives - and leaves Carole alone, unconscious and unidentified in a Paris emergency room. At the Ritz, they wonder where their famous, incognito guest has gone.From California to London, Carole's friends and family begin to make inquiries. Then comes a moment of shock as they realize that Carole is in a hospital far from home, fighting for her life. In the days that follow, the paparazzi swarm. A mysterious stranger, a man famous in his own realm, quietly visits the hospital to see the woman he once loved and never forgot. Carole's two grown children rush to her bedside, waiting and praying - until the miraculous begins to happen ...But as a woman whom the whole world knows slowly awakens, she knows nothing of herself.Every detail must be pieced back together - from a childhood in rural Mississippi to the early days of her career, from the unintentional hurt inflicted on her daughter to a fifteen year-old secret love affair that went tragically wrong. But for Carole, an extraordinary opportunity has arisen in a life-threatening crisis: a second chance to count her blessings, heal wounded hearts, recapture lost love ...and to live a life that will truly honor others -beginning with herself. A tale of survival and dignity, of small miracles and big surprises, Honor Thyself creates an unforgettable portrait of a public figure whose hopes, fears, and heartbreaks are as real as our own.Her courageous journey inspires us all.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 18, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 17, 2009 8:34 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Girl Next Door

As a writer I like a good nosy into to observe other people's lives. I wonder what goes on behind closed doors, what people are really like. And who better to wonder about than your neighbours. The premise of Elizabeth Noble's new book, The Girl Next Door, promises that I can have a good peek and rummage around an interesting group of people. But legally.

A gorgeous and unforgettable novel set in a turn-of-the-century New York apartment building on the Upper East Side, The Girl Next Door features four interwoven stories about love, life and living together. Meet Eve Gallagher in Apartment 7A, newly relocated to New York from London with her ambitious banker husband. But she's lonely and lost ... until she meets elderly neighbour Violet, who's concealing a tragic story of her own. The Kramers and the Schulmans in Apartments 6A and 6B are about to find their lives intersecting in a most unfortunate manner when Jason Kramer falls head-over-heels for Rachael Schulman. Jackson Grayling III in Apartment 5A is 26, fantastically wealthy and a directionless and hapless layabout ... but he's attracting the attention of a gold-digger in 2B even though he's far more interested in the beautiful and hardworking Emily Mikanowski in 3B. And finally, plain, dull and self-conscious Charlotte Murphy rents 2A and works in the Public Library ... she lives in a dreamworld and is desperate to be anyone but herself. Will any of her neighbours ever take enough notice of her to save her?

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 17, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 16, 2009 1:04 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Do Not Disturb by Tilly Bagshawe

I've read a few books by Louise Bagshawe but have never tried any by her sister, Tilly. Louise writes a good story in the bonkbuster style but isn't as, er, graphic.Tilly has added the more raunchy aspects to a story and has come up with a good book with all the bonkbuster elements included. Sex? Yes. Adultery? Yes. Revenge? Yes. Strong male, good looking and arrogant? Oh yes. And an assertive female that would never in a million years have anything to do with said male? You betcha.

We are thrown into the murky world of hotels, specifically within The Hamptons. Honor Palmer, a hardworking beautiful woman, inherits the Palmer hotel when her father dies. Honor loves the hotel and wants to restore it to its heyday. But she has many battles to fight. Not only has the hotel been neglected for a long time, but her step mother is after the trust, her sister is spending money fast and a new hotel is being built, right on the doorstep of Palmers. With handsome but arrogant Lucas Ruiz in charge.

I don't warm to Honor or Lucas at the beginning, but then maybe I wasn't meant to. Both of them go on a emotional journey with ups and downs, and which mainly centre around one man. Anton Tisch. This man is seriously wealthy and owns the hotel that is being built in The Hamptons. He wants Palmers to go down. Not just destroyed but annihilated. And he will use any means necessary to do so, including his manager, Lucas.

A touch predictable perhaps in the storyline and not realistic at all, but then, that isn't the purpose of this type of book. It is all about fantasy and escapism. And if that's what you want (and who doesn't at the moment when the media is full of depressing stories) then this is the right book to find it in.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Platinum by Jo Rees

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 16, 2009 in Bonkbusters, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 14, 2009 8:48 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Alison Kervin

We loved The WAG's Diary and interviewed author Alison Kervin back in 2007. After reading the news of her upcoming novel Celebrity Bride, I wanted to ask her some more questions!

How long have you been writing novels and biographies?

I wrote my first book in 1997, but I was working as a journalist prior to that (I went into journalism straight after graduating) so I've always written in one form or another. I've just finished my ninth book (three novels, the rest non-fiction). I'm much happier writing fiction rather than non-fiction now because you can just make it all up. If you make it all up in journalism, you get into a hell of a lot of trouble!

Tell us what your latest book is about.

It's a romantic comedy. A modern Cinderella story about a beautiful but lowly girl (Kelly Monsoon) who meets the richest and most successful actor on te planet (Rufus George) and they fall in love. It's all wonderful, but then she discovers that life in his celebrity world is not all roses and champagne. There's murder, intrigue, devastation, joy and delight as the couple struggle to make their unusual relationship work in the spotlight. Very funny but moving, touching and shocking at times!

Where do you write your books?

All over the place. On trains, in bed, in the garden, at the Hampton Court Palace Rose Garden - the Rose Garden even features in my latest book because I spent so much time writing there...I used to chat to te gardener as he pruned the roses, and he even found his way into the book! (Tip...if you see me, don't come and talk to me, because you probably will end up in a novel somewhere. My poor friend Charlie is scared to tell me anything any more for fear that one of my characters will be doing it in the next book).

What is your favourite chick-lit book?

Horrible question...ahhh...what's chick-lit? What counts as a chick-lit book? I'll say anything by Marian Keyes though is she chick-lit? She writes beautiful, funny books with real heart and compassion. I loved the interplay between the most serious subjects and the lighter/frothier elements of her books. She pulls it off so well that it seems easy but it's really not. It's something I've done in Celebrity Bride - I've got a heroine who lived in a fun flat in Twickenham with her two mates and all their dating stories and silly tales are told, making for very humorous reading, but then there's a huge swing in the book half way through when something deeply shocking happens. I wanted to contrast the two moods within the book and have people genuinely surprised by the turn of events. This is something that I think Marian does very well.

What other writers inspire you?

This isn't the sort of question you can give a one-word answer to, so here's a selection. Graham Greene is a genius (read the first few pages of End of The Affair and look at the beauty of the language, the rhythms and simplicity of the images he creates). I’m slightly obsessed with GK Chesterton at the moment (more his journalism than his fiction). Margaret Attwood is blindingly good. I also enjoy Vikram Seth, mainly because of his impossibly clever book The Golden Gate – written in rhyme, it's funny and original and just plain showing-off. I love J.M. Coetzee and am reading a book by Bryan Magee at the moment called Wagner and Philosophy – it is stunning, a shining example of how to take a vastly complicated subject and make it human, colourful, fascinating and alive. Whether you're interested in philosophy, interested in Wagner, or interested in neither, it's a great book by a very natural writer.

Are you working on anything else at the moment?

Yes…I’ve started the next novel…it’s a big book (twice the size of my usual novel) – a dramatic tale about three very different women leading very different lives but all bound by one terrifying secret...

Do you have any advice for our readers who wish to become published authors?

It’s very hard to give sensible advice because writing’s such a personal thing. My little boy, George, comes home from school and says ‘mummy, what did the people in your head do today?’ and if you think about it – writing is an obscure way to make a living…transferring the images, thoughts, characters and situations that exist entirely in your mind, onto paper, in the hope that people will want to read about them! Since everyone’s mind is different, I guess there are always going to be different ways of doing that.

But, for what it’s worth, I think you’ve just got to sit down and do it…try and write something every day. If you write just one page a day you’ll have a book written this time next year. Make sure you read a lot too; it’s vitally important to read everything you can get your hands on. Every time you read and write you learn, so do it whenever you can.

When it comes to the actual writing, I think the key to making fiction work is to have strong, compelling characters; they drive everything. If your characters are right, you can take the book anywhere, without good characters you’re very limited. I spend most of my time before writing novels working out exactly what sort of people my characters will be. I have big sheets of paper on the wall at home with outlines of what the characters look like, where they work, what their parents do for a living, when they were born, and I’ve got pictures cut from magazines illustrating what they look like, and floor-plan sketches of their homes. As I said, all writers work differently, but for me it begins and ends with characterisation above all else.

Finally, the piece of advice frequently given to novelists is "show, don't tell". This is vitally important and distinguishes good fiction from bad fiction in so many ways. It applies to non-fiction too, and to journalism. If there's a way of getting your point across using an illustration rather than a statement, always do it. It's the little vignettes that stay in people's minds when they put a book/newspaper down. Don’t say ‘he’s brave’ – show him being brave. Don’t say ‘he was tall’ show him ducking under a door to illustrate how tall he is. It always works much better. Good luck!

Thanks, Alison!

 

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 14, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 12, 2009 5:32 PM

BOOK NEWS: A Wild Affair

For those who liked Gemma Townley’s The Importance of Being Married, here’s some good news. Jessica Wild is back for the second book in the Wild trilogy, A Wild Affair.

 

Following on from Jessica’s adventures in love and money after she inherited four million pounds and an entire estate (which she could only get hold of if she married her imaginary husband-to-be, aka her boss. Cue Project Marriage. Yes, it’s a must-read.), she seems to have learnt her lesson. At least, we hope so.

 

It looks like we’ll have to wait a while until it’s released (UK Amazon is stating January 2010), but I’m sure another Jessica adventure is worth the wait.

 

Click over the cut to read the blurb…

Jessica and Max are finally going to tie the knot, and Jessica is determined to have the biggest, best wedding ever. The only problem is, recently Max has been evasive—and when Jessica follows him and sees him in an apparent tryst with an attractive woman, it’s the last straw. The next thing she knows, she’s drunk at a bar, cozying up to the top rival of Max’s firm, and letting some top-secret work details slip . . . details that could cost Max everything.

The next morning Jessica is deeply ashamed of her actions, and when a series of events leads her to discover an important truth about her past, she realizes she shouldn’t have doubted the only man she’s ever loved. But as evidence of her own indiscretion surfaces, she knows that the same can’t be said about her. Is her Big Day, as well as her job and reputation in jeopardy?

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 12, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 11, 2009 7:18 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Are you there, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

I’m a big fan of memoirs, particularly the funny, short-story sort (see: Jen Lancaster, Laurie Notaro, Marian Keyes…) So I was delighted to stumble across Are you there, Vodka…?, a memoir by American actress and comedienne Chelsea Handler.

 

Admittedly, I haven’t seen much of Chelsea's TV work, what with being in the UK and all. But after reading this book, I’ll tell you one thing: I love her.

 

Are you there, Vodka? Is a selection of short non-fiction stories, in which Chelsea shares some amusing anecdotes from her life. Starting at childhood, where she lies to classmates about starring in a movie with Goldie Hawn as a no-homework excuse to her first DUI, Chelsea’s essays discuss life with her family and friends and some of her hilarious antics, including the time she got dumped by a guy she didn’t even like in the first place...because of his hair.

 

Chelsea is hilariously witty and admittedly, had me laughing all the way through, particularly seeing as she’s very blunt. Granted, she can be a bit crude at times (so be warned: this book is not for the very easily offended!) but not afraid to say what she thinks!

I'm now going to check out her other book, My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands. Consider me a new fan of Chelsea Handler because I got through Vodka in a day and already can't wait to read more! Chelsea has a fantastic writing style and the ability to portray some of life's awkward moments in the funniest way possible.

And that is why I love her.

Rating: 5/5

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 11, 2009 in American Authors, Memoirs, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Caroline Smailes

In Search of Adam was probably the most mind blowing book I read in 2007, both in terms of the subject matter and the sheer genius that is Caroline’s writing. Her second novel, Black Boxes (she has also written a novella for charity), is out now in paperback and I wanted to catch up with Caroline to see what her new book is all about and how her life has changed since we last interviewed her nearly two years ago.

What is Black Boxes all about?

Black Boxes tells the story of Ana Lewis, a 37 year old single mum living with her two children, Pip and Davie. Right at the beginning of the novel, the reader learns that Ana has taken an overdose of pills and that she is dying. Black Boxes is the story of Ana, of Pip and of Davie. But (as this is all sounding a bit too depressing) there is a glimmer of hope in there too, honest.

What inspired you to write it?

I was still a student when I found myself pregnant with my first child and I had to postpone my studies because of the pregnancy. I struggled with childbirth, with postnatal depression and the feeling that I had failed academically. This was my inspiration for Black Boxes. I took this seed of my life and twisted it into fiction. I looked at my past and thought about another path, one where I was swallowed by my depression and my children's emotional needs slipped away from my grasp. Black Boxes explores what could have been.

You finished your first book, In Search of Adam, in 2006 then created a website and a blog, went on to be found by a publisher and published the following year. How has your life changed since then?

Gosh, these last 30 months have seen so many ups and downs. My daughter started school, which brought with it structure to my days and more writing time. I wrote Black Boxes. My publisher went into liquidation and my writing future seemed very uncertain. The Friday project rose again, as an imprint of HarperCollins, and Black Boxes was published. I wrote my third novel, Like Bees to Honey and also my novella Disraeli Avenue was published. But I guess the biggest change since 2006 is that I no longer lecture in linguistics. My career path has changed completely and I now divide my weeks between writing and editing.

And finally, what can we expect next from you?

We’re at the ‘negotiations stage’ for Like Bees to Honey, which is all a bit terrifying and I'm currently writing my fourth novel.

Thanks, Caroline 

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 11, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 10, 2009 8:03 PM

BOOK NEWS: It's A Fine Life

Jodie Prenger has only been famous for about five or six minutes but she does have a story to tell. If you watched I'd Do Anything in the UK she was the winner of the show and went on to become Nancy in the stage musical of Oliver in London's West End.

She may only have been famous for a short while, but her story is an inspirational one. Touring the working men's clubs, appearing on The Biggest Loser and losing eight stone then going on to do the job of her dreams...If you're stuck in a rut and want to change your life, maybe you should give her story a go. See over the cut for the blurb.

Over 7 million viewers watched as Jodie Prenger was crowned the people's winner of "I'd Do Anything" and achieved her dream of starring in a West End musical. Now you can read Jodie's inspirational life story, as she describes her childhood as a plump little girl, who hid behind her wide smile even as she piled on the pounds, and her early career as a singer touring working men's clubs, appearing in regional theatre and as support for comedians including Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson and Frank Carson.Yet it was Jodie's appearance on "The Biggest Loser" which changed her life forever, as she lost over 8 stone and shrank to a size ten. Feeling like she had a new lease of life and determined to pursue her dream, less than two years later she entered "I'd Do Anything" - and the rest is history. As Jodie stands ready to embark on her sellout West End debut, she tells her story with her trademark down-to-earth charm, and heart-rending honesty, featuring her personal and professional highs and lows alongside delicious back stage gossip. Jodie's life is the stuff of dreams and an inspiration to aspiring singers and dieters alike.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 10, 2009 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

Win tea with Sophie Kinsella at Play.com

Okay, so how many of us here are Shopaholic fans? Play.com are offering a great prize to one lucky winner and a friend in celebration of the Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic re-release, and there's still time to enter.

Here's what you could win:

To celebrate the re-release of The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic, we are delighted to offer one lucky winner and friend a fabulous shopaholic trip to London in the summer! You'll be staying at the glamourous Berkeley Hotel, where you'll be indulged with their 'Girls Night In' package. The next day, The Berkeley treats you to Prêt-a-Portea, a true fashionistas afternoon tea with biscuits and cakes inspired by the latest fashion collections including Christian Louboutin and Lanvin. But that's not all... Sophie Kinsella will join you!

For the chance to win this fantastic prize, head on over to Play.com to enter.

The competition closes on March 29 – good luck!

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 10, 2009 in Competition, Sophie Kinsella | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 9, 2009 7:42 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Buddha Da by Anne Donovan

Buddha Da is the debut from Scottish author Anne Donovan (who we interviewed last week!), which was shortlisted for both the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Whitbread Award.

Jimmy, a painter and decorator from Glasgow, has taken up Buddhism, much to the confusion of his family. Anne Marie, who knows her Da as a fun-loving 'try anything' type of man, wonders whether to take his new religion seriously. And Liz, Jimmy's wife, is starting to grow concerned about the time he spends at meetings down at the centre.

But Jimmy is serious about becoming a Buddhist, not realising how it's affecting his family. After going on a retreat, Jimmy meets more like-minded people and starts to make more friends. Meanwhile, Anne Marie is having to get used to the small yet noticeable changes in her Da, and the unusual choice he has made.

Buddha Da is written from the point of view of the three characters; Liz, Anne Marie and Jimmy himself, which gives the reader a sensitive and personal look at what the family is going through. This works brilliantly, allowing you a peek into each of the characters' own lives.

In addition, the book is written in Glaswegian dialect. Though this was easy to get used to and by the third page and was already hooked, the dialect becoming a wonderful addition to each character's plight. The book is also very funny, leaving me giggling throughout, with Jimmy's chapters especially.

Buddha Da is a funny, brilliantly written debut about a man who chooses an unexpected path, and the affect it has on his wife, daughter and friends.

Rating: 5/5

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 9, 2009 in Debut Novels, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Her Fearful Symmetry

Her Fearful Symmetry is the title of the brand new novel from Audrey Niffenegger. It has been simply ages since The Time Traveler's Wife was released and I can't wait for this one to come out. It may yet be some time however, as the auction for the rights is still going on.

According to Publishers Weekly it is described as a 21^st-century ghost story which centres on two American teenagers, identical twins, whose lives change when an aunt whom they didn’t know dies and leaves them a flat overlooking Highgate Cemetery in London. Feeling that their lives can finally begin, the twins have no idea that they’ve been summoned into a tangle of fraying lives, including that of their dead aunt herself, who never got over her estrangement from the twins’ mother, and in fact can’t seem to leave the flat.

Speaking of The Time Traveler's Wife - anyone know what has happened to the film? It was supposed to be screened in December last year.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 9, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (2)

April releases from Little Black Dress

Little Black Dress books have some great new releases for April. Susan Conley's The Fidelity Project, Leopard Rock by Tarras Wilding, and Smart Casual, the debut novel from Niamh Shaw.

Olivia Smith is stuck in a rut. Working nine-to-five in a dreary The Office-style company, her only hope is to scale the corporate ladder, and fast. Lucky this new employee who’s apparently starting soon, Luke Wylie, is coming along to help out, eh? Well, it would be, except that Olivia’s got it wrong (again) and Luke actually turns out to be her new boss. She’ll never forgive him. Ever. Except… he is completely gorgeous, and he does seem to be making a massive effort to win her over… Find out if Olivia’s made to be a lover or a hater in this gorgeous, fast and funny read!

To read more about these new releases, head on over to the Little Black Dress website.

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 9, 2009 in New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 8, 2009 6:25 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Shadow by Karin Alvtegen

Karin Alvtegen is a Swedish crime writer with a string of one-word titles (Shame, Betrayal, Missing) to her name.  Shadow was actually my first foray into crime fiction (particularly Swedish crime fiction!) so I wasn’t sure what to expect. 

Would it all be down to the Muppet Chef in the kitchen with the meat cleaver?

Well, no. 

The story starts in 1975, with a small boy abandoned on the steps of an amusement park with just one note to explain his presence: “Take care of this child.  Forgive me.”

The action then skips forward to the present.  A solitary old woman has died, leaving a social worker of sorts to piece together the old woman’s life story.  It turns out that she was the family housekeeper of a Nobel prize-winning author. 

As the social worker seeks to uncover the old woman’s history, she unwittingly unlocks a series of devastating family secrets.

Shadow has no main character but several major players whose histories interweave to tell the story.  In less skilful hands this would just be a dry series of character biographies, but Alvtegen deftly weaves all the strands together to create a compelling study of human motivation. 

Although this novel suffers a little of what I always find with translated fiction – the prose seems a little stilted, and I can never tell if that’s a deliberate storytelling device or an effect of the translation process – it did flow very well, and at times I forgot that it wasn’t originally written in English. 

Alvtegen bravely delays the plot twists and conclusion to great effect – this is no cut-and-dried crime novel, and the journey through the characters’ motivations is as rewarding as the results of their decisions.

A great read.

Rating: 4/5

Posted by Robyn Wilder on March 8, 2009 in Books, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 7, 2009 7:47 PM

Win a set of Anne Donovan books!

We recently interviewed Anne Donovan, author of Buddha Da and Being Emily. And we've got sets of Anne's wonderful books for you to win.

We've got three sets of books to give away – including Being Emily, Buddha Da and Anne's short story collection, Heiroglyphics.

The first three people to comment will win one of these great sets of books. (Make sure you leave your email address so that we can contact you.)

Good luck!

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 7, 2009 in Competition | Permalink | Comments (9)

March 5, 2009 9:41 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Anne Donovan

Anne Donovan is the writer of numerous short stories, but also the author of Buddha Da, and Being Emily (previously reviewed by Robyn!) We asked Anne a few questions about her writing...

Introduce yourself!
I'm Anne Donovan. I'm a writer of short stories and novels.

Describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.
Fiona's family is nothing like the Brontes, but her life resembles a Victorian novel.

Where do you write your books?
On my laptop in the living room. I don't have a study.

Where do you get the inspiration for your books?
Everywhere. Voices, things I see. Small things. Usually I start from character and voice - it develops from there.

Click over the cut for more from Anne...

What are your favourite books?
Too many to say. Wuthering Heights, Daniel Deronda, Great Expectations, Anna Karenina - all those big Victorian novels. Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. Also poetry - the Romantic poets, Gerard Manley Hopkins. Many short story writers - Alistair MacLeod is just one. And I'm currently going through an obsession with Willa Cather's novels and reading Dante's Divine Comedy in translation ( just about to get to Paradise!)

Do any other writers inspire you?
Greatly. Lots of them.  I don't know how much it directly influences my writing style though I think Lewis Grassic Gibbon's approach to writing in Scots has an influence, as does the poetry of some Scottish writers like Liz Lochhead and Tom Leonard.  But writing of any kind which is powerful and does something with language is always inspirational.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?
I've been working on short stories because I'm always doing that, even when I'm writing a novel. Even if no one wants them! I'm also working on two longer pieces and I'm not sure which is going to work out, if either. But I'm at the stage I probably like most in writing, which is something with no real idea of how it's working, just following the characters and their story.

Do you have any advice for our readers who want to become published authors?
Read lots. Ideally try to read a variety of authors. If you want to write short stories do read them - it's a very different form from the novel. Set aside a regular time for your writing, even if it's only once a week (when I started it was just Sunday afternoons as I had no other time) and stick to it. If it's impossible for you to work at home because of family commitments you may want to go somewhere else, like the library.

For your first draft, just write - some of my best work has come from just writing and tapping into the unconscious part of the mind. Don't worry too much about fixing it up and don't be critical of it or you probably won't write much! When you have got a reasonable draft of a story or a poem, that is the time to be critical - work on the draft till it's the best you can possibly do.  Criticise the draft, not yourself. It can be helpful to leave a piece of writing for a few weeks or longer then go back to it with a fresh eye. Many people find it helpful to join a writing group or go to a class or course. They can be wonderful but don't be discouraged if the group or class doesn't suit you - find one which does.

When you've got a finished piece, send it somewhere - a competition or anthology is a great start. (It's a bit harder if you've written a novel as you need to send it to an agent.) Make sure anything you send off is as good as you can make it and is presented well.

Don't be discouraged - keep going!

Thanks, Anne!

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 5, 2009 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (1)

Latest news from The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

Remember we told you about a new six part series being filmed of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency? Well, there isn't much longer to wait as the series starts (in the UK) on Sunday March 15th.

In book news, the tenth volume of the series by Alexander McCall Smith is out in hardback this week. See over the cut for the blurb.

It is a troublesome fact on which even Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi agree: there are things that men know and ladies do not, and vice versa. It is unfortunate, for example, when Mma Ramotswe’s newest client is the big-shot owner of the ailing Kalahari Swoopers, that one thing lady detectives know very little about is football. And when the glamorous Violet Sephotho sets her sights on Mma Makutsi’s unsuspecting fiancé, it becomes exasperatingly clear that some men do not know how to recognise a ruthless Jezebel even when she is bouncing up and down on the best bed in the Double Comfort Furniture Shop.

In her attempt to foster understanding between the sexes and find the traitor on Mr Football’s team, Mma Ramotswe ventures into new territory, drinks tea in unfamiliar kitchens and learns to trust in the observational powers of small boys. And, as wise and warm-hearted as his heroine, Alexander McCall Smith reminds us that we must dig deep to uncover the goodness of the human heart.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 5, 2009 in Book News, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 4, 2009 10:40 AM

BOOK NEWS: Hens Reunited

Speaking of gorgeous covers, I have just stumbled across this sassy one from Lucy Diamond. Hens Reunited is her third adult novel, following Any Way You Want Me and Over You, and will be published in the summer.

Katie, Georgia and Alice were at each other's hen nights but now the chickens have come home to roost: their marriages have fallen apart and their friendships have been tested to the limits. Control-freak Katie has become a commitment-phobe - there's no way she wants to get married again. Is there? Ambitious Georgia always puts her career first. If anyone gets hurt, it's their look-out - right? And faithful Alice wants to make a fresh start, but can't get over her cheating ex - and Georgia's betrayal. Hearts have been broken, and feathers ruffled ...can the hens ever be reunited?

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 4, 2009 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 3, 2009 10:38 AM

BOOK NEWS & COVER: Adele Parks

I am just loving the new covers from Adele Parks. The black and white with a hint of colour looks really striking and makes me forget all about my aversion to just showing the woman's legs. In fact, the more I look, the more I like.

Tell Me Something is out now in paperback and Love Lies will be out in July. The synopsis for Love Lies is over the cut.

Fern is staring thirty in the face and stuck in a stale relationship. Living with Adam used to be great – before the novelty of falling over smelly trainers wore off – and these days, swinging from the chandeliers means DIY not SEX.

Fern's looking for commitment of the marrying kind or it's all off. But a chance encounter with Scottie Taylor – the hottest male singer since Robbie – lights fireworks in Fern that won't stop exploding. It's mind expanding love at first sight for both Fern and Scottie and when he proposes to her in front of a sellout crowd at Wembley Stadium, Adam is relegated to the bottom division.

Before you know it, Fern is leading the glamorous life in LA and the wedding planner is arranging organic cake showers. But isn't this all happening a little too fast? Didn't she once have an OK life in a rented two bedroom flat in rainy Clapham?

Fern must choose which reality she prefers – but it's a tough call when you're living the reallife fairytale...

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 3, 2009 in Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (6)

March 1, 2009 6:50 PM

More releases from Little Black Dress

Little Black Dress Books have yet more titles to be released this month, including Rachel Gibson's See Jane Score.

Jane Alcott leads a secret double life. By day, she’s a serious reporter covering the raucous Seattle Chinook hockey team – and in particular their notorious, gorgeous goalie Luc Martineau. By night, she’s the uninhibited ‘Honey Pie’, creating scandalous adventures in an oh-so-sexy and hugely popular magazine serial. Well, a girl’s got to pay the bills somehow…

Luc has made his feelings about parasite reporters (and smart-mouthed, drably-dressed Jane in particular) perfectly clear. But Jane’s not about to let the likes of Luc get in the way of her ambitions - he’s about to discover that there’s a lot more to Jane than meets the eye...

For more info on LBD books to hit the shelves on March 5^th, check out the Little Black Dress website.

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 1, 2009 in New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan

Sometimes a book comes along that is so magical, and so effortlessly transports you away from the everyday, that when you turn the last page you somehow feel bereft. This is how I felt about Mari Strachan's debut novel, The Earth Hums in B Flat.

It tells the tale of Gwenni, a twelve year-old Welsh girl growing up in the 1950s.  Gwenni reads voraciously, can fly in her sleep, and sees the Toby jugs in her dining room come alive; "Their fat cheeks turn redder and redder and their eyes grow darker and darker."

None of these traits endear Gwenni to her mother - she's always telling Gwenni not to be silly for fear of people thinking she's odd.  And that's on a good day - on a bad day her mother will scream and cry and tell Gwenni she wishes she'd never been born.

When a local man goes missing, Gwenni follows a series of clues: blood on the kitchen floor, the testimony of the man's children who say a black dog was with him, and the "spirit" she saw floating in the Baptism Pool one night when she was flying above the town.

Armed with the skills she's picked up from her detective books, Gwenni decides to investigate.  But she starts unknowingly to unravel the long-guarded family secrets.  And the truth will change her life forever.

This is a glorious, totally immersive novel, written convincingly from a wide-eyed child's point of view.  Gwenni observes but doesn't understand the subtle shifts that are taking place around her, and draws the sort of conclusions that will feel familiar to anyone who was puzzled by adults' behaviour when they were children.

Altogether it's an absolutely compelling read.  I can't wait for Mari Strachan's next one!

Rating: 5/5

Posted by Robyn Wilder on March 1, 2009 in Brand new authors, British Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Free books in Bristol until Friday!

If you go down to the Bristol Book Barn today, you're in for a big surprise.

Well, not that big - it's closed on Sunday.  But from Monday you could pick up a free book!  Or twelve.

After the lease on their massive warehouse expired last week, staff at the Bristol Book Barn opened their doors to the public and invited shoppers to help themselves to their entire stock - some five million titles.

Shoppers flooded in, loading up bags, boxes and even vans they drove straight into the building.  The shelves that line the walls were emptied onto the floor, which turned into a heaving mass of hardbacks and paperbacks.

So if you can stomach the idea of battling crazed consumers and sorting through a heaving sea of paper (think of Primark on a Saturday), then head down to The Book Barn, Bath Road, Bristol BS4 3EH.  Assuming they don't run out of books, the giveaway will end on Friday 6th March at 4pm.

This Book Barn giveaway is not connected to Book Barn International.

Posted by Robyn Wilder on March 1, 2009 in You heard it here first! | Permalink | Comments (0)