Book after Book

Hi Tim ! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The Catch ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about? A: The Catch is a psychological thriller about a father who becomes convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets. Terrified that his cherished only child is about to marry a man who is not what he seems, Ed sets out to uncover the truth - before it's too late. But as he delves deeper, he risks alienating everyone he loves and turning his whole family against him… Did you have the plot entirely figured out when you started writing the book or did it take an unexpected turn as the characters grew on the page? A: I had about two-thirds of the plot worked out in my head before I started, including some of the key turning points along the way. But the characters always bring out new elements to the story as I write it. I get to know the characters better during the writing – including how they relate to each other – ...

Welcome to the blog tour for The Seduction , Joanna Briscoe ’s latest novel, published in hardback today by Bloomsbury .  Without further ado, let’s dive in… Synopsis: Beth lives in the tree-shrouded no-man’s land by Camden with her partner Sol and their daughter Fern. Life is peaceful, but Beth is troubled by increasing unease. It could be the uncertainty of her mother, who disappeared when Beth was a child. Or it could be the sense that Fern is keeping secrets from her. So she goes to therapy. Dr Tamara Bywater is there to help her patients. But what if the very person who is meant to be the solution becomes the most dangerous problem of all? And why is what’s bad for us so enticing? How did this book end up in my hands? I was invited to take part in the novel’s blog tour, organised by Random Things Tours, and I was kindly given a free copy in exchange for an honest opinion, which follows below… Was it a page-turner? Yes, absolutely. The book drew me in slowly bu...

Hi Dinah ! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The Tuscan Contessa ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about? A: Thank you. The Tuscan Contessa is set in stunning parts of Tuscany during WW2. It’s the dramatic story of two women, one an American journalist turned British agent, and the other a member of the nobility, who both try to save the ones they love against incredible odds. The capacity to survive and the power of the human spirit is a major theme in the novel; no matter what hell I put my characters through, I always try to give them, and my readers, a note of hope to finish with. Did you have the plot entirely figured out when you started writing the book or did it take an unexpected turn as the characters grew on the page? A: Oh, goodness, no. I had a synopsis, but changes happened as I wrote. For me, a manuscript gains its own momentum as I go along. I’m just not able to think of all the possibilities beforehand, and I love t...

Welcome to the blog tour for A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson !  Today I am pleased to (virtually) take you all the way to Greece to go behind the scenes with the author herself. Ready? Let's go! Hi Polly! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of A Theatre for Dreamers ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about?  A: Thank you! A Theatre for Dreamers is set on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. Erica Hart is eighteen years old when she leaves London for Greece in search of freedom and sunshine and sex. She arrives to find herself swept up by the dramas of the bohemian community that has been fostered there by the warring Australian married writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston. The novel mingles real and imaginary characters and has a cast that includes Leonard Cohen, Axel Jensen and Marianne Ihlen. Did you have the plot entirely figured out when you started writing the book or did it take an unexpected turn as the ...

Following my discovery of the exquisite Finding Om , a children’s book about the power of meditation, I am very happy to share with you a Q&A with author Rashmi Bismark . First, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to yoga?  A: I’m a mom, author, and physician specialized in Preventive Medicine and Public Health whose clinical focus is teaching mindfulness-based programs for self-care and balanced well-being. I never “came to yoga”. As a life-long process of connecting to awareness within and around me, yoga keeps on unfolding for me and is an integral part of my South Asian cultural heritage. From childhood, I was inspired by the beautiful epic stories and daily rituals of remembrance shared by my parents from India to always seek connection to knowledge - both intellectual and heartfelt inner wisdom - as a guide towards healthy behaviours, wholesome living, and dynamic wellbeing. W hat inspired you to write a children’s book?  A: T here ...

On one of my rare browsing sessions on NetGalley, I came across a charming illustrated children’s book titled Finding Om . I was hooked right then and there! I am a passionate – if not entirely consistent – advocate of meditating and chanting mantras and I couldn’t believe that I had just found what seemed to be the perfect book to teach my daughter to sit still and find peace and connection to the universe and everything that surrounds her. Guess what? I did find the perfect book. Written by Rashmi S. Bismark and beautifully illustrated by Morgan Huff, the book narrates the story of an Indian African girl who hears her grandfather chanting OM and, with a curiosity known only to children, embarks on a journey of discovery. At 9 months of age, my daughter might be too young to appreciate the book just yet, but my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I would go as far as to say that I know an adult or two who could learn a lot from Anu and her Appuppa! Published by Mango ...

By T.M. Logan Published by Zaffre Synopsis: Ed finally meets his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. Smart, successful and handsome, Ryan appears to be a real catch. Then Abbie announces their plan to get married . There's just one problem. Ed thinks Ryan is lying to them. All of Ed's instincts tell him his daughter is in terrible danger - but no-one else can see it. With the wedding date approaching fast, Ed sets out to uncover Ryan's secrets, before it's too late… How did this book end up in my hands? I read a serialisation of this novel via The Pigeonhole app. Was it a page-turner? At  448 pages, the book is not short. Having established that, I can’t explain how I read each instalment in minutes. I was always surprised when I reached the last screen so soon after starting. Did the book meet my expectations? The synopsis was right up my street so I knew I would enjoy it. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite so much though, which is always a p...