Book after Book

A Tale of Two Mommies and A Tale of Two Daddies are two short picture books aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 8 with the purpose of helping them navigate the world of families and diversity. Written by Vanita Oelschlager and illustrated by Mike Blanc and Kristin Blackwood, they immediately caught my attention as I’m always on the lookout for books that my daughter, who also has same-sex parents, will be able to relate to when she’s old enough. Let me start by saying that I will happily share these two books with her once she becomes more interested in looking at them rather than chewing them! The illustrations are cute and fun and I liked that the conversation unfolding throughout the pages happens at child-level, with all the curiosity and candidness that only children can muster. From an adult perspective, you could argue that both books can perpetuate gender stereotypes that we should strive to suppress. Not all mums like baking and not all dads can fix bicycl...

Hi Ruth ! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The Turn of the Key ! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about? A: Thank you! It opens with my narrator writing a letter from prison to her lawyer explaining that she is not guilty of the murder of a child in her charge. It all began when she answered a help wanted advert for what seemed like the perfect job. Just weeks later she finds herself alone with three small children, in a smart house that seems to have its own agenda - and things go downhill from there. 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: No, I knew roughly who dunnit and why, but the twists and turns came to me as I wrote. I don't really outline very much - I hold the bones of the plot in my head and trust my imagination to put the pieces together in the right place at the right time. Is Heatherbrae House based on a...

By Louise Beech Published by Orenda Books Synopsis: The Dean Wilson Theatre is believed to be haunted by a long-dead actress, singing her last song, waiting for her final cue, looking for her killer… Now  Dust , the iconic musical, is returning after twenty years. But who will be brave enough to take on the role of ghostly goddess Esme Black, last played by Morgan Miller, who was murdered in her dressing room? Theatre usher Chloe Dee is caught up in the spectacle. As the new actors arrive, including an unexpected face from her past, everything changes. Are the eerie sounds and sightings backstage real or just her imagination? Is someone playing games? Is the role of Esme Black cursed? Could witchcraft be at the heart of the tragedy? And are dark deeds from Chloe’s past about to catch up with her? Not all the drama takes place onstage. Sometimes murder, magic, obsession and the biggest of betrayals are real life. When you’re in the theatre shadows, you see everything. ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Nina Manning ’s latest novel, Her Darkest Fear . I am particularly happy to be part of this tour as I’ve already had the pleasure of having Nina on my blog last year, when she answered my nosy questions on her debut novel, The Daughter In Law , and on reading and writing in general. If you missed that, I’d definitely recommend that you catch up here . Anyway, let’s not forget why we’re here today! Here’s what I thought of Her Darkest Fear … Synopsis: Frankie Keegan is struggling. While she tries to make strides in her career, life at home is slowly unravelling as she is haunted by the secrets of her past. As the dark nights draw in, the anniversary of the loss of her brother looms and Frankie is drawn back to the memories of that fateful night 20 years previously. As she descends into a guilt-ridden state, she begins to suspect that someone else is also remembering that night and they are determined to terrify her... Can she confront her past bef...