Wordy Wednesday with Fleur Hitchcock

Welcome to Wordy Wednesday - today in the hot seat I would like to introduce Fleur Hitchcock, author of Murder in Midwinter, Bus Stop Baby, and many others. The books are aimed at the younger reader, but I confess the story synopses sound like I might enjoy them too.

So Fleur, tell us about yourself,
I’ve  worked as a shop assistant, a dinner lady, a gardener, and a curator. I have two almost grown up children and live in the West Country and wrangle all the strands of my life. Since 2011 I’ve written books of all sorts for children aged 7 +

My most recent book is Murder in Midwinter which was published in October 2016  It’s about a very average South London girl called Maya. She’s on a bus in London when she spots a man and a woman arguing on the street. The man seems to be holding a gun and Maya takes a photograph with her phone. But he sees her do it. Soon after there’s a murder, and kidnap, and for her safety, Maya is sent far away from home, to the snow covered mountains of Wales, she can’t get out, but can someone else get in?  It’s a page turner thriller for children aged 9+

Do you have another job or are you a full time author? 
I also garden. It’s hard on my back and knees which aren’t getting any younger, but brilliant for my head and also allows me to listen to the radio which is something I really miss about writing.  Some people can write to music, but I have to have a pretty quiet house to function.

Why did you start writing?
I really don’t know – and I actually don’t think I remember beginning to write. I’ve always done it. It’s just I didn’t call myself a writer until I went back and did an MA in my mid forties.

List 3 things that are guaranteed to make you smile.
My neighbour the vicar jumping into his wheelie bin to compress the rubbish (even reading that made me smile, well done!)
Bumble bees.
Finding a table seat on the train.

Do you have any pets? 
We have some decrepit goldfish, but used to have hens. I loved them dearly, but so did the foxes. We’ll have hens again one day. But for now we have to make do with visiting pets.  Every summer, Nom Nom the tortoise comes to stay while his owner goes on holiday. He’s almost our pet, and I miss him terribly when he goes.

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
My favourite author is Rose Tremain.  Everything she writes is different, so much so that I couldn’t spot a Rose Tremain book except by the quality of the writing and the humanity of the characters. She doesn’t have a distinctive style as such but her work is  always character led, something I aim towards, and I think RESTORATION is a perfect book. If you haven’t read it, you really should.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment? 
I’m reading a proof copy of “The Cost of Living” by Rachel Ward. It won’t be published until later on this year, so I’m terribly excited to get an advanced look at it. It’s a brilliant piece of “Cosy” detective fiction that begins in a supermarket with characters called Ant and Bea.  I’m racing through it but I know I have tottering TBR pile cramming in behind.

Where do you do most of your writing?
On any available flat surface in our house. Sometimes that’s my knees. In theory I have a desk in the spare room but it’s so cluttered I often can’t work. Right now it’s piled high with my accounts that will probably stay there, almost finished, until 30th of January.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
That’s like asking which of my children I love the most!  I shouldn’t possibly choose, but I’m very fond of Amy in Bus Stop Baby.  She’s 12 and she’s angry and she can’t really express it.  The world only just makes sense to her and she finds adolescence difficult. She wants everything to be simple and logical and it won’t behave that way. During the book, Amy gets herself into trouble with everyone she loves because she jumps to conclusions. I suspect I love her because she’s a bit like I was at that age.

What is your favourite biscuit?
Choco Leibniz – they dunk well, no palm oil and they’re delicious. Excellent choice!

In the film of your life who would play you?
Oh dear – I really don’t know – but I suppose a young me would be a young Diana Rigg – kind of out of control and a little larger than life. Prone to wearing rather tight fitting clothing and creeping around solving crimes. The now me might be the late great Patsy Byrne – she played Nursie in Blackadder. I think Nursie was wiser than she looked. (I adored Nursie)

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I like the idea of a potato and a sloth...could you get a lazier creature? (my soul mate) 
A badger and a beetroot – just imagine all that purple seeping into the white. BEAUTIFUL!

You can follow Fleur on Twitter @fleurhitchcock
And check out her blog page at www.fleurhitchcock.com
And buy her books via Amazon

Wordy Wednesday with Jack Strange

Welcome to Wordy Wednesday - today featuring Jack Strange!

Jack Strange has had a very varied career. He’s worked in a morgue, dug holes for a living, shifted heavy things on and off trucks, sold advertising space, and was, for a while, a Lawyer. 
Jack has always read voraciously and has wanted to be a novelist since the age of ten. He wrote his first novel aged fourteen. Jack enjoys parties and keeps himself fit. He is married with two adult daughters.

And so as usual I sat Jack down with a (virtual) beverage of his choosing, and we talked...

Do you have another job or are you a full time author? If you do something else (international spy?) what is it and do you like it?
Regrettably, I have another job. Two other jobs, in fact, so I'm on my way to rivalling George Osborne - but I don't get paid nearly as much as him. I'm a lawyer and a handyman, as well as being a writer. It's an odd combination, I know, but hey - we writers are supposed to be different, aren't we?

Why did you start writing?
To change the world, earn fame and fortune, and finally retire to a desert island with a good bar and a rocking city close to my beach house.

List 3 things that are guaranteed to make you smile.
My bank balance (that's an ironic smile by the way);
Tory party promises (so is that);
and any episode of 'Fleabag' (Google it, if you haven't heard of it).

Do you have any pets? 
No, I used to have a cat called 'Udi' and when she died I couldn't cope with the emotional loss so I never got another pet. They definitely would hinder the writing process. Udi used to demand attention when I needed time to myself to study law; she'd do the same if she was around when I was trying to write.

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
That's such a tough question as I could name twenty or thirty or more favourite authors who all have an equal claim to my affections. If I had to narrow it down to one, it might be Russell H Greenan, largely for his novel 'It happened in Boston'. We have things in common - we're both lineal descendants of Edgar Allan Poe, and accordingly, cats feature in my writing and in his. His books are hard to categorise, and maybe mine are too - but we both sit comfortably in the horror genre. And we both like to use dark humour in our books. I wouldn't want to claim I've written anything as good as 'It Happened in Boston' - but there's still time!

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
'Junky' by William Burroughs and 'Salvage' by Duncan Ralston. The opening of Junky is textbook, in that it's the perfect opening to draw you into a story; and the author's use of detail is outstanding. Would-be writers could do a lot worse than to read this book and draw a few lessons from it.

Which three cities would you most like to visit and why?
(1) Timbuktu - it's always seemed to me to be exotic, mysterious and remote. Plus it has some amazing libraries. I like libraries.
(2) La Paz - it's the current highest capital city in the world, I believe. The views from my hotel room would be tremendous, and I'm sure I'd enjoy a rocking night life there. I have a feeling the drinks are cheap, too.
(3) Novosibirsk - the largest city in Siberia. I'd love to snuggle up in front of a warm fire in a Siberian bar, with a vodka in my hand and the winter winds raging outside.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
Henderson the cat. It's not just me - everyone who's read my books says he's their favourite character.
Here's a link to a recent review of a book of mine - note the comment about Henderson. Many readers have said similar things.

What is your favourite biscuit? 
Jack Strange never eats biscuits. He wouldn't be able to rock the pullup bar if he did.

In the film of your life who would play you? 
The young me would be played by the young Jude law (if we could go back in time!) - because we both had charm, insouciance and good looks in abundance in our youth. The old me would be played by Vladimir Putin if he ever turned his hand to acting - for obvious reasons.

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I like the idea of asparagus and a giraffe...tender neck
A tory politician with a...wait a minute...they're a cross of animal and vegetable already. Mainly vegetable.

Amazon links to Jack's books:
Celebrity Chef Zombie Apocalypse
Amazon USA
Amazon UK

Zomcats!
Amazon UK
Amazon USA

Confessions of an English Psychopath
Amazon UK
Amazon USA

Wordy Wednesday with Kerry Drewery

Today on the blog I have great pleasure in introducing Kerry Drewery, who's new book is out tomorrow!

I sat Kerry down with a (virtual) slice of cake and a cup of something hot and quizzed her. We began with the basics, tell us about yourself Kerry...
I’m Kerry Drewery, my latest book – Cell 7 – came out last year and the sequel – Day 7 – is out on June 15th.

Cell 7 is a speculative fiction, crime, thriller. It’s set in a society where the death penalty still exists but the court system has been abolished. Guilt is now decided by public internet and phone votes, overseen by a reality TV show called Death is Justice. Like X factor with all the glam, but with people’s lives at stake. When arrested, the accused is put in Cell 1, and each day sees them progress down death row, one cell at a time, until they reach the fateful Cell 7 when votes are collated and their fates are decided. (Ok I confess I am totally hooked already and have added this to my Goodreads pile!)
It follows Martha Honeydew who says she’s killed the celebrity Jackson Paige. But why would she admit to this, if it means her death? And what is her relationship with his adopted son, Isaac? Is it as simple as it first appears?

I daren’t tell you too much about Day 7 in case it gives spoilers…but there’s a trailer for Cell 7 here

Do you have another job or are you a full time author? What do you get up to outside of your novel writing?
Currently, I’m also a writer in residence for the charity, First Story, at a school in Hull, where the students have been working on an anthology of their own writing. I love it – I love seeing the process of them writing, and watching their ideas develop! I’m really looking forward to their launch in July. I feel very proud of what they’ve accomplished.
I also do triathlons. I started running about thirteen years ago because I was so unfit and so I could eat cake without feeling guilty! Then I learnt to swim and started doing local sprint triathlons (shorter distance). Then I started doing longer ones. Amazingly – for someone who did everything possible to get out of PE at school - I’ve qualified to represent GB (for my age group) and will be racing in Denmark on 10th June. (This is pretty impressive stuff!) That will be half ironman distance (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). For some crazy reason (and while in the pub!) I agreed to do the full ironman distance this July. August will be spent sleeping, eating, drinking and reading! (Sounds like you'll have earned it!) Hopefully in the sun.

Why did you start writing?
I’ve made stories up for as long as I can remember. I went through a stage at primary school of just writing story after story after story. It was never anything I took seriously though, and whether it was because of where I live (Lincolnshire) or because of the time (1980s) being a writer really wasn’t something you could aspire to. People would laugh at you. Mostly girls would go on to be secretaries or office workers of some sort, or if you were really clever, teachers. That was about it.
I started writing properly after my youngest son was born and I found I had evenings to myself, then when he went to school the decision was there – do I go back to work and forget this idea of being a writer or do I actually pursue it and take it seriously? I decided it was now or never, and signed up for a creative writing course. When that was finished, I gave myself a deadline - that if nothing had happened by the time my son went to secondary school, then I had to give up the ridiculous notion. I signed with an agent the February before he left primary in the July, and signed with a publisher in the June!

List 3 things that are guaranteed to make you smile.
Being in the countryside on a sunny day.
Wildlife when I’m out on my bike (I saw a heron yesterday!)
Relaxing with family.

Do you have any pets?
I have two dogs and a cat. My old dog – Reef - is very old. She’s nearly sixteen and is a bit blind and very cantankerous. She makes life difficult – but she’s an old lady with aches and pains, and she just wants attention and some love.
My other dog – Astrid - is four-year-old Leonberger. She’s the most loyal dog I’ve ever known, and sits at my feet while I’m writing. She’s wonderful company, and walking her in the morning before I sit down to write, clears my head and sets me up for the day.
The cat? Well, he – Luther - is another matter entirely. He’s so naughty. A neighbour told me that he was leaping on their dog, and could I ‘do something with him’. I don’t know what! The window cleaner stopped me the other day too, he said he’d seen my other neighbour’s Jack Russell get out, spot Luther and chase him to the corner. At the corner, Luther stopped, swiped at the dog, and then chased the dog back! He’s like a stereotypical off-the-rails teenager. Hopefully, hopefully, he’ll calm down as he gets older.

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
I don’t really have a favourite author, and I’m not a very loyal reader. I tend to go for the story, rather than the author. Having said that, at the moment, I’m very taken with Claire North’s novels. I absolutely adored The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, have just finished Touch and The Sudden Appearance of Hope is next on the TBR pile. It’s the imagination and ideas behind them that I particularly admire. I think rather than directly influence my writing, they inspire me to write better!

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, which I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read before.

Which three cities would you most like to visit and why?
Oh, I love to travel. I’m quite fortunate that I’ve managed to tick a few off my ‘want to visit’ list, but there are still so many left. Crikey, only three…well I’ve never been to America so I’d go to New York and do the whole tourist thing – Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, have a run around Central Park, go up the Empire State Building.
And then, Moscow. I’ve been to St Petersburg which was stunning and felt so different to other cities I’ve been to, and the stories behind the Church of the Spilled Blood, its history in communist time, all that, was just fascinating, but I’d just love to go to Moscow, walk in Red Square, see the Kremlin, Gorky Park…all of it.
Finally…somewhere in China. Beijing or Shanghai, or Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army (I’m not sure if that’s a city though). *sigh*…so many places, so little time…and money!

Share your favourite book from when you were a child and why you liked it!
The Swish of The Curtain by Pamela Brown. I think because it made me feel part of their gang, and I loved the way they achieved what they wanted to (set up a theatre and put on a show). It was inspiring. Amazingly, Pamela Brown began writing that when she was fourteen and it was published when she was seventeen!

What is your favourite biscuit?
Custard creams. No contest.

In the film of your life who would play you?
Somebody with longer legs than me. I have very short, stubby legs and if they got someone with legs like mine, I’d be watching it sighing all the time.

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I like the idea of asparagus and a giraffe...tender neck
Woah, tricky question. Presumably this isn’t so I can eat the animal? Because that’s just weird. I do like the feel and colour of aubergines, but they bruise easily, so it couldn’t be any animal too big or bouncy. Something calm. Sloth! Yes, an aubergine and a sloth. (Nice! and no, you 't have to eat it - you can if you like though...sloth moussaka )

You an follow Kerry on Twitter - @KerryDrewery
On Instagram - @kerry.drewery
'Like' Her on Facebook
Check out her Website
And of course buy her book Cell 7 on Amazon

Wordy Wednesday - Ginny Moon - Book Review

This Wordy Wednesday I step away from my usual author interviews and into a book. I was sent an advanced reader copy (ARC) of "Ginny Moon" recently and it it really was a good read - for several reasons (more on that in a moment)

The book itself is a story told from the perspective of an autistic teen girl.

and as the publisher says

"Ginny Moon's painfully honest narrator is Ginny, a girl with autism living in a world that just doesn’t add up.

Five years ago the police forcibly removed her from the home of her abusive mother Gloria. Now fourteen and in her 4th Forever Home, Ginny is hell-bent on returning to her mother's apartment – despite knowing how dangerous that could be – to find something she insists she hid under the bed.

Ginny will steal, lie, plan her own kidnapping and tear apart every shred of the normal, stable life she currently has, just to find what she left at the farthest edge of forever…"

so it sounded like an intriguing read, I enjoyed "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" and while I've been told that book is not a great portrayal of someone with autism I hoped this one would be even better, especially given the author's credentials.

Benjamin Ludwig is a middle school language arts teacher, who has been teaching both children and adults since 1997. He believes strongly in supporting the voiceless and the displaced, especially their need for attachment. Shortly after he and his wife were married they became foster parents, and adopted their first placement: a teenager with autism and developmental disabilities. Ginny Moon was inspired in part by conversations he had with other parents at Special Olympics basketball practices. He hopes to adopt again after his daughter transitions into adulthood. Benjamin lives in New Hampshire, USA.

So with that background I began reading. The first thing I noticed was that the book was set in America, yes I know that's where Benjamin lives but I had failed to read that bit before I started reading and the first few chapters didn't really give clues,. it was only when social services seemed a bit 'odd' that I realised they were following American laws and not UK ones. Some other things like the school started to make more sense after I began to picture the events happening in the States.

As the story progresses (don't worry, I'll avoid spoilers) there are places where you suddenly think "Oh! I know what is at the old house!" or some other secret, you wonder if you are a genius to have guessed so soon in the story, but then in the next chapter the author reveals the 'secret' and on you go, feeling less clever and wondering what else could be going to happen until another light bulb moment...only to have that explained too...and so on through the book, with secret and surprise, hint and reveal, hidden clue and sudden explanation like a wild roller coaster!

The thing I enjoyed most about the character of Ginny (and we all know that autistic people are as unique as us neurotypicals) was that she wasn't some genius savant or a child who always meant well but struggled, like a tiny saint. She was a real teenage girl, sometimes helpful and friendly, often sulky and rude, sometimes mean and selfish. Her worries felt real and her inability to let the others in her life understand the fears she had, her frustrations,  all felt fresh and raw. All in all it was an entertaining read, tough in places but always taking unexpected turns and keeping the reader (or at least this one!) on their toes. The last chapter or two were real surprises!

Good work. I recommend it as a read for teens, parents or anyone that enjoys a mystery.
You can grab a copy on Amazon.

GINNY MOON

by Benjamin Ludwig

Published by HQ, 1^st June 2017,

Hardback £12.99, eBook, Audio Edition £12.99
Also I absolutely loved the cover art, the swirls felt very much like the story itself.