Wordy Wednesday with Rae Stoltenkamp

Welcome once again to Wordy Wednesday. I'm happy to introduce you to Rae Stoltenkamp, a long time twitter friend and author of The Rainbow Quest Series. Set in a domed world of the future, featuring young adult protagonists battling against injustice and environmental abuses.

Book 1: WHERE RAINBOWS HIDE is an environmentally conscious SciFi adventure with a 19 year old heroine at the centre of the plot.

Book 2: WHEN RAINBOWS CRY is set some 30 years later and features a 14 year old heroine battling the stresses of teenhood along with her concerns for her failing world.

So let's get all comfortable and ask Rae some questions.

When and why did you start writing?
I started writing as a child around age 11/12 and was inspired by my maternal grandfather who wrote short stories for a South African newspaper. I however started with poetry - the typical teenage angsty stuff, before graduating on to short stories. Then I couldn't seem to stop and have been writing ever since.

What 3 things (not including paper, computer, pens) would you like to facilitate a good days writing?
I currently have everything I need to ensure I have a good day's writing. But if there was one thing which would probably improve my experience then it would be a back support chair from The Wave Seat Company. It's on my wish list.

Do you write to a schedule, eg every day or three times a week, set times, etc or do you write as and when the mood strikes?
I write 2 days a week as I have a teaching job at a local charity on the other 3 days. It means I have to get a lot in on those designated writing days so they're sacred to me.

Who is your favourite fictional character (that you've written) and why? (no spoilers please! though teasers are fine)
My absolute favourite character I've written is called Sprax. to know him is to love him. Here's an extract about him because it's easier to understand his nature through this and I've also attached a drawing of him my friend Sarah did for me. 

Sprax nudged his way from beneath the leather tooled cover till his head and shoulders were free.  He used the back of his hands to wipe the sleep from his eyes before adjusting the points of his ears.  Lanna should know better than to think she could keep him confined like that.  Huffing and puffing he pushed the rest of himself out, unfolding his spindly legs till they touched down on the surface of the desk.  Surveying the barely explored territory before him, he hunched down closer to the surface and sniffed at the honey aroma of the wood polish.  He stuck out his long tongue and tasted it. 

“Yeuch!  Nose lied.”  His face squidged up in disgust as his tree frog fingers tried to scrape the offending taste from his tongue.  Unhinging from his crouch he shrugged a purple toned shoulder and stepped forward to investigate.  His temple was jabbed by the edge of the hefty dictionary piled on top of art history texts. 

“Foolish Sprax - slowing down - rushing less - time is time is time.” 

His finger pads soothed the hurt as he side stepped jauntily and continued on his trail around the desk and its accoutrements till he reached the precipice.  All the while he talked in a steady babble of conversation to no-one but himself. 

And always, pulling at him, was The Essence of Faetaera.  But he ignored it, shrugged it off.  This was home now.  Because the Essence of Here was oh so fascinating.  And Lanna was here.

He's from a book called Sharp Dark Things I've been working on for a while now which I'm hoping to get back to next year once I've completed all my publishing commitments for this year.

Is writing your main source of income, I read lots of articles saying writers make no money, and my readers asked this question a lot! Can you survive on book writing alone? if not, what else do you do?
Sadly I can't survive on writing alone. I've only just started out in the self-publishing business. I'm learning the trade and sometimes it's pretty full on. To pay the bills I teach after school clubs for a creative writing company called Inkhead and also do private tutoring in the evenings on top of my 3 day stint at the charity.

What are your favourite biscuits?
Ginger butter biscuits from Lidl - there are chunks of ginger in the dough. So yummy with a cuppa.

Where do you do most of your writing?
My desk in the living room but a lot also goes on in my head when I'm shopping or driving the car. I usually make a note of ideas on my phone if this happens.

What book are you reading at the moment?
Am reading 3 books simultaneously: Jingo by Terry Pratchett, Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood & Blue Gold by David Barker.

Is truth really stranger than fiction?
In my personal experience it generally is. Most of my stories spring from experiences in life which I then simply translate into my writing.

If you could genetically cross an animal with a fruit or vegetable what would you choose and why? 
Can't think of a fruit/veg animal cross but would rather like a breed of pig which regularly sheds its skin and as it does this it automatically turns into crackling. I'd go for that. (I'll allow it - sounds tasty)

If reading and writing were banned on pain of death, what would you do instead?
If it doesn't exist already, set up an underground network to fight this dastardly evil, maintain a secret library and battle to the death to free humanity from this disastrous situation. (many other authors has said the same thing, I think it would be an interesting underground...)

If you could bring a dead person back from the dead for one day to have tea and a natter with them, who would you choose and why?
My mother - I miss her wisdom and spade is a spade attitude to life.

Thank you so much for sharing Rae, good luck with the new book (launch date - Dec 2nd 2017)

Follow Rae's blog here and check out her author page on Amazon here. Rae is on twitter and Facebook

You can even claim a FREE e-Book (Six Degrees) here.

This post is part of a blog tour, pop over and read more at Lisa M White's blog, Lindsay Bamfield's blog, and at Anna Caig's blog.

Wordy Wednesday with Bill Kieffer

Today I'm pleased to introduce Bill, Writer of The Goat: Building the Perfect Victim from Red Ferret Press. Now Available via Amazon: Adult, Dark Urban Fantasy

From beginning to end. If you ever want a book to slap you in the face as hard as possible, this…this is for you. ~Thurston Howl, editor-in-chief of Thurston Howl Publications

Bill Kieffer was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.  A brain injury at an early age left him with some mild issues and just enough aphasia to be amusing at parties. He tries to be very open about these. He doesn't drink, having the bare minimum of inhibitions to begin with. Bill is happily married. He is a member of the Furry Writers Guild and has recently published short stories in several Furry anthologies put out by Fur Planet. Past writing credits include comic books like "Billy Joe Van Helsing: Red Neck Vampire Hunter" and "Great Morons in History, the Dan Quayle Bio."

And so to the interview - grab a chair, get comfy...

When and why did you start writing? When I was very young, I had a speech defect and then a bit of brain damage that just made that worse. That caused a bit of anxiety that just snow balled everything. My family situation was sort of chaotic as I was growing up and the written word was something I could control. Almost always the only thing I really could control. Sometimes, I feel like not much has changed; but I am confident behind a keyboard, if no where else.

What 3 things would you like to facilitate a good days writing? Isolation, to a certain extent... Friends and family tend to make arbitrary decisions about how much time spent writing is appropriate. Tea or sparkling water. It used to be diet soda, but I began to buy into that "diet soda makes one fat" thing. As if sitting at a keyboard for hours at a time isn't the real problem. The Internet or an encyclopedia: I write a lot about animals in allegorical & fantasy terms. My readers are often furries with a lot of knowledge of zoology, so I best be correct (unless I need to be wrong on purpose). (wait is that 4 things? I'll allow it...)

Do you write to a schedule, or do you write as and when the mood strikes? I write mostly short stories, so there's almost always a submission deadline to goad me on. However, I'm in charge of the housework at home, so I try to limit myself to just an hour of tv a day and one chore (like laundry or changing the cat litter). It was a good plan until the current administration came along and every day is like a horror story in the press here in the USA.(we feel your pain here in the UK - our local version of the dollar store, Poundland, has Trump themed Halloween items...)

Who is 'your' favourite fictional character? The answer to this is almost always the main character in whatever the "Work In Progress" is that day. Brooklyn Blackie, however, is probably my most recent favourite. I've written a lot of backstory for him and he has a lot of the same baggage I do, so he's a bit of my Mary Sue. His command of language is so much greater than mine, however. I've never been able to learn another language and that eats at my soul. (Brooklyn Blackie is a bisexual private detective in a furry version of 1940s New York City and I love the sound of him!)

Is writing your main source of income, I read lots of articles saying writers make no money, and my readers asked this question a lot! Can you survive on book writing alone? if not, what else do you do? Oh, no, my niche is so small, I could never live on the income. I write to be heard. My ego wears spurs.(I love that!) Until very recently, I used to dispatch tradespeople for a facilities maintenance company with lots of clients. However, they relocated to the bread basket of America, Kansas. That's a... really long commute, so I chose to stay here on the East Coast.

What are your favourite biscuits (cookies)? Oh, my American tastes are going to show here. Nutter Butter cookies. (these sound amazing - I am determined to try some)

Where do you do most of your writing? I write in one of our guest rooms, the Mardi Gras room, because unlike most of the other rooms in the house, the three cats and the great dane are not allowed in here.

Where the writing happens...

What book are you reading at the moment? I just finished HOTBLOOD: A Centaur in the Old West by Toril Orlesky. I am in the middle of Transcendent from Lethe Press currently. It's been very thought provoking so far and it contains the story "Not Equally Yoked" by Alexis Hunter, which I thought was the best story I read in 2016.

Is truth really stranger than fiction? Truth doesn't obey the rules, so I find that very annoying. However, my fiction involves talking goats and sadistic mages, so I might not be the best person to ask.

If you could genetically cross and animal with a fruit or vegetable what would you choose and why? I'm currently keen on a cauliflower/caterpillar, a cauli-pillar, a bumpy white caterpillar affair that would be nice with cheese... Oh! My Vore readers will love this question, so let me put some thought into it. I think I would cross a cockroach with a watermelon seed, because, you know... when you see a roach, every one hopes for a split second that what they are really looking at is a misplaced watermelon seed. So, now, you can be right about that for a change. Plus, watermelon seeds are totally edible and can be dried and ground into flour. So, if we got them to breed like roaches, we'd be that much closer to ending world hunger. My Vore reader focus group reports that they'd like something that screams a little bit more than a roach might. But they are a fickle bunch. I once offered them a breed of goat that vomits up it's own curry sauce at the moment of slaughter, but they were no impressed.

If you could bring a dead person back from the dead for one day to have tea and a natter with them, who would you choose and why? Helen Thomas, a member of the White House Press Corps. Before her death in 2013, she was frequent guest on the Colbert Report (as well as appearances as herself in a handful of politically themed movies) and I'd love to talk to her about the current political situation here in the states.

Thank you Bill for your candid and fun replies, and for not shying away from the horror of the moment in real life as well as fiction!

You can find Bill all over the web

Blog: https://typinghorse.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoatNovella Twitter: https://twitter.com/Greyflank Publisher: http://www.redferretpress.com/ Bookcrossing: http://www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/Greyflank/ GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14249456.Bill_Kieffer

and for no other reason than I can...here is a gratuitous photo of me and my favourite Furry, Cosmic Wuffy

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 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 with author Michelle Birkby

This week on Wordy Wednesday an interview with Michelle Birkby, who writes historical crime fiction, focusing on women.

So of course I asked her why and she said:
I love history, and crime, and think there aren't enough female detectives - or villains for that matter - out there, so I wrote some. I'm currently writing the Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson Investigations, which starts in The House At Baker Street and continues in The Women of Baker Street.

Mrs Hudson is, of course, Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper and Mary Watson is Dr Watson's wife. In The House at the Baker Street they take on a case Sherlock Holmes rejects, dealing with a blackmailer and it becomes far more dark and dangerous then they could imagine. In The Women of Baker Street, Mrs Hudson finds herself in hospital, and sets about investigating mysterious deaths there, as Mary investigates the disappearance of street boys. They soon find the two cases are linked.

Intriguing indeed! and now, knowing more about Michelle's books, we must move on to the probing questions you all know and love, don't worry, she is asked the biscuit question...but first

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?
I was surprised as anyone when I woke up the day after my first book was published and found I wasn't immediately as rich as J.K. Rowling! So, until that happens, I do agency admin work. It means I get to work in lots of different places, doing lots of different things, meeting lots of different people. It can be fun, and it can also be awful. I would prefer to write full time.

Why did you start writing?
I've always written, ever since I was a child. My head is just full of stories that I had to get out. It wasn't enough just to tell the stories to myself, I wanted everyone to read them.

3 things that are guaranteed to make you smile.
Sunshine!
Victoria Wood
A new book to read

Do you have any pets? 
No pets now.I did have a Russian Dwarf hamster called Boris once. He kept biting people and was very bad-tempered, so suppose pets do become like their owners. (I don't actually bite...)

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
Just one favourite author? No, I need two. I love Charlotte Bronte - all that dark passion and angry, independent heroines. And I love Agatha Christie. She writes perfect crime stories. They totally influence my writing. Would Jane Eyre stand for this? Could Miss Marple solve this?

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
The Crusades by Thomas Asbridge. I've read about this era in historical fiction so many times, I wanted to read a non-fiction book about it. Les Parisennes by Anne Sebba, another non-fiction book, this time about the women of Paris during World War Two. I just finished Die of Shame by Mark Billingham, which was really good, and I'm just about to start The Shadow Queen by Anne O'Brien. She's one of my favourite historical fiction authors and this one, about Joan of Kent, looks really good.
I can never stick to one book at a time.

Which three cities would you most like to visit and why?
Paris, again! I've been to Paris so many times, but I'm always happy to go again. I love wandering around Montmartre.
Venice. It's beautiful, and it's disappearing.
Rome. All that history! I've read all the Mary Beard and Tom Holland books about it and now I want to see it.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
I'm tempted to say Mary Watson, as I like her ability to just charge straight into any situation. But I think it's Mrs Hudson. She's quiet and still and stands in the background and everyone ignores her. However she sees and hears everything, and she's clever, and when the moment is right, she steps into the limelight and is magnificent. I always cheer when she does that.

What is your favourite biscuit?
Bourbons. I like to pull them apart and eat that cream then the biscuit. I am aware that this makes a monster in some people's eyes!

In the film of your life who would play you?
Olivia Colman! Because I just think she's wonderful, and she's so good at playing those characters everyone underestimates, and seems so ordinary and clumsy, but have brilliant moments. And she got to act with David Tennant and Tom Hiddleston. Lucky woman.

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 tomato and a small dog. So you'd end up with something small and round and furry and eminently cuddleworthy, and also bright red, my favourite colour.

Grab a copy of The House at Baker Street here

and a copy of The Women of Baker Street here

And find Michelle on Facebook here

Do check out her words this Wednesday (or any day!) and as always a big thanks to our author this week, Michelle Birkby.

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Mariam Kobras

Today I'm happy to finally introduce you to Mariam Kobras, who promised me this interview ages ago but has been busy ignoring the tricky questions! I'm glad she has answered them at last though, as she has some great responses and it's lovely to 'meet' a new author.

So let's begin with Mariam introducing herself before the real interrogation starts.
Hello, my name is Mariam Kobras, I’m a sixty-year-old grandmother from Hamburg, Germany. Before I became a writer I taught theatre at a local high school.
I love chicken soup and coconut cream pie, lunches with my publisher, Criminal Minds and Battlestar Galactica, walks on the beach, and my baby grandson. I adore hanging out with my family, and a good cup of coffee.

Travelling and visiting my friends in Canada and the US also ranks high on my list and I can’t wait to go again! Actually, I’m always ready to travel. I want to see Iceland, and the huge waves in Nazare, Portugal, and I want to drive the length of the Pacific Coast Highway in the US.(funny you should mention that...DD and I did that in
Just the usual boring stuff!


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?

I loved teaching, but I gave it up to concentrate on writing. That was seven years ago. I still miss the bustle of the teachers’ lounge, and working with the kids, but I’m too old teach and write. Or at least I feel too old for it.
I maintain a steady writing schedule, most of the time.
Before I started teaching, I managed an American football team here in Germany, and a number of other crazy things… I’m the typical soccer mom in many ways.

When did you start writing?

In 2009. Remember how I told you about that theatre class? Well, I also supervised the detention room. There were hours when everyone was behaving and the room was empty. My hubby had given me a laptop for Christmas, so I sat in that empty room and wrote. I was new to twitter then, and the people I met asked me what I did besides tweet… and I told them I was writing a novel. A couple of them asked to read it, and because of their encouragement, I just kept writing.Oh that's such a cool thing to hear - I love when social media lets people share the positive!
Then one day I opened twitter to find a publisher following me. It was Buddhapuss. We started chatting, and eventually they asked to see my book. Shortly after that I signed my first book deal.
The Distant Shore was released in January 2012. Since then we’ve released four more books in the Stone Series. I think I there will be one more but it’s still simmering and not quite ready to be written.

What 3 things are guaranteed to make you smile?

My grandson. He’s ten months old now, and just starting to stand up.
I never wanted to be a grandmother, and I kept telling my older son and his wife that they had lots of time to become parents. They did take their time and did a good deal of travelling before they decided to have a family.
Everything changed when I held that baby in my arms. It’s so hard to describe. There was this huge, warm wave of love that washed over me, and and amazing sense of perfection. This was what I’d been born for. This little child made my life complete. Suddenly, my life made sense. I had come full circle. There will be more grandchildren, of that I’m certain, especially since my younger son and his fiancé want children too. But I don’t think anything will ever surpass that glorious moment of truth.

So many things make me smile.
Yesterday, on my way to babysit my grandson, I saw the first geese of spring fly overhead. They were calling to one another, their formation was nearly perfect, and I stood in the middle of the street and stared and smiled.

A good cup of coffee nearly always makes me smile. I had the best cup of coffee ever at a Cuban restaurant in Orlando, Florida.

And this cat makes me smile. A friend in Scotland adopted him from the shelter a couple of months ago, and we watched as he transformed from a thin, raggedy creature into this king of a cat! Look at this face!
(wait, that four things! oh OK I'll let it go as the cat is cute)

Do you have any pets? If yes, what, and do they help or hinder the writing process?

I had a cat for nearly seventeen years. His name was The Pig because he had these pink ears and nose when we rescued him from the gutter (yes, literally), and that’s the name that stuck.
The Pig used to go everywhere I went. He lay on my desk when I was working, he sat on my shoulder when I was in the kitchen cooking, and if there was chicken on the dinner menu he’d circle the table, walking from one shoulder to the next. I loved him very much, and I still miss him. There’s a hole in my heart where he used to live.
I’m thinking of getting another cat, but I know there will never be another like him.

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?

I really had to think about this one.
Truth is, I don’t have any one favourite writer. Can I cheat and offer a short list?
I really love Vikram Seth (A Suitable Boy), but I also really like N.K. Jemisin and her Inheritance Trilogy (it’s fantasy, and amazing, and beautifully written!). Robertson Davies has been a favourite since university, where our literature prof from Vancouver introduced us to his books. I love them all!
I read widely, from Nobel Prize winning literature to Stephen King and Jan Karon.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Right now I’m reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. He’s the author of Cloud Atlas, which was made into a really beautiful movie. Next on my list is N.K. Jemisin’s The Killing Moon.

Where do you do most of your writing?

Wherever I am! I’ve discovered a secret. The writing doesn't happen when you’re in a particular space, it happens when you’re in a particular space in your novel. If the story pulls you in, it doesn’t matter where you are, you’ll write.
I’ve done writing all over the place: my desk, the couch in the living room with the TV running or the kid playing Tomb Raider, in waiting areas at airports, at my publisher’s dining-room table, at a friend’s house in Texas, her greyhound lying across my lap. On the ferry from Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island, on the plane from Frankfurt to New York.
Most of my writing though does happen at my desk.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!

My Stone Series (The Distant Shore is the first book in this series) is the story of Jon Stone, a rock star getting on in age, and his long lost love, Naomi Carlsson.(Naomi, great name...just saying)
For more than sixteen years Jon has wondered why Naomi left him without a single word of explanation or even saying goodbye. He is on the brink of depression and alcoholism when he one day receives a letter from a teenage son he knew nothing about. He drops everything to travel halfway across the world to find his son, and his long lost love.
I’ve often been asked if there’s a real rock star who inspired me to create Jon Stone, but there isn’t a single person that he’s based on. If you insist though, I’ll probably say, Bruce Springsteen.
Jon is, after so many years of being a star, is polished and well-mannered. He knows how to wear a tux, but deep down he’s still the same New York City boy who set out so long ago to make his fortune in Hollywood.
I have to admit that I fell in love with this man, partly because music is so deeply woven into his soul. There are only are two things that really matter to Jon: his music, and his family.


What is your favourite biscuit?
Shortbread! Not fancy shortbread, just the plain Walkers stuff. Yum!

Tea or Coffee?

Always coffee. Unless it’s organic orange/ginger tea, but I’ll only drink that at night.

In the film of your life who would play you?

Oh gosh–I have no idea, and I can’t think of a single actor who looks like me.
If colour and heritage don’t matter—either Judy Dench or Helen Mirren. I look nothing like them, but I admire them greatly. Is that a good enough reason? Or Maggie Smith! I adore Maggie Smith.

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why?

This question may well be the reason why it took me forever to get around to doing this interview. I HAVE NO IDEA!!!
A cat and a willow? Then those pussy willows would really grow kittens! haha, fuzzy!

Find out more about Mariam, and follow her on social media on her blog, Facebook page or twitter


And obviously buy her books! (she needs to get some more shortbread)

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Maxine Barry

Today on the blog, I'm taking part in a blog tour for a new book by Maxine Barry, Imposters in Paradise

Imposters in Paradise by Maxine Barry

When Imogen Dacres’ brother, Robbie, dies in mysterious circumstances, she travels to Bermuda in search of the truth. From the minute she sets out on her journey, Imogen is plunged into a web of secrets, lies and mistaken identity. She soon realises that beneath the glamour of Bermuda, there are unseen forces intent on doing her harm. When she meets Morgan Dax, her brother’s boss, and one of the richest men on the island, there is a powerful attraction between them. But did Dax have a hand in Robbie’s death, and can Imogen trust him with her own life?

This standalone, gripping romantic adventure is the first in the Romantic, Passionate, Thrilling Escapes series. Fast-paced plots with strong heroines, sexy heroes and sinister villains in exotic locations – they’re the perfect escape!

Maxine is a full time author and lives in Oxford. As usual I asked her a few probing and a few silly questions, and she kindly answered them all.

What made you more nervous, knowing a book was finally published and everyone could read and critique it, or your family reading it?
I wasn’t so worried about my family reading it (my dad actually helped me proof read the copy of my very first romance novel that they sent me for editing) but I did worry that people (readers in general) wouldn’t like it. But rationally, I realised that you can’t please all the people all the time. Books, like art, are purely subjective. So whilst some might read a novel of mine and love it, other’s wouldn’t. (That didn’t stop me from feeling ridiculously pleased by my first ‘fan’ letter though! And every other ‘fan’ letter that I’ve ever had for that matter.)

Which are your 2 favourite romance novels by other authors?
I grew up reading Mills and Boon as a teenager, and loved Anne Hampson’s books. And in the 80s and 90s of course, the big reads were by the Americans – novels like Princess Daisy, and Lace. Most recently, though, I’ve been writing and reading crime novels!

What 3 things are guaranteed to make you smile?
A sunny day that’s not too hot. A chocolate pudding of any description. And a visit to the library.

Do you have any pets?
I have a Yorkie/Maltese dog, now aged 14 and going a little deaf, called Nero. (I often call him Toad, though, because he can often act like one! He wasn’t named after a bonkers Roman Emperor for nothing.) And he has made one or two cameo appearances in my novels over the years.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
I've just been re-visiting Wuthering Heights (I haven't read it since my school days!) and am once again impressed by Emily Bronte. All that brooding and heightened passion! For me, Heathcliffe is still my favourite romance hero (or should that be anti-hero?)

Where do you do most of your writing?
I have a desk in my living room, facing a bookshelf with a copy of every novel I’ve had published so far (45 so far and still counting.) It faces a wall so that I won’t get distracted by what’s going on outside. Also, it means that my past books stare back at me as reproach to get cracking on whatever it is I’m working on at the moment, and act as a salient reminder that novels won’t write themselves. Though, if I could have a choice of super-powers, that would be it!

Do you every write your friends and family into books without them realising...?
I don’t write about real people that I know when creating my characters (I could get into a load of trouble that way!) Besides, part of the fun of writing a novel is creating your own world, and making up people to fit into them. If you have a real person in mind when doing this, they won’t always be ‘moulded’ as you want them in order to help the story line progress!

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
I wouldn’t mind being any of the heroines in any of my romance novels – since they are invariably beautiful (I’m not) intelligent (ditto) and very often are to be found having a great time in lovely locations with very sexy men (ditto and ditto. Alas and alas!)

Why did you choose your particular genre?
I started my career writing romance, because, as a teenager, that’s what I mostly read – along with classic whodunit-style crime novels. Which is why I now write in both genres. And, let’s face it, writing romances, set in lovely exotic locations, with thrilling storylines and handsome heroes were as fun to write as they are to read.

If you had to write in a different genre, which would you choose?
As well as writing whodunits under the name of Joyce Cato, I also created DI Hillary Greene, and the police procedural ‘Narrow’ series, under the name of Faith Martin. So there isn’t really another genre I’d want to write (Besides, I think 3 is enough for anyone!)

What do you think is the best thing about social media?
I’m a near-Luddite when it comes to modern technology and have only just started to learn to Twitter. Sorry, tweet. So, what I know about social media could be written in one word. Nothing!
And the worst?
Again – I don’t feel qualified to comment. I don't even have a Facebook page!

What is your favourite biscuit?
Any biscuit with chocolate on it has my attention.

Alcohol or a nice cup of tea?
I’m tee-total and always have been, and only ever drink coffee.

Who would you pick to star in the film of your life?
My fantasy choice would probably be Diana Rigg (I loved her as Emma Peel in the old Avenger’s series!!!) In reality – probably the wonderful actress Brenda Blethyn, who plays ‘Vera’ so well in the Anne Cleeves BBC series.

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I'm thinking a sort of salad butterfly, lettucey wings...
Now that’s not a question I’m asked very often! Let me think ... my brain isn’t liking this question for some reason … I keep thinking of otters and carrots for no damned good reason that I can explain.

Thanks to Maxine for answering my questions. Don't forget to check out Imposters in Paradise on Amazon, and her other books too of course. And follow the blog tour to find out more about Maxine and her books.

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Dave Hutchinson

Today's Wordy Wednesday is a little chat with Dave Hutchinson, author of several novels about..well Let's ask Dave to tell us more; what are your latest books about Dave?
Since about 2015 I’ve been working on a series of near-future thrillers set about eighty years from now when the European Union has collapsed.Sounds horribly close to reality...

What about you Dave? Tell us something about yourself.
I was born in Sheffield in 1960 and did American Studies at the University of Nottingham, and I now live in London. I’ve been writing since I was about sixteen, pretty much exclusively science fiction, with some odds and ends of fantasy. I’ve published six collections of short stories and four novels and I’ve edited a couple of anthologies.

Do you have another job or are you a full time author?
I worked as a journalist on Fleet Street for about twenty-five years, but I was made redundant in 2010 and I’m now writing full-time, although if anyone wants to put any copy-editing work my way as well, I wouldn’t turn it down.

When did you start writing?
I usually date that to my mother buying me a typewriter on my sixteenth birthday, but I’d been scribbling stuff in notebooks for a few years before that.

What 3 things are guaranteed to make you smile?
These days it’s tough to raise a smile about anything, but cats will always make me smile. Really awful puns. The company of close friends.

Do you have any pets?
Yes, we have a cat, who is very sweet and gentle but possibly the dimmest cat ever to walk the face of the earth. Our previous cats, who were all Persians, were Machiavellis in comparison. He mostly neither helps nor hinders the writing process, unless he decides he needs to be chased around for a while.

Photo credit Cecilia Weightman

Who is your favourite author?
This is always a tough one to answer. I’m not sure I can point to a single author and say, “They’re my favourite.” I’m very fond of espionage fiction – Len Deighton and John le Carre have been big influences. There’s a fabulous American writer named Alan Furst, who has been a huge influence. And then there’s the guv’nor, Raymond Chandler. In terms of science fiction, the British writer Keith Roberts had a seismic effect on me when I was just setting out with my own stuff; his work fundamentally changed the way I wrote and the things I wrote about. As a benchmark, a bar to clear, I hope one day I manage to write something half as good as Chris Priest’s The Prestige, which I still think is a monumental work.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
For the second year in a row, I’m one of the judges of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasey Debut Dagger Award, for first-time crime writers. So I’m slowly climbing a tottering pile of debut crime novels. Ooh how exciting! Good luck, I can't imagine how hard it is to judge writing.

Where do you do most of your writing?
At the moment, in our spare bedroom, but in the past I’ve done a lot of writing in libraries, and if I may be allowed to bang a drum for a second, libraries are a massive resource, not just for borrowing books, and we lose them at our peril.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
I’m very fond of Rudi, the central character of the Europe books. He’s an Estonian chef who works in a restaurant in Krakow. He’s basically quiet and unassuming and doesn’t want any trouble, but the world gets upended around him and he finds himself fighting unseen forces. And he never gives up, even when he doesn’t understand what’s going on. He just keeps plodding along, head down, shoulders against the wind. I like that about him. He’s basically the little voice in my head, and it’s been quite a surprise to discover that other people like him too.

What is your favourite biscuit?
Dark chocolate Kit-Kat. Food of the Gods.

Tea or Coffee?
Tea and coffee.

In the film of your life who would play you?
Haha! I have no idea; whoever it is it’ll have to be somebody that looks really tired all the time.

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why?
Oooh, that’s a good one. It would have to be something utterly ridiculous, like a honey badger and a pumpkin or a rhinoceros and an onion. So you would cry while being trampled? nice

You can stalk Dave via his blog Which can be found here 

The most recent of the Europe books is Europe in Winter, which is here: Europe in Winter by Dave Hutchinson

Thanks to Dave for answering my ridiculous questions - go and investigate his books, and why not check your library too? Maybe nag them to get a few extra copies! 

Wordy Wednesday's author interview with Non Pratt

Hello Wordy Wednesday fans! A treat for you all today as I interview Non Pratt, fabulous fun person, author of books my teen adores and general all round nice person.

First I asked Non to introduce herself, for the benefit of those who don't know her work (do catch up though!)

So Non, who do you write for? What do you write about?
I write books for teen-minded humans. My novels Trouble, Remix and Truth or Dare (coming out June 1st) and novella Unboxed, all have a contemporary setting and tend to involve quite a lot of friendship drama and a little bit of sexytimes because these are the things I was most interested in as a teenager… and as a thirty-something adult.

Do you have another job or are you a full time author? If you do something else (international spy?)
I am one of those rare beasts: a full-time author. My job before this was as an editor in children’s publishing, so I’m pretty much a one-profession pony. No international spying for me.

When did you start writing? 
I’ve been writing since I was fourteen – about a lot of the things I’m still writing about now. When I started, there weren’t that many books catering to teen interests and I was desperate to read about teenagers that were a bit like me (but doing cooler, edgier stuff, like hanging out in the park, drinking, getting into fights and having sex). My first novel was about a group of people who really liked the rain – called The Rain Gods – and I finished it in the middle of the night in a flood of tears when I was about nineteen.

What 3 things are guaranteed to make you smile? 
A grown cat chasing its tail in an empty bath tub. Anyone paying me a compliment on my hair. (nice hair, Non) Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.

Do you have any pets? 
We used to have two cats – Remy and Fenix. Fenix was my cat and he would come and sprawl over the paper on my desk and purr at me. He died earlier this year, but Remy seems to have been observing the Fenix’s behaviour and now comes to see me at 2pm every day to trip over stuff on my desk and try and climb on the back of my office chair while I type. It is not helpful, but it is sweet.

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 Patrick Ness. We actually have the same editor at Walker (in fact, my love of his books is the reason I submitted my novel to Walker in the first place). His books are very different to (and much better than) mine, but I recently realised that I’d never tried writing into the first person present tense until after I read The Knife of Never Letting Go – and that was the first time I found my voice as a writer. So, Patrick’s been pretty bloody influential as it turns out!

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment? 
I’ve got my sticky little mitts on The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, which comes out in April in the UK. It’s about Starr, who is witness to a police officer shooting her friend. The book was inspire by the Black Lives Matter movement and you’ll hear a lot of people saying why this book is so important (it is) and timely (it is), but despite tackling some very serious and under-addressed questions, it’s written in such a deft manner that one moment you’ll be gasping in horror at the truth of what it must be like to constantly have to watch out for others’ dangerous prejudices and careless microaggressions, and the next you’ll be grinning at some of Starr’s wryly observant one-liners and the A++ flirting that goes on. This is a book that is rich and varied and worthy of the hype you’ve been hearing.

Where do you do most of your writing? 
Staring out of the window on a long train journey, or sitting in my office at home. I have my grandad’s old desk where I plot stuff out or hand-write when I get a bit stuffed up and at right-angles to that I have a sit/stand desk where I type stuff up on my PC.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers! 
My favourite character is still Neville from Trouble. He’s a cantankerous old bastard and he’s brilliant.

What is your favourite biscuit? 
McVites plain chocolate digestive. Eaten at least three in a row, all dunked in hot tea.

Tea or Coffee? 
Tea. (Preferably accompanied by some chocolate digestives…)

In the film of your life who would play you? 
Bex Taylor-Klaus who plays Audrey in the Scream Netflix series could play a Young Non. She’s basically my style icon (in character and out) and I think she’s fab. No idea who could play me as Old Non. Alison Janney? Just because Alison Janney is amazing? We look and sound nothing alike though!

Who wouldn't want to be this cool?

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) I would cross a snake with an aubergine. Aubergines have the loveliest skin – imagine that on a snake.

This is Non Pratt’s Hive Page Go buy books!

You can also follow Non on twitter.

Thanks so much for taking part Non! 

I can confirm that (gay) teen girls love her books, and I know that DD will be keen to read the new one, Truth or Dare

Thank You Letters

The last time I put pen to paper and wrote a thank you letter....hmm let me think...I thanked my best friend for the gift she sent for my 50th but that was a text, I thanked my daughter for my mothers' day gift but I thanked her in person. I thanked my American mate for something she sent but that was an email...no I think the last time I put pen to paper was when I was about 16.

When was the last time you wrote a thank you letter? And do you make your children write them? We have always made DD write cards and letters of thanks (drawing pictures when she was too small to write) and my friends all ensure that I receive a thank you card if I send their child a gift too. But are they really still necessary in today's busy electronic world?

A thank you I received in a recent Amazon delivery!

First things first, I don't usually expect a thank you letter or card if I give the present direct to the recipient. After all, I know they received it and they can say thank you there and then. I do however like a thank you letter if I have posted a gift, and if I receive a gift via the post I ensure I send some sort of thank you as a way of not only showing gratitude, but of letting the sender know that their gift arrived. And when DD was small and had large birthday parties, we ensured every child received a thank you card for coming, and for the gifts they brought.

Lately though I've realised that actually writing the letter may be a bit old fashioned. I'm not a Victorian. I can text, email, tweet, Facebook, Skype ... well you know the drill. So should I still be asking DD to write thank you letters? And should I be doing it too? Or not? I asked a few parenting bloggers if their kids wrote thank you letters:

Katy says "I've never received a thank you card for Christmas, only for a wedding or a new baby. That is fine with me too. I'll get my daughter to say thank you to people when she receives gifts." http://katykicker.com

Stevie says "I always used to mean to do it and bought cards every year just for that purpose, but we've gone 'modern' instead. The boys either text people, email them or give them a quick phone call to say thank you on the day." www.acornishmum.com

Milla says "I always mean to send them. Most years I even handmake thank you cards with my kids before Christmas (my logic being that the writing inside doesn't need to be as fulsome if the card is handmade ) but I hardly ever get round to actually sending the wretched things. Post-Christmas is such a mad time with family birthdays and back to school and calming down hyped-up kids." liveoxfordshire.com

Mary says " I'm old school. If someone had taken the time to send my son a present or give him money then he is writing them a thank you note. I think it's really rude when people don't acknowledge the fact we've given them a present. It doesn't need to be War and Peace, but he does need to make a little effort" http://Over40andamumtoone.com

Naomi says "I send them - usually a postcard of a recent photo of the kids. Mine are 4 and a baby, so at the moment I have "Thank you for my Christmas presents" and then write their names. When they are older they can write them themselves. I think it's polite - - if someone has gone to the effort of getting a gift for them, it's just a thank you. I should add, lots of our friends and family live some distance away, so we don't see them very often." Http://lifebynaomi.com

Louise says "We do thank you cards for birthdays and with Christmas I usually send a photo of the child with the present or a video of them saying thank you as the presents are mostly from family." Http://pinkpearbear.com

Beth says "I've never sent or received a thank you card for Christmas. We do for birthdays but not for Christmas. We are lucky though as usually see all the family who buy gifts so they can say thank you there & then. My Dad always says seeing their reaction is priceless so this means more than a thank you card I guess" http://Twinderelmo.co.uk

Dave (slightly shocked) say "I didn't even know this was a thing! Growing up, I always said thanks to people by ringing them or face to face when I next saw them. I kind of like the sentiment of spending the time to write a letter with / on behalf of Toddler L, but the truth is that we're never going to get around to doing that!" www.thedadventurer.com

Kate agrees with Dave and says "I didn't even know people did this. I was always taught to call or thank people in person, and then later my mum would send a picture of me playing/wearing said present. A lot of our friends live quite a distance away so this is probably going to be an option, however with modern technology you can Skype/FaceTime." Http://Lesbemums.com

Abi says "I always send them. We always sent them as kids so have just continued doing so. Even if we see the person to thank in person, I always follow up with a note. Might take me 6 months to post it, but it goes eventually! I may take a more modern approach of text/email as the kids get older/ we have more!" Www.somethingaboutbaby.co.uk

Sophie says "Writing thank you letters and cards after receiving birthday or Christmas presents was drummed into me at an early age. We HAD to send them, even if we had sent 'thank you' in person or when we had opened the present in front of them. As I got older I got nagged as I tried to explain that saying 'thank you' in person or on the phone should be enough. I can't imagine what the postage costs were! When I talked to friends or my husband about their etiquette most were quite surprised about the letter writing. These days the relatives who used to send a card for any occasion have started barely sending any, probably due to cost of postage and I'm happy to email." http://www.sophieandlily.co.uk

Cat say "I do it for older relatives and distant relations who are 'that type' but now I usually send a quick picture message or short video with a bit of text saying 'thanks for your pressie'" rockandrollpussycat.co.uk

Jayne says "I'm useless at thank you cards. I try and take nice pictures of the kids and the gifts and attach a message saying thank you." http://kidskicksandcloth.com/

Steph says "I always make sure we send thank you cards. I write them and the children sign them (as they are too young to write a whole card). I always find it really rude when I don't get a thank you from others. I'd be more than happy with a text / email/ call but it amazes me that some people don't acknowledge the pressie at all." http://www.hellobabyblog.co.uk

Laura says "With four children and countless gifts, it really isn't feasible for me to get them to write out thank you cards (more so as three are unable to write!). I tend to do a group text or share a post on facebook tagging everyone to say thank you, or if it's an elderly relative we phone them up to say thank you as they seem to expect a more personal thank you." www.fivelittledoves.com

Lucinda says "Once children can write they HAVE to write their own thank you letter whether they have opened it In front of the giver or not. I think they have to think about the thought and action that went into choosing a present for them, and thank accordingly. Old school maybe but we don't want the next generation to lose the art of being able to write a hand written letter!" www.thelondonmummy.com

Claire says "I myself have never sent thank you letters for anything or received, I've rung or texted the person to say thank you and wish them merry Christmas etc as it is important to take a few minutes to show gratitude for the people who've spent their time and money on gifting something thoughtful. I'll definitely be encouraging my little boy to do the same, at the moment while he is so young my partner and I will send a picture of him using the gift and whatsapp it or email it to the person who gifted it or we will say thanks ourselves over the phone but we will definitely be encouraging our little one to do the same. Letters & cards etc takes so much time!" www.dearmummybear.wordpress.com

Lara says "Hmm, maybe I'm old school then! We always send them and making them doubles as a fun wet weather activity! I think it's really important to teach them to thank people for their gifts. However we never receive them from other family members, only from friends Which is a shame. I totally get that modern life is busy and I expect once the boys are older it will be more likely to be a digital thank you but for now it's important we do it in physical form. It also means we take the time to remember whom each gift has come from." www.adventuresofamum.com

Rebecca says "We always thank when the present is received but maybe not after opening it. Oh I am so hopeless at sending thank you cards. I always buy cards to send but keep forgetting!" Http://becster.com

Jennifer says "When my children were tiny I'd make sure thank you cards were sent for every gift, I'd do a crafty afternoon with them get out the glitter and decorate some cards, then I'd write and send them. As they got older and could write themselves this turned into something much more time consuming. Now we'll make and send cards to a few people, such as elderly relatives but if it's someone who's on social media we're more likely to take a photo with the gift and send that to say thank you." Http://www.mymummyspennies.com

Laura says "I love getting thank yous so always make sure we say thank you to people. I write notes for older people that have posted things but younger relatives I'll send a video of the kids saying thank you or type a message or email. I'm not ever so organised though so it is sometimes a while after the event." Www.wafflemama.uk

So it seems we agree that some sort of thank you is in order, we mostly agree that cards and letters are nice (especially for older relatives that may not be as tech savvy) but that it maybe we are moving into a digital era where a 'Thank you Youtube clip' might soon take the place of a card - what a shame Vine is closing down, all those thank yous, sorted in 6 seconds each!

What do your family do? Do you write thank you letters?