The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein

The Pearl Thief is Elizabeth Wein’s fourth book for young adults. While previous books have featured daring female pilots and WW2 heroines the heroine of The Pearl Thief is Julie; a 1930s Scottish aristocrat back from finishing school to help her mother close up her grandfather’s estate for the last time. Grieving for her grandfather and for the summers she used to have Julie meets a family of Scottish Travellers including brother and sister Ellen and Euan whose way of life is also being closed off and who meet disdain, prejudice and opposition at every turn. On top of this Julie and her new friends have mysteries to solve; what happened to visiting academic Dr Housman who has disappeared? Who knocked Julie unconscious? And what has happened to the pearls in her grandfather’s collection. It’s not all about the mystery though as there is also romance, humour and a lovely portrait of a way of life slowly coming to an end as the countryside changes and the threat of war looms. The struggles with class, poverty and a changing way of life are all deftly handled. Elizabeth Wein is a powerful and consummate storyteller. Beautifully crafted and unputdownable The Pearl Thief is a wonderful mystery, filled with nostalgia and a real homage to the author’s adopted home of Scotland, to the Scottish countryside and to a fading way of life. With echoes of I Capture the Castle and Agatha Christie this will be a real hit with slightly older fans of Robin Stevens, and Enid Blyton.

This book will be published on May 4th 2017.

With thanks to LoveReading and Bloomsbury for a copy. 

Books to Watch out for in 2017 Part Two

There are always many more books that I want to read than I can afford or even have time to read. So here's another post about the books that are just out or coming soon and why you will want them too.

Just Published

The international bestselling author of The Historian returns with an intriguing new book published by Text Publishing in April. A young American woman Alexandra Boyd arrives in Sofia and has a mix up with a bag after helping an elderly couple to find a taxi, so she finds herself trying to track down the Lasarov family and thus begins an epic tale of Bulgaria; it's people, it's history, it's tragedy. Also what a stunning cover. 

This is a dark YA fantasy ideal for fans of Leigh Bradugo and Sarah J Maas. Tea comes from a family of witches but her abilities are different; so when she accidently raises her brother from the dead she is rejected by her own community. She is taken in by an older, wiser bone witch who trains her in elemental magic but dark forces are rising. Released in March by Sourcebooks in hardback this debut has had rave reviews.

Antonia Senior returns to the mid Seventeenth Century for her third novel which features Patience Johnson who believes she has a great destiny to fulfill. Her brother Will meanwhile has been appointed as lawyer to Oliver Cromwell. The Tyrant's Shadow blends romance, drama and political intrigue in an exciting and dangerous era. Published in April by Corvus.

Daniela Sacerdoti's new series sees her move to a new publisher; Headline, and it features another beautiful and atmospheric Scottish location. The first book in The Seal Island series is winning rave reviews and throngs of readers and I hope will bring this brilliant author to a wider audience. Out now in hardback with a paperback due in September.

Tanya Landman travels back to Roman Britain for her latest YA novel about runaway slave girl Cassia who does the unthinkable; crosses Hadrian's Wall to seek freedom. If you are a fan of Manda Scott's Boudica series or N. M. Browne's YA fiction then this is essential reading. Published in April by Walker Books.

Having enjoyed their previous adventures I am keen to discover what Frey and McGray get up to next. This latest instalment of the Edinburgh set detective series sees guest appearances by Ellen Terry and Henry Irving as a new production of the Scottish play comes to town.  Published in April by Penguin.

Set in 1361 as a new wave of plague visits England, this is dark, mysterious, historical fantasy. Perfect for me then. The paperback was just published in April by Headline.  

Coffin Road by Peter May

I am a huge fan of Peter May having devoured The Lewis Trilogy last year in just a few days. Coffin Road is a stand alone novel that sees the author return to the Hebrides. I love anything set in Scotland especially the Highlands and Islands so I was sold on this book within seconds and I love the fact that the name reminds me of another great Scottish novel Iain Banks' The Crow Road. The book opens with a man stumbling around a beach having been apparently washed ashore. He has no memory of how he got there or even of who he is. The first part of the novel sees our mystery man trying to figure out what on earth is going on as he fakes knowing neighbours, friends and even lovers and the reader is right there with him. I found myself flying through the pages desperate to know, what next?
The other major characters in the novel are a rebellious Edinburgh teenager desperate to find out what happened to her father and a seasick detective determined to unravel it all.
I can't say too much about the plot as it will spoil any potential readers enjoyment all I will say is that this is the perfect introduction to May if you haven't read him before and if like me you've only read The Lewis Trilogy then go now immediately and buy this book, you won't be disappointed.
This was one of the first books I choose when I was asked to pick my favourites for a radio interview I did recently in my capacity as a bookseller. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Perfect for fans of James Oswald, S K Tremayne and Elly Griffiths.

Wild Wood by Posie Graeme-Evans

Another Australia author. One I have a bit of a soft spot for because she is such a beautiful writer and she writes my favourite kind of book; time-slip. Just like The Island House Wild Wood features an Aussie heroine exploring her British heritage. This book however is set not on a Scottish island but on the Scottish border. The modern story actually takes place in the early 1980s with Jesse Marley having just discovered that she is adopted she sets out to learn more about her birth family. Arriving in London she has an accident and finds herself in hospital unable to speak. She is treated by a neurologist Rory who encourages Jesse to draw and she begins to draw faces of people she has never met and a castle she has never seen. However the castle is quite real in fact Rory knows it very well because he grew up there. Rory takes her to see the castle and to try and understand what is happening to Jesse and what her connection to Hundredfields really is. Weaving between Jesse's chapters we get the tale of Hundredfields itself and the intriguing mystery that has been handed down through the generations. This is an intriguing tale of history, mystery, family and secrets that fans of Susanna Kearsley, Diana Gabaldon and Rosemary Goring will adore. 

The Redemption of Alexander Seaton by Shona Maclean

The Redemption of Alexander Seaton is the first in a four part series by Scottish writer Shona /S.G. Maclean. Set in Banff in Scotland in 1626. Alexander is a failed minister now a schoolteacher of morose character. His two truest friends are the doctor and the music master.When a man is found dead in suspicious circumstances, murder is suspected and Alexander's friend the music teacher a rival in love to the murdered man is arrested. Tasked with helping the investigation Alexander is determined to prove his friend innocent.
This is a wonderfully written tale from a master storyteller. The setting and characters are so vivid and intense I felt utterly immersed and sad to leave them all behind. This is a series I will certainly continue and cherish.
If you like S J Deas, Robin Blake or Antonia Hodgson this book is for you.

Here is an interview the author did with Shots e-zine which will give you some insight into her research and an explanation for the mid series name change.



http://www.shotsmag.co.uk/interview_view.aspx?interview_id=237

A Fever of the Blood

Frey and McGray return for a second outing in de Muriel’s new novel. The story opens in January 1889 with a brutal killing at the Edinburgh lunatic asylum, and the investigative duo are immediately involved, as McGray’s own sister is also a patient there. The first in the series, The Strings of Murder, introduced the unlikely pairing of the gruff ‘nine nails’ McGray and the exiled Londoner, Frey, and in their second investigation, as before, McGray tends to speak with his fists first, while Frey is more cautious. The majority of the action in this book takes place outside the policemen’s jurisdiction as they chase a suspect onto a train and end up in Lancashire. Just as in their previous case, there is a supernatural element as the men find themselves the target of a dangerous secret society of witches and a curse that stretches back through the centuries to the time of the Pendle witch trials.

This is a fast-paced, well-researched and thoroughly spellbinding read. The mismatched pair is as entertaining as Holmes and Watson at their best, and the supernatural element brings an entertaining twist. There are a number of insightful moments of character development which hint at further episodes to come, and while the book is clearly a sequel to the first in the series it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Published by Michael Joseph and available in paperback now. 

I  reviewed this book for The Historical Novel Society magazine. You can see the original review online HERE

Dacre's War by Rosemary Goring

Once again Rosemary Goring dazzles the reader with her vivid and intense writing, her fast paced plotting and her characters which leap from the page. I simply couldn't put it down. ‘Dacre's War’ continues the story of border chieftan Adam Crozier and his courageous wife Louise, begun in ‘After Flodden’. Once again Rosemary Goring dazzles the reader with her vivid and intense writing, her fast paced plotting and her characters which leap from the page. I simply couldn't put it down. It is now ten years later and Adam leads an alliance of Scottish border clans while Lord Dacre is now the most powerful man in the North of England. When Adam learns for certain that Lord Dacre organised his father's murder he is determined to bring him down. The action moves swiftly and the story is related from multiple viewpoints; Adam, Louise, Dacre and his daughter Joan, which adds to the intensity. Rosemary Goring is an incredible writer and I cannot recommend her highly enough, if you are a fan of historical fiction especially Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novels; then this book is for you. While ‘Dacre's War’ could be read as a stand alone novel I would recommend reading ‘After Flodden’ first if only so that you can learn more about this amazing cast of characters.

Beyond the Sea by Melissa Bailey Blog Tour, Guest Post and Review

I was thrilled to be asked by Melissa to review her new novel and to take part in this blog tour. This is only Melissa's second book but she is fast becoming a favourite author. Regular readers of this blog will know that I love historical fiction, gothic tales and ghost stories and Melissa managed to provide all three with her first novel The Medici Mirror (Read my review Here) now with her second novel Melissa has provided more of my favourite things in the form of Scottish islands, Viking treasure and Mermaids.

REVIEW

Beyond the Sea is a poignant and beautifully atmospheric tale of a grieving young woman trying to come to terms with the loss of her husband and young son at sea. After a year of struggling with her grief in crowded London streets Freya has returned to the cottage in the Hebrides that has become home and which is alive with memories of her once happy family. Her parents, her sister and her friends all advise against Freya staying alone on the island but despite the haunting dreams which wake her at night and the fog her brain seems stuck in due to too many pills and too much wine, Freya needs to be there. She finds comfort in the little box of treasures that her son Sam acquired beachcombing and metal detecting. Then she meets a young man Daniel and they are drawn together by their interests in the history and myths that surround the islands especially the tales of the Ceasg; the mermaid but there is a darkness and a danger that surrounds Daniel and as Freya is drawn in by the tales of the Ceasg and the Green Island she must heed the warnings in her dreams. A powerful tale of grief, hope, mystery and magic. Perfect for fans of Posie Graeme-Evans, Elizabeth Gifford, Lucy Atkins and Barbara Erskine and Rachel Hore.

Melissa kindly wrote a piece about the setting of the novel and sent some gorgeous photos too.

SETTING


I have been asked a lot about the setting of Beyond the Sea, and why I chose the Hebrides as the landscape in which the action of the novel plays out.

Interestingly, while the book emerged from a single image of a woman, her hair turned white in grief, standing alone by the sea, a lighthouse in the near distance behind her, I think I probably knew even then, way back in the beginning when I didn’t know much else, that the woman was standing on a beach in the Hebrides. It’s a part of the world that I love. I’m drawn to its wildness, the stark rawness of its beauty, the fact that the weather can change in an instant, sunshine becoming rain becoming sleet. It is brutal, elemental, timeless - craggy mountain ranges, desolate moorlands, restless ever shifting seas. And yet, I feel there is also something redemptive, magical almost about this landscape. The sea takes away, and yet it also gives back. It is an endless, eternal pattern. The sea is often death, but it is also life. So the remote fringes of the British Isles, the untamed edges of civilisation, seemed a very natural and fitting backdrop for a woman touched by devastating loss, her emotions as turbulent and fast changing as the winds or the tides, but perhaps moving slowly towards redemption.

The lighthouse was also crucial in establishing the mood of the novel. To me, lighthouses evoke images of keepers tending a light at night, keeping vigil during both calm and storm. They are symbols of sanctuary, of hope, of light in the darkness. Yet they are simultaneously the quintessential symbol of loneliness and isolation – solitary towers aloft in the middle of the ocean, battered by the elements. Therefore it too seemed to be a wholly appropriate place for the woman to live – a very visual image of her emotional state.

As I started to plot the novel in more detail, the woman became Freya, whose husband and son vanish at sea the year before the novel begins. She returns to the lighthouse they once called home, seeking solace, trying to move beyond her grief. Beyond the Sea is the story of her journey. But it also tells the story of the Hebrides, the lighthouse and the sea – all characters in their own right.

The blog tour continues tomorrow details in the image below and you can find out more about Melissa and her books at her website http://www.melissabailey.info/blog/

Lullaby Girl Blog Tour

Today I am delighted to be hosting the Lullaby Girl Blog Tour. Who is the Lullaby Girl? Get your hands or your kindle on a copy of this fantastic debut novel from Aly Sidgwick and find out. Aly's debut novel is a thrilling, suspenseful and intriguing tale of psychology, love and memory. A young woman is washed up on the shore of a remote Scottish loch. How did she get there? Who is she? She does not speak and she doesn't remember anything, but she sings a haunting Danish lullaby over and over. The Press christen her The Lullaby Girl and scramble for her picture and her story, but no family comes forward to claim her. When caseworker Rhona is assigned to look after the girl she is determined to find out who she is and where she came from. In Rhona's experience of dealing with patients suffering from trauma and breakdown the girl's loss of memory must mean that she has suffered terrible hurt. At the remote care home she is taken to the girl begins to remember and with memory comes fear. Interlacing the present day and the past this cleverly written tale is the most thrilling debut I have read this year and will appeal to those who loved the unreliable narrative of Gone Girl as well as those with a fondness for Nordic Noir.

The author Aly Sidgwick was kind enough to stop by and tell me about her dream cast if Lullaby Girl were made into a film. Here's what she said

I was asked who I’d like to play my characters if Lullaby Girl was ever made into a film. Wow, it’s been tough to decide! Okay...

Kathy

Kathy’s a difficult one, because the people I imagined her as are no longer the right age to play her. I think of her primarily as a young Kate Bush, with hints of PJ Harvey and Juliette Lewis. I like Rooney Mara but don’t know if she could do the right accent! Hmm, maybe Hannah Murray? She has the right look to her, and she has the slightly awkward, unusual manner that’s key to the character.

Magnus
Magnus is so difficult, too! His strong accent is important, so I’d prefer a Scandinavian actor, but can’t think of one who’d fit. They’re all a bit too bulky, whilst Magnus has a wiry, rock star build. I think of him as a cross between a young Vincent Gallo, Gustaf Noren and Nicke Hellacopter. Only one of whom is an actual actor, haha!
Gustaf Noren 

Rhona
Maybe Tamsin Greig? She has that down to earth quality, and she’s instantly likeable. Rhona is all about empathy, but she also has a fragilty in her that she tries to hide away. A psychiatrist friend told me that most counsellors require counselling themselves... So there’s a balancing act between weakness and strength in her. I can see Laura Dern as Rhona too.
Tamsin Grieg

Joyce
Joyce is an easy one. Tilda Swinton! I frickin’ ADORE Tilda Swinton. Everything she does is incredible. She’s so versatile she could probably play any of my female characters, but she would be my perfect Joyce.

Mary
Mary doesn’t speak, so there’s no problem with accents there! She has to look really innocent, so.... Maybe Lily Cole? Kate Micucci also has the ’Mary’ factor.

Mrs Laird
Maggie Smith, hands down.

Mrs Bell
Supergran! Or Grace Zabriskie.

Hans
I can totally see Hank Von Helvete as Hans. He has the crazy eye! Or Benicio Del Toro, but then the accent would be all wrong.

Kolbeinn
A cross between Udo Kier and Christopher Walken.

Tim
Tim is very warm, easy going and a bit scatty. Visually, I imagined him a bit like Jamie Bell or Matt Smith.

Lina
Lina should be classically beautiful, with piercing eyes. Emma Stone maybe?

Sølvi
Viktoria Winge in her teens would have made a perfect Sølvi.

and there you have it the dream cast now go and read the book. Thanks so much to Janne at Black &White Publishing for a copy of the book and for asking me to take part in the blog tour. Available now on kindle and in paperback.

Set Me Free by Daniela Sacerdoti Blog Tour

I was thrilled to be invited to take part in the blog tour for Daniela Sacerdoti's newest Glen Avich novel. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Dani's writing. Dani's newest book Set Me Free is now available in paperback and kindle edition and comes with a free recipe book.

Set Me Free is the third of Daniela Sacerdoti's Glen Avich novels set in the tight knit community of an Aberdeenshire Village. The books are loosely connected and have some recurring characters However they can be read as entirely stand alone novels and in any order. Believe me once you have discovered this author you will want to read more.
Set Me Free is the story of Margherita whose world is falling apart. Unable to have children of their own she and her husband adopted six year old Lara, a troubled but incredibly bright young girl and then a miracle happens Margherita gets pregnant but what should be a time of joy instead becomes a crisis as Ash; Margherita's cold and distant husband isn't sure he wants another child. Although they manage to patch things up for a time when Leo is three the cracks in their marriage become too huge to ignore on top of which Margherita is worried about Lara who is now fifteen and struggling with anger issues and bullying at school and online. Margherita asks Ash for a separation, desperate to find some space and time to think. She travels to Glen Avich where her Mum and Step-Dad run the local coffee shop. The village has a revitalising effect on both Lara and her Mum and they fall in love with the peace and quiet, the fresh air, the scenery and the people. But is Margherita ready to give her heart away again when she meets historian Torcuil Ramsay? and who is the mysterious boy that Lara has been seeing in secret? After a summer of rediscovering her love of baking and finding what she really wants you will be rooting for Margherita to make the right decision. An enchanting read from a wonderful writer. Daniela Sacerdoti goes beyond the boundaries of contemporary romance incorporating elements of magical realism and the supernatural. I defy you not to fall in love with the place, the characters and the writing.

Daniela was kind enough to answer a few questions for me, which I greatly appreciate.

Five Books that Inspired you

Many, many books inspired me but some stand out.

First and foremost, it has to be Anne of Green Gables by Lucy M. Montgomery, probably my favourite book of all time. It’s the story of an orphaned girl in Canada and the readers gets to follow her absorbing journey through life over six books as she grows up and gets married. Her story really touched me and has stayed with me ever since I first read the books.

The second book has to be Wuthering Heights – so beautifully written and immensely powerful; its images are burnt into my imagination.

I’m also really into Harry Potter – I’ve read all seven books and I think J. K. Rowling is amazing. Recently, at the Colombia Book Fair, I was asked who would I be if I were a character in the Harry Potter saga, and which house would I be in – my answers were Luna Lovegood, and Ravenclaw.

I was lucky enough to have my dad reading The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to me when I was very young. I loved them and they stayed in my imagination forever – I would advise anyone to read them both!

Finally, advice for new writers: To be very determined and not let themselves be discouraged by rejection and criticism. To work very hard and to be themselves, write from the heart and not pay heed to trends or to what the market wants at that given moment.
And last, but not least, to read a lot!


Thank you very much to Janne at Black & White Publishing for sending me a copy of the book for review.

Find out more about Dani and her books at her website http://danielasacerdoti.com/en/adult-fiction/ and her twitter @danisacerdoti

Orkney Twilight by Clare Carson

Part spy thriller, part detective novel, part family drama and part coming of age story ‘Orkney Twilight’ is a beautifully written evocative novel set in London and Scotland in the early 1980s. It features undercover policeman Jim who is struggling with alcohol addiction and a failed marriage and his bright and rebellious daughter Sam who is about to go away to Oxford. Together they and Sam’s friend trainee journalist Tom travel to Orkney at midsummer and while Sam and Tom attempt to find out what Jim is up to Sam becomes convinced that she is being followed. Sam soon becomes mixed up in a dark and shadowy world and tragedy is only ever a wrong turn away. Full of references to Norse mythology and the gorgeous twilight of an Orkney summer, perfect for fans of Erin Kelly, Ann Cleves and Peter May.

This review originally appeared at lovereading.co.uk

Prayer for the Dead by James Oswald

Prayer for the Dead is the fifth book in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series featuring the troubled detective who sees things most other detectives don't. This book sees Tony teaming up with an unlikely ally, a journalist who has been a thorn in his side in the past. However another journalist has gone missing and is soon discovered dead, murdered in a bizarre ritual. With no forensic evidence to go on Tony must use his hunches and insights to discover the killer but as the body count mounts and no suspect is revealed Tony must visit the ghosts of the past before the killer comes far too close to home. I love this series they are far from your average police procedural as the paranormal and the spiritual are a subtle but important part of the story and the characters are a wonderful cast, well worth revisiting. 

Author Feature: Anna Belfrage

Today's featured author is the lovely Anna Belfrage.

Anna is the author of the fantastic Graham saga of time slip novels set in the seventeenth century. A firm favourite with historical fiction readers across the world. There are now seven books in the series and you can find out more about the books and Anna on her website http://www.annabelfrage.com/





Five favourite books

What a horribly difficult question! Favourite books come and go, I think, believing on my present situation in life and my mood. But if I make a humongous effort, I can put together a list – not at all comprehensive, of course, but still…

1. Lord of the Rings – author name unnecessary, right? A book (well, trilogy) I’ve returned to over and over again throughout my life. A book that has been a door-opener into the magic world of literature for my sons (not my daughter), a book that is so well-read it is falling apart along the spine.

2. Kristin Lavransdotter by S Undstedt. The first truly historical book I ever read – at a very young age. Medieval times in Norway with an unforgettable female protagonist. What more can one want?

3. For whom the bell tolls. My favourite among Hemingway’s books – probably because of the setting and the streak of romance.

4. La fiesta del Chivo – The Feast of the Goat – by Mario Vargas Llosa. Beautiful language, at times quite unbearable content. What stays with me are the contrasts - the good guy sipping chicken soup for lunch while Trujillo is torturing someone in a nearby prison.

5. Here be Dragons by Sharon K Penman. It should probably come at the top, given the number of times I’ve read it. This particular book had me running off to buy a book called “Learning Welsh” (did not go so well), made me re-direct our entire honeymoon to visit each and every one of Llewellyn’s castles, and can still reduce me to tears – every single time.

And now to my top five writing tips

1. Read! Read some more. A writer develops his/her craft through reading, how else? Discover what you like, what you don’t like – I, for example, am not a fan of first person narrative as it restricts the story substantially. Learn from the masters, consider the perfection of Barbara Vine’s prose, or Philip Roth’s. Read Michael Dibdin to learn how to write introspection, Elizabeth Chadwick to see how she inserts historical feel. Study dialogue by laughing your head off when reading Janet Evanovich, sigh and dream of other places when you lap up the gorgeous descriptive writing of Barbara Gaskell Denvil. That is how we learn to write: by reading.

2. Write for yourself. Forget about commercial angles, ignore the savvy advice of those who tell you that any historical novelist wanting success must write a Tudor novel – unless you desperately want to write a Tudor novel (and yes, Tudor novels sell amazingly well; can’t quite comprehend why…) writing is first and foremost a selfish pleasure, an opportunity for the writer to wallow in precisely the genre/period he/she adores above all others.

3. Grow a couple of extra layers of skin. Very many people may like your book – just as many won’t, and several of these will gladly tell you just what a terrible read your novel is. But if you’re true to point two, it will be easier to ignore the negative reviews – after all, your aim is first and foremost to please Number One.

4. Write your book. Put it aside. Not for one day, not for one week, not even for one month. No, leave it alone for three months or so, before opening it anew. Errors will leap out at you – but there will also be passages that make you grin with pride. Correct the errors. Repeat the entire process.

5. If you really want to publish your book, do not stint on the editing. Every author needs a good editor, because try as you might, you will never catch all your errors on your own!


And now on to Lisa’s tricky questions…

1. Do you plan your story first and then do the research or does reading and researching spark ideas? In my case, it works both ways. I may have an interesting plot line in my head but can’t quite find the period in which to place it, and then one day as I am reading a non-fiction book, a little detail may catch my eye, and hey presto! I have my period! Research is important – but beware of wanting to show off all your knowledge in your final product. “Info dumps” can smother the best of stories.
Research is a bit like an airplane: it lifts you off the ground and flies you somewhere else. But the adventure starts when you reach your destination. I generally read non-fiction from the periods I am interested in, so already in my selection of research literature I have narrowed down my choices. Having said that, now and then I pick up a book about something totally unrelated and end up somewhere else than where I’d planned to go – like buying a last minute ticket to an exotic destination.

2. Do you think historical fiction is enjoying a resurgence and if so, why? Yes, I do. Partly because of a number of excellent authors, such as Hillary Mantel, taking it on, partly due to a general increase in curiosity about history. TV shows like Game of Thrones also help – especially if you write medieval fiction. Plus, if we’re going to be quite honest, Historical Fiction is more of an umbrella than a genre, as everything from crime to romance can be dressed in the garments of the past – something quite a few authors (and readers) have discovered.

3. What draws you to writing about the past? History had always been my passion – and especially British history. Combining my desire to write with this never-ending curiosity about life in the past was a given, somehow.

4. Do you have a typical writing day? Not really. I steal my writing moments – other than writing, I have a challenging and inspiring day-time job, as do many writers. I apply discipline to my writing on my weekends. On such days, I will eat a leisurely breakfast, write for four or five hours, take a break for a long walk, write some more. There are a couple of mandatory props when I write: tea, sweatpants and my trusted red computer. Plus I use a lot of post-its.

5. What are you working on now? I am working on a trilogy set in the 14th century.
“A trilogy?” my BFF asked earlier today. “I thought it was two books.” “Things expanded,” I explained. They very often do… Anyway: my new series is about Kit Coucy who is coerced into marrying Adam de Guirande while pretending to be someone else. Adam is one of Roger Mortimer’s most loyal men, and in marrying him, Kit is drawn into the events surrounding Mortimer’s rebellion against Edward II. Plenty of adventure, very much love, and all of this against a background of  exciting real life events!


Thank you so much for allowing me to visit with you Lisa!

Thank you Anna I am also a massive fan of Here be Dragons and thanks for some top writing tips.

Final Book in the Sarah Midnight Trilogy

Spirit; The Final Sarah Midnight book is published on 16th September and I am delighted to be part of the Blog Tour. The Sarah Midnight series are a top notch YA Fantasy series set in Scotland, featuring cracking characters and magnificent world building from the wonderful Daniela Sacerdoti. I'll have more info next week but for now here are the blog tour details.

The Closet of Savage Mementoes by Nuala Ní Chonchúir

I love to read new Irish fiction especially from women writers. I had been aware of Nuala for a while, had read interviews with her but hadn't read any of her work so I was intrigued when I learned this novel (her second) was on the way. The premise sounded very interesting a young Dublin woman Lillis escapes her grief at the death of her boyfriend and the difficult relationship with her alcoholic mother by taking a job as a waitress in the Scottish highlands. She falls for her much older boss and feels that her future is secure until a terrible betrayal brings her to crisis and she has to make a momentous decision. I was intrigued too to learn that this story was based on Nuala's personal experiences. To say that I loved this book would be a huge understatement. I felt the characters breathe out of the page, the writing is stark, sensual and intense, Nuala is a force to be reckoned with, her writing is poetic, sharp, spare and utterly beautiful. The character of Lillis is a brave and raw portrait of womanhood in all its states; daughter, wife, mother and lover and the portrait of her relationship with her mother Verity is a study in claustrophobia. In just under 200 pages I discovered a story and a group of characters so real and haunting I would not be surprised to meet them in the street. This book is so good I wish I had written it myself. 

The Hangman’s Song By James Oswald

This is the third book in the bestselling DI McLean series set in Edinburgh. I have read and enjoyed the previous two books and this third instalment is another exciting and page turning read.

It is a long hot summer in Edinburgh and Tony McLean is called to what at first would appear to be a simple but tragic suicide. However something doesn’t quite add up and when another hanged man is found Tony begins to grow suspicious. However with his nemesis Duguid now acting Superintendent, it seems Tony cannot get anyone to take his suspicions seriously. Instead he has been seconded to the Sex Crimes Unit where it seems even the detectives are on the take. On top of that Emma is out of hospital and coming to terms with the trauma of her attack. With so much on his plate will Tony work it all out in time before the Hangman’s Song is sung for him?

James Oswald’s novels are brilliant, sharp eyed observations of contemporary policing and the horrors of the criminal mind. There is also a supernatural element which remains a quiet background presence and won’t be off putting to readers who are not fans of the paranormal. I cannot wait to read the next instalment in the series and cannot recommend these books highly enough.

Thanks to lovereading.co.uk for sending me a proof copy of this book which is out today.

A Rip in the Veil by Anna Belfrage

This was one of my favourite books of 2013. I simply cannot say enough good things about it. It is a time slip novel, one of my favourite fictional tropes and it features present day heroine Alex who falls through a crack in time during a freak thunderstorm in the Scottish countryside and finds herself at the mercy of escaped convict Matthew Graham. It is 1658. Matthew feels he must take responsibility for this stranded and confused woman. Alex must come to terms with being separated from her family and reliant on a stranger in this strange and dangerous time. As the book features time travel, romance and Scotland it obviously reminded me of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. While there are some similarities the differences are enough to set the two firmly apart. Anna's writing is sharp with great interaction between the characters and there is adventure, mystery and intrigue in abundance. I don't want to give away too much detail here as it would spoil the read. Suffice to say that it is the first in a series and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you enjoy historical or time slip fiction, are a fan of Diana Gabaldon, Barbara Erskine or Susanna Kearsley then this is for you.

Published by Matador. I am grateful to the author for a review copy.

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley's latest novel is out in paperback now. I bought this while on holidays and started it straight away I had heard great things from The Historical and Time Slip Novels Book Club on facebook so I just had to have it. I certainly wasn't disappointed. Nicola has a special gift she can hold an object and see a glimpse of its past. It's a tool that's come in handy in her work as an art dealer. Margaret Ross travels down from Scotland to the London gallery where Nicola works to find out more about a family heirloom and how much it could be worth. Nicola holds the carved wooden firebird for a moment and immediately she sees that the Ross family stories are true it was given to an ancestor of Margaret's by The Russian empress Catherine. However Nicola has never told her boss or any clients about her gift so she needs to find evidence to back up her vision. She decides to investigate and enlists the help of old flame Rob McMorran who has a psychic gift even greater than Nicola's. Together they uncover the fascinating story of Anna a young Scottish woman who  lived  in Eighteenth Century St Petersburg and became embroiled in Jacobite politics. This is a brilliant and well written tale perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon and Barbara Erskine.

Out now from Allison & Busby.

The Secrets of the Sea House

Elizabeth Gifford’s debut novel is an enthralling piece of storytelling set in the remote and beautiful Outer Hebrides and featuring family secrets, folklore and mystery. Ruth and Michael have bought the Sea House in Scarista, once the manse and home of the local minister, they want to renovate it and provide accommodation for tourists. Ruth’s heritage is Scottish though she grew up mostly in care in London after her mother’s death. As soon as work begins there is a grim discovery; the skeleton of a baby found beneath the floorboards, a baby with its legs fused together, a mermaid baby.

Ruth remembers the tales of mermaids from the islands that her mother told her and now she has two mysteries to solve; the origins of the baby and her own Island heritage. She discovers the notebooks of a minister who lived in the manse in the 1860s Reverend Alexander Ferguson; he was also interested in the mermaid folklore of the islands. Alexander’s story and that of his maid Moira are then interspersed with Ruth’s throughout the rest of the novel.

Elizabeth Gifford’s writing is poetic and haunting. The dual-time narrative is a device used here to great effect and the plot is well paced. This is a heartfelt story and a real page turner. Fans of historical fiction, folklore and Scotland will all enjoy this wonderful debut. Elizabeth Gifford is writer to watch.

Secrets of the Sea House will be published by Corvus on 6th August 2013.

After Flodden By Rosemary Goring

After Flodden by Rosemary Goring is an outstanding fiction debut from a powerful and talented author. Rosemary Goring has previously written the bestselling Scotland the Autobiography and has worked as a non-fiction editor for many years but this book feels like the work of a fiction author at the height of her powers. The captivating story features a handful of characters in the aftermath of the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Patrick Paniter was James IV’s advisor and secretary and he is haunted by the horrors of the battlefield and the death of his king. Louise Brenier has asked for Paniter’s help in finding her brother who hasn’t returned from battle.  The indomitable Louise disgruntled with the search for her brother decides to set out to find him herself and finds herself caught up in a feud between two border clans.  The action is fast paced and perilous. The characters are believable and their stories compelling. This novel will have huge appeal for fans of Rose Tremain and Hilary Mantel. It introduces a period of history which is less well explored than the rest of the Sixteenth Century and which deserves further exploration. I cannot recommend this story highly enough; it is a must for all fans of Historical Fiction.

Here is a link to my review on lovereading.co.uk

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/8672/After-Flodden-by-Rosemary-Goring.html