Widdershins Blog Tour The Books That Made Me

As part of the Blog Tour to celebrate the release of Helen Steadman's first novel I asked Helen to tell me about some of her favourite books as part of my new series The Books that Made Me. Helen responded with three of her favourites from her teenage years and insists that she must have been a contrary young reader as they are rather surprising choices for a writer of historical fiction, nonetheless as the wonderful Meg Ryan said in You've Got Mail "When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does" So on with the books.

The Books Made Me: Helen Steadman The Teenage Years

1984 by George Orwell

‘Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull.’

This was the most striking book I had ever read, and I don’t think any other book has ever had the same effect on me since. It was the first time I’d read a book underpinned by such enormous ideas. Sinister concepts like thoughtcrime and newspeak were terrifying, as was the totalitarian setting. This book made me think about the world in a different way. It should be compulsory reading for everyone.

Mort by Terry Pratchett

‘Alligator sandwich,’ he said. ‘And make it sna—’

One Saturday afternoon, I found a Discworld book lying in a puddle of beer in the Haymarket, a much-missed Newcastle watering hole. I was a bit bored, and it didn’t seem appropriate to whip out my knitting, so I read the book. It was hilarious and I was immediately hooked on Terry Pratchett. Of all his books, I have a soft spot for Mort, because I love Death as a sandwich artist. Finally, I owe Terry Pratchett because it was in his Discworld books that I first heard the word ‘widdershins’.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

‘Man, when you lose your laugh, you lose your footing.’

This book broke my heart when I first read it because it was so shocking that people should suffer like this, and it was my first real inkling of there being such a thing as mental illness. Beyond the shocking and upsetting subject matter, though, was Kesey’s writing. It was unlike anything I’d ever read previously, making me feel as though I was inside the head of someone mentally ill. He also captured language perfectly, so it felt very real and immediate.

In case you missed my review of Helen's outstanding book you can find it HERE

Thanks so much to Helen for taking part in The Books That Made Me 
Helen's book is published by Impress Books and thanks to Natalie for an early reading copy
The blog tour continues details below.

Widdershins by Helen Steadman

Widdershins by Helen Steadman is based on the Newcastle Witch trials of 1650. Very little is known of the event other than a list of names of those who were executed, and even that is disputed. With so little information it was a subject ripe for fiction and Helen Steadman has delivered a truly compelling and thrilling tale. Divided into two narratives; Scotsman John Sharp and apprentice healer English girl Jane Chandler are the fictional creations who become entangled in this all too tragic occurence. The 1650s were a time when puritan values took hold, when pastors preached fire and brimstone and the evils of the flesh and neighbour turned against neighbour. The depth of Helen's research is immediately apparent. This book is a treasure trove of the cunning woman's knowledge of herbs and healing, birth and death. (Image courtesy of publisher Impress Books)

Jane learns how to make infusions and syrups from a young age. She knows the right berries to pick and the right time to pick them. She doesn't think there is anything sinister in the salves and tinctures that she makes. Her mother makes them too as did her grandmother before her as does their neighbour old Meg. However this is a time of change when old superstitions start to become something else, something darker. Meg upbraids Jane for falling asleep beneath the elder tree in case she is snatched away by the little folk but around the same time John Sharpe is a witness to the trial of Kirstie Slater who is accused of picking bewitched fruit from the elder tree in the kirkyard in order to commune with the devil even Meg refers to the elder as the witch tree. Helen Steadman has placed her story just at the point where the old ways are being scorned and the Puritan ideal is taking hold. The research here is stunning and the story telling is compelling. Jane is a wonderful lively narrator and she grows from wild young girl to wise young mother while John crushed by cruelty early in life grows darker and crueler with time. This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in history particularly the history of the North East of England, the history of medicine, women's history and witchcraft in general. I cannot wait to see what Helen writes next. If you are a fan of Beth Underdown's The Witch Finder's Sister then you need to read this book. I would also recommend it to fans of Karen Maitland, Diana Gabaldon, Nicola Cornick and Hannah Kent. It is excellent. Thanks so much to Natalie at Impress Books for the chance to read an early copy. Widdershins will be published in July. 

Learn more about Helen at her excellent website    http://helensteadman.com/

Puritan by David Hingley

Puritan is the follow up to the outstanding Birthright and continues the intriguing story of Mercia Blakewood. Having arrived in America and discovered the whereabouts of the Oxford Section, Mercia is looking forward to seeing a bit more of the New World and accepts an invitation from Governor Winthrop to visit Connecticut. She befriends local healer Clemency Carter and travels into the countryside of New England and the town of Meltwater where Puritan settlers have forged an uneasy alliance with the native tribes. The description of both the landscapes and the harsh lives of the New Englanders are vivid and captivating and the new characters introduced in this novel; Clemency in particular are fascinating. However the peacefulness and beauty are shattered when one of the townspeople is murdered. Mercia is determined to discover why. It soon becomes clear that the tensions between those who support the restoration and those who fought for the commonwealth are just as powerful and dangerous here in the New World as they were back in England. As more murders occur suspicion grows and neighbour turns against neighbour. Soon Mercia finds herself in danger and fighting for her life.

This is a thrilling follow up and I am eager to read more about Mercia Blakewood. A must for fans of historical crime fiction and ideal for fans of Andrew Taylor, SJ Deas and SG MacLean.

Published by Alison&Busby 2017 in hardback.

this review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review Issue 80 May 2017 and can be viewed online 

and this link https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/puritan/ 

Viper's Blood By David Gilman

Viper’s Blood is the fourth book in David Gilman’s Master of War series continuing the saga of The Hundred Years' War and the fictional tale of Sir Thomas Blackstone. Edward III has invaded France and as the winter of 1359 turns to the spring of 1360 there is a stalemate between the two armies, with the Dauphin refusing to leave Paris, the English army must cross France, taking supplies where they can. Thomas Blackstone is tasked with seizing gold for the King and while seeking a healer for his oldest friend Killbere he rescues a young woman accused of witchcraft; a woman his men believe brings bad luck. Recalled to Paris as a truce is arranged Blackstone is tasked with taking the French King’s daughter to Italy for her wedding, into the heart of Milan and the family responsible for the murder of Blackstone’s wife and daughter. Blackstone seeks vengeance. The Dauphin hopes to be rid of Blackstone at last.

This is a book full of carefully researched details of war, siege and weaponry as might be expected but it is also a treasure trove of details about medieval life, herbal remedies, folk beliefs and the power of the medieval church. Blackstone is a man of his times; a warrior, a leader, hard on his son and on himself but also just, fair and loyal. A great addition to the series this book could also be read as a standalone novel. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian and Conn Iggulden. 

Published by Head of Zeus and available now in hardback.

This review originally appeared in The Historical Novel Review Issue 80 May 2017 and can be viewed online and the link below

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/vipers-blood-master-of-war/

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay

The Witches of New York is the third novel from bestselling author Ami McKay. While the new novel sees the return of Moth from her previous novel The Virgin Cure it can be read as a stand alone. The story opens in New York in September 1880 with Moth; now Adelaide and her dear friend Eleanor who have opened Tea & Sympathy a tea shop where they offer spells, remedies and advice to the well heeled ladies of Manhattan. While Eleanor is the expert on remedies and tea, Adelaide is a talented seer and happy to proclaim herself a witch. Having lost an eye to an acid attack from a jealous rival she revels in her witchy appearance. The ladies workload has increased and so Adelaide places an advert seeking an apprentice and Beatrice comes into their lives. Beatrice has travelled from small town upstate New York seeking adventure and magic and she is a wonderful addition to the store but it soon becomes obvious that she has incredible magical abilities. While Eleanor wants to help the girl to develop at her own pace Adelaide wants to test out Beatrice’s abilities and before long Beatrice disappears. Has she run away? Or has she been taken? Because in a society that condemns women is it ever safe to be a witch? The growth of Beatrice’s character is skillfully woven throughout the novel as she turns from country girl to a young woman in charge of her own destiny. This is a beautiful novel, impeccably researched, powerfully plotted and packed with intriguing characters. Carefully blending fantasy, crime and historical fiction this is a charming and atmospheric read. Perfect for fans of Sophia Tobin, Susan Hill and Essie Fox.

Available now from Orion Books

This review originally appeared in Historical Novel Review 79 (Feb 2017) as an Editor's Choice. 

https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-witches-of-new-york/ 

Some Witchy YA

Originally featured on the waterstones blog here are my top picks of witchy YA

https://www.waterstones.com/blog/witchy-ya-for-the-samhain-season

Witchy YA for the Samhain Season - Halloween Spooktacular

Bookseller Lisa Redmond gives us a round up of Young Adult Witchery in time for Halloween.

Posted on 29th October 2015 by Lisa Redmond

Whether you are just looking for a seasonal slice of the supernatural or you need something to fill the gap while you await one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2016; Susan Dennard’s Truthwitch coming from Tor in January or like me you just love reading books about witches. This list is for you. 

Here are ten of the best Young Adult reads featuring Witches and Witchcraft. An obvious exclusion is the Harry Potter series but I’m going to assume you have heard about that already.

Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Hodder Books 2015

Set in an alternative 16th Century England. Elizabeth Gray is a witch hunter; part of the king’s elite guard, until she is falsely accused of witchcraft and sentenced to burn. Broken out of jail by a mysterious group of magicians she begins to question her loyalties. This is the first in a new historical fantasy series; dark, thrilling and romantic. 

Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

Corgi 2012

This is the first in a trilogy and believe me you’ll want to read them all. Meg Lytton is in service to the banished Tudor Princess Elizabeth who begs Meg to use her power to tell the future. It is a very dangerous time to practise witchcraft and Meg has caught the eye of a local witchfinder and a handsome young priest in training. This is a book full of action and power and a great series.

 

Conversion by Katherine Howe

Oneworld 2014

This is a dual time tale revisiting the Salem witch trials and also featuring a contemporary mystery of a strange illness at St Joan’s Academy, an exclusive private school for girls. Why are students suddenly falling ill? Is it stress? Infection? Student Colleen has been reading The Crucible and she wonders is it witchcraft?

 

Hollow Pike by James Dawson

Orion 2012

Lis London moves to Hollow Pike expecting the countryside to be dull, but Lis keeps dreaming that someone is trying to kill her and when she discovers the local legends about witchcraft she starts to get really scared. This is a thrilling, twisty and spooky tale.

 

Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow

Quercus 2015

This is a fantastic future dystopia featuring witches in the beautiful South West of England. Danny is 16 and bored with his Mum’s witchcraft. He sets off across the moors looking for adventure and instead meets a girl. Full of thrills, action, adventure and romance. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

 

The Merrybegot by Julie Hearn

OUP 2005

Nell is the daughter of the local cunning women and that means she is not only poor but an object of suspicion. When the minister’s daughters start spitting pins there are rumours of witchcraft and all eyes turn to Nell. With Witch-finder General Matthew Hopkins on his way how will Nell escape the noose?

 

Montacute House by Lucy Jago

Bloomsbury 2011

Cess is just thirteen when she is accused of bewitching her friend William. Caught up in a plot that involves magic, intrigue, murder and mystery. This is a well told and fast paced tale that younger and older teens will really enjoy.

 

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Hodder Books 2012

This book was one of the first I read in a new wave of Urban Fantasy set in a realistic contemporary Britain. Anna Winterson has no idea about the traditions of witches and she certainly has no clue that she is one. She is much more focused on fitting in having moved to a new town with her Dad. This is exciting, compelling storytelling.

 

The Crowham Martyrs by Jane McLoughlin

Catnip Books 2015

A spooky tale of ghosts, demons, witches and mystery all set in a gothic boarding school. Maddy sees things no-one else can and when students begin to disappear and no-one is asking why, Maddy knows she will need to do some investigating of her own, but plagued by nightmares and visions does she really want to learn the secret of The Crowham martyrs?

Half Bad by Sally Green

Penguin 2014

Nathan is locked in a cage; beaten and brutalised, half Black Witch half White Witch he is an unknown quantity and cannot be trusted. This is a book about war, magic and power with an incredible narrative voice, it is dark, gritty and intense. Amazing.

Truthwitch

Truthwitch is an astonishingly good novel. This is the kind of book that fans of YA fantasy have been waiting for. If you love Kristin Cashore and Naomi Novik then you will love Truthwitch. The story focuses on two young witches; Safiya and Iseult whose bond of friendship is unbreakable, they are forced to flee from their home and everything they have known when the tentative peace between the empires is shaken and war looms. While there is romance in this novel it very much takes second place to the most important relationship, that of the two young women. Dennard’s world building is phenomenal and I hope this is just the beginning of a very long series. With various factions at war and different magical abilities the storytelling is fast paced, full of adventure and high stakes thrills. As a Truthwitch Safi could become a powerful tool used by either side in the political and military struggle and her own family may be just as ruthless as her enemies, so she must avoid capture at all costs. Iseult is a threadwitch but she is unsure of herself and of her powers and both girls are hunted by a brutal bloodwitch with frightening powers. Making allies and enemies along the way the girls must find their way to safety. This is brilliant storytelling which will appeal to readers of YA and Fantasy fans alike. Thanks to Lauren Welch at Tor Macmillan for a review copy of this book

The House Where It Happened by Martina Devlin

This book has become one of my all time favourites because it's fantastically well written and a wonderful page turner but it also includes many of my favourite elements; witches, mystery, ghosts, history it's all here. It's set in 1711 and based on the real events surrounding Ireland's only mass witch trial. Just as the belief in witchcraft is beginning to fade, in a quiet corner of Ulster where superstitions and fear took root easily a young woman, a newcomer but a member of a respected local family begins to accuse one woman after another of torturing her through the power of witchcraft.
The author has fictionalised the events though the narrative remains essentially true to the actual accounts of the incident. The story is narrated by Ellen the 18 year old maid at Knowehead House where Mary Dunbar was a guest when she began to make her claims of being attacked by witches. As the community begins to fall under Mary's spell, Ellen is not entirely convinced however she cannot ignore the strange and brooding atmosphere at Knowehead and she is certain that the house is haunted. This is the story of two very different young women; one pampered and indulged, the other hard working and forced to grow up quickly. It's a story of class politics, religious fervour and how the echo of past wrong can reverberate through a community. Whether like me you are interested in the history of witchcraft or you simply enjoy a rattling good yarn then I highly recommend this book. The writing is wonderful, following the Ulster Scots dialect gives it an authenticity but it is not difficult to read. Placing Ellen at the centre of the story is a genius move as it means like her we watch the entire drama unfold. One of the best books of 2014.

Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow

This book is one of the teen debuts of the year so far a thrill ride of a novel combining contemporary, dystopia and magic. The characters are brilliantly drawn the story is excellent and the writing fast paced and gritty. Set in the near future, the south west has cut itself off from the rest of England and renamed itself The Greenworld this is a self sufficient community run by powerful female witches. Danny is a typical sixteen year old boy in that his biggest worries are avoiding work and trying to get girls to sleep with him, his Mum is head witch in his village and he is feeling bored and longs for adventure, when the chance to travel through dangerous moorland roamed by outlaws comes, Danny jumps at it and heads off to the next village. Here he meets a gorgeous young witch called Saba, draws the attention of an outlaw set on destroying the witches way of life and discovers powers of his own. This book is among the brilliant new wave of fantastic UKYA being published at the moment and will slake the thirst of fans of Kit Berry, Patrick Ness and Sally Green.
Thanks to Niamh Mulvey at Quercus and the author for sending me a copy.

Friday Feature Author Martina Devlin

Martina Devlin is an Omagh-born author and journalist. Her eight books range from historical novels – The House Where It Happened and Ship of Dreams – to non-fiction including Banksters and The Hollow Heart. She writes a weekly current affairs column for the Irish Independent and has been named columnist of the year by the National Newspapers of Ireland. Short story awards include the Royal Society of Literature’s VS Pritchett Prize and a Hennessy Literary Award. Martina's latest book is The House Where it Happened published by Poolbeg's Ward River Press.
Her website is www.martinadevlin.com


Q&A with Martina Devlin


1. Do you plan the story first and then do the research or does reading and research spark ideas?
The research sparks ideas for me. I have a general idea of plot, themes, and so on, but I have to hunt for the characters and wait for them to flesh out.

2. Do you think historical fiction is enjoying a resurgence and why is that?
It never went away, for some of us fans of the genre. But yes it does seem to be having a moment. The past fascinates some readers because we can see where wrong turns were taken but are powerless to shout: Not that way, this way! The end result is already cast. Or is it because we like to replay what-ifs and wonder how they might have changed the course of history? Perhaps it’s nostalgia. Or that we learn while we read. There could be any number of reasons.

3. What draws you to writing about the past?
I’m a history buff. Researching these novels enthralls me. For some bizarre reason, I like to know how much a stamp cost in 1711, and whether or not a servant girl was allowed a half-day off a week.

4. Do you have a typical writing day?
Where possible, I try to write in the morning because my brain is less cluttered and I have more energy, consequently the work is better. It doesn’t always pan out that way, but that’s the ideal. I’ve been adopted by a tortoiseshell cat, who comes and lies in the sun near where I work, and I find her presence soothing. And she seems to find the click-click-click soothing, too. So it’s mutually beneficial, a useful combination.

5. What are you working on now?
Another novel, speculative fiction, in which the protagonist is an outsider trying to make sense of a strange world. I didn’t set out to write speculative fiction, I just wrote the story as it came to me – and was somewhat surprised, at the end of the first draft, to discover that’s what it was. Makes me sound like a hapless channel for stories, doesn’t it? I usually have a short story on the go, too.


Martina's Five Favourite Books

In no particular order, and I could change my mind about the list tomorrow:
1. Samuel Pepys’s diaries, which he kept between 1660 and 1669. He was so fascinated by life. So fascinated by himself. So fascinating to me, hundreds of years later. He blended the personal and the panoramic, and his diaries are a porthole into the social history of his era, the English Restoration.
2. Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor because he blends detective and historical fiction to produce a cracking read of Dickensian dimensions. His character Pius Mulvey is compelling. So, too, is his famine narrative.
3. I find myself returning to Seamus Heaney’s poetry: the vividness of the imagery, the strength of the narrative, the love underpinning the portraits of his family – peeling potatoes with his mother, “Never closer the whole rest of our lives”; watching his aunt make scones, “And here is love/Like a tinsmith’s scoop”; the pen pictures of his father in old age. The Economist compared his death to a great tree falling.
4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – a revenge story, a love story, a sad story, a masterly story. And it’s set on the haunting Yorkshire Moors. What more could a reader ask for?
5. As a child I was entranced by the Anne of Green Gables series, about an orphan girl sent by mistake to a farm in rural Canada owned by a middle-aged brother and sister. I admired how LM Montgomery refreshed the orphan-made-good formula. However, I should point out that I may have had subjective bias because the heroine had red hair and so do I.


Martina's Top Five writing tips

1. Re-write, re-write, re-write. Cut and polish. No substitute for it.
2. Don’t wait for the muse to strike. Just do it. Start writing. Even if ‘writing’ is a euphemism for staring at a blank screen. Eventually the words will flow.
3. Ask yourself, how would I tell my story in one sentence? Have a clear idea what it’s about.
4. Know your characters inside out: their motivations, their speech patterns, their back story. Make them flawed – nobody is perfectly good or irredeemably bad.
5. Be selective about TV viewing – no need to give it up entirely but be conscious that it can suck you in for hours, so only switch on for specific programmes. Ditto with rummaging round on social media and the Internet. Those lost hours could be spent writing.

Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Bad is an astounding read; tough, gritty and incredibly violent it is nonetheless a compelling and breathtaking read. A YA Fantasy set in contemporary Britain but revealing a hidden world where White and Black Witches battle for control. Nathan is an unknown quantity as he is the only known half white- half black witch. The book is presented in an intriguing style as the main character Nathan switches between between first person narrative in which he tells us his back story and second person narrative in which his current brutal imprisonment is recounted. The book opens with Nathan in a cage and the jarring second person narrative which gives us an insight into Nathan's head as he tries to distance himself from the violence he is subjected to. This book is not for the faint heated but the scenes in which we see Nathan with his brother and the girl he loves allow room for some character development and hint at what might be to come in the next two instalments of the trilogy. Action packed and full of drama this will be perfect for fans of Patrick Ness, Kit Berry and Moira Young.

Well Done Erika

Great news today for author Erika McGann she has won this year's Waverton Good Read Children's Award for her book The Demon Notebook published by O'Brien Press. The book has also been selected for Booktrust's "Read for My school Campaign" which means that children all over the UK will be reading it. 

You can read my review of The Demon Notebook here http://lisareadsbooks.blogspot.ie/2012/11/the-demon-notebook.html Erika's second book featuring the adventurous would-be witches Grace, Jenny, Rachel, Adie and Una is called The Broken Spell it was reviewed by Mara over at InkandPaperHearts check out her review here http://inkandpaperhearts.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/the-broken-spell-by-erika-mcgann/ 

The Third book in the series The Watching Wood will be published in September with all three books set for a US release to follow. Well Done Erika.

The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements Review and Competition

Katherine Clements debut novel reads like the work of a much more experienced author, it is a literary piece that remains utterly readable; vibrant and deftly plotted it is filled with incredibly rendered sentences. The Seventeenth Century is my favourite historical era as it is filled with political and religious upheaval and it is a time when ordinary people including women begin to express themselves through the burgeoning printing presses. Katherine's novel is set mid century and features a young heroine searching for a place in the world, after her mother is brutally hanged having been accused of witchcraft. Ruth's mother had been a healer and midwife and Ruth seeks her fortune in London taking nothing but her mother's book of remedies and her crimson ribbon. On her journey she meets a young soldier Joseph Oakes. Joseph is also haunted by his past but each one keeps their secrets at first. Joseph finds work as a printer's apprentice and Ruth becomes a maid to a radical young woman called Lizzie Poole. Katherine Clements  has used the real life Lizzie Poole for whom there are only a few documents remaining and spun a deft thread of intrigue and drama around her which encompasses Ruth, Joseph and even the great players of the age Cromwell and King Charles. If like me you have been watching Channel 4's "New Worlds" then this book is for you. This is perfect for fans of astute, well written historical fiction such as that of Victoria Lamb and  Deborah Swift. If you haven't seen New Worlds check out the trailer http://www.channel4.com/programmes/new-worlds/videos/all/new-worlds-trailer and If you didn't see The Devil's Whore the series which preceded it which has some linked characters then I urge you to watch that also.

If you would like to get your hands on a copy of The Crimson Ribbon I have one to spare so please comment below (nicely, please) and I'll do a draw at the end of the month.

The Witch's Daughter

The Witch’s Daughter is an enchanting and magical read from start to finish. I was delighted to discover that this is the first of a series because I cannot wait to read more from this wonderful author. I knew as soon as I read the blurb that this book would be for me and I was not disappointed. A must for fans of Carol Goodman, Deborah Harkness, Lee Carroll and Diana Gabaldon, The Witch’s Daughter is the tale of Elizabeth Hawksmith born in the early seventeenth century when just the suspicion of witchcraft was a death sentence. Following a terrible sickness that ravages her village Bess’s mother is tried and hanged for witchcraft. She knows that she will soon follow and seeks help from Gideon Masters who teaches her the dark arts. Endowed now with the gift of immortality and the ability to shape shift, Bess keeps moving on to escape the clutches of Gideon who hunts her through the centuries. Continuing to hone her skills as a healer and as a witch, Bess at last finds refuge in the present day and an apprentice witch in Tegan but even here she is not safe and Elizabeth must finally face her nemesis to save not only her own soul but that of the child she has come to love as a daughter. This is a dark and thrilling tale, magically written. Paula Brackston is an author to watch. 

This review originally appeared on welovethis book.com

http://www.welovethisbook.com/reviews/witchs-daughter