A new book from Joy Margetts is always a treat and I have been looking forward to this latest one for some time. I loved her three previous books, The Healing, The Pilgrim and The Bride, but writing a series can be tough. You have to remember your characters’ quirks and foibles, what they did a couple of books ago, how they look, what their voices sound like and somehow weave all of this together with new scenarios to keep readers engaged.
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On the Path with Carolyn
Last month, I was fortunate enough to meet the lovely Carolyn Dawson both at Christian Resources Together at Swanwick and at the British Christian Writers’ conference in Cambridge (in the same week! Who says writers never get out?) She has just brought out her first book, The Narrow Path, with Instant Apostle, my own publisher. I caught up with her to find out a bit more about her life and writing journey.
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Here Comes the Bride. Ruth reviews Joy Margett's latest book, The Bride.
There is perhaps no excitement quite like the news that one of your favourite writers is bringing out a new book. I let out an involuntary yelp of delight when I learned that the lovely Joy Margetts was soon to publish the latest in her series of novels, The Bride, set in medieval Wales.
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A Peach of a Book: Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and Other Stories
Having very much enjoyed Jenny Sanders’ last collection of short stories (The Magnificent Moustache and Beyond), I was delighted when she asked me to read her latest. I expected more wit, sparkle and clever characterisation and I wasn’t disappointed. Any book which contains a story entitled, “The Surprising Power of Cake” is a winner with me.
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Branching Out: An Advent Chat with Rachel Yarworth
Working with other authors is a joy and a privilege and I was delighted when the lovely Rachel Yarworth asked me to contribute to her book, The Jesse Tree Anthology. She gave me the well-loved story of Jonah and the Whale and not many words (not a criticism – I love paring back a tale) and I was off. To be part of something written by many is such a wonderful thing and I thought I’d catch up with the author herself and fire a few questions at her.
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The True Meaning of Value. Ruth interviews author Liz Carter
When I joined the Association of Christian Writers, I became aware of a writer called Liz Carter. The thrilling minutiae of publishing were unknown to me back then and her online book launch was one of the first I ever attended. From the second my screen sprang into life, I was impressed. She had dressed her table with an attractive teal cloth (my favourite colour), accessorised herself in the same shade and was drinking champagne with her friend from an elegant cup and saucer.
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Crowned with History: A Chat with Author Claire Dunn
It’s a big week for multi-published author Claire Dunn. On Saturday 20th May she launches her new novel, Wheel of Fortune, a story of love, loyalty and vengeance set during the turbulent years of the Wars of the Roses. It’s the first book in her major new historical fiction series The Tarnished Crown. Fellow author Ruth Leigh caught up with her to ask a few searching questions.
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Secrets and Redemption: The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ
Author Annie Try and I are both residents of East Anglia and I shared part of a train journey home with her. I was delighted and honoured to be invited to be part of her blog tour for her latest novel, published by Kevin Mayhew, and even more chuffed to receive an actual signed copy in the post. In these days of digital content, a book that you can hold in your hands is a treat indeed.
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Becoming Queen Bathsheba: A Tale of Murder, Loss and Redemption
The Good Book is simply packed with tales of conflict, cunning, selflessness, adventure and suspense and the story of King David and Bathsheba is perhaps one of the most gripping in the Old Testament. I was already a fan of Amanda Bedzrah, having very much enjoyed her last book, “Leah: Unnoticed, Unwanted, Unloved.” Imagine my delight when I was invited to review her latest novel, “Becoming Queen Bathsheba.
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Beneath the Tamarisk Tree: Light and Shade
Ruth Leigh reviews Rob Seabrook’s Beneath the Tamarisk Tree as part of the blog tour to celebrate the book.
When I picked up Rob’s book, I knew virtually nothing about tamarisk trees. OK, I’m exaggerating. Absolutely nothing. Helpfully, Rob explained how they worked in the introduction and the penny dropped. The tamarisk tree has a deep tap root, small leaves and is able to thrive and flourish even in the most arid of conditions. It survives being pruned hard back and in springtime blossoms majestically with pink and white blooms, providing shade in the heat of the day.
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An Extraordinary Ordinary Story
Ruth Leigh reviews fellow author Rachel Yarworth’s book Friend of God for the blog tour celebrating its release. Rachel’s book is available from Amazon to order from your local bookshop.
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A Game of Two Halves: The Wanderer Reborn
Novelist Natasha Woodcraft is back with the second half of her epic exploration of Cain’s story. Having been privileged to share a long car ride with her to and from Derbyshire in the summer and being involved with her first blog tour, I was fascinated by how she has published not one but two novels this year. So I caught up with her to ask some questions about her writing process, how she feels about her characters and what’s next.
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Contemplating Christmas – An Advent Resource. Ruth interviews Abby Ball
Ruth Leigh interviews Abby Ball, author of Contemplating Christmas. Contemplating Christmas invites you to rediscover the fresh hope, deep peace, lasting joy and unrelenting love of God that will strengthen and sustain you long after the season's festivities are over.
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East of Eden: An Everyday Story of Biblical Folk
Midrash. Now there’s a word. I’d heard of it, vaguely, but didn’t have the first idea what it meant until I read an excellent blog by Bobbie Ann Cole explaining the concept. Midrash is a Hebrew word, the concept of it being that it puts flesh on the bones of Biblical stories. I’ve always been a big fan of it, without knowing I was. Done well, it broadens and deepens the text, giving the reader the bigger picture, filling in the outlines, broadening the brushstrokes.
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The Pilgrim’s Path: The Prequel to The Healing by Joy Margetts
The very first book review I ever published on my shiny new website was “A Chat With Joy” back in March last year. I love a prequel and I was eager to catch up with my Instant Apostle stablemate Joy Margetts to find out how the writing process for her second book went, what was different this time around and whether we’ll be hearing any more about Brother Hywel and Philip de Baose in the future.
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Funny Ha Ha. Ruth on Sophie Neville's Funnily Enough
I love a good blurb, and as of now, I’ve written three. However, none of them are quite as arresting as what I read on the back of Sophie Neville’s 1991 book, Funnily Enough. “Based on a diary of convalescence written by the author in 1991, it is the true and inspirational story of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, working in television, rural family life and a pair of tame otters.” It was the otters that drew me in.
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The Magnificent Moustache and Beyond: A Collection of Children’s Stories
In the title story, we meet the lavishly moustached 7th Viscount of Perrimead-on-the-Wold, aka Lord Clanville-Smythe. He’s a snorer, a cat lover and a man wedded to his facial hair, to the detriment of his marriage. The action begins when he discovers that the inaugural National Moustache Competition is taking place at the annual fete. The Viscount is a man on a mission, to the exclusion of all else.
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A Wander Round Warwickshire
It’s always a pleasure being part of the launch team for a new book, and even more so when you know the author and are a long-time admirer of her work. This is most certainly the case with my book review today, SC Skillman’s latest publication, “Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire.”
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A Creator of Worlds: Maressa Mortimer’s “Burrowed”
Maressa published her first novel, “Sapphire Beach”, at the end of 2019. Reading it, I felt pleasurable shivers running down my spine. She excels at creating an atmosphere of slightly creepy suspense. Since then, she’s written and published another four books as well as contributing to a writing anthology. I caught up with her to ask her some questions about her latest novel, Burrowed, for which she has created an entire society.
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A Nice Cup of Tea and a Good Read
Is there anything more wonderful in this world than a freshly made cup of tea and a good book? Imagine my delight when I was invited to review Katherine Blessan’s novel, Home Truths with Lady Grey. The lady in question being the wife of the 2nd Earl Grey. Her tea is flavoured with oil of bergamot, like her husband’s, but has additional lemon and orange peel running through it.
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