I’m so pleased to be able to share with you a “feel good” book that I read recently – “The Bald Monkey” by Dickon Levinge. This is a comical novel about a group of friends who meet up at their local pub, The Bald Monkey. The author, Dickon Levinge, used to work in Hollywood as a screenwriter but currently lives on a canal boat in London. You can tell that the author has a connection with London – the friends and the pub in the novel are spot on! ( As a Londoner myself, it is a plus point that the storyline is authentic!) Before I welcome Dickon onto the blog, here’s a quick summary of “The Bald Monkey” 🙈 🙉 🙊 …

BOOK SUMMARY

Seven years after losing his wife Henry still grieves. Her body was never recovered and Henry, a photographer who lives in the idealised snapshots of his past, stubbornly maintains she’s just missing. Now his estranged sister-in-law, Marion, re-enters his life to finally have her sister declared legally dead.

Local gallery owner Sonia ‘Groucho’ K discovers who was responsible for the tragedy.  Wounded by a recent betrayal she sees an opportunity for vengeance-by-proxy. She leads Henry and ‘Dizzy’ Des, a former convict with a kind heart but a hair-trigger temper, on an elaborate mission to disappear the culprit.

The trio conspire in their regular watering hole, The Bald Monkey, and their plan becomes increasingly absurd. Meanwhile, Henry rekindles his once close friendship with Marion, the only remotely level-headed member of the ensemble, and she sets out to bring him back from the brink of disaster.

THE INTERVIEW

Welcome to the blog Dickon! 👋 Please introduce yourself 😊

I describe myself on my website as an author, photographer and boater. That said, my background is firmly based in the film industry. I trained in LA in the 90s before directing short films. I then started writing scripts and spent the better part of two decades as a screenwriter.

Who or what inspired you to write “The Bald Monkey”?

Story-wise, I love to start with an off-the-wall, absurd, often shocking and hopefully humorous event that changes the lives of the main players. I won’t give away what that is in The Bald Monkey, but I think it ticks all the boxes. It came from a newspaper article I read about people disappearing during floods in Singapore in exactly the same fashion which, as I read it, gave me that wonderful ‘ah-ha!’ moment all writers live for.

The Bald Monkey ” is a humorous story about a group of friends and The Bald Monkey, the pub that they drink in. The characters are quite a lovable bunch – widower Henry, local gallery owner Sonia, “Dizzy” Des and sensible Marion. I had a fondest for poor Henry! Did you base a lot of your characters on you and people you’ve met in life? Which character did you enjoy writing about the most? Which character was the hardest?

A pub is a great setting for a story, just because you can have so many people from different walks of life coming, going and interacting. For the characters, I tend to draw some inspiration from my own life experiences. Henry is a photographer who revisits his memories by developing prints from his old black and white negatives. I spent many of my schooldays snapping photographs and then avoiding various mandatory activities by escaping to the darkroom. I’m also an avid people-watcher and notebook scribbler. Sonia ‘Groucho’ K’s physical description is entirely based on someone I briefly saw outside South Kensington Tube Station. Arabella, Henry’s departed wife, was the hardest because, although she’s hugely important, she doesn’t get much page time and is only seen in flashback through other people’s eyes.

Were there any aspects of writing the novel that surprised you, pleasantly or otherwise?

Coming from a screenwriting background, one thing I hadn’t anticipated was how challenging it would be to utilise all of the human senses. With a script you’re limited to sight and sound. At first it was quite difficult (particularly, for some reason, describing smells) but once embraced it became great fun. Being able to get into characters’ heads was also a wonderful experience.

If you could visit any country/place in the world, to base a future novel in, where would you go and why?

I often think about writing a novel about Los Angeles, just because I lived there for so long and it’s a city I would like to revisit for a prolonged period. I’d also love to have a crack at a New York story – although that’s probably because I see it as London’s sister city and I’m afraid I can be quite London-centric. Venice also fascinates me, in no small part because so much life there takes place on the water. One of my favourite non-fiction books is Jan Morris’s Venice.

Are you a bookworm? What is your favourite genre and/or authors? Kindle or actual book?

Novelists from my youth, such as John Irving and Martin Amis, still influence me. Amis’s Money and London Fields were particularly inspiring. That said, as a reader my favourite genre is Science-Fiction. I only discovered Iain M Banks’s Culture series after he died and devoured it over six weeks. I grew up reading a lot of William Gibson, Harry Harrison, Philip K Dick and, of course, Douglas Adams – because, when push comes to shove, humour is everything. Lately, I’ve been working my way through Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, which is mindbogglingly imaginative. At the moment I’m reading Joseph O’Connor’s historical novel Star Of The Sea, which drew me in within a paragraph.

Kindle or books? For me, it’s paper books all the way. I’ve never owned a Kindle.

Is “The Bald Monkey” available to purchase worldwide?

It is, I’m happy to say, available worldwide through all the usual outlets.

Growing up had you always wanted to be an author or did you have other career aspirations?

My first love, in terms of storytelling, was cinema and I wanted to be a film director. From there I really fell into screenwriting because my scripts gained more attention than my short films. I’ve had a long and circuitous journey towards becoming a novelist. And it’s been full of stories and fascinating characters, so I wouldn’t have it any other way. One of the greatest thing about being a writer is that no experience is ever a waste of time. Everything is story fodder.

After living in LA and Dublin, you now live on a canal boat in the waterways of London, called “The Good Ship Junie”. Great boat name – is there a story behind the name?

She’s named after my mother’s godmother, Junie, who always wanted to christen a ship. She’d passed away by the time I moved on board, so we thought this would be the next best thing.

What are the good points to living on a canal boat? Downside?

For me the best part of life on board is that I get to call so many places my home. A month ago I was living in Little Venice and Westbourne Park, hanging out in the West End and Notting Hill. At the time of writing I’m in leafy Ealing, waking every morning to the dawn chorus. A month from now I’ll be cruising up the Grand Union Canal to spend time in various towns and villages, such as Rickmansworth and Kings Langley. All places I love and, after 13 years on board, know well.

The downside would, I suppose, be the lack of space. Junie’s only 50ft long and 7ft wide. So, there’s not much room for a library or a darkroom. I was just saying to someone the other day that another thing I miss is having a record player but, apart from the storage issues, when the boat moves around I suspect I’d end up with a lot of scratched vinyl.

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

I’m a person who finds something I like and then sticks with it. For instance, I’ve been wearing Levi 501s for most of my life. I’ve always had a leather jacket and also a good Harris tweed. Waistcoats are a favourite of mine, and always with a watch chain.

I recently discovered a vintage market on Brick lane (and I suspect I’m the last person in London do to so) which I can’t wait to get back to. For clothes, I much prefer going into a proper shop than buying online. You get to see more choice and, more importantly, try things on. There is an online retailer I’ve recently discovered which has caused me a certain amount of excitement – but you’ll have to wait for Question 14 for that reveal.

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

Once again, the answer is in Question 14. Nearly there!

Question 14. Boots or Shoes? ( & Why?)

It’s all about the boots, all about the boots, all about the boots! Specifically, cowboy boots. I got my first pair in my early teens from the superbly named R Soles on Kings Road. My favourite pair are my Tony Lama’s which I got in Palm Desert in 1990 – actually, they were a birthday present from my boat’s namesake, Junie. I still wear them on a regular basis and have no idea how many times they’ve been resoled. Which is why I was thrilled to recently discover that Boot Barn, one of my most visited shops during my LA days, are now also online and ship internationally. If there’s one thing the Americans have an edge on, it’s cowboy boots. A new pair from Boot Barn is almost sure to be my next online fashion purchase!

Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc

Website: www.dickonlevinge.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dickonlevinge/

Facebook Author’s Page: https://www.facebook.com/dickonlevingefiction/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dickonlevingeauthor

Fabulous to chat to you, Dickon ….I love it that you’re a boots fan! 😍 My thanks goes to Dickon for the review copy of The Bald Monkey (& also to Ben Cameron of Cameron Publicity & Marketing. All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Dickon Levinge – Pinterest photo is by Linda Hobden.

Linda x

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I am a big James Bond fan, and so it was so good to read a fantastic spy thriller with elements of James Bond – namely the exotic locations, evil villains, handsome secret agent, gorgeous ladies… and a lot more. I read book 3 of The Thomas Bell series:”Kitto Katsu: Mischief Island” by Richard Gill. And I am thrilled to have Richard Gill on the blog! But first, here’s a quick summary of Kitto Katsu: Mischief Island.

BOOK SUMMARY

The Thomas Bell series: ‘Sex, drugs and murder – James Bond on acid’ 

Thomas Bell works for an ultra-secret branch of British Military Intelligence, MIX. In his third mission, a missing shipment of cocaine and a botched Interpol arrest at Schiphol airport almost scupper Bell’s objective – an elusive narco-kingpin in a world on the brink of war.

• A spy thriller series that takes things further. The action barely lets-up as the body count rises. Drugs, debauchery and violence are an integral part of the world of Thomas Bell.

• An exciting story that takes place against the background of real-world events that are happening today – the rise of Chinese power, both economic and military, and the response by the West.

Thomas Bell’s third mission sees him performing a series of routine hits in Europe before heading to the Far East to carry out an assignment from which he may never return. He must take down the elusive narco-kingpin whose organisation monopolises the production and distribution of synthetic hallucinogens, including fentanyl, across South East Asia.

The corpse count grows as Bell bludgeons opposition aside to achieve his objectives, all set against a backdrop of the US Navy 7th Fleet Carrier Group plying its way past the northern tip of Taiwan in transit to the Philippines, CIA dirty tricks, a J-Pop girl band with a Svengali manager and a wealthy sugar-mummy who enables Bell to hide in plain sight while kicking ass.

Warning: Contains graphic adult only content.

THE INTERVIEW

Hi Richard, welcome to the blog 👋. Please introduce yourself 😊

Hello. I’m Richard. I’m a qualified accountant (FCCA) who has worked in commerce and industry as what people would describe as a ‘Systems Accountant’. This means dealing with the implementation and running of big accounting systems. I am also an advanced computer programmer who is skilled in writing software using the Microsoft .NET programming language of VB.NET in conjunction with database storge in the form of Microsoft SQL Server. I run a small software company and consultancy, so I am effectively self-employed. This is what you might call my day job.It also doesn’t mean that I can’t find time to produce some fiction output. From the age of sixteen I always wanted to be a writer but had no idea how to progress my ambition. The advent of the Internet changed everything and I have now published three novels – (1) Paloma Azul (2) Lebensrune (3) Kitto Katsu.

I was always passionate about movies, graphic novels and cartoon stories.
To this end I undertook to go on courses and research dramaturgy, filmography and novel writing techniques – the idea being to deliver high-octane entertainment in a fat-free, cinematic style.

The Thomas Bell franchise is like Ian Fleming’s James Bond – i.e. Goldfinger/ Thunderball/Dr No / Moonraker etc. My books in this series can all be read independently of each other, however if they are read in sequence then keen, observant readers with notice that some characters make a reappearance
from an earlier book to a later one.

My writing style is to employing excellent written English and crackling dialogue. I am able to produce the movie screenplay from the prose novel.
I am currently trying to broaden awareness of my writing output.

The background story of Thomas Bell (the main protagonist and the James Bond-type character) is that he works for a totally fictional division of British Military Intelligence called MIX (i.e. not MI5 or MI6). The cover for the MIX division and their office building in Shoreditch in London is that
they are a firm of city accountants and auditors called ‘Charles Carrington and Co.’ and their management consultancy arm called ‘Cyventure’. I rigged it this way because I am an accountant myself – a subject which I am able to talk about with authority.

I see the Thomas Bell franchise distributed and marketed as the following channels:-

[1a] Prose novel – eBook
[1b] Prose novel – Paperback
[1c] Prose novel – Audio book
[2a] Graphic novel
[2b] Comic book reels
[3] Video game
[4] TV box set movie/ series
[4] Hollywood movie

“Kitto Katsu : Mischief Island” is the 3rd book in the series of 3 books of the Thomas Bell Series. The others are: (1) Paloma Azul and (2) Lebensrune – What inspired the book series? Are they stand alone books or best read in numerical order?

My books in this series can all be read independently of each other, however if they are read in sequence then keen, observant readers with notice that some characters make a reappearance from an earlier book to a later one. I went on a business trip to Germany to shut down some overseas subsidiary companies. While at a loose end in the Holiday Inn in Monchengladbach I came up with the Thomas Bell concept. I was inspired to come up with a new James Bond which would cut it in the 21st Century. Ian Fleming inspired me to get to it.

I’m intrigued – what does “Kitto Katsu” mean?

Kit Kat in Japanese is pronounced “kitto katto” which actually sounds very similar to the Japanese phrase “kitto katsu”, which translates to “you will surely win”. The word “kitto” in Japanese means “surely or absolutely”, and the word “katsu” means “bound to win”.

Due to Kit Kats closeness in sound to this popular phrase, the brand become synonymously associated with good luck. Japanese parents would often gift Kit Kats to their children before a big test or exam as a good luck charm, telling them that they will surely win and do well on their exams. Nestle has said that they often see their sales spike in January, when the Japanese college entrance exams are held. And most of the time, when students receive these Kit Kats, they aren’t to be eaten, but rather to have as an amulet for a successful exam period.

Kit Kat, as a brand, definitely took advantage of this lucky coincidence hopped on this trend themselves, with their “Lucky Charm” advertising campaign winning the Asian Brand Marketing Effectiveness Award in 2005. In 2009, Nestle launched a campaign with the Japan Post, where they sold special Kit Kat packages that had a space to affix a stamp and write a message of encouragement to their friends and families that could be mailed from 20,000 post offices across Japan. This campaign was so successful that the promotional packages were sold out in a month. This campaign also won them the Media Grand Prix in the 2010 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

My favourite character is, of course, Thomas Bell and in Book 3, I also love Jana Cazenove and Miku Kenji 😊Are your characters based on observations of people you’ve come across in the past and incidents you’ve experienced ? Who were the hardest characters to portray?

Leo Tolstoy is quoted as saying that all the characters in the novel are YOU. I.e. thin slices of (as a fiction author) my persona/ ego/ personality traits. As a man I have to try to think like a woman – interesting that! However I do read the press and magazines widely and I am always on the look-out for content which I know belongs in one of my books. Example: If you must know…Jana Hocking who has regular articles published in the Daily Mail exerted some influence over me with regard to the character of Jana Cazenove.

Were there any aspects of writing your book series that surprised you, either by being harder or easier to write about than you expected?

I work to a structured layout to tell a story:-
Target number of words = 80,000.
Act1 + Act2 + Act
Setup + Playout + Resolution
The book’s overall structure is related to the character of the main protagonist . I know that some writers struggle with (a) Writer’s block (b) Endings. I don’t have a problem with those issues because I am privileged to have full command of the English language and its rich vocabulary at my disposal.

Hypothetically speaking, if Kitto Katsu: Mischief Island, was made into a film, who do you think would make a great Thomas Bell? What about some of the other characters?

Thomas Bell (age about 25) – How about a young Brad Pitt or Jacob Elordi? The other characters – I’m not too sure at this stage

Have you always wanted to have a career in writing or did you have other aspirations?

From the age of sixteen I always wanted to be a writer but had no idea how
to progress my ambition. The advent of the Internet changed everything and
I have now published three novels – (1) Paloma Azul (2) Lebensrune (3) Kitto Katsu.

I was always passionate about movies, graphic novels and cartoon stories.
To this end I undertook to go on courses and research dramaturgy, filmography and novel writing techniques – the idea being to deliver high-octane entertainment in a fat-free, cinematic style.

In the meantime, as time and life passes by, I got sucked into the world of
accountancy and earned a good living out of it. However, I never forgot my true calling and I am lucky enough (and determined enough) to make it happen. I’m not that guy standing at a bar in a pub with his mates saying –
‘…of course, I’ve got a great idea for a thriller novel…’

Are you a bookworm? What is your favourite genre and/or authors? Kindle or actual book?

I do like thrillers; I’m currently reading ‘Hurdy Gurdy’ by Christopher Wilson about a young pupil monk coping with the onslaught of the black death – superbly written. I prefer hard copy. I also prefer it where the author honours his/her side of the contract which means that I (the reader) will suspend disbelief and keep reading provided that you (the author) entertain me in a fully engaging and immersive experience. I consider it a failure on my part if I haven’t got a vice-like grip of the reader from the very first sentence. Two of my favourite fiction-writer mantras (there are a few!)…
Writer’s mantra#1: ‘Only trouble is interesting’
Writer’s mantra#2: ‘Dialogue is NOT conversation’

Are your Thomas Bell series of books available to purchase worldwide?
See Amazon links:-
https://amzn.to/3SUUEFL
https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09YP6JB3K

My three novels are published by me on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
as (1) EBook and (2) Paperback.

• Paloma Azul * Lebensrune * Kitto Katsu”

Availability: Worldwide
Audiobooks are in the pipeline
Graphic novels and Comic book reels are in the pipeline
A fourth novel in the series is in progress

One final note on availability…My novels do include adult content!
A warning to this effect is printed on the copyright page.

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?,

Nike T-shirts and caps.
Polo shirts
Jeans – Black to traditional Levis
Zip-up comfortable jackets
Discreet, understated trainers

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

For building work/ DIY – Wickes and Screwfix are definitely
up there.

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

A new leather jacket is on the cards.
Other than that, quality linen shirts and jackets.
Cotton or linen trousers.
For skiwear, for me it has to be North Face and Helly Hanson
thermal vests and long johns. When I’m out skiing I always
take a set of rockclimbing-grade ‘inner gloves’ that I can
wear inside my normal ski gloves. A neck snood has its place as well.

Boots or Shoes?

Whereas I may have worn cowboy boots years ago, the only boots I would
wear these days are my own ski boots which are manufactured by Salomon SAS based in Annecy,France. For ski resort/ heavy walking shoes I use rugged CAT shoes. For normal day-to-day use, I tend to wear deck shoes in various colours with a preference for Timberland, Orca Bay or Sebago.
When on the golf course, Footjoy produce the best golf shoe.

Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc

Main author site: https://www.richardgill.uk
Comic demo link: https://www.richardgill.uk/b01_ch01.htm
Amazon book link: https://amzn.to/3SUUEFL

So fun to chat to you Richard ! I loved the fast pace of your book and am reading the other two books to catch up!!! 😊 Many thanks to Richard for the copy of Kitto Katsu : Mischief Island for reviewing. Thanks also to Ben Cameron of Cameron Publicity & Marketing.

Linda x

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Richard Gill ( apart from the Kit Kat photo which was by Linda Hobden).

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I’ve just finished reading an exciting thriller – “The Tides Of March” by S D Price. The novel has several threads cleverly intertwined that kept me on my toes for sure! This is a fantastic debut novel for author S D Price …. and I am so pleased that Stephen agreed to be interviewed! But before I introduce Stephen to the blog, here’s a brief book summary:

BOOK SUMMARY

In the unseen shadows of Japan, where ancient curses intertwine with the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, an ominous cascade of incidents unfold…

The Tides of March weaves a tale of espionage, as ancient Samurai legacies and a nation’s struggle with an unseen enemy are revealed, against a backdrop of a series of apocalyptic events that draw in the bewitched descendants of a Samurai family serving as elite agents.

Tasked with the surveillance of activities within the murky world of high-level corruption and its connections with international adversaries, events begin to spiral out of control as they seek to confront a Korean spy ring’s deadly mission to draw a lethal advantage from the heart of chaos. The fate of the characters and the nation hangs in the balance as ancient powers clash with modern evils.

MY INTERVIEW

Welcome to the blog, Stephen …please introduce yourself 😊

I am a Welshman who has lived in the Southwest and now in Berkshire for over 40 years, where I work as a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry.

My wife and I have been together for 23 years. We are both very driven individuals, always looking to get the most out of life while we still can!

I feel that I didn’t truly start living the life I wanted until after my fortieth birthday. Miraculously, for several reasons, things started to fall into place. It hasn’t all been plain sailing since, but my world now bears no resemblance to back then—long may it continue!

Who or what inspired you to write The Tides of March?

When I decided to take a break from my day job to write a novel, I was naturally drawn to formulating characters who were Japanese. As these characters developed, they created a vortex around them, pulling in my knowledge of Japan. This allowed me to weave historical threads and themes into the narrative, shaping the story in ways I hadn’t initially envisioned.

The Tides of March is an exciting thriller set in Japan. The characters are very believable, but what I loved most were the intertwined storylines: a murder investigation, a Korean spy ring, corruption, the supernatural, romance, and even a tsunami. Which character did you enjoy writing about the most? Which character was the hardest?

Developing the individual characters wasn’t my main challenge—it was the stitching together of the three generations of the eternally cursed Kurosawa family into the plot that proved most difficult.

What is it about Japan that has fuelled your imagination since you were young?

From a very young age, probably around 5 or 6 years old, I have been fascinated by Japan—its people and its unique culture.

Over the years, I have compiled extensive knowledge of Japan’s history, dating back to 600 BCE, tracing its evolution into a nation, and exploring how its society has interacted with the rest of the world through history to the present day.

If you could visit any country/place in the world to base your next novel, where would you go and why?

Ukraine. I have just written a short story, The Crap Hat, about a Royal Marine fighting there. The subject is highly topical, with real-time and real-life implications for all of us. I would like to write more about this conflict—to highlight the titanic struggle happening there, which will have repercussions for everyone in the West and Eastern Europe.

Are you a bookworm? What is your favourite genre and/or authors? Kindle or actual book?

Although I am extremely dyslexic—and still struggle to spell my own name correctly on occasion—I have always been an avid reader and enjoy a wide variety of material:
Thrillers, Sci-Fi, Horror, Historical Fiction, Westerns, the Classics
Non-fiction: Biographies, Military/Warfare, Strategy, Personal Development, and Technical Manuals.

Some of my favourite authors include Conn Iggulden, Stephen King, Steven Pressfield, Hilary Mantel, Irvine Welsh, Robert Greene, Yuval Noah Harari, and Antony Beevor.

I always have a printed book, a Kindle, and an audiobook on the go at any one time—each format serves a purpose depending on where I am and what I’m doing.

For my own novel, I was fortunate to have Brian Nishi, a Japanese-American actor, narrate the audiobook on Audible (ACX).

Is The Tides of March available to purchase worldwide?

Yes! It is available worldwide in print, eBook, and audiobook formats.

Growing up, had you always wanted to be an author, or did you have other career aspirations?

As a child, I was always making up stories—relaying them to friends, storyboarding them, or, much to my parents’ amusement, recording them on an old cartridge tape deck!

However, I never thought about actually writing them down until I had a serious head injury in a motorcycle accident. During my recovery, I experienced what people describe as an out-of-body, ‘up to the light’ moment. After that, I had a nagging urge to write—it was very strange.

That said, it took me a long time to get to this point. Life often gets in the way of creative aspirations, and I felt I needed to educate myself in many ways before committing to writing seriously.

Interestingly, I did write a Sci-Fi story read out on the radio shortly after the accident!

I also struggled with a chronic recurring illness, which wasn’t cured until my late thirties, making the journey even more challenging.

As a keen mountain climber, you’ve tackled many peaks, including the Matterhorn. Which has been your favourite? What’s next on your mountain-climbing bucket list?

As a keen climber and skier, I love being in the mountains, and each location holds special memories.

I mainly climb in Zermatt, Switzerland, and my first experience of high-altitude climbing was the Obergabelhorn Ridge traverse. It was utterly terrifying at the time, and my climbing partner and I were lucky to get out of it in one piece!

I’ve been back many times since. A year ago, I climbed Castor (4,228m) with a friend, who wanted to experience this type of climbing for the first time. We hired a local guide—who managed to fall off during the descent! Thankfully, we arrested his fall, as we were all roped together, the consequences of failing do so were not great…! All’s well that ends well, and my friend came away with a great story to tell!

What outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

Fashion has been a personal journey for me—divided into pre-meeting my wife and post-meeting my wife!

I’ve evolved over the years and now own a mix of Moncler, Stone Island, Louis Vuitton, Dunhill, Paul Smith, Lacoste, Balmain, and Ralph Lauren. Belstaff jackets are my go-to for casual wear—I somehow own five of them!

One of my most extravagant pieces is a Dior jacket in dark blue with 20 buttons, a high collar, and embroidered stars on each side—a bit Sergeant Pepper-esque, but I love it! Even my wife was surprised I bought it! The icing on the cake that day was our ‘Mrs Harris goes to Paris’ moment when ladies in white coats came out into the Dior fitting room and measured me to have altered.

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

I rarely shop online for clothes—I need to try things on first and see how they fit and feel before buying.

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

I have too many shoes—most of which I barely wear anymore! I’m always on the lookout for timeless pieces that will last as part of my collection. I have to admit to becoming a real fashion victim over the last twenty years.

Boots or shoes?

I love boots, especially from Barker—a classic English brand.

For casual wear, I’ll go with white Adidas or Balmain trainers.

For specific occasions:

• Suede boots
• Patent shoes for formal wear
• Adidas trainers for running and gym workouts

Links you would like to share (website, social media, etc.)

🌍 Website: https://www.sd-price.com

Great book Stephen, and thank you for chatting to us! I love the fact that since meeting your wife your fashion buys have changed! Have you visited the Jeffery West Shoe Shop in Piccadilly yet? ….😜

My thanks to Stephen & Ben Cameron of Cameron Publicity & Marketing for the review copy of The Tides Of March. All photographs have been published with the kind permission of S D Price.

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Ah … February… the love month ❤️ and I’m so pleased to be part of author Nancy Christie’s book tour celebrating her new book : “ The Language Of Love & Other Stories”. This book is a little gem – a series of short stories each representing different facets of love. It’s a great read and not just for February either ! I couldn’t wait to ask Nancy about her love affair with writing, especially her love of short stories … but first, a quick book summary:

BOOK SUMMARY

The Language of Love and Other Stories is about all types of love relationships: the ones that exist between parent and child as well as between generations, the bonds that grow between new lovers as well as those that exist between long-settled couples. The 20-story collection explores all the stages of love: the tenuous yet exciting beginning, the calmer, more mundane phases, the uncertain periods, and finally the ending—sometimes anticipated, other times devastatingly unexpected. It’s about whom one loves, how one loves, and what one does when the love is reciprocated, rejected or over.

PUBLISHER: Unsolicited Press

ASIN:  B0DG333HWN

ISBN-13  978-1-963115-28-4

Print Length: 208 pages

MY INTERVIEW

Hi Nancy, welcome to the blog 👋 Please introduce yourself:

Hi, I am Nancy. The short version is that I am a writer of fiction and nonfiction, the author of 9 books including this one, short stories and essays. I’m also a full-time professional writer. 

The long version (which I think is more interesting!) is that I am a woman who has been making up stories for more than 60 years, who spends hours in conversations with people who don’t exist (my characters, I mean), who frequently recites lines of dialogue out loud (resulting in strange looks from those around me!) and who plans to continue to write until my fingers fall off!

Who or what inspired you to write your collection of short stories of “The Language Of Love & Other Stories”?

My short story collections—Traveling Left of Center, Peripheral Visions, and Mistletoe Magic—are all theme-based. So, when I thought about coming out with a fourth one, I looked at the stories I had already completed and decided I wanted to do one that centered on the idea of love—not just romantic love but also love that spans generations and, in the case of “Henry, Hortense and The Hallowe’en Party,” brings in a bit of the supernatural. I chose several from the already written stash on my computer, added in some new ones and voila! The collection was born!

“The Language of Love” is a collection of short stories about love in its many guises! The stories are quite varied  – my favourite stories were “Henry, Hortense and The Hallowe’en Party” and “Bingo”. They both made me smile 😊 . Which short story did you enjoy writing about the most?

That’s like asking a mother which child she loves most! But I do admit I have a soft spot for “Henry” and “Charley and the Cupid Caper.” (Regarding the latter, that’s the second time the Adams Investigation team have appeared in one of my collections. They were also in Mistletoe Magic in “Charley Catches the Christmas Spirit.”)

You have written novels and non fiction books as well as collections of short stories. What are the hardest and easiest aspects about writing a collection of short stories as opposed to writing a novel? Do you have any writing preferences? 

Since I started decades ago writing short stories, the process comes very natural to me. I don’t plan the stories out. They start with a line of dialogue that pops into my head and even though I have no idea who the character is or what he or she is talking about I just follow along. Often I don’t even know how the story will end until I get there! My short story process is more like watching a movie and being surprised by the dénouement. That’s not to say that the stories don’t undergo revisions because they do, but that is more cleaning up and tightening up.

Novel-writing requires a bit more planning and a lot more tracking of details. I need to understand the main characters, their background, and their goals for the stories to make sense. However, I stop short at doing detailed character profiles or story outlines. I am a pantser who does some plotting in the beginning and along the way. Would that make me a plot-pantser? Pants-plotter?

If you could visit any country/place in the world, to base a future collection of short stories in, where would you go and why? 

Somewhere by the water that is filled with history—Greece or Wales, for example. Water—rivers, streams, lakes, oceans—have always been a source of inspiration for me. And the wilder the environment, the better. There is magic in nature.  

Are you a bookworm? What is your favourite genre and/or authors? Kindle or actual book? 

Last first: I am a print reader. I don’t like eBooks because I want to be able to hold the book in my hands, turns down corners, underline passages. I love the smell of book! 

Genre: fiction and nonfiction, although I have to be careful what I read. I don’t like violence, gore or really scary books. My mind creates images that go along with what I’m reading and that can lead to nightmares. I love reading books by or about writers about their writing lives. One of my favorite books is The Writer On Her Work—Vol 1, edited by Janet Sternburg. Since I first got a copy, I have returned to it again and again for inspiration and comfort and a sense of being part of the writing community.

I will read anything by Shirley Jackson, both for the pleasure of reading her work as well as for education. I learn a lot by picking apart one of her stories to see just how she manages to give me goosebumps each time I read one of them, even though I know how the story will end. I have lots of other writers whose work I love, but if I start listing them here, we’ll run out of space! 

And yes, I am a bookworm. I have bookshelves and stacks of books in nearly every room in my house, and I still buy more. And I rarely discard books. If I’m not sure if I’ll like it, I get it from my library first (I love libraries!) and then, if it speaks to me, I’ll buy it.

Is “The Language Of Love & Other Stories” available to purchase worldwide?

Yes, through various online retailers. And I’m sure your local bookstore can order it in! Right now, I am working on contacting libraries in the United States to encourage them to carry it. If anyone wants to help in this time-consuming activity, all they have to do is go to their local library’s website and fill in the form to request the book. (Hint, hint!)

Growing up had you always wanted to be a writer or did you have other career aspirations?

I don’t know that I consciously wanted to be a writer. It was just a natural outlet for my imagination. But I never thought I could make a living at it. Turns out I can—both as an author and as a professional freelance copywriter. The latter also takes imagination as well as a good grasp of grammar and spelling and punctuation!

If I hadn’t become a writer, I might have liked to be an archeologist, uncovering past lives and learning how people long dead once lived and loved. In a way that’s what fiction does. It reveals the lives of people: their secrets, fears, motivations. What drives them and what holds them back.

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

While I would love to say that I dress up for work—something I write about in my novel, Finding Fran, when people ask her about her “writing clothes”—I’m usually in a sweatshirt and sweatpants in the winter, and shorts and a t-shirt in the summer. I’m all about comfort! But I do dress better for book events!

Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc

My website is https://www.nancychristie.com/

You can find me just about anywhere and everywhere online:

Goodreads

X/Twitter

Facebook

TikTok

Instagram

Threads

Bluesky

Substack

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Medium

I also have two YouTube channels: Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube and Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube

And I have two newsletters— Nancy’s Book News (for readers) and The Writing Life with Nancy Christie (for writers)—and people can sign up for either or both here.

BOOK TOUR DATES

Fabulous chatting to you Nancy and thank you for inviting me onto your book tour. Thank you for the review copy of “The Language Of Love & Other Stories” – I loved it 😊

Linda x

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Nancy Christie

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I’m so pleased to be on author Jim Naremore’s “American Still Life” book tour. I absolutely loved this book – it was raw, edgy, sad, with happy moments too. It was definitely an emotional whirlwind and I really did enjoy the ride. I’m so pleased that Jim agreed to be interviewed … I had so many questions bubbling in my mind 😃 But first, here’s a book summary:

BOOK SUMMARY

We are all drowning, and we are all saviours .

Wresting with addiction, guilt, and self-loathing, gifted photojournalist Skade Felsdottir finds herself trapped in a web of her own creation when she is forced by circumstances to return to her hometown—the place that holds her crippling secrets. After screwing up her “big break”, a photo essay book about descansos—roadside memorials to people who have died tragically, Skade tries to salvage the project against a tight deadline. While simultaneously working and keeping her darkest demons at bay, Skade reconnects with an old boyfriend and befriends a unique but broken young woman named Kit. Their burgeoning friendship begins a process of healing for them both, until a devastating sequence of events plunges Skade into darkness, leaving her to decide between redemption and running away; between life and death. Set against a backdrop of the back roads of a forgotten America, American Still Life explores the crossroads of grief and artistic expression, of loneliness and atonement. A journey familiar.

Publisher: Regal House Publishing (Deceember 17, 2024)

ISBN: 1646035054

ISBN: 978-1646035052

AISN:  B0CNTWJH98

Print length:  296 pages

MY INTERVIEW

Hello Jim and welcome to the blog 👋. I really enjoyed reading your book, “American Still Life ”and I particularly enjoyed the characters of Skade ,and her new found friend, Kit (Kitten). I loved the rawness & edginess of Skade ; and how her friendship with the weird Kit  develops.  What character did you particularly enjoy writing about? What character was the hardest to portray?

Honestly, the most fun character for me to write was Jerome. A character like him shows up in almost all my work. Kind of the wise fool. Sort of a stock character for me. Of the main characters, I’d say both Skade and Kit were equally enjoyable but equally difficult. There’s a lot of me in Skade, so I had that going for me, and she was pretty good about showing up and “talking” to me as work progressed (I know that sounds weird. Writing is really great and easy when the characters begin to take on their own lives and tell you things as you are working on the story) even though she was often stubborn and short-tempered about things. For example, early in the project I had just finished a scene and needed Skade to get from one place to another so I could start the next scene. The scene I had finished (not sure which one) was pretty emotionally heavy, or traumatic for her. I was about to shift to the next scene when she popped up and said, “I’m going swimming.” Out of the blue like that. That literally just came out on the page as I was typing. From that odd little statement came all of the swimming stuff in the book. She told me about her being a competitive swimmer and using the water as a safe place. So that was great. Kit told me she was afraid of thunderstorms, so that’s where that chapter came from.

The difficulty, of course, was that both of them are women, and I am not. I really had to stretch and work and lean on my female friends and writer’s group members because I was terrified of writing “guys in skirts” which can happen when a man tries to write a deeper female character. I think Kit was especially hard for me because it’s easier for me to access the parts of me that are in Skade. The parts of me in Kit are tougher to find.

I loved how the “friendship” between Skade & Kit develops; I could almost feel the pain that Skade felt in returning to her home town and her memories that she tried to blot out with alcohol; Skade’s need for friendship that matched Kit’s….and oh, the ex boyfriends too. So, hypothetically speaking, if American Still Life was made into a film, who would you envisage to play the main characters? 

My writer’s group did this game with each other’s stories once, but I get super picky about this kind of casting. I’m not sure there are perfect actors for these parts, at least that I’ve seen. Emma Stone might be able to pull off Skade? Physically I think Skade looks a little more like a younger Jennifer Connelly (like in “House of Sand and Fog”), but even they are not exactly right. I’d be SUPER curious to hear what you and your readers think of that! Kit is an interesting case, since no one in Hollywood is like her physically (that I know of). I will tell you I had two people in mind when I wrote Kit, but neither are actors, they are both WNBA players, who are obviously both far more physically comfortable and coordinated than Kit, but I wrote with Elena Della Donna in mind, and later, Cameron Brink. I kind of see James Franco as Lane? Not sure… Like I said, I’d love to hear other thoughts… My ideas are not “correct” by any means!

The characters and places depicted in your novel – did you base your characters on people you have come across or aspects of the novel based loosely around your own experiences? 

Yes. So much of this book (all my writing really) is based on things in my experience. The locations are all sort of smashed together places I’ve lived in or been to. Carleton is based on several smaller rustbelt cities I’ve lived in. Even the Mosier Crosses in the book are actually “real”… I fictionalized a real story and location that’s just north of Martinsville, Indiana on Highway 62. Fairfax Road is real, it runs from Lake Monroe to Bloomington, Indiana where I grew up.

All my characters are amalgams of people I know or have met. And the primary characters all have a lot of me in them. Skade especially might be the most “Jim” character I’ve ever dared put on paper. I’ve been sober for over a decade, but I remember what that felt like. Jerome’s idea of putting a boat into a creek and floating all the way to New Orleans was something me and my friends endlessly speculated about when we were teenagers… start in Salt Creek and see how far you can get.

If you could visit any place in the world to inspire your next novel, where would you go and why? 

I went to Morocco while I was writing American Still Life and instantly wanted to do another book with Skade in it taking place there (I have all the notes for it… She’s photographing the work of a mysterious graffiti artist and following a trail of graffiti work around the world). Morocco is amazing. A place I have not been but want to go to is Australia. I think touring Australia would be incredible. I’d also like to dive into Japan. I was in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam a few years ago, and that was incredible too. I’m drawn as much to cities as I am wilderness, I guess.

Are you a bookworm yourself? If so, what genres (or authors) do you usually like to read? And are you a kindle or “proper book” fan?

Old school proper books only for me. Too trad. Its funny but I don’t read a lot of fiction when I’m writing (which is most of the time) since I’m paranoid I’m going to start to imitate another writer’s voice. I’m pretty eclectic with my fiction. The only things I don’t usually read are spy novels or traditional thrillers. I read a lot of mysteries (I grew up reading Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammet). I like Tania French’s voice a lot. I used to read a lot of Sci Fi and Fantasy and will still come back to Tolkien for comfort. Literary writers like Marquez and Sebald blow me away. I’m reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia right now and enjoying it thoroughly. I loved There There by Tommy Orange recently and hope to pick up Wandering Stars soon.

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

God, Linda, I’m such a clothes horse… It’s one of my faults. My personal style tends toward California. Ralph Lauren is great, and I usually can’t go wrong with his stuff. But at times I’ll toss in French vintage or even Japanese stuff like Kendo jackets. I’m usually super casual, denim, natural fibers, leather. I do a fair amount of vintage military, too.

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

Clothes horse… see above… Next on the list is probably getting rid of a lot of stuff! Closet is too full! There is a current men’s wear trend I don’t have and would like to get: a houndstooth wool overcoat, full length.

Boots Or Shoes?

Seasonal… I wear boots in the fall and winter (Blundstones or Redwings) and shoes in the summer. I started wearing Sabahs last summer and love them to death. I also love vintage leather men’s dress shoes. I have too many. And cowboy and campus style boots. I have too many! Want some?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With roots in the American deep south and the Midwest grounding his sense of place, Jim Naremore has published an array of short fiction and the award-winning novel The Arts of Legerdemain as Taught by Ghosts (Belle Lutte, 2016). He holds an MFA from the Solstice program at Lasell University in Boston and currently lives with his partner and cat in New York’s Hudson River Valley.

You can follow the author at:

Instagram: @jim_naremore
https://www.instagram.com/jim_naremore/

Website: https://www.jim-naremore.com/

BOOK TOUR DATES

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Jim Naremore.
Many thanks to Jim Naremore for the review copy of American Still Life and for inviting me onto his book tour.

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If you enjoy reading historical novels, then “Danube Legion” by Laurence Read might just hit the spot. This historically accurate Roman army war novel is set in 2nd century Hungary/Danube region. Although it is a “war” novel, the novel mostly concentrates on the legion “behind the scenes”. Here’s a quick summary before I chat to author, Laurence Read.

BOOK SUMMARY

The Roman war machine is on the move

But behind the Centurions and Legionaries, a vast support network grinds into motion, mobilising a new legion towards a hostile river border, its human cogs turning across Roman society: from downtrodden bath slaves, to legionary blacksmiths trying to get through the day, from unscrupulous traders who supply food and materials to corrupt politicians with their own cynical motives.

Danube legion is the darkly amusing story of what happens behind the scenes – the chaotic, the venal, the incompetent and the corrupt. In amongst it all, and driving most of it, is Lady Lassalia, a ruthless merchant out to ensure her place in Roman society.

THE INTERVIEW

Hi Laurence 👋 Thanks for joining us! Tell us a bit about yourself 😊

Hi, I’m Laurence. Well, having graduated from Hull University Drama Department my career took some odd turns and, via TV journalism and PR, I ended up in the natural resources sector. Over 25 years or so I travelled the world meeting exciting people and smoked a lot of Marlboro Lights sitting on plastic chairs waiting for the rain/sun/riot to go away. I now live in Hampshire, vaping and waiting, with little hope, for the rain to stop. My family is also Anglo Hungarian so we spend a lot of time in Hungary, where the book is laregely set in.

Who or what inspired you to write “Danube Legion”? 

I’ve always been fascinated by the classical period (a wide timeline admittedly). When you look at Trojan’s column a question comes to mind of ‘how did they get all that stuff there?’, having watched ‘stuff’ and people being moved about into areas far far away of which we know little I thought it might make a good book. At times I also wondered if writing a book about the Roman army that isn’t interested in battles was a fundamentally stupid idea, but I think there’s enough mayhem within Danube Legion to keep more bloodthirsty readers interested.

“Danube Legion ” is a Roman army war novel set in Hungary – with a twist.  This novel although historically accurate, isn’t really about the battles – it’s more what’s behind the scenes in setting up a legion in the Roman Army.  There’s a lot of humour in the writing  and I adored the characters – especially Lady Lassalia ! 😊 Did you base a lot of your characters on you and people you’ve met in life? Which character did you enjoy writing about the most?  Which character was the hardest?

Why thank you. Well..possibly characteristics of some who I’ve known made it in there, Lady Lassalia was very easy to write as was the Imperial Nephew. I did struggle with Scaurianus but after I delved into his back story a little, his time torturing circus hooligans who smashed statues up post match, it all seemed to come together a bit more. On the historical accuracy bit I did make up the ‘River Goats’, but that did come from a fascination with Roman hydraulics- what the hell was the Water Organ, anyway? I’ve also had an entertaining exchange on water born artillery pieces but I’m sticking to my ‘Skorpions’ on that one.

Hypothetically speaking, if Danube Legion was made into a film who would you pick to play the main characters, especially the feisty Lady Lassalia?

Easy for Lady Lassalia- Shoreh Aghdashloo. For the others..David Gyasi as Galba the armourer, Hugh Skinner as the Nephew, Rufus Sewell as ‘the Scipio’ scion, Damian Lews as the Emperor Trajan, Stephen Graham as ‘2’, the nearest to Peter O Toole (Michael Fassbender? although that would mean this is essentially Band of Brothers- Rome with the casting) currently possible for the Skipper and Sam Troughton as the Governor of Pannonia Inferior.

This novel is set in Hungary, where you spend a lot of your time when not in the UK. However,  if you could visit any country/place in the world, to base your next novel in, where would you go and why? 

I’m messing about with a fantasy novel set in 1850’s Germany. Central Europe fascinates me and ideas about Thirties Years war also abound.

Are you a bookworm? What is your favourite genre and/or authors? Kindle or actual book? 

Once I was, now less so but still read, mostly on the kindle. I really enjoyed the Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald while on holiday in the Rhine Gorge this year. One of many books my partner recommended to me and I usually willfully ignore (so she claims).

 Is “Danube Legion” available to purchase worldwide?

I believe it is, certainy on Amazon.

Growing up had you always wanted to be an author or did you have other career aspirations?

I always loved writing, it just took me a very long time to get to a novel.

As I have already mentioned, you spend a lot of time in Hungary. It is a place I haven’t visited, so what are the top 3 things that you love about Hungary?

Hmmm… Its certainly not a ‘have a nice day’ culture which I really enjoy. Hungary is one of the most beautiful places on earth whether sipping coffee in Budapest or out hiking in the countryside (plus when you get to know it your family can all scream at the television ‘Thats Hungary’ whether it be a period piece, fantasy or Marvel epic). A lot of culture- go see the Budapest Opera, even if you dont like the singing; decor and enormous salted pretzls make it all very worth while.

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

This is my Ron Swanson moment- I own two pairs of shoes: one is an ancient black pair of RM Williams boots, one is an old pair of brown RM Williams boots. Depending on location I shall be in one or t’other. Carhart trousers, shirt and (as its winter),a fisherman’s jumper my partner believes I sew myself into during October like some sort of medieval peasant. I also have a continually rewaxed, much mented jacket that looks and smells as if a fox has lived a full and active life within it before expiring. 

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites ?

Rooster Sailing

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

Er…Im resisting family presssure to buy a new coat.

Boots or Shoes?

I have long narrow feet, at the risk of sounding like a cheerleader for Andrew Forrest: RM Williams boots are the only footwear that has ever made sense. Just to be clear I have no commercial relationship with any Australian shoemakers but am very very open to the idea if this gets picked up on their Meltwater (you have to try).

Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc

Laurenceread@danubelegion on ‘X’, sometimes posted but was told I was a bot a few months ago so have been less engaged.

Fabulous chatting to you, Laurence! Thank you for the review copy of Danube Legion – I was pleasantly impressed by your novel, and I adored Lady Lassalia! 😊

Linda x

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Laurence Read. photo credits go to Damien Lewis.
Thanks also to Ben Cameron of Cameron Publicity & Marketing

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