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.

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

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.

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

I’m so pleased to be part of Marlene M Bell’s “A Hush At Midnight” book tour. Based in Texas, author Marlene M Bell raises sheep when she’s not writing – and I couldn’t wait to chat to Marlene about her fabulous novel, and her love of sheep. But first, here’s a quick summary of “A Hush At Midnight” …

BOOK SUMMARY

Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.

She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to comeand go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock thedeceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state.

When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation.

Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.

Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing (October 1, 2024)

Print length:  350 pages

MY INTERVIEW

Hi Marlene and welcome to the blog 👋

Hello 😊 My name is Marlene Bell but I use a middle initial to differentiate myself from the artist Marlene Bell who lives in the Northeast. I write as MARLENE M. BELL. I’m also an artist, photographer, and raise sheep when I’m not writing novels and marketing sheep-related gifts from my catalog and website. The sheep aspect of life began when I married my husband in 1982. We live in rural East Texas and escaped the San Joaquin Valley of California in 2012.

Who or what inspired you to write A Hush at Midnight?

My series installments were moving right along at a steady pace but I’d noticed the reviews pointed out an issue I’d developed in my writing. Because I knew my main character as well as I knew myself, I’d allowed her and others to falter. Backstory had taken a front seat more than it should have. A Hush at Midnight is the first standalone mystery I’ve written. The characters are different and the location moved to Texas to give myself a fresh feel for a new adventure. I felt this book was necessary to bring me back to the basics of characterization more as a refresher of the little things that made a main character stand out as a force to readers.

I really enjoyed reading your book, A Hush at Midnight and I particularly enjoyed the characters of Laura, her dad Zane (and his lady friend!) & Brent. What character did you particularly enjoy writing about? What character was the hardest to portray?

Writing quirky characters has to be my favorite thing to do when crafting an interesting story. Not so quirky that the reader feels the person is too far-fetched, but more believable. We’ve all met characters that stopped us in our tracks long enough to ask ourselves if they were for real. I have a few of these in A Hush at Midnight.

I think Jordan the groundskeeper was the most difficult because of his age. I tend to write like I speak in daily life. Writing a twenty-something young man (when I’m female) is the most challenging. Choosing the correct slang or lingo for a generation a few decades behind me will always be the most challenging for my work. My developmental editor calls me on this in every manuscript. “She sounds too old for her age…” or “You’ve added a few years to her by using that term.” Things like this keep me focused on terminology as much as the actual story. At age fifteen, I was going on thirty, so It’s not a surprise for me to write characters who sound older than their years.

I enjoyed the combination of thriller mixed in with a bit of romance; and the “relationship” between Laura & Hattie.  So, hypothetically speaking, if A Hush at Midnight was made into a film, who would you envisage to play the main characters?

I’d love to see wholesome actors and actresses for this book because I’m not a fan of what I see coming out of old Hollywood. Hallmark and the Hallmark Channel has the right idea when choosing their personalities to represent them. As an example, I could see Nikki DeLoach as Laura Harris and Kristopher Polaha as the attorney who represents the victim, Hattie. I love, love Kris Polaha’s smooth acting style and how well he settles in with just about any female actress he works with. My favorite Hallmark movies include him as the lead male. Nikki is also one from their culinary cozies that would fit my book-to-movie nicely.

The novel is based in Texas and briefly features England too. What made you pick that location for the novel?  

Having moved to Texas after being raised in California, I was surprised how beautiful East Texas is and how living in the area makes me feel good no matter how crazy the world gets on the outside. I had to write about this woodsy place and give my readers a sense of what it’s like to be here. It was a matter of time before a book of mine landed in Texas. The English aspect is also one of my favorite places since I’m a collector of sheep porcelain and love Staffordshire. The UK is known for Staffordshire and loads of sheep grazing the hillsides of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. James Herriot, the veterinarian from books and television, has his share of sheep in his practice. It’s a habit of mine to put a little bit of me in my stories. Sheep seem to find their way into most everything!

Growing up, did you envisage yourself as a writer or did you have other career aspirations?

Writing never entered my mind, but I was always a creative or sorts. I have the natural ability to draw and paint, so becoming an artist was my goal as a younger person. Either painting beautiful pictures or taking them with a camera. It wasn’t until our 4H club asked me to write a how-to book on raising sheep, that I went the way of an author.

Is A Hush at Midnight available to purchase worldwide?

Yes. All of my novels are available through Amazon including some on Ingram Spark and Barnes and Noble. Occasionally, the ebook can be found on other online outlets. My children’s book in hardbound is available only through me. Amazon does carry the eBook and paperback version of Mia and Nattie, however.

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

I’m currently researching an area to send one of my main characters to in the next Annalisse series book. Having a sea port is the only criteria. If your readers have suggestions, I’d love to hear them! The destination must be someplace exotic with an interesting culture. Part of the fun of writing is the research. Perhaps I’ll take out a world map, close my eyes and let my fingers find the next destination!

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?

I am now, but wasn’t always a reader. It wasn’t until my attempt at writing suffered, that I understood the importance of reading other authors. A lot. The more I read, the easier the words flow. I used to be a staunch romance person, but switched to mystery and crime fiction once I found my comfort zone there in my own writing. I have a Kindle but never used it. I prefer the old-fashioned feel of a paperback in my hands.

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

That’s easy. On a ranch we wear jeans, boots, and a comfortable shirt. The less cumbersome the better. We can be hot and humid here in Texas.

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

I’m a bit of an online nut when it comes to ordering merchandise. Just like our sheep; I never met an online company I didn’t like. This began when mail order catalogs were all the rage in the 1970s and 80s. It’s the reason why I also have my own mail order catalog and offer sheep-related gifts on ewephoric.com. Placing orders in catalogs and waiting for the merchandise to arrive was my favorite pastime in my twenties while I worked in an office for someone else. I still order…but instead use credit and no longer send bank checks. From clothing shopping to food items, and of course books, there is nothing that escapes my curiosity online. My book giveaways usually include unique items I’ve found that relate to each new novel. Our sheep products are also purchased from vendors online.

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

While indoors, I move around in flats and comfortable shoes. I do like the ankle high boots also, though. Winter is coming so it’s more boots for me! With three closets and a cedar chest full of clothing, this might be the first time I won’t be ordering anything more for drawers full of jeans.

Boots or Shoes?

Ranch duties on a sheep facility require boots, especially for the occasional snake that happens to cross in front of me! On our pond or dry land. Exposure of skin at the ankles can be hazardous to your health in the woods or a pile of leaves in the fall.

Links you would like to share:

SOCIAL MEDIA and websites

Facebook Author Page:  fb.me/marlenembell  

(Personal Page) https://www.facebook.com/marlene.bell.3194

X (Formerly Twitter)  https://www.x.com/ewephoric     @ewephoric

BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marlene-m-bell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17642396.Marlene_M_Bell

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

Ewephoric sheep and gifts website: https://www.ewephoric.com

BOOK TOUR DATES

Great to catch up with “ewe”, Marlene ,on your book tour! Thank you for the review copy of A Hush At Midnight. All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Marlene Bell.
Photography credits: Dalton Photography ; blog header pic – Linda Hobden

Linda x