I’m so pleased to be on Cheryl Grey Bostrum’s book tour to promote her latest book, What The River Keeps. And what a book it is! With an outdoorsy theme and a love element too, it’s the perfect holiday read. Before I chat to Cheryl, here’s a quick summary of “What The River Keeps” …

BOOK SUMMARY

Reclusive biologist Hildy Nybo returns to her childhood home on Washington’s Elwha River, where she untangles her mysterious past.

Hildy Nybo is a successful biologist, her study of the Pacific Northwest’s wild fish both a passion and a career. But behind her professional brilliance, Hildy’s reclusive private life reflects a childhood fraught with uncertainty. Haunted by the confusion of her early years, she now records her life in detailed diaries and clings to memory-prompting keepsakes. 

Then her mother’s health fails, and Hildy accepts a job near her childhood home, joining a team of scientists who will help restore her beloved Elwha River after two century-old dams fall. There Hildy settles into a cabin on her family’s rustic resort—a place she both loves and dreads, for reasons she can’t fully explain. 

When a local artist rents an adjacent cabin for her pottery studio, Hildy resists the intrusion—until intriguing Luke Rimmer arrives to help with the cabin’s renovation. Now a few years beyond a tragedy that brought him to his knees, Luke recognizes a kindred soul in Hildy. As he earns her trust, they uncover her mysterious history, and Hildy dares to wonder if she can banish her shadows—and follow her river’s course to freedom.

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction (August 12, 2025)

ISBN: 1496481585

ISBN: 978-1496481580

AISN:  B0DK3ZW85L

ASIN: B0DYG3PK8T

Print length:  368 pages (also available as ebook and audiobook)

THE INTERVIEW

I’m so pleased to welcome author Cheryl Grey Bostrum onto the blog …Hi Cheryl 👋

Hi 👋 I’m Cheryl Grey Bostrom, Tyndale novelist and nature photographer from the Pacific Northwest.
My award-winning novels —Sugar Birds, Leaning on Air, and What the River Keeps—are all contemporary fiction in which the breathtaking natural world illuminates emotional and spiritual truths in our lives. I write for readers who crave stories of hope, redemption, and deep connection to both people and place.

Who or what inspired you to write What the River Keeps?

The inspiration sprang from my love for wild rivers and the idea that healing — whether personal or environmental — requires trust, resilience, connectedness. I’ve long been moved by the story of the Elwha River on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, especially its real-life dam removal and ecosystem revival. That transformation became a perfect metaphor for my protagonist’s journey back to wholeness.

I really enjoyed reading your book,What the River Keeps, and I particularly enjoyed the characters of Hildy & Luke. Hildy’s reclusive character was particularly riveting. What character did you particularly enjoy writing about? What character was the hardest to
portray?

I’m so glad Hildy resonated with you. She was both the most challenging and the most rewarding to write. Her emotional isolation, grief, and spiritual struggle demanded deep honesty and care. As for the most enjoyable? Luke surprised me. His layered strength, quiet faith, and loyalty made him a steadying force, both for Hildy and me.

You live in the Pacific Northwest— did you base the Elwha River & camp in your novel on the river areas in your region?

Absolutely. I grew up hiking along the Elwha River, which tumbles from the rugged Olympic Mountains through the forested canyons of Olympic National Park. I enjoyed Lake Aldwell (the Elwha dam’s reservoir) and the Elwha Resort before the healing ecosystem absorbed them both. The story’s flora, fauna, and landscape framed my coming of age in Port Angeles, Sequim, the Elwha Valley, and points farther west on the Olympic Peninsula.

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

Though I wrote poetry from a young age, I initially pursued a career in education, and taught high school English and psychology for years. While I late wrote a couple of nonfiction books,storytelling was always humming beneath the surface. Eventually, the call to write fiction became too loud to resist. I cleared my slate, devoted myself full-time to learning the craft, and haven’t looked back.

Is What The River Keeps available to purchase worldwide?

Yes! The book’s available through online booksellers, independent bookstores, and major retailers. Ebook, audiobook, and paper editions are all available.

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

While I’ve boated the Alaskan coastline, I’d love to explore its far north interior—landscapes where austere wilderness tests the resilience of humans and wildlife alike. A fresh canvas for the kinds of redemptive stories I love to tell.

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?

Absolutely a bookworm! I gravitate toward lyrical literary fiction, stories with spiritual resonance, and those steeped in nature. I admire writers like Leif Enger, Marilynne Robinson, Annie Dillard. As for format, I’ll always default to physical books—but I pack my Kindle when I travel.

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

Most days, I’m in jeans, hiking boots or trail shoes, and a cozy sweater or fleece—ready to grab my camera and head outside. Simplicity and comfort suit both writing and photography in wild places.

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

I love outdoor and sustainable brands like REI and Patagonia. I also support small businesses and artisan shops, especially those in the Pacific Northwest.

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

I’ve got my eye on a new pair of waterproof boots—durable enough for muddy trails but stylish enough for town.

Boots or Shoes?

Apart from the few months I can go barefoot here in Northwest Washington State, I choose boots. I like dry feet—and being prepared when the outdoors beckons.

BOOK TOUR DATES

My thanks to Cheryl for having me on her book tour and for a preview copy of her fab book “What The River Keeps”.
Photographs have been published with the kind permission of Cheryl Grey Bostrum

The river photo that heads the interview is by Linda Hobden

Share This!

Follow

On 8th March 2025 – International Women’s Day – my guest, author Fondley Tenner Palmer, published his fantasy adult tale “Footnotes “ . This magical tale of powerful goddesses portrays women as potent forces for good. Fantasy novels are all the rage at the moment, and this novel, I feel, offers an intelligent escapism without being far fetched and enough fantasy to lose yourself in an alternative universe for an hour or two. Before I introduce Fondley, here’s a quick summary of “Footnotes”:

BOOK SUMMARY

This novel is the story of two goddesses, Goddess Lusa and Goddess Mulcapan who, billions of years ago, were a physical presence on planet Earth.  It tells of their origins and histories as human leaders and great queens of their communities.  Now these powerful goddesses have returned – but what do they want from the people of Earth? Will they treat us well – or will we become their slaves? Will we have to fight for our very existence?

THE INTERVIEW

Hi Fondley 👋 Welcome to the blog …

Hi, my name is Fondley Tenner Palmer, and I’m thrilled to be here today. I was born in England, in the summer month of July, raised and educated in Wembley, Middlesex, and I’m father to the greatest daughter in the world and our cat,named Pansie.

Here is a little bit about myself:

How would I describe my personality? Sensitive, caring, determined, sometimes downright stubborn, ambitious, kind-hearted, and I believe in myself. I’m an optimistic dreamer who has lived a life of joy, love and laughter with the odd bit of good luck thrown in.

Professionally, my background to date is in sales, new business development and business to business – meeting targets, trying to make money, living hard and fast, until the day arrives when you say to yourself, ‘Is this it? Is this my life? Where is the fulfilment, the joy?’ There is this feeling that your mind, body and soul is craving something else.

And my hobbies …

The beauty of writing fulfils my creative art of expression, helping to expand on my intellectual thoughts, and has brought me to write this book.

Gardening and jogging connect me with nature and contribute to my physical, emotional and ecological wellbeing.

The arts have a significant impact on the quality of my life by providing emotional and cultural enrichment.

The joy of reading opens up new worlds, enriching my knowledge and sharpening my ability to connect with others with understanding and compassion.

FootNotes is a magical tale of powerful goddesses, legends and mysticism. What inspired you to write this fantasy novel?

I wanted to pay homage to my mother and father. This is my way of demonstrating my supreme love for them and a testament to their majesty.

They taught us that it is the simple things in life that matter, that the best things in life are free, and to always have morals and values – to be polite, have good manners, take nothing for granted and always be honest.

They built a fortress around us for us to explore, to be ourselves, to run riot and to have an uninterrupted childhood. I can still remember as a child the times of happiness, chaos, joy, celebration and some pain and sadness.

My parents were honourable. They loved their children, were stern when they had to be, kind, funny, loving, helpful, caring and happy, and they always wanted the best for their children.

My childhood was an adventure filled with laughter, a lot of mischief and unconditional love.

My book honours my parents’ remarkable feats. It will be part of our family’s legacy, and we will always remember the sacrifices our parents made for us and their morals and values: honesty, respect, generosity, charity, good manners, politeness, perseverance and never ever giving up.

The main characters are Goddess Lusa annd Goddess Mulcapan. Are your characters based on observations of people you’ve come across in the past, places and incidents you’ve experienced? Who was the hardest character to portray? And the easiest?

You could gain inspiration from lifelong friends or from a stranger you’ve met on the train, but I’m not sure any of my characters are based on people I’ve met in the past. But then again, when writing, you dig deep within, and who knows what’s down there? But I would add that I believe the book will resonate with all of us, as we can see ourselves in these characters; this could be moral standards, principles, or how we respond to difficult situations, setbacks and failures, but also how we celebrate success, glory and victory.

The easiest character to portray was Goddess Lusa – until the moment came when it was time to kill her. This sent shivers down my spine, as I had built a strong relationship with her. I had total admiration for her and the journey she had set out upon, and when the time came to dispense with the character, I chickened out. I refused to write her out of the story, and then, from nowhere,inspiration came my way. I made her a goddess, and that move singlehandedlypropelled the story forward.

Goddess Kimuel was the hardest character to portray, simply because she played a bit part in the story. Initially she only featured in the first few pages, but, call it divine intervention, I found a way to make her a central feature, and I must give credit to my editor, who pointed out that we have a new voice but we don’t hear from her again, and it dawned on me that I have some great characters – now’s the time to develop them and their stories.

Being a male author, how did you prepare to write from a female perspective? 

WOW, what a compliment!

I must start with my mother, who was and still is an inspiration to me, for this was the woman who gave me life, who saw me safely into this world, who breastfed me, showed me love and allowed me to find myself. My mother had her own opinions; she would always follow her instincts, and she lived by her own morals and values. When push came to shove, my beautiful mother was unafraid to stand up for what she believed in. This lady was a true inspiration to me, and her ways still resonate with me to this day.

I might add, I come from a family of women. My parents had five children and I’m the only male – yes, four sisters and each and every one of them winds me up!

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

The hardest part was ignoring my inner voice and staring down my fears – the fear of what others would think and say about my efforts, the fear of being harshly judged, of being ripped apart, the fear of rejection – but if you don’t ask the question, you will never find the answer.

For me it was a journey of the mind, to challenge myself, to put everything on the line – a way to express my supreme love for my mum and dad, to take myself on, to go to war with myself; the chance to stare down my fears and to do something that was totally out of character.

It was a way to dig deep into my soul and the emotions that surrounded it, a way to be open and honest with myself, an exploration of who I am and what I might become, and the chance to recreate myself.

I found the experience cathartic, cleansing; it enabled me to release my emotions and feel free and in harmony with myself.

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

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

One of my favourites was Nelson Mandela’s autobiography – a tale of courage, resilience, belief, hope and a better day for humanity – truly inspirational. I also like to read books on the different peoples of planet Earth; for me, this is a way for us to understand each other and gain an appreciation of different cultures,faiths and perspectives – an understanding that this world is a mosaic whose beauty lies in all its colours.

Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be? 

And my answer is yes, because I’ve never listened to anyone except my mum, my dad and myself in regards to who I should be.

Is FootNotes available to purchase worldwide?

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Fondley Tenner Palmer.

Share This!

Follow

BOOK SUMMARY

THE INTERVIEW

I am Opëshum. And I will ask you to forgive me for my unwillingness to be seen. It is due to the fact that my appearance is likened more to an extraterrestrial than to what you would consider human. I therefore prefer to dwell in the background as the world embraces the many characters I have had the good fortune to bring to the the world.  They are both an extension of me and also entities of their own. 

I am an avid nature lover, and deeply appreciate being near the mountains and the ocean, whether the skies are stormy or calm. In essence, it is nature that inspires me.

“Beyond The Father ” is the first in the series of  8 books : a multi award winning story of man versus machine, rich versus poor; and an erratic God that created and may destroy everything. What inspired the book series? 

It’s a fair question, and I will provide you an honest answer. As I noted in Book 1 of the series, that I dedicated that work to the inhabitants of Xżyber, where the story takes place. This book series is the result of a conversation I am having with them, whereby they help me to channel the and capture the details of their journey. I am honored to have been selected to represent them. 

The prince, princess, King and Queen are unlike anyone I have consciously met in my life. In that way they are a breath of unexpected wind —of fresh air.

I think that King Thio is by far the hardest because he is so complex, with many layers that sometimes contradict themselves. I am still discovering him. 

I would have to say both, because it depends upon the mood of the day. 

It has been an honour to chat to you Opëshum, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. Thanks also to Ben Cameron of Cameron Publicity & Marketing for the review copy of “Beyond The Father”

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Opëshum.

Share This!

Follow

I’m so pleased to be part of Aine Greaney’s “Trespassers & Other Stories” book tour. All the stories have an Ireland/America connection and so it’s not surprising to hear that the author, Aine Greaney, is an Irish native now living in the Boston area. I loved all the stories in the book so I am also pleased to welcome Aine onto the blog…but first, here’s a quick book summary.

BOOK SUMMARY

From coastal Massachusetts to rural Ireland, the characters in Trespassers struggle to reconcile past and present, place and displacement, loss and hope.

A woman travels from her Massachusetts home to her native Irish village to care for her estranged and sick father. Back in her childhood home, she comes face-to-face with previously unspoken losses.

A wealthy couple travels to Cape Cod to spend their 52nd summer on the wife’s ancestral estate. On their private beach above Nantucket Sound, the husband must confront the realities of their long marriage and its social-class tensions.

An Irish immigrant takes her American-born teen to a raucous Boston house party. At that party, the teenager discovers that her mother had lied about her child’s birth father—a lie that will permanently divide the mother and daughter.

PUBLISHER: Sea Crow Press

ISBN-10: 1961864207

ISBN-13  978-1961864207

Print Length: 130 pages

Purchase a copy of Trespassers and Other Stories on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

MY INTERVIEW

Hi Aine, and a big warm welcome onto the blog 👋

Hello. I’m Áine Greaney and I live here in Massachusetts, USA. I’m originally from the west of Ireland. I started writing while settling into and adapting to life here.  In the U.S., I also went back to college for a master’s degree.  When my first short story was published in a U.S. journal, I really thought they had sent the letter to the wrong person or address!

Who or what inspired you to write your collection of short stories of “Trespassers & Other Stories”?

About half of the stories had been written and published as stand-alone pieces. The other half, still sitting in my computer, needed to be edited and cleaned up. One day, when I did a big read-through, I saw a recurring theme of place and displacement or of women living in misfit places. 

 “Trespassers & Other Stories  ” is a collection of short stories based on Ireland/America connection! The characters are quite a varied bunch – my favourite story was the American born girl who went to a raucous party with her Irish born mum (and accidentally finds out the identity of her birth father) I did feel sorry for her!!  

Did you base a lot of the characters on you and people you’ve met in life?

Thank you. And what a great question, Linda! I don’t think I can base any one character on a real-life person. Though once, when I went on a holiday to Barbados, I did actually meet a person who inspired the character in the story, “A Fine Lady Guest.” But of course, I made that fictional character much more arrogant and tone deaf than her real-life counterpart. For the other stories, I think certain human traits are mushed together to create the characters.  

Which short story did you enjoy writing about the most?  

I did enjoy writing your favourite story, “That Night,” about the girl who realizes her mother has lied about her birth father. Though in later drafts, I had to ramp up the tension and the conflict for a better story. Like you, I also really liked that teenage character.  

Which character was the hardest to portray?

I found the character in “What We Remember” hard to write. Don’t get me wrong. I really wanted to write that story. But while she is quite snooty and full of herself, she is also a sad character.  She has more self-delusion and loneliness than she ever wants to admit to. As we see at story’s end, her posh Dublin job or house or her family wealth cannot protect her from that loneliness. 

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

For those previously published stories, I was surprised by how much I had over-written them. By extension, I was surprised that publishers of those literary magazines hadn’t thought they were over-written, too. I think this is about the passage of time and changing trends. Over the years, we change as writers and as readers. Recently, I saw some research that says we all have less appetite now for reading longer, “flowerier” or overblown prose. 

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? 

Oh, my. This is another great question. I think I would like to go to Kenya or Nigeria. I’m not sure why, but those are places I’ve always wanted to visit. Closer to home, I would love to go back to Portugal. I’ve been there twice (three if you count a trip to the Azores, too), to both seaside and city, and just felt really comfortable there.

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

I was about eight when I discovered my first Enid Blyton children’s book.  Blyton was a UK-based author who, back then, was really popular. I’ve been an avid reader ever since, and go back and forth between actual books and Kindle. I still prefer the real book in my hand, but a Kindle book is great for when you’re stuck on a bus or a plane. I mostly read fiction, but often veer off into memoir.  A few of my favourite fiction authors are Penelope Lively, Nicole Dennis Benn, Maggie O’ Farrell, Zadie Smith, Caryl Phillips and others. 

Is “Trespasser & Other Stories” available to purchase worldwide?

Yes. I believe so. At least, I just saw it up on that giant online bookshop (begins with an “A” (smile).

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

Another lovely and thoughtful question! Being a child reader and a lover of libraries, I did fantasize about being a writer. At age 17, I went to university to be a primary-school teacher in Ireland. But I discovered that wasn’t the career for me.  Then, years later in America, I was invited to lead an adult writing workshop and immediately loved it. So I’m still writing and teaching writing for community groups. I also work as a writer for a healthcare non-profit—which I also enjoy a lot. 

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

For my day job and for my virtual writing classes, I work from a home office. Sothere are mornings when I’m delighted that the Zoom camera only captures a *certain* amount of the outfit! But mostly, I’m in comfortable jeans, a colourful shirt and, if it’s cold, a cardigan or jacket. 

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?

One of the few positives of our worldwide pandemic is that we have taught ourselves to live with less. Since switching to a work-from-home office, I have cut way, way back on any shopping. All that said, a vintage find in charity or vintage shop always brings a thrill.  

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

Summer stuff! The last three summers here in coastal Massachusetts have been hot, hot, hot. 

Boots or Shoes?

I’m a big, big walker. I also belong to a women’s hiking group. So definitely runners or sneakers and I keep a pair of hikers right in my car. If I’m going out, I like to wear my black, ankle-length boots. 

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

Website: https://www.ainegreaney.com

Instagram: ainegreaney

Bluesky: ainegreaney.bsky

Facebook: Aine Greaney, Writer

Threads: ainegreaney

BOOK TOUR DATES

Great chatting to a fellow Enid Blyton fan! 😊 Thank you for the review copy of your book “Trespassers & Other Stories” and for having me join you on your book tour!

Linda x

All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Aine Greaney; the Aer Lingus aeroplane photo was taken by Linda Hobden

Share This!

Follow

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

Share This!

Follow

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).

Share This!

Follow

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.

Share This!

Follow