Writing for the BBC

All this listening to radio led me back to the BBC Writer's Room website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/

This was a place I used to visit regularly when I had more time. I noticed they have changed their submissions policy and now only accept unsolicited scripts at certain times of the year. The website also contains projects the BBC are involved in, opportunities for the writer new and experienced. If you think you can write a ten minute play containing a life changing event or transition then why not enter Little Pieces of Gold? The chosen plays will be given a director and cast and performed at the Park Theatre in London on 30th September. You have until 15th August this year to get your entry in and details can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/little-pieces-of-gold

There are also scripts from well known BBC programmes etc to download, to give you a feel of what is required, as well as templates to set your work to BBC standard and guidance for submissions. All you need to do is decide what you are going to write about ;)

Getting Back to Radio

Just lately I have been listening to a lot of BBC Radio drama and have been surprised at the gems I have found.

The 7th Dimension, broadcast daily at 6.30pm on Radio Four Extra is a personal favourite and I have just finished listening to an unabridged reading of John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids. These half hour chunks were read by Roger May who has a fabulous way with his voice, projecting male, female, young and old with ease and skill.

I also came across some horror stories on BBC iPlayer. 'Troll' by Ed Harris (an Afternoon Drama on Radio Four) is a particularly good adult fairytale worthy of a listen. As is the latest from Fear on Four's The Man in Black called 'Hellhound on my Trail', (currently available on Radio Four Extra). 'Hellhound on my Trail' was slightly unnerving, particularly when the character's anxiety and panic reached fever pitch near the end...the hairs on the back of my neck actually rose at the actor's screams of fear. Good stuff!

In the Romance and Relationship's section you will find the Love Stories series on BBC Four which are 15 minutes long and written by well known authors. I really like Freya North's Fish and Chips, a tale of a woman who goes to see her inheritance, left by an Uncle she never liked, and is deeply affected by what she finds.

I admit I still love having stories read to me and it makes the most mundane task go so much quicker!

Road to Rouen by Ben Hatch

Ben and Dinah Hatch take their two children Phoebe and Charlie on another of their epic road trips with the usual chaos along the way...well, before they have even left actually because Ben has had an idea about packing the car up which is Baldrick cunning in its simplicity...

This time they are powering around France and finding out that, despite the rumours, the baguette is a rare commodity which you have to move quickly to pin down before the shop closes again. The children behave impeccably, unless there's an audience, in which case the French have no problem with telling them to hush, much to the embarrassment of their parents. Typical family outing then!

The book contains some personal memories of Ben's earlier life which are touching. He is also brutally honest about his behaviour when he receives some bad news and decides to beggar off over the border to Spain, leaving Dinah and the children to it while he contemplates the situation.

There are several hilarious incidents but my favourite has to be when Ben decides it would be a good idea to pop out of the car on the highway and take photos whilst the lights are red, only to still be outside when the lights turn green and the surrounding drivers are getting cross. Dinah (driven by the embarrassment of what people think which us Brits do so well) can stand it no longer and decides to take matters into her own hands. Despite not having driven the whole trip, she jumps into the drivers seat, screams at Ben to get in and obliviously heads off towards the Arc De Triomphe, the worst roundabout in France, where it's a free for all dodging death drive for foreigners and sometimes even the French themselves. I felt her pain, I could see her bug eyed expression, but it was very funny too.

What I like about Ben's writing is the way he draws you in and it feels as if you are actually (squashed) in the boot of the car, hearing it all happening but feeling as if perhaps you should go and forage for bread and give them some privacy.

The next trip is planned already and this time they are all off to explore Italy...might ask if there is room in the boot ;)

http://amzn.to/16Wwcbs

Twitter: @BenHatch

Three Things by Randall Grange

This book is a strange one, but I rather like that about it.

It says at the end that it is a work of fiction but I am not so sure because this teenage girl speaks directly to you. She rambles, she changes direction, she jumps back and forward with the story and puts random blocks of memory on the page to share with you. She shares memories of rehab and how she got there and explores memories of (quite horrific in places) events with a shrug of the shoulders and a touch of humour.

As a work of fiction, Randall Grange has got inside the head of her character with skill and honesty and has 'lived' her character's life whilst writing this book. It's raw emotion and I cried, smiled and wished I could give her character a hug. 

Randall's description of growing up in a somewhat dysfunctional family and the impact it had on her was a tough read emotionally in places but the realness made it feel as if it were just you and her, sitting in a room, while she told you with brutal honesty just how bad things can get before a corner needs to be turned.

It's different and won't be to everyone's taste but I was impressed by this. Very moving and I liked the style it was written in because I thought it worked very well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Things-ebook/dp/B00C0CQ4TC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371063779&sr=1-1

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17699921-three-things

Forever and Ever, Amen by Liv Rancourt

Molly is a single mum who struggling to survive emotionally with two teenage children and an ex husband she really wants to forget but can't because, well, he still reaches the parts that matter. Trouble is behind those gorgeous eyes there lurks a cheating, arrogant man who wants to play the field with younger models and it's really time to move on! Molly has a girls night out and wakes the next morning with a hangover, no idea what happened and the mother of all love bites on her neck.

Did she? Didn't she? She doesn't know but, when she sees a man reflected in her bedroom mirror, she sort of accepts it as an indication of how the week is panning out. When the man in the mirror turns out to be an angel and tells her the love bite is actually a demon's mark and she now has to face three difficult trials to make it go away, she wonders if she is losing the plot.

I loved the humour in this book and enjoyed the character of Molly in particular. I could imagine her standing there, watching it all unfold and shrugging her shoulders as she accepted it all as just another part of the sod's law of life. Well written and an easy read, this book is one for the girl on holiday. Fabulous.

http://amzn.to/1cO7Mpx

http://livrancourt.com

Twitter: @LivRancourt

The Ramblings of a Fledgling Book Reviewer

I have had some lovely feedback on my reviews. Indie authors in particular are pleased to have their work recognised and promoted on Twitter for free by someone who read their work and loved it.

As I was writing a review recently, it struck me how the tables are turned once the review is written, at least for me. If I have liked a book enough to review it and put it on my blog I also want the author to be pleased with the review and there is often a nail biting moment while I wait for them to see the review and let me know what they thought.

I suppose I am not a typical reviewer. I don't give a book review unless I like the book. I talk about emotional responses not style, voice or POV. I write reviews the way I do because reviewing is subjective, what one person will hate, another will love. No amount of picking the books structure apart is going to change that. I have read a few books by published authors, and thought they were pretty dire, yet they have had literary prizes heaped on their work. Equally, I have read books others thought were below par which I have absolutely loved. Of course, I am sometimes in agreement with the majority too, so I am 'in the club' on occasion! This is why I write about how a book made me feel because human emotions are far more similar than human ideals.

We all have emotions, I read to exercise mine. What I choose to read depends on my mood at the time. I have what I call 'Holiday Reads', those books which aren't taxing in their style, which are suitable for lazy days when you almost want a story read to you. I also like to have a more 'wordy' book on the go. My current one is written by someone I follow on Twitter and it is very heavy going but the story is keeping me interested and that is what counts. Then there is my review list, a mix of genres which I read in order of submission. I love that list, it's like a treasure dip where I put my hand in the bag, not knowing what I am going to pull out next.

Have you read any books which you had been told were the 'next Big Thing' and found yourself wondering what the fuss is about? I have, plenty of times and I know I am not alone. When I was much younger, I felt perhaps I ought to like these books. Perhaps I was lacking in my ability to appreciate a fine piece of creativity when I saw it. I went through a stage where I read books which I 'ought' to and it was an expensive and frustrating experience sometimes. I quickly realised it wasn't a lack of intelligence on my part of perhaps failing to understand the finer nuances of the text or the beautifully forged prose. I just didn't like some of these books, it was that simple and no amount of flamboyant reviews from internationally acclaimed sources was going to change that.

Book snobbery on the whole is something I don't have time for, I lose respect for an opinion very quickly if all I see is the need to sound superior. Recently I have read some truly horrific and venom based reviews of books on Amazon. Some have been written by people who seem to delight in telling the world how much they hated the book and why. There are those which are written by people who feel a sprinkling of 'wordy' literary phrases will make them be taken more seriously and those with the well-worn phrase along the lines of 'keep ya £1.50' at the end. You know the types I mean. In my opinion, if you don't like a book then don't review it if you really can't find anything nice to say, there is never a good reason to get personally nasty to the author. Never. If a book doesn't work for you then please move on. Don't launch a mouth foaming attack as if your eyes are bleeding and you are seeking monetary compensation for emotional distress...or at least ya £1.50 back.

Books are for sharing so if you find a book which left you feeling a bit of a glow then write a review and let everyone else know too. Authors will thank you for it and so will their potential readers. Don't be afraid to keep it simple. In my opinion, a review doesn't have to be high brow, just honest and respectful.

The Paris Notebook by Cynthia Harrison

Although this isn't an indie book I am keen to share it as one of those feel-good books us girls need sometimes.

Deena is a character with a personality which made me root for her from the start. In her twenties she had a relationship with Ian, the self-centred and unfaithful singer in the band Yellow Star and she wrote the lyrics for the band's first album. After their relationship ended she gave him a copy of her notebook containing new song lyrics for him to look at but he doesn't get back in touch. Years later, she hears her own words barely masked in his new song and realises what her unscrupulous ex has done. She wants the notebook back and she wants the credit due to her but it means getting close to him again. Jack, a friend and colleague, asks her to dinner but she doesn't know if she wants her heart broken again. When Jack says he is leaving soon, she finally agrees to go, feeling safe as he will soon be gone. Ian is certain he can win Deena round and get her to agree to give him the lyrics because he is used to getting what he wants but Deena is equally determined he won't. Ian's shenanigans had me grinding my teeth and I was very keen to see if he had his comeuppance.

The background characters all add to the plot and each has their own story, interwoven very nicely with Deena's. There is a feel of real friendship in this novel.

The Paris Notebook left a smile on my face and it's perfect for those days when you just want to enjoy the sunshine outside with a good book and the tipple of your choice. I'm not an avid reader of romance novels but this one is well written with an easy style and a satisfying ending.  I liked it.

http://amzn.to/1af8Q3T

http://www.cynthiaharrison.com

Twitter: CynthiaHarriso1

Doppelganger - (A Jack Lockwood Mystery) by Geoffrey David West

This book is all you could want from a crime thriller and I have spent the best part of a day happily glued to its pages.

Jack Lockwood is a fabulous character. A criminal profiler and true crime writer, he acts on hunches and instincts but like every fallible human, he doesn't always get it bang on first time. A good investigator of the facts, he chases down information and makes a nuisance of himself with the police, who aren't his greatest allies. Nothing seems to really faze him, whether he is being hunted down by gangland criminals who want him dead or finding out the woman he loves may not be what she seems. He always keeps going no matter what the personal cost. I think this character is very unsure of what love should be about as he seems a little confused when it comes to matters of the heart but, in a way, it makes his personality very real and engaging.

I love the fast paced flow of this novel, although there is a lot going on the author has a knack of keeping you fully informed. The writing is clear, descriptive and crisp with a satisfying ending and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and also to lead you down the wrong path until you reach that 'A-ha!' moment and realise you have been had. At least I was at one point and not in the most obvious way! I also liked the references to real life events, such as speculating the circumstances surrounding the death of Princess Diana. Naughty but plausible...

This is the second in the series of Jack Lockwood mysteries but it can be read very well as a stand alone book. Geoffrey David West gives enough background information to establish Lockwood's personality, and the things he has gone through before, to make it easy to join in the journey.

http://amzn.to/15SXZ7Z

http://www.geoffreydavidwest.com

Twitter: @GeoffreyDWest

The Blake Soul by I. C. Camilleri

Now this book is a strange one. The author has written a story about a man who can see into the future, he sees various pathways his family life could take and tries to prepare for the ones which look the most fatal. Some he can change, some get worse when he tries, some don't happen at all.

Josh Blake has the mother from hell and never knew his father. He was brought up by a woman who begged his mother not to have an abortion, his mother only visiting once a year to tell him how unwanted he is and how much she dislikes him for existing. Josh has a photographic memory, is very intelligent and can see his future mapped out...well, almost. Hurt by his past, he shields himself and his heart from women and simply uses them as they glide in and out of his glamorous world of film premieres. Then he sees a woman he thinks he knows and slowly the visions he has had all his life start to make sense.

This is one of those novels which leave you with a sense of wondering what just happened but in a good way. The author pulls you along, giving you tidbits of anticipation mixed in with a bizarre feeling of wondering if you really want to do this or not.

The story has romance in it which is slightly off kilter, they are in love but they hurt each other by saying the most bizarre things and you are allowed to watch as if you were looking through the CCTV camera which is hidden on the wall in their apartment in the story. It's like they both periodically lose their minds. They dip in and out of reality, with their insecurities playing a deep role in their outlook of love and their future.

This book is all about the extremes and flaws in human nature, the moments of madness, the five second thoughts of revenge most sane people dismiss as unacceptable. It is the first in a series of three.

I rather liked it.

http://amzn.to/1dh2rVB

Twitter: @ICCamilleri

Blood Pool by J. E. Ryder

Blood Pool is an excellent thriller with so many twists and turns to the plot I wasn't sure who the good guys were until the author told me right at the end.

Sam Shelley inherits her husband's family boatyard when his body is discovered on the beach. The locals aren't happy as the Shelley empire, such as it is, traditionally falls to the next male heir but, since none have been traced, Sam is left to run things. When another body turns up on the beach, its face a bloody mess, and Madge, the wife of Sam's close friend Professor Jonas Weal, turns up at the boatyard office saying he urgently needs to see Sam, things start to get out of hand and Sam doesn't know whom to trust anymore. There is a touch of romance between Sam and Mik Portillus, one of the hands at the boatyard, but is Mik all he seems?

This tale is really well written, complex and intriguing. From the start the pace and descriptive writing made it feel as if I was living it all with Sam, almost like watching a movie pan out. The author has done a fabulous job with the background characters as well, giving them depth and personalities which make them just as real and believable as the main ones.

The only criticism I have was when the story led the characters to Spain, it all seemed a bit pointless to the plot but it was a very small part of what is an excellent and absorbing story and I thought it was very good.

http://amzn.to/16jXojr

http://www.jeryder.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @Jeryder5Author

Same Face, Different Place: Beginnings by Helen J Christmas

This is the first in a series of books which span several decades, this one is set in the 1970's when the streets of London were particularly susceptible to corruption and gang warfare.

The central character, Eleanor, is the daughter of Ollie Chapman, a right hand man of Sammie Maxwell, one of the East End of London's feared bosses. Sammie sits comfortably at the top of his particular tree, thinking all is well when news reaches him there's a younger man in town. A man who incites so much terror that Sammie's patch begins to dwindle. Dominic Theakston begins to take over and Sammie is forced to retaliate. When Eleanor's father shoots Theakston's number one in the ensuing battle, killing him instantly, Theakston locks eyes with him and is set on the most terrible revenge possible. Chapman puts his precious daughter in Sammie Maxwell's care then leaves town, intending to return when things calm down, but Theakston has back up from powerful sources and things escalate in a way nobody saw happening. Eleanor is left with only her guile and the realisation that everyone has their price.

Helen Christmas gives us a thriller which explores love, hate, fear, terror, revenge, lust, betrayal and fortitude and this fast paced story really was difficult to put down. Eleanor is a fabulous character. At the tender age of 16 she is forced to grow up very quickly and lives in fear of her life but still she finds love and a reason to never give in. The background of life for some in 1970's London was very well described which gave the story an edge of truthfulness.

For a first novel this was written with a passion and consistency I would have expected from a more experienced writer and I really liked it. The only thing which gave me pause was wondering why Eleanor's father seems to have completely abandoned her but perhaps that will be explained in book two which, I have been informed, is due out late Summer 2013!

http://amzn.to/17ysjrk

http://www.samefacedifferentplace.co.uk

Twitter: Helen Christmas @SFDPBeginnings

The Goddess Workshop by Margaret K Johnson

I think Margaret's book, 'The Goddess Workshop', tackles a problem which some women tend to avoid talking about and she does it in a fun way, bringing together four women who probably wouldn't have met otherwise, in a story where they each re-evaluate who they are and how much they value themselves.

I liked it for it's honesty, its female solidarity and its friendship. 

Janet, Reenie, Kate and Estelle are all very different women, at different stages in their lives who are missing one vital component...sexual satisfaction. Three of them decide to attend a class on the subject at a local church hall, not quite knowing what to expect. The fourth, Janet, goes with her very proper neighbour Gwen, and they think they are there to attend a gardening class but it's not the flowers which are blooming! Gwen, horrified, walks out immediately in disgust and tries to drag Janet with her but Janet makes a stand and stays. As the four of them sit waiting for their tutor they contemplate a rather large...picture on display and start to wonder why on Earth they thought it was a good idea to attend.

I felt for Janet the most. Hers is an old story of a long marriage to a controlling husband and her need to find some self esteem again.

Margaret tackles this subject well. The story flows along and I felt empathy for the characters. I think this is a story with a bit of a message to all women - girls, don't settle for almost :)

http://amzn.to/14Vp9is

http://www.margaretkjohnson.co.uk

The Orion Chronicles: The Journal of Forgotten Secrets by Jeremy Shory

I have to say I am very taken with this book, the first in a series. The author has built up a whole world and created an enchanting story which is really going to appeal to young teenagers to fill the void which a certain well known young wizard has left. I didn't think anything would really match Harry Potter but this book could be a contender.

Orion's father dies unexpectedly under very strange circumstances. After Orion follows a boy he sees in the forest near his home, he finds himself suddenly immersed in the world of Furtayman, the home of Fangtooths, Razorbacks, Paranormals, Spellcasters, Sandshifters, Waterbogs and more. Together with his new friends, Grayson, Cremmel and Zora, he discovers who he really is, whom he can trust and who is not what they seem.

Jeremy Shory is a great storyteller. His writing draws you in as you meet believable characters and visit a fantasy world you can clearly imagine, thanks to his vivid descriptions. The world of Furtayman is magical and there is a cracking story being told by this talented writer to appeal to all lovers of fantasy fiction...not just the children.

This is a well written YA fantasy tale which will stand on its own for fans of this genre.

Jeremy has a website which is dedicated to the series and can be found here http://theorionchronicles.com

http://amzn.to/1cVfXzv

13 British Horror Stories by Rayne Hall

A special mention has to go to Rayne Hall for this collection of spooky stories.

Horror is not a genre I would normally choose to read but I spotted these on Twitter and decided to give them a go as I do like a good short story.

My favourite was "Take Me to St Roch's", a really eerie tale which should make even the bravest person think twice before picking up a hitchhiker...

"Never Leave Me" was also very good. I could still picture her an hour later!

Rayne has a gift for description and for finding those fears you may not know you have.

For a woman who is practically a horror virgin (!) they were a perfect introduction to the genre without the blood and gore of some stories.

And, of course, the tales are British...which probably means one or two of them are true...think on that before you pack your raincoat for tea with the Queen ;)

http://amzn.to/15T354e

https://sites.google.com/site/raynehallsdarkfantasyfiction/

Full Circle by Terry Tyler

Well, it was no good at all. As much as Melodie irritated me in 'Dream On' I just had to see what happened to her and the rest of them.

I had been waiting for 'Full Circle', the sequel to Terry's 'Dream On', and I grabbed a copy pronto on the day it hit Amazon. I wasn't disappointed and devoured it in one sitting.

Although Ariel and Dave are more central to the story, it was Janice who pulled at my heart strings. Her struggle to keep her relationship with Max going, after Dave let her down so badly in 'Dream On', was really heart wrenching and I willed her on all the way. Ariel and Dave really are meant to be together but he can't bear to leave another child without a father and Ariel really wants to make it big in music. She was all set for stardom in America and left Dave in 'Dream On' when a chance meeting opened the door for her. Now she's back but he has moved on. Shane is up to his old tricks again and Melodie has married above her station and is bored with her life of riches and comfort and yearns for someone more...earthy. I actually warmed to Melodie in the end. I think it is just her nature and the girl can't help it!

Terry isn't afraid to include difficult issues in her stories and handles the emotional side well. She exhibits her usual gift for observing people and it's a real feel-good story, with characters who resemble people we have all known; the wannabe, the trier, the Romeo and the one who drinks too much.

There is a bit of a surprise near the end which I wasn't expecting and more than one happy ending for this cool group of people.

Terry's writing is as superb as ever and she has nailed the conclusion of the tale of Dave, Ariel, Janice et all very well.

P.S. I secretly think Terry watches Jeremy Kyle and may even have a bit of a crush because he often gets a mention but I haven't had this confirmed...yet ;)

http://amzn.to/16SAn6b

http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @TerryTyler4

Authors...would you like the chance to be reviewed?

If you have a book you would like me to consider reading and possibly reviewing on my blog then please contact me through this blog or follow me on Twitter (@bodiciasapple) and DM me.

I can't promise to review every book I receive but it won't necessarily mean I think it is a bad book. It may simply be it isn't my type of book.

If I do review your book on here then I will also put a review automatically on Amazon UK and Amazon US. I will, of course, also put a link on Twitter a few times to my review and, on occasion, retweet your own links to your book.

Here are a few blogs I rather like...

I have finally updated my blog/website list to share with you all, all laid out beautifully down the side of the page.

Included, for your perusal, are the words of the Lion Hearts project writers, A V Barber and Maree Ward-Russell. I recommend a good look around A V Barber's site and the essays therein as they are wonderfully emotive.

I have also included a few author blogs as they do some interesting articles and interviews. Thought Scratchings is the blog of Craig Stone...slightly controversial (I like that) but he tells it straight (and I like that, also).

Matt Haig, has created a video for his upcoming book, The Humans, with help from his Twitter followers. It's actually very good and can be found here -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX8V2OFHHbQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I hope you enjoy all these blogs as much as I do :)

Champagne Toast by Melissa Brown

I have to admit this book took me by surprise. I was expecting a gentle romance but instead I found myself very involved with the characters and practically chewing at the bit to shake both of them, like an aging agony aunt of some 1970's weekly magazine.

Phew.

This book takes two people who are very meant for each other and looks, in turn, at their points of view on why it went wrong. It's an old story of past baggage getting in the way, of hurt resurfacing and the way humans can't always shake it off when they enter a new relationship. It's a story of miscommunication. It's also a story of hope. I half wondered whether the author was writing from personal experience as it was all there, the anguish and the passion. Can they go back? Should they move on?

As Evan and Kate discovered, it can be a long road. Faith and trust is the key. Can they live without each other and instead just hide behind the walls they have built up?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Champagne-Toast-ebook/dp/B00AYH543W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365421544&sr=8-1&keywords=champagne+toast

Melissa Brown on Twitter - @lissalou77

The Personal Pleasure of Book Reviews

I have always loved reading. When I was a child, one of my greatest pleasures was reading Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Secret Seven books. When I was a teenager, I discovered James Herriot's books in the school library and another love was born. These days I continue to read every day and enjoy discovering new authors to add to my reading list. Reading is, for me, an essential part of life. To discover. To lose myself. To feel emotions brought by another's words. To be inspired by their life and to add meaning to my own.

Being on Twitter has opened up a world of Indie books to me. Books which deserve to be seen. Writers who have spent months crafting their words and then having the courage to upload their book for others to see, critique and enjoy.

There are so many books to choose from in the self publication market a good book can go unnoticed just because of, for instance, a bad cover. I don't know the authors, I have found the ones I have chosen through Twitter and other various websites.

I will usually seek an author out if I plan to do a review and add them to my Twitter list so I can let them know I have done a review when I post it up. I have noticed the difficulties of self promotion which authors have. Twitter is a fabulous tool for self promotion but authors get criticism for overdoing their book plugs with constant tweets citing Amazon links etc to their work and for the retweets they do for other authors doing the same. Book reviewers blogs are the key for authors and allow them to showcase their work modestly. I hope my blog will add to the help these authors need to get noticed.

One thing I can say to self publicated authors on Twitter is this -

Please put 'author' in your Twitter name so people like me can find you easily!

Often authors will put their details at the end of their book but it's not enough to get noticed or found by the general population, in my opinion, especially in a place where many people have the same name as them! It also encourages people to find out what you have written, if they are as nosy as I am...

I read several books a week and review those on my blog which I feel deserve to be seen. It's only my opinion, of course, but I love the idea of spreading the news of a book which has made me think and tugs at my emotions or is simply a well told story.

I just love a good story and if it reaches my emotions then it reaches my blog :)

Swan Loch by Randy Mixter

This is a tale of mystery, murder and of hope. An alternative where things are the same but not quite. Where people exist or existed. I rather liked it.

Chris Hayward is a sheriff in the small town his father was before him. Practical yet emotive, he likes logic, he likes facts. When he receives a list of people who disappeared within a few days of each other, in towns which seem to be getting closer and closer by the mile and by the year, he is forced to admit there may be more to it and is horrified to see his town is next. With the date getting nearer, the FBI pour into the area but it doesn't stop citizens acting out of character. Those who know wait but the wind carries on blowing...

Bit of a drumroll moment but no spoilers ;)

Randy Mixter writes well with just the right amount of suspense and emotion. The ending gives hope and comfort to those who will need it most.

http://amzn.to/14oOga2

https://sites.google.com/site/randymixtersbooksite/home

Twitter: @Northwooder1