Guest Blog - A Writer's Worth by author Cynthia Harrison

I belong to a writer’s organization with many journalist members. When blogs and other internet content (remember ‘zines?) began surging in popularity, many of these people lost their newspaper jobs. Freelance magazine assignments dried up. Are these folks bitter? Yes. And for me, as a blogger, it’s a bit awkward during meetings when talk turns to a writer’s worth.

Many of my journalist friends believe that writing for free is wrong. They believe it damages the integrity of being paid for hard work. When I joined the group, I earned $100 a month as a book reviewer. In the good old days, 500 words meant $500. So to my journalist friends, I was selling myself cheap.

Many of my fellow writers feel that this should matter to me more than it does. But the thing is, I love to write. I love it so much I do it for free. That I have the freedom to do it at all is payment enough for me. My blog is 11 years old now. Except for the covers of my novels, it is ad-free. I like it that way, clean and uncluttered.

I self-published my first two books and made a little money. It wasn’t about the money. It was about holding my book in my hands. It was about sharing my stories with other people. I have a publisher now, and while I’m much happier having them, I’m still not rich. The truth is, most creative writers have “day jobs.”

I teach for the paycheck, but I write for my own satisfaction. For me, writing has an intrinsic value that is much higher than a dollar a word.

Cynthia Harrison has published five books, all available on Amazon here. She blogs at “A Writer’s Diary” [www.cynthiaharrison.com]. Email her at cindy@cynthiaharrison.com or follow her on Twitter @CynthiaHarriso1. Cynthia’s latest novel, Blue Heaven, is the first in a series. It’s now on Kindle exclusively, and will be available in print and at other online retailers later this year.

September Guest Blog Posts

I am delighted to say that every Monday for the whole of September I will be posting guest blog posts from some of those authors who have entertained me and many others with their work this year.

Monday 2nd September is the spot grabbed by Cynthia Harrison and she will be bringing a topic to the fore which is close to many a writer's heart.

There will be further contributions during the month on a variety of topics from J E Ryder, Geoffrey West, E L Lindley and Jeremy Shory to look forward to.

Children of Our Time

My youngest children, like most of their generation, love their electronic entertainment but, unlike some, they don't live for it. They communicate with their friends and the outside world quite happily and, for them, electronic games are a form of occasional entertainment.  I am grateful for this. I have heard about children who play on Xboxes from dawn to dusk at weekends, chatting away with who knows who from the other side of the world. Then there are the online computer games, also played with others whose only real identification is their nickname online. I find this worrying. Of course, the pressure on parents to let this go on because 'everybody else's parents let them' is immense.  If you have children, you will know of the conversation I speak of!

The balance between letting your teenager find their 'identity' (including helping them get streetwise) and keeping them safe is hard. Really hard. I don't know if it is harder to do with girls or boys as I only have experience with girls but this is one area I am immensely grateful for mobile phones. I can let my girls go out knowing they are a phone call away and so am I.

In the 1970's we could wander miles from our parents at a young age. School holidays were spent leaving home in the morning and heading out to the river or woods with friends and coming home at lunchtime when we were hungry or in the evening if we had been given money for chips. Nowadays, parents are less inclined to allow that and who can blame them. The internet is a wonderful tool but it can also be used for darker purposes and it is this which has changed the way a parent views the world when it comes to their child. Rightly so, as we have all heard the horror stories so there is no need to highlight them here.

Children are growing up faster because they don't have the chance to BE children for long. Their world is flashing images, high speed information, adult expectations of success, the impression that money is everything and fame is a matter of looking good. The pressures on them to become mini adults are huge. There is no time to 'play', to 'be' or to use their imagination when bored. Some children want entertainment provided, they expect it. It's not because they are selfish, it's because everything they see on TV, in video games, in magazines celebrates excess, beauty, money and power. Basic values are lost. They learn what society teaches them. For some parents, the battle to keep their babies playing with Lego and dolls is soon lost as they start school and become immersed in a faster world.

So as a mother of five, I say this. Cherish those times between birth and when they start school. Show them the world of imagination by teaching them to read and sharing books with them. Let them see the beauty of nature in the glorious Earth we live on. Help them grow the ability to think things out for themselves, to question the world around them and to want to change it for the better. Show them the value of money, the satisfaction gotten from working hard to achieve a goal. Give them something tangible to achieve and praise the effort not just the outcome.

The best gifts you can give them aren't material, they are your time, your love, your counsel and the ability to see that other people and their feelings matter. Show them the gift of what compromising and discussion can achieve. Give them a sense of worth in themselves and others. These things are much more use 'out there' than anything which needs electricity to function and will never be discarded because they are out of fashion.

Godhead by Ken Mooney

This book really grabbed me and, as a debut novel, it impressed me. To start with I found Megan slightly irritating with her lack of 'get up and go' but I warmed to her in the end. Karl comes across as a rather befuddled bloke who doesn't know what day of the week it is but I still liked him for it. Made a change from the usual male hero.

The story itself is a fabulous tale involving gods most of us are familiar with (who knew Aphrodite was such a vixen? Ah...) and their descendants. Megan and Karl are thrown together by different circumstances towards the Circle, who are there to protect the descendants of the Gods.

The description and destruction of Olympus is graphic and believable. The bits in the book which touch on the mythology and describe events from that era are really striking in the way they fire up imagination. I could see the whole scene clearly.

This book is action packed from start to finish with descriptive writing which let me taste the air in this story. It's well thought out, never loses momentum and, as you can tell, I really loved it.

I want to know what happens next!

http://amzn.to/16MNNo1

http://kenmooney.com

Twitter: @kenmooney

The Tree in the Front Yard by Kimberly J Biller

This novella is written with a real Southern twang to it. Once I got my mind around the spelling etc it was a treat to get that involved with a character. Something quite unique, as writing like that is not an easy thing to get right. Kimberly Biller manages it.

Sissy tells you the story from her perspective as she sits in her tree spying on the neighbours. The world is seen through the eyes of a child whose home situation is hard but there is no self pity, just acceptance to a degree and wishful thinking. Her father drinks and sleeps around. Her mother, hardened by the life she leads but still in love with her man, reminded me of the song 'Stand by Your Man' to an extent. Slightly whimsical on my part, perhaps!

I won't give an idea of the story here as I don't like spoilers and this is a book which is a snapshot of a young girls life there and then rather than an epic tale. But it works and it works very well.

If you have a couple of hours to spare then this is your book.

http://amzn.to/1dmRCkH

Kimberly's books can be found here

Twitter: @kimberb1

Solstice by Debbie Christiana

Sofia and her family are Strega, Italian witches. The power of the Diana dagger is to be passed down to her as the Strega of her generation who has been chosen for the honour. She is not sure she wants it but when Armend Zogu comes into her life she realises it could be the only thing to save him. Both of them become caught up in an ancient curse which threatens Armend's life. Together with their families, they fight against an old age curse and a psychotic witch who is intent on destroying everything they have.

This novel could come across as a bit samey from the good and evil aspect but actually this book is very well written and the tale itself is absorbing.

Sofia comes across as a strong role model and the Strega ways as morally good.  Strega or Stregheria is an actual form of witchcraft which has aspects of Wicca and is a real nature appreciative religion, worshipping multiple gods. It wasn't something I had heard of until I looked it up once I had started reading the book and I found it really interesting. I enjoy a story with a little fact behind it and the author has done her research, with a little writer's prerogative thrown in, naturally ;)

This novel is fun. It has all the ingredients of a good story; intrigue, love, mystery, murder and more. It was an easy read and I liked it a lot.

http://amzn.to/14asLxo

http://www.debbiechristiana.com

Twitter: @DebChristiana

Terry Tyler and Susan Buchanan - Writers with Heart

Terry Tyler and Susan Buchanan are two of the most consistent indie writers I have come across since mingling with the online indie community on Twitter. When you buy one of their books you know the standard will be excellent and the tale absorbing.

At the start of this year a conversation with Terry about the difficulties an Indie author has to overcome with self publishing started me on the road to book blogging in my spare time. Terry has given me so much advice and help and I am not alone. She shares her experience with anyone in the community who asks and, despite being very busy with a new book, her blog and writing for various websites, she still manages to find the time! She is rather modest and upfront so I won't praise her up too much here and embarrass her ;)

Instead I will simply revisit four fabulous books by two indie authors who lead the field in successful indie publishing. The reviews below are from a post I wrote back in March of this year.

Terry Tyler's "You Wish" and "Dream On"

"You Wish" was a book I just couldn't put down and I was still reading it in the early hours of the morning. It's an engaging, well written story which brings together believable characters with hopes, dreams and fears everyone can recognise. From a teenage girl's need to belong to a woman disillusioned with her marriage, Terry Tyler's characters come to life. She shows how our past can sometimes end up ruling our present. It's a feel-good book which I can thoroughly recommend.

"Dream On" is a good read but left me slightly frustrated at times as some of the characters were those stereotypes I personally want to feed salted tea to but I carried on regardless and was glad I did. There is also the simple fact that if a book brings forward emotion from the reader then the author has done their job so I can't hold it up as a negative aspect. The story was well written and packed with Terry's observational skills.

Terry Tyler gets really into the heart of her characters and has great insight into what makes people tick. She can present you with stereotypes who may normally annoy you (such as the would be rock star who won't grow up in her book "Dream On") and then show you a side of them which you can feel great empathy with. Her books are not just for women, anybody who loves to 'people watch' will enjoy Terry's take on human nature.

You Wish - http://amzn.to/1cVqVVP

Dream On - http://amzn.to/17yEIeD

http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @TerryTyler4


Susan Buchanan's "The Dating Game" and "Sign of the Times"

"The Dating Game" is a fabulous book, which had me laughing at the character Gill, whose quest for a decent man through a dating agency was hilarious and so recognisably true for those of us who have tried it. (Yes, I have and it was awful haha). It even had the man-who-is -married-but-pretends-not-to-be in there and I felt Gill's embarrassment. Susan's characters draw you in, with just enough background information to build up a clear picture and have you rooting for the characters and their situation. This is a book for when you are snuggled up on a cold day and you just want to relax and get away from your world and into someone else's. Within the first few pages, I could tell The Dating Game was going to be a book I would love and would want to re-read at a later date.

"Sign of The Times" is a complex weaving of many characters which many authors would find hard to pull off but Susan Buchanan does it. The lives of twelve people, each with a different zodiac sign, are presented with solid individual stories and then brought together at the end. It was  slightly difficult two thirds in to remember whom everybody was and how they related to the others but it was worth it and I think it worked. For me, "Sign of the Times" wasn't quite the page turner "The Dating Game" was due to looking back and checking relationships occasionally but I really did enjoy it.

Susan Buchanan's writing just flows and she draws you in, making you care about what happens next. You can see yourself and others you know in her characters, which are well thought out and have substance. Susan isn't afraid to break a few 'writing rules' in her work and she gets away with it well.

The Dating Game - http://amzn.to/16WxLWJ

Sign of the Times - http://amzn.to/15TielS

http://susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @Susan_Buchanan

The Squirrel Who Dreamt of Madness by Craig Stone

A while ago I read a rather strange sounding book I decided to purchase by a writer who had followed me on Twitter. This was before I had begun book reviewing on my blog and just wrote posts as it was more socially accepted than talking out loud to myself on the bus ;)

With that in mind, let me reintroduce you to my take on Craig Stone's slightly barking book!

"I came away from chapter five questioning my own sanity and rushed downstairs to resume the routine of normality and throw open the windows on this sunny day in the hope I might start to feel right again. A cup of tea and two slices of toast later and the feelings of living in the mind of the slightly unusual are starting to fade but not half as quickly as I would like. This search for myself is all very well but I keep reading about people who left it all to live in a park and escape from their reality and routine of life. What an escape. Unsurprisingly, they all seem to be men. I can't imagine a woman purposely leaving the safety and sanctity of her home to go and live with her bags and a sleeping bag between herself and other human beings. The thought of doing it myself terrifies me and I have been known to do some stupid things in my time. However, I do like a bit of control and, for me, living in a park and exposing my mind to itself, isn't something I can really recommend to myself as a 'good idea'. The thing which gives me pause, (and I also pause to admit to it), is that, like him, I could write like that. Unlike him, I would probably not let anyone else read it. What a brave man!

Having come to the end of the book, which incidentally kept me reading all day, I can say I enjoyed it. There are moments in there where the writer has written down thoughts many of us have had but probably wouldn't admit to for fear of sounding a bit barking. However, I think therein lies the joy and meat of this book. I may have to visit a park, find a tree I feel comfortable naming Enid Blyton and see what comes from the pen."

If words alone can touch the sanity of this particular woman then they have to be pretty powerful, just don't read it when you have PMT...

http://amzn.to/z2Xint

Twitter: @robolollycop

Rough Magic (Gnomesaga Series) by Kenny Soward

Rough Magic is one of those fantasy sagas which is difficult to put down. I found the first couple of chapters slightly taxing due to a rather drawn out description of Niksabella's background but after that the action took off and the writing really flowed.

Niksabella Nur is a tinkerer, an inventor who fights against the system to get her work appreciated and seen. Persecuted by the establishment, she is determined to stand by her work but there are people who want what she has. Her brother, Nikselpik is a good time man who likes a pint of brew and the odd beetle induced high. Niksabella despairs of him but behind the facade is a gnome of great talents, can he show her he is more than he looks to be?

For a debut novel, this one is a bit special and I loved the flaws of the characters and the way the author brought this world to life so effectively in my mind. I will be waiting to see what happens in the next book.

This book is part of the GnomeSaga series and the author has brought us a world full of gnomes, gnome magic and characters which grow and surprise you with their eventual morality and values.

http://amzn.to/16Sqm8V

Twitter: @kennysoward

Leap the Wild Water by Jenny Lloyd

This is a fabulous story about what life for women was really like in the early 19th Century, made even more poignant by the author's research into her own grandmother's life. It's a story which was so very true for women of the age and even now there are still hints of it running through a society we like to believe is civil and just on a good day. To read this story is to be reminded of what it 'was' like but the second thought is one of uncomfortable realisation that for some women in other parts of the world it is still no better.

Alongside the message is a story which carries you along and is beautifully descriptive. Megan is tied to the family stove whilst her brother Morgan runs the farm and her Mam holds the purse. She yearns for freedom and, when the opportunity comes to sell produce at market, she grasps it quickly and discovers what life could be like.

This tale is well written and flows with historical fact, honesty and family friction. This is a must read for the modern woman, if only to remind ourselves of how far there is to go even now.

http://amzn.to/18Ck4vi

http://jennylloydwriter.wordpress.com

Twitter: @jennyoldhouse

It's Just Four Times Round the Village by Helen Stothard

A special mention has to go to this book by Helen Stothard. Helen has M.E. (or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as it is otherwise known) and this is the journal of her inspirational journey to compete in the London Marathon. M.E. is a chronic health condition which is often misunderstood. The sufferer can look fine in between flare ups but when it hits, and it can hit at any time, they can be left washed out and barely functional. So this lady has accomplished something to be very proud of and I wanted to highlight her story here.

The book itself is written as journal entries and tells of her triumphs, mistakes, improvements and set backs. It would be a fabulous companion for someone who is just starting out in the world of running. It tells of the common pitfalls from family perceptions and mental attitude to having the right running shoes and gives good advice for those whose only previous experience of running is for the bus.

As she says herself, she is a Yorkshire lass with a lot of grit and, against difficult odds, she kept going and prevailed. 

http://amzn.to/19pv9kx

Twitter: @HelenStothard

Don't Look Back by E L Lindley

I didn't think I was going to like the main character Catherine much as she came across as very self absorbed to start with but I ended up warming to her and her situation. The subject of adoption has been honestly tackled in this fictional tale by E L Lindley. She has taken a difficult subject and given her character Catherine true to life responses to a decision which changes the lives of everyone touched by it.

Catherine had an intense holiday romance with Bill, resulting in a pregnancy and a baby she just wasn't ready for. She made the decision to give the baby up for adoption and move on with her life in the way she thought she wanted it to be. Eighteen years later and she is still drifting but then her son turns up. Now she has to decide on the right thing to do because this time it isn't so easy to move on and pretend nothing has happened.

This was an absorbing read with well developed characters which acted true to their respective roles. Catherine, Bill and Harry are the main cast but they are supported by others who really add to the story. What I particularly liked about this book was the strong personalities of the supporting characters. While I sat and wondered about Catherine's attitude, her friend Jenny came in and said exactly what I was thinking. When Bill's father, Stan, could see things not working out he stepped in and proactively put a stop to the nonsense. I loved that!

This is an engaging read with a good dollop of romance, family angst and characters which can be related to. Mix that all together with a story which flows and is very well written and you have a fabulous read!

http://amzn.to/18Cl4jd

http://ellindley.weebly.com

Twitter: @LindleyE

Blue Heaven by Cynthia Harrison

Blue Heaven is one of those books which is best read when you have time to sit down for a few hours. I got carried away with the story and have just spent the best part of a day reading it.

Eva Delacroix is determined to carry out her grandfather's dream and renovate Blue Heaven, the holiday home of her childhood, to his original specifications. When she arrives in town to start renovations she goes to the local bank to get finance and meets Daniel Bryman, whose grandfather co-designed Blue Heaven. He seems to have big ideas on exactly how those renovations should be done. He calls it a restoration but Eva isn't so sure. Eva needs to get the cottages in the grounds ready to let out as holiday homes if she is to meet the loan repayments and she isn't entirely certain if Daniel's motives are pure.

This is the second book of Cynthia Harrison's I have reviewed and again it was a pleasure to lose myself in one of her stories. Well written with believably flawed characters, this is a book for women who like romance with a hint of a mystery.

This is the first book in a series but stands alone quite comfortably.

http://amzn.to/16Wl6mH

http://www.cynthiaharrison.com

Twitter: @CynthiaHarriso1

Authors: Would you like your book to be reviewed?

I am now accepting submissions again for book reviews on my blog. If you would like to submit for review then please contact me through DM on Twitter (@bodiciasapple).

I can't promise to review every book I receive but, if I do review it on my blog, I will post reviews on Amazon UK and US. I will retweet your links to your book on occasion and also to my own review. 

If I don't review your book it may simply mean it didn't work for me personally. I love a book which reaches the emotions and stimulates imagination and these are the types of books I am interested in. I will let you know if I intend to review or not and will give feedback on my reasons if asked to do so.

I don't have a favourite genre and will read most things but I won't review erotica novels or anything too explicit on my blog as I want it to be family friendly. 

I have a particular interest in Indie authors and giving attention to those books which deserve to be seen by more people. 

I have always had a love of books and appreciate how hard it is to get your book seen and 'out there'. I decided I would use my blog to review books in my free time and I have discovered some fabulous authors whose work really does deserve more recognition in my opinion. I only review books which I would give a four or five star review to as I don't feel it is necessary to slate a book so if it is on my blog then I genuinely found it a pleasure to read.

My preference is to communicate directly with the author of the book in question and I therefore don't accept submissions from representatives for review submissions of single or multiple authors.

I reserve the right to not accept a book for review regardless of whether or not I have previously reviewed a similar book.

Thank you for taking the time to read this :)

Tilly Lake's Road Trip by Francis Potts

There is something very endearing about this book. It's not exactly true to life, the people in it are far too open and kind to each other, but in this case I don't think that matters.

I have to warn you, it is slightly erotic but in a very mild way. There are no rampant bed scenes, more a slight whisper of suggestion, but there is a fixation on the female chest area which you could compare to looking at an oil painting of a few hundred years ago.

Tilly, the main character, is at work when she learns of her husband's death. They had been married for decades and reached the stage of comfortable companionship and deep love. She learns he died in the arms of another woman but takes this news exceptionally well and with curiosity more than anything else as she knew he had the odd liaison and was happy he was content. This is about the stage in the novel where I would imagine most women, including myself, would look at Tilly and raise an eyebrow at her apparent lack of self worth but there is more to this story than what is right or wrong, it is purely about what is.

Tilly finds herself comfortably off financially and decides to go on a road trip. She buys a large classic car, hires a driver from outside the local job centre, leaves the house in the care of her husband's mistress, (Anka, a homeless immigrant from Russia) and embarks on the road trip she dreamt of as a child with her handsome Prince Charming who is more than happy to wear her pink pyjamas. They travel together around Britain, meeting people along the way who could be likened to the flower children of the 1970's for their openness and welcoming nature. However, it isn't drug use which makes the people they meet so open minded, it is love.

Francis Pott's has stripped away reserve and replaced it with a total acceptance and need for physical human contact. He has taken a woman who didn't enjoy sexual contact with her husband, her only lover, and has given her the ultimate comfort, a physical journey of healing where touch and kisses from people she meets are as acceptable as a sympathy card on the mantelpiece.

Tilly rescues everyone who needs it. Even her husband's mistress. She went from a woman I wanted to shake to a woman I began to understand. This story is almost feminist in the telling but written by a man. Interesting.

Well written, emotional, heart warming yet slightly dreamlike and, if you can see past the first layer to what's underneath, rather like a beautiful oil painting.

http://amzn.to/14oE2GI

http://www.francispotts.com

Twitter: @fpotts

The Pressure and Pleasure of Hunting Happiness

There are a lot of articles on the internet about the subjects of happiness and positive thinking. Positive affirmations crop up on Twitter on a daily basis and I have retweeted some of the better ones myself. It set me thinking about the pursuit of happiness itself, the expectations these days that we must bombard our minds with positivity daily and, if we don't, then we are somehow lacking.

The last millennium was all about perfecting the body; going to the gym, eating healthily, jogging before breakfast and lunch hour Pilates. This millennium is all about training the mind; positive thinking, the power of suggestion, expanding mental horizons, thinking ourselves to wealth and success.

For some, these new expectations add to the pressure of trying to be more than we are. We are expected to do it all; have a career, have children (educate and expand their minds with extra curriculum activities, the more the better), go to the gym three times a week, keep the home looking nice and make sure the Jones' aren't doing better, push for that promotion, network-network-network and then the hardest thing of all, think positively and present a balanced, healthy, happy, content front. All the time.

The number of people with stress and stress related illnesses has increased. This is unsurprising. It takes a rare person to be all things to all people. Then comes the guilt because of the perceived failure of suffering from stress and the thoughts of self-loathing. In the past we would share our concerns and worries with our families, who would all live in arms reach and a problem shared was a problem halved. Now, of course, families tend to be further apart geographically from each other and often we find ourselves handling everyday life alone with our thoughts. We are told we are weak minded if we can't handle life. We are told to be positive. Look at the positives. There are always people worse off. Count your blessings. In other words, put up, shut up and go and get therapy.

I do believe in meditation, the benefits of alternative therapy such as reiki and massage and the value of positive affirmations. I count my blessings and have gratitude for my life, my family and the people I love. I just can't subscribe to the theory we have failed if we aren't permanently positive, ambitious, seeking self improvement and enlightenment and are a size 6. I measure my worth through the happiness and contentment of the people I love, not my material possessions and self ambition.

I believe it is okay to take time to breathe. It is okay to have a bad day. It is okay to eat a piece of chocolate cake covered in fresh cream. It is okay to indulge in 'me' time. In short, it is okay to take the time to be yourself and to stop trying to live up to the media and others expectations.

1. Give yourself permission to be true to yourself and be kind to yourself.

2. Give yourself permission to be human with all the flaws, pleasure and gratitude that embodies.

3. Find time to meditate and relax. Quieten your mind, even if you only close your eyes in a quiet room and think of a peaceful place.

If you can do this then balance, happiness and contentment will find you eventually but don't force it, don't try and be perfect, don't try and live up to everyone else's expectations. Do something every day which makes you feel as if you have achieved something worthwhile and makes you feel good about who you are. It can be as simple as getting round to clearing out a cupboard, phoning a friend in need of an ear or taking a walk by the sea.

As the saying goes 'a cup is filled drop by drop'.

Red Written by P T Mayes

This novel from Philip Mayes had me in two minds so I wrote to him and got a very nice email back answering my queries. I haven't done that too often but this novel felt worthy of the extra time. Having reread the novel, I can see what the author was trying to do and it added to the whole concept for me.

The story of humankind being 'unmasked' by forces unknown and having their sins written on their faces for all to see is a brilliant concept and the story itself is descriptive and interesting. As usual, we humans fail to pull together and there is civil unrest, to put it mildly. People attack each other, murder and make judgement on those whose sins are the worst but there are those 'in power' who escape simply because they can, their former jobs and status giving them a certain leverage. Most hide behind masks, refusing to reveal themselves to others and families are broken apart by revelations of adultery and worse. Paranoia, mistrust and self preservation are rife and Michael, the main character, is caught up in some of the worst of it. 

The twist at the end is very good and this is a novel which will make you sit and think.

What sins would your face reveal?

http://amzn.to/148xAXQ

http://www.ptmayes.com/home.html

Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy by Susan Waterwyk

After an initial slightly shaky start, this book took off and kept me intrigued and eager to find out what happened next. Lantamyra has many strong characters which admirably support the main ones, Tylya and Josh. This story is not fast paced and action packed but instead is almost a record of a journey to a world which is believable and fascinating in its possibility. In other words, there seems to be a truth to it all which I found absorbing. This was helped by the authors attention to scientific detail in her book which I found, (as someone with an interest in the subject), added a deeper sense of reality to the tale.

Tylya and Josh are two young people who are at the beginning of a close relationship. When Josh joins Tylya in the canyon to prospect he finds out it is not gold she wants but her grandmother's lost treasure of a very different kind. The discovery of the treasure leads the three of them to Lantamyra where they are surrounded by dragons, magic, crystal power and the need to understand more. The price for knowledge is high and they must choose whether to go ahead and become more than they are but lose each other in the process.

This novel is beautifully descriptive and it is easy to see Lantamyra through the eyes of the author who has created a wonderful world. There is a second book coming out in the autumn which continues the story. This is a longish novel but it really is worth persisting with it to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be reading the continuation.

http://amzn.to/13tdbhS

Twitter @waterwyk

The Purpose of a Man by Daniel Brevitt

I have just finished reading The Purpose of a Man and I am still wiping away a few tears. This is a sad and poignant story but it is also one of hope.

The story centres around Michael and his relationship with his brother, Robert. Robert is an alcoholic. He is also married with a small child, likes to be the centre of attention, cheats on his wife repeatedly and has ruthlessly tried to injure his brother in as many ways as he can think of, and get away with, since childhood. Their father is someone they both look up to but Robert takes it a stage further. He so desperately wants his fathers approval it is almost an obsession and a goal which ultimately makes him self destruct as an adult. He has seen Michael as the fly in the ointment of this goal and has spent a lifetime belittling him, enjoying when things go wrong for him and sharing this with their parents. At the same time, whilst trying to portray the image of success and masculinity, he ultimately leads himself to a place where he loses his wife and child, his self respect and potentially his life.

Michael, who tells the story, is initially happy with his lot. He is used to being told he is somewhat a failure and disappointment in his brother Robert's eyes but doesn't let it worry him too much until his girlfriend, Jessica, seems to confirm it. This is almost too much to bear and Michael is forced to confront his own ideals, that of his brother and of his parents to see who is right and who is wrong.

Daniel Brevitt has written a story which touches your heart and makes you care what happens to the characters. He has got it bang on about life with an alcoholic and has explored it, and the the topic of sibling rivalry, with heart, honesty and skill.

http://amzn.to/19pAJ6o

http://www.danielbrevitt.com

Twitter: @DanielBrevitt

Tethers by Jack Croxhall

I was really impressed with this debut YA fiction novel from Jack Croxhall. It had me hooked from the beginning and I read it in an evening.

Jack draws you in with the characters and the story, both original and well thought out. I particularly liked feisty Esther and it was fabulous to see a strong female teenager who refused to hide behind her male companion, Karl. Harland and Mr Cauldwell, the main adults of the story, treat Karl and Esther with trust and respect which was refreshing to see as I have lost count of the number of stories I have read where the adults never believe the children and put things down to their 'vivid imaginations'.

Karl and Esther are teenagers who live in a village where nothing much happens. Karl, intelligent and resourceful, is destined to become a teacher at the village school and Esther to work with her parents at their pub. That is until a chance encounter leads them to overhear a threat against a fellow villager and they find a notebook stating they were together at a village neither of them had ever visited or heard of.

There are several positive messages for teenagers in this book and I rather liked that about it too. Although the characters are strong, positive, resourceful and brave, they are also unafraid to break the rules a bit and it makes them easy to warm to and very believable. I thought the Victorian setting worked well for this novel, the characters had to walk to places, use a canal boat etc and it made for an interesting twist when it took hours or sometimes days to get to places which we would consider nearby by today's standards. 

The first of a trilogy, this novel is well written, fresh and absorbing. A great first novel! 

http://amzn.to/14VlQb7

http://jackcroxall.co.uk

Twitter: @JackCroxhall