Taking a break
My husband and I have just returned from a week’s break in Scotland. We stayed on a holiday complex at Dailly, near the seaside town of Girvan. I’m now contemplating whether either Dailly or Girvan might be ideal for a writer’s retreat. They are quiet but have amenities. The people are friendly and helpful. The air is delightfully fresh. And Girvan has a railway station.
We did quite a bit of walking and visiting old houses and castles. Despite an unpromising weather forecast, we only encountered rain on one day and in fact it was more like damp air.
We particularly enjoyed visiting Dumfries House, and I was delighted to find that there is an interesting book festival taking place there next weekend. Alas, we are now at home but one can join online. Check out: https://www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk/
Writing news
I have two events coming up shortly: the online launch of my latest Schellberg cycle book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/face-to-face-with-the-fuhrer-online-launch-tickets-596668540667
I’m also going to do a physical event soon afterwards, more news to follow.
I have a short story on Reedsy, Airport Run, which you can view here: https://blog.reedsy.com/short-story/c3neku/?utm
For Talking About My Generation I have reviewed The Time Machine at the Bolton Octagon. See my report here: https://talkingaboutmygeneration.co.uk/review-the-time-machine-by-original-theatre/
On My Blog
I have had two authors on my blog this month. They have both launched books recently. Liam Bell talks about his collection of rare stories based on rare words. Nicole Fitton tells us about her flash collection.I also say a little more about the launch of Face to Face with the Führer.
The Young Person’s Library
I’ve added three books this month:Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green is for young adults and has a good deal of humour in it. Alex is gay and struggling with relationships. This has an upbeat ending.
My Life on Fire by Cath Howe is for the fluent reader, upper primary. There are two very engaging characters in this.
Mr Men Adventure with Knights Roger Hargreaves is a quirky classic for pre-schoolers.
Recommended read
This month I’m recommending The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
Sara Nisha Adams does indeed recommend to us a reading list through a character that died before the story began.
And on that reading list are books we all ought to read. I’m pleased to
say that I have read all but two of them and those two are now on my
list of books to be read.
We get to know Mukesh Patel and local librarian, Aleisha, really well.
Both of them have some sadness in their lives. The reading list brings
comfort to them as it also does to some other minor characters.
The mystery of where the list came from keeps us intrigued.
Adams’ The Reading List is sure to enchant you if you enjoy reading – which you probably do if you are reading this!
Giveaway
Note: these are usually mobi-files to be downloaded to a
Kindle. Occasionally there are PDFs. This month I’m offering a Kindle
file and a PDF of The Prophecy.
Kaleem Malkendy is different – and on Terrestra, different is no way to be.
Everything about Kaleem marks him out form the rest: the blond hair and dark skin, the uncomfortable cave where he lives and the fact that he doesn’t know his father. He’s used to unwelcome attention, but even so he’d feel better if some strange old man didn’t keep following him around.
That man introduces himself and begins to explain the Babel Prophecy – and everything in Kaleem’s life changes forever.
Find out more. Grab your copy and lots of other freebies:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/06zvsocut9aodjq/AADiKnA--ZoZitFnm_qq4Vkoa?dl=0
Note, you may have to copy and paste the link.
And please, please, please leave a review, perhaps on Amazon, Good Reads and / or Story Graph, when you’ve finished.
Note: Normally my books and the books supplied by the imprints I manage sell for anything from £0.99 to £10.99. Most on Kindle are about £2.99 and the average price for paperback is £7.00. Writers have to make a living. But I’m offering these free samples so that you can try before you buy.
The Schellberg Project
The posts may be helpful for teachers who are familiar with the Schellberg stories or who are teaching about the Holocaust. They may also be interesting for other readers of historical fiction.Sometimes I also write about what might be useful to other writers.
Check it out here:
http://www.thehouseonschellbergstreet.com/
Some notes about my newsletters and blogs
They do overlap a little but here is a summary of what they all do.Bridge House Authors For all those published by Bridge House, CaféLit, Chapeltown or The Red Telephone or interested in being published by us. General news about the imprints. News for writers. Links to book performance. Sign up here.
The Bridgetown Café Bookshop where you can buy my book and books published by Bridge House Publishing, CafeLit, Chapeltown Books and The Red Telephone. Visit us here.
Chapeltown Books News about our books. Sign up here.
The Creative Café Project News about the project and CaféLit – for the consumer rather than for the producer. Sign up here.
Gill’s News: News about my writing, The Schellberg Project, School Visits and Events. Book recommendations and giveaways. Find it here.
Pushing Boundaries, Flying Higher News about conferences and workshops to do with the young adult novel. (infrequent postings) Sign up here.
Red Telephone Books News about our books and our authors. Sign up here.
A Publisher’s Perspective Here I and some other editors blog as a publisher. Access this here.
The Creative Café Project Listings and reviews of creative cafés. See them here.
CaféLit Stories Find these here
Gill James Writer All about writing and about my books. View this here.
Gill’s Recommended Reads Find information here about books that have taken me out of my editor’s head and a reminder of the ones I’ve highlighted in this newsletter.
Gill’s Sample Fiction Read some of my fiction here.
The House on Schellberg Street All about my Schellberg project. Read it here.
Writing Teacher All about teaching creative writing. Some creative writing exercises. Access this here. I also invite other writers to provide prompts and work for critique.
Books Books Books Weekly offers on our books and news of new books. Find them here.
The Young Person’s Library The children’s book catalogue. Access it here.
Fair Submissions Find it here.
