News 3 December 2025

 

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By coincidence I and one of our other Chapeltown writers have a feel-good picture book coming out on the same day - 11 December, so we've decided to do a joint launch – 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. We're going to read the books and show them on screen. We'll talk a little about how the stories came into being. And we'll answer a few questions. This is an event for all the family and young children are especially welcome. Book your slot here   Writing news I’m continuing with my work on the seventh Schellberg book. My protagonist and her new flat mate are now talking about creating an underground satirical theatre.    I wrote about joining the Walks for Dementia for Talking About My Generation    I offer a review of the Whitefield Garrick's production of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher   My short story 'Early that Morning' appears on Booksie: On My Blog I have an offer on three of my books about the craft of writing:   I list the twenty great things about being a writer, in my opinions.   I have created a book club guide  for 140 x 140     I talk to Jim Bates about his collection Where the Heart is.    The Young Person’s Library No books were added this month though obviously the two mentioned above will be put up there soon.  Recommended read This month I've chosen Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell.     Is this a book way ahead of its time? It contains the richness of plot that all the 21st century gurus say we must have, including two rather nasty things happening just before it ends.  The characters are believable and rounded. Yes, it's a classic and the print is rather small. Yes, there is a lot of description.  There is also a lot of head-hopping. Novelists had not yet mastered the discipline of a constant close third person narrative. Elizabeth Gaskell jumps into the text frequently. The story is at once harrowing and promising of hope.  Ruth is a fallen woman and there was not much sympathy for such as her then. Yet she takes on a brave task and her illegitimate son may be proud of her, not ashamed.    I'm now tempted to read more by this insightful novelist.  This particular text was very well annotated which made the whole process even more rewarding.  Find you copy here: Giveaway   This month I'm giving away The House of Clementine.    There is unease on Zandra. On far away Zenoto a young president appears to be turning his back on the innovative and hugely successful financial regime. The Peace Child again has much to do. It becomes personal. Kaleem’s former girlfriend and her desperately ill step-daughter are attacked. Some strange encounters partly answer some of Kaleem’s questions. But as he begins to understand what “snazzy” really means and what the brown tunics want, he is faced with yet more puzzles: who or what exactly is Meelak, what is the House of Clementine and how much control does it have, and what or who is really behind the unrest? Will the Peace Child find his own peace? Find out in this fourth novel in the Peace Child series. Grab your copy here.  You’ll find an e-book file and a PDF plus a lot of other free materials here. Please leave a review on Amazon, if you’re allowed to, on Good Reads and anywhere else you can.   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.   This month I’ve taken a look at some satirical caricatures of Hitler:   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 books and books published by Bridge House Publishing, CafeLit, Chapeltown Books and The Red Telephone.  Visit us 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.    Opportunities for writers are added several times a day. Roughly once a month I send it out to a list. If you would like to be on that list, sign up here.   Happy reading and writing.