The Dunedin Readers and Writers Festival

Full marks to the organisers for pulling the festival all together. It seemed to run smoothly and the writers invited were excellent. I could only attend at the weekend, the festival began on Wednesday and finished on Sunday evening, and I had to pick the sessions with the visiting authors as they were pricey. I enjoyed the  Friday evening opener with all the authors: Ian Rankin, Stella Duffy, John Lanchester, Hannah Kent, Bill Manhire and Victor Rodger, (M.J. Carter missed it) with MC Kate De Goldi. There was a crime panel on Saturday afternoon with M.J. Carter, Ian Rankin, Stella Duffy and a Sunday morning session with historical fiction writer,  Hannah Kent. I was delighted to hear her speak as she has written two historical novels in a similar vein to my historical novel, 'Tizzie' and she is an inspirational speaker!

It seems to me it's good pratice for a writer to attend such a festival as a reader. It certainly does give one a different perspective looking as a writer from the reader's side of the signing table. Writers are observers and I observed and learnt.

At my next group book signings I will remember not to huddle with my colleagues but try for a little separation. I had no idea how intimidating it can feel when you have to approach three authors with only one of their books. What do you do? What do you say? "Sorry I can only afford one book."?  Fortunately M.J. Carter was very kind and signed and smiled at me. Perhaps she's quite new to the Book Festival signing lark or maybe she's just a sweet person. The other two looked, looked away and chatted. I felt terrible, but I was saved by another reader wanting their signatures. I will, as a writer, remember to smile sweetly in that situation and make a friendly comment like: "Good choice, I really enjoyed that book and she's/he's a good writer." Readers remember. I still feel awkward and it's been a couple of days.

The other thing I will remember to watch is those first 3 second assumptions we will make about people. I don't go around wearing those 'Look at me! I'm a creative person, a writer person!' type clothes, I am grey haired and walk with a stick. I wear what I call classic clothing so I got the 'Oh no, this looks like another middle class gushing old lady' look. Not something to flick between yourself as author with an author colleague if, as is most likely, it turns out said little old lady/gentleman is a sharp minded, keen and critical reader. That glance will be noted and it will rankle. Never upset your readers, they won't buy your books. And I didn't!

Review: My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith

My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Goodness me! Mr McCall Smith has been on a wine tour of Italy, making notes all the way. The end result is this gently humorous, kindly love story. Food writer, Paul Stuart, devastated by his girl friend's defection with her personal trainer, is encouraged by his editor, Gloria, to head for Italy, Tuscany in fact, to finish his new cook book there.

In a delightful series of disasters Paul finds himself driving to his village retreat, Montalcino, in a bulldozer. His journey, and the people he meets, the village and his adventures there are typical of McCall Smith's gentle wit, wisdom and humour. Needless to say Paul recovers from his girl friend's heartlessness, finally realises what love is all about, and the bulldozer performs some secret tasks for the village which he prefers not to know.

For those wanting a pleasant read, a chuckle and a bit of comfort that the world is not always bleak then do enjoy this novel. It really is a heart warmer.



View all my reviews

Review: Innocent Blood by Elizabeth Corley

Now this is a series I shall be looking up to read the earlier novels. This is number four in the series and if the others are half as good they will be excellent reads.

The main characters, DCI Fenwick and his friend Inspector Nightingale, are both ambitious, have all the inner politics of the police force to deal with and Inspector Nightingale is female. Fenwick is told to keep clear of Nightingale by a misogynist boss, Nightingale has to put up with some anti-female behaviour.

Elizabeth Corley gives us two interesting 3D characters and then a plot which is full of twists and surprises. It's also more original than many police procedural plots can be. Fenwick and Nightingale are working on different problems which eventually tie together and it is not an easy task they have as proof is going to be difficult to find.

Readers who enjoy British police procedurals will enjoy this and anyone who likes a satisfying read will get great pleasure from the ending.


AND a big thank you to all those lovely readers who bought my novels in the recent e-book sale.

Today's the day.

It's off, the book sale of our Writer's Choice books along with the launch of my new novel. Let's hope that people think that three books for 99cents/pence each is a better bargain than buying one e-book at the regular $3.99 price!

It seems to me that having to be more business like and having to work hard at sales makes any sale special, and kind readers commenting is the icing on the cake. The only problem comes when readers ask for the next book! In another year dear readers, another year!


READERS PLEASE NOTE:
1 a.m. 19th of April to 1 a.m. 24th of April all my novels in ebook form: 'Jacob's Justice', 'Tizzie', and 'Bittersweet', will be on sale for 99 pence or cents at Amazon and Smashwords and https://coverblurb.com plus various other book sites

Book review: 'Ghastly Business'

Ghastly Business by Louise Levene




Ah me! I did try to finish this novel. It's not that it's a bad book. The author has a dry sense of humour, a neat way with words and contrives a deceptive plot. What simply put me off was Dr Alfred Kemble and his conversation.

The plot revolves round Dr Kemble and his Pathology Department. This is 1929 and Dora has found herself a job as near to medicine as she is ever likely to get without being allowed to study to be a doctor. Kemble tries to do postmortems on as many bodies as possible but it is still not respectable and he ends up helping the police with murder victims.

Kemble is an oddity and his conversation revolves round details of Venereal disease - pustules and puss - nipples and tits, sadistic sexual behaviour - and he loves murder victims. He is also a womaniser and not a 'decent chap' at all. I also found Dora too feeble for words a lot of the time.

I read at night in bed or with my meals. This book put me off eating and gave me nightmares so I actually gave up on page 187. There are 280 pages in the book. Many readers have enjoyed the book so don't let me put you off.




View all my reviews


READERS PLEASE NOTE:
1 a.m. 19th of April to 1 a.m. 24th of April all my novels in ebook form: 'Jacob's Justice', 'Tizzie', and 'Bittersweet', will be on sale for 99 pence or cents at Amazon and Smashwords and https://coverblurb.com plus various other book sites

Review: The Black Book by Ian Rankin

The Black Book by Ian Rankin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was delighted to find this copy as I haven't read all the early Rebus novels yet. I do enjoy Ian Rankin's writing and his way with words. This is early Rankin and of course he is writing his way into his own voice and style. Rebus isn't quite the developed character he is in later novels but he's a complex 3D character and the plot is tortuous and twisty in design. It's a satisfying read.

I always enjoy the Scottishness, the odd Gaelic or Scottish words and the sense of a character pulled apart by his work, his ideals and his 'faith'. Perhaps I should say the imprint of the faith of his upbringing. Rebus is out to get Ger Cafferty and if it means trailing off to hunt up a cold case and causing a lot of bother to everyone around him, too bad. Rebus will get his man.

As ever, a good read, entertaining, thought provoking and worth reading again.



View all my reviews

READERS PLEASE NOTE:
1 a.m. 19th of April to 1 a.m. 24th of April all my novels in ebook form: 'Jacob's Justice', 'Tizzie', and 'Bittersweet', will be on sale for 99 pence or cents at Amazon and Smashwords and various other book sites

Book Review: Missing Link by Joyce Holms

Missing Link by Joyce Holms




An Original twist on crime solving, set in Scotland, and written with a light hand and a dry humour. Pleasant read and entertaining.

An amusing whodunit with an advocate and a solicitor working as a bickering team to solve a crime. A dear little old lady claims to have committed a murder and wants to confess as an innocent man has been convicted. Seems a simple task to prove that she is slightly gaga, alas things soon become highly complicated. All the action gives Fizz lots of opportunity to annoy Tam and half the fun is reading about this modern Beatrice and Benedick bickering away until they stumble on the truth.

A good read for anyone who enjoys crime without the four letter words, excess gore and hard men!



View all my reviews

READERS PLEASE NOTE:
1 a.m. 19th of April to 1 a.m. 24th of April all my novels: 'Jacob's Justice', 'Tizzie', and 'Bittersweet', will be on sale for 99 pence or cents

READERS looking for good reading at book bargain prices take a look here.
http://navigatingindieworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_7968.png