David Wragg – Q&A

28th April 20233rd June 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

David Wragg is the author of the Articles of Faith series (The Black Hawks and The Righteous) and the upcoming Tales of the Plains trilogy (starting with the Hunters). He is too tall and has tendons like banjo strings. He lives with his family in Hertfordshire, in a house steadily being overrun by animals.

David can be found at:
Website: www.davewragg.com
Twitter: @itsdavewragg
Mastodon: https://mastodon.me.uk/@itsdavewragg
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/gBvwHH

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

My debut, The Black Hawks (2019), was something of a love letter to the fantasy I read as a teenager (which might sniffily these days be referred to as ‘landfill fantasy’); as well as the big names (from Tolkein onwards), I read just about anything that featured wizards, elves or dragons (or dwarves!). Some of it, on reflection, was not great, but it did leave me with the firm impression that I could have a go myself.

Of course, being a bit of a tittering contrarian, when it came to writing my own I wanted to subvert as many of the Great Fantasy Conventions as I could manage in 120,000 words.

What came first, the characters or the world?

A bit of both. The characters are absolutely paramount to the book, and the setting has sort of filled itself in around them. I wanted the classic archetypes of fantasy quest narratives, but mixed up and rearranged, and the setting had to go with that – familiar, yet unfamiliar. To get away from the classic Western European (cod-Tolkein) Fantasy feel, I decided on a southern hemisphere analogue of 13th century Transcaucasia as the setting for the books. And despite it being 100% fantasy, there’s no magic or mythical creatures in the books – just to be difficult.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

I was lucky – I wrote the first draft of The Black Hawks in 2015, then a draft of the sequel in 2016, then as I was polishing up the first book again in 2017, I won a lot in a charity auction in aid of the victims of the Grenfell fire. The spectacular writer and poet Francesca Haig reviewed my manuscript, gave me insightful feedback and recommended some possible agents. I submitted to those agents in early 2018, one of them – Harry Illingworth – read the submission within a week and requested a full ms, then offered representation a week later. The others never got a look in!

Publication was harder – after we submitted the book (with a few edits along the way), it went a long way with a few editors before eventually getting a thumbs down, and in the end only HarperVoyager offered, 2 months after I signed with Harry, in July 2018. The editorial schedule came and went over the next year, but the book made it into print in October 2019.

How long did it take to write?

The original Black Hawks took about a year and a half to plan and draft. Then another year to revise and submit. Then about 3 months of editing, spread over a year. The sequel, despite being considerably longer, only took me 9 months to plan and draft, and 2 months to revise. Unfortunately, its edits coincided with the pandemic, and it was getting on for 2 years between submission and eventual release in summer 2021.

I started writing the Hunters in 2019, while waiting for edits on The Righteous, and it took around 7 months to plan and draft. It was then parked for 2020 for other things, revived and revised, and then unrevised (long story) over the course of 2021, and submitted at the start of 2022. Edits were brief over the summer, and for once the book is completely on schedule for release in July!

The shameful reason for the specificity of my answer is that I keep a spreadsheet of what I have worked on and when…

Do you have a writing playlist? If so, do you want to share it?

I do, but it’s basically Seventh Son of a Seventh Son by Iron Maiden on repeat, occasionally broken up by a Silversun Pickups album for the sake of variety. For some reason, I know the music so well that it absolutely fades into the background while I’m writing, while also being energetic enough to keep me moving forward!

My year-end music wrap-up did not make for exciting reading.

How many publishers turned you down?

I can’t say for certain, but my guess would be four. “All but one” would be the accurate answer!

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

The full gamut, from old colleagues messaging me to express their (astonished) delight to my mother telling me it had “too many fucks”. It’s been great, honestly, especially when a reader connects with what I was trying to do with the story and the characters.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

Aside from my mother’s? It might have been Nate Crowley’s, who wrote a lovely review, but also expressed his enthusiasm in person when we met at an event. Not only is he a top fellow, he’s also an astute judge of genre fiction.

What can you tell us about your next book?

My new series, starting with The Hunters (2023), takes place in the same world as The Black Hawks and its sequel, but 13 years later and far to the north. When I set out to write The Hunters, it was driven by a combination of things – to scratch an itch of some dangling threads from the first series (did you ever wonder what happened to…) but also tell a different kind of story with a different kind of feel – something a bit more like a Western, with more clear-cut lines between good and evil, goodies and baddies. Fortunately, the world I created for the first series bordered a set of vast plains, mountains and desert, which made an excellent place to move the action for the new books.

The story follows a middle-aged horse farmer called Ree, who has something of a chequered past, and her 12-year-old niece Javani, who has designs on a profoundly chequered future. Some very nasty people come looking for them, and Ree is forced to confront some new foes and old lies if she’s going to keep them both alive.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Only when they’re good. I keep an eye on the overall review count as a rough measure of whether people are a) reading and b) enjoying the books, but I try to get no more involved than that. That way lies madness.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

Try and stop me. I’ve got plans, such plans… watch this space!

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I work in software, and have done, in various forms, for the bulk of my adult life (and a bit before that). I was freelance for many years, but circumstances have forced me to become a full-time salaried employee in the last few years, which while not ideal does at least keep a roof over my head and my kids in shoes.

Seriously, you would not believe what they do to their shoes.

Which author(s) inspire you?

It’s glib to say “all of them”, but I’m genuinely so impressed by the astonishing talent of my contemporaries (and feel very lucky to be considered in the same bracket). If forced to choose (and look at my bookshelf), some names in no particular order would be: Terry Pratchett, Robin Hobb, Iain Banks, William Gibson, China Mieville, Katherine Addison, Anne Leckie, Margaret Attwood and Robert Jackson Bennet. But it’s also all the others…

Which genres do you read yourself?

Most of them, really. My heart is SFF, but I’ve got great gooey soft spots for crime, airport thrillers, spy novels, legal dramas and anything comic. I’m not big on horror or romance, but only because I already have too much to read.

What is your biggest motivator?

Reminding myself whenever I’m about to Not Do Writing that “this doesn’t get books written”. I have stories I want to tell, ideas I want to explore, and it’s a thrill to think my work really connects with people (some people, sometimes). I’m getting on a bit now, and it’s a challenge to get a book out a year, which means I have a limited amount of time to write a finite amount of books. I know that sounds morbid, but I’m squarely in mid-life crisis territory and it’s that kind of thinking that keeps me focused.

What will always distract you?

The BLOODY cat WALKING on the BLOODY KEYBOARD AGAIN like he just did. He just wants to be involved, bless him. Also feeling hungry.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Not a huge amount, beyond preparing the character descriptions and reference material – now the publishers and I have an understanding on the style of the covers, I’ve got quite good at working out who’s going to feature, what they should look like, how they should be dressed or armed/equipped etc. It’s really, really exciting seeing it come to life.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yup, shockingly so; although never a particularly fast reader, I made up for it with volume. My nephew has been the same – I witnessed him monster an 800 page Percy Jackson over the course of a family day out a few years ago, and my own kids are just reaching the Dangerous Reading age now. I have to hide the kindle at bedtime.

What were your favourite childhood books?

Depending on what age we mean, it’s probably going to be Pratchett (although I adored the Worst Witch which I read with my sister), the only question is which one…

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

David’s, in Letchworth up the road from me, has been a recent favourite. They even stock my books, which demonstrates excellent taste.

What books can you not resist buying?

At the moment, anything new by William Gibson, or anything related to Gaiman’s Sandman. It’s difficult for me to leave a bookshop without buying something. It seems rude.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

Make a cup of peppermint tea, sit down, headphones on, arse about for 15 minutes, make another cup of peppermint tea, sit down again, arse around again, accidentally start writing something.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

It’s really more of a TBR bookcase. My wife has had words.

What is your current or latest read?

I’ve just finished John Keegan’s The Face of Battle and am starting Indian Summer by Alex von Tunzelmann. I’ve got a load of reference books to get through too, then I’m going to reward myself with Gibson’s Agency and maybe a Peter F. Hamilton.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The second Empire of the Vampire book is on my radar – I galloped through the first, despite its whopping girth (and despite thinking vampires weren’t really my thing). Beyond that, I probably ought to read some of the books I already own…

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

The new series will be keeping me busy for another couple of years (book 2 is now with the editor, awaiting inspection, and I’m currently putting an outline of book 3 together), and after that I have plans for something a little different. Too early to say much, but you can always subscribe to my mailing list on my website!

Any events in the near future?

I’ll be at Fantasy in the Court in London in May, FantasyCon in Birmingham in September, possibly some kind of launch event in July, and maybe some other stuff besides. I really ought to sort my calendar out.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I think, on a fundamental level, that I just fucking love goblins. Dragons! I mean dragons.

The Laugh

24th April 20233rd June 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Fay Evans, illus. Ayse Klinge. Flying Eye Books. (32p) ISBN 9781838740825

The Laugh

I received this a while back for a review, but found with everything that was going on it was just to much for me at that time.

The Laugh is a bright and lively book about loss and grief and about ways to remember someone you’ve lost.

It shows the process of loss extremely well, from the mother looking ill to using the word ‘died’ when the mother died. This is extremely important as children sometimes just don’t get the euphemisms that adults use around the subject of death.

The use of the sunflower as a motif throughout the book emphasises the warmth that the mother expressed along with the deadheading once the flower had died to symbolise the loss of the mother.

This deals with death in a very honest and straightforward way and explains that though there will be gaps there, there will be emptiness that the love and brightness that the other person inpired in you is still there waiting to blossom when the time is right.

A brilliant book and one I want on our shelves to recommend when required.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
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You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Remington Blackstaff – Q&A

21st April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Remington Blackstaff

Remington Blackstaff was born in Nigeria and moved to the United Kingdom with his family at a young age. He was bitten by the martial arts bug in childhood and studied several disciplines into adulthood. Despite his obsession with fight choreography, he set aside any dreams of becoming a stuntman to study medicine at Royal Free and University College Medical School. Remington currently practices medicine in London, where he lives with his wife and son. He remains obsessed with martial arts, rugby and cinema. The Durbar’s Apprentice is his debut novel.

Remington can be found at:
Twitter: @RBlackstaff
Instagram: @remingtonblackstaff

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

A painting in my living room of Durbar horsemen that my son used to stare at while I held him as an infant. I held him in one arm while writing a completely different story, based on my mental health work, on my iPhone with my free hand. I thought “Wouldn’t it be cool if he could grow up and read a book from our heritage based on that picture?” The Durbar’s Apprentice is a love letter to my Nigerian heritage and to my son.

What came first the characters or the world?

The world. It had to be the world because the massive canvas that inspired the novel is striking but you can’t make out the faces of the horsemen. So I knew there would be warriors on horseback, conflict, royalty and I knew the locations before I knew the protagonists.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

The Durbar’s Apprentice

Bloody hard! I had 41 rejections from literary agents and RIZE, an imprint of Running Wild Press based in California, finally said yes to The Durbar’s Apprentice. I’d written two manuscripts before it without success so I’d developed a thicker skin by the third attempt. As you grind on and get less emotional with disappointment, the fatigue of sending your work out, with very little in the way of feedback (the copy and paste responses become very obvious) is the most frustrating part.

How long did it take to write?

About a year.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

I don’t. I can’t concentrate as well with music on in the background. I also can’t focus watching tv lying down either. If I do happen to listen to an original motion picture score like Tenet, The Mandalorian or anything by Hans Zimmer, once the music stops, I realise I haven’t written quite as well as I thought. I will say that listening to film scores does inspire thought processes/scenes and dialogue, it’s just a bit too distracting for putting thoughts on the page. I actually get my best inspiration while shaving.

How many publishers turned you down?

My luck was so bad with agents, I only tried one publisher. Back then, I didn’t know much about submitting an unsolicited manuscript to an independent publisher. Like a few things when you don’t come from a creative writing background or have never been to writing workshops, you learn things the hard way.

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Overwhelmingly positive. Most surprisingly from work colleagues who I’ll sheepishly mention the writing to in passing. When I next speak to them a couple of days later, they either bought the paperback version or are listening to it on audible. Apart from being lucky enough to receive such kind words, it does go some way to inspiring you to continue on that writer’s journey. Persistent rejections can be brutal and dim that enthusiasm to get your work out there. Kind feedback does vindicate that perseverance required for publication. It’s also a middle finger to those people that never actually read your submission properly or copied and pasted their feedback.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

“I can so imagine this as a film!” “It reminds me of that Woman King film.” “I cried at the end.” These make me smile because it means (at least I hope it does) that readers are vividly visualising what they read. It means they’re absorbed and emotionally invested. If you’ve given someone even a modicum of escapism as a writer, you’ve done your job. Also, I wrote each chapter like an episode of bloody good tv, a Netflix episode for want of a better analogy, where the reader would be compelled to come back for more.

What can you tell us about your next book?

Book two of the Durbar trilogy. No spoilers. Watch this space.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Not any more, it’s not worth it. When the book first came out, I read all the glowing feedback….until I got to that one 2-star review from some who actually gave faint praise and had no problem with the writing but listed all the things I hadn’t done, like write a history text book. The thing about reviews is that the work is done. It’s out there, fully exposed, naked, flapping in the wind and the barn door is wide open. The horse has bolted. What people may or may not realise is the hours, the late nights, the months of work you’ve put in when they chew up your baby and spit it out in a few lines. Don’t get me wrong, reviewers don’t owe you anything and they’re entitled to their opinions but if feedback isn’t in a professional capacity or from someone I trust that might help improve my craft going forward, it’s of little use to me.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

Absolutely, I have done. I wrote another novel while trying to get this one picked up. It’s still doing the rounds. Some writers recommend staying in your lane and I understand the logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. Why confine yourself to your comfort zone?

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I’m a general practitioner and independent doctor in mental health. I’ve also been a prison GP and have worked as a doctor in professional, disability and amateur sport.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Any author who’s gritted their teeth and has persevered with getting published. I don’t think it’s fair to name one or two as I’ll invariably forget another five or six that I love.

Which genres do you read yourself?

Probably everything including non-fiction with the exception of romance.

What is your biggest motivator?

The desire to entertain, to grab someone by the scruff of the neck and drag them into my world, into my imagination, with periods of respite until we’re done. To put it more succinctly, to tell a bloody good story.

What will always distract you?

Social media. It’s a necessary evil of the modern writer. It’s a very useful necessary evil, dare I say it essential evil (a part of me just died writing that), especially when you’re just starting out. My problem with it is that it can take up so much time with little to show for it.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

I had quite a bit of say in The Durbar’s Apprentice but didn’t really need to as such a good job was done.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was a voracious reader as a child. I was even a librarian at one point in my first year of secondary school from very hazy memory. We also had a mobile library near our house when I was in primary school so many a Saturday afternoon were spent perusing its contents. This was also pre-internet so there was even less distraction than there is now.

What were your favourite childhood books?

Any Doctor Who, The Hardy Boys, Stephen King, Tom Clancy.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Not at the moment. There’s definitely been a slow killing off of local bookshops in my area, which is a crying shame. I do love visiting bookshops abroad or out of London though, especially the independent ones. They often have a kooky charm to them. The last one I went into was called ‘INDIE, not a bookshop’ in Cascais, Portugal.

What books can you not resist buying?

Anything by Ray Celestin or Jo Nesbo.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

No. I write on my iPhone, usually horizontal at home or sat upright when at work or on the move.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

Four or five that I bought or that were gifted. Another ten that are lying around our bookshelf at home.

What is your current or latest read?

On Writing by Stephen King.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes. I Am Pilgrim was phenomenal.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

Get the second Durbar novel out then I can start work on part three of the trilogy.

Any events in the near future?

Thank you for asking, where are we going?

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

A desire to entertain but entertain with something rooted in my heritage, set in a time that isn’t talked about much in this part of the world but lends itself to action/adventure in a pure old-fashioned way. Historical fiction is perfect for this.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Eileen Wharton – Q&A

14th April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Eileen F Wharton

Eileen Wharton is an Oscar winning actress, Olympic gymnast, and Influencer. She also tells lies for a living.

Her first novel was published in 2011 to worldwide critical acclaim. And she’s won awards for exaggeration. It did top the Amazon humour chart so she’s officially a best-selling author. She writes children’s books, comedy, women’s fiction and crime novels.
She currently has five ‘lively’ offspring ranging from thirty-four to fifteen years of age, and has no plans to procreate further, much to the relief of the local schools and police force.

She lives on a council estate in County Durham. She is hearing impaired, is allergic to cats and has a phobia of tinned tuna. She’s retired from arguing with people on the internet.

Eileen can be found at:
Twitter: @WhartonEileen
Instagram: @eileenscribblings
Facebook: @eileen.whartonwriter

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I’d just left my husband and was living in poverty with four children. My phone had been cut off because I couldn’t afford to pay the bill and I wrote the first chapter as therapy. I entered it into a competition run by author Wendy Robertson and Bishop Auckland Library and was shocked when it was highly commended. The winning entries were added to an anthology which was read by a commissioning editor at Hodder who loved my story. It inspired me to write the rest of ‘Shit Happens.’

What came first the characters or the world?

I usually hear a voice (Yes, I know it makes me sound unhinged) and from the voice comes a character and then the world.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

Like trying to pull a basketball through a toilet roll tube. I could paper the Angel of the North with my rejection letters. It took me five years to finish it and by then the commissioning editor who loved it had moved on. I got lots of great feedback but no bites until it was seen by the wonderful Ed from Byker Books. They published it as an ebook initially and then as a paperback when the ebook sold well. I’ll be forever grateful to Andy Rivers (amazing writer btw) for my first big opportunity. I still owe him a pint!

How long did it take to write?

Oh I just answered that. Five years, but in my defence I was working, doing a degree and I had four kids.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

No, I can’t listen to music when I’m writing. I find it a distraction. I like absolute silence so I take my hearing aids out.

How many publishers turned you down?

I’ve lots count. So so many. They’ll be sorry one day! 😉 I’ll be more famous than JK and I’ll sweep past them at award ceremonies with my nose in the air, telling my entourage to tell them I’m too important and busy to speak to them but they could email me. Then I’d ghost them for eighteen months before sending a standard rejection which says:
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with you but I’ll have to politely decline I’m afraid. Of course this is subjective and other rich and famous authors may feel differently. However, too bad suckers!

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Most of my books have had excellent reactions. The reviews are really good for the most part. Sales have been good. The latest has been a little disappointing. I’m not sure why it hasn’t taken off yet because I think it’s my best to date.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

Someone gave me a one star review saying they were going to print it out and use it as toilet paper. HAHAHA! Another man gave Shit Happens one star and he gave a commode five stars. I thought that was hilarious.

What can you tell us about your next book?

It’s a contemporary comedy about a young woman who’s trying to navigate being a working mother while dating and dieting.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Absolutely. The readers are the most important people. I welcome constructive criticism and I enjoy reading what others have to say about my books. One star reviews are never constructive but they’re often really funny.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

I’ve written in a few different genres: crime, women’s fiction, humour, children’s books, romance. So yes, I’m game for anything (Well anything legal)

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I used to be a teacher but I left in July. I love Mondays now.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Honestly too many to mention but I was first inspired by my big brother, Stephen, who’s a brilliant writer. He wrote stories when I was a kid that fired my imagination. In my early twenties I read Pat Barker’s ‘Union Street’ and ‘Blow Your House Down’ and it was the first time I’d seen people from council estates featured in contemporary literature. It made me think I could write stories about people like me, for people like me. I always knew that one day there would be a book on the shelf with my name on it.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I read most genres. I love anything from picture books to crime novels; literary fiction to contemporary romance. I like books which make me laugh, shock me, and make me cry.

What is your biggest motivator?

The desire for success. I’m not sure what that looks like because I keep moving the goal posts. The initial goal was to be published. I achieved that. Then I wanted to write full time. I’m doing that. Next I’d like an agent and a big publisher, Netflix deal, and Hollywood movie. BAFTA and OSCAR. You have to dream big.

What will always distract you?

My kids and my phone.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

None initially but I’ve since helped design some of them. Blanket of Blood was illustrated by the exceptionally talented Graham Stead, and Emmy Ellis designed the cover of my latest psychological thriller, ‘Hear Me Cry.’

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I’ve always loved reading. My parents took us to the library every week when we were kids and I loved choosing new books and having them stamped. I was competitive at school when it came to moving through the reading schemes, and I used to bump into people and lampposts because I always had my head in a book.

What were your favourite childhood books?

So many! I loved Enid Blyton, The Twins at St Clare’s and Mallory Towers. The Mystery books series fuelled my love of crime literature early on. The Narnia books. I loved Judy Blume’s ‘Blubber’ and ‘Are you There God? It’s Me Margaret’, Judith Kerr’s ‘When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.’ ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole age 13 ¾’ by Sue Townsend and ‘This Is David Speaking’ by Stephanie Ward.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

I love all bookshops, particularly ones with a café where I can smell coffee and write. I can lose days of my life in there. It’s given me an idea for a children’s book series. Hang on while I go and write it down before I forget it. I love the smell of books, the feel of them, everything about them. My name is Eileen and I’m a book sniffer.

What books can you not resist buying?

Novels. I have more than I’ll ever be able to read yet I still can’t go in a book shop without buying one. I also have Kindle Clickitis. It’s a very painful condition.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

No, I’m not a ritualistic kind of person. I write best when I’m at my desk in my writing room with the phone turned off and the family tied up and gagged.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

I’ve never counted but it’s a lot. I have many author friends and I try to read at least one of each of their books. My latest son always buys me books for birthdays and Christmas and he’s chosen very well so far. I’m still getting through my Christmas gifts.

What is your current or latest read?

I’m currently reading ‘Skin Deep’ by Liz Nugent. I’ve only discovered her recently and I’ve devoured all of her books. Before that it was Alice Feeny, and KA Richardson. I usually have about seven books on the go at once. I’ve just started Miriam Margolyes autobiography. I don’t read many biographies but I love her so I’m making an exception.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The next one by Susie Lynes, Alice Feeny, Liz Nugent, C.J Tudor, and KA Richardson.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

No, it’s all top secret. If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you. But if you want to start a rumour I’m going to be working with Idris Elba that’s up to you.

Any events in the near future?

Dinner with Idris Elba.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I like being able to kill people who annoy me 😉

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Arch-Conspirator

8th April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Veronica Roth. Titan Books. (128p) ISBN 9781803363578

Arch-Conspirator

It had been a forever age since I’d read anything by Sophocles, 40 years maybe. So when I won the ARC from Titan Books for Arch-Conspirator I was intrigued as to how this would fit in with the slew of retelling of Greek myths that have been coming out lately, especially since it was set in a speculative fiction Earth where there are no other towns on a barren and destroyed planet.

I went back and re-read several versions of the source material before starting to read this to familiarise myself with the themes and story once more and was stunned by Roth’s take on the material.

The tragedy that was to unfold was there from the beginning and threaded throughout the story in a masterful way, from pulling in the shameful acts of Oedipus (though adapted for the setting) to the final choices made by Antigone.

Characters were fleshed out extremely well in such a short story, and knowing the source material quite well by this time you could feel the shadow of Sophocles originals within them all and what was intriguing was how was that shadow going to show itself in the finale.

The final conflict and sacrifices were masterfully played and as it finished it felt as though there was more to tell, as though the saga would continue from there as all good Greek tragedies do. Each a domino in ancient Greek history, one treachery begetting another.

Loved this and since I’ve never read any other Veronica Roth may have to look to her other works soon.

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We Are Here

8th April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Kate Rafiq. Dune Books. (36p) ISBN 9781838346133

We Are Here

Kate has kindly let me have a sneak read of “We Are Here” due to be published by Dune Books on the 19th of May 2023.

A mother plays games to make her child feel safe as they flee from their home to what the mother hopes is a safer place for them, each step of the journey shows a different ‘game’ but if you look closer there is danger for them both ever present on each leg. It shows the length a mother will go to to protect their child, both from what happened at home and what is happening on this arduous journey.

Beautifully and sympathetically illustrated throughout. Each illustration uses a palette to reflect the story being told in the frame, but none of the palettes used are garish, they are soft and even the cold blues have a warm feeling to them. I think this all shows. the love the mother has for their child, at least this is what it made me feel.

Another important text to help children explore what it is like to be the other and to have to flee, how this decision isn’t taken lightly and how families support each other in their travel, that though this could be seen as an adventure it is not, it is a decision to live.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
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Chrissie Sains – Q&A

7th April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Chrissie Sains

Chrissie Sains grew up in Billericay, Essex, where she spent her childhood seeking adventure and finding trouble. Described by her teachers as having a “lively imagination”, Chrissie’s escapades include her attempted rescue of the school’s pet fish and the discovery of a dead body in a field that turned out to be two tyres under a sheet. She has swum with sharks, scuba-dived shipwrecks and sky-dived from a plane. Chrissie has a background in marketing and events but now writes full time and is a graduate of the Golden Egg Academy and a member of SCBWI. Along with the Jam Factory books, she is the co-author of I Got This, with Cara Mailey. She lives in Essex with her husband, two bookworms and two rabbits.

Chrissie can be found at:
Website: www.chrissiesains.com
Twitter: @CRSains
Instagram: @chrissie_sains
Facebook: @Chrissiesainsauthor

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel (book)?

I wrote An Alien in the Jam Factory for my god-daughter who, like the main character Scooter, has cerebral palsy. She wanted to see a character experiencing similar challenges to her own having a fun adventure. I spent a lot of time with her developing Scooter and the Jam Factory – she even came up with the idea of the Hand-Bots (a Wallace and Gromit style giant robotic pair of hands who help Scooter to complete tasks in the factory)!  

What came first the characters or the world?

It started with the characters – they leapt onto the page. The world wasn’t far behind though; my kitchen floor was littered with drawings of maps and inventions within a few days of starting out on the idea.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

It was SO tricky! An Alien in the Jam Factory was the fifth book that I’d written (though the first to be published). I had lots of (very kind) ’No Thank yous’ from various agents and publishers before I was lucky enough to see my book on the shelves of a bookshop.  

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

I’m absolutely thrilled by the reactions I’ve had to the book. I’ve had parents of children who have cerebral palsy get in touch to say not only that their child has loved reading Scooter’s adventures but that it’s also led to some great conversations with other children about disability and representation – that really means a lot. Parents have also gotten in touch to say that it’s the first book that their reluctant reader child has ever read all the way through. Many teachers have really embraced the series and used it to create some fabulous work in class, which has been very humbling to see. But most of all, it’s seeing children giggling as its read to them. A parent sent me a video on social media of their child belly-laughing as they read An Alien in the Jam Factory, which was amazing!

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

In my school author visits, I often spark a conversation about the books that turned us into readers. Last week one boy told me it was ‘An Alien in the Jam Factory’ that had turned him into a reader. Also, that he likes it better than (the utterly hilarious) Diary of a Wimpy Kid – I nearly cried!

What can you tell us about your next book?

Slugs Invade the Jam Factory is coming out on 6th April and we’re heading back to the jam factory for a very slimy adventure! A dastardly slug called Mucus Vane wants to turn the factory into a slug cafe and wellness spa – it’s up to Scooter, Fizzbee and the team to stop him! 

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I was an events planner and organised big corporate parties. I once had a Cirque Du Soleil act hanging from the top of the temperate house in Kew Gardens and I’ve turned St Paul’s crypt into a house of illusions. It was lots of fun and very creative. 

Which author(s) inspire you?

Every author! It’s a wonderful job but it can also sometimes be a tough job – there’s a lot of stepping out of the comfort zone, learning new skills and overcoming fears, not to mention the perseverance and resilience it takes to get published in the first place! I have a huge respect for every author out there!

What is your biggest motivator?

My family – they believe in me more than I do! I’ve always loved telling stories but I never thought I had the skills to write them down (I wasn’t exactly top of the class at school). They persuaded me to give it a try and still show so much enthusiasm for every project I embark on. I wouldn’t be a published author without them and it’s always in the back of my mind that I want to do them proud. 

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was a big reader from the age of ten or eleven, until then I was less enthusiastic. I had a great teacher in Year 6 who inspired a passion for reading in me (and my whole class) by making reading part of our class community. I’m so grateful to her – if it wasn’t for Miss Wilson, I probably wouldn’t be an author now!  

What were your favourite childhood books?

Anything by Roald Dahl – I loved his books! I also really enjoyed reading poetry with my mum from ‘When We Were Very Young’, I love the poem, Daffadowndilly’s and The Bears and the Squares. 

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Oh, such a tricky question – that’s like asking if I have a favourite child!

I’ve made great friends with Tash and Jim from Chicken and Frog bookshop (where my daughter also works) and Jacqui at Jacqson Diego. 

Do you have any rituals when writing?

I use the Pomodoro technique and do forty-minute writing sprints followed by a twenty-minute break. I can do five or six of those in a day and get quite a lot written. I also require a steady flow of tea and biscuits as well as my noise-cancelling headphones and my bullet journal to make notes and sketches. 

What is your current or latest read?

I’m currently reading Montgomery BonBon by Alasdair Beckett-King – I absolutely love it! “Murder is frowned upon” – hehe. 

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

I’m working on the fourth Jam Factory book at the moment, but watch this space for something new!

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
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Can I Come Too

2nd April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Owen Davey. Rocket Bird Books. (32p) ISBN 9781915395009

Can I Come Too

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I really wanted to have a proper look at it, I was lucky to be sent a copy for review.

I received the hard back version and there is a sculptural quality to the cover that fits with the block shape style of illustration, really lovely to feel.

The story is one of sibling bears where the youngest bear wants to tag along with the older sibling, and through the enthusiasm, rather than malice, of the younger one things keep going wrong and the older bear keeps getting frustrated and angry.

The story explores these feelings well and has a lovely resolution for the siblings.

I’m still not quite sure whether the art work reminds me of 50s or 60s design aesthetics, leaning toward the 50s, but the palette is a lovely set of warm browns, fresh greens, and cool blues and make the book gorgeous to look at whilst following the story.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
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The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

1st April 20231st April 2023 by Stephen | Leave a comment

Beach. Simon & Schuster. (32p) ISBN 9781471197284

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The latest in the “A Very Fiery Fairy Tale” series from Beach and I always feel so privileged when I get sent a copy to read and talk about, especially such fun books.

This continues the adventures of Sir Wayne and Dragon, brave and fearless and full of parp!

This sees Sir Wayne and Dragon going to the rescue of a princess in a tower, Sir Wayne with his sword of Dragon with his bottom of flame and they both think they are the perfect hero and will be. the one to rescue the princess.

Who will be right, who will do the rescuing, why has the monster three eyes, all these questions will be answered in this fun and colourful addition to the series.

Beach’s illustrations once again really bring the story to life with lots to explore on the page and the pace perfectly set between words and images.

Another book I’ll be using for storytimes at the shop as who doesn’t like blazing bottoms?

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.
If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.
You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.