Reading The Rebel Skies Trilogy was an absolute joy. Ann Se Lin took me back to my childhood reading fantasy and obsessively reading Stephen King novels. Ann is such a brilliant writer she reminds me of King. The comparison might seem weird, considering Lin writes YA and King is very adult. Yet the standard of Ann Sei Lin’s writing is so high that she has a long and illustrious career ahead of her. She is one of the best writers writing today.
Her imagination at building a world full of paper spirits, flying ships and cities in the sky immerses you completely. The characters become your friends, or people you want your new friends to defeat. With lyrical prose and vivid imagination, Ann Sei Lin has triumphed. The Rebel Skies trilogy will stay with me.
Rebel Dawn is an action packed and vivid fantasy adventure. It took me a while after I finished it to write this review. The ending resonates so deeply. It is beautiful, with a longing that stays with you. The third and final book in the trilogy, Kuara is dealing with a lot. Guilt, PTSD (I would guess!) and the weight of her burden. The world is falling apart. Can she fix it? I cannot wait for what Ann Sei Lin does next. She is one of the best YA writers and is more talented than one human being should be allowed.
I cannot recommend the Rebel Skies trilogy enough. They are absolute perfection.
The third and final book in a pacy, lyrical and vivid fantasy adventure set in a world of flying ships, sky cities and powerful paper spirits.
Kurara and her friends have found the key to releasing shikigami from their bonds and granting them eternal freedom – if they can unlock its power. The answer lies in Kurara’s homeplace, deep in the mountains of Mikoshima. But can the crew reach it before the imperial forces catch up with them, or their own internal battles break them apart for ever?
Excellent world-building, a dramatic and pacy plot, and an array of deep and believable characters – explored through multiple perspectives – make for a thrilling final instalment in this masterful fantasy adventure.
My first fiction book, Ember, came out in 2022. As a baby author my overwhelm was helped by being part of a debut group. I was so grateful to become a published author that I was naive. It was a big rollercoaster of emotions as I tried to make my way. Before And After The Book Deal by Courtney Maum was a lifesaver. Full of great advice. It’s like having someone to hold your hand through a tough journey.
I am two weeks out from publication day on my second book. This is not a drill. Where The Light is Hottest will be out on February 27th. I am excited and stressed all at the same time. I wrote a piece about the book for The Sunday Times. I am also doing a good number of events and podcast interviews in the future.
I don’t think people realise how much work goes into being a writer. There are endless trips to the post office (over £17 to post four books. Yikes), interviews and an endless amount of emails. Months and years can go into the publication of a book. I signed the contract in July 2023. I wrote the first draft of the book nine years ago. I entered it into The Good Housekeeping writing competition. I was upset when it didn’t win but it wasn’t ready then. Nowhere near it. I finally got the book where I wanted it to be by reading other books with the same energy.
Where The Light is Hottest is based on my experiences in the film industry. It has lots of gossip and backstabbing. It has female friendship and is a feminist tale of survival and what it takes to achieve your dreams.. The main character, Natasha Jones, is Scottish and some of the book is set in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is also set in London, New York, LA and Gstaad. It is dual timeline, told from the past as Natasha makes it, alongside her friends Scarlet and Claudia from drama school, and in the present as people try to bring her down. She is a famous, Oscar-winning, actress and dark forces are at work. Spreading rumours and sharing stories about her to Popbitch. If any of this sounds like your thing you can preorder here: https://tinyurl.com/Where-The-Light-is-Hottest
I will be writing a lot about author life. So keep an eye out for more.
Frost editor, Catherine Balavage Yardley, has written a powerful piece for The Sunday Times on her experiences in the film industry. Where The Light is Hottest is based on the real experiences of Catherine and people that she knew. While the book is fiction, it gets to the heart of an industry which is both beautiful and tough. Historically, it hasn’t treated women well. Let’s hope things change.
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The first review for Where The Light is Hottest is below. You can preorder it here. It’s out on February 27th.
Why am I so terrified?
‘Where the Light is Hottest’ is an uplifting but unflinching look at what it feels like for a woman to succeed as an actor. Protagonist Natasha is a wonderful creation: tough, passionate and loving in turn, fighting against a male-dominated hierarchy while surrounded by friends and family who are in turn supportive, dismissive and, all too often, downright poisonous in their readiness to betray Natasha and her dreams. I particularly liked her voice: ‘Being liked is overrated. You can’t take shit from people all the time so they’ll think you are likeable.’
As in Yardley’s earlier and equally readable book, ‘Ember’, torrid family relationships play an important role in ‘Where the Light is Hottest’. But I particularly enjoyed the focus on friendship, the struggle for success in a cut-throat, back-stabbing industry, and the fight for female empowerment. As one character says, ‘Do not doubt yourself, Natasha. They doubt us all the time. Be brave and put yourself out there knowing you are just as good as anyone else.’
I also learned a few terrific new words, including a ‘fashiongasm’ and a ‘floordrobe’.
‘Where the Light is Hottest’ is a great, entertaining and ultimately joyful read. I thoroughly enjoyed its depiction of a woman’s fight for success in an environment where she never quite can relax. As Natasha says in an insightful moment: ‘My life has completely changed. It is everything I ever wanted. So why am I so terrified?’
I have been holding this in for so long I thought I might combust. My new book, Where The Light is Hottest, is out soon. It is my second book after Ember which came out in 2022, but Where The Light is Hottest is actually the first book I ever wrote. It is based on my experience working in the film industry as an actor, casting director, producer and director.
I am very proud of this book. Especially since it took me six years to write and nine years to get it published. The book is dual timeline and is told through the past, as Natasha starts in a small town in Scotland, and in the present as a successful, award-winning actress. Now forces are trying to bring her down because of jealousy. She’s too rich, too successful and too beautiful. People are spreading rumours and starting a smear campaign. I found it fascinating that this book is coming out amidst the Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni drama. It seems that metoo part two is coming for Hollywood and this book covers the first one, up until the present day. If you loved The Comeback by Ella Berman you will love Where The Light is Hottest.
I hope you love this book as much as I did writing it. Let me know. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Natasha Jones has everything – a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha’s path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt. In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage. Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha’s journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.
One of the things I like to talk about (within the context of writing, at least!) is rejection. Simply because my publishing journey is chock-full of it! And the more authors I chat to (and I talk to them a lot on my podcast, The Rejected Writers’ Club) the more I realise that all of us face rejection all the time. Talking about it normalises and neutralises it – it’s not something to fear or be ashamed of, but it’s something to be embraced as part of the writing life.
The first kind of rejection I faced was self-rejection. I have always wanted to be a writer, but every time I managed to write something I would read it back and be appalled at how awful it was. Every attempt ended up in the bin.
But then my father-in-law died suddenly at the age of 56. He was a lovely man who I wish I’d had longer to know. His death taught me that we may not get as much time as we think we will, so if there is something we want to do, we need to hecking well get on with it.
From then on, I didn’t let myself reject myself (can you tell I’m a writer?!). I still thought (and think) my first drafts were awful, but I no longer let that stop me. I love telling stories and even if they don’t come out right straight away, that’s okay. That’s what editing is for.
Rejection then came from other people. I submitted my first novel to 113 agents and received 113 rejections. There were a couple of full requests in there, but they all ended in the same way. No one wanted that story.
So I wrote another one. And another one. And another one.
I didn’t query quite as hard again – mainly because I am soft and squishy and couldn’t handle such a solid wall of no’s again – but I did make sure to send my stories out to people I thought would connect with them. I got a whole load more rejections, until one person said yes.
Now, I want to pause here and say something that I absolutely didn’t listen to but that I really hope you will if you’re a writer looking for an agent and (let’s be honest, we all are) feeling a bit desperate: having no agent is better than having one who doesn’t get you. I promise this is true.
I signed with an agent and there was absolutely nothing wrong with them as a person, but they weren’t the right fit for me and my stories. I was writing gentle YA while they wanted something plotty and loud.
Parting ways with my first agent was one of the most painful moments of my publishing journey. I see it as a rejection, as it was a split that they initiated, but it was the right decision. I couldn’t see that at the time, but looking back I can see that we weren’t the right fit at all.
I was totally gutted by this, but it didn’t change my dream; to be a published author. I ditched the stories I had been working on and dove into edits on a crime novel with a bi detective with PTSD at its heart, fell in love with her cold and confusing partner, and solved a murder. I sent this story (which would eventually become the first in the Martin and Stern series – Shot in the Dark) out into the world and I was blown away by the response. Relatively quickly, I signed with my lovely agent – Saskia Leach at Kate Nash Literary Agency – and signed a three-book deal with Canelo Crime.
It was a whirlwind, especially coming off the back of such a mountain of rejection. And that rejection doesn’t leave you. The sting has lessened over time and I’m not quite so afraid of opening my inbox anymore, but the years of hearing no again and again don’t magically disappear just because I can go point at my book in my local Waterstones.
Those years of rejection taught me resilience. They taught me to be sure of the stories I want to tell and to make sure I’ve got people on my team who have the same vision. They taught me that sometimes I’m going to have to fight for my stories and that sometimes I will fail, but that I will write another story and try again.
My journey to publication was long and winding and painful, but it was 100% worth it in the end. And not just because I have two (two!) books published, but because I’ve carved out a space in the world for my stories. I spend time doing something I utterly love. I’ve met incredible people along the way and have had so much more fun than sadness.
I can’t stop thinking about The Peacock And The Sparrow by I.S Berry. I love spy novels and this is searingly honest. Few authors have the courage to write a character in technicolour the way I.S Berry has. Warts and all. Shane Collins, the morally complex main character, is written with as much depth as the other characters. All of this book feels real and is written with bravery. Each character feels like their own person.
This is a beautifully brutal literary novel about the CIA. The story is brought vividly to life so you feel like you are really there, stationed in Bahrain. The Peacock And The Sparrow is a hard read sometimes because I.S Berry, who spent six years as a CIA operations officer, doesn’t pull her punches. I will reread this clever book which has a twist you won’t see coming. Impossible to put down. This is a modern classic. Buy a copy NOW.
The thrilling debut from author and former CIA officer I.S. Berry, following an American spy’s last dangerous mission.
Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. Stationed in Bahrain for his final tour, he’s anxious to dispense with his mission — uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency. But then he meets Almaisa, an enigmatic artist, and his eyes are opened to a side of Bahrain most expats never experience, to questions he never thought to ask.
When his trusted informant becomes embroiled in a murder, Collins finds himself drawn deep into the conflict, his romance and loyalties upended. In an instant, he’s caught in the crosswinds of a revolution. He sets out to learn the truth behind the Arab Spring, win Almaisa’s love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrain’s secrets end and America’s begin.
Now optioned for film by Scott Delman of Shadowfox productions (Producer of HBO Max hit series Station Eleven).
With levels of insomnia on the rise, the idea of enjoying a full night of good quality sleep seems to have become a dream of its own.
This pocket-sized collection of comforting poetry is the perfect nighttime soother that makes putting the phone down easy, in exchange for a few moments of mindful bliss.
In this second book within a brand-new series, discover the lullabies cherished by cultures across the world, verse that worships and praises the nighttime as well as poems that encourage gratitude and optimism for the day ahead, featuring words from literary greats such as Emily Bronte, W.B Yeats and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Let this tranquil poetry anthology improve your sleep and overall wellbeing.
Jane McMorland Hunter writes and edits books on the good things in life: gardening, nature, cookery, craft and poetry, whilst also working part-time at Hatchards Bookshop, London. She has written and edited several books, including A Happy Poem to End Every Day, Ode to London, Favourite Poems of England, A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year and Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year. She lives in west London and can be found on social media @alittlecitygarden.
With 100 carefully chosen poems, featuring verse about the beauty of the nighttime as well as an array of restful, tranquil, and meditative verse, 100 Poems to Help You Sleep is an essential pocket-sized guide for anyone in search of better-quality sleep.
After a 2021 study showed that 42% of individuals feel their sleep improves from reading before bed, the push to reduce screentime has become increasingly imperative. This calming collection makes putting down the phone down easy, with its comforting words reshaping your nighttime routine.
As the second in a new series of pocket-sized poetry, discover classical lullabies cherished by cultures all over the world and poems that encourage gratitude and optimism for what each day can bring. Observe the night sky with Emily Brontë, visit the Lake Isle of Innisfree with W. B. Yeats, and experience Shakespeare’s most calming verses.
Poems include the serene ‘In the Evening’ by Nikki Giovanni, the upbeat ‘Everything Is Going to Be Alright’ by Derek Mahon, the nursery classic ‘My Bed is a Boat’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, and many more that are just perfect for the quiet hours of the night.
100 Poems to Help you Sleep by Jane McMorland Hunter is publishing by Batsford and out now.
If you are looking for the perfect Christmas present then I suggest A Poem For Every Day of Christmas the beautifully illustrated poetry anthology from Sunday Times Bestseller Allie Esiri, it is only £10 and fits under the tree or in a stocking.
Embossed with gold foil and lavishly illustrated, A Poem For Every Day of Christmas is the perfect stocking filler for young and old, featuring 31 Christmas poems to see you through the holiday season. Compiled by Allie Esiri who has edited a series of wonderful poetry anthologies.
Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, this book is a cosy accompaniment through the holiday season. Delight in festivities with poems from Thomas Hardy, E. E Cummings, Robert Burns and more. The day-to-day format of this anthology invites readers to make poetry a part of the festive season to get you in the Christmas spirit throughout December.
This warm and soulful book is the perfect gift for Christmas. With a little bit of magic to read every day.
Described by The Sunday Times as ‘A poetry powerhouse’, poetry champion Allie Esiri has published ten hugely popular poetry anthologies including A Poem For Every Day Of The Year and 365 Poems For Life as part of her mission to keep poetry alive and make it accessible for everyone.
About Allie Esiri
Allie Esiri’s best-selling poetry anthologies include Shakespeare For Every Day Of The Year, A Poem For Every Day Of The Year and 365 Poems For Life. They have lit an explosion of interest in poetry in the UK, are regularly chosen for National Poetry Day and have been picked as best books of the year by The Observer, The Times and New Statesman. Yearly sell out performances at the National Theatre and major book festivals with some of our best-loved actors reading poetry – from Helena Bonham Carter to Dominic West – are capturing and enthralling a new generation of poetry lovers.
Esiri read Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge then worked as an actress for ten years in the English Shakespeare Company and on TV in shows such as Sharpe, Howard’s End, Men Behaving Badly and Poirot, before moving on to create the first poetry apps, daily poetry anthologies (for all ages) and live shows. For more info visit allieesiri.com.
