JANE CABLE REVIEWS LIZ FENWICK’S EXCEPTIONAL NEW NOVEL

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For some years the pinned Tweet on Liz Fenwick’s profile has been about kindness, and it struck me that in many ways The River Between Us is too. The First World War heroine, Alice, must learn to be kind to others, and her modern counterpart Theo needs to be kind to herself.

Their stories are more than linked – they are woven together – by place and by so much more. But as always with Liz Fenwick’s books, it isn’t so much the resolution of the mystery that is important, it is the journey itself. And this is an especially rich and sensual one.

Newly divorced Theo buys a ramshackle cottage on the Cornish banks of the River Tamar, once part of the estate belonging to the manor house, now hotel, on the Devon side. The seeds of mystery are planted quickly, as Theo discovers a box of letters dating from the First World War, and when her grandmother dies it comes to light that she had secrets of her own.

In the historical narrative, which begins in 1914, Alice is a rebellious debutante, determined to speak out for force-fed suffragettes to the king and queen during her season. When she does so she is banished to Abbotswood in Devon, where she is attracted to the ghillie, Zachariah Carne.

The coincidences may fall a little too thick and fast for some, but this takes none of the enjoyment from the story. Liz Fenwick’s prose takes the reader from seeing Abbotswood as a prison for a young girl, to casting it in a dream-like quality, full of beauty and wonder, as Theo falls in love. In this book the tiniest of details matter – the tying of flies, the shells in the shell house, the flowers and their meanings. And that is brilliance of it.

But The River Between Us is more than an exhibition of faultless prose; the characters leap from the page and sink into your heart. Both contemporary and historical plots are complex and resonate with each other, and by the end of the story all the strands are as neatly woven together as DNA.

Books as good as this one are the reason I don’t read when I am writing a first draft, because they have the power to transport you to a different world, even when you aren’t physically turning the pages. But I am discovering they are excellent to read when editing; tomorrow I need to return to my own work in progress, inspired to make it so much better.

 

Publisher’s blurb:

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Theo has bought a tumbledown cottage on the banks of the river Tamar which divides Cornwall and Devon. The peace and tranquillity of Boatman’s Cottage, nestled by the water, is just what she needs to heal.

Yet soon after her arrival, Theo discovers a stash of hidden letters tied with a ribbon, untouched for more than a century. The letters – sent from the battlefields of France during WW1 – tell of a young servant from the nearby manor house, Abbotswood, and his love for a woman he was destined to lose.

As she begins to bring Boatman’s Cottage and its gardens back to life, Theo pieces together a story of star-crossed lovers played out against the river, while finding her own new path to happiness.

The River Between Us beautifully explores the mystery and secrets of a long-forgotten love affair, and is published by Harper Fiction on 10th June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What the Ladybird Heard is back on stage in the Autumn.

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Much-loved stage adaptation What The Ladybird Heard, from best-selling children’s author Julia Donaldson and award-winning illustrator Lydia Monks, will continue to entertain families around the country this Autumn (16th September – 4th December). The new tour follows the highly anticipated West End season at The Palace Theatre this summer, bringing family-friendly live entertainment back to theatres.

Photo contains previous cast members.

Image credit Robert Day

The farmyard will be brought to life by Nikita Johal (Spring Awakening, Hope Mill), Roddy Lynch (A Christmas Carol, Theatre Royal Bath), James Mateo-Salt (The Pirate Queen, London Coliseum), Matthew McPherson (The Jolly Christmas Postman, Oxford Playhouse), and Abigail Middleton (Pig, Royal Court Theatre Liverpool). Showcasing live instrumental music, original songs, puppetry and rhymes galore this exciting adaptation is a treat for the whole family.

Author Julia Donaldson comments, ‘ It’s fantastic to see one of my most-loved children’s books, What the Ladybird Heard, returning to the stage, both in the West End and around the UK! After such a hard year it’s important that we can provide creative escapism for young children, and this stage show will do just that. I can’t wait to get back to the theatre and see it myself. I believe audiences are in for a treat!’

Illustrator and Show Design Consultant Lydia Monks adds, ‘It’s always a thrill to see my illustrations burst into life on stage and I’m very excited to be involved in this project. Theatre is an important tool for children’s creative development, and I believe this show is the perfect outlet. I look forward to transporting everyone to the farm for a fun family adventure’

Duration: 55 minutes (no interval) Performance times Please see website for times on each day.

15th July – 29th August The Palace Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5AY https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/what-the-ladybirdheard/

16th – 18th September Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/ladybirdheard/

23rd – 24th September The Radlett Centre Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL https://www.radlettcentre.co.uk/What-s-On/Children/What-theLadybird-Heard

25th – 26th September Tonbridge School E M Forster Theatre The Box Office, High Street Entrance, Tonbridge TN9 1JP https://emftheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173611782

 

 

Perfect on Paper by Gillian Harvey reviewed by Natalie Jayne Peeke West Country Correspondent.

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Clare’s life is perfect…steady job, loving husband, two kids and lovely townhouse. Except her husband Toby’s barely listened to a thing she’s said since he landed his new TV gig, her daughter can’t stand the sight of her and her boss barely even knows her name. It seems that with middle age she’s become more invisible than a grey power suit, and no matter what she does no one seems to notice her. Not the mad haircut, crazy outfits or brilliant job performance.

So when Clare finds herself in a situation that not only guarantees notoriety, but makes her feel seen – she jumps at the chance. But can she really leave her ordinary life and ‘ordinary family’ behind? Or is this a chance for her to finally make her life more than just perfect on paper?

Review;

Every now and then you need to re jiggle your bookshelf and find a book that is a perfect summer read, fun, light, relatable , something that leaves you smiling and glad you read it. Believe me when I say that Perfect on Paper is that book.

Gillian Harvey creates a wonderfully relatable character in Claire, someone who feel invisible and fed up with her mundane existence. She is a strong main character and I found myself empathising with her on several occasions.

With a fantastic plot, entertaining characters and plenty of laughs Perfect on paper is the perfect recipe for a book that you will want to add to your suitcase this summer, regardless of where you are headed.

13th May , available as a paperback, audio & ebook

Shadow over the Spanish Sun by Caroline Montague 27th May: reviewed by Natalie Jayne Peeke West Country Correspondent

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Mia Ferris’s heart has always belonged in Spain. Every childhood summer was spent at her grandfather’s hacienda, riding together amongst the olive trees or listening to his stories of the past. So when she learns that he has fallen from his horse, she knows that she belongs by his bedside – even if it means leaving behind her life in London, and her new fiancé.

But as Leonardo fights for his life, secrets begin to emerge that tell a different story of the past – a terrible history that begins with a boy running for his life over the Andalusian hills, and ends with a forbidden love that only war can destroy…

As Mia untangles the passions and betrayals of the past, everything she thought she knew is turned upside down. Can she heal the wounds of the past, and face the truth of her own heart?

It is very rare to find a book that will stay with you for a long time, one that grips your heart and makes you feel the loss and heartache of the characters. Well, I have found that book, written by the sensational  Caroline Montague.

Montague reveals, or unravels is probably a better word, the family secrets steadily, effortlessly, fluently as we read on and learn about forbidden love in the days of the Spanish Civil War. Imbued with with historical detail, this family, and Mia’s journey of discovery  reflects the author’s clear love and admiration of Spain.

I was absorbed in this story from the first page to the last. It was my first encounter with Montague and I can not wait to discover her other works. She creates splendid characters who inhabit a believablepage turning world; a world and a time that is both heart-breaking and uplifting. When I finished the book I was left feeling stunned that someone could take me on such a emotional journey.

Available in paperback, ebook and audiobook.

My Writing Process Michael Arditti

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Michael Arditti , authorWhat you have written, past and present

I am the author of eleven novels and one book of short stories, all of which have either been published or reissued by Arcadia and all of which I’m pleased (and proud) to say are currently in print.

I began my career writing plays for the radio and the stage, the former with more success than the latter, although I had a very happy experience writing The Volunteer for the National Youth Theatre in the 1980s.  Meanwhile, my play, Magda, about Magda Goebbels and Eva Braun in Hitler’s bunker, is to be produced in Latvia this autumn.  Nevertheless, I hate conflict in any form, and I learnt relatively early that such talents as I have are better suited to the reflective, discursive medium of fiction than to the more confrontational medium of drama.

What you are promoting now

The paperback edition of The Anointed, a novel about King David, narrated by his three most significant wives.  The novel came out at the beginning of lockdown last April and, although sales were hit by the closure of bookshops, it was widely and well received, with the Evening Standard describing is as ‘#MeToo meets the Old Testament.’  That somewhat catchpenny phrase neatly sums up the book, in which three women, Michal, Abigail and Bathsheba, who are side-lined and almost totally silenced in the Bible, are given their voices and enabled to give their views of Ancient Israel’s greatest hero.

A bit about your process of writing

I am a ‘morning person’ and write from 6 or 7 am until 1 or 2 pm, with breaks for breakfast, herbal tea (and sugar-free biscuits!).   I very rarely write in the afternoons, preferring to read, listen to music or see friends.  Until last autumn, I worked as a theatre critic and spent three or four evenings a week in various auditoria.  I’m slowly adjusting to the new rhythm of life.

Like many writers, including my hero, Marcel Proust, I write in bed.  I always have done, since for me it offers the perfect mixture of freedom and constraint.  In 2001, I suffered a severe back injury, which has left me slightly disabled, so lying, propped up by pillows, with my laptop carefully positioned, is my most comfortable position.  Friends, who previously thought me self-indulgent and lazy, now think me practical and brave.  A great relief!

Do you plan or just write?

I feel a mixture of awe and envy for anyone who does things that I can’t (from swallow-diving to fixing computer glitches).  The same goes for writers who open a blank page (or a Word document) and write the first sentence of a novel, without having any idea of what the next will be.  In my own case, I need to know the arc of a novel before I can start.  Of course, the characters lead me in unexpected directions, and we all know what happens to the best-laid plans of mice and men.  But I do need to have a plan in place, to be able to deviate from it creatively.

What about word count?

I pay no attention to word counts whatsoever, either in having to complete a certain quota every day or in requiring a book to be a certain length.  Every novel is different.  My longest, Of Men and Angels, is around 180,000 words, and my shortest, The Young Pretender (about the Georgian child actor, Master Betty, which is to be published next January) is 55,000.  But the majority of my books, including The Anointed, are around 120,000 words.

How do you do your structure?

Structure is very important to me.  It should say as much about the matter of a book as the story itself does.  When I mentioned that I always had a plan before starting, I was referring to a structure rather than a plot.  For The Anointed, I worked to a readymade plot for only the second time in my career (the first was A Sea Change, which tells of the ill-fated voyage of the St Louis, a ship taking almost 1000 Jewish refugees from Hamburg to Havana in 1939).   The biblical Books of Samuel follow the course of David’s life from his gilded youth to his despotic old age, although, from my point of view, what they leave out was as important as what they put in.  

Once I resolved to tell David’s story from the women’s perspective, everything fell into place.  Michal, King Saul’s daughter, bears witness to his youth at her father’s court, his early military prowess, and his relationship with her brother, Jonathan.  Abigail, a wealthy widow who facilitates his rise to power, knows him as a skilful (and ruthless) politician, prepared to betray his countrymen to the Philistines, and usurp his father-in-law’s throne.  Bathsheba, the best known of the three (largely because her nude bathing has been a gift to painters down the centuries), encounters him in old age, raping and murdering at will and unable to control his children.  Their stories intertwine and, at times, contradict each other, reflecting the many inconsistencies in David’s character.

What do you find hard about writing?

I could say ‘everything’, although that would be too glib and not entirely true.  Ever since I published my first novel, The Celibate, in 1993, I have met people who tell me that they too would write a novel, if only they ‘had the time.’  I listen politely but wish that they had both more sensitivity and understanding of how hard a profession it is.  It requires both self-discipline and self-confidence.  It is a long, solitary process, at the end of which you can be harshly judged, both privately by friends and colleagues, and publicly by critics and readers.  It isn’t manual labour but it is often utterly draining.  If the writing is honest (as it should be), it can be very painful both for yourself and those to whom you are close.

What do you love about writing?

Once again, I could say ‘everything’ and, once again, I would have to qualify it.  To be able to create a fictional world is a gift and to have the chance to share it with readers a privilege.  Losing oneself in one’s work so that all outside concerns and distractions disappear is the most glorious sensation, bettered only by reading through one’s writing at the end of a chapter and not knowing the genesis of a particular incident or exchange but knowing that it is absolutely right.

The Anointed by Michael Arditti is out in paperback by Arcadia.

 

Staycation Essential – The Snuggy

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When I saw the press release for the Snuggy arrive in my inbox I was pretty excited. I am big on comfort and I hate being cold. When it arrived it was beautifully packaged and looked great. Putting it on feels like a warm hug. You are basically walking around wearing an incredibly comfortable blanket. I love it.

With the warmer weather in our sights and the Government’s overseas travel list in place, staycations are expected to be even more popular than ever before. If you’re heading on one yourself, or pulling together an essentials list, I wanted to introduce you to the Snuggy – the perfect addition to your staycation wardrobe.

snuggy, lounge wear, warm , comfortable.

Adored by celebrities such as Chloe Ferry and Alex and Olivia Bowen, the Snuggy is an oversized hoodie that’s super cosy and warm. It’s ideal for throwing on when the temperature drops in the evening or for those pesky nighttime trips to the loo!

Available in five different colours at www.snuggy.shop, and with options for adults (£59.99), children (£34.99) and even your canine companions (£22.99), its soft flannel fleece exterior and sherpa fleece interior make it the ultimate in campsite cosy comfort.

 

Joffe Books has done it again, oh bravo: such a clutch of their authors have made the Reader’s Choice Awards line-up

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Wow, what great news from Joffe Books: a number of their wonderful authors have been chosen by the TCKPRCA committee to feature in the Reader’s Choice Awards line-up so, as they told Frost Magazine, so let’s not FORGET TO VOTE.

Featuring this year is:

  • Love Byte by David Atkinson
  • The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder by Victoria Dowd
  • When He Vanished by T.J. Brearton
  • Murder the Boys by Judith Cutler
  • Witch Fire on the Levels by David Hodges
  • Crime in the Gallery by Catherine Moloney
  • Crime in the College by Catherine Moloney
  • Murder Among Friends by Janice Frost
  • Before He Kills Again by Margaret Murphy
  • Don’t Scream by Margaret Murphy
  • Hidden in the Heart by Beth Andrews

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the award, TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards believe readers deserve to have a choice in the outcome of the awards. This belief has helped structure their casting, voting and award process and is central to everything they do.

So, readers,  it’s up to you to decide a winner in each category. To cast your vote, please visit: https://www.tckpublishing.com/2021-readers-choice-voting-page/

Such excitement, and riding on the back of that, let’s look at some other books on offer from Joffe Books this week:

            

Small Bones  by Kerry Buchanan 99p/99c

Green-fingered Sue Hearn is planting a herb garden and has spent the morning digging up all sorts of odds and ends, but the last thing she expected to dig up was a skull.   Her mother went missing thirty years ago, but surely this couldn’t be . . . or could it?   Sue confronts her father, aged and in hospital, and he insinuates the police were involved with the disappearance.   Crikey – now that’s a teaser.

A Sign for Murder by Linda Mather   99p/99c

Private Detective Jo Hughes takes on a new client, Connor Fitzpatrick, at the agency.   Connor’s brother Sean has gone missing. Then a body is found. And this missing person’s investigation becomes a murder inquiry.   He was last seen with a woman at the local pub. Who is she and how is she connected to the case? A nail biter quite frankly.

Smile and be a Villain by Jeanne M. Dams   £1.99/ $2.99

“Dorothy is a dear.” a  New York Times Book Review says about our heroine, and sure enough, a cozy thriller with enough twists and turns to make you dizzy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I have loved this series from the very first book! Hope Ms. Dams keeps on writing them for a very long time.” Jan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “So great to have a protagonist of this age who is perceptive and intelligent . . . I can’t say enough about the characterisation!” Ratcliff

A great deal more information on all Joffe Books has  to offer available here.

 

Ways remote work is reshaping how tech companies operate

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Let’s admit it; no one could have truly predicted what the world is currently dealing with due to the effects of COVID-19. The pandemic struck fast and hard and caught all of us off-guard.

For tech companies and most other businesses, that meant one thing; it was time to adapt (and do so quickly) or die. While remote work (or working from home) is not a completely new thing, it wasn’t a big trend yet pre-COVID.

Today, big tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook have embraced it, with many more like Blueground, a provider of furnished apartments in San Francisco, joining the bandwagon daily.

In this post, we look at how this new trend is rapidly changing how tech companies operate for the better.

Reduced costs

It is impossible to talk about the shift to remote work and not mention the positive impact it has on finances for both employers and employees.

With COVID-19 negatively impacting revenues, finding effective ways of cutting costs is a necessity. That’s why employers are offering workers the chance to work remotely at the expense of significantly reducing their salaries.

In addition to cutting operating costs, remote work is opening other avenues for employers. For example, it’s now possible to hire employees from different geographical locations, including offshore countries where labor is cheaper. Again, the net effect of this is reduced costs of doing business, which is key during times like these when companies are dealing with unprecedented economic challenges.

Increased productivity

According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, remote work can motivate employees to be more productive and yield higher results.

By working from home, workers are able to cut down the time it takes to commute to their workplaces. The truth is, commuting to work takes up a considerable amount of employees’ daily schedules. This not only increases fatigue but also raises their stress levels, especially if the commutes are hectic.

Remote work makes it possible for employees to earn a living without having to deal with such stressors. Ultimately, they become more productive and this shows in more sales and improved relations with other team members.

Wider pool of talent

When tech companies require employees to work in the office, they are oftentimes limiting their talent pool to just those who can work at their location. As a result, most end up missing out on sharper and more qualified candidates from other regions.

For example, living in Silicon Valley is expensive, which means candidates who don’t have enough money to live there will be unavailable for selection.

By embracing remote work, companies can comfortably widen their talent pool as they can recruit workers from any geographical region.

Are there downsides to working from home?

As with anything, it’s not all rosy when it comes to remote work. The increasing popularity of the trend means a lot of information is coming up on the negative side of it.

For starters, reports show that remote work has taken a toll on some workers since most were used to collaborating with a team in an office setting. As a result, some have found it difficult to self-motivate when working at home without any physical supervision. On the upside, the self-driven ones have benefited immensely from a lack of physical supervision.

Another problem that is arising is a lack of proper work-life balance. Some employees are finding it harder to separate work from their social life, thus eating into their personal time. This has led to issues such as increased divorce rates and gender-based violence cases. The premise behind it is that parents and partners no longer spend as much quality time with their loved ones as before.

However, all these hiccups are slowly getting smoothed out and soon, remote work will become the norm—especially in the tech sector.

Conclusion

When remote work first started to pick up speed, employers doubted they could manage their staffs, and that it would lead to a dip in productivity. However, this has been proven wrong, with most workers and supervisors now working smoothly via virtual platforms like Zoom.

This continues to work well for both companies and employees, as the former cuts down on operating costs, while employees benefited from the reduced hassle and cost of commuting to and from work.

Overall, shifting to remote work has enabled many tech companies to remain competitive and profitable. Whether it will be a future trend or just a temporary way to survive the disruption caused by COVID-19, it is easily the best thing that has happened to the tech industry in a long while!
Collaborative post with our brand partner.