Tag Archives: book reviews

November 9, 2015 · 5:21 pm

To the Supportive Blogging Community – Thank you!

Rewarding, Mutually supportive, fun, uplifting, encouraging, delightful … ~ oh that was so good! In an adjective deprived literary universe it is such a relief to let them flow, especially when talking about the blogging world. An author who ignores this gift of reaching out to other bloggers in the community of writers, deprives themselves of so much … love … yes love!

I’m sure that signing up for a Blog Tour is a good experience too, but there is nothing like reaching out and making ‘on line’ relationships, in the pure sense of the word, with like minded people and the benefits are far greater than selling a few more books – you make friendships which are lasting, often crossing social media to Twitter and Facebook.

My heart-felt thanks today are in no particular order, but here are some very special people whom I’ve been privilege to have ‘met’ over the last couple of years. You can click on the name for a link to their website or blog:

TME Walsh ~ I ‘met’ Tania through mutually sharing the same publishing company for our debut novel. She is now with Carina UK, an imprint of Harlequin – a division of HarperCollins – in 2015 with her DCI Claire Winters Series

Tony Riches ~ ‘The Writing Desk.’ Tony is a writer of Historical Fiction which have been best sellers on Amazon. His latest ‘Owen’ – the first of a Tudor trilogy, has already gained 54 4.5 star reviews! He gives insightful reviews of a variety Historical Fiction.

Karen Dahood who writes book reviews on bookpleasures.com is a writer of murder mysteries – The Sophie and Sam Series series. Karen’s novel features in my October book review above.

Pat Ruppel whose blog Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom has stories to inspire full of empathy and warmth. As far as I know she has not written a novel but I treasure her online friendship for the way she always says just ‘the right thing.’

Adam Croft has written a successful murder mystery series which adds delightful humour to the genre. His latest ‘Rough Justice’ is recently released on Amazon.

Mary Ann Loesch’s Allthingswriting.blogspot.com who is supportive of the writing community with her ‘guest blogger’ spot. Her books can be found on Amazon

Debra Brown for her tireless efforts on behalf of authors and readers of historical fiction on Englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.co.uk. Here’s her Amazon page.

JA Beard’s riftwatcher.blogspot.co.uk has wonderful ‘musings’ and insights for authors. Here are all his book releases

Rachel J Lewis whose humour shines through everything she says and will be releasing her debut novel though Urbane Publishers in 2017. Watch this space. Rachel juggles several blogs, organises a Writers’ Group in Ampthill and chaired the Ampthill Literary festival this year. A very busy lady!

Roderick Hart, a Scottish writer who’s novel ‘A Time to Talk’ ~ a mystery in a memoir style, is delightful in an unusual way.

M J Moore with her fantastic articles and resources for ’emerging writers’ and her novel ‘Times Tempest’ which I reviewed last year.

Andy Baskerville with his Fife Photos and Art is a new blogging ‘friend’ who has a mutual love of the Kingdom Fife. His eye for an unusual photo is not only special but it transports me back to a county I’ve come to know quite well, lived in for a year and have written about on my other blog http://www.selectionsofreflections.wordpress.com.

Oh dear. I’m sure I have missed many wonderful people, but to all of you bloggers who find time for others – many thanks. You deserve success as good karma is spread around the globe.

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Filed under Blogs, Book reviews, Historical Fiction, Marketing your novel, Social Media Networking

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October 14, 2015 · 8:58 am

One Year On and many thanks – To The UK Indie Literary Festival

One year on since ‘Murder Now and Then‘ was published and there are many folks I’d like to thank. Firstly to the team at The UK Indie Literary Festival for being so supportive, especially Rose English and Dawn Singh who have worked tirelessly on our behalf. Great people!

You can find a plethora of authors on their website Indieliteraryfest.weebly.com and they are on Facebook too!

ROSE ENGLISHI’ve read Rose English‘s ‘One Breath’ – a delightful story – one of those which you want to read twice straight off because you don’t want to let it go. She featured on my book review of the month and this is what I wrote:

“This story takes your breath away – literally. When you read it make sure you find a quiet spot ~ in the garden would be perfect ~ but certainly one where you will not be disturbed for half an hour. I’ve read it twice already.

Beautifully written, it tells the story of Dorothy, or Dotty as her ever loving husband Albert likes to call her ~ oh, what can I say without spoiling the story for you. This is a tale of love and tragedy and you will probably shed a tear or two, out of joy as well as pain. Dotty has a love for her garden, in which lies the symbolism of all that is significant in her life, including a rose to commemorate her ‘almost’ still born baby, Grace.

There is humour, fantasy and emotion woven through this tale, which won second prize in an online competition via ‘The Daily Bookworm’.  I hope that Rose English will go on to write novels and I believe her name will be one to watch out for in future years.”

I have yet to read Dawn Singh’s ‘The Monster Inside’ but it is on my wish list. What a title though!

Here’s a snippet of Rose’s review of ‘Murder Now and Then’ which you can read fully if you click review:

“As I said previously a real page turner, a book I feel would appeal to many ages’ especially younger readers wanting to perhaps try a mystery for the first time.

Very highly recommended”

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November 22, 2013 · 10:48 am

Another 5* Review ~ A Balance of Perspectives

I would like to celebrate with you two new 5* reviews on Amazon this week, the first for Riduna (the island of Alderney, Channel Islands):

Riduna

Riduna

“I read this book as the precursor to Ancasta to ensure I understood the characters and settings, and I’m pleased that I did. The author paints an engaging picture of life on the island of 150 years ago, aspects of which I could relate to my own early years. The story tells the timeless dramas of life’s progress spanning many years against this fascinating background, and is very readable – you really feel you get to know the characters and the island.”

 

 

 

 

The reader continues in his praise of Ancasta:

Ancasta Guide me Swiftly Home

Ancasta Guide me Swiftly Home

 

“The Riduna story develops dramatically as it shifts its location to Itchen Ferry Village, Southampton, straddling the years of WWI. We move from small island life to the world stage. I know this area well, and have stepped in the footprints of the characters. There is a rich wealth of detail encompassing the incredible events of this period, and the author has researched well, but kept the historical aspects in context with the central characters. Most enjoyable, and I very much look forward to the next in the series!”

Do I know this kind and thoughtful reader you may ask? Is he a friend or long lost relation? No, he first emailed me saying he’d bought the books when searching for the telephone number of The Yacht Tavern in Itchen Ferry village (most say Woolston unless you live there, where the people are very particular to differentiate and always have done, rightly so) I have met him subsequently. Following a successful book signing session at West Quay Waterstones Southampton I took my parents to the Yacht for lunch and I signed the gentleman’s books and had a lovely chat.

I particularly liked the way he talked of walking in the footsteps of the characters and several people, who have written emails to me after borrowed the books from local libraries down in Hampshire, said much the same thing.

Other positive reviews recently received recently were from a reading group in Luton, Bedfordshire and yet again I knew none of them (I am writing this for the writers among you) The feedback was that all enjoyed the book although it was not a genre they would normally pick up to read, preferring thrillers and murder mysteries. I was so grateful for their feedback because firstly they had not read the first in the series Riduna and secondly they lived no where near the settings of the novel and so I was assured that their unfamiliarity did not diminish their enjoyment of Ancasta.

Having said all of this I do appreciate any feedback, especially from writers who will point out the finer details. I can learn much from their feedback which will enable me to refine my craft for future writing. I always ask readers and writers for their honest opinions, as I hope I would give myself.

If you have read either of my books and would like to let me know what you think, but would rather email me  here’s the address: 

diana@dianamaryjackson.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

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Filed under Ancasta, Book reading, Book reviews, Riduna, Woolston

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