Nondula is the second part of the 'Waifs of Duldred' trilogy and it's shaping up to be the most interesting trilogy I've read in a long time. If you haven't read book one, 'Oy Yew', I suggest you add it to your reading list immediately! You can read my review here, if...
Wonder is a story of strength, courage and bravery, of overcoming obstacles and not letting your fears stand in your way. It reminds us not to judge people based on how they look. Wonder is a story every child should read. My eight year old is one of my reluctant...
Did your child come home with a recommended reading list for the summer holidays? Mine did and it's always met with a rather large sigh, already too much for her to cope with just by looking at it. For some children, reading is a challenge and because of that, they...
I have a number of four and five star reviews for my children's fiction book. This is what some of my readers have to say: "I am 10 and I usually love adventure stories. The front cover of this book appealed to me .... as did the idea of a mystery! I have laughed at...
I’ve written many times before about my children and their reading struggles. The eldest found learning to read difficult and as a consequence refused to even try. The reading schemes did nothing to inspire her and rather than face a daily battle of tears and...
After getting my hands on a few copies of my debut novel from the publisher, as well as setting the stage with props and prompts from the book, the day of the launch party finally rolled around. Pink fizz and conversation flowed, amidst sampling of my homemade gluten...
There is much excitement in my household at the moment as we prepare for this weekend's book launch. Harnessing my creative side, and that of my children (the girls in particular), we've been busy creating props and displays for the party. Called 'The Mystery of the...
Like many children growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, our childhood was all about the outdoors I often talk to my children about the street where I grew up. It was a 1960’s-built cul-de-sac, not untypical of that era, lined on each side with matching semi-detached...
Baby X is a clever debut by Rebecca Ann Smith that asks so many questions about the ethics of modern science as it delves into the world of IVF. Dr Alex Mansfield, a pioneer in the world of reproductive research, known as IVG, has gestated a fetus in an artificial...
I think it's so useful to get advice from other authors and I will absorb all the information I can get my hands on to help navigate through this complex business. Back in July, author Karen Inglis shared her writing process in an interview I did with her. Today it's...
I have exciting news from Nikki Young Writes and I've been bursting to share it. My first book is going to be published soon! Many of you who follow this blog will know I spent a lot of last year working on my young adult manuscript. I finished a second draft and...
Oy is a waif. Except he doesn't know it. He doesn't know anything about who he is or where he came from. Hiding out in the back alley of a bakery is all he has ever known, until he is captured. When the waif-snatchers ensnare him in their net and deliver him into the...
I love meeting other authors. For me, it's very inspiring and gives me hope that I will one day be in a similar position. It's incredibly hard work though and takes a lot of dedication, as my guest today will tell you. Karen Inglis is a children’s author living in...
I’ve been quiet on the blogging front recently. Sometimes, I feel as though I could quite easily spend all my time blogging and never get anything else done. I have to pull myself away from it every now in then so I can concentrate on other projects. That means I’ve...
I spent last week in Italy and that meant plenty of relaxing and reading time. My holiday book of choice was Here We Lie, by Sophie McKenzie. It's a murder mystery that I would thoroughly recommend as it kept me guessing right until the end. This is one of those...
The blurb on this book tells of the discovery of a skeleton on the roof of a derelict building in Edinburgh and of a vigilante seeking vengeance for past crimes. What it doesn't tell you is that this story links to the time of the Balkan's wars and the terrible...
If you like action thrillers or mysteries, The Boston Girl isn't the book for you, but for an easy read and a feel good tale, you will definitely find that with this story. Telling the story of her life, is octogenarian Addie Baum and it's a tale of growing up in the...
This is the second book on my summer reading list and one that fellow blogger Maddy, from Writing Bubble also read as part of an on-line book club. In Bitter Chill is a classic mystery story, centered around the abduction of two girls in a quiet Derbyshire town in...
Juggling work and the school holidays has thrown me and I haven't kept up to my usual Friday Fiction post. Apologies for that. What I did want to get around to writing about though, was an article I read in the Times about getting children to read. This article struck...
As it is the first Friday of the month, I am opening my Friday Fiction slot to invite other bloggers to link up any fiction and book review posts. This is a great way to find recommendations for what to read and just to enjoy some quality fiction work. I hope you can...