Monthly Archives: September 2024

Cover reveal – A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hatjarjanto

I am happy to be involved with the cover reveal for an exciting new horror historical novel, A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hatjarjanto.

A Dress to Kill For is a horror short story, perfect for those who love The Picture of Dorian Gray and Crimson Peak. It is released on Monday 30th September 2024.

Here is a little teaser:

Blurb

How much are you willing to sacrifice to gain everything you ever wanted?

Lady Claire Rosewood lives on the fringes of society, pitied by the people she used to call her friends, and her husband is no longer the suave businessman he once was. Frustrated with both her status and her marriage, she longs for more.

When an opportunity presents itself that allows her not only to be part of higher society, but to mingle with the elite, she needs to make a choice. Every rise to the top comes at a cost, but is she ready to pay with blood?

You can read reviews of A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hatjarjanto on: Goodreads.

To purchase a copy go to Universal Book Link to choose your prefered format. Or if you subscribe to Tessa’s newsletter you will be able to receive a free copy of A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hatjarjanto sent straight to your inbox on September 28th 2024. To sign up for this fantastic free offer go to Tessa’s website: www.tessahastjarjanto.com.

So the moment you have all been waiting for here is the cover for A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hatjarjanto:

A Dress to Kill For by Tessa Hatjarjanto

The cover was designed by Tessa Hastjarjanto and created using Feastock / Depositphoto.

Woman with dark red hair wears a Victorian evening gown made form black satin. The bottom of the skirt is blood red, forming a gradient towards the black. She stands with her back towards the camera and holds open the red velvet curtains, walking through them. Shadows surround the whole image. There's red text at the top, Tessa Hastjarjanto (author), and next to the woman, on the shadowed curtain, A Dress to Kill For.

About the author

Tessa Hastjarjanto is a Dutch/Indonesian writer from the Netherlands. She writes speculative fiction, and blogs at narratess.com about books, fountain pens, and writing.

From a young age, she imitated popular stories and games in creating her own worlds. This love eventually led to a master’s degree in media and game studies at the University of Utrecht.

However a mundane desk job was enough to inspire her to follow her creative passion. The first fanfics were written in lunch breaks and soon original fiction followed.

With the support of her husband, she now focuses on her writing career while battling chronic pain. Swiss white shepherd, Shiro, acts as a therapy dog to keep her healthy and reduce stress through extensive cuddle sessions.

Social links

https://www.tessahastjarjanto.com
https://twitter.com/Endalia
https://www.instagram.com/tessa.hastjarjanto/ https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tessa-hastjarjanto https://www.amazon.com/Tessa-Hastjarjanto/e/B07Q8RK3FH https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18995971.Tessa_Hastjarjanto

Spotlight: The Carousel Horse by Tony Mitton and Penny Neville-Lee

My spotlight today is for The Carousel Horse written by Tony Mitton and iIllustrated by Penny Neville-Lee.

This beautiful picture book is a timeless, magical tale of a carousel pony who comes to life and goes on an adventure by moonlight. it is publsihed by Bloomsbury and will be released later this week on Thursday 12th September.

Blurb

The Carousel Horse spends his days giving children rides at the fair. But
secretly he dreams of something more . . .

When a beautiful, sparkling princess appears and helps him to break free
from his carousel, the two of them soar into the sky on a grand journey that
takes them to the moon and back.

But where is home for the Carousel Horse? Discovering that might just be
the greatest adventure of all.

With a lyrical rhyming text by the much-missed Tony Mitton, acclaimed
poet, and stunning, luminous illustrations by rising star Penny Neville-Lee,
The Carousel Horse is a magical story about following your dreams and
finding out where you belong – perfect for sharing at bedtime.

About the Author

Tony Mitton was born in North Africa, and grew up in Africa, Germany,
Hong Kong, and England. He was a much-loved poet, teacher and writer of
children’s books, and lived for many years in Cambridge, England.

About the Illustrator

Penny Neville-Lee is a painter and illustrator specialising in children’s
books. With an MA in Painting from The Royal College of Art, she is happiest
when surrounded by pencils and coming up with ideas for beautiful books.

Spotlight – The Seamaiden’s Odyssey by Berlie Doherty and Tamsin Rosewell

My spotlight today is for The Seamaiden’s Odyssey, written by Berlie Doherty and illustrated by Tamsin Rosewell. This middle fantasy is due for publication on the 5th September 2024 by UClan Publishing.

Blurb

From twice Carnegie Medal-winning author, Berlie Doherty, comes a stunning new fable, drawing on the folklore of ocean and landscape to create a magical coming-of-age novella for the modern era, brought to life by Tamsin Rosewell.

A strange and beautiful sea-creature is brought into the marine sanctuary where Sasha works. The sea-girl is kept as an exhibit and for scientific research. But Sasha wants to know more about her – are there more of her kind? What sort of community does she come from? Does she have a family?

There is a story to be told, in exchange for a promise. It is a story of cruelty and grief, of love and longing and pride; the story of Merryn, who makes a traumatic journey from sea and to land, from defiance to finding her true self and the power of sisterhood.

About the Author

Berlie Doherty is the author of the best-selling novel, Street Child, and over 60 more books for children, teenagers and adults, and has written many plays for radio, theatre and television.

She has been translated into over twenty languages and has won many awards, including the Carnegie medal for both Granny Was a Buffer Girl and Dear Nobody, and the Writers’ Guild Award for both Daughter of the Sea and the theatre version of Dear Nobody. She has three children and seven grandchildren, and lives in the Derbyshire Peak District.

About the Illustrator

Tamsin Rosewell is an artist, historian and broadcaster with a background in politics. She was a bookseller for 15 years, with a specialist knowledge in children’s and picture books before moving to illustration.

She is also known for her painted window displays. Tamsin is a regular panel speaker and Festival event chair, as well as being a judge of the Stratford Salariya Picture Book Prize. She is based at 55-year-old independent bookshop, Kenilworth Books, but divides her time between London, Oxford and Warwickshire

To discover more about The Seamaiden’s Odyssey, Berlie’s inspiration and view some of Tamsin’s artwork take a look at Belie Doherty’s website: www.berliedoherty.com.

You can see my other spotlights of Berlie Doherty’s books on my blog here: