Monthly Archives: October 2024

Blog Tour – Spooksmith Investigates: The Cinderman

I am happy to announce today is my stop on blog tour for Spooksmiths Investigates: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson. This chilling Middle grade novel ws publsihed on the 10thOctober 2024 by Usborne books.

If you would like to win a copy of Spooksmiths Investigates: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson simply leave a comment on this blog post. This prize giveaway is open to all UK residents. Please be aware you must be happy for your postal details to be forwarded to Usbourne and Kaleidoscopic Tours so they can mail you a physical copy of the book.

My stop on the tour takes the form of a review.

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Title: Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman

Written by: Alex Atkinson

Cover art by: Miriam Serafin

Published by: Usborne

Blurb:

Discover a brilliantly spooky new horror-mystery series for fans of Dread Wood, Goosebumps and Aveline Jones…

Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour, but they don’t believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo knocks over an old urn, accidentally releasing the Cinderman: a terrifying ash monster, who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies, unless they can stop him by sunset.

Using their newly awakened Spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman’s true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes?

Review

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman is a well-paced mystery with plenty of spooky scenes and cliff-hangers that kept me turning the pages.

Indigo and Rusty’s parents run the 400-year-old funeral home in Greyscar. Bhind one of the bookshelfs Indigo discovers a secret room where she inadvertedly smashes an urn containing the ashes of The Cinderman who was trapped there by here grandfather. That night the ashes cover the village turning everyone to zombies except the twelve-year-old twins, Indigo and Rusty, as they are Spooksmiths who have the ability to see and talk to ghosts.

The Cinderman is a formidable villain with a few spine-chilling traits. In contrast Phrank the Pheasant is a dynamic and hilariously funny ghost with some excellent one-liners. Together they add the ideal mix of comedy and horror that will delight middle grade readers.

Rusty and Indigo’s character arc has been artfully crafted to demonstrate how they antagonise each other at the beginning and gradually learn to overcome their differences to work together to uncover the mystery of The Cinderman to save the village before Ashmageddon strikes. One of my favourite scenes is when Indigo and Rusty meet the residents of Little Hope Graveyard and we see them beginning to work as a team.

A great, excellently written middle-grade mystery with themes of sibling rivalry and finding the best in yourself, ideal for Key Stage Two at Halloween.

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Here is a little Halloween taster from the first chapter:

Extract

There’s a secret door in my family’s bookcase.

A secret door with steps going down behind it…

It’s the entrance to a basement. Or a dungeon. Or maybe it’s a bat cave. I let out a nervous laugh, but I’m more excited than scared. I have so many questions. I could – and probably should – get Mum or Dad, but they’ll just tell me it’s dangerous and stop me investigating…

Or maybe they already know about the secret door and have kept it hidden? A familiar fizz of anger bubbles in my belly. It would be so typical of them to keep something like this quiet. I can hear their disapproving voices in my head: It’s too dark and dangerous and dirty.

I’m going in.

The doorway doesn’t reach down to the floor like a normal door. It’s two shelves up, so I have to climb inside, ducking to avoid the clusters of spider’s webs dangling from the ceiling. The light behind me illuminates a set of twisting stone steps. I take a deep breath and immediately regret it: the air in here is stinkier than Rusty’s bedroom, like dust mixed with sweaty socks.

Halfway down, the stairs twist to the left, a pillar blocking the light from above. The next step down is in complete darkness. I curse myself for not having my phone on me, but heading back up to get it and being caught by Dad isn’t an option, so I keep going, holding the wall to guide me. Maybe

there’s a light switch further down.

Five more steps and I reach the bottom. There’s a faint whispering sound, but it’s probably just the pipes from the house. I take a few hesitant, shuffling steps forward and my outstretched hands brush something cold and metallic. The whispering gets louder as I pick the something up. It’s the size of a coffee jar and weighs almost nothing.

Intrigued, I shuffle back to the stairs, towards the light. As I climb, the thing seems to get colder. Icy tendrils numb my hands, climbing up my arms towards my heart, leaving me wondering what could be inside.

I round the corner of the basement stairway and a shaft of light from upstairs lands on my hands.

I’m holding a dented, dusty old urn.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

We’ve got urns all over the place. Why is this one hidden in a secret basement?

As if in answer, the urn lid rattles.

I scream and instinctively throw the urn away. It lands with a clatter somewhere beneath me. The gasping sound that follows chills me to the bone. It sounds like someone taking their first breath in a long time. Heart pounding, I race up the stairs to the doorway pursued by a dry, ash-choked voice:

“Speak my name.”

I’m so freaked out I can barely remember my own name, but I think…I think that voice came from whatever –or whoever – was in that urn.

Which means only one thing: I can hear the dead.

About the Author

Alex Atkinson loves scary books filled with oddball characters. She blames her idyllic North Yorkshire childhood spent playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to her dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories. After studying English and Politics at Newcastle University, she worked as a website content editor.

She now lives in a village in Hertfordshire with her husband, kids, dogs and tortoise, but dreams of abandoned buildings, ghosts and zombies. SPOOKSMITHS INVESTIGATE: THE CINDERMAN is her debut novel.

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/alexatkinsonstories  

X: https://x.com/alatkinson    

To follow th erest o the tour take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

Just to remind you all you can win a copy of the book by leaving a message below.

Blog Tour – Handle with Care by Louisa Reid

It is with great pleasure I am joining the tour for Handle with Care by Louisa Reid, published by Guppy Books on 10thOctober 2024. Handle with Care is a stunningly powerful YA novel from a master storyteller told in both prose and verse.

Blurb

No one knows Ruby is pregnant – not even Ruby herself. So when she gives birth at school on a miserable February morning, her world is thrown into chaos. Keeping the baby isn’t an option, but keeping quiet about who the father of her child definitely is; because if Ruby’s best friend Ashley finds out the truth, then she’ll lose her too.

When Ruby finally realises what she and her baby need, somehow that doesn’t seem to matter any more. So Ruby must take matters into her own hands, with tragic consequences…

Extract

Pretend I’m fine.

Pretend I’m not standing here

something running down my legs.

They all think I’ve wet myself.

All night I lay in bed

my belly tight.

Not a second’s sleep.

Period, I thought,

thank God,

maybe

my period is coming at last,

and I swallowed pills,

paracetamol, ibuprofen,

and tried to dream.

But now,

now my body

is an enemy

that takes my breath,

and holds me in a relentless fist.

I pant, try to stand up straight,

gasp,

don’t want to make a noise,

don’t want them to look,

but it HURTS.

I bite my lip, my cheeks.

Head spins.

I want to be sick.

About the Author

Louisa Reid is the author of the YA verse novels Gloves Off, nominated for the Carnegie Medal, Wrecked, which was selected for both the Read for Empathy collection and National Poetry Day and Activist. Her debut adult novel, The Poet, was published to critical acclaim. Louisa Reid has spent most of her life reading.

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When Louisa’s not reading she’s writing stories, or imagining writing them at least. As an English teacher, her favourite part of the job is sharing her love of reading and writing with her pupils. Louisa lives with her family in the north-west of England and is proud to call a place near Manchester home.

You can follow Louisa Reid on:

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

Spotlight – Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu

My spotlight today is for Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu written by Ain Heath Drew and illustrated by Erin Robinson. It is due for publication by Barefoot Books on Tuesday 17th September 2024 and suitable for readers 5+.

Quote

“Our ancestors come from many nations in Africa. We are still connected to them today…
Our cultures, our style, and our ways are connected to the ways of our ancestors.”
“What do you mean, Dad?”
“I’ll tell you more about this tomorrow, Ayo. Right now, it’s bedtime.”

Blurb

Join Ayo as he explores the creative and resilient cultures of his heritage.

One night, a young African American boy Ayo tumbles into an extraordinary journey across the African diaspora. From hip-hop to kente cloth, from Mansa Musa to revolution, the African diaspora has inspired the world!

Ayo’s Adventure is an A-Z introduction to the vast and powerful global concept of the dispersion of African people across the globe and offers an engaging way to explore many diverse cultures, historical figures, nations, events, and movements within the diaspora.

The wide-ranging countries and cultures represented include Trinidad and Tobago, the Dogon and Makonde people, Nigeria, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Ghana, Haiti, Mali, Ethiopia, Xhosa, Yoruba, Zulu, and more! Colourful spreads include info boxes and country labels, while thorough back-of-the-book resources deepen engagement with the story and further explore connections between the nations and traditions represented on both sides of the Atlantic.

About the Author

Ain Drew is the author of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. She is inspired by the power of words and loves writing beautiful stories for children. As an educator, Ain uses books to expand her students’ knowledge about the world around them.

Ain lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and enjoys spending time with her son, DJ, learning about different cultures around the globe, exploring new places, and reading.

Ain Heath Drew says:

“Bringing the idea for this book to life has been an adventure. I expected to teach young readers about the beauty of the African diaspora, but I didn’t anticipate how much I would learn.”

About the Illustrator

Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art.

Erin’s illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, and she has illustrated numerous picture books, including A Library by Nikki Giovanni. Erin splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC.

Reviews

“A book brimming with affirmations of Blackness! Ayo’s Adventure is a love letter that reveals to be part of the African Diaspora is to be part of a global community of Black brilliance, Black creativity, Black resilience, Black joy” (Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, co-founder of the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy)

“Structured as an ABC book (A is for Afro, B is for Braids, C is for Calypso), Ayo’s adventure takes him all around the globe . . . This is a valuable book to serve as a mirror or window for a wide variety of readers and reading levels” (School Library Journal)

“A gentle but enormously powerful introduction to the Diaspora, Ayo’s Adventure is a joyfully inventive journey that can inspire readers of all ages to explore the many ways that people of African heritage around the world are connected” (Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of Makeda Makes a Birthday Treat)

“As a lifelong literacy advocate, I seek out children’s books that help kids explore the world around them. Ayo’s Adventure is a journey through the sights and sounds of the African diaspora. I loved hanging out with Ayo on his adventure. I learned so much.” (LeVar Burton, Actor + Children’s Literacy Advocate)

“Ayo’s Adventure is a dreamy and illustrious stroll through Black history and culture. It is a beautiful and brilliant reminder that Blackness is both deep and wide and joyful. It is everything I would read to my three free Black children” (Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Ph.D, Chair of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College)

Spotlight – Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth

I am please to announce I am taking part in the spotlight tour for the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024. Today I am spotlighting a young adult fantasy , Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth.

About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours

The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth is a 375 page historically based fantacy romance published on August 29th, 2023.

Blurb

“You will be bound, dragon and human.”

Finlay McDonough wants nothing more than to be a Dragon Knight: a warrior bound with a dragon partner, intent on ridding the kingdom of its dragon-killing monarchy. Well, she might want one thing just a bit more … Evander, her childhood friend, now keeper of the dragon sanctuary. Scouting with Evander one day, Finlay’s attempt to save a dragon goes horribly wrong, and she inadvertently ties her fate to the dragon’s—their souls bind, lending Finlay powers like those of the Mages the Knights are sworn to destroy.

After passing the trial to train as a Knight, Finlay discovers a devastating truth about a beloved dragon. To save them, she’ll need to risk her dream of becoming a true Knight, her chance at a happily-ever-after with Evander . . . and maybe her very identity.

Fantasy romance with a fierce heroine, gentle love interest, sassy dragon companion, and more than a dash of adventure awaits.

My Thoughts on the Book:

The writing was engaging with a good pace. There is some detailed world building and plenty of information given to keep me turning the pages. Enough hints were dropped to me want to find out more. In this way, I was invested in the story.

Finlay and her friends want to be dragon knights and they have to complete their training and apprenticeships. We really delve into their feelings for each other with the extensive descriptions of the characters. There was also some intensive world building to help set the scene.

The characters were well developed and there was plenty of character emotional response which was good. They were believable and their feelings for each other relatable. I liked Finlay’s impetuous nature, which sometimes had devestating results.

I particularly liked the dilemma of Finlay wanting to be a Dragon Knight whilst knowing she would love to work full time in the dragon sanctuary with Evander. I was also impressed with the characterisation of the dragons. Each dragon has been given it’s own personality, which comes out in the way they speak and react.

On the whole, lots of intrigue throughout. An enjoyable read with a real Mills & Boon style romance.

Author Bio

Shelby Elizabeth is a teacher in Upstate New York. She is a major geek (favourite fandoms include Lord of the Rings, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and One Piece) and loves spending time with her family, and relaxing at home with her cats.

She writes both young adult fantasy romance and young adult contemporary romance. Shelby can be found on Twitter (X) @ShelbyEBooks and on Instagram @shelbyelizabethbooks.

You can read more reviews by following the links below.

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/fH25bpl (Canada) https://a.co/d/2sbTghu (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/15fL8Pc (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181209722-lady-of-dragons-part-one

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c92d6b16-64cd-4b12-9c14-b51f1ee62e63?redirect=true

Blog Tour – US launch of Terra Electrica

I am thrilled to be able to join The Write Reads Ultimate US Blog Tour for Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell. This brilliant dystopian,middle grade adventure is published by Neem Tree Press and was launched in the UK on July 4th 2024 .

My stop on the tour takes the form of a spotlight of the book.

About the Book:

Blurb

Book 1 in an action-packed dystopian adventure series set in the near-future post-melt Arctic.

The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force—Terra Electrica—has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.

In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.

Can Mani piece everything together and harness her newfound powers in time to save humanity?

You can read reviews of Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North here:

About the Author:

Antonia Maxwell is a writer and editor based in North Essex and Cambridge, UK.

With a  degree in Modern Languages and a long-standing career as a book editor, she has a lifelong curiosity for language and words, and a growing fascination in the power of story – the way it shapes our lives and frames our experience.

I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

To follow the rest of the tour please see the schedule below:

Spotlight – Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos by Donncha O’Callaghan with Karen Owen

For my spotlight today I will be introducing the hilarious Disaster Dad series by Irish rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan, written with Blue Peter Book Club author Karen Owen and illustrated by Jenny Taylor. This series is pubished by Eriu, an imprint of Bonnier Books and is released this week, on Thursday 24th October 2024.

A laugh-out-loud family story for readers aged 7+, perfect for fans of Dermot O’Leary and Pamela Butchart.  Disaster Dad is a four-book series for developing readers who love mischief, disaster and embarrassing stories!

Blurb

When Dad decides to plan a special surprise for Mum’s birthday, the house turns to chaos! Mum is going to America to visit family for a week and has left a very clear master plan for Dad, Finn and Emma to follow.

But when the plan is destroyed, Dad goes rogue and starts organising a birthday surprise! From disastrous D-I-Y and cockadoodle-doo-ing cockerels to bonkers baking, this book is crammed full of chaos!

About the Author

Doncha O’Callaghan is one of Ireland’s most recognisable faces in the world of sport, TV and radio. The rugby legend, who played for Munster, Ireland and the Lions, has turned his attention to broadcasting in recent years and become a firm favourite with both listeners and viewers across RTÉ on the 2FM Breakfast Show, Ireland’s Fittest Family and The Full Irish Hidden Camera Show. Donncha is also a devoted husband and father-of-four. Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos is his first book.

Karen Owen is the author of the Major and Mynah series, amongst others. She was brought up in Kent and currently lives in London. She has loved books from a young age and read every children’s title in the village library. She spends her days in a variety of imaginary worlds, either writing or reading. Her favourite story is always the one she is creating at the moment. She enjoys hiking and her ambition is to walk the coast of Great Britain (but not all in one go).

About the Illustrator

Jenny Taylor is a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and self-confessed biscuit lover specialising in fun and quirky children’s book illustration. Originally hailing from Falkirk, Scotland, well-known for its magical horse heads, she now lives in Preston where she works as a full-time illustrator.

Blog Tour – The Lonley Lighthouse of Elston-Fright

Today I am very pleased to be joining the blog tour for The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter. This chilling middle grade adventure is the sequel to A Girl Called Corpse and was released by Usborne on the 10th October, just in time for Halloween.

To celebrate this release of The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter, Usborne are giving away free copies of the first book in the series, A Girl Called Corpse. To win a copy all you have to do is leave a message here on my blog about this series.

The spooky cover art for both books was by Maxine Lee-Mackie and the inside illustrations were beautifully done by Eleanora Asparuhova. the title lettering was by Kristy Lund-White with additional lettering by Sarah Coleman.

Here is a little more information about both books:

Blurb for A Girl Called Corpse

“A spooky, funny, magical and atmospheric adventure with a compelling hero you will adore.” Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of Nevermoor

Maybe some ghosts enjoy walking through walls and being invisible – not me. I never asked to be a kid ghost.

With no memory of the kid she was before she was taken by the Witches, Corpse is bound to haunt the rock-that-doesn’t-exist for ever.

Until she learns of a treasure, one that can reunite Corpse with her family and her name. She must set off for answers, on a journey across the stormy sea, battling magic, zombie-skeletons and monsters. But the Witches want the treasure too.

And they’ll do anything to get to it first.

Welcome to Elston-Fright, a forgotten town where witches lurk, sea monsters roam and a girl is on the hunt for answers…

Previously published in the UK as The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name.

Blurb for The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright

The thing about magic is that it likes to stay hidden…

Flip Little’s family have always been Lightkeepers, guardians sworn to protect the town of Elston-Fright from magical, monstrous threats. And Flip is no stranger to magic; only he knows about the two ghost-girls haunting a rock out at sea.

When their spider friend, Simon, is spider-napped by ancient Poltergusts, weather ghouls out to cause mayhem, Flip, Girl and Corpse set out to rescue him. But first they must find and return the missing Light to the lighthouse, restoring its magic.

Only nothing in Elston-Fright is quite as it seems. Questions bubble up from the deep. Dark secrets emerge. And soon, Flip and his friends learn that in order to beat the Poltergusts they need to understand what happened in the past.

First Impressions of The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright

Due to the late arrival of this book, I have unfortunately been unable to finish in time for my stop on the blog tour but I can give you my first impressions.

The first few chapters of the novel are very well-written and do draw you in. Even though there are a few false starts you get a great sense of voice and the Lighthouse setting is very vivid and definiely eerie.

It is written in dual narrative from the points of view of corpse and Flip who yearns for adventure and the kid-ghost Corpse from the previous book. Flip is short for his age but does not let this hold him back. Corpse can fly with the aid of her Cemetery Stone. I particularly liked the way we got Flip’s view of Corpse and her view of Flip. The supporting characters Girl who is also a ghost and Simon the Spider who has gone missing are also well-developed.

I always love a map in an adventure book and both books in theseries do not disappoint. Here is the map so you can an idea of what I mean:

I look forward to completing the novel.

Extract from The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright

If there’s one thing I know, it’s this: being a Lightkeeper is Very Serious Business. Protecting an entire town from dangerous magic? That’s a big responsibility. Seriously big. But somebody’s got to do it. After all, you can’t just let your home become overrun by wickedness and shadow, can you? You can’t allow briny bogey people and wily wraiths to roam about freely, hurting people as they go. No, you have to defend your home. You have to protect it from harm. And when it comes to the fishing town of Elston-Fright that I call my home, the person who’s always protected it from bad magic has been a Little.

Like me. I’m a Little – Flip Little.

And Littles are Lightkeepers.

My family’s been doing it for ever – taking care of Elston-Fright, that is – ever since my great-great-great-grandfather Lionel Little built the lighthouse where, these days, I live with my nan. The town wasn’t much more than a handful of cottages back then, and the wharf was no more than a single crooked jetty. The fish mill hadn’t been built yet, and the town hall didn’t even have its bell. The lighthouse was one of the very first buildings to crop up in Elston-Fright, and it quickly became the most important. It was from the lighthouse, at its far-flung place on the point, that Littles would fulfil their duty to protect. Ever vigilant, Lightkeepers would keep an eye – both eyes, actually – on Elston-Fright, ready to respond to whatever magical threat might be the next to arrive on its shores. That’s why, after seeing the very-weird-and-totally-not-normal thing that I saw from my window this morning, I knew it was up to me to investigate. Strange things don’t just happen, after all. Mysteries don’t solve themselves.

Somebody has to look into it – who better than a Little?

Bertie’s motor growls loudly. My hand is squeezed so tightly around the tiller that if I looked back at it, I’m sure my knuckles would be bone white. I don’t look back, though. I look forwards, towards my destination, with my eyes narrowed against the morning sun. The wind whipping off the ocean is icy, and every now and again Bertie’s bow crashes into a wayward wave and kicks water up in my face. It gets in my mouth, salty and sharp, and it goes up my nose too, but I quickly wipe it away with my free hand and urge Bertie to move faster. My heart thumps in my chest.

Bertie is my little yellow dinghy, by the way. Or, well, it’s my nan’s little yellow dinghy. I’m only borrowing it.

Does it count as borrowing if Nan doesn’t know about it?

I shake the thought from my head. There’s no time for thinking about all that right now. It’s one of the first rules of Lightkeeping: there are times for thinking, and there are times for acting. After spotting the mystery-in-question from my window, now definitely counts as a time for acting.

Besides, I’m about as used to breaking rules as a person comes.

But before I can investigate the very-weird-and-totally-not-normal thing, there’s something else that I need. Every hero needs their sidekicks, and so that’s why right now I’m racing across the water at full speed, headed for backup. Directly ahead of me, breaching the waters like some kind of supersized whale, is the rock where I’ll find it. It’s the rock where my very best friends live.

About the Author

Reece Carter is a high-profile Australian nutritionist who has written two non-fiction books for adults, appeared on many of Australian’s major television networks, and written for magazines like GQ. He grew up in rural Western Australia and now lives in Sydney.

To discover more about Reece Carter and his books take a look at his website: https://www.reececarter.com.au/ You can also follow him on Instagram: @herbnerdreece and X: @herbnerdreece.

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

Spotlight – Cobalt by Sue Klauber

It is my pleasure to be spotlighting Sue Klauber’s new historical novel Cobalt today. Cobalt by Sue Klauber was released September 12th 2024 and is published by Troika Books.

This is the follow-up story to Zinc about three Jewish siblings John, George and Eva who continue to play different roles to help the war effort in WW2.

As with Zinc, Cobalt would be ideal as a class text to support a study of on WWII. It provides an insightful reflection of what life was like for the Jews during WWII, which could be used to trigger discussions on the events and inspire empathy. Historical fiction at its best.

Blurb

George trains in Scotland for his SOE mission to Poland to help the fighters in the Secret Army.

After his work at Bletchley Park, John is now stationed in Cairo in Egypt working on plans to deceive Field Marshall Rommel about the location of the impending battle, while sister Eva in Hungary is finding life for anyone Jewish getting harder and harder as the Nazis harden their grip over the country. Will the siblings ever manage to get together? They share so many memories, but war keeps them apart.

Based on the extraordinary real-life experiences of Sue Klauber’s father (Coding at Bletchley Park), uncle (SOE in Europe) and aunt (Resistance), she wrote Zinc and now Cobalt  to illustrate the courage of her Jewish family.

Extract

As part of my spotlight post I have been lucky enough to include an extract from the novel.

You can discover more about the writing of Cobalt here: Sue Klauber takes us behind the scenes of Cobalt, the much-anticipated sequel to Zinc.

About the Author

Sue is an experienced fundraiser and former media educator. She has produced films made by refugee children from Columbia, Kurdistan, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Armenia and Romania, worked as a fundraiser in arts and social care charities and is now the Trusts and Foundation Lead for a charity where she monitors grants across areas of residential care, community centres, physical disability and Holocaust survivors’ services.

Sue’s exciting middle-grade novels, set in the Second World War, are based on the extraordinary real-life experiences of her father, uncle and aunt.

They showcase the active and courageous participation of her North London Jewish family in the wartime struggle against tyranny.

To read my interview with Sue Klauber about the writing of Zinc take a look at: Special Guest Q & A with Sue Klauber.

You can also read a review of the first book in the series here: Book Review: Zinc by Sue Klauber

You can follow Sue on Instagram @Sueklauber and X @sue_klauber

Sue is available for author events in a variety of contexts, such as schools, libraries and community groups. Find out more, including contact details to discuss an event, in this flyer: Zinc by Sue Klauber: author events.

You can buy copies of Cobalt by Sue Klauber from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

Spotlight – A Blend of Magic by Kate Kenzie

I will be kicking off an extra special spotlight tour with romance novelist Kate Kenzie to celebrate her novel, A Blend of Magic, which was a semi-finalist in the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024.

About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours

The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.

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A Blend of Magic is a 388-page romance fantasy for adults that was published on the 31st October, 2023. Here is the blurb:

Blurb

A witch cannot exist on potions and tea alone.

Hiding in the shadows, staunch singleton Willow Anderson is content running her successful business, The Enchanted Emporium. With Christmas days away, she’s eager to exchange selling bespoke tea blends and spells for extended bubble baths and binge-watching festive movies snuggled next to her Maine Coon, Vincent.

Nate never usually runs away from his problems, but drunk and disorientated, he finds himself in a small fisherman’s cottage in the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby. After discovering his girlfriend’s affair, he is in no rush to return to the City. His wish for time alone in a Christmas-free zone comes true until an uninvited feline guest arrives.

Neither Nate nor Willow want company, especially from each other, but they have little choice when concussion means they must spend at least twenty-four hours together. Sparks fly and not just the romantic kind. When darkness from Willow’s past returns and threatens to destroy all she has worked for, pursuing a love affair is the last thing she needs.

With meddling ghosts and a teenage apprentice with her own matchmaking agenda, love and change are in the air.

But can Willow face her fears, and the past, to capture the happiness she deserves?

My stop on this spotlight tour involves a author interview. So with no more distraactions here is what Kate Kenzie had to say about the writing of A Blend of Magic.

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Tell us a little about your novel A Blend of Magic.

A Blend of Magic is a paranormal romance with elements of Practical Magic, Netflix’s The Good Witch and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. Set in Whitby, North Yorkshire, modern witch, Willow Anderson, discovers she needs more than making potions and blending tea for her customers but she is reluctant to face her dark past to have the life and love she deserves.  Heartbroken Nate arrives in Whitby to escape the festive season and wants to be alone, until a ginger Maine Coon leads him to the door of an old apothecary, The Enchanted Emporium, and a grumpy Willow. With meddling ghosts and an interfering teenage apprentice, can love flourish or is it destined to fail?

What draws you to writing paranormal romance?

I adore magic and am drawn to anything paranormal. Whether it is witchcraft or hauntings, I am fascinated by how things fit in our everyday world, so I’m surrounded by books and boxsets on the subjects. It felt natural to eave this into my writing and it is a genre I also love to read. Paranormal romance is the ultimate escape without being full on high fantasy – I don’t think I have the skills for that yet – and at times, everyone needs the comfort of a happy ever after.

Talk us through your writing process.

I’m not sure I have a process and if I do, it isn’t efficient or recommended. I’m disorganised and my brain constantly hops from one thing to another. My writing process reflects this especially in the beginning. Usually, I start with a character and setting. Once these are fully formed, I can discover their story, who they are now, where they want to go and where they came from. Willow began as a side character in an unfinished WIP about her apprentice, Amber, but an exercise in my local writing group prompted her to demand a story of her own. As I loved The Enchanted Emporium, I was happy to accept the challenge. While I always know the beginning, middle and end, I struggle to write in chronological order, so I have a hotchpotch of scenes, dialogue and ideas smothering my desktop and hidden in notebooks which I then weave together to make a coherent plot and first draft.

Why Whitby? Talk us through the research you did to recreate this atmospheric setting.

I adore Whitby and it has been my happy place ever since we moved to Yorkshire. If it wasn’t so hilly and I wasn’t so scared going down slopes in my wheelchair, I’d love to live there. The Abbey ruins and the quirky buildings and its links to gothic literature make it hum with the past. It has a magic of its own. Once there walking down its cobbled streets, it was easy to imagine the Enchanted Emporium nestled down one of the many snickets and yards. Research wise, it was mainly absorbing the atmosphere while visiting, photographs and imagination. I have several books on its history which I hope I’ll use more in other books I have planned for the Whitby Witches.

Do you have a favourite character in your book?

My favourite character is Mrs Marley, one of the emporium’s resident ghosts. A gossip, she is comfortable in herself and always speaks her mind. I can’t wait to explore her character more in the next book I’m writing.

Have you got any writing rituals?

I try to write in the morning before everyone wakes, with a strong cup of tea made in a teapot. The ritual of teamaking always helps me get into the creative zone. Each book has its own playlist, and each character has their own song which is either relevant to their story arc or personality. Listening to their music helps me connect to them and their story.

Is there a particular place you like to write?

I’d love to write in cafes but getting out alone is difficult so I mainly at home. I have created a writing space in the tiny spare room.  My old desk is surrounded by books on witchcraft, ghosts, folklore and writing. With my cauldron, candles and crystals, it is my own little enchanted space.

What writing advice would you give to people wanting to write paranormal romance?

There is so much advice out there for would be romance authors. Apart from making sure you have the required happy ever after, I’d say have fun and try to enjoy the process. Excitement for your characters or book helps with motivation and determination to tackle any obstacles which there are many. As a genre, there are many threads you can follow – witchcraft, ghosts or other paranormal entities so you can experiment and allow your imagination to fly.

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about A Blend of Magic?

Only that I hope those who read it, enjoy visiting the emporium and meeting its residents as much as I did writing them. If you want more from the Whitby witches and Rosa, they have their own book blog, The Enchanted Emporium’s Bookshelf, where they share their love of reading, particularly fantasy, paranormal or magical books. Rosa also reviews any romance books that arrive in-store or on her Kindle. They also interview authors for their Monday Merry Meets slots.

The Enchanted Emporium’s Bookshelf blog: https://theenchantedemporiumbookshelf.com

Where is the best place for people to buy your book?

While A Blend of Magic is available at Amazon and on Kindle Unlimited, I am a huge an of indie bookshops and libraries so they can be ordered from them too. I am privileged have signed books stocked at The Whitby Bookshop. It is a lovely shop to pop into if you are ever in Whitby soaking up the sea air and atmosphere.

Signed copies are also available direct from me and through my ko-fi page if you’re in the UK.

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Author Bio

Kate Kenzie may not be Yorkshire born and bred, but it’s where her heart is and why her fictional worlds are set in the Moors and her favourite haunt, Whitby. Creator of the Enchanted Emporium and its residents, she blogs book reviews and author interviews at The Enchanted Emporium Bookshelf.

Part-time writer, and full-time dreamer, if she’s not reading from her over flowing TBR pile, she is writing or drinking tea. Like many, she always dreamed of being an author but notebooks of half-finished novels and children’s stories were pushed aside in adulthood until a random Facebook conversation rekindled her passion for world building. By receiving a bursary for the RNA New Writer’s Scheme, she found her tribe.

Awarded the Katie Fforde bursary this year, she writes romantic and paranormal fiction, especially witch lit.

Her short story, The Ghost Writer, is available in an anthology, Byline Legacies by Cardigan Press.

You can find ouut more about Kate kenzie by subscribing to her newsletter: http://subscribepage.io/katekenzie and by following her on her social media:

To read reviews of A Blend of magic by Kate Kenzie take a look at:

Amazon Links:

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198956715-a-blend-of-magic

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/2acb90e8-ea3b-4a7c-89ef-092cd111082e