Category Archives: Spotlight

Spotlight – How to be a Revolutionary by Lucy Ann Unwin

Today I am spotlighting How to be a Revolutionary by Lucy Ann Unwin, which was published by Uclan Publishing in November 2024.

Blurb

Find Your Passion. Build A Team. Change The World.

A General Election is looming. There’s a buzz and a tension and an exciting thrill in the air…

11-year-old Natalie knows something BIG is happening, especially in her house where people stream in and out with their glossy leaflets and red jackets – The Revolutionaries her Mum calls them. Nat wants to be a part of it, but if she can’t vote what can she do? And so starts her Revolutionary training…

It starts with a quest to the park to smile at 10 strangers and ends with chaos, 50 curious rats and a team of passionate kids inspiring their school to change the world – one small step at a time.

About the Author

Lucy Ann Unwin says of the book, “How To Be A Revolutionary is set in a local Labour Party campaign HQ during a general election, so I’m more than thrilled it’s coming out this year! I think it’s always exciting to be a young person in times of big political change — this general election will be a time they always remember. Hopefully, after the experience of the summer, readers might be ready to start launching campaigns of their own and I really hope this book can help inspire them to do that!

Lucy Ann Unwin worked as a music journalist at BBC 6 Music for 10 years, where she was privileged to interview the likes of Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Adele. Brought up in Birmingham, she lived for a year in the Chilean city of Valparaiso and for three years in San Francisco, where she tutored children and young adults in creative writing as part of the 826 Valencia writing programme, set up by Dave Eggers.

Now settled in Sussex, she divides her time between writing, editing and reading as much children’s fiction as she can. Her first Book, The Octopus, Dadu and Me, was shortlisted for multiple awards, including The Brilliant Book Award.

Praise for How To Be A Revolutionary:

‘A joyful, heartfelt story about the power of friendship and having the courage to stand up for what you believe in. Entertaining and empowering, it shows children how small changes can create waves in society’ Jo Clarke, author of The Travelling School Mysteries

‘Another gorgeously articulated and emotionally insightful book from Lucy Ann Unwin about real children dealing with real stuff. And the rats are super cute. Empowering and exciting, you won’t read a better guide to personal politics and elections.’ Jennifer Claessen, author of The October Witches

I LOVED this! It’s so funny, original, and different. A moving, poignant testimony to the power of sibling affection, and a gentle reminder that changing the world begins at home.’ Piu DasGupta, author of Secrets of the Snakestone

Blog Tour – The December Witches by Jennifer Claessen

It is with great pleasure that I join the blog tour for the epic conclusion to the A Month of Magic trilogy, The December Witches, published by UClan Publishing. To celebrate the release of the final book in the trilogy author, Jennifer Cleassen, is here to tell us her winter reading suggestions .

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Jennifer’s Top Three Books For Cosying Up With This Winter

I find recommending books really hard because I massively overthink it and worry that I haven’t done the job of matching the person to the book perfectly! I’m not a librarian or bookseller and I maybe couldn’t handle the pressure!

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

I grew up on, and decided to become a writer inspired by!, the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman and there is so much of both chill and warmth in these books, they are the perfect winter read. The armoured bears of Svalbard were the coolest thing I’d ever read aged 11. I wanted to go on an icy adventure to the far north more than anything and when I went to Tromso in Norway for my 30th birthday, it was so magical, it was like something straight from the book.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

This one is the beginning of a trilogy for adults. (I do love a trilogy!) I love the folklore in this sumptuously set winter tale. There’s a slow burn romance which provides the warmth against the icy backdrop.

Little Spruce by Sital Gorasia Chapman and illustrated by Vicky Lommatzsch

This sparkly and inclusive picture book about belonging is ideal for early readers. My family have a tradition of doing ‘book advent’ every year. I made little brown paper packets for 25 books (so that we can reuse them every year too!) and put one under the Christmas tree for my children each day of advent. Some are classics which come out every year and sometimes I swap a few in so Little Spruce is the one I’m adding this year. I’m in awe of the art of picture book writing with so much story in so few words

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I would like to thank Jennifer for our fantastic suggestions. do you have any books you would like to read this winter? if so, please let me know in the comments below.

For more information about The December Witches by Jennifer Claessen here is the blurb:

Blurb

December is Clemmie Merlyn’s favourite month as it usually begins with birthday cake and gifts. But as she turns thirteen, it begins with a bang: Clemmie, and Clemmie alone amongst all witches, is full of magic. So full of magic she might not make it to the end of the month. As the snow spirals down, anxious Clemmie and the young hags will have to find some way to stop her exploding.

Because someone, or something, has chosen Clemmie and made her their One True Witch. But magic is meant to be shared and no-one can survive being filled to the brim with starry power. Can the Merlyn and Morgan covens finally take on the ancient twisted magic of their ancestors? And can they do it in time for Christmas?

I would like to thank Graeme and Uclan Publsihing for inviting me on this tour. Thank you.

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

Spotlight – Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow

My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow.

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.

Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow is a 196 Page, young adult fantasy romance, published February 8th, 2023.

Blurb

Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…

Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.

So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king’s been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, Emara must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change…

And what she cannot.

About the Author

Hayley Reese Chow is the author of Odriel’s Heirs and Into the Churn series. When not writing, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF veteran, reservist, four-time All American fencer, ex-ultramarathoner, avid traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently lives in Florida with two small wild boys, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.

To find Hayley’s other stories and see what she’s working on next, check out hayleyreesechow.com.

You can also find her on X @hayleyreesechow, TikTok @hayleyreesechow, or Instagram @HayleyReeseChow.

She’s represented by Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary.

To read reviews of Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow go to:

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/9G1PwDk (Canada) https://a.co/d/iOYW00X (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/32HB2kX (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61022810-time-s-orphan

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4faa683b-3689-4eb5-b69b-390fae631320

Spotlight – The Pretender by Katie Ward

Another Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist and another spotlight tour. Today my potlight is for The Pretender by Katie Ward.

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.

The Pretender by Katie Ward is a 232 Page, Young Adult contemporary fiction, romance, whcih was published August 18th 2018.

Blurb

France, 2000: Two babies are born on the same day just two hours apart – but to very different lives. Isabella is a Princess and heir to the French throne, while Sophia is born into a life of poverty and abuse.

At the age of 18, Sophia runs away from home. That same night, Isabella is also fleeing from the burden of her royal life when she finds Sophia slumped at the Palace gates. Amazed by how alike they look, Isabella proposes a daring plot – to exchange their lives for one week.

The Pretender is an emotionally intense and compelling story of friendship, love and the strange power of destiny.

About the Author

Katie Ward always knew that she wanted to write for a living. After completing a degree in Journalism at the University for the Creative Arts, she moved to Dublin. While there, she had a short story published in an anthology titled ‘Do the Write Thing’ which was part of a competition being run by Irish TV show Seoige and O’Shea (the Irish equivalent of Richard and Judy!). The anthology reached the top 20 in the Irish Bestsellers List in 2007. Shortly after this, Katie was also shortlisted for a competition judged by Man Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle with an excerpt of her second novel Red Roses.

Katie returned to Devon where she continued to focus on her writing and in 2015 she began writing her debut novel, The Pretender, which became a top 30 bestseller on the Amazon Young Adult chart and was also awarded a BRAG medallion. Katie lives in Devon and aside from writing, she also loves to sing, dance and travel.

If you wish to follow Katie on social media, you can via X @katiewwriter on Instagram @katiewwriter and TikTok @katiewwriter.

To read reviews of The Pretender by Katie Ward take a look at:

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/2IkcYpq (Canada) https://a.co/d/ggF8Bqt (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/3coplm0 (UK)

Goodreads Link: goodreads.com/book/show/41728904-the-pretender

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/43e45675-3c26-43b0-8270-68c12fb0782e

Spotlight – The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes

Take a look at my Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today. I am spotlighting The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes.

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.

The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes is a 238 Page, adult literary fiction, fantasy that was published October 31st 2014.

Blurb

From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there’s more magic to the world than he thought…

When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he’s drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too.

Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something – yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster?

About the Author

Ashley is a poet, novelist and ex-teacher living in Australia.

He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.

You can follow Sarah on Twitter @Ash_Capes and on Bluesky @ashcapes.bsky.social. Or see poetry and fiction at www.ashleycapes.com

You can read reviews of The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes here:

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/hFkDnan (Canada) https://a.co/d/3I0efPZ (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/2MLELhe (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23381707-the-fairy-wren

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/2ac50c1d-e93e-4b6d-932b-11b529b0d8a3

Spotlight – Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne

My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne.

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.

Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne is a 290 page middle grade thriller/ mystery. It was published September 1st, 2023.

Blurb

13-year-old Grace loves her new charity shop coat. In fact, it’s perfect. Except for one tiny thing. When she wears it, she sees visions of the previous owner’s life … and their murder! Grace and her best friend, Suzy, decide to investigate but digging up the past reveals secrets some people want to keep hidden. Can Grace stay one step ahead and solve a fifty-year-old murder or will she become the killer’s next victim? A gripping story of secrets and murder for fans of fast-paced middle grade thrillers.

Author Bio

Sarah Wynne is from Chester in the northwest of England and lives with her husband, son and their little white ball of chaos, Daisy the dog. She spent over 10 years working as a primary teaching assistant but now writes full-time and provides editorial services to writers of children’s fiction.

When she’s not writing she’ll usually be found with her nose in a middle grade book or researching which book to read next or talking about books!

You can follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahWynne25,on Instagram @sarahwynneauthor and on Bluesky @sarahwynne25.bsky.social/. Or visit her website: https://www.sarahwynneauthor.co.uk.

To read reviews of Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne take a look at:

Amazon Links:

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181547074-murder-in-velvet

The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/08f7d430-f5a8-4237-9f87-e7e2f561d79e

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 10^thOctober 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.

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:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/louisareid
X: https://x.com/louisareid
Tiktok:https://tiktok.com/louisareid53

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.

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:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204929195-terra-electrica
Amazon: https://a.co/d/0ekqkIpP (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/0dUDASJ3 (UK) https://a.co/d/0euPP4sr (Canada)

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: