Tag: blog tour

A Fighting Chance

I’m thrilled to be part of the blog tour for the new book by friend and prolific author, Val Penny. I have an interview to share with you. But first, some information.

By the way, the blog tour is organised by Reading Between the Lines.

About the Author

Val Penny has an Llb degree from the University of Edinburgh and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer but has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store.

Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction books, and novels. Her novels are published by SpellBound Books Ltd.

Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.

Links to Val Penny

About the Book

In the second Jane Renwick Thriller by Val Penny, drug cartels collide as crime boss Connor O’Grady returns to Scotland to protect his turf from rival Peggy Cheney, newly released from prison.

DS Jane Renwick and DC Brian Harris are sent to Stirling, where Jane discovers two tragic deaths—a young man and a girl—raising suspicions of a single killer.

O’Grady denies involvement, but can a drug lord be trusted?
Set in Stirling and Gartcosh, this tense police procedural thrusts Jane into the heart of a deadly turf war.

Links to Buy

Paperback | Ebook

An Interview with Val Penny

Welcome back to my blog, Val, and thank you for agreeing to answer my questions.

Firstly, congratulations on your latest release, A Fighting Chance. This is the second book in a series. As a writer, what would you say are the advantages of a series as opposed to a stand-alone novel? What are the disadvantages?

Thanks for hosting me Miriam. Yes, A Fighting Chance is the second book in my series of Jane Renwick Thrillers. I am excited to share it with readers.

I suppose the main advantage of writing a series is that I know my characters and know what to expect of them and how they will react in any given situation. The biggest disadvantage is probably the flip side of that; the characters become too predictable for my readers therefore it is my job as the author to invent new stories and circumstances that challenge the characters, the readers and me.

The central character in this series is Jane Renwick. What can you tell us about her?

Jane Renwick was originally a character in my series of DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thrillers, and I liked her so much that I gave her a series of books of her own. The big difference between the settings in the two series is that the Hunter stories are based in Edinburgh, however Jane has joined the Major Incident Team based in Gartcosh and her stories will take place all over Scotland. A Fighting Chance is set in and around Stirling in the Central belt of Scotland. (The narrow part of the country between Edinburgh and Glasgow.)

Jane likes to keep fit, running and jogging daily. In that she and I are nothing alike!

Although Jane grew up in care, she is now happily married to her wife, Rachael. Nevertheless, A Fighting Chance shows them having disagreements and some jealousy creeps in too. I like to show my readers rounded characters in my books.

In your other crime series, the main character is a man, Hunter Wilson. In what ways does Jane’s gender make a difference to the stories?

I don’t think Jane’s gender affects the type of cases I put to her because, like Hunter, she is a police detective. I also hope the stories are no less exciting for my readers. However, her gender can cause her problems when suspects choose to disrespect her. But her sharp tongue and physical fitness put an end to any misconceptions they may have about dealing with a woman.

However, it is not only Jane’s gender but also her sexuality which causes her issues in my books. And it is not just suspects and villains that give her grief, but some of her colleagues too. Although police forces tend to be male dominated and thus banter and misogyny can be apparent, Jane never tolerates this and deals with it swiftly both personally at the time and through the proper channels.

What’s your secret to being so prolific?

I enjoy telling stories. I always have and writing books and short stories is how I do that now.

What do you enjoy about marketing? What do you not enjoy about marketing?

Marketing is a continual duty. So many books are published every hour that if I do not tell readers about my books, how will they know they are there? So, I market daily through social media, blog tours and by appearing personally at author/reader events. I enjoy the interaction this brings.

Unfortunately, marketing takes up what could otherwise be writing time, and that is a source of irritation to me.

Lastly, which song or piece of music would you choose as the theme tune for the film of A Fighting Chance?

I would have to choose “All I Want Is A Fighting Chance” the song by Millie Jackson. After all, that’s what the victims in the book needed, A Fighting Chance.

The perfect choice.

Thank you for inviting me to your blog today and I do hope your readers enjoy my new book.

A pleasure, as always.

Tags A Fighting Chance, author interview, blog tour, Reading Between the Lines, Val Penny

Books Reviews

The Ring

Hello. “Where have you been?” you might ask.

The answer is that I’ve been posting on Substack every week since 1st January. You’re welcome to subscribe to my free posts there.

Today I’m back on the blog to tell you about a brand new anthology called The Ring. Each of the ten short stories meets up with an ancient ring at some point on its journey from 44 BCE to the present day.

This post is part of the blog tour organised by the lovely Lynsey Adams of Reading Between the Lines.

Blurb

Forged over 2000 years ago, when Rome was still a republic, a simple gold ring was inscribed with the name and symbol of Fortuna, capricious goddess of fate. From the seven hills of Ancient Rome, to the streets of modern day New York, the ring passes from hand to hand, through the centuries, shaping destinies and unveiling secrets.

A Roman patrician gambles his future on its luck. A crusading knight takes it from the finger of a slain foe. A child is gifted it by a soldier in the Thirty Years War and trusts it to keep her father safe. A jeweller takes it to America in the Gilded Age seeking a new life. Each tale is a moment in time, a new wearer, and a twist of fate—sometimes fortune smiles, but all too often the ring brings ill luck.

In these stories, history seems driven by the will of chance. Those who possess the ring seek to shape their own destinies, but it is always Fortuna herself who has the final say.

With contributions from Alistair Forrest, Fiona Forsyth, Jacquie Rogers, Alistair Tosh, Graham Brack, Eleanor Swift-Hook, Mark Turnbull, Maggie Richell-Davies, Robert Bordas and Val Penny this is a spellbinding anthology of interconnected short stories, where luck is never what it seems.

My Review

I don’t have much to add. I enjoyed all ten stories, which are well-written and gripping. I liked the way they’re all bound together by a ring inscribed with the name Fortuna, a ring that seems to bring good or bad luck. I highly recommend this anthology.

I received a free copy of this book for the Reading Between the Lines blog tour in return for a blog post and an honest review.

The Book and its Authors

Proceeds for the anthology go to:

The Reading Agency

At The Reading Agency, we believe in the proven power of reading to deliver social and personal change. Yet we know that too many adults and children struggle to develop reading habits. With national data showing a decline in reading engagement, too many people are missing out on the transformative benefits of reading to improve our happiness, our health, and to thrive. This is where our work begins.

For over 20 years, we have partnered with public libraries to run initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge for children and Reading Ahead for adults. These programmes encourage reading for pleasure, helping to build confidence, develop literacy skills, and foster lifelong reading habits. Research shows that those who participate read more frequently, gain confidence, and feel more positive about books. By expanding access to reading beyond the classroom or workplace, we help people unlock new opportunities and experiences through books.

Our partnership with public libraries is at the heart of our mission. Through our collaboration with them, we increase access to books and literacy support, ensuring that reading is a source of enjoyment, not frustration. As democratic access points to reading and knowledge, our work with libraries not only helps bridge educational gaps for children but also supports adults in developing their literacy skills, boosting employability, and enhancing mental well-being.

This anthology resonates with our mission. Just as the gold ring in these stories is passed down and shared through generations, so too should the joy of reading. The support of all the authors who have contributed to this helps us to reach and connect with even more people across our communities.

From all of us at The Reading Agency – to all of you reading these stories – thank you for being part of this important effort. Together, we can make reading a lifelong habit for all with libraries at the heart.

Tags blog tour, Lynsey Adams, new anthology, Reading Between the Lines, short stories, The Ring

Books Everyday life Israel Reviews

The “Fictional” World of Loyalty and the Learner

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Oct 8, 2024
3 Comments on The “Fictional” World of Loyalty and the Learner

How fictional is the world inhabited by Nathalie, Asaf and friends (and foes)?

On Day 2 of the blog tour for Loyalty and the Learner, I’m pondering this question. Here’s why:

Before I go any further, you can find links to all the tour posts so far in this post.

Yesterday, GB Williams posted this when writing about my book:

…I also know little of life in Israel, other than what we see on the news, which I have tried to forget as the real world is a different one to the world this story inhabits. That’s what fiction is for, taking us away from the real world.

I actually wrote this novel more than a year ago, its publication having been delayed for several reasons. But even before the seventh of October 2023, and going back long before independence in 1948, Israel has been plagued by conflict and wars, by enemies who will agree to nothing less than its complete destruction. It has always known terrorist attacks of various sorts.

By the way, despite all that, I believe Israeli cities are among the safest in the world, especially for women.

Not one of my novels set in Israel – Neither Here Nor There (not currently available), Style and the Solitary and Loyalty and the Learner – mention wars or attacks, other than Asaf saying of Israel’s problems in Loyalty and the Learner, “One of those is the security situation.”

Why?

There are plenty of novels set in Israel that highlight the security situation and explain it much better than I ever could. I wanted to portray ordinary life here, to show the beautiful and the not so beautiful but without the wars. Does that make the world of my novels fictional?

I don’t think so. The reality is that Israelis live in two parallel worlds simultaneously. We work in offices or building sites or fields. We go shopping in markets and supermarkets and smaller shops. We exercise in the gym or by walking, runnning, cycling, dancing. We love to spend time with our families.

The other world is more frightening. We hear about it on the news and hope it won’t come any closer to us, but of course it does, even if it’s only when we run for shelter. No, it’s never only that, because we all know people who’ve been affected much more, who’ve lost family members and had their worlds changed forever in a single moment.

In normal times, but not during the past year, it’s possible to spend whole days, maybe even a week or two, without thinking about wars or attacks. Unless, of course, you’re in the army, or have a child in the army, or find yourself under attack…

Really, it’s often possible to forget you’re in the Middle East for a while. And so, I suggest the world of my novels is not as fictional as you might think.

Loyalty and the Learner is published through Ocelot Press and can be purchased via Amazon and other online stores.

Tags blog tour, conflict, fictional, Loyalty and the Learner, market, Middle East, new book, real world, safety, security, Style and the Solitary, war, world

Books Interviews Reviews

Loyalty and the Learner on Tour

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Sep 28, 2024
No Comments on Loyalty and the Learner on Tour

Good news!

Loyalty and the Learner, my new cosy crime novel, is going on tour from 7th October, 2024.

The tour will include extracts from the book, an interview and reviews.

Do return to this post for details, as I’ll be updating the table below with links to the posts.

7th	Heather Beveridge	Hetty Waite Author
	Gail Williams	GB Williams Crime Blog
8th	Anita D Hunt	Piskie Dreams
9th	T.D.Holland	Tracey Holland
10th	Lynsey Adams	Reading Between the Lines
11th	Allison Symes	Chandler’s Ford Today
12th	Val Penny	Val Penny
	Mason Bushell	Mason’s Menagerie
13th	Jo Fenton	Jo Fenton Author
	Wendy H. Jones	Bookaholic

In the meantime, here’s a reading from the novel:

Tags blog tour, cosy crime, Extracts, Loyalty and the Learner, new novel, Reading Between the Lines

Books Reviews

Hunter’s Rules by Val Penny

Post author By Miriam Drori
Post date Jul 24, 2024
No Comments on Hunter’s Rules by Val Penny

Welcome all. Today I want to tell you about a new book, published just five days ago. In fact, this post is part of the blog tour.

Hunter’s Rules

A bloody scene brings Hunter and Meera’s romantic plans to an abrupt end.

A young woman attacked in a hotel lift has life changing injuries. Her wounds match those inflicted on two women who were murdered.

When Hunter is identified as a suspect in the case, he must establish his innocence to lead his team and solve this bloodcurdling crime.

Is the same person responsible for all three crimes?
Will the girl in the lift finally identify who is targeting these young women ?

Hunter will stop at nothing until he catches the unhinged killer.

Hunter’s Rules is available from Amazon US, Amazon UK and elsewhere.

My Review

The familiar characters are back in Hunter’s Rules, the sixth in the series of DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thrillers by Val Penny. I loved spending time with them again, albeit not a lot of time as I whipped through another page turner from this prolific author.

I also enjoyed meeting new characters, especially Eileen, who remains strong and positive, despite having suffered horrific injuries. Naturally, not all the characters are nice, and some turn out to be thoroughly bad. Will Hunter see to it that they get their just deserts?

Like all the other books in this series, the setting is Edinburgh, and I was happy to be introduced to new parts of this varied and colourful city.

Topics in the novel include drugs, blackmail, prison life, science, medicine and relationships. But a clue to the main theme is on the cover: “FOLLOW HUNTER’S RULES AND THE EYES HAVE IT…” I’ll say no more.

I received a free copy of this book for the Reading Between the Lines blog tour in return for an honest review.

Val Penny: BIO

Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction books, and novels. Her novels are published by SpellBound Books Ltd.

Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.

You can find Val at the following places:

Tags blog tour, Crime Fiction, Hunter's Rules, Reading Between the Lines, Val Penny

Books Reviews

A Gentle Nudge

I’m delighted to take part in the blog tour for:

A Gentle Nudge by Mason Bushell.

The blog tour is organised by the lovely Lynsey Adams of Reading Between the Lines.

About the Book

Stories to soothe your soul.

In a world drowning in negativity and dark events, we all need a little light and hope. With a little adventure, romance and even music, these short stories will give your hopes and dreams a nudge as they draw a smile.

A Gentle Nudge by Mason Bushell wraps you in calm.

LINKS TO BUY

About the Author

Author Mason Bushell, is a naturalist, chef and writer from Norfolk in the UK. He loves nothing more than to write among the trees, near his home. He is an avid short story writer and is always working with his characters unless Lucy Dog steals his laptop for a walkies!

My Review

I’m sure many people have occasional days when they feel overwhelmed by events and only want to escape the real world with a book. What sort of book do you read in those circumstances? I’ve found romances to be eminently suitable for the purpose. But having read this book of short stories, I think they are just as good. The advantage of short stories over a novel is that the reader can dig into a story whenever they have a few minutes free, and never lose the thread or forget which character is which.

The stories in this collection are sweet. Some include romance; others involve children and animals. Sometimes disaster strikes, but I hope I’m not giving anything away when I say all the stories have happy endings.

The characters in these tales are kind. They often go beyond all expectations to help people in need of support. When bad characters appear, they always get their just deserts. The stories provide satisfaction.

The real world, as we know, is not always like this. It would probably be correct to say it’s not usually like this. But the world of these stories is one we should aspire to. If the real world were like this, we wouldn’t need these stories. As it is not, we very much do.

Tags A Gentle Nudge, blog tour, Lynsey Adams, Mason Bushell, Reading Between the Lines, short stories, short story collection

Books Reviews The writing process

Creativity Matters

This post is part of the blog tour organised by Reading Between the Lines.
It’s a post I’m pleased to have been invited to write, and one that I now tackle with enthusiasm and, well… embarrassment, but only a little.
Read on…

The blog tour is for the book Creativity Matters: Find your Passion for Writing, which is compiled by Wendy H. Jones.

The Blurb

Have you always thought about writing a book but don’t know where to start? Are you an experienced author and want to spread your wings? Are you looking for inspiration for every step in your writing journey? This is a book for everyone who wants to write, whether history or contemporary, science fiction or humour, local fiction or set in a made-up world, fiction, non-fiction, memoir, there’s something here for you. Join thirteen authors as they share their passion for why you should write in their genre and find your own passion as you read.

It’s time for you to spread your wings, follow your dreams and find your passion for writing.

My Review

Here begins the embarrassing part.

You see, when I was asked to take part, I was away, hiking in the Bernese Oberland and other parts of Switzerland. I know, I haven’t blogged about that yet, but I plan to. I digress.

Since returning home, my time hasn’t been my own. I’ve had to attend to family matters and in particular to culinary matters, and the result is that I didn’t spend much time on creative matters and I
Didn’t finish reading the book.

However, I did warn the organiser in advance, and I’ve read enough of the book to have something to say about it, which is this:

I love it and am looking forward to reading the rest. All the participating authors are clearly passionate about writing in their particuar genres, and their enthusiasm is catching. Each one answers the question ‘why write?’ rather than ‘how to write?’ and yet the ‘how to’ question is answered in a ‘show don’t tell’ sort of way – by example.

The chapter on writing drama particularly appealed to me because it was written as a drama. I’ve never even considered writing drama before, but this might even get me started. All I need is time!

If you have time and want to write in any genre or to switch genres, this book will spur you on.

Transport

Transport is the word I’ve chosen to describe all three parts of this post.

1. A Tour

My latest novel, Style and the Solitary, is going on tour from tomorrow with Reading Between the Lines – Online Book PR. Watch out for social media posts using the hashtag #styleandthesolitary.

2. An International Event

Smashwords even travels to the other hemisphere (which is more than I’ve done). That’s why their current sale is called The Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale. Even my book, Social Anxiety Revealed, has travelled further than me. Try it. It might transport you to a world you don’t know, or one you know all too well. In either case it will further better understanding.

Fear of other people? Most of us feel this occasionally, when giving a presentation or being grilled in a job interview. This is not social anxiety disorder.

Fear of what other people think of you? We have all felt this, too. It is why we dress as we do and generally try to behave in a way that is expected of us. This is not social anxiety disorder either.

But when those fears become so prevalent that they take over your life? When they cause you to hide away, either literally or by not revealing your real self? When you keep quiet in an attempt to avoid those raised eyebrows and the possible thoughts behind them? That is social anxiety disorder.

And it is much more common than you might think. In the mental health table, it comes third – after alcoholism and depression – and yet most people don’t even know it exists.

If you have social anxiety disorder, this book is for you.

Even if you don’t have social anxiety disorder, you might have a friend, a relative or a work colleague who does. You might see it developing in your son, your daughter, or a child you teach. This book is for you, too.

Social Anxiety Revealed is created by people who yearn to ditch all these problems and live their lives to the full.

Can you help? When you have read and understood, you’ll be in a much better position to do that.

3. A First

My granddaughter is now old enough for her first form of self-driven transport.

And somehow, despite raising three children and definitely having one of these in the house, I’ve only just discovered the name for it in Israel: Bimba. What do you call it?