New Books

There was a brief window between finishing my PhD and getting properly stuck into the first draft of novel 2 when I had time to read and enjoy some of the proofs I had been sent. Here are some brand-spanking new books that you'll be sure to enjoy when they are published in the coming weeks.

If you like suspenseful, frightening novels, you'll love Ruth Ware's In a Dark Dark Wood. Nora hasn't seen Clare for ten years. Consequently, she is surprised to be invited to Clare's hen-do. It's clear from the outset that something is not quite right. Perhaps there's something strange about needy Flo, perhaps the feelings of discomfort are all in Nora's head or perhaps it's Clare, the bride to be, who isn't quite what she seems. This novel is set in a dark, snowy wood, in an isolated house, inhabited by a group of friends who can hurt each other in myriad ways - it has all the perfect ingredients for a scary read. In a Dark Dark Wood is less of a who-dunnit, than a why-and-how-dunnit, and Ware will keep you guessing and grasping at straws until the grisly and gratifying conclusion. 

Sarah Jasmon's debut The Summer of Secrets is an evocative and atmospheric coming-of-age story. Set in idyllic countryside, this novel is a meticulous rendering of young friendship. Helen’s summer is set to be boring and lonely, but then the Dovers arrive and she is mesmerised by their casual largesse and bohemian ways. As the weather heats up, emotions heighten and something terrible happens. The novel is divided between the seemingly golden past and a difficult present. It is clear that Helen’s isolation in the present is related to the events of that summer. But what exactly happened and who is to blame? There are plenty of candidates: the petulant and charming Victoria, her damaged mother, her exotic uncle Piet, the mysterious Moira and Helen's morose father. When the denouement finally comes it's guaranteed to take you by surprise.

In Stephanie Bishop's The Other Side of the World artist Charlotte is unable to resist husband Henry's enthusiasm for sun and adventure. She allows herself to be swept to the other side of the world where she is crippled by homesickness and overwhelmed by the lonely routines of motherhood. The are moments in this novel that are so beautifully and painfully evoked that they sent me right back to the claustrophobic and seemingly endless days of toddlerhood (I spent about 8 years with a least one toddler in the house). I felt uncertain and bereft at the end of the novel; I thought about it for days, unable to decide what I hoped would happen next. The Other Side of the World is a meticulous portrait of ambivalent motherhood and the pain of nostalgia. 

On the bleak, windswept moors of northern England a religious cult has cut itself off from society. Meanwhile, vulnerable single mother Stephanie is falling for the enigmatic Nathaniel. Eventually Nathaniel brings Stephanie and daughter Judith to live with the other followers. Judith's feelings, unlike those of her mother, are not complicated by romantic love. She struggles to fit in and determines to escape. Rebecca Wait's The Followers is a fascinating look at what happens when doubt is equated with sin and one man speaks for God. It's also a poignant evocation of parental betrayal and the helplessness of children. I really enjoyed this quietly terrifying and suspenseful exploration of obedience to authority and the dangers of fundamentalism. 

And lastly, although I haven't read it yet (a casualty of PhD revisions) do look out for Cassandra Parkin's recently published novel, The Beach Hut. 

Parkin is an excellent writer - her collection, New World Fairy Tales, published by Salt, is one of my favourites.  

Desmond Elliott Prize

I'm thrilled to discover that A Song for Issy Bradley has been shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize, alongside Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey and Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller.

It's especially exciting to have my novel shortlisted with two books that I loved as a reader - I liked them so much that I've lent my copies to friends. Here's a piece about the shortlist on the BBC website.  

Richard and Judy Summer Book Club

I've been in London again, this week. I went to Heathrow airport where I signed somewhere in the region of 300 copies of A Song for Issy Bradley, which has been selected for the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club.                                                                                                                                                                               The book club is probably the most exciting thing that has happened with the novel because so many of my family and friends have actually heard of it, and have consequently been taking photographs of my book in a variety of shop windows and emailing them to me!

When I was last in London, I met Richard and Judy, who were absolutely lovely and asked me some questions for the book club podcast.                                                                               It was strange to meet them in real life, having regularly watched them on morning television when my children were small. They were just as personable and friendly as they always appeared to be. I also briefly met Nick Hornby who was there to record the interview to go with his novel Funny Girl, which is a book club pick, too. That was especially nice because it meant that I was able to thank him for writing such a lovely review of Issy Bradley in The Believer magazine. 

On my way to and from Heathrow I got to see some lovely, new Underground posters. I also had a meeting with my agent about book 2's structure. And I discovered that Issy Bradley has been shortlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award.

And, somehow, in the midst of this excitement (because it is exciting - and somewhat terrifying)  I'm supposed to be writing. Which means I need to get off Blogger and figure out whether my timelines should run in parallel or opposite directions... 

London and Lumb Bank

I've been looking forward to this week for ages. On Tuesday I went to London and met my editors, my new publicist and my agent. I went to the British Museum, alone (which meant moaning children weren't trailing after me) - hooray!

And I ate an ice cream that was almost as long as my forearm.

In the evening I went to the Desmond Elliott longlist party. The Desmond Elliott Prize is, apparently, the only prize to throw a party for its longlisted authors. What a lovely idea! Eight of us attended the party at Foyles on Tuesday evening.

It was so nice to meet the other authors, some of whom I've chatted to via Twitter and Facebook, but had never met in real life. Here I am chatting to Claire Fuller and Jonathan Gibbs.

Here are the eight authors who were at the party - 'Don't blink! And smile!'

And here we are with the judges.

I had to race off before the party had finished in order to catch the last train back up north because my daughter was due to leave for a residential school trip the following morning and I wanted to see her before she went.

Once my daughter was safely dispatched I caught the train to Hebden Bridge and went on to Lumb Bank where I was the visiting writer during a course on the short story taught by the brilliant Rachel Trezise and Adam Marek, both previously shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize, amongst other things.

Almost two years ago I was at Lumb Bank on a writing course. It was fun to read some of the stuff that I'd been working on while I was there. I hope the writing students enjoyed it, and I hope it gave them some confidence in their own writing, too.

I'm finishing off the week with end of term marking. Not quite as fun as the other stuff, but still, I've probably had enough fun for one week.

Easter Holiday

Having completed my PhD revisions, I decided that the Easter holiday should be spent pulling my socks up and getting on with the first draft of novel 2. I set myself a goal of 700 words per day, which doesn't sound like much, but is actually quite a lot for me because I tend to edit as I go. I considered banning myself from editing, but I couldn't cope with that and decided I was allowed to do as much editing as I liked, as long as the word count was + 700 by midnight. Two weeks later and the novel is 10,500 words longer. Hooray.

Other best bits of the easter break include:

The new buds on the cherry trees and the arrival of various birds - no idea what they are, but they're very noisy and colourful.

Sorting out the allotment and planting potatoes and onions.

Building the structure for the beans to climb.

Engaging in a fascinating discussion about biscuits after asking my Facebook friends what they imagined posh people might serve to a pair of removal men. The thread quickly expanded into a discussion about class - an American friend said it was the most British thing he had ever read. Of course, I had to follow up with a research trip to the supermarket.  

I took the children to the park, bowling and climbing, and we watched Pride, Interstellar, Sunshine on Leith and Big Hero 6. There was also a hockey camp, regular football training and several matches - of course, in response to questions about what we did in the holiday they're telling people 'nothing.'

And I received a box of Issy Bradley paperbacks in advance of publication on May 7th. I'm giving some of them away via my Facebook page. 

Back to business and today's 700 words. I'm writing a fictional newspaper article at the moment, which feels more like fun than work. 

The Desmond Elliott Longlist

Some lovely news today - A Song for Issy Bradley has been longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize.

I've read several of the books on the longlist and am in extremely good company (Elizabeth is Missing and Chop Chop were on the Costa shortlist, too - I highly recommend both!).

The judges said this about A Song for Issy Bradley: "Wit flashes in a score of brilliant one-liners, points up the sotto-voce comedy of this song otherwise sad beyond tears."

I read that quote aloud to my children this evening, on our way back from the Under 13s County Cup Final, and one of them asked me whether sotto-voce is like Ferrero Rocher.