Suzy Henderson

This award winning debut novel by Marion Husband focuses upon Paul Harris, an officer recently returned from World War One. He's been treated for shell shock in a psychiatric hospital and returns to his lover, Adam  and they resume their relationship. Paul learns that the girlfriend of his recently deceased brother Robbie is pregnant and he decides to propose. Margot accepts.  This is a story complicated by forbidden love and various relationships, at a time when homosexuality was very much taboo and illegal. The author portrays a realistic account of the post war period and of homosexuality in general. Flashback is used intermittently throughout, creating back story and adding to the detail.  There are some graphic accounts of a homosexual nature which might not be acceptable to some, however these scenes are very short and do not dominate the story. Paul's life becomes very complex as he juggles his relationships, first between his new wife Margot and his old l...

This is a new feature hosted by The Reflections of a Bookworm link:  http://reflectivebookworm.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/new-feature-twas-night-before-pay-day.html Twas the Night Before Pay Day is a monthly feature hosted right here that will take place the Wednesday before the Last Friday of each month. After writing up your monthly budget, seeing that it doesn't leave much for new books, ripping it up and starting again: this feature is designed to hold a list of books that you just can't wait to buy. You've been waiting all month and now you can finally get your hands on them! Bills are overrated. So, my choice of books for August will be: (1) Spy for the Queen of Scots by Theresa Breslin  I love the Tudors and the period in general -it's fascinating so I can't wait to see what the author makes of it. (2) On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves Having read the synopsis and reviews I'm intrigued about what happens on the island between a tutor and he...

It's grey, blustery and It's been trying to rain for most of the day but without much success. No doubt it'll tip down overnight. Still feeling unwell and my hubby is not a very happy chap today as we've been unable to get to the Sunderland airshow. Best part of it really would have been seeing the Battle of Britain Memorial flight which is the Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire. They flew yesterday but cancelled today on account of the wind. However, a member of the ground crew who was in the Lancaster yesterday took some video footage from the nose turret where he was seated. Having watched it I have to say it's great. It's probably about the closest I'll ever get to flying in the mighty Lancaster so I'll be saving that. Here's the video footage: The number of books I wish to read are rapidly piling up on my list -I haven't bought them yet of course but that's not the point. Finding the reading time is rather tough when you're...

The Book Blogger Hop comes to you via Jen at crazy-for-books.com  This Weeks Question  What’s the ONE super-hyped book you’ll NEVER read? For me, I'm afraid it's 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' by E.L. James. Having read the synopsis and the reviews I have to say I'm not even tempted. Thing is, erotica isn't what I look for in a book anyway. Romance is great but this book kind of crosses the line and it's just not for me. All in all, just because a book might be 'super-hyped,' it doesn't mean that i'll be reading it. What do you think?

What a sight! The morning after a bombing raid on the 8th October 1940, a lone boy sits reading a copy of 'The History of London.' He looks rather comfortable too. I suppose it was just a normal thing to do -books lying around in the rubble -someone may as well read them. It's an unusual sight today though isn't it? And WW2 was thought to be the war to end all wars. But when you pay attention to the news and what's happening in Syria now, after Iraq, Afghanistan etc, it's almost like a continuous war that's gradually spreading across the Middle East. If only there was some other way. . . Just the other day there was a news flash picturing an adult male with a gun, alongside a boy with a gun. This boy appeared to be no more than about 12 to me -very much like my youngest son, and here he is fighting alongside the rebels in Syria. He was pictured very distressed as one of the men had just been killed in front of him. It was a man he knew and was fighti...

I bought this print ages ago which is signed by some of the Battle of Britain pilots. It's a beauty and completely appropriate as a gift for my husband who is mad about Spitfires. It's a sight from a bygone era and depicts 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill during a visit by Churchill and Hugh Dowding, the commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. 92 Squadron was the first into action on the 15th September 1940, now known as Battle of Britain Day. In all, between the 10th July and the 31st October 1940, the Battle of Britain raged in the skies overhead with RAF fighter pilots taking off to defend King and country against the Luftwaffe. Out of around 2900 aircrew, 550 were killed and many more were injured. Geoffrey Wellum, the author of 'First Light,' was only 18 when he was posted to 92 Squadron in May 1940. He is depicted in the print above and I believe he is in the front row, second from the right. In his book he describes many of ...

Well, it started off raining again and it appears to have been contagious because my mind has been shrouded by misty drizzle most of the day. Talk about procrastinating - well I am rather good at it which is a tragedy because nothing gets done. What I really mean is that no writing is done. It's been one of those days where everything gets in the way. The nightmare that is grocery shopping, a rather large mountain of dishes to wash and a dog who loves to bark served up three very good distractions. Then I began to read my e-mail - absolute killer. That led me to check my blog for comments which led me to check on some other blogs and then on to look up a couple of new books. I'm also following some new blogs who do a lot of book reviews and some of them are published authors. I'm amazed at how many new books are being released right now -mainly I'm talking about self published books but they are rather like a growing army. See how easy I wander off the beaten track...

Village of Near Sawrey : Home to Beatrix Potter Just thought I'd have a few ramblings regarding the prestigious Beatrix Potter. I guess many of you have seen  'Miss Potter,' the movie.  Apparently the National Trust have been inundated by visitors to Hilltop in near Sawrey ever since. Well, it's certainly good for business but if you stop and think for a moment the effect that this female author has had upon the world. Globally she is still a shining star and people love all of her books which portray such beautiful illustrations. It's easy to simply focus upon Beatrix the writer, but we should also remember Beatrix the artist, the mycologist and the conservationist. I have a set myself - bought when my first son was little along with a video collection which are lovely to watch (for children of course). For anyone with babies and young children, I highly recommend you buy at least one of her books. They can't fail to entertain your children and I'll ...

Do we need to be disciplined to be successful writers? Well, you probably won't get very far if you approach it in a slap dash manner, thinking it's a cinch and you're about to make some easy money. Making the money is perhaps the most difficult part because after all, how many great authors today faced multiple rejections? Did they not write well? Yes, of course they did. They simply experienced great difficulty in getting publishers to accept that their work would sell and be in demand. When you take for example, J K Rowling who herself faced many rejections before getting a publishing deal, it's phenomenal how her books literally took flight, making her extremely wealthy - and the publishers in the process. I read the complete set with my eldest son -he was 5 when we started and each night I couldn't wait to pick up where we had left off -I think it was a competition as to which one of us loved them more. If it hadn't been for my son I'd never have dre...

Well, I've had an eventful day so far and managed to exceed my daily objective of 500 words. Grand total today stands at 850. I've only stopped due to telephone interruptions (people just don't seem to realise that I'm at least trying to be writer in residence) and now lunch -well it's only right to keep your strength up -the brain requires feeding. I keep having to stop in mid flow (writing that is) and skip back to my research on place. The setting is so important and I have a few different places in France to bring alive in the book. All I have to go on at the moment is what I've collected from pictures, books and film/programmes. It's not that bad I guess but it leaves me feeling less than confident. I only hope that I manage to do justice to this by the end of the novel. It's so important to know place and the majority of writers I know talk about their 'research' trips to various countries. Unfortunately for me I'm not able to hop ...

Well, it's drizzling again. Constant mist shrouds the mountain tops and the weather bods report that we'll have no more SUNdays for 1 month, due to constant rain. Oh well, I'm fairly used to that living here. It's quite common to have a great April/May and for the weather to go downhill after that. Looks as if we're all in for a bit of a washout. My day has flown over but sadly I haven't reached my daily target of 500 words. I was willing but the brain wasn't having any of it. Sometimes it's like that - my mind has been so hazy today, a jumble of other ideas, fresh ideas and different problems all intermingling, vying for a hearing. So, switch off has taken place and I'm cooking dinner. Hopefully I can start afresh tonight. Recently I realised that my reading list has been heavily concentrated upon material from the WW2 period and I feel the need to branch out once more and pick something entirely different. I'm edging towards 'Mother Am...

I don't think I mentioned that I finally got a Kindle for my birthday (American Independence day). Since the literary revolution began I have resisted the temptation of eBook readers. However, as more and more authors self publish, there is quite a digital library stock amassing and I was rather keen to access certain titles. So, herald my Kindle - yes I know there are a number of different readers available but I settled for this and it's rather good. I had a misconception that I would not be able to read as well with such devices - this came from spending hours upon hours at my laptop doing research for my university work (now finished) and my writing. However, my Kindle has a much better screen/reading pane in comparison to a laptop and I find that I can read much faster, if I choose to - very easy on the eye! All in all, a good experience. I also love the fact that I can download a book within minutes -no more waiting for Amazon to deliver or going t...

For all the historic fiction lovers, especially if you're interested in World War 2 and romance, then I'd recommend this. The book is also available under a different title, 'The Collaborator.' It's a well crafted works of fiction set in Guernsey during the German occupation. Leroy provides a vivid and evocative description of the island which is juxtaposed with the horrors of war. The main character, Vivienne de la Mare is left at home to care for her family whilst her husband has been called up and is fighting with the  allies along with all the other eligible men from the island.  The arrival of the Germans in the summer of 1940 strikes fear into the islanders as they requisition homes and cars for their own personal use whilst imposing strict rules upon the inhabitants. Gradually the reader learns that Vivienne's marriage is a loveless one at the same time as she begins a romance with a German officer who is living in the house next door. She is tor...

For all Spitfire enthusiasts, check out the 'Spitfire Ace' episodes on You Tube. Just to see a Spitfire take to the skies is a beautiful sight and the roar of the Merlin engines gives you goosebumps. The aircraft pictured below is one of the few remaining airborne Spitfires in the world. It's owned by Carolyn Grace, the sole female Spitfire pilot in the world. She learnt to fly it following the loss of her husband in 1988, thus continuing on his legacy. The distinctive black and white stripes were painted onto all allied aircraft for D-Day, to distinguish them from the enemy. On D-Day it was flown by Pilot Officer Johnnie Houlton, DFC, who was accredited with shooting down the first enemy aircraft over Normandy beach. The Grace Spitfire has its own website and it's worth taking a look. You can book both plane and pilot for airshow displays as well as for personal displays/events although as you can imagine it comes at a considerable cost - it's not cheap to ...

Writing can be extremely lonely, isolating in fact. So, for myself, a stay at home mum who is unable to attend her local writing group due to family ties etc, I've learned to embrace the internet. Up until last year I was studying with the Open University. It turned out to be a fabulous experience - very demanding and even tough at times but I simply loved the camaraderie emanating from the online forums. During my time there I also indulged my writing passion with both Creative Writing courses. They were the best times and the forums we had were buzzing with our poetry/stories/scripts, all giving and receiving critiques. After graduating it was as if I had been cut off and set adrift. No more forums for me. Pure silence. My Masters had to be abandoned on the basis of unaffordability! I'm still gutted about that. Having become accustomed to having literary peers to lean on, I've recently joined an online writers forum. It seems to be a friendly place filled to the raft...

Just lately I've been considering how to embark upon publishing my book -when it's completed that is. Having read the odd article about self publishing versus the traditional publisher, it's got me thinking. Do I want to jump through hoops when my book is finished? Should I get an agent -sorry, rephrase that -TRY and get an agent or should I submit my manuscript direct to relevant publishers? So many questions. Then there's the self publishing route. Seems simple enough, of course you still have to put the work in. It seems to work for many writers who choose this, in fact some have been very successful, even landing publishing deals in the process. There's a mountain of information available for the self publisher such as self publishing guides and various websites including Amazon. It seems very tempting to try especially as you could have your e-book in circulation within an hour, if you know how. Even Waterstones are selling e-books and Kindles in many of t...

Talk about ups and downs. Having searched for a new family home for the past 6 months, I thought I'd found it. The other day I mentioned we had to forward our bid. This morning I was the chosen one until a new bidder stepped forward with a slightly higher offer. They've also stated they're prepared to go a lot higher. I won't bore you with the details but the house is simply not worth it - needs modernising and it has some faults. So it looks as though I'm searching again. It's unbelievable and even my mortgage adviser finds it incredulous. Apparently I'm a rare breed in today's market as I have my finance arranged and don't have a property to sell, thus I'm chain free. My misfortune however seems to be that wherever I go, another 'rare breed' follows. So, if anyone out there in the real world, away from this cyber world, is desperate to sell their home, please drop me an e-mail here. It could be to your advantage because all I have ...

Just read this months Writing magazine. Author, Rebecca Woodhead has a regular column and this month she interviewed Brendon Burchard, author of  'The Charge.' He is also described as a marketing and motivation guru. It was an insightful interview and his book is rather tempting. Definately worth reading the article or take a peek at the book which is available from Amazon.

There's lots of talk about exercising your literary muscles but what about your own muscles? Lets face it, as writers we do tend to sit a lot. I've recently noted that my own fitness has deteriorated and gardening literally renders me physically weak. It's ridiculous. I'm also notoriously lazy and could forge a new career in 'putting things off.' However, It's a simple fact that life can get in the way - if we allow it. So, I'm tackling this head on. I sit at my laptop writing, daydreaming, star gazing - I'm by a window so I can't help looking outside now can I? But, taking regular breaks is not only important for your mind but also for your body. And I know I'm not a fitness expert but I do read a lot and have picked up a few tips along the way. I've since devised my own 'concise' routine. So, I get off the chair, saunter over to the kettle, flick the switch and make a good old revitalising cuppa. I know what you're thin...

If you're looking for a short story competition check out this site: http://www.hissac.co.uk/2005_competition.html It's the Highlands and Islands Short Story Association. Closing date is once again the 31st July 2012.

Another competition! Deadline is the 31st July 2012. See the website: http://buzzwordspoetry.blogspot.co.uk/p/2012-competition.html I might enter this one myself if I have enough time to edit one of my poems. They state that the proceeds of the competition will be used to fund 'Buzzwords', which is the longest running poetry gathering in Cheltenham. Best of luck to everyone.

Recently bought this anthology and it's great. There really is something for everyone here and the stories are all well constructed. The Tears and Laughter website states ' The idea for this book came from the successful 'A Story A Fortnight' writing group which brought the writers involved together in a project that has inspired and supported them in their short story writing.' What a great idea.  I particularly enjoyed  'We'll Meet Again,' by Kathleen McGurl. It's a short ghost story with reference back to WW2 - very poignant. In fact I loved it but then it's just my 'cup of tea,' but please excuse the cliche. 'Going Backwards,' by Deborah Carr is another short but well crafted piece that quickly wracks up the tension, culminating in an ending that hints of the possibility of romance and new beginnings. There are twenty six stories contributed by well known and published writers and if you enjoy the short story genre, it...

Ok, so today is the day when I have to decide what to bid for the house we want. I hate sealed bids and if I lose this one I vow never to go down the same route again. So, in order to take my mind off the problem I'm doing anything and everything I can as a distraction. That brings me to my blog. Having been introduced to Blogger's new dynamic view template, I switched over a couple of weeks ago. However, unlike the former templates, you're unable to display most of your gadgets. So, I'm missing various things from my blog, such as my twitter feed for example. It's a shame that Blogger have been unable to configure the dynamic view in the same way.  Has anyone else had this problem? I love the new look -very clean and sleek -dare say many would call it uncluttered. However, I have become accustomed to the 'clutter' and I think I may revert to the previous template. I'm craving my gadgets/badges so it's goodbye to dynamic until they forge a solut...

I've just rounded off my day with a good film -'Anonymous,' which certainly delivered a different view of Shakespeare. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was rather intrigued by Queen Elizabeth I, who was depicted as anything but the virgin Queen. This isn't the first time I've heard of her illegitimate children, or should I say rumours of, but it's fascinating none the less. So, was Shakespeare a great playwright or not? Talking of children, my youngest who recently turned eleven has just asked if he can stay up late at the weekend now as all of his friends do. I have to laugh - it's great how he's trying to push the boundaries and it's sad because he's growing up faster and faster. Talk about time flying - complete understatement.  Lastly, before bed time, is it possible to write about a place you've never visited? Trying to root your story in a particular area takes a bit of crafting but how effective can you be if you've only ever se...

Historical Novel Society | Historical fiction reviews, features, guides and member news

It's another wet day. Constant, Cumbrian drizzle making the ground awash with water. Pools forming here and there, bubbling becks bursting with swirling froths of spring water. A mist eclipses the mountain tops, hanging in suspense, waiting for the rain to ease and until then, it's back to my writing. Mill beck, Buttermere I recently came across a quote by Milan Kundera, a writer from the Czech Republic who now lives in exile in France. He was born in 1929 and lived through the war and the German occupation. He says of history - 'History is nothing more than a thin thread of what is remembered stretched out over an ocean of what has been forgotten.' I think this is so poignant and indicative of why it is essential that history is remembered. Of the stories we know from the past, many are merely 'thin threads.' However, once you start to dig, you uncover more threads. So the message to all literary archaeologists is to keep writing & keep digging....