What favourite food are you bringing to Sunday brunch?
My very favourite brunch dish is a stack of Eggo waffles (available in the frozen aisle of any cheap American supermarket, and a Proustian memory from staying with American friends when I was little) with maple syrup carefully drizzled into each little square.
Would you like a pot of English Breakfast tea, a strong Americano, or a glass of Bucks Fizz?
None of those: please may I have a large glass of iced tea with plenty of ice? I’m teetotal and I can’t bear hot drinks.
Which of your literary heroes are joining us today?
I’d like to bring Jo March from “Little Women”, for her determination to succeed as a writer and her ability to put her foot in it, and Paddington Bear, for his sunny nature, his politeness, and his ability to put his foot in it. I would bring Ross Poldark too, but I’d be too distracted and would drool unbecomingly.
What’s the title of the book nearest to you?
“Girl in a Green Gown” by Carola Hicks – it’s a close look at the portrait of the Arnolfini marriage, currently in the National Gallery in London, and it was recommended so highly by a friend that she gave it to me (and she was right – it’s terrific)
What’s the oldest book on your book shelf?
A complete set of the Poldark novels, which were owned by my mother when she was a young woman
Which book do you really want to read but haven’t had time for …yet!
“Middlemarch” by George Eliot – everyone tells me it’s wonderful
Do you have a guilty reading pleasure, and if so will you tell us about it?
I download free romances onto my Kindle – usually American, and often involving a damaged man (fireman, farmer, rancher, fisherman – strong but with a soft centre) and a woman who shows him how to love again. They’re uniformly ghastly and predictable, but I just can’t resist.
If the house was on fire which book would you rescue?
“The Little White Horse” by Elizabeth Goudge – I was given my worm-eaten paperback (already about third-hand by then) when I was eight and I re-read it every year
Do you have a reading/writing playlist on Spotify, or a favourite CD to listen to when reading/writing? And if so will you share with us a favourite song or piece of music that makes you feel happy?
I cannot write with any noise at all in the background – I was an only child and am used to quiet surroundings. As for songs to make me happy, anything by Abba or the Bee Gees is bound to do it.
Do you have a favourite place to settle down to read/write?
I sit on the sofa with my legs up on a footstool (a leather elephant that we brought back from holiday in Canada – not the most practical souvenir to transport…), the cat on my ankles and my laptop on my lap. It’s comfortable for about an hour until blood-flow to the feet is halted.
Give us four essential items that a writer absolutely needs?
This writer absolutely needs silence, chocolate biscuits, a laptop (my handwriting is shockingly messy these days) and the encouragement of good friends
What can you tell us about your latest novel, or your current work in progress?
I am about to embark on a new series of books – five historical crime novels set in Cambridge in the 1820s – so I am at the very beginning of my research, which is both daunting and exciting. I’m looking forward to creating/meeting a whole new cast of characters.
On this quiet Sunday morning why don't you put the kettle on, make your favourite breakfast and settle down for Sunday Brunch with Jaffareadstoo
I'm delighted to welcome author, Jordan Bell to Sunday Brunch
Credit Jordan Bell
☼ Good Morning, Jordan. Happy Sunday!
What favourite food are you bringing to Sunday brunch?
Home-made scones with jam, cream and lemon curd.
Would you like a pot of English Breakfast tea, a strong Americano, or a glass of Bucks Fizz?
EBT for me! Milk, one sugar, thank you.
Which of your literary heroes are joining us today?
If it's OK to ask people who have passed on, I'd like to invite Rumer Godden to join us - her children's books were a lifeline to me as a young reader, especially Miss Happiness and Miss Flower - small stories with big emotions inside them, a great way to start understanding for myself what it means to be a person. I'd love to talk with her about writing for children - her books made complexity simple enough for children, without "dumbing it down".
What’s the title of the book nearest to you?
Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway - an absolute gem of a book and a great place to start with his collected stories (if you can get past the slightly strange name of his protagonist!).
Vintage
2012
What’s the oldest book on your book shelf?
A first edition English copy of The Never-Ending Story by Michael Ende, printed in red and green ink. I had a copy as a child, read it on multiple occasions, then lost it growing up and was terribly sad. My husband tracked down a copy for me for a birthday one year. Very precious. I'm just waiting for my daughter to get a little older before I read it to her.
Which book do you really want to read but haven’t had time for …yet!
Would you believe Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust (Vol 1) is still sitting on my shelf after it was gifted to me last year by my sister? I loved His Dark Materials so much that I have been scared to take it down and open it.
David Fickling Books
2017
Do you have a guilty reading pleasure, and if so will you tell us about it?
Just reading too late up into the night...one more chapter, one more chapter. I remember when I discovered as a child that if I hid a torch under my pillow, I could keeping reading after "lights out" - what a relevation!
If the house was on fire which book would you rescue?
Probably my passport - boringly practical but they are such a hassle to get re-issued! If it was a very small fire, probably photo albums or some of my daughter's hand-written and illustrated stories.
Do you have a reading/writing playlist on Spotify, or a favourite CD to listen to when reading? And if so will you share with us a favourite song or piece of music that makes you feel happy?
I can't write when there are lyrics, so I often listen to eg Vivaldi or Bach - or I work in silence. I find silence very soothing.
Do you have a favourite place to settle down to read?
Oooh, in a cafe, by myself, in a comfy chair with a hot chocolate in front of me. And maybe a little cake.
Give us four essential items that a writer absolutely needs?
Peace and quiet to write, a notebook/notes app for jotting down ideas, someone to encourage them when they are feeling very stupid at what they do and a supply of little snacks to keep them sustained.
What can you tell us about your latest novel, or your current work in progress?
I write a series called Aunt Jodie's Guides - Aunt Jodie, a biologist, takes her niece and nephew, Sophie and Matt, on science adventures.
I have just published Aunt Jodie's Guide to Evolution, a STEM-focussed book for children in primary school, illustrated by Gabriel Cunnett, which unpacks the science of evolution.
It makes a great gift for a smart, curious child, and is available online at www.gumroad.com/jordanbell . I'm currently working on Aunt Jodie's Guide to Climate Change, as I think this is something that many children are going to have to wrap their heads around in the next few years, sadly. After that I will probably start working on Aunt Jodie's Guide to the Human Body, as that's what my readers have said they'd like to see next. For behind-the-scenes peeks at the process, search "Aunt Jodie's Guide" on Facebook and join either the Page or the Group!
On this quiet Sunday morning why don't you put the kettle on, make your favourite breakfast, and settle down for Sunday Brunch with Jaffareadstoo
I'm delighted to welcome Kim Nash, author and blogger at Kim the Bookworm
Good morning, Kim! Happy Sunday!
What favourite food are you bringing to Sunday brunch?
I do love a bacon and egg sandwich but the egg has to be runny! Or there's just no point! Although I also have to say that I do love a Wetherspoon's brunch!
Would you like a pot of English Breakfast tea, a strong Americano, or a glass of Bucks Fizz?
I am a bit obsessed with Nescafe Azera Americano. It's expensive but I stock up when it's on offer and get a bit twitchy if I get below 6 tins in my cupboard. Was gutted that I bought a decaf one last week by mistake! I only drink Bucks Fizz on Christmas morning.
Which of your literary heroes are joining us today?
Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones' Diary. I routed for him all the way, although the naughtiness of Daniel Cleaver did get me a little hot under the collar!
What’s the title of the book nearest to you?
The Songs of Us by Emma Cooper. I met Emma a few months ago, and I love her to bits. The First Time I Saw You was SUCH a great read so I grabbed a signed copy, which I got from the Waterstones pop up shop which was at the Chase Bookfest which was a festival linking authors and readers, which I helped to organise in September this year. Watch this space for details of next years festival!
What’s the oldest book on your book shelf?
I have a book which my Dad's Dad, was given when he was at school. The date inside the book is 1913. I should really make the time to read it one of the days.
Which book do you really want to read but haven’t had time for …yet!
Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey. I got this from the Chase Bookfest too and have a beautiful signed copy. I adored The Glittering Hour by this author and have been dying to read this for ages!
Do you have a guilty reading pleasure, and if so will you tell us about it?
Probably not too guilty but I do love a self-help, self-development book. I used to read lots and one of the habits I want to get back into in the New Year. I love You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero and The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. Two of my most favourite reads EVER!
If the house was on fire which book would you rescue?
That is SUCH a hard question! Probably A Spring Affair, because it's the book that changed my life, introduced me to book blogging, which led me to working in publishing, which led me to being an author. Such a clever book!
Do you have a reading/writing playlist on Spotify, or a favourite CD to listen to when reading? And if so will you share with us a favourite song or piece of music that makes you feel happy?
I like to have quiet when I'm reading! Can't listen to music because I'd be concentrating on singing along instead.
Do you have a favourite place to settle down to read?
When I get up in a morning, I always have a coffee and a read on the sofa. Roni my English Setter comes and sits as close as he can possibly get to me and I always seem to hold my iPad at a very strange angle, but it's a very special time of the day.
Give us four essential items that a writer absolutely needs?
Coffee, gorgeous notepads, different coloured pens and a dog to chat your ideas through with!
What can you tell us about your latest novel, or your current work in progress?
I'm currently working on my first draft of a book that I don't even have a title of, but it's about four friends who meet up again to celebrate their 50th birthdays on a holiday in The Algarve. I'm hoping to finish first draft by the end of the year and I'm hoping you'll see it out in mid Spring.
I am delighted to welcome the author Malcolm Hollingdrake to the spotlight
Hi Malcolm, welcome to Jaffareadstoo. Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started as an author.
I am a proud Yorkshireman, born in Bradford. After teacher training at Ripon College of Education I taught for thirty-two years. I was granted two years’ leave of absence, worked in Cairo and then travelled to Northern Cyprus. I held many roles and was seconded to support schools through Ofsted inspections finishing my career working in a school for children with emotional and behavioural needs.
Teaching creative writing has always been an important element of the curriculum and I encouraged children to participate in writing competitions. I was responsible for producing an anthology of children’s written work entitled ‘Wigan Voice’.
I have also written for children – assemblies and end of day stories but it was as I was approaching the end of my career that I wrote adult fiction with a desire to publish.
Without revealing too much, what can you tell us about the Harrogate Crime Series?
The Harrogate Series comprises eight books and features DCI Cyril Bennett and DS David Owen. The books were intended as a series but also designed to be read as stand-alone novels. However, in any series the reader will appreciate the character development and the subtleties with each book that make the characters, I hope at least, more real.
I believe each book has a very different story line and I know from reading the reviews of those who have read every book that there is a development of me as a writer. It is true that we as authors learn the more we write and it is reassuring to hear from people that book eight is the best one yet.
Although the books are set in Harrogate many of the stories link to the stunning places within the Yorkshire Dales and I can use my love of county to highlight key places.
The series involves the same serious crime team as certain cases rely on officers with different skills. The one constant, however, is the partnership of Bennett and Owen.
Your crime series is set in the beautiful Yorkshire town of Harrogate. How important is location to your writing, and do you visit any of the places you describe so vividly in your novels?
The location is critical. It is one of the constants, the backgrounds which are immediately identifiable to my readers. The streets, the shops and the public buildings are all named so the local readers and those visiting can know of them and find them. I receive a great deal of support from businesses and they often welcome their inclusion. Harrogate has so many wonderful locations that can be woven into the stories, some of the places often unknown even to locals. I also receive details from residents who tell me of different local characters, real people who, when included, help to make the books real.
I visit regularly. I walk the routes Cyril Bennett takes. I scout out locations to ensure they are described correctly. I allow my senses to record the moment; the sounds, smells to bring reality to the pages.
One of the pleasures for me as an author is to introduce the sites within the Dales. Ramsgill features in two books and the churchyard of St Mary’s was key to the writing of Game Point. I have known this location since I was a child and I feel it a privilege to be granted permission to include it.
I hold a strong love for the county and I hope that comes through in my writing.
A while ago I produced a video titled Places in Pages that looked at some of the real places mentioned within the pages of my books.
Whilst you are writing you must live with your characters. Do they ever dictate how the story progresses or do you stick with a writing plan from the beginning and never deviate?
I never write to a plan. I start with an idea and those ideas have come from many different sources; a news cutting, a chance conversation, a photograph. I then sit and write. The characters do dictate to a degree. They dictate their involvement within the text. In some books owing to circumstances certain characters take a stronger and more leading role. In one book, Owen takes the lead and Bennett features very little. Although this was not planned initially, I see that there is opportunity in the future for Owen to be developed as a separate series should the need arise.
I also find the initial start point will often end up in the middle of the book as the story unfolds. It is not unknown either for me not to have an idea as to how the book will end even when two thirds through the writing stage. I try to work to seventy-plus thousand words to help with the pace of the story; the answer will often come at the strangest moment and I have to make jottings otherwise it will be lost. So yes, the characters can drive the story or certainly influence the direction.
The series has, so far, focused on quite a wide variety of crimes, what do you think makes a good fictional villain and a good fictional detective?
What makes a good villain? I think firstly plausibility and unpredictability; hold traits that can take many forms РThe innocent, the wicked, the evil, the outsider, the close friend. The motive behind the crimes is also key. In book one I had two villains. One was easily seen to be a despicable and selfish individual prepared to do anything to achieve his goal and killing was second nature but the other had a different raison d'̻tre. I worked hard to try to make the reader feel his pain and believe he had a purpose. I wanted the reader to ask what would they do in his position. Villains are callous, greedy, clever, narcissistic and probably plausible.
So, the fictional detective. I see so many dysfunctional fictitious detectives of whom I wanted to stay clear. The character to me had to be smart, emotionally balanced, a clear thinker, a man who can build and rely on a team and therefore delegate. He must be human and real and at times vulnerable. I also believe their partner must also play a key role, be the black to his white or the yin to his yang if that doesn’t sound too silly.
One important aspect is to strive for the constant development of the detective’s character after each case or each change in his life circumstances. The key is to try to make the person as credible as possible.
And finally, what can we expect next from you?
I have just completed two short stories, one written to be included in an anthology to support Help for Heroes that should be published in December, the second to be included in the November edition of The Writers’ Magazine and specifically written around the subject of remembrance. I am also half way through book nine in The Harrogate Series as well as working on the first book in a new series set in north Merseyside.
I also try to organise two Noir events annually, one in Wigan, the third annual event has just taken place and proved to be very successful and one in Harrogate. These take quite some time as I have to bring five or six authors from around the UK together to talk about their work and read from their latest book. They are certainly growing in popularity.
May I say a massive thank you for your interest in my writing. It has been a pleasure to chat about my writing. My work can be found on Amazon and my website.
I am also about on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
When Stars Will Shine is a collection of short stories from your favourite authors who have come together to deliver you a Christmas read with a twist.
With true war tales that will break your heart, gritty Christmas crimes that will shake you to your core, and heart warming tales of love lost and found, this anthology has something for everyone. And, with every penny made being sent to support our troops, you can rest assured that you’re helping our heroes, one page at a time.
From authors such as Louise Jensen, Graham Smith, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Lucy Cameron, Val Portelli, and Alex Kane, you are in for one heck of a ride!
I am delighted to welcome author K M Pohlkamp back to the spotlight
Hi and welcome back to Jaffareadstoo, it's a real pleasure to have you as our guest today.Tell us a little about
yourself and how you got started as an author.
Thank you so much for hosting me!
By day I am the Chief of Trajectory Operations for NASA Mission’s Control and at night, when my kids are in bed, I write to maintain sanity. Writing is my escape, just as reading is for so many. I am originally a Cheesehead from Wisconsin and now live in Houston, Texas. I also attempt a ballet class once a week.
I have always loved writing – so much that along with engineering, I double majored in journalism. B.C. (that’s before children), I was a freelance writer for broadwayworld.com and worked at my hometown city’s newspaper as a sports journalist. Over years of practice, I honed creative writing skills and must thank all the editors and beta readers who helped along the way. It is amazing to now see my books in the hands of readers and I cherish every note from someone who had read my work. Those little tweets and e-mails keep my fingers fueled and flying upon the keyboard.
Shadows of Hemlock is the sequel to Apricots and Wolfsbane –what can you tell us about the story and did you feel more of an obligation to make this book even better than the first?
Apricots and Wolfsbane follows the career of Lavinia Maud, a female poison assassin in Tudor England (watch the book trailer). While navigating betrayals as her marks grow from tavern drunks to nobility, Lavinia struggles to justify her profession with her faith and is forced to choose between the man and the poisons she loves.
Shadows of Hemlock features Lavinia’s apprentice, Aselin Gravel, and releases tomorrow November 19! Aselin confronts regrets and fallout from the first novel and finds she is ill-prepared for the independence she craved. When the Guild of Poison Assassins comes for retribution, Aselin must seek aid from a fickle contact who only wants one means of payment: a ring that is more than it appears. While Apricots is a stand-alone story, Shadows continues the journey, twisting things readers thought they knew.
Honestly, I was nervous to write a sequel. Apricots is a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice Selection, a Discovering Diamonds Historical Fiction Reviews Book of the Month, and a finalist for the 2018 International Chanticleer Chaucer Historical Fiction awards, amongst other accolades. I was blown away by the tremendous reception of my debut novel and little nagging demons of doubt made me question if I could really do it again. Thankfully my publisher has provided fantastic support. I roughed out the sequel while we finished edits on Apricots which allowed me to dangle a few hooks in the first novel to better set up the second. Most importantly, Shadows stays true to the world of Apricots that so many readers have responded too. I am thrilled that Shadows just recently also received 5-Stars from Readers’ Favorite Reviews.
Both works are written in first-person and changing the narrator between the two novels makes the second book feel fresh. We see a few of the same events but from a new perspective which causes the reader to rethink opinions from the first novel. These spins made Shadows fun to write and I have loved hearing comments from the fantastic reception of early reviews.
Your writing is darkly atmospheric – how do you recreate a sense of history in your novels and how much research do you do in order to bring place and people to life?
Seeing the world through the eyes of an assassin provides a wonderful way to keep tension high and the pages turning. My writing can be poetically dark, invoking suspense and emotion -- but without violent description. This is important to me so that my writing is accessible; that the reader can connect with the anti-hero protagonists and even root for them as they slip toxins in chalices. Poisoning also provides distance from the kills and keep the prose palatable.
While my characters are fictional, this is historical fiction. It is incredibly important to get facts correct because the smallest inconsistencies can take a reader out of the story. Each novel has a discussion guide in the back which points out the historical reference for each novel and is part of a Book Club discussion guide. Here is a list of my favorite historical fiction research resources.
Not only did I painstakingly research Tudor England, I also ensured the taste, feel, and effect of each poison is correct. Like so many authors, this destroyed my Google search history, but those little details bring a story to life: how a wolfsbane leaf feels in a gloved hand, how a mixture bubbles in a forge.
Filles Vertes Publishing
19 November 2019
Whilst you are writing you must live with your characters. How do you feel about them when the book is finished? Are they who you expected them to be? And do you have a favourite character?
Especially writing in first person, I had to dive into the heads of my protagonists and understand how they feel when they kill and more important, when they themselves are hunted. Avoiding spoilers, I teared drafting the end of Apricots and readers will understand why.
Having dove so deep into Lavinia’s head, I did several practice writings and character development exercises before switching to Aselin’s narration for Shadows. To help my readers make this transition as well, I have released a FREE short-story prequel told from Aselin’s perspective. This also serves as a fantastic introduction to Lavinia’s world in Tudor England. I hope everyone reading this blog will give it a try and since it’s free, there is nothing to lose!
My favorite characters are Lavinia, because the entire world originally built around her, and Dauid, who we see more fully in Shadows. He guides Aselin through her transformation from self-centered naivete and also provides comic relief.
Your style of writing is very much ‘from the heart’. Does this take its toll on you emotionally, and if so, how do you overcome it?
I sincerely appreciate that compliment! Writing in first person increases the emotion and helps heighten this sentiment. I write very slowly and often find it exhausting; the emotional connection is a big reason why.
But that is the fun of writing (and reading), to examine the world through different eyes, to be someone you could never otherwise be and let your mind take you on an adventure.
How can readers find out more about you and your writing?
I know everyone’s to-be-read lists are long and I am so honored every time a reader trusts me with their precious reading time. I hope everyone will please give me a chance to captivate them with my free short-story prequel.
I love hearing from readers. I do not write to have books published, but rather to have my books read. Readers can connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, or through my website. I have been told my novels make fantastic book club selections because there’s a little something for everyone. I include a free Book Club discussion guide in the back of my books and have skyped with book clubs all over the world. I would love to meet with yours next and I provide all interested book clubs with my family’s recipe for stuffed mushrooms to bring a little something extra to your next meeting (just hold the wolfsbane).
K.M. Pohlkamp is a blessed wife to the love of her life, proud mother of two young children, and a Mission Control flight controller. A Cheesehead by birth, she now resides in Texas for her day job and writes to maintain her sanity. Her other hobbies include ballet and piano. K.M. has come a long way from the wallpaper and cardboard books she created as a child. Her debut novel, Apricots and Wolfsbane, was published October 2017 by Filles Vertes Publishing and was designated an Editors’ Choice Selection by the Historical Novel Society, among other accolades.
