Aug 18, 2024

The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 15th August 2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner was Angie Wooldridge. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.

We reviewed The Outlaw’s Ransom by Jennifer Ash.

Our discussion was on The first act of a novel – what makes it work?

The next show is at 2pm on the 19th September. We’ll be reviewing The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. Read along with us and send us your thoughts on the book – either through the Contact page, or via the Facebook page, and we may well read them out on air.

NEWS

In the News section, we announced books by local authors and local news:

  1. Merchants and Mayors: The Chappell Family in Tudor Exeter by Margaret A. Rice tells the story of two brothers, William and Thomas, and their cousin, John, who each became mayor of Exeter during the 16th century. The launch will be by invitation only, with the current Lord Mayor of Exeter in attendance, at Tuckers Hall, Fore Street Exeter on 12th September. Then there will be two further launch events on the 13th of September also at Tuckers Hall. These will be at 11:30am until 12:30 and 2:00pm until 3:00. The author will give an illustrated talk about the book and will then be available for questions and to sign books. We’re not certain how you get tickets, but it might be that you turn up on the day (but please don’t quote me on this!!)
  2. We have been advised that there are the first two novels in a thriller/suspense trilogy, with a local connection. In Illicit Deception by Jack Lench, Robin Ashurst is the manager of a run-down hotel, who unwittingly gets caught up in a world of espionage, international subterfuge and exposing government secrets. It’s set in a picturesque fishing village on the South Devon coast, and features the cursed French blue diamond necklace once worn by Marie Antoinette of France. There’s also a dangerous terrorist organisation who will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives. Essentially, the book is about people not being who they say they are. If you enjoy that, the second book is called Running Flush. Both books are available on Amazon.
  3. Last month we reviewed Exe on the Beach by local author Suzy Bussell. Her new book came out on 1st August. Called Haunted High Tea and Homicide, it features Mystery, ghosts and gowns. Here’s the blurb: In the charming Regency seaside town of Sidmouth, Devon, Trinity Bishop is thrilled to open her Jane Austen-themed tearoom on the picturesque seafront. However, the grand opening takes a dark turn when a guest is found murdered shortly after the festivities begin. After the chaos, a mysterious package arrives at Trinity’s door containing a ring that uncannily resembles one owned by Jane Austen herself. When Trinity slips it on, five ghosts materialize, bearing a striking resemblance to characters from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
    With her spectral companions by her side, Trinity delves into the mystery surrounding the murder. They discover the quaint town of Sidmouth harbours many secrets. Can Trinity and her ghostly friends solve the murder and help the ghosts move on to the afterlife?
    A quick search on Amazon confirms that’s where you can find it!

  4. Flora McGowan has just republished her cozy romantic suspense book set in Sicily Playing With Fire from the ‘Carrie and Keith Mystery’ series (although Keith does not feature in this one!). Originally published in 2020, this second edition has extra content. It’s available from Amazon as well as other outlets.
  5. Gill McEvoy says her recently published book of Poetry, Selected Poems, (published by Hedgehog Press) has been nominated for the T S Eliot award. Congratulations Gill, from all of us at The Thursday Book Club! Selected Poems is available from Amazon. According to Amazon, Selected Poems shows a genius for finding the beauty in the everyday, and a perspective entirely her own. This is a masterful collection of work covering twenty years of the career of a poet that is truly unique.
  6. Retribution! the fourth part of Elizabeth Ducie’s Jones Sisters thrillers series is launching on 1st September. The ebook is available to pre-order now; and she’s also taking orders for signed copies of the paperback.
    Framed for murder on the day of her wedding, Charlie Jones is living a nightmare. While her sister, Suzanne, and their friends search for the true killer, Charlie is forced to confront her past: a past she’s kept hidden for more than three decades. Can Charlie save herself without losing everyone she loves. And who is the man in the black jacket?
    Full details on Elizabeth’s website: https://elizabethducieauthor.co.uk/book/retribution/

  7. A new resource for writers is being launched. Called Writing at the Edge. It’s a collective of authors, journalists and marketing professionals who have built up knowledge and experience of publishing over their writing careers. The aim of the collective is to share this learning and help other authors. It means pushing authors to the edge – and beyond – challenging them to become the best they can be at their craft. So whether you plan to query or to self-publish, Writing at the Edge aims to be an invaluable help and support in your writing journey. There will be a series of FREE webinars, starting on October 3rd with ‘Pitch Perfect.’ Here’s the… er… pitch: A great pitch is essential for a novel. How do you craft a compelling message that will sell your story? How do you pitch your new novel – to agents, to publishers – and of course – to readers?
    It’s on Thursday 3 Oct 2024 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM BST. The booking link is here.

  8. Here’s a reminder about another book we mentioned in the April news section: Return to Xanthos – a romance, with a twist by John McKenna. It’s set on a fictional and idyllic Greek Island and describes the intertwined lives of the expats and locals. Return to Xanthos is a compelling and unusual love story, with a twist – set amongst the golden beaches, olive groves and pine clad mountains of a stunning Greek Island. It includes a cast of colourful and charismatic characters – and will appeal to fans of the Greek Islands and lovers of romance – who like a sprinkling of spirituality. Find it on Amazon.
  9. Last month we featured a news item about Word Kitchen, a group who organise open mic readings in poetry and prose. They were scheduled to be in the Phoenix Exeter on the 10th September, but this event has been re-scheduled – with the new date yet to be advised.
  10. Exeter City of Literature is holding the Silent Book Club. It’s on Tuesday 20th August at 6pm at the Hourglass Pub. Come with a book and read! More info here.
  11. The day of the show saw the launch of Sharon Cook’s Sewing Sequins on My Straightjacket: a mother’s heartwarming memoir about living through her child having cancer. Find it on Amazon.