The latest edition of The Thursday Book Club was broadcast on 17th October 2024 at 2pm on Phonic FM. Joining host Jonathan Posner was Kate McCormick (who writes as Elizabeth Ducie)and Jason Mann. Click the names to find out more about them, and use the audio bar below to listen to the full show.
We reviewed Sewing Sequins on my Straightjacket by Sharon Cook.
Our discussion was on: What does it take to build a well-rounded world in a work of fiction?
The next show is at 2pm on the 21st November 2024. We’ll be reviewing Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. 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:
Kate McCormick, who writes as Elizabeth Ducie, is launching both her latest thriller and the fourth in her cosy crime series with a party in Chudleigh on Friday 1st November at 7pm. There’s fizz, cake and live music. The event is free to attend, but for catering purposes, book your place by emailing elizabeth@elizabethducie.co.uk.
Pamela Vass’s book Reason and Rebellion, on women’s fight for the vote in Devon will be out this autumn. On August 4th, 1913, flames lit up the sky over a Devon mansion. The papers were filled with speculation that suffragettes were to blame. Truth or fiction? This fascinating story tells of Devon women holding MPs to account, joining mass rallies in London, defying the government, enduring imprisonment … and taking part in the biggest sleepover the region has ever known. If you have any anecdotes about suffragettes locally Pamela says she’d love to hear them. Contact her and pre-order Reason and Rebellion at boundstonebooks.co.uk.
Stephen Marson has a new cosy mystery / police story out called The Girl On The Tram – inspired by a real event in Exeter; a tram that crashed in the 1900s, killing a passenger. Stephen has also been researching his family history, and found a card where one of his relatives wrote about her first time on an omnibus. Her name was Carrie, so Carrie Grey became the heroine of his new book, The Girl On The Tram. It’s available on Amazon.
The Templer Way Story is a new non-fiction book from Maureen Boon. It’s an illustrated guide to the story of the Templer Way walking route, giving details of the Dartmoor Granite Railway and the Stover Canal. It tells you about how granite was quarried and transported to Teignmouth where it was then shipped and used in many famous buildings and monuments including London Bridge. The book is available from maureenboonwriter.com or the publisher, bluepoppypublishing.co.uk.
Susan Tennyson is a new author from Bristol who released her debut novel about three months ago. It is called The Habit I Cannot Break. Join Jacob and Leo as they navigate the challenges of love, acceptance, and staying true to themselves. Their relationship faces opposition, but their love for each other remains unwavering. When they are torn apart by circumstances, can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way? Available on Amazon.
Johnathan Webber and Helena Dixon, two local crime writers, will be holding a conversation and Q&A event at Churston Library on Tuesday 22nd October from 2pm to 3:30pm. Johnathan Webber is the author The Hope that Kills, a crime caper based around Oldway Mansion, while Helena Dixon has a series of well-known 1930s cozy mystery crime novels featuring Miss Underhay. Tickets are from Churston Library or call 01803 843757. We’ll put these details on the listen again page. Apparently hot drinks and cakes will also be involved.
Taming Qilleena is a sci fi – detective novel set in another galaxy from Kitty Cooper, which is planned for release in November on Amazon. It’s the fourth in a series called the Guardian Chronicles. Here’s a bit about it: Wherever Qilleena went she caused trouble. Throughout his youth Ekym had tried to avoid his sister, and even as a young adult she was no better. As a guardian he thought he had escaped her until she arrived at his door. But this time was different; this time trouble of a different sort was stalking her.
Mark Blackburn is delighted to report that he has just won the short story prize at the South Hams Literary Festival. Radio 1 Extra DJ Fee Mak, who was the judge, said she thoroughly enjoyed the way the backstory was set up and the structure of this fantasy story. “I loved the fact that it was about a young child and his imagination but wasn’t childish,” she said. “The message was very wholesome and left me wanting to know more.” Mark’s travelogue/memoir Final Approach and his Brian the Bear children’s books are available to order from any good bookshop.
Numbers, book 16 in the DCS Palmer & The Serial Murder Squad series by Barry Faulkner, came out on October 1st. Here’s the blurb: three bodies in a London house. Nothing missing and no clues. Just a number scrawled in blood on the bathroom wall tiles. What does it mean and why is it there? Barry Faulkner is also giving a talk called: ‘The Major UK Heists and the Geezers Watt Did ‘Em’ at Chepstow Round Table on 29th October, and will be on a Cleveland Lit Fest Panel on November 2nd, discussing ‘Police Procedure Crime Writing’.
Chrissey Harrison has asked for a shout out for Clevedon LitFest’s Celebration Of The Book. It’s coming up on Sat 2nd November, and there’ll be loads of indie authors doing talks, workshops and readings. There’s more info at www.clevedonlitfest.org.uk/celebration-of-the-book.
