I was first introduced to Oliver Harris by the crime-loving, bookseller extraordinaire, Danny van Emden at West End Lane Books. Danny had been given an advance copy of Harris' first Belsey thriller, The Hollow Man, and began raving about it almost from the very first chapter. (When I … [Read more...]
The Englishman is now available in paperback!
The paperback copy of The Englishman is finally here! My copies of the novel arrived on Thursday and you may imagine this caused some jubilation in Halme Towers. I very nearly gave this lovely (though a little embarrassed) delivery man a kiss and hug... Signed copies of the book can now … [Read more...]
Five Books to Take on Holiday
For me one of the pleasures of going away is being able to read a lot of books. Before we leave I have a thorough browse in my favourite bookshop and select about four or five books to take with me. This year, however, I'm going to be reading and reviewing self-published novels for Awesome Indies, … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Get Your Book into Bookshops
Back in April at the London Book Fair 2013 I got into a discussion with a fellow writer about how difficult some independent writers find it to get their books stocked in bookshops. Now, I don't pretend to be an expert in this field, but having been a bookseller in an independent bookshop and having … [Read more...]
Alys, Always by Harriet Lane
Harriet Lane's debut novel, Alys, Always, was recommended to me by my old bookseller friend, Danny, at West End Lane Books when I was looking for authors who write about North London for next year's Crouch End Festival (more about this later). I didn't really know what kind of book it … [Read more...]
Goodbye England’s Lane Books
On my return from holiday I got the sad news that the wonderful England's Lane Books will be no more.High rents and rates, other popular bookshops nearby and a low footfall, as well as the decline in sales of physical books all contributed to the decision to close down this locally loved independent … [Read more...]
Today’s Hangover Square
I've just finished reading Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton. While I don't want to say too much about the book before we discuss the novel at next Tuesday's WEL Book Group, I think it's a remarkable novel set in a remarkable time. London in 1939, the weeks and days before the declaration of war, … [Read more...]
Shireen Jilla at West End Lane Books
The cover of Shireen Jilla's debut novel, Exiled, was what first attracted me to the book. The black and white view of a typical New York brownstones spoke to me in its simplicity, yet the red lettering implied of something sinister.Last night when I met Shireen Jilla (dressed in smart New York … [Read more...]
