The Gift Maker - Mark Mayes - Review and author Q & A

What would you do if someone knocked on your door in the middle of the night to give you a strange package: a small blue box, with a white bow, slightly bigger than a watch box, but smaller than a box that may contain a single book. And what if that box had your date of birth on it, would you open it?

This is exactly what happens to Thomas Ruder in the opening of The Gift Maker. When Thomas finds out that Liselotte, a fellow student who he has a crush on, has received a similar box, he's intrigued but he keeps quiet about the fact that he also has his own box, unopened, in his bedside drawer. Liselotte, having opened her box has invited Thomas to view it's contents but only after swearing him to complete secrecy.

Thomas is stunned by what he sees and confesses that he received a very similar box. Liselotte is angry that he didn't say anything before and won't listen to Thomas when he voices his concerns about the origin of these two strange gifts.

His concerns grow when the following day Liselotte doesn't show up at university and he finds a note in his pigeon hole telling him that she is on her way to Grenze to meet a man called Reynard who will be able to help her succeed in achieving her life-long dream.

Leaving his best friend Jo (short for Johann) at the station, Thomas sets off to Grenze in search of iselotte but Jo is soon not far behind them, armed with his own blue box.

The Gift Maker is one of those rare books that doesn't sit comfortably in any genre but this doesn't mean that the story is a confused one, far from it! It has an ethereal quality, the likes of which I've never read before. I was transported into another world that was full of dark secrets, eccentric characters and vivid descriptions. An unconventional journey of self discovery that makes the reader question their own beliefs about good and evil. I loved the clever way that the theme of the blue butterfly, which some believe symbolises a person's essence or soul, either past, present or future, is represented by the beautiful butterflies on every page. For a debut novel Mark Mayes has written a stunning, refreshing and enigmatic novel that will stay in my mind for a very long time to come and one that I would highly recommend you read.

                                                  

Before becoming a writer, Mark trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He subsequently worked in theatre and television for several years, both in the UK and abroad. He has worked variously as a cleaner, care-worker and carer, salesman, barman, medical transcriptionist, warehouse worker, and administrator.

Mark has published numerous stories and poems in magazines and anthologies in the UK, Eire, and Italy, and in particular has had several stories published in (or accepted for) the celebrated Unthology series (Unthank Books). His work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. He has been shortlisted for literary prizes, including the prestigious Bridport Prize.

In 2009, Mark graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in English (Creative Writing and Critical Practice) from Ruskin College, Oxford.

Currently living in South Wales, Mark is also a musician and songwriter.

I'm thrilled that Mark is joining me here today to answer some questions.

Photo by Tina White

Hello Mark. Welcome to my blog and congratulations on the publication of your first novel, The Gift Maker.

Hello Neats! Huge thanks for your kind words, and thank you so very much for the opportunity to appear on your wonderful book blog, The Haphazardous Hippo! 

Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and your background?

Absolutely! Well, I’ve been writing for quite a little while. I started with songs, back in my early thirties, then gradually developed an interest in poems, and from there short stories. These later interests grew out of reading, various life events, and joining a local writers’ group that met in the library of my home town. From there, I did eventually take a degree course, at Ruskin College, fifty per-cent of which focused on ‘creative writing’.

I’d wanted to write a novel for a long time, or at least attempt one, and I did indeed make several attempts over the years. Often, the idea didn’t have the legs to sustain a book-length narrative, and in some cases it was a simple lack of confidence that brought it to a halt. I’ve done all kinds of jobs since leaving school back in the early eighties, but writing is now my main focus, albeit I will, of course, continue to do other work to keep body and soul together.

Where did you get your ideas for The Gift Maker?

I can honestly say, I don’t know. The story, as it grew, brought them into being somehow, and I simply tried to keep out of the way, as it were. I didn’t know it was going to be a novel at first. I thought I was writing a short story, starting with a scene of a man being woken by a knock on the door. Another way to answer this is that the ideas were rooted in imagination, rather than in any transmuted life experience or historical basis. I think elements of the story are quite dreamlike, so perhaps the ideas emanated from that realm, in the curious way dreams have to permeate our waking hours. Sometimes, writing can feel like a sort of lucid dreaming experience. 

Can you describe how your book took shape?

As the story grew beyond the scope of a short story, and eventually beyond the scope of a novella, I really had to consider the structure of what was being produced. In this respect, my dearest friend (also a writer) was an enormous help when I reached a juncture where I had to make some fundamental decisions; or else the story’s dramatic tension, and overall purpose, might have collapsed, or become over-extended. The advice I took was to bring the three main narrative threads together towards one physical setting – the strange border town of Grenze. 

Some of your character names are quite unusual. How did you come up with them?

Again, they are simply made up, although some have certain sources. A lot of the Germanic sounding names are to give a sense of another place; and a place in the not quite now, but not too long ago, either. Not Germany per se, but some Mitteleuropa state; similar in some regards to the settings that Kafka might employ – beaurocratical, somewhat oppressive, but also very ordinary in many respects. The character of Reynard I Bliss has a mixed source: Reynard being a typical name for the fox in storytelling over the ages, and hence a manipulative or cunning character; I Bliss, is a version of Iblis, another name for Satan, and drawn from Islamic theology; but also with the other connotation that he promises, or actually embodies, a state of bliss. The names came to me, in some cases, out of the blue, and often I chose them because of their sound, and perhaps because they were a bit odd, or funny. 

In The Gift Maker you take the reader to some very dark places. Was it always your intention to do this or was it just how the story developed?

I think this is the subconcious at work. Again, as with dreams, dark places and dark things rise to the surface, as well as being mixed with lightness, and comfort and harmony. For dramatic purposes, the characters need problems to solve, challenges, both outwardly and internally. Each character has their ‘hero’s journey’, to lesser or greater extent explored in the novel; and thus each journey will hold monsters, shape-shifting elements, heralds, and tricksters – at least that is the intention. I think some of these story elements emerge at a liminal level – you can call it imagination, or free-flow of ideas and thought – but I sense there are governing principles at work when we just allow something to unfold, seemingly of itself. 

How would you describe your book to entice people to read it?

I would describe it as a story where you really don’t know what will happen next, where people are not who they purport to be; moreover, some of the characters are not aware themselves of their true identity until circumstances conspire to bring this knowledge into the light. There are touches of humour, I believe, and a sense of deepening mystery as the story progresses. From feedback already received, it does seem to be a story that makes people think, not just about the characters and plot, but about their own sense of identity, their own life’s journey and purpose. 

You’ve written poetry, short stories and songs so was writing a book a natural progression for you? Which is easier to write?

I feel that all these forms are connected, and in some senses intrinsic to one another. At some level, they all come from the same place. As mentioned above, I needed to grow in confidence in order to tackle a really long piece – a novel; but we can only learn by doing, can’t we – and writing this novel, and the subsequent editing process, was a great learning opportunity. I don’t necessarily feel one form is easier to write than another, but different forms have specific demands. In the case of an extended piece of prose – a novella or novel – structure is clearly a central aspect to wrestle with. Having said that, everything has structure; perhaps with a novel it’s the sheer weight of information about characters and plot that needs to be held in the mind at one and the same time – at least during the editing stage, throughout which you are (hopefully) ironing out inconsistencies. 

Who are your favourite authors and who inspires you?

If I have to pick one writer, it would be Jean Rhys. But there are so many others. Added to this, it is often about individual works, rather than who wrote them. Over the last year, I’ve read (and reviewed) about thirty, or more, Urbane titles – a stunning array of novels and poetry, in a wide range of genres. I’m reading great short stories all the time from webzines like STORGY, The Writing Garden, as well as from the wonderful series of story anthologies called Unthology, put out by Unthank Books. It’s endless – as it should be.

It’s quite inspiring to get hold of letters by writers for inspiration, thereby realising they’ve all gone through periods of extreme doubt and perplexity. Some examples available are the collected letters and diaries of Kafka, and the letters of Jean Rhys (many discussing her arduous journey in creating Wide Sargasso Sea), as well as Raymond Chandler’s letters, which give wonderful nuggets of advice to other writers, and insights into his creative process. I take inspiration wherever I can find it.

 

Which book would you like to have written and why?

This would have to be a play: The Three Sisters, by Chekhov. It’s one of my favourite plays, and every time I’ve seen it, or re-read it, I’ve always been so moved by the intricate and heartbreaking humanity, and oblique comedy, it makes manifest, via a fabulous range of characters. All of Chekhov’s characters matter in his plays, however small the role – there are no functionaries. The final scene of The Three Sisters is utterly poignant to me; both hope-filled and courageous, yet stark in the realisation of how stuck and arid our lives can become.  

Is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers?

I would wish to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who reads The Gift Maker. It is such a privilege and an honour that people would take time out of busy lives, and among so many choices of things to read, to read something I had written – I am truly amazed, and so thankful. If you give The Gift Maker a try, I very much hope you enjoy the story. I would also wholeheartedly recommend the many other Urbane titles now out there to explore. I’ve read many of them, and am constantly delighted, encouraged, and stimulated by the work of my fellow Urbane authors.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Mark and I wish you lots of luck with The Gift Maker.

Thank you so much, Neats. It’s been an absolute pleasure.

If you'd like to find out more about Mark you can use the links below:

Urbane Publications
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Twitter
Soundcloud

I'd like to thank Mark for taking the time to answer my questions and stopping by today and also Matthew at Urbane Publications for the beautiful review copy.

**Blog Tour** Love Them And Leave Them - Sue Shepherd

Welcome to my stop on the Love Them And Leave Them blog tour.

After featuring author Sue Shepherd on my Isle of Wight Virtual Mini Book Festival last year I was delighted to be offered the chance to read Sue's latest novel and be on her blog tour.

Love Them And Leave Them is a clever combination of two books rolled into one. Confused? If you've ever watched the movie Sliding Doors then you'll know exactly what I mean. It's all about choices that we make in our day to day lives and how those decisions affect our future.

Ed is driving home one night when he makes a split second decision that means that his daughter Jessie's life takes one path meaning that she's stuck in a rut with a dead end job and unreliable boyfriend and the prospect of never fulfilling her dreams.

But what if Ed had made a different decision that fateful night whilst driving home? Jessica would have a successful career, a loving boyfriend and a great future ahead of her.

Six years after that night we, as the reader, follow Jessie/Jessica as she encounters the same people but in very different scenarios and we see the full affect of Ed's choice.

This type of story had the potential to be confusing for the reader but Sue Shephed has done a terrific job in making it very clear which story is which and at the same time ensuring that it flows seamlessly from one version to another. It's an easy and addictive read but it's one that's full of depth and I felt that the dual time frame aspect meant that you got a deeper insight into all of the characters.

Love Them And Leave Them is a book that will charm you and leave you wondering about your own life choices and pondering what you're up to in your own parallel universe.

With kind thanks to the author and Ian at Corazon Books for the review copy.

** Blog Tour** Secrets We Keep - Faith Hogan

Having 'seen' author Faith Hogan around on Twitter and various bookish Facebook groups I was thrilled when she asked me to be a part of the blog tour for her latest novel Secrets We Keep. Not only have I got a review for you all but you can whet your appetite with an excerpt as well! So let's get to it!

It was nine o’clock before Kate set off walking towards the keep. It was hard to believe she had spent one precious week here already. Lyndon Tansey told her to take as long as she needed. Maybe he knew, maybe they all knew. Maybe everything she bottled up for the last decade had been blatantly obvious to the people around her while she remained blind to it. She had her heart broken long enough ago for her to have moved on. The public humiliation was harder to shake. Bad enough to be jilted at the last minute. It seemed to Kate that being reminded of it each time her ex-fiancé’s love life featured in the celebrity gossip columns made it into an ongoing nightmare from which there was no escape. Other people unfriended their exes on Facebook and cut their photos in half. That was not so easy when your ex was in the national newspaper every other week.

‘The important thing is that you come back safe and sound, old girl,’ Lyndon had said, patting her hand with sincerity. He had taken the helm of the law firm when he was almost fifty. He was old enough to have learned from the mistakes of others and he knew when someone was worth holding onto. Kate had raked in millions over the last decade for the practice. She had represented the spouses of rock stars, royalty and the ridiculously rich and managed to pull hefty and healthy settlements every time. People knew her in the divorce courts by reputation, and if they did not fear her exactly, they advised their clients that she was particularly adept in aspects of family law.

She looked around her now. This place with its vastness and intimacy cuckolded into the cold of the climate mixed with the warmth of the people, it was just what she needed. It was a five-mile round trip to the bathhouse and the keep, which would bring her along a track kept clean by a scurrilous pack of sheep and goats. She drank in the clean air greedily; the only sound here was the crashing of water to her right and the call of the gulls across the empty strand to her left. She walked slowly, surveying from her high middle ground the austere beauty of the place at this time of year. She stopped and sat on a rock that seemed to have moulded into her shape long before she ever knew she would be coming here. She knew now that she would come here again, it was as sure as the air she breathed. Perhaps this was the first step on that crossroads.

In the distance, she watched as a middle-aged woman made her way across the strand. Even from here, she recognized her. She saw her many times walk through the town, always with a shopping bag in her hand, sometimes wheeling one behind her. Today, she was making her way energetically with a yapping dog in her wake. Her face was puce despite the cold that must surely be biting into her. She rounded towards the ridge where Kate sat and stopped short as she neared her, surprised to see anyone out on such a cold day.

‘Hi.’ Kate did her best to smile, remembering that she was not in London now. It was okay to make eye contact; people here wanted you to talk to them.

‘Hi yourself.’ The woman panted and seemed to take the greeting as an invitation to join Kate on her rock. ‘I’m wrecked,’ she said and she plopped her considerable weight down awkwardly. ‘Hot flushes,’ she said and she fanned herself with gloved hands. ‘Phew, who knew, hah?’

‘Your dog doesn’t seem to mind,’ Kate watched as the little black and white terrier skipped out after the tide and then scudded back towards them as each new wave arrived. He was yapping happily, enjoying the chase of something he’d never catch.

‘Ah, Barry. Yes, I got him from the rescue – best thing I ever did. I wanted one for years, but you know, you need to put the time into a dog and my Duncan is allergic to anything with a coat, so…’ the woman smiled enigmatically as if his discomfort might actually please her in some odd way. The dog, as though he heard his mistress, came running across the beach towards them, digging up sand as he came.

‘You’re a super little fella,’ Kate said and she rubbed his head affectionately as Barry licked her fingers and danced a greeting frenzy up around them.

‘You’re lucky, he likes you,’ the woman said, reaching out to the little dog. ‘Not everyone he takes to, he’s nipped my Duncan more than once when he’s not expecting it. He had to have a tetanus jab, the works, didn’t he Barry?’ She nuzzled into the dog’s neck. ‘You’re such a good boy.’ She looked across at Kate. ‘You can’t beat a terrier to judge character, no fooling our Barry.’

‘No, I suppose not,’ Kate said, thinking of the unfortunate allergic husband upon whom he’d been foisted.

She turned to study Kate now. ‘You’re not from around here?’

‘No. I’m just… taking a little break.’

                                           *    *    *    *

Kate is a very successful divorce lawyer living in London who has become disenchanted with her life for various reasons. Meeting her Great Aunt Iris at a family funeral gives Kate the perfect opportunity to get away from her lonely life in London and take stock in the quiet village of Ballytokeep in Ireland.

Staying with Iris and Archie in their guest house Kate falls in love with the nearby abandoned Bath House and decides that Ballytokeep is somewhere she could relocate to and start a new more relaxed life and put her past well and truly behind her.

But Kate isn't the only one who is trying to forget the past, Iris also has skeletons in her cupboard but are they as hidden as she thinks they are?

I'm a huge fan of dual time-frame novels and Secrets We Keep is no exception. I loved the way that the story hopped from Kate's to Iris' stories seamlessly, without detracting from the story and keeping my interest right from the very start. I usually find that when I read this type of book I find myself leaning towards one time frame over the other, but it's a testament to Faith Hogan's writing that I was completely engaged by both in this book.

Iris and Archie's story was so beautifully told, from when they first met back in the 1950's, their highs and lows but it was the present day that brought a tear to my eye as we realise that Archie is suffering from memory loss and Iris is reluctant to face the truth.

Kate was a delightful change to the usually downtrodden heroines of this type of novel. She's such a strong character who knows her own mind and what I wouldn't have given to have sat with her as she watched the sun go down outside the Bath House.

The other thing that I enjoyed about this book was the descriptions of Ballytokeep itself. Right by the sea with rugged cliffs, quaint tea shops and friendly locals I was disappointed to find out that it was a fictional place but I've heard that there are real places just like this in Ireland so I think one of them could be a future holiday destination for me.

Secrets We Keep is a wonderful tale of family, friendship,hope, love and second chances and one that will warm your heart.

                                                About Faith Hogan

Photo courtesy of publishers Aria (Head of Zeus)

Faith Hogan was born in Ireland.  She gained an Honours Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree from University College, Galway.  She has worked as a fashion model, an event’s organiser and in the intellectual disability and mental health sector.

She was a winner in the 2014 Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair – an international competition for emerging writers.

Her debut novel, ‘My Husband’s Wives,’ is a contemporary women’s fiction novel set in Dublin. It was published by Aria, (Head of Zeus) in 2016.   ‘Secrets We Keep,’ is her second novel.

You can find our more about Faith and her books by using the links below:

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Website

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Google Play
iBooks

Be sure to check out all the other great stops on the tour on these fabulous blogs!

With kind thanks to the publishers Aria for the review copy.

The Wrong Turn - NC Marshall

Megan Cooper is involved in a car accident that leaves her trapped in her burning car. Luckily for Megan someone comes to her rescue and gets her out before it bursts into flames.

Waking up in the hospital and lucky to be alive she has a vague recollection of a tall man carrying her in his arms but she soon finds out that no-one knows who he is as he left the scene once help had arrived.

After a few days in hospital and a couple of visits from the police who are investigating the accident, she's packing her bag when she finds an unfamiliar jacket in her locker. Realising that it must belong to her rescuer she decides that she's going to try and track the man down to say thank you for saving her life in person.

The police uncover some worrying information about a well-known criminal and Megan is forced to revisit her past.

The Wrong Turn is another cracking psychological thriller from author NC Marshall that skillfully combines crime and mystery with a light sprinkling of romance thrown in. Although the prologue was a little longer than most, I think that it needed to be to enable the reader to experience every aspect of the whole terrifying event. Once again this author has created a strong cast of believable characters within a story that is well written and kept me absorbed from start to finish.

This is NC Marshall's third novel and in my opinion her writing is going from strength to strength with each novel she writes and I would highly recommend that you give The Wrong Turn a go.

With kind thanks to author NC Marshall for the review copy.

**Blog Tour** No Safe Home - Tara Lyons

Tara's debut novel In The Shadows was a cracker of a read so I was thrilled to be asked to review No Safe Home and be a part of the blog tour.

 I made the mistake of starting this book late one night when I was in bed. Why was that a mistake? Well for two reasons, firstly it was already late and after reading the prologue and the first few chapters I didn't want to put it down and the second reason. . . . it freaked me the hell out! Sleep wasn't going to come easy once I put my kindle down that was for sure.



DI Denis Hamilton is investigating the case of a young girl's suspected overdose but her parents don't believe that their daughter would commit suicide and they're certain that she was murdered. This is something that's too close to home for Hamilton to deal with and he finds himself being haunted by his past, something which he has tried to keep hidden from his colleagues.

Katy is a single mother with a young son, Frankie, and it's evident that she's scared of something or someone. Her home should be her sanctuary but she doesn't really feel safe and she trusts no-one. Working as a barmaid in a local pub gives her a small sense normality but she rarely lets her guard down.

This is a worthy and assured second novel from Tara, who in my opinion is going from strength to strength with her writing. I think that DI Hamilton is a great character and I enjoyed finding more about his back story and finding out a little about what makes him tick. All of the characters are believable and the introduction of rookie cop Rocky, who has quickly made a big impression on the team, seems like he could be an interesting addition to the team.

All in all No Safe Home is a fast-paced, at times breathtaking novel, which although is the second book in the series could very easily be read as a standalone. With short, punchy chapters, it's definitely one of those books where you constantly find yourself muttering 'just one more chapter' and I'm already filled with anticipation for the next book in the series!

You can follow the rest of the blog tour on these great blogs:

With kind thanks to Helen Claire at Bloodhound books for the review copy.

The Breakdown - B. A. Paris

Twelve months ago I was gripped by B. A. Paris' debut novel Behind Closed Doors, so much so that it made my list of top books of 2016 so I couldn't wait to read The Breakdown. I was eager to find out if her second book would be as good as her first, but it wasn't. . . . . it was even better!!

Cass is on her way home, it's a filthy night and all she wants to do is get home. Deciding to go against her husband Matthew's advice she takes the shortcut down a dark, wooded and lonely road which will cut a few minutes off her journey, not knowing that it will be a decision she will very quickly come to regret.

Spotting a car in the lay-by she pulls up level with it to see if she can help the driver, but although she can make out a female sitting in the drivers seat, the woman makes not attempt to communicate with Cass. Not  wanting to drive off and leave the unknown woman possibly stranded, she pulls over infront of the car to see if that encourages the driver. In the short time that Cass patiently waits her thoughts run away with her and she starts to think that maybe it's a trap and that maybe someone will steal her car if she gets out. With no movement from the car behind and no mobile signal she decides that the best thing to do would be to carry on home and make a call once she's there.

Cass never makes the call and is horrified to find out the next day that the female motorist has been murdered. Understandably she is absolutely riddled with guilt, going over and over the previous night in her mind - what if she had got out of her car, what if she hadn't forgotten to make a call when she arrived home, what if she had got out of her car, she might have been killed too - the list is endless but of course none of this will change the fact that a woman has died.

When the police find out who the mystery woman is Cass realises that she knew her and had lunch with her just a few weeks before. Her husband Matthew is supportive but he's worried when Cass starts to forget things and even more worried when she voices her fears that the murderer is making silent phone calls to the house.

In my opinion The Breakdown is an exceptional book and B. A. Paris is an exceptional writer. The further I read, the more palpable the tension got and at one point I could almost feel Cass' heart racing as she struggled to make sense of her life and battled the demons inside her head. No character was safe from the finger of suspicion being pointed at them and I was totally gripped, wanting to read faster to find out how it was going to end but at the same time not wanting to finish such a compelling book. As the ending was getting nearer I could feel my lips curling into a smirk and then growing wider into a grin as I realised what was happening and for me the ending couldn't have been better, but don't worry I won't spoilt it for you all.

This book raises the bar in the psychological thriller genre and although it's only January I'm pretty confident that The Breakdown will be one of my favourite books of the year. If you only read one book this year. . .make sure it's THIS one!

The Breakdown is released on February 9th and available to pre-order here.

With kind thanks to NetGalley and publishers Harlequin UK for the review copy.