Sunday, 2 September 2018

#BlogTour - Blood Ribbon - Roger Bray





I'm thrilled to be today's stop on the blog tour for Blood Ribbon by Roger Bray. This is the first book I've read by this author and boy what an introduction to his writing it was!

Brooke Adams hasn't had the easiest start in life. With no family she bounces from one foster home to another and she runs away at sixteen and ends up in Salem. That's when her luck starts to change, she meets Nico and makes a few close friends who quickly become the family she never had as a child.

Just as she's settling down and finally finding her feet somewhere that she feels comfortable and appreciated, someone brutally attacks her, leaving her for dead in a sandy grave - but Brooke isn't dead. After telling the local police what little she can remember of the attack, Brooke's approached by Rod Morgan, a retired detective who believes that whoever tried to kill her could be responsible for several other disappearances stretching over at least three decades. Brooke is obviously keen for her attacker to be caught so she agrees to work with Rod to try and piece the clues together but they'll need to tread carefully.

I loved Brooke's character - she's a sassy young woman who is determined not to be labelled a victim and I quickly found myself believing in her and growing attached to her extremely likeable nature. I particularly enjoyed watching her friendships grow but seeing how her decisions impacted on those close to her certainly made for compelling reading. It was a refreshing change for me to read a crime story that wasn't reliant on the police procedural side of things and add to that the timeslip chapters, where I was able to glimpse past events that might give some clues as to the identity of the killer, you've got yourself one happy hippo who couldn't read this book fast enough!

Blood Ribbon is a taut, dark thriller that is full of unexpected twists and turns. Focusing on friendships, relationships and family adds to the reality of the story and Roger Bray has executed this aspect perfectly, bringing a sense of reality to the whole book. I can't believe that I haven't discovered Roger's books until now but I'm so pleased that I've got another two of his books to read at some point in the future.


                                                       Author bio

Photo courtesy of Roger Bray



I have always loved writing; putting words onto a page and bringing characters to life. I can almost feel myself becoming immersed into their lives, living with their fears and triumphs. Thus, my writing process becomes an endless series of questions. What would she or he do, how would they react, is this in keeping with their character? Strange as it sounds, I don’t like leaving characters in cliffhanging situations without giving them an ending, whichever way it develops.
My life to date is what compels me to seek a just outcome, the good will overcome and the bad will be punished. More though, I tend to see my characters as everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, but in which we may all find our selves if the planets align wrongly or for whatever reason you might consider.

Of course, most novels are autobiographical in some way. You must draw on your own experiences of life and from events you have experienced to get the inspiration. My life has been an endless adventure. Serving in the Navy, fighting in wars, serving as a Police officer and the experiences each one of those have brought have all drawn me to this point, but it was a downside to my police service that was the catalyst for my writing.

Medically retired after being seriously injured while protecting a woman in a domestic violence situation I then experienced the other side of life. Depression and rejection. Giving truth to the oft said saying that when one door closes another opens I pulled myself up and enrolled in college gaining bachelor and master degrees, for my own development rather than any professional need. The process of learning, of getting words down onto the page again relit my passion for writing in a way that I hadn’t felt since high school.

So here we are, two books published and another on track.

Where it will take me I have no idea but I am going to enjoy getting there and if my writing can bring some small pleasure into people’s lives along the way, then I consider that I will have succeeded in life.

                                                  *    *    *    *

You can find out more about Roger, his books and connect with him using the links below:


 
Check out the rest of the Blood Ribbon Blog Tour with these fantastic blogs

 



With kind thanks to Anne Cater of  Random Things Tours and author Roger Bray for my review copy.



Tuesday, 28 August 2018

The Hippo Hangs Out . . . . with S.L. Grigg


I'm delighted to be hanging out with author S.L. Grigg today as part of her six month anniversary blog tour for her book Coffee Break Companion. So what better place to start than to tell you all about the book.


Grab that cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer), maybe add a splash of something stronger, settle down and enjoy your break with this gripping collection of flash fiction and poetry that will send shivers down your spine. With an added bonus of a longer story at the end that will fill your lunch break. What are you waiting for? Dive in! Everything from a discovery in an Ice Cavern, to a tornado. Mermaids, and Dragons. Mystery and Horror. This collection of flash fiction and poetry has something to capture anyone’s imagination, with a final chilling thriller that will leave you gasping for air.




I don't know about you lovely readers, but I think short stories are perfect for when you don't have too much time to read but you need to satisfy your need to read, so this is definitely a book that I need to check out.

 Now that you know a little more about the book, allow me to introduce you to the author, S.L. Grigg.

Photo courtesy of S.L.Grigg

This is the first published book by S.L. Grigg having previously written a popular blog on mental health, and having articles published by Mind, the mental health charity, and NHS England. Working for NHS England from a home in Bromsgrove, England, S.L Grigg lives with a partner and two adult children. S.L Grigg has studied everything from Science and Law, to Journalism and Pilates but writing has always been the greatest passion in S.L.Grigg’s life.

                                                         *    *    *    *   

Welcome to The Hippo and belated congratulations  on the publication of your book Coffee Break Companion which will be on my TBR very shortly!



What other authors are you friends with and how do they help you become a better writer?
I’ve made so many author friends through the Fiction CafĂ© on Facebook, from Kiltie Jackson to Isabella May, Louise Jenson, Caroline England and so many more lovely authors. They inspire me, which makes me a better writer. Everyone is so supportive of each other. Reading their books and following their journeys, connecting with editors and bloggers, there is just so much help out there once you start making connections and the advice helps anyone who connects with them become a better writer.

I couldn't agree more, the book community is wonderfully supportive and I love being a part of it too.


Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing etc come from?
My mom tells me I loved reading from the age of two, I would read anything, by the time I was eight I was reading books like The Hobbit and writing stories and poems. I think I was born to love words, not just in the written form but I was the same with music and anything else with words, at two I would also sing along with every advert on the TV and knew the words to them all.




What did you edit out of your last book?
There was a short story called Peanut that had come about from a writing exercise with a postcard picture as a prompt, it wasn’t great anyway but without the picture it just wasn’t good enough to go in with the other stories, so I took it out and wrote another story to replace it Lizard, which proved popular so that was a good move.


You get a brilliant idea/thought/phrase at an inappropriate moment (eg in the shower or driving) what do you do?
Been there, so many times. If I am driving if I can I will pull over and write down the idea, if not I will keep repeating it aloud to myself until I can. I did this recently on the way to work then spent the first hour there writing the story that had come to me because of a bus that was in front of me for part of the journey. Similar thing in the shower, if I’ve taken a notebook into the bathroom (which I do sometimes) or it’s near by I’ll hop out and scribble the idea down, if not I’ll recite it until I can get to my notepad.


If a genie granted you three wishes what would they be?
I would say World Peace, but that’s cheesy, although realistically I would be most likely to give away my three wishes on things for others, so I’m going to try and answer being a bit more selfish and choosing things I want…

1 -  A small building, shop come community centre with a studio where I can teach Pilates classes, classrooms for art, craft and creative writing classes, a library come bookshop, and a cafĂ© serving hot, cold and alcoholic drinks, light meals and cake, plenty of cake, plus an entertainment room where I can hold readings, comedy, and other events such as my partners band and other bands giving intimate gigs to small crowds. So, actually the building wouldn’t be that small to fit all this in…

2 - To have my own home with no ongoing costs, that could never be taken away,  that I can leave to my kids so they will always have a roof over their heads because I worry what would happen to them in the future if I wasn’t around with their disabilities, having a house that can never be taken from them would be the greatest wish come true for me.

3 - A world cruise, or several cruise holidays every year for the rest of my life, so I can visit all the places I want to see (typically cold places, not hot places) like Iceland, Alaska, and Antarctica.

I think your shop come community centre sounds like a fabulous idea, especially as there would be books and cake! I'm not so sure about your cruises to all the cold places - I like the sun and just looking at that picture of ice and snow is giving me the shivers. BBBrrrrrr!!!!



What do you think is more important: characters or plot?
I think both are as important as each other, a good, strong character is nothing without an interesting plot and an epic plot with dull, bland characters is just wasted. You really can’t have one without the other, even in short stories where there is little room for character and plot development you still need to capture your reader with both.


What is your guilty pleasure?
A simple one, chocolate, I eat far too much of it. Especially minty chocolates like After Eights, Mint Matchmakers and my latest discovery the new mint Lindor…

Mint Lindor? OMG, seriously? How did I not know this? I think I might just have to pop out later!



Describe yourself in five words.
Kind, friendly, supportive, helpful, reliable





You can find out more about S.L. Grigg, her book and connect with her using the links below:

Website
Facebook
Amazon
Twitter

You can follow the rest of the anniversary blog tour with these fantastic blogs:


I'd like to thank S.L. Grigg for taking the time to stop by and chat with me today and to wish her every success with her book.