Heena Rathore-Pardeshi’s latest book is out and what a brilliant one it is! I was delighted to ARC read, and honoured to be asked to write an endorsement/review for this wonderful book.
My thoughts:
The Art of Storytelling by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi is just what I needed at this stage of my draft!
Superb.
Now, I have the tools and the motivation to complete my ambitious project.
It’s an inspiring, detailed, and well-researched book.
Heena’s love of storytelling mediums, both written and visual, coupled with her editing, reading, and writing experience, shines throughout.
With her generosity of spirit, there is a wonderful sense of paying it forward and a heartfelt intention that her readers will develop their unique writing skills to their fullest potential.
What an invaluable writing resource with practical solutions and examples for both new and more experienced writers to follow.
I highly recommend The Art of Storytelling wherever you are on your writing journey.
A fun, engaging read and a different take on the usual vampire tale for younger teen readers. Instead of blood think sugary sweets and cherry soda for vampire sustanence! So, don’t expect gore, or romance, but there is suspense, threat and action appropriate to the younger audience.Well written characters and an amusing storyline bring the reader into the story successfully and keep their attention throughout the narrative. I particularly loved Sera the ghost, who loves teasing Wyn, calling him: ‘Needle teeth,’ and Eva, the assassin too, all the characters are ones you feel drawn to, and end up caring about, even the ‘bad guys.’You will appreciate the storytelling adventure to recover Wyn’s parents and enjoy the quirks of this cool gang, with the revelation about the villain concluding the story in a totally satisfying and relatable way.A lovely read, I’m much older than the intended readership but being young at heart I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended, I guarantee it will make you smile.
Synopsis
When Wyn Gatteaux discovers the body of a human girl in his garden, his carefully ordered life begins to unravel. Vampyrs don’t drink blood – that’s only a human myth – but within hours, Detective Cerry Vanell, heir to a feared line of vampyr hunters, arrests Wyn’s parents and leaves him trapped under guard.Desperate and alone, Wyn attempts to send a message to his aunt in Worldunder, the hidden city beneath the streets where non-humans seek refuge. His plea for help goes unanswered. Worse still, the ghost of the dead girl, Sera, appears at his side, unable to stray far from him without being dragged back by an unseen force.With a relentless teen assassin on his trail and time slipping away, Wyn must risk everything to free his family and sever his connection with Sera before the Vanell family do their worst.
I’m delighted to be on the blog tour for Cecil Moves Home, written and illustrated by Suzanne Stephenson.
Blurb
Cecil’s web is about to be swept away and he is scared.
Then he meets Mr Perkins the cat who decides to help him, taking him to the house across the road. This belongs to Mr Tizard who likes all creatures and who offers Cecil a place to stay.
There Cecil meets Flo another spider and is able to find a home.
About The Author
Living in the English countryside I already had a couple of careers before I became an author. Having been a Family Lawyer and Family Mediator I became a District Judge in the year 2000 and officially retired from judging in early 2021. Sitting on complex family cases did not leave me much time for my interests of writing and sketching but when I had free-time I tried to visit interesting places. I hope my ancestors helped provide some inspiration as well. My father was a Holocaust survivor and my maternal grandfather a gynaecologist and composer. The people and countryside of Eastern England also are embedded in my psyche.
Book Review
Cecil Moves Home is one of the books I’ve read from Suzanne Stephenson, all of which I’ve enjoyed. If you like gentle books about animals with sketches this will be for you! There are little touches of humour, such as the benefits of spiders, (keeping flies from your home,) and giving them a human quality such as courting and marrying! The prose is written in a poetic rhyming style which I enjoyed.
There is a new character, Mr Tizard, and you get to hear about a black cat called Mr Perkins, and the kitties, rooks and crows. All lovingly illustrated throughout.
My recommendation: This is for readers who are interested in the delights of animals and would like a book to make them smile.
I really enjoyed Julia Sutton’s young adult novel, The Star Conspiracy.
It tells the story of Issy and Dan, their families the members of the Star Institute and the villaneous Doctor Fraser.
The storyline initially focuses on teenage problems such as Dan’s parents splitting up, Issy’s father passing away, and their parents having new partners, the problems of coping with bullying, and the challenges of teen romantic relationships.and growing up.
With the holiday in Crete the mystery of the Star Institute and Dead Man’s Island begins. This is followed by the circus scenes and psychic, gifted children aspects.
Heartfelt, a lovely tale to become immersed in. Well plotted, imaginative and with engaging characters.
I loved the sentiment of the epilogue which concluded the story in a very satisfying, positive way.
Trevor Barcroft enlists the help of crime and mystery writer Brody Thompson to help solve his father’s murder — a murder the police and the FBI have been ignoring for five years. Trevor is convinced he knows who killed his father. Brody doesn’t agree, but he becomes convinced that there is much more to the story than anyone is sharing. He takes a strong interest in the murder and a series of related crimes.Rascal Todd wants to help, but her editor keeps her away from the story. Why? What was Wilson Barcroft doing at Gateway Park the night he was killed? Who is the mysterious Poet? What do the odd bits of poetry he has spread around tell us? Is the Poet still alive? Will he survive? Will Brody and Trevor find the answers—will they survive?Join Rascal and her friends and coworkers as they try to help from the sidelines without becoming targets in an ever-growing list of deadly crimes. Real life turns out to be far more dangerous than any fiction Brody could create as the history of a war long over comes back to haunt the city of Pittsburgh.Consistent with previous books by this author, this is a character-driven story with an ensemble cast. Some characters will be familiar to readers of Antion’s other novels. Some are new faces that you might just come to love. The addition of poetry by Willow Willers provides an interesting mechanism driving this story forward, and driving Brody Thomson into dangerous territory.
Book Review
This was a different read from Dan Antion and Willow Willers which caught my attention due to the connections and references to Vietnam, and its veterans and drugs and homelessness.
My favourite characters are Brody, an author turned sleuth and The Poet who has been hiding in fear for years, ( the poetry penned by Willow Willers in this book is an added bonus, and works well.)
The plot idea is intriging: Brody sets out to find out out why was Trevor’s father (who served in Vietnam) killed? Was he silenced? And why did a murderer try to kill his son Trevor too?
And what is Trevor’s mum doing in a care home?
What’s going on? Is it a hush up? What’s really happening?
There are revelations, and threats too.
Brody’s quest to find the truth brings gritty real life drama with him in potential danger!
Things to note: The violence and threats tend to be non-graphic in nature with the story being told as if through the eyes of a storyteller. So if you like blood and gore this is not for you. It’s what I’d call a thoughtful rather than a tense read.
A lot of the storytelling scenes occur in meetings in cafes with tempting food, newspaper offices, or in the care home, all of which give clues to the investigation, as the plot progresses to its conclusion where all is revealed!
Recommended for readers who enjoy tales with a human interest/Vietnam mystery/sleuthing aspect.
Stephen Powell’s latest book, Letters From Mozambique, is a gem, showcasing the ‘beauty, pain and new connections,’ he’s made in his travels. And what diverse connections they are.
What a fascinating insight into Mozambique and its people.
As he says, ‘Travel can spark new thinking and bring back old memories.’
Expect a knowledgeable, amusing and thought provoking account, as you would expect – this is his ‘8th time on the African continent.’
He shares his thoughts on climate change, conservation, endangered species, drought and mining pollution, the ‘blood-stained history,’ and troubles in the region.
He fondly mentions the extraordinary kindness of Mozambicans. Most people in the country are poor, but that is no impediment to generosity. He is struck by the beautiful Mozambique shoreline: ‘it captures peoples’ souls.’
He journeys and explores in all sorts of ways including, a chapa, travelling on moto taxis, back of lorries, hiking and biking, a Dhow craft, ‘the glorious craft that sails these seas all the way up to the Gulf.’ Even taking an refresher course in scuba diving to see the underwater world.
How adventurous!
There are a few ‘hairy,’ moments, which you must discover by reading the book yourself!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about authors such as Doris Lessing, African writers, Paulina Chiziane, Mia Couto and others who are inspired to write about the region.
And undoubtedly the positive investment in the spiritual Gorongosa park, the chapters about Malawi’s Mulanje Massif, and Ilha de Moçambique, both, UNESCO world heritage sites. A fantastic book.
Sunflower Tanka, edited by Robbie Cheadle and Colleen M. Chesebro, is an annual anthology showcasing contemporary tanka, tanka prose, and experimental tanka. Each volume brings together a vibrant tapestry of voices—both emerging and established—from across the globe.
For 2025, our theme “Dreams” invites poets to explore the symbolic language of dreaming, where metaphors blur the line between reality and imagination. Dreams often serve as gateways to layered meaning, offering fertile ground for syllabic poetry.
This year’s contributors journeyed deep into their dreamscapes, opening portals to boundless creativity. Through the timeless form of syllabic verse, they captured visions that transcend waking life, weaving poetry that resonates with mystery, wonder, and the infinite possibilities of the human imagination.
REVIEW
Sunflower Tanka 2025 anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose and Experimental Tanka begins with an introduction and a short explanation of the different forms of poetry included in this collection: Tanka, Tanka Prose, Bussokuseki, (a new form for me to try,) Rensaku, Experimental Tanka, Garland Tanka, Tanka Puente, and Taiga! The topic is dreams. And what dreams they are for poets to indulge their creative juices in! Resulting in such a range of marvellous interpretations. You’ll find poems from a wide variety of international poets to connect with. There are 54 poets in the 2025 anthology! It is lovingly compiled by the contributing editors, Robbie Cheadle and Colleen Chesebro with a short analysis of their favourite poems at the end.It’s a delightful collection and a great introduction to new poets to enjoy as well as old favourites to return to again. I bought a paperback copy. What a treat.
There’s mystery, intrigue, and murder, all set against a backdrop of well written sci-fi.
Carlos Dayne from Balash is down on his luck.
He discovers a body in a dumpster and, seeing an opportunity to reinvent himself, he takes over the identity of the wealthy deceased Playboy Dominik Lind.
He has to get to grips with a lot!
Including pretending to be the boyfriend of Dominik’s fiery girlfriend, Ms Tyleah Nash.
On the planet Jallico – known for its chauvinistic, outdated attitudes, – he becomes the ‘new,’ Dominik.
Soon it becomes apparent that there is much more to Dominik & the other players in this well-crafted and plotted sci-fi tale with its extraordinary flights into imaginative orbit.
Who has murderous intentions?
Can Carlos become Dominik and survive to walk away? And what dangers will he be vulnerable to by doing so?
Lots of twists and revelations along the way, up until the final unexpected scene.
Richard Dee is from Brixham in Devon. Leaving school at 16 he briefly worked in a supermarket, then he went to sea and travelled the world in the Merchant Navy, qualifying as a Master Mariner in 1986. He has also worked as an Insurance Surveyor, Lockmaster, Harbourmaster and Ship’s Pilot, taking over 3,500 vessels up and down the Thames, passing through the estuary, the Thames Barrier and Tower Bridge. Since the publication of his first Science Fiction novel, Freefall, in 2013, Richard has written another twenty-seven novels, a textbook and a selection of short stories. He has been featured in several anthologies, including 1066 Turned Upside Down, Connections, Light and Tales from Deepest Darkest Devon. In addition to his psychological thrillers, he writes Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures. He also chronicles the exploits of reluctant amateur detective Andorra Pett. Richard is married with three adult children and five grandchildren.
Exactly what is the big deal with book reviews?Currently, the reader’s attention is constantly being competed with via a wide range of printed or electronic format works. In this vast context, there may be no way to overstate how powerful, effective, and essential book reviews are – for both the reader and the author. Through these assessments, the readers are given a flavour of the narrative in front of them, additionally serving as gateways to the world of good books. On the other hand, the writers regard reviews as crucial for discoverability, marketing, and boosting their book sales.This little book of personal thoughts is more of a guide than a forensic approach.
My Review
Find Your Next Best Read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2025
The Booklet of First Hand Reads by Dan Costinas.
It’s somewhat unusual reviewing a book of book recommendations but that’s what I’ll try to do!
Dan loves reading. That’s obvious and his favourite reads are eclectic in taste ranging from:
1. The Bard William Shakespeare himself.
2. Poetry
3. Gothic literary masterpieces & Bestsellers
4. Engaging Travel & Expatriate tales
5. Crime & Thrillers, Psychological Fiction, Murder Mystery Puzzle Book
