#BibliomanaicsBookClub #TheLonelyLifeofBiddyWeir #LesleyAllen

 SEPTEMBER'S BIBLIOMANIA IS FOR 

THE LONELY LIFE OF BIDDY WEIR 

by Lesley Allen 

Published by twenty7 (Bonnier Zaffre) April 2016 

This is a story about bullying, about overcoming obstacles, about learning to love yourself. It is a perfect read for a Book Club as there is so much to talk about - not only in terms of the characters, the story and writing style but also because Allen explores so many universal issues in such a raw and realistic way. It's a great book for starting conversations about lots of difficult, but all too familiar, subjects. Whether you can relate to some part of Biddy's life personally or not, there is no doubt that this is a novel that resonates with all readers and leaves a lasting impression on all who meet Biddy Weir.

The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir was one of my top ten reads for 2016 and rereading it now, I still love it as much as I did when I read it for the first time. It's a great read for September as it is about school, growing up, cliches, friendships and emotional journeys. Everyone in my Book Club adored it. It must be the first and only book that we have all rated 5* and all felt the same level of love and admiration for. I can't recommend it highly enough.

What is it about?

A stark but uplifting story of bullying and redemption, for anyone who's ever been a weirdo.

Almost too terrified to grip the phone, Biddy Weir calls a daytime television show.

The subject is bullying, and Biddy has a story to tell.

Abandoned by her mother as a baby, Biddy lives in her own little world, happy to pass her time watching the birds - until Alison Fleming joins her school.

Popular and beautiful, but with a dangerous, malevolent streak, Alison quickly secures the admiration of her fellow students. All except one. And Alison doesn't take kindly to people who don't fit her mould . . .

A story of abuse and survival, of falling down and of starting again, and of one woman's battle to learn to love herself for who she is, The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir is Lesley Allen’s startlingly honest debut novel. 

You can read my full review here  and see below the two quotes from my review that were chosen by the publisher for the Amazon review page and the inside page of the paperback which absolutely made my day! 

I am reluctant to say anything that isn't exceptionally effusive about this book...You will be enthralled. It is a captivating read and Allen's prose is impressive. This is her debut and I can't wait to read more of her writing - she is clearly talented and full of imagination. (Amazon)

One of my favourite reads this year...raw, real and authentic....You will be enthralled. (paperback) 

BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS FOR THE LONELY LIFE OF BIDDY WEIR

I am honoured and delighted to share with you questions put together by Lesley Allen herself for my book club when we read this book in June. Thank you so much to Lesley for some insightful, thought provoking questions which really allowed us to discuss the book in lots of detail. I have removed a couple of extra questions that Lesley added as they include spoilers for anyone who has not yet read the book but do leave a comment in the box at the end of the blog post if you would like the remaining questions! 

1.     How do think Biddy’s experience would differ if the story was set today?

2. Do you think Biddy is in any way responsible for what happens to her?

3. Do you think Alison is a victim too – or is she inherently bad? Did you feel any sympathy for her?

4. What role did Biddy play in helping Terri to resolve her own grief?

5. What would have become of Biddy following her father’s death if Dr Graham hadn’t intervened?

6. How do you think Biddy’s life would have been different if her father had been able to express his love?

7. How do you feel the teachers in the novel were portrayed?

8. What role does bystander apathy play in the book?

9. Did you find the bullying scenes disturbing to read? Were they realistic?

10. Can girl bullies be more dangerous than boy bullies – or is there no difference?

11. Who can you relate to more – Biddy or Alison? Do you know a Biddy? Do you know an Alison?

12. Who do you think was the real hero of the story?

13. Why do you think Biddy was so obsessed with watching Honey’s Pot?

14. What do you think Biddy does next?

ONE BOOK CLUB'S THOUGHTS ON THE LONELY LIFE OF BIDDY WEIR:

When the book club that I'm a member of met to discuss this book we did record our conversation with a view to sharing it on sound cloud. However, I have decided not to do this in the end as actually, although it was one of the best book groups we've ever had and there were some fantastic comments and thoughts shared, some of it was quite personal - particularly when we talked about our experiences of friendships at school, bullying and intervention. And, there's also a slight technical issue - as we also chatted for over an hour (about the book - a whole hour about the actual book!!!) it's such a huge audio file it kept crashing every time I try to upload it even with several edits!!

But here are some of our key thoughts:

If the book was set today then Biddy's experience could possibly be worse with the rise of social media. Children are now able to torment each other outside of school hours via social media apps so there would be no respite for Biddy. Also with Biddy's financial situation and the kind of father she had, she probably would not have the right technology, internet access or up to date gadgets which would have made her more vulnerable and an easier target.

We had a good chat about Alison and her mother and how this relationship and the character of her mother had influenced Alison, shaping the kind of person she was at school. This also led to a conversation about class, social standing, marriage and values.

We had a long chat about Dr Graham that this led to a discussion about intervention, monitoring, procedures and systems for supporting vulnerable people. We wondered whether this had changed or improved today, how easy it was to 'slip off the radar' or whether there were more rigorous procedures in place to ensure that children and adults received the care they needed. Our conclusions were inconclusive...

Boys and girls are equally capable of bullying but our decision about which were worse went on for a while, a bit like a tennis match with more and more comments and thoughts thrown into the discussion, again leading to more observations about boys and girls - perhaps a little sweeping and generalised at times!

We adored the characterisation in the novel and people had a few passages they particularly wanted to chat about and read aloud again. I think we were all moved by the writing and the events described in the book. All of us found this book a poignant, emotional read with a brilliant ending. Although it is impossible not to be affected by the book, we all said we would read it again and highly recommend it to anyone else.

QUOTES TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LONELY LIFE OF BIDDY WEIR

All things considered, Mr Weir did the best he could with his daughter. 

By the end of lunchtime, Biddy's fate was sealed. 

Alison Fleming had another skill: even at the tender age of ten, she was a clever, accomplished and manipulative little bitch. 

...the fact that a teacher and a pupil were fraternising together in public outside of school was simply staggering....as she reached the till, her heart fluttered in anticipation of this week's Young Wives meeting...

IF YOU LIKE THIS THEN WHY NOT TRY:

LESLEY ALLEN

Lesley Allen lives in Bangor, County Down, with her teenage daughter. She is a freelance copywriter and the press officer and assistant programme developer for Open House Festival. Following the completion of her degree in Drama and English, Lesley spent several years working in PR and marketing before embarking on a freelance career. Whilst crafting words for other people has been her bread and butter for the past two decades, her heart lies with writing fiction. 

Lesley was named as one of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s 2016 Artist Career Enhancement recipients for literature. She is using the award to complete her second novel. 

@Lesley_Allen_

Buy The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lonely-Life-Biddy-Weir-ebook/dp/B01BTUUE50/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my blog bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.co.uk or website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

Bibliomaniac's Book Shelf - My Week in Books! 3rd Sept 2017

Bibliomaniac's Book Shelf

My Week in Books

3rd Sept 2017 

I have decided to stick with this weekly round up feature for a little while so I hope you've been enjoying it! I always love reading everyone else's weekly wrap up so I hope you'll look forward to catching up with me at the weekends to find out how my bookish week has been!

IF YOU ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE BOOK THIS WEEK THEN MAKE IT THIS ONE:

MARIA IN THE MOON by Louise Beech

Currently for sale as an ebook and in paperback on the 30th September. 

I'm on the Blog Tour for this book on the 9th September so not too long to wait until I can share my review but I just can't resist sharing some book love now! I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written novel by Louise Beech that explores families, grief, memories and truth. Here's the blurb and look out for the blog tour which is running with Orenda at the moment! 

Thirty-two-year-old Catherine Hope has a great memory. But she can't remember everything. She can't remember her ninth year. She can't remember when her insomnia started. And she can't remember why everyone stopped calling her Catherine-Maria.

With a promiscuous past, and licking her wounds after a painful breakup, Catherine wonders why she resists anything approaching real love. But when she loses her home to the devastating deluge of 2007 and volunteers at Flood Crisis, a devastating memory emerges... and changes everything. 

Dark, poignant and deeply moving, Maria in the Moon is an examination of the nature of memory and truth, and the defences we build to protect ourselves, when we can no longer hide...

You can buy the ebook via Amazon by clicking here

OTHER BOOKS I HAVE READ THIS WEEK.......

THE WRONG BOY by WILLY RUSSELL 

I have a slight soft spot for Willy Russell - who doesn't? I've watched and re-watched Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita numerous times and in a previous life I taught Blood Brothers and loved seeing it performed in Central London. So when a friend quoted this book in conversation and then said she was always recommending it, I just had to go out, buy it and read it! 

This is not a quick read - it's just over 500 pages and the text is dense. The protagonist, Raymond Marks, has a lot to say for himself and we are quickly enveloped in his life, his routine, his family and his observations and thoughts. Raymond is writing letters to Morrissey, on his journey to Grimsby via the service stations and motorway cafes as he hitches his way towards a labouring job. He's "dead depressed and down" and hopes that Morrissey will be an appropriate listener or confidante for his thoughts. And there are a lot of thoughts! And a lot of details. So be prepared to really lose yourself in the world of Raymond Marks for a while, although the journey is well worth it.  And like any great character, once Raymond starts talking, it's hard to turn yourself away from him and the pages almost turn themselves. 

It's impossible not to like Raymond. As the blurb says, he is a normal boy from a normal town but there just seem to have been too many situations where Raymond finds himself misrepresented, his behaviour or words misinterpreted and he faces judgement, prejudice and then becomes set on a course of unfortunate events which lead to his world becoming a place of confusion and unhappiness. Despite Raymond's depression and social problems, as always, Russell's voice is full of humour, laughter and comfort. It's heartwarming rather than heartbreaking and there is plenty to make you smile. I particularly enjoyed the relationship with Gran and her fabulous witticisms which I might steal- and perhaps Raymond's fantastic misreading of psychotherapist as Psycho- the - rapist. 

There is also a lot about the 1990s in this novel as it is firmly rooted in this era- the first letter to Morrissey in sent in June 1991. I did enjoy joining Raymond and his mother sitting down to Blockbusters every evening and all the other plentiful cultural and social references. Perhaps a bit dated for some, but for me hugely evocative of a specific time and place and really helped to ground the characters in their setting and account for behaviours, attitudes and sociological approaches.

A bit different, but I'm glad I read it. Russell's style is distinctive and he writes a good story with memorable characters. Raymond's voice is engaging and his perceptions will make you laugh and cry at the same time. I think I join my friend in recommending it and I enjoyed discovering a novel by an author that I haven't read for a long time but whom I admire greatly. 

The Wrong Boy is published by Black Swan. 

A THOUSAND ROOMS by HELEN JONES

The author had sent me this book a while ago and I hadn't had time to properly schedule it in, so while on holiday I decided to take it with me and finally find some time to read it.

In A Thousand Rooms the main character, Katie, aged 32, finds herself watching her own death one morning and is then trapped, wandering around in the truest sense of a lost soul, trying to find her way to wherever it is she is supposed to be. 

"You don't wake up expecting to die."

Especially not in your brand new shoes that are now ruined! Katie's narrative voice is informal, colloquial and reads as if you are in a long conversation with a good friend. There is plenty of humour, frustration, disbelief and "freaking out" as she realises the finality of her situation and the strangeness of what is happening to her. As if watching your own death isn't confusing enough, Katie then finds she can kind of teleport herself around to places and memories just by thinking of them and then has to bear the uncomfortableness and weirdness of watching everyone find out about her death.

Through this the reader learns more about Katie and the life she has now left behind. There is a lightness and chatty style to Jones' writing but that does not mean it is without sadness, poignancy or a serious exploration of grief. It is always an intriguing premise for a main character to be able to watch people's reaction to their own death and wonder about the meaning of what they had and what they achieved; it is an idea that has of course been done before, but Jones' version still feels original. 

The bulk of the novel recounts Katie's journey to find her way to 'heaven', or some kind of resting place, and I found this journey much less conventional than in things I've read or seen before. There is an element of fantasy (obviously) but in the style of the novel as well as the theme. There is some very good writing and the prose is imaginative. There is some romance and this novel was had a few unexpected moments and events as Katie continued on her journey which made the story feel fresh, quirky and engaging. Jones has a creative mind. 

No spoilers (I hope) but the ending is heartwarming and despite the topic and the necessity to reflect on death, grief and tragedy, Jones keeps an upbeat atmosphere through the novel because of Katie's honest, real and often sarcastic turn of phrase. She is a likeable character and I was happy to go along with her on a search for what she might discover in her life after a sudden death. 

A Thousand Rooms is published independently and available both as a ebook and a paperback. 

GENUINE FRAUD by E LOCKHART 

I loved We Were Liars by E Lockhart so was thrilled to receive an advance copy of this via NetGalley. 

Meet Jule West Williams. She wants to be the centre of her story. She is a force to be reckoned with; highly intelligent, full of drive, and with the calculation and premeditation that matches even the most impressive heroes of espionage. It is also about her friend, Imogen and their complicated, intense relationship. Imogen who has now disappeared, thought to be dead. 

It might sound like a bit of a cop out, but I actually don't want to say too much about this book. I don't want to spoil the ride for anyone who chooses to meet Jule and follow her journey as she invents herself again and again, repeatedly adapting to the ever changing situations she finds herself in. Like a chameleon, she reinvents her appearance, personality, accent and character until it is hard to remember just what is the truth  - what is genuine and what is fraud? 

Lockhart's writing is readable, engaging and page turning. This is a relatively short book so it is quite a quick read which for me was good because there are a lot of events and characters of which to keep track. The timeline slips forward and back over a relatively short period of time and the reader has to put the jigsaw together to figure out what has happened to Imogen and Jule, watching in admiration - or horror - as Jule plots her next move or assumes her next identity. There are lots of twist and turns and plenty to keep any crime fiction fan interested. I enjoyed the details about how she trained herself, how she prepared herself and how she morphed herself as well as how callous she could be and the lengths she went to to be the centre of her story. 

There are very obvious comparisons and similarities with The Talented Mr Ripley and Genuine Fraud is as sinister, unsettling and clever. It is clearly inspired by Ripley but then to a certain extent many novels echo the influences of others. Lockhart modernises the story as well as switching the gender of the protagonist; it may bring the story to a new readership and I didn't find it so repetitive that I couldn't enjoy it in its own right. 

Although it is clever, well written and with a compelling protagonist, for me it didn't quite measure up to We Were Liars which was such an incredible read. Having said that, there is no doubt in my mind that Lockhart is very talented and her ability to construct such a complicated storyline is impressive and cannot be faulted. I will always read anything she publishes. 

Genuine Fraud is published by Hot Key Books on 5th September 2017. 

OTHER BOOKISH NEWS THIS WEEK... 

INTERVIEWS & GUEST POSTS 

I was thrilled to have the chance to interview Chris Whitaker this week all about his new novel All The Wicked Girls which published on 24th August with Bonnier Zaffre. You can read my interview here. A huge thanks to Chris for taking so much time to answer the questions in such detail- I really enjoyed reading through his responses! Chris also came to Harpenden Books for the afternoon this weekend and it was lovely to meet him again! 

BLOG TOURS

This week I was on the Blog Tour for Liz Mistry's book Untainted Blood and you can read my review by clicking on the link below:

https://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2017/08/untaintedblood-lizmistry-blogtour.html

BIBLIOMANIAC'S AUTHOR EVENTS

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Click on the link below to read all about the authors coming along on the 20th September and to book tickets to the event! Don't miss out - it's going to be awesome!! 

https://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2017/09/bibliomaniacs-book-event-back-to-books.html

That's all from me! Hope you have had a great week and found plenty to read as well! Let me know what you have been reading by leaving a comment below! 

Same time next week?!

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my blog bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.co.uk or website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

Bibliomaniac's Book Event: Back to the Books Sept 20th

Bibliomaniac's "Back to the Books" 

Author Panel Event

20th September 2017

8-10pm

Upstairs at The Harpenden Arms

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/back-to-the-books-tickets-35451725064

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the line up for my September event! Four fantastic authors, all with books in the bestseller charts! It's going to be an awesome evening! Here's a round up about the authors and their latest books!

TAMMY COHEN / RACHEL RHYS



1939, Europe on the brink of war. Lily Shepherd leaves England on an ocean liner for Australia, escaping her life of drudgery for new horizons. She is instantly seduced by the world onboard: cocktails, black-tie balls and beautiful sunsets. Suddenly, Lily finds herself mingling with people who would otherwise never give her the time of day.

But soon she realizes her glamorous new friends are not what they seem. The rich and hedonistic Max and Eliza Campbell, mysterious and flirtatious Edward, and fascist George are all running away from tragedy and scandal even greater than her own. 

By the time the ship docks, two passengers are dead, war has been declared, and life will never be the same again.

You can read my full review here



She knows there’s a killer on the loose.
But no-one believes her.
Will she be next?

Hannah had a normal life – a loving husband, a good job. Until she did something shocking. Now she’s in a psychiatric clinic. It should be a safe place. But patients keep dying.

The doctors say it’s suicide. Hannah knows they’re lying. Can she make anyone believe her before the killer strikes again?

You can read my full review here

Tammy Cohen (who was previously published under her formal name Tamar Cohen) is a freelance journalist. A late starter to fiction - and to other things besides - she has now written four novels. The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives, and Someone Else's Wedding. The Broken was her first pyschological thriller, followed by Dying for Christmas. Her brand new hardback novel, First One Missing is out now. 

She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.

tammycohen.co.uk

Other books by Tammy:



ROWAN COLEMAN



If you could change the past, would you?

Thirty years ago, something terrible happened to Luna’s mother. Something she’s only prepared to reveal after her death. 

Now Luna and her sister have a chance to go back to their mother’s birthplace and settle her affairs. But in Brooklyn they find more questions than answers, until something impossible – magical – happens to Luna, and she meets her mother as a young woman back in the summer of 1977. 

At first Luna’s thinks she’s going crazy, but if she can truly travel back in time, she can change things. But in doing anything – everything – to save her mother’s life, will she have to sacrifice her own?

You can read my full review here.

Rowan Coleman lives with her husband, and five children in a very full house in Hertfordshire. She juggles writing novels with raising her family which includes a very lively set of toddler twins whose main hobby is going in the opposite directions. When she gets the chance, Rowan enjoys sleeping, sitting and loves watching films; she is also attempting to learn how to bake.

Rowan would like to live every day as if she were starring in a musical, although her daughter no longer allows her to sing in public. Despite being dyslexic, Rowan loves writing, and The Memory Book is her eleventh novel. Others include The Accidental Mother, Lessons in Laughing Out Loud and the award-winning Dearest Rose, a novel which lead Rowan to become an active supporter of domestic abuse charity Refuge, donating 100% of royalties from the ebook publication of her novella, Woman Walks Into a Bar, to the charity. Rowan does not have time for ironing.

rowancoleman.co.uk/

Other books by Rowan:




ANGELA CLARKE




What do you do if you witness a murder…but no-one believes you?
When Kate sees a horrific murder streamed live on her laptop, she calls the police in a state of shock. But when they arrive, the video has disappeared – and she can’t prove anything. Desperate to be believed, Kate tries to find out who the girl in the video could be – and who her killer is.
Freddie and Nas are working on a missing persons case, but tensions in the police force are running high and time is ticking. When Kate contacts them, they are the only ones to listen and they start to wonder – are the two cases connected?
Dark, gripping, and flawlessly paced, Trust Me is the brilliant third novel in the hugely popular social media murderer series.

You can read my full review here

Angela Clarke is an author, playwright, columnist, screenwriter and broadcaster. Her debut crime thriller Follow Me was named Amazon’s Rising Star Debut of the Month January 2016, longlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association Dagger in the Library 2016, and shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Page Turner Award 2016. Watch Me is the second instalment in the Social Media Murder Series. Angela’s memoir Confessions of a Fashionista is an Amazon Fashion Chart bestseller. Her play, The Legacy, enjoyed its first run and rave reviews at The Hope Theatre in June 2015. She hosted the current affairs show Outspoken on Radio Verulam for six months in 2014, and has appeared on the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, BBC Three Counties and more. Her journalist contributions include: The Guardian, Independent Magazine, The Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, and Writing magazine. In 2015 Angela was awarded the Young Stationers' Prize for achievement and promise in writing and publishing. She volunteers with Womentoring, and the RSA Meet a Mentor scheme, and others, to help encourage and support marginalised artists into the industry. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Angela lives with her husband and far too many books.

AngelaClarke.co.uk

Other books by Angela:




ANNA MAZZOLA



Set in London in 1837, Anna Mazzola's THE UNSEEING is the story of Sarah Gale, a seamstress and mother, sentenced to hang for her role in the murder of Hannah Brown on the eve of her wedding. Perfect for any reader of Sarah Waters or Antonia Hodgson.

'With this intricately woven tale of trust, self-trust and deceit, Anna Mazzola brings a gritty realism to Victorian London. Beautifully written and cleverly plotted, this is a stunning debut, ranked amongst the best' MANDA SCOTT 

After Sarah petitions for mercy, Edmund Fleetwood is appointed to investigate and consider whether justice has been done. Idealistic, but struggling with his own demons, Edmund is determined to seek out the truth. Yet Sarah refuses to help him, neither lying nor adding anything to the evidence gathered in court. Edmund knows she's hiding something, but needs to discover just why she's maintaining her silence. For how can it be that someone would willingly go to their own death?

You can read my full review here

Anna Mazzola is a writer of historical crime fiction. Her debut novel, The Unseeing, is published in the UK and US. The Times calls it 'sizzling'. The Mirror describes it as, 'a brilliant debut.’ In 2016, Amazon named Anna as one of their Rising Stars.

Her second novel, about a collector of folklore on the Isle of Skye, will be published by Headline in Spring 2018.

Anna studied English at Pembroke College, Oxford, before becoming a criminal justice solicitor. She lives in Camberwell, London, with two small children, two cats and one husband. 

annamazzola.com

You do not want to miss this event! Tickets are £10 and this includes 1 free drink, a goody bag and entry to the raffle for signed copies of the books and more bookish treats! Click below for your tickets now!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/back-to-the-books-tickets-35451725064

#ChrisWhitaker #Q&A #AuthorInterview

ALL THE WICKED GIRLS 

"Raine sometimes complains that nothing exciting is ever gonna happen in Grace again. Daddy told her careful what you wish for."

Everyone loves Summer Ryan. A model student and musical prodigy, she's a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama - especially compared to her troubled sister, Raine.

Then Summer goes missing. Grace is already simmering, and with this new tragedy the police have their hands full keeping the peace. Only Raine throws herself into the search, supported by a most unlikely ally.

But perhaps there was always more to Summer than met the eye . . .

Chris Whitaker's second novel All The Wicked Girls was published on 24th August 2017 by Bonnier Zaffre. It's an exceptional book and a powerful read. You can see my full review here.

Today I am thrilled to welcome Chris back for an interview all about his new novel! 

Thank you so much Chris for dropping by! 

All the Wicked Girls is set in America and the location feels incredibly authentic. Your attention to detail in order to create such authenticity is impressive. The names of the people and places contributes to this overall conviction of time and place. How do you choose the names of the places and the people? Are the places real or completely fictionalised? Did you research the names of people at all? 

Thank you. The story covers a real period in American history, so it was hugely important to me that it felt of its time and place. There was a lot research done before and during writing.

I had such a strong visual of the town itself. The story touches on religion and faith, but in the wake of economic hardship the people of the town are very much struggling. The book tackles some difficult issues, but on the whole I wanted my characters to have real heart. For the most part they are good people having a shit time of it. Grace was a perfect fit. It hints at what the town once was, pretty and neighbourly, and all the good things I imagine of the South. 

There’s one road in and out of the town, and I chose to call it Hallow Road because it’s where the divide of light and dark is in the story. Hallow means to make holy, and at the end of this road you have Grace, which has been cast into darkness. I just loved the imagery of it.  

Summer and Raine were named after their perceived characteristics, almost as if Summer was thrust into the light from birth. They’re both much more alike than their names suggest.

As for other character names, I use genealogy websites to help, and then whittle a list down and see what fits.

One thing that makes this novel quite unique and original is the use of dialect and accent. What challenges did this present to you as a British author? How did you research this and how did this decision affect things like editing and proof-reading?

It was an absolute nightmare. A complete and utter nightmare. The worst of nightmares.

I wanted to totally immerse the reader in the story. I wanted someone to sit down and journey to 90s Grace, and though I was very aware that it could make for a challenging read, the best way I saw to do that was to ensure the dialogue, and narrative, was Southern.  

I spent days listening to Alabamans speak. I wanted to capture the rhythm and the tone. And obviously there’s variations, like all Londoners don’t sound the same, so there’s subtle differences in the way my characters speak. It would have been easy to simply drop all the g’s, fishin’, sleepin’ etc. But not all words are pronounced that way at all times, if that makes any sense. And dialect changes with mood, anger/passion brings out a deeper drawl in certain characters.

And then we had the issue of Summer. She’s narrating her chapters, so we’re effectively in her head, meaning her narrative is technically dialogue. And I, and the long suffering Bec Farrell (editor) agonised over what to do here. We knew at first glance it might be hard to follow, but we went with it, we committed, no punches are pulled. Summer is authentically Summer, and I know it was the right decision.   

All The Wicked Girls is complex and multilayered with several key characters. Can you tell me a bit about how you plan your novels and keep track of the various threads and narratives?

My writing process is a total shitshow. I got so hopelessly lost writing this book. It soured my mood for months. I remember sitting down with my wife and saying I just didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t finish, I couldn’t get close to the finish. I had this perfect, vivid story in my mind, where I could see the town and the square and I could hear the people. But it was just noise. That feeling where you can’t think straight, I wrote the whole book in that frame of mind. So the planning came late, once I had the voices right I began to map out how they might fit together. And I had total faith in my editors and my early reader (thank you, Liz) to keep the story tight and on the right track.

Personally, as a reader, plot comes a very distant second to the quality of writing and the characterisation. If I sat down and mapped out an intricate plot on a spreadsheet, I think I’d find it very hard to deviate from that plan, even once I got to know my characters better. I wouldn’t want to be a slave to it. I’ve read books where a character will suddenly do something implausible to fit with the twist etc, and it totally pulls me out of the story.

Give me a story full of heart. That’s what I want to read so that’s what I try and write. 

There is quite a cast of characters in your book. Which character was your favourite / easiest / most challenging to write? 

Noah and Purv were the most fun, though their story tugged at the heart strings.  

Summer, she was so so difficult. Not just because I, a man in his thirties living in the UK, was writing in the first person as a 15 year old southern girl, but just because she’s so incredibly lost. She has this vision of the way she wants the world to see her. She bakes cookies and goes to church, plays the cello and reads endless books. She takes her ideas from the masters of philosophy but she doesn’t really know what they mean. And then her relationship with Pastor Bobby. That was tough to write. I worried I’d taken it too far, that we didn’t need to know the details. And I didn’t want it to be ugly, this girl and this man, having this relationship in view of God. But we’re in Summer’s head, and she wouldn’t censor her own thoughts and feelings.

Favourite? Raine. All heart and no head. I can relate.  

You have now written two books set in America. Are you influenced at all by American Literature or American Noir?

I think so. A lot of my favourite authors are American. The Road is one of my all-time faves, and I’m a huge fan of Dennis Lehane and John Hart. Stephen King is the master, his characterisation is something I greatly admire. I didn’t set out to emulate anyone, but then I suppose we draw influence without even realising.

There are several references to literature in the novel and a few specific titles. These are obviously very intentionally and specifically chosen for the story but are they books which are important to you as well?

A mix. Whilst they’re very much of Summer’s choosing, many of her favourites are mine too. The books she mentions throughout, they are just stories she tries to relate to her own life. Maybe she draws parallels with Dolores in Lolita, or maybe she sees Samson in The Power and the Glory. She reads these epic novels and wants to feel connected to them. Her life is just one long search for meaning.   

What's next for you? Will you be writing another book set in America? Are you working on anything at the moment? 

I’ve had a couple of months break from crime writing but have tentatively began to think about book 3. It’s not set in America, but beyond that I’m long way from being able to give any details.

There won’t be a new book from me until at least 2019. Please don’t forget me!  

As if!! I don't think there is ever any danger of that happening! Thank you so much for such a great interview and fantastic answers. All The Wicked Girls really is a story full of heart, as is Tall Oaks. Thank you for coming along today and I wish you luck with both your published books and your third story idea! 

Everyone has a secret in Tall Oaks . . .

When three-year-old Harry goes missing, the whole of America turns its attention to one small town. Everyone is eager to help. Everyone is a suspect.

Desperate mother Jess, whose grief is driving her to extreme measures.

Newcomer Jared, with an easy charm and a string of broken hearts in his wake.

Photographer Jerry, who's determined to break away from his controlling mother once and for all.

And, investigating them all, a police chief with a hidden obsession of his own . . .

You can read my review of Chris' debut novel Tall Oaks here.

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my blog bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.co.uk or website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk