Book Synopsis:

What’s it like to reach for the stars, but end up floating in a tin can?

Garth Tyson wanted to be the next David Bowie. He fell short. Waaaay short. Burnt out, he fled the stage at Glastonbury ’85, having been pelted with mud, and was never seen again.

You’re familiar with the stars of this era: the Adam Ants, Duran Durans and Depeche Modes – musicians who successfully navigated punk and New Wave to become icons.

Bet you’ve never heard of Garth Tyson – singer, brother, dreamer. Stallholder.

That’s why we’re here.

Decades after Garth’s disappearance, former bandmates, friends, relatives, lovers, music-biz execs and two fans (you try finding more) reunite to tell Garth’s compelling, tragicomic tale. Can any shed light on what really happened to him?

Not everyone appears willingly. Here’s Garth’s 80-year-old mother, Doreen Thyssen: ‘I don’t like people who dig dirt. Fuck off.’ The charmer.

Loved Daisy Jones? Try this perfectly squalid British version.

Extract:

Well. I…. BB: No, darling, not even close! But you’re very kind! Add a thousand and you’re in the right ballpark. Darling, I am contemporaneous with Tutankhamun and half as moisturised.

About The Author:

Author BioNick Griffiths first printed work was a review of The Shamen, in Sounds, dated November1989. The once psychedelic band had gone house and he simply didn’t understand.After Sounds – his music weekly of choice throughout his youth, so a dream come true – hewas headhunted for the launch of Select magazine, for whom he wrote reviews andfeatures, involving a brief but swoonsome meeting with his all-time hero, David Bowie.David gently advised Nick to given Lodger another listen, so he did.Moving on to women’s and computer games magazines by the mid-1990s, Nick settledfreelancing for the Radio Times and Daily Mail, reviewing TV shows and interviewing theirstars, too numerous to mention. He became Radio Times’ Doctor Who correspondent afterthe show’s return in 2005, which led to him being commissioned by Gollancz/Orion to writehis first book, a memoir about growing up as a Doctor Who fan, titled Dalek I Loved You(2007).A Whovian travelogue, Who Goes There, followed, from Legend Press, who also publishedNick’s comic novels, In the Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose and Looking for Mrs Dextrose.Having also written freelance for several of the national broadsheets, Nick quit journalism in2011 to move from London to Cornwall (where his wife grew up), with his young family.Since 2014 he has been running the vintage-lighting shop, Any Old Lights, in Fowey, butreally missed writing. Hence his first book in ten years: DeadStar.DeadStar, a fictional music oral history, set during punk and New Wave, launches on 25January 2022.

Book Synopsis:

Wynter’s Trees is the home of Christmas. For the people of Wynmouth it’s where they get their family Christmas tree, and where Christmas truly comes to life.

But for Liza Wynter, it’s a millstone around her neck. It was her father’s pride and joy but now he’s gone, she can’t have anything to do with it. Until her father’s business partner decides to retire and she must go back to handle the transition to his son Ned.

When Liza arrives, she discovers a much-loved business that’s flourishing under Ned’s stewardship. And she’s happy to stay and help for the Christmas season, but then she has other plans. But will the place where she grew up make her change her mind? And can it weave its Christmas cheer around her heart…?

Underneath the Christmas Tree is the perfect festive read, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Cathy Bramley.

Underneath The Christmas Tree is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Underneath The Christmas Tree is a fun, feel good, festive novel that is perfect for relaxing with this winter.

Firstly I wish there was a place like Wynter’s Trees near me as I’d definitely be visiting there every Christmas to just soak up the amazing atmosphere. The place just seemed to have everything! Real Christmas trees, sleighs, little gift stores, fabulous sounding food and a very cute dog. I soon found myself utterly absorbed into the world the author had created and could really picture Wynter’s Trees in my mind.

The main Character’s seemed very realistic and I loved following them throughout the book. I quickly grew very fond of them and found myself wanting to keep reading so I could find out how things ended up. They delighted and frustrated me in equal measures and I sometimes wished I knew them in real life so I could talk some sense into the two of them. Their friends and employees make up a great cast of supporting characters who help create the wonderful community feeling you get whilst reading. I felt like I was actually there, part of their group and experiencing everything alongside them.

The story moves at a steady pace and there was always something happening to keep me absorbed in the story. There are a few slower moments but I was so absorbed in the wonderful festive atmosphere that I didn’t care. I loved the way the book ended and I was very sorry to say goodbye to the amazing characters. I’d so love there to be a sequel as I would love the chance to visit Wynter’s Trees again.

Huge thanks to the lovely Karen for forwarding on her copy of this book to me and to the publishers for my digital copy via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Heidi lives in beautiful south Norfolk with her family and a mischievous cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her TBR pile is always out of control! To find out more, follow Heidi on twitter @Heidi_Swain or visit her website: heidiswain.co.uk.

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Tunes For Tuesday. Today I’m featuring the lovely Dyre and his new album Let’s Die Together. I first met Dyre through Uzi Walker who streams on twitch and also features on a few songs on this album. Dyre is a really lovely guy who’s always happy to chat and answer questions about his music. So if you’d like to learn more about Dyre from the man himself check out his interview below.

If you would like to follow Dyre on social media you can do bye clicking on the links below.

How To Listen:

For me the thing that most stands out are his lyrics which are really heartfelt and emotional. You can tell he’s put a lot of thought into them and I feel they help give you an insight into how he was feeling when he wrote the song. His music is available on all the major streaming platforms which I’ve linked below. I’ve put the YouTube videos for two of my favourite song below, long time readers of my blog might recognise the two artists featured on the songs as they are also previously been featured on here.

Interview:

Tell us a little about yourself?

I go by Dyre, I’m 19, and I’ve been making music for about three years now.

What first got you into music?

I’ve always been interested in music and have used it as a way to cope with life for as long as I can remember. I started playing the guitar around age 12, and from there took orchestra and learned about music theory. 

Who inspired you to make music?

I started making music in late 2018 because I had seen independent artists like Pouya and $uicideboy$ approach to music and the topics they talked about within their songs, it made me believe I could transition from listening to music as a coping mechanism to making music. 

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

I like to make songs that I feel like people can relate to because of how much I’ve relied on music to get me through a lot of problems. I make a lot of sad or angry music just reflecting my mood at the time. 

What is your creative process like?

I typically just make a beat and write about whatever I’m thinking about or feeling right then. I’m not a very organized person, it kind of just happens randomly and I like that aspect of creation, it feels much more meaningful to me that way. 

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I’d definitely like to make a song with Pouya if I had the opportunity. 

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
If I could open for anybody, It would hands down be $uicideboy$, their shows are an incredible experience and the messages they convey are so sick. 

What is one message you would give to your fans?

To my fans I’d say, thank you for any amount of support you’ve shown me. I wouldn’t be making music and releasing it if nobody listened, so I appreciate all of you for letting me continue to share my thoughts with you. 

What is the most useless talent you have?

I can clap with one hand

Do you sing in the shower? What songs?

I listen to music every time I’m in the shower, usually just whatever’s in my playlist which is probably something sad. 

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

I honestly don’t think I’d still be here if I didn’t start creating music. If I’m ever going through a lot I just make music to talk about it and I haven’t found anything else that I can use like that. 

Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

I’ve actually yet to perform, but I do have a show coming up in Oklahoma City on December 18th, Excited to finally be on a stage. 

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

I think the internet has done a lot of good for the music industry in the sense that it’s much easier to release music and make music from home than it ever has been. At the same time, the music industry has become over saturated with artists, big and small, which makes it harder to reach a lot of people. 

Which famous musicians do you admire?

I really like lil peep and his style of music because I feel like it allowed him to convey his thoughts the best way that he could, and I think that’s all that art is, the world from someone else’s perspective.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

To not care about what other people think about you because you can’t control it, and that it’s okay to let yourself feel all emotions but don’t dwell on bad thoughts. 

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I’d change how artists are looked at as products instead of as individuals that are experiencing the same world as everyone else. 

What’s next for you?

In the near future I plan to continue to release music and improve the quality of it indefinitely, I still have a lot further to go and I am nowhere near finished. 

Playlist:

You can now listen to Dyre and all previously featured artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Good afternoon everyone, hope you are all having a good band holiday if you are in the UK. Welcome to hopefully a new feature every Monday where I’ll be updating you all on what I’ve been reading and what I’m hoping to read next.

Just Finished:

Underneath The Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain

I finished this wonderful festive read over Christmas and absolutely loved it! It was just what I needed to relax with after a hectic day dealing with three very excited kids. Nothing says Christmas to me like a Heidi Swain book so I looked forward to reading a bit more every night, with a glass of mulled wine of course. Review coming this week!

Currently Reading:

Wahala by Nicki May

Wahala is a book I’ve been hearing lots about and I’ve been very intrigued to read. I was immediately drawn into the story and have been finding the book hard to put down as I’m enjoying it so much. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this from Netgalley but at half way through the book I realised I had to have a physical copy so treated myself to the special editions from Waterstones which will be arriving later this week so I’ll be able to show it to you in all its glory next week!

Reading Next:

The Ends Of The Earth by Abbie Greaves

I’m on the blog tour for this book later this week so looking forward to starting it in the next few days. I was a huge fan of her last book so very excited to read this one. Review coming Friday!

Hostage by Claire Mackintosh

I’m thrilled to be taking part in a buddy read with the lovely Kelly and Gemma starting Thursday. Once again I’m a huge fan of this author and have heard nothing but good things about this book so I can’t wait to start! Our buddy read is ending on the 8th of January so I will be posting my review after that.

Have you read any of the books above? What are you reading now? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2022 brings you everything you wish and hope for.

I think it’s fair to say 2021 was a hard year for a lot of us. One of the biggest challenges for me this year was home schooling. I’m definitely not a teacher and I found trying to home school two kids while keeping a preschooler entertained hard work. Thank goodness for my lovely mum who bubbled with us early on and helped me though it. Through all the chaos there were some wonderful moments that stood out however. The many art projects which we never would have completed otherwise, exploring new areas around our house which we didn’t know about and the introduction of the reading garden which the kids still request today.

Other highlights was finally meeting up with friends and family, including a long awaited trip to see Stuart’s family in Scotland which the kids absolutely loved. We also managed to get away to the beach which is always good for the soul. The kids loved playing in the sand and even ventured into the sea!

Blog Plans for 2022:

Tunes For Tuesday:

After the success of this feature last year, I look forward to featuring even more fantastic artists next year. This month I have the lovely Dyre and the new single from the amazing Joshua Woo, plus a few new names for you to listen to. I’m looking to change the interview questions to something a bit shorter and snappier so if anyone has any suggestions about what they’d like to know about the artists do let me know!

Book features:

As well as more reviews, I’m hoping to start doing more interviews and wrap up posts keeping you all up to date with what I’m reading and enjoying. I made the difficult decision to return to work in October which I’m really enjoying but obviously impacted on my blog as I tried to negotiate everything. I’m trying to be super organised and get things planned ahead of times, making full use of the scheduling feature on WordPress. I hope to be able to bring you more regular, fresh content soon though life might get in the way sometimes.

Instagram:

My little book blog is also on Instagram and I’m looking forward to trying to grow it this year. Im going to be trying more stacks, taking creative photos and (if I’m feeling brave enough) maybe attempt my first reel!

If you don’t already follow me on Instagram or Twitter the links are below.

That’s all for now, thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing the book love with you all in 2022! What are you reading/blog plans for this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Book Synopsis:

Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…It’s Boxing Day and your friendship group has planned a hike.You know tensions are running high. You’ve heard the rumours flying around.But this trip is a chance for you to reconnect.As you head into the reserve, everyone is quiet. It almost feels like you’ve imagined the rift.But as the sun sets, you hear a gun shot.One of your group is dead.And someone you know killed them…A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller with a killer twist you just won’t see coming. Fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley and T.M. Logan will be totally gripped from the very first page.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author’s books so when I found myself in a recent reading slump I started Hide to help get me out of it as I alway find them to be gripping and easy to read. The story follows seven ‘friends’ who all belong to a nature group that meets once a month at the local nature reserve. However things quickly turn interesting (and a bit scary) when one of their group is murdered on a boxing Day hike.

I must admit when I first starting reading I thought I had guessed who the murder was but I was wrong (and very wrong). As the book progresses the author slowly peels back the layers on the characters so the reader finds out more about their history and, crucially, the secrets they’ve been hiding. I absolutely loved this as just when I thought I had everything figured out, something else would be revealed that sent the story in a completely different direction. My favourite characters were definitely the twins and I found it fascinating learning more about the dynamics of their relationship. Emily was definitely my favourite as I was very impressed with the strength and courage she showed throughout the book. She’s definitely had a hard life and I found it very poignant reading about her struggles when she was younger but I loved the fact she never lets her deafness hold her back!

The books starts off slowly as we get to know the characters and find out a little bit about the group. The reader gets to follow the story from each of the character’s points of view which alternates each chapter and I was very glad of the characters list at the front of the book so I could keep track of who was who. It quickly gathers pace though and I soon found the book very hard to put down. The snowy, dark nature reserve helped create a claustrophobic, unpredictable setting which seemed to be full of danger at every turn. My heart was in my mouth as I followed them as they tried to get out and I think I physically jumped a couple of times when things happened as I was so engrossed in the story.

The ending was brilliant, very dramatic and I loved how realistically it ended without any huge jumps in the story. It hints at there possibly being a sequel which I would love as I think there’s definitely more to explore with these characters and I don’t think I’m quite ready to say goodbye to them yet.

Huge thanks to Avon for my copy of this book. If you’re looking for a gripping read this Christmas I definitely recommend this one!

About The Author:

After studying English at university, Nell Pattison became a teacher and specialised in Deaf education. She has been teaching in the Deaf community for 14 years in both England and Scotland, working with students who use BSL, and began losing her hearing in her twenties. She lives in North Lincolnshire with her husband and son. Nell is the author of novels The Silent House, which was a USA Today bestseller, and Silent Night, featuring British Sign Language interpreter Paige Northwood.

Good evening everyone today on Tunes For Tuesday I’m taking you back through some of the fantastic artists I’ve been lucky enough to feature this year. If you’re interested in finding new artists and discovering some fantastic new music then I definitely recommend checking out the artists below.

I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all the artists who have taken part this year and my fellow bloggers and twitch friends for all their support for this feature.

I have some fantastic artists already line up for next year so do stay tuned!

Samuel Alexander:

Sam is 27 from Melbourne in Australia. I discovered him through twitch where he streams live music four times week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. He plays a mixture of guitar covers and some of his fabulous piano originals which are great for relaxing to. He is one of my favourite streamers on there especially as his community are so lovely and welcoming. I feel like I’ve meet some lovely people on there. My daughter loves Sam’s streams and calls him ‘the nice man in the hat’ due to the fact he always wears a beanie on stream. Sam was also nice enough to sing Happy Birthday to her which made her day!

Sam has released some truly beautiful music this year and I look forward to hearing more next year! I have out two of my favourite songs from Sam below for you to enjoy!

Plastic Sun:

Plastic Sun are a London based trio that consists of Joshua Woo, Alessandro Melchior and Keir Adamson. Their songs are all very catch and easy to listen to with a indie rock feel to them which has always been my favourite genre of music. The lyrics are very clever and often have hidden messages in them which leave you thinking about the meaning behind them for days. The front man, Joshua Woo, has an incredibly powerful voice with an amazing range that allows him to go from base to falsetto in the same song. He is also able to hold a note for a very long time which makes his performances amazing to watch. I can’t wait until we are allowed to go to live gigs as I will definitely be going to a Plastic Sun gig as soon as possible.

The Complements:

The Complement’s are made up of Greg, an L.A native, and Aleesha who grew up in Europe and Asia. Greg is a classically trained pianist and self taught guitarist while Aleesha is trained in everything Greg isn’t! They are known for their soulful vocal harmonies and charming performances. They describe themselves as ‘an award winning singer-songwriter duo who sound like they have walked off a Glee/ Disney crossover show’.

I heard about them through twitch where they stream Monday – Friday from 14h00 BST. Due to lockdown in California it has been mainly Greg streaming on his own, though Aleesha has been making surprise appearances. Their streams are always good fun to watch and I look forward to them. Greg is always very welcoming and his energy is infectious as he plays their songlist which has lots of variety in it. If you’d like to watch The Complements on twitch, the link to their channel is below.

Bethan Le Mas:

Bethan is a UK Singer Songwriter from the South of England. She is classically trained in piano and cello and taught herself how to play the guitar and Celtic harp. She’s been very busy this year and has managed to put out two albums Field Fare and One Man’s Crust which are both full of beautiful folk music.

Her streams are always great fun to hang out on as she’s also a huge bookworm and Harry Potter fan so we normally end up talking about one of those. Her music has taken a bit if a back seat at the moment as she’s gone back to university to complete a master’s degree!

How To Listen:

You can listen to all these fabulous artists either by clicking on the links below their name or via a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Thanks for reading and Happy Listening!

Good evening everyone today on Tunes For Tuesday (on a Wednesday as life is a tad hectic atm) I’m featuring Moonlit Memory by Samuel Alexander.

Sam is 28 and lives in Melbourne Australia. He streams regularly on twitch were he plays lots of fabulous guitar covers and his beautiful piano originals. It’s been very interesting to follow the progress of Moonlit Memory as Sam has slowly developed it on twitch when streaming. His community were also involved in naming the piece and although he didn’t use my suggestion (sniff) I think Moonlit Memory suits it perfectly.

The lovely artwork was created by Alissa a member of Sam’s community and it inspired Sam to use the music box sound you hear on the piece as he felt it added a dreamlike quality to his music.

You can follow Sam on social media or watch him on twitch (highly recommended) using the links below.

How To Listen:

Sam’s music is available on all the major streaming platforms which I’ve included below. He loves hearing people’s reactions to his music so if you do enjoy it please let him know.

I have included the YouTube video for Moonlit Memory below.

Interview:

Sam was kind enough to answer some questions for me earlier this year where we talked about his music and what influenced him to make it. If you haven’t read his interview yet and would like to learn more about Sam I have included the link below!

Playlists:

You can now listen to Samuel Alexander and all previously featured artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Book Synopsis:

He’s been watching and waiting. And now he’s found her.

Rosie is homeless and winter is closing in. So she can’t believe her luck when a total stranger, Mr. Adams, invites her to stay.

What she doesn’t realise is that Mr. Adams has a secret agenda. He has chosen Rosie for a very special purpose.

But Rosie isn’t as innocent as she seems. She has a secret too, a secret that will have horrifying consequences for them both.

As they each fight to get what they want, they find themselves locked in a struggle which will lead them ever downwards – into a terrifying spiral of horror and violence.

The Girl Downstairs – the stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, K. L. Slater, Miranda Rijks.

The Girl Downstairs is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Girl Downstairs is an atmospheric, creepy and unsettling read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Firstly the thing that most stood out for me in this book was the characters. The author has a fantastic way of writing them so I felt I could easily picture them in my mind. I felt like I actually knew them and could guess what they were thinking or would do next. They were both pretty unreliable characters which made for very interesting reading and I found myself liking them one moment and hating them the next. I kept changing my mind about who I believed and who I wanted to support as I read which I thought was cleverly done.

The situation the characters find themselves in was a very intriguing one which I liked exploring as the story continued. It’s definitely a weird situation and one that I’d have hoped would have alarm bells going off for most people. The small cottage with two strangers is creepy enough but add in the snow and the atmosphere soon felt very claustrophobic. The author has a clever way of lulling the reader into a false sense of security by describing mundane, everyday activities like making lunch and then suddenly throwing a twist into the plot which makes it seem much more dramatic then it might otherwise. This definitely kept me on my toes and I enjoyed trying to decipher the subtle clues the author drops into the story to try and figure out what would happen next.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic read which I’ll definitely be recommending to others. The atmosphere slowly increases as the story goes on until it becomes almost unbearable and I soon found myself torn between wanting to find out what would happen next and stopping as I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’d definitely be interested in reading more in the future.

Huge thanks to Zoë at Zooloo blog tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Iain Maitland is the author of three previous psych thrillers, The Scribbler (2020), Mr Todd’s Reckoning (2019) and Sweet William (2017), all published by Contraband, an imprint of Saraband. Mr Todd’s Reckoning is coming to the big screen in 2023.Iain is also the author of two memoirs, Dear Michael, Love Dad (Hodder, 2016), a book of letters written to his eldest son who experienced depression and anorexia, and (co-authored with Michael) Out Of The Madhouse (Jessica Kingsley, 2018).He is also an Ambassador for Stem4, the teenage mental health charity. He talks regularly about mental health issues in schools and colleges and workplaces.

Book Synopsis:

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay
Can echoes of the past threaten the present? They are 1500 years apart, but can they reach out to each other across the centuries? One woman faces a traumatic truth in the present day. The other is forced to marry the man she hates as the ‘dark ages’ unfold.

How can Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, unlock the secrets of the past? Traumatised by betrayal, she slips into 499 AD and into the body of Lady Vivianne, who is also battling treachery. Viv must uncover the mystery of the key that she unwittingly brings back with her to the present day, as echoes of the past resonate through time. But little does Viv realise just how much both their lives across the centuries will become so intertwined. And in the end, how can they help each other across the ages without changing the course of history?

A Shape On The Air is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

Advance Praise:

Praise for Julia Ibbotson and A Shape on the Air:

Praise for Julia Ibbotson and A Shape on the Air:

“In the best Barbara Erskine tradition … I would highly recommend this novel” Historical Novel Society

“Amazing …a really great book …I just couldn’t put it down” Hazel Morgan

“a beautiful tale … a must-read for fans of time-slip and time-travel” Cathie Dunn

“gripping, with a very real sense of sense of threat and danger, an enthralling mystery focused on hidden treasure, a wholly convincing romance, all across both timelines! Anne Williams

“Lovely identifiable heroines in both time periods … I love the strength and vulnerability” Melissa Morgan

“Meticulously researched and wonderfully evocative. Loved it!” Anne Harvey

“Well-rounded characters and a wealth of historical research make this a real page-turner” Amazon review

“Enthralling!” Amazon review

About The Author:

Acclaimed, award-winning author Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and concepts of time travel. She read English at Keele University, England (after a turbulent but exciting gap year in Ghana, West Africa) specialising in medieval language, literature and history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. She wrote her first novel at 10 years of age, but became a school teacher, then an academic as a senior university lecturer and researcher. She has published a number of books, including memoir, children’s medieval fantasy, a trilogy set in Ghana, and medieval time-slip, as well as academic works. Apart from insatiable reading, she loves travelling the world, singing in choirs, swimming, yoga and walking in the countryside in England and Madeira where she and her husband divide their time.