WINNER and Runner-Up of the Contemporary 2015 Book Award

The 2015 Golden Rose Book Award for Contemporary

Went to Mark Barry and his book The Night Porter

Meet Mark

Mark Barry, author of Hollywood Shakedown, the highly acclaimed Carla and the top selling Ultra-Violence, is a writer and publisher based in Nottingham and Southwell. He writes extensively on a variety of topics including, horseracing, football, personality disorders and human relationships, but most recently, he writes about life in Nottingham and monitors closely its ever changing face.

Mark has been interviewed on several Radio chat shows where he has given readings of his work. His writing has been featured in the national press, and he has also been interviewed on television.

Mark resides in Southwell, Nottinghamshire and has one son, Matthew.

Catch up with Mark on Twitter @GreenWizard62

Book Description

Set in a hotel, in November, in the fictional town of Wheatley Fields, (based on Southwell, near Nottinghamshire, deep in Sherwood Forest).

Four writers, all nominated for an upcoming awards ceremony, come to stay.

One mega successful romance author, a top US thriller writer who sells in seven figures, a beautiful young YA tyro on the brink of world wide stardom…

…and a degenerate, nasty, bitter, jealous, trollish, drunken (but brilliant), self-published contemporary fiction author.

The Night Porter is instructed by a secretive and powerful awards committee to look after their EVERY need, to ensure they make it through the two weeks to attend the ceremony. At the same time as keeping an eye on their wishes, antics, fights, relationships and never-ending ego explosions. And trying desperately to avoid getting involved himself.

It’s a comedy drama about writers (and Night Porters!) with twists and turns, nooks and crannies, shadows and mirrors.

I don’t think you will see an Indie published book like this anywhere in Cyberspace.
Probably not a tradpubbed one either.

It casts a sometimes shadowy light on modern publishing, the writing business – and the people in it. Writers who like to read about writers and writing will enjoy the book as will readers who enjoy innovative, clever and multi-layered fiction.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

The Silver Award went to

Terry Tyler and her book Last Child

Meet Terry

Terry Tyler is fascinated by the psychology behind personal relationships, which is why she writes character-driven contemporary dramas. From the rock star aspirations of the lighthearted ‘Dream On’ and ‘Full Circle’, to the dark and complex psychological web of her latest publication, ‘The House of York’, it’s all about the characters, though she loves manufacturing unguessable plot twists, too. Watch out for ‘Bestseller’, a novella about three writers, due out around March.

She has a blog on which she writes about anything from observations about social networking trends, to self-publishing hazards, to anything else that comes into her head, and is currently running a feature about writers and astrology. The link: http://www.terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/ . This year she started a new book review blog; on this you can find her own reading choices and those she reads as part of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team. She loves Twitter (TerryTyler4) and can also be found on Goodreads and Facebook.

Terry lives in the north east of England with her husband; when she is not writing she escapes into Netflix and history books/documentaries, or floats around the house spraying Guerlain perfume, listening to old jazz and blues and pretending she’s in ‘Boardwalk Empire’.

Catch up with Terry on Twitter @TerryTyler4

Book Description

LAST CHILD is the sequel to Kings and Queens, Terry Tyler’s modern take on the story of Henry VIII and his six wives.

Harry Lanchester is gone, his legacy passed on to his children:

Thirteen year old JASPER, who views the directors of Lanchester Estates as Harry Potter characters, and finds out that teenage love affairs are no fairytale.

ISABELLA, the eldest daughter; lonely and looking for love, she returns from a holiday in Spain with more than just a suntan.

Impulsive, independent ERIN, the girl of Transport manager Rob Dudley’s dreams, whose priority is not a husband and family, but the continuation of her father’s work.

You will also meet the ambitious Jim Dudley, ex-nanny Hannah Cleveley, Rob’s long suffering wife Amy, and Raine Grey, whose nine days as PR manager for Lanchester Estates have a devastating effect on her life.

LAST CHILD takes the drama, passion and intrigue of Kings and Queens into the present day, with echoes from the past ~ and a glimpse or two into the future…

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Final congratulations to all the Contemporary nominees.

Sue Hewitt with THE CUNNING WOMAN’S CUP

Laura Wilkinson with PUBLIC BATTLES, PRIVATE WARS

Tonia Parronchi with THE SONG OF THE CYPRESS

Dena Haggerty with JACK GETS HIS MAN

 

 

March Movers and Shakers for Fleet Life and EHDirectory

Here are the books which made it to the March Issues of local magazines.

Fleet Life has the following books on page six of it’s magazine, for the online version go to http://www.fleetlife.org.uk, load the online directory and turn to page 6

The Dead Lands by Dylan J Morgan

I Listened To My Heart by Rosemary Gallagher

Motherlove by Thorne Moore

The Haunting Of Secrets by Shelley Pickens

The Song of the Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

Elvetham Heath Directory has the following books on page of it’s magazine, for the online version go to ehd.org.uk, load the online directory and turn to page 6.

S.C.A.R.S by Julia Ibbotson

The Broken Angel by Monica La Porta

Just Two Weeks by Amanda Sington-Williams

White Horizon by Jan Ruth

Mind Over Murder by Cary Allen Stone

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Bev reviews The Song Of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

Today’s book review comes from team member Bev, she blogs at http://baspicer.blogspot.co.uk/

Bev chose to read and review The Song Of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

Review of The Song of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

I won’t give a summary here, as other reviewers have already very efficiently done so.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Tonia Parronchi’s practically flawless prose flows beautifully and is at times poetic.  The story itself is a mix of fairytale romance and mystical folklore, which I haven’t come across before.  I must say that the enchanted Cypress did not appeal to me much to start with, but as I progressed with the story, I understood that it added an interesting dimension to Annie’s new life in Italy.

I generally read two or three books at a time, and The Song of the Cypress was the one I wanted to settle down with an hour or so before bedtime because it is so uplifting and positive.  Rural Italy comes alive, with fabulous descriptions, traditional anecdotes and a welcome helping of local produce served up at sunny picnics, village feasts, or cosy meals for two in front of the fire.  Everything is rather perfect, but I enjoyed this indulgence – it was refreshingly uplifting and a great way to de-stress at the end of the day.

If I had to mention something negative, I’d say that the pace did stall from time to time, where there was occasional repetition, verbosity or inaction.  However, if you’re looking for a nice dose of romantic escapism, coupled with an authentic overview of life in a Tuscan village, written by an author who knows how to write, this book definitely fits the bill.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Vanessa reviews The Song Of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

Toady we have a review from team member Vanessa, she blogs at http://vanessawesterwriter.blogspot.co.uk/p/rosies-book-review-team.html?spref=tw

Vanessa chose to read and review The Song Of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

“It’s hard to even begin to explain what I thought of “The Song of the Cypress”. This novel is so unique and beautifully written that I feel inept at writing down my own views about it.

Ultimately, the story is about the self-discovery of Ann (or Annie). A woman who needs to find herself as a person, spiritual soul, lover and member of a community. Until she dreams of the “Cypress” her life has been depressed. Following the needs of her mother, she has no time for herself. When her mother dies, she finally gets the freedom she desires and leaves everything she has in England to start a new life in a remote cottage set on the mountains in Italy.

Once here, she explores her spiritual side through an eccentric old woman, or local “witch”, who guides her in finding out about a connection with the Cypress tree that spans many centuries. The ability of the spirit or soul in this book is interesting and it beckons us (the reader) to seek out our true instinct as human beings and the role we have play with nature.

Her relationship with Joe is interesting and cleverly done, although it did have a ring of perfection that at times felt unbelievable. Every relationship has some trauma. This had barely any. Annie also seems too content in her own skin towards the end. It certainly is something for us all to strive towards.

Without giving any more away, this is a book you can taste (I got hungers pangs from some of the descriptions), smell, feel and almost touch.

My own upbringing in Gibraltar came to mind as the author described the traditions and mannerisms of Italians. My distant relatives were of mixed origin, but many descendants of Gibraltar come from Genoa. We definitely like our food!

I have rated it a 4 because as much as I loved it at times the pace slowed too much for me and I needed more than excellent descriptive writing. But, this is a personal preference.

I highly recommend this and think it should be studied as part of an English course on how to write creatively. I certainly don’t think I could ever achieve this level!”

*~I got this book in exchange for a review via Rosie’s Book Review Team~*

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Alison reviews The Song Of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

Today we have a review from team member Alison, she blogs at http://alisonwilliamswriting.wordpress.com/

Alison chose to read and review The Song Of The Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

The Song of the Cypress by Tonia Parronchi

Ann is a woman who is only half alive, caring for a mother who has sunk into depression and illness since the death of her husband, leaving Ann to a lonely childhood and a miserable adulthood. Her mother’s death offers the chance of a fresh start and Ann dreams of the cypress on the night before her mother’s funeral.

Ann travels to Tuscany, and in a small village finds the cypress. She begins her transformation, embracing her new life and her neighbours, the chatty Lucia and Pietro, Lucia’s quiet husband, hard-working put upon Rita and, of course, gentle, handsome Joe.

She also encounters the strange, wild, carefree old woman Fiammetta, the white witch, who teaches Ann about herbal remedies and healing, and shows her how to connect fully with the cypress and its song.

This is a beautifully written story. The sense of place is wonderful; I felt as though I was there in the Tuscan countryside as the seasons changed. The descriptions of the scenery, the seasons and the people are extremely well done and Ann is an interesting and well-drawn main character. I wanted her to be happy and to find the life and love she deserved. I also wanted to be in the warm sun of Tuscany, with its beautiful scents and scenery, all of which were brought beautifully to life.

I did feel that Ann’s out of body experiences were rather drawn out and repetitive at times – but this is my only criticism. This is a lovely book, and one I definitely recommend.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com