Book launch: A Hundred Pieces of Me

After the excellent Tinder Press first birthday party on Tuesday it was time for another bookish event the following evening, with the launch party for Lucy Dillon's A Hundred Pieces of Me. I really enjoyed this inspiring novel (find my full review here) and was very excited at the opportunity to be meeting the author herself.


I met up with Vicky from Books, Biscuits and Tea before heading to the launch's location; the iconic Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street. This was such a fitting venue for a book event, the beautiful Edwardian building was stocked full of classical and modern literary works and I already promised myself I'd be going back to buy ALL the books (and one of their tote bags, because they're brilliant).


We were greeted by the lovely Vero from Hodder & Stoughton and wine (every good bookish event should involve alcohol in some form) before mingling with some of the other guests. We soon realised that a lot of people there were authors whose books I really enjoy reading! We first chatted to Rebecca Chance (who writes sexy and super addictive bonkbusters which I absolutely adore) before being introduced to people from the Hodder team.


Author Rebecca Chance, myself, Vicky and author Kate Harrison
It was particularly awesome to get a chance to chat to Alix from Wishlist (the fantastic Hodder women's fiction newsletter which I always spam on Facebook and Twitter...) and to be able to put a face to the person I'd been chatting with on social media (spoiler alert: she looks nothing like the Twitter avatar ;)).


Cute notebooks with the book's cover were laying around the event area ♥
After a lovely speech from Lucy (where she got a bit emotional as she was thanking friends and family for support during the writing of her novel) we took the plunge and asked if she would sign our books - which she happily did. We also spoke to her for a bit about the book's story, main character Gina and the open ending (which I apparently completely misinterpreted, oops).


We had a wonderful evening (even though, with so many amazing writers present, I did feel slightly like we were crashing an author party) - many thanks to the Hodder team for letting me attend!

Tinder Press first birthday party

This was a week of bookish events, first up on Tuesday was a birthday party for the wonderful Tinder Press, an imprint of Headline Publishing Group. In the one year they've been live, so to speak, they've already brought out a range of critically acclaimed novels such as The Invention of Wings, The Lemon Grove and Amity & Sorrow. There is always a great buzz around the publication of their titles which is a testimony not only to the quality of the books, but also to the fantastic marketing team.

The event was held at The Lucky Pig Cocktail Bar in Fitzrovia, which I'd not been to before but was the perfect intimate venue for the evening. As soon as we walked in we met some of the lovely people from the Headline team (Hi Sam! Hi Ben!) - it was great to be able to get a chance to chat to these guys in person after stalking following them on Twitter.

Bagging some spots on a very comfy couch at the back of the room we ordered our first round of cocktails before settling in for an evening of readings and author Q&As.

Peggy Riley (author of Amity & Sorrow) was the host and first welcomed to the stage Helen Walsh, who read a steamy scene from sizzling summer read The Lemon Grove. In a complete turnaround of genres Natalie Young then provided a taster (pun intended) from her novel Season to Taste (Or How to Eat Your Husband) - which sounded both grotesque and strangely alluring at the same time.

After an interval (and another round of drinks - we tried several of the cocktails on the menu and our unanimous vote goes to the delicious Lahore Libre), Roopa Farooki took the stage for a reading from The Good Children (I hadn't heard of this book before the event but this taster definitely made me want to check it out), followed by Morgan McCarthy who gave us a sneak peak of her novel The Outline of Love.

It was a great literary evening and, bonus, I walked away with a new read as well. The bar was decked out with copies of Tinder Press titles which had inviting "take me home" stickers on their covers and after Natalie Young's animated reading of what sounds like a modern day Sweeney Todd I couldn't resist a gorgeous hardcover copy of Season to Taste - I can't wait to dig in (the book, not the pies...).

OF COURSE I didn't take photos of the books or authors, just of the cocktails... #alcy

Publication day interview with author Lucy Dillon

British author Lucy Dillon has five fiction novels to her name so far, including Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts which won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2010. Her new novel, A Hundred Pieces of Me, tells the story of Gina Bellamy, who after her divorce has to start over in a small apartment and decides to purge her belongings to just one hundred items important to her. I loved this inspiring novel and you can find my full review here. In this interview Lucy talks about her new novel, tackling the sensitive subject of breast cancer and inspiring women. 


Where did you get the idea for the book, Gina purging her possessions to just a hundred things important to her?

I'm a terrible clutterer. In an effort to get a grip on my hoarding habits, I read an American self-help book about a man who'd decided to reduce his stuff to a hundred things for spiritual reasons. Being a man, he approached it very practically but quickly developed a sneaky way of getting round his own rules - bundling all socks, underpants, vests, etc, in as 'underwear' and discounting anything his family used, like the piano or the car.

It made me think about what items were genuinely important to me, underwear aside, and what I was only hanging onto because it had been expensive or because I'd had it a long time. Then last year I packed up my house to get ready for building work, and found myself in the same place as Gina, with my life in boxes and a strange instinct to put back only the most vital possessions into my newly tidy space! 



If put in the same position what would you hold on to for dear life?

Anything irreplaceable like old photo albums, or family heirlooms. I'm terrible at recycling books, and I stash letters and postcards from friends in cookery books rather than throwing them out. But one thing writing A Hundred Pieces of Me made me realise is that what's important is having experiences, and enjoying them in your heart.

It's so easy with digital cameras and iPhones to get so caught up in taking photos of moments to post on Facebook that you miss being in them. I made a resolution this year to amass less and feel more!

What was the biggest challenge for you when tackling the sensitive subject of breast cancer?

It's such a wide-ranging, complex topic that no amount of research ever feels enough. When you're writing about a disease that, sadly, many readers will be extremely knowledgeable about from personal experience, there's a big responsibility to get the details right, and reflect not just the facts but the emotional impact and the aftermath and the effects on those around the patient. And everyone responds differently, so I had to concentrate hard to make Gina's experience her own.

And though it's a major element of Gina's journey through the book, A Hundred Pieces of Me isn't a novel about breast cancer; no one I spoke to wanted their cancer to define them, so Gina comes out of it a slightly changed person, but it's definitely not the end of her story.


Gina's friendship with greyhound Buzz was heartwarming to read, are you a dog person yourself?

Yes! Although I never realised I was until I rehomed a basset hound about five years ago, and she woke up the dormant dog person within. I love sharing my life with hounds; they bring real warmth and affection to a house, as well as a lot of hair and mud.


Despite all the trials in her life Gina's strong personality is an inspiration to readers, which women have inspired you?

My mother's a constant source of inspiration to me; she's juggled a career, a family, a house, and voluntary work, coped with serious illness with grace and humour, and is enjoying a happy retirement with a man she's lived her whole life alongside.

I'm very admiring of women who perform on world stages, but there's something quietly heroic about women holding families and lives and communities together that should be celebrated. When things are tough, I find remembering what my mother and grandmother have had to deal with much more of a kick up the behind than trying to aim for world peace or a solution to the Syrian crisis. 


What are some female authors or women's fiction novels you enjoy reading yourself?

I love Kate Atkinson's writing and her elegance with language and structure, and I'm a long term fan of Laurie Graham's novels, both her early modern ones, and her current strand of more historical writing.



Do you have any advice for those who aspire to become a published author?

Read as much as you can, and then write as much as you can. Don't worry about making things perfect, just focus on finding your own rhythm and style; writing's a bit like marathon running, in that you've got to get the miles under your belt first. And reading aloud is also the quickest fix for dodgy dialogue. 



Can you tell us what your next writing project is?

I'm about to start the next novel set in Longhampton, around the small hotel on the outskirts of town. There will be a dog it in, but as yet, I'm still at the 'sitting in a cafe with a notebook and four coffees' stage!

Lucy Dillon's A Hundred Pieces of Me is published today (27th February 2014) by Hodder & Stoughton.

Afternoon tea at Bea's of Bloomsbury

Walking into Bea's of Bloomsbury we were greeted by a display case filled with gorgeously enticing cupcakes in array of flavours and colours, which certainly whetted our appetites and we promised ourselves we'd be coming back after the afternoon tea to stock up with some lovely goodies for the weekend.

We spent our visit on the second floor of the restaurant, which was a narrow but very cosy area. We sat in a beautiful plush purple booth and there were teapot lights hanging from the ceiling - the perfect setting for an indulging afternoon of tea and cakes.


When we sat down at our table our plate with food was already waiting for us. Consisted of a variety of small savoury and sweet treats the presentation unfortunately lacked finesse as it seemed cluttered and swiftly put together, making us worry about the various flavours blending into each other.

Sat over two tiers, rather than three as seemed the norm on the tables around us, the food looked a little crammed together and several options were being smothered by others. It also meant that it was just sitting there while we were still deciding on our tea flavours and the traditional scones were already cold, rather than oven warm, by the time we tucked in.

When our drinks had been served we first tried the mini baguettes, which were an original variant on the more traditional cucumber and salmon sandwiches. This afternoon tea normally comes with three different flavours but we only received two, and so we can only comment on those. One of them had a generous spread of salami, but as a big fan of the combination mozzarella, tomato and pesto I loved that option the most and it was definitely my favourite of the two.

The scone was next, of course, which was big and surprisingly crispy and was lovely with the clotted cream and jam provided. I always enjoy taking small sips of tea while eating a scone and this one in particular melted in the mouth while doing so.

The other sweets on offer were a mix of average (a squishy passion fruit marshmallow), decent (a white chocolate cake and a raspberry meringue), delicious (a chocolate and raspberry cupcake and a chocolate and Bailey's cupcake) and absolutely divine (two types of chocolate brownies). There was a lot of chocolate going on which doesn't sound too imaginative but for a lover of all things cocoa such as myself it was a treat.


The tea itself was delightful; there were a variety of black and green loose leaf options to cater to everyone's taste and both my guest and myself really enjoyed the flavour we each chose. The pot was also large enough to be satisfying for a relaxing hour and a half of chat and nibbles.

Overall the afternoon tea was adequate, but not amazing. The presentation can use some sprucing up, cutlery would've been handy to eat some of the cakes and the food wasn't quite as dainty as we'd expected. However, the interior is lovely and enchanting making this an inviting establishment for its atmosphere foremost.

Add to that the beautiful setting with views over the St Paul's area (we particularly recommend that time of day when the sun starts to set over the city - covering it in magical orange glow) and you've got a great place to meet up with girlfriends for a lovely chat while enjoying some tea and cakes.

Bea's of Bloomsbury, St. Paul's, 83 Watling Street, London EC4M 9BX.

Blog tour: Interview with Rosie Blake

Rosie Blake's very funny debut novel How to Get a (Love) Life was published on January 29 (read my review here) and I'm super excited to be welcoming the lovely lady herself her to my blog today for a little Q&A.

Congratulations on the publication of your debut novel! Can you tell us what How to Get a (Love) Life is about?

Thank you! Indeed I can – I can't resist telling strangers so it's a relief to be asked to share. Normally I just do without the prompting. Ahem. It's the story of Nicola Brown, an uptight and introverted young woman who has never had a date on Valentine’s Day. Following a bet with a work colleague, Nicola has to put aside her hang ups to go on as many dates as she possibly can in order to find the perfect man in time for February 14th.

Can you tell us a little bit about what your journey to published author has been like?

The usual – fraught with obstacles, tears, frustration, learning curves and a few failed attempts in drawers. Although I started writing ten years ago, I really started to focus on it after 2008 following a win in a writing competition. That gave me the boost and belief I needed to finish the book I had been writing and submit it. I got awesome feedback and devoured books, tips and all sorts about writing. I read an enormous amount (I still do) and started on another idea. Sending it in to the very first Novelicious Undiscovered competition was a big step for me, and it got some great comments. Then, a couple of years later, Kirsty contacted me to ask what came of the manuscript. When she wanted to read the full I knew something big had happened and when I signed the contract I of course ... cried.

What does an average writing day look like for you?

There is no such thing as I have a full-time job so I write late at night, on weekends, on holidays and whenever else I need to. I write best in the morning or evening so know now to stop procrastinating in the afternoon and do something else.

Do you have any goss on the guys in your novel? Are any of them inspired by Ryan Gosling?

There are a whole range of men in the book as Nicola has to date so many frogs to (maybe) help her stumble across her prince. A few are perhaps inspired* by real-life characters and, yes, a man did spend a date showing me 100 headshots and asking me to rate my top five. That actually happened.

*read as "men I wish to get revenge on"

How to Get a (Love) Life could be the title of a self-help book, so do you have any final tips and tricks for us on how to get a love life?

Oooh *rubs hands in glee, puts on best smug face* ...

I think you have to be buddies with your man so if you can't be yourself with him (and I'm afraid I mean totally yourself i.e – wearing a onesie while you eat an entire Black Forest Gateaux and watch Charmed season two with no shame), there is no point. Also if he can't laugh at himself run ... take to the hills and RUN.


Thank you very much to Rosie for stopping by my blog today! Her first novel, How to Get a (Love) Life, is published by Novelicious Books and is out now. You can (and should) buy a copy from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Dinner at Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar

Set in the shadows of London landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and The London Eye, Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar is perfectly situated for a well-earned break after a day of exploring the city and strolling along the South Bank.

The restaurant and bar are beautifully laid out, looking both elegant and casual at the same time, and as soon as we arrived we were greeted with a warm welcome, which was a taste of the excellent service that was to come that night.


While sipping our fruity cocktails we ordered some starters that were perhaps not ideally matched to our mains, but were delicious nonetheless. My guest opted for the Cornish Oysters baked with Sage Cheddar Crumb. Being from New Zealand she's always had a wealth of fresh oysters at her finger tips and she hadn't tried them in the UK yet but she found these delicious and flavoursome. They were well presented on a bed of coarse sea salt, and for a starter six was more than enough.

I choose the Pan Fried Scallops with Black Pudding, Celeriac and Apple - which was excellent. I always find scallops hard to resist and I found they worked really well with the denseness of the black pudding, combined with the light tartiness of the apple and celeriac purees on the side. With three large scallops and a decent size of black pudding on the plate, this was a good portion for a starter - and it looked stunning on the plate too.


As Gillray's is a steakhouse we of course had high expectations of its namesake, but unfortunately we both felt that the bone-out Rib Eye fell slightly short of expectations. The pieces of meat were cooked well (medium rare per our order) and the flavour of the beef really came through, but both pieces were less tender than we'd hoped for as the fatty and muscular areas of the cut were more excessive. The more succulent pieces however were divine and went particularly well with the dark red Californian wine we'd been suggested to pair our mains with.

The sides we ordered with the meat were delectable and could not be faulted. The Cauliflower Cheese was soft and creamy, the Red Emily Sautee Potatoes with Shallots were flavoursome, the Portobello Mushrooms were big and juicy and the Truffle and Old Winchester Chips were possibly the most crispiest chips we've ever had the pleasure to try.


Even though we were satisfied from our mains, it didn't take much to be persuaded to give the desserts a try as well. My friend's Flourless Chocolate Cake was beautifully presented and very rich - a real chocoholic's delight. My Seasonal Meringue Pie with Ice Cream and English Custard on the other hand was light and slightly zingy, making it for me the perfect, fresh finish to an otherwise heavy meal.

Our waiter on the night was exceptionally attentive and helpful, offering not only a friendly service, but also excellent wine matching advice and even a basket of home-made Yorkshire puddings filled with cheese and with a spread of crème fraîche and mustard on the side (verdict: delicious) before we'd even had a chance to place our order - he truly went the extra mile.

With a knowledgeable and friendly staff, a diverse range of dishes and a stunningly beautiful location - we had a clear view of the majestic London Eye towering over the South Bank while the sun set over the river Thames - Gillray's is not only a convenient and delicious dining location but also a great place to meet up with friends or colleagues for some after work drinks.

Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar is located inside the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB.

Book review: The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer

My edition: paperback, published on 7th January 2014 by The Borough Press, 309 pages.

Description: "I'll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name's Simon. I think you're going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he'll be dead. And he was never the same after that."

The Shock of the Fall is an extraordinary portrait of one man's descent into mental illness.

It is a brave and ground-breaking novel from one of the most exciting new voices in fiction.




Rating:

Sunday post #22

Sunday is when I sit back with a lovely cup of tea and write about all the wonderful new books I've received and purchased in the past week. This post participates in fab memes Showcase Sunday and Stacking the Shelves.


• Arms Wide Open by Tom Winter (review copy)
• Bad Brides by Rebecca Chance (ebook, review copy)
• Skeletons by Jane Fallon (review copy)
• The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith (ebook, review copy)



A few months ago I signed up to NetGalley but up until now I haven't done much with it because I already had so many physical books to review and I only request books when I know for sure I have the time to read them. I've now cleared some of my backlog and visited NetGalley to request some titles and oh my the temptation! There are so many brilliant books up there, some not out yet for many more months, that I really had to restrain myself and only request two. They're both titles I'm super excited for so I can't wait to dig in.

Skeletons and Arms Wide Open are novels I'm reviewing for LoveReading. I've already finished the Jane Fallon book which was unfortunately very disappointing. My full review will be up soon, but for now I can say that I felt very disengaged from the characters and the story to me was very predictable and didn't really achieve anything, which was a shame. Arms Wide Open is the next book I'm reading and I can't wait as I loved Tom Winter's debut Lost and Found when I read it last year (find my review here).

Finally, I'd like to mention www.bookbridgr.com, a new initiative by Headline to bridge the gap between publishers and bloggers. Even though the site is still in beta (it will officially be launched tomorrow) it already looks fantastic and it's set to be a great resource for book reviewers, so do check it out!

Book review: Take Mum Out by Fiona Gibson

My edition: paperback, to be published on 13th March 2014 by Avon, 384 pages.

Description: Three blind dates
Two teenage boys messing up her plans
And one man who'll melt Alice's heart.

'You need to get back in the saddle…' Alice despises that phrase. She's fine being single – with two slothful teenage boys and a meringue business to run, she has enough on her plate without negotiating the troublesome world of modern dating.

However, Alice's three best friends have other ideas. Each one will present her with an utterly delicious, eligible man – all Alice has to do is pick her favourite.


Rating:

Book review: A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon

My edition: paperback, to be published on 27th February 2014 by Hodder & Stoughton, 512 pages.

Description: Letters from the only man she's ever loved.
A keepsake of the father she never knew.
Or just a beautiful glass vase that catches the light, even on a grey day.

If you had the chance to make a fresh start, what would you keep from your old life? What would you give away?

Gina Bellamy is starting again, after a difficult few years she'd rather forget. But the belongings she's treasured for so long just don't seem to fit who she is now.

So Gina makes a resolution. She'll keep just a hundred special items - the rest can go.

But that means coming to terms with her past and learning to embrace the future, whatever it might bring...


Rating: