Month: March 2013

This week I have been mostly stripping.
Wallpaper! (What are you like?)
And helping the plasterer (daughter\’s boyfriend)
To plaster (what are you like?)
And painting
And wallpapering
And tearing my hair out
And making curtains
And shouting
A lot

here are the before
pics.

Interesting Read, 27 Mar 2013

This is the second book I\’ve read by Alex Martin and found it a very different read to the norm. I enjoyed Daffodils very much but I understand The Twisted Vine was her first book. The landscape of the French wine growing regions were beautifully described and the characters were fresh and interesting. The story was a romance and a tragedy taking the reader through the complicated lives of very different people. I would recommend this and Alex Martin\’s new book Daffodils to anyone wanting to lose themselves in a thoroughly entertaining book.

Like Alex Martin\’s first book, The Twisted Vine, Daffodils captivated me from the first page. I \”lived\” every minute of this book, her descriptive writing is wonderful. It made me laugh and cry and I didn\’t want it to end. Even the photo on the cover is special and such a clever choice.
All I can say is, please read this book – you will not be disappointed.

I love giving readers an emotional journey! Very satisfying.

Considering the title of my latest book, it seems only fair to donate all proceeds of any sales today to the Marie Curie Cancer Daffodil campaign.

This is the link to their site:

http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/


They are a site that provides nursing care for patients who have terminal cancer to be cared for in their own homes.  This provides respect, dignity and independence at a  very personal time.  My own experience of the death of my mother brought home the value of this type of work.  People like to do things their own unique way, including dying.

link to the book  

Alex Martin has crafted a wonderful story. I adored reading it and was replete with an ending that is completely right and satisfying . It\’s a rich feast of a book. The characters are vivid taking you on a fascinating journey. It\’s the kind of story you become so absorbed in nothing else matters. The twists and turns of the action are emotionally charged. I was up; I was down and all over the place breathless with anticipation of what was to come.
It\’s a sweeping tale that gives so much to the reader – insight into what life was like for Katy a young servant girl in the early part of the last century; dreadful suffering of so many young soldiers and the wounded of WW1 as well as life back home for families struggling to cope without their men folk. Katy leads the action and you\’ll find yourself chewing your lip, biting your nails and praying she makes the right decisions. What are the dilemmas she must wrestle with? You\’ll have to read the book to find out and believe me you\’ll read it again and again.

 

As you can well imagine, this first response is very welcome.

As more reviews come in, they will be posted here.

 

I\’m thrilled to announce the launch of Daffodils!
Spring is here, the daffodils are in bloom all around us and my book, Daffodils, is now live on www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com for purchase.

HERE\’S THE LINK!

Daffodils by Alex Martin http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BPUQAY4/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_alp_lDfprb0BVX4SP via @amazon

It\’s quite a long book – a juicy read – that you can get stuck into.  Plunge into the country life of Edwardian England as its social hierarchies are rent asunder by the global conflict of World War One. 
Follow the fortunes of Katy Beagle as she struggles with her restless nature within the confines of a Wiltshire village; then has to make decisions forced upon her by fate.  Ultimately Katy has to find her courage and true nature in the much bigger, and tougher, theatre of war.
The role of women was irreversibly changed at this pivotal time in our history, which has always fascinated me.  I love the Edwardian era.  It is often called the \’Golden Age\’ and considered to be a halcyon time but we forget how tough it could be for the lower orders; how hard it was to break free of the social class into which people were born.  Education was brief, even for the bright, and money tight.  Working hours were long and often tedious and poorly paid, even in big beautiful country houses.
I started writing this story long before Downton Abbey hit our screens and became so popular.  Its success confirmed my ideas that we often follow the fortunes of the rich and glamorous at dramatic times in history and the poorer echelons of society are often ignored, even though it is on their backs that the wealthy managed to survive.
Today Katy would have been a definite candidate for university and a career.  The women of that period were incredibly brave, hardworking and resourceful.  This is my salute to them, and the men who loved them.  That generation paid a huge price for our democratic freedom today.  This is my personal thank you.
And hopefully a rattling good story!

If you read this and enjoy Daffodils, I would love your feedback.  Please feel free to post a review on amazon if you like it.

Daffodils is now uploading on to Amazon. 
Not sure if the formatting is quite perfect but will check it tomorrow and redo if necessary. 
Then it\’s going to be live! 
This book has taken me ten years to write, off and on, so it\’s a very long term project. 
I can\’t quite believe it\’s finished!