Showing posts with label Corgi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corgi. Show all posts

Friday, 5 August 2016

A Bit of Ava Marsh - an Author in the Spotlight Q&A

I would like to welcome Ava Marsh to my blog today, as my Author in the Spotlight. Find out more about Ava's writing day, likes, dislikes and bucket list holiday destination. Ava's second book, Exposure, was published by Transworld/Corgi on 16 June 2016.




When you are not writing how do you spend a day?
I’m one of those people who obsessively makes lists of things to do, then sits around on the internet not doing anything much. If the road to hell really is paved with good intentions, then I am well and truly damned. 
I read a lot, and try to catch C4 News every day, but I’m aware I spend too much time in my own head. I’m a terrible social media addict, and spend about half of every day checking my notifications and debating things online – that has got a lot worse since Brexit and British politics went into freefall. I do try and get outdoors as much as I can, even if it’s just for a stroll. I keep meaning to take up meditation and give my monkey mind a rest, but of course I never get round to it.

Have you ever seen anyone reading/buying a copy of your book 'in the wild'?
No! This is literally one of my greatest ambitions. I have seen a few photos of my books in shops, pictures that people have been kind enough to send me, so I make do with that.

If your bucket list could only contain a single holiday destination where would it be?
New York. I will never ever get tired of New York.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The Lady in the Van, starring Maggie Smith. Loved it. I can’t get enough of Alan Bennett.

Which concert/theatre production (from any place or time) do you really wish you could have attended?
The opening ceremony at the 2012 London Olympics. I have almost zero interest in sport, and next to no sense of patriotism, so I wasn’t going to bother watching it on the telly. Then my partner persuaded me to watch the first half an hour. Cue me sobbing through the whole thing. I was absolutely blown away, and it’s about the only time I can recall feeling truly proud of my country.

What is your favourite meal?
Gawd… have had to really think about this one. I’m not much of a foodie, to be honest, but probably fish and chips sitting outside at Nick’s Seafood Restaurant, overlooking Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour in Sydney.

Which book(s) has made the best transition to a film/tv series?
I was really impressed with the film version of Room, which I loved as a book.

If you had to select a reality TV show to appear on which would it be?
Oh god. I hardly watch them, to be honest, though had a Big Brother addiction back in the day. It would have to be something where I couldn’t make too much of an arse of myself. Actually, I can’t think of anything worse than appearing on one. I’m going to have to pass!

Recommend one book but not one of your own.
The Master and Margarita by Mixhael Bulgakov. Sheer genius.

Describe yourself in three words.
Short. Gobby. Opinionated.



About Ava Marsh
Ava Marsh grew up in Margate, Kent. A former broadsheet journalist, she now works freelance in the charity sector and writes novels.
Ava lives in Battersea, London. Her hobbies include running, kayaking and photography.
Her first novel – UNTOUCHABLE – is now out now with Transworld in the UK and Berkley in the US/Canada.
Her second – EXPOSURE – follows in June 2016.

Find Ava Marsh on her website, on her Facebook page and on Twitter - @MsAvaMarsh

Exposure
By Ava Marsh
Published by Transworld/Corgi (16 June 2016)
ISBN: 978-0552171212



Publisher's description
Kitty Sweet isn’t like anyone you’ve ever met before.

She’s an infamous porn star, imprisoned for double murder. As damaged as she is charismatic, as dangerous as she is charming.

But once no different from you or I.

Kitty’s past is full of heartbreak and desperation, of adulation and glamour. Of ruin. She’s descended to an underworld most people can only imagine, and lived to tell the tale . . .

This is her story.

Buy Exposure from Amazon here


Read my review of Untouchable here. Review of Exposure coming soon.

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly

Keep Your Friends Close
By Paula Daly
Published by Corgi - Transworld (Paperback - 21 May 2015)
ISBN: 978-0552169349



Publisher's description
You've been friends since university, when you became the people you are today.

You don't see each other enough but when you do it's as if you've never been apart.

She's one of the family. You would trust her with your life, your children, your husband.

And when your daughter is rushed to hospital, you're grateful that she's stepping in at home, looking after things.

But your best friend isn't who you think she is. You're about to find out just how wrong you were.

My verdict
Keep Your Friends Close is a great psychological thriller and I was absorbed into the story straight away. I was completely gripped and read the book in a couple of hours during one quiet Saturday afternoon.

Natty and Sean think they have a happy marriage until her old university friend Eve decides to pay them a visit. When their teenage daughter Felicity is suddenly taken ill in France, Natty rushes to be by her side - leaving Sean and Eve together at the family home with Felicity's older sister Alice. That's when things go horribly wrong.

Eve is a nasty piece of work. As a result, the book brought several of my emotions to the surface. I shouted (in my mind) at Natty when she told Sean to stay behind with Eve - and then shouted (again in my mind) at Sean too, as it all started to go horribly wrong. I then shouted 'yes' (out loud this time) right at the very end of the book, although I did feel a bit guilty (and worryingly evil) for doing so.

I felt sorry for the two teenagers, who were caught in the middle of the family upheaval and were already a little neglected by both of their hard-working parents. But I did feel that Paula Daly portrayed their teenage angst very well. Sean was a bit too quick to abandon his seemingly happy life with his family, but I guess that may have been down to Eve's highly manipulative influence.

I enjoyed being reunited with DC Joanne Aspinall and her mad aunt Jackie, who appeared in Paula Daly's first novel 'Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?'. I thought it was particularly good that these two characters didn't take over the plot, as this meant that the story could focus on the family instead.

Keep Your Friends Close is a fast-paced read, and I look forward to Paula Daly's next book - The Mistake I Made - which is being published in August 2015.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.