YouTube video of 'Catching the Eagle'

18/05/2012

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YouTube video of 'Catching the Eagle'

  1. Fantastic News!

    Earlier this year, genes reunited encouraged me to make a promotional video about my novel, Catching the Eagle which is, of course, based on the true story of our criminal ancestor. I have been a member of genesreuinted since 2003. Their organisation helped me to research our family history and uncover valuable information about the main characters, Jamie, William and Cilla Charlton.

    Thanks to lot of help from the wonderful (and very patient) Dave Cocks of Redcar RNLI, I made a video and now genes reunited have linked it to their website for their eleven million members.

    On top of this, they are posting the news on their face book page on Saturday. I would be really grateful if anyone with a face book account could leave a comment beneath the post when it appears in order to keep it near the top of the page. Thanks a lot.

    Face book page for Saturday: http://www.facebook.com/genesreunited

    You can view the video on YouTube by following the link below.
  2.  Enjoy!

  3. "Catching the Eagle - How one family's true crime past became a novel"
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A FREE Bumper Sack of Summer Reads

13/05/2012

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A FREE Bumper Sack of Summer Reads

FREE books for your summer beach read!

I am taking part in a promotion with eight other novelists.  We are offering book lovers the chance to win signed copies of our novels to enjoy beside the pool.

The promotion runs from 7 May to 11 June 2012.
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 Nine writers from Ireland, Britain, France and Spain have banded together to offer some lucky person a chance to win ‘A Bumper Sack of Summer Reads.’  

Simply go to author Kristin Gleeson’s website, www.kristingleeson.com and leave a message that mentions ‘Bumper Sack of Summer Reads’ and you could be the lucky winner! 

But hurry!  This fabulous offer only runs between 7th May and 11th June 2012.
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‘What better treat for book lovers than a FREE sack of books?’ says Kristin Gleeson, the offer’s coordinator.  ‘It reminds me of going to the library when I was young, coming back with a pile of books and taking ages to decide which one to read first.  It was like a feast for me.’  Her own book, Selkie Dreams, an historical novel set in 19th Century Belfast and Alaska is one of the books included.
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The sack contains a wide variety of books and there should be something for everyone to enjoy.  For a wet weekend or a day on the beach, the thriller, Mrs. Jones by B.A. Morton (second prize winner at the Yeovil Literary Festival) offers a gripping pacey read about a New York cop and an English woman who witnesses a murder.
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For historical thriller lovers there’s Gallow’s Curse, by Karen Maitland, set in Medieval England. The year is  1210 and King John has seized control of the Church.  In the village of Gastmere  Elena, a servant girl, is dragged into a conspiracy to absolve the sins of the manor.

 

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Or if political intrigue and romance ticks boxes for you, Jean Gill’s Song at Dawn, set in 12th Century Provence is just the ticket.  Love, music and political intrigue surround Estela in the royal court of Narbonne.
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Garden fans, especially tulip lovers, might enjoy The Chosen Man by J.G. Harlond, set against the backdrop of the great ‘tulip fever,’ in the 17th Century, when the price of tulip bulbs might fetch more than a rare gem.  
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Dave Evardson offers a book for fantasy lovers with The Fenwold Riddle. Brave young Marshal Dominic Bradley is charged with finding a way through the impenetrable wall that encloses the land of Fenwold. 

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Runner- up for the McKitterick Prize and BBC Radio 4 programme ‘A Good Read’ selection, Frances Kay’s gripping novel, Micka is about two boys who take a game to dangerous ends. 
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Those who like a bit of supernatural spice to their reading would love Moonyeen Blakey’s The Assassin’s Wife, a tale of a young woman seer whose vision of two princes in the tower leads her into danger.  
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And last but not least, check out my own historical novel Catching the Eagle, based on the true story of our regency ancestor who was at the centre of Northumberland’s most notorious miscarriage of justice.

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Returning to the 'scene of the crime'

12/05/2012

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Returning to the 'scene of the crime'

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Last month, I was invited to give a talk and a Power Point presentation at Kirkley Hall - the 'scene of the crime' in Catching the Eagle. Malcolm Watson, Chairman of the Friends of Kirkley Hall kindly organised this fabulous event. To my delight, over fifty people turned up to learn about the novel and the research behind it. I still find it amazing that people are prepared to pay hard cash just to hear about the true story behind Catching the Eagle.

Apart from the Friends of Kirkley Hall I also met John Turner from the Ponteland Local History Society. John helped me with the early research into the life and crimes of Jamie Charlton. Thanks, John.
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At the book signing afterwards, several guests told me that they suspected they were descended from other characters in the novel, including: the landlady of the Seven Stars public house, 'Ma Shotton,' and Michael Aynsley's floozy, 'Lottie MacDonald.' However, I was glad that no-one in the audience stood up and announced that they were desended from my villain, Michael Aynsley. I haven't been very kind to the Kirkley Hall steward in Catching the Eagle and this could be a very tricky situation if it ever arose.
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Then I discovered that the current owners of North Carter Moor farm (the home of William Charlton) were also at the event. Now this was a scary moment, too. Last summer, Chris and I went to the farm to introduce ourselves and ask permission to take some photographs. Unfortunately, no one was at home so we were cheeky, stalked around the boundaries and took loads of photographs anyway. We did push an explanatory note through the farm's letterbox, in case any of their neighbours later reported suspicious burglarious activity. (You can never tell with us Charltons.)
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Chatting with the guests
I completely forgot all about this little escapade of ours until Mr. and Mrs. Potts introduced themselves to me at Kirkley Hall. Startled, my first thought was that they had come to serve me a writ for trespass. Fortunately, they just wanted me to sign their copy of the novel. Lovely people. Everyone was very kind and hospitable and the whole event was a fabulous night out for me.
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'Mrs. Jones' by B.A. Morton

10/05/2012

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'Mrs. Jones' by B. A. Morton

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I've finally found time for some reading for pleasure and thoroughly enjoyed losing myself in B. A. Morton's Mrs. Jones.

The story of a New York cop and an English woman who witnesses a murder, Mrs. Jones is a gripping thriller and delightful love story rolled into one.  Fast-paced and steaming with sexual tension, the plot has more twists and turns than a staircase in a  Big Apple  skyscraper and leaves you feeling  just as breathless at the end.   There's a surprise around every corner as maverick cop, Tommy Connell, tries to solve the mysteries of the murder, the missing money and the cute, little woman from England.

Occasionally, I worried about  the lack of judgement shown by the impulsive Connell (especially, when he led the bad guys back to his family home.)  But I was so gripped with the plot and the characters that I just had to see it through and find out why everyone - including Connell - were so desperate to get their hands on the delightful Mrs. Jones.

The novel left us brilliantly poised for a sequel - for which I can hardly wait.
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