Q&A with author Isobel Hart

Welcoming Isobel Hart to So Many Books, So Little Time, author of Still Life, four other novels and currently writing the follow up to Still Life.





Thanks so much to Isobel for taking some time out to answer some questions for me. You can read my review for Still Life HERE.




Tell us about Still Life

Still Life is a romantic contemporary sci-fi. It tells the story of Samantha Davis; she’s clinging to the remnants of a broken relationship. After her boyfriend survives an accident – against expectations – he’s changed. For the better, some might say. The question is, why?


What made you genre switch?

I have always written pure adult contemporary romance up until now. And will again, I have no doubt. What Goes Around Comes Around and Full Circle are part of a 2-book series, Compromise Agreement is a standalone. Still Life may be a bit different but it’s written in the style of a contemporary romance. Pure Sci-fi fans will find it too light on the science, I imagine. What they have in common is real women, flaws and all. I didn’t consciously genre switch – I’ve always read across a wide variety of genres – I just wrote the story that was shouting loudest at the time. I still think it will appeal most to people who like romance.


When I picked up the book I thought Still Life was going to be very Sci Fi, it is more a mix of romance, relationships, abuse with mild sci fi themes, was this your vision for the book?

Yes, absolutely. It was always about Samantha – a very ordinary woman – who finds herself caught up in events. Her relationships are at the heart of the story. Her reactions, whether you agree with her choices or not, are the lens through which the story is told. I intended to make it plausible – this is a recognisable world on the brink of change.


How is the next in the series coming on and due for release?

I’m writing it now – all being well, I’d like to get it out early 2019. If possible, before.


I enjoyed the sci fi aspect of the book, will book two be more focused on that thread of the story or more relationship focus with mild sci fi themes?

I intend to answer the questions about the virus, but ultimately Still Born will be about Sam, and how she copes in the circumstances she finds herself in.


Rape and abuse are in the book but not given a lot of coverage, almost covered in passing, was this intentional. Did you feel this was important to include?

The story is told through Sam’s eyes – she’s not been exposed directly to the atrocities herself, only aware it’s been happening. Also, the timeline of events is relatively short – they’re in survival mode at the moment. They haven’t had much time to reflect on everything. That will come.


Which did you enjoy writing more, your previous books or this?

That’s like asking which of my children I love more! I love writing every book, there is space in my heart for all of them. This one seems to be more polarising in its appeal – you’ll either enjoy the rollercoaster, or hate it. I still love it.


How many more books do you see in the series?

Originally, I thought it would be a trilogy – now, I think there will only be 2 books. I intend to complete the story in the next book.


Where can fans find you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isobelhartbooks/<br />
Website: www.isobelhartsbooks.com

Twitter: @bellahartloves

Anything else you would like to answer that I haven’t asked?


Just thank you for reading, and reviewing. Bloggers are our lifeblood. I’m immensely grateful


And if all of this isn't enough to spoil you I am offering up my pre loved copy of Still Life, it is in perfect condition AND signed by the author. It is a bit chunky at over 400 pages so this one I will keep UK only, sorry guys.


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Q&A with author Jackie Baldwin

Thanks to Jackie for taking the time out to answer my questions and sending healing vibes your way xxx


How did you get the writing bug?

From the encouragement given to me by my teacher in primary 3, I think. She loved my stories and also put on a little play I wrote at the end of term. Her parting shot to me was that I should be a writer when I grew up. The seed just grew from there.


Where did the idea for Dead Man’s Prayer come from?

I suppose with your first book in particular you write the book you want to read so I threw a lot of stuff in there that I’ve always been interested in like twins, the corrosive nature of guilt, the ‘otherness’ of Catholic priests, our capacity for redemption and the devastation wrought by mental illness.


Religion plays a big part in the story, what made you go for this theme?

I attended the local Benedictine Convent in Dumfries from the age of five. Although the nuns themselves were lovely, back then Catholic education was quite extreme for an imaginative, impressionable child with a literal mind and it had a profound effect on me. At the age of eight I would lie awake agonising about whether I would be brave enough not to walk over the crucifix if the ‘Commies’ burst into my class and held a gun to my head. I would sit in my bedroom having called down God to one side of the wardrobe and the Devil to the other and try and get them to reconcile to bring about world peace. I also developed the habit of walking with my eyes cast down in case I looked up and saw the words, ‘Thou shalt be a nun!’ writ large in the sky, as you don’t get to say ‘no’ to God. I suppose all that guilt and angst had to bubble to the surface some time, hence the arrival of DI Farrell. Also, I felt that such a character offered the reader something a little different.


Do you see this being a long series?

I honestly have no idea as I think that will be determined by readers, rather than me. I certainly have plenty of ideas. The arrival of Police (Scotland) rather lobbed a grenade at crime writers who set their books in more rural areas. The second book in the series is set just before it comes into being but if I write a third I will require to have DI Farrell and DS McLeod based in the central belt and send them down as part of an investigative team. However, I feel that new dynamic would keep things fresh and provide plenty of scope for conflict so I would relish the challenge.


What are you currently writing?

I have just finished the second DI Farrell novel. The next thing I write is going to be something completely different and will be set in the Highlands.


Do you have any rituals or quirks you need to do before starting or finishing writing?

No, not really. I do seem to be able to shift industrial quantities of biscuits and coffee while I am writing though. I think it’s about procrastination as much as anything else. I’m about to start a new health and fitness regime though so I will have to learn to embrace my inner raw carrot instead.


Who is your go to author?

I like to read a variety of books. When I was younger I would become crazy for one author at a time and binge read all their books to the point that I would put myself off which was really annoying. I would say that on the crime front, my favourite author at the moment is Susie Steiner as I loved her book ‘Missing Presumed.’


What is your favourite/most recommended book?

‘The Rosie Project’ by Graeme Simsion.


Where can fans find you?

I am on Twitter @JackieMBaldwin1 I have a Facebook Page at Jackie Baldwin Author and a website at www.jackiebaldwin.co.uk I love to hear from people. Writing can be a lonely business.


Anything else you would like to add I may have missed?

I would just like to thank you for having me on your blog, Lainey. It’s been fun!





And if it isn't enough bringing you a Q&AI am offering up my pre-loved copy as a giveaway. As always enter via the rafflecopter (below), open to all. Good luck and thanks for stopping by xxx


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Bad Blood by Julie Shaw Blog Tour

Today is my turn on the Blog Tour for Bad Blood by Julie Shaw, her newest novel which is now available to buy in paperback or kindle edition.





I have had the pleasure of reading this book already, you can read my review here.







Welcome Julie, thanks for stopping by and taking the time out to answer some questions for us.



1. Hi Julie, welcome to So Many Books So Little Time. This is your first Blog Tour if I am correct, how are you finding it?

I am really enjoying it. It’s especially interesting to answer the numerous questions I have been asked as it gets me really thinking about why I write the things I do.


2. I have read one of your books before Bad Blood, your settings are always in lower class gritty scheme settings, what draws you to these and do you think you will ever branch out from them?

I was actually brought up in very similar circumstances to a lot of my characters. By that I mean on the same estates, had very similar friends, and had family members who lived through very difficult circumstances. Since being very young I have tried my hand at all genres, and many different styles of writing, but I’m much more comfortable writing about the grittier, seedier side of life. Will I branch out? Maybe, I don’t know at the moment, but what I do know is that I feel much happier writing about the tougher side of life.


3. The character Lizzie, page 30 had me horrified, without spoiling it for others, how did you manage to come up with her and that scene? Creative genius or tapping into a true event?

Oh dear, unfortunately I have known many Lizzie’s in my time. Her character is an amalgamation of quite a few women I knew over the years. That scene was also easy to write as that was very definitely a true scenario, believe it or not.


4. Who inspires you to write?

Lots of people actually. As a child I would lose myself in any books I could get my hands. A story took me away from everything and I could be anyone and anywhere I wanted to be. If I had to choose an early writer that made me think ‘yes! I want to do this!’ then it would have to be Enid Blyton – I thought she was simply incredible. These days however, my hero is Kimberley Chambers. Her characters are so bad, I just love them! Now she really does tell it like it is!


5. What are your three top favourite books of all time?

I hate this question J I have so many that I love and I always feel horribly guilty about the ones I don’t mention. Also, my answer may surprise you. Okay, so the number one spot has to go to Mr Shakespeare himself with Romeo and Juliet. My first ever tragic love story. I was blown away by it. The number two spot would go to Roots by Alex Haley – another book that helped form my opinion on the world, and last but not least, They Put Me Inside by Tony Grestone – a book I read as a young teenager that really did change me.



6. What is next for Julie Shaw? Do you have another book in the process already?

I have just handed in Blood Sisters, which I’m sure you’ll like if you enjoyed Bad Blood, and I am just about to start writing a sequel to Bad Blood in fact. We don’t have a definite title for it yet, but I’m hoping it will be Sins of the Father. Watch this space J


7. Where can fans find you?

Facebook is simply Julie Shaw, though I also have a page especially relating to my books, and that is Canterbury Warriors. My Twitter is @jueshaw


8. Anything else you would like to add or tell readers about yourself?

I think I have gone on for long enough lol, but I do really appreciate all of my readers and particularly you fantastic bloggers who spread the word. Thanks again J xx



And up for grabs is 1 paperback pre-loved copy of Bad Blood, as always, use the Rafflecopter below to enter, this giveaway will run for 1 week.

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