Blog tour: The Very Happy Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) - Author Q&A with Kate Winter

Kate Winter's debut novel, The Very Happy Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) was released for kindle last summer but the paperback version of this FANTASTIC read is being released next week (May 21st).

I've previously posted my review of this book and now I'm so pleased to be able to welcome Kate to Little Northern Soul as part of the blog tour! 

1.  Hi Kate and welcome to Little Northern Soul! This is your debut novel, how have you found the writing & publishing experience so far?

Long! There was a big space in between when I approached my agent and the book actually getting signed. I'm not the most driven/ambitious person in the world (to say the least), I tend to get carried away with all kinds of different ideas that are hatching in my imaginarium at any given time, so I only sent off my manuscript to a few randomly chosen agents at the time, before I got distracted and frolicked off to write a story about ghosts on the radio. One was very interested but in the end they all passed, thinking the slightly bizarre elements of Rosie Potter RIP were a bit too much of a risk. So it went on the backburner and just kind of sat there singeing for THREE YEARS. Then I got a phone call out of the blue from LBA (my agents) and they were like "Ummmm... Can we have your book now?" I played hard to get, honest.

That's a complete lie. I said "Ermagherd YES PLEASE!" and the rest is history...

2.    Where did you get the idea for an afterlife theme?

I love fantasy. And I love romance. And I absolutely LOVE comedy. I wanted to write something that read like a kid's book, but for grown ups. You know the way, when your mum was reading to you as a kid and at the end of each chapter you'd be squealing "One more! I want to know what happens next!" ..? Well that's the angle I was going for! So it made sense to make it magical, a little supernatural, a little spooky. And I think we all harbour weird thoughts now and then about what would go on in the aftermath of our own death... Don't we?!

3.    What would be the first thing you’d do if you woke up and realised you were a ghost?

I'm pretty sure I'd have a bit of a temper tantrum, to be honest. And then I'd probably go about destroying all my journals and diaries somehow!

4.    Your style is engaging and funny – does comedy come naturally when you’re writing or do you have to think it through?

I shouldn't tell you this, but when I'm writing, I'm rarely thinking! It really does come very naturally, and it flows fast when I'm in the zone. It's just a matter of prioritising that time and energy and not getting distracted by boys and booze and shoes (my main vices in life - as I'm sure you can tell from my plotline). I tend to laugh out loud a lot while I'm writing funny scenes. It's a well known fact among my peers that I absolutely crack myself up.

5.    What’s your writing process – do you plot the story or just start writing? Do you prefer to write in the day or night?

I absolutely HATE working after dark. I will only do that if I have a serious deadline. And usually if I have to write in the evening, I'll treat myself to a nice long dinner in my favourite little Italian restaurant, and I'll drink wine and flirt with the waiters while I work, just to make it bearable.

In terms of my process, I certainly don't just start writing, dear lord that would be chaos with my flittery little box-of-junk brain. I tend to have a brilliant idea - an entire story can come to me in one tube journey (that happened and will be written at some stage, a tale of a naughty nymphomaniac fairy with pink hair who falls in love with a human boy) but then that story has to germinate in my head (my imaginarium) for as long as it takes before I can actually write it. Sometimes I try to start too early and it completely flops. That's annoying, but essentially, it's ok as I can just pop it back in the oven a while and hope it comes right in another year! 

When it's time, I write out several plans, each longer and more detailed than the other. Then bulletpointed sequence of events. Character profiles. Chapter breakdowns. And then I handwrite the entire novel before I ever type a word, which means it flows freely and I can completely edit the sh*te out of it when I finally sit down at my computer!

6.  Who is your favourite character from the book and why?

I should think that's obvious...! CHARLES WALKER with a spoon of sugar and a splash of cream, please and thank you. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make my characters come to life. I blame Charles for the fact that I am still single and holding out for a real man!

7.    Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Unless you love to write, don't do it. And never underestimate the importance of preparation. And don't write books if you want to be rich. 

8.    Finally, How would your best friend describe you?

She would tell you all kinds of embarrassingly lovely things about me, none of which are true. But she would also tell you that I'm much softer than people think upon first impressions and that I am bloody hilarious (but we know that I agree with her on that, at least). She'd say that I throw a great dinner party, that I dance like my mum  and that I should really try not to swear so much when I'm around children.

Thanks so much for being on the blog, Kate - it's been a blast! 

You can buy a copy of this fantastic book here  and make sure to keep an eye out for other stops on this blog tour - it's going to be a corker! 

Book review: Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley

I've just come up for air after being engrossed in Ivy Lane - a fabulous read that literally suits all seasons!

Firstly can I just mention the absolutely BEAUTIFUL cover? It truly is one of my favourites so far this year, it's so pretty. I just couldn't help but keep looking at it as it sat on my coffee table on the (very few) occasions it wasn't in my hands!

Ivy Lane was originally released for Kindle as a 4 book series, covering all seasons. It was so popular (and I can see why!) that in February it was released as a full book, pulling all the seasons together. I read the full book rather than the separate kindle versions and really, I'm quite pleased I did, as I don't think I'd have been able to wait between the seasons!

The book follows Tilly, who moves to a new village and takes on an allotment plot following the unexpected death of her Husband, James. In the small allotment community she finds a whole host of different personalities - there's Christine, the pushy but enthusiastic committee chair, Gemma - a loud & funny character who shares a plot with Tilly and Charlie - a handsome, quiet man who develops a soft spot for Tilly. That's just to name a few! The characters jump off the page and you become engrossed in their world - it made me want to pick up a trowel and shovel and join in the Ivy Lane community- they have such fun! I really have a soft spot for Tilly - I sympathised with her and willed her to make a start at a new, pain-free life. I find myself missing her already, she is an engaging, caring character that I really enjoyed finding out about.

My only hesitation when I picked up this book was that it would be too gardening-focused. I'm not very green fingered and didn't really want to read all about the best technique for growing potatoes or picking sweet peas. But actually, the gardening element really shows off Cathy's brilliance - there is enough detail to give you a great picture of the allotment, to know how Tilly struggles at first but then gets into it, and to build up a picture in your head of all the different fruits and vegetables brightening up the allotment (especially in the summer), but it isn't at all overwhelming. The story focuses more on the friendships and relationships throughout the allotment and the gardening plays an important part of that, but isn't drawn out or boring - I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed reading about carrots and apples!

The split-season element is brilliant and makes the story fast-paced, it's definitely one of my favourite things about this book and reflects Cathy's unique style. I love how the book literally transports you into the season you're reading. As I was reading Ivy Lane, it was Easter weekend and when I read the 'Spring' section of the book, I felt just like real life - Easter egg hunts were happening in my life AND in Ivy Lane and it made it engaging and realistic. Saying that, later on I was reading about a halloween party and then the annual Ivy Lane Christmas party, all whilst the sun was shining on the book as I read. Despite this, I still felt a part of the Christmas celebrations and it gave me a craving for a mince pie and glass of Baileys! Again, this really shows Cathy's brilliance in making a story and characters come alive.

There had been a lot of hype surrounding Ivy Lane and I can COMPLETELY see why. It is a fantastic read that has you drawn in from Spring to Winter! Cathy's latest series, Appleby Farm, is also split into 4 e-books (the first 3 are available to buy on amazon for a bargain 99p each!) This time I couldn't wait for the full book to be released - I've already downloaded the first three to my kindle to read and am eagerly awaiting part 4, which is out on May 4th.

Ivy Lane is a brilliant read whatever the season with an engaging host of characters and a wonderful location. I absolutely loved it, and it has firmly put Cathy on my radar and up there as one of my favourite authors - she is witty, creative and downright talented. 

Review: The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson

The unforgettable new novel from Lucy Robinson.

"Annie has a secret. But if she's not going to tell, we won't either. It's a heart-breaking secret she wishes she didn't have - yet Annie isn't broken, not quite yet. Especially now there's someone out there who seems determined to fix her.

Kate has run away. But she's not going to tell us why - that would defeat the point of running, wouldn't it? It's proving difficult to reinvent herself, however, with one person always on her mind.

Scratch beneath the surface and nobody is really who they seem. Even Annie and Kate, two old friends, aren't entirely sure who they are any more. Perhaps you can work it out, before their pasts catch up with them for good . . ."

Today is the day that the paperback version of The Day We Disappeared hits the shelves and you are in for an absolute treat. I had seen so many fantastic comments about this book flying around in blogs and on twitter that when it was released for E-book a fortnight ago I couldn't resist and purchased straight away. I can see what the fuss was about – this is an unpredictable read that I enjoyed from start to finish.

Being honest it’s quite difficult to review The Day We Disappeared without giving away the huge twist that leaves you gasping at the pages and reading as fast as you can to find out more. I was pleased I made the decision to start this book during a 3 hour train journey, as I couldn't put it down and finished it just as I pulled into my destination. This is definitely the kind of read you need to make time for as once you get a few chapters in, you won’t want to do anything else.

The story follows two friends- Annie and Kate who are both running away from their pasts and trying to start a new life. Annie is a masseuse struggling to earn a living in London when a handsome, wealthy business owner offers her a job proposition she can't refuse. Kate is starting a new life working at the stables of a well-known horse racer, trying to fumble her way through despite knowing next to nothing about horses. She is determined to leave her past behind her and have a fresh start.

 I love love loveeee Lucy's writing style – the story is fast-paced, witty and descriptive. I felt like I’d been transported to the very barn where Kate spends hours shovelling muck in her jodhpurs- I felt the cold, smelt the..... well, you get the idea, and sympathised at the grueling workload her and the team endure.

There are plenty of well-written, relatable characters in this book that all added a new depth to the engaging storyline. My firm favourites though were Tim -Annie’s life-long best friend and just the NICEST man in the world, with a big heart and caring nature, who would do absolutely anything for Annie. I also really liked Becca, a feisty Geordie who befriends and helps Kate through the tough process of adapting to life at a working stable.  

Lucy’s writing, for me, really stands out when she writes about Annie’s family dynamic. Annie’s family situation is far from perfect (I don’t want to outright say why as it spoils it, but once you find out why you’ll see what I mean). Despite this, the relationship she has with her Dad and sister Lizzie is really heart-warming and lovely and when they are together – such as at Christmas or visiting their Dad, the relationship jumps off the page. It made me think of my family and our relationship with each other, which I think is evidence of her fantastic writing ability- the relationships in this book are realistic and relatable which, to me, makes them jump off the page and stand out. 

I wasn't expecting it to, but this novel also explores the issue of mental health. Annie suffers from anxiety and is constantly worrying about small, little things that others wouldn't give a second thought about. Kate has 'bad shit' which follows her around and she wills to go away. Not only did this give another depth to the characters but, to me, it made them real. They weren't perfect fiction heroines in search of love, they were REAL women with real issues, who were trying to find themselves and make the most of their lives. The way Lucy tackles this throughout the story is great – there isn't the usual stigma attached to mental health that is so apparent in the news today but there is understanding, support from their friends and family and empathy- you really feel for them throughout the story, especially Annie, and you hope that she will overcome her fears and nerves to live the life she really wants to.

Friendship, love, taking chances and fighting those pesky demons or the 'bad shit' to make something of your life were the key elements to this story and I absolutely loved it. If you haven't got it already, GO GO GO! It is a must-read for 2015.  

You can buy the kindle or paperback release from Amazon and it truly is worth every penny. This is the first book I've read from Lucy Robinson, but after I finished this I swiftly purchased her back catalogue as I had to read more - she is amazingly talented and is now one of my firm favourite authors! 

Review: The Very Happy After-Life of Rosie Potter (RIP)

"Falling in love is never simple. Especially when you're dead.

When Rosie Potter wakes up one morning with what she assumes is the world's worst hangover, the last thing she expects is to discover that she's actually dead. With a frustrating case of amnesia, suspicious circumstances surrounding her untimely demise, and stuck wearing her ugliest flannel PJs, Rosie must figure out not only what happened last night, but why on earth she's still here."

First of all, can I just point out how PRETTY this cover is?! I absolutely love it. Anyway, I'm getting distracted... The Very Happy Afterlife of Rose Potter (RIP) follows Rosie, who wakes up one morning to discover that she is actually dead. She can’t remember how or why her dead body is on her bed, nor why she is still around to see her friends and family grieve.

It is a funny, heart warming book that I would thoroughly recommend.

Being honest, when I picked up this book I wondered how it would remain engaging throughout the story. As it follows Rosie, who is now a ghost, I thought that there would be limited interaction between her and the other characters and therefore it may be slow-paced and a bit too descriptive.

I am pleased to say I was wrong. Very wrong.

Although Rosie herself does have limited interaction with other characters, she keeps her eye on those closest to her which, to the audience, provides dialogue and exchanges between characters as well as amusing and touching scenes as she looks on. One of my favourite moments is when her parents, brother and Charles are sat talking about her ‘remember the time when she...’ and so on. As a reader, you have the dialogue and engagement between characters as they talk about Rosie, as well as having her reaction to their feelings and conversation.

Rosie is a really funny character who I loved from the very start. She takes the whole ‘being a ghost’ thing in her stride, using it to watch over her family and friends and also haunt her horrible ex-boyfriend, which creates some really funny scenes I won’t go into too much as I don’t want to spoil it. She is cheeky and mischievous in her new state, acting exactly how I would act if I woke up one day and found out I was a ghost – walking through walls, moving things around to confuse people and yelling loudly to see if people can hear (they can’t).

As well as the humorous parts of the story, you also sympathise with Rosie throughout, as she tries to deal with no longer being part of the world those closest to her occupy, and even though she is the one that has died, she grieves for what could have been and what is no longer, especially as she watches her loved ones grieve. This book shows grief and loss from a different perspective which makes it unique and even more enjoyable.

This is a fabulous, well written book that I became engrossed in. Once I picked it up, I was hesitant to put it down as I was intrigued as to how it would end. The ending itself didn't disappoint, in fact it was perfect. It surprised me that this is Kate’s debut, she is a very talented and engaging author and I’m already looking forward to whatever else she has in store for us!

The book is currently available in e-book from on Amazon, but is also due to be released in paperback form in May. You can follow Kate on Twitter @KatiCut