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Monday 31 December 2018

Reading Round-Up: Nov/Dec 2018

books, reading-round-up, the-writing-greyhound

Can you believe we've already reached the end of another year? I certainly can't!

In amongst all the festivities and seasonal cheer, it seems apt to end the year with my final reading round-up of 2018, featuring all the bookish happenings from the last two months.

Saturday 29 December 2018

2018: My Year in Review

life-is-an-adventure, 2018

What a year 2018 has been! It feels as though the past year has zoomed by in a flash; I've definitely packed a lot into the last twelve months. Despite that, I still feel as though it's important to stop for a minute and look back on my achievements of the last year.

This will be my fourth annual round-up post here on The Writing Greyhound and every year, I really enjoy remembering great memories and the best bits of the year. 2017 was a real high for me, but did 2018 manage to continue the upward trend? Let's find out!

Thursday 27 December 2018

My Top 5 Books of 2018

my-top-five-books-of-2018

So we're almost at the end of another year, and while I can't quite believe that 2018 is very nearly over, the close of the month means that it's time for one of my favourite round-ups of the year!

Following in the footsteps of last year, I've decided to continue my self-imposed tradition of doing an annual round-up here on The Writing Greyhound, featuring my top five books of the year.

My top five books of 2017 were a bit of a mixture, so let's see what 2018 had in store for me!

Tuesday 18 December 2018

Interview: Amelia Hendrey

what-nobody-knew, amelia-hendrey, book

It's time for my final author interview of the year and what better way to round off a fantastic year of Q&As than with Amelia Hendrey? Someone with an important story to share, Amelia has kindly agreed to tell all to readers of The Writing Greyhound.

Tuesday 11 December 2018

Interview: Beth Burgess

instant-wisdom, beth-burgess, book

It's time to take a break from my usual author interviews with writers of fiction. Instead, join me in welcoming Beth Burgess to The Writing Greyhound! Beth is a therapist-turned-writer and she is here to share all the details of Instant Wisdom, her latest self-help book. Read on to find out more!

Monday 10 December 2018

Welcome to Our Home: My Workspace

workspace, study, my-room, house, home

I want to start this post with a big thank you to those of you who have been following along with my feature introducing our new home. This is the last post in the series, but it's probably the one that most of you have been waiting to see! 

Today, I'm opening up the doors to our home for the final time (for now, at least) and giving you a unique insight into my study and my personal workspace. This is the one room in the house that I had complete free reign over, so I'm excited to hear what you make of it.

Friday 7 December 2018

Welcome to Our Home: Bedroom

bedroom, house, home

Bedrooms should be peaceful, welcoming places where you can easily relax and unwind. Although our bedroom is quite small, it's still super important to get the right atmosphere in this room - probably more so than anywhere else in the house.

In the fourth instalment of my feature introducing you to our home, I'm letting you take a sneak peek inside our bedroom to see how we've got it decorated!

Thursday 6 December 2018

Discover Coffee Your Way with Dog & Hat

dog-and-hat, coffee-subscription-box

AD* | Over recent years, I have begun to drink more and more coffee. From chocolatey mochas to milky lattes and, occasionally, a stronger coffee, drinking coffee has become an almost daily occurrence for me. So, when the lovely folk over at Dog & Hat got in touch, I was more than ready to jump at the opportunity!

Wednesday 5 December 2018

Book Review: This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Last Updated: 6 September 2021

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure book cover

AD* | Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love - messy, inconvenient love - is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother.


Tuesday 4 December 2018

Interview: Emily Harvale

bells-and-bows-on-mistletoe-row, emily-harvale, book, blog-tour

Now that we're in December, it's time for Christmas content galore! To keep the festive tradition going strong, this week's author interview is suitably themed.

Today is my stop on the blog tour for the wonderfully magical Bells and Bows on Mistletoe Row by the lovely Emily Harvale. Emily was kind enough to take some time out from her Christmas shopping to sit down for a chat with me about all things festive! So, pour yourself a hot chocolate, sit back and enjoy!

Monday 3 December 2018

How to Make Your Hair Christmas Party Ready

hair, products, shampoo, conditioner, serum

AD* | December is here and that means there is only one thing on everyone's minds - Christmas!

However, the festive season brings a whole range of special occasions, parties and events that you need to dress up for, despite the cold weather. From the office Christmas party to a more relaxed annual gathering with the family, here are my top tips and tricks to make sure that your hair is Christmas party ready this season!

Friday 30 November 2018

Welcome to Our Home: Living Room

home, living-room

It's time to share another part of our home with you, and today, I'm giving you the opportunity to check out our living room. This is one of the most used rooms in our whole house, so it was important to make it warm, comfortable and welcoming for us and our visitors. How did we go about achieving this?

Wednesday 28 November 2018

Book Review: Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy

Last Updated: 6 September 2021

Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy book cover

Clara Casey has more than enough on her plate. Her daughters Adi and Linda were no problem during the usually turbulent teens. Now Adi is always fighting for or against something: the environment or the whale or battery farming; while Linda lurches from one unsatisfactory relationship to the next. As if this wasn't enough, Clara, a senior cardiac specialist, has a new job to cope with - and now her ex-husband wants something from her...

For Ania, meeting Clara Casey is a miracle. She never intended to leave Poland - but perhaps a new job in a new country will mend her broken heart? Declan is looking forward to joining the clinic - but what should have been a straightforward six-month posting brings him far more than he expected.

Then there's Father Brian Flynn, whose life is turned upside down when his reputation is threatened; and the beautiful, cheerful nurse, Fiona, who can't leave her troubled past behind...


Tuesday 27 November 2018

Interview: Sarah Fisher

the-13th-key, sarah-fisher, book

It's no secret that I've always had a soft spot for Young Adult fiction, so I'm super excited to be welcoming YA author Sarah Fisher to The Writing Greyhound! Sarah sat down with me for a chat about her writing and gave me a special insight into her novel The 13th Key. Read on to find out more!

Monday 26 November 2018

Welcome to Our Home: Kitchen

kitchen, dining-room, house, home

I absolutely loved taking the opportunity to welcome you to our home a few weeks ago, so today, I'm sharing our kitchen and dining area with you all. This space was one of the areas that we were keen to make some key changes to, so I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

Friday 23 November 2018

Christmas 2018 Gift Guide: For Her

AD* | I don't know about you, but I can't believe that we're so close to Christmas already! With just over a month left until the big day, I'm seriously starting to think about the gifts I want to get for the special people in my life this year.

So, if you're beginning to worry about finding the perfect gift, I've put together a selection featuring a few of my favourite ideas for her this Christmas. From mouth-watering foodie gifts to novelty stocking fillers, there's sure to be something for everyone!

Thursday 22 November 2018

Cover Reveal: The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes

the-blameless-dead, michael-jenkins, book, cover-reveal

I love a good cover reveal! Today, I am super excited to be able to show you the wonderful new cover for The Blameless Dead by author Gary Haynes. It's hot off the press - but do you love it as much as I do?

Wednesday 21 November 2018

Walking in the Footsteps of a Serial Killer: The Jack the Ripper Tour

the-jack-the-ripper-tour

History has always been a big interest of mine, especially when it comes to learning more about my own country’s past. I love delving into the pages of history books and allowing the characters who populate the pages to come to life – it’s the perfect opportunity to learn from the past as well as broaden your own knowledge.

So, when I was invited along on a special media-only tour following in the footsteps of the infamous Jack the Ripper, there was only ever going to be one answer!

Tuesday 20 November 2018

Interview: Sebastiano Lanza

that-which-must-happen, sebastiano-lanza, book

I am pleased to be welcoming literary fiction author Sebastiano Lanza to The Writing Greyhound today! Keep on reading to find out more about his writing process, inspiration, and novel That Which Must Happen.

Monday 19 November 2018

New Season Sleepwear with Hunkemoller

hunkemoller, doutzen-stories, sleepwear, style

AD* | The nights are properly drawing in and the weather is getting colder - you know what that means? Cosy nights in, snuggled up on the sofa wearing your favourite loungewear and sleepwear! However, sleepwear doesn't have to be dull - I've teamed up with European fashion brand Hunkemoller to show you that sleepwear can be just as stylish as the rest of your wardrobe!

Sunday 18 November 2018

Is Long-Term Travel Right for Your Life?

AD* | Long-term travel is something many of us dream about. When we are tired of the rat race and bored of our regular surroundings, the thought of taking time out to cross destinations off our travel bucket list is a wonderful one. But is it realistic? Is it an ideal that we can accomplish, or is it just a pipe dream? I can't answer for you, but I do have some pointers to help your thinking.

Friday 16 November 2018

Welcome to Our Home!

home, house, hallway, entrance

The fact that my partner and I bought our first home together earlier this year shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given that it's pretty much all I've been talking about all year! However, now we've been living here for six months, got settled in and got (mostly) all the initial decorating and maintenance tasks sorted, it's about time I invited you in for a look around!

Thursday 15 November 2018

Every Country is Special

around-the-world-in-575-songs, nick-wall, book, music

Today I have an exciting guest post to share with you all, courtesy of author Nick Wall. His book Around the World in 575 Songs features two of my favourite things (music and travel) so I'm thrilled to be able to welcome Nick to The Writing Greyhound!

Wednesday 14 November 2018

Book Review: Cat Wisdom by Neil Somerville

Last Updated: 6 September 2021

Cat Wisdom by Neil Somerville book cover

Many a domestic cat leads a good life. Pampered, well-fed and often the centre of much attention, the cat is skilful in getting its own way.

In this fascinating and fun book, you can discover many of the cats’ secrets, which you too can use to great effect.


Discover how to...

  • Make the most of chances
  • Create a good impression
  • Be more persuasive
  • Make better use of strengths
  • As well as get more pleasure out of your day... and life.

Tuesday 13 November 2018

Interview: Michael Jenkins

the-failsafe-query, michael-jenkins, book, blog-tour

I am over the moon to be on the blog tour for the exciting new thriller The Failsafe Query by Michael Jenkins! For my blog tour stop, I grabbed five minutes with Michael to find out all about the book, his writing process, and the road to publication.

Monday 12 November 2018

Touring Highgate Cemetery: A Day Out with a Difference

highgate-cemetery, london, travel

This post has been a while in the making (given that I visited back in August!) but I am super excited to share all the details of my summer trip to North London to take a tour of the iconic Highgate Cemetery. From famous graves to outstanding funerary architecture, inspired by everyone from the Romans to the Egyptians, find out why I believe that this Victorian masterpiece is a true hidden gem.

Friday 9 November 2018

Event Review: NFL International Series - Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars

nfl, london, wembley-stadium, american-football, jacksonville-jaguars, philadelphia-eagles

This autumn I continued the tradition I have developed over recent years in going to watch NFL International Series games in London. This year, I opted for just one game - the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars!

Thursday 8 November 2018

Proud to Write Romance

fierce-grace, jess-b-moore, book, blog-tour

It's all too easy for genre writers to be labelled and pigeon-holed - often before a reader has even picked up their book! Today, I'm on the blog tour for Fierce Grace by Jess B. Moore, with the author sharing her own honest account of the prejudices and common misconceptions she has been faced with by choosing to write romance fiction. Read on to discover why Jess is unashamedly proud to be a romance writer!

Wednesday 7 November 2018

Book Review: The Fifth to Die by J.D. Barker

Last Updated: 6 September 2021

The Fifth to Die by J.D. Barker book cover

AD* | In the thrilling sequel to The Fourth Monkey, a new serial killer stalks the streets of Chicago, while Detective Porter delves deeper into the dark past of the Four Monkey Killer.

Detective Porter and the team have been pulled from the hunt for Anson Bishop, the Four Monkey Killer, by the feds. When the body of a young girl is found beneath the frozen waters of Jackson Park Lagoon, she is quickly identified as Ella Reynolds, missing three weeks. But how did she get there? The lagoon froze months earlier. More baffling? She’s found wearing the clothes of another girl, missing less than two days. While the detectives of Chicago Metro try to make sense of the quickly developing case, Porter secretly continues his pursuit of 4MK, knowing the best way to find Bishop is to track down his mother. When the captain finds out about Porter’s activities, he’s suspended, leaving his partners Clair and Nash to continue the search for the new killer alone.

Obsessed with catching Bishop, Porter follows a single grainy photograph from Chicago to the streets of New Orleans and stumbles into a world darker than he could have possibly imagined, where he quickly realizes that the only place more frightening than the mind of a serial killer is the mind of the mother from which he came.


Tuesday 6 November 2018

Interview: AnneMarie Brear

the-promise-of-tomorrow, annemarie-brear, book, blog-tour

I am thrilled to be partaking in the blog tour for The Promise of Tomorrow, a fantastic historical fiction book from author AnneMarie Brear. For my stop on the blog tour, I sat down for a chat with AnneMarie, finding out more about her life, the book, and her passion for writing.

Thursday 1 November 2018

Stand and Stare

the-blue-bench, paul-marriner, book

I am happy to be welcoming author Paul Marriner to The Writing Greyhound today, especially since he has put together such a thoughtful, insightful post to share with you all. Read on to hear more from Paul!

Wednesday 31 October 2018

Reading Round-Up: Sept/Oct 2018

john-le-carre, books

Autumn is well underway and it seems almost unbelievable that Halloween is here again so soon! The last two months have been all about self-care and focusing on myself, which inevitably has meant more books - read on to find out all the bookish action from September and October.

Tuesday 30 October 2018

Interview: Susanna Rogers

parallax-error, susanna-rogers, book

It's time for another author interview and this week, I'm welcoming Susanna Rogers to The Writing Greyhound! Keep on reading to find out more about Susanna, her writing, and her book Parallax Error.

Thursday 25 October 2018

Interview: Malcolm Welshman

an-armful-of-animals, malcolm-welshman, book, blog-tour

I'm welcoming author Malcolm Welshman to The Writing Greyhound today for a chat about his book An Armful of Animals. Discover more about Malcolm as he shares his experiences and stories about a motley selection of memorable animals that all made an impact on him!

Tuesday 23 October 2018

The Writing Greyhound Interviews the Three Hour Dad

three-hour-dad, book

Intrigued by the title of this post? You aren't the only one, as I too was interested to hear more about the self-titled '3 Hour Dad' when he approached the blog. Adam is one man with an incredible story to tell, so without further ado, let's jump straight into the interview!

Monday 22 October 2018

Theatre Review: War Horse at the Milton Keynes Theatre

I have wanted to see the stage production of War Horse for years, ever since I first heard that it would soon be coming to the West End. I watched the film (a definite must-watch, by the way) and was lucky enough to attend the War Horse-themed prom at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall a few years ago. So when I heard that the production was doing a UK tour and was coming to Milton Keynes, I knew it would be rude not to go along!

Thursday 18 October 2018

The Journey from First Draft to Publication with Marlene Hauser

off-island, marlene-hauser, book, blog-tour

Welcome to my blog tour stop for Off-Island by Marlene Hauser! I've got an insightful guest post to share with you from the author herself, detailing her road to publication from the very beginning to a completed, published novel.

Wednesday 17 October 2018

Christmas 2018 with Prestige Hampers

prestige-hampers-christmas

AD* | It may be October but with the festive season getting longer every year and the nights really beginning to draw in, now is the perfect time to start with my content for Christmas 2018! With just over two months left until the big day, I'm treating myself to a delicious seasonal food hamper to kick off the festive season here on The Writing Greyhound!

Tuesday 16 October 2018

Interview: Sarahlyn Bruck

designer-you, sarahlyn-bruck, book, blog-tour

This week's author interview welcomes Sarahlyn Bruck to The Writing Greyhound! Sarahlyn is kindly stopping by the blog for a Q&A in honour of the tour for her novel Designer You. Are you ready to delve into Sarahlyn's world? Keep on reading for the interview!

Wednesday 10 October 2018

Book Review: Joseph Barnaby by Susan Roebuck

Last Updated: 03 August 2021

Joseph Barnaby by Susan Roebuck book blog tour banner

AD* | Stand by your beliefs – even if it means going to the end of the Earth. 

By standing up for his principles, horse farrier Joseph Barnaby lost everything. Now, when a personal vendetta goes too deep to fight, he escapes to the Portuguese island of Madeira where he finds work on a small farm only accessible by boat.

The balmy climate and never-ending supply of exotic fruit, vegetables, and honey make it sound like paradise. But, for Joseph, it’s the ideal place to hide from the world.

Not everyone is prepared to give up on life’s misfortunes. The local fishing village has its own surprises and the inhabitants of Quinta da Esperança have more grit in them than the pebbled beach that borders the property.


Tuesday 9 October 2018

Interview: Jill Rosenblatt

the-fixer, the-naked-man, jill-rosenblatt, book

This week, I am happy to be welcoming crime thriller writer Jill Rosenblatt to The Writing Greyhound to take part in my weekly author interview. Keep on reading to learn more about Jill, her writing, and her latest book The Fixer!

Thursday 4 October 2018

Extract: The Black Prince by Adam Roberts

the-black-prince, adam-roberts, anthony-burgess, book, blog-tour

I am thrilled to be on the blog tour today for The Black Prince by Adam Roberts - an intriguing story adapted from an original script written by Anthony Burgess. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to read the book - shall we have a sneak peek from chapter one?

Wednesday 3 October 2018

Book Review: The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker

Last Updated: 03 August 2021

The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker book cover

AD* | For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unravelling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

Tuesday 2 October 2018

Interview: Glenn Devlin

the-alien-diaries, glenn-devlin, book

Science Fiction author Glenn Devlin has kindly agreed to stop by The Writing Greyhound today! Below, you can find more information about his life, his writing and, of course, his book The Alien Diaries. Is your interest piqued yet? Glenn's got plenty to share, so keep on reading!

Monday 1 October 2018

Another Week in Wales: Day Seven

swallow-falls, betws-y-coed, travel, north-wales

Day one: Aberystwyth

Day two: Barmouth

Day three: Porthmadog, via Portmeirion

Day four: Y Felinheli, via a whistle-stop tour of Snowdonia

Day five: Snowdon

Day six: Conwy, via a day trip around Anglesey

Day seven: Betws-y-Coed, via Llandudno

Friday 28 September 2018

Another Week in Wales: Day Six

holyhead, country-park, anglesey, north-wales, travel

Day one: Aberystwyth

Day two: Barmouth

Day three: Porthmadog, via Portmeirion

Day four: Y Felinheli, via a whistle-stop tour of Snowdonia

Day five: Snowdon

Day six: Conwy, via a day trip around Anglesey

Wednesday 26 September 2018

Book Review: The Russia House by John le Carre

Last Updated: 03 August 2021

The Russia House by John le Carre book cover

AD* | John le Carre's bestselling classic is a timeless spy thriller about the Iron Curtain and the tense relationship between Great Britain and Russia.

John le Carré has earned worldwide acclaim with extraordinary spy novels, including The Russia House, an unequivocal classic. Navigating readers through the shadow worlds of international espionage with critical knowledge culled from his years in British Intelligence, le Carré tracks the dark and devastating trail of a document that could profoundly alter the course of world events.


In Moscow, a sheaf of military secrets changes hands. If it arrives at its destination, and if its import is understood, the consequences could be cataclysmic. Along the way it has an explosive impact on the lives of three people: a Soviet physicist burdened with secrets; a beautiful young Russian woman to whom the papers are entrusted; and Barley Blair, a bewildered English publisher pressed into service by British Intelligence to ferret out the document's source. A magnificent story of love, betrayal, and courage, The Russia House catches history in the act. For as the Iron Curtain begins to rust and crumble, Blair is left to sound a battle cry that may fall on deaf ears.

Tuesday 25 September 2018

Interview: Mark Zaslove

death-and-taxes, mark-zaslove, book

Mark Zaslove, author of fast-paced thriller novel Death and Taxes, is here on The Writing Greyhound for a quick chat about the book, his writing and where he gets his inspiration...or doesn't!

With so much to talk about, what are you waiting for? Keep on reading to learn more...

Friday 21 September 2018

Another Week in Wales: Day Five

snowdon, mountain, hiking, travel, north-wales, view

Day one: Aberystwyth

Day two: Barmouth

Day three: Porthmadog, via Portmeirion

Day four: Y Felinheli, via a whistle-stop tour of Snowdonia

Day five: Snowdon

Thursday 20 September 2018

One Day I would Dearly Love to Write Historical Fiction...

reflected-destinies, florence-keeling, book, blog-tour

One day I would dearly love to write a historical fiction novel. I love history, it was one of my favourite subjects at school and it is definitely my favourite genre to read. The Tudor period and Philippa Gregory books are just amazing. I am in absolute awe of how she manages to add so much detail to her books but still make you feel that you are actually living alongside the characters, that you are living and breathing with them.

Wednesday 19 September 2018

Another Week in Wales: Day Four

criccieth-castle, snowdonia, north-wales, travel

Day one: Aberystwyth

Day two: Barmouth

Day three: Porthmadog, via Portmeirion

Day four: Y Felinheli, via a whistle-stop tour of Snowdonia

Tuesday 18 September 2018

Interview: Lizzie Lamb

take-me-im-yours, lizzie-lamb, book, blog-tour

I am thrilled to be welcoming romance author Lizzie Lamb to The Writing Greyhound today, and even more excited to be participating in the blog tour for Lizzie's latest book Take Me, I'm Yours - a wonderful Wisconsin love story.

Read on to find out more about Lizzie and the book!

Monday 17 September 2018

Another Week in Wales: Day Three

portmeirion, village, estuary, north-wales, travel

Day one: Aberystwyth

Day two: Barmouth

Day three: Porthmadog, via Portmeirion