Reading in Bed: Recent Episodes
Amanda Steel
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by Linda Downs. The three of three read fiction and poetry about unicorns, ex-partners, and speed-dating with jelly babies.
Back with the 16th episode of Storytime, Andy and Amanda read out a selection of poems and stories covering topics on global warming, what if cats ruled the world, wrongful arrest, women trapped in songs and rubbish comedians.
Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Jay Rose Ana. The three of them take turns in sharing a mixed bag of poetry.
To mark the launch of the charity anthology "Nobody Left Behind" Amanda Nicholson presents a special episode featuring poetry from the anthology.
Amanda, Elaine Savage, Ruth O'Reilly, and Rosemary Moore read out their work from the book.
All profits go to the charity, Mustard Tree. Copies can be purchased at the following links.
In paperback:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BNKYKRCY
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Nobody-Left-Behind-Amanda-Nicholson/9798215677896
As an eBook:
Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Left-Behind-Printed-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0BNK23NR9/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/nobody-left-behind-2 Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940166762160
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6444777688 SCRIBD: https://www.scribd.com/book/610881927
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1209513
Tolino: https://www.scribd.com/book/610881927
Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/search?search=9798215796948
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by Clive Oseman and Nick Lovell. The four of them share a selection of poetry and prose, covering important topics like what happens if you wear too much deodorant, and providing the answers to some of the most important questions in life.
In this 2022 Christmas Special, Andy and Amanda review their final books before taking an extended break, hand out virtual awards and share some Christmas poetry and prose.
In this episode of Storytime, Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Michael Burton.
Andy N and Amanda Nicholson review the following books:
1) Menna Van Praag - Night of Demons and Saints
2) Amy Liptrot - The Instant
Andy and Amanda are joined by special guests, Jeff Dawson and Tracy Walker for a mixture of poetry and fiction.
In this James Patterson special, Andy and Amanda review completely two different books co-written by James Patterson.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Peter Humphreys who reads out extracts of his novel (Hong Kong Rocks) and his work-in-progress.
Andy and Amanda are back reading out a selection of poetry, extracts from novels and the return of more nonsense from Edward Lear.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review a selection of books including an experimental novel on mental illness, and several which ask the question 'what would you do if...'
In this month's episode, Andy and Amanda review fiction and non-fiction, including a book co-written by Dolly Parton.
The announcement of Amanda's new mini-series, for anyone who likes zombies or influencers.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Mike Booth. The three of them read out a selection of their work.
Back with their 54th Episode, Andy N and Amanda Nicholson review the following books:
1) Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children
2) Elizabeth Lee - Cunning Women
3) Charles Veley - The Wilhelm Conspiracy (Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Book 2)
4) Sarah James - Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by two guests - Alta Mabin and Chuck Haffner.
The four of them read a selection of their work.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review a selection of fiction and poetry books about space, neurodiversity, and much more.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest Regi.
The three of them read a selection of poetry, flash fiction, and a monologue about zombies.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review poetry and fiction books.
WARNING: Some of the books reviewed and discussed later in this episode contain subjects which may not be suitable for everyone. This is adult only content.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Ray Douglas. They read poetry and stories featuring an annoying parrot, an angry ghost, pies, and much more.
In this episode Andy and Amanda review the following books:
- Last One at the Party by Bethany Clift
- Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
- Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
- Her Perfect Twin by Sarah Bonner
- Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz
Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Steve Mingle, to read poetry and stories (many with a valentine or anti-valentine theme).
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review books about witches, being stranded with a tiger, and everything in between.
Andy N and Amanda Nicholson read out a selection of their own poetry, prose, flash fiction and a well placed cover of a classic comedy poem by Edward Lear.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review the following books:
- Nell Pattison - Hide
- Gabby Hutchinson Crouch - Darkwood
- Keith A Pearson - Beyond Broadhall (86 Fix 2)
- Daniel Sloss - Everyone you hate is going to die
- Jon Moxley - Mox
Andy and Amanda are joined by special guest, Rich Davenport, to share a mix of funny and dark stories and poetry.
In this year's Christmas Special, Andy and Amanda review Christmas books, discuss their best and worst books of the year, and share some Christmas themed spoken word.
In this new spin-off from Reading in Bed, Andy and Amanda read some of their own poetry and prose, exploring winter, and Remembrance Sunday themes.
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review:
1) Teresa Driscoll - Her Perfect Family
2) F.D. Lee - The Fairy's Tale
3) Marius Gabriel - The Girls in the Attic
In this month's (shorter than usual) episode Amanda and Andy discuss their news and review 4 books.
The Green by Asya Grengauz
Blurb:
Welcome to a world filled with magic...and smog. But mostly smog. That is a big problem and it won't be left by the wayside if the witches have anything to say about it. A magical world it may be, but with some real-life problems that are all too familiar to anyone who inhabits planet Earth.
Can be purchased from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Asya-Krengauz-ebook/dp/B098CR13YJ
To have an extract of your book read on the show when we return, email amandasteel35@gmail.com
In this episode, Amanda reads an extract of See No Evil (Tayt Waters Series Book 1) by J.P. Choquette.
Blurb
Tayt Waters is a vigilante. A business owner. And a woman on a mission.
Helping people who've been failed by the legal system get their just rewards...one way or another. And then Tayt's estranged father shows up: the key suspect in a murder case involving a young, local woman.
As she races to find answers that prove her father's innocence, Tayt realizes that murder isn't the only criminal act he's accused of. And the further she digs the more danger she finds herself in. Just how far is too far when your life is at stake? Tayt is about to find out.
You can buy the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B097J5SXKS/
In this episode, Amanda reads two poems from Pocket Full of Stones by Zoe Sîobhan Howarth-Lowe.
Zoë is a Poet and Mum from Dukinfield. She has an MA in Poetry from Bath Spa University.
Her first pamphlet 'Love is the way bark grows' came out with Half Moon Books in June 2019 and her second 'I have grown two hearts' with Hedgehog Press in Autumn 2020. Her First Collection 'Pocket Full Of Stones' came out with Indigo Dreams in July 2021.
Her work has appeared in Anthologies and Journals including For the Silent, Atrium, Ink, Sweat and Tears, Picaroon, Algebra of Owls, Bonnie's Crew and Here Comes Everyone.
The book can be purchased from her website:
https://www.zshowarthlowe.com/pocket-full-of-stones.html
In this episode, Amanda reads three poems from the collection, Lucy the Tooth Fairy’s Last Chance and Some Pretty, Witty Ditties by Ray Douglas
Blurb
Lucy the Tooth Fairy’s Last Chance and Some Pretty, Witty Ditties is an illustrated children's book containing oodles of rhymes and poems about all kinds of things. Great for all ages with more than enough to get kids thinking, smiling, laughing and, ultimately interested in and entertained by rhymes and poems.
You can buy the book from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08N9DS51L/
In this episode, Amanda reads an extract of Cellar Door by Jackson Arthur
Blurb
The voice of a strange man forces two young women into a fight for their very survival. Who is Dr. Brant? And what is the silent invasion?
Darryl Rashad can't sleep. Terrorized by dreams of a flesh-eating creature, he returns to his childhood home in search of answers and peace. During his search, he must face not only his past but the monsters that hide there.
Joseph Keppt has a good life. He has a successful career, a beautiful daughter, and a loving wife. But when he wakes up in a strange room, in a strange bed, he is not sure if he has awoken into a nightmare or if reality is not how he remembers it.
What terrifying tales lie beyond the cellar door? What creatures await to devour you? Will you open it? Are you brave enough?
Buy it on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08SKXZZV7/
In this episode, Amanda reads poems and short story extracts from the forthcoming anthology "From the Shadows".
Blurb
In this Printed Words anthology, the lines merge between crime and horror, fiction and poetry. So, you’ll be kept guessing whether the villain is human or monster. Sometimes, the worst monsters are those who pass as human.
Thanks to the authors:
Jack Horner, Rosie Cullen, Amanda-Jane Bayliss, Yaqub Abdullahi, Jennifer Crow, Chloe Allen, Richard Harries, Michael Thame, Roz Ottery, Maria Byrne, Andrew Scott, Charles Robertson, Dorinda MacDowell, Amanda Steel, Nigel Astell, Stephen Oliver, Juleigh Howard-Hobson, Christy Vincent, John Grey, John Ward, Kara Blackwood, Gary S. Watkins, Lynn White, Lena Ng, Andy N, Tony Domaille, Daragh Kennedy, Miriam H. Harrison, Harry Hawke, LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Zoë Sîobhan Howarth-Lowe.
Some of the ways to buy a copy:
Paperback UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B098WBJ7XH
Paperback US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WBJ7XH
Kindle UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B098MVL3J5
Kindle US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098MVL3J5
Other eBook platforms: https://books2read.com/u/bQJ0XZ
If the paperback is out of stock at Amazon, you can use this link to see where it is available:
https://www.bookfinder.com/book/9798201317706/
In this episode of Reading in Bed Extracts, Amanda reads three poems from Awakening by Richard Harries.
After a decade of performing sharply focused observational, protest and war poetry Richard has gathered together a collection of his best-known work which is as fresh on the page as it is on the stage.
Awakening can be purchased from Stairwell Books
https://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/product/awakening/
In this month's episode, Andy and Amanda review a bad zombie book, and you might recognise some of the authors' names whose books they review.
In this shorter than usual episode, Andy and Amanda review three books between them; covering hauntings, serial killers and music.
Andy and Amanda review a selection of books; from crime to non-fiction. They also discuss some of their own news and projects, including a novella which will be published on Medium instead of as an eBook, and a Haiku collection with one Haiku for each year of life.
Such Exquisite Calamity by Sydnie Beaupre
Spencer and Cayden have always known that they were different from each of their parents, but when Spencer saves Cayden from a stab wound using only her tears and sheer willpower, they find out exactly what they are: the only two of their kind, born under a prophecy. Not Caster, not Familiar, but an impossible combination of both known as The Two, or The Lovers.
Stumbling through the new world of Casters, Familiars and Demigods together proves dangerous for the pair, and unwanted enemies arise as emotions between them become more and more complicated.
Will Cayden and Spencer be able to find themselves amidst the chaos? Or will they succumb to the power of those trying to stop them?
The book can be purchased from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Such-Exquisite-Calamity-Sydnie-Beaupré-ebook/dp/B088CRBZ59
Hope and Magic by Amanda Steel is out on 10th May.
it can be pre-ordered/purchased on Kindle or in paperback on Amazon. It will also be available as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription, if you have one.
Blurb
Previously published as three novellas, Hope and Magic includes all three parts of the story.
Hope doesn't know anything about magic when she decides to leave Dublin and head to London to pursue her dreams. Her boyfriend, Steven is unable to let her go. He seeks the help of a witch, resulting in Hope becoming his unwilling captive. Can she break free and discover her own power? And what does the witch really want from Hope?
Andy and Amanda review a varied collection of books; with subjects including travel, near death experiences, horror and near future sci-fi.
Dead Men Naked by Dario Cannizzaro
Would you go on a road trip with Death?
Lou's couldn't say no to that question. If you witnessed the inexplicable death of your best friend Neil and were haunted by visions of the Grim Reaper and a giant black crow - your answer would be yes as well.
Embark with Lou and the anthropomorphic embodiment of his own Death on a tequila-induced journey and descend from cities to desert to chase Angelene, a charming exotic dancer who holds the secret to save your soul, all the while poetically ruminating on the meaning of life, the universe, and the saving grace of love.
Dark, hilarious, profound and charming - this must-read novel is a steaming hot cup of magic realism, dark fantasy, literary fiction and poetry that will make you laugh and cry and want to read it again and again.
Buy on Amazon or read on Kindle Unlimited.
www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Men-Naked-Dario-Cannizzaro-ebook/dp/B071DP6G9T/
This month, Andy and Amanda share their book related news, and review a mixed collection of books: from gothic to crime and everything in-between.
The Double – Ann Gosslin
Following a violent outburst at an awards ceremony, Vidor Kiraly, a prize-winning neuroscientist and Cambridge don, is sent to an isolated psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps. When the clinic’s director, Anton Gessen, tries in vain to unearth the missing pieces of Vidor’s life, he suspects his reluctant patient is not who he appears to be. After one of the patients at the clinic goes missing, Gessen has reason to doubt Vidor’s self-proclaimed innocence. But what is he hiding, and who might be next?
The book can be purchased on Amazon and from other booksellers.
Your can find out more at her website: https://anngosslin.com
Wesley Yorstead Goes Outside explores the life of Wesley Yorstead, a thirty-three year old graphic novelist who suffers from a severe case of agoraphobia that has kept him shut inside for over five years. When he meets Happy Lafferty for the first time, delivering groceries on behalf of her father’s neighborhood market, Wesley can’t shake the inherent magnetism between them and seeks to get to know this young woman who invades his space—both physical and mental. As their relationship grows more intimate, the restrictions of his situation become an even greater obstacle. When Happy’s past life catches up to her, Wesley must decide if he can finally leave his apartment to help. A meditation on anxiety, fear, and human connection, Wesley Yorstead Goes Outside asks the reader to consider what our fears take away from our lives, and how we might overcome them.
The book has already received some praise. Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean said: "A dark jewel of a story, as funny as it is heartbreaking, as heartbreaking as it is true."
Alena Dillon, author of Mercy House and The Happiest Girl in the World, had this to say: “Succinct, artful, and full of heart; there’s never been a character like Wesley Yorstead.”
You can buy the book on Amazon
Or find out more about the author at her website: https://stephanieharperauthor.com
The new “Ghost of Me” podcast (as mentioned at the start of this episode) is available on Anchor.
https://anchor.fm/amanda-steel0
In a slightly different format to our usual Reading in Bed Extracts episodes, the author of this week’s book reads two of his own poems.
(Audio used with permission from Spoken Label)
Gormless – Rich Davenport
Rich Davenportis a comedy poet, stand-up comedian and musician from exotic Bolton, in the UK. He has gigged all over the UK, spreading mirth and making loud noises.
He was first encouraged to compile a book of his poems of extreme gormlessness by Hovis Presleyin 2003. After accidentally winning a couple of poetry slams, other encouraging individuals said the same thing.
And now, finally, here it is, with fabulous illustrations from the marvellous Minty B
Gormless can be purchased from Chinbeard Books.
A preview of the new podcast by Amanda Steel. Each week she will be reading a chapter a of her book, Ghost of Me.
Hong Kong Rocks – Peter Humphreys
Nick Powell, arriving in Hong Kong with his soon-to-be-ex-wife Lennox, finds himself drawn into the political machinations affecting the city as the Occupy movement takes root. A fatal accident exposes the factions vying for control of the SAR and gives Nick the second chance desired by many Hong Kong expats, but will he make the most of the opportunity, or find himself on the wrong side of history? Shifting between a variety of unique voices, HONG KONG ROCKS (a Proverse Prize 2018 finalist) is part thriller, part meditation on the challenges facing a special autonomous region punching above its weight.
"'Hong Kong Rocks' is a story set in an alternative present; it is in part a whodunit, with the who and the it constantly in doubt. At the centre is a group of dissolute, middle-aged, expatriates, who are held more or less upright, or let fall by surer, stronger women. Dissolution, however, has its consequences, in conflict with either the newly introduced Deportation Act, or two cross-border goons, or both. And, as the tale reaches its finale, we cannot but agree with the narrator that Hong Kong is 'hotting up'."—Philip Chatting, author of "The Snow Bridge and Other Stories", Winner of the Proverse Prize 2014.
"Funny and twisted, in Humphreys’ spirited novel Nick and a garrulous band of expats are caught in the shifting societal landscape of Hong Kong. Nights drinking at the Brolly, missing friends, the Occupy movement, fear of deportation and the threat of discovery by Chinese agents, all loom large. As his freedom hangs on the edge of a precipice, Nick seizes on the absurdities, secrets and joys of a life lived with regret."—Maria Roberts, author of "Single Mother on the Verge", Penguin.
The book can be bought from
UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/38qkbSj
US Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hong-Rocks-Proverse-Prize-Publications-ebook/dp/B07YP3V824/ref=sr_1_1
The book is also available on Kindle Unlimited. To take up the 30-day Kindle Unlimited offer, if you’re in the UK, please follow the Affiliate link below.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/hz/signup?tag=amandasteelwr-21
Leila Ziari’s first collection of poetry invites readers into a world of transformative love. Dedicated to and inspired by Bob Dylan, these one hundred and eleven poems reveal the bliss, pain, expansion, longing and ecstasy of eternal love. Earthly and ethereal, timely and timeless. Just as Ziari chronicles her own metamorphosis, she invites the reader to be inspired, uplifted, healed, and renewed. Through her bold confession of passionate devotion, Ziari dissects the very essence of love and the whirlwind of emotions therein. It is her vulnerability that allow for such immersion, reminding readers that those we love are part of our spirits and have been embedded in our souls since the beginning of time. While she hints at deep scars, this poet never wallows. Her transcendent poetry reaches beyond. Ziari shows us what we know but so often forget - the evolutionary and revolutionary power of love.
The book can be bought at:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q9WJLG
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3aJECLm
In this episode, Andy and Amanda review books about elves, murder, witches and much more.
Secret Santa – Andrew Shaffer
Blurb
Out of work for months, Lussi Meyer is desperate to work anywhere in publishing. Prestigious Blackwood-Patterson isn’t the perfect fit, but a bizarre set of circumstances leads to her hire and a firm mandate: Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre.
But as soon as she arrives, Lussi finds herself the target of her co-workers' mean-spirited pranks. The hazing reaches its peak during the company’s annual Secret Santa gift exchange, when Lussi receives a demonic-looking object that she recognizes but doesn't understand. Suddenly, her coworkers begin falling victim to a series of horrific accidents akin to a George Romero movie, and Lussi suspects that her gift is involved. With the help of her former author, the flamboyant Fabien Nightingale, Lussi must track down her anonymous Secret Santa and figure out the true meaning of the cursed object in her possession before it destroys the company—and her soul.
You can buy the book from
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Santa-Andrew-Shaffer/dp/1683692055/ref=sr_1_1
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/37hLe06
Find out more about the author at: http://www.andrewshaffer.com/link-tree
First Charge (My YA book I mentioned on the podcast) is free until the end of December on most eBook platforms.
https://books2read.com/u/bzj8Aj#
Diamonds and Deception - Summer Campbell
A Bite-Size Mystery Novella
Nurse Juno is looking forward to some festive downtime in the seaside town of Fareport Cove when shocking theft gets in the way. The Christmas season turns out to be anything but relaxing when thieves swipe a priceless necklace from under her patient's nose. It's no surprise when big-hearted Nurse Juno tries to help by stepping in to help her distraught patient out.
Juno is racing to beat the clock and find the necklace before Christmas day with the help of best friend and local bookshop owner, Kate.
Who is behind the dastardly deception? Can Juno solve the mystery and get the diamond necklace back in time to save her patient's Christmas?
Diamonds and Deception is a short prequel novella to the Nurse Juno Investigates clean cozy mystery series.
You can buy the book from
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3kXv4hx
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H6P2S23/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_BDAAFbG4EQMYZ
It is also available on Kindle Unlimited. If you’re in the UK and wish to support the podcast, please consider using our affiliate link to get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/hz/signup?tag=amandasteelwr-21
To find out more about the author, visit her website:
http://summercampbell.com/index.html
In this episode, Amanda and Andy review Christmas books (mostly), discuss their favourite books of the year and read out some of their own Christmas themed work.
GeeGee and the Germans (The Conyers Street Gang) – Michael Thame
Based on real people. Based on real events.
Eight-year-old GeeGee is scared. And it’s not for the first time. Since her arrival in Scotland, the Germans have dropped their murderous bombs and nearly killed her, as well as her mum Ida, sister Betty, and brother Alec. Uncle Angus has lost his home.
When Ida takes her children to the beautiful Campsie Glen, a place where she felt they would be safe, they got a shock. The Laird of the Clan has refused them shelter and his butler, Knox, has thrown them out.
GeeGee never wanted to go anywhere near the Laird’s house again, but when the local kids decide to build a snowman in the grounds, she joins in. That’s when Knox the butler pulled the trigger on the shotgun and shattered the night’s calm in Campsie Glen.
Only later does GeeGee remember; her scarf. She left it on the snowman they had built before Knox chased them away. It was a beautiful red scarf her mum and dad bought for her as a birthday present. She had to get it back.
Betty isn’t keen, but the sisters go out in the middle of a wintry night to retrieve the scarf. However, it’s what GeeGee sees on the way back that stops her in her tracks. An aircraft flies overhead, but they cannot see it. Moments later something catches GeeGee’s eye; a parachute silently falls on the wooded hillside below the imposing Lennox Castle.
GeeGee knows she must tell someone. There is a war on and her first thought is that the parachutist must be a German spy. Before long Campsie Glen is awash with police and soldiers. Strange things start happening and suddenly GeeGee’s life hangs in the balance.
Can she survive the strange goings on at Lennox Castle? Can she get through the night in the haunted house? Will she ever be able to trust the self-styled Laird of Clan Galt?
More than that, will GeeGee be able to survive the Germans that are surely in their midst?
The book can be bought on
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ffGMTg
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/GeeGee-Germans-Conyers-Street-Gang/dp/1912494418/ref=sr_1_1
You can also see the author’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCin3-sTL4r1TY7gARI9XeZQ
You can support the podcast by purchasing from the online store:
https://www.amandasteelwriter.com/440773085/category/1235794/online-store
Witch - Finbar Hawkins
In 17th-century England, civil war rages and witches have become pawns in a plot to oust the King. Young, red-haired Evey does not want to be a witch, but she cannot deny the magick coursing through her veins.
A storm is coming. After witnessing the murder of her mother by witch-hunters, Evey vows to avenge her. Fury burns in her bright and strong. But she has promised her mother that she will keep her gifted, little sister Dill, her mother’s favourite, safe. But battling terrible jealousy, Evey abandons Dill with their Aunt Grey at the coven in the woods, and sets off to town where crowds are gathering for the witch trials. As the lust for blood and retribution rises to fever pitch, will Evey keep true to the bonds of sisterhood and to her witching ways?
If you’re in the UK, the book can be bought from:
https://uk.bookshop.org/books/witch-9781838935610/9781838935610
Or from Amazon, if you’re in the US.
https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Finbar-Hawkins-ebook/dp/B0814YTWKM/
You can also follow the author on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/finbar_hawkins
This Rotten World – Jacy Morris
A sickness runs rampant through the world. In Portland, Oregon it is no different. As the night takes hold, eight men and women bear witness to the horror of a zombie outbreak. This Rotten World is the zombie novel that horror fans have been waiting for. Where other zombie works skip over the best part of a zombie outbreak, This Rotten World revels in it the downfall of humanity, dragging you through the beginnings of society's death, kicking and screaming.
The book can be bought on:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/This-Rotten-World-Jacy-Morris-ebook/dp/B01ILBEU7I/
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3kdTRgJ
Beyond Spring – Wanderings Through Nature by Matthew Oates
A love letter to Nature – This was written as armchair winter reading – when we have forgotten what spring is like – that it will even come again. The chapters are all short and rich in language, knowledge and love. Each chapter is headed ad footed with a poetic extract
Brett Westwood – known to you on Radio 4 and Springwatch says of the book: Matthew Oates is an equally enthusiastic naturalist, poet and writer of prose, with an abounding affection for his subject which shines out in every sentence of this book. It’s an exuberant celebration of the British countryside at its joyous, rampant best, interweaving natural and literary landscapes as it explores spring in some of the finest spots for wildlife... A book to savour on winter evenings when the anticipation of spring tempts us all: whether he’s describing the song of a blackbird or the scent of a garlic snail, you know you’re in safe hands.
Patrick Barkham - nature writer , and journalist on the Guardian says : Matthew Oates is a witty and imaginative companion: poetic, subtly subversive and as elusive and fast-moving as spring itself. Beautiful and Brilliant.
It was one of only 5 Nature books shortlisted for the Countryfile magazine’s Country book of the Year, despite having been turned down by his normal publisher Bloomsbury; and his TV, Radio and National Trust credentials.
https://fairacrepress.co.uk/shop/matthew-oates-paperback-beyond-spring-wanderings-through-nature/
£10.99 paperback; or £17.50 for limited edition hardback.
We reviewed books on a variety of subjects this month; from learning how to draw - to the persecution of native Americans.
To find out about the online events we mentioned in the introduction, please see the following links.
Writing workshop: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-writing-workshop-tickets-125160900623
Twelve Deaths of Father Christmas reading: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-twelve-deaths-of-father-christmas-author-reading-and-qa-tickets-126661813895
Before and After – Andrew Shanahan
Blurb
THE BEST-SELLING SCI-FI THRILLER THAT BLENDS HEALTHY LIVING AND LOTS OF DYING
"A big fat five stars. This is a horror story. It's a visceral portrait of addiction and the hope of redemption in a world turned mad by hate and fear. The worst thing is that it is true. A must-read." Jane Almond-Deville, The British Obesity Society.
Ben Stone is terrified. He's terrified because he weighs 601 pounds and needs his right leg amputating. He's terrified because a crane will shortly lift him from his fourth-floor flat and lower him 44 feet to an ambulance waiting below. He's terrified because he hasn't been outside in nine years and he doesn't know who will look after his beautiful dog.
He needn't worry though, because the world is about to end.
You can buy the book from Amazon
UK link: https://amzn.to/2SZev9h
US link: https://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Andrew-Shanahan-ebook/dp/B082XFC63T/
You can also follow the Andrew Shanahan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nervouscrying
To take up the 30 day Kindle Unlimited offer, if you’re in the UK, please follow the Affiliate link below. (As mentioned on the podcast)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/hz/signup?tag=amandasteelwr-21
The Reviled: The Power Of Hope (Dark Fey Book 1) – Cynthia A. Morgan Blurb:
From a young age, Ayla has known her gift. Dedicated to become a Guardian of Childfey, she has spent her young years in the Temple, studying magic and ancient rites. There, she also learns about the mortal enemy of all Fey of the Light: the Reviled.
Gairynzvl is a Fey of the Light, abducted by the Reviled when he was young. Now, he is a Dark One; lurking in the shadows, lingering near Ayla.
After Gairynzvl commits treason against his own kind, Ayla listens to him when no others will – and the conflict that unfolds will change their world.
The book can be bought from Amazon.
UK link: https://amzn.to/33XOQ7m
US link: https://www.amazon.com/Reviled-Dark-Fey-Book-ebook/dp/B00RZMVNQQ/
You can find out more about the author at her website: https://www.cynthiaamorganauthor.com
For details of the Creative Writing Workshop (as mentioned on the podcast) go to:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-writing-workshop-tickets-125160900623
Dead Boys Don’t Cry – H. G. Lynch
Blurb
This story doesn't begin with my death. It begins with someone's else's.
Antonio is sick of his mother's drunken, abusive boyfriend, and when Dave starts acting strange following the disappearance of a young woman, Antonio suspects he's responsible.
But when he confronts Dave about the missing woman, Antonio finds himself facing down the barrel of a gun.
Waking up dead was not part of his plan.
With a Reaper at the gates and a gravestone at his back, he'll risk his afterlife to catch his killer.
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HP9NIK
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Boys-Dont-H-G-Lynch-ebook/dp/B08HX3VSGF/
Author Page: https://www.authorhglynch.com
To help support the podcast, please consider signing up for Draft2Digital, using this affiliate link, if you’re planning on self-publishing a book.
https://www.draft2digital.com/r/YK1loq
If you’re in the UK and want to buy any of the books mentioned on the podcast, please consider supporting us by using the affiliate links below.
The Minders: https://amzn.to/2SqHBOH
The Curse of Knowing: https://amzn.to/3niSUqo
The Haunting of HG Wells: https://amzn.to/2HYzTJx
Quiet: https://amzn.to/3lf0BvL
Love on the Isle of Dogs: https://amzn.to/3ixRxjK
If you would like to attend the online Creative Writing workshop we mentioned on the podcast, the details are here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-writing-workshop-tickets-119974909183
The De-Coding of Jo: Hall of Ignorance: 1 (Ascending Angel Academy) by Lali A. Love Blurb
What would you do if you accidentally discovered a holographic portal into the cosmos, in the basement of your high school's library? Would you take the leap of faith?
Ever since the fatal night her mother was taken hostage by a homicidal maniac, sixteen-year-old Jo has been plagued by debilitating nightmares. As she tries to unravel her bleak reality while attending Forest Hill Academy, a preppy co-ed private school, Jo and her friends discover a mysterious gateway into a Black Hole. Accidentally, evil is released from the portal as demonic parasites spread throughout the school. One by one they turn her classmates into an army of sleepwalkers, serving the Lord of Darkness in a sinister plot for universal domination.
When Jo is activated by the Council of Light, she discovers her mission and confronts her celestial identity, revealing the mystery of existence. With the help of her best friends and a Galactic Compass, Jo unleashes the cosmic powers of creation to prevent the Darkness from enslaving all of humanity into obscurity. Will she be able to decode the artificial system in time to save her friends and the sacred Light?
As the first book in the Ascending Angel Academy series, The De-Coding of Jo is a beautiful melding of fantasy, paranormal and science fiction with a diverse, gender inclusive cast that young adult readers can fully immerse themselves in.
Buy on Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2GfGX3P
or Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Coding-Jo-Hall-Ignorance-ebook/dp/B08DL4286J/
Find out more about the author at: https://authorlalialove.com
To vote for my Ghost of Me by Amanda steel (as mentioned in the podcast) please go to:
https://authoracademyawards.com/finalists2020/
and vote in the thriller category. Voting ends of 22nd October 2020.
If you would like your book to be considered for Reading in Bed Extracts, or to request a free Audible code for Ghost of Me, send an email to:
contact@amandasteelwriter.com
Subversive (Clandestine Magic Book 1) by Colleen Cowley Blurb
A wizard. An unwilling assistant. An explosive secret.In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women's rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance – the Women's League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.Subversive is the first novel in the Clandestine Magic trilogy, set in a warped 21st century that will appeal to fans of gaslamp fantasy. All three books will be released in the fall of 2020.
You can buy the book from
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3l09TeT
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Subversive-Clandestine-Magic-Book-1-ebook/dp/B08GYLTKNZ/
You can learn more about Colleen Cowley, and follow her writing/publications at: https://colleencowley.com
To have your book considered for Reading in Bed Extracts, or to be referred to Reedsy Discovery (as mentioned on the podcast) please email:
contact@amandasteelwriter.com
or go direct to: https://reedsy.com/discovery/reviewers/apply?referral=amanda-steel
A Chance of Rain: Short Horror & Sci-Fi Stories by Joshua G.J. Insole
Over forty tales of monsters, magic, mystery, and madness, ranging from the horrifyingly real to the fantastically weird, from the soul-wrenchingly heartbreaking to the gut-bustingly hilarious — including three shortlisted works.
So, make yourself a cup of coffee or a pot of tea. Turn off the lights. Make sure your front door is locked. (Did you remember to lock it? Maybe you did, maybe you didn’t. Best check.) Wrap your hands around your steaming cup and wrap your blanket around your shoulders… and spend a while in the twisted corners of the human mind.
And always keep an eye on the shifting shadows — sometimes, terrible things lurk in the darkness.
Buy from Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/36ltsKv
This month, Andy and Amanda review a wide selection of books; from crime and horror to poetry and non-fiction.
To find out more about the different projects they both mentioned in this months extensive news section, you can find links and more information on their Facebook pages.
Amanda: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaSteelWriter
Andy: https://www.facebook.com/andynstorytellerpoet
In this episode, Amanda reads two poems and a short story extract from the charity anthology, Words to Remember. All profits from this anthology will be donated to several cancer charities in the UK, so please buy a copy if you can.
The book is available on most eBook platforms, and as a paperback from Amazon, Abebooks and Blackwell's.
https://books2read.com/u/bpD2y6
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1393548857
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30726690108
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781393548850
You can buy the book at Amazon
Blurb
Smoke the Peace Pipe is a collection of poems inspired by the author's experience of trauma and how this settled in her body, sometimes as her own worst enemy. She encourages the possibility that we all can find hope and healing by showing up in the present moment, in the environment and with people around us, and through a shared appreciation of nature, spiritual exploration, and sacred connection with the Earth. By sitting and sharing a peace pipe with ourselves, we have an opportunity to bear what we thought was unbearable and make space for the possibility of a bigger picture.
You can buy The Resident by David Jackson at Amazon (and all the usual places you would expect).
He also has a website, where you can find out more about him and his other books.
The Resident – Blurb
THERE'S A SERIAL KILLER ON THE RUN
AND HE'S HIDING IN YOUR HOUSE
Thomas Brogan is a serial killer. With a trail of bodies in his wake and the police hot on his heels, it seems like Thomas has nowhere left to hide. That is until he breaks into an abandoned house at the end of a terrace on a quiet street. And when he climbs up into the loft, he realises that he can drop down into all the other houses through the shared attic space.
That's when the real fun begins. Because the one thing that Thomas enjoys even more than killing is playing games with his victims - the lonely old woman, the bickering couple, the tempting young newlyweds. And his new neighbours have more than enough dark secrets to make this game his best one yet...
Do you fear The Resident? Soon you'll be dying to meet him.
You can buy the book in paperback or eBook from Amazon, or from several other eBook platforms.
https://books2read.com/u/3nWyMe
Blurb
Vittoria Armieri—a humble worker at a ministry in Rome—has the ability to access people’s lives: their pasts, their thoughts and feelings, and especially their tragic memories. Others would call it a superpower, but to her it’s a curse: it’s the source of such misery for her, that she’s now desperate to die, possibly at the hands of a murderer. But while she recalls her youth and the events that brought her to this point, something unexpected occurs. Something that not even Vittoria, with all her eerie savviness, could possibly have foreseen.
This month, Andy reviews some non-fiction books he’s read recently, while Amanda goes a bit supernatural and tries not to get outraged, or spend too much time worrying about those strange noises in the attic.
You can buy the book at several retailers https://books2read.com/futurelife
or visit Roz’s website at https://rozmorris.wordpress.com/
To sign up for her newsletter go to https://tinyurl.com/rozmorriswriter
You can also follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/roz_morris
My Memories of a Future Life (Blurb)
If your life might be another person's past... What do they know of you?
Could they have the answers you need now?
Carol is a gifted pianist who has never needed anything but her talent – until an untreatable injury stops her playing. Terrified that it might end her career, she moves to a village on the coast to convalesce and teach singing. She becomes beguiled by glimpses of her next life – a healer called Andreq. Is he really what he seems to be? Does his life have any clues that can help her now?
A duet between land and sea, past and future, trance and waking, My Memories of a Future Life shimmers with mystery and questions. It’s a novel about clairvoyants and charlatans, the all-consuming dedication of the professional musician, the shadows that shape us, the yearning for a soul-mate, the tyranny of small towns, and what we do when we lose the thing that gives us our identity.
This month, we review books about Tom Baker, the kindness of humanity, children with special powers, and much more.
InGone are the Light-Wieldersby Nicholas P Adams, a shepherd boy holds the fate of the colony in his hands when he must choose between keeping a promise to his mother and his responsibility to the community.
This extract from Gone are the Light-Wielders, is published in the anthology, Cresting the Sun. This is a collection of 12 award-winning short stories by three talented authors, including Nicholas P Adams.
The book can be bought from Amazon
US link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1951374037/
UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cresting-Sun-Brian-C-Hailes-ebook/dp/B082QMFJ2C
You can find out more about Nicholas at his website.
www.nicholasadamswrites.com/
The Almost Mothers by Laura Besley is collection of flash fiction.
A first-time mum struggles with her new-born baby. An alien examines the lives of Earth Mothers. A baby sleeps through the night at long last.
Written with raw honesty, Laura's debut flash collection, The Almost Mothers, exposes what it really means to be a mother.
The book can be bought from:
http://dahlia-books.kong365.com/en-gb/collections/our-books/products/the-almost-mothers
You can also follow Laura on Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/laurabesley
WHY RUN WHEN YOU CAN DRIVE AND SMOKE AT THE SAME TIME by Patrick Leber is a collection of amusing, engaging, and embarrassing running stories from nearly 40 years of hitting the pavement. These stories will resonate with both runners and non-runners alike as they embark on different journeys with Leber across the United States. Why Run is an endearing running memoir, combining humor, sport-related insights, and observations about life while on the move.
Patrick Leber’s website is
https://whyrunwhen.com
Below are just some of the links where his book can be purchased.
www.amazon.co.uk/WHEN-DRIVE-SMOKE-SAME-TIME-ebook/dp/B0859TH5FR/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/why-run-when-you-can-drive-and-smoke-at-the-same-time-patrick-leber/1136789200?ean=9781734045000
Andy and Amanda talk about ghostwriting, poetry, short stories that aren't really short stories and much more in this packed episode of Reading in Bed.
Amanda reading from her book "How to Write Wrong: A Choose Your Own Adventure Story" with Andy making the choices as he stumbles through the murky world of writing and trying to get published.
The book is available on Amazon.
In this lockdown special, we talked about the book “Footprints and Echoes” and whether now is a good time to market a book on grief. We had a special reading from one of the authors “Ruth Loten”.
We also read out “Hope” a story written by the talented writer Jan McCarthy.
In this episode, we review books about the end of the world and a horror anthology. It could almost be a non fiction episode, but it's not.
This month, Andy and Amanda review Poetry and Fiction in an unofficial male authors vs female authors episode.
This month we review books about sisters, choosing the wrong housemates and awakening your darker side.