That is what I was pitched with, when I was asked if I’d like to read an arc of Predator, debut thriller from author Zoe Caldwell.
Hmm, is that my kind of read?
Well, if you know me at all, you’ll be aware that I am more than happy to turn my attention to all genres, because, well, you never know what you might enjoy. And I know for a fact that I enjoy this writer’s writing, however her other books are under a different pen name, and extremely different in genre, being more light-hearted romcoms, than kinky thrillers!
First, the blurb:
You’ve done a bad thing. She has you in your sights. Now you’re going to pay.
Meet Camilla.
A successful and glamorous fashion magazine editor who has it all.
But Camilla has a secret.
Underneath her poised exterior lurks a cold dark heart and an insatiable need to kill.
A murderer of bad men, Camilla sees herself as a #MeToo vigilante, making the world a better place with every abuser she kills.
When Camilla murders Julian Taylor, she’s sure she can escape, but a new detective is given the case and is closing in.
Can Camilla get away with murder or has her luck finally run out?
And here is my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review.
Oh, my days! When I was asked whether I may be interested in reading an ARC of Predator, I read the blurb, and thought “Why not? Sounds like an intriguing read.” Well, intriguing is perhaps not quite the word to describe it. Hugely dark and, (excuse my language, but) bloody fantastic! Camilla, our protagonist, is a woman with a past that is ingrained so deep within, that it’s almost hollowed out any other emotion in her body. Wronged as a child, growing up, and abused as a young woman, she casts herself in the role of vigilante for womankind, wreaking havoc, and her own version of revenge, upon unsuspecting predators I found myself strangely aroused, a bit disturbed, and definitely sympathetic towards the woman with what appears to be no emotion, but whose heart is beginning to feel again. Laced with sex, gore, and all manner of suspense, I was kept on my toes, reading the book almost in one sitting, and I truly didn’t predict the ending, either. What a dark, kinky web the author has weaved… You definitely kept this reader guessing! Fab read. I can’t wait to get my hands on another book by Zoe Caldwell.
Some information about the author:
I live in Oxford now, but I spent most of my twenties living in London where I worked in copywriting and journalism, which included working as a reporter for a national newspaper. I spent several years working in fashion copywriting, writing extensively about designer clothes and handbags, and I think it was during these hours that the seed was sewn for the character of Camilla in my new book, Predator. Camilla is a poised and glamorous fashion magazine editor by day, and yet by night, she is a ruthless vigilante serial killer.
I’ve had four romantic comedies published, and while I love rom coms, I’ve secretly always wanted to write something very dark. I’m a huge Bret Easton-Ellis fan and when I first read American Psycho, it blew my mind and I knew one day I wanted to write something similarly out-there – violent, sexual and graphic, but also insightful, with an element of social commentary. I hope this motivation comes through in Predator, which I’m very excited that Bloodhound is publishing.
Aside from writing, I enjoy walking my dog, reading, and I’m currently learning Spanish.
Ooooh, what a wicked web of secrets and lies Nicola Marsh weaves in her latest suspense-filled book, My Sister’s Husband! From the off, I was pulled in to the story of two pairs of sisters, with lives and experiences that mirror one another, in an uncanny way. Brooke arrives home, to celebrate the wedding of her sister, Freya, to Ryker, after a lengthy absence, and finds herself reuniting with family, and finding out way more about her own history than she ever imagined, Just how twisted can a person can be? I was on the edge of my seat, as I read this book, and though I spent most of the time trying to second guess the outcome, I was so off the mark when all was revealed. Definitely a recommended read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Carole Matthews has done it again! I was so happy to be able to visit the gang at Hope Farm again, having truly enjoyed Happiness For Beginners, and Christmas For Beginners did not disappoint. Molly is settled into Hope Farm’s new home, complete with a state of the art mobile home for herself, her trusted friends Bev and Alan, a surrogate son, Lucas, living with her, and not forgetting the crazy animals who help to create the education she offers to the children who. come to visit the farm. All that’s missing is a more regular appearance from Shelby, her partner, who also happens to be Lucas’s father, and a famous soap star. From the off, I was feeling a sense of ‘things aren’t quite right’ between Molly and Shelby, and I rooted for her to make the right decisions, on several occasions. (Which she does, eventually.) There is laughter in this. book, thanks to unruly animal, heartache, loss, but also, an overwhelming amount of love, both romantic, and otherwise, and above all, hope. Such a lovely read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, Susan Lewis, I do love your books! A woman stifled by her overpowering husband finally finds a chance to escape a life of misery, with her daughter, and sets herself up with a new identity and life far away. New names, new looks, new home, new friends. But that fear never leaves… I loved the way this book was written with the chapters of the story interspersed with letters from someone who obviously wronged one of the main characters. I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away too much of the plot, but I was totally drawn into the whole plot, and there were twists. Oh, were there twists! I was left guessing for most of the book, on a lot of points, and all the guessing ensured I continued reading. Definitely a recommended read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a delight of a story! Finding Henry Applebee is a story about several characters, of which Henry is the main one, An eighty-five-year-old man on a mission heads to Edinburgh to fulfil his heart’s desire, except it was never going to be that simple, was it? A young woman is also heading to Edinburgh to act out the last of her mother’s wishes. A twenty-something American Jazz musician is on his way to watch a much longed-for performance. A chance meeting on a train. changes the lives of all three of these characters in a wonderful way. I enjoyed reading this story, interspersed with flashbacks from the past featuring each of the main characters, adding layer upon layer to the plot. I wanted to keep Henry Applebee, and look after him in my own home – what a sweetheart! The story is filled with romance, of a deeper nature. What people do for love…
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kate isn’t really looking for love, but her best friend, Laura, seems to think she should be. So strongly, that she coerces Kate into signing up for a course of twelve dates, leading up to Christmas. Forced into a situation she really didn’t want to be in, Kate embarks upon her dates and ends up with a mixture of disappointment, surprise, passion, fear… but does love make an appearance? I enjoyed this easy read of a Christmas romance, where love showed up in an unlikely place. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I adore reading about the character sets that Tess Thompson creates, and I was lucky enough to have won copies of the first three in the Blue Mountain Series, a couple of years ago. When I heard that the fourth was coming out, I didn’t hesitate to pre-order. This fourth book follows the Lannigan sister, Teagan, as she settles back into life in her childhood town. The death of her father and one of her brothers, has in some way or another, brought all the siblings back to the family land that holds such memories, and she has her own home build, to house her and Cris, her child. Teagan is a prickly character. She’s not open to trusting people too easily, but when a certain person walks back into her life, after an intensive fling a while back, she is torn. Does she give her heart to the guy who may just swan off after he gets bored, or does she protect herself and her little boy, who is crying out for a father figure? Wyatt Black is a country music star with a block. After suffering PTSD when a shooter killed tens of people at one of his concerts, he is stuck in an emotional rut. The only thing that he wants is to anchor himself near the one person he can’t get out of his mind. Teagan Lannigan. What follows is the tale of how they come together, once again, but not without plenty of bumps in the road, and even murder! One thing I love about Tess Thompson’s books is how characters jump from one series to another, so there is already a familiarity to the story because you feel like you already know something, Wyatt Black features in the Cliffside Bay series, briefly, too.
I’ve had this pon my kindle for a long while now and finally got a chance to read it. Imagine being a 16-year-old, living your normal, boring life, then finding it turned upside down by a prospective Rock God moving in next door? And falling head over heels with him? What about being at Death’s door, then being given a second chance at life, and grabbing all opportunities life throws at you, even if it casts you in the light of ‘the Other Woman’? This book follows the diary entries of two very different girls, Renza, and Stella, and how, in the height of the Swinging Sixties, they fall for the same guy. And even though he’s stringing along two women, you can’t help but feel for Scott, too… I enjoyed this story, Kinky Boots, and all! I always wonder how two authors write a book together, and this novel shows how a good collaboration works!
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I started reading this book, but, I have to say that once it got going, I was pretty much hooked. One man finds himself the owner of a large house, but with conditions attached. Strange conditions. Three very different women end up renting apartments in that same quirky, old house. Three women who have experienced very different losses. Inexplainable happenings, and a letter partially destroyed, bring them all together, and mysteries get solved in an extremely twisted manner. It was strange, but I really enjoyed reading it!
What’s not to love about this book! Grace is a single mother, trying her hardest to give the best of everything to her son Archie, with the help of their dog, Becks. Working in a small estate agent, she bumbles along with her life, still silently grieving the loss of her mother, and harbouring guilt at her failed marriage. Thankfully, Grace has people in her life who care, like a best friend who wants to get her back on her own two feet, not just as Archie’s mum, but as a woman, too, with makeovers and online dating set up. And a rather dishy gardener happens to show up on her doorstep one day, and who just keeps on appearing… Add in an ex-husband who wants the best of both worlds, and you have a recipe for an interesting tale. But how can I forget one of my favourite parts of the book, the silent letters of support from Grace’s mum from beyond the grave? I have to admit that my eyes teared up when reading them. It made me feel warm inside, to imagine that those we love and lose, are actually still there, watching what we are doing, cheering us on, sending us signals… Archie’s a dream of a boy, at that awkward age when it’s far too hard to show your feelings when you are still a little boy, but a the cusp of growing up, needing your mummy but wanting to appear too old for ‘all that’. I felt for Grace. I wanted to go and slap her ex in the face, myself. I giggled and cringed through the stories of online dating, and warmed so much to Vinnie, the gardener, that I rooted for romance from the off. Kim Nash has created a whole cast of characters that are likeable (or not, if you could the ex) and ones you want to get to know yourself. A feel-good book, with plenty of ups and downs, moments of joy and laughter, and times where you feel truly choked up with emotion. Well, I did. Fabulous read!
Predator by Zoe Caldwell
It’s a five star, but you’ll have to wait until the 2nd November for my review, as I’ll be posting about it separately, but if you are up for a dark, kinky thriller, then this one is for you!
In this day and age, networking is key for both traditionally published, as well as self-published authors. But where to start? The amount of different social media platforms out there can boggle the best of minds, so it is always to great to have a thorough guide, and who better than a successful author and entrepreneur, to step up and share her tips and ideas? Lizzie Chantree has put together a wonderful resource, that is a quick read, but filled with so many gems to help you get started, and continue growing your social media presence, and work with other writers, your readers and businesses to benefit not only yourself but the wider community, too. Definitely worth the read. Now, I’m off to schedule some posts… everywhere!
Hitting that era of life where menopause may become more of a reality than one of those things that might happen in the distant future, I began to read this book with a little more curiosity than usual. Lyn is in the throes of the beginning of menopause. She’s all hot flushes and had a No Entry sign firmly placed ‘down there’, much to the frustration of her husband, Neil. Things come to a head when she discovers he’s found ways to lubricate himself, without her assistance. Armed with the keys to what was their holiday home, Lyn ups sticks and moves to Cornwall, to start up her new life. She signs up to a matchmaking site, with ‘companionship only – NO SEX’ firmly ticked on her profile and proceeds to meet some characters, some of which become longstanding friends, and some, she’d rather not see again. An easy to read book, and I really liked some of the characters, especially gentleman Peter and transexual, Jamie! But, though the ending was very ‘happily ever after’, part of me wanted her to make a different choice. Still, an enjoyable read.
I’ve read some of Kay Bratt’s more recent reads before, and had the Scavenger’s Daughters on my kindle for a while now, so decided to read. A different type of story, with some heart-wrenching scenes within the tale. I have no real knowledge of the situation in China, especially during the times of the revolution and after, so this was eye-opening. I truly hope there were men and women like Benfu and Calla, willing to give love and homes to the thousands of abandoned girls. A touching story. I look forward to reading the next one.
After learning of all the good, Benfu and his wife Calli have done for abandoned daughters of the country, we get to follow the story further this time from Calli’s viewpoint, and the eldest of the adopted girls living with them now, as well as a new character, Li Jin, who is another woman, passed from pillar to post within the system, before suffering beyond what any girl should have to suffer. All before a secret is unearthed. Another tumultuous ride in the life of girls in post-revolution China.
The third book in the Scavenger’s Daughters series focussed on the twin girls Benfu and Calla look after, Ivy, and her blind sister, Lily, along with a little more about Sami, the girl who Li Jin, the blood daughter of Benfu and Calla, brought with her to live. They now have a bigger home, but still, it is filled with folk who they want to help and is run by love and the goodness that runs through the veins of its inhabitants. Until that is, misunderstandings occur, and one of the twins ends up incarcerated, and Sami stirs up her own trouble. I’m sure that much of what is written has an element of truth in it. Quite possibly, not all this would happen to just one family, in reality, but it makes for interesting reading, and, as I have mentioned in reviews for the previous books, I feel more educated with each book I read.
Red Skies, the fourth in the Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters, was another heart-rending read. This time, we concentrated on Mari, one of Benfu and Calla’s eldest ‘daughters’, who lives away from her family, with her husband, near Beijing. Having been rescued from the streets as a child doesn’t mean that she’s spared any difficulties as she enters adulthood, and these are what Kay Bratt has explored in this book. Mari is a ‘good wife’. She’s nursing her husband back to health after a serious fall, and juggling trying to work, to cover costs of living, with caring for a man, who is a mere shell of himself, and slowly turning to his medication for support, rather than his wife. An Ni is a young girl, forced into the begging cycle by a gang who found her as a babe. Her path crosses with Mari’s one day, and little do they know how intertwined their lives will become. Max is an American in Beijing on work duty, with a very personal mission he’s trying to complete as well. There are so many layers to this story, from the begging gangs to adoption, to loss, in many forms. But there is always hope.
This prequel to the Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters series was truly heart-rending. In The Palest Ink, we learned much more of Benfu, the Scavenger’s, history, and how he came to be where he ended up, in Wuxi, with his beloved Calli. It also follows the story of his best friend, Pony-Boy, and the ending truly had me in tears… The horrors that were experienced by some in China during those times, were unknown to me, so it was eye-opening. Thank you, Kay Bratt, for educating me in an era I had no knowledge of.
Phew! Seventeen books. That’s not a bad run, is it? There are a mix of new releases, as well as older ones, there, that I wanted to read, from my never-decreasing TBR pile. Which ones tickle your fancy?
Good Day, Peeps! I have another wonderful guest on the blog today, to introduce her new book, Networking For Writers, to you all. It’s releasing TODAY!
Please give wonderful fiction author, entrepreneur and now non-fiction writer, Lizzie Chantree, a huge welcome!
Hello everyone. Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog today, Ritu, I’m thrilled to be here!
My name is Lizzie Chantree and I am a women’s fiction author. I write books about strong minded entrepreneurs with some pretty unusual businesses, which is a lot of fun. I have been lucky enough for them all to become international bestsellers in various categories and to have hit the #1 spot more than once too. I have just written my first non-fiction book, to help writers find their way through the minefield of book marketing that can sometimes seem a little overwhelming.
Networking is about being social, but it is also about structure, discipline and focus. In my book I offer insight into the tools I use to sell books, keep my author brand up to date, find writing groups to join or create and I explain how not to waste valuable writing time through procrastination and self-doubt. I attribute my success to my incredible community of support, which grows daily, due to easy to learn techniques and I hope that this reference tool can guide others to be able to follow their dreams and enjoy every minute of the journey.
The Blurb
Are you swamped with book marketing and looking for a way to find new sales? Learn simple and effective networking techniques, to grow your readership and connect with other authors and book lovers, today!
Whether you are a new or experienced writer, self-published or traditionally published, this book will show you how to grow your readership and author network, through some of the most powerful of all marketing tools – word of mouth and recommendation.
This book will show you:
How networking can help you sell more books.
Why author branding is important.
How networking hours work.
Specific Facebook groups for writers
How to utilise social media to grow your readership.
How not to waste valuable writing time.
How to make our marketing more effective.
Throughout Networking for Writers, we will explore running or attending book signings, hosting seminars, finding a writing buddy or mentor, author networking groups, social media planning and so much more.
In this day and age, networking is key for both traditionally published, as well as self-published authors. But where to start? The amount of different social media platforms out there can boggle the best of minds, so it is always to great to have a thorough guide, and who better than a successful author and entrepreneur, to step up and share her tips and ideas? Lizzie Chantree has put together a wonderful resource, that is a quick read, but filled with so many gems to help you get started, and continue growing your social media presence, and work with other writers, your readers and businesses to benefit not only yourself but the wider community, too. Definitely worth the read. Now, I’m off to schedule some posts… everywhere!
Earlier this year, I had the honour of reading an ARC of a very special book. Special because it is written by one of my favourite authors, Amanda Prowse, and her son, Josiah Hartley.
The biggest difference between this book and the numerous others Amanda has authored, is that her previous works were fiction. This is about reality.
Bestselling novelist Amanda Prowse knew how to resolve a fictional family crisis. But then her son came to her with a real one…
Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times.
Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might succeed in taking his life.
In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love for her child.
For anyone with depression and anyone who loves someone with depression, Amanda and Josiah have a clear message—you are not alone, and there is hope.
Can I just say… I was hugely affected by this book. Honestly, I think it should be compulsory reading for all parents, especially at the moment, with the effects of the Pandemic upon the minds of our youngsters.
Now, let me share my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!
The Boy Between is a gut-wrenching memoir delving into the depths of depression, written by mother and son duo; award-winning contemporary novelist, Amanda Prowse, and her beloved son, Josh Hartley.
Imagine being that child, for whom nothing seemed to come easy. Perceptions and thoughts as a young person, differing from others all the time. Then finding out you were dyslexic and overcoming your learning difficulties to become a top student.
The world is literally at your feet. Universities of your choice sending offers, fantastic predicted grades.
Suddenly, a fog enters your mind. Nothing appears to stay in your brain. An overwhelming exhaustion hits. Nothing is more important that getting to that bed.
Now, flip the coin and imagine being the mother of that child for whom life has been quite tough. Finally, he’s got his break. He’s doing so well. You only want what is best for your boy.
Then a change comes over him. Interest in his work dwindles. He doesn’t want to really talk or interact. A call from his tutor confirms that there may be an issue.
What no one seems to realise is this is the time that child has begun to descend into the dark hole that is depression.
I was in tears, reading so many sections of this book.
Josh’s openness and honesty buried deep inside me, I could feel the darkness he was spiralling into.
Amanda’s recount of the same days, as a mother, who would never want anything negative to happen to her son, was just as heart-breaking. The realisation that her child was suffering from an illness, which she would not be able to heal easily, was hard to read, but so well written.
I applaud both Josh and Amanda for tackling an issue that is oft swept under the carpet. Depression can creep up on anyone. It doesn’t matter where you are from, what your background is. But it is serious. Serious enough that people take their own lives when they can’t take it anymore.
I can’t recommend this book enough.
Available from 1st November from all good book retailers.
About the authors:
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty five novels and seven novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’, ‘My Husband’s Wife’, ‘The Girl in the Corner’ and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a regular panellist on Channel 5’s ‘The Jeremy Vine Show’ and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national independent Radio stations including LBC and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, ‘A Mother’s Story’ won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the year Award while ‘Perfect Daughter’ was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016.
Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
‘A powerful and emotional work of fiction’ – Piers Morgan
‘Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill’ – Daily Mail
‘Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues’ – Hello!
‘A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read’ – The Irish Sun
‘You’ll fall in love with this…’ – Cosmopolitan
‘Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.’ – Heat
‘Magical’ – Now magazine
A keen environmentalist and animal lover, Josiah (Josh) Hartley lives in a remote farmhouse in the West Country with his two idle and arrogant French Bulldogs, Dottie and Beau. Happiest following the music scene in Bristol, at a festival or watching rugby with his mates, Josh enjoys the outdoor life and often heads to the sea to surf and sit on the beach watching the sun go down.
After a stint at the University of Southampton, another at the University of Bristol and one planned suicide, Josh decided to write about his descent into mental illness and the depression that held him in its grip for the past few years. The Boy Between carries the overriding message that things can and often do get better. It is a book of reflection, raw, honest and full of hope – the proof being that Josh is still here and excited about what comes next. He’s ready to catch any opportunity that life throws his way; quite a thing for someone who only a few years ago was living in a world gone grey, ready to disappear from the face of the earth…
I was honoured to be asked to take part in the blog tour for Emma Hetherington’s new release, Secrets In The Snow.
Here’s the blurb:
Perfect for fans of Karen Swan and Lulu Taylor!
As the winter snow falls on the small Irish village of Ballybray, Roisin O’Connor and her young son, Ben, are saying goodbye to their beloved neighbour Mabel Murphy. Mabel lived a bold and colourful life, but the arrival of her brooding nephew, ‘blow-in’ Aidan Murphy, just makes life more complicated for Roisin.
However, in one final act of love, a message arrives from Mabel that changes everything. And as winter turns to spring and the cold snow melts, the secrets both Roisin and Aidan are hiding must be revealed at last…
Roisin has had a rough ride in life, bouncing from foster carer to foster carer, before entering into an abusive marriage.
Through a welcome tragedy, she finds herself widowed and wants to make a fresh start for her and her son, Ben.
A pin in a map lands her in a tiny village called Ballybray in Ireland, and it couldn't be more different from her upbringing in the city of Dublin.
Once there, she finds that she has an interfering neighbour, Mabel Murphy, an elderly widow, with a New York twang, who refuses to believe that this young woman would prefer to be alone.
What develops between them, is a friendship stronger than most, more akin to family.
Life is idyllic, almost, until Mabel gets ill and passes away.
But this meddling neighbour isn't finished with her work to make sure Roisin lives her life to the fullest.
Somehow, from beyond the grave, she's arranged for some messages, specifically for Roisin, and Aidan, Mabel's nephew, who has been in the US for the last fourteen years, and only comes back to Ballybray to attend the funeral and sell off her property.
What follows, in the story, is the impact of the messages that Mabel sends, seasonally, for these two lost souls, over the course of a year, and how the words of a soul long gone, can still have a positive effect on the lives of those left behind.
I truly enjoyed this book. Wonderful characters. Everyone needs a Mabel Murphy in their lives.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Written by the amazing Emma Heatherington.
Emma Heatherington is a bestselling author from Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Her novels include the Amazon UK Top 10 bestseller and Amazon US hit, The Legacy of Lucy Harte, and A Part of Me and You, which reached the USA Kindle Top 100 and the UK Top 40. Her latest novel, A Miracle on Hope Street is a heartwarming Christmas themed story of love, kindness and friendship. As well as novels, Emma has written scripts for over 70 educational short films and plays and was ghostwriter for country legend Philomena Begley on her autobiography, My Life My Music My Memories (The O’Brien Press, 2017) and Nathan Carter’s life story, Born For The Road (Penguin Ireland) which was shortlisted for the An Póst Irish Book Awards 2018. She also regularly contributes to the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life newspapers and has appeared on chat shows on RTE, TV3 and UTV. Emma is a mum of five, aged from 23 to 4 years old and her partner is Irish artist and singer/songwriter Jim McKee.
![Only One Woman by [Christina Jones, Jane Risdon]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZgNHZFaUL.jpg)
But I Smile Anyway... 