Author of a brilliant new children’s book, Bognor-based teacher Justin Bulpett tells the Spirit bookworm how he came to write Hidden Horizons: the Art of Hiding

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you were inspired to write Hidden Horizons

I was born and raised in Chichester. After receiving my degree in English I worked Front of House at Chichester Festival Theatre for some years in Front of House. My dissertation for my degree was about children’s literature and how it subverts the adult world, so even before Harry Potter I was always intrigued and wanted to try to write an adventure story with a young female protagonist (there are not enough fictional girls leading the way in literature, although that is changing) about a world that is hidden from our own but runs in parallel with it.

How did you go progress the idea?

I began working on Hidden Horizons during my time at CFT. It was 2001 and my new-born son did not sleep very well at night. There were times I can remember writing the book one-handed at three o’clock in the morning, whilst cradling my son in the other hand and constantly rocking back-and-forth as I tapped away on the keyboard. I completed the first draft in 2003, not long after the birth of my daughter.

Did you send it off to agents and publishers?

It was a longer book and, after receiving rejections from both agents and publishers alike, I rewrote it, making significant changes to the start and taking out an entire subplot. However, after several significant revisions, the book still received complimentary but polite refusals from agents and publishers. Leaving Hidden Horizons aside, I moved onto writing another book aimed at the teenage market called Chimera and an adult novel called A Drink With Judas, which will probably be self-published later this year.

But what happened to Hidden Horizons?

I was hoping to cannibalise a description from Hidden Horizons for another work. As I looked back through the book about a year ago I found that I really enjoyed revisiting the story. I asked several friends and colleagues to read it and, after working on their suggestions, I decided to self-publish it on Amazon.

Hidden Horizons: the Art of Hiding by Justin Bulpett is available at www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CQLCNTM

Putting the ‘sex’ into Sussex, Bosham-based author Siobhan Cunningham gets a literary grilling from Team Spirit 

Describe the type of books you (usually) write?

Sexy thrillers, Martina Cole meets EL James with a dash of Sex and the City humour.  I often say I write ‘trash for girls to read on the beach’ but a lot of men read my books also. I think they enjoy the thriller feel and a peek at the way women see sex. As respite from the blood and gore of thrillers I escape by writing a feel-good childrens’ picture book series, with illustrations by my daughter, Scarlett Raven, an artist (www.scarlettraven.com). We produce www.ginormousjoe.com  together. I also write celebrity biographies, and fiction based on (their) true lives.

Briefly, what was your career path to writing novels?

I have lived a little of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, and sat on the sideliners of a few interesting industries, watching the power of fame, money, beauty, ego and greed (I worked in music, football, fashion, celebrity management and media).  In my early twenties I crossed paths with a serial attacker and helped police with a photo-fit. When I looked into his eyes I saw calm, cruel, calculating evil and wondered how the hell a human being became that way? He inspired my protagonist, psychotic killer DAVID HOWARD in my DAVID TRILOGY. A single mum, I worked full time and wrote at weekends and holidays in jobs that looking back were great writing fodder. Once my daughter had finished University in 2009, I sold my flat in London and we both pursued our careers full time, Scarlett as a painter and me as a writer. She has had solo shows in London and sells works worldwide. I have written a few books, screenplays and slipped into film. Phew! the risk may have been worth it, but was very scary at the time.

What’s this about a trip to Hollywood recently?

Am off again next week! Producer/actor Gary Stretch lives in LA. We are working on the film adaptation of THE DAVID TRILOGY: The Penance List, Unfinished Business and For My Sins. Gary read the books and saw a sexy, stylish thriller; BASIC INSTINCT meets PSYCHO.  He is a genius to work with and we are a good writing team. He brings his 25 years film experience and I bring… err… ‘trash for girls to read on the beach’.  He has brought DAVID to life and raised him to another level of fear. Gary is a Brit and I think he enjoys the injection of the British humour when I visit. Living in LA is wonderful but can make you go a little crazy at times. He was a champion boxer in his youth; his last fight was against Chris Eubank in the 90’s, hailed as BEAUTY v THE BEAST.  I am blessed to have him working with me. Other producers, directors and actors have wanted part of its journey, but Gary had the greatest understanding and vision.

How do you write – where, at what times of day, computer or pen & ink, etc?

I live like a boring mushroom, sitting at the computer all day long, even weekends. Sometimes I write just one line (which is hair-pullingly frustrating) and sometimes pages and pages. I’ve forgotten how to write with pen and ink – I am on a computer so much that my handwriting is now atrocious. I am embarrassed when I sign books at how scrappy it looks! 

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Keep at it. Write something you would love to read, have passion for your subject, get in the habit of writing every day, even if only a little, then get your marketing hat on and introduce your work to the planet.  There is no better feeling than when reviews come in – to know you have helped someone escape their world for a while and made them gasp!

The plug: Go ahead and plug your latest books.

THE PENANCE LIST by S C Cunningham (Book I of The David Trilogy)

‘’Psychotic, sexual tour de force, killer gets to the last name on his revenge list, but there’s a problem, he loves her... ‘’

(Print, EBook, Audio Book).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penance-List-David-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00B0HMTW4/ref=la_B002L3ZC2U_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1366892333&sr=1-7

UNFINISHED BUSINESS by S C Cunningham (Book II of The David Trilogy)

‘’What happens when she has had enough, when the stalked becomes stalker and the tables are turned? David gets a taste of his own medicine...’’

(Print, EBook).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unfinished-Business-David-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00B623ABC/ref=la_B002L3ZC2U_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1366892268&sr=1-6

Author Lana Penrose has written several books about her own colourful life. The Team Spirit bookworm gives her a grilling about her books ‘To Hellas and Back’, ‘Kickstart My Heart’ and ‘Addicted to Love’.

How did you start writing – had you always wanted to write?

I began to write at age four, although my letters were usually back-to-front. By my twenties, things improved slightly when I started writing for music publications, television, then books in my thirties. That said, I became an author by accident while living in Greece with a lot of spare time on my hands. In between conversing with glove puppets, I committed to paper my bizarre experiences and before I knew it, I’d penned ‘To Hellas and Back – My Modern Day Greek Tragedy’.

Is writing about your own life and experiences a liberating experience, or do you feel a bit compromised by giving the world such insight into your personal life?

In many ways, writing about my life has been liberating, often cathartic, particularly ‘To Hellas and Back’ given that it’s such an emotional rollercoaster. Because I felt so incredibly isolated when I wrote it, its authorship felt very private, as though I was confiding to a friend. It’s hard to explain, but when I write, I seldom think, ‘People are going to read this.’ It just comes naturally, and I include loads of humour because if you can’t laugh at the absurdity of life, what can you do? I don’t feel compromised by giving the world such an insight into my personal life. After all, we’re all human and lots of people identify with my triumphs, tragedies … and idiocy.

What do you hope readers will take from your books?

From the reader feedback I’ve received to date, people usually walk away from my books feeling thoughtful, emotional, hopeful, bittersweet … and a little bit hungry.

What’s next for you? Will there be more ‘Lana’ books or are you looking at other writing projects?

I’ve just released a mini-memoir titled ‘Addicted to Love’, which is set on the Greek island of Kythera and closes my travel/love trilogy. ‘To Hellas and Back’ and ‘Kickstart My Heart’ were not the end of my story, and what happened next is a little shocking. So I’m afraid there’s yet more ‘Lana’ for the taking! I’m also in the process of finalising a self-help memoir and a Young Adult tome. Now that I think about it, I’ve been really busy and deserve a good holiday. I must remember to avoid Greece!

What advice would you give to anyone tempted to write about their own lives?

Be honest. Have fun with it. Allow things to spill naturally onto the page. Don’t self-censor. Never give up.

Go on, give us a clue to who the pop star is!

Ah, the world-famous Pop Star as featured in ‘Kickstart My Heart’. I’m afraid I can’t divulge his secret identity unless there’s a monetary reward involved, although truth be told, if you did a bit of Googling, you’d probably figure it out.

‘To Hellas and Back’ was a bestseller and has been optioned for film adaptation. All books by Lana are available worldwide via Amazon.co.uk and Smashwords.com.

http://www.lanapenrose.com.au

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Lana+Penrose

https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Lana+Penrose

http://www.facebook.com/lana.penrose

https://twitter.com/#!/LanaPenrose

To read past Book Club reviews and articles click here

Live from Downing Street - The Inside Story of Politics, Power and the Media

By Nick Robinson

Bantam Press

Can you imagine living in a country where Parliament imprisoned those who dared to report what MPs had said? The temptation is to think of some far flung dictatorship but that was how it was in Britain until 1771. The year saw a mini-revolution take place and the beginnings of politics being reported by some rather basic forms of media.

Nick Robinson's 'Live from Downing Street - The Inside Story of Politics, Power and the Media' details the ongoing battle between the media and politicians. How battles were fought to change a law that stopped broadcasters from debating anything newsworthy or even covering elections. 

But this book is more then just a history lesson. Whilst it is an excellent look back at how political reporting has evolved, and how Parliament has adapted and coped with cameras in the House of Commons chamber and the creation of 24 hour TV news channels, it also focuses on some of the great political personalities of the past and how they embraced or distrusted the media.

We discover how Churchill was keen to create ITV to rival the BBC, as he had never forgiven the corporation for not giving him airtime to outline his concerns about fascism and the rise of Hitler. Nick also outlines how politicians like Harold Wilson, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair all fought against the media, yet always seemed grateful for a platform when the mood suited them.

And it is not just about politicians. This book talks about some of the great political broadcasters of our times, both past and present. It gives a unique insight into great characters such as Sir Robin Day, as well as more modern broadcasters such as David Dimbleby, Jeremy Paxman and John Humphrys.

It is fair to put Nick Robinson in the same bracket as these names and his book leaves the reader in no doubt as to what turned him on to journalism and politics in the first place. Inspired by the late Brian Redhead, a presenter of Radio 4's Today programme and former Northern Editor of The Guardian, Brian was a family friend of the Robinsons. Nick details his heartbreaking experience of being in a car crash with Will, Brian's son, in which the young man died.

Part autobiographical, part fascinating insight into the world of politics and how political reporting has evolved, this is a book that ticks many boxes.

Reviewed by Tom Dudley

Camp David

David Walliams

Michael Joseph

I have always found David Walliams reasonably funny, but equally just plain odd. A bit of an enigma. So I was intrigued to read this book and to hopefully discover more about him. Is he gay? Is he really that flamboyant? Is he funny, or just hanging on for dear life to Matt Lucas’s coat tails?

Well, this book certainly answered most of these questions and I have a new found respect for Mr Walliams and his uphill struggle to break into comedy. Charting his life up to the first series of Little Britain, it is not, however, a light-hearted read. The depth of his depression is genuinely shocking; very much the tortured genius. But while I longed for more of his trademark humour, his outrageous and shameless name dropping, quirky observations and brutal honesty still make for a compelling read.

Reviewed by Milly Luxford

Still Standing: The Savage Years

Paul O’Grady

Transworld

In a world where celebrities are airbrushed and media trained to plastic perfection Paul O’Grady’s latest instalment of his life story to date is a refreshingly warts-and-all account.

Having shot to fame via his brilliant comic creation, the blonde bombsite Lily Savage, Still Standing picks up the story from Lily’s early days and follows her extraordinary road to stardom. From barroom brawls and drunken antics to exotic characters and partying during the Toxteth riots, O’Grady is a natural storyteller with a knack for comic timing that translates from stage to page as effortlessly as Lily Savage chugging down a yard of gin in one.  

Lough out loud funny, keenly observed, outrageous and moving, it’s no wonder that Paul O’Grady is regarded as a national treasure. We already knew that Lily was no lady, but her creator is an absolute gent.

Reviewed by Vicky Edwards

Reviews

The Unmarried Mother

By Sheila Tofield

Penguin Books

Engaging from the start, this true story is compelling and the characters easy to identify with. 

Growing up in Rotherham, Sheila is the daughter of an uncaring mother who made her believe she was useless, stupid and unlovable. With her self-esteem almost non-existent, vulnerable Sheila was easy prey to the worst type of man - a man who turned his back on her when she told him she was carrying his child. Fifties Britain was not a sympathetic time and place. Ending up in a home for unmarried mothers, Sheila had few choices.

The depth of emotion Sheila experienced is very well represented throughout the book and I found myself troubled by some of the story, as if I had been reading about a friend in a similar situation.

The pictures in the middle section are a lovely addition but would have been better interspersed throughout the book. As they are they give away bits of the story yet to come.

I was also a little disappointed to find out in the last chapter that the book is ghost written.  All the way through I had been reading as if Sheila was telling her own story in her own words, but then I guess not everyone with a story to tell has the talent for putting it into book form.

Reviewed by Jo Parker

The Book of Souls

By James Oswald

Penguin Books

Fearing that they might be too grisly, I tend to steer clear of crime thrillers. The Book of Souls, therefore, came as a pleasing surprise.

In the first instance the book is very well-written. The pace is fast and the dialogue is entertaining - I loved the banter between the characters which adds a light element to a very dark subject.

This is the second book in the series featuring Scottish based Detective, Anthony McLean, a man left traumatised by the murder of his fiancé at the hands of the sadistic ‘Christmas Killer.’ Having eventually caught the killer – an antiquarian book dealer named Donald Anderson who dies 12 years later in prison – Tony McLean almost feels he can move on. But the Edinburgh police force is thrown into turmoil when another body shows up shortly after Anderson’s death, setting in motion a chain of horrific murders.

Concluding with a gripping trail and an unusual and supernatural twist, this is a well-crafted thriller which is disturbing but difficult to put down.

Reviewed by Helen J. Christmas

Same Face Different Place - Beginnings

Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

The author of this book seems to have a good understanding of the criminal underworld in the era in which it takes place.

Whilst tackling love and hate there is an underlying dark side that leaves the reader struggling to put the book down!

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns, which left me with a lot of unanswered questions. I simply cannot wait for book two!

VERY well written Helen Christmas, and please hurry up with the next episode!

Reviewed by Angie Jackson

Falling in Honey – Life and Love on a Greek Island

By Jennifer Barclay

Published by Summersdale (£8.99)

If ever there were a book to make you want to catch the next plane to a Greek island then Falling in Honey is it. With a long-standing passion for Greece Jennifer Barclay’s descriptions are so evocative that you can almost feel the sunshine on your skin and smell the zest of the oranges. But as well as being a beautifully observed piece of travel writing Jennifer’s book inspires as a human interest story. Having suffered heartbreak and betrayal she takes dramatic action. Redefining the terms and conditions of her job and packing up her flat in Chichester, she allows herself to be led by her instinct. Relocating to a tiny Greek island and embracing simple living she discovers that her gut feeling is well-founded. Walking, swimming, overcoming the language barrier to make new friends and relishing the Mediterranean diet, Jennifer truly learns the lesson that we all know in principle but often fail to comprehend thoroughly; that life really is too short and precious to waste. Skilfully but seamlessly blending the island’s history with vividly conjured descriptions of the scenery of Tilos and the spirit of its people, Falling in Honey is enchanting and life affirming. Proving that travelling hopefully is sometimes all that is needed, it will surely leave you pondering on your own quest for happiness.

Trying – Love Loose Pants & the Quest for a Baby

By Mark Cossey

Published by Summersdale (£8.99)

You wouldn’t imagine that a book charting the trials and tribulations of fertility treatment would make for an especially amusing read. Wrong. Although at times profoundly moving, Mark Cossey’s unflinchingly honest account of four years of baby-making boot camp, unusual in being written from the male perspective, is snort-out-loud funny. Enforced sobriety, timetabled sex, hostile cervical mucus, the anti-wank chair, watching sperm being dyed pink, IUI and IVF – Mark and Martha’s dream of having a family takes them on one heck of a journey. But as they face each challenge, with as much good humour and optimism as they can muster, you’re with the couple every, um, step of the way. Whether or not you have any point of reference with infertility Trying is a warm, insightful and enormously entertaining story of a couple’s bid for parenthood.

Briefs Encountered by Julian Clary (Ebury Press, £6.99)

Mr Clary is not just a pretty face and a funny man. A genuinely talented writer with a knack for devilish plots and believable and brilliantly-drawn characters, his latest novel is set in Kent in the house originally owned by Noel Coward and now owned by one Julian Clary.

Slipping easily between the 1930s and the present day, ghosts at Goldenhurst (the house in question) have starring roles; their lives and loves playing out to a gripping conclusion.

Surprisingly romantic, spooky and deliciously rich in scandal, Julian’s talent to amuse is every bit as impressive as that of the late great playwright whose home is the central ‘character’ in this compelling story.

Reviewed By Vicky Edwards

Basically… by Gemma Collins (Ebury Press, £12.99)

If you’re a TOWIE devotee then Basicallywill no doubt add to your pleasure of all things Essex. If you’re looking for greater insight into a part of Gem’s character that you haven’t discovered on screen then you’ll be disappointed. What you’ve already seen is exactly what you get here. That said, if you’re looking for an easy ‘sun lounger’ read this summer then this ticks the box nicely.

Reviewed By Vicky Edwards

The Hunger Games

by Susanne Collins (Scholastic)

The Hunger Games not only came highly recommended but turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I’ve never been a big fan of Sci-Fi and am not a great fan of books written in the present tense. But despite all that - this is one of the most entertaining and original stories I’ve read in ages!

This is a futuristic, dystopian scenario, set in some remote point in the future, in a post-apocalyptic North America. Life is cruel for the majority - the country is split into 12 regions and governed by a Draconian Capitol. Katniss Everdeen, the heroin of this story is a plucky 16 year old - who already teeters on the wrong side of the law. Her illegal poaching in the forest, on the other side of the electric fence designed to confine her kinsmen, goes unnoticed. But when she becomes a contestant of the 74th Hunger Games - a brutal reality TV show, where 2 children from every district are thrown into an arena, to fight to the death - her refusal to ‘follow the rules’ unwittingly draws the attention of Capitol’s sinister President Snow; who fears her rebellion will cause unrest.

The story is gripping and beautifully portrayed through the minds of the characters. The subject matter is deeply disturbing, but you will find yourself moved by the intense emotions revealed. Killing is not something anyone can take on lightly - but becomes an essential means of survival; where Katniss comes across as a good character - but one can easily pick up a sense of bloodlust in others.

Many scenes are quite violent, more so than I would have expected. The imaginative scenario by which the games are manipulated, at times, left me reeling - concepts which are so original, they add a touch of brilliance to this skilfully constructed story.

Reviewed by Helen J. Christmas

Catching Fire

by Susanne Collins (Scholastic)

Having read the first Hunger Games, I wasn’t sure how the next instalment would pan out, but within the first few pages I found myself hooked straight back into it. It contains a dark dystopian element which even exceeds the first book and kept me interested all the way through.

The power of the Capitol is weakening; a ruling elite who remind me a little of the French Aristocracy combined with the Roman Empire. People across the districts meanwhile, struggle to scrape even the most modest existence - oppressed, brutally treated and forced into near starvation. But since Katniss Everdeen has thwarted the Capitol in the 74th Hunger Games, people have been inspired. Fighting has broken out in some districts in the form of rioting. A situation which is becoming a serious worry for the Capitol’s malevolent president, who fears this is the onset of revolution.

The main character, Katniss is torn between a desire to escape with those she loves - and a loyalty towards those she owes her life to. She has many moral dilemmas to face, before she finds herself thrown into the arena a second time, along with 11 victors from the previous ‘Hunger Games’ contests. This is the ultimate cruelty inflicted by the Capitol, where even the strongest of contenders are about to be sent back in the arena - though by this time, some are old and others are weakened through addiction.

Once again, this story is cleverly depicted through the minds of characters; people you really start to care about. The closing scenes are actually quite distressing - you can almost feel the pain of the story’s heroine, scenes which grip your emotions and leave you slightly disturbed. This is the measure of a really good book, in my opinion and I'm looking forward to reading its finale, Mockingjay.

Reviewed by Helen J. Christmas

Oblivion (The Gatekeepers #5)

by Anthony Horowitz

This chilling fantasy is packed with adventure right from the start. Having read the 4 previous books, I couldn’t wait for the final chapter and this did not disappoint. The earth is not as we know it - more like something torn apart by the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse with whole countries ravaged by nuclear and biological warfare; whilst others have suffered environmental destruction in the guise of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, leading to terrible famine and pestilence. Death has embraced humankind on a massive scale. The Old Ones are the ultimate force of evil, an unimaginably foul species, whose single ambition is to destroy and it seems there is little left for mankind to fight for.

Five gatekeepers (destined to fight the Old Ones) have been scattered and against all odds, must find each other. The book is beautifully segregated into their individual stories, each one a gripping story line in its own right, as they battle to escape deadly enemies to rediscover the secret doors which will ultimately allow them to be reunited - but even that poses a problem. The doors have been locked by Chaos, King of the Old Ones and it is really down to one Gatekeeper to carve those pathways open again.

I loved this story from start to finish. The action is non-stop and I could barely put it down. It is as thought provoking as it is dark and there were times when I could barely take it all in. As if the story of each character was not intense enough, the book reaches its terrible conclusion when they are finally brought to Antarctica, where the Old Ones have built their fortress. There are times when you think all is lost - that they cannot possibly win. Yet it takes real human courage - terrible sacrifice and the most powerful forces of good to finally overcome the horror.

This is quite possibly the most cleverly crafted series I have read, next to Harry Potter and although it is marketed as a children’s series, the underlying concept will definitely appeal to adults. Utterly mesmerising!

Reviewed by Helen J. Christmas

How to Rap- The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC

Paul Edwards, forward by Kool g rap

Virgin Books

A must-read for would-be rappers and those for whom wordplay is an art form, this is a fascinating tutorial that covers the lot: topics and form, rhyming, collaborating, setting words to music and much more.

With contributions from more than one-hundred MCs, including some of the very best in the business – Big Daddy Kane, Scholly D and Pharoahe Monch to name but a few – this comprehensive guide is indispensible to anyone wanting to perfect their gumbo flow.

The Adultery Club

Tess Stimson

Publisher

Recommended by a friend, who had looked for something with the erotica of Fifty Shades, but a more captivating storyline, I was not disappointed by Stimson’s novel. Boasting a variety of saucy chic-lit titles, The Adultery Club was one of her first, based in Salisbury, although the Sussex-born writer now resides in America with her husband.  The novel details a marriage, between Nicholas and Malinche, and the effects of office enticement, and an old flame.

Stimson doesn’t smooth over the rough edges of marriage, the relationship is real and honest, and entirely relatable, and the temptress Sara is all too familiar to readers who may have made silly mistakes in dating when they were just starting out. The real allure of the book though, is in the way it is told: each chapter shows the situations from Malinche, Nicholas and Sara’s different perspectives, holding the reader on tenterhooks at the end of narrative.

I’m so glad that I listened to my friend’s advice and set aside some time to read Stimson’s text, it won’t be the first of hers to be added to my shelves. Be warned though; don’t pick this up if you’ve got lots of chores around the house, it’s impossible to put down.

Reviewed by Shannon Bushby

Mary Berry at Home by Mary Berry and Lucy Young

BBC Books, £20

We just adore Ms Berry here at Spirit Towers and this collection of her favourite everyday dishes has definitely got us smacking our lips. Assisted by her close friend and assistant, Lucy Young, Mary offers more than 150 easy to prepare recipes for lunch, dinner and parties. Of course it just wouldn’t be Berry without a cake or two and, thankfully, there are plenty of tiffin time treats to be found.

The 2 Day Diet by Dr Michelle Harvie and Prof. Tony Howell

Vermilion, £12.99

It’s been much talked about but does it really work? If you’re set on achieving a bikini body this summer then why not read the book and put it to the test yourself? Includes meal planners and tasty recipes to help you.

We ARE amused!

Why Was Queen Victoria Such A Prude? and other historical myths and follies

Thistle Publishing (London) www.thistlepublishing.co.uk

With some deeply weird, wonderful (and grisly) historical facts, plus extraordinary revelations to make us think and laugh-out-loud, best-selling author David Haviland explores the more murky, mucky and mirth-inducing aspects of history, from the ancient Greeks to the present day.

Who was the worst executioner? Which famous, historic speech did the Chicago Times describe as “silly”? Which leader held a state funeral for his own leg? Who kept her dead husband’s head in her handbag? Stand by for plenty of mind-bending revelations!

Ziggyology by Simon Goddard

Ebury Press, £20

As a radio station we love books about rock and pop, especially when they’re as fascinating as this one. A scintillating delve into the life of the rock god who came from the stars, Bowie fans are in for a treat with Simon Goddard’s slightly crazy but nevertheless superbly written back story about David Bowie’s alter-ego. Subtitled ‘A Brief History of Ziggy Stardust,’ don’t expect to read much (comparatively) about the Zigster’s creator. Almost as famous as Bowie himself, this is definitely Ziggy’s book.

Click here to be in with the chance of winning a copy of this book.

We love Lana!

Tears and laughter merge in Lana Penrose’s true stories of a 30-something falling to pieces in Greece and London. Winning herself a large and devoted fan-base, not least because her words reach out to any woman who has ever tried to mend a broken heart, in To Hellas and Back Lana gives up her fantastic job as an MTV producer in Sydney to move to Athens with Dion, her handsome, ambitious husband-to-be.  While Dion’s career in radio goes from strength-to-strength, Lana struggles to make friends, learn the language and adjust to a slower pace of life.  Worst of all, she realises that Dion is drifting away from her just when she needs him most. Meanwhile in Kickstart my heart Lana, who has relocated to London, is working for a globally-renowned vocalist who she simply refers to as ‘the Pop Star’.  Being in the music industry gives Lana ample opportunity to meet glamorous new people and fall in love again…

For more info about Lana Penrose: www.lanapenrose.com.au  

À LA MOD - My So-Called Tranquil Family Life in Rural France

By Ian Moore

Published by Summersdale £8.99

A stand-up comic and chutney-churning mod takes on the Loire Valley and a menagerie of manic animals with his young family in tow.

Comedian, mod and professional grump Ian Moore has had enough. Tired of being unable to park anywhere near his cramped house in a noisy town he doesn’t like, he hatches a plan to move his wife and young son to a remote corner of the Loire Valley in search of serenity and space. Several years later, Ian finds himself up to his neck in bilingual offspring, feral cats, promiscuous horses, dysfunctional spaniels and needy hens; he’s wrestling with electric fences, a foreign language, a mountain of animal waste and a wife who collects livestock like there’s a biblical flood on the horizon, all while trying not to dirty his loafers. But despite the ups, downs and increasing demands of Ian’s showbiz career, the Moore family persevere in true Brit style to create a unique, colourful and ultimately rewarding life in their new home – à la campagne and à la mod! One upon a time the warm-up act for The Jonathan Ross Show, and with endorsements by some of Britain’s funniest comedians (‘I hate mods, I hate France and I hate reading but I still loved this book.’ - Lee Mack), À LA MOD is definitely on Team Spirit’s summer reading list. For more info on Ian visit www.ianmoore.info

Wedding Night

By Sophie Kinsella (Transworld)

Perfect holiday reading, Sophie Kinsella has come up with another corker. Lottie is tired of long-term boyfriends who don’t want to commit to marriage. When her old boyfriend Ben reappears and reminds her of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. There will be no dates and no engagement—just a straight wedding march to the altar! Next comes the honeymoon on the Greek island where they first met. But not everyone is thrilled with Lottie and Ben’s rushed marriage, and family and friends are determined to intervene. Will Lottie and Ben have a wedding night to remember … or one to forget?

Inferno

By Dan Brown (Transworld)

If you’re a Dan Brown fan you’re in for a page-turning treat. Featuring renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and set in the heart of Europe, Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centred around one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces. As Dan Brown comments: “Although I studied Dante’s Inferno as a student, it wasn’t until recently, while researching in Florence, that I came to appreciate the enduring influence of Dante’s work on the modern world. With this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm…a landscape of codes, symbols, and more than a few secret passageways.”

Listeners Recommended Reads

We asked you on Facebook:

Which book kept you up all night? Leah sent us a message recently and it got us thinking about books we couldn't put down. Here's what Leah said: "Have just read Mercy by Jussi Adler-Olsen, (finished at 4.30 a.m.) Really could not think of sleeping until I knew what happened. What a fabulous crime novel... Scandi-Crime novels are really compelling now...SO DARK! OVER TO YOU! WHICH BOOK MADE YOU BURN MIDNIGHT OIL?

Here's what you said:

• Danny: 50 Shades of Grey cos the Missus wouldn't turn the bloody light off and when she did she had strange dreams and kept shouting some blokes name....!!!!!
• Teresa: Street Cat Named Bob; fantastic couldn't put it down.
• Kenton: Was a lucky person able to give out copies of the white queen by Philippa Gregory; loving it.
• Louise: The hundred-year old man that climbed out of the window & disappeared.........
• Brigitte: Local author Helen Christmas fantastic this was freebie download to my kindle ta spirit because it was a freebie I thought ok was sure it wasn't going to be much good but omg Martina Cole eat your heart out. Helen right behind you  a fantastic read I couldn't put it down. After I finished I was over the moon to know there is A second book coming soon.

Sunday lunchtime presenter and Battle of the Boozers question master Iain Meadows reveals his reading preferences

What was your favourite story book/s as a child?

I guess my fondest memory, like so many others, is of reading Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Escapism on a classic scale and I loved it.

Which non-fiction book do you find most fascinating? 

Reilly, Ace of Spies by Robin Bruce Lockhart. It documented the life and missions of the real life British Spy, Sidney Reilly. The missions were dangerous and he was a ruthless agent who wasn't a man you'd like to be on the wrong side of, but what he did in service to the country still astonishes me. There is your real life 007.

Which book would you recommend to someone?

Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. Truly great gothic horror and better than many modern stories, plus, essentially, it was written after she got off her face and experienced some vivid nightmares. We've all been there!

Which book kept you gripped from start to finish?

Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I had heard so much about it and so decided to read it, thinking it would be another example of dry Victorian fiction, but the sense of impending dread and repressed lust (there is no other word) is an intoxicating and heady mix, especially Jonathan Harkers encounter with the Vampire women at castle Dracula in the moonlight - wonderfully vivid.

What might we be surprised to learn that you had read?

Moby Dick by Herman Melville. It bored me rigid, but I stuck with it out of a sense of duty. To briefly explain, the book found its way into my possession and then guilt tripped me into reading it by always seeming to be in my line of sight as I was wandering around my house at the time.

Which book have you always meant to read but have never got around to?

A song of Fire and Ice, but they've made it into Game of Thrones now, so I'm watching it instead! Lazy but hey, I'm only human!

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