Lively Lila: A Dance of Happy Discovery by Ben Levey

Lila is fun and imaginative and every day is a new adventure for her. She might not always feel the same as everyone else but she doesn't let that stop her living her life!

There's so much information packed into this fun story. The rhyming words sound musical, living up to the title of a happy dance.

Book Summary

Step into Lila’s whirlwind world in A Dance of Happy Discovery

Embrace Lila’s unique sparkle as she twirls through life’s ups and downs with ADHD, showing us all how to love who we truly are.

Young readers, prepare to be dazzled by this exciting adventure that’s bursting with boldness, bravery, and the fun of being different.

Dive into Lila’s story and uncover a tale that’s all about standing strong, letting your creativity fly, and celebrating the superhero within!

Author Bio

Ben Levey is originally a Chartered Project Manager in the construction industry from East London, but he has tapped into his love for the creative world through his fashion brand and now, children’s books.

I've made a Happy Happy Cocktail, I ran out of triple sec so substituted with blue curacao which gave the cocktail this cool colour. I took the photo before stirring but please stir before drinking!

60ml vodka, 30ml triple sec (or other orange liqueur), 150ml orange juice. Fill a rocks glass with ice, pour all the ingredients in and give it a stir.

Spotlight on...
Clytemnestra's Bind by Susan C Wilson

Book Summary

Queen Clytemnestra's world shatters when Agamemnon, a rival to the throne of Mycenae, storms her palace, destroys her family and claims not only the throne but Clytemnestra herself.

Tormented by her loss, she vows to do all she can to protect the children born from her unhappy marriage to Agamemnon. But when her husband casts his ruthless gaze towards the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten, once more, to destroy the family Clytemnestra loves.

From one of Greek mythology's most reviled characters—a woman who challenged the absolute power of men—comes this fiery tale of power, family rivalry and a mother's burning love.

Author Bio

Susan C Wilson is a working-class Scottish writer. Her lifelong passion for ancient Greece was ignited as a child by stumbling across stories of gods and heroes in the dictionary. She loves to explore what makes us human: the eternal motivations, desires and instincts that cross time and place.

She has a degree in journalism from Napier University and, in preparation for writing her novels, gained a diploma in classical studies from the Open University. Clytemnestra’s Bind, her debut novel, was long-listed for the Mslexia Novel Competition 2019. It is the first in The House of Atreus trilogy and will be published by Neem Tree Press in June 2023.

Anna's Garden by Sarah Hewitt

Today I am thrilled to have an interview with Sarah, read on to find out more about her inspirations and what makes her happy. Spoiler (not really) alert, a lot of nature is involved!

Interview

To start with, would you like to say a little about your inspirations for the book?

The story of the book's creation can be read in detail here. My inspiration came from my own experience as a child with dyspraxia and my late daughter Beth's love of gardening.  I hope Anna's Garden empowers all children to be the wonderful people they really are. As a child I wished I could be like everyone else, but now I feel blessed by the things I can do well such as writing and drawing, because while neurodiversity can bring challenges, it can also bring wonderful gifts. Anna's Garden is also a book about kindness - I truly believe that most problems can be solved by simple kindness and understanding and that it is the most important lesson we can teach our children.

I love the illustrations, have you always liked to draw as well as write?

Thank you! Drawing is my first love. I was always encouraged by my family and spent many hours with my maternal grandfather in particular, drawing and painting. He was the inspiration for my first picture book 'Grandad'. The transformational experience of being a mature student on the Children's Book illustration MA at Cambridge School of Art when I was 46, was magical, and underpins all that I do creatively. I describe the illustration process for Anna's Garden step by step here.

Do you have a garden of your own? What is your favourite flower?

I do have a garden - although I am so busy with my books in my spare time that the gardening is usually done by my lovely husband Richard - helped by our labrador Indy!

My favourite flower changes with the seasons - I always feel happy when I see the daffodils appearing because it means that all is to come with the promise of sunshine, spring and summer. The smell of roses always takes me back to wonderful summer childhood days spent in the garden with my dad. 

Here is Anna sitting in our garden:) 

What a wonderful message at the end, 'Do What Makes You Happy!' What are some of the little things that make you happy?

The things that make me happy are spending time with my family and friends, and of course drawing (which always makes me happy, even on the days when I wake up feeling sad). I also treasure hearing the birds and watching the seasons change when I'm with Indy on our early morning walks. So much makes me happy - the common denominator to all my friendships is laughter - and it is definitely the best medicine.

Finally, what is your favourite cocktail or drink?

My favourite cocktail is an espresso martini - I love the fact it is like choosing the coffee creme chocolate from a selection box every time! My favourite drink is Guinness served at the perfect temperature, enjoyed with friends, ideally in a bar in the Irish countryside.

Book Summary

Anna knows what she likes and what she is good at.

Even though catching a ball is not her favourite game and loud noises make her ears hurt, there are lots of other things that Anna can do.

Although she likes to spend time on her own, she is also very kind and loves sharing with others.

'Anna’s Garden' is a classic rhyming picture book with a charming art style. With a memorable cast and unique handling of its themes, this story will help young readers embrace their true selves.

Anna doesn't necessarily want to do the same things everyone else considers fun, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care about them all and want to be friends. She has a present for everyone and at the end shares what makes her happiest with all of them. I loved the wonderful descriptions of each of the people Anna meets on her way and the delightful, dreamy illustrations. The rhyming words flow so beautifully and lyrically.

Sarah's favourite cocktail is an Espresso Martini, but as I've already featured the usual one on my blog I thought I'd try an adaptation I've seen online. So here is an Espresso Rumtini!

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass - 45ml gold rum, 30ml espresso, 20ml coffee liqueur, dash of sugar syrup (according to your taste for sweetness!).

Spotlight on...
Paper Forests by Tegan Anderson

Today's spotlight is one of the finalists from 2023 BBNYA. Find it on Goodreads here. For more information on the BBNYA competition, see details at the end of the post. 

Book Summary

Once upon a time, Oliver wakes up in a Forest full of magic and monsters, not quite dead, but not quite alive either. He wakes with three other people whose lives have been cut short, each more tragically than the last.

Together, they embark on a journey that will take them deep into the heart of the Forest, where they will have to face the ghosts of their pasts and their long-hidden secrets. Secrets that will force Oliver to choose between finding a new life in the trees and finding a way home.

Welcome to the Paper Forest.

Author Bio

On a cold Autumn evening back in 2008, seven-year-old Tegan Anderson began to write their first short stories, finding a more creative way to learn their spellings. Many years and many more short stories later, they haven't stopped for anything. Now, they're writing more than they ever believed possible. Tegan may write the worlds they would prefer to exist in but currently lives in Devon with their overflowing bookshelves and expanding imagination.

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

A Swift Return by Fiona Barker

Book Summary

Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens. When Swift loses her way on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to her rescue and are inspired to think big about looking after the sky above their city. Inspired by Fiona and Howard’s love for wildlife of all kinds, A Swift Return is the follow-up to Setsuko and the Song of the Sea. Howard’s beautiful illustrations evoke a strong sense of place, strengthened by the beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan.

This book has such beautiful full page pictures with wonderful perspectives, views from the sky and the ground and in between. There's so much empathy in the children's expressions. I loved how helping the swift made them friends, then they worked to helped make the city a nicer place for everyone, including the wildlife.

Author Bio

Fiona is a middle-aged, married mum of one. She is positively potty about picturebooks; reading them and writing them. When writing, she longs for alliterative loveliness but is reluctant to rhyme. When reading, she looks for a marriage of words and artwork and loves anything that is fun to read aloud.

Fiona loves doing school author visits and speaking to adults about picture books and children's publishing.

Visit www.fionabarker.co.uk for details of forthcoming events.

To make an Alpine Swift, shake the following ingredients with ice: 40ml gold rum, 20ml Aperol, 20ml pineapple juice, 20ml lime juice, 10ml sugar syrup. Then pour into an ice filled julep cup.

Lie or Die by A.J. Clack

Described as perfect for fans of TV's The Traitors, Lie or Die publishes on 7th March. I have to admit I hadn't even heard of The Traitors until I read this book so I can't say how true that it but it is definitely worth a read anyway!

Book Summary

When a casting call is announced for new reality TV show Lie or Die, Kass is tricked into auditioning by her best friend. Billed as Big Brother meets Mafia, Lie or Die pits contestants against each other as they try to discover who is a murderous agent and who is an innocent player. But when contestants start to turn up dead (the real kind, not the fake kind), Kass realises that not being eliminated and winning the game is the least of her worries. No longer a game of truth and lies, Kass and her friends are in a fight for survival. 'Reality' just got very real.

This was really fast paced and gripping, I found myself suspecting quite a few characters but never would have guessed the final twist (or multiple twists!).

Kass was a great protagonist, I liked her superpower of being able to tell when people were lying which is a definite bonus for a game like this. At one point I started to wonder if it was going to be an unreliable narrator thing. It is in the name, Lie or Die and they keep saying, trust no one! However, I won't tell you if I was right as I don't want to risk spoilers!!! I'm afraid I just couldn't like Thea. I think she sounded like the crappest friend no matter what Kass had done or how much she defends her. Lewis was really cool though and held the group together.

I never totally understood the game, or how their personalities would help anyone guess who the killers were as their parts in the game were totally random! But in the end it didn't really matter and it wasn't totally necessary for the story.

I'll be eagerly looking out for more by A.J. Clack and hope I won't have to wait too long!

Author Bio

A.J. Clack moved from a small village in Wales to London, to pursue a career in television. She worked on a wide range of shows from Teletubbies to Friends, while also writing plays for the Edinburgh Fringe and development scripts/pilots for childrenʼs television. She now lives in Essex with a houseful of teenagers and can often be found freezing on the side of a rugby pitch.

While on holiday in Mauritius, we asked for a blue cocktail and this is what showed up! It matched the book so beautifully 😍

I have no idea what it's called but I think it involves tropical juice, probably plenty of rum, and definitely blue curacao.

The Haunting of Lake Lucy by Sandy Deutscher Green

Book Summary

With his fear of dark, enclosed places, 13-year-old Jayce is the last person to check out the dilapidated lake house next door. Instead, he opts to write a note to the ghost he’s convinced is haunting the house, as well as his dreams. Getting his twin sister to deliver it to the mailbox is draining his snack supply, but so worth it because: THE GHOST WRITES HIM BACK. Now Jayce must uncover the dark secret of a cursed lake—or remain haunted forever.

Jayce is the quieter of the twins but he still has an adventurous spirit and when he dreams of the ghost next door he gets his sister to help with the investigation. What he finds is both more mundane and more spooky than he imagined! With the letters from the ghost, Jayce's dreams and the creepy mist appearing, you never know what is real or what is imagination.

This is a great option if you want to try out a poetry style novel. Even though I'm not used to reading poetry, the writing flowed really easily. I also enjoyed the clever use of different formats, like highlighted words telling a different story. I would have liked more of those as I expected a bit more variety in the book.

To make the Lucy cocktail, add 15ml lemon thyme syrup, 15ml lemon juice and 3 raspberries into a tall glass and muddle the fruit. Fill the glass with ice, add 45ml of raspberry vodka then stir to mix and chill. Top with sparkling water.

Betrothal and Betrayal by Janet McGiffin

Book Summary

Seventeen-year-old Thekla needs her quick wits and knife to track down her betrothed, a soldier who has left her at the altar for the third time. Elias the monk travels with her to Constantinople where she meets Irini of Athens, an extraordinarily beautiful orphan her same age who has been brought by powerful Emperor Constantine to marry his son, Co-Emperor Leon. The two women join forces to survive this vigorous capital of the Roman Empire of the East which is rocked by religious and political strife. But will Thekla help the ambitious and ruthless Irini of Athens find the power that she craves?

I loved Thekla immediately, she was so feisty and no-nonsense. Her knife gets a LOT of use and I think should have it's own twitter account. It's practically a character itself and I bet it would have tons of stories to tell!

This was easy to get into and very easy to read, however it was a little bit lacking in suspense, which stopped me from getting completely gripped in the story. Everything just seemed to happen a bit too easily for Thekla, and even when real trouble did strike, it passed over very quickly, though I must admit I enjoyed not having to put up with too much angst!

The descriptions of all the food sounded so delicious, this is not one to read on an empty stomach! I loved all the Greek words included in the story and it was good to have the glossary at the end.

Author Bio

Janet McGiffin divides her time between her apartment in Manhattan, her family in Washington State, and her friends in Athens, Greece. She was born in Fairfield, Iowa into a newspaper family and learned to write copy as a teenager by writing obituaries for the Ellensburg Daily Record in Washington state. After university, she worked for the Milwaukee Health Department where she gained first-hand knowledge for her best-selling mystery series published by Fawcett Press, NY, featuring Doctor Maxine St. Clair, an ER doctor in an inner-city hospital. She worked as a press officer for the Washington state senate, then moved to Athens, Greece where she wrote grant proposals for small non-profit women’s organizations in Mediterranean countries. She also wrote a humor column for the Athens News newspaper with field archaeologist Adrian Vrettos, wrote two English language easy readers for Cambridge University Press, UK, and a series of hiking articles for greecetravel.com. She researched her Byzantine-era Empress Irini Series through extensive travel in Greece, followed by six months of research at the Bodleian libraries in Oxford, England. She enjoys hiking in Greece, England, Wales, and Scotland.

I'm sure Emperor Constantine would love a Constantine's Cosmo before going into battle. To make the cocktail, shake the following ingredients with ice and find strain into  a coupe glass. 50ml vodka, 20ml elderflower liqueur, 25ml raspberry-lychee puree, 25ml lemon juice.

Graphic Novels (part 3)

My love of graphic novels just keeps growing! It's amazing how they can say so much in such a short space. These all have such different colour palettes and art styles but I really enjoyed them all.

You can start with this suitably arty cocktail, Arte De Volar. Shake all the following ingredients together with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe. 60ml blanco tequila, 7.5ml creme de violette, 7.5ml lavender syrup, 20ml lime juice, 2.5ml sugar syrup. Enjoy!

Evil Emperor Penguin: The World Will Be Mine! by Laura Ellen Anderson 

Evil Emperor Penguin keeps coming up with more nefarious plans for world domination but somehow they never work out. They just keep getting weirder and more insane and so, so funny. I just love his little helpers, they remind me of Gru's minions but even less evil. And EEP's secret love for Eugene is adorable, the way he never wants to admit how much he cares.

Though this was the latest book in a series, it didn't feel confusing without reading the previous ones. That being said I will definitely be reading the others too.

Witches of Brooklyn series by Sophie Escabasse

Effie finds herself dropped off to live with her 2 extremely weird aunts she's never met before. She soon realises what exactly it is that makes them weird, they are witches and it turns out she is one too!

Effie is such a sweetie and her aunts are great characters. I really liked the art style too. I bought myself the first book while on holiday in New York and enjoyed it so much that I've since ordered the rest in the series. I still have book four which I'm looking forward to and I hope there will be more.

Ghost Roast by Shawnee Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, Emily Cannon

Chelsea will do anything to fit in with the popular girls at school, including doing her best to hide the fact that her father runs a ghost hunting company. Unfortunately for her, getting grounded means working for her Dad and she realises she's actually perfectly suited to the job!

I loved the style and the colours, I'm sure the finished version will look absolutely amazing! It was such a fun book to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Mamo by Sas Milledge

Jo goes in search of the Witch but doesn't expect to find Orla who has taken up the mantle from her grandmother, Mamo. Together they try to fix the many things that have gone wrong in town since Mamo's death.

Orla is clearly very conflicted about being back in her hometown but Jo loves it there and can't imagine leaving. Somehow they complement each other perfectly and it's lovely seeing their friendship and trust grow.

How to Love by Alex Norris

Not strictly a graphic novel but I wanted to include this anyway. It's an adorable and funny collection of comics covering everything from whether you really need love, to what happens when you've found The One.