Blog Tour: Try the Leopard's Mouth by Charles Moberly

Join The Coffee Pot Book Club on tour with…

Try the Leopard’s Mouth

by Charles Moberly

May 8th - 12th, 2023

Publication Date: March 12th, 2023

Publisher: Tancava Press

Pages: 375

Genre: Historical Thriller / Romance

AFRICA. 1970

Briony and Tom, both in their twenties, are very different characters. But opposites attract. In business, as in love, they complement each other.

They buy a farm and discover a rare drug. Tom grows it and Briony markets it. At first, they are oblivious of their responsibilities to the land and its people. But gradually they realise that they have been supporting a racist and colonialist regime.

The onset of the Rhodesian – Zimbabwean War of Independence tears at the couple’s relationship. Misunderstandings arise from their conflicting personalities and from external pressures. Events pull them apart, but also bind them together.

Try the Leopard’s Mouth is a romantic thriller set in Africa. It is also a historical novel, grounded in real events in the period 1970-80.

Buy Links

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon AU • Amazon CA

Charles Moberly

Charles on Mount Kilimanjaro

Charles Moberly has written three novels to date:

The Scrotum Toad, a satirical comedy (Winner of a Chill with a Book Reader Award); The Corncrake, a historical novel set in 1909-10 and 1914-15   (Winner of a Chill with a Book  Premier Award.)

In The Corncrake, four members of a family share the narration, which passes between them approximately 300 times throughout - this powerful technique allows the reader to enter the minds of the characters as they react to events, so that love, conflicts and misunderstandings are conveyed immediately. This is only possible if the voices of the characters are so strong that they are identifiable the moment they speak.

Try the Leopard’s Mouth is a romantic thriller with a firm historical base.

Charles lived and worked in Africa for two years, which explains why two of his novels are set there.

In his writing, he loves tension and how cultural differences can tear people apart, yet unite them through a common humanity. He believes that no two characters should ever have the same voice. He writes in the vernacular of the time and place, using slang where appropriate. 

 

He now lives in the UK. 

Follow Charles:

Website • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

Tour Schedule

to follow

Sunday Snippet: Thames Valley Tales by Tim Walker #SundaySnippet #ShortStories #TheCoffeePotBookClub @timwalker1666 @cathiedunn

Thames Valley Tales

A Short Stories Collection

by Tim Walker

#SundaySnippet

Publication Date: March 20th, 2023

Publisher: Independently published

Pages: 155

Genre: Anthology / Short Story Collection

Audiobook narrated by Richard James

Thames Valley Tales is a light-hearted yet thought-provoking collection of nine stories by Tim Walker.

These tales are based on the author’s experience of living in Thames Valley towns, and combine contemporary themes with the rich history and legends associated with an area stretching from the heart of rural England to London.

The collection includes The Goldfish Bowl, in which an unlikely friendship is struck between a pop star and an arms dealer in Goring-on-Thames; Maidenhead Thicket, where the ghost of legendary highwayman, Dick Turpin surprises a Council surveyor; The White Horse intrigue surrounding the dating of the famous chalk carving on the Berkshire Downs; Murder at Henley Regatta, a beguiling whodunit, and The Colnbrook Caper, a pacey crime thriller. Thames Valley Tales starts with The Grey Lady, a ghost story from the English Civil War, and features The Merry Women of Windsor in a whimsical updating of Shakespeare’s classic play. The Author’s Note explains the context and reasoning behind each story.

Thames Valley Tales oscillates from light-hearted to dark historical and at times humorous stories ideally suited to bedtime or holiday reading that will amuse, delight and, hopefully, inform the reader about the rich history of the Thames Valley as it winds 215 miles from the Gloucestershire countryside, past many towns and villages to London and out to the North Sea. The book also has a factual chapter and map of the Thames Valley showing the towns through which the 184-mile Thames Path passes. It’s a walk-through history and the natural beauty of England that will inspire and captivate.

Thames Valley Tales, second edition, is available in audiobook, Kindle e-book and paperback from Amazon worldwide, and can also be found on Kindle Unlimited.

The story: The Merry Women of Windsor is a whimsical update of the plot of Shakespeare’s play. A women’s keep fit group who regularly meet at Windsor Leisure Centre are mocked and sexually harassed by their egotistical trainer, Roger Faultstaff. The plucky and resourceful women come up with a plan to expose Roger as a sex pest and take him down a peg or two…

“To celebrate Midsummer’s Day, in the true pagan tradition, we’re going to hold a medieval-themed fancy dress party in Windsor Great Park. We’ll invite Roger and come up with some way to expose him as a sex pest. The Park doesn’t close to the public, due to its large area, so we’re able to meet in the western car park at nine in the evening. Then we can make our fancy-dress procession as the sun goes down to the old oak tree, damaged by lightening, where legend has it, Herne the Hunter hanged himself, before being re-born as a spirit, hunting across the night sky.”

A hush had fallen on the group, and Maggie saw that she had a captive audience. She decided to give them the full story, as she had recently researched it online. “Let me tell you about the legend of Herne the Hunter. It’s a folk tale dating back to the time of King Richard II, who lived at Windsor Castle and hunted in the Windsor Great Forest in the 1380s. The legend tells of a mighty hunter called Herne – his name means ‘Leader of the Wild Hunt’, a name associated with the Saxon god Woden.

“One day he was wounded by the antlers of a huge stag, whilst protecting the King. King Richard allowed him to keep the antlers of the slain stag as a trophy and further rewarded him for his bravery by appointing him Leader of the Hunt. However, the man who had healed Herne, out of jealousy, put a spell on him so that he lost his ability to track deer. This led to the King dismissing Herne from his service, and, in despair, he hanged himself from an old oak tree in the forest.” ...

Universal Buy Link

Tim Walker

Tim Walker is an independent author living near Windsor in the UK. He grew up in Liverpool where he began his working life as a trainee reporter on a local newspaper. After graduating, he moved to London where he worked in the newspaper publishing industry for ten years before relocating to Zambia where, following a period of voluntary work with VSO, he set up his own marketing and publishing business. He returned to the UK in 2009.

His creative writing journey began in earnest in 2014, as a therapeutic activity whilst recovering from cancer treatment. He began writing an historical fiction series, A Light in the Dark Ages, inspired by a visit to the site of a former Roman town. The series connects the end of Roman Britain to elements of the Arthurian legend and is inspired by historical source material, presenting an imagined history of Britain in the fifth and early sixth centuries. 

Book one is Abandoned (second edition 2018); followed by Ambrosius: Last of the Romans (2017) and Uther’s Destiny (2018). The last two books in the series, Arthur Dux Bellorum (2019) and Arthur Rex Brittonum (2020) cover the life of an imaged historical King Arthur, and are both Coffee Pot Book Club recommended reads.

In 2021 he published a dual timeline historical novel, Guardians at the Wall. This was inspired by visits to Vindolanda and Corbridge at Hadrian’s Wall, and concerns the efforts of archaeologists to uncover evidence and build a narrative of the life of a Roman centurion in second century Britannia… and find his missing payroll chest.

Tim has also written three books of short stories, Thames Valley Tales (2015, second edition 2023), Postcards from London (2017) and Perverse (2020); a dystopian thriller, Devil Gate Dawn (2016); and three children’s books, co-authored with his daughter, Cathy – The Adventures of Charly Holmes (2017), Charly & the Superheroes (2018) and Charly in Space (2020).

He plans to re-work some stories in Postcards from London into London Tales, with the addition of new stories, for publication in 2024 in audiobook, Kindle and paperback.

Connect with Tim:

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram 

Book of the Month: The Briton and the Dane: Legacy by Mary Ann Bernal #HistoricalFiction #BookOfTheMonth #TheCoffeePotBookClub @BritonandDane @cathiedunn

Legacy

The Briton and the Dane

by Mary Ann Bernal

* Book of the Month *

Publication Date: April 21st, 2013 (2nd edition)

Publisher: Self-published

Pages: 352

Genre: Historical Fiction

One man's blind rage decides the fate of a nation.

Whispered by the wise and the learned. Talked of in hushed tones around luminous firesides. Engraved by awestruck scribes in the scriptoria of the Chronicles. Against all the odds, great King Alfred defeated a vastly superior Danish army outside Chippenham. This victory, the sages prophesied, would guarantee peace throughout the land. Or so they thought.

Two years later, Rigr the Bastard, vengeful and seeking to claim his birthright, was defeated in the wilds of East Anglia. His blood smeared berserker warriors vanquished; no quarter asked for - no quarter given. Now, a further two years later, the Vikings return. Noble Prince Sven instigates a seaborne invasion, fuelled partly by blind rage when he discovers that his brother, Prince Erik, has sworn fealty to the Anglo-Saxon king. His own brother: A traitor and a fool.

Erik’s love, Lady Gwyneth, attempts to stop the invasion before it starts by uniting the two estranged brothers, but her scheming only succeeds in making matters worse. Indeed, her interference guarantees the death of thousands of warriors in the freezing, tumultuous North Sea. So when the horns of Sven’s monumental fleet of warships are heard off the fogbound coast of Britannia, King Alfred – outnumbered, out shipped and weary of the fray - must rouse his jaded Saxon warriors and lead them to sea, to repel his most formidable enemy yet.

For a host motivated by the spilled blood of the fallen, the spirit of black vengeance, and the delights of a warrior’s reward in Valhalla, is the most fearsome opponent of all. Alfred. Sven. Erik. Gwyneth. Amidst the ferrous reverberation of a battle royale - one or all must die, and the fate of a nation hangs in the balance, one final time.

Universal Buy Link

#HistoricalFiction author Tim Walker shares his inspiration for his heartwarming stories collection based on local legends, Thames Valley Tales – #BookSpotlight #CoffeePotBookClub @timwalker1666 @cathiedunn

Thames Valley Tales

by Tim Walker

⭐ 2nd Edition & Audiobook Release Day Spotlight ⭐

Publication Date: March 20th, 2023

Publisher: Independently published

Pages: 155

Genre: Anthology / Short Story Collection

Audiobook narrated by Richard James

Thames Valley Tales is a light-hearted yet thought-provoking collection of nine stories by Tim Walker.

These tales are based on the author’s experience of living in Thames Valley towns, and combine contemporary themes with the rich history and legends associated with an area stretching from the heart of rural England to London.

The collection includes The Goldfish Bowl, in which an unlikely friendship is struck between a pop star and an arms dealer in Goring-on-Thames; Maidenhead Thicket, where the ghost of legendary highwayman, Dick Turpin surprises a Council surveyor; The White Horse intrigue surrounding the dating of the famous chalk carving on the Berkshire Downs; Murder at Henley Regatta, a beguiling whodunit, and The Colnbrook Caper, a pacey crime thriller. Thames Valley Tales starts with The Grey Lady, a ghost story from the English Civil War, and features The Merry Women of Windsor in a whimsical updating of Shakespeare’s classic play. The Author’s Note explains the context and reasoning behind each story.

Thames Valley Tales oscillates from light-hearted to dark historical and at times humorous stories ideally suited to bedtime or holiday reading that will amuse, delight and, hopefully, inform the reader about the rich history of the Thames Valley as it winds 215 miles from the Gloucestershire countryside, past many towns and villages to London and out to the North Sea. The book also has a factual chapter and map of the Thames Valley showing the towns through which the 184-mile Thames Path passes. It’s a walk-through history and the natural beauty of England that will inspire and captivate.

Thames Valley Tales, second edition, is available in audiobook, Kindle e-book and paperback from Amazon worldwide, and can also be found on Kindle Unlimited.

Thames Valley Tales (second edition) Book and Audiobook Launch

Audiobook narrated and produced by Richard James

When considering which of my books would make a suitable subject for my first foray into audio, I decided on my Thames Valley short stories, owing to the many comments I’ve received along the lines that the stories have a strong visual quality. Visual in audio? How does that work? 

Well, I believe the stories, properly told and with appropriate effects, will conjure up visual images of the action in the mind of the audiobook listener. Let’s see what comments come back in reviews! I raided my first edition of 15 Thames Valley Tales, selecting eight that could do with a re-write, and adding a newer story, The Goldfish Bowl, to make a set of nine. Two of the stories are quite long, at 40-ish minutes, with the others nearer 30 minutes on audio, giving a running time of 2 hrs 40 mins. I have included a separate Author’s Note, in which I outline the background to each story and the history or legends invoked.

To do the project justice, I hired the voice and production talents of author/actor, Richard James. I attended the launch of Richard’s Victorian crime thriller, The Head in the Ice, in 2019 (see picture) and have stayed in touch since. He seemed the obvious starting point, and I was delighted when he agreed to take on narrating and producing my audiobook. He has added value by helping to tighten up on dialogue and has introduced genre-appropriate music and sound effects. I found it true that written dialogue has a tendency to be a bit more formal than spoken dialogue – something for authors to consider when adapting books to audio.

I hope you enjoy my audiobook and please share your impressions in reviews.

Universal Buy Link

Tim Walker

Tim Walker is an independent author living near Windsor in the UK. He grew up in Liverpool where he began his working life as a trainee reporter on a local newspaper. After graduating, he moved to London where he worked in the newspaper publishing industry for ten years before relocating to Zambia where, following a period of voluntary work with VSO, he set up his own marketing and publishing business. He returned to the UK in 2009.

His creative writing journey began in earnest in 2014, as a therapeutic activity whilst recovering from cancer treatment. He began writing an historical fiction series, A Light in the Dark Ages, inspired by a visit to the site of a former Roman town. The series connects the end of Roman Britain to elements of the Arthurian legend and is inspired by historical source material, presenting an imagined history of Britain in the fifth and early sixth centuries. 

Book one is Abandoned (second edition 2018); followed by Ambrosius: Last of the Romans (2017) and Uther’s Destiny (2018). The last two books in the series, Arthur Dux Bellorum (2019) and Arthur Rex Brittonum (2020) cover the life of an imaged historical King Arthur, and are both Coffee Pot Book Club recommended reads.

In 2021 he published a dual timeline historical novel, Guardians at the Wall. This was inspired by visits to Vindolanda and Corbridge at Hadrian’s Wall, and concerns the efforts of archaeologists to uncover evidence and build a narrative of the life of a Roman centurion in second century Britannia… and find his missing payroll chest.

Tim has also written three books of short stories, Thames Valley Tales (2015, second edition 2023), Postcards from London (2017) and Perverse (2020); a dystopian thriller, Devil Gate Dawn (2016); and three children’s books, co-authored with his daughter, Cathy – The Adventures of Charly Holmes (2017), Charly & the Superheroes (2018) and Charly in Space (2020).

He plans to re-work some stories in Postcards from London into London Tales, with the addition of new stories, for publication in 2024 in audiobook, Kindle and paperback.

Connect with Tim:

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram 

Amazon Author Page • Goodreads 

Audiobook Narrator: Richard James

Thames Valley Tales audiobook is narrated and produced by actor, author and playwright Richard James who has been appearing on stage and screen for over thirty years. 

Most recently, he played a guest role in Miss Scarlet & The Duke for PBS and Alibi Films and was nominated for 'Best Supporting Performance' at the Off West End Awards for his roles in A Sherlock Carol at the Marylebone Theatre.

Richard is known to Coffee Pot Book Clubbers as the author of the Victorian crime series, Bowman of the Yard. Picture shows Tim with Richard (l) at the 2019 launch of book one in his series, The Head in the Ice.

Connect with Richard:

Twitter

Blog Tour: The Queen's Scribe by Amy Maroney

Join The Coffee Pot Book Club on tour with…

The Queen’s Scribe

Sea and Stone Chronicles

by Amy Maroney

May 1st - May 12th, 2023

Publication Date: April 25th, 2023

Publisher: Artelan Press

Pages: 388

Genre: Historical Fiction

A broken promise. A bitter conflict.
And a woman’s elusive chance to love or die.

1458. Young Frenchwoman Estelle de Montavon sails to Cyprus imagining a bright future as tutor to a princess. Instead, she is betrayed by those she loves most—and forced into a dangerous new world of scheming courtiers, vicious power struggles, and the terrifying threat of war.

Determined to flee, Estelle enlists the help of an attractive and mysterious falconer. But on the eve of her escape, fortune’s wheel turns again. She gains entry to Queen Charlotta’s inner circle as a trusted scribe and interpreter, fighting her way to dizzying heights of influence. 

Enemies old and new rise from the shadows as Estelle navigates a royal game of cat and mouse between the queen and her powerful half-brother, who wants the throne for himself.

When war comes to the island, Estelle faces a brutal reckoning for her loyalty to the queen. Will the impossible choice looming ahead be her doom—or her salvation? 

With this richly-told story of courage, loyalty, and the sustaining power of love, Amy Maroney brings a mesmerizing and forgotten world to vivid life. The Queen’s Scribe is a stand-alone novel in the Sea and Stone Chronicles collection.

Praise for the Sea and Stone Chronicles:

“Island of Gold is a nimbly told story with impeccable pacing.”

~ Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice Review

“Sea of Shadows is stunning. A compelling tale of love, honor, and conviction.”

~ Reader’s Favorite Review

 

Amy Maroney is the author of the award-winning Miramonde Series, the story of a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern day scholar on her trail.

Buy Links

Universal Buy Link

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

Amy Maroney

Amy Maroney studied English Literature at Boston University and worked for many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction. She lives in Oregon, U.S.A. with her family. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of The Miramonde Series, an Amazon-bestselling historical mystery trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. Amy’s award-winning historical adventure/romance series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, is set in medieval Rhodes and Cyprus. An enthusiastic advocate for independent publishing, Amy is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and the Historical Novel Society.

Social Media Links:

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Pinterest • BookBub • LinkedIn

Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

Tour Schedule

to follow

#AwardWinning author Marcia Clayton shares an endearing #excerpt from her fabulous novel, Betsey #BookSpotlight #FamilySaga #TheCoffeePotBookClub @MarciaC89111861 @cathiedunn

Betsey

Prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor Series

by Marcia Clayton

Publication Date: November 18th, 2022 (series since 2016)

Publisher: Sunhillow Publishing

Pages: 334

Genre: Historical Fiction / Family Saga / Romance

Set in 1820, Betsey is the prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor Series.

Betsey, a sadly neglected child, is shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years. As she does her best to care for her little brother, Norman, she is befriended by Gypsy Freda, an old woman whose family is camped nearby. Freda's granddaughter, Jane, is also fond of the little girl and is concerned about her.

Thomas, the second son of Lord Fellwood, happens across the gypsy camp and becomes besotted with Jane. However, Jasper Morris, the local miller, also has designs on the young gypsy, and inevitably, the two men do not see eye to eye. 

Betsey is drawn into their rivalry for the attention of the beautiful young woman, and she finds herself promising to keep a dangerous secret for many years to come.

Back at the gypsy camp, Betsey was happily tucking into a bowl of tasty rabbit stew. It was too hot to eat, and the little girl could barely wait for it to cool; so hungry was she. In the meantime, she contented herself with dipping the thick crust of bread into the delicious gravy and blowing on it to cool it before she could put it to her lips. Gypsy Freda watched her thoughtfully.

"Is everything all right at home, Betsey? I know you lost your mother, so it can't be easy. Is your father looking after you?"

"Well, I miss my mum, and Dad has to work, so me and Norman are on our own a lot since Barney got a job at the mill. We're both going to school now because Mr Billery said Norman could go, even though he's only three. He gives us milk and some dinner, so that's good. It's just after school, and at the weekends, when we haven't got much to eat."

"Doesn't Mrs Carter from The Red Lion keep an eye on you? I thought she was friendly with your mother?"

"Aunty Kezzie is kind and she would like to look after us, but she fell out with Dad a week or two ago, and he told her she was not to come to our house anymore. I miss her because she used to come in every day, and hug us too. Dad never cuddles us anymore. I cuddle Norman to sleep, and I sing to him like Mum did because he likes that."

"Have you finished your stew?"

"Aw, yes, thank you; it was lovely. I've warmed up now, but I must get home to Norman; he doesn't like being on his own and he's hungry too."

"Well, I think Jane’s looking for a pot for you to carry some stew home for him, so while she does that, why don't you come over here and sit on my lap and I'll tell you a story? Would you like that?"

Betsey nodded, the unexpected kindness bringing tears to her eyes. She climbed onto the old woman's lap and was soon encircled by a warm embrace and covered with a cosy blanket. She rested her head against the gypsy's bony chest and relaxed, delighted to be treated as a child for once. Ten minutes or so later, Jane reappeared at the entrance of the wagon and smiled when she saw Betsey snuggled up cosily on her granny's lap.

"My goodness, Betsey, you do look comfortable; that used to be my favourite spot when I was little; has she been telling you the story about the barn owls?"

Betsey nodded. "I must get home to Norman, though."

"Yes, of course, you must; now here’s some stew for Norman; I've put it into this old jar so you'll have to be careful not to spill it. It's hot so be careful not to burn yourself, but it will soon cool in this weather, and there's some more bread for both of you. Do you think you can carry it all right?"

The little girl nodded. "Thanks ever so much, Jane; the jar will keep my hands warm. I feel much better now, and I loved hearing your story, Gypsy Freda."

"Aye, I thought you would. I'll tell you what, when the weather's a bit better, bring that little brother of yours; I've got two knees, so there's room for one more on the other one, and I know plenty of stories. See you next time."

Betsey hurried home as fast as she could without spilling the precious stew. She let herself in through the back door and called out to her brother. He was hunched in front of the fire, and was delighted to see her.

"Are you all right, Norman?"

The little boy nodded, gazing intently at the container in her hands, as a delicious smell reached his nostrils. "Is that some food for us, Betsey?"

"No, this is all for you, Norman. I wonder if you can eat it all up?"

Betsey is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link

The Hartford Manor Series Links:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

All Author

The books can also be ordered in bookstores.

Marcia Clayton

Marcia Clayton was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. She is a farmer's daughter and often helped to milk the cows and clean out the shippens in her younger days.

When Marcia left school she worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul and David. As the children grew older, Marcia worked as a Marie Curie nurse caring for the terminally ill, and later for the local authority managing school transport.

Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She’s a keen researcher of family history, and it was this hobby that inspired some of the characters in her books. A keen gardener, Marcia grows many of her own vegetables. She is also an avid reader and mainly enjoys historical fiction, romance and crime books.

Connect with Marcia:

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Amazon Author Page • BookBub • Goodreads