IMAGES FROM DEBUT NOVEL: THE DE CLERAMBAULT CODE ...

IMAGES FROM MY FIRST PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE NOVEL

Set in the shadow of Regent’s Park, my very first novel - THE DE CLERAMBAULT CODE - throws a special spotlight on this pocket of North West London.

Firstly, let’s take a look at Regents Park itself, a favoured all-year-round place for reflection for the novel’s protagonist, Laura Hill.

The park has an outer ring road called the Outer Circle (4.3 km) and an inner ring road, the Inner Circle, which surrounds the most carefully tended section of the park, Queen Mary's Gardens. Apart from two link roads between these two, the park is reserved for pedestrians. The south, east and most of the west side of the park are lined with elegant white stucco terraces of houses designed by John Nash. Running through the northern end is Regent's Canal which connects the Grand Union Canal to the former London Docks. The 166 hectares (410 acres) park is mainly open parkland with a wide range of amenities including gardens, a lake and a boating area. The northern side is the home of the London Zoo. There are several public gardens with flowers and specimen plants, especially Queen Mary's Gardens in the Inner Circle - where the Open Air Theatre is also located (snapped below from an air balloon)

The seasons snapped by Laura in Queen Mary’s Gardens (within the Inner Circle):

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

           Laura, herself, lives at Redhill Place (below) off Albany Street:

                                            To the east of the Park: 

       She runs the Hampstead English Language Academy on West End Lane, 
                                         near the Finchley Road:  

      The local bookshop, West End Lane Books, has been the spot of many

                 book signings like this one for crime novelist, Ian Rankin:

  Hampstead Heath – another favourite destination for reflection and jogging 
                                      (the City in the background)

                          Later in the novel, Laura travels to Croatia,
                          specifically to the walled city of Dubrovnik

                                      Then to the island of Korkula

                              And to the medieval village of Mali Ston 
                              (and its ominous castle in the background)
                               on the edge of the Peljesac Peninsula

          Towards the end of the novel and in mourning, Laura travels to Venice

   And to Torcello, specifically, the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta di Torcello

 With its world-famous mosaics - which lead Laura to her ultimately fateful decision 
                                               (no spoilers here!) 

                                                                                          
As you know, all profits from the sale of all my novels, The De Clerambault Code, Soul Stealer and Retribution go to the charity Cudeca - see sidebar opposite (www.cudeca.org).

See sidebar or click HERE (Amazon UK), HERE (Amazon.com), HERE (Goodreads) and HERE for reviews and further shameless self-promotion! Thanks so much for your support!


N.B. Images from my two other novels are HERE (Soul Stealer) and HERE (Retribution).

And thriller number 4 - set in the UK's beautiful Peak District and the latest in the Alice Myers crime series - will be available soon both in paperback and on Kindle like its predecessors!

Enjoy!

NORA

VILLAINS IN BOOKS ...

Dear readers, this week, N is for *N*apoleon and other villains in books for children (of all ages) ...

Heroes too, but villains are so much more interesting so let’s look at a few of them first!

Napoleon – Animal Farm (above)

Napoleon is the kid of a villain that makes us shout at the page "Don't trust him! He’s evil". When he takes the pups from the farm dogs and trains them privately, we know he's a first class fascist pig. The novel was written by Orwell as a scathing commentary on Stalin's Russia.

Captain Hook – Peter Pan:

Maybe the first super villain? Sophisticated, egotistical and totally ruthless.

John Silver – Treasure Island:

The silver-tongued pirate who won Jim's affections before he betrayed him. Such a famous villain, he's had us all growling "arrrr, Jim lad!". 

Prof Moriarty – Sherlock Holmes

Moriarty, the smartest villain ever? So many genius villains have followed in his image. Inevitable that Sherlock's equal would eventually show himself, and Moriarty was certainly up to the task. Sherlock and Moriarty sparred for a long time before that tragic confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls.

Count Dracula – Dracula

If you look at the source material, there’s nothing glamorous about Bram Stoker's original text. Dracula crawls down castle walls and talks to wolves. Just as frightening now as he was then.

The Joker – Batman

A brilliantly creepy character who's managed to progress gradually from clown to layered psychopath, with Heath Ledger's chilling version a definite climax.

Blofeld – Thunderball

James Bond's nemesis in many of Ian Fleming's books (and movies). First seen in the novel Thunderball where he masterminds the theft of two nuclear bombs and uses them to blackmail the world's governments with meticulous and dispassionate organisation

And as for Heroes? How about:

Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain:

Just William – Richmal Crompton: 

Pippi Longstocking – Astrid Lindgren:

OTHER FAVOURITE VILLAINS / HEROES IN BOOKS / MOVIES ?

Do tell me! And do check out other posts  @ Jenny Matlock-Alphabe-Thursday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Macro Monday2, Ruby Tuesday & Outdoor Wednesday.

On a completely different note, many thanks to all of you who’ve purchased my own novels, Retribution, Soul Stealer and The De Clerambault Code, and helping them, at the time of writing, all reach the top 70 eBook thrillers on Amazon.es! All profits to charity!       

And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who visited or commented.

Enjoy!

XOXO NORA & LOLA:)

MOVIES TO STEP INTO ...

Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where ‘E’ IS FOR *E*XCITING MOVIES – ONES YOU’D LIKE TO STEP INTO! Sometimes, a movie creates a world we wish we could simply step into – far from the imploding global financial crisis engulfing us all.

The graphic violence of Michael Winner’s Death Wish sequels; the horrors of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie franchise, anyone? No, we could think of loads of movies in which we’d rather not find ourselves! Of course, in many cases the whole concept is a non-starter – the various props, costumes, sets and camera locations that make up the movie’s visual reality are so cobbled together it’s difficult to take them seriously anyway. But sometimes the magic does take hold and a movie creates a world you feel you could simply step into, one in which you might be happy to stay.
For me, it's the dark opulence George Lucas conjured up in Star Wars, and the fun George Roy Hill created in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (above and below). How I’d have loved to have been on that bike instead of Katherine Ross (pictured) or on that cliff-edge alongside Robert Redford and, especially, Paul Newman - whom I had the great pleasure of meeting in a Malibu restaurant when I lived in LA. And spent the rest of the evening trying my best to avoid staring into those mesmerising blue eyes ... What would your favourite movie be to step into? Something modern or period like Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre – if you fancy stepping back in time!
On TV, too, wouldn’t you just love to drop in on your favourite soap/series and join in the gossip and banter? Like Sex and the City, Star Trek or Friends. (Wouldn't it be just great to have friends like those?) For something a bit more demanding, there’s always The Killing (above). Set against an unremittingly dark, Danish backdrop that would certainly keep the pulse racing, I’m not sure, though, the “heroine” Sarah Lund - famous for an edginess that would make my beloved Dexter seem like the Tooth Fairy - would necessarily make the ideal companion.

As for the world of books, surely many would love to step inside a Harry Potter novel and “live” his adventures. Or a John Grisham legal thriller or a Lee Child action yarn. For me, there are characters in both my psychological suspense novels (in paperback - or at just 86p or €0.99 per ebook a steal!) – Alex in The De Clerambault Code and Dan in Soul Stealer – I would love to meet. Dependable types to rely on in a crisis – back in the real world …

WHICH MOVIE / TV SERIES / BOOK WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO 'STEP' INTO? Do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. Have a great weekend!
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)

SOUL STEALER: A PICTORIAL AUTUMN JOURNEY ...

First of all, a brief – but important! - message:

Thank you all for helping to make my earlier novel, Soul Stealer, a psychological suspense thriller reach the top 30 psychological thriller category of Amazon UK’s eBooks!
Now, those readers who have already downloaded Soul Stealer will know that the protagonist, Alice, a London-based journalist, travels to various parts of Britain in her search for the truth in this story of the secretive, shadowy world of identity theft, betrayal and revenge.

This thriller tells the story of one person’s change of identity to escape “things” and the relentlessly chilling, life-changing consequences for those left behind, especially those searching for the truth behind subterfuge and ... murder. Does the character in SOUL STEALER escape justice too? Well, … but you really don’t want me to give away the ending, do you?!

But what I can reveal is the background – and inspiration - to the novel that is set in the season of autumn. And something about the main places that Alice visits: the Peak District, Derbyshire; Stonehenge in Wiltshire, SW England, and Lake Vernwy near the Welsh/Shropshire border. Here then are some images (if only these could have been included on Kindle!). So, follow Alice’s journey – as “seen” through her eyes!
1. Stonehenge - Autumn Equinox:
More images: Sarsen stone in the inner circle: 2. Lake Vyrnwy, near Welsh/Shropshire border:
Firstly, Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, which overlooks the lake and where Alice spends a night:
and the lake itself: And the jetty where Alice takes a contemplative walk:
3. The Peak District, Derbyshire:
Eastern Peak District Moors in heather, near Curbar (top of page):
Nearby Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, residence of Duke & Duchess of Devonshire (below): More Peak District autumnal scenes: Like its predecessor, THE DE CLERAMBAULT CODE, SOUL STEALER is available on Amazon both in paperback and as an eBook (at just 86p for UK readers – a steal!) with all profits to charity (see sidebar or click HERE for reviews and further shameless self-promotion!)

So, download now onto your Kindle, iPad or palm of your hand. I don’t mind!
Enjoy!