I’m excited to reveal the cover of my new novel, Heartsound and to bring news of its launch.
I absolutely love the colours in this eye-catching design by Rebekah Parrott at Rose & Grace. Rebekah stepped in at short notice to create the cover, after a couple of false starts with commissioning a designer.
We wanted something similar in style to the cover of Blue Tide Rising, and I think she’s fulfilled the brief beautifully. The novel is set partly in Bath, and the image draws inspiration from the city’s distinctive skyline.
When will Heartsound be out?
Pleased to report we now have a date! The launch is on Monday 8th April, 7.00pm – 8.30 pm at Nottingham’s award winning bookshop Five Leaves.
The event is free, but you need to book here.
What’s the novel about?
Heartsound is a contemporary literary novel written against the backdrop of the global pandemic.
The narrative spans five decades, and begins with the main character looking back in lockdown to events that unfolded in the early 1980s when she was sixteen. It’s set against a soundtrack of mostly eighties music.
Here’s the blurb
Sixteen-year-old Chrissie’s first love is a girl.
But it’s the eighties, and she fears rejection from her rural community, so her relationship remains secret. When her friend vanishes, Chrissie bears her heartache alone.
Decades later, her long-lost love resurfaces, but all is not as it seems.
It takes a global pandemic and a brush with death to spark the resolution Chrissie craves.
Heartsound is a tale of unspoken truths, broken promises, almost-forgotten dreams, and hope.
Where can people buy the book?
You’ll be able to pre-order ahead of the launch via the Inspired Quill website. I’ll update this blog when it’s available. It’ll be in paperback and e-book formats.
If you’d like a signed copy, come to the launch, order from Five Leaves or catch me at an event in or around Notts over the summer. The novel will also be available on Bookshop.org, Amazon and through all major book retailers.
What’s happening at the launch?
There’ll be an introduction and Q&A by Sheelagh Gallagher and live acoustic music from my talented other half.
I’ll be talking about the book, reading a few extracts, and signing copies.
Refreshments will be provided. Early booking is advised.
Support act
I didn’t want this event to be just about me, so I’ve invited two excellent Nottingham poets – Jo Weston and Scotty Clark – to share the platform.
Both performed at socially-distanced street events in my neighbourhood during lockdown, so it seemed appropriate, given that the pandemic is a theme of the novel, to ask them to contribute.
More about the guest readers in my next blog.
