Local Author Reviews
Review by Mary Irvine
This issue I had two new publications to review.
Both local and both by female authors.
One is ‘The Dragon Prince of Beithir’ the second of Doreen Hopwood’s trilogy, ʻThe Dynasty of Dragons Seriesʼ, eagerly awaited by fans of the first book.
An epic adventure of magic, great battles, romance and lost love, as the fight against evil continues.
A real ʻpage-turnerʼ.
Doreen explained she created two endings for the first novel, as prospective publishers stated they only wanted stand-alone novels.
Although these worked well, she wasn't really happy with either, feeling the flow of the book suggested more to come - hence the trilogy.
As one would expect, this book, as with the first, is professionally presented and well written.
Doreen said she doesnʼt have a set writing regime, writing as the notion or inspiration takes her, but she does try to write something most days, even if only to go over something already written.
Doreen’s Advice to Budding Authors:
Go for it - just sit down and write, allow your imagination to take over.
If writing about something unfamiliar donʼt neglect the research - it will show if you do, especially important if writing in 'real time', dealing with real life issues.
You have more leeway writing fantasy, but you still need to research certain subjects.
The second book can also be described as a page turner, although a very different genre, is both a debut novel and the last, according to the author.
Thatʼs Ann Mackinnon’s ‘A Week in May’.
Known primarily as an award-winning poetess, in both English and Scots, she previously entered the world of prose, achieving several successes in short story competitions.
But some years ago, Ann decided to venture into longer prose.
Thirty thousand words materialised.
A ʻrestʼ period followed.
When Covid struck Ann took up the quill pen of prose again, deciding to complete her novel.
A labour perhaps not always of love, Ann firmly declares there will be no follow-up.
Perhaps a book to buy and keep as a ʻcollectable of the futureʼ!
Set in Narbonne, France, an area well known and loved by Ann, a young woman, on holiday with her friend, disappears and the ensuing search takes place as the title suggests.
The plot flows well, moving in real time, making the time span of the title utterly believable.
With description and visual imagery verging on the poetic, and the occasional French phrase, Ann reminds us we are in France.
The reader is drawn into the action but not the secrets.
One might suspect the ʻvillainʼ but not the reason why.
We are kept guessing to the end.
Ann’s Advice to Budding Writers:
Join a writersʼ group.
It is good to share your work and plans with like-minded people.
Donʼt be afraid of criticism, it all helps develop your writing.
Give yourself a little time every day to devote to your writing and just write. You never know what it will develop into.
These novelists follow different genres and styles but share the ability, not always demonstrated these days, to write well and engage their readers.
Two very different books each probably appealing to a different audience, each, once again, bearing witness to the wealth of talent on our own doorstep!