The Owners Volume VII: Hunter's Moon

I spoke to a lovely lady who sat next to me on the train into Birmingham the other day. The journey takes about half an hour from where I live but she had got on before me and was nicely ensconced in her seat before I came to sit by her.

I don't normally strike up conversations with strangers - perhaps she doesn't either - but on this occasion for some reason we began to talk. She told me she was visiting a female friend who lived in Stirchley and whom she had known for forty years and then she told me about how her husband had died and the male friend who had helped her through those difficult times.

The conversation was particularly apt for me not only professionally as I soak all these things up for later use in my characters but also in my personal life. But one of the things she said that struck a chord with me was that this friend had been a lecturer in literature and had written a paper about Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Not specifically about Tess either, but about the boots she wore!

It hit me then that people pay attention to what we as writers say, think and believe - even if it is contrary to a reader's own set of beliefs and opinions.  That gives writers a responsibility to portray things in a correct light. And it is for that reason that I am writing this post.

Split Decisions will be out very soon. Unlike The Owners series I have written, Split Decision is not suitable reading material for the under fifteens as it contains graphic material. I am being very specific here, not only because I have children of my own but because yes, I did write Split Decision to make a specific point. It contains some violence and some swearing because it is true to life but I think and I hope that it will make people think about the state of our society.

But not every page I write has a deeper significance and some things are just a tiny little detail which means nothing either way. I wonder if the esteemed Mr Hardy ever intended that a paper be written about his character's boots...or were they just the things she put on her feet? Whatever the case, writing, like any art becomes the possessor's property to display and to discuss at the point of sale. What the creator of the project meant [if anything] is sometimes lost in the wind.

So here for your delectation is a little snippet from the book I am currently working on, Volume VII of The Owners: Hunter's Moon.

Breathing furiously, lungs labouring like bellows, Taylor and Breaker were forced to pause for breath. With hammering hearts they turned back towards the forest and the flames which rose there. The woods had become a conflagration, an inferno from which they could already feel the heat sear them with its intensity. Still they didn’t dare speak or even look at one another lest their emotions betrayed their resolve.

Preparing to gather Matilda up once more, Taylor was surprised when the woman seemed to pull herself together, managing to plant her feet firmly on the forest floor and bear her own weight.

She looked at him with eyes that seemed too large for the rest of her features and too old for her face. “I did the wrong thing!” she said, as huge tears dropped from those liquid orbs.

Taylor felt his heart constrict in sorrow. “Now’s not the time Tilly. What’s done is done,” he reminded her.

She bit her lip and turned away from the blaze, the dead and the dying. “And can’t be undone,” she finished for him. “God help me. It can’t be undone.”

 

I wish I could lift the burden these characters have found themselves under. But it is their story, I am merely the teller of their tale...

Happy Reading.

Chocolate Alchemy!

Chocolate - thick, creamy, wickedly sensual - melting on the tongue until its solidity disappears, leaving only its lingering taste and a memory... Have I caught your attention?

Chocolate has been the mainstay of my adult life. Seriously, I kid you not. Men have come and gone but chocolate has remained my constant companion, always there when I needed a moment of comfort, a little bit of escapism. That was why I was intrigued when I attended a workshop on chocolate making last week.

Let me be perfectly honest, I eat chocolate every single day. I don't eat cakes [unless someone gives me one], I don't eat biscuits or sweets or desserts of any form. But chocolate, now that's a different matter.

Up until the workshop I consumed chocolate with abandon. Dark, milk, somewhere in between - all of it tasted good and the differences between them remained a mystery. Until Chocolate Alchemy and its knowledgeable chocolatier, Isaac, came into my world. Alchemy, the medieval forerunner of chemistry, was concerned with the transforming of matter, in particular with attempts to convert base metals into gold. It was half science, half wizardry. Perhaps because of that, it is a particularly apt name, for Isaac takes dull, bitter cocoa beans and almost magically transforms them into chocolate concoctions which have a depth of flavour I hadn't previously encountered.

Isaac educated me in the geography and history of chocolate, explaining where the different cocoa beans were grown and the distinct individual flavours they produced. He showed me cocoa pods the size of small coconuts and produced samples of chocolate made from single varieties of beans to try and then samples of chocolate from different combinations of beans. If you haven't tried this before you may be sceptical - chocolate is chocolate right? I can tell you now that the chocolate from some of the beans packed a real punch, whilst others were more subtle and they were all different.

But in watching Isaac, whose face lit up when he spoke of making chocolate, I realised something else too. Here was a young man who was passionate about what he did, who strove to create chocolate perfection which was not just delicious but aesthetically pleasing too. I saw in him what I feel every time I begin a new chapter, or introduce a new character into my books, that longing to create and blend and strive for my creation to be the best it can possibly be, the most enlivened, entertaining and downright engaging I can make it for its intended audience.

And that, I think, sums up the whole essence of Chocolate Alchemy. Perhaps it could be no other way due to the people who remain largely behind the scenes, ex-professional athletes and big names in the world of athletics. These are people who are intrinsically dedicated and determined, who are never, ever, satisfied with sitting on their laurels but who continue to push forward with relentless enthusiasm.

Having only recently taken over the company, its directors are now intent on expanding from the small original venue to a national scale. And they are achieving their goal! Not just rapidly but with a surefootedness that took my breath away. Able to produce bespoke creations in an eye blink, they are looking to bigger markets whilst also maintaining that individual quality which sets them apart. Their chocolate remains hand made, produced by the clever Isaac himself and whatever your preferred taste, it can be created for you. And they are not greedy either - it is not their intent to fleece you of your hard earned cash. Indeed their products are very reasonably priced, especially when you consider the care and quality of them. And you do know how I love a bargain!

I was lucky enough to be able to partake in the truffle making workshop and the very next day I sat down and wrote a new chapter as I nibbled on the truffles. Ok maybe there wasn't much nibbling going on, it was more of a devouring thing really, but what the heck, they were  great!

So if like me, chocolate is an enduring passion, here is their website.  www.chocolate-alchemy.co.uk

In the meantime I will keep you up to date with my writing and with all the various new things I get to experience in my research. How I love this job!

Until then,

Happy Reading!

New life!

Today is the start of my new life. I have bought a new house, got rid of some things, ended some other things and am looking to the future.

I have always had a thing about new starts. Generally speaking they are fresh, clean and bright. Even if you made mistakes in the past, a fresh start allows you to put these to good use, to learn from them and move forward in a different direction.

It's strange how this new start has coincided with me writing an author's note  to be published at the end of Split Decision, and how my thoughts today have mirrored the sentiment in that note. [And no I'm not going to tell you what I wrote, you will just have to read the book :)]

But the weather is not reflecting how I feel. Outside it is cold, wet, grey, and generally uninviting, with the rain thrashing itself off roofs and pavements. Maybe I can start my new life tomorrow instead? What do you think?

Happy Reading!

I'm all aglow!

I have been working hard on Volume VII of The Owners today and am happy with my progress. 

Even more than that, I am ecstatic about a phone call I just received, which informed me that one of the readers I sold a book to at a recent event, has found the story to be totally engrossing, so much so that she 'can't put the book down'.

Now that's what I like to hear. And remember folks, Split Decision will be out soon. Keep your eyes peeled, you're going to love it.

Happy Reading! x

Unbearable excitement!

I am sitting bolt upright, laptop open on my knees...

Chapter 16 awaits and it is a high adrenaline point in the book. Here is where I left off at the end of the previous chapter and therefore my starting point for this new one:-

A lone owl hooted, its tone melancholy and cautionary, giving a solitary answer to his inner thoughts. Taylor shivered in apprehension.

In the distance the unsearched forest waited. Taylor stepped forward.

 

My fingers are eager to get on with the tale.

 

For the first few books in the series, follow the link to Amazon on the right.

 

Happy Reading!

 

Carmen.

 

Macdonald Burlington Hotel

A few days ago, I was invited to an evening event at the Macdonald Burlington hotel, which I accepted with alacrity.

This was actually my second visit to this exquisite hotel and yet I was as entranced by the venue as I had been on my previous visit.

The Burlington is truly a sight to behold; polished marbled walls and floors lead the eye towards towering marble pillars which support high ceilings decorated with sparkling chandeliers, whilst gleaming dark wooden balustrades lead upwards to the equally sumptuous floors above.

At the vestibule entrance, the legend 'Macdonald Burlington Hotel' is picked out in shining brass letters and the hotel's emblem is proudly displayed. It is this same pride in their establishment which is reflected in the attitude of the staff,  who seem to take pains to provide everything their guests could possible require, in both a courteous and timely fashion.

I was welcomed with canapés of feta cheese squares in dark chocolate baskets. It may sound a strange combination but the blended flavours worked really well, the sweetness of the chocolate offset just a little by the sharp tanginess of the cheese. The chocolate martini I was served alongside it, did an excellent job of warming my throat and getting me into the mood and by this time I was beginning to see a theme. Chocolate! The entire menu was infused with elements of chocolate!

For your delectation I shall list the menu here and my thoughts on it.

Starter : Pan seared wood pigeon with celeriac puree finished with white chocolate, balsamic and port reduction and roasted shallots.

Now I had a real dilemma with this course. As you may know, I rescue injured pigeons. And now there was one on my plate! I wrestled with the moral dilemma for a while and it was only resolved when I  thought about the hens I used to have as pets. I loved these birds and cared deeply for them but I still went to the supermarket every week and bought a fresh chicken to roast. 

You may think me a hypocrite, but for me, the swaying point was also that the pigeons were not battery reared or force fed but instead had lived a very natural life. Conversely, it would have been hypocritical of me, I believe, to have turned my nose up at the meat and then gone on to eat pheasant or some other bird. Had I been presented with veal or pate foie gras I would have refused as I consider these to be cruelly produced, but neither of these were on the menu.

The dish was beautifully presented, everything laid out so precisely it was almost a work of art. The meat was juicy and tender and the  sauce was truly divine. I enjoyed every morsel. So far, so good. 

And so onto the main course: Roast loin of venison with pickled red cabbage, roasted baby beetroot, sprouting tender stem broccoli with roasting liquor jus finished with 70% cocoa.

Now this course was sublime! I could have eaten two or three helpings. Each bite was different, the combination of ingredients contrasting and complimenting each other beautifully; each forkful tender and delicious, a crazy,  heady fusion of flavours which  pirouetted and danced an arabesque around my tongue!

Lastly the dessert : A taste of chocolate to include chocolate brownie, chocolate crème Brulee and vanilla ice cream.

The ice cream was tantalisingly smooth, whilst the brownie was sweet, warm and deliciously moist. I did not care for the Brulee but then it was made of white chocolate, which I don't enjoy. Technically I can state however, that the Brulee was well made, rich and creamy.

Although by now I was pretty full, coffee and little chocolates followed.

But the Burlington experience was not yet done. Having sated my appetite, it now teased my brain, treating me to a chocolate tasting session where a learned chocolatier informed me where the different cocoa beans come from and how they are used [more on this in another post]. Finally, I was shown how to make my own little chocolate truffles and given these in a bag to take home. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

So what impressed me the most? The beautiful surroundings of the hotel itself? The warm effusive welcome from the staff? Or the exquisite food? In truth it was all of the above. It seems that its all just part of the Burlington experience. 

Sitting right in the centre of the city, literally across the street from the train station, the Burlington is exceptionally well placed. This beautiful old hotel is steeped in history and I was informed that Winston Churchill once stayed there. Indeed it was easy to imagine his heavy footfalls as he ascended the magnificent staircase, perhaps thinking about his time in the War Cabinet Rooms or pondering decisions that had had to be made in times of duress.

Since those days, the fine traditional architecture has been updated with modern soft furnishings and fashionable décor but the building has lost none of its charm and this is reflected in how people react to it.

I looked wondrously at the people around me. In truth many of the guests seemed oblivious to the splendour of their surroundings, but what I did notice was that none of them seemed unaffected by the influence of the place - voices were softly raised in laughter and conversation was muted, as if a little of that old-time elegance had rubbed off after all. It was not hard to imagine ladies in flapper dresses and gents in tuxedos in these rooms, 'making eyes' at one another and perhaps because of this, an essence of olde worlde romanticism almost imbues the atmosphere with a sense guilty pleasure.

I never got to see the bedrooms but I gather these are equally sumptuous with all the modern conveniences we seem to require nowadays. Perhaps its just as well I never saw these rooms - as a writer my days are spent shaping characters and chapters into exciting circumstances - who could say where my fevered imagination might have led...

Even now, days later, a warm smile plays on my lips when I think back to that exceptionally enjoyable evening.

So should you decide to check in to the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, be sure to tell them Carmen sent you. 

Until then - Happy Reading!

Just a little reminder.

If you would like to see snippets of ongoing or completed novels which are awaiting publication, you can use the search bar at the side to bring up past blog posts. Type in something you are interested in and it will hopefully come up. Or just scroll down the posts.

Happy Reading!

Today I am writing. And as usual when I am writing, I am eating chocolate. But this time it's not just any old chocolate, it's a very special chocolate that came from the wonderful MacDonald Burlington Hotel, which I attended for an event last night [more to follow later].

So here is a little peak at what I have just written :-

It seemed to take a long time before they got to the edge of the trees and with every step his heart thudded harder in his chest, obscenely loud in the quiet night.

They entered the dense undergrowth which grew below the soaring trees, full of trepidation and without a real plan, bunching close together, wary of ambush.

The forest seemed unnaturally quiet. No owls hooted or birds cooed. The only sounds were the brittle cracks of unseen twigs which littered the forest floor.

The almost preternatural silence was deafening. A solid wall of muteness seemed to surround them, so that the only noises were the ones they made themselves.

Taylor wished with all his heart that he had somehow made Matilda stay behind, that he had managed to convince her that the risk of their people losing her was too great… But to Matilda’s ears they would merely have been words and words could be no substitute for action.

 

These characters are heading for trouble and Matilda is destined to be in the thick of it. Why won't that woman ever listen? Now who is it she reminds me of...

 

Happy Reading!

 

Carmen.

Summer is coming and with it, a list of chores that I have to undertake. But these are rather big chores. One of them is to knock a wall down, another is to fell several enormous trees, so they won't really be jobs I will personally be doing, yet my fingers are twitching to get started.

And I am excited. I am even more excited when I think about the novel I am currently writing. The Owners, Volume VII: Hunter's Moon, is where the story begins to turn towards the situation of Volume I, where suddenly you will see how the series is going full circle.

In all of my books I have created strong female and male characters and I hope they have made compulsive reading. But perhaps it is in this book that I have written the most complex female.

Matilda is a strong woman but her strength has been born of necessity. Sometimes she reminds me a little of Sophia from volume I but she has none of Sophia's tolerance and willingness to listen to others. Instead Matilda is hot-headed and unbending in her views. And she is set on a course that will destroy lives.

The worst thing about it is that she doesn't see what she is doing, she doesn't 'get' her mistakes. She is so busy falling over herself to put things right that she is doing exactly the opposite. We all know people like that. Fortunately those people seldom find themselves in the unenviable position that Matilda finds herself in.

I wish I could prevent the carnage and chaos that Matilda is about to wreak but I guess it wouldn't be much fun for you if I did!

Until then, happy reading!

Micro me!

I have been meaning to tell you about this for some time, but until now I haven't managed to get around to it.

I have been making my own wine. Now before you get all impressed about me, let me tell you the reality of it. It's like balsamic vinegar mixed with battery acid - yes it really is that awful. I have made two batches so far, one pink and one white and both are as awful as each other. What this has achieved however, is a growing admiration for the people who really can make attractive, tasty beverages which are actually fit for human consumption.

And so on to this blog post. I have 'discovered' a little gem in Bromsgrove. It's a micro pub and to be truthful it is the weirdest place I have ever had a drink in. The tables are fashioned from beer barrels and the high seating was once a shelf I think [my legs dangle rather a lot from this lofty position] but there is an undeniable charm to the place.

Part of it is its simplicity I think. The ale is good [I am reliably informed] and there is a reasonable wine on sale. There is no menu and no food available other than pork pie and/or crisps and there is only one toilet. In short, it's like pubs used to be before they became all Formica and flat screen TVs.

But what it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in so many other ways. There is no loud raucous jingly-jangly music that makes you want to cut your ears off rather than listen to its foul-mouthed exhortations to 'give it to yo' woman, like she is yo' dawg' [ok I made that lyric up, but honestly it's not far off...]

Instead there is a hum of quiet, friendly conversation, punctuated every so often with easy laughter. Because that's the thing about this place - strangers talk to one another. And in this day and age where we are all so afraid to pass the time of day with each other, lest we are chatting to a suicide bomber or a rapist, it makes a pleasant change.

So give it a try why don't you? Sometimes to go forward we have to take a small step backwards. http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/2013/10/17/news-Bromsgrove-new-micro-pub-gets-campaign-for-real-ale-visit-87179.html

Carmen.

A little peek at Matilda...

Do you remember me telling you about my newest character, Matilda? Here is a little sneak peek at her. Careful you don't look too long though, for she is a feisty one!


Excerpt from The Owners, Volume VII: Hunter's Moon.

Matilda awoke before the others. Taylor lay beside her, his face partially obscured by the arm he had thrown over his eyes to block out the rising sun. Part of her longed to move his arm and gaze at the face she had known so long and so well but her resolve would not let her do so. She had taken on the role as leader of this hunting party and if it killed her, she would neither ask for his support nor subordinate herself to him. 

She owed it to their people to be strong and more than that, she owed it to the little child, Verity, who might already be dead.

Did I cling to her because I have no children of my own? It was a fair question and one she wasn’t entirely sure she could answer. Would I have felt differently if I had had a brood of my own children, clinging to my shirttails like all the other women? she wondered. Either way, does it really matter? Things were how they were, after all. She rose quietly, moving with a catlike grace, unwilling to wake the others until she was no longer sharing a space with Taylor.

On her feet, she circled the group. Everyone slept deeply and she was surprised into a revelation as she bent to shake them awake, one at a time.

“We could have been attacked and killed in our sleep, slaughtered without us even knowing we were in danger,” she said, once she had their full attention.

Taylor sat up and rubbed his eyes. “Well we weren’t. And I think that’s a little unlikely…”

Matilda didn’t give him time to finish. “Why not? You think that monster is afraid of us? After he snatched a little child right out from under our noses and left without even a scratch? Oh yes, he must be very afraid!” She heard the sarcasm in her own voice but was unable to reign it in.

She saw Taylor’s eyes widen in surprise and she instinctively knew it was not from either her words or her tone of voice but the way the criticism was directed straight at him.

“He was too high too fast for the arrows to reach,” he said simply.

“I know,” she agreed, hoping that he understood her frustration. They had been speaking as if there were only the two of them in the conversation, only the two of them standing there, with nothing and no-one else around for miles. Now she turned so that her words addressed them all, equally.

“From now on, we post a guard. If we do somehow manage to find him, the battle has to be on our terms, at a time and place of our choosing, not his.”

She was right, and they all knew it. Enough had been said, there was no point in pressing the issue. She bent and began to pack up their meagre camp.

If you would like to find out more, then follow the link on the right to find the first volumes in this epic tale

Happy Reading!

It's a love/hate thing!

I'm working on The Owners Volume VII at the moment and have just introduced a brand new character. Her name is Matilda and it looks like she's going to be a star player. Already I can tell that you will love her and then maybe grow to hate her with some empathising thrown in along the way.


You see poor Matilda is caught in a situation where her perception of reality becomes slewed. Like all of us, she is after all only human, and comes with pre-conceived ideas and notions about the world around her. It is these very notions which are going to devastate her life and the lives of all she touches.


The Owners Volume VII :Hunter's Moon


You have been warned!


Carmen. x

YES ANOTHER NEWS FLASH!

This week the Bromsgrove Standard are beginning the serialisation of one of my novels so please do look out for that - I am so excited!

In addition to this great news, I have been officially commissioned to write the beginning of a short story to form the basis of a writing competition. The entries will then be judged in two categories 7-11 years and 12-16 years. For more information about entering this,please contact Bleakhouse Library on 0121 422 2798.

More exciting news to follow...

News Flash.

I have had a frantic March. I know it's not over yet but this week at least things are quieter.

As you may know I am now working on The Owners Volume VII and loving every moment of it.

Split Decision will be out soon. The Plan, The Boy Who Rescues Pigeons, Saving Grace, The Trouble With Mellillia and Ascension will all follow shortly after Split Decision. Bear with me, I really am going as fast as I can...

Oh and to the fan who came up to me on Friday at the event I attended- thank you so much for your kind comments. I am so glad you are enjoying the series.

Happy Reading!

Frenzied excitement!

My heart is beating so hard and fast, I almost can't breathe!

What is the cause of this near hysteria? I shall tell you.

I have spent a whole year away from my beloved Owners series. There were other projects to do, other books which needed to be written, so I put aside the Owners for just a little while. It gave me time to recharge my batteries and to reflect on how I didn't want to be defined by this one series.

But now I have finished these other books, it's time to turn my attention back to where it all began.

The Owners, Volume VII : Hunter's Moon is about to begin. Hold on to your hats!

Happy Reading!

Author's note

I have just typed THE END, having finished the story Saving Grace.

As an author, every book I write matters to me, every story and every character resonates in some way, to a greater or lesser extent. But this particular story will also strike a chord with many of you, due to the fact that it is about a child's perception of her parent's failing marriage. 

Having been a step-child myself, I know how hard it can be. And also how wonderful. So I included a final word. Here it is :-

 

Author’s note.

 

This story is dedicated to my [step] father who raised me from the age of seven and treated me as if I were his own child.

 

Saving Grace was written for all you boys and girls who find that sometimes real life is hard and hurtful. It has been written with love and with hope. In many ways it has been written for the adults in your lives, as much as it has been for you.

 

The job of a step-parent is a tough one and has been vilified in many stories. But for every evil Queen in Snow-white, there are a hundred good men and women, doing a great job of parenting kids that aren’t their own. Likewise for every ‘wicked’ step-child who deliberately scuppers his/her parent’s new relationship, there are a thousand others who accept and value the new adult in their life.

 

I hope this book goes at least a little way towards helping children and adults find a sure footing in difficult times and situations.

 

Carmen Capuano.

Saving Grace will hopefully be available soon. Until then ...

Happy Reading!

Saving Grace

Sadly I am coming towards the end of Saving Grace. She has been a lovely character to write about - a little girl with profound problems and a deep heart.

The book was written for 10-12 year olds but like all my other works, I think adults will enjoy the honesty in it as much as children will.

Here is a little snippet from today's writing:-

It was lovely to see Millie again and Grace was thrilled when the camel seemed to recognise her, leaving her feed bag and coming over to nuzzle her big head into Grace’s shoulder.

“I missed you, lovely girl,” Grace told her, “but I’m so pleased you are happy and looked after.” She kissed the camel on its long nose. “And you should be proud of your daughter – Sirrie is just as sweet as you are Millie.”

Although Grace couldn’t be sure, she thought that Millie looked proud at the mention of her calf. She turned her head towards Sirrie and snorted loudly.

Grace laughed. “Yes Millie, I agree, you did a good job there.” She swallowed a lump in her throat and said the words that were so painful to utter. “I might not see you again. You, or Sirrie.” She tried to smile but couldn’t. “I will miss you all dreadfully, but if I stay I will miss the people I love in my own world.” She wiped at her eyes.

“And coming backwards and forwards between the two places is hurtful – too much time is skipped over…” she hesitated to explain the truth that there was a possibility that if she came back again it would be several Santerra years from now and perhaps by then there would be no Benito or Millie or…

“I have to get back to my own world. And I have to stay there because that is where I belong. But my heart will always love you.” She plonked another kiss on the camel and was only half surprised when a large tear plopped onto her shoulder. Millie was crying. Silently Grace buried her face in the camel’s warm neck and let her tears fall.

 

Happy Reading!

Exciting news!

I am very pleased to be able to inform you that the Bromsgrove Standard will begin serialising one of my books at the end of March!


Being a local newspaper with its ear to the ground, the Standard works harder than most national newspapers to deliver what its readers want - pertinent information and articles with a local flavour.


Some of you may have read my short story which appeared ahead of  Valentine's day a few weeks ago, but the story which will now be printed bears no relation to the previous one.


Storm Clouds is about what might happen if our current global weather extremes continue. It is a story about ordinary people who suddenly find themselves in extraordinary situations and how they strive for survival against the odds.


You will meet Jack Ryan [named after the famous Tom Clancy character by his father] who suddenly finds himself in charge of his nephew Dan, in a perilous situation. And you will meet Doctor Georgia Wade, who shelters her best friend's three children from the encroaching storms.


I hope you will love my characters as much as I do.


If you would like to get your story hit all in one go then follow this link http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carmen%20capuano&sprefix=carme%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Acarmen%20capuano


In the meantime - everlasting thanks to the Bromsgrove Standard and Happy Reading! x

EVENT CONFIRMED

13th August I will be conducting a talk and book signing at Lord Morton's Tea Rooms. Ticket price to include Pimms and canapés in the garden, main course, dessert, coffee and author talk. £14.95 Phone 01299851201 to book.

Here I am at my latest book signing event. Wish I hadn't slouched!

Photo courtesy of Gem Media.