The Z Files: Katrina Mountfort ~ Sagittarius

Welcome to The Z Files, in which writers/bloggers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work; I instructed contributors to take the subject as seriously or as lightly as they wished!  Links to other posts can be found at the end of this one.

Firing her arrows at you then bounding off over the horizon, I'm delighted to welcome Katrina Mountfort, who was born under the sign of Sagittarius.

I got to know former Civil Servant, homeopath and forensic science researcher Katrina after I read her book Future Perfect, the first in the Blueprint Trilogy.  I embarrassed her by going on and on about how brilliant it was (in my over the top Leo fashion!), but I'm sure she didn't mind.  It's like a modern version of 1984... You can read my review of it HERE

Now, Katrina, what does being a Sagittarius mean to you?

"I display plenty of the traits of this sign. I’m optimistic and still believe that Future Perfect will become a movie starring Aiden Turner! Others describe me as bubbly and I’d like to think that this shows through in my writing voice. I’m adventurous and open-minded in my writing: I constantly try new ideas and writing styles to see what fits. I’m also philosophical and freedom loving; in the Blueprint trilogy I question the definitions of beauty, the price of freedom and so-called ideal societies."

"Now to deny the negative aspects: unlike typical Sagitarians, I’m fiercely loyal and reliable! Inconsistent is a better description – I may write 8,000 words in a day (typical Sagitarius enthusiasm!) and nothing the next. When I’m excited about a project I forget to eat or sleep if my husband doesn’t remind me. This is how I manifest my excesses. And I’m absolutely scattered: I have four novels in various stages of completion and easily get distracted by a new project that captures my imagination. Likewise with book promotion: I’ve had plenty of ideas but tend to be unfocussed; I’ve learned that it’s better to concentrate on a couple of social media platforms. Sagitarius characteristics (good and bad!) appear in plenty of the characters I write; Joy in Forbidden Alliance is the one most modelled on myself."

★.:*´`*:.☆

I am so looking forward to reading Forbidden Alliance!  (Note Sept 8th ~ It's out now ~ HERE ~ I've read it and can confirm that Joy is very Sagittarian-like! There is a link to my review on the review of Future Perfect, above. ) You can follow Katrina on Twitter and find out more about her on her blog.

Sagittarius sometimes misses the finer details...

Before Kat shoots off over yonder hill, bow and arrow over one shoulder ~ does she have anything in common with these fellow Sagittarian writers?

The forward-thinking and science obsessed Arthur C Clarke....

....and fellow Sagittarian SciFi writer who had plenty to say about authoritarian governments, Philip K Dick!

Coming next: a Leo who challenges her sign, followed by a Cancer who thinks he's only half a crab...

Previous posts:
Leo and Aries:Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader
Gemini: Shelley Wilson,
Aquarius and Capricorn:  Nicky Black

My Top 20 books of 2014

I've thought long and hard about these!  

All the books in this list I've given 5* or 4.5* on Amazon and Goodreads.  I've reviewed other books this year, too, many of which might be of interest to you.  Here is my full list of reviews on Amazon UK.  Most of them are also on my book blog, here.

Amazon UK and .com links are provided for each book in my top 20.
 
Notes: 

• I have not included my re-reads of old favourites in this.  If I did so, The Job by Douglas Kennedy would be in the top ten every year.  Etc, etc.
• I have not included wonderful tomes I've read during research for my own books, or those by internationally famous writers; Phillipa Gregory, Stephen Alford and David Starkey don't need any help from me.  
• I will not label a book as 'traditionally published' 'indie press published' or 'self-published' - to me, a book is a book.  I also think that the only way for the second two categories to gain true acceptance is not to make this distinction.  The twenty include a mixture of all three.
• I have not included two books by the same person, which I did think extra long and hard about; instead, I have put links to any other books by that author that I've reviewed.

Here we go!
Numbers 20 - 11 are in no particular order.

20.  A wonderful anthology of short stories about mothers and daughters - every one a winner!  I read it on my Kindle and was so impressed I bought the paperback for my sister-in-law for her birthday.  A Kind of Mad Courage by Wendy Janes, Francine La Sala and others.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


19.  A fascinating tale about Frank and Chloe, two homeless people who battle against the world and find happiness.  Losing it All by Marsha Cornelius.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


18.  Here's a terrific long-short story I read a while back; I was very impressed by it.  Psychological drama A Fractured Understanding by Hache L Jones

 

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


17.  Chick lit, me?  One of my least favourite genres, but this is the best I've read, I really enjoyed it!  Much more than a romcom:  Mother of the Year by Karen Ross

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


16.  I didn't even know what 'urban fantasy' was until I read this.  I do now, though, and this was great, really sharp and funny!  Don't Touch (Null City Book 2) by Barb Taub.

 My full review on  Amazon UK   and the Amazon.com link


15.  I loved this, and so did lots of other people too!  17th century witch hunts in The Black Hours by Alison Williams.  Brilliantly researched, not for the faint-hearted!

 My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link  


14.  A bit of light romance and country music in Made in Nashville by Mandy Baggot.  Great fun, and a lovely example of the genre!

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


 13.  A collection of short stories now - Spanish folklore retold.  Tales of the Mantequero by Jenny Twist.  Loved these!  

 My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


I have also read and reviewed An Open Letter to Stephen King and Other Essays  and Doppelganger by the same author this year.


12.  I'm not much of a one for crime thrillers, but I thought this was exceptionally good.  I'd recommend it to anyone who loves the grittier side of this genre.  Killing Instinct by Darcia Helle.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link 

11.  Here's another one I feared I might not like, but couldn't put down - Court of Conspiracy by April Taylor.  It's a fantasy about what would have happened if Anne Boleyn had not miscarried her son by Henry VIII...

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link

★.:*´`*:.☆

The Top Ten

These are in proper countdown order (very hard making the choices!) because I thought it would be more fun! 

10.  Slipping neatly into the last place in my top ten books of 2014, the best 'how to' book I've ever read, and an essential for all writers.  Twitter for Writers by Rayne Hall. 

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link

9.  Backpacking in at number 9, a fascinating travel memoir about Jo Carroll's time spent in Nepal, Laos and Cuba.  From the Inside Looking Out - I was totally engrossed in this and thought about it a lot afterwards.  Paperback only, it's collection of three books which are all available for some ludicrously cheap price on Kindle!

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


8.  Now a terrific Native American historical adventure/drama.  Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia, who is an expert on all things pre-Columbian America.  I was so pleased to have discovered this writer's books, and I shall be reading the sequel to this any day now.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link 

I have also read and reviewed The Highlander by the same author


7.  A tongue-in-cheek Victorian murder mystery at number 7 ~ Honour and Obey by Carol Hedges.  Colourful, witty, atmospheric and fabulously well researched.  

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link 

I've also reviewed the prequel, Diamonds and Dust this year


 6.  I adore historical fiction, and this superb story about two runaway girls in 17th century London really hit the spot for me. The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift

My full review on Amazon UK and here is the Amazon.com link


5.  My number five choice was another big surprise:
 Great Bitten: Outbreak by Warren Fielding.  I didn't realise zombie apocalypse books were actually about people, I thought they'd just be a load of turgid blood and gore stuff and daft monsters.  How wrong was I!  Smart, smart writing.

My full review on Amazon UK and here is the Amazon.com link


4.  Dark and fascinating psychological drama Carla by Mark Barry is at number four - a book I read all in one sitting. Terrific stuff.  How talented is this guy!  A real flair, different from anyone else I've read.  So impressed!

My full review on Amazon UK and here's the Amazon.com link

Earlier this year I also read and loved The Night Porter by the same author.

The Top Three!

★.:*´`*:.☆

3.  The bronze medal goes to the wonderful Inkker Hauser Part 1: Rum Hijack by Phil Conquest.
 

Phil is an amazing writer.  Some people could make a jewellery heist or an escape from a POW camp boring; Phil can make a chap walking down the road and getting irritated because his tie keeps flapping up in the wind, interesting and funny.  Get it.  It's great.

My full review on Amazon UK, and the Amazon.com link

★.:*´`*:.☆

2.  Number two!  The silver medal goes to the magical African Ways by Valerie Poore.  An account of Val's three years living up a mountain in South Africa. Just delightful, an absolute joy to read.  Another reviewer said that it made him feel happy just reading it; I couldn't agree more.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link

This year I also read and loved Watery Ways and Harbour Ways by the same author.

★.:*´`*:.☆

Drum roll.....

1.  Gold medal time!!  If you follow my blog(s) you probably won't be surprised by my favourite book of the year - The Dead Lands by Dylan J Morgan which I've been raving about since I was a third of the way through it!  
 

My full review says it all!  Here on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

I've also loved Flesh by the same author.

★.:*´`*:.☆

I do hope you find something that interests you among these books ~ if everyone who sees this post read just one of the titles, it would go so far to getting some little known authors more well-deserved recognition.  Often, the best writers are not the ones who scream 'bestseller' all over the internet, and so rely on word of mouth and blog posts.  A big thank you to book bloggers Rosie, Bodicia, Cathy, Liz, Liz, Storm, Suzanne, Di, Roy, Claire, Jade, ESR, Charmaine, Sonya, Shaz, Agi, Kerry, Angie, Andy, Sterna, Madi and any others - you do a wonderful job!

Perhaps we could make 2015 'discover a new author' year!  

I become a born-again BOOKWORM!

While I was doing the final editing for my most recent novel, Last Child, I made a decision.  I would not write in December.  The two novels and one novella I am gagging to write can wait until the new year.

This decision was partly provoked by the general lack of housework done recently (when you've been saying "I must give that kitchen a real thorough clean" for two months, you know you really must), the amount of times I'd told my husband I would do a,b and c "as soon as I've sent Last Child off for proofreading", but mostly because of my 'to read' list, which now covers two sheets of A4.  

So, on November 23rd, I officially became an Avid Reader!  I read a book, I review it straight away while it's still in my head, and move on to the next. You know what?  I'm loving it.  I haven't given myself all this reading time for years, not since I started writing again in 2010, after a break of (too long), and it's great.  No more do I think, "yes, I could read a bit of that book I've had on the go for three weeks, or I could edit Chapter Nine."  I'd usually go with the latter. Now, my business of the day has become reading.

In the last three weeks I have read no less than twelve books.  Well, twelve and a half, actually; as soon as I have written this post I shall go back to KILLING INSTINCT by Darcia Helle, which is bloody terrific - it's a murder/thriller type thing about two hit men who uncover an organisation that facilitates its clients most depraved fantasies.  I bought the book ages ago because I read about it in one of those '50 indie books worth reading' posts. If I hadn't taken this month off, I might never have got round to finding out how good it is. Incidentally, clicking on the title of each book I've mentioned will take you to its Amazon UK page.  That's the title, not the book cover!  

I've read some I knew would be terrific - HONOUR AND OBEY by Carol Hedges, for instance, the Victorian murder mystery follow up to Diamonds and Dust, which I thought was excellent, and the sequel is even better.  Then there's another chapter in the life of Val Poore, AFRICAN WAYS, about the three years in the 1980s when she and her family lived up a mountain in South Africa.  I've read Val's books about life on the waterways of Holland, so I knew I would love this too.  My favourite genre overall is historical fiction; the first book of my readathon (!!) was the 17th century THE GILDED LILY by Deborah Swift, which I liked so much I bought another book by her straight away.

I always read on my Nexus, on which I have the Kindle App.  I've come to appreciate this thing more and more, and actually prefer it to paperbacks. I love how I can just finish one and select the next. Yes, I've abandoned some, but I've made myself a vow to read to at least 10% before I decide if a book's not for me.  If I can't give a good 3* I won't review, simply because I won't have read the book.  So far I've only abandoned four, one of which I may give another go, because sometimes you can just be in the wrong mood for a certain type of book.

I've surprised myself by discovering genres I didn't think I'd like.  Fantasy? Magic? I always thought I began and ended with Game of Thrones.  But combine it with history and you have the excellent COURT OF CONSPIRACY by April Taylor.  I'm promising myself the next one in the series soon!

Other books I've given a well deserved 4* to are:

PATTERN OF SHADOWS by Judith Barrow (WW2 family drama)
BECOMING BEAUTY by Sarah Boucher (fairytale retelling)
LUKE'S #1 RULE by Cynthia Harrison (family drama/addiction)
MADE IN NASHVILLE by Mandy Baggot (country music scene romance)
SHEER FEAR by Geoff West (crime/child abuse cover up)

But now I must tell you about my Big Discovery!  
Which is Dylan Morgan.  You know how great it is when you find a new writer and think, I am going to love everything this person produces? Dylan writes horror, but not overly blood and gore stuff, more like Stephen King, including the totally brilliant THE DEAD LANDS ~ a post apocalyptic thriller.  

I didn't even know I liked this sort of book until I read it.  I loved it so much I keep boring people with how good it is, and straight after I'd read it I bought another of his, FLESH, abandoned my reading list and got stuck in straight away - it was just as good!  I'll be reading his whole catalogue before too long, including the vampire ones - she says tentatively... vampires stories are usually down in the 'genres I only read if I really must', like chick lit and comedy sci-fi.  I bet I'll still like it, though.  I won't rave on about Mr Morgan any more, though, in case I embarrass him - I'll just advise you to read my reviews of the books on the Amazon pages, and BUY one!

At the end of the year I'm going to do a Top 20 rundown of my favourite books of the year - now I'd better get stuck in, as I am determined to read at least eight more.

More anon!