What they wrote next

I was pleased to see that A Country Road, A Tree by Jo Baker has been shortlisted for both the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Jo visited Wakefield in 2014 to talk about her novel Longbourn and we loved meeting her.

Susan Elliot Wright was introduced to us by Read Regional in 2014. She talked about her novel Things We Never Said. She has since published Secrets We Left Behind and her latest book What She Lost came out a few weeks ago.

Sarah Stovell spoke at the same event as Susan. Her novel was a historical novel, the fascinating Night Flower.  Her next book is a psychological thriller set in the Lake District. Exquisite will be published on 15th June .

Stronger Than Skin by Stephen May was published in March and there are some very positive reviews on Amazon from readers. Stephen was a guest at Wakefield Lit Fest in 2014 talking about Wake Up Happy Every Day.

Caroline Roberts started a new series after she spoke to us about The Torn Up Marriage last year. The Cosy Teashop in the Castle and the Cosy Christmas Teashop were popular reads and her next novel My Summer of Magic Moments is due on 1st June

Another Lit Fest guest was Laura Barnett talking about her bestselling book The Versions of Us. I’m looking forward to her next novel Greatest Hits which will be published on 15 June. Will it have the same success as her debut novel?

 

 

 

 

 

Imagination Library

If you live in Airedale or Ferry Fryston and have a baby born after 1 September 2016, you could join this fantastic scheme. Come along to the Community Fair on 3 May to find out more and sign up.

Bath Book Bed

For anyone having trouble getting a baby or toddler to go to sleep at night, the simple  regular routine of Bath-Book-Bed can be a great help.

To help families find out about Bath Book Bed and get ideas for great stories to share, libraries are holding special bed-time story times 24 – 28 April. So slip on the dressing gown and slippers, pick up the teddy and come along to snuggle up for stories!

Full list of story times taking place:

Airedale	The Square, Airedale, Castleford, WF10 3JJ
	Storytime	Mon 24 April	10-11am
	airedalelibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01977 724040
Castleford Forum	Carlton St, Castleford, WF10 1BB
	Storytime	Thurs 27 April	10-11am
	castlefordlibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01977 722085
Featherstone	Victoria St, Off Station Rd, Featherstone, WF7 5BB
	Storytime	Thurs 27 April	10-10.30am
	featherstonelibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01977 722745
Hemsworth	Market St, Hemsworth, WF9 4JY
	Storytime	Mon 24 April	9.30-10.30am
	Baby Rhymetime	Fri 28 April	10-10.30am
	hemsworthlibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01977 722270
Horbury	Westfield Rd, Horbury, WF4 6HP
	Storytime	Fri 28 April	2.15-3pm
	horburylibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01924 303060
Normanton	Market St, Normanton, WF6 2AR
	Storytime	Thurs 27 April	10.15-10.45am
	Storytime	Fri 28 April	10.15-10.45am
	normantonlibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01924 302525
Ossett	Ossett Town Hall, Market Place, Ossett, WF5 8EB
(Temporary site)	Storytime	Fri 28 April	10.30-11am
	ossettlibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01924 303040
Pontefract	Shoemarket, Pontefract, WF8 1BD
	Storytime	Mon 24 April	10-11am
	Storytime	Wed 26 April	10-11am
	pontefractlibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01977 727692
Sandal	Sparable Lane, Sandal, WF1 5JL
	Storytime	Wed 26 April	10.30-11am
	sandallibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 1924 303355
South Elmsall	Barnsley Rd, South Elmsall, WF9 2AA
	Storytime	Tues 25 April	9.30-10.30am
	southelmsalllibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01977 723220
Stanley	Lake Lock Road, Stanley, WF3 4HU
	Storytime	Mon 24 April	11.30-12pm
	stanleylibrary@wakefield.gov.uk 01924 303130
Wakefield	Wakefield One, Burton St, Wakefield, WF1 2DA
	Storytime	Tues 25 April	1.30-2pm
	Storytime	Fri 28 April	10-10.30am
	wakefieldlibrarymuseum@wakefield.gov.uk 01924 305376

 

Books to watch out for in April

The sun is out and tempting book lovers to enjoy their latest read in the garden. Here are some of the many titles we are buying for our libraries in April.

  Arnaldur Idridason  The Shadow District

First in a new series from the Icelandic novelist introduces Konrad, a former detective bored with retirement.  When a 90-year-old man is found murdered, police find newspaper cuttings about a murder case dating from the Second World War. Konrad remembers the crime. Why would someone be interested now?

  Lindsey Davis The Third Nero

The latest mystery for fans Lindsey Davis and Flavia Alba, every bit as good as her Falco series. Flavia Albia’s day-old marriage is in trouble – her new husband may be permanently disabled and they have no funds. So when Palace officials ask her to help expose a plotter in their midst she is obliged to accept.

Lisa McInerney The Blood Miracles

From the winner of last year’s Bailey’s Prize for Women’s Fiction, described as a ‘glorious, foul-mouthed, fizzing new talent’.  The further misadventures of Ryan Cusack as he negotiates an unhappy girlfriend, a drug dealing boss and a shipment of ecstasy pills.

  Fiona Neill Becoming Strangers

Nell Stone is at the peak of her career. Living alone, she is focused, refusing to let her personal life creep into her professional one. So when Nell receives a letter from Sadie, an old friend, she finds herself in the hardest position of all. Because what Sadie did to Nell years before is unthinkable, and unforgivable. But should the cost of Sadie’s betrayal be her life?

  Claire North The End of the Day

Her debut novel, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, was a Richard and Judy piack and a big hit. In this new novel, Charlie meets everyone – but only once. Charlie gets everywhere. Sometimes he is sent as a courtesy, sometimes as a warning. Either way, this is going to be the most important meeting of your life.

  Claire Sandy A Not Quite Perfect Family.

From the author of What Would Mary Berry Do? Fern Carlile has a lot on her plate. It’s a good thing she loves her big, imperfectly perfect family, because she’s the one who washes their pants, de-fleas the dog and runs her own business. A hearty meal is the one thing that brings the Carliles together – but over the course of a year, the various courses also pull them apart. Will Fern’s marriage be over by the time coffee is served? Perhaps she’ll give in and have the hot new dish that looks so tempting.

  Nicholas Searle A Traitor in the Family

Francis O’Neill is a terrorist, trained to kill for his cause. Bridget is his wife, expected to be loyal and stand by her husband. She has learned not to hope for much more, until the day she glimpses, for the first time, the chance of a new life. A life without violence, without secrets, and without knocks on the door in the dead of night. A life without her husband. A second novel from the author of The Good Liar.

And a few new non-fiction titles:

  Ian Mortimer The Time Traveller’s Guide to Restoration Britain

This volume tells you everything you’d need to know as a prospective traveller to seventeenth-century Britain.

  Cherry Lewis The Enlightened Mr Parkinson

Parkinson‘s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia, and yet few know anything about the man the disease is named after. In 1817 James Parkinson defined the disease so precisely that we still diagnose it today by recognising the symptoms he identified. Here, the story of this remarkable man’s contributions to the Age of the Enlightenment is told through his three passions – medicine, politics and fossils.

  Alys Fowler Hidden Nature

Leaving her garden to the mercy of the slugs, award-winning writer Alys Fowler set out in an inflatable kayak to explore Birmingham’s canal network, full of little-used waterways where huge pike skulk and kingfishers dart. Her book is about noticing the wild everywhere and what it means to see beauty where you least expect it. What happens when someone who has learned to observe her external world in such detail decides to examine her internal world with the same care? Beautifully written, honest and very moving, ‘Hidden Nature‘ is also the story of Alys Fowler‘s emotional journey: above all, this book is about losing and finding, exploring familiar places and discovering unknown horizons.