Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? - Special Edition with Lizzie Fayke (plus giveaway)

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

This is almost certainly going to be the last week of Truth or Lie, definitely for 2016, possibly ever. And to celebrate / commiserate this fact, I have a one off special edition for you all. 

So long as you take part and have a guess today, then you will be entered into a special giveaway provided by today's contestant. For more info take a look at the end! 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning contestant, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I’m Lizzie and I’ve been making stuff up for ages. I spent all my school years writing plays and making my friends perform them and after a few false starts I’m now writing books. 
My first book, Daydream Believer, is available through Amazon and the sequel is coming along nicely. I can’t wait to get it finished as I have great plans for a new series of books after that.

Please to meet you Lizzie, I am really looking forward to reading Daydream Believer when I get the chance. 

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Lizzie hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Tell me about any really memorable dream or nightmare you have had

I remember sleeping in my parents’ bed while my Dad was away on business. I dreamt I was being chased around a breakfast cereal factory by a monster with a Cornflake packet for a body, he was making the most terrifying noises. I woke up to realise the noises in my dream were my mum snoring.

2) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

This would have to be my Honeymoon to Aruba. It was also my first trip to the Caribbean and it did not disappoint. We stayed at Bucuti Beach Resort and it has to be one of my favourite places of Earth. We are currently saving for our 3rd trip back.

3) If you could be a fruit, what would you be and why?

An Etrog. Not because it’s bitter and lumpy looking, but because it’s highly valued, respected, expensive and largely inedible. Well, I don’t want just anyone eating me….

4) What superpower would you love to have?

Time Travel. I love history and would love to see it first-hand. My first port of call would be the 1920s, then I’d go and give my younger self a talking to.

5) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

As a kid I wanted to be an Archaeologist, imagine trying to spell that in Year 1! The working conditions would not suit me though so, of course, I’d have to say an Author, and yes….I’m still trying.

6) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve?

Waking up late in a fluffy hotel bed followed by a spa trip to make myself beautiful. Afternoon tea in Claridge’s and some shopping, this would include a handbag purchase. I’d then go back to the spa for a swim and to read a book. Theatre and dinner out followed by watching the TV in bed while eating chocolate and drinking tea. All in the company of Tom Burke!

7) If you could choose anybody famous to star in the story of your life, who would it be?

Penelope Cruz, she is beautiful and funny - although the accent could be a stumbling block.

8) Besides reading, which I am guessing is a given, what other hobbies do you have?

I collect swizzle sticks (cocktail stirrers), the kind you get in fancy hotels and cocktail bars. My favourite is the one I have from the Long Bar, Raffles in Singapore. 

9) What is your best childhood memory?

Getting a Mr Slushy for Christmas and making all my relatives drink disgusting frozen drinks all day, I charged 10p a cup.

10) Did you have an invisible friend as a child? If so please tell me about them. 

I had a little elephant friend who used to sit on the swing in the back garden with me.

11) What would your ideal pet be?

A bulldog. I’d like 3 and I’d call them Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to most animals. 

12) What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to music? 

When I was writing Daydream Believer I used to listen to Dolly Parton to help me with one of the characters and I must admit I became rather fond of her.

13) Can you let us in on an embarrassing secret?

I was in a Goth band called Poison Spite. I wrote the songs and ‘played’ keyboards. 

14) What are you most scared of?

Fish – I hate them alive or dead. I’ve had hypnotherapy, it didn’t work 100% but at least I can glance at them from a distance now.

Thank you so much Lizzie for these great answers, in just over 6 months I think you are the only person who would like be an etrog!

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? 

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

And check out previous week's Truth or Lie's that you may have missed here

For this week only if you have a guess at the lies, whether right or wrongly you will be entered into a draw to win this lovely prize:

Giveaway - Win this star themed prize bundle (Open Internationally)

If you take part and have a guess at the lies, then you are in a chance of winning this prize - It's a Star Print Scarf, Star Print Desk Organiser and star eraser topped pencil. 

Giveaway open Internationally, all options are voluntary, apart from submitting a comment, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 11/11/2016. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

Win this star themed prize bundle (Open Internationally)

Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? - Jane Cable - Month 6 Week 4

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

Every 4 weeks, I will close the guessing, count up how many correct answers each of you has, and create a leaderboard. Anyone who is top of the leaderboard, will go into a draw for a paperback of the winners choice (open internationally). 

Please do include a way for me to contact you (email or twitter or similar), so that I can let you know if you have won. 

The weekend after a 4 week period closes, not only will I produce a leaderboard, and announce a winner, I will also let you know into the true answers, and which were the lies.  

Closing date for the sixth month is 11pm on 27th October 2016. 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning contestant, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

I’m Jane Cable and I’m a writer of romantic novels with a twist of suspense. My first novel, The Cheesemaker’s House, is a spooky tale about a divorcee who moves to Yorkshire and meets new neighbours from the present… and the past. My second book, The Faerie Tree, is about a couple who meet again twenty years after their brief affair and discover their memories of it are completely different. My third, The Seahorse Summer, has just been signed by Endeavour Press and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Please to meet you Jane, congratulations on your Endeavour Press deal, I hope you have great success with The Seahorse Summer. 

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Jane hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Who is your favourite author?

Favourites come and go but the most enduring on my list is R F Delderfield, a master of the saga at a time when England was changing beyond all recognition. 

2) What book do you wish you had written?

Without a doubt it’s The Time Traveler’s Wife. It was a book which opened up new worlds for me because it showed me that if characters were convincing enough readers were happy to suspend disbelief while their story unfolded.

3) Tell me about any really memorable dream or nightmare you have had

It was actually the dream Alice has about Owen in The Cheesemaker’s House the night after she first sees him, swimming in the river. It was just a gentle kiss on the lips from a man I didn’t know but I could still feel it when I woke up.

4) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

A trip to Newquay in Cornwall in the summer of 1987. We stayed with my friend’s Auntie Megan who owned a surf shop and fell in love with her boyfriend Robin who seemed the epitome of cool to two teenage girls.

5) If you could be a fruit, what would you be and why?

A prickly pear because they’re so hard to eat.

6) What is the most annoying interview question you have ever been asked?

If you could be a fruit, what would you be and why?

7) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

My dream job is being an author so in some ways I have achieved it – just not in a way that I can give up my day job just yet.

8) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve?

Without a doubt it would be a glorious day in early September and I’d be on the north Cornwall coast body boarding with my husband and some friends. Then we’d be picked up by helicopter to have dinner at Winteringham Fields in Lincolnshire and spend the night in one of their gorgeous rooms.

9) Please name a cocktail that would describe you perfectly, and what’s in it?

I’m a mojito at heart. Sweet, sharp and hopefully refreshing. If not, rum-soaked will do me fine.

10) Besides reading, which I am guessing is a given, what other hobbies do you have?

I am passionate about my garden, in particular growing dahlias. I never tire of their wonderful jewel colours and I planted a whole bed in memory of my mother after she died last year. I even post pictures of them on Twitter sometimes.

11) Did you have an invisible friend as a child? If so please tell me about them. 

Definitely. I was an only child and invented a little white mouse that came everywhere in my pocket. I have a very clear memory of being upstairs at the front of a bus with him sitting on the palm of my hand taking in the view.

12) What would your ideal pet be?

A teddy bear. All of the love and none of the hassle.

13) Who is the most important person in the world to you?

Without a doubt it’s my husband. I was lucky enough to meet a man who is best friend as well as lover, business partner and the person I most want to spend my time with – even after 22 years.

14) If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

It depends how much I won! But realistically it would buy me the time to be a full time author. I’d love to do some good with it as well, most likely helping people who suffer from depression and other mental health issues.

Thank you so much for agreeing to take part Jane and I am sorry for being the supplier of your most annoying interview question, but I do love your answer to it! 

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? I will be back next week with another episode, and in the mean time...

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

And check out previous week's Truth or Lie's that you may have missed here

Jane Cable is a Chichester based writer of contemporary romantic fiction with a twist of suspense. In 2011 the manuscript which would become her debut novel, The Cheesemaker’s House, topped the suspense and crime category of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition. Following publication it won Jane writing charity Words for the Wounded’s inaugural Independent Author Book Award.

Jane’s two independently published novels (The Cheesemaker’s House and The Faerie Tree) have enjoyed high ratings from reviewers and readers and equally strong sales, especially in Kindle format. Following her initial successes Jane is now represented by Felicity Trew at The Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency and her third book, The Seahorse Summer, has recently been signed by leading UK digital publisher Endeavour Press.

Find out more about Jane at www.janecable.com, on Facebook at The-Cheesemakers-House-and-Other-Stories and on Twitter @JaneCable.

Funday Friday - Truth or Lie - Alli Sinclair - Month 6 Week 3

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

Every 4 weeks, I will close the guessing, count up how many correct answers each of you has, and create a leaderboard. Anyone who is top of the leaderboard, will go into a draw for a paperback of the winners choice (open internationally). 

Please do include a way for me to contact you (email or twitter or similar), so that I can let you know if you have won. 

The weekend after a 4 week period closes, not only will I produce a leaderboard, and announce a winner, I will also let you know into the true answers, and which were the lies.  

Closing date for the sixth month is 11pm on 27th October 2016. 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning contestant, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

I’m Alli Sinclair, Australian born but citizen of the world. An adventurer at heart, I’ve climbed some of the world’s highest mountains and immersed myself in an array of exotic destinations, cultures, and languages. I’ve lived in Argentina, Peru, Canada and, of course, my native country, Australia. My stories capture the romance and thrill of exploring new destinations and cultures, while also taking readers on a journey of discovery.  

Please to meet you Alli, what an incredible mix of countries that you have lived in

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Alli hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Tell me about any really memorable dream or nightmare you have had.

I dream often so it’s hard to choose just one. I’ve been dreaming about heading to Europe for twelve months with my husband and children. We’d travel in a small van and home school the kids while I continue to write my books and hubby continues with his IT business. This dream has been recurring for a couple of years so maybe I should start paying attention to it!

2) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

Ah …. The twelve month backpacking holiday in South America that led to me living there and working as a tour and mountain climbing guide for a few years. That was rather memorable!

3) If you could be an animal what would you be and why?

I’d love to be a llama. I love their snooty look, large long lashes and the fact that they have no qualms in letting you know they’re unhappy with you (because they spit on you!). I admire their ability to easily let people know when they’re displeased because I’m a person who finds it incredibly difficult to let someone know if they’ve upset me. 

4) What superpower would you love to have?

I’d love the superpower of helping people fulfil their dreams. I don’t believe in things being handed to people on a silver platter, but I totally believe that hard work and self-belief should result in dreams being fulfilled (unfortunately that doesn’t happen for everyone). So if I can find that spark in someone and use my super powers to turn their doubt into the belief that they can achieve their dream, that would be one very satisfying super power! 

5) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

I’ve always wanted to be a star of musicals, dancing and singing my way in Broadway and the West End. Unfortunately, the howling dogs didn’t like my rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables and my ambitions were thwarted.

6) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve?

A long jog along the beach, followed by a leisurely breakfast of green juice with extra kale, then a few games of tennis, and if the weather’s nice (but it’s a perfect day so it will be sunny, right?) then spend the afternoon gardening. 

7) Please name a cocktail that would describe you perfectly, and what’s in it?

Margarita: I haven’t specified a particular flavour as I’m a chameleon and can adapt to my surrounds, hence why I thought a Margarita would fit the bill as the flavour of the margarita changes as to what is available or what the drinker feels like.  

8) If you could choose anybody famous to star in the story of your life, who would it be?

I’d definitely choose Sandra Bullock as there are so many similarities in the characters she plays and me. I’m a tad clumsy (okay, a lot!), I always look for the good in people even if they’ve hurt me, and I try to do right by everyone and I love with all my heart. 

9) What is your best childhood memory?

Going to the snow when I was a very young and building a snowman that was almost twice the size as me. I remember frozen fingers (even though I had gloves on), snowflakes being caught in my eyelashes, and a super cold nose—but all that faded into the background as I laughed with my parents and brother as we created a memory that would last forever.

10) Did you have an invisible friend as a child? If so please tell me about them. 

I had twin invisible friends – Molly and Gertrude. They were the same age as me and were super brave. They always said the things I was too scared to, and they often goaded me into doing things I wasn’t brave enough to do (which sometimes got me into trouble!). I turned ten and they disappeared overnight – it broke my heart and I don’t think I’ll ever fully get over it.

11) If you could only look at one view for the rest of eternity, what or where would you like to be to see this view?

Oooh, this is tough because I love mountains and the sea! If I had to choose one, though, I’d go with the Atacama desert in northern Chile. Although a desert, it can get very cold and often there is snowfall on the peaks of the surrounding mountains and sometimes, if there’s been rainfall (yes, in a desert!) the water sits on top of the red land and and reflects the blue sky and surrounding snow-capped peaks. And at night, the inky sky is scattered with stars. It truly is one of the most magical places on earth.

12) Can you let us in on an embarrassing secret?

I am clumsy, and have often tripped and found myself splattered on the ground in front of males I’ve been trying to impress. One episode that comes to mind is when I was on crutches (what a surprise!) and I was getting out of my car. The crush at the time was walking past and he waved and smiled and as he came over to talk to me, I shut the car door but the pocket of my jacket (that contained the car keys) got caught inside the door and the door wouldn’t open anymore. So I had to lean against the door, trying to look oh-so-casual, and have a conversation with my crush (which was hard enough at the best of times because I was always so nervous around him!) and pretend all was fine in my world. He asked me if I wanted to go inside to the pub I’d parked out the front of, and that’s when I had to admit I was stuck. Bless him, he didn’t bat an eyelid and after I took off my jacket, he managed to wedge open the door so I could retrieve my jacket and car keys. We didn’t end up dating but we did become friends and had a good laugh about my clumsiness!

13) If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

I’d pay off our house, my brother’s house, send my mum and my in-laws on a holiday they’d always dreamed of, donate money to my kid’s school, donate money to literacy foundations, and donate money to a handful of other causes very dear to my heart. And I’m pretty sure I’d save some money to spend a year travelling with my hubby and kids! 

14) What are you most scared of?

I try not to be scared of too much, but I do worry about where our world is headed. There seems to be so much violence and not enough effort put into trying to understand each other. I’m an idealist, I know, so I find it very hard to comprehend why there is so much disagreement and anger in this world. I am scared that one day this hatred will spread to a point where we lose our last chance to find peace in this world and this is very scary because what kind of world will it be for future generations?

Thank you so much taking part Alli, that view in Chile sounds gorgeous, I must add that onto my list of countries to visit. 

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? I will be back next week with another episode, and in the mean time...

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

And check out previous week's Truth or Lie's that you may have missed here

MIDNIGHT SERENADE 

On the sultry streets of Buenos Aires, the daughter of a world class tango diva searches for answers about the mother who abandoned her—and uncovers decades of lies and deception…
After twenty years of wondering why her mother chose tango over her, Dani McKenna finally travels to Argentina. What was it about this beautiful, mysterious land that enticed one woman away from her own child—and broke another’s heart? As a journalist, Dani may have the opportunity to find out. And an enigmatic tango dancer may hold the key to her quest—if she can break down his defensive walls.
Carlos Escudero had been Dani’s mother’s protégé. Tragedy ended his career and he refuses to be interviewed. But he will give Dani some insights, on one condition: she must agree to his tango lessons. As the two begin the intricate dance of passion, Dani’s quiet, logical world is exchanged for one of music, motion—and mystery. For the clues to a dance legend’s murder may lead Dani to the truth about the past and its impact on her family—and free her to move toward a future she can claim as her own at last…

BUY LINKS:
https://www.bookdepository.com/Midnight-Serenade-Alli-Sinclair/9781601838933

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/33109

https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Serenade-Wandering-Skies-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B016GRJ87Q

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/midnight-serenade/id1087055141?mt=11

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/midnight-serenade

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-serenade-alli-sinclair/1122857386


BIO:
Alli Sinclair is a multi award-winning author of books that combine travel, mystery, and romance. An adventurer at heart, Alli has climbed some of the world’s highest mountains and immersed herself in an array of exotic destinations, cultures, and languages. Alli’s stories capture the romance and thrill of exploring new destinations and cultures that also take readers on a journey of discovery.
Alli volunteers as an author role model with Books in Homes, promoting literacy and reading amongst young Australians.

Alli can be found at www.allisinclair.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AlliSinclairAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/allisinclair
Instagram: alli_sinclair
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alli-Sinclair/e/B00MSGMON0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1456709127&sr=1-1

Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? - Sue Moorcroft - Month 6 Week 2

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

Every 4 weeks, I will close the guessing, count up how many correct answers each of you has, and create a leaderboard. Anyone who is top of the leaderboard, will go into a draw for a paperback of the winners choice (open internationally). 

Please do include a way for me to contact you (email or twitter or similar), so that I can let you know if you have won. 

The weekend after a 4 week period closes, not only will I produce a leaderboard, and announce a winner, I will also let you know into the true answers, and which were the lies.  

Closing date for the sixth month is 11pm on 27th October 2016. 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning Sue Moorcroft, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

I write commercial novels with sometimes unexpected themes. I also write short stories, serials, novellas, columns and courses and I’m a creative writing tutor.  I like to travel, too, probably because I was an army kid, and I’m lucky enough to be invited to France, Italy and America 

Please to meet you Sue, I am really looking forward to reading your new Christmas book, The Christmas Promise that was out yesterday in ebook. 

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Sue hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Who is your favourite author?

Nevil Shute. 

2) What book do you wish you had written?

Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann

3) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

Three weeks in Japan

4) If you could be an animal what would you be and why?

A dog. I like being stroked.

5) What superpower would you love to have?

Flight

6) What is the most annoying interview question you have ever been asked?

Whether my husband minds me writing.

7) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

Author, and yes!

8) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve?

Being in Malta, sunshine, reading, a pint of Cisk beer and a chocolate ice cream.

9) Besides reading, which I am guessing is a given, what other hobbies do you have?

When I’m not being an author I love to run for hours, especially in the rain.

10) What is your best childhood memory?

Living in Malta

11) Did you have an invisible friend as a child? If so please tell me about them.

Yes, a girl called Caroline and a boy called Adam. 

12) What would your ideal pet be?

A unicorn (so long as unicorns are friendly and don’t take much looking after). It would be awesome to fly around on a unicorn.

13) If you could only look at one view for the rest of eternity, what or where would you like to be to see this view?

The Upper Barrakka Garden in Valletta, Malta.

14) If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

Doing up my house as if I were on a TV makeover programme. 

Thanks so much Sue, sounds like you really love Malta and its surprising just how many authors would like to be able to fly! 

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? I will be back next week with another episode, and in the mean time...

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

And check out previous week's Truth or Lie's that you may have missed here

You can find Sue Moorcroft on Twitter

Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? - Sue Featherstone - Month 6 Week 1

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

Every 4 weeks, I will close the guessing, count up how many correct answers each of you has, and create a leaderboard. Anyone who is top of the leaderboard, will go into a draw for a paperback of the winners choice (open internationally). 

Please do include a way for me to contact you (email or twitter or similar), so that I can let you know if you have won. 

The weekend after a 4 week period closes, not only will I produce a leaderboard, and announce a winner, I will also let you know into the true answers, and which were the lies.  

Closing date for the sixth month is 11pm on 27th October 2016. 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning contestant, please can you tell me your name and a little bit about yourself?

I’m Sue Featherstone, a former journalist and PR professional, now teaching journalism at Sheffield Hallam University. I’ve co-written two journalism text books with my writing partner Susan Pape –  Newspaper Journalism: A Practical Introduction and Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction, both published by Sage. Our first novel A Falling Friend was published by Lakewater Press in April, 2016. One reviewer described it as chick lit with attitude, which I rather like. I currently blog at pinkbicylebooks but am in the process of transferring everything to The Booklist, a joint blog with Susan.

Please to meet you Sue, I hope everyone enjoys your interview

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Sue hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) Who is your favourite author?  

Has to be a toss up between Georgette Heyer and Agatha Christie. I discovered both in my teens and I’m loyal to authors I like.  Christie is probably the better writer but I like the humour of Heyer’s romances. 

2) What book do you wish you had written?  

Dear Daddy by Phillipe Dupasquier. It’s a picture book about a little girl Sophie, who is writing letters to her dad, who is away at sea. ‘Dear Daddy, The piano has been mended. Mummy is very pleased.’ Absolutely magic and my daughters both loved it when they were little. 

3) What was your most memorable holiday ever?  

Our first holiday together as a married couple (honeymoon in Paris excepted): a caravan in Skegness. Doesn’t sound very exciting but just the two of us. What could have been better?

4) If you could be an animal what would you be and why? 

A horse: sensitive, beautiful, intelligent and high spirited. And a good runner too. Just like me. 

5) What superpower would you love to have? 

I’d like to be able to fly. Preferably like Superman, because a pair of wings would spoil the cut of my clothes.

6) What is the most annoying interview question you have ever been asked? 

If you could be an animal what would it be? Because I wouldn’t ever want to be any kind of animal. Ever. I don’t like animals. I just don’t get their appeal. 

7) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it? 

Like every good Catholic girl I fantasised about becoming a nun and saving the world through prayer and good deeds. Then I grew up and discovered I wasn’t cut out for praying or saving the world.

8) Can you describe for me what your perfect day would involve? 

One that allowed time to do some writing without feeling as if I’ve got to squeeze it in as an afterthought around all the other things I have to do. That’s why I love Fridays – I now work just four days a week and Fridays are my writing day. 

9) If you could choose anybody famous to star in the story of your life, who would it be? 

Sean Bean, from the Sharpe era. He doesn’t look remotely like my husband, but I could happily pretend to be married to him. 

10) Who is your ideal Disney character? 

Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She’s clever, independent, feisty, pretty, brave, loving...all the things I’d like to be. And with gorgeous, long, thick hair. 

11) Who is the most important person in the world to you? 

My husband and daughters, of course. They might read this: wouldn’t dare say anything else!

12) Can you let us in on an embarrassing secret? 

Good lord! No!  My embarrassing secrets are staying secret.

13) If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money? 

 I’d have as much fun as possible spending it on high living, exotic holidays and expensive cocktails. I’d also treat my husband to a fast car.

14) What are you most scared of?

Same thing as every mother: something awful happening to my daughters. Lie: My husband finding out how much the new pair of shoes in my wardrobe really cost.

Thank you so much for agreeing to take part Sue, I agree you need to say your family just incase, and Superman's powers would be brilliant. 

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? I will be back next week with another episode, and in the mean time...

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

And check out previous week's Truth or Lie's that you may have missed here

Amazon link: http://amzn.to/29xWaXO

Whatever Teri says, whatever she does, it's all leading her toward disaster. But she's not one to heed a warning. What more can best mate Lee do? Besides, Lee's got her own life to sort out. 

A Falling Friend is the tale of two friends - one who always seems to make the wrong choices, and the other who's always there to catch her.

After spending her twenties sailing the globe, making love on fine white sand, and thinking only of today, Teri Meyer returns to Yorkshire—and to studying. That's when she discovers John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, and poet of all things depraved. What she doesn't realise is even beyond his grave, his influence over her is extraordinary. To hell with the consequences.

Having gone out on a limb to get old friend Teri a job at the university at which she teaches, it doesn't take long for Lee Harper to recognise a pattern. Wherever Teri goes, whatever she does, every selfish choice she makes, it's all setting her up for a nasty fall. But Teri's not the sort to heed a warning, so Lee has no choice but to stand by and watch. And besides, she has her own life to straighten out.

A clever, raw and hilarious character-driven masterpiece that follows the lives of two friends with the same ambitions, but who have vastly different ways of achieving them.

About the Authors

Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape are both former newspaper journalists who between them have extensive experience of working in national and regional papers and magazines, and public relations.

More recently they have worked in higher education, teaching journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students – Sue at Sheffield Hallam and Susan at Leeds Trinity.

The pair, who have been friends for 25 years, have already written two successful journalism text books together - Newspaper Journalism: A Practical Introduction; and Feature Writing: A Practical Introduction.

Sue, who is married with two grown-up daughters, loves reading, writing and exploring the cycle paths near her Yorkshire home. She blogs about books at Book Lovers, Book List Susan is married and spends her spare time walking and cycling in the Yorkshire Dales and on the east coast, and playing the ukulele.

https://twitter.com/SHUjournalism - Sue’s Twitter

https://twitter.com/wordfocus - Susan's Twitter

Funday Friday - Truth or Lie? Tracey Sinclair - Month 5 Week 4

Welcome to the latest edition of Truth of Lie. My name is Rachel and I will be your host, for this exciting new game show. Each Friday, I will have one contestant, and they will be answering at least 14 questions. There is of course one small twist...

For three of the answers, they have to lie. It is your task as the viewer to guess which three answers are lies. You are allowed 3 guesses and I want them posted into the comments field. 

Every 4 weeks, I will close the guessing, count up how many correct answers each of you has, and create a leaderboard. Anyone who is top of the leaderboard, will go into a draw for a paperback of the winners choice (open internationally). 

Please do include a way for me to contact you (email or twitter or similar), so that I can let you know if you have won. 

The weekend after a 4 week period closes, not only will I produce a leaderboard, and announce a winner, I will also let you know into the true answers, and which were the lies.  

Closing date for the fifth month is 11pm on 29th September 2016. 

So without further ado, let's meet today's contestant. 

Good morning Tracey Sinclair, please can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a freelance writer, editor and author, born in Newcastle but based in Brighton. My books include the romcom The Bridesmaid Blues and the Dark Dates/Cassandra Bick series, the latest of which is Angel Falls.

Please to meet you Tracey, who is back for another interview, after kicking off my Back Catalogue Books interview series back in July. 

Now onto the show, and remember everyone, Tracey, hasn't been entirely truthful with three of these answers, so it is up to you to guess which ones they are (only 3 guesses per person though). 

1) What book do you wish you had written?

That changes pretty much every time I read something good, but off the top of my head: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

2) Tell me about any really memorable dream or nightmare you have had

I often have vivid, narrative dreams that are like watching a film. A few years ago, when there was all that furore about the movie Natural Born Killers, I dreamt an entire version of it that scared me so much that to this day I haven’t been able to sit through the entire film!

3) What was your most memorable holiday ever?

A childhood holiday to Wales – it rained constantly but I didn’t care as I had a massive crush on one of the locals who worked at the campsite, so spent the entire time either ‘accidentally’ trying to be wherever he was, or writing bad poetry about him in my notebook! 

4) If you could be an animal what would you be and why?

A cat – they seem to have life pretty figured out!

5) What superpower would you love to have?

If I could have a combination of teleportation and invulnerability, that would be great. 

6) What is the most annoying interview question you have ever been asked?

Perhaps annoying is the wrong word, but my first novel was a book about a woman who tracks down and has an affair with her estranged father. So it was always slightly off-putting when people asked, ‘is that based on you?’ Um, no!

7) What is your dream job, and have you tried to achieve it?

It isn’t any more, but as a teen I wanted to be a TV presenter and did an audition tape that I cringe to think of even now. It was the eighties so I recall my outfit being neon bright and terrifyingly heavy on the shoulder pads…

8) If you could only read one author for the rest of your life (and I’m aware that’s a very scary world), who would you choose and why?

Terry Pratchett – he’s written a lot of books, and he’s my favourite ‘go-to’ reread. 

9) Did you have an invisible friend as a child? If so, please tell me about them. 

Not invisible as such, but I did have a life size doll called Athena who was about 3 feet tall, that I used to pretend was a real friend and used to hold long, detailed conversations with. Maybe as an only child I wanted a sibling. My mum got so freaked out though that she gave it away!

10) What would your ideal pet be?

In an alternate universe where I lived in a big house with lots of space, I’d love a big, friendly dog like a collie or a husky or a lab.

11) What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to music? 

Oh, my music tastes are all cheesy and I’m not guilty about any of them! I love a good pop song and am not embarrassed about dancing round the living room to Taylor Swift or Britney Spears!

12) If you could only look at one view for the rest of eternity, what or where would you like to be to see this view?

I’d like it to be a balcony view over the ocean, ideally somewhere warm. Maybe Hawaii. 

13) Can you let us in on an embarrassing secret?

I once accidentally dyed my entire body a glittery shade of blue (long story).

14) If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

Travel. Maybe check out the view from a balcony in Hawaii…

Thank you so much Tracey, I urge you to put your audition tape onto youtube, as I bet your fans would love to see it, and while your there please also share with us all how exactly you managed to die your body glittery blue! 

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Truth or Lie? I will be back next week with another episode, and in the mean time...

Don't forget to guess the lies, to be in with a chance of a prize! 

About Tracey Sinclair

Tracey Sinclair is an author and freelance editor and writer. Her books include the romcom The Bridesmaid Blues and the Dark Dates/Cassandra Bick series. Her latest book, Angel Falls, is out now.

www.darkdates.org
@thriftygal
www.facebook.com/darkdates



The Bridesmaid Blues:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridesmaid-Blues-Tracey-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B00M83Y3VO/

Angel Falls:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Angel-Falls-Cassandra-Bick-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B01AMOGRBY/