Devon Book Club discussion

Here is my list - know any others?
A
Kathryn Aalto
Margaret Addison
Jane Alexander
Philip Algar
Nina Allan
Anne Allen
Loreley Amiti
Julie Anderson
Colin Andrews
Ro Angwin
Julie Archer
Nick Arnold
Stephanie Austen
B
Virginia Baily
Lucy Banks
Margaret Barnes
Claire Barker
David Barker
Susan Barrett
Colin Beazley
Maura Beckett?
Hugh Bellamy
Richard Bellamy
Dodie Bishop
Morwenna Blackwood
Ben Blake
Faith Bleasdale
Two Blondes
Patrick Blosse
Clare Boley
Tim Bowler
Thom Bolton
Sarah Bonner
Dianne Bown Wilson
Damian Boyd
Moira Brewer
Su Bristow
Andy Brown
Melanie Brown
Daisy Burton
Tina Burton
CJ Busby
Suzy Bussell
Barbara Butcher
Alex Buzzard
C
Serena Cairns
Sam Carrington
Anna Chant
Iain Chamberlain
Helen Charlesworth
Peter Christie
Marcia Clayton
Ann Cleeves
Hannah Coates
M.J. Colewood
Caroline Cook
Sharon Cook
Jane Corry
Tom Cox
Amanda Craig
D
Miriam Darlington
Anya Davis
Tom Dawn
Simon Dawson
Richard Dee
Hannah Dennison
Lisa Dickenson
Helena (Nell) Dixon
Carol Ann Dobson
Ruth Downie
Victoria Dowd
James Downs
Teresa Driscoll
Elizabeth Ducie
Sophie Duffy
E
Dan Eatherley
James Edgecombe
Kate Allis
Michael Elsmere
Martin Emmet
Clive Essame
Michael and Lynn Essery
Scott Evans
Victoria Eveleigh
Frances Evesham
Andy Extance

F
Marissa Farrar
Patricia Fawcett
Louise Fearn Exeter
Jane Feaver
Lyn Ferrand
Janet Few
Ebberley Finch
Linda Finlay
Sally Flint
P.R. Ford
Sharon Francis
Richard Frost
Damien Furniss
G
Rebecca Gibson
David Gilman
Rosie Godfrey
Sheilah Golding
Beth Good
Felicity Goodall
Caz Greenham
Joanne Graham
Sandra Greaves
Todd Grey
Virginia Griem
Rosemary Griggs
John S Guthrie (Dartmouth)
H
John Hall
Rebecca Hall
Eleanor Halton
Richard Handy
Tim Hannigan
Richard Hardie
S.M. Hardy
Lillian Harry
Cathie Hartigan
Emily Hauser
Matt Harvey
Tony Hawks
Lucy V Hay
Karen Hayes
Richard Hedgington
Geri Hellery
Veronica Henry
Georgia Hill
Wendy Hilling
John Hogarth
Dave Holwill
Jane Holland
Lucie Holland (Hounsom)
Helen Hollick
Babs Horton
Rowena Howse
Jane Hugen - Tobler
Susan Hughes
Alice Hunter
Alison Huntingford
Graham Hurley
Ed Hyland
I
J
Jane Jago
Margaret James
Michael Jecks
Amanda Jones
Belinda Jones
Richard Jones
Emma Jordan
Joey Jordan
Jackie Juno

K
Hilda Kalap
Jenny Kane
Simon Kettlewell
Debbie Kingsley
Kenny Knight
L
Viv Laine (Payne)
Jenna Laing
Victoria Lamb
Tanya Landman
Amy Lauren
Zion Lights
Marion Lindsey-Noble
Marilyn Livingstone
Kate Lord Brown
Steph Lott
A.J. MacKenzie
Paddy Magrane
Karen Maitland
Michael Marshall
Steve Marson
Holly Martin
Lucy Martin
Carol Mayne
Suzanne McCarthy
Lisa McNeill
Lynne McVernon
Jodie Medland
Mel Menzies
Anne Merrick
Dan Metcalf
Linda Mitchelmore
Tarja Moles,
James D. Mortain
Paul Mortimer
Sophia Moseley
Elizabeth Moss
Michael Morpurgo
T Orr Munro
N

Adam Nevill
Terri Nixon
Mark Norman
Tracey Norman
Sam North
O
Casey O’Connor
Alice Oswald
P
Chrissie Parker
Lesley Pearse
Sarah Pearse
Wendy Percival
Leyland Peree
Lucy Pinney
Eleanor Piper
Margaret Pogson
Jonathon Posner
Q
Laura Quigley

R

Anne Rainbow
Tony Rea
Tess Read
P.J. Reid
Kate Rigby
Andy Robb
Lucinda Roberts
Gemma Rogers
Anona Roorke
Fiona Faith Ross
Mark Rothwell
Julie-Ann Rowell
S
Graham Sclater
Belinda Seaward
Mark Sennen
CM Serpell
Ben Serpent
Tanya Shadrick
Liz Shakespeare
David Sharp
William Shaw
Kathy Shuker
Anthea Simmons
Alison Simpson
Richard Small
Michael James Smith
Rosie Smith
Wendy Leo Smith
Amy Sparkes
Steve Spence
Jack Stainton
Trina Stacey
Bernie Steadman
James Stevenson
Steve Stevenson-Olds
Julian Stockwin
Michael Charles Sull
T
Benjamin Akira Tallamy
Susie Tame - Dartmoor
Chris Tetrault-Blay
Lesley Thomson
Sue Tingey
Olli Tooley
Lin Treadgold
Jill Treseder
Rosen Trevithick
Steve Tucker
Sarah Turner
U
V
Kate Vane
Pamela Vass
Carla Vermaat
Tom Vowler
W
Bill Wahl
Martin Waites
Katriona Ward
Gordon Waterhouse
JoJo Webb
Sue Weedon
R.L.Weeks
Jennifer Wells
Rachel Wells
Clare Helen Welsh
Roger Whale
Karen Wheeler
Maggie Whitehouse,
Ann Widdecombe,
Morgan Witzel
Susan Wilkins
L.E. Willetts
T.A, Williams
RS Williams
Trevor Williams
Susie Williamson
Angela Wooldridge
Jeannie Wycherley
X
Y
Abigail Yardimci
Z

And not in Devon but closely associated with us


MS Clements
Victoria Cornwall
Ruth Druart
Jan Ellis
Jane Johnson
Amanda Lees
Rebecca lowe
Hazel Prior

I'm not sure what criteria you are using (eg: how long ago, self-published, won journal (etc.) competitions, a story in a writing group self-pub, collection - and so on - poetry only, non-fiction only ... etc). However, if all these groups are included, I would add: Barbara Butcher, Michael Elsmere, Anne Hunt, Clare Pawley, Anne Rainbow, James Stevenson, Nicki Summerson ... there may be more.

DrMama wrote: "I'm not sure what criteria you are using (eg: how long ago, self-published, won journal (etc.) competitions, a story in a writing group self-pub, collection - and so on - poetry only, non-fiction o..."

Very simple - living in Devon and had a book published (inc self-published) - any genre

Does that apply to your list?

Thanks Ian, So ... definitely Michael, Barbara, Anne R and James, not sure about others ... individual stories, articles and poems, only, I think.

DrMama wrote: "Thanks Ian, So ... definitely Michael, Barbara, Anne R and James, not sure about others ... individual stories, articles and poems, only, I think."

Thanks

Lisa Dickenson I think lives somewhere in the Sidmouth area (writer of You Had Me at Merlot, Mistletoe on 34th Street and Twelve Dates of Christmas)

Me - Mark Sennen! Five novels in the DI Savage series published so far: https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/searc...

Mark wrote: "Me - Mark Sennen! Five novels in the DI Savage series published so far: https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/searc..."

Hi Mark - great to hear from you. I hoped that this would connect us with other writers in the county. Be great to hear more about you and your work and, if it is helpful, to supports and celebrate what you do

Sally wrote: "Lisa Dickenson I think lives somewhere in the Sidmouth area (writer of You Had Me at Merlot, Mistletoe on 34th Street and Twelve Dates of Christmas)"

Thanks Sally - keep them coming!

What a lot of authors in Devon. It must be the water!
(BTW my Anne has an 'e'.)

Carol wrote: "What a lot of authors in Devon. It must be the water!
(BTW my Anne has an 'e'.)"

Indeed there are. Sorry about the typo - corrected

Ian

What about making a list of past authors from Devon. I can only think of 3- RD Blackmore, (Lorna Doone) John Gay (The Beggars Opera) and Henry Williamson (Is that the right name? Tarka the Otter).

I forgot Agatha Christie. Also, Rudyard Kipling lived near the harbor in Torquay.

Carol wrote: "What about making a list of past authors from Devon. I can only think of 3- RD Blackmore, (Lorna Doone) John Gay (The Beggars Opera) and Henry Williamson (Is that the right name? Tarka the Otter)."

I'm up for that - I'll get it started.

Maybe also books set in Devon even if the author's aren't

Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "What about making a list of past authors from Devon. I can only think of 3- RD Blackmore, (Lorna Doone) John Gay (The Beggars Opera) and Henry Williamson (Is that the right name? Tark..."

Books set in Devon could be a different list. I was wondering what famous authors have come from Devon and I can't really think of many. I don't want to include non-fiction, as that's a bit different.

Carol wrote: "Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "What about making a list of past authors from Devon. I can only think of 3- RD Blackmore, (Lorna Doone) John Gay (The Beggars Opera) and Henry Williamson (Is that the righ..."

Agree re: a different list. I'll start them both off

Does Margaret Drabble still live in North Devon?

Sue wrote: "Does Margaret Drabble still live in North Devon?"

OOhh - I don't know - didnt know she was Devon based. According to Wikipedia (highly authoritative of course) she lives in London and Somerset

Anyone know?

Found this https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=T...

Sue wrote: "Found this https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=T......"

Thanks - just over the border in Somerset then

I'm a Devon author not included in your list. Regards, Michael James Smith.

Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "What about making a list of past authors from Devon. I can only think of 3- RD Blackmore, (Lorna Doone) John Gay (The Beggars Opera) and Henry Williamson (Is that the right name? Tark..."
There's a website which lists books by locations.
You can search Devon and get everything from Tarka the Otter to the latest indie book with a Devon location.
I believe you can also add your own book to the database with a bit of online form filling.
I'll look for the link.

I might be wrong about adding books.
I know I tried a while back but mine are still not showing
https://www.mappit.net/bookmap/region...

Michael wrote: "I'm a Devon author not included in your list. Regards, Michael James Smith."

Hi Michael - consider yourself added - what do you write and may I ask where you live?

Ian wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm a Devon author not included in your list. Regards, Michael James Smith."

Hi Michael - consider yourself added - what do you write and may I ask where you live?"

I live in Torquay, where I was born and I write novels set locally here in the Bay and upon Dartmoor. Thanks for adding me to your interesting list, Oliver. My Novel, 'lucifer's Abbey' is here:
Smarturl.it/luc-1

It's not my list, I just found it one day.
The adding books feature appears not to be as effective as one might hope.

Michael wrote: "Ian wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm a Devon author not included in your list. Regards, Michael James Smith."

Hi Michael - consider yourself added - what do you write and may I ask where you live?"

I ..."

Thanks Michael

The Riviera Express
TP Fielden is a Devon-based writer, and The Riviera Express is the first of a series extolling the beauties of this beautiful county while collecting up a disproportionate number of murders for ace sleuth Miss Dimont to investigate. Set in Temple Regis, 'Devon's prettiest town', in the 1950s The Riviera Express has just been published by HarperCollins HQ.

TP wrote: "The Riviera Express
TP Fielden is a Devon-based writer, and The Riviera Express is the first of a series extolling the beauties of this beautiful county while collecting up a dispro..."

Thanks TP - great to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a short introduction to yourself on the saying hello thread and chat more about your work as it develops in the writers corner.

I do hope the list includes writers who live in Devon but don't set their novels in the county.

Serena wrote: "I do hope the list includes writers who live in Devon but don't set their novels in the county."
Yes, it does.
Quite a few are not even set on this planet.

Lovely, Oliver. Delighted to hear it. :)

Serena wrote: "I do hope the list includes writers who live in Devon but don't set their novels in the county."

Yes - I didn't want to limit the list - I was also thinking that I might set off another one for books set in Devon - written by local authors or otherwise but one list at a time!

Thanks, Ian. Happy to find my name on this one. :)

Serena wrote: "Thanks, Ian. Happy to find my name on this one. :)"

Delighted to add you and please let me know if you spot anyone who is missing

Will do.

Hi Ian, I am not on there. We met couple of weeks back at the event at the Farmers Union and have emailed since - Jennifer Wells. Thanks!

Jennifer wrote: "Hi Ian, I am not on there. We met couple of weeks back at the event at the Farmers Union and have emailed since - Jennifer Wells. Thanks!"

Oops sorry - thought I'd updated it to include everyone I met - you are now! Be great if you'd leave a short intro to yourself and your work on the saying hello thread

Ian wrote: "Here is my list - know any others?
A
Kathryn Aalto
Margaret Addison
Nina Allan
Anne Allen
Loreley Amiti
Colin Andrews
Ro Angwin
Julie Archer
Nick Arnold
B
Virginia Baily
Lucy Banks
Margaret Barn..."

I'd be delighted to join this list. Julian Stockwin

Consider yourself added, Julian. Could you tell us more about yourself and the books you write - and could you message me with your e-mail and other contact details. Many thanks Ian

Just found this lady who isn't on the list - and the bookshop looks amazing too! http://www.topshambookshop.co.uk. Anne Merrick i think this is the right person!

Sue wrote: "Just found this lady who isn't on the list - and the bookshop looks amazing too! http://www.topshambookshop.co.uk. Anne Merrick i think this is the right person!"

Thanks Sue - suitably added - and made me think that we ought to start a section on Bookshops - in Devon and beyond, that people want to celebrate. I'll contact Topsham to ask if they can put me in touch with Anne as well

Have just started reading Early One Morning by Virginia Baily - glad to see she's on the list. Will be interviewing her for Barnstaple Library on May 10th. Having just read the first chapter, can't wait!
Will post details...

And can you add my dear friend Alex Buzzard, Colin Beazley, oh and myself please?
Thanks Ian.

Rosie wrote: "Have just started reading Early One Morning by Virginia Baily - glad to see she's on the list. Will be interviewing her for Barnstaple Library on May 10th. Having just read the first chapter, can't..."

Of course - and can you point Alex and Colin in my direction?

Thanks Ian Will do! (Oh and it's Rosie - not Rosey, please

Rosie wrote: "Have just started reading Early One Morning by Virginia Baily - glad to see she's on the list. Will be interviewing her for Barnstaple Library on May 10th. Having just read the first chapter, can't..."

Hi Rosie,
If you have not already read it, I would also try to read Ginny's first novel, Africa Junction. It won her the McKitterick Prize. She's lovely.

Thanks DrMama. I ordered a copy yesterday!!

I have finished Lucy Banks book The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost after just two days - and what a great read. I loved it. Lucy demonstrates a wonderful imagination.
This is an unusual story of an agency that deals with the spirit world, a young man's discovery of his special powers and the rescue of Dr. Ribero's faltering agency.
Government's know all about the spirits and commission investigative agencies through secret web forums to deal with sundry Poltergeists and displaced spirits of all kinds.
The first in what could easily be an extended series of books, this is real page turner. I was hooked from the beginning and was keen to find out how the story would unfold. There are some beautifully descriptive passages, the story is crisply told and it rattles along at a fast pace.
You can find out more about Lucy here http://www.lucy-banks.co.uk/about-me
Probably not a book I would have picked up off the shelf but well worth a read. This is the joy of this Book Club and of this A-Z challenge in particular.
If you've not started the challenge yet, there is loads of time and you can find the full list of Devon writers here - so many talented writers to choose from.
Please keep sharing your favourites with us

Ian wrote: "I have finished Lucy Banks book The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost after just two days - and what a great read. I loved it. Lucy demonstrates a wonderful imagination.
This is an un..." Many thanks Ian - so appreciated! If there's any chance you could add your review to my book page, that would be amazing (no worries if you'd rather not).

On a completely different note - did you want poets on your list? My mother-in-law, Chris Banks, is a published poet, she's had two books out in the past, plus been in many magazines etc. She writes gorgeously wonderful poems!