alt="Jane McDermott, female author of Hopes, Dreams & Houses"

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In: Author: Caren Launus-Gamble, Grief, Inspiration, Interviews, Real-life stories, Self-improvement, Talent, Writing, Yorkshire
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“I’m the kind of person that would start something and never finish it, “ Jane smiles. “So, when I said to my family one night that I was going to write a book, they all went at first ‘oh, yeah, lovely, right’, and it was forgotten. Because I don’t do things like that.” Jane waves her hand dismissively. Jane McDermott has invited me for a coffee and a chat at her home in Pudsey, Leeds today, to talk about the motivation behind writing and self-publishing her debut novel ‘Hopes, Dreams & Houses’. “This story has been in my head for a long time, from whenRead More →

alt="black and white image of barrels during US prohibition"

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In: Author: Callum Gamble, Crime Fiction, Entertainment, Fiction, Noir Style, Short Story
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Foreword by the author: “This short story was inspired by the novel ‘The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald’ and Raymond Chandler’s noir style of writing. It was, in fact, my final A-level assignment in 2015 that got me an A* grade. Hope you enjoy reading it.” I first met the kid, Jay Gatsby, in a dive of a pool bar on Forty-third Street; the kind of smoky, overcrowded joint where you’d easily find the wrong number squirting metal at you if you looked at somebody the wrong way. I was checking him out as I was pushing my way towards him. Although he wasRead More →

alt="three bouquets of yellow, green, pink, orange and white flowers wrapped in paper with cards on wire sticks saying You're awesome"

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In: Author: Caren Launus-Gamble, Comedy, Entertainment, Fiction, Humour, Neighbours, Satire, Series, Short Story
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“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a neighbourhood made up of one moderately wide street, 22 semi-detached houses on either side with 22 adjoining driveways, an average of three vehicles and half a dog per property must have an abundance of goodwill amongst its occupants. It is also a truth universally unacknowledged that this is not so.” Lust & Prejudice “Look, Harry. The new neighbours are moving in next door.” “Hm? Ah, ok.” “They’ve got a van, parked right across our drive. A big, white, ugly transit van. Great. That’s our neighbourhood spoiled then.” “Hm, hm.” “Is that all you’ve got to say? Hm,Read More →