After the loss of NaNoWriMo, it did not take the Crowvus writers long to realise how much we relied on this structured routine for our writing. For me, November had become the only time I was guaranteed to do creative writing. In fact - if truth be told - I've done very little at any other point of the year. Consequently, we decided to adapt to our own interpretation: Cro(w)NoWriMo - the W is in brackets because there was some discrepancy over whether or not it should be in there. The rules were simple: Write. As November went on, the end goal changed slightly for each writer. Was it 50,000 words? Was it to write every day? Was it to write an entire book? For me, it was about finishing a book. I haven't finished an historical fiction book in ages - though I've started plenty! Now, with four more writing days left on the clock and into the final chapter, I might finally be able to lay the ghost. The story I returned to was Poisoned Pilgrimage , the book I began as a submiss...
"Black Water" by Barbara Henderson
One of the first things that struck me about the book was how great the cover is. I love the picture, and I love the font. What makes this book even better is the awesome illustrations that appear at the chapter headings. The book is wonderfully formatted and a pleasure to have.
I started this book at tea time on the 5th November, thinking I should really give some time to a book I'd committed to reviewing. I finished the book at half 9 on the exact same day. Within minutes of starting, I realised I couldn't put the book down, but I didn't want to finish at the same time.
What I really liked about this book was that it included real people, which was described at the end. One of these real people was none other than celebrated poet Robert Burns, who was written exactly as I imagined him. I knew he was an Excise Man but I didn't make the connection that he'd be a great character in the book, even when I saw the chapter title "The Poet".
This book would make a very good class read. After Christmas, my topic with my P4s is "on the water", and I'm thrilled that this book has come out in time to be the perfect class novel. Closer to the topic, I will make some classroom resources that could be used in conjunction with this book. Teachers need all the help they can get!!
I was thrilled to be part of the book tour for this book, and I wish it every success through the coming months. Barbara Henderson will be appearing at the John o' Groats Book Festival in April if anyone would like to come and meet the author.
You can buy the book at any book shop worth it's salt, and here on Amazon.
Blurb
Down by the coast, black water swirls and hides its secrets...
Dumfries, 1792. Henry may only be thirteen, but he has already begun his training in the Excise, combatting smuggling like his father does. But when a large smuggling schooner is stranded nearby, the stakes are high—even with reinforcements, and the newly recruited officer, a poet called Robert Burns.
Musket fire, obstructive locals, quicksand and cannonballs—it is a mission of survival. As it turns out: Henry has a crucial part to play...
This book would make a very good class read. After Christmas, my topic with my P4s is "on the water", and I'm thrilled that this book has come out in time to be the perfect class novel. Closer to the topic, I will make some classroom resources that could be used in conjunction with this book. Teachers need all the help they can get!!
I was thrilled to be part of the book tour for this book, and I wish it every success through the coming months. Barbara Henderson will be appearing at the John o' Groats Book Festival in April if anyone would like to come and meet the author.
You can buy the book at any book shop worth it's salt, and here on Amazon.
Blurb
Down by the coast, black water swirls and hides its secrets...
Dumfries, 1792. Henry may only be thirteen, but he has already begun his training in the Excise, combatting smuggling like his father does. But when a large smuggling schooner is stranded nearby, the stakes are high—even with reinforcements, and the newly recruited officer, a poet called Robert Burns.
Musket fire, obstructive locals, quicksand and cannonballs—it is a mission of survival. As it turns out: Henry has a crucial part to play...
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