The Woodhaerst Reunion, Book 2,continues to follow the lives of Rachel Webster and Peggy Davies.
Returning as a journalist, is Rachel about to feature in her own story?
March 1977 – after four years away, Rachel Webster returns to Woodhaerst as a qualified journalist. Crushed following her former fiancé’s marriage, she accepts an offer from an ex to visit him in Paris.
Is romance on the cards for Rachel? Will the spiral continue to turn?
Has Peggy the strength for another round with Fate?
Birth mother, Peggy Davies, has restored her family to the happy unity they enjoyed before Rachel breezed into their lives.
Will this stability continue? Is Peggy’s household about to be thrown into chaos once again?
The coil continues to wind with surprise twists in store for both Peggy and Rachel.
A 1970s family drama centring around strong women, love, and friendship.
Please join me in congratulating memoir author, Beth Haslam, on the launch of the latest instalment to the Fat Dogs and French Estates series. Readers are in for a treat.
About Fat Dogs and French Estates – Part VI
Let’s be honest, relaxed living doesn’t apply to the Haslams. And certainly not with their accident-prone dogs and animal rescues. When a devastating event rocks Jack and Beth’s world, the joy of a new arrival is just what they need. But it doesn’t last long. A dark cloud looms, threatening the community and their beloved Le Palizac. Their future looks grim. Resolute, they join forces with friends to tackle the menace. Meanwhile, Beth is persuaded to navigate the perils of yoga classes – in French. Laugh, shed tears, share fears, and join in the fun. Vive la France!
Please join me in congratulating Suzi Bamblett, writing as B.B. Lamett, on the launch of My Brother’s Dominatrix. Readers are in for a treat.
About My Brother’s Dominatrix
Teacher Sarah thinks she has her life all figured out – that is, until her twin brother Simon’s sudden and mysterious death shatters the illusion.
After being made executor of his will, Sarah not only discovers her twin had a hidden lifestyle… but also that he left his entire estate to his dominatrix, Angel Belle. Determined to discover who Simon really was, Sarah finds herself drawn into Brighton’s shadowy BDSM underworld. But the closer she gets to the people in Simon’s past, the more ‘vanilla’ her own life seems.
When Angel vanishes suspiciously and Sarah is left with more questions than answers, her investigations take her far beyond her comfort zone – and halfway across the world – where she discovers her brother’s ultimate secret.
Can she really reveal the truth, or should she keep it buried forever?
Thank you to Mark Davidson @ The Hedgehog Poetry Press for producing yet another awesome pamphlet for my poetry.
Pre-orders at a discounted price of £7 plus p&p for Limited Edition signed copies. Publication date December 13th 2024.
Each print version order will receive a Free copy of my Stickleback by Hedgehog Poetry Press – while stocks last.
Proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK if purchased directly from me.
Please pay via My Paypal – After payment please email patricia.m.osbornewriter@gmail.com with name and address for pamphlet to be sent.
Postage UK £2.50
Postage Outside UK – Europe £5.00
Postage Outside Europe – Rest of World – £6.50
A pdf version is also available (this may be preferable, particularly outside of UK) at a pre-order low price of £1.50 – sent via DropBox due to size of file. After payment, please email patricia.m.osbornewriter@gmail.com for link to dropbox.
After ordering, please email me on Patricia.m.osbornewriter@gmail.com with your name and address/ or email address if pdf version has been selected. Many thanks for the support.
Check out the indepth reviews for Nature’s Bookends.
“Nature’s Bookends is a hymn to our environment. In deceptively artless poems, in which form and meaning are in perfect harmony, Patricia M Osborne evokes the spectacle of nature, capturing its sensory delights that have the capacity both to excite the observer and to bring comfort to the troubled. At a time of climate emergency, this is a collection that provides an engaging balance to the media’s panic-inducing portrayal of nature as violent and destructive. This is nature in all its benign glory, offering the reader an alternative compelling reason for ensuring we do everything possible to preserve it.”Nigel Kent / Poet and Reviewer.
By purchasing directly from me, all proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK.Thank you for your support.
And at last it’s here – A collection of nature poetry and poems in the here and now. Lose yourself as you turn over the pages.
Pre-orders from 29th November 2024 at a discounted price of £7 plus p&p for Limited Edition signed copies. Publication date December 13th 2024.
Each print copy order will receive a Free copy of my Stickleback also published by Hedgehog Poetry Press– while stocks last.
Proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK if purchased directly from me.
Please pay via My Paypal and leave your name and address for postage.
Postage UK £2.50
Postage Outside UK – Europe £5.00
Postage Outside Europe – Rest of World – £6.50
After ordering, please email me on Patricia.m.osbornewriter@gmail.com with your name and address. Many thanks for the support.
A pdf version is also available (this may be preferable, particularly outside of UK) at a pre-order low price of £1.50 – sent via DropBox due to size of file. Please leave email address.
By purchasing directly from me, all proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK.
“Patricia M Osborne’s new collection is deeply meditative, page after page of soothing poems that calm the spirit. Be inspired by the yew, the silver birch and the ancient oak. Find tranquility as you listen to the lullaby of waves at the shoreline. Be hopeful as you breathe in the scents of heather, rose and cinnamon. A prayer to the natural world, a copy should be at every bedside.” Maureen Cullen/ Novelist, award winning short story writer and poet.
“Nature’s Bookends is a hymn to our environment. In deceptively artless poems, in which form and meaning are in perfect harmony, Patricia M Osborne evokes the spectacle of nature, capturing its sensory delights that have the capacity both to excite the observer and to bring comfort to the troubled. At a time of climate emergency, this is a collection that provides an engaging balance to the media’s panic-inducing portrayal of nature as violent and destructive. This is nature in all its benign glory, offering the reader an alternative compelling reason for ensuring we do everything possible to preserve it.” Nigel Kent / Poet and Reviewer.
“Encased between dawn’s mandarin sky and a beetroot-coated dusk, Nature’s Bookends is a poetic whirling dervish, a cornucopia of nature’s creativity and chaos penned against the nature of humanity itself and its forgetfulness of what it is to simply rise, fall and be at one with the breeze. In this plenteous offering, Osborne roots us in the soil so as to witness the force of nature in place of the fight of the Earth’s weary inhabitants. This remarkable collection, mindful of the ground, invites the reader to sink into warm sand and be reborn.” Damien B Donnelly Poet, Editor and Podcast Producer.
“Nature’s Bookends reads like a well-played day of raga music that opens with sunrise. Poet Patricia M Osborne’s intimate collection guides us into a recognition of our place in grander scheme of the world’s natural order. We’re encouraged to breathe along with her, take in the colours and views; let them hold us as we are meant to be held, with awe and care. The treasures in Nature’s Bookends are plenty, and also beautifully written. More importantly, easy to understand, because they’re our treasures too.” Karen Pierce Gonzaez/Poet.
“In The Oath, Osborne skilfully transports readers back to late 19th century France and England. Seventeen-year-old Francoise leaves everything she’s ever known to fulfil an oath made by her parents, eventually finding true friendship and hope in an unlikely place. A coming-of-age story with well-rounded characters (I love Tilly!), authentic description and a great plot with many twists and turns. A real page-turner for anyone who enjoys historical romance at its best. Loyalty, love, loss and friendship. You’ll need tissues!”
The Oath takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster with its captivating story set in the late Victorian era. Although heartbreaking, it is also uplifting, both of which may cause the reader to shed a tear or two.
From tomorrow, Wednesday 27th November 2024, The Oath is on an Amazon Kindle Countdown Deal at 99p/99c for one week only. If you’ve not read this emotional roller coaster check out more HERE
~~~
December 6th 2024 sees the launch of Book 2, The Woodhaerst Reunion, of the Woodhaerst trilogy
Review from an advanced reader
“Just finished The Woodhaerst Reunion. Really enjoyed it Tricia – what a roller coaster! Looking forward to the third book!”
Returning as a journalist, is Rachel about to feature in her own story?
Although all books act as standalones the reading emperience will be enriched if read in the correct order. Therefore, if you’ve not read Book 1, The Woodhaerst Triangle, you may like to take a look at that first.
In 1971, 18-year-old Rachel is on the cusp of independence — but when she accidentally learns that she’s adopted, her world is turned upside down. Peggy Davies has always mourned her first child, and when Rachel finds her, she thinks her prayers have been answered. But sometimes even blessings don’t go as planned… A heart-wrenching, twisty story of courage, hope, and love.
What readers say about The Woodhaerst Triangle
“This book took me back to my youth. It is a beautifully written story by Ms Osborne which many will empathise with, of an eternal triangle but not solely of the romantic kind...”
“Loved all the little details evoking memories from my youth – clothes, cars, interiors, Woolworth’s….So pleased this is a three-parter which means there are two more books still to enjoy in this series. “
“If you enjoy reading books about interesting characters and their joys and dilemmas then you will love this book.”
“Great characters and storyline.”
See reviews and find out about The Woodhaerst Triangle HERE
~~~
Finally, I have a new poetry pamphlet coming out with The Hedgehog Poetry Press very shortly. Watch out for the cover reveal and how to order your copy – All proceeds from these signed limited edition copies will be donated to Cancer Research UK. Copies purchased via Amazon will NOT go to the charity.
What Advanced Reviewers Say
“Patricia M Osborne’s new collection is deeply meditative, page after page of soothing poems that calm the spirit. Be inspired by the yew, the silver birch and the ancient oak. Find tranquility as you listen to the lullaby of waves at the shoreline. Be hopeful as you breathe in the scents of heather, rose and cinnamon. A prayer to the natural world, a copy should be at every bedside.” Maureen Cullen – Novelist, Award winning short story writer and Poet.
“Nature’s Bookends is a hymn to our environment. In deceptively artless poems, in which form and meaning are in perfect harmony, Patricia M Osborne evokes the spectacle of nature, capturing its sensory delights that have the capacity both to excite the observer and to bring comfort to the troubled. At a time of climate emergency, this is a collection that provides an engaging balance to the media’s panic-inducing portrayal of nature as violent and destructive. This is nature in all its benign glory, offering the reader an alternative compelling reason for ensuring we do everything possible to preserve it.” – Nigel Kent / Poet and Reviewer.
“Encased between dawn’s mandarin sky and a beetroot-coated dusk, Nature’s Bookends is a poetic whirling dervish, a cornucopia of nature’s creativity and chaos penned against the nature of humanity itself and its forgetfulness of what it is to simply rise, fall and be at one with the breeze. In this plenteous offering, Osborne roots us in the soil so as to witness the force of nature in place of the fight of the Earth’s weary inhabitants. This remarkable collection, mindful of the ground, invites the reader to sink into warm sand and be reborn.” – Damien B Donnelly Poet, Editor and Podcast Producer
“Nature’s Bookends reads like a well-played day of raga music that opens with sunrise. Poet Patricia M Osborne’s intimate collection guides us into a recognition of our place in grander scheme of the world’s natural order. We’re encouraged to breathe along with her, take in the colours and views; let them hold us as we are meant to be held, with awe and care.
She suggests we be “mindful of the ground” where we stand. Listen wholeheartedly to the music we hear, manmade or not, and let it “sing in unison/with the beat of my heart.”
As the 18-poem body of work reveals, just as ragas do the melodic moods of day, the contemplative observations include an afternoon beneath a majestic canopy of trees and the midday splash of rain puddles. Coming full circle, as bookends, the start of day begins with:
“the morning show./A ball of fire rises,/strikes docile waves,/amber rollers form.” and closes with: “a bloodshot sphere/sinks into the sea,/turns the sky beetroot,/purpling the waves.”
The treasures in Nature’s Bookends are plenty, and also beautifully written. More importantly, easy to understand, because they’re our treasures too.” – Karen Pierce Gonzaez – Poet.
Watch this space for the cover reveal and how to order your limited edition copy of Nature’s Bookends : Here and Now – All proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK. I hope to raise at least £500.
Fancy helping to raise funds for Children in Need while at the same time you receive a signed copy (UK delivery only) of The Woodhaerst Triangle?
The Woodhaerst Triangle is up for auction with Children in Read – TO BID GO HERE
What readers say about the Woodhaerst Triangle
“Full of well-researched detail of the 1970s and with a great twist that I didn’t see coming.” “All of the characters seemed life-like and drew me into their lives. I devoured it and when it ended, I had withdrawal symptoms!”
“This book is a real page turner full of memorable nostalgia and showed family life in a true setting.” “I was absorbed in the plot very quickly, eager to find out what happened next.”
“Recommended to all lovers of family-sagas and twentieth century stories.”
“You think you know what’s going to happen and then there is a sudden twist to the story line that you don’t expect.”
A signed copy of a book makes for the perfect gift.
The Woodhaerst Triangle is up for auction with Children in Read – TO BID GO HERE – Only 12 days left.
And check out all the other lovely goodies on the site. HERE
I’m delighted to re-introduce author, Lisette Brodey, to Patricia’s Pen. This time Lisette celebrates the release of her latest novel, What the Years Remember. What the Years Remember is a suspense/psychcological drama and if you’ve read Twice the Broken Breaththen you may recognise some of the characters.
Blurb for What the Years Remember
Growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, fraternal twins Amber and Jade were always different. Amber, somewhat shy and affable, is a happy, well-liked child. Jade, often angry, laments from an early age that others have what she covets. As the girls grow up, Jade’s jealousy escalates. Dangerously so.
At sixteen, enraged by their classmate Michael’s affection for Amber, Jade lures her sister to an abandoned lot, shoves her onto concrete, and leaves her for dead. Knowing Jade would try again, her parents agree to fake her death. Amber moves to New York City with her father, and Jade moves with her mother to Los Angeles.
Twenty-three years have passed. Amber is alive, happily married to Michael, with a son, and living in New York City under her new name. Jade, still living in California, has been cavalierly committing crimes. After a robbery attempt on a woman in Beverly Hills ends in her death, Jade flees to New York. Amber, quickly learning that her sister is nearby and a bigger threat than ever, goes on the offensive to stop Jade before she can decimate the lives of everyone Amber holds dear. But uncertainty, altered paths, and unexpected revelations can change everything.
Lisette was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. She spent ten years in New York City, and now resides in Los Angeles. She is a multigenre author who has written fourteen books. Two of Lisette’s short stories are published in an anthology: Triptychs (Book 3, The Mind’s Eye Series.)
All of Lisette’s books are available in Kindle, paperback, and free to read on Kindle Unlimited
What a brilliant surprise this Saturday morning waking up to a wonderful review for The Woodhaerst Triangle on When Angels Fly. You can read the review HERE
I’m especially proud to introduce my very good friend and critique partner, Maureen Cullen, as she launches her brand new novel Kitten Heels with Ringwood Books. Maureen has been published in various anthologies, won numerous short story competitions, and shortlisted umpteen times. Her new book is a fabulous story and one not to be missed.
“Was this what being an adult meant? Clamping down on tears and growing a backbone? That’s how it felt. I had to be the dependable one, Mum wasnae up to it. I peered in the mirror at my thirteen-year-old self. I didnae want to be grown up yet.”
About Kitten Heels
“It was a man’s world, that was for sure. It certainly wasnae a thirteen-year-old girl’s.”
Kathleen Gallagher is resourceful, brave and tireless — but fated to work in the bra factory like her mother. It’s 1962, and Kathleen resents her situation. She has to look after her three younger siblings whilst her mother works part-time; collect the wages from her absentee father; and sacrifice her social life for responsibilities she never asked for. When Kathleen’s grandmother dies, the entire family dynamic changes — leaving the relationship with her mother to suffer.
Kitten Heels is a moving coming-of-age story, set in 1960s working class Clydeside and told from thirteen-year-old Kathleen’s perspective. Dealing with issues of poverty, mental health, and the role of women, Kitten Heelsfollows Kathleen as she finds comfort and support in the community of women around her — learning from the way in which these women find ways to grow, nourish and heal each other, despite hardships and institutional obstacles set in their way.
Pre-order your copy of Kitten Heelsnow for just £9.99 (plus P&P) to guarantee a signed first edition copy which will be sent to you before the launch. The official launch will take place at the Helensburgh Community Hub at 2pm on Saturday 12th October. Look out for more updates soon on the Ringwood website!
Maureen Cullen is a retired social worker living in Argyll & Bute. After thirty years’ commitment to social work, she turned to writing poetry and short fiction, completing a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Lancaster University in 2015 and achieving a distinction. Maureen has had poetry published in multiple magazines and online webzines, and had a poetry conversation written with Patricia M Osborne, Sherry and Sparkly, published by the Hedgehog Press in 2021. She has been shortlisted in numerous short story competitions, including the V.S. Pritchett Prize, the Fish Prize, and the Bristol Prize. She also won the Labello Prize for short fiction in 2014, and the Ringwood Short Story competition in 2022.
Patricia M Osborne 