Smouldering Embers — ready to burst into life?

My latest novel is a complete rewrite of Blazing Embers written seven years ago. I have taken note of the advice given by a top publisher and also by a top literary agent's reader. They suggested I reduce the ages of the top characters so as to appeal to a wider range of readers. In actual fact I have found the novel already has an appeal to a wide range of book lovers, especially of the Baby Boomer age but maybe this change will indeed increase the book's popularity. Justin James of Dare Empire has done a splendid job of the cover design and formatting. However, since writing this post last year, Turquoise Morning Press has taken over the contract and the novel is from their website and Amazon. Visit either site for more details.
So if you fancy reading about a young-at-heart granny determined to experience that orgasm so far denied her (and her peeved hubby being educated by his best friend who would really prefer doing the job himself), now is the time to be enlightened about her circumstances and eventual progress.

Andy O'Hara said: 'Wow. I don't say that often. Ms. Hobson's writing is quite good indeed. There's such a wistful, genuine quality to her style that it's hard not to be drawn in right away. Unpretentious — so nice to see that in writing once in a great while. Very unique, and very charming.'
Bob Taylor said: I've read all four of Hobson's books, and I find that she has a delicate touch when writing about human sexuality. I don't normally read 'love stories', but those that Hobson writes are really interesting from a man's point of view — especially when she explores the male psyche. It's just a little bit... scary... that a female should have that kind of knowledge. She's a very gifted and articulate lady.
From the book:
"You see Alice, everyone's at it these days. Young folk do it openly but if we oldies did that in public they'd take us off and put us in care!"

Late night TV helps Alice realise what has been missing from her love life. Her hubby has benefited from forty years of satisfaction, time for her to experience an orgasmic encounter?

On TV chat shows, Silver-haired sex appears to cause great hilarity. WHY?
Mature lovemaking has much to offer: a lifetime of practice, plenty of time for preliminaries and, most of all, the freedom to have a good laugh when things go haywaire!

When Phones Were Immobile and Lived in Red Boxes — a charming review

RED BOXES: Easy yet moving to read real stories, innocent yet powerful memories of growing up and living in England through 1939-80

I had been anticipating reading this account of Gladys Hobson's life, for not the least reason that she hails from England, my birthplace.

I was raised on stories of the British Depression era, War time, and post War era till the early sixties, told me by my parents. We emigrated to Australia in 1964 when I was barely 7 years of age, and I was always fascinated by the experiences my parents shared with me and my younger brother.

'When Phones Were Immobile and Lived in RED BOXES' was very easy to read, it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made think of my deceased mother very much, who I've missed greatly these past twenty one years. A lot of Ms Hobson's experiences were very much like my mother's, and I was especially struck by accounts of the fashion industry, because my mother's work, before she married my father, was in the retail side of fashion. Despite war time rationing being over, it was a struggle for her to find the materials for her wedding outfit; however, one of the tailors that Mum used to deal with hand made her a beautiful tweed suit and lace blouse as her wedding present – it was a worth a small fortune. This made Ms Hobson's account of her early career in the industry resonate with me rather nostalgically.

Thinking of the times when Ms Hobson was carving out her vocation in the fashion world, she would have needed to be quite a courageous woman; she, it should be noted, was raising her new family as well.

Even though poverty was a constant in the early part of her life, Ms Hobson's tenacious spirit saw her overcome the struggles that a lot of her fellow countrymen shared with her.

I would warmly recommend this book to anyone wanting to have an insight into this era in Britain, and the making of our current senior generation. There is a lot to admire about how they came through the challenges of their times; things that younger people today would not understand, and maybe not cope with should – let's hope not – such hard times return.
Janny Inkletter

The book can be purchased directly (immediate delivery) from Magpies Nest Publishing, and ordered from any good bookseller.

Read chapters at Magpies Nest Publishing, see the book's post on this author site.

Smouldering Embers (Blazing Embers)… keeping love alive and kicking

This book could well have a banner of "Sex and the Over Sixties," or "A granny in search of an orgasm," or maybe "How to keep love alive and kicking."

About the story:
“You see, Alice, everyone’s at it these days. Young folk do it openly but if we oldies did that in public they’d take us off and put us in care!”

After watching late night television, Alice realises what has always been missing from her love life. Her hubby, Roger, has benefited from forty-five years of satisfaction, time for her to experience an orgasmic encounter. First attempts to change things meet with failure. Roger’s friend, debonair Tony Bradshaw, steps into Alice’s life and is determined to alleviate her problem.
Shocked, dismayed and humiliated by Alice’s expectations of a loftier sex life, Roger turns to Tony for advice. But when Roger puts his new knowledge into practice, he does so in his usual ham-fisted way of doing things — he gets a kick out of it but Alice is left with the pain! Will Tony be allowed to succeed where Roger has failed?


Blazing Embers has splendid reviews but I rather like what Aretha Renia (Goodreads) said to me more casually (when, after reading the review she did of my book, I asked her what she enjoyed most in the story). She wrote this:
"Hi! I just loved Alice's encounters with Tony, but I would have to say that the part where she went shopping for "knickers" was my favorite. I also got so frustrated with Roger as she was trying so hard to seduce him. LOL From time to time, I forgot that I was reading a book and started to talk to the characters. LOL. It really is a great book. I also liked the parts describing when she first met Roger. There is so much realism in your writing. I could picture everything as if I were watching it or even a part of it"

Also one by Diane West:
Blazing Embers is a must for all ages. My copy has been passed around and read so many times, by various age groups, that I’ve lost count. That’s the best compliment for any book. My copy looks very tired and worn now, but that means it’s given a lot of pleasure and made a lot of people smile. What better purpose for a good book!

And another by Andrew O'Hara:
Wow. I don't say that often. Ms. Ashley's writing is quite good indeed. There's such a wistful, genuine quality to her style that it's hard not to be drawn in right away. Unpretentious — so nice to see that in writing once in a great while. Very unique, and very charming.

More about Blazing Embers, first chapters, more reviews etc and ordering from the UK publisher can be found at http://www.magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk
NOW TO BE PUBLISHED by Turquoise Morning Press, WITH NEW COVER (DESIGNED BY JUSTIN JAMES) AS SMOULDERING EMBERS BY G B HOBSON