~ How, What, and Why of Writing a Novel, Part 3 ~

Posted: January 15, 2026 in art, Authors, books, creativity, Do-it-yourself, editing, Fiction, perseverance, Story, Top Tips, words, Writing
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New Zealand-based South African author Zirk Van Den Berg taught a class on the how, what, and why of writing a book at the end of last year. The first part is featured on How, What, and Why of Writing a Novel, Part 1 and Part 2. This post comprises the last instalment of the lesson.

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Zirk told us to be serious. ‘A novel is a long-term commitment. You need a time and a place to work.’ He told us, somewhat tongue in cheek, that Nabokov had his wife do everything, run the house, drive the car, etc, so he could focus on his writing. Instead of a wife to ‘do everything for us,’ we need to ‘Set up a routine and stick to it.’ Putting the rough draft down was the first step. And here, Zirk advised, ‘Don’t write until you can’t write anymore, because then you can come back tomorrow and start from where you left off.’

Also, if you have difficulty getting to the rough draft stage, you might be doing the wrong thing. ‘You might need to change the point of view or voice.’ Zirk pointed out that sometimes, ‘A story will only let itself be told in a certain way.’ A friend of mine has been writing a book, and the first draft was good. However, she recently tried rewriting from a different point of view, and suddenly, the text came alive. I was reminded of my writing tutor, Kate de Goldi, saying that when she wrote her first book, a minor character continually drew unwonted attention by being more interesting than the protagonist. Eventually, Kate gave in and attempted writing the book from the pov of the minor character instead, and Lolly Leopold leapt to center stage. Kate’s fabulous book, Clubs, was the result, a cult classic of children’s literature in New Zealand.

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Zirk reminded us, ‘When you’re finished a book, reward yourself.’ Yay! I always miss that step. LOL. Then. ‘Think critically about what’s still needed or needs to go. When I finish a book, I’ll read it ten or twenty more times and still find mistakes.’ But, importantly, ‘Don’t delete. Save it rather than throw away – you might use it.’

For editing, he gave us this guideline. Every sentence must do at least one of these things, preferably more:

  1. Advance the plot.
  2. Heighten the drama.
  3. Reveal the character.
  4. Build the atmosphere.
  5. Weave the theme.
  6. Strengthen the semblance of truth.
  7. Be interesting or entertaining in itself (E.g., through poetic elements)
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Zirk said to have a checklist. While we are editing, we should make sure to check our novel brief,

the narrator,

tone,

theme,

plot,

character/s,

setting,

style,

how we are stringing words together,

the storyline,

the opening,

scenes,

dialogue,

and telling instead of showing.

And if we lose our way, Zirk advised that ‘the best info is often given by script writers.’ I have also found this to be true. A fantastic guide I’d recommend any writer to study is Into The Woods, How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them, by scriptwriter John Yorke.

Happy Writing!

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Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

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‘Most writing on art is by people who are not artists: thus all the misconceptions.’ ~ Eugene Delacroix

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~ Song Sung Blue, Not a Film Review ~

Posted: January 8, 2026 in conflict, Family stories, loss, love, mortality, movies, music, perseverance, Story, wake-up calls
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We kicked off the New Year with a book review. It’s only fair that we follow up by going to see a movie on New Year’s Eve. Song Sung Blue is the big-screen adaptation of the 2008 documentary of the same name. The musical drama is based on the true story of the real-life romance between Mike and Claire Sardina, otherwise known as Lightning and Thunder. The couple formed a Neil Diamond tribute band in the 90s and rose to regional stardom in the USA. I was expecting a schmaltzy romance movie and was truly surprised by the depth and breadth of the story. I grew up with my mother playing Neil Diamond records on our old record player, so I was fairly familiar with his music. What one fails to recognize is that Diamond’s songs rank among the all-time greats. To his credit, Neil Diamond granted the rights to use his songs in the film, as he had also done for the original documentary.

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The music is performed with immense energy and charisma by Hugh Jackman as Mike and Kate Hudson as Claire. I was truly impressed by their vocal performances. Their voices combined perfectly. They had us nodding and tapping our feet along with the tunes.

Mike and Claire, as Lightning and Thunder, were a working-class couple who loved to perform. They wanted to do more than merely cover songs; they wanted to bring audiences an “experience.” And the actors playing them do just that for us, the movie-going audience. It was pure entertainment.

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But it’s not all feel-good moments. In fact, the Sardinas’ lives bring to mind that thing we’ve heard so many times: everyone has a story. Writer/director Craig Brewer has gone on the record stating he wanted to honour the Sardinas’ legacy in the film. “The great thing about making movies about musicians or artists is that they understand that it’s those darker elements, or those moments where there’s pain, that are truly the ingredients of great music and great art.”

This movie is a truly inspiring tale of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, and ultimately, the redeeming power of love. It’s a tearjerker in parts. I was shocked sometimes by the unexpected twists and tragedies. However, the stars shine, and they are ably supported by an excellent cast, including Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi. Website aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave Song Sung Blue a decent score of 63 out of 100, indicating “generally favourable” reviews. I happily recommend it.

Happy moviegoing, everyone!

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Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

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“Bringing a sweet amount of dignity to the art of imitation, Song Sung Blue mostly avoids becoming a mere cover of the documentary on which it’s based thanks to Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson’s heartfelt performances.” ~ Rotten Tomatoes

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~ A Book Review: The Tiger in the Well, Philip Pullman ~

Posted: December 31, 2025 in Authors, Book reviewing, books, Fiction, readers, Story, traditional publishing, words, Writing
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I challenge myself each year to read as many books as possible. In 2023 and 2024, I read seventeen. In 2025, I managed sixteen. Oh dear. As you get older, you come to regard celebratory milestones with more equanimity. These days, I tend not to feel sad that Christmas is over or that I have not achieved all the goals on my wish list by the end of the year. Because I’m old enough to know that Christmas rolls around again in due course, and all we need to do with unmet New Year’s resolutions is to rewrite our intentions. On the first day of the year, I can start afresh and renew my challenge to read more.

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That being said, let’s kick off 2026 with the first book! The Tiger in the Well is the third book in the “The Mysterious Adventures of Sally Lockhart” series, written by Philip Pullman between 1985 and 1994. The historical mysteries set in Victorian England feature the exploits of an intrepid and energetic heroine, Sally Lockhart. The protagonist is a most unusual lady for the era, who owns her financial advisory business and solves mysteries, and likes to carry a gun. A likeable heroine, she is intelligent and courageous.

In the third book, she is also, unfortunately, an unwed solo mother, her partner dead before they could marry. This was a vulnerable position for a woman in those times. Alone with her toddler, Harriet, Sally suddenly receives a summons from a stranger, stating that he is her husband and suing her for divorce and custody of Harriet. A serious trap has been set, and the tension builds. As Sally investigates, she finds that the plot against her runs deep, and records have been meticulously falsified to cover every angle. The tension builds inexorably as there seems to be no way of clearing her name and saving her home, business, or child.

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I have read a Sally Lockhart Adventure before and enjoyed it, which was why I picked up this book. However, I found this story a challenge. From the beginning, for most of the time, Pullman tightens the noose about Sally’s neck with no seeming chance of escape. He therefore turns the thumbscrews on us, the readers, mercilessly, further and further. I get it. I’m a writer. We must put our characters through hell and keep the uncertainty growing toward the climax. But with The Tiger in the Well, there were virtually no lighter moments. I nearly stopped reading a dozen times, mainly because I wearied of feeling nervous for poor Sally. I began to feel life is too short to worry about this woman constantly.

There is also a lot of proselytizing about socialism. But that and the unending tension aside, this is a well-crafted story. Pullman is a great author, and he can be relied upon to construct an epic tale.

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Sir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman is an English author, best known for His Dark Materials. He was named the 11th most influential person in British culture in 2004 and one of the “50 greatest British writers since 1945” in 2008.

My rating is three stars

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Talk to you later.

Keep reading!

Yvette Carol

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This is a suspense novel with a conscience, and a most enjoyable one. ~ School Library Journal

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~ Favourite Festive Things ~

Posted: December 26, 2025 in books, Celebrations, Christmas,, FAMILY, Family stories, holidays, kids, memories, parenting special needs kids, readers, recycling, Special Needs, Story, time, words, Writing
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The other week, a friend asked me to name my favourite thing about the festive season. Spending quality time with family and friends is naturally at the top of my list. A firm second favourite thing is our Advent calendar! We’ve had the same Advent calendar for the last twenty years. Despite being 23, my son with special needs loves it, which is why we still use our calendar every day during December. It is called Mice’s Christmas Box of Books and is a collection of miniature books, a lucky find in a thrift shop.

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My love affair with second-hand shops began during the teen years when my friends (who were the arbiters of cool) introduced me to the wonders of “op-shopping.” For teenagers with no income, we could buy a new outfit or shoes for a few dollars. It was so exciting. Digging through all the detritus and ferreting out something unique and special never gets old. When we were teenagers, we were called “Mods.” We dyed our hair and wore vintage retro clothes. In those days (late 70s, early 80s), we stood out in a major way among the hippies. These days, our look would go completely unnoticed and probably be considered normal. But in our day, we were considered risqué. And the way we achieved our look was by regularly combing through all the thrift and charity stores. This sort of shopping was something I had never experienced before meeting my friends. My parents did not buy second-hand. I was enraptured instantly, and I’ve continued the love affair ever since.

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One year, when my kids were little, I stumbled across this slim Advent calendar in a St. John’s charity store. I picked up Mice’s Christmas Box of Books. I’d not seen one like it before and haven’t seen one since. I peeked inside the double doors to take a look. Yes, all 24 books were inside, and so I snapped them up for $5. I introduced my sons to the love of reading when they were babies. It seemed so perfect to me to open a book for each day of December and read a little festive story. Simple tales about each different tradition, from sending cards to making decorations to singing carols.

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My middle child, Samuel, has Down syndrome and Autism. He enjoyed prising out a tiny book each day from its casing and reading it. From that first Christmas, the box of books was an instant hit, and we’ve loved it ever since. His younger brother outgrew Advent calendars years ago. But for Sam and me, each December, the ‘happiest season of the year’ kicks off with the first book.

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It has become our wee tradition that sets off each day on a high note. I suspect that even when or if Sam grows out of reading them, I shall continue because it’s my second-best thing about this time of year. See you next December, Mice’s Christmas Box of Books!

Do you have a favourite thing?

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Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

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“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things, not the great occasions, give off the greatest glow of happiness.” – Bob Hope.

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~ The Power of Words ~

Posted: December 18, 2025 in FAMILY, Family stories, Grandmother, Grandparents, gratitude, growing old gracefully, Health, life-changing experiences, Longevity, love, memories, Mental Health, Milestones, Mindfulness, personal evolution, positive reinforcement, positive thinking, time, Top Tips, transforming beliefs, words
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Gran called it ‘thinking the right thoughts.’ Sometimes my grandmother would pull her well-worn copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale, off the shelf and read a passage aloud, then exclaim, “Isn’t that wonderful?” Some people call it having rosy glasses. Some people call it airy-fairy. However, my grandmother was a churchgoing, hardworking woman whose life was defined by voluntary service. She was a staunch believer in the power of words. Gran would only speak about the best possible outcome. That was how she lived her life. She taught by example.

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About twenty-five years ago, my eldest sister introduced me to saying affirmations. We read books by Shakti Gawain and Louise Hay and learned about the benefits of eliminating negative talk. It was about learning to frame statements in a positive light to help encourage positive outcomes. The basic idea, as Rhonda Byrne wrote, is, “The law of attraction is the most powerful in the Universe. This magnificent law governs all energy, attracting like energy to like energy.”

Everything we experience is defined first to ourselves and then shared with others through words. These are the agencies with which we interpret and communicate our views, our feelings, our input. When something happens to us, it is up to us whether we attach a negative, positive, or neutral meaning. Training programs and confidence-building sessions will usually incorporate using declarations of intent or stating our desired outcome. Putting into words what we want is an important step and conducive to taking the necessary action steps to achieve goals.

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It has long been known that words have manifesting power. Ask the young wizard students at Hogwarts. They use their wands, yet no young wizard was ever fool enough to wave the wand without uttering the magic words in Latin. Without the words, there is no spell! In the wonderful, award-winning animated movie, Spirited Away, the souls who went over the bridge gave their names to the huge landlady boss, who wrote them in a book. Once the employees gave their names away, they were given new ones by the head woman. Their real names were forgotten, leaving them unable to ever break out of their servitude.

Throughout time, we have understood the impact of our words and expressed that through the medium of story.

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Imagine my surprise when, recently, a dear friend of mine made several hateful statements about herself and finished off by saying that terrible things always happened to her. Here was someone close to me actually using the power of words against herself. We had a long conversation, and I hoped to inspire her to think differently. I recall a similar conversation 30 years ago with a friend of my elder sister. She encouraged me to stop putting so much energy into focusing on the things I didn’t want. She said, “Start talking about the things you do want in your life. Put your focus and your gratitude on those instead. Whatever you focus on grows.”

It did take time to change my vocal habits, but I did so. I learned how to make my inner talk and my outer language positive and experienced my life change for the better. It worked. So it was my turn to tell my old friend the same message. Whether you believe in the power of words or not, it is wise to err on the side of caution, be aware of the words you’re choosing, and choose a positive framework where possible.

After all, if you are going to create a spell with your words, why not ask for what you want to feel and experience?

Have you ever said affirmations or used statements of intention?

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Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

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The thoughts we think and the words we speak create our experiences. ~ Louise L.Hay

‘For it isn’t the natural world, charming as it is, that gives the greatest excitement or joy or makes life deeply meaningful and satisfying; rather it is the experience of the enhanced spirit, of re-vitalized sensitivity and boundless enthusiasm that gives it meaning.’ Norman Vincent Peale

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~ How, What, and Why of Writing a Novel, Part 2 ~

Posted: December 11, 2025 in art, Authors, books, creativity, Fiction, perseverance, personal evolution, readers, short story, Story, Top Tips, words, Writing
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When New Zealand-based South African author Zirk Van Den Berg gave his presentation on the how, what, and why of writing a book the other weekend, I attended the lecture with my writing group. The first part of the class is featured on How, What, and Why of Writing a Novel, Part 1.

Zirk said that the plot is malleable. When we sit down to plot out our book, we don’t have to write it in a linear sequence from start to finish. ‘Plot backwards sometimes, a book can grow in all directions.’ Which very much reminds me of a writing course I did once where the teacher suggested we write all the plot points on separate squares of paper, throw them in the air, and see where they land!’ LOL.

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While that suggestion was left-field for me, sometimes we indeed have to experiment to find the way a story wants to be told. ‘A story will only let itself be told in a certain way,’ Zirk said.

Then he gave us this example of a novel in brief form that can help us in the planning stages:

  1. Reason: I want to write this story because…
  2. Idea: This story is about…
  3. Character: This is the story of (& what do they want)…
  4. Setting: This story takes place in…
  5. Theme: The story explores the idea…
  6. Readers: This is a story for…
  7. Narrator: This story is told by…

‘If you get stuck, go back to your brief and re-read.’ Zirk advised us not to waste time on the boring bits. Telling helps us get to a scene quickly, and then we use showing for the drama. We needed to think of the dramatic potential in each scene and then mine that. ‘For the audience to care about a character, they have to believe in them.’ Therefore, characters must be like real people, who have inconsistencies. He also gave us some good advice on naming characters (always a hard part). ‘Generally, no first names should be similar, and definitely not the same first initial.’ And he elaborated by telling us about a story he’d read in which several character names sounded so similar, he kept getting confused and forgetting who was who.

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He compared a book to a prickly pear, which has the main paddle-shaped fleshy leaves, then protuberances sticking up everywhere. He said, ‘Any book can be written as a short story first, and then you branch off and add embellishments.’

And if we were having trouble telling a story, we could focus on the narrator. ‘The narrator can help you overcome self-doubt, it’s not me, it’s this other.’ To employ this technique, we needed to think of the tone, or the implied worldview of the narrator.’ Then, ‘pile on the misery!’

This information comprised the second half of the lecture—the last section, on editing, to come in another post.

Happy Writing!

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Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

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‘Until 1 p.m. every day I’m not allowed to do anything but write.’ ~ Raymond Chandler

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~ IWSG: The Coolest Gift ~

Posted: December 3, 2025 in Authors, creativity, FAMILY, Family stories, Fiction, gratitude, Indie Authors, Insecure Writer's Support Group, IWSG, life-changing experiences, memories, Milestones, personal evolution, Social media, Story, time, words, Writing
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It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post on the first Wednesday of every month. Every month, the organizers announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. Remember, the question is optional!!! Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and the hashtag is #IWSG.  

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December 3 Question – As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received? 

My first computer. Believe it or not, I was a writer without a PC until twenty-four years ago. While I occasionally used a computer before that, it was an old, clapped-out piece of junk on loan from a friend of my brother. It was big and clunky. The guy would never leave it with me for more than a couple of weeks at a time before taking it back again. I would start writing a story, and boom, he would take the computer away again. The rest of the time, I wrote with a good old-fashioned pen and paper. But it was restrictive for developing copy and prohibitive for submitting my work to publishers.

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At 36, I met my husband. He was the best gift-giver! The second present he ever gave me was a laptop. I was floored and utterly delighted. It is hard to quantify how much that gift changed my world. It elevated my game to the level everyone else was playing on. Suddenly, I was in the game.

It sounds simple, but seeing my words on the screen transformed them. They became more fluid, more malleable, and the whole process became more creative. I could move the words around, play with them, change their shape and size with the touch of a button. I was in seventh heaven, and I felt free to experiment.

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This gift also brought me my first access to the internet. I opened an email account and began chatting with writers around the world. Not only that, but I could store my writing digitally. Instead of sorting through notebooks and stacks of papers every time I sat down to write, I could turn on my laptop and find notes at the flick of a key. It was magical.

It might sound strange, but putting my writing into the virtual world made it seem more real, more valid. I had finally made it to the same playing field as everybody else. I felt I had arrived and was going to take the world by storm. Of course, I’m still waiting for that second part to happen. But, hope springs eternal. 

Best gift ever.

A heartfelt thank you.

What about you? What was your best writer gift ever?

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Talk to you later.

Keep Writing!

Yvette Carol

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“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things, not the great occasions, give off the greatest glow of happiness.” – Bob Hope

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~ How, What, and Why of Writing a Novel, Part 1 ~

Posted: November 27, 2025 in art, Authors, books, creativity, Fiction, perseverance, personal evolution, readers, Story, Top Tips, traditional publishing, words, Writing
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South African author Zirk Van Den Berg, author of 10 published novels, gave his first-ever presentation on the how, what, and why of writing a book over the weekend. I attended the lecture with my writing group. Zirk started by asking us why we wanted to pen a novel. After we’d all said our piece, he quipped, “I’m glad to hear it’s not for fame or money.” We were quickly disabused of the notion that either was a possibility. “The only people who make money writing apart from famous authors are those who write for niche markets on Amazon.” And, “Writing is too hard work to do for the money. There are easier ways to make a living.”

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What did we intend to write about? Zirk said to ask ourselves, “What am I aiming for?” He showed us a pie chart he had made, a circle with three segments: entertainment, meaning, and feeling. Every book would contain some degree of each. He regaled us with the Toni Morrison quote, “If there’s a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Zirk said that at one stage he was given the recipe for writing romance as it is a popular genre, but he couldn’t do it, saying, “You can’t write what you don’t read.” An idea for a book could only take you so far: “When an idea comes alive is when two ideas come together.”

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How to write a book naturally formed the lion’s share of the talk. Zirk outlined six story questions we must cover:

  1. Who is it about?
  2. What do they want? (the most important question of them all!)
  3. Why can’t they get it?
  4. What can I do about that?
  5. Why doesn’t that work?
  6. How does it end?

How do I tell it? To overcome the horror of the blank page, we need to say to ourselves, “Do not write for others to read, but write for myself to edit.” A novel is written sentence by sentence. And he gave us Stephen King’s advice from his famous how-to manual, On Writing: “Write the first version as quickly as you can.” King pens the first draft, and then asks himself, ‘What is the theme?’ Zirk said, “It is the plot that makes readers read, and it’s the theme that makes writers write.”

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“An idea is not a plot,” Zirk explained. “There are events, and the plot links them together.” He recommended we read Christopher Booker’sSeven Basic Plots for tips. And he gave us the famous shortcut Plot Stripped to its Basics, created by Emma Coates, the Pixar story artist.

  • Once upon a time, there was –
  • Every day –
  • One day –
  • Because of that –
  • Because of that –
  • Until finally –

“Find similar books and see how they are written. Apparently, Raymond Chandler retyped novels to see how they were done.” Zirk recommended we read The Writer’s Journey, by Christopher Vogler, and Story, by Robert McKee.

This comprised the first half of the lecture—more to come in another post.

Happy Writing!

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Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

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A writer is a reader moved to emulation ~ Samuel Bellow.

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~ Another Family Milestone ~

Posted: November 20, 2025 in Birthdays, Celebrations, FAMILY, Family stories, love, memories, Milestones, Raising boys, travel
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Over the weekend, we travelled to Papamoa for my nephew’s 21st birthday celebration. He is my brother’s youngest and the youngest of three. When our boys were little, we would regularly meet at our parents’ log home on the Coromandel Peninsula. The kids could romp about, swimming, climbing, fishing, and playing sports. It was an ideal way to keep the cousins connected, even though they lived in different parts of the country.

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To see the boys together this weekend was heartening. They have grown into strapping young men, standing at over 6 feet and built like athletes.

Papamoa is a three-hour trip from where we live. I let the youngest take the wheel as he has his learner’s licence and is trying to get over the mark to earn his full licence. I suggested driving that far would put him through every possible road scenario, and so it was. Son said he was nervous; however, he acquitted himself admirably, and we all got there in one piece!

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Everyone had travelled far and wide, and it was a reunion for many of us.

We arrived literally moments before lunch was being served. We were greeted at the door by a line of whanau (family) to kiss and hug before making our way to the tables. A Karakia (Māori prayer) was given to bless the food, then we lined up at the buffet to serve ourselves.

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After the food, we resumed our seats, and the speeches started with another Karakia. When my youngest stood up to give an impromptu speech, he began with “Ricki has been my cousin ever since I was born.” He had to wait for the laughing to quieten before he could continue. What a classic opener! Boy hasn’t had a single lesson at Toastmasters, yet he’s already a natural orator. Every speech was humorous, and it felt good to laugh and raise toast after toast.

A break followed during which time the tables and plates, etc, were cleared away. An hour later, we assembled on the back lawn. It was time for that arcane tradition, the yard glass. Drinking a yard (or 1.4 L) of beer is a tradition that began in the 17th Century, in England, when it was known as the Long Glass. The challenge is to drink it as quickly as possible, with the “toe” of the bottle (a rounded bulb at the foot), presenting the opportunity for the poor recipient to be splashed in the face with beer. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the fastest drinking of the yard glass was five seconds. Wow! The nephew completed his challenge, becoming so saturated by the end that he finished by stripping off his shirt and tossing it backwards (over the fence)!

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The cake was brought out, and everyone sang.

After that, we oldies headed for our Airbnb while the youngsters raged on until three in the morning. I remember those days! Our accommodation was exceptional with all the mod cons. We made a delicious dinner and had hot showers, a very nice end to the evening. The next morning, we returned to the scene of the crime for breakfast and found a tired but happy family wrapped in blankets trying to recover. The youngest son was a write-off and needless to say, he slept in the front seat while I drove us home!

I returned, reflecting on how these big occasions bring us together and furnish our lives with such precious memories. Through them, we create collective stories that strengthen familial bonds and create stability for all of us. These milestone events seem to help deepen our mutual appreciation, because when it really comes down to it, our families are the most important relationships in our lives. These are memories to cherish forever.

Have you enjoyed any big family celebrations lately?

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Talk to you later.

Keep reading!

Yvette Carol

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The best things in life are the people we love, the places we’ve been, and the memories we’ve made along the way. – Marcus Tullius Cicero

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~ A Book Review: Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent ~

Posted: November 13, 2025 in Authors, book review, Book reviewing, books, creativity, Fiction, mortality, readers, Story, traditional publishing, words, Writing
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I finished reading my fifteenth novel for 2025, Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent. This was a book I found at the local Little Free Library, when the title immediately caught my eye. A quick look at the blurb intrigued me — the story of a female undertaker in Victorian-era London. Later on, I discovered Trent had written a Lady of Ashes series, ten in total. The book I had picked up is the very first in the series.

In Lady of Ashes, it is 1861, and we meet Violet Morgan, who is struggling to keep her husband’s undertaking business going in the absence of her husband, Graham, who comes and goes. These novels are historical mysteries, one of my favourite genres. Violet notices there are strange circumstances surrounding some of the deceased. Any fan of mysteries will start to catalogue these clues, as we try to figure out whodunnit. Then we hear from different characters, one has a strange voice, and we know straight away they must be the killer.

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Unfortunately for Violet and the family business, her husband, Graham, has been nursing a private hatred of the U.S.A. since his grandfather served Great Britain in the War of 1812. Graham is getting caught up in arms-dealing behind the scenes. Violet finds herself taking full charge of the family business. She discovers a real talent for the role. She excels at providing comfort for the grieving, advising them on funeral fashion and etiquette, and arranging funerals. We get to hear fascinating details of Victorian death rituals.

When in deep mourning, a woman who could afford to do so withdrew from activities for at least a year. During that first year after her husband’s death, a widow wore a black dress covered with crape and a widow’s cap with a veil, in addition to a full complement of jet ornaments. During the next twelve months, or second mourning, a widow’s dress contained less crape, and she did away with the cap and jet ornaments. If mourning was continued for another year, it was termed “half-mourning,” and gray or purple was added as a color.

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I guess Trent’s version of “saving the cat” comes through Violet taking the mute orphan Suzanna under her wing. Suzanna becomes as dear to Violet as if she were her own child. Violet’s delicate, kind nature also comes through her compassionate attitude towards the bodies she prepares for the funerals, which I found endearing.

Violet receives the commission of a lifetime when Queen Victoria hires her for the funeral of Prince Albert. By this point, Violet’s husband Graham has completely disappeared. At the same time, she is investigating a series of unexplained deaths among the poor and closes in on the identity of the killer, which also puts her life at risk.

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My diagnosis is that Lady of Ashes is “okay.” I enjoyed the insight into an aspect of Victoriana that I had never heard of before. The undertaker’s viewpoint was fascinating in a macabre sort of way. There was perhaps a little too much head-hopping, however, and I’m not sure the whole American Civil War part of the storyline was necessary. If anything, it muddied the waters. At times, there was considerably more telling than showing; nevertheless, the protagonist was likable and well-portrayed. The setting was believable. However, I wouldn’t race to read the rest of the series.

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Christine Trent is a bestselling historical mystery author. She is best known for the “Lady of Ashes” series and her “Florence of Nightingale Mystery” series, among several standalone novels. Her works have been translated into Czech, Polish, and Turkish. She is also the author of the ROYAL TRADES series about women in unusual professions. Trent usually writes her novels from home, where she has collected more than 4000 books.

My rating is two stars.

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Talk to you later.

Keep reading!

Yvette Carol

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“Genuinely engrossing…with a rare Regency heroine who loves her work and does it well.”—Publishers Weekly.

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