Recent News
13TH FEBRUARY 2015
Books Monthly features Deja Vu as one of its February recommendations.
29TH JANUARY 2015
“Déjà Vu, to be Kobo’s “Daily Deal” on Sunday 1st February. Founded in 2009, the Toronto-based e-bookstore has quickly become the global leader in e-reading, offering a world-class platform for passionate readers. The price of the e-book will be reduced for the day. So for anyone thinking of buying, Sunday will be a great opportunity to do so.
21ST JANUARY 2015
Susan to be interviewed on Talk Radio Europe, the largest English-speaking radio station in Spain, for their Book Show on the 18th February. The interview will be broadcast about a month later.
22ND JANUARY 2015
US librarian book blogger features Déjà Vu and indicates that he would be endorsing the book in the United States.
https://cayocosta72.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/deja-vu-by-susan-giles-published-by-matador/
19TH AUGUST 2013
“Susan attempts to beat writer’s block.”
4TH MARCH 2012
Susan’s current project is a novel based on a phenomenon that
occurred in the nineteenth century, which involved a Church of
England vicar who was defrocked for preaching sermons on free
love. Unrepentant, the rogue priest founded a communal society
called The Agapemone (from the Greek: Agape = Love. Mone =
Abode. Hence – Abode of Free Love).
The story will chart the salacious events that took place there
between 1850 and the nineteen fifties (when the secret society was
thought finally to have been abandoned). These chapters will be
interspersed with the account of a contemporary journalist, who,
convinced the commune is still in existence and still practising free
love, launches an investigation into the modern day goings-on at the former Agapemone.
24TH JUNE 2011
The Sea Shanty of Branscombe, East Devon becomes the latest
outlet to stock The Primrose Path. Readers will of course know
that chapter sixteen of the novel is set in the Branscombe of 1963,
and is particularly poignant in the context of the story. In the
photograph, the author’s aunt emerges from the shop after
purchasing a sample of the locally-produced confectionary.
Having earlier undertaken the coastal path walk to Beer, the author
knows only too well why Geoffrey preferred the beach route.
That said, she has on many occasion joined Eloise and Paul on the
hike to Sidmouth.
01 MAY 2011
The Primrose Path receives a wonderful review in Kent Life Magazine.
You can click on the image of the page to read it in full.
01 FEBRUARY 2011
Bookworm Read & Return of Bridgwater has kindly become the latest
local stockist of The Primrose Path. Although it is a relatively small shop, it is quite literally packed chock-a-block with books of all descriptions, making it a veritable Aladdin’s Cave of goodies; there’s something on its shelves to suit all ages and tastes – a must place to visit for anyone who loves reading. The accompanying picture shows The Primrose Path on display, complete with promotional materials.
Bookworm Read & Return is situated in St John Street, the thoroughfare that links the railway station to the main shopping area of the town. Just a short teeter away from the site of the old Bridgwater College, the author remembers the street as once boasting eight public houses. Sadly, redevelopment of the area has reduced this number to just four.
20th DECEMBER
Novelist’s new book blends romance and time travel
Burnham novelist Susan Giles has released an intricate blend of romance and time travel in The Primrose Path. Susan’s romantic nature flourished early when she was in school. At the age of 13, her curiosity in astronomy and time travel was piqued by a charismatic teacher who took her stargazing one night. It is this experience that forms the basis of the central relationship in The Primrose Path.Student Eloise and teacher Paul embark on a platonic affair which is accepted by Eloise’s parents, until the death of Eloise’s mother. But then her father, consumed by grief, bans Eloise from seeing him. So when Paul is killed in a car crash, Eloise is devastated and goes through life holding on to the loss of her teenage love – and the memories of when they were together. But when a suicide attempt takes her back into the past, the two meet once more.
by The Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News
1ST DECEMBER
Susan gave an interview on Emma Britton's programme on BBC Radio Somerset. Listen to it here!
16TH NOVEMBER
Susan seen here promoting her latest novel The Primrose Path at The Bridgwater Book Shop. Previously, the shop, a friendly haven from the hustle and bustle of the High Street, had kindly agreed to be a stockist of Susan’s book. On this visit the author was pleased to hear that her novel had already roused considerable interest amongst customers.
13TH OCTOBER
So there I was in the foyer of the plush office suite, just off Trafalgar Square, nervously awaiting the moment when Ian from Talking Bookshelf would appear to summon me to my fate. Yes, I was about to record an author podcast. For the uninitiated, a podcast is an Internet radio programme – and mine will be available on www.talkingbookshelf.com and this website. So if you want to find out what my voice sounds like, you know where to look… and listen. A podcast? But I’m the backroom girl, retiring, someone who avoids the limelight; surely it was all about to go horribly wrong.
The train journey from Somerset had been enjoyable, as too had been my visit to the National Gallery. But now the “dreaded” moment was fast approaching - my time under the spotlight - how would I cope with the pressure?
Ian was great, put me at my ease, bolstered my flagging confidence, poured me a glass of water. Where was the gin? But, hey, who needed it? Everything would be all right. I would be OK, wouldn’t I? After all, look how easy it seems on those TV reality shows.
And so, microphone in place, off we went: ‘Hello, Susan, blah, blah, blah, what kind of a character is Eloise?’ Silence. Who is he talking to? Why is he asking me? I’m the backroom girl, remember?
Longer silence… ‘Well, she’s… she’s quiet, reserved… a bit shy, I suppose…’ Oh, golly, I have to make my heroine sound more interesting than that. ‘But she works hard at school…’ So do a lot of pupils. Even more silence. Ian nods encouragingly, and I manage a few more words… but clearly not enough. But Ian has done his research, and offers a helpful prompt. Oh, yes, I think he’s right on that point, and, after another floundering silence, stammer a further contribution.
Of course, the problem is, while sensible writers create a CV for each of their characters, a sort of “character reference”, if you like, which makes describing them relatively easy, my characters seem to develop their own individual personalities… minus any extraneous influence. Moreover, they are “born” and so seem to evolve from a very early embryonic stage. Plus, they take over, draw me in, I become them in a schizophrenic way, and to describe them later to an interviewer – no matter how well intentioned, or kindly – is a little too personal, a little bit like confessing one’s intimate feelings to a psychiatrist. And, too, one doesn’t wish to appear immodest when describing one’s alter egos.
But Ian said that the interview went well, and I came away feeling not too down-hearted… but knowing that I could, and should, have done better. And now, with no little trepidation, I await the outcome of my day in the capital.
Oh, and I hope that I don’t look too cheeky beside the great man in the picture.