In praise of good customer service (yes, there is such a thing!).

A while ago I visited my local store of a well-known pet chain (although not the most well-known!) with my daughter. I just needed some guinea pig supplies, nipped in to stock up. The manager was there and approached me, and immediately thought I was in for the ‘big sell’ on something I didn’t need, like posh nibbles for pets already over-indulged on their greens. But I was pleasantly surprised by the manager’s conversation: there was no push to purchase, instead she chatted to my daughter about pets and school, and showed her the meal worms packaged on the shelves. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it made the shopping experience all the more pleasant, with staff who were friendly but not overpowering or pushy. I used to work in a shoe shop, so know how hard it can be to get that balance right, but the pet shop got it spot on. As we left I wondered why all shops couldn’t be like that, then thought why not write to their customer services about how impressed I was with their Winchester store. So I batted off an email, which took all of two minutes. I received a reply not just from customer services but from the Managing Director himself, who thanked me for letting him know and how delighted he was that the service had been so good. He would, of course, let the store in question know about my praise.

We will all complain to companies when we feel they need to improve, whether it be shorter queues or trains running on time (we’ll all want the moon on a stick next!), but do we praise them when they get things right? I suppose most will say that it’s their job to be efficient, why should we thank them for doing what they're paid to do, and that may to an extent be true. But when they go that extra mile, why shouldn’t we feed back our gratitude? Complaining when customer care falls short will, it is hoped, help improve performance in the future, but I think it’s just as important to thank those who have been particularly helpful as this feedback is surely just as essential for customer service improvement. If nobody tells a company that somebody has been particularly helpful, how will they know? Equally, how will they know it can really be appreciated and not just expected?

Yesterday I was commuting home from London when the voice of a guard I recognised from another (identical!) journey the week before came over the tannoy, a guard who is particularly helpful, courteous, informative and professional. So as with the pet shop, I let the train company know that I was singling him out for praise. I have had cause to complain to this particular company through an angry tweet or two (or three) when things have gone wrong, as they do far too often, but it gave me a feeling of happiness to write something positive for a change. And, I can only hope, they do feed my comments back to him as they said they would. I don’t know if customer comments about individuals are used as recognised feedback for assessment purposes, but if they do then I hope I have been of some help. 

I’m not saying don’t complain when it’s needed, only that just a little recognition of those making life a bit more pleasant could go a long way.

Party Games and Power Play - both now 99p!

Although I've blogged separately about my political drama Party Games and its sequel Power Play, I thought now both books are a mere 99p, and everyone is desperately excited about the Labour and Liberal Democrat leadership elections, I'd give my story about the shadowy world of Westminster and power struggles a shout-out in one post.

Although for Amazon purposes my books are labelled as 'political fiction', they are less about the politics itself; there certainly isn't a preachy political message, more a story about people, their failings and their flaws, with politics as the vehicle for the human drama. It is about people working in a stressful, powerful, pressure-cooker world, and how those people react to the environment in which they operate. I firmly agree with House of Cards author Michael Dobbs that “people assume that politicians are a different breed, but they’re not, they’re just in a different place, subjected to different pressures and huge temptations, [but] if we wrote dramas that were all about what a wonderful bunch of guys these are at Westminster, it would be a hard sell.”  Yes, politics can be exhilarating, rewarding, change lives for the better, but it can also be a dirty, nasty, dog-eat-dog business which can corrupt. What better place to set a book or two (or three, as there will be eventually!)?

Party Games 

Rodney Richmond, the young, charismatic yet ultimately insecure Leader of the Opposition, is at a critical time in his leadership. But once his Shadow Cabinet reshuffle turns sour, leaving a sacked Chief Whip out in the cold, events begin to spiral out of his control. Richmond’s leadership rival and deputy sees his opportunity to seize power through a ruthless game of manipulation and blackmail, leaving Richmond battling for the heart and soul of the party – and the woman – he loves.

Will the loyalty of Richmond’s most trusted allies be enough to stop his enemies, or will their attempts to save him lead to tragedy? Set in the heart of Westminster, Party Games is a hotbed of ambition, treachery, friendship, love and passion. Nobody is safe, and everyone must play...

Power Play

Treason is a hanging offence... 

As Conservative Party leader Rodney Richmond lies in a coma, his ambitious deputy Colin Scott vows to force unquestioning loyalty to himself on a party which is at breaking point. Dubbed 'the Führer' by Labour MPs, his core supporters - including a morally conflicted colleague and an obsessed, ruthless advisor - will do anything to get their man, and themselves, to the top. But there is a threat from within, one so determined they will resort to murder before they see Scott fail, and soon civil war erupts among Scott’s most senior lieutenants. 

While the true leader of the so-called 'resistance' remains unconscious, their female rising star emerges to challenge Scott's seemingly unbreakable and brutal authority. 

Power Play continues the theme of corrupting power and infighting at the heart of E J Greenway's first novel, Party Games. It is a wry look at what could happen if a modern day political party, finding itself in Opposition after years in power, embraces a narcissistic maniac who promises to bring it back from the brink at any cost. 

Who would I have to play my characters in a TV adaptation? Well, handily I have thought about this long and hard (as many authors no doubt secretly do!) and come up with a list I adore on Susan Buchanan's blog.

I've also had some lovely reviews, including from fellow authors Terry Tyler, Georgia Rose and Geoffrey West

Gorging on Thrones

NB: SPOILER ALERT FOR GoT NEWBIES!

I am more than a little bit late to the Westeros 'party'. I've resisted for years, both the books and the show, but with Parliament dissolved while something called a general election campaign goes on (and on, and on) I thought I'd give in after a few episodes I could finally say to my GoT-enthusiast husband 'see, told you it wasn't my thing'.

And it isn't my sort of thing at all. I'm now as far as season 3 episode 4, thanks to Sky box sets, and I'm sticking with it in order to prove such a point. I'm watching it quickly on purpose. The body and boob count is piling up, Dany's dragons are growing, Tyrion's coolness knows no bounds, Jaime gets captured repeatedly and the Stark family variety of accents are still all over the place, rather like their bodies. Theon does pathetic wonderfully after stupidly taking over 'Winterhell' (Hot Pie), Sansa does it through increasingly sulky pouts, while you root for Arya and Brann in every (frustrating) scene they're in.

Sexism and often sheer misogyny is, of course, one of the few things which unites all corners of the Seven Kingdoms, but all of the prejudice helps make the main women physically, mentally and - in some cases - politically stronger.  Brienne of Tarth. Margaery, who knows how to play the Game of Thrones better than most of the men. Feisty Shae, for whom I have a bit of a soft spot. The redhead one who isn't in the books but has her boobs out. A LOT. And is probably going to die soon.

Here come the girls: GoT women shaking up Westeros

But GoT's not my thing, as I've said. I don't even have an allegiance. Well, not really. Can I justify supporting Stannis the Mannis just because a) Ned died supporting his arguably rightful claim to the Iron Throne against the Lannister's incest, b) he reminds me of a major character in my own books and c) I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crisps? Must be something to do with all the brooding, the staring into the middle distance and that lightly accented voice rather than the 'fire within him', which sounds more like an STD problem than anything which will crush his enemies.

Colin or Stannis: Plotting to overthrow a political leader or a king?

Ok, despite Daenerys being the coolest character next to Tyrion (maybe they should defy all the political and historical reasons against them, get it together and rule for the sake of pure awsomeness), I should just 'come out' as a Baratheon. Maybe Rasputiny Melisandre is right, perhaps she is a goodie after all and burning effigies and people opposing her is the Right Thing To Do. But, ah Davos, the onion knight, the only Geordie in the Seven Kingdoms, loathes her and her weird fire magic and demon-birthing (well he certainly does in season 3).  Poor pretty boy Renly. Sort of. It's a toughie. But, then again, so is sexy Stannis, and I hear he is still hanging on in there with Jon Snow in season 5. But I am a long way off from that yet, I'm BRW (Before the Red Wedding), and it's been at least two episodes without a Significant Death...

So far, the only lucky sod who's had a happy ending is Hot Pie, the tubby baker's son who wouldn't have a wolf's chance at Casterly Rock faced with a knife to the throat (as the vast majority of characters end up with at one point or another). Somehow I feel he may be the first and last for at least another season or two, or three, or basically forever.

Hot Pie. The only one to achieve anything with his life in GoT so far.

Which brings me to the other unsung heroes who have either perished or possibly will: Hodor, a fan favourite with a cult following, Samwell Tarly, the best Character Without Ambition in the whole show, Yoren (remember him?), Syrio Farel, Jaqen H'ghar (are they the same person??), Maester Luwin (oh, why did he have to die?? Why not fussing, simpering Grand Maester Pycelle?), Ser Rodrik Cassel, with the bushiest sideburns on TV since Amos in Emmerdale, the list is endless. If Sam were king and Hodor his Hand, what a gentler - and possibly wiser - place the Seven Kingdoms would be.

Never mind the battles: my unsung heroes

If you look past the naked women (assuming you want to!) and the bloodlust, the politics and depth of the world is astounding. But, of course, GoT is just not my sort of thing, so I'd better crack on with the rest of season 3 and beyond so I can continue proving my point.

Another picture of Stannis. Because I can. And because he is the one true king. Apparently.

How I've Become A Cat Lady...

After a lengthy adoption process, including a home visit and a mountain of paperwork, we finally were able to collect her. Izzy is now eight months old and adorably sweet, but she can sometimes sleep so much in the day she’s a bit grizzly at night and demands attention, but it’s ok as we’re totally besotted and it’s all been worth it. I am, of course, talking about our kitten, a lovely tabby who adores people and is slightly terrified of the outside world. This includes birds, grass, plant pots and any other perils in the garden.  

Ahh, cute kitty!

 We adopted her through a nearby rescue charity called Happy Cats, run by a dedicated lady called Jo who, while having eight cats of her own, takes in any cat no matter what their history and helps find them suitable ‘forever homes’. It doesn’t end when you take the cat home, Happy Cats provides support throughout the cat’s life and no cat is adopted out until it has been spayed/neutered and wormed.

Izzy came to us after the cat she had been living with kept attacking her, injuring her eye, so her wariness of other animals is to be expected, although our guinea pigs Sooty and Sweep (recently adopted through St Francis Animal Rescue in Eastleigh) are a source of endless fascination.  She loves to play and find mischief, as kittens do, and has such a sweet nature despite her shaky start.

Since becoming a cat owner (or is it ‘adopter’?) I’ve suddenly taken to watching Animal Planet and programmes such as fantasically named cat behaviourist Jackson Galaxy in the utterly American ‘My Cat From Hell’. He helps people with severe cat problems (a bit like Supernanny but with tattoos and a beard), including one idiot who fed his cat junk food, instilled no discipline at all and wondered why his cat was a feral nightmare! He is great and so patient with his clients (by which I mean the people, the cats are never the whole problem!). Anyone with a cat should give him a watch!

Cat behaviourist Jackson Galaxy

Izzy is now firmly a member of our family. As I type I can hear her bell jingling as she finds yet more gaps to squeeze into and more surfaces to jump on. She’s now meowing and crinkling something she shouldn’t be dragging around the kitchen. *sigh*. Best signed off with a ‘thank you’ to Happy Cats, without whom we may never have found her.

How an autistic trampolining club came on Leaps and Bounds...

The last time I wrote on this blog about a good cause was to give publicity to Will Wearmouth’s bike ride to France in aid of the British Legion. Suffice to say Will did amazingly well, achieved his goal with flying colours and raised a fantastic amount in the process.

This time I want to just give a blog (and, I hope, twitter) shout-out to a wonderful trampolining club for autistic children in Liverpool, run by my cousin Stephanie Graston. Leaps and Bounds – formerly JMUpers – was operated by John Moores University, but through Stephanie’s tireless energy and fundraising all the money is now ploughed back into the club. Through her work it has kept its home at I M Marsh, part of the JMU campus, and she has expanded through word of mouth to run a happy, successful and well-loved club with at least 100 children on her books.

I know many of the parents are incredibly grateful for Stephanie’s friendly, relaxed approach, her dedication and above all affection for and understanding of the children at the club and the pressures faced by their families. For many the club is a lifeline where those with similar experiences, so it is not only a chance for the children to gain a huge amount from trampolining (Stephanie is doing an MA into the benefits of trampolining and exercise for autistic children), but it is also a chance for parents to get together. And trampolines aren’t the only activity on offer for the children. With the help of a dedicated team, Stephanie runs parties, trips out and all manner of fundraising activities which includes all children, no matter how severe their autism. In essence, the club has grown over the past few years from a trampolining club into so much more, and I can only be amazed at Stephanie’s endless energy and patience.

So please do pop over to the Leaps and Bounds Facebook page and give it a ‘like’, I know Steph would be really grateful. If ever an example is needed for the Big Society (remember that?) in action, then surely this is one of the best.

The welcome rise of political fiction

I am so desperately excited to see Wolf Hall come to BBC2 tonight, although will it live up to the books?

Back in October I wrote an article for Conservative Home about how political fiction has become fashionable again, whether it be satirical or drama, novel or television, so with Wolf Hall hitting the small screen (yippee!) I felt it timely to reproduce the article below:

You may have heard, but a well-known writer has a new book out. A political thriller in fact, about the death of a Prime Minister (no, not that Hilary Mantel one) and an EU referendum. I sighed, frustrated it was launched just weeks before my own, but then it occurred to me not to be worried about any similarity (referendums are anathema in my book), but revel in the fact that political fiction continues to be on the up. Surely Fourth Estate wouldn't have banked on sales if there wasn't a continued demand for tales of dodgy Westminster shenanigans and the like?

In the wake of the huge success of House of Cards in the US and the satirical sophistication of Veep, there is now less of the Spitting Image-style lampooning and a far more intelligent approach to portraying politicians in fiction.  In an age where politicians are increasingly distrusted, the West Wing ideal of politicians doing good because it's the Right Thing To Do is outdated and is less fitting to the public mood. Although of course it was superb and remains eminently watchable, I can't help feel that the world has moved on. Flawed ambition, just about hanging on in there, deal making and breaking, raw political realities and selfish back-room manoeuvrings are the order of the day. To be good is to be boring, right? From a writer's point of view, it's certainly more fun to develop the antagonist, especially when you're competing for the Nastiest Politician in Writing award (yes, I of course made up this extremely niche gong, but you get my point).

(House of Cards, Wolf Hall and Veep)

Women are now taking lead roles in political dramas - ones where they no longer have to always play Margaret Thatcher. Borgen, Veep and The Honourable Woman are prime examples. Three very different series but all important reflection on modern politics. We have come a long way since the mainly male-dominated fictional Westminster skulduggery of the 1980s. Smoke-filled rooms are a thing of the past, figuratively and literally. Skilful manipulators and strong female leads are pushing the boundaries of the portrayal of politicians and those who circle around them; their equally ambitious advisors and even their spouses. House of Cards' Clare Underwood is certainly the finest portrayal of a modern-day politician's wife I've seen, and is as tough - if not tougher - than Underwood himself.

But one of the most notorious political antagonists is no piece of fiction. Hilary Mantel is currently dabbling in more contemporary political fiction in the highly controversial short story The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, but her Thomas Cromwell is an absorbing, complex and tenacious character whose fall in The Mirror and the Light is set to be as incredible as his rise. Like the present-day special advisor loyal to their master, low-born street-fighter Cromwell plays his enemies' weaknesses to his advantage at every turn. But, whether it be a 21st century Underwood or a 16th century Cromwell, with growing power comes growing danger. A political fiction writer's wet dream.

My own novels focus on the upheaval in a Conservative Party on the wrong side of the green benches after years in government. Opposition is fascinating as it elicits navel-gazing, the powerless desperate for the spoils of a war lost at the ballot box, but although it provides rich pickings for an author it is often neglected. For obvious reasons most political fiction writers prefer the allure of government, but I wanted to explore a party facing political oblivion after electoral disaster. Could a mainstream party, weary and desperate for salvation, stumble into being led by a morally deficient, narcissistic maniac who promises to bring it back from the brink at any cost? Like Mantel, I am living out through fiction a rather debauched scenario which I have pondered over the years, although unlike Mantel I have great affection for my subject.

When I wrote my last Con Home article on this subject two years ago, before the huge success of House of Cards, I predicted that the future for political dramas appeared bright. Thanks to the expenses scandal (The Duck House) and press misdemeanours (Great Britain), the stage (along with the successful This House and Handbagged) continues to attract biting political satire. The coalition has been perfect fodder for creative politicos, while the rise of UKIP, the huge turnout in Scotland and the approaching general election will no doubt keep up demand for fictional swipes at the political establishment. If I can continue to play even a small part in that, however affectionately, then I will be proud to have done my bit.

My 2014 book reviews

Firstly, sorry about the strange text background colour - I can't seem to get rid of it!

Before 2014 I wasn't really one for many reviews, but I tried to up my game a bit last year and found I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the excellent reads I discovered. Below I cover books by the fantastic Terry Tyler, Georgia Rose, Susan Buchanan, Vic Neal, Jenny Twist and Jane Thynne.

Mantequero (Jenny Twist)

Wow! I was settling into this story on the train into work, really loving June and wanting it to work out for her, then got the shock of my life! Ms Twist certainly knows how to deliver the unexpected! So pleased I downloaded the sequel last week. I've started it, but now I know I won't want to finish it because the writing is so readable and the characterisation is fantastic. Yes, it's short, and I would certainly have kept on reading, but as there's a book 2 and a book 3 I can't complain too much!

If you want a short story with a twist (no pun intended, Jenny!) and an intriguing dose of Spanish folklore then read it - I guarantee you'll want to read all three!

The Christmas Spirit (Susan Buchanan)

When Natalie comes to temporarily run the Sugar and Spice bakery, things begin to change for everyone. Susan Buchanan has written a delightfully Christmassy story which revolves around the lives of various characters including Meredith the workaholic, Jacob who longs for a loving family, Rebecca who is going through a bad break-up and my favourite, Stanley, who is recently widowed and can't face life on his own. Natalie's arrival triggers good fortune for those around her, and I love how Susan has written her characters with such affection and care. The Christmas Spirit is an uplifting tale about the goodness of human nature, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to curl up with a good festive read during the dark winter nights. Just don't forget a good slice of cake, as you WILL be hungry! I adore Susan's descriptions of food! I could vividly see Sugar and Spice in my mind, with its Christmas tree, gluhwein and every cake you can think of, and I would eat there every week if it was round the corner from me!

The Christmas Spirit is a festive treat, and I would love to read a sequel to see what had happened to all the characters by Christmas 2014.

The Corridor (Vic Neal)

Set in the fictional Oxford University college of Goodfitz, The Corridor is a wry look at university life by someone who's been there and obviously seen it all! It reads more like a script than a novel, but that's what makes it so readable and doesn't detract from the narrative in any way.

The main characters include, predictably, a posh 'Beastings' (Bullington) Club member with delusions of grandeur (Ben), a 'socialist' who is at Oxford in order to bring it down from the inside (Rupert), a girl who lives for rowing (Lexi) and the 'ordinary' voice of sanity, a scholarship fresher who begins an online diary (Poppy). Oh, and we mustn't forget the eccentric life-long student, Albert, who has been writing his 'fascinating' thesis for years, and the Master, who constantly battles the students.

We never deviate from the setting, the same student hall corridor (hence the title), so the gaps in between the students going about their day are brought to life through Poppy's online diary and the emails from Ben and Rupert. Student politics is portrayed as petty and insular (a bit like Westminster!), and there are many laugh-out-loud moments, as well as more cringey moments, such as Rupert being duped by Ben (one of many times!) into emailing the college about the perils of a certain sexual practice, and when we learn exactly what a 'milk race' is...

The Corridor reminds me of the Channel 4 programme 'Fresh Meat': it is funny, touching and contains much about human nature at its worst (and, towards the end, its best). I would have given it four and a half stars if I could as there are some spelling errors later on, but that is a minor point, as it doesn't ruin what is an excellently written, wonderfully observed gem of a book which I am glad to have come across. I am looking forward to the sequel!

A Single Step - The Grayson Trilogy Book 1 (Georgia Rose)

I am so glad I picked up this book. It's a slow-burner but it's worth it! It follows Emma Grayson from the tentative beginning of her new life after suffering personal trauma through to a budding romance filled with mystery. I truly love how Georgia Rose develops her character-driven story and although I know nothing about horses she writes about them in a very accessible way. I particularly like the images Ms Rose evokes about the estate and I SO want to live in Emma's cottage! I did like Emma very much and the first-person story although I must admit finding it hard to warm to Trent (although I suspect that was the idea!) and think he should have told Emma his big secret in the first place. I do hope he's not as 'controlling' in the sequel, which I have downloaded and am very much looking forward to reading.

Ms Rose does a great job with the supporting characters and I especially like Carlton, so hope he pops up in book 2. A great first novel - well done!

Before The Dawn - The Grayson Trilogy Book 2 (Georgia Rose)

Wow! What a read! The exhilarating sequel to A Single Step, Before the Dawn is fast-paced from the start as Emma Grayson turns from loner to heroine. My heart raced as I hurried to find out what would happen next, and that was only half way through! I was pleased Trent up his game, I must admit to not being his biggest fan in A Single Step, but as Before The Dawn went on I couldn't help but find him rather tasty myself! Not that Emma needs him to look after her, she is right that she can take care of herself, and boy does she prove it! The other characters are well written (ahh, Carlton, bless!) and I love the manor; you can't help but feel happy for Emma that she finally has a new family around her.

Before the Dawn is full of suspense, action and romance and I'm looking forward to the final book!

Kings and Queens (Terry Tyler)

It is fitting to call Kings and Queens a saga, a parallel between one of our most famous kings and how his life might have played out had he been head of a company in the late 20th century rather than of a realm in the 16th century, as it spans effortlessly over four decades.

The story begins in 1971 with the loyal, homely Cathy (wife number 1 and Catherine of Aragon) and ends in 2007 with the sensible and likeable Kate (Catherine Parr), who is definitely my favourite of all Harry's 'wives'. Harry himself remains illusive - we don't ever see events from his point of view, the nearest we get is Will Brandon, Harry's rock and best friend throughout his turbulent life. I was intrigued to see how Terry would deal with the infamous executions of Henry VIII's reign of terror, and I wasn't disappointed! There is so much detail and research in K&Q, and it would take hours of my own research to work out what of the smaller detail is based on actual fact and what is more artistic license, but why would you bother when you have such a rich tapestry of characters to love (Hannah, Kate) and loathe (Keira!) without needing to know all the history? I also loved the background detail of the decades; Terry really gives you a sense of time and place, one of her great strengths as a storyteller.

I enjoyed the final chapters the most, particularly the parallels between the blossoming of Harry's children and Tudor history. I'm very much looking forward to her sequel to see just how Jasper copes (although I think we can guess)! I hope the saga goes on and on, into Erin's 'reign' and beyond, but that might be asking a bit too much from Ms Tyler - although I do hope it's not!

The Winter Garden (Jane Thynne)

I had been looking forward to the second instalment of the Clara Vine series since Black Roses, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Set in 1937, four years after Black Roses, Jane Thynne presents a chilling and fascinating portrayal of pre-war Nazi Germany through the eyes of English actress Clara, who combines an acting career in Berlin with subterfuge against the Nazi state, and her American journalist friend Mary. Both women work to uncover the mysterious death of Anna Hansen, a bride at one of Himmler's sinister Bride Schools, only to discover a cover-up which goes to the top of the Nazi Party.

Vine's vivid use of description, her storytelling and scene-setting are a joy to read. I have a great interest in the Nazi hierarchy, so I particularly love the scenes involving real-life characters, including the eccentric Mitford sisters, the menacing Doktor Goebbels and the Windsors, who appear completely out of their depth in Hitler's Germany.

I cannot wait for book 3, which Jane Thynne has hinted involves Eva Braun, a woman even more enigmatic and shrouded in mystery than the Nazi's official First Lady, Magda Goebbels. (who features heavily in Black Roses). May Clara Vine live on!