Blog
Just because I love talking and writing about books
Books and Tunes (the radio show!)
I've been thoroughly enjoying producing my radio programme, Books and Tunes for West Wilts Radio, which, surprisingly enough, features some chat about books and some music! You can find them by typing in Books and Tunes Chris Penhall listen again. and my latest...
Workshops and podcasts
I've been a bit busy of late organising things and branching out a bit, so I have neglected my blog. But now I'm back with lots of news. I'm still writing, but I'm doing other writing-releated work too....
Books and Tunes episode 13 – The Essex Book Festival and Keeping Churchill Alive
Episode 13 of my radio show, Books and Tunes is now available to listen to online. Ever wondered what goes into organising a book festival? Well, I've asked Ros Green, Director of the Essex Book Festival just that. And Linda Stoker chats about her upcoming book,...
New Podcast: Chris and Lizzie’s Random Bookish Chats
Chris and Lizzie's Random Bookish Chats Fellow author and friend, Lizzie Chantree and I have launched a podcast. it's called Chris and Lizzie's Random Bookish Chats, because that's what we do really, and is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible and Apple Or you...
Author Sally Jenkins’ blog – 5 Questions About Writing For Me
Sally Jenkins, author of uplifiting novels including The Little Museum of Hope and Waiting For a Bright New Future, asked me a few pertinent questions about writing, following the publication of my 6th novel, The House That Florence Left. Click on the...
Books and Tunes episode 12: Claire Buss and Claire Sheldon
In this episode of Books and Tunes on West Wilts radio I chat to Claire Buss who's latest fantasy novel, Myth in the Mountain is the fourth in the Roshaven series of novels And crime writer, Claire Sheldon on her newest book, A Dead Lie. That's the fourth in...
Books and Tunes episode 11
Books and Tunes on West Wilts Radio episode 11 is now avalailable on listen again, and features author Soulla Christodolou on her new book, The Magic of Miramare, and writer, broadcaster, charity worker and avid reader, Tony Fisher on his favourite books of the year...
Morton S Gray’s blog – Chris Penhall’s favourite place
When my friend and fellow Choc-Lit author Morton S Gray asked if I'd like to write something about my favourite place, I jumped at the opportunity. Given my Portuguese-set novel, The House That Florence Left has just been published, and its located in Lagos in the...
Rosethorn Ramblings: Where Chris Writes
My new novel, The House That Florence Left is now out in paperback and is published in e-book on the 9th October. Author Kirsty Ferry has asked me where I write, and It's my 6th novel, and you'd think I'd have some sort of routine going now wouldn't you.....I don't......
Books and Tunes Episode 10 – Ella Cook and Liz Middleton
Books and Tunes on West Wilts Radio episode 10, features writer Ella Cook talk about In her new novel, Second Chances at the Little Village Sanctuary, and Liz Middleton on her memoir of the effects of conflict through the lense of the experiences of her family members...
Books & Tunes Episode 9 – Daryl Easlea and Anka B Troitsky
In this episode of Books and Tunes, I chat to writer, DJ, host and all round music expert, Daryl Easlea about his love of music and his latest book, Whatever Happened to Slade. And sci-fi writer, Anka B Troitsky on her Who is Vist series of novels. ...
Castaway Books with Deborah Klee
I really enjoyed talking to author, Deborah Klee on her Castaway Books Podcast, about the novels I'd take with me to a desert island. You can watch and listen to the interview here: https://deborahklee.com/castaway-books-with-guest-chris-penhall/ The books I chose...
Books and Tunes Episode 8 – Hannah Robinson and Deborah Klee
Books and Tunes episode 8 is now available on listen again on West Wilts Radio. Author and scriptwriter Hannah Robinson chats about her guidebook, Secret Edinburgh An Unusual Guide . She also runs her own animation company Palindromicals and works with Sir Lenny Henry...
Books and Tunes Episode 7
Books and Tunes Episode 7 on West Wilts Radio is now available to listen to online. And its a romance special, with award-winning novelist, Julie Haworth, who's newest book, New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe is out in July, and JOFFE BOOKS and Choc Lit author Sally...
Books and Tunes Episode 6 – Ray Clark and Anni Rose
Books and Tunes Episode 6 is now available to listen to online, featuring writer Sony-Award winning author, Ray Clark talking about the third edition of his book Radio Caroline: The True Story of the Boat That Rocked, and Anni Rose, chatting about her Recipe for Love...
Books and Tunes episode 5
Books and Tunes episode 5 is available to listen on the listen again link! It features businesswoman, motivational speaker and author, Mandie Holgate on her book, Fight the Fear. And Victoria Cornwall discusses her latest book, The Paris Affair, and how the county of...
Books and Tunes Radio Show – Episodes 1 to 4
I've just started producing and presenting a programme all about books ...and tunes...(clues in the title!) for West Wilts Radio. It's basically me talking to authors and readers and books for an hour. It's available to listen live on West Wilts Radio on Sundays...
Me chatting to BBC Upload for the East presenter, Rob Jelly, on World Book Day
I do enjoy chatting about writing and books, so was thrilled to be invited on to BBC Upload for the East by Rob Jelly to do just that on World Book Day. Here's the interview
Pen to Print: Write On interview
I love talking about the books I've written - Its great fun to answer questions and chat about the things I've learned and continue to learn along the way. So, thank you to Pen to Print and Write On Magazine for inviting me on to talk about my latest novel, Summer in...
Write On Magazine – Finding Your Voice
I enjoy learning new things, and even though I've now had five books published, one more written, and the first few hundred words of another story already on paper, I'm still finding out how to write. It's part of the fun to be honest. And now I look back over the...
Chris Penhall’s Author Top Tips – writing what you see through the eyes of your characters
I'm a great one for learning new things - I have recently taken up watercolour painting, for example, thoroughly enjoy my tap dancing classes and even after many, many years of salsa dancing, still have lessons. Every day is a school day, even if I think I know what...
Summer in Your Eyes playlist
I love music and have it on in the background when I'm writing - that's if I'm not out in a coffee shop enjoying the 'coffee shop ambient noise' which also helps me to put words on paper. In my novels, I often use music to punctuate some of the scenes, just was it...
Author Claire Buss chats on The Talking To My Friends About Books Podcast
In the latest episode of The Talking to my Friends About Books Podcast I chat to author Claire Buss about her books and her poetry. https://d3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net/production/exports/ba7b6b04/78231986/0903be4e6b333af59a8af2097b272cfa.m4a About Claire:...
The Talking to My Friends About Books Podcast – Sci-Fi author, Anka Troitsky
I love chatting to people about books, hence the clever title of my occasional podcast, The Talking to My Friends About Books Podcast. And for this one it is sci-fi author, Anka B Troitsky, who I first met many years ago when we began dancing salsa at the same time....
The Talking to my Friends about Books Podcast: the What the Pho Travel podcast
As the main character of my new novel, Summer in Your Eyes is lapsed travel writer and blogger Holly Merriweather, I thought i'd ask some actual travel podcasters onto my occasional podcast cleverly entitled The Talking to My friends about Books podcast...Amy and Nick...
Notes from an Urban Rambler (Ambler)
Notes from an Urban Rambler (Ambler): Incorporating Food Stops into Ambling Posted on June 27, 2016 by chrispenhall As a committed ambler I have learned over the years to pace myself properly in order to fully enjoy my surroundings. You can’t amble along a...
To Have and To Hold by Carol Nightingale
My friend, Carol Nightingale has just achieved a long-held ambition to write and publish a book, which is the first of many, I'm sure. It's a psychological thriller called To Have and To Hold. We used to talk about books all the time when we got together, so I thought...
Summer in Your Eyes – a Q&A with me in the Choc-Lit/Joffe Books Digest
Q&A WITH AUTHOR CHRIS PENHALL In last week's digest we announced SUMMER IN YOUR EYES by award-winning author Chris Penhall is now available to pre-order. Ahead of it's release, we caught up with Chris. Read below to find out about Chris' writing...
Just Friends for Now by Lucy Keeling
Lucy Keeling and I met in 2019 when we were both finalists in the Choc-Lit Search for A Star Competition and since then I've loved reading all of her fabulous books - and I look forward to reading many more. Just Friends For Now is the fourth book in her Friends...
Little Museum of Hope – Sally Jenkins
I love exploring museums of all kinds because whatever is on display gives us an insight into someone's life. Sally Jenkins has written a book about just that. It's called Little Museum of Hope, and I invited her onto the blog to answer a few questions about it....
Kirsty Ferry on her new release: Bea’s Magical Summer Garden
Kirsty Ferry has written another rather magical tale, this time featuring Bea, Schubert the cat and bees, of course. So I invited her onto my blog to tell us a bit more about it. This is the sixth book in the Schubert the cat series – it started off a few years ago...
The Talking to My Friends About Books Podcast: Sadie Nine, BBC Essex radio presenter on writing her memoirs and her one-woman show
Sadie Nine presents the afternoon programme at BBC Essex from Monday to Thursday between 2pm and 6pm. She's also a singer, actor and columnist and is currently writing her memoirs, as well as getting ready for her return to the stage with her new one-woman show at the...
The Talking to My Friends About Books Podcast – Julie Haworth, winner of the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel award 2023
I spoke to author,Julie Haworth, last year about her debut novel, Always By Your Side, published by Simon & Schuster in 2022. She has now won the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award for the book, in the Romantic Novelists' Association's (RNA) annual Romantic...
The Talking to My Friends About Books Podcast with Ray Clark – Stay Tuned – I Could Say Something Brilliant at any Moment!
I love talking to my friends about books, and in this episode of my imaginatively titled - The Talking to My Friends About Books Podcast, I chat to Sony Award winning radio presenter and writer, Ray Clark about his new book which will be published in June - Stay Tuned...
The Talking to my friends about books podcast – author Deborah Klee
In my occasional series - The Talking to my friends about books podcast, I chat to Deborah Klee, who's latest novel, The Forever Cruise, has just been published. We chat about the book, writing, and how much we love fiction! https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e1sgv3a...
Hope, Mistletoe and a Christmas Promise by Juliet Archer
With Christmas getting ever closer, and the weather turning frosty, it's just the right time to curl up with a good festive book. And Hope, Mistletoe and a Christmas Promise fits the bill completely, and it takes us all to Hong Kong too! I invited author Juliet Archer...
Talking to My Friends About Books – Julie Howarth on her debut novel, Always By Your Side
I love talking to my friends about books, so I've got an occasional podcast called Talking to My Friends About Books because I'm really good at titles....ha ha! Julie Howarth had her first novel, Always By Your Side, published in August and the audiobook has now come...
Lizzie Chantree talks to BBC Essex presenter, Tony Fisher, about our October buddy-writing session
Fellow author Lizzie Chantree and myself decided we wanted to encourage people to get together and write in a supportive and relaxing environment, whether they are published, not yet published, or don't want to be published and simply want to write. We are most...
Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall by Hannah Pearl
As the nights are drawing in, many of us are thinking ahead to Christmas, so if you're looking for a book to cosy up with on cold winter evenings, A Countdown to Christmas Thanks very much for welcoming me to your blog to celebrate the launch of Mistletoe and Mayhem...
A Vacancy For a Village Vet – Joanne Boden
I do love a romance where the protagonists have to grapple with the past before they can move on. And this book is just the ticket for that. So, I invited Joanne Boden to answer a few questions about the book, and how she writes - amongst other things of course!...
Chris and Lizzie’s Buddy Writing Meet Up – why not come!
I have just come back from the Hay Book Festival and I am once again full of ideas and energy - the kind of energy you get from being around people who feel the same way about certain things that you do. In this case, it is books. I don't speak to the majority of...
A Burning Lie – Claire Sheldon
Fellow Ruby Fiction author, Claire Sheldon has written the third in her series in The Lisa Carter Files, A Burning Lie. Set in her home town of Nottingham, it follows Jen Garner and her return to street level policing. Q - tell us about the book A Burning Lie...
Meet Me on the Buddy Bench – Hannah Pearl
Tell us about the book Meet me on the Buddy Bench is the story of Sam and Ava. They’ve both had a really tough time and it’s all about how they have to rebuild their lives. It’s not how they expected life to look for either of them, but it’s all about how they can...
Carrie Elks on being a hybrid author
Essex-based author, Carrie Elks was scouted by a literary agent after she wrote Twilight fan fiction, which led to her very first book being published in Brazil She is now a very successful hybrid author, meaning some of her books are traditionally published and some...
Seven little tips to help you put pen to paper (or hand to keyboard)
It took me quite a few years to actually get my first book published. The House That Alice Built won the Choc-Lit Search for a Star competition in 2019, and since then there's been New Beginnings at the Little House in the Sun and Finding Summer Happiness. In June, my...
It’s Only Rock and Roll – Berni Stevens
We all love a bit of rock and roll, so the latest book from the very talented Berni Stevens really hits the mark! I invited her onto the blog to ask a few questions, not only about the book, but also how writing makes her feel. Plus, she shares a few tips for budding...
Queen of the Desert by Marie Laval
Another fabulous Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction author has a new book out. This time it's Marie Laval, who's family connection to North Africa inspired her to write the book. So, I've invited her onto my blog to ask her a few pertinent questions about Queen of the Desert...
Chris and Lizzie’s Marketing Adventures – or how just chatting can be inspiring
When my friend, author Lizzie Chantree and I get together, we always have a rough plan of what we are going to do (i.e. where we are going to meet, drink coffee, and eat), but everything else comes as a result of the way our minds work. We basically go off on rather...
It Started with a Wedding – Kirsty Ferry
Tell us about the new book It’s the fifth book in the Schubert the Cat series. Schubert’s a mystical, magical cat with his very own quirks, and his owner Nessa McCreadie, is getting married. Nessa has asked her twin brother Alfie to organise the wedding – with...
Escape to Little Bluewater Bay by Joanne Boden
I love chatting to other authors, and when it's for their debut with Choc Lit, that's very special. So, welcome Joanne Boden, who's first published novel with Choc Lit is Escape to Little Bluewater Bay! Hello. I would like to thank Chris for inviting me on her...