Author Spotlight: Kim Hopkinson

Author Spotlight: Kim Hopkinson

The Refugee

Kim Hopkinson

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:

In a small rural town, Bernard's seemingly perfect life is shattered when Sally, his beautiful wife and Joshua, his young son, are murdered in cold blood. Nearby, in a local village a refugee, far from home, attempts to put his violent past behind him and escape the consequences of his monstrous deeds. Caught between his fractured reality and the lies he spins Ahmed travels from town to town. Ahmed's psyche begins to unravel. Will he be able to outrun his guilt or will the truth finally catch up with him. As the investigation unfolds it seems that there were quite a few people who might have had reason to kill Sally. Leading Inspector Lawrence to think that perhaps he should look for the perpetrator much closer to home. A chilling tale of betrayal, rage and the lengths one man will go to, to protect his reputation.

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Author Interview

Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?  

KH: I was born in North London and from a young age enjoyed writing poetry and stories.I'm trained in journalism and worked on women's magazines in London. When I had a family, I discovered a love for teaching and became an infant school teacher. Later, I became a deputy head and headteacher and spent twenty years in education. I retired early to concentrate on my writing and moved to Sussex where I lives with my family. This is my first book, and I spends her time writing, raising sheep and enjoying my granddaughters.

What genre do you read? Who's an author you read? Name your top 5 authors. 

KH: Thrillers; Freida McFadden, Nora S, Claire Douglas, Jayne Austen, Lee Child

What's the best book you've read, and what do you like about it? 

KH:  Ooh, such a tough one, but I’d have to say The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas. The reason I liked this book, was that I was fascinated by the relationship between the sisters and how little they really knew about each others lives. I found the storyline gripping and couldn’t wait to find out how it ended...I wasn’t disappointed. I am looking forward to reading Claire Douglas’ latest book the New Neighbours. As much as I love writing, I’ll always be a reader first and discovering new stories like this keeps me inspired to keep creating my own.

Favorite sports.   

KH: Not really into sports. Like going to the gym. Classes; Chi Tai, Zumba, Body Balance

Favorite thing about the state/country that you live in. 

KH: Since moving to the countryside, life has felt a lot slower, in the best possible way. Surrounded by fields, fresh air and nature at its best… I’ve come to appreciate the simple moments more than ever.

One of my favourite spots? This incredible oak tree that lives in our garden, it’s been standing here for hundreds of years. A gentle giant that offers the most perfect shade on sunny days and feels like something straight out of a storybook.

Just imagine yourself here… a warm breeze, a good book (maybe even The Refugee

) and the peaceful sounds of nature. It’s the little things that inspire the most.

How long have you been writing? 

KH: From a young age (see the answer for the Tell me about yourself)

Where did you get the idea for your book, The Refugee? 

KH: People often ask me where the idea for The Refugee came from. Growing up in London and now living in the Sussex countryside, I’ve always been fascinated by the contrasts between places, the stories people carry and how seemingly ordinary lives can hide extraordinary secrets. That curiosity became the heart of my first novel.

Looking ahead, I’m already deep into my next project! I’m currently in the character development stage of a brand new book. While it isn’t a sequel, readers will recognise Inspector Lawrence from my previous novel as he takes on a fresh investigation. I’m excited to see where the story leads and I can promise a mysterious, unexpected ending.

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser? 

KH: A plotter

How did you come up with the ideas for your series? (If your book is a 

standalone or nonfiction, please skip) 

KH: Standalone

How do you celebrate finishing a book? 

KH: Went to a local restaurant

How do you organize everything and find the time to sit down and write? 

KH: I retired which gave me the time to write

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?  
KH: My husband

How do you name your characters? 

KH: No method, it's random. But if stuck, I look online for a book of names

 Can you describe a typical day in your writing life? 

KH: Juggling housework, looking after my granddaughters, going to gym and writing in between. Nothing glamorous!

Tell us about your current release. 

KH: Putting the final touches to my current novel. It's about the daughter of a crime boss who gets kidnapped. It's a story of revenge, betrayal, and the pursuit of power, don't want to give to much away at this stage.

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Kim Hopkinson was born in North London and from a young age enjoyed writing poetry and stories. She trained in journalism and worked on women's magazines in London. When she had a family, she discovered a love for teaching and became an infant school teacher. Later, she became a deputy head and headteacher and spent twenty years in education. Kim retired early to concentrate on her writing and moved to Sussex where she lives with her family. This is her first book, and she spends her time writing, raising sheep and enjoying her granddaughters

Author Spotlight with Review: Edward Barba (Moving Pictures)

Moving Pictures

Edward Barba

Here is a brief description from Amazon:

 For Detective Fox, closing difficult crimes has always come easy for him, until now. He is assigned a rather strange murder case to solve. He must start an investigation with no evidence, no witnesses, no murder weapon, and no apparent motive. All he has is a body with a missing organ. The only clue he has to work with is a hand drawn flipbook showing how the murder was committed, and an online cooking show highlighting how to cook the missing organ. He is then taken on a twisted murderous spree of revenge with new bodies daily. Each of the victims is meticulously murdered in different ways, and is accompanied by a gruesome flipbook depicting their murder. Every victim becomes the unwilling guest of honor for each new cooking show. The detective himself falls victim and is assaulted. Detective Fox soon discovers he has bit off more than he can chew with this case. As the body count rises, so does the pressure to catch the killer. He must now count on support from every member of his team, both in his precinct and out.

Amazon

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My Review

I picked this e-book through the Kindle Unlimited program.

The author tells his readers that the book is not formatted like a typical book, but the way he did it worked for me.  This was a very good debut book.

From page 1, I was drawn into the story and I couldn't stop reading until I know who/what/why/where, etc.  I wasn't expecting the ending, but that is okay.  I am not the author, but the reader.

CAWFILE: 9.14

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!

Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!

Melissa 

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Author Interview

Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?

EB: Bayonne, NJ

What genre do you read? C

EB: Comedy, and drama

Who's an author you read?

EB: Peter Hedges 

Name your top 5 authors.

EB: Don’t have a top 5 really, David Lynch, David Sedaris, J. R.R. Tolkien, Hunter S. Thompson, and again Peter Hedges

What book are you reading right now, and what do you like about it?

EB: 1818 ways to write better and get published

Favorite sports.

EB: Volleyball

Favorite thing about the state/country that you live in.

EB: PA has amazing historic places.

How long have you been writing?

EB: 3 years

What inspired you to become a writer?

EB: I needed an outlet to release emotions, so basically therapy

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

EB: I am both. I write down ideas and things I want to include, and allow the story and characters to lead me there.

How did you come up with the ideas for your series? (If your book is a standalone or nonfiction, please skip)

EB: As of right now it is a standalone book, I am in the middle of writing its sequel.

How do you celebrate finishing a book?

EB: By starting another one. 

What would you tell a writer who is just starting? What program do you use for writing? What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book? What’s your writing software of choice?

EB: I would tell a writer that is just starting out, break every rule you can, make the story yours. Ultimately it is YOUR story, write it as you feel it. I do almost all of my writing on my phone using google docs. On the rare occasion that I have time (and remember to charge it) I have a laptop with google docs on it.

How do you organize everything and find the time to sit down and write?

EB: I use a separate google docs sheet to jot down ideas. I date the ideas and weekly reread them as to not forget them. I write on breaks, and lunches at work. It helps to get out some of the stress.

As an author, what would you choose as your spirit animal?

EB: A Honey Badger. I do not run with a pack, I am kind unless you tick me off. I am angry until what ticked me off leaves.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

EB: My wife has been my biggest supporter. She was the person telling me to start writing my story.

How do you name your characters?

EB: I use people I know to frame a personality type I want to emulate. Also I use the names of people(slightly adjusted) that I truly dislike as my murder victims.

Can you describe a typical day in your writing life?

EB: I go to work at 4am and work in the meat and produce department. First break is at 6am, I promptly return my travel of coffee to my car and jot down a few story ideas or emotions I want to include. Then it is back to work. At 8am I sit with my lunch and type away on my phone continuing the current story I am writing. I leave work at 1 and head home. I get the kids from school, do homework with the kids, and help cook dinner. After spending time with the kids, I get them to bed, and reread what I wrote on my lunch, making changes as I go along. Then it is bed time for me. Kinda boring. During the work day, I bounce ideas off people as they pop in my brain. I use the work day as huge brainstorming session to refine new ideas.

Tell us about your current release.

EB: My only release is Moving Pictures. A reluctant detective is forced to take on a very atypical murder case. Each victim is uniquely murdered, the killer removes a body part or organ and hosts an online cooking show highlighting the special ingredient. At the scene of every murder, the killer leaves a hand drawn flip book depicting how he killed each person.   

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About the Author

My name is Edward Barba, and I am the author of a book the New York Times might call the worst book of the year (if there was such a title). I have absolutely no writing education, I have never won any writing contests, and I have zero writing awards. What I do have is a crazy over active imagination, the ability to tell a story some may find gripping and interesting. I do tend to defy any industry norms, and question everything. Which is something I learned growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey, and later took with me to Wilkes Barre, Pa where I live with my wife and six kids. Humor is a very important aspect of my life, so it was one of the most important features I wanted to add to my stories. 

Author Spotlight with Review: Jerold Last (Tapas and Treachery)

 

Tapas and Treachery 

Jerold Last

Here is a brief description from Amazon:

Roger is hired by a cruise ship line to investigate the murder of a passenger from one of their boats during an onshore excursion to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, an autonomous Basque Republic in Northwest Spain. From Santiago’s sacred old church with its shrine to Saint James to modern Amsterdam and back, it’s not going to be easy. With unexpected twists and turns, the plot takes you on a wild ride filled with danger, intrigue, and treachery. Fans of suspenseful thrillers that keep you guessing should buy this e-book or paperback or download their Kindle Unlimited copy from Amazon Kindle today!

Tapas and Treachery Book Links:

Kindle E-book, Audible, paperback, Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Series

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My Review

I picked this e-book through the Kindle Unlimited program.

The description of the countries Roger was in was done perfectly. They made me feel like I was actually there.  Twists and turns made me want to know who and why.  It kept me hooked from the first page to the last page.

CAWFILE: 9.29

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!

Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!

Melissa 

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Author Interview

Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?   

JL: I’ve lived most of my life in Davis California, near Sacramento.

What genre do you read?  

JL: Mostly mystery and thriller novels, non-fiction: scientific journals.  

Who's an author you read?  Name your top 5 authors.

JL: Michael Connelly, Ross MacDonald, Robert Crais, Robert B. Parker,

and James Lee Burke.

What book are you reading right now, and what do you like about it? 

JL: The Waiting by Michael Connelly.  Plot, characters, setting are all 5-star, as I would expect from Connelly, and the storyline is the basis for the popular Renee Ballard TV series.

Favorite sports. 

JL: As a spectator, pro football and youth soccer. To do myself, basketball, sailing.

Favorite thing about the state/country that you live in.

JL: California has a lot to offer, including good climate, great out of doors for seeing and doing things (mountains, oceans, wine making and tasting, the best [by far] public university system in the world, and lots more.

How long have you been writing?  

 JL: Non-Fiction (scientific papers), since graduate school a long time ago. 

 Mystery/thriller novels and novellas, almost 15 years.

What inspired you to become a writer? 

JL: My wife  encouraged me to try this as a way of eventually keeping busy after retirement.  

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?   

JL: In my head before I begin, definitely a plotter.  Once I actually begin writing that first draft, a pantser.  At some point the story takes over and writes much of itself.

How did you come up with the ideas for your series?  

JL: I usually start with interesting places I’ve lived, or visited, or with German shorthaired pointers, which we breed, show, and hunt, so I know the breed very well, featured.   All of the books are written as standalones. 

  How do you celebrate finishing a book? 

JL: No specific ritual….taking my wife Elaine to dinner or starting to write  the next book usually.  Then there’s that whole advertising and sales thing to keep me occupied if I’m not writing another book, or (before I recently retired) working at my full-time job as a professor and researcher at the University of California’s Davis campus.

What would you tell a writer who is just starting? 

JL: “Don’t quit your day job!” 

What program do you use for writing? 

JL: Word.  

What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book? 

JL: “Stick with it; it’s hard work.  And develop a thick skin.  Assume that all the criticism you get is intended to be helpful, even if it sounds harsh. 

What’s your writing software of choice? 

JL: Word for writing, Amazon for formatting and cover design.

How do you organize everything and find the time to sit down and write?  

 JL: I’ve never really figured this part out.  Just do it however and whenever I can.

As an author, what would you choose as your spirit animal?   

JL: Definitely a dog----almost certainly a German shorthaired pointer.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing? 

JL: My wife, Elaine.

How do you name your characters? 

JL: Pretty much at random on the spur of the moment.

Can you describe a typical day in your writing life? 

JL: No.  It’s different every time.  Lots of chaos usually.

Tell us about your current release. 

JL: [Inspired by a visit we took as tourists to Santiago de Compostela

and Amsterdam a year and a half ago]

Visit Santiago de Compostela at the end of the Pilgrimage Trail

in Spain, one of the holiest Catholic shrines in the world

and the destination for tens of thousands of pilgrims who

walk hundreds of miles as an act of piety and meditation. 

Roger, a private detective, is hired to solve the brutal,

execution style, murder of an American tourist during

an excursion there.   With unexpected twists and turns,

the plot takes fans of suspenseful thrillers that keep you

guessing on a wild ride filled with danger and intrigue.

Tapas and Treachery, a standalone novel available in

e-book, audiobook, and paperback formats, can also be

downloaded free from Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZQ7P3YF

Also worldwide at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DZQ7P3YF

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DZQ7P3YF

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DZQ7P3YF

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About the Author: 

Jerold Last is a Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) at the University of California's Medical School at Davis, near Sacramento in Northern California.  Jerry writes fast-paced mystery books (tough and sometimes violent thrillers that follow the cozy conventions of no graphic sex and no bad words), published on Amazon Kindle.  He and his wife Elaine, lived previously in Salta, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, which provided the settings for several of the earlier Roger and Suzanne mysteries.  Jerry selects the most interesting places that he has lived in or visited for Roger and Suzanne to solve miscellaneous murders.  A few of these book are also cross-listed on Kindle in the relevant travel categories (eg, Peru for The Surreal Killer and Spain for Tapas and Trachery) and seven feature dogs (which Amazon's algorithm assigns to the "cozy mystery" category, which they most certainly are not), so pretty much all of the books are hard to classify as a single specific genre.  He and Elaine also breed prize-winning German shorthaired pointer dogs.  Elaine provides technical advice for Jerry’s dog-related novels as well as editing for all of the books.  

Facebook 
Goodreads 

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Author Spotlight with Review: Serena Sinclair (The Perfect Neighbor)

The Perfect Neighbors
Serena Sinclair

Here is a brief description from Amazon:

he looks exactly like me. Same face, same scar, same life. And now she's stealing everything that's mine.

When Madisyn Holmes moves in across the street, I can't shake the feeling that this isn't coincidence. She copies my garden design, my home décor, even my professional strategies. It's like watching someone erase me in real time.

My husband thinks I'm paranoid. My neighbors think I'm losing it. But I know what I'm seeing.

I start gathering evidence—photos, notes, proof of her systematic theft. Because someone has to stop her before she takes everything.

The question is: how far will I go to protect what's mine? And when the truth finally comes out, will I be the victim... or the monster?

A twisted psychological thriller that will have you questioning everything you think you know.

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My Review

I purchased this book back in October 2025.  I believe it was a First Read through Kindle Prime.

Wow. I’m not sure how to write this review, but wow!!  The twist!  Wow!!

CAWFILE: 8.86

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!

Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!

Melissa 

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