Written by Samantha Henthorn⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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My thanks to author Samantha Henthorn for a free digital copy of Curmudgeon Avenue to review. Samantha has also kindly answered a few questions for my feature Interview with the Author.
The blurb:
Sisters Edna and Edith inherit the first house on Curmudgeon Avenue from their parents Mr and Mrs Payne who were killed in a freak accident involving an elephant. The two sisters could not be more different if they tried, and now they have to live together in the house they grew up in several decades ago, bringing the baggage of the past with them for our enjoyment. It seems that Edith cannot stop bumping into exes of her older sister, Edna. First there is Maurice - you won't believe what happened with him.
Then, whilst Edith is heartbroken and vulnerable, she meets the notable Harold - another ex of Edna's who she really does not want to see. With Edith's son Ricky Ricketts and his on/off girlfriend Wantha (yes that really is her name) trying to protect the sisters it is only a matter of time before Curmudgeon Avenue is filled with laughter.
But then things change when yet another ex of Edna's returns, Madame Genevieve Dubois (although things are not as they might seem with this French woman). This enjoyable novella will introduce you to the wacky and wonderful series of Curmudgeon Avenue - enjoy!
fiction
Humour
My thoughts:
The simplistic cover drew me to this book. To me it suggests a normal, ordinary street wherein we will find everyday people going about their own business, and I wanted to know what secrets the reader would find. From the blurb, I had expected the house to set about bumping off the obnoxious inhabitants, one-by-one, or to somehow prevent them from doing something within its walls. But it was neither of these options. Curmudgeon Avenue is a record of how the current occupants came to be there, with the occasional reference to events or back stories which obviously lays the groundwork for future instalments.
The story is told mainly from the perspective of the house itself, Number One Curmudgeon Avenue. The house has very strong feelings about its residents and its visitors, yet is powerless to do anything other than watch and commentate on events as they unfold.
At the beginning, the original owners meet with an unusual and unfortunate end. The house is left to their daughters, Edith and Edna. Circumstances now mean that they will have to live together, something they have not done since childhood. Edith and Edna are quite different in every way. Both, however, have limited means, and as the house is in need of repair, they decide to take in a lodger. An array of unsuitable candidates arrive and are sent packing before Harold Goatshead - and he is the most loathsome character too - and Georgina Foote take up residence - not one lodger but two! And of course they come with their own baggage!
I found the story frenetic, quirky and mildly humorous - my biggest smile came from the card in Mrs Ali's corner shop window advertising for a lodger. The ad was worded in such a way as to have attracted completely the wrong sort of person, before the vandal changed a single letter on it, thus altering its meaning completely!
This is the first in the series, and I feel that readers will need to have read this book before reading any of the others, as it has set the scene for future stories, telling us what we need to know about these characters.
| Author Bio – Samantha Henthorn |
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 Samantha Henthorn was born in 1970-something in Bury, England. She has had short stories and poetry published in magazines. Her books include the Curmudgeon Avenue series (The Terraced House Diaries and The Harold and Edith adventures). '1962', 'Quirky Tales to Make Your Day' and 'Piccalilly' She has two cats, one dog, one gorgeous grown up daughter and one husband. When not reading or writing, she is listening to heavy metal and would be thrilled to bits if someone read her books. |
| Social Media Links – | |
| Web site | https://samanthahenthornfindstherightwords.blog |
| https://www.instagram.com/samantha.henthornauthor/ | |
| Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16004689.Samantha_Henthorn |
| Facebook Author Page | https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHenthornAuthor/ |
| X | https://twitter.com/SamanthaHfinds |
| Newsletter | https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/d0q2h7 |
Q1. What do you like most about being an author?
I enjoy finding the right words when I’m writing – that good feeling of ‘yes!’ I’m glad my character said that!Q2. Do you have a specific routine for writing? Is there a special place or particular tool you use?
I wake up, I write a list of things I want to work on later in the day, I do a bit of physiotherapy, tidy up, have a rest, THEN I write between the hours of one and three. This may not sound like much but this method has been a very productive for me. Writing is my full-time job, any socialising is done at the weekend! (energy permitting).I was retired due to ill health because I have MS, when I wanted to start writing, however, it was quite difficult to stop people from 'popping round' during the week. The friends I have now understand and are supportive both of my condition and my ambitions.
Q3. What inspired you to write The Curmudgeon Avenue series?
In the spring of 2014, I was retired due to ill health from my twenty-year nursing career. Having always loved reading, and after a long battle with MS, I felt brave enough to join a creative writing class at my local library which started in the autumn. We were set the task of writing a short story with the prompt ‘winter’. The library was situated just off a main road which leads to Manchester. There are plenty of grand Victorian houses and the streets are lined with trees dropping their autumn shaded leaves in the low sun as I made my way home from my new career. I knew my winter story would be set here, in Whitefield. I just needed some characters and a story. Later that week, my husband took me to the supermarket. As we parked up in the disabled bay, and my husband got my walking aid out of the boot, we heard the loud screech of tyres next to us. A man was shaking his fist and treating us to all manner of insults. Apparently, we had taken his space, even though we were there first, and further more I ‘didn’t look old enough to be disabled’! As this man made his way (quicker than I could) into the supermarket, apart from thinking ‘I don’t need this’ this man, who was probably having a bad day had gifted me with the idea for my curmudgeonly and loathsome characters. Who better to tell the story than the house?Q4. Was this the first story you had published?
I had one short story published in Take a Break’s Fiction Feast in 2016 about a woman who ate an entire cheesecake and then worried that she would not fit into her wedding dress. Following this, I started self-publishing. The Curmudgeon Avenue Series currently has three titles; The Terraced House Diaries, The Harold and Edith Adventures and Edna and Genevieve Escape From Curmudgeon Avenue. Book one sets the scene and the following books focus on one couple to tell a romantic comedy story. Prior to these, I published a short story collection ‘Quirky Tales to Make Your Day’ and two historical fiction novels. ‘Piccalilly’ set during WWI and based around my Nana’s story and ‘1962’, the story of Ernest Bradshaw’s ambition to become a cycling champion despite global uncertainty.Q5. Do you have another story planned or in progress? When can we expect to see that?
Of course! I am currently writing a short story collection with my writer friend Maggie Melville, called 'The Grit and The Wit'. Maggie writes gritty thrillers and I write witty nonsense! This will be ready for publication during summer 2019.Book four of Curmudgeon Avenue 'The Ghosts of Curmudgeon Avenue' will be published in October 2019. A spoiler in the title, yes there will be a few bereavements on the street, but also a happy ending. In addition to this, I am part way through a creative writing degree with the Open University. My final assessment this module is to start a novel, I have a great idea, realistically, this will be a release for 2020.
Q6. What do you like to do when you’re not planning or writing your next book?
Reading has become increasingly important to me in recent years, sometimes, I have to read in short blasts but I really enjoy it. Spending time with my fabulous husband can be anything from date night to great holidays to glamping in our campervan at a music festival.My daughter is grown up and although she tells me she only visits to ‘see the dog’ we are always in fits of giggles when she is here. I would not be without my two cats and Martha the Border terrier. I often feel as though I am living in a situation comedy and I would not have it any other way.
Q7. What would you say is the most valuable lesson you have learned about self-publishing?
That I am here for the occupation not the book deal! To call myself an author is an honour I am proud to own.Thank you, Samantha, for taking the time to join me today, and answering a few questions. We wish you well with your forthcoming book, and I'll be looking out for 'The Ghosts of Curmudgeon Avenue' in October!
What an enjoyable and interesting interview :-) Now I'm off to read Samantha's books.
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