‘God Bless the Understudy …’ by Ms Paige Turner
Last weekend we took the plunge and saw ‘The Jersey Boys’ for the sixteenth time. There had been a long gap. The tickets were a Christmas 2020 present for Miss Trial and Master Mind. It was our first venture out into the indoor theatre for two years. We wore medical masks for the whole journey and performance.
‘In the old days’ signs would go up in the foyer when an understudy had been thrown into the den. ‘In the old, old days’, there would be a Tannoyed announcement before curtain up when the audience would audibly groan in earshot of the poor understudy.
Having understudied several leading roles at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for two seasons I have an affinity with The Understudy. I was relieved when the actress in question for the night showed up, as I was never rehearsed. I knew the lines – but rehearsals for understudies strangely came in the last week of the season which seemed somewhat redundant.
These days, I believe understudies are called ‘covers’. And I believe they have rehearsals. It’s a good job that they do, as last weekend’s performance had half the cast covering, on account of Covid. There was no announcement, no programme note and no foyer sign so I didn’t know we were watching covers until Miss Trial googled.
They were all terrific. I am so pleased The Understudy is having their day. I am also pleased that Mister Justin Case and I have just tested negative on flow.
The Moral: what the eye doesn’t see the heart does not grieve over and wear your medical mask in crowded arenas.
You can buy my psychological thriller novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ from my publisher Cranthorpe Millner, all major bookstores and Amazon.
And the anthology ‘When This Is All Over …’ for the Rennie Grove Hospice can be purchased on Amazon.

‘Abi’s House Party’ – Watford Palace Young Theatre by Jan Moran Neil
Parties, parties, parties. They seem to be the talk of the town at this moment. It was a bit like having a party with the Watford Palace Young Theatre last week: a whole day online as a dramaturg. When I applied for the job I didn’t know I was one but the lovely Vedi Roy who is Creative Facilitator at the Watford Palace Young Theatre assured me my CV had all the credentials. So we set about creating characters and thinking about a plot for Abi and her mates. Abi is Sue’s daughter and Sue is at a house party being given by Mike Leigh’s Beverley in ‘Abigail’s Party’. Abi has her own ideas … These young people are full of ideas and are devising, producing and performing this play on 6th and 7th April at the Watford Palace Theatre. Will they be doing anything illegal at this party? I couldn’t comment and I don’t know if I attended until I am told. But try and attend in April – it sounds – well, hugely topical.
The previous evening I was reading from my novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ (available on Amazon, all major retailers and my publishers Cranthorpe Millner – please leave a review if you liked it) at a veritable bun feast for Mary’s book club in Amersham who looked set to have a ball when I left them.
I couldn’t have asked for nicer and more organised hosts. Thank you Mary and Vedi and thank you Ruth Mestel who stepped in to help facilitate as Vedi had just bagged the role of Claudius in Hamlet at the National Theatre. Wow, Vedi!

Blog 283 – ‘Bookings for Workshops and Readings …’
I am now taking bookings for both physical and online workshops. This can be for Creative Writing and/or readings from my novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ published by Cranthorpe Millner and available from them, all major retailers and Amazon.
Or for online drama workshops and one-to-one consultations.
Just email me.

Happy New Phones and Radio Broadcasts
I am promoting the anthology ‘When This Is All Over …’ on Marlow Radio and you can get on catch up.
Friday 31st December at 11.15 am – Good Morning Marlow and I am reading
Jane MacKinnon’s (our wonderful proof reader) and Mo Bradley’s poems. Here:

Listen Again | Marlow FM 97.5

I forgot to mention my also wonderful co-editor Adrian Spalding. He says he will forgive me. Put it down to the drowned phone but happily Mister Justin Case slipped into the new phone a sim card and everything I had on the old phone popped up. It’s amazing. How does that happen?

Adrian’s novel ‘The Reluctant Detective Under Pressure’ will be available at the end of January on Amazon.

We’ve raised over £2000 for the Rennie Grove Hospice with this anthology. It’s available, as is my novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ published by Cranthorpe Millner on Amazon.

Happy and Healthy 2022.

‘Christmas Gratitude’
Many thanks to my editor Kirsty Jackson and the marketing team Shannon Bourne and Donna Borg at Cranthorpe Millner Publishers.
My novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ is available here:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shakespeares-clock/jan-moran-neil/9781912964635

https://www.cranthorpemillner.com/product/jan-moran-neil-shakespeares-clock/

https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/shakespeares-clock,jan-moran-neil-9781912964635

and a review can be left here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=1912964635
Many thanks also to my co-editor Adrian Spalding and proof reader Jane MacKinnon on the ‘When This Is All Over …’ charity anthology and Hazel Bendon and Matt Good at the Rennie Grove Hospice and is available here: https://amzn.to/3xi8iay
If you have enjoyed my novel and/or the anthology for Rennie Grove ‘When This Is All Over …’ please leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Also thanks to Collette Lloyd at Writing Magazine and all the writers who have given me the opportunity to read and edit their words this year. It has been a pleasure to work with you all.
Hopefully the last full stop of the year is in place and a there will be fresh sheets for next year. Apt, as my mobile phone went in the washing machine with this week’s bed sheets and I am not a happy bunny. Rather a wet one.
So here’s to fresh sheets and happier bunnies shortly.

Many thanks to Robert Folker at the ‘Bucks Free Press’ and Tina Jackson at ‘Writing Magazine’ for giving my psychological thriller ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ a boost in their periodicals this week and month. And to Natalie Peeke for a lovely review in ‘Frost Magazine’. You can read here:

https://www.frostmagazine.com/2021/11/shakespeares-clock-by-jan-moran-neil-reviewed-by-natalie-jayne-peeke-west-country-correspondent/

The novel is available here:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shakespeares-clock/jan-moran-neil/9781912964635

https://www.cranthorpemillner.com/product/jan-moran-neil-shakespeares-clock/

https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/shakespeares-clock,jan-moran-neil-9781912964635

and a review can be left here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=1912964635
If you have enjoyed it and/or the anthology for Rennie Grove ‘When This Is All Over …’ please leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Many thanks also to Shannon and Donna at my publishers Cranthorpe Millner for following these leads.

‘Gift a Book for Christmas …’ by Ms Paige Turner
I am reading from my novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ and plugging the anthology ‘When This Is All Over …’ on Wycombe Sound Radio. 106.6. Friday 26th November, 11.20 am, Mid-Morning with Colin Besley and you can get on catch up here:
Listen Again feature https://wycombesound.org.uk/

I’ve had some feedback already. Here we are:
‘I have just listened to your chat on Wycombe Sound. Very interesting and well done. You should do an audio book version of Shakespeare’s Clock. Your voices for the characters worked so well. Trevor Oughton – Thanks, Trevor. It’s a great idea but costs a fortune!

‘All came across well and sounds good.’ Colin Besley/Radio Presenter – although as it was a telephonic interview I thought it sounded quite slushy and tinny. It’s much better being in the studio. But let’s not spoil the good with trying for perfection.

I was able to get in a plug about the anthology ‘When This Is All Over …’ for the Rennie Grove Hospice Care. And on that note we have sold 480 copies https://amzn.to/3xi8iay
and so far raised over £2000 for the Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Please think about giving an extra copy for Christmas to boost fundraising. And please leave a review on Amazon. It helps.
Copies of my novel Shakespeare’s Clock are available on Amazon or here:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shakespeares-clock/jan-moran-neil/9781912964635

https://www.cranthorpemillner.com/product/jan-moran-neil-shakespeares-clock/

https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/shakespeares-clock,jan-moran-neil-9781912964635

and a review can be left here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=1912964635
I’ll do a round-up of the year in a couple of weeks for my three blog readers.

I want to thank the bunch of people (and excuse my informal use of the collective noun) who came to Chorleywood Bookshop last cold, dark, Covid-clad (masked!) evening and listened to me reading from my novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’. It was a lovely, informal evening organised by my publishers Cranthorpe Millner and Chiltern Books.
An old school friend – Viviane – I hadn’t seen for fifty years, turned up, looking far from old and it was a delight to see some former Creative Ink for Writers’ students. Books were bought but I left a few signed copies at the shop so please drop in and buy. (£8.99) If you drop in between 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm on Saturday 11th December, Lauren Child – illustrator of the wonderful ‘Pippi Longstocking’ will be signing her children’s books – so there’s some thoughts for Christmas stockings.
Gentle reminders:
You can buy the anthology ‘When This is All Over …’ here https://amzn.to/3xi8iay on Amazon for the Rennie Grove Hospice.
You can buy copies of my novel Shakespeare’s Clock here

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shakespeares-clock/jan-moran-neil/9781912964635

https://www.cranthorpemillner.com/product/jan-moran-neil-shakespeares-clock/

https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/shakespeares-clock,jan-moran-neil-9781912964635

And finally bundles of thanks to Shannon and Donna at Cranthorpe Millner for setting up an interview for me at Wycombe Sound Radio (date TBA) and Bucks News.
If you have read my novel and enjoyed then you can leave a review on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/create-review/?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=1912964635.
Or on Goodreads.

Book Launch Reviews of Jan Moran Neil’s novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’

Despite Covid striking down the actress playing my antagonist and having to
rehearse a new actress into the reading, and despite the fuel crisis and torrential rain,
50 people turned out for the book launch of Shakespeare’s Clock, my psychological thriller.
It went very smoothly; the only wrinkles being on my forehead.
My next reading and signing is at Chorleywood Bookshop WD3 5NJ on Wednesday 17th November at 6.00 pm for an hour. Free Entry. Please let the bookshop know on marketing@cwbookshop.co.uk or Tel: 01923 283666.
You can catch a teaser on my telephonic interview (hence a bit of a hiss) with Marlow Radio on Friday 15th October at 11.30 am. Here is the link. www.marlowfm.co.uk/listen-again/

Book Launch Feedback:

Your three girls were outstanding. Michelle Gunner

Thank you for inviting me today. What a lovely occasion. I’m so proud of you Jan. Well done. Heather Smith
Yesterday was just wonderful…what a brilliant performance – and such a happy event – with people coming out to support you from far and wide. Suzie Cullen

It was a brilliant book launch. So glad to have been there to share that moment in excellent company. Moyra Zaman

Your book launch yesterday was sooo inspiring! On what was the wettest, gloomiest, day of the year my spirits were well and truly lifted! It was so good to talk and mingle with other writers ‘off line’ and your trio of amazing readers did a superb job of marketing ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’. I now can’t wait to read my signed copy. Linda Storey

A lovely session! Chris McDemott

I really enjoyed your launch! I’ll suggest your book as a potential choice for my book club. Claire Overton

A very enjoyable launch. The performance was professional and the audience friendly.
Most interesting Q & A. I expect the book will sell as the subject is perennial. Pamela Mintner

A great afternoon at the book launch of Shakespeare’s Clock by Jan Moran Neil. Great to finally meet you in person. Laura Sansom

So thrilled for my friend and fabulous tutor Jan Moran Neil. We enjoyed a wonderful performance of some key scenes from her new book at her launch event yesterday… Looking forward to a good read. Catherine Klyhn

Copies are also available from all major bookstores and online at Amazon and here:
‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ by Jan Moran Neil is published in paperback by Cranthorpe Millner and will be available from September 28th at all major retailers, instore and online (ISBN978-1-912964-63-5). RRP £8.99.For pre-order details see:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shakespeares-clock/jan-moran-neil/9781912964635

https://www.cranthorpemillner.com/product/jan-moran-neil-shakespeares-clock/

https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/shakespeares-clock,jan-moran-neil-9781912964635

I am also available for readings from the novel if you wish to book me in person or virtually!
Please suggest both books to your book group if you have one. If you enjoy please leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon etc. Both ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ and the anthology ‘When This Is All Over’ https://amzn.to/3xi8iay books are running at 5 stars.

Book Reviews of Jan Moran Neil’s novel ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’

Despite Covid striking down the actress playing my antagonist and having to
rehearse a new actress into the reading, and despite the fuel crisis and torrential rain,
50 people turned out for the book launch of Shakespeare’s Clock, my psychological thriller.
It went very smoothly; the only wrinkles being on my forehead.
My next reading and signing is at Chorleywood Bookshop WD3 5NJ on Wednesday 17th November at 6.00 pm for an hour. Come along and if you are able, let me know.
If you can’t come and would like a signed copy from me then just email me: info@janmoranneil.co.uk (I have only a few.)
Copies are also available from all major bookstores and online at Amazon and here:
‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ by Jan Moran Neil is published in paperback by Cranthorpe Millner and will be available from September 28th at all major retailers, instore and online (ISBN978-1-912964-63-5). RRP £8.99.For pre-order details see:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shakespeares-clock/jan-moran-neil/9781912964635

https://www.cranthorpemillner.com/product/jan-moran-neil-shakespeares-clock/

https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/shakespeares-clock,jan-moran-neil-9781912964635

Bookstagram Review Quotes: Honest and Unpaid.
“I have been OBSESSED with this book, it has been so difficult not to stay up until 2am to find out about the secrets in the past of the main characters. The style of writing completely drew me in, it felt like I was overhearing a conversation but I’d missed the key points at the start and was desperate to know more! Thank you for letting me be part of the tour. This was such a good read.”
- @bookish_reader21

“This was like a blast to my past, remembering the bus journey to school. I really enjoyed how the story focused not only on different points of view, but different timelines.”
- @mrsbookburney

“This is a 1960′s girls’ school where the school reputation is put before right or wrong. Truth is not always convenient, and isn’t that always the way? I’ve been pretty gripped by this story. A recommended read.”
- @adperfectamconsilium

“Something a bit different but with very interesting characters.”
@duckfacekim09

“Just finished this and boy, what a ride. It’s not often a story comes along as satisfying as this one.”
@candy.smellie

“I was flying through the book needing to know more and when revelations came out I was unexpectedly shocked. This was a brilliant, captivating read and I couldn’t put it down.”
@lets_escape_with_books

“The characters are beautifully developed and purposefully written. It’s sad, it’s a little dark and it builds immensely up to what I can only describe as an impeccable finale. 5 stars from me. And one that will stay on my shelf, and with me, for a long, long time. Well done on an amazing read.”
- @shejustwantedtoread

- 5* review/Amazon

I was captivated by the story from the first page. Jan Moran Neil has done a brilliant job of recapturing the feeling of being a fifteen year old schoolgirl in the late 1960s. I never went on the school bus, but it rekindled many memories for me. The plot is well constructed and seeds sown early in the novel grow towards a brilliant final denouement. I look forward to reading anything else that Jan Moran Neil writes.
- Sue Johnson

I am also available for readings from the novel if you wish to book me in person or virtually!
Please suggest both books to your book group if you have one. If you enjoy please leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon etc. Both ‘Shakespeare’s Clock’ and the anthology ‘When This Is All Over’ https://amzn.to/3xi8iay books are running at 5 stars.