Fabulous 'Thyme' Competition

That continuously inventive author, Panama Oxridge, has designed an ingenious competition open to all bloggers.

It's simple, it's fun and it's free! And wow! What very special prizes. If you win the books, I suggest you wrap them in brown paper and lodge them with the bank - they could be very valuable. (Then buy a copy from us to read!)

Here's the author setting out the rules - over to you Panama.

To celebrate the paperback release of JUSTIN THYME, the Tartan of Thyme Blog is running a competition with signed/doodled copies of both JUSTIN THYME and its forthcoming sequel THYME RUNNING OUT as the prize.

 

All readers have to do is visit the participating blogs, note down the letters and numbers on the Justin Thyme bookmarks (see photos), then rearrange the letters in numerical order. This spells a secret message (Justin’s description of himself). Visit the TOT blog to find links to all participating blogs, and to email your answer. The competition will close on September 7th, when a winner (picked at random from the correct entries) will be announced. 

You will need to start at the 'Tartan of Thyme blog - 

http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/

And here's our photo. Don't forget, clicking on it usually gives a larger image

Thyme Travel and a Book Launch

Talking of mysteries, I hope that it has dawned on all our readers that only through the use of Time Travel will Panama Oxridge be signing Thyme Running Out nearly three whole weeks before the official publication date.

Books signed at the book launch on 10th September, here at Cotswold Bookstore, will have the edge on all other signed copies and, obviously, there will only be a limited number.

Panama Oxridge will also be signing the paperback of Justin Thyme on the day. Again, they will be dated first editions. The paperback differs slightly from the hardback so even collectors who have some signed hardbacks may be interested in adding a paperback or three

We are receiving phone calls (01608 652666) and e-mails (cotsbookstore@tiscali.co.uk) from across the world for these books but I'm sure that the bulk of those sold will be on the day.

Do contact us soon, if you wish to order, as things are hotting up!

The Lol Robinson Mystery

The big book-signing on the rather close horizon (10 Sept) is that of Panama Oxridge who will be here to launch the exciting Justin Thyme sequel, Thyme Running Out. The paperback of Justin Thyme will also be available. However, you know all that. You also know that there is a great deal of mystery about both books and about the author.

Strange then that, just one week later we have an author here who also has a great deal of mystery about him - Phil Rickman. Not only are his books mysteries in themselves but also, they are in a genre of his own creation. Murder mysteries that edge towards the dark arts but never quite get there, or do they?


However, there is an even bigger mystery that comes with his books. They contain a character called Lol Robinson, a musician. Now characters in books are just that aren't they? So how come I've just been listening to a Lol Robinson CD? Rather good it is too. I'm no judge but I'd say there was a Simon and Garfunkel touch in the sound (with a chunk of Bo Diddley in there too!) though Nick Drake is the big influence according to the books.


When Phil Rickman is here for his signing of his not-yet-published The Secrets of Pain on 17th Sept, he will also have Lol Robinson CDs for sale. So who the heck is Lol Robinson? Can anybody out there tell me?

Popster

Now this is unusual. Popster here was totally uninterested in our biscuits.

We rattled the tin and even opened it under his nose but he didn't even twitch his tail.

Not to worry. At least three other dogs soon made up for his lack of appetite.

The Secrets of Pain

We've not told you much about Phil Rickman's books yet, though there is a recent review of  To Dream of the Dead in our REVIEWS section. Here we fill the gap. (No, that's not what the Welsh call him)

The Secrets of Pain by Phil Rickman

Hardback at £18.99 
Those of you who have not come across this author's unusual pairing of country hating Scouse detective, Francis Bliss, and his real heroine, vicar/exorcist, Merrily Watkins, have missed a treat.

The ongoing conflict between established villagers and newcomers and between country folk and town folk, are central to his books, as is his evident concern for small town life. Despite being set across the border in Hereford, these themes will resonate with people in The Cotswolds. However, it is to be hoped that the mixture of crime and the almost supernatural elements of his plots are not quite so familiar to local residents.

His latest and best novel uses the extreme training methods of the SAS and their misuse as a constant threat hanging over Merrily and her daughter. However, the cruelty of cock-fighting gangs may not be a red herring and the creepily insane (or possessed?) are not to be ignored. There is tension from the first page as two of his characters battle their way through a violent winter storm only to witness horror in the snow and this tension hardly lets up through the entire book.

Well written and carefully plotted with moments of comedy to relieve the tension, this book is full of great characters and is gripping throughout. It also gives great value for its page count as well as for its quality (This new hardback runs to nearly 600 pages). 

First rate.

Windows for Signings.

 Here are our windows ready for the signings in September.

Just in case you've forgotten, on Saturday September 10th at 11am we have the Thyme Running Out - Justin Thyme signing by Panama Oxridge.

It will be the event of the year with a special cake cooked by Mrs Kof to celebrate it.

Already over 100 copies of Thyme Running Out have been pre-ordered and there are very few hardback copies of Justin Thyme left. (Paperbacks are available)



Our adult window for the Rebecca Tope/Phil Rickman signing on Saturday 17th September is looking a little bare.

I intended putting in some murder weapons smeared with blood but David wouldn't oblige. He's selfish like that.

We have Rebecca's latest, Deception in the Cotswolds, Phil's new hardback, The Secrets of Pain and a wide selection of their paperbacks.

Rebecca should be here before 11 am but Phil is unfortunately delayed so midday is a more likely time for him.

As well as the guide book,to Merrily's haunts, called Merrily's Border, we will also have CDs of music by Lol Robinson, a character from Phil's books.
(No, I don't know how that works either - one of the many questions I have for Phil)

Star Wars stars in the shop?

It's a while since we had a dog on the blog.

This delightful animal is Yumi, a Golden Doodle, ie a Golden Retriever/Poodle cross.

However, I'm convinced there's a lot of Wookiee in this new friend of ours.


I've not actually heard her make Chewbacca noises but I'm sure she does.

With Alfie the dead spit of an Ewok, we are starting to get a Star Wars cast in here some days.