The Puppet Master by Abigail Osborne ~~~~~BLOG TOUR~~~~~
The Puppet Master by
Abigail Osborne
I am delighted it is my stop on The Puppet Master Blog Tour today. Not only have I got a Q&A interview with Debut author Abigail Osborne. But you will can also check out my 5 star review….. So keep on reading guys :)
Good morning Abigail thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell us a little about yourself and background?
Hi Shell, Well I was born in the Lake District and I’ve moved around a lot since then. I went to university in the West Midlands and I met my husband there so I’ve stayed down here ever since. I currently works as a Needs Assessor for a charity, working with disabled people. I’m happily married with two crazy kittens.
When did you know that you wanted to become a writer? and how did you go about it?
Being a writer to me, was like when people dream of being an astronaut, something I’d love to do but never something I realistically thought I could. It was a pipe dream until I started my book reviewing website and having such lovely feedback that awakened how much I love to write and it just went from there. Being a writer has boosted my self-confidence no end. Even if not everyone likes the book, the achievement has made the world of difference in my life.
Can you tell us what genre your books are and the audience you write for?
My book is a thriller with a bit of romance. My book grapples with some quite difficult issues so the romance in it lightens it up. The audience that I think would appreciate this book is those that like the genre and people that will enjoy a story with a message.
What is your writing process? and how long does it take?
As this is my first book, I was learning as I went. I realised that I need to be somewhere with background noise and I had to lock myself off Facebook as well as Candy Crush because the ultimate procrastination tool. It took me just over a year to get the first draft of my book finished. Then another six months to edit and get it ready for print.
Are your characters based on anyone you know or are they just fictional?
The characters in the book are fictional as in they aren’t based on anyone. Some of the things that happen to them are things that I have experienced or friends and family have experienced.
Have you wrote about a personal experience in your novels?
I had a friend of mine read this book before anyone else to see what she thought and when she called me afterwards, she kept picking out the things that she knew ‘were me’ or had happened to me. The other way it is personal experience is the reason that I wrote this book. I wrote it because I wanted to tell a story where the characters go to hell and back, but they get through it and come out the other side. I’ve been through some difficult times and it was meeting my husband that grounded me and he helped me through to the other side. So that essence of the book is very personal to me.
What research do you do?
I have to admit, I didn’t do very much research for this book. I went to University in Worcester and I grew up in Windermere so I was able to draw upon that for the book. Everything else was fictionalised so I didn’t really feel the need to do copious research. I did look up a few little points here and there.
Who would you like to co-write with and why?
If I’m really honest, I’d love to co-write with Barbara Copperthwaite. I’ve only read Invisible so far but I loved the message that she gave with that book, that there is one victim that we don’t see and it really resonated with me and the books that I like to read and what I’d like to write. I feel that she would be a fascinating person to write with and I’d learn so much!
What's your favorite book?
My favourite book is Jane Eyre, it was the first novel that I read and it was the reason that I love to read. Because it transcends Jane’s life, when I read it as a child, I was able to relate and enjoy the scenes where she is a child and then when I was older I related and appreciated her journey into womanhood. I tend to reread Jane Eyre every 2 years and I also find that resonates with things I’m going through in my life at that time.
What's your favorite food?
Haha, my husband will be laughing if he reads this. I am extremely fussy with food. I go to a restaurant and I always have to take something off and have my food plain. My favourite food is sausages, mash and beans. Very adventurous!
What's your favorite film?
Robin Hood and the Prince of Thieves – The Kevin Costner one but NOT for Kevin Costner. Alan Rickman is hysterical and makes this film and I love it. ‘Cancel Christmas’! Best line ever ☺
What's your favorite song?
My favourite song is ‘The River lies in you’ by Yurima, as a (self-taught) piano player I would love to be able to play this, it is beautiful. It makes me think of everything happy in my life, it’s a very emotional piece of music.
How can readers find out more information about yourself and your books?
Well, I have a website at www.abigailosborneauthor.com and they can follow me on twitter at @Abigail_Author.
Summary:
Manipulated by fear and love…could you cut the strings and take back control?
Billie’s hiding from the world, believing it to be the only way to take control of her life as she lives in fear of the man who nearly destroyed her. But what she doesn’t realise that she’s exactly where he wants her; isolated and afraid. A chance meeting with budding journalist Adam sparks a relationship that could free her from the terror that controls her. But will Adam be able to see the real Billie buried under her terror and pain?
Adam knows exactly who Billie is and is determined to expose her and get justice for the lives she ruined. But first, he needs to convince her to open up to him but as unwanted attraction and feelings blossom between them, Adam is forced to realise that all is not as it seems. Most of their lives have been unknowingly governed by the desires and needs of someone who considers himself their master. He has influenced and shaped them for years, meticulously weaving a web of lies and control around them. Can Billie and Adam survive the betrayals in store and cut the strings that bind them?
One thing is for sure. The master wants his puppets back – and he’ll do anything to keep them.
My thoughts
Well I couldn't wait to get stuck into this beauty and I seriously can not believe this book is a debut novel. The Puppet Master had me gripped from start to finish I devoured it in one afternoon, it is totally disturbing and unputdownable….I freaking loved it!! And I have been dying to tell the world what I think because I loved it so much. This is one of those books that gets in your head and stays with you along time after reading it.
So the story starts off where we meet Billie and is set from the present day to 2018. Billie is off to visit the bookshop where she goes every week. From the author's description we get a feeling something isn't right and is clearly portrayed that she is afraid with her thoughts. But then soon enough we are introduced to Adam, who sparks a relationship that could free her from the terror that controls her. knowing who she is after convincing her to open up but soon realises that all is not as it seems. Most of their lives have been unknowingly governed by the desires and needs of someone who considers himself their master.
One thing is for sure. The master wants his puppets back – and he’ll do anything to keep them.
This is a very twisted story that will have you on the edge of the seat. The author certainly knows how to keep the reader on tenterhooks that's sure. It is extremely well crafted building up a story that is wrote in two parts. The first part is set from the present day through to 2018 and part is the past and all the way through the chapters alternate between the two characters Billie and Adam. Then boom the whole story between the two characters falls into place where found myself saying OMG…. NO WAY. But it doesn't end there,with more twists and turns all I can say is you're in for an absolute treat. This story took me through lots of different emotions, from emotional to anxious has if I was feeling the same has Billie.Seriously this is a corker of a story and this is most definitely one of my favourite reads for 2016.
I highly recommend this giving it 5 well deserved stars.I can't wait to read more by Abigail.
And I would like to thank the author for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review
Information about the Book
Title: The Puppet Master
Author: Abigail Osborne
Genre: Adult Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Format: Ebook and Paperback
Published: 30th August 2016
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31422186-the-puppet-master
Author Information
Abbie was born in the Lake District and has moved all around the UK since then until she met her husband at University. She lives with him and their two crazy cats in the West Midlands. She is a Needs Assessor for students with disabilities and has her own book reviewing blog called Many Books, Many Lives. Even though she did English Literature at University it wasn't until she started reviewing books that she realised how much she loved to write. The Puppet Master is her first novel but it certainly won't be her last.
You can follow her on @Abigail_Author or @MBequalsML.
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