Author of the month

Catherine Isaac is the author of 12 best-selling novels, nine of which were written under the pseudonym Jane Costello.

Catherine was born in Liverpool and began her career as a trainee reporter at the Liverpool Echo, where she worked until she became editor of the Liverpool Daily Post.

She wrote her first book, Bridesmaids, while on maternity leave. You Me Everything was her first book writing as Catherine Isaac and was published in 2018. It was selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club, has been translated into 25 languages and a movie adaptation is in development by Lionsgate and Temple Hill.

Her next novel, Messy, Wonderful Us, was published at the end of 2019, and will be followed by The World At My Feet, which is scheduled for UK publication this month.

Catherine lives in Liverpool with her husband Mark and three sons. She enjoys running, playing tennis, spending time in the Lake District and reading a lot of books.

Wrexham's Carnival of Words

Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley: The Boy Between - A Mother and Son's Journey from a World Gone Grey

The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley.

The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley.

Bestselling novelist Amanda Prowse knew how to resolve a fictional family crisis. But then her son came to her with a real one... Josiah (Josh) was 19 with the world at his feet when things changed without warning. At a new university, his mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death, while his mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself in a battle to find a way to help him, with no clear understanding of even what the problem was.

Josh's situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying and in addition to his perilous condition, he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and paralysed by the fear that one day it would just become too much for him.

In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah's raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda's heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother's love for her child.

The Boy Between is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times. This online event forms part of a highly entertaining programme which has been put together for one of Wales' premier literary festivals. To book your £15 Festival Ticket and for more details please visit www.wrexhamcarnivalofwords.com, Saturday, April 24, 2pm.

Tir na n-Og Books Awards

The Books Council of Wales is delighted to announce six Welsh-language books shortlisted for the 2021 Tir na n-Og Awards, which celebrate the best books from Wales for children and young people.

The primary age category includes Ble Mae Boc? Ar Goll yn y Chwedlau by Huw Aaron, Mae'r Cyfan i Ti by Luned Aaron and Sw Sara Mai by Casia Wiliam. Three stories exploring Wales at different times through history feature in the English-language books shortlisted for the Tir na n-Og Children's Book Awards 2021. The periods of history range from the early Middle Ages when Welsh national identity was gathering strength in The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott, to a family emigrating from Wales to the USA at the turn of the 20th century in The Quilt by Valériane Leblond, and a contemporary story set in the Celtic rainforest of North Wales in Where the Wilderness Lives by Jess Butterworth.

Organised by the Books Council of Wales and sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales, the annual awards celebrate the best books for children and young adults published in 2020. You can add any of these books to your next order and collect list by visiting www.wrexham.gv.uk/libraries

BorrowBox

Did you know Wrexham Libraries offer a service where you can download 10 eBooks and 10 eAudiobooks for free for 21 days via the BorrowBox App? Borrowing digital content has never been simpler, smarter or more convenient. BorrowBox digital content is available any time from work, home or anywhere 24/7. You can reserve or borrow up to 10 eAudiobooks and 10 eBooks at a time. Browse their library of the world's best authors and titles as well as enjoying newsletters, bonus interviews and author profiles. How and where you enjoy your favourite titles is your choice in just a few easy steps, all you need is a valid library card. For more details visit www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries and follow the online service link.

Temporary online membership

Did you know that you can get a temporary online membership that will give you access to all of our online ebooks free of charge? Go to www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries - Online services and select Online Catalogue and Join the Library.

Book Review

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

This is the first novel by Tess Gerritsen featuring Detective Jane Rizzoli. If you like crime novels this will not disappoint but is not for the faint hearted.

A copycat killer is on the loose in Boston, terrorising young women and brutally killing them. It is obvious the killer has a medical background, as he carries out medical procedures on his victims prior to killing them.

He is closing in on his ultimate kill, who was a survivor of the original attacker. If like me you enjoy well written crime thrillers, that have strong characters and a clever plot then this book should certainly appeal.

It is a very addictive read, and I have gone on to read the whole series, I do love this author! Tina