Hazel Prior

A curmudgeonly but charming old woman, her estranged grandson, and a colony of penguins proves it's never too late to be the person you want to be in this rich, heartwarming story from the acclaimed author of Ellie and the Harpmaker. Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she's coming to visit--and won't take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open. Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.

How the Penguins Saved Veronica

__________ 'Wow, what a love story. Uplifting and full of heart. I couldn't put it down!' Jo Thomas, author of Late Summer in the Vineyard Meet Ellie. She's perfectly happy living her quiet life with her husband, Clive. Happy to wander the Exmoor countryside and write the occasional poem that nobody will read; happy to dream of all the things she hasn't yet managed to do. Or is she? Meet Dan. He thinks all he needs is the time and space to make harps in his isolated barn on Exmoor. He enjoys being on his own, far away from other people and - crucially - far away from any risk of surprises. What Ellie and Dan don't know yet, is that a chance encounter is about to change all of this. 'A beautiful love song of a story, wonderfully told with a warm heart and much hope' Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and Found

Ellie and the Harpmaker

A truly feel-good book club read - a #1 bestseller in ebook and audio! 'This year's Eleanor Oliphant . . . Funny, bittersweet and wholly original.' Daily Express Veronica McCreedy is about to have the journey of a lifetime . . . Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she's never seen without her ruby-red lipstick. Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone. She can be found either collecting litter from the beach ('people who litter the countryside should be shot'), trying to locate her glasses ('someone must have moved them') or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen ('Eileen, door!'). Veronica doesn't have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . . And she has no idea where she's going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies. But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this. 'I love this gorgeous book. Unflinching, stubborn, funny and moving, Veronica is an unlikely heroine who will sneak in and capture your heart.' Trisha Ashley

The joyful Richard & Judy pick and Number 1 bestseller

Away with the Penguins

Call of the Penguins

Verônica McCreedy leva uma vida solitária. Aos 85 anos, ela começa a se perguntar para quem deixará sua enorme fortuna. Até que, após ver um documentário sobre um centro de estudos de pinguins na Antártica, resolve passar uma temporada do outro lado do mundo – um local congelante e isolado, que muitos considerariam inóspito. Diante da descoberta de um parente vivo, das novas amizades feitas, da revelação de traumas passados e dos pinguins que precisam de ajuda, Verônica terá que decidir se ainda há tempo para abrir seu coração e criar laços antes que seja tarde demais. Narrada sob diversos pontos de vista, Verônica e os pinguins é uma encantadora história sobre amadurecimento, família, encontros e reencontros. ___________________________________________________ "Uma viagem encantadora. Hazel Prior fez seu dever de casa sobre os pinguins e as condições de vida na Antártica, mergulhando os leitores em um mundo cativante que, de outra forma, seria difícil de alcançar." Booklist "Sinto-me atraída pelo humor e pela felicidade. Verônica e os pinguins é divertido, agridoce e original. Uma história gloriosa de afirmação da vida. Eu li em um dia." Clare Mackintosh, autora de Deixei você ir

Verônica e os pinguins

**PRE-ORDER NOW!** 'The perfect fireside read. Veronica McCreedy will capture your heart.' TRISHA ASHLEY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Christmas Invitation 'So beautifully written by a born storyteller' LORRAINE KELLY Meet the heroine everyone's talking about . . . Fiercely resilient and impeccably dressed, Veronica McCreedy has lived an incredible 87 years. Most of them alone, in her huge house by the sea. But Veronica has recently discovered a late-life love for family and friendship, adventure and wildlife. More specifically, a love for penguins! And so when she's invited to co-present a wildlife documentary, far away in the southern hemisphere, she jumps at the chance. Even though it will put her in the spotlight, just when she thought she would soon fade into the wings. Perhaps it's never too late to shine?

From the No.1 bestselling author of Away with the Penguins

Charles Harris

Tessa Harris

David Ross

Ashok Ferrey

Alex Pearl

Tony Forder

Julian Dutton

L. Tyler

C. Carver

These author interviews initiated by Alex Pearl during the Covid epidemic started as a small lockdown project. But before long, Alex's requests for author interviews on social media elicited an overwhelming response, and the project soon took on on a life of its own. Within these pages, authors from a wide spectrum of backgrounds wax lyrical about their backgrounds, motivations, and working methods. Among this throng, self-published newbies rub shoulders with award-winning bestsellers from all corners of the globe, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Israel and Sri Lanka. They provide a fascinating insight into this mysterious process of creating imagined worlds on the page. Huge thanks go to the 100 authors who very kindly gave their time to participate in this project, as well as their consent for their words to be reproduced here in print. They are in no particular order: Paul Waters, Jessica Norrie, David F. Ross, Drema Drudge, Chris Chalmers, Mark Farrer, Sue Clark, Hannah Tovey, Belinda Hunt, Glynn Holloway, Mark Eklid, Julian Dutton, Christopher Bowden, Alan Gibbons, Lily Mackenzie, Ian Critchley, Jadi Campbell, Tom Atkins, Jane Risdon, Charles Harris, L. C. Tyler, Fran Hill, Malcolm Knott, Nikki Dudley, Jacqui Castle, Ron Impey, C. J. Booth, Ashok Ferrey, Jennifer Irwin, Beth Duke, Vicki Olsen, Pete Langman, Pauline Morgan, Jonathan Peace, Sandy Manning, Shelley Wilson, P. J. Roscoe, Anthony Neil Smith, A. A. Chaudhuri, Jon Richter, Carolyn Hughes, Trish Moran, Madeline Dewhurst, Jeff Pollak, Louise Fein, A. B. Kyazze, Jack Byrne, M. A. Hunter, Tessa Harris, M. J. Mallon, P. R. Black, Nina Soden, Bill Arnott, E. Chris Ambrose, Paul Kane, Sam Blake, Douglas Skelton, Louise Mumford, Philip Henry, Hazel Prior, Lauren Emily Whalen, Laura E. Goodin, Simon Van der Velde, Dr. Manuel Matas, Jane Bettany, Regina Puckett, S. G. M.Ashcroft, Michele Kwasniewski, Judy Stanigar, Robert Craven, John Darling, Pramudith D. Rupasinghe, Richard Dee, Sophy Layzell, Lorna Dounaeva, Diana Stevan, Bradley Harper, Paul Gitsham, Sion Scott-Wilson, John Dean, Liz Martinson, C. J.Carver, Tony J. Forder, Sharron L. Miller, Patrick Osborne, Peter Turnham, Jude Lennon, Anna Holmes, Chris Calder, Jane Buckley, Rachel Brimble, Gail Aldwin, Anne Coates, Ian Riddle, Christina Hamlett, James Morgan-Jones, Alison Huntingford, Gila Green, Helen Pryke, Emilya Naymark, Marcia Clayton, James L'Etoile, Edward Trayer, Mark Leichliter, Lindsay J. Sedgwick, David Liscio, Kate Reynolds ALL AUTHOR PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO PEN INTERNATIONAL

100 Authors in Conversation with Alex Pearl about Their Backgrounds, Motivations and Working Methods

100 Ways to Write a Book

A rich, heartwarming and acclaimed debut novel that reminds us that sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places, now in paperback. Dan Hollis lives a happy, solitary life carving exquisite Celtic harps in his barn in the countryside of the English moors. Here he can be himself, away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right or completely understand. On the anniversary of her beloved father’s death, Ellie Jacobs takes a walk in the woods and comes across Dan’s barn. She is enchanted by his collection. Dan gives her a harp made of cherrywood to match her cherry socks. He stores it for her, ready for whenever she’d like to take lessons. Ellie begins visiting Dan almost daily and quickly learns that he isn’t like other people. He makes her sandwiches precisely cut into triangles and repeatedly counts the (seventeen) steps of the wooden staircase to the upstairs practice room. Ellie soon realizes Dan isn’t just different; in many ways, his world is better, and he gives her a fresh perspective on her own life.

A rich, heartwarming and charming debut novel that reminds us that sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places. Dan Hollis lives a happy, solitary life carving exquisite Celtic harps in his barn in the countryside of the English moors. Here he can be himself, away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right or completely understand. On the anniversary of her beloved father’s death, Ellie Jacobs takes a walk in the woods and comes across Dan’s barn. She is enchanted by his collection. Dan gives her a harp made of cherrywood to match her cherry socks. He stores it for her, ready for whenever she’d like to take lessons. Ellie begins visiting Dan almost daily and quickly learns that he isn’t like other people. He makes her sandwiches precisely cut into triangles and repeatedly counts the (seventeen) steps of the wooden staircase to the upstairs practice room. Ellie soon realizes Dan isn’t just different; in many ways, his world is better, and he gives her a fresh perspective on her own life.

Ein herzerwärmender Roman über das Leben, die Liebe und die Rettung der Pinguine. Die 86-jährige Veronica McCreedy lebt entfremdet von ihrer Familie in einem großen Anwesen an der schottischen Küste. In letzter Zeit fragt sich die rüstige alte Dame oft, was sie noch mit ihrem Leben – und ihrem Vermögen – anfangen soll. Als sie eines Abends im Fernsehen eine Sendung über eine Kolonie bedrohter Adeliepinguine in der Antarktis sieht, ist Veronica zutiefst beeindruckt und fasst einen tollkühnen Plan: Sie wird den Pinguinen in der Antarktis einen Besuch abstatten. Und Veronica wird sich nicht von ihrem Vorhaben abbringen lassen, auch nicht von dem Forscherteam, bei dem sie sich einzuquartieren gedenkt ...

Hazel Prior

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