The novel’s heroine, is a young reporter Judith Pharaoh, who has appeared in Ruth’s earlier work, a trilogy entitled Between the Mountains and the Sea set on the Cumbria west coast.
Working on a paper in Barrow, Judith’s closest ally is a young policeman, Sam Tognarelli, who has already made himself thoroughly unpopular, and Judith can see why.
Ruth said: “I wanted the characters to drive the action as they do in my previous novels, so in that sense Cruel Tide is not a classic whodunnit. It’s quite a dark story, but one that needed to be told. I’m looking forward to hearing what my very supportive readers think of it.”
Ruth will be appearing at Millom Library on Tuesday, December 10, 5.30pm to 7pm. Tickets cost £1, to include refreshments, available from Millom Library. For more information telephone 01229 772445.
Ruth’s novels are self-published and she be will running a workshop on self-publishing at Words on the Water in Keswick next March.
For further details go to www.ruthsutton.co.uk
EXCITED children at Arlecdon School have been visited by fairies – who left them a special book.
The magical visit was noticed by reception pupil, Amy Taylor, who spotted a trail of fairy dust down from the door to a corner of the outdoor reading den.
Helen Shore, senior teaching assistant at Arlecdon School, said: “At closer inspection she spotted a tiny little book that we believe the fairy or fairies must have left after reading in the den.
“As you can imagine there was much excitement throughout the school and lots of children are keen to write to the fairies. We’re going to keep the book safe to return!’’
The pupils were delighted with their gift. They wrote:
Dear fairy, for ever and ever you will sparkle like the sun! I hope you come again! – Sydney Fisher, Year 1.
Dear fairy, thank you for coming to our reading den and we like looking at your book. I hope you come again, – Tilly Owen, Year 2.
Dear fairy friend, Can you come again please? We will give you your book back, – Daniel Fisher, Year 2.
Dear fairy, thank you for coming to the reading den. Hope you can come again, – Albert Fawcett, Year 2.
START the countdown to Christmas with midwinter stories and songs at Whitehaven Library on Wednesday, December 9 at 3.30pm.
Storyteller Taffy Thomas will be doing a book signing of his latest Midwinter Folktales book, while visitors can enjoy mince pies.
This is a bookable event so contact the library on 01946 506400.
Also, come along to Whitehaven Library on Thursday, December 17 from 2pm to enjoy carol singing with St James CE Infants School.
THE Costa Book Awards shortlist– divided into five categories – have been announced. They are:
Kate Atkinson for A God in Ruins (Doubleday);Anne Enright The Green Road ; (Jonathan Cape); Patrick Gale for A Place Called Winter (Tinder Press); and Melissa Harrison for At Hawthorn Time (Bloomsbury).
The overall Book of the Year will be announced on January 26.
A LOVELY new book looking at memories of West Cumbria is now on sale.
Step Back in Time – which includes a short section on how to start your own memoirs – has been complied by Maryport Memoir Group.
The memories include growing up in Mirehouse and attending Whitehaven Grammar School. Contributors include Dolly Daniels and Maggie Bedford.
The book is available from Senhouse Roman Museum.
CHRISTMAS traditions, legends and poems are all included in a new book celebrating Cumbrian Christmases of yesteryear.
A Cumberland Christmas has been compiled by Alan Cleaver, of Church Street, Whitehaven.
It includes the tale of the ghost ship Betsey Jane which tries in vain each year to return to Whitehaven harbour. The slave ship loaded with rum and treasure was, according to legend, dashed on rocks during a storm when it tried to reach land on a Christmas Day in the 18th Century.
Alan said: “I wanted to bring together some of the nicest Christmas tales from the county to provide a cosy fireside read during winter nights.”
He handbinds the books which are on sale at £4.99 from The Rum Story, Whitehaven, and Lowes Court Gallery, Egremont.
A NEW book from publishers Pen & Sword covers the huge contribution made to the Great War effort by the town of Whitehaven, writes Margaret Crosby.
Entitled Whitehaven in the Great War , by Ruth Mansergh, it relates how 625 men from the town lost their lives in the conflict, and how women stepped up to cover the jobs men had done.
Also covered are Victoria Cross awards, the German U-boat attack on Lowca tar plant and the area’s war memorials.
The centenary of World War I has brought many stories from these turbulent times to the fore.
Ruth is a former pupil of Harecroft Hall, Gosforth, and studied for a degree in English with social history degree at Leeds University.
Her 176-page illustrated book costs £12.99 and is available from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk.
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