Books
After Amba
The new novel by Stephanie Shields
Amba is a fashion and travel writer. As a ‘New Woman’ she flouts the mores, climbs the barriers and pushes the boundaries. Against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties/ Jazz Age – the music, dance, fashion and art of those heady times – she looks back on her life, especially on her love affair with Ida. Then Amba dies in a mid-air collision.
Frasey is a young research librarian. Seventy years after Amba’s death she is hired by Amba’s brother Andrew, to bring order to Amba’s archive. Frasey becomes captivated and her life takes an extraordinary turn. Frasey takes over the narrative, as Amba takes over her life.
After Amba is a turbulent tale and true page turner. From lesbian love in the Roaring Twenties to a significant age gap relationship, along with a calamitous hen party in contemporary times, and a fine full-circle finale, this novel is surprising and captivating readers.
This is a joyous, dark, challenging and thought- provoking novel. Board the aircraft with Amba and your own boundaries may well be stretched.
Cover design by Jacky Fleming
The Strange Woman
Stephanie Shields’ debut novel
In a remote Yorkshire valley, in 1621, a baby girl is born to the poet Edward Fairfax and his wife, Dorothy. The baby dies four months later. Her death triggers shocking events that reverberate to this day.
The Strange Woman is a novel that brings together the lives and challenges faced by women, from a 17th century Yorkshire witch trial to the present. It’s a bubbling cauldron of historical fiction, modern romance, and magical realism – a fusion of feminism, farming and the fantastical.
The Strange Woman has delighted lovers of historical fiction, modern romance, and magical realism. It is a tale about passion, obsession, and friendship spanning four hundred years, played out in a place where past and present meet. It was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2021.
Cover design by Jacky Fleming
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Swan Landings
Can it really be a celebrity family staying on the Yorkshire coast caravan site?
Is the man at the puppet museum a threat to children?
Does anyone take on the housing market and win?
Do great aunts still take lovers to their beds?
These and many more of life’s perplexities are explored in this collection of short stories. The author looks at love, childhood, age and death. Even the supernatural makes its fleeting appearances.
There are laugh out loud moments, pathos and, occasionally, bathos, in these pacey stories, much to reflect on, and times to weep.
Stories from this collection have been broadcast on radio, appeared in magazines and shortlisted for national and international competitions. The Watershed first appeared in ‘Dancing with Mr Darcy – Stories inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House’ selected by Sarah Waters and published by Honno.
Cover design of Swan Landings by Jacky Fleming
After Amba Reviews, Quotes and Accolades
Wishing Shelf Book Awards Gold Medal Feedback
Female, 42
“I absolutely adored After Amba. It’s one of those rare books that manages to be thoughtful, funny, heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. Amba is such a vivid character – bold, flawed, adventurous, and completely unforgettable.”
“… just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it surprised me. The ending was beautiful. I closed the book with that lovely mixture of satisfaction and sadness that only comes from finishing a truly memorable novel.”
Female, 35
“I fell in love with this book almost immediately. The 1920s setting is gorgeous, the characters feel real, and Amba completely stole the show for me. She’s exactly the kind of literary heroine I enjoy reading about – determined to live life on her own terms, regardless of what society expects. I also appreciated how sensitively the relationships were written. Nothing felt forced or sensationalised. Everything grew naturally from the characters, which made the emotional moments hit even harder. A lovely, intelligent novel that stayed with me…”
Female, 51
“What a delightful surprise this book was. I started reading one afternoon and found myself staying up far later than planned because I simply had to know what happened next. The story constantly evolves, taking readers down paths they don’t expect. Amba is larger than life in the best possible way. She’s fearless, passionate and occasionally makes decisions that left me muttering, “Oh no, don’t do that!” at the page. Those flaws only made me like her more. The novel balances humour, romance, family drama and tragedy with remarkable skill. One chapter had me laughing, the next had me feeling emotional, and somehow it all worked beautifully together…”
Male, 58
“This is the sort of novel that reminds me why I love reading. I picked it up expecting a historical drama and ended up getting so much more. Amba herself is a fantastic creation. She’s brave, rebellious, occasionally frustrating, and entirely believable.”
“… moments that made me laugh, moments that genuinely shocked me, and one particular revelation that had me staring at the page for a few seconds before carrying on. A wonderfully original and highly entertaining read.”
Male, 67
“I don’t often write reviews, but After Amba deserves one. The author’s greatest strength is characterisation. Even minor characters feel as though they have lives beyond the pages of the book. Amba is magnificent, but I found myself equally invested in Andrew and Frasey’s journey“
“… By the final chapter I was completely emotionally invested. The ending brought everything together perfectly. A rich, rewarding novel that I would happily recommend to anyone who enjoys character-driven fiction.”
Female, 29
“This book completely swept me away. I loved the Jazz Age atmosphere, the unconventional relationships, the mystery surrounding Amba’s life, and the way the past keeps reaching into the present. Every time I thought I had worked everything out, the story revealed another layer. The characters felt like people I knew rather than fictional creations. I especially enjoyed Frasey’s journey as she becomes increasingly fascinated by Amba’s story. As a reader, I felt exactly the same way. The final pages were perfect – moving, satisfying, and beautifully circular. If you enjoy books that combine historical fiction, romance, family secrets and unforgettable characters, After Amba is an absolute gem.“
Other After Amba Reviews
After Amba – Star Rating: 5 stars
Profound and Profane!
A brilliant read. Great characters and wonderful story telling. this book has great pace and is filled with humour, wit and jokes. It’s populated with flawed characters and resonates with life. I loved it.
Andrea Gable
After Amba – Star Rating: 5 stars
Highly unusual and utterly compelling!
I have never read a book quite like this one. This book is more of a historical memoir and love story that spans a period from the early 20th century right up to the present day and beyond. It is also a novel that deals with social taboos in the earlier part of the twentieth century. I found myself gripped from start to finish. It is just so believable. I felt I was reading a factual account of people who lived and breathed. I hope there will be a third novel from this author in the future. If there is I will be first in the queue.
BBW
After Amba – Wishing Shelf Review
A smartly plotted drama with a wonderfully unpredictable plot and a memorable cast of characters. Highly recommended!
What a delightful novel this is. The author is a well accomplished writer capable of balancing character development with an unpredictable, family drama. I think most readers will enjoy the ups and downs of Amba’s life, and they’ll be hoping her brother, Andrew, finds the love he so badly needs. All in all, a gripping, and highly unpredictable novel.
Reviews for Other Works
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
The Strange Woman – Star Rating: 5 stars
A magical story, dark with just a hint of humour. Very enjoyable. All in all, it’s a bit of a gem. Enjoy!
A compelling novel of witchcraft with a strong cast of fascinating Yorkshire characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!
The Strange Woman – 5 Stars
Let there be more… This is a compelling, brilliantly imagined and beautifully written first novel. Based on clearly extensive research into a powerful topic, the book deftly draws the reader in to a strange yet outwardly familiar world, through a special brew: carefully crafted, poetic, descriptive prose celebrating love and the beauty of the natural world; sharp political criticism and social observation mixed skilfully with a measure of humour and a hint of wickedness. The result will capture you.
Jean McAllister
Swan Landings – 5 Stars
These stories are full of wisdom and humanity. Infused with a strong sense of place they jump from the page alive with quirky characters and messy lives. There are wonderful moments of poetry and hard-won philosophy which shine brightly in a terrific collection
James Nash, poet and writer
Swan Landings – 5 Stars
I won’t spoil the stories; suffice it to say that this is a book that I will treasure and read many times (like her novels). If you fancy something highly unusual and ‘off the beaten track’ then I highly recommend Swan Landings.
James Elkington, photographer
