“One of the most talented and humane novelists that we have.”—John Connolly
Astra Sharp has a part-time job in the café run by her best friend, Connie, and a boyfriend who plays in a band. Life’s not perfect, but it’s not too bad. Then Connie’s little sister Angel shows up and everything starts to go to hell. It isn’t Angel’s fault if everyone falls in love with her: gorgeous Luke, boring Tim the accountant, Astra’s kid sister Gita. Set in scenic Cornwall, Borrowed Light is Daphne Du Maurier recast in a Quiksilver world.
Joolz Denby was born in 1955: at the age of 19, she married an outlaw biker—a member of the Satan’s Slaves. Billie Morgan was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2005.
"'So gripping that it practically arm-wrestles the reader into its pungently murderous Northern plot' Saturday Telegraph With her brawling, brave, wildly flawed character, Denby joins the like of Helen Walsh in finally putting vivid female rebels on the page' Uncut 'A riveting and illuminating, yet searing, tale. Although the subject is grim, a dark humour infuses the story' Good Book Guide 'Highly recommended' The Barcelona Review 'A great page-turner about secrets and lies, revenge and eventual redemption' Diva"
Joolz is a writer, poet, spoken-word performer, tattooist, illustrative and fine artist, band manager and insomniac. Her first novel, Stone Baby, won the 1998 Crime Writers' Association New Crime Writer of the Year, and was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association John Creasey Memorial Dagger. Her novel, Billie Morgan (2004), was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction. Her most recent novels are 'The Curious Mystery Of Miss Lydia Larking & The Widow Marvell' (Ignite Books 2011)and 'Wild Thing' (Ignite Books 2011).
Joolz also works in the music industry as a recording artist and performer and is an illustrative artist for bands such as New Model Army, Ricky Warwick's Slingblade & Utopian Love Revival. Her touring exhibition, One Family, One Tribe - The Art and Artefacts of New Model Army, is a collection of her 30 years of art works for that legendary cult rock band. Her photographic exhibition/installation, Bradford - True North, was shown at Bradford University in 2006, and she curated a hugely successful and highly controversial exhibition on elective body modification - The Body Carnival - for Bradford's Cartwright Hall Gallery. Joolz was Artistic Director of Illuminate's Radical Bronte Festival in 2006, and was designated a Cultural Revolutionary in the North of England for her contribution to the region's Arts. Joolz is well-known for her work in prisons and with marginalized young people.
Joolz has performed her work all over the world, played innumerable rock, art and literature festivals, been featured on inumerable television programmes and broadcasts on BBC Radio 1, Radio 4 and local and community radio. She lives in Bradford.
Works:
Collections of poetry and short stories:
Mad, Bad, & Dangerous To Know, (Virgin Books, 1986) Emotional Terrorism, (Bloodaxe Books, 1990) The Pride of Lions, (Bloodaxe Books, (1994) Errors of the Spirit, (Flambard Press 2000) Pray For Us Sinners, (Comma Press, 2005)
Novels:
Stone Baby, (HarperCollins, 2000) Corazon, (HarperCollins, 2001) Billie Morgan, (Serpent's Tail, 2004) Borrowed Light, (Serpent's Tail, 2006) The Curious Mystery Of Miss Lydia Larkin & The Widow Marvell (Ignite Books 2011) Wild Thing (Ignite Books 2011)
Select Discography:
Love is Sweet Romance (EMI, EP with music by New Model Army) Bad, Mad & Dangerous to Know (EMI, EP with music by New Model Army) Hex (EMI, 1990; music by New Model Army) Weird Sister (Intercord Records, 1991; music by Justin Sullivan) Joolz 1983-1985 (Abstract Records, 1993; compilation of Abstract Records material with music by Jah Wobble, Justin Sullivan and other musicians, collecting her first audio recordings) True North (Wooltown Records, 1995 or 1997, music by Justin Sullivan) Red Sky Coven, Volumes 1&2 (1999, live collective recording of Red Sky Coven, with Joolz on some of the tracks) Red Sky Coven, Volume 3 Spirit Stories (poetry set to music by Justin Sullivan) Attack Attack Records: 2008 Audio Books Stone Baby (2000) - won the US Earphone award for best spoken book. Billie Morgan (2005) The Accidental (written by Ali Smith; audio recording by Joolz Denby)
