RJ Verity
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rjverity.bsky.social
RJ Verity
@rjverity.bsky.social
Historical fiction author
Debut novel POOLE OF LIGHT - out now

#books #reading #historicalfiction #writingcommunity

www.rjverity.com
Pinned
The Poole of Light blog tour is from 10-19 January✨
Ten days, wonderful book bloggers, reviews, guest posts and Q&As. I’ll be sharing links as we go – hope you’ll follow along. Thanks to @rararesources.bsky.social for organising the tour
The Poole of Light blog tour has wrapped up – and I’m grateful for the generosity of everyone who took part.

Thanks to the bloggers, and to @rararesources.bsky.social for organising ✨

rjverity.com/post/poole-o...

#bookreviews #historicalfiction
January 20, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by RJ Verity
‘Metropolis’ by Colin Garrow
‘…a well-written, easy on the eye thriller…’
geni.us/ps3XiW
#FinlayMacBethThrillers #murder #IARTG
January 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Thanks to @colingarrowauthor.bsky.social for reading Poole of Light and for the thoughtful review ✨
'Poole of Light' by RJ Verity
'...it is the historical details and sense of place that makes it stand ou.t'
buff.ly/mVXK8Nn
January 15, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Blog tour spotlight today for Poole of Light – featuring an exclusive excerpt and giveaway, hosted by fellow historical novelist Rachel Elwiss Joyce.

Grateful for the support 🙏 @rararesources.bsky.social

www.rachelelwissjoyce.com/rachels-blog...
Poole of Light by RJ Verity — RACHEL ELWISS JOYCE, MULTI-AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF HISTORICAL FICTION
For the Rachel’s Random Resources Blog Tour
www.rachelelwissjoyce.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:49 AM
The Poole of Light blog tour is from 10-19 January✨
Ten days, wonderful book bloggers, reviews, guest posts and Q&As. I’ll be sharing links as we go – hope you’ll follow along. Thanks to @rararesources.bsky.social for organising the tour
January 13, 2026 at 10:09 PM
I loved writing this guest post on The Small Moments that Build a Story’s Heart – thank you @clairekreads.bsky.social for hosting me on today’s blog tour @rararesources.bsky.social

aknightsreads.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/p...
Poole of Light by RJ Verity #blogtour #giveaway #guestpost #pooleoflight
Happy Tuesday! Today I’ve a double treat post for you. Not only am I joined by RJ Verity who’s talking about writing Poole Of Light but also you can be in with a chance of winning your own paperbac…
aknightsreads.wordpress.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Thanks to @mybooksandcrafts.bsky.social for joining the Poole of Light book blog tour and for the lovely review ✨

@rararesources.bsky.social
January 13, 2026 at 10:55 AM
January 12, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Thanks to Novel Kicks for sharing a Poole of Light extract as part of the @rararesources.bsky.social blog tour – a moment that shapes Jem’s fight for a different future.

Read the full extract here:
novelkicks.co.uk/book-extract...

#BlogTour #HistoricalFiction #PooleOfLight
January 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by RJ Verity
I'm excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity's new historical fiction novel, Poole of Light #blogtour #historicalfiction @rararesources @AuthorRJVerity @rjverity/ @RJVerity
INTRO In this scene, ten-year-old Jem Poole glimpses a world far beyond Spennymoor for the very first time. The newly built Grand Electric Hall has not yet opened to the public, but Jem and his friend Daisy slip inside, drawn by curiosity and the muffled sound of music. What Jem witnesses there – moving pictures – ushers in a moment of wonder that will quietly shape the rest of his life. This extract captures that first spark: the awe, the innocence, and the sense that something extraordinary has just entered his world. EXTRACT  As they turn into Cheapside, an old rusty lorry rumbles to a stop outside a new brick building, where a group of workmen are fixing enormous block capitals above a clock. Daisy tilts her head to read, eyes squinting as if the letters might tell her something important. Jem watches on, but says nothing. ‘What does ARCA mean?’ she asks. ‘I don’t think it means anything.’ ‘Oh.’ Below the clock, white lettering proudly displays the words “GRAND ELECTRIC HALL”. ‘What’s a grand electric hall?’ He sighs, keeping his eyes on the workmen. He’d overheard Pa talking to his colliery mates about a new theatre opening in town – something with moving photos, he’d said. Of course, Jem knows what a photo is – like the one of Ma on the mantelpiece – but how she could suddenly come to life is beyond him. He can’t picture her like that, not walking and talking like Pa or Daisy. ‘Come on,’ he says.  They slip past the workmen and into the foyer of the new building. Jem’s steps are deliberate and measured – he’s determined to take everything in. Daisy skips beside him, light on her feet. Crates, half-unpacked, litter the space – paper and straw spilling in all directions. The warm smell of fresh wood hits first, then something sharper, chemical, that scratches the back of his throat. Wall sconces flicker with a quiet expectancy, casting lively patterns across the floor. Music drifts from somewhere beyond – muffled, unfamiliar, pulling at Jem’s chest like a thread. He follows the sound toward the back of the building and beckons for Daisy to come. She stands looking at him, eyes wide, as if to say: This isn’t a good idea. ‘You don’t have to … if you don’t want to,’ he tells her. She pouts but trails after him anyway.  As they draw closer, the music grows clearer – a dramatic piano tune with heavy bass and a scatter of quick, racing notes. Jem glances to his right and sees a bright shaft of light dancing across the passageway. He creeps forward, heart thumping, until his face and jacket are lit up. It feels like sunlight through the church window on a Sunday morning – only sharper, more vivid.  His shoulder brushes against a soft curtain, but his eyes stay fixed ahead, his breath deeper. For there, on a stage, is a beautiful young woman. Her face is white – like the colour of Pa’s eyeballs after a shift down the pit – only clean, and somehow otherworldly. Big curls of hair, piled high, fall to her shoulders. She’s wearing the fanciest frock he’s ever seen. A man walks beside her, and they cross the road together. Behind them, tall buildings rise, taller than any furnace chimney in all of County Durham. Jem’s heart beats faster as the music quickens. Then a passenger train rushes into view and vanishes just as quickly. Jem doesn’t move. He hardly blinks. How can a train be on a road? How can buildings scrape the sky? How can people float across a screen like that? Most of all – how can everything be black and white and still feel more alive than the world he knows? ‘Moving photos.’ He can’t help but say the words out loud. Daisy tugs at his arm. ‘Jem!’ she cries. But before he can turn, he feels a sudden blow to his temple. ‘What have we here?’ booms a voice behind him. Jem stumbles sideways, hand to his pounding head. He’s looking down at a pair of black polished boots … dark overalls … then a round sweaty face, breathing loud, and steaming with anger. ‘Sorry, sir,’ says Jem, trying to steady himself. ‘We don’t mean no bother.’ ‘No bother?’ the man sneers. ‘No, sir. We just want to see moving photos.’ The man gives a snort. ‘Moving pictures, boy. They’re called moving pictures.’ He crouches down, his small black eyes level with Jem’s. ‘And have you got thruppence between the two of you?’ Jem glances at Daisy, then back at the sweaty round face. ‘No, sir.’ ‘Then you’ll have to go without, won’t you? Go awn.’ He stamps his foot. ‘Gan! Afore I call police!’ The children bolt down the passageway, back into the foyer, and past the workmen hauling a giant letter ‘D’ above their heads.  Outside, the street is already black with night. ‘The park!’ Jem shouts as they run.  They turn the corner onto Dundas Street, where lamplight is scarce, and shadows swallow the pavement. His feet slide on icy sludge as he dodges night soil boxes piled up like traps. Daisy’s steps are fainter now – she must be slowing down. He tries to stop, but it’s too late – too fast – and his footing falters. His chest jerks forward. Arms fling out for balance, too wide, too desperate, and his whole body launches through the air. In the half-second before Jem crashes down, he sees the jagged boxes, the filth inside them, and he twists every muscle to avoid them. His body slams into the ground, splinters flying and muck exploding in all directions. Here’s the blurb A coal-mining town. A flicker of light. A boy who dreams of more. Spennymoor, 1913. When ten-year-old Jem Poole sees a moving picture for the first time, it ignites a spark. Raised in a northern coal-mining town marked by grief and hardship, he begins to dream of more than soot and survival. He dreams of light. Through war, reinvention, and the golden age of British cinema, Jem rises to national success, building a legacy of silver screens and stories that define a generation. But when a figure from his past reappears, long-buried memories resurface, and he must confront the truth of the life he has built – and the memories that never let go. Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century Britain, Poole of Light is a richly layered historical debut about ambition, identity, and the stories that shape us. Perfect for readers who enjoy: Character-driven historical fiction with emotional depth Coming-of-age novels set in 20th-century England Themes of legacy, reinvention, and quiet redemption Authors like Jo Baker, Kristin Hannah, Amor Towles and Anthony Doerr Book One in The Poole Legacy — a literary historical trilogy exploring ambition, identity, and legacy across generations. Also available as an eBook: Bright Light, a companion short story set during the events of this novel. Purchase Link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poole-Light-Book-One-Legacy-ebook/dp/B0FJ6BDBSH https://www.amazon.com/Poole-Light-Book-One-Legacy-ebook/dp/B0FJ6BDBSH Meet the author RJ Verity grew up in Yorkshire and studied at King’s College London before spending more than twenty years in financial services across Asia. She now lives in Guernsey with her endlessly patient husband and their spirited ten-year-old Labradinger. When she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found exploring the island’s rugged coastline. She is currently working on The Poole Legacy, her debut trilogy of historical novels. The first book in the series, Poole of Light, is out now. Facebook Instagram Bluesky Pinterest Goodreads X Amazon The map The book club kit https://www.rjverity.com/blog  Giveaway to Win a limited edition print of Poole of Light book (gold foil, high quality paper) (Open to UK Only) https://gleam.io/2aNya/win-a-limited-edition-print-of-poole-of-light-gold-foil-high-quality-paper-open-to-uk-only *Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Light #blogtour #historicalfiction Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m so excited to be sharing my review for The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting by Naomi Kuttner #blogtour #cozycrime #bookreview Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m delighted to welcome Lisajoy Sachs and her book, Bright One, to the blog #BrightOne #HistoricalFiction #WWII #JewishHistoricalFiction #Holocaust #FamilyHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Family History · historical fiction · Holocaust · Jewish Historical Fiction · WW2 Fellow writers, lets minimise the stress around getting those words on the page #writingadvice historical fiction
mjporterauthor.blog
January 10, 2026 at 12:01 PM
“Atmospheric, authentic and entertaining, Poole of Light is a riveting and compelling historical fiction novel.”

Thank you to The Book Magnet for this lovely review.

www.thebookmagnet.co.uk/2026/01/blog...
January 10, 2026 at 9:34 AM
The Poole of Light blog tour begins tomorrow ✨
Ten days, wonderful book bloggers, reviews, guest posts and Q&As.
I’ll be sharing links as we go – hope you’ll follow along.
January 9, 2026 at 5:43 PM
A legacy built on light, secrets and ambition. Daisy. Jem. And now Daniel. Coming 2026. #ThePooleLegacy #FamilySaga #histfic #books
November 19, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Thrilled that my debut historical novel, Poole of Light, is featured in the Cinema Theatre Association's Bulletin 📽️
Huge thanks for the thoughtful review – and for celebrating the golden age of British cinema alongside Jem Poole’s story.
November 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Explore Jem Poole’s Leeds – the real 1930s city that inspired my debut novel Poole of Light.

Each marker tells a story: ambition, loss and the flicker of cinema that changed everything.

www.rjverity.com/1930s-leeds

@leedsmuseums.bsky.social @leedslibraries.bsky.social @leedslitfest.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 11:23 AM
One month since Poole of Light stepped into the world — and the response has been wonderful.

“Spectacular.” “Deeply moving.” “A rich, gripping debut.”

Thank you to everyone who’s read, shared and reviewed 🙏

📖 Poole of Light #BookReview

Now on Amazon: mybook.to/poole-of-light
October 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Grateful to see Poole of Light featured in the @guernseypress.com Inspire magazine this week ✨

Thank you to @scribblerjb.bsky.social for the lovely words and for championing local authors 💛

#BookReview #PooleOfLight #RJVerity #GuernseyPress #BookFeature #HistoricalFiction
October 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The launch of Poole of Light last week was truly unforgettable.

Thank you to everyone who bought a copy, posted a review or sent kind words. Your support means everything.

I’m feeling incredibly grateful 💛

#PooleOfLight #BookLaunch #DebutAuthor #RJVerity #HistoricalFiction
September 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
My debut novel Poole of Light is out this week!
1913. Northern England. A boy who sees the world differently.
Watch the trailer: mybook.to/poole-of-light

#historicalfiction #indieauthor #booklaunch #histfic
September 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM
The curtain rises… and Poole of Light takes centre stage.

Launched today: a novel about memory, ambition and the stories that shape us.

It follows a boy who sees his first moving picture – and begins to dream of light.

📖 mybook.to/poole-of-light

#PooleOfLight #HistoricalFiction #DebutNovel
September 16, 2025 at 6:24 AM
New guest post! I dig into how cinema’s magic began before the film – foyers as social theatre, usherettes, contests, and Odeon glamour – and how it shaped Poole of Light.
Read: memorypalaces.co.uk/articles/fro...

#CinemaHistory #PooleOfLight #HistoricalFiction
September 14, 2025 at 12:05 PM
They're here. 📦
A box of Poole of Light copies just landed, and I’m equal parts thrilled and stunned 💛

My debut novel launches next week – 16 Sept. Let’s go 🙌

Pre-order: mybook.to/poole-of-light

#PooleOfLight #DebutAuthor #HistoricalFiction #BookArrival
September 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"The cinema was more than escape – it was where working-class audiences saw lives larger than their own reflected back at them."

I wrote about early film and class for historical fiction blog, Reading the Past 📖
readingthepast.blogspot.com/2025/09/when...

#PooleOfLight #HistFic #CinemaHistory
September 9, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Thrilled to be featured on A Writer of History. I share what inspired my debut novel, Poole of Light, and how early cinema shaped its world.

awriterofhistory.com/2025/09/04/t...

#HistFic #PooleOfLight
The Historian’s Projectionist by RJ Verity | A Writer of History
Author RJ Verity‘s new novel Poole of Light is set in twentieth century Britain and is the first in The Poole Legacy trilogy. Set against the rise of British cinema, it tells the story of Jeremiah “Je...
awriterofhistory.com
September 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Life in the aisles: usherettes of 1920s Britain 💡
Glamour, sore feet, trays of chocolates — and the glow of cinema magic.
New blog post: www.rjverity.com/post/life-in...
These women also light the way in my novel POOLE OF LIGHT, out Sept 16.
Life in the Aisles: Usherettes in 1920s Britain — and in Poole of Light
The girls were immaculate in their royal blue mid-calf skirts, matching jackets and gold embroidery. Their hairstyles were almost identical, wavy bobs of assorted browns reflecting the latest trend. B...
www.rjverity.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM