Book Extract & Giveaway: Poole of Light By RJ Verity

I’m delighted to be welcoming RJ Verity to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Poole of Light, book one in The Poole Legacy.

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

We have a chance for you to win a limited edition copy of Poole of Light but first, RJ Verity has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

*****beginning of extract*****

INTRO

In this scene, Jem sets out with a simple, determined goal: to earn enough money to buy a ticket to see a moving picture. What he encounters instead is a painful lesson in class and belonging. Moving from shop to shop, Jem discovers that opportunity is not equally available to everyone, and the invisible boundaries of his town begin to reveal themselves. Yet even in the face of rejection, his resilience drives him forward – until he reaches the final shop on the street, where a very different kind of conversation unfolds. This moment marks the beginning of his fight for a future beyond the limits others place on him.

 *****

Jem starts his quest at the far end of Whitworth Terrace. He is standing in front of a grand, two-storey building boasting full length glass displays on the ground floor, and tall arched windows above. Coats of arms and flags punctuate the front pillars in alternate fashion. The main entrance is a double brass swing-door, framed with shiny dark wood, above it the words Spennymoor Co-operative Society in gold lettering. He’s never been inside before, but Daisy says it’s as posh as St Paul’s Church. Trust her to know.

The glass door is heavy and he gives it a hard push. Inside, a whiff of sweet citrus fills the brightly lit hall. Smartly dressed shop assistants stand behind neatly arranged counters and – as it’s still early and with only a few customers present – all attention turns to him. He looks down at his scuffed boots and Archie’s jacket and trousers that are two sizes too big. It would be easier to turn and leave, but his desire to get a job and buy a ticket to see a moving picture is greater. He pats down his hair, holds his shoulders back and walks forward, facing straight ahead, glancing nervously from one assistant to the next. He spots a kind-looking middle-aged lady, smiling as she folds squares of fabric, and approaches her.

‘Hello, Ma’am.’

She glances up, her eyebrows rising as quickly as her smile vanishes.

‘I’m …’ He clears his throat. ‘I’d like a job, Ma’am.’

The woman gives him a long, assessing stare before carrying on with her folding. She’s smiling again, but this time shaking her head.

‘You’ve come to the wrong place, laddie. We don’t employ the likes of you here.’

He’s about to turn, but thinks better of it.

‘Ma’am.’ She meets his gaze again. ‘Who do you employ?’ he asks.

‘Excuse me?’

‘You don’t employ the likes of me. Then who do you employ?’

‘Well.’ She pauses. ‘For starters, don’t you attend school?’

‘Yes, but I’m after a Saturday job.’

‘And you can’t wear those.’ She gestures toward his clothes, frowning.

‘They’re just … I have other clothes,’ he says.

She squints at him. ‘You’re George Poole’s boy, aren’t you?’

‘Yes, Ma’am.’

‘Well, you’re from the wrong side of the park. You don’t fit in here.’ She picks up the folded fabric, turns away, and busies herself with the contents of a drawer.

Jem is shaking, his cheeks as hot as burning coals. Even if he knew what to say, he’s not sure the words would come out. He turns and heads for the exit; the walk seeming to take much longer than when he entered. No one looks at him now – everyone suddenly busy, their heads down.

The cold air hits his chest like a fist. His head is dizzy. He manages a few steps, leaning against a lamp post for support and bending over to catch his breath. He hadn’t known there was a right and wrong side of the park. But if he thought about it, yes – the houses on the other side were bigger, smarter, grander. Even Daisy’s house had a yard and stairs and more than one room. If getting a job depends on where you live, it might be more difficult than he first imagined.

There are other stores that aren’t as snooty as the Co-op. He resolves to walk the length of Whitworth, then Clyde Terrace and the High Street. But he is met with kindred snubs: Arthur Petty says he’s too young to cut leather; John Arkless, too scruffy for a barber shop; Eastmans, no time for this nonsense in a butchers; Aaron Corbett, too shifty for a clockmakers; Max Coai, children can’t be trusted with confectionery and sweets.

By the time he reaches the beginning of Cheapside, his feet are sore and his stomach empty. There, in front of him, the Grand Electric Hall stands at an angle to the other buildings, as if treating them with contempt. The workmen have completed the larger sign and the word “ARCADIA” fans around the top of the hall’s clock face like an admiral’s hat.

A heavy sigh leaves him. There must be something he can do to earn a wage.

He continues along Cheapside, but after another hour of asking, and receiving a raft of excuses, he arrives at the last shop: Hedley’s Bakery. He presses his nose against the glass window. Cakes and tarts line up, one row after another, showing off their fancy piping and white, red and purple jewels. A bell rings above him as he opens the door, and he immediately feels the warmth of the ovens. He inhales the sweet smell of bread and apples and cinnamon until there’s no more room in his lungs and he must exhale again.

Mrs Hedley appears from the back, flour on her left cheek, strands of greying hair falling out of a bun.

‘Hello there, Jem. What can I do you for?’

‘I’m looking for a job, you know, like Saturdays or after school and that.’

‘We don’t have after-school jobs, we’re a bakery. Early to bed and early to rise!’

‘What about before school?’

‘Have you told your Pa you’re looking for a job?’

‘Yes, missus.’

She studies his face, her eyes narrowing.

‘Er, no, missus.’

‘I see. Well, you’d need to get your Pa to say yes, but we could do with an extra pair of hands in the morning. It would mean working four until six, mind.’

‘Oh yes, Mrs Hedley. I’ll be sure to ask him.’

‘I can’t pay much. Only ha’penny a week.’

‘Yes, Mrs Hedley.’

Jem tries not to grin too wide.

Finally, he thinks, I have a job.

*****end of extract*****

About RJ Verity –

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.

Connect with RJ Verity on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Pinterest, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads. Click to see a map of Jem Poole’s Leeds, click to view RJ’s book club kit and her blog. 

Poole of Light is book one in The Poole Legacy — a literary historical trilogy exploring ambition, identity, and legacy across generations. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

Also available as an eBook: Bright Light, a companion short story set during the events of this novel. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

Win a Limited Edition Print Of Poole of Light Book

We have a limited edition print of Poole of Light book to give away. It has gold foil, high quality paper and would be a wonderful addition to any book shelf.

Open to the UK, details on how to enter is via this link.

*Terms and Conditions –

UK entries welcome, UK Only.  Please enter using the Gleam link above. 

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 (Novel Kicks) am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.