Breakthrough Books

Thank you Valeria!

Extract: The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley here's a teaser from this much-admired mystery thriller set in the art world (tw: threat of SA)

Now on our substack, a teaser from The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley. Meet plucky Freya, a jewellery designer on a quest to discover the identity of an inherited locket, and the reptilian Ralph, an art collector who literally ‘lives’ his obsessions…
breakthroughbooks.substack.com/p/extract-th...

Thank you Rachel!

We couldn’t be more delighted that
Figgles & Flo, so sensitively written by Antonia Blackmore, beautifully illustrated by Sarah P Sharpe and created for the charity Families in Grief has been named a Finalist in the Little Peeps Award by Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media.
#kidlit #chlidrensbooks

The Fire In Their Eyes: 2 (The Children of Sarah) - Historical Novel Society This is Book 2 of the Children of Sarah series. The plot alternates between a folktale-like story of an Old Woman in prehistoric Africa and a high-tech story of the worldwide danger posed by the unear...

historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-...

Susie Helme notes:
“The excitement is… realistic… an in-the-moment experience.”
She also appreciated “how different all the characters were. Even the prehistoric characters have distinct personalities. I also loved how the language in the prehistoric sections seemed appropriate to the time frame.”

Huge thanks to the prestigious Historical Novel Society for featuring a write-up on The Fire In Their Eyes by Stephanie Bretherton!
📖 ✍️ 📖 ✍️
We’re delighted that the reviewer found much to like in this dual timeline novel set in both ancient prehistory and the present day.
🕰️ 🌍 🕰️ 🌍

Where the bloody hell is Jeremy? ;)
#booksky

Entropy (or, the undoing of being) An extract from the short story 'Entropy' by Stephanie Bretherton, from the Breakthrough Books' anthology, Order and Chaos.

breakthroughbooks.substack.com/p/entropy-or...

A new #substack post with an #extract from Entropy by @brethertonwords.bsky.social, one of the short stories in our #anthology, Order and Chaos.

What would you do if your partner was there one minute and had completely disappeared, the next?

Link in comments…

Well this is just as it should be! We are tickled pink to see the uniquely brilliant Two Similar-Looking Men With Umbilical Hernias on the shortlist for Satire and Humour in the CIBAs!
#humorousfiction #shortlistedbook #comedywriting
@zenabarrie.bsky.social

Huge thanks to Hannah's Bookshelf 📖 for her review of 🔥 The Fire In Their Eyes 🔥 by Stephanie Bretherton on North Manchester Radio 1066 FM!

“THOUGHT-PROVOKING and COMPELLING in its scope.”
“ENGAGING characters that feel very real, very flawed, and most importantly, very human.”
#bookreview

The Original Umbilical Hernia Man An extract from Zena Barrie's hilarious and surreal collection, Two Similar Looking Men With Umbilical Hernia's, illustrated by Claire Robinson, published by Breakthrough Books

If you are not yet familiar with the humorous musings of Zena Barrie, we highly recommend you familiarise yourself with a free #extract from her hilarious and surreal collection, Two Similar Looking Men With Umbilical Hernias, now up on our #Substack…
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Almost embarrassed to keep posting this stuff, but hey, I worked hard for it and it would be ungracious not to be thankful? So, of course I’m “thrilled” to have also progressed as a Global Thriller Finalist in the Chanticleer Awards with the Fire In Their Eyes! #booksky

Thrilled to get further recognition for The Fire In Their Eyes, and this time for “Visionary Fiction” - thanks to The Independent Press Awards for a “Distinguished Favourite” badge! Maybe all that daydreaming hasn’t been a waste? @breakthroughbook.bsky.social
#booksky

Absolutely thrilled that Figgles & Flo, our children's book for Families In Grief has made the shortlist of the Chanticleer Little Peeps awards! Fantastic to see this helpful and enriching book get the recognition it so deserves. #kidlit #booksthathelpkids #picturebooks #shortlisted

We are incredibly grateful for another fantastic year, and would like to wish everyone a very happy 2026!

2025 also saw us open our webshop, a fantastic and ethical way to support indie business, plus our children’s book for the charity Families in Grief, Figgles & Flo was longlisted for a Chanticleer Award, and in December we started posting free short stories on our new Substack!

And last but not least for book launches, Optimal Leadership, our first business book by “serial CEO” Wilf Blackburn sprang out the gates to lead the way in indispensable guides for taking the reins with ethics, wisdom and ingenuity. But wait, there’s more.

Soon after that was The Fire In Their Eyes, book two in Stephanie’s Children Of Sarah series, an eco-thriller set in both prehistory and present day, which only went and won one Award and is shortlisted for another! Cue some popping corks.

Next came a work of hilarious originality, Two Men With Similar Looking Umbilical Hernias from the sightly twisted yet all the way brilliant mind of Zena Barrie. This collection of surreal but sharply observant short stories received all the love it was very much due.

And then the launch of The Dream-Pedlar’s Parade hot on its heels, a mega new quest for the sands of time by young Krish, this time in the amazing steampunk world of Knock Thrice.

Then it was another re-issue, this time The Boy Who Stole Time by Mark Bowsher, first in his Myrthali series of thrilling YA fantasies.

2025 kicked off with the re-issue of Bone Lines, the first book of the Children Of Sarah series by Stephanie Bretherton, a Kindle bestselling dual timeline work of speculative fiction, now signed to Breakthrough ahead of the second book due later in the year.

What a year! Six books, one award win, a new webshop and a few free short stories on our Substack!

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves…
#HappyNewYear #YearInReview #ThankYou #BookLife

Carrots a short story by Jamie Chipperfield

Brussels season is at an end. Now is the epoch for a new vegetable to rise…

Please enjoy this tasty little palate cleanser over Betwixmas with this short story from Breakthrough’s own Jamie Chipperfield, available for free on our Substack!

substack.com/@breakthroug...

Uncle Jack And The Turkey Funeral - part 1 A seasonal short story (in two parts) set during the lockdowns of 2020, by Dan Brotzel

A new fun and #festive story just been posted, and is available for free, on our Substack. Weekend reading sorted! #Free #ShortStory #FestiveSeason

substack.com/home/post/p-...

And why not sign up to our Substack while you’re at it? There’ll be more coming in the way of stories, news, extracts, features, tips and articles!

Arctic Yule a seasonal short story by Stephanie Bretherton

With only one more weekend until Christmas, now is the perfect time start getting in the mood for the festive season with this free short story from our very own @brethertonwords.bsky.social!
#FreeShortStory #ChristmasReading #FestiveSeason #Substack

breakthroughbooks.substack.com/p/arctic-yul...

Many congratulations, @brethertonwords.bsky.social! How fantastic to see The Fire in Their Eyes on the list! 👏👏👏 @breakthroughbook.bsky.social