Lily Graham's Blog, page 7

An Invincible Summer cover reveal!

Drum roll … it’s finally here! The cover for An Invincible Summer. Hope you like it! Read on for the blurb and due date … just a little over a month to go!

Sometimes running away  is the answer  …

On an ordinary Tuesday Ria Laburinthos decides to run away. There is nothing ordinary about her decision though. It’s been coming for years. Years of grief and her dreaded job as an obituary writer. Then when her horrible boss aka ‘The devil-who-wears-Birkenstocks’ asks her to share her story, about how the best day of her life turned into the unequivocal worst, she decides enough is enough.

Which is how she finds herself on a plane to Crete bound by the tales she heard growing up from her beloved Yaya. What she doesn’t expect to find though is Elysium a thousand-year-old family vineyard that burnt down amidst a cloud of mystery, and the enigmatic son, Tom Bacchus who is trying to resurrect it.

Part love story, part cosy mystery An Invincible Summer is a story about having the courage to start over, follow your heart, and fall in love again.

Releasing end of May 2015.

Spots are still open for my advanced review copy list – please let me know if you’d like to be added to the list? You can send me a mail or just leave a note in the comments.

Want to be a beta reader?

Hello lovelies!

Edited 24/04/2015:

Please note that my beta reader list is now currently closed. I’m completely blown away by the wonderful support and offers to beta read, I now have a team of fantastic betas – much more than I bargained for. Thank you so much!

While the beta list is now closed …. If you’d like to receive an ARC once it’s been through production please do let me know as there are still spots available for that! It would be such a help in spreading the word! You can pop me a mail or leave a comment below and I’ll add you to my list. Thanks very much!

I’m currently looking for beta readers for my upcoming novel An Invincible Summer. Someone who’d provide some commentary/advice/ suggestions/ sherry/ prescription meds before the book goes into the final leg of production.

The novel is quite different to The Postcard. More of a lighter romcom about love, loss, and a burned down vineyard. Set in Crete it follows the story of Ria Laburinthos who decides on an ordinary day to run away. Except, of course there is nothing ordinary about her decision … it’s been coming for years. You can read the blurb as well as the first three chapters here.

Beta readers, for those of you who don’t know (this was news to me until a few months ago) read the book before it goes into production and offer a critique on things that could be improved, what is or isn’t working, potential problems, offer suggestions to make things more accurate  etc … then the writer uses this information, revises the book, and after that it goes into production and is released. Please let me know if you’d be interested in being a beta reader? You can email me or leave me a note in the comments section, you can also let me know what kind of turn around time you have. I’m hoping for around two weeks from when the MS is sent – it’s a tight deadline sorry!

Want to be an advanced reviewer?

If you would rather read an advanced review copy later (after production) you can let me know as well. My ARC list still has some spots available. Thanks very much! P.S. As you can see I went with Lily R. Graham – thanks so much for the suggestions!

Books, Paintings and Fudge. My interview with Effrosyni Writes.

On Monday, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the lovely Athens-based author Effrosyni Moschoudi of  Effrosyni Writes.

One of my paintings … the sea, but of course ;)

I really enjoyed this interview in which I revealed a little more about myself than usual, like why I wrote The Postcard – I was meant to write something else! How I unwind and why having a creative pursuit like painting in which I’m able to silence my perfectionist tendencies is so important.

I also chatted about the things I’m most grateful for like my husband and my bulldog Fudge (the inspiration behind Detective Sergeant Fudge in The Postcard) – who has just currently undergone an operation after tearing a ligament in her leg and will finally be home tomorrow. I have been a bit of a wreck this week. Dogs offer so much light and love don’t they?  I’m grateful for her everyday magic and can’t wait for her to come home. Although it’s a rough road ahead as she’ll have to be severely restricted from movement for six-weeks but at least she’s on the mend.

Miss Fudge. My dollop of everyday sweetness.

You can read the full interview here.

Thanks so much Fros for featuring me!

The other ‘Lily Graham’

So it was bound to happen I suppose. But there’s another Lily Graham. She’s an author too or will be when she released her book on 30 April. I know this because for a little while there today her book was linked to my Goodread’s profile. And I knew this because a reader sent me a mail saying, ‘How come we haven’t heard of this one then yet, hey? Heard about The Postcard for months’ … lol.

Luckily the publisher of the other Lily Graham de-listed her books from my profile (after several w-h-a-a-t is going on emails from me) but just in case I thought I’d let you know that: no I haven’t written a book called ‘The Phone Rang’ that is someone else, grin.

Unfortunately this may mean that I will have to add some kind of differentiator to my name to separate us as unfortunately it doesn’t look like they will.  I was thinking Lily ‘the only’ Graham? Or Lily (the first) Graham. Just kidding. But perhaps something like Lily Rose Graham. That’s my second name there. Rose, not ‘the only’.

What do you think? I could make up a fun second name like Lily Marabella Graham. Or have like a fighter’s name like Lily ‘Bladerunner’ Graham (kidding). I don’t run …  clearly this needs more rumination.

My next book will be called An Invincible Summer which we’re aiming for a May release if you see anything else assume it’s not me, grin.

It may be released under Lily Rose Graham …

P.S. Rose? Marabella? Nashville-lover. What would you do?

The Postcard available in all major ebook stores!

Hey everyone,

Just a quick note to say that The Postcard is finally available in all eBook stores!

For fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman. The Postcard is a novella of hope, second chances and the power of love.

An empty postcard, a mother’s last promise. At three a.m. anything is possible, even magic …

It’s still on special for 99 cents! And is currently still in the top 20 books for magical realism on Amazon.com (Yay!)

Want a review copy?

Send me a mail at lilygrahamwrites@gmail.com with your preferred ebook of choice and I’ll send you your free book!

Alternatively you can get it from these stores

Amazon UK       Amazon US

Kobo

Barnes&Noble

ITunes

In other news An Invincible Summer my second book will be available around May, I haven’t got an official release date yet but I’m working on that, grin.

You can go here for a sneak peak of the first few chapters.

Happy Wednesday everyone! x

I dream of Cornwall

I dream of quiet. Of blue seas, and long countryside walks. Of reading past noon.

I dream of days spent breathing in the ocean air, instead of rubble dust and the banging from renovations.

I dream of adventure; sailing the seas and finding moonbeams.

I dream of seagulls and fairy lights and counting a million stars at night …

I dream of houses that whisper secrets and invite you to listen

Today most of all …

I dream  of Cornwall.

Join my special reader newsletter

Hello everyone!

My reader’s newsletter is something I’m really excited about. I’ve been putting it together just for readers so that you’ll be the first to know of special giveaways, new releases and exclusive free books as well as a little peak into a magical world … where moonlight and magic like to visit well after midnight.

I’d really like to offer something fun and a little bit different for the people who take the time to read my books and I’d be happy to receive any suggestions on fun things we could do. A monthly pic of Detective Sergeant Fudge perhaps? She’d love that my attention seeking bulldog …

By signing up here you’ll also be added to my reader’s group for new releases and advanced review copies as well as other super stuff (you can unsubscribe at any time and your address will never be shared).

If you’d like to join please sign up here.

Hope to see you there!

P.S. If you haven’t yet read The Postcard  and you’d like to, I’m going to be doing a special giveaway for newsletter subscribers, simply sign up for the newsletter here and afterwards send me an email to lilygrahamwrites@gmail.com letting me know which ebook format you would prefer and I’ll send you your free book!

PPS. If you have read The Postcard never fear, you can do the same and I’ll send you an advanced copy of An Invincible Summer next month before it’s release.

Happy reading! Wishing you all a touch of magic this Friday.

Reading is a touch of magic

I love reading. It’s my first love, and for a long while growing up I seriously considered ways in which I could do it professionally. You know, read for a living. It’s why after I studied journalism I did my honours in publishing, only to come crashing back to reality when I realised that I wouldn’t actually get to read everyday all day. Sigh. I’d have to work with spreadsheets and other people. So I went and got a job as a journalist instead. So that I could at least factor out the spreadsheets.

Still though, I have this fantasy, maybe you have it too, where I’ve been given a year off from everything and I could just exist in some wonderful cosy library with books all the way to the ceiling, a spot for Fudge (my snore-monster bulldog) overlooking the sea (of course) in Cornwall (naturally) and just read. It would be bliss.

I have this image on a pinboard at my work, it always makes me feel calm. And makes me long for a reading room of my own.

Now that I write books too – which is really about as fun as reading them (most days anyway) I read as a reward, after the daily grind and my long commute.

I’m currently reading two fabulous books at the same time (an affliction that began in childhood, I’m always reading two at once, just not at the exact time).

The first is The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Ann Noble, which was just released on Sunday, and I’m almost done. It’s so beautiful. Set in Pennsylvania it follows the story of two sisters, the eldest Clara discovers shimmering scales just beneath her sister’s skin, realising that her sister is turning into a mermaid and she must save her by getting her to the ocean before anyone realises. Written almost like a fairytale, it’s magical realism at its best. There’s even a pet wyvern (dragon) named Osbert whom I’ve fallen in love with. It’s lyrical, poetic and gorgeous.

The other book I’m reading is Up with the larks, by Tessa Hainsworth. It’s a really well-written true story about a successful business executive who gives up her high powered job to move to Cornwall. It’s really funny and poignant, and asks the question about what we really need for happiness. Like my own discoveries around joy it’s often the simplest things that provide it – more time for dreaming, less stress and being in a place that fills your senses, not necessarily your wallet.

There’s something really magical about a good book. It’s more than an escape, it’s an invitation to hit pause, savour some joy, and ultimately to dream.

What are you reading? I’d love to hear about it. I’m always on the lookout for great new reads!

Images via Pinterest – you can find some of my ‘dream’ boards here if you like.

Coming soon!

Hello everyone! Some exciting things are happening soon. The Postcard will be launched on March 12 on Kobo, ITunes and Barnes & Noble stores. Please do let me know if you’d like an advanced epub review copy?

I’m thrilled to announce that The Postcard is still on the Amazon.com top 100 bestseller lists for magical realism, and now fantasy romance and holiday fiction (!!). It’s still on sale for just 99 cents if you’d like to get a copy.

Also the print version of The Postcard should be available by 3 April. My fabulous cover designer Tanya Bezuidenhout is working on some really lovely illustrative elements for the interior design of the print version  – I can’t wait to see them!  I will also be doing a giveaway as soon as it’s ready.

She’s also working on the covers for my second novel An Invincible Summer which is doubly exciting. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

An Invincible Summer is a bit of a departure from The Postcard, offering more of a contemporary romance featuring love, loss and a burnt down vineyard and is the first book I’ve ever written without some sort of fantasy element. Despite this, I do feel that it offers it’s own unique magic. Set in Crete it centres around a 1000 year old vineyard hiding a dark past, and one women’s quest to find out what really happened while risking her heart in the process.

It should be available from April 10. Please let me know if you’d like an advanced review copy? I will be sending these out by the end of March.

Happy Friday everyone! xx

The Postcard hits top 5 for magical realism!

This morning I woke up to the lovely news that The Postcard hit the bestsellers  list for magical realism on Amazon.com. As I write this it’s sitting at the rather fetching no 4 spot alongside the amazing Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus … you know, as you do. Eeek!

Not a bad way to start the morning! Oh and how good does The Mermaid’s Sister look? Definitely on my wish list.

Thanks everyone for making this happen, I feel well and truly blessed!