Rachael Richey's Blog, page 9

Print copies!

My print copies of Storm Rising have arrived from The Wild Rose Press!!  It's so exciting to hold your own book in your hand.  They smell nice too.  :-D

Locations in Storm Rising - Part Three - Sennen Cove

Number three in my Storm Rising locations posts, is Sennen Cove in west Cornwall.  This is where Abi lives, in a little cottage overlooking the bay.  She has converted the garden shed into a studio, and spends a lot of time painting views of the bay to sell to tourists.  

In this case I am writing about what I know well.  I first visited Sennen way back when I was twelve, on holiday with my best friend and her family, and instantly fell in love with it.  You might be forgiven for thinking I'm obsessed with the sea - so far all three locations have involved it - and I guess you'd probably be right.  A walk on the shore in any type of weather, a leisurely swim on a hot day, or an exhilarating hour playing in the waves can all prove both relaxing and stimulating.  My imagination can run riot by the sea, and it has fueled quite a number of my best story ideas.  

Locations in Storm Rising - Part Two - Martha's Vineyard

Today's location is definitely not one that I know personally.  Up until I wrote Storm Rising, my knowledge of Martha's Vineyard was gleaned entirely from Jaws films, and Linda Fairstein novels!  So I had to do a bit of research for this one.  It's somewhere I've always wanted to visit and I was very glad I could find a way to introduce it into the book.  I love the name.  It really conjures up a beautiful place to go and relax - and eat lots of clams, washed down with white wine. 

Although Gideon only spends a short time on the island in Storm Rising, I do use this location again in the third and fourth books.  I hope I got it all right - I even took a lot of time working out how long the flight to England would take in a Learjet.  Hopefully one day I shall be able to visit Martha's Vineyard myself and see if it's how I imagine it to be.  

Locations in Storm Rising - Part One - Rhossili Bay

When I was younger I was always hearing the words, "write about what you know."  This led me to think I needed to set all my stories in places I had actually visited and knew well, and give my characters jobs and life styles I had experienced.  Time has told me that although this can be good advice up to a point, if  you stick to it too rigorously it has a tendency to stifle the imagination.  Obviously it's very annoying when you read about a place in a book that you know well, but that the author has clearly not researched very well, and makes some heinous errors!  I can be very pedantic about stuff like that - ask my family! But with the advent of the internet it's far easier to set your story somewhere new and exciting without making any crass mistakes.  I hope I've managed that with my scenes in New York.  Hooray for Google maps!  

Having said all that, one of the important locations I used in Storm Rising is somewhere I know very well. The caravan/camping site that Abi and Gideon visit, is one that my family has been staying at for many, many years.  My husband used to stay in the area as a child, and we've been taking our own children there regularly for the last fourteen years.  It's set half way along the beautiful Rhossili Bay, in South Wales and is the perfect place to fire the imagination and set stories running around in your head.    

Second book on its way!

Very excited to report today that I've received the contract for the second book in the NightHawk series, Rhythm of Deceit.  Following so closely after last week's publication of Storm Rising I really don't feel my feet have touched the ground!  Going round with a big grin on my face!  

No more details yet of course about a release date for Rhythm of Deceit, but I shall post them here as soon as I know anything.  

In the meantime, Storm Rising is available in e-book or print form from most major online outlets.  See the purchase information page for more details.  

Publication Day has arrived!

Very excited to report that Storm Rising is now officially released.  The Wild Rose Press have the e-book at 50% off at the moment and Amazon.com have a deal on the paperback.  

Read an author interview with me here: http://nutpress.co.uk/2015/02/author-...

And the first review of the book here:https://sharonaadetoro.wordpress.com/...

Come and join me at the online launch party on Facebook starting at 2pm GMT.  https://www.facebook.com/events/32980...

Storm Rising release day - Friday 27th February

Getting very excited now.  Storm Rising is due for release this coming Friday.  It's an amazing feeling to realise that my book will be available to be read by anyone.  I say available advisedly - could be no-one will actually buy it!  That's one thing I can't be sure of,  but I really hope they do.  I had such fun writing the book, and its sequels and am very excited to be able to share my characters with other people.  I just hope they grow to love them like I do.  That all sounds very self-indulgent, so down to the business side of things.  If anyone did feel like buying a copy there are several options, all with links on this website.  Here's one for a taster!  
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=6144  
Would love to read any comments about the book on here.  :-D

Cover Art!

Finally got the cover art for Storm Rising.  Publication date  creeping ever closer.  Should be on the shelves in the next couple of months.  Very exciting time!

Publishing Deal!

Exciting news this week - Storm Rising and its three sequels have been signed by The Wild Rose Press in New York!  Watch this space for more info.