Sharon Maria Bidwell's Blog, page 40

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Firstly, a big thank to Adera Orfanelli for asking me to take part in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. As I didn’t have a new WIP I chose Mistletoe and Whine for my subject and decided to make this a page post as the questions may interest the readers of both Hounding the Beat, and Mistletoe and Whine.

You can find the hop under my Mistletoe and Whine book HERE.

I will add links to the author’s I’ve tagged below when their blogs go live.

Come celebrate and win!

My book Mistletoe and Whine releases at Changeling Press on the 1st of December, and to celebrate I’m offering one lucky winner an Ash Evans Fantasy Art — painter of things with fur, horns, and wings — 8.5 x 11″ Giclee Print. Winners choice!

Mistletoe and Whine is the sequel to Hounding the Beat although it can be enjoyed as a standalone read. If you’ve read the first book, this time the happiness Bobby, Chantelle and Sam share is in real danger, and it will take all their resources to survive.

It’s Christmas but, alas, Sam has more to whine about than plastic mistletoe.

Bobby, Chantelle, and Sam’s lives have changed. Bobby is now a rural cop while Chantelle and Sam run the Hare and Hounds Pub and Restaurant. Their new situation would be idyllic if the only blight was Health and Safety insisting they cannot decorate with real mistletoe for the holidays. Truth is, Sam’s not doing so well — he’s suffering too much pain in the leg that was injured in a past accident. Although Sam knows he has the love of two beautiful shifters, he can’t help his frustration. He longs to run with them, not to feel so weak. If his pain weren’t bad enough there’s danger in the surrounding woods, something Chantelle senses, fails to understand, and dismisses when Bobby distracts her with sex.

When Sam is kidnapped, he has real cause to whine. Will he live long enough to get the kiss under the mistletoe that he longs for, even if the plant has to be made of plastic?

To take part and have the chance to win all you have to do is two simple things:

1. For your choice of print take a look at Ash Evans Art on her Etsy shop by clicking HERE. Once you’ve made a choice of print (look for the $15 price tag to spot the 8.5 x 11 size more easily), comment below and leave details of which design you’d like and contact details (the site is on moderation and I will edit out email addresses so don’t worry about that). And while you’re doing that also tell me:

2. What is your favourite paranormal genre? Be it shapeshifters, which kind, or maybe you like vampires? Magic? Witches, wizards, fairies or unicorns? Whatever it is, even if it’s something very unusual, tell me about it. You never know — it might give me some inspiration on what to write next!

I will choose a winner on 2nd December.

Not one but two reveals

I have two covers to reveal. Firstly, I have a cover for my m/m/f sequel to Hounding the Beat, which is due in December. If you loved the first, don’t miss out on Mistletoe and Whine. If you haven’t read the first, the second can be read as a standalone, though. You can see the cover on the details page by clicking HERE.

However, my major reveal has to be the cover to my soon to be released first foray into the world of Space, 1889 and Beyond: Mundus Cerialis penned by yours truly and Andy Frankham-Allen. As soon as we have a blurb it will have its own page but for now, I think a big drumroll is deserved for this amazing cover designed by Adam Burn.

 

 

The Reapers are the Angels review

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell is the story of a fifteen year old teenager called Temple and her journey across America where she encounters other survivors of a post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak. Indeed, Temple has never known a world that is any different — the outbreak happened so long ago there are people who were born after the disaster. The slugs, as she calls them, still inhabit the earth, but the art of existing in a world of zombies is only one small step on the road to survival. Always running from responsibility, preferring to be alone, and accountable for and only to herself in a brutal world, Temple nevertheless stumbles across others who affect her life in myriad ways. Some she struggles to leave, and doesn’t always succeed.

I liked this book but didn’t love it, even though I wanted to. The Young Adult tone categorised this book for teenagers, but raised even one of my eyebrows at the idea of a fifteen year old girl having sex. Fine, these things do happen, and should zombies ever roam then perhaps we won’t concern ourselves with such things too greatly, but for a book whose tone seems to fit younger readers the content seemed a little off-key. Either that or it is actually aimed at an older or more diverse readership, and just doesn’t come across that way. Don’t mistake me — if underage sex makes sense and is a necessary part of the story then I don’t feel it should necessarily be avoided, and I am happy to say that at least it’s well presented and used acceptably, not written in a gratuitous way; however, the fact the writer got this by the publishing censors surprised me. Another problem is that some of the confrontations are predictable, although there were a couple of unexpected turns.

My main issues with the book, though, involve grammar and style. The book is told with an omniscient voice that led it to feel as if I was sitting down being told Temple’s adventure by someone sitting around a campfire. Unfortunately, it left me somewhat cold as if the fire wasn’t lit. I can also forgive the use of ‘of’ in place of ‘have’ in speech (as in “I could of left yesterday”) but not in narration. And lastly, there are no speech marks. Not a single one. The entire book is ‘told’ including all the conversations. I’ll be the first to say it’s nice to find a writer pushing barriers and breaking rules, but I could see no need to avoid the use of speech marks, particularly if this book is YA, which surely calls for the best possible use of punctuation and grammar. I can only give the book a three, maybe three and a half out of five. It’s by no means bad — it just rather perplexed me. I can see some people will love this story, but for me the style never quite worked. Definitely one that’s subjective.

New for November

Welcome to November. Imagine the weather forecasters keep telling us ‘unfortunately it’s cold’. Well, it generally is this time of year. To warm things up I’m going to announce a few news pieces.

Firstly, there’s a new link on site in the Everything Else section to ‘So you want to be a writer’. Just a link to a few wandering blogs of mine elsewhere that imparts a few things I’ve come across in publishing. I hope it helps someone. This is on-going — I’ll post more info as and when it occurs to me, and it might be interesting to readers as well as writers.

Secondly, I’m pleased to announce what kept me so unexpectedly busy in October. As many of you know I was commissioned to write for Space, 1889 and I have one book drafted for release end of the second series season. Owing to unforeseen circumstances I had to step up and co-author another book in the series with fellow writer (and editor) Andy Frankham-Allen. My first time co-authoring. My first time writing at such short notice, I cannot express how much hard work it was. I would fall asleep with the story in my head, wake up considering what scene to write next. We wrote at record speed. It’s with the proofers and the cover is being prepped. What I’ve seen of the draft versions…I can’t wait to reveal it. The cover is truly beautiful. The book is entitled Mundus Cerialis. Yes, you read that right. I shall have to provide an explanation. I’m also pleased to say I had the opportunity to meet up with Andy recently. Well we had written a book together — it seemed only fitting we should.

That’s about all my news for now — I’m in the writing cave and awaiting edits for The Teacher — schedule presently set for release in December, subject to change — and also scheduled for release in December is Mistletoe and Whine, the sequel to Hounding the Beat, although it can be read independently. More news on this around mid-November when I’ll be announcing a little contest to celebrate the release.

Howloween Blog Hop

Welcome…to this year’s Howloween Blog Hop. Link to the event page by clicking the image or by using the link at the base of this post. Carry on reading for a chance to win an ebook and don’t stop here. Do visit more blogs. Thank you.

It’s my first Howloween blog hop, and it occurred to me there are many things ‘scary’ about writing. One of those is the fear there’ll come a day when someone devours all the plot bunnies. Often the writer struggles to kick the furry little blighters back because they’re rampaging demanding attention as much as any zombie on the march for brains. I’m sure my bunnies have nasty sharp teeth and claws — they sure enjoy nipping at my ankles — but many ask the question: where do they come from? So for this Howloween, I thought I’d concentrate on the scary ‘how’ and ‘howl’ of plots. How does one make the magic happen?

I doubt there’s a writer in existence who won’t one day be asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” There is no spell book. No magic shop one can go to. Authors wish there were, but in some ways ideas are conjured up out of thin air. A writer is someone who can connect two or more seemingly dissociated events, can play the ‘what if’ game, and maybe add an extra twist.

Here are two brief examples. I wove my short story Bitter and Intoxicating for the anthology Red Velvet and Absinthe (editor Mitzi Szereto; foreword by Kelley Armstrong) in answer to a submission call for gothic erotic romance. Although a list of example work was given, I didn’t have anything written that fitted, and worse, I had no ideas. I went online and began running searches for red, velvet, and for absinthe. Although the stories didn’t need to have anything to do with these items, I needed a place from which to start. I certainly didn’t expect to write anything on those topics. I was just searching for a spark.

I came across a painting by Albert Maignan, La Muse Verte, which seemed a good portrayal of what the effects of absinthe was supposed to have on the artistic mind. Inspiration! What if a distraught painter came across a seductive woman in a bar, one with flaming red hair clad in a diaphanous green gown, and she was to take him home to try absinthe promising that it would be the answer to all his woes? The resulting story is part BDSM, part gothic horror, part sensuous seduction ‘painted’ with words — something fitting to read on a dark October night in front of the fire with the wind blowing outside.

Other times inspiration seems to arrive with little thought required. When I wrote Hounding the Beat and it’s sequel Mistletoe and Whine for Changeling Press (scheduled for release early December), the ideas came almost fully formed. I knew the pairing would be m/m/f romance, that the characters would be British and police (this was the Protect and Serve series after all), and that they would be shape-shifting huskies — that was too good an opportunity not to milk the situation for all the humour I could find. The blurb is essentially the very idea that ‘popped’ into my head without effort, and that is something worth ‘howling’ over.

And now for a prize. Leave a comment and I’ll enter you into a draw. As Mistletoe and Whine isn’t out yet I’m offering a choice of either the first book: Hounding the Beat, or my gay romance available from Musa Publishing: Acting Out. One chance to win one book, but the choice will be winner’s.

After you leave a comment (with a way for me to contact you — don’t worry: all comments are on moderation and I will edit emails out). I’ll contact the winner on Tuesday to find out which prize they’d prefer and in what format. Thank you for stopping by and now carrying on hopping: http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

Nick and Alex speak out

Want to learn what Nick and Alex (from Acting Out) think about each other and how they were portrayed? Where they live? What they want people to know, or maybe not know? What their perfect evening is, and how they relax? Maybe something they would have liked remained secret, and what their biggest fears are?

Then stop by and read their character interview, available now on the MUSA ERATO BLOG.

Musa Blog Hop officially closed

The Musa Blog Hop is now closed. The major prize winners have been announced on the Musa blog. I have chosen a winner who receives a copy of my book, but if this person doesn’t want a copy or I’m unable to get in touch, I’ll choose again, and I will announce a name as soon as I’ve a definite winner — sorry there may be a day or two delay, which often occurs owing to different time zones.

Thank you to all who took part, who stopped by the blogs to help Musa celebrate, and for those who took the time to show an interesting in my work.

UPDATING to announce that my winner was Suze who receives a copy of my Musa book: Acting Out. Congrats!

Happy Anniversaries

WELCOME, to the Musa Publishing Anniversary Blog Hop. This event runs from 1st – 7th of October. Stop by, comment and win prizes. Every time you comment on any of the blogs taking part in the hop you’ll be entered to win either a Musa swag bag or the grand prize of a Kindle Fire. The more comments, the more chances. Easy. If you get ‘lost’ in the hop any time, just pick it up again here: http://musapublishingbloghops.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/musa-turns-1-and-we-are-celebrating.html

 

It’s an important anniversary for Musa Publishing, one that deserves celebration. At a time when many at Musa are looking back at how it all began, nothing seemed better as a topic than for me to look over my past endeavours, to reflect on how I came to be writing.

I’ve always had a love of books, although (mostly because I never thought it possible) not always the innate desire to write that many authors talk about: that need that is akin to breathing. Now I understand that feeling too well and have come a long way from wondering who would want to read my scribblings.

Earlier this year, I bought this bag:

The moment I saw it, I wasn’t overly concerned with the price. I had to have it because it’s a keepsake of how I began. Of my first accepted story.

I’d be embarrassed to show my early attempts, although I don’t consider anything wasted. It was all a learning process. Once I started writing in earnest, five years went by before I let a friend read even a word. Fortunately, rightly or wrongly, others encouraged me — I say rightly because that made me want to learn more about the task I was undertaking; wrongly because some of that writing was plain bad. I took a course inadequate for my needs, but it made me realise I had storytelling ability. What I was less certain of was the ‘mechanics’, the wherewithal of plotting. Sentences alone do not make a story. The good news was that while I feel storytelling is more instinctual, the rest can be learned.

Alas, that first course pushed me to one type of writing I have nothing against, but which did not inspire me. I had learned more about forming a story, the market, what was expected, how to approach magazines, how to present my work. I’d also written a number of assignments. Those assignments were probably my first experience of attempting a submission call. Ray Bradbury had once written a short story called Golden Apples of the Sun. Take that title and write my own version. I did, although, if I recall correctly, the course only required a sample, a beginning, and not a completed work. What I returned was well received by the tutor.

Once I finished this course, I spent time writing, testing the market, and otherwise, enjoying life. I still didn’t believe I had a very good chance of being published. A couple of years on, I wanted to see whether my writing had improved, and I thought if one course had been helpful, another couldn’t hurt. I undertook some home study. This time the tutors I had were much better suited. They understood my mindset, the type of writing and stories that fuelled my imagination. Where the first course had ‘helped’ this one taught me something, and I remain in touch with one of the tutors to this day.

For one assignment, I dug out ‘Golden Apples’. I refined it, rewrote some of it, changed the title to Silver Apples of the Moon, which better suited the concept. I had discovered the poem from which those lines originated: The Song of the Wandering Aengus by W.B.Yeats.

Owing to my tutor’s reaction, I decided to submit it. The first magazine I sent it to rejected it as unsuitable for their publication, but were so taken with it they provided a list of markets they thought would be interested. In my naivety, I didn’t realise this was a ‘big deal’. Magazines and publishers are inundated with stories, and often send out standard rejection forms if they bother to reply at all. If a writer is lucky, they’ll receive a personal note from the editor. I had received far more than that — a handwritten note and list with underlined contacts. From the list, I chose a publication and sent the story back out — and it was accepted. I eventually had numerous small publication credits. Then one day I sat down, gave myself a lecture — when was I going to have a longer work out there?

Ah…but that’s another story. The important thing to note here is that everything has a beginning. Musa Publishing launched a year ago October 1st with a simple mission– offer good books at a fair price and be completely open with our authors. It was Musa’s policy that made me submit to them, but my beginning started with a decision to take a course, led to an assignment based on work by a renown author, inspiration taken from a poem by another eminent writer. A little luck, a helpful editor who directed me to the right publication, and the editor of that magazine who not only accepted that story, owing to, ‘Having both a Sci-Fi and Horror element, strong on characterisation, and quite literary, in terms of style,’ but had this to say:

Sharon Bidwell is definitely one to watch. ‘Silver Apples of the Moon’ (ROADWORKS#13) was a story I couldn’t resist. It had all the elements that are important, including originality, great characterisation – you can almost feel the pain and anguish – and sensitivity that makes the reader remember the story long after reading it. As an editor, I read a lot of stories, most of which I don’t remember, but this one had me gripped from start to finish. This is a writer who’s going places.’ – Trevor Denyer, Editor.

Don’t stop here. The more blogs you visit, the greater a chance of winning a prize.

 

Stop by for a chance to win.

The Musa Publishing Anniversary Blog Hop takes place this week and there’ll be some great prizes on offer. Do stop by on Monday and ‘HOP’!