Elizabeth Stevens's Blog, page 3

On the first day of Christmas...

...I embark on a new quest.Yes, I know. The song says there are only 12 days of Christmas. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm certain that's not enough. So, welcome to the first of my...24 days of ChristmasEach day of Christmas, I'll be reviewing a Christmas movie and sharing a new Christmas outfit. December 1 through 24, I'll catch you up on my recent discoveries and additions to my Christmas Movie List, and what to avoid (in my opinion). I'll give my star rating (totally subjective depending on how quickly after viewing I get to it and how many Christmas bevvies were consumed in the making of) and the trailers will be at the bottom of the post. You'll also get to see me in my Christmas t-shirts - I think I've amassed quite a decent collection. Not all of them are suitable for an Australian Summer Christmas, but will I let that stop me?Wilf gets it.Day one sees me celebrating Slothmas - something I'm feeling heavily today. It's been busy, busy working all day getting ready for next week's double releases. It's all going okay considering I had an unexpected operation last Friday, but I am definitely ready for a rest when it's all done.This is only the beginning of the excitement that is our house getting ready for Christmas. I'll have another t-shirt for you tomorrow. I'm just not sure which one it will be yet. Might depend on the weather - the first day of summer Down Under was all of 15 Celsius and stormy. Perfect in my book.I thought I'd start the month off with a new movie for me, although I've wanted to watch it for ages! It came out in 2017, but we're only just getting around to it in our household. The anticipation paid off.The Man Who Invented Christmas - 4.5/5 starsStarring Dan Stevens as the brilliant author Charles Dickens, The Man Who Invented Christmas follows a fictionalised Dickens as he writes the now infamous Christmas favourite A Christmas Carol. While clearly not sating the historian in me, this movie was everything I love about Christmas, and hubby and I were about half way through when we realised that it was actually just a movie about me. Stevens' Dickens, it turns out, has a very similar approach to getting words on the page as I do, not in the least in having a very short fuse when interrupted in the midst of creative flow and complaining when the characters don't do what he wants.The movie, directed by Bollywood and Hollywood director Bharat Nalluri, combined Dickens' life in London with the gradual reveal of his past trauma and his Christmas ghost story unfolding. The scenes were interwoven in a way that, like A Christmas Carol, combined humour with the more serious subtexts. As Dickens bickers with his misbehaving characters (in an all-too familiar way), he comes to grips with the man he has truly become. And not only discovers the true meaning of Christmas, but does so in time to share it with the world.We're introduced to the supposed inspirations for Dickens' characters in his everyday life - a housemaid, his family, a man on the street. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig were a delightful recurring couple of them, and the wonderful Christopher Plummer as Scrooge.Much like Dicken's Christmas ghost story, The Man Who Invented Christmas was a lovely reminder of what Christmas is really all about in a similar but fresh take on the classic Christmas tale. Husband-permitting, this one will make it onto the regular Christmas rotation.If you've got a suggestion for a movie, leave it in the comments.You can check out the trailer below (fingers crossed there isn't any regional bollocks that gets in the way).

Big Book Competition

In awesome news, I've had a very exciting win.Keeping Up Appearances won the silver medal in the YA - General Category in the Reader's Favorite 2019 International Book Awards. And to celebrate, I'm running a competition.Up for grabs are three levels of prizes:First Prize - 1 x a complete Elizabeth Stevens e-library Second Prize - 1 x audiobook (of your choice - either Keeping Up Appearances or Accidentally Perfect) Third Prize - 5 x 1 eBook (of your choice of any of my titles available for purchase now) Enter below!You can enter using the bottom two options once per day - which gives you up to nine extra entries per day.Terms & Conditions:This competition runs from 12:00AM 21 September through 12:00AM 6 October 2019 Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).Enter to win one of seven prizes: 1. 1 x a complete Elizabeth Stevens e-library 2. 1 x an audiobook of your choice (choose from Accidentally Perfect and Keeping Up Appearances 3. 5 x 1 eBook of your choice (choose from any Elizabeth Stevens title available for purchase, or keep as a credit for future releases)Entrants may only use one of the subscription entry options. As such, entrants will be considered ineligible if they enter with both the 'Subscribe to Elizabeth Stevens' YA Newsletter mailing list' and 'I'm already a newsletter subscriber'.By entering this competition, you agree to receive email communication from Elizabeth Stevens in the event of winning a prize. By selecting certain entry methods, you may be agreeing to other forms of communication, such as newsletters and social media posts. You are free to unsubscribe at any time.Any information given for the purpose of this competition will only be used for the purpose of this competition unless otherwise stated (e.g. entry by newsletter subscription).Winners will be picked at random by Rafflecoptor. Any winner who entered with the 'I'm already a newsletter subscriber' option will have their entry certified as the email address being subscribed before 21 September 2019 ACST (entrants who joined via Bookfunnel during the competition period excepted).

'Gryffynhall' release delay

Just a quick shout out to let you know that I've unfortunately had to delay the release of Gryffynhall. I'm going to be using this title (and rest of the series) for PhD research and there has been a delay with all that, which has set the release date back.At present, I'm expecting there will be at least a four month delay - but it could be up to a year. I will definitely be releasing other books in the meantime, though. But no promises yet on what when yet - except Popped in October - as I'm still working out my schedule. There will be a release in August, though.I am so sorry I've needed to do this, but I will keep you posted as news comes in.Read, write, and live well,x iz

We end with Some Proposal...

It's the end...for now!!Happy release day, everyone :) Today (well, yesterday if you're in my part of the world) marks the release of the final (for now teehee) installment of the I'm No Princess novellas.Read the conclusion to Anya's story now. And, it's available on Kindle Unlimited.Each novella won't be available in paperback. But The Collection (Parts 1-4) will be available in print and ebook from March 15 2019. You can buy it now from BookDepository or your local Amazon store. The ebook is available here.I've got some more idea for novellas and shorts in the series, but if there's anything you want to see from the I'm No Princess world, please let me know.You can pre-order April's release, Being Not Good, for the special pre-order price of 99c. Get it from your favourite retailer here.[Bad Boy's Guide to...] Book 1:Being Not GoodIf you don’t like a smattering of serious on a bed of satire, clichéd characters, and over the top situations that know exactly what they are, then this book is definitely not for you. What do you get when you introduce Deadpool’s personality to Giselle’s? If you answered a love story for the ages, you wouldn’t be totally wrong… But, you wouldn’t be totally right, either. With a heroine who won’t let a stupid little thing like being too good get in the way of showing her stupid ex what’s what and a hero who wants no part of being the male lead in a romance novel, these two opposites find themselves in an unconventional partnership. When peppy-go-lucky Avery eventually wears down bad-to-the-bone Davin’s defences, he agrees to help her trash her reputation. And, if Davin can help her pass math while he’s at it, all the better. So, it’s goodbye to Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes, and hello to a whole new Avery. Davin was only supposed to be Avery’s mistake – the guy that everyone would eventually call her ‘little phase’ – and he figured it would be good for a laugh when he looked back on it. But, the more they’re together, the less either of them feel it’s a mistake. Now, if only one of them could mention that to the other and ease all that angst-ridden tension… A laugh-out-loud modern-day fairy-tale in dual POV for those who know life never quite goes according to plan.The first book in a new standalone series: Bad Boy's Guide to...Please be aware that this story is set in Australia and therefore uses Australian English spelling and syntax.Read, write, and live well,x iz

#ThreeOfAKind available now

I'm not sure if this counts as 11 books out now, or only 8 books + 3 novellas, but I'm No Princess Part 3, Three of a Kind, is available NOW at all good online digital book sellers! Unless I've got my timezones wrong again... In which case...SOON!One inadvisable kiss.Three supposed suitors. A whole bunch of totally untrue rumours.My sister was always the pretty one. She was supposed to marry a prince. Until I came home, the media went into a ridiculous frenzy, and Lia’s no longer good enough for the job. Marriage Watch is in full effect for the Crown Prince. And, rumours are swirling that I’m on the verge of marrying one of the princes. But, which one? There’s only one I’d want. But, we fight more than we love and are totally incompatible. Plus, he’s meant to marry a future queen. And, I’m barely a lady, let alone a princess.Only USD$2.99 for this next installment, and it will be available on Kindle Unlimited soon.Will Dmitri announce his engagement? Who will propose to? Will one of our princes win Anya's heart? The fourth and final (for now) part, , will be out on Feb 14 2019, so be sure to have your pre-order ready so you can find out as soon as possible.If you like paperbacks as much as me, don't forget that the full collection will be available in paperback from March 15. You can pre-order now from your local Amazon, DookDepository, Barnes & Noble, and more! I will also be selling signed paperback copies from my website. If you want me to reserve you one, let me know or head on over to the website to order your copy now. (Please keep in mind that no copies will be posted before March 8 2019.)If you're new to the I'm No Princess Novella Series you can learn more at the website, on Goodreads, or Amazon.

Now I have to find a date...

It’s release day! Do a little dance… Make a little love… Wait, what was I saying?What do you say on the day everyone gets to read the story of how your best friend ended up dating your older brother – yuck – ? I guess WOOHOO is standard?I’m just joshing. It is pretty woohoo, particularly because I’m involved and I look good – I like to think I grow as a person. And, really, I’m happy for Toph and Addy. Really and truly. It’s been a massive adjustment and I don’t think any of us have fought this much in years. But, we’ll get through it. Because, Addy’s the love of my life and Topher’s my (stupid) older brother, and I guess I love him, too.Except, of course, now she’s been on me about getting a date for the formal, and I’m like, “Babe, it’s fine.” But, she won’t believe me. I’m getting over the fact that she had to go and get a boyfriend which left me dateless. Toph did say Addy and I could still go together and he’d be the third wheel… But, I don’t need to see that. Plus, I’m all supportive now, remember?So, I have to find a date. I’ve got a couple of ideas as to who could be amenable enough to my charms to say yes. But, we’ve still got months to go. So, I’ll be fine.In the meantime, get yourself a copy of Addy and Topher’s story, Love, Lust & Friendship(two of those relate to me, thank you very much), and see what all the fuss is about.Anarchy, dudes,Ander xP.S. if you want a paperback copy; it might take a day or two for it to be available everywhere. But, head on over to Amazon or BookDepository, or check out Booko for your cheapest retailer.)

3 starts, 1 finish and a sticker.

Hey all,So, things have been chuffing along not too badly - I've been hit with a couple of cases of the dreaded lurgy (did you know, constantly sneezing isn't really conducive to writing?), but all books have been finished on time.And, last week was pretty productive in the land of Iz; Love, Lust & Friendship is ready for release on Friday in print and eBook, and I've started three new stories (one of which is actually a trilogy. So, does that make it five books?). I have three complete new outlines and the first 15,000 or so words on one of them. So, keep in touch for more updates on those as the weeks go on - I'm pretty excited about it all and will hopefully have a good little store of books for release next year. Book Week 2018 went spectacularly well, although speaking to over 200 teenagers was a terrifying if amazing experience. But, they were all great and I had an amazing week. Not to mention, I got to write among books between talks - absolute heaven!My last piece of exciting news for the week is that Accidentally Perfect has won an award! Well, sort of :) It was a finalist in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards in the Young Adult - Coming of Age category. So, that's pretty exciting :) Check out the cover with its pretty new sticker! -->Love, Lust & Friendship hits e-readers and shelves on Friday. If you haven't taken advantage of the special eBook pre-order price, click here (discount available on all platforms until Friday Sept 7, 2018).Don't forget, you can join me on Wattpad to read snippets of my published books, peruse some of my short stories, as well as partial and full-length works in progress. Find me @writeriz. Anyhoo, that's all for now. Read, write, and live well, x iz

Upcoming Releases & a Cover Reveal. Because who needs sanity?

Just a quick announcement :)So, most of you will know that - the companion novel to - is coming out August 3 2018.Gray's Blade is up for pre-order on most major retailers now. Just click here.If you've missed all the hoopla about Cole's POV story - click on the cover to go read more about it.Now, for the proper announcement part!!For your reading pleasure, I will have yet another new book out September 7 2018 as well!Love, Lust & Friendship is a YA Contemporary Romance about friendship, first love, and navigating all the bits between.Love, Lust & FriendshipMeet Christopher Henderson. AKA, the dillweed of a human being worshipped by (almost) all.Meet Alexander Henderson. AKA, the love of my life and my best friend.Meet Addison MacGuire. AKA, me and the girl you don’t date because... Well, who knows? So, what happens when you take one tomboy, one best friend, and that best friend’s stupidly hot, popular older brother with a bad attitude? That’s right, you get a story worthy of a teen rom-com (you with me, Netflix?). Because, sometimes real life is a bitch. Sometimes the only guy to come between you and the love of your life is the one guy you weren’t supposed to fall in love with. But, how do you tell the difference between love, lust and friendship?You can pre-order Love, Lust & Friendship from Amazon now for the special pre-order price of 0.99c in most currencies. You can add it to Goodreads here. And, as usual, you can click on the cover to find out more.That's all from me for now. I'm going to get back to writing, studying, working, and dealing with the dreaded lurgy.Read, write, and live well,x iz

Wrapped up with a Bow

Here we are, one and all,Keeping Up Appearances is a go. This is not a drill. We're live, we're launched, we're available. Well, I'm still available. Can't speak for some people, of course.Those of you who've missed the news, have a click on over the cover just there and you can find out all about the story of my fair King and his Doll.The story's got drama and judgment and paint being thrown, some love and just a little bit of pain. There is also me, for which hooray. There is also a significant lack of cookies. But, I'm working on that; the dark side's gotta have cookies after all.If you want to read Holly and Xander's story, you can find it at all good retailers in print and ebook. Go to you fave ebook retailer by clicking here. And, find the cheapest print retailer for your country by clicking here - just use the flag in the top right-hand corner of the website to select your country. (Booko has most major retailers, but no Amazon AU. Yet.)Announcement made, bow taken (oh, do behave ;-) ), cookies to be eaten. Peace out, y'all.Spread Nutella, World,Greg

A lot of 'favourite's apparently :)

Hey all,A couple of announcements today. is now available on Kobo, Nook and iBooks, as well as Amazon! Yay! Although, that does mean it's no longer available on Kindle Unlimited. Click on the image to be taken to your favourite ebook retailer for your copy. It's on sale at all retailers but Amazon, but I'm working on getting them to price match it. There's also an update; a sneak peak at the first chapter of Cole's POV, , which is up for pre-order (also from all your favourite retailers) and will be out on on August 3.I'm also currently part of a super awesome group giveaway on Instafreebie showcasing Australian and New Zealand authors. If you want a free copy of Accidentally Perfect or any number of other great giveaways from amazing authors, just click on the cover image to the left and you'll have forty books to choose from. Or, why choose? Give them all a chance. You might find one of your favourite authors there, or you might find an author to add to your favourite list :)And, remember that the best way to show your appreciation for an author and their hard work is to leave a rating/review for their book or pass on the recommendation to a friend!Whatever you're up to this weekend - whether it's reading, gardening, seeing a movie, playing a board game, just chillin', or voting for your favourite Eurovision entry - I hope you have a good one!!iz x