K.J. Chapman's Blog, page 27
January 12, 2019
Sharing Sundays
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Today’s Sharing Sunday post is to draw your attention to a Facebook street team that I am a part of.
This one is for those of you who enjoy paranormal romance books. Brianna West writes books in the Promiscus Guardians universe, and she has a street team on Facebook, Brianna’s Sexy Guardians.
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I reviewed Brianna’s latest book, Demon’s Bloodlust, on Friday: Full Review.
If you want to join a friendly, humourous group, click the link above. If you head over, let Brianna know that I sent you.
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January 11, 2019
Review Squad Sign Up
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Would you like to receive free ARCs of all my future releases, and be entered into giveaways just for reviewing my books? If the answer is yes, then my review squad is where you need to be.
K.J.Chapman’s Review Squad Sign Up
The only stipulations are to read all ARCs that pop into your inbox and review the books. You will have until 3 months after publication to post your review to Amazon.
Don’t worry, I’m not a tyrant who’ll send you three books a month. In 2019, you can expect one, possibly two, releases from me.
This isn’t a newsletter sign up, so you will not be bombarded with emails.
I appreciate the time and comments of everyone who signs up. Thank you in advance.
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January 10, 2019
Demon’s Bloodlust by Brianna West
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Demon’s Bloodlust by Brianna West 5/5
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Althea and Nikolai are already meant for greatness. The children of infamous Promiscus Guardians, it is only natural that they would be expected to be nothing less than perfect when it came to their own careers as the protectors of Light and defeaters of Dark.
But when a super villain and an old, unfortunate blast from the past come a-knockin’, Al and Niko are forced to see their long-standing friendship in a totally different light. And it might just put to test these childhood friends who do not know the first thing about love.
The New Guardian Generation ventures into the already well-established world of the Promiscus Guardians. Old faces join new ones in this brand-new series. But the laughs, adventure, and romance are what you come to expect of the Guardians.
Review:
The babies are all grown up!!!! If you haven’t read of West’s extensive Promiscus Guardians universe, then you won’t know what I’m on about, but following the lives of the parents, and now, the babies (who are now adults) is totally awesome.
Seeing Izzy and Lucas as parental figures is just eeek! And the relationship between Althea and Nikolai is like watching an Izzy and Pavel play-out that never happened in the Promiscus Guardians Series. Juicy juicy!
I always say that slipping back into one of Wests Guardians books (there are many books and spin offs set in the one universe) is so easy because the world building is so extensive and built upon that I know everyone to an extent, and old characters pop up in a new narrative and are seen through the eyes of the main character in each book, so each book shows a new aspect to our old and trusty Guardians.
I never know how West is going to expand her universe, but she manages it with ease and keeps it fresh and intriguing.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review
January 8, 2019
Prompt Me #2
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As I explained in week one, I have a writing Prompts ebook available from Amazon called Prompt Me. While this blog series is running, you can get a copy for just 99p.
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This series will run for 10 weeks. Each week I take a different prompt from the book and expand on it.
You can join in too. Whether it be a paragraph or a short story, follow me in getting creative, tag me to let me know, and I will feature a snippet of your interpretation on Writerly Bookish Stuff and send my readers your way.
If you are just here to read and not partake, that’s great too. Thank you for stopping by.
Prompt:
“Have I ever let anything bad happen to you?”
My Interpretation:
“I am not getting on the back of that… that… what even is that?” Cerys asks, eyeing the trike with scrutiny. “Uh uh, no way, Matty.”
“It’s nothing more than a three wheeled motorbike. It’s the quickest way to get back to the colony.” It splutters into life much to my relief. “We’ll have just enough fuel if this gauge is right.”
Cerys takes a walk around the trike, not taking her eyes from the rust covered shell and plume of black smog pumping from the exhaust. She picks up a piece of coiled metal from the mud. “Should this be attached to that?”
“Stop stalling and get on. We need to get back before nightfall. Don’t you trust your brother? Have I ever let anything bad happen to you?”
She laughs into the air. “Oh, let me see? There’s that time you got us locked in a nightclub for over twenty four hours, and the time you stashed illegal bank notes in my suitcase. Oh, and last month when you coaxed me into breaking into the pantry for booze. You knew that window frame was rotted through. Doc had to remove a splinter from my butt the size of a cocktail stick.”
It’s all I can do not to laugh at the memory. “Run-ins with the law and a splinter in your ass isn’t the type of bad I’m talking about, Sis.”
Cerys knows all too well that being out after dark is more dangerous than this bucket of rust and climbs on the back. She can kick up a stink and be a pain in my ass, but deep down she knows when shit gets real, I have her back.
Large shadows from the clouds roll over the barren fields below us, and a familiar, yet terrifying screech carries on the wind.
“They’re sounding particularly angsty today,” I say, pulling on the helmet.
Cerys nods. “Sunset is in twenty one minutes. Get us home.”
Remember, if you are joining in with this series, let me know in the comments, and tag me in your posts (whether they be blog or social media) to let me have a read of your interpretation. It can be anything from just a paragraph to a short story like mine.
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January 7, 2019
Teaser Tuesday
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Today marks the first day of my Teaser Tuesday posts. The title is self explanatory; every Tuesday I will post a small teaser from my current WIP.
I have not done a title or cover reveal for this WIP yet, so these teasers are just to give you a little taste.
However, I can tell you that I am working on a new zombie novella. If you enjoyed my first zombie novella, Zombie Playlist, I hope that this one will appeal to you too.
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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a productive Tuesday.
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January 5, 2019
Sharing Sundays
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Today’s Sharing Sunday is a shout out to a blog that I wanted to share with the writers amongst you.
Sarina Langer is an author and editor, and she has a blog, Cookie Break, dedicated to the world of self publishing and indie authors. You can find posts on setting goals, writing tools, and self publishing tips etc.
Find Sarina:
Do you have any writerly or bookish blogs that you would like to share with me? I’d love to hear them and check them out.
Do you have a blog that may be useful/ informative for other writers?
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January 3, 2019
Book Review: My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
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My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen 4/5.
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So, this is me. Lily Allen.
I am a woman.
I am a mother.
I was a wife.
I drink.
I have taken drugs.
I have loved and been let down.
I am a success and a failure.
I am a songwriter.
I am a singer.
I am all these things and more.
When women share their stories, loudly and clearly and honestly, things begin to change – for the better.
This is my story.
Review:
I listened to Lily Allen in my teens, saw what the media spat about her, and never thought much on what was fact and what was fiction.
I’m not normally a fan of autobiographies because they’re usually all ‘this is the truth about that, and yes, I am the victim in the scenario’. People tend to glorify themselves too much, but Lily hasn’t done that. Yes, she has stated when she was actually the victim in fake media stories etc, but she also states when she was in the wrong.
This is a frank, brutally honest recount of important episodes in Lily’s life, and if you are a fan of her music, then you might find this read interesting.
My only niggle was that it got repetitive in places, hence the 4 not 5 stars.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J. Chapman and no other parties
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review
January 2, 2019
Prompt Me #1
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Did you know that I have published a writing prompt ebook? Prompt Me was published in 2016. You can get a copy for just 99p from Amazon for the 10 weeks that this blog series is running.
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So, what is this blog series? This series is all about Prompt Me. Each week, I shall choose one of the one hundred and fifty prompts from the book and expand on it.
I invite you to join in with this series on your blog/ social media each week, and I would love to feature a snippet of your interpretations on Writerly Bookish Stuff with links to send my readers your way.
Okie doke, that’s the info side of things, now on with the show…
Prompt:
‘In total, sixteen ships came to rescue us. That meant that only sixteen thousand humans had survived the death of Earth.’
My Interpretation:
“Just be grateful that you are here,” Josh hisses. My brother would do anything to avoid confrontation, even when he just watched the destruction of our home planet at the hands of our apparent rescuers.
I turn away from the viewing gallery and the nothing that was Earth. “I’m sorry that I can’t feel gratitude toward the people… aliens who just annihilated my home.”
An alien soldier glances our way, and Josh nudges me to shut up. I still can’t get over how similar, and yet, dissimilar we look to them. They are humanoid, but their eyes are larger and the pupils cover nearly eighty percent of the eyeball. When they talk, they talk in every Earthen language, but I’ve never heard their own.
“English speaking evacuees are to follow me,” calls an incredibly pale skinned alien. His ginger hair is a shock against his complexion.
“What happens now?” an angry voice calls out from the crowd. “Why are we even here?”
The soldier stands firm, hands clasped behind his back. “Preservation, Sir. Were you aware that Earthens had approximately one hundred and eighty nine days left before the core of your planet finally stopped rotating? The Federated Collective of Worlds felt it best for the preservation of your species that a percentage of humans be evacuated before the humane termination of life.”
“Humane termination?” I shout in reply, much to Josh’s dismay. “What was humane about killing eight billion people!” I jab a finger at the viewing gallery, purposefully avoiding looking at the empty space.
“Shut up, Lewie!” Josh mutters under his breath.
The alien soldier makes his way slowly toward me, the crowd parting like the Red Sea in fear. “Do you know what would have happened? First, the core slows down- stops, then the magnetic field disappears exposing you to solar winds that would rip away Earth’s atmosphere. If you want a clearer description just think of the planet Mars in this solar system. What you have just witnessed was a kindness.”
“You don’t know that for sure. How could you? We could have thought up a way to stop it… to fix it!”
The soldier laughs. “Even Earth’s governments knew about it and knew there was nothing they could do. Now, I suggest you get onboard with everything that has just happened and be grateful–”
I scoff. “Grateful?”
“Yes, grateful.” The soldier steps closer still, staring me down with those freaky eyes. “I have been on this craft for eighteen months to prevent the extinction of your species. There is an eighteen month journey back to where you will be relocated. That is three years away from my family. So, you will show me and every other member of this crew gratitude!” He turns to his colleague in a rage. “Get them to processing.”
Josh taps the soldier’s forearm, making him bristle. “It’s just hard, you know. That was our home.” His meek, sorrowful voice makes my eyes prickle with tears.
The soldier’s face softens as he rests a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “I do understand, honestly I do. We all do. This entire crew has been right in your shoes. It gets easier, but first, you’ve got to learn to accept it for what it is.”
His eyes, although softer, bore into mine. I simply nod my head in acceptance. What else can I do? Its not like I can go home.
Remember, if you are joining in with this series, let me know in the comments, and tag me in your posts (whether they be blog or social media) to let me have a read of your interpretation. It can be anything from just a paragraph to a short story like mine.
Side note:
Not only is Prompt Me just 99p for the ten weeks this series is running, my fantasy book, Thrown to the Blue, is currently free for 5 days from Amazon. Think of it as a New Years pressie from me to you.
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December 31, 2018
Happy New Year
Happy New Year 2019!
I am grateful to my followers old and new for choosing to read my posts and interact with me on Writerly Bookish Stuff.
Many of you stuck around even though my posting in the first half of the year was dramatically reduced due to pregnancy, and then the arrival of my little man, Mikey.
2019 has many awesome, blog related things in store. I hope to have an increase in content, interaction, and followers, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Here’s to a great year for us all. I hope you all stop by for the first post of my new blog series, Prompt Me, on Jan 2nd.
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December 30, 2018
My 2019 Goals
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2018 was a pretty lax year as far as my books and writing goes. I gave birth to my second child in May, so I didn’t go into 2018 with many goals other than tending to my little humans.
I feel like I can be a little more productive with all things bookish and writerly in 2019. My goals are achievable with some hardwork and forward planning, so I shall start as I mean to go on…
1. Set up a review squad for all future ARCs.
My main focus will be Amazon reviews. I’m looking into efficient ways to boost reviews and find reliable reviewers for old and new books.
Actually, this is already set up on my blog and on Linktree, but I haven’t promoted it yet. Watch this space in the very near future.
2. Finish getting EVO Ghost and Zombie Playlist in print.
I am 3/4 of the way to finalising this. I just haven’t had the time to put in to perfecting the paperbacks, so I left it until I did. I want it done right, after all.
3. Signed copies.
I shall be doing limited amounts of signed copies of my books at different times throughout the coming year. There will be some giveaways thrown in too.
4. Finish the first draft of my new zombie novella.
This is totally doable. I know the tone of the narrative and voices of the characters, so that’s me set. I hope to finish the first draft in the first 1/4 of 2018.
The cover is ready!!! No doubt there will be a reveal in due course. I think I might do a cover and title reveal at the same time.
5. Pick up where I left off on my Indigo Flame novel book 2, The Red Archer.
This novel is much more time consuming, so I’m realistic in thinking completion of the first draft in 2018 might be a stretch. Time will tell.
6. Schedule my blog series.
I’m planning to schedule 4 series in blocks of ten weeks. There will be a few weeks break in between each, but I will constantly post book reviews and monthly updates.
My first series is related to one of my books, Prompt Me. This starts Wednesday Jan 2nd. I will also start a regular Teaser Tuesday feature on Tuesday Jan 8th. Book reviews will be posted on Fridays, and Sundays will be my sharing days, whether that be blogs I like, Instagrammers worth a follow etc.
Those are my plans so far. Once I start checking some off of my list, I shall think about new plans and goals, but I’ve got enough to be cracking on with.
What are your goals for 2018?
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