Maria Savva's Blog, page 48

A chat with author Mark Rice

I Interviewed Mark Rice last year after reading his novel, Metallic Dreams. Here's a link to that interview for those of you who missed it: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

Metallic Dreams blends two of my favourite things, music and words. It's also a very funny book. I love Mark's writing style, so I was very excited to hear he had a new release, a short story, Revelation Was Wrong.

After reading that very entertaining story, I was keen to invite Mark back to my blog for a chat about the book.





In your novel, Metallic Dreams, you based many of the characters on people you know. Your latest release is a short story 'Revelation Was Wrong'. There is an eccentric character Tam who predicts the end of the world. Is he based on anyone you know, or entirely fictional?

Tam the Bammus is purely fictitious. He came to me one night, fully formed in glorious detail: a gift from the literary gods.

What are your views on prophecies? Do you think it's possible to predict the future? Have you ever had any premonitions yourself?

I grew up listening to my father’s stories of Coinneach Odhar, the Brahan Seer, who was Scotland’s answer to Nostradamus. Coinneach’s prophecies were much more specific than those of Nostradamus, which tended to be vague. Many of the Brahan Seer’s predictions about Scotland came to pass, just as Orwell’s description of a Big-Brother state in 1984 is eerily close to what surveillance-obsessed modern society has become. Were these just two incisive men who observed their cultures and made educated guesses about the future, or were visions channelled into their minds from elsewhere? That’s a question I find fascinating. My view: the future is a blank page and we write on it with every one of our actions, no matter how small. I’ve never had any bad premonitions, but I have experienced vivid déja vu many times.

An alien appears in Revelation Was Wrong. I won't ask if he is based on anyone you know lol, but feel free to answer that if you do actually know aliens. My question is, do you think there is life on other planets?

The alien isn’t based on anyone I know, although many of my friends could easily be mistaken for extraterrestrial lifeforms. As for life on other planets, I’m certain of its existence. Bacteria have been found in meteorites and also outside the Earth’s atmosphere. If bacteria are hurtling around in space, it would be preposterous to think that other forms of life aren’t out there too. I started a short story based on a (fictional) conflict between the organisation SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and two primary-school geniuses. I can’t say any more about that without giving away the surprise, but it’s on the back burner for now anyway. I’ve always thought it one of the biggest examples of closed-minded human ignorance to believe that we are the only sentient beings in the Universe. (I’ve found animals to be more sentient than most humans.) I’d bet my entire music collection that there’s intelligent life outside our planet.

I don't think it's giving too much away to say that your main character Uriel is faced with a dilemma, to either stay on earth and risk being killed, or go to a different planet. He wants to take certain things with him that are close to his heart. If you had to leave earth in similar circumstances and could take three things with you, what would they be?

I presume by ‘things’ you mean inanimate rather than living ones. If I had to leave Earth and couldn’t take any living beings with me, I’d take: (1) a laminated photo of my cowgirl Deena Rae; (2) my kilt of MacLeod ancient tartan; (3) some of my rabbit Fluff’s fur.

I'm interested as to how the idea for Revelation Was Wrong was inspired, and how long did it take to write?

The idea was sparked by an experience I had three summers ago. On an unusually hot day for Scotland, in the middle of summer, I decided to walk to my local corner shop for an ice lolly. I had noticed a big chest freezer in the shop, so I figured it must contain a selection of icy things. On this day - to my horror - I discovered that it was a deep fridge full of Buckfast: a super-high-caffeine-content tonic wine which is implicated in most of Scotland’s violent crimes. (It turns regular garden-variety neds into amped-up maniacs.) Sweating like a racehorse, I asked the shop owner where the ice lollies were. He replied that he didn’t sell ice lollies, as no one in the area wanted them; they wanted Buckfast. He then tried and failed to sell me a chilled bottle of Buckie (also known as Wreck-the-Hoose Juice, Commotion Lotion, Devil’s Water and Vino Tonic Supersonic). I told him exactly what I thought of his no-ice-lolly policy and ruminated that the whole area was going to Hell in a handbasket. While wandering home, I realised with absolute clarity that if the Apocalypse were to come to the west of Scotland, Buckfast would be involved. After that, it was easy. The story came out in a stream-of-consciousness flow that lasted three days and nights. Tam dropped out of the sky to take his rightful place as the unlikely hero of the tale. This year, I spent a couple of weeks revamping the text and three weeks creating the book cover with 3D modelling software.

You are currently writing a sequel to Metallic Dreams, which I am very much looking forward to reading. Can you tell us anything about it yet, or is it still at the top secret stage?

It’s very much at the top-secret stage. I have a GREAT title for it and a GREAT opening line, but it’d ruin the surprise if I unveiled them now. The band’s ability to court controversy and fall into trouble is in no way diminished. Quite the opposite. For example, while touring India they manage to make a host of cultural gaffes as well as breaking several laws.

Have you been to any good gigs recently?

Aye, I went to see Steel Panther, which was the most fun gig I’ve experienced: excellent musicianship, good songs, wet-your-pants-funny lyrics and band members who are natural entertainers. Thin Lizzy was a good one too, earlier in the year. Most recently, I saw Paradise Lost and Insomnium, two of my favourite bands, play in King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

What's the most recent CD or mp3 album you've bought?

Ready as Hell by Jim Dandy (legendary frontman of Black Oak Arkansas). I’d been waiting decades for it to be released on CD, and it finally was. For anyone who thinks that Axl Rose has a unique voice, think again; go listen to the early Black Oak Arkansas albums and it becomes very clear whom the G ‘n’ R frontman modelled his vocal style on: ‘Big’ Jim Dandy Mangrum.

You recently enrolled your debut novel, Metallic Dreams, into the KDP Select programme on Amazon. KDP Select is a bit of a controversial subject amongst authors. Some think it's great because it increases the visibility of our books on Amazon when we give them away free. Others say that by giving our books away free we are in effect making it harder for authors to ever sell any copies of their books. After all, with so many free books out there, why would anyone ever have to buy a book? What are your thoughts on these issues? Can you tell us a little bit about your decision to enroll your book into the programme and whether you would recommend it to fellow authors.

I would recommend it to fellow authors once they’ve launched a book, gathered some momentum and received some good reviews. For me, the KDP promotion was a huge springboard that took Metallic Dreams to a wider audience. It hit #1 in both of its Amazon categories during the promotion and stayed at the top of one category for over a week. The knock-on effect in terms of sales and visibility has been considerable. It’s unlikely that my novel would have been at #1 in any paid category without the free promotion to launch it up the rankings in the first place. I know that there are people who don’t (or rarely) buy books, as so many free ones are available. I can only speak from my perspective: while I’m happy to like, tag, tweet and download free books to help other authors, I only read what I truly want to read. If this means shelling out some cash, I knuckle down and do it (which, as a stingy Scotsman, hurts like Hell). For example, last year I spent a small fortune on True Norwegian Black Metal, a huge limited-edition hardback full-colour glossy photobook by Peter Beste. Worth every penny. If a book’s quality is good enough, people will buy it, regardless of price. That should be a mantra for all authors: refine, polish and make your work perfect, then people will buy.

To help with promotion of your novel, you have appeared on internet radio shows. What is your experience of taking part in that type of promotion and have you gained new readers directly as a result of that? Would you recommend it to other authors?

Yes, I gained new readers as a result of appearing on the Charity Parkerson and Melissa Craig show. Yes, I would recommend it to other authors. Hurl yourself onto the show and don’t be afraid to put foot in mouth, as those gaffes end up being the most entertaining bits. For example, when I said to Charity, on air, “I reckon everyone you know is a pervert,” I rapidly realised that I know her mother and several other authors who might not take that as a compliment. My frantic attempt to dig myself out of that hole was one of the funniest parts of the show.

Do you have any other news you'd like to share with your readers?



The anthology A Blended Bouquet by my writers’ group – Writers Inc – is finally available on Kindle, just three years after the paperback came out! I was having some niggly formatting issues and eventually surrendered to a professional at eBookBuilders. The finished product looks perfect. My witchcraft-themed shortish story (about 20,000 words) is moving along. It has taken far too long, as I’ve been juggling so many things, but I’m almost happy with most of it. It’s also worth mentioning that I’m currently reading and enjoying your novel The Dream, Maria.

Thank you, Maria, for another cracking interview. Excellent questions, as always. I look forward to your new novel.

Thank you, Mark, for being a charming guest. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying The Dream

Enter to Win a Signed Copy of Second Chances at Quiet Fury Books!

This month a few BestsellerBound members have got together to offer some free signed print copies of their books.

Up for grabs is a copy of my novel, Second Chances, along with 7 other books:








There are 2 packages of 4 books to be won! For your chance to win one of the prize packages, follow this link: http://quietfurybooks.com/contests.html

Good luck!

My Favourite Books - June Pick

Those of you who follow my blog will know that I am running a series where each month I pick a book that is one of my favourites. I am doing this because there are so many self-published books that deserve to be read by a much wider audience, but they are often overlooked in favour of the bestsellers. I have chosen books that can enrich your life in some way, either by entertaining you or educating you, or just making you think about life differently. All the books I've chosen so far have left an impression on me so that I will always remember them. I would love you to also fall in love with them and perhaps spread the word about them, as much as I would love you all to go and buy my books.

So far, I've chosen:

January: by Ami Blackwelder - historical romance




February: by Judy Nichol - murder/mystery




March: by Quentin R. Bufogle - humour




April: by Darcia Helle - paranormal/suspense





May: Various books with a musical theme





My June selection is Beyond My Control: One Man's Struggle with Epilepsy, Seizure Surgery and Beyond by Stuart Ross McCallum




This book is very special to me because it helped me to make a decision in my own life that I now feel was the right one and was one that I may not have been brave enough to do if I hadn't read this book.

This book is about one man's struggle with epilepsy and his road to recovery. It's written by a man who is also a gifted writer, in my opinion. His book is inspirational.

Here's the review I wrote when I first read it:

Wow! This book is a fascinating read of Stuart McCallum's experience with Epilepsy. I must admit that I knew very little about Epilepsy before reading this book, only that it was a condition causing random seizures. This is such an important book because it documents one man's experience of this very cruel condition which will help others who are going through the same or similar problems, and anyone who has a loved one battling against this condition. On a wider scale, it is also a story of great courage, strength of character, faith and determination. The great thing about this little book is that Stuart McCallum is a very ordinary man, he doesn't have any great or mysterious character traits which would set him apart from you or I, and he tells his story in a way that can be understood by everyone. It could be anyone's story; everyone struggles in one way or another in life — we all have our cross to bear. Stuart's story is valuable as a lesson to us all that the human spirit is capable of facing many adversities and surviving. Most of all it is a message to never give in, and to carry on enjoying life, being grateful for what you have. It is not bogged down in medical detail, but does explain the ins and outs of the condition very well. It is written with humour, showing how this courageous soul was able to come out of life threatening surgery and retain a very positive view of life. I really enjoyed reading the book and congratulate Stuart McCallum on writing such an inspirational book about his journey. It was very well written, and even though there were a few editorial issues, these did not distract from the story because it is a very fast paced read.

This book helped me to decide to go ahead with an operation to cure my heart defect (SVT). All operations have their risks, but when I was weighing the pros and cons, I always thought of how brave Stuart Ross McCallum was when he went through his operation. For that reason, this will always be one of my favourite books and very close to my heart.

Look out for my next recommendation in July!

Chasing Memories with author Cindy Bauer, and a giveaway!

Today, I am thrilled to be introducing you to one of the first authors I met when I started in my self-publishing journey in 2008, Cindy Bauer. I was looking for reviewers for my novel A Time to Tell and that's how I met Cindy. When she reviewed my book, I discovered that she too was an author, and decided to read her books. I don't usually choose to read book series because of the time that has to be devoted to it, but Cindy's Memory Box series kept me interested.

As well as agreeing to answer my interview questions, Cindy has generously offered to give away an e-book copy of the Memory Box Trilogy to one lucky follower of my blog. To be in with a chance of winning you will need to leave a comment below, or simply 'like' this blog post. A winner will be chosen on 20th June 2012.

Here's the interview:


Was Chasing Memories written with the intention of it being the first book in a series, or did the idea for a series come later?



It came later due to the ending being changed to leave room in case I wanted to make it a series. Because of the way the story ran, I did decide, of course, to continue the story by writing a second book.


The Memory Box Trilogy is named that way because the main character, Laura, loses her memory in the first book after an accident and is then given a box to put important things from her life. How did the idea for a memory box come to you and have you ever kept things from your past in a box like that?(I do, by the way lol).


I have a memory box, too, and yes, I keep little mementos in it, such as greeting cards, family bibles, newspaper articles, etc. I wanted the story to be based around that idea.


Your second novel Shades of Blue is a continuation of the series but interestingly is written from the perspective of a different character. Instead of Laura, her nanny Susan becomes the protagonist. What was the thought process behind switching the main character? I thought it was a great idea.





Thank you! Toward the end of Chasing Memories, Susan had moved away for a new job in a big town and then shortly thereafter, she announced she was engaged. With that in mind, it felt natural to continue the story as to what happened to Susan once she actually tied the knot.

Susan is the victim of domestic violence, and her story is very realistic. Was kind of research did you do into the subject before writing the story?

I didn’t feel the need to do any research. On occasion I have suffered something similar and so I just put myself in her shoes and felt what she would feel and wrote from the heart.


Crystal Clear - Third in the Memory Box Trilogy is the final book in the Memory Box Trilogy. I really enjoyed it and thought you did a fabulous job in tying up all the loose ends and finishing the series. It's probably the most action packed book of the three. Where did the inspiration come from for the book?






Honestly, I’m not sure but I’ve always enjoyed mysteries the most. Halfway through Chasing Memories, I realized it was an inspirational fiction story and not a mystery. However, once I began writing the third book, which is based around Annie, Laura’s daughter, whom I had to age in Shades of Blue, I decided from some of the comments from my readers that I should try to tie up the loose ends and though each book stands on its own, if one should read all three, the whole picture would come into place. Thus I had to write some mystery into it to tie the three stories together.


How long did it take to write the Memory Box Trilogy? And, do you think you would write a series of books again?

Chasing Memories took nine months to write, edit and publish the first edition. Taking on a series for your first attempt at writing is quite a task once you begin the second book because first, you want it to be better than the first to continue capturing the reader’s attention and second, you have to remember everything about each character as far as their age, personality, etc. It proves to be quite daunting at times because basically you are writing about someone’s life who doesn’t exist. But in retrospect, yes, I plan on writing another series though I am switching to mystery suspense this time.


I've seen on your website that you are in the process of writing more books. Are you able to tell us a bit more about them?

I have 5 other stories in my head that I’m trying to sort out and get put down “on paper” so to speak. The first is Justifiable Vengeance: Katelyn Montgomery has every reason to want justice and one way or another, she's going to make sure they all pay for what they did...



Next will be Murder in the Newsroom: Rhonda Mathias knows more than she should and her life is in danger, but she refuses to become the next victim...


The next three are titled: Keep Your Enemies Close, Shattered Dreams and Cause For Murder. I have not written the synopsis down for those yet as they are still being assembled in my head. It’s difficult not to mix the stories up. Usually I decide on what the story will be about, but as I’m writing, it changes. I will say, though, they may become a series.


I read that you cut your ties with the original publisher of the Memory Box Trilogy and became a self-published writer. What was the reason behind that?

Honestly? They were crooks. They took advantage of “new authors” by pretending to publish their books for free, but in reality, though they did publish for free, they did not be completely honest of their intentions. They for one, publish almost everything submitted to them, word for word, without reading the story. Yet, they wrote you back almost instantly as if they had and how thrilled you would be to know you were going to be published. Also, they ask for a list of friends & relatives and then they send them forms in the mail to order your book once published. If you buy copies for yourself, you are actually paying about 3x the cost of printing, so they, and the printer, are making much more than the author. The book prices are so high, they don’t sell, and they do nothing to promote you or your book once published. They are super nice until you’ve signed that contract and then you have difficulty in contacting them once it’s been published. The name of the company is PublishAmerica out of Baltimore, Maryland.


It was actually a Barnes & Noble outlet that warned me about them while I was attempting to get a signing event and advised me to get out of my contract with them, if possible, and republish elsewhere. And they went into some other details about why, which proved quite interesting. Also, if you publish with that company, you’ve already got a strike against you and most publishers will not even consider your work just for the simple fact that they will publish anyone, anything, even if the book doesn’t make any sense what-so-ever. You could write a bunch of mumble jumble and they’d publish it if you wanted them to.


I saw in your bio that you used to work for a local newspaper. How does fiction writing compare to journalism, and do you think your background in journalism helped at all in your writing journey?

LOL, funny you should ask that question. My sister edited the first two editions of my first two books. She majored in Journalism and Political Science and taught in two major high schools in Iowa. I wrote a couple of articles for the newspaper, but basically I was an assistant to the general manager and was in page design. That is where we decide what will go on what page to make everything fit together while giving attention to the advertisers as well.



As well as being a talented author, I understand you are a volunteer partner in Books In Sync., can you tell us a bit more about your role there?

Yes, I am a volunteer partner with Books In Sync. I generally handle the things the owner/founder doesn’t and we tend to gel together nicely. I make the logos we use, edit the site, pass ideas back and forth, etc. I also format books and design covers if authors need help with that plus I handle the “off site” promotions. Books In Sync is a promotional site for authors and because we are authors ourselves, we understand the time consuming and often frustrating task of promoting your work once published.

We’ve recently purchased a writer’s magazine called Cold Coffee Writer’s Magazine and also have a social site for our authors called Cold Coffee. I put the entire magazine together and publish it, focusing on our authors and their books, coming soon work, soon to be released, plus they contribute with short stories, poetry, recipes, etc. We’ve recently added a couple of new authors, including one who used to own a restaurant on the infamous Route 66, and one who appeared on Oprah. We have authors from all walks of life including lawyers, mothers, new authors and multi-book authors from several countries.

And we promote our authors for well under what any other promotional service charges. Generally our fees only cover our time involved to do the work so the authors have more time to write. Unfortunately, now I don’t have much time to write, but que sera sera. I really enjoy helping others so it was a great partnership to become involved with.

I read that you have interviewed some well-known authors such as Lenora Worth and Gail Gaymer Martin, and also singer/songwriter, Amanda Abizaid. I know that you are a very big fan of Amanda Abizaid. How did you go about arranging those interviews and what was it like interviewing one of your idols?

While I was with the writing guild, Christian Fiction Writers of America, having been invited by Gail Gaymer Martin, I had the opportunity to personally get to know several bestselling authors and discovered they are just like anyone else. So I felt like I’d known them all my life and talking to them and getting them to allow me to interview them was fairly easy. And I learned a lot from them about the writing and publishing business.

Amanda sang the theme song for the TV series, The 4400, and I wanted to use that song for my book trailer for Chasing Memories. After attempting to contact her through several social sites, she wrote me back and I found out she didn’t own the copyrights to the song, the Production Company for the show did, so I couldn’t legally use it. But we got to know each other and became fast friends. She has the most beautiful voice and a heart of gold to go along with it. She sent me some of her music for Christmas that year that I interviewed her along with a Christmas card, which by the way, is safely tucked away in my Memory Box. Though the music is not. I play it occasionally when I find the time to actually sit down and listen to music. And her style varies, which makes her an interesting singer.

What advice would you give to someone considering self-publishing their own books?

Go for it. Traditional publishers are on their way out. Most readers aren’t reading actual hard copy books much anymore and the electronic age is here. Unless you jump through hoops and have the time and money to travel, attend writing conferences and really focus on writing professionally, you aren’t going to get a publisher to consider your work if you’ve never published before. Several won’t accept new authors unless represented by an agent and it’s more difficult to get an agent to back you, than a publisher.

One of the heartbreaking facts that most new authors don’t realize is that you are NOT going to become an overnight success with one book. The statistical chances of that happening are astronomical. But… I still encourage everyone to write and publish your work. If you have a story you want to tell, then write it down and put it in print to share with others. Becoming a well paid author is not as easy as it sounds and you have to work very hard at it, plus you have to be ready to accept rejection time and time again.

Do you prefer e-books or print?

I’m old fashioned as far as that goes. I still prefer the kind I can hold in my hand and put a bookmark in when I go to sleep.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?


There are several Harlequin authors I love who write in their Intrigue genre. My favorite is Rebecca York. I love her style of writing. Another, not a Harlequin author, is Jordan Dane.

Where can people buy your books?

My books are available at Amazon, in print and kindle versions, the i-Bookstore, Nook, from the publisher, Lulu, from myself signed personally and in pdf download as well. I will be publishing a single version of the trilogy, and all-in-one, through Create Space sometime this year if anyone would rather buy just the one book and have all three stories to read.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Cindy!

Thank you for this wonderful interview, Maria. You’ve certainly come up with some very good questions!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember if you'd like the chance to win a copy of the Memory Box trilogy (the prize will be pdf format), please leave a comment below or simply 'like' this post. Good luck!

Introducing author K. B. Walker and your chance to win a copy of one of her books!

Today I am thrilled to be introducing you to author K B Walker. I've known Kimm for a few years now. I think she was one of the first authors I met when I started to think about self-publishing my books in about 2008. We've kept in touch since and she is a lovely person.

I enjoyed reading Kimm's poignant and inspirational memoir A Life Less Lost. I was excited to hear that Kimm has recently published a novel Once Removed. I'm very much looking forward to reading it. Kimm's a very talented writer. When I heard she had a new book out I decided it was about time I introduced her to all of you.

As well as agreeing to answer my questions, Kimm is very generously offering to give away a Kindle or pdf version of Once Removed and a paper version or a voucher for a digital copy of A Life Less Lost from Smashwords

To be in with a chance to win a copy of one of her books, please leave a comment below, or simply 'like' this blog post. Winners will be picked on 10th June 2012.

Here's my interview with Kimm:


I read your memoir 'A Life Less Lost' in 2009. It's very moving and inspirational. What made you decide to publish a memoir at the time?



It was a story I wanted to tell and in 2004 I finally had the opportunity. The first draft poured out in 4 months but then it took 5 years to polish it. By that time I was doing speaking engagements and people were disappointed there weren’t copies to buy. When I had the opportunity to speak alongside Adrian Plass, I decided I couldn’t wait for the slow wheels of publishing and did it myself.

Your son's battle with cancer is featured prominently in your memoir. Has he read the book, and if so did he give you any feedback on it?

A very interesting question, Maria. James gave me permission to write and sell the book but he hasn’t read it. His father and brother have and were surprised by the different ways in which we each experienced and remembered what happened. James says it’s taken him long enough to come to terms with his own interpretation of events and he doesn’t want to cope with mine.

You self-published A Life Less Lost, but with your new book, a novel, you have decided to use a publisher. What was your reason for not self-publishing this time?

As you know, Maria, self-publishing is extremely hard work. But I was losing confidence in myself as a writer. I needed that seal of approval that someone who didn’t know me thought enough of my book to take a risk on it.

How did you go about looking for a publisher for your novel?

I studied the Writers & Artists Yearbook for people most likely to be interested in my story and then checked out their websites and submission guidelines. I met and spoke to a PR person at an author event and she asked to see a sample and recommended three publishers. But none of that came to anything. Once Removed doesn’t fit easily into any genres so was too risky for the more established houses. A friend suggested a few e-publishers who are trying to build a presence in the market and actively seek out new and unusual work. I studied their websites and went for Crooked {Cat} Publishing, who quickly signed me up.

I'm looking forward to reading your new novel, 'Once Removed'. Can you tell us a bit about it and how long it took to write?



It’s about a young teacher who suspects one of her pupils is self-harming. Abby risks everything to try to help Beth but it all goes horribly wrong. It looks at the impact relationships have on us but also the way in which our own self-image affects those relationships.

I’ve had much to learn about writing (I did science at university!) so have taken courses, worked my way through self-help books and written lots of other things alongside this novel and my memoir. In seven years, Once Removed has been through many transformations. I’m certainly hoping my next book will take less time!

You have said that an experience in high school gave you the idea for Once Removed. Are you able to elaborate on that?

In high school, a girl felt close enough to me to reveal the razor slashes she’d made in her legs. I didn’t know what to do. At fourteen, new to the school and recently bereaved, I basically ran away. But I still wonder about that girl and what’s happened to her. In the '90s, when self-harm was in the media, I did some research and a story was born which explores this complex behaviour through the eyes of these two characters.

I saw on your bio that before you published your memoir, you'd had several poems, short stories and articles published and won a handful of local prizes, as well as being invited to speak at events in the UK and US. Can you tell us a bit more about these?

I’ve won competitions run by Huddersfield Authors’ Circle, been shortlisted in a Huddersfield Literature Festival competition and won second prize in a short story magazine. I learned a great deal about dialogue working collaboratively on two radio plays, even though they weren’t taken up. These were early on, when I was writing widely to get feedback and learn the craft. I’ve had articles published in various places and edit my church magazine. My poems appear in several anthologies but my main passion is for novels. They are what I read and know the best.

The speaking events began out of the blue and grew from there. I did set up a mini ‘book tour’ when I went to the States to visit my family. We went to five states, slept in ten different beds and sold over seventy books. More sales have followed but they’ve been slow. I plan to do more promotion over the Internet, once things settle down with Once Removed.

You have a book trailer for Once Removed. Who produced that?

My youngest son, David, is a filmmaker working for Bluprint. He and a couple of friends made it for me as well as the one for A Life Less Lost.

What's your opinion of book trailers in general? Have you ever decided to buy a book after seeing the trailer?

Personally, I have such a huge pile of books I want to read I haven’t used book trailers but when you are an unknown author you have to try everything to get some attention.

Which do you prefer reading e-books or print, and why?

I resisted getting an e-reader for ages but eventually the shrinking luggage allowances convinced me and I love it! I read walking my dog and don’t need to take my mittens off to turn the page, can read while eating my lunch without the book closing and in bed without my hand getting cold. It’s dangerously easy to buy the next book immediately after finishing the last one, too.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their work that you like?

That’s a hard question! I like Jodi Picoult, although her books do get a bit samey. I love the way she explores complex social issues through realistic characters. That’s what I’ve tried to do with Once Removed. But I also love crime writers like Jo Nesbo and historical fiction authors like Bernhard Cornwelland Philippa Gregory. C.J. Sansom usefully combines both genres! I like interesting stories like A Thousand Splendid Suns and We Need to Talk About Kevin. I love the Fire and Ice fantasy series (A Game of Thrones ) even though I don’t usually like fantasy. I like anything with good characters and pace, really.

Are you working on any other books at the moment?

At the moment, I’m spending all my writing time trying to promote Once Removed. But next month I plan to get back to my new novel inspired by an agoraphobic woman who vanished.

When you're not writing, what's your favourite pastime?

Reading has been a passion all my life. I also enjoy sports like skiing, swimming, badminton and walking. I’ve a big soft spot for animals and live on a farm, although we’re not farmers. Baking, eating out, cookery programmes and cookbooks fill a big chunk of time. Recently I’ve discovered an interest in growing food, losing hours in the garden.


Thanks for being a fabulous guest, Kimm!


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can find out more about Kimm and her books at her website and on her publisher's website

And don't forget to leave a comment below, or 'like' this blog post for your chance to win a book! Good luck!

A chat with author J. Michael Radcliffe & a giveaway!

Today, I am pleased to welcome back to my blog, author J. Michael Radcliffe, one of my favourite people. Michael is one of those people that brightens my day when I'm navigating my way around the Internet jungle. He is a truly genuine and supportive friend and he also happens to be an awesomely talented author.

Those of you who follow my blog may remember I interviewed Michael last year after reading his wonderful book The Guardian's Apprentice, the first book in his Beyond the Veil series.



Here's a link to that interview: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

Since then Michael has published the second book in the series, Bloodstone - The Guardian's Curse, and after reading it I was keen to invite Michael back here for another chat.

As well as answering my questions, Michael has also generously offered to give away one signed print copy and one e-book of Bloodstone to followers of my blog. If you'd like to be in with the chance to win a copy, please leave a comment below, or simply 'like' the blog post. Winners will be picked on 30th May 2012.



Here's the interview:


Having just read Bloodstone - The Guardian's Curse, I have to say I am in awe of your storytelling abilities and am now a fantasy genre fan. I shall be reading more books about dragons, wizards and witches etc. What is it about the genre that made you decide to become a fantasy author?

Thank you, Maria, I am very flattered! I have always been drawn to the fantasy and science fiction genres, starting with Tolkein's The Hobbit and Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter of Mars series when I was kid. As an introvert, I had few friends in school, so I would lose myself in those worlds of magic for hours on end. It seems I always had a book in my hands, and eventually I decided to craft a story of my own. I think what I love most about the genre is that you can create entire worlds out of your imagination where anything is possible. I think this ability to create and structure worlds of my own is what appealed to me most.

One of your characters' names in the Bloodstone novel was inspired by my surname. Sava is a very evil character, but in a strange way I felt honoured to have her named after me lol. When writing a fantasy book, it must be quite a task picking the characters' names. How do you come up with such original names? Do they just pop into your head, or is there a method to how you name characters?

Names are perhaps one of the most difficult things for me ('Keegan' is actually the third name I came up with for the main character). Believe it or not, when I see a name that I find interesting I will sometimes jot it down for future use in my notes. I have a list of astronomical names that I found years ago - in fact that is where 'Acamar' received his name. When trying to develop the right name, I try to picture the character in my mind and imagine what they are like, and then try to pick a name that fits that picture. Sometimes a name will strike a chord with me and I can immediately imagine a character for it - such was the case with your surname. I thought 'Sava, Stealer of Souls' had a ring to it, and I am so glad you consented to its use in 'Forsaken' and 'Bloodstone'! And I should point out to readers that you are most certainly NOT evil - as one of the nicest online authors I have ever had the pleasure to meet, you are quite the opposite, in fact! :)


Shimmerscale, the dragon from an ornament you own, made an appearance in your novel, Bloodstone. I had to smile when I read that part because I already knew of your purchase of that ornament. I know that you state on your website that he speaks to you ;) Did he approve of the role you cast for him in the novel?



Idris (a.k.a. Shimmerscale) is a demanding taskmaster and can be incredibly snarky, even for a dragon. He is a devious little fellow and as you can see, he managed to work his way into the story. I will say he was quite pleased to have a permanent place on the Guardian's desk. ;)

Bloodstone - The Guardian's Curse, is the second book in the Beyond the Veil series. I was very excited to read on your website that you are planning a third book. What progress have you made and can you tell us a bit about it?


I am pleased to say that I am indeed working on Book 3 - tentatively named 'Rise of the Shadow'. I am currently up to chapter 5, I think, and have also written the last paragraph of the last chapter. I know that may seem strange, but with both of my books I knew exactly how they would end before I wrote the beginning! I will give you a preview for Book 3 as follows:

On the thirteenth hour, of the thirteenth day, of the thirteenth month after he was killed, the spirit of Ducat returns in the form of a wraith with the help of the Shadow. With the power of the Shadow, Ducat's wraith travels 5,000 years in the past in order to rewrite history and destroy the Guardian before he ever exists. A large part of the story will take place in Sakkara, Egypt - the birthplace of magic in our world. You will also learn a great deal more about Ms. Hoskins, who has always been more than she seems. Not only will Keegan have to stop a murder 5,000 years in the past, but he will also face a terrible choice that will determine his future and that of the magical world.

If you were given the choice to live in the World of Magic created by your series, would you? If so why? If no, why not?

I would love to have the chance to experience the magic, but only if I could share it with my family. If it meant being separated from them, then I am destined to remain a muggle. :)


If you could live for a day as one of your characters, which one would you choose to be, and why?

Now that is a difficult question!! I think I would choose to be Acamar - he is quite an accomplished wizard, plus he can turn into a cat - I think that would be an interesting perspective.

I saw on Facebook that you recently took part in a local library event for authors. Can you tell us a bit more about how that came about and what was involved. Any interesting stories to relate from the events of the day?

I received a call from one of the librarian's organizing the event - a friend of mine whose sister works at the library had submitted my name. I was surprised to find out that there were so many people here locally who were authors. The vast majority (probably 80%) were self published like me, although there were several traditionally published authors as well. There were about twenty of us total. One of the published authors spoke for about fifteen minutes about her process of finding an agent and publisher. All of the authors were seated around the perimeter of the room with the audience in the middle and there was a short Q&A session and then people were given a chance to chat with us, buy books, get them signed, etc. I must admit the most wonderful thing happened when a young lady came up who had already read the ebook version of both my novels - she purchased signed copies of both and couldn't wait to tell her friends she had met me. Getting to meet my first "fan" was really a neat experience.

Your sister, Maeve Greyson, is also an author. I think it's really cool that you both write. Do you read each other's books? Is there or has there ever been any sibling rivalry or competitiveness involved, or do you support each other?

I am very blessed to have such a supportive sister. We both occasionally will email paragraphs/pages/chapters to each other for opinions/critique, or sometimes we will just bounce ideas off of each other. It is really nice to have that resource, and I truly appreciate and respect her advice and opinions. There really hasn't been a rivalry, as we write in different genres - me in fantasy and her in paranormal romance, though her novels often have an element of magic in them. Plus, she loves dragons, so that makes us kindred spirits!


Do you have any other news for your readers?

I hope to have 'Rise of the Shadow' out by the Spring of 2013. I know that seems like a long way off, but it is a huge challenge trying to find time to write. I decided however that posting a definite date will give me a goal and keep me accountable (hopefully). :)

Thank you for being a wonderful guest as usual, Michael!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Remember, if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Bloodstone, please leave a comment below, or 'like' the post :)
Good luck!

A Guest Post by author Jess C. Scott - Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships

Today, author Jess C. Scott takes over my blog to tell us a bit about her new release (co-authored by Matt Posner).



I met Jess on Goodreads a couple of years ago and she is one of my favourite indie authors. I have read and enjoyed her books EyeLeash: A Blog Novel,Porcelain, and The Other Side of Life, and look forward to reading her other work when I have time. She is a prolific writer with many books to her name.

Her latest release is a non-fiction work. In this book, Jess and her co-author, seek to answer many of the important questions teenagers may have about sex and relationships. It's a very important subject, so without further ado, here is Jess's message:

Guest Post: Jess C Scott on Teen Guide

Thanks so much for having me today, Maria!

Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships is a non-fiction book I co-authored with Matt Posner. It's an advice book that answers the important and confusing questions young people have about their bodies and their hearts.

Matt is a teacher and he sees teens in emotional and sexual difficulty as part of his daily work. I write about sex and relationships and often hear from readers who relate to the themes in my stories.

Our goal with Teen Guide was to guide teens to a better understanding of their bodies and their feelings. Matt and I wanted to make a difference by cutting through media nonsense, cultural myths and the shrouds of mystery covering certain topics to give young people a mature view.

The emails I receive from readers motivate me to keep resisting 'sheeple programming' (i.e. accepting "the messages from the mainstream mass media" as The Truth).

An angry 16 year-old male recently sent me the following email:


i really f*cking hate faglight...dracula from the castlevania video gaming series. have you ever heard of it? it used to be soooo popular. now theres only like 70000 fans. meyer sucks at writing shes a slut no offense. only reason why twilight even makes money is because edward and jacob are so hot. girls dont care about who you are they just like your muscle. no offense if edward and jjacob werent soooo hot twilight wouldent make dirt i swear to f*cking god

wait this is a girl? are you gay or something? no offense.

im not trying to be rude or offensive or anything but what is the point of a love reltionship when all you basicly do is look at eachother and do eachother?


Apart from the spelling errors (he was texting, so I'll let that slide), there are many very important and "telling" facts embedded in the above email.

For example, the word "fag" is associated with a gay sexual orientation and "being stupid." From a young male's point of view, it's girls who "don't care about who you are [they just like your body or how hot you look]." I am a female that doesn't like Twilight, therefore I must be "gay" (as in "lesbian," which is why the phrase "no offense" was included because it was in reference to my assumed sexual orientation only, not my IQ level). From this young male's point of view, a "love relationship" is defined by a couple gazing at each other's beautiful faces or bodies, and doing each other (i.e. the "love relationship" is solely defined by "a hot shag").

It might seem hilarious until you realize that people everywhere are receiving mixed messages about what love, sex, and relationships are supposed to be all about.

To borrow a quote from another male reader/customer of mine:


"A lot has been lost to appease a tween generation or to generally confuse people of all ages on the expectations of romance..."


This is why Matt and I wrote Teen Guide: to provide an honest, insightful and informative sex education for teenagers, so that they're well-informed and able to make clear decisions when it comes to love and sex. We hope readers will enjoy the comprehensive yet concise text, and above all, find it useful and helpful.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you, Jess. I am sure this will be a very insightful and informative read.

About the Author:

Jess is an author/artist/non-conformist who’s dedicated to writing original stories that are both meaningful and entertaining. She writes in a variety of genres including erotic fiction, urban fantasy, young adult fiction, cyberpunk, and poetry.

In a Word Riot interview, Jess mentions that the basic message in her work is “always the same: to be unafraid to be one’s true self.”

Jess is also the founder of jessINK, an innovative publishing company that focuses on substance over short-term success with current fads and marketing hype.

To find out more about Jess and Matt's new book: Teen Guide follow this link: www.jessINK.com/teenguide.htm

My favourite books - May Selection

As many of you already know, I am running a series on my blog where each month I will pick one of my favourite indie books to recommend.

Here are my picks so far:

January: historical romance
February: murder/mystery
March: humour
April: supernatural/suspense

This month will be slightly different, as I will be recommending 5 books that all have a similar theme.

I read a lot of books that have been inspired in some way by music. I am quite obsessed with music :) I don't necessarily seek out books to read that have music as a theme but somehow I end up reading a lot of them. I have read many outstanding books by indie writers recently that have musical themes, so I thought it would make sense to recommend them together.

Firstly, I would like to recommend Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice



This one is simply a must read if you're a heavy metal or rock fan. This is one of my all time favourite books. The humour is wonderful and will have you laughing out loud. I'd recommend it to any music fan actually. Of course, this book can only be read by those with an open mind as there is some controversial content that may offend if taken out of context. One for the over 18s.

Here's the review I wrote when I read the book:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It's about a young man, Spark, who always dreamt of becoming a big name in heavy metal music. In his late teens he was part of a band 'Blood Brothers' who went their separate ways before they could make it into the big time. Some years later, Spark has a life changing experience and as a consequence he becomes determined to put his old band back together and live his dream. His belief is that the band will become successful, and he doesn't want to live his life in a dead end job when his passion lies in music. At its core, Metallic Dreams is about finding the courage to follow your dream, no matter how difficult it might seem to be. It is also about the power of love. It is indie fiction at its best, breaking out of the boundaries set by genre, and experimenting with new and exciting ways to write a story. It is extremely funny; hilarious in parts. I almost laughed out loud in public a few times whilst reading it. It does contain some controversial topics and taboo subjects, but those topics are skillfully woven into the story making them a realistic portrayal of very vivid characters' lives and experiences. This book is very original and entertaining. I would recommend Metallic Dreams to music fans, especially rock and heavy metal fans, as you will find much to relate to in the book. Due to some of the content in this book I would say it is only suitable for over 18s. I am looking forward to more books by this talented writer.

If you'd like to find out a bit more about the book, and the fabulous writer, here's a link to a recent radio interview where he talks about his writing journey and reads an excerpt from the book: Melissa Craig and Charity Parkerson Show. It's a very entertaining interview. (I was honoured to have been mentioned by the author in this interview!)


The next book, I would like to recommend is 33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream. by Bill See



Bill was the lead singer of the '80s rock band Divine Weeks, and this book is a memoir. It is a diary of a 33 day tour by the band. It's in essence a book about following your dream.

Here's my review:

‘It’s not about the having and the getting, it’s about the being and becoming.’

The story of a 33 day tour by the band Divine Weeks. Bill See, the author, was the lead singer of the L.A. band who enjoyed some notoriety in the ‘80s.
In this memoir, See has collected together journal entries and memories to create much more than just a tour diary. He documents the tour with a great descriptive narrative that really captures the moment and brings his memories to life. He also talks about his own dysfunctional home life, which in some ways spurred him on to chase his dream.

See is a talented writer, who is able to impart wisdom and knowledge through his prose.

I enjoyed reading about the band’s progression from an unknown group who played only weekday gigs in their home town, to a successful band touring nationwide. But this is not just a story about the band’s journey, it’s also about the individual band members’ personal journeys along the way. See’s introspective and thought-provoking prose make the book a compulsive and insightful read.
We follow the band on their first real tour, across the US and Canada in 1987, where they play small venues, often to a handful of people. But the band’s passion is such that they are determined to do anything to reach their dream of one day becoming real rock stars. They survive with hardly any money and sleep in a van and cheap hotels, or even on friends’ floors. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout the book which makes it an enjoyable read. I liked the fact that the author has included photographs of memorable parts of the tour and his life in the book. It gives an extra dimension to the story.

As well as being an enthralling tour diary, this book deals with such subjects as family life, alcoholism, racism, dysfunctional families, relationships, friendship, loyalty, and the power of dreams.
Divine Weeks’s story is an inspirational one that shows what someone can achieve if they follow their dream. The author captures the essence of the book best, when he says: ‘This book is for everyone who’s stood at their crossroads with a dream screaming inside wondering whether to choose the road that goes off the map or fold up their tent and head back home.’

Highly recommended.

The great thing about this book is that it is about a real band with real music. After reading the book, I looked up some of their music on YouTube and really like it. That makes the book extra special. Here's a link to the book trailer that also includes clips of their music. 33 Days Book Trailer

Bill See has an exceptional gift for writing and getting his message across. He comes across as very wise; a true artist.
33 Days is another must read for music fans, and for anyone who has ever had a dream. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you've read it. A permanent favourite.

Thirdly, I am recommending a wonderful novel, B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose



This one had me hooked from the start. I could relate to the main character, a music lover to whom music is like a lifeline.

Here's the review I wrote when I read the book:

B-Sides and Broken Hearts is the story of 37 year-old Lisa, who is finding it hard coming to terms with the death of Joey Ramone, one of her favourite musicians. His death forces her to think about her life and she finds that she is not happy. Her relationship with the predictable, Ian, is not the type of relationship she had envisaged for herself when she was young. The death of Joey Ramone leads to a torrent of emails from Lisa’s music-loving friends, and puts her back in touch with Jake, the singer with a successful band, Blue Electric. Lisa had been there with Jake and the rest of the band right from the start when they were unknown and penniless. She watched them grow into a band that could fill arenas. However, for the past 5 years her relationship with the band has been overshadowed by the fact that her boyfriend shows little interest in getting to know them. From the outside, all of Lisa’s friends have always thought she should have ended up with Jake. None of her friends like Ian. After Joey Ramone’s death, when Ian fails to understand why she is so upset, Lisa makes the decision to visit her old friends in LA. She packs some belongings, mainly CDs for the journey, and drives all night to revisit her past. Lisa goes on a journey in this novel, to find the person she really is. After a tragic relationship when she was younger, she had lost her way. Will her old friends in LA help her reconnect with the real Lisa?

This book is about dreams, friends, love, relationships, and above all it is about music and how music can have a profound influence on our lives.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt that the world had ended because their favourite band split up, anyone who obsessively waited for new albums to be released by their favourite bands and spent their last pennies on gigs and records, anyone who has ever screamed the lyrics to their favourite songs while driving in their car... This is a book for dreamers, and reaffirms the importance of believing in your dreams, and following your heart.
It is well written and engaging. I found myself feeling sad when I knew that the story would soon end. The ending is poignant and uplifting at the same time. This is a must read for music lovers.


This is a novel but reads almost like a memoir. Again it's a must read for music lovers. I found it hard to put down, and really wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters.

The next book I'm recommending is by wonderfully talented musician and writer, who is also very friendly and supportive of fellow artists.

Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz is a coming of age story about a boy who always dreamed of becoming a rock star.





It's about how life can get in the way of our dreams. In a similar way to B-Sides and Broken Hearts, it reads almost like a memoir. And, like 33 Days, it has the added bonus of being based on an actual band. Jerry is the lead singer/musician behind the band The Jerrys whose music is mentioned in the book. Here's a link to the band website: The Jerrys

Here's my review:

"My life is a movie in which the main character spends his life running from one dumb job to another" Klaus Mueller.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a breath of fresh air in respect of the honesty of the lead character's thoughts within the pages. At times I was questioning whether this is in fact a memoir or a fictional story, and perhaps the author would like us to wonder about that.
Klaus Mueller is a young boy when we meet him, he has dreams of becoming a rock star. This entertaining story is written in chapters relating to different stages of Mueller's life as he grows from a boy to a man, becomes a husband and a father.
Anyone who has ever wanted to break free from the confines of a 9-5 job will relate to young Mueller; anyone who has ever dreamed to making a living from their artistic endeavours will also relate; anyone who has ever loved music to such a degree that it became all encompassing will relate; and anyone who has just stopped to look around and questioned that there must be more to life than the life they are living will relate to this young man's story. I think that just about covers everyone.
This is a story of an ordinary man who does not live blindly but questions everything around him. It's an entertaining look at life. I found myself agreeing with a lot of the character's opinions about things, and I could relate to the struggles of an artist trying to fit into 'normal' routine existence.
Well written, insightful and thought provoking, with some laugh-out-loud moments, I would recommend this book to everyone. It's also almost a social history book, as notorious events from the past 5 decades are scattered throughout the story. Anyone who grew up in the '60s or '70s will no doubt enjoy this trip down memory lane.

Finally, I'd like to recommend Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers by Michael Scott Miller.

[image error]


Here's my review:

This is a wonderful book, well written and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers, tells the story of Bert Ingram, a once successful music rep who worked for a major record company. Now facing middle-age, he finds himself destitute with nothing to show for the years he spent following his dream and the passion he has for music and spotting great talent. His former colleagues have given up on him and he seems destined to spend the rest of his life as an outcast. Bert has something to prove, so he makes it his mission to find raw talent among the down and outs in San Francisco; the musicians who play music on the streets. He has already set his sights on a singer he has spotted at Montgomery Street BART Station. We follow Bert as he tries to put together a band of musicians and lead them to super stardom, to prove to his former associates that he is still a major player.

The characters are introduced by the author in individual chapters, where we learn about their backgrounds and lives. Although they are all quite different, they are brought together by one man who has seen something in them. Bert Ingram prides himself on being able to spot talent when he sees it. I liked the interaction between the band members and between Bert and the individuals in the band. It is a very realistic portrayal of a band and all of the behind the scenes aspects of that. I recently read an excellent memoir about the life of a touring band 33 Days by Bill See, and I was reminded of certain parts of that book when I was reading Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers.

The story of The Redeemers teaches us that everyone can learn something from another person, no matter who that person is. It also shows that it is possible for people of different social classes and backgrounds to come together and get along with each other when ignorance and prejudice are set aside.

Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers, reminds us that following our dreams is important, and listening to those who have experience is an important part of the journey.

Highly recommended. A book that music fans will love.

I love the characters in this book, they are so realistic. It's fiction, but you would be mistaken for thinking that the author is writing about real people, real band members. Another book that music lovers will enjoy.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you'll try the books.

Look out for next month's pick!

Pieces of a Rainbow

Just a quick note to let you know that if you haven't got a copy of my short story collection Pieces of a Rainbow, you can get it for 99 cents on Amazon.com or 77p on Amazon.co.uk. This price is going to be available for about a week or until I change my mind lol. I have noticed that people have been buying this book more than any of my others in the last month, so I thought it would be nice to make it available cheaper for those who want it.

Enjoy!
Here are the links you need:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-of-a-Rai...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pieces-of-a-R...

Grab 2 free Kindle books from Julie Elizabeth Powell!

Those of you who follow my blog will know that Julie Elizabeth Powell is one of my favourite authors. I met her here on Goodreads in 2008 and we've become great friends. This weekend 28th/29th and 30th April 2012, Julie is offering two of her books free on Kindle. The books she is offering are very special to her because they tell the story of the tragic circumstances surrounding her daughter's death. This giveaway coincides with the date that would have been her daughter's 30th Birthday. Julie's daughter, Samantha, was born with a heart condition which resulted in her death.The novel Julie created Gone is a fantasy that introduces the world of Avalon and is based on her daughter's life and death. Julie says that the title is 'Gone' because the book came about as she was wondering where her daughter had 'gone' after her heart stopped and she died for the 'first' time at the age of 2. Her daughter lived for a further 17 years but was unable to communicate. The other book she is offering free this weekend is Slings & Arrows which is Julie's story about what happened to her daughter, it's non-fiction and very moving.

I would recommend that you download your free copies of these two books this weekend and get to know the writing of Julie Elizabeth Powell. She is a truly inspirational lady and a wonderfully gifted writer.



Here are the links you'll need:

Slings & Arrows, Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Slings-Arrows-e...

Gone, Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-ebook/dp/B...

Gone, Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-ebook/dp...

Slings & Arrows, Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slings-Arrows...