Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 148

Book Review — Jacob the Trumpeter, by Robert Barclay #CoffeePotBookClub #HistoricalFiction

Check out Historical Fiction author, Amy Maroney's, fabulous book — The Girl from Oto and be in with the chance to win 1 of 10 eBook copies! #Giveaway @wilaroney @hfvbt

#HistoricalFiction author, Tony Riches, is giving away a paperback copy of his latest book — Brandon-Tudor Knight #Tudors #HFVBTBlogTour @tonyriches @hfvbt

Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours Presents…


Brandon — Tudor KnightBy Tony Riches

From the author of the international bestselling Tudor Trilogy comes a true story of adventure, courtly love and chivalric loyalty.
Handsome, charismatic and a champion jouster, Sir Charles Brandon is the epitome of a Tudor Knight. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Brandon has a secret. He has fallen in love with Henry’s sister, Mary Tudor, the beautiful widowed Queen of France, and risks everything to marry her without the King’s consent.
Brandon becomes Duke of Suffolk, but his loyalty is tested fighting Henry’s wars in France. Mary’s public support for Queen Catherine of Aragon brings Brandon into dangerous conflict with the ambitious Boleyn family and the king’s new right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell.
Torn between duty to his family and loyalty to the king, Brandon faces an impossible decision: can he accept Anne Boleyn as his new queen?


Excerpt
April 1505
Cold rain dripped from the brim of Brandon’s hat as he waited in the shadows at Anne’s back door. He cursed and tried his secret knock again. Candlelight glimmered through the gap between the closed wooden shutters, so he knew she was at home. He was beginning to wonder if she would ever answer when the door opened.
Anne Browne leaned out and glanced down the narrow street, then ushered him inside before anyone could see. She looked beautiful, in a cornflower-blue silk gown, and wore a fine silver necklace with a pearl pendant, his present to her last New Year’s Day. Her dark hair, normally plaited under a fashionable French hood, hung loose and lustrous, reaching over her shoulders. Anne’s father, Sir Anthony Browne, had been the king’s standard-bearer and an important man at court. He’d found her a position in the Palace of Westminster, which was how she shared her lodging with two ladies of the king’s household. As they were away at Richmond Palace, Anne had the lodging to herself – a rare chance to entertain in private.
Brandon, at over six feet tall, had to duck his head under the wooden roof beams in the low-ceilinged room. He glanced around out of habit to make sure they were alone. There was always the risk of being discovered, yet he felt more at home in Anne’s cramped lodgings than in his Uncle Thomas’s grand manor house in Southwark.
A welcoming log fire blazed in the stone hearth and beeswax candles lit the room with a soft yellow light. Brandon pulled off his damp coat and hat while Anne poured him a goblet of warmed mead. He sipped it gratefully and felt its sweet heat warm his throat.
She studied his face and frowned. ‘The bruising is worse.’ She reached out a hand as if to touch his swollen cheek but stopped herself and let it fall to her side. ‘My mother used to make a poultice from parsley – or perhaps it was daisies – for the bruising.’ She gave him a mischievous look. ‘I don’t think I’ll find either at this time of night though.’
He drained his goblet of mead. ‘I’ll live.’ Taking her in his arms, he gave her the long, slow kiss he’d been looking forward to all day. He liked the soft touch of her hands on his back, holding him close. The delicate scent of lavender aroused memories of their first time together. With reluctance he pulled himself away and gave her a wry grin. ‘It might have been worth it, after all. I have news. Good news.’
‘You’ve been spared a flogging?’ She raised an eyebrow.
He smiled. ‘It seems my luck is changing, for the better. Sir George Talbot has agreed to put my name forward for the King’s Spears.’
‘His personal bodyguard?’
‘The king’s yeomen are his bodyguard.’ He had to think for a moment, and then decided to be honest with her. ‘In truth, the Spears are something of a club for gentlemen adventurers – I’ve yet to learn what they get up to all day. The important thing is I’ll be one of the king’s trusted men.’ He heard the pride in his voice.
‘You already are. You’ve been serving at his table for how many years?’
Brandon frowned as he tried to remember. ‘Three, maybe four – but this is different. The king takes little enough notice of his servants.’ He realised she was teasing him.
Anne looked thoughtful. ‘You’ll be paid more?’
‘Of course.’ He grinned.
‘Enough to make an honest woman of me?’ There was an edge to her voice.
Brandon studied her face, unsure what to say. ‘I need the forty pounds’ worth of estates which would make me eligible for a knighthood. Then we shall talk of marriage.’
‘You talk of being a knight but do you think it will ever happen?’ She sounded doubtful.
‘I do. My father and my grandfather were both respected knights, and one day I will be too. This chance with the Spears is just the beginning. I’m going to make a name for myself, Anne. The King’s Spears are chosen men. If we go to war against the French we’ll be made captains and commanders – and I’ll be in all the jousts now, not just filling in when everyone else has fallen off.’
It was the most heartfelt speech he’d made in a long time and he believed the truth of his words. He’d somehow won over the Lord Steward and been offered the chance he’d been waiting for since becoming a servant of the king.
She pulled him closer with a look of concern. ‘You will take care? I’ve seen good men horribly wounded and even killed at the king’s jousts...’
Brandon kissed her again to silence her. ‘I promise to take care. That’s how I will become famous – by winning.’

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of Brandon-Tudor Knight! Enter HERE!
Giveaway Rules
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is open internationally.
• Only one entry per household.
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
• The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Tony Riches
Tony Riches is a full-time writer and lives with his wife in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. After several successful non-fiction books, Tony turned to novel writing and wrote ‘Queen Sacrifice’, set in 10th century Wales, followed by ‘The Shell’, a thriller set in present day Kenya. A specialist in the history of the early Tudors, he is best known for his Tudor Trilogy. Tony’s other international best sellers include ‘Warwick ~ The Man Behind the Wars of the Roses’ and ‘The Secret Diary of Eleanor Cobham’.
For more information please visit Tony’s website and his blog The Writing Desk. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Book Spotlight — The Prodigal Laird, by Vada Vadas #NewRelease #HistoricalRomance #HighlandRomance @Vanda_Vadas

The Prodigal Laird
By Vanda Vadas


His marriage might cease decades of hostilities between two clans, but that doesn't mean he wants it─or his bold new wife who is keeping secrets of her own. Roderick MacLeod arrives in his native Scottish Highlands to pay brief respects to his recently deceased father─the man Roderick blames for the death of his English mother. But before he can return to England, he is saddled with two responsibilities he never asked for: the title of Laird of Clan MacLeod and an unwanted marriage, by proxy, to the daughter of a rival laird.Annabel MacDonald thought she had the perfect marriage; her husband's continued absence allowed her independence and the freedom to secretly hide and abet the escape of her fugitive clansmen. When the husband she'd never met shows up, she must convince him to return to England before he uncovers her many secrets, and perhaps her heart.

Excerpt
Roderick bounded up the stone stairs two at a time. Prowling the upper floors and passageways, he passed a small bedchamber. There, a woman dressed in serviceable attire knelt on the floor beside a bed.
He stood in the doorway and quietly knocked. ‘Servant.’
The young woman turned reproachful eyes on him. She pressed a finger to her lips. ‘Shh.’ Her attention returned to whomever lay abed.
Roderick waited. ‘Servant,’ he asked again.
‘Shhh.’ She shot him a second look—lethal this time—quickly rose and ushered him out.
She stepped into the corridor and gently pulled shut the wooden door. With hands on hips, her direct gaze reprimanded him. ‘I’m not yer servant. And who are ye to be storming the castle and bellowing like a bull?’
She stood almost eye to eye with Roderick. The anomaly caused him to stare. He didn’t recognise her. Without lowering his gaze, he could see her body boasted a woman’s curves. Yellow-green eyes reminded him of a Highland wildcat. They stood out in remarkable contrast to plain features and pale skin.
‘Weel then,’ she said, ‘speak up! I havenae all day to be tarrying in these draughty corridors.’
Corkscrew curls poked out from beneath the tatty scarf wrapped around her head. The colour of her hair offered a clue to her temperament. Fiery red indicated a feisty spirit and this lass did not disappoint.
Her critical words hit a raw nerve. Roderick’s protective nature awakened in favour of his mother. She’d loved this castle, her home, despite its discomforts. He spread his arms wide, looked about him and back at the young woman. ‘Is the castle not up to the standards of a serving lass then?’
Her eyes narrowed. Fearless, she stepped closer. He caught the briny scent of the sea, like that on the shoreline at low tide. She poked his chest with her finger. ‘Mind yer manners. I’ll not tolerate insolence from any man.’
‘Nor will the Laird of Clan MacLeod. Especially from a servant who dares criticise he who offers her a home and protection.’
‘The laird is dead!’
The snap in her insensitive tone, together with the cold hard truth of her words, rushed through Roderick as if she’d mercilessly stabbed him clean to the heart. Reality hit its mark. Intense and unyielding, it pressed heavily upon him.
If Roderick thought it unlikely he’d ever shake his father’s hand and resolve their differences, then reconciliation was impossible now. His father was indeed dead.
Here, now, Roderick made the decision to uphold tradition and duty and grudgingly accept, temporarily, his fate as laird. If only to honour the memory of his mother.
The servant lass muttered darkly to herself and turned away. With his emotions raw, Roderick’s hand shot out to capture her wrist. He gave a tug and spun her around to face him. Words, razor sharp, were out before he could retract them. ‘Never ... turn your back on your laird.’
Her eyes flared a fraction. He knew in that instant she’d registered the implication of what he’d spoken in his half-English, half-Scots accent, a legacy of his upbringing.
‘Unhand me,’ she said.
His grip tightened.
Her steady gaze didn’t waver. ‘I said, unhand me.’ Spoken with the authority of a king.
Roderick glanced down at her slender wrist. Skin as soft as silk warmed his palm. Strange. He didn’t want to let go, until he sensed his father mocking him from the grave. Roderick released her and took a step back.
Her arm fell gracefully at her side. ‘Then ye are Roderick MacLeod.’
He recognised disdain in her voice and indifference in her eyes. He’d expected her to curtsy, perhaps lower her gaze, yet reminded himself he no longer stood in the company of an insipid, subservient English mistress or wife.
She was proving to be a proud Scotswoman, the kind to speak her mind at will, even if not invited to do so. She was no chattel to be owned and ordered about, to obey without question. She would swear allegiance to her laird but not bow down to him.
Her gaze assessed him from head to toe. ‘Laird? I’d hardly have guessed it.’
Roderick accepted the challenge of her bold opinion. ‘Why so?’
‘People speak of the late laird’s son as a man of honour. A man of impeccable manners and appearance.’
Roderick glanced down at his boots caked with mud, and at the dirt smeared on his breeches where he’d wiped his hand when visiting his father’s grave. He touched the stubble on his cheeks and chin. He could only imagine how his unruly hair had been whipped into shape during his long ride. Adding to that, his clothes had long lost the scent of freshly laundered linen. In its place, he reeked of horse and sweat.
If, as she’d said, there’d been any draughts where they stood, he would never have noticed, for beneath her scrutiny he felt uncomfortably warm.
He noted the bloodstains on her apron. ‘Who lies abed?’
She made no effort to hide her contempt. ‘Yesterday, Redcoats happened upon a young boy hunting rabbits. They saw fit to tell him he was the rabbit and if he didnae run fast enough they’d shoot and skin him. Dead or alive. They fired at him.’
Roderick hastened to move past her, towards the room. Her swift hand caught his.‘Clever lad dodged death, except one shot grazed his thigh.’ She snatched her hand back as if she’d touched a red-hot poker. ‘He made his way to the castle. For protection.’Roderick felt pity for the boy. ‘What of his parents?’
‘It seems they may have abandoned him. So he tells me. I’ve just redressed his wound. Now he sleeps. Best he remains so.’
Roderick’s gaze drifted past her shoulder to settle on the closed door. ‘Finvreck is his home for as long as need be. Until his parents return or ... are found.’
‘Or until I find his next of kin. Life can be lonely without the love of one’s family.’ Haunting sadness flashed in her eyes.
‘I’m looking for the MacDonald lass. Do you know her whereabouts?’
She looked puzzled. ‘The MacDonald lass?’
‘Aye.’
Her hands settled on her hips, her expression said she now understood. ‘I ken exactly where she is.’
‘Then if you value your station in this keep, you’ll ensure she reports to the drawing room in one hour.’
She nodded. ‘Aye. I’ll tell her the new laird has returned in a grubby state with a foul temper and wishes to introduce himself.’
‘You’ll tell her nothing. Only that her presence is required.’ Lips the colour of a ripe cherry drew his gaze. ‘You’d do well to curb your tongue, lass.’
‘As ye wish, Laird.’
Roderick did not miss the deliberate inclination of her head. He spun on booted heels, his coat-tails swirling about his knees, and took leave of her.
‘My lord?’
He stopped, without turning. Did she appeal to his Scot’s blood or simply mock his mixed heritage? ‘What is it?’
‘The MacDonald lass. Yer ... wife. Her name is Annabel.’
Roderick glanced at her over his shoulder and caught the defiant glint in her eyes. Her chin lifted a fraction. He entertained an irrational thought, only to have it swept away by the sudden chill of a draught. Without another word, he disappeared into the corridor from which it blew. •
Amazon US •  Amazon UK  •  iBooks  •  Kobo • GooglePlay

Vanda Vadas
Before residing in Australia, Vanda's birthplace and early childhood years were spent in Papua New Guinea. At the age of eleven, a holiday in England sparked an interest in the days of old. Castles, ruins, and discovering Jane Austen novels inspired a life-long interest in all things historical, a passion that later kick-started Vanda's desire to write historical fiction. Subsequent travels to faraway places have served to create fictitious characters and dramas set against authentic and geographical backdrops. The Gold Coast in Queensland is home to Vanda and her husband, where they enjoy walks along world-renowned beaches or a quiet getaway to the lush hills of the Hinterland.Connect and engage with Vanda: Website  • Facebook • Twitter.

We are celebrating the new release of #HistoricalFiction author, R.C. Sprague's, fabulous book — Once Left the Field of Valor #NewRelease @RCSpragueWriter

Once Left the Field of ValorR.C. Sprague Pulled from the clutches of death, Lieutenant Damien Shaw falls victim to the will of fate. After all his soldiers are killed in battle he is riddled with guilt and searching for purpose. Damien finds a blood-stained envelope that holds a German soldier’s death letter addressed to his lover. The discovery sparks a series of debilitating flashbacks and nightmares that threatened to unhinge Damien. Not sure what to do with the letter Damien considered burning it, but the letter has a hold on him. It leads him on a grueling journey of penance to present it to its intended recipient. Damien’s sanity, future, and very life are tied to where the letter steers him.This addicting page turner is filled with action, suspense, romance, and perseverance. It will keep you on edge to the very end and leave you wanting more.
Pick up your copy of 
Once Left the Field of Valor

Amazon UK • Amazon US
Read for FREE on

R.C. Sprague
R.C. Sprague is an author, writer, lyricist, and poet. He writes in various genres of fiction including historical, mystery, YA, fantasy, and general fiction. He also dabbles in non-fiction, professional leadership writing, and sports writing. A native of Florence, Kentucky whose travels have taken him to New York, Boston, Tokyo, Hawaii, Kabul, and countless places in-between. He currently lives just outside of Tokyo, Japan with his wife and three daughters.“I write what I’m passionate about while looking for inspiration in all aspects of life.”-R.C. Sprague Connect with R.C. Sprague: Website • Facebook • Twitter.  

Join Historical Fiction author, Millie Thom, as she takes a look at the Horrors of the Blood Eagle #History #Vikings #HistoricalFiction @MillieThom

The Horrors of the Blood EagleBy Millie Thom
 This incredible hazard sign was shared on Facebook on November 11th2014 by The Heathen Mead Hall. It was one of my daughters who drew my attention to it and my husband immediately wanted to know where he could buy one to put in our front garden. Not that he’s antisocial, or anything… Lol I don’t know where the sign came from, or who made it, but it’s quite hilarious, considering it refers to such a gruesome thing.I’m sure that anyone who’s been following the TV series ‘Vikings’ will already be familiar with what the blood eagle execution entailed. I haven’t watched the series, for the same reason I haven’t read Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Series or Annie Whitehead’s great looking book about Aethelflaed. I don’t want to be influenced by what any say/show until I’ve finished my own books. But I did watch this YouTube video of the blood eagle scene, uploaded by Star Wolf:

Vikings: Blood Eagle*Viewer discretion warning — Not Suitable for under 18
The blood eagle was a method of execution generally inflicted on someone who had committed a crime that revoked his honour, and was designed as an offering to Odin. It was performed by cutting the skin of the victim by the spine, breaking the ribs so they resembled blood-stained wings and pulling the lungs out through the wounds in the victim's back. The use of salt, or a ‘saline stimulant’, was intended to inflict additional suffering and pain and was usually applied before the lungs were spread.Another gruesome image, but probably not primary evidence:
Attibution: https://allthatsinteresting.com/blood-eagle
Victims of the method of execution, as mentioned in skaldic poetry and the Norse sagas, are believed to have included King Aella of Northumbria. Others include Halfdan, son of King Harald Harfagri of Norway, King Maelgualai of Munster, and possibly Archbishop Aelfeah of Canterbury’.Evidence of the blood eagle also appears in Norna-Gests páttr (a legendary Danish saga about the Norse hero Nornagestr, sometimes just called Gestr) when Regin executes Lyngvi:Regin then took his sword from me, and with it carved Lyngvi's back until the ribs were cut from the back, and the lungs drawn out. Thus Lyngvi died with great valour.Historians today are still in dispute over the authenticity of such accounts. The Viking Orkney website discusses whether the blood eagle was really a method of execution, or simply a literary addition, included for dramatic effect. It tells us that the blood eagle appears in several Nordic accounts, as well as one from the Anglo Saxon Chronicle. In that we hear how the Northumbrian king, Aella, was executed by Ivar the Boneless:"They caused the bloody eagle to be carved on the back of Ælla, and they cut away all of the ribs from the spine, and then they ripped out his lungs."And, according to Saxo Grammaticus's  Gesta Danorum :For the slayer by a cruel death of their captive father, Ragnar's sons act the blood-eagle on Ella, and salt his flesh.Some scholars firmly believe that the blood eagle took place. Others believe it could be derived from metaphors used in Skaldic verse – as in the saga attributed to Einar, in which the term ‘eagle’s claws’ represents violent death. Following Halfdan’s death, Einar recited:"Mighty men of no mean race,
From divers mansions of the earth;
But for that they do not know,
These, until they lay me low,
Which of us the eagle’s claws
Shall bow beneath ere all be o’er.”The conventional term for this ancient form of persecution refers to eagles, though it has also been historically associated with owls and referred to as the ‘blood owl’:
An Eagle OwlAccording to Saxo, the term ‘eagle’ was used by men who rejoiced in ‘crushing their most ruthless foe by marking him with the cruellest of birds.’ It has been suggested that this could be the source of the blood eagle episode. But whether the practice was used or not is still highly debatable - although take a look at this image on the Stora Hmmars I Stone on the Swedish island of Gotland:
Attribution: both photos by Athor Berig, Creative Commons
Detail from Stora Hammars 1 clearly shows a man lying on his belly with another man using a weapon on his back. We can also see a Valknut and two birds, one held by a man to the right. Valknut: a symbol consisting of 3 interlocking triangles which appears on a number of objects from the archaeological record of the Germanic peoples. It is sometimes associated with the Norse god, Odin.Brutal deaths have been common throughout history. Our ancestors were definitely a creative lot when it came to finding ways of inflicting pain and executing people. Mutilations were common, but pulling out body parts perhaps not so much. I can only think of the blood eagle and being hung, drawn and quartered, though I wouldn’t be surprised to learn of others. It has been argued that the blood eagle was not too far-fetched to have happened and is no more brutal than hanging, drawing and quartering, impalement, or burning at the stake – or scaphism – also known as ‘the boats’. To me, the latter is the most barbaric, especially when we bear in mind how long the victim took to die. I won’t describe it here, but there are several sites on line for anyone who hasn’t heard of it.  Viking novels and films have become popular in recent years – many of them including scenes of extreme violence and brutality. They make good reading or viewing. I even have a ‘blood-eagling’ scene (King Aelle of Northumbria at the hands of Ivar the Boneless) in my book, Pit of Vipers: Sons of Kings Book 2. But I take care not to present allthe Vikings I write about as totally evil and/or debauched. I even have some rather nice ones.

Pit of Vipers

(Sons of Kings #2)

By Millie Thom

In Pit of Vipers, the second book in the Sons of Kings trilogy, the lives of Alfred of Wessex and Eadwulf of Mercia continue to unfold against the ever increasing threat of Danish raids. 
Now back in his homeland, Eadwulf sets out on his determined quest for revenge, whilst Alfred’s leadership skills develop at the courts of his successive brothers. Before long, those skills will be put to the test . . . 
The Danish invasion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in 865 is merciless and relentless. Every year more Norse ships come to join their comrades in a quest to plunder for wealth and gain domination over the people. 
The Wessex king is now Aethelred, Alfred’s last surviving brother, and Alfred becomes his trusted second-in-command. Whilst the Danes take kingdom after kingdom, the brothers wait with baited breath for them to set their sights on Wessex. 
By 869 their worst fear is realised. 
In the meantime, Eadwulf pursues the objects of his revenge.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Pit of Vipers: Sons of Kings #2 is Highly Recommended by The Coffee Pot Book Club.



Millie Thom
Millie Thom is a former geography and history teacher with a degree in geology and a particular passion for the Anglo-Saxon and Viking period. Originally from Lancashire she is a mother of six grown up children and now lives with her husband in a small village in Nottinghamshire, midway between the town of Newark and the lovely old city of Lincoln. When not writing, Millie enjoys long walks and is a serious fossil hunter. She is also an avid traveller, swimmer and baker of cakes!
Connect with Millie : Website • Twitter • Goodreads.

So, you have written a book — now what? N.N.Light Author Promotions is sharing some fabulous marketing tips #amwriting #promotions #Tips @NNP_W_Light

Tips on marketing by N.N.Light Author Promotions


“Marketing is first and foremost about connecting.”Wendy Paine Miller
Book promotion is something most authors dread. I get that and I’m here to help. Being an author myself, I know how overwhelming it is to sell and market your book. In today’s publishing market, both traditional and indie authors are expected to promote and be active on social media.

Mary Anne asked me to share some book promotion tips with you today. Who am I? My name is Mrs. N and I’m the co-owner of N. N. Light Author Promotions. I’m a social media marketer by trade and I have the social media reach of over thirty-million. I’ve been in the book industry for over twenty-six years and I specialize in matching books to readers. In addition, I’m the author of five books (with more on the way). Here are my top ten promo tips that take less than five minutes a day to take your book promotion to the next level:
1-   Be real not a robot. What do I mean? Unless you’re an automated speaker created by Bezos, you’re a real person. Let the reader world see the real you. You’re more than your books and your writing career. Give readers a sneak peek into what you’re really like. As a baker, I like to post pics on Instagram what I’ve been baking. By showing them I’m a human who has an obsession with chocolate, they connect with me. Given enough time, we forge a friendship and they’ll be curious what my books I’m publishing.
2-   Pick three social media platforms to consistently post curated content. I find my time is limited and tend to post daily if I focus on three platforms. While I have several social media accounts, I’m mainly on Twitter, Instagram and my website. I concentrate on growing my readers with eye-catching tweets, pics and posts.
In order to keep followers interested, it’s important to have different content for different platforms. I tweet about several topics, not just books and reading. The same goes for Instagram. While there will be overlapping topics, I use new words to draw readers in. My ultimate goal is to bring them to my website and click-through to buy my books. This should be your goal as well.

3-   Get visual with graphics. Studies show that 76% more readers will click-through to check out your book(s) if a graphic/photo accompanies your blog posts/tweet/update. Readers are visual creatures and one way to pique their interest is to create a quote graphic. I use Canva and Book Brush for all of my graphics. It’s easy to use and they both have lots of free templates to make creating beautiful graphics a breeze.
4-   Try new ways to reach readers. Every day, a new article is written on ways to reach new readers and get people to buy your books. Everything from contests to book reviews to appearing on a booktuber’s channel are offered but it’s those marketing ideas that are out of the box thinking which tend to yield the greatest results.
One of the most inventive ones I encountered recently was an author’s cover reveal. Instead of just releasing a post, she ran a scavenger hunt on her website. She’d secretly hidden her new cover all over her website and you had to list all ten places where it was. The prize to the winner was a gift card but it was fun!
Guest posting on other authors’/bloggers’ websites are another great way to reach new to you readers. I incorporate this strategy quite a bit. I reach out to a potential and ask about any promotional opportunities available. There’s a ton of authors looking for content on their website/blog while you’re looking for readers who aren’t aware of your books yet. It’s a win-win!


5-   Don’t get bogged down by numbers. We live in a world obsessed by statistics. It’s easy to get discouraged if your tweet wasn’t retweeted or your site stats are tanking. There’s one thing you need to concentrate on and that’s attracting new readers.
Think about what makes you click on a post or a tweet. Was it the wording, the image or something else? Once you have the answer, use it in your social media promotion. Stay motivated.
Look at what topics get a lot of views and then get creative. You’re a writer and creativity is in your DNA. If something doesn’t draw attention, then try something else.
6-   Automation is fine but don’t rely on it 100%. When everything is automated, it seems, the way to stand out is to resist turning into a robot. I use Triberr as part of my connecting with authors, book bloggers, publishers and readers. But I don’t rely on it for 100% of my tweets. I pepper my Twitter feed with real tweets as well as replying to others. Why? Well, no one wants to interact with a robot and I’m all about interacting. I want authors to realize the importance of bringing the social back to social media.
7-   Pound the virtual pavement. Reach out to the publishing community and ask for help. If you struggle with getting book reviews, followers and so forth, ask for help. Sign up for author groups. Do your homework (search for answers online). Research what’s hot right now. No one said being an author is easy. It takes a lot of sweat and innovation to be a success.
8-   Get on Goodreads as a reader, not just an author. Your love for the written word is one of the reasons you became an author in the first place. Let your reader side out and talk about books. There’s a ton of fun groups on Goodreads. Write reviews. Talk about what books you’re looking forward to reading. Connect with readers. It’s all about real interactions when it comes to the author-reader relationship.
9-   Utilize Prolific Works/Book Funnel to your advantage. The whole point of these companies is to bring together readers and authors. It works great for handing out prizes or giving out ARCs to your readers but it’s also a way to introduce readers to you and your books. You can create a sample (the first few chapters) of your book and give it away for free. You can get new readers to check out your books by signing up for genre-themed giveaways. This is especially effective when you’re writing a series and want to give away a prequel, book one or like I mentioned above, a sample.

10-                  Be proactive, courteous and humble. This is key to not only marketing your books but being a success in the book industry. You can’t sit there and wait for readers to come to you. You have to be proactive. Being courteous is simply treating others how you’d like to be treated. Don’t be uppity and look down your nose at readers. They are your bread and butter. They are the reason you’re a writer. Be humble. When someone gives you a glowing review or mentions you in a tweet, thank them. Remember, the book world is small and while there are a lot of authors out there, if you’re a snarky, ungrateful author, word will spread like wildfire. It’s much better to be an author with a generous spirit.
I hope these tips have helped you to see that book promotion is not only essential but fun, too. You’ve done the hard stuff, writing and publishing the book. Promotion is sharing your writing with the world while building your brand.

To find out more about N.N.Light's Book Heaven Spocial Media Promotions, click


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 N. N. Light Author Promotions N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm, has been in business since 2015 and we pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities.  Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover new authors via word of mouth, especially quality honest book reviews and author interviews. We have the social media reach of over thirty million. We love promoting authors and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit. Before we let you know what we offer and how we operate, let us tell you a little bit about ourselves.
Mrs. N was born in Minnesota, lived in Southern California only to move to chilly Ontario, Canada to marry her beloved husband MR N. She is the co-author (along with Mr. N) of five books. Our combined fifty-seven-year expertise while working in the publishing industry has helped us tremendously in how to write, edit, review, market and promote books in today’s publishing market. We love helping writers achieve their dream of being a successful author.
Mr. N is a numismatist by trade for the largest coin dealer in Canada but has always loved reading and reviewing books. Joining forces with his wife, they write together under the pen name N. N. Light and he especially loves helping other authors succeed.
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#HistoricalRomance author, Lisa Dawn Wadler, is sharing the inspiration behind her fabulous book — The Draig’s Choice #timetravel #Scotland

Historical Romance author, Lisa Dawn Wadler, is sharing the inspiration behind her fabulous book — The Draig’s Choice.
The Draig’s Choice is the fourth book in the Draig series. While each novel stands alone, they are all connected via clan lore and customs. Each novel contains a heroine able to take care of herself, martial arts capabilities will always be present to shake up preconceived notions in the dark ages/medieval age of Scotland. My personal background in martial arts is always part of my inspiration. Time travel romance allows modern capabilities to meet swoon-worthy lairds of the past.
Clan lore was the heart of the inspiration. In The Draig’s Wife, Laird Declan has to marry or forfeit his lands, title and wealth. The edict, which had been handed down through multiple generations, had been commanded by Robert the Bruce. While the clan had always assumed the edict to be a jest or odd compliment to Declan’s great-grandparents, it drove the hero and heroine into a rushed marriage to save the clan from – well, I’ll let you read that one for yourself.
The task with The Draig’s Choice began with what drove Robert the Bruce to even command the clan with such a seemingly trivial edict. The question became “what type of love moves kings?”.  If contained within a romance novel, we know the road isn’t easy, that obstacles and challenges will threaten the would-be couple. Sarah and Conall were challenged from the moment they met even while drawn to the other with the overwhelming certainty they belong together.
Spoiler: they get together, that’s the point of romance. Sarah and Conall’s courtship spanned only days. The rapid-paced love story left plenty of space to question the repercussions of hasty love. As individuals they didn’t truly know each other, what drove each of them, their individual hopes and dreams, much less having a mutual goal for tomorrow. So, I challenged their love and made them work for it. In my opinion this made them a stronger couple.
Then they had to face Robert the Bruce. Full apologies to the late ruler, I made him the nemesis. I’m sure he was a lovely human being in life and only fought battles on the side of righteousness.
The Draig’s Choice had one other form of inspiration that came from a place of author/personal insecurity. Another of the Draig Series had a reviewer comment that she hadn’t believed the time travel and that the heroine adjusted too easily to being trapped in the past. First, if you’re going to read fictional time travel romance, you have to believe in the impossible or at least the improbable. To the best of my knowledge, time travel still doesn’t exist.
The first draft had Sarah lost in her denial and disbelief on the time travel. Her whining went on for over one-hundred pages. When I realized I wrote for someone who would never read another of my books, I hit delete and started over. I went back to my writing the type of story I want to read. Yet the influence remained. Sarah’s being a psychologist likely came from that erased version. Her walk through the five stages of grief allowed me to feel as if she’d struggled and learned to move forward. Take a quiet afternoon or evening and travel through time with me. Suspend reality for a few hours. Fall madly in love and fight for your passionate future. Love conquers all, even Robert the Bruce.
The Draig’s Choice

Fate and love defy a king.

Sarah leaps through a doorway to save her dog, never intending to change her life. Landing in 14th century Scotland has her facing life without her family, lost in time, and face to face with the most incredible Highlander, who shoots her in the arse with an arrow. Her skills as a psychologist and martial arts black belt become necessary to her survival and allows her to aid the warrior who captures her heart despite his being ordered to marry another. Life as a time-traveler hasn’t turned out as dreamily as a romance novel. Fate has a nasty sense of humor.

Laird Conall of the Draig clan has heard the legends of travelers from the mythical land of Arizona his entire life. Commanded to marry another, he longs for Sarah, fantasizing that she has come for him. Time is short on his ancestral lands. Robert the Bruce waits for his sword arm to rejoin the fight. Fate and Sarah change the course of his life, much to his delight. 

A love worthy of clan legends faces the ultimate challenge when the Bruce demands it must end. 

A stand-alone novel.
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Lisa Dawn Wadler
Lisa began writing after reading yet another romance novel where the heroine needed a man to rescue her from physical harm. While a firm believer in the strong alpha-male hero in any story, she wondered what would happen if that hero met a woman who was able to take care of herself physically. Using her several years of Tae Kwon Do training and mixing in time travel, her multi-award winning debut novel, The Draig’s Woman was born.

Lisa lives in the Chicago suburbs and is married to her high school sweetheart. They have two children and one very spoiled dog.

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#BookReview — The Prodigal Laird, by Vanda Vadas #HistoricalRomance #HighlandRomance @Vanda_Vadas

The Prodigal LairdBy Vanda Vadas


His marriage might cease decades of hostilities between two clans, but that doesn't mean he wants it─or his bold new wife who is keeping secrets of her own. Roderick MacLeod arrives in his native Scottish Highlands to pay brief respects to his recently deceased father─the man Roderick blames for the death of his English mother. But before he can return to England, he is saddled with two responsibilities he never asked for: the title of Laird of Clan MacLeod and an unwanted marriage, by proxy, to the daughter of a rival laird.

Annabel MacDonald thought she had the perfect marriage; her husband's continued absence allowed her independence and the freedom to secretly hide and abet the escape of her fugitive clansmen. When the husband she'd never met shows up, she must convince him to return to England before he uncovers her many secrets, and perhaps her heart.



“Have you gone completely mad? If, and when, I feel the need to marry, I’ll pick the lass. Not be shackled to one of my father’s choosing. I’ll wager the poor woman had no say in the matter either.”
Roderick MacLeod has never forgiven his father. Even now, standing at his father’s grave, all Roderick feels is anger. Roderick wished it wasn’t so, but Malcolm MacLeod had always been known for his warring ways. If his father had just for one moment stopped and thought before he reached for his weapons then Roderick's mother would still be alive.
Roderick feels nothing but bitter memories at his childhood home of Castle Finvreck. The sooner Roderick returns to England, the better. However, first, he must pass on his inherited Lairdship to someone who actually wanted it. 
Unfortunately, his father has played a cruel last hand — a hand that would tie Roderick to this cursed kingdom forever. For in his absence, Roderick learns that he is married, on his father’s command, to a woman from the rival MacDonald clan. Roderick knows that marriage by proxy is not legal, and he intends to inform his so-called bride at the same time as he plans to tell his people to look for another man to lead them. Nothing will stop him from leaving Scotland for England. He had not, however, countered on Annabel MacDonald, his bride. She wasn’t what he expected, and against his better judgement, he finds himself inexplicitly drawn towards her. 
Annabel had no desire to see her husband. She was happy with the way things were. A husband would only complicate her already overcomplicated life, for Annabel is aiding and abetting fugitive clansmen, who fought at Culloden, escape an English unmerciful execution. Annabel hopes Roderick's visit will be a fleeting one.
However, Roderick makes Annabel feel things that she has never felt before. She is torn between wanting Roderick to fall in love with her and saving the lives of those who had fought at Culloden. If only she could tell Roderick the truth about what she was doing. If only he would understand…
Set in the majestic beauty of the North-Western Highlands of Scotland, The Prodigal Laird by Vanda Vadas is the utterly captivating and heartwarming love story between a reluctant Laird and a woman who would be his wife.
I was immediately drawn into the world of Roderick and the MacLeod clan. Vadas has penned a compelling love story set against the backdrop of Jacobite defeat. The Prodigal Laird is set a year after the Battle of Culloden when the after-effects of the fray was still being felt throughout the Highlands. The English government wanted not only to punish those who had fought with Bonnie Prince Charlie, but they also wanted to prevent any further rebellions. Those who fought against the English now found their lands, and in many cases, their lives forfeited to the Crown. However, that was not all, for the English government wanted to see an end to the clan system and everything it stood for. Vadas paints a vivid portrait of the hardship and struggles faced by those who lived in the Highlands during this time. Although the desperate plight of those who had been involved in the rebellion as they tried to flee to France before the English soldiers caught up with them is a subplot to this beautiful romance, Vadas still managed to portray the utter despair and fear that these loyal Highlanders faced. The plight of young Thomas was particularly distressing and demonstrated why Vadas’ heroine, Annabel, felt so moved to help her people escape from so-called English justice.
Vadas has created a highly appealing protagonist in Annabel. I absolutely adored her. Annabel is incredibly courageous, but also wonderfully feminine. She is ready to be fallen in love with. Her quick wit and fiery spirit are a perfect match for the MacLeod’s prodigal Laird. Likewise, I thought Roderick was very well crafted, and as with all good romances, he is a character that is easy to fall for.
The chemistry between Roderick and Annabel is a slow simmering seductive build, and like all great romances, that first kiss was incredibly evocative. But, there is more to their relationship than sexual tension and attraction. Roderick and Annabel are well matched in both mind and spirit, which gives this love story creditability.
The antagonist of this tale changes as the story progresses. At first, it seems that the antagonist is Roderick’s father, for he is the reason Roderick finds himself back in Scotland in the first place, and then it seems to be Annabel’s father. However, this all changes when Captain Hubert Stoke comes on the scene. Stoke is a cruel and dangerous man, who is determined to make a name for himself at the Highlanders expense. Vadas has an intuitive understanding of what makes a good villain! I loathed Stokes. He is just awful, but then I should imagine that is what Vadas intended for her readers to feel all along.
The Prodigal Laird is a tautly gripping romance which is absolutely impossible to put down once started. It is engaging, engrossing, enthralling and irresistible. When Historical Romance is written like this, there is no such thing as too many pages.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde. The Coffee Pot Book Club.

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Vanda Vadas
Before residing in Australia, Vanda's birthplace and early childhood years were spent in Papua New Guinea. At the age of eleven, a holiday in England sparked an interest in the days of old. Castles, ruins, and discovering Jane Austen novels inspired a life-long interest in all things historical, a passion that later kick-started Vanda's desire to write historical fiction. Subsequent travels to faraway places have served to create fictitious characters and dramas set against authentic and geographical backdrops. The Gold Coast in Queensland is home to Vanda and her husband, where they enjoy walks along world-renowned beaches or a quiet getaway to the lush hills of the Hinterland.
Connect and engage with Vanda: Website  • Facebook • Twitter.

Join Historical Fiction author, Thomas Berry, as he talks about the inspiration behind his books #amwriting #HistoricalFiction #AncientGreece @TBerryAuthor

Join Historical Fiction author, Thomas Berry, as he talks about the inspiration behind his books.

There is something remarkable in the smile of a young child or the gleam in their eye when they learn something for the very first time.  It brings a joy to my heart and lifts my spirit to new heights. There is an innocence which transcends adult vices, bigotry, and intolerance. I was blessed with five children and most are all grown now.   Some have graduated college and started lives of their own.  Others are still navigating the academic and social circles of higher education.  Despite their ages, I still enjoy looking at an old picture of them or reflecting on a favorite memory.  Those are priceless to both me and my wife of 26 years.
I have always enjoyed reading and the rich stories brought forth in the pages of a good book. The best are those which taught me something when I didn’t even know I was learning.  A novel from a historical period or a biography of a person who made an impact on society.  When I started writing about 15 years ago, I began with short stories based on the world around me.  My children were at my core and the natural basis for my earliest muses.  As I grew as a writer, my stories took on a life of their own in ways I never could have imagined. 
I began writing the kind of stories that I had always enjoyed reading, those that taught me something of value within the framework of characters, dialogue, and plot twists.   My style was honed by the authors I was fond of.  I keep my chapters short so the reader is more likely to continue on, even if it’s late!  I have exciting endings and cliff-hangers which hold their attention and keep them coming back for more.  Most of all, I want my characters to be 3-dimensional, fully developed people.  I have never encountered anyone in the real world who are wholly good or completely evil.  They are nuanced and flawed.  That’s life.
An essential part of writing historical fiction is the research involved. I chose a topic we’ve all heard about in classrooms but have rarely explored in much depth.  What better way to help others touch the past?  My novel Lewis and Clark:Murder on the Natchez Trace offered a rare look into the famous expedition of the American west in the early nineteenth century.  Names such as Sacagawea and Tecumseh came to life alongside William Clark, Meriwether Lewis, and Thomas Jefferson.  The novel took a unique approach into the death of Lewis six years after returning from their journey and the subsequent investigation that took place during the War of 1812. 
The author at the Alamo during the 175th anniversary, 2011.

My second novel kept with the old west theme but set the geography a little further south.  I wanted to see what really happened to the men and women of the Alamo in 1836 and the more I researched, the more interesting these American colonists became for me.  Davy Crockett was no simple frontiersman with a coonskin hat.  He was a congressman who hated the backwoods caricature his political opponents put forth in the media.  James Bowie, famous for the sturdy blade that bears his name, was a daring, larger-than-life figure who succumbed to illness at the worst possible time.  TexasFreedom: Last Stand at the Alamo is an exciting tale that outlines the events surrounding the massacre on the Mexican frontier.
My third book, Crosshairs , moved the time period up 100 years as it details the real-life adventures of three veterans during World War II.  One of them was my grandfather so you can imagine these stories hold a special place in my heart! I had the privilege of interviewing these men and uncovering the truth surrounding the harrowing ordeals and missions they undertook.  Two of them were American pilots flying bombing raids over Europe.  One was shot down and survived several POW camps and numerous escape attempts.  The other flew over 30 missions and ended his combat duties in a top-secret operation alongside Joseph Kennedy Jr., the older brother of JFK.  The third veteran entered the war on the beaches of Normandy and fought through the rugged mountain passes of Italy up into the Po Valley.  I spent countless hours of extensive research to bring their stories to life and even found the planes and crewmates the pilots flew with!  Those were exciting moments for me.
The author’s grandfather, Donald Malloy, (L), and crew prepare for a bombing mission over Europe.
Throughout all these novels, I had a pet project I was developing on the side.  As the stories of the old west took fruition and the skies above Nazi Germany filled with large four engine birds, I kept harking back to another time and place, far removed from the events I was writing.  I understood only too well how life can bring you back to your roots.  Time runs full circle and the days of your past eventually catch up to you.  I wanted to explore the very beginnings of our society, when democracy and socialism were not yet synonymous with America and Russia. 
Gifts of the Gods: Iron and Bronze is my latest novel, the first in a trilogy on Ancient Greece.  It explores the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta and uncovers the very framework on which our present world is based.  The events of World War I and II all have their roots here. We live in a society of black and white thinking.  America is ‘good’ and Russia ‘evil’.  We are told that democracy and socialism cannot co-exist together.  However, these ideas both started from the same fundamental problem.  When the rich have too much power and the poor have nothing, what do you do?  Athens and Sparta answered the problem in completely opposite ways but they both set about trying to create the perfect society.  Did they succeed?  More importantly, how do we learn from them? 

The terrible wars that continue to plague us today hark back to those times when allies formed alliances for safety but dragged us down a dark road we weren’t prepared to deal with.  The statesmen who gave all their citizens the right to vote soon learned that mob mentality is a frightening concept.  And when everyone is equal, and society seems perfect, what price are you willing to pay to secure it?  Brutal regimes and systematic purges, together with deep isolation, kept a tight rein on its citizen body.  Do these ideas sound familiar?  They existed in Ancient Greece and in the 21stcentury as well.
If we learn anything from history, we know that life is not black and white, and intolerance is often at the root of most conflicts.  We must understand the nuances and flaws not only in each other but in ourselves as well.  As I develop as a writer, I find myself growing as a person and I hope to challenge others to do the same.  So put down the remote, turn off the video games, and grab a good book!

Gifts of the Gods: Iron and Bronze

Five men and women in Ancient Greece are set on a dangerous journey of self-discovery during the bitter conflict of the Peloponnesian War.
Fifty years after King Leonidas of Sparta and his brave 300 fought to the death against Xerxes’ Persian hordes at Thermopylae, a long and bloody rivalry erupted between the new superpowers of the era.  The world of Ancient Greece in 480 B.C. was evolving into a new landscape.  The isolated, socialist regime that grew from their king’s sacrifice soon found itself at a vital crossroads with the democratic empire of Athens.  The Peloponnesian War was not just a battle for political ideology but a brutal military campaign pitting the world’s strongest army against the most powerful navy that ever sailed the seas.  The fallout from this consummate struggle would change the course of human history forever.
Amidst the battlefields, ordinary men and women continue to work together behind walled cities and open farmland in order to survive. The Olympic festivals honor the gods with their renowned athletic contests and one woman finds herself in a deadly gamble when she must make an agonizing choice.  A young helot slave longs for freedom while a new wife imperils herself to stand by her husband and home.  When a wealthy aristocrat finds his world turned upside down, he must learn what true sacrifice and honor are all about. A Spartan officer who has lived by a strict code of tradition must discover new ways to cope in an unconventional war.
Five people from different walks of life must adapt to their changing world while remaining true to themselves.  Who will survive the war and what will their lives be like when it’s over?
Giveaway

Thomas Berry is giving away two paperback copies of his award-winning book "Gifts of the Gods: Iron and Bronze. * ebook copies for international winners.


All you need to do is answer this question:
“What is your favourite period in American history and why?” 

Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Giveaway Rules
• Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm BST on March 28th.
You must be 18 or older to enter.

• Giveaway is only open to Internationally.
•Only one entry per household.
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
•Winners will be announced in the comments.
• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.



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Thomas Berry
Thomas Berry received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University.  He takes pleasure in extensively researching both historical fiction and non-fiction stories.  In his spare time, he enjoys long distance running and has completed several marathons.  He currently lives with his wife and five children in New Jersey.  You can learn more about Thomas and his historical novels at his website.