Ally Blake's Blog, page 23

writer in residence...

AsI spend my year writing, I am making myself available to answer any and all ofyour writing related questions.  Writers'block, revisions, plotting, voice, head-hopping, POV, how to submit to apublisher, anything that you're struggling with as you attempt to finish thedamn book, you only have to ask.
First up I'll be nattering about Stretching Your Writing Muscles, so watch this space!
For more youcan find me on Facebook, my blog, @ twitter or email me at ally@allyblake.comwith Writers in Residence in the subject line.

Images of Christmas

I can't believe its been days since Christmas already! 

I'm thoroughly enjoying my shiny massive new computer monitor which my clever hubby bought me, and have only JUST finished putting together all the kids new toys - seriously how many twisty ties, and rubber bands, and metal doohickies do you need to stop someone from nicking a toy from the box!!!

Anyhoo, since we're still enjoying the spoils, I thought I'd put up a few images of my Christmas.
Such as my eldest - Curly Girl - whose adept use of the alphabet came into its own as she separated the gifts according to name - only after weighing and comparing first ;).
The fact that Bright Eyes - my 2 year old - ended up dress-free second year in a row. (At least this year it was bubble mix she poured all over herself.  Last year it was red wine!)
And the amazing fact that my curious Little Man actually left the Christmas tree alone.
Hope you've all had some lovely family time this week too, and are getting excited about the new year as I am!
Til then...

now who got an ereader for Christmas?!

I got one - a Sony Reader - from clever hubby last year and have read more in twelve months than I have in the past half dozen years!  Seriously.  That's the one thing they don't tell you about selling a book, writing them to order cuts into your reading time big time.  But something about an ereader just makes it easier.  The easy weight of the thing, the fact that you have dozens of book choices at your fingertips, that you an download a new book in just seconds.  Heaven!
If Santa's been good to you, or if you are about to be good to someone else, here are some places where you can get every Ally Blake title available to kick start your new reading year!



Publisher Direct eHarlequin Mills and Boon
Kindle   Amazon  North America Amazon  UK
Apple iBooks iTunes  Australia iTunes  North America eReader Shops NOOK books  Barnes & Noble ReaderStore Sony  Mobipocket Kobo

Enjoy!!! 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas down under looks quite a bit different from the snow covered Christmas cards even we sell in the shops!
For me means sunshine, sunscreen, & mozzie repellant.   It means paper hats, Santa stockings, and bon-bons. It means prawns, lobster, Moreton Bay bugs (which are waaaay yummier than they sound ;)).  Mangoes, plums, & nectarines.  Trifle, pavlova, & chocolate truffles.  And presents as far as the eye can see.
Wishing you all a big scrummy yummy Merry Christmas to you all from my family and me here in sunny Australia!

4 and a half star review!

Stumbled upon a lovely reader review of my first ever book The Wedding Wish , at the Book Binge.  4.5 out of 5!  Not bad, eh?   They said: 

"I thought they were perfect for each other and the way that they foughttheir attraction and seeing Holly come to realize that she was head over heelsin love with Jacob made this story just so darned cute.

My only complaint was that it was too short, I wanted more (from being thegreedy wench that I am) Jacob but other than the shortness of the story, it wasa fun way to spend a couple of hours. Kudos to Ally Blake. I'm so itching toread more from her."

Thanks Book Binge!

The Wedding Wish is out and about in a three book collection with stories by the gorgeous Barbara Hannay and fantabulous Fiona Harper.
More about the book.  Buy the book.  eBook.

my office

While in Melbourne I had come to rely on my local library as my place of business.  With three little kids in the house I couldn't write at home as my ears were constantly alert for any noises coming from their rooms as they slept, even with super hubby at home to take care of them.  It's a mum thing, right?
Now in Brissy I still use my awesome library once a week, but 2-3 nights a week I write here.  Immersed in the light and energy of Brisbane's fabulous street of bars, restaurants and cafes, Park Road.
I sit under the Eiffel Tower.  Gorgeous right?  Add a slew of charming waiters who see me coming and have my order - latte and jam drop - on my table before I've even sat down, and tables full of men speaking Italian to add to the ambiance, and what more could a romance writer ask for!
 

my holiday

Have finally found the time to go through the photos taken on my girls weekend and found an odd trend - lots of pictures taken of my feet!


Being that I am "the holder of the camera" in our household, I'm lucky to turn up in 2 or 3 pics in a year with the kids getting the lion's share of the action, and hubby appearing nearly just as much, and often in his pajamas.  No shock then that the yearly photo album takes some careful planning ;).


Anyhoo, I think the feet thing is my proof I was really there.  Lazing in the sunshine, strolling along the beach, dipping my hot toes in the blissfully cool water.


'Twas a gorgeous weekend, now must get onto the girls to book the next!!!

happy birthday captain jack!

Today my baby boy turns one.  And not a sweeter, warmer, more loving, stronger, tougher kid ever there was. This pic is of him snuggling against my knee as I attempted to take his photo.  Just yum.
My girls at this age liked making animal noises.  Dogs, elephants that kind of thing.  My boy?  He spends his days growling like a pirate - Argh! - hence the Captain Jack nickname.  He's just a honey.

Happy Birthday Little Man!
Love Mum
xXx

And the winner is...

eBooks!  No, paperbacks.  Well, from all your gorgeous comments, emails, and tweets  over the past week I see that so many of you are just like me, happy bridging the gap between both reading mediums.

And how much of the pleasure of reading is in the experience as well as the story -  the ability to do it in the bath, to hide inside your head on a long train trip, to take a number of stories in one light package on holiday, to feel the soft flick of a page turning against your finger.  Reading isn't just an escape, it's a sensory gift.
As for the winner of three of my books, autographed an all, after using the tried and true close your eyes, spin around three times and point method, the winner is... Melissa Wright!Melissa, email me on ally@allyblake.com and let me know which of my books you'd like and I'll send them your way ASAP!  Check out my booklist here.

last chance to win a bunch of autographed books!

Last day for my double whammy BIG BOOK GIVEAWAYS!!!
Comment here, on Facebook or to my Twitter for your chance to win your choice of three Ally Blake books, signed by moi.
Or head on over to Goodreads to win all three of my Kellys of Brisbane trilogy.  Once again signed.  once again my me ;).

Good luck everyone!