Barbara Elsborg's Blog: https://www.barbaraelsborg.com/blog, page 5
July 8, 2021
Waiting for Ru
Will be released on the 22nd July!
Ruari Byrne may not have had an easy life, but now he’s determined to live in the present, not his past. Trouble is, it’s hard to be independent when you’ve no money and no qualifications. All Ru knows is horses, and when he finds out that his beloved Joni and Cookie are off to auction, his heart is in his throat. How can he protect them if he can’t even look after himself?
Jasim bin Rajhi hadn’t intended to buy two working mares; the horses in his rarefied life are expensive polo ponies, but there’s something that intrigues him about the guileless young man who’s so concerned for their welfare. They might be worlds apart in every way, but Jasim doesn’t want this to be the last time he sees Ru. It can’t be, because Ru might just be the one he’s been waiting for.
Reunited at Jasim’s polo grounds, the pair bond over lives lived in darkness and secrecy. But there’s a truth about Jasim that should make Ru bolt like his beloved horses. Jasim knows he should let Ru go for his own safety, and yet it feels like happiness might be within their grasp. Can they overcome their pasts to trust in a future, or will Jasim’s obligations forever have a hold on him?
Warning: contains references to past abuse and paid-for sex (in a previous book), physical violence and abduction. There is one oblique reference to suicide. But no horses were seriously harmed in the making of this tale :)
Jasim is a character from a previous book - Give Yourself Away - which is available on KU but will be at a reduced price from 11th July to the 18th. It's not necessary to have read this book before reading Ru's story but you might like to!
May 24, 2021
Plodding on
I'm over halfway through the next book in the Unfinished Business series and I feel like I'm plodding. I suspect that might have more to do with 'real life' than my writing. There is always something to stress about and while I seem to be pretty good at persuading others not to worry, I don't convince myself. LOL
I love writing. I don't love everything that goes along with it. I feel as if I'm always chasing ways to be seen, to be read and I'm always behind the curve. Book trailers were in - I couldn't attempt them. Now they're not in fashion, yes, I can manage them fine. I tried with Instagram - failed. I can't get the hang of Pinterest. I tried with TikTok and I can't even download it on my phone. I tweet into the void on Twitter. I post intermittently on here.
I need a kick! Since I'm writing about horses, that might well happen! LOL
May 12, 2021
An early peek at a cover!
Jonty's Halloween is written and only requires a bit of work before it's ready for release. But not until September. I don't think it works any earlier in the year. But B4Jay, my fabulous cover artist, had an early read of the book and has created a fantastic cover! What do you think?
March 24, 2021
Reinventing Cato out today!
Fate is not always written in the stars…
Being headhunted by NASA might be his ultimate dream, but Cato’s life still sucks. He’s tired of anonymous one-night stands. He’s tired of being lonely. And, frankly, he’s tired of himself. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, he realises the only thing to do if he wants to be happy is to reinvent himself.
Persuaded by his sister to spend New Year’s Eve in Scotland with his parents, Vigge can’t escape the memory of why their family fractured eighteen years ago, and his part in it. He’s channelled the guilt he feels into finding truth and justice for others, but his own life is empty and cold.
A chance encounter at a snowbound airport has Vigge and Cato colliding in more ways than one. Someone seems to have it in for Cato, and as Vigge gets drawn into the mess of Cato’s life, he finds himself falling for the sexy scientist. If only Vigge can make peace with his past and step away from the darkness, they just might have a chance at a future as bright as Cato’s beloved stars.
March 15, 2021
Christmas in March
Well, it isn't, but I'm 43,000 words into a Christmas story, mostly because if I left writing one until I'd finished my next book, I'd feel under pressure and I don't like writing under pressure. So I've just been describing a Christmas dinner and Christmas presents and it feels very strange.
This is going to be a paranormal story, but like all my other paranormal tales, set in a recognisable contemporary world. The difficulty I'll have when it's done, is not to publish it straight away. The main characters are called Fabian and Garrett. I love them already.
This is an unedited snippet! Possibly entitled What If?
Garrett was late and his father was going to be furious. He was supposed to be back before nightfall and it was way past that, and entirely his fault. He’d miscalculated how long it would take to get from the cinema to the Emporium. Bloody London traffic. As he ran down the road, dodging pedestrians, he tried to think up a lie that his father would believe because if he discovered Garrett had spent the afternoon watching a film about a battle in outer space, that would be the last time Garrett was allowed out.
He had solved the issue he’d been sent to deal with, just not in the way he was supposed to. Liam Flanagan was currently on his way out of the capital, destination unknown—safer for both of them—and no longer a thorn in anyone’s side, as long as the idiot managed to keep his head down and not do any more magic. He’d have to find another way to impress the ladies. Garrett wasn’t impressed by Liam’s winsome smile. The guy had no idea how lucky he was that Garrett’s brother hadn’t been sent to deal with him.
Garrett wasn’t far from his destination when it started to snow. He tipped back his head to look up into the swirling flakes, then took a quick glance both ways to check the road was clear, only for his gaze to snag on someone he’d never expected to see again. He froze in shock. Is it really him? Only thinking of getting closer and making sure he wasn’t seeing things, Garrett stepped straight into the side of a passing car. As he was tossed into the air, three things went through his mind.
This is going to hurt.
Now I’ll never know if I was right or not.
But I have a good excuse for being late.
March Madness
I’m taking part in a group promotion from the 12th March to the 22nd March along with V.L. Locey, N.J. Lysk, Jessie G, Jackie North, Kasia Bacon, Jamie Lynn Miller, JP Sayle, Kaje Harper, Louisa Masters, Nic Starr, K. Evan Coles, and Jackie Keswick. One lucky winner will win a bundle of prizes including 3 x $5 gift cards, 8 x backlist ebooks, 1 x audiocode, 1 x swag bundle You can enter here: ,http://bit.ly/MMRJGp3
The backlist book I'm trying to draw attention to is Falling! It contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.
February 17, 2021
Reinventing Cato
I made a trailer!!
January 31, 2021
Busy!
Well, I have finished writing not just Cato's story - soon to be published, but also finished a short story about Devan and Jonty. Jonty in Russia will be published this week!
Blurb -
When Devan, the Best Boyfriend in the Entire World, books them a trip to Russia in
February, Jonty’s excitement knows no bounds. There’s packing to do, plans to be
made, and places to see.
Armed with his smile and a handful of dubious Russian phrases, Jonty is ready for
the delights Vladivostok has to offer – the famous glass beach he’s dreamed about,
ice skating on a frozen sea, and snow. And maybe even vodka. But, is Vladivostok
ready for Jonty Bloom?
Thanks to B4Jay for yet another fab cover!
January 10, 2021
Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I finally finished Reinventing Cato - and without tweaks it's almost 104,000. I really didn't think it would be as long as that, but there we go.
Don't use one word when ten will do Elsborg - strikes again.
I have no blurb. Those who know me will recognise that bleating complaint. I find them very hard to write. When it's just taken me months to tell Cato's story, summing up in 300 words what it is that makes this book worth reading - is nowhere in my head. Oh to just be able to say - READ THIS. YOU'LL LIKE IT!
Soon, all 104,000 words will be in the hands of my beta readers. For those of you who don't know what they are, they read a rough-ish version and make suggestions as to what works and what doesn't. Sometimes pointing out grammar mistakes or spelling mistakes or inadvertent Americanisms slipping in, but generally giving a thumbs up or down. They look for timeline errors, character slips - brown hair or not? That sort of thing. They tell me what makes them laugh, what makes them cry and I can either breathe a sigh of relief or gnash my teeth. I have several beta readers who all bring something different to the table and I'm grateful for all advice and suggestions whether I listen or not.
This book also required help from the police and astrophysicists. I was lucky enough to find people willing to answer questions. Brave souls. Even the dumb question - do astrophysicists actually look through telescopes? The answer will surprise most of you, I suspect. It did me.
Well, I need a blurb. I need a cover and I need to reread. But I'm hoping to publish in late February.
I hope you picked up my free story from Prolific Works. The giveaway ends today but I'll be putting the tale on Smashwords in a day or so and it will be on Apple, Kobo and Barnes and Noble too.
December 19, 2020
Almost finished Cato's story
Phew, but I have to finish the last chapter, write an epilogue and Cato's story is done. It needs rereading before I let my beta readers have a look but I really hope I've finished it before Christmas.
On a personal front - our house has been disrupted by having a new floor, and newly painted kitchen units - the whole thing has been going on for weeks and weeks. Another thing I hope is done for Christmas. A picture below of how I'm having to work - amidst the
contents of my kitchen! Note the box of After Eight mints in the foreground. They are there no longer! My laptop can just be seen at the top.
