Janice Horton's Blog, page 38

The Very Next Day....

Well, there are empty champagne bottles strewn around and the place is a total mess, but what can I say, I've got to hand it to you all bloggers and tweeps alike - you absolutely know how to party and 'Reaching for the Stars' really did get a fantastic send off yesterday!
By early evening we had stormed though not one but three Top 100 charts on Amazon (okay, I haven't logged on yet to see where we are this morning) but we cracked the Top 50 at number 49 of the Women Writers Fiction! Yay!!

Click on the image to enlarge the screen shot taken from Amazon yesterday showing Reaching for the Stars in the bestseller chart rankings...!
First off, this morning, I have many many people to thank and the list is rather long.

This is a bit like an Oscar Speech or something - because I'm well aware that I might have written the book on my own - but after that I had an extensive team on board.
I'd like to thank my husband Trav, for his strength, patience and love, and our three wonderful sons. Next, the Writers Scotland Group -  my writerly soul mates of a higher order. Loveahappyending, headed up by the wonderful Linn B Halton and supported by the fabulous Associate Authors, Editors and Readers. Then there is the amazing Team Horton (to whom my book is dedicated) and, in amongst those amazing people on my team is my lovely and clever Editor, Kit Domino.
Special mentions go to Sara Bain, my wonderful friend and ace photographer who absolutely knows how to use lighting, JT Lindroos, my fabulous book cover designer who is so wise and competent.
So as you can see, this is not a lonely effort but one which relies entirely on those who cheer me on, those who offer me advice when it's needed and yet are always there to party when it's necessary. Thank you so very much each and every one of you - I love you all!
Before I list all the fabulous party peeps - I'd like to ask you to take a minute to pop over to the lovely Lou Graham's Blog today. Lou is a very respected book blogger and she was gracious enough to offer to do the very first review of 'Reaching for the Stars' (she gave it five stars!) as well as kicking off my ten stop blog tour as my host - where she is interviewing two of the main characters in 'Reaching for the Stars':Click to go to my 1st Book Blog Tour Host - Lou Graham's Book Blog




melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/ gillyfraser.wordpress.com books-to-remember.blogspot.com/ jontybabe.blogspot.com lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com
mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog fontsandfiction.blogspot.com cathiedunn.blogspot.com ten-lives-second-chances.blogspot.com/ shazjera.blogspot.com kitdomino.wordpress.com patriciasands.wordpress.com jlbcreatives.blogspot.com lotsocats100-fascinatingbooks.blogspot.com jessstrassnerbooks.blogspot.com neetswriter.com janerichardsonhome.blogspot.com/ dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.com/ nickywellsklippert.wordpress.com/ ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com elizagreenbooks.com lifesanidiom.blogspot.com kennethrosenberg.blogspot.com katylittlelady.com/ sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.com/ myraduffy-awriterslot.blogspot.com liz-crump.blogspot.com cassam-isanyonethere.blogspot.com glynissmy.com lifeinclarity.blogspot.com myraduffy-awriterslot.blogspot.com chrislongmuir.blogspot.com/ mamajheartschicklit.blogspot.com/ rebeccaleithsblog.blogspot.com stephaniekeyes.blogspot.com sherylbrowne.com ramblingsofarustywriter.blogspot.com/ alwaysreading.net inkpotsandquills.blogspot.com paulinembarclay.blogspot.com@jolambertwriter
@suefortin1
@Lougrahamii
@bookreviewbyrea
@StephanieKeyes@Chanteuse1019@annormond@eema2emma@midnitemurmurer@KIRKWOODGWEN@LinnBHalton@GillStewart2@lackyjadbury@smbslt@stephaniekeyes@henrigyland@harperjenny
@jontybabe
@RobertsoKing
@JessStrassner
@ChrisLongmuir
@TodayimReading
@linshealy
@RebeccaEmin
@GillyFraser
@MandyBaggot
@Shazjera
@Gimmeahugyou
@PatriciaSands
@SheryBrowne
@ClareWartnaby
@Neetswriter
@Briggy44
@KitDomino
@DizzyCLBB
@Rebeleith
@lotsacats100
@PaulineBarclay
@GinaDWriter
@Loveahappyend
@Cassam101
@Scuppered
@BookstoRemember
@Writebrainedny
@angebarton
@MarianKobras
@TTPBookreview
@NatalieHartford
@TalliRoland
@LizzieLamb
@famousfiveplus
@katylittlelady
@LeahStJames
@WellsNicky
@KimtheBookworm
@SarahCallejo
@Bordercollies
@AnneHerries
@LizCrump
@MamaJHearts
Now, if perchance you haven't got your own copy of Reaching for the Stars at the very special launch price of 95p / $1.48 yet then do grab yourself a bargain copy now. Go on you know you want to... doncha?!Amazon UKAmazon.Com
Come back tomorrow to find out:
Who won the fabulous blog / twitter party draw prizes...? Who's winning the celebrity chef fun blog poll...? Where I'm appearing next in the Reaching for the Stars fabulous Blog Tour...!
Love, Janice xxx

Launch Day 'Wish I Was Here...' Blog & Twitter Party!

My perfect escape would be to this small hotel situated on a white sand peninsula on the island of Mauritius. It's where my husband and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary a couple of years ago and it was our dream destination. We had a fabulous penthouse room with a balcony overlooking the ocean. In the photo 'our' beach house was the second one in from the right. Sigh....
Welcome to the launch day celebrations for my new e-book 'Reaching for the Stars' and thank you so much for being here! It's such a busy time of year for everyone and I really appreciate all your support. As you can see from the list of party participants below - there has been a fantastic response to the 'Wish I Was Here...' party theme and I'm really looking forward to seeing where you would all like to escape to during mid-December!
But you don't have to have signed up to take part today. I'd love you to leave a comment on this blog post, visit all or some of the blogs taking part today, and to generally spread the word about 'Reaching for the Stars' on your own social networks.
If you are tweeting about 'Reaching for the Stars' or the 'Wish I Was Here...' event on Twitter please show the hashtag #starchef
ALL participants today will be entered into a fabulous prize draw to win the 'star' prize of a celebrity chef apron or the chance of winning one of three chef's hats (c'mon you know you want to win one of those doncha!) The prize draw today will include all those who blog, comment, or tweet!What's it all about...?In my new novel - 'Reaching for the Stars' - the main character Chef Finn McDuff feels he's had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and disappears into a self-imposed exile for a while. Hence the theme of this launch day extravaganza is 'Wish I Was Here...'
Reaching for the Stars is now available on Amazon.UK or Amazon.Com for Kindle at the special launch price of just 95p or $1.40

No Kindle? No problem - you can download to the free Kindle app from Amazon and read Reaching for the Stars on your Mac, your PC, IPad Tablet or Android Device.
Okay - as well as being here on my blog today you will also find me over at Loveahappyending.com where there is also an exclusive excerpt from Chapter Six of 'Reaching for the Stars'!
Over at book blogger Lou Graham's Blog as well as taking part in the 'Wish I Was Here...' event she is also featuring an early review and I'm excited and delighted to tell you that she has given 'Reaching for the Stars' FIVE STARS!
The Favourite Celebrity Chef Blog Poll running on my sidebar this week has attracted a fun debate on Twitter and a total of 63 votes so far - so why not vote for the chef who gets you salivating on the sofa right now? Jamie and Nigella are currently in the lead (come on Marco!)


The Wish I Was Here Party!
Below you will see a list of party participants - the stars of the show today - who have pledged to display a picture or photo of the place they wish they could escape to for just a wee while - or forever! I'm pretty excited to go and visit all of these fabulous blogs (click on the links below to follow) and to leave a comment but I'll keep popping back throughout the day so please do leave a comment here as it will be appreciated. If you'd like to catch up with me on Twitter I'm @JaniceHorton and I'll be using the hashtag #starchef all day today with my tweets.

melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/ gillyfraser.wordpress.com books-to-remember.blogspot.com/ jontybabe.blogspot.com lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog writers-toolkit.co.uk fontsandfiction.blogspot.com cathiedunn.blogspot.com facebook.com/pages/Amrita-Publishing/184725818262525 ten-lives-second-chances.blogspot.com/ shazjera.blogspot.com vickieadair.com nettiewriter.com kitdomino.wordpress.com patriciasands.wordpress.com jlbcreatives.blogspot.com lotsocats100-fascinatingbooks.blogspot.com jessstrassnerbooks.blogspot.com EmilyHillwriter.com neetswriter.com janerichardsonhome.blogspot.com/ dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.com/ nickywellsklippert.wordpress.com/ ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com elizagreenbooks.com lifesanidiom.blogspot.com kennethrosenberg.blogspot.com katylittlelady.com/ sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.com/ cynditefft.com myraduffy-awriterslot.blogspot.com liz-crump.blogspot.com thelittlereaderlibrary.blogspot.com/ cassam-isanyonethere.blogspot.com glynissmy.com Hywelalyn.blogspot.com lifeinclarity.blogspot.com jlbcreatives.blogspot.com caroleannecarr.blogspot.com myraduffy-awriterslot.blogspot.com chrislongmuir.blogspot.com/ deannnative.posterous.com writers-toolkit.co.uk mamajheartschicklit.blogspot.com/ reabookreview.blogspot.com danielasacerdoti.com rebeccaleithsblog.blogspot.com melissafoster.com/blogs/melissa positiveletters.com stephaniekeyes.blogspot.com sherylbrowne.com ramblingsofarustywriter.blogspot.com/ alwaysreading.net loving-the-write-life.blogspot.com/ jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/ merrylandgirl.blogspot.com inkpotsandquills.blogspot.com ladywriter.moonfruit.com paulinembarclay.blogspot.comtodayimreading.blogspot.com/linda-gruchy-author.blogspot.com/@jolambertwriter@Chanteuse1019@annormond@eema2emma@midnitemurmurer@KIRKWOODGWEN@LinnBHalton@GillStewart2@lackyjadbury@smbslt@stephaniekeyes@henrigyland@harperjenny
And the fun doesn't stop!From tomorrow the 15th December right through to the 23rd December, I'm on a virtual book tour with 'Reaching for the Stars' and will be appearing at all the fabulous blogging venues listed. I'll be talking about 'Reaching for the Stars', about my writing - where and when I do it. There will be an interview with the main characters in the novel. I'll also be discussing shoes and sharing my special Scottish Christmas cake recipe with you. I'd love it if you could find time to pop along and leave a comment during the tour. I can't tell you what your support means to me and how much I really appreciate all you do.

Less than a week to go!

Next Wednesday, the 14th December, is a big day for celebration here at Horton HQ. It's the day a project very close to my heart, my new ebook 'Reaching for the Stars' gets its official send off into the digital stratosphere. How far it shoots - to the stars, to the moon, or just as far as a quick pop and fizz is as yet unknown - but I do know that I am very excited and extremely proud that Reaching for the Stars is finally out there. So on Wednesday there will be a 'Wish I Was Here...' photo of the place I'd like to escape to, there will be both real and virtual champagne, there will be lots of blogging and tweeting and social commenting - and mostly (did I mention the champagne...?) - there will be plenty of fun fun fun!
If you do decide to buy Reaching for the Stars (from Amazon now at the very special launch price of just 95p or $1.48) not only will I love you for it but I will hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Currently, Reaching for the Stars is with its advance readers and selected book bloggers. I'm keeping everything crossed that they will like it and will give it some 'stars' of their own. Well, we can only wait and see about that....
What's it all about...?
Reaching for the Stars is about a Scottish celebrity chef called Finn McDuff who is media stalked and disillusioned after winning his third star and losing his third wife. He decides he's had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and, after giving up all his accolades and closing down his restaurant, he disappears. With the enfant terrible of the kitchen missing, two rival newspapers, having lost their media meal ticket, compete against each other to whip up further public curiosity in the missing chef. Love him or hate him, everyone is out looking for Chef McDuff. Who will find him first and whose side will you be on...?

This is the list so far of participating 'Wish I Was Here..' bloggers and tweeters on Wednesday 14th December (links are now live - just click on participant)
There will be fun prize draw on the day:Prizes are - a Celebrity Chef Apron and several Chef's Hats!


Please note: Prizes will be awarded at random in a fair draw system to include all participants who blog a 'Wish I Was Here...' picture, tweet a picture using #starchef, re-tweet any participating tweet using #starchef, or comment in the comment box on this blog on Wednesday 14th December). Simples fun!
It's not too late to sign up - just use the form at the bottom of this post and join the fun.
 melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/ gillyfraser.wordpress.com books-to-remember.blogspot.com/ jontybabe.blogspot.com
lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog writers-toolkit.co.uk fontsandfiction.blogspot.com cathiedunn.blogspot.com facebook.com/pages/Amrita-Publishing/184725818262525 ten-lives-second-chances.blogspot.com/ shazjera.blogspot.com vickieadair.com nettiewriter.com kitdomino.wordpress.com patriciasands.wordpress.com jlbcreatives.blogspot.com lotsocats100-fascinatingbooks.blogspot.com jessstrassnerbooks.blogspot.com EmilyHillwriter.com neetswriter.com janerichardsonhome.blogspot.com/
dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.com/ nickywellsklippert.wordpress.com/ ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com elizagreenbooks.com lifesanidiom.blogspot.com kennethrosenberg.blogspot.com katylittlelady.com/ sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.com/ cynditefft.com myraduffy-awriterslot.blogspot.com
liz-crump.blogspot.com thelittlereaderlibrary.blogspot.com/ cassam-isanyonethere.blogspot.com glynissmy.com Hywelalyn.blogspot.com lifeinclarity.blogspot.com jlbcreatives.blogspot.com caroleannecarr.blogspot.com myraduffy-awriterslot.blogspot.com chrislongmuir.blogspot.com/ deannnative.posterous.com writers-toolkit.co.uk justleahswords.blogspot.com/ mamajheartschicklit.blogspot.com/ reabookreview.blogspot.com danielasacerdoti.com rebeccaleithsblog.blogspot.com melissafoster.com/blogs/melissa positiveletters.com stephaniekeyes.blogspot.com sherylbrowne.com ramblingsofarustywriter.blogspot.com/ alwaysreading.net loving-the-write-life.blogspot.com/ jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/ merrylandgirl.blogspot.com inkpotsandquills.blogspot.com ladywriter.moonfruit.com @jolambertwriter@Chanteuse1019@annormond@eema2emma@midnitemurmurer@KIRKWOODGWEN

Not sure what to do?

1) Sign up now using the form above. Want a shot at both blogging and tweeting? Why not - double the fun - just fill in both your Twitter name and your Blog Link.
2) On Wednesday 14th December just put up a photo or picture of where you wish you could escape to - for a little while or forever - on YOUR blog or UPLOAD to Twitter! It might be a paradise island, a secluded beach, a woodland hut, a mountain ski lodge? The possibilities are endless - but fun to imagine right in the middle of December
3) On Twitter please use the hashtag #starchef and also put @JaniceHorton somewhere in the tweet. That way I can find you and include you in the prize draw.
On Launch Day I'll be visiting EVERYONE's LINKS to see where you would like to escape to and to leave a comment! So join the fun and sign up now!

I know it's a busy time of year for everyone but I would so appreciate your support - and I do promise lots of fun and prizes!

Tweethearts...

There was a flutter of fun on Twitter this week when several tweeps tussled over which celebrity chef should win my blog poll!
@daramc76 tweeted - 'Jamie Forever'@DorothyHardie insisted -'I have faith in my Marco'@BookstoRemember say's - 'C'mon, Jamie is a cutie... let him win lol' @lougrahamii yelled 'JAMIE, JAMIE, JAMIE...lol!@Suefortin1 - a staunch Gino fan - shouted FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!@shazjera kept score and retweeted.@stephenfry tweeted mid-debate to say he was having dinner with Nigella Lawson - so we all know who he would vote for - don't we?!
If you haven't voted in the poll on the side bar yet, what's stopping you? Pick out the chef who has you salivating on your sofa - but if your favourite chef isn't listed - please feel free to leave a comment and tell me who you love and why!

Reaching for the Stars - my new romantic novel about a disgruntled celebrity chef who escapes the media frenzy surrounding his private life by going into hiding for a while - launches as an e-book on Wednesday 14th December.
There has been an absolutely fantastic response so far to the 'Wish I Was here...' blog launch party but also lots of complaints from those on Twitter who would like to take part but don't have a blog. Well, let's rectify that straight away!
If you are on Twitter and would like to join the 'Wish I Was Here...' party - sign up now!


What to do?
1) Sign up now using the form below. Want a shot at both blogging and tweeting? Why not - double the fun - just fill in both your Twitter name and your Blog Link.
2) On Wednesday 14th December just put up a photo or picture of where you wish you could escape to - for a little while or forever - on YOUR blog or UPLOAD to Twitter! It might be a paradise island, a secluded beach, a woodland hut, a mountain ski lodge? The possibilities are endless - but fun to imagine right in the middle of December
3) On Twitter please use the hashtag #starchef and also put @JaniceHorton somewhere in the tweet. That way I can find you and include you in the prize draw.
On Launch Day, here on my blog, I will post a full list of all the Bloggers and Tweeps taking part and I'll be visiting EVERYONE to see where you would like to escape to and to leave a comment! So join the fun and sign up now!

I know it's a busy time of year for everyone but I would so appreciate your support - and I do promise lots of fun and prizes!

Celebrity Chefs - who do you love...?

Love 'em or hate 'em those celebrity chefs are everywhere - at food shows, in your magazines, on your TV and in your face - but which one do you love the best?
My new novel, launching for Kindle on Wednesday 14th December (click here to join the party) is entitled 'Reaching for the Stars' and is about a disillusioned Scottish celebrity chef who has just won his third star and lost his third wife.
The idea for this novel sprung from my fascination for the rock stars of the culinary world. I have my favourites - what about you?
So who has you salivating on the sofa? Vote now using the poll on the sidebar!
With great excitement I'd like to announce from 15th to 23rd December, following the fabulous and fun themed blog party, I'll be on a blog tour with my new novel 'Reaching for the Stars'. I'll be talking about what inspired me to write about a sexy celebrity chef, the research I did and how it ended up as a television news feature, and about my life as a writer living in the wilds of Scotland.
These are the stops - and I'd be delighted if you were able to take a little time out of your busy Christmas schedules to visit the tour host's blogs (links will be provided on the day) and perhaps leave a comment and even tweet or share the links? I'd really appreciate any and all support you are able to offer!
Thursday 15th December Lou Graham's BlogFriday 16th December Celtic Connexions BlogSaturday 17th DecemberJera's Jamboree Blog,  High Heels & Book Deals,  Debs Carr BlogSunday 18th December Today I'm Reading BlogMonday 19th December Rea Book Reviews BlogTuesday 20th December Turning the Pages BlogWednesday 21st December Kim The Bookworm BlogThursday 22nd DecemberLove Reading Love BooksFriday 23rd DecemberTalli Roland's Blog

In 'Reaching for the Stars' the main character Chef Finn McDuff feels he's had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and disappears into a self-imposed exile for a while. Read an excerpt here.
So, the theme of Launch Day is therefore 'Wish I Was Here...'
On Wednesday 14th December just put up a photo or picture on YOUR BLOG of where you wish you could escape to - for a little while - or forever! It might be a paradise island, a secluded beach, a woodland hut, a mountain ski lodge? The possibilities are endless - but fun to imagine right in the middle of December!
Then On Launch Day I will post a full list of all the blogs taking part and I'll be visiting all the blogs to see where YOU would like to escape to and to leave a comment!
I'd love it if you would consider taking part. All you need to do at this stage is submit your email and blog address into the form here . On the day itself you can pop along too to see where everyone wishes they where if you wish, but there is no obligation to do so. Every participant will be entered in a draw to win fun prizes - there are chef's hats and celebrity chef aprons to be won!
I really appreciate all your support.


Janice x

We are Go For Launch!

Yesterday, with much excitement, I sent 'Reaching for the Stars' off to my lovely editor Kit Domino to be professionally edited, so we are on schedule to launch as planned on Wednesday 14th December!
On launch day I'm hosting a 'Wish I Was Here...' blog party and you are all invited to take part.
There is no writing or diary checking involved you will be pleased to hear - all you have to do on the day is post up a photo or a picture on YOUR blog of a place you'd like to escape to for a little while or forever! It might be a paradise island, a secluded beach, a woodland hut, a mountain ski lodge? The possibilities are endless - but fun to imagine right in the middle of December!
On launch day I will post a full list of all the blogs taking place and I'll be visiting to see where YOU would like to escape to and to leave a comment! You can pop along to all the blogs too of course but there is no obligation to do so. I've had a fabulous response so far - so sign up now to join the party!


In preparation for the big day itself and the blog tour to follow (more details next week on the fabulous Reaching for the Stars blog tour!) this week I had some new author photos taken. I'm embarrassed to tell you that I've been using the same old photos for the past couple of years, photos taken at the same time as a Prima Magazine shoot, and I'm sure I look quite different now - not to mention a bit older!
Now, I don't mind having my photo taken, but I do tend to blink at the click of a shutter and want to suck off my lipstick at the suggestion of a zoom lens, so you can imagine what my photos usually end up looking like?! I asked my lovely photographer friend Sara, who always makes me smile, to come along and take my new author photos. I think she did a really good job - as you can see I actually have my eyes open and my lipstick in place. Thank you and well done Sara!


Other news this week is that my lovely blogger and twitter friend Liz Crump awarded me the Liebster Blog Award and kindly said she thought my blog was creative, fun and friendly. I was so delighted as that is EXACTLY what I want my blog to be!


So, in accepting the Liebster Blog Award, the recipient agrees to:

- Thank the person who gave them the award and link back to that person's blog
- Copy and paste the award to their blog
- Reveal the 5 blogs they have chosen to award, commenting on their blog to break the news!
- Hope those people in turn pay it forward by accepting and awarding "The Liebster Blog Award" to bloggers they would like to honour

This award is for anyone with fewer than 200 followers. :)

The 5 blogs I've chosen to award are……
Celtic ConnexionsReclaim the RomanceFonts & FictionKenneth RosenbergLiving Writing & Other Stuff
So until next week my friends, when I will tell you more about my fabulous Reaching for the Stars blog tour plans, please consider signing up to take part in my 'Wish I Was Here' blog party on 14th December - I know it's a busy time of year but I would so appreciate your support - and promise fun and prizes!
Janice xx

Party On...!

I'm excited to tell you that on Wednesday 14th December - which is the official Launch Day of my new novel Reaching for the Stars - I'm hosting a themed on line party here on my blog!
What's the theme I hear you ask?
Well, in 'Reaching for the Stars' the main character Chef Finn McDuff feels he's had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and disappears into a self-imposed exile for a while.
So, the theme of Launch Day is therefore 'Wish I Was Here...'
On Wednesday 14th December just put up a photo or picture on YOUR BLOG of where you wish you could escape to - for a little while - or forever! It might be a paradise island, a secluded beach, a woodland hut, a mountain ski lodge? The possibilities are endless - but fun to imagine right in the middle of December!
Then On Launch Day I will post a full list of all the blogs taking part and I'll be visiting all the blogs to see where YOU would like to escape to and leaving a comment!
I'd love it if you would consider taking part. All you need to do at this stage is submit your email and blog address into the form below.
On the day itself you can pop along too to see what everyone is doing too if you wish, but there is no obligation to do so.
I really appreciate all your support.
I know it's a busy time of year for everyone and so I want you to know how much I will appreciate your support. Please sign up now to take part in this fun blog party. All blogfesters will be included in a draw for super pwizes on the day!
<iframesrc="http://janicehortonwriter.blogspot.co...https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/embeddedform?formkey=dFJJZTNPTm1zbWVEUUVNd29iUVJZVGc6MQ" width="760" height="640" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe>

Strings Attached Blog Tour

Tuesday 1st November 2011 was the official launch date for Mandy Baggot's fabulous new hot, contemporary romance, Strings Attached!
I am thrilled to be hosting Mandy and her book today as part of her Blog Tour.
Mandy, tell us more about Strings Attached!
Strings Attached is the story of tom-boy caterer George Fraser and gorgeous rock god Quinn Blake. George is called to cater for Quinn's after-show party and when they meet we're talking sparks, magnets and an attraction as intense as it gets! But relationships are never that clear cut and there are plenty of obstacles in the way of their getting together! We learn about George's passions, Quinn's complicated relationships and we meet Marisa Thomas, a Welsh seventeen year old who knows everything about celebrity and fashion and is determined to get a little limelight for herself! It's a complex mix of sex, drama, family relationships and humour! Dallas in paperback perhaps?
Quinn Blake is on Twitter isn't he? What gave you the idea for this?
Yes! You can find him on Twitter @quinnblakemusic and he does like to interact with the ladies! I went to a talk by Lorelai Mathias at the Romantic Novelists Association conference this year and she had used one of her characters on-line to promote her novel involving speed dating. I thought this was an excellent idea and wanted to see how readers would react to being able to interact with a character from a novel. He has been getting quite a few people hot under the collar and has helped build the excitement for the book. Promoting a book in a new and different way is always going to add something to your profile. Even if some people don't take to the idea you'll be remembered!
Half the novel is set in England, the other half in Spain. How much research did you have to do?
I had to travel to Spain a lot on holiday for research purposes obviously! I set the Spanish part in La Manga and I have never been there but it sounded like the celebrity hangout Quinn would travel to. I spoke to two friends who had been to the area and one of them worked in the property industry in La Manga for a number of years. I told her about the castle that features in the book and she looked at me openmouthed and said that there was a viaduct in La Manga that was built to look like a castle and that it was a standing joke in the region. Spooky! I have however, been to the Murcia area and that also features in the book.
Finally, tell us something about you that hasn't been published before!
Hmm, that's a tough one because I do like to share! Some people might know this, but I have a tattoo of a Tasmanian Devil somewhere on my body…you'll have to guess where! LOL!
You can buy Strings Attached in Paperback and for Kindle on:

Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Mandy Blogs here and you can follow her on Twitter @mandybaggot & @quinnblakemusic

Join in Mandy's blog party all next week!
Monday 7 November - Turning the Pages hereTuesday 8 November - Reabookreviews hereWednesday 9 Nov - Chick Lit Reviews and News hereThursday 10 November - Sarah's Book Reviews hereFriday 11 November - Love Reading Love Books here



Next Friday I'm unveiling my own exciting December 14th Launch Day Plans and subsequent Blog Tour Dates for Reaching for the Stars - not to be missed!
New visitors - please do consider 'Following' my blog and I'd love you to leave a comment!
Janice xx

Reaching for the Stars...

I'm still working on story edits at the moment but feeling happy with progress, so I thought I'd tell you a little bit more about the project close to my heart, my new novel due out as an e-book in December entitled 'Reaching for the Stars'.
So what's it all about I hear you cry...?
Scottish celebrity chef Finn McDuff is media stalked and disillusioned after winning his third star and losing his third wife, and decides he's had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private life and, after giving up all his accolades and closing down his restaurant, he disappears into a self-imposed exile.
With the enfant terrible of the kitchen missing, two rival newspapers, having lost their media meal ticket, begin to compete against each other to whip up further public curiosity in the missing chef. Raine Sanderson, a journalist at The Thistle, who fell hopelessly in love with the bad boy chef during their first interview, wants to be the one to write his biography. Ross Campbell, a reporter at The City News, sets out to boost readership along with his own ego by instigating a massive man hunt. To help with their campaigns they each recruit the help of Anna James, a chef whose tragic past and unresolved issues are intricately intertwined with McDuff's.
Love him or hate him, everyone is out looking for Chef McDuff.
Who will find him first and whose side will you be on...?
I'm planning to launch Reaching for the Stars on Wednesday 14th December and will be organising a fun filled day of party blogging (more news on that soon - and I'd LOVE it if you could take part!) and I will be following this up with a Blog Tour right up to Christmas Eve.
An excerpt from Chapter One - Reaching for the Stars:
Wearing the same champagne-soaked Armani suit he had been in for the past fourteen hours, Finlay McDuff was slumped in an armchair inside the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, on a bright January morning. He was reading about himself in the newspapers and reflecting on why, after finally achieving his life's ambition, he should be feeling so utterly miserable.
'Bad-boy chef wins three Golden Stars,' declared The City News.
'Infamous chef wins third star in Edinburgh,' reported The Scotsman.
'McGolden!' boasted The Thistle.
Finn lit a cigarette and groaned. His blood-red eyes, set in dark hollows beneath heavy lids, looked as though they hadn't ever closed during the years he had been chasing those coveted rosettes. The macaroons, as the French liked to call them, the ultimate symbols of gastronomic success. Only what use were they now?
He had put ambition over love: pride over marriage: his ego over his emotions.
Three sins for three stars, he told himself.
He longed to sleep. Not that he could sleep. Not since Gina had left. Not since she had got on that plane back to Italy and disappeared from his life. It had been three weeks and three days and he'd heard nothing from her. No phone calls, no letters, no emails, no requests for money, and no demands from her lawyer. It wasn't like her. Gina made a point of demanding and now she'd stopped, it was driving him crazier than her constant whining ever had.
A nervous young waiter approached him from across the foyer.
'Sir, you cannot smoke in here, it's the law.'
Finn searched for an ashtray while his deposits threatened the Balmoral's marble floor.
'I'm a-afraid we don't have any ashtrays,' stuttered the waiter.
Finn took off a shoe and used it instead; further jeopardising the hotel's clean air policy.
'A d-drink, sir?'
Finn yawned and tried to check his watch but his eyes were unfocussed and rolling in his head from the as yet unprocessed alcohol still making its way round his body. 'Nah, I'll have a cup of tea and two paracetamol. I've to do an interview with some journo tosser and I need some pain relief quickly.'
He cast his mind back to the last time he had seen his wife. It had been ten o'clock on Christmas Eve, when she had stormed into his restaurant and had screamed at him over the passé in a mix of Italian, Scottish, and English, while tears poured down her face.
He remembered the restaurant being excruciatingly quiet as she had served her ultimatum. He had been tearing herbs onto a plate of foie-gras and had looked up to see if she was serious.
In full view of his diners, she had strutted back and forth with her nose and chin raised provocatively, her dark eyes fixed firmly upon him, her perfectly manicured fingernails strumming her thrusting hips, while one Italian leather shoe tapped the terrazzo-tiled floor.
Everyone in the restaurant had waited open-mouthed for his response.
But he did what he was trained to do under pressure; he cooked.
Gina, having interpreted his reticence as indifference, had pulled at her finger and thrown something down onto the passé in front of him. It was her wedding ring.
To his disbelief, it had landed straight in the foie-gras.
All friendly blog comments and 'follows' encouraged and appreciated!

Sometimes naughty and sometimes sweet...

I have a guest blogger and yes, I'm sure she really is a combination of naughty and sweet, but mostly she is a clever, witty and very talented reporter/presenter/writer, who has a fabulous new e-book out which is also available as an audio book! You can tell I'm a member on the Gilly Fraser fan club can't you - and once you've read/listened to Forbidden Love and Other Stories - I bet you will be too!

Take it away Gilly...!
When I was a kid, we had an old tree in the back garden which was just perfect for sitting in. I used to scramble up to my favourite perch among its branches with a pad and pen and scribble away to my heart's content, writing story after story after story. In those days they all featured ponies - the first great love of my life. Now despite the fact that I'm a Gemini - well-known as the flighty, fickle, flibbertigibbets of the zodiac, I have remained true to those two early passions - I still love all things equine - and I still love to write.
I was lucky enough to have nine books published by Mills and Boon under my pen-name of Rachel Elliot, and now I'm diving headfirst into the exciting and brave new world of epublishing, but this time without the lifejacket of a nom de plume. I love the freedom that epublishing affords - freedom to write on any subject under the sun, freedom to wander at will from your normal genre without an irate publisher hauling you back by the scruff of your neck, freedom to write without worrying that you might get ignominiously dumped for unsatisfactory sales.
I particularly enjoy writing romance - sometimes naughty and sometimes sweet - but I'm also keen to explore other avenues. A story has been bobbing about in my head for the past couple of years which has a darker side to it, and I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into it to see where it might lead. It's not a romance, it's not a thriller, it's not crime - and that in itself would be a no-no for most agents and publishers because they do like something they can pigeonhole.
Nowadays when I write, I sit in a tatty old leather chair before a desk liberally strewn with letters, magazines, post-it notes and books in a room which lays claim to being an office but is really a glory-hole, providing a home for all the stuff in the house that didn't quite fit in anywhere else. Which probably includes me, come to think of it!
A few years ago I visited Gracelands in Memphis and came home with a poster of a young Elvis on a lovely Palomino horse with the words… 'Getting up in the morning is always easier when there's a horse waiting for you.' Elvis said it - and I ain't about to disagree with the King. To that I'll just add - 'the day gets even better when there's a half-written story waiting for you as well…'
My first ebook 'Forbidden Love and Other Stories' can be downloaded from Amazon or Smashwords, or you can buy an MP3 cd version through my blog gillyfraser.wordpress.com It will soon be available as a hold-it-in-your-hands and turn-the-pages book as well - just as soon as it comes back from the printers. Please let me know what you think of it!

[image error]
Gilly Fraser is a former reporter/presenter with Carlisle-based Border TV, a Mills & Boon novelist under the name of Rachel Elliot, and the owner of pony-trekking centre in the Scottish Borders. She is currently the Co-Presenter of BBC Radio Cumbria Show, Gilly & Kim Let Loose with Kim Inglis, she is also a Freelance Journalist writing for magazines and newspapers, and the owner of small PR and dvd production company. Gilly is also kickstarting romantic novel-writing back into life after a long sleep and in the future she plans to be the winner of prizes for wonderful romantic novels, many of which will be turned into Oscar-winning movies. Obviously! She also loves horses, dogs, cats – and her husband Malcolm, who apparently sings great songs.
[image error]
Gilly's Blog: Reclaim The RomanceGilly on Twitter: @GillyFraser
'Forbidden Love and Other Stories' on Amazon UK and Amazon.Com and Smashwords
Janice says: This week, I'm still busy working away on edits for 'Reaching for the Stars' but next Friday I'll have an excerpt for you together with exciting news about a launch date. Do come back then!