Sarah E. England's Blog, page 2

NEW! Coming Soon!

NEW!

Well, the Witching Season is upon us my lovelies, and I have news for you. Hidden Company, Book 6, is imminent. As promised, here is the cover for the paperback/Kindle and I hope, really hope, you love it as much as I do.




First of all the little creature on the front is a creation from US artist, Scott Radke, whose weird, wizened sculptures I have long admired. Really, it was a huge surprise he agreed to let her appear on the front of my books and it may only be for a limited time, so I for one will be stocking up! The rest is all down to the genius of Gina Dickerson - designer, mind-reader and good friend.

So what's inside? Well, not pure occult horror this time, although it is about as spooky as you can get... Hidden Company is actually a dark, psychologcial thriller involving some lesser known elements of the supernatural. This one includes communing with the fae, and also necromancy. I have had a huge amount of help with these from Raven Wood, who lives and breathes the life of a traditional witch in North America and to whom I am deeply indebted.

Here is a brief synopsis as a taster.... This book has involved a huge amount of research but I hope the result is something that will intrigue and entertain you...And come Halloween I will have the pre-order link and a sample chapter on both my blog and in the newsletter... all of which can be found here... http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk

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HIDDEN COMPANY. SYNOPSIS

1893
Flora George is nineteen years old when she's admitted to Lavinia House, a Victorian asylum in the heart of rural Wales. Puzzled and dismayed at what she could possibly have done to deserve being abandoned by her well-to-do family, she slowly begins to realise there are some deeply sinister undercurrents in this harsh asylum. Ones which may involve herself.

Present Day
Isobel Lee is renting The Gatehouse, once the lodge to the asylum. It is the first time an outsider has ever moved into the area and it's causing dangerous unrest. A reluctant spiritual medium, the minute she moves into the house she is badly frightened by angry spirits exhibiting bizarre and insane behaviour, and in addition to this it seems certain local people are determined to hound her out. It is only when she meets enigmatic, gothic-looking Branwen Morgan, and agrees to accept her help, that ancient fears and terrible wrongdoings are finally revealed.
But you know, there is always a price to pay when that help comes from the dark side..... cackles...
***
Release date, pre-order link and sample chapter will all be in the Halloween issue of my newsletter! See you then and just a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to write a review for The Owlmen, The Soprano and the Father of Lies books - THANK YOU! I will now make sure Hidden Company comes in on time...See you soon!
***
The Owlmen: If They See You They Will Come For You

Dark Fiction

Well it's that time again....a new book is on its way! The Owlmen has been incredibly well received, but I am all too aware that what I write is quite definitely in a niche. Occult horror is not to everyone's taste, and therefore it might be time to crawl out of the shadows and slip into another, perhaps equally murky, but much bigger lair - that of the psychological thriller. After one or two readers pointed out that The Owlmen contained a few of these kind of scenes, I thought - why not? Maybe it's time to see what I can do...

To this end I've decided on an (black) umbrella term to encompass all of the books - Dark Fiction. This covers the Father of Lies trilogy and The Owlmen, supernatural thriller, The Soprano, plus what I'm going to write next. All of my work will be touched with darkness and the new one will be no exception. The title? Hidden Company. The genre - pyschological thriller but with plenty of the dark stuff, you know, the terrifying kind? Cackles....


​​
The scheduled date is December 2018 but I will have a cover and synopsis to show you sometime in the late summer, so for now... thank you very much for the continued support. Every review and every share on social media helps to get the books out there and I am truly grateful. Oh, one more thing to share: an article in The Telegraph has highlighted a psychiatrist's admission that perhaps there are some patients who really do need a priest - so was Father of Lies onto something even more scary than fiction after all? I will leave that thought with you...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018...

http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk

The Owlmen: If They See You They Will Come For You
Father of Lies

Great news for the Bank Holiday Weekend!

Great News for Newsletter Subscribers! And a Bank Holiday Reading Deal too...

Good morning/afternoon/evening!

Let me start with some great news - the entire Father of Lies trilogy is on Kindle Countdown over this Bank Holiday Weekend - AND so is the new release - The Owlmen. All four of these books are just 99p/99c to download from today through to next Tuesday, so if you fancy some dark reading, now is a really good time. There are over 760 reviews for the Father of Lies books across amazon with a 4.6 average rating, and The Owlmen, which was only released 3 weeks ago is coming up to 30 reviews and 4.8. This is pure occult horror though, so you may need to sleep with the light on after reading. Links: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015NCZYKU and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NCZYKU



I have to say I've been really thrilled with the reader response so far to The Owlmen. This can be read as a stand alone novel or to follow the Father of Lies series....here are a few of the comments so far...

'Absolutely loved the whole series, and was buzzin with The Owlmen as I thought the story was basically done, boy.....was I wrong! As gripping, edge of the seat, nail biting and excellent as all that flowed before.....highly recommended peeps.'
' Another great book by Sarah. I have always rated her with the likes of James Herbert and Stephen King, her gripping style that builds up tension at every turn of the page.'
'The writing is exquisite throughout, the work of an author absolutely on top of her game. She effortlessly weaves a tapestry of terror and the reader is soon entangled in the unfolding nightmare. Anyone with a nervous nature or a heart condition would be well advised to avoid this book. I will give away no more of the plot but it builds into a thrilling climax then hits you with an absolute killer twist. Many books make this claim but here is one that actually does it. This book offers proof (if it was ever needed) that this author has truly earned her place with the great writers in this genre, past and present. From M R James and Poe right through to Stephen king. She stands tall with the best.'
***

I'm sure you will agree that some of those reviews are breath-taking! Thank you so much to the people who took the time to write - I am blown away and truly grateful.

***
Finally, before I start Book 6 (more on that in my next blog and newsletter) if you would like to sign up to my newsletter, there's a free download to kindle waiting for you. This is The Witching Hour - a collection of the darker short stories and serials I had published during my many years writing for magazines. These aren't in the same terrifying league as the occult horror novels, but thrillers and chillers all the same.... My newsletters are infrequent catch-ups to let readers know about forthcoming releases, audios, competitions and pre-order information. There are also some free short stories due to be released for subscribers only, later in the year. The sign-up box to mailchimp is on the home page of my website - http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk and I look forward to welcoming you into my inner lair... cackles....

The Owlmen: If They See You They Will Come For You
Father of Lies

Great news for the Bank Holiday Weekend!

Great News for Newsletter Subscribers! And a Bank Holiday Reading Deal too...

Good morning/afternoon/evening!

Let me start with some great news - the entire Father of Lies trilogy is on Kindle Countdown over this Bank Holiday Weekend - AND so is the new release - The Owlmen. All four of these books are just 99p/99c to download from today through to next Tuesday, so if you fancy some dark reading, now is a really good time. There are over 760 reviews for the Father of Lies books across amazon with a 4.6 average rating, and The Owlmen, which was only released 3 weeks ago is coming up to 30 reviews and 4.8. This is pure occult horror though, so you may need to sleep with the light on after reading. Links: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015NCZYKU and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NCZYKU



I have to say I've been really thrilled with the reader response so far to The Owlmen. This can be read as a stand alone novel or to follow the Father of Lies series....here are a few of the comments so far...

'Absolutely loved the whole series, and was buzzin with The Owlmen as I thought the story was basically done, boy.....was I wrong! As gripping, edge of the seat, nail biting and excellent as all that flowed before.....highly recommended peeps.'
' Another great book by Sarah. I have always rated her with the likes of James Herbert and Stephen King, her gripping style that builds up tension at every turn of the page.'
'The writing is exquisite throughout, the work of an author absolutely on top of her game. She effortlessly weaves a tapestry of terror and the reader is soon entangled in the unfolding nightmare. Anyone with a nervous nature or a heart condition would be well advised to avoid this book. I will give away no more of the plot but it builds into a thrilling climax then hits you with an absolute killer twist. Many books make this claim but here is one that actually does it. This book offers proof (if it was ever needed) that this author has truly earned her place with the great writers in this genre, past and present. From M R James and Poe right through to Stephen king. She stands tall with the best.'
***

I'm sure you will agree that some of those reviews are breath-taking! Thank you so much to the people who took the time to write - I am blown away and truly grateful.

***
Finally, before I start Book 6 (more on that in my next blog and newsletter) if you would like to sign up to my newsletter, there's a free download to kindle waiting for you. This is The Witching Hour - a collection of the darker short stories and serials I had published during my many years writing for magazines. These aren't in the same terrifying league as the occult horror novels, but thrillers and chillers all the same.... My newsletters are infrequent catch-ups to let readers know about forthcoming releases, audios, competitions and pre-order information. There are also some free short stories due to be released for subscribers only, later in the year. The sign-up box to mailchimp is on the home page of my website - http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk and I look forward to welcoming you into my inner lair... cackles....

The Owlmen: If They See You They Will Come For You
Father of Lies

Out Now - The Owlmen ! Synopsis, links and snippet!

I am happy to say that The Owlmen is now out! In Kindle and paperback format, the audio will follow soon courtesy of Tantor Media. Meanwhile, if you enjoyed the Father of Lies trilogy, you will hopefully enjoy a few chills with this one too. Judging by the first few reviews, it's certainly providing the right amount of shudders....

Here's a synopsis, and following that I've included an exclusive snippet from further on in the novel, where Ellie has moved into Tanners Dell. See what you think.... I have to say I've had a terrific time writing this (and a few nightmares), with lots of help from a traditional witch, who's based in North America - thank you to Raven Wood. Anyway, if you think you're brave enough....because this is pure occult horror....cackles...here goes...

Synopsis

Ellie Blake is recovering from a nervous breakdown. Deciding to move back to her northern roots, she and her psychiatrist husband buy Tanners Dell at auction - an old water mill in the moorland village of Bridesmoor. However, there is disquiet in the village. Tanners Dell has a terrible secret, one so well guarded no one speaks its name. But in her search for meaning and very much alone, Ellie is drawn to traditional witchcraft and determined to pursue it. All her life she has been cowed. All her life she has apologised for her very existence. And witchcraft has opened a door she could never have imagined. Imbued with power and overawed with its magick, for the first time she feels she has come home, truly knows who she is. Tanners Dell though, with its centuries old demonic history...well, it's a dangerous place for a novice...


Exclusive Snippet!

'She told herself this was just an old place that had been riddled with damp for a long, long time. No wonder new timber cracked and groaned, pipes shuddered in the ancient stone walls, and the stench of decay lingered on the air. So still, though. Glacially silent. Occasionally, when deep in thought or involved in reading, the silence would be broken by fast whispers that ceased sharply the moment she looked up. Sometimes it was like the sound of children’s laughter carrying on a breeze.


Absent-mindedly she began to bite her nails or yank out eyelashes while reading. Sleep was fitful too, the dreams bizarre. It started within days of moving in. Seb slept on undisturbed, so it must be her own anxiety, depression, or perhaps subconscious mind trying to make sense of the reading material she devoured each day...Wasn’t it? Because at 0100 hours precisely she had begun to lurch awake with a thump of dread, convinced a dark, hooded shape like that of a monk, was standing in the far corner of the bedroom. Propped up on her elbows she stared into the dark until her eyes burned, fatigue eventually forcing her to slump down again. Anxiety. A new place. New bedroom. The monster in her head playing tricks again…Had to be…

Easy to explain away at seven the next day with the sun up and the radio playing downstairs.

Except that it was happening every night and getting worse. The conviction grew that the presence was growing not only in size but in the intensity of its blackness, burgeoning like a rain cloud brooding for a storm. Now and then a streak of moonlight would pick out the silhouette of what appeared to be a man’s face under the hood, but just at the point where her eyes adjusted and began to widen with horror, his form would dissolve into shadows, and once again she dismissed it as a figment of her imagination. Hope perhaps, over experience?

One night, waking in a state of extreme panic and filled with the most unaccountable foreboding, she flew from the bed and tore downstairs, bursting out onto the starlit lawn with her heart hammering like an anvil. Get out…get out…get out…. For a good twenty minutes she stood outside in her nightdress until the terror subsided. And all the while Seb slept soundly on. Same house. Same bedroom. This was crazy. It had been a nightmare, that was all, and no wonder after all she’d been through...

No, there’s something in there…there is….And you know it!

In the chilly dawn air a fox barked, and the mechanical whirr of a nightjar echoed through the woods. Dew permeated the soles of her feet until shivering and damp, she forced herself to turn around and walk back to the house. Quite what made her glance up at the bedroom window, she couldn’t say….but what she saw there snatched the breath from her lungs. Watching from the room where she’d just been sleeping was the white blur of a face. Although it was too dark to decipher either features or expression, Ellie stood transfixed, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. A girl or young woman…frail…small-boned…was looking straight at her…the vision already fading into the dark glass.

Next day she upped her dose of anti-depressants.'

***

The Owlmen: If They See You They Will Come For You

THE OWLMEN - OUT 26TH APRIL

https://www.facebook.com/events/12198...

Hi Everyone! Well the launch for The Owlmen is almost here! And an online facebook event hosted by Sarah Kenny takes place on Friday 27th April at 7-9.30pm. It's going to be a darkly exciting evening.... I'm doing a reading from a churchyard at dusk; there will be guest authors and lots of prizes including signed paperbacks.




The Owlmen can be read as a standalone or as a follow-up to the Father of Lies trilogy - it's pure occult horror and hopefully a rollercoaster of spooky thrills! http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079W9FKV7 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B070W9FKV7 for synopsis and pre-orders.
Really hope you're going to like this!

Father of Lies
The Owlmen: If They See You They Will Come For You

New Release - out now!

Well, after writing this for the best part of a year, The Soprano is finally out, and available as a Kindle download or in paperback on amazon. It is also available to order from any bookstore.
Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered - it should now be on your kindle! Obviously there are no reviews yet but if you like it and are happy to write one, it would be hugely appreciated.
So....here, as promised, is a little bit more about the book.
It is 1951 and a remote moorland village is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in living memory, one which is to last for over three weeks. However, quiet rage, simmering jealousies and dark witchcraft have been brooding in the background for decades and it is during these three snow-locked weeks that a family vendetta will finally come to its shocking conclusion.
This story is loosely based on a true crime, and the area - North Staffordshire - is where all my family on both sides, hail from. I know it well, and my research on how it felt to live there in the 1950s is taken directly from my parents. I had my late grandfather's scrap book and my dad's anecdotes together with colourful local characters to draw from. In addition, there was input from a real practising witch, based in North America - Raven Woods. I don't want to spoil the story for you by telling you too much, except to say it is like nothing I have ever done before. Why? Well, I hope, as well as it being a creepy thriller, that this has a Bronte-esque feel to it. Also, I wanted the prose to be poetic at the same time as keeping the brutal realities close to the bone... if you will pardon the pun!
I have published both the prologue and a sample from an early chapter on my website blog page... http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk/blog


Oh, one more thing... there is a huge launch party on Thursday Night - 31st August... where there will be three signed copies of The Soprano to win, plus signed copies of The Father of Lies trilogy (all three books for one winner) and some special gothic-themed prizes I've bought and chosen for four more winners....I did say I'd elaborate in my newsletter, so I'll spill the beans... a witch's candle (black, of course), a black leather bookmark engraved with 'The Soprano by Sarah E. England', a witch's Victorian style keyring, and a pair of spider earrings in plated silver. Find me on fb for the details of how to join (it's all online)... https://www. facebook.com/sarahenglandauthor
Tanners Dell
Magda
Father of Lies
S.E. England

Pre-Order available for New Supernatural Thriller, The Soprano

I'm thrilled (and a little nervous) to announce that my latest book, The Soprano, is now available on pre-order from Amazon on Kindle. The release date is 30th August and the clock is ticking! It's just £1.99 to download and you won't be charged until it's sent to you on that day. Here are the links: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0737GQ9Q7 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0737GQ9Q7 The paperback should also be ready by then...but if you would like to read the description and the prologue now, both are on my new website - address at the end of the post...

The Soprano
Book Description

A Haunting, Supernatural Thriller by the author of Bestselling Occult Horror Trilogy, 'Father of Lies.'


'It is 1951 and a remote mining village on the North Staffordshire Moors is hit by one of the worst snowstorms in living memory. Cut off for over three weeks, the old and the sick will die; the strongest bunker down; and those with evil intent will bring to its conclusion a family vendetta spanning three generations.
Inspired by a true event, 'The Soprano' tells the story of Grace Holland - a strikingly beautiful, much admired local celebrity who brings glamour and inspiration to the grimy moorland community. But why is Grace still here? Why doesn't she leave this staunchly Methodist, rain-sodden place and the isolated farmhouse she shares with her mother?
Riddled with tales of witchcraft and rife with superstition, the story is mostly narrated by the Whistler family who own the local funeral parlour - in particular six year old Louise, who now as an old lady recalls one of the most shocking crimes imaginable.'


If you would like to read the prologue it is now on my new website - http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading.
***

Brand New...

I'm really pleased today to be able to tell you I have a fabulous, professionally designed new website, which replaces my old site and also my blog. I would be so pleased if you'd pop over and take a quick look.... http://www.sarahenglandauthor.co.uk Do you like it?

This is in readiness for the next book release, details of which will follow in the next couple of weeks. The Soprano is a supernatural thriller based in North Staffs, UK, and is on schedule for release in August. I'll post the full synopsis, prologue and a pre-order date around mid-June on the new site, so please do follow and then I can keep you up to date! You do need to like your fiction dark and sinister, though.... This one is nowhere near as scary as The Father of Lies trilogy, but it sure has its fair share of creepiness... Yes I love it!

Have a great week, everyone!
Father of Lies
Magda
The Complete 'Father of Lies' Series

Cover Reveal - New Supernatural Thriller

NEW COVER REVEAL FOR UPCOMING SUPERNATURAL THRILLER
THE SOPRANO:

Scheduled for August 2017, 'The Soprano' is my new supernatural thriller, a stand-alone novel, and quite seperate from the Father of Lies trilogy (occult horror). Here is the new cover and a brief plot summary. I hope it whets your appetite...

http://www.sarahenglandauthor.blogspo...
(cover is on my blog post only at the moment)


Brief Synopsis:

January 1951, and the North Staffordshire moors saw one of the worst snow storms in living memory. Lasting for three weeks, it completely cut off the isolated and staunchly Methodist village of Packmoor. But while the hardy community bunkered down, trying to keep warm and fend off illnesses, a family vendetta spanning three generations and rooted in black witchcraft, was about to culminate in one of the most shocking crimes imaginable.


I am on schedule for a summer release, and will bring it to you definitely by August, possibly by July. The novel has taken unexpected turns, as always and it's beyond my comprehension how that happens, and is now much more ghostly and wicked than originally intended. I'll have more for you soon...


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Meanwhile - if you have not read the Father of Lies trilogy - all three books: Father of Lies, Tanners Dell and Magda - are on a 99p/99c kindle price promotion over the Easter weekend. This is occult horror and not for the faint hearted... There are now over 600 reviews for the books across amazon; oh and I love this particular review from an Australian reader, 'Scared out of my wits! Seriously this series is insanely good & will make you pray for the light' amazon.com/dp/B015NCZYKU Job done! I'm happy with that...

Magda