Cassandra Dean's Blog: Blog of Bloggy Blogness, page 36
February 5, 2012
FREE BOOKS!
Hey peeps,
Want some ebooks for the grand price of nothing? Well, Decadent Publishing are offering some of their titles for absolutely free!
If you have a Kindle, or a Kindle app, go to Amazon.com now for some fabulous FREE ebooks!
Caught Offside
Daughter of Lust
Panty Raid at Zombie High
Ushers, Inc.
The Kraken's Mirror
Invasion of the Nylonians
February 1, 2012
Come with me now on a journey through time and space…*
*Apologies to The Mighty Boosh for mangling their opening.
Hey peeps! I just got back from a trip to Sovereign Hill and I'm all ready to dish on the particulars!
For those not in the know, Sovereign Hill is an open air museum in the goldrush town of Ballarat, about an hour north of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Frozen at 1856, Sovereign Hill celebrates the time in Australian history when the streets of Ballarat ran with gold, when the world's two largest gold nuggets ever were discovered and when well known names such as David Jones were first coming to prominence.
When my friend invited me to come to make the eight hour (gulp!) drive to Ballarat to hang out at Sovereign Hill for a few days, I readily accepted. Due to Secret Squirrel Project, the potential for research gold (haha, see what I did there??) was astronomical. So I packed my brand new Samsonite suitcase, gathered six of my ten cameras, and joined my friend for a jounrey through time and space…unfortunately, not in a TARDIS or with the Mighty Boosh in tow 
After the eight hours (gulp!) had passed, we arrived at Sovereign Hill just in time to enter the park for half an hour. As my friend has membership, I was able to pay a ridiculously small amount for unlimited entry into the park during our stay there, as well as super cheap accommodation on site. It was dorm accommodation, but I'm not going to argue when it was so economical! Anyhoo, we made it into the park for a little squizz before they shut the gates at 5.30pm.
The next day, a Saturday, it was Sovereign Hill extravaganza! We visited all the shops, including the boiled lolly shop (sweets made on site and with an hourly demonstration), the mercantile with lovely embroided tablecloths and doilies as well as ladies bits and bobs, the tin smiths with wonderful cooking implements, the apothecary, the foundry, the candle maker…I could go on and on! But I won't 
The first full day we were there was the last day of the School Holiday programme, so they had a lot of things on that aren't part of the normal schedule. We spent a lot of time in the Victoria Theatre, where they had everything from an abridged reading of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol to a Pantomine entiled "Little Red Robin Hood".
Sunday was a celebration of Chinese New Year. At one stage during the Goldrush, Chinese immgrants made up a quarter of the population of Ballarat and, as you can imagine, they weren't treated very well. However, it's an important part of our history and Sovereign Hill have chosen to celebrate that history with a programme of Chinese-inspired events, the most spectacular of which was the Dragon and Lion parade down Main Street
Our final day, the programme was back to normal and, being a Monday and the first day back for school kids, it was very quiet. However, this made it a real delight to wander through the shops, purchasing at will, safe in the knowledge it wouldn't be elbow to elbow. The last day we saw the gold pour, where a blacksmith melts a 3kg block of gold down and pours it back into a mould, demonstrating the smelting process for us. Then, somehow, I got to hold the gold! $140,000 worth of gold in my hands! It was a lot heavier than I was expecting, and surprisingly smooth.
Then, as all good things must do, it was time to pack up and go home. The eight hour (gulp!) drive home.
I had immense amounts of fun, gained some invaluable insight, and spent a bit of money If you have the means and the opportunity, I highly recommend a visit!
Photos below, from begining to end:
discarded iron at the blacksmiths, a lady's undergarments, narrow laneways, a chair at Victoria Theatre, Charlie Napier Hotel Gentlemen's Parlour, a sign on the street, just-poured gold creating sparks with a wooden stick, dragon and lion parade, the dragon
January 31, 2012
WINNER! Let's talk Shameless, shall we? [CONTEST]
And we have a winner! Congratulations…
Elizabeth (BookAttict)!
Elizabeth has won any ebook from Decadent Publishing's backlist, a signed TEACH ME postcard, a TEACH ME magnet and a TEACH ME keyring.
I am also very happy to say Elizabeth has chosen ENSLAVED as her ebook! I hope she enjoys Lucia and Marcus's story immensely, and that you all come back on 10 February when TEACH ME is released!
Congratulations again to Elizabeth and thank you to all who entered.
xx
January 19, 2012
Let's talk Shameless, shall we? [CONTEST]
Hey peeps!
Welcome to the Shameless blog hop! Big thanks to Jen from Red Hot Books, Brie from Romance Around The Corner and Michelle from Michelle's Book Blog for putting it all together.
So, the theme of the day is Shameless and my wordy, if TEACH ME doesn't tie into that, I'll be a monkey's uncle. What a wonderful topic to discuss, and what a fantabulous way to discuss it.
So, I guess now I have to prove how shameless TEACH ME is after the big wind up, right? Gosh, I hope I don't disappoint!
In TEACH ME, our fearless heroine is rather shameless in pursuing what she wants. Elizabeth, Viscountess Rocksley, decides she will pursue pleasure of the erotic variety (ooo er, said the actor to the bishop – oh my gosh, I am so lame sometimes!) and she's not going to let something as silly as shame stand in her way. To that end, she engages the services of the madam of a brothel and expects a tutorial based upon books and lectures. She's shameless, but she's not quite that shameless. However, when she rocks up for her first lesson she finds not the madam she expected, but instead an elegant man who coldly informs her he will be her tutor.
At this point, I reckon I would chuck it in. I'd have already screwed all my courage just to approach the madam and now to be confronted with this dude who tells me he's going to teach me? I would not be at all hesitant about turning on my heel and chalking it all up to experience. Elizabeth, however, is from a different kettle of fish – and how lucky that is for us, as there certainly wouldn't be a story if she turned tail!
She doesn't let such a thing stop her and she agrees to be tutuored by this man, who she discovers is the Earl of Malvern. Without shame or hestitation, she permits him to teach her about erotic pleasure, and in return, she teaches him a thing or two… 
Man, how awesome is that? Shamelessness has a bit to recommend it, methinks. I bet if Elizabeth had access to the internet, she would definitely search for pictures of a naked Michael Fassbender…oh, um, maybe that's just me.
And now – The Contest#!
Comment below on your favourite shameless moment. It can be your own scandalousness, or a favourite moment from a story. One lucky commenter will win a copy of any ebook in Decadent Publishing's backlist, as well as a signed TEACH ME postcard, TEACH ME magnet and TEACH ME keyring!
Want to win some more stuff? Go to Shameless blog hop page and have a squiz at the other participating authors. Go on, go nuts! Australia Day is coming up!*
*Hey, it's as good an excuse as any. I know I'll be getting my national pride on, throwing snags (sausages for those not of Oz extraction) on the bbq and listening to Triple J's Hottest 100. Treat yourselves, peeps!
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# The small print: Comment before midnight on 28/01/2012 (Australian Daylight Saving Central Standard Time) to be entered to win one (1) ebook copy from Decadent Publishing's backlist (http://www.decadentpublishing.com), one (1) signed TEACH ME postcard, one (1) TEACH ME magnet and one (1) TEACH ME keyring. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner's name posted on this blog by 01/02/2012. Cassandra will also contact the winner by e-mail; the winner need to reply with their postal address so Cassandra can send the prize to them. Only one entry per ISP address. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.
January 15, 2012
SALE at Decadent!
Hey peeps,
Need something new and awesome to read? Want some quality ebooks for not-much-at-all? Well, you are in luck, my friends! My publisher, Decadent Publishing, is having a sale!
These titles are longer format ebooks, so these reduced prices are an awesomesauce deal. You can follow the links below to Decadent's website, but they are also on sale at Amazon.com.
Check 'em out!
The Kraken's Mirror
Echoes at Dawn
Joy Ride
What Not to Fear
A Queen Seduced
The Wayward Child
Soul Catcher
Tender is the Knight
Kya's King
Blood Moon
Out of Joint
When a Mullo Loves a Woman
Crushed Sugar
Sugar Rush
The Music of Chaos
January 14, 2012
Writing is fun
This is what I tell myself constantly. Writing is Fun! It's exciting! It in no way is hard and work-like! You love it to pieces! Seriously!
Sometimes, this even works.
It's weird that something that gives me so much pleasure can also be such a chore. Once I get in to it, writing can completely take over, such that hours pass and I don't even realise that much time has elapsed. However, getting to that point is just. So. Difficult. There is so much else to do. I reckon the washing needs to be done. Shouldn't I clean the bathroom? Maybe I should check the internet again.
However, I'm happy to report today was spent in successful pursuit of writing fun. I wrote quite a bit, so yay me! I'm trundling along nicely on Secret Squirrel project (70% of first draft done, peeps!) and I'm on track to finish it by the end of January. Huzzah!
Other stuff that is happening in my life – I will be going to Sovereign Hill soon! The last time I went was some years ago, but this time it ties in almost perfectly with Secret Squirrel Project (and that's a bit of a hint right there!). I'll enjoy hanging out in Old Timey Ballarat, panning for gold and dying candles a lovely shade of brown. I won't spend too much on all the fun times – at least, I say that now. I'm certain this will all change when I get there! Also, I might be able to sneak over to Daylesford for a bit. I've never been, but am quite keen to check out it's serenity.
Apart from that, not much else is happening. Just trundling along, writing and planning the trip. January is a bit of a lull before the excitement of February (have you heard? TEACH ME is totally going to be released then!).
What are you peeps up to?
xx
January 11, 2012
Wanna check out ENSLAVED for cheap?
Who wouldn't, right?? Go to Amazon this very second and you can purchase ENSLAVED for $0.99! That's, like, under a dollar!
Better hurry, though, twill only last until Monday, January 15th.
Enslaved by Cassandra Dean (Amazon.com)
Ohhhh, and ENSLAVED is totally cheap at Amazon.co.uk as well! £0.77!!
Enslaved by Cassandra Dean (Amazon.co.uk)
January 3, 2012
Excerpt for TEACH ME!
Phew, even after the exciting news of Toby's release date, there's still more!
The excerpt is up and running! Marvel in Toby's magificence!!!
Release Date for TEACH ME!!
Hey peeps,
The new year has brought some awesomely splendifirous news – TOBY has a release date!
TEACH ME [proper title] will be released by Decadent Publishing on…
…drum roll please…
10th FEBRUARY 2012!!!
Save your pennies, pencil it in your diaries (nay, write it in PEN, folks!) and be all ready for the grandest of days!
Yay TOBY! I knew you would make it one day
December 31, 2011
4…3…2…
Happy New Year, peeps!
I hope 2012 brings you happiness and awesomeness and super fun things, like a two-tiered chocolate and hazelnut torte shaped like a small European country.
Cassandra
xx
