Julia Hughes's Blog, page 7

A new look for "The Griffin's Boy"!

"The Griffin's Boy" "The Griffin's Boy" present image is from Gustave Dore's engraving of a boy and his griffin, perfectly complemented by Laura Wright La Roche's book design skills...however, with book #3 (still untitled!) of the Griffin Riders' Chronicles on the horizon, I asked the talented Nadica Boskavska to imagine The Griffin's Boy - I'm already thrilled by this preliminary sketch - you can check out more of Nadica's artwork by visiting The Swan Maiden, at Deviant Art. 

The Bridle Path returns!

Image: Horse Wallpaper This sweet little romance is close to my heart and I know from readers' reviews that others enjoyed it too ... as one reviewer commented, "Mills & Boon with bite!" I always wanted to return to Cornwall and share more of Matilda adventures. To do so, "The Bridle Path" needed a little tweaking. The (slightly) re-edited mss is now in the final proof reading stages, and will be relaunched soon - with the sequel hard on its heels! 


Meantime, our good friend and prolific paranormal author, Ava K Michaels has some copies to give away - as soon as her facebook page reaches two thousand likes! So if you'd like an advance copy of "The Bridle Path" saddle up and gallop over to Ava's Facebook page. 
Readers who purchased the original "Bridle Path" will have their copies automatically updated. 

A tale of two classics

Miss Harper Lee Apparently, two American classics are to be dropped from our English GCSE English literature syllabus: "Of Mice and Men", by John Steinbeck, and "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. 
It's hard to imagine now, but four decades ago, in my part of the world even second hand books were hard to come by. Growing up, I read anything and everything that fell into my hands.  Not caring, and often not knowing what books were considered "classics," I certainly read both novels before hitting double digits. "Of Mice and Men" disturbed me. I tried one more by Mr Steinbeck, "The Red Pony", and decided never to read another of his novels. Yet, almost forty years later, I still recall characters and the plot lines from both Steinbeck's novels - disturbing, yes - but also insightful, powerful and moving.  If I had to sum up "Of Mice and Men" in one word, it would be "raw". 


"To Kill a Mockingbird" is harder to define with one word. Finding a kindred soul in Miss Harper's narrator, I shared her outrage at the teacher who berated Scout for reading and writing above her age group. Like Scout and children everywhere, I struggled to understand adults. Scout and Jem begin to realise that one way to understand another person's motives is to stand on their porch, or walk in their shoes, so the underlying reason for seemingly senseless actions becomes clearer. There's no excuse for ignorance, but ignorance breeds fear, and it is painful to speak out when you're frightened. Maybe understanding why people chose to remain ignorant is the first step to enlightenment. Maybe that's a good word to sum up Miss Lee's literary gift to the world: Enlightening. 
If you have a young person in your life, give them a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird". It's a story that grows with the reader, and with each re-reading, and they will never forget that it was you who introduced them to this timeless classic. 

GRIFFIN RIDERS UPDATE!

"The Griffin's Boy" is now free across the internet, and Amazon.com. Hopefully Amazon's other sites should price match very soon. If you can't download via Amazon in your country, you can alert Amazon & either download a copy from Smashwords, or Barnes & Noble, or come and tell me and I'll arrange for a copy to be sent directly to your email address. 

"The Griffin Cryer" is available for 99c/99p via Amazon, and should be available to download from Smashwords, B&N etc very soon. 

But - most exciting news, for me, at least - Book #3 in the Griffin Riders Chronicles is well underway. The story arc will link The Griffin's Boy's early adventures and Frankie, the girl with the power to summons griffins across worlds, in the most fabulous adventure yet. If you'd like a review copy, email Mervyn@talonpublishing.com 

If you've read and enjoy the first two books in this series, I'd be most grateful if you'd consider leaving a review. And to all you amazing readers who have already commented publicly on how they loved the books, thank you! 

BOOK 3 in the GRIFFIN RIDERS CHRONICLES ... coming SUMMER 2014. 

Like your paranormal romance hot n' spicy?

With a fabulous non-stop action plot? How about throwing in a witch, a wolf and a vampire - sizzling yet? "The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire" totally redefines bedtime reading - this is "Twilight" for grown-ups. Author A K Michaels hurls readers straight into the action, and it's arms up, eyes wide open for a fabulous roller coaster ride. Peri, the witch, is on the run from a truly evil man, who happens to be her father. Gabriel is everything you want in an Alpha Wolf ...although unusually, his best buddy's the sophisticated vampire, Josef. These two guys share everything - including their women. When they first meet, and rescue Peri, their protective instincts, (among other things) are aroused. Peri's battles become their war. Together, the threesome are about to take on the world - both supernatural and actual. Having raced through Book 1 in this series, Book 2 is loaded and ready to roll in my kindle! I thoroughly enjoyed the author's imaginative writing that drove an intriguing plot forwards at break neck pace. A K Michael is a prolific author, and really knows her way around the supernatural world. In addition to this brilliant new series, there's two other fascinating series to sample: "Defender's Blood" and "Sabrina's Vampire". Book 1 in "Defender's Blood - Alex's Destiny" is currently topping Amazon's free charts - grab a copy before they're sold out! But there's more! 

Two fabulous hot hot hot Vampire romances to claim - for free!  "Sabrina's Vampire" Books 1 & 2 are already out - Ava's planning to release Book 3 on Friday. Her facebook page is less than 70 likes away from 1,000, so in a double celebration, "Sabrina's Vampire" Book #1 & #2 form part of Ava's great flash freebie giveaway - for more details check out Ava's Official Facebook page. 

A Thousand Thanks ... & a celebratory gift

Over at Smashwords, " A Raucous Time " has now been downloaded to one thousand ereaders. At Priory Towers, I'm breaking out the bubbly and toasting all you lovely readers. I'd love for you to join me - but no doubt you've got other plans for your Saturday night. So instead, if you're one in a thousand, claim a free copy of the next Celtic Cousins' Adventure. If time travelling paranormal romance sounds right up your kindle, claim your copy of "A Ripple in Time". Or maybe you'd prefer the fast paced action packed "An Explosive Time", starring Crombie, and an all star cast of alligators and elephants - not forgetting the irrepressible Wren and Rhyllann.


Email Mervyn@talonpublishing.com to claim your freebie, or like and comment on my new facebook page.  
Be quick! This offer ends on Monday, 28th April, 2014

Good Friday

The phrase "Good Friday" has always worried me, long before I could even spell oxymoron. Jesus of Nazareth's life and death is well recorded. The Romans, like most dictators, kept detailed records. The pain and suffering caused by crucifixion is all too easy to imagine. 


I'm a Londoner, and so by default, was raised in the Church of England's faith. Sunday school and daily hymns were a part of growing up, as was the belief that Jesus is the friend of all little children. Growing up a little more, I learned that Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25th, and Easter overlays an older tradition of paganism. 
But for me, Good Friday remains a day of quiet contemplation of all those who make sacrifices, small and large, that enrich our lives. Even after death.  

...placating the inner muse...The Midnight Griffin...

...working title of the new Griffin Riders' Chronicles. I should be focusing on edits of "The Bridle Path" and its sequel, but somehow, with two worlds about to collide, this adventure invades again and again. So, I've made a deal, and hope it will keep the muse happy. The Midnight Griffin's title may change, but readers can expect a new Griffin Riders' Chronicle to hit the virtual shelves later this year.  Review copies will be available around June time, you can reserve yours today, of course! But for now, Samara ("The Griffin's Boy") has something to confess. 


"My only love sprung from my only hate."

Except I never knew I loved, not until I learned to hate. In any case, those words were spoken long ago, not merely in another country, but in another world. A world so like ours, yet so different. She comes from that other world. He brought her to mine. My hate. My love.  

My only love, stolen by my only hate. 





Back to "The Bridle Path"! Can't expect to hold those horses for too long. 

Up for a challenge?

"Operation Mallory" is now go. The Paul Mallory Novels deserve to be household names. Stephen Spencer's writing is that good. However, Stephen's past year has been a round of hospital appointments, brain surgery and cancer treatment. Which hasn't left much time for writing, let alone marketing. A bunch of Stephen's writer friends have united, with the aim of getting Paul Mallory's Adventures on every kindle on Earth - or very nearly! One very special person, has commissioned and overseen new covers and a new website. You can check it out here: Stephen C Spencer. 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?  That's up to you. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, becomes mission I'm gonna make this possible. 

Whether you're a reader, writer, both or neither, we need your support. Please share whatever you can, full details, including book covers, links and blog post suggestion can be found at Google Docs "OPERATION MALLORY" 

On twitter, watch out for the hash tag #OperationMallory - and join Paul Mallory on facebook and repin from the pinterest board.
Payback time!  Apart from a pint waiting for you at "The Soldiers Return", if you're an author, there's free marketing advice, free web space, free mini-critique - your's for the asking -  from Sean Campbell and Mervyn Walker. (Sean@90daysnovel.com & Mervyn@Talonpublishing.com) 

There's also a bundle of free ebooks waiting for you, some great reads, including the best selling "Cleaver Square" and the outrageous "Banned", among others. If you'd like to make your own donation, whether it's time or your own ebook, etc, either Sean or Mervyn would be delighted to hear from you. Claim your reward here: "OPERATION MALLORY" "It's Always Darkest"  SYNOPSIS: 
Small-town sportswriter Paul Mallory doesn't need much to keep him happy: Red Stripe beer, H. Upmann cigars, and enough money to put down a few bets at the track every so often will do the trick nicely. He likes his quiet, undemanding life in upstate New York, and he really likes his quiet and undemanding girlfriend Pam. Maybe he even loves her. 

What Paul doesn't like is travel, complications, and most of all, responsibility for the welfare of others. But when his insatiable curiosity—along with a propensity for showing off—gets the better of him one fine June day, he has to leave his old life (and Pam) behind to take on a lucrative new job; a job he never really wanted in the first place. 

Then, on his very first assignment with the mysterious Cramer Press Syndicate, Mallory immediately finds himself in the spotlight at a Russian handball tournament and must decide whether to become personally involved in the biggest story he's ever covered—putting both his career and his life on the line in the process. 

Whatever he does, he'll never be the same again.

"It's Always Darkest" will be free to download from all good virtual bookstores within the next few days, we'll keep you posted! 

Randall Peterson's Radio Listeners

cover image: M La Porta & A Fiorini This one's for you! If you listen to Randall's radio show, you'll know how special he is. An original story teller, artist, and now radio broadcaster - on air from 8pm - 10pm every Monday. I'm one of his biggest fan. I'm also honoured to be a mate, and feeling especially honoured this evening because ... Randall's threatening to read from one of my titles, "A Ripple in Time". 


So for fellow Randall fans, if you enjoy the excerpt from this time travel paranormal romance, and you'd like a free copy, email Mervyn @Talonpublishing dot com. In the subject line type ARIT.