C.J. Duggan's Blog
February 3, 2020
Not so smug now...
Oh I was so-so-so smug.
I remember now why I don't write after work.
I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop hoping for a second wind to hit, but I don't think it's coming.
But you know what? That's okay because something else happened today.
A box of books arrived, but not just any books ... the reprinted Paradise City copies in the NEW matching covers!!
It's been 5 years since Paradise City released (how crazy is that?) Originally the old covers were pink and blue, but received a re-vamp before the second book came out which meant for the last 5 years readers have had different (non-matching) books on their shelves.
Being a bit OCD I totally understood the disappointment of miss matched covers mid-series, but all things come to those who wait, right?
And check them out!
How good do they look together?
Seeing these now matching has made me fall in love with the series all over again.There was something about the odd covers that gave me a bit of an eye twitch and now I can proudly include these fella's in my book stack.
I will revisit my current WIP Thursday, knowing that trying to write after work is just too taxing on the old noggin. The better thing about this is that you have to know your limits, not to force it. It's not writing for the lack of ideas only fatigue that stops me. I get the best amount of joy from writing when I am able to dedicate my entire self and sit at my desk and let it flow. Not every day can be THE day, but I have four writing days coming at the end of the week with the plan to get to the 40k mark by Sunday (over halfway) And for that milestone I want to be fully awake.
Time for bed me thinks, to sleep and plot and plan for the next session.
For a bit of random fun I will leave you with a song I had on repeat writing the Paradise Series.
Do you think of Ballantine or Dean when you listen to it? ;)
I remember now why I don't write after work.
I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop hoping for a second wind to hit, but I don't think it's coming.
But you know what? That's okay because something else happened today.
A box of books arrived, but not just any books ... the reprinted Paradise City copies in the NEW matching covers!!
It's been 5 years since Paradise City released (how crazy is that?) Originally the old covers were pink and blue, but received a re-vamp before the second book came out which meant for the last 5 years readers have had different (non-matching) books on their shelves.
Being a bit OCD I totally understood the disappointment of miss matched covers mid-series, but all things come to those who wait, right?
And check them out!
How good do they look together?
Seeing these now matching has made me fall in love with the series all over again.There was something about the odd covers that gave me a bit of an eye twitch and now I can proudly include these fella's in my book stack.
I will revisit my current WIP Thursday, knowing that trying to write after work is just too taxing on the old noggin. The better thing about this is that you have to know your limits, not to force it. It's not writing for the lack of ideas only fatigue that stops me. I get the best amount of joy from writing when I am able to dedicate my entire self and sit at my desk and let it flow. Not every day can be THE day, but I have four writing days coming at the end of the week with the plan to get to the 40k mark by Sunday (over halfway) And for that milestone I want to be fully awake.
Time for bed me thinks, to sleep and plot and plan for the next session.
For a bit of random fun I will leave you with a song I had on repeat writing the Paradise Series.
Do you think of Ballantine or Dean when you listen to it? ;)
February 2, 2020
Mayor Smug of Smugsville
My house is so quiet.
Only me, the tap of the keyboard, my desk fan whirring, my focus booster clicking away.
This is what a social media ban while I work sounds like and it is glorious. I feel like Mayor Smug, of Smugsville right now. Not only are the systems I have put in place in order to FOCUS working but I am so invested in my characters and their story.
I hit the 20k mark today, meaning today's word count came to 5103 words.
I started late in the day about 4pm and have no real memory of how I managed to get today's word count. That's a deep-deep zone. Come time to finish I tallied and was amazed I hit 5k and I deleted about 700 in the process.
Now it's time to switch on the socials, check in have dinner and sit down for a movie. Funnily enough, and maybe this is part of the grand smugness is that I haven't missed the technology. Not checking in every few minutes to see what news story is trending on Twitter, or what product I need to buy on Insta, or scroll through the memes of Facebook. When I think about all the portholes that occupy the space in your brain it's no wonder creativity takes a hit. In the last two days of this "experiment" I have felt so much lighter. This is why I am working on documenting the feeling, noting after each session about what was achieved "Dear Diary, Captains Log."
Tomorrow is the day job so it's pod cast time for the commute in the morning and hopefully a few hours after after I get home to get some more words down (boy aren't I smug?) I hope future CJ isn't too wiped out for all these grand plans.
Let's see what my next entry will be, I will either be laughing at my audacity or fist pumping about my progress.
Place your bets!
Only me, the tap of the keyboard, my desk fan whirring, my focus booster clicking away.
This is what a social media ban while I work sounds like and it is glorious. I feel like Mayor Smug, of Smugsville right now. Not only are the systems I have put in place in order to FOCUS working but I am so invested in my characters and their story.
I hit the 20k mark today, meaning today's word count came to 5103 words.
I started late in the day about 4pm and have no real memory of how I managed to get today's word count. That's a deep-deep zone. Come time to finish I tallied and was amazed I hit 5k and I deleted about 700 in the process.
Now it's time to switch on the socials, check in have dinner and sit down for a movie. Funnily enough, and maybe this is part of the grand smugness is that I haven't missed the technology. Not checking in every few minutes to see what news story is trending on Twitter, or what product I need to buy on Insta, or scroll through the memes of Facebook. When I think about all the portholes that occupy the space in your brain it's no wonder creativity takes a hit. In the last two days of this "experiment" I have felt so much lighter. This is why I am working on documenting the feeling, noting after each session about what was achieved "Dear Diary, Captains Log."
Tomorrow is the day job so it's pod cast time for the commute in the morning and hopefully a few hours after after I get home to get some more words down (boy aren't I smug?) I hope future CJ isn't too wiped out for all these grand plans.
Let's see what my next entry will be, I will either be laughing at my audacity or fist pumping about my progress.
Place your bets!
February 1, 2020
The Holiday is Over - Social Media Cleanse
I didn't even realise it was the 1st until writing this now. Seems rather fitting seeing as I woke up with a new found need to get back to work.
After a pom-pom-rah-rah speech with my besty. It was time for a social media cleanse and into lockdown.
The holiday is over.
And the need to cleanse myself from the overwhelm of all the horrors happening in the world I felt it was time to step back and get back into the one thing I can control and above all ENJOY.
Writing.
So, I set out about posting up on all my socials that I was indeed unplugging and working on my next book (Book 16.)
Facebook, Twitter, Insta, and even a hardcore automatic reply on my author email (saaay whaaaa?) I have also turned off my phone and placed it in an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ROOM (who am I???) No distractions, no temptations. I am at peace that I have dropped my message out in the world and no one has to worry that I am trapped under a filing cabinet somewhere.
I am - A - Okay.
Actually, more than okay, I am...EXCELLENT. I set myself a routine and I stuck to it.
I broke down the chapters of my book, got out my trusty whiteboard for a word count goal write up and popped on my Focus Booster App on my computer. The buzzer sounds every 25 minute stint to tell me to have a 5 minute break. Once that sounds it's back at it, that way I am forced into a break, a walk around, a drink, a toilet stop (I am rather guilty of not stepping away from the screen and it is not good.)
I will then give myself permission to have dinner, sit down and watch a movie with hubby which I am about to do. I wont check any social media until 8pm (briefly) and that's it.
You know what I feel as I write this blog post? I feel free. I am listening to the soundtrack I made for my current book I am writing and have calculated today's word count after my lockdown is at 2,402 words for the day. Bringing my book up to 16,103. And let it be known I haven't written or added to the the word count in months! My back is a bit sore but my soul feels goooood.
I know myself that I work my best when I am structured and disciplined and that all the worldly distractions and binging was just getting me down to be honest. I felt sluggish and knew I was getting myself into bad habits.
Hopefully this is the start of some new habits forming and some more words flowing. I highly recommend making the decision to digitally detox. It's not going to be easy and I am not going cold turkey, but I am putting in some boundaries and stepping back a bit and surely that can only be a good thing, right?
August 1, 2019
And we have a date!
There is going to be a very common theme when talking about this book.
One that I haven't really had to speak of before, but there is something special about 'Beyond Here Lies Nothing.'
What's it all about?
He came from nowhere—just another stranger blowing into our backward town. They come, they go; no one ever stays in Pretty Pine for long. Except he wasn’t just anybody. He was very much a somebody. A very talented, very sexy, very famous somebody.
Breathe, Sadie. Just. Breathe.
***
When a big-city agent wants to rent the abandoned chapel on the Bowens’ property for an obscene amount of money, it seems like a deal of a lifetime . . . there’s just one small catch.
Nathaniel Black.
Disgraced, broken-down, whisky-swilling rock god Nathaniel Black is set to make a comeback, or at least that’s what his long-suffering agent is hoping.
Sadie Bowen.Nathaniel’s last chance for salvation is to lock himself away from the temptations of his wicked life. With no women, no booze, and no drugs. Only the music. The one thing he didn’t count on was forming a complex, life-changing bond with a reclusive, talented songbird,
Twenty three-year-old Sadie has all of Nathaniel’s cassette tapes under her bed and his tattered poster lining the inside of her wardrobe door. And now he’s here, in her backyard, eating her food and sharing her bathroom—a dream come true, right? Until Sadie realises her teenage idol is the most infuriating, arrogant man-child she has ever met.
Will seclusion lead to destruction? Or will Sadie finally get a chance to learn who the real man is behind the music? One thing is clear: despite every voice inside her head telling her to stay away, she can’t.
She can’t help it, can’t fight it.
Nathaniel Black is about to become her favourite mistake.
I know, I know any proud parent would say that, but this book took three-long-years to bring into publishing and it's something I wan't to be honest about. We so often talk about the raving success of what it is to produce stories, but we don't want to focus on the hardships because, well they suck.
Now you might roll you collective eyes and be like, "Yessss CJ, we know it was hard you keep telling us.'
But guy's, this was seriously hard.
I have never had writers block before, so being faced with this challenge was new and scary because try as I might there were just no answers. I fell out of love with writing, felt completely estranged from the bookish community and had no real way of knowing if I would ever get back to it, or more alarmingly if I really wanted to.
Good meaning people always ask "How's the books going?"Usually this question always had me happy to answer, but now I was recoiling.
The things I know now?
It's okay to take a break.
Change is good.
Sometimes, life happens and it can get in the way (let it.)
Writing is always going to be there. Whenever you are ready and want to fall back in love with it again you will, when the time is right.
Look at how far you have come.
Enjoy the little things, pump up the volume and create a shit load of dreamy book teasers.
Reconnect genuinely with people. Authors, readers, bloggers.
Be grateful for the people that were there when things weren't so great (the ones that listened.)
And here's the clincher:
Don't. Give. Up.
Even if you reeaaaally want to. Push through to the other side. Don't be defeated by the circumstances of now and hold onto knowing that however long it takes, is how long it takes.
That's why this book is special.
So many times I wanted to give up (and did) but I came back to it, and I like to think that the book and me are better for it.
Which leads me to this:
WE HAVE A DATE!
October 1st is a day I will be celebrating.
It will be the day that book goes live into the world. It's the day readers get to meet Sadie and Nathaniel. It's a day you can pre-order your gorgeous signed paperbacks. It's a day where this story ends and another begins and I am so thrilled to say that I am already deep into writing my next book.
If you would like to be apart of the 'Beyond Here Lies Nothing' release, or potentially snag yourself an advanced readers copy to review than you're going to definitely want to join my Facebook group for all the exclusives.
Join Readers Group: HERE
Speaking of exclusives you can also pre-order a copy through iBooks.
Pre-order iBooks: HERE
Oh and there is one thing I forgot to mention!
It's SO good to be back. xx
One that I haven't really had to speak of before, but there is something special about 'Beyond Here Lies Nothing.'
What's it all about?
He came from nowhere—just another stranger blowing into our backward town. They come, they go; no one ever stays in Pretty Pine for long. Except he wasn’t just anybody. He was very much a somebody. A very talented, very sexy, very famous somebody.
Breathe, Sadie. Just. Breathe.
***
When a big-city agent wants to rent the abandoned chapel on the Bowens’ property for an obscene amount of money, it seems like a deal of a lifetime . . . there’s just one small catch.
Nathaniel Black.
Disgraced, broken-down, whisky-swilling rock god Nathaniel Black is set to make a comeback, or at least that’s what his long-suffering agent is hoping.
Sadie Bowen.Nathaniel’s last chance for salvation is to lock himself away from the temptations of his wicked life. With no women, no booze, and no drugs. Only the music. The one thing he didn’t count on was forming a complex, life-changing bond with a reclusive, talented songbird,
Twenty three-year-old Sadie has all of Nathaniel’s cassette tapes under her bed and his tattered poster lining the inside of her wardrobe door. And now he’s here, in her backyard, eating her food and sharing her bathroom—a dream come true, right? Until Sadie realises her teenage idol is the most infuriating, arrogant man-child she has ever met.
Will seclusion lead to destruction? Or will Sadie finally get a chance to learn who the real man is behind the music? One thing is clear: despite every voice inside her head telling her to stay away, she can’t.
She can’t help it, can’t fight it.
Nathaniel Black is about to become her favourite mistake.
I know, I know any proud parent would say that, but this book took three-long-years to bring into publishing and it's something I wan't to be honest about. We so often talk about the raving success of what it is to produce stories, but we don't want to focus on the hardships because, well they suck.
Now you might roll you collective eyes and be like, "Yessss CJ, we know it was hard you keep telling us.'
But guy's, this was seriously hard.
I have never had writers block before, so being faced with this challenge was new and scary because try as I might there were just no answers. I fell out of love with writing, felt completely estranged from the bookish community and had no real way of knowing if I would ever get back to it, or more alarmingly if I really wanted to.
Good meaning people always ask "How's the books going?"Usually this question always had me happy to answer, but now I was recoiling.
The things I know now?
It's okay to take a break.
Change is good.
Sometimes, life happens and it can get in the way (let it.)
Writing is always going to be there. Whenever you are ready and want to fall back in love with it again you will, when the time is right.
Look at how far you have come.
Enjoy the little things, pump up the volume and create a shit load of dreamy book teasers.
Reconnect genuinely with people. Authors, readers, bloggers.
Be grateful for the people that were there when things weren't so great (the ones that listened.)
And here's the clincher:
Don't. Give. Up.
Even if you reeaaaally want to. Push through to the other side. Don't be defeated by the circumstances of now and hold onto knowing that however long it takes, is how long it takes.
That's why this book is special.
So many times I wanted to give up (and did) but I came back to it, and I like to think that the book and me are better for it.
Which leads me to this:
WE HAVE A DATE!
October 1st is a day I will be celebrating.
It will be the day that book goes live into the world. It's the day readers get to meet Sadie and Nathaniel. It's a day you can pre-order your gorgeous signed paperbacks. It's a day where this story ends and another begins and I am so thrilled to say that I am already deep into writing my next book.
If you would like to be apart of the 'Beyond Here Lies Nothing' release, or potentially snag yourself an advanced readers copy to review than you're going to definitely want to join my Facebook group for all the exclusives.
Join Readers Group: HERE
Speaking of exclusives you can also pre-order a copy through iBooks.
Pre-order iBooks: HERE
Oh and there is one thing I forgot to mention!
It's SO good to be back. xx
Where have you been?
Unfortunately not here.But, I digress.All is well. And although I may not be on a private island with my lap top connected to freakishly fast and surprisingly present internet (hey, it's my fantasy) I am indeed in a good place working on words and still soaking up some sunshine, just the filtered kind.
Instead, I've been here.And quite happy to be. More so than you could imagine, because dear readers I have finally finished my book! (Can you hear the angels singing?)
Don't be fooled by all the filtered sunshiny pictures, this book was HARD! So hard and I gave up several times because my head was so blocked. My mind was empty, my imagination MIA. And it was scary. I have been very fortunate that I have been prolific in publishing for many years, but this book that I loved so much was defeating me.
It took time. So much time. Three years ago I announced this book to the world. Three. Years!
But it is done and it is perfect.
Sometimes, things take time, characters need time to open up and tell me where they're going. In so many instances I could have published what I had, but it just never felt right. Now, thousands of words written and re-written, it feels right. Now you have a juicy, big, book to devour and I am so happy I took my time, and so grateful you have been so patient.
And we have a date!
Beyond Here Lies Nothing is going live
October 1st
He came from nowhere—just another stranger blowing into our backward town. They come, they go; no one ever stays in Pretty Pine for long. Except he wasn’t just anybody. He was very much a somebody. A very talented, very sexy, very famous somebody.He came from nowhere
Breathe, Sadie. Just. Breathe.
***
When a big-city agent wants to rent the abandoned chapel on the Bowens’ property for an obscene amount of money, it seems like a deal of a lifetime . . . there’s just one small catch.
Nathaniel Black.
Disgraced, broken-down, whisky-swilling rock god Nathaniel Black is set to make a comeback, or at least that’s what his long-suffering agent is hoping.
Sadie Bowen.Nathaniel’s last chance for salvation is to lock himself away from the temptations of his wicked life. With no women, no booze, and no drugs. Only the music. The one thing he didn’t count on was forming a complex, life-changing bond with a reclusive, talented songbird,
Twenty three-year-old Sadie has all of Nathaniel’s cassette tapes under her bed and his tattered poster lining the inside of her wardrobe door. And now he’s here, in her backyard, eating her food and sharing her bathroom—a dream come true, right? Until Sadie realises her teenage idol is the most infuriating, arrogant man-child she has ever met.
Will seclusion lead to destruction? Or will Sadie finally get a chance to learn who the real man is behind the music? One thing is clear: despite every voice inside her head telling her to stay away, she can’t.
She can’t help it, can’t fight it.
Nathaniel Black is about to become her favourite mistake.
Pre-order iBooks: HERE
The links don't lie, you can now pre-order exclusive through iBooks, and purchase everywhere else October 1st.
Paperbacks will also be available in October and trust me they are going to be beautiful.
If you want to keep in the know and get exclusive teasers and a chance to win a signed paperback of BHLN, the place to be is in my Readers Group.
Join Readers Group: HERE
So now you're off to an island?
Nope! This month will see me editing, formatting and planning all the fun stuff. There are other things simmering away that I am keen to dedicate some time to.
- Advanced Readers Copy for Beyond Here Lies Nothing (trust me, you are going to want to be in my readers group)
- Media kits and exclusive teasers will be going out for the launch.
- A new book! (started and it is going to be EPIC!)
- An online store for all your bookish desires. (More on that soon)
- Branding, this is to do with the online store and I am super excited about the collaborations in order to make the experience that much more special.
So as you can see I am back in a big, bad way, and as stressful and frustrating as it was to break from book world it certainly grateful and happy to be back.
CJ xx
February 14, 2019
Sand In My Shoes
Meet Poppy-The-Pop-Top
Poppy has rose gold salt and pepper shakers.
Poppy is cool.
Sometimes, in life you just need to flip the middle finger and buy a caravan.
I made a promise to myself years ago that I would not be unhappy in a job. That no matter how hard, if needed I would make the change. Because listen to me when I tell you... NOTHING warrants feeling unhappy. And for a person (who admittedly recoils at the thought of change) 2018 was a biggy.
So...
I left my job of 12-years and bought a caravan.
Now, Poppy wasn't always so cool.
Poppy, a 1987 Millard with off white and brown accents...BROWN. She needed a bit of a lift and tuck, a smear of beauty cream and some matte-black mascara to make her features pop and viola!
Isn't she a peach?
POPPY SPARKS JOY!
It never gets old looking out my kitchen window and seeing Poppy sitting there.
Poppy was loved and had excellent bones, so we really didn't have to do too much inside just a lot of feminine touches. New wood grain flooring, marble accessories, rose gold salt and pepper shakers HELLO! Chopping block, coffee machine and all the creature comforts to take on the road (colour co-ordinated of course)
I mean seriously, seasoning never looked so good. And I finally have a home for this adorable TEAC radio my brother gifted me one Christmas.
Who said a home on wheels couldn't be dreamy?
Matchy-matchy!
The coolest kids in camp. Okay, so maybe we sit in our driveway a lot but these chairs are just too comfy!
There are so many places to explore in our own backyard we are delighting in daylight saving and constantly checking the weather apps for cool changes so we can hit the road.Any recommendations fellow Victorians?
Eating our way around is kind of our thing.
And not gonna-lie, the occasional selfie.
So there you go, a few discoveries.
It's not always about word counts and deadlines. Sometimes, you have have to be okay with stepping away from the things you know and go on a few little adventures. I was so unsure about buying Poppy even though I had wanted to get a van for so long. Looking back it's kind of hard to believe where the year began to where it has ended but I am happy to say...no regrets!
What about you? Have you changed jobs, bought a Hummer, got a haircut, made a decision that scared you a little?
Sincerely, CJ xx
What to find out more? Follow me on Instagram: @cj_duggan
Because who doesn't love a good filter.
March 26, 2018
Hooray for Hollywood!
"He is not just the boy next door!" - 5 Amazing stars! - Taone, Amazon
The fifth addictive standalone novel in C.J. Duggan's sassy and sexy HEART OF THE CITY series from the internationally bestselling author of Paris Lights, New York Nights, London Bound and When in Rome.
Hollywood isn't all sunglasses and autographs.
Aussie girl Abby Taylor is heading for the hills - the Hollywood Hills. All she has to do first is exorcise some old demons, namely Cassie Carmichael, the character she's been playing on Australia's number one television drama for the past three years. Abby is in desperate need of a change. With a new city, new friends and a sweet new condo in West Hollywood, it's time to take her career to the next level. But with disastrous auditions and countless rejections, Abby is going to need to numb the pain in the hope that her next big break comes along soon, and it does. She just never dreamed that her big break would be in the form of waiting tables at one of the hottest nightspots on the strip. Action-packed late nights and VIP parties are a sure distraction, but nothing distracts her quite like her brooding new boss, the infuriating Jay Davis. Suddenly living the dream takes on a whole new meaning, but when something in Jay's past is revealed, Abby has to question, who is the greatest actor of them all? In the land of broken dreams, all Abby can do is hope that hers is not going to be one of them.
A fun, sexy and light-hearted romance from the addictive HEART OF THE CITY SERIES that will have you falling in love with the hilarious Abby, the handsome Jay and Hollywood itself!
BUY NOW!
Hachette: https://bit.ly/2IViddU
iBooks: https://apple.co/2p5GLs6
Amazon AU site: http://amzn.to/2FN0R44
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2IVi0HE
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2DV4xMh
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/2pFyTOj
Booktopia: http://bit.ly/2IkrUSG
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2IjfmuS
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2FB6jUo
WIN THE COMPLETE HEART OF THE CITY SERIES
PERSONALLY SIGNED TO YOU!
To celebrate the release of HOLLYWOOD HEARTBREAK (March 25th)
We're giving away the complete series!
Five books.
Five cities.
How many happily ever afters?
Find out, with your chance to win the entire Heart of the City series (personally signed)
Haven't read one yet?
Not to worry each book can be read as a complete standalone! Entering is easy!
Simply join the CJ Duggan Readers Group
on Facebook for a chance to win!
'This is the first book in C.J's 'Heart of the City' series I've read and I'm hooked!!"
- 5 stars - Mel Williams, Amazon
For all things Heart of the City head towww.theheartofthecityseries.com
The fifth addictive standalone novel in C.J. Duggan's sassy and sexy HEART OF THE CITY series from the internationally bestselling author of Paris Lights, New York Nights, London Bound and When in Rome.
Hollywood isn't all sunglasses and autographs.
Aussie girl Abby Taylor is heading for the hills - the Hollywood Hills. All she has to do first is exorcise some old demons, namely Cassie Carmichael, the character she's been playing on Australia's number one television drama for the past three years. Abby is in desperate need of a change. With a new city, new friends and a sweet new condo in West Hollywood, it's time to take her career to the next level. But with disastrous auditions and countless rejections, Abby is going to need to numb the pain in the hope that her next big break comes along soon, and it does. She just never dreamed that her big break would be in the form of waiting tables at one of the hottest nightspots on the strip. Action-packed late nights and VIP parties are a sure distraction, but nothing distracts her quite like her brooding new boss, the infuriating Jay Davis. Suddenly living the dream takes on a whole new meaning, but when something in Jay's past is revealed, Abby has to question, who is the greatest actor of them all? In the land of broken dreams, all Abby can do is hope that hers is not going to be one of them.
A fun, sexy and light-hearted romance from the addictive HEART OF THE CITY SERIES that will have you falling in love with the hilarious Abby, the handsome Jay and Hollywood itself!
BUY NOW!
Hachette: https://bit.ly/2IViddU
iBooks: https://apple.co/2p5GLs6
Amazon AU site: http://amzn.to/2FN0R44
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2IVi0HE
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2DV4xMh
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/2pFyTOj
Booktopia: http://bit.ly/2IkrUSG
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2IjfmuS
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2FB6jUo
WIN THE COMPLETE HEART OF THE CITY SERIESPERSONALLY SIGNED TO YOU!
To celebrate the release of HOLLYWOOD HEARTBREAK (March 25th)
We're giving away the complete series!
Five books.
Five cities.
How many happily ever afters?
Find out, with your chance to win the entire Heart of the City series (personally signed)
Haven't read one yet?Not to worry each book can be read as a complete standalone! Entering is easy!Simply join the CJ Duggan Readers Group
on Facebook for a chance to win!
'This is the first book in C.J's 'Heart of the City' series I've read and I'm hooked!!"- 5 stars - Mel Williams, Amazon
For all things Heart of the City head towww.theheartofthecityseries.com
November 26, 2017
Baby, when the lights go out.
What's the saying? When in Rome, do a Roman.
How did a self-orchestrated gap year turn into a less-than-enthralling lifestyle as a couch potato at her parents' house? Determined to get motivated and join life again, Sammi Shorten books a budget Bellissimo Tour to Rome, the Eternal City. What she hadn't signed up for was being stuck with an eclectic group of binge-drinking foreigners in a bed-bug-infested hostel from hell. Things in Rome really couldn't get much worse . . . could they?
When plans go completely awry Sammi's left with only one place to turn, and it's the one place Sammi really doesn't want to turn - to the man who might very well get her into the worst trouble of all: the gorgeous local tour guide, Marcello Bambozzi.
Happy Release day to two of my most favourite characters - Sammi and Marcello. It's certainly been an interesting day, one filled with much optimism and excitement in sharing their stories, alas Mother Nature had other ideas and she tends to think 'power' is severely overrated and decided to do away with out electricity supply. As you can imagine, this happening on a release day was not...ideal. Many, many hours later I am finally able to shout from the rooftop that When in Rome is LIVE!
Here's what they're saying so far:"Loved every second and left me wanting much more of Sammi and Marcello!" - Bitchezwhobrunchwithbookz "I got swept away along with Sammi as she discovers Rome - and discovers herself. Ms Duggan writes with beautiful imagery that I could feel myself walking the cobbled streets, picture myself at the Spanish Steps, wished as I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain." - BJ's Book Blog"This was another fantastic book by CJ Duggan and I personally think my new favourite in this series." - Elaine's A Bookaholic "C.J. Duggan’s writing is always amazing and When In Rome is no different. The descriptive almost cinematic writing really captures the city of Rome. I loved seeing Rome from both a tourist’s and local’s perspectives, it was both exciting and overwhelming...When In Rome by C.J. Duggan is a fantastic read that you will get lost in, trust me you wont want it to end."- Gemsbooknook"When in Rome is a beautifully written new adult romance. Due to the author’s incredible talent, it’s not hard to imagine yourself there alongside Sammi. " - Anastasia - Goodreads "Providing you with many laugh out loud moments - C.J. Duggan’s writing is bold, lively and really quite funny at times. " - Helen - Goodreads
WHEN IN ROME is the fourth standalone book in the Heart of the City series, start where it all began in Paris, or maybe do a stint in New York en-route to London, but one this is fore sure you are definitely going to want to head to Rome (plenty of carbs and kissing in this one) ;)
BUY NOW!
AU: http://amzn.to/2hUmfY4US: http://amzn.to/2zpxeCJ UK: http://amzn.to/2hnnYI9 CA: http://amzn.to/2zuHQxW B&N: http://bit.ly/2w29L5M Kobo: http://bit.ly/2eZdhHD iBooks: http://apple.co/2x7swsr Google Play: http://bit.ly/2AsHFTP
March 20, 2017
Paradise Series SUPER SALE!
LOVE Hachette!
They are always so accommodating in giving readers the chance to discover. If you have yet to discover Lexie, Ballantine and Dean, then now is your chance while it's on sale for a super limited time.
>>>>> THE PARADISE SERIES is now only 99 cents! <<<<<
iBooks: http://apple.co/2n4XHyF
'Again Ms Duggan had created a winner. Paradise City was a perfect introduction to the series and characters. I was left needing more and it had so much laugh-out-loud fun. This really did have everything from intrigue to addiction, realism of high school antics, steamy sizzles and fast paced readability. I am certainly hooked and desperately want more of all these characters. I highly recommend this to all new adult readers, fan-bloody-tastic!' - Turner's Antics
What are they all about?
There's trouble waiting in Paradise.
Quiet country-girl Lexie Atkinson is about to get an education she'll never forget. Sent from her family's remote rural property to live in the glittering beachside Paradise City for her final school year, she is plunged into a place where looks can kill and vicious rumours can make or break you. Lexie just wants to fly under the radar...until she meets Luke Ballantine.
Impulsive and charming, one thing is clear: Luke is sexier than any guy she has ever known.
Suddenly good girl Lexie is breaking all the rules - getting detention, sneaking out to late-night parties, hanging out with boys - and then rumours start swirling...about her! Everything changes fast and Lexie will soon find out if Luke Ballantine is going to be good for her...or very, very bad?
The road back to Paradise was never going to be easy . . .
After returning to Red Hill, Lexie Atkinson can't settle back into country life. She's missing the glitzy, gritty nightlife of the big city and the group of misfit friends she'd loved to hate. She knows that to move forward she has to go back - back to face the guy who stole her heart.
When Lexie arrives in Paradise City to work out if her future includes bad-boy surfer Luke Ballantine, he is nowhere to be found. With no home, no money and no Luke, Lexie gets a job slinging drinks at the wild Wipe Out Bar, and, before long, broody bar owner Dean Saville starts taking an interest and stirs more than just her drinks.
But nothing is ever as it seems in Paradise City and when Luke barrels back into town, Lexie has a choice to make. Someone's going to end up with a broken heart - will it be Luke, Dean . . . or Lexie?
iBooks: http://apple.co/2n4XHyF
They are always so accommodating in giving readers the chance to discover. If you have yet to discover Lexie, Ballantine and Dean, then now is your chance while it's on sale for a super limited time.
>>>>> THE PARADISE SERIES is now only 99 cents! <<<<<
iBooks: http://apple.co/2n4XHyF
'Again Ms Duggan had created a winner. Paradise City was a perfect introduction to the series and characters. I was left needing more and it had so much laugh-out-loud fun. This really did have everything from intrigue to addiction, realism of high school antics, steamy sizzles and fast paced readability. I am certainly hooked and desperately want more of all these characters. I highly recommend this to all new adult readers, fan-bloody-tastic!' - Turner's Antics
What are they all about?
There's trouble waiting in Paradise.
Quiet country-girl Lexie Atkinson is about to get an education she'll never forget. Sent from her family's remote rural property to live in the glittering beachside Paradise City for her final school year, she is plunged into a place where looks can kill and vicious rumours can make or break you. Lexie just wants to fly under the radar...until she meets Luke Ballantine.
Impulsive and charming, one thing is clear: Luke is sexier than any guy she has ever known.
Suddenly good girl Lexie is breaking all the rules - getting detention, sneaking out to late-night parties, hanging out with boys - and then rumours start swirling...about her! Everything changes fast and Lexie will soon find out if Luke Ballantine is going to be good for her...or very, very bad?
The road back to Paradise was never going to be easy . . .
After returning to Red Hill, Lexie Atkinson can't settle back into country life. She's missing the glitzy, gritty nightlife of the big city and the group of misfit friends she'd loved to hate. She knows that to move forward she has to go back - back to face the guy who stole her heart.
When Lexie arrives in Paradise City to work out if her future includes bad-boy surfer Luke Ballantine, he is nowhere to be found. With no home, no money and no Luke, Lexie gets a job slinging drinks at the wild Wipe Out Bar, and, before long, broody bar owner Dean Saville starts taking an interest and stirs more than just her drinks.
But nothing is ever as it seems in Paradise City and when Luke barrels back into town, Lexie has a choice to make. Someone's going to end up with a broken heart - will it be Luke, Dean . . . or Lexie?
iBooks: http://apple.co/2n4XHyF
March 10, 2017
The Weekly Roundup!
It's been an incredibly exciting week, lets break it down...
It started with a text from my lovely editor Kate (such a tease!)
Flash forward two days with a very exciting arrival.
Brown paper and a bow could only mean one thing, those cheeky people at Hachette!
Sure enough….
Oh, HEY JACK!
I can't believe London Bound is going to be on shelves March 28th
Finally side by side, aren't they beautiful? Covers that simply glow.
Surely all this was exciting enough? That with ARCS of London Bound going out to readers makes for a truly spectacular week right? But wait, here's the icing on the cake...
For the first time ever Paris Lights is FREE for a very limited time.
Meaning you can start the Heart of the City series here on:
iBooks: http://apple.co/2m5sUOj
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mGj2OO
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2nbvPqx
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2m5cd5v
And not only is Paris Lights Free but it has also been selected as
iBooks BOOK OF THE WEEK!
Mind blown!!!
So there you have it, my week in a nut shell.
Thanks to everyone who has followed me around this week, I couldn't think of a better way to start the weekend than with a FREE book.
Until next week...
Sincerely, CJ xo
It started with a text from my lovely editor Kate (such a tease!)
Flash forward two days with a very exciting arrival.
Brown paper and a bow could only mean one thing, those cheeky people at Hachette!
Sure enough….
Oh, HEY JACK!
I can't believe London Bound is going to be on shelves March 28th
Finally side by side, aren't they beautiful? Covers that simply glow.
Surely all this was exciting enough? That with ARCS of London Bound going out to readers makes for a truly spectacular week right? But wait, here's the icing on the cake...
For the first time ever Paris Lights is FREE for a very limited time.
Meaning you can start the Heart of the City series here on:
iBooks: http://apple.co/2m5sUOj
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2mGj2OO
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2nbvPqx
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2m5cd5v
And not only is Paris Lights Free but it has also been selected as
iBooks BOOK OF THE WEEK!
Mind blown!!!
So there you have it, my week in a nut shell.
Thanks to everyone who has followed me around this week, I couldn't think of a better way to start the weekend than with a FREE book.
Until next week...
Sincerely, CJ xo
