C.F. Dunn's Blog, page 11

Grounded

Today, I’m a guest on lovely author Amy Boucher Pye’s (Finding Myself In Britain) No Place Like Home blog, where I look at what ‘home’ means to me.

Grounded by CF Dunn

No Going Back

Reading through the final, final proofs of Fearful Symmetry. This is the bit where you know there’s no going back – last-chance-saloon, no more amendments, end of the line – which is a bit scary when you wake up at 3 am thinking, ‘did I remember to include that bit, tie up those ends?’ And even worse when it’s the end of the series and I ask myself whether I’ve done justice to my characters and their story. Taking a deep breath…

Woman Alive Book Club interview

Author Amy Boucher Pye from Women Alive magazine, recently invited me to lounge on the Book Club sofa and talk about being dyslexic and my journey towards publication. ‪

 

 

 

From the Old to the New

18th May, 2016 Celebrating getting the final, final bits done, dusted and sent to my editor for Fearful Symmetry: the D’Eresby coat of arms, family trees, Author Notes, and – for the first time – questions for readers and book clubs.

Wikipedia.org

Now, it’s straight on with organising the research trip for the first book in the Mediaeval series with the working title: Degrees of Affinity. It turns out that some places are only open for a few hours on one afternoon per year. Makes timing all-important and a bit dicey. Hope it doesn’t rain…

A chocolate button for anyone who can name the place this gatehouse guards.

 

 

 

Guest Author: Tamara Tilley

I was delighted when Claire asked me to jot down a little something regarding my writing journey. I have been writing Christian/Romance/Suspense since 2003. My first published work, Full Disclosure, was released in 2006, followed by Abandoned Identity, and Criminal Obsession. I have been on a ten-year journey that has brought me where I am today, and I couldn’t be more excited.

In 2014, with advice from a multi-published, award-winning author, I struck out on my own into the self-publishing field. I did so with equal parts self-doubt and excitement. But I’m so glad I did. With the release of Badge of Respect in December 2014 and One Saturday in March 2016, I am fulfilling my dream of seeing my completed manuscripts in print. Something I’m not sure I would be able to do within the confines of the traditional Christian publishing house.

I am so excited to be a part of the new lifeblood that is flowing from the self-publishing market. As a Christian author who desires to write realistic stories, I now have the ability to write what God has pressed on my heart without having to fit my stories into the somewhat sanitized mold of the conservative Christian publishing house. That is not to say that I want to write tawdry stories filled with sensationalism, but I do want to write stories that are realistic and relevant to the times in which we are living. The world is messy. And we as Christians are not immune to those messes. As humans, we fail. Sometimes miserably. Not because we love God less, but because we aren’t perfect. We should not fool ourselves into thinking Christians don’t lie, swear, or fall into temptation. Because they do. I applaud stories that accurately portray the trials along with the triumphs in the lives of Christians. I don’t in any way condone sin or make excuses for it. But I am also not so pious as to believe it doesn’t touch the lives of those who love God. The books I choose to read are for enjoyment, entertainment, and escapism, not a false reality or a place where I can stick my head in the sand and pretend all is right with the world. Great examples of books that are emerging from Christian authors willing to tackle difficult or unorthodox storylines are Kept by Sally Bradley, Sway by Amy Matayo, Told You So by Kristen Heitzmann, and Tears of the Sea by MaryLu Tyndall. Many best-selling authors are not only working hand-in-hand with Christian publishing houses but are also stepping out on their own to publish stories they are passionate about. The self-publishing field no longer has the stigma it used to carry. It is a new energy that is infusing the market of literature, be it in print or e-books. Christian artists are writing intelligent stories for readers looking for something more than cookie-cutter storylines and unflawed characters.

As you can tell, I am passionate and excited about where publishing is heading, but in no way am I discounting the immeasurable amount of talented authors and incredible stories being told within the traditional Christian publishing market. The Secret of the Journal series is a perfect example of the fresh, innovative stories being released within the traditional publishing market. Self-publishing is not replacing these avenues it is only adding to the depth of the publishing field.

My hope, when people read my books, is that I can introduce them to genuine characters dealing with realistic issues. Characters who love God, but might struggle with His sovereignty during the most difficult of times. And, characters who meet God in places they never would’ve dreamed they would find Him. Link to my website where you can read the first chapter of all my books. http://www.tamaratilley.com/books.html

Big Cats

If you read the last blog, you will have seen that the title referred to Big Cats. Well, I wanted to do this subject justice, so I’ve given it a blog to itself. On Saturday, 16th April (the day after … Continue reading →

Of Big Cats and A Book Bash

A book launch is always a slightly nerve-wracking experience even if it is the fourth you’ve done in five years. Apart from the endless bits and pieces that need organising, there’s always the question of how many people will need … Continue reading →

REALM OF DARKNESS

‘“What’s it worth, Emma? What are you willing to give in exchange?” 

He brought the journal within tantalising reach and, with each breath, I inhaled its age like incense, its secrets bitter-sweet and lethal.’

In the fourth book of The Secret Of The Journal series, historian Emma D’Eresby has done everything she can to put the past behind her. Now she has every reason to look forward to a future with Dr. Matthew Lynes and his family in the beautiful state of Maine. But, in making peace with her past, she has to face uncomfortable truths in the present. As a shadow from her undergraduate days in Cambridge threatens her happiness, history catches up with terrifying results.

“Captivating and compelling.” author Liz Fenwick, The Cornish House

“An ancient secret and an eternal love are intelligently woven through this addictive series.”author Fiona Veitch Smith, The Jazz Files.

The post REALM OF DARKNESS appeared first on C.F.Dunn.

Modern Pilgrim

Pilgrimage was an important aspect of the religious life for anyone who could undertake it during the Medieval period, with over a dozen sites in England and Scotland alone. Pilgrimage is still undertaken by many, but one man has set … Continue reading →

Stamford Secrets

The streets of Stamford where Emma D’Eresby was born, are strangely quiet after a heavy fall of snow. The layout of this ancient Lincolnshire town has barely changed over many centuries, and the Georgian house fronts often hide their Medieval … Continue reading →