Marie Laval's Blog, page 12
October 7, 2014
A Spell in Provence: Cover Reveal!
I am delighted to have received the cover of my contemporary romantic suspense A SPELL IN PROVENCE which is shortly to be published by Accent Press!
The colours are enchanting and I can almost smell the lavender and feel the heat of the sunshine.
Thank you Accent Press for a gorgeous cover.
The colours are enchanting and I can almost smell the lavender and feel the heat of the sunshine.
Thank you Accent Press for a gorgeous cover.
September 22, 2014
Blog Hop Character Interview: today, Lucas Saintclair!
Thank you very much Edward Hoornaert, fellow MuseitUp author, for tagging me in the Meet my Character Blog Hop. You can find Edward on http://eahoornaert.com/
I am today interviewing Lucas Saintclair, the hero of my historical romance THE LION'S EMBRACE. Saintclair is taking a well-deserved rest at The Seventh Star, a tavern on the Algiers docks, after returning from yet another secret mission in the Sahara. Arms crossed on his chest, his long legs stretched out in front of him, he is reclining against the back of his chair, seemingly lost in thoughts. But as I come nearer, I can see that his piercing blue eyes never cease to scan the dark, crowded and stuffy room. As always he is on the alert for spies his enemy - Lieutenant Mortemer, from the French army - regularly sends to trap and kill him.
I hope he'll be willing to answer a few questions for the 'Meet my characters' blog hop. From what I know of the man, his answers will be brief and to the point.
Lucas, are you a fictional or a historic character?Fictional, entirely.
When and where is the story of THE LION'S EMBRACE set?It is set mostly in North Africa. I grew up in Bou Saada - an oasis on the edge of the Sahara desert. This is where I learnt to become a scout - the best in the Barbary States. I left Bou Saada five years ago. I don't know if I'll ever return. Something happened there back in 1840, something I can't forgive myself for...
What should we know about you?Believe me, the less you know, the better. For you, and for me.
I take a deep breath and wonder if he'll answer my next question.
What messes up your life at the moment?
He doesn't answer straight away but leans across the table and lights up a cheroot to the flame of a candle. He draws on his cigar, smiles a thin smile, and answers.
A woman, who else? A young, naive and irritating English woman called Harriet Montague who insists on hiring my services to lead her and her pompous fiancé to Tamanrasset where her archaeologist father was abducted by Tuaregs. I tried to tell her she won't last three days - let alone the three months we need to reach the Southern Sahara. She won't listen but offered me a small fortune, as well as a treasure map to take her...so what's a man to do?
He smiles another cynical smile and carries on.
I'll take her, of course. Or at least, I'll take her part of the way and do everything in my power to discourage her from travelling further...Then she'll beg me to send her back to Algiers, and I'll get to keep the money and the treasure map.
Poor Harriet Montague. I hope she makes it to Tamanrasset.
One last question, I ask him. Would you mind telling me what your personal goal is?
He draws on his cigar and his face disappears behind a cloud of smoke. He's taking so long to reply I'm not sure he heard me. Revenge, he says at last, his voice hard.
I hold my breath. Saintclair isn't a man I'd like to cross. I can see he won't say anymore, so I'll leave him alone...
THE LION'S EMBRACE is published by MuseitUp Publishing. You can find it at http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lions-Emb...and http://www.amazon.com/The-Lions-Embra...
I am today interviewing Lucas Saintclair, the hero of my historical romance THE LION'S EMBRACE. Saintclair is taking a well-deserved rest at The Seventh Star, a tavern on the Algiers docks, after returning from yet another secret mission in the Sahara. Arms crossed on his chest, his long legs stretched out in front of him, he is reclining against the back of his chair, seemingly lost in thoughts. But as I come nearer, I can see that his piercing blue eyes never cease to scan the dark, crowded and stuffy room. As always he is on the alert for spies his enemy - Lieutenant Mortemer, from the French army - regularly sends to trap and kill him.
I hope he'll be willing to answer a few questions for the 'Meet my characters' blog hop. From what I know of the man, his answers will be brief and to the point.Lucas, are you a fictional or a historic character?Fictional, entirely.
When and where is the story of THE LION'S EMBRACE set?It is set mostly in North Africa. I grew up in Bou Saada - an oasis on the edge of the Sahara desert. This is where I learnt to become a scout - the best in the Barbary States. I left Bou Saada five years ago. I don't know if I'll ever return. Something happened there back in 1840, something I can't forgive myself for...
What should we know about you?Believe me, the less you know, the better. For you, and for me.
I take a deep breath and wonder if he'll answer my next question.
What messes up your life at the moment?
He doesn't answer straight away but leans across the table and lights up a cheroot to the flame of a candle. He draws on his cigar, smiles a thin smile, and answers.
A woman, who else? A young, naive and irritating English woman called Harriet Montague who insists on hiring my services to lead her and her pompous fiancé to Tamanrasset where her archaeologist father was abducted by Tuaregs. I tried to tell her she won't last three days - let alone the three months we need to reach the Southern Sahara. She won't listen but offered me a small fortune, as well as a treasure map to take her...so what's a man to do?
He smiles another cynical smile and carries on.
I'll take her, of course. Or at least, I'll take her part of the way and do everything in my power to discourage her from travelling further...Then she'll beg me to send her back to Algiers, and I'll get to keep the money and the treasure map.
Poor Harriet Montague. I hope she makes it to Tamanrasset.
One last question, I ask him. Would you mind telling me what your personal goal is?
He draws on his cigar and his face disappears behind a cloud of smoke. He's taking so long to reply I'm not sure he heard me. Revenge, he says at last, his voice hard.
I hold my breath. Saintclair isn't a man I'd like to cross. I can see he won't say anymore, so I'll leave him alone...
THE LION'S EMBRACE is published by MuseitUp Publishing. You can find it at http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lions-Emb...and http://www.amazon.com/The-Lions-Embra...
September 11, 2014
Laura James is on the blog with Follow Me, Follow You!
I am so happy to welcome Laura James on the blog today. Laura's new novel FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU is published by Choc Lit and was released on September 7th. Laura is on tour and has kindly stopped by today. Laura will be giving away a copy of her book, so please leave a comment at the bottom of the post and click on the Rafflecopter code link!
Laura is married and has two children. She lives in Dorset, but spent her formative years in Watford, a brief train ride away from the bright lights of London. Here she indulged her love of live music, and, following a spectacular Stevie Nicks gig, decided to take up singing, a passion that scored her second place in a national competition.
Laura is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, a member of her local writing group, Off The Cuff, and an editor of the popular Romaniacs blog.
Laura was runner-up twice in the Choc Lit Short Story competitions. Her story Bitter Sweet appears in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Anthology. Truth or Dare?, Laura’s debut novel, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Romantic eBook 2013 and the 2014 Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award. Follow me, follow you is Laura’s first Choc Lit novel published in paperback.
Hello Laura and a very warm welcome. The release of FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU must be an exciting time for you. What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write? I wanted to be a child psychologist, but sadly my maths skills were lacking. In later years, I attended a counselling skills course and trained as a youth worker.
I’ve written ever since I can remember – comics, poems, daft limericks, song lyrics ‒ my A Level essays would be considered novellas these days …
I was the same when I was growing up, always writing short stories, poetry (bad poetry I hasten to say) and was - and still is - rubbish at maths! What is the one thing you absolutely need to write?Thinking time, followed by the chance to talk it out.
It can be hard to find thinking space but, like you, I find it a necessity. Silence too, but I don't often get any. Can you describe your writing space?I work in the kitchen. My desk is in the corner, facing a wall, adorned with a beautiful framed Rosina Wachtmeister print of a gondola, and I believe the Rialto Bridge, in Venice. A much better use of the space than, oh, I don’t know, say cooking …
Lovely! The print must be very inspiring - not to mention the proximity of the biscuit tin (I am speaking for myself here!)
In three words, can you tell us what kind of man Chris Frampton, your hero, is?Adventurous, impulsive, dedicated.
That sounds like a great combination. What about your heroine -Victoria Noble?Focused, conscientious, caring.
Victoria is such a lovely name... What is your favourite part / line / dialogue in your novel?‘Not quite a kiss, but a collision of colossal proportion.’
That's a great line! What was the most difficult part to write in your novel?I struggled with the opening page. I wanted to introduce the reader to a flawed heroine, who has a strained relationship with her young son. It took many re-workings and plenty of great advice from fellow writers before I was happy with Victoria.
Many thanks for inviting me here, Marie.
You are very welcome Laura. It was a pleasure to find out more about you and FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU. I wish you the very best of luck with the release of the novel.
Here is the blurb
You save me and I'll save you...Victoria Noble has pulled the plug on romance. As director of the number one social networking site, EweSpeak, and single mother to four-year-old Seth, she wrestles with the work-life balance.Enter Chris Frampton, Hollywood action hero and Victoria's first love. His return from LA has sparked a powder keg of media attention, and with secrets threatening to fuel the fire, he's desperate to escape.But finding a way forward is never simple. Although his connection with Victoria is as strong as when he was nineteen, has he been adrift too long to know how to move on?With the risk of them breaking, will either follow their heart?
And now for an excerpt: Victoria was attempting to create the impression she was engrossed in her work. From the moment Dan collected Seth, she’d buried her head in buff-coloured files, raising it once to study her monitor. At that moment, she realised Juliette was watching her.‘I’m all right, Joo, honestly.’ That was a lie. She was preoccupied with thoughts of Chris Frampton returning home, considering ways to stop EweSpeak’s Board of Directors from travelling a destructive path, and despairing over her non-existent relationship with her son. She grimaced. ‘Apart from the blinding headache.’She thrust herself away from the desk and rubbed the back of her neck. Her life was too cluttered for her to make informed decisions, and too many demands were being made of her, emotionally and physically. Something had to give. ‘I could do without this stupid business with the board.’‘Do you think they’ll go ahead?’Victoria huffed. ‘Of course they will. They’re motivated by money. They’ll do whatever it takes to keep their bank accounts full and their fat backsides comfortable.’‘But they have a duty of loyalty, and their report states the move will secure the future of EweSpeak—’‘It only secures their position, Juliette. Let’s face facts. We made bad choices, electing certain members to the board. We were blinded by their past successes. They’re cut-throat businessmen with reputations to uphold.’ Victoria swung her chair round and gaped at her sister. ‘I’ll bet a year’s salary there’ll be redundancies.’‘But if charging clients to join will increase profits—’ Victoria cut her off again. ‘Did you miss the bit where they proposed paying celebrities for exclusive bleats? It’s ridiculous. It won’t work. People will opt out. Our followers enjoy the personal contact, the chance to hold a discussion with like-minded souls, maybe even exchange a bleat with their idol. If it’s sensationalism they want, they’ll buy a glossy magazine, or worse, they’ll flock to our competitors. They won’t subscribe to our network.’ She shook her head. ‘It has disaster written all over it.’‘I don’t see it. The board’s acting in the company’s best interest. We have to make money. And it’s not just their pockets they’re lining, is it?’ Juliette waved a hand in the direction of the window. ‘I don’t hear you complaining about the flashy, two-seater sports car you’ve parked in our private garage.’Victoria reached for the remote on her desk, and switched on the TV. ‘I need a break.’ She stood, gave her arms a stretch, and walked across to the sofa, collapsing into it, irascible and frustrated. Surely Juliette wasn’t voting with the board? Victoria cast her eyes to the large screen, scoured through the programme guide, and settled on a news channel.It was a mistake.Wherever her eyes fell – the TV, online, mobile applications – Chris’s then thirty-five-year-old haunted face appeared, vacant, pale and broken. There was no escape from the dated footage of him being jostled out of the way of bloodthirsty, aggressive photographers or being hustled into his ranch house by burly security men. Victoria had seen the images thirty, maybe forty times in the last couple of years. Every piece of technology in her office was broadcasting his grief all over again, and each time his name was typed, bleated, or beamed across the Internet, and for every second his tormented features were on public display, Victoria was on trial. Her technology, the company, the brand she had developed and grown was helping prolong his terror. To see this beautiful man reduced to a floorshow for the cheap seats made her sick to the stomach.She jumped at a touch to her arm.‘Are you okay?’ Juliette took the remote from Victoria, switched off the TV, and sat down. ‘I’m sorry I called him your obsession. This must be hard for you.’Victoria shrugged. Although she understood Juliette’s concern, she didn’t appreciate intrusion, and sharing, as her sister called it, was not Victoria’s way. There’d been far too much of that already. A small shudder ran through her. ‘It’s complicated,’ she said, hoping a few words, regardless of content, would appease Juliette.
You can find Laura at:www.lauraejames.co.ukwww.twitter.com/Laura_E_Jameswww.facebook.com/LauraE.JamesWriterwww.theromaniacs.co.uk
www.ewespeak.co.ukwww.ewespeak.com
Book Trailer http://youtu.be/wWrG6tXmsIY
The Giveaway on this tour will be a paperback copy of the book.
RAFFLECOPTER CODEhttp://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be030176/ http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...
Laura is married and has two children. She lives in Dorset, but spent her formative years in Watford, a brief train ride away from the bright lights of London. Here she indulged her love of live music, and, following a spectacular Stevie Nicks gig, decided to take up singing, a passion that scored her second place in a national competition.
Laura is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, a member of her local writing group, Off The Cuff, and an editor of the popular Romaniacs blog.
Laura was runner-up twice in the Choc Lit Short Story competitions. Her story Bitter Sweet appears in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Anthology. Truth or Dare?, Laura’s debut novel, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Romantic eBook 2013 and the 2014 Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award. Follow me, follow you is Laura’s first Choc Lit novel published in paperback.
Hello Laura and a very warm welcome. The release of FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU must be an exciting time for you. What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write? I wanted to be a child psychologist, but sadly my maths skills were lacking. In later years, I attended a counselling skills course and trained as a youth worker.I’ve written ever since I can remember – comics, poems, daft limericks, song lyrics ‒ my A Level essays would be considered novellas these days …
I was the same when I was growing up, always writing short stories, poetry (bad poetry I hasten to say) and was - and still is - rubbish at maths! What is the one thing you absolutely need to write?Thinking time, followed by the chance to talk it out.
It can be hard to find thinking space but, like you, I find it a necessity. Silence too, but I don't often get any. Can you describe your writing space?I work in the kitchen. My desk is in the corner, facing a wall, adorned with a beautiful framed Rosina Wachtmeister print of a gondola, and I believe the Rialto Bridge, in Venice. A much better use of the space than, oh, I don’t know, say cooking …
Lovely! The print must be very inspiring - not to mention the proximity of the biscuit tin (I am speaking for myself here!)
In three words, can you tell us what kind of man Chris Frampton, your hero, is?Adventurous, impulsive, dedicated.
That sounds like a great combination. What about your heroine -Victoria Noble?Focused, conscientious, caring.
Victoria is such a lovely name... What is your favourite part / line / dialogue in your novel?‘Not quite a kiss, but a collision of colossal proportion.’
That's a great line! What was the most difficult part to write in your novel?I struggled with the opening page. I wanted to introduce the reader to a flawed heroine, who has a strained relationship with her young son. It took many re-workings and plenty of great advice from fellow writers before I was happy with Victoria.
Many thanks for inviting me here, Marie.
You are very welcome Laura. It was a pleasure to find out more about you and FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU. I wish you the very best of luck with the release of the novel.
Here is the blurb
You save me and I'll save you...Victoria Noble has pulled the plug on romance. As director of the number one social networking site, EweSpeak, and single mother to four-year-old Seth, she wrestles with the work-life balance.Enter Chris Frampton, Hollywood action hero and Victoria's first love. His return from LA has sparked a powder keg of media attention, and with secrets threatening to fuel the fire, he's desperate to escape.But finding a way forward is never simple. Although his connection with Victoria is as strong as when he was nineteen, has he been adrift too long to know how to move on?With the risk of them breaking, will either follow their heart?
And now for an excerpt: Victoria was attempting to create the impression she was engrossed in her work. From the moment Dan collected Seth, she’d buried her head in buff-coloured files, raising it once to study her monitor. At that moment, she realised Juliette was watching her.‘I’m all right, Joo, honestly.’ That was a lie. She was preoccupied with thoughts of Chris Frampton returning home, considering ways to stop EweSpeak’s Board of Directors from travelling a destructive path, and despairing over her non-existent relationship with her son. She grimaced. ‘Apart from the blinding headache.’She thrust herself away from the desk and rubbed the back of her neck. Her life was too cluttered for her to make informed decisions, and too many demands were being made of her, emotionally and physically. Something had to give. ‘I could do without this stupid business with the board.’‘Do you think they’ll go ahead?’Victoria huffed. ‘Of course they will. They’re motivated by money. They’ll do whatever it takes to keep their bank accounts full and their fat backsides comfortable.’‘But they have a duty of loyalty, and their report states the move will secure the future of EweSpeak—’‘It only secures their position, Juliette. Let’s face facts. We made bad choices, electing certain members to the board. We were blinded by their past successes. They’re cut-throat businessmen with reputations to uphold.’ Victoria swung her chair round and gaped at her sister. ‘I’ll bet a year’s salary there’ll be redundancies.’‘But if charging clients to join will increase profits—’ Victoria cut her off again. ‘Did you miss the bit where they proposed paying celebrities for exclusive bleats? It’s ridiculous. It won’t work. People will opt out. Our followers enjoy the personal contact, the chance to hold a discussion with like-minded souls, maybe even exchange a bleat with their idol. If it’s sensationalism they want, they’ll buy a glossy magazine, or worse, they’ll flock to our competitors. They won’t subscribe to our network.’ She shook her head. ‘It has disaster written all over it.’‘I don’t see it. The board’s acting in the company’s best interest. We have to make money. And it’s not just their pockets they’re lining, is it?’ Juliette waved a hand in the direction of the window. ‘I don’t hear you complaining about the flashy, two-seater sports car you’ve parked in our private garage.’Victoria reached for the remote on her desk, and switched on the TV. ‘I need a break.’ She stood, gave her arms a stretch, and walked across to the sofa, collapsing into it, irascible and frustrated. Surely Juliette wasn’t voting with the board? Victoria cast her eyes to the large screen, scoured through the programme guide, and settled on a news channel.It was a mistake.Wherever her eyes fell – the TV, online, mobile applications – Chris’s then thirty-five-year-old haunted face appeared, vacant, pale and broken. There was no escape from the dated footage of him being jostled out of the way of bloodthirsty, aggressive photographers or being hustled into his ranch house by burly security men. Victoria had seen the images thirty, maybe forty times in the last couple of years. Every piece of technology in her office was broadcasting his grief all over again, and each time his name was typed, bleated, or beamed across the Internet, and for every second his tormented features were on public display, Victoria was on trial. Her technology, the company, the brand she had developed and grown was helping prolong his terror. To see this beautiful man reduced to a floorshow for the cheap seats made her sick to the stomach.She jumped at a touch to her arm.‘Are you okay?’ Juliette took the remote from Victoria, switched off the TV, and sat down. ‘I’m sorry I called him your obsession. This must be hard for you.’Victoria shrugged. Although she understood Juliette’s concern, she didn’t appreciate intrusion, and sharing, as her sister called it, was not Victoria’s way. There’d been far too much of that already. A small shudder ran through her. ‘It’s complicated,’ she said, hoping a few words, regardless of content, would appease Juliette.
You can find Laura at:www.lauraejames.co.ukwww.twitter.com/Laura_E_Jameswww.facebook.com/LauraE.JamesWriterwww.theromaniacs.co.uk
www.ewespeak.co.ukwww.ewespeak.com
Book Trailer http://youtu.be/wWrG6tXmsIY
The Giveaway on this tour will be a paperback copy of the book.
RAFFLECOPTER CODEhttp://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be030176/ http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...
Laura james is on the blog with Follow Me, Follow You!
I am so happy to welcome Laura James on the blog today. Laura's new novel FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU is published by Choc Lit and was released on September 7th. Laura is on tour and has kindly stopped by today. Laura will be giving away a copy of her book, so please leave a comment at the bottom of the post and click on the Rafflecopter code link!
Laura is married and has two children. She lives in Dorset, but spent her formative years in Watford, a brief train ride away from the bright lights of London. Here she indulged her love of live music, and, following a spectacular Stevie Nicks gig, decided to take up singing, a passion that scored her second place in a national competition.
Laura is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, a member of her local writing group, Off The Cuff, and an editor of the popular Romaniacs blog.
Laura was runner-up twice in the Choc Lit Short Story competitions. Her story Bitter Sweet appears in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Anthology. Truth or Dare?, Laura’s debut novel, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Romantic eBook 2013 and the 2014 Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award. Follow me, follow you is Laura’s first Choc Lit novel published in paperback.
Hello Laura and a very warm welcome. The release of FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU must be an exciting time for you. What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write? I wanted to be a child psychologist, but sadly my maths skills were lacking. In later years, I attended a counselling skills course and trained as a youth worker.
I’ve written ever since I can remember – comics, poems, daft limericks, song lyrics ‒ my A Level essays would be considered novellas these days …
I was the same when I was growing up, always writing short stories, poetry (bad poetry I hasten to say) and was - and still is - rubbish at maths! What is the one thing you absolutely need to write?Thinking time, followed by the chance to talk it out.
It can be hard to find thinking space but, like you, I find it a necessity. Silence too, but I don't often get any. Can you describe your writing space?I work in the kitchen. My desk is in the corner, facing a wall, adorned with a beautiful framed Rosina Wachtmeister print of a gondola, and I believe the Rialto Bridge, in Venice. A much better use of the space than, oh, I don’t know, say cooking …
Lovely! The print must be very inspiring - not to mention the proximity of the biscuit tin (I am speaking for myself here!)
In three words, can you tell us what kind of man Chris Frampton, your hero, is?Adventurous, impulsive, dedicated.
That sounds like a great combination. What about your heroine -Victoria Noble?Focused, conscientious, caring.
Victoria is such a lovely name... What is your favourite part / line / dialogue in your novel?‘Not quite a kiss, but a collision of colossal proportion.’
That's a great line! What was the most difficult part to write in your novel?I struggled with the opening page. I wanted to introduce the reader to a flawed heroine, who has a strained relationship with her young son. It took many re-workings and plenty of great advice from fellow writers before I was happy with Victoria.
Many thanks for inviting me here, Marie.
You are very welcome Laura. It was a pleasure to find out more about you and FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU. I wish you the very best of luck with the release of the novel.
Here is the blurb
You save me and I'll save you...Victoria Noble has pulled the plug on romance. As director of the number one social networking site, EweSpeak, and single mother to four-year-old Seth, she wrestles with the work-life balance.Enter Chris Frampton, Hollywood action hero and Victoria's first love. His return from LA has sparked a powder keg of media attention, and with secrets threatening to fuel the fire, he's desperate to escape.But finding a way forward is never simple. Although his connection with Victoria is as strong as when he was nineteen, has he been adrift too long to know how to move on?With the risk of them breaking, will either follow their heart?
And now for an excerpt: Victoria was attempting to create the impression she was engrossed in her work. From the moment Dan collected Seth, she’d buried her head in buff-coloured files, raising it once to study her monitor. At that moment, she realised Juliette was watching her.‘I’m all right, Joo, honestly.’ That was a lie. She was preoccupied with thoughts of Chris Frampton returning home, considering ways to stop EweSpeak’s Board of Directors from travelling a destructive path, and despairing over her non-existent relationship with her son. She grimaced. ‘Apart from the blinding headache.’She thrust herself away from the desk and rubbed the back of her neck. Her life was too cluttered for her to make informed decisions, and too many demands were being made of her, emotionally and physically. Something had to give. ‘I could do without this stupid business with the board.’‘Do you think they’ll go ahead?’Victoria huffed. ‘Of course they will. They’re motivated by money. They’ll do whatever it takes to keep their bank accounts full and their fat backsides comfortable.’‘But they have a duty of loyalty, and their report states the move will secure the future of EweSpeak—’‘It only secures their position, Juliette. Let’s face facts. We made bad choices, electing certain members to the board. We were blinded by their past successes. They’re cut-throat businessmen with reputations to uphold.’ Victoria swung her chair round and gaped at her sister. ‘I’ll bet a year’s salary there’ll be redundancies.’‘But if charging clients to join will increase profits—’ Victoria cut her off again. ‘Did you miss the bit where they proposed paying celebrities for exclusive bleats? It’s ridiculous. It won’t work. People will opt out. Our followers enjoy the personal contact, the chance to hold a discussion with like-minded souls, maybe even exchange a bleat with their idol. If it’s sensationalism they want, they’ll buy a glossy magazine, or worse, they’ll flock to our competitors. They won’t subscribe to our network.’ She shook her head. ‘It has disaster written all over it.’‘I don’t see it. The board’s acting in the company’s best interest. We have to make money. And it’s not just their pockets they’re lining, is it?’ Juliette waved a hand in the direction of the window. ‘I don’t hear you complaining about the flashy, two-seater sports car you’ve parked in our private garage.’Victoria reached for the remote on her desk, and switched on the TV. ‘I need a break.’ She stood, gave her arms a stretch, and walked across to the sofa, collapsing into it, irascible and frustrated. Surely Juliette wasn’t voting with the board? Victoria cast her eyes to the large screen, scoured through the programme guide, and settled on a news channel.It was a mistake.Wherever her eyes fell – the TV, online, mobile applications – Chris’s then thirty-five-year-old haunted face appeared, vacant, pale and broken. There was no escape from the dated footage of him being jostled out of the way of bloodthirsty, aggressive photographers or being hustled into his ranch house by burly security men. Victoria had seen the images thirty, maybe forty times in the last couple of years. Every piece of technology in her office was broadcasting his grief all over again, and each time his name was typed, bleated, or beamed across the Internet, and for every second his tormented features were on public display, Victoria was on trial. Her technology, the company, the brand she had developed and grown was helping prolong his terror. To see this beautiful man reduced to a floorshow for the cheap seats made her sick to the stomach.She jumped at a touch to her arm.‘Are you okay?’ Juliette took the remote from Victoria, switched off the TV, and sat down. ‘I’m sorry I called him your obsession. This must be hard for you.’Victoria shrugged. Although she understood Juliette’s concern, she didn’t appreciate intrusion, and sharing, as her sister called it, was not Victoria’s way. There’d been far too much of that already. A small shudder ran through her. ‘It’s complicated,’ she said, hoping a few words, regardless of content, would appease Juliette.
You can find Laura at:www.lauraejames.co.ukwww.twitter.com/Laura_E_Jameswww.facebook.com/LauraE.JamesWriterwww.theromaniacs.co.uk
www.ewespeak.co.ukwww.ewespeak.com
Book Trailer http://youtu.be/wWrG6tXmsIY
The Giveaway on this tour will be a paperback copy of the book.
RAFFLECOPTER CODEhttp://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be030176/ http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...
Laura is married and has two children. She lives in Dorset, but spent her formative years in Watford, a brief train ride away from the bright lights of London. Here she indulged her love of live music, and, following a spectacular Stevie Nicks gig, decided to take up singing, a passion that scored her second place in a national competition.
Laura is a graduate of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, a member of her local writing group, Off The Cuff, and an editor of the popular Romaniacs blog.
Laura was runner-up twice in the Choc Lit Short Story competitions. Her story Bitter Sweet appears in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Anthology. Truth or Dare?, Laura’s debut novel, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction Best Romantic eBook 2013 and the 2014 Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award. Follow me, follow you is Laura’s first Choc Lit novel published in paperback.
Hello Laura and a very warm welcome. The release of FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU must be an exciting time for you. What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write? I wanted to be a child psychologist, but sadly my maths skills were lacking. In later years, I attended a counselling skills course and trained as a youth worker.I’ve written ever since I can remember – comics, poems, daft limericks, song lyrics ‒ my A Level essays would be considered novellas these days …
I was the same when I was growing up, always writing short stories, poetry (bad poetry I hasten to say) and was - and still is - rubbish at maths! What is the one thing you absolutely need to write?Thinking time, followed by the chance to talk it out.
It can be hard to find thinking space but, like you, I find it a necessity. Silence too, but I don't often get any. Can you describe your writing space?I work in the kitchen. My desk is in the corner, facing a wall, adorned with a beautiful framed Rosina Wachtmeister print of a gondola, and I believe the Rialto Bridge, in Venice. A much better use of the space than, oh, I don’t know, say cooking …
Lovely! The print must be very inspiring - not to mention the proximity of the biscuit tin (I am speaking for myself here!)
In three words, can you tell us what kind of man Chris Frampton, your hero, is?Adventurous, impulsive, dedicated.
That sounds like a great combination. What about your heroine -Victoria Noble?Focused, conscientious, caring.
Victoria is such a lovely name... What is your favourite part / line / dialogue in your novel?‘Not quite a kiss, but a collision of colossal proportion.’
That's a great line! What was the most difficult part to write in your novel?I struggled with the opening page. I wanted to introduce the reader to a flawed heroine, who has a strained relationship with her young son. It took many re-workings and plenty of great advice from fellow writers before I was happy with Victoria.
Many thanks for inviting me here, Marie.
You are very welcome Laura. It was a pleasure to find out more about you and FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW YOU. I wish you the very best of luck with the release of the novel.
Here is the blurb
You save me and I'll save you...Victoria Noble has pulled the plug on romance. As director of the number one social networking site, EweSpeak, and single mother to four-year-old Seth, she wrestles with the work-life balance.Enter Chris Frampton, Hollywood action hero and Victoria's first love. His return from LA has sparked a powder keg of media attention, and with secrets threatening to fuel the fire, he's desperate to escape.But finding a way forward is never simple. Although his connection with Victoria is as strong as when he was nineteen, has he been adrift too long to know how to move on?With the risk of them breaking, will either follow their heart?
And now for an excerpt: Victoria was attempting to create the impression she was engrossed in her work. From the moment Dan collected Seth, she’d buried her head in buff-coloured files, raising it once to study her monitor. At that moment, she realised Juliette was watching her.‘I’m all right, Joo, honestly.’ That was a lie. She was preoccupied with thoughts of Chris Frampton returning home, considering ways to stop EweSpeak’s Board of Directors from travelling a destructive path, and despairing over her non-existent relationship with her son. She grimaced. ‘Apart from the blinding headache.’She thrust herself away from the desk and rubbed the back of her neck. Her life was too cluttered for her to make informed decisions, and too many demands were being made of her, emotionally and physically. Something had to give. ‘I could do without this stupid business with the board.’‘Do you think they’ll go ahead?’Victoria huffed. ‘Of course they will. They’re motivated by money. They’ll do whatever it takes to keep their bank accounts full and their fat backsides comfortable.’‘But they have a duty of loyalty, and their report states the move will secure the future of EweSpeak—’‘It only secures their position, Juliette. Let’s face facts. We made bad choices, electing certain members to the board. We were blinded by their past successes. They’re cut-throat businessmen with reputations to uphold.’ Victoria swung her chair round and gaped at her sister. ‘I’ll bet a year’s salary there’ll be redundancies.’‘But if charging clients to join will increase profits—’ Victoria cut her off again. ‘Did you miss the bit where they proposed paying celebrities for exclusive bleats? It’s ridiculous. It won’t work. People will opt out. Our followers enjoy the personal contact, the chance to hold a discussion with like-minded souls, maybe even exchange a bleat with their idol. If it’s sensationalism they want, they’ll buy a glossy magazine, or worse, they’ll flock to our competitors. They won’t subscribe to our network.’ She shook her head. ‘It has disaster written all over it.’‘I don’t see it. The board’s acting in the company’s best interest. We have to make money. And it’s not just their pockets they’re lining, is it?’ Juliette waved a hand in the direction of the window. ‘I don’t hear you complaining about the flashy, two-seater sports car you’ve parked in our private garage.’Victoria reached for the remote on her desk, and switched on the TV. ‘I need a break.’ She stood, gave her arms a stretch, and walked across to the sofa, collapsing into it, irascible and frustrated. Surely Juliette wasn’t voting with the board? Victoria cast her eyes to the large screen, scoured through the programme guide, and settled on a news channel.It was a mistake.Wherever her eyes fell – the TV, online, mobile applications – Chris’s then thirty-five-year-old haunted face appeared, vacant, pale and broken. There was no escape from the dated footage of him being jostled out of the way of bloodthirsty, aggressive photographers or being hustled into his ranch house by burly security men. Victoria had seen the images thirty, maybe forty times in the last couple of years. Every piece of technology in her office was broadcasting his grief all over again, and each time his name was typed, bleated, or beamed across the Internet, and for every second his tormented features were on public display, Victoria was on trial. Her technology, the company, the brand she had developed and grown was helping prolong his terror. To see this beautiful man reduced to a floorshow for the cheap seats made her sick to the stomach.She jumped at a touch to her arm.‘Are you okay?’ Juliette took the remote from Victoria, switched off the TV, and sat down. ‘I’m sorry I called him your obsession. This must be hard for you.’Victoria shrugged. Although she understood Juliette’s concern, she didn’t appreciate intrusion, and sharing, as her sister called it, was not Victoria’s way. There’d been far too much of that already. A small shudder ran through her. ‘It’s complicated,’ she said, hoping a few words, regardless of content, would appease Juliette.
You can find Laura at:www.lauraejames.co.ukwww.twitter.com/Laura_E_Jameswww.facebook.com/LauraE.JamesWriterwww.theromaniacs.co.uk
www.ewespeak.co.ukwww.ewespeak.com
Book Trailer http://youtu.be/wWrG6tXmsIY
The Giveaway on this tour will be a paperback copy of the book.
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September 6, 2014
When inspiration strikes!
I always seem to have lots of ideas for plots and characters swirling in my head, but with a full-time job and an inability to write two different stories simultaneously, it often feels more like a curse than a blessing.
I often find that inspiration for a new story strikes when I least expect it, for example when I'm driving and I see an unusual name on a road sign or a map - a name which is almost a story in itself, or when I am sitting in a café or a restaurant and overhear a few words of people's conversation, or even just when I'm having a walk around the reservoir close to my house...I recently visited the city of Bordeaux in the South West of France. It's a beautiful town, with quaint old buildings, narrow cobbled streets and tiny squares with picturesque cafés.
I loved walking along the river Garonne between the town's new bridge and its old 'Pont de Pierre' - Bordeaux' famous stone bridge.
Moored between the massive river cruise ships full of tourists was a small, decrepit, abandoned boat with a very unusual figurehead.
I knew straight away I had found something very special but I didn't quite know what exactly until tonight when I was chatting about Bordeaux with my daughter. She said something about that poor old boat, left to rust along the quays. We started talking about who it could belong to, why it was empty...and suddenly an almost fully formed plot and cast of characters emerged in my mind. I hurried to jolt everything down, and a few minutes later, I even had the opening sentences of the novel and the title too!
Now I am so excited I can't think of anything else and can't wait to start this new story - this new adventure. I do however have another romance novel to finish first.
What about you?
How do you get your inspiration for a story, and what was the most unusual way you found ideas for a novel? I'd love to hear from you.
I often find that inspiration for a new story strikes when I least expect it, for example when I'm driving and I see an unusual name on a road sign or a map - a name which is almost a story in itself, or when I am sitting in a café or a restaurant and overhear a few words of people's conversation, or even just when I'm having a walk around the reservoir close to my house...I recently visited the city of Bordeaux in the South West of France. It's a beautiful town, with quaint old buildings, narrow cobbled streets and tiny squares with picturesque cafés.
I loved walking along the river Garonne between the town's new bridge and its old 'Pont de Pierre' - Bordeaux' famous stone bridge.
Moored between the massive river cruise ships full of tourists was a small, decrepit, abandoned boat with a very unusual figurehead.
I knew straight away I had found something very special but I didn't quite know what exactly until tonight when I was chatting about Bordeaux with my daughter. She said something about that poor old boat, left to rust along the quays. We started talking about who it could belong to, why it was empty...and suddenly an almost fully formed plot and cast of characters emerged in my mind. I hurried to jolt everything down, and a few minutes later, I even had the opening sentences of the novel and the title too!
Now I am so excited I can't think of anything else and can't wait to start this new story - this new adventure. I do however have another romance novel to finish first.
What about you?
How do you get your inspiration for a story, and what was the most unusual way you found ideas for a novel? I'd love to hear from you.
August 17, 2014
Isabelle Eberhardt: Dreamer, Nomad, Writer
My friends and the people who have read my stories know that I was always fascinated by North Africa. My mother was born and brought up in Algiers. She was from a French, Spanish and Italian background and had a very colourful family (to say the least!). She left Algeria during the war of Independence in 1962, never to return, but her wonderful stories about the places and people of her childhood always made the place special for my sisters and I.
The Cantrel house in Suffren, near Algiers which was shared with two other familiesAs a teenager I read novels and short stories which were set there. I particularly loved 'Bivouacs sous la Lune' by Frison-Roche for his wonderful tales of the Sahara and its lost kingdoms.
Maxime Noiré Les marchands arabes à BiskraAnd then I discovered Isabelle Eberhardt and fell under the spell of her short stories, which brought the tastes, smells and landscapes of North Africa to life. Her often tragic characters were unforgettable. Her writing was neat, precise, simple but incredibly powerful and transported me to a bazaar in a small town of the M'zab, or along the steep, narrow alleyways of the Algiers Kasbah, or again across the magnificent wilderness of the Saharan plains.
I was also intrigued by her as a person because her life is definitely a case of reality being more fascinating than fiction. Like Alexandra David-Neel who travelled to Tibet and converted to Buddhism, Odette du Puigaudeau in Mauritania, or again Ella Maillart in Asia, Isabelle was one of the very first Twentieth century women who travelled alone - and relished the adventure and the solitude.
'For those who know the value of and exquisite taste of solitary freedom (for one is only free when alone), the act of leaving is the bravest and most beautiful of all.' ― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt
Isabelle Eberhardt: A nomad I will remain for life, in love with distant and uncharted places.
Isabelle was born in Geneva in 1877, the illegitimate daughter of Natalia, the widow of a former aide de camp to the Russian tsar Alexander II, and a Ukrainian scholar - an anarchist, according to some. Although her family was shunned by Geneva's polite society, Isabelle was well educated and spoke French, Russian, Italian, German as well as Greek, Latin and Arabic.
From a young age she dreamt of adventure in far away lands, North Africa especially, where two of her brothers joined the Foreign Legion. She was twenty when she travelled to Bône in Algeria, where she lived with her mother and converted to Islam. After her mother's death, she started travelling extensively across Algeria, alone, dressed as a man and under the name Si Mahmoud Saadi.
'Je suis seul, et je rêve' (I am alone, and I dream).
In 1901 she married Slimane Ehnni, a spahi - a soldier from the French colonial army's light cavalry regiments, but her life was cut tragically short by a flash flood in Ain Sefra in October 1904. She was only 27 when she died.
'Oued dans une oasis' by Maxime Noiré, to whom Isabelle dedicated her story 'Pleurs d'Amandiers' 1903 ('Weeping Almond Trees')I can't resist this beautiful painting by Maxime Noiré, 'the painter of horizons on fire and weeping almond trees'. Actually it sounds better in French: 'Le peintre des horizons en feu et des amandiers en pleurs'.
And this extract of her short story set in Bou Saada - the Saharan oasis and haven of Hugo and Lucas Saintclair, the heroes of my historical romances ANGEL HEART and THE LION'S EMBRACE.
'Bou-Saada, la reine fauve vêtue de ses jardins obscurs et gardée par ses collines violettes, dort, voluptueuse, au bord escarpé de l'oued où l'eau bruisse sur les cailloux blancs et roses.' Isabelle Eberhardt, Pleurs d'amandiers, 1903
I won't even attempt to translate this into English!
What about you? Who was the writer who influenced you the most and made you dream?
The Cantrel house in Suffren, near Algiers which was shared with two other familiesAs a teenager I read novels and short stories which were set there. I particularly loved 'Bivouacs sous la Lune' by Frison-Roche for his wonderful tales of the Sahara and its lost kingdoms.
Maxime Noiré Les marchands arabes à BiskraAnd then I discovered Isabelle Eberhardt and fell under the spell of her short stories, which brought the tastes, smells and landscapes of North Africa to life. Her often tragic characters were unforgettable. Her writing was neat, precise, simple but incredibly powerful and transported me to a bazaar in a small town of the M'zab, or along the steep, narrow alleyways of the Algiers Kasbah, or again across the magnificent wilderness of the Saharan plains.I was also intrigued by her as a person because her life is definitely a case of reality being more fascinating than fiction. Like Alexandra David-Neel who travelled to Tibet and converted to Buddhism, Odette du Puigaudeau in Mauritania, or again Ella Maillart in Asia, Isabelle was one of the very first Twentieth century women who travelled alone - and relished the adventure and the solitude.
'For those who know the value of and exquisite taste of solitary freedom (for one is only free when alone), the act of leaving is the bravest and most beautiful of all.' ― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt
Isabelle Eberhardt: A nomad I will remain for life, in love with distant and uncharted places.
Isabelle was born in Geneva in 1877, the illegitimate daughter of Natalia, the widow of a former aide de camp to the Russian tsar Alexander II, and a Ukrainian scholar - an anarchist, according to some. Although her family was shunned by Geneva's polite society, Isabelle was well educated and spoke French, Russian, Italian, German as well as Greek, Latin and Arabic.
From a young age she dreamt of adventure in far away lands, North Africa especially, where two of her brothers joined the Foreign Legion. She was twenty when she travelled to Bône in Algeria, where she lived with her mother and converted to Islam. After her mother's death, she started travelling extensively across Algeria, alone, dressed as a man and under the name Si Mahmoud Saadi.
'Je suis seul, et je rêve' (I am alone, and I dream).
In 1901 she married Slimane Ehnni, a spahi - a soldier from the French colonial army's light cavalry regiments, but her life was cut tragically short by a flash flood in Ain Sefra in October 1904. She was only 27 when she died.
'Oued dans une oasis' by Maxime Noiré, to whom Isabelle dedicated her story 'Pleurs d'Amandiers' 1903 ('Weeping Almond Trees')I can't resist this beautiful painting by Maxime Noiré, 'the painter of horizons on fire and weeping almond trees'. Actually it sounds better in French: 'Le peintre des horizons en feu et des amandiers en pleurs'.And this extract of her short story set in Bou Saada - the Saharan oasis and haven of Hugo and Lucas Saintclair, the heroes of my historical romances ANGEL HEART and THE LION'S EMBRACE.
'Bou-Saada, la reine fauve vêtue de ses jardins obscurs et gardée par ses collines violettes, dort, voluptueuse, au bord escarpé de l'oued où l'eau bruisse sur les cailloux blancs et roses.' Isabelle Eberhardt, Pleurs d'amandiers, 1903
I won't even attempt to translate this into English!
What about you? Who was the writer who influenced you the most and made you dream?
August 16, 2014
GOLD MEDAL for THE LION'S EMBRACE
Just received this email this morning and it made me very, very happy!
Congratulations Marie Laval for winning in the Gold Medal in the 2014 Global ebooks Awards Fiction - Romance (Historical) category for The Lion's Embrace.
Thank you so much to my publisher Lea Schizas at MuseitUp Publishing, my editors Nancy Bell and Julie Lynn Hayes, and Charlotte Volnek for the beautiful cover!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lions-Embrace-Marie-Laval-ebook/dp/B00BACDSK6
Congratulations Marie Laval for winning in the Gold Medal in the 2014 Global ebooks Awards Fiction - Romance (Historical) category for The Lion's Embrace.
Thank you so much to my publisher Lea Schizas at MuseitUp Publishing, my editors Nancy Bell and Julie Lynn Hayes, and Charlotte Volnek for the beautiful cover!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Lions-Embrace-Marie-Laval-ebook/dp/B00BACDSK6
July 24, 2014
Historical Romances for Summer
Thanks to my publisher, MuseitUp Publishing, my two historical romances ANGEL HEART and THE LION'S EMBRACE will be available at the special price of £0.77 or $0.99 this weekend. You can buy either from MuseitUp or from Amazon by clicking and following the link or simply click on the covers on the right-hand side bar!
ANGEL HEART
A mysterious Templar relic. A web of intrigue and lies. A woman about to lose her heart.
Super Weekend $0.99 BUZZ Deal…Angel Heart by Marie LavalHistorical RomanceNow ONLY $0.99 until midnight Sunday, July 27
“Angel Heart by Marie Laval is a stunning piece of historical romantic suspense, exquisitely written and lovingly told, against the backdrop of the close of the Napoleonic era in France.” 5 star review
“The book is well written and detailed. There are a lot of unsavory, devious characters and many secrets for Marie-Ange to find out. Secrets about who her father really is, secrets about what really happened to her mother, and secrets about why everyone wanted to possess the Cross of Life.” 4 star review
“If you enjoy a good romance, mystery, fantasy, and history ANGEL HEART fits the bill. ANGEL HEART kept my interest with the ending pages being the best part with a good deal of tension and intrigue.” 4 star review
Special at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YJT194 and MuseItUp Publishinghttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/angel-heart-detail
THE LION'S EMBRACE
Passions, lost treasures and deadly secrets in the heart of the Sahara...
Super Weekend $0.99 BUZZ Deal…
The Lion’s Embrace by Marie LavalHistorical RomanceNow ONLY $0.99 until midnight Sunday, July 27
“The Lion's Embrace by Marie Laval is a wonderful exploration of a lost world - the desert state ruled by an unsympathetic colonial power. It's also a powerful romance with two engaging central characters: Harriet Montague and Lucas Saintclair.” 5 star review
“Exotic locations, steamy romance, intrigue, and tons of action. This story will have you on the edge of your seat and anxious for each turn of the page.” 5 star review
“Excellent read!” 5 star review
Special at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BACDSK6
and MuseItUp Publishinghttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museitup/romance/historical-romance/the-lion-s-embrace-detail
ANGEL HEARTA mysterious Templar relic. A web of intrigue and lies. A woman about to lose her heart.
Super Weekend $0.99 BUZZ Deal…Angel Heart by Marie LavalHistorical RomanceNow ONLY $0.99 until midnight Sunday, July 27
“Angel Heart by Marie Laval is a stunning piece of historical romantic suspense, exquisitely written and lovingly told, against the backdrop of the close of the Napoleonic era in France.” 5 star review
“The book is well written and detailed. There are a lot of unsavory, devious characters and many secrets for Marie-Ange to find out. Secrets about who her father really is, secrets about what really happened to her mother, and secrets about why everyone wanted to possess the Cross of Life.” 4 star review
“If you enjoy a good romance, mystery, fantasy, and history ANGEL HEART fits the bill. ANGEL HEART kept my interest with the ending pages being the best part with a good deal of tension and intrigue.” 4 star review
Special at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YJT194 and MuseItUp Publishinghttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/angel-heart-detail
THE LION'S EMBRACE
Passions, lost treasures and deadly secrets in the heart of the Sahara...Super Weekend $0.99 BUZZ Deal…
The Lion’s Embrace by Marie LavalHistorical RomanceNow ONLY $0.99 until midnight Sunday, July 27
“The Lion's Embrace by Marie Laval is a wonderful exploration of a lost world - the desert state ruled by an unsympathetic colonial power. It's also a powerful romance with two engaging central characters: Harriet Montague and Lucas Saintclair.” 5 star review
“Exotic locations, steamy romance, intrigue, and tons of action. This story will have you on the edge of your seat and anxious for each turn of the page.” 5 star review
“Excellent read!” 5 star review
Special at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BACDSK6
and MuseItUp Publishinghttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museitup/romance/historical-romance/the-lion-s-embrace-detail
July 20, 2014
Sue Barnard Visits Today!
I am delighted to welcome Sue Barnard today and learn about her novel, The Ghostly Father.Sue was born in North Wales but has spent most of her life in and around Manchester. After graduating from Durham University, where she studied French and Italian, Sue got married then had a variety of office jobs before becoming a full-time parent. If she had her way, the phrase "non-working mother" would be banned from the English language.
Since then she has had a series of part-time jobs, including some work as a freelance copywriter. In parallel with this she took several courses in Creative Writing. Her writing achievements include winning the Writing Magazine New Subscribers Poetry Competition for 2013. She is also very interested in Family History. Her own background is stranger than fiction; she'd write a book about it if she thought anybody would believe her.
Sue has a mind which is sufficiently warped as to be capable of compiling questions for BBC Radio 4's fiendishly difficult Round Britain Quiz. This once caused one of her sons to describe her as "professionally weird." The label has stuck.
Sue joined the editorial team Crooked Cat Publishing in 2013. Her first novel, The Ghostly Father (a new take on the traditional story of Romeo & Juliet) was officially released on St Valentine's Day 2014. Her second novel, a romantic mystery entitled Nice Girls Don’t, is due for release in July 2014.
You can find Sue on Facebook, Twitter (@SusanB2011), or follow her blog here.
I must say I am thoroughly intrigued by this novel. Here is a little bit more about it.
Romeo & Juliet - was this what really happened?
When Juliet Roberts is asked to make sense of an ancient Italian manuscript, she little suspects that she will find herself propelled into the midst of one of the greatest love stories of all time. But this is only the beginning. As more hidden secrets come to light, Juliet discovers that the tragic tale of her famous namesake might have had a very different outcome...
A favourite classic story with a major new twist.
You can find the novel at
Facebook Events page -
Amazon UK
Amazon.com
Waterstones
Smashwords
And now for an excerpt of The Ghostly Father:
The friary clock struck the hour of four.
“May it please Heaven to smile upon this happy union.”
“Amen to that, Father!”
Romeo was pacing around my cell in great agitation.
“But just to be able to call her my wife is sufficient.”
I shuddered. Had I been too hasty in agreeing to perform this marriage? He loves too strongly, and too soon, I thought. Could he fall out of love just as swiftly and as violently? Heaven forfend…
“Son, even the sweetest things can lose their appeal if taken to excess.”
I gestured towards the half-filled pots of honey on the table.
“So do not wear out your love too quickly. It will last longer, and be stronger, if you love in moderation.”
There came a faint tapping at the door. Romeo froze.
“Come in!” I called.
The door opened and Giulietta entered.
As she bade me good afternoon, Romeo crossed the room in two strides, clasped her tightly in his arms and kissed her passionately – a kiss which she returned with equal fervour. If I had previously harboured any doubts about the strength of their feelings for each other, now I saw them together these doubts were utterly dispelled.
Each totally absorbed in the other, it was as though they had already forgotten that I was even there.
I coughed gently to attract their attention, and beckoned them towards the improvised altar. As one they knelt down before it, their faces radiant, their fingers still interlaced.
I opened my breviary:
“Ego conjugo vos in matrimonium, in nomine Patris, Filii et Spiritus Sancti…”
Their vows exchanged, and one of Giulietta’s own rings blessed and employed as a wedding ring, the newly-made husband and wife left my cell and reluctantly went their separate ways until they would meet again at nightfall. I watched them go, and murmured a silent prayer for their happiness.
Had I but known what was to befall them ere that very same day was over, I would have said many, many more…
I hope you enjoyed reading about Sue and The Ghostly Father. I certainly did!
July 12, 2014
Sophia's Secret by Julie Ryan - Interview and Giveaway!
Today I am very happy to welcome author Julie Ryan to talk about her latest novel, Sophia's Secret.
Before we start the interview I must mention the giveaway! You will find the codes to enter the competition at the end of the post, after the interview, the author bio and excerpt. I hope you will enjoy reading all about Julie and her novel, Sophia's Secret, the second book in her Greek Island Mystery series. Although each book is intended to be read as a standalone, some of the characters from the first book, Jennas’s Journey, do make an appearance.
Here is a little bit about the story.
Kat has never understood why she was sent at the age of seven from Greece to live in England with her Aunt Tigi. When she receives an email from her grandmother, the first contact in over twenty years, informing her of her mother’s death, she knows this could be her last chance to find out the truth. Little by little she finds out the shocking facts as her grandmother opens her heart. It seems everyone has a secret to tell, not only her grandmother, as Manoli, her school friend, also harbours a guilty secret. Then there’s a twenty year old mystery to solve as well as a murder and what happened to the missing Church treasure?
And now, my interview with the author. Hello Julie and welcome. Can you tell us a little about you?
I am a bookaholic – there I’ve admitted it. I live in rural Gloucestershire with my husband, young son and a dippy cat with half a tail and a collection of books that is threatening to take over the house. I am physically unable to pass a second hand book shop or charity shop without buying something for my collection and also have a one-click addiction. I read a lot but even so, I probably won’t manage to read a quarter of them in my lifetime. It doesn’t stop me from buying even more though! I love travelling and in the past, I’ve worked in France, Poland, Thailand and Greece. I have a strong attachment to Greece as my experiences there formed the inspiration for my Greek Island mystery series.
When not writing I’m a member of our local amateur dramatic group and enjoy taking part in the annual pantomime among other events.
What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write?
I think it’s fair to say that I’ve always loved writing. Even as a small child I’d be the one asking to stay in at break time to finish my story. I didn’t really imagine that I would be a writer when I grew up though. I went through a phase of wishing I could be a classical musician until I realised I would never be good enough. Then I really wanted to be an actress but with a mortgage to pay, it just wasn’t viable. Now I work part time as a teacher and write whenever I can.
What is your writing process, and how did you get the idea for ‘Sophia’s Secret’?
I start with a vague outline of a story and a couple of main characters. To be honest, I have no idea how the story is going to turn out as I end up writing draft after draft as the characters take me off in a totally different direction to the one I originally planned. I love it when that happens but it’s also a bit frustrating at times. As a result the title may also have to change. ‘Sophia’s Secret’ began life as ‘Sophia’s Story’. Originally when I came up with the title, the main character was young and as I went on, the grandmother became more and more important until it became her story. I couldn’t have envisaged that when I started writing it.
I find it difficult to keep to a set routine as I work full-time and have three children, but what about you? Do you have a writing routine?
I write when I’m in the mood and more importantly when I have the time. As a result I don’t have a fixed routine. I can often be found at the dining table in the mornings as I type onto my trusty Mac. Equally, on long car journeys if I’m suddenly struck with inspiration, I can be found scribbling longhand into a notebook. I swear that it’s writing as I travel that makes my writing difficult to read and nothing to do with my handwriting. I may have inadvertently invented a new form of shorthand!
Ideally to get the creative juices flowing then I need a good supply of coffee and chocolate. The icing on the cake would be to put the desk together that I bought about a year ago and have my own study. As we’ve been renovating for the last ten years though I don’t think that is likely to happen any time soon. In the meantime I’ve kind of become good friends with the dining table.
How did you choose the title of your novel? Do you find it easy to come up with titles?
I need to have a title in order to write but as I can’t plot for the life of me then, as you can imagine, the title often changes. My first novel, Jenna’s Journey started life as The Greek urn and was supposed to be more of a mystery suspense story. However, as the novel progressed, the Greek urn in the story became just one thread and the main element was about the heroine Jenna. I also toyed with the idea of The Greek Villa but rejected that for the same reason. I find it easy to come up with titles, but it’s hard to find the right one.
Titles are so important, indeed, and can be tricky to choose. By the way I really love the cover of Sophia's Secret. Although I have never been to the Greek islands myself, I can just picture myself there. What are you working on at the moment?
I’m just planning out a few ideas for the third book in the Greek Island Mystery series but it’s very early days yet. I have a provisional title in mind but knowing me that will change at least twice before publication. I’m also writing something completely different, a Christmas novella, which has nothing to do with Greece. It will be interesting to see how that pans out as it’s a totally new departure for me and more chick-lit than suspense.
One last question...How do you choose your characters' names?
For some reason my characters don’t like the names I give them. Jenna was originally Jenny but I think Jenna suits her better. For the Greek characters I either use the names of people I knew or taught or sometimes I’ll do some online research to find a suitable name. Sometimes though it’s pure chance, for example, I was waiting for a Chinese takeaway when I heard a parent call their child Keisha. It was such an unusual name that I knew I just had to use it.
Thank you so much for being on the blog today, Julie, and good luck with Sophia's Secret.
A little bit about Julie Ryan
Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and a dippy cat with half a tail. She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance!
She is the author of two novels set in Greece, Jenna’s Journey and Sophia’s Secret both part of the Greek Island Mystery series. She is currently working on a third book, Pandora’s Prophecy.
Here is where you can find her: Facebook - www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor
Twitter @julieryan18Blog www.allthingsbookie.com
Book links Sophia's Secret www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LFJGCWA www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFJGCWA
Jenna's Journey - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EXDPZD2
Excerpt from Sophia's Secret
The boy knew he shouldn’t be out so late on his own but a dare was a dare! His best friend, Vasilli, had dared him to meet up at midnight in their den in the woods. He’d been so excited he could barely sleep. His mother had come to tuck him in—not that a boy of nearly eight needed tucking in he’d reminded her as they went through the usual nightly ritual.
“Night night.”
“Sleep tight, mind the bugs don’t bite.”
Then when she’d gone, he forced himself to stay awake until he heard his parents come back up the stairs to their room. He waited for the light to go out and gave it a few more minutes to be on the safe side. The luminous watch that he’d asked for on last birthday was showing nearly 11.30. There would be plenty of time to get there. He peered out of his bedroom window. It was dark out. There were no streetlights in his village. It was lucky that he’d remembered to pack a torch. He crept silently down the stairs, careful not to wake either his parents or the sleeping twins, put a jacket on over his pyjamas, slipped his trainers on and spying the fruit bowl on the table, put a couple of apples in his pocket in case he got hungry.
The gang had built the den during the long summer holidays when they were allowed to play out until late provided that they told an adult where they were. This was different. The summer had given way to autumn and there was a chill in the night air. He wrapped his arms round himself for extra warmth or maybe just to give himself courage. He thought fleetingly of turning back but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stand Vasilli’s taunts of ‘chicken’ the next day. All he had to do, he reminded himself, was cut through the woods at the back of his house and meet his friend in the den. Just then, as if giving him a signal, the moon came out from behind the clouds illuminating the woodland path. He set off at a run, not wanting to be late. Once he reached the safety of the den, they’d have a good laugh about what a great game it had been.
An owl hooted in the branches above him almost scaring him silly. It felt so different at night. Every sound was magnified a thousand times, making him alert to every eerie sound. Little creatures scurrying around made the leaves underfoot rustle. Twice now he’d thought he heard someone following him but when he stopped there was no one. Only a few more metres to go and he’d be safe.
Not wanting to cut through the churchyard, he kept to the wall until he reached the woods. The moonlight showed him the den, just as he’d left it. He rushed inside, breathing heavily, surprised to see that Vasilli hadn’t arrived yet. He glanced at his watch. It was only 11.54. He decided to wait no more than ten minutes and then he was going home. His father would give him a right talking to if he got caught. He’d probably be grounded for weeks. It never crossed his mind that his friend wasn’t coming. He settled himself into the snugness of the den to wait. At least it was warmer in here, out of the wind.
He woke up suddenly, surprised that he’d fallen asleep. There were footsteps just outside the den: Vasilli must have been held up. He was about to shout to him but thought he’d surprise him instead by shouting ‘boo’ as he crawled through the entrance. The footsteps stopped and he heard a scraping noise. He peered into the darkness but couldn’t make out what his friend was doing. Then the moonlight clearly showed him that whoever it was, he was far too tall for his friend. It was a man with a spade. He could hear the soft earth plop onto the ground as he dug a hole. Suddenly the den smelt of fresh earth and vegetation. He hoped the man wasn’t going to be long. He was in enough trouble already. The moon disappeared and it was dark again, totally silent now except for the sound of the spade on the damp earth. He’d wanted an adventure but suddenly an adventure on your own wasn’t nearly so much fun. He wondered what the man was doing.
Maybe he was burying treasure. They could come back tomorrow and dig it up. That would be fun. He knew though that he shouldn’t be here and was afraid. What if the man caught him and told his parents? His heart was thumping so loudly he was sure the man could hear him but the spade just continued to thwack as the soil was lifted. It seemed like hours but his watch showed it was 1.10am. When the moon came out again he saw the man lift something big and heavy into the hole and start to cover it up. Now he knew he had to remain totally silent or else he’d end up in the hole too no doubt! He had a horrible thought that perhaps instead of treasure, the man was burying a body. At any rate it certainly didn’t look like treasure. Why was he out here in the woods at this time? He couldn’t be up to any good? Just then the man trampled down the earth so that it wouldn’t leave a trace just as the moon slid out from the shadows.
The boy realized with a jolt that he knew the man. Fear trickled through his body, just as he lost control and wet himself. Hot urine trickled down his leg, turning cold seconds later. He didn’t consider the trouble he’d be in for wetting his pajamas, right now he just wanted to be anywhere else but in the middle of the woods with a murderer for company. He was tired, cold and wet. He watched the man leave and when he was sure it was safe, he ran all the way home. He was relieved that his parents hadn’t missed him. He half expected all the lights to be on and his father standing in the middle of the living room asking him where the hell he’d been. Instead there was a gentle snoring noise coming from the bedroom. Luckily the twins hadn’t woken his parents up while he’d been out. He quickly changed into clean pjs. He’d admit to wetting himself in the morning but that was all.
He crept into bed and fell asleep straight away but somehow his mother’s words kept playing on his mind over and over again. ‘Mind the bugs don’t bite.’ He dreamt of bugs covering him but instead of a bug’s face, he saw the man in the woods. He was to dream the same dream time and time again.
And now for the giveaway!
Click on the link and you will be taken to the Rafflecopter site:
Giveaway | Rafflecopter :)www.rafflecopter.com
Before we start the interview I must mention the giveaway! You will find the codes to enter the competition at the end of the post, after the interview, the author bio and excerpt. I hope you will enjoy reading all about Julie and her novel, Sophia's Secret, the second book in her Greek Island Mystery series. Although each book is intended to be read as a standalone, some of the characters from the first book, Jennas’s Journey, do make an appearance.
Here is a little bit about the story.
Kat has never understood why she was sent at the age of seven from Greece to live in England with her Aunt Tigi. When she receives an email from her grandmother, the first contact in over twenty years, informing her of her mother’s death, she knows this could be her last chance to find out the truth. Little by little she finds out the shocking facts as her grandmother opens her heart. It seems everyone has a secret to tell, not only her grandmother, as Manoli, her school friend, also harbours a guilty secret. Then there’s a twenty year old mystery to solve as well as a murder and what happened to the missing Church treasure?
And now, my interview with the author. Hello Julie and welcome. Can you tell us a little about you?
I am a bookaholic – there I’ve admitted it. I live in rural Gloucestershire with my husband, young son and a dippy cat with half a tail and a collection of books that is threatening to take over the house. I am physically unable to pass a second hand book shop or charity shop without buying something for my collection and also have a one-click addiction. I read a lot but even so, I probably won’t manage to read a quarter of them in my lifetime. It doesn’t stop me from buying even more though! I love travelling and in the past, I’ve worked in France, Poland, Thailand and Greece. I have a strong attachment to Greece as my experiences there formed the inspiration for my Greek Island mystery series.
When not writing I’m a member of our local amateur dramatic group and enjoy taking part in the annual pantomime among other events.
What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write?
I think it’s fair to say that I’ve always loved writing. Even as a small child I’d be the one asking to stay in at break time to finish my story. I didn’t really imagine that I would be a writer when I grew up though. I went through a phase of wishing I could be a classical musician until I realised I would never be good enough. Then I really wanted to be an actress but with a mortgage to pay, it just wasn’t viable. Now I work part time as a teacher and write whenever I can.
What is your writing process, and how did you get the idea for ‘Sophia’s Secret’?
I start with a vague outline of a story and a couple of main characters. To be honest, I have no idea how the story is going to turn out as I end up writing draft after draft as the characters take me off in a totally different direction to the one I originally planned. I love it when that happens but it’s also a bit frustrating at times. As a result the title may also have to change. ‘Sophia’s Secret’ began life as ‘Sophia’s Story’. Originally when I came up with the title, the main character was young and as I went on, the grandmother became more and more important until it became her story. I couldn’t have envisaged that when I started writing it.
I find it difficult to keep to a set routine as I work full-time and have three children, but what about you? Do you have a writing routine?
I write when I’m in the mood and more importantly when I have the time. As a result I don’t have a fixed routine. I can often be found at the dining table in the mornings as I type onto my trusty Mac. Equally, on long car journeys if I’m suddenly struck with inspiration, I can be found scribbling longhand into a notebook. I swear that it’s writing as I travel that makes my writing difficult to read and nothing to do with my handwriting. I may have inadvertently invented a new form of shorthand!
Ideally to get the creative juices flowing then I need a good supply of coffee and chocolate. The icing on the cake would be to put the desk together that I bought about a year ago and have my own study. As we’ve been renovating for the last ten years though I don’t think that is likely to happen any time soon. In the meantime I’ve kind of become good friends with the dining table.
How did you choose the title of your novel? Do you find it easy to come up with titles?
I need to have a title in order to write but as I can’t plot for the life of me then, as you can imagine, the title often changes. My first novel, Jenna’s Journey started life as The Greek urn and was supposed to be more of a mystery suspense story. However, as the novel progressed, the Greek urn in the story became just one thread and the main element was about the heroine Jenna. I also toyed with the idea of The Greek Villa but rejected that for the same reason. I find it easy to come up with titles, but it’s hard to find the right one.
Titles are so important, indeed, and can be tricky to choose. By the way I really love the cover of Sophia's Secret. Although I have never been to the Greek islands myself, I can just picture myself there. What are you working on at the moment?
I’m just planning out a few ideas for the third book in the Greek Island Mystery series but it’s very early days yet. I have a provisional title in mind but knowing me that will change at least twice before publication. I’m also writing something completely different, a Christmas novella, which has nothing to do with Greece. It will be interesting to see how that pans out as it’s a totally new departure for me and more chick-lit than suspense.
One last question...How do you choose your characters' names?
For some reason my characters don’t like the names I give them. Jenna was originally Jenny but I think Jenna suits her better. For the Greek characters I either use the names of people I knew or taught or sometimes I’ll do some online research to find a suitable name. Sometimes though it’s pure chance, for example, I was waiting for a Chinese takeaway when I heard a parent call their child Keisha. It was such an unusual name that I knew I just had to use it.
Thank you so much for being on the blog today, Julie, and good luck with Sophia's Secret.
A little bit about Julie Ryan
Julie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and a dippy cat with half a tail. She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance!
She is the author of two novels set in Greece, Jenna’s Journey and Sophia’s Secret both part of the Greek Island Mystery series. She is currently working on a third book, Pandora’s Prophecy.
Here is where you can find her: Facebook - www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor
Twitter @julieryan18Blog www.allthingsbookie.com
Book links Sophia's Secret www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LFJGCWA www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFJGCWA
Jenna's Journey - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EXDPZD2
Excerpt from Sophia's Secret
The boy knew he shouldn’t be out so late on his own but a dare was a dare! His best friend, Vasilli, had dared him to meet up at midnight in their den in the woods. He’d been so excited he could barely sleep. His mother had come to tuck him in—not that a boy of nearly eight needed tucking in he’d reminded her as they went through the usual nightly ritual.
“Night night.”
“Sleep tight, mind the bugs don’t bite.”
Then when she’d gone, he forced himself to stay awake until he heard his parents come back up the stairs to their room. He waited for the light to go out and gave it a few more minutes to be on the safe side. The luminous watch that he’d asked for on last birthday was showing nearly 11.30. There would be plenty of time to get there. He peered out of his bedroom window. It was dark out. There were no streetlights in his village. It was lucky that he’d remembered to pack a torch. He crept silently down the stairs, careful not to wake either his parents or the sleeping twins, put a jacket on over his pyjamas, slipped his trainers on and spying the fruit bowl on the table, put a couple of apples in his pocket in case he got hungry.
The gang had built the den during the long summer holidays when they were allowed to play out until late provided that they told an adult where they were. This was different. The summer had given way to autumn and there was a chill in the night air. He wrapped his arms round himself for extra warmth or maybe just to give himself courage. He thought fleetingly of turning back but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stand Vasilli’s taunts of ‘chicken’ the next day. All he had to do, he reminded himself, was cut through the woods at the back of his house and meet his friend in the den. Just then, as if giving him a signal, the moon came out from behind the clouds illuminating the woodland path. He set off at a run, not wanting to be late. Once he reached the safety of the den, they’d have a good laugh about what a great game it had been.
An owl hooted in the branches above him almost scaring him silly. It felt so different at night. Every sound was magnified a thousand times, making him alert to every eerie sound. Little creatures scurrying around made the leaves underfoot rustle. Twice now he’d thought he heard someone following him but when he stopped there was no one. Only a few more metres to go and he’d be safe.
Not wanting to cut through the churchyard, he kept to the wall until he reached the woods. The moonlight showed him the den, just as he’d left it. He rushed inside, breathing heavily, surprised to see that Vasilli hadn’t arrived yet. He glanced at his watch. It was only 11.54. He decided to wait no more than ten minutes and then he was going home. His father would give him a right talking to if he got caught. He’d probably be grounded for weeks. It never crossed his mind that his friend wasn’t coming. He settled himself into the snugness of the den to wait. At least it was warmer in here, out of the wind.
He woke up suddenly, surprised that he’d fallen asleep. There were footsteps just outside the den: Vasilli must have been held up. He was about to shout to him but thought he’d surprise him instead by shouting ‘boo’ as he crawled through the entrance. The footsteps stopped and he heard a scraping noise. He peered into the darkness but couldn’t make out what his friend was doing. Then the moonlight clearly showed him that whoever it was, he was far too tall for his friend. It was a man with a spade. He could hear the soft earth plop onto the ground as he dug a hole. Suddenly the den smelt of fresh earth and vegetation. He hoped the man wasn’t going to be long. He was in enough trouble already. The moon disappeared and it was dark again, totally silent now except for the sound of the spade on the damp earth. He’d wanted an adventure but suddenly an adventure on your own wasn’t nearly so much fun. He wondered what the man was doing.
Maybe he was burying treasure. They could come back tomorrow and dig it up. That would be fun. He knew though that he shouldn’t be here and was afraid. What if the man caught him and told his parents? His heart was thumping so loudly he was sure the man could hear him but the spade just continued to thwack as the soil was lifted. It seemed like hours but his watch showed it was 1.10am. When the moon came out again he saw the man lift something big and heavy into the hole and start to cover it up. Now he knew he had to remain totally silent or else he’d end up in the hole too no doubt! He had a horrible thought that perhaps instead of treasure, the man was burying a body. At any rate it certainly didn’t look like treasure. Why was he out here in the woods at this time? He couldn’t be up to any good? Just then the man trampled down the earth so that it wouldn’t leave a trace just as the moon slid out from the shadows.
The boy realized with a jolt that he knew the man. Fear trickled through his body, just as he lost control and wet himself. Hot urine trickled down his leg, turning cold seconds later. He didn’t consider the trouble he’d be in for wetting his pajamas, right now he just wanted to be anywhere else but in the middle of the woods with a murderer for company. He was tired, cold and wet. He watched the man leave and when he was sure it was safe, he ran all the way home. He was relieved that his parents hadn’t missed him. He half expected all the lights to be on and his father standing in the middle of the living room asking him where the hell he’d been. Instead there was a gentle snoring noise coming from the bedroom. Luckily the twins hadn’t woken his parents up while he’d been out. He quickly changed into clean pjs. He’d admit to wetting himself in the morning but that was all.
He crept into bed and fell asleep straight away but somehow his mother’s words kept playing on his mind over and over again. ‘Mind the bugs don’t bite.’ He dreamt of bugs covering him but instead of a bug’s face, he saw the man in the woods. He was to dream the same dream time and time again.
And now for the giveaway!
Click on the link and you will be taken to the Rafflecopter site:
Giveaway | Rafflecopter :)www.rafflecopter.com
