K.S. Dearsley's Blog, page 2
December 18, 2021
My Gift to You
When you've overdone it with the mince pies and don't feel like moving, or can't face watching the same old Christmas films on TV yet again, do a little online shopping. The Smashwords End of Year Sale is running until 1st January 2022 with hundreds of books in every genre offered at generous discounts from 25 per cent off to free.
It's the best way I can think of for author's to reward readers, so Discord's Child will be FREE and Discord's Apprentice will be 50 per cent off. This means that you can download the complete Exiles of Ondd series for half the usual price. Go to http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
Happy reading!
It's the best way I can think of for author's to reward readers, so Discord's Child will be FREE and Discord's Apprentice will be 50 per cent off. This means that you can download the complete Exiles of Ondd series for half the usual price. Go to http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
Happy reading!
November 20, 2021
Now What?
What is an author to do the week after her novel is published? Once all the fireworks and brouhaha have died down (okay, those were for Guy Fawkes' Night and not me), along with the excitement of sending your baby out into the world, everything seems rather flat. Checking the number of visitors to the novel's page and the downloads is fun, but it doesn't take long.
I'd promised myself a break from Discord's Shadow for the rest of November, but I've found myself posting Iyessi songs, photos of dragons etc. on Facebook, updating banners and webpages, designing bookmarks and postcards, and all sorts of associated odds and ends. An indie author's work is never done.
It's difficult to settle to anything else after such a long project, which makes the arrival of the latest Third Flatiron anthology Things With Feathers: Stories of Hope an ideal distraction. It contains more than 20 pieces of feelgood fiction inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem. I found them intriguing and imaginative.
If you'd like to know more, I've posted a review. Enjoy!
I'd promised myself a break from Discord's Shadow for the rest of November, but I've found myself posting Iyessi songs, photos of dragons etc. on Facebook, updating banners and webpages, designing bookmarks and postcards, and all sorts of associated odds and ends. An indie author's work is never done.
It's difficult to settle to anything else after such a long project, which makes the arrival of the latest Third Flatiron anthology Things With Feathers: Stories of Hope an ideal distraction. It contains more than 20 pieces of feelgood fiction inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem. I found them intriguing and imaginative.
If you'd like to know more, I've posted a review. Enjoy!
November 4, 2021
Remember, Remember the 6th of November
There are only a couple of days to go before Discord's Shadow is launched on the world, so you'll need to be quick to take advantage of the special pre-order price at Smashwords. To celebrate the fact that the long wait is almost over, I've put Discord's Child on the site FREE until 6th November too. Go to http://www.smashwords.com/profiles/vi....
My apologies for the short notice, but I've been having a little trouble, getting the paperback version to copy into the right format from my computer. However, both Kindle and paperback versions are now available to preorder from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KQRY6MS and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNCZR3D respectively.
I'm off now to lie down in a darkened room.
Enjoy!
My apologies for the short notice, but I've been having a little trouble, getting the paperback version to copy into the right format from my computer. However, both Kindle and paperback versions are now available to preorder from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KQRY6MS and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNCZR3D respectively.
I'm off now to lie down in a darkened room.
Enjoy!
October 26, 2021
Almost There
There was a time when I wasn't sure I'd ever reach this point, but after umpteen rewrites and proof-reads, constant dithering, changes of mind and agonising over whether to use this word or that, I've uploaded the manuscript of Discord's Shadow to Smashwords. After a long search, it also has a cover designed by Betibup33 that I'm really happy with.
That isn't to say that there aren't still things to do. Discord's Shadow should be available for pre-order on Kindle and in paperback format within a few days, and there are accompanying Iyessi songs to upload to my website (http://www.ksdearsley.com).
In the meantime, if you visit http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/..., you'll find details of this final part of The Exiles of Ondd series, and an opportunity to order it at a special pre-publication price before the launch date of 6th November.
That isn't to say that there aren't still things to do. Discord's Shadow should be available for pre-order on Kindle and in paperback format within a few days, and there are accompanying Iyessi songs to upload to my website (http://www.ksdearsley.com).
In the meantime, if you visit http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/..., you'll find details of this final part of The Exiles of Ondd series, and an opportunity to order it at a special pre-publication price before the launch date of 6th November.
July 19, 2021
The Date's Set
Put it in your diary–Discord's Shadow will be published on 6th November 2021. It's been a long time coming, but at last the Exiles of Ondd are ready to set out on a final adventure.
Here's the blurb:
Of course, you won't have to make a note to remember if you pre-order it. Simply go to Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie... and you can reserve a copy to receive automatically on launch day. There's a discount as well if you pre-order. Until the end of July, Discord's Child, Discord's Apprentice and Artists and Liars will still be FREE in the Summer-Winter sale. Bargains all round!
Enjoy!
Here's the blurb:
Time is running out. Ro is no closer to waking the Dragon than she was when her family was exiled from Iyessa.
Her niece was born deaf and Ro's inability to feel the elements was blamed. Then, her only hope had been to find a cure for them both. Instead, they found themselves accused of murdering the king, becoming entangled in treachery and the struggle to make the Worm all-powerful. Now, people are falling into an unnatural sleep from which they cannot be roused, and Ro is blamed again.
Forced to flee once more, can Ro find the Dragon in time to save the world from chaos?
Of course, you won't have to make a note to remember if you pre-order it. Simply go to Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie... and you can reserve a copy to receive automatically on launch day. There's a discount as well if you pre-order. Until the end of July, Discord's Child, Discord's Apprentice and Artists and Liars will still be FREE in the Summer-Winter sale. Bargains all round!
Enjoy!
December 27, 2020
Travel the Easy Way
Happy Christmas, Everyone!
It might be that you're fed up with seasonal films, or staring at your partner and your own four walls. Whether it's Covid-19 or storms that are keeping you indoors, you can easily escape with a book.
You could go on A Sentimental Journey with Laurence Sterne, sunbathe on Robinson Crusoe's island or enjoy A Room with a View. Alternatively, if you want something new to read, visit the Smashwords End of Year sale where you'll find hundreds of free and discounted books, including mine. You can join the exiles of Ondd on their journey FREE until 1st January at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Enjoy!
It might be that you're fed up with seasonal films, or staring at your partner and your own four walls. Whether it's Covid-19 or storms that are keeping you indoors, you can easily escape with a book.
You could go on A Sentimental Journey with Laurence Sterne, sunbathe on Robinson Crusoe's island or enjoy A Room with a View. Alternatively, if you want something new to read, visit the Smashwords End of Year sale where you'll find hundreds of free and discounted books, including mine. You can join the exiles of Ondd on their journey FREE until 1st January at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Enjoy!
March 13, 2020
Something to Sing About
The Iyessi 'Song of Passing' has been Highly Commended in the inaugural Published Fantasy Authors Song/Poetry Competition. The winner will have the 'song' set music and recorded by the acclaimed medieval and fantasy musician, David Yardley, on his new album The Lost Codex of Avalon, which is available to preorder. David has performed worldwide, including with the BBC and Sydney Chamber Choir. You can find out more about him at https://davidyardleymusic.com.
The 'Song of Passing' is in Discord's Child on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Discord's-... and on Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/....
Something else that's had me humming a happy tune this week is having my short play, Wingbeats feature as one of Midnight Audio Theatre's 2019 winners. It's free to download at http://www.midnightaudiotheatre.com, but that's a good listen, not a good read. Enjoy!
The 'Song of Passing' is in Discord's Child on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Discord's-... and on Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/....
Something else that's had me humming a happy tune this week is having my short play, Wingbeats feature as one of Midnight Audio Theatre's 2019 winners. It's free to download at http://www.midnightaudiotheatre.com, but that's a good listen, not a good read. Enjoy!
January 9, 2020
Easy Keepers
Have you broken your New Year resolutions yet? I confess, I'm not very good at keeping to my usual 'rise earlier, write more, eat less chocolate' kind of resolutions, but I've played clever this year and thought of one that won't be broken until 31st December. That's because I've resolved to write more reviews in 2020, which gives me all year to fulfil it.
As a writer, I know how important reviews are to authors. They're not only good publicity, but they help us to identify our strengths and weaknesses, and to improve. Any constructive feedback is useful.
As a reader, I find reviews helpful in deciding whether a book is likely to be to my taste. If someone has felt strongly enough about a novel to comment on it, it's likely to be interesting enough to make it at least worth looking at a sample.
Resolving to leave more reviews also means that I have a very good excuse to spend more time reading. It looks as if 2020 could be a very pleasant year. Now, to get started...
As a writer, I know how important reviews are to authors. They're not only good publicity, but they help us to identify our strengths and weaknesses, and to improve. Any constructive feedback is useful.
As a reader, I find reviews helpful in deciding whether a book is likely to be to my taste. If someone has felt strongly enough about a novel to comment on it, it's likely to be interesting enough to make it at least worth looking at a sample.
Resolving to leave more reviews also means that I have a very good excuse to spend more time reading. It looks as if 2020 could be a very pleasant year. Now, to get started...
December 29, 2019
Present Perfect
Not every Christmas present is just what you want, but I certainly couldn't have been happier when I opened my emails on Christmas Day to find that my story, 'The Enchantress's Pets', is now available as a podcast at http://www.remasteredwords.com. The narration by Sam Burns is excellent. There's an interview with me about the story and my writing as well. You'll find the two winning stories in the contest there too, so it's worth taking a look. Thank you to everyone concerned.
Meanwhile, you can give yourself a present by going to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi... before the end of New Year's Day, and bagging yourself Discord's Child, Discord's Apprentice and Artists and Liars FREE.
Meanwhile, you can give yourself a present by going to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi... before the end of New Year's Day, and bagging yourself Discord's Child, Discord's Apprentice and Artists and Liars FREE.
December 24, 2019
Free to a Good Home
Happy Christmas everyone!
It's been some while since I've been here, so I've decided to make up for it with a few giveaways. Discord's Child, Discord's Apprentice and Artists and Liars are all FREE in the Smashwords End of the Year Sale from 25th December until the end of 1st January 2020. It's not really generous of me, as it gives me a real thrill when people download my books. Simply go to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi... and use the codes you'll find there. Enjoy!
How about an Iyessi song or two as well?
One and two and three and four,
Is this what you're looking for?
Five and six and seven and eight,
Hurry up now, they won't wait.
Nine and ten, eleven and more,
Last one has to guard the door.
We sail upon a lonely sea,
Yet we don't lack for company.
Above our heads stars cluster bright,
Bouquets whose blooms dispel vast night.
The wind sings sweetly in our sails
And rocks us safe 'til morning pales.
The sky speeds us to distant shores
Where we must say good-bye.
It's been some while since I've been here, so I've decided to make up for it with a few giveaways. Discord's Child, Discord's Apprentice and Artists and Liars are all FREE in the Smashwords End of the Year Sale from 25th December until the end of 1st January 2020. It's not really generous of me, as it gives me a real thrill when people download my books. Simply go to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi... and use the codes you'll find there. Enjoy!
How about an Iyessi song or two as well?
One and two and three and four,
Is this what you're looking for?
Five and six and seven and eight,
Hurry up now, they won't wait.
Nine and ten, eleven and more,
Last one has to guard the door.
We sail upon a lonely sea,
Yet we don't lack for company.
Above our heads stars cluster bright,
Bouquets whose blooms dispel vast night.
The wind sings sweetly in our sails
And rocks us safe 'til morning pales.
The sky speeds us to distant shores
Where we must say good-bye.
