Skye MacKinnon's Blog, page 2
March 31, 2025
My Cat Wrote a Book
Ever since my Norwegian Forest kitten Valkyrie entered my life two years ago, she has been fascinated by my keyboard. At first, she used it as a bed. Then she realised that if she pressed the keys, she got a reaction out of me. She’s a rather clever cat. And so she began to write.
Valkyrie is ambitious. Just typing a word or two was not enough for her. She wanted to be just like her human. An author.
Every night while I was fast asleep, she stole my laptop to work on her novel. It took a while (she can’t touch type), but eventually, she wrote the final word and presented me with her manuscript. I was floored!
She graciously agreed that I could make her a cover and deal with the formatting. Then she requested a paperback version and an audiobook and I complied. I’m nothing but a good cat slave.
Valkyrie is not out to get rich (although it would be nice if she contributed to the cat food fund). She will donate all proceeds to Cats Protection.
Help her become the first ever bestselling feline author by downloading her book for free below!
You can also follow her on Instagram @valkyriethevikingcat.
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Introducing Apple Books
Did you know that if you have an Apple device, you’ll have the Apple Books app installed already? No need to install something from scratch, nice and easy, just the way I like it!
One of the greatest perks of Apple Books is its seamless integration across Apple’s ecosystem. From iPhone to iPad, Mac to Apple Watch, your library is always at your fingertips. The continuity feature ensures you can pick up right where you left off, whether you’re reading on your commute or enjoying an audiobook while cooking dinner. The beautifully designed interface adapts to your preferences, with options for font size, background color, and more, so you can create your perfect reading environment. You can effortlessly purchase and store books, organize them into collections, and even sync highlights and notes across devices. The platform’s integration with Siri makes it even easier to dive into a new story—just ask, and you’re off on your next adventure
Apple Books is home to a vast selection of genres, themes, and authors, offering something for everyone. From gripping thrillers to swoon-worthy romances, the platform has it all. It’s also where you’ll find my ebooks and audiobooks: whether you’re looking for Scottish mythology-inspired tales or intergalactic romances featuring protective alien heroes, you can read them all on your Apple device.
Apple Books makes discovering new favorites effortless, thanks to its personalised recommendations. Based on your reading habits and preferences, the platform curates tailored suggestions to match your literary cravings. It’s an excellent way to expand your horizons and stumble upon hidden gems that you would never have found otherwise.
One of my favourite features is the ability to set reading goals to help make reading a daily habit (again).
In this series, I introduce various book retailers and services to help you find the best book deals and reading experiences. Check out the previous posts.
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March 15, 2025
New Release: The Intergalactic Guide to Humans Vol 2
Surprise release! Get ready to leave Earth behind and journey into the cosmos with The Intergalactic Guide to Humans Volume 2! This spanking new box set is the latest addition to the Starlight Universe and features three standalone tales full of laughter, love, and plenty of alien hijinks:
Alien Abduction for Pirates (m/f romance) Space pirate Aedan is on the brink of imprisonment when fate leads him to teach an Alien Abduction course. Unexpectedly, he meets May, a disillusioned actor ready to leave her old life behind. Together, they navigate the galaxy, discovering that love can conquer not only space but also their deepest fears.
Alien Abduction for Milkmen (m/m romance) When alien scientist Bainne accidentally unleashes chaos on Earth with the Great Curdle, the planet’s only hope is milkman Kenneth. What starts as an unlikely partnership turns into a heartwarming tale of connection and unexpected romance.
Alien Abduction for Unicorns (m/f romance) Unicorn tamer Bruin’s quest to uncover Earth’s disbelief in unicorns leads him to Tara, a bold woman searching for her own adventure. With a unicorn companion in tow, their journey through the stars is a spicy, heartfelt story of discovery and destiny.
Whether you’re a fan of alpha aliens, quirky adventures, or spicy alien romance (with ‘special’ body parts), this box set has something for everyone. From hunky extraterrestrial heroes to whimsical intergalactic escapades, The Intergalactic Guide to Humans Volume 2 is your ticket to out-of-this-world love.
Grab your copy today and lose yourself in the stars. The galaxy is waiting!
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March 14, 2025
Introducing: Kobo
Kobo is a digital book retailer with a vast library of eBooks and audiobooks (mine are all available there!). I have been a Kobo reader for years now, which is why today I’d like to introduce you to this platform.
First of all, did you realise KOBO is an anagram of BOOK? It took me years to notice that!
Kobo Plus is the platform’s subscription service. For a flat monthly fee, you get unlimited access to a vast selection of eBooks and audiobooks. Whether you’re into romance, science fiction, mystery, or non-fiction, Kobo Plus has something for everyone. This service is perfect for voracious readers who want to explore new authors and genres without breaking the bank.
If you don’t want to subscribe, I highly recommend their VIP membership which lets you save 10% on almost every book you buy.
But how do you read on Kobo? There are several options. You can download their app to read or listen to your books on the go. You can also read in a web browser, or get one of their excellent e-Ink eReaders (I never leave the house without my Kobo Libra Colour – and it’s waterproof, so it regularly accompanies me into the bathtub).
One cool feature is Kobo’s Reading Life feature that adds a social dimension to reading. Share your thoughts and favorite quotes with friends, earn badges for your reading achievements, and keep track of your library.
Dive into the world of Kobo and unlock a universe of stories today! They have a free one-month Kobo Plus trial that’s available in most countries.
In this series, I introduce various book retailers and services to help you find the best book deals and reading experiences. Check out the previous posts.
The post Introducing: Kobo appeared first on Skye MacKinnon.
March 6, 2025
The Secrets of Alien Unicorns
Unicorns may be extinct* on Earth, but on planet Allopo, they are a familiar sight… Join me as we take a closer look at the characters of Alien Abduction for Unicorns, starting with An’tia, a rare venom-tipped stabhorn.
She is not only magical, gorgeous and intelligent, but also extremely arrogant. She knows just how attractive her shimmering mane, her glistening silver fur and her delicate (yet poisonous) horn are. Yet there’s more to her than just her looks – as two people will soon discover.
Unicorn tamer Bruin’s first encounter with An’tia lands him in hospital, stabbed and poisoned. Yet it turns out that An’tia didn’t attack him without cause… she has a secret plan, even if her measures are a little extreme. Like all stabhorns, An’tia has a special connection to the universe’s mysteries and she knows that Bruin’s mate is out there, waiting for him on a distant planet called Earth. By stabbing him, she sets events in motion that will change all their lives forever.
When Bruin takes An’tia to Earth, she leads him to Stirling Castle in Scotland, where tour guide Tara work – my favourite castle! It is situated on a volcanic outcrop and has the most fabulous views across the river Forth and towards the Scottish Highlands. I went to university in Stirling and thought it was high time that I set a story there, even if it’s just for a chapter or two. Sadly, I never got abducted by aliens during the five years I lived in one of Scotland’s most beautiful cities (and former capital), nor did I ever meet a real unicorn. Even when I worked for Historic Scotland, the organisation who looks after the castle (and many other historic sites) and got to peek behind the scenes, there were neither unicorns nor aliens. And that’s why I became an author… Still, I highly recommend you visit if you’re ever in the area.
One of the other reasons why I chose Stirling Castle as Tara’s workplace is because it is home to the famous Stirling Tapestries, hand-woven works of art depicting the Hunt of the Unicorn. It took fourteen years for the seven tapestries to be completed and visitors got to watch the weavers work in their workshop at the castle. I went there many times, fascinated by how they were bringing this ancient story to life. But the tapestries aren’t the only place where you can find unicorns at Stirling Castle. Because the unicorn is Scotland’s national animal (and until 1603, the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland featured two unicorns, before it got changed to a lion and a unicorn), they’re everywhere – painted on walls, immortalised in stone statues, carved into wooden decorations.
Unicorn tamer Bruin would feel very much at home in a place like that – but he never got to look around the castle properly. Instead, he abducts Tara in true alien fashion and takes her to his spaceship – the start of a rocky relationship that starts with a lot of anger and mistrust.
Unicorn Tapestries at Stirling Castle
For Bruin, it’s love at first sight, but Tara thinks otherwise. Abducted and trapped on a spaceship, she finds solace in caring for the stabhorn.
With a snort, An’tia picked up one of the brushes with her perfectly white teeth and held it out to me.
“You want me to brush you?”
She snorted again, as if to say, ‘obviously’.
Will An’tia bring them together or will everything fall apart once she reveals her final secret? Read Alien Abduction for Unicorns!
* Yes, they most definitely existed at some point in Earth’s history. Why else would Scotland’s national animal be a unicorn?
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February 16, 2025
Introducing: Everand
Today I’m introducing you to a platform I use a lot myself: Everand, formerly Scribd, a subscription offering millions of ebooks and audiobooks (including most of mine!). I’m currently listening to Andy Serkis narrating The Hobbit (it’s an amazing production!).
The Everand store is curated and they will regularly add new titles while removing others, including both titles by traditional publishers and indie authors like myself.
They have an app but you can also access their library in a browser. For a monthly fee, you get to read and listen to as many books as you want.
If you’d like to try Everand, they have a 30-day free trial!
In this series, I introduce various book retailers and services to help you find the best book deals and reading experiences. Previous posts:
Introducing Apple Books and Google Play
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February 3, 2025
Introducing: Apple Books and Google Play
How do you like to read? Paperbacks, ereaders, on your tablet or do you read on your phone?
Sometimes, especially when on the go, having all your books with you on your phone is really convenient. Yes, there are lots of reading apps you can download, like Kindle or Kobo, but did you know that all Android and Apple phones come with a native reading app preinstalled?
On iPhones (and iPads and Mac computers), that’s Apple Books. You can find both ebooks and audiobooks on there. They also have a nifty reading tracker to keep track of your read books. In addition, you can set a reading goal to get encouraging words of motivation.
Want to try it? Grab my freebie, Meow, by clicking on the image!
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On Android phones and tablets, you can find books and audiobooks in the Google Play store. One thing I love is that Google has some really cool deal features:
series subscriptions (subscribe to a series for a discount)bundle deals (the more books you buy in a series, the bigger a discount you get)As you probably guessed, all my books are available both at Google Play and on the Apple Books store.
Which platform do you prefer to read on?
In this series, I introduce various book retailers and services to help you find the best book deals and reading experiences. Previous posts:
The post Introducing: Apple Books and Google Play appeared first on Skye MacKinnon.
February 1, 2025
Freebie February: Four Free Books
All four series are complete, so you can read them in one go without interruptions or waiting for the next book to release.
Thorrn: m/f alien romance, spicy
Winter Princess: reverse harem fantasy romance, spicy
Meow: urban fantasy reverse harem romance, slow burn
Rescued by Bears: bear shifter reverse harem romance, spicyWhich one will you start with?The post Freebie February: Four Free Books appeared first on Skye MacKinnon.
January 20, 2025
Introducing: Libro.fm
There are so many places to get ebooks and audiobooks that it can sometimes seem overwhelming. That’s why this year, I will introduce you to some of my favourite retailers, libraries and subscription sites to offer you all the choices.
Libro.fm is where I get some of my audiobooks. They have a massive selection and are open to listeners worldwide. Amazingly, each time you buy an audiobook (or you sign up for a monthly membership), Libro.fm shares profits with your local bookshop!One of my favourite aspects is that all audiobooks here are DRM free, which means you actually own your copy after buying it (unlike at Audible). That way, you can download them to your devices and keep them forever.I’ve made a playlist with all my first-in-series audiobooks to get you started!And right now, if you sign up to their subscription, they give you two free audiobooks!
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January 18, 2025
New Release: Guardians of Winter
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