Kate McCarthy's Blog, page 9

Release Date

Thanks so much for your patience and support with my book.

I want to announce the release date of Give Me Love which is 15 March 2013!!!! You can find it on Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17204058-give-me-love

I know I am a couple of weeks behind schedule but outside forces have been conspiring against me

In honour of announcing my book release, I have included a sneak peek at my next project. This book is outside my usual style, but alas none of you yet know what my usual style of writing is! Suffice to say I am working hard on research and enjoying the new challenge. I can confirm the cover work will be done by Sarah at Okay Creations and when complete, I will reveal the full synopsis!

To epilogue or not to epilogue

Okay, here is my question – to epilogue or not to epilogue?

Before you answer, let me explain where I’m coming from:

Give Me Love is the story of Evie Jamieson and Jared Valentine. It is book one of a series.

Give Me Strength is the story of Quinn Salisbury and Travis Valentine (Jared’s older brother). It is book two of the series (to be released mid 2013).

Do readers prefer to read an epilogue, even knowing that they’ll still hear snippets from the characters of the first book in the second book of the series?

I have written one for Give Me Love, but at this stage I haven’t included it because I’m not sure it needs to be there.

I’d be keen to hear readers opinions on the subject of epilogues in books of a series.

Goodreads

My book is up on Goodreads. Make sure you go add it to your ‘to-read’ list!

Click on this icon for easy locating because I am just that fabulous in helping you find it easier LOL

Don’t know much about Goodreads? Find the main page here.

If you’re a book lover I would recommend becoming a member. It’s a wee bit like the Facebook of the ebook community. You can find books on there, recommend them to your friends, add them to your to-read list so you don’t forget about them and when you’re finished you can mark them as ‘read’ and also offer your own star rating and personal review.

Wikipedia:

“Goodreads is a “social cataloging” website founded in December 2006 and launched in January 2007 by Otis Chandler, a software engineer and entrepreneur, and Elizabeth Chandler.[2][3] The website allows individuals to freely search their extensive database of books, annotations and reviews. Users are able to sign up and register books to generate library catalogs and reading lists. Users can also create their own groups of book suggestions and discussions. In December 2007, the site had over 650,000 members[4] and over 10,000,000 books had been added.[5] As of July 2012, the site reported 10 million members, 20 million monthly visits, and 30 employees.[6]“

If you join, don’t forget to add me as your friend

Cover Reveal

Thank you so much to Sarah at Okay Creations —–>> find her here on Facebook. Sarah did the cover art for Hopeless by Colleen Hoover so I feel rather special that I’ve been given a cover that is equally as beautiful.

Thankfully I was at home and laying down when I first saw its fabulousness because I completely freaked. I kept yelling at my husband to ‘come in here and check this out’ when I tried to have a couple of things varied and then just ended up with the first version that Sarah gave me (new mantra – Sarah is always right). How does she do it I do not know and all I can be is thankful that she was doing it for me. Obviously I immediately booked her in for the cover of my second book ‘Give Me Strength – the story of Quinn Salisbury and Travis Valentine’ so now Sarah can top the first design – no pressure.

Sock it to me Colleen Hoover

Twas the night before New Years Eve when it seemed my mind had decided to vacate the premises. Can I blame exhaustion?

The problem was that I just finished reading ‘Hopeless’ by Colleen Hoover. If you haven’t yet heard of this book then you should be ashamed to call yourself an avid book reader.

Maybe if I start from the beginning. That morning I flew in back home from Port Macquarie to Brisbane, having returned from a twenty year high school reunion and yes I can hear you say having to attend that would already be enough to have your mind take a vacation. It was a whirlwind trip and I got to spend two days with my very favourite childhood friend which made it special. What also made it special was to watch us almost re-create the first chapter of my book with the attachment of furry black caterpillar eyelashes. My dear friend had hers done professionally. Me? Pffftt I could do that, no problem. Maybe. Okay, well not. Said friend was SO unimpressed because I was the one that talked her into getting them and then I went out with none at all and my ‘now poor friend’ really wasn’t happy with wearing them, however she DID look amazing. The other specialness was that I managed to get in a fierce argument with the local bouncer (through obviously no fault of my own) which led to a slinging match (doesn’t ‘The Idiots Guide to being a Bouncer’ say never antagonise a drunk? He clearly needed to complete his bachelor degree in bounce management) and finished with the fact that I’m sure I’m no longer welcome in that particular establishment. I would like to say it’s no great loss but that would make me petty, so I won’t say it.

Annnnnnyway, by the time I arrived home after hitting the shops for necessaties, I had to get straight to work (for my cake business). Hubby decided that afternoon to go out for drinkies with his man friends so I was left to work and supervise small children until I dropped into bed that night feeling like I’d just been pooped out the backside of a rather large elephant.

Because I had started reading Hopeless on the flight home, I was itching to get back to it, so I pulled it out, promptly finished it in one sitting and immediately had the sensation I was completely disconnected from reality. Way to go Colleen for leaving me speechless. Yes me! Without speech. Not that I had anyone to talk to but the dog and I had to refrain from posting all about it on Facebook because I can’t do that without giving spoilers. Let’s just say that towards the end, I felt Colleen sock it to me chapter after chapter, until eventually a drained, emotionally charged wreck, I finished the book on the highest of hysterical highs, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, so I bawled like a little baby (in a good way if that is such a thing).

So let me tell you this. Go read the book. Just TRUST ME. There is a reason why there are 684 five star ratings (at time of this post) on Amazon (which is HUGE if you didn’t know) and why it is currently Amazon’s number 1 bestseller right now.

So being the emotionally wrecked twat that I was after having been socked by Colleen, I couldn’t sleep so I turned on the TV. Guess what was on? Seven Pounds with Will Smith. Was I after some punishment? Seems to be so. Midnight found me sobbing until I thought Will Smith wasn’t the only one who was going belly up. Hubby returned not long after (thankfully not a witness to my emotional snot filled drooling shame) and we both passed out in bed.

I woke up the next morning (New Years Eve) feeling as though I had the flu. Tummy rolling, throat clogged, fuzzy head, dizzy spells. This is what happens when you read a really good book.

Way to go Colleen. I am without words when it comes to describing how much I love your books.

Find Hopeless by Colleen Hoover here ——->>

A quick note to say the amazing Sarah at Okay Creations created the cover for this book, the very one who is currently putting my book cover together. Can anyone spell EXCITED!!!!

Congrats to Sarah – she has currently got two books in the New York Times bestsellers list where she has done the book cover artwork.

Book cover

Not much done today – bookwise that is. I apologise personally to both Claire and Emma who are likely stamping their feet in juvenile frustration.

However I can confirm that my book cover is coming along in good hands thanks to Sarah at Okay Creations. I couldn’t not choose someone who’s business tagline says ‘a place where the designs are (not) just okay’. Check out her STUFF https://www.facebook.com/#!/okaycreationsSH?fref=ts (if you want to, no pressure).

So the whole lack of book progress today can solely be blamed upon the person who tries every day to be a better mother (well ‘tries’ might be a bit far-fetched) but the thought of being someone who tries is better than not thinking at all. Confused? Me too. Oh well, at least tonight I could sit back and titter at the thought of pulling the wool over the eyes of my 4.5 yr old daughter who doesn’t eat dinner (I wish I had the ability to turn food away every night). This was because tonight’s fare included the 2 point food policy for feeding small children – wrap it in pastry and smother it in sauce. I watched in smug satisfaction as my daughter took numerous bites out of a sausage roll that included a filling of ground chickpeas, zucchini and carrots. Yay me!

Now I sit here (in the bloody horrible Qld heat) basking in my glory as a mother and procrastinating on the progress of my book (75% edited).

I leave you with this note. Many authors are currently posting videos/photos of where they sit and write so readers can appease their curiosity. This is my work station:

What was that? You don’t believe me?

Oh well, I never claimed I did more than write fiction…. heh heh

Reading on your Kindle App

WARNING: This post is not a hardcore ereader investigation but merely a lighthearted analysis of the merits of being an online bookster with bumbling directions on how you might be able to make a start in becoming part of the cool club.

Okay, fess up those who still read ‘old school’ and have never read an online book?

Funnily enough, it was my husband who introduced me to the virtual literary world and it blew me away. Like, literally, because one moment I was sitting down unwrapping my birthday present and smirking because of the shoddy wrapping paper (which I only do because present wrapping is something I excel at) when it was almost like the smirk was smacked off my face by my brand new shiny iPad. The force propelled me across the room and into the comfort of my bed where I speedily downloaded the Kindle App and my library went forth and multiplied like rabbits.

What is the Kindle App I hear you old schoolers ask?

Why it’s an App designed to read books electronically (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000490441). Yep, that’s all it is, so don’t be afraid. If you don’t want the App, you can purchase an actual Kindle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle) or you can even buy other ereaders or other reading apps but I’ve chosen to focus on Kindle because frankly that’s all I know (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20009738-1/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buy/)

Why the Kindle App I hear you ask again?

Well, I have to bullet point this because it’s all just so exciting that I might either pee my pants or waffle on (warning, it seems even bullet points can’t stop the waffle):

* Instant bookage! I can go to my online store and with a press of a button, buy a book. Yay! No more hanging out at bookstores at 8.50am waiting for the store to open and eyeballing the shop assistant inside as she scurries around, throwing me panicked glances and pretending to fill the shelves before the hordes that is me, busts down the door to sally forth and spend money.

* Sample Reading. I can download a sample of the book I find rather interesting and read a couple of chapters before I press the snazzy button that says ‘buy me now bitch or die’ (well it doesn’t really but sometimes I feel it says this).

* Price! Yippee! This should have been my first bullet point. Online books can be so much cheaper – or even free! Join a book blog. You’ll find people providing lots of advice on freebies or great cheap reads. Sometimes you might find me lurking around in one, spouting off random books that I find worthy of my hard earned (snort!) dollar. Don’t know of any book blogs? Try Maryse, she rocks!

https://www.facebook.com/MarysesBookBlog?fref=ts

* Late night reading. Read into the early hours without all the lights blazing and without your husband shouting at you to go to bloody sleep, because your ereader is backlit and non-irritating. You can even dim the lights on it so it doesn’t strain your eyeballs.

* Save the environment and 1.3 billion trees per book (give or take). All you old schoolers will be looked down upon one day, as forest killers.

I am sure there are more advantages but I have kids who are screaming at me to feed them and my ears hurt.

How do I get this Kindle App?

Go to your App store (mine was the Apple App Store on my iPhone and iPad), search for Kindle and click download. Even me, a computer boob, can understand it’s simple processes. Once downloaded, setup your account on say, Amazon, and start buying! You can buy these online books at places like Smashwords, Amazon, iBooks etc (you can use the iBooks app for that one). Try this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771 which explains more than I can, and in a much snazzier fashion.

Want to know more from a friendly ear? Email me. I have a contact tab. It works real good

PS If this post has been in no way helpful, then stop reading at this point to save yourself.

Welcome

It seems that my mid life crisis began early, finding me shaking in a corner, sucking on a wine bottle as I rocked to and fro and realised that this is really it. This life where people (random strangers, friends, people of authority, hot guys in uniform – just kidding on that last part but I do live in a world where I can write what I want) announce you only have one of so you best get off your butt and make something of it.

That kind of philsophical, profound hooha used to skim over my head as I busily wiped the bum of my screaming child and prayed for patience. Running out the door for work, one child tucked under each arm like a football, I actually forgot to shut it behind me. No doubt too busy lamenting the weet-bix that was flung with such glee over the work pants I’d carefully ironed at five am that very morning. I subsequently returned home that evening to a wide opened door and thinking us burgled, I could only hope they’d stolen the mountainous pile of dirty and food encrusted toys that littered every surface of the floor.  Alas, all was where it was left that morning, including the weet-bix dried so hard onto the walls that I vowed it would stay there until the melting of the artic arrived (and by then it was still no guarantee that icy floods would shift it).

That’s when I turned to writing. I can see you trying to understand the correlation. Dried weet-bix walls, writing, screaming kids, writing but it’s something I like to call the great escape. If I sit down and write a chapter, I can forget the laundry hasn’t been done and my husband will have to go pantsless to the office the next day, and in doing so, I can take time out for me to do something that has become very dear to my heart.

The correlation is that writing is my own little slice of pie.

My first book, written throughout 2012 will be released in January 2013. I am hoping to keep to this deadline, though forgive me if I run over time because I’ve heard that things like spellcheck and editing make the reading flow much faster for you. Not to mention that editors of my book may spend an eternity making sense of what it is I am actually trying to say. Much like this blog post I suppose.

Also, my second book, Give Me Strength is under way, so look out Travis Valentine because your time is nigh. I’ll include a sneek peak of this book on my blog after Give Me Love has been released.

Looking forward to showing you the cover artwork for my book over the Christmas holidays and if you liked the sneek peak of Evie and Jared’s story, know this, it only gets better from there (so I’m told……)!

Maryse’s Book Blog

The best book blog I have ever encountered and Maryse is responsible for every five star book I’ve had in my hot little hands.

I’m excited to see my book in her book release tab under January 2013. Makes everything a little more real and makes me want to barf just a little bit too because I keep getting random panic attacks that my book is a wasted pile of useless words.

http://www.maryse.net/book-releases

Make sure you head over to like Maryse’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KateMcCarthyAuthor#!/MarysesBookBlog

Give Me Love – Chapters 1 – 5 preview

Thanks to those who have supported my page. I’m so looking forward to sharing this book with you when it’s released in January 2013.

I’ve included a link for the first five chapters.

Download the PDF to chapters 1 – 5 here ——> CURRENTLY REMOVED FOR EDITING (STAY TUNED AS I WILL REPOST IT SHORTLY AND NOTIFY ON FACEBOOK WHEN IT IS THERE)

Book description:

Evie Jamieson, a former wild child, is not only a headstrong, smart-mouthed trouble magnet, she is also lead singer in a band with a plan. That plan involves relocating her band, including her two best friends guitarist Henry and band manager Mac, to Sydney to kick off their dreams of hitting the big time.

 Jared Valentine is the older brother of Evie’s best friend Mac and also the man determined to make Evie his. They strike up a long distance friendship which suits Evie because she’s determined to avoid the distraction of love, not only because it doesn’t fit in with her plan but because twice in the past it has left her for dead. Moving to Sydney however, has put her directly in Jared’s path and he has decided it’s the perfect opportunity to make his play.

Unfortunately Jared, co-owner in a business that ‘consults’ in dangerous hostage and kidnapping situations, makes an enemy who’s determined to enact revenge. When this enemy puts Evie in his sights, Jared not only has a fight on his hands to make her his own, but also to keep her alive.

WARNING: This book is not for the fainthearted. It contains high makeup drama and daft plans. It may also give you the urge to snigger embarrassingly or slap the fictional characters for their sheer idiocy.