Lily Malone's Blog, page 15

4 Book Bloggers Talk Blogger/Author Etiquette

Lily Malone

In the past 18 months, I’ve turned from writer, to aspiring author, to published author, and I’ve learned so much about both the craft and the business of writing… and yet there is always more to learn.

One of the hardest things to navigate is etiquette in this new publishing world, and there’s so much differing opinion that it’s hard to know what is and isn’t the ‘done thing.’

Something that intrigues me is the relationship between authors and the book reviewers and bloggers who have such influence when it comes to telling the reading world about the books they’ve read and enjoyed. (And those they haven’t enjoyed). So, I thought I’d ask four Australian book bloggers to share some insights at my blog… so I’ll know when I’m stepping over those social media lines!

First, a little about them:

Monique Mulligan (Each Day A Gift)

Former journalist & editor living south of Perth, freelance public relations & blogger (plus wife, mum, housekeeper & chauffeur).

Website Facebook Twitter: @writenote1

Bree Testa – (All The Books I Can Read)

Diehard Sydney Swans fan, mother of two, from Melbourne, Australia.

Website Twitter: @1girl2manybooks

Shelleyrae Cusbert – (Book’d Out) 

Shelleyrae is a blogging powerhouse, reading books of all genres but with a special place on her bookshelf for  Australian authors.

Website Twitter: @bookdout

Marcia Bezuidenhout – (Book Muster Down Under)

Living in Queensland, Australia, Marcia took a step back from blogging commitments in late 2013 to concentrate on study.

Website Facebook Twitter @bookmustdownund

Q: Authors are warned not to react to reviews of their books on the blog, nor to thank or leave a comment about a review (including ‘liking’ the post). Instead, my advice has been to contact the author privately (email) with thanks. What do you think? 

Monique: I think that’s sound advice, for the most part, though I don’t mind if I get a ‘like’ on the blog. I do like it when I get a thank you email from an author. It’s positive feedback for me and when I’ve put a lot of thought into a review, it’s good to see.

Bree: I have been contacted in all sorts of ways – on the blog, via twitter, via email, etc. I love hearing from authors whose books I have read and I honestly don’t mind if they do comment on the post of the review. I think that as long as everyone keeps it friendly and respectful, even if there’s discussion and debate, it can all work.

Shelleyrae: Personally, I am pleased to have an author leave a comment thanking me for the review or liking the post but if the author wants to make any specific comment then I think that is best done via email.

Marcia: Personally, I think that’s a load of twaddle, but each to their own!  If it’s a good review, I don’t see why the author shouldn’t be able to comment or ‘like’ it – after all, it is their work that the blogger is talking about and a review, after all, is a form of advertising the author’s book.

Q: Have you ever been on the receiving end of a ‘diatribe’ from an author who doesn’t agree with your review in a public forum. How did you handle this? 

Monique: No. I do try to be diplomatic and respectful, and find something positive in each book I choose to review. If I can’t do that, I let the publisher know, or give the book a shout out with a brief reason why I did not finish the book.

Bree Testa

Bree: No, I can honestly say that I haven’t. I only post my reviews on my blog, on goodreads and on thereadingroom.com. I tend to avoid Amazon. I don’t check there for reviews of books I’m interested in and the only time I tend to read reviews there is when I’m being directed to one that’s gone to hell in a handbasket. I have had people disagree with my reviews – just not the author. However if one did, I’d refuse to engage in anything other than a proper, civilised discussion. Differing opinions are fine – and if I’ve missed the point of something or perhaps not gotten what the author was intending to say, I’m happy for that to be pointed out. However as long as they understand as well that my opinions as a reader are valid.

Shelleyrae: I have had one author take issue with a review but it was handled privately and I stood by my review.  I have had two reviews on the blog become venues for grudge matches though. In one instance between the author and a commenter and in another between supporters of the author and detractors. Eventually I emailed the parties involved and stated I wouldn’t approve any further comments. I’ve also recieved the odd nasty comment on Amazon from other reviewers but I’ve ignored them.

Marcia: Thankfully, no, I haven’t!  I tend to have a policy where, if I don’t enjoy a novel and I know that it’s going to come in under 3 stars and there is absolutely nothing positive I found whilst reading, I do not write a review.

Q: If an author doesn’t agree with your review. Is there any point at all ‘debating’ it with you?

Monique: My opinion is my own. I’m going to like some books and not others; I just try to be respectful in how I convey my thoughts.

Bree: Yes, but only if the author is genuinely interested in how/why I felt that way and can accept that and take it on board. Likewise, I am interested in what they were looking to achieve. But all of this has to be kept friendly. I know it can be hard – authors see books as their babies, their accomplishments and it’s very easy to become defensive and passionate about it.

Shelleyrae: No, never.

Marcia: Absolutely not.  After all, reading is extremely subjective, and some books may appeal to a different audience.

Q: Do you like to see your reviews ‘shared’ by the author, or used as marketing. 

Monique: I do like it when I see that the author has linked to the review on their website, FB or Twitter. It’s positive feedback for me and when I’ve put a lot of thought into a review, it’s good to see.

Bree: I do. After all, I’m reviewing so people can see it! The more people that do, the more chance you have of gathering people’s interest in a title. Even if my review isn’t glowing or 100% positive, there are people out there who will see what didn’t work for me and go “Hey, I love that idea!”. I’m happy for quotes to be used so long as they’re attributed to me and the blog, etc. I’ve had several authors ask my permission to quote my review or use it on their blog and I have been quoted by a publisher on a book cover as well!

Shelleyrae: Yes, certainly – tweet, post, facebook  freely –  though I appreciate being notified if a quote will be used on a book cover or similar.

Marcia: I honestly don’t mind – not that a lot of my reviews are “shared”.  This is a great way to advertise the blogger’s blog as well.  Who knows, the person clicking on your review to read it and being diverted to your blog can possibly find other reviews of novels that they may enjoy.  Of course, I was very excited to see that I had been quoted on the back of a recently published Penguin novel with my blog name underneath it.

Q: You all have guidelines on your sites. Is it ever worth the author ‘ignoring’ your guidelines. 

Monique Mulligan

Monique: This happens quite a lot, especially with self-pubs. Most of the time, due to the volume of books I’ve got, I say no. However, a really good pitch letter (especially one that shows the author is not just bombing everyone with review requests, but has taken time to read some of my reviews and see where my interests are) can sway me. It’s happened twice in the last three months, but I would have said no to about 10 before that.

Bree: I changed my guidelines not so long ago to narrow the field of books I was being pitched outside of traditional publishing because as the blog grew, so did my commitments. To be 100% honest, I don’t usually enjoy being contacted by people who pitch me something that I’ve expressly stated I’m not accepting at the current time. It’s ok if they check my interest or ask to be considered at a later date but I really dislike it when authors send me their book without asking if I’m interested in a “here, read this” sort of way. If an author wants to pitch me something that’s outside my comfort zone, the best way I’ve experienced was an author who wrote me an email that said “Hi, I noticed you’re doing X reading challenge and need a book for Y category which you’ve said is not your forte. I think my book might apply in these ways and would you like to use it for that?”

Shelleyrae:  I receive up to 50 review requests a week and while I do read every request, I have to be very selective about what I choose to review so the guidelines are in place for a good reason. An appeal that ignores them is more likely to irritate rather than intrigue me.

Marcia: It depends on what guidelines are being ignored. As an example, I may read Christian literature in my own personal time, but I have absolutely no desire to review that literature on my blog. The same would go for travel books and the like. I generally don’t read fantasy novels, but I recently had a publisher contact me asking if I would like to review a fantasy series. The blurb she sent me sounded really great, so I accepted.  It’s all in the blurb! Of course, I’ve been taken out of my comfort zone so the author must please forgive me if I don’t enjoy it.

Q: If authors do interact with you on social media – do you ever think they’re sucking up?

Monique: No. Most of the authors who do interact with me have made contact after a review. I have a lot of followers who are authors and whose books I’ve never read, but they rarely send direct messages.

Bree: No – or at least I really like to think not! I’ve met many authors on twitter and I enjoy chatting to them about books and many other different things. In fact authors on twitter have rarely asked me to review their books. I’ve usually met them through something publisher organised, such as a Q&A or guest post and we continue to interact after that has been completed. Some I’ve begun chatting to them because I like their books – but I hope they don’t see that as me sucking up to them!

Shelleyrae: I wouldn’t make that assumption, no. I am happy to chat with authors,  and it quickly becomes obvious when you’re being targeted.

Marcia: Not at all. I’m sure that I’m not the only book blogger who enjoys those types of interactions, and it won’t detract from me giving a slightly less than complimentary review of their novel. After all, authors are also just human and it’s great to see their humanity shine through and realise that they are “real” people.

Q: Can you think of the worst approach anyone has ever made to you, to read their book? 

Monique: Not really. A lot of the ones I reject it’s simply because they’re not writing in genres I’m interested in. Oh … I did have a woman approach me at my workplace to ‘review’ her memoir; I stupidly did not say no. It was very long and not very interesting. My diplomatic skills got a workout! She kept emailing me and asking until I sent her a polite “I will contact you when it’s done” email.

Bree: The aforementioned ones where people just send the attachment as a first contact. Ones where people aren’t familiar with your blog and the type of books you’ll review and send you things that just don’t fit (such as Christian fiction, etc).

Shelleyrae: On more than one occassion I have had a ‘request’ that basically just says ‘Read my book’ and gives a link to Amazon – no title, no information and at least once, no name!

Marcia: I don’t think I’ve had one.

Q: You may say on your blog that you aren’t accepting more review requests right now, your TBR list is already through the roof. Is there any way we will ever change your mind? 

Monique: Generally, if I made it clear I didn’t want any review requests I’d like that to be respected. I review books out of a love for reading, not for pay, and it has to fit in around all my family and paid work commitments. If I specify a genre I’m not interested in or no self-pub, same deal – I don’t want to read books I’m not interested in; I have too many other things to fit into life. Know your market. Respect it. It’s the same premise as in choosing a publisher, or choosing appropriate media. Would you send a gossip story to a food magazine?

Bree: I always read the emails and if the book sounds like something I really want to read, I’ll look at my schedule and see if I can fit it in. Sometimes I can, more often I really can’t. The best way is probably to request quite a while in advance when I have more flexibility but I know that this isn’t always possible.

Shelleyrae: Only if I have read and positively reviewed something by the author previously, or we have some sort of established relationship.

Marcia Bezuidenhout

Marcia: I try my best to accommodate most people (especially if I’ve read their novels before), but there are times (like now) where I am just not able to (I currently have 6 assignments to do before the end of March for my Certificate IV in Frontline Management).

 

 

Q: If you a post a review that isn’t complimentary. Do you lose sleep over it?

Monique: See number 2. I’m more likely to lose sleep over the best way to word something.

Bree: It’s hard, because reviews of books I haven’t enjoyed are often the easiest to write but they’re the hardest to post. I do sometimes feel a bit guilty over reviews and I’ve written some in the past that are a bit snarkier than I would write now. However, I also have to be honest and say how I feel. There isn’t a book out there that’s for everyone. And like I’ve said, what didn’t work for me might be exactly what floats someone else’s boat. I know I’ve read negative reviews where people didn’t like something or other and thought to myself, “Yeah, I’m going to read this”.

Shelleyrae: Absolutely! Though I strive to be diplomatic, I believe in being honest about my reaction to the book, and that means pointing out both what did and did not work for me. That can sometimes be uncomfortable, especially if I have a relationship with the author or I know they will see the review.

Marcia: Sometimes! Especially if it’s an author who I have read before and whose writing I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Q: If someone recommends a book to you would you contact the author directly and/or buy the book to review it? 

Monique: I’d try the library or buy it. I wouldn’t ask the author directly.

Bree: I don’t contact authors to request copies of their books. If I see something I want to read or someone recommends something to me and it’s not for review anywhere, a lot of the time I’ll buy it. I still buy a huge number of books. If I’m curious but not quite ready to make a purchase I’ll check my local library.

Shelleyrae: I haven’t ever contacted an author directly to ask to review their book, if it was something I really wanted to read I would buy it or borrow it from the library.

Marcia: Yes, I would probably go and buy the novel to read as I’m a bit hesitant to approach the author directly to ask for a copy.

Q: Do you read other reviews of books you’ve reviewed (or are on your list)? 

Monique: I do read other reviews at times because I find it interesting to see other’s perspectives on the book. I try not to be swayed by their opinions and form my own – if I don’t love a book, but they do, I try to see what they saw in it that I didn’t. Also, I feel encouraged when another reviewer likes or comments on my review – it’s all about peer support! But, really, I don’t have a huge amount of time to read too many!

Shelleyrae:  If I am considering a book for a review but I’m not sure about it, I will sometimes skim the last paragraph of a review by reviewers I trust to help me decide if it would suit me. Generally though I don’t until I have written my own review.

Bree: I try not to read reviews of books I’m about to read. I may skim one to see how a reviewer felt about it (ratings wise) because there are people out there I know that have similar taste to me and if they’ve given it a thumbs up, I might move it up my pile a couple slots. However I really try not to read reviews properly until after I’ve written my own. Sometimes it can’t be helped though – I might read a review and then later on receive the book or buy it or acquire it some other way.

Marcia: Yes, but not before I’ve read the book (in case of spoilers – I hate spoilers)!! I do this to generally get a feel for the book from the other bloggers out there!

Q: Is it hard not to be influenced by other reviews? And who is your favourite reviewer?

Monique: I don’t know who my favourite reviewer is – there are so many good ones out there and each one offers something different.

Bree: Sometimes I feel the same way as others and I may reference them in my review. Other times I’ve written a review only to go and read someone else’s and we’ve discussed similar things and had very similar views! I don’t really have a favourite reviewer as such – I follow a lot of blogs and I tend to rely on different blogs for different things –  if I want a really in depth review of a book, or a brief one that will give me a quick idea of whether or not it’s for me, etc.

Shelleyrae: I don’t think I am influenced by other reviews, my opinion is just that – my opinion but I have read reviews, after mine has been posted, which has made me think of some aspects of the novel in a different way. As to my favourite reviewer I have many, including the wonderful people who contributed to this post, but I like variety and follow a few hundred book bloggers via RSS.

Marcia: Like I said earlier, reading is extremely subjective, so no, I find that I’m not easily influenced by other reviews.  After all, my review is my own opinion about the book. As for my favourite reviewer? Well, I have two!  Shelleyrae from Book’dout and Monique from Write Note Reviews. Their reviews are always so insightful and well balanced.

Thank you ladies for having this chat! I’ve really enjoyed it!

Guest post SE Gilchrist: Release day for Star Pirate’s Justice

Tomorrow (February 1) marks the release of Star Pirate’s Justice, a brand new installment in SE Gilchrist’s bestselling erotic Sci-Fi series about a dark and delicious alien race on a desperate quest for survival — and the human women who can cure their years-long curse.

SE Gilchrist is one of the Escape Artists, an author published by Escape Publishing, who also published my debut book His Brand of Beautiful. I met SE at the Romance Writers of Australia conference in Fremantle last year, where we enjoyed several glasses of lovely red wine. Also like me, SE Gilchrist self-publishes some of her work, and there’s more about that later in her guest post (plus the chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card and get yourself SE Gilchrist’s first book in the series FREE).

Welcome to my blog for the weekend SE, and congratulations on the new book! Please tell us more about it…

The Blurb

Carly has one focus in her life: to return home to her terminally ill younger sister. When she learns that a Darkon traitor possesses gateway maps to Earth, she uses all her skills to track him down. But capturing the charming star pirate turns out to be trickier than she anticipated…

Volkar is determined to prove his innocence to those who drove him to a life lived on the Outer Rim, and he will overcome anyone who gets in his way. But his surprisingly sweet captor has some skills that will come in handy, so he strikes a deal: the maps for her help. Neither expect their partnership to turn into more, but as dark secrets are revealed, their lives become forfeit — and the relationship blossoming between them nothing but a starburst of happiness in the deep shadow of the sky…

Buy Star Pirate’s Justice at:

Amazon (US)

Amazon (Australia)

itunes

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Escape Publishing is offering the first title in this series, Legend Beyond The Stars, FREE from February 10 to 26 at the iBook store. Currently you can buy Legend Beyond The Stars for $0.99 cents at Amazon.

SE Gilchrist’s Self Published Titles On Sale!

As I said right off the top, SE Gilchrist also self-publishes some of her work. She’s reduced the price of her indie published backlist for the month of February 2014. Check out what’s on offer by clicking here.

Competition!

WIN $25 Amazon gift voucher and 2 SE Gilchrist titles (Legend Beyond The Stars and Star Pirate’s Justice). Enter via Rafflecopter at the link below. (Closes midnight AEST 16 February 2014).

a rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations SE! Enjoy your release week!

Lily Gets Her Ninja On

How many times can a girl be called “Lovely Lily” before she explodes? Lord knows I’ve tried to convince the universe that I have a mean streak three miles long, but the universe refuses to listen. So now I have proof. Absolute proof. Proof thrice over.

[image error]According to the Zimbio Star Wars personality quiz, I am DARTH VADER!!! (Nasty bastard!)
According to this video here, I have a killer high kick, and you don’t wanna mess with me! (Ninja mum!)
And, according to the contract I signed in the disappearing juice of a lemon, I am also Lily “Beanie Queen” Malone, she of the Naughty Ninjas. (Look! I even have my own ICON. Doesn’t it look nasty! Bwhahahahahaaaa.) No. It’s not pink. It’s puce-coloured.

 

So who are the Naughty Ninjas?

I am SOOO glad you asked! Let me read you our marketing blurb so you can start quaking:

“We’re six mean, lean, silent and deadly… cupcakes. Romantic, fluffy cupcakes who write stuff designed to give you all the feels.”

“WHAT! Noooooooooo. Damn you universe!” *Shakes Fist At Universe*

Reads on: “We write about lurv and naughty goings on, and people should go find our books and read them because our mums all say they are AWESOME.”

*Shakes First At Universe Some More*

Reads on: “We decided to see what would happen if all six author brains pulled together in a tandem effort, like a team of eager but easily distracted huskies tied to a giant, mutant sled.” 

“Ooh… Huskies, hey? I love huskies, and I always wanted to go sledding… all that lovely white snow…”

… To Be Continued

(When The Beanie Queen Finishes Sledding)

 

 

Breakfast, and cricket. What are you doing this Australia Day?

How are you spending Australia Day? Near to where I live, the local Lions Club is hosting a free breakfast in the Park. It’s a great family fun day of sausages, eggs and bacon, with music, and the annual awarding of a local Citizenship Award recognising those stellar locals who show great community spirit.

Community is big in regional Australia and with small town values of friendship and fair play, it’s probably no surprise that small rural towns make such great settings for novels.

My new release Fairway To Heaven is a summer story, set on the beaches at Busselton on the shores of beautiful Geographe Bay. It’s a real town. It’s a real book. You’ll find no ‘escapism’ or ‘purple prose’ here. It’s golf – but not as you know it, and (because I’m sporty) I’ll take a bet that it’s romance too, just not as you might expect.

“Don’t let a lack of interest in golf put you off this book. Because it’s fabulous!”

All The Books I Can Read (23 January 2014).

“This was an absolute find. I laughed so hard at one point in time I ended up pouring tea on myself.” Georgina Penney (9 January 2014).

How will you spend Australia Day? Leave me a comment to win an e-copy of my book. You can double your chances to win if you also LIKE me on Facebook, or FOLLOW me on Twitter while you’re at it. You can learn more about my three published novels to date by visiting the My Books menu on this site.

When you’ve finished having your wicked way with me, please return to Book’d Out, to learn about more wonderful Australian Authors, and do it all over again! Return to base by clicking here. Thank you Book’d Out for hosting me!

Sun. Sweat. Sport. Happy Australia Day!

So here’s another great blog hop from the ‘Coastal Romance’ Facebook group… leading up to a celebration of Australia Day. Lots of wonderful posts from some great Australian writers – you can catch up with any you may have missed by clicking here. Don’t forget to call in every day and visit the blogs, leave a comment, enter the rafflecopter for the fabulous gift basket.

$100 and 26 e-books (some print) from our generous authors Drawn Australia Day.

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So, I can’t share a coastal Australia Day memory with you, so instead, in the theme of my current sporty contemporary romance, Fairway To Heaven, I’m going to share a sporty Australia Day memory instead.

It takes place at the cricket, in about 2005, where Australia played the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval in the traditional Australia Day holiday one-day international cricket match.

Now the match itself was a bit of a fizzer. The Aussies won easily, and I can’t remember much about who scored the runs or who took the wickets.

What I do remember, is that it must have been about 40 degrees in Adelaide that day. It was an absolute stinker-dry, eye-ball searing heat, of the variety only Adelaide can produce.

Hubby and I went to the cricket with mates. We’d had the tickets booked for months. About 12 of us sat in a row in the sun, on bucket seats that stuck to the backs of our thighs, in sunscreen and hats, and the least amount of clothing decently possible. We sweated. We sweltered. Sunscreen dripped from us. We drank buckets of water, (even the boys didn’t feel like drinking beer in that heat) and I don’t think any of us went to the toilet once, even with all this liquid replacement going on.

It was the most uncomfortable day of my life, and yet, absolutely memorable because of it. Not only did we have cricket to watch, but the Australian Open Tennis was on at the same time with South Australia’s own – Alicia Molik and Lleyton Hewitt engaged in games on Australia Day. The scoreboard and the broadcasters kept telling the crowd what was happening at the tennis. Again, my memory is a little hazy. I think Alicia battled hard (like a good Aussie under-dog) but lost. 2005 was the year Lleyton Hewitt made the final (and lost it against Marat Safin), so I know Lleyton won his game.

The crowd went as wild for tennis announcements as it did for a wicket, or a six, or a four.

That’s me. That’s Australia Day. Summer. Sport. Heat. And I’m happy that way!

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If you navigate back to the top of this page – you can go to the rafflecopter to make more entries in the major prize draw. Here at my blog, I’ve got an e-copy of Fairway To Heaven to give away. To win it, tell me in the comments who is the most famous sportsperson that you’ve ever seen ‘in the flesh’… 

To learn more about Fairway To Heaven, take a look at the ‘My Books’ section on my blog. Fairway was released on January 8. It’s a summer book set on the glorious white-pepper sands of Busselton, and it’s about golf – just not as you know it.

 

Bunker Play Blog Hop and Giveaway

Hi, I’m Lily, and I am an addict.

Lily Malone

I’m addicted to sport. All sports, except those involving cars or motorbikes. (With apologies to Juanita Kees who loves V8s, and Peter Brock who was a darn amazing hero).

If I list highlights of my life, sporting stories will often leap to the front. For example: watching Viv Richards play cricket for Glamorgan during a visit to England about 25 years ago, and chatting up one of the security guys during a rained-out Test Match at Lords.

(I got the guy, but never did get to see a ball bowled…)

After a day out at the Adelaide Oval for a test match about five years ago, I encountered the late Tony Greig with Bill Lawry, as my girlfriend and I took a shortcut through (obviously) some place we shouldn’t have been in our efforts to make a fast getaway from the ground.

Tony Greig said: “Security, arrest those women!”

I’m glad to say, he was joking. We stayed out of jail to watch cricket for another day.

Aussie Rules football, cricket, rugby union, tennis, golf. Winter olympics. Summer olympics. Commonwealth Games. I’ll watch swimming, cycling, horse-racing, polo. I’ve even got into Le Tour de France in recent years.

I have seen the Black Caviar documentary on Australian Story at least three times, and I cry every time. I sat up late to watch her win at Royal Ascot in England in 2012: the race she so nearly lost.

The hairs rise on the back of my neck anytime I think of the gold medal Kieren Perkins won in the 1500m freestyle at the Atlanta olympics in 1996 swimming from lane 8; and there’s a horse race from 1986 in which two Kiwi horses, Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star ran neck and neck down the home strait with Bonecrusher narrowly winning the Cox Plate. I cannot watch this without holding my breath and getting goosepimples all over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu_umn8F-WY

I wish I could say that the inspiration for Fairway To Heaven was golf and sport only, but it wasn’t. It was a little gem. A dark blue gem called a ‘sapphire’ that was the theme jewel for the 2013 Romance Writers of Australia short story anthology, Little Gems.

You see, about the time the call for entries to Little Gems came out, I mentioned to hubby that I was interested in playing golf again. He started researching clubs for me and he came up with Cobra Sapphires. And all of a sudden, I had a great idea for using ‘sapphire’ in a short story.

In the e-book version of Fairway To Heaven, I include my Little Gems story at the back. It was 3000 words, and it fleshed out to be 81,000. A gold-medal-winning effort at extrapolation if I say so myself.

One day, I will write a cricket romance. I’ll base my hero on Warney. Lout, rogue and all. Because I do love a good lout.

Now I need the RWA Committee to come up with a gem that reminds me of Shane, so that I can write cricket into the story. Diamonds perhaps. I’m sure he had a stud once. (Yes! Of course I mean, in his ear!)

I hope you’re enjoying the Bunker Hop to celebrate the release of Fairway To Heaven. (You can read more about the book in the ‘My Books‘ section of this website).

You can win an e-gift pack of my three books published to date, Fairway To Heaven, His Brand Of Beautiful and The Goodbye Ride if you tell me in the comments below of the most memorable sport moment you can recall in your life. (This is open to International & Australian entries).

There are some wonderful writers involved in the Bunker Play Blog Hop and Australian entries can win a major prize of a gift pack from me, filled with yummy delights (and a copy of Kate Belle’s book, The Yearning). Please navigate back to Blog Hop HQ using the link below, to see more sporty posts from sporty writing gals! 

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Click here to view this Linky Tools list…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fairway To Heaven – release day

“Twas the night before Christmas Fairway To Heaven launch,

and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse paranoid author getting up to check Amazon sales rankings…”

This is it folks, Fairway To Heaven is now live at an e-book store near you:

If you check the ‘My Books’ section of my website, you can find out all about the book.

It’s just a click away:

Amazon

Smashwords

Check out the video trailer here:

 

Counting Down The Days – Fairway Drives The Green!

My new book, Fairway To Heaven releases on January 8.

You can pre-order it now at Smashwords (lots of formats available) and it will be on Amazon for Kindle from January 7. (I’ll add the link when it’s live).

So now I have more butterflies flying around in my stomach than there are in the Amazon (the jungle, not the bookstore). Ali Elle Morris asked me this week whether I was nervous about the release. At the time, I don’t think I was. Now, that it’s all that bit closer, I’m re-considering that comment. Truth is, I’m more nervous than a groom on his wedding day, when he discovers he’d rather bonk the bridesmaid.

It’s been a busy week, and next week gets even crazier. Here’s where you can catch me. I’m on quite a Lily-pad hop to talk about Fairway. (Well, it’s quite a Lily-pad hop for this shy, retiring little author and her pink beanie).

Ali Elle Morris is a travelling willow-the-wisp… she taunts me on Facebook with travelling blogs and she’s currently in England, or Ireland, drinking Guinness, no doubt in the snow. I spent some time on her blog this week to talk about self publishing, traditional publishing and the decisions I’ve made so far in my writing career.

In fact, I spent so much time on the first part of Ali Elle’s question, I didn’t even get to mention Fairway To Heaven, so she very kindly asked me back to continue a part 2.

You can read them both here: Part 1 & Part 2. 

Then Elizabeth Ellen Carter gave me pole position on her incredibly classy purple couch. I’ve been dying to sit

Lily Malone

on this couch for a year, (although I was a little worried the colour would clash with my beanie) and now I have my chance. I decided to talk to EE Carter about my mother. Because that’s what a good girl does when she’s invited to sit on a purple couch. (See the post here - it includes an exclusive excerpt).

So, to this crazy week ahead:

I’m in the limelight and the spotlight, I’m doing a Quintette and a Hunky Hero, and then a very tried and true blog at Just Contemporary Romance. And then we top everything off on Saturday with the Golf Bunker Blog Hop, where 18 authors all talk about sport. Or not. In fact, some talk about how much they absolutely abhor sport. I refuse to hold this against them. They’re still all good sorts. (And great writers).

(I’ll include all the links to the posts as they come live!)

January 7 – Author Limelight with Sarah Belle

January 8 – Romance Writers Of Australia spotlight (with a giveaway)

January 8 – Release Day with Australia Romance Readers Association (and a giveaway)

January 9 – Meet Brayden Culhane at Kendall Talbott’s Hunky Heroes blog.

January 10 – Quintette of Questions with Narrelle Harris (I get asked about the song that always brings tears to my eyes)

January 11 – Just Contemporary Romance – guest post. (And a giveaway)

January 11 – 13 – The Sand Bunker Blog Hop begins. Don’t miss this. You’ll actually get the opportunity to win great stuff, including chocolates and a copy of The Yearning, plus lots of e-books!

And finally, with Fairway To Heaven just three measly teeny tiny days away. This is the other thing I’ve been doing, making movies. Please enjoy a sneak peak at my book trailer for Fairway.

And if you’re really enthused, if you visit the ‘My Books’ page of this website, you can read the First Chapter of Fairway To Heaven and let me know what you think. (Just a quick word of warning about Adult Content, 18+.)

Thank you blog friends for following me through the birth of Fairway To Heaven. I’m very (VERY) proud of this book, but I’m also incredibly nervous about how it will be received in the great big golf course upon which she is about to roll.

xx

Hop in a bunker with me

For those authors and writers and readers who follow and visit my blog, I’d like to invite you to participate in my Lily Pad hop to celebrate the January 8 launch of Fairway To Heaven.

If you have a golf or sports-themed story – this is gonna be right up your alley. You just need a blog site to enter. (Or readers – if you don’t have a blog – I’m happy to host your comments here!)

You can find more details here:

So Much To Be Glad About – Merry Christmas

Gavin Kees’ pizza spread.
(Picture by Jennie Jones)

L-R: Jennie Jones, Juanita Kees & Lily Malone.

I’m finding myself filled with the joy of Christmas – especially so as I’ve just returned from a weekend in Perth, where I caught up with my great writing buddies and beta readers, Jennie Jones & Juanita Kees.

2013 has been some kind of year for me, here’s a quick recap:

a) In January, my family moved from South Australia to the fabulous wine region of Margaret River in the south west corner of Western Australia. My kids will now grow up in the same place as I did, ride their bikes on the same trails, and skin their knees on the same BMX track!

b) Thanks to the incredible people at Escape Publishing, I published my debut novel, His Brand Of Beautiful, in March.

c) I self-published my novella The Goodbye Ride in May.

d) Hubby and I bought a block of land, a half acre, in August, which settled in October, and upon which we now have the framework of our new house. (I wish those hard-working tradies didn’t stop for Christmas!)

e) I wrote and finally finished, my second full-length novel that will now release in January 2014, Fairway To Heaven.

e) I met so many wonderful people through this incredible writing and reading community I’ve found!

And in the end, it is the last point that has given me the most joy in 2013. I feel so blessed to have met and connected with some fabulous people on Facebook, and Twitter, at Goodreads and through my blog. I’ve met wonderful bloggers, reviewers, ninjas, authors, readers, editors and cover designers. And I would like to thank you all this Christmas for enriching my life the way you have. You are my greatest gift!

Thank you for supporting me in so many ways. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Love

Lily M