Shani Struthers's Blog, page 9

Branding or Breaking the Mould?

Branding – we all know how important it is. It establishes a product clearly in your mind. In terms of novel writing, it ensures a reader who enjoyed your first book will know what they’re getting when they buy your second book too – a different story perhaps but one rooted firmly in the same genre, be that romance, crime, horror or historical. There’s a lot of competition out there and branding, well, it helps to get you noticed. So, bearing that in mind, what have I done? I’ll tell you what I’ve done. I’ve laughed in the face of branding and here’s the book covers to prove it….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The book on the left (my debut) – The Runaway Year – is a romance set in North Cornwall, it’s sassy, it’s sexy, it’s packed to the rafters with feisty heroines, but it’s romance – no doubt about it. The book on the right – Psychic Surveys Book One: The Haunting of Highdown Hall – is a paranormal mystery, exploring the forces of good and evil and which of them is the most relentless.  There’s nothing across the two books, apart from my name, to even suggest they came from the same author. Branding be damned.

So,why did I do it? Why not stick to one or the other? I know authors do write across genres, Edgar Allen Poe, H G Wells, James Patterson, John Grisham and the late, great Iain Banks are but a few examples. but most do it when they’ve established themselves in an initial genre or write one genre under one name, the other under a pseudonym. I, however, find myself doing it from the very beginning and not bothering to change my name at all (although I have to say, I did toy with the handle Octavia LeNoir for PS1 for about a millisecond). A bold move? I like to think so. The two books are very different, there’s no getting away from it and, in terms of Psychic Surveys, they are only going to get darker. However, similarities remain. The characters are down-to-earth, strong-minded and likeable, location is of the utmost importance and they have the same galloping pace throughout.

I don’t read in one genre – romance and paranormal I love in equal measures – so it stands to reason I won’t write in one genre either (at least to me). I also believe in writing from the heart and, after The Runaway Year, it was The Haunting of Highdown Hall that flowed. What’s a girl to do? I can’t argue with the muse for whom I am a mere conduit. I also think we live in a brave new world. Nowadays, the sky’s the limit, anything is possible and we, as individuals, are becoming more and more aware of that fact, more likely to step away from the norm, to try something new. Again, don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just going with the flow here.

So, what’s next on the agenda? Well, the sequel to The Runaway Year – The Runaway Ex – is currently with Omnific Publishing and I should hear back soon regarding edits. My fourth novel, a paranormal mystery/romance entitled Jessamin(e) is also back from beta-readers with some great and encouraging comments. I’m incorporating the changes they’ve suggested and then I’ll submit. After that, it’s the sequel to Psychic Surveys One I need to be cracking on with, and then possibly a spin-off from The Runaways, incorporating two very interesting characters and a tricky relationship dynamic. It may be that I’ll settle into one genre in the future, but right now, that doesn’t look likely.

I don’t know of any other author doing what I’m doing (not of the top of my head anyway) but if you do, please let me know – I’d love to know. Meanwhile, I’ll carry on doing what my heart tells me, alternating between the light and the dark…

The Haunting of Highdown Hall – available 30th April from Amazon. Add to your TBR on Goodreads.

The Runaway Year – available from Amazon UK and Amazon US. Add to your TBR on Goodreads.

I’m on Facebook and Twitter also (but then, who isn’t?!)

Sizzling Hot Chick-Lit, – A Page Like No Other.

Shani Struthers:

Smokin’!

Originally posted on Susanne's Blog:

The Sizzling Hot Chick-Lit Facebook page is something I started on a whim to raise the profiles of a number of terrific chick-lit-romance authors. I thought if we could work together, we could be more effective in our marketing efforts. Funny how, when you start something with one goal in mind, it often turns into something entirely different.

This page was started about two weeks ago and we already have  237 ‘likes’ for our page. Initially we wanted to simply post links to our books and share them between us. This would create a kind of domino effect and give our own individual pages and profiles increased visibility. As we all write in the chick-lit romance genre- or, as I prefer, romantic comedies; lighthearted romance with a lot of humour, glamour and sensuality, it is a very good combination of books in this genre. The page would like be a…

View original 304 more words

Georgina Troy: Interview and Cover Reveal

On the Monday morning blogspot, please welcome Jersey author, Georgina Troy, talking about her second novel – A Jersey Affair. Her first book, A Jersey Kiss, was published last year and I loved it – I’m looking forward to this one too and already have it lined up on my Kindle. Before Georgina shares the blurb and an excerpt with us, I’ve asked her a few questions about what inspires her to write. Grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy.

When did the book-writing bug hit?

I received a typewriter from Father Christmas/Santa when I was seven or eight. I look back now and think that it was probably an odd present to receive at that age, but maybe someone had noticed how I loved to make up stories and was always day-dreaming. It went from there, I suppose.

And your journey towards publication, was it a smooth or a rocky one?

I’ve been writing seriously for a few years now and I think that although most new writers – certainly me – initially believe that completing their first book is all that it takes to get published, it’s just the beginning. I’m not sure if this journey has been smooth or rocky, but it has been fun. Green Shutter Books is a small imprint that’s just starting out and although it’s not one of the bigger names, it has been fun working with the company and seeing my two books published.

Who or what inspires you to write?

My vivid imagination, snippets of conversation, spotting a handsome guy who I want to turn into a hero, and generally enjoying spending time in a fictional world.

Location is very important for me in a novel, I love writing about places I know and, in turn, if a book is set in a place I love, I’m sold. How important is location to you?

My books are based in Jersey, the island where I was born and enjoy living. There are so many glorious places to explore here even though it’s only 9 x 5 miles in size. I wake up in the morning and look out of my bedroom window and and see the coast of France, at night I can see the lights, and I want to share my love of this place with others. I think that the location is almost a character in its own right in my books.

Do you outline your plot meticulously before writing or do you fly by the seat of your pants, allowing your characters to be in the driving seat?

I always write a synopsis, rather than a detailed plan, and it helps keep me heading in the right direction for the book. However, my characters do surprise me and develop as I’m writing, so they inspire me to maybe take their story in directions I hadn’t previously considered.

Of all the characters you’ve created, who is your favourite and why?

I think I like Sebastian best, he’s the hero in A Jersey Affair. He’s strong, determined and very successful. His job is taking over failing businesses and restructuring them. Unfortunately, he also has to decide which employees, or in this case which concessions will be included in the newly constructed company and he has to decide whether or not to include Paige’s concession. He has a caring side, but has been hurt in the past and has learnt to keep it well hidden most of the time.

What’s a typical writing day like for you? Do you need coffee to survive?

A typical writing day is an hour in the morning before I have to go to work and then a few hours when I return home again. I love the weekends – don’t we all – when I can spend as much time as I like writing. I need lots of tea to keep me going, the occasional cappuccino and chocolate. I like to write at least 1000 words a day when I’m writing a first draft and hopefully up to 3,000.

Any advice for people aspiring to be published? What would have done differently?

I think the most important thing to remember is to enjoy the act of writing. I love it. However, writers also need a platform, so a website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter account and lots of social networking is needed. I think I could have planned my stories a little better in the beginning, so that I didn’t have to write so many drafts of the same book before I was happy with the final version.

Self-doubt is the curse of every writer – ours is a subjective trade – what do you do when a case of the hee bee gee bees attacks?

I’ve made so many fantastic friends online, some I’ve met and others I haven’t, but I have discovered that other writers are incredibly supportive either with advice, or helping to promote each other’s books and they’re also the best people to make you feel better when an attack of the hee bee gee bees strike. Even if you keep your panic to yourself, there’s always someone else having a bad day on Facebook and it helps to know you’re not alone.

Aside from writing (and reading!) what other hobbies do you have?

At the moment I’m working full time and writing a lot, so there isn’t much spare time for hobbies, but I love walking, travelling when I can, and meeting up with friends in town for a catch-up and a good laugh.

Your favourite book? It has to be Pride and Prejudice.

Your favourite song? I’m not sure it changes from week to week.

Your favourite film? I love The Notebook and the Matthew MacFadyen version of P&P

Your favourite colour? Pink

And last but not least, what’s coming next from Georgina Troy?

I’ve just begun planning the next book in the Jersey Romance Series, A Jersey Dream – the title keeps changing and hopefully it will be out next winter.

A Jersey Affair

Jilted by the man she was expecting to marry, Paige Bingham, a shoe designer from the tiny island of Jersey, decides to enjoy her honeymoon-for-one in Sorrento. What she doesn’t expect is to meet a mysterious entrepreneur, Sebastian Fielding, when she gets to Italy. Sebastian helps soothe her faith in men and gradually the pain recedes from her battered heart as he introduces her to the beautiful sites he knows and loves.

Unfortunately, not long after Paige returns to her small island home off the coast of France, she discovers that not only is this charismatic man’s company taking over the struggling store where her business is based, but that her concession is probably going to be surplus to his requirements.

How can Paige stop her fledgling shoe design business from falling apart? And what can she do to restore her reputation now that the paparazzi have published their untruths about her romance with Sebastian, as well as the unwanted publicity they’ve generated about A Jersey Affair?

Excerpt:

Chapter One – A Dizzy Height

“I hope you’re phoning to tell me you’ve arrived safely?” Olly asked, his tone willing her to confirm that she had.

“Yes.” She blew her nose once again, wondering why she always felt the need to phone him every time she became too miserable. “Nothing awful has happened since you dropped me off at the airport this morning and I haven’t changed my mind about being here, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Good. Now stop snivelling and go and search for an Italian bloke to take your mind off Jeremy.”

“Surely you don’t seriously expect me to be interested in anyone after everything that’s happened?” She slumped down on the balcony chair conveniently placed under the ivy covered pergola, grateful for its shade from the midday Italian heat.

“Don’t be such a drip,” he said. “Anyone would think your ex-fiancé was worth keeping. Now get off your bum, put on a pair of your more colourful sandals then go and explore Sorrento.

“Fine, but if I can’t find something to wear that doesn’t make my bottom look the size of a small Shetland pony, I’m not going.” Paige glanced at the yellow shift dress she’d just dropped onto the bed and wished she hadn’t bothered packing it.

“You’ll be back in Jersey soon enough, moaning about wasting your trip. If nothing else, you can get inspiration for your next set of designs.”

“You’ve been talking to my sister, haven’t you?”

“How can you tell?”

“You don’t know anything about women’s shoes and I’ve never heard you say the word sandal before,” she laughed.

“Clem’s worried about you. I had to stop her from racing round to Jeremy’s house and giving him hell for jilting you.”

Paige chewed her lip guiltily. She should turn to Clem before Olly, but worried about upsetting her sister further. Her one-person honeymoon had been the only good thing to come out of this mess. She still couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to come alone to Sorrento. “I need time to think.”

“A break up is always hard and it’s only been a week since everything happened. You’ll be fine though, I just know it. Once you’ve had time to recover from the shock I bet you’ll come back here and be ready to focus on your shop again.”

He was probably right, but it was still a little difficult accepting that Jeremy had changed his mind about their marriage and she hadn’t seen it coming. Then again, at least now she understood why he’d been acting so strangely recently, so much for pre-wedding nerves.

“Paige, are you still there?”

Had Jeremy turned to Gretchen because she’d spent all her time thinking about future designs for her shoes like he’d said?

“Stop dwelling on that jerk,” Olly shouted, interrupting her thoughts.

“Ol, you’re the perfect best friend and always ready to listen to me.” She couldn’t help smiling, he knew her so well and she hated the thought that her situation was causing upset with those closest to her.

“Probably because you don’t often moan about things,” he laughed, his voice sounding tinny down her antiquated phone. “When you get back we can spend time working on the new website designs. I’ve had a few new ideas that should perk it up a bit.”

“Good, I know the one I have now isn’t nearly stylish enough for the image I want to project.” She brushed a fly off her ankle.

“Never mind that now. You go and make the most of that incredible place and I’ll speak to you soon.”

“I thought I’d have a look at the shoe shops here and see how their designs compare with mine.”

“You see?” Olly laughed. “You must be feeling a little better because you’re thinking about your shoes. Right, I’ll put some ideas together while you go and mooch around Sorrento.”

“Thanks Ol,” she said glancing towards the window and staring at the rays of white gold light filtering through the metal shutters.

“Good, now get out and I don’t want you back in that room of yours until it’s time for you to go to bed.”

“Okay, I’m going, but I won’t enjoy myself,” she teased before replacing the receiver onto the eighties-style phone.

Paige picked up her red clutch bag, slipped on the matching shoes she had designed to complement it, and set off toward the confines of the old town. Treading carefully along one of the narrow roads, she breathed in the scent of oregano from the spice-filled air. This was more like it. She walked down the steps from the back garden of the hotel, at times holding on to the handrail especially where they tilted away from the cliff face. She stopped and concentrating on not looking down, gazed across at the spectacular view across the sea to the other side of the Bay of Naples.

She gripped on tightly watching every step and breathed a sigh of relief as she reached the small supermarket at the beginning of the main thoroughfare. She was a little surprised to see so many designer shops dotted along on both sides of the road. Forgetting her nerve-wracking walk down there, she paid particular interest in the shoe shops and thought about the rumours her father had shared with her before her fateful meal with Jeremy.

What if her dad was right about De Greys? If the store goes bankrupt then she would have to start up her business elsewhere. It had cost most of her business loan just setting up her concession in De Greys, she didn’t think she would be able to afford to set up in another shop so soon after moving to King Street.

She stepped into the road, tripping over the pavement in her panic to avoid an oncoming car that almost hit her. Hands seemed to come from nowhere, catching her under her arms before her bottom smacked down onto the tarmac. She didn’t understand what her rescuer was saying to her in the confusion, but managed to regain her footing with his help.

“Grazie,” she said smoothing down her skirt and taking her bag when he picked it up and handed it to her.

She went to say something else, but the immaculate hero smiled briefly, said something and pointed to indicate that he had somewhere to go. Then he was gone among the crowd of pedestrians passing her by. Paige didn’t want to know if anyone else had seen her reckless attempt to cross the road, so stopped to gaze at the closest window display while she gathered her senses. It dawned on her that none of the shoes in this particular shop had designs as quirky as her own. She could see the prices were similar to those that she charged and the shoes were beautifully made. Paige walked in.

 About Georgina

Georgina Troy lives in Jersey near the sea – well, most people do in an island only 9 miles x 5 miles in size. She’s always wanted to write and being an impossible romantic is always falling in love with heroes both real (hopefully), in fiction (definitely) and those of her own creation (absolutely). A Jersey Affair is the second in a series of stand-alone romances based in Jersey, which Georgina hopes you’ll read, enjoy and maybe tell your friends about. The first book, A Jersey Kiss is out now.

Links:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Jersey-Affair-Romance-ebook/dp/B00J157OFE/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394964358&sr=1-2&keywords=a+jersey+affair

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jersey-Affair-Romance-Series-ebook/dp/B00J157OFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1394964383&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Jersey+Affair+%28Jersey+Romance+Series%29

Website: http://www.georginatroy.co.uk/

Blog: http://georginatroy.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorginaTroyAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeorginaTroy

Tour: http://fictionaddictionbooktours.com/2014/03/14/fiction-addiction-book-tours-a-jersey-affair-by-georgina-troy/

 

Nancy Jardine and the Celts

Welcome Nancy Jardine to the Saturday Morning hotspot (usually it’s Monday, but hey, it’s good to break with tradition sometimes!).  Fellow Crooked Cat author, Nancy is launching the third of her historical romantic adventures very, very soon. But don’t let me waffle on – here’s the lady herself to tell you all about it. Pour yourself a flagon of ale and enjoy…

Hi Shani. I’m delighted to be with you on my mini launch tour for Book 3 of my Celtic Fervour Series of Historical Romantic Adventures – After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks (Crooked Cat Publishing) – which launches in 3 days! Why aren’t they called historical novels or historical romances? I’ll try to explain…

My series begins in AD 71, in northern Britain. You might wonder why I chose that particular year as a start point so, for your readers not familiar with my series, I’ll try to explain…

In AD 71, a lot was happening in Britannia which sparked my interest as an author. The Roman Empire was effectively on the move again and was slowly pushing further north, still determined to conquer the whole known world and that meant all of the island of Britannia.

I wanted to do something different from historical novels I’d already read which depicted Romanised southern Britain and were generally about Celtic tribal kings and queens. Instead, I wrote about northern England and made my characters of a slightly less elevated status. Kings and queens are occasionally mentioned in my books but my characters are mainly of Celtic chieftain level: still of high status in their own tribal structure, but with a freedom of movement the lowliest tribesman would not have had. My characters are men and women who lead their tribe in some way and who have been taught the requisite skills to do important tasks.

Unfortunately for the researcher, there’s little to be had on the subject of Romans in the north. Some might say that’s not a great problem in a fictitious tale but whether anal, or not, I’m a wee bit obsessed with setting my scenes as authentically as possible. So, plenty of research and rechecking has been going on as I wrote my series which creeps further and further north as the stories of my Garrigill warriors unfold. That definitely suits me as a Scot since I wanted to feature Roman Scotland – as far north as the Roman expansion went, which is a lot further than the average person thinks! Recent archaeological evidence and findings indicate that there was more Roman activity up on the Moray coast (near Inverness/Scotland) than formerly thought.

When I started the series, I had far more knowledge in my head, and at my fingertips, about the Celtic tribes who were settled northern Britannia so my series is written around a fictitious extended family from the hillfort of Garrigill, in northern Brigantia (present day northern Yorkshire/England). Roman invasion affects their everyday lives for a number of years; Books 1-3 span from AD 71 to AD 84; and my current writing in progress continues the tales of the family group from Garrigill for a few years beyond AD 84.

In Book 1 – The Beltane Choice - the romantic elements are very strong. The developing relationship between Lorcan of the Brigantes and Nara of the Selgovae (southern Scotland) is hampered by many obstacles which are politically and personally motivated. This novel is heavily biased towards the Celtic perspective, the threat of Rome only mentioned and the battle at Whorl is ‘at a distance’. That wasn’t because I wanted to avoid blood and guts; it’s because the romance of the story is more dominant in Book 1.

In Book 2 – After Whorl: Bran Reborn – war and its aftermath on Brennus of Garrigill (brother to Lorcan of Book 1) features much more, as do the machinations of the Roman Empire. Resulting from the Battle of Whorl Brennus assumes a new identity and becomes Bran the spy, aided and abetted by Ineda of Marske – a new female character – their relationship being a complicated one. This is especially so when the couple are set upon by a Roman patrol. Brennus is distraught when Ineda vanishes and can’t be found. He has no idea she’s been taken prisoner by a Roman tribune named Gaius Livanus Valerius. Romantic elements are certainly in Book 2 but there is no HEA – Happy Ever After – ending.

Book 3 – After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks (yes, the title is somewhat similar to Book 2 and is intentional) – continues the tales of Brennus of Garrigill, Ineda of Marske and Roman tribune Valerius as they find themselves journeying further and further north in Britannia till they end up at the range of hills named Beinn Na Ciche, where there is a resoundingly horrid battle between the Celtic tribes and the armies of the mighty Roman Empire. War features quite highly; political strategies are explored in the Northern Campaign of the Roman Governor Agricola; and travel is a dominant theme. Yet there are also different types of love and relationships revealed. Filial loyalty and love resurface in Book 3 when original Book 1 characters are reunited. New bonds are made when new characters are brought under the wing of my Garrigill warriors.

My series is Historical Romantic Adventure; my heroes are wonderful Celtic warriors; my heroines are likewise likeable and I’m told from many excellent reviewers that my settings are so historically accurate, and so authentic that the reader ‘lives and breathes’ the environment of my characters. I can probably get nothing better than that!

After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks is available for pre-order from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Whorl-Donning-Double-Cloaks/dp/1909841579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394551378&sr=8-1&keywords=after+whorl+donning+double+cloaks

Officially released in ebook formats on Amazon on 25th March 2014

Nancy Jardine’s novels can be found in paperback and ebook formats from:

Amazon UK author page   Amazon US author page  Crooked Cat Bookstore; Waterstones; Barnes & Noble; Smashwords; W. H. Smith; and other book retailers.

Nancy can be found at the following places:   Blog    Website   Facebook  Goodreads   About Me   LinkedIn   Twitter @nansjar  Google+

Nancy Jardine lives in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in an area that’s steeped in ancient standing stones, tombs, ruined castles and fantastic Scots Baronial architecture. A lover of all things Scottish, her homeland creeps into her writing as does her fascination with history- Celtic/ Roman Britain in particular- though keeping herself updated is a constant battle, since history is being rewritten almost every week as new archaeological discoveries are made. Writing time is shared with regular grandchild minding duties, tending her large garden, ancestry research and leisure reading. She is currently writing a family saga based mainly in Scotland, and Book 4 of her Celtic Fervour series.

Topaz Eyes (Crooked Cat Publishing) an ancestral-based mystery, is a finalist for THE PEOPLE’S BOOK PRIZE Fiction 2014.

After Whorl: Bran Reborn – Book 2 of her Celtic Fervour Series (Crooked Cat Publishing) has been accepted for THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2014

The Facebook launch party for After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks is on the 25th March and all are welcome to pop in and say hello. Hopefully, this URL will lead you there…

https://www.facebook.com/events/1386740778259833/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks – Final blurb

Pursued by Rome.

AD73 Northern Britannia

After King Venutius’ defeat, Brennus of Garrigill – known as Bran – maintains a spy network monitoring Roman activity in Brigantia. Relative peace reigns till AD 78 when Roman Governor Agricola marches his legions to the far north. Brennus is always one step ahead of the Roman Army as he seeks the Caledon Celt who will lead all tribes in battle against Rome.

Ineda of Marske treks northwards with her master, Tribune Valerius, who is responsible for supplying Agricola’s northern campaigns. At Inchtuthil Roman Fort Ineda flees seeking fellow Brigantes congregating on the foothills of Beinn na Ciche.

Will the battle against the Romans bring Ineda and Brennus together again?

Igboland by Jeff Gardiner (Crooked Cat Books)

With great delight I’m featuring fellow Crooked Cat author Jeff Gardiner to the Monday Blogspot to talk about his very exciting latest release – Igboland. A romance adventure and a fascinating insight into a way of life that certainly I’m not familiar with, it’s on my TBR list already and all buying links are below. Grab a coffee, settle yourself down and have a read. Take it away Jeff…

Igboland is a novel of passion and conflict set in Nigeria in the late 1960s against the backdrop of the Biafran War. This romantic adventure is written from the point of view of Lydia, a young missionary’s wife who is struggling to come to terms with life in the West African bush. She learns a great deal about Igbo culture and beliefs from local doctor, Kwemto, and from war victim, Grace.

Blurb

A new life begins for her thousands of miles from home.

Lydia and Clem Davie arrive in an Igbo village in Nigeria in July 1967 just as civil war breaks out, but Lydia has trouble adjusting to life in West Africa: a place so unfamiliar and far away from everything she truly understands.

Initially, most of the locals are welcoming and friendly, until one or two begin a frightening campaign of anti-white protests.

Lydia’s life is changed irrevocably after she meets enigmatic Igbo doctor, Kwemto, and war victim, Grace. Through them Lydia learns about independence, passion and personal identity.

Conflict and romance create emotional highs and lows for Lydia, whose marriage and personal beliefs slowly begin to crumble.

Will this house in a Nigerian bush village ever seem like home?

When Lydia and Clem finally arrive in Ngkaluku, they find the landscape bleak, sometimes impassable, and the village half destroyed in a bomb raid. The Biafran War, between the Igbos in the south east, and the northern caliphates, has just begun. Military coups and ethnic cleansing ensue.

The villagers who survived the early bombings are very welcoming, readily accepting the English couple into their midst. Some of them have never seen a white person before.

With the help of Kwemto, who brings supplies and medical knowledge, Lydia opens a small dispensary to help with simple medical complaints.

Most of the people in Igboland are Igbos (pronounced ‘eeboes’), but there are also people from Idoma, Hausa and, like the women above, from the Fulani tribes.

Here is a local school, keeping the children sheltered from the burning sun. Desks, chairs and a blackboard are the extent of their resources. Education is highly valued in Nigeria, and many local people are keen to train as Teachers; a career with a great deal of status.

To find out more, or to purchase IGBOLAND, please visit the sites below.

Jeff’s website:  http://jeffgardiner.com/

Jeff’s Blog:  http://jeffgardiner.wordpress.com/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Igboland-Jeff-Gardiner-ebook/dp/B00IGQPG1S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1392887194&sr=1-1

Amazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/Igboland-Jeff-Gardiner-ebook/dp/B00IGQPG1S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394393772&sr=1-1&keywords=igboland

Crooked Cat Books:  http://www.crookedcatbooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=126

Jeff Gardiner was born in Jos, Nigeria, but is now located in the UK. He is author of contemporary novel, MYOPIA, which explores the effects of bullying. His book of short fiction, A GLIMPSE OF THE NUMINOUS, contains romance, slipstream, horror and humour. Many of his short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines. He is also an editor and teacher in his spare (!) time.

If You Only Knew – Zanna Mackenzie Review & Excerpt

Zanna’s third book (details of her first two are below) – If You Only Knew – is available to buy today. However… ta da… I was lucky enough to receive a copy prior to publication and I say lucky because I could not put the book down! In fact, I took the children to the hell-on-earth that is Monkey Business on Saturday afternoon just so they’d leave me alone so I could finish it – they couldn’t believe their luck either! Call it chick lit if you must (I prefer contemporary romance), this is the story of Faith, Zane, oh, and Matt, or Aaron as he used to be called  – a love triangle. I’m not going to tell you what it’s all about, suffice to say it’s good – really good. I love the fact it’s centred round outdoor adventure sports. Having indulged in a fair few of them in my time my interest was immediately piqued. I loved the characters, all of them (even bad boy Matt) – they were exceptionally well drawn and realistic too – everything that happens in the book you can imagine happening in real life, there’s no ‘yeah, right, as if…’ moments. There’s a gentle pace throughout I’d say (perfect for Saturday afternoon reading) and the romance is developed over time, not rushed into. All in all, a great book and a great find as an author, her other two books are on my Kindle already!

Is the past about to destroy the future for Faith when she discovers her new boyfriend and her first love are in business together?

Would you have the courage to feel the fear and fall in love anyway…?

Faith owns The Coffee Pot in the outdoor adventure sports mecca of Derbyshire’s Peak District. She hasn’t had a man in her life for a while, as she has been too busy serving cakes to weary rock climbers and mountain bikers to find time for the complications of a relationship with the male of the species.

Then Zane and Matt arrive on the scene as the new owners of the Carrdale Adventure Sports Centre.

Dating Zane, she soon discovers he’s not the Mr Perfect she thought he was; and why is he so reluctant to talk about his past?

As for Matt – well, to Faith he isn’t Matt at all because he was a completely different person when he broke her heart all those years ago.

With her new boyfriend and her first love running Carrdale as business partners – Matt out to cause trouble and Zane keeping secrets – Faith struggles to keep the peace between them whilst trying to figure out how she feels about the two men in her life…

And now for an excerpt…

This couldn’t be happening.

Zane had said his business partner was called Matt. She was sure of it. Yes, he’d definitely just introduced him as Matt. But the man standing before her wasn’t Matt.

It was Aaron.

Faith wiped her hands on a tea–towel. She wanted to speak, but couldn’t get her brain into gear enough to make her mouth form the words.

She’d thought Aaron was gone from her life.

It looked as though she was wrong.

She took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself. Suddenly she felt cold and shaky. Aaron was back? This was impossible.

Yet here he was, standing in her kitchen. She felt dizzy and light-headed.

How should she react? Should she admit they knew each other? Why had Aaron changed his name to Matt anyway? Would he prefer it if the fact they knew each other was kept quiet?

But she knew she couldn’t keep something like that from Zane.

As she debated what to say and do next, the room remained awkwardly silent. Zane was looking at her questioningly.

What should she say?

Come on, think, woman. Think.

Too late. Aaron spoke first.

“Faith, it’s amazing to see you again after all these years.”

OK. So he didn’t want to keep it a secret that they already knew each other.

“Aaron,” she managed to say. “This is a bit of a shock.”

“That’s an understatement,” Matt replied, stepping forward to pull her into a hug.

“Hang on a second,” Zane said, pushing into the room. “Aaron? That’s your proper name isn’t it?” He raised enquiring eyebrows at Matt. “What’s going on? You two already know each other?”

Zanna Mackenzie lives on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read.

Being a freelance writer and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity, she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working on. She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds of their own and start deviating from the original plot!

If You Only Knew is Zanna’s third novel; her previous books The Love Programme, and How Do You Spell Love? were both published in 2013.

Find out more about Zanna on her blog http://www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk, on Twitter via @ZannaMacKenzie or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/zanna.mackenzie

Follow Links:

Find out more about Zanna at:

www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk

www.zannamackenzie.co.uk

Twitter: @ZannaMacKenzie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/zanna.mackenzie

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10703273-zanna-mackenzie

Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zanna-Mackenzie/e/B00BKY1A18/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

And buy the book…

*Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Only-Knew-Zanna-Mackenzie/dp/190984148X/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_GMEM

*Amazon USA

http://www.amazon.com/You-Only-Knew-Zanna-Mackenzie/dp/190984148X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390576576&sr=8-2&keywords=zanna+mackenzie

*Crooked Cat Publishing

http://www.crookedcatbooks.com/

A Master Class in Writing

Writing a book is only the beginning. Once the first draft is semi-readable, it’s usually passed to beta-readers for feedback – that’s when you polish off your chainmail, some comments can be hard to take! Still, it’s a necessary evil and one that has stood me in good stead for my first two novels (The Runaway Year and The Haunting of Highdown Hall – coming soon). But… working on my third novel – The Runaway Ex – a sequel to The Runaway Year, I ran into problems – big time. I knew certain things weren’t working – chapter 1 for a start (which being chapter 1 is always a problem) and the inclusion perhaps of too  much information from the first book that wasn’t needed (‘perhaps?’ ahem!). I needed help – expert help, the advice of an old pro – but which old pro? I didn’t know any.

Well, I researched and John Hudspith’s name came up time and time again – I’d ask him! John (that’s him above, looking all coy!) runs Master Classes in writing – all done via email with various steps to follow in order for you to realise where you’re going wrong and, most importantly, where you’re going right!

He was only too happy to take me on. What an MC it turned out to be! ‘Get rid of your first chapter entirely,’ was John’s advice. I mean, I had suspicions it might be bad but really… ? ‘Yes, really!’  ‘You waffle,’ was another criticism, ‘stick to the story.’ Oh and yeah, ‘release back story in snippets, not all in one go,’ – he told me that too. Steeling myself I followed his guidelines exactly.  And you know what? I got myself a first chapter that made so much more sense and a story that didn’t keep going off on (uninteresting) tangents. But not only that, I gained a blueprint for future projects too (I shall always, always stick to the story and not veer off anywhere untoward from now on John, promise!!!).

John was fabulous to deal with, he’s direct but he’s funny with it and very encouraging. I thought I knew loads by the time I came to novel number 3 but I made basic mistakes and he showed me how to fix them, from this point onwards I hope! John’s also very quick, which, as an impatient soul, I really appreciated. So, if you’re stuck on a WIP, if you need guidance, if you just don’t know who to turn to next – I’ve got one word for you – John! He really does have great analytical instinct for what works and what doesn’t, and certainly knows how to explain his findings in the simplest of ways.

Find out all about him and the services he provides here:

http://www.johnhudspith.co.uk/

http://kimissecret.wordpress.com/about/

Cover Reveal – The Right Design by Isabella Louise Anderson

It’s a very exciting time for Isabella Louise Anderson – her debut novel, The Right Design is soon to launch. But first, here’s the cover reveal for it, the blurb and an excerpt too. Drum roll please …

Pretty huh?! And now for the blurb…

Interior designer Carrie Newman’s day starts out perfectly. For their sixth anniversary, her boyfriend, Roger, gives her diamond earrings, but the sparkle is lost later that same day when she catches him in the act with another woman. Heartbroken and in disarray, Carrie chooses to leave the past behind, possibly forever. She lands in ritzy Palm Beach, Florida where a new job and a new client leave her wondering if THE RIGHT DESIGN for her life has finally been found.

And to tempt you even further, an excerpt…

To celebrate, Mary Ann took her to lunch and they toasted Carrie’s nomination with a glass of champagne. Only one glass wouldn’t hurt, she thought. Besides, if she was going to go through with what she’d planned for Roger, the liquid courage would be helpful.

After lunch, Mary Ann signaled for the check. “So,” she started, reaching into her purse. “Do you think Roger’s going to propose tonight?”

Nearly choking on her last bit of champagne, Carrie shook her head. “Well, we’ve talked about it and I wish he would, but we’ve been together so long, I feel married to him already. I don’t need a piece of paper to make it official.” She traced the outline of her new earrings with the tips of her fingers. “Besides, I already have my diamonds.”

Mary Ann shook her head and laughed as she signed the check. “You’re more patient than I’d be. That’s why two years after George and I had started dating, I told him it was now or never.” She looked at the simple gold band on her left hand. “And we’ve been together for over twenty years now.” Taking a sip of her drink, she continued. “Roger really must think you’re a saint. Most women would push the marriage topic until he put a ring on that bare finger, especially since you two have been together for so long. He’s a very handsome man, Carrie.”

“Believe me, I know.” Carrie thought back to how sexy he’d looked when they’d made love the night before. She loved how Roger’s handsome body hovered over hers in the dim light, how his face had lit up as he pleasured her.

“Does he know how good his life is?” Mary Ann stood up and Carrie followed. “Most men would kill for that kind of life.”

“Oh, Roger knows,” she giggled. “Believe me, he knows.”

When they went back to the office, Carrie started counting down the two hours she had left when her office phone rang and Roger’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hey, handsome.”

“How’s my beautiful girl?”

“Great, but busy as ever. Oh, and I have some wonderful news.” She twisted the phone cord, thinking of all the surprises that she had in store for Roger.

“Do you care to share?”

“I want to tell you in person.”

“Okay, sounds good. Hey, is there a chance of you getting off early? I need to see you.”

“I’m sorry, love, I’m so busy.” She tried to make her voice sound tense and overwhelmed.

All Roger said was, “Okay,” his voice sounding low and let down.

“Babe, like I told you this morning, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“Okay,” he repeated. “Don’t forget that we have seven o’clock dinner reservations at Patetico’s.”

“I can’t wait. I’ll meet you home at six-thirty?”

“See you then.”

“Roger, I love you.”

“I love you more,” he said, and then hung up.

When four o’clock came around, Carrie was out the door and headed to Neiman’s to pick up the necessities. She’d finally got enough guts to make one of Roger’s fantasies come true—for her to seduce him wearing nothing but heels, a negligee, and a trench coat. This, by far, wasn’t high on her fantasy list, but since she’d had a glass of champagne at lunch, she felt more relaxed with the idea. In the lingerie department, she tried on four negligees. They all fit nicely against the toned body she’d worked hard for. Carrie settled for a black baby doll gown made of silk, edged with lace.

Negligee, check.

In the jacket department of the store, Carrie picked a bright red trench coat that reminded her of the movie Dick Tracy.

Trench coat, check.

She’d wear the same sexy Alexander McQueens she had on, so she didn’t bother shopping for shoes.

Heels, check.

Now that Carrie was prepared, she drove home to set the mood for Roger’s arrival. She’d have candles, champagne, and strawberries with whipped cream (which she had already bought and hidden outside in their garage refrigerator) waiting for him for when he walked through the door. Carrie hadn’t forgotten even the smallest detail in creating the perfect evening and couldn’t wait to see Roger’s face when he saw that his fantasy had become a reality.

As she made her way down their street, Carrie blinked twice, confused and a little disappointed to see Roger’s car already in the driveway. She looked at the clock on her dashboard, noticing that he wasn’t due home yet.

Quick, think of something, she thought, turning off the car, contemplating what to do. She glanced down the left side of the street and the right, then into the rear view mirror. When all was clear, Carrie quickly took off her clothes, including her red lace thong, slipped on the negligee, and then the coat. She applied lip-gloss and pinched her cheeks, giving herself a hint of more color. After a deep breath, Carrie felt ready. It was show time.

She got out of the car and didn’t bother to lock it, afraid her car alarm signal would ruin the surprise. Carrie hurried up the steps, slipped her key in the door, and twisted the knob. When she pushed the door open, her heart raced with anxiety and excitement, until she heard moans coming from inside the house.

Carrie stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, not believing what she saw. Roger had a redheaded woman bent over the island in their kitchen and was screwing her from behind. As she watched Roger and the other woman together, her blood turned cold and her mouth went dry. She stood frozen with rage and anger, not knowing what to do. Her keys left her hand and clashed loudly, hitting the marble floor. Instantly, Roger and the woman stopped in their tracks and looked at Carrie.

“Carrie!” Roger yelped in shock as his eyes oozed with guilt. Pulling out of the other woman like he was on fire, he reached for his jeans that lay carelessly on their wooden table and struggled to put them on. “Wh-what are you doing here?”

Carrie glared at him, sending daggers into his eyes. Trying to ignore the other woman who stood against their countertop with crossed legs and hands folded over her breasts, Carrie began yelling at Roger as she forced herself not to cry. “What am I doing here? This is my home, too! But if you must know, I came here to surprise you.”

He let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. Moments later, he walked closer to Carrie and tried to reach for her hand, but she jumped. “This not what you think it is.”

“Don’t you dare touch me.” Carrie cocked her head toward him and placed her hands on her hips, in disbelief. “Explain this, Roger. Who the hell is that tart, and why is she still here?” Carrie narrowed her eyes at the woman.

“I’m not a tart,” the young coquette (who looked barely twenty) chimed in with a Spanish accent.

“Roger, you’d better start talking!” Above feeling angry and hurt, her heart raced, and she tried to swallow the bile that had risen from her stomach. She wanted answers and wanted them now.

Instead of saying or doing anything, Roger stood there with his head hung down and tail between his legs, looking like his body had been caught in another woman’s cookie jar. Finally, his mouth opened but nothing came out.

“You have nothing to say? I gave you everything you ever wanted, served to you on a silver platter. I was there for you when your parents died. I stood by your side when your siblings didn’t give a damn during your cancer scare.” She took a breath while tears began to cloud her eyes. She waited for any sign of explanation, but he had none. “Happy freakin’ anniversary, Roger.” Carrie picked up her keys and ran out of their house without taking anything, sickened that the past six years had been nothing but a lie.

Want to know more? Check out Isabella’s blog, Facebook and Twitter and get those one-click fingers at the ready!

Chick Lit Goddess

Facebook

Twitter

It’s all in the Detail by J E Byrne

Today, I am delighted to host exciting new writer J E Byrne on my blog talking about detail in novels and how important it is to set the scene. As readers we want to the writer to paint a picture in words but it’s a fine line – we want tobe able to use our imagination too, not have our senses overloaded. As a debut author, it’s something I’m still learning which is why advice from writers such as J E Byrne is invaluable. Also, check out her new book (there’s a synopsis below and links) – it’s not to be missed! Take it away Jodi … !

“Details, Details, Details…” By J.E. Byrne

“It was the only thing to do,” he said. “The operation proved—“

“I do not want to talk about it,” I said.

“I would like to take you to your hotel.”

“No, thank you.”

He went down the hall. I went to the door of the room.

“You can’t come in now,” one of the nurses said.

“Yes I can,” I said.

“You can’t come in yet.”

“You get out,” I said. “The other one too.”

But after I had got them out and shut the door and turned off the light it wasn’t any good. It was like saying good-by to a statue. After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.

The famous ending to Hemingway’s A farewell to Arms – it gets me every time. For the past ten years I have taught American literature to high school juniors, and each time we close the pages of Hemingway’s masterpiece, I visualize this scene. I see Catherine, reposed still and frozen in her hospital bed, her color gray, her lips postured in silence, her eyes open and blank. I, too, see Frederick, face red with emotion that he is determined to contain, eyes lost and searching, heartbroken. He has lost her. He has lost his child. He has lost everything. Alone and swelled with shock, he takes the only action a Hemingway hero can – he leaves. I love this ending. It is concise, it is real, and it leaves the details to the reader. My students, well, not so much. The ending leaves them dissatisfied. They want more. They want Frederick to scream. They want him to turn the furniture upside down as he rejects the decisions life has made for him. They want to know what he is thinking, how he feels, what he is going to do next. In short, they want more. In today’s YA literature, details need to be a part of the action.

In a world where special effects and technology rule, details are imperative. It took six months and several revisions for me to understand this. I am a storyteller. Whether I am writing my stories for others or just creating them cerebrally for my own entertainment, I like to escape reality with stories. When in this “zone,” I am able to picture my characters and their actions clearly, and it is very real to me. I become a part of their story, and am able to dismiss my present circumstances. I see my character’s faces, the way they might glow in victory or contort in defeat. Because I completely enter this visual realm, I tend to keep my plot lines busy, with the details skeletal, intending the promotion of action flow and leaving details to reader invention. Enter my first draft of Dead Land. The first draft was plot intensive. The writing moved the action along quickly, with each chapter teasing the next. I thought it was exciting. I thought it was complete. After all, I knew these characters. I could see their faces as they witnessed death, or as they first realized love. I knew their world. I saw the shadowy darkness of their post-apocalyptic landscape, and the long roads they travelled longingly toward hope. I thought my readers would feel satisfied. I was wrong.

Reader after reader of the first drafts claimed the same truth. I love the plot. I couldn’t put it down. But, I need more detail. I want to know what Claire looks like. I want to know what roads they are travelling. I want to know the sound of David’s voice. I want to know if Sarah has freckles… Why didn’t they know these things? Why couldn’t they see what David, Sarah, Claire, and Lance looked like? Why didn’t they know that the group was initially traveling through the woods of Pennsylvania? Then I had my epiphany. They didn’t know these things because I never told them! I had kept it as my story. I needed to write in the details, making it their story too, introducing these characters who were my friends. They were real to me – now I had to make them real for others. In a massive revision, I went back and read the story aloud. Each time I saw an image, I added the words. For example, in my first draft, I didn’t describe Sarah’s physical world before the explosion. In the new draft I shared my vision, one that I created from an actual drive, on April 26th, down Creek Road in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania:

It was an especially beautiful day. I rolled the window halfway down for a better view. The sunlight highlighted the banks of the swollen Brandywine River. I could see a mother duck, belly puffed-up with promise, cutting a serpentine trail behind her in the water. Wild daffodils sprouted up in random bouquets, staring into the mirrored water like Narcissus. Small birds were nestled in the sturdy oaks and maples shading the river, their cover disturbed by Alex’s car as it whizzed by, kicking up rebellion.

Then after the apocalyptic event:

I guessed from the thick and slightly gray haze that it was late morning. Rick said that his house faced east, and based on the directions I had given him, that was the direction we should travel to find my neighborhood. I knew the direction. I knew this road.  It was the road I had last traveled in Alex’s yellow Mustang.

Because of the details in the first description of Creek Road, my reader could reflect upon how it had been altered in the tragedy of destruction.

Before I provided little to no physical character descriptions, but in the revision went back and used words to describe how each character looked upon h/her words or actions:

Feeling a presence, I slowly turned to my left. I saw David lying next to me, asleep on the ground. His face was turned slightly toward mine. He looked terrible. His dark hair had grown so long, way past his shoulders, and it was plastered all around his face and neck. He had a full, dark beard from months without grooming, and I could see that he had dark circles encasing each of his eyes. His mouth was slightly opened, revealing just a hint of his white teeth as his silent breaths blew softly in and out. I went to lift my arm to touch him. It felt so heavy. I just barely slid it over and touched him on his cheek. I stroked his beard. I didn’t want to awaken him; I just wanted to feel him. Still asleep, he turned and wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his warm breath on my neck. I went back to sleep.

How I love this scene. It reminds me why I am so in love with David, and through sharing my vision, hopefully others will fall in love with him too.

So, my lesson about adding details in writing is two-fold. First, of course, I am definitely no Hemingway! I give Cormac McCarthy the accolades of mastering the omission theory; and secondly, I better understand that in sharing my stories with others, I need to share the complete story: thoughts, feelings, visuals, directions, plot, and myriads of specifics. As my early readers pointed out to me, I know that you can see it, but I want to see it too! Thus the summer of 2013 was spent adding necessary details to Dead Land. I can’t thank my early test readers enough. Because of them, my later draft readers came to me with a different set of comments: When will book two be completed? I NEED to know what happens next!

J.E. Byrne Bio

As an undergraduate Journalism student at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Jodi took the advice of one of her professors and changed her major to English, specifically focusing on the art of writing. This decision laid the foundation for a career in technical writing, teaching, and eventually fiction writer. Her debut novel, Dead Land, is set to be released by Take Two Publishing on December 3, 2013.

Dead Land follows the life of eighteen year-old Sarah Cain as she struggles to survive the pressures and temptations of high school, relationships, self-discovery…and the end of the world. The novel combines Jodi’s love of fiction, appreciation for young adults and the many challenges they face, and a passion for the spiritual components in life.

Jodi resides in Pennsylvania where she’s working on the second installment of the Dead Land series as well as running her online book club blog.

Social Media

Jodi’s Blog: http://authorjebyrne.com/blog/

Jodi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjebyrne

Buy Dead Land

http://www.taketwopublishing.com/j-e-byrne/

Synopsis

Caught up in the rave of the ultimate high school party, eighteen-year-old Sarah Cain finds herself outside at 3:10am with her high school crush. Together they witness a violent explosion that tears through the sky. Knocked unconscious, Sarah awakens to a world she no longer recognizes.

The sun does not rise, there is no moon or stars, and black rain falls heavily on her shoulders.

Forced into survival, Sarah is frequented with strange words and dreams that mystically draw her toward a mountain promising life, even amidst her dying world. Setting out on foot to follow this vision, Sarah meets up with other survivors and discovers that some of them have shared her same dream. Together the group sets off to find The Mountain.

Tempted by good and evil at every turn, survivors must decide which path to take.

Chick Lit Christmas GIVEAWAY 2013!

I’m absolutely delighted to be involved in the Chick Lit Christmas Giveaway 2013! Alongside fabulous authors such as Michela O’Brien, Georgina Troy, Elizabeth Marx and Samantha Stroh Bailey, my contemporary Cornish romance – The Runaway Year- is up for grabs! The competition runs today (Friday 29th November) through to Christmas Eve – enter now to be in with a chance of winning all 29 signed paperbacks – your reading sorted for January 2014 at least!

Just click on the link below and enter the Rafflecopter to win – simples!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/42dddb9/

The very best of luck to you all and, of course, a very merry Christmas!