Serena Akeroyd's Blog: All Things Serena! , page 308
September 19, 2013
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: PAM FUNKE!
Our current world is full of chaos,...
Our current world is full of chaos, turmoil, hatred, wars and strive. Every day the state of the world gets worse and it is spiraling out of control. In Rome, Italy there is a man who is quickly gaining political power and reverence, Nicolaitanes Balac. But is this the type of power that should be given to a single man? Just who is Nicolaitanes Balac really?
General Alexander and The Group have been given the task of bringing about peace and serenity for not only the United States, but the entire world. Operation Dark Angel is a military operation designed to bring about world peace……or is it? Will it really bring an end to the turmoil, violence and hatred as they were told by the voice? Who is the voice? What is its true nature?
ABOUT PAM FUNKE:
I am the proud grand-daughter of a pastor and have spent the majority of my life in the church. I love serving God and living a Christian life. I am a Christian author who enjoys writing many different things. My love of reading and writing led me to write for the enjoyment of others. Besides reading and writing, I enjoy photography, cooking, painting, drawing, scrap-booking and anything creative actually.
September 18, 2013
ANOTHER USEFUL TOOL
This article totally explains why I love Google Maps. No matter what you write,...
This article totally explains why I love Google Maps. No matter what you write, every story needs a setting and if you live in a boring town, you sure as hell don’t want to set your story there. Unless it’s an autobiography, that is… ;)
But anyway, how can you describe a background unless you write what you know? And to me, Google Maps is awesome for this. Look at the grungy streets of LA in that article or of Mexico. If you want to describe a setting, what better way to do just that by actually looking at the world in your novel.
Fabulous.
All That Glitters… part three of the #NaughtyNookie series is set in Paris and while I’ve actually been there, I haven’t 'done' the tourist traps and it was so useful being able to navigate around a city and get a handle on it. :)
You still need to do some research, but it’s a pretty awesome way to know your characters’ world!
For more info on the #NaughtyNookie series, check out my website.
Or buy my books on Amazon!
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
September 17, 2013
GEOGRAPHICAL ENGLISH
Strange title, I know. But I had to share this link of maps of the world....
Strange title, I know. But I had to share this link of maps of the world. Sounds boring? Well, guess again! There’s everything on here from how many Maccy D restaurants are in which countries, to places notorious for bribes to the hot spot zones for pirates sailing the high seas! Apparently, and I only just learnt this today, the Black Sea is riddled with them! Who knew?
And I guess that’s why I’m sharing this today. Because these little tidbits, they all make a story more real, don’t they? Can’t have a character driving on the left, when it’s illegal in the country of your novel’s setting, can you? Or visiting a country and have the locals drinking coffee when the local brew is tea! And according to this site, Scandinavia is the world’s largest consumer of coffee. Again, who knew!
3/4 of the way down, you do start to think, how much more can I take? But don’t give up. Who knows what you’ll learn! Anything from where lightning strikes the most to the 20,000 miles you can sail from Pakistan to Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia without hitting land!
And when you’ve had enough of looking at the world as you know it, take a look at a world tinged with #NaughtyNookie! ;)
Enjoy!
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
September 16, 2013
WRITING A MEDIEVAL HISTORY NOVEL?
How fabulous is this video? It shows you all of the different...
WRITING A MEDIEVAL HISTORY NOVEL?
How fabulous is this video? It shows you all of the different place names of our evolving society from 1000AD. If you’re writing a medieval/Roman novel then this would probably help you get to grips with the places and settings in your novel. Trying to figure out the ancient names of countries… not fun! Believe me!
Parts one and two of the #NaughtyNookie series are now available on Amazon Kindle!
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
September 15, 2013
AS PROMISED… EXCERPT OF ALL THAT GLITTERS…
Two hours or so later, my skin is turning...
AS PROMISED… EXCERPT OF ALL THAT GLITTERS…
Two hours or so later, my skin is turning into juice-soaked prunes in the bath of the ensuite shared by both Jake and myself.
If I say that I’ve never seen a bath this big, it would be an exaggeration.
Take an average bath, double it and then add on another half. It’s like a small swimming pool. Well, I can’t actually swim in it, but I can stretch out full length and chill.
For the last three nights, I’ve done exactly the same thing. Indulged myself in a bath that has taken far too long and felt as indulgent as I’ve done just that.
It’s here that I’ve studied the papers Jake gave me about Rousset. And on the tablet that Zane bought me back home, it’s here that I’ve started to chat with Marina and Eddie again; only by email, but it’s a start.
And tonight, I’m doing something I’ve never done before. It feels so wrong, but at the same time, I can’t help myself.
When I walked into that ballroom and saw Jake deep in conversation with Rousset, my mind reverted to the pictures I’d once found on the net. Of Jake and Zane smiling at various events. The pair of them looking so damned hot together. And with Jake in a tux, it set my mind to thinking about the pair of them….
Well, I hope that wet your whistle and made you hungry for some more. All That Glitters is nearing completion and will be released in October!
To catch up, find out more about Simone’s tale in Fall Into Love and Crazy Little Thing Called Lust. Either on my website, goodreads or on Amazon.
Here are the buy links:
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
Happy reading!
Serena x
September 14, 2013
GOING TO LET THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!
As incredible as it is, I’ve had five 5*...
GOING TO LET THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!
As incredible as it is, I’ve had five 5* reviews on Goodreads! I can’t tell you guys how happy I am that people are loving my work.
Here are the links to the two latest reviews, ONE and TWO.
If you fancy spicing up your weekend with a bit of Naughty Nookie then the buy links are below!
And I’m sorry about yesterday’s lack of post; a combination of fatigue, no internet and being busy! Tomorrow, I promise I shall include that excerpt of All That Glitters…! I would have done today, but I was just so thrilled at seeing those reviews for the first time!! Eek! :D
Have a great if not thoroughly naughty weekend!
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
September 12, 2013
ALL THAT GLITTERS… COVER REVEAL!
So, here you have it!
The cover for part three of the...
ALL THAT GLITTERS… COVER REVEAL!
So, here you have it!
The cover for part three of the Naughty Nookie series!
Looking slightly more vintage than the others…who doesn’t love suspenders? ;)
Before All That Glitters… is released, check out part one and two. You won’t be disappointed! :D
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
_____________________________________________________
September 11, 2013
ALL THAT GLITTERS UPDATE
So, I’m a third of the way through All That Glitters… part...
So, I’m a third of the way through All That Glitters… part three of the Naughty Nookie series. I figured that tomorrow would be a pretty good time to reveal the cover of the third installment into Simone’s love life.
I’m drifting down a different path; in more ways than one! And personally, I’m loving where it’s going.
I keep getting 4/5 star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon for Fall Into Love and Crazy Little Thing Called Lust and I’m so thrilled by the response. It’s so wonderful to know that people are interested in what you write. And it’s even better when people tell me why they like my scribbling concoctions!
So, stay tuned for tomorrow’s post… I’m going to reveal the cover as well as include an excerpt of the upcoming All That Glitters…!
Find the Naughty Nookie series on Amazon!
Part One: Fall Into Love
Part Two: Crazy Little Thing Called Lust
September 10, 2013
REVIEW OF JOSS LANDRY’S MIRROR DEEP Twists, shocks, a fab page-turner To me, as a reader,...
REVIEW OF JOSS LANDRY’S MIRROR DEEP
Twists, shocks, a fab page-turner
To me, as a reader, there’s nothing more important than a dose of reality in a book. Even though books cover a period of hyperreality, I like to feel it’s possible. And that’s something that Joss Landry managed to do in her novel, Mirror Deep. Not only did she keep me engrossed from start to finish; so much so that when life got in the way and I had to stop reading, I sulked! But also, I liked her style, the characters and the backdrop.
I’ve read a few stories with horse stables as the backdrop, but never one with murder and intrigue. The soft yet strong, elegant but powerful creatures and the equestrian events that Landry details are just the perfect interlude from murder and mayhem.
The story centres around Kat; at first, she seems a bit of a spoilt rich kid as well as a horse whisperer. Then we have Pierce, Kat’s second-cousin; slightly arrogant, very handsome but at heart, a good guy. Kat’s life tumbles to a halt when she learns she’s adopted and while Landry handled the despair and confusion of someone learning such a fact about themselves with great care, I liked how it was all turbo-charged. Murder, mischief and chaos ensue, enough so that you don’t really have a clue as to the real culprit and with all these doppelgangers roaming around, you have to wonder if there was some kind of genetic experiment going on at the time lol. But the result is far from far-fetched and again, exciting to read.
The characters aren’t empty air-heads and while there are quite a few, Landry makes them all real. Like-able and dislike-able. And Kat is so down to earth that you can’t help but feel for her and I don’t always empathize with characters; but I could with Kat and Pierce too. Especially the latter’s dilemma in regards to his own family and protecting those in his circle.
I like how real she made it feel; how possible it all was (even if it is improbable. Although in today’s society, who knows?!) All in all, a jolly good read. Would recommend easily. 5 stars. 
http://dlvr.it/3xZvpg
REVIEW OF JOSS LANDRY’S MIRROR DEEP
Twists, shocks, a fab page-turner
To me, as a reader,...
REVIEW OF JOSS LANDRY’S MIRROR DEEP
Twists, shocks, a fab page-turner
To me, as a reader, there’s nothing more important than a dose of reality in a book. Even though books cover a period of hyperreality, I like to feel it’s possible. And that’s something that Joss Landry managed to do in her novel, Mirror Deep. Not only did she keep me engrossed from start to finish; so much so that when life got in the way and I had to stop reading, I sulked! But also, I liked her style, the characters and the backdrop.
I’ve read a few stories with horse stables as the backdrop, but never one with murder and intrigue. The soft yet strong, elegant but powerful creatures and the equestrian events that Landry details are just the perfect interlude from murder and mayhem.
The story centres around Kat; at first, she seems a bit of a spoilt rich kid as well as a horse whisperer. Then we have Pierce, Kat’s second-cousin; slightly arrogant, very handsome but at heart, a good guy. Kat’s life tumbles to a halt when she learns she’s adopted and while Landry handled the despair and confusion of someone learning such a fact about themselves with great care, I liked how it was all turbo-charged. Murder, mischief and chaos ensue, enough so that you don’t really have a clue as to the real culprit and with all these doppelgangers roaming around, you have to wonder if there was some kind of genetic experiment going on at the time lol. But the result is far from far-fetched and again, exciting to read.
The characters aren’t empty air-heads and while there are quite a few, Landry makes them all real. Like-able and dislike-able. And Kat is so down to earth that you can’t help but feel for her and I don’t always empathize with characters; but I could with Kat and Pierce too. Especially the latter’s dilemma in regards to his own family and protecting those in his circle.
I like how real she made it feel; how possible it all was (even if it is improbable. Although in today’s society, who knows?!) All in all, a jolly good read. Would recommend easily. 5 stars.
All Things Serena!
- Serena Akeroyd's profile
- 6176 followers
