Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 80

False Awakening | Book Launch!

My new book is now available!

I’m so happy to be able to say that my new book, False Awakening, is now officially available to purchase for both Kindle and as a paperback. I had an absolute blast writing it and I hope that if you choose to read it, you like it too. Here’s a little about the story to whet your appetite.

Synopsis

When teenager Abi Watson wakes in a hospital bed with no memory of the incident that put her there, she must begin the long and difficult process of piecing her life back together, but unfortunately, her search for answers will merely give rise to further questions. Frayed relationships and haunting revelations soon come into play, leading Abi to discover that some things are best left forgotten.

With a past that is unwilling to let go, her only option is to delve into the depths of her own mind so that she can uncover the truth and finally awaken from her living nightmare.

Excerpt

As she leant forward and slowly stretched out a hand to try and tempt the timid animal, it reeled back and darted towards the hedgerows, disappearing from sight, a distant rustle of leaves all that remained. For a brief instant, Abi was hit by a feeling that rose in her stomach and threatened to erupt as tears. It was jealousy; jealousy at the creature’s ability to flee; to fade away into darkness and conceal itself from the world when things got tough. Abi had never been the kind of teenager to consider running away from home. Her mother may have been hard work but the comfortable lifestyle, the trusted friends, the loving father; they had been more than enough to keep her content within the realms of her own existence.

Now, for the first time in all her years, she wanted to escape; to abandon this life in search of another; an uninterrupted state of survival without police interviews, therapy sessions and forgotten memories.

Where to find it

The book is available to buy on Amazon UK (click here) and Amazon USA (click here). It should also by now be live on Amazon’s other international channels.

You can also add it to your ‘to read’ list on Goodreads (click here).

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If you do choose to check out False Awakening, I just want you to know how grateful I am. These characters have been mine for a long time, but now I want to share them with you all. If you enjoy the story, please let me know by leaving a review, tweeting me, or coming back here to leave a comment; it really would make my day… week… life.

Goodbye

Goodbye Mr Tiger,

your eyes they burned so bright.

I’ll think of all their golden charm

when I close my own at night.

Goodbye Mr Elephant,

so mighty, the ground it shook.

I’ll keep alive your memory

when I read my storybook.

Goodbye Mr Leopard,

so stealthy and so shy.

I wish it didn’t end this way,

I wish you did not die.

Goodbye Mother Nature,

so generous, so pure.

I don’t blame you for leaving us,

we’re sick and there’s no cure.

Goodbye fellow human,

I guess I’ll be alone.

When nothing else was left to kill,

it seems we killed our own.

Why I Write | Blog Hop

Why do you write?

I was tagged by Mishka to take part in this fun blog hop. All you have to do is answer the questions and pass it on, so without further ado:

Why do I write?

I write simply because I love it. I know it’s totally cliché but I’ve never imagined myself doing anything else and feel very lucky to be able to make the dream a reality. When we’re writing we don’t have to limit ourselves to the confines of this world; we can explore whatever ideas we want. As for my poetry, I think the quote in the image above puts it quite nicely.

What am I working on?

I’m just about to release my second novel, False Awakening. I would describe the story as a psychological, suspense thriller and it follows a teenage girl with amnesia struggling to cope with her fragmented memory in her search for the truth.

How does it differ from others of its genre?

I can’t speak for the work of others, so all I can say is that in False Awakening, the characters and their relationships are at the heart of the story; they drive the plot, rather than vice versa.

How does my writing process work?

I’m definitely a planner when it comes to the plot but with the characters’ personalities, I like to let things develop more naturally. The only definite thing that seems consistent throughout my writing is that I always know exactly how the story will end before I put pen to paper, with the precise ending scene clearly envisioned. I love having a finish line that everything else must lead up to; it helps reign in any wild moments of imagination and keep me on track.

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Big thanks to Mishka for tagging me and to you for reading! I would like to tag Melissa Barker-Simpson and H.M. Brooks. As always though, there’s no obligation and anyone else is also welcome to get involved.

Phoenix

Watch her rise again,

perennial goddess of all that have fallen,

for Phoenix is her name;

her fire still burns bright

and her bloom is yet to come.

False Awakening | Cover Reveal

False Awakening

I am absolutely delighted to be able to officially reveal the cover of my upcoming novel, False Awakening, due for release in mid-October. I’m really happy with how it turned out and can’t wait to share this new story with anyone out there who may be interested.

Without further ado, here is the synopsis:

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When teenager Abi Watson wakes in a hospital bed with no memory of the incident that put her there, she must begin the long and difficult process of piecing her life back together, but unfortunately, her search for answers will merely give rise to further questions. Frayed relationships and haunting revelations soon come into play, leading Abi to discover that some things are best left forgotten.

With a past that is unwilling to let go, her only option is to delve into the depths of her own mind so that she can uncover the truth and finally awaken from her living nightmare.

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Thank you for reading and watch this space for details on the book and updates on the impending release. In the meantime, I will try my very best to maintain my composure through all the excitement and nerves!

I’ll Wait

Everything I never told you

has crystallised beneath my skin,

to let it fester, cold and still

would surely be the greatest sin.

But I see the swarm; so fierce, so strong

and know what we could never win,

they’d leap upon our tender words

to smother in their selfish din.

So please, I beg, implore and plead,

know the truth is safe in me

and in my wildest, sweetest dreams,

I’d love for only you to see.

But hear the thirsty, lofty calls

of hunter’s deaf to a lover’s plea;

understand the chains I bear

are why, for now, we can’t be free.

I’ll wait for you within the place,

the one reserved for sleepless nights

to which we alone hold all the keys,

and there’s no need to fight for rights.

It’s here that we can soar the skies

like great and proud and loyal kites;

leave behind the painful binds,

the shrouds, the shields, the plights.

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On the Home Stretch

The end is near!

It’s just a quick update today to say that edits and read-throughs of my work in progress, False Awakening, are – generally speaking – finished. Today I begin the exciting but often complicated process of formatting to finally get this manuscript ‘book friendly’ so that I can place an order for a proof copy. By that point, it’s a case of getting a feel for my new creation, making sure I’m happy with it, ironing out any last creases and then, dare I say it, releasing it into the world. Things seem (*touch wood*) to be on track for the October release I’ve been hoping for. Excuse me while I simultaneously squeal and hyperventilate.

Are you working on anything at the moment? Are you making good progress?

Listen

Though my words may often hide

behind the wall of my locked lips,

it’s the pen wrapped beneath these fingers

tasked with freeing my truest thoughts.

Overcome me with your valiant shouts,

I dare you.

It’s when my mind is read it truly roars.

Would You Rather? | Book Tag

Books! Books everywhere!

I’m getting quite into these tags and this is one I’ve seen knocking about for a while. By all means, make a post of your own answering the questions; I’d love to see your responses.

So, would you rather…?

1. Read only trilogies or stand alone books?

I’ll go with stand alones since that probably leaves me with the most options overall.

2. Read only female or male authors?

This is a bit of a weird question because I’d never make a decision about what books to read based on gender. I suppose if I have to pick I’ll say female because the first few names of favourite authors that came to mind happened to be women. (Also largely because I can’t imagine having gone through my teen years without reading Harry Potter.)

3. Shop for books online or in store?

I love browsing through physical books in store, being able to pick them up and get a feel for them, but there’s no denying the convenience and sheer choice available when shopping online. Also I live in the countryside so there aren’t many good book shops near me anyway. As long as I get the books in my hands in the end, I’m happy to buy them online.

4. All books become movies or TV shows?

I’ll go with movies because that’s a single project that they can focus all their efforts on. With a TV show, there’s more longevity involved and while that’s great for fans if it’s done well, it also comes with more opportunities for the producers to mess up the characters and stories we know and love.

5. Read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

Five books per week seems impossible but if I could do it that would be amazing… Think of how many books you could get through! It would certainly help lessen the load of my TBR pile.

6. Be a professional reviewer or author?

Well, since I’ve published a book and plan to publish more, I’d be a fool not to say author. It really is my biggest hope that I can continue to write well into the future.

7. Only read your top 20 favourite books over and over or always read new ones that you haven’t read before?

I would choose only new books. At least that way my options are always open and I can still reminisce about my favourites.

8. Be a librarian or book seller?

Oh, either would be cool! I’ll go with a book seller as that way I can spend most of my time sorting through the books and picking out my favourites without actually having to be too knowledgeable or helpful to the customers ;)

9. Only read your favourite genre, or every genre except your favourite?

I nearly picked every genre except my favourite, thinking this would allow me to read the most books but then I thought about it a little and realised that may not necessarily be true. My favourite genre is probably thrillers and since they can easily be interwoven with elements of romance, mystery, horror, comedy, fantasy, action and just about anything else that takes your fancy, I may just stick to that.

10. Only read physical books or eBooks?

Definitely physical books. I do read a lot of eBooks and appreciate their convenience and affordability but nothing can compete with browsing through a proper collection of books on your bookcase, picking out an old favourite and giving the pages a good sniff ;)

Making Memories

Basking under a blanket of lights

so bright they rival the stars,

their twinkling stirs my soul

while laughter fills my heart.

By chorus of clinking glasses

and the buzz of Parisian charm,

it’s here the shutter clicks

like gentle hands that close

around a drifting butterfly,

to remember her beauty

if only just for a little while,

the imprint of her wings

lingering on my skin forever.