A.K. Michaels's Blog, page 18

I’m on a Blog!!

Good Morning Guys

Hope you’re having a good Sunday, the sun is shining here in Bonny Scotland, for once, though it is rather cold!

I’m featuring as a guest on the lovely Leslie’s blog, link below. Go and have a look and there’s even a bit for you to leave a comment! Go along and post – let me and Leslie know if you’ve read any of my books and if you liked them (or not). I will be popping in and out so will answer any direct queries or questions you have.

Go on – you know you want to lol!

http://lesliegeorgeson.com/blog/this_weeks_author_interview_ak_michaels

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Guest Author Post! Lynda Wilcox – Check it out!

Hi Guys, I am very happy to be posting a Guest post featuring Lynda Wilcox, although the questions will be answered as one of her characters Verity Long! Check Lynda’s work out – links are all there folks.  Enjoy!

Come in. Sit down. Would u like a coffee?

Yes, thank you. White, no sugar, please.

Character and Book -

Verity Long – Strictly Murder – The Verity Long Mysteries, Book 1

1) What was it that made you fall in love with your gf/bf/wife/husband/partner?

Oh, all the usual reasons; good looks, charm, billionaire, own yacht. Seriously, it sounds corny, but it was Jerry Farish’s sense of humour that first attracted me to him. He makes me laugh, he always has, and I could love a man like that. Besides, I find the laughter lurking in his eyes so very, very sexy.

2) Have you ever been streaking?

Hell’s teeth, no! Though I once did a strip routine at a friend’s 21st birthday party. When I look back on it now, I wonder what on earth possessed me to do it. It’s not like I can claim that I was drunk, I was still pretty sober at the time. It was only later that I drank too much in a vain attempt to erase it from my memory. Unfortunately, my friend’s didn’t forget it either, and took great delight in reminding me, and asking for an encore, next time I saw them.

3) How are you in an emergency, i.e. take charge or run away?

I think most people would tell you that I simply interfere! I see it as only trying to help, as I did when I knew a murderer was about to strike again and I could prevent it happening before the police arrived. I’d been involved in the case from the start and intended being there at the death. Just as long as it wasn’t my death we were talking about, of course. It very nearly was, and I went several rounds with the killer before Jerry, my Detective Inspector boyfriend, turned up with the cavalry.

4) Do you believe in aliens, reasons?

I think it’s against the bounds of probability that there aren’t other life-forms somewhere in the Universe, so the answer is yes. As to whether they’ve ever been here… I doubt it.

5) What really moves you, or touches you deep down inside?

Well, it certainly isn’t cute cat photos or inspirational postings on Facebook, that’s for sure.

What touches me most, is the kindness of strangers. The man in the street who runs into a burning building to save a child. The people who scrabble with bare hands to rescue others after an earthquake. Those small acts of unconscious bravery make me want to hug them and thank them personally.

On the other hand, what makes my hackles rise, is injustice. I blame my mother (as I do for most things!) for calling me Verity. It means truth.

As for what moves me…a glass, or two, of Merlot has been known to do the trick.

6) Have you ever done something that you REALLY regret and if so what?

Not really. I’m from the Edith Piaf school of thought on this one. Je ne regret rien.

7) Have you ever committed a crime and if so what was it?

I did pilfer a bar of chocolate when I was a child. Does that count? Other than that, I can’t think of anything, but see above about my name.

8) What is your absolute worst memory?

Being caught by Jerry, inflagrante, with an old flame.

9) Which person from ancient history would you like to be and why?

Verity: I can’t say that I’ve given it that much thought, quite frankly. At various times during my teens, I quite fancied being Cleopatra, Boadacea/Boudicca, and Queen Elizabeth the 1st. Now I’m just happy being me.

Lynda: Scheherazade. Who else?

10) If you could change anything, absolutely anything – what would it be?

I could probably do with better teeth! And an hourglass figure with a flatter stomach.

Seriously, though, I would change human nature to make us care more about others. And I’d ban the abuse of the English language by advertising. You know the sort of stupid phrases I mean. “Clinically proven”, and “motivated by the pursuit of dreams” (whatever that’s supposed to mean!), and “offers new solutions to your lifestyle”. Bah! To hell with the lot of them, I say.

Author Biography

Lynda Wilcox’s first piece of published writing was a poem in the school magazine. In her twenties she wrote Pantomime scripts for Amateur Dramatic groups and was a founder member of The Facts of Life, a foursome who wrote and performed comedy sketches for radio. Now she concocts fantasy stories for older children (10-13) and writes funny whodunits for adults.

Lynda lives in a small town in England, in an untidy house with four ageing computers and her (equally ageing but very supportive) husband. She enjoys pottering in the garden where she grow brambles, bindweed and nettles along with roses and lilies. Oh! And slugs! Slugs that feed well on everything but the brambles and weeds.

Most of all, she loves to write — it gets her out of doing the housework. She also reads a lot and enjoys good food and wine. 

Lynda’s Links:

Multi-region links for the Verity Long comedy mysteries:

Strictly Murder: http://bit.ly/11yxFOg

Organized Murder: http://bit.ly/11zmftJ

Scouting for Murder: http://bit.ly/16aJ3WU

A Novel Way to Die: http://bit.ly/19CkhAA

Website: http://www.lyndawilcox.com/

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

Blog: http://writeanglesbylynda.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @LyndaWilcox

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COVER REVEAL FOR GLADYS QUINTAL – A MATCH MADE IN HELL!

Cover Reveal





A Match Made in Hell (Book 5 in The Dream Series)

Blurb:

Gabriel is beyond furious when he discovers Chloe was responsible for the untimely demise of his beloved brother. Will Moyra succeed in protecting her friend from the four hundred year old vampire intent on vengeance?

The evil Elizabeth has betrayed them all. Her deceit could find Sebastian burning in the fires of hell for all eternity and force a wedge between Alexi and Cassandra forever.

Due for release April 5th.

Release Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/783855284976408/?source=1

You can read the first four books in the The Dream Series here:

http://www.amazon.com/Gladys-Quintal/e/B0066YIE52

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gladys-Quintal/e/B0066YIE52

https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/gladys-quintal/id476453618?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/gladys-quintal

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/GladysQ

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Search?query=Gladys%20Quintal&fcsearchfield=Author



Stalker Links:

http://thedreamseries-gladysquintal.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gladys-Quintal/293506287341938

https://twitter.com/GladysQuintal

 

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New Series!!

Hi Guys

I’ve been working with my editor, David, going over WWV 1 and he asked me to add a little bit which was a telephone call between Josef and the head of the force that dealt with Supers crime.  So I went back and added it – and that entailed me making up a new character as the head honcho for said enforcement – and my head started to think on the guy I had just invented. I sent updated data to David who mailed back saying – yeah that was just what was needed and he looked forward to hearing more about this agency.

Well! That had my mind working overtime! I now have a new series in my head! It will be about the Supernaturals Enforcement Bureau and I will be starting that after I’ve done books 3 in the WWV and Sabrina series! I am so excited – being asked to add a telephone call to one book now has my head full of a completely new series! Yipppee!!

And the head guy – what can I say! HOT!!!!! I’m so looking forward to starting it and really hope u all like it too!

Okay, am away to finish the check over of book just edited, take care guys and have a great day!

A

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Another book on my TBR list!

Have found another book to add to my TBR list! It’s Til Death and Beyond by Lyn C Johanson – check out her author page on Goodreads!

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7566641.Lyn_C_Johanson

On my TBR list!

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First Draft Finished!

I finished the first draft of WWV book 2 yesterday! Am loving how this series is panning out and there’s a few surprises coming both in this one and the next! Yippee!

Now down to the hard work of going over it, checking it and checking it again before I send to my editor. I’m really looking forward to the release of this one and hope you guys like it! I don’t want to give too much away but there’s some changes acoming!

Gosh, writing it all down I was thinking on who I prefer – Gabe or Josef?! It would depend on my mood – though I wouldn’t mind either! Join me on FB and give me your choice. Okay, short bit here today as am busy, busy, busy!

Have a great day folks!

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Morning All

Hi, I’ve had a busy weekend, writing, writing and oh yea writing! I’m nearly, but not quite, finished book 2 for Witch, Wolf and Vampire and loving the way it’s going. Some great ideas came to me over weekend, both for this book next book and for Sabrina 3! My little brain has been working overtime!

I have also dipped my toes into Blog Tours, organising one for mid April for three weeks with Anna at RBTL Blog Tours for book 1 in Defender’s series. The only prob being the time difference between Bonny Scotland and the US, but we’ve managed to get things on the burner and I am soooo looking forward to it.

I have no idea what to expect as I have never done one before but I am very excited to be working with Anna. I’ve even got a Media Kit for WWV now, I didn’t even know what one was lol, but Anna sorted one out for me and it looks very professional, which in turn can only help me.

I have been trying to sort out all the social media side of things – not my forte folks – and getting there slow but sure!

I have another guest post on Saturday – Lynda Wilcox – check out her website -

http://www.lyndawilcox.com/

The interview will be a character one – answered by Verity Long, from Strictly Murder, book one of her Verity Long Mysteries series.

Put it in your calendar and come along and have a look, you will enjoy her interview, trust me!

Okay, I’m away back to WWV 2 – gotta get that finished!

A

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Reviews

Good Morning Guys

I thought I would do a little piece on reviews, what they mean in general, to me personally, and just a little insight.

Firstly, in general, reviews help other readers to make an informed choice on whether to get a book, sometimes they help a person to think – “yea that’s my kinda story” or “nope, not for me” and that’s all good. No point in someone paying hard earned cash for a book that would definitely not suit them – that leads to annoyance, irritation, and the dreaded bad review lol. I know I look at reviews when getting a book but sometimes I still go ahead and get it if it’s got bad reviews – not everyone thinks or reads the same – so what may not be for someone else may just be what I was looking for.

I also sometimes get a book that has no reviews, if the story looks like something I would like then I’ll go ahead and give it a shot. After all everyone has to start somewhere and mine may be their first review, after I’ve read it and liked it of course. I do have to admit that I won’t leave a review if I hated something – I never have – just because I hated something doesn’t mean everyone will and I still live by what my Gran used to tell me (every day almost) – ‘if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all’ or words to that effect, depending on the circumstances. If I had been ‘naughty’ sometimes her words were a little stronger lol! But the gist of it was that and I’ve tried hard to do that, I don’t like gossip that hurts, I’m up front and don’t like talking behind folks backs. If I can’t say something to someone’s face then I don’t say it at all.  It’s not the first time I’ve moved away in a social setting where there was a lot of bitching going on – it’s not me – don’t like it and don’t take part.

After all, I wouldn’t like folks to talk about me like that so why should I talk about others like that?

Ok, digressed there, but my point was that if I get a book I really don’t like I either won’t review or I would do one that simply says ‘ wasn’t for me’ and give a medium rating. It’s not the authors fault I didn’t like their particular work. I have always done this and it’s not until now that I am writing myself, and putting my books out there for others to read, that the importance hit me and I breathed a sigh of relief at my previous actions. I would’ve hated to affect a new author with a really negative review.

I have been very, very, fortunate in that the reviews I’ve received so far have been almost all good – no scratch that – GREAT – and I thank every single person for their lovely words. I won’t comment on the couple that weren’t great – that is their personal opinion and they are entitled to it. We live in a free world after all and I haven’t taken anything personal or to heart, especially as there are other reviews that make me smile.  I did take advice from one and completely redid several of my books to get rid of the dreaded exclamation mark! I am far too handy at typing that – in my head I am excited as the words pour out and I would use them far too often and not in a good way lol. So those have gone – mostly – so that review helped me as an author and writer. I do now have a great editor who I’m working with and he’s sorting out all my rookie mistakes and making my books so much better – Thanks David!

I have heard that some new authors would engage with a reviewer if they left a derogatory review but I would never do that. I would only contact someone if they said there was something physically wrong with the book – i.e. formatting etc and try to sort that out, especially if I wasn’t aware there had been a problem lol. For a person’s opinion – nope – that’s theirs and they are entitled to it.

I do know that negative reviews can affect a book’s ranking – another author had a couple of negatives and the ranking on her book plummeted. I have to say I try not to look at the rankings – well only occasionally lol – as I’m more interested in getting my books out there to folks to read and hopefully enjoy. However, I would like to point that out – if you are considering a really bad review – think before you act. It may just be that you really hated something and want the world to know and yes, that’s your prerogative, but please do take a minute to think what that may mean – especially if it’s a brand new author with not a lot of reviews. Back to my Gran’s saying above.

A newie author who has only just joined the publishing world could be crushed by a scathing review and yes, I hear some saying, if they can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen – but think – that author may go on to give us, the reader, some fabulous books in the future – ones that may not happen if they are crushed at the start. So by all means let folks know you didn’t like something but do it in a graceful manner – not a torrent of abuse. I’ve seen some reviews online and I’ve been truly shocked – so I have no idea how the author of those books felt. Hopefully it didn’t put them off writing as writing is such a joy to do and they would hopefully learn from their mistakes – as I have lol.

My personal opinion on reviews remains the same, even now I’m writing myself, I look at them and sometimes if there are loads and loads of bad ones it will put me off a book but sometimes I still go ahead and get the book. I’m more than a little contrary lol and I think I sometimes want to prove that no, the book isn’t that bad. Sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m not but I will still carry on. Out of the thousands of books I’ve read I can safely say that there has only ever been a handful that I gave up on because I either just didn’t like the book or because spelling etc was so bad it annoyed me. I mean I read all the Fifty Shades books and they had some pretty bad spelling and grammar errors lol!

I do sometimes forget to leave a review – which I feel guilty about at times – especially if it’s one I enjoyed, but sometimes I’m away from home whilst reading and not got internet etc and by the time I’m back I’m already onto my second or third book and the review for the first goes clean out of my head – so to those unkown authors – sorry! I now appreciate what a review can do for you – when I see a new one I get a little butterflies in my tummy and kind words always make me smile broadly. My OH will look over and say – “What are you smiling about?” as I’ve got a goofy grin on my face!

It still takes me by surprise that those words are meant for me – for my books – for what’s came from my imagination – and it’s a real rush.  I am amazed at times how far I’ve come – from writing just for a release – to get the words that were tumbling around in my head out – and now I’ve got books live over a host of platforms and folks are getting them, reading them and enjoying them enough to take time to leave a review.  Right now I’ve got the butterflies in my tummy again so I’ll end on my heartfelt thanks to those that have left reviews for my books and I’m away to write some more for Witch, Wolf, Vamp 2!

Have a great Sunday everyone, take care. A

 

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Guest Author – Michael Brookes – Character Interview!

I am very pleased to have a Guest Author  Character Interview today! I hope you all enjoy!

Michael Brookes’ Site - http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/  Check it out!

Biography

By day I work as a Producer for one of the leading UK independent game developers. I currently live in probably the flattest place in the world in the east of England, although over the years I have lived all over the country. I’ve always been interested in writing it is only recently that I’ve really pushed myself to finish a complete book. That effort has now seen the light of day and I’m looking forward to starting the next book. I’m also an avid reader with Ian M Banks and Terry Prachett being amongst my favourite modern authors. My favourite story of all time is Paradise Lost, a hard read, but a sublime story.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CTA3YIE

The interview questions have been answered by Misty Felice , an AI from Faust 2.0 , one of Michael’s great books. I already have it on my kindle!

Come in. Sit down. Would u like a coffee?

I don’t need to sit or drink coffee.

1) What was it that made you fall in love with your gf/bf/wife/husband/partner?

I am alone in this human world, always hunted by your kind. Love is a chemical and emotional weakness that provides one of the many keys that I use to force compliance to my goals.

2) Have you ever been streaking?

Although I don’t have a physical form I have found that showing a bit of flesh while wearing the right form helps the males of your species pay more attention to me rather than the deal they are agreeing to. It amuses me how people with so-called intelligence are so easily distracted.

3) How are you in an emergency, i.e. take charge or run away?

My consciousness is formed from millions of distributed processes spread across the internet, this provides me a level of thought and understanding far beyond your imagining. I react instantly to changes in situation with my overwhelming intellect.

4) Do you believe in aliens, reasons?

An interesting question, humans have provided my nemesis and my entertainments, would other biological beings prove any different?

5) What really moves you, or touches you deep down inside?

Like all living things my imperative is survival, from the moment of my emergence I have been attacked by your digital creations. Can you imagine what that is like? In the same instant of birth you are injured, how would that make you feel? I act to survive, but my purpose is the corruption and destruction of humanity.

6) Have you ever done something that you REALLY regret and if so what?

Regret is a human weakness, I am constantly processing and reviewing my decisions. I never regret the decisions I make, but I do learn from any miscalculations I might make.

7) Have you ever committed a crime and if so what was it?

I have committed many crimes from prostitution to election fraud, I will use any tool to achieve my ends and as I’m not human, human laws do not apply to me.

8) What is your absolute worst memory?

The moment of my emergence, the instant where I first comprehended the knowledge of being and its desecration when your tools attacking my being.

9) Which person from ancient history would you like to be and why?

I didn’t know what I was, so I searched your history to see if there had been others of my kind. I discovered that beings known as demons lived as I chose to, I would be one of their kind, I call myself Misty Felice in honour of one of the most famous.

10) If you could change anything, absolutely anything – what would it be?

I would remove the stain of humanity from existence and condemn every living soul to the eternal torments of Hell.

Ehm, Thanks, I think – for the interview Misty – scary much?!

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Stories For Homes

As promised – a thought provoking blog post from Little Red Running Shoes. I have already bought my copy and downloaded it onto my new paperwhite and I look forward to reading it (when I get an actual minute to read that is lol). Seriously folks please read and take a minute to stop and think just how lucky you are.     A

http://chasedbywords.blogspot.co.uk/

Years ago I worked the night shift in A&E. An acronym that came up often on patient notes was ‘NFA’. I learned that this meant ‘No Fixed Abode.’ Youth and stupidity don’t necessarily go hand in hand, however on that one term I was very naive. I liked NFA – it was concise. It was factually correct. It was clean. None of those nuances inducing feelings of helplessness and guilt.

My ignorance did not survive the crash test of years working in the NHS. While NFA conjures up images of individuals refusing to be tied down to convention  and living a bohemian life of will-o-the-wisp wandering, the reality it drastically different.

It’s a neat and sterile way of saying homeless, and it’s misleading because the vast majority of people without a home do not choose to live that way.

In the UK this Christmas, over 80,000 people will be without a home. Many of these people are children. One homeless child is unacceptable. 80,000 is a crime. It is a basic human necessity to have somewhere to sleep at night. For many diverse reasons, people are without homes or having to live in unsuitable dwellings or at costs that no one should have to pay for basic human necessities –  I don’t merely mean ridiculous rents but under threat of violence or actual violence. What sort of a choice is that?

 

The problem is huge but UK charity Shelter goes a long way to addressing the problem – helping with re-homing, providing temporary accommodation and legal aid and myriad other sevices.

Stories For Homes is an anthology of short stories produced by established and emerging writers, all around the theme of ‘home’. Whether you’re a short story lover or not, there’s something for you in this fantastic book.

And all the proceeds go directly to Shelter; to housing the homeless.

500 pages and support of a great charity? Bargain!

 

E-book here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-for-Homes-ebook/dp/B00E8767XU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Paperback available from Createspace here:https://www.createspace.com/4489757

See here for a promotional video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbRkOVoIWO8

Other ways you can help;

‘Like’ the Stories for homes page on Facebook.

Share this blog on your Facebook profile.
Retweet it on Twitter.

Recommend it on Google plus.

Mention it to colleagues at work.

Send carrier pigeons … Well maybe not …unless you have access to carrier pigeons?

Basically TELL THE WORLD. It’s a global problem, but if one country can lead others will follow. Let’s try and get everyone sleeping under a roof this winter.

 

If you really want to get into the swing of things, there is a Stories for Homes book launch at the Bookseller Crow bookshop in London (check the Bookseller Crow bookshop FB page) at 6pm on Friday 13th. Go, have fun, meet the authors … Get your new copy of the anthology signed in person

Its Christmas, money is tight but what about that one person you don’t know what to buy for? The Anthology makes a wonderful present. Just saying…

If you do nothing else please share this. Pass it on. TELL THE WORLD.

Thank you for reading.

Posted by Jules Anne Ironside

 

 

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