Thursday 24 July 2014

Schools out!

For me it's the first day of the school holidays and I'm up early to crack on with my ever growing list of things I want to achieve over the summer. The list definitely includes writing! Lots of it hopefully!

I am currently editing an MG Cornish fantasy. It's been fun to write but I know it needs some work yet. I really want to complete this edit over the summer, it should reach about 30,000 words so I think this is a realistic expectation. If I could also complete a synopsis that would be brilliant. My plan is to have it ready to submit in the Autumn anyway.

You know when inspiration strikes at the oddest of times? We were driving up the M5 motorway last week and an idea for a new children's series started to form. Although it is only a loose idea at the moment, I am quite excited by it and would love to get some planning and research done over the holidays.

I have a week's family holiday planned. I'm looking for total relaxation and have several books I'd like to read. It's funny though, however many books I read my TBR list never seems to get any shorter! Anyone else have that problem? I say problem, of course it isn't really, it's wonderful that there are so many fabulous books and talented authors out there to keep replenishing my pile!

There will be a steady stream of visitors coming and going too, so I'm sure the house will always be buzzing! It is one of the reasons I like the mornings to write, that couple of hours after hubby goes to work and before the rest of the family start to surface, it seems to be when I am most creative and I love the peace and quite. I don't tend to be a writer who enjoys working around lots of distractions.

This weekend I am off to London again. This time to see 'Phantom of the Opera.'The tickets were a Christmas present from my husband. It was the first West End musical I saw about 22 years ago and I have always wanted to return. I hope it is as wonderful as I remember.

Finally, there are jobs around the house I want to do too, although I am planning on slotting them in around the writing and fun stuff!

So, there you have it. A brief round-up of the next few weeks as it stands at the moment. I am not sure how my blogging will go. I will probably take a complete blog break for a couple of weeks during August but I haven't decided yet, I will see how things go. In the meantime, I will visit your blogs and comment as often as I can.

Whatever, you are up to this summer, have fun, stay safe and for those of us who long to fill our days with words, happy writing! I'm off to explore the world through the door of possibilities ...




Thursday 17 July 2014

Sidelined Blog Tour



Excited to welcome the lovely Kyra Lennon to the blog today. Take it away, Kyra!

First of all, I’d like to say thanks to Suzanne for letting me take over her blog for the day! Much appreciated! 

Today I’d like to talk about loss – which is not the most cheerful topic ever – but it is a big theme in Sidelined. Bree Collinson feels a loss of who she used to be, a loss of the person she wanted to be, and later, she feels the loss of one of her close friends which impacts everyone in a huge way that will ripple through the rest of the Game On series.

Loss is a part of life. I like my books to reflect real life as much as possible, but I try to make it so there is always hope, too. People read as an escape, and I firmly believe that most people don’t want to read a book that is going to plunge them into a pit of misery (although, those books certainly have a place in the market, they’re just not my thing).

When I think about the best books that have been published in recent years, the ones that have stuck with me the most are the ones where the characters have had to battle their way through tough times, shown personal growth, and even though they might not have had their happy ending yet, there’s the possibility and the real belief that they WILL find it one day. I guess those are the kinds of people I admire in real life too – those who have endured all kinds of horrible things and come back stronger every time.

Bree is one of those people. She’s been through some awful things, but she still has this exceptionally bubbly, rose-tinted outlook on life. In Sidelined, much of her happiness is sucked right out of her. She is almost unrecognisable from Game On in the sense that instead of just seeing the lovable ditz that she usually is, Sidelined gets right inside her head and shows who she really is.


For Bree, as is true for many people in real life, loss changes her. Loss prompts her to really look at who she is and what she wants. Hopefully, if/when you read Sidelined, you’ll feel Bree’s emotions, and the changes in her, as strongly as I did when I wrote the story.

Blurb


At the age of twenty-one, Bree Collinson has more than she ever dreamed of. A handsome husband, a fancy house, and more shoes than Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos combined. But having everything handed to her isn’t the way Bree wants to live the rest of her life. When an idea to better herself pops into her head, she doesn’t expect her husband to question her, and keep her tied by her apron strings to the kitchen.

Isolated and unsure who to turn to, Bree finds herself falling back into a dangerous friendship, and developing feelings for the only person who really listens to her. Torn between her loyalty to her husband and her attraction to a man who has the perfect family she always wanted, she has some tough choices to make.

While Bree tries to figure out what she wants, a tragedy rocks the Westberg Warriors, triggering some dark memories, and pushing her to take a look at what’s really important.

Buy Links: Amazon UK // Amazon US // B&N // iBookstore


About the Author: 


Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.

Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday 14 July 2014

Cover Reveal - Soulless by Crystal Collier

I'm popping in today to share an amazing new cover.  I simply love this cover congrats to Crystal, look forward to the release of Soulless in October, in the meantime check out the details below.


Have you met the Soulless and Passionate? In the world of 1770 where supernatural beings mix with humanity, Alexia is playing a deadly game.



SOULLESS, Book 2 in the Maiden of Time trilogy

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she’s forced to unleash her true power.

And risk losing everything.

What people are saying about this series: 

"With a completely unique plot that keeps you guessing and interested, it brings you close to the characters, sympathizing with them and understanding their trials and tribulations." --SC, Amazon reviewer

"It's clean, classy and supernaturally packed with suspense, longing, intrigue and magic." --Jill Jennings, TX

"SWOON." --Sherlyn, Mermaid with a Book Reviewer

Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her blog and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

COMING October 13, 2014


Friday 11 July 2014

Celebrate the small things


Thanks to Viklit and her team of co-hosts;




LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse


I didn't get to post for Celebrate the small things last week, so this edition covers the last fortnight! So what's on the list ...

  • I'm celebrating the blogging community and their wonderful support and encouragement. If you read my last IWSG post you know I have been suffering from a lack of focus. Thank you to all of you who stopped by to offer advice. I am slowly starting to pick myself up and get back into my writing groove! I am looking ahead to the school holidays when I will have time away from my usual routine and commitments to make some more progress on a couple of writing projects.
  • Finding a great pair of shorts for my forthcoming holiday! They cost more than I would normally spend on such an item but they make me feel good and I will be happy to be seen out in them - sometimes it is worth the extra investment!
  • Having a long phone chat with a friend I don't get to see very often.
  • Ticking several mundane items off my ever increasing to do list!
Happy Friday #CTST




Wednesday 2 July 2014

IWSG - Revisiting January's Goals




As ever thanks to our awesome host Alex J. Cavanaugh and his team of co-hosts for this month: 

Krista McLaughlin - http://www.kjmclaughlin.com/
Heather Gardner http://hmgardner.blogspot.com/

I took a look back at my first IWSG post of the year when I said positivity and focus would be my key words for the year ahead. Now, when we find ourselves halfway through the year, I have been reflecting on these words. Back in January, when I wrote them, I totally intended to maintain this attitude. I certainly want to feel positive about my writing but I have been struggling these last few weeks. I have had several publishers interested in my work and I really thought I was about to get my break, but sadly, for a variety of reasons, the ultimate offer of publication still eludes me. Consequently I feel at a crossroads in my writing.

Do I continue to revise and submit this work or concentrate on completing something new I have been working on? I want to get my direction and positivity back but at the moment I feel a little lost, like one small fish in a very large pond. 

I know there are probably loads of you out there who have had similar feelings and found a renewed energy, any tips you could give me for working through this will be gratefully received!