Greetings readers,
In this issue, I have a bunch of recommendations for you, including books sourced from BookFunnel, and releases from my bookish friends.
Read on for more details...
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Pre-Order Now: Ink Of Deception, by Clare Bentley and M.B. Feeney
Ink Of Deception is a standalone suspense novel, which is part of a shared world for the Eastwood Prison series.
Blurb -
For Catherine Syms, it’s all real. Since the very first letter she received, she’s been falling for him. He’s broken, shaped by the environment he was raised in, and she wants to help fix him. Believes she can.
For Raymond Carr, the letters he writes to Catherine are a safety net for when he’s released from prison. He’s playing the role of a lifetime, and she isn’t his only leading lady, but she’s certainly the one who can set him up once he’s free.
Looking out for Ant, his cellmate and Catherine’s younger brother, is the best way for Ray to continue getting the kind of money he needs to make a life for himself on the outside. Though it's difficult to deal with the privileged little prick.
When he gets a second chance at life, Ray doesn’t intend to waste it.
Will he be able to keep Catherine blind to his intention to use her or will she eventually tire of the bad boy she fell in love with?
My First book Signing
I have exciting news to share. This coming April (2025) I will be attending my first-ever book signing. I'd love it if anyone local (or even those further afield) could drop by and say 'hi' and grab a signed copy of one of my books.
Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-lovers-in-birmingham-2025-tickets-813012912507
And if you are attending, be sure to join the Facebook group, where authors will be posting take-overs so you can get to know those who're attending. https://www.facebook.com/groups/842648176074116/
Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-lovers-in-birmingham-2025-tickets-813012912507
And if you are attending, be sure to join the Facebook group, where authors will be posting take-overs so you can get to know those who're attending. https://www.facebook.com/groups/842648176074116/
Introducing Write On - my alternative to NaNoWriMo
Earlier this month, in my post The Importance of Finding Your People I talked about the recent discourse involving NaNoWriMo, and how many people I'd seen online expressed their sadness at the loss of community leaving NaNoWriMo created.
Of course, this got the wheels in my head turning.
If you know me, you know I'm a huge advocate for doing NaNoWriMo at least once in your life. If circumstances had been different, I would have been doing it this November...
We've already discussed the problems with the well-known website, but another spanner in the 'write 50k words in November' works is the fact E.A Games has decided to ruin my life by releasing BOTH Dragon Age: The VeilGuard and Sims 4: Life and Death on October 31, so I won't be doing much writing in November.
But I need to finish THE STARLIGHT PRINCE and I have another StorytellerPublisher22 submission to work on, so I thought, why not try to write as much as I can in October, instead? And I don't want to do it alone...
That's why I'm inviting you all to join my new venture Write On: Writing in Tandem with Encouragement & Nurturing.
The aim is to set a goal for October and then work towards that goal throughout the month.
The twist is that you don't have to aim for the 'traditional; 50k words.
You can aim for 30k, or 100k or whatever you want. And you don't have to write EVERY DAY. You can write on just Mondays, or every day except for Sundays. Or whatever works for you.
And of course, while you're getting your butt in your seat to write however many words you're aiming for, you have a community of other writers there to cheer you on, and share you woes with. There will be daily check-in posts and a spreadsheet for everyone to keep track of their words, and if you're also a member of the Write Here, Write Now Community I will be doing regular writing sprints in addition to the usual one sprint per week the group typically hosts.
Now is the perfect time to join WH,WN, because not only will there be more sprints than usual in October, but we're also doing a 'Face Your Fears' event where we're pushing ourselves to move out of our comfort zones, and complete a bingo board of challenges such as going live on Facebook, writing outside your usual genre, and writing more words than you typically do.
And to sweeten the deal, this month anyone who joins Write On: Writing in Tandem with Encouragement & Nurturing will be sent a 50% discount code for one month's membership over at Write Here, Write Now!
To begin with, I plan on keeping Write On to Facebook only, as that's where I do most of my writerly connecting, but if there's lots of people interested in joining, but who don't use Facebook, I may consider alternatives like Discord etc.
If you're interested in taking part in my NaNoWriMo alternative, I'd love for you to join me over at the Write On Facebook Group.
If you have any issues joining the group, please leave a comment on this entry, or send me an email at claredugmore@gmail.com.
I'll be back on Monday with the cover reveal for the WH,WN Christmas anthology, so until then,
Take care & Stay Creative!
T.T.F.N
Book Funnel Swaps for September 27, 2024
Greetings Readers!
I'm here with four book promos from Book Funnel. Read on for all the alluring details...
Book Recommendations for 23 August, 2024
I'm back with some more recommendations from BookFunnel and around the web.
Please note, I understand I've gone pretty heavy on the recommendations front this month, and I'm aiming to streamline for September onwards to just two posts per month, featuring only three books per post. hopefully, that will be less 'spammy' for you.
For those interested in an update about ME you can check out my blog post from yesterday -- Writing, ADHD & Funtimes, and I'll be back this coming Monday with a feature on the amazing writing community WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW.
Until then, take care & stay creative.
T.T.F.N.
Title: Fate is a Mated Bitch
Link: books2read.com/fateisamatedbitch
Blurb:
A different kind of danger arises when a romance author meets a real life Alpha shifter.
Tall, sexy, smug, confident, and covered in mouthwatering tattoos, Walt Lupinski is determined to bring his Clan out of their 'old way is the best way' mentality that leaves them currently in danger. He can't afford any distractions, let alone a fated mate, to get in the way. Especially when it's against the Good of the Clan law to be with her.
When romance author Andy Cryder discovers her fiancé fulfilling one of his secret desires with their real estate agent, she takes off, not expecting to end up stranded on a desolate mountain...or to be rescued by a group of hot men that look more cut out to be on her book covers than in her real life.
For the first time in her life, Andy feels like she belongs. That is, until their Alpha walks in. What unfolds between Andy and Walt could change everything for the better...or destroy two families for good.
If you’re a fan of Charlaine Harris, Georgette St. Clair, or Milly Taiden, you’ll love the Lupinski Clan series.
One click today and meet a new breed of book boyfriend.
Title: Their Pretty Little Monster
Link: https://a.co/d/6hBThCY
Blurb:
In their arms, danger becomes desire.
Every year, monsters demand their Offerings—women like me. This year, I thought I escaped. I thought I was safe. Then he arrived.
The Viscount.
Dangerous and ruthless, he declares me a late Offering.
Swept into the deadly realm of the Shadowfen, I realize I’m not here by chance.
They want to rule, and I’m their key. My reality crumbles, and as much as we act like enemies, they refuse to let me go. Their touch ignites a fire I can’t resist, fueling desires I never expected.
They call me their little monster.
Maybe they’re right.
Because when everything is stripped away, a fiercer side of me no one expected—not even me—emerges.
You see, in the shadows, temptation and peril collide.
So, ready or not, the monster within is about to be unleashed… and these three Shadowfen are eager to claim their prize...
Me…
Their Pretty Little Monster is a standalone paranormal romance with darker themes, enemies to lovers, a sassy heroine who comes into her own power, and three stubborn Alphas who aren’t releasing her.
Title: Celestial Hearts
Link: https://books2read.com/b/mq70X2
Blurb:
Celestial Hearts: A Sci-Fi Romance Anthology is a limited-time collection from three unique voices in science fiction romance.
For readers who long for love stories that transcend galaxies and sweep you away from the realities of planet Earth, lose yourself in this collection and discover your next favorite author! From diners in futuristic space cities to grand ballrooms on luxurious deep space cruise ships, you'll have every chance for a starry-eyed romantic encounter.
Three authors. Three stories. Three chances for love among the stars.
Hurry, this collection won't be available for long! Grab your copy now to get all three novellas at one great price
Title: Claimed
Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/weuxilyq91?tid=til4o70pri
Blurb:
Claimed is a mm alien warrior romance and is intended for mature adults only.
Dracix
I feel a great love, and I know what will set my beloved's heart free. A life with me would never be enough while he remains captive. If I wish to declare and prove my love to him, I must do it by setting him free. With my military position and the backing of others within the rebellion, I have a plan to get him home and expose my people and our crimes to the rest of the galaxy. I know I will be seen as the enemy, but as long as he knows the truth and the evil stopped, I can die a happy male.
For love, honor, and justice!
You can also visit https://books.bookfunnel.com/preorders-and-new-releases-september/kn4er1qcjj for a list of 18 new romance recent releases and pre-order titles, including Beyond Starlight: An Alien Fated Mates Collection.
Book Funnel Promos & Swaps for 16 August, 2024
Greetings Readers!
I'm back with more book promos and swaps for your reading enjoyment!
Memorable Monday - Interview with Clare Bentley
Greetings readers!
Thank you to everyone who visited or commented on either my blog posts or social media content last week.
To kick this week off, I have an interview with indie author, graphic designer and Chris Evans fan-girl Clare Bentley.
Please give Clare a warm welcome, and check out her website linked below.
1. Can you tell us about your journey into becoming an independent author? What inspired you to write crime fiction and women’s fiction?
I’ve always loved writing. When I was younger, writing provided me with a place to escape from the horror of living in an abusive home. I wrote about a place far away with a New Kid On The Block to rescue me from the everyday sounds of my mum being beaten by the man who supposedly loved her.
In secondary school, my English teacher recognised I had a flare for telling stories… something he encouraged. But it wasn’t until I had my children that I decided to look at publishing something I’d written with characters I’d created. I wrote What She Deserves to help work out the trauma of growing up constantly afraid of my mother being killed. It’s a complete work of fiction, but it deals with the reality of domestic violence. It was important to me it was written that way. I’ve already had so many messages of support for the book. Some people have reached out to share their own stories of being in an abusive relationship. I’ve even heard from someone who didn’t even class what she was enduring as domestic violence. Honestly helping just one person walk away from a situation like that, it’s the reason I wrote the book. As for crime fiction… I love true crime; it was only natural that was going to feature heavily in my novels.
2. How do you balance the distinct elements of crime fiction and women’s fiction in your writing? Do you find it challenging to switch between the two genres?
I watch a lot of true crime. I think there are similar elements in both genres, which I think I lean into well. I don’t find switching between the two genres particularly challenging. I believe it’s ingrained in me.
3. Your characters are often praised for their depth and complexity. What is your process for developing such multifaceted characters?
I usually have a very defined outline for my characters. I think complexities are what make us all individual. Cast of a book shouldn’t be any different. I start with the basics for each character and then dive into why they are who they are. I create a profile for my main cast and write down everything in excruciating detail so I forget nothing and can remain consistent.
4. Can you share some insights into your writing routine? How do you stay productive and motivated?
Sometimes that’s hard. Like with all things, and probably most creative types, motivating yourself when you feel like doing nothing is really difficult. I find asking friends and readers for pictures and GIFs of Chris Evans helps though. In all seriousness, I have days when I don’t work if I know anything I write or create will end up being deleted or restarted. Sometimes I don’t know that until I sit down and try to do something, other times I can tell just by my mood. That’s when I take a day for myself. I used to feel guilty about those days… I don’t anymore. You can’t replenish from an empty cup, so if I spend a day playing games on my phone, watching TV or reading, that’s okay. I know whatever I write will be better if I’m not drained. I used to keep going and constantly reworked everything I wrote because I wasn’t happy with it. Then I’d get frustrated with myself. That’s when I learned to take a break. Step away. Do something else for a while. When you’re ready, the words will come.
5. You’ve recently launched a graphic design business focusing on book graphics and covers. What inspired you to take this step, and how has the experience been so far?
I have been making my own book covers since I started publishing. They may not be to everyone’s liking, but I’m proud of them regardless. Having the ability to make my own graphics saved me money.
I’ve even been lucky enough to have made a few for friends… Rewriting Christmas for Kyra Lennon and After The Rain, a charity anthology for the Write Here, Write Now Community being two of my favourites.
In all honestly, it was my good friend, Karen, who encouraged me to go into business creating covers and graphics. While it was something I would do for friends, if they asked, I’d never considered marketing myself.
I have to say, Happy Bee Designs has been really well received. I had a client the first day I launched, which is incredible. And I’ve since had someone approach me for branding.
I find when the client has an idea of what they want, the who process runs smoothly.
6. How do your skills as a graphic designer influence your approach to writing and vice versa? Do you find that these creative fields complement each other?
Oh, that’s a good question and something I’ve never considered before you asked. I suppose I do approach them in similar ways. I have to have a distinct idea for both writing and graphics before I start any work at all. Even a loose idea is enough to get me started.
7. What are some of the unique challenges you face as an independent author in the publishing industry, and how do you overcome them?
I’m not sure it’s unique, but visibility is by far the biggest challenge for me. Without money for ad’s, I’m reliant on family, friends and readers to share promotional posts to increase being seen.
Also, as an independent author, everything is your responsibility and it’s hard to know if you’re making the right decisions—especially when it comes to book covers.
8. Could you walk us through your process for designing a book cover? What elements do you consider essential for capturing the essence of a book?
I think it’s important to know the genre of the book when you look at the cover. Romance is pretty straight forward… couples right? But if you don’t want to use a couple, or topless man, it can be challenging. It helps if a client has an idea in mind, though it’s not essential. They say two heads are better than one, so even if someone has no clue what they want… we can discuss it and develop ideas together.
My most recent custom cover I made for a client is the perfect example. She didn’t want people, just something specific made sexy. The request stumped me for about a day… and then, it came to me.
I can’t say too much, there’s been no cover reveal yet, but the client is pleased with my design and that makes me happy. For my own book covers, I can draw elements from the story I know by heart. With the exception of After You’ve Gone and Twisted Fixation, I have enjoyed the process of making all of my own covers.
The cover I’m proudest of is for my latest release, Survive The Night… and the one for book two is even better—if I do say so myself. LOL.
9. With the rise of digital books and self-publishing, how do you see the future of independent publishing and the role of graphic design in it?
I think publishing my books myself is the best thing I ever did. The fear of rejection from a traditional company always kept me from sending off a manuscript. With self-publishing, you get to release the story you want and control all other aspects of being in business. And I mean ALL aspects, which can be extremely difficult, but I know I feel better knowing all the rights to my books are mine.
I truly believe more and more authors will become designers, because not all of them earn a living from book sales. If you can design your own cover, it saves you money. It’s one of the reasons I’m happy to have already been tech savvy. Being able to make my own cover saved me money when I was just starting out and is one of the reasons my prices are so competitive. I know it’s not easy having to shell out for everything yourself.
10. What advice would you give to aspiring authors and graphic designers who are looking to break into the industry?
When I first started publishing, there was an overwhelming sense of being alone on this journey. Then I found the Write Here, Write Now Community—a group of fellow authors who you can lean on and ask for advice on all aspects of writing. My journey as an author has changed so much being part of a tribe. I used to be so scared of sprints. I was encouraged—not pressured—into trying them. And, I flourished, getting better and better word counts each time. My confidence around how I write has increased dramatically too. Listening to other authors read snippets of their work, helped me to see where I could improve my own words. I’ve had feedback from fellow authors, support when I haven’t been able to write and just a whole sense of community that makes this job easier. I can’t recommend enough finding a troupe that can help you when you get imposter syndrome, that will lift you up when you feel like there’s no point writing anymore and who rally around to celebrate your successes too. Personally, I recommend the Write Here, Write Now Community. It’s not an annual subscription. You can join for a month to see what the fuss is about, and there’s no obligation to stay if it’s not right for you, but I bet you’ll stick around. We’re pretty great in there, all of us.
Thank you for dropping by my blog Clare, and answering my questions.
And if you want to learn more about Clare, and where to find both her books and graphic design services, read on.
About Clare Bentley
Clare Bentley is a married mother of a son and a daughter, who are now adults. She was raised by a single mother and didn’t care to know her abusive biological father, instead considering her stepfather to be her dad.
Playtime for her growing up was filled with creating scenarios to act out and making up dance routines to her favourite songs of the late 80s to early 90s.
She discovered a love of writing in secondary school English, which was the only lesson she cared to attend, and the only GCSE’s she actually got a decent grade in.
She never really had a passion for anything other than being a mother until she was one, and that’s when she decided to try her hand at writing.
And that led her into the world of self-publishing.
Find Clare Bentley Online at: Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram
And find Happy Bee Designs at: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Favourites Friday - Books I Love
Happy Friday, Readers!
Thank you to anyone who has visited or commented on my blog or social media posts this week. The support is greatly appreciated.
Today, I want to discuss some of my favourite books.
I was going to start with a disclaimer about my previous love for the Harry Potter Series and how that has changed since J.K. Rowling's true anti-trans ideology has become more apparent. However, I have decided to write a full-length blog post about that in the future, as I think it's something important that should be discussed.
Now onto books I love. Please note, if there are issues with the author (i.e. Patrick Rothfuss not fulfilling charity incentives), I don't discuss that here. For the sake of this post, I am separating art from the artist.
In order of when the books were introduced to me:
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
As I mentioned above, in my late teens, I was a Harry Potter fan, which renewed my love of reading, and I was on the lookout for new books to read. At the same time, I was heavily into gothic subculture. One night, my sister and I were looking for something to watch on TV and stumbled across the Interview with the Vampire movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.
I was instantly in love.
As soon as I was able, I went to the bookshop and bought as many Anne Rice books as I could get my hands on, absolutely devouring The Vampire Chronicles. By the time I'd read all the Chronicles that had been published, Anne Rice was firmly one of my favourite authors, and I ventured into her other works. I already loved all things witches, so The Mayfair Witches trilogy seemed like a no-brainer.
Ironically, I started the book and could not get into it. I hated that I'd bought this book, by an author I loved, about witches, and I couldn't get into it. I honestly don't remember why; it just didn't pull me in, and I put it down and moved on to something else.
One of these something else's was Blackwood Farm, another book in The Vampire Chronicles, which briefly featured appearances by Rowan and Mona Mayfair.
Mona Mayfair captured my heart completely, and I needed to know more about her and the Mayfair Family, so I tried to read The Witching Hour again.
This time, something clicked. I think maybe the first few chapters aren't a true representation of the book as a whole, and the switching POVs was frustrating for me (ironic given I later fell in love with GRRM).
But once the story got going, I was hooked. I loved the history of the Mayfair Witches and the gothic horror that came with it, and I was intrigued by how that history would affect the current-day storyline and romance between Rowan and Michael.
The Talamasca were fascinating to me, and I wanted to join them. Lasher was equal parts enthralling and terrifying.
The end of the book left me reeling, and I immediately dived into the next, thrilled to see my beloved Mona featured more prominently.
By the time I got to the final book and then read the tie-in/cross-over with The Vampire Chronicles, The Witching Hour had cemented itself as one of my favourite books ever.
The Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
I am super lucky to have a bookworm for a brother-in-law, and when we saw each other during the holidays, we'd discuss our favourite books. B-I-L always mentioned His Dark Materials and recommended I read them. One year, he bought the complete series for me as a birthday gift.
I'm so glad he did.
I instantly fell in love with Lyra, her world, and the idea of Dæmons. I needed to know what Dust was, and how it connected to Lyra, Pantalaimon, and the world as a whole.
Then we were introduced to Iorek Byrnison, and that changed everything. How can you not love an armoured, talking polar bear? That's the point I knew these books were something special.
As I often do with series I love, I jumped from one book to the next in quick succession, so they all blurred into one big story. A story I adored, and still hold close to my heart many years after finishing the series.
The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The other bookish person in my life is my sister, and we sometimes have a similar arrangement as me and B-I-L, where we recommend books for each other, and buy the recommended books for the other as Christmas or birthday gifts.
The Name of the Wind was one of these books. I think she bought it for me in exchange for me buying her the His Dark Materials trilogy.
Another book of magic and mystery that instantly pulled me in. I spent hours thinking and theorizing about who or what The Chandrian are, and how Kvothe will defeat them. It also helped that Kvothe was a redhead with green eyes—a sure-fire way to win my heart!
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
By now, it should be clear I love books with magic, mysteries, great world-building, and lore. A fellow Harry Potter fandom friend recommended the books to me, saying that the Lannisters made the Malfoys look like babies in comparison.
I was intrigued.
Then I heard there was going to be a TV show based on the books, starring Sean Bean. I decided I wanted to read the books before I watched the show so that my first impression of the characters and the story was directly from the books.
Comparing the A Song of Ice and Fire series to the Harry Potter series in any way absolutely does not do justice to George R. R. Martin's books, which are phenomenal and one of the best fantasy book series ever.
My redhead-loving streak continues as Sansa Stark became one of my favourite characters. I also have a love-hate relationship with the Targaryen Family and can't decide if they're the coolest people ever or psychopaths. Maybe a bit of both.
Even though the TV series finished on a sour note, and we don't know if and when GRRM will finish the book series, the world of Ice and Fire is so rich and full of lore that I could spend hours reading theories and watching videos about different obscure characters. It's no surprise I'm currently obsessed with the mysterious and witchy Alys Rivers.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I'm one of those people who, when something becomes super popular, I become curious and want to check it out. Sometimes I end up hating the super popular thing (Twilight just was not for me), and sometimes I love it.
The Hunger Games series was one of those 'I love it' times. Although I'd read some YA fiction, I had never read anything set in a world like Panem, and I wasn't sure what to expect.
I had a sort of vision in my mind of what YA books were like (again, Twilight ruined my perception here), and I was expecting a love story set in a war-torn world. Yes, The Hunger Games has that, but oh boy, does it have SO MUCH more. I don't think I've read another book like it that focuses on war, corruption, class systems, and rebellion. It's a series that really makes you stop and think.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Ghibli movies are my guilty pleasure. When I'm stressed and feeling down, I snuggle in bed and watch one. My favourite is Howl's Moving Castle, so imagine my surprise when I learned it was based on a book.
I also have a soft spot for children's and young adult fiction, especially if it's fantasy. Sometimes you just need something easy and fun to escape into.
I started reading Howl's Moving Castle recently, fully expecting it to be exactly the same as the movie. While it's very similar, there are many key details that make it stand out, and in my opinion, make it better than the movie. Sophie is slightly different, and I liked her much more in the book. Howl is even more of a brat in the books than he is in the movie, and somehow, that made him more endearing. I do love a troubled, broken man. Bonus points if they are magical. ;)
The book is whimsical, light, and easy to read, which for me is perfect. I can switch off and lose myself in another world for a few hours, without having to think too deeply about anything or worry about the world. Perfection.
While these six are just some of my favourite books, if I listed all the books I've read and enjoyed, we'd be here forever. Honestly, I'm pretty black and white when it comes to reading. It either hooks me early on and I become obsessed, or it doesn't hook me and I forget about it.
I can only think of a few series I completed (or nearly completed) that I didn't enjoy. I jump between genres, enjoying both contemporary and other-world stories. Romance is a bonus for me, but not always a necessity. But I'm more often drawn to stories with magic, mysteries, world-building, and lore.
That's all I have for you this week. Now I really should get back to writing my own book, and resist the temptation to play with the new Sims expansion.
Be sure to come back on Monday, for an interview with indie author and graphic designer Clare Bentley.
Until then,
Take care and stay creative.
T.T.F.N.
Writing Wednesday - A Status Update for my Two WIPs
Thank you to everyone who dropped by my blog last week for any of my new weekly content. And thanks to those who dropped by on Monday for Diana Dawn’s guest post.
Last week, I spoke in detail about my author origin story. This week, I want to bring it to the present and talk about my current WIPs.
If you’ve followed me here or on social media for any length of time, you will have heard me talk about two stories: The Starlight Prince and The Adventures of Josain Jovenne.
The Starlight Prince is a science-fiction romance about a witch on Earth, Madelyne, who casts a spell to find her true love. At the same time, across the galaxy, an alien prince, Kalas, takes part in a ritual to find his fated mate and is shown a vision of Maddie. Kalas then travels to Earth to claim his bride.
The first 25k of The Starlight Prince will be released on November 19th as part of the Beyond Starlight: An Alien Fated-Mates Collection, with the complete story coming on February 25th, once the collection is no longer available.
For those who don’t know, I wrote and serialized about 30k of Maddie and Kalas’s story as a paranormal romance under the name Wings, Witches, and Wonder.
In January, I began to feel Wings wasn’t quite the story I wanted to tell, and due to the dopamine-seeking nature of ADHD, I had lost interest in serialization. At the same time, I saw the sign-up form for Beyond Starlight and thought the story I wanted to tell between Maddie and Kalas would work well as a sci-fi romance in that collection.
In both versions of the story, there were some key factors I wanted to preserve. First was my love interest, Kalas. As I mentioned in my previous post, oftentimes, my stories are inspired by celebrities or fictional characters I have a crush on. Last year, when I conceived the idea of a witch ‘awakening’ a man from stone with a magic spell, it was because I’d just finished watching Part Two of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, and I was totally in love with the character Kars.
Kalas took on many of Kars’s characteristics, such as long, majestic hair, taloned nails, fangs, and the ability to transform. In Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, Kars becomes the ultimate being and grows wings. For Kalas, I took it a step further, having him able to transform into both a winged being, similar to a harpy, and then further still into a feathered wyvern.
In making Kalas my own original character, the whole species of Kralians, their planet, and their crow deity Korvarith Thalun was born.
And from that, a second story was born, but more on that in a moment.
I mentioned some key factors from Wings that I wanted to make sure translated over to The Starlight Prince, and one of those factors was Maddie being a witch.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve always had an interest in magical beings and worlds. Since learning more about myself, I have realized why I am drawn to the more fantastical. As I’ve mentioned before (and plan on expanding on in another blog post), reading and writing for me is an escape, and I find it easier to escape into a completely new, magical world. It’s why I like fantasy movies and games too. Fighting dragons or orcs helps me better forget about the true horrors of the real world for a while.
But there’s another reason why I’m drawn to magical characters, specifically witches. Along with fantasy media, I grew up watching the 90’s X-Men animated series, and I’m now an enjoyer of X-Men comics. Mutants in the Marvel Universe, much like witches in many of my stories, are outcasts. They’re hated and feared. They’re ‘othered.’ When I played the game Dragon Age 2, I felt especially drawn to the mage character Anders and his fight against the oppression of mages.
Why?
Since accepting I have autism (and likely ADHD), I’ve been able to identify that I create these ‘outcast’ characters as a projection of myself. I’ve always felt different. Sometimes only a little. Sometimes a lot. Even now, with great friends, an amazing family, and a fantastic hubby, sometimes I feel … I don’t know exactly how to explain it. But I feel ‘not like everyone else.’
This doesn’t bother me as much as it once did, and I revel in my uniqueness, but as a neurodivergent person, who also identifies as queer and non-binary, I still deeply empathize and relate to the marginalized and oppressed. I recognize my privilege compared to others but at the same time acknowledge I am different. And that’s okay.
Marginalized characters find their way into my stories, so I can hopefully make readers think, “Why is Maddie hunted for being a witch? She’s not evil.” And then hopefully, connect my marginalized characters to marginalized people in the real world. If readers can recognize Maddie shouldn’t be hunted for being a witch, hopefully, they can recognize that their neighbour/colleague/random person in the store deserves to be treated fairly even if they are gay/trans/a different religion/a different race, or whatever other asinine reason people have for ‘othering’ those not like them.
I dream of the day Charles Xavier’s vision for the future comes true, and there’s peaceful co-existence between all people.
Maybe I’m an idealist, but it’s better than the alternative…
Anyway, back on track…
As The Starlight Prince and the universe it’s set in grew, I started to think of other stories in the same universe. I wanted to create a ‘reader magnet’ - a short story that introduced the world and characters of The Starlight Prince without spoiling too much of the story.
And thus, The Adventures of Josain Jovenne was born. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that TSP was in part inspired by Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, so the title of my reader magnet should seem familiar. I couldn’t help myself. There’s always time for a Jojo’s reference. ;)
As well as inspiring my title and main character’s name, another Jojo’s character also inspired the appearance of Josain, with my main character sharing the same green hair and space buns as Jolyne Cujoh.
At first, all I had was a Jolyne-like character, who I instantly knew would be a space adventurer. But I needed more of a story than that. I knew I wanted to show Kralis and hint at the story to come in The Starlight Prince, so I had Josain visit Kralis for Kalas’s coming-of-age ceremony, where he completes the ritual that shows him a vision of Maddie.
But I needed more story than just that, and also wanted my magnet to make it clear to prospective readers that my stories are spicy. As I said, as much as I am drawn to the magical and fantastical, I’m also drawn to romance.
As often happens, while looking for inspiration, I was fixated on another fictional character -- Aemond Targaryen from House of the Dragon. I instantly knew Josain’s love interest had to have long white hair, wear leather, and be a bit of a bad boy. And from that, I conceived the character Savrion.
Savrion quickly became his own person too, especially as I made him a Kralian like Kalas. He has his own unique backstory, and it ties into the main story of The Starlight Prince.
The more I wrote, the more Josain and Savrion told me about themselves until it became clear they’re not just spin-off characters for a short story, but integral supporting characters for The Starlight Prince.
Josain also insisted she isn’t happy starring in just one short story, and demanded she be the star of the short I’m working on for the WH, WN Christmas anthology. However, this story takes place before The Starlight Prince and The Adventures of Josain Jovenne.
Progress on The Starlight Prince is currently on hold, as I can only work on one story at a time. But I already have ~25k written and scheduled to release on November 19. I’m confident I will have the rest of the story finished before the end of the year and ready to release on February 25.
Right now, my main focus is getting The Adventures of Josain Jovenne finished. It was meant to be a quick and simple short to introduce you to Kralis and Kalas, but instead, it’s on 18k words, and I still haven’t finished. I hope to have it complete by the end of July, and I estimate it will be about 28-30k words when finished.
After that, it will be back to work on The Starlight Prince and Josain’s Christmas story… Oh, and did I mention I also signed up to be part of a collection of “PNR & Dark Fantasy Romance Stories featuring a hot MC that falls for a sorcerer/witch?”
I’ve planned a story called ‘The Last Magic Shop,’ but I will tell you more about that some other time. ;)
For now, I’ll leave it here.
If you have any questions about either The Starlight Prince or The Adventures of Josain Jovenne, please feel free to ask in the comments.
And please follow me on social media, as I share teasers and tidbits from both stories, as well as other fun bookish things, and snippets of my non-writing life.
Until next time,
Take care and stay creative,
T.T.F.N
Memorable Monday: Diana Dawn Guest Post
Hello friends! I’m Diana Dawn and I’m a self-published author. I write clean romance stories including fantasy, historical and contemporary. I have a story featured right now in the “Beyond Starlight” boxed set. I thought I would use this blog post opportunity to offer some pointers to new writers.
1. Write what you know.*** I know this is said a lot, but it’s true! I struggle more trying to write out of my comfort zone. But when I focus on something I know, the words and content just flow much easier, and it will also seem more real to the reader. This isn’t an exclusive “rule” of course, it just makes writing a little easier. It really helps, at least in the beginning, when you’re still trying to figure out your writing styles and preferences.
2. Do your research.*** You certainly can’t always stay in your comfort zone, or else you wouldn’t be able to stretch yourself as a writer. The key is consistency within your story and within the genre you’re writing. For example, the story I have in this boxed set, “Beyond Starlight”, is actually not in my typical comfort zone. I hadn’t written science fiction before, but I had the story in my head and wanted to write it. I found that the key to this is to do your research and read other books in the same or similar genre. You may not be familiar with the genre, but the reader may be a pro. So, you want to be sure not to pass his or her “suspension of disbelief” … which means to write something so far-fetched within the genre, that the reader can’t believe it, even in a fiction story. Admittedly, this is pretty subjective, but just keep it in mind. I was part of a post-apocalyptic boxed set a couple of years ago and had a story I wanted to write for it. Originally, the idea for the setting of my story was to be in the pre-colonial era. So, it was a struggle for me to completely change the story and the setting to fit into a post-apocalyptic world. It was such a challenge that I almost gave up! LOL! But I pushed through and completed the story and ended up being very happy with how it turned out.
3. Stay organized.*** I always have an idea for a story in my head. I find it helpful to jot things down as I think of them so I don’t forget. It never fails… I’ll be driving and think of something for my story, and I tell myself to not forget so I can write it down later. Then later, I’m like “what was that idea I had?”, then I’m kicking myself! LOL! So even if I’m not in a situation where I can write something down, I pull out my phone and record a short note that I can reference later. Also, when I am first writing a story, I’ll have a general overview of it in my head. So, before I go into the details of writing the setting or the dialogue, I’ll do an outline of the story, and sometimes I’ll even do a spreadsheet of all the characters and their relationships, birthdates, and so on. Additionally, if your story has a lot of time points or dates, it might be helpful to do a timeline that shows dates and gaps in months, years, etc. I have a series that spans across five years, so I did a timeline that shows the year, the season and a general description of the important event in the story, so I can keep track and keep consistency throughout the series. I also keep a document with all of the dates for my deliverables. For example, I have a spreadsheet that has the name of the story (whether it’s a stand-alone book or story in a boxed set) its pre-order date, deliverable due date, release date, Facebook group link (if applicable), date I signed up for the set, etc. Don't let a deadline creep up on you and catch you unawares. Put things on your calendar. Make notes to yourself... even send emails to yourself. This helps me to remember things, too!
4. Get inspired.*** I find it helpful to get inspiration for my story if I can really visualize things in my head. So, I will gather various photos. These can be pictures that no one will see but you… anything that can get you inspired. I like to gather photos of what I see my characters looking like, whether it’s pictures of movie stars or character drawings. Plus, I’ll find photos of the different settings in my story, like if it’s a forest or the beach. Personally, I also get inspired by music, like if I am listening to a song and can see one of the scenes of my story play out in my head like a music video. LOL! One story I wrote recently took place in the 1400’s in a European-style setting. I got inspired by attending a Renaissance faire, and while I was there, I enjoyed watching the court dancing they did. I had a very similar scene in my book, so that was very inspiring for me. I also had another story that took place on a cruise ship. I gathered a lot of inspiration while on a Caribbean cruise vacation with my family. It was a win-win! LOL! You can use anything to get inspired and get your juices flowing to help you with your story.
I hope these notes helped to give you some takeaways that you can cater to your own writing practices and styles, etc. Thank you all for listening! Reminder to stay motivated!
Diana Dawn is a writer and author of the book series, Whispering Willows. As a lover of fairy tales and romance, Diana has focused her writing on romantic fiction, with a hint of classic fables. She has been a lifelong writer and first began creating stories in grade school. When she isn't glued to her computer or lost in her next romance story, Diana enjoys taking vacations with her husband and three children. She would love to hear your thoughts or feedback. Drop her an email at Diana@DianaDawnBooks.com for a special free promotional offer related to her Whispering Willows book series!
Find Diana Dawn online at https://dianadawnbooks.com/
Book Funnel Promos & Swaps for 20 July, 2024
Greetings Readers!
I'm back with more book promos and swaps for your reading enjoyment!
Doggone Alien Love previously appeared in a much shorter form as part of the USA Today bestselling charity anthology, Claimed Among the Stars. The story has been expanded to more than twice the original length and completely re-edited.You'd think crashlanding on an alien planet would be horrible, especially once the life pod cheerfully told you was interdicted due to a deadly contagion. Great, huh? Instead of possibly dying in deep space, I was going to catch some horrible disease and die alone except for the tiny little dog I was supposed to be looking after because interdicted meant no rescue.
Hooray for me!
Only it doesn't quite work out that way. The crash could very well turn out to be the best thing that's ever happened to me. It turns out that not only are there aliens living on this world but also, there's more to the 'deadly pathogen' story. As for dying alone? Not only would will the alien who found me not let me or the pup die, but this blue and lavender striped god of manliness has a singular focus: to make me his.
Book Mojo brings 111 boxed sexts, collections, and anthologies for your reading pleasure.
Reads2 Love brings you 102 steamy summer reads.
Athletes In Love is a collection of 45 spicy sports romances.
BookMojo brings you 30 books that are available for pre-order.
If you're interested in some more personal news, there is new content on my blog, including a teaser from Kyra Lennon's ALL OF YOU, my author origin story, and my favorite TV shows.
Until next time, take care and read on!
T.T.F.N.
Memorable Monday - An Excerpt from ALL OF YOU, by Kyra Lennon
Happy Memorable Monday everyone!
I'm super excited to share a steamy excerpt from Kyra Lennon's recently released, opposites-attract, badboy, contemporary-romance ALL OF YOU.
And be sure to read the full post to see my review of the book. Spoilers: It's five stars!
Letting go of his hand, I shifted my position again, moving my leg over both of his so I was straddling him. I wanted to look him right in the eye, and I placed my hands around the back of his neck to make sure he was focused on me. “Cal, listen to me. I’m pretty sure if anyone was to look at me and you and the way our lives have gone, nobody would ever dream of putting us together. And yet, we met, and however nonsensical, there’s something between us. So, as long as you can promise not to lie to me, cheat on me, or keep anything important from me, I really don’t mind that we haven’t been on a real date yet. I can wait.”
Cal’s hands slid around my back, pulling me tighter against his chest before pressing his lips to mine. “I can promise that.”
Smiling softly, I kissed him again, and his muscles relaxed beneath my fingers. As our mouths moved together in a perfect rhythm, my own tension ebbed away, and I lost myself in him the way I’d wanted to when he arrived at my flat earlier. We weren’t in a rush to be anywhere now, and his lips danced with mine with a slowness and sensuality that sent my heart racing and my body melting against his.
I never want this feeling to stop. It was consuming, the way his soft lips touched mine over and over. Hungry but not hurried. Passionate yet tender. I’d never felt how much someone wanted me through a kiss until Cal, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever put so much of myself into a kiss either.
His hands moved up my back, and I shuffled my hips forward, needing to be as close to him as I could get. We finally had some time alone, and I wanted every second of it to be spent with us glued together.
Cal’s lips drifted across my cheek towards my ear. “Stay,” he murmured against my skin. “Stay with me tonight.”
My heart pounded harder at the possibility of an unexpected night together. “I want to,” I said, closing my eyes as his lips lowered to my neck, making me shiver. “But… tomorrow… you… you have to…”
My point that he needed to be up early in the morning fell completely out of my mind when his mouth found my collarbone.
He paused, looking up at me, the need in his eyes almost flooring me. “We’ll wake up early and I’ll take you home before anyone else gets up.”
Cal’s lips went back to my collarbone, feathering kisses there as his hands slipped underneath my top, his rough fingers on my back.
“I don’t… I don’t have anything to…” His teeth grazed my neck, his hands working higher up my back to my bra strap.
His throaty chuckle sent another shiver through me, his breath hot on my neck. “Be a rebel, Shannen. Go home with your knickers in your pocket. Nobody will ever know.”
His husky tone and dirty words caused my skin to heat and the fluttering sensation to stir in my core. His ability to read my thoughts and counter my protests was sexy as hell. When his fingers unclipped my bra, I raked my hands into his hair. “What kind of girl do you think I am?” I teased, tugging to pull his face back to mine.
He smirked, then brushed his lips against my own. “The kind who’s going to let me spend several hours inside her, then fall asleep beside me, fully satisfied?”
I tilted my head to the side as if thinking, and he flipped me over onto my back and climbed on top of me, making me laugh.
“Say yes, Shan,” he said, smiling into my eyes. “Please.”
Winding my arms around him again, I said, “Yes. I guess I am that kind of girl.”
Book details:
One night was all they ever intended. They soon realise the old saying is true—opposites do attract.
Callum Lewis lives a no-complications life. No long-term women, no staying overnight, and absolutely no commitment. Keeping emotions at arm’s length is his number one skill—that and trying to navigate life as a single dad to a five-year-old.
Until Shannen Morgan changes everything.
As lust turns to feelings, Cal fights an internal battle between keeping Shannen in his life and pushing her away to protect her from his dark past. But when the skeletons are forced out of Cal’s closet, can he keep his girl and the future he’s started to want?
Shannen has never known anything as frivolous as a one-night stand. Her professional image as a primary school teacher just wouldn’t allow such a thing, not to mention her country club, upper-middle-class upbringing. She certainly wouldn’t dream of having a quickie with the stubbled bad boy she meets in a bar.
So, why can’t she keep away from him?
As Shannen falls hard for the rugged charmer, she struggles to balance the relentless disapproval from her judgemental best friend with the freedom she's found in the arms—and bed—of a man who wants her for who she is and not as a suitable little housewife. However, when secrets from Cal's younger years bubble to the surface, will Shannen be able to overlook his sins, or will she retreat into the safety of the predictable life she’s always known?
With friendships, a career, and family ties on the line, is love really enough to overcome all they stand to lose?
You can get a copy of All Of You from all major book retailers here https://books2read.com/allyou
My Review
TL;DR - If you love spicy, opposites-attract romances with plenty of twists and turns, this book is for you.
Disclaimer: I've known Kyra Lennon for 20 years and have been following her writing career since it began. I was privileged to read a pre-release, beta version of All of You.
However, all opinions expressed in my review are my own and are not influenced by outside factors.
With all that said, if you've been a reader of Kyra Lennon for any amount of time, you come to expect certain things in her books:
Real Characters: From the main characters to the side characters, each and every one feels like someone you could know. All of You is no different, and I found myself connecting and empathizing with almost every character in the book.
Real Emotions: Even though I haven't been through some of the things Cal and Shannen go through in All of You, Kyra writes their emotions (and the emotions of the side characters) so wonderfully that you feel every tear, every bit of heartache, every rush of excitement.
Twists and Turns: In some ways, romance books are very formulaic. Two people meet. There's a mutual attraction. Obstacles stand in their way. Where Kyra shines is with these obstacles. Her love stories are never straightforward. All of You is no different. Cal has a deep, dark past that he hopes to keep hidden. This isn't a bad-boy romance for no reason. And it's not just Cal bringing the drama. There were moments in this book that left me gobsmacked and fuming!
Something new for All of You that Kyra hasn't dived too deeply into before is the steam. I'm not saying her previous books are 'clean,' but sex certainly wasn't the focus of the stories. While All of You isn't pages of smut without any plot, there are plenty of steamy scenes that really get your pulse racing. For someone 'fairly' new to steamy scenes, Kyra did an excellent job of describing the emotions and feelings of a steamy scene without making it vulgar or too clinical.
I have to be honest, if you had to ask me what my favorite Kyra Lennon book is, I'd be hard-pressed to give you an answer. I love them all for different reasons. All of You is no exception. Another five-star, couldn't-put-it-down masterpiece.
Now hurry up and write book two, Kyra. I need to know what happens next!!
Thank you for joining me for the first of many Memorable Monday posts here on my blog. Be sure to check back on Wednesday for my first Writing Wednesday post, where I discuss my author 'origin' story.
Until then,
Take care and stay creative!
T.T.F.N
New Content Coming to My Blog at claredugmore.com
I just wanted to provide a quick update for anyone who follows me here.
If you're a long-time follower, you may remember when I used to post regular-themed content. I miss that, and plan on reviving that on my website.
Mondays will be Memorable Mondays - in which I blog about memorable authors, books, and book-related services from around the web, including many of my bookish friends. The first post will be Monday 15th July, and I'll be hosting Kyra Lennon with a steamy excerpt from her latest release ALL OF YOU, as well as my review of the book.
Wednesdays will be Writing Wednesdays - in which I blog about my writing. What progress I'm making on various projects. What inspires me. What struggles I face. Basically, anything to do with writing from my perspective.
Fridays will be Favourites Fridays - in which I blog about my favourite things. That could be other books I've recently enjoyed, TV shows I'm loving, video games I'm having fun with, and other non-writing things like that. It will be part review, part just me musing and talking about media I love.
I hope some of you will join me there. https://claredugmore.com/blog
Wings, Witches and Wonder is now live!
Chapter one of my new paranormal romance WINGS, WITCHES AND WONDER is now live on ReamStories and free to all tiers. New chapter every Friday! https://reamstories.com/page/llfhpgpcks/story/lmjkeknbwh
Plans and Musings
I thought a follow-up to my last update was required, so here it is.
I started ADHD coaching, and it's going great. My coach is so insightful, and I'm trying to make changes already. I know I've got a way to go, but I feel like I'm making positive steps.
I also heard back from the referral for an assessment, and I'm now in their system, so I imagine I'll be hearing back again in February-March. It's a long wait, but it is what it is.
I'm still waiting on a few other things to help support people with their mental health so they can get back to work, so we will see how that goes.
Overall though, I am feeling SO much better. I feel like a dark cloud has been lifted from over me, and now I see the future stretching out before me.
So, what does that mean both for my literary career and writing?
Well, I'm starting a proofreading course today, with the aim of launching a proofreading business in the new year.
I've done a little proofreading before and loved it. I feel like it will be a good use of my skills, and also fit in with my interests.
I've decided to go the self-employed route (rather than applying to publishers etc.) because I want control. One thing I realized is that part of why ghostwriting wasn't working for me anymore was because I didn't have enough control.
Hopefully with some changes to my routine and mentality, and skills learned in coaching, I can build a successful business while maintaining a better work-life balance, and not end up burned out.
Writing-wise, I'm working on a paranormal romance that I'm really enjoying. I have a vague plan for how the rest of the story goes, so I'm writing happily and seeing where the story takes me.
The story is actually set in the Ancile universe, and that's been making me think a lot about Liches, Legends, and Love. I very much want to finish the story, but I'm wondering if I should work on re-writing it so that it's a paranormal romance, rather than a contemporary fantasy with romantic elements so that it's more in line with my current WIP.
Another question I keep coming back to is what will I do with the story(ies) once they're finished. I'm *trying* to live in the moment, and just enjoy writing, but my mind inevitably goes to "what comes next?"
I LOVE serial web fiction, but it seems not everyone else does, as Liches only had one regular reader. Part of me wondered if it was genre-related, but I was posting to genre-specific sites, like Royal Road, so who knows.
I'm tempted to give serials one last try on Inkett and Ream, but I'd LOVE some feedback.
Who here reads online web fiction? If so, what draws you to a story?
Has anyone published a successful online web fiction? If so, what tips and tricks do you have for me?
That's all I have for today, and lunchtime is almost over, so it's time for me to get into work mode.
I'd love to hear if you've got any news you'd like to share with me.
Until next time.
Stay safe, and keep writing.
Liches, Legends and Love - Chapter Twenty
Chapter 20 of my serial urban-fantasy web-fiction LICHES, LEGENDS AND LOVE just went live on my website! http://claredugmore.weebly.com/webfiction/liches-legends-and-love-chapter-twenty
Liches, Legends and Love - Chapter Nineteen
Happy Weekend, everyone! A new chapter of my serial UrbanFantasy WebFiction LICHES, LEGENDS AND LOVE is now live on my website! http://claredugmore.weebly.com/webfiction/liches-legends-and-love-chapter-nineteen
Liches, Legends and Love - Chapter Eighteen
It's Friday, and you know what that means? A new chapter of my serial Urban Fantasy Web Fiction LICHES, LEGENDS AND LOVE is now live on my website!
http://claredugmore.weebly.com/webfiction/liches-legends-and-love-chapter-eighteen
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