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Paranormal Romance Author

Hello and welcome. You'll find all sorts of happenings here. I have many interviews lined up this year with authors of various genres. I'll have contests, giveaways and much more. So keep popping back for some fantastic interviews, articles and new release information.

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Pick of the week

I am honoured that my new release Abigail Cottage has been named Pick of the week by thriller writer Lorrie Struiff

Check it out!!

Abigail Cottage

When Abigail falls in love with Justin she can’t begin to know the world of hurt she is heading into. Gorgeous, kind, rich – he’s the man we all dream to meet. BUT, all is not what it seems because Justin is a true demon from hell, disguised as a mortal being. He wants her and will do, kill or maim anyone who tries to stop him. Namely Shaun the real hero, who wants Abigail more! So what does a mortal man do against a demon? He enlists the help of a gypsy of course. But not any old gypsy. Rosa knows Justin very well and has the powers of the spirit world on her side to fight him. Using crystals as a powerful weapon, the light of the spirit world to lead them, they embark on a battle with the whole of the underworld. Many loved ones will lose their lives. This isn’t a book where everyone survives. In real life, bad things happen. In Abigail Cottage, terrible tragedies occur too. Believe... not every story can have a happy ending.

Got a kindle? Go here and download a FREE chapter of Abigail Cottage.



For Everyone

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Sunday 16 October 2011

Welcome Jane Richardson




Today I have the lovely Jane Richardson in my virtual lounge and we are eating a nice continental breakfast while we book talk. Before we start, here is a bit about her.




Scots-born Jane Richardson now resides in a historic seaside town on the south coast of England. After a couple of super careers, the last of which was her dream job of working as a DSM in professional theatre and opera – where she met her gorgeous husband! - she’s now an incredibly busy, home-educating stay-at-home mum to two gorgeous kids. When she gets the chance, she loves to write, read, listen to music, walk in the sunshine and the breeze, paddle at the edge of the sea, cook and share food with family and friends, talk, chat and listen, catnap, write and read some more. She’s also very fond of lemurs!

Morning Jane. I hear that you have a book hot off the press. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Hi Margaret! Yes, that’s right, I have a story called Edinburgh Fog which has been released in e-formats by MuseItUp Publishing.

The central character is Greg Morton, a real grafter who’s worked hard to achieve his dream of running the best bar-bistro in Edinburgh, a fabulous place called Tellers’, which is housed in a former bank one of those beautiful old Georgian buildings you see all over Edinburgh. Sure, Greg’s been successful in business, but he’s sacrificed a lot for it over the years, not least a relationship he once had in London with the beautiful Julia Brady. When Julia appears out of the blue one day in Tellers’, Greg knows this is one and only chance to win her back….but someone else has his sights on Julia now. Greg’s going to have to work fast, or lose Julia a second time, for good.

The story means a lot to me because I lived in Edinburgh for many years and I have such fond memories of the place – the settings, the characters and Tellers’ Bar-Bistro itself are all based on people and places I knew there. There’s something very magical about Edinburgh, and I do think it’s just the sort of place a story like this one about Greg and Julia could happen.

It is my belief that when a book touches an authors heart, that's what goes into it. This novel is special, I'm sure it will do well. I know an editor at Museitup Publishing. It' got to be a great publishing house if she works there lol So what’s next on your writing agenda?

I’m revising a previously published novel and I’m still deciding what I’m going to do with it! The idea of self-publishing intrigues me, and it seems far simpler for authors to do it now than it was even just a few years ago. The quality of self-publishing has improved every which way, I think it’s a real, viable option for authors. Having said that, I’m thrilled with the publisher I’m with now, and particularly with the editor I worked with there, and I wouldn’t have that input on a self-published basis. So, there are lots of big decisions for authors these days!
Other than the revised book, I’m working on another story set in Edinburgh Fog’s Tellers’ Bar. One of the secondary characters from that story is getting her own story, and I’m loving it enormously.

Once that’s done, I’m returning to another project I’ve had on the back-burner for a while, a story set in two time periods in the same place, Sussex, in the present day and in WWII. The seed of this story planted itself when I was living in a beautiful rural cottage on the Sussex coast. One summer, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flew right over the cottage on its way to a local air show – a Lancaster, a Hurricane and of course the iconic Spitfire plane. Later that same night I watched the Spitfire do a solo exhibition flight over the coast, and of course, I began to think of all the women who’d stood maybe right where I was standing then, watching their men fly into battle and wondering if they’d come home safe. The story began there and then – and of course, with my love of contemporary fiction, I wanted to tie one woman’s WWII story in with the present day too. It’s a big project for me, and I just hope I can do it justice.

I think self publishing is really picking up speed nowadays. A lot of authors seem to be going that route. Anyway, I digress lol Pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them.

You know, I love every single character in Edinburgh Fog, so I really can’t pick just one of them – so if I may, can I pick Edinburgh itself? It’s the most beautiful city. Steeped in history, as you know, the very stones seem to resonate with all the souls that have gone before. In different parts of the town, you can imagine so many different parts of history – Scotland under the reign of the ancient kings, or the cradle of science, philosophy and learning during the age of enlightenment in the 18th century. You can see the run down, impoverished parts of the city on one side and the elegant, genteel Georgian buildings on the other, with all their contrasts. The Edinburgh of today, the Edinburgh I spent a long time in, is still vibrant, a centre of commerce, finance, art, theatre and music – it’s a wonderful place. Above all, it’s the people and their wonderful, wry sense of humour that I absolutely adore – and I like to think they’ve always been that way, right through history.

Being an author isn't easy, especially if you are just starting out. What is the best marketing advice you can offer?

Getting to know other writers and helping them as much as you can will also help you. It’s a two-way street. I’m a great believer in the expression, ‘ candle loses none of its light when it’s used to light another,’ so never be afraid to use your time and space to showcase other talents. You will all benefit!

I so agree with that Jane. If authors just spend a few minutes helping each other along this rocky path,everything can be gained by it. I spend a lot of time helping where I can and I've met some wonderful people because of that.
Here's where we get upfront and personal lol We love a good story here, so tell us where you met your partner?


Ah! Well, both my partner and I have background in the theatre, but in different places. I was working freelance for a number of local theatres in Sussex, and was spending some time working on a charity production in a theatre in Brighton. He was literally between jobs at the time – he’d just left a position in one of the biggest theatres in London and had just a week before he was due to take up another post at a new and very exciting theatre also in the city. He was staying with friends in Sussex and came along to help out on the charity production, and that’s how we met. If we hadn’t both had the week in the same place, I guess we wouldn’t ever have met each other. We got married a few years later and held out wedding reception in – yes, you’ve guessed it – the same theatre in which we met! So I think that/s maybe what you’d call a romance story!

I'd call that synchronicity lol Before you eat and run, where can any followers find you?

You can catch me at my blog, Home Is Where The Heart Is, and I’m always happy to hear from readers by e-mail at jane (at)janerichardson(dot)co.uk I’m on Twitter too, where you find me as @Gimmeahugyou.
Edinburgh Fog is available in all e-formats from MuseItUp Publishing.



Thanks for popping by Jane.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

COMPETITION GUIDELINES



Elizabeth Newman is the Octagon Theatre Bolton's Associate Director. As well as directing productions she also runs the Theatre's new writing department. She has worked as a casting director for theatre and television and has been a lecturer and senior lecturer at various HE and FE facilities across the country.

Elizabeth Newman, Head of the New Writing department at the Octagon Theatre and she is in search of authors of all genres, with some exclusions that I will be putting in the competition guidelines. She is launching a competition to find three novelists who would be interested in coming to the Octagon to learn more about adapting their writing for the stage. This competition has been inspired by her working with little ole me. I have already been picked to join the chosen three at the Octagon in December 2011. So I look forwards to meeting the lucky winners.

Ms Newman is currently leading a team of eight playwrights to adapt Frank L Baum's classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, for the Octagon audience which will open on the 19th November 2011.

The competition will open on Food for thought Thursday, 20th of October 2011. You will be able to post your submissions on the Author promoting Authors comments section. You will also be given a chance to post on the 27th October on the Thursday Food for Thought day.


Winners will be announced on Thursday 10th of November 2011 on my blog and the APA site.

The UK winners will not only attend the day workshop at the theatre, with playwrights who adapted The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but they are also invited to see the show in the evening. How spectacular is that!! One international winner will have skype session with Elizabeth about their novel.

PLEASE NOTE. Winners are responsible for their own travel arrangements to the Octogan on the day.




THE GUIDELINES ARE AS FOLLOWS.

You need to be a follower of this blog and the APA. You will need to keep up with any updates.

Ms Newman is looking for all genres.
Exclusions are Erotica and Gay/Lesbian fiction, Horror, stories containing rape and child violence.

I must stress these are the Theatres guidelines, NOT mine. Competitions exclude genres all the time. Because of the volume of emails that I am receiving about this competition, please do not contact me complaining about the exclusions. There are many competitions out there. Find one that fits your genre.



RULES.

In NO more than 100 words write a short biography about yourself and why you would like to adapt your novel for the stage.

In NO more than 200 words write a synopsis of the novel you wish to adapt.

Please Include your publishers name and your email with your synopsis.

Open for submissions 20th/27th October 2011


Because of the volume of participants expected, any submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be immediately disqualified.

Please note.
IF YOU CONTACT MS NEWMAN OR THE OCTOGAN THEATRE VIA ANY SOCIAL NETWORKS, PHONE OR EMAIL, BEFORE THE COMPETITION END, YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPETITION SHOULD BE SOLELY THROUGH MARGARET WEST VIA EMAIL.

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Welcome to Kristie Cook



Its a sunny morning and I'm pleased to have kiristie in my lounge today. Before we start on the book talk, here is a bit about her.


Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:

Author's Website & Blog:
Series Website:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Tumbler:
Google+:


Good Morning everyone. I'm so happy to be here today.
Many readers of the Soul Savers Series ask me who my favorite character is. If you have children, you understand how absolutely impossible this is to answer. I love all my characters as if they’re my own children. They kind of are, considering I created them and put almost as much blood, sweat and tears as I have into my real-life children. Okay, not quite, but sometimes it feels like it. Like real-life people, I love them for different reasons.

Alexis – The main series tells Alexis’s story from her point of view, so she and I share minds most of the time. I’m closer to her than anyone else. She’s like the daughter I never had and I love her to death. She can be strong but she has her insecurities, especially in the beginning of the series – Promise – because she’s young and learning her way. By the end of the series, she’ll become one of the strongest women you’ve ever met.

Tristan – Oh, how I adore Tristan, Alexis’s soul mate. He’s (almost) everything I love in a man, including super-hot-and-sexy. He has issues, as they all do, that sometimes scare me, but most of the time just make me want to hold him and tell him everything will be okay. I think you’ll want to do the same and stroke his hair (or chest) while doing so.

Sophia – Alexis’s mother has such an interesting background that I can’t help but love who she is. Little of that has come out in the books so far, but you can see what her background has resulted in: a strong, no-nonsense woman who has to carefully balance her love for her daughter and her responsibilities as the next leader of their secret society.

Owen – Everybody loves Owen. He’s tough but sweet, cute, funny and just all around great. Unfortunately, life takes a difficult turn for Owen in upcoming books and I’m worried about how he’ll handle it all. You just want everything to be right for him.

Dorian – We don’t get to see much of him in the first two books, but he’s an awesome kid who readers are falling in love with. His role grows as the series progresses and, sadly, it’s not all good for him either.

Cassandra – Now we move into my upcoming release, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, which is a prequel to Alexis’s story. Cassandra, one of the main characters, is independent, strong, kind, caring and trusting to a fault. She lives in a time of constant war, which she hates, but she never stops seeing the good in everyone. Unfortunately, that’s her downfall.

Jordan – The other main character in Genesis, Jordan is the ultimate bad boy, but I still can’t help but love him. He’s hot and he knows it – arrogant, self-serving, often cruel. If you like Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood), Damon (The Vampire Diaries) or Jericho Barrons (the Fever series), you might like Jordan.

These are only the primary characters. I could go on and on about the rest, but suffice it to say, I love them all and hope you will, too.


Thanks for sharing kristie. Good luck with all your books.

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