No Rest for the Wicked...

So I've got quite a bit going on at the moment which is all very exciting.

Last weekend I enjoyed the first virtual Romance Festival which was a lot of fun and very informative. It reminded me of how invaluable tools like Twitter and Facebook are for a writer. Working at home can be extremely lonely at times when I've only my dog for company. I'm fortunate to have found many virtual author friends who can relate to the trials and tribulations of a life spent dedicated to your craft.

In terms of my writing I finished a manuscript and delved straight in to the next one! I love writing and have a long list of stories I want/need to write. I'm getting quite involved with my current story and may share the prologue on here at some point.

I found out that the first book I ever wrote, Not All Stars Sparkle, will be re-released through Carina around August. I'll share a specific date with you once I have it. As NASS was my first book it is really personal to me and I'm extremely proud of it and can't wait to share it with a wider audience. The sequel to the book will also be released through Carina later in the year.

I'm still working on a title for my project with Reuts which should be out towards the end of the year. We're almost settled on a title and are bouncing cover ideas around. The problem I have is that visual art isn't my forte so I'm not much use on the cover ideas front...

Currently I'm sat with Rollo who got covered in mud during his walk over, most of which is now on me as he's been in quite a cuddly mood lately...

I should also mention that Prime Deception is currently on offer (shameless plug). The price for it has been reduced pretty much everywhere and I've no idea how long that would last so I'd suggest getting your copy right away! But then I would say that, wouldn't I? ; )

It's just started to thunder here so I'm off to hide under a blanket somewhere!

Take care and have a great week!

xoxo

Virtual Romance Festival

Some of the biggest romance publishers are holding a Virtual Romance Festival next month and I'm lucky enough to be a part of it!

The festival will be held from Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th June and you can participate in all the fun from the comfort of your own home! You don't even need to get dressed! I plan on attending in my bright pink onesie!

Readers will get the chance to chat with their favorite authors, win books, see exclusive cover reveals and more!

It will be an exciting, innovative weekend for readers and writers alike which is why I'm so excited to be a part of it.  After all, I think everyone could benefit from a bit more romance in their lives!

So what are you waiting for? Sign up to attend here, its FREE!

www.bit.ly/Romance14

And hopefully I will virtually see you all there! #Romance14

xoxo

Big News!

For a while now I've been hinting about some big news and now I can finally spill and share it with you!

I'm thrilled to officially announce that I've joined the Reuts publishing family and will be releasing my currently untitled YA dystopian story with them later this year (aiming for autumn).

It is a contemporary fantasy adventure based around my home county of Shropshire so the story is very personal to me.

I'm currently working with the Reuts team to come up with a suitable title for the story, which is the first in a trilogy, and then over the summer I'll be getting stuck in with the editing process.

The book will be available in both e-book and paperback format which is awesome! I'll update with more information as and when I have it including press releases and cover reveals!

To read more about my initiation in to the Reuts fold check out their blog post here; http://blog.reuts.com/welcome-family-x4/

I'm so excited to work with them as they are such an innovative YA publisher and definitely the perfect home for my new story! I'm also now listed on the Reuts author page ; http://www.reuts.com/authors/

Wish I could have shared this news with everyone sooner but my laptop died and had to be resurrected which took a few days to sort out! I find that once one thing breaks, everything does as now my iphone is acting up...

Anyway, hope everyone is having a great week and enjoying the sunshine whilst its here! (which probably won't be very long)

xoxo

The End

I've spent the better part of the last two months writing my latest book which is a psychological thriller with a working title of Azriel's Princess. I anticipate it will be a long time until the book is released as I've got several other releases lined up throughout the year.

But I just can't stop writing. I absolutely love immersing myself in the worlds I create in my books. I also can't stop working until I've finished a story else I feel bad for leaving my characters in limbo, waiting for their resolution.

I'm already planning my next book which will be a YA story set in rural Wales during the 1920s. Whenever I write something that isn't contemporary or fantasy I have to conduct a lot of research prior to starting to write the book. Small details like what a character says or wears can have a big impact on creating the overall feel of a period set story.

So over the next few weeks I'll be visiting Wales, making an horrific amount of notes and preparing my next book. I'll also have some very exciting news to share with everyone soon regarding a YA release coming in Autumn this year (or rather Fall depending where you are).

This weekend I'm taking time away from my writing for a much needed break to clear my head, enjoy the sunshine and possibly even venture out to the cinema!

As much as I adore locking myself away and writing you do so at the expense of your connection with the real world. I've disappeared off everyone's radar for a bit so it will be nice to resurface, albeit briefly, before I'm lost in another book.

So whilst it is The End of one book, it is just the beginning for another!

Have a lovely weekend everyone

xoxo

I Don't Write Alone

Since everyone loved Rollo so much when this post was featured on http://www.fiction-books.biz/meet-the-authors/new-on-the-shelf-at-fiction-books-this-week-41/ I thought I'd share it on my blog too! 

I Dont Write Alone

I think that the most unique aspect of my writing habits is that I don’t write alone. Whenever I sit down to write I am joined by my two year old Cavalier, Rollo. Normally he sits either across my shoulders or on my lap. The latter can be quite tricky when I’m trying to balance my laptop on my knees to write. Sometimes he snores or barks in his sleep so loud that it can be hard to concentrate!

He’s my constant companion and when I need to clear my head or focus on some story ideas I take him for a walk in the woodlands near my home.

Writing can be such a solitary pursuit so it’s nice to have some company with me throughout the day when I’m working. And sometimes he attempts to contribute by tapping his paw upon the keyboard!

Below is a picture of Rollo watching me write

He's even sat on my shoulders right now while I update my blog!

Thanks Rollo, for always being there to lend a supportive paw! 

Have a lovely week everyone xoxo

Release Day!

Prime Deception is released today! It is really exciting to think that my book is now out there in the wide world for people to read and hopefully enjoy.

The first few reviews to come in have all been positive which is reassuring.

I wish I could say that I've spent today doing really glamorous things to celebrate but in reality, today hasn't been all that different to other days.

I spent the morning working on my latest novel (a fantasy thriller) and also some freelance projects I'm currently involved in. Then I walked my dog through the woods where he got over excited meeting some canine friends and ended up covered in mud!

I watched Grey's Anatomy (big mistake). I've just started series 9 and for those of you who watch it will know, a very big character gets killed off in the first episode which 1. made me cry, like weep and 2. didn't put me in the best mood to stop procrastinating and finally check out my release day reviews.

But so far people seem to really like Prime Deception so I'm smiling if still slightly traumatized by the demise of McSteamy...

I had some lovely supportive tweets from people today which was really nice, so even though I've spent release day alone I felt like there were people on my side, celebrating with me! And now that the dust has settled I can indulge in a celebratory cupcake!

Thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to take the time to review Prime Deception, and thank you to everyone who has bought it.

Have a great week!

xoxo

One Week...

One Week

Prime Deception will be released one week today. On Monday 7th April the book will go live and I'll be left nervously climbing the walls waiting for reviews to come in.

I always hope that people will enjoy my books, especially as a I loved writing them so much. I'm not doing anything special on my release day. I'll walk my dog, hang out with friends, nothing out of the ordinary. To me, the most amazing part of it all is just being able to share my stories with people. Everything else is just a bonus. 

I never stop writing. At the moment I'm working away on two freelance projects and also a new book of my own. My new book is a stand alone novel and once I've finished it I'll return to some of my series and work on a sequel or two. I like being able to mix things up and work on what I'm currently in the mood for, I think it helps to keep my writing fresh and stops things getting stale.

But Prime Deception is my current baby. It's about to be kicked out of the nest and in to the big wide world. It has a lot of similarities to my first novel, Not All Stars Sparkle, whilst being unique in its own right. It is definitely the most British book I've written so far which is a surprise as I'm proper British myself and quite open about my tea addiction! 

If people do go and buy Prime Deception, thank you so much, I hope you have a lot of fun reading it. I think CarinaUK did an amazing job with the cover and really managed to capture the essence of the novel. I'm really proud of the story, but its not just mine anymore, its almost out there for everyone to enjoy! 

Have a great week, see you on release day! 

xoxo