Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a great time over the festive season. I indulged too much and journeyed to both Middle Earth and a galaxy far, far away as a I caught up with some of my favourite films both old and new.
I'm excited to look ahead to 2016. In just over ten days I've got a new book coming out as my vampire tale, Sunkissed, is being released on Friday 15th January and I can't wait. There's a blog tour organised around the book's release date so make sure to keep an eye on my Twitter and Facebook pages for updates.
Sadly it's not all good news though as I've had to pull out of an event I was due to attend in Leeds in March this year. I'm really sorry to anyone who was hoping to see me there. I hate to cancel on people but sadly I've got no choice as due to health reasons I just can't go. But once I'm on the mend and back on my feet I hope to be able to attend more events in the future around the UK.
2016 also sees the release of my book Paper Princess, the first in my Princess Trilogy being released later in the year through Accent YA. As soon as I have an official release date and cover I'll make sure to share them on here. I'm currently writing the second book in the series, Porcelain Princess, so am spending a lot of time with Tilly and her family at the moment.
I hope you all have an exciting and prosperous 2016! Let me know what you've got on the horizon for the upcoming year : )
xoxo
Monday, 4 January 2016
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Sunkissed is Revived
Firstly let me apologize for being absent from blogging for so long. Between NaNoWriMo and various other commitments I feel like I've not been around lately. I've also been in Disneyland Paris for the past week celebrating a milestone birthday and getting lost in the magic so am now well and truly full of festive spirit!
My main update is that I'm really excited to announce that my beloved vampire novel, Sunkissed, is getting a new lease of life. It's being re-released with a shiny new cover on Friday 15th January and is already up for pre-order for just £0.99 over on amazon.
I've always loved this book and been protective of Dawn's story. I'm pleased to finally give her, and the book, the kind of cover they truly deserve. I hope you all love the new cover as much as I do!
My main update is that I'm really excited to announce that my beloved vampire novel, Sunkissed, is getting a new lease of life. It's being re-released with a shiny new cover on Friday 15th January and is already up for pre-order for just £0.99 over on amazon.
I've always loved this book and been protective of Dawn's story. I'm pleased to finally give her, and the book, the kind of cover they truly deserve. I hope you all love the new cover as much as I do!
He'd do anything to save her...
Dawn Summers is dying. It’s 1853 and as the seventeen year old continues to fade away she has visions of the father she never knew, urging her to fight for her life.
In the small village of Fandova the only medical care is in the form of the mysterious Dr. Moralus who has a known penchant for bloodletting. Thomas, Dawn's fiancé, is warned against inviting his intervention, but feels he has no choice, he pleads with the doctor to save Dawn’s life…whatever it takes
In the small village of Fandova the only medical care is in the form of the mysterious Dr. Moralus who has a known penchant for bloodletting. Thomas, Dawn's fiancé, is warned against inviting his intervention, but feels he has no choice, he pleads with the doctor to save Dawn’s life…whatever it takes
xoxo
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
How Avalon Saved Me
This week I started work on my 20th book. It feels like a bit of a milestone which had me thinking back to the first full length novel I ever wrote, First to Fall.
First to Fall will always be such a special book to me. Not only because it was my first but because of what it did for me. When I wrote the book I had quite literally been torn in half. I won't get in to the gruesome details but I had to take a year out of work to wait for my very broken little body to mend, not that there was any guarantee that it actually would.
It was a very dark and lonely time for me. I couldn't go out, I couldn't do anything. I had to be helped to even get out of bed or get out of a chair. I was twenty three and I felt lost. I needed to go somewhere. I needed to escape.
I'd been writing stories since I could first hold a pen but I never actually finished anything. Time never seemed to be on my side. I was either too busy getting my butt kicked by my illness or living life at full throttle during the rare moments when I was well. But suddenly time just loomed before me, an indefinite stretch as I waited for my body to sort itself out.
I took all my savings and bought a laptop. Then, for one hour each day I got my parents to wedge me up with some cushions behind me and I typed. I created Aiden Connelly, the hero of my story and together we discovered Avalon. I spent my days eager to get back to Aiden and his story. And after three months it was finished. Only I was still very much incomplete. So I wrote another book.
Eventually I healed completely and by that time I'd been well and truly bitten by the writing bug. I just couldn't stop. It became my sanctuary where I could slip away in to my world of make believe and forget all about my problems.
For me my books have always been about escape. And with my Avalon series I want other people to feel like they can escape there too. I absolutely love writing, it helped me heal in more ways than one. So now, working on my current book I can't help but think back to where it all began. I'll always love Avalon, and Aiden. And one day I will go back. That's a promise : )
Until then if you fancy visiting the town that helped save me a ticket is less than a pound at just £0.99. I love all my books but First to Fall will always be the one that got the ball rolling, the one which held me together when nothing else could : )
xoxo
First to Fall will always be such a special book to me. Not only because it was my first but because of what it did for me. When I wrote the book I had quite literally been torn in half. I won't get in to the gruesome details but I had to take a year out of work to wait for my very broken little body to mend, not that there was any guarantee that it actually would.
It was a very dark and lonely time for me. I couldn't go out, I couldn't do anything. I had to be helped to even get out of bed or get out of a chair. I was twenty three and I felt lost. I needed to go somewhere. I needed to escape.
I'd been writing stories since I could first hold a pen but I never actually finished anything. Time never seemed to be on my side. I was either too busy getting my butt kicked by my illness or living life at full throttle during the rare moments when I was well. But suddenly time just loomed before me, an indefinite stretch as I waited for my body to sort itself out.I took all my savings and bought a laptop. Then, for one hour each day I got my parents to wedge me up with some cushions behind me and I typed. I created Aiden Connelly, the hero of my story and together we discovered Avalon. I spent my days eager to get back to Aiden and his story. And after three months it was finished. Only I was still very much incomplete. So I wrote another book.
Eventually I healed completely and by that time I'd been well and truly bitten by the writing bug. I just couldn't stop. It became my sanctuary where I could slip away in to my world of make believe and forget all about my problems.
For me my books have always been about escape. And with my Avalon series I want other people to feel like they can escape there too. I absolutely love writing, it helped me heal in more ways than one. So now, working on my current book I can't help but think back to where it all began. I'll always love Avalon, and Aiden. And one day I will go back. That's a promise : )Until then if you fancy visiting the town that helped save me a ticket is less than a pound at just £0.99. I love all my books but First to Fall will always be the one that got the ball rolling, the one which held me together when nothing else could : )
xoxo
Monday, 12 October 2015
Ah November and the return of NaNoWriMo
I know we are still in October but as things turn autumnal my mind starts to think about NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. The premise is just as the name suggests; write a book in a month. Or at least 50K words to be exact.
I did it last year. That book is currently with my agent and I'm crazy excited to share it with the wider world in the near future. And I'm all set for NaNoWriMo next month. My experience last year really helped me fine tune my writing and get used to working to really tight deadlines. I've planned out this year's project I now just need November to start so I can sit down and do it. Oh, and I also need to finish my current WIP before then...
If this is going to be your first NaNoWriMo then best of luck to you! And if you're back for another round then what's the matter with you? Gluten for punishment? ; ) In all seriousness it is a lot of fun and the camaraderie online during it all is insanely helpful and inspiring.
But, tips! Let me bestow on you some essential truths I've learned through being a writer...
Cereal.
It's a quick, easy satisfying meal. During November cereal in its variety of forms should become your best friend.
Pyjamas
Comfort is key. If you're uncomfortable at your computer/typewriter/stone tablet, whatever you write on, you won't stay there long enough to hit your target if you're not super comfy. And warm. If you're in the UK like me then staying warm can be an issue. When I write I'm beneath a duvet and snuggled in my Jedi dressing gown. Yes, I totally do channel the force as I write especially during NaNoWriMo! : )
Targets
Pick a daily target and then stick to it. No matter what! I don't care if the zombie apocalypse just broke out beneath your window. You need to get those words down dammit!
Just Write
Don't edit. Editing comes later. Accompanied by jelly babies (at least for me), lots and lots of jelly babies...
Available
But the most important thing of all is HAVE FUN. Because that's why we do this, right? Because we love it? NaNoWriMo is a great incentive to crank a book out in just a month, to do something you've always been meaning to get around to. But don't make yourself miserable. Write your book, have fun with it and then use December to recover and stuff your face with turkey when Christmas rolls around.
Good luck everyone, happy writing!
xoxo
I did it last year. That book is currently with my agent and I'm crazy excited to share it with the wider world in the near future. And I'm all set for NaNoWriMo next month. My experience last year really helped me fine tune my writing and get used to working to really tight deadlines. I've planned out this year's project I now just need November to start so I can sit down and do it. Oh, and I also need to finish my current WIP before then...
If this is going to be your first NaNoWriMo then best of luck to you! And if you're back for another round then what's the matter with you? Gluten for punishment? ; ) In all seriousness it is a lot of fun and the camaraderie online during it all is insanely helpful and inspiring.
But, tips! Let me bestow on you some essential truths I've learned through being a writer...
Cereal.
It's a quick, easy satisfying meal. During November cereal in its variety of forms should become your best friend.
Pyjamas
Comfort is key. If you're uncomfortable at your computer/typewriter/stone tablet, whatever you write on, you won't stay there long enough to hit your target if you're not super comfy. And warm. If you're in the UK like me then staying warm can be an issue. When I write I'm beneath a duvet and snuggled in my Jedi dressing gown. Yes, I totally do channel the force as I write especially during NaNoWriMo! : )
Targets
Pick a daily target and then stick to it. No matter what! I don't care if the zombie apocalypse just broke out beneath your window. You need to get those words down dammit!
Just Write
Don't edit. Editing comes later. Accompanied by jelly babies (at least for me), lots and lots of jelly babies...
But the most important thing of all is HAVE FUN. Because that's why we do this, right? Because we love it? NaNoWriMo is a great incentive to crank a book out in just a month, to do something you've always been meaning to get around to. But don't make yourself miserable. Write your book, have fun with it and then use December to recover and stuff your face with turkey when Christmas rolls around.
| All images sourced online |
Good luck everyone, happy writing!
xoxo
Monday, 21 September 2015
When the Words Won't Come
I was inspired by my friend (and fellow Hello Kitty lover) Anabelle Bryant after she wrote a post about author's secret indulgences, and how they cope with ironing out tricky scenes and characters.
It got me thinking about the ways I tackle a nasty case of writer's block or sort out a few characters who are refusing to behave. Whenever I feel like I'm hitting or wall, or I'm approaching a really important scene that I know I need to nail I tend to do one of three things. This magical trifecta, though woefully mundane, never fails to pull me out of a slump. I've even planned out new books, extended a scene and killed people off while doing them (only in my mind, of course, lol). So let me share with you my three fail proof ways to help bring forth the words when my mind is feeling stubborn -
I take a bath.
Wallowing in bubbles seems to do more than just ease away my troubles. It helps me focus solely on what's going on inside my head which at times is actually useful. I'm a bit of a bubble bath fiend and love throwing in heavily scented bath bombs and oils.
I take Rollo for a walk.
I'm fortunate enough to live right by some really beautiful woods. Weather permitting I tend to walk my cheeky canine companion, Rollo, on a daily basis, usually after I've finished writing for the morning. Watching Rollo chase after squirrels offers my mind a chance to relax a bit, kind of like having a bath does. I tend to use the time to think about future story ideas and then come back home and jot them down.
I go for a drive.
Whilst I don't advocate adopting my questionable driving style, when I'm off on a long drive my mind does tend to wander. With my music playing I find it quite easy to drift off in to my own thoughts (while, I assure you, never taking my eyes off the road). A long drive in the country can do wonders for my WIP and by the time I pull up back at home I'm refreshed and have ironed out all the annoying kinks in the plot.
So there you have it. My three go to responses to the wretched writer's block. What do you do on day's when the words just won't come? I'm always open to new suggestions : )
xoxo
It got me thinking about the ways I tackle a nasty case of writer's block or sort out a few characters who are refusing to behave. Whenever I feel like I'm hitting or wall, or I'm approaching a really important scene that I know I need to nail I tend to do one of three things. This magical trifecta, though woefully mundane, never fails to pull me out of a slump. I've even planned out new books, extended a scene and killed people off while doing them (only in my mind, of course, lol). So let me share with you my three fail proof ways to help bring forth the words when my mind is feeling stubborn -
I take a bath.
Wallowing in bubbles seems to do more than just ease away my troubles. It helps me focus solely on what's going on inside my head which at times is actually useful. I'm a bit of a bubble bath fiend and love throwing in heavily scented bath bombs and oils.
I take Rollo for a walk.
I'm fortunate enough to live right by some really beautiful woods. Weather permitting I tend to walk my cheeky canine companion, Rollo, on a daily basis, usually after I've finished writing for the morning. Watching Rollo chase after squirrels offers my mind a chance to relax a bit, kind of like having a bath does. I tend to use the time to think about future story ideas and then come back home and jot them down.
I go for a drive.
 |
| All image sourced online |
Whilst I don't advocate adopting my questionable driving style, when I'm off on a long drive my mind does tend to wander. With my music playing I find it quite easy to drift off in to my own thoughts (while, I assure you, never taking my eyes off the road). A long drive in the country can do wonders for my WIP and by the time I pull up back at home I'm refreshed and have ironed out all the annoying kinks in the plot.
So there you have it. My three go to responses to the wretched writer's block. What do you do on day's when the words just won't come? I'm always open to new suggestions : )
xoxo
Friday, 4 September 2015
The Princess Trilogy
The Princess Trilogy
I've been sitting on this news for awhile now so I'm really excited to announce that I've signed a 3 book deal with Accent YA to release my upcoming Princess Trilogy. The first book in the series, Paper Princess, is due for release next year and as soon as I have a concrete release date I'll let people know.
Paper Princess and the other books in the series, Porcelain Princess and Plastic Princess will all be widely available in both ebook and paperback format. I'm thrilled to be working with Accent Press and unleashing a new trilogy out in to the world.
It's liable to change but this is the working synopsis for Paper Princess to give you a rough idea of what the story is about -
After the summer of
Matilda ‘Tilly’ Johnson’s 12th birthday things are changing. Her best friend,
Josephine, has left for London so might as well be on another planet. And
Tilly’s about to start secondary school, the same school where her older
sisters, Monica and Maria go.
But Tilly doesn’t fit in
with her sisters. She doesn’t really fit in with anyone. Her head is always
filled with fairy tales and potential happily ever afters. In her mind she’s
still a princess trapped up in a tower waiting to be rescued.
“Tilly, you need to grow
up.” And it’s not just her Mum who thinks so. Everyone is telling Tilly that
she needs to stop believing in fairy tales and start being present in the real
world. But with so many things changing beyond her control is Tilly really
ready to give up the one thing which makes her feel safe? Can Tilly learn to
accept that happily ever afters might not even exist?
Tilly's story is definitely one that is really close to my heart and I've arguably poured more of myself in to this book than I ever have before.
I can't wait to share her story!
xoxo
Monday, 17 August 2015
How to Summer in Avalon
Bring
Sunscreen
The temperature in
Avalon can get extremely hot so use protection. That said…
You
May Need a Raincoat
Thunderstorms aren’t
uncommon and they can be intense. You have been warned…
 |
| Image Sourced on Google |
Don’t
Expect to Make Friends
Avalon isn’t known for
its hospitality. If you need directions you’d best just use google maps…
Unless
you have Secrets
Secrets are like
currency in Avalon. If you have a good one, you’re suddenly everyone’s best
friend
Secrets
Stay Buried
But be careful what you
do choose to share during your stay. Secrets that enter Avalon rarely tend to
leave…
 |
| Image Sourced on Google |
Avoid
the Sherriff
That sneer on his face
is there especially for you, since you’re an outsider and he hates those…
Take
in a Football Game
Looking for something to
do? Try checking out the Avalon Angels, the town’s High School Football team.
Their season hasn’t been so great this year though…
 |
| Image Sourced on Google |
You
Can’t Escape the Past
Avalon is still haunted
by the tragedies that have occurred in town. Try not to let any of the ghosts
that are lingering there follow you
home…
Enjoy
your Stay!
You can now buy the complete Avalon series online.
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