Rediscovering My Love of Reading

At the start of this year my resolution was to read more. As a writer I have to admit to a rather ironic problem - I'm a painfully slow reader. I can write a book faster than I can read one. But this year I wanted to take control and try to change that. I'm always hearing about books I'm desperate to read but then feeling sad that if they go on my TBR pile it might be years until I get round to them. So I thought enough is enough! I set myself a Goodreads challenge of reading 12 books in 12 months.

To a more prolific reader I'm sure this target seems very small but to me it was a big step in the right direction. Last year it would take me around 3 months just to read one book so I knew I had to somehow start making more time in the day for books and the best place to start was by reading stories that excited me.

I've always loved YA books so they make up a bulk of my reading. So far this year I have read the following books -

         

Images via Goodreads.com 

If I keep going at this rate I'll achieve my Goodreads target no problem! Yay! When I was younger I used to be such a voracious reader and I feel like I'm reconnecting with that love of books which feels awesome. I tend to read at night, just before I go to sleep, a throwback from my childhood routine. I think that there is something really relaxing about curling up beneath the duvet with a book you love. 

Reigniting my passion for reading has only helped me as a writer. I'm daring to take more chances in my own work and learning with each and every book I write. And soon I'll have another book unleashed in to the world! But that's for another blog post... 

Today I just wanted to share how much I'm enjoying reading. Next year I might even up my goal to 20 books, who knows? My TBR pile is looking a lot less neglected these days that makes me very happy indeed. Only now I want to - 

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Know any great books I should be adding to my reading pile? Let me know! 

xoxo

Release Day Excitement

So today is kind of an exciting day for me because Fourth to Run has been released in to the world.

I have to admit that I find publication days quite stressful, mainly because I panic about what people will think of my new book, especially when it's part of a series like Fourth to Run is. Readers have expectations about the characters and what they hope to happen.

But beyond the stress it is bittersweet to sort of bid a book farewell. Because it is no longer just mine, it belongs to everyone who reads it now.

With Fourth to Run I took everything that had been building up in the first three Avalon books and let it all just explode together. I've loved following Aiden's evolving journey from big city lawyer to his small town struggles. He is definitely a flawed character but I hope that his desire to do good will always redeem him in the eye of the reader.

Thankfully the first review to come in for Fourth to Run has been awesome and I couldn't be happier.

And if a book release wasn't enough to make this Friday fabulous, tickets have just gone on sale for an event I'm attending in Leeds next March. So if you've ever fancied meeting me in person make sure you grab a ticket. I'd love to meet anyone who can make it!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Fourth to Run

I'm really excited today because I get to share the brilliant cover for Fourth to Run! It's the 4th book in my Avalon series and will be released on Friday 15th May with CarinaUK and you can already pre-order it.

I think the cover is really eye catching and has managed to incorporate some of the key elements within the book - like the ominous storm clouds overhead. After looking at the cover I realized that I use the weather a lot in my books, particularly in Dare to Dream. I think I've got a strange fascination with storms!

And check out Aiden dressed all casual! In my mind he was a bit of an Elijah from The Originals, always in a suit, but it stands to reason that when he's away from Avalon (slight spoiler alert) both the suit and the lawyer persona remain behind.

Let me know what you think of the cover! I hope everyone loves it as much as I do!

xoxo

Welcome to Avalon

It won't be long until the 4th book in my Avalon series, Fourth to Run is released which has left me feeling somewhat reflective.

I was twenty three when I first went to Avalon and wrote about Aiden's introduction to the town and its secrets in First to Fall. I didn't anticipate that a number of years later - I can't say how many since a lady doesn't disclose her true age ; ) - that I'd be preparing to head back to Avalon once more.

Both Aiden and the town of Avalon are very special to me as they've evolved along with me right from my first initial steps in to the scary world of being a professional author.

If you've yet to visit Avalon it is a small town with very big secrets. The more time Aiden spends there the more he becomes embroiled in the town's intricate web of lies. But in Fourth to Run his loyalty to Avalon is pushed to the limit. Just how far will he go to protect the town he calls home?

In the lead up to the release of the new book the first three novels are all currently on offer so its a good time to snap them up!

Hopefully I'll have a shiny new cover to share soon! Until then have a great weekend and do pay Avalon a visit if you get chance : )

xoxo

A Very Special Package

This morning I had literally just finished writing the latest chapter in my WIP when the doorbell rang. Grumbling I removed my blanket, reluctantly left my laptop and headed down the stairs. When I opened the door and saw the UPS guy my heart starting pounding because I knew what it meant; my books had arrived!

Shipped all the way from America my books had been on a long journey and had finally reached my anxious little hands! I couldn't open the box fast enough, while Rollo sensed my excitement and started to try and chew the corners. When I opened the box and reached in to find ten beautiful copies of Dare to Dream the world slowed and for the first time in ages...I cried.

The books are BEAUTIFUL! The pictures I've taken seriously don't do them justice. As I turned over those few first pages and read the familiar opening lines of Dare to Dream it all suddenly seemed so wonderfully real. I was sat alone in my bright pink writing room holding a copy of my book. So much of my time is spent locked away in solitude that I rarely have moments like these which are worthy of celebration. 

But my jubilation was short lived as Rollo eagerly shoved his wet little nose in to the box and tried to grab his own copy. I managed to distract him with the packaging which he merrily chewed on while I let the excitement of the moment sink in. And then it was back to reality. This afternoon will be spent editing another book and tomorrow I'll be writing yet another chapter in my WIP. 

I need to offer my publisher, Reuts, huge congratulations for how they have helped me on my long road to publication. They took my story and placed it in this beautiful package which I'm utterly thrilled about! Seriously, you all need to go and buy a copy simply to behold it's wonder first hand! 

xoxo

Heart to Heart

Dare to Dream has been out for almost two weeks now which means that reviews have started to come in. Reading initial reviews for a new book is always tense. You worry that people won't enjoy the story, that they won't connect with your characters or understand what you are trying to convey.

It is an inevitable truth that not everyone will like your book. You really cannot please all the people all the time. What's important is reaching out to the people who will. The people who will get it and will enjoy it. 

And so the first reviews are in and I can breathe a sigh of relief. People are enjoying Maggie's story, they are getting excited for the next book in the series, which spoiler alert will be called Dare to Believe. 

Reading these reviews I've noticed an interesting similarity between them. Dare to Dream seems to have an impact on reader's hearts which can only be a good thing!

'The final line of the book sent my heart a flutter. I love it when books do that.'

'My heart was racing through the last 150 pages.'

'“When the last stone falls, the world will end” - That sentence made my heart pound with anticipation.'

As a writer I'm always striving to have an impact on the reader so I love reading people's reactions to the story. It makes all my hours of solitude locked away in my pink writing room worthwhile. If you've not read Dare to Dream yet why not grab a copy and see what it does to your heart? : ) 

If you're addicted to that new book smell (and come on, who isn't?) you'll be pleased to know that from tomorrow you can order Dare to Dream in all its paperback glory! Yay!

xoxo

New Beginnings

Today for me the start of a new week also means the start of a new story. I always get really excited about starting a new WIP (work in progress). I babble about the story to anyone who will listen, I run key scenes in my mind when I'm walking the dog or taking a bath and then I suddenly disappear...

When I'm writing a story I delve right into it. I stop talking about it and just start...living it I guess. It can be quite consuming but I love it, especially when it's a story I'm crazy excited about. But as the excitement wears off I feel bad for all the other ideas I've brushed aside in honor of this current one. I saw a writer on Twitter talking about how each time she publishes a book she breathes a sigh of relief as it's another story out there because she fears she might not live long enough to write all the stories within her.

And as morbid as that is I totally relate to that. I have a growing list of stories I just have to write. Until they are all down I'll keep having this gnawing emptiness within me, this incessant need to just keep writing. Because writing isn't a choice, its an involuntary impulse like breathing. Both are equally essential to my well being. I know, I know I sound like I'm being WAY overly dramatic but I'm truly not. When I look back at the unhappiest moments in my life they are always the times when I've not been writing. Writing keeps me sane, it keeps me happy.

I just hope that one day I do get to write all of the books residing within me. With each new start to a story I'm one step closer to completing my literary bucket list!

So here's to a new week, a new story and numerous new chapters!

xoxo