Books – Page 2 – Maria Gibbs

I bought this book because I saw it advertised as the proceeds were going to pay for the treatment of a young mother who had cancer. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this author other than his obvious kind heart and generosity.

The book drew me in straight away, the character Beatrix Rose was realistic and likeable – yes she was a superwoman but in the respect that could be expected from someone who’d had that training. I love how the author introduced her personal life into the story, making her more relatable as it showed her human side.

The story was gripping and intense, fast-paced when it needed to be and steady for the rest of the time. The action made me sit on the edge of my seat in anticipation. It’s a short story but packs a strong punch within the pages.

I will certainly be reading more from this author.

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round up of the Week

August 20, 2017 gibbsdream

Round up of the Week

World

Thousands of people in Hong Kong marched through the streets in protest at the jailing of three pro-democracy activists last week. The men were initially given non-custodial sentences for their involvement in mass protests in 2014. The court of appeal gave the activists jail terms of between six and eight months on Thursday. Their supporters believe the process was politically motivated. On Sunday, protesters marched to the Court of Final Appeal, where the three men are expected to take their case.

London

The Paddington to Penzance, Great Western Railway train partially left the track as it departed the station, passengers had to be evacuated but due to the low speed, no injuries were reported.

My World

I’ve had another rollercoaster ride of emotions this week – unfortunately, I can’t go into specifics here but suffice it to say I triumphed over an extremely stressful situation and have been able to walk away with my head held high. I have also been able to see this as an opportunity to one day use the characterisation and emotions of what happened in a story, I wouldn’t write the actual story as people would probably think it is too far-fetched. lol

My Word

Due to personal circumstances I haven’t been able to write but my editor has sent me back the final proof of “Is This Love?’ and I am working through this now. I have also sent out my second newsletter.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Author Spotlight Interview

August 19, 2017 gibbsdream

This month it is my pleasure to introduce Sherri A Wingler who now ranks up there with Sharon Penman and Barbara Erskine (and a few others) as one of my favourite authors. She is currently juggling two different series and I am eagerly awaiting the next in series for both. This is the author who writes the books that I wish I had written.

1. Do you write as a full-time author or do you have to squeeze it in around a full-time job or looking after the children? If you don’t write as your main job what are your aims for your writing?

I look at my writing as my other full-time job. I squeeze time whenever I can to write, but I’m constantly thinking about my story. The brain is a wonderful thing. I can hit a snag, with no idea how to get myself out of the corner I’ve written myself into, and three days later the answer will come to me, seemingly out of nowhere. Usually, it comes at the most inopportune moment.

2. What inspires you to write?

Reading a really good story from someone else is always inspiring. Mostly, I write the books I want to read.

3. Tell me about your writing process, when and how? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I want to be a plotter, but I’m more of a hybrid. I start out with a loose outline and adjust it when the story starts twisting itself into knots.
I’ve found my best hours to work are between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., but I have a full-time job, so those hours only work when I’m on vacation. Usually, I grab whatever time I can. I write on my phone a lot and transfer the file to the main manuscript later.
I would love to say if I get an entire day to write, I sit down and whip out ten thousand words, but I’m guilty of procrastination. So guilty. I’m fine once I start, but I’ll find fifty things to do before I start.

4. How much of your life experience goes into your books if at all?

My first book is about a teenaged girl who falls in love with the Angel of Death. It took a reviewer pointing out that ‘if Death came along and intervened in her life, they’d have a serious talk.’ I’m paraphrasing, but it got me thinking. If Death intervenes, you have no choice… you adapt to a new normal. That’s when the lightbulb moment happened for me. My mother died when I was seventeen. Some twenty years later, my brain put a different spin on the story and “Wings of Darkness” was born.
I think all the characters have a certain facet of the author’s personality, even the villain.

5. Describe your ideal writing location if money were no issue.

I can write anywhere, but I require peace and quiet to produce my best work. I have a small, beautiful office I never get to use because my dogs throw a fit if I’m out of sight. Most of my work is done with at least one cat hanging off me and a dog staring at me till I pick him or her up for cuddles. They have me so trained.

6. What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Getting started. Have I mentioned the procrastination thing? I waste more time thinking about why I should be writing, than actually doing it.

7. What one thing would you fix about the whole world to make it a better place?

I feel like the world would be better if people cared more for each other, or cared less, maybe. For my own part, I don’t care about someone else’s religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. If they’re happy and aren’t hurting someone else, it’s none of my business. I don’t get excited about much unless it affects me or mine.
Animal cruelty breaks my heart. If I had one wish it would be for the punishment to fit the crime in those cases.

8. What is your favourite review from any of your books?

It was for “Wings of Darkness,” and it wasn’t even a 5* review, only a 3*. The lady didn’t like the snarkiness of the characters, but at the end of the review she said it was “very well written and well edited book.” I had to love it just for that.

9. When you’re not writing, working, looking after the furry kids what else do you enjoy doing?

I like to think I’m crafty. Every so often I get on Pinterest and find some fantastic project and produce the ugly step-sister version of whatever it was. Halloween is coming up, and it’s my favorite holiday. I’ll be whipping out the hot glue and fake cobwebs pretty soon.

10. Can you tell me what you’re working on now?

I’m working on a couple of things. I’ve got the third book of “The Immortal Sorrows” series almost finished, and I have the second book of “The Dark Woods” series at the halfway point.
“The Immortal Sorrows” is a tale of Reaper angels with a shot of Greek mythology thrown in. It explores Time, Fate, and Death as beings instead of concepts.
“The Dark Woods” is my loose interpretation of the Red Riding Hood story. I’ve taken a lot of liberties with it, and had so much fun doing it.

A Glimpse into Darkness: Prequel of The Immortal Sorrows

http://amzn.to/2wG2byp

Clotho has everything; beauty, power, and immortality. She has everything she could ever want, except the love of the one she wants the most.
Witness the moment when obsession turns to hate… and love to madness.
Author’s Note: This is a short story and serves as the prequel of “The Immortal Sorrows” series. Attached is a free sample of book 1, “Wings of Darkness.” I hope you enjoy it!

Wings of Darkness: Book 1 of The Immortal Sorrows series

http://amzn.to/2vziTz6

Death comes for everyone eventually, but Izzy Maitland plans to live forever. At nearly eighteen years old, it’s not an unreasonable goal, but Fate has other plans. Izzy has a car accident. A bad one. Suddenly, strange things start happening and her ordinary life is turned upside down. She wakes up tasting blood, more often than not, and her injuries heal at an alarming rate. Her friends and family weaken, and every day, Izzy grows stronger. Strangest of all, she seems to have acquired a stalker, and he might be the Angel of Death.

Wings of Shadow: Book 2 of The Immortal Sorrows series

http://amzn.to/2wURuaC

Mortals never see me in their final moments. Isabel saw me. From the very beginning. She saw me, knew me for the monster I am, and still she loved me. That beautiful young woman with fire in her blood. I wanted her the moment I laid eyes on her. She was perfect, made just for me by a cruel and merciless twist of Fate. Isabel was my mate and my match, in every way, but loving me destroyed her.
Fate stole my love from me, simply to watch me suffer. Oh, it cost her, but not nearly enough. A few dead Reapers were nothing compared to what I would do when I found her. The River of the Dead could run red with the blood of the guilty, and it would never be enough. My revenge would be a bitter-sweet thing, for it would never bring my Isabel back to me. Once she faced Judgment, she would be lost to me, forever.
I could not accept that. I would not.

Crimson Moon: Book 1 of The Dark Woods series

http://amzn.to/2wFW2SF

In the old days, people whispered about the wolf, said he came only at night, and only by the light of the full moon. They locked their doors and huddled close to their fires, safe in the knowledge they could prepare for his coming. The truth is, no one is safe, because the wolf walks in the skin of the man. Always.

Harlow Hayes is a runaway, thief, and failed Southern belle. Forced to grow up fast after what her mama delicately referred to as, ‘the incident,’ she learns the hard way not all strangers are kind, real monsters hide in plain sight, and family can be found in the most unexpected places.
Harlow Hayes is about to meet the Wolf.

Thank you very much, Sherri, for sharing so much with us. If you aren’t lucky enough to win an e-copy of one of Sherri’s books then I would highly recommend you go and buy them, she is a phenomenal author

If you have subscribed to my newsletter then you will be entered into the August prize draw, don’t forget sometimes the emails make their way to the junk folder! (How vary dare they!) The winner will be announced one week later.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Should we stifle our characters/books in case we offend

August 5, 2017 gibbsdream

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More and more I am seeing people say that they are getting bad reviews because they didn’t warn the reader of something that may potentially offend them. A love story that contains an affair or anything that someone may find controversial.

What is a book?

A story that is either a reflection on real life or a trip into a fantasy world which has no connection to reality. We will never be able to write 100% to please every reader and what works for one person will rub raw on another.

I have a love story that is bouncing back between me and my editor at the moment and she, rightly so, has pointed out some comments that my characters have made or thought that could be seen as offensive. I have chosen to leave them in, however, because I believe this to be a reflection on the time that it is written, the characters and the thought processes of some men in this country. I have no wish to offend anyone but if I start to second guess everything that my characters say then I might as well give up writing now. I will put a warning at the front to make it clear that this book is meant in no way to offend.

I strongly believe that we need to write the story in the way that it demands to be written and allow the character to have their foibles, bad habits, thoughts that may not be politically correct because this is real. Not everyone in life thinks in the same way.

This does not mean that I agree with these thoughts or that should I hear them being expressed in real life in a manner that is aimed to harm someone that I wouldn’t step in and say something.

Books are full of situations that are unacceptable in real life: murder, rape and much more so lets put this back into perspective. I had an English teacher once who told us that if we needed to use swear words in our writing then we should. If they’re not needed then leave them out. I think this is true for anything, if you feel that what you have written is in keeping with your story/character and the time they live in then use it, if not then don’t.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Winner of Newsletter prize draw July 2017

July 29, 2017July 29, 2017 gibbsdream

My first newsletter went out last week and I doubled up on subscribers that day. I had some lovely feedback and hopefully, I’m hitting the right notes.

As part of the newsletter, there was a prize draw and the winner could choose an e copy of any book by Rose English.

The winner was drawn today at random from an online picker.

Screenshot 2017-07-29 16.34.58.png

Congratulations Pamela, you get to choose whichever book you want from Rose’s collection:

Keep looking out for next month’s newsletter.

Maria x

Books, Life, Self-publishing

My Review of Bloodgifted: The Dantonville Legacy 1 by T M Lacoba

July 24, 2017 gibbsdream

This book has been jumping up and down screaming ‘Read Me’ for quite some time now. The cover is very alluring but it has sat on my Kindle for a while. This is a tale of a woman who at the age of fifty discovers a family secret which is passed down to her at her coming of age – yes that is at the age of fifty, not eighteen or twenty-one. Laura who is comfortable in her new relationship with a Police Officer finds her whole world turned upside down. For her own protection, she is assigned a hot guardian, Alec Munro, to protect her. This story contains love, betrayal, lies, family loyalties, greed and vampires galore. The pacing is perfect as it the characterisation.

Will I read more by this author? Hell yeah!

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round up of the Week

July 23, 2017 gibbsdream

Round up of the Week

World

Eight people have found dead inside a trailer truck parked outside Walmart in San Antonio, USA. Twenty others were in a critical or serious condition, with some believed to be suffering from heatstroke or dehydration. The driver is in police custody. It is thought this could be a people-smuggling operation. The police were called by a Walmart employee who had been approached by someone from the truck asking for water.

This makes my stomach churn to think about what these people have suffered.

London

Staff at Great Ormand Street Hospital have received death threats over the treatment of baby Charlie Gard. Police had been called after families were harassed and unacceptable behaviour was recorded in the hospital. Great Ormand Street Hospital is involved in a legal battle to remove life support from the 11-month-old, who has a rare genetic disorder. Charlie’s parents don’t condone this abuse of the hospital staff. Charlie was born with a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and irreversible brain damage, and his parents want to take him to the US for pioneering treatment. They have lost a succession of court cases and is back before the High Court on Monday.

I know Great Ormand Street Hospital well and it saddens me to think of their staff and patients being subjected to abuse. Whatever the wrongs and rights of this case, and it’s not for me to judge, this hospital has saved the lives of many thousands of children and has always in my experience treated their patients and parents with respect.

My World

This week is another run of the mill one for me, work, eat, write, sleep and repeat. I lost a work colleague this week as she moved on to other things but I gained a real friend. Other than visiting a friend for a glass of wine or two, a meal out with a friend/fellow author, visiting my parents and a ride out on my bike there isn’t much more to tell. I don’t lead a highly exciting life folks.

My Word

My editor returned ‘Is this Love?’ after doing the first round edits and I have the task now of working my way through it. My first newsletter was sent out yesterday and I gained a few more sign ups in the process. They were sent the first chapter of “Is this Love?’ were allowed a sneak preview of the cover and entered into a prize draw to win an e copy of a book by the author of the month which was my good friend Su, aka Rose English.

Books, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Author of the Month – Rose English

July 22, 2017July 22, 2017 gibbsdream

I will be featuring one author of the month who will spotlight with a brief interview and showcase their books. For anyone who has signed up to my email mailing list you will be entered into a prize draw, a week after I send my newsletter, to win an e-copy of one of the spotlight author’s books.

This month we will be starting with a lady who I have come to know well and have the pleasure of calling friend. I know her by the name of Su but she writes under the name of Rose English.

1. Do you write as a full-time author or do you have to squeeze it in around a full-time job or looking after the children? If you don’t write as your main job what are your aims for your writing?

I work four days a week in a hospital taking care of the medical equipment. To be honest I am not sure I would actually want to be a full-time author, I am more a Read-a-holic and I write as a hobby. I lose myself in reading for pleasure and often for research. Perhaps I will feel different when I actually retire (still a way to go though).

2. What inspires you to write?

I often get inspiration from things that I read, for example a few years back I picked up a book in my local library about the longcase clock. It inspired more research about how this type of clock became the grandfather clock and finally I turned it into ‘The Magic of Grandfather Time.’

3. Tell me about your writing process, when and how? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

The best time I have written is during National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo I seem to be able to organise myself a bit better having a set target to work to, 50,000 words. However I am very easily distracted by research, via books or online so I would say I am a bit of both plotter & pantser. I have lots of notebooks all over the place and scraps of paper, sometimes I will come home from work with my pockets full.

4. How much of your life experience goes into your books if at all?

Sometimes my life experience goes into my stories, generally they are GREATLY exaggerated. Or they may be from true life tragedies not my own. I like to mix a little reality with my fiction. I am working on a collection of ‘Shoe Shorts’ and my title story ‘One Night in Fabulous Shoes’ is loosely based on a tragedy that happened in Frecklton where my brother lives. During the war the Americans were based close by, whilst out on a test flight the weather turned and one of the planes crash landed into the infant school killing many children and teachers.

5. Describe your ideal writing location if money were no issue.

I dream of a log cabin either overlooking a stream or away from anywhere in the snowy mountains. (Dreaming of winter with hot chocolate & masses of floating cream)

6.What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

I have a real problem with my points of view (POVs) I very easily get mixed up with writing in first person or third and so on.

7. What one thing would you fix about the whole world to make it a better place?

There are so many things wrong in this world I really would not know where to begin, but my pet hate is exhaust fumes and pollution hence why I’ve made my home out in the countryside. So although I feel I should say something like work hard to defeat terrorism and stop child abuse etc. I would like to breathe clean air.

8.What is your favourite review from any of your books?

It was only a 4* review but I thought it summed up the short story perfectly. This sticks in my memory most. Plus it is one of the first reviews I ever received.

4**** ‘One Breath’

Beauty in its brevity….

A tale that pulls on the heart strings, stimulates the senses and paints a vivid picture for the reader. Skilfully written to leave a lasting impression.

9. When you’re not writing, working, looking after the kids what else do you enjoy doing?

I am a Read-a-holic any spare moment I get I read, walking from the carpark to my place of work anywhere. Oh I do enjoy walking in the woods listening to the wind in the trees and I have been known to hug a tree on the odd occasion (have you seen the beautiful texture on the trunk of a redwood?)

10. Can you tell me what you’re working on now?

I have a couple of projects on the go one I mentioned earlier an anthology of ‘Shoe Shorts’. I once photographed my shoes when I was trying to have a clear out, I have images of 50 pairs of shoes and just thought hey why not write a story based around each pair of shoes?

Also I have a story that I finished ages ago ‘The Seal Mother’ I want to add images but keep changing my mind or something comes up it is about a Selkie seal maiden a folktale. I started to extend the story by writing a tale of a Selkie man. I thought why not two short stories together to make one decent sized book. However, my Selkie man is not lending itself to being short, so currently it is on hold. Watch this space.

The most complete novel is another in ‘The Magic of Grandfather Time’ series called ‘Last Orders Jack’ but it needs a lot of work still before it could go to the editors.

Rose’s books:

‘The Magic of Grandfather Time’

Buy me: http://amzn.to/2biVzim

‘A grandfather clock has a face and a voice. As its name suggests, it is more than a piece of furniture; it is a member of the family’

Richard C.R. Barder 1983

DECEMBER 1880. There will be no jolly Christmas cheer this year. The harsh winter had descended; snow blankets the ground and the lake is frozen solid. Within the walls of Clement Cottage, the fire is dwindling, its embers barely bright enough to cast the shadow of the broken man upon the wall. Cole is lost in his deep sadness; he has just one heartfelt wish. To be re-united with his beloved, the soulmate so cruelly stolen from him – Cornelia.

A sad mournful ticking comes from a blackened corner of the parlour where a longcase clock is hidden. Tall and stately, noble of face, loud of voice and keeper of great secrets, he is Grandfather Time. Bestowed with the gift of magic from Old Father Time himself, as he begins to chime out the magical hour of midnight, can he grant Cole his wish?

~*~

‘Rainbows & Roses – Poetry & Prose’

Buy me: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rainbows-Roses-Poetry-Colour-Illustrations-ebook/dp/B01IQAAL5O/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1482657213&sr=1-3&keywords=rainbows+and+roses

‘Today I am the soft summer rain,

You are my sweet golden sunshine.

Together we’ll build us a rainbow

To last, a life time.’

‘Rainbows and Roses’ is a delightful selection of whimsical short stories, along with a collection of poetry inspired by memories from childhood, the environment, together with a little bit of fun.

Featuring:

‘One Breath’: a heartfelt story of love and loss.

‘The Symbolism of the Rose’: with some basic history, myths & legends surrounding the ‘Queen of Flowers’.

‘Grandfather Time’: An ancient longcase clock with a spark of magic.

~*~

‘Lost Love in Spring’

Buy me: http://amzn.to/2ilzq56

‘…And many a weary heart shall sing The Snowdrop bringeth Hope and Spring.’

(From the book Poetry of the Flowers by Mrs CM Kirtland 1800)

Hope is all Emmeline has. After a raging storm Alfie is felled by some unseen force Emmeline drags her unconscious husband back to their cottage. Throughout the winter she ministers to his needs, following her Grandmother Aspasia’s recipes collected over the years in her delicately penned book of ‘Home Remedies’. Alfie appears to be on the mend when the gentle, shivering snowdrops begin to raise their dainty heads above the snow, bringing hope. But sadly Alfie takes a turn for the worse and Emmeline loses her soulmate.

With the arrival of ‘The Anniversary’ comes a surprise visitor. Will this visitor rekindle the light in Emmeline’s delicate brown eyes? Can the hole in her heart ever be healed?

This heartfelt short story now includes a sample of some of ‘Aspasia Cherry’s A~Z of Herbal Remedies’ along with poetry, a few myths and a little magic about the local flora that would have been found in and around Emmeline’s cottage.

**~*~**

Thank you very much Rose for taking part in my spotlight of the month. I can highly recommend all her books, if you want to check out my reviews you can see them on the Gibbsdream Reviews page. Don’t forget if you are signed up for my newsletters you will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky winner will receive an e-copy of one of Rose’s books. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones I would highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself.

Maria x

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized