Books, Life, Self-publishing

New Release: The Other Side of the Streets

mybook.to/OtherStreets

Rio, Brasil has always been split in half. Marcos Martinez is from the half where homelessness and poverty is the norm. The son of a man who lived on the streets until he was adopted at the age of twelve, Marcos has made it his mission to defy the norm and make something of his life. Gio Silvas knows only the lifestyle of the other side. A billionaire’s son, he’s a selfish, weak, narcissistic bully who thrives on hedonism, vibrant carnivals, and untold wealth—a lifestyle where the word “no” is not part of his vocabulary. When Gio falls for Marcos’ twin sister Caro, a hard life lesson is heading his way. Will he see the error of his ways and change, or will his love for Caro push him and her family past the point of no return? Familiar characters await, along with new, to both entrance and appall in this third instalment of the Children from the Streets series. Come. It’s time. Carnival is upon us. Are you ready to return to the streets?

If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you can pick them up below:

mybook.to/BoyfromStreets

A Boy from the Streets

Two babies abandoned at birth—one grows up in a life of privilege, the other in poverty.

On the 12th of September, 1981, twin boys are born in a Brasilian hospital and left to their fate as orphans. Jose is adopted by a couple who takes him to England, but the other isn’t so lucky. Pedro ends up on the streets of Rio, left to fend for himself in a harsh and unforgiving world.

Love and betrayal.

Twelve years later Jose’s family returns to Brasil, where he learns the truth about his adoption and his twin. Thinking his adoptive parents no longer want him, he runs away to find his brother. What follows will shake Jose to the core and shape the rest of his life—if he can survive.

Murder.

Jose isn’t the only one whose life will change. Pedro is offered an opportunity beyond any of his wildest dreams, but to keep it will mean the betrayal of someone he loves. This proves to be a far greater challenge than he anticipated when the orphan finds himself suddenly surrounded by family who, unfortunately, don’t all have good intentions.

Hopes and dreams.

A Boy from the Streets will tug at your heart-strings and have you rooting for the little guy as you follow the twists and turns this multi-continental tale takes.

mybook.to/SinsFather
Sins of the Father

Having seen first-hand the results of starvation, abuse, and murder, Carlos Suarez knows all too well that the streets of Rio are no place for a child to grow up.

Because of his own history and subsequent rescue from that poverty at the age of fifteen, he makes it his life’s work to ensure opportunities are available to the future generations of Brasil’s homeless children—but no matter how many kids Carlos saves, it’s never enough for him. 

Almost to the point of obsession.

Dedicated to his work, and haunted by his past, Carlos has never considered an intimate relationship with anyone, let alone another man, especially after that night. But when Fate throws him a curve ball, and his past comes screaming back threatening to destroy his future, Carlos will discover that redemption can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, Sins of the Father is a story you won’t be able to put down.


https://www.facebook.com/gibbsdream

https://twitter.com/gibbsdream

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round-up of the week 21st April 2019

World news:

Map showing locations of explosions
Attacks in Sri Lanka

Eight blasts have been reported in Sri Lanka targeting churches and hotels, killing at least 207 and 450 are thought to have been hurt.
Three of the explosions were in churches during Easter Sunday services.

A national curfew has been put in place “until further notice” and social media networks have been temporarily blocked.
A foreign ministry official has said at least 27 foreign nationals are among the dead.

My cousin and her family are in Colombo at the moment, keep safe Brenda, Gary and family.

London News:

Jason Isaacs
Man convicted of murder of teenager, Jason Isaacs shown above.

Jason Isaacs, 18, was walking with friends in Northolt in November 2017 when he was targeted by four people of two mopeds. They chased him, he became separated from his friends before he was caught by this gang who proceeded to stab him several times. Jason collapsed in a garden and died three days later in hospital.

Joel Amade, also 18, of Greenford, was found guilty of Mr Isaacs’ murder in a trial at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced in May.

The family of the victim will never get Jason back but I hope the courts dole out a sentence that is fitting for the heinous crime.


My World:

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it.

Ten weeks in my not-so-new job and still loving every minute of it. Something happened this week as a result of an inspection report which has made a slight difference to how someone will live and it made all the hours of hard work feel worthwhile.

Had a lovely weekend as my son Mark came home for Easter and had a lovely family day today around at my mum and dad’s house.

My Writing:

Truth & Retribution is now in the hands of my lovely editor, hoping she doesn’t hate me after reading it! I have started reading back through A Boy from the Streets to make a few minor changes and edit any mistakes that were previously missed. I have also decided to change the front and back matter and want to get it right in book 1 before moving on to book 2 and the final edits on books 3 & 4.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the week 14th April 2019

Thought I would keep it light-hearted today with the news, I’ll leave all the sinister stuff to my finished book.

World News:

A North Atlantic right whale off the US east coast
Baby boom for one of the world’s most endangered whale species. Three North Atlantic whale mother and calf pairs have been seen in Cape Cod bay.
Only about 459 of the species are thought to remain.

London News:

Seals returning to the Thames.

The rising seal population in the Thames is considered a sign that water quality is improving.


My news:

Not much new to tell, working all week as usual, nine weeks in to the job and still love it. Fingers crossed that this is the one. Although, the life, work balance is still skewered heavily on the side of work.
Weekend was filled with the excitement of housework, food shopping etc…
Saw my mum, dad, brother, niece and nephew which is always lovely. Very proud of my sister and her youngest daughter who rang a half marathon and 10km respectively today.
I’ve got a banana bread baking in the oven as I type this, using coconut flour – can’t wait to taste. I dropped the banana bread coming out of the oven and it looks a mess, tastes good though.

Writing:

I’ve only gone and finished my edits of book five from the Children of the Streets series. Truth & Retribution is winging its way to my editor. This is such a change of direction for me as the character took control and lead me down the paths of evil.



Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the week – 7 April 2019

World news:

A ferryboat has crashed into a bridge in Pará, in Brazil’s northern state, plunging a 200m section into the Moju River.
After the ship crashed into one of the pillars, witnesses said they saw two cars fall into the water.
Scuba divers are searching the river, and it is unclear how many people have been hurt yet.

London news:

A charity in charge of mental health home is being investigated after a 19 year-old girl took her life in Lancaster lodge in Richmond in May 2016. The teenager hanged herself, one year after being admitted to the home.

The Charity Commission has now opened an inquiry into the management of the home. An inquest into the girl’s death in February found the facility’s leadership “grossly inadequate”.


Pão de Queijo

My news:
Completed two months at my new job and guess I have to stop thinking of it as my new job now. Still loving it although the workload is intense. The director at my work introduced me to Pão de Queijo, Brazilian cheese bread which is made, without wheat. I’ve included Pão de Queijo in my Children from the Streets series but never tasted it until Wednesday. It was so nice, that I decided to make it myself on Saturday (see photo.)

My writing:
Still working frantically on the edits of Trial & Retribution, book five in The Children of the Streets series.

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round-up of the week 24 March 2019

World:

Brutal attack on a village in central Mali.

Brutal attack on a village in central Mali on Saturday by armed men, wearing traditional Dogon hunter’s clothing, killing more than 130 people.
Gunmen surrounded the village at dawn before attacking, with guns and machetes, members of the Fulani ethnic community who are accused of having ties to jihadists.
Witnesses also say that nearly all the huts in the village were burned down in what is being described as a massacre.
My thoughts:
I can’t comprehend this world we live in where such atrocities take place. Is it really so impossible to live in peace? Thoughts and prayers, as always to the victims and their families.

London:

Stabbing near Syon Park, west London


A group of men chased a teenage boy through the streets of west London on Friday night, after getting out of a vehicle near Syon Park, Isleworth. When they caught up with the 17-year-old they stabbed him and he later died at the scene despite police giving first aid at the scene.
My thoughts:
This is a couple of miles away from where I live. This is getting scarily closer all the time. It seems that our police need to get a grip back on the streets before its too late. In which case the police need more resources and greater powers. My prayers go out to the victim’s family and I hope they catch those bastards soon.

My World:

I’ve now completed six weeks at my new job, I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone by. The workload is intense, non-stop but I haven’t been so happy in years. After four horrendous jobs, of not sleeping, and feeling on edge all the time I am now sleeping eight hours at a time and so relaxed and happy that it is having a positive affect on all areas of my life.
On the way home from work on Friday on my motorbike a scumbag on a scooter swerved towards me with his foot out, in an attempt to kick me off. I was able to swerve and got away unscathed.
Payday, meant I could splurge on getting my, long overdue, hair highlighted. Looking good!
A lovely weekend, including, mum and dad time, me time, writing oh and the necessary evil of housework!

My Writing:

Still working on the edits of book five in the Children from the Streets series. It’s rather scary how easily I’ve jumped inside the head of a psychopath. A tiny taster from when Paolo was eight years old, he was walking to the shops with his friend:

My foot inched out and caught the front of his, sending him flying. He landed face down in the dried, baked earth which hadn’t seen water for a while. I rushed to his side, apologised, you know all the things a friend would do and he blamed himself for his clumsiness. I accepted this version readily. A stone had grazed his face, leaving a gouge mark, his hands were scratched and his clothing torn but despite my solicitous attentions and insistence that we head back to the house, the greedy little boy wanted sweets and a taste of his destiny which wouldn’t be so sweet.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week 17.03.2019

World:

Flash floods in eastern Indonesian province of Papua have killed at least 58 people, rescue workers are still looking but are struggling to reach the remote areas as roads are blocked by landslides and fallen trees, so the number of dead may rise.

More than 4,000 people have had to leave their homes. Torrential rains began on Saturday evening and continued into the night, triggering mudslides and flash floods.

My thoughts:
What a horrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

London:

A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death in a fight in Fulham in the early hours of Saturday on the junction of Gowan Avenue and Munster Road, dying at the scene.

My thoughts:
I used to work around the corner from where this took place. It’s so scary that these awful acts of violence are closing in all around us and becoming commonplace. My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the victim.

My World:

I’m not sure why I have this slot in my blog, lol, because I don’t do a hell of a lot on a weekly basis. Week 5 of the new job done, still great. Every day is different and interesting.
Went to see an old work colleague from when I worked at the motorbike training school on Thursday night after work, I haven’t seen Stacy in a few years. We’ve been doing the “we must meet soon dance” for ages and finally got around to pinning down a date.
Weekend was taken up with writing, housework and a visit to my family.

My Writing:
I finally hit “The End” on the first draft of book 5 from The Children on the Streets series. Now the edits begin. Fun times.




Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the week

Chuckles-3

 

World

Gary Martin, 45 from Illinois who was being fired from his job of 15 years, shot dead five people and injured several others at his workplace. He was then killed during an exchange of fire with police officers. Five officers were shot and wounded.

My thoughts: “How sad that someone who has worked all those years for a company is pushed to such terrible and tragic actions. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of his victims and his own. We can never know what hell a person is going through, even someone we know well. Be kind to each other. ” Maria

London

The police were called to Tesco’s in Osterley, West London on Sunday at midnight after reports of forced entry into the store. Brazen thieves carried out a ram raid on the store, making off with the safe from the bureau de change. Police are still looking for the culprits who left disarray in their wake.

My thoughts: “This is a little close to home for me, being less than four miles from my home and the place where my parents shop each week.” Maria

My week

I started a new job this week after being out of work for 6 weeks. It’s early days yet but my first impressions are favourable. The training schedule is better than any other role I’ve been in and the team has been warm and welcoming, making me feel as though I’ve been there for ages as I’m so comfortable. The role is varied and will take a lot to learn but it has captured my imagination and I’m excited at the prospect.

Watch this space!

Saturday was spent riding about on my motorbike and catching up on chores & Sunday writing and family meal.

I’ve also been extremely fortunate to be allowed to beta read for one of my favourite authors Sherri A Wingler for her new book which will be released soon.

My writing

So, I’m working on book 5 of a 6 book series. Children from the Streets has tugged at many a heart string for both books 1 & 2 which have been published and the feedback on books 3 & 4 from editor and beta reader is that they will cause the same reaction. However, for book 5 I’ve had to take a detour and get my evil on, which I’ve found myself enjoying immensely.

I’ve set myself some tight deadlines so I have held books 3 & 4 back and will finish the edits on them at a later stage to enable me to do a rapid release on the rest of the series.