Tag: Indie Authors

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

New Release: Sophie: Witch-Hunter by K. S. Marsden

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Sophie: Witch-Hunter

K.S. Marsden

Synopsis

Everyone will betray you…

Sophie has always had a high opinion of herself. She is smart, beautiful, and meant for something more than a mundane, human life.

From a young age she’s had to weigh duty against selfish desires. Her new friend Izzy starts to break down her carefully-constructed walls, and makes Sophie question everything she thought she knew.

With witch-hunters and witches vying for a place in her future, Sophie has to decide who she can trust.

This is a prequel to the Witch-Hunter trilogy, and contains spoilers from the very beginning.

We highly recommend you read The Shadow Rises, before finding out more about everybody’s favourite cold-hearted bitch.


Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42420592-sophie

As stated, this is not intended to be a stand-alone, and relies on knowledge of  the Witch-Hunter world.

If you have not yet read The Shadow Rises (Witch-Hunter #1), you can pick it up for FREE.

The Shadow Rises (Witch-Hunter #1)

When a new witch threat rises, only Hunter Astley can stop them… 

In the face of dark magic and evil witches, a secret witch-hunting society works tirelessly to keep them at bay. The Malleus Maleficarum Council have strict rules and practises for eradicating magic.

Due to their work, witches have been almost forgotten, relegated to myth; but rumours are starting to emerge of a new power that will throw the world into chaos.

As the only 7th generation witch-hunter, Hunter Astley is the best the MMC has to offer. With the help of his colleagues, it’s a race to track down this new threat and stop them… in any way he can.

Part one of the Witch-Hunter trilogy.

Free download from most ebook retailers.

Book links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17972985-the-shadow-rises

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2TDaFBp

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2JwbPOx

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2MVK8g5

Smashwords: https://bit.ly/1F0pCQh

iTunes: https://apple.co/1AOiozb

Google Play: https://bit.ly/1DuvhLX

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2SnnNhD

Also available in Audiobook:

Audible US: https://adbl.co/2Od9NRe

Audible UK: https://adbl.co/2xfL1J9

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized
gibbsdream

Round up of the Week.png

Each week I will be doing a round up of the week which will be a piece of global news, London news, my own week and what I have been up to as an author. It may be news/information you already know or it may be something you haven’t heard – either way I hope you like these little posts. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and any news you would like to share in return.

World: Online retail giant Amazon is buying Whole Foods in a £10.7bn deal ($13.7bn). Whole Foods has more than 460 stores in the US, Canada and the UK employing 87,000 people.

It would seem that Amazon are taking over the retail industry in the way that supermarkets took over from the local shop.

London: This week has seen the tragic events unfold at the Grenfell Tower in West London. This twenty-four storey tower block burnt down leaving an empty shell, the latest numbers suggest 58 people dead or missing, leaving a community homeless and devastated.

Londoners and people from surroundings communities have come together in an amazing show of unity to provide practical supplies, giving of their time and money. People from across the globe have started raising funds to help those affected. People from all walks of life have come together in support to show what a great community we have when we work together. My heart goes out to everyone affected.

My World: A fairly normal week for me, work, writing and visits to the gym to try to shift the excess weight that has crept up on me and is clinging like an octopus and refusing to leave. Friday night I combined a social visit with my friend Shirley, we’ve been friends since about the age of ten years old, with a visit to her gym, a swim and jacuzzi. Felt very pampered and chilled afterwards, the perfect way to start the weekend. A relaxing day of sunbathing on Saturday combined with some writing, oh and I was also able to pick the first batch of my homegrown spinach. Today, Sunday, is Father’s Day and very shortly I will be meeting my parents and my sister at a local restaurant. So a nice family day to round off my week.

My Word: I haven’t written very much this week as I’ve been focusing my attention on editing. The first novel I wrote is finally approaching the stage where it will be given to my editor.

I started writing it approximately fifteen years ago and it has gone through numerous edits and lost about 80,000 words in an attempt to make it a tighter, readable book. I put it aside for a number of years as I worked on other books, including the three novelettes and one novel that I’ve published already. I also have a backlog of forty something WIPs (Work in Progresses) in various stages of completion. But I digress, and now you can see why I had to purge 80,000 odd words, LOL.
Anyway I have about 2700 more that I need to remove to get it to 80,000 words and then I will hand it over with trepidation to a new editor and hold my breath (not literally of course) until I receive the red-marked pages back.

I have also taken the plunge and set up an email sign up on my website so that I can email out a monthly newsletter. If you would like to hear from me occasionally then please add your details to the pop up and then check your junk mail as they often get sent there.

What can you expect from me by signing up? 

I’ll keep you informed of any new releases from me, some you might like/love and others you won’t as I can’t stick to writing in one genre, I write anything that is in my head and needs to be released. A sometimes scary prospect. 🙂

Giveaway: Once a month I am planning on doing an author slot from the Indie authors I love which will include one free kindle copy of one of their books going to one of my readers who will be picked at random. More details to follow.

Little snippets of information that I think you might find interesting – forgive me if I get that wrong sometimes – please let me know what you like and what you don’t like and what you’d like to see more of.

As this is new to me it will grow organically and hopefully you will look forward to finding my newsletters once a month in your inbox.

Maria x
Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Scarlett Flame

gibbsdream

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1. Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
  I am the author Scarlett Flame and I am from Manchester, in the UK.

2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?         I love to read, especially Sci-Fi, paranormal romance, steampunk (of course!), thrillers. To be honest I love an eclectic selection of genre. Two of my favourites are Dean Koontz and Anne Rice.

3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
 I write in a variety of genre. I mainly write erotica though. With main themes being BDSM, bondage, Dom/sub. I also have a Steampunk book that has elements of ménage, werewolves, dragons, magicians and any number of magical creatures featuring. I have two WIP’s at the moment and one has a Dominant, that is also a vampire featured and the other is once again a D/s but with MMF erotic scenes in it. These two new books are due to be published in Spring 2017.

4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
I think it would have to be the Vampire Lestat. Loved these books by Anne Rice and would love them to be my creation.

5.When did you first start writing?
I began writing in 2012, secretly.

6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
I do a combination of the two really but, I always write the first draft longhand. The words just seem to flow better. I write words I want to use in the margins and go back through and edit before typing the draft up. I do use a timeline and storyboards too. In order to make sure that the work has a proper timeline.

7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
My favourite character in my own books is one I am currently writing and it is Ellie, she is the main female in my upcoming book “A Gothic Romance: Vampires of Whitby Book 1”

8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
Hmmm now then a LOT of the scenes in my book relate to people, events and situations I have been in myself. But I would be telling tales out of school if I told you which ones.

9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?      I am currently about ¾ of the way through two very different books. One has no title and the other is the book about the Whitby vampires.

10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
Get your media presence in place early, and establish yourself. Do your homework too and double check your work and get a good editor.

11. What do you do when you’re not writing?
I have six children, all boys, and five grandkids. I am also a committee member at the local mining museum, which is where my own book signing events take place in Manchester. I am also involved in several local projects, so never a spare moment just now

12.What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
Finding the time to both write, edit, format, and then advertise your books. I am currently looking for a PA to help me out on that score to be perfectly honest.

13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
That people refer to erotic writing as porn. It is quite different. The use of words for example. You can write erotica and still be a wordsmith. People also assume you are sat in stockings and suspenders when you write. Which makes me laugh as quite often it is pj’s, dressing gown and slipper and of course the ubiquitous glass of red wine.

14.What is your idea of happiness?
To be loved, and to love. To be able to curl up, and read in peace with a nice cup of tea, to being with family and friends for a meal and a good natter. Or, maybe curled up with the one you love. All of the above, really.

15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
My ideal setting is sat on the settee, quietly, with no disturbance. Phone off, cuppa tea and some gingernuts to munch on.

16. What makes you laugh/cry?
Watching my children and grandchildren perform in school plays and the like. Kindness also makes me cry. I have cried when I shouldn’t really. I was a children’s nurse and I remember crying assisting to lay out a young man who has died when a student nurse. I got told by the nurse I was working alongside, that if that doesn’t move you to cry, leave the profession. Empathy is a huge part of nursing

17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.
Oh, put me on the spot then as I have 6 kids and love them all to the stars and back!  But, if it was purely sexual hmmm. A handsome Dom would have to among them. Or maybe three gorgeous Doms that all wanted to take care of me.

18.What is your most annoying habit?
I procrastinate – a LOT!

19.Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)
This is some blurb about A Valentine’s Bind: Manchester Dominants and submissives Book

Winner in the #erotica category of Top 50 self-published

books of 2016 and 5th overall

Nominee in the erotica category Summer Indie Books 2016

 

Go on treat yourself it is a BARGAIN

 

and #FREE to read on KU too

 

★*´¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.• ** #FREE to read with #KindleUnlimited

99c US 99p UK

Available in paperback

 

When University student Nicky Johnson decides to make an impromptu visit to a #BDSM club with friends she get more than she bargained for.

The alcohol fuelled evening finds her asleep on her sofa the next day, suffering from memory loss.

But who brought her home?

#Dominant Dariel Pearson shows her that #spanking and submission can be empowering.

Will this be a life changing experience for Nicky?

This New Adult contemporary romance is a steamy, sexy tale of love, dominance and #submission.    This is The Prophecy Unfolds: Dragon Queen book 1    ★*´¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.• *#‎FREE‬ to read with Kindle Unlimited

#Steampunk #Werewolves #Dragons #Magicians

#ParanormalRomance #Erotica

#Shifter #Ménage

 

Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away – Anon.

 

For Alex, this was supposed to be a fresh start.

New job, new part of the country.

But she got much more than she bargained for.

As she travelled through the Snowdonian National park, with its remote villages and Wales’ highest mountains, she stops to eat a bite to eat.

There she is kidnapped by three strangers, and transported to the Dystopian, Steampunk world of Syros.

A world of dragons, magic and werewolves.

Where science fiction meets science fact.

This is only the beginning of an epic urban fantasy, and the fulfilment of a prophecy over 200 years old.

Will she survive on a planet where three factions battle for dominance?

 

Book One of the series Dragon Queen   Finally Bound for Passion: Erotic Love Stories. My debut book       

★*´¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.• ** #FREE to read with #KindleUnlimited

Amazon Bestseller in #Paranormal Erotica

Available in paperback

#Ménage #ParanormalRomance #Erotica #BDSM

 

Newly updated and edited

 

When Vivienne sits inconsolable in the hospital chapel, the last encounter she expects is a fervent entanglement with an otherworldly being, as passions increase she learns for the first time in her life the true meaning of out of this world. In the second, Sarah meets a new lover after telling him all her intimate fantasies in an internet chat room. And, the final story concerns the journey a young woman takes, as a Dominant offers to show her the ropes, in exchange for her submission via BDSM. Individually these stories are hot, but together they are sizzling

 

 Remember to Turn up the AC!, June 4, 2016

By 

1DreamReader

Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

This review is from: Bound for Passion: Erotic Love Stories (Kindle Edition)

I have not read a lot of Erotica but enough to say that this Novella was enough to turn the heat up.
The first short story was a full-on excitement as a young women anticipates meeting her cyber lover in the flesh to live out her fantasy. Just the prelude to the meeting was a poetic foreplay of words. Let me tell you, I felt the heated anticipation with her every step of the way, as the author does not skimp on the juicy details. All three of the stories were well written and had good character descriptions. If you are looking to spice up your love life, then this book is a must for you!
Remember to turn up the AC!

Lightning round
Tea or Coffee?                Tea (I am intolerant of coffee)
Cash or credit?                Cash
Cats or Dogs?                   Dogs
Beach or Mountain?           Mountains
Summer or Winter             Winter
Sweet or Savoury                    Savoury
Early riser or late riser?            Early riser
Morning or Night?             Night
Christmas Tree – real or fake?       real
Sex – Lights on or off?      Lights on

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Sophie Valentine

gibbsdream

 

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  1. Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
    S. Valentine, and I’m originally from England, but living in Spain.
  2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?
    Yes, I absolutely love reading, and always have. My inspirations are so many different authors.
  3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
    I write romance, erotica, suspense, a bit of horror, and hoping to write some YA in the future.
  4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
    Carrie Bradshaw from SATC. I know the book was more letters / a column that a fictional story book, but it was a story on the show, and I loved that character. Also the Gossip Girl characters, in particular Serena Van Der Woodsen, which were based on books.
  5. When did you first start writing?
    I started writing from a very young age. I wrote full MC’s at 18, but focused on another career until most recently.
  6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
    Depends. Sometimes I plan out, and other times I let the story lead me.
  7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
    Ooh tough one! I quite like exclusive club owner Darion Milano. He’s hot, kinky, and adventurous. Not to mention extremely good looking. He can be found in The Black Door trilogy series. I also quite like Mia McKenna too in my upcoming romance standalone. She’s sassy and cool.
  8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
    I think a lot of books there can be scenes where it’s close to home to an author. My upcoming contemporary romance is a book ALL women will be able to relate to. It’s an emotional, feel-good read.
  9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?
    Yes. I’ve just finished a duology. Again, this is another book most girls will be able to relate to. A life a lot of us want and dream of.
  10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
    Keep going. Finish that manuscript. Promote, interact online, get your work critiqued, get it as best as it can possibly be.
  11. What do you do when you’re not writing?
    I’m a movie and series freak. I could literally do that, or read all day. Other stuff includes shopping, sightseeing, and seeing my friends. Oh and sunbathing.
  12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
    The worst part in editing is having to cut out large chunks. Fortunately I haven’t had to do that yet. Marketing is tough overall, as it’s a never ending process. The whole writing part is seeing that blank page, and having to churn out 80-90,000 words again. But, it all has its good parts too!
  13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
    I think it’s annoying when people see writing as a hobby. Like, why would we want to torture ourselves by churning out 80-90,000 words over and over again, sleepless nights, an overactive imagination that never stops, and spend hours constantly promoting it? It’s tough at times, but again, it’s worth it.
  14. What is your idea of happiness?
    To be content within yourself. To be where you want to be in life, and have those you love and those that love you surrounding you. Family and friends matter most.
  15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
    The wind gently played with her curls, the salt in the air filling her nostrils, the sound of the waves lapping the shore meeting her ears. The rays of the sun warmed her face. Removing her hat, she sat up on the lounger and scanned the white sand, and cerulean sea before her. She had the perfect view from her garden and it was peaceful and relaxing. She was spoilt with whether to swim in the refreshing pool, or run and dive in the sea. Before she could decide a handsome butler approached carrying a tray of snacks…. Haha! Perfect!
  16. What makes you laugh/cry?
    Comedy movies make me laugh, and sad movies / shows make me cry. Also when people let me down, or show their true colours, but that’s life.
  17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.
    Okay, other than my family and friends, who of course I’d take, but Mark Wahlberg because he’s hot and funny. Eminem because he’s hot and could rap and entertain me. And Blake Lively because she seems sweet and funny, and we all need a good friend     ☺
  18. What is your most annoying habit?
    I bite my nails sometimes.
  19. Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)
    His Confession, Her Confession and Their Confession is an erotic romance trilogy. It’s about a man who owns an exclusive membership club, and a ‘vanilla’ woman seeing if she can come to terms with it because she loves him, or getting him to tone down his kinky, taboo, experimental ways. It tests their relationship. And in each book, someone has a confession.
    I have written short stories for anthologies too. My upcoming short story for Fourteen Shades Of F*cked Up is about a handsome, charming man who despises the opposite sex for anything other than pleasure, and has a secret.
  20. Lightning round
    Tea or Coffee? Coffee.
    Cash or credit? Cash.
    Cats or Dogs? Both.
    Beach or Mountain? Beach!
    Summer or Winter? Summer.
    Sweet or Savoury? Sweet. I love cakes!
    Early riser or late riser? Late.
    Morning or Night? Night-owl.
    Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake. It’s cruel to kill that many trees just for one day, especially when fake ones look just as good.
    Sex – Lights on or off? Depends on my mood.

 

You can find me on:

www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor

www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthor

www.instagram.com/sophiavalentineauthor

www.pinterest.com/SophiaVWrites

www.s-valentine.wix.com/books



Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

 

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

A Lifetime or a Season- Teaser

gibbsdream

lifetime-3

My Mother had bee one of those alluring women, a flaming redhead, who had men baying at her feet like enslaved dogs. Not for her the indifference of men, she had played the game to the hilt and every man that walked out of her life was a man she had send packing.

Find out more about Athena’s journey to self-discovery as she throws aside the shackles that bind her in.

Novelette pricing:

Kindle 0.99

Paperback: £3.50/ $5.00

Amazon Link: http://mybook.to/ALifetime 

For more information and reviews: https://gibbsdream.wordpress.com/my-published-stories-a-lifetime-or-a-season/ 

 

 

Books, Uncategorized

#Booksarenotfree

gibbsdream

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Earlier in the week I blogged about the expectations of today’s society with regards to getting free books which was inspired by a Facebook post by Rose Montague. See below:

“I’m thinking about doing an event called OUR BOOKS ARE NOT FREE.

No giveaways, no prizes, no incentives other than meeting authors and readers, learning about their books, and supporting authors that want to sell their books. I wonder if anyone would like to participate and I wonder if people would actually attend the event?

If you are interested, please comment below. If I get enough authors/readers I will host the event……”

From there I felt so inspired and fired up that I wrote my thoughts down and added a hashtag which I want to see trending. #Booksarenotfree

Rose’s post inspired so many people that a five day event has been organised with half hourly author slots which are now full. Come and join this event, meet the authors pick up a book or two if your budget can stretch to it. Guaranteed no freebies but you will find more genres under one roof than you will anywhere else (aside from bookshops or online markets such as Amazon)

Event details:
Over 100 authors
Not a single book will be given away
Not a single prize will be awarded
Just some fantastic authors
With great books
At reasonable prices

screenshot-2017-01-14-15-42-44

Sat 11 Feb
2PM Rose Montague (Intro & Pep talk)
2:30 PM Monica Mertz
3:00 PM Veronica Del Rosa
3:30 PM Jen Winters
4:00 PM Theresa Jacobs
4:30 PM Sonnet O’Dell
5:00 PM S H Pratt
5:30 PM Clair de Lune
6:00 PM Aoife Marie Sheridan
6:30 PM Angel M Vosvick-Waggoner
7:00 PM John Hancock
7:30 PM Bailey Ziehmer
8:00 PM Barbara Winkes
8:30 PM M.L. Spencer
9:00 PM AJ Kohler
9:30 PM Claudette Nicole Melanson
10:00 PM Jesse Frankel
10:30 PM Elizabeth Ann Davis
11:00 PM Ani Manjikan
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Sun 12 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM Gillian Joy
7:00 AM Grace Rose Thomas
7:30 AM Maria Gibbs
8:00 AM Fiona Skye
8:30 AM Stuart Murray
9:00 AM Laurie Vincent
9:30 AM Melissa McArthur Gilbert
10:00 AM Cindy J Smith
10:30 AM Iyana Jenna
11:00 AM Krista Pakseresht
11:30 AM Karen Mossman
Noon Karina Kantas
12:30 PM Audrina Lane
1:00 PM Regina Partap
1:30 PM Cris Pasqueralle
2:00 PM Miranda Brock
2:30 PM Mistral Dawn
3:00 PM JF Holland
3:30 PM Gemma Roman
4:00 PM Flora McGregor
4:30 PM Erika Szabo
5:00 PM Joe Bonadonna
5:30 PM Michael Dellert
6:00 PM Heather Blomquist
6:30 PM Nancy Rollins
7:00 PM Courtney Shockey
7:30 PM Tima Maria Lacoba
8:00 PM Char Webster
8:30 PM Marsha Moore
9:00 PM Kurt Springs
9:30 PM Nicole Davis
10:00 PM Joe Compton
10:30 PM Deidre Mapstone
11:00 PM Carol Kauffman
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Mon 13 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM JoAnne Van Leedham
7:00 AM Alex James
7:30 AM Brianna West
8:00 AM Bri Amari
8:30 AM Susan Gibbons
9:00 AM Jennifer Thompson
9:30 AM Heather Ann Osborne
10:00 AM Michela Homer
10:30 AM Devorah Fox
11:00 AM Beverly Lee
11:30 AM Jennifer A Thomas
Noon H.C. Bentley
12:30 PM Tom Tinney
1:00 PM Peter Churchill
1:30 PM Dawn Chapman
2:00 PM Cindy Schneider
2:30 PM Lynn Lamb
3:00 PM Monte Dutton
3:30 PM Gary Morgenstern
4:00 PM Lu Whitley
4:30 PM Karen McFarland
5:00 PM Shakyra Dunn
5:30 PM Stephanie Ayers
6:00 PM Trey McIntosh
6:30 PM Sandie Will
7:00 PM Maggie Anderson
7:30 PM Juli D. Revezzo
8:00 PM Kade Cook
8:30 PM Emmy Gatrell
9:00 PM Colen Evans
9:30 PM Sarah Buhrman
10:00 PM Barbara Chioffi
10:30 PM Sarina Langer
11:00 PM Jeanette O’Hagan
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Tues 14 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM Dianna Wyles
7:00 AM Jennifer Malone Wright
7:30 AM Georgia Mathers
8:00 AM Cori Nicole Smith
8:30 AM Joe Sledge
9:00 AM Joe Ganzer
9:30 AM Maretha Menichini
10:00 AM Dianne Astle
10:30 AM Jane Anthony
11:00 AM C.S. Wooley
11:30 AM Suzi Albracht
Noon Alexis Danielle Allinson
12:30 PM Isadora Montrose
1:00 PM Amy Richie
1:30 PM Pletcha PJ Webb
2:00 PM Kasper Beaumont
2:30 PM Kelly Erickson
3:00 PM Stephen Hunt
3:30 PM Julie Stanley
4:00 PM Tom Fallwell
4:30 PM Cree Storm
5:00 PM Tiger Herbert
5:30 PM JJ King
6:00 PM Jessica Gomez
6:30 PM A M Rycroft
7:00 PM Ashley Uzzell
7:30 PM Marie Krepps
8:00 PM D.j. Ruggiero
8:30 PM Heather Ellen Yamauchi
9:00 PM Beth Honeycutt
9:30 PM Shelli Humphrey
10:00 PM Christopher Paniccia
10:30 PM Debbie Manber Kupfer
11:00 PM Jessica Fisette
11:30 PM (daily wrap up)

Wed 15 Feb
6:00 AM (Daily Intro-Host)
6:30 AM Sarina Langer
7:00 AM Sarah J Hilder
7:30 AM Miriam Averna
8:00 AM Jane Ederlyn
8:30 AM Owen Mullen
9:00 AM Annie Buff
9:30 AM Claire Marta
10:00 AM Lucinda Clarke
10:30 AM Lindsay Johnston
11:00 AM Devon West
11:30 AM Zorha Edwards
Noon Romarin Demetri
12:30 PM Jennifer Brown
1:00 PM Jason Crawford
1:30 PM Candace Osmond
2:00 PM Lily Amis
2:30 PM Jeanne Felfe
3:00 PM XXXXXXXXXXX
3:30 PM S A Gibson
4:00 PM Eva Gordon
4:30 PM Parker Sinclair
5:00 PM Kristy Nicole
5:30 PM Scott Carruba
6:00 PM Mirren Hogan
6:30 PM R.L, Weeks
7:00 PM CJ Rutherford
7:30 PM A.T. Brennan
8:00 PM Debbie Dickerson
8:30 PM Niki Livingston Walker
9:00 PM Dawn Ibanez
9:30 PM Barbara Custer
10:00 PM Tia Siren/Amy Brent
10:30 PM Markie Jordan-Madden
11:00 PM (Event wrap up)

Look out for this event because it should be phenomenal. Let’s claim back a fair price for a job well done.

 

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

#Booksarenotfree

gibbsdream

 

There is a growing trend in society to believe that books should be free or heavily discounted and we have all been guilty of feeding into it. I pick up freebies but I am also happy to pay for the books I want. Maybe I can’t get all the ones I want but hey isn’t that just life? I see lots of clothes I like and I might be able to pick up a new dress for a special occasion or a new pair of jeans because my old ones have holes in where no self-respecting forty-something wants holes but I can’t buy every item that my heart desires. Certainly not on my non-existent income as an author. Just as well I have a full-time job that stops me from being a starving artist languishing in a garret with only bread and water to sustain me. My day-time job takes up a huge portion of my week and often leaves me drained but from somewhere I have to find the time for my passion which is writing. My dream would be my writing to take off and be able to write full-time but alas that can’t be at the moment.

Everyone of us has had people who ask for a free copy, I’d like to quote my friend and fellow author Chris Turnbull “erm No! There is no such thing as a free copy…even I don’t get a free copy and it’s my book.” 

We do have a free copy on our computers, sure and we can send it to our Kindle device but if we want a print copy of our book, we have to pay – the proof copy isn’t even free. But let me tell you a bit more about what we’ve paid for: A beautiful cover, a feast to the eye, to tempt you, an editor to shape our words and spot mistakes and inconsistencies. And let’s be clear on this my editor and cover designer, both wonderful women who are also authors won’t accept it if I ask them to provide their services for free–which I wouldn’t do. Some people pay for marketing and do promotional giveaways.

I have three novelettes on the market at the moment and a pending novel (having the red pen treatment). A novelette is small, doesn’t require the same time frame to write it but I still used my time and I still paid for the above items. Yesterday was the two-year anniversary of my first novelette ‘As Dreams are Made on.’ Based only on the cover and editing alone I have lost £36.00 on it. So to recap, two years on and with 104 kindle sales and 16 paperback copies I am still in the red. I haven’t set my price high 0.99p/c because it is a short read. An hour or so of entertainment for under £1.00/$1.00 but still people want it for free. You could argue that if they like it they might buy one of my other books and yes that is true but lets also go back to the earlier paragraph where I acknowledged that I can’t buy all the books or clothes I like. So maybe it would generate sales–but maybe not.

Books aren’t just entertainment they are often an escape from reality –a reality that many people find challenging so given the duality of the product why do we question its value?

I’ve got an experiment for you to try (I won’t do it myself as I previously mentioned my busy schedule 🙂 )

Walk in to or phone your hairdresser and ask them if they will give you a free haircut.

Ring your garage next time your car needs a service or MOT and ask them to do it for free

Who loves having their nails done? Manicure? Pedicure? Facial? Let’s see about this freebie

The list is endless.
I would love to hear back from anyone who gets a freebie. Good luck and happy hunting.

But for this author who works endlessly and pays for the services I receive the only freebies I will consider are those that I choose to give for a promotional event which will require your participation.

For anyone who believes that authors should be paid for their work please leave a comment in support and it you are so inclined please share it with the hashtag #Booksarenotfree let’s get it trending.

If you are interested in my books follow the links:

US: https://www.amazon.com/Maria-Gibbs/e/B00SDDJV1U/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maria-Gibbs/e/B00SDDJV1U/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

If you want to know more about my books have a look at the other pages on this website. You can even see the reviews that I have left for the books I’ve read recently.

 

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

West Midlands Attending Author: Nicola C. Priest

gibbsdream

 

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  1. Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
     I write under my given name, Nicola C. Priest, but people tend to call me Nicky. Midlands girl, born & bred.
  2. Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?
    Completely true.  When I was younger, I used to love reading Stephen King and James Patterson, mainly because my mom loved to read those authors so I picked up her books, but now I’m predominantly a romance girl and love to read Nicole Edwards and Kristy Bromberg
  3. What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
    Most of my books are contemporary romance, but one of my in progress books, Perception, leans towards the Crime genre, with a touch of romance thrown in.
  4. If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
    Just one character? Don’t think I could do that, but Id happily take all seven of the Walker Brothers from Nicole Edwards’ Alluring Indulgence series.  Seven hot, sexy cowboys; what’s not to love there?
  5. When did you first start writing?
    I’ve loved writing since I was in school. Our creative writing classes were always my favourite.  I started writing fanfiction based on various TV shows but it wasn’t until a certain trilogy came out that I decided to have a go at writing something original. I figured if she could do it, then so could I.
  6. Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
    I do plan to some degree, but I tend to just write and go where the characters take me.  I never know how a story is going to end until I get there. Two of the books I’ve released ended in completely different ways to what I originally envisioned.
  7. Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
    Tough one, but I’d have to say Jackson MacKenzie out of Somewhere Love Remains.  I won’t go into details, but there are parts of that book that mean a lot to me and I’ll leave it there.
  8. Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
    Somewhere Love Remains.  I had an armed forces penpal back when I was a teenager.
  9. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?
    Yes.  I’m working on the sequel to Heart & Soul, called Mind & Soul which has a couple of twists people won’t see coming.  The second I’m working on is Perception, which is a little different to what I usually write.
  10. What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
    Just write.  I’m a firm believer that everyone has at least one book inside them, but you won’t get anywhere unless you write.  All the editing and formatting comes after, just get the words on the paper and the rest will follow.
  11. What do you do when you’re not writing?
    I work full time as a financial services contractor so that takes up most of my day.  When I’m not working or writing, I go to the gym and catch up on my reading list.
  12. What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
    Definitely the marketing.  Getting a new book out there is hard and I hate pestering people or posting repeatedly on pages/groups.  I know how it makes me feel seeing the same post over and over, but then I remember that this person is trying to do the same things as me, they’re just being a bit more forward lol
  13. We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
         I hate it when people assume that just because I have a book on Amazon, I must be raking in the cash.  I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve heard “You’re an author? You must be loaded” or words to that effect.  I wish I was loaded, but as most of us indie authors can attest, that’s just not the case
  14. What is your idea of happiness?
    Being able to give up my full-time job so that I can write for a living instead.  I’d love to be able to earn my living as an author.
  15. For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
         For me it would have to be a log cabin in the middle of nowhere, with an open log fire and huge armchair.  I’d have a glass of my favourite wine next to me with the fire roaring, warming the room and casting a soft glow over the furnishings.  I’d have my Macbook on my lap and just let the words flow.
  16. What makes you laugh/cry?
    I’m a big softie.  Anything that my nieces and nephews achieve always has me in tears, and they’re not even m kids!  My niece recently took park in the Children in Need choir which was televised and when I caught a glimpse of her on the TV I teared up.  I’m a sucker for sappy movies too.
  17. You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature. Hmmmmm.  I think I’d take the inspirations behind my leading men.  Henry Cavill inspired Alistair Lockwood; there’s just something about him and I could look at him all day.  That man can wear a suit like no other.  Canadian actor Yannick Bisson inspired Jason Harper, again, very easy on the eyes, but also a fantastic cook so he’d be able to keep all of out energies up.  The last one, and I’m not giving a name here as it’s personal, is the inspiration for Jackson MacKenzie.  He’s a good friend of mine and has helped me through some tough time.  I wouldn’t be without him in my life.
  18. What is your most annoying habit?
    I’m the queen of the saying “I’ll do it in a minute.” It drives my husband mad as whatever it is never gets done and he ends up doing it himself.  My memory is terrible so unless I do something there and then, I completely forget about it.
  19. Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)
         I have three books out at the moment: Heart & Soul is part one in the Heartland series.  You have Alistair Lockwood, Hollywood moviestar and heartthrob, you meets clerical assistant Samantha Westfield during a meeting.  There’s an instant attraction, but both have dark secrets that they want to keep hidden.

Somewhere Love Remains tells the tale of Olivia and Jackson, two people who connect when Olivia places an advert for an armed forces penpal.  Throughout the years Olivia falls for Jackson, but he falls for someone else and they lose touch.  Jump to 14 years later and a chance encounter has them reconnecting, but they’re both different to what the other remembers.

Chase the Knight is a novella you can read in 45 minutes.  Abigail’s life is threatened by her dad’s shady work dealings so he hires Alexander Chase, and undercover cop, to protect her.  Can’t really say much more without giving it away.

Mind and Soul & Perception are currently in progress. Mind & Soul carries on six weeks after Heart & Soul ended with Alistair and Samantna trying to move on with their lives.  Perception is a little different to the other books in that it is a crime book where several girls have gone missing, with two turning up later, apparently murdered.

  1. Lightning round
    Tea or Coffee? Tea
    Cash or credit? Cash
    Cats or Dogs? Cats
    Beach or Mountain? Beach
    Summer or Winter? Summer
    Sweet or Savoury? Savoury
    Early riser or late riser? Late Riser
    Morning or Night? Night
    Christmas Tree – real or fake? Real
    Sex – Lights on or off? Both

    Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions.
    Please leave Facebook, Twitter, Website links so we can check you out further.

 

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nicola-C.-Priest/e/B00GW2VPUE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1484058652&sr=1-1

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolacpriest

 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NicolaCPAuthor

 

Website: https://www.nicolacpriest.co.uk

 

 

 

Books, Christmas, Life, Uncategorized

Book Advent Calendar – Day 18 – The Storm Creature

gibbsdream

Christmas is creeping closer and for every day I will be sharing a short teaser from my novelette ‘The Storm Creature’.

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Tune in tomorrow for the next instalment or if you can’t wait then you can pick it up on Amazon.

myBook.to/StormCreature

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Print copy: £3.50/$5.00

Kindle: 0.99

At eighteen, Lucy had everything going for her: a supportive family, a rapt audience, and her dream of becoming a published author about to be realised.
A single moment in time on a dark, rainy road changes things forever.
That was then, but this is now. Lucy has suffered through eight years of haunting visions and thoughts with every raging storm thanks to a tempestuous storm creature who torments her. What does the baleful creature want with Lucy? Will the troubled woman ever be able to let go of the past and forgive herself?
Or will she sacrifice everything she holds dear?

Reviews so far:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small story…Big impact, 20 Aug. 2016
By
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Paperback)
This is the second book I have read from Maria Gibbs, and what a great story it is.
I have to be honest that it was nothing like I expected it to be…but saying that I loved it nonetheless.
The Storm Creature tells the tale of Lucy – an author who’s life turns upside down in the blink of an eye.
What this book does is make you think.
Maria Gibbs has certainly packed a large punch with a short story, and I will certainly be recommending this book to everybody.
5.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric and suspenseful, March 17, 2016
By
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
This story had a great opening and hooked me in immediately. It was well written, easy to read, and the evocative descriptions created a creepy and intriguing atmosphere. I enjoyed reading the story as it unfolded, telling the tale of Lucy’s tragic past and how it has affected her years later. I especially loved the huge unexpected twist at the end. This story goes to show how one tiny mistake can drastically alter so many people’s lives. This was a fantastic paranormal short story and I found it to be an engrossing read. I really enjoyed it!
Lesson of the story – never try to use your mobile phone while driving ……
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic and Compelling Short Story, July 5, 2016
By
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
The Storm Creature is just a short story, but what a thought-provoking and fascinating short story it was. I haven;t read anything from this author before, but I guarantee I will be checking out more of her work in the near future.
The Storm Creature focuses on the mental suffering and delusions of a young woman who is riddled with guilt over being the survivor in a car accident, she felt she was the cause of.
The writing is superb and the tension is well created by the Author. I won’t give any of the plot away, but this was a stunning, little tale. I know it was a short story, but still, I couldn’t put it down for a second until I knew just how it played out. Well done to the author!
5.0 out of 5 stars You many well shiver as you experience this stormy short., 15 Mar. 2016
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This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)

At eighteen years of age Lucy is following her dreams. Her first book is published ‘As Dreams are Made on’ which has been warmly received. Her family are supportive, she is happy, with a wonderful life ahead of her.

Then one dark and stormy night, as Lucy makes her way home, along the quiet wet, winding country lanes, one tiny decision she makes, sees her dreams washed away in the lashing rain.

Eight years on and Lucy has turned into a recluse, her family once close, barely know how to deal with her. She now lives alone in a small cottage in the woods; barely ever does she venture out, and she hardly ever sees anyone.

This troubled young woman is tormented by the events of that stormy evening and is constantly taunted by the presence of the ‘Storm Creature.’ Lucy is petrified by thunder and lightning but this crazed creature revels in it. She dances in the lashing rain, as the author says ‘… laughing and spinning, her arms waving like an Indian goddess… possessed of multiple limbs.’

Maria Gibbs has a wonderful way with words, almost lyrical at times. Check out the opening lines:-

‘The rain danced against the pane of glass, wild and wicked until the tempo changed, curling and writhing into a beautiful sensual rhythm.’

The atmosphere is set so you become embroiled within the story, you may well shiver as you are drawn in, experiencing the stormy nights with the rolling thunder. I sat tense on the edge of my seat wandering what was to come next upon the turn of the page. I was not disappointed.

For a short story this psychological thriller sure packs a lot in, with unexpected twists as you near the end. I don’t wish to share anymore because it is a story you need to experience for yourself, and in my view the author certainly does make you experience every event.

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite thought Provoking, 1 July 2016
By
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)

The Storm Creature wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but it’s a poignant story that made me think more about life. It also reminded me that it is never too late to change your mind.

Maria’s words show us that the way we see things is not always as they are in reality. Sometimes it’s good to take stock before it is too late. It’s not a happy story, but it teaches us to be happy and to dance in the rain.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Story, 10 April 2016
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
OMG this short story was amazing. Once I started reading this book i couldn’t put it down. Thank you to the
author, looking forward to reading your next book.

Very Highly Recommended.

 

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars, 29 Mar. 2016
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
Loved reading this book, the words flowed beautifully with a gripping storyline.
4.0 out of 5 starsDeath has more than one victim, April 15, 2016
By
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
A nice little story that’s almost a character study.
A moment’s thoughtlessness, an accidental death and so many lives are changed forever. Lucy’s life is shattered in a single moment, but it’s the slow disintegration of her being that keeps the story moving.
It seems the person least affected by Adele’s death is Adele.
5.0 out of 5 starsreminiscent of James Herbert at his best. More please, 24 May 2016
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
Another impressive vignette from Ms Gibbs. A creepy tale masterfully told, reminiscent of James Herbert at his best. More please.

5.0 out of 5 stars Meaningful, 19 July 2016
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This review is from: The Storm Creature (Paperback)
Fantastic short story, creative, easy to read, well written and meaningful. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and the unexpected twist at the end look forward to more by Maria Gibbs.
5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down, May 30 2016
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
Excellent! The story grabs you right at the beginning and keeps you guessing right up to the end.
4.0 out of 5 stars Open the letter Lucy…, 25 July 2016
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)
Lyrical prose which suits the character of Lucy who loves writing and for whom writing becomes her only escape from the terrible event that can never be atoned for. An emotional rollercoaster that propels you towards a shock ending. But I did expect to hear Adele’s story; perhaps her tale will turn up as another story by the author. This is a poignant story, because such tragedies do occur and we have all wondered how we would cope and empathise with Lucy, yet at the same time we are willing her to reach out to others, to open the letter….
4.0 out of 5 starsBeautiful!, April 1, 2016
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: The Storm Creature (Kindle Edition)

Having read “As Dreams Are Made On,” I was really looking forward to another beautifully written novelette by Maria Gibbs, and that is exactly what I got! This author has a wonderful talent at both storytelling and writing in her own unique way.

The only thing I found a bit uncomfortable was that the protagonist of the story is supposed to be the author of another novelette by Gibbs, which makes it awkward when she writes about her own work.

With that said, “The Storm Creature” has a creative plot, executed well through the use of poetically written prose, and really has something to say, which is important when a great deal of fiction nowadays is devoid of meaning. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading “A Lifetime or a Season” next

Books, Christmas, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Roses & Dreams online Christmas Party

gibbsdream

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Rose English (Aka Su Echo Falls S’ari) and Maria Gibbs (me) are hosting an online book party on Sunday 18th December from 15:00 to 22:00 from the comfort of your own home.

Su will be showcasing her three beautiful books ‘The Magic of Grandfather Time’, ‘Rainbows & Roses’ and ‘Love Lost’ and I have it on good authority that there might be a surprise in store for everyone.

I will be showcasing my three novelettes also ‘As Dreams are Made on’ , ‘A Lifetime or a Season’ and ‘The Storm Creature’ but my main focus will be on my novel ‘A Boy from the Streets’ which will be released early next year. Towards the end of the night I will be revealing the exciting cover which was designed by JC Clarke from The Graphics Shed.

There will be games, a Grand Prize draw with fourteen different books by a multitude of authors, Guest appearances, virtual food and drink and hours of fun.

So come and join us, make this party viral, gate crashers welcome. Invite your friends.

**WARNING** Will contain books and not just a trace. So only come if you like books and fun.

**CHRISTMAS** Anyone who still doesn’t know what to get a loved one for Christmas will  find lots of options here with over Fifteen authors involved in this event

https://www.facebook.com/events/674185616093236/