WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU – The Paperback Tour January 2017
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the festive season and have had an excellent start to 2017.
My week has been busy preparing for the release of the paperback of my third novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, due 9th January.
The novel has been available for a year in digital form, but there’s nothing quite like holding the paperback in your hands. I’m lucky enough to have a few author copies at home. Next week I’ll be guesting on blogs as my book goes on a virtual tour. Please do join me and find out some of the background to What Doesn’t Kill You.
I haven’t gone as far as to print tour tee-shirts, but here’s the programme.
What if your entire life changed in the space of a weekend? When Rebecca’s friend Abi convinces her to get away from it all at the fabulous Hawksley Manor hotel in York, it seems too good to be true. Pampering and relaxation is just what Rebecca needs to distract herself from the creeping suspicion that her husband, Greg, is hiding something from her. She never imagined that by the end of the weekend she would have dined with celebrities or danced the night away in exclusive clubs. Nor could she have predicted she would meet famous footballer, Alex Heath, or that he would be the one to show her that she deserved so much more … But no matter how amazing a weekend is, it’s always back to reality come Monday morning isn’t it? 2014/15 Winner of Choc Lit & Whole Story Audiobooks Search for a Star competition.
The day has arrived! My third novel for Choc Lit is live!
What Doesn’t Kill You is the third in the Chesil Beach series, and follows the stormy lives of Griff, Evie, Tess and Logan.
Set in and around Weymouth and Portland, the story starts with Griff wondering where his life went wrong. It was but a short journey from happily married family man, secure and comfortable in his village cottage, to living alone in a rented one-bedroom flat in the town centre. And he doesn’t understand how it happened.
Published under Choc Lit’s new Dark imprint, What Doesn’t Kill You isn’t a typical romance. As Choc Lit state, their new imprint is for ‘… compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels.’
Here is my teaser trailer.
I had difficulty choosing the music. Although lovely, some tunes were too happy, too sad, too busy … Then I found three I loved! This is the first version. For the more dramatic trailer, please pop over to The Romaniacs blog. I also have a seasonal version to put out in the next couple of weeks.
Hogan & Gajitman
My husband valiantly stood in as Griff for the photos used in the trailer, borrowing a friend’s dog – gorgeous Hogan – to stand in as Ozzy, Griff’s faithful pal.
As you can see, Hogan is a German Shepherd. Ozzy is an Old English Sheepdog. I think Hogan did an excellent job on a blustery, chilly day at The Bill. My children were very taken with him. Such a lovely boy. Thank you to our friends for loaning us Hogan for the morning. What wonderful, varied and fun experiences we have as writers. It truly is a joy.
The adapted version used in the trailer.
I really hope you enjoy the read and thank you for popping by today.
This coming Saturday, November 14th, 2015, I, along with an entire coastline of Dorset writers, will be at Dorchester Library and Learning Centre, for the Dorset Writers Network launch of their eBook, This Little World.
There will be publishing, writing and poetry workshops, and in the afternoon, Kate Kelly, Kathy Sharp and I, three members of Littoralis – local authors whose books are inspired by the sea -will be taking part in a discussion panel. I am looking forward to this immensely and have already sorted out my outfit … It may involve red.
Bookings for the day are being taken, and it’s a great opportunity for writers to get together, whether you’re thinking about putting pen to paper and are not sure where to start, you’re looking to refresh your current skills, or you’d like to spend the day in the company of other writers. It’s excellent value. Please see the poster below for the details.
We would love to see you there.
Contact details and me!
Books will be available for purchase, and I always have my signing pen ready, just in case …
I am thrilled, delighted and honoured to bring you the news that my third book, What Doesn’t Kill You, is the first to be published under Choc Lit’s newest imprint!
Dark Choc Lit is the new imprint for ‘… compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story.’
My author tag is ‘romance without the soft edges’, and with Truth or Dare? being quoted on Amazon as ‘hard-hitting‘ (wood_beez48), ‘romance but so much more‘ (Happy reader), and ‘For those who like their romance/love stories a bit tougher, then Truth or Dare? is it.‘ (Book reviews), and Follow Me Follow You,being ‘very emotionally affecting‘ (Welsh Annie) and ‘a mature romance with it’s feet set firmly in reality‘ (Shani), I feel very at home with Dark Choc Lit.
It is most definitely the home for the third in the Chesil Series, What Doesn’t Kill You,and I’d like to take this time to thank my amazing publisher for this opportunity.
So … are you ready to see the beautiful Berni Stevens cover? I have no idea how Berni does it, but she captures the essence of the entire story with her stunning covers.
Scroll down …
It’s a beauty …
The Blurb:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – but how strong can one person be?
Griff Hendry knows what it is to be strong. After a turbulent past, he’s dedicated himself to saving lives, working as a coastguard along the breath-taking shores of Dorset. It’s Griff’s belief that everyone is worth saving – which is why he can’t forgive his father, Logan, for what he did.
Griff’s future is plunged into uncertainty when his wife, Evie, tells him she wants a separation. The revelation is a shock and leads Griff to question what Evie could possibly be hiding – and she isn’t the only one holding back. Griff’s troubled stepdaughter, Tess, also harbours a dark secret.
As the truth is uncovered, Griff is forced to accept that perhaps he’s never understood what real strength is.
From Dark Choc Lit – compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story.
On Sunday 2nd November 2014, my daughter and I attended the launch of Isabella Connor’s second Choc Lit novel, An Irish Promise.
Liv & Laura
Arriving promptly at 14:00 hours, I was jubilant at having reached our destination sixty miles from home on time, despite a long wait for a bacon bap, and a traffic jam somewhere near Lyndhurst.
It was only when I asked my daughter to check the invitation to ensure we were most definitely and absolutely at the right building, I realized we were an hour early …
What can I say? I was keen.
Isabella Connor is the pen name of Liv Thomas and Valerie Olteanu. With Val
Liv Thomas
in Canada, the launch was hosted by my lovely friend and fellow ChocLiteer, Liv, who ran a cryptic quiz, raising funds for charity, answered questions from the floor, and signed copies of An Irish Promise.
With orange, white and green bunting, food and drink-a-plenty, and live music from the excellent Kat Sinclair, it
Kat Sinclair
was a fab event.
As a proud and contented owner of a signed paperback version of An Irish
Promise, and having spent the afternoon with Liv, her family and friends, other writers and my daughter, I’d say it was time well spent.
Even the spare hour between two and three.
Isabella Connor’s An Irish Promiseis available now.
Laura x
Blurb: A promise is a promise … Art historian, Rachel Ford has returned to the Irish village of Kilbrook intent on keeping her promise to take revenge on the school bullies who ruined her childhood and destroyed her family. Australian actor, Finn MacKenzie sets hearts fluttering when he turns up in sleepy Kilbrook to help his aunt with a school production. He seems to have a charmed life, yet his confident façade hides heartbreak and tragedy. Although Finn isn’t looking for love, when he meets the mysterious Rachel, there’s a definite spark between them. Rachel is torn between her desire for revenge and this new love affair. She doesn’t want to deceive Finn, but can she trust him to keep her real identity a secret? And will he understand why she must keep her promise, no matter the cost?
And We Have Lift-Off! Follow Me, Follow You is Launched.
Click on the photo to visit the Amazon link
My second novel for Choc Lit, Follow Me Follow You, today released as a paperback, had a wonderful launch on Saturday.
The Dorset Wildlife Trust Chesil Beach Centre was the setting, the weather was gorgeous and the afternoon went without a hitch.
Thank you to my fab publisher, Choc Lit, the Chesil Beach Centre, friends, family, writers and readers in real life and online, who supported the event . I am touched and humbled by how much you put yourselves out to get behind the day. I am one lucky and very grateful writer.
The loom bands giveaways.
Follow Me, Follow Youis on tour for the next week, and I’ll be Tweeting and putting the links on Facebook for those who would like to #follow, and there is a free giveaway through the Brook Cottage Books tour.
Thank you to all the reviewers and bloggers who have invited me to their site, including my Romaniac chums, two of whom paid a visit to Dorset on Saturday.
Sue, Laura and Catherine
I hope you enjoy the variety of posts and the extracts from the book.
One last thing before I go … My debut novel, Truth or Dare? is available as a free download today and tomorrow in celebration of the release of FMFY.
Follow Me, Follow You Teasers: Day 11. Launch Day Goodies Pt 2
Since I’ve been writing for Choc Lit, I’ve learned some new skills.
When once I couldn’t bake cupcakes that didn’t resemble biscuits, I can now produce edibles sponges, brought about by providing tried and tested recipes for the Choc Lit anthologies.
With the release of my debut last year, Truth or Dare?, I produced home-made scratch cards for readers to take part in a game of Truth or Dare.
When once I couldn’t make … Ah, well, there’s the teaser. Let’s just say my daughter taught me how to make the fun goodies we’re giving away at the launch.
