Hi, everyone.
Just dropping in to let you know that the digital download of my third novel, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, is on special offer at the time of posting, at £0.99p, here.
This book is very dear to me for a number of reasons and I hope this special promotion will help it reach a wider audience. If you’ve read and loved WDKY and are happy to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads, that would be fantastic and very much appreciated.
Thank you.
I was over at The Romaniacs site yesterday, blogging about the past five years and everything I’d have love to have shown my mum, lost to us in 2012. The post can be read here. I mention it as I know she’d have loved the fact that, one, a long-held dream of mine has been realised, and two, that as an author I’ve been invited to Watford, the town in which I grew up. More of that news later.
My exciting news is that my third novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, is now in WHSmith Travel shops – train station, airports and service station branches! This is a dream come true. I am a book, music and stationery addict who has spent many happy hours browsing and buying in and from Smiths.
Following on from yesterday’s blog, the moment my good friend and author, Sue Fortin, posted a photo of WDKY at Victoria Station Smith’s, I really did think, ‘I wonder what Mum would have said to this …’
If you find the book in Smiths Travel, and you have time to take a ‘shelfie’, I’d love to see it 🙂 I haven’t managed to get to a Travel branch yet.
April 8th, I’ll be with my publisher, Choc Lit, and a selection box of ChocLiteers, at Exeter Library. See here for the details. There’s something for readers and writers and it promises to be a cracking afternoon. If you can’t make it to Exeter, I’m also attending the Southampton day in May.
I’m delighted to have been invited to Watford’s Lit Fest, speaking at an evening with Watford Writers, on April 10th. Then on April 11th, I’ll be signing copies of WDKY at Waterstones Watford between 11:00 and 13:00.
It would be fabulous to see you at these events.
I spent many happy years in Watford and surrounding areas. I attended three places of education – Kingsway Junior, Francis Combe Secondary School and Cassio College. My very first job, a Saturday job, was with British Home Stores in the high street. As a Watford FC fan, I loved it at the end of the day when the fans were returning home after the match. They were easy to spot as they passed through the shop, wearing their gold, red and black scarves and tops. I could tell by the fans’ mood if we’d won or lost.
I also worked at Watford General Hospital, The Review Newspaper, Royal Insurance and The Prudential, before moving to Dorset to be closer to my parents, who’d moved from Watford some years before.
Here’s a short video I made for Watford’s Big Word Fest.
That’s all for now. I’m off to get the tour t-shirt made up.
Take care,
Blurb:
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.
Exciting times! I have two books currently involved in promotions.
Click on the images to go straight to the deal.
The first ends this Thursday, 12 th May 2016. This is a Kobo UK offer:
The second is the Amazon May Madness event, which ends 22nd May 2016.
If you’ve read and enjoyed any of the Chesil Beach books, each linked, but standalones, would you consider leaving a review? That would be lovely, thank you 🙂
Take care,
I am delighted with the news that my third novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, has been chosen by Amazon UK for their May Madness offer.
From May 1st – May 22nd 2016, WDKY can be downloaded at the bargain price of £0.99p.
It’s the first title under Choc Lit’s new Dark imprint, and it’s received wonderful reviews, which have taken my breath away. Rachel’s Random Reads gave it five stars when it was reviewed in February, here, and has gone on to choose it as a top pick from the entire Amazon May Madness selection.
What a wonderful start to May!
This follows on from last Thursday’s Amazon Daily Deal for my debut, Truth or Dare?, which hit the Amazon top 100. It was quite a day. My mum used to say everything happened on a Thursday. (There might be a title for a book there …)
And I met one of my all-time favourite authors, Erica James, last Thursday. Along with my fellow Romaniacs, I blogged about the event here.
I’m currently experiencing technical problems with adding new photos to my site, but hope to have this fixed soon. In the meantime, have a great Bank Holiday, and happy reading.
My lovely publisher, Choc Lit, is offering 50 Kindle copies of my latest novel, What Doesn’t Kill You, in exchange for an honest review.
To request a copy, email Choc Lit at: info@choc-lit.co.uk. Please insert ‘What Doesn’t Kill You Offer’ into the Subject heading. If you claim a copy, you will need to read the book and write an Amazon review for it.
What Doesn’t Kill You is the first title in Choc Lit’s new Dark imprint – compelling, emotional, hard-hitting novels. Not your typical romance story. An intense, emotional, heartbreaking story.
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.
Today I’m in Choc Lit Corner defending book covers. Is it a crime to judge a book by its cover? I state my case …
This Sunday, 14th February, 2016, I’m appearing at the Purbeck Literary Festival with two of my Littoralis buddies, Kate Kelly and Kathy Sharp. Our books are published by well-respected, independent publishers, and we are bringing our experiences to the festival and holding a discussion on choosing the independent publisher route.
It is free entry to our talk, but please check out the Festival website for further information. There will be books for sale, writerly chat and events for all ages over the two weeks.
We would love to see you there.
Taking The Small Publisher Route
The small publisher option for your fiction.
In an informative and lively ninety-minute discussion, Littoralis, a group of Dorset authors, share their diverse experiences in achieving publication with small, independent publishers.
Topics include:
The advantages of being an author with a small publisher.
Knowing your audience and choosing a publisher.
Preparing to submit your manuscript.
Building your online profile.
Marketing and promotion.
The importance of support networks.
Finishing with a question and answer session, we aim to encourage writers looking to achieve publication to consider the small publisher option as the first step of an exciting journey.
It’s Monday and it’s back to school and work for the James family.
It’s time for me to make headway with my work-in-progress, which has been left untouched for a couple of months. I have been writing – I wrote two Treats for my publisher, Choc Lit, and I wrote out my Christmas cards. I have been creative, designing social media adverts for my books using Canva, an excellent and easy-to-use tool, and baking a cake for my son’s birthday, and I’ve been inspired by films I’ve watched, games I’ve played, and books I’ve read during the holidays.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my break, but I have so many ideas and ways forward for the WIP, I’m raring to go.
I just need to sort out my to do list.
Speaking of which, The Romaniacs, a writing support group of which I am a member, has introduced its new schedule for 2016, kicking off with Motivation Monday. It’s a chance to list our weekly goals so we can work toward achieving them by Friday. We’re asking you all to join in, so we can encourage and support one another, and celebrate everyone’s successes, major and minor. Please hop over to find out more. Click here.
I hope you’ve all had a fab start to the year, and I look forward to hearing about your successes.
Take care.
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.
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.
I really hope you enjoy the read and thank you for popping by today.
Have a great weekend.
Take care.
