New Look, New Book! The Redcliffe Novels #ASMSG

My books are having a makeover! It has been several years since my debut novel was published, and a lot has changed since then, including book cover design. To coincide with the release of book 4 in the Redcliffe novels series, Eye of the Tiger, my publisher has decided to relaunch the first three novels with brand new covers. How exciting!

While we are still deciding on a release date for Eye of the Tiger, you can see the official cover reveal next week. Sign up using the link below to keep up to date with special offers and all the hot new releases. If you want the original paper back copies of the Redcliffe novels series, you had better order them now. Have a lovely week!

  

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Authorpreneur SpookyMrsGreen at Your Service!

The Redcliffe Novels: Magical Reality in Cornwall #summerholidays

Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) is the first in a trilogy of novels set in Cornwall. In the first book we meet Jessica Stone, just your average single woman, running her business and enjoying the seaside town she calls home. Her life begins to unravel when she falls in love with a sexy police detective, Jack Mason, and meets his identical twin brother, Danny. Here is an excerpt, following a visit from an enemy of the brothers:

“She is connected to the job in Scotland; they both are.” he said, “I’m sorry Jessica; it looks like we have inadvertently drawn you into our mess.  I need to find Jack and go sort this out.  Please promise me you will stay home, don’t answer the door unless you know who it is, and phone Jack or me if you get worried about anything, no matter how small or trivial.  Will you do that?”
He grabbed my shoulders, staring directly into my eyes, and I gasped, shocked at his forcefulness.  I nodded, feeling sick with nerves.  
“Yes of course.” I said, “Am I in danger?  What about Liz?”  
He relaxed slightly and eased his grip on me.   
“Liz will be fine,” he said, “she is of no concern to them.  But they seem to have found out about you and your relationship with Jack and me.  You don’t need to be overly concerned just yet; hopefully we can settle this tonight.  Please just stay home and keep all your doors locked and your mobile phone handy, ok?”  
I nodded and Danny left, saying he would call Jack on the way.

Intriguing, yes? Ha ha! Well, following this you can read Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel), where we follow Jessica as she comes to terms with the revelations about her lover and his brother. She also begins to discover her own long-buried secrets and abilities. And then, in the third book, Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel), the tables are turned. Our young heroine reveals her darker side, with disastrous consequences:

“Are they alright, Danny?” I asked tentatively.
Danny turned his head slowly to stare at me.  My heart skipped a beat and thudded painfully in my chest.  I swallowed again, forcing myself to hold his gaze and not back down.
“They need to hunt,” Danny said gruffly, “The power hit them hard.  They lost control and their beasts awoke early.  It leaves them in pain and disoriented.  They need their master for support and grounding.”
“Oh.” Was all I managed to say in reply.
Danny shook his head.
“I cannot deal with you at present, Jessica,” he said, “We will speak later.  I must go.”

          

You have a nice summer holiday! And if you happen to visit Cornwall, be alert for any unusual characters.

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Enjoy a Victorian Love Affair for your #summerholidays

Have you packed your suitcase yet? Perhaps you are suddenly realising that summer has finally arrived here in the UK, and you are just now beginning to plan your excursions and holidays for the warm, sunny days ahead. One essential item for every busy worker taking a break from it all, is a good book (or several) to read on the beach, or in the forest, or wherever you choose to spend your quiet time. Which leads me to ask…

Have you met Marcus Scott? He is a millionaire playboy who first appears in Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), leaving a trail of chaos and confusion in his wake. He was never meant to be such an powerful character. But he is very persuasive, especially when he turns on the charm and fixes that icy blue gaze on me… *swoon*

        

You can find out more about Marcus Scott in the Redcliffe novels, a contemporary adult paranormal romance series set in Cornwall. And you can read the story of his human life in The Darkness of Love, set on a Victorian country estate in Hampshire. He also features in my spin-off short story, Christmas With the Vampires (yes, I know, totally out of season). Happy holidays!

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

Blood, Boobs and Carnage Blog Fest!

Hello and welcome to the Blood, Boobs and Carnage blog fest! I found this little party during the #AtoZChallenge, and it looked like fun so I signed up. And today I will use it to showcase my debut novel, Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel). Hey, someone has to talk about my amazing books, and you will enjoy them, I am sure.

How does a novel called Love Hurts relate to Blood, Boobs and Carnage, I hear you ask? I will tell you. It is the beginning of an adult paranormal romance series. I’m talking vampires, werewolves, witches and other supernatural creatures. So there is the blood. The boobs, well, my heroine, Jessica Stone, is just your average 20-something woman. She enjoys sex. And she especially enjoys having sex with her new boyfriend, who unbeknownst to her, is a vampire. Again with the blood.

And now to the carnage. Well, my vampires do not sparkle. They fight. They snarl. They feed on innocent humans. They battle each other, they battle other supernatural creatures, they fight for supremacy, power, control and just for the hell of it sometimes. But in the Redcliffe novels we find it is the werewolves that seem to cause most of the trouble. You see, Jessica’s boyfriend, Jack Mason, has an identical twin brother who just happens to be alpha of the Redcliffe werewolf pack. Danny Mason is impulsive, passionate, and dangerous. Carnage ensues when a rogue werewolf comes to town with the intention of killing Danny and taking control of his pack. His brother steps in to help, Jessica is caught up in the chaos, and all hell breaks loose.

I do hope this has captured your attention sufficiently to make you touch the ‘Buy Now’ button on your device… You won’t regret it! If you are keen to see more Blood, Boobs and Carnage, check out my fellow party goers. Have a nice day now!

*Brothers image courtesy of Phat Puppy Art Studios

Poldark with Fangs! #amreading The Redcliffe Novels

I am so excited! And it took just one new review for my debut novel, Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), to set me off. We writers are a sensitive breed. We thrive on compliments, much like the rest of the world, I suppose, but for me this has been the boost I needed after more ups and downs in the world of writing and marketing.

My latest 5 star review comes from a reader who took my novel on holiday. And now she wants more. Hooray! She called the story, "Poldark with Fangs," which I think is absolutely brilliant, and why didn't I think of that? I mean, I watched Poldark because of Aidan Turner, because I first discovered him as the vampire John Mitchell in Being Human that was shown on BBC3, and I fell head over heels in lust for the boy. In fact, I even pictured him as a candidate for Detective Jack Mason in an upcoming television series or film franchise... 

Hey, we thrive on dreams and possibilities! Anyway, I just wanted to share my excitement, and my dreams, and I hope that if you haven't picked up the Redcliffe novels yet, then it will encourage you to do so. Put it this way: if you love Aidan Turner, if you loved him in Poldark, if you love sexy, smoldering alpha males with strong female characters in a picturesque Cornwall location, you will not be disappointed. Thank you! 

#AtoZChallenge - Witchcraft makes the World go Round

I love a little play on words! And today, I will enjoy talking about Witchcraft. It is a subject that has always fascinated me. I used to dream about being a witch when I was a child. Not the fictional old hag, dressed in black and wearing a pointed hat. Oh no. My witches are beautiful, goddess-inspired women that exude power and confidence. Much like my ideal self image, I suppose… little did I know that witchcraft would become so important in the Redcliffe novels, back when I began to write about a human woman who fell in love with a vampire in Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel).

Jessica Stone didn’t know she was a witch until she discovered the supernatural secrets of her boyfriend and her friends in Redcliffe. All she knew about witchcraft was the stuff she read about in novels, and even then she wasn’t particularly interested. She is more of a chick-lit fan than anything else. But the truth is stranger than fiction (more play on words, ha ha!), as Jessica eventually began to find out. She explored the possibilities of her witchcraft in the second Redcliffe novel Love Kills, where she met her animal familiar in a very unexpected, and very passionate, encounter. In the third book, Love Redeems, she put her new-found powers of magic and mysticism to good use when she battled with a powerful vampire master.

Photo credit John William Waterhouse 

What exactly is witchcraft? It means different things to different people. Some people are terrified of it. They see nothing but danger and darkness, and believe that humans should not meddle with something so powerful and potentially destructive. Others see witchcraft as a natural element. I am one of these. I see witchcraft as an extension of life. We can use witchcraft to work with the powers of the natural world, to enhance our own experiences, and to create a reality that we would prefer. Therein lies the difficulty. If your intentions are of ill-will towards another person, for example, you risk unleashing powerful forces that you may struggle to control. A witch must exercise caution and observe respect for the power of nature at all times. Witchcraft can be whatever you want it to be. And that is a lesson just being explored by Jessica Stone in the Redcliffe novels.

If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April!

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

#AtoZChallenge - Fall in Love with the Redcliffe Vampires

Jessica Stone fell in love with a Vampire. She was a normal, happy human before she met detective Jack Mason. She never even considered the possibility that vampires and werewolves could be real and living in her home town. They were myths, stories, characters from the books that she sells in her shop. Jack hid his true nature, although there was always something a little off about him. Jessica was blinded by the strength of her love. She literally fell head over heels for this man, and it scared the hell out of her. She was a proud woman. Now she is a blubbering wreck, and she has the scars to prove it. Falling in love with a vampire is dangerous. It brings pain and suffering. It also brings the most exquisite ecstasy and power, and it was enough to awaken the witch within.

Jessica’s vampire lover is complicated. Jack Mason was turned by a former lover, a vampire who decided she would keep him for eternity. Emily Rose seduced him when his army unit marched across France and Switzerland during the Great War. Before he left town, she attacked. She turned Jack into a vampire, and then she lured a werewolf out of the woods to kill his identical twin brother, Danny. She never expected Danny to survive. She never expected him to become a werewolf. The brothers ran away, and continued to run and fight Emily Rose for decades after the event. She met Jessica in Redcliffe, and Jack became the trophy that each woman refused to surrender. Emily Rose tried to kill Jessica. She underestimated the strength of the young witch. It was a tough battle, and there were casualties. Jessica is recovering now, as I continue the story in book 4 of the Redcliffe series, Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel).

Jack Mason and Emily Rose are just two of the vampires we meet in the Redcliffe novels. We are introduced to young millionaire Marcus Scott at the beginning of the series, in Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel). Marcus was turned into a vampire during the Victorian era. He was educated to be a gentleman by his master, and inherited the wealth of Lord Gregory Stockton. Marcus spent many years embracing his vampire nature, testing the limits of his power, and seducing humans along the way. He is fascinated by Jessica, and in the beginning he is not sure why. It all becomes clear when she awakens her magic. Marcus is a vampire who thrives on witch blood. He is addicted to it. He is controlled by it. Jessica is now learning how to handle him, because she actually likes him as a friend, even if she does not trust him as a vampire.

If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April!

*Vampire bite image courtesy of Vampires Do

#AtoZChallenge - Unbridled Passion is her Undoing

Have you ever been in love? You know, that crazy, unpredictable, uncontrollable desire to be with a person, to be as close as you possibly can, and sometimes you love them so much that it physically hurts? My Redcliffe novels are largely inspired by my experiences of being in love, and the absolute insanity of something that humans so very often take forgranted. Jessica Stone learns the hard way just how difficult it is to truly be in love with another person. She also discovers that love is never simple, it comes in many forms, and the one she struggles with the most is the Unbridled passion that her love evokes. She cannot control herself. She has to have him…

In many ways, Jessica Stone reflects a lot of my life experiences. Of course she does. She is my alter ego, I suppose. That sits awkwardly with me, because as much as I want the Redcliffe novels to be a world famous, bestselling phenomenon, I am literally opening myself to everyone who reads them. It is both exhilarating and terrifying. One of the main themes of the stories is passion. You can tell from the titles where we are going with these books. The first is called Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel). The second is Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). The third is Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel). They follow Jessica as she discovers the ecstasy of unbridled passion, true love, and the pain and chaos that it causes. She wants to be with Jack Mason. She is confused about his identical twin brother, Danny. The fact that Jack is a vampire and Danny a werewolf only make the situation worse. All of that supernatural power is too much for this witch to take. She is intoxicated. She is lost.

Jessica wishes that she could just have a normal life again, without all of the drama. But at the same time she embraces her new experiences. She can release the demon that lies hidden within, and explore the extent of her hidden power and ability. The vampire is excited all the more by her witchcraft. The werewolf can barely contain himself when her ethereal animal familiar comes out to play. Jessica walks between the worlds, lost in the mundane reality of being human, and desperate to experience the chaos and passion of being supernatural. She was raised to be a good girl, to find a man that she would eventually settle down with and start a family. Now her life is broken. All she thinks about is sex, power, magic, and the torment of possibly loving more than one person. Being human is complicated. Being both human and supernatural is a whole lot worse.

If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April!

*Magical lovers' embrace found on Pinterest

#AtoZChallenge - Telepathy is a useful Tool

Most people are aware of Telepathy, using the power of the mind to communicate with another person. It has been the topic of much research and investigation over the years, both on a scientific level, and in the realms of paranormal study. I used to associate telepathy with ‘new age’ witchy types, a belief that probably came from my exposure to popular media and news stories in my small home town in the north of England. As I grew older, I learned more about telepathy, because I was fascinated about how it worked, and if I could ever use it one day. Well, apparently I can. We all do. And so do many of the supernatural creatures in the Redcliffe novels.

Jessica Stone has no opinion on telepathy when we first meet her right at the beginning of Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel). She learns more about it through experience when she discovers the paranormal secrets of her boyfriend and his identical twin brother. When Jessica uncovers her own power as a witch, she begins to accept that she does use telepathy, whether she wants to or not. You see, it can be a double edged sword. In much the same way that we humans can misinterpret another’s body language or attitude, and perhaps cause a rift that would otherwise never have happened, so the same could be true when telepathy is involved. An untrained mind may pick up all kinds of false ideas, images, and intentions from another person or animal. And the results could be deadly.

Photo Credit Om Times Magazine

Of course, telepathy can be a good tool as well. Jessica learns to locate her vampire boyfriend by the use of telepathy, and she subsequently manages to save him from his domineering and dangerous vampire mistress. Jack and Danny Mason have always used their shared twin connection to help each other, and to communicate. When one was turned into a vampire and the other became a werewolf, their natural telepathy only intensified, with exceptionally powerful consequences. Indeed, it makes the world a far more dangerous place for the Mason brothers, with enemies and antagonists appearing at every turn. And the Redcliffe wolf pack use their powers of telepathic communication when they hunt in the forest under the full moon, or when one of their own is hurt or threatened. Their alpha, Danny Mason, can call upon any one of his wolves using telepathy whenever the mood takes him, and for whatever purpose. The possibilities are endless…

If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April!

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

#AtoZChallenge - The Power Animal

When I first began to write Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), I had no idea of the twists and turns that were ahead of me for the Redcliffe novels. There was never even meant  to be a trilogy, much less a series. It just sort of happened. And now we are in a crazy world populated by powerful witches, possessive vampires, and proud werewolves. And a very intriguing Power animal familiar.

The power animal can take many forms. It can be a domestic pet, such as your beloved cat or dog. It can be a creature that visits your dreams, recurring, offering support, guidance or advice. It can be an ethereal creature that lives in a parallel world accessed through your human mind… really? Apparently so! That is how I met the power animal familiar of our new witch Jessica Stone. Suri, the snow tiger, made her dramatic appearance in my second novel, Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). She is a force to be reckoned with, not least because she has set her sights on the alpha werewolf, Danny Mason, and she detests the vampire, his identical twin brother, Jack.

Power animals are confusing creatures. Witches and shamans traditionally revere them for their wisdom and knowledge of the universe. Totems are created in their honour, and rituals are performed at different times of the year, and to represent different needs or situations. A power animal can offer deep spiritual fulfilment. They can also offer a strange version of reality that sits awkwardly with ‘real’ humans and their daily drama. When Jessica Stone meets her power animal in the Redcliffe novels, she embarks on a wild adventure, all within the peaceful confines of a picturesque, English seaside resort town.

If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April!

*Power animal image found on Pinterest

#AtoZChallenge - Magic and Mystery

As we progress through the Redcliffe novels, and follow our heroine Jessica Stone, we begin to learn that she is not everything she seems to be at first meeting. Jessica does not even know herself when we begin reading Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel). When she falls in love with a vampire, her world is literally turned upside down, and she embarks on a new journey of self discovery. Central to this journey is Jessica’s natural condition as a witch. She learns about her own secret power, her Magic, her mystery.

Magic is very often confused with different aspects. Traditional magic can be one of two things. It could be magical illusion, as seen by a magician when he or she is entertaining a group of people. You know the sort: card tricks and disappearing acts. In the Redcliffe novels, we discover the power of ancient magic, that which belongs to witches and other supernatural creatures. I prefer to apply the old-fashioned spelling, Magick, but often my computer word processor will insist on correcting it by removing the k. When I read Magick in a text, it automatically sends shivers down my spine, and offers up images of ancient power and ritual, goddesses and gods, and everything that has now been consigned to the history books under the title of mythology.

Jessica Stone learns about her ability to use magic, and how she can work with her spirit animal, Suri the snow tiger, to protect herself against the werewolves and vampires that would play games with her. Jessica begins to realise that actually, she is the most powerful creature in this circle of beasts. She is, as yet, inexperienced and has only just begun to study her craft. It will take time, patience, and lots of mistakes, before she can truly become a great magician. The same applies for any of us in real life. We create our own magic, we are the magicians of our own lives.

If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April!

*Witch and werewolf image found on Pinterest

#AtoZChallenge - Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Well, do you? I most certainly do believe in Ghosts, and I have seen them on many occasions, both at home and on holiday. I was also a ghost hunter a few years’ ago, a hobby that I hope to resume when my children are older. I love the thrill of sitting in a dark, dusty room in an old, abandoned manor house or business premises, asking for Spirit to show themselves, and then the exhilaration when we get a response… But enough about me. Where do ghosts fit into the Redcliffe novels? I will tell you.

Right at the very beginning of Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), our protagonist, Jessica Stone, is experiencing very strange dreams that have a feeling of being premonitions. As she meets Detective Jack Mason and begins a very passionate, and dangerous, love affair, her life spirals into chaos as the world unravels around her. Part of this includes the emergence of her mother, who died in a car accident when Jessica was five years old. Her mother first visits Jessica in her dreams, and then gathers her strength and shows herself as a ghost.

Photo Credit Flickr

Now, Jessica did not believe in ghosts before all of this happened. She was always a fairly practical woman, living in the real world. Of course, the ‘real world’ is never quite what we think. It differs for everyone depending on their life experiences and situations. Jessica’s mother was a witch, and she would have raised her daughter in the Craft if she had lived. She finds a way to communicate when Jessica’s natural magical ability is roused by her connection to the vampire and werewolf. Lillian tries to help her daughter during their brief conversations, but the ghost is weak and often fades out halfway through. Perhaps she will grow stronger as Jessica becomes more comfortable in her new life. Time will tell.

 If you are interested in seeing other participants for the #AtoZChallenge, check them out on the official website. We have everything from book stuff, to cooking, to photography, to travel, and a whole lot more. Happy April! 

Did you enjoy this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

My Books are Easy Reads; I’m OK with that #amwriting #ASMSG

There is a world of adventure within the pages of all the books in the world. I know, this sort of thing has been said before. There are various memes and quotes circulating on social media to remind us of this. But it is only since I became a professional writer that I began to look at my writing with a critical eye. I mean, when I was scribbling in my diaries, jotting down notes for stories, and lacking the confidence to allow anyone to see what I wrote, I didn’t need to concern myself with writing form, correct language and plot, and all the other nuances that go into creating a literary masterpiece.

My novels have been described as easy reads. And I like that feedback. Yes, I do hold a dream of one day being recognised as a force of literary power and talent. But I also know that this kind of accolade comes with experience. I am still only at the beginning of a long career in writing. In the space of four years I have published four novels and three short stories, and have written a further three novels (almost). That is a pretty good achievement for a new mother contending with babies, toddlers, family crisis and everything else that happens in the domestic sphere.

  

The Redcliffe novels are written for pleasure. They provide passion, romance, adventure and danger. They offer a chance to escape from the real world, and to immerse yourself in a parallel world, a world that operates within human society, but remains hidden. The Redcliffe novels offer you the chance to look at strangers on the street and ask yourself, “What is their story? Who are they, really?” And that, for me, is the pleasure and the excitement of writing. When I set out to write Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), I never planned initially to turn the story into a trilogy. It was simply the case that as I wrote, my characters became something vibrant and alive, and they demanded more attention. And then I had to write my first historical paranormal novel, The Darkness of Love.

 

I hope you enjoy my easy reads, just as much as I enjoy writing them. My novels have short chapters, they are available in paperback format, and they are ideal for tablet and mobile reading. You can read them very easily during the daily commute or on your lunch break. And if you haven’t tried them yet, the first novel, Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), is only 99p on Kindle. Have a lovely day, my friends!

Coming Out of the (Writing) Closet

My heart was pounding. I felt slightly nauseous. Even sweating a little. This was Big News. I was about to finally confirm my chosen career in life. Yes, it had taken a while. At almost 30 years old you would think I had it sorted. But, life never quite works out the way you expect. I had been naïve, ill-advised, distracted by other activities, and generally lacking in confidence enough to do what I really wanted. Eventually, I went for it. I started writing. And once I started for real, I mean being a serious, active, doing it writer, I knew this was the start of a beautiful journey.

My first task was to convince my husband that I should give up my full time paid job, take on a part time job closer to home, and spend my free time writing to develop my career. That took a lot of courage actually, especially since we were planning a wedding at the time and were very busy with time-consuming, and expensive, tasks. We had taken on a mortgage for our first home. The house needed (and still does need) a lot of repair work. It’s a very old house. But that was all inconsequential. I had released the demon, so to speak, and the demon was demanding that I be a writer.

My parents knew that I enjoyed writing. They knew I was an avid reader. It was my mother who introduced me to the library from a young age, and continued to encourage my creativity as I grew older. I excelled at English and creative writing classes in school. I chose to do a degree in Media Studies at university. Everything was intended to see me follow through into a creative writing career. But, as I mentioned, I got distracted. And I never quite had the guts to write a story that I would actually show to people, one that could be published and released into the public domain.

It had to happen eventually. Something clicked, I did a lot of soul searching and spiritual work, and finally I decided to go for it. I submitted my first short story to a competition for an anthology. It was accepted. I submitted a story to another anthology. That publisher came back and asked if I had any other stories to publish. They soon helped me to bring Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) out into the world, followed soon after by its sequels, Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) and Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel).



Even now, with four published novels behind me, and several short stories around and about, I struggle with the concept of calling myself a writer. Well, I did. I don’t any more. It took me a while to accept that I wouldn't necessarily earn millions of pounds in royalties overnight. Authors had always been these mysterious, elevated entities that existed in a world of which I could never be accepted. Well, now I am there. I am an author. And for those of you reading this who are struggling with the demand for your writing and your ‘day job’ I say this: Be proud of who you are. Believe in your stories. They are important. And they will be told, to the right people, at the right time. Have a lovely week!

Love Hurts; Love Kills; Love Redeems - Happy Valentine's Day! #amreading

I never understood the concept of being in love.  It always seems like such a big deal and yet everywhere you look you see people getting their hearts broken, scorned women and cheating men.  Practically every TV show, film or novel has some sort of love theme running through it.  People thrive on relationships; they chase each other for romance, for excitement, or simply to be together.  They argue, fight, make up, and break up. I have seen a lot of people hurt by love and then I have seen a few people who are happy with it.  The whole subject confuses me, it frightens me, and because I don’t understand it, I don’t miss it and I certainly don’t chase it.

  

Don’t get me wrong; love must be worth fighting for because everyone always seems to be chasing it.  But not me.  No, I decided after my parents died and my family abandoned me that I would look after number one before anyone else.  Then I met Liz and developed love of a different kind, love for my best friend, my sister.  I made an exception and vowed to always protect her no matter what.  But when it came to men, not a chance.  I wasn’t interested.  I didn’t need romance, and I didn’t need a relationship.

  Then I met Jack Mason and his brother Danny.  All of my carefully built defences came crashing down around me.  Love is dangerous and painful.  Love is confusing and exhausting.  Love will get you killed.  Yet despite everything I find myself going back for more, unable to break free of this trap.  My life was normal and happy and successful before I met the Mason brothers.  Then they showed me what I had been lacking and what I needed to truly be fulfilled.  So let me tell you the story, about a picturesque seaside town in South Western England, and the secrets of its seemingly innocent inhabitants…

***You can now purchase Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) for just £0.99 on Kindle!*** 

The Redcliffe Novels are widely available in both paperback and ebook formats.