Why I Didn’t do #NaNoWriMo

This year I consciously avoided participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). It has been something of an obsession for about the past five years. I eagerly awaited November so that I could achieve my 50,000-word target, print out my certificate, and order the t-shirt. It worked well for me, because it helped me to write the first draft of several novels, some of which I have now published. You can read my last NaNoWriMo novel, Heart of the Vampire (A Redcliffe Novel) Book 5 to see an example.

At some point I realised that I no longer needed NaNoWriMo. I have a collection of draft novels awaiting my attention, and I am so busy with freelance work and family life that I really couldn’t fit in the challenge this year. I didn’t want to. If I really needed to take part, I would make the time possible, like I did in previous years. But it simply lost its appeal. I loved the time I spent working on NaNoWriMo projects, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a starting point, some inspiration and motivation, and the online support groups that come with it. But I am moving on. Farewell, NaNoWriMo. We had a good run together.

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Buy a Book for Christmas #goindie

How is your Christmas shopping coming along? Have you started yet? Or maybe you are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving, in which case I wish you a happy holiday. You could buy a book for Christmas, and not just the autobiographies from our celebrity TV personalities. There are thousands, nay millions of very talented Indie authors out there in the world (myself included), who are crying out for an audience. Give us a try, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

You can find a new book and a new author for every sub-genre imaginable, whether that be contemporary English Gothic (try Vampire of Blackpool), or older women’s fiction (try Untangling the Webs), or even new books for children (try Festive Rhymes at Christmas Time). Search #goindie and you will find what you are looking for. Happy shopping!

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#ChristmasGiftGuide Get Ready for Black Friday

Ah, Christmas is fast approaching, and today I share a few suggestions for your Christmas shopping. I mean, of course you can buy my books and send them to your friends and family, that goes without saying! But what about gifts for your writer friends, and for yourself? I like a little drink when I am relaxing in the evenings, and I spotted this fabulous Bombay Sapphire Limited Edition Gin Gift Pack with 10% off. Let’s get merry together!

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