Vampire Christmas Party!

This coming week sees the start of my epic book tour around the old t'internet on the Darkness of Love book tour. To celebrate, and in honour of the festive Yuletide holiday, I am hosting a Vampire Christmas Party over on Facebook. It starts at 9:00am GMT on Wednesday 11th December, and ends at 9:00pm GMT on Sunday 15th December.

I will be online to post snippets from my novels and short stories, throw in the odd specially written story or flash fiction piece, answer questions about The Darkness of Love, the Redcliffe novels, and my new short story Christmas with the Vampires, and generally make small talk with you guys out there...

So pop along, say hello, have a virtual glass of red wine (or something more suitable, wink wink) and sink your teeth into the wonderful world of the supernatural. Ho Ho Ho!

Four Intriguing Questions #BlogHop

Hello and welcome to my entry for the fabulous frog blog hop! Thank you to Flossie Benton Rogers for inviting me to play…

1. What are you working on now?

My current work in progress is the fourth novel in the Redcliffe series. Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) was published earlier this year and it concluded the initial trilogy when my heroine Jessica Stone met the Mason brothers. Now her story continues, although at this stage anything could happen as she becomes involved with the Redcliffe werewolf pack while trying not to fight with her vampire lover.

2. How is your current WIP different from others in the genre?

Mine are totally British for starters! I find the majority of paranormal romance novels in mainstream avenues seem to be American, which is fine but I wanted something I could relate to as a small-town girl from the North of England. So I wrote something set in Cornwall, which is actually in South West England, but hey-ho! At least my heroine is a northerner who moved down south, and we meet some interesting characters from Ireland as well as the native Cornish folk.

3. Why do you write?

It stops me from going insane with the madness that would otherwise accumulate inside my mind. Well, that and the fact that I can’t help but dream up my own stories in response to books I read and television I watch. It is just natural for me; I have to write.

4. How does your writing process work?

Hmm, I tend to use a method known as ‘free writing.’ I simply sit in front of the computer with a vague idea of my topic/subject/setting, and I just write. Often I have no idea what to expect from my characters, or even where the story is going, but it usually turns out very well. Actually, my characters like to surprise me with random twists and turns, which is very exciting!

To meet some other fabulous authors, check out their Q&A blog hop on 12th December on the following websites…

Alexandra Anthony

Alex Laybourne

Debz Hobbs-Wyatt

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I read this for my local book club, and I was quite excited at the prospect because it had been on my to-read list since I first spotted it in my local bookstore. Anyway, I have to say I ended up with a sort of confused response to the story. In the beginning I was full of enthusiasm, even when I was confused by the first few chapters. It took a little while for me to make any sense of it, and I found myself thinking throughout “what is the point of this whole ‘game’ storyline?” I enjoyed the love story element, and the descriptive text was beautiful in places, but all in all I would only ever say this was a good  book, not excellent. I had to read it to the end, but I never quite connected on an emotional level.

The Darkness of Love Book Tour #PurpleXmas

It is very exciting for me this Christmas. Not only am I celebrating it with the newest addition to our family, our baby daughter Georgina (4 months), but I am celebrating the release of The Darkness of Love with a fabulous international book tour! And even better, I don't have to leave home, because my book is touring via the amazing power of global media. A huge thank you goes out to my publisher Chances Press, and to Literary Nook for organizing the event. Check out the tour information here, and I look forward to seeing you during December while I am on my travels... Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Vampires #amreading

To compliment my new novel The Darkness of Love, I have released a special edition Christmas short story called Christmas with the Vampires. I succumbed to the charms of my favourite mischievous vampire Marcus Scott, and here is the result... Enjoy!

With his blond hair, ice blue eyes and sculpted physique, Marcus Scott immediately turns the heads of everyone he encounters upon his arrival in London at Christmas time. Unbeknownst to all the women and men who fall under his spell with just one glance, Marcus is a vampire with a desperate need to feed from the young and the beautiful. When he unexpectedly encounters the Lady Amelia Richmond, the vampire instrumental in his own transition, the two begin to plan a holiday feast to satisfy their deep hunger. 

You can download the story at Amazon US or Amazon UK.

A Not So Triumphant #NaNoWriMo

This is quite difficult to admit, but I am not going to win the #NaNoWriMo challenge this year. I didn't honestly believe I would get very far with the project, since I have a 3 month-old baby and a 3 year-old toddler to contend with. But somewhere in the back of my mind was the little voice  that said 'we can do this!' Well, actually, I am not superwoman. There, I said it! And I'm OK with that.

Yes, we still have a few days left of our precious National Novel Writing Month. But I have no chance of writing upwards of 30,000 words in that time. Not unless I were to completely abandon my family and not sleep for a week while I furiously bashed the keys of my computer. No, that would just end up in a scenario reminiscent of The Shining, and we really don't want that to happen. Instead I will take pride in what I have achieved and take it from there.

You see, for me #NaNoWriMo is about motivation. Without the contest I would still be talking about writing my fourth Redcliffe novel, but I wouldn't have actually written any of it. I am too busy being distracted by my family, and the upcoming Christmas festivities, and ooh, was that something shiny over there... Ha ha! No, I used #NaNoWriMo as a method to get me started and to call out my Muse from wherever she has been hiding these past six months. She seemed to disappear when I was pregnant, and now I have an abandoned manuscript for a separate novel that will be revisited in 2014.

So ultimately I feel that my #NaNoWriMo was a success, and will be a success, because I got started. Now my story is in progress, my Muse knows that she is wanted again, and the ideas are beginning to flow. The story must be written, and it will be written. I also intend to have the first draft finished by 1st January 2014, with the intention to use the early months of next year as a time for editing and submitting three manuscripts for publication. I have a plan. Thank you #NaNoWriMo!

The Importance of #Hashtags for Social Media Networking

Following on from my previous post, Explorations in Social Media, I would like to explain my perception of the importance of using hashtags, and I will suggest some networking groups that I have found as a result of my studies. It has taken me a good few years to even begin to comprehend how to use social media in a professional and useful manner. I joined Facebook when it became the Next Big Thing, and I subsequently joined Twitter when I began to explore the possibility of becoming a 'serious career writer.' The other networks sort of followed on naturally as I was introduced to them, and now I have settled on those that seem most suitable. My current regular platforms are Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Facebook.

All four of these social media websites now offer the use of hashtags to correlate information and bring people together. To my knowledge it was Twitter that first started this trend (although please correct me if I am wrong). Somebody, somewhere, came up with the idea to put a hashtag in front of a word and voilà! Other people picked it up, liked the idea, and began sharing it around the internet. Personally I think hashtags are great, especially on Twitter. My news feed tends to be clogged up with tweets that mainly tell me to buy one person's book or another (I know, I am one of them!). Now I can narrow down my searches more easily by asking Twitter to show me the tweets I want to see. Then I can interact with different people about different things, and I don't need to open several different Twitter accounts and confuse myself even more.

On Twitter I am only just beginning to explore a lot of hashtag groups that I recently discovered. It seems that one leads on to another, and while this all very exciting, it can also become very time consuming. I have to be interactive as much as possible, but I fit it around my family life, and my children will always come first. Anyway, a couple of hashtag groups that I am active in are #bizitalk and #PurpleBiz. In fact, just recently I was a #PurpleBiz Business of the Day, which gave me a huge confidence boost, not to mention a lot of new followers that will eventually translate into more book sales. I just have to keep up the good work.

My next task is to explore some other hashtag Twitter groups. These include #TwitterSisters, #ConnectFriday and #PinHitsHour among others. I love meeting all of the diverse small businesses and fabulous people that meet in these groups, and now I am also finding myself added to various Twitter lists (something I am still learning about so more to follow on that later). If you are exploring Twitter for the first time, or you are unsure about hashtags and what they can do for your business, just try them out. Put them in your Twitter search or click on them in messages on your news feed, and you never know where they might take you...

My novels are adult paranormal with equal amounts of dark romance and contemporary English Gothic. Sign up now for special offers and book release news.

Book Review: The Darkness of Love #ReadMe

Here is my first review of The Darkness of Love... http://www.tony-paul.com/

Explorations in Social Media #bizitalk

I am currently experimenting with social media networks as a method to sell books and build my author platform. Truthfully I wish I had spent more time researching how the industry works before I went ahead and got my books published. The common knowledge is that anyone can publish a book these days, but only a select few (or rather a lucky few) gain the fame and fortune that we all seek. Yes, I know, there are lots of authors who say they only write for the pleasure and joy of creativity. This is true for me, but I also want to earn a living from my writing, and after a very long moral battle, I accept that there is no shame in this desire.

Now, I am a working mother who spends 90% of my time being the 'housewife and mother' and the remainder is spent trying to write more books and promote the ones I currently have in the marketplace. I have no money to put into an advertising campaign, but I do now have the support of a publisher as a result of my fourth novel The Darkness of Love. This is very exciting, because Chances Press have organized a Christmas blog tour for me, and they are planning another one in 2014. It makes me feel very special as an author, actually, that someone else is prepared to put in the work for me without demanding immediate repayment. They have great faith in my work, and they clearly appreciate my writing. This is a huge compliment.

Part of my networking experiment has been to explore the use of hashtags, mainly on Twitter, but also on Google+, Facebook and Pinterest. These are all my main platforms of choice, and I am spending some time on each in turn trying to speak directly with a variety of people, and reading articles and infographics that might explain how best to use these fabulous resources. Therein lies part of the problem. These networks are so vast, so complicated, and so busy, that I need to spend every spare minute of my time working on them with no guarantee that I will actually sell my books as a result of my efforts. The other issue is that they can become addictive, and I need to allocate time for writing and freelance projects alongside my self marketing.

Anyway, it is a long, slow process. I know that with social media we have become a 24/7 culture. We expect results immediately because we can send out tweets, messages, photos and web links at the touch of a button, and we all have portable media devices in the form of smart phones, tablets etc. Even if we do not have such sophisticated personal technology, we can usually find a library with free computers, or find a friend or relative with the media technology on which to work. I now have to accept that I need to become a recognised name in publishing. People need to know who I am and what the titles of my books are, and maybe then they will begin to read them, possibly review them, and better still recommend them to friends and family. Ultimately it seems word of mouth is still the best marketing tool for an author. I am just taking it global with social media... See you out there!

My novels are adult paranormal with equal amounts of dark romance and contemporary English Gothic. Sign up now for special offers and book release news.

#NaNoWriMo – The Vampire of Blackpool - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. In honour of National Novel Writing Month 2013, this week I share an excerpt from my ‘winning’ manuscript of NaNoWriMo 2012. Here is a snippet from The Vampire of Blackpool:

Samantha stared at me, her confidence growing.
“You didn’t answer my other question,” she said, “Why did you attack this man?”
I inclined my head.
“I already told you,” I said, “He provoked me.”
Samantha glared at me and stretched her head to one side so that I could just see the edge of a bandage covering her neck.
“Like I provoked you last night you mean?” she asked sarcastically, “I suppose I should be grateful you didn’t put me in the hospital.  I should have listened to Paul in the first place.”
I began to feel angry again.  It made me defensive.
“I did not mean to feed on you quite so violently,” I said, forcing myself to remain still, “And for that I apologize.”
She caught herself and stared at me curiously.
“You are apologizing?” she asked, “Wow.”
I stood up slowly, and she stiffened, holding up her hands.  Her power flared, and I realised she was preparing for an attack.
“I will not hurt you here,” I said, “I am fully fed and in control of my instincts.”
“Shit,” she said softly, “It was you who attacked the doctor downstairs.”
I nodded once, smiling again.
“Yes,” I replied, “He gave me what I needed to heal.”
Samantha frowned.
“What about this guy?” she asked, waving her hand at Ryan James, “What are you waiting for?”
My expression hardened.
“He is a vampire hunter,” I said quietly, “I require answers.  We battled last night after I left you.  He was hunting along the promenade, near the Pleasure Beach.  He found what he was looking for, but he was not prepared for a fight with such an old and powerful vampire.”

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!

*Vampire image courtesy of Deviant Art

Using #PurpleBiz to Sell Books

Today I have the honour of being the featured small business by Purple Dog on Twitter. Their extensive network of followers will RT messages about me, Spooky Mrs Green, which in turn will translate into more book sales as people begin to discover the genius that is my work. Well, that is the theory! I am very thrilled to have been chosen today, although I did work hard to obtain my position as well.

I would also like to mention LF Designs who made the cool personalised web badge. Check them out for more merchandise for yourself and your business. If you are interested in trying alternative social networking methods for your own business, be it books, multimedia or anything else, check out the hashtag #PurpleBiz on Twitter. See you there!

A Very Happy Book Launch

Last weekend saw the official launch of my fourth novel, The Darkness of Love. I didn’t have a big party, mainly because I never found time to organize it. Actually I am quite a novice in the world of book marketing, and I have no budget to cover the costs of professional PR. Everything I do is based on my own observations and what I have learned through experience and from my peers on social networks. I also glean lots of advice and information from my monthly Writing Magazine.

Anyway, the event took place in my local café, Drinks and Bites at 35. I am very grateful to the owners, Holly and Gemma, for very kindly offering me some space and time in order to promote my books. We all share the same vision for getting  out in the community together, but my priority at the moment has to be providing for my family and doing what I can to supplement my husband’s income. Ah, the joys of money!

I was very pleased to see some old friends who managed to come and visit, and I appreciate the support of everyone that came to see me. I know some people were unable to attend but I received lots of supportive messages, and it all helps. Being a writer can be a very lonely existence, even when I am surrounded by demanding children. Sometimes I just need someone to recognise me for my talent, not for my genetic legacy. I know there are lots of mothers out there who are nodding in agreement right now.

Well, the event was a success. I sold some books, I talked to some people, I gave out leaflets advertising my websites and my work. Now it is the waiting game as I watch my readership  grow, which in turn leads to more royalties. It is not all about the money of course. I love writing. I love sharing my books with the world. I am very proud of my achievements regardless of whether I receive international acclaim for my efforts. But ultimately we live in a world that is ruled by the need for money. If I have more money, I can spend it on the small business’ around me, and that will keep the economy moving. We have to see the bigger picture, and we must support each other where we can.

#NaNoWriMo – Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. In honour of National Novel Writing Month 2013, today I share an excerpt from my ‘winning’ manuscript of NaNoWriMo 2011. Here is a snippet from Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel):

“Jessica, please, I want to help you,” Jack said from the stairwell where he stood in shadow, “You are not weak.  Please talk to me.”
Carrying my glass over to the table, I gulped the cold water and put my glass down, then turned to him.  He was naked, and his body seemed to glow in the darkness, tormenting and tempting me at the same time.  This was not a man.  This was a vampire.  I am in love with a vampire.  Because of him I was almost killed, and now I am scarred for life, both physically and mentally.  Because of him my life will never be the same again, and yet still I can’t leave him.  And now, to top it off, I am having erotic dreams about his identical twin brother, a man who has made it clear he wants to sleep with me.  What kind of a soap opera is my life right now?
“Jack, it’s late, or early, whatever, and I need to sleep,” I said moodily, “And I can’t sleep, because I keep having these stupid, ridiculous dreams.”
“What dreams?” Jack asked gently.
I swallowed, thinking about my words.  I felt anger now, and frustration, but at least the tears were gone.  I took a deep breath.  If I didn’t tell him he wouldn’t leave me alone.
“I keep dreaming about Danny,” I said, heart pounding.

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!

Written In Blood: A Snappy Supernatural Tale of Forbidden Lust in Vi...

Written In Blood: A Snappy Supernatural Tale of Forbidden Lust in Vi...: Today's Spooktacular Spotlight Author is Catherine Green She's brought us some lovely vampires to chat about today.  L...

Picking Up the Pace #NaNoWriMo 2013

So, we are on day 4 of National Novel Writing Month 2013, and while I am still behind on my daily word count, I feel positive and happy that the manuscript is progressing nicely. I had not really planned out Redcliffe book 4. Well, I did make some notes last year, but then I changed the ending to Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) and that totally threw out my original story line. I had intended for Jessica Stone to be turned into a vampire during the final battle scene in Love Redeems. She didn’t (sorry if I spoiled it for you!). Therefore I now move forward into book 4 with a different version of events, and a new adventure to create.

I actually enjoy the process of free writing. This is where you sit down at your computer, or you pick up your pen, and you just write. There is no thinking ahead, no planned story map or bullet points, just write. Using this process I have already penned (well, typed) almost 4000 words and am quite pleased with what has come out. Jessica is currently experiencing the aftermath of her revelations from the Redcliffe trilogy. She made a lot of supernatural discoveries within a very short space of time, and she lost someone close. Her friendships are forever altered, she is not the same person that she was six months ago, and she is still evolving. There is a lot to learn, and a lot more to discover in the apparently sleepy Cornish seaside town of Redcliffe…

A Slow Start to #NaNoWriMo 2013

Wow, has it been a year already? What have I been doing? Oh yes, publishing two novels, birthing one baby, mothering a young family and trying to stay sane in this crazy world! Well, here we are once again at NaNoWriMo, and I am back in the writing groove. I gave up on my previous manuscript while I was still pregnant because my Muse deserted me. I am slowly coaxing her back with promises of chocolate and wine, but she is hard to please. My children have not helped the cause today. We have just returned from a short holiday in the beautiful Scottish Borders. My toddler has been tired and grumpy all day, and my baby is breastfeeding every two hours and demanding cuddles inbetween. I finally resorted to typing one-handed just so I could actually get started with NaNoWriMo! Anyway, we are here, we have started, and it's all good. Here is my synopsis so far, for Redcliffe Book 4 (as yet untitled):

Let me consult my notes... this will be book 4 in the Redcliffe series, picking up where we left off in Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel)...Jessica comes to terms with her new status as vampire slayer and her metaphysical connection to Danny and his werewolf pack. Jack and his brother struggle to accept that she never knew she was a witch. Cue power struggles between the tiger and wolf, and damaged human relationships to repair.

My Journey to Being a Published Author

Since I started actively promoting my novels in my local area, I find an increased number of people asking me how I managed to get published. For me it seems quite strange in this world of eBooks and DIY publishing. I have taken forgranted the fact that for many people, being a published author is still just a distant dream. It was my distant dream only three years ago. My, how things change!

I did not actually self publish my books. I did not have the time or the finances to enable me in that arena. I spent several months writing to agents and trying to secure support for my Redcliffe novels. I began to submit short stories to competitions. And I researched the industry to figure out what my options were. It was the short story competitions that got me my ‘big break.’

I had submitted a short werewolf story, My New Master, to a partnership published in Somerset called Mirador. The editor was compiling stories for a new anthology entitled The Mirador Fantasmagoria. She accepted my story, and then asked if I had anything else to publish. Apparently my genre and style of writing appealed to their business model. I was so excited! I sent an eager reply and an attachment of my first Redcliffe novel Love Hurts. And that was how I got published.

My editor at Mirador very kindly worked out a practical financial agreement, and she gave me some guidance and advice on my manuscript at no extra cost. She really showed an interest in my work, and she gave me such a boost that my Muse went crazy! For the next eighteen months I spent every spare moment writing and editing, and now I have my first three Redcliffe novels published, all by Mirador.

However, I could not sustain that model much longer. I have no access to what I would call ‘serious money’ that would enable me to continue publishing in this way. It is an expensive business, and we have to acknowledge that fact. Fortunately for my fourth novel I was accepted by a traditional publisher, Chances Press. I believe I found their details in the monthly Writing Magazine that I subscribe to. They published The Darkness of Love and now here we are. I am up to date, promoting all my books, and raring to go with the next project on my list.

That was my story to being a published author. Now you tell me yours…

#Halloween Haunted Open House Giveaway Blog Hop #ReadMe

Happy Halloween my spooky supporters, or for my pagan friends, merry times for All Hallows' Eve! I have always loved this time of the year, when the weather is crisp and fresh, we start to snuggle up in our big jumpers and winter boots, and our tastes turn toward hot chocolate and toffee apples. Here in the UK we have never really been encouraged to celebrate Halloween, although the pubs and nightclubs usually host fabulous fancy dress parties. One popular pastime of recent years is ghost hunting. For those of you unfamiliar with this hobby, it is basically a group of people who spend the night in a reputedly haunted building, and they participate in séances in order to communicate with any ghosts or spirits that might want to speak with them.

I am a ghost hunter. In fact, I have had the pleasure and excitement of participating in ghost hunts on All Hallow’s Eve. The traditional belief here is that the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is at its thinnest on this night. Therefore we can more easily communicate with our departed loved ones. Now, I know there are sceptics out there. But I also know what I have experienced so far in my lifetime, and what I continue to experience in daily life. I know that ghosts and spirits exist. I have seen them, I have spoken to them, and I have even chased them! If you are interested to read my Ghost Hunter Diaries, take a look at my personal blog, SpookyMrsGreen. 

 My last Halloween ghost hunt was actually at Carnfield Hall in Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK on 29^th October 2011. I attended with my younger sister and fellow ghost hunter, and in the spirit of the season, all guests were invited to dress up. We chose our favourite ‘goddess gowns’ and teamed them with fairy wings and wands for the occasion. At the time we were enjoying a spiritual connection with our faery kin, and while we still feel it now, we do find ourselves distracted by other pursuits. The ghost hunt was great fun, and you can read a full account over on my SpookyMrsGreen blog.

Back to the Haunted Open House giveaway blog hop. I am here today sharing news of my recently published Victorian vampire romance novel The Darkness of Love. Here are the details:

Lord Gregory Stockton is a powerful and respected businessman embracing the modern era of the Victorian industrial revolution. He has a grand and beautiful manor house complete with a repertoire of servants, and his young wife is charming, attractive, and the perfect lady to his gentleman. The only thing they lack is an heir to the family estate. Lord Gregory knows he can never produce a child, for he is a vampire, although his wife and servants know nothing of his secrets. There are other ways to provide heirs for his estate, however, and Lord Gregory has noticed the romantic attraction between his wife and the young stable hand Marcus Scott. He hatches a plan to bring the would-be lovers together, and then cruelly tear them apart as he continues to build his empire and secure his power base in the south of England. The humans are pawns in the vampire’s game of lust, love and control.

You can find the novel for sale in all the usual places online, and links are on the dedicated page accessed at the top of this blog. If you would like to win a free eBook copy of The Darkness of Love, enter my competition. My question is this: What was your most exciting Halloween experience to date, and why? I will choose a winner during the first week of November and will contact you via email. Please leave your contact email address at the bottom of your comment.

Now why not check out my fellow Haunted Open House participants and see how many fabulous free gifts you can acquire? Happy Halloween! 

My Ideal Writing Day

I wake up early in the morning, but not too early, maybe between 7am and 8am. I get up, take a shower, have breakfast, and then I sit down at my computer and write until I can write no more or my stomach begins to growl. There are no interruptions, and I am free to stay there until the job is done. That would be my ideal writing day. That is not my current writing day.

My current system is more like this: I wake up between 4am and 6am to breastfeed my newborn daughter, after getting to sleep at around 1am when she finally settles. We go back to sleep for an hour or so, and then I have to get up and deal with my toddler when she wakes. I spend the morning doing ‘motherly’ and ‘housewifely’ chores which include changing nappies, feeding the children, doing the laundry, washing dishes and whatever housework takes precedence on that particular day.

My toddler attends preschool three days per week, so I try to use this time for my computer work. I don’t really get much writing done at the moment. By the time I have soothed the baby and dealt with my need for food and drink (greatly increased because of the breastfeeding), and I have made sure my daughter’s nappies are washed and drying on the line or the airer depending on weather, I seem to lose my day. I barely manage to skim through my emails and respond to the most urgent ones, try and update my blogs, and do some freelance work.

I am resigned to my fate for now. I wanted to have children, and I adore my two daughters. I could not be without them. My writing can wait. I have a whole lifetime in which to create my masterpieces, and I already have four published. I have several notebooks scattered around the house that I can refer to when the mood takes me. For now I am satisfied if I can keep my blogs up to date, and I will simply write as and when I find the time and my mood is right. I am gearing up to attempt NaNoWriMo this year. That will be a challenge indeed…

*Image courtesy of Natalia Sylvester blog

#ReadMe – Dangerous Liaisons in Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Today I share an excerpt from my first novel Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), at the beginning of Jessica and Jack’s fated relationship…

“Perhaps you would be wise to take a breather in your relationship.” Simon said, “I knew that Jack was licensed for firearms; it’s part of his job, and Danny’s.  But I would’ve expected him to tell you if he was carrying to prevent something like this happening.” He continued, “To be honest I’m almost as angry as you.  Please Jessica, believe me when I say that the Mason brothers are trouble.  They don’t mean to be, but they will cause you more grief if you continue this relationship with Jack.  It will be worse now that Danny is back in town.  And I’m not just saying that to get you away from them.  As your friend I am concerned for you, I don’t like seeing you upset.”

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!

#ReadMe – Beware the Wolf in My New Master - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Today I share an excerpt from my second published short story My New Master, featured in the YA anthology The Mirador Fantasmagoria. This gives some back story to our favourite lieutenant werewolf, Simon Bunce from the Redcliffe novels…

 

“Ok Marie, tell me about this family.  What do you want me to do?” 

She smiled again. 

“Simon you are so young, so innocent!  I know about your mother.  But I am not like her.  Actually I am like Danny.” 

Here she nodded in his direction and I half turned to look at him.  His face was serious, his blue eyes blazing as he spoke. 

“Marie please don’t do this.  You cannot destroy this boy’s life.  Let him go.” 

He moved towards Marie and suddenly she lunged at him.  I shouted her name and tried to block her but she was stronger than I thought.  Marie shoved me so hard I staggered back to the sofa and suddenly she was on top of me again, her hand clamped around my throat as she hissed in my ear. 

“You shouldn’t have done that, Simon.”

            She lifted her face and I whimpered as I saw her eyes, not human.  They were animal eyes.  She sniffed my face and nuzzled my neck.  I struggled but she was too strong and she held me firm against the sofa with her body.  I heard Detective Mason behind her and sensed him moving cautiously closer. 

“Mistress please let him go.  You are frightening him.  Your business is with me now;, punish me, not him.”

            She laughed and spoke while looking at my face. 

“Oh Danny you are so vain!  I will deal with you afterwards.  But first I must bring Simon into our family.” 

Suddenly she struck my neck, tearing at the flesh and biting me.  I cried out but the sound was muffled by the sound of her hand over my mouth.  I felt something clawing at my stomach, heard the sound of cloth and flesh tearing, then I felt searing pain as blood poured from my body.  Everything went black.

 

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping! 

 

Why do I Write?

I am currently experiencing a lot of changes in my life, and yet outwardly everything appears very normal and unspectacular. My big change is that of becoming a parent and subsequently a 'responsible' adult. Several years ago my then fiance (now husband) and I bought our first house together. We got a dog. We acquired several baby turtles (and now have 2 surviving). Then we got pregnant. Well, I did. The husband did his bit, but we won't go into detail...

Anyway, I now have one daughter aged 2 years and 10 months, and one newborn daughter aged 9 weeks. I tried to keep up with my writing schedule all through my second pregnancy, although since the birth of my first daughter I haven't really kept a writing schedule. It is more a case of write what I can when I find time and energy. It didn't help when my Muse packed up and left town. She just disappeared about six months into my pregnancy. I was devastated!

I now have an abandoned manuscript that will be reassessed at some point in the future. I recently released my fourth novel, The Darkness of Love, which I wrote while my first daughter was a young baby. I plan to participate in NaNoWriMo 2013 as a method to reinvigorate my novel writing enthusiasm. So far my Muse has begun to make small noises and offer tantalizing snippets of dialogue, the occasional new idea, and some very vague plot fillers for book 4 in my Redcliffe series. I am hoping that my children will miraculously settle down during November and allow me to indulge my passion.

Which brings me to my point. Why do I write? Why do any of us write? The simple answer is because we have to. The urge is so strong, our characters are so forceful, and the stories simply have to be written or we would go insane. Recently I have lost some of that insanity, although I gained a whole new version as a mother and wife. I now eagerly await the return of my 'writer eccentricity' so that I can reconnect with myself in the best way possible. We all have our vices. Mine are reading, writing and chocolate.

#Cheshire Book Launch Event – Catherine Green

I am pleased to announce my book launch event at the Drinks and Bites café on Wheelock Street, Middlewich, Cheshire.

The event takes place on Saturday 2^nd November from 12:00pm – 3:00pm and I will be there to showcase my latest novel TheDarkness of Love, along with my Redcliffe novels series.

I look forward to seeing you there… 

#ReadMe – College is a Dangerous Place; The Teen Game - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Today I share an excerpt from my first published short story The Teen Game, featured in the YA anthology Devils, Demons and Werewolves…

That afternoon I sat near to the boy I wanted.  He was tall and slender with short black hair in a spiked style.  I learnt that his name was David Samson and I set about making small talk while we had our first practical art lesson.  He was extremely shy and seemed confused as to why I wanted his attention but slowly he began to respond, amid much cajoling from his friends.  He was another local born and bred who had come to college straight from the affiliated high school.  I was very much the outsider in this place but that didn’t faze me in the slightest.  Shelley and I ended our first day with invitations to join a group of boys at the pool club in the nearby cinema complex on Wednesday evening.  Naturally the group included my David.  Everything was progressing smoothly.

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!  

#ReadMe – Vampire Seduction in The Darkness of Love - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Here is an excerpt from my new Victorian vampire novel The Darkness of Love. It tells the story of the vampire Marcus Scott from the Redcliffe novels, from the time when he was human…

 Amelia picked up her glass and took a long sip of the rich red wine.  When she spoke again her eyes were glowing and her fangs had extended delicately.  Gregory felt her energy filling the room, and he smiled, responding with a lash of his own cold power.  He possessed the energy and strength of diamonds, hard and impenetrable.  Amelia shivered, her lips curling in a hiss, and wrapped her violet sparks around him in a cold, sharp embrace.  To a human there was nothing unusual in this room, but to a vampire, it was electric and very exciting.  They played a fine line between safety and danger, and Amelia thrived on danger.

      “You wish for me to seduce this young man at your party next week?” Amelia asked, still caressing Gregory with her power, while she stood like a marble statue in front of the fireplace.

   

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!  

Supernatural Story from Shaman Mum #ReadMe

This was the headline in my local weekly newspaper, the Middlewich Guardian, when they ran a story for my new novel The Darkness of Love this week. I just wanted to share my latest media exposure, since I am rather proud of my achievements and am in need of an ego boost while I am running the hamster wheel of young motherhood... Thanks for stopping by!

Read the article here

#ReadMe - Scandal at the Manor House! The Darkness of Love - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Here is an excerpt from my new Victorian vampire novel The Darkness of Love. It tells the story of the vampire Marcus Scott from the Redcliffe novels, from the time when he was human…

     “Someone is approaching!” Sarah whispered. 

      She moved away from Marcus and he jumped to his feet, hurriedly straightening his clothes.  Sarah sat, fanning her face with her hand, and looked up to see Gregory and Amelia walking through the archway and along the path.

      “Ah, my dear, there you are,” Gregory called, “We were wondering where you had got to.”
            Sarah stood slowly, and Marcus bowed to his master, and waited for instruction.  He hoped they had not seen his embrace with Lady Stockton.  He would most definitely be turned out of the house for this.  He could barely even process what had just happened.  Had Lady Stockton really offered herself to him?  Had she asked him to be her lover?  It seemed ridiculous.  Perhaps he was dreaming.

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!  

*New Release* The Darkness of Love by Catherine Green #amreading

My new  book is live online and available to download now! You can also order it as a paperback, if you prefer a good old-fashioned book to read. Here is the description of The Darkness of Love, I'm sure you will enjoy reading it, and don't forget to leave a review!

Lord Gregory Stockton is a powerful and respected businessman embracing the modern era of the Victorian industrial revolution. He has a grand and beautiful manor house complete with a repertoire of servants, and his young wife is charming, attractive, and the perfect lady to his gentleman. The only thing they lack is an heir to the family estate. Lord Gregory knows he can never produce a child, for he is a vampire, although his wife and servants know nothing of his secrets. There are other ways to provide heirs for his estate, however, and Lord Gregory has noticed the romantic attraction between his wife and the young stable hand Marcus Scott. He hatches a plan to bring the would-be lovers together, and then cruelly tear them apart as he continues to build his empire and secure his power base in the south of England. The humans are pawns in the vampire’s game of lust, love and control. 

#ReadMe – The Darkness of Love by Catherine Green - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Here is an excerpt from my new book, Victorian vampire novel The Darkness of Love.

     “Walk me to my room, Marcus,” Lady Amelia purred beside him.

      Marcus jumped, startled out of his reverie.

      “Yes, of course my Lady.” he replied, flustered.

      Lady Amelia laughed, and the sound echoed in Marcus’ head and sent shivers of anticipation up and down his spine.  He glanced at the powerful woman beside him.  She was enchanting, like a forbidden fruit that would taste delicious but would cost you your life.  Her lips were full, pouting, and a rich red colour.  Her eyes sparkled dangerously, promising mischief and delight.  And her pale bosom heaved above its tight corset of deep blue velvet.  Marcus’ mind switched back to earthly pleasures, and he felt the familiar stirrings of lust.  It had been a very strange evening all things considered.  Perhaps there was more to come.

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find uson Facebook. Happy Humping!  

Book Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Here is my review of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Fascinating and disturbing, worryingly close to our everyday reality

I read this book as the first on the list in my newly formed local book club. It was a book I had not heard of before, and I admit I was a little snobbish and decided right away that I wouldn’t enjoy it, even though I knew nothing about the story or the author. I think I have been reading a few too many indie books recently! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed Gone Girl, and I will definitely read the other books written by Gillian Flynn. It had me hooked from the first chapter, and I felt a certain empathy for the lead characters, more especially Nick, even though he has his faults. They were believable and flawed just like the rest of us, and I can even relate aspects of all the characters to people I know in real life. The only criticism of this book is that I didn’t like the ending, and nor did my fellow book club members. It was a total anti-climax and left you feeling a little flat and unfulfilled, although I think this was intentional on the author’s part. Try the book for yourself, and you won’t be disappointed.

#amwriting New Book Coming Soon! #ReadMe

I finally have an official release date for my next novel, how exciting! My Victorian vampire story The Darkness of Love is scheduled for release on 15th October, the perfect time for a Halloween themed book tour. It was originally planned for release in September, but since I gave birth on 1st August we can be forgiven for the very slight delay. I am now eagerly awaiting the 'birth' of my literary child...

In terms of writer news, my focus will now be on promoting and marketing the new book, as well as continuing to promote my Redcliffe novels series. I will be contacting people to arrange blog tours, competitions, reviews etc in the coming weeks and months as we work on catching the Halloween and Christmas shoppers. It will be interesting to see what promotional activity I receive from my new publisher, since I am currently doing everything by myself after my experiment in partnership publishing. Watch this space and I will report back on the service.

We also have the fabulous and fraught adventure that is NaNoWriMo 2013 coming up, and the time is ticking away a little too quickly for my liking. I cannot believe that summer is almost over already! I plan to complete NaNoWriMo again this year, since it is something of a personal goal and a great way to motivate me to write a new book. I am still working on the manuscript for my vampire hunter novel, but that will continue to tick along slowly until I get my mojo back for it. I have decided that for NaNoWriMo I will begin writing the fourth Redcliffe novel, which will be both exciting and surprising, since I don't really know what will happen next.

Busy times as always my friends! Happy writing, happy reading, and welcome to Autumn (or Fall if you prefer).

#ReadMe - Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) by Catherine Green - #HDH

Hello and welcome to the Hump Day Hook. Here is an excerpt from my third book Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel), where our reluctant witch Jessica has had a run-in with the alpha werewolf and her wayward animal familiar. As always, the vampires are never far behind when they sense trouble brewing…

I gasped when I found Marcus Scott standing before me.  He was staring at me with interest, his silvery-blue eyes full of curiosity and intrigue.  His skin was pale, and I could see his fangs protruding when he smiled.  I didn’t know whether to smile or snarl at him, given our interaction only a few hours ago.  I was definitely angry.  This whole sorry mess was his fault.

“Why are you here, Marcus?” I asked moodily.

He dropped into a squat before me, staring intently at my face.  I knew that he was trying to decide whether to touch me or not.  I moved away from him, struggling to stand up but making it clear he was not welcome when he reached out to help me.

“I came to see Jack,” Marcus replied, “What happened here?”

He straightened up as I stood, and he gestured to the room.  I realised he could sense the energy that still lingered, and maybe he had seen Jack and Danny.  I wasn’t sure. 

“You,” I said, “That’s what happened.”

“Ah,” he said, “You refer to our liaison earlier.  That was not entirely my fault, Jessica.”

If you enjoyed this one, why not pop over to our dedicated Hump Day Hook blog and peruse some new and exciting authors. We write about romance, love, science fiction, fantasy, erotica and everything in-between, so you are sure to find something that delights the senses. You can also find us on Facebook. Happy Humping!