Thursday, 13 October 2016

From Mummy to Author and Back Again #ASMSG

This week has been a busy one, as always. I seem to spend my days switching from Mummy to author and back again, in a constant battle to fit everything in. Every weekday morning is the same routine as I struggle to get both my girls dressed, fed and off to school and preschool. Two days per week I have my youngest daughter at home with me. And this week, on one of those days, I took time out to do an author talk and promote my books to some new people.


On that afternoon I left my daughter with friends, drove thirty+ miles to the town where my talk had been arranged, did the deed and got back home just in time to collect my elder daughter from school. It was certainly an adventure as I traversed the rush hour motorway traffic and drove through a busy town centre.  But I thoroughly enjoyed myself, because it was something different. It felt like I was doing some proper author-related stuff after neglecting my books in favour of blogging.

You see, I have another passion that is currently taking priority - SpookyMrsGreen: The Pagan Housewife. This is my pagan lifestyle blog website and it is growing into something far more business-like and exciting. Now I am receiving products to review, and I have a growing schedule of official blog posts to write and share. And I really enjoy that, too! Sometimes I want to write, but my stories just don’t seem forthcoming. On those occasions I can write something casual for my blog, and that satisfies the urge but without the added pressure of needing to fulfill a word count target, or make the story fit, or perfect a scene that is refusing to play nicely.


Actually, if you are interested, I am running a special Halloween offer over on my SpookyMrsGreen blog. You can get a free Vampire Tarot Reading if you head over there now and sign up… and if you haven’t already read it, I am throwing in a free copy of It’s Complicated (A Redcliffe Short Story). That way you get vampires and werewolves, and everyone is happy! 

Thursday, 6 October 2016

#NationalPoetryDay – Living with the Black Dog



The sun is shining brightly
And the air is crisp and clear,
You barely slept again last night
I was there, so far, so near.

What thoughts distract your tired mind?
What torment must you feel?
You worry, stress, so much to do
You’re on the hamster wheel.

Come home, I say,
we need you here.
Oh no, you say,
There’s much to fear.

My work won’t wait
I’m all alone,
And there we wait
Just by the phone.

I love you, husband
I know you care.
We wait here for you
As the demons keep you there.

Life is too hectic
We never stop to think,
Why is it so important?
To push ourselves to the brink?

Of mental health disorder
Of chaos, anger and tears,
Our life falls into madness
While you succumb to your fears.


THE END 



Did this poem resonate with you? Then you might like to read some articles on my other blog: SpookyMrsGreen: the Pagan HousewifeA pagan lifestyle blog that incorporates mindful parenting, magic and mysticism, environmental awareness and related subjects.

Monday, 3 October 2016

Book Review: The Wrong Kind of Clouds

I was very fortunate to win a copy of The Wrong Kind of Clouds by Amanda Fleet in an online competition recently. The book is a contemporary crime thriller, and I liked the fact that it was set in Scotland. So many books that I have read recently are American or European, so it is nice to find something a bit closer to home, and in a place that I am more familiar with. Scotland is a spiritual home for me, anyway!


Crime novels are not my preferred genre. I like to read paranormal and horror, but since I had entered the competition and subsequently won, I decided that there was a reason I had to read this book. I was very impressed! The central character turns out to be not so central, since he disappears for the majority of the story. We still don’t know if he survives at the end, which I thought was quite clever of the author. I like to think that he survives, but maybe we find out in another book… I especially liked the unexpected romance between a work-hardened police detective and the female lead, who is a professional photographer and free spirit. I liked her, far more my kind of person!


All in all, I rate this book as very good, and I recommend it to all crime thriller fans, especially those that like Scotland. There is some great atmospheric description, just enough action to keep you hooked, and the chapters are easy to read in short bursts. A great companion for a long journey or a holiday (or in my case, bedtime reading!).


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!) 

Monday, 19 September 2016

The Wolf and the Fairy - An English Gothic Fairytale #ASMSG

She is a werewolf hunter, descended from ancient fairies, destined to fulfill her role in the family business. He is a lone wolf, his family brutally torn away, revenge his motivation for existence. The fairy and the wolf come together in a violent union as this modern, adult fairy tale gives us an alternative account of life in ancient Britain, and how it has evolved in the present day.


Download your copy today over at Amazon; Barnes & Noble; iTunes;  Scribd and Kobo.

Monday, 5 September 2016

Autumn Book Projects and the Sandbach Authors Signing Event

Well, our summer holidays are drawing to an end. We have had lots of fun and plenty of adventures. My children are returning to school and preschool this week, and that means I can officially return to work. It will be a phased return, since I work from home and am limited to school hours, but I can finally devote some proper alone time to my writing projects. Next on my list is book 4 in the Redcliffe novels series: Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel). Look out for sneak previews coming soon…



In other news, I have finished a summer of Mind, Body, Spirit events and am now preparing my calendar for 2017. I have lots of ideas for places to visit with my books, taking them to a whole new audience. For now, I am preparing to attend the first Sandbach Authors Signing Event on 5th November. Come and meet me, lots of fabulous authors, and even a few fairy folk at Sandbach Town Hall. For more details, see the Facebook event page.


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!) 

Friday, 26 August 2016

Inspired by the Seaside #amwriting

Ah, the seaside! Such a lovely place. We are fortunate to live within driving distance of many beautiful, sandy beaches along the British coast. Our favourite family destination is Talacre Beach in North Wales. It is dog friendly all year round, there is a quirky old lighthouse that always fires my imagination, and the beach is surrounded by sand dunes to explore. Every time we visit I come home feeling refreshed and invigorated. Wading into the shallow waves along the shore, feeling the cold sea water wash over my feet, I drink in the natural healing powers of the ocean. And then I walk across the soft sand, allowing it to warm my feet and tickle my toes. Bliss!



It is no surprise that most of my novels are set in seaside locations. TheRedcliffe novels, for example, are set in a fictitious holiday town in Cornwall. The location was inspired many years ago when we used to holiday down there at a friends’ hotel. I spent many hours wandering along the beach, exploring the working harbour, and climbing higher up to look out over the bay, all the while picturing my werewolves and vampires hunting around the area.


More recently I turned my attentions to a classic Victorian seaside holiday destination. Blackpool is a town with a chequered past, to say the least. It was established by the Victorians as a place to visit the sea, take in the fresh air, and revive the senses after long, hard days spent working in the industrial factories of the North of England. Nowadays, Blackpool draws in crowds of families, and it is a popular destination for hen parties and stag parties (I had my hen weekend there, years ago!). Read The Vampire of Blackpool for my take on contemporary English Gothic, and see what you think.


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!) 

Monday, 22 August 2016

Guest Author and FREE #ASMSG Books

Today I welcome fellow ASMSG author Carolynne Raymond to my blog, where she will introduce you to her sci-fi/adventure/fantasy novel, A Life Cycle Reborn. Read on for your link to a FREE copy of the book that you can read on holiday (I will be doing just that!). The coupon code expires on 1st September, so download it now!
A Life Cycle Reborn cover [387107]
Synopsis
Robin has found love, a rewarding career and she is at a point where the sky is the limit, however something is missing. Robin knows that she should be happy. She feels that she needs a change and ends up getting one in the most unusual way, her death… Take a journey from one average life to one that has been long lost, known in the heart but forgotten in the mind. This is Robin’s tale of uncovering a forgotten world in a passed life.
Excerpt
This scene comes from Chapter 9 at the point Robin’s husband, Kyle wakes in the hospital after being in a car accident.
A week has passed, and my old body, Robin has been laid to rest. Family and friends have come to give their condolences and things have started to quiet down since all of the ceremonies have finished. My parents are still taking time off, and my parent-in-laws, Liz and Roger are still in town looking after Kyle, our home and Smarty, the dog.
My soul is with Kyle for the moment. He is resting in his hospital bed, and I can honestly say that he looks much better than when he had first arrived a week ago. He is alone, only I am here watching over him. Touching his hand; I know that he is ready to wake. He slowly opens his handsome blue eyes to an empty hospital room. Daylight fills the room, and he can hear the soft rumbling sounds of the machines behind him and the activity in the hallways. He slowly looks around the room, a little confused and then slowly looks down at the hand that I am holding and sees the IV in his skin. It all comes back to him.
I can’t talk to him now, for I am nothing, and I know that he can’t see me, only I know full well what is going on in his head. He wants answers. Carefully he sits up in his bed, his eyes have adjusted to the light, and he looks about the room. This isn’t a private room, and there is another bed separated by a curtain. For the moment the bed is unoccupied, but Kyle can’t tell because the curtain pulled out; he can only see the wheels at the bottom of the bed and the bottom of that bed’s night stand.
He whispers, “Robin, are you there?” He waits a moment. My soul hurts for him. “Robin, are you awake?” He says a little louder. I touch his cheek and kiss his face, but he doesn’t feel, or see me. His curiosity is urging him up; Kyle was never one to sit still. He rolls back the sheets and moves the bed rail down swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. Just then a nurse comes in to check on him.
She says, “Great to see that you are awake, I am just going to check your IV, and we will have the doctor here to check on you shortly.”
Kyle asks her, “Where is my wife?” The nurse knows what has happened and she can’t give him the courtesy to say it. She tinkers with his IV and fails to bring herself to look him in the eye.
“The doctor will be with you shortly.” She repeats like a robot. Kyle knows something isn’t right and begins to get cross with her.
Kyle demands, “Is she in this hospital?”
The nurse murmurs, “I am sorry I can’t say.” She makes with haste to the door and that’s when Kyle’s temper makes its appearance. He sits up and rips the tape from his arms which is holding the IV line in place, unhooks it from his hand and arm, and then he unhooks the things monitoring his heart. Beeping noises start sounding, and the nurse turns, rushing back to him, “You can’t do that sir.” She pleads and tries to reconnect him, but Kyle isn’t having any of it.
He snaps at the nurse, “If you aren’t going to tell me I will find someone who will.” He starts to get up, and she is gently trying to ease him back into bed. Despite the fact that he is still recovering, his strength is more than she can manage, and he is wining this match.
Before Kyle wins his battle with the nurse his mother, Liz, and father, Roger walk in; Liz gasps and runs over to him, “Kyle” she says, and it is enough to distract him for a moment and the poor nurse re-hooks him back up to the IV and heart monitor and gently lifts his feet back into the bed and makes her exit. Liz goes over to him and starts to sob and hugs him as Roger stands behind her waiting for his turn. Liz looks up at him knowing that he is off, “Why are you angry? The nurses are only here to help you; you have to let them do their job.”
“Yes Mom, I know, but the least she can do is answer me, and tell me what is going on when I ask. I know that she knows and I don’t understand what the point in keeping it from me is? That is what pisses me off, I am a grown man.” Kyle is still fuming despite the arrival of his parents.
Roger speaks up, knowing that no matter what the approach, it won’t be easy, “Kyle, I am not going to beat around the bush, Robin didn’t make it, I’m sorry.” Kyle looks at him and then back to his mother whose eyes have turned red; a tear streaming down her cheek. Whatever Kyle was going to say has left his mind, he has no words and just stares at the two of them in disbelief. Liz shakes her head and gazes down, a couple of tears leave her cheek and absorb into Kyle’s bed sheets. Roger puts the bed rail down, sits on his bed and says, “I wish I had better news.”
“This can’t be.” Kyle says, but he knows deep down that this is the truth. The details of the crash come back to him. He knows. The three of them are quiet, and after a few moments have passed, Kyle gets the courage and asks, “When can I see her?”
Roger answers, “You have been in the hospital for a week; they have already laid her to rest.” Kyle’s anger turns to frustration, and he hangs his head down, trying to hide his tears.
ASMSG Free eBooks
Instruction to Get the Free e-book
1)    Click here to take you to Smashwords 
2)    Click the yellow “Buy” button at the upper-right
3)    In the “Coupon Code” box, type REW50
4)    Click “Apply Coupon” (MAKE SURE THE PRICE DROPS TO $0.00)
5)    Click the yellow “Checkout” button
6)    On the “Thank You” page, click on the book title
7)    Click the yellow button with the appropriate format for your eReader!

About the Author
Carolynne [387108]
Hello,
Thank you for reading this post. I love to read Fiction, mainly, Fantasy, Romance & Sci-Fi.

I have written and published a couple of books which are, “A Life Cycle Reborn” which is a Sci-Fi novel and "Newbie Author - This Chick's Journey to becoming a Self-Published Author" which is a Journal of my experience on what I did to self-publish my first book.

In my spare time I love to fiddle in photography, painting, gardening and playing video games. I enjoy being creative and it is an escape for me.

You can follow my progress on Facebook 
Featured Image -- 4441
Thank you, Carolynne! That excerpt really sent chills down my back, and I will admit it brought a tear to my eye. I am sure this is a story that will resonate with many readers, and I look forward to seeing your feedback. I am off to load up my Kindle for my summer holiday now, toodle-oo! 
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!)