Winding Down for Christmas

I have decided to take a break from writing for Christmas, since my time is largely taken up with preparations and parental responsibilities. Who knew I could become so busy once my children were in school? Well, technically my youngest daughter is still only at preschool, so we are together for most of the week.

Read my Festive Short Story Here

When I finish the obligatory checking of emails, updating blog posts, and general home admin, I have no time for writing. I am solely responsible for procuring and wrapping Christmas presents, since my husband is a bit of a Scrooge and would do it all on Christmas Eve if I left him in charge! My fifth Redcliffe novel is still ticking over in my mind, however, so I may have to sneak onto the computer at some point during the festivities just to clear my head… Do you write through Christmas?

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!) 

Vlad: The Real Dracula #amreading

I am currently reading a very powerful novel by C.C. Humphreys. Vlad – The Epic Novel of the Real Dracula, is a completely enthralling, violent and disturbing story. I had the paperback sitting in my “to be read” pile for a very long time, and I have now been reading it for over a month. Usually I would devour a novel like this within a couple of weeks, but family life, and writing, have intervened to disrupt old habits.

Anyway, I am still reading, and today I have been thinking about events in the novel while I went about my daily business. Such is the nature of the story, and the quality of writing, that it really has me gripped and desperate to continue reading. It has evoked some very powerful emotional responses, since it is incredibly violent and passionate. I felt compelled to share my reading journey at this point, and to say that when I do finish reading Vlad, probably later this week, I will need to read something light hearted and cheerful. I recommend the novel, but be warned, it is extremely dark and dangerous!

Part of the reason for my distraction from reading is my participation in #Blogmas over on my SpookyMrsGreen the Pagan Housewife blog. Go and check it out if you are interested!

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 #Blogmas Challenge for Christmas

It feels like weeks since I completed #NaNoWriMo, and yet it has only been around seven days. Yes, last week was a long one, and very busy as always. There is no sign of things slowing down, either. Oh no. I am still persevering with my #365DaysofTarot challenge, where I perform a Tarot card reading every day and write it in my designated notebook. I plan to turn it into a book at some point in the future, but that will not come to fruition until at least 2018.

Merry Blogmas from SpookyMrsGreen!

This month my challenge is #Blogmas. Over on my SpookyMrsGreen: the Pagan Housewife blog, I am writing and posting every day in the run-up to Christmas. My posts are a variety of anecdotes about preparing for Christmas with young children, shopping and gift ideas, and my pagan lifestyle activites that run alongside. Go and check it out if you are interested!

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!) 

#NaNoWinner16 and Merry Christmas!

Oops! It seems I forgot to do my Thursday blog this week, bad girl *slaps wrists* In my defense, I have been very busy and quite overwhelmed with a mixture of domestic and professional nuances. But not to worry. We are now officially in the countdown to Christmas, and so I will embrace the festive spirit and make some fabulous memories with my children. Oh, and yes, I did win #NaNoWriMo in the end, just as I planned. How did you get on?

#CyberMonday Book Deals for Christmas

The end is nigh for #NaNoWriMo2016 and I must say I will be glad to see the back of November. It has been a long and arduous month, and not because of the crazed writing challenge. Personal circumstances have intervened to cause exhaustion, but I hope that it will improve during the next few weeks.

Anyway, today is #CyberMonday, a day when all the big brands offer more discounts and sales to Christmas shoppers. I would like you to consider my novels for your Christmas shopping list. Perhaps you enjoy reading Gothic stories set in Cornwall? How about sexy vampires and werewolves from Dublin? Then check out Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel), which is currently only 99p (or 99c) to download on Kindle.

In the meantime, I will finish off my #NaNoWriMo project for this year, which will conclude most of the first draft for book 5 in my Redcliffe novels series. You can find the first 3 novels for sale online, and I plan to release books 4, 5 and 6 to complete the series. I look forward to seeing your reviews!

Buy or Download my novels now on Amazon!

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!) 

I’m at 40K and Feeling Epic! #NaNoWriMo

Ha ha, did you recognise my TV commercial reference? Well, the month of #NaNoWriMo is flying by, and today we celebrate my husband’s birthday. I say we. I mean me. He is being very miserable and grumpy, even though he is only 35. That is not old!

Anyway, never mind him, I will celebrate with some fizzy wine and a bit of chocolate, because my #NaNoWriMo challenge is almost complete and I can taste the sweet smell of success. How is your #NaNoWriMo coming along?

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!) 

#BlackFriday is Approaching – Support Small Business! #ASMSG

How do you feel about the #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday phenomenon? Let’s face it, we can barely avoid the hype in this day and age. It is how we have evolved in society. I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I believe in not over-commercialising holidays such as Christmas. However, I sell books for a living. If I don’t sell the books I write, I won’t make any money, and that could negatively affect my children and  husband.

I propose a compromise: think about the small business owners, including indie authors, craft businesses, local produce etc. They rely on income from the sales of the stock that they lovingly create by hand. We should support those businesses.  When I hear about #BlackFriday, my thoughts turn to Amazon. Well, they are made up of small business owners, like myself, who rely on royalties paid via Amazon for the sales of our books.

Why not search for alternative Christmas gifts for your friends and family? Find them a book written and produced independently by a new author. Try a CD by a young musician. Or even search for some handcrafted bespoke trinkets, jewellery, furniture or bric-a-brac. The small business owners will be far more grateful for your custom, and will make more effort to give you the personal customer service that makes you feel good about parting with your hard-earned cash. Thank you. 

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!)