Book Review: Blood of the Tainted by Alex Laybourne

Today I share a review of a very disturbing, and very compelling, novel that I recently read. I am a fan of horror, and I like to think I have seen it all and read it all. Oh no, not quite. Alex Laybourne has been nicknamed by some as the Prince of Horror, and reading this book, I can see why…

 

Nosferatu meets John Carpenter’s Vampires – a gruesome combination!

The story begins with a disturbing murder, and immediately you feel kinship with the victim and the characters that quickly become involved. It all takes place in a small, rural town that I think could represent somewhere in the US, but also feels a little like it could be in the UK, so I suppose it works for the reader. That element of confusion always increases the horror, anyway. There is a very sweet, burgeoning romance between two teenage girls, but as you can imagine, in this story, it isn’t allowed to progress too far. At least not in the way you would think. Gruesome rites of passage, confusing, mysterious strangers, and the old-fashioned monster that is the vampire preying on innocent humans. Just don’t read this if you are of a nervous disposition. If you enjoy classic, atmospheric horror, go for it!

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A Fabulous Book Signing Event

I just had the most amazing weekend! It started on Friday with a daytrip to the ICHF Stitch and Hobbycrafts exhibition, where my mum, sister and I indulged our crafting habit and made a few cheeky purchases… Then on Saturday came the big event. I attended the West Midlands Valentines Book Signing Event (I missed the evening Ball due to a prior commitment), and it was fabulous! I look forward to my next book event, which will be Scribe Literary Festival in March.

 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 Vampire Boyfriend & Valentines Book Signing Event

I have been very quiet on the book front for the past ten months or so, and with good reason. I am still writing, but I am also planning and organizing my books and their design. One challenge has been that of the book cover, and to that end I am in the process of having professional covers designed for some of my self-published books, in keeping with the contemporary Gothic feel of my work. Today I give you My Vampire Boyfriend (A Redcliffe Short Story Anthology) - what do you think?

Grab your copy of the anthology today, then come and see me in Telford this weekend so we can discuss all things Gothic, vampire and magical... I'm bringing my Tarot cards! 

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!) 

#ScribeFest 2017 – Middlewich Literary Festival

We are back in business! Scribe (Middlewich Literary Festival) will run from 23rd - 25th March 2017 and it's gonna be wild! #ScribeFest celebrates all aspects of writing, illustrating and art. There are even top secret plans for an interactive genre mix crime scene adventure...

Finer details are still being worked out, but we will have events running in different venues around Middlewich, including a Top-Secret Crime Scene Investigation, a children's story writing and illustrating workshop, and visiting speakers and performers from the literary and arts industry.

Follow Scribe Festival on Twitter, use the hashtag #ScribeFest to see live updates, and like our page on Facebook to see exclusive news and giveaways before and during the event.

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!) 

Unleash Your Creative Spirit

We have only one week left until my first book signing event of 2017, and I am rather excited now! I haven’t been to Telford for several years, so that will make a nice change to my weekend routine. I look forward to seeing all my author friends and colleagues at the event, and of course, meeting new readers. Come and see me! I am eager to see you.

After considering my options with regards to book swag, and the fact that my business finances are rather slim after a few advertising experiments, I decided to get creative with my offerings. Before I became a published author, I spent a lot of time making greetings cards and bead jewellery. It was my method of relaxation after a long day at work in a demanding job. This was before I had children, of course, when the evenings belonged to me. I would stamp and colour and embellish to my heart’s content.

The arrival of my babies interfered somewhat with my hobby. Now, whenever I step near my craft cupboard, I hear cries of, “I want to do painting, Mummy!” and “I want to do crafts with you!” That is lovely, of course, but with young children comes a lot of mess, and I cannot simply sit and craft in peace. So, I started doing it in the evenings again. I set aside my marketing and computer work, and revisited my old hobby. And I have created some beautiful book themed greetings cards and bookmarks that I will bring to the book signing event. What do you think?

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!) 

Author Brand Design

The world of publishing is certainly diverse these days. And there is so much more to being an author than simply writing your masterpiece and sending it out to the world. For starters, we need to decide whether to throw ourselves at the mercy of the publishing gatekeepers, only to be rejected time and time again, or whether to go it alone.

We know that being an independent (Indie) author can prove quite lucrative if it is done properly. I have learned during the past couple of years that all of those “overnight success stories” we hear about in the media are not necessarily accurate. The authors behind those successes have often spent years, anything up to a decade or longer, writing, publishing, networking and marketing before making their breakthrough.

I am at the point now where the idea of being an actual “proper” author is sinking in. I think we need to feel the lifestyle in order to project it. Up to now it has pretty much been a hobby that kept me entertained during my long days stuck at home nursing babies and preschoolers. Now my children are getting older, I am finding a bit more time to myself, and I must treat it like a job. Now I am developing my author brand. Exciting!

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!) 

Do I Need Book Swag?

I have attended a few book signing events during recent years, and have noticed a growing trend for something called “book swag.” For those of you not in the know, book swag is basically free stuff that you get from authors keen to spread the word about their books. It could include posters, promotional flyers, keyrings, pens and even more specific items like lip balms, all emblazoned with an author logo or book cover.

Now, I do not yet have any official book swag. Indeed, the signing events I previously attended did not specifically call for such a thing. My eyes were opened when I attended the Sandbach Author Signing Event back in November 2016. At this event I was surrounded by professional indie authors, most of whom proudly displayed (and distributed) a variety of colourful, promotional free gifts to their visitors. All I had to offer was a few business cards and a couple of flyers. Boring!

In February I will attend the West Midlands Valentines Book Signing and Ball. I don’t yet have any official book swag, but I plan to procure something of interest, if only to keep up with my fellow authors and their established marketing practice. It is all a huge learning curve for me as I step into another new world in the hopes of finding my readers. Perhaps I can tempt them out with a fruity Redcliffe lip balm, or a Blackpool souvenir with a vampire twist… Any suggestions?

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!)