It’s coming – April 1st is the day

Okay everyone, this s**t is getting real; I have an awesome cover, some fabulous bookmarks (who doesn’t like a good bookmark) and I’m halfway through the editing. It’s time to announce the release date for my next novel, and that date is

April 1st

Written In Blood is not a part of my Inspector Stone series, book 2 of which will be coming later in the year, but it is set in a village a little outside of Branton, where Inspector Stone works, and the sequel, A Bloody Rewrite (a little play on words for my writer friends) will feature characters from the series, and maybe even Inspector Stone himself, you’ll have to wait and see.

Here for your enjoyment is the cover and blurb for my upcoming release –

A peaceful village torn apart by murder.

In the small, close-knit village of Oakhurst, residents aren’t willing to believe that one of their own might be a brutal killer.

So when young women begin to die – their bodies found with accusatory words carved onto their skin – suspicion falls on the newcomer to the village. Charming Zack Wild, author of violent crime novels and possessor of a dark history, seems like a perfect suspect.

As they investigate, Sergeant Mitchell and Constable Turner are increasingly unwilling to believe that someone they know could be responsible for such heinous crimes. But will this affect their judgement, allowing the real killer to escape?

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You will be able to pre-order Written In Blood from March, and the book will then be available from April 1st.

Fun and Freaky Facts About Friday the 13th

As a fan of trivia, fun facts, and superstitions, this was interesting. I knew some of them already, but others were new, nice post.

C.A. Greyson

Curious about how it all began? Here’s some little known fun facts about the freaky date.

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Anti-social vs social media.

I was going to title this post Autism vs Social Media, but that seems unfair to the people who are anti or unsocial but don’t have autism or mental health problems as a reason (some people simply prefer to avoid people).

I have encountered a number of discussions on Goodreads recently about the need for and the usefulness of Facebook author pages and other social media, and every time I am left with the same set of conflicted feelings. On the one hand, I know that social media can be a very powerful tool in this globally connected age for enabling a writer to find readers, build a fanbase, connect with fans, etc; on the other, this only works if you are able to use social media effectively.

If, like me, you have difficulty dealing with people on any level (in my case the reason for that is I have autism and a number of other mental health problems, but people have many reasons for this problem) then social media can be a real struggle; unfortunately this means that no matter how good your book is, and I’m not about to claim a Dickens level of writing ability here, but I do believe I am above average as an author, it will be difficult to get people to discover the books you release.

There are sites that will provide authors with a quick boost of promotion, but long-term success will only come as a result of good quality, consistent use of social media. What the solution is, I don’t know, but if anyone out there can come up with a suggestion for how I can market my books effectively, and long-term, without spending a fortune, and without burning myself out trying and failing with social media, I’d love to hear from you.

An interview with Groovy Lee

Today I have Groovy Lee on ARCBookblog, a lady who gives me TV envy, because my big screen clearly isn’t big enough. Before I get too upset about that, here’s Groovy to tell us all a bit about herself.

I was born in the deep south where the number four has two syllables. I somehow did not acquire that distinct Southern accent, but I am accustomed to expressions of “Yall”, “Ain’t”, and when I’m really mad–“Ain’t gonna!”.

I’m also addicted to bottled tea and cooking shows; I crochet and collect crystal. My best friend and Queen is my daughter who gets a foot massage from me after a long day:)

My most favorite time of the year is tennis season. When the French Open, Wimbledon, and The US Open are airing, you can look for me, but you won’t find me. Unless you know where my 53″ television set is. Even then approach me with all the care you would a Grizzly–exactly, you wouldn’t! My daughter is prohibited from communicating with me unless it’s a code 10 emergency; And even then I’ll direct her to the neighbor for help–just kidding, she knows how to dial 911

I write Romantic/Suspense, Suspense, and wholesome, passionate Romances that deal with matters of the heart. No sexually graphic stories or one night stands. I write about love, not lust. If my stories bring a smile to just one person’s heart, then I’ve done my job. That’s what it’s all about.

One of my books, Cause She’s A Good Girl, was featured on a popular Nashville Morning Show, Talk of The Town, and given a highly recommended by BookWoman. I’m still smiling at that:)

Thanks to all of you who have added me to their list of authors they are fans of. I’m so honored! And I love when people friend me:) I’m not a big fan of Facebook or Twitter, but I invite you all to email me with your suggestions or questions.

You can contact me here on Goodreads or atreyhu@att.net.

Thank you for your time and Good Reading!

http://www.groovylee.com/

Now that we have the bio portion of this interview out of the way, it’s time for the questions.

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Groovy – I’m so blessed to be able to write full-time.

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Groovy – Pushing that button that turns your manuscript into a bona-fide book. Everything else is hard work, but a joy.

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Groovy – I’m sure I’m giving the same answer as everyone else, but it’s the promoting part I find the hardest. I’m an introvert. Selling my work or me as an author is not easy. I wish there was a red button to push where all of your fans were waiting. Wishful thinking—right?

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Groovy – When I’m beginning a story on paper, it’s upstairs on my bed while Perry Mason is on TV; when it’s time to work in front of my computer, it’s when no one is home and there’s quiet.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Groovy – Not really. I just write down what my characters tell me to.

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Groovy – That’s a good question. I think critically successful. I want the whole world to love reading my books. The financial success will come automatically when they purchase them.

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Groovy – At first it was Prince. But now that he’s no longer with us, it’s Oprah. Because if she likes it, so will her millions of followers.

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Groovy – It depends on what stage of writing I’m in. If it’s the beginning stage, no; but if I’m trying to edit, yes. I need quiet to get the flow of the story and make sure the scenes are coming together.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Groovy – So far for me, it’s Goodreads. I’m active on a lot of forums, and my books get a lot of exposure there.

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Groovy – Let’s see—Dogs are extremely smart and loyal; horses are THE most beautiful animals; there’s a Hawk that flies around my house, and he’s absolutely breath-taking; Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite shows. Each species come in all sorts of colors and sizes, so I can’t pick a favorite, sorry.

If you’d like to know more about Groovy you can check out the following links

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

A Body Resurrected

Sixteen year-old Mira is an Egyptian girl who lives a quiet life in her small village in Lower Egypt 3303 B.C.E. But two visitors from the planet Aut are about to change that. The first “flying metal” that whips across the sky carries a murderous plague by the name of Demen. The second one that follows, brings a bounty-hunter named Weir. Against her father’s wishes, Mira becomes Weir’s accomplice in his mission to apprehend Demen before another woman dies by his hands.

But there’s a problem: Demen is now a powerful Pharaoh in the city of Sharkura. Will apprehending him cost Weir and Mira their lives?
Almay, California, USA, twenty-first century:

Tina Leggs oversees the artifacts and exhibits of the Graham-Arlee museum. She has no idea that the mummy exhibit that’s drawing huge crowds, is the same Demen that her ancestor, Mira, bravely faced centuries ago.

Demen is no longer a powerful Pharaoh. Now, he’s nothing more than a museum exhibit since he was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. But a rare occurrence will give him life once more. And his desire to kill the misery known as woman is as strong as ever.

Enter Q, a second bounty-hunter sent from Aut to capture him. Like Mira, Tina has been cast into the role of ally to this handsome visitor. Amid the destruction Demen is causing, and the risk to their lives to stop him, they realize their deep love for one another.

But, will she leave her family on Earth for the sake of that love?

Amazon

 

A review of Harry Potter 2

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

JK Rowling

“‘There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.'”

Harry Potter’s summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors – and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone … Dobby’s sinister predictions seem to be coming true.

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The Chamber of Secrets continues from the events in The Philosopher’s Stone and delves deeper into the magical world of Hogwarts. We get to know more about Harry and his friends, and meet some new characters, some friendly and others not, all interesting.

Once again J K Rowling has brought to life a magical world I would love to be a part of. The characters feel and act like real people, with hopes and fears, strengths and weaknesses, friends and rivals. There is danger for Harry and his friends, and danger leads to injuries, but that’s to the good because it would have made it hard to accept what happens if nobody got hurt.

The writing remains as good as in the first book, and though I know, intellectually, magic doesn’t exist, I really wish it did and that I could do my time at school over again so I could attend Hogwarts.

An Interview With Louann Carroll

Joining me today on ARCBookblog is Louann Carroll, an interesting lady with several books to her name who has agreed to answer some questions so we can all get to know her a little better. First though, here is what Louann says about herself.

Louann Carroll is a Native Californian living in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her husband, Dennis.

Mother to three children, she is an avid rock, fossil, and gem hunter who enjoys sharing her finds with family and friends. She is a student of alternative religion, archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology.

After leaving her position as C.E.O. in the Bay Area, she has pursued her writing career with much success. Winner of the 2010 Crescent Moon Press award for best novel, she has gone on to write radio talk shows and articles on adoption.

She is the author of the Gemini series including Gemini Rising, The Light and the Flame (coming soon) A Shadow of Time, a paranormal romance, Shadowlands, a prequel, Journeys, The Adventure of Leaf, and numerous children’s stories.

You can reach Ms. Carroll at:

Twitter

Facebook

Email – carroll.louann@yahoo.com

Website

Amazon

Goodreads

And now it’s time for the questions, I hope you like what Louann has to say

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Louann – Writing is always a full time occupation. I have a day job, but writing is always on my mind. Every spare moment I have I either work on a blog or an article or a manuscript. If I’m not working on my writing, I am filled with guilt because there is so much I have to say. Of course, that is not to say everyone wants to hear what I have to say. It is just that I am driven to say it regardless. I am sure I drive my family and friends nuts

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Louann – Writing is the easiest. I love to write. Stuff flows from my fingertips. I also like the sound of the keyboard when I type. It is like music to me.

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Louann – Marketing, editing, anything that resembles work. Writing is not work to me. It’s the stuff that goes with it.

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Louann – I can write with stuff happening in the background but I prefer quiet. I can get lost in my thoughts and I like it there.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Louann – My life would be so much easier if I had a process. My muse lets me see into the next chapter but that’s it. I am also a social journalist for Blasting News. When I get upset and need to vent they let me do some commentary. My blog is like that too, but fiction? I have to wait and the wait kills me. I even had a temper tantrum and refused to write. It didn’t do me any good. I just felt guilty and had to wait for the muse to take me where it willed.

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Louann – I really don’t care about being critically successful so I guess financially successful. My goal is to give people what I call mind candy, a place to get away from the real world for a little while. If I can do that I consider myself successful.

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Louann – Anne Rice. She let me post A Shadow of Time on her website and I nearly died.

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Louann – I find it easy, my husband not so much. He thinks I am ignoring him.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Louann – Making connections with other writers, authors and readers-networking so-to-speak. Also, Twitter has been great. I also belong to Triberr which is a blog platform where we tweet our blogs for each other. Right now I have a reach of over 500,000 people by using Triberr. I really recommend it. Just go to triberr.com and you can pick the groups that fit your genre, start blogging and you are off and running.

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Louann – My little Agatha. She’s a purebred Fox Terrier who was rescued from a puppy mill. She’d lived in a cage for 7 years and had little human contact except when breeding. It was like her eyes met mine and we both fell in love. Because she lived in a cage, when she gets happy she walks in circles the exact dimension of her kennel. Even though I’ve had her 2 years now, she still runs in circles when she’s happy. Omg she is so cute.

Innocent Blood

They call him the Pope on Dope.

Danny Fisk has a secret no one outside his family would believe.

Danny sees things others can’t: like ghosts and the future. In his teens, he used drugs to escape his gifts, but with help from his family, Danny cleaned up his life. For fifteen years, he lived the American Dream. He had a loving wife, kids, a great job, and proud parents.

That ended when renewed pressure from his abilities drove him back to drug abuse. Now, Danny’s on a mission to save as many as he can from the streets that would destroy them all.

Pursued by corrupt cops, drug cartels and his own inner demons, Danny must find a way to survive his gifts. If not, he’ll continue a downward spiral that could cost him the lives of those he’s trying to save.

As well as his own.

If you like the sound of this, you can buy it on Amazon

 

A history of crime (England) Part 1

While researching my history of law enforcement articles I realised I was more fascinated (as I’m sure many of us are) by crimes than by law enforcement, so I have decided to do a series featuring (in)famous crimes and criminals, some of which you may have heard of, and others you may not. The series will focus on English crimes and criminals primarily, because that’s where I’m from, but will also feature other countries as I discover them.

First up is what is known as the Bermondsey Horror, which was one of the earliest cases investigated by the detective branch that was formed in London in 1842.

Bermondsey Horror

The name given to this crime by the media of the time suggests multiple victims, yet that is not the case for there was only one victim, Patrick O’Conner, who was murdered on 9th August 1849.

Patrick O’Conner was a ganger at the London docks and a money-lender who made a significant amount of money through charging excessive interest. He was murdered by Marie Manning, with whom he was involved, both before and after she married, and by her husband Frederick.

The exact nature of the relationship between Marie Manning (born Marie de Roux in Lausanne, Switzerland) and Patrick O’Conner is unknown, but O’Conner was not a stranger at the Mannings’. On the evening of the 9th August 1849 he went to the Mannings’ for dinner, during which he was murdered by Marie and her husband and buried under the kitchen floor.

The details of how O’Conner was murdered, and his body subsequently discovered by the police, are unknown now but his body was found by the police on 17th August. At that time a search was begun for the Mannings, who it transpired had killed O’Conner in order to rob him, of money, railway shares and property holdings; Marie went to his house on both the day of his murder and the day following to steal from him.

Following the theft the Mannings double-crossed one another, with Marie coming away in possession of the greater share, and went their separate ways. Marie was captured in Edinburgh, where she was attempting to exchange some of O’Conner’s properties, while Frederick was caught on Jersey.

The trial was unexceptional, as was the case itself; it’s entirely possible that the
Bermondsey Horror would have slipped out of the public’s, and history’s, notice were it not for the presence of Mr Charles Dickens at the public hanging of the Mannings. Dickens wrote to The Times newspaper following the execution to decry the wickedness and levity of the mob that joined him in bearing witness.

 

Soldier on with Aislinn Kearns

Aislinn Kearns, who I know from Goodreads, has a new release coming out; actually it’s already available to buy via pre-order. Dangerous Victor is a part of her soldiering on series, which focuses on a security firm operated by wounded soldiers.

Dangerous Victor

Aislinn Kearns

 

 

Radha Iyer knows there’s something terribly wrong happening at the casino she manages. Her staff are acting cagey, the finances don’t add up, and then her Head of Security is found murdered in his own home. She’s out of her depth and desperate for help.

Zack Walker has kept to himself since the day an IED left him permanently scarred. When Radha calls Soldiering On for help, his degree in math makes him the obvious choice to go undercover as the new Head of Security to help her discover what’s going on and who’s responsible.

But the conspiracy they uncover goes deeper than either of them could have imagined. When their investigation is compromised, it puts them both in mortal peril and on the run. With nowhere to turn they must rely on each other, but danger and betrayal lurk in every shadow…

This book has been the most challenging of the series to write – in the best kind of way. I think it’s my favourite so far.

Fun fact: This was the book that sparked the whole idea of the series. I actually started writing a very different incarnation of this book more than a year before I wrote anything else in the Soldiering On world. Before I even had a proper idea for the series!

I hope you all enjoy reading it!

Additional fun fact: a decent portion of this book is set at the same time as Guarding Sierra! You don’t have to read one to understand the other, but it might be fun to see where they overlap.

March 2 will be the big day, but if you can’t wait ’til then

Preorder it now!

An Interview With RL Jackson

Today’s guest on ARCBook blog is RL Jackson, who was instrumental in setting up the blog-a-go-round that I have recently been a part of, and which has resulted in me interviewing some lovely people. Before I get on with the questions, let’s find out a little about my guest.

R.L Jackson writes fiction and enjoys reading Romance, Fantasy, Dystopian, YA, and everything in between. She is also a seasoned screenwriter, an avid movie lover, ruthless supporter of all things creative and a hopeless romantic. Residing in the Sunny state of Florida, she plans on bringing many more worlds, from different genres to light in the near future.

And now it’s time for the questions.

 

 

Me –  How long have you been writing?

RL – I’ve been writing my whole life essentially, from short stories to screenplays and then on to novels

Me – Is writing something you’ve always wanted to do? 

RL – It is something that i’ve always wanted to do, and something I have been actively pursuing for a while now

Me – How would you describe yourself as a writer, a plotter or a pantser? 

RL – I’m not sure what pantser means, but i love a good plot. I try and create multiple dimensions in my characters as well as the stories..Always leaving clues that no one realises until later

Me – Do you write every day?

RL – I write almost everyday, whether it’s my own blog, new novel ideas, or current feature film or tv pilots

Me – What is your favourite genre?

RL – Too many to count, lol, but I guess my least favorite would be horror. Now I like vampires and witches, and I’ve come around to zombies, but ghosts and aliens..no thanks, lol

Me – Is your favourite genre one you write in? 

RL – Yes, I think if theres something you enjoy about a genre, you should attempt to write in it, but don’t pigeon hole yourself either. You should branch out and try other things as well

Me – If you could have written any book in history, what is it?

RL – The one I wrote. Any others works out there, are theirs and encompasses who they are. My book encompasses me, so Crashing Into Me is my answer.

Me – What would you like to achieve with your writing?

RL – I’d like to continue to creative interesting stories, screenplay adaptations of said stories, that I eventually turn into feature films. I’m actually reverse engineering a screenplay into a novel, so that will be interesting, lol

Me – Which of your books is your favourite?

RL – This is my first novel,so that would be this one. My very first short story in middle school “cyclops” is up there because its what sparked my love of writing…Cyclops…the memories, LOL

Me – Tell me about your next release.

RL – The next release will be Book Two of the Crashing series, as well as a YA Fantasy I’ve been working on for some time. Which will come first, I’m not sure, but I plan on taking my time to create quality material.Not a fan of pumping out books “willy nilly”

Crashing Into Me

A year after being left at the altar, headstrong E.R Nurse, Lana McKenzie is finally piecing her life back together. Tired of dealing with seeing her ex and his new girlfriend at every turn, she longs for blissful solitude and can’t wait to enjoy a peaceful vacation alone in the mountains. However, her plans go awry when a rude stranger literally embeds himself into her life and mind.

Handsome, wealthy, and troubled, Kayden Capshaw is struggling with the death of his brother, while also trying to escape the claws of his controlling mother. In his grief, the last thing Kayden wants to deal with is the fallout from his last run in with the law. Yet, he also longs to get to know the woman now snowed in with him at the house on the hill.

The ice between them thaws every minute they spend together, and they find that they have more in common than they realize. Will they find a way to make it through, or will it all, like the snow, melt away?

Book Release Date:FEB 14, 2017

If you would like to know more about R.L. Jackson, visit the following links.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon (Pre-order)

USA Today bestselling author Rainy Kaye

As part of my ongoing effort to be more inclusive on this blog, and not restrict it solely to the genres I am personally interested in (romance readers and others are people too and shouldn’t be ignored), I am today showcasing Rainy Kaye, USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance and her book Summoned, the first in the summoned series

Rainy Kaye is an aspiring overlord. In the meantime, she’s a USA Today Bestselling author who writes paranormal novels.

She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA, and has been traditionally published by Bastei Lübbe. Her works include the Summoned series, The Deepest Black, and The Withering. She has also co-authored several novels.

Her lair is located somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona, which she shares with a variety of furry creatures. You can follow them on Instagram and find out more about the author on Twitter –  Facebook – and her site

SUMMONED

Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told – literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker. Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well.

When he meets Syd – assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd – he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets.

Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming – the wish that will destroy him.

A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes