Hi and welcome to my stop on Rachel Pudsey’s The Watcher of the Night Sky blog tour with Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours 🙂

Interview with Rachel Pudsey…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

Hi, my name is Rachel Pudsey. I was born in Scotland but have a ridiculously English surname (*ahem* Pudsey Bear *ahem*). I studied Psychology in university before heading into the big bad world and getting a job absolutely unrelated to my degree. Imagine that. I currently live in South Korea, have been here for almost seven years now, and pay the bills by teaching business English to adults in Seoul. I am the author of the Aronia Series, a YA fantasy romance series set in a fictional land called Aronia. So far there are two titles available: The Watcher of the Night Sky and The Faelti. They follow the lead character, Abigail, as she tries to undo a terrible mistake that resulted in her being cursed: wishing on the stars.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

All over the place! Sometimes they just pop up in my head. Sometimes a song title or lyric does it. Mostly, my ideas have been sparked by the environment around me. Nature has a big part to play, as does tourist or cultural sites. I think that hearing real folk stories or cultural oddities is really fascinating and they help to get the creative juices flowing.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Yes. I can tell you with absolute sincerity that one of the male leads in the Aronia Series is based on an ex-boyfriend. It sounds so corny to say, but when I dated him I felt like I had met my Edward. He was my perfect man. A Korean Taekwondo trainer/ex-bodybuilder who just wanted us to be happy. Obviously, we are broken up now so there were some unfortunate issues that couldn’t be resolved. But at the time of writing The Watcher of the Night Sky, I based the character, and some of his appearance, on him. It was the best way for me to understand the attachment my main character, Abigail, would have for someone she loved.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

I mostly research names and use them based upon their meaning. That is with the exception of some of the dwarf and fae names. Most of them were picked using a Finnish name generator (I used Finnish for anything connected to the Kelluva Isles) and because I liked the sound of them.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I write whatever comes to mind and worry about the structure later. I don’t map out an entire story from beginning to end. I suppose I use the Stephen King approach. Most of the time I don’t know how my story will end. Too many things happen in life that can affect my story, so I just let it all out and then worry about structure and planning later. Editing is when I knuckle down, fix the plot holes, and make dramatic changes.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Hard question! I guess I’d have to say J. K. Rowling, S. E. Hinton, Brandon Sanderson, William Goldman, and Brent Weeks. Because I like to read them. But I want to add Terry Pratchett, Jane Austin, Ernest Hemingway, and Charles Dickens simply because I highlight sentences in their books for being so epic.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Honestly, I mulled over this question for a long time. I am finding it hard to come up with someone. Maybe Jane Austin. I’d like to know more about the era she lived in.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Absolutely. I grew up reading Goosebumps and Point Horror books in primary school.

When did you start to write?

I wrote my first novel (if I can even call it that) in primary school. Maybe primary six or seven, but I can’t quite remember. It was a Point Horror style book with students from my class as the victims. Seems a bit morbid now I look back on it!

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

Probably Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. I really wanted both of the Weasley twins to have survived the battle at Hogwarts. You can’t have one without the other! I am still raging about that. I wish it was Percy instead. And I hope Fred returned as a ghost and helped George run their store.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

Maybe The Princess Bride by William Goldman. That book is genius.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?   

I’m as discombobulated as you are.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Coffee with Albus Dumbledore would be an interesting day. Since this is entirely fictitious, I would take him to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, Japan. They have a Three Broomsticks there.

What are you working on right now?

I am writing the third and final book of the Aronia Series. The title is named Aaravale.

Tell us about your last release?

My last release was The Faelti, book two of the Aronia Series. It continues the tale of Abigail as she tries her best to rid herself of a curse she accidentally placed on her life after wishing on the stars. I don’t want to give away too much to those who haven’t read the first one!

Do you have a new release due?

Yes, but unfortunately I can’t give a release date for Aaravale yet. All I can say is it will be released next year.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Nothing much. Maybe just some drinks and dinner with close friends.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

They can contact me through my website: http://www.rachelpudsey.com
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2LScrcZ
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorrachelpudsey
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rachelpudsey
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rachelpudsey

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I am a Gryffindor.  I love The Outsiders. And wish you all to Stay Gold ^^

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Rachel 🙂

Blurb

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR 

 

Fifteen-year-old Abigail Crumble was never much for talking about love and marriage and other such nonsense – no matter how often her boy obsessed best friend pestered her to do so. Or so she so adamantly proclaimed. 

 

Yet on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Abigail makes the biggest, most contradictory mistake of her life. She wishes on the stars for love, or even the smallest amount of attention, without knowing the full impact of such a feat.

 

 Abigail soon finds her simple life in chaos as princes, men and mysterious creatures come to her door, each adamantly in love with her and refusing to leave her side.

 

Mixing fantasy, humour, and romance, The Watcher of the Night Sky begins the tale of one girl’s quest to rid herself of a curse that was definitely far more than she wished for.

 

Author Bio

 

Rachel was born and raised in Scotland but has a ridiculously English surname. A graduate of psychology, she now resides in South Korea. She has dabbled in teaching children, but after a few blessed years has succumbed to teaching business English to adults in Seoul. 

 

Rachel has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. An obsession with Point Horror books led to her first novel being written at the age of ten. Truth be told, it wasn’t very good. The following years were spent reading, amateur acting in a youth group, occasionally playing guitar, and dabbling in songwriting, all the while continuing to write stories unworthy for print and developing her own style.

 

A mixture of inspiring authors had a huge influence upon her mind: S. E. Hinton, Mario Puzo, R. L. Stine, William Goldman, C.S Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, J. K. Rowling … the list goes on. For years, Rachel has cited The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton as her favourite book. These days, she considers The Princess Bride by William Goldman to be at the top of the list. But the list always changes. How can one simply pick a favourite from all the wonderful books out there? It’s like trying to pick one favourite food. Inconceivable! 

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2QJ3Tc4

 

 

Hi and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature 🙂

On the first Friday of each month I like to have a little look back at what I was reading during the same month the previous year.

Feel free to join in and don’t forget to share your link with us in the comments, if you do.

Here are my reviews from October 2017…..

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant @TillyTenWriter @bookouture #BookReview #BlogBlitz

Silent Lies #BlogTour @KatCroft @bookouture #BookReview

THE CABINET OF LINGUISTIC CURIOSITIES A Yearbook of Forgotten Words by Paul Anthony Jones @paulanthjones @HaggardHawks @eandtbooks @alisonmenziespr #ForgottenWords

 

Her Last Secret #BlogBlitz Barbara Copperthwaite @BCopperthwait @bookouture #BookReview

The Madam by Jaime Raven @JaimeRaven1 #BookReview @AvonBooksUK

Have you read any of the above?

 

 

Hi and welcome to my stop on Michelle Scott’s Just The Two Of Us blog tour 🙂

Interview with Michelle Scott…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please? Maybe it’s because of my Halloween birthday, but I’ve always been attracted to scary stories. On the other hand, I love romances as well. Once I discovered that these two genres existed side-by-side in urban fantasy novels, I was in heaven! Urban fantasy is like chocolate and peanut butter: a perfect, to-die-for combination that I can never get enough of.

I’ve been writing since childhood, but earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology and my master’s in English literature. When I’m not writing, I’m a straight-laced English teacher at a two-year college in Detroit. I’ve been married to Mr. Right for over twenty-five years. I also have three teenaged children: a boy and two girls, all of whom have threatened to never speak to me again if I turn them into characters and put them into my books.

Where did/do you get your ideas from? Ideas come from everywhere. Sometimes I’ll zone out in the grocery store because a can of soup gives me an idea for a scene in a story. Other times, I’ll be talking a walk or even sleeping when an idea comes! I’m always on the lookout for something to weave into a book. Kind of the way robins will use random bits of ribbon and thread to weave into their nests in the spring.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know? My family often tells me that they seem themselves in the book. In reality, however, I don’t base any of the characters on friends or family. Unless it happens subconsciously…

How do you pick your characters’ names? Believe it or not, this is a hard part of writing! Many times, a name will pop into my head, but then I’ll realize that I know someone with that name. Or that I’ve used it before in another story. Google is oftentimes a huge help. I’ll search for baby names or, if I know I want a certain-sounding name, I’ll Google ‘nature, baby names,’ or something.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell? I’m kind of all over the place when it comes to a process. I have a terrible habit of writing ¾ of a book then setting it aside for an idea that suddenly storms my brain. In fact, I have four books halfway completed right now. I know that I’ll eventually complete them, but it’s so hard to focus on an old story when a new one comes along.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors? Stephen King, Jodi Picault, Sarah Waters, J. K. Rowling, and Kazuo Ishiguro. Not necessarily in that order.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them? I would definitely want to meet J. K. Rowling. I’d love to ask her how she comes up with those amazing names of things. Hogwarts? Flourish and Blotts? Pure genius!

Were you a big reader as a child? Definitely! My mother was a big reader as well, and she always made sure to take me to the library. She’d give me books for Christmas or my birthday, as she knew how much I loved them. I would spend hours reading everything I could lay my hands on.

When did you start to write? I’ve written stories ever since I was a kid. If I wasn’t writing them, I’d dream about them or imagine them. I also wrote Star Wars fan fiction back in the 1970’s when the original movie came out. We didn’t call it fanfic back then. In fact, I didn’t realize that fan fiction was a thing until recently.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

Is there a book you wish you had written? I’ve always wanted to rewrite Anna Karenina. Surely, she deserved a happier ending!

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be? Head in the Clouds since that’s me most of the time.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them? I love Molly Weasley! I’d love to chat about ordinary things like raising kids and maintaining a household. I would also press her for stories about how she fought Voldemort. To me, she’s a great example of a strong woman. I’d definitely take her to Starbucks where my son works so that he could meet her.

What are you working on right now? Right now, I’m in the middle of writing a supernatural thriller. It’s a ghost story in which a young man named Ethan is trying to solve (what he thinks is) his best friend’s murder.

Tell us about your last release? Just the Two of Us is a romance with a love triangle. Two sisters, one guy. There’s a fair bit of sibling rivalry between these two, as well as a history of deceit. The older sister, Janice, suffers from a brain injury related to a suicide attempt. She blames her condition on her younger sister, Starla. Starla, on the other hand, feels guilty for what happened to her older sister. Although there’s plenty of drama, there are also many bright spots. For one thing, Nick is both an excellent frisbee player and a good sport. Starla, on the other hand, enjoys making art out of other people’s trash.

Do you have a new release due? No, not yet. I’m hoping, however, to release something in the winter.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day? I like to give myself a day off from writing. I’ll sleep in, enjoy my coffee, and then spend most of the day with a good book.

How can readers keep in touch with you? I’m on Twitter as @mscottwriter and on GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2896599.Michelle_Scott. I have a Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/MichelleScottsFiction/

Is there anything else you would like us to know? I can tie the stem of a cherry in a knot with my tongue. Don’t ask me how I learned that. 😉

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Michelle 🙂

Blurb

Starla wasn’t trying to steal her older sister’s boyfriend. In fact, she was fighting him off when Janice caught the two of them alone in the dark. Unfortunately, love-struck Janice didn’t see it that way and tried to end her life. Although she didn’t succeed, her suicide attempt left her brain damaged, and it became Starla’s responsibility to care for her. Four years later, the sisters’ peaceful lives are interrupted when Nick, a handsome, young attorney, moves in upstairs. Seeing that Janice is attracted to him, Starla keeps herself out of the picture. After all, she hurt her sister before, and she’s not about to do it again. Yet as much as Starla tries to ignore her feelings for Nick, she can’t bury them entirely. Especially not when he seems to be choosing her over her sister.   

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2xpzhVj

Happy reading 🙂

 

 

Happy Publication Day, Jenni Fletcher 🙂

The Warrior’s Bride Prize

Daughter of a slave…wedded to the warrior!

Livia Valeria is furious when she’s ruthlessly gambled away by her intended bridegroom. Luckily, it’s tall, muscled and darkly handsome Roman centurion Marius Varro who wins her as his bride! Livia must hide her Caledonian roots, but when Marius faces a barbarian rebellion at Hadrian’s Wall she must make a choice: her heritage or the husband she’s falling for…

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK https://amzn.to/2NWoZSS

Amazon https://amzn.to/2NWoZSS

iBooks https://apple.co/2udYkZI

WHSmith http://bit.ly/2Nbne3b

B&N http://bit.ly/2ug1pbF

Author Bio –

Jenni Fletcher was born on the north coast of Scotland and now lives in Yorkshire, where she writes Medieval, Roman and Victorian romance novels.

She studied English at Cambridge University before doing an MA on Women and Literature in English and a PhD on Victorian & Edwardian literature at Hull. After realising that she was better at writing than teaching, she worked in a number of administrative jobs whilst trying to finish her first book, which was rejected. Thinking there must have been some mistake, she then wrote another, which was fortunately accepted by Harlequin Mills & Boon.

Her favourite Jane Austen novel is Persuasion and her favourite Brontë is Anne. If she had to choose a romantic hero it would be John Thornton, but maybe that’s just because she’s Northern.

Social Media Links –

FB https://www.facebook.com/JenniFletcherAuthor/

Twitter @JenniAuthor

Giveaway –

Win 1 x Signed US Copy of The Warrior’s Bride Prize (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

 

Hi and welcome to my stop on Jason Minick’s Arcam blog tour 🙂

Many thanks to the author and to Kelly at Love Books Group Tours

Interview with Jason Minick…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I have been a railway signalling engineer for twenty-eight years. I am currently a self-employed consultant in the design discipline. I’m pleased to say that my profession keeps me busy presently; but, as you can probably imagine, this poses a challenge in terms of fulfilling my writing passion.

I am married, with three extraordinary children. The kids are currently aged fourteen, eleven and eight. So, of course, I take my role of husband and father seriously. All this means that I could really do with there being just another couple of hours in a day. Something I know many of you will empathise with.

Nevertheless; I find that if you really want to do something enough, you will find the time. So it is for me with writing.

I am a fan of reading several genres, but I was in no doubt that I would begin my writing journey with a crime-fiction series.

I began writing Arcam, my debut novel, at the very beginning of 2017. The book is a crime/conspiracy thriller, based predominantly in Somerset, England. It is the first book in what I intend to become a series, based around the main protagonist – DCI Jack Robson.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

There is no doubt that the inspiration for the Arcam story came from the location in which it is based.

North Somerset is an area I have become very fond of. In particular, I find the Quantocks and coastal area of St Audries Bay, Watchet and Porlock to be rather enchanting. My first novel was always going to be a crime fiction and it could only have taken place in one area.

I had several ideas in my mind as to what sort of sinister events a novelist could make happen in this area, but I was surprised at how, once I’d started writing, the events almost unfolded by themselves.

I was intrigued by what might happen if one got beneath the surface of such an understated, relaxed haven of tranquillity. In contrast to many thrillers that are based in well-known city locations, I wanted to use this ostensibly sleepy area to bring out the potential for the unexpected.

There are certainly a small number of specific, key locations in the book.

As I soon discovered, one of the key factors in plot development is identifying early on what the perpetrator wants. Without wishing to give too much away in this post, I can absolutely confirm that the locations themselves provided the answer to this challenge.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to spend quite a lot of time in the area, which really was a blessing in terms of location research. In fact, among the many enjoyable elements of writing this book has been the opportunity to try to bring the area to life on the page, as it were.

Having the main character being from a totally different location also provided the opportunity to highlight the contrast.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Not particularly, no.

I suppose DCI Jack Robson was quite easy to ‘build’. He’s not based on anyone specifically but is more an accumulation of various character traits.

First and foremost, I wanted Jack to be a ‘good man’. I wanted him to be strong, maybe even tough; but not in the stereotypical sense perhaps. It seemed important to me to be able to show vulnerability, to make Robson believable.

I don’t know if it’s because I am a father of young children, but it seemed obvious to make Jack a father, to add to his relatability for readers. This eventually evolved into the back story regarding his late wife, Isabelle.

Trying to put myself in his place, that of a single father, was not particularly comfortable. But I think it enabled there to be quite an interesting dimension to his relationship with Emma Wilson.

It seemed a natural development to incorporate some degree of romance in the story, given Jack’s sad past. I also wanted a strong detective partner for him, who also possessed a high level of intelligence and a personality that complimented Jack’s foibles.

Enter the remarkable Inspector Emma Wilson, of Somerset CID.

Emma is an attractive young woman and a fast-tracked high flyer in the force. But she soon proves to Robson that she isn’t one of the ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ new breed of recruits. Wilson has common sense and is street-wise.

These two main characters were really a product of how I wanted the tale to develop. Others, such as Superintendent Thorpe and Sir Geoffrey Charlesworth were also conjured in my mind. Although, when I think of Thorpe, I remember a grumpy, brusque college lecturer I once had. Perhaps I’ve also met someone like Sir Geoffrey before also.

Jonny Searle was based on a man I saw drinking at the Ship Inn at Porlock Weir, while I was still writing the first draft. He looked, to me anyway, like a typical man of the sea. He had an unassuming ruggedness and I couldn’t help noticing his rather large hands. He also seemed quite jolly and appeared as though he enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. (Perhaps the latter characteristic made its way into Jacob Miller).

The core characters were Jack, Emma, Sir Geoffrey and perhaps Thorpe. The other characters were developed around this core group, out of necessity as the story developed. I think I probably found the process of developing characters as equally rewarding as developing the story. After all, what could be more creative than producing new human beings!

I have been delighted by the feedback I’ve received so far, regarding Robson and Wilson in particular. I very much hope that I do these characters justice in book number two!

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Often, I lean back in my chair, close my eyes and imagine the character. But also, to pick some of the surnames that featured in the Arcam story, I did a little research into common Somerset names. Eventually, I found I would come across a name that ‘felt right’.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

Certainly:

Phase 1 – I think about what I want to happen in the book, very much in generic terms. I also consider locations. I spend a few weeks scribbling ideas in my notepad. I also use this initial period to carry out any obviously key research that is necessary; whether it be locations, technology or protocol (police, military, etc).

I also like to visit any pertinent locations in person, to get a feel for the surroundings, including taking in the sights, smells and sounds. Where this is not practical, then it’s a matter of desktop research of course.

Phase 2 – Begin first draft. The best advice I have absorbed is to write, write, write! The first draft is essentially a brain-dump. It’s the most creative period really. I may know what key events I want to happen and I will have a vague idea of the ending; but I don’t know what’s going to happen in between until I write it.

Phase 3 – Start to turn the waffle into a decent piece of writing. For Arcam, I wrote five drafts, before I was happy to submit my manuscript for proof-reading. This re-writing process not only involved trying to make the writing good; the plot was also developed further – some scenes deleted, some added.

Phase 4 – Proofread/editing – I paid a professional to carry out a kind of hybrid ‘proof-edit’. This was money well-spent. No matter how carefully you check your own work, it is never possible to pick up everything. So, an independent, professional review is a must.

Phase 5 – Get a cover design and publish!

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Tricky … I’ll settle on these:

Frederick Forsyth

LJ Ross

Charles Dickens

James Ellroy

CJ Sansom

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I would like to meet H.G. Wells (using his time machine, of course!).

I’d visit him in 1895 and invite him to come and sample 2018 for a short while, so that I could ask him what he thought of society in our time.

I would ask him if civilisation had evolved into all that he had feared, or whether he saw any unexpected positive developments.

I suppose I’d also have to ask him … “Would you have voted for or against ‘Brexit’”!

Were you a big reader as a child?

Honestly … no.

There were certain books that captured my imagination, but I remember being an impatient reader. I’ve always loved the idea of getting lost in books, but my reading didn’t really take off until I was in my early twenties. I do, however, remember wanting to write my own stories from a very young age.

When did you start to write?

Very recently! Many people speak of how they would “love to write a book, but don’t have the time”. That was me, until a couple of year ago, when I decided to finally take some action.

For a while before I finally began work on Arcam, I found myself wanting to write down thoughts and snapshots of storylines that occasionally popped in to my head, when I wasn’t thinking about work, family, or other daily issues that tend to occupy our minds almost constantly!

I was slightly surprised at how cathartic I found the process of writing to be – that of simply putting one’s thoughts and ideas on paper. I believe that’s what drove me on to proceed with my first novel.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

Romeo and Juliet.

It’s a great tale, but the ending is far too harsh! We studied R & J at secondary school and I remember being possibly more invested in the story than any other I had encountered up until that point.

It was such a cunning ploy they came up with to ultimately be with one another; and I found it quote disappointing when it failed so disastrously.

But then again, it wouldn’t have qualified as a ‘tragedy’ otherwise, would it?!

Is there a book you wish you had written?

The Book Thief (By Markus Zusak).

There are some books you read, that you never forget. This is one of them, for me. I think I’m in awe of this work for several reasons.

But, in a nutshell, it’s the way Markus has written about a deeply sad subject and still portrayed human traits that we can relate to, with great clarity. The narrative is just so very clever. I remember being hooked from the first sentence.

A masterclass in writing.

(I haven’t included Markus in my list of favourite authors, because this is the only work I’ve read of his so far).

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

‘Help me, I’m scared!’

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Victor Frankenstein.

We’d visit a convention or exhibition for Artificial Intelligence.

What are you working on right now?

The second book in the DCI Robson ‘series’ – It is a sequel to Arcam.

Tell us about your last release?

Arcam is the first book in my ‘DCI Robson’ crime series. In the first book, the investigation that Robson is appointed to lead turns out to be a little more than your average crime.

I wrote book one in such a way that I hoped it would be a ‘standalone read’, as well as setting the scene for the story to continue further.

I am currently working on the sequel – watch this space!

Do you have a new release due?

Not yet. I’m probably three quarters of the way through my first draft. So, I estimate an Easter 2019 release.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Well, nothing formal took place when I released my debut novel, Arcam. However, we subsequently got together with friends and drank Prosecco to recognise my accomplishment!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

My website is: www.jasonminick.com

I’d also be delighted for people to keep in touch via social media:

https://www.facebook.com/JMinickFictionAuthor

https://twitter.com/JMinick_Author

https://www.instagram.com/jminickauthor/

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Thank you for taking the time to read this interview. I hope you will give Arcam a try and I would be glad to receive your feedback, whatever it may be, good or bad. Happy reading!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Jason 🙂

Blurb

A FAST-PACED CRIME/CONSPIRACY THRILLER THAT IS FULL OF SUSPENSE:

DCI Jack Robson believes he is hunting a kidnapper…

Away from his posting in London, Robson is asked to lead an investigation in the south west of England. But what begins as a baffling local kidnapping mystery, quickly escalates into something far more sinister.

In pursuit of the perpetrators, DCI Robson joins forces with Inspector Emma Wilson and the rest of the regional CID team. Together, they attempt to make sense of the lack of evidence or motive, eventually getting drawn to the tiny island of Steep
Holm, in the Bristol Channel.

As the investigation progresses, Robson, Wilson and their colleagues find themselves facing something far beyond normal detective work. Unthinkable connections lead them to a conspiracy, so great it could change the course of humanity. The question is, can they intervene before it’s too late to prevent the appalling future that potentially lies ahead …

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2R6SX8w

Author bio…..

Jason Minick is an engineer living in the south-west of England. He has a passion for the written word and reading.

Jason is a fan of many genres. His debut novel, Arcam, is a crime/conspiracy thriller set in his favourite part of the UK.

He lives with his wife, Emma, and his three children, Lucy, William and Sophie. The family share their home with two very small dogs, Digby and Tizzie.

The author is currently working on the second book in the DCI Robson series, the sequel to Arcam.

Hi and welcome to my stop on Ronnie Turner’s Lies Between Us blog tour! I am absolutely OVER THE MOON to be a part of this tour. It is going to be epic!! 

Check out how many awesome book bloggers are taking part, throughout October ⇓⇓⇓

My review…..

Lies Between Us is a very cleverly written psychological thriller and one which is likely to stay with me for a long time to come. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel!

I’m going to find it quite hard to review I think as I don’t want to give anything away and I’m pretty sure nothing I say will do this book the justice it deserves, but I hope I can convey how much I have enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone looking for a unique and compelling story in this genre.

The story is told from three perspectives. John is married to Jules and they have a little girl. Their life is a happy one until their daughter goes missing and they struggle to piece the clues together to find her, all the time being tortured with horrifying images sent by the kidnapper to make sure they suffer the worst thing any parent could possibly go through. They quickly realise this must be someone obsessed with John, looking for some kind of revenge, but who and why? He can’t think of anyone from his past who would be capable of such an horrendous act and time is running out.

Maisie is an ICU nurse, taking care of her current patient, Tim, who was attacked and left for dead. She gets caught up in the life of his family and friends, always wondering if there is more to their story than his wife seems willing to let on. Maisie also has her own difficulties and she’s an intriguing character. It was hard to see her significance to the story initially, but I still found myself intrigued by her and this family she is caring for.

Miller is a disturbing character. This is a child with some serious issues and his chapters made for uncomfortable reading, but he is fascinating and I couldn’t help being intrigued by him. The characterisation throughout this story is amazing!

I had SO many questions forming in my mind as I was reading this book as I had no idea where the story was going, although I had a feeling it would be nothing like I was imagining. It was clear the obvious was not going to be the truth, but finding out what on earth was going on and how these people could possibly be connected made for a very tense and exciting read. I’m pretty sure I held my breath towards the end and was absolutely blown away. Jaw dropping would be a bit of an understatement!

Excellent writing! I can’t wait to read whatever Ronnie Turner writes next.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for my ARC. I highly recommend!

Lies Between Us

by

Ronnie Turner

E-Book & Audiobook 1^st October, Paperback 13^th December 2018

Blurb:

Will they ever learn the truth?

Three people, leading very different lives, are about to be brought together – with devastating consequences . . .

John has a perfect life, until the day his daughter goes missing.

Maisie cares for her patients, but hides her own traumatic past.

Miller should be an innocent child, but is obsessed with something he can’t have.

They all have something in common, though none of them know it – and the truth won’t stay hidden for long . . .

A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Clare Mackintosh, Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.

Buy Links:

Kobo:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lies-Between-Us-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B07CWTBL6C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538219110&sr=8-1&keywords=lies+between+us

Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ronnie_Turner_Lies_Between_Us?id=N3BbDwAAQBAJ

Amazon UK:

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/lies-between-us-a-tense-psychological-thriller-with-a-twist-you-won-t-see-coming

Itunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/lies-between-us/id1388910063?mt=11

&

Lies Between Us on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40169201-lies-between-us

Author Bio:

Ronnie Turner grew up in Cornwall, the youngest in a large family. At an early age, she discovered a love of literature and dreamed of being a published author. Ronnie now lives in Dorset with her family and three dogs. In her spare time, she reviews books on her blog and enjoys long walks on the coast. She is currently working on her second novel.

Ronnie’s debut novel, Lies Between Us, will be published by HQ Digital in October 2018.

Twitter:@Ronnie_ _Turner

Facebook: @RonnieTurnerAuthor

Instagram: @ronnieturner8702

Website: www.ronnieturner.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RonnieTurner

#LiesBetweenUs

#WhereIsBonnie?

Hi! Do you live in, or around, Stoke-on-Trent? If yes then why not go along to one (or all) of the following events…..

The Local Poets

Saturday 13 October, 11am-12.30pm

City Central Library, Hanley

Cost: free

Join us for a morning of poetry from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, featuring Stoke-on-Trent Poet Laureate Stephen Seabridge, former Staffordshire Poet Laureate Bert Flitcroft, and local poets G.K.A.Gay and Nick Degg. Each poet has their own distinct style and voice, and all are excellent – so do get in touch if you’d like to come along.

This event is free, but tickets should be booked in advance.

Tel: 01782 238455 Email: central.library@stoke.gov.uk

 

City Voices: Season of Mists

Wednesday 17 October, 6:30-8:30pm (doors open 6.15pm)

City Central Library, Hanley

Cost: free

The event will begin with an introduction to the evening at 6:30pm.  Following which, members of the City Voices Writers Group will share their work until 8pm.  Time permitting, there will then be an opportunity for audience members to share their own work (2-3 minutes per person). Please bring a story or poem with you if you would like to share your own work. Books produced by the group and its writers will be available to buy on the night.

This event is free, but tickets should be booked in advance.

Tel: 01782 238455 Email: central.library@stoke.gov.uk

 

6X6 Reading Café

This is always a lovely evening and is becoming increasingly popular. Hope to see you there!

Tuesday 11 December, 7-8.30pm (doors open 6.30pm)

City Central Library, Hanley

Cost: free

Six writers…six readings…six minutes each. By popular request, this will be a seasonal evening, with readings that echo the time of year – be that Christmas, Yule, New Year or other Winter/December celebrations.

For details of how to submit your work, go to the Writing Guidelines page at https://6x6writingcafe.wordpress.com/  The submissions window opens 1st October and ends 25th November. If you’re not reading your work aloud, you are very welcome to come, listen and give your support.

This event is free, but tickets should be booked in advance.

Tel: 01782 238455 Email: central.library@stoke.gov.uk

 

Guest post…..

CRUSHING (ON) CELEBRITY

Do you have fictional character crushes? Do you finish a book and feel a little bereft, even if it has a happily-ever-after ending? Do you get lost in the male protagonist with his six-foot plus of hot model gorgeousness? His chiselled jawline, strong cleft chin, Cupid’s-bow lips, and brown puppy-dog eyes; his toned and taut buns ’n’ guns, buff pecs and ripped abs?

Then spare a thought for us authors.

You get to move on to the next BILF in another book. But we’re stuck with our creation in what can feel like the worst case of unrequited love. It’s why my books have turned into a series. That above-description—it’s Ralph, my lead male character. And I can’t get him out of my head.

Oh, I have the odd moment, you know, when I look at my husband. And he’ll look at me the same way. But the moment’s gone, just like that—pfft—when he says, ‘Pull my finger.’

You see, this is why I’m hooked on Ralph, why I hanker for him, why I wouldn’t climb over him in bed to get to hubby.

And it’s just one reason why we girls crush on book characters. Or celebrity-worship. There are many others:

1. Fictional leading men don’t belch like a chainsaw

2. They don’t pick out their belly-button lint and drop it in the indoor plants

3. They don’t stand in front of an open fridge calling out, ‘I can’t see the cheese!’ And they don’t cut it

4. They don’t drink orange juice straight out of the container

5. They don’t scratch their nuts

6. They don’t leave the seat up (because they don’t even go to the toilet)

7. They don’t pick their noses or scatter toenail clippings on the carpet

8. They don’t hoik phlegm (loudly)

9. They don’t check their text messages while you’re talking to them

10. They don’t refuse to ask for directions

11. And they don’t yell at the footy ref on TV, ‘Oh what was that?! Make a call, ya fuckwit!’

This inventory of gnarly habits that our non-fictional leading men have, does it sound cliché? Does it look like I googled it? Yes, it does, and no, I didn’t. My research is close to home, so to speak. Thanks heaps, Hubs and Dad.

When I was little, my mother told me my father had been raised by une paire de singes—a pair of monkeys. And where Mills & Boon became her drug of choice, I accepted her explanation for his behaviour. But it stopped making sense after I got married: my husband was raised by a pair of self-respecting humans. So …

It seems men are just hardwired as yobs. And women are hardwired with a certain je ne sais quoi. Finesse, shall we say? We might well have a potty-mouth, but we won’t leave skid marks. (Although, some women’s public lavs can leave one wondering, and hoping it’d been a shit-faced bunch of blokes who’d mistaken it for the men’s room and then let loose in there.)

All things considered, for me it’s a double-edged sword because I admire the real. Writing ‘real’ and with depth is my stock-in-trade. But as a starry-eyed teen, I’d interpreted ‘he’s a real man’ as he’s a guy with ample testosterone—deep voice, decent muscle mass, a nice smattering of body hair (not like a gorilla, though), a good libido. I hadn’t factored the other stuff into what constitutes a real man.

We become more feet-on-the-ground as we get older, but the idea of the dreamy one still hangs about. And even though I think fairy tales are bollocks, when too much reality gets tired, a yearning calls from the depth: Please—please—just give me the goddamn storybook man!

And so, Ralph was conceived. He’s real-ish inasmuch as he has his foibles. I even had him vomiting a couple of times, although that’s where I drew the line. I foisted those rubbish tendencies on my other male characters, but I wanted to humanise Ralph, not make a monkey out of him.

. . . .

My girlfriends and I sometimes compare notes about our real-life men:

‘You’re not gonna believe what mine did! He blah blah blah …’

‘Oh, hon, I can go you one better!’

Sounds like a pissing contest, no? A male preoccupation—not the sort of thing fictional female protagonists do. Well, we’re not fictional. We’re real women. Could it be, then, that we women and our husbands are well-matched? Ugh!

Lol! Brilliant!

Cupid F*cks Up

Ruth Roth is a straight shooter. Pity Cupid’s not.

Smart-mouth Ruth is an inspirational humour columnist for a popular women’s magazine. Recently divorced, she has found the love of her life. Without any help, mind you, from the little fat love god. Ruth has decided she herself is her one and only.

And she’s in a comfy place. Why wouldn’t she be? No need to yell ‘Put the bloody toilet seat down!’ No need to hoover toe-nail clippings off the carpet.

But then a silver-tongued Prince Charming fronts up in his shiny Merc and tickles her discarded, little-girl fantasies. He tells her their love is written in the stars.

It must be a misprint.

A romance with this particular PC is not so PC! Still …

Ruth’s life plays out more like ancient myth than fairytale. And what hot-blooded woman can resist forbidden fruit?

There’s a problem, though. Ruth does not have a hot-blooded mum. Ruth has a pain-in-the-arse mum whose squawking disapproval cranks the taboo up a notch.

All the more reason to take up with the stud! But it means taking on the harpy.

Tensions mount, and even Ruth’s man can’t protect her from the trash-talking voices in her head. It looks like he can’t muzzle his own either. When an earth-shattering revelation causes him to give her grief, it makes her feel like she’s dating her mother.

Taking the kind of advice she doles out to her readers is not so easy, and Ruth wonders if this love can survive. More to the point, is it worth the trouble?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK –

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cupid-cks-Ruth-Roth-Book-ebook/dp/B07FZWR76L/

Amazon US –

https://www.amazon.com/Cupid-cks-Ruth-Roth-Book-ebook/dp/B07FZWR76L/

My T(r)oyboy is a Twat

Love, romance, marriage, and a dark little secret. Shh … Small things let loose can grow out of hand.

Ruth Roth’s new husband can’t keep it in. If only he had all those years ago, things might be different now.

His big mouth sends every family member into hell. Except for Ruth’s late mother. She blows in from there. Seems the woman just won’t die. Or let up. Faaaark!

As if Mama’s earbashing isn’t enough, everyone else needs a scapegoat. Ruth is it. Somehow, this mess is her fault.

With everything falling apart, she feels overwhelmed. Until a hunky celebrity pants man—who clearly wants to get into hers—befriends her and makes her feel all warm and fuzzy. At the same time, an educated silicone seductress has designs on hubby.

Temptation abounds. But it’s overshadowed when a startling discovery throws Ruth and her man into uncharted waters, and life comes crashing down.

Ruth has survived plenty with the help of her friends. And as a writer, her wry wit, dirty muse, and a bent for ancient mythology have sustained her. This, though, might be her undoing.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK –

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FKN8HF6/

Amazon US –

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FKN8HF6/

Author Bio –

Paula Houseman was once a graphic designer. But when the temptation to include ‘the finger’ as part of a logo for a forward-moving women’s company proved too much, she knew it was time to give away design. Instead, she took up writing.

She found she was a natural with the double entendres (God knows she’d been in enough trouble as a child for dirty wordplay).

As a published writer of earthy chick lit and romantic comedy, Paula gets to bend, twist, stretch and juice up universal experiences to shape reality the way she wants it, even if it is only in books. But at the same time, she can make it more real, so that her readers feel part of the sisterhood. Or brotherhood (realness has nothing to do with gender).

Through her books, Paula also wants to help the reader escape into life and love’s comic relief. And who doesn’t need to sometimes?

Her style is a tad Monty Pythonesque because she adores satire. It helps defuse all those gaffes and thoughts that no one is too proud of.

Paula lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband. No other creatures. The kids have flown the nest and the dogs are long gone.

Social Media Links –

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/paulahouseman

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/PaulaHouseman

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PaulaHousemanAuthor

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulahouseman

Check out the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Happy reading 🙂

 

Happy Publication Day, Cynthia Hilston 🙂

A Laughing Matter of Pain

Harry Rechthart always knew how to laugh, but laughter can hide a lot of pain that’s drowned by the bottle and good times. He grew up the joker in the early 1900s in Cleveland, Ohio, but as he enters adulthood, conflict splits him. His once close relationship with his brother, Erik, breaks as they come into their own and Erik goes off to college. No longer under Erik’s shadow, Harry feels he might finally shine and make others see him as someone to be proud of. Harry finds an unlikely comrade who understands how he feels–his younger sister, Hannah. Once free of high school, Harry and Hannah double date sister and brother, Kat and Will Jones, attending wild, extravagant parties during the years of Prohibition. Harry thinks he’s won at life–he’s found love in Kat, in a good time, and in the bottle. But all the light goes out fast when Harry’s alcoholism leads to disastrous consequences for him and Kat.

Harry thinks the joke’s on him now that he’s sunk lower than ever. He’s in jail. He’s pushed away his family. He’s a broken man, but in the darkest depths of a prison cell, there is hope. Can Harry rebuild his life and learn that true laughter comes from knowing true joy, or will he bury himself once and for all in this laughing matter of pain?

Purchase Links:

Amazon US:

https://www.amazon.com/Laughing-Matter-Pain-Cynthia-Hilston-ebook/dp/B07F75Z5YP/

Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laughing-Matter-Pain-Cynthia-Hilston-ebook/dp/B07F75Z5YP/

Author Bio –

Cynthia Hilston is a thirty-something-year-old stay at home mom of three young kids, happily married. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she finally stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction. Hannah’s Rainbow: Every Color Beautiful is her first original novel. She’s currently working on more books. Visit her website for more information.

In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, watches Doctor Who and Game of Thrones, pets her orange kitty, looks at the stars, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.

Social Media Links –

http://www.cynthiahilston.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cynthiahilstonauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/cynthiahilstonauthor

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Hilston/e/B01KSD8RPS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1532102291&sr=1-1

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cynthiahilston

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorcynthiahilston

 

Hi and welcome to my stop on Florence Keeling’s Reflected Destinies blog tour 🙂

Interview with Florence Keeling…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

My name is Florence Keeling, I use this name in honour of my Great Grandmother with whom I share a birthday of April Fool’s Day. I am married with two teenage children and two dogs. I write women’s fiction with a hint of the supernatural and my debut novel, Reflected Destinies has a 1940s twist.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

My ideas can come from anywhere, from a song, something I’ve seen in my day to day life or something that I or someone I know has experienced.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

A lot of my characters are loosely based on people I know or situations that they have been in.

How do you pick your characters names?

Google and baby books are the best for choosing names.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

My writing process consists of me sitting down in front of my laptop and typing. I do very little planning and probably only start thinking of the next chapter as I come to the end of the current one although my brain has often woken me up at 3am to tell me something important which I then have to tap in my phone.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Philippa Gregory, J K Rowling, Catherine Cookson, Jill Murphy and I need to read lots more Terry Pratchett.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I would like to meet Philippa Gregory and ask her how on earth she does all the research for her novels and make the characters so vivid and real.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I devoured books as a teenager. Historical romance was my favourite, but The Worst Witch and Famous Five were my childhood books. And I can always remember my Dad reading me the Topsy and Tim books.

When did you start to write?

I wrote poetry and short stories as a teenager and then a few years ago, once my children were older I started to write more seriously.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

I would re-write the part in the last Harry Potter where Snape dies. He had suffered so much anguish and hurt in his life it would have been nice to see him survive and torment future Hogwarts students.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

No, I am happy writing my own stories.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Dreams do come true.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

I’d love to sit down with The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland and it would have to be in Wonderland of course.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on a children’s series of books about a magic academy and then I will be returning to the 3^rd book in my Josie James urban fantasy series under my children’s author name of Lily Mae Walters.

Do you have a new release due?

My second book under Florence Keeling is called Winters’ Gift and is due out in October.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

I usually spend the day checking social media and Amazon sales and rankings.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I am on Facebook and Twitter under both author names and love it when readers get in touch.

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I would be deeply honoured if you would consider reading a new author or genre that you haven’t read before. It means the absolute world to me when someone enjoys my books.

Reflected Destinies

Laura is happy and content, she has a new boyfriend and loves her job teaching primary school pupils in London.  But when she inherits a rundown house from a stranger on her 30th birthday, memories of her prom night come flooding back, memories of a scary encounter and an antique mirror in the very same house.

Laura visits the house with all its secrets and as she unravels the clues she reveals the biggest secret of all: her own destiny.  But how can you change the future if it’s already written in the past?

Purchase Link –

http://mybook.to/reflecteddestinies

About Florence Keeling

​Florence Keeling adopted for her pen-name her Great Grandmother’s name, chosen because of the shared birthday of April Fool’s Day.  She is married with two teenage children.  Born and raised in Coventry, England she now lives just outside in Nuneaton.  Reflected Destinies is her first novel.

Florence Keeling also writes for children under the name of Lily Mae Walters.

Facebook –

https://www.facebook.com/florence.keeling.7

Twitter –

https://twitter.com/KeelingFlorence

Instagram –

https://www.instagram.com/florence.keeling/

Giveaway…..

Win a Signed copy of Reflected Destinies (UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494137/?

Good Luck!

Check out the rest of the blog tour for reviews, and more, with these awesome book bloggers…..

Happy Reading 🙂