Friday 8 March 2013

Moustaches for Maddie and a bit of news

Happy Friday! I just thought I would bring to your attention some things you should be aware of, if you're not already.

First up, a very fun blogfest for an excellent cause. Many of you will know Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. They have something to celebrate because Chad's first book, The Inventor's Secret, has just been released. But right now all their focus is on their daughter Maddie, who last week was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The good news is that she is doing well, recovering from successful surgery, and we can all do our bit to help make her smile! Maddie loves moustaches. Any moustaches. So fellow blogger Shallee McArthur has organised an awesome giveaway whereby we must blog, tweet and Facebook our moustachioed faces to lift Maddie's spirits. Shallee has prizes up for grabs, including Chad's book, but I've already downloaded my copy to help out. It's been tearing up the charts on Amazon!

So, here I am doing my best Mario impression:


It may interest you to learn that this picture was taken, and tache added, by my daughter Eve, using the handy BoothStache app on my stepson's iPad. Why is a four-year-old more tech savvy than I am?! She even did a self-portrait...


And for good measure, here's her big sister Emma (those of you who've bought my anthology, did you catch her story? What did you think?)


I really hope these pictures make Maddie smile! You can view more details and enter the giveaway over at Shallee's blog.

Next, the awesome M. Pax released the third installment of her Backworlds series, Boomtown Craze, on Monday.



In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendents to survive in a harsh universe.

To secure his future, Craze must propel his world into a more prosperous era. Only days away from the grand opening of his new and improved tavern, he is confronted by a loony Backworlder intent on mucking up his plans. Gaunt and trembling, she claims her spaceship is possessed. She also has a connection to the underworld that shakes loose the dark past of one of Craze’s closest friends. It all threatens to end Craze’s prosperity before it begins.

Meanwhile off world, Captain Talos works desperately to outwit the mercenary Jixes and lure them away from his and Craze’s budding prospects. The mind-control weapon Talos uses against them is wearing thin, and his next move may be his last.

Will Craze and Talos’s efforts bring about a grand new age of boom or damn them to forever struggle in the dust?

Paperback Available from:

Ebook Available from:

Amazon / AmazonUK / KOBO / BN / Smashwords /OtherOutlets

 iTunes, Sony, and other links coming soon

You can find details of exciting giveaways surrounding the launch at Mary's post here.

Jessica McKendry is also celebrating, with the release of her debut novel, From the Ashes.

Jaina Indera has been preparing her entire life for the chance to prove herself a superior and loyal citizen of the Imperial Alliance. In order to do so, she believes she must win the galaxy-wide competition known as the Trials. With training at her Gifted School progressing swiftly, everything looks like it is on pace for her to achieve her dream…until a boy named Dragon enrolls in her class.
Available from Amazon
Find out more at www.jessicamckendry.com


C.M. Brown is offering the first two books in her Protector series FREE until tomorrow as part of Read an Ebook Week at Smashwords. See here for details.
AND, my fundraising collection Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew is now available in paperback! For all those who have asked, you can buy it from Amazon US or Amazon UK. To say I appreciate everyone's efforts in spreading the word would be an understatement!
On that note, I'll leave you with something that put a huge smile on all our faces. Elise Fallson, one of the excellent contributors and a great friend of mine, came up with an excellent idea to help spread the word. On Sunday, she did a 10k run near her home in France wearing one of Andrew's campaign t-shirts, and her friends had the ant mascot pinned to them as they ran. You can find more info and pics here. Elise, you went above and beyond the call of duty!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

35 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You need to get up to speed with that iPad!
Congratulations to Mary and Jess!
And that was really cool Elise did that run.

Suze said...

Looove the 'staches.

Kyra Lennon said...

Suits you, sir! ;) I was wondering about how to add a moustache to myself - thanks for letting me know about that app!

I'm off to order my paperback copy of the anthology!

Deniz Bevan said...

What an awesome idea! Love the happy photos :-)
And congratulations to Chad!
Happy to hear that Maddie is recovering well.

Unknown said...

Been following Maddie's journey--what an awesome idea for support.

You DO look very Mario-esque. :) And your family is adorable, Nick!

Suzanne Furness said...

Looking pretty good there, Nick! Posted a pic a couple of days ago strangely I didn't have to use an app to add the mustache just happened to have a photo of me and daughter wearing one! Not sure what that says about me and my family but if it makes a little girl smile I'm happy to share.. Lots of love to Maddie and her family

Congrats to M. Pax and Jessica on their books.

S.P. Bowers said...

Love the staches! I couldn't do that on a computer either.

Unknown said...

Looking good! Glad to hear she's doing better.

Mark Means said...

Nick, strangely enough, you look -a lot- like Mario! :)

Samantha May said...

I still don't really know how iPads work, but my nieces and nephews do. It must be a kid thing :D

The mustaches are awesome!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nick .. I think I need to come to Scotland for some techie lessons! Great photos - bet they cheered Maddie up ...

I bought some of your anthologies and I'll check out Emma's story when they arrive ..

I'll download The Inventor's Secret .. shortly - this weekend ..

Cheers to you all ... love the photos!! Hilary

Nick Wilford said...

Alex - I know! I'm behind the times.

Suze - Thanks. I think we look spiffing!

Kyra - Thanks! Hope you have time to enter a pic. Enjoy the book. :)

Deniz - It's a very fun idea. Can't imagine what they've been going through but it's great there's so much support.

E.J. - Thanks! It is quite a bushy one.

Suzanne - Lol, I'll have to check out your pic - you don't mean the two of you were sharing one tache, do you? :)

Sara - Kids seem to pick this stuff up so naturally! They are the e-generation.

Lara - Thanks! Me too.

Mark - Thanks! I have had a real goatee including tache, but it didn't look as good as this pic.

Samantha - I'm trying to learn the iPad! Andrew's sisters help him with his.

Hilary - I hope they cheered Maddie up. Thanks for ordering a few copies!

Gwen Gardner said...

I've been praying for Maddie. Glad she's doing well!

Hope your anthology is doing well, too. I have my copy:0)

Luanne G. Smith said...

The girls are adorable! And I kind of think that one of you should be your new profile pic. You are rockin' the stache, sir. :D

This post should definitely cheer Maddie up.

Anonymous said...

My kids have been having funwith stanchest lately. Good luck to Mary and her latest and greatest!

Angela Brown said...

Oh you look Mario-divine with that 'stache Sir Nick :-)

Glad Maddie is doing well and hoping things are going well with the anthology :-)

Golden Eagle said...

Those are some awesome pictures. :)

Ella said...

YOU really look like Mario ;D

Yes, what a great idea to send positive thoughts to Maddie~ I'm sending prayers, as well~ I might try to get that app tomorrow!

Great pics and I will be reading Emma's story tonight!

Everyone looks great :D

Rachna Chhabria said...

You sure got my attention Nick :)

Prefer you without the moustache.

Melissa said...

I bought a copy of The Inventor's Secret, too. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Maddie. :)

Congrats to M. Pax and Jessica!

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

Love the mustaches! I wish I had a mario mustache like yours! Maddie loved them. She thought your girls looked good in mustaches and she wants a Hello Kitty blanket like your oldest girl :) Thanks guys!

And I love Mary Pax. I'm so glad to see her book getting some love.

Elise Fallson said...

Great moustache pictures of you guys! I've been out of the loop about little Maddie, glad her surgery went well though and I wish her a heartfelt and speedy recovery! Congratulations to Jessica and Mary and so glad to hear your book is out in paperback, off the get a copy right now! =====> (:

Annalisa Crawford said...

I love that your daughter can do that! I bought a new phone today and suddenly feel like I belong firmly in the last century :-(

Michelle Wallace said...

That's great tech work on those pics! It's amazing how the little ones are so techno-savvy...
I'm so glad to hear that Maddie's surgery went well!
Congrats to Mary and Jess! Those books look great!
I need to get my hands on a paperback copy of Andrew's anthology!

Unknown said...

A four year old can handle that stuff? Makes me feel ashamed of the shakes I get when I want to try out something new on the computer. Congrats to Jessica on her release.

Empty Nest Insider said...

Your girls are adorable even with mustaches! I have to look for Emma's story in the paperback edition! I can't believe how quickly you put it together Nick! Congrats to Mary, Jessica, Chad and Shelly! Glad that Maddie is doing well!

Julie

Anonymous said...

Fantastic book news and I love the mustache pictures.

Heather R. Holden said...

LOL, too fun! I can't imagine this not making anyone smile! :)

Carol Kilgore said...

'staches rock! Your daughter is amazing :)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Wow, lots of info packed into this post! Thank you so much.

OY! Mary Pax is writing faster than I'm reading. Haven't even gotten to her second installment yet... (So many books, so little time...)

I love that you and your girls are sporting those mustaches just to make a sweet little girl smile.

Nicki Elson said...

Oh my - you do an excellent Mario. And your girls are still gorgeous even with mustachios. Here's hoping Maddie has many, many, many more smiles.

I have your book & will look for Emma's story. Congrats to Mary, Jessica & Chad on their new books!

Nicole said...

Haha - you guys are rockin' the staches. :)

Christine Rains said...

That's a really great Mario impression! Great pics of the girls too. Congrats to Mary, Chad, and Jessica!

Meradeth Houston said...

lol, those stashes are hilarious! I think I need to find that app. Sending all kinds of good luck with the anthology!!

Unknown said...

Wow! Moustaches for Maddie made it half-way across the world. Amazing! She was well supported through the surgery. I met Chad and Shelly back in November at a writer's dinner thing. They are amazing. Good people for sure. Thanks for sharing the pics!