Guest Post at TBM's

Good morning! Hope Monday finds you well. Today, I'm a guest over at TB Markinson's blog where I'm talking about what I like about novellas. Hope you can check it out.

Don't forget, you can still enter TB's giveaway until the end of the month to win five fantastic ebooks including my collection, A Change of Mind and Other Stories.


All of the books are fab and the authors are amazing. Seriously you don't want to miss out. Here's the link to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. And here are the books.











AVALON by VANESSA MORGAN

Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.

From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.

With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon’s demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.

By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.

A CHANGE OF MIND and OTHER STORIES by NICK WILFORD

A Change of Mind and Other Stories consists of a novella, four short stories and one flash fiction piece. This collection puts the extremes of human behaviour under the microscope with the help of lashings of dark humour, and includes four pieces previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine.

In A Change of Mind, Reuben is an office worker so meek and mild he puts up with daily bullying from his boorish male colleagues as if it’s just a normal part of his day. But when a stranger points him in the direction of a surgeon offering a revolutionary new procedure, he can’t pass up the chance to turn his life around.

But this isn’t your average surgeon. For a start, he operates alone in a small room above a mechanic’s. And he promises to alter his patients’ personality so they can be anything they want to be…

In Marissa, a man who is determined to find evidence of his girlfriend’s infidelity ends up wondering if he should have left well alone.

The Dog God finds a chink in the armour of a man with a megalomaniacal desire to take over the world.

In The Insomniac, a man who leads an obsessively regimented lifestyle on one hour’s sleep a night finds a disruption to his routine doesn’t work for him.

Hole In One sees a dedicated golfer achieving a lifelong ambition.

The Loner ends the collection on a note of hope as two family members try to rebuild their lives after they are torn apart by jealousy.

PEOPLE OF FOXWICK and THEIR NEIGHBORS by CHERIE REICH

War threatens Foxwick on all sides.

The dreaded Shadowlands gains more souls. From the shrouded trees in Greymist Forest to the arid Blackden Barrens, monsters roam in search of their next victim. Sirens lure ships beneath Merrilea Sea. In cold and snowy Wintermill, royals plot to claim Foxwick as their own, even if they must use dragons and sorcery. Marriage between Foxwick’s king and Lochhollow’s princess creates a perilous alliance. Although brave Valdale will come to Foxwick’s aid, the cost may be more than a true friend can stomach.

Set over a hundred years, these seventeen fantasy short stories explore the people, creatures, and lands in and around the Kingdom of Foxwick.

DANGLED CARAT by HILARY GROSSMAN

For every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him…..For every girl who listened to her heart instead of her friends advice….

For every girl who l wondered if she was wasting her time dating that guy….

meet Hilary….

She had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship–why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn’t ready–and their friends’ meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year’s Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.

For anyone who has ever dated a commitment-phobe, who has found their patience wearing thin with the one they love, or who has sat around wondering if he is ever going to pop the question while trying to remain the very picture of patience and grace, Hilary’s humorous and honest story will hit home.

CONFESSIONS OF A PARIS PARTY GIRL by VICKI LESAGE

When newly-single party girl Vicki moved to Paris, she was hoping to indulge in wine, stuff her face with croissants, and fall in love. It proved to be much more difficile than she'd imagined. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, this cheeky storyteller recounts the highs and lows of her life in the City of Light. Sassy and shamefully honest, Vicki makes you feel as if you're right there in Paris stumbling along the cobblestones with her.







Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Thanks so much to all the authors for their generosity.

Cover Reveals for Salem's Daughters and Yorien's Hand

Today I bring you not one, but two cover reveals! Feast your eyes on these beauties. First, it's the latest from blogging friend and space enthusiast Stephen Tremp.

Stephen Tremp writes speculative fiction and his fourth novel, Salem’s Daughters, is supernatural thriller. A four hundred year old evil is unleashed when souls of the daughters of those killed during the Salem Witch Trials find a new generation of people to murder at a popular modern-day bed and breakfast.

For a full synopsis and to pre-order a copy of Salem’s Daughters for $2.99 (price goes up to $4.99 soon after release) Click Here.

Stephen Tremp
Author: Breakthrough Series
Website

Next up, a strirring fantasy adventure from Jenelle L. Schmidt.

The years of Oraeyn’s short rule have been peaceful, but now ominous nightmares plague his sleep and cling to him during his waking hours. When two of his most trusted advisors disappear without a trace and not even the power of dragons can locate them, the fell promise of the king’s nightmares becomes reality.

From the furthest reaches of the world, an ancient enemy stirs. Stretching beyond his crumbling prison walls, this foe seeks to bring life to the darkest of shadows. His army marches towards Aom-igh with deadly intent, threatening all Oraeyn holds dear.

Aided by dragons, and with the warrior Brant and Princess Kamarie at his side, Oraeyn must journey into the wilds of a forgotten realm. Trusting in the wisdom and skill of the enigmatic minstrel, Kiernan Kane, the companions race against time in search of Yorien’s Hand, a relic that may hold the power to save them all.

Author Bio

Jenelle Schmidt grew up in the northern-midwest. She now resides with her husband and their three adorable children in North Carolina where the summers are too hot and there is never enough snow. Jenelle fell in love with reading at a young age during family storytimes. To this day she enjoys creating exciting adventure tales filled with poignant themes and compelling characters in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. Find her at her website.

Two Reviews

Happy Friday! Today, I have suggestions for two fantastic reads for your weekend. First up is Blue Karma by J.K. Ullrich, an author who I ran across on Goodreads. I thought her book sounded fascinating, as it dealt with issues I have been interested in from a very young age, thanks to a brother who campaigned for Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

Blurb:

Water. It covers almost three-quarters of the planet, comprises more than half the human body, and has become the most coveted resource on Earth. 

Amaya de los Santos survived the typhoon that left her an orphan. Now she scrapes by as an ice poacher, illegally harvesting fresh water for an always-thirsty market. But when she rescues an injured enemy soldier, she's pulled into a storm of events more dangerous than any iceberg. After years of relying only on herself, she must learn to trust another...or risk losing all that's left of her family. 

Logan Arundson should be dead. After a mysterious attack destroys his military unit, he abandons his Arctic post for his native California, where droughts have made water a religion and a resource worth killing for. But when the water wars follow him home, he must face his frozen demons if he wants to save his town...and the girl he loves. 

Paul Hayes is heir to an empire. But being vice president of a powerful hydrology company isn't all gardens and swimming pools: he deals with ice poachers, water rights, and the crushing expectations of his CEO mother. His investigation into company sabotage and the miraculous appearance of a lake in a small California town lead him to a shocking discovery...and an impossible decision. 

Blue Karma is a story of choices and consequences, humanity and love.

My review:

I was hooked by JK Ullrich's "cli-fi" novel, which takes an all too plausible premise and carves out a gripping story. It's a simple but terrifying concept - water is something we all need (and take for granted), but it is a finite resource. What happens when it starts running out? Actually, we don't all take it for granted as a large proportion of the world don't have access to fresh water, and in Blue Karma this has extended to North America.

What I loved about this book is that while it had a lot of things to think about, it doesn't take a heavy-handed or preachy tone. It's a story, first and foremost, not a treatise. Ullrich gave us a great cast of characters to root for and, in other cases, despise. Logan, in particular, got much more likeable as the book went on - from at first appearing to be nothing more than an irresponsible kid, he grows into someone who is willing to put his life on the line for those he cares about. Paul's trajectory was, in a way, parallel to his, although he starts from an opposite position - the pampered, privileged heir to the most powerful water company in the world, he comes to see what life is like for those who have nothing. Amaya was likeable - a tough and quick-witted girl who is terrified of letting her guard down, but the greatest growth belonged to Sayuri. With a heartbreaking backstory, she seems at times in danger of being completely overwhelmed by events, but comes out the other end.

There were many fascinating ideas in this book, and the role that religion played was particularly intriguing, with idealistic dreamers being pitted against cynical company tycoons. I hope there will be a sequel, but if not, I look forward to other books from Ullrich.

Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Goodreads

Author website

Next, a fantastic and original addition to the YA fantasy genre from two hot new authors to watch.

Blurb:

Two unlikely allies must journey across a kingdom in the hopes of thwarting death itself.

All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.

But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.

Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.

Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.

My review:

Woven is an engaging, fun, and action-packed entry into the YA fantasy genre. Jensen and King have come up with an excellent premise, that we are all "woven" into the great tapestry of life - so what happens when a thread comes loose? Layers of backstory are threaded expertly throughout, and we come to see there is much more to the hero, Nels, than first meets the eye. There's a great dose of humour in this book, too. Nels becomes a ghost after being murdered by the villain of the piece, and the only one who can see him is Princess Tyra, the spoilt, entitled heir to the throne. While she isn't exactly a sympathetic character initially, I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her, as Nels torments her until she listens and agrees to help him get his life back.

What follows is a journey which takes many thrilling turns, as well as being a journey of growth for both characters. Nels finds he can do a lot more as a ghost than what he first thought, and Tyra sees beyond her self-interest to come to a point where she is willing to do what she can to save her unlikely friend, as well as the kingdom. There are larger forces at play than what we first thought, and the villain, Rasmus, is highly entertaining as well as being devious.

As a side note, while I wasn't familiar with either author's style beforehand, it doesn't feel like a co-authored book at all, unlike some others I have read where there was a noticeable jarring of styles. The story-telling was seamless (pardon the pun). I hope we will hear more from this team in the future!

Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Goodreads

David's blog / Michael's Facebook

Do these sound good? What are you reading? Any recommendations to share?

IWSG Anthology Competition and T.B. Markinson's Amazing Giveaway

The start of another week, and I bring you two exciting pieces of news. First up, a very exciting contest to mark the fourth anniversary of the Insecure Writers' Support Group, which has been such a boon to so many of us over the years.

You have until November 1st to craft a 5-6000 word story on the theme of Alternate History/Parallel Universes. The ten best entries will be selected by a panel of judges including top authors, editors and agents to appear in the anthology, and will receive a share of royalties. The top story will also give the anthology its title. Pretty cool, right? I've got my thinking cap on already! Go here for more details.

Also, this month, I'm honoured to be a part of T.B. Markinson's monthly giveaway, with my collection, A Change of Mind and Other Stories. Five great books are up for grabs throughout the month. Here are all the details.

Welcome to the kickoff for September's giveaway. All of the books are fab and the authors are amazing. Seriously you don't want to miss out. Here's the link to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. And here are the books.











AVALON by VANESSA MORGAN

Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.

From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.

With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon’s demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.

By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.

A CHANGE OF MIND and OTHER STORIES by NICK WILFORD

A Change of Mind and Other Stories consists of a novella, four short stories and one flash fiction piece. This collection puts the extremes of human behaviour under the microscope with the help of lashings of dark humour, and includes four pieces previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine.

In A Change of Mind, Reuben is an office worker so meek and mild he puts up with daily bullying from his boorish male colleagues as if it’s just a normal part of his day. But when a stranger points him in the direction of a surgeon offering a revolutionary new procedure, he can’t pass up the chance to turn his life around.

But this isn’t your average surgeon. For a start, he operates alone in a small room above a mechanic’s. And he promises to alter his patients’ personality so they can be anything they want to be…

In Marissa, a man who is determined to find evidence of his girlfriend’s infidelity ends up wondering if he should have left well alone.

The Dog God finds a chink in the armour of a man with a megalomaniacal desire to take over the world.

In The Insomniac, a man who leads an obsessively regimented lifestyle on one hour’s sleep a night finds a disruption to his routine doesn’t work for him.

Hole In One sees a dedicated golfer achieving a lifelong ambition.

The Loner ends the collection on a note of hope as two family members try to rebuild their lives after they are torn apart by jealousy.

PEOPLE OF FOXWICK and THEIR NEIGHBORS by CHERIE REICH

War threatens Foxwick on all sides.

The dreaded Shadowlands gains more souls. From the shrouded trees in Greymist Forest to the arid Blackden Barrens, monsters roam in search of their next victim. Sirens lure ships beneath Merrilea Sea. In cold and snowy Wintermill, royals plot to claim Foxwick as their own, even if they must use dragons and sorcery. Marriage between Foxwick’s king and Lochhollow’s princess creates a perilous alliance. Although brave Valdale will come to Foxwick’s aid, the cost may be more than a true friend can stomach.

Set over a hundred years, these seventeen fantasy short stories explore the people, creatures, and lands in and around the Kingdom of Foxwick.

DANGLED CARAT by HILARY GROSSMAN

For every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him…..For every girl who listened to her heart instead of her friends advice….

For every girl who l wondered if she was wasting her time dating that guy….

meet Hilary….

She had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship–why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn’t ready–and their friends’ meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year’s Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.

For anyone who has ever dated a commitment-phobe, who has found their patience wearing thin with the one they love, or who has sat around wondering if he is ever going to pop the question while trying to remain the very picture of patience and grace, Hilary’s humorous and honest story will hit home.

CONFESSIONS OF A PARIS PARTY GIRL by VICKI LESAGE

When newly-single party girl Vicki moved to Paris, she was hoping to indulge in wine, stuff her face with croissants, and fall in love. It proved to be much more difficile than she'd imagined. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, this cheeky storyteller recounts the highs and lows of her life in the City of Light. Sassy and shamefully honest, Vicki makes you feel as if you're right there in Paris stumbling along the cobblestones with her.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IWSG - Deadlines

It's the first Wednesday of September and time for another installment of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. (He's got an epic announcement today, so be sure to check it out!) The aim of the group is to provide a safe haven where writers can share their doubts and insecurities without fear of appearing foolish or weak, and anyone is welcome to join.

Today my topic is deadlines. In the last week, I have started a new job doing some editing for a company where tight deadlines are the order of the day - even with incentives offered for picking up jobs that are past their deadline. It helps you to manage the flow of work effectively, which I can see the benefit of. As writers, should we be sticking to deadlines as an integral part of our work? Do they help or hinder creativity?

Maybe you have a publishing contract and are on a timescale for completing edits and revisions. These kinds of external deadlines can really help sharpen the mind. Should indie publishers set their own deadlines? I think so. To be successful, we have to think of ourselves as a mini publishing house - some of us even have our own imprints we publish under - and if we want to release work on a regular basis, having a plan in place goes some way towards that. We need to have a cover by this date, and have tour posts prepared by another date. We'll feel like we're getting things done.

The flipside of the coin is when deadlines make us panic, especially when they're looming large. Some people really thrive under this pressure, but others will crumble. After all, it's hard to put a time limit on creativity. The book will take as long as it takes, and that will be different for every project. But at some point, you have to say enough is enough. A deadline can act as a sort of mental marker - after you hit it, you really should be onto something else. But the best part of a self-imposed deadline is that it's moveable. You can extend it if you really feel like something needs more time than you thought. Even though deadlines are a good thing, no one wants to put out work which is rushed and unfinished.

My biggest goal this year was to write Part 3 of my trilogy. Even though I've had other achievements which I'm proud of, I haven't quite got round to this one yet, and now it's September with a deadline of the end of the year. I'll aim for it, but I'll try not to beat myself up if I don't hit it. Producing your best work has to come first.

Are you a fan of deadlines? Hate them? How do they work for you?

Don't forget to check out the other IWSG participants here.