I've bitten the bullet and printed off my short story, ready to send off to Woman's Weekly magazine in the hope that they like it and want to publish it (and pay me!).
Where love is an adventure...
Friday, 27 January 2012
Faint Heart Never Won... (updated)
... her story in a magazine.
I've bitten the bullet and printed off my short story, ready to send off to Woman's Weekly magazine in the hope that they like it and want to publish it (and pay me!).
I've bitten the bullet and printed off my short story, ready to send off to Woman's Weekly magazine in the hope that they like it and want to publish it (and pay me!).
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Cover art... been tinkering!
Having decided to try and get my first manuscript ready to self-publish in the next 6-8 weeks, I've spent the past few days learning how to do it - how to format, what the essentials are (e.g. title page, license, disclaimer etc) and it also raised the question of a book cover.
I know that the book cover is really important but I'm not in a position to pay for someone to take it off my hands. So, I've downloaded the necessary software program to do-it-myself (GIMP and it's free!) and then scoured the internet for potential covers and within 24 hours(ish), I've come up with a first draft that I'm really rather proud of.
What do you think?
I know that the book cover is really important but I'm not in a position to pay for someone to take it off my hands. So, I've downloaded the necessary software program to do-it-myself (GIMP and it's free!) and then scoured the internet for potential covers and within 24 hours(ish), I've come up with a first draft that I'm really rather proud of.
What do you think?
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Off topic: Race for Life 2012 - for Nan...
I still can't believe I have done this - it seemed like such a good idea at the time!
On Saturday 23rd June 2012, I will be hauling myself to Tatton Park in Cheshire to take part in Race for Life 2012 in aid of Cancer Research UK.
I would be hugely grateful if you would consider sponsoring me - even £1 would be great - and I have hopefully made it as easy as possible by offering many different methods of donating so you can scan, click or text it through!
On Saturday 23rd June 2012, I will be hauling myself to Tatton Park in Cheshire to take part in Race for Life 2012 in aid of Cancer Research UK.
I would be hugely grateful if you would consider sponsoring me - even £1 would be great - and I have hopefully made it as easy as possible by offering many different methods of donating so you can scan, click or text it through!
 |
| Scan to donate |
Text LAUZ75 £1 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £2 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £3 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £4 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £5 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £10 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £2 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £3 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £4 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £5 to 70070
Text LAUZ75 £10 to 70070
Friday, 13 January 2012
I'm a winner again... Karina Buchanan: Winner!
Click on link below to read full blog entry...
Karina Buchanan: Winner!: And the winner of Daring to Love and my little Irish gift is...drumroll please...Aurelia B. Rowl! Congratulations! If you send me your detai...
Friday the 13th!
And a huge happy 5th birthday to my son - and a little shout out for my daughter too who turned 3 on Sunday - their joint party is tomorrow but we're cheating this year and having it at Wacky Warehouse :o)
Funnily enough, Friday the 13th is usually a good day for me; it's generally Thursday the 12th that gets me but so far this year, every day has felt like your typical Friday 13th. From fallen trees in the garden to broken heating, cancelled birthday orders to not been able to place an order and then the delivery coming on different days. Then my purse got stolen from my friend's house and the following day my daughter's birthday trip to the zoo didn't go to plan. I could actually keep going as it's been that kind of year, it really has, but I won't bore you. I'm hoping that this is just some kind of karma balancing exercise and that something REALLY good is going to happen this year to make up for the rocky start.
On the upside, my family are well and happy; my creativity is still flowing so my WIPs are coming along; I am on a role with winning books to read and I have my fab new laptop that is small enough to slip in my handbag and take out with me.
Onwards and upwards... now then, who's for birthday cake? (made by my very talented friend)
Funnily enough, Friday the 13th is usually a good day for me; it's generally Thursday the 12th that gets me but so far this year, every day has felt like your typical Friday 13th. From fallen trees in the garden to broken heating, cancelled birthday orders to not been able to place an order and then the delivery coming on different days. Then my purse got stolen from my friend's house and the following day my daughter's birthday trip to the zoo didn't go to plan. I could actually keep going as it's been that kind of year, it really has, but I won't bore you. I'm hoping that this is just some kind of karma balancing exercise and that something REALLY good is going to happen this year to make up for the rocky start.
On the upside, my family are well and happy; my creativity is still flowing so my WIPs are coming along; I am on a role with winning books to read and I have my fab new laptop that is small enough to slip in my handbag and take out with me.
Onwards and upwards... now then, who's for birthday cake? (made by my very talented friend)
Thursday, 12 January 2012
My favourite reads from 2011
"So what was your favourite book/series of 2011? Make it your top 5 if that helps :o)"
I tweeted that very question this afternoon and it got me thinking about my own favourites from 2011. Having read over 200 books last year though, that is no easy task, I can tell you!
2011 was the year I rediscovered the library, made several trips to discounted book stores and started using the Kindle app on my phone before going the whole hog and getting a Kindle. As a result, I discovered - and absolutely loved - several paranormal series last year, some mainstream and some indie, and I also got into Mills & Boon - so much so that my current focus is on writing romance instead of my original YA trilogy work in progress. Of course, what all that waffle really means is that I'm going to cop out. Don't shoot me! Instead of naming my top 5 books for 2011, I'm going to do my top 20 as well as refer to entire series instead of individual books in my rankings. So, here goes...
Monday, 9 January 2012
Congratulations to Emma Mills on Witchblood
My good friend Emma Mills has self-published her first novel today and I am so unbelievably chuffed and excited for her. Please join me in showing your support by shelling out a measly 77p and buying a copy of her paranormal young adult story based in the North West (UK).
I have bought my copy and will be reading shortly - it's so refreshing to have a vampire story based here in the UK and I cannot wait to get stuck in.
You can also follow Emma's blog at www.witchbloodthenovel.com so why not pop by and say hi?
Thanks guys and gals!
ETA: Now available in other ebook formats from Smashwords.
I have bought my copy and will be reading shortly - it's so refreshing to have a vampire story based here in the UK and I cannot wait to get stuck in.
You can also follow Emma's blog at www.witchbloodthenovel.com so why not pop by and say hi?
Thanks guys and gals!
ETA: Now available in other ebook formats from Smashwords.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Feeling even luckier!! Can you believe it?
Yes folks, I've done it again!
With huge thanks to Camilla Chafer, author of the fantastic Stella Mayweather series (that I can highly recommend if you like YA paranormal), I am now the proud owner of this new book by Dale Mayer. Woo hoo!!
You can read more about 'Tuesday's Child (Book 1 of Psychic Visions)' or pick up your own copy right here.
January is definitely shaping up to be a YA paranormal feast!
ETA: I misread my FB messages and discovered even better news in my inbox from Camilla Chafer!!!
I have also won a copy of No Rest For The Wicca by Toni LoTempio, also available on Smashwords right here
With huge thanks to Camilla Chafer, author of the fantastic Stella Mayweather series (that I can highly recommend if you like YA paranormal), I am now the proud owner of this new book by Dale Mayer. Woo hoo!!
You can read more about 'Tuesday's Child (Book 1 of Psychic Visions)' or pick up your own copy right here.
January is definitely shaping up to be a YA paranormal feast!
ETA: I misread my FB messages and discovered even better news in my inbox from Camilla Chafer!!!
I have also won a copy of No Rest For The Wicca by Toni LoTempio, also available on Smashwords right here
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Kicking off the New Year with a... short story
But first, I must wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
I enjoyed a lovely couple of days over Christmas itself at my in-laws and then took off to North Wales for a week with my fabulous little family. The lack of computer and WiFi got to me in the end but it did enable me to start the following short story; the first few hundred words written long-hand in my trusty notepad.
Please let me know what you think! (and if you spot any clangers, let me know about that too)
If it's any good, I'd like to submit it to one of the magazines that accepts this sort of story - hence it being exactly 2000 words as per guidelines - to see if its worthy of publishing. I'll only do that though if I get enough positive feedback. So here goes...
ETA: Now removed prior to submitting to magazines for potential publishing.
I enjoyed a lovely couple of days over Christmas itself at my in-laws and then took off to North Wales for a week with my fabulous little family. The lack of computer and WiFi got to me in the end but it did enable me to start the following short story; the first few hundred words written long-hand in my trusty notepad.
Please let me know what you think! (and if you spot any clangers, let me know about that too)
If it's any good, I'd like to submit it to one of the magazines that accepts this sort of story - hence it being exactly 2000 words as per guidelines - to see if its worthy of publishing. I'll only do that though if I get enough positive feedback. So here goes...
ETA: Now removed prior to submitting to magazines for potential publishing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
