Well, Hello 2015!

...and a Happy New Year to you all!!!

Wow!

Another year has flown by in the blink of an eye but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with those near and dear to you.

After two months of having either my husband at home or my children off school with illness, today is the first day that I have been home alone and able to get down to some work. So, to kick off my blog for 2015, it's time to look back over the past twelve months and come up with some goals for the next twelve months.

The Year in Review...

2014 was, to put it bluntly, a bit of a nightmare and I am very glad that it's over.

My husband was made redundant at the beginning of the year and then found himself starting yet another new job at the end of the year, which we hadn't planned on, so there was a lot of stress and upheaval in the Rowl household as I'm sure you can imagine. Thankfully everything seems to have worked out for the best but I hope he gets to finish this year with the same employer. My birthday was also a bit of a strange one and we have been plagued by various viruses over November and December, but - touch wood - we are all better now.

Writing proved a massive struggle last year, with my mind elsewhere rendering me unable to focus on projects as well as I would have liked. Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty of those early months, I had to force myself to sit down and write A Girl Called Malice and it took absolutely everything out of me, both mentally and physically as I fought to get Alice's story down on paper. I succeeded in getting Alice's story out within a year of Popping the Cherry, which was my biggest target, alas what turned out to be my biggest triumph of 2014 (and my writing career to date) also turned out to be the most disheartening experience.

For whatever reason, readers aren't picking up my pride and joy. Despite the amazing reviews when readers do give Alice a chance, sales are still in the lower end of double figures (as far as I can tell). I would be lying if I stated that it didn't bother me. My already shaken confidence and wavering self-esteem took a beating which, combined with everything else going on around me, took its toll and I guess I hit burnout or something like that. Needing time to regroup, I abandoned my NaNoWriMo project and decided on a complete break once the revisions for the re-released Christmas is Cancelled had been completed.

I spent the last two months of 2014 doing the bare minimum, instead enjoying time with my husband and children and relaxing (read: recovering from yet another lurgy the kids brought home from school) over Christmas and New Year. I'm pleased to say that the break has done me the world of good and I am finally getting ideas once more, where prior to the break I had nothing. My self-imposed break also gave me plenty of time to reflect on just how much I have achieved in a relatively short space of time so I ended the year on a positive note.

Now with all of that out in the open, it's time for me to continue my annual tradition of setting new year's resolutions for the year ahead but first, let's check back to see what my resolutions for 2014 were and see how I did...

1) Read 26 books

Despite my fears that I wouldn't be able to get much reading done, I am delighted to say that I smashed my small target of a book a fortnight and ended the year having read 60 books. Woohoo!!

2) Get another 'Allie' book published

I managed to achieve this by default with the publication of my short story, For One Night Only, being released as a standalone 'Flirt' in addition to the anthology that was released in 2013. Considering the year I had, I am still chalking this one up as a win even though it wasn't new material.

3) Volunteer at a charity event

2014 saw me hang up my fundraising boots in favour of volunteering yet I successfully completed both in the end. First off, I took part in a 'bag packing' event at a local supermarket in aid of Mummy's Star, which will continue to be my chosen charity for 2015. Secondly, my husband and I accompanied our children as they walked 10K around Tatton Park to raise funds for Marie Curie, smashing their fundraising target so I am very proud of them indeed!

The Year Ahead...

The good news is that I enter 2015 in a much better state of mind than 2014 ended and I am raring to go.

My childrens' birthdays both fall within the next seven days, with my daughter turning 6 and my son turning 8, so my big push to get the new writing year started will have to wait until next week - as ever - but I shall be getting on with research and planning in the meantime. Speaking of birthdays, this year is a biggie for me...yup, this is the year that I turn 40 and I am determined to celebrate it somehow!!!

Anyway, enough waffling, it's time to come up with my resolutions for 2015...

1) Read 50 books

Buoyed by the success of last year, I've raised my game for 2015 and pledged to read 50 books which you can keep up with here:

2015 Reading Challenge

Aurelia has
read 2 books toward her goal of 50 books.

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2 of 50 (4%)

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2) Get at least two books written and released

With two books still under contract for Facing the Music #3 and #4, I am not short of work to be getting on with, especially since the deadlines for both have already passed. [Oops] They are both full-length novels though, so I doubt I will get both of them released this year but they surely can't be as difficult to write as A Girl Called Malice (she says!). 

Now I know that I should make both Facing the Music stories a priority since they are already contracted, however I really don't want to make my readers wait any longer than they have to for the sequel to Christmas is Cancelled, Phil's story, so that is my other main target for 2015 in addition to Facing the Music #3.

Ideally, I'll get a new 'Allie' book finished too, but one thing I've learned from the past 12 months is that sometimes things happen beyond my control and not to beat myself up.

3) Get disciplined

I know that I usually have a charity/community theme for my third resolution and I will continue to volunteer for charity events that come up but I feel this resolution needs to take precedence. It is no secret that I am an internet junkie and I will often lose entire mornings or afternoons on social media with nothing to show for it. This year, I need to get tough and be more disciplined. While the kids are at school, I need to limit my 'social' time to short coffee breaks and lunchtime, then use the rest of my alone time to write or research so don't be alarmed if you see a lot less of me between the hours of 9am to 3pm, from Monday to Friday.

Can I just add that this is the quite possibly the most challenging resolution that I have ever set for myself? EEK!!

And if that lot isn't enough...

Way back in September 2012, I set myself a goal of having 'x' amount of books published by the time I turn 40. The 'x' ranged from five to ten so eventually plumped for the middle ground of seven. The good news is that *technically* I have already had six books published, however that includes a re-release so should perhaps only be considered as five which leaves me with just nine months to get two books released.

No pressure then, eh? Ha!!

Over to you, have you set any goals for 2015?

How did your 2014 go?

Related Posts

> Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014
> Summer is over so it's back to work...
> Happy New Year for 2013
> Are You A Goal Setter Too?
> New Year's Resolutions for 2012

NEW RELEASE... Christmas Is Cancelled

Almost two years since my debut book took its first steps into the big wide, world and launched my publishing career, Christmas Is Cancelled has been back on the editing table and is now back on sale, better than ever.

It’s impossible to forget…

Matilda ‘Tilly’ Carter has had the week from hell – and now, with all trains cancelled, it looks like Christmas will be too! With a mascara-streaked face, a broken heel and nowhere to go, there’s never been a worse time to run into the man who once broke her heart. Especially when he looks better than ever. 

The one that got away…

For Dean, Christmas has always been hard. The Tilly standing before him is no longer the firecracker of his memories—even if the way she makes his heart race hasn’t changed at all. He is determined to uphold the promise that kept them apart nine years ago. But spending a cosy Christmas with Tilly would break a better man and each accidental touch, heated look and stolen kiss is taking its toll on Dean.

After all this time, can the magic of Christmas bring Tilly and Dean together at last? 

Buy It Now...

Add to Goodreads

Released: 1st December 2014
ISBN: 978-1-474-00844-0

Amazon UK ¦ US ¦ AUS
iBooks
Nook UK ¦ Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Google Play

For more purchase options, please go to my website.

I hope you love the new and improved Christmas Is Cancelled and hope that it helps get you in the mood for Christmas.

Happy reading!

COVER REVEAL... Christmas Is Cancelled

I didn't think I could love the new cover for Christmas is Cancelled more than the original one but I am delighted to have been proved wrong...I mean, look... it's SPARKLY!!

Add to Goodreads

This new and improved Christmas is Cancelled will be released on December 1st and should be up for pre-order soon.

The web page for Christmas is Cancelled is currently caught in the awkward limbo between old version and new, but I will be updating the page as soon as the new details and links become available so keep your eyes peeled.

As the first story I ever wrote, this one will always have a special place in my heart so I am thrilled that I got the chance to update it, making the story even stronger, and I hope you love it too.

Summer is over so it's back to work...

(c) Image credit

Hey everyone!

The school holidays are over and the kids are back at school so I figured an update was long overdue, especially with lots of exciting stuff still to come this year.

WalkTen (c) ABR

Our summer started with the kids' sponsored 10K walk at Tatton Park to raise funds for Marie Curie, which The Hub and I therefore did too, but it was a lovely evening rounded off beautifully with fireworks.

We then took ourselves off to North Wales for a couple of weeks over the holidays. The weather wasn't great but we still managed to get around several castles, a spooky house in Conway, the Welsh Mountain Zoo, and various jaunts to the beach.

Puffin Island (N. Wales) (c) ABR

The good and bad thing about where we stay is the lack of phone signal, let alone no WiFi, so I always find it hard when I'm such an internet junkie. On the upside, I got a lot of reading done once the kids were in bed for the night which you can see on my 'Just Finished' shelf on Goodreads if you're interested.

Aurelia's just-finished book montage

Aurelia B. Rowl's Just Finished books »

On the writing front, the year so far has been all about Malice, the mean girl from Popping the Cherry, and getting her story down on paper. All being well, A Girl Called Malice will be hitting the virtual shelves on October 3rd and I cannot wait for you to read her story. In associated news, Popping the Cherry is being repackaged with a new cover to tie in with A Girl Called Malice so I hope to have those to share with you soon. All very exciting!

Also coming soon is the re-release of Christmas is Cancelled on December 1st and I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I am for my debut story to be taken under the Harlequin wing. Sadly it will mean a new cover, even though I adore the original one, but I have high hopes for what the Carina UK team will come up with.

Next up is an 'Allie' project but after that, it's back into the world of Popping the Cherry to get stuck into books 3 and 4. I've already been given the nod by my editor so book 3 is going to be Nathan's story and book 4 will be Flick's story assuming everything goes to plan. Even though the books are all interlinked, with the storyline and timelines overlapping, you can read them as standalone stories and out of order if you don't mind the spoilers in the subsequent books.

If anybody is interested in joining my team, Aurelia's Antics, on Facebook and/or Goodreads to get sneak previews and hidden insights along with access to advance review copies, just send a request to join or get in touch.

Anyway, even waffling, I have a book trailer to make and much to do (including a new release as Allie this month) so I'd better crack on with it. Next time I post, it will hopefully be with gorgeous new covers so make sure you're following me.

Bye for now,
Aurelia x

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014...

Impossible!

How can 2013 be over already?! o_O

I hope you have all enjoyed a very happy Christmas and wish you peace and happiness for the coming year.

Thank you all so much for taking to time to read my blog and following my journey. I feel like I have come a long way in the two and a bit years I've been writing and cannot believe I have already celebrated my first anniversary of becoming a published author.

Time really is flying by though and I intend to embrace it, saving my weekends and school holidays for family time, then knuckling down during school hours to get my work done rather than fritter it away online.

The Year in Review...

2013 saw the launch of Allie A. Burrow and the publication of my Young Adult/New Adult series but it has been a steep learning curve as I had to battle with writing to demand, rather than writing the story that is shouting the loudest. I really need to get disciplined and not be so distracted by the internet though; social networking and promotion is a major timesuck and before I know it, a whole morning has passed. Oops.

Way back at the start of the year, I set my usual challenge so what were my resolutions for 2013 and how did I do?

1) Read 50 books

I am absolutely thrilled to have achieved this and actually had a month or so to spare. Writing commitments meant I had to squeeze in reading time in clusters, going long spells without picking up a book and then having a major binge, but hey, I did it. I reached my goal without having to count 2-in-1's and 3-in-1's as separate books ;-)

2) Self-publish my first novel

Alas, I didn't achieve my goal of self-publishing but only because I landed a book deal with a major publisher so I'm not in the slightest bit disappointed. I'm still waiting on some legislation to go through Parliament that directly affects the Peer Pressure series I am writing anyway. I had also hoped to finish Their Last Goodbye but this is still stuck in the pending pile due to getting on with my Popping the Cherry series.

3) Take part in another sponsored event

I smashed this one by taking part in not one, but two sponsored events. First was my inclusion in the On Yer Bike event for Brain Tumour Research and then came the biggie with my skydive to raise funds for Rainbow Trust. I was also a volunteer for one of the Race 4 Life events, rather than a participant, which was incredibly rewarding.

The Year Ahead...

I am coming into 2014 with another book deal under my belt and a lot of plans. Not only am I contracted for Popping the Cherry books two, three, and four, 2014 also sees Christmas is Cancelled switching publishers and being relaunched in time for Christmas. I'd also really like to get the sequel written rather than making readers wait until 2015!

With all of this in mind, it is time to come up with my resolutions for the year ahead, sticking with my usual personal, professional and community themes, so here goes...

1) Read 26 books

I've had to really cut back on my reading challenge for 2014 as there is just too much writing to do and deadlines to be met. If I can average a book a fortnight though, I will end the year happy.

2) Get another 'Allie' book published

Although Allie isn't my main writing persona, I would like to at least keep it ticking over by releasing a minimum of one book a year. Looking ahead at my writing schedule, I'm not sure where I will fit it in but I will give it a darned good go.

3) Volunteer at a charity event

You'll be relieved to know I am hanging up my fundraising boots for a year to give everyone a break from my 'please sponsor me' posts. I have already chosen my charity for 2014 though, Mummy's Star, will assist them in any way that I am able. I would like to volunteer at another charity event during 2014 and if that is on behalf of Mummy's Star then all the better.

So there we have it!

Over to you, have you set any goals for 2014?

How did your 2013 go?

Related Posts

> Happy New Year for 2013
> I'm Throwing Myself Out of a Plane
> On Yer Bike, Aurelia
> New Contract Signed!
> Signed, sealed, but not quite delivered
> What is 'The Call'?
> Time for an update...
> New deal and changes afoot

New deal and changes afoot...

Hey everybody,

I have been teasing you for days on the social networks with my 'Big News' but I have since put pen to paper and am delighted to reveal all.

Yes, it's champers time again because...

I have a new book deal!!

This weekend I have signed with Carina (Harlequin UK) for a further three book deal which means books three and four in my Popping the Cherry series are now under contract. Yay! I already have a rough plot sorted for book three and it is certainly going to be a challenge, and my first 'coming out' story if it all goes to plan for Nathan's story. Book four is less defined but I do have an idea forming, and this would then be Chloe's story, unless somebody gets their hooks in me between now and the end of book three.

SQUEEEEE!

All being well, book two will be out late Spring and then book three will be around late Autumn, with book four coming out early 2015.

Now unless you're terrible at maths, you will have already worked out that there is a book missing. Popping the Cherry books three and four only makes two and this is where the major changes come in... after much deliberation, I have terminated my book deal with Breathless Press in order to further my writing career with Carina.

So what does that mean?

First of all, it means that Christmas is Cancelled will be withdrawn from sale this summer and the entire series is no longer under contract. Scary stuff for a rookie writer. Fear not though, it is not the end of the road for my debut book - have you guessed yet? - Christmas is Cancelled is the third book in my latest Carina deal. The new and improved British (yay!) version will be back on sale for Christmas 2014. Sadly, that means you will have to wait a while longer for Phil's story - sorry - but I am hopeful that Carina will sign it under option on my next work of fiction.

And since I don't actually drink champagne...

Cheers!

PS. If you want to hear all the news first, you might want to come and join my other 'Anoraks' over on Goodreads :-)

Aurelia's "Anoraks"'s

25 members
Aurelia's "Anoraks" is a reader group for stories by Aurelia B. Rowl; to talk about her books, ge...

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Christmas is Cancelled

by Aurelia B. Rowl

Start date: December 21, 2012

Popping the Cherry

by Aurelia B. Rowl

Start date: September 19, 2013

View this group on Goodreads »

Time for an update...

I must offer my apologies as I have been somewhat quiet of late when it comes to talking about myself and my projects, so, here's the long overdue update...

Earlier this month I finally managed to do my charity tandem skydive, after an earlier aborted attempted a few days previous thanks to the typical British summer. Once I've got the official pictures along with all of the sponsorship money, I will do a separate post as it was absolutely awesome and deserves a whole blog about it.

The school summer holidays are in full swing so my writing time is virtually non-existent, and my poor purse is crying over the purchase of new school uniforms now that Little Miss is all set to join Widget at 'big school' *sniff*.

Unless you've been hiding a rock, you'll have seen my posts about Popping the Cherry, which is due to be released in less than five weeks and is already available for pre-order - exciting times indeed!! I am now hard at work organising the blog tours - yes, plural - to coincide with its release on September 19th. Hint: there will be all sorts of giveaways ;-)

I was hoping to have Christmas is Cancelled... Again written and ready for release this November, but unfortunately, I am not SuperWoman after all, and have had to make the difficult decision to defer the sequel to Christmas is Cancelled until next year instead. On the upside, it will be very interesting to see how the season affects sales for book #1, especially as it came out so close to Christmas last year, and I am pleased it is getting a full season all to itself.

Up next is the follow-up story to Popping the Cherry and I have deadlines looming, so I am rather glad that I will have both children at school full-time very soon. A Girl Called Malice features many of the same characters, but my hope is that it can be read as a standalone, although reading them in order is recommended. Assuming I can meet my deadlines and produce a decent first draft, I would envisage it to be out sometime around Spring, but don't hold me to it. I also have at least one more story planned with this set of characters, which I will get onto after Christmas.

On a final note, I will need to switch to 'Allie' for a while over Winter in order to get a story completed which is already well underway but got pushed aside when the publishing contracts came in. Ideally, I'll get that one finished and sent out to my publisher for consideration by Spring.

I would talk about craft topics, or about my inspiration, but many of the topics I'd like to share with you will actually be coming up during my blog tour, so keep your eyes peeled. And on that note, that's me in a nutshell.

Thanks for sticking with me :-)

Win Your Name in 'Christmas Is Cancelled... Again'

Work on the second book in the Christmas is Cancelled series—Phil's story—is about to get underway, and you could be a part of it.

How would you like your name immortalised in print?

As a thank you for all the support I have received, I am offering one lucky reader the chance to name a character in Christmas Is Cancelled... Again. 

It can be your name, or a name of your choice (unless your chosen name is the same as one of the existing characters, in which case we'll need to get creative) and there will also be an acknowledgement in the front of the ebook too.

Entry is free, no obligation and no strings attached; you don't even have to jump through any flaming hoops—unless you want to, of course—but you will have the option of unlock bonus entries to boost your chances of winning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Contract Signed!

Did somebody mention signing a contract for a SERIES?

Three books, including a PRINT version?

You may just want to pop by my website for the big announcement :-D

The 'Next Big Thing' Blog Hop

I was absolutely convinced that I had already done the 'next big thing' blog hop, but, having scanned through all of my blog posts, it would appear not.

How strange?! 

So what is the 'next big thing' blog hop?

The idea is for me to answer ten questions about my book, and then tag other authors in order to continue the 'hop', not unlike the frog hopping from one lily pad to the next.

I was tagged by Brandi Kennedy (along with Jacinta Maree), and looking back along the trail of lily pads, I can see Brandi was tagged by Michelle Turner, who was tagged by Ferris Robinson, who was tagged by Patricia Zick, who was tagged by Lynn Thompson, who...no, I'd probably be here all day if I listed all of them.

As you can see though, the hop is never ending. The beauty of it is, aside from Jacinta, I hadn't come across any of these authors nor their books until I was introduced to Brandi for this blog hop.
Like a newly planted tree, the roots are of the blog hop are bedded into the ground, giving the tree a firm footing and allowing the branches to spread even wider and reach more people.

But enough with the rambling and the excessive use of poetic license (please excuse the verbal diarrhoea, it's been the half-term school holidays and I've not managed any writing all week so my brain is rebelling), I shall finally get on with it.

Ten questions about...

Matilda 'Tilly' Carter didn't think her day could get any worse, but even Christmas had just been cancelled.

The one girl Dean Watson has sworn never to have—never even expected to see again—just flared back into his life and into his home—his sanctuary—like she belonged there. Christmas would certainly be more bearable with Tilly around though…

As the chinks in Dean's armor appear, Tilly seizes the chance to win her knight once and for all. She's not about to take no for answer—not this time—but Dean must resist, even as his heart rebels and temptation threatens to undermine his resolve.

Win or lose? Love or honor? Which will Dean choose? Assuming he gets a choice…

1: Was Christmas is Cancelled always the title of this book, even when it was a work in progress?

Christmas is Cancelled became 'A Resolution Too Far' for a while, when I was having to try and make it fit a New Year call-out, but it reverted to Christmas is Cancelled. I still love my title, so much so, the sequel will be called Christmas is Cancelled... Again!.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

I saw a call-out by Entangled Publishing for holiday themed stories up to 15k words. I stared at the blank screen long enough to get a spark and it took off from there. The first half was definitely writing by the seat of my pants, but by then, I knew the characters and could roughly outline the rest. It was a shock when Dean confessed his past, that's for sure!

3: What genre does your book fall under?

It is a Christmas-themed contemporary romance.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I don't know! I really don't watch much TV and rarely get to the cinema. Sorry. When I was writing the book though, I had the young Hugh Jackman as inspiration for Dean but with a twist. Tilly would need to be a feisty redhead, although when I was writing her, I used Alyson Hannigan for inspiration.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Christmas is Cancelled is a contemporary romance set in the UK during the Christmas holiday and is based around a chance reunion with Tilly and her older brother’s best friend, Dean, at a time when Tilly’s carefully constructed world has collapsed around her, as well as being a tale of unrequited love, or at least that’s what Tilly thinks.

6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

My book was immediately contracted by Breathless Press and released in December 2012.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I started on the eve of May 30th, then put it aside on July 16th. The characters had other ideas though, so I picked it up again on August 28th and after a frantic couple of days submitted it to Breathless Press on September 1st. All in all, it looks like under three months then, with only evenings, weekends, and snatched moments to write, fitting in around my young children who will always come first.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

There is a touch of Harlequin/Mills & Boon feel to my story, with a dash of suspense and mystery, and some pretty hot - but non-explicit - love scenes making it more of a sexy romantic read but using the Christmas holiday as the turning point. I guess it could be compared with other Christmas romances of that ilk, but I couldn't actually name one for you right now.

9: Who/what inspired you to write this book?

There wasn't any particular inspiration for the story, but the location was very much inspired by the beautiful area in the UK I call home. Local readers may recognise the inspiration for some of the landmarks and scenery described.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If you're looking for an erotic read then this isn't it, but if you're looking for a good old romance, one that will make you smile, sit on the edge of your seat, and sigh with content, then this could be just what you're looking for. You don't even have to take my word for it, just check out the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

So there you have it!

If you like the sound of my debut novella, you can buy Christmas is Cancelled right now using the links below. If you'd like more information, you can find it on over my website where you can also read the first chapter for free...

Buy it now...

ISBN: 978-1-77101-938-5

Word count: 40,458 / Heat level: 3 (steamy, but non-explicit)

Breathless Press (all formats/currencies)

Amazon

Amazon UK

All Romance eBooks

Bookstrand

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble (coming soon)

iTunes (coming soon)

Tag-time...

The time has come to tag some other authors so first up is Carmen Falcone, my fabulous crit partner, because I want to hear lots more about her latest book and what else she's been up to. (And just because I'm evil, she hasn't got a clue this is coming, unlike the others :-D )

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter

Next up is Téa Cooper, who has been a great support to me since I started this writing lark and most definitely helped me get up to speed quickly.

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter

And last, but by no means least is Emma Mills, who not only writes WitchBlood, one of my favourite YA paranormal series with both witches and vampires - and did I mention angels and zombies? - she is also a friend and fellow local author.

Website/blog   Facebook   Twitter

Take it away lovely ladies!!

(And thank you all for adding a touch of glamour to today's blog post. Wowsers!)