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.

Competition Time with... Amelia Thorne

Beneath the Moon and the Starsby Amelia Thorne is out now.

Home, sweet home…

Joy Cartier has been to some of the most beautiful places in the world – but none of them have ever felt like home. So moving into a tiny cottage in the idyllic village of Bramble Hill, walking distance from her childhood home, seems like the perfect plan.

That is, until she gets there. The surly inhabitants of Britain’s Friendliest Village are anything but welcoming. Even her neighbour, reclusive Hollywood star Finn Mackenzie, takes one look at her and walks in the other direction.

But when the village animosity steps up a gear, it is the infuriatingly brooding Finn who keeps coming to her rescue. Slowly Joy begins to realise that maybe a happy home isn’t about where you live, but who you’re with…

Giveaway...

To celebrate the launch Amelia has a fab prize bundle to giveaway.  You could win these gorgeous hand carved wooden necklaces, a £15 iTunes voucher and a £50 theatre ticket voucher.

All you have to do is copy one of the pre-prepared tweets below, tweet it and you’ll automatically be entered into the draw to win this prize bundle. The more you tweet, the more times you’ll be entered.

You can even make up your own tweet about the book, just as long as it has the book link to amazon, (http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw) the hashtag #BeneathTheMoon and Amelia’s Twitter name @Amelia_Writes in the tweet you’ll be entered into the draw.

The competition will run until midnight (UK time) on Sunday 26th October and the winner will be announced on Tuesday 28th October so plenty of time for tweeting. Every time you tweet, you’ll be entered into the draw.

The Tweets...

Beneath The Moon and the Stars by @Amelia_Writes is out now, a gorgeous story of love, friendship and secrets
http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw

* * *

Beneath the Moon and the Stars by @Amelia_Writes has it all; beautiful men,a feisty heroine and a gorgeous lovestory
http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw

* * *

Beneath the Moon and the Stars by @Amelia_Writes has it all; 3 gorgeous men,2 adorable dogs, 1 beautiful love story
http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw

* * * 

Beneath the Moon and the Stars by @Amelia_Writes is a gorgeous story of love, secrets and misguided revenge
http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw

* * * 

Beneath the Moon and the Stars by @Amelia_Writes has secrets, revenge, a diamond thief & a beautiful love story
http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw

* * * 

Beneath the Moon and the Stars by @Amelia_Writes has 3 gorgeous men, 2 weddings and a whole heap load of secrets
http://amzn.to/1sdZ0rw

Good luck!!

COVER REVEAL... A Girl Called Malice

It's all getting very exciting with the standalone sequel to Popping the Cherry less than a fortnight away from release, and today I am delighted to reveal the cover for A Girl Called Malice...

It’s not easy being the Queen Bee. Alice Taylor should know. 

You know that girl. The one that the whole school’s social life seems to revolve around. Alice used to be that girl until she decided to quit sixth form college. Suddenly her ‘friends’ aren’t so interested in following her around and her attention-grabbing behaviour is about to get her kicked out of home. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, her world starts spiralling seriously out of control.

Only new friend Zac Newton seems to believe in her. Lifeguard and poolside hottie, Zac is quite literally her lifesaver. But then, he’s never met ‘Malice’, her mean-girl alter ego, and Alice wants to keep it that way. She knows this is her last chance for a fresh start until her sordid past catches up with her at the worst possible moment.

As everything Alice has worked towards comes crashing down around her, she realises that the hardest thing of all is being yourself…

I am so ridiculously excited that it's almost time for you to get your hands on Alice's story; I hope you learn to forgive her and let her into your hearts.

On that note, I shall be back with the pre-order/buy links as soon as they are available but in the meantime, I'd love it if you could add it to your TBR list today...

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

Twenty Questions with... A.L. Michael

I am delighted to welcome fellow Carina UK chum, A.L. Michael, onto my blog today, author of The Last Word.

You can read even more about her and her London roots here.

ACT ONE – all about you…

A.L. Michael is a twenty something writer from London. She works as a creative facilitator, running workshops in creative writing, writing for wellbeing, and children's lessons. She has a BA in English Literature with Creative Writing, an MA in Creative Entrepreneurship, and is working towards an MsC in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. She is not at all reliant on her student discount card.

When she's not writing or talking about writing, she bakes, runs, plays with her puppy, and gets continually distracted by shiny things on Pinterest.

1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

Always, absolutely always. I decided at 11 that it was what I wanted to do, and I never wavered.

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

When I was younger I’d make a black coffee, have a cigarette and sit down to write. The only thing missing from the cliche was a beret and some bongos. Now I just sit and get on with it. Usually I do admin in the morning, and by early afternoon I’ve worked my way into it.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

I think the books you read when you’re younger really influence you, and Sarra Manning always had a big effect. I read her column and her books through reading J17 Magazine as a kid, and just was absorbed. I still read her books now. It was the first time I thought ‘there are authors out there, who do this as their job, who are real people’. It was an exciting thought!

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

It’s my main one, and it’s sort of a pet peeve: if you’re talking about writing, you’re not writing. Don’t waste time telling people about your characters or that line in chapter 12 that’s just genius- WRITE! I feel like talking dilutes your story, and it stops it being about you. The writers I know who want to talk about their work all the time never seem to finish a book.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

I’m half Greek Cypriot.
I can only sing ‘How Much Is That Doggy In The Window’ backwards, because Mum thought it would be funny.
I am obsessed with Corgis.

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

My Mac! Do everything on it to the point where it may as well be attached.
My Iphone- ditto.
Benefit make-up, because it’s magical and the designs are all really cool.
Wine! That’s a luxury, right?
My Kindle- I’m a convert. Plus I have less back pain from lugging around books in my bag all the time.

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

Tabby Riley’s online life was a roaring success. Her blog had hundreds of followers, and legions of young fans ardently awaited her every Tweet. Her real life was a bit more of a disappointment. Living in a shared flat in North London, scratching a living writing magazine articles on ‘How To Please Your Man in Bed’ wasn’t where she thought she’d be at twenty-six – especially when there was a serious lack of action in her own bedroom.

Although that might all be about to change when she’s offered a position at online newspaper The Type as a real journalist – and gains a sexy new editor, Harry Shulman, to work with. Harry’s confident, smooth talking, and completely aware that he drives Tabby mad. Which is fine, because Tabby’s dated an editor before, and it’s never happening again. Ever. But as her reputation at the paper grows, Tabby has to wonder: is it time to get out from behind the screen and live her life in the real world?

7) Congratulations on your recent release of The Last Word, what was your inspiration for writing Tabby’s story?

I felt a lot like Tabby at the time of writing it- I was mid-twenties, in a bit of a career slump, and nothing seemed to be changing. I wanted to write about what it felt like to be a graduate, in one of the greatest cities in the world, and feeling stagnant and irritated that these big dreams weren’t happening.

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

It happened pretty naturally, but I think that’s because I was writing it just for me. I’d never planned to even show it to anybody!

9) How long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

I wrote it over a few months, maybe five or so? Then I left it until I saw Carina accepting submissions, did some editing, and sent it off. I think they got back about six weeks later. So in total it was just under a year from creation to being accepted.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

‘So, how are you, Tabby? Good weekend?’ 

Tabby thought back to the five am trip back on the nightbus, and how she’d narrowly avoided throwing up in a rubbish bin on the side of the road, ‘I’d call it a success. You?’

‘Oh, absolutely a success.’ How did he get his eyes to twinkle like that? And his voice had lowered to a deliciously dirty level. Her lips quirked up, and then she shook it off, trying to get back to professionalism. If there was anything she’d learnt since her journalistic fall from grace all those years ago, it was ‘Do not trust your editor’. And whilst Harry was cute, he was also an arsehole. An arsehole who was there to make money from her. So there was no point playing nice.

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about The Last Word, to make us rush out and buy it?

There’s lots of snarky, sarcastic banter between the characters, lots of sexual tension and great friendships. I let me characters actually have the right comebacks at the right time, because I never do!

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?

My next novel, Without You To Hold, comes out in the autumn, and it’s Christmassy and lovely, and I’m really excited about it. After that a return to snarky, angry girls of London in The Young and Bitter Club, which will be out in the new year.

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Tiny bit of plotter, mostly pantser

14) Digital books or print books?

Both! Digital mostly, print for beautiful editions.

15) Tea or coffee?

Tea, unless I need a massive boost.

16) Extrovert or introvert?

Highly functioning introvert

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook

18) Christmas or birthday? 

Birthday

19) Morning person or night owl?

Morning

20) Sweet or savoury?

Sweet

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Andi, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about A.L. Michael, and to keep up with her latest projects, you can visit her at:

Website     Twitter     Facebook

Buy it now…

Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 9781472095237
Release date: 27th May 2014

Carina UK / Mills & Boon
Amazon UK / US
iBooks
Nook UK / B&N
Kobo
Google Play
Blinkbox (Tesco)

Twenty Questions with... Carys Jones

I am delighted to welcome Carys Jones onto my blog today, author of Prime Deception released earlier this week by Carina (Harlequin UK), for this weeks' round of Twenty Questions.

Since I have finally typed "the end" on Popping the Cherry #2 (now polishing ready to send to my Editor) and the Easter school holidays kick off today, I will be taking a couple of weeks off from my weekly #TwentyQuestions slot but please come back in May to get the lowdown on more fabulous guests.

ACT ONE – all about you…

Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion, Rollo. 

When she's not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science- fiction films or playing video games. She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favorite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything. 

To Carys, there is no greater feeling than when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

I’ve been writing since I was very young. I fell in love with the way reading a book could transport you out of your own world and I was desperate to try and recreate that magic through my own stories.

2 Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I’d describe my writing style as militant! Lol. I work to a very rigid schedule and have extremely detailed plans about how my story is set to progress. The whole process sort of removes any element of romanticism from it all but it does ensure that I never get blighted by writer’s block.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews have been huge influences on me. I admire how their stories are so character driven. The impact upon characters is more important than events themselves and for me, that makes their stories all the more powerful. I like books that stay with me longer after I’ve finished that final sentence.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

I had some advice from Jodi Picoult herself which was to just keep writing. Write because you love it, not because you see it as your meal ticket to a better life. If you write for money you lose the love within the process.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

Okay… I’m terrified of zombies. I flat out tremble if I see them on TV.

Some of my toes are double jointed thanks to my years dedicated to my second passion, ballet.

I’m destined to marry Leonardo DiCaprio one day. Just don’t tell my husband…

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

My bed. I could never sleep rough or go camping. I need a nice, comfortable bed, preferably with an abundance of pillows!

My PS3. I love playing games in my free time and it also acts as my TV as I use Netflicks

Nails Inc varnish. My nails are never, ever bare. I’d rather be naked than without nail varnish and Nails Inc is just amazing!

My giant Tinkerbell mug, in which I consume my daily quota of tea. I love tea! Whenever I finish writing I indulge in a nice cup in front of the TV!

My Louboutin Shoes. I literally own one pair of designer shoes, they were a gift from my Mum for my wedding but I’m too scared to even wear them but if my house caught on fire they’d be one of the first items I’d be looking to rescue!

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

When Lorna Thomas is found dead in her car everyone believes she killed herself. But the day after her death Lorna was set to sell a scandalous story to one of Britain’s biggest tabloid papers. For six months she had been the Deputy Prime Minister’s mistress.

Will Lorna’s secret die with her? While her family try to move on and come to terms with her death one person refuses to believe that Lorna killed herself. Her twin sister, Laurie is convinced that Lorna was murdered and she’ll stop at nothing to prove it, even if that means teaming up the very man her sister had been having an affair with…

7) Congratulations on your recent release of Prime Deception; what was your inspiration for writing this story?

The idea came to me around the time of the last general election. I don’t really follow politics, it doesn’t appeal to me. But I got thinking about what would make the world of politics more engaging to me and a good old fashioned scandal would do it and from that initial though, Prime Deception was eventually born.

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

It flowed. With all my books, I feel like I’m just watching the movie of them play out in my head and desperately scrambling to record it all down for the reader so that they can experience it all too.

9) How long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

I finished writing Prime Deception a few years ago. It gathered dust as I focused on other projects but I thought I’d approach a few publishers with it, test the waters and Carina were interested in it.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

This is from the start of the book when we are first being introduced to the character of Charles;

Charles returned his attention to the task at hand; of shaving away the shadow which had formed over night. As a young man he had found shaving a chore. He’d longed to grow some stubble, even a beard, in his desire to be ‘edgy’, but he had always been warned against it. It wasn’t befitting of a man in his line of work. Now, he found shaving therapeutic. The act was familiar and predictable and he liked that about it. So few things in his life were familiar anymore, that he cherished those that were.

Dressed in one of his finest suits and his signature blue tie, Charles was at last ready to start the day. He fingered the tie dubiously as he regarded his reflection once more. He found it a rather crass addition to his ensemble, but his aides continued to assure him that it was vital. He missed being able to dress how he wanted to. Charles would have loved nothing more than to put on a pair of jeans and an old jumper but that would never do. He had an image to maintain, as everyone kept insisting to him.

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Prime Deception to make us rush out and buy it?

If you want a story that will not only grip you but tug on your heartstrings also then check out Prime Deception. It’s a tale of sex, betrayal and ultimately love. But not between lovers, it’s about the unbreakable love between two sisters that even death cannot destroy.

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?

Carina are re-releasing my first novel, Not All Stars Sparkle, along with the first publication of its sequel, Cradle to Grave. I’ve also signed up with an American YA publisher for a big trilogy which will probably be released in 2015.

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

So sorry, not sure what those mean. I’m not down the latest terms I’m afraid. I’m going to make a guess and say I’m a Plotter as I prepare all my stories in meticulous detail before I write them.

14) Digital books or print books?

Sorry Carina but print. Simply because I’m terrible for flicking to the last page to check if my favourite character survives! My Kindle robs me of that so I’m kept in suspense for longer! And I hate surprises!

15) Tea or coffee?

Tea! I adore tea!

16) Extrovert or introvert?

To most people, introvert, to my friends; excessive extrovert!

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook, Twitter confuses me…

18) Christmas or birthday?

Christmas as everyone gets presents!

19) Morning person or night owl?

Morning person, up and about walking my beloved dog bright and early.

20) Sweet or savoury?

Savoury. If a dessert menu has a cheese board I’m all over it!

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Carys, I wish you every success with your new release.

Thanks so much for having me, it’s been a lot of fun!

To discover even more about Carys Jones and to keep up with her latest projects, you can visit her at:

Facebook     Twitter     Website

Buy it now…

Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 9781472094728
Released: 7 April 2014

Carina UK
Amazon UK / US
iBooks
Nook UK / B&N
Kobo
Google

Twenty Questions with... T.A. Williams

I am delighted to welcome T.A. (Trevor) Williams onto my blog today, author of Dirty Minds and his new book, The Room on the Second Floor.

Since I have a book to get finished and a new one to get started on straight after, let's get cracking with this week's round of #TwentyQuestions...

ACT ONE – all about you…

I was born and brought up in Devon (south west England). After university I spent ten years living abroad, mainly in Italy. I came back with a decent command of the language and, more importantly, my artist wife, Mariangela. Our daughter is a poet, so it must be something in the water down here. A few years ago I gave up my day job running a big English language school and have been concentrating on my writing ever since. 



1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

Ever since I first wrote The Lake Dwellers (shameless Swallows and Amazons ripoff) at the age of 14! And that’s a long time ago. I have been writing as a hobby all my life.

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

When I was working full time, I used to write in the evenings as relaxation. Now I “binge write”. I can go days, even weeks without writing and then, suddenly, I find myself fully immersed, to the exclusion of all else. I wrote Dirty Minds in a month.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing? 

I love Tom Sharpe and I love JP Donleavy (but not so much The Ginger Man, more his other stuff).

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

Without any doubt: “Writing is the easy part. Finding a publisher is a hell of a lot more difficult.” Anon.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know? 

I have written three serious historical novels, set in the Middle Ages. I cycled from here to Santiago de Compostela in Spain a few years back. I was once vomited on by amazing singer, Joe Cocker.

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without? 

Bike, iPad, mulching lawnmower, corkscrew and, of course, my personal Italian chef!  

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

Roger Dalby is a lucky man. He inherits a manor house in Devon and a huge fortune. But all he wants is to study medieval history and marry Linda, the love of his life. His problem is managing to find the courage to tell her how he feels about her. His friend Duggie, on the other hand, has less honourable intentions. A Royal decree from the Middle Ages means that the Manor is the only legally licensed house of ill repute in England. He decides to return it to its former glory. Unknown to Roger, the second floor of the manor is soon filled with a disreputable collection of people getting up to some very naughty antics. And as if that were not enough, somebody is trying to kill Roger. This is  a very English story, written with a very English sense of humour, set in very English surroundings.

7) Congratulations on your recent release of The Room on the Second Floor, what was your inspiration for writing the story? 

I really don’t know. Maybe it was just that after writing Dirty Minds, which is a funny book about people trying to write an erotic novel, I thought I should stick to the same slightly smutty, humorous subject matter. Although it is a love story (well, two to be precise) and a murder mystery, it is also about a guy trying to set up a brothel in an old manor house. I felt that ticked the humorous and smutty boxes quite well. 

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling? 

It flowed pretty well. In particular some of the weird and wacky characters popped out of nowhere quite remarkably easily.

9) How long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk? 

A remarkably short time. About four months.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with? 

As with my other books, there is always my trademark black dog in it. His job this time is to act as Cupid.

“He held her tighter and kissed her again. Jasper, satisfied by his matchmaking, strolled through to the bathroom and drank deeply and noisily out of the toilet bowl.”

That’s dogs for you.

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about The Room on the Second Floor, to make us rush out and buy it?

It’s a book about love, some the good type and some the less noble type. And it’s also a murder mystery with a twist. I hope it will make you laugh most of the time. 

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?

My next book, due out in a few months time is called Danny. It’s less smut and more romance. Alice has just lost her job of 17 years and is looking for a complete change in her life.  She moves down to Devon. There’s a black Labrador, a handsome windsurfer, a damaged lord of the manor and a little baby. And they’re all called Danny… My next big project is going to be a (serious) book, set in 1919 about a shell-shocked war veteran. I have just come back from visiting the Somme to research it this week.  Although I love writing the humorous stuff (it cheers me up, too), my heart will always be in historical fiction.  

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Pantser. The story so often leads me off in unexpected directions. I love that feeling that the story has developed a life of its own and is leading me on.

14) Digital books or print books?

Digital is here to stay, but I must admit to still feeling nostalgic for paper.

15) Tea or coffee?

No question. Has to be tea, preferably with a chocolate hobnob.

16) Extrovert or introvert?

Probably more extrovert.

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook every time, though I’m still learning how to use it.

18) Christmas or birthday?

Definitely not Christmas. Specially when it starts in the shops in November… 

19) Morning person or night owl?

Morning.

20) Sweet or savoury?

Savoury

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Trevor, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about Trevor Williams, and to keep up with his latest projects, you can visit him at:

Website     Twitter

Buy it now…

Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 9781472074508
Release date: 22 January 2014

Carina UK
Amazon UK / US
Nook UK / B&N
Kobo
iBooks
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Excerpt…

‘How fascinating. It seems that it is dated July 13th 1131. And I was right in my assumption. The King did indeed sign it. Here, do you see his name?’ Duggie and Linda could see nothing but a blur, so they took his word for it. ‘King Henry of the House of Normandy. That would be Henri Beauclerc, one of the sons of William the Conqueror, if my memory serves me right.’

He concentrated on the Latin. He muttered to himself, as he followed the lines across and down the page, until he reached the end. Then he blinked, re-read the last lines and then roared with laughter. The others, dog included, looked at him curiously.

‘It says…’ He stopped to blow his nose and wipe his eyes, while his outburst of laugher subsided into a subdued chuckle. ‘It says, in recognition of the magnificent hospitality afforded to his Royal Highness by Arthur of Toplingham and his retinue, it is hereby decreed that this Manor shall henceforth and in perpetuity be licensed to carry on…’ He paused and looked across at the others in disbelief. ‘He uses the words ad praeclarum quaestum meretricium faciendum, which translates as something like, for the admirable purpose of making meretricious gain.’

Seeing the lack of comprehension on their faces, he explained. ‘Meretricious is the adjective that goes with the noun “prostitution”. I do believe this decree means that Toplingham Manor is a fully licensed house of ill repute. Licensed by Royal Decree, no less.’ The other two stared at him open-mouthed.

‘A knocking shop?’ Duggie couldn’t believe his ears.

‘A brothel. Just imagine that.’ Linda was equally shocked.

‘How amazing. I must write to the British Journal of Medieval Studies about this at once. How fascinating.’ He paused, deep in thought. ‘I wonder if it really was active in plying its trade in those days, and how long it went on for. I wonder whether, when Oliver Cromwell was going round closing down all those sorts of places in the seventeenth century, he might have missed this one. A Royal Decree in perpetuity is a pretty solid document. Who knows if it would really hold water today. It’s almost worth running across the legal bods at the university.’

As his voice tailed off, Linda gave him a disapproving look. She raised an eyebrow.

‘Were you thinking of going into business? Surrounding yourself with painted harlots perhaps?’

For one unforgettable moment, a graphic vision of Linda burst into Roger’s head. She was dressed in high heels, stockings and suspenders, a come-hither expression on her face. She was leaning provocatively in an open doorway, her lace-gloved arm stretching up above her head, her mouth…

‘Roger, are you all right?’ The concern in her voice cut into his reverie. He came up for air like a drowning man.

‘What? Me? Yes, I’m fine thanks.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I was just thinking about something.’ Mercifully she did not ask what.

See also...

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ISBN: 9781472018182
Release date: 30 August 2013

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Tom, a widower and aspiring author (with a penchant for Hobnobs) is in need of a new start. Inspired by his therapist, the ‘Fifty Shades Phenomenon’, and his lack of literary success, he sets out to write an erotic novel – after all, how hard can it be?

But as writing erotica proves a challenge for a man more unsure than hardcore, Tom finds himself enlisting the help of an eclectic group of co-authors. Brought together by their authorial ambitions and fondness for innuendo, their project becomes a collaboration that will change lives, open minds … and prompt the purchase of an unfortunate PVC catsuit.

Twenty Questions with... Paul Gitsham

One of the things I love about Carina is the diversity of genres,; from romances to chick-lit to psychological thrillers and also crime fiction which leads me nicely onto today's guest.

In the #TwentyQuestions hotseat today is Paul Gitsham, author of The Last Straw: A DCI Warren Jones Novel released earlier this week by Carina (Harlequin UK), so please give him a warm welcome as we get underway...

ACT ONE – all about you…

I started my career as a biologist, pursuing my research in such exotic locales as Toronto and Manchester. Along the way I've also had jobs as a massively over-qualified receptionist in a sports centre and spent 6 months working for a major UK bank ensuring that global terrorists and other international ne'er do wells banned from holding UK bank accounts hadn't managed to circumvent global restrictions and open a Junior Savings Account. This was even less exciting than the job as a receptionist. 

Finally I saw the light and decided to pass on my hard-won laboratory skills, bad habits and wilful disregard for Health and Safety (*) to a new generation and retrained as a secondary school science teacher.  I now teach science to 11-18 year olds and creative writing to Sixth Form students.

(*) For legal reasons, I should point out that I take the Health and Well-being of my pupils extremely seriously and am proud to say that none of my pupils have ever suffered permanent disfigurement from one of my science lessons.

A keen writer from an early age, my year 6 report on leaving primary school said  "Keep up the writing and one day you'll be the next Roald Dahl". For the sake of balance, it should be pointed out that it also said, "you will never get anywhere in life if your hand-writing doesn't improve." 

Twenty five years later and my hand-writing has, if anything, deteriorated. On the plus side I am loved by millions of children around the world (*).

(*) This is a lie. Just ask any of the students I've taught.

1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

Writing stories was always the best part of any English lesson and I started writing at a very young age. My first memories involve me trying to write the screenplay to E.T., when I was 5 or 6 years old. I was gutted when Mum said I couldn’t because somebody had already written it!

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I’m not a great “plotter” – I just “open the bull**** tap and let it pour!”. Because I don’t get to write as often as I’d like, I’m lucky enough to have a headful of scenes all clamouring for my attention, and so I rarely suffer from writer’s block – I typically find myself trying to get down the scene that’s shouting loudest first!

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

I love the spare, understated prose of Lee Child. He twists and turns with little warning and isn’t afraid to sit back in the middle of an action scene and let the anticipation build.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

Join a writers’ circle. Writing is a solo pursuit, but that doesn’t mean it should be done in isolation. Feedback, good and bad, is essential if you ever want your work to be enjoyed by other people.

5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

I do almost all of my writing in public libraries and have a list of the opening times for all those within 20 miles of my house.

I lost my carefully crafted best-man’s speech 2 days before my mate’s wedding when my laptop died. I had to wing-it using a list of cryptic bullet-points… 

I am a proud geek! As a science teacher, it is entirely acceptable to wear a DNA helix tie, use Harry Potter to teach genetics (the wizarding allele is recessive) and slip references to Star Trek into A level biology lessons (Haemoglobin in human blood is red because it contains iron; Mr Spock’s blood is green because Vulcan haemoglobin contains copper).

6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

My laptop – I hate writing long-hand

My smartphone – I use it to watch TV and surf the web more than my computer

My memory foam mattress cover! It’s soooo comfortable…

Cheese. ‘nuff said.

BBC Radio 4 – I measure the length of long car journeys by the number of times I hear the pips; and nothing sends me to sleep faster than streaming a documentary on the Bank of England’s strategy for Quantitative Easing using iPlayer!

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

A DCI Warren Jones novel - Book 1 

When Professor Alan Tunbridge is discovered in his office with his throat slashed, the suspects start queuing up. The brilliant but unpleasant microbiologist had a genius for making enemies.

For Warren Jones, newly appointed Detective Chief Inspector to the Middlesbury force, a high-profile murder is the ideal opportunity. He’s determined to run a thorough and professional investigation but political pressure to resolve the case quickly and tensions in the office and at home make life anything but easy.

Everything seems to point to one vengeful man but the financial potential of the professor’s pioneering research takes the inquiry in an intriguing and, for Jones and his team, dangerous direction.

7) Congratulations on your recent release of The Last Straw, what was your inspiration for writing DCI Warren Jones’ story?

Well first of all, I would just like to state categorically, for the record, so there can be no mistake… the story about murdering a university Professor, was not inspired by my own experience as a PhD student – my professor was lovely! That being said, during my years in academia I both witnessed and heard about some pretty shocking behaviour and so it perhaps isn’t entirely surprising that my first novel takes place in such an environment! Add to that the fact that I’d always dreamt of writing a mystery novel ever since I started reading Enid Blyton and The Hardy Boys as a young child and it was almost inevitable! 

8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?

The great thing about detective stories is you can write yourself into a corner and then spend ages banging your head against the wall trying to find a plausible way back out – to date I have yet to find a situation that I’ve had to give up on, but I’m sure it will happen!

9) I see The Last Straw is your debut, how long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

I started writing it Easter 2011. I finished the first draft November of that year. I then wrote another complete book in the series whilst I drafted and re-drafted book one, before taking the plunge. My best friend bought me the Artists & Writers’ Handbook for my birthday and I started submitting to agents – still no luck by the way, if anybody is interested… - finally CarinaUK picked me up in June 2013.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?

Blood. 

Everywhere. Across the walls, over the desk, even splattered on the glowing laptop computer. The human heart is a powerful, muscular pump and a cut artery bleeds out in seconds, spraying red, freshly oxygenated blood across the room like a fire hose.

Tom Spencer removes his gloved hands from the dead man’s throat and rubs them down the front of his lab coat, leaving bloody trails across his chest. Hands shaking, he picks up the blood- covered telephone and presses 9 for an outside line, followed by another three 9s.

“You are through to the emergency services. Which service do you require?”

Spencer’s voice is shaky, his breathing rapid. “Police. There’s been a murder.”

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about The Last Straw, to make us rush out and buy it?

If you like a detective who is as human as the rest of us; who sometimes feels out of his depth and who favours bad 80s music over high-brow classical or existential jazz, then DCI Warren Jones is your man. If you like your mystery stories with a satisfyingly complex plot, interesting and quirky characters and procedural authenticity, then the DCI Warren Jones series will be for you. If you want an insight into the sexual jealousy, treachery and skulduggery that boils beneath the genteel surface of a university department, then The Last Straw is the book for you.

12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now? 

The second title in the series is with the editors as we speak and number three is well under way. DCI Warren Jones has plenty more tales in him yet!

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Mostly Pantster

14) Digital books or print books?

Print mostly, but I am enjoying the convenience of my Kindle and the ability to sync to my phone for when I find myself with nothing to do and I’m too far away from my bedside table.

15) Tea or coffee?

Decaff coffee – milk no sugar, thanks. Any chance of a custard cream?

16) Extrovert or introvert?

*I* think I can be a bit of an introvert – anybody stuck in close proximity to me would probably disagree.

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook

18) Christmas or birthday? 

Christmas – everybody’s celebrating, not just you!

19) Morning person or night owl?

Night Owl – even though my alarm clock goes off at 5:30 and I have to leave for school at 6:30 L

20) Sweet or savoury?

Savoury

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Paul, I wish you every success with your new release.

To discover even more about Paul Gitsham, and to keep up with his latest projects and shenanigans, you can visit him at: www.paulgitsham.com , follow him on twitter @dcijoneswriter or like his Facebook page www.facebook.com/dcijones

Buy it now…

Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 9781472094698
Release date: 24 March 2014

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