By the way, here is my new Youtube clip, this time with some text, after taking on board some feedback from fellow bloggers and writers. Have a look and see what you think,
Sadie's House:The Key youtube clip with text
Saturday, 21 February 2015
A takeover!
Just to let you know, that for now at least, my son's posh, bow tie wearing Russian blue cat has taken over a blog attached to this one, so you may see posts from him from time to time. He is a bit of a snob, being quite noble and very handsome, so please don't take offence at his fude reference to peasants and commoners and the like. He calls us things like that all the time (well we think he does....!) Hopefully he will make a bit of fun reading.
Friday, 20 February 2015
A little experiement
I have been promoting and promoting, and writing and writing, and have found myself bemused to see that the sequel to The Key, which has always been Albie's Story, has now become The Secrets. It would seem that this is not uncommon, but the full title of the second book will now be Sadie's House; The Secrets, and followed by a third, Sadie's House; The Healing. I am hoping to be completed by Easter so I will let you know how that goes.
Meanwhile, my little experiment involved having a go at making a video, my first ever, so please forgive the quality. However, I am pretty pleased with the result, and I have posted it on Youtube.
Here's the link
Sadie's House;The Key video trailer so please take a look and even share.
I am also excited to say that I will be at a book signing event in Birmingham later in the year! I heard about something called "author swag" which is a new concept to me, but being a keen crafter, it was all I needed to set to and see what I could come up with. I'm not sure yet exactly what I will be doing with these, but they have been fun to make.
And one last thing for now - I have joined lots of writing groups and these have been really helpful in sharing ideas and asking and answering questions. I would recommend to any aspiring writer that you listen to the wisdom of those in the know, and share your own questions and anxieties. I have had some wonderful support from the people in these groups.
Continued good wishes and the best of luck to everyone trying to pave their way in bookland!
x
Meanwhile, my little experiment involved having a go at making a video, my first ever, so please forgive the quality. However, I am pretty pleased with the result, and I have posted it on Youtube.
Here's the link
Sadie's House;The Key video trailer so please take a look and even share.
I am also excited to say that I will be at a book signing event in Birmingham later in the year! I heard about something called "author swag" which is a new concept to me, but being a keen crafter, it was all I needed to set to and see what I could come up with. I'm not sure yet exactly what I will be doing with these, but they have been fun to make.
Continued good wishes and the best of luck to everyone trying to pave their way in bookland!
x
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Christmas gift!
So Christmas is nearly upon us once again, and this is a blatant sales pitch, so brace yourselves!
Sadie's House;The Key is a contemporary fantasy / supernatural story about a young woman who buys a dilapidated house and sets about restoring it. But the house is alive, and clearly needed Sadie to be there! Amazon have placed the book on sale at a much more reasonable price than I had previously been concerned about. It has received some amazing reviews. Still working on the sequel but this will be ready early next year, with even more drama, magic, and tension in store! Wrap this up with a little bottle of wine and some favourite chocolates and you have a perfect Christmas present!
Buy Sadie's House;The Key right here !
Sadie's House;The Key is a contemporary fantasy / supernatural story about a young woman who buys a dilapidated house and sets about restoring it. But the house is alive, and clearly needed Sadie to be there! Amazon have placed the book on sale at a much more reasonable price than I had previously been concerned about. It has received some amazing reviews. Still working on the sequel but this will be ready early next year, with even more drama, magic, and tension in store! Wrap this up with a little bottle of wine and some favourite chocolates and you have a perfect Christmas present!
Buy Sadie's House;The Key right here !
Saturday, 18 October 2014
The tale of the type-os - Proof-rreading your work
Not everything goes as straightforward as we would like it to. I have been thrilled to publish Sadie's House;The Key and have received some amazing feedback and great reviews. People are already asking for the sequel, which is halfway to completion and a project I am very excited about.
I have already said a couple of times that I had very difficult and personal reasons for publishing when and how I did. the book had been written and edited, then added to but I published in rather a hurry. I have to apologise profusely for the fact that there are a number of typing errors and (horrified expressions all round - a continuity error...!) that I had overlooked in proofreading.( This is particularly embarrassing when taken into consideration the fact that I am a teacher!!! I can almost hear the lynch mob banging on the door!) However, I have had emails and feedback reassuring me that the story was so enjoyable, that the errors are forgiven and the sequel eagerly awaited. Not from every reader, I hasten to add, and I know people will have their own opinions on this, but there you go.
So here are a couple of pleas.....Number 1, Check, double check, triple check, get someone else to check and check again that you have proof read your work before publishing. Don't rush into it and take your time and save yourself the embarrassment of having to explain yourself all over the place.
Who is it that said "act in haste, repent at leisure"? I don't regret what I did and if you knew you might be understanding of my circumstances (but enough of that sort of talk). But take a page from my book (not literally....although you might like to read it to see....) and be careful about making sure that your work is fully ready for publication. I will have Sadie reprinted at some point very soon, making the current book the First Edition but it hasn't been an ideal situation.
Number 2 - please take a look at my book and make your own mind up. It is available on Amazon for £2.99 for Kindle, or you can buy the paperback version on Amazon or Authorhouse.
And one more note - to the person who told me that I shouldn't advertise mistakes. you may be right, but I am an honest person with some integrity and feel that maybe others can learn from my experiences. I have a signing arranged for next year and one or two other things in the pipeline and it has been a steep learning curve. I am not deterred and I hope this will be a lesson for others too.
Good luck to all you budding writers out there!
https://www.facebook.com/Sadieshousetrilogy
I have already said a couple of times that I had very difficult and personal reasons for publishing when and how I did. the book had been written and edited, then added to but I published in rather a hurry. I have to apologise profusely for the fact that there are a number of typing errors and (horrified expressions all round - a continuity error...!) that I had overlooked in proofreading.( This is particularly embarrassing when taken into consideration the fact that I am a teacher!!! I can almost hear the lynch mob banging on the door!) However, I have had emails and feedback reassuring me that the story was so enjoyable, that the errors are forgiven and the sequel eagerly awaited. Not from every reader, I hasten to add, and I know people will have their own opinions on this, but there you go.
So here are a couple of pleas.....Number 1, Check, double check, triple check, get someone else to check and check again that you have proof read your work before publishing. Don't rush into it and take your time and save yourself the embarrassment of having to explain yourself all over the place.
Who is it that said "act in haste, repent at leisure"? I don't regret what I did and if you knew you might be understanding of my circumstances (but enough of that sort of talk). But take a page from my book (not literally....although you might like to read it to see....) and be careful about making sure that your work is fully ready for publication. I will have Sadie reprinted at some point very soon, making the current book the First Edition but it hasn't been an ideal situation.
Number 2 - please take a look at my book and make your own mind up. It is available on Amazon for £2.99 for Kindle, or you can buy the paperback version on Amazon or Authorhouse.
And one more note - to the person who told me that I shouldn't advertise mistakes. you may be right, but I am an honest person with some integrity and feel that maybe others can learn from my experiences. I have a signing arranged for next year and one or two other things in the pipeline and it has been a steep learning curve. I am not deterred and I hope this will be a lesson for others too.
Good luck to all you budding writers out there!
https://www.facebook.com/Sadieshousetrilogy
Friday, 22 August 2014
Edgar Allan Poe - quotes
I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/edgar_allan_poe.html
Fascinated by the use of language - not even a horror fan but you can't argue with the eloquence! I wish I were so articulate!
Me and Oscar Wilde!
Only I could release a book and then go on holiday with no
internet connection! (Well, very
limited) so any idea of promotions has had to wait until I return! But I am
back now, so we are a go!
Sadie is on Amazon (site) and Authorhouse, and has been
released on kindle. All royalties for the time being are going to two of my
adopted charities so I would urge any of you to take a look, especially at the
Kindle version as it IS much less than the paperback.
http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000953538
I am reassured that some have read the book in a day or two,
having been unable to put it down, and this gives me some comfort. For I am not
Oscar Wilde, whose rhetoric I envy enormously. I could not ever write like
that. I tried to read Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the World” once
but the amount of huge words and scientific language eventually got the better
of me and I gave up half way through. I am not proud of this. I once read a
graphic pirate novel by Wilbur smith that had had me wincing and peeking though
my hands at the gory bits, but I was determined to finish as I do not often
give up on a book. I am not a Jane Austen fan and don’t read her for pleasure
but studied several novels as part of my degree. But I can certainly stand in
awe of her talent as a writer. I am not any of these people. I am just little
old me, and I write how I write. Good or bad, that’s it.
I have been told that my writing is very conversational, and
certainly it is on here. I suppose we all find our own style. I know that Sadie
isn’t for everyone, but I like to think that it is a “nice” book – a word I use
cautiously. It has the elements I look for in a book, a heroine, a villain, a
supernatural element, obstacles to overcome, tension, action and a revelation.
Suddenly, now it’s out there, I feel a bit like one of those dreams you have where
you have gone to school naked or without your underwear and everyone is looking
and judging and I feel quite self-conscious. I hope that this will pass very
quickly!
So if anyone is expecting Oscar, Jules or Jane to jump out
at them from the pages of my book, then you will be disappointed. But if you
enjoy a light fantasy, a story of family, friendship, love and hope, a story
with some excitement and action and a bit of a reveal at the end and with two
more sequels to follow, then you might just enjoy taking a look at Sadie’s
House; The Key.
(love this quote!)
Meanwhile I need to get cracking now with the meet and
greet, the key rings and bookmarks, the approach to the book stores, the press
release and the advertising! And back to school next week! It’s going to be a
busy month……..!!
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