Different...

31.3.11

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My sister gave me this book (as well as the next two) and I really had no notion of what kind of book it was, apart from the fantasy aspect... my sister and I share a love of fantasy stories.

At first I wasn't too keen. It was a little too weird for my liking, but then I just clicked with it and started to really feel for the characters - particularly Darius who had such demons to deal with (emotional / mental demons, that is).

I found myself completely drawn to the world of Atlantis, although Gena Showalter's version of Atlantis is a far cry from how I would have imagined it. Her world was fascinating though. I will certainly read the next in the series.

Perhaps I am a bit of a prude though, as I just felt like I couldn't connect with the extensive sex scenes. I felt like there was just a bit too much of it in this book... I could delve further into this subject but I'd rather not embarrass myself!!

All in all, an entertaining read.



My first guest post!!

29.3.11

I am absolutely delighted to have been asked to be a guest over at author Pauline Barclay's website.
I 'met' Pauline via twitter and through our blogs. She's a wonderful lady and I am looking forward to reading her books when my kindle arrives.
My guest post can be found at
Please take some time to check out the rest of the site... and her books, of course!!

Creating my own YA book cover

28.3.11

Okay, it's nearly taken me all day but I can now reveal the potential cover for my book. Tadaaaaa......


I quite like it but I would love to hear your opinions on whether it's right for my target YA audience or not. Please be honest!!

Photoshoot....errr

28.3.11


Well...we traipsed up the mountain yesterday (okay, we drove up). We followed the clouds and headed in the direction of some woods. It looked like it might be all eerie and misty until the clouds lifted (bummer).
But we continued nonetheless. I dressed as close to a teenager as I could - converse, skinny jeans, rock chick tee, etc (really, I'm 35 there's no way I'm gonna look anything like a teenager!) But we needed to give it a go so I climbed through the fallen trees and further into the woods. My husband had the camera to the ready and he got a few shots that might work (might being a rather large 'might').
I need to work on them and see what happens... but in the meantime, here is a picture of me he took as we were leaving. Just me being silly waving for you guys! (Don't worry, the pictures I've got of me for the cover are from behind.)

A great cover shot?

26.3.11

So now I've finally decided to go it alone and publish my book(s) on amazon for kindle, I have to come up with a suitable cover image.
As Raven is aimed at the YA market, it needs to appeal to teens. I recently came across a blog post about how bad some YA covers are... the author mentioned the fact that so many are trying to emulate the Twilight covers, others are far too pink and girly, some are just way too cheesy for their own good and so on.
So what to choose for my own book? I've looked online to see if I could buy a suitable image, and to be honest, I'm not overly impressed by those in my price bracket (ahem... in other words I don't have a lot of dosh to spend!)
So, on the suggestion of my lovely biker husband, we are going to create the image ourselves. Should be fun (or not!).
His first suggestion, 'how about my Ducati', he said with a cheeky grin.
'Darling, my book is about a girl whose parents disappear. She has to move to Canada. She discovers she isn't who she thinks she is. Add to that, a magical world of changelings, werewolves, vampires and the like... where on earth does a Ducati motorbike feature in that?' I replied.
Point taken, we decided that we need to drive up the mountain on a cloudy day and get a great snap of an eerie looking forest... except we also need a teenage girl to pose in the shot. We haven't got any kids and don't know anyone with a teenage daughter, so currently we've got our thinking caps on!

Dogs in need

25.3.11

I don't know how many people in the Algarve read my blog but I've just watched this video and it's pulling at my heart strings. If you can help re-home any of these beautiful dogs, please contact Verna on the number at the end of the video...

I'm gonna go for it....

24.3.11

I feel like something is happening right now... like I'm about to commence a new era of my writing life. I almost feel like I've had an epiphany!
I've been toying with the idea of buying a Kindle... I know, I know, why it's taken me so long is just beyond me. It's something I should have done a long time ago. But it's not just that, after I started reading up all about the Kindle, then I started reading up on epublishing. Indie epublishing to be exact. And I feel like I'm seeing a light that has been switched off for a long time.
I've read about authors who had been rejected so many times that they've finally said 'enough is enough' and taken it upon themselves to get published... many using Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc to do just that. Some have had extraordinary success (Amanda Hocking, for example) and others have been slowly but surely selling a few copies and making a little money.
I am realistic (although ambitious!) and I do understand that if I choose this path, it will probably be a long one. But surely, being a writer, the goal is to have one's work read by as many people as possible? To get out there in the first place? Sitting and waiting to be discovered by an agent / publisher isn't getting me anywhere. I'd rather a few people read my work than none at all.
And so I have made my decision... I am choosing this route.
I am incredibly lucky to have friends in the publishing business who will proofread my work and make sure it is spic n span, ready to go out into the big wide world. But while I wait for them to do that, I must decide what I want on the cover of Raven... so, for now, I bid you adieu while I go and work it out.... it's so exciting!!

A real page turner

22.3.11

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


WOW... I absolutely could not put this book down. I loved the characters, particularly Vee (I pictured her like a younger version of the kookie girl in Criminal Minds).

I thought the story flowed particularly well and the pace was spot on... I found myself desperate to know who the bad guy was (although I did have my own theory, which proved correct in the end!).

It's no wonder that Becca Fitzpatrick is a New York Times bestselling author... she writes beautifully and concisely, perfect for the YA readers she writes for, as well as for us 'slightly' older folk!

I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Crescendo, and any others that she might pen in the not too distant future. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the paranormal.



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What do I really want?

21.3.11

The last couple of days have been blissfully warm with the most beautiful azure skies and countless birds chirping away in the garden.
The Algarve is, undoubtedly, a lovely place to be in the Spring. Yesterday we drove down to the nearby harbour where we sat and drank strong coffee while we watched boats amble along in the (slightly murky) water. The weekly cruise liner / ferry was in on its way to Madeira. Afterwards we took a little stroll along the water's edge, watching a load of locals cycling on a pathway which had been created for just that.
It really was a lovely morning. When we returned home, we spent the rest of the day lazing around, reading, chatting, just enjoying the warmth of the sun on our skin.
The temperature was around 23 degrees. We wondered what the weather was like elsewhere so we checked out the iphone app. With Canada being the top of our list of places to move to, we check that out first... Banff -5, Whistler 4, Vancouver 7 (with rain), Ottawa 0, Toronto 4 (with rain), Moncton -9 and Halifax -5!
Well... it kind of put a bit of a downer on things. I know we've always said that we love the cold weather, but imagining that we couldn't enjoy a day like yesterday at this time of year got me thinking... what do I really want? It's a tough question, but a question I need to sort out in my head nonetheless.

More from the Big Apple

21.3.11

I Heart New YorkI Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I picked up this book after reading another fab book about New York (Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson). I am clearly having my own NY moment! And yes, both made me desperate to visit the Big Apple again soon.

I wasn't disappointed. I Heart New York is the perfect holiday read... not only is it easy to get into and easy to read, but it doesn't require any amount of serious concentration.

There were a number of slightly cheesy, predictable moments but they also make the book fun and perfect for when you want total chick lit escapism.

at times, I Heart New York reminded me of the Shopaholic Series, especially with main character Angela Clarke often using her credit card to make herself feel better whenever she was feeling down (and she does have a lot to feel down about in the beginning).

Although I thoroughly enjoyed I Heart New York, I did find some aspects a little too unbelievable... I won't mention which bits though because I don't want to spoil it for you.

If you're going on holiday and need a really easy beach read, then you can't go wrong with I Heart New York (in fact, I've already bought Lindsey Kelk's other book, I Heart Paris!).



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A blooming good read

17.3.11

Fairytale of New YorkFairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I relished every page of Fairytale of New York... not only was it a fabulous chick lit story with a little humour, but it was a heartfelt tale of love, betrayal and above all, friendship.

Although a little longer than some chick lit books, I finished it in two days! I found it difficult to put down and whenever I did, I found myself pondering the story and the intricate lives of the characters. Main character Rosie (who is a florist, hence my rather tacky title!) was well rounded and I loved her from the very start, as were all the other characters that featured in this delightful tale. I particularly love Marnie... what a personality she is!

I loved the way the author created an air of mystery around Rosie. She has a terrible secret that I was just dying to know what it was (which is probably one of the reasons why I didn't want to put it down!).

Fairytale of New York was discovered after the author put the book (originally entitled Coffee at Kowalski's) on the authonomy website... which, initially, was the main reason I wanted to buy it. Being a fellow authonomist, I love to any hear of such success stories!

Miranda Dickinson writes with style, with passion and it is clear she loves every second of what she does.

I can't wait to read more of her books... but in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the vlogs on her website. She is particularly entertaining!!

PS. Fairytale of New York would make the most AMAZING movie!



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An amusing email doing the rounds...

16.3.11

I've just received this email from my sister-in-law and thought it was so amusing that I just had to share it...

QUESTIONS THAT HAUNT ME!

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change?
They're going to see you naked anyway...

Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They're both dogs!

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Why, Why, Why

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what colour bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?'

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Pleasantly surprised

15.3.11

Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy, #1)Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book has appeared on so many blogs lately that I just had to see what all the fuss was about.
Finishing it in less than two days, I can pretty much say that I enjoyed it! Although initially I found the story aimed at a slightly younger reader than I had expected, I soon found myself wrapped up in the tale of Evie and her life at the IPCA. Although I read solely during breakfast and at night in bed, I found it difficult to put down.
I was instantly drawn to young Evie and the weird and wonderful paranormal characters that surrounded her odd life. I was desperate to know what would become of her. Kiersten White did not disappoint with this book and I will certainly buy her next one, Supernaturally.
All in all, a very good read.



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A beautifully written novel

13.3.11

Haunting Miss TrentwoodHaunting Miss Trentwood by Belinda Kroll

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Haunting Miss Trentwood is, without doubt, one of the finest books I have had the pleasure of reading. Belinda Kroll writes with such fluidity in a style that is reminiscent of classic authors like Jane Austen.

I was swept into the story from the very first page and I found it difficult to put down, often staying up late into the night to complete 'just a few more chapters'. I was not disappointed at any stage within the book, it flowed beautifully, making me feel that I didn't want it to end.

I look forward to reading other books by Belinda Kroll. She has found herself a new-found fan, for sure!

Highly recommended!



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Reach for the stars

8.3.11

I've changed my blog background image for something more appropriate for a writer with ambition. I'm reaching for the stars! Anyone joining me??
But really, as ambitious writers we need that drive to propel us forward. Don't you agree? Admittedly, I do get very lazy at times (more often than not, actually) and find all kinds of excuses not to sit down and get any writing done. The house needs cleaning, I need to email my brother and sister in England, I NEED to go out for a coffee and a chat with friends, my hair needs washing, my shoes need polishing, my bookcase needs rearranging, my DVD collection needs to be organised into alphabetical order, my wardrobe needs sorting out........ I think, perhaps you get my drift.
This is why, every now and again, I really do need a shot of encouragement. It can come in all kinds of disguises. Reading a terrific book, a fabulous article in a woman's magazine (Woman and Home is particularly good), an amazing movie that was inspired by a book, those TV shows that show how someone has shot to stardom - from having very little to having more than they could ever need. All of these things help give me a kick up the butt.
Another of mine though, is seeing pictures of the place where I want to spend the rest of my life. Canada. My husband and I haven't yet decided where in Canada we'd like to settle. We've visited Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Our next trip will cover Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick... have you seen videos and images of these places? They're astoundingly beautiful. And that in itself makes me want to be a success. If I could write something really great, and get it published (successfully), it could potentially give us just a little income boost. And it all helps in the long run, doesn't it?
Right, now I'm going to continue with my revision of Raven, my future bestselling novel for teens!!

Blood and Chocolate

7.3.11

Well, I finished reading Blood and Chocolate and even though I found the lead character quite irritating, I did enjoy the story itself.
Homo Lupus, Vivian, is supposed to be just 16 yet comes across as someone at least 10 years older and it drove me insane the way she spoke to people, often calling them girl or boy. Very annoying!
I know it's a supernatural story, but even supernatural stories should make you feel like they're believable and I didn't quite get that with Blood and Chocolate. An enjoyable read though. Worth the 9.99 Canadian Dollars I paid for it in Chapters in Belleville, Ontario!

World Book Day

3.3.11

It's World Book Day today. Cool huh? Well, it is for those of us who are MAD about those darling little things that are filled with words that make beautiful stories. Whether it's for entertainment, pure escapism, a good cry, a good laugh.... books are simply the best thing since sliced bread (actually, what's so damn great about sliced bread??!). Ok, the best thing since the creation of chocolate. That's better.
I adore books. Full stop.
I adore being surrounded by them. I love the smell of books. The feel of books. The written word among them. Books, books, books. I'd work in a bookstore and be a very happy girl!
I think I was probably quite an early reader. I can't remember exactly how old I was, but I remember loving to read them from a young age. And then around the age of about 11 or 12, I discovered the world of Jilly Cooper. My, did she teach me a thing or two about life. Ok, about the birds and the bees then. Her books were full of hilarity, a bit of sex and were simply unputdownable good reads. There were quite a few, small books, the titles of which were girls names. Hmmm. What were they called?? Oh yes... Imogen, Harriet, Bella, Emily, Octavia and Prudence. What lovely memories I have of sitting outside in the bright Algarve sunshine, literally devouring these books. There were others that she wrote, of course, but these were the ones than left an impression on me at that age.
There are a number of books that I read around that time, and a little later as a teenager, that left me wanting more... I just didn't want them to end. Some of these included:
Destiny by Sally Beauman
Queenie by Michael Korda
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (this one, was a bit later. In fact, it was a book I had to study for A'level English Literature and I LOVED it.)
Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews
Admittedly, there were a fair few Danielle Steel books that I read, and thoroughly enjoyed at the time. All of these books were pure escapism for me.
Then I began to enjoy a good chick lit book... anything by Wendy Holden, Jenny Colgan, Marian Keyes, Belinda Jones, Sophie Kinsella to name just a few. I loved the humour ensconced in a great tale of romance. They were books that made me giggle and occasionally made me cry (I am a big soppy softie than cries at the drop of a hat). I still love a great chick lit read but lately it is the dark and eerie paranormal (particularly for teens!) stories that take my breath away. It probably all started with the magical tale of Harry Potter which lead to Twilight. Now, I have been introduced to a series by Rachel Caine, all about vampires in a town called Morganville.
I was sucked into it after the first few pages. The writing, at times, does come across as a bit young (I must remember these books are for teens not necessarily for 35 year olds!) but I could read one of her books in one, long sitting, given half the chance. I've only read three, as the next three are sitting in my brother's house in England waiting to be posted to me! So in the meantime, I have bought Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. It's easy to read but I am finding that I am not yet connecting with the lead character. So far, it's not really doing it for me. I think this time, being a writer of this genre myself, I am perhaps over analysing the story. Note to self... STOP IT and just enjoy the read itself.
I've just ordered Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, which I'm extremely excited to read. Although I have to admit that I have a bookcase FULL of books that are waiting for me to read them. The majority of them are chick lit. I guess, they're on the backburner now I have a new love!
Before I sign off (and I do apologise for such a long post), another FANTASTIC book I have read is not actually published yet. It's on Authonomy, waiting for an agent and publisher to gobble it up (and they should as it's got bestseller written all over it). The name is Hidden by Kami K. Go check it out... you won't be disappointed!
Happy World Book Day everybody!!! xx
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