Wednesday 31 December 2014

Something to help you sleep...

Part of an email I received from Kindle Direct Publishing:

"On January 1, 2015, European Union (EU) tax laws regarding the taxation of digital products (including eBooks) will change: previously, Value Added Tax (VAT) was applied based on the seller’s country – as of January 1st, VAT will be applied based on the buyer’s country. 

As a result, starting on January 1st, KDP 
authors must set list 
prices to be inclusive of VAT..."

What does that waffle all mean? Why am I boring you On New year's Eve? Here's why:

"...For example, if an author had previously set
£5.00 as the VAT-exclusive list price for amazon.co.uk, the new VAT-inclusive list price will be £6.00 because the applicable VAT rate in the UK is 20%. "


And to make the matter even more confusing, the tax is different all over the E.U. 

In other words, buy your books now, my lovelies before the new tax law kicks in. X

From my side of the pond to yours...

...Just in case I'm asleep when the hands on the clock are pointing straight up!

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And never brought to mind? 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And auld lang syne! 

For auld lang syne, my dear, 
For auld lang syne. 
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, 
For auld lang syne. "



Thanks for your company and friendship in 2014. It's been great. Now, where's 2015? Bring it on! XXX

Another nominee...

Congratulations to my friend Sharon Kay!

Two of her books, Wicked Flames AND Kissed By A Demon Spy, were nominated over at Moonrise Bookblog's Readers Choice Awards. I've read both and I think they're fabulous.

Good luck, girl!



Tuesday 30 December 2014

OMG!!!

'Hemlock' has been nominated in Moonrise Bookblog's Readers Choice Awards. :D It's listed in the best fantasy romance category. *squee*

I can't stop grinning. Who cares about the results? I got an actual, real life nomination! Me!

Thank you so much, Moonrise lovelies! <3 <3 <3

*Edit* Wolsbane is listed too. I was so excited I missed it!


Sunday 28 December 2014

Book Pimpage ahead...

In case you didn't see my previous post #FBhideandseek, 'Wolfsbane' is now available at these outlets:

B & N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wolfsbane-nj-layouni/1120870724?ean=2940151677226

KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=nj+layouni

Inktera: http://www.inktera.com/store/title/efde0f23-3bc9-4a92-b46a-e2f913f16996

Because I'm still in a festive mood, for a limited period, I've dropped the price. Yay! :) (And the moment its Kindle Unlimited stint is up, 'Hemlock' will be joining it!)

Don't forget, to be in with a chance to win paperback versions of BOTH books, click on the 'Super Awesome Giveaway' post at the top of my Facebook page.

Friday 26 December 2014

SUPER FREAKIN' AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!

How's your holiday going so far?

Christmas dinner turned into a bit of an epic, and I had a nasty encounter with a vegetable peeler, but it all turned out well in the end. Who needs an index finger anyway?

Ah! I love Christmas, all that love and goodwill... batteries not included. It gives me such a buzz!

As far as I'm concerned, there really is no greater gift than giving, so I've decided to extend Christmas in my own small way.

How d'you fancy the chance to win paper copies of BOTH my books? (Yes, I'm currently running a 'Hemlock' giveaway on my Goodreads page, but in this giveaway one lucky person will win BOTH books, Hemlock and Wolfsbane, gratis, free of charge. Heck! I'll even sign them if you want me to.

How does that sound? Are you up for it? To be in with a chance, here's what you have to do:

- Follow the link to my website.

- At the top of the page you'll see a box inviting you to 'Subscribe To My Newsletter.'

- Enter your name and email addie. (Don't worry. I won't abuse your details or pass them on to a third party, pinky promise!)

- Then leave me a message on my Facebook author page telling me what your favourite (or worst!) Christmas gift was and you're all done!

I'll announce the winner at the end of January, okay?

Wednesday 24 December 2014

So here it is...

... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful winter holiday.

Monday 22 December 2014

Who fancies getting a message from Santa?

If you have kids - or a partner! - you MUST give this a try: Portable North Pole. Follow the link to get a free, personalized message from Santa. Yes, FREE!

(Fyi, I'm still on the naughty list, but Santa assures me there's still time for me to mend my ways before the Big Day.)

#lovechristmas

Saturday 20 December 2014

Only 5 more sleeps to go!

Gingerbread house? Check! (Like my kids really need extra sugar to ramp up their excitement!) :D

*Note strategically placed cup handles supporting roof*




Thursday 18 December 2014

Just 7 more sleeps until Santa lands!

*squeee*

How are you all holding up? My kids are both totally WILD at the moment, weeping one moment, laughing maniacally[sp?]--while doing the wall-of-death around the living room--the next! The opening of each new door on the advent calendar seems to escalate their craziness. Even the cat seems to be infected with tinsel-itis. She's currently diving in and out of the empty boxes and packaging heaped at the top of the stairs, and I've almost fallen over her twice. I can almost hear her shouting: "Watch this! Yayyyyyyyy!" as she dives.


Anyway, here's one of my favorite Christmas tunes.  <3 There's nothing like a few Clannad tunes to help ease the trials of gift wrapping, I always find. Enjoy! :)



Now where did I put the fecking scissors?


Wednesday 17 December 2014

What's a book without a reader?

... nothing but a meaningless jumble of letters on (virtual) paper, that's what. In order to truly live, a story needs readers.

I might come across as a confident person, but the truth is I'm rather shy, so making the decision to publish my scribblings was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

The only way I can describe this feeling is by asking you to imagine how you'd feel if you lost your diary or journal, the place where you record your innermost secrets. Now, imagine a stranger finds it, reads it, and passes it along to a friend, and they pass it to someone else, and then on to someone else...

Yup! Publishing feels a bit like that. :)

I don't say this often enough, but THANK YOU for all the support you've given me this year, for chatting, for reviewing, and for loving my stories (almost!) as much as I do.

I'd trust any one of you guys with my secret diary, anytime! <3 <3 <3

8 SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!


And today FB are running a poll asking for our opinions on Facebook. Ooh! That one was a real toughie to answer. [/sarcasm]

Anyway, just a heads up to let you know this is the last day of Hemlock's Countdown Deal. Go on, my lovelies. Grab it while it's still on offer! :)

ps: Have you entered my Goodreads giveaway yet? <3



Monday 15 December 2014

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY!!!

Good morning! :)

Only ten more sleeps 'til Christmas, just in case anyone needed a reminder!

Anyway, hands up who fancies winning a signed paper copy of 'Hemlock', the first book in my 'Traveler' series?

You do? Great! Then clickety-click on the link and head on over to my GOODREADS PAGE because I have a giveaway going on right now. You have to be in it for the chance to win it!

Good luck! :)

Okay, I'm off to spend the rest of the day with Anselm. Just me, my A4 notepad, a black Bic pen, and the most messed up black sheep on Erde. Lucky me, eh? <3

Friday 12 December 2014

More book pimpage...

Sorry to be a book-promo bore but it's your last chance to pick up 'Hemlock' for 99 pennies. If time-travel romance with a side serving of adventure is your thing... or your mother's thing... or your fella's thing, get clicking, my lovelies.

Please don't miss out!


Wednesday 10 December 2014

Seasonal felicitations, my lovelies!

So, how’s December treating you all so far?

a) Everything’s all mistletoe and wine here, thanks! Positively Joy to the World, in fact.

b) Shut. Up! My home resembles an Amazon depot, the kids are doing the wall of death around the living room, the cat’s knocked the fecking tree over for the sixth time today, and now my in-laws are coming to stay. So you can take your felicitations, wrap ‘em in tinsel and—

c) Hic! *slurs Who knows? Mulled wine is an hex-shremely powerful anesthet-HIC, you know.

I’m currently somewhere in the region of (a) and (b.) No drinky-poos for me until Christmas is all wrapped up and posted.

Okay, here’s a little something to banish the winter chills... I’ve scheduled a Kindle Countdown DEAL

for ‘Hemlock’, the first book in the ‘Traveler’ series and it starts tomorrow! Even better, for the first couple of days, you can get your hands on Vadim and Anselm for a measly 99 c/p.

http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Traveler-Hemlock-Travel-Romance-ebook/dp/B00JZK3VLQ

If you’ve already read ‘Hemlock’, why not grab a copy for someone who hasn’t? I know I’m biased, but my boys would look great in anyone’s Christmas stocking. Treat your mum, your gran, or even your man. Spread the word, m’dears. Sharing is caring. :)

Right. I’m heading back to my writer’s dungeon. Actually, it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. Not now I’ve decorated the manacles with fairy lights. SO pretty!


Mwah! XXX

I do!

 How about you? :)


Tuesday 9 December 2014

Would YOU Survive the Middle Ages?

I don't normally post quizzes but I couldn't resist this one!


Apparently, I might get by... for a while. Yeah? Knowing my luck I'd catch the plague the moment I stepped out of my time machine!

How about you? Would you survive, living in a world like the one my poor Martha inhabits? And would you trade all the luxuries of our modern world for the love of one good man?

If you do the quiz, feel free to post your results here. (I know you won't do it, but I'm going to keep on asking this kind of stuff until someone takes pity and talks to me! :) )

Monday 8 December 2014

Wolfsbane update...

The book I call "Wolfie" has officially been liberated from KDP Select. What that means is he is no longer exclusive to Amazon. Yes, my friends, you can now get your hands on Vadim and Anselm at all these other outlets. Well... with the exception of Apple. For some reason, some of my small print has upset them. Hey-ho!





Oh, and before I go, please pop back here on 11/12/2014 when I'll be sharing some news of the "Hemlock" variety.

Have a great day/evening!

Sunday 7 December 2014

Wassail, my lovelies!

"Wassail comes from the Old English words 'waes hael', which means "be well," "be hale," or "good health." A strong, hot drink (usually a mixture of ale, honey, and spices) would be put in a large bowl, and the host would lift it and greet his companions with "waes hael," to which they would reply "drinc hael," which meant "drink and be well..."

Christmas past rocks!



Friday 5 December 2014

Thursday 4 December 2014

Muse laxatives: How to make the words come...

Good morning, my lovelies! :) Check out this gorgeous song that one of my amazing readers shared with me. Apparently she listened to it a lot while she was reading "Wolfsbane."  Thanks, R! <3 <3 <3

When I'm writing, I listen mainly to instrumental stuff because I find lyrics too distracting. On the days when the words aren't flowing freely, musical aid is vital. For instance, I couldn't have written any of those gory battle scenes without the aid of the "Kingdom of Heaven" soundtrack.
This particular track is the ultimate word laxative.

Do you listen to music while you read? If so, feel free to post links to your personal soundtracks to some of your favorite reads. Poking around someone's music collection is almost as enlightening as their bookshelves, imo!

Have a great day! :)

Monday 1 December 2014

Tell Don't Show: Why Writing Rules Are Mostly Wrong...



Yes. Yes. YES!!!

Thank you, Rachel Cross for posting this link to a masterclass featuring the creator of the insanely popular Jack Reacher series.

If only I'd come across this lecture back when I was still an aspiring author. Stupid "Rules." They had me tied in knots for months before I finally, and secretly, decided to discard the vast majority of them.



Lightbulb moment?  I'll say! It's a veritable 1960s paparazzi feeding frenzy for the mind. Enjoy!



Happy 4th of July!

Hope you all have a safe, happy, and wonderful day!