I know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I’m so drawn to this one for Time After Time by Hannah McKinnon that I’m delighted to be part of the launch celebrations. Time After Time was published in e-book on 2nd June 2016 and is available for purchase here.

As an aspiring writer I’m thrilled to be hosting a guest post from Hannah McKinnon with fantastic tips for when a writer gets stuck.

Time After Time

Hayley Cooper, a powerful but now struggling lawyer, fantasizes about what her life would be like if only if she’d made different choices. It’s understandable; the past two years have been hell. She barely sees her kids, her boss is trying to sabotage her, and her marriage is falling apart.

Burnt out, Hayley goes to sleep wishing for a different life. When she wakes up married to her first boyfriend, one she has not seen in over twenty years, she realizes there might be some truth in the saying “be careful what you wish for”. Over a single weekend, like Ebenezer Scrooge, Hayley gets to see her life on other side of the white picket fence – not just with her first ex, but with each of her past loves. But is the grass always greener, and will she ever want to go home?

MUSE GONE AWOL? Use The Matrix!

A Guest Post by Hannah McKinnon

Writers are frequently asked where they get their ideas from. It’s almost embarrassing to admit that, often, we don’t have a clue. Although concepts appear in our hearts and minds at sporadic intervals, the exact source usually remains frustratingly obscure.

Most writers will have an exception or two. Take my debut novel, Time After Time, as an example. The idea came to me one morning, seemingly out of nowhere. In hindsight I can trace it back to the fact I’d been living in Canada for a year, was homesick, and going through a ‘What if I’d made different choices?’ phase. That thinking led to the creation of my protagonist, Hayley, who asked herself the same questions, and the story was born.

It’s fabulous when inspiration strikes, but what if you can’t come up with a single, well, ‘What if’?

Enter The Matrix (Keanu Reeves welcome, but unfortunately not required), a nifty technique my writing teacher, Brian Henry from Quick Brown Fox introduced me to. It’s a tool you can build extensively, cross-reference and use to kick-start the most stubborn of minds.

And best of all? You don’t have to come up with the content alone. Here’s how it works:

Step 1

Gather input from movies or television shows (reality TV seems to work particularly well for unique characters), people watch at a coffee shop, doctor’s office, bar or supermarket, and ask your family, friends and colleagues to name one or more of the following:

Different and unique characters, for example:	Lines of dialogue, for example:	Peculiar situations, for example:	Interesting objects, for example:
Yoga master in a thong	“I’m not that kind of person.”	A blind date on Friday the 13th	Shattered fish tank
Cook who has lice	“I’m the kind of woman you’d want to sit next to.”	Premature burial	Overturned kayak
Granny on a skateboard	“Don’t leave a single one alive.”	Wing-walking	Bloodstained envelope
Promiscuous nun	“I should have been cremated.”	Being summoned to the cockpit by the pilot	Small, dusty walnut box
Ragged child in the street	“This will be your first of many.”	Christmas in June	Advert for baby shoes that have never been worn

Step 2

Pick two or more items from the same or different columns to build your ‘What if?’ question. For example; what if a cook had lice, and thought he should have been cremated after he died while catering for a Christmas party in June?

Sounds strange? Sure! Is there potential for a funny ghost story? Absolutely. You can run with the first idea or continue until you find something that inspires you more. And if you’re still struggling, keep adding to your list of possibilities.

Step 3

Write. Brian recommends setting a timer for 20-30 minutes during which editing isn’t allowed. Silencing the inner critic lets the ideas take shape without negativity. You can always go back and change things later.

While you may feel the piece doesn’t have the makings of a novel to begin with, the idea could quickly transform into a short story, and also banish writer’s block by allowing the mind to focus on something else – however weird and whacky.

I wrote A Walnut Box during one of Brian’s writing workshop in which we used The Matrix technique. The items I chose were the blood-stained envelope, a walnut box (which also gave me the title), and the line “First of many.” Within the 30 minute timeframe I had the bones of a short story. I worked on it some more, and it was subsequently published online.

So if you’re still waiting your much-missed muse to return, give it up already! Build The Matrix and write something. And who knows? You might always be able to say exactly where you got your inspiration from…

For more inspiration from Hannah, follow her on Twitter, (and search the #whatif hashtag) visit her website, find her on Facebook or see posts with these other bloggers:

I’m delighted to be reviewing One Hot Summer by Kat French as part of the launch celebrations. One Hot Summer was published on June 2nd 2016 in e-book and paperback by Avon Books. One Hot Summer is available for purchase from Amazon, Waterstones and Harper Collins. My grateful thanks to Louis Patel for my review copy.

One Hot Summer

Alice McBride is determined that the one thing she won’t lose in her marriage breakup is Borne Manor, her beloved home, but she gets more than she bargained for when she rents it out for the summer and a sexy cowboy comes to stay.

Country music star Robinson Duff has had his own share of heartbreak and needs somewhere quiet to hide out for the summer. Neither Alice nor Robinson are in any position for romance; the timing is terrible and they’re both rebounding like out of control frisbees.

Can a holiday romance help mend their broken hearts. Or will it just make things even worse when the long hot summer comes to its inevitable end?

My Review of One Hot Summer

Alice’s husband has been unfaithful and when he leaves her for a fellow actress she has to find a way to bring in extra money if she is not to lose her beloved home, Borne Manor. When Robinson Duff, a country singer on the rebound from a broken heart, moves in, life for Alice is about to change.

One Hot Summer is an entertaining read just right for taking away on holiday. There’s steamy romance, thwarted love, jealousy and an abusive mynah bird all contributing to sheer escapism and not a little pandemonium.

I enjoyed this rather steamy chick-lit novel and found the cast of characters eclectic and amusing. I wouldn’t mind meeting Robinson Duff in real life! There’s an underlying sensuality to many of the scenes with quite a lot of undressing taking place so that the reader is never quite sure what will happen next.

The plot moves along seemlessly with a strong focus on romance balanced by Alice’s practical need to keep her home afloat. Underpinning the lighter elements is the serious point that many are living with estranged relationships and broken hearts but there is an uplifting optimism here too. I found there was quite intense emotion created amongst the sexier passages.

There’s considerable humour in One Hot Summer, especially through Stewie Heaven’s ever changing wigs and Rambo the mynah bird’s inappropriate commentary on life, all adding to the enjoyment of this lighthearted summer read.

If I could change one element about One Hot Summer it’s that I’d like fewer expletives. Whilst they help build tension, dialogue and character, some felt a little intrusive to me and occasionally interrupted the flow of reading. That said, I think I’d forgive cowboy Robinson anything if he spoke to me the way he does to Alice!

You can follow Kat French on Twitter and find her on Facebook. There is more about One Hot Summer with these other bloggers too:

I’ve been featuring a few books for children on Linda’s Book Bag and am delighted to be part of the launch celebrations for Erica’s Elephant by Sylvia Bishop, with illustrations by Ashley King. Suitable for children aged 6-8 years old (and middle aged women) Erica’s Elephant was published in hardback and e-book by Scholastic Books on 2nd June 2016 and is available from Waterstones, from Amazon and all good book stores.

I have a review of Erica’s Elephant, but when I said I’d be part of these launch celebrations I was also asked to write a few lines about what I’d do if I found an elephant on my doorstep so you can read my thoughts about that too!

Erica’s Elephant

When Erica Perkins wakes up on the morning of her tenth birthday, the last thing she expects is to find a very confused elephant sitting on her doorstep. So begins an unlikely friendship. But can a small girl and a rather large elephant learn to live together in a tiny terraced house? And when the dastardly owner of the local zoo plots to steal the elephant, will Erica be able to outsmart him?

You can see more about Erica’s Elephant on Goodreads.

My Review of Erica’s Elephant

Erica lives alone and on her 10th birthday her Uncle Jeff sends her a live elephant with a bad knee. This is the start of a series of problems and some interesting life lessons!

I thought Erica’s Elephant was pitched perfectly for the age group of 6 – 8 year olds. The language is simple and clear, but not patronising, with sufficient depth to allow both slower readers and the more able to enjoy the story on different levels.

There’s all the ingredients for a charming and exciting story with elements children will know and understand; like being in trouble with authority, running away, feeling lonely and needing friends. The concept of being friendless is sensitively handled and would be fabulous for children who feel isolated form their peers.

There are many references to wildlife, natural environments and zoos so that discussions could take place about how we care for and protect the animals on the planet. I also loved the way Erica learns not to judge others by appearances and realises that not everyone is as they seem. Erica’s Elephant has important life messages for children that are presented in an entirely natural and non-preachy way.

I really enjoyed this story and must also mention the high quality illustrations provided by Ashley King. They enhance the text and serve as a wonderful visual stimulus. If I were a primary aged child I’d be thrilled to receive this lovely book.

An Elephant on the Doorstep

I’d love to find an elephant on the doorstep – think of all that manure for my garden and allotment! I also have an old tree stump from a long gone flowering cherry that is taking up too much border space and an elephant would have no trouble extracting it from the garden so that I could plant even more herbaceous perennials.

However, what I’d most likely do if I found an elephant on the doorstep, is bore it to tears. And elephants do cry – I’ve seen the wetness from their eyes at close quarters. I’d be so over-excited because I love wildlife and have been on several safaris, being privileged in seeing elephants in several countries of Africa and Asia. So, I expect I’d get us a cup of tea and some chocolate and make any visiting elephant look through all my holiday snaps (like the one above I took in South Africa last year) to see if they recognised any of the elephants I’ve seen, or the places I’ve been…

About Sylvia Bishop

Sylvia Bishop is 23 years old and has recently graduated from Oxford. She is one half of the brilliant improvised comedy duo Peablossom Cabaret. Erica’s Elephant is her first book, and she intends it to be the first of many quirky stories for young readers.

You can find out more about Sylvia on her website on Instagram and by following her on Twitter.

You’ll also find illustrator Ashley King on Twitter and his website.

There is more about Erica’s Elephant with these other bloggers too:

It gives me enormous pleasure to be celebrating the relaunch of Anything For Her by Jack Jordan, first published last year. It has a special place in my affections as it was one of the first books I’d been offered by an author when I first started blogging and I was amazed by the quality of the writing of this talented young man. Anything for Her is currently available in e-book for only 99p here where you can also read the beginning of the book to find out for yourself what a gripping story it is.

Since the original publication, Anything For Her has been given a stunning new cover which better represents some of the book’s content.

My original review is available to read here, but I’d like to reiterate what a great story-teller Jack Jordan is and urge you to read Anything For Her.

You can find out more about Jack Jordan on his website and you’ll find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Anything For Her

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you.

Louise Leighton’s life has fallen apart, all because of one fateful night. Her husband is an adulterer, her sister is his mistress, and soon, Louise will lose everything she owns. But she never imagined she would lose her daughter.

Eighteen-year-old Brooke Leighton is missing. It’s up to Louise and the Metropolitan Police to find her. Has Brooke run away? Or has she been taken against her will? And can Louise aid the investigation without mentioning the night where all of her troubles began?

If she mentions that night, she will incriminate her daughter for heinous crimes. But if she doesn’t, she may never find Brooke; and if she has been abducted, the person who took her may come for Louise, too.

Sometimes the past comes back to kill you.

———-

You can read interviews, guest posts and reviews from other bloggers so that you don’t just have to take my word for what a thrilling read this is!

I’m delighted to be bringing you the cover of Daisy James’ latest novel When Only Cupcakes Will Do which will be published in e-book by Carina on 4th August 2016. When Only Cupcakes Will Do is available to order here.

It’s such a lovely looking, summery cover that I can’t wait to read the story too. Linda’s Book Bag regulars may remember that Daisy James featured with a food themed guest post last year and you can read that post here.

When Only Cupcakes Will Do

When life gives you lemons, make lemon drizzle cupcakes…

Lucie thought that proposing to her boyfriend in Tiffany’s would be the best day of her life. Until he said no. In just a few seconds, her whole world is turned upside-down! And when she accidentally switches cocoa powder for chilli powder at work, she finds herself out of a job, too…

Baking has always made life better in the past, but can Lucie really bake her way to happiness? Starting her own company, selling cupcakes out of an old ice cream van might just be the second chance that Lucie needs!

Of course, she never expected to find love along the way…

—–

You will find Daisy James on Facebook  and you can follow her on Twitter but you might also be interested in Daisy’s other books which you can find here.

The Runaway Bridesmaid

What a girl wants…

Squeezing herself into a frothy, flouncy, bubble-gum pink dress, Rosie Hamilton thinks that being a bridesmaid for her spoilt little sister Freya can’t get any worse.

But discovering her boyfriend in a cupboard with the bride, ten minutes before Freya is due to say ‘I do’, is the icing on the sequinned wedding cake – and Rosie’s cue to pack her bags.

Swapping her Louboutins for Wellingtons, Rosie throws her bridesmaid bouquet in the air and flies from bustling New York to sleepy Devon. Her late Aunt Bernice’s cosy countryside cottage is the only place that’s ever felt like home.

Now, for the first time in her life, and with the help of her beloved Aunt’s diaries, Rosie must put herself first for a change – and decide what she really wants…

If The Dress Fits

She might be the most famous person in the country, but no one even knows her name…

Callie’s exquisite, glittering silk gown has been shortlisted for the celebrity wedding of the year. But just as all her dreams are coming true, disaster strikes!

Leaving behind the bright lights of London, Callie is forced to return home to sleepy Althorpe. And there’s one man she hopes to avoid – the childhood sweetheart who turned her life upside down. But now she’s back, is it finally time to stop running?

Yet, as Callie faces her past, a Cinderella-like hunt begins for that perfect, pearl-embroidered dress, mysteriously submitted without a name…

Once again it’s thanks to the lovely BookConnectors Facebook group of bloggers and authors that has introduced me to another author – this time Thea Hartley. Thea’s book Wear Bright Colours For Me is in the spotlight today. Wear Bright Colours For Me was published by Ex-L-Ence on 5th March 2016 and is available from Amazon but Thea is a prolific author and you’ll find many more of her books here.

Thea is a writer with visual impairment and today she has kindly agreed to tell readers about that experience in an inspiring guest post.

Wear Bright Colours For Me

Amy and Luke meet each other in life after life. However, usually in tragic circumstances,  they are quickly separated from each other. The rules of “karma” are all that can bring them together for eternity and they must overcome the evil nemesis who is responsible in each life for their tragedies.

Most of the characters turn up in every life in different guises, trying to work through their own karmic journeys; An African tribe in 10BC; Elizabethan England; A gypsy encampment in Victorian times and a small Welsh village during world War 2. In each historical scenario dramas are played out until the surprising ending in contemporary London.

Writing With A Visual Impairment

A Guest Post by Thea Hartley

Almost eight years ago in my right eye, my eyesight started to become distorted. I had a black spot in my right eye, and lines appeared wobbly and moving.

I thought it was something which would just go away. However, I consulted my optician who immediately sent me to the hospital eye clinic… I had some sort of macular degeneration.

This is a progressive eye disease which eventually leads to blindness,

Unfortunately for me, I had the faster, more dangerous wet type and my vision deteriorated rapidly. It soon also  affected the left eye and I was finding everyday tasks more and more difficult.

Within a year I progressed from reading normal books and magazines to using high powered glasses, magnifiers, and moving on to large print publications.

Before long, I could only read large print books, and this was with the help of the battery operated strong magnifier. Nevertheless, these too, became impossible for me and I moved on to the kindle app on my iPad where I could increase the print size to almost one word per page.

By now, I was having monthly treatment in the hospital of “lucentis” injections in my eyes and constant scans.

I loved my job as a psychology lecturer, at this time. However, despite all the help in the form of magnification, it soon became impossible to mark students papers as well as difficulties actually getting to work. With a sad heart I took early retirement on medical grounds.

Once home, I certainly needed something to do! The only thing I could think of was my life’s desire to write. I strange decision for someone with hardly any sight. The question was how?

I learned touch typing many years ago, so tried that on my PC. The problem was that  I couldn’t see the screen, so could not read back what I had written,

Contacting the RNIB they put me in touch with computer technicians who showed me how to use Dragon software which incorporated voice recognition. This, I must admit was difficult, so I graduated  to a more sophisticated programme called “Jaws”. This was better, but for some reason I still had difficulties.

Then I discovered that it was easier for me to type using the strongest glasses  prescribed and holding my iPad just a little further than my nose. This way, I can use a very large font and read back what I write or use iPad’s accessibility feature of voice over!

It IS a challenge, but not an impossibility. I do need a good proof reader and editor. I am probably slower than I was when touch typing, but my final work is much better and clearer.

This might be a really strange occupation for someone who is visually impaired, but it is still a rewarding one. I ‘see’ my books and stories in my mind, as if a film is running there and setting the scene for me.

I would encourage anyone with similar or even different eye problems, who desire to write, to try all the options I mentioned, until they are happy with one that works for them.

Never give up is my motto and I intend to keep writing as long as possible,

About Thea Hartley

Thea was born and bred in Merthyr Tydfil, and attended Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School.

She married young, and lived on the local Gurnos Estate, having three children by the age of twenty. Aware that she had not explored her educational opportunities, she became a mature student, obtaining a Psychology degree from The University of Glamorgan, followed by a Masters’ and PGCE at Cardiff University.

Thea became a practicing Psychologist and lecturer, a career which spans   over thirty years. During this time, she had research and educational papers published, plus some fictional articles and inclusion in two poetry anthologies,

Unfortunately, in 2007, Thea developed a degenerative eye disease, which  deteriorated rapidly, until she was no longer able to work.

Finding herself at home, for the first time in many years, she decided to write the book she had always wanted to write: A biography of her Grandfather, Tommy Horton, who moved to Merthyr in 1900 to pursue his fortune. He had led a very colourful, interesting life, culminating in opening the first factory to produce ‘condoms’ in the UK which opened in 1913.

Thea got in touch with the RNIB, who were extremely helpful in providing the training and equipment to allow her to write despite her failing sight,

This new writing career led to The French Letter King her first, acclaimed novel. This became the  first volume of a trilogy about her family.

Since then, Thea has ventured into several genres, including a series of Psychological Crime Mysteries, featuring Resa James, psychological thrillers, historical romantic fiction and her latest release Wear Bright Colours For Me, which explores the fascinating subject of reincarnation.

You can find out more about Thea on Facebook, by following her on Twitter and by visiting her website.

When I was approached by Catchphrase Dan and asked if I would like to review Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs, little did I know what I was letting myself in for!  Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs was published on 27th May 2016 and is currently available in ebook from Amazon UK, Amazon US and Kobo.

Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs

Maggie stepped forward and rubbed her eyes in disbelief – how was this possible? A giant stone staircase stood in front of her, climbing high up through an ugly hole that had appeared in the ceiling. Maggie strained her eyes and looked for the end of the staircase, but it climbed and climbed into the darkness of the loft.

When Maggie returns home from the market one spectacularly normal day, two things in particular strike her as strange.

• Firstly, a rather peculiar set of stairs have sprouted from her otherwise stairless bungalow.
• Secondly, and probably most concerning of all, her husband Nesbitt is nowhere to be found…

Where is Nesbitt? Why have these extraordinary stairs appeared – and more importantly, what lies beyond them? Evil? Good? Monsters? Head lice?!

Join Maggie as she searches low, high and even higher for Nesbitt, in an intriguing debut adventure that will captivate children and adults alike.

My Review of Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs

When 70 year old Maggie goes to the market, she doesn’t expect to return home to find her husband Nesbitt missing, with stairs having mysteriously appeared in their bungalow.

I have one criticism that I’m going to get out of the way first before I tell you my thoughts about Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs and that is that there were a couple of Americanisms of ‘gotten’ and ‘gonna’ that I didn’t like because they didn’t seem to fit the British setting well enough.

Right. That said, I thought Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs was a smashing book. It’s a modern morality fable with all the traditional ingredients needed, including peril, good versus evil and some scary moments. I think children of all ages will love it.

I really appreciated that the star character, Maggie, is a septuagenarian woman so that the stereotypes we might expect are shattered and challenged.  She is feisty and brave and not averse to some violent thoughts on occasion too. But what is lovely is that there is a real bond and love between her and Nesbitt, illustrating to children that it is good to show love for others.

The story is fast paced and exciting with magical and menacing stairs and a raven trapped within a spiral of evil. It is wonderfully concluded too, making for a very satisfying read.

I’m not sure younger children will necessarily get all the jokes and the first person asides from the narrator, but that would not detract from their enjoyment in the read and it makes the story thoroughly engaging for adults too. I laughed aloud at a comment about fancy recipe books, for example. It says something about the mind and humour of the author that the story begins with Chapter X and ends with an Outroduction.

To complement the story by Catchphrase Dan there are wonderful illustrations by Berg Norcross. Whilst they seem initially very simple, they are instilled with a spirit that reminded me of Van Gogh.

Monkfish Maggie and the Bungalow Stairs is quirky, entertaining and hugely enjoyable. I recommend it without hesitation to children and adults alike.

About The Author

You can find out more about Catchphrase Dan on Facebook and on his website. You can also follow him on Twitter and find him in Ello.

It gives me great pleasure today to welcome Mary-Jane Riley onto Linda’s Book Bag. Mary-Jane is another author from the wonderful Book Connectors Group on Facebook.

Her second novel, After She Fell, is currently available as an e-book on Amazon UK and Amazon US and will be out in paperback on 14th July 2016.

After She Fell

There are so many ways to fall…

Catriona needs help. Her seventeen-year-old daughter Elena was found dead at the bottom of a cliff near her boarding school. The death has been ruled a suicide, but Catriona isn’t convinced.

When her old friend, journalist Alex Devlin, arrives in Hallow’s Edge to investigate, she quickly finds that life at private boarding school The Drift isn’t as idyllic as the bucolic setting might suggest.

Amidst a culture of drug-taking, bullying and tension between school and village, no one is quite who they seem to be, and there are several people who might have wanted Elena to fall…

The Bad Things

Mary-Jane’s first novel The Bad Things is available in e-book and paperback here in the UK and in e-book here in the US.

Alex Devlin’s life changed forever fifteen years ago when her sister Sasha’s two small children were snatched in broad daylight. Little Harry’s body was found a few days later, but Millie’s remains were never discovered.

Now Jackie Wood, jailed as an accessory to the twins’ murder, has been released, her conviction quashed by the Appeal Court. Convinced Jackie can reveal where Millie is buried, Alex goes to meet her.

But the unexpected information Wood reveals shocks Alex to the core and threatens to uncover the dark secret she has managed to keep under wraps for the past fifteen years. Because in the end, can we ever really know what is in the hearts of those closest to us?

Five things I have learned since being published and one thing I have known for a long time

A Guest Post by Mary-Jane Riley

One

You’re always reaching for more. I danced naked around my bedroom when I put the phone down after my agent said she wanted to represent me. It’s not that I indulge in odd rituals (I do), but I had just got home from work and was getting changed when she rang. So there I was, not a stitch on, as she told me what she did and didn’t like about my manuscript. I nodded and murmured and agreed and then she said she’d like to represent me. She told me to rewrite the bits she thought hadn’t worked. Then she said goodbye. Then I danced. Then I realised I hadn’t written down a word of any of her suggestions. (I have never told my agent this story. I hope she never hears it.)

Anyway, the point of all this is that I had achieved my dream. I had an agent! Now I would be published! Feted! Acclaimed!

Er… hold on. Not as easy as that. No sir. I had to write another book – which turned out to be The Bad Things – before I got a publishing deal with Germany – it was a great deal and I was going to be published. What’s not to like?

Hooray!

But I wanted to be published in the UK. (Whiny voice).

Some time later, an editor at Killer Reads, a new digital imprint of Harper Collins, said she wanted to publish The Bad Things.

Hooray!

Cue celebrations (more of which later), and feeling that at last I had achieved my ambition.

But wait. People were going to read it. Real people. People I didn’t know.

Cue insecurities (more of which later).

Publishing day came and my feelings were mixed. Elation, doubt, worry, relief. But I’d done it!

And I had to do it again.

Luckily I had taken my agent’s advice (and numerous other writers writing about writing advice) and had been working on the next book, which became After She Fell, to be published by Killer Reads again.

Hooray!

So, After She Fell came out… it’s getting good reviews (though it can always do with more!) and readers I’ve spoken to say they are enjoying it even more than THE BAD THINGS.

So now I want to write an even better book. More clever, more twisty more….

See? Always reaching for more.

Two

I am learning to live in a constant state of anxiety. Do people like my books? Are they enjoying them? Is anybody buying them? What if the next one is rubbish? What if it doesn’t get published? What if my agent decides I’m not worth the bother? (Actually, I know the answer to this one – she is the most fantastic agent and sticks with her authors through the lean and bad times as well as the good). What if I can’t think of a plot? What if I don’t get any reviews?

Three

Which leads me on to point number three. Reviews. Rankings. Lists. When The Bad Things was published my husband was the worst person (bar none) for sitting up in bed, late at night, looking at Amazon (and Goodreads when he could find it). ‘Look,’ he’d say, thrusting his iPad under my nose, ‘you’re up to number 88 (or whatever).’ Five minutes later: ‘Look at this review – five stars. Five stars!’ An hour later: ‘Oh, look, you’re down to number 95.’ And this would go on until I fell asleep. He is nothing but loyal, my husband. Especially when I got a particularly nasty one star spoiler review. He wiped my tears and gave me wine. The name of that reviewer is now a swear word in our household. I can cope with people not liking my book, telling me in no uncertain terms they don’t like it, but what I don’t like (and my husband certainly doesn’t like) is a one line review that appears to contain a spoiler and so puts people off buying the book. Hurrumph. With the publication of After She Fell I have been a little more sanguine about reviews (I’m lying). I don’t worry about the fact I haven’t got 100 in the first month (I do). I know they will build (they will, won’t they?) – after all, I’m still getting them for The Bad Things. But the one thing I really am not doing and have forbidden my husband from doing is looking at the Amazon rankings. Therein lies madness. Believe me.

Four

Now for something practical – register your book with PLR (Public Lending Right) and ALCS (Authors Licensing and Collecting Society.). Registering for PLR means you get a few pence every time your book is borrowed from the library but you have to register by a certain time of year. I didn’t bother. My book was selling mainly as an e book and libraries wouldn’t  spend their money on little old me’s paperback. Wrong. I had underestimated how loyal the library service can be to local authors and the libraries in East Anglia stocked my book. (Reader, I cried when I saw my book on the shelf in Eye library for the first time). But because I hadn’t registered with PLR I won’t get a penny from the first year. I’ve done it now. ALCS collects money from all over the world when your work is used. I’m not expecting anything much from that, but you never know.

Five

I have learned that writing makes me happy. I love thinking about characters, I love trying to think of twisty plots. I go for long walks with my dog and we chat a lot about plots and character and sense of place. I enjoy the sheer physicality of typing. If I don’t write something for a couple of days I get a bit grumpy (I can get grumpy if the plot’s not working, too. Or if a character is a bit wet). I also feel very privileged to be able to do it for a (sort of) living and humbled that people want to read what I write. Thanks to all of you.

And finally…

And finally to the one thing I have always known: celebrate every step of the way – however small – it’s a tough business. This was great advice from my agent. So, when I finish a draft, out comes the fizz. Ditto when I finally send my book to my agent. And again when she says she likes it. And again when my editor says she likes it. And again when it is published and…. Yes, I am probably in a semi-pickled state most of the time, but hey, we all go through enough bad times, let’s celebrate the good!

About Mary-Jane Riley

Mary-Jane wrote her first story on her newly acquired blue Petite typewriter. She was eight. It was about a gang of children who had adventures on mysterious islands, but she soon realised Enid Blyton had cornered that particular market. So she wrote about the Wild West instead. When she grew up she had to earn a living, and became a BBC radio talk show presenter and journalist. She has covered many life-affirming stories, but also some of the darkest events of the past two decades.

You will find Mary-Jane Riley on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It gives me great pleasure to bring you a guest post from Julieann Dove all about the messiness of life as she celebrates the publication today, 1st June 2016, of her latest novel A Reason to Stay. A Reason to Stay is available for purchase here.

A Reason to Stay

Elise Newton has it all—a dream job, a house that’s all hers, and a boyfriend who’s a cardiologist. Darren has been carrying an engagement ring in his pocket for two months, waiting for the perfect time to ask her to be his wife. He has no idea Elise has been waiting for the perfect time as well—to break up.

You see, Elise has a fatal flaw. She cannot commit to love.

An early-morning call from her sister gives Elise hope. She’s needed back home in Kentucky, to care for their mother who’s recovering from surgery. It’s the break Elise has been searching for, a reprieve from the strain of ducking Darren’s declarations of love.

But along with Kentucky comes seeing Ben—her first love, the one who came closest to being her happily ever after. Now a single dad, Ben has moved on with his life. But has his love for her moved on as well?

When Elise discovers a long-hidden truth about her family—and the reason why she can’t commit—she must decide which man will give her a reason to stay.

Messy!

A Guest Post from Julieann Dove

Someone once asked me why I titled my blog, “Writing about love and other messy things”. Well, to be honest it took me awhile to commit to a reason why I did write. Everyone has one, right? Sure, I enjoy the process—the endless hours in isolation, making up people and problems…but for what reason? Although I titled my blog before publishing my first book, “Waking Amy”, it didn’t become crystal clear until I read some of the reviews from it…why I considered love messy. It was a consistent theme being stated…women were relating to my heroine! They got her. Well, some did. Some thought she was too naïve. But some people haven’t walked in the shoes of losing oneself in order to please others. And I get that!

Let’s face it…love is messy. Life is messy. There are all kinds of reasons for it. And that’s what I write about. It’s why I write. To have my stories resonate with readers. I write about commitment issues, abandonment issues, denial issues… It’s all there…the good, the bad, and the messy. It’s life!

About Julieann Dove

Julieann lives in Virginia, yet longs to live everywhere else. It doesn’t come as a surprise that along with her gypsy soul, comes an active imagination. That’s why she loves to write and invent worlds and people, so that she can formulate their happily ever after. Hobbies include cooking new recipes, sewing, and spending time with her cute boyfriend/husband and five fabulous children. Vacations happen in Nantucket or the Carolina beaches–anywhere there is inspiration for her next book. One day she hopes to travel to Italy, drive one of those little cars around the countryside, and speak the language fluently! Please sign up for her newsletter to find out about new releases by clicking here!

You will find more about Julieann Dove on Goodreads, Facebook, and Pinterest and by following her on Twitter.

I’m delighted to be back blogging after a holiday and supporting Brook Cottage Books in spotlighting the contemporary romance Beauty and the Recluse by Ellie Gray which was published on 12th February 2016 by Tirgearr Publishing.

I have a smashing extract as well as the opportunity to win a £20 or $20 Amazon Gift E-voucher at the bottom of this blog post.

Beauty and the Recluse

Following the recent death of her father, and in need of both a job and somewhere to live, Kiya takes a housekeeping job on the spur of the moment. She soon finds herself living in a beautiful but neglected mansion, working for a strange and reclusive man.

St. John is a man scarred by the past, both physically and emotionally, and is determined to live out his life alone. They are two very different people, drawn to each other almost against their will, but can Kiya convince St. John that he is not the monster he believes himself to be?

EXCERPT

Singing softly to herself, Kiya was halfway into the room before she realised that she was not alone. From the corner of her eye, she saw St. John O’Neill spin around in surprise and she gave a startled cry, the vase slipping through her fingers to smash on the floor by her feet. He was a very tall man, easily 6ft. 5ins, broad-shouldered and muscular. His thick black hair, although clean, was long and unkempt, and his beard did not quite hide the vivid scar that ran from high on his right cheek down to his mouth. Incredibly bright blue eyes bore into her and, despite the scar and his rough, dishevelled appearance, Kiya was breathlessly aware that he was an incredibly attractive man. He continued to stare at her, radiating an aura of menace, and Kiya gave an unconscious shiver.

‘Seen enough?’ he asked coldly.

Blushing furiously, aware that she had been staring, Kiya quickly bent to pick up the pieces of shattered vase.

‘Leave it.’ His words were clipped.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise what time it was. I’ll just clear…’ she babbled, nervously.

‘Dammit, I said leave it.’

Her hand jerked at his unexpected ferocity and she gave a yelp of pain as the sharp edge of the broken vase sliced her palm. She stood quickly, lifting her hand to check the severity of the cut, and felt a wave of nausea wash over her at the surprisingly profuse amount of blood pouring from the wound. She heard St. John mutter an explicit curse and looked up to see him striding quickly towards her, his expression furious.

———-

You can buy Beauty and the Recluse via the following links:

Kindle UK/Amazon UK

Kindle US/Amazon US

Smashwords

Nook

Apple

Kobo

About Ellie Gray

Ellie lives in the beautiful East Riding of Yorkshire with her partner, David, and two children, Joe and Abbie.

Ellie is a contemporary romance author, published with the lovely Tirgearr Publishing, and is a proud member of the Romantic Novelist Association.

Her debut novel, Beauty and the Recluse, was published in February 2016 and her second novel, Love on the Nile, is due to be released in the Summer of 2016. In between working full-time in public services and studying for an MSc in Public Management, Ellie is currently working on her third novel.

A few random pieces of information about Ellie:

• Favourite TV shows – The Walking Dead, The X-Files, Nashville, Dr. Who, The Great British Bake-off!
• Favourite Music – I’m an 80’s girl!, country, sixties, Elvis, classical (when I’m writing)
• Favourite Food – Indian, tapas, crisps, cheese
• Favourite Drink – black coffee – copious amounts when I’m writing, Sauvignon blanc when I’m not.

To find out more about Ellie Gray visit her Facebook page or website, follow her on Twitter or see Goodreads, Instagram, Google+ or LinkedIn.     

GIVEAWAY

For your chance to enter to win a £20/$20 Amazon Gift e-Voucher click here!