Sneak peak at April’s Meet The Author feature! Here’s what’s coming up from author Didi Oviatt.
Author Archives: Author, Kim Knight
Romance Writer’s Challenge Week #18: Boy You’re Just Too Funny! – What Makes Me Laugh Out loud#MFRW
It’s week eighteen, well it was last week. Forgive my lateness. I am as always fashionably late with the Romance Writer’s fifty two week writing challenges. Anyway, week eighteen all about what makes you laugh out loud. This writing prompt response is dedicated to a special person, the most handsome boy in the world! My three year old son…. He makes me laugh so much here’s just a few examples of why.
Bath time:
What is it with little boys and their willies? Fast forward twenty years and I guess nothing changes, as a grown man for him there will always be a fascination with his willy! Every night, I ask my son when I undress him for bath time ” do you need to go wee wee?” He shakes his head “no mama ” jumping up and down eager to get in the tub. “Okay son, let’s get in the tub.” I place him in and he stands there as soon as he gets in, hips thrust with his you know what thrust forward and pees in the bath! Swirling his hips around for the perfect aim :). Then he has the cheek to say ” ta-dah!” Look at me and laugh. I do chuckle, no matter what I do he saves that bath-time pee especially for his ta-dah moment.
High Heels:
I have a pair of gold gladiator heels, I also have them in black too. They have a good say four and a bit inch heel. ( I’m only five foot five). I love them, so does Blake my son. My son is obsessed with walking in these heels, but only the gold pair for some reason. And to my surprise he can walk well, he trots around heels clicking on the wood floor happy as Larry. ” Mummy shoes, mummy shoes.” Every time I hear this I know he’s on about my gold heels he wants to wear them. I’ve tried to put them away out of sight. Hoping he will mess around with a pair of my flats…. nope! He wants these gold heels. It makes me chuckle.
Learning to talk:
I think as a mother you learn to understand your child’s words even when to others they sound like baby babble. Some of my son’s words are so unclear. Fifished = finished. founded-it= found it. vashin’mach-in= washing machine and mata-toes= tomatoes. It’s so cute when toddlers talk and learn to express themselves. His words often make me chuckle. Especially when he says tomatoes lols 🙂 .
Learning & imagining my future son:
Bless him, he is well house trained already. I watch him pull the hoover out and try to plug it in, try to sweep the floors, unload the washing machine when he hears the click of the end of a load of laundry. To see him do as I do is so heartwarming. The way toddlers learn is entertaining. I do catch him trying to fold himself into the washing machine now and then, the first time it was funny. Now I’ve learned to keep it closed!
Recognising who and what his mama is:
I encourage my son to read a lot, well look at the pictures in books he’s only three. We read together every night. He makes me laugh when he pulls a novel off my bookcase and opens it , then pretends he’s reading. My heart melts…. the best bit, is when he recognises the covers of my books on the case. He’ll pull them down and say “mama book.” Or he will pick up my notepads I use for creative writing ideas ” mama book” he’ll scream. He’s so cute. He may have little words but he is very aware emotionally.
Kids…. you’ve gatta love ’em 🙂 They’ll always put a smile on your face.
Meet and Greet: 5/6/17
It’s meet and greet. Grow your following and meet some great new bloggers. Check it out.
5 Things Authors Wish Readers Knew
Magic. I could not have said it better myself.
When I was just a reader, meaning I didn’t create my own word babies, I didn’t have a clue what went into making books or how my being a reader mattered to anyone. Now that I’m on both sides of the fence, the picture is much clearer – and I try to be a “better” reader to my fellow authors as a result.
Before I dig into the list, I want to say I didn’t write this post to guilt anyone into doing anything. It’s simply a matter of we don’t know what we don’t know until someone tells us – like how much doctors love it when we come to appointments armed with all of our expert Google research (spoiler alert: they hate it. Turns out going to medical school is more involved than an afternoon of interwebbing).
So without further ado, behold as I dish out the super secretive authory…
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Digital Book Signing
Fellow authors, do you know about this digital book signing app? I’m rather excited to learn about this today.
Hello SEers! Harmony here 🙂
Today, I’d like to take a look at how to offer autographs on your digital books using Authorgraph. Also, you can get this service embedded on your blog/website rather easily. How cool is that?
With Authorgraph, you can send, request, or receive author autographs. It’s easy to sign up (for FREE) using this link: https://www.authorgraph.com/signin
This takes you to a page that looks like this:
Once you’ve signed in, you have a few options:
You can add all of your ebooks, as long as you have them listed on the Amazon platform. You will need an Amazon ASIN for each book, which you can find in a number of places such as your KDP account books page or your book sales page. Once you have that, then input it as so …
And click on ‘Add Book’.
Repeat this for each of your Amazon ebooks.
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Dichotomy.
The other day I was researching quotes and sayings on relationships for my work. I read one that said ” show a girl you don’t care and she’ll chase you, show a woman you don’t care and she’ll replace you. I don’t know who it is by. But I think I’ll steal this one too!… if Dante don’t mind that is.
She showed him,
How she no longer cared;
He showed her,
How he never did.
– Original-Dante ©2017
Photograph by: phoenixfeatherxlight
Book Excerpt: Manners Cost Nothing! Release date 9.6.17 #amwriting #romance
Today’s WordPress writing prompt is the word none. Don’t you just hate people with no manners? Rude, dismissive, up their own backside kinda people. When it comes to manners they have none. *Pouts* yeah me too, I’m not a fan.
Let’s take a look at how it makes Yasmin feel, the main female character in book #2 Lover’s Retreat of my Romance Set in Paradise series. Remember that luke warm first encounter she has with my hero Michael …. which by the end of the story turns red hot. Here ‘s their first encounter, it gets worse. Poor Yasmin! She’s only just arrived in Sri Lanka. Micheal as no manners, none what so ever. But I promise you by the end he will be your hero. I hope I’ve added another potential book boyfriend to my characters…
John’s muffled but cheerful voice vibrates around the minibus over the radio.
“Okay everyone this is it! We’re on our way to Hirkiketiya Bay beach where our retreat is located. We have a nice meal and some drinks lined up to break the ice. In the morning you’ll be greeted with the beautiful beach we’re based on for the next five days, just south of the main town. It’s clean, quiet and has some friendly waves for all you surfers. In the meantime sit back and enjoy the ride.”
A round of claps echo around the minibus as Yasmin’s fellow retreat goers express their excitement about Hirkiketiya Bay. Lowering her gaze to her lap she internally gives herself a high five. She’s done it, she broke loose to take the first steps toward moving forward with her life. Now all she has to do is try to integrate with her new found community of soul seekers, at the retreat over the next five days. She takes a deep breath as she turns her attention to the man sitting next to her. She takes in his scruffy looking appearance once more, as she decides if he’s approachable. He is in desperate need of a haircut. His jet black curly hair has out grown its tapered cut. He sports a tiny afro. His beard boarders his square jawline which could also do with a shave. His features are sharp. Behind his scruffiness his smooth full lips and almond shape eyes peek out. From his dress sense Yasmin guesses he’s around her age. He wears dark denim jeans and a black T-shirt with the iconic Nike swoosh icon on the front. Around his left wrist is a beaded brown ethic style bracelet.
“Hi, my name’s Yasmin.”
Yasmin offers her hand to the stranger. He looks up from his paperback and slowly looks her up and down. His expression appears to be one of surprise that she introduced herself.
“Hi.” Is all he says. He doesn’t accept Yasmin’s handshake and lowers his eyes back to his paperback. Yasmin’s breath catches in her throat as she sighs, he shrugged her off in a rather unfriendly way. She tries again to make friends.
“What’s your name?”
He turns back to her and licks his lips, this time he fixes Yasmin with a more friendly stare.
“Michael.”
“Nice to meet you Michael.”
He nods again and reverts his eyes to his paperback. He does a double side glance as he notices Yasmin still watching him and then shakes his head.
“What are you reading? Anything interesting?”
“Stephen King… If you must know.”
“Oh wow, I love his books which––”
Michael cuts her off before she can finish her sentence.
“Jasmin, I don’t mean to be––”
Yasmin cuts in and meets his gaze.
“It’s Yasmin.”
There’s a moment’s silence between them as they lock eyes with annoyed expressions on their faces. Yasmin is surprised at his harsh tone of voice and how dismissive he is. Michael is impatient with Yasmin’s attempts to make small talk that he’d rather not have.
“Sorry, Yasmin. I don’t mean to be rude but I’d rather be left alone, if that’s okay with you.”
Michael’s response comes out more as a statement rather matter of fact, than a question or polite request. Yasmin pouts, nods her head and then lowers her lashes. She clears her throat.
“No problem.”
Is all she can say with slight embarrassment. She pulls out her phone and then places her earphones in each of her ears. She selects a complication of classical music by Beethoven and Mozart. As the minibus whizzes along the bumpy roads of Dickwella, Yasmin tries her best not to take offence from Michael’s rudeness. She stares out the window at the fast- moving scenery with a scowl on her face. The navy blue sky is alight with bright stars, the tall palm trees stand still in the humid night air. As John guides the minibus through the rural areas of Dickwella in the still of the night, Yasmin hopes her fellow retreat goers are more friendly than Michael. His unapproachable persona sends her into a state of panic. Has she made the right choice booking this retreat? Will she be welcomed? Plays on her mind.
Oh dear, how do these two actually figure out their differences?? More excerpts to follow!
Book Blurb
Lover’s Retreat Book #2
Lover’s Retreat is book two of the Romance Set in Paradise Series of modern, steamy, suspenseful and romantic stories, set in exotic locations around the world.
For thirty seven year old recluse Yasmin O’Neil, life feels like one crisis after another. Her husband left her five years ago, she starts to suspect she’s losing her hearing and then her mother is diagnosed with cancer. When her mother passes away her fortune changes, Yasmin is fifty thousand pounds richer from her mother’s estate. She takes her fate into her own hands after years of being a recluse, she rediscovers herself at a spiritual self development retreat in Sri Lanka south Asia, before she plans to spend the next six months travelling around the world. In Sri Lanka, Yasmin’s path crosses with Michael Thomas, an army soldier on his own path of self discovery. After a luke warm initial encounter, these two strangers don’t hit it off straight away. After some push and pull the two are finally on the same page. Their encounter turns from luke warm to sizzling hot.
In Lover’s Retreat two very different characters originally on different paths, embrace the need for change and companionship. Set within the back drop of paradise, palm trees and the untouched nature of Sri Lanka, these two lonely souls gain more than just self discovery, they gain a soul mate
Release Date: 9th June 2017 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and ibooks.
Released June 2017
First 5* Review… Thank you. #newrelease #romance #amreading
I’m thrilled, Havana Heat is out on pre-release review with bloggers and readers who are under my book promotion agency. My first review has come back ten days early! Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it Laura, feedback keeps me motivated to continue adding to the series. The release date for Havana Heat is 12th May just ten days away!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1987203306?book_show_action=false
Released 12th May
Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge Week #16: My Biggest Dream? #MFRW
Hmmm ask an author this question and they’ll all say the same thing… New York Times Bestseller, Bestselling Author. These are all the recognition awards and titles we’re after right? Wrong, okay maybe, but not always in this order. 🙂
For me personally living the dream would mean a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE catalogue of novels and novellas in both the romantic suspense and thriller genres. When I think of this dream, the one author that comes to mind is Stephen King. On my last check he has over fifty published novels. And my all time inspiration Jackie Collins the author I salute, as it was her who introduced me to romantic suspense when I was hardly in my mid twenties. I stumbled across her novel Deadly Embrace , I then read everything by Jackie I could get my hands, on before I became an author. Surprise surprise I sleep and breathe this genre! Creating my own spin on romance and suspense. Jackie had upon her death something like thirty two novels published I think off memory. I was so upset when she died, I feel like some part of life is now missing. I’m one of her fans who would wait impatiently for the next hit, I’d check her site regularly to see what’s coming next and curse when I could not see my next hit coming. My other inspiration the great British crime author, Martina Cole has about twenty odd crime novels from memory. A lot of them I have also read. When Martina publishes a book, a wicked grin comes over my face! I’m excited. This is the level I’m talking about in terms of books I’d love to write and the kind of buzz I’d love to create in my genre one day as an author. Considering I’m only thirty four if I get a wiggle on and stay focused, just maybe it could happen! I could knock out plenty of work.
I’m not focused so much on all the awards or labels authors can get, as nice as they are, it’s more about productivity. I’m also not that focused on becoming rich, this is the last thing I’m writing for. I had an author mention this who will feature in my Meet The Author – I won’t say who it is look out for them on the 25th. I’d personally like to give up the part time day job, write more full time, pay the bills by doing what I love and feel my talent really is and not worry. That’s the dream. I’d also love an endless supply of M.A.C and Kat Von D make-up, to create a line of clothing, a house with a pool and large garden for my little boy and to live in the sun…. pretty please if God’s listening LOL.
What’s your dream?? What are you doing to make it happen? If you’re an author reading this is it all about the label, money or the volume of work you put out?
Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge Week #15: My Love Hate Relationship With Social Media #MFRW
Okay it’s now just after nine London time. I’ve made myself yet another large mug of coffee and sat down to work on Lover’s Retreat, novella #2 of my series. I’ve been distracted by the fifty two week Romance Writer’s Blogging Challenge. I’ve missed a few weeks, I do have a good excuse I’ve been writing. So here I am catching up with Jazz FM playing nicely in the background. Week fifteen is all about social media hang-ups we may have as writers… well what can I say, believe it or not I have a rather love hate relationship with social media. Which is probably not the best thing to say as an author! As it does so much to reach out to readers and showcase our work.
Here’s the deal, before I was a publish author, when I just messed around writing and journaling with no real intention to publish anything or write novels I NEVER used social media personally. I hated it. My view was (and I say was as I use it for a different purpose now) I don’t need a Facebook account to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. If I know you you’ll be in my phone book or contacts and I’ll call, text or whatsup message you. I don’t need to email you, or put an update on the internet to tell you what I’m up to, you’ll know via phone or in person.What the fuck is Facebook all about? What’s the point in that.. huh? That was me before this whole new direction in life kicked off.
I also thought that social media was the cause of many relationship problems, your other half spending too much time on it, sending messages to random people, keeping in touch with ex- partners that kind of a thing. Anyone here ever watched Jeremy Kyle the day time talk show… umm you know what I mean now? Why are all the people on that show obsessed with Facebook? Or have some kind of problem that started with ” I saw this on Facebook and so I ….” So I just ignored social media.
My hang up with it (social media) was as I thought it could be used to just paint a picture of your life, that may not even be true. You may not be as happy as Larry, enjoying all the updates you post. I thought Facebook was full of smoke and mirrors. As for Twitter… who? I’m a rather talkative person, I could not imagine squeezing all I have to say into 140 characters LOL.
Now, of course I see the benefit of social media, and it has done wonders for me to grow as an author and continue to grow. My feelings now are that social media can be a positive thing, you can connect with people you’d never have a chance to meet in real life. Take for example my new monthly feature Meet The Author, this has been sooooooooooo popular! I’ve had so many authors contact me for a feature, which I am over the moon about. I would never have the chance to connect with them, or read their wonderful work if it were not for social media. That’s because I put out a call for authors over Facebook and Twitter, authors from the other side of the world as well as the UK have connected with me. I can’t wait to share all their interviews with you. Meeting a lot of you out there who are reading this, has all been down to social media. Which is great. I now see that social media does have a place in the world with some kind of use and meaning.
So I guess, my hang-ups on social media have changed (a bit),as I can now see how it can be used to my personal advantage as a writer. In my personal life I still think just call me don’t FB me and ask me how I’m doing! I doubt I’ll ever entertain it for personal use, as an author yes and that’s as far as it will ever go.
Do you have a hang up with social media? Do you love it or hate it?
Author, Kim Knight 