Category Archives: My Journey- Published Author

Cover Reveal: Code Redhead- A Serial Novel#amwriting #romance #amreading #charity

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Evening guys!

Hello from a dark, grey, rainy  and windy London.  I’m in a very good mood, more than I was already, it’s been a great indoor day.My two year old son and I did a day of indoors  arts and crafts and Disney movie re-runs, as the weather is terrible.I’m still in my pyjamas  :), don’t worry I’ve brushed my teeth and washed my face.  He has fallen asleep so it’s time to write. Just as I was about to get started, good news just popped up in my inbox from my publisher, here I’d like to reveal the cover of the book of anthology  short stories that I’m currently writing for, for the  cancer research  standup2cancer project over in the USA. Isn’t it fantastic? I really like it, when I saw it my jaw really did drop and a thought damn I need to rework my story, this book cover screams sexy,modern,and no where heartwarming and sweet! 

So those of you who voted or left me a comment and said go for a romantic story with a touch of thrill and suspense rather than a general thriller story- you’ve got your wish! This book cover (to me) does not say  sweet, cardigans and low flat sensible walking shoes at all. What does it scream to you? If you’d like to know more about the project and how the money raised will be spent click here ….. I better get writing I got me a deadline to meet and a story to re-work.

Have a great evening. 

 

 

Writing Prompt & Book Excerpt: “I Disagree…asshole!” #amwriting #amreading #romancereader

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Disagree

Today’s WordPress writing prompt is disagree. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have your own mind, and not agree with everything and everyone. In A Stranger in France my main heroine Kate,  clearly feels the same way. Here’s an excerpt from A Stranger in France showing Kate’s POV and her  explosive disagreement with her husband Danny. I’m not going to tell you what they disagree about, who, what or how  helps her to gain  her inner strength back, to stand up to Danny….. oh the suspense continues!…. You’ll need to download it from Amazon to find out…. So far A Stranger in France has received only 5 star reviews.

 

I slam  my fist down on the kitchen table to punctuate my last word. He raises his eyebrows at me in surprise. I don’t know what he’s so surprised about, how can you come out with a bullshit comment like that to the woman you’ve been married to for five years that’s offered financial and emotional support without any resentment….. up until now.

‘’Look Kate, let’s not argue.”

Suddenly, I see Danny through different eyes, the rose tinted glasses have been removed. I look him up and down and realise I’m too much for him, clearly not the type of woman he needs I’m just not needy enough. That’s what makes him feel like a man a needy woman. Does he not know behind every successful man stands a strong woman. In a rage I scream out at him.

“That’s the problem Danny, we don’t argue or even communicate for that matter, and you’ve shut me out and made me feel unwelcome in my own home. You said you’ve hated me at times! Hated me for me being who I am? For working hard and achieving? Having a plan and sticking with it? Not failing in life? Not being the one who was made redundant? What?’’

I walk up to Danny and stand under his six foot one frame, I’m no longer fearful or feel I need to censor my words. I get right in his face.

“Tell me what have I done? For you to fucking hate me asshole?”

Amazon

Writing Prompt: Unfinished Business…

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Unfinished

Write a post for today’s WordPress one word writing prompt unfinished.

By nature I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, I like to do things just so if it means a lot to me, I feel a sense of satisfaction when I have completed something  I’m not a fan of  unfinished business. The most recent thing I’ve left unfinished for much longer than I would have liked, is a story I’ve had rolling around in between my ears since October 2015. One full year! But what I’ve learned is that sometimes it is best to have unfinished business, as when you go back to finish up – things can be a lot more better.

Since I completed all writing and edits for A Stranger in France, and finally got to release day   in between that and  waiting for my second book to come back from the editor, I’ve gone back to the drawing board on this unfinished story. Six things happened when I read what I wrote a year ago through….

  1. Shock, it was terrible! All over the place in terms of presentation, layout, and I was not a fan of how the characters/ story came across. My (tiny) experience  from writing two other books kicked in.
  2. I re- drafted on paper the story ,about four times before I settled with what I have now!
  3. I re-wrote the first 4 chapters ( not from scratch) but I removed a good chunk 
  4. I managed to take the story in a new suspenseful/mystery  direction then I originally had done.
  5. I wrote and edited the first three chapters, once happy I sent it off ( last weekend ) to my publisher for feedback, with the full book synopsis.
  6. I feel now much more happier.

So I guess unfinished business in some cases can be a blessing if you’re a writer or  hope to have some of your work published some day, you can go off learn something from another project, then come back stronger,  and finish up in a more happier place. 

I hope I do get some positive feedback, even if I don’t I will still write the story for my own satisfaction  to not have unfinished business! 

What unfinished business have you got? WHY have you not finished it? What is your plan to have it complete?

 

Thank you For Voting, The Result is…. #amwriting #standup2cancer #charity

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Morning,

Thank you if you left me a comment or vote on what genre story I should write, for the standup2cancer writing project I’m taking part in for 2017. It seems that the vote swung towards the romance genre, as it will be the month of February the book of short stories is published. Then I had one person comment, and  it swung back to a level playing field! But by then I had already confirmed with my publisher, a romance genre story. Thank time difference for that, I saw the comment late but thank you for it.

Voting is closed now, so that’s it.  It’s a romance I’ll be writing, using the writing prompt ” code redhead”. I will try to spice it up a little and add in a lil’ of the old suspense.

Thank you for your help! I’ll keep you posted on when the book is available and don’t forget,  all money raised from the sales go to cancer research, we authors won’t see a penny.

 

It’s Real….The Journey has started

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This is a copy of my paperback!  This picture was sent to me today by a very excited reader. Who has just unwrapped their Amazon package, in a hurry to meet me inside? Do you remember when I did the writing prompt for the word “admire”?… It’s Ellie !  You can read that writing prompt by clicking here.  Find out who she is.

I can’t wait to receive my paperback copy, it’s one thing to see yourself on Amazon but to see yourself in print… man that makes it all seem so very very real. Hurry up delivery man! I’m getting twitchy.

 

 

 

Two 5 Star Reviews!… No Way!

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Afternoon guys,

It appears readers are really enjoying A Stranger in France, those that read my preview copy here’s what they said on Amazon…

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThis story has something for everyone!

By Tammy Tate on September 19, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

To the outside world, Kate has it all! A nice London apartment. A fabulous job at Clapham High Academy. Years of hard work has paid off. She’s over the entire English department. But that isn’t enough. She’s in a dead end marriage. A year ago, her husband lost his job. Now, he sits home all day drinking, smoking and thinking up ways to demean her. Her achievements remind him of his failures. The emotional abuse he imposes becomes unbearable. She wants their marriage to work. Only, he doesn’t. Not even on Valentine’s Day when he chooses football with his friends, over spending the day with her. It’s the last straw. It gives her the courage to move on.

When the academy closes for Spring break, she hops a plane to Marseille Provence, France to visit a friend. One night, they go to a fancy nightclub. Right away, Kate’s smitten with the rich, handsome club owner. The attraction is mutual. As things escalate, she’s torn between wedding vows and what her body and soul craves.

This highly descriptive story has something for everyone! Romance, suspense, and an unexpected twist you won’t see coming!

Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? YesNo Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 starsA Good Story with a twist and excellent debut book. Well done!

By BrainybirdAA on September 20, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

An excellent debut book. Well done! This is the kind of story that I can get my teeth into. I do enjoy books with strong women character, who show spirit and determination. Finally Kate realises that her husband is not pulling his weight in their marriage and neither is he appreciating her efforts to keep them afloat during a rough patch. With her mum and best friend to support her emotionally she decides to take a break from the marriage to clear her head.
Unfortunately her head gets clogged up with other complications while on holiday in France and she struggles with her conscience on how to proceed.
It’s easy to feel for Kate, and you get caught up with her tale from the get-go, especially as you get inside the the heads of all the character..
A good story with a twist.a-stranger-in-france-1

GRAB A COPY FROM AMAZON LINKS BELOW:

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Paperback copy– international

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Writing Prompt: Day #3 Get Your S*** Together!… Book Excerpt

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I sat down at my laptop tonight to actually look over the current book I’m working on, I’m in the swing of things now I’m done with A Stranger in France and my Christmas book . (I’ll tell you the name, do a cover reveal and chapter reveal nearer the release date I promise.) I got side tracked this evening as today’s WordPress writing prompt word ” together.” I had two very different reactions to the word,  first it was awww I like that word I can write a nice poem or something for that, the second was Danny hmmm he really needs to get his s*** together. Now if you’re not sure who Danny is, it’s Daniel Brown the villain in A Stranger in France. One character I had fun writing. I took a risk and wrote him in a bad light and gave him centre stage along side Kate and Nicholas. So Back to Danny, a prize idiot in my view, who needs to get it together ASAP! I won’t give it all away and tell you why, but here’s an excerpt from A Stranger in France from Danny’s POV showing just how much he needs to get his s*** together.

 

 Danny is sitting at the kitchen table, it’s just gone lunch time yet he is hunched over his second beer already. In total silence in deep thought. The past two weeks have been a haze for him –literally. He arrived home that Saturday night two weeks ago on Valentine’s Day expecting to see a grieving Kate. He knew she would come around. Give her an hour or two and she’d be trying to talk with him and make peace.

The game had been good Arsenal won 2-0 against Manchester United, in his view it was well worth missing all the Valentine’s Day dribble he thought to himself, as he made his way home to Clapham from Woolwich, on the most romantic day of the year.

 But on his arrival home Danny could not believe it when he had read Kate’s note. It had been totally unexpected the bitch she’d left him. At the time all he could think was what did this mean? Were they over? Would she be back? He never once believed that Kate would up and leave him. To him Kate is a strong woman, determined and a fighter yes, but leave him? That was out of the question  ….. to be continued!

Over the last few weeks I’ve  focused on all three main characters, by posting an excerpt from inside  the book, using a word prompts which relate to each  character.If you’ve missed them and want to read more excerpts you can here just scroll through.

 If you want to know why Kate  left Danny, what he does about it and fall in love with the sexy lush Nicholas D’Coix (who I fell in love with while writing him), release day for A Stranger in France is Tuesday next week! On Amazon yippie! Just a few more days and you can escape, in this whirlwind of modern day romance- suspense set in three very different settings. And I hope you enjoy.

 

 

Writing Prompt: Fragile- My Gosh I feel Fragile Today!#amwriting

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Fragile

The adjective FRAGILE has 3 senses:

1. easily broken or damaged or destroyed
2. vulnerably delicate
3. lacking solidity or strength and liable to break ( Dictionary definition)

Today’s WordPress writing prompt word is fragile, and my gosh I feel fragile tonight, I feel like point #3 above. it’s only 23.59pm at the time of writing this, and I’m  about ready to sleep….. for at least a week.  Us creatives and bloggers all over the world just don’t know when to stop! Who has that problem? Or are you like me- you work best at night, that’s your creative hour?

I’ve been writing around the clock,  with late nights and early mornings. Each day this week, I’ve started my day job  job at 7.30a.m. I’ve had a 5.00a.m wake up every day. I don’t remember the last time I saw the backs of my eyelids for a full 8 hours sleep. If this is you to here’s a little poem for you…

FRIDAY IS HERE,

Rest is sure to come,

At the moment you’re too tired  and fragile- you simply just can’t  can’t crack on,

Go on with caution, don’t burn the candle at both ends  You need  to recover and bounce back fully on the mend,

I can see my bed, this vision is not in my head,

Late at night all us bloggers and creatives we sit here an type but,

Everyone, I think my job here is done. But while I’m gone have fun.

Well good night, and if you feel as fragile as me… take a beak this weekend relax and unwind.

 

YOU Decide What Genre Story I Should #Write For #Standup2cancer #Author #Charity Project- Please Vote!

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Evening guys,

So a few days ago I told you all about the charity writing project I’m participating in with my publisher, to help raise some money. Myself and a few other authors will write a short story to publish together in one book. The book will be on sale from February 2017, all proceeds from the book sales go to the charity Standup2cancer, we (authors) will not see a penny of it. You can read more about what I’m doing and the project   here  if you missed my blog on this.

 Today, I’d like to invite you  help or  decide for me what genre story  I should  write?  I thought this may be fun and also I can’t decide! But today I  got my deadline, so I better get cracking.With your vote, tell me should I write a romance or thriller genre short story to include for publication in February 2017? Our stories can only be 15k max in words, so it’s pretty short. Place a quick vote in below. This vote will be open until the 30th September only.

Thanks in advance.

Have a good weekend

Writing Prompt Day # 7: Radical SEX…. Book Execrpt

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Radical

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That got your attention didn’t it? Good! Today’s WordPress writing prompt is radical. Who loves great sex? We all do, and you can’t actually be a romance writer without writing about it, in some shape or form. How you create it is personal choice erotic and graphic or  sensual, steamy and sexy it’s really your choice. I go with the latter, I  feel like my mum is watching me write when I create a sex scene, so overly erotic is not my forte, I can see my mum with her mouth open like Kim! Where did you learn THAT? That said one day I would like to actually try it ( very erotic writing, what were you thinking??) seriously – when I drum up the confidence one day. I love writing great sensual scenes. Nicholas D’Coix is a great guy, not just pleasing to the eye, rich and charming he has  a really cool personality… and  ladies  YES he’s radical in bed.  With just 7 day’s to go until its release date…here’s an excerpt  scene from A Stranger in France from Kate’s POV.

 Back at the hotel up on the twelfth floor, we order room service and veg out on the bed, in front of an old black and white movie like a couple of teenagers having a sleep over. We order cheese burgers and fries, a very different meal from the West African delights I tasted at Nicholas’ restaurant last week. I prop up my feet on the bed, Nicholas starts to massage them with expert hands.

“I don’t know how you girls do it four to five inch heels all day every day, but I do like it.”

 He glances down at my white stilettos by the bed. I sink further into the bed as he takes me to heaven and back with his foot massage. I close my eyes and feel his hands moving up my legs, under my jeans my skin is on fire at his touch. As he turns his attention to me fully his hand stops at my groin area. He slowly presses his hand between my legs, I flinch and open my eyes abruptly and smile down at him. He swaps his hand for his mouth and starts to kiss and bite at the material of my jeans between my legs. I moan with pleasure. He climbs on the bed above me- fully facing me, then undoes the zipper on my jeans. Slowly he removes them, I don’t fight, and I don’t resist him. Laying there on my back underneath him, in just my white vest with plum coloured bra and panties I all of a sudden feel very sexy, looking up at Nicholas. He raises my knees, as he moves closer his fresh and fruity scent fills my nostrils. Without taking our eyes off each other he pulls off my panties and chucks them to one side. Moving on top of me positioned between my legs, that I’ve bent at the knees, he starts to kiss me softly, while caressing between my legs with expert fingers. He lowers himself after a moment and places his mouth between my legs, I’m lost in feelings of pleasure. Nicholas ignites a fire- a fire that Danny has failed to keep a light.

His tongue makes my body quiver, and I explode in a sea of ecstasy. I pull him up from between my legs and remove his shirt- taking in more of his delicious scent. His torso is rock solid and his arms firm. He stands up removes his jeans and boxers, then climbs back on to the bed and kisses me passionately as he picks me up and places me on top of him. He removes my vest top and bra, I straddle him on the bed. Looking me dead in the eye with a smile he lets down my hair, and I allow him to enter me. I’ve never felt more feelings of want, lust and pleasure in the last year as this. Our bodies press together, passionate kisses and teasing. As I ride him passionately I feel him explode inside me. This is a night to remember, in every way. Romantic, passionate, carefree, and lustful. We make love more into the early hours of the morning. I enjoy every moment of it.

TO BE CONTINUED!

 

Hope you enjoyed *wink