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Kim’s Book Review: Caribbean Christmas

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Tammy TWhat do you do when a best selling romance author, offers  to do a read and review swap of each others work with you? You lose your damn mind behind the lap top,  then compose yourself and a nicely worded email with no typos to say, yes please I’d love to!  Gimme gimme. And I’m glad I did, I’ve just finished reading Caribbean Christmas by Tammy Tate she is an author of a number of romance books. This is the first I’ve read and I would for sure read more here’s why.

Caribbean Christmas ( in my personal view) is a lovely feel good romance story with a touch of paranormal, it’s also set around Christmas my favourite time of year. Tammy is clearly a very creative writer to conjure up this story, and that’s the first thing that drew me in,   and what I love about Caribbean Christmas -the creativity and originality around the story it fits and works really really well.

I read this book in 2 sittings, I was drawn in well before page 50, Tammy’s style of writing is easy going, descriptive and engaging. I found myself transported to  the Carib  and visualising what I was reading, from the colour of the sea to the food that was being served in certain scenes.I like the way Tammy has woven in  different cultures within the story, well. She could have easily dismissed the different cultures found in New Orlands and even the Carib Island this story is set on, and just used them as a setting for events to take place in the story plot line not really touching on who you might find in these places. But, diverse foods,Creole characters and  even the langue are included to. Great job.

The characters are all likeable even down to the ghost, I had in my mind a visual of the characters and what their quirks are as people, and this is down to ( in my view) good story telling and character development.

The romantic journey you’re taken on as a reader for me is really enjoyable, this story is more sensual than erotic so if you like more sensual stories focused on love, romance and boy meets girl this is one for you- with a twist of paranormal. I found the sensual scenes lovely  to read, I was like awwwww  at certain parts and I had that feel good feeling that this genre of romance should give a reader.

So in summary

Romantic element: 5 of 5 it’s very  romantic, but so original in the story line and a good happy ever after at the end 

Sensuality/story line/plot 5 of 5 a very original story and right level of sensual, and even some suspense towards the end when Kendra almost gives up on Richard.

I’d rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, it’s my kind of feel good romance and it gave me everything I needed in a feel good romance, boy meets girl, love and some conflict, add to that a great  location, a twist with paranormal, wonderful. I look forward to reading more.

 

 

 

Thank you from Kim

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Good morning guys!

Happy Sunday, just a short note from me to say, thank you to every follower, liker and silent blog reader. I can see that slowly and steadily my author site is growing and I really appreciate each and everyone of you. I love reading your blogs also,  sometimes I sit behind the PC cackling with laughter, smiling or nodding my head or become inspired myself so please keep posting great stuff!

As a writer, it is easy to just sit here and write s*hit and think it’s great. Honestly, that’s not me, I’m modest and always so nervous when I write a short story or poem and share it with the whole world. I don’t think this will ever leave me, many of you know that I never even really saw myself as a published author  just someone who wrote stuff as they love it and thought they are OK at it. But  it just happened! What kicked me up the butt to submit my work to a USA based publisher  was a massive life changing event, as I had time to refocus on Kim again and not other issues,  I had time also  bond even further with my beautiful 2 year old son who is my everything. I hope that when he is older he is proud of his mama.

 As my release date for my first novel nears, my nerves are increasing !  But so is my creativity for other stories.I just like to write ( and read)  so I will keep going  now I’m on a roll and see what the future holds !

Thank you for your support!

ps. If you are a blogger that does writing challenges and prompts keep me posted I love doing those email me or comment or Tweet me!

With love,

Kim

 

Day #17: When Creativity Goes Side Ways!

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Sidewalk
Sidewalk

idea

Today’s WordPress word writing prompt is sidewalk. You can interpret this word as sidewalk = the street the more American term for what we English  call a pavement. Or you can (if you’re a bit nuts like me)  have another take on this word.  Meaning to literally go or walk sideways, to make a sideways move as opposed to forwards or backwards.

Is it Ok in life to sometimes not walk forward but side ways? And do a ‘‘sidewalk?” I sure hope so! I just did, well my creative side of my brain did and I didn’t even call on the creative side I was trying to have a break from it. So it’s day #17 of my count down until the ” big day” , yesterday I wrote about my long to do list and that today I have the whole day to sit and write my heart out, which I have done. I’ve working on my romance-thriller story. I’ve been writing and editing my work since around 11:00a.m it’s now 4: 30p.m London time. I’ve  now drafted the first 4 chapters to a completeish stage and I’m happy -great news right.I took a five minute break  to make a cup of tea, and just have a break from the screen but my creativity didn’t switch off, even though I was trying to switch off just for a moment. My creativity  walked sideways ….instead of progressing my story forwards, it shifted it side ways in a new direction.

 While waiting for the kettle to boil, I thought about my dilemma  over whether it’s OK for a writer to write in two very different genres after publishing two books in one, panic set in again, and the back and fourth started again over whether to even finish this story idea, even though a few weeks back I had clearly made up my mind that I was ganna do it! Complete my love story which has an element of crime and it would sit in the romance- thriller/crime genre . Read all about that word writing prompt and dilemma here.  Guess what happened this afternoon while  waiting for the kettle to boil? Yep into my head popped a different version of the ending or second half of my original story. I grabbed my note book and jot it down quickly before it escaped me, and a smile crept across my face. Randomly, my creativity made a sideways move without me even really trying or thinking about it and now  book #3 I’m working on is more refocused on romance( if I change the second half slightly).Looks like I’m back to square one and back in my original genre writing a romance-suspense, there is a crime yes I won’t change that, but with this new second half that randomly popped into my head the  focus  is on romance if I write it in that direction, one that I never thought just by switching around a few things. I feel happier with this re-vamped mental draft of the second half and ending. 

Have you ever had a situation in life where you have made a side ways move? Rather than going forwards? I guess it’s OK to go sideways in life as it can surprisingly actually move you forward in a way you never thought of.

 

Writing Prompt: Melody -why I love you

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Melody
Melody

I LOVE music, a melody and a good beat  to the bone, I could never live without it. It’s done so many good things for me. I did a writing prompt in this before earlier this year which you can read here for the word prompt music.

This morning as I sat down and mentally drafted my to do list, before I did that I went over to my TV and loaded up Spotify and selected ”easy listening piano beats” under the ”focus” mood, as I have a lot get through today. It’s still playing and I know this background noise has helped me work through 50% of my to do list so far. My music taste is crazy! I have an old soul and like anything from old Motown hits and soul , to classical music and modern day stuff.While writing I never write in silence, in fact I don’t do anything in silence but sleep.  If I do house work the radio is on, I write it’s on ,I read it’s on, I bath it’s on, do my nails it’s on- 24/7 in my home and car. 

Music has also really inspired my writing, in  A Stranger in France  I purposely picked out songs to help set the mood or show what a character is feeling from their point of view (POV). It was a challenge but it really inspired me. Here is an excerpt using music from Nicholas’ POV from A Stranger in France.

 

Pulling out his IPhone he scrolls along his contacts to Kate, just a south London address and email address she left no number. He grips the steering wheel and internally he kicks himself. She of course has his mobile number, office number and home number! Why has she not used them or even sent a postcard? Taking a few more deep breaths to compose himself ready for the long drive over to his apartment on the upper 16th district, one of Paris’ most affluent property areas, with some of the most expensive properties in Paris. He decides he will make contact, he has nothing to lose.

 He cruises at a steady unrushed pace in his air-conditioned BMW X-5 along the motorway, with his shades on and the music loud. Nicholas has a rush of adrenaline, his emotions flipped 360 degrees from disappointment to thrill at the chase and challenge of pursing Kate from 600 odd miles away.

Put things into perspective he tells himself, Kate doesn’t strike him as a coaster, or lay about when it came to work. In his mind he rationalises that she’s probably had a busy return to London and work. He has no doubt about Kate’s hard work ethic from the intimate conversations they had while she was in France. That is it, he convinced himself, she’s just caught up, make contact and claim your lady his inner voice said. Smiling, and physically relaxed cruising along with one hand on the steering wheel and the music up, the Isley Brothers smooth vocals on Summer Breeze fill the car, he sings along at the top of his voice and enjoys the drive home.

 

Top 10 ways to fill your ‘inspiration well’

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Love it. Makes me want to go note pad shopping.

Olivia McCabe's avatarOlivia McCabe

Most writers carry a notebook around with them wherever they go. Whether electronic or paper, they recognise the importance of recording every good idea they have. But where do these ideas come from, and how can writers get more inspiration for their work? Is your ‘inspiration well’ running a little dry? Then you’ve come to the right place…

  1. Sight – Take time to stop and look at the world around you. Whether it be a beautiful landscape, an expression on someone’s face, or a bag of knitting sitting haphazardly next to an empty chair, write it down! Collect images and scribble them in your notebook. You never know where they might lead. I had an idea for a story just from seeing a broken watch lying in a drawer. What do you see around you? Write it down!
  2. Sound – A piece of music playing on the radio, the waves…

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We Are

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Amazing and beautifully wrote! I felt extremely proud when I read this one for all women of colour whether your decent is from the Carib, south America, Africa , the middle east or Asia/ India. When I read this on the other hand I also thought there are a lot of things here that can relate to ALL women in general. Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem.

Tameeka Smith's avatarBe Lifted

I want to take a second to mention

Before I begin expressing

My affection for my

Beautiful black sisters

I am not a person

Who promotes division

Uplifting others

Is always my intentions

To spread positive messages

My sisters and I

Marches to the beat

Of a different drum

Some say that we are

Rude or have bad attitudes

But my dude that’s

The furthest from the truth

We are radiant

We are independent

We are grounded

We are strong

Yet we are also delicate

It’s part of being feminine

We do what we can

All by ourselves

Even if we needed help

We don’t stress

We are loyal

We are true

We sacrifice daily

For our beautiful babies

We endure pain

We don’t allow it

To turn inward

We don’t allow things to change us

Even though it should have

Drove us crazy

We love hard

We don’t give…

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Day #18: The Writing To Do List- What’s on Yours?

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Morning !

A cloudy one here in London today,I hope the sun hasn’t decided that it’s time to hide now that we’ve reached September. We’re only 2 days in.

Well for day #18 of the count down to ”the big day”  I have quite a to do list, and really glad I don’t return to work until Tuesday. I need to narrow down a from a long list of topics what to write an article on, for  3 guest blog appearances I’ll do as part of my book tour from the 20th September. The list of topics is rather long,  hard to decide but  it’s interesting. 

I also have the next 8 hours free to write my heart out and polish up what I’ve wrote for my romance-thriller book I’ve started and yet to complete. In terms of word count I’m only about 16,000 words in, so not much work produced, but I have my idea mapped out on paper. I hope today is a much more productive day than the last 2 days I’ve been off work and I’ve at down to write. I’ve been messing around behind the screen you see- well that’s not true I’ve been reading blogs and reading a really great romance novel which I’ll do a review for for another romance author. Last night I was up until 1:00 am reading, I’m enjoying the story line so far.

Also, on my list to do is to catch up on my letter writing, I’ve got a pile of unopened snail mail from France, Austria and the UK to reduce! My snail mail pals probably think I’ve dropped of the face of the earth. I hope they’ll understand.

Oh and today’s WordPress writing prompt, I’ll have a crack at when that is posted around lunch time.

This list is long enough as it is, I better get started before I remember something else I need to do .

 What’s on your to do list for  day or weekend writing wise? Let me know what you’re up to? Have a productive writing day bloggers!

 

Writing Prompt: Day #19 Over The Moon

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Shiver

 

coffeehouseauthor

coffeetimeromance.com

I’ve never actually done this, wrote 2 blogs for a WordPress  writing prompt, but it’s day #19 of my release day count down, and I’m over the moon.(Even more than I already was) why? I’m up in lights! Listed as a ”Coffee House Author” on Coffeeandromance.com where A Stranger in France will feature in October! *Cheesy grin* I’m shivering with excitement, over the moon and wanted to share.

And also let you know about this great website to discover other romance authors. I’m looking forward to having a good look through the list  myself, to see what and who I fancy reading.

Take a look and enjoy http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/

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