Prism's Birthday Blog Hop

I first became a published author in 2011, when Prism Book Group (at that time called Inspired Romance) selected my contemporary romance The Apple Tree as its inaugural contest winner and expressed an interest in publishing it.  You can't imagine how thrilled I was!  I worked closely with Prism's wonderful editor, Joan Alley, and the book quickly took shape - albeit in a slightly Americanised way!   Since then, I've gone on to publish six more novels and have, as the old cliché goes, never looked back.  So thank you, Prism—your special celebration is mine too!

This week Prism Book Group is celebrating its third birthday and I'm delighted to be part of those celebrations, not least to say thank you to them for starting me off on my own writing journey.  The party runs from September 20th to 23rd and includes some great giveaways, including a $100 gift card. There are also lots of scrummy dessert recipes donated by all the Prism authors. All you have to do is follow the blog hop.  For my own prize, I'm offering a copy of The Apple Tree (or one of my other titles if preferred) as an e-book. Just leave a comment and your email address at the end of this post, telling me which book you'd like to read.

Be sure to sign up with the Rafflecopter to be entered to win the $100 gift card.

Now for my own recipe, which is very special.

In my contemporary romance Shopping for Love, Emma is renowned for her chocolate mud cakes - a secret recipe handed to her from an aunt.  Her best friend, Jenny loves them and begs for the recipe, but Emma promised her aunt she'd keep it a secret.

The recipe I had in mind when writing this story was one that was similarly entrusted to me, but, unlike Emma, I've decided to share it with you for Prism's birthday bash. It's easy, it's fool proof (i.e. very forgiving if you don't quite get the quantities right) and it's absolutely yummy!


EMMA'S AUNT'S SECRET MUD CAKE RECIPE

Into large bowl put
2 cups unsalted butter
150 g dark cooking chocolate
2 cups caster sugar
1 tablespoon coffee powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water and 1/3 cup of orange juice - or if you're feeling really decadent, substitute whisky (as recommended by Emma's aunt).

Melt in microwave and stir until really smooth and glossy.  (About 4 or 5 minutes).
To the mix add
1/3 cup self-raising flour
1 ½ cups plain flour
1/3 cup cocoa
2 eggs.

Mix well and pour into 7 or 8 inch round tin.
Cook on about 320˚F (160˚C) for 1½ - 2 hours (or until the skewer comes out clean)
Brush with a little milk while still warm and in the tin.
Tip out after about 10 minutes onto its head and then put back on its base on flat board or plate.

Now, it's great to eat this as it is, but for extra yumminess, make a ganache icing by melting chocolate and cream (dark or milk chocolate; using a little less cream than chocolate - but the measurements don't need to be exact).  Stir well to create a nice, glossy look.  Drizzle the ganache over the cake or serve in separate bowls with strawberries and whipped cream.

Don't forget to sign up with the Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

and also visit the other great blogs for more giveaways and more lovely recipes - just click on the links below.  (All participating author links can be accessed via the first link).

Prism Book Group 

Jacqueline Hopper

Gay N. Lewis

Kim McMahill

Lynn Lovegreen

Georgina Sellwood

Penelope Marzec

Bonnie McClune

Paula Mowery

Linda Carroll-Bradd

Kimberly B. Jackson

Victoria Pitts Caine

Karen Cogan

Mary L. Ball

To check out my novels and decide which one you would like, just click on either of the following links:

My Website

 Amazon Author Page

and don't forget to visit Prism's website to learn about all the great titles on offer.

Prism Book Group

Now just enjoy the Birthday Hop!

Wednesday's Writer: Tony-Paul de Vissage

Though there have always been fictional vampires among us, the literary vampire didn't begin to flourish until the mid-1880's.  Then came The Vampyre, a short story published in 1819 whose authorship was for some time in question. Written during the famous "Geneva Summer" which produced Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it was long attributed to George Gordon, Lord Byron but is now fully believed to have been written by his personal physician, John Poliodori, who used his patient as his model.

You couldn’t ask for a better basis for a vampire than His Lordship, could you? Byron reportedly denied authorship and wrote a public statement to that effect. Perhaps he didn’t mind being lionized under his own name but protested having a fictional character steal some of the limelight.  After all, Byron himself was rebellious, flaunting of convention, irresistible, and as unrepentant as they come…he might be damned and doomed to walk the corridors of time but he was loving every minute of it… and his vampire clone (just as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” as Caroline Lamb described Byron himself) stayed that way until the 1970’s. 

Then the “penitent vampire” raised his handsome head. Suddenly immortality is no longer a blessing. He broadcasts his angst, lamenting his ability to live forever, hating the fact that he’s forced to kill others to continue his own survival, while he searches the world for someone brave enough to accompany him on his Undead travels.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, then he became sensitive, hiding his immortality, getting a night job, making human friends, actually coming to their rescue when needed and protecting them from his fellow Undead, the so-called “predators”…and now, he sparkles…

Will it never end?

Quite frankly, the only time a vampire should sparkle is just before he bursts into flame, and with that statement, I say, Bring back the Old Time vamps!

I’ve joined the campaign to do this.  (And if you don’t believe me, just take a gander at the first chapter of
The Night Man Cometh!) My vampires are definitely in the Byron-Polidori vein (pardon the pun there). With a little individual tweaking here and there, they stick to the rules set down long ago by Bram Stoker: 

avoid sunlight ( buy SPF 150 sunscreen), 
no garlic allowed, 
easy on the crosses and holy water, 
keep plenty of native soil around,
bring on the virgins!

Christopher Landless is my latest Undead creation and he follows the lead set by Damien laCroix, Vlad Chemare, the Andriescus, and Karel Novotny. Oh, Kit has a bit more conscience than his nosferatu brethren. He still remembers what it was to be human, but when it gets right down to the nitty and the gritty, he fights to save those like himself and not humans. In spite of that, I believe I’ve managed to make him a “hero” readers will like.

When I wrote, Death in the Blood, I wanted to make it different. As I later did with The Night Man Cometh, I started the story in the past and took it into the future.  Most vampire tales stop when they get to the present even if the vampires continue to exist.  Why?  If someone’s living forever, then prove it by looking ahead.

Kit’s story stretches from 1794 to the year 2580. For a while, Man and Vampire managed to live side-by-side peacefully, then a terrible event occurs making humans decide vampires are too dangerous to be allowed to go free. They’re imprisoned in concentration camps, on islands surrounded by moats of blessed water.

It was a challenge to fall back on the expected way of containing and fighting vampires while transforming them into futuristic forms. Staying true to the original genre while updating it to near-science fiction f was a definite test of originality and writing skills.  I hope, I believe, I managed it adequately.

BLURB:

Who’s killing the vampires of Albidon-7?

In 2392, the Vampire Census and Treatment Bill not only acknowledges that vampires exist but enables anyone under “hemoglobin addiction” to be registered and supplied with the substance of his addiction without reprimand or retribution.  Then the Bethel Bloodbath occurs in 2495, and vampires are considered too dangerous to roam free. They’re contained in concentration camps on various worlds.  When several inmates are destroyed by someone injecting silver nitrate into their blood transfusions, Lieutenant Katherine Dalia enlists vampire leader Christopher Landless to help her investigate.

Kit wants nothing to do with a Breather but Katherine persists and soon they’re not only involved in the crime but with each other.  Risking the loss of his vampire lover as well as the scorn of fellow Undead as he embarks on a love affair with a mortal, Kit may discover who wants imprisoned vampires dead but he’s also going to learn a shocking truth…old crimes never go unpunished.

EXCERPT:

Kit's attention was distracted as he heard someone call his name, turned and saw Antony coming toward him. 
Antony Burgess was tall and blond also, four years younger than Kit when they'd been alive, ten years his junior as an Undead. 
He smiled a greeting as the younger man raised one hand. 
Kit and Antony were contemporaries; they'd been robbers together, shared adventures, many noggins of ale, and assorted women during their brief lifespans, and Kit considered Tony his best friend. 
He reached Kit's side. "Well, another week, another pint! Not like the ones we slugged down in the Coachman, but ’twill suffice, I suppose!" As Kit made an agreeing sound, he turned to Honor, seized her hand and planted a quick kiss upon it. "Good even, my Lady! Awaiting yon delectable feast?" 
Antony always assumed that pseudo-eighteenth century manner when around Honor. He knew it amused her. 
Her smile matched his. "Aye, Tony—such as ’twill be!" 
That brought a loud sigh. "Oh, damn, it does leave a lot to be desired, doesn't it?" 
"Do I detect a note of dissatisfaction?" Kit asked. Antony, he'd found, had always been adaptable to whatever came along, accepting it in the best humor possible. 
"Blast it, Kit—you know I always try to see the bright side, but—" The blond head shook, pale brows scowling downward, mouth following; whenever Antony was negative, so was his entire body. "I miss it—the stalking, the thrill of the hunt...." he sighed again, "...fresh blood, hot from...." Honor made a slight sound and he stopped apologetically, "Sorry, Honor—that wasn't very gallant of me, was it—reminding us of what we've lost?" 
She put a hand on his arm, "It's all right, Tony, we all—" and broke off as he gasped slightly and jerked away from her grasp. "What is it?" 
"I—" He shook his head, brushing one hand across his eyes, "I don't know.... Suddenly I feel dizzy...." 
Once more, Honor touched his arm only to have him again move away. 
"Don't! That hurts!" 
"Tony, what—" Kit began, sharply cutting off the rest of the sentence as his friend turned a stricken face toward him. 
"Kit—" Abruptly, he doubled over, Kit catching him as he fell, hearing him gasp, "Dear God, Kit, my veins are on fire!" and nearly dropping him in the shock of hearing Antony actually speaking the Name. 
He slid to the ground, was on his knees, vainly attempting to stand, the pain keeping him bent over. One hand clawed at Kit's arm and he seized his friend by the shoulder, trying to haul him upright, seeing something that stopped the movement. 
There was blood on his sleeve. 
For a moment, he thought the scrabbling fingers had scratched him, then realized with a jolt of absolute fear that the blood was coming from Antony, seeping from under the short, perfectly manicured nails of the pale hand clutching his forearm. 
Others were noticing now, beginning to hover around, a murmur floating through them. 
"What's happened?" 
"What's wrong?" 
Kit was still attempting to lift him bodily, surprised at how heavy the younger man suddenly became, at how weak he abruptly was. 
Antony raised his head, face contorted in pain, mouth opening to scream. The veins in his neck were swelling, filling like pipes with no outlet for their flow, vessels in his eyes shredding, the conjunctiva suffused with blood, and Kit's own startled eyes met the suffering blue ones awash in that sea of red. 
"Kit...." A single strangled sound of anguish. 
Antony's body exploded. 
Kit staggered backward under the blast of blood washing over him, clutching a moment at the hand before it slid from his grasp. Then, he simply stood there, stunned and silent, staring down at the ruptured mass of flesh that had been his friend. 
Honor touched his shoulder and he turned toward her slightly, started to take her in his arms, then realized he was covered with Antony's blood and pushed her away. 
Behind him, one of the females began to sob quietly, pressing her face against a male's shoulder. 
By this time, a Med-tech and one of the guards, hearing the commotion, had arrived. The sentry, taking a brief, face-blanching look at the body, was kneeling a few feet away, vomiting loudly into the Compound dirt, while the other vainly followed his training and attempted to find a pulse. 
Kit had an almost overwhelming desire to laugh at the absurdity of his actions and wondered if he were about to succumb to hysteria.



Death in the Blood was released from Class Act Books in August, 2013.
Buy Link: http://classactbooks.com/index.php/cat-romance/cat-romance-paranormal/death-in-the-blood-detail

Tony-Paul can be found at:

Website 

Facebook

MySpace

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page 

Youtube

Twitter: @tpvissage

Author Interview: Jade Kerrion talks about her newest release PERFECTION CHALLENGED

Today's author interview features Jade Kerrion who's here to talk about how she got into writing and her latest novel, Perfection Challenged.

1. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started writing at the age of thirteen when my school essays were returned to me with a bunch of "A"s scrawled over the top. Teenagers are impressionable. Being much more impressionable than most, and believing that my teachers knew what they were doing, I figured I was destined to be a writer. It's only taken me tens of thousands of hours of work since then to be halfway decent at writing (and I'm still learning each day), but one has to start somewhere.

2. When did you start taking writing seriously?

In November 2010, my husband challenged me to stop writing for fun and to start writing as a career. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 2010 was the trigger. I spent that month writing Perfection Unleashed, my debut novel.

3. How many books have you written?

I released Perfection Unleashed in June 2012. To date, I have published six books; I've just released Perfection Challenged, the conclusion of my seven-time award-winning Double Helix series. I have another novel, Eternal Night, a paranormal romance/fantasy set in the future (sounds odd, doesn't it?), scheduled for release in 2013.

4. What was your journey to becoming an author like?

Rocky, as most journeys are. For a while, I explored traditional publishing, but then decided I was too much of a control freak to take to traditional publishing. I preferred having creative control over my writing, artistic control over my covers, and process control over my publishing schedules. In the end, self-publishing made the most sense for me. That said, I do have a foot in the door of traditional publishing. McSill Literary Agency represents Portuguese rights for my Double Helix series.

5. Is there anything specifically that helps you write better/inspires you?

I think I'm past the stage of needing inspiration; writing is more of a compulsion now. In general, I have a compulsive personality; people like me should never get exposed to alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs - we're easy prey. Years ago, computer gaming and writing used to go hand-in-hand for me. My characters from my computer games inspired my writing. Since then, however, my characters have taken on a life of their own and thus, I have been freed to happily obsess about them without needing the occasional computer gaming boost to sustain them.

6. What's the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part is stopping. After multiple rounds of self-editing, several weeks of working with my editor, and several rounds of proofreading, I have to put the manuscript away and say "done". I think it is entirely possible to edit forever, but at some point, you have to stop and send the book out into the world.

7. Do you have a specific writing style?

Third person past tense? To be honest, I'm not sure I know the response to this question. Some people say my style is much like one author or another (which would be an interesting feat, considering I've never read some of those authors.) Broadly, I'd say that my style tends to resemble serials or movies. I grew up writing fan fiction, and got accustomed to writing sections of chapters that almost inevitably ended on a cliffhanger just because that's the way fan fiction is usually consumed on online fan forums. In addition, I write the movie I see in my head, and not surprisingly, people have commented that reading my books is like watching a movie.

8. Who is your favorite author?

Neil Gaiman is pure genius in his storytelling ability. I'm a huge fan of his Sandman series.

9. What are your favorite books and what genres do you prefer?

Science fiction and fantasy are my favorite genres to read and write. I've especially enjoyed the Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings. To unwind, I settle down with a sweet and satisfying romance, preferably Nora Roberts. I also enjoy thrillers, especially some of Robert Ludlum's novels.

10. What is some good advice/tips for young writers/aspiring unpublished authors?

Success in any new career takes time. Be patient. Invest in yourself - understand your strengths and weaknesses as a writer and be committed to continual learning and constant growth. It is said that it takes 10,000 hours of work to become an expert in a field. That's approximately 5 years of full time 8-to-5 work, and you need to be prepared to make the investment of your time and resources for the long haul.

11. Advice for getting rid of writer's block?

I think writer's block is just an excuse. Writing is a discipline, like going to school or work each day, like exercising and eating healthy. It's just something to have to do because it's an expectation for achieving your career goals as a writer. Maybe that particular scene isn't working out the way you want, well, work on another, but work on something. Thomas Edison said it best, "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration." Today, you may not have the 1%, but you sure can muster up the 99% because that is under your control.

12. A favorite quote of yours you'd like to share?

Neil Gaiman's character, Death, from the Sandman series, utters my favorite quote, "It always ends. That's what gives it value." That quote reminds me that what makes any experience, even life as a whole, valuable, is the fact that it ends. Because it ends, every moment is that much more precious and beautiful. Savor it.

13. What would you be if you didn't become an author?

Well, I'm already several things. In addition to author, wife, and mother, I work full time in an education company in the area of business and learning strategy. I enjoy my job very much and don't have any intention of quitting. People often ask how I find time to do everything I do. My response is always the same, "You'll always manage to find time for the things that matter. Oh, and I don't sleep much."

14. Can you share some info about your current work with us?

Danyael Sabre's hard-won normal life shattered the day Zara Itani freed the genetically engineered perfect human being, Galahad, from his laboratory prison. Three years have since passed. Danyael has survived months of brutal torture and the grind of quiet despite without losing the core of compassion that makes him the most compelling and infuriating man Zara has ever known.

Danyael's greatest challenge, nevertheless, lies ahead of him. In Perfection Challenged, Danyael is forced to confront his own mortality and Galahad's hate. At the end of his road, will he remain true to his convictions or sacrifice all to protect the woman he loves from the man who hates him?

15. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Only that I'm thrilled you've enjoyed my novels. To every one of you, thank you for sharing this journey with me. Your enthusiasm, support, and love for my characters are the reasons I keep writing. I hope you keep hanging around. The best is yet to come.

"The best of the four booksÉthe perfect ending to an amazing series."

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to the multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, is finally here. Grab your copy today.

If you've never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep reading for a special offer on the six-time award-winning novel, Perfection Unleashed.

PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him.

Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad?

In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK

PERFECTION UNLEASHED

"Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men."

Recipient of six literary awards, including First place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards 2012 and Gold medal winner, Science Fiction, Readers Favorites 2013.


FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99)

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Cover Reveal - PERFECTION CHALLENGED by Jade Kerrion

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to Jade Kerrion's multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, will be released on September 17th and will be available in paperback and all electronic formats. Beta readers have declared Perfection Challenged "the best of the four books...the perfect ending to an amazing series."

If you've never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep on reading for a special offer on Perfection Unleashed, the book that launched the DOUBLE HELIX series.

PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him.

Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad?

In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.

PERFECTION UNLEASHED

Recipient of six literary awards, including first place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards 2012 and Gold medal winner in Science Fiction, Readers Favorites 2013.

"Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men."

Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted—a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.

When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives—the in vitros, clones, and mutants—collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab’s search for perfection, descend upon Washington D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.
Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99)

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

To be the first to receive news of Jade Kerrion's latest book releases, sign up for her New Release Mailing List. If Perfection Challenge makes it to the bookstores before September 17th, you'll be among the first to know.

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Wednesday's Writer - Suzanne de Montigny

Today I’m interviewing the lovely Suzanne de Montigny, author of The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, the Kindle Pick of the week and one of the top sellers at Muse It Up Publishing.

Suzanne, tell us about your story. 

The quickest way to find out what it’s about is to watch the book trailer below or click on this link:  http://youtu.be/St9OsyK974o

I heard that you were a teacher for over 20 years. How did you ever make the switch from teacher to writer?

It was quite honestly a natural progression. I taught elementary music. One day, after giving a test, we had five minutes to spare. I didn’t want to start anything new so I decided to tell them a story about a creature that devoured humans and animals in a tiny village in BC. They loved it. After that, I had to tell a story at the end of every class, each day. Then kids I didn’t teach began asking me for stories on the playground. Of course, I obliged. 

My husband and I decided I should take a few years off to take care of my young family. It was during this time I began writing about my childhood fascination – unicorns.

What inspired you to write your first novel and did you always know your genre would be YA/fantasy?

I wrote my first novella when I was in grade six. It was a class assignment. It was supposed to be a short story but I got carried away. It was full of mistakes, but when you got to the end, you felt quite sad for the main characters. Somehow I knew this was special and carried it around to every place I ever lived. And that’s how it resurfaced again. As far as writing fantasy goes, the kids in my classes decided that for me.

Does your genre reflect what you like to read yourself? 

Absolutely! I teach values in my novels. I want kids to grow from reading my stories. I get tired of reading kid stories where they’re abused, the mother’s an alcoholic, etc. I want kids to get lost in my stories and yet feel safe too.

Has any part of yourself crept into the heroines of any of your novels? 

Oh, yes! In a novel I’m working on now, A Town Bewitched, the heroine is based on me at that age. The troubles she goes through are the troubles I went through, changed of course and exaggerated.

What is the most desirable characteristic you've bestowed on the hero of your latest novel? 

Courage. Always courage. They overcome fear to do what’s right. And they’re always very loyal.

Do you think you'll always write in the same genre and style or do you have desires to experiment and if so, in what way? 

Who knows. I write by the seat of my pants. Whatever needs to come out, comes out. I have so many ideas for stories kicking about and all screaming to be told. And yes, I do have grown-up stories too. Who knows what the future will bring.

I know you give half of your proceeds to the Third World Eye Care Society. How did that come about?

I’ve always had bad eyesight. I was the little girl with the patch over one eye. But that didn’t hinder me. When I hit my forties, I developed cataracts and had them removed. But a year ago, a mysterious ailment claimed part of my vision in my right eye. My vision deteriorated to the point where I could only read the newspaper with a magnifying glass. I was immediately sent to every specialist imaginable and given excellent care and I’m pleased to report that a year later I can read the paper again. My vision’s not completely restored, but hey, I can read again.

At the height of this fright, I made the decision to give partial proceeds to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye specialists who travel to underdeveloped nations bringing thousands of pairs of glasses and performing surgery for free. I was glad I did when I saw the video of a young lady who had been legally blind all her life for want of a pair of glasses. TWECS gave that to her. You can watch her seeing for the first time on this link.  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151125187091883

Where can we buy a copy of The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy?

You can buy it at Muse It Up Publishing. 

Or at Amazon.

Or at Kobo.

Stop Driving Me Dotty With Those Full Stops!

I watched 'Big Brother' yesterday—yes, yes, I know!  I didn't plan to become hooked on the wretched show this year but, as the great quizmaster used to say, "I've started, so I'll finish."  Anyway, this little gripe isn't about the programme per se, but about a tiny, niggling incident in it.

In a task, one of the contestants had to pretend to be a psychologist or an agony aunt (or uncle in this case) and a large sign saying "Dr. Callum" appeared on screen.  And this, I'm afraid, is my little gripe.  I hate the use of stops after Mr, Mrs, Dr and such titular abbreviations—so much so that my fingers itched to reach for the Tippex and apply a dollop to the TV screen.

I've grown used to seeing its use by our dear American friends (and have tried in vain to educate them), but I haven't seen this in British English in very many years (until yesterday).

At school—a long, long time ago—my revered primary school teacher taught me that if the abbreviated word ends with the same letter as the whole word, no stop is necessary.  Thus Doctor becomes Dr, Mister becomes Mr and so on and so forth.  To abbreviate a word like Professor to Prof., however, a stop is permitted because f is not the final letter of the full word.

I only became aware that the stop (or should I say period for our friends over the pond) is used in this way in American English when I found my first American publisher and little dots appeared all over my very first manuscript.

"No, no, no," I said.  "This is quite wrong."

"It's our house style," she explained.

"It's my pet hate—it looks so old-fashioned and wrong.  Please don't do it to me."

"We'll compromise, just this once," she said.  Lovely lady.

When a different publisher—this time Canadian—signed up my next novel, the same thing happened and I took up the cudgel again.  Once more, they let me have my way.  It's a tiny victory, but then I suppose it's a tiny matter.

Does it matter to you?  Do you place full stops after abbreviations?  And does anyone know if 'Big Brother' has an American working on its production team this year?

Readers Writes - Maria Moya from The Kindle Book Review

I haven't yet come across a writer who isn't an avid reader so it's not surprising that most prolific book reviewers are also writers.  This week's guest is Maria Moya, who reviews for The Kindle Book Review, which was how I 'discovered' her and asked her if I could interview her for this post.

Maria is  Austrian born and currently living in beautiful Vienna, making her  first language German.  She says, however, that for the last several decades she has read so much in English, that she now tends to think and write in that language. 

Welcome, Maria, let's get straight on with the 'inquisition'.  Firstly, I'd love to know a little bit about how or why you became a reviewer -  How do your reading commitments fit in with your lifestyle? 

Since I was about six years of age, I’ve always read a lot, to the point where my mother tried to forbid me from going to the library so often. 

For the last thirty years or so I used to be a diplomat. My profession interfered to some extent with my reading time, but I always kept the habit up. It helps that I don’t like watching TV.
Right now I’m taking a year off the job, and doing whatever gives me pleasure. I have started to write myself, and to exchange reviews of our works with other aspiring writers. 

Knowing how hard it is for the self-published writer to garner reviews, some weeks ago I joined the Kindle Book Review Team. We are unpaid volunteers who share a love of reading, and will review E-books on request.

Yes and I'm extremely grateful to you for reading and reviewing one of my titles.  You must receive numerous requests for reviews - how do you choose which books/authors to take on?

If I can find a link to the book, I use the “Look inside” function. Usually it is quite easy to see if a book is likely too bad to qualify for three or more points. I have long ago learned the art of rapid triage – in libraries, bookshops, and now on the net.

However, in several cases I have taken on books that started out very well, convinced I would be able to give at least four stars, only to have the middle sag or the ending fizzle. 

I agree, the 'Look inside' feature on Amazon is invaluable in helping to decide if a book is worth reading.  For me a 5* review means a book is literally 'unputdownable'.  How do you 'measure' a good book?

Indeed, I quite rarely give five stars. There is an objective and an inevitable subjective element involved. A book which is well-written, tight, without mistakes, may yet not enthral me because the voice simply does not speak to me, or the subject matter is not interesting enough. There are some famous authors I never could like – it is mostly a question of style, I believe, and rhythm. If the author’s voice has a rhythm that does not jibe with my own internal voice, I cannot truly love that book. 

At the end of the day, the really great book holds my attention from start to finish. If it does that, some flaws can be overlooked. Having read so much, though, I am now very picky and not easily impressed. 

How do you feel if you really like or thoroughly dislike a book you've agreed to review?

If I really like a book, I’m happy and express this in the review. I try not to agree to review a book I sense I’ll dislike, but sometimes you can’t tell in advance. If my feelings are too negative, I don’t do the review, as I would not do justice to the work.

Do you receive feedback from writers or other readers on your reviews?

I haven’t been doing this very long, but sometimes writers tell me they liked a review. 

I certainly appreciated mine!  Do you know if your reviews influence the success (or otherwise) of a new title?

Not my review specifically, but obviously all reviews together do have an influence, not least because the Amazon algorithm takes them into account and promotes books with more and better reviews. New authors are sometimes desperate to get some, and resort to all kinds of stratagems.

True, and sadly that has resulted in a good deal of bad publicity for many authors.  Now some more general questions about reading: Did you have a favourite book or author as a child?

Too many to mention. I was reading all the time, including adult books. Around thirteen I got

hooked on mysteries, science fiction, and adventure. Before I was sixteen, I had read the entire work of Agatha Christie, John Buchan, John Wyndham, Georgette Heyer, P.G. Wodehouse, and so many others…

Have you kept or sought out a favourite book from childhood to pass to your own children?  If so, what is it?

I tried, but my two daughters developed totally different tastes and preferences, to my regret. 

How significant was reading to you as a child?

It was absolutely essential, my principal pastime. At the time I wanted to become an editor. Maybe I should have.

How important is reading in your life now?

Still essential, though writing has become even more important. It is as though my brain was overflowing from all the stories and impressions it gathered over the years, and now simply needed to find a creative outlet. 

Have you ever revisited books you read in childhood to try to recapture the magic?

Yes. Sometimes it works, though clearly I’m not the same person any longer. But I also like to read well-written new children’s and Young Adult books I didn’t know then. For instance, I love the YA books by Nina Kiriki Hofmann, and I’ve read the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore.

Have you ever wished you could change places with any character from a story?

No need, because while I’m immersed in the story, I do become that character. 

Is there a fictional world you would love to visit or live in?

The late Ian M. Banks’s Culture would be an interesting place to live in. 

Do you think the young of today read enough, and if not, how might you try to encourage them to read more?

What is “enough”? We can’t encourage them by forcing classics on them, for which they are often simply not ready. If reading is taught as a chore, children will naturally hate it. It saddens me how much pleasure they lose out on by that, although interactive games and films seem to satisfy some of our natural craving for stories. The right (easy) book at the right time is the key to developing a love of reading.

Do you have a favourite book or author as an adult?  If so, who/why and have you read it more than once?

Again, many. I am particularly fond of Lois McMaster Bujold, Sharon Shinn, Jasper Fforde, Jane Austen, Christopher Brookmyre, - it could be a long list. Style and characters are the most important elements for me.

Do you prefer print or e-books?

Because my eyes are getting weaker, I was reluctant to read print books with very small fonts; now my Kindle has solved the problem. On balance, I like both, but will probably use the Kindle more and more over time. 

Do you think e-books will ever totally replace print?

I hope not, ideally they should co-exist. 

Would you tell us a little about your own writing?

Despite various attempts over the years, I found it impossible to combine my diplomatic lifestyle (which involved lots of socialising even on weekends) with consistent fiction writing; while writing speeches or reports, essentially non-fiction, was a constant part of my work. 

Even now, I find it easier to complete non-fiction projects, and have self-published several already, under various names, just like the hero of Killing Jenny Crane (if with less immediate success). 
Fiction is much more fun, however, and I plan to shortly publish a collection of genre-bending short stories that combine elements of science fiction, fantasy and fairy tales, to be called “There Are More Things”. Several longer fiction projects are gradually progressing towards publication. 

For more information about Maria, do check out the following links (and *calling all cat lovers everywhere*) do check out Maria's fun book: The Mysterious Cat. 

Maria Moya's Amazon Author Page

The Reviewer Page of Kindle Book Review: 

And here's a  link to an article Maria wrote on Squidoo (as “Viennagirl”) about her time in Hong Kong – She also wrote short articles on a trip to Ireland and her own Tyrol.

Thank you, Maria.  It's been so interesting talking to you and I can't wait to read There Are More Things, which sounds very intriguing.  Good luck with the release.