My contemporary novel, TREADING ON DREAMS, has made it into the finals of the RONE awards.
Thanks to everyone who voted. You are wonderful people.
‘Treading On Dreams’ will now be read by a panel of professional judges, which is a lovely thought in itself. Thanks again.
It’s always wonderful to welcome Nancy Jardine to my blog. Her new time travel novel, The Taexali Game, is out now in paperback and on Kindle. She is a prolific author with many books to her name, and for this title she decided to go down the self-publishing route for the first time. I’ll hand straight over to Nancy who will tell you more about this exciting novel and her adventures in self-publishing.
Hello again, Jeff. It’s always great to visit you but today it’s even more exciting since without your editing help I might not have been writing this promotional material. What follows is a bit of background for your readers.
On the 7th May 2015, I self-published The Taexali Game—a historical Time Travel novel for the Teen/YA market—in print via Createspace. On the 11th May 2015, the kindle version hit the ebook shelves across the Amazon network. This was my first ever venture into self-publishing and a huge learning curve. What prompted me to write the book? And why did I go down the self-publishing route?
Back around 2004-2005, so long ago I can hardly remember it, I was elated with the end of term ‘round up’ stories that my class of 11-12 year olds produced after studying Celtic/ Roman Britain. I joked that someday I’d write a companion novel about Celts and Romans that would be great as a class reader during a future project with the same historical context. It’s taken me a very long time to get this story to the polished version of today—with lots of lifting, redrafting and shelving once more—given that the very first draft was started during the ensuing school summer holiday.
Since I gave up teaching in 2011 and began my writing career, that manuscript has niggled and niggled at me. Last year, I asked Jeff Gardiner if he would professionally edit it for me. He came back with many positives about the manuscript and a ‘wheen o’ negatives’—but they were fabulous suggestions. I was absolutely delighted with the end result after I implemented Jeff’s advice and I hope everyone reading the book will be, too. So…that’s why Jeff has been crucial to me publishing this novel.
The reasons for self- publishing are that the action for the whole story takes place in the area where I used to teach, and the area in which I currently live—Aberdeenshire, Scotland. As well as a global selling market, I’m hoping for a local one for the print books since I already sell my Crooked Cat Published novels (for general audiences) at FOCUS Craft Fairs around Aberdeenshire. If I do the marketing and promoting successfully for The Taexali Game in the local area, I’m hoping to achieve my original intention for the novel to be read by students doing a historical topic on Ancient Celts and Romans.
Jeff (and author friends like him) plays a crucial part in my global promotions for the novel—by freeing up blog space as Jeff has done today—and I’ll be off-a-begging for more blogging opportunities as soon as I complete this post!
Here’s the blurb:
Everyone loves playing advanced interactive computer games, don’t they?
Callum Fraser’s games are totally awesome but when his Rubidium Time-Leap flips Aran Bruce and his best friends—Brian and Fianna Fraser—back to AD 210, the reality is incredible. They have a task list to fulfil, which includes solving a local mystery, but it’s a nightmarish business when Ancient Roman Emperor Severus and his legions heap death and destruction on the Taexali Celts of northern Britannia.
Giving help to Celts and Romans alike becomes a lethal assignment—some Celtic chiefs are as foul as Severus and his beastly son Caracalla. Dicing with death becomes the norm for the time travellers from Kintore, Aberdeenshire.
Will they complete the mission and return to Callum unscathed?
Thank you, Jeff, for being a fantastic editor. He’s one I can heartily recommend to anyone who is willing to listen to great advice. And thank you for allowing me to share with your readers.
The Taexali Game is available from Amazon outlets in print and ebook formats.
Print: http://amzn.to/1Ll53kW
Kindle: http://amzn.to/1JzzG7n
Nancy Jardine’s Amazon UK Author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nancy-Jardine/e/B005IDBIYG/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
You can find Nancy Jardine at her -Blog: http://nancyjardine.blogspot.com ; -Website: http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1hLgWT7
Twitter: @nansjar : Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nanjar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=139824397&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5139590.Nancy_Jardine
Google+ and other places…
I’m thrilled to host Sarah Louise Smith on my blog once again, to spotlight her fabulous new romantic novel, The Truth About Ellen. Imagine you had the chance of a romantic encounter with an adolescent crush… then read on. Here is an extract from this brand new book with purchase links and more info about Sarah below.
Extract from The Truth About Ellen by Sarah Louise Smith:
Ellen is staying at hotel when she spots a member of a band she was a huge fan of in her teen years…
Was that who I thought it was?
He looked older, for sure. But then it’d been ten years since I’d seen his face. No. It was him, I was sure of it. I stared at the back of his head, willing him to turn again, but he didn’t. So I did the only thing I could; I dropped my book again. With a bit more height and force this time.
He looked around, this time with a confused, quizzical look. It was! It was him!
I lifted my book and rolled my eyes, shaking my head slightly to show what an imbecile I was for dropping my book twice in the space of a few minutes.
Then, Tom Green – yes, the Tom Green, who wrote the lyrics and played the bass in Four Ape; Tom Green, the one I’d fancied least but respected the most – got up off his blanket and came over to me.
He looked older, but not in a bad way. Time had filled him out; he’d gone from skinny and lanky to broad and sexy. His dark hair was much shorter and neater than when I’d last seen him on TV with just a couple of silver flecks above his ears. His eyes were the same; grey-blue. He was wearing a checked blue and white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows and slim fitting jeans. Holy crap, he’d turned out good. He held up his paperback.
“We’re reading the same book,” he said simply, a small smile forming on his lovely, lovely face.
“Oh wow, so we are,” I said, holding mine up for him to see, as if he hadn’t already. Why hadn’t I put any make-up on this morning?
“Are you enjoying it?” he asked me.
“Well, I’ve only read a few pages.”
“I’m about a quarter of the way through. It really gets interesting after chapter four.”
I nodded. “Good to know, thank you.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Sure.”
He smiled and dropped his blanket on the floor, then sat beside me on the bench, immediately opening his book and continuing his reading. Was he staying at this hotel? He must be! What were the chances? I mean, I know I’d met a Four Ape member before, but really, I had to be the luckiest fan in the world. I felt the familiar moistness developing on my hands. Now was not the time to get nervous and sweaty. I tried to take a subtle deep breath.
Oh. My. God. This was amazing. I told the 13 year old inside me to shut up and calm down before I strangled her. I opened up my book but didn’t read one word. I kept stealing sideways glances at Tom. Tom Green.
Sitting on the same bench as me. Of all the benches in the world … and of all the books… Now that he was closer, I realised I was right about him being better looking now than he was back then; he was never ugly, but just kind of ordinary looking. Now, he had a fuller, handsomer face and muscular arms. His dark hair was trimmed at the sides but a little longer on top, and he had a thin layer of stubble, which suited him. And he smelled amazing. I stared at my book and tried to read the sentence I’d been on before he’d come over.
“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” he asked me. I looked up from my book and at his lovely, lovely eyes.
“Wonderful.”
“Did you arrive today?”
“About an hour ago. You?”
“I’ve been here three weeks.”
“Oh wow.”
“Yeah, I just came for a few days initially, but I loved it, so I stayed.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“How lovely.”
“Are you here alone?”
“Yes. You?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s a lovely place to take a break.”
I nodded, unsure what to say next. I tried to subtly wipe my hands on my jeans. I really had to chill. I could not mess this up; I could not say anything that would make him stop talking to me.
“Where are you from?” I asked, searching my bank of small talk questions for the next one.
“London. Well, I’m from London. I’ve also got a house in the south of France, and spend a lot of time there too.”
“Ah, nice.”
“Sorry, what a pretentious wanker that makes me sound!” He laughed. “I don’t mean to sound so conceited.”
I laughed. “Not at all.”
“Where are you from?”
“Milton Keynes.”
“Ah, I’ve been there. Lots of roundabouts.”
I know you’ve been there, I wanted to tell him. I was one of the fifty or so girls screaming as you walked in and out of the radio station for an interview, back in 1998…..
The Truth About Ellen
It’s every girl’s dream to date a pop star…
When Ellen starts dating Tom, a member of the band she adored as a teenager, she can’t believe how lucky she is.
She neglects to mention that she’s a huge fan because that just wouldn’t be cool, would it?
Ellen also keeps quiet about how she once spent an evening with Tom’s ex-bandmate/ex-best friend Jasper, her long-term celebrity crush. Tom doesn’t need to know about that, it’s all in the past.
That is until Tom and Jasper get back in touch… and the truth threatens to ruin everything Ellen has ever dreamed of…
The Truth About Ellen is available to buy from:
Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-About-Ellen-Sarah-Louise-ebook/dp/B00WPHVF9Q/
Amazon US – http://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Ellen-Sarah-Louise-ebook/dp/B00WPHVF9Q/
About Sarah Louise Smith
Sarah Louise Smith lives in Milton Keynes, England with her husband, step-daughter, loopy golden retriever and cheeky tortie cat.
Sarah has been writing stories since she can remember and has so far completed four chick-lit novels, all published by Crooked Cat:
Amy & Zach
Izzy’s Cold Feet
Independent Jenny
The Truth About Ellen
Connect with Sarah:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sarahlouisesmithauthor
“Poignant, yet uplifting, this novel opens the mind to ourselves and the world beyond.” Andrea Jamieson
“This fascinating story highlights the triumph of human spirit in the face of adversity. I really do recommend this as an extremely enjoyable read.” Mrs J Grankin
“an engrossing, tense and truthful novel, gracefully told.” Cynthia Harrison (A Woman’s Wisdom)
“I really enjoyed this book, it is one I will remember for a long time.” Lucinda E Clarke
“This is an accomplished novel.” R. Nicholson-Morton
“Beautifully written, well developed characters, educational but also rather sexy and vibrant.” Alana (Perth)
Puchase IGBOLAND here:
‘Igboland’ is a featured novel this week with my publisher Crooked Cat Books, alongside ‘The Calgary Chessman’ by Yvonne Marjot and ‘Breath of Africa’ by Jane Bwye. Click on the image below for more details and further links, or see below.
Jaz Hartfield is offering a giveaway and a £10 token to some lucky winners on his review blog tour.
Below are a list of the sites he’s visiting. Why not pop in and read the extracts and enter the prize-draw?
April 22: Romorror Fan Girl
April 22: Adria’s Romance Reviews
April 29: The Buttontapper
April 29: Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
May 6: Harps Romance Book Review
May 13: Romance Novel Giveaways
‘One Night In Amsterdam’ is an adult romance novella available as an ebook here: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Hartfield_Jaz/one-night-in-amsterdam.htm
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