Internet 'angels' in the authors/small publishers world of books.

Today I had my book Awakening Love (Stonehedge Publishing Ebook version) showcased at http://authorsandtheirbooks.blogspot.com by author Ernie Johnson.
There is a picture of the book cover and another of the author, plus a good snappy synopsis and one of the places to buy.
The synopsis reveals why the locket on the cover picture is highly relevant.
Visit http://www.ernierjohnson.net to find out more about this remarkable Ernie Johnson with his vast range of activities.

Not only that, but When Angels Lie (AG Press) is featured on http://bookeventcenter.ning.com/page/all-books. Carol, Author 101, is another remarkable author. She has showcased a great assortment of books by lesser known authors which are available on Amazon. It is worth taking a look. if you are an author in need of a good bit of publicity how about joining us?

Here is the synopsis for Awakening Love:
A tale of love, lust and passionate desire, authentically set in late 1940’s class-conscious Britain. Innocent, naive teenager, June Armstrong is determined to rise above her working class roots and succeed as a top dress designer. Her sexuality is dramatically awakened by war hero, and socially advantaged, Major Arthur Rogers (retired), twenty years her senior. The relationship, sealed by a gift of a locket containing a diamond for an engagement ring, is to be kept secret until June is eighteen. Various events, involving his family, job prospects and unforeseen factors to do with affairs of the heart, prove to be a challenge to their relationship.
Arthur’s ‘ladies man’ brother, Charles, is also in love with June but ruins his chances when he sexually assaults her. June becomes the catalyst for his remarkable redemption. She finds herself falling in love with the “new Charlie” when Arthur is abroad on business. Out of love for his brother and June, Charles withdraws from the blossoming relationship and returns to the Royal Navy.
But first Charles helps June gain employment as a trainee designer. Her boss and mentor — dynamic, sexy entrepreneur, Robert Watson — realises June’s potential and sweeps her along on a tidal wave of ambition. He has plans for a totally new business and she is to be his lynch pin. June is mesmerised by both Watson’s charisma and his renowned erotic sexuality (which she inadvertently witnesses in the stock room).
Robert Watson’s ability to draw out June’s creative genius eventually creates a bond, dangerous but thrilling, which he ruthlessly exploits — to the full!

Awakening Love is twice award winner!
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A Change is as good as a rest!

Feel better for a bit of a change. Back to the computer. Being a compulsive communicator I guess I am addicted to writing and would find it just too difficult to stop! Apart from which, it is a challenge and as much as I might squeal and moan there is no help for it — I have to complete everything I begin and see each 'baby' born and succoured.
Finding solutions to accomplish tasks that are beyond my power has been difficult. I know I will never achieve complete mastery over necessary computer skills needed for promoting my image and books. I think I may have found a solution. No, not stretched out on a sofa while I dictate — Barbara Carland style — no money for that! Neither could I find me a hunk of a guy ready to exchange favours, interesting though that may be, and good research for future novels. Come to think of it, a hunky guy just might have a fetish for wrinkly writers after feasting on gorgeous females. But, no! After 56 years of marriage I can't see myself as a toy-boy cuddler. So I have found me a solution that I will report on IF it works!
Yesterday we had a drive up to the Coniston-Windermere area. Not bad weather for February. The cloud s came over but the weather is warmer.

When the joy has gone, time to stop?

It is a long while since I felt so depressed. Odd how so many writers have bouts of depression. Or maybe not — so many factors that cause states of both elation and depression.
I tried getting away from writing last week. I designed and made two nightdresses. One might ask how I managed to see what I was doing! My eyes need a strong contrast to see properly and one can hardly sew with a contrast thread! But I steered by the edge and tried to run straight. It was not easy to do a bit of unpicking but there are ways and means. What a delight to get two successful results within a few days. (Other jobs had to be done too) That bucked me up a bit. I am wondering now if I can manage a bit of art work. Colour might be a problem though but then that was so with certain famous artists.
I started painting in oils 45 years ago. It was after I had had a life-changing spiritual experience. After oils came pen and ink drawings, then pen and ink tinted with pencil crayons, followed by water colours. At least results were pretty quick, the outlay modest, and appreciation abundant. Practical too. Most of the pictures hang on our walls. (Although the 'Nude On A Beach' is large - big enough to go over a mantelpiece - it hangs in an upstairs bedroom. We do not wish to embarrass guests!)

Snow? What snow?

Snow in Britain has taken over the news BUT here in the NW - Low Furness, South Cumbria, we have lovely sun and no snow!

But other things are happening to bring a little sunshine into my life. My new anthology is selling very well at the local bookshop, and the new printed version of Awakening Love (called Desire) is developing very nicely. The Awakening Love Ebook looks like coming in the first ten of the Preditors and Editors Poll, to add to the Honourable Mention the printed version received in 2007. The cover has been entered in the Covey Cover awards. It remains to be seen what happens next.

Paying the Piper

The woodland path — many of the best things in life are still free to enjoy.
Like many people of our generation who were taught to live within their means, we have never overreached ourselves when buying anything. Such leads to contentment and lack of stress. In our day, not for nothing did Building Societies only loan what a single person could afford to pay back. The rapid rise in house prices followed by repossessions has been the ultimate price of careless lending.
The present situation was bound to happen. It is sad for those who will lose their jobs and homes, and how infuriating that the bankers and financiers who brought the situation about get even more millions in unearned bonuses. Would we pay a bonus to a shoddy builder if a new roof fell in?
And yet, all is NOT doom and gloom unless WE allow it to be so. It is our own attitude to present circumstances that determine whether we look for, and grasp, unforeseen opportunities to work things out for the better. This we owe to ourselves and to all who will have to pay for the country’s growing debt.
It was redundancy years ago that brought us to our present location. Very many job applications all over the country came to nought until one was offered in what most people seemed to think was beyond civilisation! (But to me, a paradise!) Things were tough for various reasons I will not go into, But, we all thrived and the family did far better than we could possibly have envisaged. Yes, money was in short supply but not for the first time. I knew how to create tasty dishes on a low budget and I could sew. We never did go in for foreign holidays so nothing missing there. We were blessed with a utility type caravan and that ensured us reaching beautiful places in Scotland each year with visits to Wales and the West Country occasionally. When things improved, we continued to live within our means — only too aware that times could not always be financially good. The country has had several lean times since then but people never seem to learn — buy now, pay later with interest!
The piper always has to be paid.

Sun and Rain

January is not a good month for cheer. Cold, dark and wet — sometimes snow and ice. But this year has not been too bad for us in South Cumbria (UK). I took these photos earlier this week: my 'jewels' (bright little plants - I have no jewellery!) in our front porch, and a scene from an upstairs window.
As for cheer? Well my Still Waters Run Deep is selling quite well at the local shop. Amazon UK have a page for it on line but the USA Amazon declare it to be Unavailable and out of print! Now where have they got that from? I have informed them otherwise but I expect they can't be bothered with small publishers abroad. A book selling at £5.99 is small beer to them anyway. It bothers me not. I am content to take it as it comes - no more hassle and frantic efforts to sell books or get known as an author. What will be, will be. Let's face it, not all hopes and desires can be fulfilled. Better to be realistic. I am greatly blessed to have a few 'fans' who look forward to reading each new book. Few or thousands? What does it matter? Writing is a gift to share. To be able to share it is great whatever the numbers.
So sometimes a ray of sun, sometimes a cold shower, some days a hard frost - but warmth comes to bring out the beauty that is often obscured from view by the coldness of our own heart, that is, if we allow it to happen. Life is for living NOT for regrets of what might be, or might have been.

Me, Mythica and a Study In Red!

For me, Jack the Ripper has no great appeal as the subject of a novel but I was intrigued enough to buy Brian L Porter's book, A Study in Red. It is well written with graphic scenes and excellent characterisation. The book has sold well and gained awards (as have other of Porter's books) For him to do so well with his writing can't be mere effort at marketing on his part. Clearly, he has the ability to write books that stir the imagination. Now he announced that he has a contract for his book — Study In Red — to be made into a movie. Well done, Brian!

http://www.prlog.org/10158718-study-in-red-the-movie.html

The good news for me is that Graeme Houston (Mythica) wants me as one of his authors for his e-publishing business. (Brian Porter already has an input there.)

Mythica is new and not completely set up yet, but Graeme Houston is not new to publishing and he is also an author himself with several books to his name (including one written with Brian Porter). Houston is also a jolly good bookcover artist and has designed award-winning covers for Porter. My book, "When Angels Lie" is already mentioned on the Mythica web site. You can see the new cover for my book there:

http://www.mythicapublishing.com

For the Mythica press release see:

http://www.prlog.org/10159065-mythica-publishing-new-name-on-the-block.html

It says there:

Mythica Publishing is currently open to submissions in all genres and interested authors should visit the company's website at http://www.mythicapublishing.com/