Saturday 27 September 2014

Sitting Round My Pool is Carolyn Mathews on her Promo Day!


As part of the One Day Promo organised by Brook Cottage Books on Saturday 27th September for Squaring Circles by Carolyn Mathews, please meet the lovely Carolyn as she sits round my pool talking about her latest book.


Carolyn you are an English lecturer and author of books and plays for language students what made you decide to write fiction for adults?


I suppose it started with my interest in mind, body and spirit. A few years ago, I devised a short correspondence course called Lyrical Life, designed to combine self-discovery with creative writing. It was in seven parts, each of which corresponded to a stage in life and a chakra (chakras are the energy centres located in the subtle body).  My interest in personal growth gave me the idea of writing about a character who started off being sceptical about the supernatural and ended up being convinced. In fact, in the first book, Transforming Pandora, she channels an Ascended Master via automatic writing and takes a correspondence course in Enlightenment administered by an angel!


Tell us a little about your latest book, Squaring Circles  

                                   
The book starts with Pandora standing in a Glastonbury paddock watching her mother's wicker coffin being lowered into the ground. One of the rope-bearers is a stranger who is lodging with her mother's partner, Charles, and has brought a large donkey with him. When her mother's grave is disturbed, she turns detective and finds herself drawn into a world of intrigue, revolving round a devious couple's plot to exploit the Isis healing circle (of which her mother was a member) for their own ends. Her partner Jay's collaboration with an attractive singer and her own encounter with an old flame add to the confusion. The twists and turns of her life, just like the labyrinth in her garden, lead her to a point where she has to make a crucial decision.


Has your interest in contemporary spirituality helped write Squaring Circles?


Yes. In the first book, the focus was on channelling and in this book Pandora becomes a sound healer who uses the Violet Flame in her healing. I like to think that some readers might be interested enough to look into these subjects further, in the process of developing their own spirituality.


Squaring Circles is your second published book can we look forward to a book three?


I'm 35,000 words into book three and looking forward to having a good crack at it once "Squaring Circles" is launched. Trouble is, if I leave it too long between visits, I have to do a lot of reading to refresh my memory before I can pick it up where I left off.


Away from writing what are your interests?


I go to a weekly yoga class; if there's a spare ticket, I like to support our local football team; I enjoy seeing my two sons and their partners, and our five-year-old grandson who keeps us on our toes; also love a good film at the cinema, a good drama on TV and a decent West End musical. I tend to meditate when I'm in the mood, but not as regularly as I should.


Back to Squaring Circles is this available in Kindle and paperback and where can readers get their copies from?


Can be ordered from Amazon, Waterstones, any book shop.

Kindle      Paperback



Squaring Circles blurb:  Free spirit Pandora is shaken by the sudden death of her mother and the presence of a mysterious stranger at the funeral. When her mother’s grave is disturbed, she turns detective and finds herself drawn into a world of intrigue, centring round a devious couple’s plot to exploit a healing circle for their own ends. Her partner Jay’s collaboration with a sexy singer and her own encounter with an old flame add to the confusion. Will she succeed in her quest to restore equilibrium to her family circle or will the decisions she and Jay make set them up for more heartache?





 Bio: Carolyn Mathews' English Language writing and teaching career included a stint with a class of 'Harry Potter' extras at the local Warner Bros. studio, Hertfordshire. With so much magic in the air, it's no wonder she now writes fiction with more than a hint of the supernatural.

Buy Links

Author Links
facebook    
twitter        
   
If anyone wants an autographed copy they can email Carol. The address is on the contact page of her website.

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Sitting Round My Pool - Suzy Turner Looking for Lucy Jo!



HUGE congratulations to Suzy Turner on the publication of Looking for Lucy Jo and today Suzy is sitting round my pool talking about her fabulous latest novel.... it's all yours Suzy so take it away...

I'm delighted to have just published the latest book in my Morgan Sisters series - Looking for Lucy Jo. I had great fun writing this one because part of it takes place in my home region of the Algarve in Portugal. It's always enjoyable to write about places that I know so well - whether it's the local town of Portimao where I do my weekly shop, the majestic Sagres cliff tops (the most south westerly region of Europe) an hour away or our little Monchique mountains (I live in the foothills), because I can go into so much more detail, about the people as well. I'm really looking forward to hearing what readers think about it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they'll love it as much as the others in the series!


Looking for Lucy Jo
Series: The Morgan Sisters
Release Date: September 20th
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

It's their first Christmas since entering the Praxos Academy and 16-year-old sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane Morgan are looking forward to some serious R&R. But when their little sister mysteriously disappears from her bed on Christmas Eve, all thoughts of fun disappear with her. Emma and Lana must do everything in their power to locate her and bring her home safely. Easier said than done, they are forced to go on yet another journey, this time taking them out to the murky depths of the North Sea as well as to the far reaches of southern Portugal.


Cover Designer: Ravven.

About the author:



Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart, Michael, two neurotic dogs and a cat who thinks she's a princess.
Shortly after completing her studies, Suzy was offered the position of trainee journalist for a local English newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she moved on to become assistant editor for the region's largest English language publisher. Since then she has also worked as the editor of one of the Algarve's most loved monthly lifestyle magazines. Early in 2010 however, Suzy began working as a full time author. She has since written several books: Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga), Daisy Madigan's Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, The Temporal Stone (The Morgan Sisters) and Forever Fredless.


Previous books in the series:

The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw



Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange 'tattoo' suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realize there's more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.
Sent off to London for two weeks of 'work experience', the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.
At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won't leave them alone.

What people are saying about The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw
"I would go so far as to say that this book could be the beginnings of a series as good as those by J.K. Rowling!"

"This book is a great start to a potentially brilliant series"

"I loved the bad guys, the graveyard antics, the talking dead, the superpowers of the kick-a** ninja chicks, and the rite of initiation the sisters go through"

The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, FREE on Amazon

Daisy Madigan's Paradise (a novella)



When tragedy falls upon 15 year old Daisy Madigan, she escapes to the only place she feels safe, the cemetery of Abney Park. There, in the company of the dearly departed, she realizes she is changing, growing stronger and faster by the day. But in the darkness lurks a terror even she can't imagine facing.

What people are saying about Daisy Madigan's Paradise

"Wonderful addition to the Morgan Sisters series! I might suggest reading The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw first, but this should stand on its own even if you haven't. Such a lovely, well written story - I highly recommend it and all of her books."

"A fantastically evocative YA novella perfect for both younger and older teens."

Daisy Madigan's Paradise, FREE on Amazon

The Temporal Stone



It's been a couple of months since Emma and Lana entered the Praxos Academy and life has been hectic ever since. What with regular A level classes combined with learning all about the supernatural world, control classes, self defence and fight night, the girls are constantly busy.
But when their world seems to stop right in front of them, they and their fellow Watchers, have a huge mystery to solve. A mystery which will lead them on a long road trip across south west England where they will meet all kinds of strange creatures, some intent on causing harm and others desperate to put a stop to the problem.

What people are saying about The Temporal Stone

"Suzy has done it again! Her books get better and better.... this had me gripped from the start!"

"Another great read, this is the third Morgan Sisters book I have read and I loved them all. Can't wait for more."

The Temporal Stone, Amazon


Suzy Turner
YA & Chick Lit Author
www.suzyturner.com

Blogger at Fiction Dreams, Suzy Turner & YA Trailer Park

Sunday 21 September 2014

Books Rock!


It's been a little hectic of late with one thing and another especially with the edits for my latest novel, In the Cold Light of Day, due out at the end of October. But one thing did take my breath away and that was finding out that Books Rock at Siren 107.3 radio station with NickyWells  this last Saturday featured JB Johnston from Brook Cottage Books who talked about her two top reads for September, and yes,

Satchfield Hall was on of them. Thank you JB so much. You've made my day.


If you fancy checking out this radio program here is the link to Saturday 20th September's Books Rock show.   http://www.sirenonline.co.uk/archives/9642

Thank you so much for stopping by, have a great week. Until next time.

Pauline xx

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Plus and Minus!

Poppy and Barney


Sorry I’ve not been around of late, but it’s been a fraught week to say the least. My laptop of 11 months shut down in the middle of Word and would not start up. Then hotmail suspended my email account. After several security checks I got it back, but all of this paled when our little doggie became very very sick. So sick we thought we were going to lose her. Thankfully she is back to her bouncing little self, unaware of the nightmare she caused and the sleepless nights.


On a more positive note, I received an email from a reader about Storm Clouds Gathering and this is what they had to say…”I have been meaning to send you an email to say how much I enjoyed reading Storm Clouds Gathering recently.  I haven’t taken time out to read novels for years, but decided to download yours and make the time to relax!  I was so impressed – the storyline was gripping beginning to end and I didn’t want to put it down – which is always the test of a good read to me – I really felt that I had got to know the characters and was left wanting to know how their lives continued – which is not so easy to achieve.    You must have done such a lot of research too to get the historical background just so perfect. 

“So I’m looking forward to In the Cold light of Day very much.  In the meantime, I think I shall choose one of your other books for my Bank Holiday weekend read!”

Thank you so much lovely reader. And thank you too for stopping by, have a great week. Until next time.

Pauline xx