Happy Easter

What am I celebrating this week?

• Well firstly it's the start of the Easter school holidays and I am looking forward to being able to relax a little and spend some time with my family.
• Secondly, my husband was involved in a car accident this week. He sustained some whiplash and was shaken up but he is fine really so I am very thankful for that. His van on the other hand is another story!

Thanks to Viklit at Sribblings of an Aspiring Author for hosting this weekly mini celebration. Fancy joining in? Head over to Vikki's blog for all the details.

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Easter.

Bring me sunshine!



Can anyone else hear Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise singing their song now?

 

The recipients of the Sunshine Award are “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogsphere.” The way the award works is this: thank the person who gave you the award, and link back to them. Then answer questions about yourself. Finally, select up to 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post, and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award. And don't forget the Sunshine Award badge

 

A big thank you to Nancy LaRonda Johnson at Writer's Mark for passing this cheery award onto me recently.

 

What inspired you to start blogging?
I wanted somewhere to share my writing journey. Also I had read so much about 'building a platform' that I thought I ought to jump on board. It has been one of the best decisions. I have made so many great bloggy friends and learnt more than I could have imagined about the publishing process. I can't believe I've been blogging for about a year now.

 

How did you come up with the name of your blog?
When creating my blog The Word is.. just slipped into my mind! I thought I might change it when I got going but I actually quite liked it so stuck with it.

 

What is your favorite blog that you like to read?
Gosh how can I chose just one!  I like different blogs for a variety of reasons. I like the fact I can click on a blog and feel right at home and as if chatting to an old friend.

 

Tell about your dream job.
I'm sure it will come as no surprise to say a full time writer. Just to earn enough to donate my time and energy to something I love doing whilst being able to help support my family! I would like to give back by continuing to do some work in schools with the hope of inspiring young writers.

 

Is your glass half full or half empty?
Mostly half full. I try to be a positive and optimistic person.

 

If you could go anywhere for a week’s vacation, where would you go?
There are lots of places I would love to visit. Rome and Venice are on the list. Hubby and I would like to do a cruise taking in these and a few other mediterrean destinations. I have also always wanted to see Niagra Falls. But spending a relaxing week with my family somewhere sunny is also top of the list!

 

What food can you absolutely not eat?
Marmite - yuck!

 

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Milk.

 

Do you watch TV – if so, what are some of your favorite shows?
I like Coronation Street! If you are not in the UK it is a soap opera. I like programmes that give me a laugh.Sometimes I'll watch a bit of reality stuff too. I'm not someone who watches tv all the time.
 

I happily pass this award onto the following blogs. All these ladies 'bring me sunshine' when they drop by so thank you!

 Tyrean at Tyrean's Writing Spot

Julie Luek at A Thought Grows

Annalisa Crawford at Wake up, Eat, Sleep, Write

Jaybird at the Writer's Nest

Viklit at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author






 

 

 



Fraction of Stone by Kelley Lynn

Today I am pleased to give a massive shout out to the lovely Kelley Lynn and her YA fantasy, Fraction of Stone. Congrats, Kelley, it is looking and sounding fabulous! Here's all the details, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Fraction of Stone by Kelley Lynn

Release Date: March 21st, 2013 by Sapphire Star Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy


Book Description:

Wind tunnels, torrential rains and earthquakes tear apart Casden. The cause of the world’s imbalance is unknown, but the mounting occurrences suggest there’s little time before life ceases to exist.

Rydan Gale and Akara Nazreth are the only humans with the ability to wield magic. The tattoo on their necks and the discovery of an ancient book, dictate they are the key to the world’s survival.

But the greatest obstacle for saving mankind isn’t the bizarre creatures, extreme betrayals and magic-fearing men hunting them.

It’s that Akara doesn’t believe the world is worth saving. 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16160501-fraction-of-stone


Book Trailer:

About the Author:

Eventually the day came when the voices in Kelley Lynn’s head were more insistent then her engineering professor’s. So instead of turning to her Thermodynamics book, Kelley brought up a blank page on her computer screen and wrote. Somewhere along the way she became a Young Adult author.


Kelley was born and raised a Midwestern girl. She’s not afraid to sweat and fills her free time with softball, soccer and volleyball. (Though you probably don’t want her on your volleyball team.) She occasionally makes guest appearances as a female vocalist for area bands.


You can find Kelley hanging out at her blog, titled in her name, as well as the group blog she shares with her fellow critique partners, Falling for Fiction. Kelley is a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators.



Kelley Lynn's Links: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for hosting this weekly blog hop.

 



Before I go and wish you all a happy weekend my small celebrations for this week include;

• Having a surprise win of £50. I am putting it straight into my summer holiday fund!
• Undertaking some research for my new project. An MG fantasy. Yay for new ideas!

What are you celebrating this week?

Celebrate the small things!

Friday again and time to celebrate the small things. Thanks to Viklit at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for hosting.

 

 

This week I am celebrating;

• that I went to a zumba class! I haven't managed to go for two months.
• I identified a couple of submission leads for my work.
• I signed up for DL's Blog Blitz. It looks like a fun idea.

 

Happy Friday everyone

 

 



Passing Time - Ellie Garratt

 

Passing Time: Nine Short Tales of the Strange and Macabre

 



Today I am delighted to welcome the 'out of this world,' Ellie Garratt.

Ellie is here to tell us all about her new ebook PASSING TIME. Congratulations!

Don't you just love this cover?

 

 BOOK BLURB

Nine dark fiction stories that may just give you nightmares.

A man lives to regret Passing Time. A father will do anything to save his son in Expiration Date. An author finds out her worst nightmare is back in The Devil’s Song. A woman gets more than the claim fee when she takes out vampire insurance in Luna Black.

In Dining in Hell, the Death Valley Diner becomes the wrong place to stop.

A serial killer wants to add another file to his collection in The Vegas Screamer. In Eating Mr. Bone, an undertaker could meet an unfortunate end. A con man meets his first ghost in Land of the Free. And will truth finally be set free in The Letter?

Excerpt from Eating Mr. Bone

When I entered the room, a female colleague let out a gasp and hurried away.

Something was wrong, and that something made itself clear the moment I gazed upon my reflection in the mirror. Gone was my silver-white hair. Instead a dull, lifeless mat of grey had replaced it. My eyes were cloudy and lacked their usual vibrancy, and like Hilary, small mottled patches had appeared on my neck and face. I turned my attention to my hands, and they too had taken on this new hideous complexion. It seemed I had aged twenty years in just one morning.

And there was the same smell of rotting food.

I turned away from the mirror and thought of one person–Mr. Bone. Was this his final gift to me–a perverse present for my retirement? I decided he would not be allowed to get away with it. He’d taken enough from me over the last fifty years. I’d done as he’d instructed, working under his rules and those of his father before him since leaving school. No longer.

It was early afternoon and Mr. Bone was a creature of habit. He would be cleaning the show coffins for the afternoon’s appointments.

I entered the show room with its dozen display models. Mr. Bone was hunched over his favourite, the deluxe mahogany coffin, thumping his fist to his abdomen in repeated movements. I walked up to him, prepared to spew a torrent of pent-up emotion in his direction, but as he turned towards me he pointed to his throat. His face was scarlet and his lips blue, and I realised from the rasping sounds he emitted, he was choking. He reached out his arms towards me, begging me to save him.

I admit I was tempted to leave him to suffocate, but the desire was beaten by an overwhelming urge to use the Heimlich Manoeuvre–I did not need a first-aid course to teach me such a simple first-aid technique.

Stepping behind him, I placed both arms around his torso and clasped them together before pulling inward and upward with as much force as I could maintain. His breath crackled as the object obstructing his airway moved and then flew out of his mouth. He began gasping mouthfuls of air, but I continued the Heimlich Manoeuvre. I could not stop.

 

 About The Author

Ellie Garratt

 

A life-long addiction to reading science fiction and horror, meant writing was the logical outlet for Ellie Garratt’s passions. She is a reader, writer, blogger, Trekkie, and would happily die to be an extra in The Walking Dead. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and online. Passing Time is her first eBook collection and contains nine previously published stories. Her science fiction collection Taking Time will be published later in the year.

Book Links

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Goodreads

Facebook

Your chance to win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celebrate the small things!

Friday is time to  Celebrate the small things. Hosted by Viklit at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author.  Head over to find out more and sign up!

Not much to report on the writing front this week for me I'm afraid so I am taking the opportunity to celebrate somone else's achievements. Hope that's ok, Vikki.

Some of you may have already heard the story of a very brave lady called Bridget Zinn. Sadly Bridget died from cancer in May 2011 aged only 33 years. Bridget's dream was to be  a published author and I am pleased to announce that dream is about to become true as her YA novel, Poison is published next week by Hyperion. Check out the full story HERE. There are some exciting things happening.

So this week I am celebrating Bridget's accomplishment with her family and friends.
How about joining in and helping to spread the word.

bridgetzinn.com

 

 

A cactus can be beautiful too - IWSG post

Hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh

 

I wanted to post something positive and uplifting for this months IWSG. I know there are a lot of writers/bloggers out there dealing with difficult issues at the moment. Perhaps some, like me, have questioned if writing is really for them. Is it  worth all the heartache and rejection? The hours staring at a screen, writing and rewriting till we start to question our own sanity? How much can one person be expected to take before they say enough is enough?  Maybe we should just concentrate on 'real' life, think of all the other things we could do with the extra time we would free up if we stopped writing.

 

But then I read this quote from Enid Bagnold...

 

"Who wants to become a writer? And why? Because it’s the answer to everything. To why  I am here? To uselessness. It’s the streaming reason for living. To note, to pin down, to build up, to create, to be astonished at nothing, to cherish the oddities, to let nothing go down the drain, to make something, to make a great flower out of life, even if it’s a cactus.”
 
Enid Algerine Bagnold, Lady Jones, CBE, known by her maiden name as Enid Bagnold, was a British author and playwright, best known for the 1935 story National Velvet which was filmed in 1944 with Elizabeth Taylor. Wikipedia

And that about sums it up for me. If I stop I'll lose a piece of me. I love to create new characters, new worlds, new scenerios. Writing allows me to see a different view of the world, to experience things that would otherwise be out of my grasp. So I'll keep on going, chasing my rainbow and if all I ever create is a 'cactus' I can live with that.

So who is with me? Let's help each other create the most fantastic bouquet the world has ever seen.

Overcoming Adversity Anthology Launches and a moustache!

Hi guys, today I am super excited and honoured to be part of the launch for Nick Wilford's anthology. Full details are below so I urge you to grab a copy and help raise funds for Andrew.  Thank you.

 

 

 

Blurb:

A collection of seventy moving and uplifting original pieces - real life, flash fiction, and poetry - about battling against the odds and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The contributors include Amazon bestselling authors Alex J. Cavanaugh and Kyra Lennon, and the cream of upcoming talent.

The anthology is part of a fundraising effort to send the editor's stepson, Andrew McNaughton, to a specialist college in England. Andrew has cerebral palsy, and is a remarkable young man with a promising future. However, the free further education options offered in his own country of Scotland will not challenge him and allow him to progress. In order to access the education he deserves, Andrew will have to pay exorbitant fees, thus creating a situation of discrimination.

Help us get Andrew to college by buying a book that runs the full gamut of human emotions, ultimately leaving you inspired and glad to be alive. Whatever struggles you are going through, our sincere hope is that this book will help.

 

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK

Amazon US

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/290822

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17452314-overcoming-adversity

Editor Bio: Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction. When not writing he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also co-running a campaign to get a dedicated specialist college built in Scotland. Visit him HERE

 

 

The  beautiful cover was designed by D.R. Cartwright (DRC) from a concept by Ella Wilson - two awesomely creative ladies!  Here are their blog links:

 

DRC: nhwcwritingexercises.blogspot.co.uk/

Ella: ellasedge.blogspot.co.uk/

 

***

 

I'd also like to give a shoutout to another young person and her family currently trying to overcome adversity. Shallee McArthur highlighted Maddie on her blog over the weekend.  A little girl diagnosed with a brain tumour. Apparently Maddie finds moustaches hilarious so, in the hope of making Maddie smile,  I posted this photo. Sending lots of love and prayers to Chad, Shelly, Maddie and the rest of the family. Chad is a fellow writer, his book The Inventor's Secret  is a MG time travel adventure.

 

 

Birthstone Unicorns - Aquamarine

Hello everyone, March is upon us and so it is time to introduce you to this month's lovely Birthstone Unicorn, Aquamarine.

The word Aquamarine is derived from the Latin words, 'aqua' meaning water and 'marina' meaning sea. Hence the translation 'Sea Water.' The colour of this lovely gem reflects its name perfectly as it is usually found in a transparent blue or sea green. Check out the sidebar for a few more facts.

The connections with the sea are obvious and legend suggests that sailors would wear an aquamarine to protect them and keep them safe at sea.

My story this month is set beside the sea. The jewels for Aquamarine's horn were collected from the mermaid's treasure chest. We also meet a mermaid called, Oceanna. Click for an extract from her story HERE or click the tab at the top of the page.

Finally, the flower for this month is the sunny and fragrant daffodil.

Happy Birthday to anyone celebrating their birthdays this month.

Celebrate the small things!

Friday is time to  Celebrate the small things . Hosted by Viklit at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author.

How it all works!

Each Friday, post in your blog something you wish to celebrate achieving / doing that week.

It can be writing related: I finished a tricky chapter! I finished my outline!
It can be reading related: I read two books!
It can be life related: I tidied my sock drawer! My child finally ate something green! I cleaned the shed!
 

Why not visit Vik's blog and sign up to join in!

***

 

I 'm afraid I haven't had much to celebrate over the last few weeks so have been absent from this hop for a while. However,  as this hop is about small steps,  I decided to rejoin with a few positives.

 

During the last week I have taken several positive steps with my writing.

• I wrote 2 blog posts and visited a good number of blogs.
• I have completed a first draft of a short story for an upcoming competition
• I revisited three stories I had previously drafted and edited them ready for submission.
• Finally, I sent one of these stories off to a competition.
 
 

I will leave you today with a quote I read this week from Laurie Halse Anderson I believe it is from her book,  Wintergirls. I must confess that Laurie is not an author I had  heard of previously but I intend to check out some of her books now. This quote struck a chord with me as it reflects the way I am feeling at the moment.

"There is no magic cure, no making it all go away forever. There are only small steps upward; an easier day, an unexpected laugh, a mirror that doesn't matter anymore."

 

 

Enjoy your weekend x