Ten Days

I'm over on the Choc Lit blog today, talking about the most incredible ten days.

http://t.co/5N99XUY6

There has never been a ten days like it! 

I've been zig-zagged!

Thank you  for zig-zagging me, Hywela Lyn 

As part of the zig-zag challenge I’m to find the word ‘look’ and then post the surrounding paragraphs/text. I’ve kept it simple, and gone for the first ‘look’ I could find in ‘No such thing as…immortality.’ 

NSTAI will be the first in the No Such Thing paranormal romance trilogy and is to be released in paperback on 7 January.  It will be available on ebook at the end of the week. It’s about a very British vampire called Nathaniel Gray ― his story, his voice. I believe there’s also some little known vampire film being released in cinemas on Friday. Fancy them releasing their film to coincide with my ebook release :)

***

  I put my foot down in rise to the challenge – just as an extraordinary metallic crushing sound ripped through my senses. Instinctively, my foot was off the accelerator and smashing the brake pedal to the floor – probably through the floor with the force applied.

  And then there was … eerie silence. I watched the standard-specification airbags inflate as if in slow motion, and found myself absorbed by the thin wisps of smoke that appeared and began their slow, surreal pirouettes through the air before my eyes.

  It was my eyes, refocusing on the view through the glass, that brought reality crashing in. On the bend in the road, about one hundred yards before me, a green car, old by the look of its non-metallic paint, was resting on a wooded bank between two trees. Its back end was crumpled, its make indeterminable – but it had clearly been shunted from behind. Not possible. Absolutely. Not. Possible. There was a moment of unfamiliar confusion …

  And then I was engulfed.

***

Now it's my turn to tag another ziggy zig zag writer and let them know I tagged them so that they can share their work with the blogging community....

I am choosing the wonderful Christine Stovell. If you’ve not yet read ‘Move over Darling’ ― you are seriously missing out. Christine’s blog can be found here.

I've been tagged for 'The Next Big Thing!'

And being tagged has got me blogging again ― Yay!

That ‘yay’ is obviously for my benefit rather than yours. The last few months have been a little challenging but finally I hope to be able to start posting on here regularly.

Believe me when I say you wouldn’t have wanted to be a party to my ramblings during recent events. Honestly, there is bad luck and then there is so much bad luck that you can’t help but think … voodoo! 

But I am positive. I am hopeful. And yes ― I do presently chant those mantras to myself several times a day LOL.

Thank you so very much to my fellow Choc Lit writer and fantastically supportive new friend, Chris Stovell for tagging me and giving me that boot up the backside I so evidently needed to get back on track. Her answers to the questions can be found here. The Amazon link to her next big thing (which I love!) is here.

So, my own responses to the questions posed in ‘The Next Big Thing’:

What is the title of your book?

No such thing as … immortality. It is the first in the No Such Thing paranormal romance trilogy.

Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was on a low following a car accident a few years ago and I started exploring further the idea of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and asking myself ‘what if?’ What if it wasn’t in fact the wrong place, wrong time ― not for me, obviously ― but for some fictional characters who meet as a result of a car crash? What if those characters come with their own distinct set of issues that ensure the ‘side effects’ of their meeting make the accident itself pale into insignificance? Even ― what if the accident itself should have been impossible? The plot was then taken forward by the characters. I couldn’t have begun to conjure up where they took it.

What genre does your book fall under?
Paranormal romance.  I love paranormal, I love romance so it had to be.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a film version?

I haven’t ever thought about this ― and to be honest, even if I had, I wouldn’t want to say. The way I write, I leave a lot of visualisation for the reader. I attempt to write just enough to allow the reader to clearly picture a scene ― or the hero and heroine ― for themselves. I’m probably making little sense here ― but I like to use words that will trigger the reader’s own imagination without me unnecessarily spoon-feeding them. As a result, whilst the hero they picture would most definitely be dark and hot as hell, there would still be some room for their own mind to fully visualise him. If I provided the name of an actor it would ruin that.

I can say though, the heroine could not be played by your typical Hollywood star.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Oh dear. I’ve never been any good at doing the synopsis. It’s an intense paranormal love story with― Actually, I will cheat and provide you with my tongue-in-cheek elevator pitch. ‘Bridget Jones meets Interview with a Vampire and Peter Pan.’ Very tongue-in-cheek.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It is being published by the wonderful award-winning publishers, Choc Lit. I still have to pinch myself about that. It is out on Ebook on 16 November and then paperback on 7 January.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
A few months. But that was the first draft. Subsequent drafts took an age.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I think I will steal Chris’s answer here ― that’s up to the reader. Although Choc Lit is promoting it as their version of Twilight: grown up; British ― and from the hero’s point of view.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

That has to be the car accident I’m afraid.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

It is written entirely from the hero’s point of view. I gather this is unusual ― although I considered the story couldn’t be written in any other way. He, by the way, is a very, very hot vampire (Nathaniel Gray or Nate) who, as a result of events, finds himself well and truly outside of his comfort zone.

I’m now passing the baton to the very talented Sue Fortin. Sue's writing is equally as fabulous as she is.

MY COVER!!!!

Well what to say...
The cover for No such thing...as immortality was officially revealed yesterday - and here it is!

And how beautiful does it look?  I am totally and utterly THRILLED with it!

You may note a ‘Twilight-esque’ feel to the design - which is for good reason. No such thing as…immortality is to be promoted as Choc Lit’s Twilight.

• As told entirely from the hero’s perspective ― this is vampire, Nathaniel Gray’s story
• British
• For grown women

Controversial? Quite possibly, but these days, any powerful first person love story featuring a vampire is likely to attract comparisons with Twilight, no matter the plot or the characters. We therefore decided to embrace such comparisions, particularly as the white rose on the cover couldn’t be more perfect for Nate’s story.

So Choc Lit, the home of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s, 2012 Romantic Novel of the Year and best New Comer awards (well done again Jane and Evonne!) will now be home to a grown-up and very British, Twilight.

Thank you Choc Lit for having the faith in me and the book to market it this way. And thank you Berni Stevens for the perfect cover. How excited and squealy am I?  And look! That’s my name on there…*squeeeeeeel*

I'M A RISING STAR!!!

'Who will be the bestselling UK romantic fiction authors of tomorrow? Romantic Fiction Online's unique list of ten of the upcoming stars of UK romantic fiction and gives you the low down on who they are, where they come from and what makes them tick...'

Shocking I know but there it is!  A huge thank you to Romantic Fiction Online for the accolade.   

Certainly beats being a falling star (not going to think about that one) ― or indeed a shooting star.  Again best not to contemplate ― particularly as I still have edits ahead of me and Lord knows what that process will do to the psyche.   For now ― I am more than delighted to relish in the rising star label.  And how good is it to see Liz and Henri ― fellow Choc Lit writers, on the list? 

With Choc Lit’s FABULOUS clean sweep wins at the Romantic Novelists Association Awards on Thursday (best newcomer ― Evonne Wareham and Romantic Novel of the Year ― Jane Lovering) ― I rather think Choc Lit deserves the Rising Star accolade too. 

The full piece can be seen here. 

First posting on Choc Lit Author's Blog!

And there I am!  Wooohoooo!

My first ever post on the Choc Lit Authors's Blog has appeared - and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit and post. 

I'm not going to pretend that the exercise wasn't just a little bit scary :) - because it seriously was - but it was sooo exciting too! I believe I may have lost the plot slightly as I talked about squealing - and revealed my hankering for a knitted Will, but did get through the necessary introductions:)

And of course - I talked about the book some!

The post can be viewed HERE . 

Haha! Excited - Me?

Haha! 
I believe the following link to the latest news in Book Trade is cause enough for a little excitement :)
booktrade.info - Book Trade Announcements - Choc Lit Signs Sarah Tranter's Vampire Trilogy

The Lucky 7 MEME award!

Thank you Lucie Wheeler for awarding me ‘The Lucky 7 Meme’. I'm loving the opportunity of taking part in this challenge. Lucie blogs over here and if you follow the link you will see her own extract from her own WIP, Head over Heart.

The rules for this challenge:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs, and post them as they’re written.
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let them know

The following extract is from No such thing as...immortality.  I am beyond delighted to say that this MS has been accepted by Choc Lit and will be published in 2013.  It is still very much a work in progress, however.  Edits have yet to take place and with this being a debut novel, I fear they are going to be rather extensive :)  

*****

 

A particularly worrying thought intruded into my mind, despite its turmoil. ‘Elizabeth, Frederick…’ I said slowly, struggling to get my words out. ‘This is very important.  We really need to keep... this incident…away from James.’

‘No can do, bruv,’ Frederick said, with feigned regret.  ‘We called him when we were all in a panic, and he and Mads parked up down the road, just in time for the matinee.  Can’t you hear their thoughts?’

Dear God!  How could this get any worse?  Now I focussed away from Rowan’s turmoil ― and my own ― I could.  With a great deal of effort, I silently spoke, ‘James ― bugger off!  That is the last time you ― no, any of us — will ever see her naked!’

‘Will, mate - Congratulations!  Who would have thought you’d have progressed matters so quickly?  And that wasn’t bloodlust you felt ― was it?’

And then I heard his laughter.  Not through his thoughts.  I could hear it from two-hundred metres down the road.  

God help me!  

*****

And here are the 7 lovely people I am passing the award onto:

Hywela Lyn

Sue Fortin

Donna Trinder

Sarah Callejo

Phillipa Ashley

Emily Harvale

Rachael Dove

 

There is absolutely no obligation to take part so please don’t worry if you do not have the time to participate or if you just simply want to give it a miss :)

 

Thank you again Lucie! 

An exciting time to be joining Choc Lit and hey hey for the mantra!

This week saw two of my fellow Choc Lit authors scooping prestigious Ronas (Romantic Novelists Association Awards). Christina Courtenay won best historical with Highland Storms and Jane Lovering, best comedy romance for Please Don’t Stop the Music.  Kate Johnson narrowly missed out, after being shortlisted for best contemporary for The Untied Kingdom. 

The publishing media is chocka full of Choc Lit’s success.  Not that anyone who has read their books should be remotely surprised at that.

Christina (Pia) and Jane now join Katie Fford (contemporary, Arrow), Rosie Thomas (epic, Harper Collins) and Caroline Green (young adult, Picadilly Press) on the shortlist for the ultimate accolade, Best Romantic Novel of the Year.  The result will be announced in May and for the next month everyone can vote here 

So please get voting!  

I am so excited for Pia and Jane (and disappointed for Kate. The Untied Kingdom is a great book). 

I confess to feeling rather daunted too.  Afterall, I am the newest member of the Choc Lit family which comprises high-calibre, award-winning authors!  I challenge any debut novelist not to feel daunted by that.

But I am relieved to say, after much mantra-chanting, determination has got the upper hand.  Determination to do the Choc Lit family proud.

Hey hey for the mantra!

No such thing as....immortality will be published by Choc Lit in 2013.  

I've signed with Choc Lit!

I’ve signed with Choc Lit!   Arrrggghhhhhhhhhh!  Yep, a few weeks after the event but I am still on cloud 9zillion.  Choc Lit have signed my debut novel, No such thing as…immortality ― the first in the No such thing... paranormal romance series. 

It seriously doesn’t get any better than this.  Choc Lit were my number one choice of publisher and I still can’t believe they ― and their readers ― loved it!  Thank you guys. 

For anyone not familiar with Choc Lit ― start reading their books now!  I read a lot. Make that an awful lot.  And I can safely say their books are exceptional, standing above and beyond so much of the competition.  This year, three of their books have been nominated for the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association awards.  Jane Lovering for best Romantic Comedy, Christina Courtenay for best Historical and Kate Johnson for best Contemporary Romance. 

I didn’t for one moment think they would take me on.  They were something to aspire to.  But they did!  And I feel so incredibly privileged. 

So there you have it.  My news.  I’ll be on here providing updates as No such thing as…immortality progresses further along the road to publication.  No doubt I’ll be on here with my ramblings too.  I have a feeling that now I’ve started, there will be no stopping me.  In the meantime, good luck to Jane, Christina and Kate for Monday!

Yesss!

Yessss! I have somehow managed not to balls-up the endeavours of the very wonderful Hywela Lyn whose help in getting this up and running has been invaluable.  Thank you Lyn!  I've been meaning to get a blog and website up together for rather a long time.  Latest developments have ensured there can be no more procrastination.  My next post will explain all.   

First Post

Well here we go.  My first post and everything crossed it works…