De-blog

In 2018, I wrote 214,592 words. :) That's not a bad total word count for the year, but it's my lowest since 2012, and the six years since are in almost perfect negative correlation with the output of Beaten Track Publishing. That's an achievement, of course. I love my job. However, with that realisation comes the closest I'm getting to a New Year's resolution: in 2019, I'll spend less time on publishing and more on writing. That brings my writing career total to 3,214,424 words (!) , consisting of: 25 novels 12 novellas 12 short stories several works in progress In case you missed any…with links… Deb's books published in 2018 Print/eBooks: Oh No She Didn't! (Slice of Life/Women's Fiction - in Upstaged ) What a Scorcher!  (Slice of Life/Women's Fiction - HBTC Free Flash Fiction) Tabula Rasa   (Crime/Romance/Slice of Life - Gray Fisher 2) The Great Village Bun Fight  (Slice of Life/Humour Novella) Goth of Christmas P...

20th December, 2018 https://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/theadventofreason Blurb A weekend in an ancient castle and a murder-mystery game that becomes all too real. It’s safe to say Josh’s plans for a romantic anniversary with George are not turning out the way he’d hoped. In spite of his cynicism, and his promise not to embark on any more life-threatening pursuits for answers, when one of the guests turns up dead, Josh can’t help but put his talents to use to solve the murder. The Advent of Reason is a (more or less) stand-alone 47,000-word novella-length character special in the Hiding Behind The Couch series. Purchase Links Beaten Track:  Ebook  • Paperback Amazon:  Ebook  •  Paperback iBooks • Barnes and Noble • Smashwords • Kobo • Google Play Excerpt “Oh, God. That’s a long way down.” Josh backed away from the panoramic window fronting Gabby’s third-floor studio. She laughed, but not at him, he didn’t think, and came to sta...

So, I haven't blogged for a few weeks, and I'd like to blame my youngest daughter's wedding. I'd like to, but I can't. She and her new husband (who made me cry so many times on their happy day it's just untrue - I never used to be such a soft sh*te! And I mean happy tears) pretty much organised everything themselves. I say 'pretty much' because I know my eldest daughter as maid of honour worked her socks off putting the hen party together, and I'm guessing the best man did the same for the stag do. Anyway, the short version: amazing day. The hotel was stunning. The food was awesome. The music was brilliant. Most importantly, the bride, groom and their entire wedding party were utterly gorgeous. I'm hoping she won't mind me sharing this photo as it's online already... The littluns weren't that serious all day. :) ~ • ~ • ~ Also on the same day (and yes, I was told off for it), I released my first ever children's ...

My Dream Woman , written by C H Clepitt and Narrated by Natalie Husdan is available now as an audiobook. Blurb: When your dreams are real there’s nowhere to escape! Andi is just holding it together. Working two jobs means she doesn’t need to rely on anyone, but doesn’t have much of a life. In her dreams, however, she is a hero: battling monsters and saving innocents. When her dream woman turns out to be very real, Andi’s life begins to spiral out of control. Step into an exciting urban fantasy that will have you on the edge of your seat. Think The Book of Abisan , only sexier! Author’s Note: I loved writing My Dream Woman and was thrilled with the response it received from readers. Hearing it brought to life was absolutely amazing, and Natalie Husdan does a superb job - every single character sounds just as I imagined them. I could not be more pleased with the finished version. Narrator’s Note: My Dream Woman  was so enjoyable to narrate because there were num...

It's WIPpet Wednesday... :) Brief Context This is a first snippet from my NaNoWriMo WIP, Murder at the Bingo Hall , which is all Andrea's fault...as always. ;) This actually started out as her creation. The story features Iris (George's mum) and her friend Pauline, who are both bingo regulars and also cleaners at the bingo hall. That's where this story begins. WIPpet Maths for Wednesday 14th November, 2018 14 x 11 = 154 words And the WIPpet Snippet: There was nothing else for it; Iris finished the row of tables she was on, dumped the bag of rubbish and marched back upstairs to the foyer and pushed the toilet door open. “Paul? You in there, love?” No response was forthcoming, or none she heard. She cocked her head and listened. “Pauline?” Still not a peep. Iris released the door and set off for the main entrance, which was the only external exit Pauline could use without giving away that she was skiving. “Oy, we’re a long way off done, you know,” ...

I realised today that I still haven't reviewed Drumbeat , which is shocking. It's been out for... [goes to look...cough] a while. OK, September 1st, it was released, and it was a while before that when I read it, because I struck lucky and got to beta-read. I honestly don't know what the process is like for other beta-readers, but for me it's like getting books on super early pre-release AND getting the chance to talk about the characters and events with the author. A private fan convention, essentially. I love it! Drumbeat  is the third book in A.M. Leibowitz 's Notes from Boston series , and I've got to say before I get into talking about the story itself, I love these covers so much. How much? I've got them up onscreen as I type. They're exactly right for the series and for each story. The observant will notice the series title and the book titles are music-themed, and the characters are all somehow connected to the performing arts (as well as t...

Be brave and grab your torches -  it's time for the Sparkly Badgers' Ghost Hunt! Find all the ghosts, collect all the letters and submit the spooky phrase to enter the prize draw and win sweets and books. Everyone who enters gets to choose a book prize but only one lucky hunter will go away with every eBook. Good luck and happy ghost hunting! For clues, visit the Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/373362076545635

It's WIPpet Wednesday... :) Brief Context This is another snippet from Alumni (HBTC #8). At the end of Reunions (HBTC #7), Josh was stuck in the loft, having gone up there to investigate some psychic tools Dan had discovered earlier. In this snippet, he’s  still sitting on the lip of the loft hatch, and he’s called Dan—I skipped forward a bit. WIPpet Maths for Wednesday 24th October, 2018 18 x 10 – 24 = 156 words And the WIPpet Snippet: A series of thuds, loud and likely emanating from a fist, echoed up the stairwell while a torrent of foul language poured out of Josh’s phone. “I can’t pick this, this…stupid…” There was another loud thump followed by a muted roar. “That’s it. I’m calling the locksmith,” Dan said. “No!” The word was out before Josh could check himself, and he scrabbled to take his phone off speaker. “I don’t want a locksmith.” “The guy’s not cheap, but he’s good,” Dan contended, mistaking Josh’s petulance for miserliness, but the cost was irrele...

It's WIPpet Wednesday... :) Brief Context This is another snippet from Alumni (HBTC #8). At the end of Reunions (HBTC #7), Josh was stuck in the loft, having gone up there to investigate some psychic tools Dan had discovered earlier. In this snippet, he’s  still sitting on the lip of the loft hatch, and he’s accepted he’s not getting down on his own. WIPpet Maths for Wednesday 17th October 17 - 10 = 7 This is from p61 of my manuscript. 6 + 1 = 7 (Yes, I know it’s really convoluted…) And the WIPpet Snippet: “Mr. Sandison. Gordon Baines here.” Oh, thank all that is… “Hey, Gordon. Thanks for returning my call. I was…erm…wondering if, perchance, you still have a set of keys to the building?” “Keys to the building…” Baines sucked his teeth, the noise crackly and distorted against Josh’s ear. He moved the phone away and continued listening on loud speaker. “I might be wrong, but I think I only had the two sets I gave to you. Have you lost them?” “Erm… Not lost th...

It's WIPpet Wednesday... :) Brief Context This is another snippet from Alumni (HBTC #8). At the end of Reunions (HBTC #7), Josh was stuck in the loft, having gone up there to investigate some psychic tools Dan had discovered earlier. I’ve been trying to figure out for ages how to get Josh down again, and I've done it. But first, here he is, sitting on the lip of the loft hatch, and he’s accepted he’s not getting down on his own. WIPpet Maths 10 paragraphs for the 10th of the 10th. And the WIPpet Snippet: Josh opened his contacts list and scrolled. Adele…no. If she sets eyes on this lot —he glowered at the attic stash— she’ll think all her Christmases have come at once. Andy…he’ll have me abseiling my way out. Would that be so bad? A quick downwards glance assured him it would. Baines Property Services…potentially. He mentally bookmarked Baines and continued scrolling through friends and business contacts, imagining the scenario for each, all of them horrific...

Well, my writing is not going well even though I’m on a writing holiday (at home). So far, there’s nothing in Alumni that is a) right for Bi Awareness Week, and b) suitable for a blog that can be accessed by people of all ages. Brief Story Info: For WIPpet Wednesday, I’m posting from one of my longest-standing works in progress (I wrote it in 2011) in the hopes it might inspire me to do some more work on it. The story is titled Meredith’s Dagger , and it’s contemporary fiction with historical interludes (based on real local history), a bit of romance thrown in and some feminist commentary on mental health, witch hunts and modern psychiatry. (Yes, I’m that  good at sticking to a genre). The setting is a university town house shared by Julian and Richie, both students, Anneka (she and Richie are long-term buddies) and Tamara (Tam), who is Julian’s older sister and bisexual. There’s a long history between Richie and Tam— much  longer than either is aware of. This novel...

The Red Lion Pub Quiz (as featured in In The Stars Part I: Capricorn–Gemini ) A MESSAGE FROM YOUR QUIZMASTER: Good evening, ladies and gents, and welcome to tonight’s quiz, brought to you by yours truly, with a little help from the internet. We’ve got eight rounds, and you can play your joker to double your points on anything but the Music round. (Answers at the end) Round 1: Cryptic (UK soccer teams) 1. White birds spot city 2. Workers, smart with sun-god 3. Glass mansion 4. They roam in packs 5. Keepers of the royal lawns 6. An offal lot of water 7. Flowery buns 8. Not your average Womble 9. His urban settlement 10. All the bacon Round 2: A Man's World (answers start with man-) 1. A hard, brittle, greyish-white metallic element, atomic number 25 2. A variety of beet cultivated for cattle food 3. The strongest and lowest bone in the human face 4. Dressmaker's dummy 5. Creature of Persian mythology 6. The juicy fruit of the Garcina mangosta...

It's WIPpet Wednesday again. :) I've been staying at my mum's for the past week, looking after/being looked after by this fine chap. Now I'm home, and my dogs don't care one way or the other. The cat seems pleased I'm here, though. I didn't get much writing done this week, more focused on audiobooks and getting everything in place for the release of Goth of Christmas Past next month. I've almost made a video trailer, and preordering is in progress. I also managed to add a little bit more to  Alumni . Brief story info: Alumni is Season Eight of Hiding Behind The Couch , and obviously has some elements of the characters coming face-to-face with old acquaintances from university and the like (readers of the series might recognise a name or two in the snippet). This follows from last week's snippet ; Genie has called on Xander—a long-term friend who purportedly sees ghosts—to get to the bottom of strange goings-on in her home. WIPpet maths...

Today, I've been playing around with different video editing programmes, both on and offline, and in the process made a trailer for the audiobook of  Of The Bauble  even though we (the narrator and I) are still finalising the recordings. So I won't be sharing that trailer just yet. But! I figured it was time to announce the audiobooks. :) The Great Village Bun Fight is somewhere between ACX's file storage system and the retailers, so it should appear on Audible, Amazon and iTunes with the next couple of weeks. Of The Bauble (as mentioned) is undergoing a few final tweaks before we submit it to ACX for approval. My narrator for both books is Jack Hardman, who describes his accent as "[not] so northern that it is difficult to understand, but is common enough sounding that it isn't alienating to people outside of the London area." I'm inclined to agree, which is why he is the perfect narrator for both stories. I'll post again when ...

Two WIPpet Wednesdays in a row, woohoo! I'm on a roll and snippeting from Alumni again. Brief story info: Alumni is Season Eight of Hiding Behind The Couch , and obviously has some elements of the characters coming face-to-face with old acquaintances from university and the like (readers of the series might recognise a name or two in the snippet). This follows from last week's snippet ; Genie has called on Xander—a long-term friend who purportedly sees ghosts—to get to the bottom of strange goings-on in her home. WIPpet maths for 12th September: 12 paragraphs for the 12th. And the WIPpet Snippet: “You will keep it to yourself, won’t you?” Xander marched across the room and stopped a few feet from her location. No eye contact. She remembered now. He’d been just the same when they were children. “His Lordship doesn’t speak to anyone,” Jonathan assured her on Xander’s behalf. “But you do,” she pointed out. “I am contractually obliged to keep His Lordship’s ...

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the differences between British and American English. Most of us know, for instance, that crisps are to Brits what potato chips are to Americans, and so on. We're also aware of the differences in spelling - colour vs color, realise vs realize etc. - although in UK English both -ise and -ize are acceptable, and there are exceptions in both forms of English. If it's lists you're after, here's a Bored Panda list of common differences in vocabulary. See also this more extensive list on Owlcation . There's also Luke Mastin's  very comprehensive list of US/UK/Canadian spellings . I decided to put together this brief guide for the benefit of my fellow editors, proofreaders, authors and others who work with the written word on both sides of the Atlantic, as questions about what is 'correct' come my way quite often, and I like to think I know a fair bit about this stuff. OK, I do  know a fair bit about this ...

This probably isn't going to be the kind of post you're expecting, and, in fact, it has relatively little to do with M/M Romance per se. Had I reached a particular point in my writing life ten years earlier, this blog post may well have been titled 'My love-hate relationship with YA Fantasy'. I can write in both genres incidentally, although perhaps not as well as other authors. I am (or I was) most comfortable writing contemporary realist fiction, so even when I'm attempting to write within other genres, the outcome is somewhat of a crossover. Contemporary fiction is broad and not that descriptive as genre titles go. Indeed, it is not really a genre at all—it doesn't even have an entry in Wikipedia! :o It is, in effect, a catchall for any fictional story set in our time and space, and which doesn't fit neatly in any other genre. Anyway, that's what I write. Wrote? I don't know. I'm still hopeful for a present participle... that...