De-blog

Penumbra is a clever novel and not what I was expecting based on the previous books by Dan Ackerman that I've read, which admittedly is not their full back catalogue, although I'm working on it. The world Ackerman narrates is so complex, so different yet familiar. For this reason, there is no need for blatant world-building up front, and I'm delighted Ackerman doesn't insult the reader by going down that route. We know how capitalism works, how inherited privilege persists unchallenged. So we're thrown into the thick of reality on Eden - a space station carrying potentially all that's left of humankind - ruled by Arden, a young, entitled, drug-dependent autarch, all of which are understandable given he inherited the responsibility and Eden is unsustainable. What I've said so far doesn't reveal much more than is given in the blurb. Of course, there's all the technology that goes with the setting of a self-sufficient space station, most of which is ...

Title: Striking Balance – The Peculiar Making of Beatrice Benjamin Sophia Scott Schnell Gow Series: Appalachian Elementals (#3) Genre: Appalachian Paranormal Fantasy Author: Jeanne G'Fellers Publisher: Mountain Gap Books Release Date: 21st July 2020 You know when you've beta-read books one and two in a series, and read the novella that came after (or, in fact, between) them, and then the author contacts you and says, "Hey, d'you fancy beta-reading book three?" Yep, that! Because, honestly, when someone writes as brilliantly as Jeanne G'Fellers does, beta-reading is a free book, and I kind of feel like I cheated the author out of a sale. Well, the least I can do is tell you what makes this novel (and series) so awesome. So the first thing is the series itself: Appalachian Elementals is, as the title indicates, a series set in the Appalachians…featuring elemental beings, although not just elementals. The mixing and mingling of different kin...

Title:  Minuet Series:  Notes from Boston Author:  A.M. Leibowitz Publisher: Supposed Crimes Release Date: 1st September 2019 Full disclosure: I beta-read Minuet (along with books 2 and 3 - Nightsong and Drumbeat ), which doesn't make any difference to what I will say - I'd love this series just as much had I read it in the usual way. But it has given me an insight beyond each novel, as I've kept in mind how the various arcs fit together and developed strong feelings towards certain characters. Those feelings don't always run in line with 'heroes' and 'villains', although...the one uber villain, well, let's say he gets his comeuppance quite satisfactorily in  Minuet . Central to this instalment are the characters Mack, Amelia and Jomari, and I must admit that I still don't feel I know Jomari as well as the other two, purely because I've known him for a shorter period of time. In some ways, he's more closed off than Mack, altho...

Woot! My 2018 novella The Great Village Bun Fight won an award this weekend. :) The Rainbow Awards  are an annual/bi-annual event, run by Elisa Rolle, celebrating LGBTQ+ books across all genres. Entrants make a donation to an LGBTQ+ charity of their choosing, and this year, the awards raised over $12,000. A huge thank you to Elisa for all her hard work and dedication to the awards and the contributions they make, not just to writers and readers but to the LGBTQ+ community. The Great Village Bun Fight (Winner of the Rainbow Award for  Best Bisexual Contemporary Humorous Fiction) Paperback • eBook • Audiobook For purchase links, visit: https://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/bunfight All’s fair in love and war. But not in baking. A humorous story about baking and village life. Also includes a rockin' reverend, cakes and bunting. Do what you do best. So said Henry’s grandad a year ago to the day as he handed Henry a small, red-foil-wrap...

Title: Keeping House Author: Jeanne G'Fellers Publisher: Mountain Gap Books Series: Appalachian Elementals (#2) Genre: Appalachian Paranormal Fantasy, LGBTQ+ Purchase Links: Mountain Gap  •  Amazon  •  Smashwords Kobo  •  Barnes and Noble Blurb: Centenary Rhodes is caught in a deal she didn’t make. Thanks to her eternal lover, Stowne’s, quick thinking, she’ll live forever, but there’s a hitch. Cent’s now fey, and three months out of the year she’ll live on the other side of Embreeville Mountain among the Hunter Fey, serving their king, Dane Gow. As Cent begins wading through the anachronisms that come with being a Hunter, she learns that nothing is what it initially seems. Cent shares several past lives with Dane, who wants her back, and Stowne’s lied to Cent so many times that she’s having doubts about their marriage. To make matters worse, the past Hunter Kings are influencing Dane’s behavior, and the youngest Hunter, Brinn, might...

Highlights The one where Notes from Boston’s Amelia Roberts takes a much-needed vacation to England and runs into Shaunna Hennessy from Hiding Behind The Couch—a fortuitous meeting for both. Co-written with A.M. Leibowitz Copyright © 2019 A.M. Leibowitz and Debbie McGowan Cross-posted at: http://amleibowitz.com/2019/01/27/highlights-a-short-story/ Prefer an ebook? ePub | Mobi | PDF | Smashwords * * * A quiet afternoon at Young at Heart hairdressing salon. Hayley—Shaunna’s boss/salon owner—chats away to her client while Shaunna perches with phone in hand on the high stool next to the counter. Her attention flits between the murmured conversation, a text interchange with BFF Adele and watching for her “two o’clock” to arrive—a new client— Amelia Roberts , according to the diary; she’s the only other appointment this afternoon. The door opens, and a dark-haired woman, curvy but tiny in stature, steps in. She’s not alone, but one of her companions says somethin...

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...

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...

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...

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...