Review - Tamara Small and the Monsters Ball by Giles Paley-Phillips

A magnificently illustrated clever rhyming book about a little girl called Tamara Small who is frightened of all the noises she hears while trying to get to sleep. When she sees a shadow and hears a noise, a hand grabs her and she gets whisked away in the middle of the night by a big hairy monster. To her delight though she is taken along to the Annual Monsters' Ball where she sees witches, ghosts and ghouls, a breakdancing werewolf and dancing monsters everywhere! Tamara has a fabulous time and is given a very special gift before she is returned home.

Giles Paley-Philipps has a wonderful way of not only making his stories cleverly rhyme but also manages to make them surprising and exciting for a youngster to enjoy and keep their interest. The illustrations that accompany the words are bright and brilliant with vivid colours and fabulous looking characters.  With a highly inviting cover to attract youngsters this boo is sure to be a winner and what better time than the eve of Halloween to review it. 

I was first introduced to Mr Paley-Philipps when Ollie and I reviewed The Fearsome Beastie last year.   Ollie loved it, so when Giles asked me if I'd like a copy of this one to review, I was over the moon and so was Ollie.  He was just as impressed as he was with The Fearsome Beastie and said that his favourite bit was the surprise that Tamara received before she went home!  He loved the illustrations too and we must have read this book now at least a hundred times, we have to read it about five times each night!  I think that probably sums up Ollie's thoughts on the book.  It is definitely his new favourite book! 

The book is Illustrated by Gabriele Antonini, a freelance illustrator and character designer from Rome. Gabriele works for international publishers especially in the UK. To see more of Gabrieles’s fantastic work please go to www.gabrieleantonini.blogspot.com.

To buy a copy of this book, please click the link below. 
http://www.themaverickshop.com/childrens-books/tamara-small-and-the-monsters-ball/

Giles is currently on a book tour, dates and times are below.  I'm sure he'd love you to turn up along with your children to hear him reading from the book.

Wed 31st October – 11:00 – 14:00 – Waterstones, Woking
Fri 2nd November – 14:30 – 16:00 – Discovery Centre, Stratford
Sat 3rd November – 11:00 – 13:00 – Waterstones, Worthing
Sat 10th November – 11:-00 – 12:00 – Waterstones, Brighton
Sat 17th November – 11:00 – 15:00 – Waterstones, Hastings
Sat 24th November – 10:00 – 13:00 – Waterstones, Islington
Sat 1st December – 11:00 – 15:00 – Waterstones, Horsham
Sat 8th December – 10:00 – 14:00 – Waterstones, Chichester
Sat 15th December – 11:00 – 14:00 - Waterstones, Redhill

Giles has also written There's a Lion in My Bathroom: Nonsense Poetry for Children by Giles Paley-Phillips and Matt Dawson. If you would like to find out more about Giles and his work, you can check out his blog here. 

Giles is married to Michelle and is Dad to two young children Elijah and Sonny. He was born in East Sussex in 1977 and grew up on the south coast. He neglected his education to pursue a career in music. He spent a number of years performing extensively around the UK, including slots at the Glastonbury festival. His debut book 'THE FEARSOME BEASTIE' won The People's Book Prize, Bizziebaby Gold Award and Highly Commended in The Forward National Literature Award and was Shortlisted for The Rotherham Children's Awards(Maverick Books).  Tamara Small and the Monsters' Ball' will be followed in 2013 by 'The Things you never knew about DINOSAURS' (Gullane).    

You can follow Giles on Twitter
You can like Giles on Facebook too.

Review - How Do You Voodoo? By Janice Horton

Today I'm over the moon to be able to review a 20,000 word novella by the wonderful author Janice Horton called How Do You Voodoo?

When beautiful but selfish and lonely fashion model Nola Nichols travels first class on a plane and encounters a woman who is annoying her, she demands that the woman be removed back to economy where in her opinion she belongs! Little does she realise that this woman has hidden talents and she chants a voodoo spell at her. Nola feels that nothing can affect her but shortly after she lands back in the UK her looks start to diminish and she doubts that this is just a coincidence. The biggest opportunity she has ever been offered is in jeopardy and she only has a short time to return to her former self! She is helped along the way by a doctor and is interested in just a little bit more than his medical qualifications. 

I've always been a fan of Janice's writing and after reading this novella, most definitely, still am. She's written Bagpipes and Bullshot and Reaching for the Stars, both of which I absolutely adored.  Her humour shines through and her fabulous descriptions make the scenes easy to imagine and to picture in your mind. 

There is a message in this novella which is that it doesn't matter what you look like it's what you are like as a person on the inside that counts.  Beauty isn't everything! It is beautifully written with the message standing out really well.  Be nice to people and they will be nice to you. Be rotten to people and good things will NOT happen to you.

A really enjoyable and highly entertaining read

About the author: Janice lives in Scotland and writes romantic novels with humour which are, for the most part, inspired by the beauty of the heather-filled glens around her country cottage. When Janice is not writing novels, she write lifestyle articles and has had work published in national and international magazines and regional newspapers. She edits The Review Chair for the innovative reader/writer website loveahappyending.com and is also the bestselling author of the humorous romance ‘Bagpipes & Bullshot’

You can buy How Do You Voodoo?via Amazon UK and Amazon US

 

Scottish Fiction with Humour & Heart.
Read my Blog: http://www.janicehortonwriter.blogspot.co.uk
Follow me on Twitter: @JaniceHorton
Like my Facebook Page: Janice Horton - Author
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/janicehorton
Associate Author & Editor at: Loveahappyending.com

 

Review - Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements

An absolute Christmas cracker of a book! (Sorry but it had to be said!)

Rachel and Laurie were childhood friends yet since then their lives took completely different directions with Laurie being based in London, in a high flying career in fashion, and Rachel living a contented family life in Yorkshire. 

On the lead-up to Christmas, when Rachel’s mother in law needs to go to hospital in London, and when Laurie is given some unexpected time off at work, they chat about their various problems and a house swap seems to be the most sensible thing to do. 

Living each other’s lives is quite a novelty at first, but when they both settle into their new roles, they find that it is actually quite good.  Then Rachel finds something in Laurie’s house from their past that threatens to blow their friendship and their lives apart!

So many amazing first time authors around at the moment completely astound me.    The talent that is being discovered in the writing world currently is completely outstanding.  I really cannot believe that this is Abby’s first book.  She writes as if she’s been a best selling author for years.

This book was truly delightful.  I found myself actually living in Rachel’s gorgeous Yorkshire cottage and experiencing her home and village just like Laurie was doing.  I could smell the gorgeous baking smells that were coming from the homely kitchen, and could quite happily have been sitting by their roaring fire, enjoying a glass of wine and reading a book. 

At the same time I could also picture myself in Laurie’s home too, a home without knick-knacks to clean around, one that was functional, bright, trendy and modern. One that you are scared to death that your kids are going to maim!  The location was excellent, with the bright lights and attractions of London right on the doorstep and also with fantastic neighbours who had become friends and one in particular!

The ending was fairytale perfect, and left me feeling loved up, warm and cosy and Christmassy.  Shame it was October really, as I would have been really happy to get my tree out, break out the Christmas decorations, get sozzled on a mug of warm mulled wine and deck the halls with boughs of holly! 

 

This book certainly got me right into the Christmas spirit; Abby is a fantastic author and I’ll really look forward to reading more work of hers for many years to come. 

Abby Clements worked in book publishing before writing this novel. Her Christmas baking skills are upper-intermediate. Her countryside-survival skills are basic to none. She lives with her boyfriend in North London.  On the 1^st December she is also launching another Christmas book called The Christmas Bake Off.

Read more about Abby Clements at her website www.abbyclements.co.uk

You can follow Abby on Twitter

You can like Abby on Facebook

You can buy this book via Amazon UK by clicking here

 

Interview with Carol Arnall

I'm delighted to be joined by a lovely lady who is very local to me called Carol Arnall. Carol and I have chatted via social media and email for the last couple of years or so even though we probably only live about 5 miles from each other.

Carol’s writing completely fascinates me. I have read a few of her books now and have found them completely enchanting and fascinating. I thought it would be nice to chat with Carol today and ask her questions behind her writing.  If you would like to find out more about Carol’s work, do check out her website which is www.carolarnall.com and she also blogs at http://cannockchasearea-carol.blogspot.co.uk.  You can follow Carol on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Elvaennia

 

You can also find my reviews of two of Carol's books called The Other Place and Jen's Story by clicking on the name of the book. 

Thanks so much for joining me over at my blog Carol.  I just have a few questions for you today if you don't mind answering them for you?

 

I'd be delighted to Kim.  Fire away!

 

Where did your writing journey start?

When I left school at 16 I started to write to magazines. Sending to reader’s letters. Occasionally I wrote the newspapers as well.

 

What makes you want to write?

I’m compelled to write. I always have been. Even as a child I wrote stories. English Literature was my favourite subject at school.

 

Who inspires you?

Anyone who writes!

 

What advice would you give to someone who feels that they have a book inside that would not know where to start?

Have confidence, just do it, it doesn't matter where you start in your book, you can start at the end if that makes sense. If you mess up along the way, don't worry about it, no one will see it apart from you. Simply, go for it, you will never regret it.

What book are you reading right now?

I've just started Touched by the Light by Linn B Halton which you recommended on Stafford FM.   I like to listen in to youe show on a Thursday night and listen to the books you've read Kim, and find out what your book of the week has been.  This sounds like a great book and when you told your listeners that the book was free for Kindle, I downloaded it straight away. 

 

*** (If you didn't know, I am the resident book reviewer for www.staffordfm.com and their Book Club which is on air every Thursday night at 6pm.  You can listen in via the website or via the Tune Inn App on a smart phone.)

What types of books do you like to read and who are your favourite authors?

I love books with ghostly happenings in them, particularly if they are about past lives, even better if the main character discovers the love of her life from a past life.
Diana Gabalon is my favourite author. I reread her Jamie and Claire novel - time travel - time and again. I can't wait for the next one in the series. It can take her up to four years to write it!

Are your characters based on real people or are they completely fictional?

I should imagine like most authors I pick up the traits of different people we have met along the way, and transfer them into our characters. My characters are all ficticious, I would never write about anyone living. Never!

Where do you write and what is it about that place that inspires you to write?

In the dining room or my office cum sewing room. I have all my favourite pictures around me and my cds, happy memories help me along the writing path.

Do you have any spare time and if so what do you enjoy doing?

I love walking my dogs, embroidery and reading.

What is next for you?

Hopefully another book or two!

 

 

Once again Carol, thanks so much for joining me and answering these questions.  Perhaps your answers may inspire those who would love to write a book, to pick up the pen and get on with it.  Love and hugs Kim xxx   

 

 

 

Cover reveal – Mandy Baggot : Security

 

Before Bond, meet Regan…Nathan Regan

 

The new Bond film, Skyfall launches tomorrow – but why wait until then for a military intelligence hottie? Let me introduce you to the lead male in Mandy Baggot’s new romantic thriller, Security and reveal the eye-catching 007-style book cover!

 

Lies hurt, but the truth can get you killed
Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.

Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?

As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?

Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?
Security is coming from Sapphire Star Publishing on 4 April 2013! If you can’t wait until then to find out more here is the link to the teasing trailer!


Find out more about Mandy’s books at www.mandybaggot.webs.com or check out her author page with Sapphire Star Publishing http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot

Collect the Bond film titles and WIN a signed paperback copy of Strings Attached!

FIVE paperback copies of Mandy’s novel Strings Attached are up for grabs! All you have to do is collect the Bond films. On each of the websites featuring the Security cover reveal there will be Bond film mentioned (NOT Skyfall). Once you have all the titles, drop Mandy an email mandybaggot@sapphirestarpublishing.com and you will go into the draw for one of the books! Easy! But don’t delay, the competition ends on 1 November. Here are the website links you need!

Mandy Baggot http://mandybaggot.webs.com/apps/blog/

Kim Nash Dr No

Stephanie Keyes http://www.stephaniekeyes.com/the-blog/

Melanie Robertson-King http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/

Nicky Wells http://nickywellsklippert.wordpress.com/

Sharon Goodwin (Jera’s Jamboree) http://jerasjamboree.wordpress.com/

Rachel Lyndhurst http://www.rachellyndhurst.com/ 

Carol (Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog)http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/   

Sheryl Browne http://sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.co.uk/

Bonnie Trachtenberg http://www.bonnietrachtenberg.com/bonnies-blog

Richard Holmes http://richardfholmes.org

Kate (Me, My Books and I) http://memybooksandi.wordpress.com/

Sue Fortin (Love Reading, Love Books) http://lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com/

Lindsay Gentles (TTP Book Reviews) http://www.turningthepages.ca/

Eve Chong (Eve’s Chicklit Reviews) http://www.chicklitevexx.blogspot.co.uk/

Pauline Barclay http://paulinembarclay.blogspot.co.uk/

A L Jackson http://aljacksonbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Loveahappyending http://loveahappyending.com/

Louise Graham http://lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com/

Trashionista http://www.trashionista.com/

Janice Horton's Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party today!

Today I am joining in the fun with the lovely Janice Horton's Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party to celebrate the launch of her novella How Do you Voodoo?   Janice has asked people to join in the fun by casting your own spell and posting a link to her site www.janicehortonwriter.blogspot.co.uk.   

 

I hope that you are already following Janice on Twitter.  If not you can do that by going to www.twitter.com/JaniceHorton.   Janice is a fab writer whose work I have read over the last year or so and it's just brilliant, colourful and un-put-down-able. 

 

Anyway, here's my spell for today's blog party, I do hope you enjoy it.

 

Kim xxx

 

 

Today my sweet angel is 5 years old
He has eyes of blue and his hair is of gold
I love him so dearly, he's bright and he's bold
And he stole my heart from the very first hold

But today our own Janice has asked us to tell
What would go in a pot to mix up a spell
With the bang of a drum and the chime of a bell
Here's my good luck poem for all that is well

With a shake to the left and a shimmy to the right
Look up to the skies where the stars shine bright
With a sprinkle of stardust all sparkly &white
And a moon made of crystal to add to the plight

Watch out for the lightning strike and a flash

And the sound of loud thunder & a big scary crash

With a big splishy splosh and a great big splash

With a spell from the blogger the bookworm Kim Nash

I wish all my friends to have lots of good luck

And for all of those friends who are writing a book

I hope you sell many to people who look

And thank this short spell that I did cook up!

For all those reviewers who are stuck in a book

Be it paper or hardback, or Kindle or Nook

Leave a comment, or tweet it or even Facebook

So that all other readers can just take a look

May your world fill with happiness, smiles and wealth

May your family and life be blessed with good health

May your dreams all come true, just be true to yourself

You've just shared a spell with a magical elf

I hope that this ditty has just made you smile

For a spell that is good is truly worthwhile

Now I'll go back to choose from my pile

Of my books to be read now the height of a mile!

And now I must leave you to go see my son

Who's had presents galore, he will have so much fun

This young chap from the first day,my heart he had won

He's my friend, he's my buddy, I'm so glad I'm his mum!

Have an awesome day Janice, this was such fun to do.

 

Thank you so much for inviting me to read your Novella How Do You Voodoo? My review will be posted here on 30th October.  Lots of love Kim xxx

New Website Proves that Some Literary Gems are Slipping through the Hands of Publishing Houses

booksthepublishersmissed.com Launches an Innovative Publishing Platform Giving Writers New Hope

Today, even the sharpest of publishing houses can sometimes miss a great book. Now talented yet previously overlooked author Maximillian J. Emmenegge has come up with a solution to promote great writing talent. The author has launched his own unique website www.booksthepublishersmissed.com to promote and support overlooked literary works that rightly deserve their place alongside the other well known titles on our bookshelves.

Emmenegge’s literary platform began to take shape after his 7 novels were rejected by traditional publishing houses. Today, www.booksthepublishersmissed.com serves as a launch pad for writers seeking to market their work online.

Emmenegge’s writing career began in 1992. After a disastrous business venture in the Bahamas, his wife turned to him and said, “NOW, you have something to write about.” A year later, with a copy of his novel Another Boring Day in Paradise in hand, he began his journey into the world of traditional publishing. Over the years, he received rejection after rejection, but he continued to write. It was when a friend suggested he publish his work online that the concept of www.booksthepublishersmissed.com was born.

He has established a unique way of not only launching literary works into the online realm, but also marketing them to the end-consumer. As well as representing his own works, he is now looking to assist other authors who have been turned down by the traditional publishing industry.

Max Emmenegge is a natural and talented writer and his books have received critical acclaim from readers. His novels, Another Boring Day in Paradise; The Kiplock Affair, Harry, and Will You Tell Her, Or Shall I? (a true story) can be purchased on www.booksthepublishersmissed.com or through popular online retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBookstore, Kobo, Copia and Gardners.

For further details on this author, his novels and his new author's platform, visit www.booksthepublishersmissed.com Visitors to the site have the opportunity to read free sample pages of this author's compelling work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Englishman Maximillian Emmenegge spent 25 years of his life in international marketing. This took him to 68 countries. He lived a total of 7 years in the USA, over 2 separate periods, and a year in the Bahamas. He ran his own international business for 10 years before selling it and retiring to Florida. Because of the international nature of his life, his books cross international borders. Other titles by this author include Another Day, Another Dollar; Tycoon, and Just a Moment in Time.

The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes

 

Earlier this year, I was delighted to be invited to the www.loveahappyending.com event in Tetbury, Gloucestershire to meet my fellow LAHE members who were made up of authors and reviewers.  Imagine my excitement when I found out that Stephanie Keyes had travelled all the way over from the States to visit us.  This was a lady who I'd been a virtual friend of for quite a while and we'd chatted about books and talked about our young families and Stephanie invited me to read her other baby "The Star Child".  To finally meet her actually in person was just fantastic.  She was exactly how I imagined her to be and more! Her energy and enthusiasm for life is amazing and infectious.  She is adorable!

 

Today, here I am hosting Stephanie on her blog tour.   She'd been getting around a bit over the last few weeks so I'm really pleased that she had time to stop by at my site for me to do a review of this awesome book.

 

About the book:

 

Kellen St. James is a bright young man who has never recovered from the loss of his Mother when he was a young child, and has a father, who he feels does not care for him at all. If fact, his father even forgot to go to his graduation from Yale. While on the podium receiving his accolade, the world as he knew it, stopped and he was taken back in time to a period of his childhood where he was staying at his Grandmother's house. While there, he met a beautiful young girl called Calienta. She walked away from him with her father and all he wanted to do is to go with her.

Calienta has haunted his dreams ever since, and when he discovers that his Grandmother has passed away, he returns to her house on the Irish Coast and finds out far more about him mother. Calienta turns up, this time not in his dreams but for real and tells him a tale about an ancient prophecy and informs him that he is the only one who can save the world from darkness.

Bearing in mind, that he loves this girl more than he thought would ever be possible and had nothing really to lose, they set off on an wild adventure, through mystical worlds of faeries and angels, with the odd evil demon and wild dog thrown in along the way. Sound bizarre? It is, but also hugely enjoyable.

This book was a real treat for me to read. Quite different to my normal reading material, this magical fairytale held me captivated until the adventure ended. The main characters were wonderfully created, enchanting and loveable. I became submerged in a whole other world, a world of make believe and fantasy, a place where the outside world didn't exist. I found myself thinking about the story and the characters when I was away from the book, which I always think is the sign of a cracking book.

While reading this book, I did think to myself that as Stephanie is mom to two young children and the family dog, she must tell the most amazing bedtime stories! She is full of imagination and fun. The vivid and colourful descriptions make the scenes in her story come alive and I'd love her to visit and read a story to Oliver at bedtime! I'm sure he'd be the same as I was; completely mesmerised.

A fabulous debut novel from this author and I hope to seeing a lot more from her in the future.

About the author:

When Stephanie isn’t writing, she works full time as a Corporate Educator and Curriculum Designer. She holds a M.Ed. from Duquesne University and an undergraduate degree in Management information Systems from Robert Morris University. Stephanie is a clarinetist, saxophonist, and vocalist, and is always making music somewhere at sometime. She credits her loving husband of ten years and her two sons for the completion and publication of the Star Child.

Find out more about Stephanie at http://www.stephaniekeyes.com.

 

Follow Stephanie on Twitter

 

Like Stephanie on Facebook 

The Star Child is published by Inkspell Publishing and is available in both Kindle and paperback at;

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

 

Review - 21 ways to manage the stuff that sucks up your time by Grace Marshall

Got home from work at 4:30pm today, I came in and spent around half an hour with Ollie doing his homework, and then thought to myself "what shall I do next?"  I decided to open the two parcels that the postman delivered for me today which were quite obviously books. I opened each one, took a photo of each and tweeted the photo with a message.  I then spent a bit of time sending a few random tweets and answering some others.  After making a cup of coffee, I decided to check Facebook on my phone and I put a chicken in the oven for this evening's dinner. I did what I call "fannying about" on Facebook and Twitter for a while for no particular reason apart from being nosy to see what my friends had been up to.

I put Ollie's dinner in the oven and responded to a few more tweets as my phone had dinged a few times. Looking at the two books that I'd had delivered that day, and thinking about the pile of books I have next to my bedside table, my next tweet said I wish I could find more time to read!

At this point it was now 6.30pm and I realised that I had just spent nearly two hours "fannying about".

I remembered Grace Marshall's book "21 ways to manage the stuff that sucks up your time" and decided it really was the right time for me to read it and take note!

Chapter 1 was called Batch Your Bits. One of the things it suggested was to set up an automatic reply in your work email setting expectations for your clients and contacts. Something like: "Thank you for your email. I read and respond to all emails every afternoon between three and four. You'll hear back from me then." What a great idea!
 
It also states that  every time your attention is taken from another task, to do something else, it then takes time to refocus on the original task because you probably need to get back into the mind space that you were at previously and all of that takes time and effort.  Grace suggested grouping similar tasks together attacking them in one go, which should allow you to work more efficiently. I tried it out the next day and it really does work! 

Chapter 2 talks about using a timer for many tasks during the day. Social media can be a great tool for marketing and growing your business but only if you use it to help you run your business rather than allowing it to become something that runs your life! Mmmmm!

Grace continues to talk about tons of different ways and rules to adhere to such as handle it once and breaking bad habits.  Say no while being nice, focus with a closed list, do things that beat procrastination.  I could talk forever about the things that I've learned from this informative book to help me to focus on my work and and give me more time.

In a simple to understand way and not filled full of jargon, this book is incredibly easy to read and there are lots of practical methods that you can apply to both your home life and your work life to make life easier, more organised and to create more time for yourself.

I'm off now to read the rest of Grace's book. I do hope The Marketing Room are ready for me at work tomorrow.  And I think it may become a little book that stays in my handbag at all times and I'm already quoting it to people.  I've also in conversation while talking about work, had two people telling me that they've bought Grace's book and are finding it really motivational.  It should actually come with a warning.  WARNING: For the price of £3.97 this book can seriously change your life for the better. 

Grace Marshall is a life and business coach, NLP practitioner, DISC trainer and mother to two children.  She is passionate about helping busy business owners make the most of their time and their talents in both life and business on their own terms.

Grace is the first person to admit that she's not a naturally organised person. She doesn't believe that there is such a thing as perfect work life balance, instead she's learned how to get stuff done in a way that works with her personality, lifestyle and commitments and she now specialises in helping others to do the same.

Grace's website www.Grace-Marshall.com will give you lots more information about her.
You can buy this book via Amazon UK
You can like Grace on Facebook
You can follow Grace on Twitter

 

Ladies & Gentlemen - Nicky Wells

I'm delighted to be joined by the amazing, lively, very talented and gorgeous Nicky Wells on my blog today.  I was delighted to meet Nicky earlier this year at a www.loveahappyending.com event in Tetbury.  It was SO fab to meet all the people I've been corresponding with via email and social media for so long and when Nicky and I met I think we just squealed very loud and high pitched, pointed at each other, squealed some more and hugged!  We were VERY excited!

Here's my interview with her, and at the end of that, you'll find my review of the fantastic Sophie's Turn and some background info about Nicky and how to keep up with her work and how to buy her book. 

Hope you enjoy our chat - we did!


Welcome back to my blog Nicky, thanks so much for joining me today.

Hey, Kim! It’s so wonderful to be back on your amazing blog today. Haven’t we both come a long way since the first time you invited me here? Thanks so much for all your support along the way and for being part of the journey in every respect. Ooooh, I’m coming over all lyrical here, best crack on with your questions.

Tell us about you and your life?

Wow, that’s a big question! I’ll have a go at ‘my life in 300 words or less.’

I was born in Germany (am still German, as it happens) and moved to the UK in 1993 to study for a degree in European Studies at Royal Holloway College.  I loved it here from the very first day and have never looked back.  When I finished studying, I found myself a job as a professional researcher in London.  I spent six years living in Tooting and had a blast—mostly.  When I met my husband, I instantly knew that he was the one; he must have felt the same way because we got engaged within the year, and married within another year.  That was eight years ago!  We moved to Bristol, I quit my job, wrote a book, and popped out two children.  (Did I really just say, ‘popped out’?). I wrote book two, signed my work with Sapphire Star Publishing and then my husband took a new job, so most recently we’ve moved the family up to Lincoln. To say that we’ve had a bit of an exciting year so far would be an understatement!

I love, love, love chick lit but I read almost anything.  I love, love, love rock music (as you may have guessed) and even now can be seen flouncing off to the odd gig here or there.  Thankfully my husband likes coming along!  I adore seafood (prawns, scallops, lobster: I’m a cheap date, huh?).  When I write, I alternate between chocolate binges and crisp binges.

There: my life in 243 words!

What makes you want to write?

I love making up stories.  When I was little, I used to make up stories in my head to get myself to sleep.  When I was at primary school, I used to have a little notebook by my bed, and after lights out, I would sit on the window sill and write my stories (in green ink: I can see my scrawly handwriting now…).  I don’t know exactly what makes me want to write, except for an urge to express ideas and play with words, and then not to forget it all.  That’s the basic answer.  The more complex, adult answer is that I also want to make people smile, laugh and feel happy.  And one way I can do that is through writing and sharing my stories.

 

Like me, you have a young family, how do you fit writing around being a Mom?

Oh God, how do I?  Not very well, at the moment. Sophie’s Turn was written before my first child was born.  In the intervening years, I just about managed to go through some editing and re-writing rounds here or there.  I guess I didn’t pick up writing the sequel to Sophie’s Turn in earnest until after my younger son had started primary school last year. Now, I work fast and furiously during the school hours, and sometimes before the family gets up or after everyone goes to bed. That’s a lot of working hours but I am just totally driven by the ‘writing thing’ and when I have a book wanting ‘out’… well, I just got to get it on paper. Or on screen, more precisely.

What advice would you give to a budding writer who would like to publish their own book?

My advice would be build a social networking platform early on, preferably in advance of pursuing publishing options, whether independent publishing or submitting to agents or publishers directly.  I definitely did everything backwards and found it very hard work to catch up.  So, aspiring authors out there: if you haven’t already done so, set yourself up on Twitter and Facebook (as an author, not an individual), create that blog, and get networking.  Have a strategy for publicising your book.  Identify some book bloggers and ask them to review your work.  Plan a book tour, virtual or otherwise.  Know your own work!  That sounds incredibly obvious, but actually coming up with the one-sentence blow-your-mind-and-get-you-hooked description of your work is fantastically difficult.  And lastly, don’t be shy.  If you don’t ask, you don’t get, if you don’t shout, you don’t get heard!

 

What's next for you, are you writing more and if so, can you tell us a little about your next novel?

I am writing more—just try and stop me!  Book two, 'Sophie’s Run', is completely written and coming your way from Sapphire Star Publishing on 7 February 2013!! Sophie will return… and she’ll bring Dan and Rachel with her again.  Rachel will have a much bigger role to play, and one that is not always easy or pleasant.  There will be two weddings (I think) and at least one disastrous break up.  Sophie will continue her travels: there will be a number of trips to a variety of places in quite different moods.  And there will be some stunningly funny moments, I promise!

So that’s the sequel to Sophie’s Turn. Book three, the concluding part of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy, is titled 'Sophie's Encore' and is due for release by Sapphire star Publishing in September 2013.  It's all planned and yes, I know how it ends but I won’t tell!  Get ready for a stunning finale though!

 

Can't wait for both of them! Where do you find your most inspiring place to write?

I’m both a creature of habit and a nomadic writer. I like writing in my new office (I’m in love with having a dedicated writing space again!) but I also do roam around the house when the walls are threatening to close in on me. I quite often write in the lounge, or sometimes in the sunroom, which has a lovely airy feel to it and great views of the garden.

 

What book are you reading right now?

At the moment, I’m reading something quite different from my own genre, David Baldacci’s Zero Day! It’s gritty and gripping and just a touch on the gory side in places, but I do like a good thriller.

 

What types of book do you like to read and who are your favourite authors?
 
I read almost anything, although chick lit is a firm favourite.  I like a bit of a lift, a bit of laughter, a bit of escapism!  The first chick lit novel I ever read was Catherine Alliott’s The Old-Girl Network.  That still sits on my shelf today although the copy is almost falling apart now, having been read so many times.  I also read literary fiction and David Mitchell, Margaret Atwood and Stephen Fry have written some of my favourite books there.  My husband introduced me to Terry Pratchett of late and The Unseen Academicals is one of my top reads of all times!

 

Thank you, again, Kim, for these fantastic and interesting questions and for the opportunity of featuring in an interview on your blog, again.  I really do appreciate all your support and we must have that glass of wine sometime soon…. X

It's been a pleasure Nicky, please do come back as often as you like xxx  

 

My review of Sophies Turn

A laugh out loud, extremely easy to read, fabulous book that whisks you off and transports you a whole other exciting world! Sophie, a budding journalist on a London paper used to be a massive fan of rock band TUSCQ back in the 80s and travelled the country in her youth to follow TUSCQ and blagged her way into their dressing room and onto their tour coach with the lead singer Dan who was the man of her dreams!

She is now with Tim, an Accountant and he is a nice, average man, but there's not much excitement and romance in her life, much to the disappointment of her best mate Rachel . When at the airport, waiting to check-in for a flight, she spots a familiar face in the queue who turns out to be Darren, one of the old members of TUSCQ. He amazingly recognises her too and they meet up and have a chat before she flies off to New York. He tells her that the band have reformed and are doing a few intimate gigs and she decides to go and watch one of them. 

This puts her back in touch with the band and particularly back in touch with the man of her old dreams Dan, who sweeps her off her feet and after inviting them to cover their new tour proposes to her!

Find out whether the grass really is greener on the other side and who Sophie decides to be with in this fabulously well written, romance which is guaranteed to make you smile and has a quite unexpected ending. Sophie is an outstanding and believable character who'd you love to be friends with.

Can't believe that this is Nicky's first book. She writes in such a fabulously colourful and descriptive way which makes you believe you are the main character of the book, and feel the deep emotions of the characters. I was on that tour bus! I was singing and dancing at the concerts! I love TUSCQ! I for one, and I'm sure anyone else who reads this excellent debut novel from Nicky, will be awaiting the next one with baited breath. I love her style of writing, and this book was an absolute pleasure to read.

Sophie’s Turn is available in Kindle edition from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk and many other Amazon sites. The paperback edition is also available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. In addition, you can obtain Sophie’s Turn from Barnes & Noble.
About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

Rock On! Nicky Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star and the girl next door.  She recently signed her work with U.S. publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing.  Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters.  When she’s not writing, Nicky is a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant.

Originally born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys.  In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in London and Washington, D.C.

Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course, an ongoing update on her work in progress, the second and third parts of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy.  You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook. 

 

Nicky is a featured author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com and has joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Nicky also has author pages at Sapphire Star Publishing and, of course, Goodreads.