This is a picture from my latest book "The Griffin Cryer." If you pop over to Charlie Plunkett's site you can download this picture, and colour it in. Here's the link: Charlie's site. Have fun in the jungle!
1 Comment
The Forgotten Ones The Danaan Trilogy Book One is now available exclusively on Amazon! Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember. What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity. About Laura Howard Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel. Though in my view, today's an even more important anniversary than the old dragon slayer's day – Shakespeare's Birthday. No one has done more for – or with the English language, and for my tuppence worth, we owe him an even greater debt than our patron saint.
Although many young teenagers might disagree as they struggle to please their English Lit exam board! The older I get, the more I appreciate the man's outrageous talent. Most of us quote the Bard without even knowing we're doing it! To emphasise the point, as this excellent post points out even the phrase "Household word" was coined by Shakespeare – "Shakespeare's quotes in common everyday use." Happy birthday Will, may your plays continue to entertain and your words continue to intrigue for many more centuries. In a flurry of feathers, paperback copies of "The Griffin Cryer" have arrived at the Hughes residence. They'll be winging their way to their new homes, so if you entered and won a free signed copy, keep an eye on the skies over the next few days (weeks if you're overseas from the UK). If you didn't win - there's another chance to enter for free over at Griffin Riders - fly fly fly! Grateful thanks to everyone who helped spread the word about my recent eBook giveaway of "A Ripple in Time" - despite a low key approach the Celtic Cousins hit the top twenty free charts in Action and Adventure and stayed there for the duration of the promotion. I'm hoping that everyone who downloaded a copy gets the chance to read and enjoy this time travel fantasy, if you do - there's two more titles in this series - although all are enrolled in Amazon's select programme so if you're a prime member you can borrow them for free, or follow me on twitter @tinksaid and be among the first to know about future promotions. Congratulations to Ms. CH who entered and won a signed paperback copy of "A Ripple in Time" which is steaming its way to you right now!
Artwork by Monica La Porta, and Alessandro Fiorini Waking up with a start sometime last week, after an incredibly successful free run with "The Griffin Cryer" I realised a) KDP select was due to run out on "A Ripple in Time", and b) a free promotion would tie in with the anniversary of the Titanic's sinking. "A Ripple in Time" isn't solely about the Titanic tragedy, but hopes to explore a biblical phrase that intrigues me: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (King James Bible: 1 Corinthians 13:12) In other words: "Bad stuff happens to good people, only God knows why, but one day, we might get to see the whole picture." In "The Magician's Nephew" (C S Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia) Aslan tells Digory that had he stolen an apple from the "Tree of Life", rather than received one as a gift, his mother would have made a recovery from terminal illness, but in days and years to come, they would both look back and think it better "she had died." Strong stuff in a children's book – but Lewis's own mother died when he was very young, and in later years, the love of his life, the American Joy Gresham, also died far too young. If I could turn back the years, I'd haunt Lewis until he granted me an interview: but keep to the rule laid down by Dr Who and his tardis gang: – no tampering with pivotal moments in time. "A Ripple in Time" free to download from Sunday 14th March to Thursday 18th March. I've just discovered that Floridian Ladies don't make idle threats. True to her word, Doreen "Dody" Cox enlisted the help of Andy the alligator, to announce her winner of "The Griffin Cryer". Together with her sister, Dody arranged slips of paper bearing each individual entrants' names on her dock, and Andy obligingly cruised by and slapped his tail against the water, splashing just one slip of paper. To see photos of this amazing creature in action, shoot over to Dody's site; Treasured Encounters, where you'll discover more about the author of "Adventures in Mother-sitting," together with samples of Dody's poetry and wild-life photography. Dody's careful not to 'take liberties' with her prehistoric neighbour, enchanting though his smile may be, and I'm relieved to report no humans were harmed during this contest. I'm tempted to run my own contest, with a prize going to the cutest, most beautiful and most spectacular prize drawers - but doubt we'd ever be able to pick a winner! Thank you again to my hostesses and celebrity prize pickers: Monica and Nero, Charlie and Cole, and Dody and Andy. Congratulations to your winners who should be receiving their signed paperbacks by the end of this month.
During my mini blog hop to promote "The Griffin Cryer" in paperback, my lovely hostesses agreed to help me give away four signed copies of the paperback edition. Yesterday Charlie Plunkett's beautiful boy Cole did a wonderful job of choosing a winner from entrants at Charlie's site. Congratulations to @Lyndseymummaduck, while the day before Monica La Porta's beagle Nero performed the honours, congratulations to Sean. Today, at around 5pm BST Dody is threatening to ask Andy the Alligator to chose her winner. This really is one you don't want to miss. I've asked Dody to make certain she is secured firmly by the ankle and someone is ready to jerk her back to the dock at the speed of light. I've also asked to be included in her will. I'm joking of course, our friend Dody has far too much respect for the animals and birds inhabiting her Florida home to take liberties with any of the native wildlife. But imagine waking up and looking outside your bedroom window to see this fascinating relic from the dinosaur epoch! I'd be forever on the dock, alligator watching - thank you Dody for taking so many snaps! If you want your name to be included in this draw for a free signed copy of "The Griffin Cryer" there's still a few hours to join in the fun - dash over to Dody's site now – snip snap! Treasured Encounters indeed – fingers crossed this won't be close encounters of the meal time. I'll be tuning into twitter this afternoon, and peering at my computer screen from behind the sofa! ...it's also Paul Mallory's most dangerous adventure to date – the woman he loves is in mortal peril – Paul Mallory is prepared to go to hell and back for his bride Julie: – In Reese City, Paul encounters creatures straight from the pages of the most horrific gothic novels, and scarier than any demon hell can hold. Get ready to believe in the unbelievable: download a sample now from Amazon – at only 77p/99c this is a gift! "In the Middle of Nowhere" Spencer's hypnotic page turning prose weaves a convincing spell and readers will find themselves believing in the unbelievable.
All the above titles are available free to prime members, or to download for only 77p/99 cents - click on images to download a sample.
|
Wren Prenderson; "A Ripple in Time" best hero.
"The Griffin Cryer" best Urban Fantasy. Thank you to the hard working judges and everyone who voted at the eFestival of Words, organised by Julie Dawson, of Bards & Sages. A Raucous Time, A Ripple in Time, and The Griffin Cryer. Thank you to Julie and her hard working panel of judges and reviewers.
Follow on Twitter
|
Photo used under Creative Commons from Svadilfari