Writing Workspace

I had another blog post planned for today, but after seeing this fantastic picture over on Everything Books & Authors Facebook page, I simply couldn’t resist. Isn’t it great! I love how it looks so airy and spacious, yet very personal will artefacts and cultural memorabilia so carefully placed. And you can’t help but notice how original and fun the ladder leading up to circular bookcase is. Whoever designed this should be applauded. I’ve made it my mission to steal copy this design when I’m rich and famous. OK, so I may be dreaming, but a guy can be optimistic, right?

And it got me thinking about work space in general. How do you guys work? Do you need large sash windows overlooking a meadow … a peaceful garden … a busy street … or perhaps you prefer to lock yourself behind four walls with the curtains fully closed? Perhaps you don’t have a specific room, but just a corner of the dining room table.

Do you need to be organised or can you work in utter chaos … or organised chaos as I call it. If I’ve made a mess, I still swear that I know where things are if I need them. As I’ve already mentioned in earlier blog posts, I like to get out of the house and write in my local Costa – it just gets me away from unnecessary distractions. But I often daydream of writing in my own office, looking out of the window when I’m a little stuck for ideas, rain pitter pattering down the window and … complete silence.

What about you guys, do let me know!

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Book Preview: Rasputin’s Shadow by Raymond Khoury

It’s no secret that one of my guilty pleasures are historical thrillers. I fell in love with Dan Brown, thanks to his mesmerising and addictive books The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. It was from here that my interest surrounding the Knights Templar grew and grew until i happened to come across a book entitled The Last Templar, which followed FBI agent Sean Reilly and archaeologist Tess Chaykin on a cat and mouse chase across multiple continents in search of ruthless killers that had stolen an ancient decoder. I hadn’t heard of Raymond Khoury before, but thanks to his brilliant action, as well as his gift in intriguing storytelling, i would never forget him again. This October he is back, and thankfully so is Sean Reilly and Tess Chaykin.

It’s evident from The Devil’s Elixir (Book #3 in the series) that Khoury opted for a change in genre. No longer are we crossing the land with some hidden manuscript/treasure in sight along the path of the historical thriller, but instead we are following a more personal approach. Book 4# Rasputin’s Shadow promises to reignite the brilliant absorbing action we are use to with Khoury, as Sean Reilly investigates an old couple’s disappearance, which catapults him into the political secrets of early 20th century Russia.

Here is the blurb:

On a cold, bleak day in 1916,…

…all hell breaks loose in a remote mining pit in the Ural Mountains. Overcome by a strange paranoia, the miners attack one another, savagely and ferociously. Minutes later, two men–a horrified scientist and Grigory Rasputin, trusted confidand of the tsar–hit a detonator, blowing up the mine and burying forever all evidence of the carnage…

In the present day, FBI agent Sean Reilly’s search for Reed Corrigan, the CIA mind-control spook who brainwashed Reilly’s son, has to take a back seat to a new, disturbing case. A Russian embassy official seems to have committed suicide by jumping out of a sixth-story window in Queens. The apartment’s owners, a retired high school teacher from Russian and his Greek wife, have also gone missing.

Joined by Russian FSB agent Larisa Tchoumitcheva, Reilly’s investigation into the old couple’s disappearance will pull him into a desperate and deadly search for a secret that dates back to the days of Rasputin, a secret that, in the wrong hands, could have a devastating impact on the modern world.

Russian history seems to be extremely popular at the moment. You may remember that i’ve recently read and reviewed Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni, which is set partly in Russia, and makes continued references to this mysterious character of Rasputin. However, i’ve always enjoyed Raymond Khoury’s books, and in particular his chemistry between his main characters Reilly and Tess. Although by blurb alone, we don’t really get a picture of how Tess exactly will feature.

If you’ve read any of the previous books, then you may be pleased to know that the author has kindly made the early chapters free to read.

I’ve yet to read The Devil’s Elixir but i plan on moving to this rather quickly, in preparation for this fourth release. If you are interested in the Templar series, the list of books is below.

1. The Last Templar

2. The Templar Salvation

3. The Devil’s Elixir

4. Rasputin’s Shadow (coming Oct 2013)

About Raymond Khoury (taken from his Amazon Page)

Well, since you asked… I was born in Beirut, a Scorpio and the youngest of three. The civil war broke out there when I was 14 and my parents, in a noble effort to keep us alive into adulthood, wisely moved us to Rye, NY. I stayed there until I graduated from Rye Country Day School, then, intent on thwarting my parents’ nurturing instincts, I decided to go back to Lebanon to study architecture at the American University of Beirut. Which, in hindsight, wasn’t as nutty a decision as you might think. Those years, marred by repeated flare-ups of fighting and a couple of invasions, were emotionally taxing, harrowing, sometimes dangerous, often maddeningly frustrating, but always intense in the most visceral sense of the word and, weirdly enough, I wouldn’t have missed them for the world. Maybe that’s the Scorpio in me…

So there I was, gingerly studying architecture in the hopes of one day helping rebuild the city (rumours that a local cabal of intensely purist architects was having ugly buildings selectively blown up remain unproven). The civil war erupted again a few weeks after I graduated, and I was evacuated out from the beach down the road from our apartment on a sunny but sad day in February, 1984, by the Marine Corp’s 22nd Amphibious Unit on board a Chinook helicopter, to whom I’ll be eternally grateful (the Marines, not the chopper).

I ended up in London, where I joined a small architecture practice. The architecture scene in Europe was pretty bleak at that time, so I decided to explore other career options. I got an MBA at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, and joined an investment bank, selling gold-linked convertibles and other far less exotic financial instruments, surrounded by Gekko wannabes and hating waking up every day. In fairness, I have to credit those ‘wilderness’ years with one wonderful thing: meeting my gorgeous wife, who tolerated my exhausting yearnings for something more fulfilling and eventually gave me two incredible daughters.

I left the glamorous (at the time, anyway) world of investment banking after three years to return to my creative roots. I bounced around for a while, trying different things, and during a business trip to the Bahamas (don’t ask), I met a banker who dabbled in the film business. I’ve always been a film geek and harbored a burning desire to make movies, so at dinner one night, I bounced an idea off him, and the idea struck a chord. I had a new partner, and we agreed to develop my idea into a screenplay — by hiring a professional screenwriter he’d worked with.

Several conference calls later, the outlines coming back from Los Angeles weren’t what I had in mind. I offered to write an outline myself. When I faxed my notes to my partner (yes, this was in the early 90s, long before email), he called me up and said, “Our man in L.A. isn’t going to write this movie for us. You are. You’re a writer.”

So I did. And it got shortlisted for the Fulbright Fellowship in Screenwriting award, which I had to apply for under a friend’s name (I wasn’t eligible, but that’s another long story). My next script, a semi-autobiographical screenplay about my college years during the war, was also nominated for the award a year later. Then the next year, in 1995, I optioned the film rights to Melvyn Bragg’s novel, THE MAID OF BUTTERMERE and wrote the adaptation myself while completing an original screenplay called… THE LAST TEMPLAR. Buttermere found its way to Robert DeNiro, who announced in Variety that he would be producing it and playing the lead. The Last Templar… well, if you’re reading this, you know that after ten years or so, it managed the quantum leap off my laptop’s hard drive and into novel form, but that’s a longer story, one I’ll go through in a separate post…

Since then, and after working as a screenwriter and a producer on shows like the BBC series Spooks, (MI-5 in the US), I’m now solely focused on the novels, the fifth of which is THE DEVIL’S ELIXIR.

And that’s about it… Thanks for taking the time to explore my ramblings, and if you do pick up one of my books, I hope you have a blast reading it. And let me know-connect with me on facebook on my Official Fan Page (and NOT on one of the others that I don’t manage!). Enjoy!

Raymond Khoury’s Website / Facebook Page / Twitter Page / Goodreads Page

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Next Stop on the Blog Tour

When Young Adult novelist Sharon Sant pestered me for an interview, who was I to turn her down. She asks some pretty tough questions, I can tell you! You can find out my own personal Kryptonite, and what animal I would love to talk to!

Author Interview over on Sharon Sant

First Stop: Author interview over on Everything Books & Authors

Second Stop: Libraries Guest Post on Jack Croxall

Third Stop: Phobia Guest Post on Unpopular Science

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Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni, Book Review

When Angelology was released back in 2010, Danielle Trussoni became an instant hit, and before long her debut urban fantasy novel charted on the New York Times bestseller’s list. It was an original concept; a secret group that hunted the entire Earth for fallen angels, before these mythical beings started to gain the upper hand in an age-old war that has plagued mankind for thousands of years. It introduced us to a nun, a Sister Evangeline, who learnt of her secret past with the help of Verlaine, a man who had been working for an elite angel family, desperately searching for a cure that had plagued the high Nephilim family. Its Christian lore, clandestine mysteries and historical retelling captivated me and I instantly fell in love with this unheard of author. Angelopolis is the follow-up, and promises much more intrigue ‘against an astonishing fresh tableau of history and science.’

Angelopolis returns us to the action ten years after the ending of its predecessor. The two star-crossed heroes couldn’t be leading more different lives. Evangeline is living her life evading a sinister, evil Enim angel, Eno, who is hell-bent on killing her, and Verlaine has progressed to be one of the top angelologists in recent years. That is until fate intervenes and the two lovers inevitably cross each other’s path once more. Eno is on Evangeline’s scent and before an intense fight ensues, Evangeline manages to pass a decorated egg onto the chasing hunter, before submitting to the Enim angel and is flown out of sight. The story progresses with Verlaine and his mentor, Bruno, who must unravel the mysteries of the Faberge egg, which leads them on a well-hidden quest from Paris to Russia, and to the Rhodope Mountain range and Siberia. Evangeline’s true origins come to life and the true mission of Noah, Keeper of the Animals, is revealed. And what is this Angelopolis that is mentioned – a safe-haven for Angels, a Garden of Eden on Earth for Angels?

When I first read that ten years had passed from book to book, I was a little dismayed – what had happened to Evangeline? But thankfully, as I read on, Danielle Trussoni does a wonderful job at filling in the blanks along the way. And actually, it was really great to see Verlaine a more ambitious and manly character, compared to his rather meek personality in the previous book. He knows what course his life is now moving in, and he’s happy to be a part of the secret world of Angels. This gives way to a brilliant set of action scenes throughout the book; fights, building scaling, explosions – you name it, it’s all in here. And brilliantly structured too.

One of the highlights of Angelology was how Trussoni switched from the past to the present, and although it is understandably not the case in here, what she masters, is the switching of character viewpoint. Whether it is the rather eager Verlaine, the more mature Bruno, the intriguing Vera or the cold and lost Evangeline, we get to see the world in different perspectives, which is an extraordinary feat in itself. And plus, when we are following the quest of Vera to the Black Sea coast, we really delve deep into the true biblical lore that Trussoni excels at. Sometimes, a story doesn’t need strong action to make the book thrilling, just the retelling of history and mythology we all think we know, to be turned on its head and shock us, well is just as exciting. Amazingly, this book has both! The little cameo appearances of characters such as Sneja (from Angelology) also delight.

But what really lies at the heart of this book is the revealing of secrets among History that all leads to Evangeline. It’s a story about her lineage, her genealogy, and it’s an impressive one at that. She’s been lied to, tricked, deceived some more, and the reader feels the full brunt of these revelations. We feel for Evangeline, and we can easily sympathise with how alone and adrift she must feel. Ironically, the book is mostly about her, but Sadly, Evangeline doesn’t appear half as much as I’d like in here.

It’s plain to see that a book with angels in it is going to be classed as fantasy, and I suppose urban fantasy is more apt. It is however, strange to feel so at one with the book, as if everything that happens is in fact reality. This is a real gift, and one that we probably take for granted as readers. But fantasy it is, and quite humorously Trussoni evens borders the extreme. There is one moment in the book where she strongly suggests that Queen Victoria was of Nephilim lineage; the angel-human hybrid that sits at the top of the angel hierarchy, albeit apart from the Watchers.

What I really love about Danielle Trussoni’s novels however, is her ability to write, the language she uses and the structure she forms her chapters into. I find her writing so romantic and very readable. I often found myself reading the book out loud because I found that had an even larger effect on me. Her sentences aren’t incredibly simple; instead they elaborate profusely and build up the imagery sentence by sentence, and I could in fact read her work all day long. It isn’t quite as extreme as literary, but overly simple like commercial. Even when she writes of genetics, Russian history, biblical mythology, she does so with such respect for each field, and still writes as if she is in fact a master of those subjects herself.

I so wanted this to be perfect, but sadly just like her first novel, there were small elements that I couldn’t ignore. In Angelology it was the ending, in Angelopolis is was the … well, ending of sorts. A banging cliff-hanger awaits us again, which is fine, but it was so abrupt, I was ready to read another 100 pages or so. A common criticism I have found with readers is that this book is incredibly short, and although I don’t necessarily agree, I do think it could have been a little longer. Also, and I do realise that I’m probably going to counter my own argument from above now, but there was one particular line I absolutely hated. It just didn’t read, or feel like Danielle Trussoni. It was thoughtless and completely not needed. A chapter quite late in starts: ‘Verlaine stepped into a narrow bathroom … After taking a piss, he turned …’ – for me, the fact that he needed to urinate wasn’t vital to the point she was making, and the colloquial term of piss doesn’t match the romantic wording aforementioned.

Despite the Hardback edition being quite hard for me to get a hold of, Angelopolis takes a proud place on my bookcase. It is a fast, tense, interesting, bold, revealing and mythical sequel that reintroduces us to some brilliant characters, as well as introducing us to some fierce and spunky new ones. Her malevolent antagonist, Eno, is wonderfully created and adds touches of spiciness to this already powerful story. The history of the Russian Tsars is captivating, and on the whole her powerful imagery bring alive the romance of Paris, the seductive St. Petersburg and the otherworldly, yet familiar landscape of the Rhodope Mountains. If biblical lore interests you, if you are a fan of adult fantasy that differs from the densely packed genre of elves, dwarves and wizards, if you love a slightly retelling of history, although still keeping the realistic tension of the times, then Angelopolis is exactly the right read for you. Although, I’d strongly recommend the first in the series first, because undoubtedly both Angelology and Angelopolis are just the start of a much bigger story. I guarantee you that there are probably still more twists and turns to come that will shock us even further.

 

Danielle Trussoni Links:

Angelopolis: Amazon UK / Amazon US

Website: Danielle Trussoni

Twitter: @daniellemybella

Author Facebook Page: Danielle Trussoni

Angelopolis (Angel #2) on Goodreads:

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How To Write A Press Release

As an indie / self-published author, promotion can be a hard thing. Book blogs and bloggers have a great community and always on hand to offer help with getting your book noticed. However, getting noticed by the press (newspapers, magazines, radio stations) on the other hand are a different kettle of fish altogether! They will only cover your story and/or book release if it’s news worthy, and you have to compete with all the other events going on at the same time.

I’ve released two books so far, and for both releases I’ve been featured in local newspapers, magazines, appeared on a radio station and is currently about to embark on my first author talk at a library! Go me! Yet it isn’t easy and many people have asked me over the last year on how I’ve managed to get these features. Apart from sending cheeky emails, the single most precious and successful way to get noticed – is to send a press release. They are designed to get you noticed, look professional and ease your way into the wider world … outside of the internet.

By popular demand, I’ve decided to write a how-to on writing a press release, in the hope that all you lovely wonderful indie authors out there may give yourself, or rather your book, the best possible start in life.

Getting Started

First most, you need to have all the facts. Make sure your email is up-to-date, your phone number accessible and make sure all the addresses are correct. You want to be contacted don’t you? Just imagine how frustrated you would be if months after sending out a press release, you suddenly realise that you put the wrong phone number down and missed out a . in the email address?

You don’t need Microsoft Word, but a suitable word processing program is a must. A simple notepad writes text/font in such an unprofessional manner, you’ll be laughed at by all of the editors whom you send the press release to. Also, never ever write a press release out by hand. Sure, you can write out a draft by hand in your lunch break, trip to the café, even whilst on the toilet – but only ever send a typed release.

Heading

Your header on the press release must always be centred and in bold, and of course eye-catching. A sentence is too much, aim for five – eight words only. For my latest release of The Caseworker’s Memoirs, I sent out a press release to all of the local newspapers in my area. My header was simply Lincolnshire Local Releases New Book – it’s simple, to the point, yet reveals all the information for the editor to know whether or not it is for them. I live in Lincolnshire and I have a new book out. You don’t need a cryptic, overly-fancy header as it could either be misunderstood or cryptic.

First Paragraph

Most importantly, your first paragraph should always reveal what it is that you plan to appear in the media for, i.e. – releasing a new book. You need to give them your name, age, book title, availability, format – all in an accessible, yet well-written way. Never use bullet-points. My very first line for my most recent press release reads: Gainsborough born writer, Dan Thompson (25) has just released a fiction novel entitled The Caseworker’s Memoirs, and is on sale on amazon as both an ebook and paperback. You’ll notice here that again it is to-the-point, yet reveals all the necessary information.

Next go on to write a shorter, yet wittier synopsis of the book. It needs to let the editor know what the book is about, but needs to grab them as well. The article will use a lot of the information you give them in this first paragraph, and it needs to be true, yet ‘fluffy’ as I call it. Big your book up, say its emotional, terrifying, action-packed … whatever suits your book. They won’t have read your book, and it is up to you to make it sound as good as it possibly can.

Second Paragraph

This is should, in most circumstances, reveal any extra information surrounding the release. When I released my short poetry ebook Life is all but a vast array of Colours, half of all proceeds are donated to pancreatic cancer UK. This is exactly the type of information that editors will want to highlight and perhaps shape their entire article on. If you are making any appearances at libraries, bookshops etc, this would also make a good time to mention it.

About You

So you’ve written what the book is about, and you’ve given them an angle to work on – what’s next? Well it certainly has to be about you, because let’s face it, it isn’t a book review, the media and press want to let their readers get up, close and personal with the author.

I think this part of the press release really gives the editor something to flesh out the article with. Qualifications, degrees, courses passed etc … anything that gives your writing any credibility is a must. This lets the readers know that you have experience and that by purchasing your book, they are bound to get quality. Even if it is your first book to be released, by listing past accomplishments, you’ll still get the required effect.

You can also talk about your previous book releases here too. Did they rank amongst Amazon’s genre bestsellers list, inside of the top 100, chart amongst a booksellers chart? All of this information is vital, not only to flesh out the article, but to also give you a certain stature. You may not be published by the big traditional publishing houses, but you are an author, and all of your hard fought promotion work needs to be applauded.

Finishing up your Press Release

The last part of your press release should most certainly be your contact details. Name, address, contact telephone number, email, websites. This gives the editor the information and choice as to how to contact you. Perhaps they don’t deal with people directly over the phone and instead prefer to write an email. By giving the choice, you are opening the door for more responses.

And FINALLY to finish a press release, you need to centre three #’s. This lets the editor know that it is the end of the press release. Again it won’t mean they’ll disregard your sheet if it doesn’t have the #’s, but it does add more professionalism into your release. I’ve shown an example below:

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It is important to note that it is always best to only use one side of A4 – more sheets means more attention and with an entire newspaper/magazine to fill, the editor won’t waste time with bundles. Short, simple and to the point as I’ve already said. I’ve uploaded my most recent press release for you to use as a template. Feel free to look at it and simply change the information under the headings. And Good Luck!

Press Release Example

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May New Releases

Now as a new month approaches, we are in for a great treat as three new books are released TODAY! And yes, it is May already, and no, I have no explanation as to how the time has gone by so quickly. It only feels as if Christmas was here just a few weeks ago. But enough babbling, on to the books!

Other Systems by Elizabeth Guizzetti

Other Systems isn’t a new book as such, but today marks the release of the paperback, which is fabulous news. When this fresh Sci-Fi adventure was released I not only interviewed the talented author, but also gave this a great review too. “It’s an intelligent novel that will send your mind wondering and I loved the fact that the book could become quite intense at times because ultimately this strengthened my connection with the characters.” – comes to mind as i look back over my review. And with a new sexy, intriguing and colourful front cover, Other Systems has something for everybody. Below you can find the synopsis and video trailer.

Without an influx of human DNA, the utopian colony on Kipos has eleven generations before it reaches failure. Earth is over ninety light years away. Time is short. On the over-crowded Earth, many see opportunity in Kipos’s need. After medical, intelligence, and physiological testing, Abby and her younger siblings, Jin and Orchid, are offered transportation. Along with 750,000 other strong immigrants, they leave the safety of their family with the expectation of good jobs and the opportunity for higher education. While the Earthlings travel to the new planet in stasis, the Kiposi, terrified the savages will taint their paradise, pass a series of indenture and adoption laws in order to assimilate them. When Abby wakes up on Kipos, Jin cannot be found. Orchid is ripped from her arms as Abby is sold to a dull-eyed man with a sterilized wife. Indentured to breed, she is drugged and systematically coerced. To survive, Abby learns the differences in culture and language using the only thing that is truly hers on this new world: her analytical mind. In order to escape her captors, she joins a planetary survey team where she will discover yet another way of life.

You can buy the paperback from Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble

Not of Our Sky by Sharon Sant

This release is the third and last instalment of the wonderful Sky Song Trilogy. I recently interviewed Sharon about her trilogy, and finishing Sky Song (Book 1) i was left amazed by its realistic fantasy themes. “Its fantasy is equally matched by its realism, and lots of original concepts thrown in to boot.” The cover is great too, and i love the purple haze. Below, you can see the synopsis.

Jacob fights for his life and Ellen faces her toughest decision yet: whether to finally reveal his true identity to his parents. For Jacob is one of the Watchers of Astrae, a race of beings with extraordinary powers, and sworn to protect the natural order of the universe. But Jacob has broken one of Astrae’s oldest laws and chaos threatens to cover the Earth.

Alex faces the fall into darkness that has long been prophesised. Her only ally is Makash, their bitter and twisted uncle, and Jacob has already succumbed to the shadows. Who will be there to catch her?

With the first part of the ancient prophecy already coming to pass, it seems their only hope lies in the second part – the riddle of the star that will bring them back to the light. But what does it mean? And why do Jacob, Alex and Ellen all dream of the same lighthouse, night after night?

Not of Our Sky is the third book of the Sky Song Trilogy.

You can purchase the ebook from Amazon / Amazon UK

Minutes before Sunset by Shannon Thompson

I was immensely impressed with Shannon Thompson’s idea for her paranormal romance novel that features multiple points of view and intriguing shift of shades and lights. I couldn’t resist but interview her and ask her about her ideology in her writing. This book is most certainly on my too read list and with some great reviews already, you can’t go wrong with this YA novel. Below, you can see the synopsis.

Eric has a life-or-death confrontation planned and waiting for him on his 18th birthday. And Jessica just wants to find out who, or what, her parents were. Neither of them is ready for the answers they’ll find.

Minutes Before Sunset is Book 1 of the Timely Death series.

“She was undoubtedly a shade, but I didn’t know her.”

Eric Welborn isn’t completely human, but he isn’t the only shade in the small Midwest town of Hayworth. With one year left before his eighteenth birthday, Eric is destined to win a long-raging war for his kind. But then she happens. In the middle of the night, Eric meets a nameless shade, and she’s powerful—too powerful—and his beliefs are altered. The Dark has lied to him, and he’s determined to figure out exactly what lies were told, even if the secrets protect his survival.

…

“He had gotten so close to me—and I couldn’t move—I couldn’t get away.”

Jessica Taylor moves to Hayworth, and her only goal is to find more information on her deceased biological family. Her adoptive parents agree to help on one condition: perfect grades. And Jessica is distraught when she’s assigned as Eric’s class partner. He won’t help, let alone talk to her, but she’s determined to change him—even if it means revealing everything he’s strived to hide.

You can purchase the ebook from Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords

With some fantastic choices at the very start of May, what is there to look forward to later on in the month?

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The Boston Marathon Auction + Library Talk

Today you get two news items in one! You lucky, lucky people! But perhaps, most importantly, we need to talk about the Boston Marathon tragedy. I remember getting to work at about 10PM and seeing it happen on the news coverage. The graphic detail some of the news channels went in to was, in my opinion, unnecessary. Real people were hurt and there were the unfortunate ones who lost their lives in the attack – we should really respect the dignity of the victims and not show their blood splattered against the pavement as if it were graffiti.

However, author and proud Bostonian, KT Crowley has put together an auction to encourage readers to purchase special lots by some well-loved authors and raise some money for the victims of this terrible ordeal. YA author, Sharon Sant, emailed me and asked me if i was interested in taking part – of course the answer was a resound YES! And so, you can bid for a signed paperback of my new book, The Caseworker’s Memoirs, and know that you are helping this fantastic cause.

The Caseworker’s Memoirs has been put together in a lot of some other pretty fantastic reads, including Sharon Sant’s dreamlike The Sky Song trilogy and Jack Croxall’s brilliant YA adventure Tethers. You may know that i’ve already read and reviewed both Sharon and Jack’s work, and it’s pretty astounding that i’ve been included in this auction lot with such fantastic and skilled authors.

If you are interested in helping raise some money to help the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy, click here to see the auction lot.

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In other news, I’ll be giving a talk at Gainsborough Library on 3rd June 2013, to talk about my latest release, as well as writing in general. It’s pretty exciting, right? I’ve never given an author talk before, i only hope i can be good enough to keep people entertained. Gainsborough Library is my local library, and i’ve been going there since i was a little boy – little did i know that some day i would actually feature there.

If you are interested in coming along to meet me, you can find the details below

Gainsborough Library,

Cobden Street,

Gainsborough,

DN21 2NG

England

JUNE 3RD 2013 – 6:30PM

I hope to see you there!

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