Category Archives: Contemporary

Book Tours, The Witch Child & Women’s Suffrage – A Wee Update

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Happy Tuesday folks! Today I’m bringing you a wee update post – it’s been a busy time here with lots of things on the go. So, here’s a quick run down of what I’ve been up to over the past few weeks, along with a few reminders about what’s coming up:

I’ve been out and about telling everyone about Ethersay… and the response has been wonderful. Thank you to those groups in my home county of West Lothian who have invited me along to talk about and read from my latest novel. For a writer there is nothing better than getting the opportunity to share your work. It’s also great to get to tackle the huge range of  different questions your book prompts from readers – so far there has certainly been no such thing as…

I’ve been working on the third Witches of Pendle installment… more about this soon, but hopefully I’ve found my pace with this book now and hope to have it drafted by the end of the Spring. I won’t lie – it’s been a slow start. After finishing Ethersay I had such a ‘book hangover’ and really struggled to focus my mind on a new project. I’m pleased to report that I’ve finally got into a good rhythm with this piece of work and it’s going really well. This book will be a short novel and will take us back to 1612 and the childhood of Jennet Device/Sellers, the child star witness during the first Pendle Witch Trials. And…that’s all I’m telling you for now! Watch this space.

I’m still inviting submissions for an anthology about Women’s Suffrage… more about this here. A timely reminder about this project perhaps as today marks 100 years since the Representation of the People Act (1918) was passed in the United Kingdom, granting the vote to women aged over 30 who met certain property qualifications. I plan to release an anthology of work on this subject in December 2018, to coincide with the first parliamentary election in which women were able to vote. I am seeking short stories from writers which address the theme of women and the vote. These stories don’t have to be historical, or indeed focused on the suffrage movement in the UK. I am looking for stories from across the globe and across the genres – tell me a contemporary story, a historical one, or indeed a futuristic one. Tell me a dystopian story, write me some sci-fi, or a comedy, a mystery or even a horror. Write me something which crosses the genres – I don’t mind, as long as it relates to the theme of women and the vote. The deadline is 30th April, so if you’d like to submit a piece of work check out the Anthology Submissions page for all the details.

Phew! That doesn’t seem so much, does it?! More updates from me coming very soon.

 

Submissions Invited for Women’s Suffrage Anthology

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I’m excited to announce that I am now inviting submissions for a new anthology entitled Words and Deeds: Stories of a Woman’s Right to Vote.

As a writer, creating an anthology of work will be a new experience for me, and I am really looking forward to putting this together. The idea of producing an anthology is a recent one, and basically sprang from a short story I was putting together for submission to a literary magazine. I was writing a story about women’s suffrage, a subject which had been on my mind a lot recently as 2018 marks the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 which granted suffrage in Britain to women over 30 who met certain property qualifications. Whilst it was another ten years until all women got the vote on the same terms as men, 1918 was undoubtedly a watershed moment in British history following half a century of campaigning by suffragists and suffragettes across these isles. Whilst I was writing it occurred to me that I wanted to do something more than write my own story in recognition of this and so the idea of an anthology was born.

All the information you need to submit is available here on my website. If you have a story you would like to tell which relates to women and voting, I’d love to hear from you! The deadline for submissions is 30th April 2018.

Where did the last two weeks just go?

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Happy Friday, folks! So, two realisations struck me this morning. The first was that it is only ten days until Christmas (I know, how on earth did that come around again so quick?!!). The other was that  it has already been two weeks since Ethersay was released. I just can’t believe where the time has gone, which I suppose is what happens when you’re busy. And no doubt about it, these last two weeks have been an absolute whirlwind, between the launch, doing online events, and taking bookings for future events, I’ve barely had chance to draw breath!

So, today’s post is all about taking stock and saying thank you. Thank you to everyone who has bought Ethersay in the last two weeks. Thank you to those who managed to get along to the launch or who participated in my online party or one of the online events which I guest-hosted. Thank you to those who have liked and shared my posts about Ethersay on social media. Thank you to all those who have been in touch with me to tell me how much you enjoyed the book. Thank you to those who have left a review on Amazon, Goodreads or somewhere else on the internet. And thank you to those who have told a friend about Ethersay, or who have bought it for a friend or loved one as a Christmas gift.

All the advertising in the world does not come anywhere near the power of word of mouth and personal recommendation. This is true for all writers but especially important, I think, for indie authors – without a vast marketing machine at our fingertips we are so, so reliant on people talking about our books. So, once again, thank you.

I have been absolutely blown away by the great reception that Ethersay has received, and really delighted by some of the reviews readers have left. Here are a few quotes from what readers have said on Amazon UK and US:

“A book you can lose yourself in on a winter day…I have honestly never read anything like it.”

“I was hooked from the start. Strongly recommend.”

“Exciting and well-paced.”

“The way King infused Scotland’s political history into the story was brilliant, and all the mystery, suspense, and drama kept me intrigued and clutching my chest at times.”

As a writer, there is no better reward than hearing that someone has enjoyed your book. So, I’m going to say it again, thank you!

 

Ethersay: The Launch

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Happy Tuesday folks! This weekend was very busy and exciting, with Ethersay keeping me well and truly occupied! Since the book came out on Thursday I have held online events, done some guest blogging and of course, held the paperback launch in my hometown, Armadale in West Lothian, on Sunday.

The launch event was immensely successful and I would like to thank all those who came along to support me – the turnout was excellent! I would also like to thank local MSP Fiona Hyslop for  hosting the event. Here are some photos from the day:

The launch event also saw the premiere of the trailer for Ethersay, created by Stewart Kerr Brown of The Imagination Engine and starring West Lothian based actor Jodi Findlay. I am delighted to share the trailer with you – it is available on YouTube and on my Facebook page so if you like it, please do share it!

Ethersay is available now at Amazon / iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Kobo

Ethersay Release Day!

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Today is release day for my third novel, Ethersay.

The full trailer for the novel is still to be released, but here’s a wee snippet of what’s to come:

Are you intrigued yet?

Ethersay is available now in ebook and paperback format at Amazon / iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Kobo

And remember, it’s not too late to join my Release Day Party on Facebook tonight, or to come along to the Paperback Launch in Armadale, West Lothian on Sunday.

I hope you enjoy the story!

The Making of Ethersay: the Trailer

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Happy Wednesday, folks! It’s cold and wintery here in Scotland, the days are getting shorter, and Christmas isn’t quite near enough to get excited about it just yet. So, if you’re like me, you might be in need of a bit of cheering up, right? Well, for a midweek treat, I thought I’d share a bit of trailer-related news with you.

Last week I spend a couple of days on location in Aberdour, Scotland, filming the trailer for Ethersay. The trailer is being created by Stewart Kerr Brown of The Imagination Engine and stars West Lothian based actor Jodi Findlay. This was the first time I’d ever been involved in film-making and I had so much fun! Being a writer can, at times, be a solitary business and it was refreshing and inspiring to collaborate on a creative project with such wonderful, talented people.

The trailer will be premiered at the Paperback Launch Event on 3rd December and will be posted online just shortly thereafter, so watch this space, but in the meantime here are a few photos taken during the making of the Ethersay trailer:

Hopefully these photos have intrigued you. I’m very excited about the trailer – can’t wait for the big reveal!

Ethersay Release Day Party is announced!

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As I mentioned last week, I will be holding a paperback launch in my hometown of Armadale, West Lothian on 3rd December so if you live in the area and would like to come along, simply join the event here.

However, for readers who are further away I am pleased to announce that I will be holding an online release day party on Facebook on 30th November, from 7pm until 10pm GMT. The party will take place on the Event page and it’s easy to get involved – simply RSVP by clicking ‘going’ and don’t forget to invite your friends, too! Then come along on the night to play games, chat about the book and above all, have fun! Oh, and there might be a giveaway or two along the way! So, to get involved, join the event now by clicking here.

I look forward to seeing you all on 30th November to celebrate Ethersay’s release!

 

Nineteen days to go…

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…until Ethersay is released.

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter  to keep up to date with everything Ethersay – teasers, trailers, and launch events.

I will be holding a paperback launch in my hometown of Armadale, West Lothian on 3rd December so if you live in the area and would like to come along, simply join the event here.

For readers who are further away, I will be holding an online launch party on 30th November – details coming soon!

Ethersay will be available to buy in ebook and paperback format on 30th November from Amazon and other major online retailers.

Ethersay Cover Reveal & Release Date

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I’m really pleased to announce the release of my third novel, Ethersay, on 30th November 2017. I’m also delighted to reveal the book’s cover in this fantastic teaser trailer created by the incredibly talented Stewart Kerr Brown of The Imagination Engine, with voice-over provided by the fantastic Jodi Findlay:

Frankly, I am over the moon with this trailer, with the cover, and with how the book has turned out. This novel is quite a change of direction for me – my first contemporary story, my first dual narrative, and my first novel which combines politics with a healthy dose of suspense!

In the coming weeks I will be releasing more intro material, including a full length book trailer. But for now, here is the cover image along with the book’s blurb:

Ethersay CoverEthersay
Release date: 30th November 2017

“The day after the referendum, my life fell apart…”

The day after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, Glaswegian Yes activist Rebecca Owen decides to run away. After being involved in a car accident she is knocked unconscious and when she wakes, she finds herself inexplicably marooned on an isolated Scottish island, Ethersay.

Suffering from memory loss, Rebecca finds herself drawn into the island’s mysteries, particularly those surrounding the strange disappearance of a young woman, Delilah Berry, whose fate seems to be inextricably intertwined with her own. As Rebecca draws closer to the truth about Delilah, she is forced to confront what happened to her in Glasgow, and everything she lost, with devastating consequences…

A stirring tale of passion, loss and betrayal, Ethersay is a novel about the search for truth, but also the pain of remembering.

Like the sound of Ethersay? Add it to your Goodreads reading list today. 

Book Review: Whisky From Small Glasses by Denzil Meyrick

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DCI Jim Daley is sent from the city to investigate a murder after the body of a woman is washed up on an idyllic beach on the West Coast of Scotland. Far away from urban resources, he finds himself a stranger in a close-knit community.

Love, betrayal, fear and death stalk the small town, as Daley investigates a case that becomes more deadly than he could possibly imagine, in this compelling novel infused with intrigue and dark humour.

I should probably begin my review by confessing that I am not usually a crime fiction reader. However, this book was recommended to me by a friend and I have to say, it did not disappoint.

Whisky From Small Glasses is undoubtedly an entertaining read. The story centres around a small west of Scotland rural community in Kinloch, where a brutal murder has taken place. Glasgow detective DCI Daley and his team are sent in to investigate, but as the investigation spirals and more murders occur, Daley uncovers secrets, corruption and criminality which threaten him and those he loves. For me, the plot is the strongest aspect of this novel, engaging the reader from the very  first page, and progressing at a relentless pace through the various twists and turns of the unfolding crimes and police investigation.

The characters are interesting and for the most-part are well-drawn; the protagonist DCI Daley is likable and realistic, and is supported by a cast of interesting and varied individuals – his rough and ready sidekick DS Scott is particularly notable. There are a couple of characters who seem unjustifiably two-dimensional, considering their key role in the story. Daley’s wife Liz, for example, barely manages to transcend the ‘tarty wife’ stereotype which is a shame – I felt that there is more to Liz and would have liked her story to have been better explored.

Overall, however, this is a great read which I would recommend to lovers of crime fiction, as well as those who, like me, are newer to the genre. Four stars.

Available at: Amazon