Category Archives: Books

The Girl from Ballymor

23 Thursday Feb 2017

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Well I don’t know about youthe-girl-from-ballymor_highres but I think this cover’s absolutely GORGEOUS!

I love her vibrant hair which is exactly right for my heroine, Kitty. And the background image is perfect for the setting of west Cork, Ireland.

This book feels like it’s been a long time coming. I actually finished the first draft and sent it to my editor way back in August last year. Since then there has been a number of rounds of edits, and I have just this minute finished going through the printed proofs.

This book, I am DELIGHTED to announce, will be available as a paperback as well as ebook. It’s been my dream for ages to hold one of my novels, printed, in my grubby little paws (or maybe I’ll even wash my hands before picking it up). And now that’s finally going to happen! Although, as this book won’t be released until 1st June we’ll actually be out of the country at that time (as you’ll know if you’ve looked at my other blog linked from the last post). I’ll have to wait until I’m back to finally get to hold it.

It is funny the reactions I’ve had when telling people it’ll be available as a paperback. Old friends and in-laws who just don’t ‘do’ Kindles are the most delighted for me, hugging me excitedly as finally they will get to read one of my books in a format they like. Other people, especially those who read a lot of ebooks, smile uncertainly, shrug, and ask me to explain why paperback is such a big deal.

I’m likely to make more money on the ebook sales than the paperback, but still, knowing that format will be available does feel like a really big deal. My publisher is a digital-first publisher, and only selected books go into paperback. The fact they’ve picked one of mine means they have faith in this book and think it’ll sell. That’s a real confidence booster. And it will, of course, be lovely to actually have a copy of the book on my book shelves at home. I’m also delighted that this format will mean the book can reach more readers.

I’ve added a page at the top of this blog for reviews and links relating to this book, as for the other ones. It’s available now for preorder.

 

Another blog… and some news

05 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Books, Campervan, Writing

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I haven’t been completely ignoring this blog – I have just been stupidly busy so far in 2017. I’ve been editing the next novel, and writing the one that’s to come after that. And I’ve been planning a six-month trip in our campervan, which will begin in April. Associated with that I’ve been learning Italian.

Oh, and then there’s the day job, of course.

So – about this six-month trip – my husband and I have set up another blog in which we will write about our travels. Please do take a look, and if you are interested in following our progress around Europe, bookmark it or subscribe to follow it by email. I won’t put much about the trip on this blog, which I’ll keep for writing and book news. Here’s the link to the new blog: https://inktravel2017.wordpress.com/blog/ 

And a little bit of writing news – my book The Pearl Locket is on promotion in the US, currently selling at just 99c. This has given it a lovely boost, and I was over the moon earlier today to see it reached number 27 in the overall Kindle chart.  Of course I had to get a screenshot of that, to grin stupidly over whenever I need a confidence boost:

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It’s slipped a bit since I grabbed that screenshot but it was up there for a while, honest!

Catching up!

05 Sunday Jun 2016

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Oh dear it has been over a month since I posted anything on this blog. I had a fortnight’s holiday in Ireland in May, travelling round in our campervan, and I feel as though I have barely stopped moving since.

There is a little bit of bookish news to share – The Emerald Comb is currently on an Amazon promotion – 99p on Amazon.co.uk until the end of this month. Grab it while you can!

As a result of this, I now have TWO books with best seller flags which is extremely pleasing. Obviously I needed a screenshot of this – and here it is.Two best seller flags

While in Ireland we toured the south-west corner – counties Cork and Kerry. This is where my next novel is mostly set, so I found it very inspiring. No date yet for publication but I will let you know when I have one.

Gertie (our campervan) turned out to be perfect – better than we’d dared dream. I love everything about her. Just as well, because next year we plan to spend six months touring Europe in her! Here she is parked at the foot of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain, which we climbed on a beautiful and memorable day. That’s me, just before we set off.

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Publication Day!

14 Thursday Apr 2016

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At last, The Daughters of Red Hill Hall has been published, and is out there in the big wide world! It feels like ages since my last publication – well, it is over a year. Before that I published 6 books in 2 years (including my self-published books for writers). I’m writing more than ever, but full-length novels simply take longer to complete!
Red Hill Hall banner

Anyway – I am delighted to be able to say this one’s now available, and am looking forward to finding out what people think of it. I will link to related blog posts and reviews on the dedicated page for this novel – click the link at the top of this page.

If you read the book and enjoy it, please do leave a brief review on Amazon. I’d really appreciate it as it does help future sales.
champagne
I’ve spent half the day on Twitter and Facebook announcing the publication, and this evening I think I might just have to celebrate with a glass or two of something fizzy (and I don’t mean lemonade!)

 

 

Three weeks to go!

24 Thursday Mar 2016

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coverJust three weeks till publication of my new book, The Daughters of Red Hill Hall! I am very excited about this one and can’t wait to see what people think of it. It’s been on pre-order for a while and doing nicely – this week it’s been up in the top 20 Women’s Historical Fiction chart along with both my other Carina books. Not that I’ve been checking the rankings often, oh no. Very rarely. Ahem.

Anyway – here’s its final cover which I absolutely adore. I sent back the copy edits a couple of days ago, so it’s ready to go. There’s a blog tour being organised for the end of April – I will post links to them all on the book’s page here.

And meanwhile I’ve been getting on with the next novel which is now over 1/3 written. No time to catch my breath!

The Daughters of Red Hill Hall

12 Friday Feb 2016

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My new book, The Daughters of Red Hill Hall, is now available for preorder from all ebook retailers! It’s been a long time since the last one so I am very excited to have a new book baby almost ready to go out into the world. This is its holding cover, not the final cover, but aholdingcoverctually I really like this atmospheric image.

Here’s the blurb -I hope you like the sound of this!

When Gemma discovers a pair of ancient duelling pistols encrusted with rubies in the basement of the local museum, she is immediately intrigued…

On a fateful night in 1838 two sisters were found shot in the cellars of Red Hill Hall. And when Gemma begins to delve deeper into their history she begins to realise that the secrets of that night are darker than anyone had ever imagined.

As the shocking events of the past begin to unravel, Gemma’s own life starts to fall apart. Loyalties are tested and suddenly it seems as if history is repeating itself, as Gemma learns that female friendships can be deadly…

Preorder from Amazon UK

Preorder from Amazon US

 

 

 

Call me vain, but…

08 Monday Feb 2016

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… I have begun a small collection of items with my book covers depicted on them. After ordering a few mugs and postcards as giveaways (of course keeping one for myself) I then came across Designs by Dyannach, and found a lovely lady who’d make up a locket with any book cover on it – so of course I had to order one showing The Pearl Locket! It arrived in the post today and I absolutely love it. It also cost very little, even though it’s bespoke.

I am a very happy writer today, wearing my necklace and drinking tea from my mug!

My top 3 best reads of 2015

03 Sunday Jan 2016

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I’d do a top 10 but am a little bit lazy so have decided to just pick 3 books from the many (50 ish) I read last year, to recommend. My preference is for historical or dual-timeline fiction but I read widely and don’t really care what the genre is (though I don’t read horror).

So in no particular order, if you are looking for a great read try these.

amy snow.jpgAmy Snow by Tracy Rees. 

This won the Richard & Judy Search for a Bestseller competition and I can completely see why. I thought it was brilliant. Mum bought it from the little WHSmith in the hospital, at a point when it looked like she was getting better. Actually I may have persuaded her to buy it, knowing I’d borrow it from her later. She never had the chance to read it in the end. It’s a historical mystery, with lots of twists and turns and a very satisfying ending. Looking forward to more from this author.

Something only we know by Kate Longsowk.jpg

Kate’s been a friend of mine for many years now, and I always read her books soon after they’re published. So I may be a little biased, but I can honestly say this is her best one yet. It’s raw and honest and an in-depth exploration of what an eating disorder can do to a family. Beautifully written with some wonderful characters.

skye.jpgLetters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

An epistolary novel set during the first and second world wars. A story of love growing out of a correspondence between a reclusive island-dwelling poet and her young American fan. Such a beautiful book – just wish I could write something as good as this myself.

So, those are the three I’d pick out. But I’ve read plenty of other great books this year as well – eg The Lie by Cally Taylor, Girl Number One by Jane Holland (both fab reads if you like thrillers), Timestorm by Steve Harrison (18th century convict ship bound for Australia slips through time and ends up in modern day Sydney harbour…), and all of Carol Hedges‘ Victorian murder mysteries which are simply amazing and I can’t wait for the next one. Oh and can I add fellow Carina author AL Michael’s Driving Home for Christmas for a lovely, emotional Christmas read.

Which brings me up to 8 recommendations. So I could have tried a tiny bit harder and come up with 10, I suppose! What was your best read of 2015?

Free!

27 Friday Nov 2015

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For a limited time only, my novel The Pearl Locket is FREE on Amazon UK! I’ll be promoting it like mad – would love to see it at the top of the free charts, so please help me out here with a bit of sharing or retweeting!

I found this GIF which I think reflects the book well – moonlight across the sea was an image I thought about a lot when I was writing the book. Pretty isn’t it?

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