My own book news (and hear what I sound like)

I have so much news; it's all so exciting!

Firstly, my Darkness & Light Duology is now available on Amazon.

Love Bites is the first book. 

Even better, if you're in Kindle Unlimited you get this one for free!
(*update* no longer in KU but is available on all platforms and is now an award-winning book)

My cover images were drawn by the very talented Mark Manley

and then the marvellous Robin Ludwig put it together with words 

Also, by popular demand, you can finally hear what I sound like! 

I've recorded me reading some of Love Bites.

Watch said video on YouTube

Book Blurb (Love Bites; book 1): 

Shakira didn’t fit in.
The reason why is tragic…
…but the solution is unbelievable.

Moving to Wales is her chance for a new start, a quest for somewhere to belong.
Something unknown draws Shakira to the seemingly random location; whispering to her subconscious, pulling on her inner compass.

But things don’t always go as planned.
First to emerge are the dreams of strange beings with glowing eyes, haunting Shakira from the darkest depths of the forest.

Then she meets him.
Can one kiss magickally change her life?
She doesn’t believe in fairy tales. But then again, this is no bedtime story. Who says it’s a change for the better?

With dark forces lurking in the shadows, can Shakira become the peacemaker she was meant to be? Or will the clan carry out their sentence?

Perhaps some family secrets are best kept hidden.

A rich tale of witches, elinefae and dragons for all who dare to believe.

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“Action packed paranormal. Highly recommended.” ~ Susan ★★★★★

“A magical extravaganza. I absolutely loved Love Bites. Pryderi is all sorts of fascinating.” ~ Beckie Bookworm ★★★★★

“Magnificent. Clark’s design and development of characters, including a new and unique species of creatures, and of rich and varied settings, is elegant and complex.” ~ MapleLeafAussie ★★★★★

“Love Bites is a powerful, imaginative fantasy that swept me off my feet from the very beginning.” ~ Daccari Buchelli ★★★★★

---
NB This is part 1 of The Darkness & Light duology.
Mature content.
May not be suitable for vegetarians.

**READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2018 MEDAL WINNER**

(cover has been updated to this)

My many thanks go out to all my helpers, from all the people mentioned/linked to here, to my beta reader, proof readers, and of course, to my long suffering hubby.

This series has been 18 months in the making.
It's been a long time, and I have been sidetracked by illness at times.
But it's all been worth it to reach this point.
I have had so many people helping me throughout. I thank you all.


Phew! Enough excitement for one post?
I'm a very busy bee, so will run off and do many author things now.


Always in love and light,
TL
(don't forget to buy the books!)

Writing tips - The Writing Process

People often ask me what my writing process is. How do I write? What inspires me? Do I carefully plan out my plots?

Well, I thought I'd enlighten you.
This is only the way I do it. Each author has their own way. And as it's British little me, this is sprinkled with my own brand of snark.

First, I have a dream!
My stories sort of just 'come to me'.
This can literally be through a dream, or even just a vague thought which pops into my head.

Generally, it starts as the hint of a theme.
Maybe I know the end; what I envision the characters' purpose is.
Or sometimes it's the very first paragraph.

My current work in progress started with the idea of a scene in a caf; my vampire sitting down for coffee, pretending to be normal. But this didn't even get featured in the end.

Then I have to start fleshing it out. Putting meat on the bones.
There's two great British slang phrases for you! ;-)

I honestly just sit down at my laptop, and start typing.
It's often a surprise to me what drips from my fingers.
It feels a bit like when I channel Reiki, only it's the story I'm channelling.

When I was writing True's Love  I thought I was going to go crazy.
It filled my head every waking moment, and even when I slept. From the first thing in the morning until the last thing at night it was knocking on my skull, demanding my attention.
I just had to sit at my computer as much as possible and get it out of my head and onto 'paper' just to get some peace.

I get inspiration from all around me.
I have lived a somewhat turbulent life, and some of my own experiences have fuelled my writing. Never directly though.

I was a counsellor to young people in the past. I drew on the stories told to me in that context to create the fictional story of Broken & Damaged Love - a romance story which offers hope to child sex abuse survivors. It's the book I'm most proud of as it can do so much good in the world.

My pagan vampire, witch romance
(soon to be released), had a very different inspiration!

It was really exciting to delve into a fantasy world filled with magick.

My familiar has been my muse.

As I continue to write a picture starts to emerge.
I pick threads and start weaving them.

Some bits stand out and I start to explore them further.

Often, my own characters start telling me where they should go next! Yes, this sounds bonkers, but many authors go through this. It's fine.

I've totally had to change my intention for characters before at their demand!

So, the exciting bit of writing has been done; draft 1 is complete (*insert feeling of achievement and euphoria*)

But that means the dreaded editing must now take place.
At least one more draft is created as I sift through, trying to ensure the best flow has been created. Is there anything superfluous? Do I need to elaborate on anything?

Once I'm reasonably happy my marvellous proof readers will get their mits on my book baby. Maybe a beta reader before this, depending on my confidence levels.

This is the stage I begin to worry.
What if they don't like it? Am I good enough? How do I compare to...? Will readers enjoy my work?
Oh, the wonderful paranoia which inevitably creeps in!? :-/

I rely on my proof readers' scrutiny. Happily they've not told me I'm crap yet!

A bit more editing happens, along with a lot more worrying.

I then speak with my wonderful cover designer Robin Ludwig who works her magick, and somehow puts a picture to my book. This picture has to reflect what the story is about within approx. 2 seconds of a potential reader looking at it.
Much head scratching happens here.

Finally, after much soul searching, tears, tantrums, sleepless nights...
My book baby is uploaded into Amazon! :-O
Dern dern deeerrrrn!!! (*scary music*)

A little bit of poo comes out as I depress the 'publish' button.
I screw my eyes up tightly, and press it, sending many wishes for its success as it travels through the ether.

Nothing can describe the sheer horror of this moment.
People will soon be able to see my book. People!
They will judge it (if they ever manage to discover it).


And then the real work begins...
(but that will be a future post)

btw all images on this post are from Pixabay

So, that's all for this post.
Keep your eyes out across all my social media for news of when my duology will be released unto to the world:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

You have no idea how much I hope you enjoy my books. 💖

Always in love and light,

TL