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Signing Blood Shadows

A night with friends turned out to be a night with a difference when I signed my very first collection of books at one of their houses last night.

My lovely friend Kelly not only bought Blood Shadows for herself, but enjoyed it enough to buy it as a Christmas present for friends and family. Aw thanks, Kelly! (She’s potentially single-handedly responsible for those Amazon ratings, you know 😉 )  Hence my very first Blackthorn book signing session!

As it was another special moment for me (notice I’m milking these ‘special’ moments for all they’re worth), I thought I’d post a couple of pics to share with you…

 

 

 

Complicated stuff this book signing, especially when

you can’t even work out which page to write on…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right, down to business. Musn’t make a spelling

mistake… mustn’t blot my pen…. concentrate….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

     Achieved! I could get into this… 🙂

 

 

 

And thank you, Kelly’s cat, for not jumping on me half way through.

xxx

 

 

 

Lost For Words

It’s not very often I’m lost for words. Anyone who knows me by now can vouch for that, especially my publisher who (I hope) is now acclimatising to me chuntering down the phone or via email. Then today, there’s a knock on my door and these turn up…

My first thought – they’re for someone else. My second thought – I’d better at least check the card. They were addressed to me, so that was my first theory out the window. My mind worked overtime as I ripped the card out of the envelope. I didn’t recognise the writing, so that ruled out hubbie. ‘Enjoyed it from beginning to end,’ the card read. It’s about my book, I realise. I’m already overwhelmed. And then I see the name – Nit. It’s the nickname of a friend, a very special friend. If you’ve got a copy of Blood Shadows, she’s mentioned in the acknowledgements as Anita.

I ‘met’ Anita through New Voices. We struck up a friendship via twitter and shortly after started emailing each other – regularly. Nit lives all away across the water in Idaho. That’s why I think I read the card about four times. I couldn’t quite believe she had gone to all that effort just for me.

I’ve had a week like that, and receiving these flowers today just summed this week up.

It was a week ago today that Blackthorn, via Blood Shadows, was officially launched. Since then I’ve been stunned by the generosity of people’s time and effort in sharing their thoughts and, in turn, helping get my book out there. I’ve even put a new tab on my blog to showcase all the reviews, I’m so proud. Each has been carefully thought about, straight from the heart, and that’s what means so much to me. It accumulated in me receiving a stunning email today that knocked me sideways when I was thanked for giving readers the Blackthorn books.

I’m still getting my head around actually being published, then getting reviews and emails like these, such thoughtful gestures like Nit’s, often makes me wonder what I’ve done to deserve it. So this is one more shout-out to my readers, Team Blackthorn, my new-found friends, let alone my awesome publisher – what would I do without you?

xxx

What’s Next For Blackthorn?

As promised in yesterday’s post, here’s part two of your questions…

Q) Is Blackthorn itself entirely fictional or is it an amalgamation of places you have either visited or seen/read about? If so, what are those places and what was it about them that piqued your interest?

A) Blackthorn is entirely fictional. I came up with the concept over sixteen years ago after leaving home for my first teaching job to move to a big city over 300 miles away from everything I knew. I inevitably got lost walking home alone one night and ended up in a very isolated and run-down area. I’d never been anywhere like it before – numerous houses were boarded up and others had their windows and doors reinforced. The idea for Blackthorn was born during that long walk home. The concept of a dystopian world where humans were calling the shots and vampires treated like third class citizens inevitably spurned lots of thoughts for potential conflict that soon developed into a backdrop for dark and intense romances. I’d also seen a film called Escape From New York – I’m sure that concept played a part on a subconscious level.

I don’t think it’s so much that places have ‘piqued’ my interest, more that they unnerved me! I’ve no doubt my own unease with busy places and being enclosed by dense, built-up areas have played a part in the creation of Blackthorn. On the positive side, I do have a fascination with old derelict buildings so it’s not all bad!

Q) Blackthorn is a fascinating place. The possibilities seem endless. You already have three in the series, will there be other books set there, and will they be based around vamps, or will you be introducing other paranormals?

A) The possibilities are endless and that’s why I get so excited about the stories. Yes, there most certainly will be other books set there. The Blackthorn series is not a trilogy – there are three books you know of because that’s what I’ve signed with Bookouture so far. I have some very exciting things planned for future stories and other third species types will play an important role.

Bookouture and I have also discussed the option of short stories from the series as well as some possible stand-alone ones set in Blackthorn. We’re also considering the possibility of exclusive free stories, extracts or alternative scenes for my loyal blog subscribers and supporters. If I have my way, you’ll find yourself very deep inside Blackthorn before I’m finished!

Q) In Blood Shadows we hear a little bit about vampire prophecies, predicting the overthrow of the corrupt human rule. What’s next for Blackthorn?

A) The vampire prophecies are a vital subplot. The driving force of each story is the romance and each of those stories are going to have an integral role to play in what happens regarding that corrupt rule. It’s not just about human corruption though – the Higher Order (vampire royalty) are playing their role too. Expect a few twists and turns along the way, including a big clash of the alphas before too long and with some key players caught in the crossfire.

Blood Roses is coming very soon and you’ll learn much more about the prophecies in that story. It’s darker than Blood Shadows in some respects, so be warned!

And finally… the headache!!!

Q) Of all the characters you have created, who is the closest to your heart and why (you can only choose one, so no cheating!).

A) This is such a good question but SO tough. I hate to admit defeat… but it’s that ‘who is the closest to your heart’ bit. I thought about it, I came up with an answer then I changed it…again and again.

I’ve never written a story about a protagonist I don’t care deeply about – flaws and all. Actually, mainly because of the flaws! My central characters all have such individual traits – and as well as making me gasp or shake my head (and well up), they also have many traits that I love, admire, relate to or empathise with on some level. It’s like being asked to choose between loyalty and honesty in a friend.

Sigh – if I can’t cheat, I can’t play. I guess I’m off to sit on the bench for this one. I always knew that Michelle Smart was trouble…

Thanks to everyone who sent me their questions! And thanks again for such a fun and special week.

xxx

 

Your Own Blood Shadows Bite!

There are still two days to go until the official launch of my Blackthorn series, but the pages of Blood Shadows are already being turned. Amidst something of a hush amongst my supporters, I’ve been blamed for everything from sleepless nights to kids being sent to bed early, evoking dehydration and making people late. I’ve even been ordered to be quiet mid-twitter stream because someone is too engrossed with Kane to want to bother with me. At least I know my place.

Seriously, it’s amazing to be getting feedback on what you think so far (from those of you who aren’t ignoring me until you’ve got to the final page, that is). And thank you to those who have already left reviews – that’s what makes such a big difference in getting me ‘out there’. But finishing the book doesn’t mean it has to end there…

How about a Blood Shadows bite all of your own – published and for the world to see?

You’ve seen the idea – a couple of defining sentences or a snippet of dialogue from one of the characters. We’ve even got a quote from the fantastic Michele Hauf coming soon with what she thought of the book. And Bookouture (and me!) would love you to share your thoughts too.

So if you have read Blood Shadows and are happy to sum up what you think in words that can capture the interest of more readers worldwide, please share it with us for the chance of your bite being posted with those to come.

I might even be able to arrange for Kane to appear with you… 😉

xxx

Blood Shadows Soundtrack

I was recently asked what music I listen to while I write. I work in total silence for the first draft of a novel. I only insert a playlist when I’m revising. At that point I find it helps to add layers of mood and tone to what I’m working on. I also listen to music a lot while I drive and that’s often when plot points or characterisations come together.

So here are some of my favourite tracks off a mixture of albums that have played some part in devising or revising Blood Shadows. (Although I know it’s obvious – I must state that this is a total mock-up album and in no way are the artists linked to Blood Shadows or in any agreement to endorse it. I hope that covers me!)

PS The first track is from the trailer!

 

Blood Frenzy

What a couple of days! Frantic but so much fun!

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has shared, retweeted, liked and commented on the trailer for Blood Shadows. Word only gets out there with your help so, for everyone who played a part in that, please know how much I appreciate it.

I’m exceptionally proud of the amazing work Bookouture have done yet again. I didn’t want to comment yesterday – I just wanted to give you the chance to enjoy the trailer for yourself. And thanks to everyone who let me know that they did. I think it’s a stunning amalgamation of imagery, tone and themes from Blood Shadows and indeed Blackthorn. The trailer is now not only available on this blog, Bookouture’s blog and Facebook, it has also made it onto Night Owl Reviews (an awesome website if you’ve never visited) as well as YouTube! It’ll soon be on my author profile page on Amazon too.

In the last couple of days, I’ve also read the first two reviews of Blood Shadows. I was overcome by both. I’m guessing it’s inevitable they won’t all be that positive, but thank you for a wonderful start! Just like all the comments people left me during New Voices, I will never stop appreciating people taking time out of their hectic lives to share what they think. As an author, it is fascinating to read what others see in your story – what they interpret, what they understand and, more than anything else, the impact it has made on them. Yes there are various themes in all of the Blackthorn stories, some deep issues, but I write first and foremost to entertain. Having had feedback from readers that they haven’t been able to stop reading (even through the night and to the point of dehydration!) until they go to the end is absolutely immense to hear. There was a time when I started to believe that nobody would ‘get’ what I wrote. Thank you for proving me very wrong. If you’d like to read the reviews, please visit ‘Emily’s Blog‘ and ‘Goodreads‘.

Tomorrow I’ll be doing a blog post on the Romance University website. I’ll be talking about the beginnings of my passion for the world of vampires, why I started writing paranormal romance and just why it has taken me so long to get to this point. If you have time to come and support me, please do.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the soundtrack I used whilst writing Blood Shadows.

xxx

PS Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and supporters in the USA!

Blood Shadows Update

Well, last night turned out to be a rather exciting evening!! I went onto Facebook to post some links as to where you can pre-order Blood Shadows, when I saw a message that one had already been bought! My first sale! There was much bouncing around my house, I can assure you.

I know, I know – the launch isn’t until next week. All the retailers were contacted simultaneously and in plenty of time for the release day to ensure there wouldn’t be a delay. But we have no control over how soon the retailer chooses to make books available before that date, which is why you can already buy from some and not others. The official launch is still next Tuesday, when you’ll have the option of an eBook as well as the POD paperback.

What have been officially launched this week are the bites. There’s been some great feedback so far, so thank you! Are you ready for some super-sexy Kane lines? They’re on their way! If you check out the ‘About Blackthorn’ tab and select ‘Blackthorn Showcase’, you’ll be able to catch up if you miss any.

Just a reminder that the Blood Shadows trailer is tomorrow!! It’ll be live at around 6pm (UK time). Yes, I need to be home from work for that one for sure! Do let me know what you think…

And to rewind – in Sunday’s blog post, where I was tagged for ‘The Next Big Thing’, I mentioned that I was going to be interviewed by Bookouture on their site very soon. I’ve seen some of the questions – they’re not letting me off lightly! Fun, imaginative or probing appears to be the order of the day, so if there is anything you’d like to know – anything at all – you’ve got until Thursday to send your questions my way. Thanks to everyone who has been in touch so far. Here are a few examples I’ve received in case you need some inspiration:

  • If Kane was on twitter, what would his bio say?
  • If you had to be sired (and therefore bound) by a vampire, which one would you prefer?
  • If you were given the challenge of reworking one of the classics or a fairy tale and giving it the vampire treatment, which book and why?
  • Blackthorn is a fascinating place. The possibilities seem endless. You already have three in the series, will there be other books set there, and will they be based around vamps, or will you be introducing other paranormals?

Please keep them coming!

xxx

‘The Next Big Thing’ – Blood Shadows

Welcome to ‘The Next Big Thing’ blog tour. Huge thanks to my HPT blog-buddy, Victoria James for tagging me to continue the chain. Thank you too for everyone else who thought of me. I’ve tagged two more writers at the bottom of this post.

The idea is that we all answer the same ten questions about our current or next release, which means I get to talk about Blood Shadows. *smirks* Any excuse…

What is the title of your latest book? 

It’s called Blood Shadows and it’s the first book in the Blackthorn series.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The concept for Blackthorn starting evolving about sixteen years ago. For my first teaching job, I’d moved to a big city over 300 miles away from everything I knew. My sense of direction is appalling anyway, so it was no surprise that, walking home one night, I got lost. I ended up in a very isolated and run-down area. Iron bars were on windows. Metal shutters were on doors. The place was dead. I was terrified, but the idea for Blackthorn was born – dark paranormal stories set in an urban, gritty backdrop of social unrest, where vampires brush shoulders with humans. It instantly became a dystopian world where humans were calling the shots, where there was segregation and prejudice. It was the perfect environment to breed conflict between characters, particularly my heroes and heroines. Blackthorn inevitably developed into a backdrop for dark and intense romances that will eventually each play an integral role in the future of Blackthorn.

I’ll talk about what inspired Blood Shadows in a question I’ve been asked a little further along…

What genre does your book fall under?

It comes under the broad umbrella term of Paranormal Romance, under the subheading of vampire fiction. Within that, it could be summed up as a dark and romantic urban thriller. It’s fairly graphic in places so not for anyone of a sensitive disposition!

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition? 

This is such a hard question because I never have anyone in mind when I start writing characters. When I was asked to provide some Pinterest images for the cover designer for Blood Shadows, it was more a blend of features and visible attitude. Considering how vivid Kane and Caitlin are to me, the models he selected are scarily close to what I have in my mind.

Based on characteristics I’ve seen in various roles, I’d say Elisha Cuthbert (House of Wax), Eliza Dushku or Kirsten Dunst for Caitlin. Kane is particularly tricky. Because of the eyes, I think Wentworth Miller might be able to carry him off. I also think Jensen Ackles could play him when he’s in really bad-guy mode. I think the best match would be Henry Cavill though. I’ve never seen him in action and only discovered him on Pinterest, so I’ll have to see if I think the same when I see him move!

You can check out what I mean by going to my Pinterest boards. You don’t need to be a member to look.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Caitlin has four days to persuade Blackthorn’s most lethal vampire to help destroy what killed her parents before it kills her, but not only does Kane despise everything she stands for, she’s already a part of his own dark intentions.

Is your book self-published or represented by an agency?

I’m published by Bookouture – an absolutely awesome bespoke publisher founded by ex-Harlequin marketing controller, Oliver Rhodes. What can I say? I like the personal touch. 😉 Best of all, Bookouture didn’t want to change me or my stories. I think Oliver is very tuned-in to readers and he’s got a genuine respect for authors, two traits that were obligatory to me in handing over my stories. Working with Bookouture just felt right from the outset.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

From what I remember, the first draft was written in about three to four months. There was ‘layering’ for about a further two months. Bookouture got in touch soon after I started subbing so I then went straight on to revisions, which was primarily weaving in plotlines to join the subsequent books together.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’ve been told the stories would appeal to readers of Sherrilyn Kenyon and J.R. Ward, which is incredibly flattering.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write paranormal romance over twenty years ago because I couldn’t find any in my local bookshop. It wasn’t quite so prevalent back then, certainly not in the UK.

As to what inspired Blood Shadows, it must be ten years or so since I first came up with the idea so I can’t place it exactly. I remember seeing a film where there was a chase down a back alley along a chain-link fence and I immediately thought of an agent responsible for keeping vampires in order in Blackthorn. I love strong heroines so I wanted to make the agent a woman. The bad boy vampire was inevitable. I’d only ever written a few opening scenes for the novella and then came back to it for NV 11. From there I structured the story properly, let it develop naturally as I wrote and let Kane and Caitlin take over. Kane actually ‘rewrote’ the last few chapters himself from what I had originally planned. I love it when that happens!

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Can I cheat and let some of the New Voices comments I had say it for me?

  • “This is exceptional.”
  • “Kane is super hot and the ultimate bad boy…’
  • “Gripping, steamy and a hot, dangerous hero – great stuff.”
  • “Sexy, scary, exciting and really interesting novel touches.”
  • “Absolutely beautifully written.”
  • “The chemistry between your hero and heroine is almost tangible.”
  • “…the story that I truly believe could make a big, big splash in the genre.”
  • “…a kill-me-now hero and I-wanna-be-her heroine.”
  • “Hard to realise I am reading a book, not watching the action unfold on TV.”
  • “Sex appeal in spades.”

So, interview over, I am now going to tag the fabulous Tima Maria Lacoba and Aimee Duffy with the same ten questions. Good luck, ladies!

But before I go, if you haven’t seen me mention it on Facebook, I have another interview to come. I’m soon going to be interrogated by my publisher over on the Bookouture website (eek!). If you’d like to join in – if there is anything you are itching to ask me about Blackthorn, Blood Shadows, Kane, Caitlin, even me as an author – feel free to send your questions to me, before Thursday, via the comments box below or you can email, tweet or Facebook me. Be as imaginative (or probing) as you like – it’s more fun that way!

xxx

Vampires, Blackthorn and Blood Splatters (aka another day at the office)

Thank you SO much to everyone who shared my Monday excitement with the cover reveal of Blood Shadows. I’m so pleased you thought it was worth the wait. The cover designer really is one of the best in the business and he’s done an outstanding job capturing Blood Shadows let alone the whole theme of Blackthorn. I think it represents urban vampire paranormal romance at its best – but then I am very biased!

Thanks too for all your messages and emails about this new site – I’m thrilled you’re as pleased with it as me. Some of your feedback was very touching, some set me off into giggles – so thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.

As you can see, Bookouture have worked extremely hard in the background assisting with getting this site set up and I think they’ve done a fantastic job both in the selection of the overall design and images, let alone the behind-the-scenes functionality. The latter I’m getting my head around slowly – but remember this is coming from someone who nearly had a breakdown trying to operate Twitter only a year ago, so I’m making progress!

I had lots of involvement in the decision making but there’s nothing like seeing it all come together. The first time I saw this site completed, I may as well have been led into an adventure park. I kept clicking on everything and discovering where things were and what had been added. I absolutely love the sliders. If you go to ‘Books’ and watch the motion slider there, you’ll see the tag lines appear from Blood Shadows. I’m such a big kid – I love all that kind of stuff. Then if you go onto the ‘About Blackthorn’ you’ll see a large version of the crest. Oh, how I love that crest! And has anyone spotted the blood splatter favicon in the address bar? (Though in my lack of technical know-how, I nicknamed it the favabean – you know, as in with a nice Chianti? *Bows to groans*) I love that little feature, but I did say I was a big kid – oh, and a huge fan of Dexter.

Those who were familiar with my old website will know there are other new features too. ‘About Blackthorn’ is where I’ll share background information on the concept behind the series and all the unfamiliar terms I introduce in the books, so hopefully you’ll find it interesting. There’s also a ‘Press’ section now so you’ll know what’s being shared globally about me as an author and the Blackthorn series.

I have new link buttons. There’s a Pinterest one where I’ll be uploading some new images in due course. If there are any boards you’d like to see, do let me know. And I’m finally on Facebook. Soon I’ll be posting regular updates on there, including letting you know when the Blood Shadows trailer will be aired… oh, it’s good!!

For someone who was petrified of social media only a matter of months ago, I’m really beginning to get into this. It’s such an important part of my new job (yes, I can officially say that now), and it’s made all the more fun by you joining in with me. Thanks for being there!

If you want to make sure you don’t miss anything that happens here, then please do subscribe by email and you’ll get notifications every time something new appears. Alternatively, just come and visit when you have a few spare minutes. And please always feel free to email.

I’ll be back with a post on Friday getting right back into the heart of paranormal romance. Do come and visit, especially if you’d like to talk dark and brooding vampires with me…