One of worst things for a new author to encounter is negativity from sources a person would expect to be encouraging. Those dreaded words, ‘but its not’. Major downer that a person has to learn to ignore.

My stories were trashed, unread, by my parents because they were not detective/mystery or memoires. This meant they were trash and I was wasting my time when I could be doing something more productive, which meant so much to me.

No doubt, if they were still alive, there would be something to derogate in my professionally published works because they would still be trash, not being detective/mystery or memoires.  I let it go a long way back, knowing this was a battle I would never, ever win.

This brings me to an important point. Everyone likes something different in their reading choices. Thank the stars for that, or we would just have five or six published writers.  Also bear in mind the ordinary reader does not always know what genres will fit in with their preferences and will trawl hoping for a good hit. Sometimes this pans out and sometimes it doesn’t. It is regrettable when someone doesn’t read the blurb and the first few chapters before purchasing and then find they don’t like the genre. It happens. Most will cut their losses, but some will leave a scathing review. These only reflect on the reviewer, not the work. Other reviews of people who have liked the genre and enjoyed the story will show up the sour grapes for what they are. And no, I haven’t had one yet. I will bet I will.

Ok, so I am totally spinney now. There is something delicious on my plate and I am very excited about it. No, I can’t disclose what it is. You will all have to wait and see, as will I, if it comes to fruition. Stuff has to be sorted out and not by me. I am on the sidelines doing a happy dance and wearing a big grin.

Watch this space for more news.

Oh wow!

http://www.howto-publish-a-book.org/tips/darkspire-reaches-critical-book-review/

I like to have a firm background for my worlds so I do spend time doing serious research. The upcoming book, Shadow Over Avalon is a take on what happens when the king returns at the time of greatest need for humanity. So why the research? This is futuristic, right? Well it is still grounded in the past, so it has to be accurate and therein lies the problem as history is malleable according to politics and the socio-religious needs of the times.

King Arthur died at the hands of the son he had with his sister, right? Um no. This was actually an invention of a misogamist monk named Geoffrey of Monmouth.  Morgan le Fay was a high priestess of the old religion and as such, presented a threat to the Christian church by embodying the power of women. He had to put a stop to those concepts so came up with a smear campaign designed to horrify decent folks. Delving really deep into the old Welsh legends gives the true story. One has to wonder how a celibate monk managed to come up with those sort of thoughts, later reiterated by Mallory.

The whole idea behind the invention was to discredit women and present them as feeble persons incapable of knowing how to direct their own lives. Now this fitted in nicely with the perceived role of women at the time the monk wrote his fantasy.  Women were property, and not fit persons to make decisions.  See how far they had come from Boudicca?

How does this fit in with my book? It doesn’t. However, it did give me a good handle on who the real people were and how they would have interacted with each other.  My Arthur is true to his real self, as are his companions, so no weird and erroneous squinkies in this book. He is honorable and the ladies are valiant and strong, as they were portrayed in the first place by the Welsh bards.

Shadow Over Avalon upcoming from Kristell Ink in October 2013. Stay tuned for further snippets. This is the first of a series. The second book will be released in 2014 and is already with my publishers.

The winner of my giveaway for Darkspire Reaches is Jennifer Lynn Dawson with this awesome comment.

‘This is by far one of the best cover artworks I’ve ever seen. It has such dimension and life! The colors are vivid, yet realistic, and the consumer can tell right at what type of book they’ll be reading if they buy it. The cover would grab my eye right away, the font is easy to read, and I want this book on my shelf… ‘

Thank you Jenn, a signed copy with a bookmark and postcard will be coming in your direction as soon as the post office opens this morning.

I will be announcing the winner of a signed paperback, along with the comment that made me smile. The package will then be dispatched, along with a bookmark and a postcard to my talented winner.

I handed over the family baptism gown yesterday to Kid 2. I hope it can be brought up to snuff  by a specialty cleaner as it is a tad creamy in places. Not surprising as it is one hundred and seventy three years old. This gown was sewn by hand, with love, by the light of a candle for a first born child. It has been used for baptisms ever since and passed on down through the generations. I can’t even begin to guess at how many fonts it has appeared. It was worn by all three of my girls on their special day.

Yes, I know it will have to be retired to a museum at some point in the future when it just becomes too delicate to continue to use. Up until that time, I would like to see it used as intended by that very first mother. She decorated the lawn over-dress with hand-made lace. The exquisite work that went into this garment is a testament to love.