Dory's Avenger's by Alison Jack - Author Interview and Giveaway!
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to welcome Alison Jack to the blog as part of the Dory's Avengers Book Tour! Lets find out about Alison and her writing process. There's also a giveaway at the end of the page!
The overall giveaway on this tour is 2 x signed hardback
copies of Dory’s Avengers. UK and IRE
only.
JB: Where did the idea for the book come from?
Alison: The
idea first took hold while I was watching a televised football match.
Everything from the spectator stands to the players’ socks seemed to have its
own sponsor, which set me wondering whether sponsorship was taking over the
world. From that throwaway thought came the inspiration for a story set in an
alternative Britain, where a brutal and oppressive sponsorship scheme does
indeed reign supreme. For decades the population of this alternative Britain has
been denied basic freedoms, such as being allowed to choose where they live,
work, exercise or socialise, and many people have become docile and subservient
as a result. The dictatorial sponsors complacently believe that there is no one
left in the country who will dare to challenge their authority - but happily,
they are wrong.
JB: How long did it take you to write the book?
Alison: Not
very long at all, as the rough storyline and the characters had already taken
shape in my mind by the time I started. I’d known for months beforehand that my
full time employment was coming to an end, and had used those months wisely
doing what I do best - daydreaming! As a result, when I sat down at my computer
to write Dory’s Avengers I had so
many ideas buzzing around my head that my poor fingers couldn’t type the words
quickly enough.
JB: Did your characters develop as you expected or did any of them change
dramatically?
Alison: A lot
of them changed dramatically. They told their own story, and from time to time
took me completely by surprise. A couple of characters were only intended to be
peripheral, but ended up being essential to the story. One such character ends
a relationship about two thirds of the way through the book, which left me
scratching my head and wondering from where that idea had suddenly sprung. As
the book progressed, though, both this ‘peripheral’ character and the fact he’d
finished with his girlfriend played a major part in taking the story to its
conclusion.
JB: You work within the book industry? What made you decide to write this
book?
Alison: I worked
in a book distribution warehouse for most of my adult life, which was a great
job with the best workmates but not particularly rewarding mentally, and I would
still work there had I not been made redundant. A healthy pay-out and hours of new-found
free time gave me the opportunity to fulfil my lifelong ambition and become a
published author, so I grabbed that opportunity with both hands.
JB: How long did it take to write?
Alison: Dory’s Avengers took three months to write, then another month of self editing
before I was happy enough with the manuscript to send it out to prospective
publishers. Many authors joke about the amount of rejection letters they
receive, but most publishers I approached with the Dory’s Avengers manuscript didn’t even bother to reply. Happily
Book Guild Publishing’s reply was the one I wanted, and twelve months later my
beautiful book hit the shops. My second novel, a paranormal mystery entitled Shattered Belief, is taking a lot
longer to write (over a year to date) as much of the time I used to dedicate to
writing fiction is now taken up by blogging, marketing Dory’s Avengers and launching my brand new editing business.
JB: Are you the type of writer who plans the story stage by stage or are
you just lead by how the story unfolds?
Alison: Somewhere
in the depths of my computer are biogs for the Dory’s Avengers characters, but once I started writing I never once
referred to them. I’ve recently edited a manuscript for an author who had planned
each stage of his book in meticulous detail, and the result for him was a very
good story, but it’s not a method that works for me. I’ll write and re-write
over and over again until I feel completely happy with the story, and only then
will I move on to the next part.
JB: Do you have any advice for any budding authors?
Alison: Find
your own style. There is no right or wrong way to write a novel – it’s your
story, so write the way that works for you. Also, once you’ve finished your
manuscript, be sure to get it properly edited and proof read. I know I have a
vested interest in the editing side of the writing business, but the fact
remains an editor will spot mistakes an author will never see. It doesn’t mean
the author is a bad writer. ALL authors make mistakes, but will tend to see
what they’d intended to write rather than what is actually written on the page
if they attempt to self edit.
JB: Do you have any writing rituals?
Alison: Lots
of coffee (way too much if I’m honest), a quiet room, and my cat asleep on my
feet.
JB: What’s next for you?
Alison: A very
exciting future. I’ll continue blogging, guesting and networking to gain
recognition for my writing. It’s a slow process, and I won’t deny I have the
odd snarl when yet another ‘celebrity’ releases a ghost-written autobiography
and shoots straight to the top of the bestseller’s chart, but it’s also very
satisfying. Every time someone purchases a copy of Dory’s Avengers, or tweets to say they enjoyed it, or gives it a
good review, or even just likes a blog post I’ve written it gives me a massive confidence
boost, and it’s all the more rewarding as I know each boost is a result of my
own hard work. I’ll probably self-publish Shattered
Belief as I do like the idea of
being completely in control, and in the meantime I’ll concentrate on building
up Alison’s Editing Service http://alisonjack-editor.co.uk/
. This year has started very well for me: I made my radio debut on BBC Radio
Cambridgeshire a couple of weeks ago; word’s getting round about my editing
business and I’ve already confirmed some bookings; I’ve got exciting guests
lined up for my blog; and I’m loving this wonderful Fiction Addiction tour –
many thanks to all you lovely bloggers for hosting. All in all I’m very upbeat
at the moment.
Publisher: Book
Guild Publishing
A brutal regime. A docile population. A glimmer of hope.
In a stifled and oppressed United Kingdom,
nothing can be achieved without the approval of the dictatorial Sponsors, at
whose head is the malevolent and cruel Lord William St Benedict. In Britain’s
cities the Sponsored live narrow, if privileged, lives, while the Unsponsored
are confined to menial roles and to ‘less desirable’ districts. Among the
Sponsors’ many victims is Lord William’s own son, the forthright and
charismatic Theodore – ‘Dory’ – held captive by his father since he was a boy.
In the unassuming town of
Applethwaite, in the shadow of the Cumbrian fells, an unlikely revolution is
brewing. Albino gymnast Louis Trevelyan and his motley group of friends are
fiercely proud of their Unsponsored status and gradually forge a plan not only
to liberate the beleaguered Theodore but the whole of the United Kingdom.
‘Dory’s Avengers’ are coming…!
About the Author
Alison Jack
has spent much of her adult life working in book distribution – Dory’s Avengers, however, is her first
foray into the world of books as an author. She is a keen walker and has a
particular love for the Lake District fells – the atmospheric setting for much
of her novel.
Aside from
writing her own novels and blogging, Alison spends a lot of time editing the
work of other authors. When not writing, Alison enjoys reading, playing guitar
– with more enthusiasm than skill – and wakeboarding. She lives near Cambridge with her partner and
three cats.
Author Links
Alison’s
Website - http://alisonjack-blog.com/
Alison’s
Blog - http://alicufc66.wordpress.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlisonJackAuthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AlisonJack66
Amazon purchase links – UK Link
Promo Spot - Rebel Bride (Lust in the Tudor Court) by Elizabeth Moss
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For all you Elizabeth Moss fans, the sequel to Wolf Bride, Rebel Bride will be released in paperback on 27th March! Rebel Bride is currently available to buy as an ebook. Lets find out a little about the new book. And, for those of you who haven't read the series, you can also find out a bit about book 1 too!
REBEL BRIDE
The sequel to WOLF BRIDE: scorching Tudor erotica for fans of Sylvia Day and The Tudors.Book 2: Lust in the Tudor Court.
The sequel to WOLF BRIDE: scorching Tudor erotica for fans of Sylvia Day and The Tudors.Book 2: Lust in the Tudor Court.
Hugh Beaufort, favoured courtier of King Henry VIII, likes his
women gentle, quiet, and biddable. Susannah Tyrell is none of these
things. She is feisty, beautiful, opinionated and brave. And Hugh is
fascinated by her – despite himself. When Susannah pulls her most
outrageous stunt to date and decides to travel from Yorkshire to the
London court dressed as a man, Hugh goes to her rescue. But neither is prepared for the dangers that lie before them, nor the
overwhelming desire growing between them that will prove itself
unstoppable as soon as they are alone together…
WOLF BRIDE
Hilary Mantel meets Sylvia Day: the first instalment in a deliciously erotic trilogy, set against the sumptuous backdrop of the scandal-ridden Tudor Court.
"It's not just the bodices that are being ripped off in this rollicking and rude romp through Tudor England... Well-written and will sweep you breathlessly along." (Star magazine)
Hilary Mantel meets Sylvia Day: the first instalment in a deliciously erotic trilogy, set against the sumptuous backdrop of the scandal-ridden Tudor Court.
"It's not just the bodices that are being ripped off in this rollicking and rude romp through Tudor England... Well-written and will sweep you breathlessly along." (Star magazine)
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About the Author
Born into a literary family, Elizabeth Moss lives with her family in
South-West England, and is a keen walker and gardener. She writes Tudor
and Regency romance. She also writes award-winning commercial fiction
under another name.
http://www.elizabethmossfiction.com/
Writing as Elizabeth Moss (Hodder):
Wolf BrideRebel Bride
Author in the Spotlight and Giveaway - Juliet Greenwood
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to have Juliet Greenwood on the blog. Juliet's new book We That Are Left is published on 13th February and can pre-ordered from Amazon right now! Lets find out a bit more about Juliet.
Juliet
lives in a traditional Welsh quarryman’s cottage between the romantic island of
Anglesey and the mountains of Snowdonia. She has a large garden that would have
been used by original inhabitants to grow vegetables and fruit to supplement
their wages. Juliet tries to follow in their footsteps with the aid of a
polytunnel, which is now flourishing with rocket salad and a grape vine grown
from a cutting from Hampton Court.
As a
child, Juliet always had her nose in a book and always dreamed of being a
writer. After studying English at Lancaster University and King’s College,
London, she worked in a variety of jobs, from running her own craft stall at
Covent Garden Market to taking puppet and storytelling workshops in North
Wales. A severe illness over 15 years ago inspired her to pursue her life-long
passion and finally fulfill her ambition to become a published author. Her
first book for Honno Press, ‘Eden’s Garden’ was the Welsh Books Council’s Book
of the Month in 2012 and became a Kindle bestseller in 2013. It is now a
finalist in ‘The People’s Book Prize’, with the finals to be held in May 2014.
As well
as novels under her own name, Juliet writes serials and short stories for
magazines as ‘Heather Pardoe’.
‘We That Are Left’
‘We That Are Left’: Pre- Order
"August 4th, 1914:
It was the day of champagne and raspberries, the
day the world changed."
Juliet Greenwood's
moving, thrilling novel honours the sacrifice of soldiers and civilians in
World War I and captures how lives were changed afterwards, some destroyed, but
some, with love and courage, rebuilt anew.
Elin lives a luxurious
but lonely life at Hiram Hall. Her husband Hugo loves her but he has never
recovered from the Boer War. Now another war threatens to destroy everything
she knows. With Hugo at the front, and her cousin Alice and friend Mouse
working for the war effort, Elin has to learn to run the estate in Cornwall,
growing much needed food, sharing her mother's recipes and making new friends –
and enemies. But when Mouse is in danger, Elin must face up to the horrors in
France herself.
And when the Great War is finally over, Elin's battles prove
to have only just begun.
Honno Press: http://www.honno.co.uk/
Juliet’s Media Links
‘Eden’s Garden’:BUY
NEWSFLASH!!!!
Juliet is very kindly offering two readers a signed copy each of 'We That Are Left'. All you have to do is leave a comment. All names will be put in a draw and the winners announced on 13th February! Good luck!
(Open to UK only)
Author in the Spotlight - D. Antoinette
Change is Only the Beginning…
September 27, 2013, Baltimore, MD—The Little Book that Could
Publishing Co announces the release of The
First Book of Carrie
(ISBN: 978-0615819426, Sept 27, 2013), a
fictional, dark, paranormal novel by newcomer, and Baltimore native, D.
Antoinette. A story filled with mystery
and secrets The
First Book of Carrie challenges societal norms, questions love and
loyal, and confronts faith and mortality head on.
From seclude outcast, to
undying beauty and eternally evil, socially inept Carrie Carter has been a
pariah for most of her life. Rumors
about her family ranging from the fanciful to the utterly ridiculous have been
the bane of her existence. But, what her
classmates don’t know is how close to the truth the rumors really are.
As Carrie nears her eighteenth
birthday, she starts to experience subtle changes. Confused and frightened, she thinks that she
is going to die from the some illness horrible condition that caused all the
males in her family to meet their untimely demise.
Nothing could have prepared
her for what would happen next.
Change is only the
beginning…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A native of Baltimore, D. Antoinette is a brilliant author and mother
of two daughters. She enjoys writing, reading, and discovering new worlds
through learning and her imagination. The First Book of Carrie is D.
Antoinette’s debut novel. Her next
published work, the sequel to The First
Book of Carrie, is due to be released in 2014. She resides in Maryland. To schedule D.
Antoinette for book signings, interviews, events or speaking engagements, call
443-990-1356. To
learn more about D. Antoinette and The Little Book that Could Publishing Co,
visit: www.IAmCarrieCarter.com
Email: d.antoinette0130@gmail.com
Forever (Angels Among us Pt 3) by Linn B Halton
I was very excited to be given a copy of this book to review. I had read the previous two books in the series and was absolutely desperate to find out what happens next for Ceri and Alex. The subjects of Angels and psychic mediums are both ones that interest me greatly. The third book is the final stage in the couples journey. Ceri must make the most difficult decision in her life. A decision that will not only affect her future, but ultimately Alex's too.
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This story is an emotional roller-coaster and the heartbreak that both Alex and Ceri feel is palpable. There are lots of plot twists in this third book and a very surprising ending! As usual, Linn B Halton doesn't disappoint through her fantastic writing style, keeping the reader engrossed in the plot and causing the reader to once more have some emotional investment in each of the characters. I really enjoyed this series and would highly recommend it. Its not only a fantastic story but a fascinating subject.
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Writing Competition! Get an article published!
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Win a chance to see your article in a free downloadable
emagazine!
As a
member of the official reading panel for the Loveahappyending Lifestyle emagazine, I’m
excited to be able to offer my visitors a chance to take part in a unique
competition. The reading panel have each been asked to put forward one person
to be in with a chance of filling a special ‘guest’ spot in the LLm April 2014 free downloadable
emagazine!
The LLm editor will take the overall winner’s article and
turn it into a feature in the next edition. All you need to do it either email
me at brookbooks@hotmail.co.uk or leave
a comment here, telling me why you would like to have your
article published, and the topic. Do you have a passion? It
might be a hobby, something you do as a career – or a dream you have that you
think others will be interested to read about. Perhaps you’ve purchased
something that was great value for money, or visited a faraway place that you’ve
never forgotten … I will choose one idea to put forward to the LLm editor, who
will make the final decision.
This competition ends on 25 FEBRUARY 2014. The
rules are simple:
1. Members of the official LLm
reading panel can each put forward one candidate for consideration. The LLm
editor’s decision is binding and final.
2. The winning candidate will
not receive payment and will grant LLm the right to publish their article in
full, credited to them. The content will be copyright to the winner and will
not be used elsewhere without permission.
3. The winner will be contacted
and asked to submit their article within 14 working days. Jpegs can be
included, assuming they are owned by the winner and the winner will be asked to
approve a draft of the article prior to it going live in the April 2014 LLm
emagazine. The winner may choose to include a self-photo and a short bio, but
this is optional. Their name and any links (blog/Twitter etc) should be
included in the article.
4. The winner will be announced
in the 1 March 2014 LLm Newsletter. You can sign up for this via either of the
two LLm websites -
If you haven’t yet read Issue 3 – here it is! Click through and
imagine YOUR article staring back at you from the next edition!
Each
magazine is available via the Issuu magazine website and the
Loveahappyending.com website
