Author in the Spotlight - Valerie-Anne Baglietto
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to have Valerie Anne Baglietto as the Author in the Spotlight today. Tell us a little about yourself Valerie!
"I was born in Gibraltar in 1971, and came to
England when I was three. I wrote my first book when I was four, pure fiction
about a little boy whose mother's nose was incredibly long and spiral shaped.
The writing bug had bitten!
To begin with, I had a 'Day Job', working in London as a graphic designer in my young, free and single days, but I always wrote in my spare time, sometimes till the small hours of the morning - when I had the stamina to still get up at 6.45 to catch my train!
I've lived in North Wales with my husband for over a decade now, and had four romantic comedies published by Hodder & Stoughton. My first novel THE WRONG SORT OF GIRL won the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writer's Award in 2000. Then motherhood took over and family became my number one priority. I still experimented with different writing styles and genres, when I had the chance, and even wrote a children's book. I'm also honoured to be a member of the NW NOVELISTAS, a local group of writers, including the best-selling Trisha Ashley and Anne Bennett among other popular authors. They were a huge help when I was trying to work out what direction I wanted to take next.
To begin with, I had a 'Day Job', working in London as a graphic designer in my young, free and single days, but I always wrote in my spare time, sometimes till the small hours of the morning - when I had the stamina to still get up at 6.45 to catch my train!
I've lived in North Wales with my husband for over a decade now, and had four romantic comedies published by Hodder & Stoughton. My first novel THE WRONG SORT OF GIRL won the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writer's Award in 2000. Then motherhood took over and family became my number one priority. I still experimented with different writing styles and genres, when I had the chance, and even wrote a children's book. I'm also honoured to be a member of the NW NOVELISTAS, a local group of writers, including the best-selling Trisha Ashley and Anne Bennett among other popular authors. They were a huge help when I was trying to work out what direction I wanted to take next.
"Although I love
children's literature, I wanted to return to adult romances again, and with
ONCE UPON A WINTER I married both loves to create a contemporary adult
fairytale. One moment my heroine is making the school-run and sewing
cushions for the PTA, the next she's discovering that the husband who deserted
her and her children might belong more to a fictional world than the real
one. The majority of the action takes place in a picturesque Welsh village
'hidden among the hills', which hopefully lends it a
slightly fairytale-like quality. My latest release is the long-length
novella THE TROUBLE WITH KNIGHTS IN SHINING ARMOUR, also set among the magical
rolling hills of North Wales.
If you're a fan of the
TV programme Once Upon A Time, and films such as Enchanted and Stardust,
then you have similar tastes to me and might enjoy my stories. They're not dark
paranormals, but they're not all sweetness and light either.
My website: http://valerie-annebaglietto.com
Tweet: @VABaglietto. I am also on Facebook and have a Fan Page there, too.
The NW NOVELISTAS' blog: http://novelistasink.blogspot.co.uk
Both books are available worldwide on Amazon.
Reviewer in the Spotlight - Carol Wright
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to have the wonderful reviewer Carol Wright, aka Dizzy C! Let's find out a bit more about the lovely Carol.
JB: Tell me a little about your blog.
Carol: My blog is my little corner of the blogosphere to share the books
I read, showcase authors and aspiring authors, bookish news and a little about
my family.
JB: How did you come up with the name for your blog?
Carol: The DizzyC came from the fact that my
husband thought I was quite Dizzy due to my forgetful nature and habit of
repeating myself. It stuck with me and
when it came to thinking of a title for a very new blog, in which I wanted to
remain quite anonymous the nickname seemed to fit the bill. The little came from the fact that I expected
it to be just that. It has now grown
and, although I am Carol at home, in the blogging world I answer to DizzyC. J
JB: What sort of books do you like to read?
Carol: Chick Lit, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Contemporary
Fiction, Women’s Fiction. All to escape
my hectic life.
JB: Why did you decide to blog?
Carol: I began writing a Book Journal as I would remember a lovely book
I had read but not the reasons why. Then
one day whilst searching the net for suggestions for my next read, I came
across a book blog. I began following a
few blogs and decided I wanted to share my love of books with others, too.
JB: How long have you been blogging?
Carol: Over 2 years now. Doesn’t
seem possible. I had a lovely comment
from a lady saying how much she had enjoyed seeing my blog evolve.
JB: Do you have any other blogs?
Carol: I do have a Wedding Blog because I wanted to share my wedding
planning and photos. http://dizzycslittlewed.blogspot.co.uk
JB: Do you have an all-time favourite book?
Carol: Yes, Saving Cee-Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. It has the most gorgeous cover, I fell in
love with Beth’s writing. It was the book that inspired me to write my first,
very brief review on Amazon.
JB: What were your favourite books of 2012?
Carol:
The Apothocary’s Daughter by Charlotte Betts and To Turn Full Circle by Linda
Mitchelmore
JB: How many books are on your TBR pile for 2013?
Carol: Too many. I have to turn
review requests away sometimes. L Just wish I had more time for more books.
JB: Which book on your TBR pile are you most looking forward to reading?
(at time of writing this post).
Carol: The Gilded Fan – Christina Courtenay for historical romance
A Little Bit of Madness – Sheryl Browne for contemporary romance
JB: What book surprised you the most? (in other words what book did you
read that was not your usual genre and you found yourself enjoying?)
Carol: That would have to be The Tudor Secret by Christopher W
Gortner. A Historical Mystery that had
me gripped. I agreed to read this one as it was about the Tudor period, which
is a favourite period in English history and I was pleasantly surprised at how
much I enjoyed it.
JB: Do you have a favourite author?
Carol: Oh, dear. I have several..... Carol K Carr, Linda Gillard, Maggie
O’Farrell, Carol E Wyer, Mandy Baggot, Carole Matthews.
JB: Give 3 book recommendations for the readers of Brook Cottage Books.
Carol: THE QUINTESSENTIAL GEMINI by Linn B Halton – Contemporary Fiction with
an Astrological theme.
BEFORE I MET YOU by Lisa Jewell – Historical romance set in Soho, London
in the 1920’s and modern day.
THE TAPESTRY OF LOVE by Rosy Thornton – Contemporary Fiction
Thanks so much Carol for appearing the blog today.
Everyone, check out Carol's links and visit her blog. Its a fantastic
blog and so worth a visit.
Promo Post - Transforming Pandora by Carolyn Mathews
Book blurb
You don't have to
be a New Age flower-child to enjoy Pandora's correspondence with her
supernatural penfriend. She's a newly single lady of a certain age and romance
is still very much on the agenda. But who to choose? And can her spiritual
buddy help her satisfy the longings of both her heart and soul?
Brook Cottage Books is pleased to announce that the second book
in the series should be coming out soon. Carolyn Mathews is working hard on the
book and of course Brook Cottage Books will keep you up in the loop with
regards to a release date. I think you will all agree that Transforming Pandora
sounds like a truly fascinating read. It is on my To Be Read list already!
About the Author
In a previous incarnation, Carolyn Mathews was an English
lecturer and wrote material for language learners. Before that she had a
chequered career ranging from Spanish bar work to the civil service. She is
currently engaged in writing fiction with a spiritual dimension, her debut
novel, ‘Transforming Pandora’, being the first in the Pandora series. She lives
in Hertfordshire and practises meditation and yoga in the hope that eventually
she’ll get them right.
Links:
Author Interview - Kacey Vanderkarr
Brook
Cottage Books is thrilled to have Kacey Vanderkarr, author of Antithesis,
visiting the blog today. Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed Kacey.
Author: Kacey Vanderkarr
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance
Release Date: July 21st, 2013
Length: Super Novel
ISBN: (Print) 978-1-939590-16-9
ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-939590-15-2
Release Date: July 21st, 2013
Length: Super Novel
ISBN: (Print) 978-1-939590-16-9
ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-939590-15-2
Kacey:
Originally,
I titled the book Dream Shifters, but the more I wrote, the more I realized
that the title didn’t fit. I knew that I needed something that had “opposite”
in it. I played around with a few titles, but none of them stuck. Then I got
out a thesaurus (which I use all the time when I write) and looked up opposite.
There was my title: Antithesis.
JB: Where
did you get the idea for the book from? Is it something that you’ve been
thinking about for a while?
Kacey:
The
idea came from two places. The idea for Gavyn came from my husband, when he
told me about a one-armed customer he’d had. I thought it would be interesting
to explore the challenges of a one-armed character, especially a teenage girl.
How would her life be different? How would it affect her relationships? The
idea for the story line came from a dream, where I picked up an object and
disappeared, only to arrive in another world. Then, Antithesis was born!
JB: From
start to finish, how long did it take you to complete Antithesis?
Kacey:
About
three months. I wrote the story really fast, often writing entire chapters in a
day. Gavyn’s story is fun and often frivolous, but that’s okay—we shouldn’t
have to be serious all the time.
JB: Did
any of the characters suddenly develop in a different way than you had
originally planned or did you stick pretty much with what you had planned for
each of them?
Kacey:
I
think they stuck to my original vision—though I do find that characters usually
have a mind of their own. Gavyn is a pretty “stripped” character, in that she
shows you everything all at once. Liam has a lot more hidden, a long, awful
history that takes a while to understand.
JB: Lots
of authors tell me they write every day. Are you that type of writer or do you
write when inspiration strikes?
Kacey:
I
would love to write every day, but unfortunately I just don’t have time for
that. I used to write on a daily basis, and write quickly. Now I have less time
to write, but I think I accomplish a lot more when I do. Every project is a
learning experience, and I grow as a writer, so now when I write, I write more
effectively, even if I don’t write as often.
JB: Your
day job is that of a sonographer. Would you eventually like to give this up and
write full time or do you like your ‘day job’ too much to give it up?
Kacey:
My
goal is to be a full time writer. While I love being a sonographer, it’s not my
passion. Writing is the only job I see myself doing that won’t eventually bore
me. Of course, this dream is far off in the future—I have to pay to bills
somehow!
JB: What’s
next for you? Do you have a new book planned?
Kacey:
I
have a new young adult manuscript that’s finished titled Reflection Pond. It’s
about a girl who falls through a pond into faerieland. I hope to query agents
soon. My current work in progress is a young adult fantasy romance about a girl
who loses her entire family and is being recruited by a secret organization. I
have a short story “How to Fall” that will appear in Sucker Literary Volume 3
and am working on an anthology with Urban Fey Press that will feature my short
fiction. The anthology is titled Out of the Green: Tales from Fairyland.
JB: Any
advice out there for any budding writers?
Kacey:
Never
stop writing. Write when you don’t want to, write when you do. Don’t be
discouraged if people don’t like your work. Listen. Learn. Write. Take advice.
Show your work to as many people as possible. Join a writing group. Make
internet friends. Write. Read EVERYTHING. Learn to edit other people’s work and
then apply it to your own writing. And most importantly, write.
Thanks
once again for being a guest on the blog. I wish you every success with
Antithesis. As part of this book tour, there is a chance to win a copy of Antithesis. There are 15 copies up for grabs!
About the author
Kacey Vanderkarr is a young adult author. She dabbles in fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, complete with faeries, alternate realities, and the occasional plasma gun. She’s known to be annoyingly optimistic and listen to music at the highest decibel. When she’s not writing, she coaches winterguard and works as a sonographer. Kacey lives in Michigan, with her husband, son, crazy cats, and two bearded dragons. Visit www.kaceyvanderkarr.com for more information.
Twitter: @kacimari
Blog: www.kaceyvanderkarr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kacey-Vanderkarr-Young-Adult-Author/128956043852072
Cover Reveal - Unbreakable Bonds by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Carolyn Ridder Aspenson's second book in the Angela Panther Series - Unbreakable Bonds. It looks totally fab!
Blurb
Blurb
When Angela's best friend Mel thinks her husband is having an affair, she turns to Angela for help. The two come up with the perfect plan to catch him in the act - use Angela's mother, Fran.
There's just one teeny, little problem.
Fran's dead.
And since Angela's psychic gift is currently out of service, connecting with Fran is a little complicated.
While Angela searches for a way to fix her psychic radar Fran and a multitude of other ghosts continue to try to make a connection. And it's driving Angela crazy.
But Fran won't let her daughter's problem stop her from helping someone she loves and she sets out to catch the cheater on her own, using a few tricks and tools from the afterlife to get it done.
Book two of the Angela Panther series will be available November, 2013 in e-book and paperback.
Watch the Trailer http://youtu.be/EqLdYsVNwGM
For more information
Visit
Follow Carolyn on Twitter
@awritingwoman
There is also a competition attached to this cover reveal. There are two ways you can win an e-copy of the first book, Unfinished Business: An Angela Panther Novel:
2. Tweeting or sharing your blog and tagging @awritingwoman or posting it to www.facebook.com/unfinishedbusiness
The contest will run through August 15th and Angela will announce the winner on her website mentioned above and via twitter and on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/unfinishedbusiness
Unfinished Business
An Angela Panther Novel
Angela Panther is an ordinary stay at home mom with a satisfying, albeit slightly mundane life.
Things get a little crazy for Angela when her mother dies and comes back as a ghost.
It seems Fran's got some unfinished business on earth and she's determined to get it done, no matter what.
But Fran's not the only ghost with unfinished business and her return opens a portal between Angela and the afterlife. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry ghost around comes knockin' on Angela's psychic door, looking for help.
And it's a pain in the butt.
Having her mother around is a double-edged sword for Angela. On the one hand, she's glad to still have the connection but on the other, death has given Fran some annoying abilities and she's seriously trying Angela's patience.
When Fran tells Angela her teenage daughter Emily is in trouble, Angela decides to let her mother use her ghostly skills to keep tabs on the girl.
Well, not all of her ghostly skills.
But that doesn't stop Fran from causing a little trouble - just to protect her granddaughter, of course.
Now Angela has to find a way to keep her old life in tact and help the dead with their unfinished business, all while trying to keep her mother out of trouble.
And it's a lot for one woman to handle.
How To Party Online - A Guest Post by Janice Horton
Today on the blog we have a guest post from the very talented Janice Horton. I am a huge fan of Janice's work. Take it away Janice!
You can read my review for this wonderful book HERE
When thinking about how to organise
an online event, do you suffer anxiety about no one turning up and go into a
cold sweat about how to entertain those who do? If the answer is yes, then you
are not alone. Worry and concern over how to best promote your book online can shred
the steeliest author’s nerves.
These days, it’s not just indie
authors who embrace online promotion. As digital ebook sales overtake those of
paperback, traditionally published authors are being positively encouraged by
their publishers to promote via websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc
etc.
Online promo has become de rigueur and all of this expectation
can add to the angst. But how do you get noticed amongst the ever increasing
white noise out there in cyberspace?
I drew heavily on the experience I
gained from my first ‘real’ bookshop launch when preparing for my online parties.
It occurred to me that the two main concerns, how to get people to attend and
how to entertain those who did, where common to both physical and virtual
events. So the first chapter of my non-fiction title ‘How To Party Online’
looks closely at a bookshop event. The rest of the book is a timeline of
planning and helpful ideas that will take you by the hand and guide you through
an innovative and successful online party.
I decided to write ‘How To Party
Online’ after throwing myself whole-heartedly into hosting several successful online
parties and then being contacted by party peeps who wanted to know how I went
about organising them and overcoming the pitfalls. The result was ‘How To Party
Online’: a guide that aims to help you to find fun and success while you party online!
How To Party Online’ has been chosen by
Thornberry Publishing as recommended reading for all authors and writers.
Early
Reviews on Amazon
“This book explains, step-by-step, how to
prepare for a book launch and do it with style!”
“Janice also adds a very nice personal touch. It's like getting help from a friend.”
“I'll be consulting it many times as I plan future online promotional parties.”
“This e-book will quickly become a staple on every author's ereader.”
“Janice also adds a very nice personal touch. It's like getting help from a friend.”
“I'll be consulting it many times as I plan future online promotional parties.”
“This e-book will quickly become a staple on every author's ereader.”
DG Life
Magazine says:
“Janice has made it her business to get stuck into
the whole self-publishing malarkey. Savvy enough to realise it’s not enough to
simply write, she’s studied social media marketing until it could be her
specialist subject on Mastermind. She can plan a book launch, maximise
publicity, keep the momentum going after the first initial flush, and perhaps
most of all, she knows how to make the whole thing fun, which is no mean feat”.
About the author: Janice Horton escaped a city-chic lifestyle and a
career in corporate brand placement to live in a remote cottage on the side of
a hillside in Scotland. Previously traditionally published and now writing as
an Indie, Janice writes fiction with humour and heart and a hint of tartan.
When not writing novels, Janice writes lifestyle articles and has had work
published in national and international magazines. She has also been involved
in BBC Scotland's 'Write Here Write Now' incentive. Janice is a regular blogger
and you'll often find her partying on Facebook and Twitter.
