Cover Reveal: Zoey and the Moment of Zen by Cat …
Marching Ink is proud to publish the second title from Cat Lavoie this October, titled Zoey and the Moment of Zen! Chick Lit Plus is…
Cover Reveal: Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner
Kate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday. Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?
Forever Fredless will be available from online bookstores from October 2013
For more details about Suzy and her books, visit:
http://suzyturner.com
http://suzyturner.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks
http://twitter.com/@suzy_turner
http://pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks
Author Interview: Kate Hewitt
Thanks to Kate Hewitt for letting us interview her! Be sure to check out her novel This Fragile Life as well! When did you know…
Cover Reveal: Bird of Prey by Danielle Claude Ngontang
This was supposed to be an easy case… Sémya Slotin had spent the last three years living in London with her best friend Polliannah Koch…
Interview with Laura Barnard
When did you know writing was for you?
From a very young age. My mum says even as a small toddler I was obsessed with books and the minute I could put pen to paper I was coming up with all sorts of stories. I used to bore my mum senseless making her listen to them. As I got older I started to pester teachers with marking extra stories, but then hit my teens and got a bit shy.
How would you describe your books?
I would say they are a portal for you to enter into another woman’s hilarious life. There are laugh out loud moments, but also serious, tender moments. There’s a romance (the amount of people that refer to Ryan as a real person is hysterical!), but really my book is centered around friendship. It shows with the right love and support you can get through and laugh about anything.
Why was The Debt and the Doormat a book you wanted to write?
A lot of my friends started struggling with debt and they’d always come to me embarrassed, as I’m normally so careful and organised with money. I would try to help them, but realize that unless you totally take control over someone there is no way you can change them. That’s where the idea came from. I still get phone calls from friends, frantically asking me ‘Am I Jazz???’ However, without these friends I would be a total bore! I’m such a Poppy! They’re the ones persuading me to get another bottle of wine in or treat myself to a new outfit. I think opposites suit each other as they can both bring out the best in the other.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The beginning! I have so many ideas, its sometimes hard to focus on just one. I like to have a rough idea of the story and then work on characters. I go so ridiculously in depth – I write interview questions for them, find similar looking celebrities, even find what sort of clothes they would wear and what kind of vocabulary they would use. Once I have a set of solid characters they seem to guide me on where the book goes and sometimes its in a totally different direction!
What are your favorite genres to read?
I love reading chic-lit and my favorite authors are Madeleine Wickham (writing as both herself and Sophie Kinsella) and Lindsay Kelk. However, while writing this I tried to broaden my tastes and wondered around my local library selecting books I wouldn’t normally bother with – crime thrillers, erotic and heavily romantic Mills and Boon books. It was strange going outside of my usual comfort zone but I loved them and feel each one taught me something different. I learnt how to write tense, edge of your seat scenes and I learnt how to write a love story the reader completely goes head over heels for.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
Mainly I just want them to have a good laugh and when they finish the book feel like they’ve lost a friend. A great book is one you keep thinking about and wish was a bit longer. If you can remember a scene from it a few weeks later and have a giggle its a good one.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
I think its hugely important, especially for self-publishing. Before social media there was really no other way of mass-promoting your work on such a huge scale. You can also hear up to date information from reviewers and receive comments from the public. It’s like skipping the messenger and having everything to hand.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers
Keep writing! Sometimes it can feel like you are getting nowhere but if you carry on you’ll be surprised at how you can pull something together. The best advice given to me was by my college Tutor, Ian St Peters, who said ‘Writing is a craft. You have to perfect it over time, but if you don’t enjoy it don’t bother.’ I genuinely love writing and if only a handful of people also enjoy my story that really is enough satisfaction for me. If it isn’t maybe you’re in the wrong game.
Author Profile: Samaire Provost
Author Name: Samaire Provost
Website: http://samaireprovost.tumblr.com/
Bio: Born naked. Clothed and fed shortly thereafter by adoring parents who looked on in bemusement as their daughter became a reading, writing, free-spirited, feral, animal loving, bleeding-heart chocolate lover who laughs easily. Samaire Provost is a California writer of Young Adult novels. Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, E.A.Poe, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing.
Titles: Mad World: Epidemic, Mad World: Sanctuary
See my 5 star review for Mad World: Epidemic
See my 5 star review for Mad World: Sanctuary
Connect with Samaire!
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/samairep
Twitter – https://twitter.com/samaireherself
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6453849.Samaire_Provost
Amazon author page – http://www.amazon.com/Samaire-Provost/e/B008PVTXMW
Amazon book page – http://www.amazon.com/Mad-World-Epidemic-1-ebook/dp/B008PO969O/
Blog – http://samaireprovost.tumblr.com/
Breaking the Rules Giveaway
It’s pretty surreal to think that one year ago Marching Ink was publishing Cat Lavoie’s debut novel, Breaking the Rules. What a year this has…
Book Excerpt: How Do You Spell Love by Zanna Mackenzie
How Do You Spell Love?
As rain hammered against the roof, Summer peered out of the tiny shed window on her allotment.
“It might be set for the day,” she frowned, turning to her companion.
Tom Harper shifted in his seat. “Typical, the first opportunity I get to come here and it’s tipping it down. I was really looking forward to helping out too.”
Summer smiled. She still wasn’t sure exactly why he was here. Was it just because he had a yearning to get back to working the soil? If so, why had he chosen her particular plot to want to work on? Why had he singled her out to be on the receiving end of his offer of a helping hand?
She had to admit, when he’d turned up as suggested, part of her had been pleased while part of her had felt irritated and annoyed. Whilst she could undoubtedly do with a hand – especially with the pesky weeds which were multiplying by the barrow load – she still felt uncomfortable and unsure about his real reasons for being there.
Confusingly, there had also been a part of her that had, for a second or two, gone all of a flutter. He looked even more gorgeous kitted out in scruffy jeans, a T-shirt and work boots than he did when he was all dressed up in a suit. No. No. No. She’d told herself firmly the instant the feelings had set in. She couldn’t – wouldn’t – allow herself to fancy Tom Harper. The sensible part of her brain reminded herself why it would be beyond stupid to do so. Firstly, he was involved; practically had been since junior school, with his girlfriend Lucy. Secondly, she was – well, she thought so anyway – still involved with Rob, no matter how dicey things were looking at present. Thirdly, he was Kat’s cousin. Getting involved with the relative of a close friend – and work colleague – was asking for trouble.
“So, maybe you’d better be getting off home, then?” Summer half stated, half asked. “Not much chance of getting any more things sorted down here today by the looks of it.”
Tom nodded but seemed reluctant to get to his feet.
“Can I ask you something?” Summer ventured, slipping into the seat opposite him.
He nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.”
Before she could get a word in he continued, “I imagine you want to ask me why I’m here.”
Feeling a bit awkward, Summer nodded.
“The truth, the whole truth and nothing but?” quizzed Tom.
“Please,” Summer nodded.
He let out a long sigh. “OK. Two reasons. One, I do miss this place and would like to get involved with growing fruit and vegetables again. It’s something that, for a number of reasons, I’ve had to give up over the years. I want to work the soil again but there’s a waiting list for allotment plots and…
Getting to his feet he added, “I’m sorry, Summer. I shouldn’t have asked if I could help out down here. I’ll get going and leave you in peace.”
Summer stood up and reached out to place a hand on his arm. “Don’t go just yet. You said that there was a second reason.”
He turned away. “It’s nothing. I should go.”
“Tom, please,” Summer linked an arm through his and pulled him gently back towards the table and chairs tucked in the corner of the shed. “Tell me.”
Slipping his arm free of hers he turned towards her and reached for her hand. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, absolutely,” she smiled encouragingly. Surprised that she hadn’t even tried to remove her hand from his, she added, “Tell me.”
“OK. The second reason I asked you is because I was drawn to you. The moment I saw you at that party I just prayed I’d have the chance to get to meet you, find out who you were.” Slowly, methodically linking his fingers through hers, he added, “I’m sorry. This isn’t something that I usually do. Please don’t get the wrong idea. I’ve never cheated on Lucy. I just wanted, needed to get to know you.”
Seeing the puzzled expression now on her face he added, “I know this is wrong. Besides the fact that I’m involved, I don’t know anything about you or your circumstances yet. Though, as you were at the party with Kat, and I don’t see you wearing a wedding or engagement ring…?”
Summer remained silent. Unsure what would be the right thing to say in answer to his question.
“You’re not married, are you?” he asked, still holding her hand in his.
Summer stayed perfectly still. The rain continued to hammer on the shed roof. Some thunder rumbled on, slowly fading into the distance. She still didn’t step away or move her hand from his grasp.
“I’m not married,” she managed to reply.
“OK,” he said, nodding and watching her carefully. “But? I get the feeling there’s more?”
“Do you still love Lucy?” Summer asked; her voice barely more than a whisper.
He nodded. “Yes, but not in the same way as I used to. I’m not in love with her anymore. It’s complicated. The relationship isn’t right and yet to leave would…”
“Break her heart,” finished Summer.
“Yes. Probably,” he nodded. “We’ve been together so many years. She’s pushing for an engagement ring this Christmas and I know it wouldn’t be right to go down that road. To agree to what she wants. Yet, to do otherwise…” he sighed again. “I just don’t know. It’s such a mess.”
——————
Author bio:
Zanna Mackenzie lives in the UK with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read.
Being a freelance writer and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity, she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working on. She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds of their own and start deviating from the original plot!
Formerly a travel agent and therapist (she has qualifications in clinical aromatherapy, crystal healing, naturopathic nutrition and herbalism) she loves walking the dogs and gardening – that’s when she’s not writing or reading!
Zanna has written two novels, The Love Programme (Astraea Press) and How Do You Spell Love? (Crooked Cat Publishing) and both were published in early 2013.
Follow Links:
Find out more about Zanna at:
www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk
www.zannamackenzie.co.uk
Twitter: @ZannaMacKenzie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/zanna. mackenzie
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10703273-zanna-mackenzie
Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zanna-Mackenzie/e/B00BKY1A18/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Author Profile: Cara Alwill Leyba
Author: Cara Alwill Leyba Website: http://www.livecreatesparkle.com/ Bio: Cara Alwill Leyba is a best selling author, and certified life and wellness coach from New York City…
