#Bookqw - Wednesday's Word - NEED

For Book Quote Wednesday this week, here is another short snippet from 

THE MATCHMAKER'S MARE

“Oh Sion,” she whispered, “Sion, where are you when I NEED you?”She pushed the mare even faster.

 “Sion,” she whispered once more. “Sion, please let me find you."

Her father’s harsh words rang in her head and a shiver ran through her, which had nothing to do with the chill night air.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matchmakers-Mare-Hywela-Lyn/dp/1509259880

Thank you!

It's been a few days since my virtual book tour ended and I'm late with this post - I just want to say give a big 'thank you' to all the lovely hosts who took part, to those who took the time to review my book (reviews are so helpful to an author), and to #RachelsRandomResources for organsing the tour.

I've really enjoyed it, and I hope you all did too. I'll post excerpts and links to the reviews over the next few weeks, as well as the winner of ther contest as soon as I have the result.

BOOKQuote Wednesday

 Today's Word is CRY

This is a snippet from THE MATCHMAKER'S MARE, which sees Megan arriving at the cottage in Wales that she has just inherited.

TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO PURCHASE

Final Day of my book tour

  14-May  annette_reads_daily 

                      annette_reads_daily

        14-May   ItaPixie's Book Corner

                            https://itapixie.blogspot.com/ 

  14-May  Staceywh_17 

                             www.instagram.com/staceywh_17 

This is the final day for UK readers to enter to win the prize package below. (I will award a $10 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly selecteU.S. or international reader.

Prize consists of a boxed set of 4 drinks coasters, a sparkly gold box with a chocolate heart, a bag of Welsh lavender, a custom 'Matchmaker' keychain and an eBook copy of The Matchmaker's Mare,with a signed cover flat.

Day Six of my Book Tour

The Enchanted Emporium Bookshelf

Leanne Bookstagram

Frugal Freelancer

Just two more days  - tomorrow will be the final day of my book tour. Please visit the sites above and leave a comment if you have a moment. Also, if you're in  the UK, don't forget to enter the contest to win the prize package shown below. I'm sorry it's UK only, but the cost of postage abroad these days is really expensive and I'd rather spend it on the prizes themselves. I am feeling generous though :) so I will send a $10 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly chosen international commentor on any of the blogs or Instagrams taking part.

The origin of 'The Matchmaker's Mare'

It's hard to believe that it's a week since The Matchmaker's Mare was published! It's also the 5th day of my blog tour. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for organising the tour, and to all the kind hosts on the tour. I really appreciate your support.

I was recently asked how I came to write The Matchmaker's Mare. 

It actually started (like several of my books) as a short story. I had an idea about a white witch and her pony, and that led to wondering what their history was.  Then my publisher put out a 'Call for submissions' for stories featuring 'friendly ghosts'. I immediately thought about my mystical witch and her pony. The heroine changed from a witch, to a matchmaker from the distant past. Gradually the plot began to change and evolve, starting with the young woman, Rhiannon,  fleeing from an arranged marriage. 

The story  had always been set in my native Wales, in an imaginary village, but also in an area near where I used to live. After introducing Rhiannon and her truelove, Sion, it flashed forward to the present time. Gradually the character of Megan began to emerge. (Neither she nor Glyn had been in the original short story.)  I've always loved horses, but despite owning and riding them as soon as I could afford to buy my first horse, I'd never written a full length story featuring horses. They do make an apearance in two of my Science Fiction Romances that form part of The Destiny Trilogy, and my fantasy novella Dancing With Fate, but now was my opportunity to  indulge  my passion, and have them play a  greater role, with my male protagonist being a skilled horseman and trainer. However between working full time and looking after my horses, as well as some personal health issues and  family bereavements, I got no further than a very rough draft. 

A couple of years ago I decided to return to the manuscript. I revised it several times and made a few changes. I  developed my characters more fully,and introduced some supporting characters. Then, after feedback from my beta readers and crit group, submitted it to my editor with my fingers crossed. To my delight, she liked it.  I hope my readers will enjoy it too, it's a short, fairly lighthearted romantic paranormal read, which I hope will leave you smiling.

BLURB

When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma. Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction. A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.