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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Friday 29 May 2015

Things Mysterious - Win an eARC

Roane Publishing is giving away THREE ARCs of Things Mysterious by Matthew Chabin!
Things Mysterious
by Matthew Chabin Release Date: June 22, 2015
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Genre: Romance (Mystery) 
Keywords: Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Mortality, Literary

Description: Dasan Garret is a disappointed man.  Recently divorced and just returned from a traumatic tour of duty in Iraq, he moves back to his hometown of Portland, Oregon only to find himself unexpectedly alone.  His old friends are all gone, moved away, locked up, or dead.  Women seem to occupy a parallel universe.  With no community and few prospects, he takes a job as a night watchman and withdraws ever deeper into the shadows of his mind.  Until one day when he meets Edenia, and she lights up his world like a bolt of pure energy.  She seems perfect: vibrant, gifted, kind, sexy, a sudden and unlooked-for reprieve from the sad ruin of his life.  And yet there remains a nagging sense that something isn’t right.  Could it be that he is merely slow to trust the happiness she offers him?  Or is there something behind that waver in her laugh, that fleeting look of sadness in her eyes?  


The mystery deepens when one day Edenia disappears.  Dasan believes he must find her in order to go on living.  But to find her again, he will have to confront a devastating truth about her life, and his.


~~~oOo~~~


Roane Publishing is giving away THREE ARC copies to three lucky winners!
You don’t even have to be a blogger.

If you are willing to leave an honest review between the dates June 22nd and July 3rd, you are eligible to enter.
How? Simply fill out the form! You have until Midnight of May 30th when three winners will be chosen by random drawing.

Tuesday 26 May 2015

The Sharp End Of Lightning Blog tour and Guest post

NR Bates

Welcome  N R Bates. Always a thrill to welcome not only a fellow SF and fantasy author, but someone who shares a connection with my homeland of Wales.  As a SF/Fantasy romance writer I love 'world bulding' but often find that my worlds change and develop far beyond my original intentions, which adds depth and dimensions to the plot which I had not originally envisaged, so I just wondering what N R Bates' experiences are with his own "world building"?Let's hear from the author himself:

N R Bates: I share Lyn’s joy in the emergence of worlds and places that the characters of book inhabit and how they respond to events. In the human world of the book, I tried to imbue the world with an authenticity that would have some familiarity to the reader. In the parallel world of Oceanlight, I had early ideas of the ocean world my characters would inhabit. But as the stories emerged and matured, the world-building evolved organically, sometimes in surprising and unexpected directions in spite of my purposeful choices. As I wrote and revised the first two books of the series, I discovered new depths and detail to the other worlds, and in turn, the world-building added an important feedback and maturity to plot, narrative and character. The dimensions and granularity continues to unfold as I ponder the sequels to the first and second books of the Oceanlight series.

NR BatesIn imaging the ocean world of the tribe of Sea Sprites and the humans of the story who are at the core of the book, I first visualized each of the characters and the places they live. I imagined the spaces, the smells and sounds of the landscape, house and hospital that my main human character experienced. In the Seanest home of the Sea Sprites, I illustrated and laid out the architecture of their living and work spaces. I imagined walking with the characters, feeling the texture and colour of the walls, riding upon the back of their petrels, and finding refuge on floating seaweed. The world-building of the book, its depth and details, the reimagining of ocean ecology into a fictional tale, all had to become real to me so that I could bring authenticity to the worlds of my characters.

I also spent a lot of time thinking about the time-lines of characters in the parallel worlds, and avoiding the paradoxes of time-travel. I wrote mindful of our current understanding of the cosmology and physics of the universe, of time and infinite universes, and of each decision or action creating a different time-line. The illustration at the beginning of the book is part descriptor but also a puzzle for the interested reader to decipher.

At The Sharp End of Lightning by NR Bates:

Publisher: NR Bates (January 30, 2015) Category: Epic Fantasy, Magic Realism, Literary Fiction, Celtic Mythology, History Tour Date: May/June, 2015 Available in: Print & ebook, 239 Pages AT THE SHARP END OF LIGHTNING is the tale of family, of loss and sacrifice, of unexpected gifts and coping with disability and new abilities set against the backdrop of climate change occurring across parallel worlds. The intertwined worlds of Oceanlight and Earth are no longer hidden from view of each other. In one realm, Yalara Narika, a winged Sea Sprite, searches for her family and she encounters a deadly blue haze at sea. Escaping the poison makes her realize that her world, Oceanlight, is experiencing sudden and catastrophic environmental change. Meanwhile, in the safe suburban normality of North Wales, Einion Morgan Alban, a restless youth with haemophilia, is nearly murdered by a man in a white suit who intentionally shoves him off a cliff. If Yalara and Einion don’t uncover the connections between their worlds and near-deaths, it will have dire consequences for the worlds they live in. Book one of the OCEANLIGHT series.

Praise for 'At The Sharp End of Lightning' by NR Bates:

"What a fantastic book, the author takes you into another realm. I couldn't put the book down, a real page turner. Seeing as this is book 1 I can't wait for the next one to be written."-Scotialassie, Amazon.UK Reviewer "British author NR Bates makes his novel writing debut with AT THE SHARP END OF LIGHTNING, Book 1 of the OCEANLIGHT series. He has indeed written extensively which explains why his command of the medium is so secure: he has published more than one hundred and twenty scientific papers on ocean chemistry, climate change and ocean acidification as a Senior Scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry at the University of Southampton, UK. Bates' passion for the ocean and environmental sciences has proven a successful driving force in both his scientific mind and his fantasy creative mind. The result, as we read it here, is `true' Science Fiction fantasy! Bates opens his book with a map/diagram called The Interfaces - the meaning of which will be explained throughout the novel, but whose information offers hints and suggestions of codes to be solved. And at the end of his book he discusses Welsh history that informed this story as well as the biology and biogeochemistry of the Sargasso Sea, further influences. The author provides an outline of the story that assists the reader immensely: `The interwoven fantastical tale of family, of loss and sacrifice, of unexpected gifts and coping with disability and new abilities set against the backdrop of climate change occurring across parallel worlds. Bates' writing style can only be called `elegant' - he is unafraid to challenge the reader with a rich vocabulary that somehow enhances the characters we encounter. This is obvious form the opening paragraph:

 `As the streamer of lightning harmlessly discharged through her body into the palm of her hand, Yalara Narika noticed many things at once. There was fright and surprise as adrenaline raced through her body. The words "I'm alive" came to mind, accompanied by an overwhelming relief when the forked sharpness passed out of her. Then came the reflex response-- her call to Calymene, Mother Earth-- that she had despite her doubt. A hurried glance brought the reassuring thought "I'm still in the sky." Simultaneously, she returned to her search-- for the "lost"-- which was set against the immensity of the seas. And interwoven amongst these reactions were thoughts of that moment in the distant future, at the end of her life, when she'd fly up into the tumult, clad in a cuprous woven fabric, and upon the flash of electrica, her constituent parts would disassemble in an instantaneous coruscation of energy.' This is our first encounter with being struck by lightning. As with most fantasy/sci-fi books it takes a while to adjust to the strange names and the references to places of origin, but Bates' language makes that journey of discovery a rewarding one. He does offer a helpful Sprite Glossary and Human Glossary at books end. This is a strong debut, well worth the investment of mental energy." 

Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame & top 100 reviewer.

Ambitious and enchanting, At The Sharp End Of Lightning by author N R Bates proves a rich and original foray into the realms of fantasy fiction. Compelled by a commanding narrative that readily enthrals the imagination, the magical intrigue simmers throughout as Bates renders his fantasy world in rich hues. A world parallel to our own yet retaining a time worn familiarity that makes it feel immediately authentic. It’s an intricate, intrigue-laden telling, which plays to the best in this popular genre and it’s clear from the start that Bates is in his element.

 "There’s certainly much to enjoy here. From cleverly contrived and vibrant scenes to a captivating blend of magical mysticism, he ably manages to avoid prescriptive tropes whilst a certain descriptive economy and a tight word count brings a penetrating levity to his dialogue. Both timely and well observed, he notably avoids the trite mutterings of mediocre characterisation to create genuine depth and emotive resonance, which in turn ensures the reader becomes fully invested in the trials and tribulations of his characters. Beautifully written and undoubtedly the start of an exciting new series, At The Sharp End Of Lightning proves a fine example of fantasy fiction. Definitely deserving of a place on your bookshelf, it is recommended without reservation!"
Book Viral

NR BatesAbout NR Bates:

NR Bates was born in London, grew up in Wales, and lived in Canada and Bermuda. He shares his life with his wife, seven cats, one dog and the tropical wildlife of lizards, wolf spiders and ant colonies that seek out a better life indoors. He is an oceanographer and scientist, and has published more than one hundred and twenty scientific papers on ocean chemistry, climate change and ocean acidification. He is a Senior Scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry at the University of Southampton, UK. His novels focus on epic fantasy and magic realism, and inspired by his deep love of the ocean and environmental sciences.

Website: nrbates.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NR-Bates/1536689869946441
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NRBatesAuthor

Buy At the Sharp End of Lightning by NR Bates:

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Follow the At the Sharp End of Lightning by NR Bates Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus May 1 Excerpt & Giveaway
 Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews May 4 Review
 What Jenna Thought May 5 Review
 What Jenna Thought May 6 Interview & Giveaway
Books, Books & More Books May 8 Review
Rockin' Book Reviews May 11 Review
 Cassandra M's Place May 12 Review & Giveaway
Confessions of a Reader May 15 Interview
 Mary's Cup of Tea May 20 Review
  Lightning Chronicles May 21 Review & Guest Post
 100 Pages a Day May 22 Review
 Indie Review Behind the Scenes May 23 Live Interview 11 am cst
 Romance That's 'Out Of this World' May 27 Guest Post
Room With Books May 28 Excerpt
What U Talking Bout Willis? May 29 Guest Post
 Rockin' Book Reviews Jun 1 Interview & Giveaway
The Cosy Dragon Jun 2 Review
 Deal Sharing Aunt Jun 9 Review & Giveaway
 Joy's Book Blog June 24 Interview
Bound 4 Escape June 25 Review
Create With Joy June 26 Review  

Monday 25 May 2015

Country Affairs

Country Affairs Tour Banner 1
If you follow this blog, or my website or Facebook page, you'll know that besides books and writing, my other other passions are horses and dogs, and of course the countryside.  So when I found out about fellow Brit author Zara Stoneley's latest release, 'Country Affairs' I just had to invite her to my blog as part of her Brook Cottage Books tour.  Here's some more about the book.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Humour/ChickLit
Release Date: e-book 7 May 2015, Paperback 16 July 2015
Publisher:  HarperCollins (HarperImpulse)

COUNTRY AFFAIRS
'A great treat for readers who love their books jam-packed with sexy men and horses.' Bestselling author Fiona Walke. It’s time to get back in the saddle with the follow up to the deliciously naughty Stable Mates!

BLURB
Swapping her spurs for stilettoes and becoming Lady of the Manor is not on loveable, but scatty, Lottie’s life plan. Nor does she have the faintest idea how to rescue it from rack and ruin.

But with footballer’s wife Sam on the case, determined to bring glamour to the manor, and fun-loving eventer Rory egging them on, nothing can possibly go wrong, can it?

Todd never forgave himself for abandoning Lottie on a Barcelona beach, but now he’s tracked her down and he’s ready to kiss and make up. With a roving eye and his roguish grin he soon has more than one girl in Tippermere going weak at the knees, but why is he really there?

With wedding plans going awry, unexpected pregnancies and relationships starting to look rocky, will Lottie ever be ready to accept her inheritance and help Tipping House Estate move into the 21st Century?
 


Let's find out more about the super sexy hunks in her book. Over to you, Zara:

Here come the men!  Country Affairs

The great thing about sportsmen is that you can guarantee they’ll be fit, they’ll probably be pretty competitive and chances are they will love a challenge. And all the men of Tippermere pretty much fit the bill – so which one would you go for? (Check out my pinterest board for pics!)



Rory Steel – is a sexy three day eventer. He’ll do anything for a dare, is a bit of an adrenalin junkie and is the one man who is guaranteed to make Lottie laugh. He could be the guy for you if you like a challenge and having fun, and don’t mind his terriers and horses. Don’t expect him to sit still for longer than absolutely necessary though, like Tilly the terrier he’s always got a glint in his eye and is looking for trouble. And bear in mind his taste in girls might be similar to his taste in horses - he like them flighty, brave and slightly unpredictable, like Flash.


Todd Mitchell – is an Australian surfer who abandoned Lottie on the beach in Barcelona. He prefers the surf to the green grass of Cheshire and is far too tall for the Tippermere quaint cottages.   If you’re not desperate for a happy ever after (he’s not got a great track record), but do like wall to wall fun then Todd could be the one for you. And you are guaranteed that his fit body comes with an all over tan (not something you often get with a horse rider), as well as a six pack! With the exception of Lottie, he’s always had a thing for perfectly groomed blonds (girls not horses!), but he’s open to offers.


Mick O’Neal - dangerously sexy, deep thinker, Irish charmer, he’s ruggedly handsome in a dark and mysterious way but often has a twinkle in his eye. Do you like a guy who’s perceptive and protective? Mick could be for you, but he’s not been lucky in love and with his damaged heart might be a tricky customer. A farrier, not a competitive rider, he’s still a wonderful horseman so steer clear if you don’t like horses and the country life. But can any girl resist that steady gaze, and those warm, firm hands?


Dominic Stanthorpe – is a true aristocrat. He’s always striving for perfection, and has a strong sense of duty. This man is undemonstrative, but totally loyal and will do anything for the woman he loves (which can surprise even him). As a dressage rider he dislikes shoddy behaviour, flamboyance and surprises. If you like control and the best things in life then Dominic could be your perfect man, if you’re a tantrum type of girl then he might well be off at a gallop.




Bestselling author Zara Stoneley lives in deepest Cheshire surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and amazing countryside. When she's not visiting wine bars, artisan markets or admiring the scenery in her sexy high heels or green wellies, she can be found in flip flops on the beach in Barcelona, or more likely sampling the tapas! Zara writes hot romance and bonkbusters. Her latest novels, 'Stable Mates' and ‘Country Affairs’, are fun romps through the Cheshire countryside and combine some of her greatest loves - horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)!
She writes for Harper Collins and Accent Press.



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