Monthly Archives: April 2017

Cover Reveal – The Lost Sentinel #fantasy #epicfantasy #heroicfantasy

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As promised, I’m ready to reveal the cover of my new book ‘The Lost Sentinel’.

But before the big reveal, here’s the all important blurb;

Silent Sea Chronicles

Book One – The Lost Sentinel

The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with its Sentinel. With the Kalayan people turning their back on magic, can Tei help the exiles find their new Sentinel before it’s too late?

Kalaya is controlled by the Assembly – set up to govern but now under the control of Rathnor, who is intent on persecuting those who have magic, many of whom have taken refuge in the Turrak Mountains.

Tei has been raised to hide her magic, until her father, Migil, is visited by an old friend who warns them that they must seek refuge in the mountains.

On the journey, an enemy attack leaves her father mortally wounded. He sees her into the care of two exiles, Rike and Garrick, and on his deathbed makes a shocking confession that changes Tei’s life.

Tei must put her trust in these strangers, especially when mysterious Masked Riders seem determined to stop her reaching Turrak.

Struggling with self-doubt, Tei joins the exiles in their search for their lost Sentinel. But the Masked Riders want the Sentinel too, and time, as well as hope, is running out.

Can Tei help the exiles save the island magic and reunite the Kalayan people before their ignorance destroys them all?

And here it is…

THE LOST SENTINEL COVER

 

To be published in June 2017!

 

Let me know what you think.

Book News! #fantasy #indieauthor #IARTG #ibelieveinbookfairies

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My big news is that Visions of Zarua is about to get some publicity via The Book Fairies.

On Tuesday 2nd May 2017 they will be hiding 20 copies in public places and posting about it on twitter and instagram. It follows on from the initiative of Books on the Underground, which I’m sure many of you will be aware of Emma Watson (Harry Potter star) supporting.

The Book Fairies are all over the world, currently 25 countries are involved. Check out their website ibelieveinbookfairies for more information.

So if you’re out and about in the UK on Tuesday 2nd May, keep a look out for this book with a white and green Book Fairies sticker on it;

VOZ print book 3d image standing

I believe this book drop will be nationwide, so who knows who will pick up a copy! Hopefully, lots of book lovers will find Visions of Zarua, take a picture and tweet about it. Then they can take it home to read, before returning it to any public place for another book lover to find. If you find it, let me know what you think. I love hearing from my readers.

Amazon book link – If you’re not lucky enough to find a copy, it’s free to read through Kindle Unlimited.

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My other big news is that I’m almost ready to set up the Amazon pre-order for The Lost Sentinel!

I still have a couple of minor details to work through, but it is almost there and I’m so excited. I hope to reveal the book cover to the world next week.

I’ll also be looking to send ARC’s to book reviewers, but I’ll post more about that once the changes are done.

Here’s a taste of what The Lost Sentinel is about.

The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with its Sentinel. With the Kalayan people turning their back on magic, can Tei help the exiles find their new Sentinel before it’s too late?

Cover reveal, excerpt and a beta reader’s review will follow in the coming weeks.

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If you’d like to review either The Lost Sentinel or Visions of Zarua please get in touch.

Tip for #indieauthors Check your Royalty payments! #selfpub #indiepub

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This is just a warning to other self published authors who might not be aware of the 30% tax withholding that’s applied to Non-US citizens royalty payments. This affects Amazon, Createspace etc. Maybe you’re a new self published author, or hoping to self publish in the near future. If so, read on and learn from my mistake…

When I checked my royalty payment due from Amazon US book sales and KENP pages read, I realised there was a 30% tax withholding fee. At first I thought it was a mistake, then I thought why the hell hadn’t I noticed it before? They don’t hide the fact from you, I just hadn’t paid any attention to that column until now. Looking down the list, each month I’ve been deducted 30% on my US royalties (haven’t told the husband yet!).

So I’ve spent the morning trying to find out what went wrong when I did the tax interview on Amazon back in 2015 and how I can rectify the issue. I’ve googled, checked forums and blog posts, cursed and pulled out my hair.

Finally, I re-did the tax interview on Amazon and Createspace and added my non-US tax reference. Now its showing as 0.0% tax withholding. It’s a huge relief and turned out to be a very simple solution. If only I thought to do it when I registered as self employed last year.

So this is a word of caution, although maybe I’m the only one silly enough not to check their royalty reports properly. I also want to ask a question of those more clued up than me on the whole royalty payment and tax process. Is there any chance Amazon will kindly refund me the 30% underpayments which started in June last year?

Does anyone know how to go about requesting that refund, or have you any experience of trying to get your money back?

If not, it’s back to google and the forums for me.

#Tuesdaybookblog The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman #bookreview

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The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

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Blurb

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac – as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly’s wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark – from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman.

It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers b THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac – as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly’s wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark – from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman.

It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed – within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.

His only defence is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.

My Review

A guy from my book group recommended this. It’s the first Neil Gaiman I’ve read, so I had no idea what to expect.

I was instantly drawn into the story of a man revisiting his past and unlocking hidden/repressed memories. I love mysteries and this definitely has that element, I just had to keep reading to find out what happened all those years ago.

I did spend half the time wondering how reliable the 7-year-old narrator would turn out to be, and if I should take the story at face value or look for the deeper meaning behind the tale. Instead, my advice is to sit back and read this for what it is – a great fairy tale.

The writing is excellent. There’s a strangeness to the story and I was completely absorbed by it.

It’s a short novel, but I’d say it’s the perfect length.

I rate it 5 stars and recommend to those who enjoy modern fantasy and fairy tales.

#Bookreview The Sapphire Legend Part II E.L Tenebaum #fantasy

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The Sapphire Legend Part II by E.L. Tenenbaum

Isn’t this a striking cover…

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I loved The Sapphire Legend Part I when I reviewed it for Rosie’s Book Review Team (#RBRT) last year, and I bought Part II as soon as I finished reading it. Before I get to my review, here’s the Blurb from Goodreads.

Blurb

It’s been months since the destruction of Sapere’s village forced the survivors to flee into the Wild, where her secret was discovered and her Council struggles to keep the remains of her tribe alive. Surviving the attack, the flood, the Wild itself is proof that they have grown stronger as a people. Even in their new campsite they feel safe and comfortable… too comfortable.

Certain they must find the last of the Oro tribes and warn them about the impending Pliz danger before it’s too late, Sapere and Venatore take to scouring the Wild for the Great Blue Waters. Finding them, however, may not be the end of their trials, but only the beginning. For Sapere, this means facing antagonism toward her gift and her position on Council, an unprecedented break from tradition that their sister tribe won’t accept. For the rest of the tribe, this means adjusting to a new way of life with values and traditions very different from their current, and even former, one.

But something else is bothering Sapere, as she soon wonders if leaving the familiarity of the Wild leads to more harm than good. Should the survivors seek refuge with their sister tribe if they’ll arrive just in time for war? What if those who lived through the first attack don’t survive the second?

My Review

I really enjoyed continuing the story of Sapere and her friends. I find the gifts the characters have fascinating, and their tribal way of life continually draws me into the story. In the second book, relationship deepen and strengthen and Sapere’s skills develop as she meets more gifted individuals amongst their sister tribe, the Oro. However, while everyone seems happy to integrate, Sapere is certain all is not as it seems. Plus there is the ever present threat of the Pliz hanging over them.

My favourite characters remain Sapere, Rio and Venatore, but new characters join the ranks including Pardo and Felin. Felin is an Elder from book 1, but he really shines in book 2.

I only have two small issues; the reflections of what had happened in book one were a little overdone for me (although they did remind me of scenes I’d really enjoyed and forgotten), also the climatic event could have carried on longer.

There were moments of happiness and sadness, and at times I felt emotional reading this book (not the easiest thing to hide on a plane full of people!). I was so sad when I finished reading and realised it was only a duology. I really hope more instalments will follow, as I’d love to catch up with Sapere and her growing group of friends and see what the future holds for them.

My rating 4.5 stars – rounding up to 5 for Amazon and Goodreads.

Note to all – You should definitely read Part I before reading this book. Here’s my review of The Sapphire Legend Part I. Part I also featured on my favourite books of 2016.