Cover Reveal: No Ordinary Gift

This is a beautiful story, wonderfully written with so much depth and sincerity. It made me cry, it made me ache, and it made my heart almost burst. Sue Allen's poetry is gorgeous. Mel Teshco and Kylie Sheaffe have created a heart-warming story of such beauty, Thank you. ~ Miss Catherine Evans

I'm so chuffed with this new cover for No Ordinary Gift, (Believe) and at around 100k (a long novel) it's a steal at only 2.99 - this is definitely the biggest novel I've ever written (co-written with Kylie Sheaffe) and probably one of the most gut-wrenching and emotional too. A big thank you to Soul Mate Publishing for this gorgeous cover :)

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Josie Bowheart has only ever wanted to be normal. Instead she’s highly sensitive and overwhelmed by visions and dreams, and obsessed by spirits who need her.

But if normal means living the same lie as her genius brother and doctor, James, she’ll gladly stay just the way she is. First she has to convince James to believe in his own sensitivities and open his eyes to his destiny before it’s too late … because ordinary isn’t a word that serves either one of them.

Can James let go of his fears and his growing drug addiction that suppress his mind and keep him numb to the truth … and finally accept the gift that is his birthright?

BELIEVE

SOOO happy to tell you guys - Believe is now in print!! If you love inspirational (not bible belt) books, then this one might be just what you're looking for. It's had some fantastic reviews and you can order it in print (and ebook) from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all great retailers now. You can also order it into your local bookshop and library =)

Do you believe in the power of unconditional love? James Edward Bowheart is a genius in the making, a student doctor who has it all . . . or so it seems. His lawyer father is an alcoholic, his mother a strict, god-fearing woman with a critical eye and a cold heart. His sister, Josie, is warm, smart, and overly-sensitive. She sees things no one else can. In and out of mental institutions, she is reviled by their parents. James begins to question his own logic, fearing the unknown when he too begins to see things, dream things, the drugs he has come to rely on exacerbating the problem. Only when a new neighbor-a single and very pregnant young woman-helps him to see outside the square and accept the unexplainable, does he truly start to Believe . . .

Robin Williams

The world lost a wonderful, smart, funny and compassionate man yesterday, a man whose laughter seemed to hide a hell of a lot of pain. I think its safe to say he touched many of us with his amazing movies and acting ability, and his down-to-earth attitude that made him seem like 'one of us'. I can't even imagine the horror his family are going through right now.

I remember when Kylie Sheaffe approached me about co-writing a book. One of the characters in the book, Believe, was someone called The Professor. We'd always imagined Robin Williams in that role in our minds, imagined him playing that character in a movie based on the book. (Hey, you've got to dream big, right?) It seems odd, but for me at least, I feel like we knew him more intimately through the character, had some kind of connection there with the Professor's portrayal in the book.

If nothing else now, I only hope his death brings to light the dark, silent illness that is depression. RIP Robin, you'll be sorely missed by many.

BELIEVE

For the next few days BELIEVE is on sale for 99c - if you see it on Amazon for over 3.00 it should convert back to the 99c deal in the shopping cart. This book has had some amazing reviews and at 100k word length it should satisfy those of you who have been wanting more story =))

"The story is punctuated with the most beautiful poetry, which leads the reader further into the characters’ psyches and leaves hints of the tale to come. The way you feel about particular characters at the beginning of the story will be altered by the time you reach the end. The authors’ abilities to change your perceptions will amaze you. This story will horrify you, make you look over your shoulder to see if anyone really is there and take you on an emotional journey. I found this book fascinating. I hope you do as well."

"What is to say when you have an instinct, a dream, or a vision of things that they can't be real? A mother has an instinct about her children. A psychiatrist can interpret a dream. A visionary can visualize things to come. But have you ever wondered about the families of a person with the "gift of sight" or the people their visions touch?"

Blurb

Do you believe in the power of unconditional love?
James Edward Bowheart is a genius in the making, a student doctor who has it all . . . or so it seems.
His lawyer father is an alcoholic, his mother a strict, god-fearing woman with a critical eye and a cold heart. His sister, Josie, is warm, smart, and overly-sensitive. She sees things no one else can. In and out of mental institutions, she is reviled by their parents.
James begins to question his own logic, fearing the unknown when he too begins to see things, dream things, the drugs he has come to rely on exacerbating the problem.
Only when a new neighbor—a single and very pregnant young woman—helps him to see outside the square and accept the unexplainable, does he truly start to Believe . . .

FREE READ!!

For three days only, Believe is going up on Amazon for FREE! We'd LOVE LOVE LOVE some reviews on Amazon and GoodReads for those of you who snap it up. This book took Kylie Sheaffe and myself almost three years to finish and even at around 3 bucks (normal price) it's a seriously cheap read for a quality story (IMHO). 

Anyway, I hope you'll all love it as much as we did writing it! =))

Win a PDF of Believe!

I'm over at the ARRA blog today talking about my writing and how Believe come about! Come and make a comment for a chance to win a copy of Believe! =)

NEW Release!!!

BELIEVE is OUT!!! You can find it at Amazon and at a later stage at Soul Mate Publishing! Blurb and extract below =)

BLURB:

Do you believe in the power of unconditional love?
James Edward Bowheart is a genius in the making, a student doctor who has it all . . . or so it seems.
His lawyer father is an alcoholic, his mother a strict, god-fearing woman with a critical eye and a cold heart. His sister, Josie, is warm, smart, and overly-sensitive. She sees things no one else can. In and out of mental institutions, she is reviled by their parents.
James begins to question his own logic, fearing the unknown when he too begins to see things, dream things, the drugs he has come to rely on exacerbating the problem.
Only when a new neighbor—a single and very pregnant young woman—helps him to see outside the square and accept the unexplainable, does he truly start to Believe . . .

EXTRACT:

A scream pierced through one of the many closed doors along the corridor stretching far ahead. The vaguely inhuman sound chilled the air, and James Edward Bowheart’s skin crawled with goose-bumps beneath his pin-striped suit jacket.

He shuddered, even as silence again lay thick around him, his tread eerily loud and echoing down the long, antiseptic-laden hallway.

Bloody hell.

How did Josie cope? Was it rational to allow his highly sensitive, highly strung sister to stay in this facility, this environment?

The walls reeked of dread, the atmosphere ripe with over a century of torment and desperation that sucked at his soul.

A door swung open on his right, jerking him back to normality. He stilled, and a harried nurse gave him a tight nod as she bustled past. At her whisper-quiet retreat, he strode onward, swallowing the cowardice that plagued him each and every time he came here.

At the second last door to the left, he paused. His hand curled like a vise around the cloth bag holding the book that was his sister’s birthday present. She’d loved to read. These days he read to her, but he sensed in her a peace she rarely found, a solace from the words on paper he spoke aloud.

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the thick plate glass at the top of the door as he peered inside and viewed Josie’s current emotional state.

Not good. She was in the fetal position, her knees drawn up to her chest and her hands pressed to her ears. Her once lustrous, long blond hair was scraped back into a cheap and nasty elastic band.

He paused far longer than necessary as dread coiled tight in his gut. He grimaced, wishing not for the first time things were different. Better. Normal.  

Reviewers WANTED!

I'm after some reviewers who would like to read Believe - a plus length inspirational novel - within a week or two please. Expected release date is within the next 2-3 days. I'll then be able to send out a PDF to whoever is interested. All that's required is a review for Amazon - and Goodreads if you're able (and anywhere else you'd like). Please reply in comments or to my email supplied in the sidebar. The blurb is posted below! Thanks in advance to all who reply =))

Do you believe in the power of unconditional love?

James Edward Bowheart is a genius in the making, a student doctor who has it all...or so it seems.

His lawyer father is an alcoholic, his mother a strict, god fearing woman with a critical eye and a cold heart. His sister, Josie, is warm, smart and overly-sensitive. She sees things no one else can. In and out of mental institutions, she is reviled by their parents.

James begins to question his own logic, fearing the unknown when he too begins to see things, dream things, the drugs he has come to rely on exacerbating the problem.

Only when a new neighbor - a single and very pregnant young woman - helps him to see outside the square and accept the unexplainable, does he truly start to Believe...

Believe's Inception

Believe is out very very soon, and my co-author of this 100k inspirational amazing book is talking about how it all came about. She's guesting on Real Life Paranormal over at the Darksiders blog and also talks about her psychic gift. Interesting stuff! Love you to come over and have a read and drop a comment =)

October Update

It's been a busy October editing Believe and a couple of my Ellora's Cave books, so I haven't been a very good blogger this month. I've been doing bits and pieces of writing when it calls to me, so I'm getting some words down for Dimensional as well as a 'secret' project I'm working on with two other authors. Every now and then I also go back to a story I started years ago, which I've fondly named, Feline Freak, and that has been slowly evolving, though it will probably be novella-sized. I'm not real sure where this story is even heading at the moment, it's not clear like some of them, so will be keen to see what happens myself LOL!! (plotting isn't my skill.)

So anyway, I thought I'd share an unofficial blurb of my co-authored book, BELIEVE, coming out October 31st from Soul Mate Publishing.

Do you believe in the power of unconditional love?

James Edward Bowheart is a genius in the making, a student doctor who has it all...or so it seems.

His lawyer father is an alcoholic, his mother a strict, god fearing woman with a critical eye and a cold heart. His sister, Josie, is warm, smart and overly-sensitive. She sees things no one else can. In and out of mental institutions, she is reviled by their parents.

James begins to question his own logic, fearing the unknown when he too begins to see things, dream things, the drugs he has come to rely on exacerbating the problem.

Only when a new neighbor - a single and very pregnant young woman - helps him to see outside the square and accept the unexplainable, does he truly start to Believe...

September!

It's been an eventful September so far, with the flu hitting me for six and my oldest daughter having a knuckle replacement. And let's not forget it's my birthday this month - I'll be 43 *shriek* - where has the time gone!!?? So anyway, it's made me realize that life is short and you've got to chase down what you want in life (wrestle it to the ground if need be). I'm doing that right now and going after what I want. I'll let you guys know how I go! Let's face it, opportunity doesn't just fall into one's lap...

 How many times have you heard someone bemoaning their lot in life? How often do you just want to shake them and tell them how good they've got it - and to go out and chase their dreams! I often think they should go visit a children's cancer ward and then maybe they'll realize just how lucky they have things...
 
On the writing front - this September sees me doing edits for BELIEVE with an October 30 release date! This story encapsulates everything about hitting rock bottom but getting back up and seeing things more clearly - realizing what they have is a gift not a curse. In short, my hero James turns to drugs to repel the visions and dreams he begins to have. He doesn't want to end up like his sister, Josie, who not only sees things and has an imaginary friend, she believes in them too. It isn't until he meets his new neighbor, Marina, who he's instantly attracted to but who just happens to be very heavily pregnant to another (abusive) man, that he starts to face his demons.

On that note, hope everyone has a great September, I'm looking forward to a cocktail party near my birthday *rubs hands* - happy reading!

Waving from the Cave =)

I'm literally waving from my cave today, going full speed ahead to finish the third book of my Nighmix series (Lusting the Enemy is book 1). Book 2, Abducting the Princess, is with my editor now, so I hope to be seeing a cover for that soon! Covers are my greatest love BWG!

And coming soon, something TOTALLY different, is my co-authored book (Kylie Sheaffe is the other author), Believe. It's an inspirational, but it's not a straight contemporary. Think ghosts, visions, psychics and mental institutions, and that's Believe. We should have an official blurb for that soon =)

 

Where I'm At...

Believe is out in October of this year (blurb will be posted when available), which I'm incredibly happy about - this book took over two years to write with my co-writer (in-between other writing commitments) and I still consider it one of the most challenging stories I've written. I can also say it's far different to my usual writing -- being that it's classified as an inspirational speaks for itself lol!

I should very soon have the release date of Enraptured, guessing it will be in the next month or two. I loved this story! I have a fascination with women who have chosen to trade their own bodies -- and I don't mean in a sordid way. I'm talking about the women who feel empowered by their career. Of course, it's easy to create conflict when outsiders and 'clients' tend to see these women in a not very nice light.

Book two of the NightMix series, Abducting the Princess, has also been handed in. I should have edits for that one soon. It's been great fun creating a dystopian world with some shape-shifter romance =)

I'm currently working on the third book in the series, Seducing the Huntress, and when I can I've also been working on the start to what I hope will be a new short-novella series, this one's working title is Feline Freak, but it probably won't be erotic so it may well go to another publisher.

Hope this halfway through the year sees everyone happy and well!! =))

 

Five Paragraph Party

Here's an unedited five paragraphs of Believe to tempt you (about page 150, in our hero Jame's pov). 

Enjoy...

A touch, light as the brush of a finely-woven spider web, slid over his arm, instantly raising goose bumps. He looked up with a start, catching sight of a dark shadow as it moved and then solidified briefly into white.

Blood thundered in his ears as he waited for the white human-like shape to fully form. Instead, it faded and dissolved before a disturbing image flared briefly in his head: the white headstones of a cemetery.

He stared incredulously into the space that had been occupied by…something. “I’m going bloody crazy,” he muttered. What was with this place? For a little while the fear associated with Karlcodi had eased—particularly when he’d been here with Marina. Alone, and all the weirdness of the hospital was creeping back into his psyche.

“Bloody hell!” He slammed the poetry book closed. Leaving it on the bed he bounded to his feet. There was nobody else—nothing in the room. Yet the spirit and the vision had been clear as crystal.

He all but sprinted to the door, a prickling sensation at his nape disappearing the moment he gained access to the corridor.