When farm girl Esther Abercrombie is offered a job as an assistant to the famous cryptozoologist, Dr Thaddeus Dwell, little does she know the dangers that are to come.
Dr Dwell is on the hunt for the legendary Loch Ness Monster and he doesn’t care whether he gets it alive or dead. With his dwarf assistant, Cassius Ironblood, and a big game hunter, Charles Warrington, he wants to capture it and slice it up…all in the name of science, notoriety and greed.
But Esther can’t let this happen. Joining forces with the mysterious Duncan, they work together to thwart Dwell’s evil plans and save the monster from extinction. Along the way, she uncovers Duncan’s startling secret and finds herself falling madly in love.
Set in late 1800s Scotland, this fantasy novel takes our heroine on a wild adventure from her humble beginnings in rural Ayrshire through the wilds of Loch Ness and on to the high society of Victorian Edinburgh.
Steam level = sweet
Action level = packed full of danger, adventure and thrills
So, it’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote something on this blog . Anyway, I’m back. The pic above is an action shot of my two dogs, Casper (grey and brown Yorkshire Terrier) and Millie (the Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross). I thought I’d start the day off with an image that makes me smile and hopefully will make you smile too. It was taken a couple of days ago during one of our daily walks.
Anyhoo, how’s things with you all? I’ve been busy signing up for loads of book promos and givesaways, so expect to hear more about them soon. It’s not just romance promos either, there will be a few thriller/crime promos in there too so if you’re not a romance fan, watch out for those too. Here’s today’s link to free romance ebooks: https://books.bookfunnel.com/plentyoflovetogoaround/jb2fntf9rz
Where am I at with my writing right now? I’ve finished the first draft of Loch Ness and am about to start the first edit of it. It’s currently sitting at around 52,000, but with my edit that should get bigger. I’ve thought of another scene I’d like to put in, so that’ll make it grow again. So excited to get this book out. Am planning to launch it next month, so watch this space for more details.
I’ve also started a completely new book series centred around a young Victorian woman living in an alternative (ie fantasy) Victorian Glasgow who teams up with a vampire to find her missing brother. I want to make it a five book series, but am aiming for three initially. The young woman’s name is Dorcas Findlay and she’s coming soon. Unlike other books I’ve written for adults, this won’t be steamy.
What I am watching: at last, the new series of Carnival Rowhas dropped on Prime. I LOVE this series. I can’t tell you how much I love it. It’s a fantasy starring Cara Delevingne and Orlando Bloom and is packed full of murder, political intrigue, adventure and more. It’s excellent. Can’t believe this is the final season. I mean, it’s so good. Sigh. Maybe they’ll change their minds and keep it going or someone will write some books and extend the stories. Who knows!
Anyway, that’s it for today. Happy World Book day and I’ll be back again soon.
So, today I’m going to talk about my work in progress (or WIP). I have just cleared 44,000 words of the first draft and have a bit to go yet before it’s finished, but I’m getting so excited about this book. I’m loving writing it, so I’m hoping readers will love reading it. I’m hoping to get it launched by the beginning of March.
In the meantime, here’s the draft cover for you to see…
Loch Ness cover art
So, how’s life been for you lately? had a bug about two weeks ago that set me back a bit. I didn’t have any really bad symptoms, I just felt yuck, had a sore throat and earache, and was really, really tired. It meant I didn’t work on my novel as much that entire week, which was a bit of a bummer. The yuckiness lifted finally last Sunday and I’ve been playing catch-up ever since. Anyway, I’m back to good health again.
What I’m reading – I’ve started reading the first Witcher book and it’s superb. The opening pages are amazing. So exciting. I’m close to the end of the book and just itching to start the next one. That’s the sign of an excellent author. Really recommend them. I finished the Terry Pratchett autobiography (also really good), but have been so wrapped up in The Witcher that I haven’t got a second book on the go at the same time (as I usually would).
What I’m watching – I’ve recently purchased some secondhand DVDs of Two Thousand Acres of Sky. It’s a BBC series about a woman who leaves London with her two kids and her best friend, Kenny, to go and live on a Scottish island. She’s there to start a new life. I loved it when it was first shown on the BBC many years ago and I just got an itch to start watching it again. It’s one of those shows that’s just so enjoyable to watch. I’ve also been watching Funny Woman, a comedy series starring Gemma Arterton which is set in 1960s London and is about a young woman who leaves Blackpool to pursue her ambition to become a comedy actress. I really enjoyed it. Binge watched the entire first series!
Loch Ness
Right, I’m going to finish up here today. I’m feeling a bit peckish and it’s two hours before dinner-time, so I’m away for a snack. Until next time.
Do you love books on murder? Well, I’ve got together with some other authors and we’re giving away free copies of our books…and that includes Greed. If you fancy picking up some amazing new books, get them here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mrdrmhmmlnlstfeb23/odhyvcqcpu
I’m doing a takeover in My Blissful Books Readers page from 3pm Central Time (that’s 9pm UK time) today, where I’ll be giving away some books and playing some naughty games: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyBlissfulBooksReaders
Hey guys, if you haven’t already seen this on my socials, here’s your chance to pick up some FREE murder, mystery and suspense books, including Greed. The promo ends on February 13, 2023, which is Monday.
So I’ve been on a bit of a fantasy ride recently. I am decidedly fed up with the real world: the news is nothing but bad news, it’s January so I’m skint and the weather has been bleurgh this week. Anyway, fantasy always cheers me up, I’ve always loved fantasy, so I’ve started back re-reading all the Harry Potter books AND, more importantly, I’m reading Rob Wilkins’ biography of Terry Pratchett, which I’m just loving cos it’s funny and heart-warming, and being such a huge fan of Terry I feel that reading this book let’s me have a little peek into his life. I am still gutted the great man is no longer with us. His books are amazing; so clever, so funny.
If you hadn’t heard already, I’m also writing another fantasy book. I started my authorly career with fantasy novels for children – Darkisle, Darkisle: Resurrection and Darkisle: the Final Battle – and I’m writing another one (this time for adults) right now entitled Loch Ness. You can imagine what creatures appear in that one! I’m about halfway through writing that and loving it. I had forgotten how much I love writing fantasy. It’s making me think I should stick to it in the future. Although, I will keep adding to the Sisters of Sin catalogue and I’d like to do more Nina Esposito books. It’s just finding the time! My plans this year are (if I don’t have to go find a job that is, bills sky rocketing as they are) to write Loch Ness, to do another book for Sisters of Sin, to do a book for another assassins’ series and to write three books of a new steampunk/fantasy series I have in mind. That’s six books! Yikes! Is it doable? I think it is if I continue prioritising the writing.
So, anyway, how are you all? Hope you’re well. What’s been happening in your world? Let’s see, I had my parents over at the weekend. We drank wine, ate haggis (Burns Night was last week) and raised a glass to my uncle who died recently. I’ll not go into too much other than to say he was a lovely man and we’ll miss him.
I watched the entire series of Atlantic Crossing, a series about the Norwegian royal family during World War 2. It was superb. Thoroughly enjoyed it. If you know me, you’ll know it’s not just fantasy I’m into, but history as well and I love the WWII era. Still blows my mind that that war only finished 25 years before I was born. When you watch it on tv or read about it, it seems like it was eons ago, but this was the period when my grandparents were all young. My parents were born just after it ended. Mad.
I have taken the plunge and bought the first two Witcher books. Being into fantasy (in case you didn’t already know!), I figured it would be a good time to see what all the fuss is about. I’m hoping I enjoy them. I think I will. I quite liked the series. I also picked up (all secondhand from World of Books – yay for online secondhand book stores) The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow. Looking forward to that. And, being somewhat obsessed with Terry Pratchett, his A Slip of the Keyboard. I’m going to be busy reading over the next few weeks!
Casper
As I write, I am currently being silently harassed by my Yorkie, Casper. He does this by sitting nearby staring at me with his beady little brown eyes until I break or give in to his demands. He wants to go out for a walk, but it’s so wet and nasty outside he’s going to have to wait until the weather clears a little. I can feel those eyes boring into me even now. He must have been a witch or her familiar in another life because he is really good at the ‘boring’ eye stuff. I know fine that once we go out into aforementioned maelstrom, his ears will go down, his tail will be swiftly tucked between his legs and he’ll want to back home. Casper is a fair weather dog. He does NOT like getting wet. Millie, however, being half Jack Russell, will go out in any weather and loves the water. She’s disappeared. I hope she’s not upstairs trying to break into my son’s room again. Hmmm.
Right, I shall love you and leave you. I have words to write, a newsletter (please sign up I have loads of things to tell you about include free books) to write and my uni course to study. Till next time,
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