Monthly Archives: August 2022

Life’s busy….it’s all about Riley

There nearly wasn’t a blog post this week…. a certain diminutive green haired teenager has been taking up all my spare time. Yes, you guessed it- Riley!

Some of you might have noticed that I shared my pre-order links for the e-book edition of Riley a couple of weeks ago but I’ll let you in on a secret…. Riley still looks pretty much like the picture above. Yes…I’m still typing furiously to get it all done. There’s about 3000 words still to be typed so not too much.

I’m also in the thick of proofreading and editing. My wonderful Infamous Five have been reading and giving me their feedback for the past few weeks. I seriously couldn’t do it without the love and support of those guys. Things are on track though so all is well…so far.

I put the feelers out this week to some book bloggers to see if they would be interested in receiving an eARC copy mid-October and reviewing Riley for their own blogs/websites. So far so good on that front too. If you are a book blogger and are interested in reviewing Riley then please drop me a message in the comments below.

There is one aspect of this tale that I do want to be transparent about right from the start. This book differs slightly from my previous book babies. I’ve included a scene of self-harm. There is also a smattering of social media bullying woven into the tale. (Trying not give any spoilers here) I wholly appreciate that these are sensitive topics and could put some readers off but I didn’t want to hide them and accidentally cause anyone distress. That is not my intention here.

I hope once you get your copy of Riley safely downloaded to your kindle or the Amazon courier delivers your paperback copy that you fall in love with this young lady as much as I have. Sometimes as an author you create a character that steals a piece of your heart. Riley is one of those…well to me anyway. I’ll let you make your own minds up in due course.

I’ve set myself the realistic target of 25 ebook pre-orders. Sorry to those who prefer a physical copy, there’s no pre-order available. So far as I type this, I’m at 7. So, if you’d like to pre-order, the links are below.

I’ll love you and leave you here for now. Work to be done to ensure Riley looks like the photo below by 18 November 2022!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9SWP6K3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B9SWP6K3/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_S6SCJ8PPM7NPDDHPNR8P

Riley – have you pre-ordered your copy yet?

Riley  ****Now available to pre-order ****

“I have one last song for you,” began Riley. “I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves tonight. I’d like to say a few thank yous. Huge thanks to Dr Marrs, to the guys from Silver Lake, to my record label, to each and every one of you for making tonight magical. This really is a dream come true. A Firefly Dream. I have one final extra special huge thank you for Garrett for hosting this party and for giving me a chance, a job and a home. Garrett, I love you.”

As the cheers died out, Riley continued, “This last song was inspired in this very place. I’d never seen a real four-poster bed before Garrett invited me to stay here. You can work out the rest of the story. Folks, it’s been amazing. I’m going to leave you with Jumping On The Bed.”

The light-hearted song was the perfect choice to end the show with and left everyone in a buoyant mood as the lights came back up and the caterers began to circulate with trays of drinks and canapes. Not quite sure what to do, Riley stayed in the alcove tidying up her guitars and her lyrics folder. Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap round her. The hint of a familiar exotic spicy aftershave tickled her nose. Without a second’s thought, she spun round and wrapped herself round Todd.

“You were sensational, girl!” he declared before kissing the top of her head. “Awesome set.”

“Thank you,” said Riley, snuggling in close.

Pre-order using the links below to ensure Riley is ready and waiting on your kindle on 18 Nov 2022

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9SWP6K3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B9SWP6K3/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_S6SCJ8PPM7NPDDHPNR8P

** note- this tale makes reference to self-harm**

Continue The Story- Reflections (flash fiction)

He looked in the mirror with surprise. No reflection! He looked down at his hands. They looked real enough. He felt real enough, but was he?

The house was quiet, too quiet, and as he stood in the hallway, he wondered if anyone else was home.

Opening the living room door, he glanced in. Two of the family cats were curled up on the couch asleep. They both looked up and hissed.

The kitchen too was deserted. The countertops were clear. No sign of a recent meal. Unusual…

Upstairs was the same. Beds all neatly made. Each of the bedroom windows were open just an inch or two and he could feel the cool breeze wafting in… or did he just imagine he felt it.

Glancing out of the window, he noted that two of the three family cars were still in the driveway. He noted too that they both needed washed.

His study was the last room he investigated. It looked exactly as he had left it. A laptop sat open on the desk. Wait…it wasn’t his. It was his daughter’s laptop.

There was a piece of paper sticking out from underneath it. Gently he slid it out. His hand trembled slightly.

It was a funeral order of service…his.

He looked up at the black tv screen above desk. No reflection…

August?….who stole Summer?

NO!…. I’m not ready for summer to be over for another year 😥

I love summer. I love the light nights, the long days, the sunshine…even the smell of summer rain. Well, I live in Scotland after all LOL

There is no denying it though…summer is slipping away all too quickly. Even Mother Nature is leaving hints for us. Look!

Maybe we’ll get an Indian summer…. ever the optimist 🙂

Riley- now available to pre-order

Riley – now available to pre-order

Around her the bedroom was lit by half a dozen candles, their shadows dancing on the walls. A delicate vanilla fragrance filled the room. The gothic palace lay silent. It was almost midnight. Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the large four-poster bed, Riley sat staring down at the CD in her hands. Her CD. Her debut album that was due to be released worldwide on the stroke of midnight.

A box of CDs had been delivered that morning with a note from the record company saying simply, “Autograph these in time for the launch party on February 29th.” She’d signed her way through two silver Sharpie markers before all the CD inserts were autographed. At Garrett’s suggestion, she’d practiced her autograph on a few sheets of paper before deciding how she wanted to sign it. Initially it had been fun sitting at Garrett’s huge rosewood dining table signing the insert for each disc but after the first fifty or so the novelty swiftly wore off. Two hours later she had finished the chore. All of the discs had been signed -all bar one. The one she held in her trembling hands.

Pre-order using the links below to ensure Riley is ready and waiting on your kindle on 18 Nov 2022

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9SWP6K3

Riley eBook : McCallum, Coral: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

** note- this tale makes reference to self-harm**

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Free e-book for the weekend, anyone?

Haven’t done a Freebie Friday for a while so let’s change that today.

Stronger Within, book 1 in the Silver Lake series is FREE to download today!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXDSC1M

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXDSC1M

#SilverLakeseries #StrongerWithin #ImpossibleDepths #BondedSouls  #ShatteredHearts #LongShadows  #bookpromo #kindle #ebook   #romanceread #weekendread #bookworms #bookblogger   #beachread #Rehoboth #rockstar #rockmusic #beach #love #romance   #book #lovestory  #JakePower #SilverLake #amreading #ebooks #lovetoread  #indieauthor #fiction #contemporaryfiction #lovetoread #bookworms   #Amazon   #Kindlefiction #bookpromoishardwork #tellyourfriends   #coralmccallum

Sunrise – the beauty of a brand new day no matter where you are

Following on from last week’s Sunset blog, I thought I’d share Sunrise with you.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I watch the sun rise more or less every day at my favourite beach in the USA thanks to the talents of several photographers and the wonders of Facebook.

Those few moments of calm, watching the sky light up and the waves wash in provide a precious moment of tranquility.

One day, when the time is right and the planets align, I will sit on that beach and watch that sunrise for myself. Until then, this short poem inspired by those wonderful videos and photos will need to suffice.

Sitting on the soft cool sand waiting watching

Until the sun crests the horizon to the east

Never tiring of the colours of a new day

Reflecting on the past

Imagining the future

Seeking solace in the early morning calm

Emptying my mind of past pain and heartache

Choosing a photo to accompany this blog was hard. There are so many stunning ones to choose from.

Credits to the owner of the image – Elliot MacGuire Photography (photo is tagged)

If you want to check out sunrise for yourself then here’s a few links to choose from

  Elliot MacGuire Photography | Facebook

  Kim Johnson Photography | Facebook

  Stephanie Faust Photography | Facebook

 Susan McLean Photography | Facebook

Each of these photographers is super talented. Who know, perhaps our paths will cross on the beach one morning.

Sunset – an acrostic poem

Silently sinking below the horizon

Unseen by those who choose not to look

Nature’s beauty for all to enjoy

Streaking a pallet of colours across the evening skies

Ever-changing diminishing light amending the tones

Taking the stresses and strains of today away.