Grey from Silver Lake christened her “Witchy Woo” so it seems appropriate to allow you the chance to meet Witchy Woo herself aka Ellen for FREE this Hallowe’en.
You can download Ellen to Kindle for free today
Amazon.com link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FYHKR44
Amazon.co.uk link https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FYHKR44
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Tagged #contemporaryromance, #CoralMcCallum, #Ellen, #freeebook, #freekindledownload, #Halloween, #IndieAuthor, #trickortreat
Treading carefully among the trees, I search
October brings fairytales alive – if you take the time to look
Autumn leaves nestle round them, keeping them safe
Delicate gills on display
Spores drifting invisibly down to populate the soil
Tomorrow’s tales or next year’s? Time will tell.
Old haunts from previous years reveal this year’s crop
Old memories haunt the hunt
Lost in my daydreams
Searching for that fairytale ending
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Tagged #acrosticpoem, #blogger, #CoralMcCallum, #fairytales, #flyagaric, #fungi, #IndieAuthor, #poetry, #poetryblog, #toadstools
I’m in this weird creative pre-book release space where I know I’m not quite finished with the current project but I’m itching to start the next one.
Riley is due to be released on 18th November 2022. Eek! The first physical proof copy is due to land this week so there’s still work to be done. (I swear commas move all by themselves!) but already my mind is wandering onto “What next?”
I have an idea … well, half an idea…but I’m not jinxing it by saying too much just yet.
I was flicking through my Continue the Story journal, contemplating using it as inspiration for this week’s blog when the above Ernest Hemingway quote jumped out at me.
I saw for a moment or two reflecting on the characters that I have introduced to the world and on the new “friends” that readers will meet in the pages of Riley.
Over the years several people have complimented me on my various characters and said that they feel as if they know them. A few have said how much they’d love to go to a Silver Lake concert or hear After Life’s music. Those are huge compliments for an author to receive. Well, they’re huge compliments to me.
So, how do you create a believable character? Where do you start to come up with a character that’s destined to become someone’s book boyfriend/girlfriend? (I hope!)
I’m sure there are hundreds of more successful authors than wee me who could wax lyrical on the subject but for me, the key is to give them personality traits and a past.
If we use Jake Power from the Silver Lake series as an example, he has a habit of being late, he runs his hand through his hair when he’s anxious and he takes sugar and cream in his coffee. As the story unfolds, the reader learns a little more about his past. The one thing that I’ve never written in great detail is a description of what Jake looks like. Yes, there are plenty of clues- long blonde hair, hazel eyes, tattoos- but the what Jake looks like is left to the reader’s imagination. I’m sure he looks subtly different to each reader.
Riley Johnson is a character who was never originally intended to be anything more than a minor character in Shattered Hearts, book four in the Silver Lake series. However, once she began to emerge on the pages, I knew there was another tale there waiting to be told. This young lady, this tiny green-haired girl, had more to say. Even if I do say so myself, she’s perhaps one of the best characters that I’ve created so far. You can judge for yourselves next month when the book’s released. (Hint… you can pre-order a kindle copy right now on Amazon worldwide.)
One other key component to my main characters in each of the books is that they aren’t perfect. Each of them has flows and that’s true of each and every one of us.
I love to read. I always have a book on the go, and I’ve read numerous rock star romance novels where the central characters are all about the sex drugs and rock’n’roll rather than the music and hard work and hours of rehearsal it took to put them on that stage. Never say never, but its not my intention to create those kind of rock stars. I hope to create musicians, the kind of genuine musicians that I love to watch play live on stage.
So, perhaps another key to creating characters who feel like real live people is observation. Authors are always watching, filing snippets of the real world away for use in a storyline someday. One of those moments finds its way into Riley. A small simple moment in time from a gig I was at one night. (I can’t now honestly recall which one). I was in my usual rail position watching the crew set up the stage between the support act and the headliners. One crew member brought out several bottles of water to position around the stage and was loosening the lids as he placed them strategically beside each band members’ spot on stage. A simple everyday act…then one bottle put up a fight. The top refused to budge! This poor guy was wrestling with it in front of the crowd before it finally surrendered and came loose. I almost gave him a round of applause.
In my humble opinion, its small observations like that that help to make a story more believable.
Riley sees me introduce several new characters- Jericho, Zed, Sam and JJ to name a few. Riley also sees the return of several familiar faces too. If you choose to pick up a copy of the book, I hope you enjoy meeting each and every one of them.
You can pre-order Riley here
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9SWP6K3
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B9SWP6K3/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_S6SCJ8PPM7NPDDHPNR8P
or catch up with all things Silver Lake
Amazon.com links –
Stronger Within – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXDSC1M
Impossible Depths – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C0GS30K
Bonded Souls – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XSQHG71
Shattered Hearts – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZY8ZSDM
Long Shadows – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RR1FGLG
Amazon.co.uk links –
Stronger Within – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXDSC1M
Impossible Depths – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C0GS30K
Bonded Souls – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XSQHG71
Shattered Hearts – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZY8ZSDM
Long Shadows – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08RR1FGLG
Or spend a few hours getting to know Ellen
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Tagged #books, #characters, #contemporaryromance, #CoralMcCallum, #ebook, #Ellen, #IndieAuthor, #newrelease, #Riley, #rockstar, #SilverLakeseries
If you’re looking for something new to read or just fancy checking out a new author, please check out Michelle A Bailey’s Romance Book Fair.
Here’s the link
https://michelle-a-bailey.com/bookfair/
And who knows you might find a familiar face there too.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged #bookfair, #CoralMcCallum, #IndieAuthor, #MichelleABailey, #Riley, #romancebookfair
The weekend before last the Big Green Gummi Bear and I were in London for a few days. We were staying near London Bridge and on the Saturday morning as we set out from the hotel in search of breakfast, I spotted this statue next to the hotel.
I love chimps!
Next morning, while the Big Green Gummi Bear was pounding the streets of London along with 42000 other people, I went for a wander down behind the hotel towards Tower Bridge to take some photos. Much to my great surprise, I found a few more friends.
Later in the day as we walked along the south bank past HMS Belfast and Hays Galleria, I found a few more.
So why all the chimps?
Cue a Google search when we got home.
These statues form part of the Chimps Are Family public art trail in support of conservation projects. There are 18 statues (28 chimps) in total hidden/placed in and around the London Bridge and Tower Bridge area on the south bank of the River Thames. They can be found there until 21 October 2022.
The sculptures showcase different behaviours and emotions that we humans also display e.g., love, grief, friendship, play. The similarities aren’t really so surprising when you consider that we share 98% of our DNA with these wonderful beings.
My only regret is that I failed to find all 18. (In my defence, I didn’t know at the time that there were 18 of them or I would have made the effort to look harder.)
If you happen to be in the area before 21 October and fancy seeking these wee guys out, here’s a map to help you.
Have fun searching them out!
If you want to read more about the project, see the link below:
28 Chimpanzee Sculptures Unveiled In New Central London Art Trail | Londonist
“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**
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Tagged #bookpromotion, #Coming18Nov22, #contemporaryfiction, #CoralMcCallum, #Kindle, #KU, #mustread, #newrelease, #pre-order, #Riley
This week I’d like to introduce you to another fellow indie author, Colin Ginn.
Colin’s just released Rose, book three in The Flower Girls series. Before we chat to the man himself, here’s an excerpt from Rose
Suddenly I awake from my recurring nightmare, the nightmare that has been haunting my existence for over three years now. The sweat is pouring from every pour of my shaking body. Today this nightmare has taken more out of me than normal. After ten minutes of being woken with the force of a freight train my eyes are just becoming accustomed to the sharp early dawn light cascading through the parting in my bedroom curtains, knowing this is the last time I will wake up in here. My eye’s weep as I look towards the photo on my bedside table, “mumma I’m sorry I’ve lost your beautiful house, this house all because I didn’t listen to your all-knowing advice”.
Leaning over I pick up the photo and kiss the picture of my mumma holding the magazine with my first cover shot on it. The tears are streaming down my cheeks running down the silver frame as my tears drop from my chin. My finger gently wipes the tears from her face and I kiss the photo as I have done every day since my darling protector passed.
I finally get up carefully packing the photo in my case, not knowing when or where I will be placing it by my bed again. After a long cold shower, I get dry and take the carton of milk and give it a sniff. “No, I don’t think so”. Instead, I go for the warm orange juice sitting next to the remaining content of my fridge that was taken away yesterday. The Russian bastards took everything that wasn’t in my bedroom. They are coming back for what’s left today together with the keys of the house my mother left me in her will.
Sitting naked crossing my legs as my bum makes contact with the floor. Again, I go over and over the paperwork from the court house taking my mumma’s house as part payment for the debt my no good ex husband run up in my name over three years ago. Now all the hardache of what that piece of shit has taken from me comes flooding back.
It’s been nearly three years since my modeling career came to an abrupt halt. I remember when my face was on the front cover of all the major mags, I went to all the best parties and restaurants where I ate some amazing food and lived in a wonderful apartment in New York overlooking Central Park, and I didn’t get out of bed for less than fifteen thousand dollars a day. That all ended when my ex shit of husband Jack, gambled it all away and some. All of his debts, my dear husband Jack the bastard secured with my earnings and my property which against my mums advice was unprotected by not having a pre-wedding agreement.
Jack was not only my arsehole of a husband and Lawyer he was also my manager. When he got involved with a gambling syndicate run by what now turns out to be Russian Mafia, I unknowingly secured his debts by signing the papers he constantly put in front of me. When he ran out of money, they didn’t threaten him, they went straight for my assets legally through the courts and got everything I had and more. They even got my name Jane Roseanne Beckett as it is registered as part of my assets, I had my name copyrighted and the court handed it over to them. My lawyer did get the Judge to agree I could have full copyright of my name back once the entire debt was paid off. The Russaian’s or I should say their fucking layers persuaded the Judge to also stop me from modeling or being published until the debt, yes you guest it until it is paid in full.
The court did agree that I could change my name to Rosanne Manford, Manford being my momma’s maidan name. But did not agree to me still working as a model even though it would have been the easiest way for the debt to be paid. The Judge said that it should a warning to anyone in the public eye that all debts have to be paid no matter who you are. Which I thought was a bit harsh of him especially when it was my shit face husband that had run up the debt.
So there I was no money, no home and no Job and that’s when mumma gave me a life line allowing me to move back home, for two years I worked waiting tables sometimes getting noticed as the model who gambled all her money away. Slowly changing my image to blend in, turning into long haired brunette from short blonde hair did make a difference but not as much as the grungy ill-fitting clothes and hoodies that covers my curves and face, turning me into an unknown plain Jane.
Mumma supported me while all of my earnings from waiting tables and the other part time jobs I managed to get from time to time went to pay the Russian bastards who knocked on the door each week, holding their hand out and reminding me with laughter in their voices how much was left to pay off. Even on the day of mumma’s death six weeks ago the bastards demanded my wages, then two weeks ago at the reading of her will they produced a court order taking my mumma’s house and contents that she lovenly bequeathed to me, giving me two weeks to find somewhere to live. Which I have have not managed to do with the available funds I have.
Yesterday the day before I am being forced to leave my home, I get a phone call from my lawyer Mr William Slade Snr saying he has been contacted by the consortium that Jack’s debt or should I say my debt is owed, with what he is saying is good news. I have been offered a two-year contract to work for them at the Blue Lotus Club as a hostess. He has looked over the contract and in his words it he would recommend that I consider taking it, accommodation, food and a small wage has been offered and after the two-year contract has ended, I would be free of my debt to them and would be able to use my name again. I have been invited to attend the Blue Lotus Club at 3pm today, Mr Slade is going to meet me there to go through the contract with me and introduce me to potentially my new boss.
Hi, Colin. A warm welcome to my blog. Tell me a bit about yourself. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
First if you don’t already know I am a Bedfordain, I was born and apart from the odd holiday have lived my entire life in Bedford England. I have reached that age where my options flow freely and I have no worries who I tell them too. I’ve been described as fun laid back (horizontal) English Gentlemen, so I will go with that. Have always wanted to be a writer, well not really it was a scribble on a bucket list I wrote many, many years ago. Write and publish a book.
What can you tell me about your latest release, without giving away any spoilers?
Rose was the story I started to write with the intention for it to be the first in the Flower Girls series. After getting about three quarters of my way through it I thought I hadn’t given any thought to how the Blue Lotus Club came about, so I placed Rose back into the vase so to speak to write Grand Opening and Defaulters at Ten. What I will tell you about Rose is she was Supermodel before her now ex husband gambled away every penny she had, and she had a lot of pennies. Now her debt is being paid back in a more unconventional way.
Which of your characters do you like most? Why?
Well to be honest I love them all but if I am being forced to choose from my babies it would have to be Honeysuckle. She has that, well you know when you meet someone for the first time, and you say to yourself I really like you. Honeysuckle is that person not only that she is an absolute beauty with love and affection for everyone, you are going to love her.
Is there one particular person who inspired you to write?
Jessica Gomez another independent who I met on Facebook when she was promoting her first release. Over time we became friends and as things got moving for her, she asked me to become her PA. She really did inspire and light up my now passion for writing.
A cruel question, but what’s your favourite book/who’s your favourite author?
Not cruel at all I have to go back to the classic that was the first book I read from cover to cover. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville.
Tell me a bit about your approach to your writing. Are you a meticulous planner or do you tend towards letting your characters go with the flow?
My planning is like taking a packet of seeds throwing them up in the air and see what grows. What happens is like Rose I start a story then follow another storyline into another story getting back to it when it fits back into the timeline. It’s really like writing in the TARDIS.
I love to write outdoors. Where’s your favourite place to write?
I write on my Tablet while I’m sitting on my setee in my front room.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Well I don’t know whether it’s advice or not I was told never to give in- keep going.
What advice would you give to other aspiring authors out there?
Apart from don’t give up, I would say never compromise on the story you want to write, nobody
knows what ideas are rattling around in your head and you need to get them on paper in the
way you alone want to read your story. Always write for yourself first.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
I must say I don’t get writers block, what I do get a sense of fear I won’t be able to get something
written down before I forget it.
So, what’s next creatively? Are you working on anything else just now?
The Flower Girls series is continuing, but what is exciting is I am currently writing a murder
mystery something which is not easy for me and requires me to adopt completely different
mindset.
Now for a bit of fun:
Favourite food Steak and Kidney Pudding
Favourite drink Brandy
Favourite Band Queen but to be honest, the best artists I have seen live are Neil Diamond and Cliff Richard.
Favourite holiday destination Venice Italy
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? Mind reading, I really want to
know what people are thinking
I’d like to thank Colin for taking time out of his busy day to chat. It’s much appreciated.
The Blue Lotus Club is open for business and the Flower Girls are ready and waiting to bring all your dreams and desires to life. If you want to check it out for yourself, the links you need are below:
The first three E-books in the Flower Girls series are available to download now! Books one and two are also available in paperback, with book three following soon
Grand Opening permanent low price online buy link: https://books2read.com/b/3n5qP5
Grand Opening paperback: ISBN:9798201651510
Defaulters at Ten online buy links: https://books2read.com/b/mv1DjV
Defaulters at Ten paperback: ISBN:9798201485993
Rose online buy links: books2read.com/b/4Avw7K
Don’t forget to look out for the Flower Girls Companion series
Becoming Maple online buy links: https://books2read.com/b/3JEqPA
Becoming Maple paperback: ISBN:9798201528935
Warning: All stories in the Flower Girls and Companion series are written for the Adult Reader and contain bad language, violence and not forgetting scenes of a sexual nature.
If you want to catch up with Colin himself, here’s the links
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ColinGinn
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/BooksbyColinGinn/
Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341894799653343/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colin_ginn_author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/colin_ginn
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18009250.Colin_Ginn
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colin-ginn
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/colinginn
Amazon universal link: viewauthor.at/ColinGinn
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Tagged #adultfiction, #authorinterview, #ColinGinn, #CoralMcCallum, #ebook, #ebooklovers, #IndieAuthor, #Rose, #TheFlowerGirlsseries
Coral McCallum 