The snow was still largely untouched, creating the perfect festive background. Apart from a couple of dog walkers, this small corner of the park was deserted. Deciding to brave the cold, Lori removed her silver wrap, passing it to Scott and posed with Jake for a few quick shots, before the winter chill got the better of her. Feeling her shivering by his side, Jake called a halt. He fetched her wrap, gently placing it over her bare shoulders.
“Too cold for this, li’l lady wife,” he said, holding her close. “Let’s head back.”
“You’re right,” she sighed with a satisfied smile. “Scott, could you give us a minute alone, please?”
“Sure. I’ll head back to the car.”
Taking Jake’s hand, Lori led him down a side path towards one of the park’s many small bridges.
“You ok?” asked Jake when she stopped halfway across the bridge.
“Couldn’t be better. I just wanted you to myself for a minute,” she replied, taking both his hands in hers. “I’ve got something to tell you.”
“You have?”
Lori nodded. Gazing up into his hazel eyes, she said softly, “I’m pregnant.”
He stared at her in stunned disbelief as the news slowly filtered through to him.
“You’re going to be a daddy, rock star.”
Wrapping his arms around her, Jake held her tight, tears escaping down his cheeks.
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
As she brushed her hair back into a loose ponytail, she felt butterflies of excitement building.
“This is pathetic,” she said to her mirror reflection. “I’m worse than a kid. It’s only a trip into town.”
She had just put the finishing touches to her makeup when she heard a truck crunch over the gravel in front of the house. By the time she had made her way down the hallway to the front door, Jake was already on the porch. His long hair was still damp – signs of a recent shower- and he too seemed to have taken care with his wardrobe. Behind him in the driveway she could see a black Dodge Ram pickup truck parked under the tree.
“Your chariot awaits,” he declared theatrically.
“Hi, Jake,” she smiled, stepping out onto the porch, pausing to pull the door closed behind her.
“Hi,” he replied. “Are you still ok with this?”
“Of course! I’ve been looking forward to it,” she said. “And to seeing you,” she added silently to herself.
“Ok. Let’s go then. The local metropolis awaits you.”
Getting into the passenger seat of the truck proved to be a challenge, but Jake swept in and lifted her up into the seat. He slid her crutches in behind then handed her the strap of the seatbelt.
“I hope you’re impressed. I even cleaned out the truck for you,” he said proudly. “It’s not usually so tidy.”
“I’m honoured. Thank you.”
As Jake turned on the ignition, the stereo burst into life and the cab was suddenly filled with very loud hard rock music. He reached to switch it off, but Lori stopped him.
“No worries. It’s fine with me,” she assured. “Is this the kind of stuff your band plays?”
“Yeah,” said Jake reversing out into the narrow road
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
Five sleeps to go until Long Shadows officially launches on Amazon.
Ok, the paperback version snuck out a few days early, but the kindle version lands on 14 February and, in this modern world, that’s the format that readers prefer. Sad in a way as there’s nothing like holding a real book in your hands. I may be ever so slightly biased here.
Yes, I know launching a romance novel on Valentine’s Day is a bit cheesy and it’s also a bit odd to launch one on a Sunday but the date ties in SO nicely with the storyline.
Already the “what ifs” are creeping in…..what if folk don’t like it? What if no one looks at the launch day activity on my author page on FB? What if no one, other than those wonderful souls who have pre-ordered, buys it?…. and so my mind races on and on.
I still find it really hard to believe that I’ve written a five book series. I find it surreal that I’ve written and published any books, if I’m being totally honest! I’ve said it before, but it really is a dream come true.
When I sat down on my doorstep on 8 May 2013 to begin to write the story that grew to become Stronger Within, I had no idea that it would run to five books. In my naïve innocence, I was just writing a story, which at that point I was scared to let anyone read.
That’s a fear that’s never really gone away. I guess it’s a bit like a performer getting stage fright right before they step out in front of an audience. I’d love to say that with each additional book the fear shrinks but it doesn’t really. My hands were trembling as I hit “approve” on the paperback proof recently and I know I’ll be a nervous wreck come launch day.
So, why do I put myself through it?
I guess part of it is that you can’t let your fears rule you.
The main reason though is that I love writing. It’s my escape from this crazy, cruel, fecked up world that we’re living in. In the fantasy world that I write about, there’s no virus threats, there’s no need for masks, folk can still hug each other and they can go to gigs and enjoy hanging out with their music family.
Writing this final part of the Silver Lake series was an emotional journey from start to finish. When I began the story, the world was normal, and we were all going about our daily lives quite happily…then 2020 happened… and the world went to shit. There were times in the latter half of last year that I almost put my pen down and stopped. My mantra is “Dreams get you started Discipline keeps you going” and it has taken every last ounce of self-discipline to bring this one to life.
I didn’t take the decision to end this series lightly. As an indie author, it’s getting harder and harder to win over new readers and to keep book bloggers engaged to review the books etc with each passing book in the series. Five books in any one series is more than enough in my humble opinion. Yes, there are several successful series that have run to more than five volumes but for me five was the magic number.
Without giving away any spoilers, Silver Lake will be back further down the line. Whether that’s in stand alone tales or another series remains to be seen. All I can promise you is that you’ve not heard the last of them…not yet.
For now though, all that’s left for me to do is to check over my launch day plans for the hundredth time and pray that you all love Long Shadows as much as I do when it lands on 14 February.
Long Shadows is now available to pre-order on Kindle worldwide
Jake and Lori return to Rehoboth Beach to pick up the threads of family life.
As they look forward to Jake’s first solo tour with Garrett, the album launch and the arrival of the new baby, life is looking good but then a cruel twist fate casts Long Shadows over the Silver Lake family.
Will life ever be the same?
Long Shadows is now available to pre-order on Kindle worldwide
Jake and Lori return to Rehoboth Beach to pick up the threads of family life.
As they look forward to Jake’s first solo tour with Garrett, the album launch and the arrival of the new baby, life is looking good but then a cruel twist fate casts Long Shadows over the Silver Lake family.
Will life ever be the same?
Long Shadows is now available to pre-order on Kindle worldwide
While the adults chatted, Becky used the kid’s entertainment pack to keep herself amused. After a time, Lori noticed that the little girl was quieter than usual.
“What are you drawing?” she asked softly, leaning over to take a look.
“Daddy and my Silver Lake uncles,” replied the little girl seriously. “But I can’t draw the music.”
With a flash of inspiration, Lori showed the little girl how to draw a variety of music notes. Soon the page and several napkins were covered in their doodles.
“Having fun, girls?” enquired Rich, lifting one of the napkins.
Lori laughed, “Yes. Do you want to keep that one?”
“A Lori original,” he teased grinning mischievously. “Will you autograph this original artwork please?”
Without realising what she’d done, Lori signed her flamboyant Mz Hyde signature and passed it back. Rich looked at it, then at her then at Jake.
“Mz Hyde?” he asked, eyes wide. “THE Mz Hyde?”
Lori smiled and nodded slowly.
“Jesus!” cried Rich. “You did our album artwork!”
“Yes,” replied Lori. “I did. That’s what you do to help out a friend or to say thank you or both.”
“I paid a fortune for a signed print of your last album artwork!”
“Well, you better take good care of that napkin, then, Rich,” said Lori softly, mischief twinkling in her blue eyes. “It’s an original.”
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
Nicole, however, has been a busy lady and, since our first catch up, has published not one but two novels.
So, I’d like to welcome her back to my blog to talk about what she’s been up to creatively this year.
I first “interviewed” you back in March, so how has life treated you so far in this crazy world that is 2020?
Wow! I don’t think either of us predicted how this year was going to pan out. What incredibly strange times we’re living in. I’ve been incredibly fortunate in that none of my loved ones have been badly affected by the virus itself. My 20 year old daughter thought she had the virus back in April, she had heart surgery as a baby so I always worry about her health, but she was fine. I own a cafe, so of course I had to close the business. I was closed for a couple of weeks, but then customers started contacting me and asking for afternoon tea. I ended up delivering afternoon teas and homemade scones all over Widnes. It’s been difficult from the point of view of my business. Not knowing if the business will survive and trying to decide what to do in the longer term is tough. Since we reopened though my customers have been amazingly supportive. The good will i have received has been heart-warming. I live in the North West and case numbers are high again. I’m waiting to find out over the next few days if we are going to be told to close again, but it’s simply a case of waiting and hoping we can weather the storm. Whatever happens I have lots to be thankful for. Lockdown gave me a little time to stop and think. I had been writing Chasing Butterflies for years. Lockdown gave me the chance to pull it all together and edit it before self-publishing. I also managed to start The China Doll before I reopened the business. Your debut novel Chasing Butterflies was published in May this year.
Your debut novel Chasing Butterflies was published in May this year. How did it feel holding your “book baby” in your hands and seeing your name on the cover?
Holding my own book was a dream come true. I have always dreamed of being an author. I have written bits and bobs all my life but completing Chasing Butterflies gave me an enormous sense of satisfaction.
Has Chasing Butterflies been well received? I see it currently has 5 stars on Amazon. Well done!
I have had some really great feedback for Chasing Butterflies. As with most creative people, I really lack self-confidence and I’m my own worst critic. My heart thumped in my chest as I read every word of every review, but i was really pleased with the feedback I got. Readers seemed to really engage with Hope’s story and rooted for her throughout the book.
Without giving any spoilers, what made you want to tell Helen’s story in The China Doll?
After I finished Chasing Butterflies, Helen was still in my thoughts. As a mother myself I felt for her. I really felt that there was more of her story to tell. She was such a damaged character, it seemed a disservice to her not to tell her story and explain how she became so fragile.
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 approach to Chasing Butterflies was very different to my approach to The China Doll. I wrote Chasing Butterflies over the course of 5 years. I wrote, rewrote, changed and edited along the way. I wrote scenes as they came to me and didn’t have so much of a plan. With The China Doll, I had a much more linear approach. I set myself word counts for each week and tried to stick to my plan as much as possible. I did deviate in places, but the story was more evolved in my mind before I started to write.
Where’s your favourite place to write?
I own a cafe where we have a book exchange. Following the pandemic we put in bookcases to separate tables. During quiet times I can be found sat at a table in the corner, hiding behind a bookcase and typing away. At home I sit in the lounge on my sofa with a chaise lounge. I put my laptop on my knee and become immersed in the story I am creating. My husband Sean sits with me, often practicing his guitar playing while I’m working.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I guess the best advice I have been given would be that you can’t edit a blank page. I was terrible when writing Chasing Butterflies for revisiting the same scene again and again to edit it. It really slowed my writing down.
What advice would you give to other aspiring authors out there?
Set yourself weekly word count targets. Keep your targets realistic. Don’t compromise on quality over the quantity of words.
So, what’s next creatively? Are you working on anything else just now?
I’ve started my next project. It’s a stand alone book and not part of the Secrets and Lies series, although I do plan to return to those characters in the future. My next book “My Friend Bill” is the story of Jack. His parents were killed in a car accident when he was a baby and he was brought up by his somewhat resentful grandmother. Feeling unloved and unwanted, Jack develops an unlikely friendship with Bill. But who is Bill and why is he drawn to Jack?
Thanks, Nicole. Can’t wait to meet Bill and Jack!
I was fortunate enough to be given an ARC copy of The China Doll by Nicole Thorne and I loved every word of it.
The prequel to Chasing Butterflies, The China Doll tells the back story of Hope’s mother, Helen. Without giving any spoilers away, if you’ve read Chasing Butterflies, it answers a lot of the unasked questions and makes sense of the past.
If you’ve not read Chasing Butterflies then you’ve time to read book one in this Secrets and Lies series before The China Doll is published on 14 November 2020.
Nicole’s writing is vivid as she paints the scenes in this second book in the series. You can hear the seagulls and smell the salt in the Cornish air. Like the sea itself, this story draws you in and leaves the reader captivated by its beauty. There’s a fragility to this tale but also a huge amount of inner strength to the characters. Both books are making we want to travel to Cornwall and remind myself of its rugged beauty.
Great read! Well done, Nicole.
And if you missed my review of Nicole’s debut novel Chasing Butterflies..
I was drawn into Hope’s story right from the start and my heart immediately went out to her as her world falls apart around her. Chasing Butterflies is well written and, in some respects, flits about like a butterfly as the reader is drawn into Hope’s present and gradually enlightened about her past. No spoilers but I loved how past and present eventually entwine.
“It’s fine, Rocky,” said Ellen, praying she sounded calmer than she felt. “Luke, I’ll make a deal with you. One error and I’m gone. One from you and the result’s the same. You go.”
His inbox was crammed full of unread mails – most of which were advertising junk. Before this infuriated him further, he tweaked his junk mail filters, then returned to his inbox. There was one email from Maddy that caught his attention. The subject heading was “Silver Lake album and merchandising artwork.” He opened the message, scanning the details about a band meeting scheduled for Friday to discuss the attachments. Jake opened the first of four attachments to reveal the three draft designs for the album cover, each significantly different. Instantly his eyes were drawn to the distinctive signature on the drawings. He opened the other three attachments and found a variety of other designs tagged as t-shirt proposals and miscellaneous. One proposed album design caught his eye – a dragon, with its wings spread out nestled inside an intricate Celtic knot. The twist of its tail reminded him of the Celtic trinity that was in the band’s logo. When had Lori found time to complete this portfolio? Why hadn’t she told him? Suddenly, he desperately wanted to talk to her, but it was four o’clock in the morning. Smiling for the first time since Monday, Jake reached for his phone and turned it on. A barrage of text alerts pinged through – he ignored them for now. Quickly he typed, “Love the designs. Love the Celtic dragon knot. Love you. J x”. He hit send.
(extract from Stronger Within, book 1 in the Silver Lake series)
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
Five minutes after the class was scheduled to have started, the door flew open and a tiny girl with dyed green hair flew in.
“Sorry, sir. Car wouldn’t start,” she explained then looked up and exclaimed, “Shit! You’re Jake Power! You’re actually him!”
Staring straight at the new arrival, Jake fought back the urge to smile. Struggling to maintain a poker face, he said, “And you must be the late Miss Riley. Take a seat. We can discuss your late slip at break.”
Cheeks burning with embarrassment, the girl sat on the first free chair with a clatter.
“Ok, let’s make a start,” began Jake warmly. “First things first. Let’s get all this star-struck crap over and done with. Yes, I am Jake Power. Yes, I am in the band Silver Lake. Yes, I sing with the British band Weigh Station. But, for the next two weeks, I am just Jake Power, music teacher. Savvy?”
“If you’re the big rock star, why are you spending your summer teaching class?” asked Cody bluntly. “Shouldn’t you be on tour or in the studio or something?”
“Too direct,” commented Jake firmly. “Musicians don’t spend their entire lives on the road or holed up in the studio. We have lives and families. I used to teach here a few years ago before Silver Lake took off. Over the years I’ve come back now and again to take a class or run a workshop. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of teaching any of you before. Silver Lake finished up their tour in June. We’re due in the studio in September so I’ve had some downtime. I’ve chosen to spend some of it with you. Is that ok with you, Cody?”
“Suppose.”
“Good. Glad to hear it,” said Jake.
(extract from Shattered Hearts)
If you want to read more then check out the Silver Lake series today
Coral McCallum 