I’m delighted to introduce you to my first poetry collection. Yes, it’s a change of direction but each of these was written with just as much if not more emotion than my other book babies.
This is a collection of 45 short poems each written straight from the heart.
Why not check it out today (I promise its not like poems that you studied at high school!)
My first collection of poems, Beginnings, will be published on 29 February 2024. This is a collection of poems that I have written over many years. Many of them have appeared on my blog over the past ten years. Now felt like the right time to bring them all together in one small volume. (And of course, 29th February is too unique a date not to publish on – Yes, I’m weird about dates)
Beginnings is now available for pre-order worldwide for Kindle. Here’s the links
There will be a paperback edition available from 29 February too.
As a little taster, here’s one of the poems, a haiku, that appears in the book.
Icy east wind blows.
Sun shines on the rutted path.
Spring lies just beyond.
The cover photograph is one of my own. (Local friends may well recognise this spot.) It’s a small stand of trees just to the west of Lunderston Bay, my favourite meandering spot. There’s a certain peace to be found among those trees. A beautiful spot to simply stop and connect with nature.
To me, this year is all about Beginnings in so many ways.
For those who are eagerly awaiting news of Book Baby 8, please bear with me a little longer. It’s coming.
My first collection of poems, Beginnings, will be published on 29 February 2024. This is a collection of poems that I have written over many years. Many of them have appeared on my blog over the past ten years. Now felt like the right time to bring them all together in one small volume. (And of course, 29th February is too unique a date not to publish on – Yes, I’m weird about dates)
Beginnings is now available for pre-order worldwide for Kindle. Here’s the links
Hi. My name’s Riley and this is my story. You might remember me from Shattered Hearts when I burst into Jake Power’s class late and from Long Shadows but don’t worry if we’ve not met before. This book tells you about the release of my debut album and the formation of the RJ Band and well…I’ll let the rest speak for itself.
Up on stage, Three Dead Mice brought Killer to an end.
“New York, thank you!” screamed Rob, glancing over towards them. “Now, we’d like to invite a friend… sorry two friends… up here to join us. New York, let’s hear it for the beautiful Riley Johnson and the legend that is Jake Power!”
The small crowd went wild as Riley and Jake stepped up on stage. Hurriedly a guitar was found for Jake then Rob stepped back up to the mic.
“Time to Shoot To Thrill!”
With a nod, Rob and Jake both began to play the distinctive ACDC intro before the others joined in on bass and drums. Gone was the quiet Riley from the album launch. In her place, centre stage, was a rock queen in waiting as she poured all her vocal power into the raucous lyrics. Both Rob and Jake joined in for the chorus, standing either side of her.
“Pull the trigger!” screamed Riley as she spun away, allowing the two guitarists to play together. No one watching would have guessed that the performance was entirely unrehearsed. Their passion for the classic rock track was clear for all to see and hear.
“Folks, give it up for Riley and Jake!” roared Rob, grinning from ear to ear as sweat ran down his face.
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.
“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
“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
A chance encounter with a stranger might just change two lives forever. Going home to Scotland for Christmas is the only thing Ilythia prides herself on doing at Christmas. Family gatherings, eating and drinking too much, and crashing on the couch with games is her idea of heaven at this magical time of year. Until her plans are destroyed. A cancelled flight, cancelled plans, and stuck in New York with no family is her idea of hell…but her path collides with a stranger and things don’t look as dull. Damon hides from Christmas. Nothing about the festive season is remotely happy for him. Give him work to hide away in the shadows with any day. Alone is where he’s happiest. However, when Ilythia and Damon meet for the first time, sparks fly, temperatures soar, and the chemistry is off the charts. Will Damon and Ilythia be able to change their way of thinking, take a walk on the wild side, and enjoy a different Christmas?
Coral McCallum 