Tag Archives: #SilverLakeseries

Silver Lake Book Tour Pt 2

Posted on July 24, 2024 | Leave a comment

As I mentioned in my previous Silver Lake blog, I recently returned to spend some time in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, USA, the setting for my Silver Lake series of books.

On my first day back in town I was up early to be on the beach for sunrise at 5:40am. (Jet lag helped here lol) Sitting on the sand, watching the sun creep up over the horizon felt truly magical…then I looked north up the beach and saw them… the two WWII fire control towers that are mentioned many times in the books as Jake Power goes for an early morning run along the beach to turn at them.

My running stamina doesn’t extend to running that far on sand (more on that in a future blog) but I decided I could walk out to them instead.

Walking along the waterline with the waves washing in over my bare feet as the sun slowly climbed higher in the sky was so peaceful. There were a few other early birds out walking on the beach, so I wasn’t the only one watching the sky turn many shades of red through gold. It was the perfect way to start my first day in town.

Two or three locals ran past me as I walked. I really wasn’t hard to imagine that one of them was Jake.

The towers proved to be slightly further north than they looked but eventually I reached them. A chill ran up my spine as I realised that I’d stepped into the pages of my own novels.

There are 11 fire control towers in total across Delaware and southern New Jersey. They were commissioned by the US Army in the 1940s and were watch towers. The two at Rehoboth Beach, Towers #5 and #6 stand about 60 feet high. Their entrances and windows are sealed off but as I stood looing up at them I couldn’t help but wonder just how spectacular the view of the ocean would be from the top.

I wonder if you can see Jake and Lori’s beach house which lies about 3 miles south along the beach from the top?..

If you’ve missed the Silver Lake series you can find them for sale worldwide on Amazon

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

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Silver Lake book tour – part 1

Posted on July 16, 2024 | Leave a comment

Eleven years ago, give or take a month or two, I created a fictitious rock band in my debut novel, Stronger Within,

For those of you who haven’t read it (tut tut) the book is set in the small town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware USA. I wanted my rock band to have a name that reflected where their roots lay. Cue a Google maps search of the area looking for inspiration…. then I spotted it. A small lake, just inland from the south end of the boardwalk – Silver Lake. (It is in fact one of only two freshwater lakes in the area, originally formed from the runoff from the Wisconsin glacier.)

The rest as they say is history…. read the Silver Lake series to see how the rock band worked out.

Recently I spent some time back in Rehoboth Beach. That small town is one of my favourite places on earth. It had been twelve long years since my last visit, and I had never seen Silver Lake in real life. As I walked along the beach and the boardwalk everything felt surreal. I felt as though I was walking through the pages of my own novels.

It goes without saying that one of the first places on my “must see” list was Silver Lake. It did not disappoint!

Stronger Within starts with our favourite aspiring rock star, Jake Power, helping artist Lori Hyde home along the boardwalk after a fall on the beach. As I walked along the same stretch of boardwalk I could imagine them by my side. I followed the boardwalk to its south end then made a short pilgrimage along the beach to where Lori’s house is in the books. There’s a gap in real life between the third and fourth houses off the end of the boardwalk and its in that gap that is site where I imagined Lori’s house to be situated.

Next on my book tour was Silver Lake. I headed down Prospect Street towards East Lake Drive and there it was shimmering in the afternoon sun in front of me. Silver Lake!

It took my breath away!

Even if I do say so myself, I’d pictured it perfectly in my books. I feel I’d done a pretty good job of describing East Lake Drive too.

Actually standing in the spot that was meant to be the end of Lori’s driveway, looking out over Silver Lake was a special and emotional moment that will live with me for a long time.

I could almost hear Jake practicing his guitar in the background.

If you’ve missed the Silver Lake series you can find them for sale worldwide on Amazon

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

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Flashback Friday….. Stronger Within

Posted on May 31, 2024 | Leave a comment

Flashback Friday….

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.

Want to know where they went? Want to know how their date went?

Want to know more? … then check out the Silver Lake series on Amazon

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

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Memorial Day free e-book – Stronger Within

Posted on May 27, 2024 | Leave a comment

When she came out of the restaurant a few minutes later, Jake was standing waiting for her beside the truck. He was smiling and looked every inch the rock star with his tight black jeans, loose black shirt and long blonde hair. Everything about him was the polar opposite to her previous boyfriends. Well, it was time she had a bit of fun she guessed, as she reached the truck. As he lifted her up onto the seat, he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. She lifted her face and brushed a gentle kiss onto his cheek.

“Thanks for dinner.”

“Pleasure,” said Jake, closing the door gently.

Lori noticed the half full bottle of wine was sitting in the centre console storage box. She also caught sight of a guitar case behind the driver’s seat.

Want to know more… well Stronger Within, book one in the Silver Lake series is FREE to download today.

Check it out using the links below:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXDSC1Mhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VXDSC1M

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

Happy reading 🙂

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Happy 10th blogiversary to me!

Posted on December 29, 2023 | 1 comment

It’s been 10 years since I started this blog… 10 years ago today. Some of you may even remember that first nervous post. Here’s a reminder for those of you who joined this creative journey along the way December | 2013 | Coral McCallum

Back in December 2013 I set myself the challenge to post once a week to my new blog page to try to overcome my fear of letting people read what I write. (Still not quite conquered that fear.) My 2014 personal challenge was to post at least once a week. I’ve posted every week since. (OK there have been a few very short “cheat” posts, but they still count as a post).

So how has the creative journey progressed since 29 December 2013?

Well, I’ve self-published seven novels. Seven! These seven include a five book series, the Silver Lake series. Who would ever have thought it- certainly not me! It still feels surreal to see my name on the cover of a book and to see my books on Amazon with all those beautiful twinkling stars beside them.

I’ve written numerous short stories for my blog, many acrostic poems and I’ve kept my Silently Watching dark vampire angel serialised fiction going for the majority of those 10 years ( sh…don’t tell anyone but she’ll be back in January). I’ve promoted my book babies via my blog.

I even upgraded and became a .co.uk! A small detail but a huge step for me.

Over those 10 years I’ve watched my personal world evolve and change too. Who would have thought back in 2013 that we would live through a global pandemic? I’ve watched my kids grow up (They still aren’t interested in anything mother writes so not everything has changed!) And over the past three years, I’ve watched “the Big Green Gummi Bear” battle with terminal illness and ultimately lose that battle at the end of October.

As I look back over the earlier blog posts, I can see them slowly evolving.

As I look back at myself now compared to the “me” of 2013, I’ve evolved too.

Change is good.

So, what is next for my blog? Who knows! Not me! LOL I’ve not written it yet.

As my 11th year as a blogger and indie author commences, there will be more short stories, more delving into the Measly Jar of Motivation, more poems and more dark vampire angel tales.

I don’t wish to dwell on it, but the last three years have been rough, and they have taken their toll physically and emotionally, so I’m keen not to set too stretching a goal for 2024. I’ll keep it simple- the creative goal for 2024 is to finish and publish “Book Baby 8”. I’ve been working on it for more than year but it’s been a stop/start effort over the past six months or so. There are 366 days of 2024 to achieve it in, so I have that one extra day up my sleeve to get it over the line.

If you’ve travelled this journey with me from the very start- thank you for sticking with me.

If you joined along the way – thank you for sticking with me.

If this is the first blog post you’ve seen – welcome and I hope you stick with me.

None of this creative progress would be possible without the love and support of each and every one of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blogs, liking and sharing the content, buying and reading my books and for having faith in me. I really do appreciate it.

All that’s left to say is to wish you a very Happy New Year when it comes. May 2024 be kinder to us all.

Love n hugs

Coral

xx

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* Escape from Black Friday with a FREE e-book*

Posted on November 24, 2023 | Leave a comment

Want to avoid the chaos of Black Friday?

Want to spend the weekend at the beach with a hot rock star? Want it for free?

Look no further, Impossible Depths, book 2 in the Silver Lake series is free to download today

Here’s the links to that hot date with Jake Power

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C0GS30K

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C0GS30K

If you want to buy book one, Stronger Within, first, here’s the links:-

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

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

See it’s still a deal- buy one get one free 😊

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How many characters have you created?…

Posted on September 11, 2023 | Leave a comment

“How many characters have you created?” … that was the question that was put to me recently.

And the answer?…  I have no idea!

I have heard that there are authors out there who keep strict records of all their characters.

This author has scribbled notes on scraps of paper or post its stuffed into polypockets in the notebooks she has filled…. truth!

I do have a nice teal leather journal where I jot down potential character names and character traits or potential fictitious band names so perhaps there is a glimmer of hope. LOL

The question got me thinking about the various characters I’ve created over the past ten years or more. (If I go back far enough, its nearly 40 years for some aspects of Jake and Lori.)

I love the central characters on my book babies. The more I write about them and develop them, the more I begin to think about them as “real” people. As a writer, you spend as much time in your head with this “fictional family” as you do with your real family…sometimes more. Through time, thy take on personalities all of their own.

But what other minor characters have stuck with me?

The first to spring to mind is Reuben (Ben) Storm who made an appearance around Christmas 2018 in a short story I titled, A Party Dress, An Ugly Sweater And A Christmas Surprise.  Every now and then I think fondly of him and wonder what story he has to tell. There may be another outing for him one day…time will tell.

My dark angel, Anna, from my serialised vampire fiction Silently Watching is another favourite. It’s over nine years since I created her and began setting her free around various full moons. Like Reuben Storm, I feel she has a back story to tell us. Writing the Silently Watching instalments is always fun.

Thinking about minor characters in my book babies who have stolen my heart, Nana from Ellen is a standout. I love that little old lady!

Eden Friend, from Long Shadows, the final instalment of my Silver Lake series, is an intriguing young lady. I don’t want to give away any spoilers in case some Silver Lake lovers haven’t met her yet but she’s another one who could have more to say in due course.

The dark characters who were fun to write were Nicole Tonriverdi and Salazar Mendes, both from the Silver Lake series. Ms Tonriverdi may have had her day but with the right story, Sal’s past could be explored one day.

The more I pause to think about these characters, the more ideas are forming a queue in my imagination!

At the end of the day, no matter how many “people” I create, I’ll always be grateful to Lori Hyde and Jake Power for the creative path they set me on. Both of those characters had lived in my imagination for a very long time before I found the confidence to put pen to paper and set them free. Thank you will never seem enough to say to them.

I am currently working on Book Baby 8. There will be more news about it in due course and hopefully 2024 will see me share these characters with you. Time will tell…

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Bonded Souls, book 3 in the Silver Lake series is FREE to download this weekend

Posted on September 2, 2023 | Leave a comment

Bonded Souls is FREE to download this Labor Day weekend.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XSQHG71

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XSQHG71

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Happy Birthday to me….and you. Stronger Within is free to download today to celebrate.

Posted on June 27, 2023 | Leave a comment

The wine waiter approached with the two bottles she had selected from the list. Lori nodded her approval and asked him to pour. Once they all had a full glass, she proposed a toast, “To the success of Silver Lake”

“To rock’n’roll,” declared Paul theatrically.

“No,” corrected Jake warmly, “To Lori. Happy Birthday, Mz Hyde.”

She blushed, then added, “To health, wealth and happiness.”

While they waited for their starters to arrive, Becky produced a gift bag from beneath the table and gave it to Lori.

“It’s from all of us,” she said with a smile.

Lori carefully opened the small bag to reveal a long slim black jewellery box. She opened it to find a silver charm bracelet with three guitar charms, drumsticks and two music notes. It was perfect.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “Can one of you help me to put it on?”

Jake obliged by helping her with the catch before producing a second small gift bag, “And this is from me.”

Inside the bag she found a second small black box, squarer in shape. She opened it to find a delicate silver chain with a treble clef hanging from it. There was a small diamond in the tail of the treble clef.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered, kissing Jake on the cheek, “I love it.”

“Put it on, Lori,” squealed Becky, clapping her hands.

Again, Jake assisted her, kissing the nape of her neck as he fastened the clasp. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Thank you,” said Lori again. “I never expected presents. You’re all too kind.”

 To celebrate my own birthday, Stronger Within is free to download to Kindle today

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

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

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Spend Memorial Day weekend with a free ebook

Posted on May 27, 2023 | Leave a comment

An early morning mist had rolled in off the ocean creating an eerie atmosphere along the beach. It had been early when Lori had crept out of the house to go for a walk. She did some of her best thinking alone down on the sand. Over the months her confidence and her physical strength had grown allowing her to walk along the shoreline without a constant nagging fear of falling. With the broad base plate attached, she still used her cane for support, psychological as much as physical. She had left Jake snoring loudly in bed, his long limbs spread out over more than his fair share of the mattress. When she had come down the hall, she had found Rich asleep on the lounge floor, his leather jacket serving as a blanket. As she wandered The last two revellers hadn’t even made it indoors. Gary and Scott were dead to the world on the sun loungers outside. Someone had had the good sense to cover them with the fleecy blankets from the sun room. Images of the sleeping rock stars made her smile as she strolled along the sand. This early the beach was deserted, and the pockets of morning mist created her own small private thought bubbles.

This holiday weekend you can download Impossible Depths, book 2 in the Silver Lake series for FREE using the links below:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C0GS30K

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C0GS30K

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