Looking back...thinking forward

My parents and husband, Francois

As with most things we do at this time of the year, I also like to reflect back on the months of 2015. Feeling a touch proud at the books I published, and more than a touch guilty for not getting everything done I had wanted to.

At the same time feeling grateful for another year with friends and family - despite the people we lost - and excited about seeing my parents again very soon. They live far away and visiting is not always a simple matter of popping over for a coffee. Thank goodness for telephones and email.

View of Port Elizabeth harbour - my parents live in PE

December is not a month of writing for me, and yet the compulsion to do so has not gone away. Must be the fact that I have written every day from 1 January to 30 November, at an average of over 800 words per day. Not an easy thing to do, not writing. Yet, I simply choose to redirect my creative impulses with paint and pencil to satisfy another, less compulsive, desire to create.

As the year draws to a close, the prospect of a new year becomes brighter on the horizon. New writing projects, new work challenges and new opportunities to live a creative life. To learn new things; to become a better human being.

Zentange Fairie - art by Linzé

As I spend my hours in December drawing two roses, painting a zentangle fairy, drawing a blue dragon and a spotted thick-knee my mind is already planning the year ahead. My mind drifts towards musings of spending more time with my art, and not leaving it until December. Perhaps one project each month - two or three days. Large paintings (I still have two of those haunting me) will then be completed sooner. Work on smaller projects to keep my hand in, so to speak.

Writing remains my passion and project JOURNEY will be another exceptional anthology showcasing the talents of eleven authors this time. My story, Galen's Hope, will see me challenge myself in ways I have not done before. The risk of failure is there, but so is the prospect of stretching my writing wings into new dimensions.

The fourth novel on the Nations of Peace series, Waiting for Adrian, is lying on my desk ready to start editing. And the non-fiction book for authors will soon join it.

I wrote 294,000 odd words in 2015, at an average of 800+ words per day. Of those words, 87744 ended up in published work and 27000 were published on my blog. The rest are the first drafts of potential books and blog posts to come.

Do I have a New Year's resolution for 2016? You bet I do, and it is to do more art in the year ahead. A little creative planning and I could manage it without compromising on my writing schedule.

Many new challenges, and only 365 days to complete them.

When I look ahead, for myself, my husband and all the things we are planning in 2016, the year of our 22nd anniversary is going to be a year to remember.

May your 2016 be a year of surprising success and include many hours of creative happiness.

Book feature: WHEN OUR WORLDS COLLIDE by Aniesha Brahma

About the Book

Akriti has led a pretty much sheltered life. 
Zayn has been shuttled from city to city when he was growing up. 
She is comfortable watching her life from the sidelines. 
He wants to feel rooted to a place he can call ‘home’. 
They meet each other quite by chance. 
And both seize the chance to be someone they both need in their lives:
For Zayn, it’s a 'Partner-In-Crime'. 
For Akriti, someone who just knows how to be there for her… 
When their worlds collide, 
It is not what either of them expected it to be. 
Zayn has a steady girlfriend. And Akriti has a crush on him. 
What happens when these two become friends? 
The biggest adventure of their lives? Or the road to heartbreak? 
What happens when two completely different people collide? 
Do they become friends? Or, is their friendship doomed from the start?

'When Our Worlds Collide' is the story of two twenty-three-year-olds, who are finally growing up and finding their feet in the world. 

A tale of friendship and love, crushes and betrayals, messes and second chances. Marriage and divorce… and the elusive happily ever after!

Book Links

Goodreads I Amazon

Character Interview: Ayoub & Esha 

Hello Ayoub and Esha. Thank you so much for joining us. First question, could we know a little bit about you?
Esha: Yeah, totes! I am seventeen years old, extremely troubled and I have a crazy crush on Ayoub. 
Ayoub: And I am completely freaked out by that. I am 21 years old, and I help Akriti run her mother’s café. And I am pretty much Akriti’s only friend. Which honestly, is the unrealistic. How can someone be that unsocial?

Well, we can get to Akriti and her unsocial behavior later. Tell us, which is your favorite part in When Our Worlds Collide? 
Esha: When I almost force Ayoub to be my date. 
Ayoub: I guess when I’m trying to talk Akriti out of harboring a mad crush on Zayn, and everyone else mistakes it for us getting together.
Esha: You do get together, don’t you?
Ayoub: SHUT UP, Esha! 

If this book were to be made into a series, would we be meeting either of you again?
Esha: I do know that the next book tentatively named, Take On the World, is featuring the battle between me and my sister, Aisha. It would be like a companion novel.
Ayoub: *sigh* Which basically means, yes. You will be meeting both of us.

What is a companion novel, if we may ask?
Esha: A companion novel is when another story is set in the same timeline as the one you are currently reading. It is completely different from a sequel.
Ayoub: Yes, for example, Take on the World, would give you deeper insight into Esha and Aisha’s world. And it would feature same scenes when we are all together, as it had been in When Our Worlds Collide.

Why do you think readers should read When Our Worlds Collide?
Esha: One, I am sure everyone can relate to at least one of us. And two, because we are awesome! 
Ayoub: Because it is not a far-fetched fairytale. It is something people can relate to. And because it is a chance to get to know new characters, live a new story.

About the Author

Aniesha Brahma knew she wanted to be a writer since she was six years old. She was schooled in Dolna Day School and went on to pursue B.A., M.A., and M.Phil in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur Univeristy. She currently lives in Kolkata, with her family and five pet cats. The Secret Proposal was her debut novel, followed by The Guitar Girl. She was a contributing author with her story The Difference, in the anthology: Voices, Old & New. When Our Worlds Collide is her third work of fiction, and first novella.

Stalk Links

Facebook Page * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Website * GoodReads

Giveaway

Prize 1: One really Lucky Indian Resident can win a Handmade Book Jacket made by Diptee Raut of DIP & DIY

  

As Diptee says, its ideal to ~ "Keep your books cozy and warm and away from prying eyes with this book cover. A classy way to carry your book to your favourite coffee shop/library/park for a quiet read."

Prize 2: One really Lucky Indian Resident can win a  Surprise gift from the Author 

Let's keep you guessing ;) Rest assured, it is going to be something pretty!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the Tour Stops

Book Feature: BRINK OF DAWN by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef

About the Book

Follow-up to the multiple award-winning Wind Catcher:

They walk among us as if they are gods.

Only the Chosen know what they are.

Only the Chosen know to fear them.

And only the Chosen can defeat them.

Juliet Wildfire Stone and her best friend, Troy Buckhorn, barely escaped their sleepy Arizona town alive. Now they’re speeding to New York City to find the three other Chosen. The Chosen must band together to face an ancient foe that threatens all humanity.

Yet Juliet doesn’t know whom to trust, and strange things are happening in the City.

The Chosen will be tested, their resolve questioned, and their flaws exposed. Each must decide whether he or she will fulfill their destiny—or run. To defeat the enemy, they must stop battling among themselves and overcome their own struggles.

Only one can lead them. Will Juliet embrace her powers in time?

Brink of Dawn picks up where the multiple-award-winning first book in the Chosen series, Wind Catcher, left off, but it can also be read as a stand-alone novel. Continue the adventure! And be sure to watch for the third and final installment in this exciting series, Scorched Souls, to launch in late 2016.

About the Authors

Jeff Altabef is an award winning author who lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of "telling stories," he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, was his debut novel. Evolved Publishing has published Jeff’s second thriller, Shatter Point, which won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Fall 2014 in the category of Best Thriller.

Jeff's first young adult novel, Wind Catcher: A Chosen Novel will be published in March by Evolved Publishing. He's extremely excited that his daughter, Erynn Altabef, is his co-author on the Chosen Series. As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories.

As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those who like telling stories.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's a party, darling!

It's my party and I'll give ebooks away if I want to! Maybe a little corny, but hey it is my birthday.
And to celebrate the auspicious occasion I am giving all subscribers to my mailing list two discount coupons. They are valid for two days only, so get your name on that list and collect some reading matter for the festive season.

Subscribe today and use the chance to get three full length novels for the ridiculous price of $1.98.

Gerá's Gift is FREE on 1 and 2 December 2015
(for subscribers only)

Keeper of the Dragon Sword is $0.99 on 1 and 2 December 2015
(for subscribers only)

Michael's Mystery is still on tour this week and $0.99 until 3 December 2015.








I send out my newsletter twice a year, so there is no chance of spamming your inbox. And I respect your right to privacy, no sharing of that email address, ever!

Book Feature: HOW TO REACH YOUR WRITING GOALS LIKE A PRO by MC Simon

Synopsis
HOW TO REACH YOUR WRITING GOALS LIKE A PRO is your Step by Step Guide for becoming a Self-Published Author.

This book provides all the proven steps that you need to plan your success and see your writing goals fulfilled. It will not only help with your writing goals but if you adapt the procedures described within this book to all your life goals, you will soon become a Master of your own life.

HOW TO REACH YOUR WRITING GOALS LIKE A PRO

• addresses those who feel that writing is their calling but still donít have the confidence to do it.
• shows you how to find your answers to: who, what, when, why, and how?
• gives you the boost to overcome all your worries and finally start what should have already been started.
• proves to you that the road you wish to step onto is not as hard as you may think, or as difficult as others have convinced you of being.
• shows you how by following a good plan, you will finally see your book published from ground zero. Meanwhile, you will learn to enjoy each accomplished phase. And most of all, you will learn to relax while you are working for your goals.

Buy Link AMAZON

Excerpt

Chapter 2: Step 1 - Declutter Your Mind

OK. Let's get started!

No matter what your goal is, no matter how easy or hard you may think it is to attain, the first step that you must take is to declutter your mind.

One of the reasons for which you still haven't reached your writing goals, is the fact that all of what you've learned and heard about publishing your book or about becoming a successful writer, were implemented ideas that are now blocking their fulfillment inside you.

"I have spent most of my time worrying about things that have never happened." ~ Mark Twain.

For this reason, it's a great decision to first unlearn what you have learned.

Why do you need to do this? Let me briefly explain.

During our life, we've been brainwashed to think that certain goals are impossible to attain. I am telling you that this is one of the biggest lies that we encounter in our lives.

If you are serious about your dreams, if you really wish with all your heart to materialize your dreams, nothing - and I mean nothing can stand in your way. All you have to do is to get rid of all the garbage that was inoculated in your beliefs. Do it and don't lose time finding out who put it in your mind, why this was done, and most of all don't blame the ones who taught you those things. They were themselves taught by others and maybe they were well intentioned when they did it. It could have just been because they thought that, that was the ultimate truth. No matter what, this is not your problem but theirs. They were wrong, and you just started on the road to prove it to the whole world. [Read more]

About the Author

Writer, translator, engineer, researcher, project manager, blogger, eternal student, these are only a few words to describe M.C. Simon.

In a recent interview she confessed:

"I am not only M.C. Simon, the writer whose goal is to rebuild in people the trust in their own forces and in the incredible powers that they received at birth; powers that, maybe they have forgotten about somewhere inside the depth of their being.

I AM all what 'I am not only', and much more! I AM who I AM. And in this form, I follow my Path to consciously touch The Absolute The ONE who's Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent.

The same as YOU and like any other soul that accepted in these times, the challenge to experience life inside a human body, on this wonderful planet we call Earth."

Follow MC online:

Amazon Author Page - http://amzn.to/1HNLu7z

MCSimonWrites Blog - http://www.mcsimonwrites.com/

WritersPayItForward Website - http://www.writerspayitforward.org/

Facebook Fan Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/MC-Simon/526773840785287

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mcsimonwrites

GooglePlus - https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MCSimonWrites/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcsimonwrites

Book Feature: SEEKING REDEMPTION by Madhu Vajpayee

Book Blurb:

Story of a girl Meera, who is unwittingly drawn into a conflict from where she finds it difficult to emerge unscathed. It's her journey from being a simple, medical graduate belonging to a middle class family to the uncharted territories of corruption and caste based politics. Her path is crossed by the two men, both compelling yet completely contrasting characters, who are forever going to change her life. If it is Aman who can challenge her ideals and defy her resolves, and makes her the person she finally becomes, it is Abhay's sublime love which enables her to go through the vicissitudes of life. It's also the story of her loss as well as triumph against her own demons to find her true self.

Buy a Copy from Amazon


About the Author:

Dr.Madhu Vajpayee- the writer was born somewhere in those hospital corridors where she has spent the last two decades of her life. Witnessing life at such close quarters pushed her to capture its enigma in her words and slowly it became her passion. After writing several scientific papers and chapters in books, this book is her first step in literary world.  

Having done her graduation, MBBS from King Georges Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow she went ahead to pursue her post-graduation, MD from AIIMS, New Delhi. She was a consultant at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi having been associated with management of patients living with HIV/AIDS. She is now settled in Melbourne, Australia with her family, where she is devoting most of her time to writing, the passion that she couldn’t pursue earlier because of the demands of medical profession and commitment it requires.

When not creating stories, Madhu enjoys reading and travelling.

Reviews for the Book:

It was a perfect book and can motivate one. ~ Nidhi Author on Goodreads

Wonder full book.Clearly highlights the current problems faced in India as a result of reservation! ~ Nikhil Dave on Goodreads

It is one of the amazing fiction I have read in the near past. Highly recommended. Cocktail of Corruption, politics and love. ~ Akshay_Tripathi on Amazon

What Madhu does well with this story is to highlight many factors that need change. She brings out facets like reservation. She talks about the more rigid mindset of an Indian family ~ Vinay Leo @ Booworm's Musings

Contact the Author:

Blog * Facebook Page * Twitter * Goodreads 

Check out the Tour Stops:

Thank you Bloggers!

Thank you to all the bloggers and our host B00kr3vi3ws, for not only your support of my book tour, but for your support throughout the year for all indie authors!