Bye-Bye Shoes...

Talking shoes over on my other blog (click picture):

Launch of Ripped Genes by Glynis Smy

First of all a huge congratulations to Glynis on the release of her new book!

A year ago saw the debut launch of Ripper, My Love by Glynis Smy which I have read and enjoyed immensely. My Goodreads review can be found here.


Today, the sequel, Ripped Genes, is launched and will be at a special launch price of 99c/(77p approx) for the ebook version, until the end of May.

The descriptive blurb holds a spoiler for those who have not read the first book. If you would like to read, Ripper, My Love, first, Glynis is very generously offering a chance to read it for FREE - a real bargain!

Contact Glynis at: glynissmy at outlook dot com, and put FREE BOOK PLEASE in the subject line. You will be sent a code for Smashwords, where you can download a copy in any format you please. This offer will finish at the end of May, so please do spread the word.

Here's a little about Ripper, My Love:

Growing up in late nineteenth century East London, Kitty Harper’s life is filled with danger and death – from her mother, her beloved neighbour and the working women of the streets ... Read more. 

PURCHASE and Review Link to all books by Glynis Smy

About Glynis:

Glynis has lived for eight years, in Cyprus. Her historical novels carry a twist in the tale, and she creates strong female characters who struggle in life.

In June 2013, Glynis returns to her hometown, Harwich, Essex, in the UK, where she will gain inspiration for her next novel, The Man in Room Eighteen. 

Find Glynis on: Twitter: @ghunibee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glynissmyauthor

Glynis also runs a site where she showcases, (not reviews), books for authors. It is free of charge, with no catch: New Book Blogger (not just for newly published books). She actively encourages self-published authors to submit to the blog. 

So I hope you'll join in wishing Glynis very successful launch! I'm now off to buy my copy of Ripped Genes!

Call for reviewers

It's the end of a long weekend (Bank Holiday in the UK) and it's been a wonderfully sunny, pleasant few days. I've been busy working on the cover for my upcoming fantasy novel which is a mix of fantasy, horror, romance, and adventure. I'm looking for reviewers and bloggers who would be interested in signing up to receive an advance copy for reviewing. The review copies will be available in e-version, PDF, or printed bound (not a paperback - a printed, bound paper copy at this stage which will be subject to availability). Review copies should be available in July and are on offer for worldwide reviewers. For reviewers who join in, I will also send some "swag" nearer the launch date for giveaways etc.

If you are interested in reviewing the novel, (and I hope you are!) please email with "Review Mortiswood" as the title to: ginadickerson@live.co.uk 

Please include any relevant links (you must have a blog or review blog and/or an active Goodreads account). Add the book on Goodreads here.

Original woman Zdenka Darula, wolf fotografie4you 
- both  Shutterstock.
All other images - Gina Dickerson.

About Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening
“They have been waiting lifetimes for you, Kaelia, they want you and will stop at nothing to have you.”

The warning has rung in Kaelia’s ears ever since she first discovered she’s far from the ordinary girl who grew up in the coastal town of Margate. She has a power and the first time she shows it, death strikes. On the second, she loses someone she loves, and on the third, her mother disappears. 

The ones she’s been warned about are the evil in the shadows, the terror in nightmares but she doesn’t know who they are nor has she seen them...yet. Kaelia learns her destiny has been secretly told and passed down through generations awaiting her. They speak of a name - Marrock - whose destiny is entwined with hers but first she must uncover who Marrock is, whether she likes what she discovers or not. Destiny foretells Kaelia’s the key player in a battle which has been brewing for centuries; she is the only one who can stop the world she knows falling into darkness. 

Facing forces of depraved evil, magic, and myth, Kaelia’s search to fulfil her destiny and find her mother lead her from her home, through magical forests to unearthly realms. 

Who, or what, can Kaelia trust? Is she strong enough to survive the horror which awaits? One thing Kaelia knows for sure is neither she nor her life will ever be the same again...

Happy Bank Holiday - Underleaf for free and a new cover (again!)

What a glorious Bank Holiday this is turning out to be. First of all it's sunny, secondly the grass in the back garden needed cutting and my helpful son obliged. It was rather noisy this morning as the air was alive with the buzz of lawn mowers, strimmers, and the like as the whole neighbourhood seemed to attack their gardens with that Bank Holiday vigour. Guilt plucked at me, teasing that the front garden could do with an intensive weed removal but cover art for my current work-in-progress won the battle. Fast forward to mid-afternoon and it's now blissfully quiet, and I think the cover art is finished.

Here's the new cover I've designed for my current work-in-progress which has changed from its working title of Kaelia to Mortiswood. What do you think? It took a lot of digital manipulation and stitching (particularly the figure!) but I think I may finally be content with it!

Original woman Zdenka Darula, wolf fotografie4you - both  Shutterstock.
All other images - Gina Dickerson.

This afternoon I'm contemplating baking bread or soaking up some of the sun and doing absolutely nothing...well, maybe a little reading. Anyway, to celebrate this wonderful weather and the long weekend I'm offering a Smashwords Coupon to receive my short story collection, Underleaf, for free for today and Monday (6th May).

Click this link and before check-out enter this code: RL53T (not case sensitive) to receive the book for free.

There's a Goodreads giveaway running until July 6th to win a signed, illustrated paperback of Underleaf together with a postcard and fridge magnet.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Underleaf

by Gina Dickerson

Giveaway ends July 06, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

How are you spending your weekend? I hope it's a wonderful one! Thanks for reading and stopping by. 

Zoo, Shoes, and Richard Hardie...

Today has been rather chilly and misty and the sun has not reached us all day. Not to be put off by the lack of warmth, Son and I explored Howletts Wild Animal Park. We've been there many times and always purchase the ticket which allows to revisit as many times as we want within a year. This time we were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the usually elusive wolves!

Now back from our zoo jaunt, I'm visiting Richard Hardie's blog where I'm talking about writing and of course...shoes! (Yes, I wore heels to the zoo but they were only small heeled boots!)

Hopping Over Seas...

I'm currently travelling away and am over on The Enchanted World of Books blog (o mundo encantado dos livros) in Portugal. This is one of my first international blog appearances!

It's still Easter holidays here and we've just celebrated my son's 13th birthday. We went to a local pub restaurant for food and although the sun was shining, the walk home along the clifftops was rather bracing!

                                 

Hope you're having a nice break if you're lucky enough to be off from work. It's sunny here and I'm working on my current WIP Kaelia while wishing it was warm enough to sit in the garden and write. It's April, sunshine please come out and kick  the cold away!

Kaelia: First Fantasy Romance, Adventure - New Cover

This year I'm working on my first fantasy romance adventure novel.  It's part based in a fictional wood called Mortiswood but also features Thanet, Margate, and a few other real live places as well as fantasy realms. Briefly (as I'm still working on it) it's about a young woman, Kaelia, who discovers she's not quite as normal as she thinks. When all the people she loves are taken, she faces a battle. Others want to harness Kaelia's powers for their own purposes and she doesn't know who - or what - she can trust. Facing forces of evil, magic, and myth, Kaelia has no choice but to follow the path of her destiny even if it's written there is one whose destiny is entwined with hers. The problem is Kaelia doesn't know who that person is, well...not yet. 

The cover has been changed many, many times and here's a final draft. I'd love to know what you think!

Images Copyright Gina Dickerson

Thanks for stopping by and for reading, happy weekend! Mine is rather cold with spatters of snow!

FREE e-book and Baking Delights

I am offering my debut novel Lies Love Tells for FREE for a limited time. It is available in various e-formats, including epub and for the Kindle via this link. 

There is also a Goodreads giveaway running for a chance to win a signed paperback copy here.

I'm currently busy working on my first fantasy adventure romance with the working title of Kaelia - Awakening. The cover is still in design process (having been changed a lot of times!) but once it's ready I'll post a picture of it. It's completely different to Lies Love Tells, Unveiling Christmas, and my short story collection Underleaf so I'm really hoping it works out well and that readers will enjoy it once it's unleashed.

I've also been doing a fair bit of baking lately and here are some of my creations - I didn't manage to photograph everything I baked before they were scoffed! 

Chocolates...

Shortbread...

Bread...

Fruit Bun...

 Thanks for stopping by and reading! 

Just Mum

Today, 20th February, is the third anniversary of the death of my mum. Each year previously I have posted a special blog post in her memory but this year I thought I'd just re-share the previous years posts:

Here are pictures I posted in 2011 - glimpses into the life we shared and times we spent together.

Here is a short story I wrote in memory of her in 2012, it also features in my short story collection, Underleaf.

So, this is a rather short blog post but thanks for stopping by and for reading.

Column from Isle Of Thanet Gazette, 23rd November 2012

As the column appeared in the paper,
Isle Of Thanet Gazette

Late last year I was lucky enough to be invited to write a little something for my local newspaper, Isle Of Thanet Gazette which appeared both in paper form and online.  

Here is my first ever column (published in the IOTG 23rd November 2012), I also drew the cartoon!

Below is an easier read version!







* * * * * 

Illustration Copyright Gina Dickerson

What a thrill it is when the perfect, body-transforming garment caresses you but how deflating when nothing feels right. This is exactly how I felt when shopping in preparation for the opening evening of UpDown Gallery. 

After spending a ridiculous amount of time online researching “outfits for gallery openings”, I’d whittled the advice down:

1) Dress in something comfortable.

2) Don’t try to look “arty”.

3) It’s nice to make an effort to show appreciation.

4) Don’t wear something which makes you centre stage.

Bearing this in mind, I trotted to the shops. First off I tried leather trousers - cue much giggling as I tugged them on, the material emitting rude passing-wind sounds. Bending up and down exacerbated it, eliminating the idea.

After three hours, red-hot feet, own fault for wearing stupid high heels, and twenty changes I was ready to scream when the fashion-fairy shone a light on something I’d been avoiding; a little black dress. Why had I ignored the LBD? Topped off with a lace jacket, black tights, heels, and a claret patent bag (providing a nod towards a colour trend of this season), I was ready to art appreciate.

Excitement sparked in the evening air. The gallery building, elegantly lit, beckoned. Inside the space felt intimately inviting, white with a hint of dove-grey walls cleverly pushed Sir Peter Blake’s bold works into the fore.

Outfits of others ranged from several pairs of muddied boots to designer clad elegance and everything in-between. My LBD was comfortable although less could be said about the shoes - too high again!

Now another shopping quest’s on the list: buying something from the label LuckyBrand as Sir Peter Blake collaborated and designed for them a shopping tote. I wouldn’t know whether to frame it or use it!

 * * * * *

Isle of Thanet Gazette is on Twitter, online, and Facebook. (The Paper is out every Friday).

UpDown Gallery website, Twitter, and Facebook.

Thanks for reading!