Glynis Smy - Author of Historical Romance/Suspense

Glynis Smy Author Dot Com

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:31:30 PDT

I have been playing around with the idea of a website, and looked into the costs. Another author told me with time and patience, I would be able to create one with Wordpress. So, off I trundled, and spent a week wanting to hurl the laptop through the window while I got to grips with the mechanics.

Eventually, I got there. I played with a few themes, and decided I didn't like the banners. Trusty camera came into play. I gathered up my pearls, (gift from DH on our Pearl anniversary), a pretty rosebud from the garden, and a lace cloth. Yes, I was going for the romantic look.

I clicked away, and then played around with the images. The end result was just what I wanted. A soft, romantic header. I like how the website has a landing page, a blog, and a place for my books, and has an uncluttered feel. The blog has a sidebar, and I removed it from the two other pages, what a difference it made.

I will be hosting authors over there, and adding my writing news. What I will do here, is leave the links for you to visit Glynis Smy. I have added a few posts this week, and I think you might find one or two interesting. One is a great place for authors to share their profile of work.

Book Launch: Ripped Genes by Glynis Smy has arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:54:08 PDT

A year ago saw the debut launch of Ripper, My Love.

Today, I proudly present: Ripped Genes.

Ripped Genes will be at a special launch price of 99c/(77p approx) for the ebook version, until 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, then contact me 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 spread the word.

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

I have lived for eight years, in Cyprus. My historical novels carry a twist in the tale, and I create strong female characters who struggle in life.

In June 2013, I return to my hometown, Harwich, Essex,in the UK, where I will gain inspiration for my next novel, The Man in Room Eighteen.

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

I also run a site where I showcase, (not review), books for authors. It is free of charge, with no catch: New Book Blogger (not just for newly published books). I actively encourages self-published authors to submit to the blog.

Adverbs Get You Down? Jessica Bell has it In A Nutshell!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:07:41 PDT

Jessica Bell has it in a nutshell ... again! Her books are so useful. Here is her latest, it's out today, so grab a copy!

Too many adverbs and clichés in your writing? I've got just the fix for you.
by Jessica Bell

Writers constantly have rules thrown at them left, right, and center. Show, don’t tell! Stop using so many dialogue tags! More sensory detail! More tension! Speed up the pace! Yada yada yada ... it can become overwhelming, yes? I used to feel overwhelmed by it all too. In fact, I still do sometimes. It’s hard enough to get the words on the page, let alone consider how to put them there.

In Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, she says that in order not to be overwhelmed, a writer needs to focus on short assignments. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how that little picture frame reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. Basically, if you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. I believe the same applies to learning the craft of writing. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, the process will seem less daunting and piece by piece it will come together.

My name’s Jessica Bell, and my own struggles with feeling overwhelmed inspired me to write the Writing in a Nutshell Series of pocket-sized writing guides. So you can learn to hone your craft in bite-sized, manageable pieces. In the first book of the series, I focused on demonstrating how to transition “telling” into “showing.” In Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery, I deal with another of the most common criticisms aspiring writers face: to absolutely avoid adverbs and clichés like the plague. But see, right now, I just used one of each. I also used a couple in the first two paragraphs of this post because they come naturally, and we utilize them frequently in everyday speech. But in fiction, too many adverbs and clichés weaken your prose. It’s considered “lazy writing,” because it means we don’t have to show what’s happening.

If your manuscript has too many adverbs and clichés, it most likely means that the emotion you felt while writing it is not going to translate to the reader in the same way. So how exactly can we approach the subversion of adverbs and clichés? For starters, play around with simile and metaphor when you’re trying to convey emotion, and for action, use strong verbs to show it happening in real time.

The key? Think smaller details rather than the bigger picture.

Need some help and inspiration?

In Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions of Adverbs & Clichés into Gourmet Imagery, you will find thirty-four examples of prose which clearly demonstrate how to turn those pesky adverbs and clichés into vivid and unique imagery. Dispersed throughout are blank pages to craft your own unique examples. Extra writing prompts are also provided at the back of the book.

“Jessica Bell's latest pocket guide, Adverbs & Clichés in a Nutshell, will inspire you to leave bland behind and pursue your creative best. With force and clarity, she demonstrates how adverbs and clichés hobble vibrant writing. She then marks a course toward unique expression and provides workouts that will help writers at every level develop a distinctive voice.” ~Laurel Garver, freelance editor, author of Never Gone and Muddy-Fingered Midnights

Purchase links:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Ca | Kobo

Bio: The Australian-native contemporary fiction author and poet, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

She is the co-publishing editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and the director of the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca.

For more information about Jessica please visit:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Call for Ripped Genes Launch Help

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:13:36 PDT

May 7th is launch day for Ripped Genes, and I wonder if any of you could help me promote the book during May, please? I have a prepared post for you to play around with, or leave as is, whatever you wish.

If you can help spread the word, then please email me at: glynissmy at outlook dot com and put I WILL HELP as the subject. I am lagging behind as flu caught up with me, on top of preparing book and moving house/country!

Thank you.

Ripper, My Love: Smashwords Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:48:07 PDT

With Ripped Genes coming out on May 7th, I have decided to offer The Important Ones who have not read, Ripper, My Love, a free ebook copy via Smashwords. In order to get the code you will have to email me at:
I have opted for Smashwords so those with ereaders other than Kindle can download.

glynissmy at outlook dot com

Ripper, My Love is the first book of the two, so it is a good idea to read it first, although, Ripped Genes is a stand alone, I think it is good to have the full facts of Kitty Harper's life.

Cover Reveal: Ripped Genes

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:01:01 PDT

Ripped Genes is in its final preparation stages. Despite all the chaos around me, I have managed to find time for edits, and formatting. Jen Moon my cover creator picked up my ideas exactly, and I can now reveal the finished covers. (Right click should enlarge them).

The Ripper Series: Books 1 & 2

D is for Dying Dreams in Cyprus

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:31:14 PDT

It appears, as pointed out by Deniz Bevan, that my last three posts run in alphabetical order. A, B, C, despite me not doing the A-Z challenge this year. Hilary Melton - Butcher, suggested my next should be D for Dreams, and hoped I would share more about our situation in Cyprus. So, even though I am not on the A-Z, I thought I would follow through with a final letter. D. This post is touching on a more personal note than I normally share.

D is for Dreams. We all have them. Some of us reach them, and others do not. Some sit and regret, and others have no regrets. I am fortunate. I have enjoyed the experience of achieving several dreams.

I married the boy I met at school. We have children, and a grandchild. During those years, I had careers I enjoyed. We decided to have an adventure, and moved abroad. I followed my heart, and became a writer. I have books out there with my name on. I watched from a distance, as my children followed their dreams. My living dreams gave me contentment.

DAD, the year I was born. 1957.

However, in the past three years, my sleeping dreams began to trouble me. Then, I lost my father in October. When I had dreams, he appeared, and always anxious. As if he was trying to tell me something. I became unsettled, and no longer wanted to live away from family. I began to see cracks in how I lived, and was not 100% happy with the way things were going in Cyprus. I confessed my feelings to DH. Shocked, is the word to use, he was shocked but said he had noticed my sadness. I expressed my fears for us, if we stayed. The next thing I knew, we were selling, and packing our belongings. His support has been amazing. A flight was already booked for a family wedding in June, so we decided not to use the return tickets.We moved money back to the UK in readiness.

Slowly we told friends here, and they began to share their concerns, too. Something changed for them but they were in no position to leave. Others, said they were shocked as I always said I would never leave. They were still happy, and would never leave. Some expressed envy, but were tied up in the illegitimate practices of land owners, and sellers in Cyprus. To own a property outright, you have to have title deeds. It has been found that some builders retain the title deeds, and they are not handed over for five years, plus, as is the legal requirement. During that period, they borrowed, heavily, from banks against the land to build more properties. People were finding they owned lovely houses but not the land. Banks were beginning to call in the loans after the financial crisis of a few years back, and folk were being made to move out of homes they had spent a fortune on. We watched this process happen to many around us, and opted to rent. We did not want the stress. We were fortunate, and rented a villa from a Cypriot friend. It is beautiful, but for me, no longer what I needed in life.

Then, one Saturday morning in March 2013, we awoke to frightening news. Cyprus, our homeland of eight years, was on the point of financial collapse. The world media flooded into the country, and Europe watched nervously. We spent our days rushing to the village ATM which, fortunately, didn't empty as fast as the ones in town. Everyone spoke of nothing else. The atmosphere was dismal. A Bank folded, and ours teeters on the edge. To our relief, we managed to withdraw our savings that remained in the country. We are the lucky ones.

Our dream has changed. This country is going to go through changes, and dreams for the residents have crashed to the ground. One woman is a wedding planner, her bank account held an amount of money big enough to warrant a hit by the 'save Cyprus' package instilled by the government, and EU. The money is a whole sum but is made up of small dreams. Deposits of brides and grooms who hope to marry on the island of love. It is frozen. She will lose vast amounts. Dreams will die.

My village friend adopted a Romanian child, and she saved her money wisely. The couple worked hard, and the daughter decided to become a nurse. Their savings were under the government target, or so they thought. Interests on the savings took it just over the figure by a few euros. They lost 60% of their money. Future dreams are dying daily. Shops have closed because their capital has been hit and they cannot purchase goods.

Our neighbour, 71yrs old, found herself caught up in the crisis (no pension money available), plus a property situation, and desperately wanted to return to the UK. She made herself ill, and yesterday her coffin was flown off the island. She got her dream, to go home. However, it is not the way it should have been. Her heart gave out due to the stress. Her husband's dream is shattered.

To have dreams is a good thing, to fulfill them is even better. Dreams give hope. If you dream of holding your novel in your hands, go for it. Do not wait. Strive for your dream. I have new dreams, I hope my third novel will be ready for May, and I can keep writing in the UK. I do not know what the future holds, but I do know, I have dreams of a secure future, no big villa, of hugs from my children, of caring for my sick mother, of celebrating moments face to face with my family and friends. I have a dream of meeting my writing friends. I have dreams. Fifty percent of those dreams will come true immediately, and the other, will happen slowly, or not at all. What I do know, is this, I have no regrets, only dreams. June 27th will see us face a challenge, a tough road ahead. We are strong, and DH's dream is to build a doll's house for Seren. Something she can keep forever. A project he could not do here, as the wood is of poor quality, the weather affects it, and he could not ship it back. My dream is to continue writing, support my family, grow older and wiser, and have the strength of character to accept the path I will follow will lead me to another dream.

C is For ...

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:39:08 PDT

OK. I am not taking part in this year's A - Z, so I conned you into reading this post. So what is C for in my life at the present time?

Crates = Packing for the UK
Crazy = Me going around in cirlces
Cat = One rehoused ( one more, and three dogs to go)
Calm = Trying to stay that way!
Cry = done a bit of that, lately
Cyprus Crisis = Horrid, horrible, and dreadful disaster to wake up and face.
Cash = Frantically ran around saving what we could from the full ATM machines
Characters = Doing what they should, behaving, and rushing to THE END of Ripped Genes. Yes, we are back on target, and coming together.
Cover = The cover is the next step. Jen Moon (cover creator) is about to receive my ideas. She is courageous!
Creating = Can't make cards as everything packed, but am creating novel three
Constant = I remain constant with my positive thinking, and am sure we will rise again in the UK.
Chocolate = I have eaten more than I should = Comfort eating

C = Carry on regardless

Britain is Getting Another Author

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:18:28 PST

The world is full of wonderful writers, some I have come to know over the years via the Internet. It would be good to meet some but the world is large and round, and I cannot travel that far on my budget. Britain has fantastic authors, and writers, and they will be getting a new one, not sure about the fantastic but she is certainly coming along.

The author Britain will be getting, is ... ME!

Dressed for British weather ... in smaller sizes!

Cutting a very, very, long story, short ... it is time to go back home to family. Things are happening quickly, and we will be back at the end of June. There are hard times ahead, we have to readjust to climate, lifestyle, and try and slot back into our families lives without being disruptive.

Ripped Genes will be published later than I hoped, as packing is holding me up. Once that is done, I will have nothing to do except write before we fly. At my mother's home I will get chance, in-between looking for a new home. No villa with pool, a case of starting from scratch but hey, I can write in a caravan, and DH will be happy fishing the lakes again. And of course, we will be run off our feet with the lovely, Seren! I may have to work a couple of days a week, and maybe a night shift is a good place to scribble out a chapter or two. Plus, maybe sell a copy of my books, (forever marketing). Whatever happens, I will get to meet my writing friends, face to face one day!

For that reason, I will be blogging here at odd intervals, and will not get time to read blogs, or comment for a while. You all take care, and keep up the good work. Thanks for your support. Off to exchange flip-flops for wellie boots, and an umbrella!

(Oh, and pop over to read an interview ... me over at Richard Hardie's blog). Some things have altered since we set it up!

A Very British Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:10:23 PST

Fellow Brit and author, Paula Martin, has invited me to take part in 'A Very British Blog Tour'. The aim is to support, and promote, British Authors. At the end of my questions and answers post, there will be a name/names of authors for you to visit, and read their answers to the same questions. I am also going to add links to the places I mention, this will help those Important Ones who do not know Britain.

So here are the questions from Paula, together with my answers:

Q. Where were you born and where do you live at the moment?

A. I was born in Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex, and now live in Cyprus.

Q. Have you always lived and worked in Britain or are you based elsewhere at the moment?

A. Until 2005, I was British based. One day, I may return, and look forward to writing conferences, and meeting other British authors. Who knows what the future holds.

Q. Which is your favourite part of Britain?

A. I am an Essex girl, and lived in Constable country for many years. A combination of rural/coastal living brings me joy. Norfolk is also a favourite, and we spent many years holidaying along the broads.

Q. Have you ‘highlighted’ or ‘showcased’ any particular part of Britain in your books? For example, a town or city; a county, a monument or some well-known place or event?

A. In Ripper, My Love, I based my story around central London, namely, Whitechapel. Maggie's Child is based in Redgrave, a rural Suffolk village. One novel on the back-burner at the moment, will be based in Constable country.

Q. There is an illusion - or myth if you wish - about British people that I would like you to discuss. Many see the ‘Brits’ as ‘stiff upper lip’. Is that correct?

A. There is a bit of me that tries to 'keep a stiff upper lip' in the face of any life drama. However, living in another country, and mixing with new nationalities, be it Cypriots, or other expats from around the world, I have learned to share emotions a little more. Even DH now gives a 'man hug' to male relatives on occasion. Reading posts by American friends has opened my eyes to how it is OK to express one's self. I enjoy their relaxed manner.

Q. Do any of the characters in your books carry the ‘stiff upper lip’? Or are they all ‘British Bulldog’ and unique in their own way?

A. Maggie marches on in the British Bulldog manner, and Kitty has a stiff upper lip. My characters are based in the Victorian era, and it is expected of them. I do try to 'modernise' my ladies a little by allowing them emotion, and freedom to choose for themselves.

Q. Tell us about one of your recent books?

A. To save the reader time, information about my books can be found, HERE.

Q. What are you currently working on?

A. Thanks to my readers and their requests to find out more about characters
in, Ripper, My Love, I am working on a sequel, Ripped Genes.

Q. How do you spend your leisure time?

A. I read, make cards for charity, and cross stitch. Walking in the vineyards with our dogs is a good way to clear my head when it gets cluttered.

Q. Do you write for a local audience or a global audience?

A. I write for anyone who wishes to read my work. Living in Cyprus I tend to target other countries. The local audience might not understand my British style of writing, unless they read English.

Q. Can you provide links to your work?

A. Here is where I keep the information.

Below are three Brit authors I would like to share with you. Keep checking their blog for their 'Very British' answers.

Suzan Collins
Gina Dickerson
Faith Mortimer

Feel free to use this post and set up your own British Author tour.

AUTHORSdB Free Directory for ... well, authors

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 01:48:50 PST

As an author out there in the big wide world of self-publishing, I am always looking for ways to bring attention to ~~myself~~ books. Social networking is good but writing time can be used up as you are ~~playing~~ communicating with folk. Recently I found a new place to spend time wisely. *gasp*

Courtesy of AuthorsdB

AuthorsdB is a directory where you can promote yourself, and it is free. I took time out, and spent a few hours setting up my page. It is simple, it has to be for me to be able to use it! I am now on a data base, with all links relevant to my work, listed for others to see. Why bother? you might ask. Well, it's simple -that word again - it means you only need share one link to promote ALL you want to share. Your Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Blog, Website, you name it, you share it within the database.

Here is my link: http://www.authorsdb.com/component/content/article/8-authors/117-glynis-smy. I can add them to the bottom of my emails, and tidy it up the AuthorsdB link into something like: Author Information Data Base or Glynis Smy - AuthorsdB Directory.

Using that, and the link to my Google site webpage, means I can hold off on buying a website for a while longer. Both links hold all information about me, and my books. Readers are not bombarded with a list of links to where they can purchase my books.

Instead of:

Amazon UK
Amazon US (CA, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, India)
The Book Directory UK
The Book Directory
US Barnes & Noble
Apple itunes
WHSmith online
Ganxy.com
Ebay Australia ... yup, found that one yesterday! and so on for about twenty other places.

Twitter
FaceBook
Pinterest
Google +
LinkedIn and so on ... I can simply use: Glynis Smy - AuthorsdB Directory or Glynis Smy - Books

Take some time to have a look at AUTHORSdB, I think you will find it useful.

On Track Thanks To India Drummond's Post ... and a little snippet

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 09:09:21 PST

Ripped Genes is now back on track. I had a few days where I was struggling to reach the daily targets I had set myself. Then India Drummond published a post, and told of how she was following the advice of another, and her writing goals were being achieved without exhaustion. This spurred me into action. I decided to try 90 minute spells of writing, have a break, and then go back to my work. On day one I had reached my target, and was pleased with the results. Day two saw me exceed the target, and actually achieve two days in one! So far the process is working well.

During my break I actually move away from the computer. I shut it down, and ventured outside, make a card, or simply sit on the porch with a coffee, (winter rains allowing). So now instead of filling a day of trying to find words to write, and feeling shattered, I write and achieve, feel refreshed and pleased with myself.

You can read the post, HERE. In fact, take time to read her posts, she has some valuable information for self-published authors.

Little snippet for you: Rough First Draft ... Ripped Genes:

She cut,trimmed, patched, and repaired bedding, in preparation for what Patrick affectionately named,‘The Kitty Treatment’.

The sea-blue room, as Rose called it, was the first to be finished. Walls and window frames, needed nothing more than a damp cloth with vinegar to brighten them. New drapes hung around the window, they had been reformed from a bed-cover in another room. Simple white bedding dressed a bed, and trimmed with matching edging. A pine-wood dresser had been waxed to within an inch of its life, and sported lace-edged doilies from the same material. Rose clapped her hands in delight, and declared it her bedroom. The one next door, had similar treatment but Kitty designed this as a small parlour room. Again, all materials and reupholstered items, matched. She trimmed lampshades, and added potted plants for finishing touches. Only one room had an alternate identity given it, what was to become a store room had now become a washroom for the three to share. A white enamel hip-bath sat central to the room, and the fireplace reopened. Large enamel jugs stood in regimented sizes along one wall, and a newly crafted shelf housed large white fluffy towels ...

Music of the Spheres by Glenis Carlton

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:34:53 PST

Recently I read, Music of the Spheres: An Unfinished Journey by Glenis Carlton.

My review:

'Music of the Spheres: An Unfinished Journey’, is a delightful read. This well-written, descriptive memoir shares the ups and downs of a woman returning to her native, Great Britain, nearly a lifetime living in New Zealand.

The author, Glenis Carlton, writes with humour, several events, one of which is her attempt to drive in the UK. The book is entertaining, interesting, and heart-warming.

I loved the fresh look at England, from the author. When I return to the UK, I experience some of what she has written, and can relate. I am happy to recommend this 5* read.

“England for me is home and New Zealand, where I have spent the last thirty years, sadly is not.”

After living for many years in New Zealand and still unable to feel that it was her home, Glenis Carlton decides to return to live and work in Britain. She compares the country that she left in 1957 with the Britain of the nineties, recording her impressions, the fulfilment of her expectations, and sometimes her disillusionment. She describes what it was like to be an immigrant in New Zealand, feelings which many who arrived from England in the fifties will relate to.

There are amusing anecdotes and observations, told with frankness and humour, as the author travels and works as a market research interviewer, as a steward at the Royal Albert Hall. Returning to the Derbyshire village of her childhood, where memories of the years during and after the war are revived, she also visits other places of her youth, the Cotswolds, Normandy, Paris and London, a city of poverty and wealth, and unaccountability, but still a much-loved city for all that. But where exactly her home will be becomes less of an issue. The book is a progression in maturity, a journey back in time and space to find the ‘essential self’. It should give inspiration, especially to women and those living alone. That life can have possibilities, choices. That we should believe in ourselves.

http://gleniscarlton.wordpress.com/buy-it-here/

Glenis Carlton:

The author has written two published playbooks in French with

translation, “Zut Alors” and “Cest Génial”, (New Playwrights’ Network,)

and is fluent in several languages. She has two sons , a daughter and

three grandchildren who all live in Australasia, and is currently working

in London as a Tourist Guide.

The Book by Jessica Bell

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:39:56 PST

Ever wondered how a five-year-old girl perceives the world? Then you definitely need to get your hands on THE BOOK, a novella by Jessica Bell.

Check out these awesome reviews:

"Jessica Bell’s surprising risks with language capture a child’s clear vision in a world of adult heartbreak. Indelible. Courageous." ~Thaisa Frank, author of Heidegger's Glasses and Enchantment

"THE BOOK is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's going to rip your blood pump out of your chest, kick it around like a football, and then shove it back inside you, leaving you with a potently reinvigorated faith in humanity. A curiously captivating read that somehow manages to encapsulate the length and breadth of love and family in one slim volume." ~Josh Donellan, author of Zeb and the Great Ruckus

Here's the blurb:

This book is not The Book. The Book is in this book. And The Book in this book is both the goodie and the baddie.

Bonnie is five. She wants to bury The Book because it is a demon that should go to hell. Penny, Bonnie’s mother, does bury The Book, but every day she digs it up and writes in it. John, Bonnie’s father, doesn’t live with them anymore. But he still likes to write in it from time to time. Ted, Bonnie’s stepfather, would like to write in The Book, but Penny won’t allow it.

To Bonnie, The Book is sadness.
To Penny, The Book is liberation.
To John, The Book is forgiveness.
To Ted, The Book is envy.
But The Book in this book isn’t what it seems at all.

If there was one thing in this world you wished you could hold in your hand, what would it be? The world bets it would be The Book.

Intrigued?

Available at all major retailers in e-book and paperback, including Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Twitter Update - and other places

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:14:11 PST

My last post about rudeness on Twitter got me thinking about a little experiment. I decided to schedule a couple of tweets relating to my book, and have them sent out while I slept. With my scheduled tweets I found a rise in sales by one or two ebooks. The time period they were set at, helped me keep contact with those just starting their day. I thought I would share a Twitter update with you ...

I then spent time during one day tweeting out for others. Only one in six thanked me. I repeated it for two more days, tweeting out those six folk's tweets. Again, each time, only one thanked me.

I then stopped tweeting out the other five, and went back to my random tweeting. One morning I woke to find one of the five had tweeted me, so I tweeted back, and of course, said thank you. Now that tweeter and I regularly tweet for each other.

Still I refrained from regularly tweeting out for the four remaining tweeters. One day I noted one of them had sent me a thank you. I responded, with a 'You are welcome'. This earned me a tweet out. Again, a thank you followed, and this time a 'YAW' came back. I now had three of the six communicating with me. Did my Tweet Tweet Don't be Rude post draw back the other twitterer? I will never know unless they 'fess up in the comments here. *insert big grin*.

So, I have found Twitter to be a valuable tool for gaining book sales, finding new and interesting posts - and drawing back lost tweeting friends. This morning I woke to find I now have over 2,000 followers, and 99% are from the writing world. I follow back 85%. That is 1,600 more than this blog, and well over 1,000 new faces since I launched Ripper in May. I consider this time well spent.

Marketing:

My decision to stop daily blogging, to use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google Plus is paying off. I have split my Facebook time with Twitter time, and thanks to Hootesuite, can keep organised with the two. Google plus is a place I upload to, and share one or two other folk's posts but I am not a huge fan. LinkedIn I am finding new friends with different backgrounds, and interesting groups. Goodreads is a place I drop in and leave a blog post now and then. I belong to another site where I am enjoying a conversation with film directors, actors, and scriptwriters.

Blogs:

I am slowly moving around your blogs, but with my writing schedule, I am finding it difficult to keep up. Blogging is the base platform for writers but I now realise that as I am also now in marketing, something has to give. I will get around but not as regularly as I once did. I have several emailed to me, and read the new posts, just not always comment. I then drop by to leave a 'Hello G was here' style message.

I have been told to consider moving my blog to Wordpress as it has a better SEO platform for being found on the Internet. I did try it years ago but never ventured far with it, now as I am having to put marketing into my daily life, I am looking into the idea. Whether I will keep this one going for one style of blogging, and the other more for marketing purposes, I have yet to decide. Time will decide.

Tweet Tweet ... Don't Be Rude!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:14:27 PST

@Ghunibee

When I joined Twitter a few years ago, I didn't have a clue about the social connecting site. I could see folk were dunkin' donuts, or chasing Wallabies, and dancing Irish jigs. People from around the world shared their daily lives with me and thousands of others who eagerly awaited to see what time they were 'popping the kettle on', or 'shopping with six kids, and other exciting stuff.
I tentatively sent out my first Twitter Tweet, and it was probably, 'Hello. What am I doing here? I can't recall what it was, however, what I did know was I had to be polite to the person saying 'hi' back. I thanked them, they thanked me, and we moved back to dunkin' donuts.

After a while I felt I had nothing to offer Twitter folk, and moved over to Facebook. Slowly I noticed FB comments with Twitter #hashtags, and found a way of combining the two. Off I trotted and tried TweetDeck. It worked, then failed me, so I stopped singing on the wire. Then I found HooteSuite, got confused by it all, and left. I flew away from Twitter.

Then came launch day of Ripper, My Love, and I thought I would give it a go again, on the advice of friends. I said hello to the 804 followers, and told them of my publication. Some Tweeted out the links, and others offered congratulations, all received a thank you in return. Then the followers came flocking, the majority from the writing world, and other exciting places, and some -- well, some came from a trash bin in the back of beyond but we ignore them, anyway, new followers arrived and left their calling cards. Some kindly privately messaged me with their blog links, book links, links to their mother's book, their father's dentist and so on. Only a few gained the visit they eagerly sought, (not the dentist though). Some were forthright and rude. READ MY BOOK HERE. VISIT MY BOOK WEBSITE HERE. You get the picture. Good, they were #coldshoulderedandignored.

Slowly Twitter grew on me, and I found a way of combining tweets about my book, blog, and how I support others with New Book Blogger. Since May my followers have grown to just under 2,000. I enjoy reading the majority of tweets by my new Twitter buddies. Now comes the crunch. During one day of browsing around the options on HooteSuite, I came across a scheduled post button. It meant while I was sleeping I could tweet out a message to friends who were still partying. I tried it, and it worked. I noted a rise in sales when I did this once a month. I didn't want to get into the daily routine of bombarding folk with my sales pitch but noted others do. I don't mind, and good luck to them. What I do mind ... here it comes ...

Is that some (not all), NEVER SAY THANK YOU when I tweet out their scheduled post. At first it mystified me as to why not, they used to be there, waving. Yes, I am blonde, it took a while to dawn on me as to why. THE ARE NOT THERE! They have set up a batch of BUY MY BOOK scheduled tweets and buggered off! They are shopping with six kids, hands free. They are enjoying time out with friends while muggings here is sitting at her desk tweeting out their wares, (and saying thanks to my lovely folk). They are not ghost writers but ghost tweeters. One of the rules of Twitter is to play nice, to say thanks for the tweet.

As I say, I am all for the scheduled postings, they work, and I might even pop one on more than once a month. I love the thought of being a helping muggins and sharing for my followers, I just wish now and then the few who do use the scheduled facility would pop over and notice that I have been there for them. Ah, well, such is life. #RantOver

Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 04:19:05 PST

I was tagged by K Meador, the author of Journey to Freedom, so here it goes:

The rules: Go to either page 7 or page 77 and starting with line 7, post the next 7 lines and then challenge 7 others to do the same.

I have decided to share from Maggie's Child
Page 7, line 7 and following 7 lines:

Sadness crept into her soul when Maggie remembered what was to be done before nightfall. The task to be carried out would be the hardest task of her life. For nine months, she played the role of the happy pregnant woman, despite knowing she would never keep the child. Jacob had been fooled into believing the child was his once she suspected she was pregnant with her lover’s baby. Her husband showed no interest, claiming he would only be happy if she produced a boy, live and kicking. Maggie knew boy or girl - if it lived - Jacob would play no part in its life. Telling him was a ploy to protect her and the baby’s future ...

Now I am supposed to tag 7 others ... however, I am so busy with my wip at the moment, I am tagging you all! There you go, you can now opt to choose 7 writers or all of them that follow you! I know it breaks rules but that is the only way I can share the tag.

Review of Maggie's Child

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 04:58:17 PST

The reviews for Maggie's Child are coming through. I am overwhelmed by their positive, and high praise. Today, I received one that a UK reader left with Amazon. Today, my dreams were fulfilled. She placed me up there with Josephine Cox, one of my favourite historical authors! Someone I wanted to write like, alongside Catherine Cookson.

I cannot tell you how proud I feel. 'Pride comes before a fall', my Grandmother used to say. I am not one for shouting out pride of my personal success, so I hope the fall is on hold for a while, as I enjoy basking in the review below.

Customer Review

A Real Page Turner, 31 Dec 2012

Christine Ramsay

Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)

This review is from: Maggie's Child (Kindle Edition)

It is one o'clock in the morning and I couldn't go to sleep until I had finished reading this latest book by Glynis Smy. It has really captured my imagination with its intriguing plot and colorful characters. The book is real page turner and one which I would rank up there with Josephine Cox, Marie Joseph and Anna Jacobs, three of my all time favorite authors of historical fiction. It gives us a deep insight into the hardships of life in the nineteenth century. The heroine, Maggie, suffers dreadful cruelty at the hands of her miserly husband and through the love of her child, whom she cannot acknowledge she is determined to rise above it and eventually finds true love. This is a beautifully written book which I can highly recommend and I am really looking forward to the next book by this outstanding author.

To read the other reviews, please go here ... Amazon

2012 A Year of Emotions 2013 A Year of New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 05:58:47 PST

This year has been a year of emotions for me. I will not dwell upon the friends and family I lost since January, as it is upsetting. However, I will end the year on a high note.

My dear writing buddy, Talli has given birth two weeks early. On Christmas Eve she held her firstborn in her arms; a son. Huge congratulations to that little family, and all good wishes are sent their way.

Talking of babies, Maggie's Child has been well received in the world of books, and I am delighted that I hit the top 1% for historical fiction on Amazon.com, twice, over the Christmas period. I also noted a slight rise in Ripper, My Love sales. A reader contacted me and said she enjoyed Maggie's Child and purchased Ripper the following day. Now she is waiting for the release of my third, Ripped Genes. I cannot tell you how surreal that feels.

I found a new site to set up a storefront for my books. It is in beta mode but looks good, so have added "Ripper, My Love" by Glynissmy on Ganxy.

I do hope all your dreams come true for 2013, especially writing ones. My did, two novels are being read around the world. That is something to celebrate.

Here's to a Happy, Healthy 2013 for you all, and thank you, thank you, for your support and friendship, it means so very much!

I've been tagged for The Next Big Thing!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 04:09:45 PST

I've been tagged for The Next Big Thing!

The Next Big Thing is where someone tags you as an author worth noting and you, in turn, tag five other authors.

I recently had the honour of being tagged by two great authors!

Mary Metcalfe – author of : Winds of Change, New Beginnings, and Road to Tomorrow.

Liz Bugg – author of: Calli Barnow Mystery Series

Thank you ladies!

Here are my responses to The Next Big Thing questions.

What is the working title of your book?

Maggie’s Child (Although it is now published!) ... the next is Ripped Genes and is in planning draft.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Maggie’s Child: I watched a documentary about how Romanian mother’s had to make choices of how they cared for their children. Several gave up their children for better lives. I wondered what it must be like to have to give up a child. Maggie knocked on my brain, and off I went with pen and pad, creating her life.

Ripped Genes: Sequel to Ripper, My Love.

What genre does your book fall under?

MC = Romance – Historical Romance

RG = Historical Romance Suspense

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

courtesy of Wikipaedia

Sadly Kate Winslet would be too old to play Maggie in the first few years, however, she is my ideal character for the part when Maggie gets older. Claire Foy would be the younger version.

Ben Barnes =Stephen, the Squire's son

Joe Dempsie = Dukes

David Schofield = Jacob

Jamie Bell = Nathaniel

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Maggie Sawbury, sacrificed her love, her child, and freedom to survive the wrath of one man but fate stepped in and changed her life.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I am a proud Indie author. Self-published.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It took me one month to draft the first basic story, and another eighteen to get it finished.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Possibly a Catherine Cookson style, or someone along those lines but with a twist.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

As mention in a previous question, it was Romanian mothers, and the way the dealt with giving up their children for a better life.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

It is set in Victorian England, in the depths of the rural community of Suffolk. I try to bring some of that to life in the descriptions.

I was tagged by my wonderful friend/s:

As mention in the opening of this post

My five picks for authors to meet and follow (in no particular order):

Gina Dickerson http://ginadickerson.blogspot.com/

Stephen Tremp http://breakthroughblogs.blogspot.com/

Joan Young http://www.joanofshark.com/

Rebecca Emin http://ramblingsofarustywriter.blogspot.com/

Paula Martin http://paulamartinpotpourri.blogspot.com/

All have different styles and genre of books. They are great supporters, and writers.

For those I’ve tagged – The Next Big Thing Rules:

Use this format for your post

Answer the 10 questions about your current WIP (work in progress)

Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

Mention the person who tagged you.

Maggie's Child Has Arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:06:13 PST

Maggie’s Child has been born into the world of ebook! Paperback to follow soon, (technical hitch ... my brain went on strike). I am so nervous about this book going out to readers. The reason? I now have readers to lose. Prior to Ripper, My Love going out, I had only readers to gain. What a funny feeling it is to know I have readers waiting for my latest release. A lovely, warm feeling. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

When farmer’s wife Maggie Sawbury gives birth to her fifth child, the only one that has lived and the result of an extra-marital affair, she is heartbroken and desperate. Maggie knows her joyless life with a bully of a husband is not one a child should endure, and she leaves the baby at the roadside to be found by passers-by.

Her money-driven husband announces he has found her another job in the village of Redgrave, aside from the many tasks she has on Windtop farm. He is totally unaware the position comes with a secret. One that frightens and yet brings joy to Maggie. She is to become wet-nurse to her abandoned child.

Love, and the possibility of incest, threaten to open old wounds, and Maggie has several decisions to make. However, will they be the right ones? If she tells all she knows, it will bring about the destruction of three families. Equally, her silence could be just as destructive. She shares her secret with another, the result changes her life, and a death brings with it more secrets. Will Maggie stay or will she walk away and find the love she craves?

The ebook will be available at a Christmas - New Year price of 99c via Amazon, (and other Amazon outlets around the world).

Want to win a paperback copy?

If you can tell me the name of the prostitute friend in my novel, Ripper, My Love, you will be put into a draw for a prize copy of Maggie’s Child in paperback format. The email address you need to send the answer to can be found in the sidebar of, NEW BOOK BLOGGER.

To purchase: Books by Glynis Smy

Meet and Tweet with Glynis ... Ghunibee
Facebook Page: Glynis Smy
Author Blog: Glynis Smy

Thanks go out to Talli Roland, Len Lambert, Jen Moon and Dieter Moitzi for their support with this novel. Also to all those who are hosting the launch event.

I held a competition in the summer and these folk won a copy of the ebook:
http://www.glynissmy.com/2012/05/winners.html

LTM
Susan Roebuck
Hilary
Tracy Jo

I will contact you for email addresses soon.

I Am Back

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:41:00 PST

I am back. Tender and raw but ready to pull together Maggie's Child. My friend, Jen, helps me pull my covers together after Talli and I have discussed issues. However, Jen's daughter was hit by a bus a few days ago, and as you can imagine, Jen is by her bed. Thankfully she has injuries she will recover from and for that I am sure the family are relieved.

Another friend, Dieter, stepped into the breach and took my scrappy files to work with and waved his magic wand. (Graphic Designers are little wizards). Our ideas have all pooled together and the cover is now complete.

The interior is having another edit, and a fresh pair of eyes are highlighting little errors that have escaped my attention. My DH is also reading through and proving it was worth asking him. I am more nervous with this publication than my first. I have readers to lose this time!

December is tomorrow, this means I have only a few more days to reach my target date. I am grateful for the distraction as leaving my family this time was quite difficult.

Do you have news for me? Please let me know about your latest projects. New Book Blogger is doing well and I now showcase five books per week. The diary is full until March! I showcase a wide variety of books, and not just new publications. If you know of an author who is in need of promotion, show them the blog.

Remember the start of the year I decided to lose weight? Well, here I am exactly a year apart, and 28 pounds lighter. I aim to lose another 14 if possible in 2013. I am so pleased I lost the weight as it meant my fitness levels in Canada were much higher, and I enjoyed a very active holiday.

Introducing My Friend, Dieter Moitzi & His New Book!

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 04:25:08 PST

Dieter and I found each other through blogging. Our friendship is one of jealousy - he is jealous when I have sunshine, and I am jealous of his ability to be such a lovely person.

When he asked me would I consider sharing his book launch day, I said yes without hesitation. Dieter supported me during my book launch, and every day tweets out something about, or for, me.

Born in 1972 in Austria, Dieter Moitzi moved to Paris, France, in the early 1990s. He is working as a graphic designer and writing in his spare time, mainly in English. He loves to share his passion for words, which is the reason why he has launched a literature blog in 2010. Ever since, he has published a collection of poems (“and somewhere under”) as well as a collection of short stories (“Miss Otis regrets”), both available on amazon. Moreover, his poetry has been published in the “Vine Leaves Literary Journal” in 2012. He is currently working on two novels that he hopes to publish in 2013.

About his book:

“Small Portions” is a story that comes in… small portions. In precisely 111 little parts – AND a recipe. To explore the many facets of modern life, the author has chosen the literary form of vignettes, those short impressionistic scenes that focus on one moment or give a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, object.
Dieter Moitzi tells his own story in poignant scenes that vary from a snapshot of his christening in the early 70s to his father’s death in a skiing accident at the beginning of the 2000s. It’s small things he talks about, those many small things that compose a life – his life. He recalls the painful process of coming out of the closet, relates in funny detail the first encounters and love stories of his happy-go-lucky twenties, delves with analytical distance into aspects and turning points of two long-time relationships. He takes you by the hand and guides you through the streets of Paris, the city he lives in. He writes about food and the internet and his travel experiences in Greece, Morocco, Vienna, Tunisia, London…
In just so many carefully chosen words, sometimes poetic, sometimes blunt, but always with a good deal of wry and self-deprecating humour, the author succeeds in creating little universes with each story. Each one stands alone, yet when you link them together, another story takes shape. The story of a life, the sketch of a person, the mirror of a time. Our time.

You can purchase the book on amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZTSJOQ – and on your local amazon-online-store (e.g. amazon.co.uk, amazon.fr, amazon.de…) The Book Launch Promotional price is only for only $0.99 (price exluding tax) until the end of the year.

The book is also available in a French version (“Petites portions” – http://www.amazon.fr/Petites-portions-ebook/dp/B00A08G48O/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1351933352&sr=8-6) and a German version (“Kleine Portionen” –http://www.amazon.de/Kleine-Portionen-ebook/dp/B009ZTSLJY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351933449&sr=8-2) for €0.99 (price excluding tax).

Show & Tell In A Nutshell by Jessica Bell

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 01:46:13 PST

Click to add me to Goodreads!

Have you been told there's a little too much telling in your novel? Want to remedy it? Then this is the book for you!

In Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing you will find sixteen real scenes depicting a variety of situations, emotions, and characteristics which clearly demonstrate how to turn telling into showing. Dispersed throughout, and at the back of the book, are blank pages to take notes as you read. A few short writing prompts are also provided.

Not only is this pocket guide an excellent learning tool for aspiring writers, but it is a light, convenient, and easy solution to honing your craft no matter how broad your writing experience. Keep it in the side pocket of your school bag, throw it in your purse, or even carry it around in the pocket of your jeans or jacket, to enhance your skills, keep notes, and jot down story ideas, anywhere, anytime.

If you purchase the e-book, you will be armed with the convenient hyper-linked Contents Page, where you can toggle backward and forward from different scenes with ease. Use your e-reader's highlighting and note-taking tools to keep notes instead.

The author, Jessica Bell, also welcomes questions via email, concerning the content of this book, or about showing vs. telling in general, at showandtellinanutshell@gmail.com

Reviews:

“Jessica Bell addresses one of the most common yet elusive pieces of writing advice—show, don't tell—in a uniquely user-friendly and effective way: by example. By studying the sixteen scenes she converts from “telling” into “showing,” not only will you clearly understand the difference; you will be inspired by her vivid imagery and dialogue to pour through your drafts and do the same.” ~Jenny Baranick, College English Teacher, Author of Missed Periods and Other Grammar Scares

“A practical, no-nonsense resource that will help new and experienced writers alike deal with that dreaded piece of advice: show, don’t tell. I wish Bell’s book had been around when I started writing!” ~Talli Roland, bestselling author

Purchase the paperback:
$4.40 on Amazon US
£3.99 on Amazon UK

Purchase the e-book:
$1.99 on Amazon US
£1.99 on Amazon UK
$1.99 on Kobo

About the Author:
The Australian-native contemporary fiction author and poet, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

She is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and co-hosts the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek Isle of Ithaca, with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest.

For more information about Jessica Bell, please visit:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook

Happy Halloween ... Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Glynis) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:29:54 PDT

Thank you all for your kind messages. I still have to return to scatter dad's ashes in November, but I am coming through the fog of grief.

Happy H alloween ... Birthday

Today I am 55 years old. I am a Halloween baby. I envy the kids in US and Canada, they celebrate my birthday in such a big way. In the UK it was never seen as a day to celebrate, so I never dressed up or went trick or treating.

We did have a carnival for Guy Fawkes. He was a man who wanted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in the UK. I was never sure why we celebrated him, but as it was a joyous time for me and my brother,(his birthday is 4th Nov and Fireworks night was 5th), I never complained. We had hot potatoes and candied apples. It was always frosty, and dad would visit his friends for a pint of ale on the way home. We would get to sit outside the club and eat our treats. There was no fear or worry of gangs or trouble, just pure enjoyment. Memories I hang onto.

During my research for The Man in Room Eighteen, based in mid-1800's, I learned the tradition of that carnival, and it had nothing to do with the blowing up of politicians. It was a way of the young navy apprentices to earn money for charity and their Christmas treats. They re-created the ships they built in miniature form, and paraded them around town. The folk who joined in the parade threw coins and it became a large part of Harwich Town, UK Essex celebrations.

This weekend my baby granddaughter will follow the footsteps of me, my husband and her parents. She will witness the bigheads and bright lights. I do hope it is a tradition that will never die and she gets to take her children in the future.