Author: suefortin

So many things you can do with chocolate

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In honour of Lynda Renham’s book launch

CONFESSIONS OF A CHOCOHOLIC

today’s post is all about chocolate!

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I was thinking of all the lovely things you could do with chocolate and when I did some reasearch into this, I found that my imagination was pretty tame compared to that of others. How about styling your hair with chocolate? Or building a house from chocolate. My personal favourite was nail art with chocolate – really handy if you’re a nail biter!

Here’s the YouTube link for the top 10 things to do with chocolate.

Lynda is having a Facebook party today to celebrate her book launch  where she would love you to drop by. Click HERE to go direct to the party. There are prizes and fun all day long. 🙂

I am offering a free e-copy of my book United States of Love published by Harper Impulse. All you have to do is ‘Like’ my writer’s page by clicking the link on the right of this post, or clicking HERE, and send your ‘What I’d do with chocolate’ answer to Chocolate@renham.co.uk where Lynda will pick a winner at random.

Good luck and enjoy a fun day with Lynda!

Sue

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Exciting news!

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The excitement has been brewing for a while now and finally, all the hard work behind the scenes has paid off. I am delighted to share with everyone the cover for an anthology by The Romaniacs (that’s my writing group and lovely ladies).

Romaniac Shorts is a diverse collection of short stories and flash fiction, ranging from romance, to crime, to fantasy, and we are thrilled to see a long held idea come together.

Romaniac Shorts is due to be launched next week, Thursday 13 February, to celebrate our two years of blogging together. It will be available to download through Amazon and all proceeds are to be shared between Dyslexia Action and the RNA.

I love the cover and, if you’re interested, I chose the flowery ones! 😉

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Getting The Timing Right

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It’s been six months now since I signed with Harper Impulse and during that time, I’ve seen United States of Love (previously self-published) being given a make-over, a tidy up and relaunched, I’ve submitted book 2 ‘Closing In’ and as I wait for feedback, I have book 3 well under way.

I am regularly asked how I got my publishing deal. I’m hoping it’s out of curiosity rather than incredulity. Anyhow, I think a lot of it has to do with luck – my book landing on the right desk at the right time.  Harper Impulse were looking for new authors (and still are, click HERE for their submission guidelines) and United States of Love had been well received as a self-published book, it had also received a thoroughly encouraging and complimentary RNA report under their New Writers’ Scheme and it had also gained interest from an agent. So, after being urged on by one of my Romaniac pals, I sent it off to Harper Impulse.

The timing doesn’t end there though. Getting a book published is one thing, but making it a success is another. Some books hit the market at the right time and really take off. It could be tied in with a TV series, a topical event, a trend, a genre of book, a film or even the look of the cover could be on-trend – all these things can help promote the book and the timing of publication is just right. Sometimes it’s a coincidence and sometimes it may be more orchestrated. Whatever, a lot of it can be down to timing and, of course, a great story.

Who knows when ‘Closing In’ is published whether it will be a subject of the moment/on trend – it’s just something that can’t be predicted.  I do hope, however, my timing will be better than my timing at the weekend. That will teach me to sit on the slipway and play chicken with the incoming tide! 🙂 You can see video evidence on my writer’s page via this link – I apologise in advance for the squealing and giggling, you may want to turn the volume down before watching it!

Sue

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Written Fireside – His Way Home

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Lori Connelly is the mastermind behind this fun round-robin/written fireside story. She began it back in November and each week a different Harper Impulse author has taken up the story  and added their bit. This week it’s my turn.

All the previous weeks’ links are below.

Part 1 : Lori Connelly

Part 2 : Sarah Lefebve 

Part 3 : Zara Stoneley

Part 4 : Lynn Marie Hulsman

Part 5 : Romy Sommer

Part 6 : Jane Lark

Park 7 : Teresa Morgan

Part 8 : Carmel Harrington

His Way Home

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Beth swallowed and took a step back. She most certainly wasn’t pregnant and a baby wasn’t in their plans for a few more years. In her mind, she had imagined her and Matthew having children but in New York, not here in the back of beyond.

Alice was looking at her, a peaceful yet intense expression on her face. ‘Your fate is here, on the farm.’ The words were spoken as fact, rather than persuasion. ‘Don’t fight what is to be,’ said Alice, this time resting her hand on Beth’s cheek.

Beth had no idea what happened, but in that moment, it was as if Alice transferred some sort of inner wisdom. Suddenly Beth knew that New York was no longer an option. Whatever was going to happen in the future wasn’t going to happen in the Big Apple. Her and Matthew were needed here.

Matthew’s voice broke her reverie. ‘Could someone tell me what the hell is going on? Please tell me there’s a hidden camera and someone is going to jump out and say it’s some sort of hoax TV show.’ He clasped his hands behind his head and paced the room. ‘Just let me get this straight. I’m in a secret log cabin, which in all the years I’ve lived on this farm, I know jack-shit about.  In said cabin, is my Great Grandfather, who saved my life when I was 12, despite the fact he had been dead for years. Not only that, but my Grandmother, just happens to be here too, who, no offence Grandma Alice,’ he put a hand out in Alice’s direction, ‘but she’s resurrected herself too.’

‘Matthew …’ began Beth, she could see how agitated he was becoming.

Matthew cut in. ‘No, please Beth, I’m just getting to grips here.’ He took a breath. ‘Now, I know I’m the one with the medical qualification here and have brought people back from the dead before, but they had only been dead a few seconds or minutes, not years. Medical science hasn’t come on that quick.’ He stopped pacing and looked at Beth, then Alice and Walter. ‘Oh, but wait, that’s right, you two have travelled through time. Shucks, why didn’t I think of that before?’

Beth moved to his side and gently placed her hand on his arm. ‘I don’t understand all this either, but what other explanation is there? Let’s just run with it.’ She moved his hand to her stomach. ‘Your past is here for our future. And our future is here on the farm.’

He held her gaze and after a second or two spoke. ‘Not NYC?’ His question was a whisper.

She shook her head in reply, her eyes never leaving his.

Walter cleared his throat in a rather exaggerated manner. ‘Erm, I hate to interrupt but your Grandmother and I need to get back to our own times.’

 ~ ~ ~ ~

To be continued next Tuesday by Erin Lawless

And concluded the week after by Mandy Baggot

A shiny new blog

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A new year and a new blog!

Bear with me, while I get this writing blog up and running.  I’ve moved over from my old book reviewing blog as I’ve found lately I haven’t got nearly as much time to read and review on a regular basis.  It’s my intention to blog once a week, just short snappy posts, more like news flashes to keep you up to date with what’s going on.

I’ve also recently started using my Writer’s Page on Facebook, so if you would like to keep up to date and interact on that, please hit the like button to the right of this post or alternatively follow this link  Sue Fortin Writer’s Page.

Thank you all for your continued support – as always, very much appreciated.

Sue

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