SUCCESSFUL BOOK LAUNCH – ARTHUR DUX BELLORUM
The launch went well and with the addition of pre-ordered e-books, sales on Amazon drove it into the top ten in the ‘Alternative History’ category. It hung around in the ‘Top New Releases in Alternative History’ rankings for a couple of weeks – thanks to those of you who bought it. Reviews on amazon.co.uk have been good and are into double figures at time of writing.
I’d like to thank the following for featuring Arthur Dux Bellorum’s launch package on their book review blogs:
Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
English Historical Fiction Authors
AF Stewart’s Book Blog
Linda Hill blog and review (Linda’s Book Bag)
Claire Buss author interview (A Slice of Cake)
Juliet Butler (Book Literati)
Susan Hampson blog and review (Books From Dusk ‘Till Dawn)
Eric Klein (Friday Features interview)
Jenny Kane Book Blog
Grace Reviewer Lady Book Blog (included review by John)
Jane Risdon’s Book Blog
Emma Mitchel’s Little Book Worm Blog (Character spotlight on Arthur)
Nancy Jardine’s Book Blog
Melanie Smith’s Book Blog (review)
Julia Sutton book blog interview
Michelle Connor blog interview
If I’ve missed you, sorry! If you have a book blog and would like to feature me then please get in touch. Thanks everyone! The indie author support network is a strong as ever.
My buy links are: Paperback – Amazon Kindle universal – Apple i-book, Kobo, Nook, other
Michelle Connor
This month I’m delighted to welcome fellow British indie author, Michelle Connor.
Michelle lives on the North East coast of England in a town called Grimsby. She’s been with her husband for twenty-one years. They have three children together. Their youngest is sixteen. She is the princess of the family and has two older brothers. As well as writing Michelle loves to paint, draw, and take lots of photographs. She has a great intrigue for history and spends many a summers day hunting for castles and ruins to visit. I think this comes through in her first novella series as it is set in the medieval era.
Please visit her website for more.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I had poetry published when I was fifteen, but I didn’t realize I wanted to write fiction books until I was in my thirties.
What genre books do you write? Fantasy with a heart.
What is the name of your book/books? The Bound: Hers to Save Series. Where Ravens Soar: Nine World Protection Agency Series.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? To not give up writing because life got in the way.
Does your family support your career as a writer? It depends on the day.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? Not using clique dialogue every now and then.
Does writing energize or exhaust you? Both. I can be crying at a sad scene while I write it and shouting at the screen if someone dies I wasn’t expecting too or laughing at something funny a character does or says. I’m a complete pantser and maybe a little crazy too.
What items do you surround yourself with when you write? Music and sometimes reference books.
What is your favourite genre of books to read? Epic Fantasy, but my guilty pleasure is romance books.
What is your favourite childhood book? Flowers in the attic.
Do you have a favourite author or one who inspires you to write? Joel Shepherd.
What words of wisdom would you give to someone who wants to be an author? Read lots, and when you start the first draft just write. Don’t worry about your spelling or if it’s any good. Get the words on the page and worry about all the rest during the many rounds of edits which are to come. And those will come, boy will they come.
John Karlicuk
Welcome to Poet’s Corner, John Karlicuk…
“I was born in Slough 1950 (maybe 8pm) half Ukrainian half Irish, thus the name John Ivan O’Karliciuk.
I spent my early years in Wexford Eire living with my grandparents till my parents could decide if they wanted me and had saved up for my boat ticket to England. I went to St Joseph’s Roaming Catholic School in Slough and spent my childhood roaming about running away from home and even travelling back to Wexford twice on a platform ticket as of course the fare was more than 6 pence. At school I mainly played truant as I had no musical talent. I began to write at a very young age (mainly on lavatory doors).
I had many types of employment trainee supermarket manager, trainee male nurse, office jobs and countless manufacturing jobs. I never found my niche and work sadly prevented me following my dreams of being a playboy layabout. I tried to join the RAF in 1969 but they were shut that day. Also, my strange name smelled of Soviet Spy. I married early about 11am. The marriage didn’t work out but at least I hadn’t wasted the whole day! I met a wonderful Lady and travelled extensively to America, Australia, Egypt and Europe. I have many interests and have been in amateur dramatics and also a local writers’ group along with my cousin and good friend Mary Parris. I would describe my unique writing style as ‘progressive garbage’ My passion is searching for the meaning of life and when I find it, I’ll disclose it in a poem…”
POETIC MUSINGS…
In Taplow’s historic village, a stones’ throw from the Thames
In a weathered crumbling churchyard stands one of England’s gems
Wildflowers in the hedgerows
Welcome ramblers on their way
To sacred ground and Taeppa’s Mound from an Anglo-Saxon day
Taplow was named from Taeppa Low the Saxon prince entombed below
Twelve centuries chief Taeppa slept this burial mound his secrets kept.
In the British museum his royal grave goods now are stored
A golden buckle-drinking horns
Rich textiles and his sword
I wondered back to the village Inn
The charming Oak and Saw
To take a drink-reflect and think
My mind still filled with awe
Long have I lived near Taplow
Yet of its wealth I never knew
Just a stone throw from the Thames a gem like Sutton Hoo.
I slap on the makeup my best to look
Then post my selfie on Facebook
I hide the way I am and feel
So, my Life looks so ideal
Of my reality you have no notion
You only get my self-promotion
It seems sometimes that life’s on hold
That so much data’s made us cold
No meat and veg, its sugars n’ jam
And Life is one great pile of spam.
Children once went out to play
But now its x-box night and day
Too much sitting-little walking
Too much texting little talking
To old eyes it seems a mess
Can this really be progress?
We’ve left our tribe and village bliss
Now lost inside Metropolis
What if the computers are human haters
Sent from our future terminators?
They promised Wonders to inspire us
But seeded in our brains a Virus.
I noticed it back in the time of Thatcher’s
The invasion of the Body Snatchers
So, are people changing?
Growing mechanistic selfish colder
Or am I just a Luddite with silicon
Chips upon my shoulder?
May I introduce Lady History?
She’s enthralling-Dark-Mysterious
But much of what you’ll hear of her
You shouldn’t take too serious.
She’s Hot! She’s very Spicy!
Can give intense heartburn
She does seem to repeat on us
We mortals never learn!
I’ve heard a bit about her-would love to learn some more.
Some say she’s an Angel, some say just a Whore.
One thing you’ll discover when she
Wines and dines.
She wears a ton of make up
To hide her many lines.
So, wear your finest dinner jacket!
Look your best you can’t go wrong
For Lady History so admires
The Wealthy and the Strong.
Lady History will seduce you
Dressed in fine Lace and Satin.
There is no book she hasn’t read
And she loves to speak in Latin.
But imagine not she cares for you!
In her no Love you’ll find.
She sweeps all suitors from the stage
And casts them out of mind.
Congratulations on a successful launch!