Today, I am delighted to share with you my cover reveal for my debut fantasy YA novel:
The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone
I’m delighted with the cover – Wendy Anne Darling at BOOKXEEDO Book Covers has done a marvellous job. Isn’t the cover just beautiful? Thank you Wendy so much.
Cover photography credit: Chronopage and grasshopper – John C Taylor, OBE.
Cover photography credit (spine) : Bloodstone – Alex Marlowe, via https://samanthamurdochblog.wordpress.com
Synopsis:
On Amelina Scott’s thirteenth birthday, her father disappears under mysterious circumstances. Saddened by this traumatic event, she pieces together details of a curse that has stricken the heart and soul of her family.
Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house.
Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family’s troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.
With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?
Excerpt – Prologue
Most people would call our existence strange, but this is more than that, this deserves a headline. We’re not spectacular enough to feature on the national or international news, but we warranted a column in the local newspaper headed by seven not so lucky words: Missing Father Returns After Weird Aging Phenomenon. I’m glad that our short-lived fame died and the paparazzi, (what a joke,) got bored with us. Now we can get back to the day to day living if you can call it that.
We live in a typical suburb of Cambridge in an untypical house. It’s no bungalow, the floors just go on and on, and so do the rumours about us. When I say we, I mean, our strange extended family comprising mature tantrum-prone Mum, Dad, (alias old man before his time) teenage me the most stable of us all (I think,) and self-harming Esme who isn’t my sister but might as well be. I could write a whole book devoted to her alone. Oh, and I forgot to mention our permanent houseguest Shadow, a black cat of indeterminate age and parenthood who arrived one day and never left. The rest of the inhabitants of our household, (except perhaps for me, and Shadow although that is open to debate,) are dysfunctional, weirded out characters.
I have to cope with a lot, (and that’s an understatement,) so I resort to painting, rock-and-roll, collecting crystals, writing songs, and poetry. I enjoy writing haiku, a Japanese form of poetry with three lines and some syllables to count. It soothes me. I write Tanka too; adding two longer lines at the end which soothes me more. Each poetic puzzle I jot down serves as a clue for less afflicted folk to decipher what the hell I am talking about.
So what am I talking about? The trouble is I don’t know; I’m still muddling through. Although I expect it’s a cry for help, (a yell,) combined with me dissecting the details about Mum’s life, Dad’s existence and his disappearance, Esme’s imprisonment, and Shadow’s ability to appear and reappear at a moment’s notice. And, that’s to say nothing about living in a house which feels like a living being!
Yes, I joke to stay sane. That’s a lot to process, (sorry) and it’s only a fraction, a haiku titbit, so let’s keep it simple but poetic and start with a view.
A view, I jest not; I saw this sky through my kitchen window today…
I hope you enjoyed the excerpt. Here are some promotional photos too.
Photo credit – Chronopage and Grasshopper: John C Taylor, OBE.
Photo credit – Bloodstone crystal in slideshow, plus photos of cat model Lily posing as my black cat character Shadow, via my blogging friend Samantha Murdoch’s blog.
Photo credit : Photos of Ryder (model J. English,) in the slideshow – Georgina Mallon.
There are many themes in The Curse of Time:
My kindle release date has been set – 26th August, 2017.
Do let me know what you think about my paperback cover.
The paperback release date is 2nd April 2018 and includes two wonderful images created by artist Carolina Russo – https://yesterdayafter.com.
Buying link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curse-Time-Book-Bloo…/…/1999822439/
Esme The Mirror Girl
and The Creature –
Both of the above images appear in the paperback in black and white.
I’m so excited, in fact I’m flying through the air on my crystal chandelier!
Bye for now, love you!
My social media links:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
Congratulations Marje. I can imagine your excitement 🙂
Thank you Jacqueline. 🙂
Congratulations, Marje. It’s looking good.
Looks really good.
Congratulations. Your book cover is fabulous. Wishing you lots of sales. 😊
Thank you so much, so kind of you. 🙂 xx
Marje!! The cover is brilliant 🙂 Woohoo it’s almost “go time” for your YA book!!
Yes, shall be having a big blog/FB party on 26th August, put it in your diary! 🙂 x
Done! 🙂
Awesome! 🙂
Congratulations Marje! I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to read your book. The cover looks great too.
Thank you Lizzie, it’s a dream come true, still pinching myself. The e-book releases 26th August and is available to pre-order and after that I will be finalising the paperback for release September. : )
Many congratulations on the brilliant cover reveal, Marje. It looks absolutely wonderful. Any news on a publication date yet?
Yes, the e-book is available to pre-order on Amazon, release date 26th August, (so put that date in your diary.) Planning on a big blog/FB party. Paperback hopefully Sept. 🙂
Looking fine Marie. Pre-ordered
Bloody hell… Marje not whoever spellcheck wants it to be, some goddammed fairy…
Excellent, thank you so much Geoff. Marie is pleased too! Lol… :
Wow! I can’t believe we had our book cover reveals at the same time! Great minds do think alike! Your book cover is beautiful and in perfect theme with your story. Very intriguing storyline. It’s on my TBR list and I can’t wait to read it! <3 xx
Ha Ha! Yes indeed. Fantastic, I’d love to read your fabulous book too. All the best, <3 xx
Eye-catching cover, Marje! I especially like that ‘Curse’ is in red. And the story sounds right up my alley. Wishing you all the best with your new book 🙂 ♥
Thank you Tina so pleased you like the cover and the story too. Please put the 26th of August in your diary I’ll be having a book launch party on my blog and on FB and would love it if you could come. Xx
Welcome, Marje, and done! Hope it’s a huge success ❤
Thank you Tina, and much success to you too. <3
Thank you, my friend ❤
Congratulations Marje, it looks terrific!
Thank you Ali. I’m pretty pleased with it! xx
OH MY WORD IT LOOKS FABULOUS!!! And thank you so much for Alex’s credit too – that’s very kind of you 💕 Lily sends purrs and congratulations too – can’t wait to read the whole book! 📑💎😺💕xxx
Thank you Samantha, I’m pleased with it!!! You are so welcome for Alex’s credit. And thank you for Lily’s purs and congrats too! Hope you enjoy reading. xxx
Huge congrats Marje. The cover is beautiful. <3
Thank you Debby. 😘
It is a great cover, Marje. Best of luck with the new book… Please, do something to remind you to spread the word by the launch date (just fav a few tweets or leave me a comment and I´ll help you spread the word!, deal?) xx
Hi, that would be so kind of you, I’ll definitely be in touch. Appreciate all your help so much. xx
Absolutely… just let me know with a few successive favs on Twitter… I´ll remember 😀 xx
🙂
Hello! I’ve nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award on my blog at https://highrisk1.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/i-was-nominated-for-the-mystery-blogger-award/! I hope you accept, and if so, you can follow the instructions I posted! Thank you for bloggin’ xox
And congrats on your book!
Thank you so much for nominating me I really appreciate it. I shall add you to my special page: https://mjmallon.com/2016/03/14/kyrosmagica-is-now-award-free/. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t take part as I am so snowed under at the moment writing guest posts for the release of my novel. Thank you so much for thinking of me and I really appreciate your congrats about my book too. Marje x
Of course! Let me know if I can help show off your book any time!
Thank you so much, appreciate it. I am organising blog tours at the moment so if you would like to feature me let me know. 🙂 x
Absolutely! Let me know what I can do 🙂
Hi Cat, I’m pencillig in book tours at the moment, would you be able to feature me on your blog? No rush – just whenever you have time. Thanks so much. Marje x
Of course! Just tell me what I need to do 🙂
Will email you Cat, thanks. 🙂
Congrats! Good luck with the launch!
Thank you Stephanie. 🙂
Good luck!
Thank you Lynz. It’s been a long, hard journey but I finally am getting there!
Ohhh Marje I sure can’t wait to see what happens! <3 Best wishes!
Thank you Carolina. I’m so excited, I can hardly believe it, I am at long last an author!
Yes you are congratulations!
Great cover and intriguing story, Marje. Good luck!
Thank you so much Olga. 🙂
Congratulations Marje! I also love the slideshow.
Thank you so much Inese. 🙂 xx
Drop by to say hello!
Thank you, 🙂
Marje, BIG congratulations! How wonderful to have a beginning of your life’s dream coming true. LOVE the cover!! Just LOVE it! It’s intriguing and unique. Keep on following your heart and don’t let anyone deter you from achieving your goals. All the best!!! 💖
Thank you so much AmyRose, so kind of you. And many thanks for your kind words about the cover. I love it too! Have a lovely evening. 🙂 x
Love the cover Marje.. and a big congratulations .. The cover alone would have me plucking it from the book shelf.. Yet alone the excerpt ..
May it be a huge success..
Sue 🙂
Thank you Sue that is so kind of you appreciate your support and encouragement so much. 🙂
You are very welcome Marje. 🙂
Awesome, Marje. Congrats and good luck with your book. It’s an exciting time and fun to see you popping up in the blogosphere!
Thank you Diana, it certainly is an exciting time. Extra busy too! 🙂
Congratulations & Best Wishes, Marje!
Thank you Bette. 🙂
Congratulations!! <3
Congrats Marjorie – looking forward to the blog tour and I loved the excerpt!
Thank you Jenny, can’t wait!
Congrats Marjorie! All the best
Thank you! 🙂
These images are terrific, Marje. Wishing you continued success. Hugs.
Thank you so much Teagan. 🙂
The excerpt is a good read and Carolina’s images are superb. Congratulations!
Thank you so much Robert. So glad you enjoyed the excerpt and Carolina’s beautiful images. 🙂
Very nice reveal… Good luck with it! 🙂
Thank you Kevin. 🙂
congratulations it looks like a fantastic read!
Thank you, I’m currently working on the second book in the series. Very excited how that is progressing, hope it may be finished this autumn.
Congratulations on your book. The cover is very attractive and the story interesting. It’s exciting.
Thank you so much Valentina. So kind of you. 🙂 x
SOME FANTASTIC COVERS AND GREAT REVIEWS, CHINA
Thank you so much, that’s very kind of you. 🙂