This looks awesome an author book bloggers meet up in Stoke on Trent.
The Lost Princess Richard Dee #ARC #BookReview #IndieAuthor #Betaread
Goodreads Synopsis:
The prequel to Ribbonworld and Jungle Green
Where is Layla Balcom?
The most famous woman in the Galaxy, heiress to the Balcom empire, has vanished.
Has she simply exchanged her celebrity life for peace and quiet or has the unthinkable happened?
In the midst of the search, where rumours and speculation are rife, journalist Miles Goram thinks that he’s found the answer. A girl on the run suggests that Layla could be a hostage, in a club where the rich indulge their fantasies.
It’s located on Dalyster, a corrupt and secretive world. A place where his status as a reporter will do him no favours in his efforts to uncover the truth.
With his world falling apart, Miles is caught in the rivalry between politicians and businessmen.
Review
Many thanks to Richard Dee for an Advanced Reader’s beta copy of the novella The Lost Princess – all opinions are my own.
This is the prequel to Ribbonworld and Jungle Green. I really loved the premise of this story and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy and it did not disappoint. I feel very privileged to have had a chance to beta read this novella – a great honour indeed. The narrative starts of at an intriguing pace and continues to keep the reader absorbed throughout.
It is a quick, well-crafted read with fantastic characters and an imaginative Sci-Fi setting: Dalyster: An obscure planet, it had a reputation for corrupt officials and illicit pleasure, provided you had the funds.
It is an imaginative and engaging way to introduce readers to Ribbonworld and Jungle Green.
Here’s a link to the latest news about The Lost Princess, Ribbonworld and Jungle Green: https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/the-lost-princess-arriving-soon/
Ribbonworld is the prequel to the Balcom Dynasty #1 – A sci fi which I’ve uploaded to my kindle.
Ribbonworld is set in: ‘Reevis, a planet without days or nights where life is only possible under a vast pressure dome.’
Richard Dee’s Sci fi is very readable. #highlyrecommended.
I am looking forward to reading more from Richard Dee. Richard is a talented author and great supporter of the indie community.
My rating: 5 stars.
I also enjoyed reading Andorra Pett and The Oort Cloud Cafe – check out my review here: https://mjmallon.com/2019/03/30/bookreview-andorra-pett-and-the-oort-cloud-cafe-mystery-scifi/
Richard runs The Indie Showcase on his blog to help support and introduce indie authors to the larger community: https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/the-indie-showcase/
Don’t miss out, do check out his blog: https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/
Have you read any of Richard’s books? Do comment I’d love to hear from you.
Happy reading!
I’ve written loads of reviews. Please follow to links to read more of my reviews:
Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime
Social Media Links
Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Carrot Ranch June 20 Flash Fiction Challenge #FlashFiction
June 20, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about having to wait. Who is waiting and what for? Think about how the wait impacts the character or the story. Go where the prompt leads!
Respond by June 25, 2019. Use the comment section below to share, read, and be social. You may leave a link, pingback, or story in the comments. If you want to be published in the weekly collection, please use the form. Rules & Guidelines.
The idea for this piece of flash came about from job shares. Imagine if the person who you were job sharing with was a murderer… What a thought!
My flash:
Only two more hours, she joked as she left. I smiled. I knew I would say the same to her after two days’ time. The weekend is teasing me, waiting with a glass of wine. At two minutes past five I open her drawer to eat the snack she left me. It kills me to admit it but it tastes good. She’d said it was foul but lied. One more bite.
Shame that death arrived before the weekend. She didn’t need to poison me—we were both on the same prolonged career path.
https://carrotranch.com/2019/06/21/june-20-flash-fiction-challenge/
Cheerio for now!
Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime
Social Media Links
Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
COLLEEN’S 2019 WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 132 #SYNONYMSONLY
I’m looking for a Christmas venue for our staff party which is proving to be more difficult than I first anticipated. A colleague at work suggested I considered The Cock pub. Anyway, to cut a long story short I called The Cock and checked the size of the venue. We require a big capacity – over fifty guests – and I was informed that the venue was too small. Dead pan, I reported this back to my colleagues with the words: ‘the cock is too small!’
Cue much laughing… Oh my!
Thereafter, not content with the way things were going I googled other possible pubs and discovered a feisty possibility called The Wrestling Cocks. This wasn’t big enough but I was impressed by their passionate pride to their pub! They pointed us in the direction of another venue – the name escapes me – but sadly this didn’t meet my exalted expectations either…
So after much soul searching and a protracted period of titillating I’m now considering a more simple approach. Perhaps a venue with a numeral in the name such as The Three Buttes, or The Eight Ding-Dongs...
ALL PUBS NAMES IN ITALICS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY!
The pressure’s growing
To find a perfect venue
A decision soon
Be it big, or small in size
Carry on… up the pub dears!
Synonyms: For influence (I used pressure) and perception: (feeling)
To join in Colleen’s poetry challenge:
Social Media Links
Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime
Book Review of Devil In The Wind by Frank Prem #Poetry #BlackSaturday #Wildfires
Goodreads Synopsis:
Devil In The Wind is an account of catastrophic fire and its immediate aftermath.
In this 21st century, the whole world seems to be on fire. America burns. Europe burns. Greece is reeling after its own tragedy of fire.
And Australia burns, as it has always done, but now so much more fiercely.
In February 2009, wildfires burnt through entire communities, taking 173 lives and injuring hundreds, while destroying thousands of houses and other buildings. Up to 400 fires destroyed 450,000 hectares of forest, native fauna and habitat, livestock and farmland.
In the aftermath of the fires, the voices of people who had lived through the experience — victims, rescuers, and observers — spoke and were heard.
Devil In The Wind is Frank Prem’s poetic testament to the personal, and very human, accounts of those who themselves experienced and survived Black Saturday.
My review:
I discovered my love of poetry as a teenager and this love continues to this day.
Devil in The Wind is very different from any poetry book that I have ever read before. I’ve never encountered stream of consciousness poems before, or poetry that chronicles such a devastating experience in such a thoughtful, honest, human and visual way.
Poetry delivers raw emotions in a way that prose sometimes struggles to do.
My favourite poems are:
Evidence to the Commission of Enquiry
Like A Duck on The Lake
Portraits in Green And Gold
The look of salvation
First bus to Marysville
The strength of a Trukie
Ever again
Don decides
Frank Prem’s links:
https://frankprem.wordpress.com/
Thank you to the author for a copy – this in no way affects my review.
My recommendation: 5 stars. Definitely read this, it is a fantastic collection.
Have you read Devil in The Wind?
Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime
Social Media Links
Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
The Bloggers Bash 2019 – Highlights and Photos #bloggersbash @BloggersBash
I can count on one hand how many bashes I have attended – five in total. Each have been different but one aspect is undeniable – I have put on a little weight since the first one.
I blame Ritu’s wonderful cakes!
Do check out Ritu’s new author blog:
It was lovely reconnecting with old friends and making new ones too.
Unfortunately, as with all bashes there is always that moment when you realise that you haven’t had a chance to speak to everyone. So apologies to those I missed and to those I only chatted to briefly.
I took very few photos. Getting lazy…
But here are some, below myself, with Willow and Ritu.
Congratulations to Ritu for winning best book blog and to Sam Smith at Loving The Fifty Something Blog for winning the writing competition this year. I really enjoyed chatting to Sam and wish her every success and happiness with her writing and inspirational lifestyle.
Highlights
I particularly enjoyed listening to guest author Gemma Todd talking about her writing journey.
From working class girl with no books in the house, or readers in her family, to librarian and Headline author! That shows determination, tenacity and a love of the written word! Gemma flitted across the stage in an exuberant but down-to-earth way making me smile. She shared some touching anecdotes about her father and her genuine authenticity shone through.
The journey of a writer. Interesting and emotional talk by @GemTodd #BloggersBash pic.twitter.com/P9uZF22BEv
— Shelley Wilson (@ShelleyWilson72) June 15, 2019
I’ve followed Gemma on Twitter and will be finding out more about her book series which sounds fab. You can find out more about Gemma on her author website is via this link: https://gxtodd.com
Other highlights of the day were the flatlay session with Suzanne Elliot. Great tips from Suzanne followed by Sacha helping me with my creation.
Sacha Black’s invaluable advice was simple: less is more – don’t clutter your #flatlay photography. Add items to identify your unique style.
In Sacha’s case she includes a skull in her #flatlay. In my case, I could consider adding an item in red (like the colouring on my book cover.)
This is my work in progress flatlay… red item to be added at a later date. Perhaps a red bloodstone!
And The Panellists
Discussion was very interesting too. We heard from three knowledgeable bloggers/writers.
Listening to @esthernewton201 @ShelleyWilson72 and @FulltotheBrum during the panel discussion at the #BloggersBash pic.twitter.com/oucKOMJo6n
— Suzie81blog (@suzie81blog) June 15, 19
Great summation of the bash by my lovely friend Ritu: https://butismileanyway.com/2019/06/17/chai-and-a-chat-37-chaiandachat-bloggersbash-special-bloggersbash/
The perspective of a new blogger who hadn’t been before – Marian:
https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2019/06/16/annual-bloggers-bash-2019/
More about the Bloggers Bash and Flatlay workshop from Eloise:
https://eloisedesousa.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/bloggers-bash-flatlay-workshop/
https://eloisedesousa.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/bloggers-bash-2019/
From the Bloggers Bash Website:
And Willow’s wonderful account full of photos: https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2019/06/16/the-annual-bloggers-bash-june-15-2019/
Sherri’s fab post on the bash: https://sherrimatthewsblog.com/2019/06/18/five-years-and-another-fab-bloggers-bash-2019/
Bye for now.
If you haven’t been to the bash yet I hope you might consider coming!
Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime