This Is Lockdown is a anthology/compilation of diaries, short stories, flash fiction and poetry set during COVID19 from 23rd March until 1st June 2020. The anthology also features the ‘isolation writers’ who featured on my blog discussing their thoughts on isolation during this time.
The question which I posed at the time was:
How do writers, creatives, artists and bookish souls cope with isolation? Is their capacity to cope different from the rest of the population? It’s an interesting question and one that fascinates me.
Several of the contributing authors and bloggers also contributed poems, or thoughts about this time.
The wonderful contributing authors and creatives are many in number!
Richard Dee, (Sci Fi , Steampunk, Amateur Detective author,) Catherine Fearns, (Amazon Bestselling Author of Police Procedural/Mysteries and Music Journalist,) Lynn Fraser, (Author,) Jackie Carreira, (Writer, musician, designer and aspiring philosopher,) Willow Willers, (Poet and writer,) Sharon Marchisello, (Murder Mystery, Financial non-fiction,) Fi Phillips , (Author, Copy Writer) Jeannie Wycherley, (dark stories, suspense, horror,) Chantelle Atkins, (urban fiction, teen/YA,) Tracie Barton-Barrett, (Speaker/author,) Peter Taylor- Gooby, (Crime, Love Stories, Political Fiction,) Ritu Bhathal, (Chick Lit romance, poet,) Alice May , (Author, Artist and Speaker,) Miriam Owen, (Blogger and Doctoral Researcher,) Drew Neary and Ceri Williams (Ghost Horror, Supernatural,) Katherine Mezzacappa, (author name: Katie Hutton,) (Historical Fiction/Romance,) Sally Cronin, (huge supporter of indie community/blogger/author) Debby Gies (D G Kaye), (Memoirist/NonFiction,) Adele Marie Park, (Fantasy, horror, urban fantasy,) Marian Wood, (blogger, poet and writer.) Samantha Murdoch, (Writer, Blogger,) Beaton Mabaso (Blogger, African Storyteller,) Frank Prem (Poet, Author,) Anne Goodwin (Author, Book Blogger) Sherri Matthews (Writer, Photographer, Blogger,) and and two contributors Jane Horwood and Melissa Santiago-Val who raised £40,000 for the NHS with their mask making enterprise which became a new charity: Sew Positive.
Here is one of the masks that I bought to support the charity.
More about the mental health charity Sew Positive here: https://www.birketts.co.uk/insights/latest-news/birketts-supports-sewing-charity-tailored-to-boost/
Thank you so much to each one of them for being a part of this project.
Please do visit their websites to discover the huge variety of writing and creative talent amongst them ranging from talented short story and poetry writers to horror, fantasy, supernatural thriller, romance and memoir writing. And more!!! Plus the wonderful fundraising Community Masks 4 NHS initiative from Jane Horwood and Melissa Santiago-Val.
There truly is something for everyone amongst this international group of writers and creatives who are based in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Italy, America and Zimbabwe.
This is a tough time for writers as it is for everyone. The arts and creative industry is under threat as are businesses worldwide.
The kindle of This Is Lockdown was released on 20th July.
The paperback of This Is Lockdown was released on 2nd December. It is a shorter version, (with no diaries, all photographic images in black and white. )
The latest posts regarding the book itself, or COVID19 are:
Latest review: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2021/02/14/bookreview-this-is-lockdown-by-m-j-mallon
https://lightboxoriginals.com/difficult-times/
https://katrina-hart.com/2020/09/28/this-is-lockdown-by-m-j-mallon/
https://chantelleatkins.com/2020/09/11/guest-post-6-dreaming-of-another-world/
Beetley Pete: https://beetleypete.com/2020/08/02/bloggers-books-marjorie-mallon/
There was a two week promotion and blog tour from the week beginning 13th July.
Book Promo:
10th July. A promo post from Lorraine Mace: http://thewritersabcchecklist.blogspot.com/2020/07/friday-fiction-feature-this-is-lockdown.html
Pre-order week:
Sally Cronin – Featured us with a new book on the shelves on 13th July: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/smorgasbord-cafe-and-bookstore-special-feature-anthology-this-is-lockdown-covid-19-diaries-flash-fiction-poetry-m-j-mallon-and-other-authors/
Blog Tour/Promo posts:
14th July Chantelle Atkins (Q and A) – Book Tour: https://chantelleatkins.com/2020/07/14/this-is-lockdown-q-and-a-with-mj-mallon/
15th July Beaton Mabaso – Book Tour – https://mjmallon.com/2020/07/15/of-this-is-lockdown-book-and-blog-tour-becoming-the-muse/
16th July Willow Willers – Q and A – https://mjmallon.com/2020/07/16/day-three-of-the-this-is-lockdown-blog-tour-willowdot21/
17th July Double Promo for This Is Lockdown and Adele Marie Park’s new release Wisp II – Sea Dragons – here!
18th July Sally Cronin – Promo and Review – https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2020/07/18/smorgasbord-book-reviews-anthology-this-is-lockdown-covid-19-diaries-flash-fiction-poetry-m-j-mallon-and-other-authors/
Launch week:
20th July – Myself! – Book Tour Release Day: https://mjmallon.com/2020/07/18/20th-july-release-day-this-is-lockdown-compilation-anthology-writing-authors-lockdown-poems-flash-diaries-contributors/
21st July – Sharon Wilden of Shaz’s book blog – Promo post. https://shazsbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-write-stuff-with-m-j-mallon.html
22nd July – Ritu Kaur BP – Book Tour https://butismileanyway.com/2020/07/22/this-is-lockdown-blogtour-marjorie_mallon/
23rd July –Richard Dee – Book Tour and Review: https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/this-is-lockdown/
24th July – D G Kaye ( Q and A) – Book Tour: https://dgkayewriter.com/q-a-with-d-g-kaye-featuring-marjorie-mallon-this-is-lockdown-anthology/
25th July – Marian Wood – Book Tour – https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2020/07/25/this-is-lockdown-blog-tour/
5 star Reviews:
Latest: 5 stars from Didi Oviatt:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3598949195/
5 stars from James Cudney: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3526675201/
Review from Adele Park: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3432131317/
Review from Marian Wood: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3484130110/
Buying Link:
Kindle Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CD1MCFB/
Kindle Amazon US link:
Kindle Universal link:
Paperback is now available to buy at Blackwells Bookshop:
Blackwells Online Shop – Paperback Link for ThIs Is Lockdown
Paperback Amazon Universal link:
Paperback link:
Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Authors Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon Collaborative Group: https://www.facebook.com/pg/5SpiritualSisters/
It’s a take lemons and make lemonade kind of thing! Cool idea.:-)
I hope it fizzes! Thanks Priscilla it’s been a great distraction. 🙂
Good luck with this anthology!! A great lineup of writers.
Thank you Darlene. 🙂 x
Hi Marjorie do you still need some to do the 16 th for you , I can send you some questions if you like or tell me if you you’d like a different format to an interview 💜
Yes please Willow that would be great. Just found your comment now. I sent you a DM too. Either q and a or whatever would suit. X
I shall email you Sis 💜
Got your email Sis. 🙂
Thank you 💜
I left a comment here but can´t see it.
My comments have been hiding! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂