The Curse of Time – A Thank You!!!

A big hug and a huge thank you to all the wonderful authors/bloggers who have been so kind as to host me on their blogs. You are all awesome!

Many thanks to Hugh at Hugh’s News and Views for featuring me as his Book of The Month in October:

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2017/10/01/book-of-the-month-the-curse-of-time-book-1-bloodstone-by-m-j-mallon-marjorie_mallon/

And the lovely Ritu at But I Smile Anyway who was so kind to share my poem:

‘What Inspires You.’

Ritu at But I Smile Anyway,
Asked me ‘What inspires you?’
I scratched my head and replied…..
‘Everything!”
‘Everything?’ She repeated.
‘Yes.’
‘What’s everything?’ She asked.
So I said,
‘The sun, the moon and the stars,
Sunsets, Crystals, Cats, Shadows,
Art, Puzzles, Mysteries,
Books, Music, Film, Sculptures,
People, Photography and chit chat.’
‘What kind of chit chat,’ she enquired?
‘The kind that keeps me listening!”
‘Are your ears big?’ she said.
I laughed, grinned and nodded.
She stared at me wide eyed,
So I confessed, ‘My ears eavesdrop.’
‘Blame your lugs,’ she replied.
‘Yes, my lugs are criminals,’ I agreed.
‘Where do your rapscallion ears eavesdrop?’
‘On the bus, on the train, anywhere.’
‘Even at the bloggers bash?’ she cried, in shock.
‘No! Never there! Bloggers code,’ I replied.
Ha ha, she giggled. ‘Mum’s the word!’
Lol, I tweeted.
‘So that’s it? Inspiration’s end?’ she asked, unsure.
‘No, never!’ I cried, aghast.
‘This is only a beginning and a middle.
Inspiration never stops,
It just grows and bloody grows!’
Retweet, hashtag, Retweet, hashtag.
‘Inspiration bloody grows!’

and my new release: https://butismileanyway.com/2017/08/25/marjorie-mallon-poetic-inspiration-thecurseoftime-blogtour-author/

Furthermore, I had the opportunity to write two guest posts about Self Harm, (a sensitive topic that I touch upon in my novel,) via:

Christy Birmingham’s amazing blog When Women Inspire: https://whenwomeninspire.com/2017/08/21/self-harm-fiction-writing-guest-post/

And Adele’s Firefly 465: https://firefly465.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/marjorie-mallon-curse-of-time-1-the-bloodstone/

Here’s a link to an inspiration post I wrote for Chris Graham’s blog: https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2017/09/07/meet-guest-author-m-j-mallon-marje/

And a feature about my love of poetry on Charli’s Raw Literature: https://carrotranch.com/2017/08/22/raw-literature-haiku-tanka-and-a-debut-novel/

Plus and oh so welcoming guest post on Seumas Gallacher’s blog: https://seumasgallacher.com/2017/08/22/marjorie-mallon-poet-and-authoress-extraordinaire-come-be-entranced/

Here’s a link to some information about my collaboration with gifted artist Carolina Russo: https://yesterdayafter.com/2017/09/06/new-release-esme-bringing-alive-a-character-with-a-painting-collaboration-with-author-mj-mallon/

Carolina created an amazing portrait of my character Esme who you can see below:

©Copyright Carolina Russo

And a fun online interview on Lisa Burton Radio with my mirror bound character Esme: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2017/09/21/the-curse-of-time-on-lisaburtonradio/

As well as a guest post at Christoph Fischer’s blog: https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/new-release-the-curse-of-time-book-1-bloodstone-by-m-j-mallon/

I headed off to take part in excerpt week at Marcia Meara’s : https://marciamearawrites.com/2017/08/05/excerptweek-the-curse-of-time-by-marjorie-mallon/

Then trundled off to do a Guest post at S C Skillman’s : https://scskillman.com/2017/08/22/the-curse-of-time-a-guest-post-by-m-j-mallon-author-of-the-curse-of-time-book-1-bloodstone/

More wonderful opportunities came along. I was thrilled to be a guest at Allan Hudson’s:

http://allanhudson.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/guest-author-marjorie-mallon-of-england.html

And delighted to be at Eloise De Sousa’s Book Tuesday:

https://eloisedesousa.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/book-tuesday-with-marje/

And Beaton’s oh so entertaining Becoming The Muse: https://becomingthemuse.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/of-a-book-tour-the-curse-of-time/

Plus a lovely feature at Helen Jone’s Journey To Ambeth:

https://journeytoambeth.com/2017/09/14/guest-author-marjorie-mallon-the-curse-of-time/

I was thrilled to be showcased at Sally Cronin’s amazingly supportive blog home on many occasions. Thank you so much Sally, but this particular link highlights me as ‘new on the shelves,’ https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-on-the-shelves-the-curse-of-time-by-m-j-mallon/

And last but definitely not least my two Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club fellow administrators featured me too:

Debby Gies https://dgkayewriter.com/guest-featured-author-book-mj-mallon-curse-time/

and Colleen Chesebro: (with a link to my story Rainbow Child,) https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/24/fairies-myths-magic-author-spotlight-guest-posts-rainbow-child-by-mj-mallon/

Prior to this there were pre-release Spotlights too on Vashti’s blog and Dan Alatorre’s : https://vashtiqvega.wordpress.com/2017/06/12/spotlight-m-j-mallon-author/ and https://danalatorre.com/2017/05/08/author-profile-23-questions-with-marje-from-kyrosmagica/

So many people to thank you! I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone!

More News: Semi-Finalist Authors DB Cover Competition

I am thrilled to say that my cover and Colleen Chesebro’s cover (both designed by Wendy Anne Darling, of Bookxeedo Book Covers) made the semi-final of the AuthorsDB cover competition! More about that here : https://mjmallon.com/2017/11/02/vote-for-the-curse-of-time-cover-competition-semi-finalist/

I will let you know who the finalists are once I’ve heard any news!

Birthday News, Reviews and Paper Back Release Plans!

Unfortunately, I have been very busy of late and I am struggling for time! So apologies for being a very poor blogger. The curse of time has truly struck! With a full-time job my hours are no longer my own, but I’m thrilled to announce that on my birthday – the 17th of November – I will be featured on Don Massenzio’s Blog, so keep an eye out for that.

I’ve been busy getting my paperback ready and hope that I will have a release date for you soon! So if you’d like a guest on your blog do get in touch, I’ll be looking for guest blog posts middle to end of November, beginning of December.

In the meantime, don’t forget about me! I am still alive and kicking! Happy to say that there have been some very positive reviews for The Curse of Time Book 1 – Bloodstone.

Isn’t that awesome?

Here’s a little review meme I made:

Bye for now, love ya!

My social media links:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club

https://mjmallon.com

http://dgkayewriter.com/

https://colleenchesebro.com/

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
Instagram
Facebook

Tumblr

Sharing Options:

November 12, 2017 27

#Vote for The Curse of Time – #Cover #Competition #Semi Finalist!!

I’m delighted to say that my novel The Curse of Time is a semi finalist in the AuthorsDB cover competition!

Thank you to http://www.johnctaylor.com/ for his magnificent photos of The Corpus Christi Chronopage and to my talented cover designer, Wendy Darling. Wendy has two covers in the competition, mine and my good friend Colleen Chesebro’s The Heart Stone Chronicles.

Isn’t that amazing news!

Here’s my link to vote for get me in the final! https://www.authorsdb.com/2017-cover-contest-results/24831-cover-contest-2017-the-curse-of-time and Colleen Chesebro’s, The Heart Stone Chronicles: https://www.authorsdb.com/2017-cover-contest-results/24840-cover-contest-2017-the-swamp-fairy

So you can vote for both of us as we are in different categories, Colleen is in Fiction – Young Adult and I am in Fantasy!

Well done to https://wendyannedarling.wordpress.com/ for helping create two wonderful book covers.

Very happy to be a semi-finalist!

Bye for now,

My social media links:

Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon @curseof_time

Instagram

Facebook

Tumblr

Sharing Options:

November 2, 2017 24

Launch Party!!!! The Curse of Time #1 Bloodstone – Kindle E-Book

At last! It’s my launch party today for my kindle e-book and I can’t believe it – I am beyond thrilled.

Welcome!

Come in and let me share with you some news.

I’ve been keeping a very special piece of art tucked away to reveal to you today!

It’s a wonderful portrait that Carolina Russo of Yesterday After created for me of my character Esme.

What are your impressions of Esme? The tears in her eyes convey her sadness but the golden hair of the mysterious girl facing her (no spoilers!) is bright and vibrant, suggesting hope. Carolina has done an amazing job, I can’t thank her enough for all her hard work in creating this stunning artwork for me. Collaborations makes me so happy. That is why I love writing and blogging so much. I would never have ‘met’ Carolina otherwise. It’s so wonderful to be able to collaborate with talented and creative individuals like Carolina who live so far away.

More news! Tina Fotherby at Famous Publicity is in the process of arranging a meeting between little old me and the inventor of the Corpus Christi clock, http://www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage/

Isn’t that beyond awesome? I am speechless. Dr John C. Taylor has been so generous, allowing me to use images of his incredible creation The Corpus Christi Chronopage on my social media and my book cover.

Look at a close up of this bug of a fellow below… (courtesy of Dr. John C Taylor) – My interview with The Grasshopper – The Curse of Time

I am very fortunate to have such a creative younger daughter, Georgina who has done an amazing job of photographing two models depicting my two main characters – Amelina, and Ryder.

Amelina – modelled by Elise Hackney

Ryder – modelled by Joseph English.

I have had the joy of collaborating with https://samanthamurdochblog.wordpress.com/ Samantha happens to have a black cat supermodel Lily who looks just like the black cat Shadow in my book.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Isn’t Lily amazing?

Samantha loves crystals and so do I! Her son Alex Marlowe took this stunning photo of a Bloodstone crystal that features on the spine of my paperback (the paperback is still to be released.)

I can’t thank my good friend Colleen Chesebro enough for all her kindness. She started off beta reading and then took me under her fairy wings to do a full scale edit. Thanks also to my beta readers – blogging friend Graeme Cumming – first draft beta reader and my eldest daughter Natasha Mallon for all her help too.

Below are the links to the kindle e-book – The Curse of Time – #1 Bloodstone.

If you’d like to leave a review, I’d be thrilled if you would.

My Amazon UK Author Page

My Amazon US Author Page

My Amazon Canada Author Page

So let’s get in party mode, perhaps have a drink or two…

Whatever your tipple…

or a cup of very special tea?

Perhaps a cake? Ritu at But I Smile Anyway is a legendary baker, hint, hint… xxx

A big thank you to all my lovely friends who have featured me on their blogs leading up to the book launch and those who will be featuring me, thereafter. Your support and help mean so much.

Features and Excerpts to date:

An early introduction by my good friend Vashti – https://vashtiqvega.wordpress.com/2017/06/12/spotlight-m-j-mallon-author/

Plus Dan with his pre-author Q and A: https://danalatorre.com/2017/05/08/author-profile-23-questions-with-marje-from-kyrosmagica/

Many thanks to Sheila – https://scskillman.com/2017/08/22/the-curse-of-time-a-guest-post-by-m-j-mallon-author-of-the-curse-of-time-book-1-bloodstone/

My mate Beaton – https://becomingthemuse.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/of-a-book-tour-the-curse-of-time/

Warm-hearted Marcia – https://marciameara.wordpress.com/2017/08/05/excerptweek-the-curse-of-time-by-marjorie-mallon/

Huge supporter of authors Sally Chronin, who really has been sharing my new book so widely I can’t thank her enough. Here is one such example: – https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-on-the-shelves-the-curse-of-time-by-m-j-mallon/

Today’s special release day post by Allan Hudson at South Branch Scribbler: http://allanhudson.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/guest-author-marjorie-mallon-of-england.html

Author Spotlights on the subject of Self-Harm:

A big thank you and hug to Adele – https://firefly465.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/marjorie-mallon-curse-of-time-1-the-bloodstone/

Another hug to Christy Birmingham – https://whenwomeninspire.com/2017/08/21/self-harm-fiction-writing-guest-post/

Author Guest Posts with Poetry as a theme:

A big thank you to Charli – https://carrotranch.com/2017/08/22/raw-literature-haiku-tanka-and-a-debut-novel/

And fellow Scot Seumas who like me has a fondness for the Far East, and has a way with words! Such a charming fellow – https://seumasgallacher.com/2017/08/22/marjorie-mallon-poet-and-authoress-extraordinaire-come-be-entranced/

My lovely friend Ritu shared my jokey piece of poetry about inspiration – https://butismileanyway.com/2017/08/25/marjorie-mallon-poetic-inspiration-thecurseoftime-blogtour-author/

My original story written about friendship, rainbows and crystals shared via my very special friend Colleen who has helped me so much I can’t begin to thank her enough: http://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/24/fairies-myths-magic-author-spotlight-guest-posts-rainbow-child-by-mj-mallon/

Some of the posts that I’ve already started planning that will be forthcoming after the release and in September/October 2017: Chris Graham at The Story Reading Ape, (inspiration,) Sacha Black (my marketing plans,) my fellow rainbow girl Debby Gies – D G Kaye Writer (a question and Answer post,) the huggable Hugh at Hughs Views and News, Eloise De Sousa, Helen Jones at Journey To Ambeth, Gloria McBreen at We Are Holistic, and Esmé at Cook and Enjoy, etc.

UPDATE: Since the release on 26th August, thank you to: Christoph Fischer for his post on 29th August.

Thank you for all the reblogs, kind comments, and to the lovely bloggers who have been so supportive to me, I can’t thank you enough.

Particular thanks goes to Amalia at Aquileana for being so kind and sending me a personal message of support.

So no more waffle.

It’s time to PARTYYYYYY!!!!!!! Come and add your links, comments, photos, thoughts, music, (we need a play list!)

Join the fun here and on my Facebook Party and Instagram!

Launch Party Playlist:

Sharing Options:

August 26, 2017 59

MJ Interviews Amelina – The Curse of Time – Bloodstone #SundayBlogShare

Today, it is a great pleasure to introduce you to the image of my main character – Amelina, modelled here by ….. my daughter’s friend Elise Hackney.

Today, I am interviewing using my author nickname MJ, tribute to my favourite superhero Spiderman’s Mary Jane.

MJ: It’s a pleasure to talk to you about your role in The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone.

Amelina: Thanks for the invite.

MJ: So who is Amelina in The Curse of Time?

Amelina: I’m a teenage girl stuck in the worse situation. My life sucks in a spectacularly non-normal way.

MJ: Sorry to hear that, I didn’t set out to write your character into such grief. It just happened.

We pause for a moment lost in our thoughts.

MJ: What’s your thoughts on my creative process?

Amelina: I think you must have had an odd turn! Or, you’d been guzzling a crate of booze the night before. Who knows? One morning you jumped out of bed and a bunch of ludicrous ideas poured out of you. An unstoppable, unstructured fountain of crazy unleashed imagination.

MJ: Ha ha! That’s so true it hurts! I became Obsessive, didn’t I? You know like in the kids books… Forget about Little Miss Bossy, or Little Miss Chatterbox, I became Little Miss Obsessive!

Amelina: Yeah, you became a first rate burn the kids dinner mum. Not just that, you were hell bent on listening to your teenage daughters and their unsuspecting friends to get ideas for dialogue. You’re the noisiest person on this planet, a total eavesdropping ninja.

MJ: Guilty as charged! My daughter accused me of that recently. In fact, she begged me to be scarce if her friends come round! Can you imagine? I’m such an embarrassment.

I laugh, and Amelina rolls her eyes.

MJ: Tell us about your life…

Amelina: Oh, do I have to? Sigh. My life sucks. My day to day existence has changed and not in a good way. Forget the standard tribulations of the nuclear family. Our family is peculiar. We are four humans, one cat, and a house that behaves like a demented being. My dad has undergone some weird time shift, (no spoilers,) my mum is miserable, (and it’s not just menopausal hot flushes and night sweats.) Then, there’s this girl called Esme (a sister of sorts with an impressive lot of problems,) who lives with us in captivity and a weird black cat who visited and never left.

MJ: Sounds like some household! I must have been on the super strength vino to come up with that!

Amelina: Ha ha. Yeah, you must! It really is on a par with the Addams Family without the horror aspect. I swear even the foundations of our house are freaked out by our weirdness.

MJ: It can’t be all trauma and escalating problems, please tell me there are some positives?

Amelina: Yeah. I hang out with my friends, play music, write songs, do creative stuff: I write poetry, paint, collect crystals… (no spoilers!)

MJ: Crystals play a huge part in the novel, could you tell me a little about that?

Amelina: Yeah, crystals were the starting point for the novel. The huge inspiration – encouraged by Jupiter Artland – The Crystal Grotto by Anya Gallaccio. The novel was originally entitled The Krystallos Cottage – from Krystallos in the Greek meaning Crystal. Then, to keep it simple it became The Crystal Cottage. Then, time winged its merry dance into it and the story changed. That’s when the title of the novel changed to The Curse of Time. The Curse of Time became a series, with The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone, followed by (the unedited – still to be released) The Curse of Time – Book 2 – Golden Healer.

MJ: That’s a lot of changes! But one special ingredient remained throughout the creative process. Magic. What part does that play in the novel?

Amelina: A huge part. When the promise of magic came, a sense of much needed hope started to grow, but with light and hope there is always opposing darkness.

MJ: Opposing darkness, that sounds exciting… I’m drawn to the dark side! Ha ha…

Amelina: Yeah, it’s a yin and yang, opposites kind of story. There’s light and darkness, seriousness and humour, deception and truth, various themes which appear throughout the novel. Oh, and there’s a touch of romance too, but not in a conventional way, The Curse of Time avoids boring love triangles or instant love. This story digs deeper than that.

MJ: I’ve heard there’s a cute guy in the novel?

Amelina: Oh, yes. Perhaps two, depends on your type! Kyle is fair, Ryder’s dark…

MJ: And friends?

Amelina: It’s strong on friendships, but jealousies play a part too.

MJ: It sounds such a mix. What an extraordinary amount of themes!

Amelina: Masses. Time plays a huge part, as do crystals representing light, shadows, (darkness) and deception.

MJ: I believe there’s scope for so much more – in book two?

Amelina: There might even be a Book three. This story has a long way to go. Time is ticking… and where it will end – who knows?

MJ: Thank you for accepting my invitation to talk to my readers about The Curse of Time. You are my first character, my principal leading lady, the starting point. I love Ryder, Shadow, the Grasshopper and the subsidiary characters too but they came into being after you. So dear Amelina you mean a lot to me.

Amelina: Aww, thanks! No problem.

MJ: I mustn’t keep you. You’ve been a very helpful interviewee, I can’t say the same about Ryder.

Amelina: Huh, no surprise there!

MJ: Ryder has become one of my favourite characters too. Somehow he has that effect on people. But, he’s difficult to figure out.

Amelina: Yeah, I get that, he’s fit as can be but he’s a mystery.

MJ: Never a truer word said.

Hope you enjoyed my latest character interview, find out more about my other characters here:

https://mjmallon.com/2017/07/02/mj-interviews-ryder-the-curse-of-time-bloodstone/

https://mjmallon.com/2017/05/11/my-interview-with-shadow-a-black-cat-character-with-a-past/

https://mjmallon.com/2017/07/23/sundayblogshare-mj-interviews-the-grasshopper-the-curse-of-time/

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photos courtesy of:

Dr John C Taylor OBE – photographs of chronopage and grasshopper.

Georgina Mallon – photographs of female model E. Hackney posing as Amelina, male model, J. English posing as Ryder.

Alex Marlowe, via https//samanthamurdochblog.wordpress.com – bloodstone crystal, and black cat model Lily – my character Shadow.

Don’t forget to pop over to my launch party on 26th August here on my blog, Facebook, and social media. Can’t wait!

Bye for now, time to hang out on my crystal chandelier….

My social media hang outs:

Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Instagram
Tumblr
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies.

Sharing Options:

August 20, 2017 21

Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge #46 – #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: HONEY & WINE

I’m participating in Colleen’s challenge and the prompt words this week are perfect to introduce you to my main male character Ryder in my debut novel – The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone.

You can join in Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge by clicking the following link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/15/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-46-haiku-tanka-haibun-honey-wine/

Don’t forget about my online party to celebrate my kindle book release on 26th August which will be held here, on Facebook, and on my social media.

Here’s a buying link to my Amazon UK page:

Bye for now,

My social media hang outs:

Twitter: @marjorie_mallon

Team Awesome at my Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook

Sharing Options:

August 18, 2017 6

Of A Book Tour: The Curse Of Time

Thank you so much to Beaton for featuring me on his lovely blog home: becoming the muse. Touched by his lovely sense of humour and kind words: ‘I must confess to being super curious and cant wait to read this…. its like being regular curious but I wear a cape.’ Beaton, you’re like a breath of fresh humorous air! xxx

Sharing Options:

August 17, 2017 1

Cover Reveal: The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone

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?

Continue reading “Cover Reveal: The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone” →

Sharing Options:

July 29, 2017 82