Devious

Jumping the Gap

Shelfie

Posting Yellow

When you cut 65K from the first draft

This is what happens when you cut 65K from a novel (Looking for Sally)

The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing, for those who don’t yet know, is a way to network with fellow writers and to find out a bit more about what they’re working on. The idea is fairly simple. The writer answers a set of questions on his or her blog one week, and then invites five other authors to answer the same questions the following week. They in turn invite five more. 

I was invited by Catherine Edmunds

What is the title of your new book?

An Ungodly Child

How did you choose the title?

It more or less evolved as I was writing the book. It started out as a series of short stories linked by the common theme of Harold and his friend the Demon from hell. Over multiple revisions it became a cohesive novel and once Harold's father was revealed the title became obvious.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

It started out as stories written for prompts on an online forum.As I grew to know and respect the characters a flow of stories and ideas to link them came to mind. I had to go back and rewrite the first few stories so many times that they became the backbone of the Harold and Jasfoup mythology.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Urban fantasy, I think. Although the town of Laverstone in Wiltshire is fictional it is based on several towns and villages I've lived in throughout my life, and populated by characters based on people I've met. Not that I actually met any angels, demons or vampires.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

It's a question every writer thinks off for their novel, but I really have no idea. I think Jason Isaacs would make a brilliant Harold, though he is perhaps a tad old for the part. One small scene was played by a couple of actors from Insignificant Theatre  in London. Phil Cross made a brilliant Harold and John Sears was marvellous as Frederick. I also think Andy Umerah would make a beautiful Jasfoup and the gorgeous Lucy Grey as Gillian.

Who has published your book?

Zumaya Publications  kindly took on the novel and has done a marvellous job with editing and added a fabulous cover.

What other books would you compare ‘An Ungodly Child’ to, within the genre?

Much as I'd be blowing my own trumpet, I'd like to compare it to early Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman and Ben Aaronovich.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

This was the first novel I completed in 2005, although it was only printed last year. I do write other books in the erotic/murder mystery genre but Harold and Jasfoup are my true loves. There are, in fact, seven Harold and Jasfoup novels as yet unpublished, although Lyrical Press have just published the sequel 'Sons of Angels' as an e-book.

What else about the book might pique a reader’s interest?

Humour. I've heard no end of people giggle as they read it. It is quintessentially English. Have a cup of tea nearby. I've also adapted it for the stage.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Never sign your name for a free Sherbert Dib Dab.

The following writers are continuing the tour. Do visit their blogs: 

Stephanie Wright

Ron Runeborg

DJ Kirkby

Sally Quiller

Captain Black

Actually, only one of them actually agreed to it, the others I've just tagged and hope for the best.

SCREAMING YELLOW

Now available in PRINT edition HERE 

(On Amazon in a few weeks)

Nettle Lane to Whetstone Bank

If anyonewanted a copy of my
poetry collection

Nettle Lane to Whetstone Bank

without paying the horrendous postage casts from the UK
it's HERE

£4.99 +local p&p

Sorry - it's not on Amazon because I couldn't afford
the distribution fee.

Clearance Sale

 

I went overdrawn at the bank so I'm selling off my remaining copies of my books.

£5  (five UK pounds) each, plus postage to wherever you are

I'll throw in a free gift if you order three (probably a painting or drawing)

All signed, pesonal dedication if required.

I have 

6x Another Bloody Love Story

6x An Ungodly Child (blue cover)

2x An Ungodly Child (purple cover)

7x Nettle Lane to Whetstone Bank (poetry)

1x Bear Ridge to Nettle Lane (poetry)

Please paypal remittance plus £2.75 to leatherdykeuk@gmail.com
or email me for my address for cheques / cash / postal orders / direct bank transfer

99 Reasons Why by Caroline Smailes

99 Reasons Why is a book with a difference. It is only being published as an ebook and comes with 9 different endings which readers can navigate using multiple choice questions on their Kindle or via a spinning story wheel on their iPad or iPhone. There are also two additional endings. One is the ending you have agreed to share with your readers, the other will be handwritten by Caroline and auctioned for charity.

We thought it would be fun to promote a book by giving away its ending, albeit one of a possible eleven.

Buy it at Amazon

Buy it at iTunes

99: the reason why I was only worth ninety-nine quid

It’s been six days since the little girl in the pink coat went missing and me Uncle Phil’s in me bedroom.

We’ve been watching the little girl in the pink coat’s mam on the news. She was appealing to the public for witnesses.

‘Didn’t realise she had a mam,’ I says, looking at me telly.

‘Everyone’s got a mam, pet,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘She sold her story to The Sun,’ I says, looking at me telly.

‘Got a few quid,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I nod.

‘She wanted nowt to do with that bairn before all this,’ me Uncle Phil says, looking at me telly.

‘Do you know where she is?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘Belle?’ me Uncle Phil asks me.

I nod.

‘She’s safe,’ me Uncle Phil says to me. ‘Your mam’s keeping an eye on her.’

‘Can I be her mam?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘No, pet, you’re a filthy whore,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I nod.

‘Can you make Andy Douglas come back, Uncle Phil?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

Me Uncle Phil shakes his head.

‘I love him,’ I tell me Uncle Phil.

‘Andy Douglas is your brother, pet. You didn’t seriously think Princess Di was your mam, did you?’ me Uncle Phil asks me.

I nod.

‘You’re a cradle snatcher just like your mam,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I nod.

‘Your mam miscarried when she found out I’d been banging Betty Douglas. Betty was expecting you,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I don’t speak.

‘When you was born, your mam went mad and I ended up buying you from Betty Douglas for ninety-nine quid,’ me Uncle Phil says.

‘Ninety-nine quid?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘I paid a hundred but got a quid change for some chips for your mam and dad’s tea,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘You bought me?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

I’m a little bit sick in me mouth.

‘It was the right thing to do,’ me Uncle Phil says to me. ‘I got Betty Douglas pregnant straight away with Andy.’

‘I’m pregnant,’ I says to me Uncle Phil. ‘I’m pregnant with me brother’s baby,’ I says, and then I throws up on me purple carpet.

‘You’re a filthy whore,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘What am I going to do?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘You’re going to have the baby,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘Have me brother’s baby?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘Then I’m giving it to Betty Douglas to bring up,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘You what?’ I says to me Uncle Phil.

‘It’s the right thing to do,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘I can’t—’ I says to me Uncle Phil.

‘It’s either that or I’ll make you disappear,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I don’t speak.

I’m thinking, they’re all a bunch of nutters.

Coming Soon

An anthology of 100 horror stories
one of mine included
coming soon

Nettle Lane to Whetstone Bank

Nettle Lane to Whetstone Bank

Nettle Lane to Whetstone Bank

£4.99 (plus postage)

Harry Potter and The Story of O

An unusual juxtaposition at a friend's house

Study bookshelf

Another Bloody Love Story

Ten copies arrived.

If you want a signed copy, they're £9.99 plus £2.75 postage

More postage outside of UK, of course.

Otherwise, the ISBN is 1615724567

Amazon.co.uk

An Ungodly Child

An Ungodly Child
goes to university

Reference Shelves

A State of Madder - readers needed (30 pages)

If you like crime fiction with a splach of humourous banter,

please consider reading and reviewing

A State Of Madder

as it's in a competition to get it published.

Jeremy Hitchin was drowned in turps and covered in paint.
What is his connection to a woman thrown off a cliff and a man burned to death in a barn?

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