FREE for one day only: OUTSIDE - a post-apocalyptic novel

OUTSIDE
A post-apocalyptic romance thriller

 

The world of the future is divided by Perimeters: high-security gated communities where life goes on as normal. If you’re inside you’re lucky, if you’re outside life expectancy takes a nose dive.

Riley is fortunate to have been born on the right side of the fence. But her life of privilege comes crashing down when someone breaks through the Perimeter and murders her sister. She forsakes her own safety to go in search of the killer. Luc decides to go with her otherwise she’ll be dead before she’s past the security gate. But what awaits her outside is more unbelievable than she ever expected.

Cut to the present day where Eleanor's world is falling apart. This time next year, civilisation won't be quite so civilised . . .

Praise For OUTSIDE:

I was completely shocked at how all the events unfolded at the end. I really did not see it coming ... If you like post-apocalyptic books, this story is for you. Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews.

Outside is written in a way that kept me flipping through the pages, biting my fingernails and that good old 'one more chapter' feeling was ever-present.

The Aussie Zombie.

 

UK Kindle - Download OUTSIDE for free today only 12/12/12

US Kindle - Download OUTSIDE for free today only 12/12/12

 

The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw - Guest Post & Giveaway!

 Welcome to stop number 18 on The Morgan Sisters Virtual Tour!

 

Today, one of my favourite Young Adult authors, Suzy Turner, has stopped by to tell us a little about the first book in her new series, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw.

She is also generously donating a fantastic array of goodies in the giveaway
at the bottom of the page, including: a paperback of the novel, ebooks,
an Amazon gift certificate and some gorgeous jewellery!

 

'I love ghosts. I mean I love reading about them almost as much as I love writing about them. One of my favourite characters in my other series, The Raven Saga, is a ghost called Ruby Madison and she is such fun. So it was only natural that my newest book should contain at least one.
 

Josiah Grimshaw starts off as quite an elusive character, an old man with few friends and no family but when something remarkably sad happens, Josiah is thrust into a whole new 'life', making some unusual friends along the way. Although my latest book, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw isn't entirely about this character alone, he is clearly a crucial aspect of the story (hence the title, of course!).

There are other ghosts in the story, although ghosts of lesser importance, they were enormous fun to create and I love the way they would just appear to me while I was writing, particularly during the scenes at Abney Park, a huge old derelict cemetery in London. Granville Houston was one such character. A man who died 200 years ago, stuck in the cemetery with a group of other ghosts just left to exist in a ghostly manner with no way of passing over (but that's a story for another time).

 

Ghosts have always intrigued me, probably because of my own experiences as a child... yes, I do believe I was visited on several occasions by my late mother who died when I was young. Although terrified to begin with, when I realised who it was, I began to relax whenever it occurred again. It hasn't though for quite some time so I am content to believe she has crossed over and is finally at peace, something that Josiah Grimshaw would so like to happen to him...'
 

 

Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange 'tattoo' suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realize there's more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.

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Sent off to London for two weeks of 'work experience', the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.

At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won't leave them alone.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

To find out more about Suzy, visit her at the following places:

Suzy's website: http://suzyturner.com

Blog: http://suzyturner.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/suzy_turner

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks

THE CLEARING (Outside Series #2) Cover Reveal and Release Date

 

 

In the ravaged future, children are disappearing.

 

Riley lives safely behind her Perimeter Fence,

but soon she’ll have to confront the terrible truth of

what’s happening outside. An old enemy is approaching.

Threatening to extinguish her way of life.

 

To save herself, Riley must fight to save another.

She must put herself in the last place she ever wanted to be.

 

This is the terrifying sequel to OUTSIDE

 

 

THE CLEARING

(Outside Series #2)

Coming January 15th 2013



Breaking Dawn Part 2 - My Review



I wouldn’t class myself as a Twihard, but I loved the books and I loved the movies. So maybe I am. Okay I definitely am. I’m a Twihard. My birthday also happens to be in November, so it’s a no-brainer that my husband would buy me tickets to see  Breaking Dawn for my birthday treat this year (and last year).

 

I didn’t read any of the reviews before I went. Firstly, I don’t like spoilers and secondly, what would be the point? I knew most of the press would pan it. Liking Twilight would ruin their coolness. Me, I like a bit of heart-on-the-sleeve paranormal romance. I also like the classics, zombie horror and the X-Factor. I’m not ashamed of my tastes. I embrace them ;)

 

So anyway, back to the movie. We’d left BD Part 1 with Bella having given birth to Renesmee and finally she had transformed into a beautiful red-eyed vampire. Now, in BDP2, we see a shift in Bella’s attitude. She is finally who she wants to be and she looks good on it. I loved watching Edward’s reaction to her as she masters her vamp skills. Robert Pattinson’s proud/amused smile is perfection as Stewart kicks ass. I bet she absolutely loved playing ‘Bella the vampire’.

 

The only ‘off’ bit in the whole film for me was the baby Renesmee - They did that annoying thing where they put CGI adult expressions onto a baby face which only ever results in creepy babyness. Don’t do it, Hollywood people. Do not do it. Step away from the CGI machine and leave the baby alone.

 

I thought Taylor Lautner portrayed Jacob really tastefully, considering the whole ‘imprinting’  scenario. I wouldn’t have wanted that role – it’s a bit icky. Funnily enough, I didn’t find it at all questionable in the books, but when faced with the adult Jacob and the child Renesmee on the big screen I did curl my toes a little.

 

The Volturi were their usual terrifying selves: Jane always makes me shudder with her ‘pain’ thing and Caius and Alec are the archetypal baddies. But it was Michael Sheen as Aro who truly shone. He outdid himself. I think he was the star of the whole movie. I loved how delectably evil he was. I almost wanted him to do a proper wicked laugh like the Count in Sesame Street (okay, that would’ve ruined the movie, but it would’ve been fun!).

 

 

Now I was worried that this second part of BD might fall a bit flat as a movie. I couldn’t see how they would make an ending deserving of such a great series, but boy was I wrong. I did not see that one coming. I’m not going to ‘spoil’ a thing, but as I watched the climax, I was thinking ‘what the…!!’ and ‘they can’t do that!’ But they did do that and they did it brilliantly. Yes. Yes they did.

 

All in all, Breaking Dawn Part 2 was the perfect combination of visual spectacle, action, love and humour. Sure there were a few clunky moments and the CGI wasn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked, but in the overall context of the Twilight Saga novels and movies, it was the perfect ending to a cracking series.

 

And now I’m sad it’s over.

The 'Look' Challenge

 

I’ve been tagged in the Look Challenge, by The Lazuli Portals

This challenge is designed to help writers recognise where common words are over-used while showcasing some of your work. 'Look' is one of the most over-used words in writing, along with other favourites such as 'just' and 'suddenly'. The following exercise might help you find and change the offending words. and is a real eye-opener (I found 187 'look's in my manuscript. Looks like I'll be digging out the thesaurus tonight).


For this challenge, here's what you need to do:

• Search your manuscript for the word “look” and then copy a couple of the surrounding paragraphs into a post.
• Give a little background on the scene if you’d like.
• Tag 5 other writers who’re working on, or who’ve completed, a manuscript.

 

Here's an excerpt from my work in progress, The Clearing, Book 2 in The Outside Series. It's a YA thriller set in the near future after a social and economic collapse. I was hoping to publish before Christmas, but my characters keep refusing to stick to the plot, so I'll be releasing it in the new year. I don't want to post any spoilers, so it's short and no names are mentioned ;-)

~
She was held tight by the man as he walked, her arms pinned to her side. But because she faced away from him, she couldn’t even see what he looked like. Maybe that was a good thing. She didn’t think she wanted to see his face. What if he was a monster?
Why oh why had they come out here alone? She’d known it was dangerous, but she had stupidly let herself be talked into it. Were they going to die now? Were they going to be shot? Hot tears slipped out of her eyes and she tried to sniff them back. It was so hard to breathe with this thing over her mouth.
That Mr Carter man had disappeared too. If only she didn’t have her mouth taped she would scream and scream and shout for her mum and dad to come. They would surely hear her from here. And then dad would come running out with his shotgun and rescue them. She tried to free one of her arms, but the wriggling only made her captor squeeze her even tighter. It was hopeless.
The man grunted and set her down on the ground. He twisted her arms painfully behind her back and tied them up with something sharp that dug into her skin. She gave a soundless whimper. Her hair fell over her eyes, but through the mousy strands she saw that she was standing in front of a vehicle. An army truck.
The man moved around in front of her. He was ordinary looking. Brown hair, not fat, not thin, not a monster. Just a man.  
‘Sit down,’ he said softly.
~

 

If anyone’s unable or unwilling to participate - for any reason at all - then no problem. At least your name and website get a mention ;-)

The authors I'm tagging in this challenge are:

Suzy Turner - Supernatural YA
B. Lloyd - Gothic Ghosts
Sarah Dalton - YA Dystopia
Amanda Leigh Cowley Urban Fantasy
AuthorPoppet - Supernatural and Horror

Teen Read Week WINNER...

 

... is deejay23 !!

 

 

Congratulations! You've won an awesome bundle of YA ebooks.

If you use the 'contact me' form, I can send you your prizes :-)

Thanks so much to everyone who entered.
I'll be having more giveaways in the future, so keep an eye out.