My newsletter is going out on Friday, 30th.
Anyone wanting to receive it in their inbox, all you need to do is go to my website and sign up. Someone will be in the draw for the prize of a free paperback copy of Where Dragonflies Hover!
Http://www.annemariebrear.com
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Top #100!
So very happy to see Where Dragonflies Hover has broken into the top #100 on Amazon Kindle UK!
Where Dragonflies Hover
Excerpt:
The late sunshine enveloped the house in a golden glow. Again, it seemed to call to her, begging for attention. A path on the left of the drive looked inviting as it meandered through a small strand of poplars. Lexi grabbed her keys, locked the car and took off to explore again. She had nothing to rush home to now, and if she got caught for trespassing, then so be it.
Buy links:
Where Dragonflies Hover
Sometimes a glimpse into the past can help make sense of the future …
Everyone thinks Lexi is crazy when she falls in love with Hollingsworth House – a crumbling old Georgian mansion in Yorkshire – and nobody more so than her husband, Dylan. But there’s something very special about the place, and Lexi can sense it.
Whilst exploring the grounds she stumbles across an old diary and, within its pages, she meets Allie – an Australian nurse working in France during the First World War.
The late sunshine enveloped the house in a golden glow. Again, it seemed to call to her, begging for attention. A path on the left of the drive looked inviting as it meandered through a small strand of poplars. Lexi grabbed her keys, locked the car and took off to explore again. She had nothing to rush home to now, and if she got caught for trespassing, then so be it.
The overgrown pathway brought her out on the far side of the grounds near the end of a small lake. She gazed over the water towards the back of the house and noticed a paved terrace area. From there the lawn then sloped down to the water. She’d not been around the back before and fell even more in love with the property. She could imagine the serenity of sipping a cool drink on a hot summer’s day and looking out over the lake.
Lexi stepped out along the bank. A lone duck swam by, its movement serene on the glassy, dark surface. This side of the lake was in shadow from large pine trees, and she stumbled on fallen pinecones hidden in the long grass. On the opposite side of the water were some small buildings, a garage, fruit trees in early blossom, and an overgrown vegetable patch, complete with a broken, rejected-looking scarecrow.
She wandered over to a narrow shed on her left and peered through its sole, dirty window. Unable to make out much in the dimness, she walked around to the front and was surprised when she was able to pull the bolt back on the door. Why didn’t people lock things? A covered rowboat took up most of the space inside. She smiled, seeing herself rowing it on the lake. Growing more excited, Lexi edged around it to peer at the workbenches and the odd assortment of tools and useless things one found in abandoned sheds. It was like treasure hunting in an antique shop. She used to love doing that with her grandfather.
She glanced about and spied a dusty painting leaning against the wall. The scene was of a child and a brown dog. Behind the canvas were more paintings, some framed, some not. Lexi flicked through them. The ones that caught her attention she took out and set aside.
She looked for somewhere to sit and study the paintings. A small tin trunk wedged under a workbench seemed the only offering. Thinking it empty, she went to tug it out, but it remained fast.
Using both hands, she heaved it out and was showered in a puff of dust. Squatting down, she inspected the latch that was held tight with a small lock. ‘Why are you locked?’ she murmured. The shed was open to anyone passing by, yet this ugly little chest had a lock on it. The trunk was nothing special, plain and in parts rusted. No ornament or writing hinted at its use.
Intrigued, she grabbed a hammer from the workbench, but then hesitated. She had no right to open someone else’s property. Lexi closed her eyes momentarily. What was she thinking of breaking into the trunk? What am I doing? Never had she broken the law and here she was guilty of trespassing and breaking and entering! She looked around the rowboat as though expecting someone to jump out and arrest her.
Something inside urged her on. She knew she couldn’t stop now. Sucking in a deep breath, she bent and hit the lock hard. The ringing sound was loud in the quiet serenity of the garden. The metal dented and with another few solid whacks the lock gave.
Shivers of excitement tingled along her skin. Gently, she eased up the lid.
Amazon link:
Kobo UK https://goo.gl/CwkQAP
WWII Novels Sale!
To coincide with the release of the WWII movie Dunkirk, I'm joining a group of authors, who have written a novel set in WWII, to showcase our novels in a month long event.
Read below for more information.
Are you ready for Dunkirk? So are we! And we’re not just talking about Christopher Nolan's upcoming summer blockbuster movie. Beyond the major motion picture, there is Dunkirk Week WWII Epic Novel Sale.
Discounted Books for 99c/p each
40+ authors of the Facebook Second World War Club have joined together for the "Dunkirk Week WWII Epic Novels Sale". From July 21-27 (the opening week of “Dunkirk”), we will discount a selection of our books to 99c/p to bring you more riveting tales of WWII from around the world.
This is a great chance to discover some awesome WWII stories. To find out more, go to: http://alexakang.com/dunkirk-book-sale/
We have tons of fun and interesting online events planned including:
Prizes & Giveaways
- A promo week giveaway of “Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture” by Joshua Levine
- A Rafflecopter giveaway of 11 paperback copies of some of the fiction novels that will be part of this sale.
- A 7-day giveaway of 7 audio copies of “The Importance of Being Churchill” by Lorri Moulton
Join us too for:
6/26 A viewing Dunkirk Promo Official Trailer
6/29 A viewing of the book trailer for “Girl at Dunkirk” by David Spiller
7/3 A viewing of the book trailer for “The Yankee Years” by Dianne Ascroft
7/5 A viewing of the book trailer for “45th Nail” by Ian Lahey
7/7 Our Authors’ Pick of the Top 40 WWII Movies of all times.
7/10 A viewing of the book trailer for “Unrelenting” by Marion Kummerow
7/13 A viewing of the book trailer for “Luzon” by Richard Barnes
7/14 The Book Speak Podcast reading of Roberta Kagan’s “All My Love, Detrick”
7/17 Part One of our special two-part blog series on Dunkrik by Suzy Hendersen
7/19 A viewing of the book trailer for “Eternal Flame” by Alexa Kang
7/21 Dunkirk Week WWII Epic Book Sale begins with The Book Speak Podcast reading of “The Girl at Dunkirk” by David Spiller
7/22 Part Two of our special two-part blog series on Dunkirk by by Jeremy Strozer
7/24 Movie review of Dunkirk by Alexa Kang
Bookmark this page and be sure you won’t miss out: http://alexakang.com/dunkirk-book-sale/
My own WWII novel is Broken Hero.
Blurb:
Audrey Pearson's life changed dramatically when WWII broke out and her large home, Twelve Pines on the East Yorkshire coast, became a convalescence home for wounded soldiers. Her life is no longer lavish with entertainment, beautiful clothes and surrounded by a loving family. Soldiers, physically and mentally wounded now fill her home. The smell of disinfectant replaces her mother's perfume and gone are the friends and acquaintances - instead nurses roam the hallways.
Captain Jake Harding, a doctor training in psychiatry arrives at Twelve Pines. Audrey immediately finds herself attracted to the Captain, but he is remote towards her. Puzzled by his cold behaviour, Audrey tries to learn more about the handsome Captain. He reveals that he's lost a wife and baby in childbirth and refuses to ever remarry.
However, despite this, Audrey believes she can change his mind and make him aware he doesn't have to spend his life alone.The ice around Jake's heart begins to melt. For years he has rejected the possibility of finding love again because of the pain it caused him before, but the beautiful Audrey shows him her love and she needs someone to love her in return.
Could he honestly walk away from her, from the love that could be his?
Available in paperback and for Kindle and all other online forms of reading devices like Kobo and Apple iBooks.
All Amazon: myBook.to/BrokenHero
Monday, June 12, 2017
Featured in the local newspaper.
In celebration of Where Dragonflies Hover being released in paperback, I have been featured in the local newspaper where I live.
It's a weird feeling to see yourself in the local newspaper. The title heading is misleading, as they say it's my debut book, but it is only a debut book for this particular publisher, not my first ever book. (I'm currently editing book 16!)
Still, they say there's no such thing as bad press. Hopefully, it'll help Where Dragonflies Hover gain some new readers.
It's a weird feeling to see yourself in the local newspaper. The title heading is misleading, as they say it's my debut book, but it is only a debut book for this particular publisher, not my first ever book. (I'm currently editing book 16!)
Still, they say there's no such thing as bad press. Hopefully, it'll help Where Dragonflies Hover gain some new readers.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Cover Art For Different Countries
My publishers, Aria Fiction work hard in their efforts to bring titles to the attention of prospective readers to make them more appealing. One thing I learned during the editing process was how much research they do to ensure the titles and cover art are specific to international audiences.
My editor contact me this week saying they are experimenting on the cover for the first in the Flora Maguire Mysteries to appeal to the US market. This includes a more atmospheric model and background, as well as reversion to my original title.
Their research showed that the word 'Secret' did far better in sales rankings on a book cover than the word 'Murder' However the reverse is true in the United States. I also feel the use of the word 'Minneapolis' might have contributed to this decision as the novel is set on board a ship of that name which took first class passengers between London and New York in the early 20th Century.
I would be interested to know what the general opinion is - do covers make a difference to choosing books depending upon the country where they are offered? Is there a gap between the type of novel American and English audiences like to read?
An interesting experiment - and if the publisher does go with the design on the right, I would be fascinated to discover it it makes any marked difference to sales.
 |
| United Kingdom v United States Covers |
My editor contact me this week saying they are experimenting on the cover for the first in the Flora Maguire Mysteries to appeal to the US market. This includes a more atmospheric model and background, as well as reversion to my original title.
Their research showed that the word 'Secret' did far better in sales rankings on a book cover than the word 'Murder' However the reverse is true in the United States. I also feel the use of the word 'Minneapolis' might have contributed to this decision as the novel is set on board a ship of that name which took first class passengers between London and New York in the early 20th Century.
I would be interested to know what the general opinion is - do covers make a difference to choosing books depending upon the country where they are offered? Is there a gap between the type of novel American and English audiences like to read?
An interesting experiment - and if the publisher does go with the design on the right, I would be fascinated to discover it it makes any marked difference to sales.
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Where Dragonflies Hover out now in paperback.
Where Dragonflies Hover blurb:
Sometimes a glimpse into the past can help make sense of the future …
Everyone thinks Lexi is crazy when she falls in love with Hollingsworth House – a crumbling old Georgian mansion in Yorkshire – and nobody more so than her husband, Dylan. But there’s something very special about the place, and Lexi can sense it.
Whilst exploring the grounds she stumbles across an old diary and, within its pages, she meets Allie – an Australian nurse working in France during the First World War.
Lexi finally realises her dream of buying Hollingsworth but her obsession with the house leaves her marriage in tatters. In the lonely nights that follow, Allie’s diary becomes Lexi’s companion, comforting her in moments of darkness and pain. And as Lexi reads, the nurse’s scandalous connection to the house is revealed …
The late sunshine enveloped the house in a golden glow. Again, it seemed to call to her, begging for attention. A path on the left of the drive looked inviting as it meandered through a small strand of poplars. Lexi grabbed her keys, locked the car and took off to explore again. She had nothing to rush home to now, and if she got caught for trespassing, then so be it.
The overgrown pathway brought her out on the far side of the grounds near the end of a small lake. She gazed over the water towards the back of the house and noticed a paved terrace area. From there the lawn then sloped down to the water. She’d not been around the back before and fell even more in love with the property. She could imagine the serenity of sipping a cool drink on a hot summer’s day and looking out over the lake.
Lexi stepped out along the bank. A lone duck swam by, its movement serene on the glassy, dark surface. This side of the lake was in shadow from large pine trees, and she stumbled on fallen pinecones hidden in the long grass. On the opposite side of the water were some small buildings, a garage, fruit trees in early blossom, and an overgrown vegetable patch, complete with a broken, rejected-looking scarecrow.
She wandered over to a narrow shed on her left and peered through its sole, dirty window. Unable to make out much in the dimness, she walked around to the front and was surprised when she was able to pull the bolt back on the door. Why didn’t people lock things? A covered rowboat took up most of the space inside. She smiled, seeing herself rowing it on the lake. Growing more excited, Lexi edged around it to peer at the workbenches and the odd assortment of tools and useless things one found in abandoned sheds. It was like treasure hunting in an antique shop. She used to love doing that with her grandfather.
She glanced about and spied a dusty painting leaning against the wall. The scene was of a child and a brown dog. Behind the canvas were more paintings, some framed, some not. Lexi flicked through them. The ones that caught her attention she took out and set aside.
She looked for somewhere to sit and study the paintings. A small tin trunk wedged under a workbench seemed the only offering. Thinking it empty, she went to tug it out, but it remained fast.
Using both hands, she heaved it out and was showered in a puff of dust. Squatting down, she inspected the latch that was held tight with a small lock. ‘Why are you locked?’ she murmured. The shed was open to anyone passing by, yet this ugly little chest had a lock on it. The trunk was nothing special, plain and in parts rusted. No ornament or writing hinted at its use.
Intrigued, she grabbed a hammer from the workbench, but then hesitated. She had no right to open someone else’s property. Lexi closed her eyes momentarily. What was she thinking of breaking into the trunk? What am I doing? Never had she broken the law and here she was guilty of trespassing and breaking and entering! She looked around the rowboat as though expecting someone to jump out and arrest her.
Something inside urged her on. She knew she couldn’t stop now. Sucking in a deep breath, she bent and hit the lock hard. The ringing sound was loud in the quiet serenity of the garden. The metal dented and with another few solid whacks the lock gave.Shivers of excitement tingled along her skin. Gently, she eased up the lid.
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