All posts by Melanie

Fun stuff, Holidays

Happy Halloween!

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The pumpkins are carved and the candles are lit. Maybe tonight will be a good time to re-cant my spell from my Scottish author friend, Janice Horton’s recent Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party. It’s a good spell, not a bad one, as in keeping with her #voodoo blog party rules.

So here’s my spell to make my novel a best-seller…

I call upon you, Northern Lights
Take this parchment paper bright
Wrap my novel in it tight
Tie with a sprig of Scottish heather
Anoint it with haggis scented oil
Which represents the extent of my toil
Lay upon it a silver spoon
Powers of which make me swoon
Glowing moon stone, oh so stellar
Make my novel a best-seller.

And in keeping with true House of King tradition, the skeletons (including a new one), the flying bat, the headstones, are at the ready. And I’ll be sporting my witch’s wig and this year’s addition to the costume – a long, black cape. Will post pictures once everything is set up.

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes… cackle, cackle, cackle…

So will you go out trick or treating – or guising as I’ve seen it referred to in Scotland? Any special Halloween traditions you uphold? I’d love to hear about them. Leave a comment and tell me what things you do to make Halloween fun for the little ones.

Appearances, Authors, Book Launch, Brockville, characters, General, Independent Bookstore, Interviews, Local Authors, Media, Novel covers, Novels, Photographs, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Writing

Another recording for TV…

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It’s been a busy day for me here today at Celtic Connexions. First of all, I’m taking part in Janice Horton’s Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party, celebrating the launch of her new novella How Do You Voodoo? And secondly, because it had been arranged some time ago that I would do a spot for our cable company’s program Reader’s Corner.

The show’s host, Doreen Barnes, and I chatted about my novel, A Shadow in the Past. What made me decide I would write a book? Why I set it where I did? We talked about my characters, Sarah & Robert, the research involved, and what my favourite scene is.

I could give you all the answers now in my blog post, but then you wouldn’t want to watch the program when it comes on next month.

At the end of our interview, I was asked to read a very short (about 30 seconds) passage from my book. So I picked one that I hope will entice you into purchasing your very own copy.

For those of you who are local to Brockville and have cable you’ll be able to watch it on local channel 10. I’ll post the date and air time when I get it, but with so many of my followers being scattered to the four corners of the world, the episode should be shown on their website. TV Cogeco Readers Corner. Once the show goes online, I’ll post the complete link.

Not quite the ear-to-ear grin that I had in Kansas but still looking pretty pleased with myself.

You can buy A Shadow in the Past from the following:

In Canada:

Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346607916&sr=1-1

ChaptersIndigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/A-Shadow-In-The-Past-Melanie-Robertson-king/9780983801887-item.html?ikwid=a+shadow+in+the+past&ikwsec=Home

and if you’re local to Brockville, you can buy it from Leeds County Books, 73 King Street West or directly from me melanie@melanierobertson-king.com

In the US:

4RV Publishing: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/robertson-king.php

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434406&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-shadow-in-the-past-melanie-robertson-king/1112348992?ean=9780983801887

And in the UK:

Amazon.co.uk:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434484&sr=1-1

Authors, Blog Tour, Brand, Photographs, Publicity, Publishing, Stories, Writing

The Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party

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My spellbindingly fun spell is to make my novel a best-seller using the following ingredients – sprig of Scottish heather, haggis scented oil, silver spoon, moon stone, parchment paper and the Northern Lights.

 

Here goes:

I call upon you, Northern Lights
Take this parchment paper bright
Wrap my novel in it tight
Tie with a sprig of Scottish heather
Anoint it with haggis scented oil
Which represents the extent of my toil
Lay upon it a silver spoon
Powers of which make me swoon
Glowing moon stone, oh so stellar
Make my novel a best-seller.

Authors, Brand, characters, loveahappyending, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Writing

Cover reveal – Mandy Baggot: Security

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Before Bond, meet Regan…Nathan Regan

The new Bond film, Skyfall launches tomorrow – but why wait until then for a military intelligence hottie? Let me introduce you to the lead male in Mandy Baggot’s new romantic thriller, Security and reveal the eye-catching 007-style book cover!
Lies hurt, but the truth can get you killed

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.
Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?
As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?
Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?
Security is coming from Sapphire Star Publishing on 4 April 2013! If you can’t wait until then to find out more here is the link to the teasing trailer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV3_X9MOamo

Find out more about Mandy’s books at www.mandybaggot.webs.com or check out her author page with Sapphire Star Publishing.

Collect the Bond film titles and WIN a signed paperback copy of Strings Attached!

FIVE paperback copies of Mandy’s novel Strings Attached are up for grabs! All you have to do is collect the Bond films by November 1st. On each of the websites featuring the Security cover reveal there will be Bond film mentioned (NOT Skyfall). Once you have all the titles, drop Mandy an email mandybaggot@sapphirestarpublishing.com and you will go into the draw for one of the books! Easy! Here are the website links you need!
Melanie Robertson-King – Goldfinger

Make sure you get your entries to Mandy by the closing date on on November 1st.

Authors, NaNoWriMo, Novels, Publishing, Writing

It’s official – I’m off my nut…

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Egads! What have I gotten myself in to? With the heavy month I have beginning this coming Saturday through to December, in addition to holding down a full-time job, I took the plunge and signed up for NaNoWriMo. I must be crazy… Wait, I know I’m crazy. I hear voices in my head. But I would be more worried if the voices quit talking to me. Those voices belong to the characters in my debut novel and they’re all fighting for their turn in the spotlight.

Anyway, my plan is to work on the sequel to A Shadow in the Past. Fingers crossed that all goes well. And even if it doesn’t, at least I tried. This is my first kick at the can at NaNoWriMo so we’ll see just how disciplined I am.

 

 

 

Authors, characters, loveahappyending, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Reviews, Scotland, Writing

My First 5* Review for A Shadow in the Past!

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Cover by Aidana WillowRaven

I’m so excited right now. I’ve got my first 5* review! I admit that from the time my book was a real “physical” thing and out in the world, I didn’t know if people would like it or not. As a matter of fact, I was terrified people would hate it. And admittedly there will be people out there who won’t.

You can read my 5* review at goodreads and a slightly more condensed version over at amazon.com.

Will these reviews entice you buy A Shadow in the Past? I certainly hope so. If you’re feeling so inclined to purchase your own copy, you can buy it from the following links:


In Canada:

Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346607916&sr=1-1

ChaptersIndigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/A-Shadow-In-The-Past-Melanie-Robertson-king/9780983801887-item.html?ikwid=a+shadow+in+the+past&ikwsec=Home

and if you’re local to Brockville, you can buy it from Leeds County Books, 73 King Street West.

In the US:

4RV Publishing: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/robertson-king.php

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434406&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-shadow-in-the-past-melanie-robertson-king/1112348992?ean=9780983801887

And in the UK:

Amazon.co.uk:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Past-Melanie-Robertson-King/dp/0983801886/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434484&sr=1-1

Authors, NaNoWriMo, Novels, Publishing, Writing

To NaNo or not to NaNo… that is the question

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November isn’t too far away and that means it’s NaNoWriMo (loosely translated – national novel writing in a month) time. So… do I sign up? I’m in the midst of what I hope is a successful marketing campaign and with it being the lead up to that special day in December (can’t bring myself to say it just yet since Halloween isn’t even here yet) do I give up on marketing to vanish from the social media airwaves to write?

And that’s just the tip of the NaNo or not to NaNo conundrum…

I have the framework of a piece that I could work on but it’s more than just an “outline”, which along with research is perfectly acceptable to do in advance. But when the framework is approaching the size of a novella (poorly written I might add), I feel a bit of a fraud.

Now, there is nothing saying I have to formally sign up to do NaNoWriMo and I could work on this in my own parallel project. If I do that, all it means is that I don’t have the resources of the NaNoWriMo site. I do have a great circle of fellow writers that could keep me motivated and help me work beyond any of the plot bunnies that might jump up out of their warrens to wreak havoc. Basically, just do my best to write 50,000 words during the month (or about 1,667 per day). Which leads me back to do I abandon my marketing campaign or try to do both? Oh yeah, and I also work full time.

Am I completely off my nut?

Artist, Authors, characters, Novel covers, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Scotland, Writing

My character, Sarah Shand, now has her own blog!

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In a moment of, shall we say lunacy, I set up a blog for my main character in A Shadow in the Past, Sarah Shand. Hopefully, she’ll behave herself and not let out any spoilers from my current novel, or ideas that I have percolating for subsequent works.

Sarah has been a delight to work with and I’m looking forward to doing it again. She blogs at Sarah’s Place. I know, not the most creative blog name but I’m sure if the two of us put our heads together we’ll come up with a cracker.

And if you have any brilliant ideas for a blog title for her, leave a comment here or over at her blog.

Artist, Authors, Brand, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Writing

COVER REVEAL!!! Sophie’s Run by Nicky Wells

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Sophie’s Run

Part 2 in the Rock Star Romance Trilogy

Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…

Who says that the road toward true love is straight and even? Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.

So she has finally found the man of her dreams. Well…she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet. When she misses her opportunity, her life goes crazy. Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful. A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal. And to top it all, her new boyfriend leaves her lying in the mud.

Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change. Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey that eventually gets her life back on track.

Coming from Sapphire Star Publishing on 7 February 2013!

Drum roll, please… now for the bit you’ve been waiting for… the BIG REVEAL!

Authors, Blog Tour, Interviews, Novel covers, Novels, Reading, Reviews, Writing

A Shadow in the Past International Blog Tour Day 15 – the last stop and what a ride it’s been!!!

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Today I’m being roasted by the lovely ladies and Oliver over at Author Roast & Toast. Setting my novel in Scotland and loving all things Scottish, it seemed fitting my roast takes place at a ceilidh.

One lucky person will win a signed copy of my novel A Shadow in the Past. Just drop by and leave a comment and the winner will be chosen at random. Who knows it might be you!

And for those of you who might have come in to my blog tour late, here is a list of the previous stops.

loveahappyending.com

Rebecca Emin’s Ramblings of a Rusty Writer blog
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association member, author Maggie Jagger http://maggiejaggerauthor.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Keyes Fall Fantasy Authors Series

Nikki Bywater reviews A Shadow in the Past at Books4U

Rosemary Gemmell hosts me over at Ros’s Reading & Writing blog

Nicky Wells CentreStage
and fellow Ottawa Romance Writer member Maureen Fisher at Books by Maureen

Joe Mossman
Christopher D. Hanna at My adventure in becoming a writer
and Dorothy Bush at Twisting in the Wind

Peggy Stanton’s – Looking Out
Janice Horton – Writer & Novelist

Shaz reviews A Shadow in the Past at Jera’s Jamboree

Carol E. Wyer at Facing 50 with Humour

Patricia Sands at Everyone has a story…
Ashley Stoyanoff at The world of Ashley Stoyanoff and over on her Goodreads blog

Mandy Baggot’s Blog

Chris Longmuir at Chris Longmuir, Crime Writer

fellow 4RV author Penny Ehrenkranz

Lindsay Healy reviews A Shadow in the Past at Little Reader Library

Stop back here tomorrow or at Author Roast & Toast to see who the lucky winner of my signed book is!