Every Wednesday ALLi will tell the world about our members' latest book launches, news, awards, freebies, workshops and updates on the writing life and take a look at the projects and businesses of our partner members.
Janis Kearney
Janis F. Kearney announces a new fall release of her third memoir, “Sundays with TJ: 100 years of memories on Varner Road”.
A great Christmas Gift. For those who might want to get the earliest introduction to the iconic 107-year old “TJ,” you can order a personally-autographed copy of “Cotton Field of Dreams: A Memoir”, at Writing our World Press
Carla King
Self-Publishing Boot Camp's Carla King writes a column for PBS Mediashift.
Her latest piece, 7 Great Resources for the Entrepreneurial Author, was published as part of a series on the Author as Entrepreneur.
She also appeared on the PBS Podcast offered on YouTube, How Authors are Becoming Entrepreneurs (Like it or Not).
Patti R. Albaugh
“I used to think that operating an elevator was simple, like sex. You go up and down a lot, and the quality of the ride depends upon the operator. Silly me.”
Those are the words of Margaret Landings, the protagonist in my debut novel The Ups and Downs of Miss Margaret Landings. In June 1955 Margaret returns to home to find that hiding her past is impossible in a small town. She fancies herself a writer but takes the only job available—as elevator operator in Liberty’s only department store. Her journey of self-discovery develops on the hidden stage of the elevator she operates where behind closed doors, lives unravel and truth emerges.
Margaret’s story is a modern one—an absorbing “everywoman” tale of unrequited passion, conflicting values, personal tragedy and revealing redemption. After all, nothing stays secret forever.
Readers who grew up in the 1950s will relate to the setting and artifacts of a seemingly idyllic time as well as recognize the fallacy of over-idealizing the past. Those who have only heard about the iconic ‘50s deserve to be introduced to embroidered hankies, Candy Stripers and the beginnings of women’s dissatisfaction as dutiful housewives.
The Ups and Downs of Miss Margaret Landings is available in both print and eBook formats at Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble (bn.com).
I also have a blog Margaret’s World where readers can access resources about the 50s and get previews of the sequel.
Steven O'Connor
is now on Wattpad
Have you been looking for an excuse to start using Wattpad?
Well, this could be it. Steven O'Connor, young adult sci-fi writer has recently established himself within the popular reading and writing online community and he's busily uploading all of the chapters of his first novel EleMental: A First-person Shooter.
He is also sharing his short story, MotherCraft. You can access his Wattpad page here if you'd like to check his stories out.
Jessica Bell
Jessica Bell's third, and final pocket guide in the Writing in a Nutshell Series, The Six Senses in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative: is now available in both Kindle and paperback:
Amazon US Amazon UK
A bit of trivia for you: In The Six Senses in a Nutshell, I provide eleven demonstrated transitions from bleak to bold narrative using the senses. So why 11 passages, and not an even 10 or 12? Because in numerology, it is a Master Number and represents intuition, which is the sixth sense. Cool, huh?
“In each Nutshell guide, Jessica Bell provides a focused and effective masterclass on a single aspect of the writer's craft. To read each book feels like taking a personal tutorial, with expert advice couched in friendly, supportive terms and reinforced by carefully planned exercises. A highly recommended source of practical help to refine any author's writing skills.” ~Debbie Young, author of Sell Your Books and editor of The Alliance of Independent Authors Self-Publishing Advice Blog.
Pat Mullan
You'll find many of the things that have led to the demise of The Celtic Tiger inside Last Days of The Tiger.
To quote Cerri Ellis of Mostly Mystery Reviews: “Pat Mullan blends political intrigue and murder with a unique Irish flavor that goes down smooth. His hero, Ed Burke, is striking – almost an anti-hero in some respects. To unravel the deception and save himself, Burke must test old friendships, and determine who to trust in an Ireland changed by The Celtic Tiger.”
“Last Days Of The Tiger is a razor blade down the spine. This is Irish noir with a hero whom you'll want at your back in any gunfight !”
James Rollins, New York Times best-selling author of Black Order.
“Last Days Of The Tiger bristles with ingenuity, and a plot to kill for … this is a thriller of such high calibre that it transends all genres! It rocks!
Ken Bruen, Shamus and Macavity Award winning author of THE GUARDS.
Enid O'Dowd
I am a new member in Dublin and published my first fiction book Fateful Decisions this month. The front cover states ‘there's a fine line between acceptable parenting and neglect' and I think it influenced the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald TD to agree to launch the book for me on November 4 at the Irish Writers Centre.
My first book Cancer in a Cold Climate: the Shafting of St Luke's Hospital was the story of the campaign to save the wonderful cancer hospital.
Before becoming a writer I was a chartered accountant!
August 2011. Two babysitting mix-ups. Two decisions with devastating consequences.
Waterford, Ireland. Baby Tommy vanishes from his mother Carli’s car parked near the hairdressers where she is having her hair done for the local final of a national talent competition.
Accrington, Lancashire. Baby Rose, left briefly ‘home alone’ when her ambitious lawyer mother Amy departs for a crucial board meeting, is not there when the family au pair returns.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Molly, recently widowed, who has lost her unborn child after a fall.
What starts as an understandable diversion becomes an obsession.
Leda Sammarco
WANTED
Do you know a ‘Mind Body Spirit’ author, who has a transformational message to share about which they are absolutely passionate, and who wants to make a difference in the world? They may want to create a movement around their book or simply let their book speak for them.
In short, their book should be on everyone’s bookshelf. But it isn't.
This is because they may be shy, anxious or simply don’t know how to go about marketing their book. What they do know is that they want to use heart-centered and creative marketing techniques that help them to reach their readers, rather than simply propelling their book up the Amazon rankings in order to sell as many as possible.
If so, then I would very much like to interview them. I’m Leda Sammarco and I currently empower people to write books that make a difference. I’m now planning to launch an additional service that empowers ‘Mind Body Spirit’ authors to market their books and make a difference and would really like to get some feedback about this.
The interview will take no more than 30 minutes and can be by phone or Skype. If you are happy to be interviewed, please can you email me at [email protected]
If you are a member of The Alliance of Independent Authors and you would like to showcase your work on our ALLi Showcase, please send it to [email protected] to reach me no later than the Friday preceding the Wednesday you would like it published.
