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.
AUTHORS
Jane Davis
Jane Davis
Jane Davis is delighted to announce the launch of her new website and, to celebrate, her novel, A Funeral for an Owl (e-book only), will be free from 24 to 28 September. Visit her website, visit books, and click on the purchase links to download your copy.
Jane explains, ‘The decision to retire my old website was long overdue. Designed to promote my first novel, it had been stretched to its absolute limits. And so, over the last couple of months, I have been working with a The Curved House. One of the chief reasons for my choice of web designers was their love of books. Founder Kristen Harrison describes herself as a publishing person first and foremost, someone who helps writers get the most from the web. I liked the fact that, rather than pay lip-service, they run voluntary projects such as the Sober October campaign that supports independent bookshops. The brief I gave The Curved House was to design a website to take me on the next stage of my journey. The process has reminded me how far I’ve come. In just two years, I have released four novels!'
Authors, librarians, book bloggers/reviewers are all regularly featured on the blog. Do get in touch if you would like to be featured.
Freida Fail
I am a new ALLI member. My book: Ace Deuce: National Security Is Not a Game came out in June of 2014. It is available in paperback and Kindle and there is a video on the Amazon site as well.
Kathy Shuker
Having been available as an eBook earlier this year, my first novel Deep Water, Thin Ice is now available in print too. It is a character-driven mystery set in Devon in southwest England.
After the apparent suicide of Simon, her conductor husband, soprano Alex Munroe escapes to a crumbling old family house by the sea. A cousin of her husband seeks her out, offering to help. But she didn’t know Simon had a cousin, nor does she know the tortured history of the house. The cousin is a plausible man and reminds her strikingly of her late husband; she’s desperate to believe him. So how long will it take her to realise she’s making a fatal mistake?
Described as a ‘quietly startling narrative’, ‘hard to put down’, and ‘an engaging and intriguing plot’, it is available online, (from Amazon, Kobo and Nook) is in stock in some bookshops and is available to order from others.
Tom Evans
I've just published a new book (Kindle only at the moment), The Germinatrix and Other Tall Tales.
This book of twenty two short stories takes the reader on a wild ride of the imagination. Each story is a metaphysical exploration of an aspect of our consciousness. The book also contains twenty two stunning art works to inspire. Find out why one reader said, “I read this book in one sitting, as I found it hard to put it down.”.
Joanna Penn
Action-adventure thriller audiobook
Day of the Vikings by J.F.Penn. New release in audio.
A ritual murder on a remote island under the shifting skies of the aurora borealis. A staff of power that can summon Ragnarok, the Viking apocalypse.
When Neo-Viking terrorists invade the British Museum in London to reclaim the staff of Skara Brae, ARKANE agent Dr. Morgan Sierra is trapped in the building along with hostages under mortal threat.
As the slaughter begins, Morgan works alongside psychic Blake Daniel to discern the past of the staff, dating back to islands invaded by the Vikings generations ago.
Can Morgan and Blake uncover the truth before Ragnarok is unleashed, consuming all in its wake?
Day of the Vikings is a fast-paced, action adventure thriller set in the British Museum, the British Library and the islands of Orkney, Lindisfarne and Iona. Set in the present day, it resonates with the history and myth of the Vikings.
Ann Swinfen
The audiobook of The Testament Of Mariam is now available on Audible, narrated by Serena Scott Thomas. It will be on Amazon and iTunes soon.
“Today I had word that my brother Ya'aqôb is dead.” When this news reaches Mariam, living in exile in the province of Gaul, memories of her girlhood in faraway Palestine are painfully awakened. For years she has blocked them from her mind, but as illness and old age overtake her, she begins to relive the time when she defied all propriety and convention and followed her charismatic brother Yeshûa and her betrothed Yehûd'a in their daring but perilous adventure.”
UK Audible: US Audible:
I have also recorded a podcast on the writing of The Testament Of Mariam and the history behind the story.
Alison Morton
Alison Morton, author of the acclaimed Roma Nova thriller series (Inceptio, Perfiditas and Successio) has just published a short guide about writing and publishing for the new writer.
‘The 500 Word Writing Buddy: 25 Inner Secrets for the New Writer will provide solid tips and advice for somebody who is new to writing, in the early stages of writing their book, or thinking about it.
Written in an accessible style, Writing Buddy contains articles on character, structure, introducing conflict, weaving plot and setting together and how to prepare a manuscript for publication. Readers will learn about the different ways of publishing and about marketing and selling their work.
Alison also gives valuable pointers about the writer’s life – the reason to write, where and when to write, interacting with other writers and the write/life balance.
Writing Buddy started as a column in Alison's local English-language magazine near her home in France – The Deux-Sèvres Monthly.
Now she has compiled articles from the past three years into this guide. Available now as an ebook on Kindle price £2.99/$3.99/€3.08.
PARTNER MEMBERS
Scarlett Rugers
I have some really exciting news I wanted to share for the ALLi Members Showcase.
A client of mine spoke about me and the work I did for her over at Huffington Post this week.
I'm really stoked to get such a positive review!
EVENTS
Unbinding the Book
Our new project, Unbinding the Book this Thursday 25th September as part of The London Art Book Fair at The Whitechapel Gallery.
Unbinding the Book looks to push the boundaries of who can be an author and what a book can be. Please take a look at our Unbinding the Book blog, where you can see each of the artist's creative journeys or a sneak peak at the Exhibition book. Take a look at the showreel http://bit.ly/1mm5Ytg
Right: Helen Schell specialises in projects about space exploration and science of the cosmos. For Unbinding the Book, Schell has created a large book about the Moon that will incorporate light reactive Smart Materials.
An Evening with ALLi & ACX (London) 1st October, 7pm GMT
We’re delighted to invite members who happen to be London way to a special meet and greet with Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) this October 1st. ACX is a platform from Amazon that allows your stories to turn into audiobooks, allowing you direct control over your audio rights and professional quality audiobooks.
With distribution via Audible, Amazon and ITunes, you also have access to some of the biggest retailers around to maximise your sales.
An evening with ACX will also feature drinks (kindly sponsored by Audible), a chance to meet some key ALLi team members and Amazon execs, and listen to Audible’s President, Jason Ojalvo interview the always wonderful Joanna Penn. More information can be found here and don't forget to RSVP via ALLi's Meetup Page .
Jacob Ross
The Literary Consultancy
Now is your last chance to book the upcoming Elements of Fiction lecture series at the discounted price of £68 + VAT for all three half day mini masterclasses at the Free Word Centre, starting this Saturday:
Saturday September 27 11am-2pm: Narrative Structure
Saturday October 11am-2pm: Voice
Saturday October 25 11am-2pm: Character
Single-lecture tickets are still available to buy for any of the three lectures at £25 + VAT, and booking will remain open until the day before each lecture. We hope you will join us for these informative mini masterclasses with a ‘genius' tutor whose short story events were a sell-out success at the London Short Story Festival earlier this year.
Materials will be provided and each lecture will look at theory and practice.
Do check out our Events page for more information of upcoming TLC events. We hope to see you at one soon.
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 proceeding the Wednesday you would like it published.
