Friday 22 August 2014

LAUNCHED TODAY, MY HUSBAND'S SIN

THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED...

To be in with a chance of WINNING a FREE copy of my novel just click on the link below and it will take you to the Heart of Fiction site where I am hosted to day, just leave your email with a comment. GOOD LUCK !



My Husband's Sin is launched today by Tirgearr Publishing. It is exciting and I am thrilled to bits. It is available on Amazon (Kindle)

and in other outlets and for those of you who want to read it, just follow the link below and it will take you there to buy your copy. As an e-book, it can be downloaded to not only an e-reader, as in a Kindle etc, but also to your computer. So NO excuse, go on over and get your copy today









Thursday 21 August 2014

Almost There, One More Sleep



Page 2 of The Vale Star today.



With what has been a very tough emotional week, a close family member is very ill, it is wonderful to see it brighten today. There is an article about me in today's paper and people are so nice coming up to me and congratulating me on my novel, My Husband's Sin, due out tomorrow. I was getting hugs too and I love hugs.



Then this afternoon, some of the swag for promoting my book was delivered. I got really excited as I and my writing friend, author Daniel Kaye, worked hard on them. They are gorgeous. So I shall be getting them out over the next few days. My Husbands Sin is coming alive!



Check out the photo to see the postcards, aren't they cool?
On the front is a picture of my fantastic book cover and the blurb from my novel. Then on the reverse is an author bio and links to where it is available to buy, plus my photo of course. It is making it all so real now. Must say I'm nervous.
Tomorrow it all happen's!


Wednesday 13 August 2014

My Husband’s Sin, the Playlist



When writing, I enjoy listening to music to help keep the creative juices flowing, never more so than working on my first novel, My Husband's Sin. 
Even when we are not at our desks writing, we are thinking about our work. Each time when I'm out walking with my mp3, the music I listened to, often stirs up thoughts for me of my characters and what they were going through. The songs following below shows in a small way some of what I mean. 



For instance, when Lacey, the main character, is feeling abandoned and alone, it was important for her to realise how family, no matter what, will be there for her.  Listen to Whitney Houston sing Family First, at the link following, see what you think.

Family is a big part of My Husband’s Sin, and keeping secrets in families are never a good thing. It always leads to heartache. Some of this next song really resonated with me, I wonder if Lacey’s dad was still alive would he be thinking along these lines? Have a listen, its Secrets, by One Republic

Moving along, what do you do when the one you love pushes you away yet cries out for help? What do you do when you offer that help but it’s too late for them? Sadness and helplessness raises their head in the book throughout but none so much as between Willow and her husband Derek. This song by The Fray, How to Save a Life came to mind for me as did Miss you by Don Baker. Here is The Fray,

Music is an important part of everyone's life, be it Rock n Roll, Country, The Blues, Jazz or Classical. It stirs the emotions. How often have you heard a lyric or a short melody and it started up an avalanche of memories? Music can make us sad, make us smile, dance, heal a broken heart and ease pain. Lacey suffers a lot of unhappy days after Lillian’s revelation so when I wanted to get her fighting spirit up and running, awaken the determination she had within herself I thought of Katy Perry’s  ROAR, it sums up Lacey’s attitude when she does decide to take back control of her life. Listen to it by clicking on the next link,
 Roar

Writing the words The End when I finished the novel, I had mixed feelings myself, let alone my characters lives finally ending their journey.  This is my debut novel, I was happy I completed it, thrilled that I achieved the challenge I had set myself to write a book. But a part of me was also saddened. The journey I had taken with Lacey and her siblings was over. We needed to part ways and I had to send it out into the world. Letting go is difficult but the sense of accomplishment was greater. Enjoy this last song that I turned to when it all came to an end. Walk On, by U2


The End

Thursday 7 August 2014

Publisher Releases Excerpt from My Novel

Excitement mounts as I get closer to the launch date of my debut novel, My Husband's Sin. My publisher,Tirgearr Publishing Ireland has released an excerpt from my book and I am delighted to share it with you. I really hope it whets your appetite for more. So get your e-readers dusted off, even your computers, you can download to these also, so no-one will feel left out!

Let me know what you think in the comments box below. The count down to August 22nd begins...

To read the excerpt, click on the link below.




Monday 4 August 2014

INTRODUCING POET, JACK BYRNE

Today I have the great honour in introducing to you, a wonderful person, poet, Jack Byrne. I really am thrilled to host Jack as I have been an admirer of his work for a long time. So let’s get started.

Mary Bradford: I know you as Jack, but I see you also called John, so which do I call you? 

Jack Byrne: Allow me to introduce myself, I’m John Byrne universally known as Jack. I am from a small village called Newtownmountkennedy in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. I’m getting a wee bit old now. I’m married to Valerie and I’ve been writing for more than ten years, mainly poetry in the traditional genre. I try my hand also at Oriental style poetry in the form of haiku, haiga and tanka. I have had relative success at being published in all the styles I’ve mentioned, both in Ireland and abroad. Thanks to you, Mary, I am striving to write short stories with some success.

MB: That is a kind thing to say Jack, thank you. But you are here to tell us about your latest project?
JB: My latest project is a step in to that great fast flowing river of published works, a chapbook of poetry titled ‘Roses and Rhyme'. Forty love poems, most in the traditional form with some tanka and haiku mixed in. I am excited about getting my work out there so to speak, reaching a new and wider audience. I believe by sharing my work, it will give me an indication of my works acceptance in general and boost connections with other writers and poets. So any writer/poet wanting to contact me please do so.


MB: Where does the inspiration for your poetry come from?
JB: The inspiration for the type of poetry I write, well, my answer would be life, in all its wonderful forms, human, insect, marine, creatures of the air, there is no end to inspiration, happiness or sadness, it’s all there to write about. My greatest influences in poetry mainly concern the genres which I write in, Francis Ledwidge and Katharine Tynan Hinkson for Traditional and Issa for Oriental works. 


MB: Where can a copy of your chapbook of poetry, ‘Roses and Rhyme’ be purchased?
JB:Roses and Rhyme’ is available to purchase directly from me at present and I can be reached at the following links below. Price per copy is €10, including P&P.
Twitter:  @sirjackbee           Email: blackthorn@gmail.com 

MB: Finally Jack, you have a link where people can hear your poetry being read?
JB: Yes a sample of my work can be heard at the following link, https://audioboo.fm/users/113075/boos