Hi all!

This won't be a long post but a wee update!

I have worked hard. Harder than I ever have done to complete Origin's rewrite.
And now I can HAPPILY announce that I have finished the manuscript and it is now in the capable hands of my editor! (YAY!)

I guess now the question is "what should I do whilst I wait to hear back?"
The usual answer would be "to start on the next book in the series" but actually...I plan to try working on something new and unrelated to the JJ Tales or Romance Fantasy!
I can't say right now what I have in mind but just know it's a great challenge for me and I'm both excited and nervous!
​
The arrival of September also brings along new, exciting opportunities and I'd be a fool to say no to every one that comes my way!

Aside from brainstorming, I'll be reading a lot more (because reading is pivitol for a writer, it's necessary to turn off and take a break and jump into someone elses' world).

But that's all guys! Short but sweet ;)

I'll try and give updates where possible!

S.R
X

​It’s not often I get the opportunity to meet published authors but after striking up such a friendship with Paranormal Romance writer, Sarah Bailey, I thought it would be nice to interview her during our first meeting.
Please note, I am not a professional blogger, I don't really carry out interviews so this was a spur of the moment thing. This interviews may differ from other interviews because it was quite informal.
I’ll set the scene for you:

I enter the cat emporium first and immediately clock eyes on a water dispenser which, on any normal day, would not have looked as attractive as it did but considering I’d walked through the Sahara Desert (aka London), I practically sobbed and cradled it.
After replenishing my quickly overheated body, I had a peruse around the tiny café, knowing I wouldn’t be called in until my booking at 2pm. So I admire the cat magnets, playing cards, mugs, colouring books and then to my right, I see Sarah Bailey enter the shop.

We hug and, like all Brits for the past 2-3 weeks, we complain about the heat. We complain about the heat even as I hand her over a cold cup of water, then we complain about the heat some more. It’s not long after are we then led through the doors to another small room with sinks and a hostess. We’re explained the house rules (because there are indeed house rules when dining in a house of cats). No camera flash. No waking the cats if they are sleeping. Basically let them come to you and feel free to use cat toys to play with them when and if the opportunity presents itself.

After washing our hands, we are led into the next room where every table we pass is occupied with hoomans. cats are sleeping in their beds or along the walls on shelves. We’re led downstairs to a very Alice in Wonderland/fantasy forest room where there are more tables and less cats, fans are on full blast in every corner of the room. And thankfully we’re seated in the corner at the Carbonelle table (yes, Carbonelle is, in fact a cat and every table had been named after one of the furry friends).
We had wooden bridges over our heads, shelves where they could wander around freely, little cubby holes in the massive tree where they could sleep. At this point, we’re just trying to take it all in and I decide to jump straight into interview before the tea and food arrives (because I’m way too enthusiastic). I ask if I can record, to which she grants permission and I press the button and begin.

S.R: Okay, so thank you for meeting with me *we both laugh* This is so nice! So, I’ve got ten questions but hopefully they aren’t difficult ones. My first question is, Demon’s After Dark is mainly set in London. Why choose London & what is your favourite thing about the city?
S.B: I think I chose London because it’s such a big place and it seems to be one of the places where you could, you know, potentially have a bunch of supernaturals hiding under the surface so it was kind of the ideal choice because I love the UK and being British *laughs*. I think my favourite thing about this city—god, I don’t often come here but…I do like walking by the Thames because even though it’s horrible and dirty, it’s such an open space in comparison to wherever I go. London in general is a bit compact and crowded so it’s just nice to go along the Southbank.
S.R: I definitely agree.
*A waitress comes over with our pot of English Breakfast and places it between us daintily. She tells us out High tea will be arriving soon and we thank her*
S.R: Okay! Second question…*I pause to let S.B take a photo of the set up and another waitress turns up with the High Tea and rattles off what each tier consists of (Vegetarian High Tea. Sweet layer has vanilla cupcake, lemon berry and raspberry cupcakes, 2 shortbread biscuits & 2 macaroons. Second tier of 2 scones with jam and cottage cream and the bottom tier, tomato & hummus sandwiches and savoury cakes*
Okay, you’ve mentioned other supernatural beings in your book, so I definitely have to know, if you could be one of your many fantastical occults, what would you choose to be and why?
S.B: *laugh* Oh my god…okay, I’ve always, always, always had an affinity for vampires. I don’t know what it is about them, maybe it’s the whole blood lust or whatever. I just think that vampires are very sexy in a weird way…if that really makes sense?
S.R: *smirks* It’s not even weird at all. *at this point I resist the urge to make a bad Interview with the Vampire pun*
S:B: *laughs again* No, it’s not weird.
S:R: It’s not weird at all, it’s why we’re here!*I giggle because when you’re on the subject of sexy vampires, how can you not?*
S:B: So, literally my second book is about vampires so I was very excited to write the second book because of my love for them.
S.R: *beams* Cool! Leading on to that, do you have a release date for Vampire’s Kiss yet?
S.B: *gasps in thought* Ummmm, I’m hoping it will be released on the 26th of July.
S.R: 26th! *dances in chair*
S.B: Provided that my cover artist does the cover first, I am booked in, but that’s what we’re waiting for.
S.R: I’m looking forward to it! What’s the best and worst thing about writing for you?
S.B: Oh my god, the best thing is being able to create a world, a fantasy world, essentially all the worlds we create are fantasy worlds because they’re not real *laughs* and being able to get lost in them is the most exciting thing for me really. The real world is sometimes not very fun.
S.R: No, I have to agree on that one too.
S.B: the worst part is when my characters do not leave me alone and I’m tired and I want to go to sleep and they won’t stop harassing me. Or they harass me when I’m trying to write another book, that also happens which is not very funny, it’s the worst part about being a writer, not being able to turn it off.
S.R: I can relate to that, I’m sure. Next question, which character do you feel you relate most to?
S.B: Okay, this would be telling, *laughs and then arches brow* can it be a guy? *laughs* No, that was a joke. Um, Jesus…across the entire series or just in general or in Demon’s Destiny?
S.R: Um, I would say…the series in general.
S.B: Okay, the series in general. There is a character in…*thinks hard* book 3. The main character in book 3. I wrote this incredible quirky character—not quirky— but she’s got all sorts of anxiety issues. I didn’t want to write a heroine who was your typical badass—I like badass heroines, don’t get me wrong—but I wanted a heroine who was not your normal girl, I wanted her to have, I don’t know, she wrote herself essentially, she got in my head and told me how she wanted to be written. I think she’s probably most like me out of all of them, I do inject myself into every character, that’s just a thing. I’m not going to say more because book 3 is not coming out until August--
S.R: Of course! No spoilers!
S.B: No spoilers.
S.R: I know what you’re like *laughs*. Okay would you say that you’re a believer in the supernatural?
S.B: Oh, yeah definitely.
S.R: *nods in agreement* Definitely. Because a non-believer would be somewhat living a boring life otherwise.
S.B: Definitely, I agree
S.R: If your series made the big screen, would you prefer it to be a tv series or a movie?
S.B: A tv series because there are more episodes and can explore more as a tv show and also because there are so many different characters, it makes more sense to me.
S.R: There’s more depth to a series and there’s more time to explore the characters.
S.B: Exactly, you’re not condensing the story into a 2 hours or 1 and a half hours which kind of feels like it’s rushed, although my books are rather fast paced so maybe it would work.
S.R: Which character would you like to meet in person and what would you say to them?
S.B *laughs and shakes head* That’s a really hard question! The thing is I really want to meet all of them! They’re so cool! That’s such a really impossible question to ask me right now.
S.R: I mean I suppose you could say all of them in one room but it might be a bit much.
S.B: Actually, I guess I would lie to meet my lead from book 5 because…I don’t want to give spoilers away, but he is one of the loudest characters in my head that I’ve ever experienced. I think it would be interesting because of what he is…who he is.
S.R: I like the cryptic-ness. It’s what I expect from you. In this current heatwave in the UK, what would Lukas and Ella be doing right now?
S.B: What would they be doing? *wonders* probably…I imagine them out in this garden together sunbathing because they like to spend time together, no spoilers, if you’ve read the books you’ll know why they don’t like being apart.
S.R: *whimsy voice* Together forever. Okay, now last but not least, if you could give one tip to writers, published or otherwise, what would it be?
S.B: Keep writing! Don’t stop writing. I think that’s the thing, when I started this journey just over a year ago and it’s weird to think it’s just over a year ago, the one thing my aunt – who is also a writer – told me was to just keep writing until you’ve finished your first draft, whatever it is you’re writing. Just don’t stop because if you stop you’re going to get all worked up about it and you’ll want to go back and change things – not that I don’t go back and change things, I do, well, now I do, when I first started writing I didn’t. It’s only through completing something did I realise I could do it and that I could replicate it several times so just keep writing. Every time you write you get better.
S.R: Brilliant. I’ll take that advice as I myself am struggling. But it is a sound piece of advice to keep writing, it doesn’t matter how much you write as long as you get yourself in that mind frame and have it in front of you even if it just a sentence, it’s something.
S.B: Exactly, you can’t fix something you haven’t written. That’s my biggest thing, you can’t go back and change it and make it better if you haven’t actually written a story in the first place.
S.R: *grins* Well thank you for answering all my questions.
S.B: That’s alright, I hope they were satisfactory.
S.R: They were perfect!
S.B: *laughs* I do try.

Recording ended and…we ate! In company of somewhat lazy, tired kitty cats but the food was great, we talked loads more and…I got my copy of Demon’s Destiny signed so I was over the moon!
If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on Demon’s Destiny, you’re missing out big time!
You can find Sarah Bailey’s links below, go and show her some love & support!
Website – www.sarahbaileywriter.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/sbaileyauthor
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sbaileyauthor/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sbaileyauthor/
Newsletter sign up – https://www.subscribepage.com/sarahbaileywriter

​S.R
X

Okay so just a quick post that had been on my mind for a while but I was in two minds as to whether I should blog about it...and here I am.

A month ago I suffered a severe case of "OMFG my book is absolute rubbish, what the hell have I written? Why did I waste my time on this? I HAVE to start over." 

Why? 
Because I wanted to know if my book would be deemed as Steampunk Fantasy Romance and I sought the opinion of another writer. 
Firstly, there's absolutely nothing wrong with seeking opinions or thoughts from fellow writers or readers.
Secondly, I respect the opinions and feedback I'm given (as long as it's constructive).
Where I went wrong was how I reacted to the feedback - which had been a complete vivisection of my world I'd built. On the outside I was calm but on the inside - the minute I was behind closed doors - I was one hyperventilating mess.

​I was immediately on call to my editor like a panicking Patricia second guessing everything I'd created and all it took from her to get me to settle was a simple: "I wouldn't class your book as Steampunk, I'd class it as having steampunk elements within a world you've given a nice twist to."
Sound.
To the point.
Instant relief.

It's no secret that I'm absolutely taken with everything Steampunk (the fashion, music, style, art, machines, romance) as also expressed in my blog post a couple years ago, but I have to remind myself that this is NOT a series were steampunk is a predominant figure.
My world just has unique steampunk elements that make it magical and fun.

The reason I'm underlining this in a blog post is for 2 reasons:
1) I want potential readers to understand what to expect if they decide to purchase my book.
2) I will no doubt have readers who won't like this series and will have a lot to say about it and others that will enjoy it and understand it.

I'd like to think I've worked hard to cover any potential causes for confusion but regardless, I have to gear myself up for the not-so-great reviews.

I just needed to get that off my chest. 
Oh but definite lesson learnt...I definitely need to woo-sah and remember that I know my world and not to be so affected by the negative critique that may or may not come my way.

Okay done! Rant over!

S.R
X

Literally you can make a list of goals to achieve but life loves to throw wrenches and lemons at you until you're nothing but a confused, frantic mess trying to MAKE lemonade using the wrench.

My partner recently underwent surgery (he had a detached retina) which was successful (thankfully). Last week I have been off work caring for him, including a couple days this week, thanks to work being very understanding. 

Naturally this has thrown off my hardcore writing progression as it's been quite emotional and tiring but things will be on the up soon and back to normal! (as will my writing!)

I've become viciously neglectful towards my blog and pages in general but I'm planning on being more active here and there as promised in my last blog post.
Saying this, I re-entered the Twitter jungle with a parachute and landed in a safe spot. I have minimal supplies but I do have a walkie-talkie on me and on the other side is the amazing Sarah Bailey who has practically given me a 101 class on author survival these past weeks (she's frickin' amazing!)
So I'll also be posting on Twitter in the hopes I'll grow more comfortable to this engaging lifestyle.
But let's take one day at a time!

However let's go back to Sarah Bailey (the Paranormal Romance extraordinaire) who will be launching 'DEMON'S DESTINY' (book 1 of her Paranormal Romance series AFTER DARK) in just 10 days time!

Guys, I wouldn't lie to you. If you love sexy and mysterious demons from the dark and witty heroines to match, you're in for a devilish treat. Show your support and check it out by clicking on the stunning cover photo (isn't it just gorgeous?!).

Update complete! Until next time...

With love,
S.R
X

Hi all!

I'm so awful at keeping my blog up to date - I can't believe the last post was in August 2017!

Time literally runs away with me (or has done for the past eight months).

I just have some updates for you all regarding my book status. TEMPTED has gone through its final editing stages and will be awaiting a cover shortly. As mentioned in my last post, plans for publication are on hold until ORIGIN has been re-worked.

I've had people ask me why I'm re-doing ORIGIN and my answer is the same. It needs it.
I had no support when I first published it. Since TEMPTED, I've grown as a writer, learnt new things and have a stronger feel of the world I've created. I want ORIGIN to reflect that.

This of course means that you won't be seeing book one or two for a while until I've re-done the first draft of ORIGIN. But I can promise that it'll be worth it in the long run!

However, on the note of publication - my editor, Pippa Roscoe, released her debut novel last month by Harlequin! I'm so lucky to have an editor who also writes for Mills & Boon. It's very exciting and incredibly inspiring. If anyone does fancy reading a romance featuring two incredibly addictive characters racing to rekindle their passion before the clock runs out then click on the cover image. ;)

Would you also believe that I've been so engrossed in life (and writing) that I actually never got round to posting a New Year's, Valentine's or Easter blog! (shame on me). Sorry guys, I'll try doing better this year!

Anyway, that's the update!
I will do my utmost to remember to post a cover reveal for TEMPTED soon!
In the meantime, hope the Easter break has been good to you all (hopefully most of you will be getting over your chocolate comas today!)

With love,
S.R
X​

I'm still alive!

Just about.

So I'll get straight down to it. Draft 2 of TEMPTED is finally done and is now in the safe, reliable hands of my wonderful editor.
This time round has been a real eye opener and journey for me as you never really know what to expect from the 1st draft revision...you can spend hours in tears, a few days at the tavern--I mean pub drinking yourself into oblivion or go into an abyss of self doubt before you even attempt to get started on the 2nd draft.

Safe to say I went into the abyss of self-doubt for weeks. I was so stressed out about where I wanted this to go and in what direction. I felt a lot like an Oracle, I gave myself all kinds of predictions and possible futures of my characters and alas I managed to find a solution and survive the ride.

So yes! Draft 2 done! And I am happy!

However, upon my journey into the second draft I found that actually new things were coming to mind...so new in fact that I realised it would greatly impact book 1, ORIGIN.

Due to this I also had a very important choice to make. 
Do I work around draft 2 in accordance with ORIGIN (which was not under the professional wing of an editor)...
or...
Do I prepare myself to revise ORIGIN and re-work it with my editor's help?

And so, I've gone with decision 2. Therefore ORIGIN is now in the stages of being revised!

So in the meantime I'll be busy cracking on with ORIGIN until I here back from my editor about TEMPTED. 

Anyway I'll be in touch again soon!

With love,
S.R
​X

So after three long years I've finally accomplished the one thing I kept telling myself I'd do and that's complete TEMPTED (Book 2 of The Jackson J Tales).

Finally. Finally the first draft is done.

It's so difficult to express what I'm feeling at this moment. I'm in a kaleidoscope of emotions.
The final scene flowed out on paper like ink and I'd managed to build up enough tension of the events until before I knew it, I'd written the final word and finalised it with a full stop.

Then I simply stared at my computer screen like "Oh my god...I've finally done it." 
Well...it went from that to utter excitement, relief, happiness, accomplishment and more at what I'd achieved after so long to creeping anxiousness. Thoughts like "Oh my god...I submit this to my editor in a week's time. What if it's complete rubbish? What if what I've written has been a hallucination of what I've believed to be a good story but is realistically cow dung?" Trust me...being a writer isn't luxury. You make yourself insane with doubts.

But no! It's done now! All that's left is for me to read through and check that I haven't made any embarrassing typos or completely missed a scene I thought I'd written only for it to be non-existent. Then I'll submit and celebrate then wonder what I should do for the rest of the month I'm waiting for the revision.

My editor said I should relax, take some down time. But the truth is, I know I'll be crapping myself while I wait for her revision. It takes me back to my essay days. But you know what? I'm prepared for her critique. I never had the guidance of an editor 3 years ago when I wrote ORIGIN and after working with one editor for a year and now a fresh one, I can say I'm all go for their years of experienced guidance.

And I'm lucky as hell. To be acquainted with two lovely editors from Harlequin Mills & Boon & HarperCollins is a massive deal for me. It's a dream come true. The support is unrivalled and treasured by me and I thank God I met them.

So yeah...that's me. I guess now I'll binge-watch Arrow or Grimm or whatever show I've shamelessly missed out on. I'll meet up with friends (like real living, breathing friends and not the imaginary characters who have kept me occupied for like forever). I'll maybe treat myself to something nice...oh and then there's Comic Con at the end of May so that should be a real fun weekend for me *stares at my steampunk hat*

Anyhow, I thought I'd update on things as I don't often do but hopefully I'll be able to get some quotes out there soon! Thanks for the ongoing support from friends and the likes/follows. I appreciate it as ever!

Bye for now!

S.R
X

​I often forget about this blog...I very rarely have news to share or more often than not feel unsure as to what I should be writing about. (Funny because I should be used to writing by now right?)
I apologise to the internet world of blogging for my overdue blog post but...I'm a novel writer, not so much a blogger (oopsie!)

So the last time I managed to successfully post an entry I had expressed how healthy deviation isn't so much a bad thing when it comes to writing.
While I ponder for a new topic to regale you with I figure there's no harm in updating you all with the latest changes in my life. 

I successfully reached a new age! So I guess that's something to sing and lark about! Go me!

Oh and I got a kitty and named him Loki - after the Norse God of Mischief...and boy is he a mischievous little one. He thinks my laptop is a chewable toy. He doesn't understand privacy and therefore follows me everywhere and insists on surveying everything I look at, even if it means his little head gets in the way of, oh I don't know, the TV, the phone, my food.

Viante and I recently shared a stall at a Christmas Market held at St Thomas' Hospital in December where I advertised Origin and she displayed complimentary hand-made steampunk necklaces (Which may I add, were really cute).

Unrelated but I've been unwell due to the horrendous 'cold snap' us Brits are currently enjoying. Like a child I wanted nothing more than to dance and catch snowflakes with my tongue...sadly I experienced nothing but bed rest and flu for a week. Oh but on the bright side...more cold weather to follow *rolls eyes*.

So that's all what's happened with me. Now to the fun news:

1) New Origin Cover:
After much thought I've decided to revamp the cover for Origin, I can do this as I've self-published but I'm sure there would be more to it if I was with a publishing company. My reason for the change? I simply want a new cover that would better suit the series. This shouldn't take long to do and I've already seen the proofs and I'm very happy and excited.

2) I finally have a new deadline for Tempted:
Yeah I know it's taken me forever but life happens, as it does with everyone and gets in the way. After a nice long chat with my editor I'm ecstatic I finally have a new date in place and will be working my arse off to reach it. Which of course means my next blog entry will be likely on D day once I've submitted it haha.
Sorry folks but as I said, I'm a novel writer, not so much a blogger. So I'll be MIA as per usual.

Ciao for now lovelies.
Oh and parting words:
Whatever you're doing, make sure it brings not only joy for yourself but others too...it never costs a thing to be nice to others.

S.R 
X

Writing isn't easy.
​Most days I find myself staring at a blank page wondering if everything I've dreamt of in this incredibly detailed world is complete nonsense.
​It takes a lot to snap out of my doubtful bubbles and remind myself that I'm like every artist out there--every one of them has moments of doubt.
​Truth be told it's why I've been so quiet and slightly non-existent. I've had a lot of ups and downs these couple of months, a lot of doubting and what ifs running through my head.
​Then I had a lightbulb moment and I liaised with my editor, I asked her how she felt if I deviated from my original plot. Now I know it's a risk but it's a risk I was fully prepared to take if it meant kick-starting my brain again.
​Like the star my editor is, she gives the all go and encourages my power of control to do whatever I want as long as my characters reach their goal.
​So I went with it and changed the timeline, changed the outcome and it's almost like a dam has burst because my mind has been so focused and rejuvenated that I find all the possibilities overwhelming!

On another note, I attended the London MCM Comic Con this year and bought myself a neat steampunk hat. As always there was a healthy steampunk audience who advertised their work and outfits. It was fun to be a apart of that and honestly (maybe I'm being hopeful here) but in the future I hope to have my own table at a comic con event for a meet and greet. (Who knows what the future holds!)

I hope to be more active on here, keeping you updated with snippets and more ranting of how hard writing can be *joke*
​No but really...I'll try to show myself more!

​Bye for now!

S.R
​X

Not many people know what steampunk is and I love introducing people to it.
Steampunk is rapidly breaking out from the shadows and presenting itself to the world fashionably as well as through film and literature.

"Steampunk is an eclectic world of cogs and rivets. It is airships, goggles and steam. It is romance. It is travelling on clouds and diving beneath rugged waves. It is adventure!"

- Aether Emporium, Steampunk Website
For me it's  an escapism to a world that is fun, vast and immense. I'm one for old fashioned trinkets and fashion, the Victorian era is my favourite time period and with the magic of technology and sci-fi devices we now have steampunk.

The Jackson J Tales is told in a fictional world (with a twist) full of steampunk elements and surprises throughout. It's an ever-lasting, imaginative universe where nearly anything and everything is possible and that's what I love about the stories I've created.

The Comic-Con Expo in London always features a stall or two strictly advertising the steampunk fashion and art. Many people turn up in costume, many live the lifestyle and worship the craze of cogs and goggles.

I myself collect and customize my belongings to express my passion and love for the fashion, whether it's my pocket watch or my self-made airship in my room, I love the authenticity the genre has.

I'm in love with the romance of it - the combination of old and new, the parallel world of what is and what could have been.

I've discovered steampunk bands like Abney Park, designers such as the inspirational Kate 'Kato' Lambert who is also a judge on the reality game show Steampunk'd.

I have a collection of books that help fuel my own personal designs for my plots as well as keeping me entertained and creative.

I think it's fun to be involved in something you have a kinship with or towards and I would happily encourage anyone to be comfortable in what makes them feel happy and unique. For me, it's my fascination with the unusual, which has often been greeted with pleasant compliments more often than the sceptical comment from a stranger.

My concluding comment is no matter how strange or unusual your interest is, whether it's the study of ghost stories, unicorns, mother nature or mythology, trust in it because you never know what your mind is capable of or where it's capable of taking it.

Much love,
S.R
X