National Novel Writing Month - A decade on

I've taken the plunge just now, and at the last moment have signed up for National Novel Writing Month - aka Nanowrimo. For those who haven't heard of this, it's an online month of encouragement to keep bums on seats and fingers on keyboards, but giving you a goal to write to in order to finish a book in 30 days. For me, that will be a first draft, and I'll be working on finessing and polishing that draft for a month or so after.

30 days - 50,000 words.

I remember the first time I did Nanowrimo - back in 2002, 10 years ago now. I really doubted that I'd be able to write volume, the thought of writing that amount ever was so daunting I needed a challenge and Nano gave me one. I was a writer who wrote for one month a year. Now I'm a writer who writes all the time.

The support from the forums, the little rising word count meter, and the deadline helped me achieve my goal of writing a full book in 30 days. And when, back in 2002, the deadline rolled to a close and I had completed my target, I'll never forget the feeling of achievement it gave me. Yes, the book wasn't great, but it was the first time I'd written more than a couple of thousand words of anything. I could do it!

I nano under an assumed name. I don't join in with all the fun things that go along with nano, for me it's all about self motivation and I'm a lurker. This year, nanowrimo is just one thing that I'm doing, and after a couple of years away, I'm glad to be back!

A thank you to those who take the time to leave a review

The absolutely best thing about being a writer, in my opinion, is getting feedback from readers - those people who grab a book when it's on free, or buy it. I write books because I sort of am compelled to. But of course, I really hope that my readers like them, and every so often I have a look on Amazon and see how the reviews are. I've now reached a total of 99 reviews for my various books on Amazon (one more to go to 100! woo!) and I'd like to thank everyone who leaves me one. It means a lot to me to know that people enjoy (or occasionally, don't enjoy) them!

So a heartfelt thank you from me to those who have given me a review.

Self publishing sales in 2012 - milestone!

 

There are many authors out there who are selling by the shedload, and I'm small beans by comparison, but I'm celebrating today, because I've just exceeded my own milestone in self-publishing for the year, and I'm happy!

 

Since the beginning of January 2012, I've sold just over 13,000 books.

 

I'm hoping for a few more sales before the year is out, but delighted to have got this far. And to celebrate, I'm including a picture of lovely Colin, my hero inspiration for Ethan Quinn in The Morning After. Woo!

Ooh! A visit from a hot Spanish Billionaire!

I'm very excited to introduce my friend Rachel Lyndhurst's most recent release for Entangled Publishing's Indulgence series: The Spanish Billionaire's Hired Bride. If you've read Rachel before, you'll know that she writes hot, alpha heros, and Ricardo is another one to add to her stable. Tomorrow, Rachel will be gifting an ebook copy to one lucky reader, so pop along to her blog, read all about it, and leave a comment!

Here's the blurb:

He bought her with cold, hard cash, but can she stop him from stealing her heart?

Blackmailed to marry against his will, Ricardo Almanza needs a wife before he’s thirty, and time is running out. A notorious playboy, marriage is the last thing he wants, but his stepmother’s sexy, debt-ridden personal assistant is the perfect solution. He makes her a business deal she can’t refuse—one million euros for three months as his wife. He might even enjoy being married to her … if she doesn’t kick the crap out of him again.
Helen Marshall can’t believe she’s considering Almanza’s outrageous proposal, but she must help clear her parents’ debts or they face financial ruin. The small print on the marriage contract changes to read three months as his wife in every way—including in the bedroom. Has she gotten in too deep, or will she need a new contract addendum, extending their marriage forever?

The Spanish Billionaire's Hired Bride is available now from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Barnes and Noble.
And you can find out more about Rachel and her books at her blog, facebook, goodreads and she's @RachelLyndhurst on twitter.

Congratulations, Rachel!

Free read, anyone?

Catch Me A Catch is free from 5-7 October (e.g. NOW!).

 This story is about a chocolatier turned reluctant matchmaker, and the yummy man who sails into her town in the west of Ireland, and is mistaken for a love hungry batchelor....

In the words of my latest review 4 days ago on Amazon.com.... (thank you, Kerrin)

Oh, i love this story by Sally Clements. A touch of chocolate makes this story between the hero and heroine pure decadence. I love a good story where it seems impossible for the main characters to get together. Sally writes such a deep romance. Please read it!

I usually get 20,000 freeloads every time this book goes on a two day giveaway, and this time I have a three day giveaway, and would love to top that total, so please if you would like a free read, download it! Here are the links on .com and .co.uk. Hope you all love it too!