Category: 7. Sunday

WIP Wednesday 28th February 2024
Fact Vs Fiction

WIP Wednesday 28th February 2024

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I currently have two short stories on the go, firstly the one I was working on last week but the second is a YA story for the Blackpool signing in August. I wouldn’t normally have two going at once but circumstances took over.

Last week I slipped down a few steps and have a lovely bruise on my leg and bruised ribs. As a result of this I struggled to sit at the computer to write so I spent some time platting away at the YA story.

Every genre has its own challenges and YA is one I have never tackled. As many of you know I tend to write darker subjects so writing a story where no one dies horribly provides its own set of challenges. I have written tamer stories for anthologies with very little spice or fade to black sex so that is less of an issue.

The main challenge is putting myself into the mind of a teenager, first life has changed a lot since I was one, and secondly although my son is a teenager is autism means that I can hardly pick his brain. The plot of the story is your basic boy meets girl, girl thinks boy is an idiot, boy does something heroic and girl decides to give him a go. I am setting the story in a riding school, which does mean I can pick the brains of the girls up at the stables where Preeya now lives, and Preeya, along with a couple of the girls may get name checks in there.

The first lot of questions I need to be asking is would a girl give their number to a guy now or their snapchat details? How long do they wait to respond to messages? When I was a teenager there were no mobile phones and dating was done mainly in school hours with the occasional meet up to go to the cinema at the weekend. I am not sure if it was because we had less freedom in some ways as teenagers or if it was simply that we hung around in crowds more.

Hopefully by next week I will have both stories finished and be back to writing novels, but I have a signing coming up so I am busy preparing for that at the minute too.

WIP Weds 7th February 2024
Fact Vs Fiction

WIP Weds 7th February 2024

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Sometimes you find yourself taking on more than you can do, but them somehow you pull it off. That is me and anthologies!

When I sign up I do so thinking I have plenty of time, and to be fair I normally do. The problem is life does not always go along with my schedule, sometimes you find everything piling up on you and question why you do this to yourself.

So you might ask why do it? The fact is I love it and it makes marketing sense, especially if you are in there with authors with bigger audiences than your own. Sometimes it also pushes you out of your comfort zone, last year I wrote my first Christmas love story for one.

The short story I am witing this week is for the Authors At The Armouries signing and it also ties to the one I just finished for the Fiction, Fans & Ballgowns anthology. Both stories form the beginning of a fantasy series I plan to launch next year, once I get my rights back I will put both stories together and possibly extend them a little to make it into a novella.

The story for this anthology is back story on how the Raven Seer fell in love with the mortal Antonio. it wont be too in depth as it is only five thousand words but the plan is to make it steamy.

Hopefully by next week I will be onto something else as I have several projects on the go.

Hearing The Voices…
Fact Vs Fiction

Hearing The Voices…

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The second book I published was the short story collection that was intend to raise money for Charlie Harris Beard but was too late.

I have always loved ghost stories, I believe in ghosts so it was not surprise I would write some. What came as a surprise to me was I decided I wanted to look at thinks from the ghosts point of view. Some of these stories can be viewed as triggering, not everyone dies in a bed at an old age surrounded by loved ones but I like to think I dealt with it quite sensitively.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2021

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Pretty different from my usual read but thank you for taking the time to write I really enjoyed reading it

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 June 2018

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Incredibly well written. Each tale was as chilly and frightening as the last. I really loved reading this and the author is extremeley talented in making you feel uneasy reading this. This book is sure to make your spine tingle. Just be careful when you glance over your shoulder reading this. You never know who may be lurking. Muahahaha

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2017

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Paula is a talented writer and I would recommend this book for everyone. Great read. Don’t miss it. Excellent book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2016

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Well written book of stories by a new authoress, some with a real twist.Hope to read more written by her.

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a good book

Reviewed in the United States on 29 December 2017

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If you’re into mystery, suspension, with a touch of scary, then Voices Across The Void, is the book for you. This book will give you all of that, and some surprise emotions as well.

There were several stand-out stories for me; The Cottage was one of them, this was a story about redemption, closer, and self evaluation. At least, that’s how I felt while reading. The Hospital was another mind bender, though tragic, it was also beautiful at the same time. Finally; The Bluebell Woods, I don’t have enough words to express how this one story touched me. The emotions I felt while reading, surprised, and shocked me. I went from fear to anger so fast, that I had to take a break, and stop reading. The Bluebell Woods is my worst damn nightmare! To read it; had me crying, feeling bitter, laughing, and towards the end rejoicing.

This was a great book; it kept me entertained during the holidays and on these cold, and blustery days and nights.

Each of these stories could easily have become a dull book, some were inspired by other books, The Bluebell Woods was in part inspired by Lovely Bones but also by the photo of the bluebell woods that I took which is featured in the cover art.

I still make donations in Charlie Harris Beard’s name, usually to Clik Sergeant or another cancer charity, those who make an impression on our lives are never gone while we remember them and speak their name.

If you want to hear the voice yourself you can find it here…

http://mybook.to/VoicesAcrossVoid

Fact Vs Fiction

Where it all began!

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As I set about getting this year off to a productive start I decided the appropriate place to begin was back where it all began…

A series of short stories about when the fairy tale ends and everything falls apart. Love,death and revenge all feature in these tales where not everything is as it seems. The phrase till death do us part takes on a different meaning in both Disintegration and Empty, while Table For One and Deuce examine the more humorous side of betrayal.

It was my first book but it wasn’t supposed to be. I had been writing Voices planning to help raise funds for a courageous little boy named Charlie Harris Beard, if you have been around for long enough you will know what happened and that sadly he passed before I finished the book. I put that to one side and wrote some other stories but I had no clear plan of what to do with them. At this time my 18 year relationship was crumbling and many of the stories came as a result of my inability to write a happily ever after.

Once the relationship was over I was determined to find myself, so I pulled together these stories and took a better look at them. Some went in the bin, never to see the light of day, some still remain hidden in files on my computer but these precious few were initially hastily edited and put together. The cover created in the kindle app using a photo I had taken and which I constantly consider replacing but I am too attached to the symbolism. Then before I could second guess myself I hit publish and hid.

I sat waiting for the horrible reviews to come, so far I have been lucky and I am still waiting. I have gone back and given it a proper edit since, but I cannot tell you the mix of excitement and terror I felt hitting that button. I love some of these stories, one ended up with a sequel in Voices, but my favourite is Table For One. I think it was probably inspired by Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads. Somewhere there was a recording of me reading it but it’s much better if you listen to the audio book instead. Here are a few reviews about the book…

5.0 out of 5 stars Great set of short storiesReviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2022

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I decided to buy this on paperback as I like them and it’s so cheap.
The stories are well written and dark but well thought out with regard to being the injured party for revenge and retribution. Already bought Paula’s ghost stories off the back of this

5.0 out of 5 stars Great selection of short stories with twists you won’t expect.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2017

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A selection of short stories based around divorce/separation and the reasons behind it. Even though each tale is short in length, they all have enough in them to make you invested in the tale.
I thoroughly enjoyed them.

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars from meReviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2019

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There are some really good short stories in this book, some of them I would like to be made into longer stories as I felt they had more to give but all in all they were good but sometimes dark reads.

As you can see not all 5 star reviews but the main complaint was not the quality but the length of the stories and maybe I should have made some longer. If my brain wasn’t full of stories I might go back and do more to them but for now they stay as they are, a tribute to survival when my world crumbled.

If you would like to read it for yourself if is available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.

https://mybook.to/Disintegration

Fact Vs Fiction

Happy New Year My Friends

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It has been quite while since I posted here, or anywhere else other than the odd FB message. At one point I almost walked away but sometimes the things that almost break us make us stronger eventually. I could come back with the usual resolutions but for here the plan is to be consistent again. This blog was set up to talk about my writing journey and so that is what we are going to get back to.

Mondays will be all about published books, and an occasional book review. I will share the reviews, links, special offers, cover releases and all that good stuff you all love so much.

Wednesdays will be WIP days, sharing what I am working on, how it is going and share my thoughts on the writing process. I need to decide today which book I finish first as I have three books half written, I think I know which it will be based on my first signing of the year.

Fridays will be about my friends. I have made a lot of author friends at signings and they are amazing authors so I will share some snaps of us at events alongside the links to their books.

The plan for the weekend is to get back to the podcast on a Sunday, and a YouTube video on the Saturday. However, my computer has died so I am sharing my son’s laptop right now so I can say what form these will take at the minute.

I am going to try to keep most of the horsey stuff and family chat to my readers group which you can go join here if you want and personal Facebook but keep my Facebook author page for books and writing stuff too. It will also of course have shared posts that I think my readers may be interested in, and of course the Question Of The Day at lunchtime which usually gets some interesting responses.

My official website will be posts about books and signings but I will try to keep the content different, it will have cover reveals etc but this is the place for the more chatty version, that will be the more formal Sunday best type place lol.

It may sound like I am going to be overwhelming myself but it is more a case of pushing myself and being more organised. Dreams only come true if you go out there and make them happen. See you Wednesday, and Happy New Year to each of you. I hope you find happiness in 2024 doing what you love.

Fact Vs Fiction

To Nano Or Not?

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It’s no secret I normally do Nano and technically fail. I never seem to quite hit the target but generally I consider is a plus if I write more words than I have in the previous month or two. This last couple of months I have barely written at all, I have completed two short stories for long overdue projects that I will share over the next week or two but my mojo had definitely left home.

The problem wasn’t actually writing related, it was my dad’s health that has been my main concern, worrying about that made it hard to focus on anything else. On Friday he had an operation, one we weren’t happy he was being given but it seems to have turned out better than we could have hoped for, so now it is time to get back to the various works I have in progress.

The thing is I know I will fail Nano, I am away for four days in Wales for the Indie Love signing next week so that means down to twenty days to complete it, and while I normally fail anyway I do at least set out with the hope of succeeding.

So I have decided to set myself my own Nano target by running the dates from the 6th November to 6th December. It won’t count as an official Nano project but I will let you know later in the week if I have made a decent start on it.

And if you are NanoWriMo-ing good luck every one!

Fact Vs Fiction

New Series!

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It feels like it has been far too long since I got to announce a new book, not only a new book but the start of a new series.

ONE MOMENT YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO PLAN, THEN THE NEXT THE RUG IS PULLED FROM UNDER YOU!

Nothing could ever have prepared Charlotte Morgan for the revelations awaiting her when she returned from work.

Her boyfriend had been beaten up by thugs he owed money to and she discovered he was in way over his head with the wrong people.

When he is taken before she can raise all the funds needed, she offers the only thing she can… herself!

The characters in this book first appeared in a short story as part of an anthology, it turned out that not only did I fall in love with them, but so did the readers. What was going to be a single book has developed into the start of a new series ‘Cel Tradat’ which translates as The Betrayed. Book Two will be available later this year and soon the question will be, who can be trusted?

If you want to pick up a copy of this book you can get one on Amazon or ask your local bookstore to order it for you https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paying-His-Debts-Cel-Tradat/dp/B0C6P4XQWK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=33EJC3D1NHURV&keywords=paula+acton&qid=1686303966&sprefix=paula+a%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-2

Fact Vs Fiction

Free Books

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❤️ Twenty-six books
❤️ One day

To celebrate coronation weekend, twenty-six Indie Love signing authors have come together to offer up a special treat.

For one day only, you can get your hands on twenty-six eBooks for ZERO PENNIES!

Head over to our website to find out more and download books from your new favourite authors: https://www.indielove.wales

Fact Vs Fiction

Getting back in the groove!

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While I might not be hitting the targets I have set for myself personally I am doing better. The last few weeks I have written on at least three days each week and the number of words written has increased too. This week I am off work so I am determined to push on and get this book finished, in fact the plan is that next week I should be able to to give you the publishing date.

Everything is gearing up toward the Leeds and Sheffield signings which I have in June. There are a couple of giveaways and promotions running for anyone attending if you pop over to my Facebook page this week.

Yesterday I got to go visit Preeya, she is doing really well and the comfort I got from hearing how well she is doing means a lot. Letting go, even when it is the right thing to do is still hard but knowing that she is happy and settled means the world and makes it so much easier. I don’t want to even think about how I would have felt if she had not settled in so well.

Visit the Authors At The Armouries signing page on FB to enter this competition. The winners will get extra funds to spend at the signing on the day.

I am going to leave it there for today and get my newsletter out, that is on the list for areas to improve in, See you all next week.

Fact Vs Fiction

Since We Last Spoke…

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I did a thing! Well more I went to a thing!

I was a signing author at #FFB23 Fiction, Fans & Ballgowns in Liverpool at St George’s Hall. I got to see some of my favourite people in the world, make new some new friends and meet some people who I had only ever interacted with via FB previously. I also got something money can’t buy and that was the passion to push on with my writing.

There were a couple of authors who had queues that lasted all day, was a jealous, maybe a little but more that that it was a reminder that with hard work I know I could have that. Now that isn’t bragging, honestly, but I know from the feedback I get on my writing that the quality isn’t the problem. It is me! Or more correctly it is the fact I let things drift, wasn’t consistent and just haven’t released anything new in forever. Last week I wrote over 2,500 words which isn’t a lot but it is a lot more than I have written in ages. This morning I wrote over 600 already. I got a new planner which I spent the weekend organising and am ready to push myself.

I also went to visit Preeya in her new home…

She is happy, healthy, and seems to be well settled. I like to think she was happy to see me but it could just be she wanted to see what I had brought her. She performed her trick of bowing much to the delight of several young girls all of whom have promised to say hello to her when they visit. I have a feeling she might just end up being a favourite up there by the time she is old enough to be ridden.

The only negative since we last spoke was the evening event at Liverpool, no don’t get me wrong I had a blast and from some angles I felt I looked good but there is always that one photo that makes you realise that reality is not always your friend. I wasn’t even sure about sharing this photo but it is out there in the world in fact you can see lots of the fabulous outfits here http://gallery.liverpoolselfiemirror.co.uk/u/LiverpoolSelfieMirror/Fiction-Fans-Ballgowns

What I can say is that by next year I have no intention of looking like I am about to give birth to triplets, now the Easter eggs have been finished I am going to focus on healthier eating. I will leave you with a picture I do like from the evening I just wish my phone took better quality pictures.