Tales From A Fractured Mind
You can join FB launch event by clicking here
You can find Ascension available for pre order at amazon.co.uk and amazon.com
I am really lucky to have some fabulously talented friends, I had very specific ideas for the covers of my Queen Of Ages Trilogy and I had made a decision that I wanted something different to the normal computer manipulated images that grace the covers of most books these days, I love the copies of Tolkien I have with hand illustrated plates and maps and also the covers of the Terry Brooks books I possess so I ambushed a dear friend and talked over my ideas with her.
Stage one was persuade her to take on the project, thankfully she was excited as this was her first foray into cover design.
So let me introduce you to Debra Arnott, a woman of many talents.
Stage two was the creation of the three idea boards for the individual book covers, thankfully Debra completely understood where I was coming from with the random pictures, scribbles and poorly explained half ideas. She took the patchwork of ideas and skilfully merged them together to create a fantastic piece of art for me. A couple of tweaks were needed along the way including discussion of one or two elements that would be digitally enhanced but the result is amazing and something I look forward to hanging on my wall as soon as I get a frame. if you would like to see more of her amazing art work you can check out her page DA Creations here or my personal favourites are her paintings on wood which you can find on her page Wood Winked Art On Wood here.
Stage three was photographing the art work and adding the text, a process which was very hit and miss and was again inspired by the fantasy novels in my bookshelves. So without further ado I would like to share the cover art with you first the kindle version, second the print version (minus the blurb at the minute and finally the actual original painting so you can see you how wonderful it is minus the text.
I haven’t really done one of these for a while so it seemed like a good way to have a quick catch up.
Lets start with the fact it is 12 months to Peterborough and #TheDarkerSideOfFiction2017, I am so excited and now really it is my main focus for the future, I had planned on doing The Dragon’s Mark as stand alone book next however as I worked on the project it became clear it has the potential to be a series with a various characters taking the leads at different time, this means I am going to go straight ahead with the Queen Of Ages Trilogy, I shall be doing a cover reveal next Monday as well as announcing the launch date next in next weeks vlog.
OF course the writing is the most important thing but I cannot help but take a look for ideas for swag and of course the search for the perfect ball dress has begun.
If you are on FB you can keep up with the Darker Side event here…https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433818133602201/
And the 2018 event here (as it stands I am not signed to be a signing author at this event but I will be there at the evening event for certain it is just too good to miss) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1541707772746487/
And if you are interested in coming to see me in Peterborough then this is the link you need… https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-darker-side-of-fiction-2017-author-book-signing-event-tickets-24955322040
I am so excited about the future and feel more positive than I have in a long time, make sure you sign up to the newsletter for your chance to get your hands on some bonus give away prizes and be first to know what is happening, I know I have not been very good at keeping up to date with them but I will be sending them out from now on the first of each month and every month one person who opens their newsletter will win a prize though the prize will change from month to month, so anyone opening the November newsletter will go into a draw to win a signed print copy of Voices Across The Void.
Right need to finish editing tomorrows vlog, had a slight technical issue as my memory card slot on the computer decided to die this morning so had to find the camera cable, I will not say how many wrong cables I picked up before finding the right one but I will say I swore.
Take care and if you dress up for Halloween post your pictures to my FB page I will set up a Halloween thread there.
Today I am lucky to be able to share a Q & A with my fellow Darker signing author DM Wolfenden, she is into Vampire’s, Werewoves and Zombies and taking readers on a walk into the darer side of fiction so without further ado lets get to the questions…
2013 I decided I would go ahead and write. When I told my family they were shocked, they knew I had a crazy imagination but never thought I would put pen to paper.
I have a hectic lifestyle, I work away for 6 months of the year and when I am home there is a lot of catching up to do (as you can imagine), I write whenever I get a spare hour or two.
My latest release is a collection of short stories; they are all dark and have an element of mystery about them. The perfect song would be Cry Little Sister would probably fit well with the most of the stories.
I haven’t been to an event yet, 2017 will be my first.
I hope not, they are evil little …
Rather embarrassing, first thing is a jar of Vaseline (I’ve just had a Zombie tattoo, honest). Maybe I could smear all over myself and be too slippery for them. Second is my Frankenstein bobble head. Let’s face it, I’m dead.
Quentin Tarantino, he is so talented. Love him
“You need help, you need to sort your anger issues out. If you don’t we won’t survive.”
The knife clattered in the sink. “I promise I’ll see someone, babe.”
You better had, I won’t do this again. “Okay,” she said and walked away.
I celebrate by sending of to an editor then sit there biting my nails.
Yes I was on the grassy knoll.
It would actually be my short story, Carly. She is one bad arse. I love Jessica Messenger and Helena Bonham Carter to play the two female roles. For other books they would include Tom Cruise, Anotiono Banderas, Johnny Depp and Quentin Tarantino. (psst, I’m bigging you up here Quentin, call me).
First of all I would say, get beta readers on it, if they love it, you are halfway there.
Well guys the countdown really is beginning and over the coming weeks I will be bring you more from the other awesome authors who will be joining me in Peterborough next year at the first annual Darker Side Of Fiction event hosted by Hourglass Events. At the minute I am under no illusions I will be one of the lesser known authors there but I would of course love it if any of you can make it to either the day signing event or the evening ball, there will be lots of fun, give-aways, raffles and craziness.
So last night at ten this happened…
Yes the tickets went on sale, now if you are interested the link you will need is here… https://thedarkersideoffiction2017.eventbrite.co.uk
The event is being held at the Holiday Inn in Peterborough this is the ballroom though I think the decor shall be a little darker or course for our event, and anyone who does decide to come along to the evening event please let me know and we can arrange for you to be at my table should you wish
In the next twelve months as we countdown to the event there is so much to look forward too, my dark medieval trilogy will be coming out with the first part out this year and parts two and three next year, the print version of Voices Across The Void will be out for Halloween and there will be give-aways to come with that both here and on FB. For those of you on FB please come and join us on The Darker Side Of Fiction 2017 page where you can keep up with events and also grab yourself lots of give-aways, freebies and enter some cool competitions.
Paula Acton 