Tales From A Fractured Mind
First a quick vlog…
Now your formal invitation…
There is a Facebook page for the event so please feel free to come over and show virtual support even if you cannot physically make it, though of course I would love for you to all be there to share cake with me xxx
Just a short Vlog this week..
The book is out a couple of copies have been sold, now the nervous wait for reviews to come in and the hope someone likes what you have written. So far no loans through the KDP programme or Kindle Unlimited and I do wonder if it is the lack of reviews which make a difference there or whether I have not got the labels and tags right, time will tell on that and if there have been no bites after a couple of weeks I might consider seeing what I can change.
It has become a fine balancing act between promoting the book and annoying friends by filling their newsfeeds with it. The thing is I know the more books I get out the more following for them I build up the less I will need to post that goes on my personal Fb page rather than my author page but for now at least there is not much I can do and I guess anyone who gets really upset me is probably not a friend who wishes me success.
Next up of course while still doing promotions for Disintegration is getting Voices back on the front burner a process which I have begun already by sorting out the pile of paper stashed on my desk for the last few weeks.
So of course the links…
If you want a print copy and your branch of Amazon does not carry it please contact me
I haven’t done an actual Award post for a while but this one dropped in my comments last week and I decided you know what lets go for it so…
I mean it has a dragon so how could I resist!
Here are the rules:
So first things first a huge thank you to Ravyn Whyt at Random Acts of Writing you can check out her lists here and learn more about her and the others she nominated.
Now 7 things about me that you don’t already know, well instead I decided to tell you seven thing I have learnt about myself through the self publishing process…
1) I could have a degree in procrastination, the closer I got to finishing the harder I found it to actually focus on the task at had.
2) Despite my bravado I have very little confidence when it comes to my own abilities and am actually now bracing myself for a stream of negative comments once people read my stories.
3) I realise the last one is irrelevant because I do not believe anyone will actually read my stories unless they know me and are trying to make me feel better.
4) I am becoming convinced I should go into PR rather than writing because I am pretty sure I can plan an awesome book launch if I put my mind to it but not as sure about producing the book itself.
5) Over the last twenty plus years I have suffered depression on and off, basically ever since post natal depression following my daughters birth, I am very good at recognising the signs of its approach and taking evasive action. I know compared to the black dogs that stalk others mine is generally more like the andrex puppy version but every now and again it grows fangs and turns into a huge hound, my grandmas death and the end of my relationship triggered that response. I know I hid it well and only a few people very close to me would have known the signs but while in its grip I found writing almost impossible, especially Voices with its obvious themes of death and afterlife, writing Disintegration became my therapy, and while I wanted it to be longer than it is, I had to accept some of my work in it was just not good enough. (Don’t worry the demons are back to chasing rolls of toilet tissue once more)
6) I have found an extra strength in admitting my failings to myself and accepting them and where previously it would have defeated me I have now learnt that because I cannot do something today does not mean I cannot do anything today and that I will not be able to do whatever I set my mind to tomorrow.
7) I make the mistake of looking at other people projects that diminish my confidence further simply because they are so awesome for example, this trailer is for my FB friend Claire’s latest project, it has absolutely nothing in common with my own stuff but I find my self thinking I will never manage anything this awesome
Now who to pass this to? Rubs hands together, lets see who has been quiet for a while…
1) Rhonda
2) Heidi
3) Emily
4) Actually you!!!! If you are reading this and have a blog then you have also been nominated, after all the fact you are reading this proves your loyalty 😀
Still getting to grips with the new camera, am thinking I need to designate a place in the house specifically for filming with very little in the background and hopefully that will solve the focus issues, it was a little better this time and only went out of focus a little when my screen mate moved. Also the barge pictures were taken without a flash so again something I need to practise more with the camera but I still quite liked the results.
I decided to cheat and instead give you a teaser from one of the stories I am working on this week for Voices, I hope you enjoy it….(subject to editing and change before publication)
She dragged her suitcases inside, and admitted defeat immediately, no way would she get them upstairs with their contents intact. Over the course of the next few hours she traipsed up and down carrying her belongings up to the bedroom before beginning a more in depth exploration of the downstairs. Keys in hand she headed into the kitchen and found the key to unlock to back door. Once the door was opened and letting in a little more light she discovered that the cottage had far more modern conveniences than she had anticipated. Carefully hidden behind doors were fridges, freezers,a washing machine and microwave, most impressive were the radiators carefully hidden behind wooden panels, everything gave the appearance of belonging in the previous century while requiring none of the hard work. She had had the foresight to pick up the basic essentials such as bread and milk by slipping the taxi driver a few extra pounds to pause at the local shop.
The shopkeeper had been naturally curious at a new face but there had been something that passed across their face when she had mentioned why she was here. She could not exact put a name to the emotion and anyone less inclined to pay attention to the details would have missed it but she had definitely seen the shadow that had briefly flitted across the face before it was replaced with a smile and what appeared to be a heartfelt welcome to the community.
It was early when she arose the next morning,a thin shaft of intense sunlight had crept between the edges f the this curtains and bathed her face in golden light. She was amazed at how well she had slept, she had expected the thought of sleeping in a dead woman’s bed to keep her awake but whether it was the fresh country air or fatigue brought on by the days travelling she had fallen into a deep slumber almost as soon as her head had hit the pillow and for the first time since discovering the infidelity she had slept soundly and without tortuous dream plaguing her.
Could you sleep in a dead woman’s bed?
You have all been so supportive and given me so much encouragement regarding Voices, and I do feel a bit of a failure that it is taking me so long to get it done and out there when everyone else seems to produce their work far quicker. I am working hard on it and I thought that in the mean time you deserve proof that it is coming along, so I decided to give you a teaser each Tuesday from a different story each week leading up to the release, I will set a firm release date very soon but the plus side will be you will know that a new story is finished each week from the postings lol so here is your first Tuesday teaser, I hope you enjoy them….
Hello everyone, as you know soon my collection of ghost stories will be available for you to hopefully enjoy. Right now I am just on another round of editing as there are still some aspects of the stories I am not happy with in fact one got severely hacked away at as I decided I did not like where the story had gone and a different ending has come to me which fits far better. I want to apologise to every one waiting so patiently I just hope you think it is worth the wait when you do get to read the stories
To keep you going here is a quick excerpt from a new story The Hospital
I should not be here! I was supposed to go but you held me here, now I am waiting for you. I saw the light, so warm and inviting, beyond it the most wonderful garden that I longed to step forward into. I tried to move forward but your love held me. I was not bitter just incredibly sad as the light faded and I remained.
I look over at you from where I stand in the corner of the room as you sit by the bed clinging to the shell which lies there. You speak so softly, so lovingly, to the body which I used to inhabit.
I try to move away to walk from the room, at the doorway I meet resistance and can move no further, if I push against it I can force my head through the door to look at the corridor beyond. Out there life continues, people rush to and fro some living some like me trapped here. Neither the living or dead pay me any heed as I withdraw back to your vigil by my bedside.
To go along with this I am giving away five bookmarks.
I had 50 of these bookmarks made most have been given away to friends and family but I have some left to give away to you lucky people. Now how can you get one I here you ask – simple leave a comment on today’s post below for your chance to win. There will be no more of these as they are as I plan on a little redesigning before ordering any more so you could say they are limited edition. The winners will be placed in a hat and the winners drawn on next weeks video blog.
Today is Valentines day yet I have so many emotions whirling around in my head and my heart today. So lets deal with one thing at a time.
In just an hour or so Charlie’s body will make its final journey on what has been a long and at times painful road but today will be a celebration of the joy and love he has brought to so many around the world as well as to his own family. Though it will be hard for them to say goodbye his family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received from around the globe, I know a few of you will have seen this clip on his fb page but I want to share it so everyone can see the love and determination his family have to ensure his legacy continues.
I hope you could all view that as you are aware for UK residents there is a petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/45622
but there is also another now at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/205/901/119/petition-to-increase-awareness-and-availability-of-umbilical-cord-donation/ which can be signed wherever you are n the world. In lieu of flowers the family asked people make donations to the unit at the hospital which has cared for Charlie so lovingly over his final weeks at that can be found here http://www.justgiving.com/Charlie-Harris-Beard/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Charlie-Harris-Beard&utm_campaign=pfp-tweet.
All I can do is finish this part by saying sweet dreams little man you will never be forgotten.
The date I had announced for the book launch is looming and I do not think I will hit it so instead please know it will be coming end of Feb/beginning of March due to my dads illness I have barely even looked at the stories for the last couple of weeks now he is on the mend I shall be getting stuck back in and working as hard as I can to get it out asap. To start the build up properly check out MS Fowle on Saturday where she will be spreading the love with a peek into the stories with a quick breakdown of what to expect from Voices Across The Void plus there will be the first give away as we head towards launch.
A final plea you haven’t already please visit and like my fb page as well as keeping track of my posts it will allow you to see what posts I am enjoying by others and I have recently started a new feature Question of the day! which relates to either my blog post or a topical issue and above all is fun. Today who would your dream date be?
Paula Acton 