Weird things writers say and do

I've been getting more and more blank stares since delving into the world of storytelling and publishing, and have been giggling to myself about a few today so thought I'd share them...

1. We say weird things as and when they pop into our heads, pull out notebooks mid-conversation and ask random questions in search of our next plot twist. 

2. We use unusual terminology to describe ourselves and our work rather than just saying 'I write books.' We say things like - 'Alpha male,' 'Book hangover,' 'Indie rather than Traditional,' 'Hybrid authors,' 'Hosted a takeover.'

3. Our word power has increased so much we think it's okay to throw long and strange words into everyday conversation.

4. When we started out the very idea of coming across as weird was the last thing we wanted, by the end of our first year we embrace the stereotype and downright enjoy it!

5. We talk about our current story in terms that only other bookie people understand. "I wrote 3k of my WIP today." "Working on the conflict resolution before the HAE."

6. We constantly have to remind our friends that they aren't going to make it into our next novel. Seriously, I don't know why you think I'm lacking in inspiration, but your story of your husband farting and burping before propositioning you is NOT what makes for a 'real' romance novel :-D

7. When we daydream, we're working! Strange as it is, we work day and night at our craft. My dreams often feature in my storylines, and there's no such thing as insomnia as I simply see those 4am random wakeups as brainstorming time!

8. We cry or break a little inside when we receive our first negative reviews, and then suddenly transition to not caring about that one persons opinion and focussing on the numerous who loved the book. Experienced authors told us so from day1, but it still takes time to get there by ourselves, and when it happens it is truly liberating. 

9. We spend hours looking for the perfect quotes to post online because we're procrastinating. It's usually when we're too tired or lacking in inspiration to write, or because we're on the toilet! 

10. We love it when people contact us about our books. Don't ever be scared to come across as too strong (unless you're messaging every 5minutes or offering to show us your body parts) because it really makes our day.  If you loved a book, review it and like the author's page, message them and tell them why you liked it. Start a conversation and join their groups or express an interest in them, because you might just get the offer of an ARC for their next book! Authors spend a great deal of time supporting one another, and when our readers show real support for our work they are like diamonds in the sea of stones. We cherish them and keep them close x

I hope you've enjoyed this fun post, I loved putting it together! x

I'm gonna break your heart...

So, better late than never, Happy New Year :-D 


I've been working hard on a follow up to Forever Lost and am so close it's unreal, eek! 


And now, I feel the need to talk to someone about where I'm at! Around a year ago I wrote a scene that broke my heart so badly I cried the entire way through it. For the first time in my writing career, I'd started a book by writing the climactic ending first, and boy did it do a number on me. 


I then spent months writing the build up to it, and yet never once read that scene back again because I knew it was something that'd break my heart all over again...Today I reached the point where that scene began, and read it over. 


All I can say is I'm sorry, but it looks like I'm gonna be in a some of your bad books after one! Forever Lost's sequel will certainly be a shocker ;-) x

Pre-order form for my 2016 signings

Hi everyone,

For those of you thinking of attending any of the fantastic author signing events in the UK and Ireland in 2016, please look for me at the handful I'll be attending :-D

If you'd like to pre-order any of my novels to avoid missing out on a copy, please complete the simple link below and I'll have your books ready and waiting for you on the day x

http://goo.gl/forms/OTmxQ9hejX

Lest we forget

On this awe inspiring and poignant day of remembrance, I want to take a moment to remember our fallen soldiers. I also want to give thanks to those who serve, and remember the sacrifices they've made so that we can continue to live our lives without oppression and fear.

There are those who do not agree with the current conflicts, and as with any freedoms we enjoy today, feel free to ignore this post. But, I do believe and trust in those members of the armed forces across the world who serve and lay their lives on the line so that we can live in a safer world.

We will remember them.

Photo courtesy of bigstockphoto.com 

A great new story by the wonderful Grace Harper! x

The Disappearance of Catherine Brodie by Grace Harper is available to order on iBooks and Amazon NOW. 

The price is discounted to 99c, 99p of your country’s equivalent value, it will stay at that price until 10 November 2015.

Amazon: http://mybook.to/TDOCBiBooks:  https://itun.es/gb/9YdQ-.l

You can also add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here: "http://bit.ly/1LaJwKl

~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine Brodie has a happy life in Brighton, she has friends, a secret boyfriend and almost at the end of her law degree. 

However, everything changes when she reaches her twentieth birthday.

She tells a white lie to get out of a family dinner to celebrate her birthday and sneaks off to a party. The repercussions upend her secure and stable life. Two weeks later, she attends the funeral of her brother and parents. Each birthday following sends Catherine into turmoil with more heartache and misery. There are those that wish her harm.

Alexander Devlin was there the night of her birthday and by coincidence, he crosses paths with her every year. Catherine dismisses the coincidence, but her best friend Tara Adkins is convinced fate is throwing them together. 

The first novel of a new quartet that tells the story of Catherine Brodie and her struggle to come to terms with what she did that had far-reaching consequences. It is an epic tale of love, passion, and revenge. 

Devastated with her loss, Catherine carves out a new life and starting her own business. The group of friends she picks up along the way helps her hide from those who wish her harm. It doesn’t take long for her harasser to find her and make her life a misery once more.

The question is, will Alexander Devlin be there in time to save her? 

To be in with a chance of winning a signed paperback (open internationally), sign up to Grace's newsletter via http://eepurl.com/5-eXX to keep up to date with future releases and exclusive prizes. Five winners will be picked from anyone who signed up between 27th October 2015 and 30th November 2015. Winners will be notified via the newsletter in December 2015.The host for this post is not responsible and neither is the social media platform, I am, (Grace Harper) x 

I love aliens... there, I said it!

Ok, so despite the odd title, this blog post is actually a very serious matter. And anyway, you should know to expect nothing but sheer quirk from me nowadays!

Since creating my new story, Humankind, I've grown such an attachment to the powerful alpha-male Thrakorian characters I've created along the way that I'm beginning to worry if I can ever love a human ever again. It's serious... Is there a name for this extra-terrestrial fettish I'm developing?

Not just King Kronus, the icy sex-god who keeps us all guessing, but also the gorgeous Thrayke. I'm in love with that guy, and feel the need to move away from the YA novels temporarily so I can write a cheeky erotic novella about all the things I left unsaid in the original novel.

Yes, Humankind is suitable for all ages so contains no explicit scenes, but it doesn't stop me from falling head over heels in love with these beautiful men!

I really do have a problem, and it's one I'm not sure I want helping with...

Thanks for reading my strange ramblings, and if you want to see what on earth I'm rambling on about, check it out here:

http://viewbook.at/Humankind

Photos courtesy of bigstockphoto.com

Let's finally discuss the incest! Warning, contains big SPOILERS!

I've been told off yet again about the tougher parts of my first story by a reader who not only was presented with a very long disclaimer at the start of the book and the blurb regarding the dark content, but also other reviews stating how taboo/controversial the subject matter is in Embracing the Darkness, and the Black Rose series as a whole. I'm getting kinda tired of explaining myself over and over again, and shall now be directing upset readers to this blog post!

I warn you now, if you carry on there are not only spoilers for the first Black Rose novel, but in fact the entire series. I am going to give away part of A Light in the Darkness, so click away now if you do not want to know or would prefer to actually experience the many twists and turns I love to throw at faithful readers by reading them for yourself.

You have been warned ;-)

Carry on at your peril.....

Ok, so you are all sure you want this? Let's do it!

Yes, my first novel contains not one, not two, but actually three apparently incestuous relationships. I do not agree with them, but my story demanded it, and there is no trying to change things now. No, I do not have daddy issues, nor do I find it hot to get forced into a relationship with your father - hence the fact that (I'll say again - SPOILER) Cate and Lucifer do not stay together. They are not and never were intended to be a long-standing couple, only the start of the story from an explosive storyline. Their relationship brings about the presence of not only their children (yeah ok, I know it seems weird but bear with me) but also the other stories in the series. The first book lays the foundation for all the others, and the demise of the Cate/Lucifer relationship is also the fundamental push Cate finally needs to take charge of her life and eventually the throne.
A revelation from Lucifer in book five then reveals that Cate and Devin are not actually his children, but his sires. He isn't their father at all, more of a demonic blood donor who gave them their powers directly from the source while in the womb, hence their heightened strengths and powers etc. In the end you discover that Lucifer's only real children are Blake and Luna.

So....no incest...ok?

Boom! Did I just blow your mind there? Are we clearer yet? It's a dark and powerful story, and has very taboo themes. Please do not question my sanity or judge me by this one plot point instead of simply taking a breath and carrying on with the story. Can we all please move on and agree that while I did an apparently amazing job of convincing people the devil seduced his daughter, it isn't actually the case in the long-run? There are much darker elements to the stories than the incest, and yet it's the one subject that really seems to stick with many of the readers.

I adore this little series of mine, and while I know controversy is a great way to get noticed, I would like to set the record straight once and for all. It's a tale I wove one day and decided to tell the world. It is to be enjoyed and treated as a world in which we can escape to for some fun, frolics and yes, fucking. Sorry, I couldn't resist!

I love you readers, and want you to stay with me instead of putting the book away in the DNF pile. Please, read it to the end and see for yourself how it turns out.

Love and virtual hugs to each and every one of you. Am I forgiven yet? ;-) xxx