I've been really busy. It's true. Not just writing new stories but also clearing up things that I've left for some time.

First up, I have a cover release! 

More releases!

The Reunion Trilogy

Have you checked out the Reunion series? Released as a boxed set in January 2015, it's now coming to paperback. I'm waiting for the cover art and hope to have that soon. The plan is to make that available for ordering from 1 August 2017 though I would think I'll be able to order the paperbacks well before that. Once I have a cover, I'll be posting it up!

Cyborg: Redux

I actually already have the cover art for this, even though it's not due to be available for pre-order until December 2017. It's really awesome and I can't wait to share it in the next couple of weeks. The awesome Willsin Rowe was the designer and you'll see why very soon (he was also the designer for the Warriors of the Elector paperback editions and my go-to for cover art!

Current WIP

Children of a Greater Evil - the sequel to Cyborg: Redux and I have the distinct impression this one is going to be a lot more action based with the romance being a whole heap more subdued. Of course, it's hard to know exactly where this is going to go as I'm not a plotter! 

Last Finished

Hero of Heartbreak Hill - an invitation only Contemporary was finished last week and I'm really pleased with how this story evolved - especially given there are parts of it that are directly reflective of my life :D No spoilers though!!

To learn more, check out my newsletter which is out today...

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As anyone who's worked with me in the last 12 months will know, I'm a relatively recent convert to Vellum (http://www.vellum.pub) however, once I'd made the jump it was definite with no going back.

The original Vellum file I used allowed me to create beautiful ebooks myself, saving hours of hassle with formatting. I'd previously used the Smashwords Meat Grinder (not that I'd had any real issue with it, but I always found it clunky and laborious to format beforehand!) 

When my friend Suzi Love introduced me to Vellum, it was almost ​love at first sight!

And yes, it is a Mac Only program - sorry Windows users!

Okay just note, this isn't exhaustive - I've had 12 hours to play and work with this and hunt for the highs and lows!

Roll onto May of 2017 - we'd heard that Vellum for Print was on the way, but to be honest, it was only when they gave the release date of 1 June that I got super excited. 

If the system was as easy, then I was going to get it! 

Crafting quality books as an Independent Author is expensive. With quality cover art costing me $70 - $150 usually and rigorous editing to pay for (my latest bill was over $700 for 2 books and over 100K words - Don't get me wrong that's an awesome price but better if I can refine the costings of production somewhat), if I could find somewhere I could save a few dollars, then it makes my job even more easier and my initial outlay easier to bear.

So let's start at the beginning. The cost to upgrade in $AUD was 139.99. I'd previously bought the unlimited version and though I could continue to create those magnificent ebooks, in order to continue with my print plans, I had to upgrade. I didn't have to do it straight away - I could have waited until I generated a book, but I was desperate to try it out! The upgrade was run through the program itself.

Uploading required me to use the Check for Upgrades but from there it self extracted. Excellent. I didn't want to be dithering about with files.

The first tiny glitch I discovered was that I had the old version on the Dock. I had to close the old one before I could access the new version, which allowed me then to access the new settings. Once done, things were simple. The documents showed up on the right hand side of my screen. I would strongly recommend you remove the old version from your applications file and overwrite it with the new one manually.

You may notice I have 2 copies of the one title - one will be a sample book for the iTunes store...

Great. Open the file and you'll find it is very similar to the old system with a few new things. 

​The image file is also Ebook only. 

I love that I can tag exactly what I want in individual books though, as it will make creation of the PDF for print a much cleaner and easier process.

One drawback I found was that the ISBN in the set up page still reads Ebook. No room for the Print. It was suggested to me that I create 2 copyright pages and tag one for Ebook and One for Print. That works and I can specify the ISBN on that page.

Painful yes, but I can do that with any page in the book! So the drawbacks are almost equalled out by the bonuses.

As previously you can pick the range of styles, fonts etc., so you can customise it a little. I know some don't like that those customisations are limited, but honestly, the average author isn't going to throw their hands in the air over that.

You can also preview a range of formats including the print and once you've chosen print you can choose to view it in Proof or Draft formats. Proof is good because you'll see exactly how the page will look in the PDF. 

Vellum 2.0 also looks after your Widows/Orphans and event detects those nasty little run on sentences. (To see more on that visit the Vellum FAQ page for the Print edition.

The sizes of the format are limited to four.The four are I would guess, the most widely used. If you're looking to create a smaller book or one out of the ordinary then the option doesn't exist in the program. You can however tinker with the margins!

If you ask me does Vellum Print live up to expectations?

For me, it will do everything I can think of At this time although as I indicated above it has got a couple of little warts.

Would I recommend it to others?

Absolutely!

I would rate this at around 9/10!

I'm sitting at the kitchen table right now, wondering where to start with the inaugural "In the Chair" blog post and it occurs to me that as I've been uploading the prize list into Rafflecopter, that's likely the best place to start.

We've a massive prize list, but we're going to ask you to work for your prize! There's lots to do, but the more you do, the better your chances of winning. We have books, print books and ebooks. We've got jewellery too. So, don't be shy. Get on board and start working your way through that list!

The rafflecopter can be found at the base of this blog. Good luck and happy reading!

Featured in this week's episode are:

​Next is the review of Efthalia's first book, Phantasma. We'll be releasing the written text of our review tomorrow. But here's the details.

Blurb:

One night’s transgression. A love unveiled. The in-escapable outcome of passion and vengeance. 
Carissa Alkippes is a daughter of a god but she doesn’t know it. As a cop she’s seen her fair share of bad but nothing prepared her for the horror of the world she has been plunged into. 
Xen Lyson is the head of the Phi Athanatoi, a group of immortals who have been protecting man for over 2,000 years from the Kakodiamones -- demons who want nothing more than to feast on humanity. 
Thrown face to face with Xen during a skirmish with the demons, Carissa becomes a pawn in a deadly game of a demi-god who seeks godly power. 

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Kobo

Then it's time to get a look at Cassandra L Shaw's trailer for Twin Flames! Be prepared to be scorched!!

Blurb:

She’s in grave danger, but she doesn’t want his protection…
After a long and bitter world-war for pure human supremacy, humans and two sub-species the Eli and Crea reside on Earth in an uneasy harmony. One morning on a jog, Bliss Jacobs finds a murdered fellow Eli. She scents the killer on the body, but other evidence is washed away by a savage storm, leaving Bliss as the sole witness and the target of an assassin—and forcing her back into the world of the man who shattered her heart.
He believes she is his destined mate, but he knows there are no second chances…
Kaid Sinclair is chasing more than his best friend’s murderer. He wants Bliss in his bed and in his life, but after their relationship went south several years ago, he knows he has to tread carefully. So how can he keep her safe, while still proving to her that they are destined to be mates, and he doesn’t just want to control her? All he wants is for her to be safe—but with a killer who sees her as Kaid bait, Kaid may have to choose…his life or hers?

Buy Links:
AMAZON
iBOOKS
NOOK – BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS
KOBO
ARe – ALL ROMANCE BOOKS
BLACK OPAL BOOKS
SCRIBD

Hello world

Episode Two of In The Chair is now in planning, and of course, another episode, another author! This time we delved into the mind of Elizabeth Ellen Carter. 

Here's where you get involved:

If you got to ask 1 (ONE) question of Elizabeth Ellen Carter what would it be? Now, I recommend you take a second and ask that question, because some of them will be included in Elizabeth's spot when she's IN THE CHAIR with me. At this stage I don't know how many there will be, as it depends on the time the actual interview takes up, but we'll add as many as we can.

Our team will be choosing the best/interesting questions asked and you will receive credit on the show. What better way to show Elizabeth just how much you love her writing!

Remember to add your email address and we'll email you when the episode goes live. 

​Thanks!

To learn more about Elizabeth, you can visit her Facebook page or her Website.

Is this something you'd be interested in? Sounds like an opportunity to me, so please visit my website page for In the Chair for the chance to be involved.

Now, we are in the testing phase and putting together the studio (It's still in bits in my office and comes out when I get some time!) but it is getting closer (just wish I knew where that dratted tripod got put) and I hope to be able to announce the first air date and schedule soon. It will be hosted on YouTube and episodes uploaded to this site, so hang tight while I get everything together!

Oh, and while you're waiting, be sure to like the Facebook page for the program: >>HERE<< ​