Showing posts with label kindle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kindle. Show all posts

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

A zany cat series for your Christmas stocking...

With Christmas just around the corner, do you know anyone who likes stories about cats? Or tales where kids go on adventures with their pet cat to a land full of cats? If so, you or they might like my Kiwi in Cat City series... They're available for under a dollar or a pound in kindle, and also for sale in paperback on Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Waterstones, and all of the regular places. 




The Kiwi Series is based on a little black, very fluffy and sometimes cheeky cat I used to have, called Kiwi. 

I wrote Kiwi in Cat City in April 2002. I had been made redundant and suddenly had a lot of free time. I began to write this book, adding more and more characters as I went along, not sure where the story would go. I sent a synopsis and a few chapters off to a big publisher, which replied with a single-line rejection. I put the book away in a drawer. In February 2011, I friend told me about Amazon Kindle Publishing. I typed up the book, edited it and published it in March 2011. This inspired me to keep on writing.

In March 2011, I published Kiwi in Cat City.
In June 2011, I published Kiwi and the Missing Magic. 
In October 2011, I published Kiwi in the Living Nightmare.
In December 2011, I wrote Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle. It was published in June 2012.
In August 2012, I finished writing the fifth book, Kiwi in the Realm of Ra. It was published in November.
In November 2012, I wrote Kiwi's Christmas Tail during NaNoWrimo, and published it in December.

The series is illustrated by the talented Nikki McBroom.

Kiwi in Cat City

Amy and James live with their parents and their little black cat, Kiwi. One dark night, Amy cannot sleep and she looks out of the window into the garden to see Kiwi transfixed by the moon, which has taken on a weird, glowing shape like a cat's claw. Waking her brother, Amy suggests they follow Kiwi to see where she goes... whether it involves a hunt for mice or something else. Little do they know that with a flick of her tail, Kiwi is going to lead them on the adventure of their lives to a land they never knew existed in their wildest dreams. In the blue-lit world of Cat City, they gain an understanding of what it's really like to be a cat while helping Inspector Furrball to investigate a missing catizens case.

Kiwi and the Missing Magic

In book two, James and Amy embark on another adventure with their little black cat, which will take them to the Land of Giant Mice. The children return to Cat City to help their friends from the first book and meet some new characters along the way, including the Worry Bee, Whiskers and Moggie. The catizens' home is at risk of invasion and some of the Magic has gone missing. Can James and Amy help Kiwi to save the day? More importantly, will James' pet hamster find his true calling in life? 

Kiwi and the Living Nightmare

In book three, Amy, James and Kiwi embark on their spookiest adventure yet – on Halloween. What begins with an eerie dream about a three-legged cat will take the budding detectives on a quest to find an old house in the middle of the woods, meeting some familiar characters and some perky squirrels along the way. Little do they know that there awaits an angry, restless spirit that will do anything to stop them leaving. 

Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle

In book four, the wedding of Inspector Furrball and Madame Purrfect approaches. But, catastrophe, the ring is stolen from the Gem Shop! A pawprint identifies Fyre Cracker as the thief, but he lives in a dark world beneath Cat City, which is inhabited by crimicats. It’s up to the Kiwi Klub to find the ring. In the human world, the hamsters decide to stand up for their rights to better plastic wheels and an abundance of sunflower seeds. Meanwhile, the dastardly Dev shocks Kiwi with the news that he knows a big secret about her family –  her father, Delphinius, may still be alive! The key is The Sculptor, who will lead Kiwi and friends on their biggest adventure yet – to the strange Isle of the Serpent where they will come face to face with their most dangerous adversary so far.

Kiwi in the Realm of Ra

In book five, inspired by the film 'Back to the Future', Whiskers invents The Time-Squeaking Mouse. He plans to take his friends on a fantastic trip to celebrate Amy's thirteenth birthday. However, the time machine falls into the wrong hands and dastardly Dev travels back to Ancient Egypt when cats were sacred. With Dev having changed the path of history, it's up to Kiwi and the gang to travel back in time to find him. What will Kiwi, Amy, James, Whiskers, Hammy, Misty, Furrball and Siam think of this desert world of tombs, pyramids and sacred gods?

Kiwi's Christmas Tail
 
Book six is set over one Christmas and involves a star, a fairy, a witch, a toad, some catizens and Santa himself. Amy, James and their magical cat, Kiwi, find a star. But this is not an ordinary star. He's living and breathing, and his name is Sharissimo. A year earlier, the star and a fairy called Lilabel were captured by an evil witch with a big wart on her nose. While Sharissimo managed to escape, Lilabel didn't. Can Amy, James and Kiwi find the fairy before Christmas Eve, and rescue her from the clutches of the witch? The witch herself is in for a shock when she finds herself in the furry land of Cat City where she might be forced to be... nice.

Cheers,
Vickie

Monday, 17 November 2014

#WinterZombie2014 blog tour: meet John O'Brien


The stench of frozen rotted meat is in the air! Welcome to the Winter of Zombie Blog Tour 2014, with 10 of the best zombie authors spreading the disease in the month of November! I love zombie stuff (shivers) and I'm proud to be hosting today!


Stop by the event page on Facebook, so you don’t miss an interview, guest post or teaser…  and pick up some great swag as well! Giveaways galore from most of the authors, as well as interaction with them! #WinterZombie2014



SPOTLIGHT ON: John O’Brien




Why zombies, John?

While the creatures in the series aren’t technically zombies, they add a new dimension to survival in a post-apocalyptic world. If not for the added danger, most PA stories would be about agriculture and occasional encounters with marauders or other groups. There is just something about their relentless nature that prevents any feeling of ever being truly safe.

What is your latest zombie release?

A New World: Storm.

Can you give a quick description of it?

A vengeful darkness…
Gathers in the night…
One threat has been destroyed - another grows stronger. Even though Jack and the teams have won a major confrontation, their lives still hang by a thread. There are decisions to be made, and ones that have never been more critical.
Leonard continues to try to keep his crew together after being hit by another soul-shattering blow. They’ve only recently become aware of this new world, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon as they silently plunge through the Pacific, looking for answers Leonard knows they may never find.
Michael knows he can no longer stand idle and wait as he feels thousands of his kind disappear from his mind night after night. The weight of the survival of his kind weighs heavily on his shoulders and he pushes forward to end the threats to their existence.
The new world must find its balance…
And the scales are about to tip…



Click the links below to find out more!




More about John O'Brien


John O'Brien is a former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special Operations for the latter part of his career, gathering his campaign ribbon for Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a firefighter/EMT with a local department. He also fell into the Information Technology industry in corporate management. Currently, John is writing full-time on the series A New World.

A former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedalling his road bike along the many scenic roads.

*   *   *   *   *

Good luck John with your book!

Readers - cheers and I hope you enjoy the rest of the zombie tour!!

AND so you don’t miss any of the posts in November, 

here’s the complete list, updated daily:




Saturday, 8 November 2014

Kiwi in Cat City: on sale for #99c / 75p

Happy Saturday!! The weekend didn't come soon enough :)

One of my ebooks, Kiwi in Cat City, is on sale at the moment for 
#99c or 75p... purrs...



Kiwi in Cat City is the tale of a magical cat and her friends. This 6-book series is full of furry fun for ages 9-99. It has 38 4/5-star reviews and book 4 was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards 2013. 

"I love this book. I bought it this morning and just finished it. I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to all readers who love a good crime/mystery, and if they love cats." (Katharine Robey/Amazon)


Amazon US: http://ow.ly/kSQYy
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/15Nxfsv
Book trailer: http://youtu.be/CLjmVgNJcLM
Zazzle gift shop: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/kiwiincatcity

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop - Oct 15-31 - win books!



Hi, I'm excited to be involved in the SPOOKTACULAR Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer (www.iamareader.com). The hop is running from October 15-21, and there are so many blogs involved that you could gather an awesome armful of books!

I'm giving away paperback copies of my fantasy novel The Sea Inside to 2 winners, and an ebook copy of Kiwi and the Living Nightmare to 10 runners-up :) Good luck!



The Sea Inside
Book 1 in the Cerulean Songs series

"A young woman is struggling to adjust to life after a spinal cord injury when she is given a gift by a mysterious older woman. Rather than merely help Jayne adjust to her new reality, this gifts offers the potential of a completely alternate existence. Jayne finds her true love only to be dealt another cruel blow by fate. In her journey to get back her new life she must face the biggest hurdles any of us can – our own fears and doubts. The Sea Inside is a young adult fantasy adventure that, like the Kiwi series, takes the reader on a visit to a fantastic realm." (Review, Amazon)






Kiwi and the Living Nightmare
Book 3 in the Kiwi Series

Amy, James and Kiwi embark on their spookiest adventure yet – on Halloween. What begins with an eerie dream about a three-legged cat will take the budding detectives on a quest to find an old house in the middle of the woods, meeting some perky squirrels along the way. Little do they know that there awaits an angry, restless ghost that will do anything to stop them leaving. Meanwhile, Inspector Furrball and Siam discover the human world, and that Ames and Jimster are not what they seem. 

"Living Nightmare has just the right amount of scary bits along with humour to make it a very enjoyable read for kids of all ages." (Review, Amazon)

For a chance to win, just do the Rafflecopter. Good luck! 
Click on the links at the end to hop to the other blogs offering fantastic prizes :)
 

Sunday, 14 September 2014

Cover reveal: The Snake Pit: Jr High Can be Torture

Hi, today I'm introducing the new cover and relaunch of a friend's book. Donna Dillon has recently 
been signed up by Master Koda Select Publishing and this is the new cover of her novel, 
The Snake Pit: Jr High Can be Torture.


Donna believes it's an important book because of its content and subject matter. It's something students and teachers may find particularly interesting. Donna feels passionately about preventing bullying in school and this is a theme of the book.  

Donna published her first book in October 2010. When Master Koda Select Publishing approached her with a publishing contract, she seized the opportunity.

About Donna

I am the author of five and 1/4 books thus far. I have been writing in the young adult genre with The Snake Pit and Return to the Snake Pit, which both deal with bullying in the public schools, and in the children's genre with Why Did It Have to Rain Today? and My Special Christmas Child. My new book is a leap into the thriller/suspense genre, so I'm anxious to finish and see how that goes. 

Quick Q&A

Q: What led you to publish your work with MKSP? 
Donna: I can write, but I suck at marketing. Kim and her team had some definite ideas about how we could get The Snake Pit books moving. It was a no-brainer for me.

Q: Why did you write this book?
Donna: Cinda, the character in the book, was born with a cleft palate and so was I. The things that happen in the book are fiction, but how she felt was exactly how I felt growing up. Being bullied for something you can't possibly help or change is horrible. I chose to turn it into something positive, but many bullied children do not. I'm 47 years old now. I can still hear the bullies' voices in my head. But, the thing I remember the most - the thing that bothers me the most - is the silence from those who just stood by and let it happen, and did nothing to stop it. That is why I wrote this book.

3 fun facts about Donna

1. I can ride a unicycle.
2. I can't breathe through my nose and I've never had a sense of smell. I can taste though, but don't ask me why - it's a mystery.
3. When I was 22, I was flown out to Hollywood and made a make-up commercial for Victoria Jackson cosmetics, which you can still catch on TV late at night. I also met Johnny Depp and had my picture taken with Heavy D on that same trip.
Whoa, Donna!!! You met Johnny.... I am green!!! 


About The Snake Pit: Jr. High can be Torture 

Cinda doesn't look like other twelve-year-old girls. A facial defect and corrective surgery has left her looking scarred and disfigured. When she walks into Hargrove Junior High for the first time, Cinda knows the other kids won't see how smart she is or what a good friend she could be; the other kids will see her as a monster and her life will be torture.

The school cafeteria, or The Snake Pit, as the kids call it, is the prime location for bullying. One pretty girl in particular takes an instant dislike to Cinda. Day after day, she is pushed, tripped and laughed at. Not all the other kids bully her, but only one tries to help.

Charlene Carsten is Cinda's only friend. She tries to stop the bullying, but the other kids will not listen. She tries to tell the Principal, but he only sees what he wants to. She tries to tell the teachers, but they all say the same thing - “Kids will be kids.”

When Cinda falls victim to a vicious prank at a school dance, it sets off a series of events that will change the lives of everyone involved.

Links


Sunday, 10 August 2014

#99c / 75p #kindle sale!

Hi, four of my books are going cheap at the moment and two are forever free. Here are the links. :) Cheers.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vickie-Johnstone/e/B004SZ9TGE
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Vickie-Johnstone/e/B004SZ9TGE


Wednesday, 28 May 2014

#WW Wow Wednesday: Sherrill Willis

Hi guys and girls! Yep, it's that day of the week again. Welcome to WOW Wednesday. 
My guest today is Sherrill Willis, author of Ruby Lake. 
Read on to find out more about Sherrill and her writing...



All about Sherrill

I am the author of Ruby Lake, A Wedding in Ruby Lake and Stay a While in Ruby Lake. I started reading when I was three and my parents encouraged me to start writing soon after. I wrote my first poem at age five (about a tree, I believe) and this has been my passion for my entire life. Writing is what keeps me sane and, hopefully, connects me to others. I’ve always felt we are all connected, whether through experiences, blood or community. With my writing, my ultimate hope is to transcend barriers and reach out to those I might otherwise never meet (being able to afford all the cheese I want is on my list of wants as well).

I’m always writing in my head. There are days I don’t get a word done on the manuscript and other days it just flows like a winding river, picking up its own pace as I keep writing. No matter what your passion is do it. Don't listen to the critics and naysayers – believe in , despite what others say you cannot do. Truly, the best revenge isn’t just living well; sometimes it’s also being able to smile triumphantly at those who tried to hold you back.

All about Ruby Lake

Sydney Myers has been through several failed relationships in the past year, in addition to several other traumas, and is now giving up on finding her knight in dented armour. When her boss sends her to Ruby Lake - a small, rural town in northern Wisconsin - the last thing she is looking for is love at first sight, not to mention a place in the world where she finally fits in. Add her city-savvy best friend, a jealous ex-girlfriend, a famous father and a coffee shop of off-the wall characters, and it becomes more challenging for Sydney to manage than a spinning-plate competition.

When disaster strikes close to home, Sydney is left with the unbearable choice of her family or the life she has always dreamed of. Come with Sydney on her journey, and laugh, cry and rediscover why some choices are not really choices at all - they are simply fate.

Excerpt:

“Really? What were you doing about twenty minutes ago? And don’t tell me you were thinking; I know what your ‘thinking’ face is. Besides, we’re leaving Saturday, and we are staying at the hotel until then, so it’s not like I am going to get a chance at him anyway. I was just commenting on how cute he is.” Illana folded her arms over her chest and stuck her chin out at Sydney. “At least I’m honest about it, unlike some people.”

“What do you want me to say?” Sydney threw her arms up in frustration. “Yes, I think Zeke is hot, like burn-me-at-the-stake kind of hot. The man brought me a perfect cup of coffee while I was sleeping. Who does that? I almost spilled my coffee this afternoon when Betty told me he called her to find out how I like my coffee. So, yeah, I want him. How could I not? I mean, the only thing that would make him sexier is a gold-hoop earring! My heart does jumping jacks whenever he walks into the room.” At Illana’s wide-eyed look, Sydney said, “And he’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, but don’t stop now, especially if you’re going to do jumping jacks,” Zeke said, leaning against the door jam and wearing a very satisfied grin.

Links


 Sherrill's dream cast

Sydney Myers (Greyson)
Jennifer Lawrence. She’s adorable and so is Syd – she would pull off the klutzy, but loveable character to a T!
Zeke Greyson
Chris Hemsworth, because I’m a dreamer and want to hear him say, “I’m so glad I get to keep her.”
Illana Garet (Greyson)
Oh man, Selma Hayek – a younger version with less of an accent. I’d love to hear her say, “I never date men prettier than I am.”
Alex Greyson 
Bradley Cooper, but he’d have to dye his hair brown – oh, but those eyes are ALL Alex!


Thanks for reading!
Look out for next week's guest!

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

#WW Wow Wednesday: Stephanie Myers

Hi guys and girls! Yep, it's that day of the week again. Welcome to WOW Wednesday. 
My guest today is Stephanie Myers, author of the paranormal YA novel Dark Revelation. 
Read on to find out more about Stephanie and her writing...


All about Stephanie

I am an author. It’s what I do. It’s what I want to do. It’s not the only thing I do, but it’s what I want to be when I grow up!

Stephanie was born in San Antonio, Texas, and spent most of her youth in Germany. She then joined the military and travelled the world... somewhat. She lived in Japan, spent time in India and currently resides in Sacramento, California. She is surrounded by her close friends, family and animals. She lives with her oldest daughter (Illeana), youngest daughter (Kathryn), Punky and Snoopy (their Chorkies) and a cat (Miss Kitty). She misses her son, Gavin, terribly. He currently lives in Georgia.

Stephanie has written for many years. She started writing songs at the age of ten. Her writing progressed into short stories, poetry, screenplays and, more recently, her novel Dark Revelation. While Dark Revelation is of the YA genre, her other WIPs (works in progress) are more adult in nature – but no, not that kind of adult.

Stick around, read her blog, follow her on twitter and, most of all, read her books!
She is currently working on the second book in the Dark Revelation series.

Reviews
Currently, 45 on Amazon.com, ranking 4.1 out of 5 stars

Spellbinding 
“This book had me hooked in the first chapter, wondering just what was so special about Ryleigh. As it turned out there was no way on earth I could have guessed how complicated things were for her. As her story unfolds, surprising twists and turns take the reader through a maze of exciting discoveries about the secret world of Ryleigh’s family. Both the good side and the bad side. The details of Ryleigh’s powers and how she learns to control them were vividly described. Plenty of suspense and some very original characters make this a fun book to read. I was especially taken with the author’s take on the Fae, family histories and magical energies of these characters. It’s vastly different and I think more compelling than many of the paranormal thrillers I have read before. I look forward to the next book in this series. I was thoroughly entertained by this one. The story is fast paced, original and suspenseful. I don’t often read this genre, but after reading this I may sample more.”
AE Drury, ‘Ed Drury’

 “I loved this book. I love how it was written and the entire story. I could hardly put it down.”
Ashley

“This is really good. I love it! It is such a good book, I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.”
Struwberry13

Links



Thanks for reading!
Look out for next week's guest!


Friday, 4 April 2014

New release: Far Away In Time by Maria Savva

Hi guys! Today I'm pleased to welcome Maria Savva and announce the release of her new collection of short stories, Far Away In Time. Read on to find out more about Maria and her book, and you can check out the trailer too, which, I have to say, got me hooked! :) 


Eight unforgettable tales reaching out to a place Far Away In Time...

Our lives are a series of stories, and we are the characters with the starring roles. The memories, regrets, secrets and struggles that fill these pages are at once unique and relatable. These stories belong to us all.

Universal book link: getBook.at/FarAwayInTime

About Maria Savva


Maria Savva lives and works in London. She studied law at Middlesex University and The College of Law. She is a lawyer, although not currently practising. She writes novels and short stories in various genres, including drama, psychological thriller and family saga. 

Many of her books and stories are inspired by her years spent working as a lawyer, although she has not written a courtroom drama to date. She has published five novels, the most recent of which is Haunted, a crime fiction/psychological thriller. Far Away In Time is her sixth collection of short stories. 

You can find out more about her work at her official website: www.mariasavva.com


Reviews

By Sheri A. Wilkinson (5 stars)

“Far Away In Time is a collection of eight short stories fantastically told by Maria Savva. These stories are different genres, from fantasy, to mystery and paranormal. All stories have their own qualities that I loved, written with detail that grabs your attention and won’t let go. I enjoyed all of them, but I would have to say my three favourites were The Ghost of Christmas Past, Echos of Her Dreams & Tragedy of Love. I feel there is something for everyone in this awesome collection of stories.”

By BookAddict (5 stars)

“Maria Savva has a knack for writing powerful short stories. As with much of her writing, we aren’t confined to any specific genre. Some of these stories made me smile while others made me shudder. They’re all different, yet blend beautifully. While I enjoyed them all, the title story stands out as my favourite. This is a blend of mystery, fantasy and paranormal, and I just love the character of Mr. Silverfrost. I hope he’ll make more appearances in future stories.”

Thanks for reading. Have a good day!

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

#WW WOW Wednesday: Kymber Lee

Hi guys and girls! Yep, it's that day of the week again. Welcome to WOW Wednesday. My guest today is Kymber Lee, author of regency romance and mystery/conspiracy novels. Read on to find out more about Kymber and her writing...


Lord Tristan's True Love

Did you know that the society of Regency England forced members of the ton to marry if they were seen in public together? The unescorted young lady’s reputation would be quite ruined otherwise. 

This book is one such story and tells of Miss Caroline Denise Whittingham’s misadventures in trying to get her betrothed to ‘cry off’. Unfortunately, one of her schemes has her thrown out of the realm of society and her betrothed, Lord Tristan Darlington, refuses to end the engagement until she finds her way back into their good graces. Of certainty, the odds of regaining favour with the peerage is slim in 1820 London, but Lord Darlington is a great friend of the Countess Lieven and enlists her aid. 

Caroline finds him to be a pompous, stuffy lord who is puffed up with himself and his reputation; not caring a whit for her. In her efforts to expel Lord Darlington, she is deliberately rude to him in public and pretends to be afraid he will hurt her. These escapades force him to show his nastier side to the peerage he so desperately wants to impress. 

On the day their engagement is announced in the London Times, there is a grand ball. Caroline presents herself in a most inappropriate gown and causes everyone in the room to turn their backs on her. Lord Darlington comes to her side and forces her to dance the waltz with him, acting for all the world as if nothing is amiss. Once the dance is over, he leads her into the gardens to show her how women who behave so outrageously are treated. 

The tearful pleadings to her strict parents all prove to be in vain. Miss Whittingham cannot seem to win in this matter of the heart, for her father is certain she should wed to save the family from disgrace. Her temper tantrums and quick wit keep the story moving swiftly, carrying the reader from page to page like rapids in a river. 

The sparring between Miss Whittingham and Lord Darlington cause many a raised eyebrow in society, which makes the book amusing and charming to read. It is my sincere desire that you will find this book energetic, as well as entertaining, for it has been a pleasure to write.

Reviews

"Lord Tristan's True Love was artfully written in typical true romance style, with the main character, Caroline, being your headstrong, naive, inexperienced love interest of the callous Lord Tristan who was typically arrogant, aloof, separate... yet deeply in love from first sight with the wilful Miss Whittingham. The book was a joy to read, yet it left me wanting more! More descriptive details of the surroundings, the clothing, the carriages... everything! Being such a period piece, I truly wanted to be drawn in by the details of the era, which were a little sparse. Having said that, I would definitely recommend Lord Tristan's True Love for a quick weekend read and will be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Well done Miz Kymber Lee!"
Cindy Smith

"If you're a lover of historical romance stories, this is a must read." 
Jennifer Loiske

“Very entertaining story with a good mix of characters and a dab of humor."
RJPP

Book links


All about Kymber Lee

 Kymber Lee is a Christian historical romance novelist. Her first published novel, Treasured Love, is available in audio or paperback. Lord Tristan's True Love is now available on Kindle and will be offered in paperback in 2014. Both of these novels are set in Regency England (1811-1819).

Lee has written mystery/conspiracy novels - the What She Knew trilogy by KR Hughes 'and TL Burns. In these books, Marilyn Monroe is saved and it's a race against time to see if 'What She Knew' can save JFK from that fateful bullet. The first two books are available on Kindle: Fateful Night and Darkest Day.

Lee also has a story in the Holiday Keepsakes Collection from Master Koda Publishing.

Kymber Lee is a native Texan. She enjoys mentoring beginners to editing advanced writing. She has an English degree with a minor in journalism from West Texas University.

Lee currently lives in Atlanta, GA, and owns a production company with her co-author, TL Burns. They are currently working on book three in the What She Knew trilogy, due out in late summer 2014.



How to contact Kymber Lee


Thanks for reading!
Look out for next week's guest!