Coming soon - The Cinderella Substitute

Here's the cover for The Cinderella Substitute releasing as e book on November 1st from Astraea press. Also available as audio book from Audiolark.

Be My Hero - Out today!

Nathalie Mayer is thirty-four. On the surface she is an attractive, happy, single, successful woman running her own bridal business. Despite her line of work and her obvious delight in other people’s weddings, including that of her twin brother, Nate. Nathalie has always declared that a settled relationship is not for her. There has only ever been one man whom Nathalie felt she could love. Evan Davies is back in town after a six year absence. Last time he was here, he and Nathalie had tentatively begun to take their friendship to a different level. Now he’s home again and has the reason for his sudden departure from six years ago with him – his daughter, Polly. Available on Amazon UK And Amazon.com And here on Nook book

Be My Hero - releasing September 4th

Available once more as an e book September 4th from Astraea Press. It's also available as an audiobook from Audiolark and will soon be available as a large print edition too!

Guest Blogger - Tracy Krauss

Tracy Krauss is an author, artist, playwright, director, worship leader, and teacher. Originally from a small prairie town, she received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She has lived in many places in northern Canada with her husband, a pastor, and their children. They currently live in Tumbler Ridge, BC.

Published works include four romantic suspense novels: AND THE BEAT GOES ON, where archeological evidence for creation comes at a heavy cost; MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER, the story of a ‘cougar’ who takes on more than she bargained for; PLAY IT AGAIN, about an unlikely match during the 1980s rock n’ roll scene; and WIND OVER MARSHDALE, where strong spiritual forces rock a seemingly peaceful prairie town. She also has several stage plays in print. Visit her website for more details. http://www.tracykrauss.com

Marshdale. Just a small farming community where nothing special happens. A perfect place to start over… or get lost. There is definitely more to this prairie town than meets the eye. Once the meeting place of aboriginal tribes for miles around, some say the land itself was cursed because of the people’s sin. But its history goes farther back than even indigenous oral history can trace and there is still a direct descendant who has been handed the truth, like it or not. Exactly what ties does the land have to the medicine of the ancients? Is it cursed, or is it all superstition? Wind Over Marshdale is the story of the struggles within a small prairie town when hidden evil and ancient medicine resurface. Caught in the crossfire, new teacher Rachel Bosworth finds herself in love with two men at once. First, there is Thomas Lone Wolf, a Cree man whose blood lines run back to the days of ancient medicine but who has chosen to live as a Christian and faces prejudice from every side as he tries to expose the truth. Then there is Con McKinley, local farmer who has to face some demons of his own. Add to the mix a wayward minister seeking anonymity in the obscurity of the town; eccentric twin sisters – one heavily involved in the occult and the other a fundamentalist zealot; and a host of other ‘characters’ whose lives weave together unexpectedly for the final climax. This suspenseful story is one of human frailty - prejudice, cowardice, jealousy, and greed – magnified by powerful spiritual forces that have remained hidden for centuries, only to be broken in triumph by grace.

Tracy kindly agreed to be interviewed as part of her stop here: 1. Most authors are also big readers. Do you read the same genre that you write? and which book has influenced you most in your desire to be a writer? Actually, I don’t write my favourite genre which is spec fiction or Sci-fi. When I was a teen all the girls my age were reading YA romances while I was heavy into Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan – all 30+ of them...) I was in love with Spock and had Star Trek posters in my room instead of the latest teen idol. My tastes really haven’t changed. I love a good Spec/ Sci-fi/ Fantasy/ Paranormal book with a really twisted ending. The irony is, I don’t write in this genre. I write Romantic Suspense, but I do try for an element of surprise at the end. After what I just said, it probably sounds out of sync to say that Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne series may have inspired me to follow my writing dreams. Anne is a strong heroine who loved to write and followed her dream by submitting her stories. There are so many inspiring authors it’s hard to pick one. I think I was also inspired early on by C.S. Lewis and Margaret Atwood. Lewis for his imagination and Atwood for her ability to tell her story her way.

2. Are you a plotter or a pantser when it comes to writing your book? I always start off as a ‘plotter’. I like to create detailed character sketches and I outline the basic plot. Then as I get going, things evolve and change so a lot of the ‘panster’ comes into play as well. I go through multiple rewrites, that’s for sure.

3. If you were giving a dinner party which four fictional characters would you most like to invite and why? Sherlock Holmes, Spock, Lizzy Bennett, and Festus the fool from ‘Twelfth Night’. All of them have a very keen intellect and while the first two are sparring over details and technicalities, Lizzy and Festus could make fun of them with sharp witted comments. It would be fun to watch. Of course, I’d probably have to invite them out somewhere since I really don’t enjoy throwing dinner parties and they might not like my cooking. (I’d like the sharp witted comments directed at one another, not my culinary abilities.)

4. What are you working on next? I’ve got two novels that need polishing up and which I hope to submit to my agent by the end of the summer. I’ve also got three new stage plays coming out sometime this year, so I’ll be busy promoting those. I also have a children’s book which I’ve illustrated which I’m in the process of shopping around.

Thanks, Tracy, that was fun and the book sounds great. You can get Tracy's book from: AMAZON or you can find her on Facebook or Her website.

Releasing Tomorrow! New Bay Wedding, A Cornish short n sweet

Releasing tomorrow! The next of the New Bay short n sweets - A perfect short read for Summer! Emma has been busy organizing her older brother’s lovelife but now Noah plans to turn the tables on his meddlesome match-making sister. But is Ian the best man for this very particular bridesmaid? Here's a snippet! “To our best man and chief bridesmaid.” Noah grinned at them and raised his glass to chink it against theirs. “Cheers!” Emma dutifully lifted her drink for the toast. True to form Ian managed to knock her glass so hard with his that half of her drink slopped over the rim of her glass and onto the table. “Oh, Emma, your jeans are soaked.” Posy pulled some tissues from her bag. “I’ll get a cloth.” Ian’s face turned a deeper shade of crimson and he jumped from his seat to beg a towel from the bar staff. Ian rushed back with a small cloth towel and began to dab ineffectively at the wet patch on Emma’s thigh. “Sorry, Em.” “It’s okay.” She took the towel from him and soaked up as much of the spilled cider as she could. How Ian had ever managed to become a vet she would never know. Whenever she met him he either trod on her, spilled something down her and, on one memorable occasion, he’d managed to set her hair on fire. He was a one man walking disaster area and her brother had asked him to be his best man. (C) Nell Dixon 2012 Available from Astraea press and all good e-tailers Don't forget you can meet the people of New Bay, Cornwall in Making Waves, September Song, A Cornish Christmas and Easter Holiday.

New Bay Wedding

Coming soon - those of you waiting for the next short n sweet Cornish book. Here's the cover for New Bay Wedding! Emma has been busy organizing her older brother’s lovelife but now Noah plans to turn the tables on his meddlesome match-making sister. But is Ian the best man for this very particular bridesmaid?

Easter Holiday releasing Thursday 22nd March!

Cornish farmer, Noah Penwarren is sworn off city girls, especially deceitful ones. Posy Carmichael is a city girl through and through. When romantic sparks start to fly will Posy’s secret end their Easter romance before it’s even begun?

All being well, Easter Holiday will be releasing on Thursday!
You can read it as a standalone or why not read Making Waves, September Song and A Cornish Christmas to get to know the people of New Bay before the release!

Astraea's Birthday Treat

Astraea are celebrating their first birthday by giving a different book away every day this month. Today it's your chance to grab a free copy of Cue Me In. Go HERE and get your free code! Did I mention it was free?
This is my Bridget Jones meets Scooby Doo kind of story and is a fun spooky tale. Happy Reading!

Still in the mood for romance?

Meet my guest Sherry Gloag and read about her fabulous new novella - His Chosen Bride
Prince Henri Gasquet is happy to let his father, the king, choose his bride for him until he meets Monica Latimer.
Monica Latimer is not prepared to risk letting any man close enough to learn about her Gift. A gift that normally has men running for the hills when they find out about it.
Excerpt

She lost track of time until the flames caught her attention once more. They flickered from orange to gold, to silver, to white.
A flurry of snowflakes masked the flames and for a second Monica watched the most beautiful, pristine snow-scene she’d ever seen. Her lips curved in longing. How she’d love to get a toboggan and slide down that slope. She knew where it was, and had done just that many times in her childhood, first with her parents and then, in clandestine manner, with her brother. Sneaking an old tin tray from the back of her mother’s walk-in pantry, she’d then grabbed Billy’s hand and they’d rushed out the back gate, heading for the lakeside track that led up into the hills.
Darkness, dense and thick with grief dropped over the scene. Startled and disconcerted by the strength of emotion emanating from the vision Monica shifted to her knees, ready to stand, when a voice, a deep male voice, sharp with fear called out her name.
“Monica!”
She knew she’d never heard the voice before, and yet—it was as familiar to her as the image she saw in her mirror each morning.
“Help me, Monica.”
Desperate for more clues, she searched the darkness within the flames until it sputtered and faded. With a curse she jumped up and ran for the phone. With her outstretched hand hovering over it she halted and let her hand drop to her side once more. What could she say? What would the police or rescue team think of her if she called them and told them she’d seen a vision of a man in distress?
They’d laugh in her face and classify her as a lunatic. Well, maybe not. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d contacted them with positive information but something—an instinctive gut reaction told her what she’d seen this time hadn’t happened yet.
His Chosen Bride is available from Amazon B&N, Astraea Press and all other good e-tailers!

Valentine's Day Treat 3

Patricia Kiyono's Aegean Intrigue
Someone has been stealing priceless Greek artifacts and it's Alex Leonidis' job to uncover the thief. His prime suspect is beautiful archaeological graduate student, Francie Vasileiou. His plan is to join in an archaeological dig and catch her in the act. All he has to do is keep his mind on his job, and not on the way his lovely suspect warms his heart. He's learned the hard way not to trust fragile-looking women who seem to need his help.

Francie wants to get her PhD and become an archaeologist, like her famous father. The sudden invitation to participate in a dig on the beautiful Greek island of Paros is a wonderful opportunity. She has no time for distractions like Alex, the handsome Project Director. Experience has taught her to stay clear of handsome, charismatic Greek men.

On the shores of the Aegean Sea, Alex and Francie work together, searching for treasures from Greece's past. While pursuing their goals, they discover some of the truths they had believed to be carved in stone may have been flawed.
Available from: Astraea Press Amazon and B&N

Valentines Day Treat 2

Minna has a secret. Her father, ex-dragon jockey Wynn Westerfield, will forever hold a grudge against wizards. Because it was a wizard who caused his career-ending accident, Minna struggles to hide her incredible magical powers from him...and from the world.

Evan Valentine has attended a prestigious magical academy on scholarship, although he's managed to conceal that fact from everyone. He's on the fast track to success with his apprenticeship to wizard Thaddeus Bartholomew, and Evan's carefully constructed life doesn't include a certain beautiful girl whose powers rival his own.

Although Minna and Evan don't realize it yet, their destinies have been intertwined for years. When a threat arises, Minna and Evan must travel to another reality to retrieve a dangerous magical artifact. Can Minna and Evan learn to work together, despite their mutual mistrust? Or will their explosive romantic attraction lead to disaster?

Minna & The Valentine is available at:Amazon and B&N as well as other fine online bookstores.

Valentine's Day treats

Astraea is not only giving away a free book every day this month to celebrate it's birthday but also has some fabulously romantic reads for Valentine's Day like THE KEY TO LOVE – Meg Mims!

Artist Jennette Jacobson clashes with a handsome visitor at a gallery show. He claims that artwork is just “more junk to dust.” Ouch. When she finds a small metal object on the floor, she uses it later in a new collage.

Her world soon crumbles with family problems and a friend’s betrayal. And wouldn’t you know that the same hunky guy claims he lost an important key the night of the show! When Steve Harmon offers to buy Jenn’s work, she refuses to sell. He’ll just trash it to free his precious key... Or is it possible that key will unlock her future happiness?

Available from Astraea Press B&N
and of course Amazon

Treat yourself to a lovely romantic read!

Six below freezing

That was definitely what Poppy, my little car, said the temp was this morning as I drove eldest to get her train to college. It makes me so thankful I live in an age of central heating and indoor plumbing.
Exciting news! Astraea press have acquired Easter Holiday - this is my new short and sweet novella set in the fictional town of New Bay, Cornwall. It'll release mid to end March and gives you the chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones in the form of Posy and Noah. It's Astraea's birthday too this month - check my sidebar for a link to their blog - they are giving away a different book every day for the whole of February. Perfect if you like delicious clean reads.
There is a wonderful view from my window this morning across the fields, everything is white and stiff with frost and the sky is that translucent blue tinged with pink gold. The little Welsh rough cob ponies look a bit miserable by the side of the pond, all huddled together around the hay bales. I'm trying to get some feeling back in my feet before I venture out again for more groceries. Yet again there is nothing in the house to eat! Teenagers -grr.

Fabby Friday!

Brief Encounters is now just 99p on AMAZON for a short time. So if you haven't got a copy of our collection of short stories, two by me, two from Phillipa Ashley and two from Elizabeth Hanbury, then go get a copy! It's also available as a paperback - the perfect birthday, valentines or mothers day gift.
The other reason it's a fabby Friday is Elizabeth Hanbury, my friend and fellow coffee crew member has sold her book, A Bright Particular Star to Astraea Press. Four publishers wanted to buy and having read the book I can understand why. It's a gorgeous regency romp with a delicious hero and a minx of a heroine. Astraea Press recently had a NYT bestseller with another regency author so have a strong name for selecting beautifully fabulous regency tales for their list. A Bright Particular Star will be out in May and I can't wait!

Sale!

My sweet reads with Astraea are all on offer for the holidays at 86p if you're in the UK and 99c if you're in the US - available at B&N and Amazon!
Snap them up for later!
Cue Me In - a fun ghost story for dark nights.
Dangerous to Know - A longer romantic suspense read set in the Lake District
Making Waves
September Song and A Cornish Christmas are my three New Bay stories - all stand alone reads set in Cornwall

A Cornish Christmas is out!

A Cornish Christmas is now available from Astraea Press A short and sweet novella without Santa, elves or cute kids but still guaranteed to leave you with a warm Christmassy feeling!

Adam wants Meg to be more than a friend but Meg has her reasons for not wanting to move their relationship on. It takes a stray dog, an emergency at sea and a touch of Christmas to show Meg her true feelings.

And here’s a taster!

The shop was full with people when Meg returned. She left her sandwich and her coat in the staff room and went to help her mother serve the customers. By the time the bell over the door sounded a farewell to the last customer, Meg’s stomach growled.
She hurried into the back room to retrieve her lunch, finally acknowledging the rumbles of complaint from her stomach.
She took a large bite from her brie and cranberry sandwich, chewed and swallowed. “Yum, this is heaven.”
“You know if you made your own sandwiches it would be a lot cheaper,” her mother tutted as she moved around the shop tidying as she went.
“I do make my own most days. Some days though it’s nice to have a treat.” Meg took another bite.
“Did you hear anything about the lifeboat call out?”
Meg licked a crumb of cheese from the corner of her mouth. “Yes, it was two kids in a homemade boat. I met Adam as I was walking back and he told me.”
Her mother paused as she straightened up a basket of shell jewellery. “I’m glad everyone was all right. I assume they were all safe?” she asked, clearly fishing for information.
Meg nodded as she swallowed another morsel of her lunch. “Yes, the kids have gone to the hospital, but they’re fine.”
“Good job Adam was on the boat then.”
“Mum, let’s not have this discussion now. You know how I feel about Adam being on the lifeboat crew.”
Val pursed her lips. “What happened to your dad can’t be undone, love. New Bay men have always gone to sea, that’s how it is. Adam does a vital job for the lifeboat. They need young strong men like him, and his medical know-how is a real bonus to the crew. If he hadn’t been on the boat when they pulled young Brad out of the water a few months back, he wouldn’t be here to tell the tale.”
Meg shivered. In her heart, she knew her mother was right. Brad had been surfing when he’d been caught in an undertow. Without the bravery of her friend Erin’s boyfriend Dan and Adam’s medical skill then Brad would have drowned.
“Dad went to sea because he was a fisherman. It was his living. Adam is deliberately putting himself in danger every time the boat goes out.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
Her father had been drowned when she’d been a teenager. His boat had been caught in a terrible storm a few miles from the safety of the harbour. She’d seen and felt first hand what losing someone you loved to the sea could do.
“And if it weren’t for men like Adam there’d be more folk lost. There’s danger everywhere, Meg. I could have lost your dad to a road accident or cancer.” The lines on her mother’s face softened, and she rested a gentle hand on Meg’s shoulder. “Think about it, Meg, and give Adam a chance.”
© Nell Dixon 2011
For UK readers
For US readers

And why not try Making Waves or September Song also set in the same Cornish village of New Bay?
Astraea Press has lots of lovely Christmas reads - join in the blog hop! Start HERE

A Cornish Christmas

Here is the cover for the third of my New Bay set stories - A Cornish Christmas. This one is the story of Adam and Meg, for those of you who like to catch up with some of the people from Making Waves and September Song there are some familiar faces. It's a short and sweet novella, perfect to get you in the Christmas spirit but without cute kids, elves or Santa although there is a rather sweet dog!Releasing soon from Astraea Press.

Cue Me In is out!

Cue Me In – A short, sweet and spooky tale is now available from Astraea Press and all good e-tailers!
Fae Heath wants to be on TV, but not just any show. She wants to be on Ghost UK. She intends to win the contest to find the next presenter. Tall, slim and blonde and access to a haunted Welsh Castle on Halloween – how can she fail?

‘There’s the castle.’
Fae braked at Flash’s words and they stared into the darkness at the building before them. Half of the castle was clearly uninhabitable. Fragmented stones stood like jagged broken teeth along the broken battlement. Mist twisted around the surviving tower and range of buildings. A couple of the windows showed yellow light in to the blackness and Fae breathed a sigh of relief. There was someone home.
‘Right, let’s get this show on the road.’ Fae eased the car into the courtyard of the castle. As she cut the engine an eerie baying sound echoed around the stone walls.
‘Wow, a welcome committee.’ Flash leaned forward into the gap between the front seats, his dark head next to Fae’s.
‘I expect living alone up here, miles from anywhere, they keep dogs,’ Izzy snapped as she picked up her bag from the footwell.
Fae swallowed hard. She hoped Rhodri Morgan would be the kind of man who was susceptible to feminine charm. In her mind she’d pictured a stooped, elderly antiquarian who on meeting her would instantly change his mind and grant her free access to film the castle and its secrets.
The baying grew louder when Fae opened the car door. The next thing she knew she was pinned to the side of the Mini by the biggest dog she’d ever seen in her life. A large paw was planted on each side of her shoulders as the dog breathed stale meat-breath in her face.
She twisted her head to the side and saw an archway of light appear on the far side of the courtyard.
‘Help!’
Izzy and Flash remained in the car, round-eyed and open-mouthed with shock.
‘Nice doggy.’
The hound responded with a lick down her face covering her with drool. She heard the sound of footsteps crunching across the yard in the darkness.
‘Down, Fang.’ A firm male voice with a hint of accent came out of the mist. A shape loomed out of the darkness illuminated by a storm lantern. A large man’s shape.
© Nell Dixon 2011

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cue-Me-In-ebook/dp/B005XSEQJU/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1
http://www.amazon.com/Cue-Me-In-ebook/dp/B005XSEQJU/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2

http://www.nelldixon.com Romance with Heart

September Song

Here's the cover for my sweet novella release from Astraea press - coming to an e-tailer near you very soon!

Back to news

We're home - hopefully my darling belles will download their pics and I'll be able to share them with you soon. We had a lovely, lovely time. It was nice to come back to a ms request from one publisher and an acceptance from Astraea Press for my little Halloween novella. So three subs still out under active consideration - meep!
Today was A level and AS level results day. My eldest belle had her AS results and she passed! yay! So she's going to continue for her second year and hopefully will find out what she'd like to do as a job. She got an A* on her extended project too - worth lots of lovely UCAS points so that was extra fabby.