Travels and research

I spent last weekend in Torquay, birthplace of one of my favourite writers, Agatha Christie. One of manuscripts I'm working on is a cosy mystery/thriller set in a fictional version of Dartmouth. Dartmouth is a beautiful and historic town near Torquay so I added to my research files with a wonderful visit to St Saviours church. The vicar very kindly took some time from taking down the Christmas decorations to tell us about the history of the church which dates back to 1268. The church is open for visitors daily and is an amazing building. If you find yourself in Dartmouth go visit and please donate to them to help with the continuing expenses of maintaining such a beautiful and special church.

Subbing again

I recently regained the rights to one of my books from a publisher that has now closed. I looked at the story and tweaked it and have subbed it to one of my other publishers. Am keeping my fingers crossed that it may be a good fit for them. If not, then I'll probably look at placing it with Brierley Rose Press. In the mean time I realised I have 6 unfinished novels in various stages so I think I'd better get cracking!

New Year Resolutions?

Here we are once more, at the entrance gate for another year. So what do we all plan to do or not do in 2017? For myself, I plan to continue my weight loss journey. I'd love to lose another 2 stones in 2017 to match my loss in 2016. I have writing targets to achieve too after being on hold for some 12 months or so. I want to sort out some financial affairs this year - nothing major, just those small things that get put off for some unspecified future time. I intend to spend more time in the places I love. How about you? What are you planning for 2017?

The Christmas Beetle

Every Year I write a story especially for my niece, Sophia as her Christmas gift. I'd like to share this one with all of you. It's the first one I wrote for her in 2010. The Christmas Beetle Bertie, the small black beetle was tired. He’d flown around all day long in the sun until his wings ached. All he wanted was to find a nice dark, safe place where he could settle down for a good nights sleep. Then he saw the perfect spot, a beautiful hat made of soft purple fabric. Just the right bed for a small, tired insect. He snuggled in and closed his weary eyes. When the sun rose the next morning Bertie discovered he was in a strange new place. He stretched his wings and left his bed to see where he was. The ground below him was hot and dusty and the sky a bright cloudless blue. The only green things he could see were a small group of palm trees. The human whose hat had provided him with a bed for the night sat with his friends and their camels resting in the shade. Bertie had a nice day flying around in the sunshine before creeping back into his warm safe bed. That night he couldn’t sleep. His bed in the hat rocked and moved as its owner travelled through the darkness following a big bright star that lit up the sky. Bertie held on tight as they approached a small but busy town. He took a peep over the brim of the hat when his bed stopped moving and saw the humans talking to a group of shepherds who had come down from the hills. He quickly hid again when one of the lambs saw him and bleated hello. He didn’t want the owner of the hat to throw him out of his bed. After a few minutes his bed started rocking once more as the people moved on. Bertie could hear the lambs still bleating and wondered where the owner of the hat and the shepherds could be going. He heard lots of noise, people talking and the clatter and bustle of the streets. Overhead the huge star shone down as bright as the sun filling the town with its light. He was almost thrown from his perch when the owner of the hat climbed down from his camel. I wonder where we are? Thought Bertie. The noise had stopped and everything was silent except for the sounds of beautiful music. He crept to the brim of the hat and holding tight with his pincers he peered out. In front of him was an amazing sight. Golden winged humans stood at the back of a small room which had straw on the floor. They were the makers of the music. A man and a woman knelt next to a small basket made of wood filled with straw. The woman looked happy but tired as she looked at the manger. Bertie glanced around the room and saw the donkey and the ox kneeling and looking at the manger. He was almost thrown to the floor again when the owner of the hat also knelt down on the stone cobbles amongst the straw. The shepherds had filed in behind the owner of the hat and his two friends. Now the lambs were also kneeling and had stopped their bleating. The owner of the hat and his friends gave the man and the woman gifts, strange boxes filled with scented special and expensive things. Bertie could resist no longer. He had to know what was in the manger that was causing this strange behaviour. He stretched his little black wings and took off from his perch landing carefully on the edge of the crib hoping the humans wouldn’t notice him. He looked inside and found the source of the wonder. A tiny human baby wrapped in cloth lying amongst the straw. Bertie looked at the baby and the baby looked at Bertie. The baby gave a tiny smile and Bertie felt a strange warm glow spreading throughout his tiny body and he knew this was a very special baby. He bowed his head before spreading his wings once more and retreating back to his bed in the hat before any of the other humans saw him. After a while the owner of the hat and his friends left the stable and went back out onto the street. By then the sun had begun to rise once more for the start of a new day. Bertie decided he would fly and get a drink of water before the day grew too hot. He saw a bucket of water beside a well and flew down to take a drink. As he leaned forward he saw his reflection in the water. What he saw surprised him so much he almost fell in. He was no longer Bertie the small black beetle, instead he glowed with a rich yellow-green colour. He had become Bertie the Christmas Beetle. © Nell Dixon 2010

Prepping for Christmas

The tree is up and turkey is sorted. Youngest belle is home from Uni. We're looking forward to our annual trip into Birmingham for the panto. Christmas for me isn't Christmas without panto. We've the Christingle service on Christmas Eve to look forward to. Thankfully, I'm off for Christmas eve and Christmas day although I have 2 fourteen hour shifts for New Years eve and day and shifts in between.

Card or not to card? That is the question

Every year I see people saying they aren't sending cards this year and are giving the money to charity. Which is lovely, but, it also raises a dilemna. For those people, some of them elderly who look forward to getting a card, with a bit of a note in, every year who aren't online savvy, it can be sad when they don't hear from old friends, family etc. Christmas is a time for people, for catching up on news. It's a human time. Giving to charity is wonderful but there can be a balance. I buy charity cards and make donations - a percentage of all my book sales goes to various charities that I support all year round. The RNLI, my local hospice and the air ambulance service are my main ones. What do you all think?

What's been happening?

Well, as I said, long time no see. I've had a bit of an hiatus for the last 18 months or so. Health issues, a birthmark on my arm turning rogue needed 2 lots of surgery and then some correctional work on my left hip. Work, I was promoted in my day job and I work long hours. Family life, one daughter graduated and moved back home, one daughter left for university and the middle one qualified as a hairdresser and also left home to live with her long term boyfriend. Add this in to 2 major renovation projects on the house - we rebuilt most of the downstairs and you can see where my time went. I do have several projects in the pipeline however and you will be seeing new books from me in 2017. That is if my office assistant ever allows me to do any work.

Tap, tap, is this thing on?

Yes, peeps, I'm back. Look out for new regular blogs from me over the next 12 months. There will be freebies, book news and guest blogs from some of my lovely author friends as well as news from Brierley Rose Press.

Romantic Novelist Association conference

This weekend is the RNA conference and on Saturday I'm giving a workshop with the fab Phillipa Ashley! We're talking about series and linked books.

We've both written series and linked books. Mine are the New Bay Cornish set series, The Mayer family triliogy, The Ever After series - book 3 is coming befor Christmas! and Cue Me In and Lights, Camera, Poltergeist - my New Adult stories.

Phillipa has The First time series as Pippa Croft and some steamier books under another name.

We can't wait to talk about our experiences and share the pro's and con's involved.

Guest Blogger - Krysten Lindsay Hager

Please welcome Krysten Lindsay Hager. She is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Her debut novel, TRUE COLORS, is out June 17th from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows.

Here's the blurb for TRUE COLORS

Every day I walked down the sidewalk to school and wished I were one of the interesting popular girls who ran up with exciting news. Just once I’d like to be one of those girls instead of the being the one who didn’t get invited to things because people “forgot” about me.

Here's the story premise!

Landry gets pushed into trying out for the American Ingénue reality show modeling competition with her two best friends. She doesn’t think she stands a chance, but she advances to the next level in the competition and her friends ignore her when they get cut.

Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut and includes Landry in her clique. Devon becomes the perfect best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition?

Landry hopes her big break could come at any moment, but soon sees there’s much more to modeling. She begins missing out on being with friends and has the chance to have a boyfriend when she meets a boy named Vladi from another school. Part of Landry wants to be famous (and have her hair look good for once), but part of her just wants to be accepted. She learns about friendships, being true to yourself, and that a good hair conditioner doesn’t hurt.

You can get a copy of TRUE COLORS from Amazon.com and Amazon UK and all good etailers!

Today at 2pm

Today at 2pm I'll be talking at Wednesbury Library in Sandwell with the lovely Phillipa Ashley and Elizabeth Hanbury. Call the library for a free ticket as spaces are almost gone :)

Sophie's Choice - out today!

OUT NOW! Sophie’s Choice. Just 99c 77p Why not try this one and Christmas Ever After? Amazon UK Amazon.com

Here's a taster!

"Do it then. Run away to Northumberland with me." She wasn't sure what had prompted her to make such a rash offer. Perhaps it was the desire to shock Henry, or merely her own need for a companion for the journey, even if he was a somewhat dull solicitor.

"It's not that easy. I have a job, responsibilities."

"Cluck, cluck, cluck." Sophie goaded.

Henry glared at her. "I am not chicken."

She raised her eyebrows. "Prove it."

To her amusement, he appeared flustered by her challenge and she wondered if his calm, orderly life had ever been disrupted before.

"People depend on me."

"Isn't the whole point of an escape to lose those responsibilities for a short while?" She smiled sweetly at him, the expression in her eyes daring him to give in.

His gaze locked with hers and something in the intensity of his stare made her wonder what she'd let herself in for by baiting him.

"Okay, you're on. I'll be back for you in three hours. That should give you time to take a bath and pack a bag."

Sophie swallowed. She hadn't seriously considered that he would take up her challenge and now it seemed she would be saddled with Henry's company at Tything Manor.

The corners of his mouth quirked and she knew he was waiting for her to try and wriggle out of the corner she'd painted herself into.

"Fine, three hours it is. I'll call Rafe and tell him we're coming."

(C) Nell Dixon 2014

Unexpected Treasure - Free!

Unexpected Treasure - short story which I released a while ago has finally gone free on Amazon UK. If you all report it then hopefully it'll go free for my US readers too. Here's the UK link

Vote for Christmas Ever After!

Gulp, voting is open for the RONE awards in the novella category. Christmas Ever After is a nominee and I would be eternally grateful for any votes. I know I don't stand a chance as I don't have the street teams and huge cohorts of organised voting some authors have but I'd be thrilled to reach double figure :) Vote Here It only takes a minute and InD'Tale Mag are lovely and don't spam you. Hugs. If you haven't read it yet and want to read before you vote - voting is open for a week! Here are the buy links! Amazon.com Amazon UK

Lady Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Bellhavan is dubbed the runaway bride after calling off her wedding on the eve of her marriage just a week before Christmas. Her best friend, Sophie has the perfect hideout for the beleaguered society belle, her childhood home, Tything Manor. Lottie won’t be alone for Christmas at the isolated Northumbrian manor house, Sophie’s older brother, Ranulf, the reclusive Earl of Craigmore will be there too.

Rafe is aware his unconventional looks and retiring nature won’t win any beauty contests but with the magic of the Christmas season and some judicious matchmaking from the meddlesome Sophie it might just be Christmas Ever After for Lottie and Rafe…

Also available as a paperback

Sophie's Choice has a release date!

I'm delighted to say that the prequel to Christmas Ever After, which tells the story of Rafe's sister, Sophie, is now scheduled for release on May 15th. Now I had better finish writing it as my editor will be waiting! It has a gorgeous cover which I'll share with you all as soon as I get the go ahead!

Christmas Ever After is a RONE award nominee!

I'm thrilled to say Christmas Ever After has been nominated for a RONE award.

Such lovely news on a grey, cold March day.

You can get your copy HERE if in the US Or HERE if in the UK Also available in other countries and if you're old school you can get the paperback!

An Uncivil War - FREE!

FREE for next few days! My Chick lit Timeslip Amazon UK Amazon.com

Grab your copy and tell your friends!

Almost gone!

I can't believe it's almost the end of January already. Where did it go?

I have lots of things coming up soon, some of which I can't talk about just yet. Some are writerly and some are some big changes in my personal life. I promise I'll share as soon as I can. It's all good. I have a lovely cover for Sophie's Choice and I really need to get that book finished!

In a few days time I have one of those landmark birthdays, and as I mentioned before Mr Nell is taking me to Malta for a week to celebrate. I love Malta and am so excited to be going back to revisit some favourite places.

I know that this year is going to be a good year.

Off to a cracking start!

2014 is promising to be a much better year in all ways than last year! Right now my lovely publishers, Astraea Press have a brilliant offer on all my single title books with them - just 99c or 77p so if you're missing one of the New Bay or Mayer family titles or wanted to try my new adult spooky shorts then now is your chance! There are lots of great offers on other Astraea titles too so make the most of your chance to fill your kindle with quality reading.

Writing wise I'm getting on with Sophie's Choice - the prequel to Christmas Ever After. It's such fun to write! Then I need to finish At The Dolphin Hotel, my cosy crime/romance.

An Uncivil War should be available soon in paperback too!

It's been busy on the home front too with my eldest belle turning twenty last weekend. I can't believe I have a daughter out of her teens. We've been busy decorating so at the moment the smell of paint is lingering everywhere and my youngest belle now has a pea green bedroom. Next stop is the belle's bathroom! It's like the painting of the Forth bridge.

My youngest belle also has chosen her prom dress now ready for summer so lots of fun dress shopping over the last couple of weeks. With the evenings starting to lighten earlier maybe Summer doesn't seem quite so distant despite the cold and damp.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2014!

This year promises to bring a lot of changes - some good, some, well, who knows! I have two stories underway to finish and release. At The Dolphin Hotel - a cosy mystery with a mix of romance!, and Sophie's Choice, the prequel to Christmas Ever After. An Uncivil War will be releasing in print as will Marrying Max. Demand is growing for my writing courses and my copy editing and critiquing business and Brierley Rose Press is becoming more established.

On a personal front my day job is looking shaky - nothing like getting an advance notice of redundancy in with your Christmas cards :)

I have a landmark birthday in a few weeks time too and Mr Nell is taking me to Malta for a week! We fly on my birthday. I love Malta and haven't been for quite a few years now so I'm excited to be going back.

Thank you to everyone who's supported me this last year, my family, my friends, my colleagues and my readers. I appreciate all of you so much.

Here's to a bright and sparkly 2014, may it find you healthy and happy, with food in your larder, a roof over your head, money in your pocket and books to read!