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1 Week To Go! …Sneak Peek of The January Wish (and oh yeah, Merry Christmas!)
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and hope all your wishes come true đ
It’s officially one week until the release of my new novel, THE JANUARY WISH, and if you follow my blog you may have noticed I’ve been sharing an excerpt from the book each week until release day. When I realised the ‘1 week to go’ milestone would be on Christmas day I wondered whether to still include an excerpt, but because ‘8 1/2 Days To Go!’ doesn’t sound as exciting and because the main character in the novel is a control freak and likes things to be accurate and ordered, I thought it would be best to stick with the plan! đ
So here is the final excerpt and photo of the setting before release day… I hope you enjoy it and I hope you get to read some great books over the holidays! (hint, hint) đ
Excerpt from Chapter 2:
The herd of people filtering in from the plane dissolved gradually into the crowd, some walking quickly, others stopping to yawn and stretch. Sylvia wondered what each was doing in Sydney. She amused herself by trying to guess who might be arriving home and who was simply visiting. Perhaps some had bought a one-way ticket and were staying.
Then her heart skipped a beat.
A young woman entered the airport, placing iPod earphones into her ears, the thin white cords trailing down to her pocket. She smiled at the flight attendant as she walked past, and stopped to glance around, as if wondering which direction to go. The woman had a youthful radiance about her, a sense of excitement, like she was stepping into the world for the first time. She resumed walking, her head bobbing rhythmically to whatever music she was listening to, curly tendrils of hair bouncing happily about her face. Red curls, not orangey-red, but warm russet-like red curls…
Just like hers.
It was as though Sylvia was looking into a mirror, a younger image of herself reflected back. Like seeing her own ghost.
As if connected by the similarities in their appearance, Sylvia stood and followed the young woman. She walked behind her in the crowd, until the woman stopped to admire a dress in a shop window; a long, floaty summer dress, with large pink and purple flowers printed on it. Not Sylviaâs style at all, but the woman seemed inspired by it. She took out her phone and snapped a picture of it.
Strange.
A smile growing on her face, the woman entered the shop, walking out a few minutes later with a large plastic bag in her hand. Sylvia couldnât remember the last time sheâd bought an outfit on a whim like that. Her purchases were always planned with purpose; crisp plain shirts, sensible heels, black, navy, or cream tailored pants for work, and casual jeans, t-shirts, and knit tops for weekends.
She continued following the woman and waited again while she stopped to sample hand cream at a beauty shop.
Should she approach her?
But what would she say?
Sylvia now felt incredibly silly, following a complete stranger. It was just her mind playing tricks. They werenât really that similar. Their hair was practically identical, but the woman lacked Sylviaâs height, although her build was the same: small-chested and big-hipped.
âFinal boarding call for Dr Sylvia Greene. Dr Sylvia Greene to gate eighteen please.â The voice beamed through the airport speaker system and Sylviaâs eyes jumped wide open.
Oh God, my flight!
How could she not have heard the first boarding call? She spun around and headed in the direction of gate eighteen, then turned back around.
The woman was gone.
Part of her wanted to continue through to the baggage terminal but that would be crazy. She had to go. Shaking the moment of insanity from her head, Sylvia ran in as dignified a way as possible to the boarding gate where an attendant was just about to block off the entrance with rope.
A minute later she sat puffing in her seat on the plane.
âHi there, Iâm Wayne,â the elderly man next to her said as he held out his hand. âWhat do you do for a living, love?â
âIâm a doctor,â Sylvia replied.
âOh, really?â The man twisted in his seat, sidling up close to her. âI might have to pick your brain then, you see, Iâve got this problem with…â
Sylvia released a gentle sigh as Wayne told her his medical history and current symptoms. He was probably a relative of Mr Bensonâs.
This was going to be a dreadfully long ninety minutes.
When the man seated on the other side of Wayne got involved in the conversation after mentioning that he too had suffered with unrelenting tinea for years, Wayne twisted to face him and they proceeded to discuss the fungal infection in detail. Sylvia took the golden opportunity to close her eyes and pretend to be asleep. Sheâd flip through the MasterChef magazine on the flight home next week instead.
Her mind drifted back to that womanâs face, and the way her hair stood out from the crowd like a sunset on the horizon. Then she saw herself back at the Wishing Festival, tossing a coin into the fountain.
Making a wish one day, stalking a stranger the next â what had gotten into her? Maybe she was working too hard. Maybe the ten days she took off over Christmas werenât enough. Or maybe a hidden part of her was surfacing, trying to come to terms with what she did all those years ago.Â
~*~
If youâd like to stay up to date and chat with me about The January Wish and the Tarrinâs Bay series, there is now an online readers group on facebook. You can join here.Â
Preorder The January Wish here. Releases 1st Jan!
Amazon:Â http://amzn.com/B00GXUXOFE
Amazon UK:Â http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Amazon AUS:Â http://www.amazon.com.au/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Kobo:Â http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-january-wish
iTunes:Â https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-january-wish/id767160149?mt=11
When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrinâs Bay Wishing Festival, itâs the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparationâŠof science and research and diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.Â
A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylviaâs small coastal town with secrets that canât be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylviaâs well-ordered life is soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.Â
They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered.
2 Weeks To Go! …Sneak peek at The January Wish
For the past 2 weeks I’ve been sharing excerpts from my upcoming novel THE JANUARY WISH (If you missed them they are here and here). Today, I’m sharing another excerpt and photo of the setting, and will again next week.
Enjoy!
Excerpt from Chapter 17 (the set up: During a hail storm, Mark seeks refuge in Sylvia’s house and the power goes out):
âDo you have a competitive streak?â he asked, pointing to the television cabinet where a collection of board games lay stacked on one of the shelves.
âIf thereâs a competition, Iâm in it,â she replied. âI canât pass up a challenge.â
âFancy a game of candlelit scrabble then?â
âI canât say Iâve ever experienced candlelit scrabble. How can I refuse?â Sylvia put down her glass and took the game from the shelf. The last time sheâd played was after her birthday dinner last year, when her parents came to stay. The weather was miserable, and forced interaction through a board game was the least painful way of spending time with her parents, whose conversation usually revolved around politics and the latest current affairs, something she had no interest in.
Mark set up the board while Sylvia lit a couple of tea light candles and placed them on the coffee table. They each picked a tile to decide who would start.
âHa! Me first,â Sylvia said, wriggling into a comfortable position and selecting seven tiles from the velvet pouch. She studied her letters and immediately formed the word: RIPPLE. âTwenty points for me!â She jotted down her score onto a notepad.
âTwenty?â
âYeah, when you go first you get a double word score,â Sylvia explained.
âWell, enjoy your temporary lead, because it ainât gonna last long,â Mark said, eyes of determination directed to his tiles as he shuffled them around in different combinations. âHey, do I get a double word score too if I add to your word?â
Sylvia shook her head side to side. âNope, and now I know youâve got an âSâ,â she replied.
âNot anymore,â Mark revealed, adding six tiles to the board and hijacking a âPâ from RIPPLE to form the word: SPECIAL.
âThatâs only fourteen points,â Sylvia remarked. âWhat was that you said about my lead not lasting long?â
âJust you wait, Iâll be ahead of you in no time.â
And soon he was. Sixty-two points ahead to be exact, thanks to a convenient triple word score and a venereal disease called SYPHILIS. If Sylvia hadnât put TY on the end of SPECIAL, he wouldnât have got it, so it wasnât as if it was due to any skill on his part, just pure luck. Plus, since he used up all seven of his tiles in one go he scored a bonus fifty points. Damn Scrabble rules.
Soon random words littered the scrabble board, and to add to their own amusement they tried making up sentences with as many of the words included as possible. Sylvia tried unsuccessfully to hold back a snort of laughter when Mark came up with, âRipples of syphilis waltzed downhill among moaning tigersâ. It was so ridiculous it was funny, and Sylvia even managed to rearrange it into her own version, âMoaning tigers waltzed downhill among ripples of syphilisâ. Twice in one night sheâd had a good old belly laugh. Sheâd forgotten what that was like. With Richard everything was so serious, and she couldnât imagine him ever mucking around for fun like she was with Mark right now. She didnât miss him anymore.
âYou have a good vocabulary,â Mark said.
âYou know a lot of big words yourself,â Sylvia responded.
âWeâre vocabuliferous,â he said with a grin.
âSince when is vocabuliferous a word?â Sylvia teased, lightly touching Markâs forearm.
âSince when is âmoaning tigers waltzed downhill among ripples of syphilisâ an acceptable sentence to say out loud, ever?â
Sylvia laughed again. âSince tonight I guess.â She shook her head at the ridiculousness that was this evening, yet marvelled at how relaxed and at ease she felt right now. Somehow, Mark had inched closer without her noticing, and before she could process what was happening, he leaned forward, his eyes staring into her heart, his lips seeking hers. She tilted her chin ever so slightly, then jerked back in surprise as light flooded the room.
âPowerâs back on,â she blurted out.
~*~
If youâd like to stay up to date and chat with me about The January Wish and the Tarrinâs Bay series, there is now an online readers group on facebook. You can join here.Â
Preorder The January Wish here:
Amazon:Â http://amzn.com/B00GXUXOFE
Amazon UK:Â http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Amazon AUS:Â http://www.amazon.com.au/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Kobo:Â http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-january-wish
iTunes:Â https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-january-wish/id767160149?mt=11
When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrinâs Bay Wishing Festival, itâs the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparationâŠof science and research and diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.Â
A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylviaâs small coastal town with secrets that canât be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylviaâs well-ordered life is soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.Â
They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered.
3 Weeks To Go! …Sneak peek at The January Wish
Last week I shared chapter 1 of The January Wish, if you missed it here it is. And this week I’m sharing another excerpt from the book (and photo of the setting), and will share one each week until the book releases on 1st January 2014!
Excerpt from Chapter 18:
Grace continued riding and smiled at a woman on a bike who passed her in the other direction. A baby about nine months or so sat strapped into a child seat on the back, his eyes squinting and mouth open wide in delight. As the track curved around and began declining, children swinging back and forth on the swings came into view, while others climbed a mesh of rope and slid down the slide. She slowed a little and swerved around as she neared the park, where a child on a tricycle pedalled as fast as his little legs could go, but only moved at the speed of a tortoise.
Then she saw them. The arms. Jonahâs arms, bending up and down, veins pulsing atop his muscles as he did push-up after push-up on the sandy ground next to the park. Was she imagining this? Not long before, the image of those arms had popped into her mind and now here they were. The vision of those arms entwined around her body came to the forefront of her mind again, and she sighed.
She swerved again, but not in time to stop her bike colliding with one of the wooden stumps that formed a rather pathetic barrier from the riding track to the sand. The back wheel of the bike lifted up suddenly, and as it came back down the bike toppled sideways, Grace landing half on the concrete track and half on the sand. She looked up just in time to see The Arms paused mid push-up, their owner staring right at her. As if laughing at her predicament, the loud cackle of a kookaburra shook the air around her and an uncomfortable flush of heat rushed through her face.
âAre you okay, Grace?â Jonah asked as he approached, holding out a hand to help her up.
âOh hi, I didnât see you there.â Lie of the century. âIâm okay.â Apart from the burning graze on her knee competing with the burning embarrassment on her cheeks.
âWhat happened?â Jonah smiled, as he picked up the bike for her.
âThe sun got in my eyes and, erâŠwell you saw what happened.â That was the best she could come up with. What was she supposed to say? I was mesmerised by your biceps pumping up and down and lost my balance? She was dying to hold her sore knee but didnât want to seem like a wimp.
He must have read her mind. âYou should give that graze a wash in the salt water, câmon.â He held out his hand again and led her towards the shore. They both walked knee-deep into the ocean, and Grace splashed the water around her knee, holding back a wince that tried to burst onto her face.
âDo you ride often?â he asked.
Was that a polite way of saying she must be a complete amateur? âI used to, but this is the first time in years,â she said. âAs you can tell!â
He smiled again, but didnât laugh. âSo, how long have you been working at the bookstore?â
âAbout two weeks,â she replied.
âAre you new in town? I havenât seen you before, apart from those times at the cafĂ©,â he asked.
âYep, I am a newbie.â
âThought so. Did you move here with your family?â
âNo, just me. It might be temporary, but Iâll see what happens.â Grace now had another reason to stay.
âWhere did you live before?â
Grace laughed. âI feel like Iâm on a game show!â
âSorry for the grilling, Iâm not known for being shy!â
âI gathered that. Iâm from Melbourne,â she replied, as they walked to where Jonah had propped the bike against a tree.
âNever been there before,â he said.
âReally? Itâs a great place, never boring.â
‘Unlike Tarrinâs Bay?â
âNo, I love it here!â Grace smiled. âEveryone is so friendly, and I love how you can walk everywhere.â
âOr cycle,â Jonah added.
âWell, try to.â Grace gestured to the scene of her tumble. âSoâŠyouâre not working at the cafĂ© today?â Duh!
âIâm working tonight, actually. My parents own CafĂ© Lagoon so my shifts are pretty flexible. Thereâs an awesome local singer and guitarist performing from eight tonight, so it should make for a good night.â
Grace nodded. âCool.â
âYou should come.â Jonah touched her forearm lightly, and so briefly, that Grace wondered if she imagined it. âA few of my friends will be there, and I can introduce you to them if you like.â
Graceâs heart beat faster, as though it may lose balance and tumble over at any moment too. She couldnât stop the smile that tickled her cheeks. âSounds good, Iâll be there.â
âGreat, see you tonight then.â Jonah stepped aside as Grace straddled her bike, willing her legs to stop shaking and start pedalling. Although tempted, she didnât dare look back at him. Sheâd already fallen twice today. Head over heels on the pavement, and head over heels for him.
~*~
If you’d like to stay up to date and chat with me about The January Wish and the Tarrin’s Bay series, there is now an online readers group on facebook. You can join here. đ
Preorder The January Wish here:
Amazon:Â http://amzn.com/B00GXUXOFE
Amazon UK:Â http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Amazon AUS:Â http://www.amazon.com.au/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Kobo:Â http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-january-wish
iTunes:Â https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-january-wish/id767160149?mt=11
When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrinâs Bay Wishing Festival, it’s the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparationâŠof science and research and diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.Â
A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylvia’s small coastal town with secrets that can’t be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylvia’s well-ordered life is soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.Â
They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered.
4 Weeks To Go! …sneak peek of The January Wish
On 1st January 2014 THE JANUARY WISH will be available for readers worldwide from all good ebook retailers.
I started writing this book in January of 2011, it was accepted for publication in January of 2013, and now it will be published in January of 2014! January must be my lucky month. It was also the month my son was born (he’ll be 17 soon). And I hope this January will be the month for lots of sales and happy readers! đ
Each week until release day I’m going to share a sneak peek of the book and a photo of the real life town the setting is based on, so without further ado, here is the first excerpt for your reading pleasure!
Excerpt from THE JANUARY WISH…
Chapter 1
Dr Sylvia Greene had never done anything like this before in her life. She wasnât one for succumbing to fanfare or superstitious traditions. She didnât knock on wood or cross her fingers, and couldnât care less if she happened to walk under a ladder. But somehow, sheâd found herself lining up to take part in the annual Tarrinâs Bay Wishing Festival.
What on earth am I doing here? People I know might see me!
Sylvia glanced around surreptitiously through the lenses of her Dior sunglasses. There were a few familiar faces, but most of the people wandering around and standing in line were tourists. Probably because the locals knew that wishes made by tossing a coin into the historic four metre tall fountain certainly didnât come true. If they did, the local newspaper would be all over it. Not once had Sylvia read any proof that someoneâs wish had come true. But every year on the 4th of January, the anniversary of the fountainâs construction, people came from far and wide to make their wish.
She only meant to wander around the market stalls in Miracle Park, soak up the delicious summer sunshine, and pick up a jar of her favourite chilli and tomato relish from the âHomemade for Youâ stall, but as Sylvia walked past the huge line-up near the fountain, her legs had other ideas.
I should just go home.
She turned to the growing crowd behind her. To leave, sheâd have to excuse herself past about fifty people in line, making herself more conspicuous. Plus, she spotted one of her patients in the line. A particularly loud and talkative patient, Mr Benson. Damn it! Sheâd have to stay in line or get noticed backing out.
When she was a hospital intern it had been easy to get out of difficult situations by simply pretending to be on call and rushing off to deal with a fake emergency. It certainly came in handy during many a disastrous date. Now though, she worked nine to fiveâŠwell, to six or seven some nights, and was never on call. Sylvia loved her familiar routine. Sheâd been keen to get into general practice as soon as possible after receiving her qualifications, never having been able to cope with hospital shift work.
The coin in Sylviaâs pocket cooled her warm fingers as she fiddled with it impatiently. At least this was all for charity. That would be her excuse if anyone asked why she, Dr Sylvia Greene, sceptic and all round party pooper, was making a wish. She had a great life; an interesting career, a best friend, good health, a nice house, and even a new boyfriend. What else could she possibly wish for? What was she doing here?
Distracted by her thoughts, she jumped when the person behind tapped her shoulder and flicked a hand towards the front of the line. Sylvia took a step forward. Only one person to go, then it would be her turn. A teenage girl stepped forward and threw her coin joyously into the fountain, a hopeful smile on her face. Probably wishing for the boy she liked to notice her, Sylvia thought. The girl walked around the fountain three times, before exiting the cordoned area framing it and running off to hug her friends waiting nearby.
Legend says on the day of its completed construction in 1907, a young woman tossed in a coin to make a wish and walked around the fountain three times. That evening, her missing husband returned safe and sound. Another woman made a wish that day and not even a week later was cured of a potentially fatal disease. Or so the legend says. Again, there had been no proof.
âStep right up, maâam,â said the guy with the microphone whose nonstop commentating brought more people to the line by the minute.
No turning back now.
With her wish in mind, Sylvia tossed the coin. A gentle plop sounded and circular ripples spread outward through the water. Tiny bubbles rose to the surface as the coin joined the others that had gone before. She walked quickly around the fountain three times, adjusting her sunglasses and dipping her head on the way. The process seemed to take forever, conscious that all eyes were on her.
Relief greeted her as she merged back into the crowd, but only for a moment.
âDoc! Whoâda thought weâd see you here today, huh?â
Sylviaâs patient waved as he waited his turn in line.
âSo, what did you wish for, Doc? Wait! Donât tell me.â He covered his ears. âIf you tell someone your wish, it wonât come true, will it?â
âIâm, er…just doing my bit for charity,â Sylvia said in her best doctor-like voice.
âGood on ya, Doc. Oh, Iâll see you next week. First patient for the year I am, 9 a.m. sharp Mondee morninâ. Been waitinâ patiently for you to resume work. Ya see, my constipationâs returned, and geez, this prostate of mine, whoa! I tell ya, the nasty little buggerâs givinâ me such a hard time!â
Mr Benson would quite likely be perfectly okay with Sylvia doing a consultation and examination as he waited in line.
â…And donât get me started on me arthritis, let me tell ya â â the person behind him, gesturing to move forward, politely cut off Mr Benson. âOh, anyway, weâll discuss all the details next week. See ya then, Doc!â
Sylvia waved, thinking she should have wished for Mr Benson to switch doctors.
The sun warmed her skin as she walked out of Miracle Park, past the historic terrace shops with their homewares, boutique clothing and unique gifts, and up the road towards her house. The afternoon ocean breeze ran like fingers through her hair as Sylvia thought about her wish. Eighteen years had passed since the day that changed her life forever, the memory playing on her mind more and more lately. She lived a satisfying life, but a part of her, deep inside, needed to fill the void that sat there.
Sylvia came to an abrupt stop and shook her head. What was she thinking? She should try to forget about that day, just like she did before. Why dredge up the past? The chance of her wish coming true was unlikely anyway. After all, wishes donât come true. Do they?
Amazon:Â http://amzn.com/B00GXUXOFE
Amazon UK:Â http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Amazon AUS:Â http://www.amazon.com.au/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
Kobo:Â http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-january-wish
iTunes:Â https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-january-wish/id767160149?mt=11
Preorder THE JANUARY WISH!
THE JANUARY WISH is now available for preorder for those that wish (hehe) to make sure their copy will arrive nice and early on release day, 1st Jan. Great timing for a New Year’s Day chill out and recovery session!
Perfect for fans of Sherryl Woods and Susan Wiggs, this book is the first in my new Tarrin’s Bay series, set in a small coastal town based on where I live on the NSW south coast, Australia.
It has lots of drama, a pinch of humour, family dynamics, secrets galore, a medical and natural health setting, and two sweet romances for the price of one. Yep, two! The story is told from three points of view: the hero, the heroine, and the heroine’s eighteen-year-old daughter. So in a way it’s an ‘Adult’ and ‘New Adult’ romance in one.
Here’s the blurb:
When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrinâs Bay Wishing Festival, it’s the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparationâŠof science and research and diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.
A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylvia’s small coastal town with secrets that can’t be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylvia’s well-ordered life is soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.
They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered.
Preorder here:
- Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00GXUXOFE
- Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
- Amazon AUS: http://www.amazon.com.au/The-January-Wish-Juliet-Madison-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFE/
- Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-january-wish
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-january-wish/id767160149?mt=11
The second book in this series, FEBRUARY OR FOREVER, will release straight after, on 1st Feb, so stay tuned!
And have a look on the blog every Wednesday leading up to release as I’ll be sharing an excerpt from THE JANUARY WISH each week.
COVER REVEAL! The January Wish
Ta da! What do you think? It’s amazing to finally see this story come to life as it’s been a long road to publication for this one. I think the cover really suits the feeling and emotion of the story, and hints at the secrets hiding behind the characters and this small coastal town.
Thanks to the team at Harlequin Australia / Escape Publishing for another fab cover!
The January Wish will release on 1st January 2014 and kickstarts my Tarrin’s Bay Series, and the good news is you won’t have to wait long for the second installment – February or Forever releases a month later, on 1st February! Yep, I’ve been hard at work making sure I could have the second one ready for readers right away đ
So what is The January Wish about? It’s a sweet, emotional romance about the pleasures of making a wish and seeing it come true. It’s a blend of contemporary romance and women’s fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Wiggs and Sherryl Woods. This story is unique in that it is told in three points of view, one of which belongs to an eighteen-year-old girl whose journey and romance of her own make this a New Adult (NA) and Adult story in one! It’s also a small town romance, a coastal romance, and a medical romance (just to cover all bases, you know?) đ
When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrinâs Bay Wishing Festival, it’s the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparationâŠof science and research and diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.
A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylvia’s small coastal town with secrets that can’t be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylvia’s well-ordered life is soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.
They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered.
This book was the second book I ever wrote, and went through lots of revisions to make it the best it could be, and I was thrilled when it was announced one of the six finalists in the Choc Lit Publishing Search for an Australian Star contest in 2012.
The setting of the story, Tarrin’s Bay, is based closely on the town I live in on the South Coast of NSW, Australia, so I hope I’ve captured the heart and soul of this special place on the page for reader’s to enjoy… Tarrin’s Bay is known as The Town of New Beginnings.
If you’d like to see some pictorial inspiration for The January Wish, you can visit my Pinterest board here. And add it to your Goodreads shelf here!
So until January 1st… I hope your wishes come true đ
~ Juliet xx
News! Iâve Signed With An Agent
Almost four years to the day when I started writing my first novel, Iâve signed with a literary agent!
The novel I submitted, THE LIFE MAKEOVER CLUB, came about during my own life makeover, and had many makeovers of its own (revisions, revisions, revisions) and Iâm so glad itâs finally ready to be âout thereâ and has caught the attention of Joelle Delbourgo from Joelle Delbourgo Associates, Inc in New Jersey, USA.
This milestone has made me realise how far Iâve come in the last four years. So often we keep thinking about the future, wanting to get somewhere, achieve new things, that we can forget what we have achieved already. When was the last time you took a step back and celebrated your progress in life?
Since I made the commitment to being a writer in October 2009, Iâve written five novels (3 with publishing contracts), two novellas (both published), several short stories, and a few partials (3 chapters and synopsis of a potential story), as well as MANY title and plot ideas! I have a title fetish. I collect them and think of new ones all the time, jotting them down on my title list. For me, a simple, catchy title can inspire a whole story idea.
When I came up with the title for The Life Makeover Club, I knew it was something I had to write. Iâd been trying to think up an idea for my first story. All I knew was that I wanted to write a novel. Iâd participated in a couple of self improvement and business coaching programs, and thought it would be fun to write about people who wanted to change their lives in some way, and who took major action to make their dreams a reality. And so this book was born.
After about seventy queries to agents over three months, I am now one step closer to my dream of having this book published. I had several requests for the full manuscript, a few for the partial, and two offers of representation. Of course, I could only accept one, and let me tell you – it was a very hard decision to make! Especially as during that week I was dealing with the sadness of our old home burning down in the Blue Mountains bushfires. My son grew up there, and the house was mostly designed by my mum, and so much work had been done on it. But itâs the memories we had there that made it so sad. It was heartbreaking to see it burning on the TV news, and then to see the mess of the rubble in photographs afterwards. They say big things often happen all at once, and over those few days they certainly did! Anyway, I was thrilled with both agent offers, and ultimately decided to put myself in the capable hands of Joelle.
Next step: make some improvements to the manuscript to prepare it for submission, then wait and hope a publisher (or two, or three…) wants it! đ
Iâm ready, Iâm excited, and I hope to be sharing this story with you soon! đ
~ Juliet
Voting Now Open: Vote for Fast Forward in Book Junkies Choice Awards!
Just a quick post to let you know my debut novel, FAST FORWARD is a finalist in the Book Junkies Choice Awards in the Women’s Fiction category (yay! Thanks to those who nominated it)! I’m thrilled to be alongside some great authors!
But I need your votes….
If you would like to give my little book baby, my first published novel, a chance at getting some great recognition and exposure, all you have to do is vote via the quick and easy form on the site.
You only need to enter your email address, and then select Fast Forward from the list, and voila! Your vote will be cast. You will receive an email confirmation of your vote, and you can only vote once.
>>VOTE HERE.
Voting is open until the 25th October, so get those votes in now, and THANK YOU! đ
If you haven’t yet read Fast Forward, here is a link to the details of the book and where it can be purchased from.
Past, Present, & Future with Jami Deise [Plus Giveaway!]
In the spirit of my debut novel, Fast Forward, Iâm doing a series of interviews with authors about their past, present & future. Today, please welcome author of humorous women’s fiction, Jami Deise!
PAST:
1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A doctor. But I never had any aptitude for math and science.
2. What did you do before you became a writer?
My only non-writing jobs were before graduating college with a journalism degree. I worked at McDonaldâs. I was an RA in my dorm at the University of Maryland. I babysat.
3. What is one of your most treasured memories from the past?
I won a poetry contest in the 5th grade. That was pretty cool.
PRESENT:
4. What’s your latest/upcoming release about and/or what are you currently working on?
Right now Iâm plugging âKeeping Score,â which is humorous womenâs fiction about a divorced mom, her 9-year-old son, and his first summer playing travel baseball.
5. What’s a typical day like for you? (If there is such a thing!)
Walk the dog, go the gym, spend the afternoon writing. Make dinner for my son. Spend the evening reading or watching TV. Most of my days are typical!
6. Name three things you are grateful for in your life right now:
That my son is living with my husband and me and is doing well. That we havenât been affected by economic turbulence or Congressional shut-downs. That my parents are healthy.
FUTURE:
7. If you could fast forward in time to any age or year for just one day, what would you choose & why?
66. My son will be 40. I want to know how his life is going to turn out.
8. If you could have any new technology or invention in the future that would make your life a whole lot easier (or more fun), what would it be?
A robot to make dinner and do dishes.
9. What are your hopes & dreams for the future?
To be able to support myself as a writer or with a job in the publishing industry, and that my son is successful in a job that he loves.
Thanks for taking part, Jami!
>You can visit Jami online at her blog, facebook, and twitter pages, and you can buy her latest book Keeping Score here. It’s only 99c for a limited time!
>WIN! Jami is also giving away 2 ebook copies of Keeping score… to enter, simply leave a comment below! Winners will be drawn on 11th October and contacted via email and notified in the comments.
KEEPING SCORE:
When her 9-year-old son wanted to play summer travel baseball, Shannon had no idea the toughest competition was off the fieldâŠ.
When her son Sam asks to try out for a travel baseball team, divorced mom Shannon Stevens thinks itâll be a fun and active way to spend the summer. Boy, is she wrong! From the very first practice, Shannon and Sam get sucked into a mad world of rigged try-outs, professional coaches, and personal hitting instructors. But itâs the crazy, competitive parents who really make Shannonâs life miserable. Their sons are all the second coming of Babe Ruth, and Sam isnât fit to fetch their foul balls. Even worse, Shannonâs best friend Jennifer catches the baseball fever. She schemes behind the scenes to get her son Matthew on the townâs best baseball team, the Saints. As for Sam? Sorry, thereâs no room for him! Sam winds up on the worst team in town, and every week they find new and humiliating ways to lose to the Saints.Â
And the action off the field is just as hot. Shannon finds herself falling for the Saintsâ coach, Kevin. But how can she date a man who didnât think her son was good enough for his team ⊠especially when the whole baseball world is gossiping about them? Even Shannonâs ex-husband David gets pulled into the mess when a randy baseball mom goes after him. As Sam works to make friends, win games and become a better baseball player, Shannon struggles not to become one of those crazy baseball parents herself. In this world, itâs not about whether you win, lose, or how you play the game⊠itâs all about KEEPING SCORE.