Friday 24 December 2021

As we edge towards year's end....#xmas #books #writing #writinglife

 It's been one long strange year.


Feeling the urge to take stock as this year grinds closer to the nadir of the wheel's turn.  Indeed as of yesterday it passed that point and we're on way back to the light.

It's not easy to sum 2021 up. Certainly the glib answer would be covid/stress that would kill a horse/fresh hell. But despite a terrible year in some ways, good things happened.

 Obviously on a personal level, publishing two fiction books has been a milestone in my life.  Despite editing and publishing several poetry collections, publishing a novel was a sharp lesson. Between book 1 and book 2 the learning curve was so steep as to be vertical but in the end I had two books of which I'm now proud. 

In addition to honing writing skills this year has been filled with challenging projects from marketing to sales; I now not only know what a reader magnet or book funnel is, I can create and use them.  

I also had the pleasure of seeing books in actual brick and mortar shops. Online sales are vital to independent authors and small publishers but there's nothing to compare to seeing customers reading the back of a book and buying it!

So good so optimistic; this year was also a year of endings. Having been a primary caregiver for my father for 7 years, five with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's and the last two in lockdown our world was turned upside down when a trip to hospital culminated in him being expedited into residential care. We knew it was going that way but definitely hadn't come to terms with it, not really.  The sudden change has been difficult. This Christmas is not what I'd hoped for although with two little boys you have to dig deep and find your inner tinsel. It took an outside eye to point out that we're grieving. He may be this side of life but we're grieving. 

Because we chose to keep him home until the last moment possible I had to choose to leave my business aside, 150 years of family business. This was hard although in fairness I would do the same again without a doubt. 

The fates in short have conspired and I'm now a full time writer or semi retired depending whom you ask. To paraphrase The Commitments it feels a lot better being a full time writer than a semi retired burnt out family carer ...

Every year I pick a word to live up to rather than making new year resolutions. 2021 was such a roller coaster I don't remember what word I picked. Whatever it was, this year I'm going to make sure I pick something peaceful. Gentle. Calm. 

For anyone finding this year hard, we'll get through it. It will pass. The light always returns, whether we believe it or not. It's the promise of life, that that wheel keeps turning dawn by dawn. 

The new year will bring two new books: the third Caroline Jordan Mystery and a non fiction academic book on the Rosc and draiocht ceoil. There's another very different story rattling around my head that I will start outlining during the year. So, not a busy then lol.

The Body Count: A Caroline Jordan Mystery Bk 2 will have an international online book launch as well as a Dublin launch (covid situation permitting) in February. Lots of fun and merch and prizes. 

So until the new year, stay safe and be well. 



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Friday 17 December 2021

Buying The Body Count on AMAZON #amazon #error #brokenlinks #buyeditionsonline

 BUY THE BODY COUNT on AMAZON


Amazon have created an error and until it's fixed please note
to buy a KINDLE edition HERE  USA
to buy a KINDLE edition HERE UK
to buy a PAPERBACK edition HERE  USA
to buy a PAPERBACK edition HERE UK


For all links including signed copies bio.link/germoorkensbyrne

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Wednesday 15 December 2021

The Body Count Publication Day! #book #booklaunch #newbook #crimefiction #murdermystery #mysterybook #irishwriter #ireland

 




It's Publication Day !!
The Body Count, A Caroline Jordan Mystery Book 2 is here



New Friends. New Clients. New Enemies.
Old Secrets...



It's 2012 and the banking scandals have hit Ireland hard; the Bank of Leinster finds its image in need of emergency help. Which means Jordan PR is about to pitch for their biggest contract yet - the only problem is the fresh corpse in the Bank's meeting room!

This time Caroline is determined not to get involved. Political reforms loom, there's a wedding to plan and an iconic Art exhibition to arrange. But in Ireland, old secrets bind strange fellows and as Caroline realizes the web of lies runs from the boardroom to the art world, DS Doyle calls in a favour.

Can Caroline resist investigating the rising Body Count?

Fun, fast-paced, modern murder mystery set in Dublin, Ireland among politicians, socialites, bankers, Anglo-Irish aristocrats and eccentric artists.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09L8CWHWK

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L8CWHWK

ALL LINKS https://bio.link/germoorkensbyrne





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Thursday 18 November 2021

The Body Count pre-orders on #Kindle open now!

 


MAD EXCITEMENT here!


Preorders have opened on KINDLE for 

The BodyCount, Caroline Jordan Mystery Book 2.


It's 2012 and the banking scandals have hit Ireland hard. The beleaguered Bank of Leinster desperately need an image makeover - and this means Jordan PR are about to pitch for their biggest contract yet. With her best friends and colleagues about to get married, Caroline is determined to grab the opportunity.
The only problem is the fresh corpse in the Bank's meeting room...


This time Caroline is determined not to get involved. Her colleagues (and best friends) are getting married, political reforms loom and there’s an iconic art exhibition to arrange. Not to mention that Bank contract is still up for grabs.


 But in Ireland all things are connected and old secrets bind strange bedfellows. As she begins to realize the web of lies and scandal stretch from the art world to the board room, DS Doyle pulls in a favour - can Caroline possibly resist investigating the rising Body Count?






Pre-orders open NOW! The Body Count by Geraldine Moorkens Byrne 

ISBN 9780956240378 ASIN B09L8CWHWK

Paperbook available 15th Dec, order in any good bookstore, on Amazon, or direct from celebratingwords.com (signed copies)



#book #newbook #crimefiction #whodunnit #murdermystery #murderbook #traditionalmystery #whodunnit #irishcrimefiction #irishauthor #irishwriter #ireland #dublin #publicrelations #banking #femalesleuth #womendetectives #booklaunch #writers #writinglife #WritingCommunity #WritersOfInstagram #bookstagram #WritersLift

 


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Thursday 2 September 2021

The Body Politic: Caroline Jordans's #Dublin in 2012

 It's 2012 and Caroline Jordan is about to be embroiled in her latest mystery, The Body Count. So in previous posts we've explored Christ Church the area she works in and the area around Leinster House, the home of Irish Politics.  but there's so much more to Dublin than buildings, or even pubs and restaurants.

Dublin is a city justly famed for its characters, wit and unique outlook. True Dubliners (whether born on the North or South side! famous for the rivalry between them) are known for their dry wit, ability to pour scorn with a well turned phrase, kindness to strangers, and huge sense of community. Whether its the famous Liberties (think Imelda May, our amazing singer/songwriter) or the leafy suburbs, a Dubliner is proud of the "blue" (colours of our GAA teams) and proud of their city. 

Flower Sellers on many Dublin Streets bring a splash of colour


Back in 2012, we were still reeling from the demise of our boom era known globally as the Celtic Tiger. Bank scandals rocked the nation, and all eyes were on the public coffers, as we demanded less wastage of money, fewer payouts to politicians and better regulation of Banking. There were also disturbing signs of far right politics, and other unsavoury elements. However the majority of the population backed more progressive, generous politics and left leaning parties saw a rise in popularity as did grass roots activism. In many ways, an exciting time in Irish public life. 

The year saw a number of high profile scandals, politically, at a time when the country called for strong leadership. 

In Caroline's world, I have reimagined the reality of Ireland at the time, with the creation of the worldly, flawed but generally decent Michael T O'Mahony, and his closest advisor, Derek Fields - along with Caroline they bring some integrity and reform to Irish politics. What might we have achieved if only there had been someone like that?

And the Irish police, the GardaĆ­, started to investigate a bank called Anglo-Irish and one of the great banking scandals of modern Ireland began to emerge. 

It's little wonder that The Body Count (due out end Nov) will see Caroline dealing with some very dodgy banking types indeed.

In nicer news, in 2012 the Aurora Borealis made a rare appearance in Irish skies, and Dublin City Council voted overwhelmingly to support Marriage Equality for all couples, including same sex. (In 2015 Ireland became the first country in the world to vote Marriage Equality into our constitution, in a landslide victory. One of the areas with the highest Yes vote was Dublin city!)

Dublin's Colony of Swans on the Canal

At the London Olympics, Team Ireland did well with Bray native Katie Taylor winning boxing gold! A heroine to the whole of Ireland, her influence is felt today in 2021 with the amazing Dubliner Katie Harrington also securing gold for Ireland in boxing. Dublin (and Ireland) has no shortage of great female characters, strong women who have shaped the nation and continue to do so. 

A famous character you'll meet on every Dublin Street is the Irish Mammy* - we are a formidable breed. We are tough on our own kids, but woe betide you if you look crooked at them. Only we are allowed criticize them and there's nothing we won't do for our families. We used to be famous for spoiling our boys and many an Irishman had his mammy doing his laundry until he was married with kids of his own (and sometimes, even then...) The modern breed of Irish Mammy is determined to raise better equipped men - capable of laundry, washing, and child-rearing. But we'll probably be cooking them dinner until they're fifty!


Grand Canal Docks, February Morning

2012 saw the loss of a Dublin institution, Clery's Department Store, a prestigious retailer,. Apart from shopping there,  generations of Dubliners used it as a meeting place in the evening, and "Under Clery's Clock" is where many couples met up to go on a date. 

Dublin wit and humour is legendary and god help the eedjit who tries to enter a battle of wits with a true blue Dub. Dublin Insults are among the most colourful in the world. and even the most casual - ya muppet, I'm scarleh for yah! - sting like no other. Half of the pain comes from the actual words and half from the delivery, the contempt of the Dub for the unfortunate non-Dub. Equally however, the kindness of Dubliners is deeply ingrained: the very auld wan who was calling you a bleedin' dope a few minutes ago will be the first to pick you up and help when disaster strikes.

As Caroline moves through this small but richly endowed city, past ancient buildings and modern apartments, she takes strength from knowing she is a part of it; she's a True Blue Jackeen*

St Stephen's Green, Dublin City Centre Park


Caroline Jordan is the heroine of The Body Politic : a murder mystery set in Dublin in 2010. The second in the series, The Body Count is due to be published in November 2021. 

She also appears in the short story CatNap, available for newsletter subscribers click the link to sign up and claim.




* Dublin / Irish slang - eejit (EEE jiht) is a foolish person. Jackeen is a Dubliner, believed to have its roots in Jacobite. 

*Irish Mammy - the Irish word for mother is MĆ”thair but the affectionate version is Mammy, from (mo MhammaĆ­ in Irish) There is also another use of the word Mammy in the USA, pertaining to a Black slave who was forced to act as a nursemaid to white children, The word in Irish has no connection to that usage, but out of respect for others, when writing on largely US groups or websites please use the shortened form "Mam" for Irish mothers. 


ALL photos in this post courtesy of Ceolnet Irish Design, photographer GMB: all rights reserved

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Friday 27 August 2021

Mael Bridge "A Brigit of Ireland Devotional" BOOK LAUNCH - I'll be reading #poetry at it #booklaunch #pagan #bridget #spirituality

 


“A Bridget of Ireland Devotional”

Join me at a FREE online Book Launch; a community celebration of Poetry and Devotional works

I will be reading poetry tomorrow night Saturday 28th 9pm Irish Time (1pm Pacific Time)

To celebrate the launch of Mael Bridge’s long awaited book, A Bridget of Ireland Devotional,”

You are welcome to join us on 28 August from 1:00-2:30 PM Pacific Time (starts 9:00 PM Irish Time) for poetry, prayer, & song. To receive a Zoom link on the day, you will need to register (see link below), or you can watch on Facebook Live on my Page, Brigit's Portal.

REGISTER to attend via Zoom. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sunamongstars/556582

BRIGIT'S PORTAL to watch on Facebook (live or later).

https://www.facebook.com/BrigitsPortal

I am very much looking forward to seeing how our joint celebration unfolds.

Brigit's blessings.


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Wednesday 25 August 2021

Caroline Jordan's #Dublin : Merrion Square, #LeintsterHouse #GovernmentBuildings #TheMerrionHotel and more

 




When she's not in her office in Christ Church, Caroline Jordan is usually to be found dealing with her political clients - first the late, unlamented Minister Fitzpatrick and now the leader of the Irish Government himself, An Taoiseach Michael T O'Mahony. This work takes her to a different part of Dublin City, the areas surrounding Leinster House, The Offices of An Taoiseach and Government buildings. 

This includes the beautiful Merrion Square, with its sculptures (notably the Oscar Wilde statue and The Victims) and the War Memorial, These are more than just works of art or tourist stop off points, these represent deeply felt emotions, and events that Dubliners still care about. The affection felt for Oscar is visible in the cheerful "howya's" of regulars to the statue as they walk past. There are few visitors unmoved by the unusual war memorial (that commemorates as much those lives lost in the cause of Peace Keeping with the UN, as those lost in war in the more aggressive sense.) 

One side of the Square runs opposite to the Entrance to Leinster House, the seat of the Irish Parliament known as The DĆ”il (pro. Doyle or Dawl) or  DĆ”il Ɖireann. As described in The Body Politic this was once a ducal palace, designed for the Duke of Leinster, acquired for the State and enlarged and modernised over the decades, although the centre part is still the original building. Caroline's original boss the Minister for Justice* operates out of The Department of Justice on St Stephen's Green but his basic paranoia meant he stayed closer to the seat of power whenever possible. When she starts working for the leader of the DĆ”il himself, Michael T O'Mahony* she finds herself working in the Offices of An Taoiseach. Taoiseach is the title of the Irish Premier and means Chief, or leader. The second in command is the Foreign Minister, An TĆ”naiste. The use of Irish terms for our parliamentarians is an important statement of cultural and political freedom; members of the house are called TeachtaĆ­ Daile or TDs **

Politicians like to do themselves well in terms of wining and dining and Irish ones are no exception. Luckily for them there are number of fabulous pubs and restaurants nearby. The best are The Merrion, and The Shelbourne, two landmark hotels in the city. Visiting dignitaries and celebrities stay in both, and afternoon tea in The Merrion is an institution among Dublin society. But for a sneaky pint, if they're not using the bar in the DĆ”il itself, you might well spot a politician (maybe in earnest conversation with our Caroline!) in Buswell's Hotel, itself a legend in the city. Doheny and Nesbitts on Baggott street is another old pub with a modern clientele, where advertising and PR execs rub shoulders with musicians and the occasional Hipster or tourist. Of course with their own bar and the Oireachtas* restaurant, it's hard to tempt the political animal out of its lair. 

When she can, Caroline will walk back towards the Grafton Street area, away from the rather rarefied air of the DƔil and into the heart of the best pubs and restaurants in Dublin 2. The Long Hall is her favourite, and many a huddled conference has been held there between her, Paula and Stephen, the trio that make up Jordan PR. She'll grab food in the excellent San Lorenzos or Green Hen restaurants, and coffee in any of the great coffee shops like Kaph on Drury Street. Her job brings her to every trendy restaurant and "must be seen here" venue but when she's with real friends, she wants real food and drink. Meet in Brooke's Hotel, enjoy a drink in their ultra comfortable lounge, and then wander from there to see what's open. Bar with No Name, while trendy has the virtue of having a great atmosphere, and the Stag's Head is another place to stop for a drink and a chat. (Caroline and the gang have been known to leave work early on a Tuesday to catch the Ukulele Tuesdays in the Stag's Head, but if anyone asks they were all working late!)

Being a Southsider, she rarely ventures Northside - the rivalry between both sides of the city runs deep! - but like all Dubs, she's convinced the worst bit of Dublin is better than the best bit of the rest of the country. Everyone outside Dublin is a Culchie, Irish slang for a country bumpkin. Her city, Dublin City, has it all.




* All names and indeed, personalities of politicians in TBP are fictional and bear no resemblance to anyone living or dead. Any such resemblance is coincidental. If anyone thinks they recognise themselves I'd keep quiet about it. It's probably not a compliment. 

** A Teachta DĆ”la ( /ĖŒtjɒxtə ĖˆdɔĖlə/ TYOKH-tə DAW-lə, Irish: [ĖŒtŹ²axt̪Ė É™ Ėˆd̪Ė aĖlĖ É™] ; plural TeachtaĆ­ DĆ”la)

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Saturday 21 August 2021

The final Stretch - when the end of the first draft is in sight! #writing #WritingCommunity #TheBodyCount #CrimeFiction #Mystery

 After days of frantic writing, a wonderful and miraculous thing has happened. All the messy plot points began to resolve themselves into a coherent narrative and in 6 chapters I've gone from flailing around to writing the end of the book. There's a chapter or three to go yet, but I know who the murderer is and I know why. I have two subplots to tie up. and a few loose ends will need to be sharply snipped but the end is in sight!


If I can pull this off in the next 7 days, I will actually be in position to start revising almost immediately. Ah yes, the joys of writing. You slave to get the words on the page and then ruthlessly slash and burn your way through them. How far do you trust your own voice over the received wisdom of editors? How much do you adjust to fit a genre, or do you forge ahead with your own, not quite fitting in vision?

That's all next week's problem. For now I'm just happy to say, I've entered the home stretch. See ye at the finish line!



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Saturday 14 August 2021

Bedside Manners ~ #Alzheimers and the #FamilyCarer a new #poemseries



Bedside Manners:Alzheimers and the Family Carer is a poem series exploring the relationship the Family Carer has with Alzheimer's - both the person for whom they care and the larger issue of the disease itself and how it affects every aspect of life.

The role of the carer is often interpreted by outsiders, framed in martyrdom or judged for any perceived heresy to the doctrine of self sacrifice. What carers find most difficult is often the refusal of others to acknowledge their loss, pain, frustration, stress and responsibility.

When we complain, the reaction is often one of denial - a rush to tell us how it's the disease, not the person or how privileged we are to be able to provide home care, how awful it would be if we were to put them in a home and so forth. Spoiler Alert - we KNOW it's the disease. Also we are the ones giving up our lives to care for the person, please don't tell us how it's a privilege.

These poems are based on personal experience and that of other family carers of loved ones with dementia.

They cover a range of experiences from heartbreak to hilarity, moments where we are lost and ones where we find profound meaning.

Each is accompanied on Insta by a fuller explanation, again directly taken from discussion with other family carers. Every poem is based on lived experience of caring for a relative, rather than professionals in the field, or advocacy groups.

BESIDE MANNERS is a series on twitter @gercelt with fuller exploration of each theme on Instagram @gercelt. If you want to add to anything said please do, 

Feel free to share (credit either Geraldine Moorkens Byrne or link to @gercelt) if you have writing to add (from personal experience only please) I'll happily link to it or you can guest post on Insta or Twitter. There is a hope that the full series may make a book to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research.


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New #Authors, New #Books to discover in August, all under $5

 

New titles and New Books to Discover in August




Pre-order USA Today Best Selling Author Molly Fitz's compilation of new authors, While the Cat's Away for only 99c! 
ALSO THE BODY POLITIC is only $1.99 on Amazon for AUGUST 







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Thursday 12 August 2021

Caroline Jordan's #Dublin: Christ Church, Winetavern Street, Dame Street,

 When you meet Caroline Jordan, in The Body Politic, you are thrown right into the deep end - she lives and works in a particular world, one of politicians, socialites, chic restaurants, and modernity, all grafted onto an ancient and enduring city. Dublin, Ireland to many people might conjure up some old world charm with pubs and historical buildings and shops boasting handwoven sweaters (or as we say in Ireland, jumpers or geansaĆ­.) But modern Dublin is a mix of old and new; a skyline that by law cannot rise above 60 metres (197 feet) and which is dominated as much by ancient spires and domes as new sharp-lined, chrome and glass boxes. A European city, with a vibrant muli-cultural feel, but with tradition and history on every street corner. 

The first part of Dublin we'll look at is the area in the city centre, on the south side of the River Liffey, where Jordan PR makes its home. The area is known as Christ Church, because it is home to the Viking era Cathedral  of the same name (now owned by the Church of Ireland.) It is bordered on one side by Dame Street, a long and historic boulevard home to Dublin Castle, the Olympia Theatre and a vast array of pubs, hotels, hostels, and restaurants. At one end of Dame Street, is Trinity College, and the bottom end of the city's famous shopping street, Grafton Street. At the other end, where our story is concerned, is the Cathedral, the well-known Drury's Hotel, and a group of new (for Dublin) office blocks and commercial buildings, which continue down the steep slope of Winetavern Street and onto the Quays. Incidentally, this includes the famous old pubs of The Brazen Head and O'Shea's Merchant Pub (known to generations of Dubliners as the Merchant O'Shea's.)

Caroline's office is a small unit in one of the buildings towards the top of the hill, near to Drury's Hotel and the Synod Hall side of Christ Church Cathedral.  It's an expensive enough area in which to rent space, but cheaper than the more exclusive areas such as Ballsbridge, Pembroke or Leeson Park. Jordan PR is just a fledgling company, and a modern office helps with the image. As Caroline's biggest client is a Government Minister, she would have liked to be closer to the the area around Merrion Square, but this is a good second, and handy for the myriad small events hosted in one or other of the vibrant pubs and clubs around Dame Street, Temple Bar, or Grafton Street. 

After work, Caroline and her friends/colleagues Paula Hughes and Stephen Walsh, might hit any number of cool and funky, or perhaps posh and fancy, places in the area. Gastro-Pubs, Restaurants, cafes, Dublin boasts a wonderful array of choice for any foodie. The greater Dame Street area alone has over 34 venues, with more again on the side streets, and in Temple Bar. Bison Bar and BBQ is a favourite with Jordan PR, as is the Vintage Cocktail Club. But when they want some comfort food they make the trek halfway down Dame St, turn right into Andrew's Lane, and find Red Torch Ginger. Many a client has been discussed (discreetly) while tackling the RTG menu.

Next time: Caroline's political life, Leinster House, The Offices of An Taoiseach and more




Winetavern St. In 1926, with P. Corvan Jewelers and Pawnbrokers Shop, on the left with a statue above holding the traditional balls symbol if the trade.














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Friday 30 July 2021

What Fresh Hell is this?#writing #crimefiction #fiction #irishwriting #irishdrimefiction #books #editing #marketingbooks

 So I used to think the main problem with writing novels was actually writing the damn thing. If I could get more disciplined, write more words, and generally do the adulting, then I will have a book. OK, obviously there would be pesky re-writes and editing but the most important thing would be accomplished. All I'd have to do then is send it to my publishers, a tiny micro publishing group, who would put it out into the world and the world, recognizing my genius*, would react in a suitably grateful manner.

But Independent publishing isn't that simple. I've published and edited poetry anthologies, and while there is a small audience for the same it's a loyal one. People who love poetry, love poetry books. They buy them, review them, and discuss them. There's an exponentially wider audience for novels, but they have a correspondingly wider choice in books. Genre fiction - in my case, crime fiction - is a popular and very well served category. It your book, like mine, isn't a Noir, with serial killers at large and women with tragic backstories dying in horrible ways, then it's dismissed by a lot of male readers. (Interestingly, of the men who have read it, the majority enjoyed it. It's a fun read. It's not going to haunt your sleeping hours but it will amuse your waking ones. Sometimes fun is what you need.) No matter how good your book is, standing out among the glut of choices is difficult. 

According to roughly half the gazillion emails in my inbox, the key to success as an author is building a mailing list of readers, each email promising to teach me how to do just that. There are offers to edit my book, promote my book, and in one rather bizarre case, make my book into a screenplay for the trifling fee of $10,000. Spoiler alert: if I had 10k to drop on vanity projects I'd spend it on yarn. YARN. 

There are some reliable steps on this murky and confusing road. The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLI) are the first stop for either self published or small imprint authors. From reviewing competitions and publishing tools to webinars on marketing the site is packed full of helpful services, and the Facebook Group is a lifesaver. Joining costs a small fee, but compared to what you'll waste trying to feel your way through all this unaided, it's well worth it. 

From there I learnt about how to offer content in order to attract the right people to my mailing list; how to recruit readers to preview my next book; how to utilize publishing services like print on demand, other than Amazon, I've been encouraged and helped, and while the learning curve has been steep, it's been productive.

But it all comes back to one thing; you need to get your hustle on. Create that content, or all the marketing seminars on the internet won't get you one single reader, one single sale of your book. At first I felt like it was an imposition; I'm the kind of author who hides in a corner and scribbles, so even online content making exposes little fragments of my soul in ways that make me uncomfortable.

But there are unexpected side effects to stretching oneself. Case in point: against my own inclinations, I took time away from writing Book 2 in the Caroline Jordan series. I wrote a short story, starring Caroline and some smaller characters from Book 1. Half way in, I had to admit I was enjoying myself and when I returned to writing the book, I had a deeper sense of the world I was writing and the characters. So my next projects will be approached in a less begrudging frame of mind, because I am now more open to the possible benefits.

Another piece of advice was to join Facebook groups and communities that like and read your genre. It sounds obvious, like a lot of good advice, but I had not realized just how useful it could be. A reader in one group pointed out an inconsistency in the text that had skipped past all eyes before his. I received criticism and praise in equal measures that have informed my writing of the sequel and made it a better book. Every plea for a review or advertisement of your book exposes you to criticism, and it can be daunting, but it will help you avoid mistakes in the next one.

I'm learning to talk to my readership in a different way. Now, they feel like collaborators rather than targets for a sale. There are things I can offer them, free content, fun rewards, rather than bothering them with unwanted marketing emails. Their feedback is as valuable as their cash and I feel as if they know they are valued and respond accordingly.

Still, despite my best efforts there are days that feel like I'm banging my head off a brick wall. Days go by and not a soul downloads the book. No one joins your mailing list. You send out content and it sinks. Anyone who tells you it's easy or you'll get thousands of subscribers in three easy steps, or promises you a best seller, is a liar. It's hard work, it takes time, you can't do it all at once, and you might never achieve your top goals. 

But it will help, and if you can approach marketing your book as a chance to learn, as an opportunity to say the things you want to say as an author, if your aim is quality rather than quantity or content for the sake of it, then you may well find it rewarding. And if you reach a few more readers who enjoy your work, then that's a bonus too. 

*for genius, read "adequacy" ;)

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Thursday 17 June 2021

Sending out #books to #readers and #bookshops is a great feeling!

 






Not gonna lie, one of my favourite things at the moment is the weekly posting of new orders out to readers. I'll never get over the thrill of seeing someone thought enough of my book to purchase it; I know how many books I browse, how carefully I choose, before buying a paperback and I appreciate the time my reader spends and the fact they are willing to take a chance on an unknown, new author. Even if they've read my poetry, it's still a leap of faith to invest in a paperback at twice or more the cost of the ebook (I keep the ebook price low because I hate to see ebooks priced at almost the same as a paperback that has to be printed and compiled and glued and shipped!)

So every book that I send out from here gets a postcard and bookmark, because I love you the best ;)

It actually looks a bit like summer out there now, and while the next project is the Audio book (for which I am madly excited) it's also time to push The Body Politic as a summer read. It's deliberately printed in larger print with short paragraphs to help visually impaired and dyslexic readers enjoy it, and a few readers have said they found it easy to read on beaches and while travelling! So if you know anyone looking for a summer book, one of our new print run is waiting for them.

In other news, I'm working on Book 2, and it's going well. 


I'm also working on a Remembrance Ceremony, for the many people I know planning to hold Covid-related Memorial Services, to compensate for the tiny funerals we have endured during the last 15 months. When I have it completed, I'm offering it free of charge to anyone who would like to use it. It can be adapted or I am happy to help adapt it, to individual needs. It's my calling, on Celebrating Words, to provide this service and I'm happy to offer it gratis for those who need it. 

Full details will be posted when it's up, but feel free to email me if you want .

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Friday 4 June 2021

The Body Politic is now available on Smashwords and Google Play Books #crimefiction #books #writing #ebook

 The Body Politic ebook is now available on Google Play Books and Smashwords, two great ways to read!



For Smashwords check out THE BODY POLITIC EBOOK $4.95


For Google Play Books check out THE BODY POLITIC EBOOK  €3.95/$4.95

Google Play Books offers a free sample before you buy, while Smashwords offers access to a wide range of formats from ebook to mobi. Choose whichever suits you and get reading ! 

You can also check out my Smashwords profile and Author interview HERE - if you need an insight into the messy corners of my mind!

As ever thanks for all the support, if you've already bought the book you can like the author page, review the book, recommend it to others... all these things really help.





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Wednesday 19 May 2021

 




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Friday 14 May 2021

Words, more words, and then a few more words #writing #crimefiction #books #writingstories #writinglife

 So here's what my writing life looks like.


I sit at the dining table, on an ancient laptop and throw words at an empty screen. It's a very public space; my ten and seven year old want snacks, help with homework, or to show their latest artistic masterpiece. 

My mother is 89, and would like to show me the latest cute dog video she has discovered on Facebook or Instagram. My 90 year old father wanders through; he thinks this is his workroom or that I am teaching from the table or that perhaps I am someone else entirely. Often the narrative of his imaginings takes over and an hour or so is lost to making sense of time and place. I am, largely, at everyone else's disposal. 
Eventually when people are fed, watered, praised, reassured, redirected and occasionally asked to refrain from treating their little brother like a puppy, I get to address that empty page again.


I sprawl words across it, sometimes in neat rows like soldiers - well trained and well disciplined - and sometimes in drunken lines like a rioting crowd. It's hard to impose order without breaking the magic of their connection. Often, I give up because neither discipline nor magic is winning. Then I start again, because I know I'm in a race between filling empty page and a fresh round of children, cat videos and confused parents. 


A paragraph is wrestled into shape and some pattern emerges. I think the cat videos may have found their way into it. Certainly some of the confusion has leaked in. With a sigh I re-write. It begins to read more like the story in my head, the characters a little less shadowy and a little more real. Less cat videos. Still some confusion.


I push on, because time enough to edit and rewrite and hone it but the story will be lost, thinned to wispy feathers and set aflight into the grimness of reality unless I keep writing, keep throwing words at an empty page filling it line by line and trying to remember that these people laugh, and chat and have lives. Have to keep the dining table and the noise and the markers and the mess and the need to make dinner and the no this is not the workroom, I'm your daughter, You're at home, that's your grandson out of the story. 

Try to remember what dinner out feels like and weekends away and banter with people who talk politics and books and suddenly it's a natural end to the chapter and I can say
I got something done, I made it through another part of it. 
The things I left out, the clumsy phrasing, the mistakes - but I got something done, a little more done.

And tomorrow, another empty page.

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Thursday 6 May 2021

The Body Politic....UPDATE May 2021 #crimewriting #fiction #irishwriters #crimefiction

 It's been a roller coaster !

Firstly my little book has been more successful than I dared dream, with solid sales and great reviews. I also learnt a lot from the process, made a lot of mistakes and have had to revise the manuscript to catch several mistakes (and deepest thanks to everyone who pointed out the errors, the kindness and constructive way in which readers did so made it easy to learn those lessons :) ) 

So The Body Politic is now out there, and holding its own. We launched it online and had a great night, and my website has signed copies with merch for sale, as well as it being available on Amazon, Kindle in both paperback and kindle ebook. 

If you ask for it at your local bookstore and they don't have it, ask them to order it (tell them there's excellent wholesale rates ;) ) 

author@celebratingwords.com will get me!

Now I'm hard at work on Book 2 - and it's already a better book for having been through this process. It's tighter, the plot is more original, the characters are established now and are becoming more and more real. It's still hard work, but there's a sense of having grown a lot, and of avoiding many pitfalls. 

If you bought it  and/or reviewed it, THANK YOU. If you haven't but you're going to, thank you too in advance!



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Wednesday 17 February 2021

Pre-order The Body Politic on KINDLE today! #crime #book #newbook #booklaunch #kindle #ebook #mystery #murder

 




(publication date February 28th)

Special Introductory price, especially for early bird buyers and supporters! Plus pre-orders are invited to the Virtual Book Launch in March 21 (contact editors@ppppublishing.com)

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THE BODY POLITIC (Caroline Jordan Book 1) Out February 28th #crime #crimewriting #newbook #booklaunch #books #writing

 


"Caroline has a dead minister of state, a new job to manage, a fledgling PR company to save - the last thing she needs are rumours of murder and a strange policeman dogging her steps. Can she outwit the murderer, save her company, impress her new VIP client and most importantly, survive? She's not sure but fueled by vodka, rage and steely determination, she's going to give it a good try!
When Minister Damien Fitzpatrick is found dead at his desk, everyone assumes it was natural causes. Caroline Jordan has spent 4 years keeping the Minister on track, hiding his volatile personality and building his public image as a good family man and serious politician. Now she's facing social Siberia and a serious setback for her PR firm. This is, she thinks, the worst thing that could happen.

Meanwhile DS Doyle is faced with the unwelcome news that Minister has been murdered and the prime suspects include the leader of the country, another Minister, several high ranking officials and Ireland's most brazen gangster turned property developer.

 When Caroline finds herself dragged into the mess, one thing becomes clear. She is going to fight to the bitter end for Jordan PR, her employees and her new VIP client. And if she can manage a romance with the gorgeous but elusive Rory Fitzpatrick at the same time, why not
!"


COMING FEB 28th 2021

Debut crime fiction from your favourite poet :) 

Available in Paperback or Kindle edition, and from select bookstores (also direct from the author)

Signed copies available

PLUS

Stay tuned for the book launch, date to be decided. Join Geraldine for a book reading, giveaways and fun, discussion and questions welcomed


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