Author: KellyF

Author of psychological thrillers and romantic suspense novels.

Now, listen here…

I’m not going to lie, the idea of audiobooks had never really appealed to me. What was the point? They couldn’t possibly give me the same satisfaction as reading a physical book, holding it in my hands, turning the pages, losing myself in the story. Then one day I received an email, a free thirty-day trial on Audible. I can never resist a freebie, so I gave it a go. The first book I downloaded was a disaster. It bored me. I couldn’t concentrate. I wasn’t enjoying the story. I hated the experience, even though everyone was raving about the novel, even though it was going to be made into a film! Every author’s dream. But I simply couldn’t get into it. I kept drifting off, thinking about other things, then losing the gist of the story when I eventually fell back into the loop. No, I said to my husband, it’s not for me. However, a few days later I decided to give it another try because you can exchange a book and pick another, and low and behold, I loved it!

I can now be found listening to books whilst I’m floating around the house with a fluffy duster, scrubbing the bathroom until it sparkles, or doing the loathsome ironing. It just makes all the household chores …. Okay, steady on, nothing will make housework enjoyable. But listening to books does make time fly.

So, I’m now an audiobook fan. Admittedly, I don’t enjoy them as much as reading but I like them and they do have their place. So, why the initial hatred? It was a combination of several things really. And now that I know my preferences I tend to choose wisely. The narrator is important. If I don’t like the voice, I can’t listen, even if the book is a bestseller, even if I love the author’s work. And, as with reading, the story and the voice of the author has to grab me from the onset, perhaps even more so with audiobooks, because you need to concentrate that little bit more and can easily be distracted.

I listen to audiobooks mostly when I’m doing household chores, or on a long walk. But friends have told me that they listen whilst they’re driving, during their commute, whilst they’re pounding away on the treadmill, knitting, cooking, gardening, or even doing a jigsaw puzzle. There definitely is a place for audiobooks in my life, and the bonus is that I can now have two or three books on the go – a paperback, a kindle and an audiobook. Happy days.

If you fancy having a go, Audible run a 30 day free trial offer and, listen to this (no pun), you get to keep the book you download during the trial period regardless of whether you keep your subscription or not. After 30 days you will have to pay the full price of £7.99 per month. I do enjoy being a member of Audible and they do have good offers at regular intervals, including some great free podcasts. I’ve listened to Derren Brown’s Boot Camp and Real Crime, so far.

Kindle Unlimited is also worth looking into. It offers 1000s of audiobooks as well as ebooks, and they’ve always got free offers going on.

If you don’t fancy a subscription, you can listen to books for free from your library. Ask them for a passcode and download the Libby app. Libraries have many fabulous audiobooks on offer. You get to listen for seven days. If you don’t finish within that time, you can borrow again, providing no one else is waiting for it. If you’re a member of Netgalley, or if you’d like to sign up, they offer reviewers audiobooks too.

You can listen to audiobooks on your phone, iPad, tablet, or computer. I usually listen on my iPhone or hook it up to Alexa. If you decide to give it a try, hope you enjoy!

The Cornish Connection by Amanda James

5* REVIEW

Nancy Cornish, a waitress in a Cornwall cafe, has a fascinating talent – she can see and talk to dead people and can object-read (delve into people’s past by holding an item that belongs to them.) Charlie, her DS husband, is dismissive of his wife’s psychic abilities. But then one day something extraordinary happens – she helps him solve a crime. Nancy quickly realises her vocation in life is to help people via her gift. So, to Charlie’s surprise and utter dismay, she hands in her notice at the local café and sets up as a PI – psychic investigator, working from her summerhouse in the garden.

The Cornish Connection by [Amanda James]

This novel delivered on all levels for me. I was looking for something different, something heartwarming yet exciting, and I found it right here.
Nancy, the narrator, hauled me in and kept me turning the pages eagerly. I thought the paranormal aspect of the story was beautifully executed. The characters are colourful and believable. The plot is mysterious and suspenseful, and the writing is excellent.

The Cornish Connection is an intriguing and beautifully composed tale, which held my attention from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a heartwarming read and bit of escapism, then this is the book for you. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

The Cornish Connection is available on kindle and in paperback from Amazon. And it’s on offer this week for just 99p!

Dear Sun…

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Dear Sun,

Well, I don’t know what to say to you anymore. You just drop by whenever you feel like it, raise my hopes, then go off to Spain, Greece, or wherever takes your fancy. And don’t get me started on Cyprus. It’s 35c over there today. Thirty-five! I mean, how could you? You spend all summer with them. Every year! I hardly ever see you.

Yes, I have tried self-tanning lotions but they’re all fake. FAKE, I tell you. What? Which incident with the sunbed? I don’t…oh, wait a minute. Ahem. That was ages ago, it meant absolutely nothing. I was desperate, wasn’t thinking straight. Yes, I know they can hurt you, thank you very much. Look, it was just a one-off, okay? I didn’t even enjoy it. I mean, you’re always letting me down, aren’t you? Promising to show up then sending all that gust and rain in your place. It’s too much to bear. I’ve had to go into therapy, you know. Me! Can you believe it? They’ve even put me on vitamin D supplements.

Of course, I know you’re worshipped worldwide, but what about us in poor old Blighty, hey? We’re your biggest fans, you know. Straight into our skimpy shorts and summer dresses at the mere sight of you, revealing our pale skin to the world. In fact, whenever you turn up we take to the socials proclaiming our joy of your arrival. What do you mean I complain when you’re here? I’ve never…oh, hang on. That’s only when you’re a bit full-on. You must admit, you can be a bit over-generous and muggy, can’t you? I mean 38c in London, it’s unthinkable. 40° last summer. We were melting. I could barely type, and you kept me up all night with all that heat. I mean, is a cool breeze at night too much to ask for? No, a fan won’t do, I can’t sleep with all that noise. Open all the windows? You really are being silly now. What if a bat or insects fly in and chew all my toes off while I’m asleep? What then, hmm?

Anyway, I’ve had enough of your excuses and quite enough of your downpours, to be honest. I don’t think I can cope with this anymore. I’m leaving you for a light lamp. No, don’t try to stop me! My mind’s made up. Yes, yes, I’ll see you around. Bye.

P.S. I love you.

To cut a long story short

I love short stories. In fact, I owe a lot to the short story market because it’s where it all started for me – writing short stories for magazines.

There’s something quite gratifying about a sharp, tight tale with a satisfying or clever ending. Sadly, short stories are not as widely read as novels, but they’re a lot more established than some people may think. Did you know that Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a film adaptation of Truman Capote’s 1958 novella? Or that Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 classic film, The Birds, was inspired by Daphne Du Maurier’s short story of the same name? And that Oscar Wilde, one of my favourite authors, mainly wrote plays and short stories? Yes, a lot can be said for the humble short story.

So what makes a short story good?

Producing fine, short literature requires great skill and tenacity. Unlike a novel, you’ve only got a few hundred, or a few thousand words to create a strong, believable plot with convincing characters and a fulfilling conclusion. Your aim is to engage readers within the first sentence, keep them connected throughout the story, and not let them down in the last paragraph with a poor or foreseeable ending. Most of the stories I write have a twist or surprise ending, simply because that’s what I like to read and what I enjoy writing, but not all short stories need to be twisty. Stories can be funny, poignant, moving, romantic, inspirational or chilling. They must hook the reader from the get-go, keep them engrossed or entertained throughout, and deliver a satisfying ending.

person holding black and orange typewriter

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Is it true that writing a short story can be harder than writing a novel?

Some authors, even bestselling novelist, have confessed that they find it harder to write a short story than a novel, some have even said they hate writing them. I must admit, writing a short story can be a bit tricky, mainly because of the limited word count, but I don’t think they’re harder to write than novels. The hardest part for me was coming up with original and fresh ideas. However, once you get into the flow, ideas fly into your mind. You can be inspired by so many things – a comment someone makes, a newspaper article you’ve read, an overhead conversation, something you see on television, or on the internet. There’s lots of good material out there! Both for short stories and novels!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Why do so some novelists start with writing short stories?

Many authors, including myself, start their careers as short story writers before embarking on anything longer. I think this is because a short story is less daunting and doesn’t take as long to write, so results and gratification can be quick, and it’s a good way to break into the industry.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Tips on writing short stories

If you like the idea of writing short stories, my advice would be to join a writer’s group. I did and I found their and support and critiques invaluable. There are many online groups if you can’t find a local one. Another idea would be to take a short story course to learn the ropes. A qualified teacher will show you how to construct a story and how to approach magazine editors. They will also offer critique and feedback on anything you submit during the course. I’m a big fan of self-help books and tutorials. I bought several ‘how to’ manuals when I first started writing. One that I highly recommend is The Creative Student’s Handbook by Margaret James and Cathie Hartigan.

ben-white-178537-unsplash(1)

My short stories

A few years ago I published my own collection of short stories, To Tell A Tale Or Two.… It started off as 10 but has slowly progressed to 16. What can I say, I’m generous. To my utter astonishment and delight, it reached number 2 in the literary short stories chart on Amazon, and has received some very good reviews. The great new is that it now includes the first five chapters of my second novel, No Way Back, the first in the Audrey Fox series and prequel to Her Secret, both published by Urbane Publications. So, if you fancy a taster, download it now. It’s only £1.99p on kindle and free on kindle unlimited.

And finally….

The joy of the short story is that it can be read and absorbed quickly. These ten-minute morsels can be a perfect friend for busy people who are pressed for time, or for people, like me, who sometimes enjoy a tale or two.

Smoothies

When I first started making smoothies, my husband would often pad into the kitchen, coffee cup in hand, and taunt me. ‘What’s in it this time?’ he’d say, peering over my shoulder. ‘Eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat?’ I must admit, it was a bit of a hit and miss in the early days and I did create a couple of unsavoury blends. However, I’ve become quite a connoisseur over the last few years and can now produce some great tasting, healthy drinks. Okay, I know that some people can’t bear the thought of drinking anything that’s green but I also believe in the saying, ‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.’ It’s necking one of these lovely concoctions every morning that fuels me with energy and sets me up for the day.

So, what’s in these drinks that are turning me into superwoman? (Okay, that’s a lie, a slight exaggeration). Well, it largely depends on my plans. If I’m going for a run or need extra energy then I’ll drink 300ml of a berrie, banana and flaxseed smoothie, on other days I opt for a green one with kale, spinach or broccoli. One of these drinks provides a host of nutrients and fibre, which I probably wouldn’t get from scoffing a buttery croissant or an iced bun for breakfast, though I’d love to, of course. And I don’t know what it is, but as soon as I drink one I feel almost instantly rejuvenated and bustle around the house with a spring in my step. It’s probably because I know I’ve consumed something healthy and nutritious.

clear glass bottle filled with broccoli shake

Photo by Alisha Mishra on Pexels.com

Speaking of nutrition, a smoothie will provide:

Vitamins (a host plus lots of C which is excellent for iron absorption and boosts immune).
Minerals (bananas are high in potassium, an electrolyte which is good for muscle cramps and helps regulate blood pressure).
Fibre (keeps your gut in tip-top condition).
Phytonutrients (plant compounds, many of which are said to act as antioxidants).
Hydration (from coconut water and filtered water to dilute).

I usually drink a smoothie for breakfast and store the rest in the fridge for the next day but sometimes, if I’m in a hurry or if I’m on a diet (almost always) I’ll have the rest for lunch! You don’t need an expensive smoothie maker to create your blends of magic (although you can if you want to!) I use a simple and inexpensive Breville and it produces gorgeous results.

Here’s one I made earlier…..

So, what do I get out of drinking smoothies?

Bags of energy
Fewer colds, or at least I’ve dealt with them swiftly and with a lot more control
Brighter skin
Shinier hair
Improved digestion – all that fibre!
An easy way to add healthy seeds to my diet (you can also add protein)
Weight loss
One of my five-a-day (only one 150ml glass counts)

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

With regards to getting one of your five-a-day, the government’s advice is that only one 150ml glass will count towards one of your five-a-day, so you can’t just plonk five fruits and veggies into a glass and be done with it. This is because of the sugars that are released when they hit the blade! This said, smoothies do have the advantage over other sugary drinks in that they provide you with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. Whilst I’m not suggesting for one moment that you exceed the recommended consumption, personally, if it’s a choice between a glass of fizzy drink or another smoothie, I’d go for the smoothie! Unless it’s champagne!

Smooth Operator (20 delicious and nutritious smoothie recipes) is available to download from Amazon, and it’s currently in the kindle countdown half price sale. Grab it for 99p!