Tag Archives: Authors

Grand Opening of the BookStop Cafe Lincoln ~ 4th May 2013

Posted on May 7, 2013 | 50 comments

Huge congratulations to Joff Gainey and Becky Lindley on fulfilling a
life- long dream!

This past Saturday, 4th May 2013, they opened the BookStop Cafe Lincoln. The idea is brilliant: a book shop that supports independent and local authors where you can sit and drink a fabulous cup of coffee and have some cake. Or, to stand the idea on its head: a coffee shop where you can sit leisurely and drink a fabulous cup of coffee… whilst also perusing, and purchasing if you so wish, some of today’s best fiction as brought to you by the local and independent authors that Joff stocks. AWESOME!

It was my great pleasure to be present for the Grand Opening and here are some photos for you to share in the excitement.

Cut, cut, cut that ribbon, Joff and Becky!

Cut, cut, cut that ribbon, Joff and Becky!

Done! The BookStop Cafe is open. And the sun's come out and the bells are ringing. Amazing!

Done! The BookStop Cafe is open. And the sun’s come out and the bells are ringing. Amazing!

We are all terribly excited about this! With Lizzie Lamb and June Kearns

We are all terribly excited about this! With Lizzie Lamb and June Kearns

Proud coffee shop owner Joff and local author~Me!

Proud coffee shop owner Joff and local author~Me!

TWO proud owners ~ Joff and Becky. Photo courtesy of Lizzie Lamb with thanks.

TWO proud owners ~ Joff and Becky. Photo courtesy of Lizzie Lamb, with thanks.

Cakes. Did I mention you can get fabulous cake here? Photo courtesy of Lizzie Lamb, with thanks.

Cakes. Did I mention you can get fabulous cake here? Photo courtesy of Lizzie Lamb, with thanks.

Woohoo! I am ON THE SHELF!

Woohoo! I am ON THE SHELF!

The BookStop Cafe is doing its magic! And I'm doing a quick signing. :-)

The BookStop Cafe is doing its magic! And I’m doing a quick signing. 🙂

Happy BookStop Cafe customers! They had cake, they found a book, they got it signed... Everybody's smiling. What a result!

Happy BookStop Cafe customers! They had cake, they found a book, they got it signed… Everybody’s smiling. What a result!

Huge congratulations again to Joff and Becky and wishing you every success. Rock on!

Find the BookStop Cafe here:

47b Steep Hill, Lincoln

Or, if you can’t get there, find it on TWITTER. Or visit Joff’s WEBSITE.

SEE YOU THERE SOMETIME!

50 Comments

Posted in Miscellaneous

Tagged , , , , , ,

Merry Christmas! Music Monday proudly presents: Rocking Around the Christmas Tree! And: SSP’s Merry Jubilee

Posted on December 25, 2012 | 2 comments

Happy Christmas!

It’s Music Monday… a day late in honour of Christmas!!!
PLUS: an AWESOME Sapphire Star Publishing
festive sale and give-away!!
NewMusicMondayLogo

 

Well… it’s definitely the season to be jolly, so I’m offering today one of my all-time favourite festive tunes. It’s got the word ‘rocking’ in the title… It’s got to be a good one, right? I hope you get into the spirit but wait… before you get dancing, I just wanted to say a big Thank You for all your support across 2012; for your comments and tweets and shares, for your time and interest in my ramblings on this very blog, and for your patience.

 

Blogging wouldn’t be any fun without you ~ And I look forward to many more fabulous posts with your input during 2013!

 

And now it’s time to dance… but don’t forget to read on for the SALE and GIVEAWAY news!

 

 

If this video clip won’t play in your country… try this link instead. 🙂

 
 

SSP’s Merry Jubilee
From Christmas to New Year’s, we’re celebrating YOU with $0.99 books and a chance to win an iPad 2!
 
Stuff your stocking with some of Sapphire Star’s hottest books for just $0.99… Plus, DON’T miss your chance at winning an iPad 2, details below (Rafflecopter)
christmas tree
 
The Mistaken by Nancy S. Thompson
Carter’s Treasure by Amy Gregory
When We Collide by A.L. Jackson
The Restaurant @ The Mill by Linn B. Halton
Sophie’s Turn by Nicky Wells
Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot
Dangerous Embrace by Dana Mason
The Quintessential Gemini by Linn B. Halton
Murder In Silence by Gary Kassay

 
 

And here’s your chance
to win that iPad:

Contest runs through Rafflecopter with entries for:

~Tweeting or FB sharing which SSP book they picked up for $0.99, shared from their Amazon page. 10 points

~Share SSP’s Merry Jubilee post on Facebook 5 points

~Post list of books on blog 5 points

~Like SSP on FB 2 points

~Tweet about the giveaway 2 points

~Share the funniest gift you’ve ever received on SSP FB page 1 point

~Share your New Year’s resolution on the SSP FB page 1 point

Simply follow this link:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a safe, happy and prosperous 2013 ~ Rock on!

Official Giveaway Rules:
Giveaway Prize:  One (1) Apple® – iPad® 2 with Wi-Fi – 16 GB – White. No purchase necessary. This contest is void where prohibited by law. Entrants must follow Rafflecopter instructions. One (1) winner will be picked via Rafflecopter and will be notified by email within three days of end of contest. If a winner is unreachable after seven (7) days, or if that winner is unavailable for prize fulfillment, an alternate winner will be selected.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the contest commissioners, which are final on all matters pertaining to the contest. Entrants grant to Sapphire Star Publishing the right to use and publish their name online. All results posted are unofficial until winner responds to e-mail notification. Contest ends on January 2, 2013 at 12:00 a.m. PST.

2 Comments

Posted in Miscellaneous, Music Monday

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

My Romantic Novelists’ Association Party Debut

Posted on November 23, 2012 | 9 comments

“The life of a romantic novelists appears to be one ongoing party.” Or so a friend commented when I confessed I was off to my winter ‘works do’ in London last Wednesday. (Yes, I mean the Romantic Novelists’ Association Winter Party held at the IMECE in London on 21 November 2012!!)

“We have our moments,” I replied. Swallowing thoughts of long hours spent chained to my desk, typing away in my cold office, battling my way through edits and proofs, concepts, first drafts, second drafts, hundred-and-thirteenth drafts and so on. Of course, battling is an overstatement but… you know what I mean!

Anyway, a writer’s life can be lonely and overwhelming so occasions like the RNA Winter Party are merely a just equalizer, a chance to meet friends and let your hair down. Too right!

Here are a few photos of my debut RNA outing!

Glamming up and getting in the mood ~ with Mandy Baggot and Sheryl Browne!

Oh, looking a bit whited-out. Try again (said the photo-taker) and go in the middle, Nicky.

Happy to oblige! (With Anna Bell, Jan Bridgen and Mandy Baggot but having lost Sue Fortin somehow!)

Apparently, authors say ‘Whiskey’, not cheese. See, I learned something!

Meet the crew: Mandy, Sue and Sheryl!

Circle of pain. Whose feet hurt the most? Whose shoes are the worst torture instruments? I reckon mine, but Mandy did go barefoot for longest. Clockwise from 12 o’clock: Sue Fortin, Jan Bridgen, Mandy Baggot, myself and Sheryl Browne.

Ok, ladies, you can take them off now…

Mandy: “Where’s my phone?”
Sheryl: “Where are my keys?”
Mandy: “Are you hungry?”
Nicky (from the sideline): “We are taking a taxi, right?”
Sheryl: “Shall we get some dinner?”
Mandy: “I’m not walking.”
Sheryl: “Is it time go go?”
Mandy: “Where’s my phone?”
(We took a taxi back to the hotel, and we had a lovely snack-cum-dinner in the bar until almost midnight, and no more walking was done!)

The company was excellent. The canapes were delicious. Conversation sparkled. Time flew by. Until next time, my friends!

9 Comments

Posted in Miscellaneous

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,