Tag Archives: Countdown to Sophie’s Run

Open Your Heart

Posted on February 4, 2013 | 15 comments

It’s Music Monday!

And it’s launch week for Sophie’s Run, whoohooo! In keeping with my rock theme during the countdown to Sophie’s Run, I’m bringing you another one of my favourites. However, today I’m keeping it a little mellow ~ giving myself, and you, a little breather before the madness of Wednesday and Thursday. This is one of my favourite ballads and it is quite fitting for Dan and Sophie’s circumstances at the end of Sophie’s Turn.

Have a sit back, enjoy and… get ready for the rest of the week!

Now I’ve seen Europe many times… but actually meeting the band is still on my bucket list!

Who would you like meet backstage?

15 Comments

Posted in Music Monday

Tagged Countdown to Sophie's Run, Europe, Music Monday, Open Your Heart, Rock Ballad, Rock Band

Come on Tour with Sophie and Dan! ~ Sophie’s Run Blog Tour

Posted on February 1, 2013 | 28 comments

Can it really be time for another blog tour already? My second masterpiece, Sophie’s Run, launches next week on 7 February, and I have the blog tour all sorted out. Well, you know me. I’m organized like that. And I like to party!

As before, I am going to stop at lots of blogs; nearly sixty, in fact. The tour includes many of my blogger friends old and new, and a fabulous cast of book bloggers from Reading Addiction Blog Tours, kindly organized for me by my lovely publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing. There is a tremendous diversity here and I am truly excited to embark on this journey… and to take you with me.

Blog Tour with a Difference

Speaking of: this blog tour really is a journey in more ways than one, and this makes it quite different from my previous tours. In addition to the traditional-style fun interviews and interesting guest posts, there is also a theme that connects many of the features.

Sophie and Dan would like to take you on a tour of geographic and culinary discovery, showing you many of the places they have visited and sharing recipes for their favourite meals. Are you ready to go on tour with my hero and heroine?

Photo Credits: See Below

But first things first: Thank You!

As always, I want to give due credit and say Thank You to all these amazing bloggers and fellow authors who are giving up their time and making space on their blogs to help me shout about Sophie’s Run. There are some new faces in the roll call, and I am so thrilled to have met you and enticed you onto this journey. And there are plenty of familiar faces who haven’t tired of undertaking my publication journey with me, coming along for a second and, in some cases, even a third time. I hope you know how much your support means to me. Whether new friend or long-standing best mate, I couldn’t do this without you. Thank You.

Sophie’s Run Launch Tour 2013
Come On Tour with Sophie and Dan!

Stops and features are subject to change. Links may not function until the date a post is scheduled. *Asterisked stops have been scheduled by Reading Addiction Blog Tours on behalf of Sapphire Star Publishing: Thank You!

07 February 2013 Romance that Rocks Your World Launch Party, Rock Star Style

07 February 2013 AL Jackson Someday! Launching Sophie’s Run

07 February 2013 Loveahappyending.com Same procedure as last time, Miss Sophie?

07 February 2013 The Romaniacs Necessity is the mother of invention

07 February 2013 We Do Write Interview

*07 February 2013 Reading Addiction Blog Tours Meet and Greet

08 February 2013 Bookreview by Rea Berlin

*09 February 2013 Andi’s Book Reviews Review/Interview

10 February 2013 Jera’s Jamboree Paris and Review

11 February 2013 Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog Lazy Surf’n’Turf and Review

*11 February 2013 Beth Art From the Heart Review

*12 February 2013 The Boyfriend Bookmark blog Review

13 February 2013 Eve’s Chick Lit Reviews Seaside

*13 February 2013 What’s On the Bookshelf? Review/Guest Post

15 February 2013 Love Reading Love Books Hamburg

17 February 2013 Forget the Housework Rock Star Lobster Ravioli

*18 February 2013 Author Ever Leigh Review

*19 February 2013 Stephanie Keyes Lobster

*19 February 2013 The Adventures Within Review/Guest Post

20 February 2013 The View Outside Drunken Prawn Pasta

*20 February 2013 My Reading Addiction Review

22 February 2013 The Book Chick London

*22 February 2013 Queen of All She Reads Review/Guest Post

*23 February 2013 Cocktails and Books Review and Guest Post

24 February 2013 Me My Books and I Rock Star Scallops and Pancetta

*24 February 2013 Dee’s Book Blog Giveaway

25 February 2013 Mandy Baggot New York

*26 February 2013 Me and Reading Review/Guest Post

*27 February 2013 Kaisy Daisy’s Corner Review

01 March 2013 Patricia Sands Highlands

*01 March 2013 Cozie Corner Review

*02 March 2013 Jersey Girl Book Reviews Review/Interview

03 March 2013 Jo Lambert – Writer Tea and Talk at Sally Lunns

*03 March 2013 Let’s Get Booked Review/Guest Post

04 March 2013 Kim The Bookworm Come into my kitchen…

*04 March 2013 Solitary Bookworm Book Highlight

*05 March 2013 Muse Unleashed Review

*07 March 2013 Reading Addiction Blogtours Review Wrap Up
(psst: average rating of 4.7!!!!!)

08 March 2013 Today I’m Reading Newquay

09 March 2013 Words from Anneli Paella

18 March 2013 Fascinating Books Langeoog

22 March 2013 Celtic Connexions Edinburgh

24 March 2013 Janice Horton Author showcase and give-away

25 March 2013 Chick Lit Central Review and give-away

26 March 2013 Sheryl Browne Munich

28 March 2013 My Life. One Story at a Time. Brussels

31 March 2013 Chick Lit and Wine Mussels

01 April 2013 Bonnie Trachtenberg Stockholm

04 April 2013 Jen Tucker Pizza

05 April 2013 Books 4U Tooting (London)

08 April 2013 Chick Lit Plus Cheesy Fondue and Review

10 April 2013 Amy Gregory Lasagna

12 April 2013 My Seryniti Canada

14 April 2013 Hello, You Dan’s Take on Travelling

15 April 2013 Chick Lit Club Connect (blog) When (my) life imitates (my) art: confessions of the eternal rock chick

17 April 2013 Brook Cottage Books Grünkohl mit Pinkel (sort of) and review

19 April 2013 Jennifer M Eaton Nicky meets The Little Blue Lady from Mars

What do you say? Are you coming?

You’ll get to see a lot of places
and you certainly won’t be bored, or hungry.

And lest I forget: Most stops will offer a GIVEAWAY as well, so it’s well worth stopping by.

Rock on! 🙂

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

Photo Credits

Food photos are my own. All others as attributed:

(1) By Vwpolonia75 (Jens K. Müller, Hamburg) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(2) By Lee Kindness [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(3) By Daniel Schwen (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(4) By Stefan Krude (Stefan_Krude) (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
(5) By User:Huebi (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(6) Source: By Joseph Plotz (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(7) By Rnt20 at en.wikipedia. Later version(s) were uploaded by Ian Dunster at en.wikipedia. (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
(8) By Derek Harper [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(9) By Benh LIEU SONG (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(10) By Taken by Shmuel Spiegelman using a Canon 10D. (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
(11) By Oke (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

28 Comments

Posted in Rock Star Romance, Part 2: Sophie's Run, Sapphire Star Publishing Book Launch

Tagged Blog Tour, Cities, Come On Tour, Countdown to Sophie's Run, Food, Sophie's Run, Travel

Reason to Live

Posted on January 28, 2013 | 10 comments

It’s Music Monday!

Hello, you! I’m still counting down the Mondays until the release of Sophie’s Run with a series of classic rock songs.

Today’s song… well, let’s just say that watching the video reminds me of what I imagined Tuscq to be like at the beginning of their fictional career, back in the 1980s. Awesome!

And the song is appropriate in more ways than one. LOVE the title, love the chorus, love the emotion. And the riffs. So I give you: KISS!

What’s your reason?

10 Comments

Posted in Music Monday

Tagged Classic Rock, Countdown to Sophie's Run, KISS, Music Monday, Reason To Live, Rock Band

Unveiling the Sophie’s Run Launch Extravaganza

Posted on January 25, 2013 | 53 comments

The day is drawing near…yes, Sophie’s Run is nearly here!
Twelve days and counting!

You know me. I like to party. You do know that by now, right?
So I have a bit of an extravaganza planned.
Are you ready?

Preview-Launch!
The Sophie’s Run RADIO Party,
6 FEBRUARY

The wonderful, one-and-only Alex Lewczuk over at Siren FM has very kindly agreed to dedicate the Wednesday Midweek Drive slot to celebrating the launch of Sophie’s Run.

Isn’t it simply awesome?
We will be Live on Air from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. GMT and
YOU CAN LISTEN LIVE no matter where you are!
You can find Siren at 107.3 FM and ONLINE! Tune in for:

~Readings from Sophie’s Run
~Chat with some Very Special Guests indeed
~Rock music, and non-rock music. Of course!
~A fab give-away (more below)

SPECIAL GUESTS
Well, what would a party be without guests?
Proudly presenting my phone-in guests:

THE HUSH ROCK BAND
We’ll be chatting with lead singer Jazmine and guitarist Lee!

THE_HUSH_at_El_Rey_Theater_Los_Angeles_2010

Photo Courtesy of THE HUSH, with thanks. 🙂

NICK ELLIOTT

Photo Courtesy of Nick Elliott Press Office: Thank You!

Renowned Rock Photographer Nick Elliott will be joining us on the phone to chat about his work and The Magic of Rock!
Find out more about Nick at from his Press Office Page on Facebook, on his official Press Office Blog, or follow him on Twitter.

SAPPHIRE STAR PUBLISHING
Of course Katie Henson and Amy Lichtenhan would be there. What would a launch party be without my lovely publishers?

KIM THE BOOKWORM
Reviewer and book blogger extraordinaire, Kim Nash, will offer her perspective on the Rock Star Romance books.

Also joining us telephonically will be Cameron Tilbury, CEO of MapleStar Music and Media, Phil Leirness, and Michele Monro, among others. What a line-up!

~~~

STUDIO GUESTS
Naturally, there will be a live, real-person party going on, too. In studio celebrating with me will be:

~Alex Lewczuk
~Ed Wellman
~Katie Grimason
~Nichola Clancy
~Natasha Turney
~Karen Waring
~my lovely husband
~and drop-in surprise guests (possibly)

**ON AIR GIVE-AWAY*

One Signed Copy of Sophie’s Run up for grabs!!!
Don’t miss your chance to win a signed copy of Sophie’s Run.

Simply tune in and share your thoughts on the show while we’re live on air, and your name will be entered in the draw.
Here’s what to do:
Post a comment to Siren FM’s Facebook page or on your own timeline tagging Siren FM, or tweet the show at @sirenfm and you’re in with a chance to win. Good luck, and happy listening!

Book Signings

Yes! Readers came! My first visitor arrived at just a few minutes after 10 a.m. Witness: my first author signature in a newly-purchased reader's copy of Sophie's Turn. Awesome feeling!

Okay, I admit it… Here’s one I took earlier! But you get the idea…

PREVIEW SIGNING
Siren Studios, Lincoln, 6 February, 7 p.m. onwards
Music, drinks and nibbles (subject to permission)

LAUNCH DAY SIGNING
Welton Library, 7 February, 10 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Tea, coffee and biscuits (music pending permission ~ it is a library!)

Virtual Parties

Join me right here on my blog and on Facebook for a
virtual all-day party zone!

Do you reckon I’ve got enough partying planned?

Now tell me: what songs should I put on the playlist?
#ThinkRock

53 Comments

Posted in Rock Star Romance, Part 2: Sophie's Run, Sapphire Star Publishing Book Launch

Tagged book launch, Countdown to Sophie's Run, Kim Nash, Launch party, Nick Elliott, Radio, Rock Photographer, Rock Stars, Sapphire Star Publishing, Siren FM, Sophie's Run, THE HUSH

Rock of Ages

Posted on January 21, 2013 | 4 comments

It’s Music Monday!

Happy Monday! Hope you’re coping with the snow or whatever weather is confronting you today. Keep it hot and snug with another highly appropriate rocking selection in the run up to the lauch of Sophie’s Run.

Oh yes… Still rocking… and not about to stop! Long live rock’n’roll.

What’s your favourite rocking-forever track?

4 Comments

Posted in Music Monday

Tagged Countdown to Sophie's Run, Def Leppard, Long Live Rock'nRoll, Music Monday, Rock of Ages

Enter Sandman

Posted on January 14, 2013 | 12 comments

It’s Music Monday!

Last week, I promised you a series of classic rock song posts to mark the countdown to the launch of Sophie’s Run on 7 Feb. You know I keep my promises! Today, I have a rocking choice for you. Talk about one of the greatest opening riffs of all times! (Well, it’s in my top 10 at least).

Dum-dumm-dum-dum-duuuummmm-dum-dumm-dum-dum-duuuuuuum…. *Plays air guitar* Oh yes, I can see Darren and Dan play something like this (of their own, of course!) live on stage with Tuscq. Rock on, and enjoy.

What’s your favourite rock song opening? Or you could share your fave book opening line ~ I’m intrigued!

12 Comments

Posted in Music Monday

Tagged Countdown to Sophie's Run, Enter Sandman, Greatest Guitar Riffs, Metallica, Music Monday, Rock Bands, Sophie's Run, Tuscq

The Run-Up to Sophie’s Run

Posted on January 11, 2013 | 13 comments

I declare the manic season open!

Oh yes, this is going to be my four weeks of madness ahead of the launch of Sophie’s Run, and I am very excited about it all. Here’s a little sneak peek at what will be happening, and I’ll bring you posts with updates as I go along, of course.

First of all, let me remind you what Book 2 is all about; here’s the blurb:

Sophie’s Run

Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…

Who says that the road towards true love is straight and even? Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.

So she has finally found the man of her dreams! Well… she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet. But she misses her opportunity, and then her life goes crazy. Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful. A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Then, just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal.

Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change. Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey eventually gets her life back on track.

Where is Sophie’s Run now?

Right at this very moment, Sophie’s Run is at the printer. Squeee! I’m hoping to get my trembling fingers on paper back copies of my second book in the next two to three weeks, and you’ll be the first to know when they get here!

In addition, the book is also being formatted for e-publishing in all the various formats so we will be all singing-and-dancing on pub day. (Pub day being 7 February 2013, in case I hadn’t mentioned the date lately).

What kind of launch party will there be for Sophie’s Run?

A fabulous one, to put it simply! Plans are afoot to launch this baby live on air over at Siren 107.3 FM with Alex Lewczuk and various Special Guests on the eve of publication, 6 February, from 5pm to 7pm. Let me hear you say, Hell Yeah! More details to follow when I have the line-up complete.

In addition, I’ll also be hosting a lightning-signing event at Welton library at 10 a.m. on 7 February, so if you’re in the area, drop by! You can visit my blog all through the day of 7 February to take part in the party. And if that’s not enough, I’ll also be hosting a Facebook party so that absolutely everybody can take part!

Will you be taking Sophie’s Run on tour?

Why, of course! And, more importantly, I’ll be taking YOU with me ~ on a tour of geographic and culinary discovery, just like a rock star. The schedule is nearly finalized, 90 per cent of the blog posts have been written, and I will post more details right here on this blog very soon, watch this space.

And of course, while I’m getting this all organized, I also have a duty to Sophie and Dan to finish their story, so I’m typing away at Book 3, Sophie’s Encore. #norestforthewicked, right? It’s gonna be awesome!

Will you join me on tour? Are you ready to party?

13 Comments

Posted in Progress Updates, Rock Star Romance, Part 2: Sophie's Run

Tagged Blog Tour, Countdown to Sophie's Run, Publication, rock star, Romance, Sapphire Star Publishing, Siren FM, Sophie's Run

Here I Go Again

Posted on January 7, 2013 | 21 comments

It’s Music Monday!

And it’s exactly one month to the date of the release of Sophie’s Run!! Whoooop ~ how excited am I? So to honour my rock star additcion and to get YOU in the mood for my second book, I will be posting some of my most favorite rock songs over the next four weeks.

This one is a classic. Enough said!