Events

Come and join me for this fantastic event, where you can get to meet and interact with lots of local authors, as we take part in different discussion panels around all things books.

I will be hosting one of the panels where I ask four writers how they would reimagine a classic story by setting it in Wrexham itself. Trust me when I say this is not to be missed!

I will also be a panellist discussing the book from my childhood which may (or may not) have influenced me in my writing. Can you guess what that novel might be?

This is a FREE event, so you have no excuses. Grab your ticket from Wrexham Library and come and join us for a fun packed day.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

North Wales writers – authors, poets, songwriters, bloggers and journalists – take part in some fabulous panels. These free sessions run between 11.00 and 12.30, and then from 1.30 until 3.00pm. Morning sessions – imagine literature classics but set in Wrexham; think of great writing that’s played an important part in people’s wellbeing; and the stories that inspired our writers when they were young. Afternoon sessions – an insight into the world of comics and graphic novels; the best verses in the world; and the world’s favourite Western novels and their enduring legacy. All this plus Open Mic readings and music, as well as a Marketplace where you can browse the books written by so much of our local talent.

For more info on who else is on, please visit:
https://wrexhamcarnivalofwords.com/

My first author signing since the pandemic and I am super excited!

Tales on Trent is a multi genre event, and I will be there selling my books, meeting new readers, and making new friends. I can’t wait to see you there!

The event is being held at The Best Western City Centre Hotel, Stoke, ST1 5NB

Tickets are on sale now from the link below:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/talesontrent/526298/

My pre-order is open until midnight on Friday 22nd April 2022, with all books ordered to be collected at the event. Don’t miss out on these pre-order only prices:
https://forms.gle/XKn7xx1gWn4S1Hss7

Hope to see you in Stoke on 14 May xx

This year, I am absolutely over the (full) moon to announce that I am a finalist for the 2020 Golden Stake Literary Award, an annual award for the very best in vampire fiction. It is part of the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival (IVFAF), an event which takes place in Transylvania every Halloween, bringing together vampire media-makers from across the world.

Also known as #vampfest, the IVFAF was established in 2016 with the aim of bringing together vampire creatives from the genres of film, literature, academia and performing arts, hosting a fusion of these art forms in the magnificent setting of Sighisoara’s medieval citadel in the heart of Transylvania (pictured above). The festival has been listed as one of the top 100 festivals in the world for four years running and been the catalyst for a number of creative collaborations.

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event will be run as a virtual event, broadcasting live and (un)dead from midday (Transylvanian time) on Friday 30th October, to the breaking of the dawn at Hallowe’en.

The online festival will include streaming of feature and short films nominated for the 2020 Golden Stake Awards, along with winners from the previous four years. Authors with nominated books (yours truly included), along with previous award winners, will conduct on-line readings. There will also be pre-recorded interviews and live Q&As with leading creatives in the vampire genre as part of the Vampire Creative Congress. The Vampire Academic Conference will hear and discuss the latest and best in-depth academic research on everything vampire via video conferencing. Finally, the 2020 Golden Stake Award Ceremony will be broadcast live – and you can be there too!

As the organisers say, “As darkness falls and Hallowe’en approaches and the veil between life and undeath grows thin, we’ll host a debauched sanguinary soirée with a playlist of the best vampire-themed tunes and videos. Carriages are required an hour before dawn to get you back to your coffins on time…”

If you were worried that Halloween was cancelled, here’s your chance to celebrate from the comfort of your home. You can get tickets completely free from Eventbrite here.

To find out more about the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival, visit their official website or check out their Facebook profile. 

‘Til next time,

Yesterday was my first Indie Litfest, held at the Kala Sangam Centre in a very wet Bradford. I had a fantastic day, meeting fans and new readers, and catching up with other indie authors.

These kinds of events are perfect for authors, whether you have an established fan base or not, as it enables you to market your books to new readers.

These readers will one day, hopefully, become fans, and your fans are your greatest weapon in spreading the work about your writing.

The hardest thing about being an indie author is marketing myself. Unless I am constantly promoting, the sales merely trickle in. By attending events like Indie Litfest, I am able to increase my visibility, interact with people – some of whom buy a book – and pick up tips and advice from other authors. Sharing what works and what doesn’t is invaluable to us indies.

Props and an attractive table are vital tools in helping attract customers to come and take a look at my books. It is up to the covers to entice a potential reader to pick up the book for a closer look. I then talk to them about the book, answer their questions and hopefully close a sale.

As you can see from the photos, I have an array of marketing materials. For the Bonds series, I have the wooden box in which Becca finds the spells she needs to stop Antony, bookmarks and themed pencils. For The Misfits, I have the physical mascots of the characters, which I didn’t make myself, plus bookmarks and themed pencils. For Tales From a Scarygirl, I also have themed pencils made.

My biggest change in my marketing has been to market me as a brand. As such, I’ve had a T-shirt, hoodie, mugs and bags made up, with my logo on one side and my Photologo signature on the other. If you zoom in on the mugs you will see, but I’ll post some photos of my new branding soon!