Time for a swim?

Well I have not written a post in so long, I almost wonder if I am capable of anything resembling articulate thoughts! It’s strange to loose a part of myself since I don’t feel I can call myself a writer anymore. Do I have to just dig deep or have I lost the ability altogether? Honestly, I have no idea.

I can’t believe I have been back in teaching now for seven years! It’s been a rollercoaster ride and I definitely have taught maths at a level I never could have imagined when I was writing. The truth is that I love to teach adolescents! Weird, huh? I think my time in secondary school was full of so much - sport, socialising, friendships, acting & singing, studying & panicking… and yet, through it all, it’s hard to change from a child that lives at home to an adult that has to face the world in whatever shape that comes along. University, job, relationships & a new family? 

So, I guess I like being a part of the journey for our lovely young people. And even if some have a harder road to travel than others, it’s always good to, maybe, guide them towards the right path.

My first dip!

This year I was fortunate enough to be able to teach some Spanish and it was great fun. I might even have learnt some new words… “senderismo” anyone (hiking to you and me)? It’s good to use my skill set in a different way. 

With the lovely weather,  I have also managed to do some sea swimming - since I am lucky enough to live by the sea on the Isle of Wight. It’s truly refreshing, even though today I kept imagining what lurked below me as the seaweed seemed to be reaching out to get me. I have to stop thinking there is something sinister waiting for me. I did however miss the friendly seal that was at the spot I swam in a few hours earlier! Next time…

Anyway, to anyone who reads this, thanks. I hope I entertained if for a brief minute. 

What have you been getting up to recently? Are you a budding writer or teacher in the making? Always happy to answer questions or to help if I can.

Vanessa :-) 

Time for a relaxing break?

I saw this luxury yacht go by on my walk yesterday and could not help taking the photo.
Clouds also look rather ominous! Just like my writing.
Drifting away without a care in the world.

Hope you are all doing well and to those who still continue to read my Trilogy - thank you. I still find it hard to believe I wrote so much in such a small space of time. Time to start again, maybe?

I am still teaching and keeping very busy educating the future leaders of tomorrow - at least, that's what I tell myself.

What keeps you going?

Thinking of good days & wonderful memories.

Vanessa

Writer's Block? Or am I just too busy?

I realised today that my last post was about a new book I planned to write back in April 2016!

This is pretty shocking to me now, since my life has changed significantly from then until now and, due to my return to teaching, my writing has sadly become a distant memory.

I am sure that I will write again, but for now I am taking a time out.

So, if you want to talk to me about writing or want to tell me what you think of my books please contact me via Twitter or Facebook.

I am still reading & will consider reviewing, and I still care very much about what you all think of what I wrote.

All the best, Vanessa

CARA

Today, I have managed to write a whole chapter about

Cara... 

Steven's 15 year old daughter!

The story is finally going to be written, but be patient with me. I always knew when I finished the trilogy that another story was waiting to be written, but the right time had to come along. After spending the last year working on my historical ficiton novel, I realise this is going to take sometime.

Yet, writing about Cara was effortless... what can I say. I am a paranormal chick at heart!

Here is an excerpt... enjoy.
Vanessa :)

In a smooth freestyle, she reached the shoreline, and shook out the water in her dark black hair. Then she took off her wet clothes and changed to the dry ones waiting neatly on the branch.

‘You really are a show off, you know,’ a male voice teased, feigning boredom.

‘And you really are a peeping Tom!’ Cara snapped back.

‘You’re not going to be all shy on me now, are you?’ He jumped down from the tree he was perched on and swaggered over. ‘Hey, Babe. Did you miss me?’

‘You are such a jerk sometimes,’ she shook her head, focusing on her clothes, not him.

He stopped a metre away and folded his arms in front of his chest. ‘Don’t tell me you’re pissed again?’

This made her stop. Standing straight, she met his gaze and frowned. ‘Sven. You know it’s over. We just kissed a few times. That’s it. You have a thing for me. I get it. And I do like you too, but,’ she fought for words, as she took in his muscular arms, tanned complexion and dirty blond hair, ‘I’m just not ready for commitment. I’m a free bird. Okay? Why’d you have to get so serious all of a sudden?’

NEW COVERS for #TETrilogy

Last year I paid for five images via Shutterstock inadvertently since I was subscribed. The plan was to use them for my new book, but seeing as it is not ready I decided that I would get new covers for my Trilogy... and here they are!

Amazingly, it was four years ago, on the 27th March 2012, that I first published HYBRID via Smashwords!

Through Smashwords I found out a lot about formatting and design. If it was not right I would not get the exclusive Premium Status that enables it to sell elsewhere.

It was not until May, 2012, that I ventured onto the Amazon platform via KDP. Then going on to create my own paperback via Createspace.

Shortly after I joined this mysterious world I joined Twitter, etc... you can read my story here!


I was already working on the next book, Complications, so it did not take long to complete.

RETURN and EMILY followed in 2013 & 2014.

So, what have I been doing since then?

Truthfully, I have been working a lot more at my daughter's Primary school. First, as an MSA and now as a Maths Teacher! I also got some work as a Swimming teacher again.

I have really enjoyed getting back to this and using my qualifications.

I have not forgotten about writing though. I am working on another novel based on the life of my ancestors... Read more here!

And, of course, I still love to read & review other books... find out more here.

This book is taking a lot longer than I expected and I have decided to put more work into it to make it a one off complete novel, rather than a series.

I still have ideas for Steven, Caitlin, and the rest of The Evolution Trilogy characters... they are brewing in my mind and will explode on to the pages in due course!

This writing & publishing journey has been amazing and sometimes I struggle to understand how it all came about!

Thank you to anyone reading and for your support.

The question is, what do you think of my new covers?

My favourite has to be EMILY, although I think the HYBRID one is brilliant since it has morphed into Steven... the focus is in the right place!

I would love to hear your views and, as always, appreciate any feedback from you via comments or reviews.

Thanks so much for making these four years incredible.

From a stay-at-home mum to someone you can actually google! Ha ha

All the best,
Vanessa :)

Smashwords, #ReadAneBookWeek, 2016

Well, here we are again! Smashwords are again running there discounted promotion weeks & I have jumped on board to give you lots of discounts & freebies!

READ AN eBOOK WEEK ~ via #Smashwords

*~ These are my Offers & Promotions ~*

Hybrid

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145641

FREE to download! Use RW100

Complications

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/248786

50% off! Use RAE50

Return

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/375551

50% off! Use RAE50

Emily

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/479894

FREE to download! Use RW100

First Date (Love & Regrets)

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/395747

FREE to download!

#KindleCountdownDeal - At only $0.99, it should work. Right?

I have to be honest, I must be terrible at this promotion stuff! I booked in a Kindle Countdown Deal and then forgot I had done it.

The crazy thing is it is only $0.99 until the 16th February via Amazon US. I think I meant to buy a promo for this & forgot! Oops...

In fairness, last time, the paid promotion did not go ahead so I was a bit disheartened. I seem to see lots of other authors getting a lot of reviews & downloads and I constantly wonder where I am going wrong.

I am not convinced that the Amazon deals (free or countdown) work at all anymore, unless you pay for advertising. I came across this blog, which shows just how successful a BOOKBUB advert can be. I am yet to get accepted by them unfortunately. Pretty incredible results though...

In 2012, when I first tried a free promo, I was able to get hundreds of downloads without doing anything extra. Now, if I get more than 10 downloads for the free promotions of the anthologies I'm amazed. If anyone has managed to successfully sale sell hundreds of books without promoting please share your success.

Since I decided to price HYBRID again (and we are talking about $0.99/ 99p) I have had some sales - thank you, whoever you are - but have found most of them to happen via Smashwords. So, I wonder what is going on with Amazon? The price of eBooks seems to be rocketing all the time and most traditionally published books now seem to be £8-10. Publishers do have to cover their costs, but this seems extreme. I think the paperback is usually cheaper! And you can share those.

Needless to say, I have actually paid for some promotion slots next week for HYBRID to try to keep my sales alive, purely because I can't resist. Mentally, I always say... "one last attempt!" But, its obvious that something is going wrong. Maybe, vampires are dead... literally! Ha ha

I should just "keep on writing" (thinking of NEMO here)

So, if you have any suggestions on how to keep this series alive please let me know. I know some readers have requested more books, and I do keep wondering whether to focus on that.
Decisions...

The entire Trilogy is on offer until the 16th Feb so if you're interested please download. 
AMAZON link.

You can download all the books via other retailers... click on the links provided.

Thank you again if you read my blog and thoughts.

All the best,
Vanessa

p.s. I have to actually look back at the reviews to remind myself that it has been popular with some readers...

"Vampire stories have been banned from my life due to my overactive imagination. Those creatures have frightened the life out of me countless times so I began this book with a sense of nervousness. Now, I'm hooked. There's nothing too intimidating about the vampires in Vanessa Wester's book and now I want to know what happens next. Good story telling and beautifully written."
Amazon Reviewer

"Steven Thorn has just started at Southampton University. He is confident, honest, hard-working and intelligent. When he bumps into Caitlin Chance, he notices an instant connection. Something he has never experienced before. Steven has spent pretty much most of his life keeping himself to himself.

Yet, a few months into his first year and unbeknown to Steven, his entire life is about to change. His family have a past, that even he wasn't aware of. Until now. Will Steven cope with the change in his life, or will his entire world come crashing down?

Hybrid is book one in The Evolution Trilogy written by Vanessa. Complications and Return are the following two books, with a prequel Emily available to also download (see bottom of page for download links).

The story is told from the viewpoint of Steven Thorn, in third person narrative. I felt like I am on the outside of his life, watching it. I could see and feel what he was going through, whilst being safely out of the way.
Vanessa has used two main settings for the story, Southampton UK and the Amazon Rainforest. The way that story transitions between the two countries is really well written. The journey, for the reader, was smooth. Vanessa took us on a journey across the world in order to travel between the two places.
Hybrid definitely falls into the 'world of books' as a paranormal romance. Anyone that knows me, knows that I tend to avoid romance stories. This book works out perfectly for me - if you chuck a bit of supernatural (or paranormal, whichever you prefer) or a murder into it and I'm all in.

I'm trying something new with this review, in that I am going to try and evaluate the book in just three words. So, here goes... Hybrid is Interesting, Beautiful and Conserving. The story is extremely interesting, the take on a story that has been written over and over by many an author is completely different to any other that I have read (and I have read a lot of books in this genre). The way that Vanessa describes the surroundings and the settings, including the characters, makes me feel as though everyone and everything is beautiful to look at (even though they may not be). The final word I have chosen is Conserving. The reason for this word is that I feel that Vanessa has managed to keep a conserved approach throughout the whole story. I am hoping this will expand more in the following books. I love the fact that the information has been reserved, and we (as a reader) have only been fed the basic information that we need to know. Very much like the main character, Steven, to give something away to us would indeed give something away to him."
Amazon Reviewer

~*Limited Time Offer*~

Get a signed & limited edition copy of the entire trilogy for only £9.99 + postage via eBay.

=> LINK

Offer open to the UK only. For overseas postage please get in touch.

Thank you & Happy New Year!

Vanessa :)

Merry Christmas!

Thank you to all readers who have picked up Hybrid, and then continued with the other books in my Trilogy!

I really appreciate it, and will get the chance one day to continue this trilogy!

2015 has been an imaginary year - I can't actually believe it happened! I have been busy with family life, and have completed the first book in my historical fiction saga.

I hope 2016 slows down a little bit and allows me to catch up and perhaps publish another book...

To all of you - I hope you enjoy this Christmas period and get the chance to meet up with family, friends, or, if all else fails, read books!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

& 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Roll on 2016!

All the best,
Vanessa

Please Read & Review... help the Author!

I have a favour to ask...

Many of you might have read my book, HYBRID for free and enjoyed it. 

If so, I would love it if you reviewed my book. Apparently, the more reviews I have, the more Amazon promotes it. You might have to review it directly on Amazon, which is a pain - sorry! Sometimes, it does not work directly from your Kindle.

If you have also read & enjoyed the rest of the trilogy, then please share your thoughts.

I have had HYBRID free for nearly two years, and am amazed I don't have more reviews to show for this considering the thousands of downloads!

Thank you so much & I hope you understand the reason for the request!

Vanessa

Fate finds us...

HYBRID *~FREE eBook~*

Amazon 

smashwords 

Passion controls us ... 

COMPLICATIONS

Amazon 

smashwords 

Destiny defines us...

RETURN

Amazon 

Smashwords 

Desire binds us...

EMILY

Amazon

Smashwords

I promised cake...

On my last blog I promised pictures of cake... so here you go!

I was really pleased with how my "Fundraising Cake day" went and I managed to raise £120.63. RESULT...

It does not take much to do something for others and have fun at the same time.

I do have good news... I have started working on more "Evolution" books. If I get it done it will be a totally different collection, looking ahead with some new feisty characters.

I'll let you know how I get on.

My historical romance novels are also now moving along nicely. Finally!

Maybe, I can still call myself a writer after all.

Thank you again for your support & keep reading. For my latest recommendations visit my Reader blog, Goodreads, and Facebook sites.

Vanessa :)

Does life pass you by too?

I have been a terrible blogger of late... I just don't know where the time goes?

I have been busy with my family, and I have started working part-time too. Honestly, I got more writing done when I had a toddler!

Anyway, now I am baking for charity and having a social tomorrow at my home. Being a writer (or trying to be), can be very lonely and it's important to have a life outside of the internet!

I have been baking meringues yesterday and they came up a treat!

Today, I am making a cake... pictures to follow!

Cancer affect many of us and I will never forget the fact it took the life of my cousin when he was barely over 25 years of age.

If you wish to support the fundraising effort then visit the MacMillan Cancer website.

Anyway, it is interesting to see a lot of books discussing evolution in bookstores and I was tempted by one recently - SAPIENS. Overall, it rambled a lot towards the second half, but it raised a lot of true (if depressing) realities... personally, I think I prefer to live in the world of the paranormal when having these deep and meaningful thoughts! What about you?

Thanks so much to those who continue to buy my books and read my story... it brings a smile to my face to still see sales! Truly - thank you :)

Please feel free to drop me a line on Twitter, Facebook, or write a review. I love to hear your views.

All the best,
Vanessa

Bargain Booksy Promotion

After having tried a FreeBooksy Promotion, I decided to try a Bargain Booksy promotion for my trilogy. It cost $40 and has definitely been a success.

I rocketed up the charts yesterday and have already got my money back! I am even ahead of Anne Rice - amazing!

I know it's hard to know what advertisers work, but I can vouch for this one. Saying this, my bargain was (in my opinion) truly a bargain!

Four books for $3! Saying this, the price for the Boxset via Amazon is still only $5.95. It's still a great price. Or, you can still get the books on a deal via the half-price sale via smashwords!

Thank you to any of you who continue to give a my writing a chance. I promise I have more in the works, but life has caught up with me recently... my children have to come before my writing for now.

I have completed the first book in my new historical fiction series. But, it still needs some work.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day. Thanks for visiting my blog.

All the best,
Vanessa :)

*~HALF PRICE~* SALE for #TETrilogy via #Smashwords & #Amazon

For the rest of JULY you can grab a copy of the entire trilogy & prequel for HALF PRICE via...

SMASHWORDS

HYBRID - FREE

Use the coupon code SSW50 exclusively on smashwords to get the next two books half price!

COMPLICATIONS

RETURN

EMILY - FREE

AMAZON CUSTOMERS!

If you have a kindle, you have THREE more days only to grab your copy for only $3 for all four books!

Click here => AMAZON

PRAISE FOR THE EVOLUTION TRILOGY

"The Evolution trilogy was so much fun to read! All the components of a good series are there and I found myself thinking about the characters constantly. For me that is the sign of a good book - I can't get the characters out of my head, they come to work and the gym with me and I try to figure out what will happen next.

I fell in love with Caitlin and Steven, the main characters in Hybrid, joined in on their adventures in Complications, and was rewarded with a finale that tied up all of the details and loose ends in Return book 3... A very satisfying ending! I highly recommend this trilogy."
Susan

"A great set of books. A must read for all. Imaginative story somehow believable. I would like to visit the community myself."
Lovely Lane

"Really enjoyed all 3 books, find them so readable and hard to put down. As soon as you start reading you feel involved in the story."
Julie

"I loved the entire trilogy and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a paranormal story with a twist and some romance. I am impressed that the scenes that could have quickly turned these books into erotic were kept "clean" and "classy" while still bringing all of the emotion of the action between characters."
My Book Fairy

"... while I'll be sad to see it go, how thrilled I am to have any sort of melancholy feeling about saying goodbye to characters I've worried over and rooted for so long?
The truth is that I've been rather disappointed in the final book in trilogy series of late, so it means something to me that Ms. Wester has taken great care not to make a cookie cutter everyone-gets-everything-they-want-in-the-end final book; nor does she envision the alternate gloomy world which has also plagued trilogies of late (Allegiant or Mockingjay, anyone?)

As a matter of fact, Ms. Wester derives a way to both answer our must-know questions while also leaving a decent bit to our imaginations, an approach I appreciated...and one that will no doubt lead me towards reviewing more of this talented author's work in the future."
Lydia Aswolf via Goodreads

Change of plan #TETrilogy

After deciding to give Emily away at the beginning of May, I have seen some downloads but not enough to justify the decision.

So, as Taylor Swift has just said, 'Pay the artist!'

I already give HYBRID away for free, so EMILY will go back to being priced.

Ultimately, readers are a fickle bunch! I am one after all. It seems most people buy what they are told to buy by the media and retailers. If you look at the book currently at the top of the charts (GREY) I rest my case! I can't compete with that and don't want to either.

As I look to my new historical fiction novel, and consider my options I continue to be grateful to anyone who takes the time to read my writing.

I still find it hard to believe I wrote this trilogy. Sometimes, it feels like a dream.

Hope you're all keeping well,

Vanessa :)

Emily is now *~FREE~*

After some thought, I have decided also make EMILY free. I have not had many reviews on EMILY and I hope this might inspire some of you to read and review...

You can now download it for FREE via SMASHWORDS, BARNES & NOBLE & AMAZON

It took a while for price-match to happen, but finally it did!

HYBRID is still FREE to download - enjoy! :)

Emily has not changed in fifty years. An accident made her immortal, a vampire freak.

Finally allowed to return to her beloved England, all is not as expected. So much has changed. The past she was holding on to does not exist. Since the Second World War, people have embraced a new age. In this era, people have an obsession with gadgets, strange clothes and weird music.

Added to this her blood-lust has become insatiable and her promise to control herself is torn to shreds. That is until she meets Paul. She never expected to find love after all this time. Fate has never been kind to Emily, and it gives her everything she wants at a cost. She must pay a price for being a murderer.

Within Emily's twisted heart lies a dark soul.

*****

REVIEWS

"After being enthralled by the trilogy I was delighted to hear Vanessa Wester had written a prequel. This novella provides a fascinating insight into Emily, one of the key characters from the trilogy. It enhances the reader's understanding of the character's motivations and behaviour. The honest and heartfelt writing style is entirely consistent with the main books, and this tale serves as a great addendum to the series. I was hooked from page one!"
Adam

"I was really pleased when I saw that Vanessa had written a prequel featuring Emily.....who turned out to be a bit of a lass! A 5* rating which is completely deserved."
Mike

"... I understand the character of Emily and her choices even better. I couldn't put it down"
Charlotte

"Emily is one of the main supporting characters in The Evolution Trilogy which is one of the few trilogies that I can truly say I couldn't wait to finish and hated finishing all at once. I knew I wanted the entire trilogy by the time I wasn't even half way through book one, Hybrid... The entire series, including this novella, the realistic and relate-able characters, the rich environments and the variety of real life scenarios interwoven with the outrageous and the paranormal made these books a series on my LOVE to read list that I will always support and recommend to others.

Without adding spoilers, this prequel novella can work as a stand-alone read, or in addition to the trilogy and you understand Emily so much better and why her actions and attitude seem to change with a "whim". What would you do if a change beyond your control took everything away from you and then you were taken away from everything you knew and loved? No one knows until they are in that situation. After years Emily is finally allowed to return to the place she loved, but so much time has passed and so many things have changed that it's all new...

The story is heart wrenching and beautiful all at once. Another solid story from the amazing mind of Vanessa Wester!"
My Book Fairy

*~EMILY has some scenes of an adult nature. It may be considered unsuitable for younger readers~*

*****

Find out what happens twenty years later. Read THE EVOLUTION TRILOGY, which is comprised of three novels: HYBRID; COMPLICATIONS; and RETURN.

"The Evolution trilogy was so much fun to read! All the components of a good series are there and I found myself thinking about the characters constantly. For me that is the sign of a good book - I can't get the characters out of my head, they come to work and the gym with me and I try to figure out what will happen next.

I fell in love with Caitlin and Steven, the main characters in Hybrid, joined in on their adventures in Complications, and was rewarded with a finale that tied up all of the details and loose ends in Return book 3... A very satisfying ending! I highly recommend this trilogy."
Susan

"A great set of books. A must read for all. Imaginative story somehow believable. I would like to visit the community myself."
Lovely Lane

HYBRID has been published for 3 years! Happy Anniversary!

I find it hard to believe hat 3 years ago, on the 27th March I published HYBRID via smashwords.

It does not seem that long ago and yet I can't imagine my life without my books now. The years feel like a blur, the writing even more so. I have no idea how I wrote so much. Where did I find the time and energy? It's all a mystery to me to be honest.

I have made a new updated video to celebrate!

Also, here is HYBRID in pictures... what an evolution!

Have a fabulous Easter everyone

Vanessa :)

First version of Hybrid... March 2012. It was going to be a 5 book series then!

Second version... 2013 - 2014

Third version... 2014-2015

A new look for 2015... my existing readers seem to like it!

What a day!

Another amazing day for feedback...

My Author Interview with BollyDophie gets published and then she writes the most amazing Review for HYBRID!

I admit that tears sprang to my eyes.

My husband is always telling me that I should not care about what people think, but I do. It does affect me and it's such a great feeling to be acknowledged for something other than being my children's mum, wife, or general dogsbody!

I have been adamant to not give up on my trilogy, to keep plodding away (even when I should be writing), and finally it is paying off.

I read a tweet today by someone who said they had finished three books after 7 years, coming in at just over 150,000 words! Well, my trilogy and prequel amount to just under 350,000 words. Written over a period of about 2-3 years!

I think I have a lot to be proud of.

I gave up my teaching career to look after my kids and now I have to ration my time between my kids, housekeeping, tutoring (I still teach mathematics at home), a part-time lunchtime job, and volunteering at school and the local FOODBANK. Becoming a writer is the icing on the cake!

I LOVE IT and hope you all can see what motivates me and enjoy what I write.

In life, we all have to find something to keep us going, to make us have that space we call our own. I am so grateful I decided to unleash my thoughts in novel writing and thank Stephenie Meyer for her inspirational words back in 2010 on the DVD I watched!

I am blessed and lucky indeed.

Thank you to all,
Vanessa :)

Never give up!

I have had a very interesting week which has made me realise that I am glad I did not give up sooner.

Lots of you lovely readers have been getting in touch and telling me how much you have loved my trilogy!

Thank you SO much. It has really lifted my spirits and inspired me to continue my current novel. I have now gone over the 50,000 word mark! Woo hoo...

The response to my new covers has also been fantastic. Thank you for all the likes on Facebook!

My books have also been selling every day which is a bit of a novelty! I think I have my promotions on FreeBooksy to thank for that.

So, here's me sharing the love. Enjoy reading :)

Vanessa

These are my latest reviews...

HYBRID

"Vanessa Wester's vampires are unlike the familiar fanged protagonists of other paranormal capers. Their humanity is at odds with their physical requirements and the lengths they go to to contain their needs lend the novel a realism not usually found in the genre. Hybrid is an enjoyable read with just enough mystery, romance and suspense."

COMPLICATIONS

"Vanessa Wester has done a fantastic job with this and I enjoyed every bit of it. The story flowed well and with a few twists in the story, Vanessa keeps you on edge! I loved the characters, especially the mc Steven.

Steven has had a horrible year to say the least. Finding out he wasn't exactly human, his life completely taken away from him and his girlfriend Caitlin is made to forget he ever existed. On top of all that, he is forced to live in the Amazon with people of his own kind.

After an accident happens , Steven is allowed to return home to get the help he needs. He also wants his life back and needs to be able to prove to the others that he control himself with humans and live a normal life.
Will Steven get his wish and remain amongst the humans? Will he be able to win back Caitlin and make her remember what they had? Or will the urge for blood be to overpowering for him to control?

A well deserved 5 stars and I cannot wait to read the last book in this brilliant trilogy."


"A fascinating sequel to Hybrid. I read Hybrid, book one of The Evolution Trilogy, last year when on holiday and although it was not the type of book I usually read I loved it. The style of writing suited me and I found the story and the characters gripping. I knew I had to read the other books in the series. Complications, book two, continues on nicely with the tale and the plot develops satisfactorily. Both of these books are a recommended read and I can’t wait to read Return, the third part in the series."

RETURN

"This is the 3rd book in the Evolution Trilogy and was absolutely fantastic!

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of Steven Thorn and his journey of finding out he is a hybrid and how he has handled his new life.

Return, see's Steven and his girlfriend Caitlin (who he changed in book 2) return to the colony. As the colony do some tests on Caitlin they realise her blood maybe the ingredient the colony needs to be able to produce their own blood source without the need to kill. This puts doubts within the colony as to whether they actually need to be segregated away from humans. The Colony is slowly showing cracks and suggestions are made to find a new colony elsewhere and split the group up and start over.

Steven isn’t happy about all the changes that are happening and feels guilty for what he has put Caitlin through by changing her. He cannot change the past and must learn to live with the consequences of his actions. Will Steven & Caitlin be able to get through what is thrown at them or will some little things come along and change both of their future's forever.
A superb finale in the trilogy and an ending I never guessed.

Well done Vanessa for a wonderful series and I'm looking forwarding to what you have for us next. ;-)"


"Yes. The conclusion to this trilogy was so good. I never expected the turn of events. I'm glad Caitlin found her way. Sometimes, you need that space to realise what you had all along was the real deal. Loved the story and wish I could have read more about their reunion."

EMILY

"Emily is one of the main supporting characters in The Evolution Trilogy which is one of the few trilogies that I can truly say I couldn't wait to finish and hated finishing all at once. I knew I wanted the entire trilogy by the time I wasn't even half way through book one, Hybrid. I was lucky enough to be a beta reader of this novella, and the minute it went live on Amazon I also pre-ordered the book. For less than the cost of a coffee at Starbucks you can read a story that will keep you laughing, crying and turning the pages to the very last!

The entire series, including this novella, the realistic and relate-able characters, the rich environments and the variety of real life scenarios interwoven with the outrageous and the paranormal made these books a series on my LOVE to read list that I will always support and recommend to others.

Without adding spoilers, this prequel novella can work as a stand alone read, or in addition to the trilogy and you understand Emily so much better and why her actions and attitude seem to change with a "whim".

Similar to the scenario of Steven in Hybrid, Emily was a young woman who was set up to have it all, she wanted a life, a marriage and children, what many women hope for in their lives. That is, until a freak accident happens and causes her to not only become immortal, but requires her to consume human blood to live. Without anyone there to guide her and being one of the first of her kind they had no knowledge of the changes she was going through and no idea how to manage them. Over time this changes, but she's never the same.

Hidden away in a utopia created by her family to learn about the changes and how to control it Emily thinks about everything she can't have, and what little she does have in comparison to what she wanted in life. The utopia isn't a paradise, it's a prison.

What would you do if a change beyond your control took everything away from you and then you were taken away from everything you knew and loved? No one knows until they are in that situation. After years Emily is finally allowed to return to the place she loved, but so much time has passed and so many things have changed that it's all new.

Emily decides to feed her urges until life throws her yet another curve ball, in the form of everything she ever wanted and never thought she could have and life becomes "normal" and the urges fade. Content to finally feel like she has everything she always wanted and determined to make it work no matter what, her needs return and she's forced to make one of the hardest decisions a woman may ever have to make in her life.

Would you do anything for love, at any cost? That's just what she does and it costs her everything she ever wanted.


The story is heart wrenching and beautiful all at once. Another solid story from the amazing mind of Vanessa Wester!"

NEW Covers

Exciting news... I have designed new covers for the entire trilogy!

I am also in the process of updating all the paperbacks & you will now be able to buy the Trilogy & Emily in one!

Even if you don't like them, please say you do! This has taken me HOURS!

I hope this more modern & fresh look will appeal to you all. The covers were the only thing that I felt were not selling the trilogy - let's see if I'm right or not.

Thank you for your continuous support.

Vanessa :)