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 :)

#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 :)

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

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

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 :)

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 :)

~*NEW*~ PAPERBACK for EMILY

I have decided to create a paperback for EMILY and am having a lot of fun figuring it all out again. I have to admit that I am tempted to redo the others since I prefer the font.

To celebrate I would like to run a paperback giveaway for the Trilogy. All I have to do is figure out how to do this. If you have ideas get in touch please.

I wonder if I will ever stop dabbling and write?

Who knows...

I have even started thinking of the next trilogy to follow this one, and am eager to get stuck in. 

For the past year I have been working on a Historical novel, based on the lives of my great grandparents. I am enjoying it, but have to admit the pressure gets to me. I don't want to disappoint family with my interpretation of the past. 

So, to all you readers who encourage me to write about Steven & Caitlin some more. I will not say no!

I miss them SO much! I know, fictional characters should not be missed. But, I do.

In the same way I missed BUFFY when it finished and countless other Book & TV Series I miss my world.

I hope to dive back in soon and bring them back to life again.

A few of you have asked for the Caitlin and Steven wrap-up, but I want to go into the future.

Thoughts?

Anyway, back to formatting I go.

All the best,

Vanessa

Have I finally become a risk-taker?

Life has many risks. I have always been averse to this... I am a bear, not a bull!

However, it is good to try to go out of your comfort zone every now and again. To be bold and go bravely where no other, etc, etc...

Since I published back in 2012, I have avoided spending any money on advertising for fear that I may not get it back. I spent £10 on Facebook about a year ago and it did NOTHING! A complete waste of money. I might have thrown it on the fire for all it did.

However, last year I was lucky enough to be featured on FreeBooksy for free, and my downloads rocketed in the US. I also saw after-sales of my books, so it was a huge success. They now charge to be featured, so I decided to go for it and spend some money! I have actually made some money in 2014 (shock, horror, gasp!) so this is actually reinvestment... right?

I was featured yesterday on FreeBooksy. The feature cost $100 and I have had over 1200 downloads for HYBRID on that day (so not thousands as other authors claim), but this was enough to get me to the No.1 spot in my category! YAY!

I did not get into the top 100, which is a shame. This would surely have made the downloads reach the skies!

The amazing thing is that I have also had sales already. This really shocked me! I assumed readers would download my free eBook, and then decide whether to get the trilogy. Whoever you are - THANK YOU! I sincerely hope I do not disappoint you.

Anyway, I think I am nearly halfway to getting my money back on the second day, so its fair to say that this has been an AWESOME investment. I think that to get results you have to put your money in your pocket... (No, a sweet wrapper will not do!)

I have also been watching the Buffy TV series again, after having got the Box-set for Christmas. I am already on season 2! I have said before that my main character, Steven, is based on Angel. I have to say that I stand by that. My trilogy is not like Buffy. It lacks the humour (can we call it that?) and madness with all the crazy paranormal stuff that happens on the hell-mouth!

But, there is a serious side to Buffy at times (really) so my trilogy captures the trauma of first love and what happens when it is not possible. The whole Buffy-Angel romance really got to me. They could not be together regardless of how they felt.

My trilogy also has a SciFi element to it, a could-it-happen twist. With Buffy, we all know its pure and utter escapism in the paranormal, which is why I love it!

The Evolution Trilogy was inspired by my obsession with vampires, which started in the 80's with THE LOST BOYS (R.I.P. Corey Haim - so sad!), continued in the 90's with INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE, and exploded in the 00's with BUFFY and TWILIGHT.

I will always be grateful to Stephenie Meyer for encouraging anyone to write in an interview included in the TWILIGHT DVD back in 2010. I loved the TWILIGHT SAGA back then and was obsessed.

I guess I just love the brooding vampire...

Ultimately, Caitlin is my heroine in my trilogy. She follows her heart, makes mistakes, but then makes the most of her situation.

Steven is also a man of conviction, who follows his beliefs and does the right thing.

For me, escapism in the paranormal is fantastic, but I want people to have a conscience. We all have a soul, no matter how dark, and its important that we consider others before own own interests.

Writing EMILY was interesting. Some people will never do the right thing... they are simply jinxed!

Thank you again for your support. 2015 is looking great!

All the best,
Vanessa

Merry Christmas from #TETrilogy

During Christmas time, many will be loading up their kindle with some fabulous books!

Christmas is a special time with loved ones, when we eat and drink too much, open gifts, and perhaps remember what Christmas is all about. At the end of it all, the best thing to do is either settle in front of the TV to a great movie (Love Actually is always one of our favourites) or read a book!

I was raised as a Roman Catholic in Gibraltar and I have to admit that I loved going to Midnight mass on the 24th December. The atmosphere within the church, the revered silence, the smell, Christmas carols. It was truly magical. Since I have moved to the UK I have lost this tradition, mainly since I do not attend Church anymore. It's not that I don't hold on to my Christian values, I do. We have a nativity at home, teach our children why we celebrate Christmas and try to have a nice (relaxing - maybe?) day.

Ultimately, if we all show some consideration for others, share, respect each other, and try to be kind & considerate, I believe we can all lead happier lives.

This year I have volunteered at my local library, primary school, Foodbank, and have Face-painted at fundraising events for the PTA. I have also donated money to several charities via the Children and Adult anthologies I published. The amounts are not huge, but in this current economy every bit helps.

So now, it's time to give YOU a Christmas gift.

As some of you know, I wrote a prequel to The Evolution Trilogy, EMILY. I have had great feedback so far and have decided to let you read it for free, via Amazon, for a limited time only.

*~EMILY is FREE~* 25th - 29th December, 2014

I have also set up a kindle countdown deal for the entire trilogy in the UK (sorry, Amazon only allow me to use one site).

*~THE EVOLUTION TRILOGY is on a KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEAL~* 25th - 31st December, 2014

=> The entire trilogy will be over 70% off at the beginning so get in there quick!

However, you can download Hybrid for FREE and get Complications & Return at a 50% reduction via SMASHWORDS during this period, using these coupon codes.

COMPLICATIONS use => VN85E
RETURN use => CR58R

So, enjoy and spread the word... and if you want to make me smile leave a review. Thank you.

I wish you all the best for 2015,
Vanessa

Addicted to giving away free books? #TETrilogy

A year ago, I ran a free promotion via smashwords which led to Hybrid being price-matched on amazon. Since sales had not been easy to come by I decided to permanently leave Hybrid free since I had just finished writing the trilogy and had heard that this was a great way to increase your readership.

Last December, I also launched the trilogy in Gibraltar and got a lot of coverage via the local newspaper, TV, radio, and the Gibraltar Magazine. This led to a surge of downloads of Hybrid in January & February, followed by sales of the subsequent books. It was a fantastic feeling to be further up in the charts.

As the months went on, sales dropped again and downloads of Hybrid also tailored off. During the summer, I had a lucky break with a reader, My Book Fairy in the US, who loved the trilogy so much she promoted it and recommended it to her book club. Again, this was fantastic whilst it lasted.

I also decided to leave FIRST DATE permafree since sales were so insignificant. I then found that Hybrid was not being downloaded as much and so I came to the conclusion that I was better off pricing it again, which I have now done. This was even after I designed new covers (maybe one day these will need a complete rehash).

But, there is a dilemma. I do sell books via iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords. I think these sales come about via the fact Hybrid was free. I also believe sales on Amazon have also resulted from the fact readers enjoyed Hybrid. The problem is that there are so many free books out there that I wanted a break from the pressure of looking all the time. As much as I try not to care and not to look I can't help it.

This is the reason for taking it off. I am trying to ignore the sales and focus on my writing.

If I had tons of sales then the free option would be worth it. Sadly, this is not the case. I hear on a daily basis from authors that sell thousands of books! I think they're lying... I know indie authors that have sold hundreds, but not thousands! If they are truly selling this amount, I say WELL DONE! (Truly, I don't know how you did it, but I respect you for getting there)

Bottom line is my books are obviously not what readers want to read at the moment. So, I am extremely grateful to all who have enjoyed my books and given them a chance. It's time to write something new and hope for the best!

So, I'll start early with my New Year's resolutions!

1) Stop looking up Amazon & Smashwords on a daily basis
2) Write something every day!
3) Don't engage in conversations online I feel strongly about...
4) Keep in touch with readers & writers I enjoy talking to (it's so easy to stop doing this).
5) Read every day.
6) Think about something in my life I am happy about every day.
7) Exercise every day.
8) Drink water!
9) Avoid sugar!
10) Get lots of "warm hugs" from my kids... otherwise statues will do!

It would be great to hear from some of you. What was your biggest challenge this year?

All the best,
Vanessa

p.s. Look out for my post on Christmas day... a special treat for all my lovely readers is on it's way! :)

Remembrance Day

My father was always telling me about the war when I was growing up and I have admit that I never saw the point of talking about death and destruction. What was so good about re-enacting war games? I have never been an advocate of violence and think that the human obsession to be "alpha" in endemic in society. I guess all animals do this to an extent. They ostracize the weak and kill anyone who is a threat to their family or pack. However, human being have done this over the years for very strange reasons, but to start with it was for a better life. As people had more children and needed more space, they naturally sought to explore and utilise this world's natural resources.

Recently, I have been reading a lot of historical novels and have been interested in the past. Why now? I don't know... I guess the past defines who we are and makes are aspirations clearer. There is something reassuring about knowing we are not alone. In my reading, I have come across many interesting facts which explain the lead up to the great war. Although, it is important to realise that war has always happened. Different cultures and social groups can not agree all the time.

Centuries ago Europeans conquered the "uncivilised" world and claimed it in the name of their King. They killed and destroyed established societies. Yet, we do not remember the many killed then - they are nameless! People were then treated as property and sold to the highest bidder in the name of commericalisation. Sad that slavery still occurs in this day and age. When we buy goods, do we ever really stop to think about how we manage to get them so cheaply. Years ago, commodities like pepper, sugar, and tea and coffee were only used by those willing to pay a high price. Now, we live in a throw-away climate. I am guilty of having thrown away goods that have gone out-of-date on countless occasions.

Industrialisation led to a society that was more clearly defined into haves and have-nots. In the previous century, those with nothing either died, were killed or were forgotten. The advent of accessible paper and record keeping via a census meant it was more difficult to ignore those in need. Trade unions also fought for the rights of the working class. Ordinary people fought for our freedom.

The two world wars were made more bloody and ruthless by the power of new weaponry. Machine guns, larger bombs, tanks, airplanes, and the nuclear bomb. Does man have no limits to the destruction he can bring on humanity?

This is why even though I started out life complacent about the war, we should now not forget - EVER. Remember the sacrifices men and women over the ages have made for our liberty and way of life. Likewise, we should learn to give up our time for those who are less fortunate. Today in the UK, we have poverty still. There are other social issues that plague us - the use of drugs for one. I would even go as far as to say that sugar is a drug, one that I try to resist every day!

So, this armistice day I write this blog post to remember others and hope that in writing the evolution trilogy I help to raise awareness for many issues that still filter through society. The need to look out for your family, respect all life, suppress our power to do harm, and yet live a life that is fulfilled and rewarding.

I leave you with one of my favourite extracts from Complications. I hope we never forget...

All the best, Vanessa

"Steven moved closer and sat on a chair opposite the bed. The room had a rancid smell. It was as though Judith reeked of death.

She must have seen him scrunch his nose as she said, ‘You don’t need to control yourself. I know the smell. I’ve been around for a very long time. Do you know that I am one hundred and fourteen years old? My body is just starting to show its age. Thing is, it’s not impossible to live this long. The longest living human being was a French woman – she got to the age of one hundred and twenty two. And did you know that there is a woman still alive in the United States born in the same year as me? I was born in eighteen ninety six, a couple of years before the turn of the century. Edwardian Britain, a Britain with no real knowledge of war, an invincible empire.’ She coughed. ‘Water please.’

Steven reached for the glass on her bedside table and passed it over.

She took a sip. ‘Thank you.’

‘Don’t strain yourself.’

‘No, you have to listen. It’s important you understand. The Great War changed the world. Did you know that? Millions of people died. I was your age when friends, relatives and acquaintances died to preserve our freedom. Your grandfather was one of the lucky ones, although he did not feel so lucky to survive at the time. It was the worst thing we thought we’d ever see.’ She coughed again and took another sip.

Steven waited. He did not want to interrupt.

‘We were wrong. It was not the worst thing. It was the beginning of the end for many. The roaring twenties brought many good things. Automobiles. Moving pictures or talkies as they then became known as. Walt Disney produced Mickey Mouse. And of course Jazz and the infamous Charleston,’ she giggled. ‘I was quite good you know.’

‘I imagine you were.’

‘You are such a charmer, just like your grandfather. Anyway, I got to dress as I pleased, was wild for a while and even got to vote like a man. What a privilege! You should have seen us girls lining up the street. Imagine. Well, I guess you can’t – you take that for granted now.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Don’t apologise. Each generation is faced with a different set of problems. The thing is it couldn’t last. As you must know, or they surely teach you nothing at school, the bubble burst in 1929. The Great depression brought hard times.’

‘Not that different to now. The latest recession has brought a lot of problems.’

‘Yes, life has a way of repeating itself. Or, humans have a way of making the same mistakes,’ she chuckled.

Steven was mesmerised, he had no idea Judith was so fascinating.

He could not wait to hear the rest. The past was a scary and yet very insightful place sometimes. If only people paid more attention, the world would be a lot simpler."

The tide always turns...

Yesterday, I wrote a melancholy post about how I was leaving smashwords - I have deleted it now! A lot can change in 24 hours!

Today, I found out I have been featured in the Gibraltar Insight Magazine and on the article it tells readers to buy the book via smashwords! SO... after deciding not to publish with smashwords anymore I had to republish everything today.

 

Fate has a way of dictating your life and sometimes its best to just RELAX and stop worrying all the time (I am shouting this at myself right now!)

This article is amazing and I have to thank Kay Xiarras for writing it after she briefly interviewed me.

Now all I ask is this... the next time I complain or sound disheartened tell me to zip it!

Thanks for reading,

Vanessa

EMILY: Prequel to The Evolution Trilogy

I just wrote a Halloween post on my main blog which you can read by clicking HERE

I have included an extract from EMILY, which went live today! Exciting! To tempt you further here is another scene to enjoy. In my opinion, the confident male has been blown out of proportion over the years...

Emily lay back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling, breathing deeply. After ten minutes of waiting, she had given up on Paul actually turning up. She picked up the Agatha Christie book she had abandoned the night before, and resumed the story.

As she read, she thought about Agatha. When the murder mystery stories first appeared on the scene there had been a lot of interest, but no one could have imagined the extent of her success. What an imagination! If she had even an ounce of Agatha’s talent, she would certainly deserve to live forever. Imagine the amount of books she could write. Unfortunately, writing had never been her forte. Truth, she was not sure what was – other than being an outsider. Everywhere.

Engrossed in a juicy bit, where Poirot is about to unveil the murderer with great finesse, she heard Paul return.

She shut the book, stuffed it under her pillow, sat up and patted the sofa. ‘Come sit next to me.’
Something about his demeanour had changed, as he took a seat and eased his hand into hers.

‘Everything okay?’ Emily asked.

‘Yes, I’m fine. It’s a bit stupid. But, I have to tell you something.’

Emily felt her heartbeat race. She imagined the worst. ‘You can tell me anything. I couldn’t think badly of you.’

‘I don’t think you’d think badly of me. It’s just embarrassing.’

She could not imagine what this was about.

After a minute of silence, he squeezed her hand. ‘I’ve never been with a girl before. I have to admit I’m a bit scared of you. You seem so confident compared to me. I think I’m going to disappoint you.’

She felt like laughing, yet held it back. It would seriously hurt his feelings. ‘Is that why you hold back? Is that why you keep running away from me?’

‘Yes.’ He was keeping his eyes fixed on his wardrobe. 

‘Do you trust me?’

‘Of course I do,’ he replied. 

It was her turn to be brave – to take the lead.

You can read the rest and find out what happens by clicking on the links!

Thank you for your support, Vanessa

Amazon    Smashwords    Barnes & Noble   iTunes 

Emily has not changed in fifty years. A freak accident made her immortal, or so she thinks. When she is finally allowed to return to her beloved England all is not as she expected. So much has changed. The past she was holding onto 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... and when it happens, can she do what it takes to hold on to it?

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. For within her twisted heart lies a dark soul.

EMILY: Prequel to The Evolution Trilogy

I finally finished it! I am thrilled to share the cover for the prequel, EMILY. It is now available to buy via the pre-release options Amazon & Smashwords have set up... how exciting!

It will go live on the 31st October, 2014 - Halloween's day... a good day to release a book about a Vampire lady!

I am currently waiting for feedback via my fantastic readers & friends. It might still need some tweaking, but it is going to happen now regardless. Sometimes, you have to just set a deadline, otherwise a project can go on indefinitely...

The book is my first novella, coming in at just under 30,000 words - or roughly a third of the size of the other books in the Trilogy. I hope it allows you to get some insight into Emily's twisted mind and why she is so bitter and strange towards Steven. I always felt sorry for her (I know, she is a character, but a writer is allowed to get attached to some of their creations!). 

Either way, I will continue to read it over & over again over the coming weeks... and then will wait and see what you all think!

Thanks for reading,

Vanessa

***

Emily has not changed in fifty years. A freak accident made her immortal, or so she thinks. When she is finally allowed to return to her beloved England all is not as she expected. So much has changed. The past she was holding onto 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... and when it happens, can she do what it takes to hold on to it?

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. For within her twisted heart lies a dark soul.

***

EMILY is the prequel to THE EVOLUTION TRILOGY.

Amazon 

Smashwords 

KOBO 

Barnes & Noble 

iTunes 

What a lot of reviews! WOW & thank you!

After weeks of a dry spell on the reviews front, they have been pouring in this week! Must have been the fact I was on holiday and not able to check as much!

It means so much to me when people take the time and it has been fantastic to get some feedback. It's so easy to want to give up, and this is the kind of motivation I needed before the kids head back to school and I can write again!

IN THE US...

Hybrid (The Evolution Trilogy Book 1)

Awesome - August 23, 2014

This story is top-notch. Every character has story of their own. All were told with clarity and love. Can't wait to read the next one. Fantastic.

The Evolution Trilogy: Hybrid, Complications & Return

I ready enjoyed this Trilogy - August 24, 2014

A very different look into Vampires and the lives we have read about . I ready enjoyed this Trilogy . I was fully engrossed in this story . Well written The charters were easily followed . A must read!

IN THE UK...

I got a few 3 star reviews, nothing amazing... BUT then, one of the reviewers who was not as keen on HYBRID then read the other two. I am blown away by the reaction... it certainly made me smile!

Return (The Evolution Trilogy Book 3)

5.0 out of 5 stars A well deserved 5*, 31 Aug 2014

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.

Complications (The Evolution Trilogy Book 2)

4.0 out of 5 stars The story got better, 30 Aug 2014

The 2nd instalment got better. Really loved the story. Steven got his girl back but with some complications. Loved the way the story turned out. Shame about a few of the characters. On to the next one.

Hybrid (The Evolution Trilogy Book 1)

3.0 out of 5 stars good read 3.5 stars, 30 Aug 2014


I actually enjoyed reading this book although I felt it wasn't descriptive enough. I mean it's supposed to be a YA novel about a new kind of vampire species. So you expect to read the odd violence here or there, but there was none. You get the impression someone was attacked but no detail about it.. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story but the author needs to up it a bit. In any case, I am going to read the rest of the series.

When I wrote this trilogy I did not want to have the same boring ending and the same predictable end.

Life is never predictable and it rarely turns out as you expect. The view changes as you move around...

I am beginning to think that perhaps I nailed it on the head. It's a huge relief to me to know that my instincts paid off. A sickly sweet happy ending is not what everyone wants when they read a book! PHEW!

Thank you for your support & keep reading...

Vanessa

The Evolution Trilogy ***NEW PAPERBACK***

Exciting news! A new paperback is on its way for the entire trilogy!

After a lot of work sorting the formatting and arranging a new cover, I have put together a paperback which will hopefully be cheaper for people to buy.

I love paperbacks and still prefer them to eBooks. I now own a kindle, but call me old fashioned...

With Createspace, the price of books is still too high. Considering they print on demand, it is a great price - if I paid a publisher it would cost me thousands! However, when competing against the traditional publishers and their online deals, my price is too high!

At £7.95 per paperback, I currently make about 50p on each book!

However, I will now be able to price the entire trilogy via amazon at £18/ $28 a book! That's a huge saving for you all... and I make the same for all three books!

Either way, I wanted to buy them in to sell at the Isle of Wight Festival where I will be giving a talk! I am also doing a fun session just for kids! I do love all things creative! :)

For more information CLICK HERE

If you are local and would like to meet me then visit the Isle of Wight on Sunday 19th October... tickets available now!

I hope some of you appreciate my efforts.

All the best,

Vanessa :)