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 :)

SMASHWORDS PROMOTION

I did not realise smashwords were having a reduced month so I am late to the party...

Either way, for one week only and exclusive to smashwords, get the entire trilogy for only $3!

CLICK ON THE LINK

I have had some fantastic reviews recently... THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT :)

Check them out on AMAZON

"Once again Vanessa has created a flawless story, I didn't notice any grammar or spelling errors, which means there either were none or I was so absorbed into the story I didn't see them, which is a HUGE deal to me. 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

MASSIVE KDP Countdown Deal

*** Promotion running from 4th July - 10th July via Amazon.com only***

LINK => VISIT AMAZON & DOWNLOAD

It seemed apt to start my first ever KDP Countdown deal on the 4th July! 

Amazon gave indie authors like me the freedom to publish books to the masses, and earn much higher royalties (yes, I can now buy a sandwich AND a cookie! Ha ha).

There has been a lot of mixed press since I first published HYBRID in 2012 about the downfall of books! I have read both sides of the story from different perspectives, but the bottom line is if people buy more books and read more then going digital is a fantastic thing to do.

When music first went digital there were a lot of skeptics, but now sales are at an all-time high! It takes time for consumers (us) to adjust to the new way of things. Ultimately, there is room for everybody. I still buy CDs and DVDs, AND I download digital copies of music and film. I now also buy paperbacks AND download ebooks. I like both.

Some readers now only download to kindle... that is their choice & this promotion is aimed at the Kindle market! If I could offer paperback deals I would, but it's not possible - I'm sorry!

Ultimately, we readers have so much choice and freedom to choose now. I understand that even this promotion might be a hard sell. Why pay when there are so many other books to choose from for free? The bottom line is we will pay for what we want to read - and I hope you choose to read my Trilogy.

Let's be honest here... 3 full size novels at $6 is cheap! With this Kindle countdown deal you get them all on the first day for only $0.99! Awesome, right? 

So what else can I say to convince you to give my trilogy a chance? Not much, but I have been extremely chuffed today after receiving the most amazing feedback from THE BOOK FAIRY. 

She certainly is my fairy... with perfect timing, since the promo starts tomorrow and I had no reviews when I went for it.

Enjoy, I certainly did!

Thank you for visiting my blog,

Vanessa :-) 

MY BOOK FAIRY review for THE EVOLUTION TRILOGY

"I've left the reviews on each individual book, but I downloaded Hybrid for free and borrowed the books in the trilogy format from the Kindle library, which I would suggest for anyone wanting to read the entire trilogy. I've rated each individual book at five stars and although I am sad to be finished with the trilogy, I think it was absolutely amazing.

The Next Evolution of Humans - The review of Hybrid (The Evolution Trilogy)

This is a story that could be considered a paranormal romance, but it’s so much more than that. The story starts out with a young woman, Caitlin, headed to college and introduces you to her and her four “roommates”, getting right into the feel of starting out in a new place in college and the different types of people you will meet. I immediately liked Caitlin and could understand her situation and the feelings she had of being in a new place, both excitement and intimidation. A new place, new people and an unsure environment and the last thing she’s worried about is a boyfriend or falling in love, even though it seems that people are looking all around and yet she bumps into Steven, a “tall, dark, handsome and athletic” guy you expect to be another womanizer and yet he’s not. Steven is a complex character and he’s sincerely intrigued by Caitlin. You spend the first half or so of the story learning about Caitlin and Steven and watching their relationship develop. Then there is an unexpected turn of events, which sets the baseline for the remainder of the story. You see Steven taken away from everyone he knows and everyone he loves, no one knows who he is, or that he exists. You come to learn about the next evolution in humankind and their trials and tribulations, their wants and needs and the story leaves you wanting for more. All of the main and supporting characters are well built with complex personalities which brings the story to life. You can feel the pain they feel and understand their feelings from excitement, fear, love and lust to sorrow and uncertainty about the future. I couldn't put this book down and read from the start to about 63% in before I stopped and by the time I was about 80% done I knew I’d be buying the remaining two in the trilogy.

I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because aside from a single sentence which didn't seem grammatically correct, the story was nearly flawless. The characters and story had me enchanted from day one and the plot unfolded at just the right pace. This isn't your typical paranormal or vampire story, but it will keep you on your toes and isn't full of “fluff”, but has a lot of deeper issues going on in the sidelines along with the main plot. When I found out this was the authors debut novel I couldn't believe it. I can’t wait to see what else Vanessa writes in the remainder of this trilogy and beyond. I've already borrowed the trilogy on the Kindle so I can decide if I want to buy them all in the Kindle edition or in a physical book.

Evolution Doesn't Come Without Change... - The review of Complications (The Evolution Trilogy)

This is the second book from The Evolution Trilogy by Vanessa Wester. I was already in love with the main characters of the story from Hybrid, but this story took us through the changes experienced in the new evolution of humankind by Steven. How far would you go for the woman (or man) you love? The characters are real and you spend the better part of the time wondering about the changes Steven is going through, the choices he makes and contemplating alongside him if the choices he's made are right. In addition, you learn more about Steven's biological family. Without spoilers, the relationship of his grandparents is amazing and beautiful. Going through the emotions with the characters in the story is easy to slip into, you feel the confusion, the happiness, the joy and the pain right alongside them if you allow yourself to get swept away like I did. It truly is about life and that sometimes there are complications you never could have seen coming, you have to confront what happens in life, even if it's not what you anticipate and everyone has questions on their choices. I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down, at the end I was left conflicted I wanted to read the third book in the series, but I also didn't want to rush this series to the end, knowing there was only one book left.

I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because aside from a single sentence, the story was nearly flawless. The characters and story had me enchanted from day one and the plot unfolded at just the right pace. This isn’t your typical paranormal or vampire story, but it will keep you on your toes and isn't full of “fluff”, but has a lot of deeper issues going on in the sidelines along with the main plot. When I found out this was the authors debut trilogy I couldn't believe it. I can’t wait to see what else Vanessa writes in the remainder of this trilogy and beyond.

Can Change Come Without Sacrifice? - The review of Return (The Evolution Trilogy)

This is the third and final installment of The Evolution Trilogy by Vanessa Wester. I read it in two sittings, once I got about 30% in I just couldn't put it down. The environment and characters were so realistic, even with the paranormal twist I found myself in the world along with the entire cast of characters. From the lovable Susanna to the love/hate relationship I developed with Ingrid I was for all intents and purposes part of this world. I had my suspicions along with some of the characters that things weren't quite what they seemed initially, and that seems to be the underlying theme of the wrap up of this trilogy - not everything is what it seems. Over the course of the story you see change and growth in the characters, much in the same way you see changes as people mature and grow. The ideas and thoughts of the main characters grow, making the characters grow as individuals. I think one of the most powerful underlying themes in the book is that sometimes love isn't enough, and other times it makes all the difference in the world. Another point is sometimes the end is just that - the end, and others it's just the beginning of something else. The raw emotion displayed in this book caught me off guard in comparison to the others and drew me deeper into the story, feeling the pain of the characters so much so that I found myself crying over some parts. I found myself both thoughtful, sad and wanting more at the end of the book. I slept on it, only to realize today that sometimes art (fiction) imitates life and "it is what it is". Overall, the entire trilogy was fantastic and I hope that Vanessa works on the prequel for Emily one day.

Once again Vanessa has created a flawless story, I didn't notice any grammar or spelling errors, which means there either were none or I was so absorbed into the story I didn't see them, which is a HUGE deal to me. 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."

A time to reflect...

This year has been really interesting as far as book sales go. I did not know whether the complete trilogy would be a success or not, and had no way of knowing whether I would actually sell any books.

A few factors helped me along the way...

Being featured in the Gibraltar magazine in January & February meant a lot of downloads of Hybrid (especially in the UK), which resulted in sales of Complications & Return. The sales continued (to my surprise) and I was lucky enough to be featured on FREEBOOKSY recently, which again saw Hybrid downloads rocket (this time in the US)!

To have to be known you have to be seen...

Over the past few weeks, as downloads started to slump again on Amazon, I downloaded a new cover. I thought this might help. Unfortunately, it hasn't and my downloads have got worse. So, I have decided to revert to the original cover. It doesn't really matter since I am learning new tricks all the time, and I hope that I can use my new knowledge of making covers for other books.

As an indie writer, you have to be prepared to evolve and learn as you go.

In time, I might believe in myself enough to pay for a cover designer, editor, proofreader, etc. For now, I have been lucky enough to have brilliant friends who could help me with these jobs and I owe them a lot (they all got a signed copy at least!)

I have failed to mention or discuss sales on smashwords, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble. The reason for this is that they barely happened, BUT... smashwords have recently introduced a feature that allows you to see sales/ downloads on a daily basis (as you can via amazon KDP) and to my shock I am selling books regularly, especially via iBooks - WOW! So, I guess when it comes to smashwords... time will tell! A free book is a great way to get new readers.

ANYWAY... what I mainly wanted to say was ***THANK YOU*** especially to all new readers who give my trilogy a go. I know not everyone likes my books (I have had low ratings - knew it would happen...), but I am apparently connecting with a few of you.

I have to look at the bright side! For a while, I was selling at least a book a day, which was shocking at first... The strange thing is that when you make no sales, any sale is heavenly. When you make them regularly and they seem to stop you miss them more!

All I ask is that if you do read HYBRID and enjoy please make my day by leaving a review. I can only assume that the people who go on to buy the other books enjoy the trilogy, but I don't know since I rarely get reviews.

I know many authors are much more aggressive than me at getting reviews, but I guess my British nature dictates that I only ask those who I know have actually read it. I will never personally review a book I have not read.

Anyway, I will now update the pictures for Hybrid and see what happens.

As for my writing, it has been a real struggle recently. This blog is actually therapeutic! I find my time has been eradicated by family life, lack of motivation, migraines, dry eyes, etc... I guess I still need to recover from my lazer eye surgery operation since I find I can't stare at the computer for long periods of time.

I have started a prequel to the trilogy, but my main project is a historical fiction novel based on the life of my great, great, great grandparents. It is an exciting project, but extremely time-consuming since I have to do loads of research. Patience never was my strong point!

Well, to finish off (& try to get some writing done) I will remember the saying "Rome was not built in one day"... 

Have a great day & thanks for reading,

All the best,

Vanessa

HYBRID

I decided to have a play around to come up with an alternative cover for HYBRID, since I have a suspicion this is what lets it down on the FREE charts. Let's see if it makes a difference...

Some readers have mentioned that the existing cover tells them nothing about the story... so, what do you think?

(BITES NAILS... I have now changed it around 5 times!)

The paperback will have the original cover, since I do not sell or print many of these.

I would love some feedback...

Thanks so much (another 2 hours of my life gone by in a flash...)

All the best,

Vanessa

Read the first book of my trilogy for FREE today!

"A very original paranormal novel with great romance and a unique story-line..."
Christopher Fischer, TOP 500 REVIEWER

"When you first start getting into the story you automatically think Vampires, but as you discover more, Vampires is not the correct term for Steven's new family... It's well worth the read and as I got to the end I was frantically swiping my kindle screen looking for more as I wanted to know what happened next. I will definitely be reading the next book and would highly recommend it."
Orchard Book Club

"Not usually the kind of book I like to read, although I was a big fan of Anne Rice in my youth. The unexpected twist in the tale made for compulsive reading, literally forcing you to discover what happens next. This story had it all, brilliantly written, loads of interesting characters, mystery, romance with an unsettling undercurrent of tension. I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy!"
A Dawes

"I was not sure that this book was going to be my thing, but I couldn't put it down. I loved the characterisation and Vanessa's style of writing - these are 'unbelievable' characters made completely believable!"
Charlotte

"This is a captivating work that crackles and pops off the page with sparkling originality, wit, and insight into the larger themes of love and the human condition. Do yourself a favor and read it.
D. Byron

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