‘Isla’s Inheritance’ now available for preorder

In case you somehow missed me squeeeing* it all over social media like my five-year-old with a paintgun, Isla’s Inheritance is now available for preorder at Amazon.

If Amazon isn’t your thing, you can also find the book at Smashwords, where I’m told you can add it to your library and preview it, but alas not preorder it.

For the less digitally inclined, there will be a paperback available in due course. I don’t have a timeframe on that yet, unfortunately. Rest assured, when I do I’ll be squeeeing that too. And then ordering a huge box of copies so I can roll around in them fondle them smell them OKAY, YES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS!

Soon people will be reading my words, and I feel crazy excited. Also nauseous. And proud. And nauseous. Did I mention nauseous? Eep.

*What do you mean, squeee isn’t a verb?

Isla’s Inheritance teaser: meet Dominic and Jack

Before I start, I wanted to let you guys know that I’m going to have a giveaway when Isla’s Inheritance gets to 50 adds on Goodreads. Only 15 to go!

I think I’ve already mentioned that I’ve been working off some of that “my book comes out this year” nervous energy by playing with Photoshop, making little teaser pictures and promos and so forth. I’ve shared this one with you already:

I thought to celebrate the fact that there are less than three months to go till Isla’s Inheritance hits the virtual shelves (the paperback may take a teeny bit longer; I’m not sure), I’d share another couple of pictures — these of Dominic and Jack, both of whom feature in the book’s blurb.

Isla was content to let her father keep his secrets, but now she can’t stand the touch of iron and her dreams are developing a life of their own. She must discover the truth — before it’s too late.

Seventeen-year-old Isla Blackman only agrees to participate in a Halloween party séance because Dominic, an old crush, wants to. She is sure nothing will happen when they try to contact the spirit of her mother. But the séance receives a chilling reply.

SHE IS NOT DEAD.

Isla doesn’t want to upset her father by prying into the family history he never discusses. When the mysterious and unearthly Jack offers to help her discover the truth, Isla must master her new abilities to protect her loved ones from enemies she never knew existed.

Dominic

Dominic was in the same year at school as Isla’s older cousin, Ryan, making him a couple of years older than her. She had a crush on him in high school, which she’s totally over. Until he kisses her at a Halloween party.

Jack

Isla meets Jack after her life takes a turn for the weird. He is very polite and proper, and has these, um, ears… (As an aside, I could stare at this picture all day. A high-res version of it is actually my desktop wallpaper right now.)

Both of these pictures have been made with legally purchased stock so they are safe to share around. You know, if you wanted to. *shuffles feet*

WOOHOO!

Not a very useful blog post title, I grant you, but I’m pretty pumped.

Because I just finished writing the first draft of the third book in the Isla’s Inheritance trilogy.

My fourth completed novel.

Holy cow.

To celebrate, here are some fireworks. (Also because it may still be the Fourth of July somewhere in America – hi, America!) I’d prefer cupcake cannons but I don’t have a picture of those.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! *spins away in excitement*

Beautiful People: Character Interviews – Isla Blackman

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic didn’t work for me, so I’ve decided to reject that reality and substitute my own. The Notebook Sisters’ Beautiful People is a new meme designed to help writers (and anyone that reads the writers’ blogs!) learn about their characters.

So here are ten questions about Isla Blackman, she of Isla’s Inheritance fame. (Fame? Just go with it.)

What is their full name and is there a story behind why they got it? 

Isla Rose Blackman. Isla is a Scottish name and, although she has no Scottish heritage that she knows of, her parents met in Edinburgh. And roses were her mother’s favourite flower, or so her father told her once. Her mother died giving birth to Isla, so she doesn’t know for certain.

How old are they, and when were they born?

She is 17 at the start of Isla’s Inheritance, although her birthday is a week later. She was born almost eighteen years ago. (I originally finished the novel three years ago so it was eighteen years before that…but it’s a sliding scale till release day!)

Describe their physical appearance. (Bonus questions: 1. What is their race/nationality/ethnicity? 2. Do you have a picture of them? If so, include it!)

Isla is 5′ 4″ with brown wavy hair, usually worn in a ponytail, and brown eyes. She has pale skin and burns easily. Her father is English and her mother’s heritage is a bit of a mystery, but she’s where Isla got her looks from.

Jenna-Louise Coleman, who looks a lot like I imagine Isla would. (Source.)

Describe your character’s personality first in one word, and then elaborate with a few sentences.

Pragmatic. Isla was raised by her father to have a sceptical, logical mind. She never really got into crystals, ghosts and incense when her cousin Sarah did. The fact she agrees to participate in a seance at all is only because Dominic wanted to, and he’s hot. 😉

What theme song(s) fit their personality and story arc?

This song is the hardest one here, because I don’t write to music, so I don’t automatically associate my characters with music. All I can think of are parts of Wake Me Up by Evanescence, except the person that song is about is coming from a much darker place than Isla is so it’s not quite perfect.

Which one of the seven deadly sins describes your character?

None of them, really; she’s a lot more complex than that. She has moments of sloth, envy, lust, wrath and pride. Not really much gluttony to speak of, although she does love her coffee. Who doesn’t?

If they were an element (fire, water, earth, air), which one would they be?

Earth.

What is their favourite word?

“Sorry!”

Who’s one person they really miss? (It could be someone who’s passed away, or someone they’re not close to anymore, or someone who’s moved away.)

Isla never met her mother, but she misses the idea of having a mother more than anything, even though her Aunt Elizabeth has been a surrogate mother, especially since Isla moved in with her aunt and two cousins when she started high school. (Her dad lives on a farm an hour out of Canberra, so it was easier for Isla to move than to commute all the time.)

What sights, sounds, and smells remind them of that person?

None, really, because she has no basis for comparison. She hasn’t even seen a picture of her mother. It wasn’t her idea to try and summon her at the seance, and afterwards she wishes it had never been suggested…