S.C.A.R.S By Julia Ibbotson

Posted on January 27, 2015 by juliaibbotson

Lovely review today and yesterday on my book tour with S.C.A.R.S

Gavin is an ordinary boy with problems like everyone else, when he finds himself in an extraordinary situation and facing the fight of his life. People are calling him Gawain and sending him on a medieval quest. How has he found himself on a horse when he has never ridden one before? How come he has a sword in his hand and terrifying creatures bearing down upon him? He seems to have slipped through into another universe. But can he win the battle of Good against Evil, and can he save the land of Unor ̶ and more importantly, can he save himself?

My Thoughts:

Even though this is a fantasy story for children in their early teens, I really found myself drawn to the story. I loved the fact that Julia had written this book when she was a child and it had been in a desk drawer for…

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Exciting news for 2015!

Posted on January 20, 2015 by juliaibbotson

I’m thrilled to bits to announce that I’ve been selected for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme 2015. I’ll be writing a romance for the scheme, set on the beautiful island of Madeira – and as with my other novels it’ll be creating a strong sense of time and place, for you to transport yourselves to the sights, sounds and smells of the tropical island. More about that later.

I’m excited to be joining the wonderful authors in the RNA and meeting them soon, I hope, both nationally and in the local chapter! I loved the Festival of Romance Fiction in Leighton Buzzard last September and am thrilled to be taking part in the festival this November, this time in Stratford upon Avon. Can’t wait!

The next news is that I’ve been accepted into the hallowed halls of the Society of Authors, along with some very well-known names. So I’m really looking forward to the meetings in London.

A great start to the new year, and I hope that all my readers are also having a wonderful 2015.

Book tour with S.C.A.R.S coming soon!

Posted on December 7, 2014 by juliaibbotson

My dear friend, the lovely JB (of Brook Cottage Books) is organising another global book tour for my latest book – this time it’s S.C.A.R.S, my new children’s book. It’s happening in January/February 2015 so do watch out for it. And if you’re interested in taking part in hosting, do get in touch with JB, contact above on the banner.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by juliaibbotson

Can’t believe I made it!

For the whole of November I’ve been holed up with my laptop, writing my work in progress. Other than when I was working for the university, supporting my doctoral students, and walking in the countryside. Oh and going out and organising family Christmas! Looking back I’m not sure how I did it!

NaNoWriMo has been a great experience. It’s an international support strategy for getting on with your writing (or starting if you’re an aspiring writer). The target is to make 50,000 words by the end of the month. It was the first time I’ve participated and I wasn’t sure about it. There are local groups for support but I knew that I wouldn’t be bale to make the meetings. Very soon, a group of romantic fiction writer friends, some of whom I met at the Festival of Romance Literature this summer, got together and we started our own support group as an off-shoot from NaNoWriMo and named it NaNoRomMo. Every day has started with a visit to the site to compare notes. It’s not competitive with each other, but very encouraging.

It’s not about who gets there first (although I think maybe some of the folks in the local group might have seen it that way!). It’s about helping each other to get the motivation and maintain the momentum to get there, as and when.

All in all, It’s been a good experience; all about competing against myself, setting targets instead of just rambling through a WIP as I normally do. Knowing it didn’t matter if I didn’t make it but that it would be a great achievement if I did; it was about taking part and trying. And it’s been about support and friendship and encouraging each other. I’ve made some lovely new friends with whom I share a lot, as writers and in life.

I’m sure I’ll do it again next year for my next WIP, which will probably be the last in the Drumbeats trilogy. In the meantime above this post is my award certificate and the preview of the cover of the book that won it, Walking in the Rain. Thanks to everyone for all the support … oh, I feel an Oscars speech coming over me …!

S.C.A.R.S giveaway!

Posted on November 13, 2014 by juliaibbotson

S.C.A.R.S giveaway now open on Goodreads! Sign up to enter asap via the link below. Four signed paperback copies of my new children’s book, only just out, to be given away just in time for Christmas! Good luck to everyone.

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/115586?utm_medium=api&utm_source=giveaway_widget

TANYA”S MONDAY POST HALLOWEEN WEEK ON BLOG (RED OR BLACK COVER BOOKS )

Posted on October 27, 2014 by juliaibbotson

What a wonderful review blog today from Tanya, about Drumbeats!

ajbookreviews

TANYA’S MONDAY REVIEW POST
HALLOWEEN WEEK ON BLOG (red or black cover reads too)#mondaychallengbooks

DRUMBEATS BY JULIA IBBOTSON

THE BLURB
Drumbeats is the first novel in a trilogy and follows 18 year old English student Jess through her gap year in West Africa. It’s a rite of passage novel set in the mid-1960s when Jess flees her stifling home background for freedom to become a volunteer teacher and nurse in the Ghanaian bush. Apprehensively, she leaves her first real romantic love behind in the UK, but will she be able to sustain the bond while she is away? With the idealism of youth, she hopes to find out who she really is, and do some good in the world, but little does she realise what, in reality, she will find that year: joys, horrors, tragedy. She must find her way on her own and learn what fate…

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Just finished reading The Thief Taker by CS Quinn

Posted on October 26, 2014 by juliaibbotson

A breath-taking evocation of plague-ridden London of 1665. Thief taker Charlie Tuesday is a fascinating character as is Maria who pleads with him to investigate the gruesome murder of her sister. Charlie realises that the death is part of some horrific master plan to destroy London and sets out to solve the mystery before further deaths occur. But he himself becomes implicated and danger, chases and escapes follow at a wild pace while the plague spreads alarmingly quickly street by street and district by district. Charlie’s pursuit of the truth about the devilish murderer dressed as a plague doctor with beaked mask and heavy black cloak is shrouded by the fear of witchcraft, magic and the mystery of Charlie’s own dark past. His chase leads him into the heart of the dark underbelly of old London town, while he wears the talisman (or foreboding mark?) of the sealed knot around his neck.

The novel flowed and it was well written with a nicely worked narrative structure. Mystery, love story, history, horrors; it’s all there. I was captivated by this story. But sadly the ending seemed rushed and unsatisfactory with mysteries still remaining unresolved; what a pity. A sequel planned, perhaps?