Visions of Zarua update & #Fantasy #Review Request #WWWblogs

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I found out over the weekend that my planned 1 day book blitz had fallen through. I sulked for a bit (a few days if I’m truthful), drunk some wine, contemplated giving up, and then today I had a breakthrough – why not arrange my own mini tour. With indie publishing anything is possible, isn’t it?

I know it won’t have the reach of a properly organised tour, but I’m hoping all you lovely bloggers and retweeters will help me spread the word.

The plan (which I am making up as I go along) is to have a week where people agree to post their reviews of Visions of Zarua.

I’m looking for – book reviewers, book bloggers and readers who enjoy fantasy and would be willing to offer their time reading my debut book.

I’m offering – a free ebook of Visions of Zarua and my eternal gratitude.

In exchange for – an honest review on your blog, Amazon, Goodreads etc. I’d also be happy to take part in interviews, Q&A sessions, guest posts etc. If you haven’t time to review the book, maybe you might consider one of these alternatives.

Time scale – I was thinking of 5 weeks time w/c 27th June. I know that’s short notice but I am an impatient sort of person and I hate sitting around waiting for things to happen. If that date doesn’t work for you, but you are willing to help me out then please still get in touch.

What I hope to achieve – I’m hoping to drum up some interest in my book and I think the best way to achieve that is with reviews. Blitzing the internet with reviews over a set week will hopefully spread the reach and persuade people that it’s worth taking a chance on Visions of Zarua.

I may get no response from this request, or maybe I’ll be inundated with replies, who knows. All I can do is take a chance, as with every aspect of self publishing.

Even if you haven’t time to get involved, I still appreciate any retweets and reposts you are able to do over the coming weeks.

Please leave any comments below, or use the contact form on the website to email me. Thanks for reading.

***

Here’s what others have been saying about Visions of Zarua on Amazon and Goodreads.

‘It’s so lovely to read a book that is a stand alone completed tapestry… I definitely recommend you give this book a try as it’s a real all in-one fantastical adventure story.’

‘Wonderful fantasy meets mystery!’

‘Dark sorcery with slithering secrets… Visions of Zarua casts a shadow of excitement giving the fantasy genre a nice little jolt.’

‘Thrilling and dark fantasy novel… from the very first chapter I was hooked. Overall I just love this book… I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work’

‘Enjoyable read with a hint of classic “who dunnit”…’

‘A brilliant read… would recommend to anyone who likes murder, mystery and of course fantasy’

‘The perfect amount of epicness… one of those fantasy books that can please any reader’

‘If you want a great book that takes you away from the monotony of daily life, then this is the book for you’

‘Gripping, well written story…the intertwined stories kept me gripped until the end. I recommend, even if you’re not a fantasy fan!’

‘…putting this book down, because of the non-reader-friendly-world I live in, made me unhappy. Mrs Rogerson deserves standing ovation for her debut novel… I will applaud with pride and appreciation. Visions of Zarua was simply a story that I love.’

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria. Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate. Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer. The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

Links to recent reviews can be found on the Visions of Zarua page

#Tuesdaybookblog #Bookreview The Sapphire Legend by E.L.Tenenbaum #YA #RBRT

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Title – The Sapphire Legend Part 1

Author – E.L Tenenbaum

Genre – YA Fantasy

I received a free copy from the author in exchange of an honest review – via Rose Amber’s Book Review team.

Blurb

Sapere has always been different. In her tribe, select families are blessed with a gift that is passed through the generations from father to son. But something went wrong when Sapere was born, because she has her family’s gift and she shouldn’t.

When Saphere’s village is attacked the night of her wedding, the survivors flee to the Wild in hopes of finding refuge in a dangerous place stalked by deadly predators. There they struggle to protect what little remains of their tribe and their traditions, many of which don’t seem to fit into their new life. Out here, Sapere feels like an outsider on the precipice of two worlds unable to fit into the old way, unaccepted by the new, and terrified of being shunned by both.

Through the survivors’ fight for survival, Sapere learns that she can be a victim of circumstances or master of fate. Can she rise above the nature of her birth and mold her own future? Can she be herself and earn the villagers’ respect? Or will she forever be shackled by the anomaly that makes her different?

First Thoughts

I loved the cover of the book and the title was intriguing. I also felt like trying something a bit different to the standard fantasy format. This world of tribal life was just what I was looking for.

Summary

The first few chapters are read with anticaption as you know from the blurb that something terrible is about to happen. But the author allows you to get to know the main character, Sapere and understand her situation before throwing her life into turmoil. I like how the tribal world and their beliefs are put across. There is no info dump, you learn as you go along.

Characters

Sapere was a good main character in a difficult situation. At points I did find her a little naïve with regards to the other characters feelings, but overall I really liked her. I liked the supporting cast of Reo and Venatore and wanted them all to find happiness after everything they had been through.

Writing Style

It is very unusual for me to read a book in first person present tense. It worked well for this story and I really enjoyed the change of style.

Issues with the book

The only fault I could point out with this book would be the description of some of the animals in the Wild. They sounded suspiciously like snakes and elephants. I understand that the characters may not have known the animal names, but it seemed unlikely and pulled me out of the story. As I read these passages, I was reminded of a famous piece of writing advice, though I’ve no idea who said it. ‘If it looks and sounds like a rabbit, call it a rabbit.’ Or something along those lines.

Final Thoughts

Although at points I thought the story might be a bit too small and insular, I really came to love the world the author created. I couldn’t believe the story ended where it did and was desperate to find out more. I’ve already bought the second book and look forward to reading and reviewing it in the future.

Recommend to

I would happily recommend this to those who enjoy YA Fantasy and fantasy in general.

Rating: 5 stars (for a while it was a 4 star book, but it certainly grew on me and by the end it was definitely a 5 star read).

To buy links Amazon UK Amazon com

#Audiobook #bookreview The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss #tuesdaybookblog

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Note – This is my first audio book review.

Author: Patrick Rothfuss

Title: Name of the Wind – Book 1 Kingkiller Chronicles

Genre: Fantasy

Type: Audio

Length: TOO LONG! 28 hours

Narrator: Rupert Degas

Blurb:

Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.

First Impressions:

I chose The Name of the Wind as my first audio book as I really wanted to read it, but couldn’t face a book of that magnitude for the few hours I have set aside for reading.

My husband dubbed the book ‘Long of the Wind’ this should have been an indication of what was to come.

Narration style:

For me it was hard listening to a man doing a woman’s voice, though so far there has only been one woman in the book – Kvothe’s mother. Rupert Degas softens his voice for this role, and also to make his voice sound younger for Kvothe as a child. It sort of worked, but as the story dragged on, I became annoyed listening to it.

Summary:

It is a very long book… but nothing happens. It is brilliantly written with lots of details, but I want a book to go somewhere and this did not. I guess Patrick Rothfuss’s slow writing style is not for me.

Final Thoughts:

I did not listen to the whole book, though I really tried. I stopped at chapter 19. It was so boring I kept leaving the room forgetting I was listening to it. I have no inclination to pick up the book to find out what happened. I’m sorry to say that I just didn’t care for the main character or what happened in his past.

Recommend to: Insomniacs and readers who enjoy slow building epics.

Rating: 2 stars.

***

I really wanted to give audio books a try, maybe starting with this one was a mistake. Or maybe audio books are just not for me and I am being unfair to the author. I shall be listening to ‘Girl on a Train’ next and will post a review on that soon.

Has anyone got any suggestions for a good audio book?

Birthday #ebook #giveaway results

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I have picked a name to receive the free ebook of Visions of Zarua and contacted the winner this morning. Well done Em on Keystrokeblog, I really hope you enjoy Visions of Zarua.

I appreciate all the lovely birthday wishes I received and I’m sorry if your name didn’t get picked.

There will be another chance to win some free copies of the ebook in two weeks time. Brook Cottages are running a Book Blitz day for me on Saturday 4th of June and there will be a Rafflecopter giveaway as well. I hope you can join me for that.

Have a brilliant weekend everyone. Happy reading.

Birthday #Giveaway – #ebook copy of Visions of Zarua

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

To celebrate my birthday today and the 6 month birthday of my book, I thought I’d run a mini giveaway. Just leave a comment below and share this with all your friends. I’ll pick a name out of a hat (or something similar!) Friday evening 20th May. The more responses I get, the more names I’ll pick. Join in my birthday celebration now.

***

See what others have been saying about Visions of Zarua on Amazon and Goodreads.

‘It’s so lovely to read a book that is a stand alone completed tapestry… I definitely recommend you give this book a try as it’s a real all in-one fantastical adventure story.’

‘Wonderful fantasy meets mystery!’

‘Dark sorcery with slithering secrets… Visions of Zarua casts a shadow of excitement giving the fantasy genre a nice little jolt.’

‘Thrilling and dark fantasy novel… from the very first chapter I was hooked. Overall I just love this book… I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work’

‘Enjoyable read with a hint of classic “who dunnit”…’

‘A brilliant read… would recommend to anyone who likes murder, mystery and of course fantasy’

‘The perfect amount of epicness… one of those fantasy books that can please any reader’

‘If you want a great book that takes you away from the monotony of daily life, then this is the book for you’

‘Gripping, well written story…the intertwined stories kept me gripped until the end. I recommend, even if you’re not a fantasy fan!’

***

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

Sample chapters are available on Smashwords Amazon UK Amazon US

Don’t forget to comment and share.

Thank you.

#WordlessWednesday – Cold day in Camber, East Sussex #photo

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

#Bookreview Joe Abercrombie – Shattered Sea Trilogy #YA #Fantasy #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

Author: Joe Abercrombie

Title: Shattered Sea trilogy

Genre: YA Fantasy

Note: It is hard for me to review this trilogy without spoilers. I cannot make all the points I want to, so please forgive the vague nature of this review.

Blurb Book 1: Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain his throne. First he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea. And he must do it with only his good hand.

First Impressions: First of all, I love the book covers. Stunning, aren’t they.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Joe Abercrombie’s YA trilogy as his adult books are quite dark. I wasn’t disappointed, rather I fell for Half a King and couldn’t put it down. The minute I finished reading it, I ordered the next book.

Each book has different viewpoint characters

Book 1 – Yarvi

Book 2 – Brand & Thorn

Book 3 – Skara, Raith & Koll

I enjoyed all the viewpoints and felt for each character in their own respective stories. However, switching the viewpoints gave you distance from the characters you previously liked and rooted for, so it was hard to adapt to each book in that sense.

Loved: The enthralling pace and the intrigue running through each book.

Annoyed by: The constant reference to ‘deep cunning’ and a bit too much gritty talk of farting and snot. I did not like the plot direction in the last book and felt let down by it.

Final thoughts: I loved this as a Viking Trilogy, why did it have to become something else?

For me the end was unsatisfying. There was a great battle, which changed everything, but after that it all seemed too rushed and underwhelming. There is a lot I would like to say here, but don’t want to spoil the read for you.

I still think the Shattered Sea is a brilliant trilogy and really enjoyed reading it.

Recommend: To anyone who reads YA fantasy and fantasy in general.

Star Rating:

Book 1 – Half a King 5 star

Book 2 – Half a World 5 Stars

Book 3 – Half a War 4 stars

Overall trilogy rating 4 stars. I really wanted to give it a 5, but the ending just didn’t satisfy me.

Have you read the trilogy, what did you think?

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Single flower or bud – Echinacea #photo

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

This is my first time of joining in Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. When I saw the single flower challenge I thought of this little gem. It is an Echinacea – Cone Flower, taken at the wonderful Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, UK.

Visions of Zarua – 6 months since publication day #WWWblogs #Indie

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Suzanne Rogerson Author

I can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I self published my first novel, Visions of Zarua. Here’s my summary of the good and bad of self publishing.

Background:

The ebook went live 16th November 2015 and the paperback went live 14th December 2015.

I had pre-orders in place for the ebook so sales were very good on the first day, and a few days after as well.

First thoughts:

I was terrified, excited and nervous, but looking back I was also completely naïve thinking life would change for me overnight. I wasn’t expecting an instant hit, but I did think things would move faster than they have.

My favourite things about publishing:

1.Sharing my book with the world. 2. Calling myself a published author. 3. Seeing the reviews from people who have taken a chance and bought my book, and also from those reviewers I’ve contacted directly. 4. I still adore my book cover and love looking at the poster I have above my desk.

I’ve had some wonderful reviews on Amazon and Goodreads – I wish I could share each review here, but will have to satisfy myself with sharing a few of my favourite quotes instead.

‘It’s so lovely to read a book that is a stand alone completed tapestry… I definitely recommend you give this book a try as it’s a real all in-one fantastical adventure story.’

‘Wonderful fantasy meets mystery!’

‘Dark sorcery with slithering secrets… Visions of Zarua casts a shadow of excitement giving the fantasy genre a nice little jolt.’

‘Thrilling and dark fantasy novel… from the very first chapter I was hooked. Overall I just love this book… I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work’

‘Enjoyable read with a hint of classic “who dunnit”…’

‘A brilliant read… would recommend to anyone who likes murder, mystery and of course fantasy’

‘The perfect amount of epicness… one of those fantasy books that can please any reader’

‘If you want a great book that takes you away from the monotony of daily life, then this is the book for you’

‘Gripping, well written story…the intertwined stories kept me gripped until the end. I recommend, even if you’re not a fantasy fan!’

I’m very happy with these stats so far – 5 x 5 star and 4 x 4 star reviews on Amazon. 5 reviews and 7 ratings on Goodreads.

Least favourite part of self publishing:

Trying to get noticed when you have a non existent marketing budget and very little clue on what works best.

Methods of advertising I’ve tried:

Discounted ebook price – I tried this twice. Over Christmas the reduced price resulted in a handful of sales and the second one just before Easter resulted in a couple of sales.

Goodreads Giveaways – Good and bad. Visions of Zarua is on over 800 bookshelves because of the giveaways. The worldwide giveaway was much more successful than UK only, attracting 2062 people. However the postage costs involved are high and I haven’t sold any books because of the giveaway as far as I can tell.

Facebook Ad – I received a handful of new followers on FB, but no book sales.

Mslexia magazine Ad – No sales.

Goodreads Ad pay per click – Paid $10 which is used up as people click the ad. So far my ad has supposedly been seen by over 4K people but no clicks and no sales.

Anyone have any suggestions for other places to advertise?

Unexpected benefits of self publishing:

I started a blog to have an online presence, but I’ve found I really love blogging. I’ve met lots of interesting people through blogging and because of it I’ve also become a reviewer via Rosie’s Ambers book review team. I’ve been able to share my photos and rediscovered my love of photography. I’ve also shared recipes and places I love through the #AtoZ blog challenge and #WordlessWedneday photos.

Final thoughts:

It’s a lot of work for very little gain and the hard work doesn’t stop at publication. I haven’t had a pay cheque yet, though I still need to declare myself as self employed.

Knowing all this, I would still do it again. It’s a wonderful feeling to publish your own book and even better when a review tells you someone enjoyed it. There aren’t many better feelings to be had, although a million pound publishing deal wouldn’t go amiss.

News:

I’m running a one day book blitz via Brook Cottages on Saturday 4th June with a Rafflecopter giveaway. Please join in and share if you get the chance.

Call for help:

If you have read Visions of Zarua, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon, goodreads, smashwords or any books sites that you normally use. It really helps my credibility as an indie author and helps others decide to buy my book. I also love to read your feedback.

If you are inspired by these wonderful reviews to pick up a copy of Visions of Zarua, here are some purchase links:

Amazon UK Amazon US Kobo Smashwords

Goodreads

Now if I ever hope to publish my next book, I have to finish writing the damn thing. Please leave any comments and suggestions you might have and I’ll get back to you.