Competition to win a copy of Steven King's book - "On Writing"...

Hi I'm doing a Blog Tour - this week and next.  For a chance to win, click on the Tour Host's below  and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Steven King's - "On Writing".   Caroline  xx         

Date	Tour Host
12th May	Brook Cottage Books
13th May	Tracy Riva Books and Reviews
14th May	The Book Corner
15th May	Everything Books and Authors
	Rachel Brimble Romance
16th May	Girl meets Books
19th May	Inheritance Books with Rhoda Baxter
	Victoria’s Pages of Romance
20th May	jgrwriter
21st May	Cometbabesbooks
22nd May	Sylv Jenkins
23rd May	allthingsbookie

Giveaway

2 x A4 notebooks
1 x A5 notebook
1 x A6 notebook
A pack of pens
A box of notelets and envelopes
A copy of Stephen King’s “On Writing”

For your chance to enter to grab some of the swag in this tour giveaway, follow Caroline on Twitter (@CarolineStorer6) and your answer in the comments on any tour host post to this question:

“Marsallas is a man who hides his warmth under a cold and arrogant front. Which actor do you think would be suitable to play him in The Roman movie?”

Tell us what you think, and you’ll be entered into the draw. Winners will be chosen by the author after the giveaway closes on 25th May 2014. Don’t forget to leave your Twitter name in the comment too!

Meet My Main Character...

Meet My Main Character

Thank you Judith Arnopp for tagging me in the Meet My Main Character Blog hop. You can read Judith’s (fabulous) blog post here

Firstly, apologies for the delay in blogging up this post (I should have done it on the 19th of April) but my main PC has been misbehavin’, and I’m not tecci enough to blog this up on my mobile phone. Anyway, PC is now fixed so here goes…

What is the name of my main character? Is he real or fictitious?

Aulus Epidius Marsallas is totally fictitious but I have drawn inspiration from real life heroes such as Spartacus. I’ve also been inspired by the many Roman films I’ve watched over the years, such as BenHur, Quo Vardis and Cleopatra. Being a writer is great as you get to watch, read, and ogle about great people all the time – all in the name of research of course! But if I have to think of one person/character who inspired me to write Marsallas’s story then it was Maximus Decimus Meridius – a.k.a Russell Crowe in The Gladiator. I’ve watched this film about 10 tens now and I’m still bowled over by his gorgeousness! He is the typical alpha male Roman hero IMHO.


When and where is the story set?

The story is set in and around Rome in AD79. However, there are flashback scenes 6 years previously when the Hero and Heroine (Justina) first meet each other in their home town of Herculaneum. The date – AD79 – is, as you may recall, a pivotal date in Roman history, as later in the year Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying all of Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, the majority of the story is set in Rome – Marsallas is a charioteer in the Circus Maximus and he also has a large farm (Villa Rustica) just outside Rome. This is where the heroine ends up (but I won’t spoil it too much!)

What should we know about him?

Marsallas left Herculaneum and fled to Rome as a young man because the only woman he’d ever loved betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress. This has made him bitter, and he trusts no woman, refusing to let anyone ever hurt him again as Justina did six years ago. He’s dedicated to life in the Circus Maximus and excels at the sport, not caring if he lives or dies as he races around the arena. He’s made himself very rich by being the best in the Circus, and this has allowed him to buy up a large farm and become a very successful businessman.

What is his main conflict? What messes up his life?

His life is hard. Endless races, endless wins, has made him tough, not just on the outside but also on the inside. And he refuses to allow anyone (male or female) get close to him. He has few friends and acquaintances outside of the Circus Maximus, preferring to keep himself to himself. He has lovers – but only on his terms. Then Justina comes to see him at the Circus to ask him to return to Herculaneum as his uncle is dying. Marsallas has no interest in ever returning to Herculaneum, but when he sees Justina for the first time in six years all the emotions he’d long supressed come back to haunt him. He wants her like he’s never wanted another woman. And he means to get her…but only on his terms…

What is Marsallas’s personal goal?

Before Justina comes back into his life, Marsallas’s goal was money – and the pursuit of it. He wanted to be richer than his uncle – the uncle that took Justina away from him by offering her more money than he’d had at the time to become his mistress – or so he believed...

What is the book's title?

The title of my book is called – THE ROMAN

When will the book be released?

The Roman was released in e-book format on the 20th of February 2014, but will be available as a paperback via Amazon on the 28th of May 2014.

If anyone else would be interested in doing this Blog hop tour then follow the same format as above. If you could mention me in the beginning that would be lovely! Thanks – Caroline x

THE ROMAN - ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him. And now, the Roman will have his revenge… Marsallas and Justina were young, beautiful and desperately in love once, until a tragic betrayal tore them apart. Six years have passed since that day and Marsallas has since thrown himself into the deadly world of chariot racing, gaining fortune, fame, and a salacious reputation throughout Rome. His bed could be kept warm by a different woman each night if he chooses, but his heart remains iced over as the memory of Justina’s betrayal continues to haunts him. The last thing he expects is to see her again, but when she steps back into his life he sees a chance to avenge his broken heart. But beneath the hurt, an attraction so intense still burns between the two, and as their fates begin to intertwine once more, their determination to resist one another starts to falter…
On Amazon.com - http://ow.ly/tPGTX
 On Amazon.co.uk - http://ow.ly/tPHfJ
On Barnes and Noble - http://ow.ly/tPHvY
On Kobo - http://ow.ly/tPI1N

Fiction Addiction Blog Tour

One thing I've learned (if that's the right word to use) since I've been published (all of 2 months now!) is the sheer amount of promotion you have to do to get your book "out there"! Currently, I blog up in over 100 FaceBook promo sites and Tweet. I was recommended that I try Shaz Goodwin - Ficton Additcion Book Tours for a promo spot. Highly recommeded! The link to my Clog Tour is here

Harper Impulse - meet the author....ME!

My publisher has put up a blog post about me - which is nice!

Check it out here:

http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/meet-caroline-storer/

Promo...promo...promo...

Yup!  That's what I've been doing since the 20th of February when my debut release "The Roman" launched itself into the big world of book publication.

As a first time author it's something you just have to do.  Unless you just happen to have a name that you can trade on (famous parents/married to royalty etc. etc.), or you are  Celeb of sorts (A - Z lister and anything in-between) you have to promote yourself like no-one's business if you want your books to sell. 

Once friends and family have bought a copy, then any sales after that are down to hard work, frankly.  I've spent hours and hours on tinternet (my spelling!) promoting my book.  I've done quite a few blogs, and the latest is here if you would like to go and have a look.  I'm talking, of all things, about my wedding shoes! 

However, if the above sounds like I'm whinging - believe me it's not meant to be!  I've made lots of new "friends" on BookFace (my version again) and Twitter.  I've had some lovely reviews as well (not many - but quality rather than quantity IMHO!)  And in truth, it's been a blast.  I've even managed to gain myself a couple of "fans"!  Quite, quite lovely to be honest.

So, I'm now well into the revisions of Book 2 and that should (I hope) be released later this year.

THE ROMAN - ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him.  And now, the Roman will have his revenge…  Amazon *****5 star review – “A Perfect Voice for Historical Fiction” – Historical Romance Reviews – AND - Harlequin author, Michelle Styles says – “A lovely debut from a highly talented author. Her eye for historical detail helps to bring this steamy emotional roller coaster of a story to life. A fantastic read for when you want to escape into another time and place.”

On Amazon.com - http://ow.ly/tPGTX 

On Amazon.co.uk - http://ow.ly/tPHfJ

On Barnes and Noble - http://ow.ly/tPHvY

On Kobo - http://ow.ly/tPI1N

Speak soon - Caroline x

My book is OUT today!

Just wanted to let you all know that my historical romance “The Roman” is out today!  I’m beyond excited! 

If you would like to buy my book then the link is here  

Thank you – Caroline x

The blurb
Famous charioteer, Aulus Epidius Marsallas wants revenge against Justina Philipus - the only woman he’s ever loved, but who’d betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress.  Forced to meet Marsallas for the first time in six years, Justina is shocked at the changes she sees in him.  Gone is the carefree youth she once loved, now replaced by a hard muscular stranger.  But there is no denying the attraction that still flows between them, and when his uncle dies, Marsallas offers sculptress Justina a challenge – a bronze stature of himself, and his four horse chariot, to be displayed at the Circus Maximus.  Justina knows that this commission is just what she needs to make a name for herself, and give her the freedom she covets, so she accepts Marsallas’s challenge.  However, Justina is unprepared when Marsallas states one further condition – she must become his mistress.  But Justina has a secret, she’s still a virgin, she just hasn’t told Marsallas yet… 

 

My Writing Process - Blog Tour

Today (well it's actually tomorrow - but I'm away from my PC tomorrow so I'm posting early!) is "My Writing Process" blog tour day, when writers answer questions about their writing process.  Last week, fellow author Judith Arnopp posted hers.  You can check it out here

Judith writes fabulous historical romances set in medieval times, and also the Elizabethan period.  I once met Judith on a writing weekend in Fishguard a few years ago and she's a lovely lady.  Many thanks for the invitation, Judith.

So, what is my writing process?
I write around my working, and home, life (no surprises there!)  Luckily for me I only work part-time now (3 days a week).  But my job as an Environmental Health Officer can be quite stressful, and I often find that once I get home from work I’m emotionally drained to think about writing.  But saying that, since I’ve had a contract and a two book deal with HarperImpulse I’m finding that not to be an excuse anymore as a deadline tends to concentrate the mind somewhat, so I’m writing more or less every day now!  I tend to do most of my writing sitting in an easy chair in our bedroom with my feet on a footstool and the laptop on a small laptop table.  The DH watches TV whilst I type away to my heart’s content.  The only thing I need to get into “the zone” is a pair of earplugs to mute the sound of the TV. 
What am I working on?
That’s an easy question to answer.  My second contracted book which is due in at the end of February!  But notwithstanding that, I have a Viking on the go and a Regency that’s begging to be written. 
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Hopefully, because my “voice” is different from others!  But my love of history definitely influences my work.  Sometimes I have to reign myself in and not overload my books with too much history.  After all, I am writing a romance with a HEA!
Why do I write what I do?
I write what I love to read in a nutshell.  I’ve read romances of all different genres for over 30 years now, and particularly love the “Cinderella” type story with a tortured hero and heroine who journey to their HEA. 
How does your writing process work?
For many years now I’ve suffered from insomnia.  To get to sleep I normally make up stories in my head.  The beginning of a love story between two individuals set almost anywhere!  Then by the end of the first chapter I’ve normally fallen asleep.  (My hard drive is full of “Chapter 1” ideas!).  I also get ideas from reading voraciously.  In my debut book for HarperImpulse – “The Roman”, the idea came from reading a children’s book about Herculaneum that I found in the library one day.  I often find children’s history books (lots of pictures) spark an idea much more readily than a weighty historical tome!  In this particular book there was a villa discovered at Herculaneum which had lots of bronze statutes.  Justina, my heroine in “The Roman” is a sculptress and she lives and sculpts in a huge villa in Herculaneum!  But when it comes to writing the whole book I’m definitely a “pantster” though.  The idea starts and just flows from there.  I’ve tried to plot out books, but to no avail.  The characters just take over and demand to have “their” story written, and not some script I’ve developed for them. 

If you would like to buy my debut book “The Roman”, then it releases on the 20^th of February 2014.  Here’s the blurb :  The Roman – Famous charioteer, Aulus Epidius Marsallas wants revenge against Justina Philipus - the only woman he’s ever loved, but who’d betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress.  Forced to meet Marsallas for the first time in six years, Justina is shocked at the changes she sees in him.  Gone is the carefree youth she once loved, now replaced by a hard muscular stranger.  But there is no denying the attraction that still flows between them, and when his uncle dies, Marsallas offers sculptress Justina a challenge – a bronze stature of himself, and his four horse chariot, to be displayed at the Circus Maximus.  Justina knows that this commission is just what she needs to make a name for herself, and give her the freedom she covets, so she accepts Marsallas’s challenge.  However, Justina is unprepared when Marsallas states one further condition – she must become his mistress.  But Justina has a secret, she’s still a virgin, she just hasn’t told Marsallas yet…

 Amazon.co.uk link is here  

Amazon.com link is here 

Facebook is here  

Twitter is here = 

 Any author’s wanting to participate in this Blogtour – then please post a Blog on your own Blog on the 17^th of February 2014 using this format and mentioning me in the blurb at the beginning.  Then, if you can, link 3 other authors at the end of your Blog who should then post their Blog’s the following week (i.e. 24^th February).  Thanks – Caroline