My goals for 2023

 I always love this topic from Long and Short Reviews. It's nice to give some thought to what my goals are for the year, writing-wise and otherwise. I have a set of resolutions I set every year, but I always try to think of others as well.

My usual resolutions are to read one book, watch one film and try one new food every month. Last year I managed 30 books (as tracked by the Goodreads challenge), 45 new foods and I don't know how many films, but it was definitely more than 12. I hope to do the same this year - and since I've watched 3 films already, I think that one is well on the way.

I also plan to see as many plays as I can and try to finish off my list of Shakespeare plays, as I'm aiming to see all of them on stage at some point. I have tickets for about five at the moment, so that one is going well.

As far as writing goes, I plan to write more in the Rock My World series and possibly branch out with a couple of new writing challenges. We'll see how those go, but I've just started a new one, so fingers crossed.

So what are your goals for 2023?

The Start of Something - OUT NOW

 He dominates the charts, but can he dominate her heart?

Pop-rock singer Tamsin Keller likes to dominate, but when she breaks up with her cheating ex-boyfriend, she visits BDSM club Dante’s for another reason—to submit.

Her experience is heightened when she locks eyes with a mysterious stranger, who turns out to be rock star and Dominant Aspen LaRoche. Fascinated by Tamsin, he invites her to his holiday home for the weekend and Tamsin accepts, hoping to discover more about her submissive side.

Aspen proves to be an expert tutor, and Tamsin finds herself addicted to the pleasures he shows her. When Aspen also discovers she is a singer, he offers her band an audition with his recording company, and Tamsin jumps at the chance, knowing he can provide opportunities that she has never had before.

But when Tamsin’s jealous ex reappears in her life, will Tamsin’s career and happiness be over, or will this be the start of something for both her and Aspen?

Out now from Totally Bound  or from Amazon. 

Your favourite crafty thing to do

 I had to try this topic from Long and Short Reviews as it's the last one for the year, but with a slight twist, as up until now I don't tend to do anything crafty. I've never been good at sewing, knitting or any hobby involving my hands, unless you count writing, which I don't.

So in the New Year I plan to look into possible crafts.

I know people who cross-stitch, which looks less difficult than traditional sewing, so that might be worth looking into. And, to stretch a point slightly, my husband is a keen photographer, so I may look into improving my photographic skills. I'm not bad at finding attractive shots, it's just a matter of learning the skills to take them.

I will also be eagerly looking at everyone else's posts for crafty ideas.

And as I've mentioned my writing, I just thought I'd add that I have a new one coming out on 27th December, the second in the Rock My World series - "The Start of Something".

He dominates the charts, but can he dominate her heart?

Pop-rock singer Tamsin Keller likes to dominate, but when she breaks up with her cheating ex-boyfriend, she visits BDSM club Dante’s for another reason—to submit.

Her experience is heightened when she locks eyes with a mysterious stranger, who turns out to be rock star and Dominant Aspen LaRoche. Fascinated by Tamsin, he invites her to his holiday home for the weekend and Tamsin accepts, hoping to discover more about her submissive side.

Aspen proves to be an expert tutor, and Tamsin finds herself addicted to the pleasures he shows her. When Aspen also discovers she is a singer, he offers her band an audition with his recording company, and Tamsin jumps at the chance, knowing he can provide opportunities that she has never had before.

But when Tamsin’s jealous ex reappears in her life, will Tamsin’s career and happiness be over, or will this be the start of something for both her and Aspen?

Have a great Christmas and New Year, everyone!

Share your morning routine

 The actual topic this week from Long and Short Reviews was "Share your morning or bedtime routine", but my bedtime routine is boring, so I decided to stick to the morning. 

I am weird, apparently, in that I get up two hours before I'm due to log in to work from home. I know many would say it would be great to just jump out of bed five minutes before work started, but I'm not built that way - I like to have a relaxing morning before I start work. I don't like to be rushing around getting ready.

So after getting washed and dressed, I make breakfast, feed the cats, and then get online for an hour. I check my email, check Facebook, do any promo I may need to do, and get a small amount of writing done. I also waste a bit of time on the SongPop app, which for some reason I have never grown out of.

And then it's usually time to log in to work, and I won't get chance to write, surf or anything else until lunch.

Well, it works for me. I used to save getting dressed until I'd finished eating and messing around online, but I find I can't write in a dressing gown. My entire writer's routine consists of putting clothes on.

So what's your morning or bedtime routine?

COMING SOON - ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

December 1st-25th

Goodies Given Away Every Day Totaling $450

https://ellenmint.blog/advent-calendar/

It’s Christmas every day with this romantic Advent Calendar giveaway. Twenty-Five authors have teamed up to bring you over $450 worth of prizes. Every day another door opens and another giveaway chance for you to win!

Each day, return to the site to click on the calendar and open the door to another fantastic prize. Be swept away this holiday season by gripping romance, pampering treats, cozy gifts, and an amazing offer hidden inside the calendar.

The giveaway is sponsored by these wonderful authors:

Ellen Mint • Jordyn Kross • Caroline Akervik • Wendi Zwaduk • Totally Entwined Group • T. Strange • Katherine Grant • Heather DiAngelis • Tanith Davenport • Liz Paffel • TJ Finn • Melissa McClone • TJ Finn • AE Lister • Elizabeth Cole • S. J. Coles • Lonna Seibert • Aurora Russell • Rianne Thaxton • Tigris Eden • Delta James • V.J. Allison • Monica Barrie • Cynthia Terelst • Sara Ohlin • Jaqueline Snowe

Favourite social media platform and why

 Okay, when I saw this prompt from Long and Short Reviews I felt old. My publisher Totally Bound has been asking for TikTok reviewers recently and I have to admit I never use it - I know people who do, but have never had any interest in it. I also have a personal Instagram but not a writing one, which I probably should sort out sometime. And I have no idea what's going to happen with Twitter.

My favourite social media platform is still Facebook.

Why? 

It's easy to stay connected with people (although I can never figure out the algorithms they use for putting notifications on my feed), it's easy to share my writing, and I'm addicted to hidden-object games. Yes, I admit that - pointless as they are, I love them. I've played all the iterations of Criminal Case, much as my husband rolls his eyes at this.

It also introduced me to SongPop, although I have that on an app now.

So what's your favourite social media platform?

What sci-fi/fantasy book I'd like to visit

 This topic from Long and Short Reviews took some consideration, as I don't read a lot of sci-fi or fantasy, and the few I've read tend to be either dystopian or just gloomy. I loved the "Red Dwarf" novels, for instance, but wouldn't want to be stuck on a mining ship three million years into space. And the "Foundation" series is about a failing society, so not exactly fun.

In the end it was remembering a story I wrote as a teenager that gave me an idea. Though it's thankfully now disappeared, I wrote a futuristic story about a girl who goes to a computer game academy on a different planet, and one scene took place in a dazzling restaurant which was inspired by Douglas Adams' Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

That would be where I would visit. I'm not too bothered about the rest of the planet-hopping in "Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy", but visiting the Restaurant at the End of the Universe would suit me just fine. Maybe not with the talking cow, though - that might be pushing it too far.

So which sci-fi or fantasy book would you like to visit?