This is another of my ‘mixed bag’ posts, with no particular theme. I’m also in the middle of writing a story for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers at the moment, so I’d better make this quick so I can get back to it and leave this evening for writing my book. Well, that’s the plan at the moment.
June is always such a glorious month in the UK (although many days this year have given me cause to doubt that!). Now that the spring flowers have died off, the summer blooms are opening and the garden is becoming more colourful by the day. The fruits on the trees are also beginning to swell and it looks as though we’ll have some bumper crops this year.
Roses are such beautiful flowers, although I know of a few people who are’t keen on them. Being from Lancashire (land of the red rose of the Wars of the Roses) red roses have always been a particular favourite. When I had our first child in 1973, my parents sent two dozen red roses to me in hospital. Nowadays, of course, flowers aren’t allowed on hospital wards. But I love roses of any colour and we have lots dotted around our garden. The rambler over the pergola, shown above, is not far from our back door, and the fantastic scent hits you as soon as you open the door.
For anyone interested in getting free books on Amazon, today is the first of my five free days for ‘Shadow of the Raven‘, Book One of my Viking trilogy. I decided to try all five days together this time, although I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing. I usually split the five days into two throughout the three-month period. Some people prefer to just have five separate days, which I have’t tried yet. Perhaps I’ll try that next time.
Next week June 18 – 22 (Thursday – Monday) the second book of my trilogy, Pit of Vipers, will also be free. This is the first time I’ve had this book on the Select programme, so I’ve yet to see how well that works. I can’t imagine anyone would want to read Book Two without having read Book One, although it does stand alone, according to the editor of the Self Publishing Review, who has now reviewed both of my books (both reviews are in my side bar).
I’m still toying with the idea of taking my books off the Amazon Select scheme so that I can put them with other online publishers as well, like Barnes and Noble. Amazon Select demands exclusivity, which has its pros and cons. I’ve heard so many arguments regarding the best thing to do, but I’m still unsure. If anyone has any sound advice to offer here, I would be very grateful to hear it.
I’m off to Wales next week for a break – just Husband and me. We’ve decided to stay in Chester, a lovely old town, convenient for travelling into Wales or North-West England. My brother and his wife and family still live in the north-west, and my aunt and uncle live in North Wales. We’ll be spending some of the week visiting people, but the rest of the time, we intend to head out to visit three of the castles along the North Wales coast – Conwy, Caernarfon and Beau Maris – so that I can do a couple of posts about them. The last of these is on the Island of Anglesey, so I’m not sure we’ll have time to get to that one. I also want to do a post about Roman Chester. They’ve now opened up an ampitheatre just ouside the town, which was still being excavated last time we visited some years ago. But my priority will be the castles – which I’ve visited several times before. Here’s a photo of Caernarfon Castle we took a few years ago. It’s an awesome place…
I hope to have plenty more photos by next week.
Millie Thom 
I wish my garden was doing something more summery. It’s been blowing a gale most of the day and been freezing all week. We are also plagued by so may rabbits this year and they’ve eaten so many plants they wouldn’t normally touch, I’ve hardly any colour at the moment. Sorry no advice to offer about Amazon. Hope the book’s going well. Enjoy Wales!
We’ve had plenty of wind here, too, but temperatures have been up this week, so it’s felt really warm in the sun. The wind has not done our roses any good, either. The flowers on that red rambler look much more ‘tatty’ than usual. Strange about the rabbits and I can imagine how annoying it must be. The worst we have is a mole, who keeps emerging in inconvenient palces. I think our mole deterrent has given up the ghost.
I’ll get my head around Amazon one day, I hope! Until then, I’ll just mosey along, doing my own thing. Thank you for the nice comment, Bekki. Can’t wait to get to Wales…
Good to hear you’ve had a warm week, although a shame about the roses. The rabbits to that, their number increase then they get myxomatosis – poor things – and the number shrink again.
It’s been warm here, but only in the sun. We’ve still had cold winds, quite strong ones, too. The weekend is supposed to get even colder – just in time for me to go to Wales! No sandals and sun hat, then!
Myxomatosis is such a horrible disease and, much as you wouldn’t want rabbits eating all your plants, to see them suffering the effects of that disease is heartbreaking.
I agree. Poor things. Have a lovely time in Wales. Hot and so humid here today that I’m looking like Crystal Tips after walking Mr Hicks.
So, you were a Crystal Tips and Alistair fan? My older children loved that programme! Fuzzy hair and all. Do I take it that your hair goes frizzy like Crystal Tips’? That should be something to see! We have a sunny day here, but not at all humid. Rain forecast for later, though. 😦
I’m just reading your ‘Competition’ post at the moment, so I’ll get on with that now.
No, actually never really like Crystal Tips 🙂
Oh the picture of the yellow rose is stunning! I love it! And I would definitely be interested in reading your books! Can you post a link to the amazon page?
Hi Alex. Yes, the yellow one a really nice rose. Some of our ‘best’ roses haven’t flowered yet. We have a gorgeous Royal William – a big, red rose. Oddly enough, its scent is not as good as that rambler. That really is a knock out … in a nice kind of way.
Thank you for wanting to read my books! 😀 I’m not sure whether I’m allowed to put links (outside of WP that is) in these notifications. I’m told a ‘spam bot’ will remove them! (Don’t ask me about that, I’m just repeating what I’ve been told!) If you want to order the book from .com the link is at the side of my page. It does work – I’ve just tried it. As for Amazon’s Canadian site, my books are on there, too, obviously with very few reviews. If you want to order from that, you’d need to email me so I can email it back to you. my email address is in the side bar, too.
Thank you so much for that, Alex. ❤
Oh I would love to see a photo of that Royal William when it blooms! While I have no plan growing skills I love to admire. And I did some searching on Amazon.ca it looks like I can purchase your books through the kindle app on my ipad. So I’ll be sure to download that and get copies of your books when I get home to my ipad later this evening. And I would be happy to write a review afterwards so that the books get more views. 🙂
Hi Alex. Thank you again for wanting to read my book. And if you reviewed it as well, I’d be over the moon. 🙂 If you can’t manage to download the Amazon file on your ipad, I can always send you an epub file.
And yes, I will post some pics of our other roses once they open. It won’t be long now – pobably when we get back from wales. 🙂
Beautiful pictures, Millie. You are a multi-talented lady!
Thank you, Griff. 🙂 These roses are a bit wind blown, unfortunately. I’m waiting for our ‘best’ roses to flower, as they’re just in bud at the moment.
Beautiful garden, Millie. I like roses too (in spite of the thorns).
If you will allow me to make a suggestion, why don’t you add a ‘My Books” page. Your About page is very informative, but the books get lost in the shuffle (a bit). If you had a page for your books, you could provide links to Amazon (and whatnot) and maybe even some reviews.
I’m sure you’ve thought about all this before, so don’t mind me (so chatty after a cup of lemongrass tea)…
I have thought about a page just for my books – but I’ve thought of pages for several things and haven’t yet got round to doing them! You are right, though, The books and links aren’t very visible in my sidebar.
You’ll have to drink lemongrass tea more often, Prospero, if it makes you chatty. I’m very happy you have made that excellent suggestion, and thank you for it. 🙂
Beautiful roses.
Thank you, Yinglan. 🙂 They are lovely roses, when they haven’t been bashed about by the wind and rain. And this year has been too cold for them too, so some of them look a bit raggy. Still, the colours are nice.
I can see that there are beautiful flowers around you. Thanks for putting them on your blog. I love it. Enjoy your outing to Wales. I am half way with Pit of Vipers. It is worth reading. I read a bit before I put out the light. Sometimes I’ll read for more than an hour because I can’t put it down. 😀
Thanks, Scrapydo. I love flowers of all types – the more the better for me. Roses are so special, though. As for Wales… it’s always lovely. I adore the mountains, as well as the castles. 🙂
Thank you for reading ‘Pit of Vipers’! I thought it was ‘Shadow’ you were reading? The second book has more about Alfred in it than Eadwulf, so in many ways, is different to Book One. I hope you aren’t disappointed. Millie 🙂
Not at all disappointed! I love the way Alfred keeps on thinking and doing his own ways. The king is just not a real leader.. I also love they way that you let the main characters love or appreciate their wives. Seems there is no marriage for love as today!
Thank you! It’s good to know you like the characters. It’s true that many marriages amongst the noble classes then were ‘arranged’ ones.
Yes, that’s why I think your books gives gentle marriages between these classes which I think were not very easy on the women
Beautiful flowers Millie. I am jealous… Have a great time away with some recoup time with your hubbie..
Thank you, Tony. 🙂 The roses out at the moment aren’t at their best. They’ve been hammered by the wind and rain, as well as unusually cold weather for this time of year. We still have a lot to bloom, so we’re hoping those will be better. Thank you for your kind words about my holiday in Wales, too. The scenery there is gorgeous. I’ve spent a lot of time in Snowdonia in the past. 🙂
Hi Millie,
I also just downloaded your “Shadow of the Raven” book. I see you are already number 1 in the free category. I’ll post a review for you as well when I finish reading Millie.
Wow, Tony, what can i say, other than offer a huge thank you? That is so good of you! In return, I happily offer to read and review one of yours. I’ll check them out once I get back from Wales and have finished the two I’m reading at the moment. 😀
Yes, I was surprised how well the first of my free days had gone, especially as it was only a Thursday. They say weekend’s the best time to have the free days, so I expected hardly anything to happen before Friday, or even Saturday!
Thank you again, Tony. Millie 🙂
Beautiful pics, Millie. Wonderful looking garden and flower areas, too. Hope to see more, especially castles, on your return from Wales. Happy traveling.
Thank you, Jack. 🙂 The flower beds would have been better if the spring weather hadn’t been so cold, wet and windy, but considering how they’ve all been bashed, they haven’t done too badly. As for castles, I’ll do my best to get nice pics and interesting info. 🙂
Wonderful. I’m blogging today about your book giveaways. Great opportunity for those who enjoy historical fiction and a great read.
That is so kind of you, Jack … I’m stuck for words. I really appreciate you doing that. Thank you! 😀
Are your books on Amazon Select? I just wondered how it worked for you if they were.
Welcome, Millie. My books are on Amazon Select and am pleased with the results. I do, however, sell quite well at local independent book stores especially during author events and the short story book is being carried in gift shops here as well.
Those are areas I might be able to look into once my books are in print. Thank you for that, too. 🙂
The roses are lovely. It reminded me of my garden that we had when I was a child. My mother loved gardening but after hurting her back she no longer does that. I like gardening but it’s a lot of work with flowers specially roses.
Thanks for putting the book on the shelf. I’m planning to read the book.
Hope you have a wonderful time at Wales. Enjoy your time! Would definitely wait for the stories.:)
Hi again, Norma. I love most flowers,
but roses are just so special. It’s my husband who does the gardening. This year the cold, windy weather hasn’t been kind to the roses, so they look a bit tatty.
Thank you for wanting to read my book! 😀 I know you have very little time for reading. If you plan to get it from Amazon, Monday will be the last day it’s free.
Have a great weekend. We’re off to Wales on sunday, so I won’t be on my blog much next week. 🙂
Thanks, for the book. I had checked it in Amazon – it is available, now. I’m planning to buy it. At least that ways I can read it at my own convenient time.
Don’t worry about not being able to blog or connect – will happen when you’ll be back. Hope you enjoy your time their. 🙂 As for the weekend I’m a little pleased with the weather as it rained a bit at my place (New Delhi).
Ah, so that’s where you’re hiding! I’ve been wondering where you lived because your spelling and word use seemed to be a mixture of British and American. I noticed you say ‘mom’ but spell words like travelling with the double letters. It must be really hot in New Delhi right now, so I imagine you’re glad of the rain. 🙂
You do know that my book is free on Amazon until tomorrow (which is the last of my 5 free days)? By Tuesday the offer will be over.
Let me know what you think of the book – honest answer. You’ll probably get muddled with the Anglo Saxon names to start with. They’re a bit of a mouthful, but I can’t change historical names. Thank you for wanting to read it!
I liked that word “hiding”, it made me smile for sometime. 🙂 I went to a Carmel Convent school as a kid and had worked for an American company for sometime, later.
I hate Delhi weather because of the extreme hot and cold temperatures. I don’t mind cold but heat makes me mad. It stops me from doing one thing that I like most – writing.
I have little knowledge about the Anglo Saxon time and until now I was not interested in vikings (I think, your book is about it). But I’ll read to find it out. I believe you should read books of different genres and topics. I will share my views on the book with you once I’ve read. Earlier I had checked it and it was not there. I was so happy to have found it when I checked it a few days back (that is when you had mentioned it is free for 5 days).
I’m not sure why you couldn’t find the book. it’s been on Amazon for over a year. Still, I’m glad you found it. I agree that it’s not good to write when it’s too hot. I tend to write more in the winter, and our summers are rarely very hot! 🙂
Lovely roses, Millie. Spring blooms are getting you motivated, I bet.
Thanks Christine, I like this time of year. Gardens look much better with a lot of colour.
Are you in Apple’s iBooks store (what is it called again…)? I don’t have Kindle, I wonder if you need to have it to download from Amazon or will other applications do? Plus, I’m not in the UK or the US. Hmm, well, maybe next time! Beautiful picture of that castle! 🙂 Enjoy your trip! (I think I said that already but anyway!)
I’m not sure exactly where you are (Nothern Europe somewhere, I believe) so I’ve no idea whether you can get books on Amazon.com or.uk. I’ve had sales in Denmark and Germany, so they must be able to access something. As for further north, I’ve no idea. No worries, anyway. I’m having print books made at the moment, but they will still be through Amazon. I also intend to put my book onto other online publishers soon, No worries, anyway. Thank you for
the nice thought.
I’m afraid I don’t know what Apple’s iBooks store is called. Sorry.
If you have a tablet and you buy books from Amazon, you need an app. I know someone with a tablet who did that to get my book. I’m sure the apps are free.
Well, we’ll be off soon for Wales. I’ve sorted my quotes out for the next two days and my WOW for tonight. Enjoy your week, too. I’m taking my small laptop, so I’ll have a look at WP if I can. Millie 🙂
I’m in Finland actually. Well, I’ll go through my options and see if I can get a hold of it at some point!
I will happily send you an epub file if that’s what you need for your tablet. 🙂 (I have a Mobi file, too, but that’s for Kindle). Failing that, I can send a pdf file. Have a think and let me know. You’re welcome to any of those. 🙂
I think ePub should work on an iPad (did some googling). Thanks for the offer 🙂 I don’t mean to pressure you 😉 But I would love to read your fiction! I think you can see my email address in your wp admin section’s “comments” part…
I’ve found your email address, so I’ll send an ePub file soon. 🙂 My daughter did have a look at Amazon for me earlier and said for Finland it’s Amazon Global. (May come in handy in future.)
Thank you SO MUCH! 🙂 I’ve actually never used Amazon so good to know. Usually I get content from Apple’s sites/apps/stores but obviously they don’t always have everything
Hi! I’ve just sent ePub file. Hope I got the correct email address. Knowing me, the file’s probably gone off to some unknown place. 🙂
Hey, I just received it and replied to you. Thank you so much, that was so very sweet of you!! I am so eager to start reading! I’ll let you know when I’m done! So exciting 🙂
No answer to that, except: ❤