Dear Readers,
April is about to bring a shower of goodies. For I have not been idle during these days of radio silence since I last wrote to you.
Yes, getting back to the new sequel is in sight, and more of that anon, but first, you know what it’s like when an opportunity emerges from the either? Well, this week, for me to share with you…
The Giveaway.
This is my first foray into a group venture of, well … any kind. I’ve pitched in with some 20 other cozy mystery authors to buy a comprehensive list of prizes for the lucky winners. If tales of jam roly-poly, marmalade roll and saffron buns in the Amanda Cadabra series, have inspired you, here’s your chance to get into the real cozy vibe with one of these:
- Metal Cookbook (tablet) Holder Stand
- Bookish Adjustable Apron
- The Cozy Cookbook paperback
- 4 Ceramic bookish coasters
- Murder Mystery Party Game
- Two Murder Mystery Dish Towels
- Heart Shaped Bookshelf Fridge Magnet
- Reading Journal
- A Bookworm of a Suspect Anthology
Total value: $150. I say ‘dollars’ because this competition is just for readers in the US, I think for postage reasons. I promise to look for one for readers here with me in the UK. Meanwhile …
How to Enter?
Go to this link
and add your name and email address. Simple. You’ll see a timer there showing how many days and hours before the competition closes.
Why Enter?
Well, free stuff is always good. However, if you are not a fan of the kitchen, there is an even greater incentive. When you sign up, you give several other cozy mystery authors the opportunity to introduce their work to you. There’s a high probability that among them, you will find a new book or series that you love and would never have found out about otherwise.
The same goes for me, of course. I will have the chance to hail fans of other authors for whom Amanda Cadabra could be the perfect fit.
So, even if cooking and baking, like Amanda and me, is not your preferred endeavour, I would very much appreciate your support as I take my first hesitant steps in the world of joint ventures.
The Last Hurdle
This is on the track to the audiobook of book 1, Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth. For the past ten days, just 20 lines have stood between me and completing the pre-edit before it goes to the beta listeners. I hope to add them to the recording in the wee, small-ish hours of the morning when a hush lies over the neighbourhood.
The What?
The beta listeners are a small, kind, generous cadre who are prepared to sit through several hours of recording before the pops and clicks are edited out by the sound engineer. Why? To check things like all of the story is there, that all of the words are clear, that there is sufficient difference between adjacent voices and that they are consistent, and that no reading mistakes have been left in.
The invitation to become one of this highly valued circle of testers has gone out to my core VIP Readers who beta-read the books. However, if audiobooks are your particular favourite and you would like to join them for the audiobook checking, please drop me a line at hollybell@amandacadabra, on the Holly Bell Facebook Page, or through the chat or contact form on here.
Once I’ve got that back and added any corrections, it goes to the sound engineer, and then … (oh, joy, oh rapture!) I get back to the new sequel, Book 9.
The Saga of The 20 Lines? Now that is a story for another day.
More April Goodies
Next Sunday, I will have news of a Booksweep, about to open, where entrants can win one of the Amanda Cadabra books among dozens of other cozy mysteries. And, in case you are not among the winners, there will be 1-3 free download days of A Certain Book, whose title shall be revealed in due course.
I’ll be back by next Sunday to tell you all about the Booksweep, with details of prizes, dates, links and why I’m sailing into these previously uncharted waters. Oh yes, and to give you more information nearer the time about the free book days.
Meanwhile … may April shower you with literary pleasures.
Holly
PS If you want to start the series now:
