Dear Readers,
The Giveaway
It has just opened: the cozy new giveaway in which I’m taking part. What are the prizes? How to enter?
The prizes are:
- Hanging Succulent Planters
- with a bushel of fake Succulents
- Green Witch Oracle Cards & Guidebook
- The Green Witch’s Guide to Herbal Magick
- The Herbcrafter’s Tarot Cards & Guidebook
- Garden themed Tote Bag
- Floral Green Lined Journal
- Floral Lether Bookmark
- Reading Journal
- A Campsite of Culprits Anthology
- To enter click on the link and enter your email. You just have to agree to receiving an email from the cozy mystery authors (including me) who are funding the competition. That way you get to find out about more cozy mystery books and series that you might just love. (I’m sorry that this is open only to readers in the USA. I can’t enter it either, if that’s any consolation.)
https://kingsumo.com/g/niom3j/a-cozy-mystery-garden-witch-giveaway
Spelling It Out – Part 2
The “Twin Accent Allies”, part 2 of the Reader Insights, Author Tips series on how to convey a character’s accent using the way that you change the spelling of their dialogue. Last week, it was ‘The Power of TH’, and I’ll say a bit more about that because it’s just occurred to me, but this week, it is with pleasure that I introduce, for your edification and entertainment, the Accent Jewel:
https://amandacadabra.com/ac1-trailer/accent-jewel-j-spelling-it-out-part-2
The Secret Goodie
Yes, so what about this? What is it, and why is it secret?’ I hear you ask, in all reasonableness. Well, one of the books will be just 99c (or p in the UK) to download from 20th of this month, so if you’re caught presentless for someone at the last Yuletide minute, here’s your solution. It’s secret because that’s what Christmas presents are. The unwrapping will occur nearer the time.
The Bell Tower
It opens today! The new, the bewitching, beguiling, the bountiful, The Bell Tower Readers Group on Facebook. Who and what is it for? First, it’s for you; it’s for readers who’d like to get closer to the process of creating the Amanda Cadabra stories. It will be a place where I can share things before they’re shared on the main page, and where you can give your opinions on all things Amanda Cadabra related. For example, which characters you’d like to see next in the jigsaw puzzles.
So please click this link: www.facebook.com/groups/thebelltower/ and join. If you join today you will be a first wave member and will thus go down in the annals of history as a Bell Tower Founder. You’ll be able to talk about how you were there back in those early days before Holly became the next JK Rowling/Agatha Christie. The first group of personal invitations has gone out so if you prefer to respond to one please look out for it in your inbox is you’re already following me on my Holly Bell Author page on Facebook. Come on up to the Bell Tower and let’s get to know each other.
New Jigsaw Puzzle
And so we come to this week’s puzzle. As I say, in the new Readers Group you’ll be invited to give your opinions on what should come next, on this and other matters. My time for last week’s was around 17 minutes. One of you took the prize by spending a mere 2 minutes, inspiring me to do better this week. Having said that, I do like to take a relaxed approach. And I love reading your times in the comments on Facebook, by the way., so please share.
https://amandacadabra.com/puzzles/
Author AI Antics
I asked MJ, my Midjourney AI graphics bot friend, to produce an image of a banner for me. I thought it might be nice to illustrate my announcement that I had conjured … well, I’ll tell you below. But MJ offered me a charming oval-framed image of a river and castle and bore the legend Treacramle Mangall. I feel the urge to name a village after that. I contented myself with a evocation of some fireworks.
Thrilling Sequel Developments
Big news: I have chosen the murderer! The question next is, will they be brought to justice, or shall I kill them off? Decisions, decisions.
Another 5000 words poured out of my fingers and onto the virtual page this week as more of the sequel book 9 sparkled its way out of the ether and into my mind. The next part of the story. Book 9 now stands at just over 18000 words! so next week will be a little landmark. This week’s helping was sequential to the beginning of the book, which is a helpful sign. Also, a little anecdote occurred to me, plus a gem of a quote for some dialogue somewhere, which I have been given permission to use and will, of course, be credited.
But there’s more. That banner was for a post announcing that I have conjured a working title for Book 9!
Now, as the story is set in Cornwall …
Thank You To A Special Group
At this point, I would like to mention an exceptional group who are crucial to my research for the Cornish books. They are the real Cornish people who live on or near the real location of Bodmin Moor and who are part of the Facebook group Bodmin Moor a-droos. A-droos is a genuine Cornish word meaning across or around. They generously share with me their knowledge and experience of flora and fauna, terrain, landmarks and communications. There are things you can’t get from books or even the internet. You have to be on the ground to know it and feel it to make it as accurate as possible for your readers. If you can’t be there yourself, you need kind people who are or have been and are happy to tell you. And this group is gold. So Bodmin Moor a-droos – thank you.
Next week
Coming up: a Giveaway reminder, a new video, puzzle and sequel progress. Oh, and a hint about what the special offer book just might be …
Happy December,
Holly
PS If you want to start the series now:
