L.J. Higgins's Blog, page 3

[image error]Here’s a sample from the first chapter of Dawn of the Dreamer, re-releasing 23rd October!

An overwhelming fear seeped beneath my skin, forcing itself deep into my bones. My eyes adjusted to the darkness as my heart beat wildly in my chest, prompting me to crouch and melt into the thick bush around me. With a sudden flash, lightning stung the black of the night, lighting up the area surrounding me, revealing silhouettes of large silver-barked trees and masses of low bushes. To my right, I sensed something creeping silently through the trees. Fear sunk heavier in my chest.

Crack!

Shock raced through my body, but I stood dead still, straining to hear my pursuer over the rush of wind through the trees bending and moaning in protest. A hint of shadow towards my right sent a surge of adrenaline through my veins, willing me to abandon my hiding place and run.

Bounding from my crouched position, I sprinted through the trees and shrubs that pulled at my clothes and tore at my skin as though they’d grown claws to hold me back. The stinging cold of the rain burned my face and chilled me to the bone. Still, I kept running. I could hear it behind me, so close its hot, heavy breath warmed the back of my neck. Fear slowed my stride, and my legs betrayed me, buckling as my bare feet hit the soft muddy ground beneath me. My mind willed them to keep moving, but they couldn’t, or wouldn’t. Landing on the ground, I rolled onto my back in the mud.

A giant brown bear stood over me, the heat of its breath burning my frozen face, wet from a mixture of rain and tears. Its gleaming fur shone slick with rain. Lightning struck again, and it looked even larger than it’d first appeared. The bear reared up onto its hind legs with ease and let out an almighty roar, filling my nose with the stench of rotting meat as its breath passed its yellowed teeth. It lunged at me, jaws open wide and claws bared…

***

My eyes sprang open, darting around the room as I took in my surroundings. Hand on my chest to settle my racing heart, I propped myself up in my bed to find three people laying in beds of their own beside me: a girl in her mid-twenties, an older man, and a young boy. They were still fast asleep tucked into their crisp white sheets. To my right was another wide-eyed girl who looked as though she’d awoken from a terrible nightmare herself. We both looked around the room dazed while my heart rate returned to a normal beat. Our eyes met with a silent understanding as I remembered where I was. The clean white walls, shiny grey vinyl floor, monitors, and the sterile scent of a hospital. I was in a Sleep Room.

The name said it all. The people who ran the Sleep Rooms didn’t appear to be imaginative, which explained the bland name and room. They were too clever and serious in their smart white coats, nursing their computer tablets, glancing up now and then when necessary.

After six months of visits, it didn’t take long for me to become familiar again with my surroundings.

“Must’ve been a rough night, Amelia,” a familiar voice said. Nurse Cameron shot me a sympathetic grin, his friendly tone more than welcome after my terrifying dream.

“How did you guess?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

He looked up at the computer screen mounted above my head and pointed towards it. “These crazy red lines all over the place usually give it away.”

He was dressed in the same uniform the rest of the nurses wore, but where they were stern and uncaring, his smile was compassionate. There was an air of kindness and warmth in his charming blue eyes, framed by a perfect curtain of thick black eyelashes.

“I’m sorry, but it looks like the new Wristcuff we tried on you last night didn’t even try to work,” he said. “You’re still a Dreamer.”

“Of course it didn’t work. They never do,” I replied. “Maybe I’m destined to be a Dreamer forever.”

“It must be hard leaving disappointed every time we try a new one, but we are doing our best. If we could just work out why the microchip in your wrist doesn’t work with the Wristcuff like everyone else’s then you’d be cured.” He sighed. “I wish there was an easier way.”

“I know. It’s just, I want to be normal again. Go back to what it was like before the Wristochip and Wristcuff were ever invented.”

Nurse Cameron unclipped the gel band I’d worn over my microchip implant overnight and placed it in his deep pocket.

“It’s easy to think that way, but when we cure you and it can take away your self-created dreams, it’ll start working its magic and you’ll be happy you went through all of this. I promise.”

It didn’t matter how much I wanted the Wristcuff to work on me, they still couldn’t find a way for it to erase the nightmares I’d been having since I was ten. Sure, there were other benefits from wearing a Wristcuff. It was said to make you smarter, help with weight loss, gave you a better memory, and helped you heal faster. But all I wanted was for it to turn my nightmares into pleasant dreams so I could have a decent night’s sleep. I’d always assumed I’d grow out of my night terrors. But at eighteen, they’d given me no hint of fading away. Most nights, I still got them, so real I experienced the intense emotions and pain within the dream as though I was living the scenario playing out in my mind. Upon waking, I would become disorientated, trying to convince my body it’d been nothing more than a terrifying nightmare.

“Fingers crossed it won’t be much longer and you’ll be getting a good night’s sleep like everyone else,” Nurse Cameron said, as though he’d read my mind.

“Fingers crossed,” I replied.

After six months of tests, blood work, and monitoring, I was yet to find a cure.

I rose from the bed and slid on my shoes, and Nurse Cameron handed me my locker key. “See you again in three days?” He smiled.

“Of course, Nurse Cameron, wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

He smirked at the sarcastic tone in my voice.

“Just call me Cameron. Cam would be even better.”

I collected my clothing from my locker, and after changing into a pair of smart black pants and a green polo shirt, I scanned out at reception and handed my locker key to the receptionist. After riding the elevator down to the ground floor, it was a short stroll to the bus stop where I caught a bus that took me twenty minutes out of the city, back to Sandhaven, and my mind-numbing job at the Sandhaven Grocery Store.

I’ve spent the last few months going over the very first book I ever published, Dawn of the Dreamer. Although it meant time away from writing new projects, it was good to go back over my writing, see where I’ve grown and improved, and rework the book so it’s the best it can be for my readers. But I knew if I wanted to breathe new life into the Dreamer Trilogy it needed new covers, so today I want to share the NEW cover for Dawn of the Dreamer with you all. I love them so much, and I really hope you think they’re as amazing as I do!

[image error]

Dawn of the Dreamer will re-release on October 23rd! Here is the new blurb:

For Amelia Bailey, a normal life is a farfetched reality. She’s an anomaly; a Dreamer.

In a society where everyone has a microchip implanted in their wrist, the Wristcuff promises to give the wearer nothing but pleasant dreams. But to some, nightmares still prevail. They call them Dreamers, and Amelia Bailey is one of them.

Desperate to shake the nightmares she’s endured for years, Amelia submits to testing in the hopes of being cured. Then she meets Joe, a mysterious stranger whose shocking revelations open her eyes to the deceit and secrets behind the Wristcuff and its creator, the MultiMind Corporation.

With her once quiet life spinning out of control, Amelia is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.

Fight for the freedom to dream, or eradicate her nightmares and lose the ability to think for herself?

 

 

 

This month I got to chat with one of the loveliest authors I know, Sue-Ellen Pashley, author of Young Adult, Children and Middle Grade stories.

[image error]

LJ: Tell us a little about your books.

SE: I love urban fantasy. I love the thought of weird and interesting things happening in our own world which most people aren’t aware of. There are a few times when I’ve tried to write a contemporary story but somehow, elements of fantasy always seem to sneak in! And my children’s writing allows my imagination to come out in different ways.

LJ: What are your favourite genres to read?

SE: Truly, I will read anything – it just needs to be a good story! But I love YA urban fantasy or sci fi and at the moment, because I’m writing a middle grade novel, I’m enjoying immersing myself in those as well.

LJ: What is one book you believe everyone should read?

SE: Haha, mine!

[image error]

 

Here are 5 tips you need to know to help you stay inspired while you write:

Create a writing routine. You’ve probably heard this a million times but it really does help. Whether you can spare an hour a day or three hours, setting aside the same time every day to write really helps with productivity. It can also help you plan out how long it’ll take you to write your novel.
Find honest BETA readers. As great as it is for your friends and family to read the first draft of your story, you need BETA readers who aren’t going to be nice because they’re proud of you, but honest and constructive. That’s how you’ll discover what is and isn’t working with your story so you can feel confident you’re releasing the best version of your novel.
Don’t over-research. It’s good to research how to write a story, the do’s and don’ts, but make sure you’re not getting bogged down in all of the ‘rules’ rather than actually writing.
Plotting vs Pantsing – Why not both? There’s always a lot of talk about if a writer is a plotter (planning out the entire story before starting) or a pantser (just going where the story takes them without a set in stone plan) but why can’t you be a bit of both? You need to find out what works for you. I like to bullet point out the main parts of the story, then as I write I let the characters guide me and if a particular plot point doesn’t work or needs to change, I change it.
Appreciate your readers. Show your readers some love. They could spend their time reading one of the other million books in the world, but they chose to read yours. Let them know how much you appreciate them by sharing a free short story, hosting a giveaway, or by simply saying ‘thank you’ once in a while.

Do you do any of the above tips already? Do you have tips of your own? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

I’ve answered some of the questions you posted on Facebook in the video below. My voice is a little fluey as I’m still getting over a cold but I hope you enjoy it.

Want to see more video like this? Have something else you’d like me to talk about? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ve been super busy for the past month or so with my husband having his tonsils removed, taking on extra writing projects, and life in general, which has made it difficult to get a lot of reading done. But here are four of the books I read and enjoyed since my last review post.

[image error]

Ruthless Magic by Megan Crewe

A magical, edge of your seat story

In a world that knows magic exists there are only some people who have the power to wield it. At sixteen those who have magic are either chosen or dampened. Those who are chosen are sent to help protect those with and without magic, while those who are dampened have some of their magic taken away so they are no longer powerful. For those who are selected for dampening there is one more option. To declare. But declaring means entering the mysterious Mage’s Exam where they will either be declared a Champion or lose their magic all together. Ruthless Magic follows Rocio, Finn and the others who must survive this exam or lose their magic forever.

I enjoyed so much about this book. The way it made me feel almost as though I was back in the world of Harry Potter but with a twist that brought in elements of the Hunger games as well. The story pace never failed, making it hard to put it down, and I found myself rooting for many of the characters. I also enjoyed the way the relationships between each of the characters developed throughout the story.

I truly enjoyed this story and think anyone who loved the magic of Harry Potter and the intensity of Hunger Games will love it too.

You can find Ruthless Magic HERE!

 

[image error]

Emerge: The Captive by Melissa A. Craven

Page turner from start to finish

Captured by an Immortal organisation called Soma, Quinn struggles to keep his secrets hidden from his captors. Secrets he fears if discovered could turn him into the monster he’s always fought to keep at bay. But there are others at Soma he’s grown to care for, and he can’t leave them.

Meanwhile, in the midst of Quinn’s kidnapping, Sasha has been forced to journey to India to undertake brutal training under the watchful eye of a man she doesn’t trust. She can’t leave until her training is complete, and part of its success depends on them learning to work together.

I enjoyed getting the chance to see what happened to Quinn and Sasha. I liked watching the characters grow, and their gifts develop as it gave this already exciting series a new edge keeping me hooked from start to finish. Both Quinn and Sasha learned so much about themselves and the relationship between them.

The Captive is another great story by Melissa A Craven that I couldn’t put down.

You can find Emerge: The Captive HERE!

 

[image error]

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

I’ve enjoyed every book in this series so far and this one didn’t disappoint. 

After journeying north, Aelin and her companions learn the Lords of Terrasen won’t recognise her as queen. Despite her frustrations, Aelin swears she will come to their aid if they call and sets out to call in old debts and promises. Her goal: to raise an army of assassins, thieves, exiles and commoners. War is coming, and they need all of the help they can get.

One of my favourite parts of this series are the characters. I love so many of them, and love watching them grow and develop through the series. In this book in particular, some characters have their biggest shifts. New alliances are made and relationships are formed, despite the dire situation they find themselves in.

I keep devouring these books and look forward to reading the next book in the series, Tower of Dawn.

You can find Empire of Storms HERE!

 

[image error]

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman

I squealed out loud when I saw this book in the bookstore.

Malcolm, an eleven-year-old boy, helps his parents run the Trout Inn, but in his spare time he explores the River Thames in his canoe La Belle Sauvage, or visiting and helping the nun’s in the local priory. One day, while visiting the nuns, he learns they have a new guest. A baby named Lyra. Malcolm soon learns there are those who do not wish well for Lyra, and he knows he must do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

I was so excited to delve back into the world of His Dark Materials. Malcolm’s love and protection of Lyra warms your heart, and once again I wished for my very own daemon.

I’m looking forward to discovering what happens next in The Book of Dust series.

You can find La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust HERE!

Have you read any of the books I reviewed? Is there a book you think I will love? Please, let me know in the comments below.

This short story is part of my short story collection, In Their Shoes. Illusion of Happiness delves into the mind of a mother struggling with depression, and although it’s short, I hope it opens your mind and heart as you take a walk in her shoes.

Walking down the street, I smile as people pass. The uncomfortable expression is an illusion of happiness I’ve learnt to master over many years. No one understands what I survive every day – the eternal battle inside my mind. The doubts and questions force themselves deep into my brain, so deep I can’t let them go. No matter how much I want to.

I’m strong on the surface though. I’m calm and collected around my peers. A patient and loving mother. A trusting and caring wife. But behind closed doors, away from their peering eyes, I’m anything but. I’m a bomb waiting to explode with the slightest amount of pressure. Questions file through my mind, and doubts fill up any gaps between them. A sidewards glance interpreted the wrong way, or the right way. I can never tell. But for me they are telling signs they know there is something wrong with me. They just don’t know how to say it.

It’s hard to describe how it feels. My mind begins to race faster and faster, until the thoughts blur into one. It becomes confusing and overwhelming. The build-up has no escape. And every part of my body is shaking and pulsing, with nowhere for the energy to go. I was happy only yesterday. I thought life couldn’t get any better. I walked with my head held high. Two healthy happy children. An amazing husband who is also a great dad. But they’d tricked me. Tricked me into believing I deserved them.

As I walk back to my car, I smile. I smile so hard my face may split open. I say the right words, and laugh in all of the right places. All the while, the surges of emotion sweep through my body and I can’t contain or handle them.

I want to yell at everyone I talk to. “Help me! Stop these emotions building up inside of me that I don’t know what to do with!”

But how can I expect people to help me when I don’t know how to help myself? That’s why I keep it quiet, keep it to myself as best I can. All I want to do is stop this pain, stop the emotions overwhelming my every sense.

Home, I retreat to the sanctuary of my bedroom. I fall to the floor and pull my knees to my chest. I squeeze them tightly, attempting to release the extreme tension filling my entire being. I cry. Tears burst from my eyes, pouring over my cheeks. The cry turns into a deep sob, my body heaving as I try to control my breathing. Try to calm myself. I take deep breaths attempting to hold them in for a moment before releasing them. Attempting to compose myself.

As the tears subside a numbness falls over me, filling the places that were filled of intense emotions only moments before. I sit and stare into nothingness. My red swollen eyes glaze over with exhaustion. My husband talks to me, tries to make sure I’m okay. I’m not sure when he got home or how long I’ve been here for. I don’t care.

I can still hear him talking as I rise from the floor and make my way to bed. I don’t answer him, instead I lay quietly on my pillow staring blankly into the space in front of me.

“Mum?” Her small voice pulls me from my numbness, and I peer into her beautiful blue eyes. “Cuddles?”

I pull her close to me, breathing in every bit of her. She’s my daughter, and it is my job to look after her. Instead, I’m laying in my bedroom crying.

What sort of mother am I?

I wipe the tears from my face and spread a smile back across it.

“You okay, mummy?” Her innocence makes my smile more sincere.

“Yes, darling. Mummy is okay.” This time I can hold it together. I have to.

 

If you or someone you know is dealing with depression, anxiety, or just having a hard time, please reach out to someone you trust or to an organisation such as Beyond Blue Australia.

When I finished writing the Secrets of Aurora series there was one character who was crying out to have his story written… SETH! So, I’ve decided to not only write a short story about how Seth came to live at the Freedom Camp as one of Prophet Brent’s disciples, but also to send it to anyone who signs up to L J Higgins Readers List for FREE!

Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect from your FREE story!

When giant waves wiped out the city, Seth’s family fled to the mountains to survive. Now they’re about to return to the place where their lives changed forever.

As rumours reach them of people rebuilding their lives in the city, Seth and his parents say goodbye to their home in search of a better life. But, the moment they arrive, they know they’ve made a mistake. Attacked by unfriendly residents, Seth’s parents must make the ultimate sacrifice to save their only son. An act that leaves him alone in a foreign place.

As he gives in to desperation and loneliness, strangers appear with promises and kindness.

After everything he’s seen, can he trust them to deliver him to a new life? Or will trusting the wrong people lead him to an even worse fate?

And here is the amazing cover!

[image error]

 

Don’t want to miss out on your FREE copy? Sign up to my readers list HERE!

Are you excited to find out more about Seth? Let me know in the comments below!

[image error]

Here are 5 tips you need to know to help you stay inspired while you write:

Exercise, meditate, and listen to music to refresh your mind. If you worked in a labour intensive job you’d come home from a days work and rest to rejuvenate your body and allow it to repair so you could work again the following day. You’re mind is like a muscle too, and when you spend hours writing, day after day, it also needs a rest. Things like exercise, meditation, and listening to music can help give your brain a time out and allow it to take a break from it’s labour intensive job… writing and using your imagination. If you rest your mind you’ll find your writing flows better, feels like less of a chore, and it will fuel your imagination.
Be open to constructive criticism. The keyword here is constructive. There are lots of people willing to give you their two cents on what they do and don’t like about your story, but you want people who will tell you why, and even better, suggest ways to improve it. I’m not saying you have to take on all the advice you receive, but be open to it, and decide if their feedback could in fact enhance your story. This will help you learn and grow as a writer, which is one thing we should always be open to doing.
Network. I don’t mean go and join a hundred Facebook groups, post pictures of your upcoming release, and ask them to help you with reviews and sharing. I mean join a few groups you think suit what you’re looking for and see how you can help other authors. Can you share their upcoming release and maybe in turn they’ll share yours? Inbox someone and let them know you loved their books cover and tell them you write in a similar genre. As long as you are genuine in your approach, you are bound to start meeting other writers who love the same things you do, and you’ll be surprised by the amazing friends you’ll make in the process.
Surround yourself with people who inspire you. This ties into #3. Don’t be discouraged by seeing other authors success while you are still struggling to finish writing that first book. Be inspired by their success, and find groups and people who will encourage you to be the best you can be.
Find a passion outside of writing. So it doesn’t become ‘work’. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in writing your next novel that you forget what it was you loved about writing in the first place. It begins to feel more like a job than something you enjoy. Having hobbies other than writing can give you time to step away and remember why it is you write. Your hobbies can also inspire you by helping clear your mind (see #1) and seeing things from another point of view. Some of my passions outside of writing are; reading, dancing, playing with my kids, drawing and painting.

Do you do any of the above tips already? Do you have tips of your own? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

 

 

This month I sat down and got to know a little more about romance author, Jacquie Underdown, who currently has sixteen of her amazing books published with more to come.

[image error]

LJ: Can you sum up your writing/books in a few sentences for us?

JU: I would say that my books are emotionally driven and possess unique themes beyond the constraints of the physical universe. I strive to offer romance with complexity; spirituality without the religion and, of course, beautiful and believable portrayals of love.

LJ: What are your favourite genres to read and why?

JU: I love reading fantasy romance and women’s fiction (life-lit and family sagas). I like the reality-packed drama and relatability of the characters that are portrayed in women’s fiction. And, in contrast, I like to escape into unknown worlds and situations with otherworldly characters while still having a romantic element, which a fantasy romance provides.

[image error]

LJ: What is one book you think everyone should read?

JU: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. An amazing book full of honest, yet dark, characterisation of suburban life.

LJ: Describe yourself for us in five words.

JU: Determined, kind, introverted, reflective, emotional.

LJ: If you weren’t an author what do you think you’d be doing?

JU: I would probably still be working as an accountant or some variation of that.

LJ: What is your favourite quote?

JU: “When a situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate.” Carl Jung.

LJ: Tell us about your latest book, The Sweetest Secret.

JU: The Sweetest Secret is the second story in my Brothers of the Vine trilogy, which is based on three brothers who run a picturesque vineyard and winery in the Alpine region of Victoria. The Sweetest Secret is an emotive small-town romance and features the middle brother, Sam Mathews, and follows his bumpy road to finding love, while also delving into topical issues like male mental health and toxic masculinity.

[image error]

LJ: What is a piece of advice you’d give to someone who is thinking about writing a book?

JU: Do it! Sit down and write the book all the way through from start to finish. Don’t ask others to read it or give advice (no matter how tempting that is) before it’s completely finished. While writing, any time negative thoughts pop into your head, accept that it’s your lizard brain hissing falsities into your ear, release the thought as quickly as possible and just keep writing.

LJ: Where do you write? We’d love to see a photo.

JU: I write in the living room. After spending ten years as an accountant in offices, I find it difficult to be confined to an office. I also find sitting on the lounge with a laptop on my lap much more comfortable. I also have a standing desk that I bring out to the living room and alternate between that and the lounge to give my back and neck some relief.

LJ: Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

JU: I find it in many different ways and places and usually gather many pieces of inspiration that eventually string together to form the basis of a story. I can be inspired by a beautiful view, a memory, a news story, an awesome podcast, a philosophy book, a conversation with a friend, my own current internal conflict, a movie.



LJ: If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

JU: I’ve always wanted to travel to Japan. I’m in love with the aesthetics of the place—the seasonal flora, the architecture, food and landscape.

Thank you to Jacquie Underdown for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope you all enjoyed her answers as much as I did.

Want to find out more about Jacquie Underdown and her books? You can find out more at the links below:

www.jacquieunderdown.com

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

[image error]