But I Smile Anyway…

A few short months ago, a dear blog pal of mine, M.J. Mallon, better known as Marje from Kyrosmagica blog, published her first ever eBook: The Curse Of Time – Book one – Bloodstone.

I’m not jealous or anything, but sitting there looking at my 17-year-old WIP, I am always in awe of my pals getting things finished, and to publishing stage!

Anyway, MJ (Marje’s alter ego as she loves Superheroes!) spent a long while researching her facts and locations for this book, and the time came in August 2017, to press publish.

I was honoured to host her on her first blog tour too! Read more here.

Her blurb reads as follows:

Fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott lives in Cambridge with her dysfunctional family, a mysterious black cat, and an unusual girl who’s imprisoned within the mirrors located in her house. When an unexpected message arrives inviting her to visit the Crystal Cottage, she sets off on a forbidden pathway where she encounters Ryder, a charismatic, but perplexing stranger.

With the help of a magical paint set, and some crystal wizard stones she discovers the truth about a shocking curse that has destroyed her family’s happiness.

I was finally able to read it the other week, and as a relative newcomer to YA fiction, I found it intriguing.

My reviews on Goodreads and Amazon give Marje’s book – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It took me a short while to get into the swing of the story, but once I was there, I really enjoyed the tale.
Drawn into the life of the main character, Amelina, you are quickly whisked off into a world filled with supernatural happenings, people in mirrors and crystals. Lots of crystals!
There is an element of change evident in Amelina as the book progresses, showing her development as a person who is capable of having a huge effect on those around her, as she learns of the powers she has had bestowed upon her.
I didn’t like Ryder… not that you are really meant to. Ryder is someone who she meets, and who influences her negatively. The fact that I didn’t like him shows that his character was written well within the story.
Over all, a book brimming with supernatural happenings, a mysterious cottage and a family problem that needs solving.

Available to buy here!

And now, this month actually, the paperback is finally ready to be unleashed to the public, with some exciting additions, in the form of some illustrations of key characters in the book by the extremely talented Carolina Russo.

The artwork below will be included in the paperbacks, but in black and white… how exciting to find a fellow artist to imagine your characters for you!

I know you are clamouring to hear more about Marje, so I’ll hand over to her…

I am a debut author who has been blogging for three years at my lovely blog home Kyrosmagica: https://mjmallon.com. My interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy YA, middle grade fiction and micro poetry – haiku and Tanka. I love to read and have written over 100 reviews: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/

My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheroes! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother Donald. My parents dragged me away from my exotic childhood and my much loved dog Topsy to the frozen wastelands of Scotland. In bonnie Edinburgh I mastered Scottish country dancing, and a whole new Och Aye lingo.

As a teenager I travelled to many far-flung destinations to visit my abacus wielding wayfarer dad. It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and my two enchanted daughters. After such an upbringing my author’s mind has taken total leave of its senses! When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

Marje can be found on various Social Media sites:

Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
My Facebook Authors/Bloggers Support Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

I hope that I’ve whet your appetite Peeps, and that you will take a chance on a fabulous paperback edition of The Curse Of Time!

Marje and her book will be touring several blogs in April and ending with Neverland Blog Tours. http://neverlandblogtours.weebly.com/