Friday 18 December 2015

Farewell to 2015 on the Blogger



I remember my joy when I discovered six people had read one of my earliest blogger posts in 2015. Each week after that, my gratitude grew for the people around the world who took the time to read my scribblings. You touched my social media world and maybe my words drifted into yours for a fleeting moment.

Gratitude is an attitude of appreciation.
Thank you for reading my blog posts during 2015.
I’ll be returning in the new year on Friday 15 January 2016.

Before I put down my writing pen for 2015,
I would like to leave you with an Irish Christmas Blessing.


“May you be blessed,

With the spirit of the season,
which is peace,

The gladness of the season,
which is hope,

And the heart of the season,
which is love.”

Readers, ever thanks, 
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 
Ashlyn

Images in this post were purchased from fotofolia.com

Friday 11 December 2015

Writing Update

Well, it’s nearly time for me to rest the writing pen on my blogger site. Next week will be my last post for 2015, but I’ll be back again in the new year. 

Over the holiday break, I’ll still be active on Google + and Facebook at least.

2015 has been a big year of writing for me. I’ve written more words than I’ve ever done before. With many, “I don’t know what the heck I’m doing” nerves, I made my social media sites around April 2015. It’s been non-stop writing in one form or another ever since.


Writing on the blogger site, pushed me out of my comfort zone of penning romance to post about topics that might interest readers. I’ve featured romance books written by other authors. I made comments about movies I'd watched. Wrote posts about astrology, cooking, dancing, history, strange and spooky things.

On Google+, I discovered a treasure trove of posts from people all over the world that interested me. As the months passed, my mind, heart and creative world opened up in ways I didn’t expect. I read about many different perceptions of love and romance. I enjoyed the blog stories of other writers. I couldn’t resist the beautiful artwork. I got caught up with dancing, and the tango wouldn’t let me go. I soaked up the inspirational posts and was starved for more. The Vintage and Victorian Age posts caused me to reflect on the times and memories of life before the digital revolution.

I’m appreciative of the friends I’ve met in the social media worlds.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Hen Party



Throughout the year, I wrote over 80,000 words toward my romance stories. 

The Hen Party story is going to be a long one. I think I’ve reached the half-way mark of the party. The bunch of misbehaving bachelorettes and the rooster-on-the-loose won’t stop telling me more about their party shenanigans. They can't run amok forever, and all of the cast of characters will ultimately end up in big trouble. 

It’s been a challenge writing scenes with multiple characters who create mayhem in their own ways. Some writing friends have critiqued the first novella. It seems likely that in 2016, I will quietly self-publish novella-sized books from the Hen Party story in Amazon’s kindle store. Publishing dates will depend on finalizing editing, blurb writing and book cover design. I haven’t found all of the helpers for the book production yet. 





When I finally finish the Hen Party story, I’ll write about the full book launch on my social media sites.


Hen Party is the first book in a series that I’m planning to write about the romance between smart, sassy Kyra, and Mr J, the mysterious hero. Their attraction for each other starts during the trying circumstances of the hen party. The couple’s path to love will continue to be a bumpy ride all the way until they surrender their intense feelings for another. Smooth, sexy Mr J thought he knew a lot about women and seduction, until he met Kyra and the bachelorettes.


♥ ♥ ♥ ♥





Ambush & Surrender


I have almost finished my Victorian Age short romance, “Ambush & Surrender”. 

A story about the heroine, Vonnie, who ambushes the hero's carriage and persuades the gentlemanly Mr. Renton to help her find her missing sister. The unlikely couple find love along the way.  

Unfortunately, I took a story direction that landed me at a dead end. I need to go back and pick up the story threads and get the story back on track again.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥




A Scandalous Victorian Love Story

I haven’t finalized a story name, but I’m also writing books in another Victorian Age romance series. 

The books will tell the story of Lord Wylie’s scandalous pursuit of an inconvenient and bewitching woman who is far beneath his social class. Her name is Adeline, and she is a worldly woman who is wise to the ways of rogues and rakes. She falls in love with the lord when their eyes first meet, but she will resist her desires, and keep to her plans to leave London.

When the lord’s mother passed away before her time, he lost his happy home life and his family broke apart. He won’t give up his courtship of Adeline. She’s an extraordinary woman who brings him happiness like no other he’s met. The clash of wills and the call of love can’t be ignored by the couple.



A writing friend is currently critiquing the first book. Another round of editing will follow. I would like to write many books in this series before I think about publishing. Writing historical romance is a slower process for me, because of the need for research and to keep in the tone and voice of the times. So it’s likely, I won’t post much about this series until I’ve completed more books.


In 2016, I’m planning to start a Victorian Age Collection on Google+. I’ve thought a lot about the changes to Google+. The move away from the style of individual posts to become more focused on Collections and Communities. What can I do, but flex and adapt to the changes? That’s life. Live, learn and love. Write on!

Enjoy the week to come.
I hope it's not too hectic.

Festive cheers, 
Ashlyn. 

P.S Most of the images in this post were purchased from fotofolia.com






Friday 4 December 2015

O Christmas Tree

source:fotofolia
A long time ago…ancient peoples from numerous cultures venerated trees. 

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews.” 

Many people today, still feel the same, age-old attraction to the towering giants and glorious forests of mother earth. 

In the past…people who were part of farming societies lived close to the seasons of the land and their turning points. Christmas day, as we know it in modern times, comes a few days after the December Solstice of the Sun.

In old Europe…pagan beliefs and lore were part of everyday life for those who lived on the land and observed the earth’s yearly passage around the sun. 

The people relied on the fertility of the farm animals and soil, favourable seeding times, sustained plant growth and the gathering of bountiful harvests to ensure their survival. 

The hoary Celtic people believed trees possessed different elemental qualities of nature that they could commune with. There were spirits who lived inside trees and they could be consulted for their wisdom, such as the mighty English Oak tree.

The more recent history of Christmas trees dates back to 16th century Germany. The next significant time maker is 18th century, Victorian age London. Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, was of German descent, and he introduced the tradition of the decorated Christmas tree to his royal wife.

A drawing of the Queen’s Christmas tree was published in a London newspaper. In the years that followed, the people of England adopted the Christmas tree. The festive custom spread across the pond to America and to many other parts of the world.

But enough from me, and over to those in the know. Here’s the lowdown from Houston Public Media, with their video—“History 101 - Christmas Trees.”




This coming week on my Google+, I’ll be posting about Christmas Trees.

bringing the Christmas cheer,
hope you can join me again, 
Ashlyn



Tuesday 1 December 2015

Book - "Splinter" by Rebecca Raine

Are you looking for another book to add to your holiday stash?
For that cold night huddled beneath your cosy blanket.
Maybe there’s snow or rain outside.
How about a day at the beach,
or lounging by the pool,
sipping your favorite drink,
and getting lost in a story?

No matter what sort of holiday you’re planning or not, you can always escape into a book. I can tell you about a brand new release on Amazon.

“Splinter”, is a paranormal romance written by debut author, Rebecca Raine.

Think magick, vampires, a murder mystery to solve, and a dire situation between the heroine and hero.



Here’s the Blurb

Ignite the magick within, or be hunted in the dark.

Rachel Fallon has inherited the estate of her grandmother, Maddie, and believes she’s finally found a place to call home. That is, until a terrifying experience convinces her Maddie’s death was no accident, but murder. Now, her search for answers will uncover a world brimming with magick, where vampires are real and thirsty for blood.

Nick Hunter has left behind his own splinter of reality to follow Maddie’s killer to this place of disbelievers – where people have not learned to fear nightfall. Despite his difficulty accessing the magick here, Nick is determined to find the vampire and put an end to his madness.

Rachel’s presence is both a complication and an all too tempting distraction – even with the force of the magick she unknowingly possesses. When she becomes the focus of the vampire’s attention, Nick and Rachel must work together to stop him. But as the flames of desire burn hot between them, the truth about the night Maddie died threatens to destroy them both.

“Splinter” is available now for the special Kindle price of $0.71 US and $0.99 Aus.
Here's the link, Amazon.com

Rebecca kindly provided an early preview of the story with this excerpt.

“Prove it.” Rachel jumped up off the step and jutted her chin out at him. “Right here, right now. I want absolute, undeniable proof this so-called magic is real.”
Nick stared at her for a moment before blinding her with a smile. Rachel’s insides melted at the sight. Dear God, he could kill a woman doing that.
“All right. What did you have in mind?”
“Huh?” She stared at him, her brain not yet back to full working order.
He rubbed his hands together in what could only be called gleeful enthusiasm. “You asked for proof. What kind of proof would you like?”
“I-I’m not sure.” Thrown by his willingness to accommodate her, she was drawing a blank. She’d expected him to come up with some excuse as to why it wasn’t possible right now, like the planets weren’t aligned or he didn’t have his lucky crystal or something. The thought of instant acquiescence hadn’t really occurred to her. She had no idea what would happen next. It was kind of exciting.
Anticipation made her pulse race as she took a step closer. They stood facing each other, just centimetres apart. “What can you do for me, magic man?”
He thought for a moment before suggesting, “How about … fireworks?”
“But you said the magic here was too hard to use.”
“Well, sparkly lights in the sky aren’t exactly going to do much in a fight. They don’t take a lot of magick, though, and they will provide your proof.” He tilted his head slightly, his gaze dropping to her lips as a small grin tilted the corners of his mouth. “I could give you fireworks.”
Distracted by the heat in his eyes, she felt a pleasant shiver ripple through her. “I’ll just bet you could.”
He gave a deep-throated chuckle and she almost groaned at the sound. “Fireworks it is.” Taking her hand in his, he pulled her toward the side of the house. “Prepare to be amazed.”
She laughed at the theatrical tone he used. “Where are we going?”
“We’re too close to the road here. You wouldn’t want fireworks appearing on your front lawn where anyone driving past might see, would you? It’s the sort of thing that gets the neighbours talking.”
“How kind of you to think of my reputation.”
“I aim to please,” he replied as they reached the rear of the house. He guided her to a spot on the grass, a few metres from the back steps, before walking further out into the yard.
“Are you ready?” he asked, winking at her as he rubbed his hands together once more.
She snorted at his attempt at dramatic flair. “Sure, why not?” Her tone was nonchalant but in reality she kept her focus riveted to him. She wanted to make sure she spotted whatever trick he was about to use on her, so she could call him on it. He seemed much too confident about this.
Nick took several deep breaths, his eyes sliding closed. He stood there, still as a statue, for at least a minute. Rachel began to think he was going to claim he’d failed to harness the magic or something. Then, with a few muttered words, he gestured into the air. A stream of red lights shot from his fingertips and up a couple of metres, into the night sky. They began to swirl and dance in intricate patterns, following the motions of his hands. Rachel stared in awe, unable to comprehend what she was seeing, until the lights began to fade into the night.
He turned to her, a smug expression on his face. Her gaping jaw snapped shut. “Very pretty,” she conceded.
The grin widened. “Honey, you ain't seen nothing yet.”
A moment later, bright violet lights flared and danced above their heads. They were joined by green lights, then blue, then yellow. Nick rotated his hands and the lights obeyed, forming a number eight in the sky.
As the rainbow of colours began to dissipate, she stalked toward him. “Let me see your hands.”
He held his arms out, seeming happy enough to oblige. “You can look, but you won’t find anything,” he said, as she examined his palms and pushed the short sleeves of his t-shirt up, doing her best not to be distracted by the firmness of his biceps. Then he leaned a little closer and waggled his eyebrows at her. “Would you like to check my pants, too?”
Ignoring him, she knelt down to inspect the ground where he’d been standing. “How did you do it? Huh?” She found nothing suspicious hidden in the grass and stood to glare at him. “How?”
“You know how, Rachel.” He reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, his voice low and husky. “This is not some illusion or sleight of hand. This is magick. Real magick.”
The word struck a chord deep inside her. Magick.
Could it be true? She thrust the idea out of her head. “No.” The denial burst from her on a rush. There was no way she would allow herself to be fooled by yet another man. She’d had enough of being lied to. “I’m not going to fall for a few flashy tricks.”
“Flashy tricks?” He stood with his hands on his hips as he glared at her with those piercing eyes. “You are the most stubborn, narrow-minded woman I’ve ever met.”
“Maybe you just have bad taste in women,” she snapped, feeling her own blood begin to boil. “Gullible isn’t really my style.” At least not anymore, a snarky voice sounded in her head.
“All right, then.” He crossed his arms over his chest once again. “Explain to me how I managed to make coloured lights dance across the sky. On demand, no less.” He paused for a long moment, giving her every opportunity to speak, before gesturing at her impatiently. “Come on, you’re so sure it was a trick. You must have some idea how I did it.”
“I don’t know,” she cried out, flinging her arms wide.
“Yes. You do.” He sauntered over to stand at her side and his muscular chest brushed against her arm. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek when he spoke. “It drew me to you, Rachel. It’s coming off you in waves.” His hands coasted over her body, close enough to make her skin sizzle but not close enough to touch. If she looked down she was sure she’d see sparks of electricity arc between them. She didn’t look down.
“There is something inside you that knows who you really are. You need to deal with it. Now.”
She drew a shaky breath when his left hand lifted to cup her cheek. He turned her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Oliver will come after you, Rachel.” His voice darkened with warning. “You need to be gone before he does.”
Rachel opened her mouth to speak but no words came. He was staring at her lips and his thumb began to stroke her cheek. Butterflies took flight in her stomach as she waited for him to lower his head, touch his lips to hers. Then he was gone, stalking away into the night. Her eyes slid closed as she released a sigh, though she wasn’t sure if it was one of relief or disappointment.
The coolness of the night air made her shiver and she turned to make her way up the stairs on shaky legs. She let herself into the house, and closed the door behind her.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

About Rebecca Raine

Rebecca is a long-timer lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real-life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. 

She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two adorable children and one big, black dog. 

Other than reading and writing books, her favorite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organizing everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Connect with Rebecca 


Enjoy your week, 
Ashlyn