Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore- Buy a Book for Christmas #Mystery Series – Mary Anne Edwards, Diana J. Febry, Judy Penz Sheluk and Toni Pike

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The wonderful Sally Cronin from Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore has included me with some excellent mystery writers in her Buy A Book for Christmas series. It’s a great place to start if you’re looking for some gift ideas.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Time for some more book gift ideas from the Cafe and Bookstore and here is a selection of novels that any book lover would enjoy. As always when there is a series I will share book one and that is the case for the first author Mary Anne Edwards and The Charlie McLung Mysteries... Here is the first book in the series – Brilliant Disguise.

About the book

Are you sure you could tell the difference between murder and suicide?

Having had more than enough of the big city, Detective Charlie McClung moves to a small town looking for a simpler life. Turns out his first case is the most complicated of his career.

A young woman is found shot and while everyone is telling him suicide, his gut, and the dead woman’s beautiful neighbor, are telling him something quite different.

How far can he dig before he…

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How To Use Instagram Without Going Insane

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Here are my top tips to help you maintain your sanity while using Instagram. Instagram is a great way to engage with people around the world who have similar interests to you. I have an account where I post my own travel photos:@authorlovestravel. But, unfortunately, Instagram also has many fake accounts and people whose main priority is to develop a huge following. Continue reading →

#BookLaunch – Tales from the Irish Garden by Sally Cronin…..

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Sally Cronin has released a wonderful new book.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

At last the day has arrived and Tales from the Irish Garden is now available.

The book has been three years in the writing, mainly because what began as short stories in line with the first collection, turned into a full-length book. As we moved back from Spain to Ireland, house hunted, and then embarked on a renovation project, there were breaks from  the process. However, the upside was that I had the time to adapt and create new characters and adventures with more freedom. It also gave me time to meet Donata Zawadzka, courtesy of Paul Andruss, and after seeing her wonderful illustrations, I commissioned a number for the book to showcase some of the lead characters. More about Donata shortly.

Many of those that lived in the palace in Spain in the garden of our house, followed me across land and sea to settle in a magic…

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Smorgasbord Blogger Daily # Book Reviewers – Monday August 4th 2018 – Robbie Cheadle, D.G. Kaye and Colleen Chesebro

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Sally Cronin has included D.G. Kaye’s review of DEAD DRY HEART in her wonderful new series which puts the focus on those who work so hard to write book reviews.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the first of the blogger daily posts of the week and today I am also sharing a couple of book reviews. They are always worth celebrating as are those who take the time to review. You will see that the bloggers today are also authors in the Cafe and Bookstore. I created that as a promotional platform for authors and as many are bloggers too, it is an opportunity to showcase their writing skills.

If you are not in the Cafe and Bookstore and would like to enjoy regular promotions then please take a look at how you can be added to the shelves.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-free-author-promotion/

The first is by Robbie Cheadle for Watching Glass Shatter by James J. Cudney… I will start you off and then ask you to head over to Robbie’s to read her review.

What Amazon Says

After 40 years of marriage, Olivia Glass…

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Dead Dry Heart in D.G. Kaye’s Sunday Book Review

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Many thanks to D.G. Kaye for featuring my new thriller, Dead Dry Heart, in her wonderful Sunday Book Review series this week. I was both delighted and honoured to see that she has given it 5 stars. D. G. Kaye has one of the most inspiring blogs around, so be sure to check out the rest of her site while you’re there. You can read more here:  Sunday Book Review

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Author Update #Reviews – Daniel Kemp, Toni Pike, Marcia Meara and Gigi Sedlmayer

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I was thrilled to have a wonderful review of DEAD DRY HEART included in Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore author update today.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the first of the author updates this week with recent reviews for authors on the shelves of the bookstore.

The first author is Daniel Kemp for his book The Story That Had No Beginning.

About The Story That Had No Beginning

Alicia Collinson poses a surprising question to her dinner guests:

“Do you think lying is endemic in society today?”

They all have different answers based on their experiences, but what was the purpose of Alicia’s question?

She was separated from her twin brother, Tom, when they were eight. Tom graduated into a life of violence, while Alice found a life of fortune and wealth in her partner, Mary.

But when Mary unexpectedly passes away, a new person enters Alice’s life – someone who seems to know every detail about her.

Soon, her past and present lives collide with life-changing consequences.

One of the recent reviews for…

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Book Promo – New Release: DEAD DRY HEART – a psychological thriller…

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I was thrilled and grateful to have a chance to talk about DEAD DRY HEART today on Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog. Chris is a tireless supporter of authors, so be sure to check out his wonderful for all the best articles on writers, writing and all aspects of publishing.

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

I‘m excited to announce that my latest release, a psychological thriller called Dead Dry Heart, is now live and available at all Amazon outlets. I hope to publish the paperback version in the very near future.

This was something I wrote several years and recently took out of a drawer to rewrite. The story is close to my heart – an Australian thriller set in Canberra, the nation’s capital city, and in a remote area of Western Australian.

Here is the book description.

DEAD DRY HEART – A psychological thriller

Tyler Thompson is Australia’s young, brilliant and charismatic Prime Minister, riding high on a wave of popularity. But the past has come back to haunt him and there is a shocking secret from his childhood that he will do almost anything to conceal.

The one man who knows what happened twenty-five years ago is back – and he is hellbent…

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Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – New on the Shelves – Dead Dry Heart #Psychological Thriller by Toni Pike

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Many thanks to Sally Cronin for her kindness in listing my new book in her wonderful Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore. Sally has one of the best blog magazines on the Internet, so be sure to check it out if you’re not already a follower.

DEAD DRY HEART – A psychological thriller is now available on pre-order and due for release on 24th July.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Toni Pike has a new release a psychological thriller –  Dead Dry Heart – available for pre-order for July 24th. Half Price while on  Pre- Order

About Dead Dry Heart

Tyler Thompson is Australia’s young, brilliant and charismatic Prime Minister, riding high on a wave of popularity. But the past has come back to haunt him and there is a shocking secret from his childhood that he will do almost anything to conceal.

The one man who knows what happened twenty-five years ago is back – and he is hellbent on revenge. Tyler’s precious wife and baby have disappeared and their safe return will cost him everything: family, career and freedom.

But even that may not be enough to satisfy his nemesis – and the truth may be more terrible than he could possibly imagine.

A chilling novel about deceit, betrayal and murder, with twists and turns that you will not…

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DEAD DRY HEART – A psychological thriller – now available for pre-order

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I’m excited to announce that my latest release, a psychological thriller called Dead Dry Heart, is now available for pre-order in digital format at all Amazon outlets. It will be going live in three weeks, but during the pre-order period it will be selling for half price. So hurry to avoid disappointment! Continue reading →

Now Finished. THE MAGUS EPIPHANY – free for 48 hours

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THE MAGUS EPIPHANY, Book 3 in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series, will be free for 48 hours only on 15-16 JUNE 2018 (USA Pacific Time). Just click on the links below to download a copy. I’d be very grateful if you would leave an honest review on Amazon when you finish reading it. Happy reading! I can’t wait to hear what you think.

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Five Questions with Author Toni Pike

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Many thanks to Maria Hanako van Straaten, who has featured her interview with me on her blog.

Maria Hanako van Straaten

I have recently had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Author, Toni Pike. She is a fellow traveller and novelist who enjoys travelling the corners of the world to gather inspiration for the scenes in her novels. I hope you enjoy reading this article, and her stories.

1. How did you initially find the inspiration for your Jotham Fletcher Mystery series?
I had dabbled in writing for years, but several years ago decided to try my hand at writing a fast-moving thriller. I thought it would be fun to take on the challenge of writing an exciting story that would entice my readers to keep turning the page.
First, I read as much as I could about the features of that genre and decided that I want to write a conspiracy thriller about a religious mystery. While doing some research, I read about Simon Magus, a magician and cult leader…

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Holy Spear of Magus – now available in eBook and Paperback formats

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HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS, the fourth book in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series, is now available in Paperback. The Kindle version was released early in February and is available for purchase or in Kindle Unlimited. Continue reading →

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Author Update – Balroop Singh, Jack Eason, Toni Pike, Amy Hoff and Lynn Otty

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I’m both thrilled and honoured to have HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS included in the latest update to Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore today. Many thanks are owed to Sally Cronin. If you’re looking for a book to read, check out the authors she has listed there, read about their books and where you can find them on Amazon.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the Friday edition of the Author Update where I share new releases and recent reviews for authors in the Cafe and bookstore.

The first author today with news is Balroop Singh with a new review for her poetry collection Emerging From Shadows.

About Emerging from Shadows poetry collection

From darkness into light, from despair onto the wider ways of hope…life oscillates between sunshine and shadows. Emerging from shadows is a choice, which lies dormant, which can be gently inspired by self-talk. Each poem in this book banks on the hope of emerging stronger, saner, positive and resilient. Each poem in this book would talk to you, revealing layers of enclosed emotions. Each poem would divulge a secret path that could lead you into the world of poise and serenity.

When turbulences hit, when shadows of life darken, when they come like unseen robbers, with muffled exterior, when they…

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Holy Spear of Magus – just released!

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I’m proud to announce that HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS, the fourth book in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series, has just been released. Jotham Fletcher returns in another non-stop adventure, and this time he must fight to stop the Holy Spear falling into the wrong hands.

There are now four books in the series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS. While they can be read as stand-alone stories, I definitely recommend that you read them in sequence to understand all the background details and follow the continuing story of Jotham Fletcher and the other characters.

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Book 4 in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series – coming soon!

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I’m pleased to let you know that  Book 4 in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series should be released by early February, if all goes according to plan. Jotham Fletcher will be catapulted into yet another another desperate struggle  – but this time his enemies will be more diabolical than ever.

Please send me an email if you’d like to be kept informed about the release. I’d be delighted to hear from you. You can find my contact details listed below. Continue reading →

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Update – Toni Pike, Deanie Humphrys-Dunne, Terri Webster-Schrandt, Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes and Tina Frisco

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I was so delighted and honoured to have THE ONE WAY DIET included in the latest Author Update for Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore. Wonderful writer Sally Cronin has created her own bookstore with a collection of authors and their books, including the Amazon links. If you’re looking for something to read, that’s the ideal place to start.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the first author update this week and the first featured author is Toni Pike who has recently published The One Way Diet.

About the One Way Diet

Are you searching for the pathway to weight loss?

This is a no-nonsense guide to finding the slender person you dream about, with simple advice on how to lose weight by focusing on your goals. THE ONE WAY DIET is not just a healthy eating plan, but is also about coping with every aspect of your weight loss journey.

People often say to me now that I’m lucky because I don’t have to worry about my weight. How wrong they are! Five years ago, I lost more than thirty kilograms after a lifetime of weight problems. Every day since then, I make the lifestyle choice to stay slim.

I call this THE ONE WAY DIET because, when I followed this…

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My New Year’s Resolutions

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Have you been thinking about some New Year’s Resolutions? I think that’s a great way to prepare for the start of another year, and they help to remind us of the things that are most important to us. I really want to make the most of next year, so here’s my list of top priorities for 2018. Continue reading →

Merry Christmas

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Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Next week, I hope to share my New Year Resolutions, but first I’ll be spending a few days with my closest family and some dear friends.

Thank you so much for your friendship and support throughout the last year.

 

 

The One Way Diet – now available in Paperback and eBook formats

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I’m pleased to let you know that THE ONE WAY DIET is now available in Paperback as well as eBook format, including Kindle Unlimited. While travelling on a weight loss journey, it can be convenient to have a printed book on hand for reference, so this will give readers that option.  Continue reading →

Just released – THE ONE WAY DIET

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I’m pleased to announce that THE ONE WAY DIET has just been released. Are you already thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions? If one of those is to lose some weight, then this is the ideal starting point. Although based on my own experience, this book is more about you, the reader, and how to cope with every aspect of your weight loss journey.

Continue reading →

The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series – now in paperback

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I’m delighted to announce that the first three books in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series are now available in paperback. The ebooks were released first, and are also available in Kindle Unlimited. I’m pleased that readers who prefer print books will now be able to enjoy THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS and THE MAGUS EPIPHANY.  The paperback version of Book 4, HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS, will be released soon. Continue reading →

Celebrating One Month on Instagram

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It has now been more than one month since the launch of my Instagram account  @authorlovestravel – my user name there is Toni Pike Author. It’s been an exciting and busy month, and every day I’ve posted about somewhere around the world that I’ve visited in the past. Here are just a few of the places that have been included: Continue reading →

Sue Loncaric prepares for a Spanish Adventure

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Sue Loncaric from the Sizzling Towards Sixty & Beyond blog, is preparing for an exciting trip to Spain and other parts of Europe. She reflects on her preparations, and talks about some inspiring tips that she’s received from fellow bloggers and writers.

You can check out her post here: The Countdown to Our Spanish Adventure is On

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Launch of my Instagram account: @authorlovestravel

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I’m pleased to announce the launch of my Instagram account. As you have probably guessed, the focus will be on travel. I love to explore the world to do research for my thrillers. Every day on Instagram, I’ll be sharing one exciting place that I’ve visited, using my own photographs.  It’s going to be both fun and fascinating, so please join me.

My user name is Toni Pike Author (@authorlovestravel).  Here is the link: @authorlovestravel
Continue reading →

4 Tips about KDP Select for Beginners

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I recently enrolled my books in KDP Select, which means they are now available exclusively on Amazon and available on Kindle Unlimited. Here are five quick tips I learned that you may find useful if you are new to KDP Select or are considering whether to enrol any of your titles.

Continue reading →

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Author Update – Toni Pike, Charles E. Yallowitz and Sally Cronin

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I was thrilled to appear in Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Update today, along with great authors Charles E. Yallowitz and the amazing Sally Cronin.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the Friday edition of the Cafe and Bookstore author update and two authors today have new releases.

First is Toni Pike with a travel guide for those of us who are keen to head out on adventures to experience new cultures.  Happy Travels 101: Cruise, flight and sightseeing tips to enhance your journey.

About the book

BECOME A TRAVEL EXPERT BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.
Discover my travel booking tips, my suggestions for exploring any destination, my tips for escorted tours, and my travel packing guide. Find out how to select and make the most of your next cruise, how to cope with a long-haul flight, and how to prepare a travel preparation checklist. And don’t miss my recommendations on travel safety, senior travel, and travel photography.

I love to travel because there is so much to see around the world: breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, towns steeped in history…

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Now available on Kindle Unlimited: The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series

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I’m proud to announce that all 4 books in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series are now available on Kindle Unlimited – and are being listed exclusively at all Amazon outlets. That means you can now access them if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. If you are not a subscriber but would like to try it, then Amazon is currently offering a 30-day free trial.

Thank you so much, everyone, for all your support!

They are available at these Amazon stores:  USA – UK – Australia – Canada – France – Germany – Italy– Netherlands – Spain – India –  and all other Amazon outlets

Continue reading →

Just Released! Happy Travels 101: Don’t leave home without these cruise, flight, safety, packing and sightseeing tips

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I’m excited to announce that my new book – a travel guide – has just been released. Happy Travels 101: Don’t leave home without these cruise, flight, safety, packing and sightseeing tips is now available exclusively on Amazon – including Kindle Unlimited.

Continue reading →

13 Things To Do After Publishing Your Next Book – Guest Post by, Toni Pike…

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Many thanks to Chris Graham from The Story Reading Ape Blog for publishing my article: 13 Things to do after publishing your next book.

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

You have already published your first book. As part of that process, you set up your author pages on Amazon and other distribution sites such as Smashwords. You also established your own website, Facebook author page, Goodreads Author page, Twitter account and accounts on other social media platforms.

Now the time has come to publish your next book. You upload it and, hey presto, a short time later your precious creation goes live. Here is a list of thirteen housekeeping jobs to attend to before beginning the hard work of post-publication marketing.

1. Assemble your Buyer Links

Assemble a list of the new buyer links for adding to your website, signatures and posts.

2. Your Amazon Author Pages

Update your author pages on Amazon USA, UK, France, Germany and Japan: claim the new book and modify your biography.

3. The Author Page on other distribution sites, such as Smashwords

Modify…

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Smorgasbord Book Promotion – Air Your Reviews – Toni Pike and Lorinda J. Taylor

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I was thrilled to have a 5-star review for “The Rock of Magus” mentioned in Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore update today – along with great writer Lorinda J. Taylor. Sally Cronin has a wonderful blog called Smorgasbord – Variety is the Spice of Life. Be sure to catch her latest posts.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Welcome to the first of the review specific posts this week.I am putting together a separate post on how to encourage more readers to leave book reviews later today, but I do want to reiterate my intention in the coming months to focus on reviews of books as part of book promotions. Word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool that we have and we need to make it easier for our readers to leave their opinions good or bad about our work. More about that in the specific post later.In the meantime I am delighted to share new reviews for these featured authors the first being Toni Pike and The Rock of Magus: Code Red in the Vatican (The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series Book 2) with a review by Terri Webster Schrandt

Source: Smorgasbord Book Promotion – Air Your Reviews – Toni Pike and Lorinda J. Taylor

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My 5 Top Tips for First-Time Travellers

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Here are my top five travel tips for those who are fairly new to travelling overseas – though they also apply to those with far more experience. I love to travel and have seen some amazing places around the world that I’ve used as settings in my novels.  It is the perfect excuse to do some research! Continue reading →

Book Review of Toni Pike’s The Rock of Magus

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I was thrilled to receive another five-star review for “The Rock of Magus” recently. It was written by Terri Webster Schrandt, of the Second Wind Leisure Perspectives blog.

Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

Book Review The Rock of Magus by Toni Pike original image by Unsplash, edited for publication

I am pleased to share my review of Toni Pike’s book, The Rock of Magus: Code Red in the Vatican, the second in the Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller series.

Author Toni PikeAbout the Author:

Toni Pike is the author of The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: “The Magus Covenant,” “The Rock of Magus,” and “The Magus Epiphany.”

She is also the author of “100 Secrets to Love, Health and Wealth,” a guide to finding a job and creating a life that you love.

Toni believes that coffee and long walks are an essential part of any day. After starting her career as a veterinary surgeon, she taught high school and later had a successful career in the public service. Toni lives in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, with husband Jon. Her main passions are writing, travelling, and spending time with family and friends.

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6 Ways to Recharge Your Writing Batteries – Guest Post by Toni Pike…

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Many thanks to Chris Graham from The Story Reading Ape’s Blog for publishing my article about ways to restore your energy levels.

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

feature-image_recharge-batteries

Do you feel as if you’re running on empty, distracted by the constant demands of social media or not finding the time you need to write your next novel? You might need to focus on recharging your writing batteries, and there are six easy ways to do just that. Try one or more of these techniques, and see if it makes a difference to your life.

  1. Unplug your screen

If you’re writing, blogging and using a computer at work, then you’re spending a great deal of time looking at a screen. Try taking a break and see what a difference it makes. Keep away for all your devices for just twenty-four hours, and then write down how you feel at the end of that day. Chances are that you’ll feel healthier and discover a fresh enjoyment in the world around you.

  1. Monotask

If you’re a blogger and writer, then you…

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Lucky to be alive

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Life is our most precious possession

Do you realise that your own life is the most precious possession you have? There are many things that you might lose: your house, your wealth, your job, your friends and your freedom. You might even lose your family or your health. But all that pales in comparison to losing your life. Continue reading →

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Author Update – Toni Pike, Andrew Joyce and Hilary Custance Green

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Many thanks to Sally Cronin for including “The Magus Epiphany” in her latest Author Update, alongside great writers Andrew Joyce and Hilary Custance Green. I’m very lucky to be included in “Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore” where you can find an excellent and wide-ranging selection of authors and their books.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

author-update-jpg

Welcome to the first of the March Cafe and Bookstore updates. The first author to be updated today is Toni Pike who has released the third book in the Jotham Fletcher Mystery series, The Magus Epiphany

519coziozel-_uy250_About The Magus Epiphany

ONLY ONE MAN CAN STOP THE REVELATION THAT WILL SHATTER THE WORLD.
Jotham Fletcher returns in a deadly quest to save his own family and unravel the mystery behind two ancient relics, the murder of a young woman and a shocking series of messages about an epiphany.

Jotham and Madena have dedicated their lives to stopping the work of the long-hidden Simonian Sect and the Brotherhood who will commit any crime to achieve the same goal. Their belated honeymoon in Italy is interrupted when they cross paths with the sect and hear news of a mysterious object left at the spot where Simon Magus died in Rome two thousand years…

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Cover Reveal: THE MAGUS EPIPHANY (now released)

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Now just released and available here:

Amazon: USA – UK – Australia – Canada – France – Germany – Italy – Netherlands – Spain – and other Amazon outlets

The Magus Epiphany will be the third book in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series, and I’m excited to reveal the cover for the first time!

Continue reading →

The Theme of a Novel

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The theme of a novel is the major issue that underlies the story, and is the lesson or message that it conveys. It is one of the most important factors to think about when planning and writing a work of fiction. When you studied literature at school, the theme of a novel was always an important point for discussion. Now that you’re a writer, don’t forget to give your own story’s theme the same careful consideration. Continue reading →

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Christmas Update – Susan M. Toy, Marcia Meara and Toni Pike

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So honoured to be a featured writer on Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore this week – along with wonderful writers Marcia Meara and Susan M. Troy. Don’t miss their books for those last-minute Christmas gifts this week.

 

 

Why Authors Need a Business Card

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Business cards can be an important weapon in the arsenal of any writer wanting to promote their work. Many thanks to Chris from the Story Reading Ape Blog for publishing my article about business cards for authors. Continue reading →

THE ROCK OF MAGUS – now released (Book 2 in the series)

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A Religious Conspiracy Thriller – Code Red in the Vatican

I’m excited to announce that The Rock of Magus has now been released. It is Book 2 in the Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series, and this time Jotham heads to the Vatican. There are plenty of twists and turns as he tries to foil the Simonian Sect and the Brotherhood with the help of his new partner, Madena Sutcliffe. Continue reading →

Launch of my Facebook Page: Toni Pike – Author

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I’m pleased to announce the launch of my Facebook Page. The Author App on the left hand side is a great way to get in touch and access my books. Here is the link, and I’d be delighted to hear if you like it.

Toni Pike – Author

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The Mood of a Novel

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We all know what it means when someone says that they are in a good or bad mood. Every one of us has a range of moods, that cover the spectrum from deliriously happy to gloomy or sad, and that is a sure sign of our humanity. Continue reading →

Reviews of THE MAGUS COVENANT

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Here are some excerpts from reviews of The Magus Covenant – Book 1 in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series.

“Exciting new series that leaves you wanting more immediately!” – Review on Amazon Continue reading →

Reviews of THE ROCK OF MAGUS

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Here are some excerpts from reviews of The Rock of Magus – Book 2 in The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series.

“If you have read Toni Pike’s first Jotham Fletcher adventure The Magus Covenant and really enjoyed the read like I did, you are going to like book two The Rock of Magus even more.” Continue reading →

3 Steps to Achieving Your Dream

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On 31 December 2105, I was delighted to be a guest on the Sizzling Towards Sixty website, talking about three steps to achieving your dream. Mine was to become an author, and it was just after I published my first novel. I would love to hear what you think. Here is the link to that article:

3 Steps to Achieving Your Dream

 

Guest Post on Sizzling Towards Sixty: How to Become an Author in Midlife

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I was thrilled to be a guest on the inspirational Sizzling Towards Sixty website.

Here is the link to that article:

Midlife Matters – How to Become an Author in Midlife

I’d love to hear what you think.

 

The Setting of a Novel

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The setting of your novel is a critical element that needs careful consideration and planning. It is the backdrop to your story, and requires as much thought as you give to the characters and storyline. There are several aspects that you need to take into account, including the time period, the location, the mood to be evoked and the level of detail to be used in your descriptions. Continue reading →

Fiction Genres

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Defining Genres

Fiction is normally divided into a range of categories that are referred to as genres. It will be the first way for readers and publishers to judge your novel, and every writer needs to select the genre of their own work. Despite that, many writers find it difficult to make that decision, even after completing the first draft. Many stories seem to fit into more than one category, making the choice even more difficult. This is a brief guideline to help you make that decision. Continue reading →

The Length of a Novel

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Standard Word Counts

You are about to embark on a long and challenging journey and so far you have only stared at a blank sheet of paper or a computer screen in the search for inspiration. It might seem too early too worry about the length of your novel, but I consider that some forward planning is essential. You will know where you are headed and the size of the task you are about to undertake. Continue reading →

How to Write Dates – Guest Post…

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I was delighted to have an article posted on Chris the Story Reading Ape’s Blog – about How to Write Dates in fiction.

 

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

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Your mind is on fire as you type out your latest story at super-fast speed when, all of a sudden, you come to a halt. You want to include a date or a time period, and you’re not sure of the best way to express it.

Here are some easy guidelines to help you get started.

Dates

There are two simple ways to write a date but in fiction you should try to write the words out in full:

Thursday 9 June 2016 – with no comma and no “th”

or

Ninth of June

Always write dialogue the way your character would say it:

“She’ll be here on April the tenth,” said Mary.

Years

Write a single year in numerals:

2014

For a range of years, you can write the numerals:

1998-99 or 2002-2006

But for fiction, you should try to write the phrase in full:

She died sometime…

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A Visit to Haddon Hall

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In my first thriller The Magus Covenant, billionaire Iago Visser lives in a remote part of Derbyshire’s Peak District in a walled medieval manor house. In the second book of the series, recently released, hero Jotham Fletcher is now the owner. What better way, then, to feed my muse on a recent trip to England than to visit enchanting Haddon Hall? Continue reading →

The Moment of Clarity (Guest Post by Author Toni Pike)

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Chris from The Story Reading Ape Blog was kind enough to post my article about the moment we decide to achieve our dreams. You can read more here:

 

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

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The Moment of Clarity

The moment when we decide to achieve a dream

The moment of clarity is the most mysterious part of achieving a dream. It is that one lucid moment before you start to follow a plan and achieve a goal. No one can explain why, after years of longing and setting targets that were never met, everything changes. It is a magic moment when the fog in your mind lifts and your purpose becomes clear.

Just pretend for a moment that you want to go on a holiday. Not just a few days by the beach, but an overseas trip that you have been thinking about for a long time. There is a vague idea in your mind that you would love to see a certain part of the world.

When and why did you decide that you would love to see Scandinavia or Asia or…

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Adrenaline – A Simple Guide for Writers (Guest Post by Toni Pike)

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Chris from The Story Reading Ape Blog was kind enough to post my article about the effects of adrenaline. You can read more here: Adrenaline – A Simple Guide for Writers

 

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

This is a simple guide to adrenaline and its effects on the human body. An adrenaline rush is often referred to as the flight or fight response. You, the writer, put your characters into the most incredible situations and then decide if they will confront the enemy or run away – or do something completely unexpected. But what really happens when a person confronts an assailant or has a panic attack?

Adrenaline is a hormone that is sometimes referred to as epinephrine, but only in American medical circles – and that word may be slowly dying out. Adrenaline is the word of choice in all popular media and around the world.

Your characters are likely to have more than one adrenaline rush on their way to the exciting climax in your story. It happens in response to trauma, shock or a sudden fright. The hormone bursts out of…

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Eat Pizza the Roman Way

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Pizza has become a favourite meal around the world, one that has been popular for decades. Australians love to go to an Italian restaurant with family and friends, choose several different varieties laden with all sorts of toppings and then share slices around the table. And they usually eat it with a knife and fork. Continue reading →