Anita Loughrey's blog. This is my journal about my experiences and thoughts on writing. As well as news about me and my books, it includes writing tips, book reviews, author interviews and blog tours.
For more information about me and my books see my website: www.anitaloughrey.com. Follow me on Twitter @amloughrey, Facebook @anitaloughrey.author and on Instagram @anitaloughrey
My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow is a 196 Page, young adult fantasy romance, publishedFebruary 8th, 2023.
Blurb
Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…
Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.
So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king’s been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, Emara must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change…
And what she cannot.
About the Author
Hayley Reese Chow is the author of Odriel’s Heirs and Into the Churn series. When not writing, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF veteran, reservist, four-time All American fencer, ex-ultramarathoner, avid traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently lives in Florida with two small wild boys, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.
To find Hayley’s other stories and see what she’s working on next, check out hayleyreesechow.com.
Another Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist and another spotlight tour. Today my potlight is for The Pretender by Katie Ward.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
The Pretender by Katie Ward is a 232 Page, Young Adult contemporary fiction, romance, whcih was published August 18th 2018.
Blurb
France, 2000: Two babies are born on the same day just two hours apart – but to very different lives. Isabella is a Princess and heir to the French throne, while Sophia is born into a life of poverty and abuse.
At the age of 18, Sophia runs away from home. That same night, Isabella is also fleeing from the burden of her royal life when she finds Sophia slumped at the Palace gates. Amazed by how alike they look, Isabella proposes a daring plot – to exchange their lives for one week.
The Pretender is an emotionally intense and compelling story of friendship, love and the strange power of destiny.
About the Author
Katie Ward always knew that she wanted to write for a living. After completing a degree in Journalism at the University for the Creative Arts, she moved to Dublin. While there, she had a short story published in an anthology titled ‘Do the Write Thing’ which was part of a competition being run by Irish TV show Seoige and O’Shea (the Irish equivalent of Richard and Judy!). The anthology reached the top 20 in the Irish Bestsellers List in 2007. Shortly after this, Katie was also shortlisted for a competition judged by Man Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle with an excerpt of her second novel Red Roses.
Katie returned to Devon where she continued to focus on her writing and in 2015 she began writing her debut novel, The Pretender, which became a top 30 bestseller on the Amazon Young Adult chart and was also awarded a BRAG medallion. Katie lives in Devon and aside from writing, she also loves to sing, dance and travel.
Take a look at my Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today. I am spotlighting The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes is a 238 Page, adult literary fiction, fantasy that was published October 31st 2014.
Blurb
From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there’s more magic to the world than he thought…
When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he’s drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too.
Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something – yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster?
About the Author
Ashley is a poet, novelist and ex-teacher living in Australia.
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
Today I am excited to announce I am on yet another of Victoria Williamson’s blog tours. This time for a brillaint middle-grade science fiction adventure, Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs. It is 198 pages and was released on October 24, 2024 by Tiny Tree Books.
Blurb
When the skies turn deadly, a young heroine must rise from the ashes…
Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now, with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher. Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it – the Firehawk – lies in pieces in the hangar.
Determined to honour her parents’ legacy, Amberley hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo’s help, they stow away on a supply train, trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action. Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home, discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the way.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.
Review
Title: Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs
Written by: Victoria Williamson
Illustrated by:
Published by: Tiny Tree Books
This gripping sci-fi dystopian tale masterfully blends themes of determination, friendship, grief, and resilience into a heart-pounding adventure.
The story follows Amberley and Ric (Ricardo), two vividly portrayed protagonists with richly developed personalities and relatable struggles. Ricardo, who is visually impaired, relies on an advanced opti-kit to navigate the world. Amberley, paralyzed in a plane crash that claimed her parents’ lives, has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Their lives take a perilous turn when their village is threatened by swarms of monstrous metabugs hatching in a nearby meteor crater.
As if giant, crop-destroying insects weren’t enough, the stakes escalate when they uncover an even deadlier enemy: colossal spiders immune to their weapons, abducting villagers and cocooning them for a gruesome feast.
The only hope lies in the Firehawk, a powerful jet fighter that crashed in the same tragic accident that left Amberley scarred. Though deemed irreparable, the Firehawk becomes the centre of a daring plan. With the help of Screwball, a maverick pilot with a knack for trouble, and her quirky pet wombat, Amberley and Ric embark on a secret mission to rebuild the aircraft.
The story surges forward with electrifying intensity as they scavenge for parts, outwit doubting adults, and test their skills and courage against all odds. The final showdown, with the restored Firehawk blazing into action, delivers a thrilling climax that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
What sets this tale apart are the dynamic narrative touches: the interwoven reports, technical specs, and log entries that seamlessly propel the story while immersing readers in the high-stakes world.
About the Author
Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.
As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.
Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
To read reviews of Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs by Victoria Williamson take a look at:
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com and follow her on X (formly known as Twitter) @strangelymagic
I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this ultimate tour. Thank you. @The_WriteReads @WriteReadsTours
A special thank you must also go to Victoria Williamson and Tiny tree Books for sending me the wonderful book package.
My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne is a 290 page middle grade thriller/ mystery. It was published September 1st, 2023.
Blurb
13-year-old Grace loves her new charity shop coat. In fact, it’s perfect. Except for one tiny thing. When she wears it, she sees visions of the previous owner’s life … and their murder! Grace and her best friend, Suzy, decide to investigate but digging up the past reveals secrets some people want to keep hidden. Can Grace stay one step ahead and solve a fifty-year-old murder or will she become the killer’s next victim? A gripping story of secrets and murder for fans of fast-paced middle grade thrillers.
Author Bio
Sarah Wynne is from Chester in the northwest of England and lives with her husband, son and their little white ball of chaos, Daisy the dog. She spent over 10 years working as a primary teaching assistant but now writes full-time and provides editorial services to writers of children’s fiction.
When she’s not writing she’ll usually be found with her nose in a middle grade book or researching which book to read next or talking about books!
Much To Do About Writing 