Thursday, 8 April 2010

Thursday Contest!

Ok, well I suppose that was a bit of a lie. It won't be every Thursday. But some Thursdays at least!

I've been looking over my stock of fun promo bits and pieces, and I've realised that I have some cute spares to give away.

-1 keyring, patterned with pink cherryblossom
- Postcards advertising my promotional read, Last Wish
- 1 very cute grey bear, who enjoys hugs
- British candy

If you'd like to recieve a parcel containing these lovelies and probably assorted other surprises I find on the street have spare, answer this question:

My new novella, Lucky Mr M, due out on April 22nd, is released by which publisher?

Email your answers to jasmine@jasmineaherne.com by April 20th.

Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

Egg-cellent

Late again. But I think I'm excused because it's Easter - or it was, anyway. Did everyone have a good one? I trust you all ate too much chocolate and spent time with people you love.

J and I went to visit his family in deepest darkest Devon. We spent some time walking around the countryside. It was amazing to breathe in clean country air after living in a city. Not that Cardiff is particularly smoggy, but I do think that because I'm asthmatic I notice it that much more.

There were quite a few people around as it was the bank holiday weekend, despite the chilly and rather muddy weather. It was great to get some excercise - not that I slob around here in Cardiff, but it's not often I go for a proper walk, although I think J and I will be getting out and about more and more as the weather gets warmer - if we have a summer this year. It's been a total washout the last three years running. My summer clothes are hanging in my wardrobe, sobbing...

Oh, well. Despite the weather never doing what it promises, I thought over Easter that I have a lot to be thankful for. Food is plentiful, I can spend my free time with the people I love, I'm mostly fit and healthy, and I like my job. There are a lot of people who don't have any or all or those things, and I have to remember that whenever I want a little whinge about the weather or anything that, in comparison, is so unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

So, happy belated Easter all - be thankful for all the wonderful things in your life. Not least the large amount of chocolate you probably have left over from the weekend.

I can't look at another piece of chocolate for at least a week!

Thursday, 1 April 2010

New Release

Today I'd like to tell you about my latest release, Lucky Mr M, from Pink Petal Books. It's a lightly erotic novella about Lorna, a young woman who learns to explore her own sexuality, which in turn helps her to realise some of her own desires.

While on this subject, I'd like to talk about the realisation of dreams and desires. How many of you have had dreams that have been forgotten about or pushed to the wayside? Or how about those you just never thought could come true?

I only bring this up because I was talking to a friend recently about fate. Do you believe in it? In that whole "one person for everyone" theory. I used to believe in that. Then I got older and I thought, "what happens if you find that one person for you, against huge odds, and then they're taken from you by some means or another?"

It seemed so grossly unfair. Now I think that perhaps there are 1000 people you'd be a nice match with, 100 people you'd be great with, and a handful that you'd feel blissfully happy with, a total personality match, let's say.

And then, how do you KNOW? Is there a sign? Do you get a letter?

Hollywood has a lot to answer for when it comes to love, I tell you. So does fiction, I suppose, but what can I say. I love escaping into a good book, and part of that is why I write. You get to take on someone else's dreams for a while, to experience their highs and lows, to cheer them on and comfort them. And then maybe, when you turn the last page, when you've read the happy ending, when the protagonist has made their dreams come true, you'll be spurred on to realise your dreams, too.

Lucky Mr M will be available for download from April 22nd.