January - packing up and moving on!

I know, I know…. I haven’t posted since wishing you a happy Christmas but I do have a good excuse, honest! 

Just before Christmas we sold our cottage. We’d had it up for sale for almost a year but with the house market being in the doldrums, we hadn’t attracted any serious interest. That all changed very quickly indeed just before Christmas after a lovely couple came to view, loved it, and offered to buy it straight away!

You may wonder why we would want to sell our cottage, which we bought as a derelict shepherd's bothy twenty five years ago and renovated ourselves. Well, with our three lovely sons all grown up and seeing the big wide world as theirs for the taking, Mr JH and I have decided to sell up/downscale and age disgracefully by having some adventures of our own rather than putting our feet up by the fire.

We did manage to have a fabulous last family Christmas at the cottage. But the moment January arrived we were in packing mode. So now we have packed up and moved out - our exciting adventure has begun. We have very luckily managed to find a place to stay temporarily, until we decide where we’d like to base ourselves. We have moved from our cottage in the hills to a lodge house down by the side of the river. The river is one of the best in Scotland for fishing salmon and river trout and I must admit that I do love the sight and sound of the water thundering past us - from a safe distance of course - here on the river bank!

And the writing? Well, I’m just about to start writing a new full length novel for publication later this year and I can do that just about anywhere – same goes for blogging – so if I’m not here as much as you’d like me to be with my news then please do pop over and Like my Page or Follow me on Facebook or Twitter as you’ll find me online there most days and I’d be delighted to chat and share news.

So what’s happening this week…?

Award winning 'Innovative' Loveahappyending Lifestyle Magazine - for which I am an associate editor – has a fabulous third issue available now to read online or to download. I like to download it to read on my Kindle Fire in full colour. Find out how to get your FREE copy HERE

January 25^th is Burns Night here in Scotland and it is celebrated all over the world. I’m celebrating by offering my bestselling novel Bagpipes and Bullshot at a specially reduced price in paperback. Or you can download to Kindle at £1.90 or $3.00. A wee bargain!

Here’s the links if you’d like to check it out on Amazon UK or Amazon US. Other countries worldwide via Amazon are included in this offer.

You can win a copy of Bagpipes and Bullshot if you are my 5000^th Twitter Follower! I'm close to 5K lovely follower peeps and feeling so excited about reaching such a milestone! A copy of my bestselling novel Bagpipes & Bullshot goes to Follower No.5000!

Be a Tweetheart and Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/JaniceHorton

Until next week then…..

Janice xx

Friday... again?

I’ve had my head down all week catching up on all sorts of things – so much so that I could not believe today was Friday – again.

I’ve been busy writing 1000 words a day of ‘Voodoo Child’ and I must admit that so far I’m having a ball with this stage of Nola’s life. This is a follow on novella to ‘How Do You Voodoo?’ and ‘Voodoo Wedding’ and in it Nola and Louis are expecting their first child. Of course, this time next week, I could be wailing and moaning that it’s all a load of junk but so far I’m having a lot of fun and the writing is going well. My editor is expecting to edit this book at the beginning of October and I’m planning a publication date of around 31st October. Wish me luck!

I’ve also been working hard on behalf of Loveahappyending Lifestyle Magazine, for which I edit the Bookshelf Reviews feature.  After attracting over two and a half million hits on our website we now want to give our visitors even more reason to return to us day after day. We are planning to grow the website again in the Autumn and hope to publish the very best articles in a high quality downloadable emagazine. Our features will include everything from interior design to recipes, but the ‘heart’ of our project will still be book reviews for our own featured authors in our Bookshelf Reviews feature.

 

 

 

I’m currently looking for one or two more book blogger reviewers to join us at Loveahappyending Lifestyle magazine and so if you love reading and have a book blog and are interested in applying please get in touch with me directly at janice@janicehortonwriter.co.uk.

 

I’ve been out and about promoting my latest title this week too – a with a mini book tour for ‘How To Party Online’ and you can read my guest spot at: Talli Roland’s Blog, Brook Cottage Books, Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog for online party advice and top tips!

 

 

Haste ye back here next Friday

In the meantime, be my friend on Facebook for regular writerly news and/or be a tweetheart and follow my daily authorly updates on Twitter at @JaniceHorton

Winners of the Party On event!

 

I just want to say how fabulous yesterday was! I laughed and gasped and ooo'd and swooned at all of your fabulous and clever photos and pictures throughout the day and it was so much fun. What lovely party peeps you all are!

 

Well - all the entries have now been collated from all those who took part yesterday and have independently drawn by my two strappingly handsome sons who are home at the moment. I do wish there were prizes for every single one of you who made my day yesterday by taking part in the Party On event.

 

The Winners! 

Without further ado the winners are Linn B Halton for her Animal Party Game entry of 'Mr Tiggs'. Heidi Cosmochicklitan for her Cocktail Party Game entry of 'Cocktail on the Beach' and Angela Simons Barton for her Hollywood Red Carpet Game entry of Johnny Depp. Each win an exclusive How To Party Online Notebook! If you ladies would like to email me at: janice@janicehortonwriter.co.uk with your postal addresses I'll send them straight out to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main prize of a £10 Amazon Voucher for posting a 'Party Photo' of your own goes to Awen Thornber who posted this fabulous photo and is a such a worthy winner that I was delighted when her name was drawn! Please email me Awen and I'll have the gift voucher emailed to you straight away. Thanks again everyone!

 

 

 

I'd LOVE it and appreciate it if you could spread the word to your friends and associates about the How To Party Online ebook for Kindle and if you sign up to my newsletter on my Blog (pretty please!?) them I'll be able to let you know when it's out in paperback too. Thanks again everyone!

 

 

At the moment I’m featuring on Dizzy C’s Little Book blog with a summer fun interview that features reading, writing and holidays. There are photos of my Scottish country cottage and my hens and there is an international giveaway for one of my Kindle books! Click here for the link.

I read an Interesting post on 'Between The Lines' blog this morning on book marketing - and was pleased to see a lovely mention of my How To Party Online book. You might also find it an interesting read. Click here for the link.

I was also delighted to see a new book blogger review for my first novella ‘How Do You Voodoo?’ on Books4U this week. Nikki says: "A superb novella from author Janice Horton. An interesting storyline about a character who thinks she has it all but learns there is something missing." You can read the rest of this review by clicking here.

Haste ye back here next Friday!

 

 

 

The #partyon Facebook Party - Wednesday 31st July 2013

Hi everyone -  I’m getting into party mode to launch my non fiction title ‘How To Party Online’ with a party event being hosted on Facebook which is also planned to spill over to Twitter and Pinterest. I’m looking forward to seeing your friendly faces and would absolutely love it if you could pop over to attend. Please check out the party event page – I’ll be there all day on WEDNESDAY 31ST JULY from 8 till Late.

https://www.facebook.com/events/324400584360645/

 

 

 



THE PARTY ITINERARY

 

 

All Day on Wednesday 31^st July – from Early until Late on the Party On Facebook Event Page post up your own Party Photo. ALL party peeps who post a photo of themselves at a party (any type of party you choose) will be in the draw for Amazon Vouchers!

 

Then... 

At 10am: The Cocktail Party – This game will start on the Party On Facebook Event Page at 10am and will continue throughout the day. The idea is for you to post a picture on the Facebook Party Page (from the internet or it can be one of your own). Or alternatively, you can pick one from my ‘Cocktail Party Game Board’ on Pinterest and then post it to the Party On Facebook Event Page.  The next thing is to choose a name for your cocktail. You should make up an exotic/ funny/unusual/delicious/weird sounding cocktail name. If you want to you can even share your own recipe for it! You can also Tweet using the hashtag #partyon.

 

 

 

 

ALL entries in this game will be in a draw for an exclusive How To Party Online notebook

1pm: The Animal Party Game – This game will start on the Party On Facebook Event Page at 1pm and continue for the rest of the party. The idea is for you to post up a picture of a party animal on the Facebook Party Page (from the internet or it can be one of your own). Or alternatively, you can pick one from my ‘Animal Party Board’ on Pinterest and post it on the Party On Facebook Page. You can also Tweet using the hashtag #partyon.

 

ALL entries in this game will be in a draw for an exclusive How To Party Online notebook

3pm: The Hollywood Red Carpet Party – This game will start on the Party On Facebook Event Page at 3pm and will continue until the party ends. The idea is for you to choose which fabulous Hollywood star would escort you on the red carpet. Please post up a photograph of the star of your dreams on the Party Page or alternately choose from my ‘Hollywood Red Carpet Party Game Board’ on Pinterest and post it on the Party On Facebook Page. You can also Tweet using the hashtag #partyon

 

ALL entries in this game will be in a draw for an exclusive How To Party Online notebook

 

PLUS: Throughout the day and in between partying I promise virtual party food, music, prizes and lots of very REAL fun!

 

Do join the party over on Facebook and/or Tweet using the hashtag #partyon

Haste ye over there…!

 

So what’s your very favourite sort of party…?

 

A birthday party, a fancy dress party, a cocktail party, a surprise party, a hen party, a stag party, an office party, a xmas party, a new year party….?

And I bet you have just the photo to prove it …?!!

On Wednesday 31^st July I’m throwing an online party to launch my latest title ‘How To Party Online’.

The event will be hosted on Facebook but will also spill over to the blogosphere, to Twitter, and to Pinterest and everyone is invited!

To take part, dig out a photo of you looking your party best and post it onto the party page on the last day of July to take part in the real fun and virtual games.

Simply comment, like, post, share, tweet (#partyon) to be in the draw to win some fabulous party prizes!

 

Check out the Facebook Party Page

 

 

‘How To Party Online’ has been chosen by Thornberry Publishers as

recommended reading for all authors and writers.

Early Reviews on Amazon

“This book explains, step-by-step, how to prepare for a book launch and do it with style!”

“Janice also adds a very nice personal touch. It's like getting help from a friend”

“I'll be consulting it many times as I plan future online promotional parties.

“This e-book will quickly become a staple on every author's ereader.”

DG Life Magazine says:

“Janice has made it her business to get stuck into the whole self-publishing malarkey. Savvy enough to realise it’s not enough to simply write, she’s studied social media marketing until it could be her specialist subject on Mastermind. She can plan a book launch, maximise publicity, keep the momentum going after the first initial flush, and perhaps most of all, she knows how to make the whole thing fun, which is no mean feat”.

About ‘How To Party Online’

• Online parties are a fun way to launch your book or introduce your product and engage with your target audience.

• Social media applications are perfect forums for parties - the venue capacity is infinite, the guest list is global, and the fun and games can lead to bestselling success!

• This aim of this book is to show you how you can produce measurable results from your very first online party and while you are still working towards building up your social network.

• The purpose of this book is to walk and talk you through each step of the planning and implementation of four very different online promotional parties.

• Together we will look at how much work and effort is involved in implementing each step and we will experience the party format, explore the outcomes, and quantify all the successes.

• I’ll show you how to make it lots of fun!

 

Check out the Facebook Party Page

Post up your own Party Photo on Wednesday 31^st July

Take part in all the real fun & virtual games!

How To Party Online is exclusive to Amazon for Kindle

Amazon UK   Amazon.com

Taking time out for a pearl…

 

I’m taking time out for a couple of weeks. It’s a special ‘pearl’ wedding anniversary for Mr JH and I this month, so we are off somewhere romantic to celebrate. Although we have organised housesitting cover for the hens and the dogs while we are away, I won’t be blogging or tweeting or FB’ing  as usual (I’ve promised Mr JH that I won’t!!) but I’m sure I’ll return with renewed online networking vigour and lots to share – so until then - lovely peeps, have fun answering this question.

 

How many years have Mr & Mrs JH been married if it’s their ‘pearl’ anniversary..?

 There's a free ebook copy of Voodoo Wedding in a prize draw for all those who comment below while I'm away - or tweet the answer using @JaniceHorton so I see it - when I get back!

 

Haste ye Back in a couple of weeks...

 

 

 

Voodoo Magick…!

 

I just wanted to say how thrilled I am, how touched at the support and the turn out yesterday at the launch of Voodoo Wedding, and I want to say a big thank you to all those who attended the Voodoo Wedding Facebook and Twitter Event and for being such fabulous fun. The wedding photos of cakes, champagne, hats, shoes, handbags, dresses and kilts were - I’m sure you’ll all agree – interesting, entertaining, fascinating, and in some cases, emotionally charged. As an added bonus ‘Voodoo Wedding’ finished the day in the Amazon Top 100 Chart for Short Stories at #61 which was even more thrilling. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

 

 

 

 

I wish there were enough sparkly purple tartan pens to give one to everyone and I’m so glad I didn’t have to choose the winners myself from the three prize draws. This was done independently this morning by my son using assigned numbers and not names and these are the winners. Congratulation ladies! These pens are the exact same purple colour tartan as Voodoo Wedding and come in a black pouch to keep them safe in your handbags. Please email me at: janice@janicehortonwriter.co.uk with your postal addresses.

 

For ‘signing up to join’ the party – Gilly Fraser

For uploading a wedding photo – Gina Dickerson

For Tweeting #voodoowedding – Charlotte Foreman

 

 

Finally, I can assure you that the virtual fizz last night was very real - as was my headache this morning!

Thank you!



You are cordially invited…

Friday 1^st March 2013

Today I’m excited to launch the second book in my Voodoo Romance series: Voodoo Wedding!

 

There’s just one thing I associate with a book launch - and that is a book launch party! So do join me today on the Voodoo Wedding Facebook Events Page and/or on Twitter using the hashtag #voodoowedding

There will be fun and prizes and wedding ‘favours’

 

 

Of course, I’ll also be anxiously awaiting the verdict of the book reviewers. Two book bloggers who had previously read and enjoyed Book One in the series ‘How Do You Voodoo?’ have been sent review copies and are today revealing their verdicts on ‘Voodoo Wedding’.

Brook Cottage Books

Kim the Bookworm
 

 

Are you considering downloading ‘Voodoo Wedding’ from Amazon for your Kindle or Kindle App today – but haven’t yet read ‘How Do You Voodoo?’

Then go ahead and buy ‘Voodoo Wedding’ today (£1 or $1.50)

Amazon UK or Amazon.com

And mail me today with ‘I JUST BOUGHT VOODOO WEDDING’ in the email subject line to: janice@janicehortonwriter.co.uk and I’ll send you a FREE Kindle copy of ‘How Do You Voodoo? by return.

 

So come on over and join the fun!

Post a photo of your wedding dress or in fact anything wedding related you’d like to share – to the Voodoo Wedding Events Page or to Twitter #voodoowedding.

Still single/unwed?

Then you have carte blanche to post the wedding dress of your dreams, be as quirky or as bridal couture as you wish, and feel free to photoshop yourself into it if you can! Or, what about a photo of your dream honeymoon destination…?

 

 

 

Haste ye ta’ the Party!

 

 



Voodoo Wedding – Launch Party next Friday 1st March!

Voodoo Wedding

Loved up Scottish fashion model Nola and her handsome Haitian fiancé Louis have finally set the date for their wedding. All they need now is a venue and a guest list to include something old, something new, something borrowed… and something voodoo!

 

Voodoo Wedding is the second ebook in my Voodoo Romance Series and is a novella of approximately 20,000 words. The first book is the Amazon Kindle bestselling ‘How Do You Voodoo?’

I’m celebrating the launch of Voodoo Wedding next Friday 1^st March

You may remember that when I launched How Do You Voodoo? we did it with the magically inspired Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party?

This time around I’m hosting a Voodoo Wedding Facebook and Twitter Party!

I’m asking you to pop over to the Party Events Page on Facebook now to ‘join’ the party and then to attend at any time of the day and/or evening on Friday 1^st March.

There WILL be THREE Prize Draws plus a wedding ‘favour’ for all party peeps on Voodoo Wedding Party Day!

Win one of THREE gorgeous Purple Tartan Pens!

 

Three purple tartan pen prizes will be drawn from everyone who:

1. TWEETS and retweets using the #voodoowedding

2. JOINS the party on the Facebook Party Page on Friday March 1st

3. POSTS A PHOTO of their wedding dress on the Facebook Party Page or on Twitter OR a picture of what you might consider to be your ideal wedding dress – in this case you can be as quirky or as bridal couture and you wish - and shoes and handbags are welcome too!

If you pop over to the FB Party Page just now you’ll see some photos already posted including one of me!

Do ALL THREE to get in all THREE Draws!

More details can be found on the Voodoo Wedding Facebook Party Page, my Author Facebook Page, on my Blog, or on Twitter @JaniceHorton or #voodoowedding

Join the fun next Friday 1^st March!

Something old, something new, something borrowed - something voodoo!