Milestones Reached in 2016......
My Books
Published my 7th book ~ Poison Blood, Book 4: Apocalypse.
1st book series to come to conclusion ~ Poison Blood Series.
In November, Poison Blood, Book 1: Revelation entered the Top 20 Amazon US Bestseller List in the Kindle Free Fairy Tales and Myths category:
And in the Kindle UK Young Adult & Teen Coming of Age Fantasy category:
Published the 3rd book in the Soulmates Saga ~ Someone Like You.
Started writing my 1st 'sweet romance', well as sweet as they get with me :) More details in 2017....
Social Media
Twitter ~ Surpassed 2,500 followers mark in October. Currently have over 3,000 followers!
Blogger ~ Posted my 85th blog post.
Surpassed the 50,000 page views mark on my blog in October. And 70,000 views in December.
1st blog post to get 5,000 views in the first 7 days of posting.
On its 6th day of posting, this blog post got 10,000 views.
Personal
Rated my 200th book on Goodreads.
Caught 120 Pokemon on PokemonGo in 3 weeks.
Went to the WB Harry Potter Studio Tours. See a few pics below :) Super great day!
Don't forget, my Soulmates Saga is on sale this month!
Multi-genre author (multicultural romance, epic fantasy, strong women), blogger (writing, publishing, life), bookworm (eclectic), mum of 1. UCL Psychology grad.
Monday 19 December 2016
Monday 12 December 2016
CHASING PAVEMENTS #Christmas #Giveaway
So
it’s not long until Christmas, so join me in celebrating what will be the
book’s fifth festive season in market and download your free copy now
via:
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/177590
And also free at these retailers:
Apple
iBooks US: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chasing-pavements/id541808113?mt=11
Apple iBooks UK: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/chasing-pavements/id541808113?mt=11
Barnes & Noble Nook Store: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-pavements-neha-yazmin/1112040592?ean=2940044682344
Apple iBooks UK: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/chasing-pavements/id541808113?mt=11
Barnes & Noble Nook Store: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-pavements-neha-yazmin/1112040592?ean=2940044682344
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-pavements-the-soulmates-saga-book-1
Amazon will price match Chasing Pavements so its FREE for Kindle customers, so make sure to check out this page to get your hands on this series for under $4.50 (books 2 and 3 will have the same sale price on Amazon as other retailers):
https://www.amazon.com/Soulmates-Saga-3-Book/dp/B01FZ4U07I/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Chasing Pavements
Would you recognise true love if you saw it?
Singer and songwriter Jamie York is suffering from writer's block. When he meets Mukti, suddenly his creativity knows no bounds and he feels torn. He has to keep seeing her, but what will she make of his tortured soul?
Little does he know that Mukti has her own secrets and is just as troubled as he is. Her name translates as 'freedom' in her native tongue Bengali, but she is anything but free.
Recent graduate Mukti Khan has started a new job in the City and is determined to work hard and keep others at bay. All that changes after a chance encounter with the mysterious Jamie. He fascinates her like no one ever has and she just has to get to know him better.
But is truly capable of letting him in?
As an unlikely friendship develops between the two, will Jamie and Mukti be able to help each other come to terms with their pasts and move forward together, or do some ghosts haunt us forever?
Set in contemporary London, Chasing Pavements is a unique love story between two unique characters that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.
~ What Others Have Said About Chasing Pavements ~
"Very well written, I felt like I knew the characters myself!"
*****
~~~
"Neha Yazmin's novel grips you from start to finish. There are so many things I love about this novel. Jamie's creativity. Mukti's determination. Twists and turns with every chapter. But most of all, I love that you see the characters grow and develop. When you reach the last page, it feels like you've been on a long journey with them - yet it's a journey that you want to do all over again!" *****
~~~
"This is not your typical chic lit book. There is no sloppy romance and no mushy words. This is truly a one of a kind book. Little by little the story was told to me and it was told perfectly. I cannot believe this is Neha’s first book. It is perfect. This is definitely a must read." *****
*****
~~~
"Neha Yazmin's novel grips you from start to finish. There are so many things I love about this novel. Jamie's creativity. Mukti's determination. Twists and turns with every chapter. But most of all, I love that you see the characters grow and develop. When you reach the last page, it feels like you've been on a long journey with them - yet it's a journey that you want to do all over again!" *****
~~~
"This is not your typical chic lit book. There is no sloppy romance and no mushy words. This is truly a one of a kind book. Little by little the story was told to me and it was told perfectly. I cannot believe this is Neha’s first book. It is perfect. This is definitely a must read." *****
~~~
"Chasing Pavements is like one of a kind. I loved the book. It touched me in such a way that I felt lost for a while without having Jamie and Mukti in my life. I can't believe that this is the author's first book; the way it's written is excellent. I was captured from the beginning of the story. A must read." *****
~~~
"Unputdownable. I loved the London setting. The story is well told. Neha has a way with descriptions that make the scenes really vivid. The songs were a great mechanism to add to the story telling. I look forward to reading Neha's other work but I hope I don't have to wait too long!" *****
~~~
"Unputdownable. I loved the London setting. The story is well told. Neha has a way with descriptions that make the scenes really vivid. The songs were a great mechanism to add to the story telling. I look forward to reading Neha's other work but I hope I don't have to wait too long!" *****
Also, check out this lovely review from author I.C. Camilleri and check out her books here. Her characters are just as interesting and complex as the ones in the Soulmates Saga. Even though I read The Blake Soul a few years back, I can still remember the story and some scenes are still vivid in my memory! I can't explain how I feel about her liking my book :)
Thursday 1 December 2016
This #December ~ CHASING PAVEMENTS #Giveaway
Almost every year, I give away free copies of my debut novel, Chasing Pavements. There's no limit to the number of books I give away, no multiple-choice question that you have to answer to be entered into a prize draw and winners aren't selected at random.
Everybody that wants to win, will win.
This is because I make Chasing Pavements free at the below retailers for the whole of December and anyone and everyone that wants to download a copy can do so:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N Nook | Kobo | Smashwords
This year, I've also decided to slash the prices of the other two books in the series ~ Make You Feel My Love is down from $2.99 to $1.99 and Someone Like You is down from $2.99 to $2.49.
That's three books for only $4.48.
It's my chance to say thank you to the lovely people that follow and support me on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook and Blogger. I really appreciate every re-tweet, every like, every time a post of mine is shared, spreading the word for my books - so Thank You!
And by giving away free copies of my books, I increase the chances of being read.
In saying that, the likelihood of my free book being read is still pretty low. Readers that download free ebooks and also purchase books with their hard-earned cash, are more likely to read the books they buy than the ones given away for free. In fact, some free books just sit in readers' digital shelves and never get read. I have a few of those on my Kindle and iPhone! Therefore, it's a good idea to give away free books quite frequently, if not making them perma-free. And a good cover goes a long way in getting people to read the free books they download.
If you would like to read the blurb and a spoiler-free Q&A on Chasing Pavements, click here.
Everybody that wants to win, will win.
This is because I make Chasing Pavements free at the below retailers for the whole of December and anyone and everyone that wants to download a copy can do so:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N Nook | Kobo | Smashwords
So, don't miss out on this chance to get your (digital) hands on the first book of the Soulmates Saga. Chasing Pavements introduces you to troubled soulmates Mukti and Jamie and sets the scene wonderfully for the next two instalments in the series, Make You Feel My Love and Someone Like You.
This year, I've also decided to slash the prices of the other two books in the series ~ Make You Feel My Love is down from $2.99 to $1.99 and Someone Like You is down from $2.99 to $2.49.
That's three books for only $4.48.
It's my chance to say thank you to the lovely people that follow and support me on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook and Blogger. I really appreciate every re-tweet, every like, every time a post of mine is shared, spreading the word for my books - so Thank You!
And by giving away free copies of my books, I increase the chances of being read.
In saying that, the likelihood of my free book being read is still pretty low. Readers that download free ebooks and also purchase books with their hard-earned cash, are more likely to read the books they buy than the ones given away for free. In fact, some free books just sit in readers' digital shelves and never get read. I have a few of those on my Kindle and iPhone! Therefore, it's a good idea to give away free books quite frequently, if not making them perma-free. And a good cover goes a long way in getting people to read the free books they download.
If you would like to read the blurb and a spoiler-free Q&A on Chasing Pavements, click here.
Monday 21 November 2016
Spoiler-Free Q&A on #PoisonBloodSeries Book 4: Apocalypse
Q: This is the final book in the Poison Blood series and Book 3 of your contemporary romance series, the Soulmates Saga, was published in summer 2016. What new projects do you have in the pipeline?
A: Yes, Apocalypse is the conclusion to Ellie’s
story. She’s done her thing. While writing Book
3 and 4 however, I really enjoyed
writing about Amber. She became a bigger part of the story than I’d expected,
and I’m glad she did.
I want to write a spin-off
series about her. It won’t be the Poison
Blood books from her perspective, but a continuation of Amber’s story.
Or rather, letting her
story truly begin.
What does she do after the
events of PB4?
I for one want to find
out.
Let’s hope there are
others that do too!
In my Someone Like You (The Soulmates Saga, Book 3) Q&A, I said that
it’s not necessarily the last book in the series – otherwise I would’ve
called/renamed the series The Soulmates
Trilogy – because I hope to write other books about these characters.
As I write this, I have
ideas for at least two new books!
I’m really warming to the
idea of writing, not a prequel per
se, but continuing on from the events of Someone
Like You, but also going back in time to Jamie’s childhood and exploring
his life back then. It was in his childhood that he met Sarah, so she will play
a big part in this book.
The – potential –
instalment after that will be a true continuation of Mukti’s story after Someone Like You finished.
However, I want my mind to
work on these ideas and develop them into something brilliant before committing
to writing them. I want both these novels to have the same drama, romance and
twist-and-turns as their predecessors.
So SLY is the last book in the Soulmates
Saga for a while. In the interim, I want to work on something new, letting
Mukti and co. have some peace for a while.
Q: Apart from the
spin-off to the Poison Blood series,
do you have any other new projects to work on?
A: Luckily, I do. I have
an unfinished paranormal romance novel to complete (which has the potential to
turn into a trilogy, we’ll see) and I have planned a new contemporary romance
series too. I don’t want to say too much about this series, but I’m hoping
it’ll be a little more light-hearted than the Soulmates Saga, not as dark. I want this series to have a slightly
different feel to the Soulmates Saga
– just so readers don’t feel like they’re reading about the same characters
packaged up in different bodies – so I’ll make a conscious effort to ensure the
main characters aren’t as troubled or tormented as Mukti, Jamie and Jonny.
Once I start writing
however, who knows what direction the characters will take me? They tend to
have a life of their own and usually get their way!
Also, I had this idea
years and years ago about a ‘mystery’ novel. I’d like to revisit that and mould
into something I can really get my teeth into. Now, just because I read more
crime novels than any other genre, doesn’t mean I’m clever enough to write a
detective novel. I won’t do that to myself. This old idea I had in my teens has
potential though, and I’d like to put it in a format in which I am capable of
writing.
Fingers crossed I can
complete all my projects in good time. Wish me luck!
Q: Do you have any
strange writing rituals?
A: No. Well, I don’t think they’re strange…
But I do believe in
sticking to tradition when it comes to the first people that get sent my
completed manuscripts.
The person that read the
earliest, roughest draft of my debut novel
Chasing Pavements (The Soulmates Saga, Book 1), was my friend Char. Since
then, I’ve made sure to send her the first rough draft of all the books in that
series. “As per tradition” is always the subject in the e-mail I send her.
When Poison Blood, Book 1 was ready for someone else’s eyes, my friend was busy and I was on a tight schedule, so I didn’t send it to her. As a result, I’ve refrained from sending her unpublished manuscripts from that series. Strange I know, but that’s me.
Poison Blood, Book 3: Prophecy and Book 4: Apocalypse are available to download via the links below:
Books 1 and 2 are still FREE:
And the first two books in my teen urban fantasy/YA paranormal romance series, the Poison Blood series, can be downloaded for free via:
Amazon US| Amazon UK| iBooks US & UK | B&N Nook Store | Smashwords
PB3:
Amazon US| Amazon UK| iBooks US | iBooks UK | B&N Nook | Kobo
PB4:
Books 1 and 2 are still FREE:
Poison Blood, Book 1: Revelation ~ Free at these retailers:
Poison Blood, Book 2: Absolution ~ Free at these retailers:
Amazon US| Amazon UK | iBooks US & UK | B&N Nook Store | Smashwords
And the first two books in my teen urban fantasy/YA paranormal romance series, the Poison Blood series, can be downloaded for free via:
Amazon US| Amazon UK| iBooks US & UK | B&N Nook Store | Smashwords
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance / Teen Vampire Romance / Young Adult Paranormal
Fantasy / Teen & YA Urban Fantasy / Young Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy
Mood: Dark / Humorous / Coming
of age
Content: No violence / No explicit sex scenes / No erotica
Audience: Teen / Young Adult /
New Adult / Adult
Recommended for: Readers that love all things vampires,
slayers and witches!
Monday 14 November 2016
Spoiler-Free Q&A on #PoisonBloodSeries Book 3: Prophecy
In celebration of the release of the final two books in the Poison Blood series, below is a (spoiler-free) Q&A on Book 3: Prophecy.
Q: Why did it take you
so long to release Poison Blood, Books 3 and 4?
A: I published the first
two books in 2012 – it’s the year the series is set in. At this time, I’d
written parts of Book 3 and had an
outline for Book 4. I knew how the
story was going to end and how I was going to get there. I’d planned to publish
the third and fourth instalments as and when they were ready.
By the end of 2012
however, my personal life had taken a turn for the worse and continuing my
writing journey was the last thing on my mind. I’ve written several blog posts
on what led to my 3-4 year hiatus from the publishing industry so you can read about it by clicking these links:
Q: Since there was such
a big gap between writing the first two books and Book 3, did you end up changing a lot of things that you’d
initially planned?
A: Plot-wise, nothing
changed. Back in 2012 however, I’d expected there to be more romance, and more
of Christian. I guess, what was supposed to be a paranormal romance series has
turned into more of an urban fantasy series.
Q: Could the Poison Blood Series have been just one
novel?
A: Yes, I could have
published one big novel instead of splitting the story into smaller books. If
I’d done it that way, I would have priced it at $2.99, like my full-length
contemporary novels, Chasing Pavements,
Make You Feel My Love and Someone
Like You. The combined price of the Poison
Blood books is less than $2.99, and
we get to have a few pretty book covers instead of just the one!
Q: How does Ellie
compare to other heroines of paranormal/urban fantasy books?
A: Readers will be able to
answer that question better than me.
Usually, the female leads in this genre have one characteristic in common: they have a tendency to get themselves and/or
their friends into avoidable
danger/trouble by making rash, irrational decisions. Decisions I wouldn’t have
made in that situation. Choices that didn’t make sense. Reasoning that didn’t
add up and felt a bit forced, presumably to add a bit of drama and action.
As a result, I found the
heroines rather annoying and felt like throwing things at them. I hope Ellie
isn’t irritating in that way – well, not too often, anyway!
Q: What are the best
and worst things about writing about vampires?
A: The best: vampires in
this series are really fast, strong and can have special supernatural powers.
So when it comes to action sequences, the possibilities are endless. I can get
really creative.
The worst: I really love
writing dream sequences. All my books – apart from the Poison Blood Series – have dream/nightmare sequences. But if your
main characters don’t sleep, they can’t dream. Therefore, I didn’t get to
explore what goes on in Ellie and Christian’s unconscious minds.
Q: Which series did you
enjoy writing the most, the Soulmates
Saga or the Poison Blood series?
Which would you enjoy most as a reader?
A: I know this is a boring
answer, but I truly enjoyed writing both series, and writing one series helped
make the other better. Editing the Soulmates
Saga was harder though, and I enjoyed that less, whereas the re-writing
process for the Poison Blood books
was less laborious.
As a reader, I’m always
looking for contemporary romance novels like Chasing Pavements and its sequels, but never succeed in finding
anything like them. So I think my favourite series out of the two would be the Soulmates Saga.
Q: What about your
friends and family, which of your books do they prefer?
A: Apart from my
13-year-old niece, I’m the only one in my family that enjoys reading fiction.
My siblings are always glued to their SmartPhones and iPads, but not to read books.
My husband isn’t into books either – he knows what happens in my novels, but
hasn’t read a single line. So, none of my relatives have read my books. Yet. I know that once my niece is old
enough, she’ll give my books a go. I’m really nervous as to what she’ll think
of my work though. She’s a very talented writer herself and I have great hopes
for her writing!
As for my friends, only
two of them have read my work. I’m so grateful that they took time out of their
incredibly busy lives and careers to do so, and for writing reviews on the
books that they read. They were thankfully very honest in their reviews,
stating both what they disliked and liked about the novels, so it’s not easy
picking out which reviews were left by these two friends and which were written
by strangers.
My other friends are very
busy with their personal lives and their careers – I remember when my life was
like that; I just wanted to sleep if I had a spare few hours – and they don’t
have the same passion for reading that I do to squeeze in half-an-hour of
reading into every day, which is what I started doing in the last couple of
years. And I’m glad I did, because that 30-minute read during my lunch break
helped me rediscover my love for reading and went a long way in improving my writing.
Who knows, if I make it big one day, maybe
everyone I know will read my books – or at least own a copy – but until then,
I’m happy to settle for the show of love from the strangers that were kind
enough to message me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and on my blog, telling me
how much they enjoyed my work. Thank you, it means so much to me!
Poison Blood, Book 3: Prophecy and Book 4: Apocalypse are available to download via the links below:
Books 1 and 2 are still FREE:
PB3:
Amazon US| Amazon UK| iBooks US | iBooks UK | B&N Nook | Kobo
PB4:
Books 1 and 2 are still FREE:
Poison Blood, Book 1: Revelation ~ Free at these retailers:
Poison Blood, Book 2: Absolution ~ Free at these retailers:
Amazon US| Amazon UK | iBooks US & UK | B&N Nook Store | Smashwords
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)