Friday 31 May 2013

Happy Release Day to Me!!!!

June 1st is finally here!!!! No more sleeps. The Modeliser is Out Now. 

Well, it has been out for a couple of days as spotted by some of you eagle eyed readers but now it's officially dropped and we can all shout from the rooftops about it, maybe? 




Thanks to all the readers, bloggers and reviewers who have reached out already. I'm hoping to get the book out there as far and wide as possible, so a big thanks to those who've already added it on Goodreads or bought, read and reviewed it. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you're a reviewer or blogger interested in the book. 

You can still read the teasers from the book in my earlier blog posts. Or head over to Goodreads and see what other readers are saying. 

In my WHERE TO DOWNLOAD link, you can find out where to get your hands on The Modeliser. 

Big thanks for checking out this blog and hopefully this book.

I'm off to get myself a tall cocktail. Happy Saturday. 

Havana. 
xox

Advance Review of The Modeliser

With a day to go till the official release date for The Modeliser, I'm so excited by this review of the book from the lovely ladies at Brittany & Bianca Blab Books. Transitioning, from a reader who visits and reads awesome book blogs to discover great new reads, into someone who is being reviewed on the very same blogs is huge. So a big thank you to Bianca for her fab review. So glad she enjoyed it.

Do check out the review HERE.

And just a reminder you can now purchase The Modeliser on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Smashwords in all formats. I'll update when sales on Barnes and Nobel go live.

Have a great weekend,
Havana.
xox

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Premature Release...

As my mother tells it, in the last few weeks of her pregnancy with me, she had to put up with all manner of discomfort, swollen ankles and back pain during an unexpectedly warm London summer while I took my sweet time about emerging into the world. I was about two weeks overdue and it seems ever since that first late arrival, I've spent my life with an almost obsessive desire to be early for things. I am that friend who tells you to arrive 45 minutes before dinner reservations. I get to the airport for international flights 4 hours early just in case. I have my bedside alarm clock set 15 mins fast.

With this background in mind, it should come as no surprise that in the release of my debut novel, I've once again been trigger happy and hit publish a little bit early. Now the words premature release are not what you might want to hear in connection with a steamy, romance novel... but go with me on this. For you Kindle/ Amazon folk... now's your chance to get your hands on The Modeliser a whole three days early ahead of your Nook/ iBook/ Smashwords and Kobo brethren.

So here are the links to download The Modeliser...

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

I had a lot of fun writing this book and I so hope that you enjoy reading it, tweeting about it and telling all your friends about it. The book has already had some great reviews over on Goodreads and if you enjoy the book please do add your voice to the conversation and put your review on Goodreads, Amazon or wherever you purchase from.

There are a lot of great books and fantastic indie authors competing for your reading attention. So thanks for taking the time to check out this blog and also reading The Modeliser.

I'll also be updating new download sources for The Modeliser under the WHERE TO DOWNLOAD TAB

Have a great week and look forward to reading your reviews.

Havana.
xox

Saturday 11 May 2013

Win $50 Amazon voucher & Advance review copies

Hey Guys,

Hope you're having a fabulous Saturday wherever you are.

There are less than 3 weeks till the release of The Modeliser and I cannot wait to finally share the book with you. Until then, I thought a juicy giveaway is what we need.

So, Giveaway time!

One lucky winner will receive:

  • A $50 Amazon.com gift-card (or the UK Pound Sterling Equivalent of £35 for amazon.co.uk)
  • An Advance review copy of The Modeliser by Havana Adams
  • An Advance review copy of His Wicked Games by Ember Casey

 



How To Enter:
  • Comment below this blog post saying - Hello, Howdy, G'day, S'up, Hola or Bonjour and tell me who you are and where you're from. E.g Hey, I'm Havana from London (+2)
To get extra entries and additional chances to win, you can also do any of the following:
That's it! 

Get entering and Please make sure to record your entry in the widget below so that your entry is recorded. Also, do spread the word about the contest. The contest ends on May 26th at Midnight.



a Rafflecopter giveaway Have a great weekend,

Havana.
xox 

Friday 10 May 2013

21 Days to go!!!

There are just 21 days to go before The Modeliser is released and I can finally share the book with the world! I'm ridiculously excited that the culmination of so much hard work and angst and frantic typing is just around the corner.... And yet there is still so much to do. Not least a very exciting giveaway coming very soon. So stay tuned!

But a writer's work is never done - there are still tweaks, edits, acknowledgements....so much to do and even as I prep The Modeliser to finally make her way into the world. (Weird I've just given my book a gender), I'm already hard at work on Book 2!

Today I was visiting Oxford, which plays a crucial part in my second novel to do some research and to re-acquaint myself with the city. Here's a picture of The Bridge of Sighs.



As I walked amongst the dreaming Spires that have been such an inspiration for Book 2, I thought about the gestation of The Modeliser and the various disparate ideas, thoughts and sparks that eventually came together to form the spine of the book.  And I leave you with an image of one place that I frequented a lot during the writing of The Modeliser and which turns up in the book. Hampstead Heath.


Hampstead Heath is an ancient and glorious London park in the North West of London. Records of the Heath date back to 986 and in the novel you'll see that Talia spends a lot of time on the Heath. When I was writing The Modeliser, I used to take "plot walks" on Hampstead Heath where I'd walk to clear my head and plot and plan and solve niggling story problems.

Over the next 21 days I'll try to share some of the other random ideas that went into the pot to create The Modeliser. I hope you enjoy them and take some inspiration from them.



Havana.
xox


Wednesday 8 May 2013

Girl Meets Boy - A New Series

Too often lately, I've found myself sitting through a supposedly romantic movie and groaning through the cliches and thinking: Why? How? Who are these people that exist only in romantic movie land? Who are these women who trip over their toes every five minutes and can't seem to hold a thought for half a second. What is this weird misogyny masquerading as a plot point? What is this crappy, implausible meet-cute and why oh why don't these actors have any chemistry together? As I sat through another insulting romance on TV the other day, I decided I'd start blogging, not about the bad, infuriating, patronising ones but about all the romantic movies that I've loved and what I loved about them. And also about the upcoming romantic movies that I hope might be worth the trip to the cinema and the cost of the popcorn.



According to Hollywood it's Boy Meets Girl, Boy Loses Girl, Boy Gets Girl Back. This paradigm has become the dominant form of so many Hollywood Romantic comedies for decades but in the last few years it's started to feel as though the paradigm has been tested to its limits, that the rom-com is broken. Growing up on films like Sleepless in Seattle, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pretty Woman, Love and Basketball, Working Girl and When Harry Met Sally, I've always loved a good romantic film and for me romance encompasses a broader umbrella than just the increasingly creaky rom-com form. I love romantic dramas, romantic thrillers (Unfaithful, anyone?), bittersweet romances and all the category defying romantic stories in between. Though they have been few and far between lately there have also been a few recent romantic films that I've loved. Friends With Benefits (the one with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis - NOT the other one with the similar title) was a totally unexpected treat, Something New was a much needed fresh perspective and Ruby Sparks was a sharp, inspiring, Indie, feminist and tricky romantic, anti-romantic eye-opener (just watch it!). At the moment I'm anticipating Before Midnight so much that I probably need to give myself a stern talking to so my expectations don't ruin it for me.



As a writer of romantic fiction, it's safe to say that romantic films and of course books have had a pretty big hand in my development. From my slight over-investment in Jo and Professor Bhaer's relationship in Little Women to my obsessive suppert of Eric/Sookie in both the Sookie Stackhouse Books and True Blood Series, to the fact that I've watched Notting Hill a disturbing number of times, I have learned a lot from and been inspired by good romantic books and films. It's safe to say that these books and films have uplifted me, given me hope when I felt I'd have train-tracks on my teeth till I died and acne forever. They've probably also massively distorted my expectations of my romantic life... but that's another story. 

So the aim of my new series of posts GIRL MEETS BOY will be to blog about those romantic films and also TV romances or romantic arcs in TV shows that have moved, excited and challenged me.

I hope you'll join the conversation too, in the comments below and also on Twitter and on Facebook. What are your favaourite romantic movies and why? I'm eager to grow my must-watch list of good 'uns. 

And check back next week where I shall be blogging, without shame about my love of Hugh Grant in most things but specifically in Notting Hill. Drop me a comment if there are any other romantic films, which you think I should check out. 

Havana. 
xox. 

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Tuesday Teaser from His Wicked Games by Ember Casey

Happy Tuesday!

Last week I had a ball chatting with fellow author Ember Casey and over on her blog she featured a Q&A with me and hosted a brand new teaser from The Modeliser. I also ran a Q&A with Ember here where we talked writing, romance and procrastination woes and also her upcoming novel. So I'm excited to share a new teaser from Ember's novel His Wicked Games which drops on June 11th.

Do check out Ember's blog for more about the book and don't forget, she is running a giveaway right now! To be in with a chance of winning an Amazon gift card and advance review copies of both His Wicked Games and The Modeliser, be sure to enter the giveaway here.

Now for the Tuesday Teaser from His Wicked Games. Let's just say there's a pool involved.... and we might all need some cooling down after.... Enjoy!


In this teaser from His Wicked Games, Calder is giving Lily a tour of his house. Even though it's pouring outside, he decides to lead her out to the rooftop pool.

"What do you think?" Calder says. "Want to go for a swim?"
I must show my shock on my face because he lets out a laugh.
“Haven’t you ever been for a swim in the rain?” he asks. “You get damp either way.”
I’m not sure if he’s being serious or not.
“I don’t have a swimsuit,” I remind him.
The corner of his mouth curls up. “Not a problem.”
Before I can utter another word, he pulls his t-shirt over his head, exposing his perfectly-chiseled chest.
My mouth falls open, but I snap it quickly shut again.
“What are you doing?” I say.
He grins. “Swimming.”
His hands move to the button of his jeans.
“Are you stripping?” I’m unable to keep the shock out of my voice.
“I’m not going to swim in my jeans,” he says matter-of-factly. His fingers pause on the zipper. “You’re welcome to join me, of course.”
“I—” My entire face is on fire. “I’m not going to take off my clothes.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself. You’re missing out, though.” He unzips his jeans and slides them down in one movement, revealing a pair of dark boxer-briefs.
Once more I’m bombarded with memories of last night, of his naked body reclining on the bed. Of the way I touched myself at the sight of him.
My body responds in turn now. I clench my hands and unclench them again, trying to gain control of myself.
Calder hooks his thumbs in the waistband, and my heartbeat quickens. Is he going to pull those off, too?
“For someone who’s shy about skinny-dipping, you certainly have no qualms about watching,” he says.
I almost fall over.
“I—I’m not watching,” I say, quickly turning away. “You’re the one who tore off your pants without warning.” I imagine I’m the color of a ripe tomato right about now.
He chuckles. “Come, Ms. Frazer. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
My blood runs cold. Oh my God. He knows about last night.
“What—what’s that supposed to mean?” I demand, still refusing to turn and look at him. “What are you implying?”
“Forgive me,” he says, his voice thick with amusement. “I didn’t mean to give offense. I was only suggesting that by this point in your life you’ve probably seen a naked man or two—unless I’m mistaken?”
“I’m not a virgin,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But that doesn’t mean I’m okay with men just stripping off their clothes in front of me.” No, but I’m all right with spying on those same men while they pleasure themselves in their bedroom.
Forget the ripe tomato—I’m probably as red as a fire truck right now.
“Well,” says Calder behind me, “if you’re not comfortable with complete nudity, then maybe we can keep our undergarments on.”
“I’m not swimming.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” he says. “May I remind you that you broke onto my property? That I had to wrestle you down in the mud? Certainly you can’t be afraid of taking a little dip in the rain.”
“I’m not afraid,” I say, spinning on him angrily. He’s closer than I thought—just in front of me now. There’s still a bit of amusement around the corners of his mouth, but his dark eyes bore into me. Butterflies dance in my stomach.
“If you’re not afraid,” he says, his voice breathy and low, “then why are you resisting?”
He’s so close that I can feel the heat radiating off his skin, so close that I can smell the musky scent of his soap—or is that only him? All it would take is the smallest of movements and I could brush my fingers against his bare stomach, learn if his skin is as soft and smooth and hot as I imagined last night.
“I…” I don’t know what to say. I don’t have an excuse, not really, except for the general sense that this is a bad, bad idea.
Oh, I’m in trouble.
Calder must sense my indecision, because his eyes suddenly darken. Before I can react, he grabs me around the waist, just as he did on the lawn yesterday.
“What the—” I cry as he hoists me off my feet. “What are you doing?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead he turns and starts carrying me to the pool.
“Put me down!” I cry, pissed that I fell for his trick a second time. “I swear, if you throw me—”
Suddenly I’m flying through the air, Calder’s arms still around me. We crash into the pool, and water rushes all around us.


Yep, it is hot in here! Hope you enjoyed that. And do head on over to Goodreads and add His Wicked Games to your shelf.

Havana.
xox

Saturday 4 May 2013

Author Q & A - Ember Casey - HIS WICKED GAMES


Writing can be a pretty solitary business, which is why getting to know the online writing community is so great. I've been lucky to connect with fellow debut author Ember Casey who, like me, is releasing her steamy romance HIS WICKED GAMES in June.

Ember and I have been talking everything from worst fictional boyfriends to favourite hotties in Game of Thrones and I've been salivating over the teasers she's posted on her blog, so I'm excited to have her stop by on my blog and talk about her debut novel, her writing style and what makes a good love story.




Some men play to win...

Lily would do anything to save the Frazer Center for the Arts—even take on the infamous billionaire Calder Cunningham.

The Cunninghams have long held a reputation for being eccentric—and secretive. When Lily breaks onto their estate, she only wants to find and reason with Calder. The Cunningham family was the Frazer Center’s largest benefactor for years—until Calder took over the family funds and broke the pledge contract without warning. Now the Center is on the brink of closing, and she’s desperate to save the institution her father founded.

But Calder turns out to be more than she bargained for. He’s willing to consider her pleas—but for a price. Lily must indulge his whims, play along with his games—all while confined to his mysterious mansion—or she’ll never get the funds to save the Center. She must decide: play the mouse to his cat, or lose the organization she and her father spent their blood, sweat, and tears to build.

Hey Ember, Thanks for stopping by. So tell us about His Wicked Games. How did the idea first come to you? 

I started His Wicked Games when I was agonizing over rewrites of a YA novel. In the YA, I was struggling with the romantic relationship (or lack thereof) between the two main characters. I just couldn’t make it work. His Wicked Gamesbegan as a side project, an exercise in building sexual tension, but it just took off—before long, I’d pushed the YA novel aside to dive full force into the story of Lily and Calder. I love stories where the heroine starts off with a negative opinion of the hero (you can blame Pride and Prejudice for that), and I wanted to explore the passion of a love/hate relationship.

What drew you to writing sexy, romantic fiction? And what tips do you have on writing a hot sex scene. What makes a good romantic/ sexy novel?

Who doesn’t love a good love story? I think the key to a great romance novel is tension.  Sexual tension, of course, but also just the good old-fashioned conflict you get between two characters with fire and passion to spare.  I personally believe that the hottest sex scenes are a culmination (and explosion!) of the emotional, physical, and situational tension between two characters. They might signal an awakening, a shift of power, or something else, but they should change the dynamic of the relationship in some way or another, even if it’s only the subtlest of emotional shifts.

What books/ authors inspire you?  What/ Who are you reading at the moment? 

I read a bunch of genres—romance, of course, but I also love YA, historical fiction, and fantasy (I’m currently obsessed with the Song of Ice and Fire series). I’ve also been reading a lot of NA recently—I’m currently in the middle of Arranged by Sara Wolf, which I’m really loving—and I’m excited to see where this relatively new genre is heading.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing most of my life (cliché, I know…)  I still have copies of the stories they made us write in elementary school.  The oldest is from first grade—it’s called “The Candy Princess,” and it’s about a princess who lives in a world of candy. (Genius, right?) I started writing with the intent to publish a few years ago, but the first couple of novels I wrote were honestly pretty bad (and will never, ever see the light of day). I feel like some of us have to spit out a couple of crappy “starter” novels before we figure out who we are as a writer (or maybe that’s just me, haha).

Tell us about your writing process? 

If I’m being honest, it goes something like this: write a little, putz around on Twitter, write a little more, watch some videos on YouTube, write a little more, check email/Facebook/Reddit… You get where this is going.  As far as my long-term process is concerned, I’m a major re-writer. It usually takes me half a draft to figure out the core of the story I’m trying to write, and then I have to go back to the beginning and rework everything again. I usually put my work through several drafts before I let anyone else see it.

So what's next? Are you already working on Book 2? Will it be a sequel or a new story? 

Though His Wicked Games could stand alone, I wanted to continue Lily and Calder’s story. The next installment will be a novella, and it should be released at the end of June (so readers won’t have to wait long!). I’ll be releasing more details about it in the coming month. J

Where can readers connect with you?

They can check out my blog: http://embercasey.blogspot.com.
I’m also on Twitter www.twitter.com/embercasey
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EmberCasey

When is His Wicked Games released? 

It will be released on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords on June 11, 2013. In the meantime you can find it on Goodreads - His Wicked Games


Thanks for stopping by Ember.

I hope you guys enjoyed reading this Q & A with Ember. Don't forget to add His Wicked Games to your shelf on Goodreads.

Also right now, Ember is running a giveaway over on her Blog so for a chance to win an Amazon giftcard and also e-ARCs of both His Wicked Games and my debut The Modeliser, head on over to Ember's Blog and get entering.

Next week I'll be hosting a new teaser from His Wicked Games, so do check back.

Happy Weekend!

Havana.
xox