This week I am featuring Emma Jones, an author who published her debut YA novel last month.
The Awakening by Emma Jones
Synopsis
Do you believe in vampires? Ghosts? The supernatural world?
Meet Lauren who instantly clicks with Gavin at a friend’s BBQ. Everything goes well until Lauren starts to experience strange things and hears a weird voice. It seems like a warning but from what? Lauren eventually makes the startling discovery that Gavin is a vampire and it has profound consequences for herself. The arrival of Daniel makes things even more confusing for Lauren as she is warned he is bad news from a ghostly source. Laurens life is turned upside down as things she thought were myths and legends become real and she struggles to cope with everything she has discovered.
Will Lauren and Gavin’s relationship survive and what about the mysterious Daniel?
Try it for yourself! Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK
My Journey To Publishing by Emma Jones
Hi my name is Emma Jones and I published my first book The Awakening on the 6th December. My decision to self publish was a long one but I'm glad I took the leap. I first began writing The Awakening when I was on maternity leave with my son who is now 3! I wrote a few thousand words and then went back to my regular day job and forgot all about it for a year so. However the characters and story started to nag at me and I began writing again. In the summer of 2012 I began to think about actually publishing it and gave it to my sister to read. She gave me a B+ and some encouragement. I made a few changes and then she read it again and gave me an A and a smiley face. What more could you want. So I started researching self publication and my journey began.
I then went about the process of getting the book beta read. Through the wonders of Facebook I found a few people that were interested and sent my document to them crossed my fingers and anxiously awaited their verdicts. In January 2013 I received my replies and on the whole the feedback was positive, encouraging and very helpful and really helped me improve the story. I made a lot of amendments and had the new version beta read by 2 further people who both loved it. The process was slow as I have a regular job and 2 young children but I finally got there and then embarked on the last step. My book was professionally proofread and a fab ebook cover was created in November 2013 and then I uploaded. The Awakening is now live and I can't quite believe it but am loving every second of this journey. Thanks for reading and if you want to say hi or comment pop over to my facebook page where I'd love to hear from you - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-by-Emma-Jones/611953792173504
Excerpt
In the next bar, me and Gavin ended up in a corner together and I suddenly began to get an awful headache. “You ok?” Gavin asked gently holding my arm but my headache suddenly intensified and I shook him of my arm. Images started to swarm through my mind, shadows, light, and whispers that were getting louder and louder. “Lauren are you ok?” I could hear people speaking but couldn’t make out where it was coming from and then black.
I woke up with bright lights around me and in an unfamiliar room, it took a few minutes to realise I was in a hospital bed. I tried to sit up, my head thumped, and I rested back down. I looked about and then realised Gavin was sleeping sat up in a chair near my bed. I was just about to speak when a nurse come over “You’re awake.” she smiled kindly “I think you gave your friends a bit of a shock. Passed out and gave you quite a bang on the head.” It was only as she said this I realised I had a bandage on my head and raised my hand to touch the dressing. “You had to have a few stitches and as you were so drowsy we decided we’d better keep you in but you should be able to go home this afternoon,” the nurse informed me. “Your friend here insisted on staying in case you woke up and was confused. Oh look he’s just waking now, would you both like a cup of tea?”
“Um yes please that would be lovely,” I croaked and tried again to sit up. Gavin got up from his chair and stood at the end of the bed looking pale and worried, “Do you remember much about last night?” he asked his voice full of concern, “Not really, I remember getting a headache and that’s it.” “Oh right that’s good then.” “Why what happened?” “You just passed out but you said some weird things that are all but don’t worry.” At that point, the nurse returned with two cups of tea and Gavin said he just had to pop out for a minute to make a call. I drank my tea and dozed back to sleep waking to find Gavin back in the room. “The nurse said once your blood test results are back and they check your blood pressure again you will be able to go home.” “Oh that’s great I really need a shower and my own bed. What a weird night. I think it’s you Gavin.” I joked, “You seem to have a weird effect on me headaches and nose bleeds and now I pass out. Must be your super manliness!” I laughed. Gavin smiled back but looked anxious and the smile didn’t reach his eyes “I’m ok you know it’s only a joke.” I said trying to reassure him, “I know. You just worried me that am all.” he replied. Later that day I was discharged and Gavin took me home, insisted on making me some dinner, and stayed for a while although the whole time he kept some distance and seemed worried I might collapse at any time. After a few hours, he left and I rang my friends to let them know I was ok and apologised to Sophie for ruining her birthday night out and I decided an early night was in order. Thankfully, I slept with no problems and woke feeling much better although my head was still thumping slightly so I phoned work and explained I wouldn’t be in for the day and chilled out at home instead. Gavin called and although I assured him I was feeling fine now he insisted on coming round to check on me as soon as he finished work. When he arrived, he looked nervous and as we chatted, he kept his distance, which caused me to worry. I made a cup of tea and then sat on the sofa sensing he wanted to discuss something important. He moved forward and for the first time in over 24 hours touched me. He gently touched my arm, my head suddenly felt terrible again, and images much clearer flashed before my eyes. Gavin removed his arm and looked at me with alarm and worry, the images came faster and faster, and I felt a sudden rush of power and clarity. I put my head in my hands and squeezed my eyes tightly shut and concentrated on the images flying through my mind. I suddenly gasped and felt my heart rate speed up and then pop. The light bulbs in the living room smashed and fizzed. In the darkness, I said, “I know what you are.” “I was worried you were going to say that.” he softly said.
Posts
Thank you Laura. That is great :)
ReplyDelete