Tag: teddy bear

Publication Day – Boomerville at Ballymegille – ‘Teddy’ Winner Announced – Promo Book
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Publication Day – Boomerville at Ballymegille – ‘Teddy’ Winner Announced – Promo Book

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Publication day has arrived! I am thrilled to tell you that my new novel, Boomerville at Ballymegille is now available as an e-book and paperback (audible coming soon) and you can download it here:

BOOMERVILLE AT BALLYMEGILLE

The pre-publication reviews are wonderful and I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the bloggers and reviewers who are taking part in the online book launch over the next two weeks.

Boomerville is back!

Join Hattie and Jo as they head to Southern Ireland to open Boomerville Manor, a holiday retreat for guests of ‘a certain age’. There’s Irish craic and shenanigans aplenty for the colourful cast of characters as everyone gathers for the grand opening.

Meet Melissa, an ex-cabaret singer running from her abusive husband, and Bill, a bachelor bullied from beyond the grave by the ghostly voice of his mother. Along with local bobby Harry the Helmet, ageing aquatic team the Boomerville Babes, eccentric artist Lucinda Gray, and heartthrob Finbar Murphy, they gather in Ireland and the fun begins. But murder is in the air and there’s mischief afoot. Will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?

Set in the beautiful Irish countryside, ‘Boomerville at Ballymegille’ is a heart-warming story of friendship, fears and new beginnings.

WINNER OF THE ‘TEDDY’ COMPETITION

DRUM ROLL…

I decided that as so many readers entered the draw to win a lovely ‘Teddy’ from Boomerville at Ballymegille, and because your entries were so wonderful, that there will be THREE Teddy puppies heading to new owners. Congratulations to LINDA, KELLY AND KAREN who will all be getting an email confirmation today.

The puppies look forward to their new homes!

PROMO

And because its publication day there is of course a lovely PROMO for you.

You can download the follow up to Boomerville at Ballymegille for only 99p/$1.30 until 15th October by following the link here: 

HATTIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

Find out what Hattie gets up to next…

I’d like to say a huge THANK YOU lovely readers for all your support and I wish you all a safe passage through these difficult times. 

Stay safe and very happy reading.

With love

Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

Would you like a Bertie Bear?
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Would you like a Bertie Bear?

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Its the first day of August and the summer is flying by. In my neck of the woods we seem to have had an awful lot of rain in-between hot and humid weather. I hope that you are all enjoying the varied days and life is good.

rainy beach

This post is short and sweet and just to tell you that my lovely author friends over at Apricot Plots have lots of summer giveaways if you hop over to their Facebook page (or Twitter: @ApricotPlots)

summer giveaway

This week it is my turn and I am offering a beautiful Boomerville Bertie Bear*, complete with his very own canvas travelling bag and a signed copy of my novel The Best Boomerville Hotel.

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To enter, simply go to this link: APRICOT PLOTS  and leave your comment.

Good luck and as always – happy reading!

With love 

Caroline 

xx

*Competition closes on 4th August and is open internationally

Books by Caroline James

 

June News, promo and win a Bertie Bear
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June News, promo and win a Bertie Bear

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Its newsletter time again folks and I hope that you’re all enjoying the summer.

TALKS

CAROLINE JAMES (PROMO SHOOT 26.06.2018)

 

I’ve been hosting talks over the last few weeks on subjects such as how to get your book written and whether to self-publish or go down the traditionally published route. These talks always generate a lot of questions and a lively debate. I thought I’d share with you how I became an author and you can read my story below.

 

PROMOTION

To celebrate summer and holiday why not treat yourself to a fictional stay at The Best Boomerville Hotel this weekend? My lovely publishers are offering a discounted price of only 99p / 99c and you can download on all platforms including Amazon, Kobo & Apple. This book is a best-seller in the UK Amazon charts and has received fabulous reviews. The offer ends at midnight on 10th June so grab your copy now:

The Best Boomerville Hotel

99p jpeg copy

COMPETITION

Who wants to win a Bertie Bear? Bertie, the lovely teddy bear from The Best Boomerville Hotel is so cute. He stands at 12” tall and comes with his very own canvas travelling bag. When I give my talks, Bertie comes too and everyone always wants to take a Bertie home with them. I’m offering you, my lovely subscribers the opportunity to WIN your very own Bertie.

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Simply answer the following question:

Where is Bertie in this picture? There is a clue in the picture.

Email your answer to caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk and you will be entered into the draw and the winner announced on 30th June. I’ll also sign a paperback copy of The Best Boomerville Hotel and add this to the prize. Good Luck!!

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If you want to buy a Bertie Bear, click this link: BERTIE BEAR

HOW I BECAME AN AUTHOR

I grew up in a small town in Cheshire, in England and wanted to write from a very early age, but never thought that I was good enough. I went to an all girl’s Grammar school and hated it and a few weeks short of my sixteenth birthday, much to my parents’ horror, I left school, and also home. I travelled to Cornwall on the south-west coast of England and looked for work, doing anything from pot-washing to waitressing. In that time, I realised that I loved the hospitality industry and if I couldn’t write, I would work hard and one day have my own business. Fast forward several years and I achieved that dream. After catering college and working for a large hotel group in London and abroad, I eventually owned a pub and then a country house hotel.

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When I sold the hotel, I became an agent representing celebrity chefs. It was a fabulous career but still I wanted to write and decided that I wouldn’t die wondering and pinned my bum to a chair to write my first book. Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me was born. Four more books have followed and my years in the hospitality industry provide a revolving door of inspiration for characters and stories. My novels are mostly based in that environment. Two of the titles are current Amazon best-sellers and my dream of writing full-time has been achieved.

I am currently writing a follow-up to The Best Boomerville Hotel for my publisher, Ruby Fiction. I am a speaker too and give talks on various subjects including entertaining speeches for large events, such as a guest speaker on cruise ships and at various literature festivals. I write food related articles for magazines and promote my work through social media and my website.

My advice for anyone wishing to write is, just get on with it. Don’t waste years wondering. Glue your rear to a chair and get going, write and write and write – no matter what. You will find your muse when you least expect it.

I started playing golf this month and seem to have got ‘the bug’. The good thing is that you can learn and play this game at any age and it is great exercise. I’ve also been trying lots of new recipes, this photo is of the best chocolate cake I have ever made – if you want the recipe click here: Best Ever Chocolate Fudge Cake.

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Have a wonderful June everyone, thanks for subscribing to this newsletter and feel free to contact me at any time if you have any writing related questions.

Happy reading,

with love

Caroline x

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www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

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Autumn Promo Plus Recipe
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Autumn Promo Plus Recipe

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Happy Autumn to you all

Snuggle up this autumn with a warm and sunny read

PROMO – only 99p/99c
Download here:
Coffee Tea The Caribbean & Me

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Are you ready for Autumn? The darker evenings and chillier days are perfect for snuggling down and relaxing with a good book. 

Promo – This month my novel, Coffee Tea The Caribbean & Me is on offer for 99p/99c as a download on Amazon. This book was Thomson Holidays top read in their inflight magazine, so if you fancy a virtual change of scene and a fun filled, page-turning read, head off to beautiful Barbados with Jo and Hattie and be prepared to hang on tight!

Autumn – I have been busy and I am writing the follow up to The Best Boomerville Hotel. Huge thanks to all you wonderful readers who have left such glowing reviews for Boomerville, all of which encourage me to write on.

Audible – I have only just started listening to books on audible. Where have I been – I love it! I can listen to books whilst driving, walking, cooking and so on. I’m currently listening to Kate Atkinson’s novel, Transcription, and am thoroughly enjoying it. I can’t wait to hear Boomerville come to life as an audible book!

Boomerville Bertie is thinking ahead to Christmas and with a competition coming in November, look out for your chance to win this cute little bear. He’ll make a great stocking filler.

Soup – With autumn days, I always think of warming comfort food and here’s my recipe for pumpkin soup with parmesan croutons:

Ingredients:

2 onions finely chopped, 1kg pumpkin (or squash) – peeled, de-seeded and cubed
700ml vegetable stock, 3cm grated ginger peeled and finely grated, 3 garlic cloves – peeled and chopped, 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 142ml double cream, 1 tbsp olive oil

To Serve

Chopped coriander, Parmesan Croutons (see below)

Method

In a large saucepan, gently sauté onions in olive oil until soft, add garlic and ginger and cook for a further couple of minutes. Add cumin powder

Add the pumpkin to the pan, stir into the onion mix and cook for 5 minutes. Pour stock over squash mix and bring to the boil. Cook for 10 – 15 mins until squash is soft. Remove from heat and blitz with a stick blender until smooth. Return to heat and add cream, stir gently until nearly boiling.

Serve in warm bowls with chopped coriander sprinkled on top

You can buy or make croutons – if making cut bread into cubes, place on oven tray (greased with olive oil) sprinkle olive oil over and finely grated parmesan. Roast in oven for 5 – 10 mins till golden brown, turning croutons once.

Happy reading, hope you enjoy perfect autumn days.

Caroline xx

Feel-good reads – free to read on Kindle Unlimited!

phonto

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From Cumbria to the Caribbean…

Caroline James Author2 Comments

Time for an update…

Since publication in March, The Best Boomerville Hotel is booming. Thanks to all the lovely readers who have left such fabulous reviews and enjoyed my latest novel. So many people have asked if I might open such a hotel and I think if I did, it would soon be booked up! I too would fancy a frolic with the Shaman in his tepee or an hour or two with Queenie the clairvoyant in her gypsy caravan as well as enjoying the many classes such as pottery or creative writing etc. with Hattie and all the whacky residents at Boomerville.

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The Best Boomerville Hotel is available on all ereader platforms and is currently on promo on Amazon UK at only 99p. Download here: Boomerville

‘Boomerville Two’ is coming along and I hope to have the first draft finished soon. Jo and Hattie have introduced new courses such as an aqua swimming team and the Boomerville Babes, complete in matching speedos and spandex, get up to all sorts of mischief. There is a new Boomerville Hotel too as Jo sets of for Southern Ireland to set it up. Expect Irish shenanigans a plenty…

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Beautiful Kinsale in Southern Ireland – setting for ‘Boomerville Two’

I’ve had a fabulous time in the Caribbean as my son celebrated his marriage to a wonderful Canadian girl. Jamie and Ashley pulled out all the stops with a three-day wedding event and folk flew in from all over the world to celebrate with them. As they embark on married life together in their Barbadian home we wish them every possible happiness.

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Boomerville Bertie is feeling very jaded after his recent holiday and is currently lying down in a darkened room to recover. He thanks everyone who made his acquaintance during his wonderful trip and hopes to be back on the road very soon.

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I’m focussing on publicity this month and enjoyed a slot on BBC radio recently. I’m heading to Cumbria soon to record an hour-long programme on my life for BBC Radio Cumbria too. It was fun to judge a short story competition this week, which celebrated 700 years of Mayoralty in Congleton, Cheshire – the town where I was born. There were some cracking entries and it’s great to see so many getting involved to promote reading and writing.

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Short story winner Michelle Dickens and runner up Olivia Smedly with Congleton Mayor and authors John Lindley and Nick Jones

As summer approaches and the weather warms up I’m looking forward to getting out and about and hope to catch up with many of you on the way.

Happy reading and warmest wishes

Caroline xx