Magic of the Muses: In the Cold Light of Day

Monday, October 5, 2015

Let's CHILL! with Pauline Barclay

I've met some amazing authors through social media! These are people who not only write great books, but spend countless hours helping other authors.

These authors are passionate about their craft and come from around the world to lend encouraging words, to cross-promote, to share their knowledge, and even spend their money to create online networks and platforms for not only their work, but for the work of others. They ask for very little in return.

Let me tell you about one such author, Canary Island resident, Pauline Barclay, the creator and administrator of the Chill with a Book! website. Better yet, I'll let Pauline tell you about herself, her blog and her novels.

Welcome to Magic of the Muses, Pauline!


Pauline Barclay, author

Briefly describe Chill with a Book! and what makes it unique.

Chill with a Book! is a dynamic site for authors and readers. It is designed for authors to showcase their books and for readers to find amazing reads.

What does Chill with a Book! offer book lovers?

Chill with a Book

Chill with a Book! means book lovers, with just one click, can find great reads from all genres: Family sagas, murder, mystery, YA, historical, thrillers, romance, comedy and much more! And you know, not only are these reads filled with gripping stories, they are filled with tension, suspense, emotion and passion. Readers will feel the thrill of the ride, gasp in horror, shed tears of sadness and laugh with joy. And when they reach the end they will still want to keep turning the pages long after their read has ended, and then choose another great read from Chill with a Book!

Has Chill with a Book! evolved as you initially envisioned? Where do you dream it will be in five years?

It is going really well and at the end of the day, I want Chill with a Book! to be the site for all authors and the number one site for readers to find some of the best reads published out there.

How can authors become a partner in Chill with a Book!’s success?

They are welcome to contact me so that their book(s) can be showcased on the site. They must also want to participate with promoting so that their book(s) are visible to every visitor to the site. For authors it is another platform for them to stand up and be seen.

Behind every great organization there is a driving force. You, Pauline Barclay, are the name and face behind Chill with a Book!. Tell us about what motivated you to create this site.

Passion is my motivation and that passion is to help authors connect with readers whilst giving them another platform to talk about their books.

In addition to running Chill with a Book!, you are an author. Of which personal accomplishment in your literary career (book or otherwise), are you most proud? (Aside from the creation of your author group.)

I am incredibly proud that I have five published novels out there and even more honoured that people take time out to buy and read them.

Please offer authors and aspiring authors some sage advice.

Enjoy your writing. Make every word count. Don’t let others put you off. Go for it and wherever it leads, enjoy the journey.

I know you’re itching to mention something I’ve neglected to ask about. Tell us what that is.

As well as running Chill with a Book! I am working on my sixth novel. It has a working title; A Sense of Shame, it is a dark and emotional story.

Chill with a Book!’s link:

http://chillwithabook.blogspot.com

author link:

www.paulinebarclay.co.uk

Let's CHILL! with Pauline Barclay has been brought to you by:

IN THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY ~Pauline Barclay

"I would highly recommend you pick up and lose yourself in. Loved it."

"...the excellent way the story is written really pulls you in emotionally"

"The only thing wrong with Pauline Barclay's novels is that they end."

Eileen Schuh, Author
DISPASSIONATE LIES
FIREWALLS
FATAL ERROR
Schrödinger's Cat
THE TRAZ

Monday, November 10, 2014

In the Cold Light of Day

Please can I just say a big thank you to you Eileen for allowing me to guest on your fabulous Blog, Magic of the Muse. We first met when your book, The Traz was published and from then on we have become special social media friends.

My latest book, In the Cold Light of Day was published on 26^th October and I have once again returned to the sixties as the time frame to set my story. I just love to write about the times when mobile phones, lap tops, the World Wide Web and computers in general were nothing more than a futuristic dream. Set in the London area, In the Cold Light of Day is a moving story about gambling addiction taking the reader into a world of lies, deception and eventually fraud. This book, like all of my books, it is an emotional read, one that gets to the very core of the characters feelings. A little warning; readers may need a tissue close by. I admit to having felt emotional when I was writing this book!

You asked what inspired me to write about gambling. “The initial idea came to me after I had heard how a business man had lost everything he owned through gambling. A few weeks later I met a woman who had a family member who was addicted to internet gambling, again another story of unnecessary loss. From then on my story slowly began to unfold. It took several months to write and edit before I was happy enough to send it to my editor. Even then I was nervous about her reaction. Thankfully in the end I had nothing to fear as her final words to me after delivering my manuscript back were, “Good luck! You deserve it. I’ve loved this story.”

Here is the blurb….

Bertie Costain has worked hard all his life in the building trade and now owns his own London-based company. In 1967, approaching fifty and still unmarried he enjoys a playboy lifestyle, but when he meets Kitty, an attractive, wealthy widow ten years his senior, he swiftly proposes.

Swept off her feet, Kitty adores him. The happy couple seem to have it all, but Bertie has a secret. Kitty has no idea their home is mortgaged to the hilt, or that the many expensive gifts he brings her come out of his winnings at roulette. Proud of his apparent success and ignorant of his gambling addiction, she happily loans him large sums of money, ostensibly for his business.

Convinced with each spin of the wheel that his run of bad luck will change, Bertie gambles for increasingly high stakes, falling deeper and deeper into debt until, facing financial ruin and with nowhere to turn, he resorts to fraud. As their lives begin to unravel, Kitty learns the horrifying truth.

In the cold light of day can their love survive the pain and destruction Bertie’s addiction has wrought?

Pauline’s Bio:

I am a Yorkshire girl from the UK, but have lived in several different locations over the years; Suffolk, UK, Surrey, UK and the Netherlands. Today, I live on one of the beautiful islands of the Canary Isles with my husband and our two gorgeous rescue doggies.

Years ago I gained a BA (Hons) degree from the Open University, today I spend my time writing fiction. I have five books published, plus a 20 minute short festive story.

My passion is to write about events that happen in life and change everything for those involved as well as those caught up in the maelstrom. I want my characters to sit at your side, steal your attention and sweep you up in their story. Stories that will bring tears to your eyes, have you laughing out loud and sometimes, what they share with you, will stay in your hearts for a very long time.

Pauline’s Author Showcase Trailer