Wednesday, 24 August 2016

My books on Smashwords! Dreams do come true!

As I begin to write this blog post today, I feel like I am writing it as a freelance writer and for someone else!

A dream has come true.  Which is how this blog was born.  So I'm not too sure why I find it so mindblowing.  But yes,  I have just published onto Smashwords.  Gosh.

Smashwords is a publisher who distribute books out to Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Nook, Apple iBooks (Apple iBooks!!??!!) to name a few.  So there is EVERY reason to believe I need to keep writing and getting more books published as there are readers out there who will enjoy my stories.

While I love writing about manifestations and tips on life, it is the romance novels that sell the biggest numbers, therefore I guess that's what my audience love.

Enough stories are inside me based on my own life experiences. Yet I also love to play with my imagination and create characters who can be, do, want and have anything I dream up for them.  Amazing!

You can get a long sample for free to see if you like my writing and if the story grabs you. There is nothing worse than getting excited to open a new book just to get 5 pages in and think 'ugh this book is not for me'.

Also over on smashwords is an interview with me. Crazy stuff like what's on my desk,  my favourite 5 books and why... click here to read that interview. 





Read the first few lines here...


Delayed

Slamming the door shut behind her,  Liv leaned on it with her entire body weight. 

Panting. 

Chest moving rhythmically she wondered why her lungs felt as though she had inhaled flames.  With a massive sigh,  she threw the bouquet through the archway into the lounge.   Why she had carried her beautiful pink flowers all the way from the church as she ran home she had no idea.  Liv shook her head forcefully as if to wake herself up.  What was she going to do now?  She hadn’t thought about this next step.  At the time it was enough to simply decide that she could not marry Leon.

Leon wasn’t a bad guy at all.  As a child, he was raised with Liv.  Of course, this had its share of ups and downs.  They were kind of comfortable together just like the old slippers that Livs father wore during the cold December months. As a couple, they got on.  They laughed at the same comics, they drank beer together from the bottle and they loved going out and clubbing.  Yet when those exciting moments were over and they were sat just gazing together,  there was something vacant from inside that gaze.  Something missing almost.   Leon was likely to be a good provider as a husband; he was a well connected guy and as was his family before him.   Liv trusted him.  Yet she never quiet knew if he was likely to come back from a day at ‘work’ dead or alive. 
Would he be able to be a good father? 
Lover? 
Soul mate? 

At times, Liv wondered if it was all about one-upmanship and who could bring home the biggest bag of swag.  What happened those times Leon was away,  Liv would never fathom.  Never did it occur to her to ask.  He was gone somewhere and that was that.  Should she know,  she could answer questions that the police might fire at her.  Not that they ever did.  Yet,  should they ask,  she could answer,
“I don’t know where he is.  Or what he’s doing.  Or who he is with.  I have no idea!”  And so, she neglected to ask him.

One time,  Liv was feeling so afraid,  her nerves were shot.  She couldn’t sleep.  He was gone for three nights.  Unexplainably gone.  Liv very nearly phoned her future mother in law to ask if she knew anything.  Instead, she went to the gym room and pounded the treadmill until she was so dizzy she almost fainted.  Just kind of enough to take the edge off asking the question that she shouldn’t ask and in fact be much more subtle.  She still had to make that call. 
As Liv lifted the telephone receiver she decided to just make a casual conversation with  Teresa, her future mother in law, to see what vibes she could pick up.

“Hey Teresa,  it’s been so hot here today,  I’m just checking you’re ok over there?”
“Hey Olivia,” The in laws always used her full name, “I’m just fine thank you for caring.” She said all in one sentence, “What about you?”
“I’m good.  Got the fans blowing and I just had ice cream for dinner.  Couldn’t really be bothered to cook.  Not sure if Leon is home for dinner.  What about Jez?”
“Oh I’m sure Jez will be home really soon when he’s finished work.”  Teresa stated,  giving nothing away.  She gave nothing away.  She was good at being ‘that’ wife.  So much better than Liv. 

Often she questioned if she could do it.  Really, she couldn’t.


Finally, Leon returned home.  Liv instinctively knew something was dramatically different.  As he walked through the door he called out,

“Hi darling,”  which never suited his accent.  She would far rather be called babe. As for sweetheart, that word would make her go weak at the knees.  Although she had stopped dreaming of such things long ago.
Walking up to her with a new walk he seemed to have adopted while he was missing in action, he brushed the side of her face with the back of his fingers.  Her cheekbone didn’t seem to feel the electric she used to dream of as a little girl.  The slow blinking of her eyes was absent.  As was the tilted head as she leaned into his touch.  She did raise a slight smile though.

Knowing better than to ask any questions, she casually whispered, “You ok Leon.”  It wasn’t a question. She told herself it wasn’t.



Want more sample?  Head here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/660437

Much love from an excited and happy writer

Louise xoxo

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Wednesday, 13 April 2016

What my holiday did for my depression

Skirting around this issue for a while, dropping you guys hints but not really going into great depth, I feel at a place where I can share with you my ongoing battle.

Anxiety and depression.

These are almost like new buzz words that somehow seem trendy.

Feelings like these go against all I believe in and all that I stand for,  yet it seems this is not a choice I have made.  It simply is.

My diagnosis came over a year ago now and I'm in bi-weekly therapy and hate to admit there is medication involved. I will speak more about that in another post yet for now, I am blogging here today as things are feeling better.  I want to share with you what helped for me.




Returning late last night from Alcudia in Majorca, Spain from a 3 night break with my mum helped.  I know not everyone can have the freedom of getting away from it all like I did and I am truly thankful.  Mum treated us both as we have found it difficult to get time to grieve after Dad passed away a few weeks ago (it's his 75th birthday today, so happy birthday Dad up there on your cloud).  

One of my sessions of therapy is with a mentor, someone who helps with practical stuff, how to cope with my university work load and that type of skill.  She also introduced me to mindfulness

It is a practice where you bring your attention to the here and now.  Lots of meditation.  But mostly realising that worry is when you think about past or present.  Worry has caused my anxiety.  I'm a worrier.  Yet I am also a law of attraction person.  So how can the two go hand in hand?  Can we actually control our thoughts to make us deal with life things better?  Taking lots of practice, I am beginning to see some clarity.  



For me, the sea, sand and sunny days are therapy in themselves.  I spent so much time walking up and down the sand that I could barely walk.  While the souls of my feet were in so much pain, my inner soul was nurtured. 

I'm super positive right now and I honestly want to write it all down so I don't forget! 

I know what I want, I know how i'm going to get it.  Watch me!

For so so long now I have known I want to earn my living with freedom.  Freedom to travel, to be, to take time to walk the dog when I need to.  While my job as a nutritionist will see me helping patients, I will primarily doing my work from my laptop.  Writing all my findings and publishing them for free for the world to use to create better health.  Gaining sponsorship from affiliate companies who I believe in.  Helping to spread the word of fabulous products.

All while saving to travel, taking my laptop with me and working like there's no tomorrow.

You see, I want to make a difference, my fingers are flying across the keyboard with passion and positivity right now! Yes, It will be hard work.  Yes, I need guidance and mentors.  Yes, it will take me time and money to invest in my new website.  Yet, I am determined to do it.

I wake with a smile on my face.  Feeling the world is a brighter and better place.  For so long now, my physical health has suffered.  I know the two go hand in hand.  I need time to work on my body, working on my damaged spine with pilates and not making excuses not to go.

Depression is exhausting.  Feeling like you can breathe and fill your lungs with life giving oxygen is a totally new feeling.  I love it.  I'm in love with life right now and can see all that it can bring me.  I can and will do this.  Are you with me?  Will you support me?  I can't do any of this without my lovely audience.  You guys.  I know this will be super. 

A new journey into a new me.  I'm working harder and loving it.  I'm eating better, losing a few extra pounds, I'm working on the spinal injuries and my crohns.  I want to do this.  In a few weeks, if I begin to see me slipping back into the old routines, I will revisit this post and realise how wonderful life can be.  

Only I can make this happen.  No amount of disrespect from others will stop me.  They don't matter.  I've been letting them in for far too long.  

We all have amazing gifts to bring to this world.  

I urge you to read mindfulness.  It has helped beyond belief.  

Much love

Louise xoxo


First Choice
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Sunday, 23 November 2014

We are going to see Zoella on her book tour!

YES!


We really are off to see Zoe

Typical Pink Teenager and I were enjoying dinner out when she flushed and almost squealed in delight to quietly tell me (she’s great at checking her mood before engaging her words!) that Zoella was doing a book signing.

When she gave me the sketchy details of where it was, instantly I knew where this was going to be and it’s literally just half an hour drive from our home.  Fantastic.  My baby girl enlightentened me to let me know that for health and safety reasons there would be tickets sold.  Not for money making - important fact - but rather you kind of buy the book in advance and then Zoe will sign it as you queue with your ticket.  So, of course we are so super excited.  However, I digress.

This blog is all about your Lusher life,  your dream come true.  



Zoe sure has made her dreams come true.  She is a perfect example of how you really can make things happen.  So, how has she done it?

From what I know (and if you are a huge fan you will know more than me!) she started walking around with a video recorder at an early age.  From there and recording on holidays, she decided to begin documenting her findings on the fashion and make up front.  
What is out there in the shops?  
How much are these items?
How good are they?

From there, she found all sorts of offers flooding in.  Yet it’s not just about wishing it to happen and here in finds the issues with the Law of Attraction at times.  Visualisation is wonderful of course, and neccessary. If you need help with yours click here.




However, Zoe has consistently done the work.  She has regularly blogged and Vlogged as well as making her usual Youtube videos which now see her with millions of subscribers.

Anyone can do this these days.  You tube is fast becoming a preferred channel and I’m starting to wonder if TV might become a thing of the past.  So, if you wanted to get started, get cracking.  There are so many Youtube channels out there showing you how to do the technical stuff.  All you really need these days is a smart phone.  You can record in HD and if you download the “Capture” app you can upload straight to your Youtube channel!

Very exciting times ahead. 

Will you instantly make a million from it?  Unlikely.  Be real.  Even Zoe was still working full time when she started.  Now it’s her full time job,  much the same as many of her Youtube friends.

So,  I’ll report back with photos and show you how the lovely Zoe (surely a Lusher Lifer!) was on her book signing! 

Comment below to let me know if you managed to get a ticket for her signing!
Maybe we will see you there!

Much love



Here are some links to the books the Youtubers have out just now (plus Zoe on pre-order, out next week).












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