Novel Kicks

About Novel Kicks/Laura... Novel Kicks was founded in 2009 and is run by Laura who is currently living in Hampshire, and lives with husband, Chris and her cat, Buddy. She would love to be a writer. She’s trying to write the novel she thinks so much about. She’s loved reading and writing since ‘Creative Writing’ classes in primary school. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything she can get her hands on, she loves reading, dancing like a loon, and watching Project Runway and Ugly Betty (her two TV guilty pleasures.) She also has an obsession with chocolate and Jammie Dodgers.

Quick Spotlight: Real Monsters by Liam Brown


 

Real Monsters  is due to be released by Legend Press on 1st March 2015.

‘Real Monsters is the story of two young lovers with a war wedged between them; a surreal and ferociously recognisable allegory for our war-torn times,’ says the author, Liam Brown.

It is the debut novel from Liam who is also the lead singer and guitarist for the band, Freelance Mourners.

It will be available in paperback and eBook formats. Click here to view the book on Amazon UK.

 

About Real Monsters:

We are surrounded by monsters. The lines are now so blurred, no one knows who the real enemy is anymore.

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Author Interview: Kate Riordan

Kate-imageThe Girl in the Photograph was released by Penguin on 15h January 2015. Inspired by the beautiful Owlpen Manor in Gloucestershire, it’s the latest novel from author, Kate Riordan.

About the book:

When Alice Eveleigh arrives at Fiercombe Manor during the long, languid summer of 1933, she finds a house steeped in mystery and brimming with secrets. Sadness permeates its empty rooms and the isolated valley seems crowded with ghosts, none more alluring than Elizabeth Stanton whose only traces remain in a few tantalisingly blurred photographs. Why will no one speak of her? What happened a generation ago to make her vanish?As the sun beats down relentlessly, Alice becomes ever more determined to unearth the truth about the girl in the photograph – and stop her own life from becoming an eerie echo of Elizabeth’s . . .

 

In the video below, Kate talks about her inspiration for the book, her characters, what she wants the reader to take away from the novel and the themes of her novel. Click here to see a book trailer for The Girl in the Photograph. 

 

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Unlucky For Some?

rp_friday-300x164111111111.pngFriday 13th February 2015: Unlucky for some?

Fiction Friday is our weekly prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.

Today’s prompt:

It’s Friday 13th. It is seen as unlucky for some. Is it unlucky for your character? Is your character superstitious?  Write about something that happens to them today and how they deal with it. Are they usually lucky but then experience bad luck or do they get a reversal of fortune on Friday 13th where they suddenly become lucky?

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Blog Tour: Don’t Mention The Rockstar by Bree Darcy

bree-darcyWe’re happy to welcome Bree Darcy to Novel Kicks. She is currently on her blog tour for her debut novel, Don’t Mention the Rockstar which was published as an e-book on 15th January 2015.

Hi Bree, thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us a little about your book, Don’t Mention the Rock Star, and how the idea originated? 

It’s essentially a story that examines the power of first love and whether someone can ever truly escape its magnetic pull. Kellie is a reporter for a showbiz website and one day she gets a blast from her past – in the form of her teenage boyfriend Andy (who went on to become a mega-famous singer). But Kellie has moved on with her life and certainly isn’t looking for a do-over with him. The story alternates between past and present, so readers get a glimpse into their relationship and discover why they aren’t together any more. I have no idea where the idea originated, other than these characters crashed into my head one day and simply wouldn’t leave me alone until I resolved their story.

 

Out of all the books you’ve read, which three have made the most impact and why? 

The first book I remember being floored by was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It’s a coming-of-age story set in the 60s and relates a tale about a guy called Ponyboy who’s dealing with gang rivalry. I have tried unsuccessfully to get my teen daughter to read it – or at least watch the film. Actually – even though the movie involved many of the 80s hottest young actors, such as Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe, if you don’t know the story – read it, don’t watch it. The book is SO much better. Although I wonder if the drama of it all will seem a bit ho-hum to a teen today.

An obvious one for a chick lit lover perhaps, but I have to put Pride and Prejudice on this list. Loved Jane Austen’s humour, especially the exchanges between the meddling mother and the exasperated father; the characterisations of the different sisters, the thwarted romances, the repulsive Mr Collins and the haughty but hot Mr Darcy. He was, of course, the inspiration behind my pen-name.

I adored Where Rainbows End, by Cecelia Ahern, from the second I started reading it. I loved how over time something kept getting in the way of Rosie and Alex being together. I guess I have pursued a similar theme in my own book. And it’s probably why One Day by David Nicholls also struck a real chord with me too.

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Courses and Competitions: BBC 500 Words

BBC 500 wordsAre you aged between 5- 13? BBC Radio 2’s 500 words short story writing competition is back for 2015.

The competition is to encourage children to write and is open to ages 5-13. The competition will be split into two age categories: 5-9 and 10-13. (if you will be within the age of 5-13 on 29th May 2015 then you qualify.)

They are asking for an original piece of fiction, 500 words in length to be submitted by the closing date of Thursday 26th February at 19.00 (any entry made after this time wont be counted.)

It’s easy. Write your story, type it and then submit it via the 500 words website. It can be about any fictional topic of your choosing.

There are gold, silver and bronze prizes up for grabs in each age category.

Last year, the prizes was amazing. Not only were the gold winners in each age category awarded five hundred books for their school library, they personally won Chris Evans’ (BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show host,) height in books. That’s 1.88 meters worth of books.

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