Crossword Puzzle - November 2013 (Win a copy of Heritage of Deceit)

You know, I've been doing these crossword puzzles for a long time now, and I really hope you're enjoying them... Oh, who am I kidding? I love putting them together, and I would do them whether people tried to answer them or not!

Well, here's the November 2013 one:

Across
1 Anteater (8)
7 Deadly virus, originating in Africa (5)
8 Twice a year (8)
9 Picasso (5)
12 Opposite of glossy (5)
16 Breed of freshwater fish (4)
17 Having two of something (4)
18 Bundle of sticks used for fuel (5)
21 An unpowered flight (5)
24 Existing within (8)
25 Of the moon (5)
26 Settle in a safe place (8)
Down
1 Collection of songs (5)
2 Event to hurl insults at someone (5)
3 The place of an event (5)
4 Type of seaweed (4)
5 Where babies gestate (4)
6 A Mexican dish (4)
10 Before bravo (5)
11 Spanish for Lucius (5)
13 Declare invalid (5)
14 Drifted with the tide (5)
15 Young woman (3)
16 Taxi (3)
18 Pre-Euro currency of France (5)
19 Yellow and Blue (5)
20 Ten Percent (5)
21 A sea with a narrow mouth (4)
22 Is not (4)
23 Ireland (4)

Is this your first time here? Welcome!

How do you play, you ask? Well, you give this crossword puzzle a go, and when you think you've got it right, you send me your answers on Facebook or Twitter. You can send me a photo or scan of the completed puzzle, or you can just send me a list of your answers. However you get it to me, get it to me!

I'll be posting the answers to this blog on Tuesday, 3 December 2013 (and if you get them first before then, I'll mention you as the winner), so you have until then to get them to me.

Oh, and just to make things interesting, let's have a little wager. As many people now know (although you may not, if this is your first visit), my latest story, Heritage of Deceit will officially be released on Sunday, 1 December 2013. If you're the first to tweet or Facebook me the answers to this crossword puzzle before then, you'll get a free copy. How about that?

So what are you waiting for? Good luck, and get solving!

Coming Soon: I am not Frazzle! And other stories for grown-ups

I mentioned in my newsletter last month, that I was busy writing a short story for an anthology which would be out by the end of the year. At that time, I wasn't able to divulge any more information than that. However, that situation has now changed!

The anthology is called "I am not Frazzle! And other stories for grown-ups". As the title implies, these stories are for adults (but they're absolutely not erotica, so get that out of your dirty little minds), but they all feature children and children's issues as important themes. It should be out by Christmas, and I'm pleased to announce that all proceeds from sale of this book will go to a local charity in the UK, called Devizes Opportunity Centre. Go check them out; I'm told that they do awesome work with kids with disabilities and other difficulties.

For this project, I'm really pleased to be in the company of some very talented authors, not to mention great people. The volume will contain the following stories:

• "A Wish for Lucie" by Maria Miller
• "I Am Not Frazzle!" By Darren Worrow
• "Simon" by Dave Derby
• "The Storekeeper" by Cecily Magnon
• "Stingers" by Graham Downs (That's me!)
• "The Beauty of Ugh" by Richelle E. Goodrich
• "The Candy Vendor's Story" by Nancy Brooks
• "Mirror Image" by Holly M. Kothe

At this moment, I must confess that I have no idea how much the final product is going to cost, but with such a fantastic line-up, I am very sure that you will not be feeling like you over-paid, should you buy this book!

Please consider supporting this worthy cause, by Liking the book's Facebook Page to stay up to date with new developments, interviews with the authors, and information about when and where it will be available as we get closer to release.

Oh, and while you're about it, don't forget to Like my Facebook Page as well. (That is, unless you already Like it, in which case, well done!)

One more thing: Don't forget that Heritage of Deceit releases on 1 December 2013. It's currently on pre-order, so reserve your copy today!

Update: To listen to me talking about this book (including mentioning one additional story that's been accepted since writing), click the Play button below:

Marketing Your Book for Holiday Sales

I read about this book in The Creative Penn's newsletter the other week. It's a free book published by Lulu.com, and it's all about how to market your book, just in time for the Christmas season. You can get it free at http://success.lulu.com/.

Personally, it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. Some of these marketing tips I'm not yet doing, and some of them I am, but for the most part, it was a case of "same old, same old".

There is one exception, though. One of the things the book advises you to do is to include a link or page on your website, to make it easy for potential reviewers to request review copies of your book. I think this is a wonderful idea, and although I haven't had time to do it yet, it's definitely something I'll be considering.

Speaking of which, Heritage of Deceit is coming out on 1 December, and I'm looking for early reviewers. If you consider yourself an influentil reviewer of books, like thrillers, and are interested, pop me a mail to reviews@grahamdowns.co.za!

Crossword Puzzle - October 2013 Answers

Hi, everyone! Welcome to November 2013. We're in the home stretch baby!

I assume that, by now, everybody knows of the pending release of my next book, Heritage of Deceit. In case you've been living under a rock for the past week, though, you should know that it's available for pre-order right now. See my Heritage of Deceit page, here on this blog.

Anyway, on to the answers for last month's crossword. Hope you had as much fun solving it as I did making it!

Crossword Puzzle - October 2013

So, to tide everyone over until the announcement of my next story (It's that close!), how about a crossword puzzle?

You all know the drill by now. The first person to Tweet or Facebook me with the correct answers before next Tuesday, 5 November 2013, with get a mention on this blog, and bragging rights.

Good luck!

Across
1 A secret language (4)
5 Title used for a Lady (4)
9 Form of address to a superior (3)
10 contract between licensor and purchaser of software (4)
12 became accustomed (12)
16 what person (3)
17 involving violence (4)
18 before the present time (3)
19 low in fat or sugar (4)
21 six-stringed musical instrument, played with a bow (4)
22 romantic interlude (4)
24 great delight (4)
25 highest adult male voice (4)
28 boiled flour pudding (4)
32 Polynesian garland (3)
33 violent seizure of power (4)
36 travelled through, en route to (3)
37 site of a battle (12)
40 sixty minutes (4)
41 tool used for piercing holes (3)
42 church sale (4)
43 alcohol made with milk and honey (4)
Down
2 broad silk tie (5)
3 nothing (3)
4 the study of triangles (4)
5 legal obligation (4)
6 American boxer, surname (3)
7 pastoral people from Kenya (5)
8 two-masted sailing craft (4)
10 what you listen with (3)
11 something worshipped (4)
13 22nd letter of Greek alphabet (3)
14 watched in a cinema (5)
15 sense of self-importance (3)
20 therefore (4)
21 the Impaler (4)
23 remove errors (5)
25 Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland (4)
26 open, grassy area (3)
27 ten percent (5)
29 fleshy extension hanging above the throat (5)
30 on a fish's back (3)
31 become dim (4)
33 what this is (4)
34 over (3)
35 push a baby in it (4)
38 a toddler (3)
39 obliged to give (3)

Win a Copy of A Petition to Magic

Between now and the end of the month, I will be running a lucky draw. On or after the first of November 2013, one lucky winner will receive a coupon code. Head on over to the A Petition to Magic book page on Smashwords, and buy the book. When prompted, enter the coupon code that you receive to get the book free. You won't even be asked for your credit card details!

To enter, all you need to do is follow the instructions below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Finishing a Book

I just got the cover image for my latest book, back from my cover artist. I won't talk about the details yet on my blog, but my newsletter subscribers will know what it is and when it's releasing. To subscribe to my newsletter, visit this page, and punch your e-mail address into the text box provided (it's free).

I'm also working on another, which you can also hear about through my newsletter, and yet a third, which I'm keeping very close to my chest.

I've actually done a lot of writing, since the release of A Petition to Magic.

The point is, when I finish a book, and it's out there, I don't feel any major sense of achievement. I don't even really feel much fear. Of course, the fear is there, "What will people think?" "Will I get sales?" "Will I get reviews?" etc. etc. But for me, the overriding emotion is sadness, because that story is done, the characters have said what they needed to say, and done what they needed to do, and there's nothing more to write about it. Sure, I could write another book featuring the same characters and setting, but that would be labouring the point, because the story is, in fact, over.

Come to think of it, I feel the same way as a reader, when I'm finished reading a really good book. I just wish it would go on and on...

So what do you think? As a writer, how do you feel after you've put your baby out into the world? As a reader, how do you feel after reading the last page of a book you really enjoyed? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

To listen to me talking about this, click the Play button below: