Thanks for all the support for the cover of Heronfield in the Authors Database Cover Competition 2013.
Unfortunately it did not win, but second place is almost as good!
Many thanks for the cover design Lorna, looking forward to working with you on the next one!
Heronfield has made the finals for the Authors Database book cover design competition of 2013
Thank you everyone who voted for the cover – Lorna Gray (the artist) and I really do appreciate your support!
There is no voting in the final round. Authorsdb says ‘The final round will be solely judged by our live judges on technical design elements, relation to subject matter and content, composition and preferance, using a proven point system.’ So this is where the cover has to ‘stand alone’ on it’s merits – and with such a good design from Lorna I’m sure we’re in with a chance!
Heronfield is creeping ahead in the voting of the semi-finals in the Authors Database Book Cover Design competition for 2013.
Have you taken a look yet? There are some great designs there.
Please do look at the War and Military category and cast your vote. Hopefully it will be for Heronfield!
I have received some great news which supports all of the very positive comments I have received about the design of the cover for Heronfield – it has reached the semi-finals in the war/military section of AUTHORSdB Book Cover Competition for 2013. Please do take a look and cast your vote! (Voting from 23rd November to 15th December).
Many thanks to my friend, Lorna Gray, for the design. She is a very accomplished artist and you can see more of her work here. Lorna will also be designing the cover for my soon to be released novel, The Guardians, and my work in progress, Rebekah.
Take a look at the covers in the other categories too, some of them are real works of art.
Don’t forget to cast your vote!
If you want action, adventure, romance, and history all rolled in to one absorbing read give this a go.
4.0 out of 5 stars I’d give this 4.5 stars if I could!
31 Oct 2013
By Sarah
Another book I downloaded to my Kindle while listed as free, and while I very rarely give 5 star reviews this almost managed it! Set during WWII Heronfield is set in a stately home that is commandeered for the war effort. I’d almost class this as an epic saga, we cover the whole of WWII with the characters but without ever feeling like it’s dragging.
I found Tony’s central story line pretty gripping and was really annoyed when the other characters interrupted, then almost couldn’t bear to leave them to get back to Tony!
I love my books to be character driven and this ticks the box, however there is a huge amount of historical fact woven in to the novel, the author explains this in the preface and it’s worked into the fictional story line quite well. Some of the historical info is less necessary to the plot but it does give an idea of the scale of the conflict and is interesting.
There was nothing really wrong with the story but I’m not a huge fan of massive literary coincidences and two of the male characters run into each other towards the end rather conveniently. I’ll say no more as I don’t want to give anything away but the world is a big place so it lost half a star for that.
This is a self published novel so don’t expect perfection, having said that though it has been written to a very high standard and I would highly recommend even the paid version as you get a lot of book for your buck. I believe that the author’s website states the book is being given a professional edit and I think it will benefit a little from the final polish.
If you want action, adventure, romance, and history all rolled in to one absorbing read give this a go.
Thank you Sarah for your great review on Amazon. I understand what you say about ‘literary coincidences’, they can sometimes spoil a good story. I did a great deal of detailed research for the book and would just like to put your mind at rest – The SS did send people who did that type of work to ‘that place’ towards the end of the war; the other character was with a unit that was in the area on that day. So while it was a big coincidence, it was not impossible that they would meet there!
For anyone who has not read Heronfield and wonders what that is all about – maybe you’re missing out on something!
Thank you for your kind words P J Sowler. Your comments have been noted and Heronfield is back with a very experienced proofreader/copy editor. Fingers crossed that the changes will be available in print for Christmas! Please do update your Kindle version in the new year.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful! October 25, 2013
By P J Sowler
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a fantastic read. Just the sort of story I like. Set in WW2 it not only gives plenty of facts but a great story too with the right balance between the two. My only criticism is that it could have been edited better but certainly didn’t spoil it for me. More please.
Today is the first day of my free give-away of Heronfield for Kindle!
Please do grab yourself a copy – I hope you enjoy it.
If you would like to write a review and let everyone know what you thought of the book it would be much appreciated.
Happy reading!
To mark the first anniversary of the publication of Heronfield my novel will be free to download as an ebook for three days starting 27th September. If you still haven’t read it – make a date in your diary!
I hope you saw the recent 5* review for Heronfield given to me by AS, for which I am very grateful. But did you also notice his/her comment about their review not appearing on my book page on Amazon?
Do you think that Amazon are right to only publish reviews from people who bought the book on their store?
Is that fair to the author and/or the reviewer?
Is this the best way to ensure that only genuine reviews appear?
Whether you are a writer or reader, publisher or editor or just someone who likes to express their views in open forum please do let me know what you think.
If you disagree with Amazon’s apparant policy then perhaps you should let them know what you think too!
Dorinda
Dorinda Balchin - Author 