Updates, giveaways and kittens!

Hello everybody. It’s been a long while!

I’ve been reading lots and lots (mostly fantasy or crime thrillers) and I’m finding new authors I LOVE. Recently, it’s been Brandon Sanderson and CJ Tudor all the way for me. (If you’re a Brandon fan too, check out the amazing giveaway below!). I’ve set up a new instagram profile where I share the books I’m reading and post reviews.

Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/dmcainreviews/

Lockdown was a stressful time all round for everybody. Trapped in the house, unable to see friends and family, kids going crazier day by day (we haven’t even got a garden so it was hard work entertaining them!). Then I contracted COVID myself and spent a few days ill in bed. Things were just returning to normal when my son then tested positive too. ARGHHHHHH! Luckily, he was fine and had no symptoms at all so everything has returned to normal now.

In other news, I’ve started a new job working in a High School as a special educational needs tutor. I absolutely love it. It’s such a rewarding job and the kids are just great. 

I’ve saved the best news till last. Over the lockdown, we took in a little kitten that had been found alone and tattered in the woods. The plan was to nurse her back to health and then sell her on, but we fell head over heels in love with her, so she has now joined our troupe – making it 4 cats in our house! 

Here she is, stunning little Murphy:

What am I currently working on?

The Sins of Silas

This project has been riddled with issues from day one and it’s a (very slow) work in progress. I started writing the book, and during the process I undertook numerous writing courses and read books about writing. My writing style changed and so did what I wanted to include in the book. This has meant extensive rewrites and edits. It’s been hard work. My fantastic beta readers have been sending me their comments too, which helps me to fix things along the way. When it is finally finished, it has the potential to be the best of the series. I just don’t know when it’ll be ready!

Things I’m enjoying about it: Spending time with Silas and his buddies is a lot of fun. Silas is an interesting character to write and I love the world-building element to this novel.


Things I’m hating about it: Having to fix problems with the plot and character development and not knowing how to do it believably and ensuring I cover my tracks!

The Ballad of Benedict

This project, though started after The Sins of Silas was finished, will probably be ready for publication first. Again, I really enjoyed writing this one. As with the earlier instalment in the series, A Chronicle of Chaos, this one features dual points of view. It follows two main characters alongside one another and both are interesting to write, as they are so different to one another. We follow Benedict Thialdor – an ambassador from the Children of Light, sent to live in a completely new location, and Favian – an orphaned boy with an unusual power and a domineering mentor. 

Things I’m enjoying about it: The secondary characters are great fun to write in this book. Benedict has an interesting best friend, plus a ‘pet’ who goes everywhere with him (I’m not giving up anymore than that just yet!)


Things I’m not enjoying about it: Not having enough time to power through and immerse myself in the writing process fully. I always do better when I can throw everything into it, and at the moment I’m only getting time here and there to write. 


Have I got an amazing opportunity for you! A Brandon Sanderson giveaway!

Follow some amazing authors across the web and enter to win a Mistborn 3-book box set, The Stormlight Archive 3-book box set, and Arcanum Unbounded, plus, a Mistborn adventure game, a Kaladin Stormblessed jigsaw puzzle, a Mistborn art print, a Knights Radiant Order display disk, two Coins of Elendel, a Stormlight Archive mug, a Survivor of Hathsin candle, and a Rhythm of War sticker pack!

The more tasks you perform, the more chances you have to win!

Welcome to Day 7 of the “SIR CHOCOLATE AND THE ICE CREAM RAINBOW FAIRIES” Blog Tour! @bakeandwrite @4WillsPub #RRBC

GIVEAWAY:  (7 winners) Each will win a copy of one of her Sir Chocolate Story and Cookbooks. For your chance to win, please leave a comment below!

Welcome to part 7 of the fondant cat parade

The fondant cat parade tells the story in limericks of Dinah the Kitten, daughter of Daddy Grey and Mommy Cat, who likes to sleep and escape to Wonderland in her dreams. While in Wonderland, Dinah meets a variety of brightly coloured and fun fantasy kittens. The fondant cat parade illustrates some of the wonderful fondant art that appears in all the Sir Chocolate books.

Today, you will learn about Two-tone the Kitten.

Look out for part VII of the fondant cat parade tomorrow when you will meet Rascal the Kitten. You can download the full illustrative PDF of the fondant cat parade here: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/dinah-in-wonderland-fondant-cat-parade/.

How to make a chocolate meringue roulade

Ingredients

4 egg whites

200 grams caster sugar

3 tablespoons (45 ml) cocoa powder

50 grams chopped dark chocolate

2 teaspoons white wine vinegar

2 teaspoons cornflour

For the filling

250 ml whipped cream

200 grams blackberries

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 356 degrees Fahrenheit.

Beat the egg whites until stiff. Beat in 2 tablespoons of sugar at a time until the mixture is stiff and glossy. Fold in the sifted cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, vinegar and cornflour. Line a Swiss roll tin with wax paper. Spoon the mixture into the tin and place in the centre of the oven. Turn the oven down to 150 degrees Celsius or 302 degrees Fahrenheit so the meringue cooks slowly and becomes chewy. Leave for 40 minutes and then turn off the oven and slightly open the door of the oven until the meringue is completely cool.

Loosen the meringue from the wax paper and spread with the cream and blackberry filling. Use the wax paper to roll the meringue. It will crack a bit. Sprinkle with cocoa powder.

BOOK BLURB:

Join Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet on a fun adventure to discover why the milkshake rain is pale and white.

Contains five recipes that children can make under adult supervision

AUTHOR BIO:

Hello, my name is Robbie, short for Roberta. I am an author with seven published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with my son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about my mother’s life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with my mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton). All of my children’s book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications.

I also have a book of poetry called Open a new door, with fellow South African poet, Kim Blades.

I have recently branched into adult and young adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differential my children’s books from my adult writing, I plan to publish these books under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. My first supernatural book published in that name, Through the Nethergate, is now available.

I have participated in a number of anthologies:

  • Two short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Dark Visions, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre under Robbie Cheadle;
  • Three short stories in Death Among Us, an anthology of murder mystery stories, edited by Stephen Bentley under Robbie Cheadle;
  • Three short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Nightmareland, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre under Robbie Cheadle; and
  • Two short stories in Whispers of the Past, an anthology of paranormal stories, edited by Kaye Lynne Booth under Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Robbie Cheadle

Website

Blog

Goodreads

Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Website

Blog

Goodreads

Facebook

PURCHASE LINKS:

TSL Publications

Lulu.com

Amazon


To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to schedule your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and her work!

Exclusive chapters, inside news, and loads of freebies!

My latest book to be released, Origin of Shadow, is a dark exploration into madness, destiny, honour and brutality. Follow Vincent Wilder’s descent into the murky recesses of ultimate power in this new novella from The Light and Shadow Chronicles.

Origin of Shadow by D.M. Cain book cover poster and review quotes

Not sure if it’s your thing? Get Chapters 1 & 2 of Origin of Shadow for FREE here and take a look. If you love it, great! If you don’t, no harm done.


As part of the research and planning for Origin of Shadow, I had to get into the head of main character and anti-hero Vincent Wilder. It was fun to give him quirks, neuroses and talents. As an inside peek, here is the first ever mind map I doodled when I was getting to know the man himself:

As part of the lead up to the release of Origin of Shadow, I will be putting together a video interview, in which I will answer fan questions about the book, the series, myself as an author, or even what my favourite flavour of ice cream is. The beauty is, the questions come from YOU. So, please comment on this page, or send me an email to dmcain84@gmail.com with your questions. Thank you!


RELATED LINKS:

Worldbuilding – Meraxor

Genesis of Light

The Light and Shadow Chronicles – A unique fantasy world


Why not help yourself to a few freebies while you’re here? Click on any of the images below to be taken to a whole range of awesome freebies!

The End - short story thriller by D.M. Cain banner
Bronze dragon by Eileen Mueller - free prequel novelette image
FREE Prequel Novelette! Click on the image above to be taken to your freebie!
Flagship Fantasy Sci Fi ebook giveaway banner
Forgotten Kingdoms fantasy giveaway banner
Riders of Fire by Eileen Mueller series banner
Audible Studios audio books – Riders of Fire 1-3
Readers of the Future giveaway banner
Throne of Snow ebook giveaway banner
The Prolific Reader ebook giveaway banner

Enough about me – tell me about YOU!

Hello fans of D.M. Cain

Tell me about YOU! I’m writing to you today to ask you a few questions. I don’t want this to be a blog where I just talk at you – I want a two-way dialogue! So, tell me a bit about yourself.

Who are you? What are you interested in? What are your favourite books, movies, TV shows? (This isn’t a trick or a ploy of some sort – I genuinely want to get to know you!)

Is there anything I can do to help you? Would you like recommendations of other books similar to mine? Want to know how I got my books published? Would you like writing or editing tips? Want to discuss worldbuilding and extended universes? Or maybe you just want to know who I think would win in a fight between Deadpool and Black Panther.So-how-can-I-help-you-Tell-me-about-you

Whatever it is, no matter how big or small, drop me a line. Ask a question, tell me a fact, let me know about you, ask for help – anything!

I look forward to hearing from you! (simply reply to this post, fill in a contact form, or drop me a message on Facebook or Twitter)


RELATED LINKS:

About D.M. Cain

Contact

How I boosted my mailing list subscribers from 96 to 973 in a few days