Great News on Marjorie Mallons New Book : Lockdown Innit: Poems About Absurdity

Marjorie Mallon’s latest book Lockdown Innit.

© Marjorie Mallon.

I am so excited to let you all know that the new poetry collection from Marje is on pre-order from 26th February: Lockdown Innit: Poems About Absurdity by M.J. Mallon

About the collection

Lockdown Innit is a poetry collection of eighteen poems about life’s absurdities and frustrations during lockdown. Wherever you live in this world, this is for you. Expect humour, a dollop of banter and ridiculous rants here and there. Amongst other delights, witness the strange antics of a swan posing by a bin and two statuesque horses appearing like arc deco pieces in a field. Check out the violin player on a tightrope, or the cheeky unmentionables wafting in the lockdown breeze!

Head over to buy the book on pre-order: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by M.J. Mallon.

All about Marje in her own words.

© Marjorie Mallon

I am an author who has been blogging for many moons: M.J. Mallon. My interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy YA, and middle grade fiction as well as micropoetry – haiku and tanka. I love to read and have written over 100 Book Reviews

My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheros! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong.

As a teenager I travelled to many far-flung destinations. It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six foot hunk of a Rock God husband. My two enchanted daughters have almost flown the nest, but often return with a cheery smile to greet me.

When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

Whats your day job when not in Lockdown

During the day, I work in an international sixth form with students from around the world. I’m the meet and greet lady who welcomes them to their new college and issues them with late slips when they don’t get to their lessons on time!

So Marje what’s your style of writing

I write YA fantasy, paranormal, horror/supernatural short stories, flash fiction and short form poetry. More recently, I have produced and compiled an anthology/compilation set during the early stages of COVID-19 entitled This Is Lockdown. Following on from this, in February 2021 I will be releasing Lockdown Innit, poems about absurdity which will be available in kindle and shortly after release in paperback.  

I’ve been blogging for many moons at my blog home Kyrosmagica, which means Crystal Magic. From time to time I write articles celebrating the spiritual realm, inspiration and my love of nature, crystals and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious.

Well Marje I think you have a much more exotic life than me even now in lockdown!

Preorder Buying Links Lockdown Innit Releases February 26^th

Kindle Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08VW81Q53/

Kindle Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VW81Q53/

 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56949934-lockdown-innit

Universal link for kindle: https://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit.

Haven’t you written another book about Lockdown Marje.

Yes willow, Lockdown Innit is the second book that I have released during this time period

The first, This Is Lockdown released in kindle in July 2020. This Is Lockdown is a compilation and anthology of my diaries, poetry, flash fiction and 28 wonderful contributions from international authors, bloggers and creatives sharing their thoughts, poetry, and flash fiction during covid19. Many old friends contributed to the anthology and I discovered many new authors, and creatives via compiling this anthology.

AUTHOR SOCIAL MEDIA DETAILS

Authors Website:: https://mjmallon.com
Authors Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon 

#ABRSC – Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads:: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

BOOK LINKS 

Kyrosmagica Publishing

YA Fantasy: The Curse of Time Book1 Bloodstone

https://mybook.to/TheCurseofTime

Poetry, Prose and Photography: Mr. Sagittarius

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

An anthology: This Is Lockdown  

Kindle: mybook.to/Thisislockdown

Paperback: mybook.to/Thisislockdownpb

Short Stories in Anthologies:

Bestselling horror compilations

Nightmareland compiled by Dan Alatorre

“Scrabble Boy” (Short Story)

Spellbound compiled by Dan Alatorre

“The Twisted Sisters” (Short Story)

Wings & Fire compiled by Dan Alatorre .

Well Marje I really have loved having you here, socially distanced of course. Shall we have a

Before you go.

Petals of the Rose ~ A New Book.

Petals of the Rose

Guided Journeys

Sue Vincent

A collection of guided meditations, designed to open aspects of the personality in as gentle and natural way as the petals of the rose open at the touch of the sun. Each inner journey will carry you to a haven within your own psyche from which to explore layers of your own being, learning their meaning and purpose.

From mystical and silent castles, to the song of the unicorn… each journey takes you deeper into your inner being and carries you out beyond the stars.

Read more at France and Vincent

Not so much a blog tour .

This is not a blog tour but it ought to be! Our Jim has written another book set in Port Naain, is that same Port Naain where Tallis Steelyard lives, it is indeed. Now this book is called Maljie Teaching a Cat To Dance.

In this volume we stand shoulder to shoulder with Maljie as she explores the intricacies of philosophy, marvel at her mastery of pre-paid indemnification plans, and assist her in the design of foundation garments. When you read this, not only will you discover just who wears the trousers, but you can indulge in a spot of fishing and enjoy the quaint fertility rites of our great city. This book contains fashion, honey, orphans and the importance of dipping your money in vinegar to ensure it is safe. Indeed you may even learn how to teach a cat to dance.

• 

Jim Webster is probably still fifty something, his tastes in music are eclectic, and his dress sense is rarely discussed in polite society. In spite of this he has a wife and three daughters. He has managed to make a living from a mixture of agriculture, consultancy, and freelance writing. Previously he has restricted himself to writing about agricultural and rural issues but including enough Ancient Military history to maintain his own sanity. But seemingly he has felt it necessary to branch out into writing fantasy and Sci-Fi novels.” Now with eight much acclaimed fantasy works and two Sci-Fi to my credit it seems I might be getting into the swing of things.

You can find Him Webster’s wordpress Bob here

Jim’s Amozon page is here and you can buy this book there and maybe some of his others, there are plenty and also they really vary in content.

What do I think about Jim’s books on Port Naain I love them , they are a great place to escape these pandemic days. He writes in many other genres too.

Day two of Ritu’s Marriage Unarranged, Blog Tour. Day Two.

Today my lovely and talented Sister Ritu Bhathal is here on the second stop of her blog tour and I am so excited.

Sis we are here to find out about your fabulous book that I have had the privilege to read.

Ritu Bhathal

The schedule so you know where to find her.

Monday	3rdFeb	Sue	https://scvincent.com/
Tuesday	4th Feb	Willow	https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/
Wednesday	5th Feb	Zoe	http://zooloosbookdiary.co.uk/
Thursday	6th Feb	Geoff	https://geofflepard.com/
Friday	7th Feb	Eloise	https://eloisedesousa.wordpress.com/
Saturday	8th Feb	Linda Hill	https://lindasbookbag.com/
Sunday	9th Feb	Lucy – Launch	https://blondewritemore.com/
Monday	10th Feb	Marje	https://mjmallon.com/
Tuesday	11th Feb	Carol	https://carolcassara.com/
Wednesday	12th Feb	Colleen	https://colleenchesebro.com/

How to Describe Marriage Unarranged?

Genre:  Chickpea Curry Lit – Chick Lit with an Indian Twist!

The Blurb…

It all started ended with that box…

Aashi’s life was all set.

Or so she thought.

Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after.

But then Aashi found the empty condom box…

Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.

Old images erased, new beginnings to explore.

And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets? A stranger who’s hiding something…

That’s the blurb sorted, now let’s have a

a cuppa and a chat.

Hi Willow! Thank you so much for hosting Day 2 of the blog tour for my debut novel, Marriage Unarranged.

Let’s get comfortable and answer a few questions!

Where did the original idea come from?

I was at home, one day, during the build-up to my own wedding, and it occurred to me that sometimes, marriage isn’t that straightforward. What would happen if, in the midst of all plans, something was to happen to totally send the marriage train off track?

Did you base it on anyone you know or was it all off the top of your head? 

The story, as it has been written is not based on anyone, or any situation I have experienced. Sure, there are a few characters who may have taken on traits of people I know. Aashi’s father, Mohinder, for example, is drawn hugely from my own Pops, but for the most part, it is fictional. Of course, I always find life to be the biggest inspiration, so there are reactions, and memories used to create as life-like an experience as possible.

Why did it take you 20 years to write this story?

Ha! Yes, that looooong time frame! Well, no one ever said writing a book was going to be easy or straightforward. If you read my blog, you will know that the life of Ritu is pretty full on, and it has been like that for most of my life. When I started writing, as I mentioned earlier, I was in the midst of my own wedding preparations, so snatched moments meant I was able to write a few thousand words of the beginning of the book. I’m more of a pantser, than a planner, so I really didn’t know where this story was going to go, but the seed had been planted. 

Fast forward a few years after marriage, and I found the floppy disc this story had been languishing on. I reread it and thought ‘Yes, I want to write more,’ and Hubby Dearest bought me my first ever laptop to help me fulfil my dream. A few more thousand words appeared, then kids happened.

It wasn’t until I started blogging that the flame to finish was really ignited. Of course, time, I had very little of, so snatched moments were all I had to write, until 2017, where I pegged August as #RiNoWriMo – Ritu’s Novel Writing Month, and I wrote over 50,000 words! It wasn’t finished yet, but so close. The last couple of years have been dedicated to finishing it, and getting feedback, advice from beta readers and my editor, to finally reaching this stage, of publication!

Where do you do most of your writing?

It really depends on the time of the day. If it is early morning, and I have energy to write, it would be at the dining room table, or on the sofa, but more often than not, my desk is my lap on my bed, during the evening hours, once the children are fed, watered and settled. 

How do you fit writing a best seller into your super busy life?

With great difficulty! (And, best seller – well, I hope so! From your mouth to the buyers and readers ears, sis!). It’s all about planning, at the end of the day. I have a busy life, as a wife, mother and teacher, and my day job takes most of my energy, and my children zap the rest of my patience. But writing, for me has been a form of relaxation, so I will often find time in the evenings to write. Recently, health meant that I didn’t write as much towards the end of last year, but I am hoping that 2020 brings better health and more energy, so I can concentrate on book two!

How much influence does your family have on your writing?

As I mentioned before, I always find that life is a huge inspiration and influence on my creativity. I write best about things I know of and have experienced.

My family, and their encouragement, have helped me to reach this stage in my writing career. The children have heard a lot of my work, and, despite being younger than my intended readers, they have always given me lots of ‘advice’. Hubby Dearest is neither a reader nor writer (unless you count keeping up with the news!) but he is my silent support.

I think I will always be mindful of what I write, knowing that my family will want to read it, both young and old. In fact, Pops, my dad, has already told me that despite not reading books, he wants to read mine!

ANOTHER

Sis?

Now Aashi would like to introduce you to her fiancé, Ravi, to us.

“Hiya! It’s me again, Aashi. 

So, you know I’m getting married, and I know you’re angling for an invitation, but how about I tell you a little bit about Ravi.

Ravi is, as you know, the man I am going to marry. He’s twenty-seven, good looking, and he works in marketing, doing something, though I don’t know the ins and outs. I know it’s important though. He’s often out with clients and going on work trips. But he always calls me, tells me he misses me. 

He’s got lots of friends, and they go out a lot, boys’ nights, that sort of thing. At least he doesn’t mind when I want to spend time with Kiran, my best friend, because he understands. We like to watch films, Bollywood ones, and he’s not that keen, and he likes to go clubbing, but that’s not really my scene. 

Which is funny, because we met at one of my friend’s birthday parties. I didn’t want to go, but Kiran twisted my arm, she didn’t want to go on her own. We got there and Ravi was there with some of his mates. He was stood at the bar with them and kept on staring at me, then came over and asked me if I wanted a drink. I went red (well, that’s what Kiran says I did) and couldn’t answer. I mean, he’s just so handsome, I didn’t know what to say to him! But then again, I’ve not really talked to many guys who aren’t family. I’ve not really had many friends who are male.

Anyway, he ended up asking me out on a date, and I said yes. Even though I’d never been on a date before. My parents would kill me! But I couldn’t help it. I’d fallen head over heels for this guy who I’d only just met. We went for coffee one day, then it was dinner the next, and slowly, we fell into a relationship. 

I’m lucky. He’s Sikh, and everything about his family and background matches with our family, so it was easy to broach the subject of marriage with my parents. My mummy-ji would have liked it to be an arranged marriage, but when she found out about his family, she was more than happy. 

He was a bit nervous about getting married, but I think I managed to convince him, after all we are perfect together. And, you know, we really like each other, so the next step is getting married, isn’t it?”

getbook.at/MarriageUnarranged

Now I can tell you that I have read this fabulous book by Ritu and I absolutely loved it. As soon as I started reading it I could clearly see all the characters come to life before my eyes. Not only is this a great story it has the potential to have many sequels. I tell you all I love it .

About Ritu

Ritu Bhathal was born in Birmingham in the mid-1970s to migrant parents, hailing from Kenya but with Indian origin. This colourful background has been a constant source of inspiration to her.
From childhood, she always enjoyed reading. This love of books is credited to her mother. The joy of reading spurred her on to become creative in her writing, from fiction to poetry. Winning little writing competitions at school and locally encouraged her to continue writing.
As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and teacher, she has drawn on inspiration from many avenues to create the poems that she writes.
A qualified teacher, having studied at Kingston University, she now deals with classes of children as a sideline to her writing!
Ritu also writes a blog, http://www.butismileanyway.com, a mixture of life and creativity, thoughts and opinions, which was awarded first place in the Best Overall Blog category at the 2017 Annual Bloggers Bash Awards, and Best Book Blog in 2019.
Ritu is happily married and living in Kent, with her Hubby Dearest, and two children, not forgetting the fur baby Sonu Singh.

Books:  Marriage Unarranged, Poetic RITUals

Ritu’s Personal Links

• My Facebook Fanpage!
• Follow me on Bloglovin!
• Follow me on Twitter
• Ritu Bhathal
• My Facebook Author Page
• My Instagram
• But I Smile Anyway…

Has Ritu written any other books

Poetic Rituals

Buy Poetic Rituals here

So now it time to say

To my best Sis Ritu it’s been

Laying a trail…

Dreams can come true.

I pulled the camper-van into the parking spot and woke my companion. While he set about making coffee in the snazzy little kitchen, I rummaged in the storage compartment for the tool kit and another sign. We had done well so far, fixing the new signage to their designated posts across the length and breadth of Scotland.  Continue reading at Source