Intrigue Queen of thriller fiction Archives -

The sea – it’s an integral part of so many stories: The Odyssey, The old man and the sea, Moby Dick, Twenty thousand leagues under the sea to name several classics among the many.

My books on Amazon Imbroglio | Automaton | Tapestries | 25 Writing Tips

They all have a common theme: surviving the elements. It doesn’t get more basic.

Which is why I dare to mention my story imbroglio in the same breath.

Imagine the fear of going overboard 25 kms out to sea, at night.

I’m serious. Really imagine it.

Knowing that although you’re completely alone, you’re not alone. You might have survived the fall, but will you survive the predators beneath your feet? Will you survive the unrelenting tides and weather?

But let’s face it, it’s the thought of those predators that are making your toes curl right now.

Enough to give you nightmares, isn’t it.

Could you possibly survive? What would you need to attempt it?

A sense of direction? The will? The ability to swim? Strength? Endurance?

You would need all of those and more.

Noel Valentine. Does she have those qualities? Any of them?

Maybe, but will they be enough?

Imagine going overboard 25 kms out to sea from here, Sydney Harbour heads!

On a dark night 25 kms off the coast of Sydney, Australia, she goes over the side of a luxury yacht. She doesn’t want to. It’s a choice between a quick death aboard at the hands of criminals or a slow one overboard. Instinct impels her to the slow option.

For an atmospheric glimpse here’s my new half minute imbroglio trailer.

Sea trailer for imbroglio

If you’d like to read Noel’s story here’s the link to imbroglio on Amazon.

I’ve just had to build a new author website from scratch.

My books on Amazon Imbroglio | Automaton | Tapestries | 25 Writing Tips

I recently changed website provider and host, and as my old provider didn’t allow me to export data I was forced to start again.

It focused my thinking on this question: Who am I reaching out to and what information should I be providing them with?

I tried to be all things to all people with my old one. Information about my books, me and my writing for the reading public—but I also had pages dedicated to indie authors to help them navigate the tricky shoals of publishing.

I realise now that’s not the way to go. The two purposes are at odds. I imagine readers found it confusing and, to be brutal with myself, uninteresting.

And authors? … well, frankly, my pages palled in the face of many other sites that actually are dedicated to them.

I realised that my purpose as an author is to concentrate on readers.

That brought me to another question: How interested am I in behind-the-scenes information about the books I read and their authors?

In relation to books the answer was that it tickles me to know what inspired a story.

In relation to authors it was wanting to know a little about their lives—only as much as they’re willing to give, of course—and how that has steered their stories.

So … today I’m announcing my new website is ready to receive visitors.

My new author website

alanawoods.com

It welcomes old fans and new.

Each of My books has a dedicated page containing cover image and a snapshot of the story. They have a story-behind-the-story segment, my favourite review, and a slideshow gallery of photos that show the story locations. Two also have video trailers.

My About pages contain personal as well as professional information and, again, slideshow galleries depicting my past and present; nonsensical stuff such holiday pics.

Then there’s a Photo albums page where all of the slideshows reside in thumbnail presentation with captions.

I’ve kept a blog and, in fact, expanded it to two. There’s My World of Books which will continue to focus on book reviews and author interviews, but with forays into the wider world of publishing from the readers’ viewpoint. My new blog, Travel Tales, combines my love of writing with my love of travelling and gives yet another insight into my private life.