*** COMPETITION TIME!!! ***

With so much going on, I thought it would be nice to host a competition to win a signed copy of one of my books and to include a personalised  message. 

To enter, head over to my facebook page and simply tag a friend, it's that simple. Good luck!

Who am I?

I'm Carmen Capuano. When I was five years old I saw my father smash my mother’s front teeth right out of her mouth. And the saddest part of that statement, is that I’d already seen it all before.

I’m a survivor.

One of life’s hanger-on’s, a refuser of taking the easy-way out; I’m the one who won’t give up. The one who will keep fighting, even when others would admit defeat. Because if I do, if I actually give up, I’m not sure what will be left for me.

Maybe nothing. So that’s why I write.

I write to prove I’m still alive.

Jigsaw Girl is, I believe, one of the finest and most heart-rending books I have written. Every line of dialogue, every situation she finds herself in, every time she has to fight just for survival, these are the hallmarks of her life. And I understand them so well.

I’m neither black nor Asian, but I was raised in poverty, dragged up in the unforgiving streets of Glasgow, daughter of an Italian, wife-beating, gambling father, and an ineffectual mother. You think misery belongs to the ethnic minorities? I’ll tell you now that it doesn’t.

But I don’t tell you this to garner your pity; I tell you to let you see who I am. These are my qualifications for writing this story, my badges of dishonour.

Look at me, look at my pictures – you will only see what I allow you to. But read my stories and you are let into the depths of my soul. It may not be a nice place to be, but God help me, it’s real. 

To date I have written 27 books, only six of which I have published. They cover most genres because that’s how real life is – hard and gritty but also bizarre and full of unexpected twists and turns.

So why should you chose me, out of all the writers out there? Maybe because I can tell a good story. Maybe because I’m a workaholic. Or just maybe because I’m a tortured soul.

And if there’s one thing human nature loves, it’s vicariously experiencing someone else’s misery - viewed from a safe distance of course.

Roll up, roll up, come see the freak show.

But that’s not all of me. I’m deeper than that, at least.

You will find me charming, honest, hard-working and conscientious. The raw terror at life is hidden, the pain subsumed, condensed, spat out onto the pristine page.

You want to know how real life can get?

The book is open, all you have to do is read…

Welcome to Jigsaw Girl.     

 

Another review for Jigsaw Girl...

 I'm delighted to be able to tell you that Jigsaw Girl is now 37th in its category on Amazon. If you are currently reading it, thank you. 

Please do leave a review on Amazon and don't forget to tell your friends that it and Split Decision are currently free on kindleunlimted, or if you want to purchase them they are below £2.50 each.  

I'm also delighted to see another review for Jigsaw Girl. Keep them coming in! xx

"Intriguing from beginning to end." A new review for Split Decision.

It's always nerve-racking when you notice a new review of one of your books. Will the reviewer have loved it? Or loathed it?

Regardless of how well it's written, how exquisitely crafted, how interesting and captivating the subject matter, both are equally possible. After all, reading is a very subjective thing. Who hasn't tried a book that was recommended by a friend, only to be disappointed?

So on that note, here is the latest review for Split Decision. Why don't you try it for yourself and see if you agree with the review?

Here's another review for Split Decision. [Amazon.com]

4 stars
"Intriguing from beginning to end.
...

I went into this book kind of blind not fully understanding what it was actually about until I dived in. At times I became utterly confused as to what was going on but once it all merged it just clicked.
Natalie is a typical 15 year old girl who lives a very sheltered life. She has a good family and a best friend so what more can Nat want in life? While out shopping her destines collide and something she never thought possible was asked of her. Two boys who are total opposites of each other ask her out at the same time and on the same day. One boy she grew up with and one known to everyone as a trouble maker for his appearance alone. Natalie makes her decision and that sets her and her best friends life on a path of heartache and trauma yet filled with finding love and oneself in an unlikely person.
I will admit I was unsure of this book. When the chapters started dividing into sub chapters It threw me and I didn’t know if I would be able to finish it. I persevered and discovered a heart wrenching book with a delicate subject underneath. I was intrigued and once the book picked up I didn’t want to stop. The words used at times and the descriptions of normal things at times were a bit hard to follow. All in all it’s a very interesting read that I think people should try."

Amazon Book Reviewers Sought

My newest book, Ascension, is due for release in February 2016 with my new, American publishers. I have several copies on PDF available free to reviewers.

If you would like to be considered for a free copy in return for a review, please contact me on Carmen.capuano@ymail.com, stating your Amazon ranking number and genre preference.

Happy Reading! x

ELSA will not be challenged!

ELSA will not be challenged. Taken from Future Perfect.

I don’t give them a chance to answer. The guns are in position and ready.


There are seventeen people directly in the weapons’ lines of sight - eight women, three men and six children.


All guns fire simultaneously. Smoke billows into the air and bodies fall soundlessly to the ground, holes torn in their soft human flesh. One woman twists as she falls, probably dead before she hits the ground. But in perhaps that last moment of life, of awareness, she pulls a young child against her, shields his body with her own. She topples on top of him, saving his life with the sacrifice of her own. It’s to be in vain.

I roll the assignment vehicle over the dead and the dying, unable to hear the crush of bones, the wet squelching of ruptured organs, under its weight, but satisfied of the outcome nonetheless. This sector decided its fate the moment it did not comply with my demands. There will be no mercy. There cannot be.

A new review!

Here is a review which has just been sent to me. It is from a Year 8 school teacher who read one of my books.

"The Owners, Volume I is a page turner of a read. The structure of the novel being a double narrative perspective leap-frogging chapter by chapter, really hooks the reader.

I thought it was beautifully written with wonderful use of imagery. For example, 'The drone of an insect outside served to shatter the silence, its drum a seeming answer to the staccato drumbeat of his heart'.  The musical term 'staccato' conveyed to the reader how fast the boy's heart was throbbing with fright.

This is a novel ideal for the young adult readership, as there were elements of peril interspersed with loving relationships and concepts of what makes us human. I thought there were many thought provoking elements such as making us think about our own relationships with our own pets. There is also the added feature of the mystery about the Eyons, who are they? Who controls them? And why? These questions leave the reader wanting to read the second volume, which is an excellent hook into the forthcoming series.

Overall, I would thoroughly recommend the book to my students, although there were a few 'typos' which need to be edited out. Having said that, I was so engrossed with the plot and turn of phrase that the 'typos' did not get in the way."

Mrs Sterenberg. Aston Fields Middle School.

So folks there you have it... if you haven't yet read it, you really should. :)

Moving!

Ok so here's where it's at... my back is all healed thank goodness and now in fact I think it was a strange virus as others are telling me they have had the same thing.

The house is getting packed up relatively easily.... and I have been moving some stuff to the new house every day for about a week as I am having to be there for various workmen anyway.

Tomorrow I am moving my high heels in - that's a feat [pun intended] in itself. And on Sunday and Monday we will do the actual move with the movers.

I have the laminate for the lounge and hallway arriving on Tuesday so no Zumba that day unless I can shimmy whilst unpacking [there's a thought!]

There's a workman coming on Wednesday to fit the laminate, decorate the lounge and do lots of other things. Since he isn't Superman he will be there for a few days I guess but the house will be completely done before Christmas.

As you know it had been my intention to do it myself but to be perfectly honest he will do a better job and I will live longer without the stress. I will be bagging up and getting rid of lots of things during this process and actually can't wait.

For the rest of my plans, well you will just have to keep reading this blog, won't you?

 

In  the meantime, treat yourself and buy one of my books.

The sun will come out tomorrow...

Tomorrow I shall be attending the BritAsia TV World Music Awards...I am rather excited.

I'll let you know how it goes!

If there is one out there he will find me...

Did I ever tell you what an attraction I hold for nutters? No? Well I'll let you in on the secret now shall I? Nutters love me. They simply adore me. I swear that to them I have a neon sign above my head, which proclaims in big glowing capital letters "THIS WOMAN WILL LISTEN POLITELY TO ALL YOUR VERBAL RUBBISH!"

Whenever they see me they head straight for me like a heat-seeking missile and I know I am done for. My latest nutter ambush came yesterday as I was minding my own business in the local park. I had sat down on a bench, dogs at my side and was reading the newspaper whilst my children played on the apparatus.

A man appeared from nowhere in front of me and began to fuss my dogs. Now this is not as rare an occurrence as it might seem since I have a Rottweiler [people either love or loathe them] and his initial conversation  did not ignite my fight or flight response. He did not look insane or like he was homeless and nor did he give off any pungent aroma. But he was a nutter alright and one of the most scary types...the ones who appear normal up until they say something so out-there, so extreme, that they made the hair on the nape of your neck stand up in fright.

Apropos of nothing he asked me if I could see a natural cloud in the sky. As yesterday was a lovely day I agreed there were no clouds to be seen, only to be informed that there have been NO natural clouds for the last 150 years and that what looked like clouds were actual poison gasses put there by the six major banks in the world.

I nodded politely whilst trying to look for a means of escape. It was at that point he went on to drone on about all his conspiracy theories and the "proof" behind them [one was that all of our DNA was stored in little vials in the Vatican] and I kept looking for my way out.

You see that is the main problem with these nutters - you can be in  a crowded place when they approach but somehow they single you from the crowd and they have such an insidious manner that you feel threatened and intimidated without them overtly doing anything other than talk. You can be surrounded by people, as in fact I was and no one would even realise there was anything wrong until it was too late.

In fairness he didn't attack me or say anything to make me think that was likely but I fear it is a question of time before his feeling of paranoia brought on by these extreme theories  cause him to attack someone. And that someone will probably never see it coming.

I am all for care in the community but with that comes  a responsibility for the authorities to ensure that medication and recommendations are adhered to. There is enough random killings in the world without us burying our heads on the sand and leaving such people to their own devices.

But perhaps you think I am making too much of this? Well walk a little way in my shoes and the next time someone comes up and tells you that the world is controlled by three key cities and that most of the people you see around you are drones, set in place by a few ruling families to spy on you and keep you in the dark...see how you feel?

Come to mention it though, sounds like a brilliant idea for a sci-fi book...

Happy reading folks!

I conducted a second book signing and book talk/reading last night at Bleakhouse Library and had a wonderful time yet again.


It's always lovely to speak to a receptive audience and the folk who turned out to see me last night were both welcoming and interesting. I talked about my series of books The Owners and also about my novel Split Decisions, which is just starting on the editing process. In return I was asked lots of questions about the development of the plot within The Owners and my writing in general.


But what struck me most was how enthusiastic the audience were. As a writer it is easy to get caught up with the characters and plots of your own fabrication but it is quite another to see it in a reader.


I hope that the audience enjoyed it as much as I did!


I am returning to Bleakhouse on the 4th of April as I have been invited to deliver a prize to a winner of a school/library literacy competition. Again I will be talking about writing and available for book signings.


How I love my job! :)

Update as promised!


The Owners
The Owners Volume IV should be appearing on Amazon at any moment and I thank you for your patience. It has been a long haul and although the writing of this particular volume progressed very nicely, there has been one hitch after another in getting it to press.


The Decision.
As you may remember, this was a story I began long, long ago [probably about 6 or seven years ago] and had to abandon for various reasons.


I came back to it recently with the intention of finishing it off and giving myself a break from The Owners series.


It wasn't hard to get back into the characters or to visualise where they were going and how they felt about it but what was almost impossible to do, was recreate the way in which I told the story.


You see I have changed! Yes this has become a big revelation to me. The chapters I wrote all those years ago have had to be changed, moulded to fit my newly emerged style.


It wasn't that they were badly written to begin with - indeed far from it but my writing is now stronger, more gritty with a hardened edge and I can only credit this to the success of The Owners.


Where once before I looked in from outside at the characters in The Decision, now I am submerged in the very core of them. Consequently they have more depth, feeling and colour than ever before.


At first I thought that I was imagining this, however even my proof readers have remarked upon it, so I realise that it must be true. I wonder if this means I have finally grown up. I suspect not. I think it merely means that I have achieved a level of introspection that I could or would not attain before...


I hope The Decision will be out in the summer. Until then I will keep you informed of developments.

Today I heard back from another of my readers. She raved about The Owners and openly admitted that when she had first heard about it, she had thought that it would not be her "sort of thing".

But upon reading Volume I, she had become fully captivated by the story, the characters and the situations they found themselves in, so much so that she was desperate to get her hands on a copy of Volume II.

Wonderful as this story was to my ears it was also rather familiar. So many people have said the more or less exact same thing to me. Indeed the appeal of the story has been likened to that of the Harry Potter books where people of all walks of life and ages have become entranced by the story.

And the question that arises from this is : why if the book is so good, am I not seeing the meteoric rise of the novels that the esteemed Ms Rowling did? Is it luck? Am I missing some vital link in the chain? Have I not yet encountered the right people in my journey? I have no idea.

So dear reader if you have any words of wisdom on how to get more publicity for this clearly great series...pass 'em on to me.

I remain ready and waiting for all your sage advice.

Carmen.