A podcast interview

 The wonderful Lee Greenhough interviewed me about my hopes, beliefs and new pescatarianism. 

The short interview is here.

The whole interview in all its gory detail...  is here. 

Many, many thanks to Lee for inviting me to talk. Apologies if I made his ears bleed with all my chatter. 

Happy listening! xx

 

The Owners Series

If you're a fan of my sci-fi series The Owners, you'll be glad to hear that I'm currently working on the ninth volume in the series. 

It's been strange to come back to the characters after such a long break, and having left them where they were at in Volume I: Alone. But the character of Sophia drew me right back in, not to mention San and Loni, who I had been eager to write about again. 

I'm currently a third of the way through Volume 9 so I won't spoil how the plot is evolving - suffice it to say that you're going to have quite a few surprises in store...

And I'm still working on my many film and TV series too. Again, my lips are sealed right now but there will be some news coming up soon. 

Until then, if you haven't yet tried one of my books, take a look at my REVIEWS page to the right of this post. 

Happy reading!

Sleep, perchance to dream...

I am sleep deprived. Seriously sleep deprived. During the last week I have had on average two and a half hours of sleep per night. I am like the walking dead.

And yet the creative side of my brain refuses to quit. What little sleep I do get is peppered with dreams, and not strange and near hallucinogenic ones, but indeed lucid, coherent and cohesive, fully-joined up dreams. A few of them have been exciting enough for me to have jotted them down in my 'ideas for future novels' book.

I can barely string a sentence together I'm so tired, and on more than one occasion I have attempted to make coffee without first boiling the water...and yet the creative side of my brain is awash with ideas. Now if only I could sleep enough to get the energy to start writing some of them up...

In the meantime, why don't you take a look at some of those I have already written, just click on the link to Amazon on the right.

Happy reading!

Here is a link to a new magazine by a good friend of mine, Richard Merli. I hope you enjoy it.

http://files.octoberhillmagazine.com/October%20Hill%20Spring%202017.pdf?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_messaging%3BVEGukgaXS%2Bq2u11x14P0kw%3D%3D


Happy reading!

But you see, you do already know me...

Think you've never really read anything I've written? I'm willing to bet that you're wrong... because I'm the hidden face behind lots of articles and advertising copy in a variety of places, many of which would surprise you.

So if you haven't done so already, now that you've discovered you know me so well, it's time to pick up one of my books.

Happy Reading!

A little catch-up.

I can't believe how quickly this year has flown, and continues to fly by. In many ways it has been a landmark year - I received my first ever speeding ticket [who would have thought either me or my car would have been capable of that?] doing 36 in a 30 mph section of road, I moved house after sixteen years of being in one place and I turned fifty. I attended three funerals and spent many hours looking at the past, as one tends to do in these circumstances. I saw my eldest child turn sixteen and leave school for the new boundaries of college and my youngest start her final year of middle school. In short it has been a year of change.

And during all of this, I did what I always do, I wrote books and renovated my house and looked after the kids and dogs. Because it is these things which are the fundamentals of my life, the lynchpins of my sanity.

During this time new people have come into my life and shared their stories with me, as they so often do. Some are tales of horror, of injustices done and cruelties perpetrated, others are uplifting and life-affirming and others are just plain funny. And yes, I won't deny it, some of those stories, either in part or in their entirety, will find their way into my books, of course they will.

At the moment I am coming toward the final part of my current book. This is always hard. I want to race ahead with the story, but doing so will mean saying goodbye to characters I love. But I know they will be safe with you, for you will love them as much as I do.

Soon, Ascension will be released and you will get to meet Jessica Stone, the girl who will change her world. As always happens, she was a character who came to me and told me how dire her need was, how desperate her situation. I couldn't refuse to write it down. And the more I wrote about her - the more I got to know her - I realised how human she was, how beyond all her bravery and her quest for truth and justice, she had flaws just like we all do.

But in the book, there is one character who was moulded from a very real person. Grandma Emily was based upon my own late grandmother, her strange wisdom and her hope. This last year, through all the changes above, it has been my grandmother I have thought of time and time again. And in every moment of doubt I've had, every middle-of-the-night awakening I've had, scared and alone, it's her voice I have heard. How she would have laughed if she'd known what is going on in my life right now. Then again, what's to say she doesn't?

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.

Back to work!

Here is the latest on the current book:-

Mitchell’s right, she’s enormous. From the look of her, you’d think she was at least six months pregnant. Yet she is barely more than six weeks.

“You’ve grown so much!” I can’t stop myself from exclaiming.

“I know!” She laughs. “Goodness knows the size I’ll be by the end!” Her words cause an involuntary shiver up my spine. What else will she be by the end, I wonder. Dead?

The thought comes from out of nowhere, attacks my conscience with its vivid  imagery – Helena, grotesquely swollen, her stomach torn asunder as if the foetuses have exploded from there in a shower of gore and carnage. Bile rises in my throat. I swallow it back down and hold it there by force of will.  

Happy Reading!

Danger alert!

Oh! Things are starting to get dangerous for Prudence Smith...

But in both of these scenarios it would be my life and that of my family which would be the most affected. Either Helena’s child would be looked upon with fear and mistrust, reviled and cast out from society, or I would, for my truthfulness. Whatever the outcome, my family would be ostracised. So I continue to keep my mouth shut.

Don't forget to click on the link to see my published books.

Happy reading! x

Love is in the air!

Here is a little bit of the book I am currently working on. It's a dystopian science fiction story, with a smattering of romance.

“And he’s a very lucky man.”

I’m so surprised that he sounds genuine that I turn towards him. Surely there is some scorn subtly implied there that I have missed?

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, of course. To have someone who loves you enough that they will risk everything for you, isn’t that what we all want?”

I answer his question with one of my own. “Is that what you want, Devlin?”

His eyes close and for a long time I think he is asleep but when his voice comes it is quiet and reflective. “ELSA won’t allow you back into the Dome.”

“I know.”

“Perhaps without him you might stand a chance, although you have rebelled against her, so it’s slim. But since she has already cast him out, there’s no chance for him.”

“I know. And there’s Willow too.”

“It can be a hard life out here in one of the Sectors.”

“I’ll cope.”

His eyes open. “Yes actually, I have no doubt that you will. But will they?”

“They’ll have to! And I’ll help them.” I close my eyes. I don’t want to talk anymore. Whatever will happen, will happen, and I’ll deal with it then. There’s no point in brooding upon conjecture.

Hmm what will happen next?

Happy reading.

Here's another review

Another Split Decision review just in :-

"Loved 'Split Decision' by Carmen Capuano. Started it before I went to bed and did not stop till I had finished it!" Mrs Doreen Stoneham.

This came via my email from a lady who had bought my book for her mum and now wants to read it herself... clearly the whole family has good taste.

Many thanks Mrs Stoneham.

Unbearable excitement!

I am sitting bolt upright, laptop open on my knees...

Chapter 16 awaits and it is a high adrenaline point in the book. Here is where I left off at the end of the previous chapter and therefore my starting point for this new one:-

A lone owl hooted, its tone melancholy and cautionary, giving a solitary answer to his inner thoughts. Taylor shivered in apprehension.

In the distance the unsearched forest waited. Taylor stepped forward.

 

My fingers are eager to get on with the tale.

 

For the first few books in the series, follow the link to Amazon on the right.

 

Happy Reading!

 

Carmen.

 

Just a little reminder.

If you would like to see snippets of ongoing or completed novels which are awaiting publication, you can use the search bar at the side to bring up past blog posts. Type in something you are interested in and it will hopefully come up. Or just scroll down the posts.

Happy Reading!

Summer is coming and with it, a list of chores that I have to undertake. But these are rather big chores. One of them is to knock a wall down, another is to fell several enormous trees, so they won't really be jobs I will personally be doing, yet my fingers are twitching to get started.

And I am excited. I am even more excited when I think about the novel I am currently writing. The Owners, Volume VII: Hunter's Moon, is where the story begins to turn towards the situation of Volume I, where suddenly you will see how the series is going full circle.

In all of my books I have created strong female and male characters and I hope they have made compulsive reading. But perhaps it is in this book that I have written the most complex female.

Matilda is a strong woman but her strength has been born of necessity. Sometimes she reminds me a little of Sophia from volume I but she has none of Sophia's tolerance and willingness to listen to others. Instead Matilda is hot-headed and unbending in her views. And she is set on a course that will destroy lives.

The worst thing about it is that she doesn't see what she is doing, she doesn't 'get' her mistakes. She is so busy falling over herself to put things right that she is doing exactly the opposite. We all know people like that. Fortunately those people seldom find themselves in the unenviable position that Matilda finds herself in.

I wish I could prevent the carnage and chaos that Matilda is about to wreak but I guess it wouldn't be much fun for you if I did!

Until then, happy reading!

Micro me!

I have been meaning to tell you about this for some time, but until now I haven't managed to get around to it.

I have been making my own wine. Now before you get all impressed about me, let me tell you the reality of it. It's like balsamic vinegar mixed with battery acid - yes it really is that awful. I have made two batches so far, one pink and one white and both are as awful as each other. What this has achieved however, is a growing admiration for the people who really can make attractive, tasty beverages which are actually fit for human consumption.

And so on to this blog post. I have 'discovered' a little gem in Bromsgrove. It's a micro pub and to be truthful it is the weirdest place I have ever had a drink in. The tables are fashioned from beer barrels and the high seating was once a shelf I think [my legs dangle rather a lot from this lofty position] but there is an undeniable charm to the place.

Part of it is its simplicity I think. The ale is good [I am reliably informed] and there is a reasonable wine on sale. There is no menu and no food available other than pork pie and/or crisps and there is only one toilet. In short, it's like pubs used to be before they became all Formica and flat screen TVs.

But what it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in so many other ways. There is no loud raucous jingly-jangly music that makes you want to cut your ears off rather than listen to its foul-mouthed exhortations to 'give it to yo' woman, like she is yo' dawg' [ok I made that lyric up, but honestly it's not far off...]

Instead there is a hum of quiet, friendly conversation, punctuated every so often with easy laughter. Because that's the thing about this place - strangers talk to one another. And in this day and age where we are all so afraid to pass the time of day with each other, lest we are chatting to a suicide bomber or a rapist, it makes a pleasant change.

So give it a try why don't you? Sometimes to go forward we have to take a small step backwards. http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/2013/10/17/news-Bromsgrove-new-micro-pub-gets-campaign-for-real-ale-visit-87179.html

Carmen.

It's a love/hate thing!

I'm working on The Owners Volume VII at the moment and have just introduced a brand new character. Her name is Matilda and it looks like she's going to be a star player. Already I can tell that you will love her and then maybe grow to hate her with some empathising thrown in along the way.


You see poor Matilda is caught in a situation where her perception of reality becomes slewed. Like all of us, she is after all only human, and comes with pre-conceived ideas and notions about the world around her. It is these very notions which are going to devastate her life and the lives of all she touches.


The Owners Volume VII :Hunter's Moon


You have been warned!


Carmen. x

COMING EVENTS

Hi all.

I have been asked on numerous occasions to add an events page to the blog. I haven't done this in the past, as many of my speaking events were closed to the public, such as the recent talk I gave for the clients/ associates of Suttons and Robertsons.

However, since this year I am also involved in many events which are open to the public, I have set up an events page which you will now find listed under the PAGES section to the right of this main part of the blog.

For your convenience, I have also this time listed it here :-

EVENTS

Here is a list of my coming events.

There are more than I have listed but these are 'closed events' where unless you are a member you cannot attend. For this reason I have not included these here.

Where possible I have included the details of the relevant person to contact should you wish to attend.

6th March  I will be attending a networking event where copies of my books are included in the raffle prize. Please contact Gem Media for tickets. UPDATE - NOW SOLD OUT.

19th March I will be at The Hive in Worcester, taking part in their Space Day, exhibiting my books and signing copies 5-8pm. For more details see http://www.thehiveworcester.org/family-events.html

20th March I will be at the Literary Festival in Bleakhouse Library, giving a short talk on my books and signing copies. Please contact Ian Grey on 0121 422 2798 for details.

21st March I will be found in Droitwich Library for the Space Day Extravaganza. This will be a brilliant event and an opportunity to learn about space and rockets and everything astronomical. I will be propping up a table laden with my books - come talk to me. This is an open event so you can just come along.

17th April I am presenting trophies to the winners of the Book Quiz at Bleakhouse Library. Please contact the library on 0121 422 2798 if you wish to attend.

TBA I will be conducting a talk and book signing at Lord Morton's Tea Rooms. Details will be posted when date is confirmed.

September I will be at the Salt Festival in Droitwich

24th & 25th October I will be giving a talk and signing books at the brand new Lickey Poetry Festival. Details to follow on how to gain admission.

Here is the link again as requested.


http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/2015/02/14/entertainment-Valentines-Day-story-127005.html

Unfortunately I have been having a bit of a 'blond' moment...


For a few weeks I have been having trouble logging into this blog to post new information and articles and I genuinely thought that the root of the problem lay with whoever actually runs Blogger.


Then the night before last, having tried to log in all day, I pulled the blog up on my old laptop and was able to immediately access it. The problem did not lie with Blogger at all! The reality which hit me like a sledgehammer was that the browser installed on my new laptop will not allow access to Blogger.


So now I just have to figure out 2 things:- 


1. what is the actual browser AND
2. how do I change it?


Luckily I am now more white than blond, so hopefully the above will not prove too taxing for my brain! ;)


Happy Reading.

My poor character Lucas has a dilemma.

He took a long time folding his own clothes and putting the new ones on. Normally he would have just abandoned his clothes to the changing room floor but today was different. Today everything was different and he needed the time and solitude to try to work out in his head what he should do.

I know exactly how he feels! There are only a few weeks until the summer hols and I have so much to think about and do. Well to be perfectly honest if I spent less time thinking about it I would probably have more time to actually do it!

Anyway look out for the list of my book signings/author talks which I will be posting soon and also for my list of personal recommendations which I am currently working on.

I hope to also have some interviews to post soon - busy, busy, busy!

Until then - Happy reading! :)