Something a little bit different ... FREE STORY

A couple of months ago my best friend (the brilliant @ionavandrew) and I decided to see what would happen if we wrote a story together, passing a few hundred words at a time back and forth.

Iona writes gritty crime procedurals, I write people falling in love, so we handcuffed a couple together, chucked them into a warehouse and waited to see what happened!

Here's part 1 of 'The Warehouse' (from Ellie)...

The Warehouse

Part 1

She tugged against the cuffs and winced as the cold metal bit into her skin.

'Would you stop that?'

She directed an exasperated sigh at the voice behind her. 'And do you have a better idea for getting us out of here?'

A telling silence.

'No? Well good. Let's leave the ideas to me, shall we? Because the last brilliant thought you had got us here --' shackled back to back in an abandoned warehouse, with no food, no drink, and no hope of rescue. Bloody brilliant. She pulled harder at the cuffs, deliberately this time, pulling until they were tight against her skin.

'You've made your point.' This time the voice was thin, defeated. 'And I am sorry. I never imagined this would happen.' She leant her head back against the girder and let out a long sigh. How could he have imagined this. Before the moment that she was bundled into a van, a bag pulled over her head, her hands tied behind her back, she wouldn't have believed that this, that anything like this, actually happened in real life.

The rational part of her brain knew that it wasn't his fault. That the only people who really carried the blame for kidnapping her were the people who had kidnapped her. but she'd been angry with him for so long that it seemed more natural to be pissed at him than not.

'How do you think they found us?'

We'd love to know what you think! Part 2 (from Iona) will follow very soon :)

Ellie and Iona
x

Update: click here for Part 2

Should All Romance Novels End with a Marriage Proposal?

I'm blogging today at my publisher's website - head over to -http://www.crimsonromance.com/featured/should-all-romance-novels-end-with-a-marriage-proposal/#sthash.EpRMuaTW.dpuf to check it out and leave me a comment!

Ellie x

It's here!

I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to finally announce ... HIDING FROM HOLLYWOOD is HERE!

The run up to today has been a combination of ridiculous excitement and sweaty-palmed nerves as I've gradually realised that those lovely, not so lovely and downright horrid folks who have existed in my brain (and the brains of a few trusted friends!) until now are going to be unleashed on the world.

I've loved spent the last two years with Abby and Ethan, working out who they are, making them fall in love, making them laugh, cry and *ahem* well, you know. I never believed when I was writing this story week after week, word after word, that one day I'd get to share it with the world but thanks to the brilliant folks at Crimson they're here! I hope you enjoy getting to know them just as much as I have.

The book landed on virtual bookshelves this morning, and hopefully those of you who preordered will have your copies sitting waiting on the ereader of your choice :) If you've not picked up a copy yet, it's available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, iTunes, and Google Play and other ebook sites. If you've read the book, I'd love to hear what you think of it - leave me a review on Amazon or Goodreads or contact me directly on Facebook, Twitter or by email. If you're a blogger or book reviewer and want a review copy of the book then drop me a line at elliedarkins@gmail.com.

Ellie
x

Media world domination starts here

Today  marked a huge milestone in my career as a writer - my first media interview!

Here I am in the studio of BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio just before my interview with Bob Brolly.

The interview is here on the BBC iPlayer, and will be available for the next week.

I'm on from about 00:10 to 00:40 talking about Hiding from Hollywood, and my writing group, Harbury Writers. Also listen out for the surprise appearance from the husband-to-be discussing how he proposed to me!

Ellie x

Happy 2014

Happy New Year you lovely lot!

And what a year it's shaping up to be. Today is Hiding from Hollywood launch minus 11, and I'm communicating with those around me mainly through squeals of excitement (and sneezes).

Will have lots more exciting things to share as l-day draws closer so watch this space!

Here's to a fabulous 2014 for us all.

Love, Ellie xxx

On plot holes ...

Things are a little quieter this week in Darkins HQ now that Hiding from Hollywood is off being subjected to eBook production magic, which has left space in my brain to think about other projects on the go.

I have various manuscripts in different levels of completeness, but just recently I've been starting on a brand new project, as in 'Page 1', 'Chapter 1', 'hundreds of blank pages ahead of you' new. It's been a while since I've been here, and although I found it a little intimidating, I was actually really enjoying getting to know these new characters, rummaging around in their heads and their lives until I worked out who they were and what they were up to. It doesn't have a name yet, but between us, let's just call it ... Beach Bum.

Well, I was telling my very good friend about Beach Bum when she -- quite rightly, and very accurately -- pointed out the whopping great big plot hole right there in Chapter 1.

So now I have a decision to make: go back and rewrite, or 'just keep swimming'. If I get caught up in the first few pages, I might never make it till THE END. If I get to THE END and the hole is going to require major structural work to fix, rather than the subtle tweaks I'm hoping will solve it, I'm not going to be best pleased!

And that's what's going to be occupying my brain between now and 13 Jan (P-Day for Hollywood!) -- if you see me muttering to myself over the next few weeks, don't be overly concerned. I'm just constructing scaffolding.

Ellie
xxx

Hiding from Hollywood cover reveal!

Happy Monday everyone! It's a happy Monday indeed here at Darkins HQ as I can now officially reveal the cover for Hiding from Hollywood! Are you ready? Here it comes ...

A big thank you to the team at Crimson for the fabulous artwork. The book will be hitting the virtual shelves in January, so save a spot on your Kindle (other eReaders are available). In the meantime, join me in gazing lovingly at the cover. Ah, Monday. Now my favourite day of the week.

Ellie
x