A beautiful day on Lindisfarne ~ Wednesday July 14th, 2021

...to which Julia and I both took our umbrellas, jumpers and jackets, to ensure that the temperature would stay at around 23 degrees with scarcely a cloud in the sky, all day.  It works, try it!

We took this one to send to my friend Amy, as she came with me on my original research trip for my books UK2 and Lindisfarne, and took some wonderful photos for me.  Love the hazy quality around the castle. 😃

I felt as if I was walking through my books, most of the time; I'd think, ah, that was where Heath and Cleary went to hide from the invaders, that's where Wedge killed the Kaiser, and I'm standing right where Lottie was when she saw Dex and Rowan kissing in the hallway of the hotel...).

For those who don't know, Lindisfarne (or Holy Island) is a tidal island off the north east coast of England, only a stone's throw from Scotland.  There is a high tide twice a day, when the sea comes in and covers the long causeway, thus cutting the island off.

It's magical and I wish I could live there. 

My spiritual home!

Sadly couldn't go inside the castle because it was pre-book only, 

and I'm far too rock 'n' roll to do anything that organised.

(Above: Lindisfarne Hotel, where Rowan was in charge of the stores!)

In the lime kilns, behind the castle

~~

The Priory.  As ever, I wandered round and imagined what it must have been like for those monks looking out to sea and seeing all those longships heading their way, not knowing who they were or what mayhem they would cause. 

The priory was founded by St Aidan in 634AD.  In 793, the first significant Viking raid took place; there had been others, but this one 'attacked the sacred heart of the Northumbrian kingdom, desecrating 'the very place where the Christian religion began in our nation" (English Heritage).

The sky really was this colour :)

And when you spot that village called Rock on the way home, 

it's got to be done.....

(yes, we asked the taxi driver to take it, and yes we're both over 60!)

UK2 is live! #NewRelease #Dystopian #FridayReads

UK2

Find it on Amazon and on Goodreads.

(Books #1 & 2 on special offer for one week ~ see below)

Tipping Point , Book #1, is now at the permanently low price of 99p (Amazon UK)

 Lindisfarne, Book #2, is on sale at 99p/99c 

from March 31st ~ April 6th

UK2

'Two decades of social media had prepared them well for UK2.' 

The pace steps up in this final instalment of the Project Renova trilogy, as the survivors' way of life comes under threat.

Two years after the viral outbreak, representatives from UK Central arrive at Lindisfarne to tell the islanders about the shiny new city being created down south.  UK2 governor Verlander's plan is simple: all independent communities are to be dissolved, their inhabitants to reside in approved colonies.  Alas, those who relocate soon suspect that the promises of a bright tomorrow are nothing but smoke and mirrors, as great opportunities turn into broken dreams, and dangerous journeys provide the only hope of freedom.

Meanwhile, far away in the southern hemisphere, a new terror is gathering momentum...

'I walked through that grey afternoon, past fields that nobody had tended for nearly three years, past broken down, rusty old vehicles, buildings with smashed windows.  I was walking alone at the end of the world, but I was a happy man.  I was free, at last.'

***

Although this is the promised end of the trilogy, I haven't finished with all these characters and this world yet.  There will be more!  There are some side stories I want to write, and I'm planning another novel set far into the future, too.
  

Now live: UK2, the final part of the #postapocalyptic Project Renova trilogy

UK2

The final part of the Project Renova trilogy 

~ now live! Click for>> Amazon !

On Goodreads

'Two decades of social media had prepared them well for UK2.' 

The pace steps up in this final instalment of the Project Renova trilogy, as the survivors' way of life comes under threat.

Two years after the viral outbreak, representatives from UK Central arrive at Lindisfarne to tell the islanders about the shiny new city being created down south.  UK2 governor Verlander's plan is simple: all independent communities are to be dissolved, their inhabitants to reside in approved colonies.  Alas, those who relocate soon suspect that the promises of a bright tomorrow are nothing but smoke and mirrors, as great opportunities turn into broken dreams, and dangerous journeys provide the only hope of freedom.

Meanwhile, far away in the southern hemisphere, a new terror is gathering momentum...

'I walked through that grey afternoon, past fields that nobody had tended for nearly three years, past broken down, rusty old vehicles, buildings with smashed windows.  I was walking alone at the end of the world, but I was a happy man.  I was free, at last.'

***

Please note: although this is the promised end of the trilogy, I haven't finished with all these characters and this world yet.  There will be more!  There are some side stories I want to write, and I'm planning another novel set far into the future, too. 


The other books in the Project Renova series have 85 x 5* reviews across the series, on Amazon UK (others on Goodreads).

Tipping Point: Book #1 on Amazon HERE
*Now permanently priced at 99p*

It's summer 2024, and everyone is signing up for Private Life, the great new social media site.  Meanwhile, news reports tell of a strange new virus on a quiet death march across the African continent.  A countrywide vaccination programme is introduced ~ but who will be the first to receive the vaccine?

When the first UK case is reported in the quiet Norfolk seaside town of Shipden, no one realises that it heralds the beginning of the end.

Lindisfarne:  Book #2 on Amazon HERE

Survivors find a safe haven on the Northumbrian tidal island, but soon discover that lack of food is not their only problem, as they come to terms with the reality of a lawless society.

Patient Zero, stand alone short stories from the series, on Amazon HERE.

TIPPING POINT & LINDISFARNE ~ Both books @ 99p for a few days #PostApocalyptic #Dystopian

Click HERE for Tipping Point
 Click HERE for Lindisfarne
 

The post apocalyptic Project Renova series

Year 2024

A deadly virus

Civilised society begins to break down....

Book #1, TIPPING POINT: 

99p/99c from 9 ~ 11 February.

Click HERE for Amazon link.

Book #2, LINDISFARNE: 

99p/99c, from 9 ~ 15 February

Click HERE for Amazon link

Associated stand-alone short stories:
Patient Zero is always 99p!
Click HERE for Amazon

The third novel in the trilogy, UK2, will be available at the end of March or beginning of April, 
(all being well, cross fingers and as long as the world doesn't end....)

PATIENT ZERO: Out Now! #PostApocalyptic #ShortStories #Survival #Dystopian

Patient Zero
 FREE on Sunday 19 November only!
Stand alone post apocalyptic short stories 

And the first book in the series, Tipping Point
is just 99p/99c from Nov 19-23

 

Patient Zero blurb:

The year is 2024.

A mysterious virus rages around the UK.

Within days, 'bat fever' is out of control.

Patient Zero is a collection of nine 'stand-alone' short stories featuring minor characters from Tipping Point and Lindisfarne, the first two novels in the Project Renova series.  Please click the titles of the books to see the reviews on Amazon.

1.  Jared: The Spare Vial
Jared has two vaccinations against the deadly virus: one for him, one for a friend...

2.  Flora: Princess Snowflake
The girl with the perfect life, who believes in her father, the government, Christian charity and happy endings.

3. Jeff: The Prepper
What does a doomsday 'prepper' do when there is nothing left to prepare for?

4. Karen: Atonement
She ruined her sister's last day on earth, and for this she must do penance.

5. Aaron: #NewWorldProblems
Aaron can't believe his luck; he appears to be immune.  But his problems are far from over.

6. Meg: The Prison Guard's Wife
Meg waits for her husband to arrive home from work.  And waits...

7. Ruby: Money To Burn
Eager to escape from her drug dealer boyfriend's lifestyle, Ruby sets off with a bag filled with cash.

8.  Evie: Patient Zero
Boyfriend Nick neglects her.  This Sunday will be the last time she puts up with it.  The very last time.

9. Martin: This Life
Life after life has taught the sixty year old journalist to see the bigger picture.


The next novel in the series, UK2, will be available around late spring/early summer 2018.

Patient Zero and other stories #PostApocalyptic #Survival #Dystopian

 *FREE* from Wed 15 ~ Sun 19 November!

PATIENT ZERO

Nine short stories from the post apocalyptic 

Project Renova series.
(featuring characters from Tipping Point and Lindisfarne) 
 *All stories completely 'stand alone' from the rest of the series*

1. JARED: The Spare Vial
He has two vaccinations against the deadly virus: one for him, one for a friend...

2. FLORA: Princess Snowflake
The girl with the perfect life who believes in her father, the government and happy endings.

3. JEFF: The Prepper
What does a doomsday prepper do when there is nothing left to prepare for?

4. KAREN: Atonement
She ruined her sister's last day on earth, and for this she must do penance.

5. AARON: #NewWorldProblems
Aaron can't believe his luck: he appears to be immune.  Doesn't mean that's the end of his problems...

6. MEG: The Prison Guard's Wife
The wife of Donald Lachlan, who let a psychopath out of jail... 

7. RUBY: Money to Burn
Eager to escape from her drug dealer boyfriend, Ruby sets off with a bag of cash.

8. EVIE: Patient Zero
Boyfriend Nick neglects her.  This Sunday will be the last time.  The very last time.

9. MARTIN: This Life
Life after life has taught the sixty year old journalist to see the bigger picture.

LINDISFARNE ~ my new book :)

(....the sequel to Tipping Point ~ click book title for Amazon link).  

 Lindisfarne is now live!
Universal link: Amazon

Vicky and her group reach the beautiful, tidal island ~ 
but will it be the safe haven they expect?
(see blurb below) 

Genres:  

Post Apocalyptic, Dystopian, mild Sci-Fi, 

Government Conspiracy, some Romantic Suspense.

• Lindisfarne is Book #2 in the Project Renova series.
• A collection of related short stories, entitled Patient Zero, will be out November.  Click HERE to read Aaron: #NewWorldProblems. 
• The next novel in the series, working title UK2, is due in mid 2018.  

 ~Lindisfarne ~

'You're judging this by the standards of the old world.  But that's gone.  We don't live there anymore.'

Six months after the viral outbreak, civilised society in the UK has broken down.  Vicky and her group travel to the Northumbrian island of Lindisfarne, where they are welcomed by an existing community.

New relationships are formed, old ones renewed.  The lucky survivors adapt, finding strength they didn't know they possessed, but the honeymoon period does not last long.  Some cannot accept that the rules have changed, and, for just a few, the opportunity to seize power is too great to pass up.  Egos clash, and the islanders soon discover that there are greater dangers than not having enough to eat.

Meanwhile, in the south, Doyle discovers that rebuilding is taking place in the middle of the devastated countryside.  He comes face to face with Alex Verlander from Renova Workforce Liaison, who makes him an offer he can't refuse.  But is UK 2.0 a world in which he will want to live?

Writer Sue Vincent has posted about a recent visit to the island (with lots of lovely pictures!) HERE 

Lindisfarne ~ Coming Soon! #PostApocalyptic #Dystopian Project Renova Book #2

Have you read Tipping Point yet?  If not, it will be on offer at just 99p/99c from September 24th ~ 30th.

.... and Lindisfarne, the sequel, will be available from the 26th.  I loved my research trips to the island, so expect to see lots of photos over the next few weeks!

Genres: 
Post Apocalyptic, Dystopian, mild SciFi, Romantic Suspense, Government Conspiracy.

Length: 
Around 95K words (approx 4k longer than Tipping Point).

Time span and structure: 
January 2025 ~ May 2026.  Told from alternating points of view (if you've read Tipping Point, you may like to know that these are Vicky, Lottie, Heath, Aria, Wedge, and Doyle the data analyst from BDC).


The blurb:

Six months after the viral outbreak, civilised society in the UK has broken down.  Vicky and her group travel to the Northumbrian island of Lindisfarne, where they are welcomed by an existing community.

New relationships are formed, old ones renewed.  The lucky survivors adapt, finding strength they didn't know they possessed, but the honeymoon period does not last long.  Some cannot accept that the rules have changed, and for just a few, the opportunity to seize power is too great to pass up.  Egos clash, and the islanders soon discover that there are greater dangers than not having enough to eat.

Meanwhile, in the south, Doyle discovers that rebuilding is taking place in the middle of the devastated countryside.  He comes face to face with Alex Verlander from Renova Workforce Liaison, who makes him an offer he can't refuse.  But is UK 2.0 a world in which he will want to live? 

Lindisfarne is Book #2 in the Project Renova series.  A book of related short stories, entitled Patient Zero, features back and side-stories from minor characters, and will be available by the end of 2017.  Book #3 is due in mid 2018.