Okay so it's been quite a while since I've posted on my blog, but I've been a very busy bee!!! I managed to finish the third book in the White Ghost Series, completing the trilogy. I have now published this in both ebook format and paperback. 

I have also started work on my next book series, Chronicles of Araxx. I am extremely excited for this new series, and hope you all enjoy it. 

The first three chapters of the first in the White Ghost Series - White Ghost and the Poison Arrow, can be found for FREE on my Sneak Peek Page!!! So go there and check it out if you haven't already read it. 

​

So as you know I self published my books. This came at a slight cost, for creating the covers for the books, but didn't cost too much, which is why I did it. I've thought about traditionally publishing, but never thought someone would pick my work up and take it on-board. I sent my manuscript to several publishing companies, and I've had replies fro a few. This was amazing to start with, until I read the contracts properly. One company is asking me for £2,600 to publish my book, and the other is asking over £3000. Now while I would love to see my own book on the shelves of WHSmiths and Waterstones, I simply do not have that kind of money to spend, and without a guarantee that my books would even sell and make me the money back. So it looks like I'm staying self published. I'd love to hear your stories on traditional publishing, good or bad if you have them

I've had so many people telling me they can't read my book because they don't have a kindle. Well I found something new recently on Amazon... You can read ebooks on your laptop or phone without an ereader!!! This is great news! 

​When you're looking at an ebook on amazon, there is a box under the cover that says 'Read on any device'. If you click on this box, it brings up a menu.

You simply have to click on one of the options, and hey presto... you can read ebooks on your computer. This means you don't have to buy an ereader if you don't want to, but can still read books at the ebook rate!!!

Hello everyone, 

I am writing this blog to let you know that I am going to start sending out emails with information about my books, competitions, other books and interesting things to know about reading. If you would like to be signed up for this, please let me know by sending me a quick email. The address is [email protected]


Don't forget my competition too... You can win a free ebook copy of White Ghost and the Red wolf by simply buying or leaving a review for White Ghost and the Poison Arrow. This competition will end Easter weekend, and is to celebrate the release of the final book in the series, White Ghost and the Mountain Spirit. 

​Good luck all!!!

I'm going to be holding a contest to giveaway for book number 2 in the White Ghost series. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is to either buy the first book White Ghost and the Poison Arrow, or leave a review on the amazon page if you've already bought it, and send me an email when you have done this. Please click on the picture below to be sent to the Amazon page for White Ghost and the Poison Arrow, then send your email to [email protected]... I have five ebook copies available for winning. 

I've been working on creating new book covers for the White Ghost series, as well as writing the third book. It's all going well, and I just wanted to share the new covers with you.

Click the linked photo to go to the magazine. It's filled with new books from indie authors, all of which are worth a read. White Ghost and the Poison Arrow is in there too. It will be out every 2 months.

Virtual Bookclub.

White Ghost and the Poison Arrow is free for a limited time. Get yours now while it's still cheap.

I received another 5* review yesterday "White skinned, silver haired with purple eyes, Arella is an outcast in her tribe. She learns to cope with being different and shunned because of it. But when she finds an orphaned wild kitten whose mother was poisoned, the story twists. This is a heart-warming story for young adults and fantasy lovers. Recommended."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015Y2H0VU?refRID=2H8MG4E49NTZYH46CQYB&ref_=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1​

White Ghost and the Poison Arrow has been nominated for the Metamorph Publishing's First Annual Summer Indie Book Award. This is amazing, and such an achievement for me!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Ghost-Poison-Kellie-Steele-ebook/dp/B015Y2H0VU/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0XXQKKQMWSK0B4QC8KN9​

My interview with Author Cathy McGough.


Where do you come from?
I live in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, home of The Stratford Festival. From 2000-2013 I lived in Sydney, Australia which I consider to be my second home.

What are your hobbies?
I read a lot. I also enjoy taking long walks in nature, photography and travel.

What is your job?
I started my own publishing company called Stratford Living last year. In 2014/15 we published three local magazines. I also write novels.

1 interesting fact about you no one really knows.
I wear pretend hats. When I’m doing my Publisher role, I have one kind of imaginary hat. When I switch over to my writing role, I wear a different kind of hat. The figurative switch helps the creativity flow and makes the transition easier since I am sitting at my desk in the same office for both roles.

What got you into writing in the first place?
I have always loved writing. It started with song lyrics and
poetry and I would write 24/7 if I could.

What was the first book you remember reading?
This was the first book I was able to read myself.




​
​






What is your favorite book/author?
I have quite a few favourite books. Here are few on the list: Lisey’s Story by Stephen King, The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, The Girl On A Swing and Watership Down by Richard Adams, all of the Harry Potter books, all of The Hunger Games books, all of The Game of Thrones books, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love.

What genre of books do you read?
I read all genres. When I decide to read a book by a famous author, I read the first paragraph. If I can GET the authors voice, then I continue on. If not, I often put the book back on the shelf and try something else. I feel like there is a time for every book. The exception to this rule is Indie books. I have been reading quite a few lately. For Indie books, I allow myself more time to relax into the voice of the author and thus far I haven’t been disappointed.

What genre of book do you write?
My books don’t generally fit into one genre. They cross over. I write the books that I want to read myself. I wish everything in the book world didn’t need to be categorized.

Do you have a favorite of your own books? If so, which one and why?
A Mathematical State of Grace Book 1, was released in February this year. I wrote the first draft in November of 2009. The second book Finale: Fusion was released on Dec. 5th. It was the most difficult book to let go. To believe it was the best it could possibly be. After spending so much time with Grace and Vincente, I really miss them.

Are you currently working on anything new? Do you want to tell us about it?
I just finished Nanaimo successfully. During this writing period, a character for a children’s picture book demanded to be written. He was waking me up in the middle of the night. I have never written a children’s book before (my son is eighteen) and until that time had no inclination to. Now I have to figure out what to do with it. I also have some short stories and a couple of novels which need redrafting. 

​

Cheeky little excert from White Ghost and the Poison Arrow...
"""She sets up her targets again, a dozen of them all in the trees. When pinning the last brightly coloured leaf to a tree, Arella pricks her finger with a boroana spine. She winces at the pain, but does not make a sound. She heard something. Just a small noise, a crack of a branch in the distance and a quiet thumping sound, but something doesn't feel right. Arella takes this feeling and does the only thing she can think to do, she sheaths her knife and climbs up the nearest tree with low branches, hiding herself in the foliage.
High up in the safety of the tree Arella listens, and surely enough the sound comes closer to her. A small herd of fawn brown motto deer stampede through, clearly spooked by something. They hit the clearing and scatter slightly, a few go off to the left but most head under the tree Arella is hiding in and keep on going. One of the males gets his moss green antlers caught on a tree branch and panics slightly, freeing himself in the struggle and shaking free leaves and blossom, causing it to rain down on the ground.
Once they can no longer be heard anymore, Arella begins to think about leaving the sanctuary of her tree, believing that the deer were the sound that she heard. She was wrong. Just ask she was about to climb down, he came into view. A large beast with long black fur, highlighted with a deep purple that shined and caught the still orange glow in the air. Her eyes as yellow as the sun its self, looked up at Arella in the tree. Her big paw padding along on the mossy ground, making no sounds as she prowled, the end of her bushy tail flicking as he smelled the air. The big cat was beautiful, and the biggest creature Arella had ever seen on four legs. It was bigger than a wolf by a foot in height, and looked powerful and strong. Arella's breath caught as she realised she was staring right at her. The big cat just watched on under her, under the tree, never moving its eyes from her gaze. This cat was distinctive. It had a large scar covering most of its face, and a white patch of fur behind its left ear. Then quick as a flash she was gone again. Arella has heard stories of cats such as this, ancient auron cats, but thought they were all but extinct in her lands. No one has seen one for over one hundred years, or so her tribal elders have said.
"She could have easily climbed up this tree and taken me." Arella thinks to herself, still clinging to the branch she was holding onto for balance just a minute ago. "Why did she leave me here? He saw me for sure. Those beautiful yellow eyes were looking right at me." She pauses. "Perhaps he was not hungry. Although if that were the case he would not have been following the motto. And I wonder where he came from, I thought they were all gone now." These questions will stay on Arella's mind for quite some time. There is no logical explanation why a creature with as much power as an auron cat would leave something that was as easy prey as Arella was just then, but she did."""

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015Y2H0VU?refRID=KGQGE34H89TAWNBYAXC2&ref_=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_5

So white Ghost and the Red Wolf has now been released. I'm awaiting my first reviews for it. 

I've made a video to explain the plot line a little :) 

​

I think the best Christmas present I could get this year would be some more reviews for my books. It doesn't cost a penny, and only takes a couple of minutes. All you have to do is say what you liked about it, if you would recommend the book and then buy the second one. This really would make my year!!!

​

I have decided on two more books and their covers. I will be working on them in the new year. Please see my coming soon page on my website for more details. http://kellie-steele.weebly.com/

 Arella is now all grown up now, strong, beautiful and powerful, but something still haunts her. She does not know why she is the way she is, and she wants to find out what makes her so different from the others. Along with a few unlikely companions, Arella embarks on a journey of self-discovery to find out who and what she is. She will face dangers beyond belief, and hopefully overcome them in this book. She's learnt a lot from her time living in the forest, but nothing will prepare her for the dangers she will face on the journey to the mountains. There is action, adventure and maybe a little bit of romance in White Ghost and the Red Wolf. 

'Arella is frightened. She's not sure what it was she saw behind her. She only remembers its red eyes. Her and the men are fleeing now, their horses carrying them as fast as their legs will take them. Arella looks behind. The red eyes are following her, and the creature to whom they belong is coming closer.'

White Ghost and the Red Wolf only took around three months to write. It was much faster, and much easier for me to finish than the prequel. It is faster paced, more action, more adventure and maybe even a little romance starting out for Arella. ​

Just got another review through on Amazon :)

4* "Kellie Steele is definitely a new talent on the horizon of the writing world. Her debut White Ghost and the Poison Arrow is a very neat and perfect to detail story, full of vivid images masterfully created by well used logic and a deep knowledge of the nature and the understanding of wildlife.
The story of Arella, the young brave independent girl is gripping and at times very exciting, when she learns survival techniques living on her own in the forest, and later adopts a wild cat, who becomes her best ever friend. It is a fantasy, which is not my usual type of reading, yet the writing style of the author Kellie Steele is refreshing and I found myself well emerged into Arella's adventures.
In general, this book will be a great read for young adults, who will not only enjoy this light colorful read but also can get inspired to follow steps of Kellie Steele."

Really pleased with this :) ​

So I'm in the middle of editing White Ghost and the Red Wolf (Book 2 in the White Ghost Series). It's close to finished and I think it's turned out really well. Editing is always the worst bit of writing for me. I hate finding my own mistakes and places where I've missed out information. I am hoping to release Red Wolf by the end of next week... Fingers Crossed!!!

White Ghost and the Red Wolf follows Arella and Maska, four years from her battle with Wolf, Goat, Bison and Fox. Nashoba, Nootau, Mato and Doahte have returned from their trial. This book will follow Arella and Maska again, but this time they are accompanied by the men, well some of them at least. They must go on a journey of self discovery, to find out who Arella is, and why she looks like she does. There is more adventure, more action and even maybe a hint of a love story!!! Stay tuned for more updates on this as I write them!!! 

Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where do you come from?
Okay, here goes. I was born in North London of Irish parents, and lived there until I was seven years old, when the family moved to South London. As I grew up, I was very proud of being a Londoner, and to be honest, was hardly aware the rest of the country existed. Fortunately I've travelled a lot since then, and now live in stunning Aberdeenshire, and know the United Kingdom consists of more than just one city!


What are your hobbies?
I'm finding that the more involved - or maybe I should say obsessed - I become with writing, the less time I have for other activities. I love travelling, especially to warm sunny places. I harbor a secret desire to be an explorer, except I'm not brave enough, so do my exploring through fiction. I enjoy photography and I post a lot of photos on several Google+ community sites as it's nice to share a beautiful sunset when I'm able to snap one. I draw with pastels, love movies, theatre, and of course reading. I love walking as it's a great free way to keep fit.


What is your job?
These days I write stories, though my last job was as a teacher and prior to that I've have done many different jobs - was a bit of a Jill of all trades you could say.


1 interesting fact about you no one really knows.
Some years ago I took a road trip through Arizona and stopped off at the Grand Canyon. Only 1% if the 5 million people who visit the Grand Canyon every year make the journey down to the canyon floor. Well, I'm proud to say, I'm one of that 1%, although it wasn't a planned trip, but the place was so magical I set off on the spur of the moment. Fortunately my guardian angel was looking after me, and after a five hour trek I spent the night at Phantom Ranch, and the next morning, somehow or other, made it back to the rim. I'm not going to say how long that took, but the entire experience is one of the most memorable I've ever had. However, as it happened some time ago, it's not something I talk about these days. One of my ambitions is to visit the canyon again, but plan the trip properly, and maybe take one of those mule rides instead of walking!


What got you into writing in the first place?
One day an idea for a story jumped into my head and wouldn't leave until I'd written it down. I never finished that story due to life circumstances, but once having started, the desire to continue writing has stayed with me.


What was the first book you remember reading?
I remember reading a Dennis Wheatley novel about black magic, though the name escapes me, but it featured a gigantic spider! Needless to say, my parents didn't know I'd taken it out of the public library, and I don't read horror stories.


What is your favorite book/author?
You ask great questions, Kellie, but again this is tricky because I enjoy so many authors that I don't have any one particular favorite. I enjoy classic writers like Tolstoy, Dostoevski; I fell in love with Tolkein, then later on with Lilith Saintcrow's and Patrick Dewitt's books. Generally speaking I'd have to say my favorite author is the one whose book I'm currently reading - which today is Through Black Spruce by Canadian writer, Joseph Boyden.


What genre of books do you read? -
I read anything that takes my fancy, but I am partial to fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and the classics, although - I recently finished The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller which could be classed as a historical romance, myth or fantasy.


What genre of book do you write?
That sounds like a straightforward question, but the answer is complicated as I've been exploring different genres. My first novel One Summer in Montmartre is commercial women's fiction - a time-slip novel set in Paris that moves between the present and the 1870's. However, I'm currently editing a sci-fi novel, and have just published Vampire Sacrifice, Book Two in my paranormal trilogy. I've written several short stories available on Wattpad in the crime, romance, and magic realism genres, as well as a black comedy screenplay. I know this goes against advice that recommends focusing on one genre, but it's taking me time to figure out what I kind of story and genre I want to focus on.


Do you have a favorite of your own books? If so, which one and why?
Clever question, Kellie! Like many writers I enjoy the chance to talk about my work! I have to say that, like my reading, my favorite book is whichever one I'm working on. My main focus at the moment is my urban fantasy trilogy, Samsara. Writing a trilogy means you really spend a lot of time with the same characters, and it presents different challenges, as each book has to be complete in itself, while also having a longer dramatic arc that continues through the series. I'm really looking forward to writing Book Three in the New Year.
(I'd like to make a plug here for Tatya's Return, Book One in the trilogy as it's FREE on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble etc. and I'd love to invite your readers to download it from the link below!)


Are you currently working on anything new? Do you want to tell us about it?
I'm taking a small break from vampires and other supernatural creatures by editing a novel I wrote a few years ago when I took part in the annual nanowrimo competition. It's a science fiction/YA/adventure/romance story and it's interesting to read something I wrote a while ago. I'll continue to work on this until the end of the year, and then come back to it when I'm resting the draft of Book Three of Samsara. I'd like to release it before the summer, and have the trilogy finale ready for the end of October, but I'm flexible about my self-imposed deadlines because you never know what's around the corner. But watch this space!


Below are the links to some one Teagan's books. Please take a look at them and buy them if they interest you.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tatyas-Return-Samsara-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00OX0TE21 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vampire-Sacrifice-Samsara-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B017CY4IXG http://www.amazon.co.uk/ONE-SUMMER-MONTMARTRE-TEAGAN-KEARNEY-ebook/dp/B00MSACPQM

You can find her on Twitter too @teagankeanrey