2016 vs 2017

by Marion Ueckermann

Almost two weeks of this new year have gone already. Can you believe it? Only 52 more weeks to go until we usher in the next new year. When put like that, doesn’t seem like that much time, does it? And when I look at my ‘to-do’ list for 2017…well, I feel a tad overwhelmed.

If I had to sum up 2016 in one word it would be ‘Busy.’ I’d need three words to sum up what 2017 holds for me—‘Just as busy.’

In 2016, I released nine books and one short story. Granted, three of those books I had written in 2014 and 2015, but only released in 2016. Nevertheless, marketing, covers, and editing had to be done on them, whilst still writing, editing, publishing, and marketing the other six books released.

On top of that, I was in six box sets during 2016, five of which I was the cover designer for the set. Those sets also needed marketing.

Too often this past year I thought I wouldn’t make a deadline. But, I always did because God is good. This year, I will once again cling to His faithfulness that He will never leave me or forsake me. I know I can trust Him to help me meet the crazy 2017 deadlines, as well.

In a nutshell, here’s what my 2017 holds. And while you’re reading, think about what 2017 holds for you (because I’m going to ask):

·         Four box sets:

And I can’t wait to show them off to the world. These will be published between March and June:

o   My stories are still to be written and edited. I do have one almost done, and rightly so...the deadline is looming

o   Covers done (or almost done) for three box sets—one more to go

o   For those following my Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters series, you’ll be glad to know that the last three stories in the series, are planned for three of the box sets—A Courtship for Clover will release on April 25^th in Cherish; A Proposal for Poppy on June 20^th in Forever; and A Love for Lily on July 4^th (set still to be named)

·         Overseas holiday:

On April 20^th, hubby and I will be on a Qatar flight headed from Johannesburg to Helsinki, Finland. Long haul flights booked—check. Internal flights still to be booked. We’re going on a six-week holiday overseas. Of course, my trusted laptop will be part of my baggage, and I’ll likely still be writing into the early hours of the mornings during that time. We’ll be in Finland for two weeks visiting my son and daughter-in-law, Kyle and Tiia, in Helsinki. Whilst there, I hope to visit the heart-shaped island on the outskirts of Helsinki where I set my first published book, Helsinki Sunrise (which hopefully will release in Norwegian this year).

After that we fly to the UK for three weeks to visit my brother and sister-in-law, and other friends. My plan is to get up to North Yorkshire while we’re there and visit Scarborough and Robin Hood’s Bay, the locations for A Hero for Heather, and A Husband for Holly. I hope we’ll also be able to go back to the Lake District, which is where the Blume sisters in my Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters series hail from. Kyle plans to join us in the UK for a while. 

The next stop is Italy for 7-10 days. On the itinerary are Cinque Terre, Pisa, Venice, Rome, Florence, and Tuscany (location for two stories). Kyle and Tiia will be joining us on the Italian leg of our journey. Part of the reason for this week is that Italy just looks like an awesome place to visit. The other part is research for the next point below.

·         Multi author series:

I need to write two and a bit novellas, plus design ten covers for a multi-author series due to release toward the end of 2017. The authors involved in this endeavor are super excited, and I’m glad I’ll have a holiday and research behind me before I need to tackle this.

·         IF I find the time in the next three months, I need to format six books for print, which includes designing back covers and that sneaky, fiddly spine. Because our postal system isn’t the most trustworthy in South Africa, I always try to order my print books if I’m travelling overseas and have them sent somewhere there to bring back with me. You can imagine my joy at learning Qatar airlines have increased their baggage allowance from 30kg to 45kg. And with six books to print and bring back (20-30 copies of each), I am going to need that extra allowance. But, because our internal flights do not have the 45kg luxury, I’ll need a delivery address in Italy (our last port of call before flying home), and am working on that.

Looking back eleven months, I totally get why God clearly told me it was time to give up the security and benefits of my day job, and follow my passion and what He had called me to do…write stories for Him.

As you can see, 2017 is set to be another crazy year, but with prayer, focus, and determination, I can do it. So keep a look out on my social media and Amazon author page—there are some fun and hopefully inspiring romances heading your way. Please remember to keep me in your prayers, too. I’m going to need all the help I can get.

And now, I did say I was going to ask you about your year… I would love to hear what exciting things you have planned or are happening in your life this coming year.

MARION UECKERMANN's passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. Marion and her husband again live in South Africa, but with two gorgeous grandsons hanging their hats at the house next door, their empty nest's no longer so empty.

Visit Marion at www.marionueckermann.net

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Visiting my Writing World (and eBook giveaway)

by Marion Ueckermann

In two weeks, I’ll be heading for the airport to catch a Qatar flight to Doha, and then on to Edinburgh, Scotland. I can’t wait for this overseas trip for many reasons. I’ll be seeing my brother, Lenny, and sister-in-law, Hanlie, who immigrated in September last year. Hubby’s coming with which is great because we both need a good holiday after an exhausting year—plus, I think my brother needs some male company for the 17 days we’re there because my sister is also going with us to Scotland, as are her two crazy daughters (no, they’re not literally crazy, but it is definitely going to be a barrel of laughs from beginning to end with them around). I’ve booked the seats in front of them on the plane for Noel and I, and have warned them that if they misbehave, I’ll recline my seat as far back as I can the entire way. Jokes aside, I can’t wait to show my sister and nieces the land of our ancestors. I’ve been to Scotland twice and loved it.

My brother lives in Falkirk now, about an hour from Edinburgh (one of my favorite cities), and an hour from Glasgow. Below are pics of The Kelpies close to his home. Aren’t they magnificent works of art?

Care to join me for a minute and take a look at what I’ll be experiencing and seeing? Click here. I promise, it’ll be a minute well spent.

This brings me to the second reason for my excitement for this trip. Have a look at the photo below to see what’s waiting for me at my brother’s house. Because postage is cheaper and safer to Europe than to South Africa, I’ve sent my book shipments there. I’m certainly glad my hubby, sister and nieces are there to help me lug the 26kg of my books back home. I’ve already claimed 5kg baggage from each of them (think I deserve some recompense for booking the tickets and sorting out the visas, don’t you?)

And here’s just one more good reason why I can’t wait for this trip. Glasgow Grace, my third Passport to Romance novella published by Pelican Book Group, releases on July 22nd, and I cannot wait to visit the places I researched and wrote into this story. Places like The Clyde Auditorium, also known as The Armadillo—a concert and public event venue in Glasgow (remind you of another opera house down under?); Buchanan Mall; Anderston Quay; and all the bridges that cross the River Clyde—Bell’s Bridge, Millennium Bridge, and Clyde Arc or The Squinty Bridge. Here are two photies of Lenny and Hanlie’s recent trip to Glasgow. Doesn’t it look like such an interesting city?

I found two photos of The Armadillo on Wikimedia Commons to share with you (no guesses why it got that nickname).

I cannot wait to get to Scotland and see all the above. We're also spending four days beside Loch Ness...I wonder what Scottish stories my mind will conjure up during this time. 

To get you as excited as I am, here’s the cover and blurb for Glasgow Grace. As soon as this novella releases next month, I’ll give away a free eCopy to one lucky reader who leaves a comment on this blog. 

Opera singer, Skye Hunter, returns to the land of her birth as leading lady in Phantom of the Opera. This is her first trip back to bonnie Scotland since her mother whisked her away to Australia after Skye’s father died sixteen years ago.

When Skye decides to have dinner at McGuire’s, she’s not going there only for Mary McGuire’s shepherd’s pie. Her first and only love, Callum McGuire, still plays his guitar and sings at the family-owned tavern. 

Callum has never stopped loving Skye. Desperate to know if she’s changed under her mother’s influence, he keeps his real profession hidden. Would she want him if he was still a singer in a pub? But when Skye’s worst nightmare comes true, Callum reveals his secret to save the woman he loves.

Can Skye and Callum rekindle what they lost, or will her mother threaten their future together once again?

MARION UECKERMANN's passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. She now lives in South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.