a word about ‘waiting on Wednesday’:
I have decided to start participating in this book blogsphere meme with a few small changes of how it’s regularly blogged about by my fellow book bloggers. I will either be introducing my current reads of upcoming releases as I am in the process of reading them and/or I might be releasing a book review about a forthcoming title by which I had been blessed to read ahead of publication. The main purpose behind the meme is to encourage readers and your fellow book bloggers to become aware of new books being released which caught your eye and which held your interest to read. Sometimes if your still in the process of reading the books, its the titles which encouraged your bookish heart. I look forward to spending the next seasons of the year, talking about the books I have on hand to read, the books I’ve been reading and the books I might not even have a copy to read but which are of wicked sweet interest to become a #nextread of mine.
Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!
I haven’t put together a wicked lovely #WaitingOnWednesday in quite a long while – as the Sweetmakers last year were meant to be the last one I was to share with you all! Apparently, betwixt time, tides and life – that particular novel was swept away from my attention and it is earmarked to be read and reviewed this year – especially in conjunction with a chase-up to our 6th #WyrdAndWonder this coming May! However, between then and now, I’d love to start regenerating a focus on upcoming releases and/or new to be voices in Fiction I’m just discovering once again through this lovely book blogosphere weekly event.
When I saw a quick announcement about this particular release, I thought it sounded wicked brilliant because I was that kind of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ fan who quite literally saw the first film 4x times the year of release (once per month) until All Saint’s Day. It was a method of shifting through my grief and sorrow – as I had lost my beloved (maternal) grandmother that July and through the adventures of Jack Sparrow and his friends and foes – I somehow found a way to smile, laugh and cheer on the hilarity of their exploits and explorations.
Ergo, just listen to how this series is fondly spoken about to know why it perked an interest in me as a Historical Fiction reader:
If Bridgerton and Pirates of the Caribbean had a love child.
Are you a fan of sweeping romantic adventures?
Do you fall for tall, brooding Naval Officers?
Love a feisty female lead who makes you yell aloud?
Then hop aboard Emma Lombard’s hardback Collector’s Edition
of The White Sails Series, and batten down the hatches!
I personally LOVE reading series in order but a small secreted joy of mine is reading an omnibus edition of a series as you have EVERYTHING you need all in one volume of entrance! I don’t oft get to purchase omis of series but on the occasion I do, they’ve become beloved sets of bookish joy because I can quite literally shift through a whole series start to finish and not worry about chasing after another installment after having finished the one prior to a new release.
And, as you know from a previous showcasing (see also Post) – I love to show a signal of support to writers & authors alike who are using platforms like Kickstarter to help promote and publish their stories.
Book Spotlight w/ Notes: The White Sails series (Kickstarter)
by Emma Lombard
So, what’s The White Sails Series about?
One of my readers described it best: If Bridgerton and Pirates of the Caribbean had a love child.
The idea for this series was born from a tiny nugget of family gossip that my grandmother shared with me. She told me how my 3x great grandmother left her well-to-do family in England to elope with an English sea captain, and live aboard his ship with him.
I took the basic concept of this story and had a blast creating an entirely fictitious imagining of what it might have been like for a woman to live aboard a ship in those days. Quite ironic considering that I get terribly sea-sick myself.
Places to find the book:
Published by Self Published
A Message from Ms Lombard about why she is doing Kickstarter:
Well, firstly, let me tell you what my Kickstarter campaign isn’t. It isn’t a plea for donations, it’s not a beg for money, and it’s not just another retailer.
Okay, so what is it then?
Kickstarter is a wonderful way for me to give more to my fans.
It allows fans access to a special collector’s edition that is not (and will never be) available from online retailers.
It allows fans to have each and every copy personalised, which is just not doable on retailers.
It also allows fans a more intimate view of the story behind my series.
And best of all, it allows fans to get involved in my next series, whether through an exclusive sneak peek of the first draft or even having a character named after them.
Oh, and did I mention there’s an opportunity to win the original oil painting of the cover?
Where else in the world do you get all this extra cool stuff thrown in just because you bought a book?
What’s in it for you, Emma?
Without wanting to sound too cheesy, I’m beside myself to put such a pretty book out in the world. I’m mean, just look at that dreamy sunset! I’m not going to lie, I love a chunky book. This collector’s edition fulfils my ultimate author dream—to be able to hold (and smell) a weighty tome. I’m not the only one—I’ve had folks walk up to my books at the market and pick them up just to smell them! My kind of peeps!
I know it’s taboo to talk about money, but the pledges received for this campaign will help me recoup some of the upfront expenses that I have already laid out, like editing, book cover design, audiobook narration, and it will give me the momentum I need to invest in those same services for my next series, The Gold Hills Series.
You’ll be helping keep the Indie publishing ecosphere turning, which in turn lets me keep creating more stories.
are you ready to check out her KIckstarter?
Be sure to clickover to this PAGE and scope out the official campaign!
I personally LOVE Historically set Nautical adventures – I’ve fallen in love with Historical Romances set at seas many times – both in film and in fiction – some of which are reviewed on Jorie Loves A Story, too! There is something wicked brilliant about finding characters at sea and off on an adventure – especially if neither of them are romantically inclined nor thinking of an immediate jaunt to the alter! Sometimes life and love finds you in the places you travel rather than in a moment of life you felt you were ready to find love on your own.
I would LOVE to read this series via the omi but I need to follow-up with the author to find out if the release of the book is strictly for Kickstarter campaign contributors or if that merely is the route of funding to publish the book and other readers (like myself) could purchase a copy of the book thereafter? I was a bit confused on that point and I regret I lost the time needed to put together a few questions to ask the author ahead of featuring this #WaitingOnWednesday!
If/when I hear back from her – I’ll mark an update on this post. For now, I am celebrating the knowledge of this release and delight in the joy I will one day have reading the series. Even if I miss the chance to read the omi edition, at least the series is also individually released, too. I’d love to hear why you love Nautical Adventures in Historical Fiction and Historical Romances overall which gives us all a wicked experience set elsewhere from regular settings in #HistRom!
→ UPDATE: The authors’ response to my enquiry is in the COMMENTS!
This Book Spotlight & Announcement
is courtesy of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours:
Be sure to click the banner to find out other #HistFic bloggers hosting the Blitz:
{SOURCES: Promotional banners for The White Sails series, synopsis and other promotional information attached to the Kickstarter campaign as well as information about author were provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and are used with permission. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets embedded by codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: #WaitingOnWednesday badge using Unsplash.com (Creative Commons Zero) Photography by Pacto Visual; and the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2023.
I am a social reader | I tweet my reading life:
.@LombardEmma NEW #WaitingOnWednesday
* #HistRom set at sea
* New #Kickstarter to fund an omnibus ed!Find out why this particular series lit a fire of joy in Jorie and why she's thrilled to help elevate an Indie author's voice via her #bookblog!
📖📢https://t.co/Q0xxDY2kNm pic.twitter.com/CwfewTtbW5
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) February 1, 2023
Oh, Jorie! What a super write up! Thank you soooo much for your enthusiasm and support.
To answer your question, this Collector’s Edition is only available on Kickstarter.
I *may* also have it available on my author storefront in a few months time, but it will never be available through online retailers.
Hallo, Hallo Ms Lombard,
Ooh! This is wonderful news indeed! :) I’ll make a note of this response on the post — I knew it wasn’t going to go retail but knowing it could be available via your own webstore in future is good news too. I’m quite sure I’ll miss the chance to get a copy during Kickstarter (though I could be wrong) and knowing there could be a second chance is lovely. Bless you for swinging by my blog and finding my question!! Many congratulations to you!!
The White Sails does sound “wicked brilliant,” Jorie! And what a fantastic way to kickstart a solid launch!
Ooh! I defnitely agree! It has been ages since I’ve gone through Kickstarter to see which stories are being funded or launched. ALthough I do subscribe to the Literary newsletter and get weekly updates through that list which is always a happy part of my week! I get so enthused by what is being produced and launched through the site. I’d love to join a lot of the projects in future as there are a lot of inspiring creative voices funnelling through KS! Glad you found this post as I thought it was a smashing premise myself. The author thankfully spied my question on the post, too, and there is a chance there might be an omni available in future on her own webstore post-KS which I felt was awesome.
I always hope I can find more of these Indie voices to host on my blog so whenever I find out about one of these kinds of tours or spotlights, I love to jump on it because the Indie side of publishing in all its formats and avenues has a lockhold on my heart as you know.