Blood Sport – A Vampire Anthology for Charity #amwriting

Another little piece of publishing news to share with you all! I’m thrilled to have had a story chosen for inclusion in Blood Sport, an upcoming vampire anthology, with all proceeds going to the International Red Cross.

Hungry for some blood-curdling action and adventure? Maybe even a little romance? This clan of talented authors is dying to bring you eleven vampy stories you can really sink your teeth into!

One-click today for more vampy tales than you can shake a stake at!

All proceeds from this anthology will benefit The International Red Cross.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I’ve been immersed in a vampiric world for the past couple of years, writing a YA novel that is now out on submission. Somewhat unexpectedly, I might add, as it all stemmed from a Halloween writing prompt on Ali Isaac’s blog, some years past.

The short story in Blood Sport was originally something I wrote for a competition that didn’t go anywhere. However, I loved the story and so, when I heard about the submission window for this anthology, I dusted it off, expanded and rewrote sections, and sent it in. It just goes to show that stories may not always end up where we expect them to, but they will, eventually, find a home.

‘Heads or tails?’

A lucky coin. A question. And a meeting in the red-black depths of a St Petersburg nightclub that will change Nikolai’s life forever. But immortality, it turns out, isn’t that much fun. Especially when you have to spend it alone…

The anthology is up for pre-order now – you can get your copy here – and is scheduled to be published on November 30, 2020. Watch this space (and my social media) for giveaway details, ARC copies and publishing updates!


Enjoyed this post? Want to read more? Find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJFacebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus my latest book release, Under Stone (Ambeth Chronicles #4), is now available on Amazon. Visit my Amazon Author Page or my website to see more.

#Flash4Storms – Arrow In the Bow

Sarah Brentyn of Lemon Shark is running a Flash Fiction Challenge to aid victims of the recent hurricanes in the US. The challenge is to write a 50 word piece of flash fiction on the theme ‘Help’, and share it in a post, with the hashtag #Flash4Storms in the title. Sarah will donate $1 for every piece of flash fiction posted, to a maximum of $50. Here’s my attempt:

She stood at the edge, looking down. The drop seemed long enough for her purposes, and she closed her eyes, anticipating the darkness she craved. She lifted her arms, rising onto her tiptoes, an arrow notched in a bow. She felt a hand grasp hers. ‘I’m here. Let me help.’


If you enjoyed this post and would like to read more, you can find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJFacebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus my latest book release, A Thousand Rooms, is now available on Amazon. Visit my Amazon Author Page to see more.

Hugh’s Photo Challenge: Week 8 – Charity Christmas Tree Topper Challenge

Hugh over at Hugh’s Views and News is always good for a photography challenge. However, this week’s challenge happens to be for a very good cause as well. For every Christmas Tree Topper posted in blogland between now and January 5, 2016, Hugh will be donating £1 to The Dog’s Trust (to a maximum of £250).

I couldn’t resist adding my own Tree Top to the list, and here it is:IMG_0893

As you can see, the top of my tree features a rather glam-rock style plastic star, as well as Fluffy the Angel, who we’ve had since the gorgeous child was very small. The tree itself is about ten years old, and was a $29 special from Kmart, if I recall correctly. I refer to it as ‘the Charlie Brown tree’, because it reminds me of the Peanuts Christmas Special where the kids go to get a tree, but the only one left is small and threadbare. However, when they dress it with decorations, it looks beautiful. That’s what our tree is like as well, although this year it is shedding rather more fake pine needles than usual, making me think it might be coming to the end of its life.

If you’re interested in seeing more Tree Tops, head over to Hugh’s blog. Or add one of your own!