Sunday 29 April 2018

The Blue Serpent & other tales


The Blue Serpent & other tales is my new collection of flash fiction, available to download for free from the following places:






Alternatively, if you'd like to support me by signing up for my author newsletter, I will send you The Blue Serpent eBook as a thank you.

Stories include one man's passion for books, the nursery rhyme girls meeting up for coffee and a mysterious blue serpent tattoo. There's humour, mystery and sci-fi - something for everyone!

I've really enjoyed exploring the realm of flash fiction and challenging myself to write to a different prompt each week. I also upload my weekly flashes to my Wattpad account.

Fans of Facebook? Come and join me in my author group - Buss's Book Stop - talk about your favourite books, share recommendations and be the first to know about my author giveaways, competitions and what's new. Happy reading!


Claire Buss is a sci-fi, fantasy & humorous writer completely addicted to cake. Find all her books on Amazon.

Sunday 22 April 2018

Goal Baking

Prep: A lifetime
Cook: Infinity
Servings: As many as you like

Ingredients:
Any and all half-baked ideas
A dash of inspiration
Chocolate chips
Two scoops of self-doubt
A tsp of insecurity

Method:
1. Heat oven to 180 so you can bake cakes at the same time (multitasking is key). Grease and line your thought process as well as a large tin.
2. Tip your ideas into a large mixing bowl, add the inspiration and beat till fluffy.
3. Using a metal spoon and fold in chocolate chips.
4. Sieve self-doubt and insecurity then mix in gently.
5. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake until well risen.

Remember -  bake with love and share liberally.



Claire Buss is a sci-fi, fantasy & humourous author of many baked words. Find her books on Amazon.

Sunday 15 April 2018

10 Ways to Wake Your Baby Naturally

As every parent knows, you should never wake a sleeping baby - it's one of THOSE rules. But sometimes you have to so here is a list of ten ways to naturally wake your child.

1, Make a cup of tea
It's actually illegal for parents to have a hot cup of tea. Its one of the reasons why the microwave was invented so that cold tea could be endlessly reheated. Should you decide to boil the kettle or even worse, place a tea bag and milk into a cup, your baby will wake up. Do not be fooled if they seem not to stir at first, the moment you add that hot water, they will awaken.

2. Sit down
This is an early right that parents lose. No chair for you, you can, however, sit on the floor and it is more than likely once your bum becomes numb and your legs stop working that your child will at last fall asleep but don't even think about sitting more comfortably. The babe will wake. And if you should decide to sit down once said child is snoozing on your shoulder you will be sorely disappointed.

3. Go to the toilet
The instant you sit down, your baby will cry. So learn to pee fast yet accurately.

4. Have a shower
Babies care little for personal hygiene. To them you smell wonderful all the time, you are after all their beloved parent. They can't see how lank and greasy your hair is, maybe it's always looked that way. A shower is the ultimate parental indulgence and quite rightly shouldn't be allowed.

5. Open a book or magazine
A cardinal sin this one. It is forbidden to show interest in anything that isn't a) your child or b) a non-child book. You can forget your dreams of reading novels during your maternity leave. It just isn't going to happen.

6. Turn the TV on
Should your child fall asleep, be aware that they have ultra sensitive hearing and if you should decide to risk number two and heavens above add in turning on the TV you are making a rod for your own back. Parents are forbidden to watch their own shows except very occasionally for short bursts when they themselves are so tired they don't even know what day it is.

7. Try and have something to eat
The baby's asleep so now you can look after yourself. That's what all the books say right? Forget it! There will be no extensive meal planning, adherence to any healthy eating regime or even food of any temperature. The best you can hope for is biscuits, chocolate and the occasional slice of toast rammed down your neck before the baby wakes up however when the little darling reaches the weaning stage you'll lose that as well. 

8. Make a phone call
It's impossible to make a phone call when your baby is awake but if you wish to wake your baby then go right ahead and make that call. Who needs to talk these days anyway?

9. Close your eyes & relax
They sleep, you sleep. Wrong! Don't even try it. The moment your eyelids meet your baby will wake. Some say it's a magical sixth sense, but whatever it is, they know and they will wake. Relaxation is not only for the weak, it is also banned to parents. For at least 18 years.

10. Do something with your other child
If you're fortunate enough to have more than one child first let me say mazel tov! And then I'll allow you to weep quietly in the corner because if your baby is asleep and you try to do something with your other child (children) your baby will wake. Also if you're lucky enough to do something with one child before your baby wakes up, do not be fooled into thinking you'll be able to do anything for yourself. It doesn't happen. Ever.

So there you have it, ten ways to wake your baby naturally. Best of luck!




Sunday 8 April 2018

Projects Update - Springing into 2018

I was going to blog about music that makes me happy this week but seeing as that is such a subjective topic and I mostly just feel bone weary at the moment I decided instead to focus on the wonders of spring & new life etc and bring you a projects update.


The Gaia Project - the sequel to The Gaia Effect
The cover artwork has been revealed and it is stunning, huge thanks to Ian Bristow for his design. I am currently editing chapter 12 of 30 but there's still a long way to go before it's ready for beta readers. 



Tales from the Seaside - the second in the Tales series, the first being Tales in Suburbia 
This is my Camp NaNoWriMo project. I have titles for all the short stories and have written two so far. I was hoping to be able to focus on it a bit more this month but Easter School Holidays have placed a spanner firmly in the works. I am hoping for some warmer weather so I can do a photo shoot for the cover artwork, it's going to be amusing and very fitting - I hope!

The Inter-Species Poker Game and Griff's backstory are both planned novellas spinning off from The Rose Thief book but I need to decide on a name for the overall series so I can continue to write novels in that world.

The Blue Serpent & other tales is my first collection of flash fiction, available as a free ebook if you sign up to my author newsletter. I have started writing a new set of flashes and expect to release another collection later this year.



Also this month I am taking part in NaPoWriMo - writing a poem a day for the month of April. I am thinking of releasing these as a little book of poetry when I'm finished. With that in mind, there may well be another Little Book Of Verse being released soon which will become a series of poetry books and eventually a box set collection.

So there's plenty for me to be getting on with and hopefully plenty of new books for you to buy, read and review. I cannot stress the importance of reviewing an indie author's book - whether on Goodreads or Amazon - these reviews are invaluable and we really do appreciate each and every one. So remember - whatever you do, write a review! 


Sunday 1 April 2018

Cover Reveal: The Gaia Project

I am so excited to share with you the cover artwork for The Gaia Project, the sequel to The Gaia Effect.


The artwork has been created by the very talented Ian Bristow, who also created the cover for The Rose Thief which is equally as fantastic.

I'm still in early first draft, editing mode so I can't reveal too much yet but stay tuned and I will release some snippets in my Facebook Group, Buss's Book Stop, soon. I am excited to see where the story has taken Kira, Jed and their friends and every time I look at the cover artwork I am motivated to keep working on the book. It's scary writing a sequel, as I told you all in my blog The Thing About Sequels Is... but it's also great to be back with the characters and finding out what happens next.

I'd love to know what you think about the cover - would you pick it up?