Harmony Kent's Blog
June 24, 2025
The new Google SEO Rules: Optimise your website/blog
Worried about not having awards for your website with Google New SEO Rules? 
Don’t be! While awards are great, they’re just one piece of the puzzle for the new Google SEO rules.
You don’t need qualifications to rank well in Google New SEO Rules:Google’s AI loves E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, & Trustworthiness), and you can build that in so many other powerful ways! To acheive a good Google SEO Rank Focus on:
Amazing, helpful content that truly solves problems.
Showcasing your team’s expertise (bios, case studies!).
Getting genuine customer reviews & testimonials.
A fast, mobile-friendly, and secure website.
These are the real wins for your website’s success!
Here’s a quick Reel I put together with the main points on working with the new Google SEO rules:You can also find this reel on my Facebook page HERE.We’ve seen lots of changes, lately, to deal with as well as these new Google SEO Rules changes. I know I’m behind on keeping up!To optimise this site, I’ll have to find the time and brain space to completely redo my home page and other items. The reality is that sometimes, these things just have to wait, but if you can get them done, I recommend you implement what you need to as soon as you can.
In case you missed the posts on Amazon’s Print Price and Royalties Changes, here are the links for you: https://harmonykent.co.uk/when-life-disrupts-health-challenges-amazon-print-price-hikes-and-my-website-journey/
And …
This week, I have a few appointments coming up, so while I will be able to answer comments, I can’t catch up on your lovely blogs/websites until next week. Huge apologies. I Pinky promise to get there as soon as I can!
Thanks for stopping by and take care, everyone! 
June 19, 2025
Careful you don’t end up owing Amazon money!
“A regular trim paperback with 300 pages, black and white ink, sold on Amazon for $8 now earns ZERO ROYALTIES.” (All caps mine.)
Here’s a link to my under-a-minute Facebook video, where you also get the added bonus of seeing yours truly wigless and hatless due to the heat … after all the bad weather, I ain’t complainin’! … THE LINK
[If you missed my previous post on this, you can find it HERE.]Some Amazon Alternatives:
The big two globally are D2D (Draft2Digital) and Smashwords.
Many others, such as Kobo and Barnes and Noble (when I last tried), only accept authors based in the United States. As soon as I get the energy and time between hospital appointments and illness, I’ll see if any of those have changed their policy.
Sadly, D2D have now stopped paying by PayPal, and the only viable solution for me was the international bank transfer, which means I don’t see any money until I make a minimum of $10. Smashwords have teamed up with D2D, so I need to reacquaint myself with their policies and opportunities as well.
I’ll be back soon with updates about little ole me and the health stuff. Basically, all plans on hold but not my breath … managing to keep breathing through everything! 
I’m waiting for a gallbladder removal, and a recent CT scan showed breast lumps, which need further examination.
, and everything else!, this doesn’t lead to anything else! My old saying of ‘Good luck, bad luck—who knows?’ holds true here as none of this would have been seen without that ‘lovely’ stomach bug from my darling, cute, grandson back in January!
… My, halfway through the year already!
Thanks for stopping by, and I sincerely hope you find this information useful 
May 18, 2025
When Life Disrupts: Health Challenges, Amazon Print Price Hikes, & My Website Journey
I’ve missed you all so very much. Despite all my best laid plans life decided to take me down a completely different path. Today’s post tells you about my health nosedive, Amazon print price hikes for EVERY book–large or small, and my Website/Platform building progress–or lack of!
On top of the fibromyalgia and longterm disability, in early January I got sick. Real sick. Everyone, including the GP, thought I’d caught a stomach bug from my Grandson. I may have done, but whatever those initial three days of absolute ickiness and dehydration were, I am now waiting for a CT scan of just about everywhere and at the least a gallbladder removal surgery. Perhaps stomach surgery too if the lump they found with a camera is as big as they think–there seems to be a bit of confusion around that. At least the CT scan will make everything clearer. Even as an urgent case, it will likely be a 4 to 6 month wait for surgery, and that’s after the scan, which I don’t know when will happen. In the meantime, I’ve lost kilos and kilos. [For those not on the metric system, a kilo is equal to 2.205 pounds.] Food and drink are not my friends anymore. All of this has had me in constant Fibro flare up, which is incredibly tough to deal with all at once.
The Silver LiningI look great! 
hahaha 
Most of my not-so-grand plans have not progressed. Many have simply fallen by the wayside. Alongside my health going downhill, a platform I joined for a year, at great cost, which initially inspired and gave me a new lease of life and lots of opportunities isn’t working out so far. Too many glitches and products that don’t do what the platform says they should. At first I thought having every app in one place for one price was great … buuuttt … it’s also dangerous. Over the years, I’ve seen–too many times–how easy and quick it is for a good thing to go bad. Do I REALLY want to put all my different, lovely offerings in one single place? Nope!
So, I’m taking this forced downtime to do some serious thinking. Do I cut my losses and go a different route to get where I want to be? I think I’ll have to, especially as the platform doesn’t deliver all it promises, and I’m going to have to spend more money anyway. Sigh.
Because of this, it seems to me I’m better off taking the domain name I bought recently for my personal bookstore, using this platform’s servers, and making it my own instead. The bookstore STILL hasn’t delivered on giving us ePubs instead of just PDFs and Audiobooks. That is such a shame as the store looks great! You can find it here: https://harmonykenthub.com. And it was so easy to set up, using one of many done-for-you templates. But it just don’t do it’s job. Anyhooo, ‘nough said on that!
Amazon Print Price Hikes: What Authors Should KnowThis one has upset me greatly. When I got the email telling me I had to go in and raise my prices on print books, I didn’t feel too concerned. They’d–surely–discern between long and short books, right? Nope!
Even my once-cheap journals and birthday date books, etc., … i.e: the low content stuff … has to be a minimum of 9.99 for the UK, US, and Europe. For Canadian Amazon sales I’ve had to up the baseline to a whopping 13.99 UAD. My poetry books … the same price. My novellas … the same price. My big novels … the same price. This is not fair.
The print costs differ on book page counts. This smacks of a certain company wanting more profit. All of us authors are going to suffer due to this policy. I’d love to hear from any of you who have had the same notification and what country you’re in. What are your minimum print prices to keep your royalty rate as is?
To summarise: EVERY book, large or small, now costs the same at the baseline rate in print. This is bad.
Print Costs versus Minimum Allowed Print PriceI checked the raises and the print costs. Right now the print costs are the same (a lot lower than the required base prices–always have been). I plan to check after June 1oth, when the changes take effect, to see what the rates go up to then. What I did see was who’s making the biggest–and I mean biggest–profits … yep, the big A. Certainly not the authors. And our readers will see some big price rises on print books, which is another big hit for indie authors.
Some books I had to raise by cents or pennies. Most, sad to say, had to go up by 3 or 4 pounds/dollars. Especially for Amazon Canada. That hurts me greatly and reinforces my urge to get my own store up and running as soon as I physically can (even though I thought I had that one sorted, ugh).
If you don’t meet the minimum print cost, Amazon will take yet another 10% off you in royalty payments. You’ll get 50% instead of 60%. So this really puts authors in a squeeze.
What Authors Can DoAuthors have a choice: either raise the print price for every book to the minimum for each country or take the 10% hit on a low-priced book.
Where I’m atSomehow, I need the energy, time, and brain power to get a new website up and running which will be my hub, owned and run by me, and will have all my different offerings under one umbrella controlled by me. All using a host I love and trust (Hostinger: for those interested). Their customer service is second to none and prices good. They also have minimal downtime (I hope I ain’t just jinxed that, Ma!
)
That’s it from me for now. I’m still alive if not kicking, exactly. I still have plans, but need to find a new and affordable way forward. When I find what works , I’ll let you in on the process.
Soon, I’ll have my last (for a while) NetGalley video book review on YouTube, and I’ll focus on catching up on YOUR books. All those fab releases I’ve missed. So, please do list any new release–keep it to one for my sanity lols!
–and I’ll do my utmost to read and review, including video review, for you. However, that must come with the caveat of let’s see how my health goes. As we’ve seen how my plans took a side-swipe already! I tell you, head in hands, all that work so far and everything has come to a standstill. It’s taken so much simply to write this post.
As things stand, and I’ll let you know as they change, you can find me anywhere I am on the web via this one handy link: https://clickly.net/Harmony
I love this bookmark thingy so much, I had to show you a picture. Do Click on the link in the post to see the live animated version! It’s lovely
Finally, as you will have guessed, I’m unlikely to be online much. I sincerely hope the universe decides to prove me wrong on that count, lols, as I miss our interactions greatly.
Take care, all, and thanks so much for keeping in touch! Hugs all around
The post When Life Disrupts: Health Challenges, Amazon Print Price Hikes, & My Website Journey first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
March 5, 2025
#BookReview: Twist by Colum McCann via @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
Hello Everyone!
Happy March–I cannot believe we’re almost a quarter into 2025 already. Where does the time go?
In brilliant news, I’ve made my first ever video, with me sitting and talking, and video book review! Who knew what silver linings having a chronic illness could bring 
Whilst I’ve had to give up so many activities, I’m able to use my laptop on the bed or sofa and create 
. I’m also finding more confidence at putting myself out there as I am.
Here’s the link to the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vv7PplZ2Pt0?feature=shared.
I’d be so delighted and grateful if you could pop over there and give it a like, comment, and share. And if you’re not subscribed to my channel already, I’d absolutely love to see you on my subscriber’s list. All of this will help to give the authors I review more exposure and help with their book sales.
Once I’ve finished with my current NetGalley commitments for reviews, I’ll move back on to reading and reviewing some of your books, which I’ve so missed. Unfortunately, my ability to read fluctuates, so I can’t promise any timeframes. When that happens I swap over to audiobooks, which have been life-savers for me.
One last thing …If you missed my post about my affiliate sales program, be sure to sign up for a whopping 50% commission on every book of mine you sell! What’s not to love? Here’s the link: https://clickly.net/AffiliateBookSales
As ever, I’m so thankful for you and appreciate your continued support even though I can’t be around as much as I used to be. Hugs and gratitude! 
The post #BookReview: Twist by Colum McCann via @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
February 14, 2025
#Free Affiliate Book Sales Opportunity!
Hi everyone!I hope this finds you all well and happy. Truly, I’ve missed each and every one of you and think of you often.
Exiting news from me. I’ll let the video I made speak for itself! It’s short at only about 3 minutes …http://harmonykent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/VSL-AI-short-Version.mp4My Valentine’s present to you! This exciting new opportunity will help both you and little ole me make money outside of the big A! Your unique sales links take customers directly to my new book store, where I receive 100% of the sales, and you–as an affiliate–earn a whopping 50%!
Each calendar month, I’ll pay you in bulk for all the sales you’ve made. Your dashboard will show you, at a glance, exactly how much money you’ve earned.
Join Here:https://affiliates.sqrindle.com/user/signup/NXZ2YklBUVdqaTcvNElYTlNTcy9Xdz09As you can see, though I remain incredibly unwell with stomach issues on top of the fibro, I’ve made use of my downtime to start sorting out my KDP woes.
Also, I’ve learnt how to sell my own books. I even got brave and did my own audio! Next up is to make my first video … slowly getting less video shy, lols!
With hard work, I’m overcoming my nerves and putting myself out there instead of hiding behind words and photos, teehehee 
Get audiobooks onto my bookstore. I have Jewel in the Mud ready to go, and at some point I’ll have all of my books in audio format to sell too. Those audiobooks will also go onto the affiliate program. Then, I plan to upload all my books onto either Smashwords or D2D. Right now, I’m leaning toward Smashwords. I still have to suss that out, but I’ll get there. Right now, everything takes me such a long time to do, but I’m nothing if not determined! Which all means I’m no longer completely reliant on the KDP platform. ***Cue applause! 
Some of you will have seen me online a bit more, and I hope to increase my presence further. It’s lovely to reconnect with you all again, and I hope to visit and share as much as I can. Sadly, I’m not at the stage where I can make schedules yet. I know you understand, my wonderful friends. Oh, and I plan to read and review any new books you’ve released recently, so I can support you as I’ve always felt delighted to do!
I’m eager to learn what you think about the affiliate opportunity and the video. This is my first attempt … well, my second–the first video was too long, lols–and I’m always open to learning as I go I look forward to chatting with you in the comments below. Please know how much I appreciate you all, and I hope this opportunity can go some way to showing that appreciation.
The post #Free Affiliate Book Sales Opportunity! first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
January 28, 2025
Harmony’s Book Theft on Amazon continues and New Book Store!
First of all, a very belated Happy New Year!
Secondly, do you like my big, long, curly wig?!?!
Now, the reason for my delay in getting back to you: Unfortunately, my gorgeous Grandson gave me a sickness bug which hit me around 4 days into the new year after a couple of days of feeling wobbly, which though it lasted only three days, it left me with acute gastroenteritis and a raw stomach.
That meant three days of cold turkey off all of my medication and two weeks on a bland diet (yuk) and still unable to take the most important of my medication relating to pain relief and symptom easing. All of which to say, I’ve been out of it and have needed a lot of recovery time.
Some good news!Whilst I’ve been recovering, my brain came back faster than my body. So, with enforced bed rest, I got on my laptop and iPad and did some researching into Amazon alternatives, seeing as they keep letting sellers sell my paperbacks without my permission after A TON of emails back and forth. I still need to decide between straight D2D or Smashwords, which is linked to D2D. I’m leaning towards Smashwords, linked to D2D. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Even better news!Anyhoo … I found this great software, which has lots of fab and fun things in there.(More on the software on a later post!) I had an old product of theirs, and as part of their brand new massive suite, they now have a V2 of the old software plus lots and lots more, which gives me the option of a personal store or a simple, quick and easy, all done-for-you option for a standard store, which is what V1 offered. (And, no, I’m not selling anything!)
What makes this Great?Take a look at my new sales page, independent of Amazon and with lots of payment options: https://harmonykenthub.com. While I did successfully active Stripe payment options as well as credit card and PayPal, Stripe has decided not to play ball for some unknown and, I’m sure, profound reason! 
I love the look of the store, and the software made this so easy to set up.
For now, the store is able to offer PDF downloads only due to Amazon doing something at their ‘back end’ (appropriate term, don’t you think!?
), but the software’s tech team is working on a solution to get us publishing and downloading ePubs to Amazon as well as the independent store, oh and audiobooks too, yay!
After keeping my ebook prices low for years, and seeing the industry charging often over £10 and upwards more, I’ve decided to raise my prices a little—especially with the royalties about to drop by half on Amazon as each book is no longer part of Kindle Select—of course, they’ll always be at least a pound/dollar cheaper on my own store. Feeling my way forward with this and will wait to see what happens. I’m fed up of the expectation that indie authors charge the minimum allowed on Amazon of 2.99 outside of promotions, when the traditional publishers charge so very much more. We work so hard to make our books, and we deserve a decent income from the sales of our hard work. I have limits on what I’ll pay, and so many customers don’t care. Also, if it’s an author I know and trust, I have more flexibility on what I’ll pay. How it will work does depend on how big and loyal a customer base I have, yes, and still it’s time for me to make changes after 12 years or so of charging the same. What about inflation? We’re affected too.
In the Meantime …I have a bunch of personal stuff to take care of, and then ned to sort out the mess with my books on the big A and upload them elsewhere. After that’s sorted, I promise I’ll be back and will get to your blogs at least once a week whenever I can! And I can’t wait to show you all the great things I have planned using the new tools I now have, which have opened so many doors for me and given me options when my illness has closed so many doors.
That’s it from me for now, and I’d love to hear from you in the comments.Oh boy, do I miss you all! Hopefully, once I’ve moved my books, and got an updated prescription from yet another new medicinal cannabis clinic sorted out, I’ll be able to be around online more again. Also, I hope that once I get that dosage where I need it, I can start to reduce some of the nastier pharmaceutical meds I’m taking, which have unpleasant side effects. And I can’t wait to join you all, even though I’ll be starting afresh as a catch up after this long is, of course, impossible and counterproductive to getting live with you all again! 
December 15, 2024
#SeasonsGreetings and important information @DaveChesson #BookTheft
Hi everyone. I’m sorry I’ve been absent so long … July!!! Can you believe where the time has gone?
As you’ve probably guessed I’ve faced daily struggles (and continue to). Just when I feel as though I’m getting back into some kind of rhythm something happens to halt all activity. I just started outlining a standalone book after not writing a thing since The Room at the End. Here’s hoping that title doesn’t prove prophetic.
I say this due to the important news I mention in the post title: Amazon is allowing marketplace sellers to sell my paperback books, which are illegal and definitely a copyright infringement. I followed everything the good Dave from Kindlepreneur advised, and contacted the relevant department twice on 12 books, only to get declined both times. Then they sent me to KDP help.
As you know, because you all know what the A Monster is like, once again I got turned down and they tried to send me back to the first department! ARGHH!!!! Yup, I was frustrated, but I managed not to have a meltdown or over stress. A chat 3 hours later still didn’t do it, and I tried messaging each offender, then Amazon banned further messages as I’ve sent too many! … You could not make up this stuff.
It’s appalling and I did contemplate deleting all my books and give up. But not for long because that’s not me. I am in the process of looking into Smashwords, which now works with D2D, but I’ll still face people stealing my work left right and centre. And with the AI stuff growing ever more prevalent and all pervasive, I do still have my doubts.
THE CONSEQUENCES:Due to all this mess, I’ve also had to un-enroll all of my ebooks from Kindle Unlimited. Three run until March, but a couple finish this month and some up to February. I regret this, but simultaneously have been outraged at the pittance per page read they pay out.
I worked it out one month, and had I sold the equal amount of books to match the amount of pages read, I would have earned a LOT more. The pay per page is appallingly low, and I no longer feel it’s worth offering because it means I run at a considerable loss. Yes, there are pros and cons to this, and I’ll look and see what’s available via the platforms I’ve mentioned.
I suspect that no longer being exclusive to Amazon, eventually, will exclude me from being able to offer the service. That’s something else I have some thoughts on. The trouble these days, lols, is my thoughts don’t always make it into the outside world, and if they do, it usually takes a while!
My illness leaves me incredibly debilitated most of the time, and so this is a huge deal to have to find a work around. A big thing I want to do but don’t know how–yet–is to sell direct from my own sales site. That will take me a lot of learning and work, especially as I’ll need to set up automatic delivery of ebooks.
I don’t see how I can sell paperbacks outside the UK due to the immense shipping costs that would involve. Another thing to look into. Unless Smashwords and D2D have to be stand-ins to do that for me.
For sure, though, I’m determined to get my ebooks on direct sale from my own site, and at a discount, seeing as that way I’ll receive 100% royalties, but I will also have extra hosting costs. All things I need to look into and try to remember, lols.
It is my deepest wish that you don’t encounter the same problem as me. Unless I’d clicked on “other offers” on my paperback sales pages, I would never have known this was going on.
If you haven’t come across Dave’s posts on this huge issue, here’s the link: https://kindlepreneur.com/amazon-printing-scams/. I hope you don’t need it and if you do that Amazon gives you a better response than they gave to me.
Years ago, Blasty took care of the thousands of ripoff sites that provide illegal downloads of my ebooks, but since that collapsed, the scale of tackling that level of theft is beyond me.
If only these selfish, greedy people, including the readers who encourage these illegal and immoral practices by engaging in them, could see how much they destroy the souls of the very writers they profess they love. Ha. Right. Yep, stealing really shows that love. And, no, I’m not at all flattered. If readers like my work so much, they need to make sure I get paid for it. Anyway, enough on that nastiness.
Update … Since threatening Amazon/KDP with legal action and losing me as both publisher and customer of decades, I have two emails which give me hope. One book, The Vanished Boy, is in the process of having the offending sellers’ inventory removed for this book at least. It hurts that it had to reach this point and be so much more difficult than it needs to be. Anyway, everything crossed moving forward, but it has taught me to spread around my “eggs” into more baskets 
. I wonder if pulling every ebook out of KDP Select has anything to do with this sudden change of heart too? 
In higher spirits, one thing this craziness has stimulated is the idea I could also sell video and ebook courses alongside my own published books. If I have a site with a shopping cart, check-out process, and automatic downloads, then why not diversify if I’m up to it?
So, the chances are I won’t be around for a while longer yet. Getting myself free from under Amazon’s tyranny and monopoly is my main focus after myself and my health, and dear hubby.
I miss you all more than I could ever adequately express. Please know that I love and respect you all and keep you in my thoughts.
I hate, too, that I’ve missed so many of your book launches, and I have to accept that if I make it back online in a sustainable way, I won’t ever get caught up, and it will be more a case of starting anew.
I’m so incredibly grateful to those of you who’ve reached out to check on me. You mean the world! It pains me to not be able to give a more upbeat message, but at least I can leave you with this little video I made in Canva. Happy Holiday Season and keep well, my dear friends. I promise to be in touch as soon as I can. Wishing you all every success in 2025 and beyond. Hugs and smiles across the miles xxx
July 17, 2024
#BookReview: Little Boy Missing by Lizzie Fry @LizzieFryAuthor @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller
Hi everyone!
Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, Lizzie Fry. This is a gripping read which grips from the get go, and I hated every time I had to put it down! I received this read via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
My little boy is missing — and they think I did it.
My husband is always at work, he’s basically checked out of our marriage at this point. So I’m stuck at home with three kids under the age of eight for the summer holidays.
The boys are my world, I just wish we had the money for activities — eight-year-old Kyle has learning difficulties and they all need a lot of running around.
I can’t spend another day in this house. The boys are so excited for a bike ride to the woods so we head out.
We play hide and seek and Kyle is never very good, bless him. But this time he must have hidden really well because he’s not even giggling.
Where is he? Panic sets in.
Then I see his bike lying on its side, wheels spinning, like he just vanished into thin air.
We were already at breaking point. This is going to completely tear us apart.
I’m not the perfect wife. I’m not the perfect mother. But I didn’t do anything to my little boy.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this eARC.
A gripping read with an ending you won’t expect
‘Despite herself, she smiles as she hears the ghosts of children’s giggles and whispers. Their feet crunch on fallen leaves. Kids never understand how loud they are.’ This opening paragraph in the prologue engages you immediately and shows how in tune the author is with children and motherhood. This only gets stronger as the book goes on.
What a ripping read! I only put it down due to live getting in the way, sigh. The plot, pacing, twists, characterisations, and writing style were all fantastic. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is due to one massive plot hole–there’s a certain character whom the family and police should have at least questioned if not outright suspected from the get go due to the specific circumstances surrounding that person and another. I can’t say more because that would give you a major spoiler.
Although I guessed the perpetrator fairly early on, there were enough twists and turns and red herrings to keep me second-guessing myself. While I didn’t like the ending it was actually brilliant and so true to the harsh realities of life. After a little reflection, the author finished it all with a situation I’ve seen too much of in real life. So, while it may not satisfy you initially, you will see the truth and likelihood of it.
So many wonderful lines struck me that I find it difficult to show just a small selection for this review, but her goes …
‘The question always felt barbed to me, like rolling on stinging nettles. Tiny prickles, barely there but enough to itch. Small enough to dismiss . . . Until a million tiny wounds join up and make a gaping, bloody hole.’ This made for an incredibly strong opening to the first chapter.
And …
‘When life gets real, that’s when we find out who we really are.’
And …
‘The woodland is deserted. There are no giggles, no tell-tale signs of a child nearby. Even the breeze has gone. It’s as if the entire wood is holding its breath.’
Though it took me three days to finish this amazing book, if life hadn’t interfered, I would have read it in one go it was so good. I hated having to put it down. As I said, without the gaping plot hole, I would have given a solid five stars. Still, it gets a resounding 4 stars and a recommendation to go and read this gripping novel. Oh, and don’t forget to breathe as you read!
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases today!)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: Little Boy Missing by Lizzie Fry @LizzieFryAuthor @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.July 3, 2024
Update and ideas for #Characterisation
Hi, everyone! You may have noticed my new author picture around places. The original photo is over 10 years old. Can you believe it?!? How fast the time passes. Another thing you may have noticed is the headwear … well, there’s a story about that …
For a long time now I’ve struggled with slow hair loss. The last time it got patchy, I still had enough to put it up in a tight and small ponytail and covered the gaps by wearing various chemo hats and scarves. That was, thankfully, short lived … as in maybe a month or two. Then my hair grew back, and it was gorgeously curly! Yay. Only …
after further slow loss, I washed my hair a week before mum-in-law’s funeral and loads of clumps came out of my scalp all in one go. It was bad. I had an appointment the next morning, which meant a couple of hours travel too. So, seeing how straggly it looked, and that I had no way of covering the many bald bits, I had ten minutes to do something. I couldn’t even put it up like the previous time. Desperate, I got out my hairdressing scissors and hacked at it until enough came off that I could hide the mess under a hat. And off we went on our not so merry way.
Being so lucky as I am, ahem, the prosthetic appointment was a disaster. How the new socket passed any quality check from the workshop I’ll never know. If they do check them! And what point was the test socket if they didn’t use it as a template for the actual socket? Anyway, I digress …
After all that, we decided to come home rather than go somewhere to relax as planned, and I decided to shave my hair. I wanted to use the clippers with their long comb attachment, but hubby couldn’t find them. Yes, you just knew how my day was going, didn’t you?! And no, despite all, while it was a Friday, it wasn’t the 13th . So, with the clipper teeth on long rather than short, I began and ignored the wet salty stuff pouring down my cheeks.
The result was okay except it showed the patches with no follicles at all. In the end, I got out my safety razor and shaved it down to the wood, as they say. Much better. I grabbed one of the few lightweight scarves and did my best. Then I hit the big A, who came to my rescue with some marvellous stuff, which they delivered the next day 
After a week and a half, I’m happier. And the lack of stress of attempting to stop the hair loss and style the darn stuff, I’m kinda relieved. It will take hubby a while I think, but that’s his problem, not mine. I’m doing my best, and when life leaves you no choice …
Anyhow, I now want to share about this and some other stuff I’ve experienced which we writers can all use to enhance our fictional characters. Because, ya know, when life gives you lemons (thanks Staci for reminding me of that saying!) …
Full Menopause(For anyone who’s worried by this point, I won’t go into much detail. It’s easily searched online. Phew, I hear some saying! Suffice it to say, there are common symptoms most people know of such as hot flushes and mood swings, to say the least.
I also wanted to share a couple of rarer symptoms. For instance, cold flushes are a thing. I had cold spells off and on for long enough and had no clue they were another indication on top of everything else the docs kept ignoring. And, huge biggy here in relation to my chronic illness, menopause can also exacerbate muscle and joint pain and stiffness. Yep, go figure.
All of which to remind me, as well as anyone else who isn’t a specialist, that research is key.
Hair Loss
Many, many things can cause this in both men and women. Male pattern baldness is as common as air and resembles a monk’s tonsure. Women’s baldness is something nobody seems to want to talk about. And to go full on Sinéad O’Connor isn’t socially acceptable in most places. In this context, it’s much easier for the guys to shave their heads. However, some—like hubby—struggled to make the switch from comb over to shaving.
An interesting point here is most females hate comb overs, whereas the majority of guys believe the comb over is a better look. In hubby’s case, the shave took years off him in looks.
Some common causes are stress, alopecia (men and women), and hormones, along with certain treatments—the most well known being chemotherapy. I’m not sure with mine but suspect the roughly a decade and a half in menopause with no help or treatment, together with about two years on steroids, could be the biggest root of the problem (couldn’t resist that little pun!).
Most likely, I won’t attempt to obtain a diagnosis. One, I don’t want yet more drugs. Already, I rattle when I move, lols . Two, our health service is broken, and it would only lead to more stress trying to get to the bottom of it. The path of least resistance and simple acceptance seem best for me right now.
When sharing my fun with follicles with Staci Troilo, she kindly shared this about a friend and this video …
‘My best friend from college also lost her hair. She turned it into a business. She became a model for wig companies and reviewed them on YouTube. She stopped modeling for them and now just runs the channel herself. If you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/@sparehairloveaffair.’
Wow, what an inspiring woman! In resharing, it’s my hope to give you all further resources if you ever want to write character(s) going through any of this stuff.
When reading novels, the hugest issue missed in writing about any of these things—chronic illness, hair loss, menopause, even ageing, etc.—the process of grief we go through gets ignored totally. And it’s so important to keep things relatable and real.
While my grieving for the hair loss was quick, like a day, for certain I went through every stage. The chronic illness, I still have ups and downs and am evidently still coming to terms. My point here is that grieving can be fast or slow and, sadly, sometimes never ending. We’re all individual. Now I’m where I’m at, I plan to experiment with both glam and elegance in my choice of headwear, attire, and jewellery!
To finish on a high note …The good news is, laughably, I’ve lost so much weight, my facial recognition on my phone refused to accept I was me, and I had to do a new one
That’s enough from me. I hope you’ve found this post informative and helpful and not too distressing. If you feel you’d like to share and are able, I’d love for you to tell us some of your trials and tribulations in the spirit of adding to character building, either in the comments or with a link to any post you write/have written that’s relevant to this discussion. And if you simply want to say hello, I’d still love you to comment.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone. I miss you all so much and am still doing my utmost to visit whenever I can. Hugs, Harmony
The post Update and ideas for #Characterisation first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
June 26, 2024
#BookReview: The Caregiver by N. L. Hinkens @NormaHinkens @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller
Hi everyone!
Sorry I’ve been absent online again. We’ve had a death in the family. At the time of writing this post, I don’t know when the funeral will be. So, if I’m late responding, you’ll know why. Either that, or I’m unwell again. Please know, I always love your visits and comments. Hugs from me
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Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, N. L. Hinkens. This is a gripping read with palpable tension from the get go, and it kept me reading until 2am as I could not put it down! I received this read via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
She’s meant to care for my family. But actually she wants to harm us all.
How does an 81-year-old woman, who hasn’t left her bedroom — let alone the house — without assistance in months, simply vanish into thin air? I’m trying not to freak out at the thought of my mother wandering the neighborhood, lost in a maze of confusion.
We found her — but that was the moment I knew I needed help. I’m at breaking point. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I love my four-year-old twins deeply — but they’re a handful. My husband’s always away on business. My mother’s in the early stages of dementia. It’s a lot.
So I let Dana into my home.
She’s the answer to my prayers. She’ll be my mother’s live-in caregiver.
Soon there are red flags.
I catch Dana gazing at my husband when she thinks I’m not looking. She tells my daughter she’s ‘part of the family now’. My son Sam is becoming silent and withdrawn.
And then, a few weeks after Dana’s arrival, I enter my mother’s bedroom — and get the shock of my life.
I ask Dana to leave. But she won’t
My Review:
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this eARC.
This kept me awake until 2am, it’s so unputdownable, & the ending will fill you with glee
‘By the time the police arrive at the house, I’m hyperventilating.’ From this first line to the last, this book will hold you captive.
I love the premise and the narration is realistic and so well done. This writer knows human nature so well. Some of the main character’s reactions had me yelling ‘no!’ at her, yer simultaneously I could understand her sheer frustration and anger. Even the nasty woman was relatable, which takes skilled writing.
Each character feels unique and comes to life on the page, and the many bumps in the road and twists and turns make this a memorable read.
With so many great phrases, I found it difficult to choose just a these three, but here are my favourites …
‘ Panic surges up inside me and I squeeze my hands into fists, trying to quell the emotional rollercoaster before it takes off with me on board.’
And …
‘My heart is banging against my ribs so forcefully it feels like it’s trying to break free. How in the world can it be beating this hard when I feel like I just died inside? ’
And …
‘ I can feel the lie wedged between us—in the tremor of his hand, and the harried glance he shoots my way.’
The ending had me laughing aloud with glee. Talk about Karma! As you’ve probably guessed, this book gets a resounding 5 stars from me. Go read it now. You’ll lose sleep too, but only in the best of ways.
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NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases today!)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: The Caregiver by N. L. Hinkens @NormaHinkens @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
