Pebble Communications
5th June 2006, 23:22
Press Release
(posted by Pebble Communications.www.pebblecommunications.co.uk)
06.06.06
Spinetinglers launches today; giving aspiring dark fiction writers real opportunities
Nolene-Patricia Dougan, author of the acclaimed new dark fiction novel ‘Vrolok’ is spearheading the launch of a website, www.spinetinglers.co.uk, in conjunction with other Northern Ireland writers. The site will give aspiring horror authors a chance to get their foot on the first rung of the publishing ladder. She explains “the 6th of the 6th of 2006 seemed like a propitious date to start a website dedicated to the dark fiction genre! Spinetinglers is a project to help other new writers all over the UK. I managed to find an agent and a publisher for my first novel but I know that my experience was quite unusual. Many other talented writers find it hard to get their book noticed among the ‘slush pile’. Most agents and writing guilds won’t even look at you until you have already published work or have won writing competitions.
“So, on www.Spinetinglers.co.uk, we are holding a monthly competition to find the best original, previously unpublished, dark fiction short story or poem. The best five entries will be published online and the overall winner will be paid £50.00. We think this will help new authors prove to agents and guilds that they are serious, professionally paid writers.”
While helping others follow her success, Nolene is also working on a prequel to her first novel ‘Vrolok’, which won acclaim in the US and is now available in the UK. Inspired by a 1906 poem of the same name (Slavic for Vampire) Nolene’s book is loosely based on the legendary story of Vlad the Impaler but goes on to cover 400 years of vampires while weaving in real historical events and characters. Far from a typical ‘horror’, this is more like a well-researched historical novel dealing with a dark subject. The Midwest Book Review described it as ‘A superbly crafted and complex dark fantasy novel’ and the California Chronicle proclaimed Nolene ‘the new Anne Rice... Enchanting, entertaining and educational this is one book that historical fiction fans as well as horror and paranormal followers will love’.
You can buy ‘Vrolok’ from £12.50 at Eason’s bookshops, Amazon and other good internet bookshops, or you can order at your local bookshop using ISBN 142088154X (paperback) or 1420881639. Alternatively, if you order directly from www.vrolok.co.uk Nolene will even sign your copy.
ends
For further information please contact Jo-Anne Dougan on 02897521750 or 02897511010
or joanne@vrolok.co.uk. Photographs and interviews with Nolene are available on request.
Notes for Editors
1) www.spinetinglers.co.uk launches on 06.06.06.
2) Nolene-Patricia Dougan is a 28 year old author from County Down in Northern Ireland. She is currently working on both a prequel to Vrolok and a contemporary novel based in Northern Ireland. Nolene combines writing with working for BT NI as a business account manager. This year Nolene was part of the BTNI relay team in the Belfast Marathon and Nolene is considering running the entire marathon next year. Apart from literature Nolene’s other passion is film and one of Nolene’s goals is to write a film review column. Nolene’s personal film collection can only be described as extensive and covers films from all eras and genres. Nolene travels extensively and she says that this helps her writing as it gives her a feel for other cultures and people. Regarding her travels however Nolene says that, “hell is continuous airport queues!”
3) ‘Vrolok’. Publisher: Lightning Source. Paperback: ISBN: 142088154X price £12.50. Hardback: ISBN: 1420881639 price £16.50.
Excerpts from Reviews.
All readers reviews posted on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com have given five star ratings.
“Vrolok is a historical fiction with a dark edge; from the moment the book opens you are hooked…a must read for anyone who enjoys flawless fiction with some of the best characters to be found in any genre”. The Life Magazine
“Titled, Vrolok, the Slovakian word for Vampire may classify this book as horror fiction or paranormal but the content is historical fiction at its finest…The author's research and carefully presented facts are beyond reproach. Her skill as a writer and gifted storyteller excel”. www.allbooksreview.com
(posted by Pebble Communications.www.pebblecommunications.co.uk)
06.06.06
Spinetinglers launches today; giving aspiring dark fiction writers real opportunities
Nolene-Patricia Dougan, author of the acclaimed new dark fiction novel ‘Vrolok’ is spearheading the launch of a website, www.spinetinglers.co.uk, in conjunction with other Northern Ireland writers. The site will give aspiring horror authors a chance to get their foot on the first rung of the publishing ladder. She explains “the 6th of the 6th of 2006 seemed like a propitious date to start a website dedicated to the dark fiction genre! Spinetinglers is a project to help other new writers all over the UK. I managed to find an agent and a publisher for my first novel but I know that my experience was quite unusual. Many other talented writers find it hard to get their book noticed among the ‘slush pile’. Most agents and writing guilds won’t even look at you until you have already published work or have won writing competitions.
“So, on www.Spinetinglers.co.uk, we are holding a monthly competition to find the best original, previously unpublished, dark fiction short story or poem. The best five entries will be published online and the overall winner will be paid £50.00. We think this will help new authors prove to agents and guilds that they are serious, professionally paid writers.”
While helping others follow her success, Nolene is also working on a prequel to her first novel ‘Vrolok’, which won acclaim in the US and is now available in the UK. Inspired by a 1906 poem of the same name (Slavic for Vampire) Nolene’s book is loosely based on the legendary story of Vlad the Impaler but goes on to cover 400 years of vampires while weaving in real historical events and characters. Far from a typical ‘horror’, this is more like a well-researched historical novel dealing with a dark subject. The Midwest Book Review described it as ‘A superbly crafted and complex dark fantasy novel’ and the California Chronicle proclaimed Nolene ‘the new Anne Rice... Enchanting, entertaining and educational this is one book that historical fiction fans as well as horror and paranormal followers will love’.
You can buy ‘Vrolok’ from £12.50 at Eason’s bookshops, Amazon and other good internet bookshops, or you can order at your local bookshop using ISBN 142088154X (paperback) or 1420881639. Alternatively, if you order directly from www.vrolok.co.uk Nolene will even sign your copy.
ends
For further information please contact Jo-Anne Dougan on 02897521750 or 02897511010
or joanne@vrolok.co.uk. Photographs and interviews with Nolene are available on request.
Notes for Editors
1) www.spinetinglers.co.uk launches on 06.06.06.
2) Nolene-Patricia Dougan is a 28 year old author from County Down in Northern Ireland. She is currently working on both a prequel to Vrolok and a contemporary novel based in Northern Ireland. Nolene combines writing with working for BT NI as a business account manager. This year Nolene was part of the BTNI relay team in the Belfast Marathon and Nolene is considering running the entire marathon next year. Apart from literature Nolene’s other passion is film and one of Nolene’s goals is to write a film review column. Nolene’s personal film collection can only be described as extensive and covers films from all eras and genres. Nolene travels extensively and she says that this helps her writing as it gives her a feel for other cultures and people. Regarding her travels however Nolene says that, “hell is continuous airport queues!”
3) ‘Vrolok’. Publisher: Lightning Source. Paperback: ISBN: 142088154X price £12.50. Hardback: ISBN: 1420881639 price £16.50.
Excerpts from Reviews.
All readers reviews posted on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com have given five star ratings.
“Vrolok is a historical fiction with a dark edge; from the moment the book opens you are hooked…a must read for anyone who enjoys flawless fiction with some of the best characters to be found in any genre”. The Life Magazine
“Titled, Vrolok, the Slovakian word for Vampire may classify this book as horror fiction or paranormal but the content is historical fiction at its finest…The author's research and carefully presented facts are beyond reproach. Her skill as a writer and gifted storyteller excel”. www.allbooksreview.com