July 22, 2015 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

A post about summertime!

Hello All! Today, I’m on a holiday mood, seeing that I’m off to Corfu for a week soon, so before I go, I thought I’d write a little post about my favorite season… Every year, I tend to hibernate during the winter and start coming alive in the spring. But, I love the summer more than any other time of year, and this is no surprise, seeing that I’ve spent most of the summers of my earlier life in an earthly paradise.

This is a a photo from the old quarter of Moraitika, my grandparents’ village on Corfu; this very tree and the lanes around it were my stamping ground where I played dodgeball, hide-and-seek, and a few games of cards with my cousins and friends as a child and teenager. Mind you, I even hung up my gran’s sheets from that very tree one year–couldn’t have been older than thirteen–to create a scene and a curtain as to produce a little play that I wrote. The other kids and I never advertized it and only did the show for our own pleasure. One of the village boys, Pakis, offered to participate as spectator. Before the show, I asked Pakis to pay his ticket. He reached inside his shorts pockets and handed me all its contents: 11 drachmas. After the show, we all went to the shop at the square and I used that money to buy everyone sweets. I believe Pakis had the most! That is just one of the myriad sweet memories I have from my childhood in the village, a place I love so much that I had to write a book or two set in it.

And, after showing you my favorite village corner, on the right in this picture, you can see my beloved pyramid-shaped mountain that is mentioned in The Ebb (book 1 in my trilogy). The locals call this mountain Mataouna. You can also see the sports pier on the beach at Moraitika – now you know what Sofia’s pier looks like in the book!

I will spend a week there as of this Friday, and hope to catch up with lots of people I love, but most of all, with my beloved 91-year-old grandmother, Antigone. She called me yesterday to say my aunt Danda brought her a cabbage from her garden knowing grandma would love to treat me to my favorite meal, Lahanodolmades (cabbage leaves stuffed with mince and rice in egg and lemon sauce). If you haven’t tasted this meal, take it from me, you haven’t lived! If you’re ever in Greece, try to find a restaurant that serves it… your taste buds will be grateful.

Speaking of food, I’d love to share another of my favorite Greek summer recipes that I recently posted on Effrosyni’s blog: GEMISTA (peppers and tomatoes stuffed with rice). Another yummy Greek meal I can’t get enough of!

Before I go, a little announcement about my trilogy, The Lady of the Pier:

The paperback for The Flow (book 2) has just been released! Just like all my other paperbacks, I’ve made this available everywhere, including libraries and major stores worldwide. (For example, in Greece readers can order it and receive it within a few days from large stores like Public.)

Check out the paperback on AMAZON US

Check out the paperback on AMAZON UK

Well, this is it from me! If you’re going on holiday this summer, whether it’s the sea or the mountain you’re headed for, make sure to relax and unwind, connect with family and friends and not so much to the internet! Our lives are always so hectic, we deserve to unplug from the greater world every now and then, if anything, for old times sake.

Till we speak again, have fun this summer whatever you get up to!

Have you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

June 17, 2015 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

Discover The Lady of the Pier trilogy

Today, I am pleased to announce that I am launching The Flow on June 26. This is book 2 in my trilogy, The Lady of the Pier. If you are pining for a beach holiday and looking for a read that’s the next best thing, then this trilogy is perfect for the job. What’s more, now, you can drift in your mind to a Greek paradise at a minimal cost!

The Ebb is currently only 99c and The Flow is on preorder for 99c too, but only for a limited time!

What is The Lady of the Pier trilogy about?

The Lady of the Pier trilogy tells the stories of Sofia and Laura – two girls from two different worlds who have a mysterious connection. In book 1, although similar in some ways, the two stories are seemingly unrelated. In book 2, they begin to merge and in the concluding volume, The Storm, they become one story. I recommend to start reading from book 1. The Storm is in the editing stage and will be published in December 2015.

For free excerpts, visit http://effrosyniwrites.com/books/

Book 1

LOVE WILL GO ON FOREVER, SEEKING A SECOND CHANCE.

BRIGHTON, 1937

Dreaming of wealth and happiness, Laura Mayfield arrives in Brighton to pursue a new life. She falls for Christian Searle, a happy-go-lucky stagehand at the West Pier theatre, but when she’s offered a chance to perform there, her love for him is put to the test. Charles Willard, a wealthy aristocrat, is fascinated by her and pursues her relentlessly. Will Laura choose love… or money?

CORFU, 1987

On a long holiday with her grandparents, Sofia Aspioti meets Danny Markson, a charming flirt who makes her laugh. Although she tries to keep him at arm’s length, worried that village gossip will get back to her strict family, she falls desperately in love. That’s when strange dreams about Brighton’s West Pier and a woman dressed in black begin to haunt her. Who is this grieving woman? And how is her lament related to Sofia’s feelings for Danny?

Only 99c on Amazon!

Book 2

She won’t find peace until she finds redemption.

But it’ll take more than love; it’ll take two worlds, to merge into one.

BRIGHTON 1938

Laura and Christian enjoy a blissful summer, while Charles watches from a distance, waiting for the right time to intervene. This time, he’s prepared to do something truly vile as to leave nothing to chance. WWII breaks out, and Laura does her best to settle in a new life, having paid a terrible price. Will she find happiness at last, or will the past continue to haunt her?

CORFU 1988

Sofia arrives in Vassilaki brokenhearted over Danny. Just as a new boy comes into her life, the strange dreams start anew. Now in Brighton, she meets Danny again, but he blows hot and cold. When she sees a female apparition on the West Pier, she finds out the locals call her ‘The Lady of the Pier’. Is this the woman in her dreams and why is Sofia the only one who can see her?

Official launch date: June 26, 2015

Available on preorder – only 99c for a limited time on Amazon!

Book3

The concluding part of the trilogy, The Storm, is currently in the editing stage.

It will be released in December 2015.

Have you enjoyed this post on EffrosyniWrites? Follow us by email or RSS feed (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter as to keep up to date with her new releases & book promotions (FREE & $0.99)

Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

June 15, 2015 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

Hot new book: Pandora’s Prophecy by Julie Ryan

Are you dreaming of a summer holiday? How about a combination of mystery and romance? Today, I have a great recommendation for you: Pandora’s Prophecy by Julie Ryan. Check this out:

‘Pandora’s Prophecy’ is the third in the Greek Island Mystery series but can be read as a standalone, although some characters from the previous books do make an appearance.

Lisa and Mark are going through a rough patch. Vicky is seventeen and has just discovered that the man she thought was her father really isn’t. Ruth is getting over her husband’s betrayal after nearly twenty-five years of marriage. On the surface they have nothing in common except that they are all staying in the same hotel on a Greek island. As they each come into contact with the mysterious Pandora, their lives will change forever. Bodies begin to pile up as a serial killer is on the loose, who might just be targeting the hotel. The island’s Police Chief, Christos Pavlides, tries to solve the puzzle but he has problems of his own to resolve. It seems that the local celebrity author is the one who holds the key.

Find Pandora’s Prophecy on Amazon.com

About the author

Julie Ryan was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and two cats, a rescue cat and a dippy cat with half a tail. She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance, as she can’t bear to get rid of any! They have been attempting to renovate their home for the last ten years.

She is the author of three novels set in Greece: Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy. She considers Greece to be her spiritual home and visits as often as she can. This series was inspired by her desire to return to Crete although there is a strong pull to revisit the Cyclades too.

Visit Julie’s Amazon page

Visit Julie’s Blog, All Things Bookie

Visit Julie’s Blog, Julie’s World of Books

Connect with Julie on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/julieryan18

Connect with Julie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor

Discover all the books in the Greek Island Mystery Series…

When Jenna decides on a whim to go to Greece, she’s trying to escape her failing marriage. Will Greg let her go so easily though? Can she make a new future for herself and how did she get involved in an antiques smuggling ring? Is fellow holidaymaker Tom all he seems and will it be happy ever after with Nikos? It’s not until twenty-five years later that some of the questions are finally answered.

Find Jenna’s Journey on Amazon.com

or copy and paste this link in your browser for your local Amazon store: MyBook.to/Jennasjourney

This is the second book in the Greek Island Mystery series. Although each book is intended to be read as a standalone, some of the characters from the first book, ‘Jennas’s Journey’, do make an appearance. Kat has never understood why she was sent at the age of seven from Greece to live in England with her Aunt Tigi. When she receives an email from her grandmother, the first contact in over twenty years, informing her of her mother’s death, she knows this could be her last chance to find out the truth. Little by little she finds out the shocking facts as her grandmother opens her heart. It seems everyone has a secret to tell, not only her grandmother, as Manoli, her school friend, also harbours a guilty secret. Then there’s a twenty year old mystery to solve as well as a murder and what happened to the missing Church treasure?

Find Sophia’s Secret on Amazon.com

or copy and paste this link in your browser for your local Amazon store: MyBook.to/Sophiassecret

Have you enjoyed this post on EffrosyniWrites? Follow us by email or RSS feed (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter as to keep up to date with her new releases & book promotions (FREE & $0.99)

Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

May 26, 2015 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

News on The Lady of the Pier trilogy

Hello peeps! I am very excited to announce today that I’ve now finished writing the first draft of The Storm, the last book in The Lady of the Pier trilogy. I still can’t believe it’s done. This has been a complex project that has required a staggering amount of research, mainly because I wanted to record life in Brighton in WWII and to tell the actual story of The West Pier throughout.

Also, I had to deal with two separate timelines that had to blend into one in the concluding volume. Basically it was like writing two separate trilogies at the same time, something that I found daunting plenty of times along the way. In the end, I wrote the stories of Sofia and Laura as two separate books, and then combined them on each volume. I am feeling dizzy just thinking about it – but it is a story very close to my heart, and I think it was worth every bit of the complexity I had to deal with.

Needless to say, for my next project, I am thinking of something light-hearted that requires no research at all, just to give myself a break! I am thinking of trying my hand with a chick-lit story next time, and just because normality bores me, I guess I’ll have to put into the mix some kind of supernatural, whimsical element again, just to keep me interested!

Now, a great offer and some more info on the trilogy:

Book 1, The Ebb, is currently 99c on Amazon USA only. Grab a copy before the offer ends! This is the most light-hearted among the three volumes, and it will please lovers of sweet romance and beach romance.

In Book2, The Flow, life takes a very tragic turn for Laura. This book is predominantly a drama, and also has ample historical and paranormal elements. Look out for it this summer, or better yet, sign up to my newsletter to hear it first when this book is launched!

Book 3, The Storm, is where the two parallel timelines merge into one. To make it possible, I had to intensify the paranormal element to the max! The spookiness is off the charts here, and I hope lovers of the paranormal among you will enjoy it. If you sign up to the newsletter, I’ll make sure to notify you towards the end of the year when this book is released.

All in all, I think I have created a series of three books where each one has a totally different feel. Some readers may find The Flow shockingly dramatic, but as I told my biggest fan, my step-daughter Stephanie, no matter how much devastation Laura goes through, I promise the trilogy will have a perfectly happy ending.

I hope you will enjoy The Lady of the Pier trilogy, should you decide to give it a try. I expect The West Pier’s exceptional story will fascinate you if you do, just like it has charmed me, enough to want to tell it.

Remember, The Ebb is 99c on Amazon USA for a limited time only. Get your copy here.

April 28, 2015 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

Book Review: The Postcard by Lily Graham

Followers of this blog may be familiar with my previous post, an interview with Lily Graham, where the author spoke extensively about her writing and also let us take a look at a couple of her awesome paintings. Today, I am pleased to post my review for her enchanting novella, The Postcard.

The Postcard is a delightful story of women’s fiction that had just the right amount of humor, sentiment and quirkiness thrown into the mix to make it just perfect for my tastes. It reminded me a lot of my favorite novels by Irish author Cecilia Ahern, whose stories are sprinkled with the same kind of magic. Lily Graham has written a very touching story. The spirit of a deceased mother makes an appearance in the life of her daughter—as to protect and comfort her–via unexplainable writings on an old postcard. It was a wonderful way to speak about the connection between a mother and her children, how precious it is, so much that not even death really breaks it. The book is well written when it comes to use of language, but I thought it requires a proper copy edit; I refer mainly to the commas and quotes, which I kept finding in the wrong place or missing where they should be. Without this flaw, the book would be simply perfect. I will definitely look out for the next book by this author.

My rating

4 stars

A touching story sprinkled with magic!

Fancy a whimsical tale of a daughter whose mother can’t stop caring for her even after death?

This little gem will play a touching little tune at your heartstrings!

FIND IT NOW ON AMAZON

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Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

April 20, 2015 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

Interview with Lauren Lynne, author of The Secret Watchers Series

Today I’m delighted to welcome Lauren Lynne, a lovely author I’ve met in The Fantasy & Scifi Network (we are both members of the group). Lauren writes young-adult fantasy, but her Secret Watcher Series has fans among people of all ages. Join me as I check out her awesome book covers and then, on for a good chinwag!

Welcome to the world of Owen Ryer and The Secret Watchers. Owen is given glimpses of horrible things that have happened and is driven to fix them but it’s a dangerous life and he’s been told he has to keep it a secret. Homework and chores are bad enough when you’re in eighth grade but now this? He already hated school and now he must stand up to school bullies and even bigger ones out in the world beyond the school’s doors. Now it’s a race to see if Owen can master his special ability before the dark watchers destroy him or turn him to the side of evil and chaos. Everyone needs a hero and sometimes the best ones are the unintentional ones. Owen is that kind of guy as he searches for purpose, acceptance and morality. He isn’t perfect, he doesn’t always do things right, but he has the greater good at heart – always.

You are invited to follow Owen as he journeys through the darkest walk he has ever taken; where he captures images of the underbelly of society, a place he never knew existed and didn’t want to see. After you read Visions, will you be looking under your bed and double checking your closet? Please enter the Secret Watchers universe if you dare but beware – you may be sucked right into the good versus evil suspense of jaw-clenching action and never want to leave.

FIND IT NOW ON AMAZON

For Owen, high school is difficult enough without adding the stress of knowing that there are some things in this world that only a secret watcher can fix. Too bad one of their special abilities isn’t repairing relationships because he feels like no one understands. Owen wonders what is going on with Lucie who is doing everything she can to avoid him. Then there’s Tess. She’s older, wiser and seems to really like him, but he’s afraid that she might just be using him. Something strange is happening on campus and his friend Katie is involved. And finally his father is not himself, blames Owen for everything and threatens to give his secret away. Owen is scared – plenty of dark watchers are already after him without his father exposing his presence and abilities to the rest of the world.

Owen and his family must go to Florida in the hope that he and his mentor, White Eagle, can get to the bottom of what is going on with his father. More importantly Owen hopes to discover what is behind the strange, potent relationship that his father and grandfather have rekindled after years of not speaking. They’re afraid it’s a trap but what choice do they have? It’s not in Owen’s nature to avoid danger. He will go where he is needed. Now if he can just make it out alive… because girl problems, not getting along with his dad and keeping up on homework are nothing compared to what’s waiting.

FIND IT NOW ON AMAZON

Owen Ryer thought he was normal. He thought his life was boring. A walk into a pawnshop in eighth grade showed him that his life was a lie. Two years later Owen has accepted how far from normal he really is. He has a special gift, granting him the ability to see dark energy in the objects around him. Now he’s part of a secret society where people like himself help others and fight the dark watchers who want them for their powers.

Owen has discovered that a Secret Watcher does not have to live his life alone. He knows that he can expand his powers by working with other watchers but what will the price be? Darkness is growing and evil thinks it has found its new prince in Owen. They will stop at nothing to get to him even if it means kidnapping, mind-control or murder. Owen must do more than fight; he must use his wits and every ability he has at his disposal to hold the growing darkness at bay. Who knew high school could be more challenging than football, homework and relationships? The dark side knows… and they’re watching.

FIND IT NOW ON AMAZON

Marlo finds a missing watcher and now it’s up to Lucie and Owen to go undercover to pull her out, if she’s even still alive. They find themselves thrown into the world of human trafficking and are afraid they won’t make it out alive. Caged, drugged and confused, they lose sight of their mission. Then they must face the truth about darkness and light or is it all shades of gray? How will they save someone else if they can’t even save themselves? Sometimes you have to do truly horrible things for the greater good but then what does that make you? What do you become if you are just as malicious as the dark watcher you are supposed to be saving everyone from? White Eagle says that power is power, but Owen has absorbed dark watcher gifts. He can feel himself morphing and he’s pretty sure he’s nowhere near good anymore. What will two damaged watchers do now? Are you still good if you’ve been consumed by darkness? Owen will have to figure that out before it’s too late. He meets a mysterious stranger who has an interesting offer. Owen can’t decide if it’s worth the risk but it becomes more and more appealing as he is used again and again by both sides and now that he’s actually killed someone, who will save him?

FIND IT NOW ON AMAZON

Hello Lauren and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros, thank you for the invitation!

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I am working with my editor on the last of The Secret Watchers books, book five, Destiny. Closing a series is bittersweet, but I’m looking forward to new adventures. I also started a whole new genre. I’m working on my first dystopian. It will feature a female protagonist who has unique computer skills. The big bad government has her beta testing what she thinks is a game but in reality they are planning to kill off a portion of the population, and they are using her to plan how to do it.

Your next book sounds awesome, Lauren! Tell us, are there any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I am an amateur photographer in my spare time. My son, my dad and I love to go on day hikes and take the camera with us. Most of the “art” in our house is pictures we have taken. Each of my covers includes at least one photo that I have taken. I also love to read young adult novels and go to the movies; they are my guilty pleasures.

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Go out there and make friends with the other amazing people who are in this business with you. As a group, indie authors have been incredibly generous with their tips and advice. They bring you up on a bad day and celebrate every success. I love my author buddies!

Oh, how right you are! Choose a male and a female character from your book and tell us which actor/actress you’d wish to play them in a film adaptation.

When I first started writing Visions, book one of the Secret Watchers, I had just watched the Twilight movies. Before I watch any book-adapted movie, I read the book first. I thought the Jacob Black character was pretty amazing and undervalued so Taylor Lautner became my vision of Owen. My oldest son, who was a junior in high school when I began the books, chose AnnaSophia Robb as the person he visualized as Lucie. He also named her and helped me decide what her attributes would be.

Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?

I found an answer to this one. First I bought a stand up desk so that I only sit part of the time. I love to hike and sometimes I just walk. I’m not as young as I once was, so I also do a little yoga. I’ll be honest, I need to move more and eat less but I love food. I am a work in progress!

Oh, I can relate to that (giggles). Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?

I love to listen to music when I work. I’m a big fan of epic movie music. Howard Shore, James Newton Howard and Blake Neely are my favorite composers. I also listen to music from some of my favorite TV series, like Arrow. Looking at my playlists I see that I have a lot of Maroon 5 and Nickelback.

Anything else you like to do to get the creative juices flowing?

I watch action-adventure TV and movies. I also go out and live my life. I take my journal everywhere I go and when I see, feel, hear, or smell something that moves me, I write it down and save it for the appropriate scene. As for office help… I keep a golden retriever at my feet and two cats on the shelves by my desk. No really! No joke, I’ve lost shelf space to kitty nap zones.

Delightful photo! What were your most and least favorite subjects in school?

Okay, funny story… back in school I hated… wait for it… ENGLISH! I was a science and math girl all through school and into college. As I traveled further along the road of life, I became a writer. I suddenly realized no one was telling me what to write anymore. I had all these emotions building up inside, and one day I started writing and couldn’t stop. Now I fight for my writing time.

Good for you! Well, Lauren, this has been a blast. Thank you so much for being here today.

It’s been a pleasure, Fros. Many thanks again for this opportunity!

I’m author Lauren Lynne. The good side of growing up is that you can write whatever you want. The downside… now I can’t read it without my glasses! I have the soul of an adventurer but the heart of a coward when it comes to danger, yet I’m drawn to all things action-adventure, so this particular genre was a natural fit. You won’t find me bungee jumping, cliff diving or doing parkour because, well… I’m a klutz… so I write it. Think of me as an armchair adventure hound. I create characters who are much braver, tougher, more graceful and athletic than I will ever be. When you dream, dream big!

I love working with students who have a thirst for knowledge. I write for young adults because they are the age group I most love to teach. I grew up in a house where reading was expected, anticipated and enjoyed. I want to pass that joy on to my students. I do not write alone, but pull in my boys for real life teenaged insight. I also listen to my students.

I am a native of the Pacific Northwest, with its vivid and varied panoramas. When I’m not writing, I can be found spending time with my family, working with students, reading, gardening or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge or the Oregon Coast with my camera. I am also a graduate of both Oregon State and Portland State universities with degrees in education and science. Writing is my passion and I want to share my love of it and reading with you.

Visit Lauren’s Amazon page

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Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

December 21, 2014 by Effrosyni Moschoudi

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN WEBSITE AS IF YOU WERE A PRO

WELCOME TO MY NEW WEBSITE!

So here I am, this time welcoming you to my own home, after the mishap I recently had when WordPress suspended my blog for a couple of days without prior notice. By the way, if you’re an author or a blogger (or both), you may want to check out the relevant post where I shared my scary experience as you may want to know what risks you’re running with a free blog.

So, as I promised to my readers back then, I am announcing here today my self-hosted site along with the details of the super-duper tutorial that made it all possible.

If you like the look of this site that is even customized to include a book table just for authors, all you need to do is follow the 11-video tutorial by Simon Whistler of Rocking Self-Publishing Podcast.

Simon is a great guy. Not only has he had the inclination to guide fellow authors, having invested his time in creating this FREE tutorial for everyone, but he’s also very friendly and helpful should you contact him directly. I had a question at some point and he was more than happy to point me in the right direction. If you follow this tutorial at any time, I kindly suggest that in order to buy the web hosting from Hostgator, that you get there from Simon’s site as he prompts you on the tutorial. This way he gets to have a little commission which in my eyes was the least I could have done to say thank you.

You will find the tutorial, as set out by Simon on his site, here.

Once you’ve watched the introductory video on his site and seen how the tutorial is set out, you may want to watch the other videos straight on Youtube where Simon has made them all available in his channel, here.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON THE TUTORIAL. KEEP HANDY!

SPAMMERS/SECURITY: When you run a self-hosted site, keeping away spammers becomes a bit of a feat. In my free blog, I have the use of the plugin Akismet free of charge which keeps the spammers in check but here, it is a paid option. To protect my new site I chose the free plugin Wordfence. A friend recommended it and it’s great for security. You run an initial check after installation and you’re protected for life. The program notifies you by email whenever someone tries to hack you, if plugins need updating and in other situations that demand your attention. Spam messages still come to your comments for you to trash manually but, it’s a Free plugin, and I have peace of mind for the most important stuff. Highly recommended. On the subject of hackers, I can’t stress enough the importance of strong passwords. You can learn how to choose one here. Also, make sure your admin user name is not ‘admin’ as this is what the hackers use to get in.

FADE OUT EFFECT ON IMAGES: There’s an extra video link which you won’t find in the above URLs but Simon has added it in a comment under one of his tutorial videos. For your convenience, you’ll find it here. This is optional, and only if you wish to get rid of the fade out effect on your book covers as they appear on the right sidebar. As you can see, I’ve taken this option too so that my covers are fully visible at all times; not only when the mouse pointer hovers over them.

HOSTGATOR: If you’re planning to follow Simon’s tutorial, take your time first and check Hostgator’s site regularly (or simply their Twitter page) as they periodically do huge discounts. I did that and opted to buy the hosting service on a day when they had a 55% discount! The previous day, they had run a 75% discount that was valid only for an hour! You get the idea. It’s worth choosing the right time if you want to get an extra saving. If you do pick a day that has a big discount, use the coupon code that Hostgator prompts you for and not Simon’s as his would be only for 25% discount.

RSS FEED: There’s one aspect that’s not covered in the tutorial, and this was actually a big surprise for me because it’s a rather tricky one that many people (including me) know nothing about. I refer to the dreaded ‘RSS feed’. Upon finishing the course, I felt rather lost because I knew I had to prompt people to follow my new blog somehow but I didn’t know how. WP doesn’t provide a ‘follow’ button here like it does on my free blog.

Thankfully, with a bit of surfing, I was lucky to come across some useful advice and so, I tried my hand at it and managed to set up two relevant widgets that you can see on the right sidebar now. One prompts the reader to subscribe to the blog on this site by email, while the other (the black one), prompts visitors to subscribe directly to the feed. Don’t worry if this sounds daunting! You couldn’t possibly know less than I did yesterday when I set this up and it was a lot easier than I’d thought. UPDATE: I have now blogged these instructions too. You can find them here.

SECOND UPDATE: This tutorial will leave you with two more problems, both minor, but they proved very annoying to me and I’ve now found adequate fixes which I’m happy to share: Check out the plugins ‘Postmatic’ and ‘Better Click to Tweet’. The former now allows my visitors to subscribe to follow up comments (before, they were never notified their comments had received replies). The latter plugin now allows me to set up scripts for people to share my posts on Twitter (like the one you see at the bottom of this post). If you follow the tutorial you will wind up with a set up that won’t allow custom scripts when sharing a post. With the ‘Better Click to Tweet’ plugin I can create the tweet of my choice so people can share it.

So, here it is. I’ve treaded the path and found it relatively easy. One can build the site as fast or as slowly as they want. I’m pleased with what I’ve managed to make single-handedly and hopefully you like it too; I hope you will let it be one of your favorite hangouts!

Are you an author needing help with promotion? Check out my FREE, cracking good tips and resources: http://effrosyniwrites.com/for-authors/

How to create your own website as if you were a pro! #IARTG #ASMSG Share on X

Do you love Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers (sparse emails) NEW: To read Effrosyni’s books for FREE (yes, free!), sign up to her team of loyal readers here. It’s free to join!

Welcome to Effrosyni Writes

This is the website of Greek author, Effrosyni Moschoudi. Go to the 'FREE STUFF' page on the menu to get her FREE books! Also, her travel guide to Moraitika and Messonghi in Corfu and the Greek recipes are unmissable if you love all things Greek!

Uncategorized

A post about summertime!

Discover The Lady of the Pier trilogy

The Ebb is currently only 99c and The Flow is on preorder for 99c too, but only for a limited time!

Have you enjoyed this post on EffrosyniWrites? Follow us by email or RSS feed (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter as to keep up to date with her new releases & book promotions (FREE & $0.99)

Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

Hot new book: Pandora’s Prophecy by Julie Ryan

Are you dreaming of a summer holiday? How about a combination of mystery and romance? Today, I have a great recommendation for you: Pandora’s Prophecy by Julie Ryan. Check this out:

‘Pandora’s Prophecy’ is the third in the Greek Island Mystery series but can be read as a standalone, although some characters from the previous books do make an appearance.

About the author

Discover all the books in the Greek Island Mystery Series…

Have you enjoyed this post on EffrosyniWrites? Follow us by email or RSS feed (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter as to keep up to date with her new releases & book promotions (FREE & $0.99)

Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

News on The Lady of the Pier trilogy

Book Review: The Postcard by Lily Graham

Followers of this blog may be familiar with my previous post, an interview with Lily Graham, where the author spoke extensively about her writing and also let us take a look at a couple of her awesome paintings. Today, I am pleased to post my review for her enchanting novella, The Postcard.

Have you enjoyed this post on EffrosyniWrites? Follow us by email or RSS feed (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter as to keep up to date with her new releases & book promotions (FREE & $0.99)

Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

Interview with Lauren Lynne, author of The Secret Watchers Series

Have you enjoyed this post on EffrosyniWrites? Follow us by email or RSS feed (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! You can also sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter as to keep up to date with her new releases & book promotions (FREE & $0.99)

Interested to read more from this author? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find awesome tips for authors, interviews, book reviews, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN WEBSITE AS IF YOU WERE A PRO

WELCOME TO MY NEW WEBSITE!

So, as I promised to my readers back then, I am announcing here today my self-hosted site along with the details of the super-duper tutorial that made it all possible.

If you like the look of this site that is even customized to include a book table just for authors, all you need to do is follow the 11-video tutorial by Simon Whistler of Rocking Self-Publishing Podcast.

You will find the tutorial, as set out by Simon on his site, here.

Once you’ve watched the introductory video on his site and seen how the tutorial is set out, you may want to watch the other videos straight on Youtube where Simon has made them all available in his channel, here.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON THE TUTORIAL. KEEP HANDY!

So, here it is. I’ve treaded the path and found it relatively easy. One can build the site as fast or as slowly as they want. I’m pleased with what I’ve managed to make single-handedly and hopefully you like it too; I hope you will let it be one of your favorite hangouts!

Do you love Greece? Check out our guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Sign up to the newsletter for Effrosyni’s news and special offers (sparse emails) NEW: To read Effrosyni’s books for FREE (yes, free!), sign up to her team of loyal readers here. It’s free to join!