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About the book, Lights over Dreary
Life as Mercy Fisher knows it is about to romp to an end. All Mercy wishes for is a little excitement, but as a bored checkout operator for a local supermarket, the closest she gets to any is the occasional smashed bottle of wine or exploding bag of pasta. Her life takes a turn for the weird and dangerous though when an alien prince, on the run from another dimension, arrives seeking protection from giant space fleas and enemy bounty hunters.
With the prince indignantly trapped in the body of a domestic cat, hilarity ensues as Mercy struggles against the machinations of an evil corporation, puzzles over her past and tries not to throttle her new feline companion for being obnoxious - all the while doubting her own sanity and coming to terms with a set of annoying new abilities. Assassins, killer robots, squishy invisible monsters and kick-ass action abound. Can Mercy save the town from being vaporized by Agents from beyond? Or will her quest for normal un-alien-tampered hair and a boyfriend come first?
Lights over Dreary is the first book in a planned trilogy chronicling the Peculiar Adventures of Mercy Fisher. Book 2 should be released late 2014.
What people are saying about the book
"A wild, fantastical tale full of fast, funny dialogue, bold characters and elastic language. Aliens, other dimensions, government conspiracies and baked beans all play a part in this uniquely high fantasy style of sci-fi."
"I decided to branch out from my usual thrillers and I'm glad I did. It was really funny and an addictive read. Excellent plot and really likeable characters. Some of the more sci-fi references were lost on me but that didn't spoil my enjoyment in the slightest. Can't wait for the next instalment."
About the author
Alison Daines works full-time for a large department store as a retail geek. Unlike Mercy Fisher, she really knows her way around computers and helps customers on a daily basis. An avid fan of the science fiction and fantasy genre, as well as a keen role-player who prefers to delve deeply into her characters rather than dungeon-bashing and abusing monsters, she lives with her partner and hopes one day to get a howling dog and a cute but murderous cat to terrorise the neighbourhood Sopranos-style.
[tumblr] Adrift
10 March 2014
It’s been months since I could write anything due to some major surgery but I am finally getting around to dusting off the notes and ideas for book 2. Writing the book has turned out to be the easy part. I guess every author understands that but I wish someone would have spelled it out in the sky for me before I started.
I had hoped to get so much done during my recovery but it just hasn’t been the case. Now I need to get motivated and self-promote Mercy’s story. It’s a vast ocean out there and I know I’m the best damn mutant fish in it. I just need to glow a bit and wiggle my funky word-scales.
[tumblr] Next steps
7 August 2013
Began emailing literary agents today. Read somewhere you should send out at least 10 query letters a week - potentially more. What a daunting prospect! I think I’ll start with 2 and work my way up.
Fantastically, my partner is continuing to come up with artwork and has even been persuaded to compose a Mercy Fisher theme. What the heck, why not? The guideline being something along the lines of “Day the earth stood still” by Bernard Herrmann, the theme to “Sapphire and Steel,” and “Hitchhiker’s guide.”
Can’t wait to hear it.
[tumblr] Loose ends
5 August 2013
There are a lot of loose ends to begin tying up from book 1. Mercy’s powers, the mystery of her parents, the Agents - Tall and Scimitar, the disappearing tactical nuke, the order of assassins who want her dead, her shiny key fob, the continuing machinations of Zenith Power and the people behind it - the list goes on.
Fortunately though, I have plans on how to tie up all of these loose ends and promise a fair few of them will be resolved in book 2 which is shaping up to be a pretty wild ride for Mercy.
Currently still in the planning stage, which is proving invaluable, I intend to begin writing in November and finishing the first draft by the end of February 2014. if the first book is anything to go by, writing it isn’t a problem. Editing it afterwards is the real pain!
As a tease for book 2, let’s just say that Agent Tall turns up very early on and Mercy unwillingly gets to assist him in his day job - with disastrous consequences.
[tumblr] Chapter Breakdown
28 July 2013
Been working on a chapter breakdown for book 2. Was tentatively named “String Theory” but am now in favour of something more simple and specific to the story.
I am breaking everything down into scenes. Where is it? What does it look like there? Who is there? What is going to happen? By doing things this way I am coming up with lots of ideas.
When writing Lights over Dreary I just wrote it with zero planning. It just splurged out of the noggin and became a bit of a runaway monster. This time around, with such a complex back story already in existence, planning is a necessity!
[tumblr] So it begins
20 July 2013
Well, here goes. In an effort to promote my first book, “Lights over Dreary”, I’m entering the world of tumblr.
After 6 months of writing and 3.5 years of editing, it’s up there, on Amazon. At some point you just have to do it - take the plunge and say ‘to hell with it’.
Now, if only someone would read it and post a damn review. I have very little perspective when it comes to it. It could be crap, amazing or just meh.
Only time will tell.