~ Belva Davis
News
'The Brothers of Turoc' has made it into the Quarterfinals of ABNA!
21 March 2012
Well I didn't get much sleep last night, so was a bit bleary-eyed when I flicked on my computer at 6am this morning to check the Quarterfinals list for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The list was released at 2am Brisbane time, but I've been coding websites 12-14 hours a day this week so staying up that late was not an option!
And I am BLITHERINGLY excited to announce that 'The Brothers of Turoc' was on the list :) Excited enough to make up adverbs (yes, yes, I know adverbs are the devil!). The next round of semi-finalists will be announced on April 24, which whittles the 250 Quarterfinalists down to just 50. I believe I'll be somewhere in the USA at the time, possibly Texas, so at least I won't have to wake up at some unnatural hour to get the results. I have to say though, that I'm really proud to have gotten this far at all, especially with a self-published book that couldn't land a traditional publisher in Australia. Self-publishing is a tough road, and you have to work 100 times as hard to get it 'out there'. But this is certainly helping!
If you'd like to read the first seven chapters of 'The Brothers of Turoc', there is a link in my post below... now to celebrate, I have another 14 hours of coding ahead of me!
5 days until the quarter-finalists of the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award are announced!
16 March 2012
Eeek! In just 5 days Amazon and Create Space will be announcing the quarter-final results of ABNA, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award... 'The Brothers of Turoc' has made it to the second round, but will Aari and Theo manage to sneak on into the quarter finals? I really so hope (obviously!) because even if the book makes it no further than that, it means I made it into the top 5% overall... and with 5,000 entrants per category, that's a pretty good feather to go in their little caps!
If you'd like to have a sneak peek at 'The Brothers of Turoc' and see what all the fuss is about, you can download the first 7 chapters here.
For those who have read the book, or even just the excerpt, I'm seeking small reviews of one-or-two sentences to post online also... please send them through to author@rjtimmis.net
Happy reading!
Houston, we are ready for (book) launch!
10 February 2012
There's just a little over a week to go before the official launch of 'The Brothers of Turoc'. The belly dancer is booked, the decorations are sorted, and if you live in Logan keep an eye out for the 'Reporter' on Wednesday the 15th of Feb for a little 'What's On' piece about the launch!
Special thanks to local business Deep Grey Photography for their incredibly generous donation of 3 Portrait Gift Cards valued at $250 each, to be given away as lucky door prizes on the day. Thanks also to wine accessory gurus Wine Treasures for supplying their beautiful Wine Light products as decorations (and possibly a prize or two as well!).
Click here for full details of the event. RSVP and queries can be forwarded to author@rjtimmis.net
Get your copy of my latest book, and first young adult novel, 'The Brothers of Turoc'
24 January 2012
Not even a week after they went to print, 150 copies of 'The Brothers of Turoc' have just been dropped off at my doorstep, straight from Eplot Printing. Short-listed for the 2011 Text Prize, 'The Brothers of Turoc' is a standalone young adult novel for readers 14yrs+ set in an ancient land of deserts, domed cities and mystical gypsies. It follows the thrilling journey of Aari and Theo, two child slaves who work in the diamond mines of the false god King Allure. Read more here!
100% self-published, the book was edited by the amazing Helen Maurus after a thorough assessment by Sally Odgers through her Affordable Manuscript Assessment service. You can buy the book online or learn more about my self-publication journey in one of my workshops next month. Click here for more details!
The official book launch will be held at Alexander Clark Park on Saturday February 18, between 4 & 6pm. It is an open event and all are welcome! There will be great food, some light-hearted entertainment and great prizes, PLUS $5 from every book sold will be donated to Amnesty International.
If you'd like to come along, please RSVP to author@rjtimmis.net
Welcome to the R.J. Timmis website!
9 January 2012
Welcome to the home page of children's writer and illustrator R.J. Timmis! This new site will showcase my books, artwork and writing events, as well as give writers a platform to learn about the self-publishing industry.
You can book a workshop, enquire about school visits and purchase books online. Read through my tips for writers and illustrators, look up events and book releases or just drop me a line!