It still amazed me that this tiny little person was my daughter. And not just that I was a father, but that I was in a loving, committed relationship with the mother.
Nine months ago, when Megan had first told me she was pregnant, my life began spinning out of control. Reeling from the shock, I bounced from one disaster to the next, until I almost lost everything. But somehow, along the way, I’d gained so much more. I’d gained all the things my life had been missing, but I’d just never realised.
Before I’d met Megan, all I’d cared about was living up to the grandiose picture of perfection I’d created for myself. The only things that mattered were winning fights, making money, and having women fall at my feet. All that seemed a pale imitation to what I had now. Genuine, unconditional love for my little girl, and a woman who wanted me despite the bullshit. A woman I loved enough to want to change and become a better person for.
I was hers. Her Kian Murphy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Well, it’s been a long time coming, but my first book is finally here. And it wouldn’t have happened without a lot of help along the way.
First, to Hubby. I don’t think ‘thank you’ will ever cover what I want to say to you. In many ways, this book is as much yours as it is mine. From the hours you’ve spent proofreading and editing it, to the hours spent listening to me waffle about it, to the pieces of you borrowed for Kian. Not only that, but you’ve always been there to encourage me when I doubted myself, or handle some of life’s responsibilities so I could focus on writing. I love you. Always.
To my kids, Oldest and Youngest. I know you don’t really ‘get’ my writing, but even still, you never complain when I spend hours on the computer, or I if I sometimes seem distracted by my thoughts. You guys inspire me in so many ways, and every day I’m blessed to be your mum. I love you, both.
To Mum, even though you’re not a big fiction reader, you’ve always been a big inspiration and motivator. From the early days when you paid for me to do a writing course, to the present, when you never fail to take an interest in my writing, and ask how things are progressing. I love you.
Next, to my friend, cheerleader and editor, Karen. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? From Harry Potter fan-fiction about the Black brothers, to published authors! I’m honoured to have had you by my side every step of the way, and I’m eternally grateful for your support, encouragement, words of wisdom, and the laughter you bring to my life. Until the next time we hang out, and we shut random men in coffee shops, thank you! <3
To Kim, who has always been a source of inspiration, love and encouragement. I miss you, my soul sister. Hopefully one day soon we can discover our Narnia together. <3
To Christine, Rachel and Tina, who have supported my writing since the beginning, thank you. Thank you for being great friends, and always being there if I need to talk about writing, or just life in general.
To Mish. Thank you for taking the time to painstakingly critique and proofread All It Takes, and offer suggestions on how it could be improved throughout. Sometimes what you really need is a second, unbiased, pair of eyes, and I know without yours, this novel wouldn’t have been half as good as it is.
To the awesome people at Snowy Wings Publishing; thank you for taking me under your wings <– See what I did there! Self-publishing is a scary process, but with a group of other authors and industry professionals behind me, it became a lot easier.
To Katie Robinson, thank you for the continuous support and encouragement, the sound marketing/ publicity advice, and for introducing me to the people at Snowy Wings Publishing.
To everyone who read All It Takes when it was a web serial – especially Jester79, Du, amelia125, julianmarq, skye real, brhi, kayyleigghfarrell, Aye_Its_beba, neysi07, blondbrigade, evilmissmilina, McKenzieFehr, JuhCostaM, Ava_gold, Relaxx, z0eyzo, Ariaboo, Michael Walsh, Pat Garcia, and Julia Matthews – thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my novel every week. Your encouragement and support is the reason I keep writing, and every new message in my inbox notifying me someone has liked or commented on my story keeps me going when times are rough.
To Nikki Tetreault, Awnna Marie Evans and Kelly Siskind. Thank you for offering me your professional opinions on All It Takes. Even though I decided to self-publish in the end, I’m still grateful to all of you for taking the time to read my story, offer my advice, and encourage me that it was good enough to query. Your belief in my writing helped me never give up.
To my employers and co-workers at Curiosity Quills Press; thank you for giving me a job that allows me to be around for my family, and also focus on my writing. And thank you for all the invaluable things about the publishing industry you’ve taught me. I’d just like to go on record and say – in case anyone wonders – the reasons I didn’t query CQP was that I’m too impatient to traditionally publish right now (lol), and I didn’t want anyone thinking my debut novel was only published due to my work-connection.
Finally, to everyone reading this now, who’ve bought All It Takes. Thank you. I know with millions of books vying for attention on Amazon etc. it’s easy to dismiss a story from an unknown author. So, thanks for taking a chance on my story, and I hope you enjoyed it.
COMING FALL 2017
FROM CLARE DUGMORE
SEEKING THE TRUTH; A PARANORMAL-ROMANCE NOVELLA.
ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST TODAY
Erin Reynolds has been on the West Midlands Police force for seven years. She’s seen some strange things in the line of duty, but nothing quite like this.
On her first day working as a detective Erin witnesses a strange murder that makes the whole department question her sanity, and leads to her being sent on a leave of absence.
Desperate to prove what she saw was real, Erin tracks down the only other witness, Arcane Specialist Morgan Jackson. The occult expert is as infuriating as he is charming.
When the killer leaves a disturbing message on her answer phone, Erin is forced to work with Morgan to catch the culprit and get her job reinstated.
The hunt takes them around the West Midlands, visiting a flirty priestess, a druid on the wrong side of the law and a sorcerer from Morgan’s past. As Erin learns more about the supernatural world, she also realizes there’s more to Morgan than just his sarcastic wit and arcane knowledge.
She’s drawn to him almost as deeply as she is to the truth of what she saw. Her feelings for him are bought into sharp when Morgan gets on the wrong side of the murderer and it’s up to Erin to rescue him, and stop the occult forces plaguing the area before the darkness takes over.
COMING APRIL 2017
FROM JANE WATSON
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DUDEBRO
PRE-ORDER HERE
With the theater festival behind her and graduation around the corner, Grizz Sheridan figured she was done with Kurt Minola. She wants to focus on spending time with her friends and enjoying her last summer before she goes off to college.
No such luck now that Kurt’s crushing on her best friend (and his twin brother’s girlfriend), Patricia. It seems like he’s glued to her side no matter where she goes—class, parties, even Prom.
Grizz thinks her luck is changing when she begins working at Merry Mule Coffee Roasters and meets super hottie, Dimitri. That is, until a certain surfer boy starts working there, too—and suddenly seems to have turned his romantic interests elsewhere…
Will Grizz survive the summer?
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FROM JOY PENNY
A LOVE FOR THE PAGES
AVAILABLE NOW ON KINDLE UNLIMITED
Kiss. Marry. Kill. Nineteen-year-old June Eyermann has always known exactly which of her favorite Byronic heroes goes where. She’d kiss moody and possessive Rochester from Jane Eyre and marry prideful but repentant Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, leaving obsessive and spiteful Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights to be chucked off a cliff—but no. She couldn’t leave any of her heroes behind. She lives for her favorite fictional worlds.
But June is about to get a serious wake up call when she returns home for the summer after her college freshman year. Stuck somewhere between feeling like a kid again under her parents’ roof and being forced to start acting like an adult with worries about her future career, June looks at the library volunteer position offered to her as a way to keep her sanity for the next few months before she can go back to school.
What June doesn’t expect to find at the library is her favorite romantic heroes brought to life—all in the same man. Obstinate, prideful and even a bit rude, Everett Rockford shouldn’t exactly be “dating material,” even if June’s heart rate accelerates whenever she’s near him. But after discovering his enigmatic past and witnessing a few fiery moments of tenderness, June can’t help but see Rochester, Darcy and even Heathcliff in Everett. If she’s going to make it through the summer without becoming a tragic heroine in her own story, she has to separate the man from the ideals of fiction in her head. Because if there’s one thing she knows about Byronic love stories, it’s that they don’t always end happily ever after.
ABOUT CLARE DUGMORE
Clare Dugmore is an author of all things romantic; be they contemporary, paranormal, fantasy. She loves a good love story!
She is a thirty-something, married, mother of two from the West Midlands, of England.
In her spare time, Clare enjoys binge watching shows with her hubby, spending time with her two sons, and playing video games.
She can be found on the following social media sites:
Website | Newsletter | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
THANK YOU FOR READING
© 2016 Clare Dugmore
http://www.claredugmore.com
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