Is it just me, or does this tickle a little funny bone?… “Standing with your shoulders back… makes you more row bust.”
Jan 082019
Dec 202018
RISK gets Distinguish Favorite Award 2018
I am so pleased to announce that Risk: Three Crime-fighting Women Risk All for Love, Lust & Justice has also won two SILVER Distinguished Favorite Awards in both the LGBTQ Fiction and the mainstream Romantic Suspense categories of the New York City Big Book Awards this year!
Dec 082018
“Alice: A Sleeping Monkey’s Lie” won Distinguished Favorite Award in the NYC Big Book Awards!!
I am also so proud to announce that my latest psychological thriller Alice: A Sleeping Monkey’s Lie has won two SILVER Distinguished Favorite Awards in both the LGBTQ Fiction and the mainstream World Literature categories of the New York City Big Book Awards this year!
To celebrate I’m running an *** Amazon CountDown Promotion *** starting TUESDAY 11th December: http://Dukebox.life/Alice_promo
Nov 272018
Simulation wins NYC Big Book Award! 2018
I am thrilled to announce my #LesbianFiction #Sci-Fi book, Simulation: The Dawn of a Superhero has won the New York City Big Book Award for the best New Adult Fiction book of 2018.
Get a copy now!>> http://Dukebox.life/Simulation
Nov 102018
#Selfie Saturday. Me on Hout Bay Beach doing research for my book “Alice: A Woman’s Flight for Freedom” Find out more at SamSkyborne.com .. Related Blog posts coming soon.
Oct 302018
Last year in June I decided I wanted to write a shorter LesFic novel with a romantic storyline. I had a little idea for a straightforward lesbian Alice in Wonderland meets Shirley Valentine, set in a wonderful holiday destination that I know really well — South Africa, specifically Cape Town.
Well, those were my famous last words.
I did manage to knock out a first draft of what I thought was a pretty straightforward LesFic holiday romance, but when I read it, I hated it! It felt like it was missing something key. I tried very hard to get enthusiastic, so that I could get on and write the next draft… but, I just was stuck.
As I started to reread my first draft again, I began thinking up all sorts of plot twists which then buzzed and fluttered around my brain and I almost had to sit on my hands not to start rewriting immediately. I sat with this, mulling away for about a month last summer, while I was in Lesbos and then the Maldives, where there was enough to distract me and keep me focussed elsewhere.
But, when I got back to the UK to start re-drafting in earnest, before my research recce to South Africa, I couldn’t resist the inevitable and soon my simple holiday romance took a more sinister turn. Before I knew it a psychological drama emerged, with plot twists and turns I could never have envisaged at the start.
Although “Alice” was always intended to be another one of the Toni Mendez adventure, it really was meant to be a straightforward romance!
I think I have to come to terms with the fact that I am incapable of writing a lesbian romance without complicating the plot!!!. Meanwhile, I had another idea for a short series of Maldivian romances, based on the island where Toni and Lizbeth go on holiday just before “Alice” in their timeline, but even those have turned into something more complicated and mostly darker… so, watch this space!
You can find out more about “Alice: A Woman’s Flight for Freedom” here >> http://Dukebox.life/Alice
Oct 232018
Starts Tuesday 23 October on Amazon!
Risk: Three Crime-fighting Women Risk All for Love, Lust and Justicve.
Winner of the “National Indie Excellence Award – Finalist
Get your copy at http://Dukebox.life/Risk!
Aug 212018
I am so honoured to be participating in EllCon 2018 – European Lesfic Literary Conference in Bristol on the 23rd and 24th of August this year. It promises a full programme (http://ellconmeet.org/programme/) of all sorts of entertainment and fun, including panel discussions, author readings, book signings and informal chats with all the exciting lesfic authors present.
You can find out more about the even here:
Some of the authors who will be joining in: http://ellconmeet.org/authors/
My Author page: http://ellconmeet.org/blog/author-spotlight-sam-skyborne/
Ticket information: http://ellconmeet.org/registration-and-payment/
The Venue: http://ellconmeet.org/venue-information/
And last but not least the EllCon mission: http://ellconmeet.org/mission/
>>> Be sure to connect with me at http://Dukebox.life/Subscribe to hear more news and see pics from the event.
Aug 182018
I am thrilled!! I have just received this amazing review on Amazon. Thank you Lily!
“I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Alice’ from start to finish. It is a compelling, can’t-put-it-down read. I have been waiting for more from this author since the last book, and this one does not disappoint. The characters are rich, the plot full of suspense and intrigue and the twists and turns of the story are very cleverly put together. All in all a very well written novel which I will read time and time again.”
To find out more about “Alice: A Woman’s Flight for Freedom” and get your copy look here http://dukebox.life/Alice
To be notified of early updates and new releases please join my contact list here: http://Dukebox.life/Subscribe
Alice: A Sleeping Monkey’s Lie
aka Alice: A Woman’s Flight for Freedom
A Lesbian Psychological Drama
All reaLity Is subjeCtivE
*** 2018 – NYC Big Book Award – Distinguished Favourite Award Winner ***
World Literature
LGBTQ Fiction
“Another fantastic, page-turner, featuring P.I. Toni Mendez on a case searching for Alice in South Africa.”
“A gripping and clever psychological drama about freedom and self-discovery that shows.”
How much of our reality is driven by our deepest, darkest desires?
Alice lives a sheltered, controlled existence, or so it seems, until one day, while in one of the most beautiful locations in the world — Cape Town, South Africa — she is presented with an unmissable opportunity to change everything.
However, life rarely turns out exactly as expected, and soon she finds herself drawn from the sunny seaside filled with promise and optimistic new beginnings into the dark unseen underbelly of a city on the edge where life is cheap and theft, murder and trafficking is business as usual. What lies ahead for her is a dangerous rollercoaster ride of self-discovery, love and betrayal that pushes her to the very limits of her sanity.
Meanwhile, for P.I. Toni Mendez, the honeymoon seems over as she faces troubles at home with her long-time best friend — recently turned girlfriend. So, when what looks like a ‘simple missing person case’ in a coveted holiday destination crosses her desk, she grabs it as an ideal opportunity to take time out. Little does she realise, this case won’t be the stroll on a beach she had hoped for.
*** Winner of 2018 – NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite – World Literature ***
*** Winner of 2018 – NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite – LGBTQ+ ***
“Compelling, intriguing, fascinating and a terrific read!”
“Multi-layered and intelligently plotted…Bravo!”
“An utterly absorbing read.”
“A rare gripping novel which has great lesbian characters to boot.”
If you fancy a gripping, fast-paced, mystery thriller with a startling twist and a romance thrown in, set in a city that offers a picturesque tourist haven by day and a dark, gritty subculture by night — then “Project: ALICE” is for you!
Read it today to join Toni and Alice on a mind-blowing adventure.
Please join my mailing list for updates on new releases and promotions.
“A fantastic read!” – Shelly
“Great adventure! – and what a surprise” – Robby
“I loved it. About time we have a novel like this set in SA” – Heather
“SA is now on my bucket list!” – Sylvia
“I fell in love with Lisa!!” – Ricky
“I could not put it down!” – Naomi
More Reader Reviews
Note: If you too enjoyed the book, please let me know!! And join my VIP mailing list to be notified about any new releases, events or promotions.
Food for thought!
“Wow. I love books like this. It bends reality and really makes you think.” – Joanna
Lovely characters that live on in your head.
“I liked the plot and the story, but for me it was the characters. They are so different and unique. I can well imagine a world where they live on” – Louise
Fantastic
“Sometimes I want to lose myself like Alice. What an adventure! I wish I was brave enough.” – Emily
Definitely recommend it.
“It is a great, refereshing read with fully formed characters and an interesting escalating plot which keeps you hooked right until the end.” – Claire
Another awesome read from Sam Skyborne
“I came across Sam skyborne at an author reading in London where I bought her two earlier novels, Simulation and RISK. As soon as I heard she had a new one out I got a copy off Amazon. Once again I was thrilled! I couldn’t put it down! It is a brilliant read. This one is a fast moving clever drama. Can’t wait for the next one, please!” – Eddie
I want to go to Camps Bay
“I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engrosed all the way through and I loved the story. But the twist at the end was an extra special bonus and I had to read it all over again.” – AvidReader
As indie authors we need you to help spread the word, please! So, please help by telling others whom you think might be interested in this story about it.