I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages, and now thankfully, I’ve finally got round to it. It is a shame there is such a glut of new books and fiction out there as some of the older classics get snowed under by the noise of “new talent”.
Calendar Girl is definitely one of those titles worth uncovering again. It has a great plot with a very elegant twist that is very well written. Duffy creates a fine balance between surprising twist and sinister foreshadowing that makes the ending a satisfying conclusion to the gripping ride. This, first novel in the series, is a great introduction to the private investigator Saz Martin and her adventures.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series and getting to know Saz better.
I have written a short little fic distantly related to the Toni Mendez (RISK) universe called “Stakeout”.
It’s a steamy little dream Toni had about her long term friend and occasional colleague, Lizbeth, one night on a stakeout and what happened afterwards during the early days of her realising her own feelings…. There is no hiding from one’s own unconscious!
Not only because it’s Christmas… but it is a small token of my gratitude to you all for your kindness and support.
Of all the experiments, of all time…love still remains the most dangerous!
Samantha Fielding, an emotionally scarred ex-war hero, enrols into a top-secret scientific research programme for all the wrong reasons.
Will she live…to regret her mistakes?
In a dystopian future, after a decade of war, the United Kingdom is on its knees, ruled by strict martial law. Any ‘deviant’ behaviour including homosexuality or lesbianism is punishable in a manner worse than death–the perpetrators are forcibly ‘reset’.
After her final and devastating tour on The Front, Samantha returns home. Here, in the small Cornish coastal town in rural England she struggles to adapt to ‘normal’ life and eventually, not knowing where else to turn, she enlists in a top-secret scientific research programme. This programme is intended to test her skill, endurance and fibre to their limits in order to unleash powerful, potentially lethal latent human abilities. As if life is not tough enough, she finds herself living dangerously by falling for the sexy, intelligent and enigmatic principal scientist, Dr Victoria Henderson, thereby – risking everything.
*** 2018 – NYC Big Book Award – WINNER! ***
*** 2019 – Global eBook Award – WINNER! ***
“Hot sci-fi thriller – A gripping, page-turner…”
“In the not too distant future – a shell shocked war vet has to find her way back to normal life. The result is anything but normal.”
”Simulation” by Sam Skyborne is the gripping love story of the future. If you like fascinating mental phenomenon, high stakes, sizzling tension and fast-paced page-turners, then this is the book for you.
Buy ”Simulation” now to find out whether Samantha survives and gets the girl!
“An Absolutely Wonderful Book” – Amanda
“A real page-turner!” – Miss E. Mumford
“Wow! What a mesmerizing page turner” – Geraldine Robertson-Brown
“Kick-ass and definitely someone I’d like to meet” – A Frick
“This is a very atmospheric and compelling read…” – Anny
“This is a great read, full of tension, a good plot.” – Wayne
“Wow just finished your novel-brilliant. Never read anything like it… Really got drawn into the characters and intrigue of the plot – can’t wait to read the next installment. I’m off to Cornwall soon too! A lighthouse will never look the same again.” – A Reader
Good pacing, interesting storyline
Although I found the start a little slow and I wasn’t quite sure where it was going, it soon took off and ripped along at a good pace. I warmed to Sam once she and Victoria met and the real crux of the story came through, and I thought the ending was really good, especially as it hinted at more to come from these characters. A good debut. – Angela
Buy this book!
This is a great read – a real page turner with believable and engaging characters and a gripping storyline, set in an all too possible uncomfortable future. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy. Sam’s my kind of hero! A great debut. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author. – Amazon Customer.
kick-ass and definitely someone I’d like to meet
A gripping futuristic story.. Sam is my new hero. She’s hot, kick-ass and definitely someone I’d like to meet. Can’t wait for the next instalment! – Ana.
I loved this, couldn’t put it down once I started …
I loved this, couldn’t put it down once I started it. Beautifully written, intriguing plot and very real characters. Looking forward to finding out what happens next! – Lily.
Wow! What a mesmerizing page turner
Superbly well written, a real page turner… I vow you’ll not be able to put it down until finished. Truly believable characters and ones you warm too. Don’t let its category of Lesbian Fiction, put you off, its all subtle and tastefully executed. Hopefully like me you’ll end up wanting more… Definitely a sequel waiting to be written….. Even better a film. – Gerry Bell.
A real page-turner!
I read this book from start to finish in one sitting – I couldn’t put it down! The plot is truly original, particularly in the genre of lesbian fiction, and is full of unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The characters are well drawn and compelling and the relationships are very believable. A really great read! – Ms E Mumford.
The very graphic prologue sets up the backstory brilliantly, and the contrast of locations from rural Cornwall …
This is a very atmospheric and compelling read with a wide range of characters from the very loveable to the very scary indeed. The very graphic prologue sets up the backstory brilliantly, and the contrast of locations from rural Cornwall to the intimidating futuristic research laboratory creates a world that is simultaneously now and not now, here and not here. The narrative whips along at a furious pace and keeps you guessing, the characters are complex, and when the book ends I was wondering what happens next? I’m really looking forward to reading the next part of the trilogy. – Anny.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, superheroes, science or lesbian novels then you should go read this book
The character of Sam is very well written and at times I felt like I was right there with Sam, seeing what she was seeing, hearing what she was hearing and feeling what she was feeling. I loved the little twist at the end, I really wasn’t expecting it but I was glad that it happened.
Overall a very well written story with two fantastic characters that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. If you’re a fan of sci-fi, superheroes, science or lesbian novels then you should go read this book, even if you’re not you should read it. – Planet Nation.
A great read with a mixture of angst and happiness
Whether or not we are living in a simulation right now .who knows..but this was an exciting read with an easy ability to identify with and warm to the main characters.I hope this will be followed with another story extending the futuristic journey of Sam and Victoria 🙂 For I believe the basis of this book may well run parallel with our true world. – Amazon Customer.
As indie authors it is very hard to spread the word about the books we have spent time and toil creating for our readers. Please help us by telling others whom you think might be interested in RISK about it.
As so often happens with holiday romance stories… sometimes one can get carried away. 🙄 “He”/”she”, who seemed like “Prince/ss Charming” at the time, turns out to be a real toad as time goes by and they forget to text or write or message….
So, just to prove that I was not making it up, I thought I’d post two lovely holiday snaps of my tall dark handsome stranger.
Needless to say he has not texted or written or messaged .. 😔 .. but with climate change he has promised to come visit.
If you’d like to receive notification 📧 of my new posts or book/film releases and promotions 💫🎉 , please add your details here to my private mailing list >>
Check out the right side 👉🏻 column for some of my novels 📚.
*** Other NEWS: Promos ***
I am running a special promo for “Simulation”, “Cat Sitting” and “Saying Sorry” during the next two weeks on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Find out more here >>
It is a true story, even though the telling of it is creative…
Sometimes reality is better than fiction. That is me in the picture!
He was a tall (2.5 meter long) dark stranger. We met one morning in late September just off the shore of a beautiful tropical island. I can honestly say, for me, it was love at first sight.
As often happens in these situations, when they sneak up on you, I was not looking at my best. I was wearing an ill-fitting bikini which was clinging a little too snugly across the bulges that had come to rest on my midriff during the recent over indulgent summer holiday. To add to the ensemble, I had a red over sized life-jacket tightly strapped over the top making me look like a beached baby whale in a corset. I had patiently waited my turn to take the plunge off of the twelve foot luxury yacht that had brought us out for our morning snorkel excursion. When it came to it I tried, but I suspect failed, not to plop too inelegantly into the azure water.
I was still catching my breath from the shock of submerging my small rotund self in the chilled salt water, bobbing uncontrollably like a buoy, when he glided up next to me, catching me by surprise. In contrast to my frenetic splutters and splashes, his large, lithe form was confidently languid, moving with effortless grace. His wise but little eyes gave me the once-over and then with an imperceptible nod he invited me on a tour of his world. Yes, he invited me, or so it felt, even though there was a whole gaggle of snorkelers clambering over each other (literally swimming over one another, fighting, flapping fins in faces) to get closer to him.
Very, very calmly and considerately he took the lead, gently guiding our path. Like a true gentleman, he’d slow down when I could not keep up, or I got water in the spout, or I steamed up my goggles. Once I’d caught my breath or he thought I might be getting bored, he’d speed up again, alternating in just the right proportions between diving down, swimming deeper to show me interesting things on the ocean floor, and surfacing to snuggle in closer for a more intimate exchange. Together we danced an intoxicating dance through the cobalt blue of the Indian Ocean and for three short hours I felt like the queen at the prom and he was my king.
Then, when it was over and my ride was ready to leave, I thanked him and blew him a kiss. Like the mysterious tall dark stranger he is, he nodded, bid me farewell “until we meet again” and disappeared off into the deep blue distance.
And we, Hooky and I, will meet again. I’m sure of it.
It was a brief but awesome encounter – the type that will feed fantasies for a lifetime.
If you’d like to receive notification of my new posts or new book/film releases and promotions, please add your details here to my private mailing list.>>
Three Crime-fighting Women RISK All for Love, Lust and Justice
A Lesbian Crime Thriller & Romance!
*** 2018 – NYC Big Book Award – Distinguished Favourite Award Winner ***
Romantic Suspense
LGBTQ Fiction
Hot new crime thriller – A gripping, racy page-turner, starring three strong, sexy female protagonists on the hunt for a psychotic killer.
“In the dark domains of crime, lust and love – innocence and guilt mix like blood and water. Will Toni RISK it all to catch the psychotic killer?”
Toni Mendez, an ex-cop turned private investigator in London, takes on a case to find the truth behind the violent murder of the young wife of a successful entrepreneur, Lucille Ransom-Evans. Little did she know that this case would bring to her door Maxine Bennett, a feisty, opinionated, American detective, on the hunt for a serial killer.
Maxine not only infiltrates Toni’s working life presenting a sore reminder of a profession she once loved, she also invades her private life by seducing her best friend, Lizbeth Du Cannon. As the investigation continues, Toni is immersed more and more, both professionally and privately, into a subculture she knew only from a distance – the LGBTQ+ world. She is forced to reassess everything she thought she knew about herself and the foundations of her long-term friendship with Lizbeth.
“A complete thrill!” – Melonie
“Don’t read on the Tube! – TOO HOT” – Rosie
“A gripping and sexy page turner” – Patty
“Great sex!” – Jane
“A new depiction of our world. I like it!” – Jake
“I like the combination of crime and sizzler!” – Pepe
“It is 2am. I’ve just finished this book. I picked it up last night at 9 thinking I’d read a few pages. Now I am buzzing! 😉 Loved it. Loved the fact that it was sexy and also engaged my brain in a good story.” – Jacky
A really good read
“I really enjoyed everything about this book. The characters are excellent & you really feel you get to know them and can relate to them. There are lots of twists & turns along the way which you don’t see coming & which keep you turning pages. RISK cleverly combines crime, romance, and some brilliantly written sex-scenes, and is a great read from start to finish. I really appreciate the fact this book has a real story line and plot, and that the additional romance within its pages just happens to be between women. Definitely recommended.” – Lily
A thoroughly enjoyable read
“Risk is a fast – paced, exciting book with a host of interesting and relatable characters and a lot of hot intimate scenes! I read the whole book in one sitting and was kept guessing right up until the end. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good crime writing and strong female characters!” – Elly
Stimulating Page turner
“Not your usual detective novel, yes it has a crime, intrigue but this book offers more, much more.
The sexual tension between the detectives is well,…. Very tense.
This is a gripping page turner in every sense of the word, both for plot and characterisation.
Yes it deals with lesbian relationships which are often fraught. But it is not your usual shallow lesbian novel, this spreads it’s wings further, it captures your imagination and draws you in.
This book is definitely a Risk worth taking” – Gery
FIVE STARS for another great read from Sam Skyborne
“Bought this from the author at #LFest and I couldn’t put it down!!! It’s a brilliant read – I’ve been waiting for another story from Sam Skyborne and RISK doesn’t disappoint. It’s a real page-turner: a great story, fast moving with lots to it as well as three strong – and sexy – female leads. Now all we need is a follow up, please!” – Ally
Fun Sexy Read!
“I really enjoyed this book. I hate to sound cliche but….I had a hard time putting it down. The crime aspect is well thought out and kept me engrossed and to be blunt…it is sexy as hell (and that really kept me engrossed). The squirming sexual “awakening” of Toni was fun to follow. I don’t like reviews that give away the entire plot so suffice to say….I really enjoyed it, it was a fun read, and I recommend it!” – Musiclover
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.
Sometime after a messy breakup, Alex finally agreed to do the cat sitting for her ex-lover, Teresa. She knew her first visit back to what she used to call ‘home’ would not be easy. However, she could never have imagined such an unexpected turn of events! =)
For Adults ONLY!
“Don’t we just know it!” – Sarah Edwards
“Great little story.” – Corie Denham
“These are my friends.” – Amazon Customer
“Yeah, been there.” – Anon 🙂
Saying Sorry – L.E.S COMBO II
Paperback Edition
(A Sexy Lesbian story about Love, Anger and Forgiveness)
Having screwed up again, Jo finds there is no easy way to say sorry. Repentance and forgiveness is a two way interaction and the journey is not always easy, nor predictable. Each person needs to find their own way to the same end.
For Adults ONLY!
“Wow! What a journey!” – Eddie Byrne
“Phew! Hot! Complex!” – Corie Denham
“The story gives a great new twist!” – Elly Cross
“Hard, raw while sweet and tender. Great!” – Sasha
Saying Sorry – L.E.S COMBO II
Ebook Edition
(A Sexy Lesbian story about Love, Anger and Forgiveness)
Having screwed up again, Jo finds there is no easy way to say sorry. Repentance and forgiveness is a two way interaction and the journey is not always easy, nor predictable. Each person needs to find their own way to the same end.
For Adults ONLY!
“Wow! What a journey!” – Eddie Byrne
“Phew! Hot! Complex!” – Corie Denham
“The story gives a great new twist!” – Elly Cross
“Hard, raw while sweet and tender. Great!” – Sasha
Buttons – L.E.S COMBO III
(A *** HOT HOT HOT *** dark fantasy Film)
Have you ever experienced a dream or fantasy where the line between what was real and what was fantastical seems scarily non existent? While waiting at the tailor’s, Emma is gripped by a dark thrilling fantasy.
** Please scroll down the page to find the embedded password protected screener. **
Bluestocking Trailer (Portland Maine) 2013:
Logline
When your relationship is at stake.. finding the right way to say sorry can be hard.
Synopsis
After screwing up yet again Jo has to dig deep to prove the sincerity of her apology to Chloe. Will she find inspiration during their darkest hour?
Director’s Notes
“Saying Sorry” is the first in a series of short films made in conjunction with the women film makers group called Whipped Cream Productions (www.whippedcreamproductions.com) that is currently based in North London. The objective of this group is to develop a supportive community and give women the opportunity to learn, develop skills and explore film making so that we can tell our own stories.
This short script was selected as our first group project because it is a lovely sweet story about sincerity, respect and finding your own way in love. We also had to choose a story that we could make with a zero budget and that could be a manageable a first film endeavour for our group. In 2012 we hope to be able to raise funds and progress into more advanced, more taxing projects, hopefully soaring to feature film status in the not too distant future.
As a first project there were a number of lessons learnt and it proved a very valuable and rewarding experience all round. It was great to work with such enthusiastic and talented people. I look forward to the opportunity to make more little gems like this in the near future.
Cast
“Chloe” – Laura Bodell
After graduating from Central School of Speech and Drama she followed her dream of living and working in Russia. Over a period of two years she worked in TV, Film and theatre within Moscow. Laura has now returned to London and looking forward to continuing her career in her home city with Saying Sorry being one of a few projects she has been involved with since her return.
“Jo” – Fleur Poad
Fleur first appeared on stage at the young age of 6 when she played the piano for the annual music school concert and danced for the ballet school performance. From there she continued acting in the “Fiddler on the Roof” at 15. Many musicals and other performances later she took up singing professionally and toured with various musicals, cabarets and her bluegrass band through Germany.
After taking a Shakespeare course at LAMDA she worked with people like Keith Johnstone, Philipe Gaulier and the American Acting Coach Bernard Hiller. She trained in the Meisner technique for two years with Jean Fennel while simultaneously studying a postgraduate diploma at the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA) from where she graduated in 2010.
She has since then been involved in various short films, a feature to be released in 2012 and numerous theatre productions, the most recent being “YOU ME BUM BUM TRAIN” wherein she worked alongside Jonathan Ross and Andy Nyman. It was described by Stephen Fry as “the best theatrical experience of my life”.
She also works as a voice over artist and drama teacher.
Wollie (pronounced Volley) is originally from South Africa, currently living in London. She started her creative career with an English degree, which progressed onto an exciting journey into the technological worlds of business, IT, Telecoms, New Media and 3D Virtual World R&D which inspired her to do a post graduate degree in Artificial Intelligence. She is a skilled experienced film maker with a growing portfolio of award winning short and feature scripts and films.
She studied script writing and film directing at the National film and Television School in Beaconsfield and works as a cinimatographer, editor, colourist and director on commercial and corporate projects. >>read more>>
Original Story, 1st AD – Helen Ibach
Helen Ibach’s passion for film started early in her life after receiving her first camera at the age of eight. After studying photography and enjoying the magic of story-telling through her writing, she became interested in merging her interests and her love for film was born. She recently discovered the art of film making and is now fulfilling her ambition with like minded women at Whipped Cream Productions where she is enthusiastically gaining both skills and experience.
2nd Camera, Sound – Erin McMullan
Erin studied film and television production in her native New Zealand. Her qualification requirements whilst studying in Wellington included valuable experience working on television sets. She competed in a number of “48 hours” competitions where her strong camera skills and ability to excel under extreme pressure ensured that she was an invaluable part of her team. Since moving to London Erin has continued to contribute to film making projects and by bringing her international experience and relaxed attitude to the crew looks set to make her mark on short films.
Production Design, Location Manager, Catering – Jude Dempsey
Special Thanks to
>> Moira & Vincent Murphy – for the use of their house as a location and for excellent Rain making.
>> Angela @ Elisana Florest, Turnpike Parade – for the rehearsal flowers.
>> The Toll Gate Pub, Haringey – for the kind provisioning of a quiet corner in which to do our auditions.
A Sexy Lesbian story about Love, Anger and Forgiveness
Ever needed to say sorry like you mean it?
───
Having screwed-up again, Jo learns that finding a suitable way to say sorry is hard. And that having to say you’re sorry and being forgiven isn’t always a two-way street. The resulting journey is sometimes far from easy and certainly not predictable.
For Adults ONLY!
“Wow! What a journey! I might get into trouble more!”
“Reading the story after watching the film gives a great new twist on it!”
For Adults ONLY!
