Off to Make Magic on Medium

While in the process of completing my latest book of short stories, I have had a slight diversion in the form of a new website (to me) called Medium.

You may or may not have heard of Medium, a social publishing platform available to readers and writers from all over the world. It gives readers an opportunity to find articles on a huge array of topics, including travel, psychology, sports, health, education, IT, fashion, music, humour, photography, and many others. 

If you need to know more about any subject, it’s a great place to find information and personal viewpoints from a huge variety of experts and observationists.

Find out more about Medium here

Petra Kidd at Medium

Of course, I am a newbie and still finding my way around. So far, so good. I have read a number of helpful articles on how to navigate Medium. I published my first story, a five-minute read about how The Isolation Sex Stories came into being, gained a few followers and hit a reading rate of 80% (woohoo!) All within the space of 24 hours. 

As with any new platform, it will take time to build, but it will be useful to be able to write more varied articles on subjects of my choosing. My two main subjects will be writing and photography, with occasional articles on my past 15+ years as an unpaid carer.

If you decide to take a look, please follow me @PetraKidd – you can join for free or the membership is only $5 per month.

In other news…

I am aiming to get my new book of short stories complete in time to be launched in June. The launch will be live on Facebook, so I hope you will join me for it. I will name the date by the end of May.

I am also posting a weekly photographic blog about life along the River Wensum in Norwich. If you love Norfolk, be sure to take a look at MyriadLifeBooks.com and subscribe to keep updated on new posts. The other benefit of subscribing is that your email will be entered into my monthly prize draw to win a free notebook.

MyriadLifeBooks.com

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Please feel free to comment, ask questions and tell me what you are up to, wherever you are in the world, it’s a great time to connect.

The Curse of Over Productivity…

Someone once said to me ‘God laughs at people who make plans,’ and that quote has hovered in my head ever since.

My plan was to launch a new book of short stories on the 14th March but it turns out my own productivity scuppered that plan. The short stories aren’t the problem, the problem is, I have so many of them in my head, the book has increased to a much longer one than originally planned. So much so, I am seriously considering splitting it into two books. This means I will be able to publish the first one in June and the second in October. Well, that’s the new plan…

Thanks to three trusted readers, I am feeling confident the stories will entertain and amuse you, they are full of quirky characters and interesting situations (as you would expect from me). So please hang on in there, I promise they are on the way!

As well as writing, I have been working on my new website MyriadLifeBooks.com which I use as my own little publishing house. This has eaten up quite a bit of my time too, but it is worth it! Please head over and take a look, you will find featured writers, books to read, and notebooks to write in. I am also creating an online gallery for my photography.

If you hit the subscribe button you will be entered into a monthly draw to win a free notebook.

If you are in the subscribing mood, please subscribe to this one too, that way you will be kept updated with news on my new book of short stories.

If you happen to be an author, get in touch to be featured! You can see author interviews here.

While you are waiting for the new book, please check out my other short story books here.

The Isolation Sex Stories

When the great Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 forced good people of the world to self isolate for months, normal behaviour became suppressed. Sexual appetites and deviation came to the fore; hours shut behind closed doors, with little but televisions and the Internet to amuse them, caused carnal and psychological desires to grow. They took shape in forms never seen before. Perfectly upstanding members of communities, everyday folk who considered themselves straightforward in their desires, found their imaginations increasing and morphing in ways they could never have imagined before the virus struck. With time on their hands and minds, creativity took fun, sometimes bizarre, sometimes curious, sometimes just plain weird effect. This is what happens when you shut a society away, which is used to every kind of freedom. These are the Isolation Sex Stories.

The Eight of Swords

A difficult day turns into a nightmare when Jayne Patchett returns home to find her house occupied by Romanian gypsies.

The irony of the situation isn’t lost on Jayne, who works in immigration. She is used to dealing with illegal immigrants at work but when she finds them sitting at her dining room table, drinking her wine, eating her food and wearing her clothes, her reaction surprises even herself.

The Putsi

Sequel to The Eight of Swords

If you have something special belonging to someone else, what happens when they want it back?

Eighteen years have passed since a family of Romanian gypsies invaded Jayne Patchett’s house. In that time her life has changed remarkably, she is a successful artist, happily in love, living in an idyllic country cottage. But all those years ago, one of the gypsies gave her a lucky pouch, the putsi. Now, one of them wants it back. Drama returns to Jayne’s life as secrets are unveiled and she begins to wonder who she can trust.

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Writing into 2022 – new stories on the way!

Petra Kidd

I like even numbers and for some reason, three twos feels good. Don’t ask me why I have that feeling – I’m not into lucky numbers. My writing life feels great right now, stories are flowing naturally and I am over 30 chapters into my new book.

Because my life is not easy to regulate I write when I can, but generally my stories get created after 2pm. Mornings are for marketing, chores and business stuff. Afternoon hours are reserved for ideas and story-time whenever possible.

Short stories suit my style but this latest work is gradually becoming a novel, albeit by accident. I never set out to write a novel. But then, I rarely set out with a plan. It’s only recently I found the term ‘pantser’ and it sums me up perfectly. I am the type of creator who flies by the seat of my pants when it comes to writing. Characters arrive as if they are walking into a room in my head. When I start a story, I rarely know how it is going to end. This suits me well because I know that if I get surprises, my readers will too.

It’s nearly a year since I published The Isolation Sex Stories. I’ve really enjoyed seeing reader reactions and hearing which stories became favourites. Interestingly, different people had different favourites, often surprising me.

My new book still observes the human condition in lighthearted ways but its much longer and with many more characters. I won’t say too much just yet but hopefully my readers will be amused again and enjoy meeting not just new characters but some of their animals too. I haven’t written about animals before but it is proving to be entertaining. I will keep you updated with progress.

As well as writing, I am busy creating new notebooks and journals using my photography skills so please be sure to check out MyriadLifeBooks – a site for both readers and writers.

I have set myself a publication date in March – so far I am on target… I will keep you updated. There is a lot to achieve by then including editing and illustrations so please wish me luck!

Check out my social media profiles here, it’s always good to interact…

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It would be great if you could subscribe to my blog too, feel free to leave comments, I like to get to know my readers.

Happy New Year – I hope 2022 brings you all you wish for, including new stories!

Til next time…

Petra

Deep in my WIP

Petra Kidd

If you aren’t a writer, a WIP is a ‘work in progress.’ I have been absorbed in my WIP for the past couple of months. The aim being to write a story a day. Of course, it doesn’t quite work out like that as typically life gets in the way. On a good day I write two stories in a day, most days I manage one, except at weekends because at that point I become a full-time carer, and there simply isn’t the time.

Also, I have other business to focus on, I am building up a collection of notebooks using my photography on the covers plus greeting cards. There is always a new project in my head that I am keen to put into operation.

It is a bit soon to talk about a launch date for the new book, but March 2022 is my target and I intend to make it a particularly special launch. Time between now and then is already flying past like a supersonic jet. And yep, I do feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants.

What can I tell you about the new WIP? Well, of course I do not want to give too much away but I will say it involves a fascinating mix of characters, and this time animals too. Unlike The Isolation Sex Stories, there is not much (if any) sex involved. I know this may disappoint some of you, but if you are fascinated by people; I think you will love it. They all live in their own little worlds, but their worlds interlink in small, sometimes poignant ways. It is my belief that there are not many people on the planet who get to live an ‘ordinary’ life, whatever that is. With 7.9 billion humans on the planet and 1.2 million known species of animals, there are endless stories to be told. Even if I live to 150, I won’t be able to write that many stories!

So, roll on March. I am trying not to be too impatient to get the book done and I am certainly enjoying the process. I hope that you will enjoy the book as much as I am writing it.

If you are an indie author reading this, please head over to my sister website myriadlifebooks.com where my latest blog might interest you.

Until next time… please subscribe to be updated with progress. You may even win a free signed copy of The Isolation Sex Stories if you hit the button. Go on, I dare you…

The Eight of Swords

The Putsi

My stories are currently free on Kindle Unlimited – go treat yourself!

Book giveaway! Win a signed copy of The Isolation Sex Stories.

It’s autumn, I’m in the throes of writing a new short story book (set to be published March 2022) and I’m feeling super generous so I have decided to do a book giveaway! ‘Hoorah’ I hear you cry as you jump up and down with excitement.

I have five signed copies of The Isolation Sex Stories to give away. To win yours, this is what you need to do…

Subscribe to this website and also to MyriadLifebooks.com to be in with a chance of winning your very own copy of The Isolation Sex Stories. Please note that this giveaway will only apply to adults of 18+ and to UK residents. I will pick winners from my good vibes only rainbow mug on 1st November 2021 so you won’t have too long to wait. You will be notified by email if you are a winner.

Pleases note that The Isolation Sex Stories is an adult read so if you are easily offended it might not be for you. *Contains sexual references and strong language, so be warned!

It is however a funny read… read the Amazon reviews here.

MyriadLifeBooks.com is a sister site to this one where you will find beautiful notebooks to get creative with, it’s also a site I am growing to showcase other authors and offer tips on self publishing. You will even find a collection of secondhand books to buy, it’s a small list at the moment but I will be adding more soon. It is definitely worth subscribing as every so often I do a notebook giveaway too.

Good luck – just hit subscribe!

The story so far…

It is almost two months since I published The Isolation Sex Stories and what an amazing time it has been. I’m feeling a little worn out if I’m honest. Putting a collection of stories out into the public eye is a pretty daunting exercise and I waited with bated breath to see what people would say.

I didn’t really worry too much about the title I’d chosen, until it came to the day of the book launch, then suddenly it hit me that all sorts of people would be watching my live reading. Suddenly I felt nervous! It’s one thing to joke about the saucy stories with your friends, quite another to launch them out onto the unsuspecting general public. Let’s face it, everyone has an opinion. What offends some folk will tickle others. Pop the word ‘sex’ into the title and who knows what might come back at you?

It has been very amusing and gratifying to get feedback. Most readers have a particular story that they enjoy the most, or strikes a chord. One said he felt like he was actually in the room with the characters of Don’t Touch Me and while he felt like he was a voyeur, he found it really funny. Another said that he could identify with a character from almost every story. This is brilliant for me, any writer wants their characters to come to life and be truly believable.

Here are some of the things my reviewers have said so far…

A great collection of short stories! Written with intelligence, warmth and wit. Some much-needed light relief after a difficult year.

Witty and amusing, a really good fun read. Petra Kidd puts warmth and understanding with humour into what has been a difficult time for all of us. This is an easy quirky read that will make you chuckle. I loved it. Makes a good present for friends who are struggling, it will give them a good laugh.

Petra captures the mood of our Lockdown Nation in a saucily humorous way, she nails it! Each short story is captivating, intriguing and very funny … I actually found myself laughing out loud so many times with tears rolling down my face.

It’s also entertaining to find out what shocks readers. With Fifty Shades of Grey being one of the most successful books of our time, I hardly thought my little collection would raise many eyebrows. The everyday antics of my locked down characters seem nowhere near as shocking to me as Christian Grey’s predilections. However, we are all different and apparently some people have even learnt new words thanks to my stories. I’m feeling proud, it may help them when next they play Scrabble!

I am wondering if I should create another cover/title for The Isolation Sex Stories for people who might feel embarrassed reading it in public places. My other idea is to run a competition called ‘I dare you,’ daring readers to take a selfie with the book while reading it in a public place. Let me know what you think… As the world begins to open up again, this could be the right moment, the prize will be sweet, I promise you.

While I am working hard on promoting The Isolation Sex Stories, I have started writing my next two books. They are two very different subject matters so I hope I can pull it off.

If you do go ahead and read The Isolation Sex Stories, please leave a review at Amazon. Every review is incredibly important and special to me. I worked hard to produce the book so it’s a very much appreciated reward to receive them. Please be honest, that’s even more important. I want to know what you didn’t like, as much as what you did.

Also, please use Smile.Amazon.co.uk or .com to buy my books because that way Amazon will make a donation to charity (at no extra charge to you.) I’d love it if you could choose the Samaritans but of course, whatever charity you choose is fine by me. I love to think that others will benefit while readers enjoy my books.

Being an indie author is a never ending learning curve. Follow my blog to join me on this adventure!

For now, stay safe and please connect with me via social media. Don’t be shy, come say hi!

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for daily updates.

Please vote!

They say not to judge a book by its cover but I need you to do just that. If you liked the cover of my book The Eight of Swords, please vote for it in the ‘Cover of the Month’ contest on AllAuthor.com by clicking on the link below. There’s not long to go before the first round is over, just a day left to vote!

All Author cover of the month.

Read below what reviewers had to say about this suspenseful short story.

If you haven’t read The Eight of Swords yet, it could be the perfect read for you . It’s a short story with plenty of drama and intrigue.

Here is what some of the reviewers on Amazon have said…

Really enjoyed The Eight of Swords, the storyline was original and kept you guessing! Rich descriptions throughout and really quite evocative … It divides opinion too, perhaps like me you will side with the story teller and then as the story unfolds your heart leaps in-between!

I downloaded this to my phone- which was a bonus as I couldn’t put it down; it was engaging and made me think of what I would of done, how I would have dealt with the same situation- it was intriguing to follow

Just finished reading this short story – it kept my attention from beginning to end (no mean feat!) and I enjoyed reading about Jayne’s reactions and feelings about the family who had moved into her home. Looking forward to reading the sequel.

The Eight of Swords and its sequel The Putsi are available via Amazon Kindle.

Please follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for regular updates. Connect and say hello, I’d love to hear what you are reading!

The Date

The Covid-19 pandemic sure threw a spanner in the works for all of those singletons out there who were going out on dates and looking for the next Mr/Miss Right. Overnight everyone had to isolate and give up any hope of amorous adventures for the foreseeable future.

Recently I found a big box of old letters from my younger days, some of which are from friends detailing their romantic lives at the time. We all took it for granted we could go out and meet whoever we wanted. Oh, how we complained and revelled in the ups and downs of our youthful adventures, no clue of what the future might hold. In one letter a friend says her boyfriend complained about having to wear a condom, if only he had known that by 2020 a condom would be the least of his concerns!

Fast forward quite a few years (no, I am not going to say how many) and suddenly single people found themselves having to not only date online but having to have virtual dates rather than real ones. Previously, those home alone were used to online dating sites like Tinder and Grinder, they knew that they could meet the dates in real time if they wanted to. Covid-19 changed all that. While they might find someone they liked online, now they could only see and talk to them online. No meeting up at a restaurant or bar. No first kiss. No one nightstands. No holding hands on romantic walks, no weekends away.

The whole conversation about ‘protection’ came with a new aspect to it. Not only are sexual diseases an issue; The Virus is a major problem too. We are all wearing masks and keeping our distance, all physical intimacy quashed. It’s all very bizarre and lonely for the singletons right now.

One of the stories in my new book The Isolation Sex Stories takes an older couple on a first date via Zoom, it is a fun story but I can imagine all the lonely people who have been in need of companionship. It’s an exciting date for the lady in the story but will she be thrilled to find a new companion? There’s only one way to find out…

The Date

All of the stories in my new book are quirky and different, let me know which one(s) you like best.

The Isolation Sex Stories

I wonder how many people ended up dating via Zoom. If you have a funny or unusual lockdown story check out this page and you could end up winning a free signed copy of The Isolation Sex Stories.

Please follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

Win a signed copy of The Isolation Sex Stories!

It’s time for you to tell me your funny lockdown stories… I am you must have some!

I will choose five of my favourite stories to publish on this website and if your story is chosen, you will win a free signed paperback copy of The Isolation Sex Stories. (Please note the book is meant for 18+ only as it is adult content. )

Please keep it to 300 words max, 150 words minimum. If the story involves real people, please obtain their written permission before sending the story. I can’t publish without their consent to do so.

Sorry but this competition is restricted to UK entries only and will close on April 1st.

The story can be about anything that has happened during lockdown over the past year. Did you lock yourself out during lockdown? Did your baking efforts go spectacularly wrong? Did your pets get confused by you being home all of the time? I’m sure you must have had some funny experiences. Please do share!

You will need to subscribe to my website with your email address to enter.

All of the stories in The Isolation Sex Stories are entirely fictional, I have a very vivid imagination. They are saucy, sometimes dark but always meant to amuse. This has been a difficult time for most people so hopefully funny stories will lift spirits and help folk see the lighter side of lockdown.

I look forward to reading your stories!

Please follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

No TV, No Regrets

One of the best things I have done in the past year, without a doubt, is to give up having a TV. When I moved to my new apartment just before lockdown no.1 I decided to do without one. I have not looked back or regretted a single minute of it.

Sometimes people go a bit quiet when I tell them this. I admit, there was a time when if someone I knew said they didn’t watch TV I thought they were a bit boring or odd. If they didn’t know about the latest TV shows or watch the news, what did they do with their evenings?

My timing as it happened was excellent. As the UK went into lockdown, I broke free of the daily COVID briefings, the figures, the charts, the daily doom. I’d dip in to see what was happening via the Internet then break free back into my own world again. Instead of worrying and fretting, I read more and began to write again. My head clear of the daily jargon and politics, I could concentrate on things that I could change, not the things I could not. Suddenly I was working more productively and feeling much stronger and happier.

That isn’t to say I didn’t watch anything, I still have Netflix on my Mac and I would watch an episode of whatever took my fancy once or twice a week but I didn’t feel that slave like draw to switch on the TV at the end of the day. It’s an amazing freedom. I honestly thought I’d cave in after six months but here I am, still enjoying the lack of a big black box in my living room. The living room is more aesthetically pleasing without it too.

It has been a year where I’ve been able to produce a book, take more photographs (albeit only very locally), learn how to code (a little), read non-fiction (not usual for me), learned the rudiments of sailing, and I’ve rediscovered a passion for cooking. Plus I’m fitter because I used my bike more. Instead of slumping in front of a TV, I took to two wheels to spin around the city in the evening. I meditate a few times a week and have increased my repertoire of yoga poses (no I’m not going to show you).

Not once did I miss anything or feel ill informed because I don’t have a television. My only regret is that I didn’t give it up years ago.

In other news, a few people have asked if I based my first story – The Clap, in The Isolation Sex Stories on myself just because I live in an apartment now and the main character lives in an apartment. The answer is a definite NO! I did use living in an apartment block as inspiration but that, I can assure you, is as far as it goes. I can sympathise with the character but in addition to all my other new healthy living behaviours, not a drop of alcohol passed my lips for around two months. Having said that, I’m not quite so saintly now…

The Isolation Sex Stories

The Eight of Swords

The Putsi

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