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Isolation Junction by Jennifer Gilmour {Freebie}

Emma-Louise Uncategorized Tags: 1 Comment

Today I’ve got a fab freebie from you from Jennifer Gilmour, below Jennifer will be explaining why she is offering this free to readers. 

My name is Jennifer Gilmour and I am a survivor of domestic abuse, I have published two books both with a focus on raising awareness about domestic abuse at their core. Whilst both aim to raise this awareness one is written as a work of  fiction whilst the other is a compilation of survivor stories and therefore non-fiction. Both work in different ways to educate and raise awareness of this insidious and unacceptable behaviour.

Over Christmas, incidents of domestic abuse reported to the police rise. Assault and domestic murders increase 25% during the festive period with a third of them been on Christmas Day itself. Bombarded with images of the perfect nuclear family gathered around the gold baubles of a Christmas tree, it can be easy to forget that Christmas is a time of coercion, punishment and violence for many women* and men.

Now I know it isn’t Christmas anymore but January can be just as bad because all those credit card bills come in alongside your usual direct debits. There is even a day in January called Blue Monday and this year its on the 15th. The date is generally reported as falling on the third Monday in January, but also on the second or fourth Monday, or the Monday of the last full week of January.

The formula uses many factors, including: weather conditions, debt level (the difference between debt accumulated and our ability to pay), time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action.

Can you imagine this formula and applying it to an abusive relationship?

For 5 days my debut novel Isolation Junction is going to be FREE on Amazon Kindle, this is the first time ever to happen. It’s the week before Blue Monday, I wonder if those reading will be inspired to take action?

I ask you all to share the link and break the silence surrounding domestic abuse.

UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LX4HLT0

US link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX4HLT0


*https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/welfare/2015/12/it-s-hardest-time-year-why-domestic-violence-spikes-over-christmas

Thanks for reading and downloading this important book. 

The Stationery Geekette x

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Study Woes and Pretty Planners

Emma-Louise My Law Studies, Planners, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , 6 Comments

Hey, 

Well I have to say that my studies have been a bit of a nightmare so far. I spent most of November really ill and in and out of hospital which has had a massive impact on my studies and I am seriously behind. 

My first TMA was due on the 30th November but I was granted an extension until 14th December. It’s now the 13th and I’m still not finished. My toddler was poorly and off nursery and very clingy so I’ve literally just started getting my mornings back. 

It’s a 1500 word assignment primarily on the doctrinal approach and the strengths and weaknesses of this approach. 

I have about 500 words so far on the strengths and I will type the rest up this morning. 

It has been a very interesting topic especially in using mental capacity to highlight the pitfalls of using such an approach. The next block which I am 2 weeks years behind on is regarding the historical approach to legal research, this also looks like an interesting block to do. 

I can’t tell you how relieved I am that we have the Christmas break off as it will give me a chance to catch up on everything as I will admit I am starting to feel overwhelmed by how far behind I am. I particularly like to read a lot around subjects and currently don’t feel like I have the option to do it much due to the amount I am behind. It’s a good job I love to study:)

On the plus side I have a beautiful new study planner which I will be using for 2018 and I plan to break things down better so I am always more aware of what’s coming up. I have another TMA due on the 1st Feb and I start Jury Service on 29th January so I must get it done before then as I really won’t have time otherwise. 

I am really looking forward to going into the new year. I feel like after this year things can only get better and I want to excel at what I’m doing. I haven’t even looked at my Fiction Writing course since October, that’s my problem with non deadline courses. I’m going to set myself deadlines for that one as well so it doesn’t get left behind especially as writing is important to me. 

Anyway that is enough rambling from me thanks for reading:) 

The Stationery Geekette x

P.S for those who are interested, the Galaxy 2018 planner is a Recollections branded planner from Michaels in the U.S. A beautiful soul (Francesca) brought one over for me on her visit to the U.K. The top planner is a Nayadori from Naya Paperie and it is a B6 travelers notebook in cinnamon stick colour

Katie’s Sticker Co {Review}

Emma-Louise Uncategorized 1 Comment

Hey everyone. I was lucky enough to be sent some stickers from Katie’s Sticker Co to review. 

I received a lot more than anticipated but they are gorgeous. 


First let’s delve into the little packet. 

As you can see this was full of headers and page flags. This are fantastic. I use a lot of these, not just for planning but in my studies. 

The next ones were all Christmas kits. 


I love them all. I am saving the gold/grey kit for Christmas week but I’ll be using the others beforehand. Each kit came with 6-8 sheets of stickers. Now as someone who doesn’t currently use a large planner these kits would easily last over 4 spreads. 

The quality of the stickers is fantastic. They are thick and sticky, there is no way these will peel off your pages.

I used the Candy Cane design for this coming week and I love it.

I’ve noticed there have been some newer releases and I absolutely adore the To The Moon kit!

You can browse and purchase from Katie by clicking this link.

Thanks for reading.

The Stationery Geekette x

Meadowgate Leather Traveller’s Notebook {Review}

Emma-Louise Planners, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Everyone. Today I’m going to share with you my review for the Meadowgate Leather B6 Traveler’s Notebook I purchased last month. 

I had seen these about for sometime and knew I needed to try the B6 size. A fellow planner addict had this colour (Violet) and I fell in love with it. 

The wait was agonising as I was desperate to get my hands on it and it really was worth the wait. 

The smell hit me as soon as I opened the package. Real leather…it was so nice. The feel is soft and it is really supple and sturdy. The colour changes slightly in different light and it really is stunning.

The quality is amazing, the pockets and spine are great on it. It may not hold a massive amount of books but it easily fits 4-6 in. I didn’t order a wide size which you would need to stuff it with more. 

The one I ordered was the Double Acorn design and as you can see from the pictures it’s beautiful. You can purchase one here

Thanks for reading. 

The Stationery Geekette x

Vogue’s 73 Questions

Emma-Louise Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , 2 Comments

I was tagged by the lovely Debbie over at My Chaoctically Eclectic Life to take part in the Vogue’s 73 Questions tag and you can see her answers here

1. What’s your favourite movie?

Not sure if I can pick just 1 movie. My favourites are; Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Legally Blonde, Pitch Perfect, American Mary 

2. Favourite movie in the past five years?

How To Be Single

3. Favourite Hitchcock film?

Haven’t seen one.

4. A book you plan on reading?

I have a huge TBR pile but the ones I am really looking forward to are Our Dark Duet by V.E Schwab and Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.

5. A book that you read in school that positively shaped you?

I don’t think any if them positively shaped me but we did read Lord of the Flies and it’s stuck with me to this day.

6. Favourite TV show that’s currently on?

Supernatural, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, The 100

7. On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now?

About a 6, I don’t really have a lot going on but I am on a path to seek a better future.

8. iPhone or Android?

Android

9. Twitter or Instagram?

Instagram, I do love Twitter though . Both are very different.

10. Who should EVERYONE be following right now?

Hmmm, honestly Debbie who tagged me. The new blog relaunch and splitting with her other one is fantastic. 

11. What’s your favourite food?

Chicken

12. Least favourite food?

Heart, Liver, Blood urgh

13. What do you love on your pizza?

Pepperoni and cheese

14. Favourite drink?

Hot choc or Tea:)

15. Favourite dessert?

Rice Pudding, Apple Crumble, Lemon Cheesecake

16. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Milk

17. Coffee or tea?

Tea, I like coffee but not often

18. What’s the hardest part about being a mum?

What a question, there are many parts that are hard. Right now keeping all of my children from killing each other is probably the worst part.

19. What’s your favourite band?

This is a hard one as I genuinely love lots of different bands. Foo fighters, 30 Seconds to Mars, Ed Sheeran are just a few.

20. Favourite solo artist?

Ed Sheeran

21. Favourite song?

I have many favourite songs, it totally depends on my mood. I’m loving Ed Sherman’s Bloodstream at the moment.

22. If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?

Ed 😍

23. If you could master one instrument, what would it be?

I learnt to play the drums at college but I’d love to play guitar or violin.

24. If you had a tattoo, where would it be?

I already have 6 tattoos but I’d like another few more. On my left shoulder, right inner arm and my right foot.

25. To be or not to be?

That is the question

26. Dogs or cats?

Dogs, but I own two kittens

27. Bird-watching or whale-watching?

Whale-watching 

28. Best gift you’ve ever received?

Debbie bought me a ticket for a planner event for March 2018

29. Best gift you’ve ever given?

I’ve just bought my friend a Night Court charm bracelet.

30. Last gift you gave a friend?

Wax melts

31. What’s your favourite board game?

Star Wars Monopoly

32. What’s your favourite country to visit?

Denmark

33. What’s the last country you visited?

Sweden

34. What country do you wish to visit?

Canada. I’ve wanted to move there forever

35. What’s your favourite colour?

Mullberry or Teal

36. Least favourite colour?

Brown

37. Diamonds or Pearls

Pink Diamonds

38. Heels or flats?

Flats. I do love heels but they aren’t practical for my life anymore.

39. Pilates or yoga?

I’ve not tried either

40. Jogging or swimming?

Swimming

41. Best way to de-stress?

Go for a walk alone.

42. If you had one superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation

43. What’s the weirdest word in the English language?

Spaghetti, no idea why but it’s odd

44. What’s your favourite flower?

Carnation

45. When was the last time you cried?

2 days ago

46. Do you like your handwriting?

Yes

47. Do you bake?

Yup

48. What is your least favourite thing about yourself?

My body? Lol

49. What is your most favourite thing about yourself?

My hair

50. Who do you miss most?

No-one

51. What are you listening to?

Nothing right now. I was listening to Lighthouse by Mallory Knox

52. Favourite smell?

Christmas 

53. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?

The doctor

54. Who was the last person you sent a text to?

My mum

55. A sport you wish you could play?

Basketball

56. Hair colour?

Blue black

57. Eye colour?

Blue

58. Scary film or happy endings?

Both, depends on my mood

59. Favourite season?

Autumn

60. Three people alive or dead that you would like to have dinner with?

Jensen Ackles

Debbie Binnersley 

Kirstyanne Ross

61. Hugs or kisses?

Hugs

62. Rolling Stones or the Beatles?

Neither, not a fan of either

63. Where were you born?
Middlesbrough, UK

64. What is the farthest you have been from home?

Dominican Republic, on holiday a fair few years ago.

65. Sweet or savoury?

Savoury, nom those Pringles!

66. Lipstick or lip gloss?

Can I pick lip balm instead?

67. What book have you read again and again

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

68. Favourite bedtime story?

The Night Before Christmas 

69. What would be the title of your autobiography?

Chubby Girl Run

70. Favourite sound?

Silence, although I love listening to my kids all playing and having fun.

71. Favourite animal?

Sloth

72. Who is your girl crush?

Katheryn Winnick and/or Marie Avgeropolos

73. Last photograph you took?
New washi lol

I tag every single one of you reading this post!

Thanks for reading.

The Stationery Geekette x

Book Tour: The Hunting Angels Diaries by Conrad Jones

Emma-Louise Uncategorized Tags: , , , Leave a comment

The third and final book tour for the day. Well in fact ever on this blog as I will be moving them to my new Book and Writing Blog www.readwriteinspire.blog.

This is a double book novel by Conrad Jones. It has A Child for The Devil and Dark Angel. Before I go any further I must admit I didn’t get time to read the 2nd book. This will be a review for the 1st only.

Blurb

When an author is asked to help the police with the investigation into a double murder by identifying occult symbols, which had been carved into the victims, he is plunged into nightmare and forced to go on the run. Hunted by law and a powerful cult, he has to stay one step ahead to survive.

Review

I found this book really interesting not only the storyline but the writer’s perspective. It was a well thought out story. However, it took me some getting through. I found the writing style a bit long winded and as such it didn’t draw me in and inspire me to keep reading with eagerness. I didn’t particular care for the main character but the whole occult based theory was excellent. Normally I would devour a book like this

That is not for me but I can easily see why others will absolutely love it. I will get around to reading and reviewing the next book for sure.

I would rate this book 4 out if 5 stars.

Thanks for reading

The Stationery Geekette x 

Book Tour: The Second Captive by Maggie James

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Hey everyone. My 2nd of 3 Blog Tour posts for today. This is a review of the book The Second Captive by Maggie James.

Blurb

Beth Sutton is eighteen years old when she is abducted. Held prisoner in a basement, she’s dependent on her captor for food, clothes and her very existence. As the months pass, her hatred towards her imprisoner changes to compassion.

But Beth cannot forget that her abductor is also a killer. And she has evidence to prove it…

 Then Beth escapes

 Can Beth escape from the prison that she has found herself in?

And is there a relationship between love and fear?

Review

I was really excited to start this even though it has a similar theme to a book I am writing. I had heard great things about the story.

I wasn’t disappointed. The book was a fairly quick read and a page turner. The story developed well and had a few twists and turns. Some predictable, some not so much.

Beth is one of these characters I like and dislike at the same time. However, the way she was written was excellently throughout and the the plot was done really well. Dominic was a character I loathed and pitied at the same time. With some guidance things could have been very different for him.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

I rate this book 5 out of 5.

Thanks for reading 

The Stationery Geekette x

Book Tour: Blood Bank by Zoe Markham

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BOOK EXTRACT.png

Hey Everyone. Today I have an extract for you for Blood Bank by Zoe Markham.

Blerb

Benjamin is a programmer moonlighting as a security guard at Dystopia, a seedy club that caters to the down-and-outs, the desperates, the addicts. He’s been building his reputation, saving for a way out – but when he rescues a young woman from the nearby estate, he may just have stepped too far out of line…

Lucy is ordinary; a girl with a deadbeat boyfriend, a normal life and college studies. But when her world takes an odd twist, she starts to wonder about the people she’s meeting, the situations she’s in, the odd aversions and attacks happening around her. They’re just coincidences…aren’t they?

And Zack is in deep trouble. He’s losing his girlfriend, drowning in debt, and has dwindling job prospects – and that’s not the worst of it. His debt is to people who won’t ever forget it, and who want the things closest to Zack’s heart: his blood – and his life.

In the heart of Swindon, an ancient order hides in plain sight, spreading their influence through the streets like a disease. But despite their widespread power they are catching up with the modern world: the vampires are going online, and the Order is about to become more powerful than even they would have dreamed…

Extract

Kashif was the first to wake. Too weak to cry out, he could only lie still and try to piece things together in his mind. He tried to lift his left arm but couldn’t move it, and the effort it would take to shift his whole body and try to lift it with his right was unthinkable. One of them would be down here somewhere, keeping watch, although he didn’t know why they bothered. It wasn’t as if he was going anywhere. The combination of the venom and the blood loss was more than enough to keep him a compliant prisoner.

As he lay back and listened, he slowly became aware of the other presence in the room, which gave him the incentive he needed to force his head up and look around. Pain lanced through every nerve in his body as he strained upwards, and before he could register any more than a dark shape on the opposite bench, his head dropped back and hit the stone hard, knocking him out once more.

The thud woke Zach, who was in considerably better shape than his fellow donor, broken wrist, angry black eye, and all. His left eye could barely open, but his right told him everything he needed to know. The venom was still functioning as an anaesthetic, and although his wrist throbbed and felt awkward, it didn’t pain him as such. He straightened on the bench and held his left wrist up to his chest to try and stem the bleeding, for a moment at least. He managed to lean over and check the level of blood in his chalice. Chalice. He hated the word. It had become so heavily corrupted since he’d got involved with the Clan. It was essentially an oversized, grotesque tumbler. There was a small army of them down here, a never-ending supply of the gaudy, golden monstrosities. Each held around two pints of fluid, and when full they were stored in a twisted version of a larder further down in the basement. Like everything else down there it was made of ancient stone, and cold as the grave. There was never a need for refrigeration; the temperature didn’t get anywhere near high enough for the blood to spoil.

Full chalices were lined up on the stone shelves inside, where they awaited the special masses performed by Father Andrew and his psychopathic parody of a Deacon, Christopher. Zach’s chalice was full, and he was damned if he was going to be bleeding down here without it counting for anything. He called weakly for the priest in the darkness.

If you are interested in purchasing this book then you can do so here on Amazon UK.

Thanks for reading.

The Stationery Geekette x

Planner Girls Collective: Scrapbooking Tips

Emma-Louise Planner Girls Collective, Planner Girls Collective 2017, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Planner Girls Collective

Hey everyone,

Today’s PGC post is Scrapbooking Tips.

There is only one tip for me to really share as I don’t really scrapbook, more so I journal.

My tip would be ‘to see everything through scrapbookers eyes’ by this I mean to see everything as potential decoration. This could be leaflets that you can use, magazines you can cut up, leaves, newspapers, tickets, tags, pretty much anything that can be stuck down.

I have used a plethora of items in my journaling, leaves from my local Priory, twigs, cut out letters from newspaper articles etc.

They really do enhance the joy I get from journaling. They make it such fun to figure out uses for them.

If you have any scrapbook tips I would love to hear them, feel free to pop them in the comments below.

To see the tips the other ladies have, please visit their blogs below.

Kerry-May Makes

Ugly Bug Plans

Thanks for reading.

The Stationery Geekette x

Planner Girls Collective: My Planning Style

Emma-Louise Planner Girls Collective, Planner Girls Collective 2017, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , 5 Comments

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Today on Planner Girls Collective we are looking at Planner style. This is for those who don’t know, how we use our planners. Some people really like to go full on with stickers and washi, others are minimal and then some like me prefer a bit of everything.

For me primarily my planner pages need to be functional. I do love washi and stickers but for the most part, they are a secondary thing.

I always set up my pages with a small amount of decor, as you can see from the picture below of this week, there isn’t much there. A splash of colour, odd sticker placed but mostly blank.

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However, My pages do not stay this blank. At the end of each day, I go through and fill the day up with all the bits I have missed and more decor. I have tried to get a bit more adventurous with my writing styles but as it stands I am pretty happy with my Planning Style now.

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To see how all our other lovely ladies plan, please visit their links below.

Joanna’s Planner

Plan With Hannah

Ugly Bug Plans

My Chaotically Eclectic Life

Ska Lovin’ Geek

The Vintage Planner

Thanks for Reading.

The Stationery Geekette x