Ever since I was a child I wanted to be a writer. When I was in the sixth grade one of my teachers said, “You should be a writer when you grow up.” Simple, but inspiring words. She was a student teacher and unfortunately I don’t remember her name. Yet her encouragement even to this day inspires me not to give up. I wish I could thank her for instilling a lifelong love and dream.
For years I would scribble stories on pieces of paper, but I never had the time to take it seriously. Then I found out my partner’s company wanted to move us from Boston, Massachusetts to London, England. All of a sudden I was unemployed and could focus on my writing. For over a year now I’ve done just that and it has been incredible. I actually put in more hours writing than I ever did at my full-time job (shhh, don’t tell my former employer). And I love it.
I’ve completed my first novel and the second is going through the editing process. In addition, I’m working on a collection of short stories.
Today, I’m excited to announce that my first novel, A Woman Lost, will be published soon.
Here’s the blurb:
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Petrie has it all. She’s rich, beautiful, intelligent, and successful. None of this matters to her mom. Les-Bi-An. That’s all her mom sees.
Despite’s Lizzie’s insistence that her mom’s antagonism does not bother her, Lizzie distances herself from her mom and the entire family. When her brother, Peter, calls her out of the blue to announce he’s getting married, Lizzie’s entire life changes drastically. Peter’s fiancée wants to bring the lesbian outcast back into the family. Will this desire cause Lizzie to lose everything dear to her?
Sarah, Lizzie’s girlfriend, is ecstatic about this change in Lizzie’s personal life. Sarah, the hopeless romantic, wants it all, including settling down with the fiercely independent Lizzie.
Can Lizzie be tamed? And can she survive her family and all of their secrets?
If you would like a review copy, please email me at tbmarkinson@gmail.com. Please note that the ebook will be released on Amazon and if selected you’ll receive a Kindle or PDF copy (please let me know which you prefer). I will release 10 review copies, should you want to be considered please ensure that you write in the subject line that you want a review copy of A Woman Lost so I don’t misplace your email.
Here’s the first review:
“The writing style was very engaging, the plot was captivating right from the first page, and each and every character was unique and interesting in both negative and positive ways. I knew I had begun to think of them all as family and care about what happened to Lizzie when I wanted to shove my hand right into the book and slap her for not seeing what was right in front of her – someone who loved her for who she was. I anxiously turned the pages wanting to see where her journey would lead her, and I must admit that I was surprised a few times along the way.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an uplifting story that reminds us all of what really matters most in life.” –Cindy Taylor
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About the Author
T. B. Markinson is a 39-year old American writer, living in England, who pledged she would publish before she was 35. Better late than never. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling around the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order. A Woman Lost is her debut novel.
50 Year Project 
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i am beyond excited!!!!!!!!!
LOL, thanks Beth Ann. I think I heard you across the pond. I love your enthusiasm!
Too much??? I don’t think so!!!!!! 🙂
Hey I don’t think it’s too much. And you may find you have a job promoting my book 🙂
Congrats on the book 🙂 The story sounds very interesting 🙂
Thank you.
I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled for you! This is such an incredible achievement, you and TBH should be so proud 🙂 And I always wondered what TBM stood for, now I know! I will wait for it to come out as I don’t have a Kindle and not sure i oculd cope with a PDF book, but can’t wait to read it. Go girl!
Well now, I need to start working on getting print copies for you 🙂 I’m looking into it.
That’s great news! Congrats on the accomplishment!!
Thanks, Connie!
Wonderful news! Congrats TBM! I can’t wait to read it. 😀
Thank you, Jackie!
Congratulations!!!! What an achievement! Sounds like a very interesting read and story line. When will it be released on Amazon? I will definitely give it a read! 🙂
I don’t know the exact date yet, but soon. I’ll let you know. And thanks!
Yes please do! Would love to read your book…
Thanks. I’ll post something when it’s released, I promise. And I’ll do my best to follow up with an email for you.
Congrats on your first novel! If you have time and inclination, would you like to do an author interview on my book blog? If so, let me know. I think you can see my email behind the scenes as I am logged in with it.
Yes! And thanks for the offer. I sent you an email. Looking forward it!
*Whoo* Very Many Congratulations TBM 🙂
Thanks, Poppy!
Congratulations! It is fun seeing your name in print, yes? I felt great sense of accomplishment finally getting my story in print, too. I’m glad for you….
It is exciting! How do I get a hold of your story?
Kindle or Amazon. I will happily purchase yours….
http://www.cindybruchman.com
there’s a preview and link right to Amazon….
🙂
Cool and I love the cover. I just purchased it and I’m waiting impatiently for it to load on my Kindle!
Sweet! OK– I can’t wait to read yours. Of course, your assessment of my story, the good and the bad, will be appreciated!
I promise to give my honest feedback and I hope you will as well.
YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! I am so totally excited f
Crap!! I can’t type on this stupid phone LOL! Let me try that again. YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I am so totally excited for you. I loved A Woman Lost and can’t wait to read the next one. I just know you will be a very successful author, and I will be able to say “I knew her when”. You should be very proud of yourself for following through on your dreams. Maybe you will inspire me to write a book one day :). And you used my review on your blog. I feel so important!!
another good reason for me not to get a phone. My clumsy fingers would drive me batty trying to type. Dude you should write your book? You read so much I have a feeling it will come naturally to you. What kind of book do you want to write? And thanks for the kind words.
I was like you – I was always writing stories when I was a kid, and they were usually adventure stories because I was obsessed with Enid Blyton’s books where a bunch of kids were always finding themselves on one adventure or another. I have had many people tell me I should write a book, so maybe I will one day :). I think it would probably be fantasy or fantasy/historical combo. I have one idea written down somewhere – I should look for it!
I always pictured that you’d write a fantasy/historical book. And that reminds me, I still need to pick up that Witch book. Gosh golly, I keep forgetting. I’m going to throw my support behind you and say, “Write your book!” and can I be one of your first readers?
Yes, you can definitely be one of the first readers! Hey stay tuned, my boys haven’t had cake with me for my birthday yet and we couldn’t decide which one to get at the store so we bought THREE!!!!!! I will post pics :).
You are tormenting me today with cake. I swore off sweets this week. I’m doing pretty good–have only had three cookies 🙂 And by the way, Happy Birthday!
Oops! You’re really not going to like my new post tonight then LOL. Thanks for the birthday wishes :).
Well let me pop over and torture myself some more 😉
That’s fantastic! Congratulations!! 🙂 The story sounds very engaging – I’m already intrigued to know how it develops! I would love to read it – will it come out in print as well, or only on kindle?
First it will be on Kindle. I’m looking into print options and will give an update when that’s ready to go. Thanks for your encouragement.
Woohoo! Great. Now let me read how to ask for a preview copy again…
Thanks, Isobel! And I received your email.
Hey, congratulations! Many passionate readers “wish” they would write and fairly few actually follow through and do the work. You’ve done the work and that is awesome! Very happy for you and proud of you too! 🙂
Thank you, Carl. I do have to admit, that I like this type of work. Even the editing process, while discouraging at times, was a wonderful experience. I learned so much from my fabulous editor and I find I pick up more when I read for pleasure as well.
Good luck with the book sounds exciting… now you’ll sell so many and not blog again leaving us poor souls to sit and ponder your success… (lol… I wish you all the best)
Not blog … are you crazy! Thanks, Bulldog.
I’m so happy for you! And I’m very honored to have gotten the chance to read it before publication. Thank you and best of luck!
thanks so much for all of your help to get this novel ready for publication.
Very happy to help!
And you were a fantastic help!
WOW!! Congratulation!!!! 🙂
I would love to read and review your book…you know I am a honest person when it comes to review 😉
Anyway, the theme remind me so much of my friend, Miyuki (she goes around under the nick name Nekoneko) Her girlfriend’s family rejected her because of his lesbian situation, Miyuki is lucky because her family accepted her with open heart. I have been reading her story in her blog and I am sure she will enjoy your book.
Note to myself: Finish all your novel drafts!! ( maybe I should quite my job too so that I can be more focus like you….but I love my job too much)
Thanks! And I love honesty. I won’t learn any other way unless people tell me what they really think. It can be difficult and downright painful when families aren’t accepting. I just signed up to follow Nekoneko’s blog. Thanks, Novroz, for sharing that bit of info.
And yes finish your drafts. I love your stories and I would love to read more. Luckily for me, I wasn’t that fond of my job so leaving it wasn’t all that painful 😉
Best of luck to you 🙂
I am easily distracted and that’s why I am sill unable to finish long story. My Aqeela and me is my first try, hopefully I can finish it.
You’ll love reading Miyuki’s diary, it’s always so honest…but you have to doge between her unusual taste of movies 😉
I read her review of the Creatures movie and was laughing the entire time I read it. I love her honesty.
That’s why I like reading her reviews even though I will not watch the movie 😉
I have a feeling she may be more entertaining than the movies.
This is WONDERFUL. Congrats 🙂
One day when I’m big, I want to write a book too.
With your medical background and all the things you see, I bet it will be a wonderful story. How are you hanging in? Last time I popped in, you were quite busy.
Congratulations! Sounds intriguing!
Thanks!
Happy For You. All the best.
thank!
This is great news, congratulations dear TBM, I am happy and excited as you, Good Luck, I will read your book, it will takes the first place in my list, but you know reading a book can take time for me. But I will come back for my own thoughts. Thank you dear, love, nia
Thank you so much, Nia. No rush. Take all the time you need and I appreciate your support and encouragement.
This is so exciting! Congratulations.
Thanks, Colline. I’m pretty excited as well.
Hope it does well.
Me too! Biting my nails.
Well well welll!!!!!!! Congratulations! A huge milestone accomplished. Very few people with this ambition/dream ever get that far 🙂
[This is from the woman who made it as far as editor’s pick in theglobalmeatnews.com LOL]
Thank you very much. We had wonderful dreary weather in London today just for you. Did you have a pool date?
No, sadly not, but we sat outside on a terrace sipping slushies.
Oh my, that just sounds horrible. Really, I’m feeling for you.
It was… pure torture….but we did not buckle under the strain. We did not.
You are much better than me. I just went to a pub and had a beer. I didn’t brave the elements.
You deserve it. You wrote a whole novel!!!!
Thanks dude! Mighty kind of you.
Fantastic news. Congrats to you. That’s a real achievement. 🙂
Thank you. Can’t believe it’s actually finished.
That’s sooooooo AWESOME!! Congratulations and how very exciting this is!! YAY!!
Thanks, Fergiemoto. My thoughts are with you and your mom.
Oh, thank you so much, TBM! That really means a lot to me.
She’s lucky to have you and I can’t imagine how hard it was to hear the news.
Congratulations! Let us know when we can all go out and buy it 🙂
Thanks and will do!
So pleased for you! don’t forget us all when you’re famous will you!
Lynn 😀
You can’t get rid of me that easily you know. I’ll still haunt your blog and wonder how you read so many series. Have you ever counted all the series you’ve read?
I am so excited for you! Congratulations! 🙂
Thanks! It’s wonderful seeing how many people are supportive. I really appreciate it.
Argh!! Congratulations!!!! I can’t wait to read it. I’m sure you have done an incredible job 😀
Thanks, Cass! I hope people like it. It’s exciting and terrifying all at once.
FANTASTIC NEWS!
You gave a great head on your shoulders and you’re instantly engaging so I know you’ll be a success. Of course, you’ve already moved mountains by writing the darn thing, never mind publishing it!
Well done!
Thanks, Hook! It is like moving a mountain getting to this point. Mental mountains that didn’t want me to succeed. Now the next part, the reviews. Yikes!
I have a feeling you’ll do fine.
I think you’ve started off on a better foot than yours truly.
Not so sure about that, Hook. You have one of the best blogs around!
Congratulations! Happy for you 😉
Thanks, Arianne!
Congratulations, TBM. I could hardly wait to see the title and the cover and everything else.
I must honestly admit I’m surprised. I didn’t see that coming, for some reason I thought you’d write a historical novel, maybe Fantasy or Crime. Not that it matters, it just shows you, how wrong perceptions can be.
I think the cover looks really good. I like the crisp color. It doesn’t shout self-published at all.
Grear, great work TBM.
I wish you lots of readers. It is sooo exciting.
Thanks, Caroline. Not sure I have a historical novel in me–might seem like work to me and I would be too picky about having all of the facts just right. Now Fantasy and Crime–I could get into that I think. My next novel delves a little into crime, but isn’t a crime novel or thriller.
I like how the cover turned out on this. Derek Murphy designed it and I’m looking forward to see what he creates for my next one.
I was just surprised, I didn’t expect a contemporary family story but it’s interesting.
I think Derek Murphy did a good job. And it was wise to have someone do it. It can go very wrong.
I’m very bad with sticking to timelines at the moment, so I will not promise anything but I’ll have a look once it’s available for kindle.
Historical novels need some warming up as they really need a lot of research and info-dumping is a major flaw that should be avoided.
I don’t like info-dumping in Fantasy novels either. It’s a delicate process. I wonder what my book cover would look like if I designed it. I can’t even draw a stick figure.
And no worries, Caroline. I completely understand being strapped for time and/or motivation. Life happens. I appreciate the kind words and encouragement.
Wow, brilliant…congraulations on your first novel. Here’s to many more!
Thanks, Bill!
How exciting! A wonderful accomplishment :-).
Thank you!
Congratulations! That is great news! Going for your dream and doing what you are passionate about is so important! So happy for you! I’m a bookworm myself and this plot really sounds interesting so if it’s paperback some day I’ll have to find a copy.
Thanks, Anna. When I sort out all the paperback stuff I’ll let you know. Thanks for the encouragement!
Congratulations TBM! This is really wonderful news! The plot looks very interesting. I can’t wait for your book to get released – I want to read it now! When is the print edition coming out? Congratulations once again! So proud of you!
Thanks, Vishy! I’m not sure when the print edition will be out. I have to work on that. thanks for the support and interest. It means a lot!
Huge congrats… this is so exciting. I can’t wait to get my hands on it:)
Thanks, Tania. How are your nerves about your book release? I’m so excited to read, Cloaked in Fur!
Big BIG BIG Congratulations! I am so happy and excited for you. Based on the blurb I am anxious to read your book. Yay!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks! I love your excitement and thanks so much for the support.
I’m sorry I’m late to this post. I figure all your review copies are already spoken for so I’ll have to wait until pub day.
I’m so excited for you as a fellow writer and blogger. So much time and effort goes into completing a novel, it’s wonderful that you’re realizing your dream.
I can’t wait to read it!
hey now, the review copies will be handed out lottery style. Throw your name in the hat and see what happens. And thanks for the encouragement. I didn’t realize at the beginning how much work is actually involved. If I had I may never have began. Ignorance is bliss. How’s your writing coming along?
Oh, whew! I thought I’d missed it. I signed up to get notices of the release.
Good news – I got an agent for my first novel. There are some more edits I need to do before it’s ready to go to editors. *nervous laughter*
That’s great news, Jackie! I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to buy your book! I wish you the best of luck and if you need a reviewer just let me know 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS! I am hoping to read it.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks, Francine.
Holy Crap! It’s on! CONGRATS! I would love one of those instantaneous emails. I definitely want to check out your new book. I know I’m definitely a slow reader (case in point our Life of Pi reading adventure) but I assure you I’m a devoted one 🙂 What a good post 🙂
Thanks very much. did you sign up for the mailing list for the email? There’s nothing wrong with being a slow reader–you probably remember a lot more than I do. that’s what I love about reading, it’s such a personal experience and everyone is different. Even though millions may read one book, each person has a different style, interpretation, and experience.
Duuuuuuuuuuude. You totally understand my reader’s mentality … most people just think I’m slow 🙂
Hey as long as people read, I don’t care about anything else. The better half reads 3-4 books per year. I like to think of you guys as methodical readers who savor the words. Everything else in life is so rushed and forced: work, laundry, errands, cleaning, cooking, cleaning–why rush through stuff you enjoy.
Dude. YES! I totally savor. Totally. Food especially. I love that you get me ha ha ha. Your partner in crime is definitely lucky. 🙂
Are you a slow eater like the better half? Takes the BH hours to eat a delicious meal. I can eat three meals during the time.
HA! No … on that I’m pretty quick. The first bite is the slow one because my taste buds are having a party, but after that I get all crazy with my food and gobble it up 🙂
I’m a gobbler as well. The Better Half chews the smallest bites forever. Used to drive me crazy. Now I’m used to it and find it funny. The only other person who was as slow was my grandfather.
Congratulations! It sounds like you’ve been very busy!
Thanks! I try to stay busy. This week was a bit busier than I would have liked. Luckily it’s Friday finally.
Dear TBM,
I am so sorry I am late for this wonderful moment!!! But, as we say in Spanish, better late than never!!! My congratulations for achieving your dreams!!! I envy you!!!!
You will tell us when the book is already out!!
PD: I love the “About the author”..It sounds great! A perfect writer´s life, full of adventure!!!
Ah thank you so much. It should be out soon and I’ll let everyone know. Thanks for the compliment about the About the author bit. I never know what to say when it comes to that.
🙂
congratulations. can’t wait to read it. signed up to be notified when it appears on amazon. bravo for you!!!!!
Thank you so much!