Last day for best book bargain of the summer: #WomenWritingWomen ends at midnight!

This year I collaborated with six other authors around the world on an extraordinary publishing experiment. Outside the Box: Women Writing Women is a box set of seven critically acclaimed novels by seriously established women writers, writing across all genres. The theme that unites the novels: the main characters are strong, idiosyncratic women characters.

The box makes a powerful statement about the universality of women's stories and about the independent women who write and read upmarket fiction. We were featured in media around the world, including a great article on publishing's glass ceiling in Guardian's book section, in which we were referred to as "the real superstars...storytellers dedicated to their craft... ground-breaking, boundary-pushing women..."

Just wanted to thank everyone for supporting and spreading the word. It's been an amazing experience on many fronts, but I think my favorite part was reading the six stellar novels by my boxmates. I was in fabulous company!

So this is it. Last chance to load your Kindle for a full summer of excellent reading, one the best reader bargains I've seen in a long time-. Seven stellar novels for the price of one.  Just sayin'.

First 50 Words: BLUE MERCY by Orna Ross

Buy BLUE MERCY by Orna Ross

"A complex tale of betrayal, revenge, suspense, murder mystery — and surprise...John McGahern meets Maeve Binchy." ~ IRISH INDEPENDENT

First 50 Words: MY MEMORIES OF A FUTURE LIFE by Roz Morris

Buy MY MEMORIES OF A FUTURE LIFE by Roz Morris

"Absolutely gripping...Visual and visceral, original and odd." ~ FOR BOOKS SAKE

First 50 Words: THE CENTAURESS by Kathleen Jones

Buy THE CENTAURESS by Kathleen Jones

"A compelling narrative of a writer's passion for her work." ~ HELEN DUNMORE

60 Second Review: WHITE LADY by Jessica Bell

Sonia, unfaithful wife of a Melbourne drug lord, yearns for sharp objects and blood. But now that she’s rehabilitating herself as a “normal” mother and math teacher, it’s time to stop dreaming about slicing people’s throats. Easier said than done.

 “Edgy, pacy, and chillingly real.” JJ MARSH, author of The Beatrice Stubbs series

 "...strikes at the heart of families in turmoil...a painfully honest portrayal of flawed humanity." ~C. S. LAKIN, author of Innocent Little Crimes

Jessica Bell is an Australian novelist, poet, singer/ songwriter /guitarist who lives in Athens, Greece. She is Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal and author of the bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series.

 Visit Jessica's website

60 Second Review: THE CENTAURESS by Kathleen Jones

 Bereaved biographer Alex Forbes goes to war-ravaged Croatia to research the life of a celebrity artist and finds herself at the centre of a family conflict after she uncovers a mutilated photograph, stolen letters and a story of indeterminate gender, passion and betrayal.

 "Utterly gripping. I didn't want it to end." ~ DEBBIE BENNETT

 "An engrossing read, hard to put down." ~ LINDA GILLARD

Kathleen Jones lives in Italy and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. In addition to many books, she's written extensively for the BBC.

 Visit Kathleen's website

First 50 Words: CRAZY FOR TRYING by Joni Rodgers

Buy CRAZY FOR TRYING by Joni Rodgers

"Refreshing and provocative... Think Jane Eyre with rock and roll." ~ HOUSTON PRESS

60 Second Review: ONE NIGHT AT THE JACARANDA by Carol Cooper

 The trouble with speed dating is that three minutes can last a lifetime. Diagnosed with cancer, Sanjay doesn’t have a lifetime to waste. Laure is a successful lawyer, Harriet is a struggling freelance writer, and Karen is a single mother of four. All are looking for a soul-mate, but first they need to confront who they really are.

 "A blinder of a tale” ~ THE SUN

 "Contemporary fiction for intelligent grown-ups. The characters are real, the medical details are spot on... An absolute joy" ~ CHRISTINE WEBBER, author and psychotherapist

Carol Cooper is a London-based journalist and award-winning non-fiction author. Her debut novel was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Awards 2014. In her spare time she’s a doctor.

 Visit Carol's website

First 50 Words: An Unchoreographed Life by Jane Davis

Buy AN UNCHOREOGRAPHED LIFE by Jane Davis

"An extraordinary level of emotion... superb storytelling." ~ THE CULT DEN

60 Second Review: AN UNCHOREOGRAPHED LIFE by Jane Davis

 An unflinching, gracefully written novel from the winner of Daily Mail's First Novel Award. Alison gave up the chance to be a prima ballerina when she became pregnant and turned to prostitution to provide for her child, but the tempting hope of a better life may come at a terrible price.

 "A brilliant and cleverly-written story about the relationship between a single mother and her daughter." ~ BOOK MUSE

 "An extraordinary level of emotion... superb storytelling." THE CULT DEN

Jane Davis is an award-winning author who isn't afraid to tackle the trickiest of subjects. She lives in Carshalton, Surrey with her star-gazing, beer-brewing partner, and a growing piles of books, CDs and general chaos.

 Visit Jane's website

60 Second Review: BLUE MERCY by Orna Ross

Mercy stands accused of killing her elderly and tyrannical father. Now, at the end of her life, she needs Star, the daughter she fought to protect, to know what really happened that fateful night.

 "A complex tale of betrayal, revenge, suspense, murder mystery — and surprise...John McGahern meets Maeve Binchy." ~ IRISH INDEPENDENT

 "Skillful …infinitely rewarding...It’s superb." ~ THE BOOKBAG

Orna Ross writes novels, poems and the Go Creative! book series. The Bookseller called her "one of the 100 most influential people in publishing" for her work with The Alliance of Independent Authors.

 Visit Orna's website

First 50 Words: WHITE LADY by Jessica Bell

Buy WHITE LADY by Jessica Bell

“Edgy, pacy, and chillingly real.” ~ JJ MARSH, author of The Beatrice Stubbs series

60 Second Review: MY MEMORIES OF A FUTURE LIFE by Roz Morris

After ghostwriting a dozen books with 4 million copies in print, Morris makes her literary fiction debut with the tale of a brilliant pianist whose career is ended by injury. She turns to a mysterious healer and faces the possibility that her life is someone else's past incarnation.

"...dances between plausible reality and the shadowy realm of interpretation, underpinned by evident intelligence. A real corker." ~ WORDS WITH JAM

"Stylish, classy writing...profound ... page-turning." ~ FOR BOOKS' SAKE

Roz Morris teaches creative writing masterclasses for The Guardian in London, hosts a radio show, rides horses and was once hit by a train.

Visit Roz's website

First 50 Words: ONE NIGHT AT THE JACARANDA by Carol Cooper

Buy ONE NIGHT AT THE JACARANDA by Carol Cooper

“Sassy and classy in equal measures. A must.”
~ DR. PIXIE MCKENNA

#60SecondBookReview Timelines collide in My Memories of a Future Life by Roz Morris

See more book reviews on my YouTube channel, Joni's List.

Adrienne Rich and I know you are reading this poem...

Having an Adrienne Rich moment today, thanks to Women Writing Women on Facebook. (Worth a look. And a like!)

Click here to read the rest of Adrienne Rich's poem, "From an Atlas of the Difficult World."

#First50Words Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (Desolation loves company...)

Have you visited the Heights lately?

"...her pages scattered across our bed..." First 50 Words: Blue Mercy by Orna Ross

Orna Ross's Blue Mercy brings intense family drama to Outside the Box: Women Writing Women, a digital box set of seven top drawer novels by bestselling and critically acclaimed authors.

Georgette Heyer throws shade via FB header of the week from Women Writing Women

Oh, snap. Feel free to steal this perfectly sized meme for your FB cover. Just click to expand and right click to save. And don't miss out on this amazing box set offer from Women Writing Women!