Elizabeth Jasper's Blog

Awesome Indies Author Interview: Darcy Scott. Filed under: About Writing

My father had the writing gene as, I like to think, do I and so does PJ, my daughter, whose writing preferences currently lie in the Comedy Gothic genre. I  recently posted a short entry on Facebook, which she interprets as follows: Me: “Today … Continue reading →

My third book, A Bed of Knives, is about four friends from Oxford – people from the Town rather than Gown.  In it I explore the themes of friendship, love, loss and families using two main story lines, one dark … Continue reading →

Plain Old Love.

As a relatively unknown writer, I’m often asked what drives me to spend months and even years of my precious spare time writing stories when there is no guarantee that readers will want to spend their hard-earned cash on buying … Continue reading →

Plain Old Love.

Since I finished writing my first novel a couple of years ago, I’ve joined lots of websites connected with writing, marketing, reviewing, peer-reviewing and reading – always with the intention of taking part in an active manner.  After all, this is what new writers are told they should do, isn’t it?   Get out there.  Become recognised.  Be controversial.  Get noticed.  Sell yourself because that’s what will sell your books.

Over the years and months since then, I’ve been more than a little tardy in keeping up with what’s going on on these sites resulting in me feeling just a little bit guilty. Not that there is any particular reason why I should feel guilty.  If I make a commitment to read and/or review any other writer’s work, I honour that commitment.  I don’t make promises I can’t keep.  I don’t write dishonest reviews.  If I can’t say something good about a writer or a book, I try to keep my mouth firmly closed.  If I do write a glowing review, that’s because I loved a book I read and in my view it deserves to do well.

I’ve recently realised that this is as far as I ever want to go because the truth is I Am Not A Natural Joiner.  Not only that, I don’t want to be one.  I’m happiest tootling along writing, reading and reviewing just the way I do right now.  I write what I like, read what I like, and review what I have enjoyed reading.  I love helping other writers out if they ask me, and I quite like reading and writing blogs.  That Is It.

I can’t stand insincere back-slapping, head-patting and over-hyping of mediocre books by mediocre writers.  I don’t like the trolls who start flame-wars, pulling in the unwary and causing them to make fools of themselves by getting involved.  I dislike the monumental egos of some writers I see on the sites I am or have been a member of.  l hate stuff that stops me from concentrating on what I love most and do best – my writing.

I don’t think I’m alone in this.  Lots of writers confess on writing sites that they love writing but hate marketing.  If they leave a link to their work, I usually check it out and I’ve found quite a lot of these writers have written great books, which I’ve been happy to buy, read and review.

Readers don’t always want to know every detail of a writer’s life – many are simply looking for good books to read.  I’m probably never going to be a rich, famous writer, even though I think I write rather good novels.  I can only trust and hope that some people will seek them out, read and enjoy them for what they are.

To friends, readers, writers and rivals – welcome one and all.  My old blog will be discontinued by the hosting company later this month so I’ve come straight over to WordPress to take advantage of their brilliant site.  In my Brand New Blog I’ll be:

-  writing reviews of books I’ve read

-  talking about writing and publishing

-  telling readers about my own books, old and new

-  interviewing other writers (if you’re interested e-mail at :  info@elizabethjasper.com)

-  writing occasional diary entries about my life in beautiful Andalucia

Tom Fleck by
Harry Nicholson - 5 Big Fat *****s from me<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

A superb historical novel

 

This book opens in 1513, in the
reign if King Henry VIII in England.  I
was immediately captivated by the main character Tom Fleck – a cowman who wants
to improve his station in life.  His
opportunity comes when he retrieves a ring lost by one of the King's Heralds.

 

The setting of the book - the
north east of England between and around the rivers Tyne, Tees and Wear, is one
I'm very familiar with, having grown up in Durham City.  The descriptions of the places mentioned, the
names of the local aristocracy and the events that take place during the story
all all familiar to me through my knowledge of local history, particularly the Borders
of England and Scotland during this period.

 

Mr  Nicholson's writing style is superb, blending
careful characterisation with an accessible use of language giving the flavour
of the period without heaping onto the reader an indigestible amount of incomprehensible
dialect.  What gave me most pleasure as I
read was the knowledge of farming and animal husbandry, various country
customs, the writer's familiarity with the flora and fauna of the area,
particularly with regard to the medicinal use of plants by the local wise
woman. 

 

The story culminates in a major
battle between the Scots and the English, the Battle of Flodden Field, which is
described in careful graphic detail to such an extend that I'm buying the
printed version of this book for my husband, a keen reader of military history. 

 

 

Here's a lovely 5* review from Amazon for my novel, Lying in Wait.

'Romantic thriller or thrilling romance? Take your pick! This book combines all
the page-turning qualities of a thriller with the emotional pull of the best
love stories as we follow Malachy Finn from the Emerald Isle to England's
underworld in the 70s.

Mal is the book's greatest strength, a well-drawn
character who transforms from naive farm-lad to tormented adult as he witness
love and corruption. The other characters are also great... just don't get too
attached to them (which is about all I can say without spoiling the plot!).


The settings are the beautifully evoked and there's plenty of period
detail which will be enjoyed by anyone who lived through the 70s. Oh, and it's
quite raunchy in places too! Read and enjoy... and be prepared for an unexpected
twist at the end.'

Ingtrigued?  You can find the book on Amazon in Paperback or on Kindle and to download from Smashwords, Barnes & Noble etc. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-Wait-Elizabeth-Jasper/dp/1908603720/

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97159