Ask the Author: Bryan Pentelow
Answered Questions (13)
Bryan Pentelow
I am planning to read at least another two of Robert Lee Beers' Tony Mandolin series. These are cracking crime thrillers with a fantasy twist. Imagine Sam Spade/Philip Marlow with gods, ghosts, fairies and vampires to name but a few. There are also a couple of time travel books from Jodie Taylor, some poetry from Cindy smith and I'm sure a pile of other titles which will catch my fancy before summer slips into the gold of autumn. These are all books by independent authors of my acquaintance and though friends are also very good story tellers. If you have not tried them then you are missing out on some fine entertainment. I may also manage to fit in some writing of a new series, the first of which stands at just 4 thousand words, so some serious work is needed. Keep an eye open for special offers on Amazon by these authors though none of their books is expensive at normal prices so you can take an extensive library with you on you e-reader for lounging in the sun. Happy Reading.
Bryan Pentelow
Sorry for the delay in answering this question but I typed in what I thought was a really good answer then hit the wrong key and lost the lot. So here goes for a second attempt.
First, what was your aunt Florrie's surname, I knew a number of Florries all adults when I was growing up and would love to put a face to the name.
Second, When you come from a place as strange as Raunds who needs somewhere more exotic? But seriously, It was a great place to live in till about 12 after which going to school in the metropolis of Wellingborough was a great release. The American Airforce provided an outlet for my teen dreams with rock and R&B music, tenpin bowling and low-cost booze and cigs. Neither of which were cardinal sins in my young day. I have in my time imagined coming from all sorts of exotic locations and backgrounds but have come to the conclusion that coming from the mundane encourages me to go out looking for the unusual even if I find it next door.
I have had to think hard about the third of your questions. Writing in a series appeals to my lazy streak. I don't have to think up a whole new cast of characters, just one or two as springboards for the storyline. Also, I have grown to know how my main people think and react to any given situation. This is handy but also restricting as an old man like Brassroyd can't suddenly develop the ability to run faster than a speeding car, or leap tall buildings at a single bound. At present, I can find outlets for my imaginings in either the Sprocket books or my Sci-Fi writing but I have written a short story with a completely revolting main character just for the fun of it and may try a few more.
First, what was your aunt Florrie's surname, I knew a number of Florries all adults when I was growing up and would love to put a face to the name.
Second, When you come from a place as strange as Raunds who needs somewhere more exotic? But seriously, It was a great place to live in till about 12 after which going to school in the metropolis of Wellingborough was a great release. The American Airforce provided an outlet for my teen dreams with rock and R&B music, tenpin bowling and low-cost booze and cigs. Neither of which were cardinal sins in my young day. I have in my time imagined coming from all sorts of exotic locations and backgrounds but have come to the conclusion that coming from the mundane encourages me to go out looking for the unusual even if I find it next door.
I have had to think hard about the third of your questions. Writing in a series appeals to my lazy streak. I don't have to think up a whole new cast of characters, just one or two as springboards for the storyline. Also, I have grown to know how my main people think and react to any given situation. This is handy but also restricting as an old man like Brassroyd can't suddenly develop the ability to run faster than a speeding car, or leap tall buildings at a single bound. At present, I can find outlets for my imaginings in either the Sprocket books or my Sci-Fi writing but I have written a short story with a completely revolting main character just for the fun of it and may try a few more.
Bryan Pentelow
I have always liked dragons but thought they generally got a bad press. There are many feared animals in this world but most of them don't go looking for trouble. All of them, on the other hand, will defend their young to the death if necessary. So I got to thinking about how dragons might have acquired their bad reputation and why man fears and tried to kill them. Every major species has variants which fill particular niches nature and an animal which breathed fire would be very useful in working metals, glass and various refinement processes. Man, also has a very short sighted approach to useful animals, for example, DoDos tasted really good so were eaten to extinction. Dogs fill many useful roles but we have bread many for fashion purposes to the extent that they are now deformed, infirm and suffer greatly. It is not difficult to jump the gap from working with metals and chemicals to wild relations which scavenging for scraps left over by man. thereby filling the sort of tidying up role, that dung beetles and other insects fill in keeping the planet tidy. It is also not a huge leap of imagination to picture man persecuting dragons to the point of them retreating from the world. After all, anything which is really useful is valuable and if it is valuable some people will try to control access to it. We have a great ability to shoot ourselves in the foot, and till we overcome this we will continue to loose that which is beneficial to us.
Perhaps if we grow up and change our ways dragons will give us a second chance.
Perhaps if we grow up and change our ways dragons will give us a second chance.
Bryan Pentelow
From my days as a copywriter in mail order, I have occasionally tried my hand at poetry. This has mainly been in the form of a pastiche of well-known and loved pieces for humorous effect. I would love to give the art a serious go but find it extremely difficult to kerb my tendency toward long sentences. The economy of words necessary to produce the concise language needed to avoid doggerel or saccharine tripe often eludes me. So far I have only produced one stand alone poem with which I am moderately satisfied entitled 'What If' which can be found on Niume.
I will keep trying and perhaps one day will scrape togeather enough for an exceedingly thin volume.
I will keep trying and perhaps one day will scrape togeather enough for an exceedingly thin volume.
Bryan Pentelow
This is easy. It has to be Mrs Mumbly. She is an English Bull Terrier and looks as hard as northern granite, but beneath this hard-nosed armour is as soft as butter. Verry little ruffles her fur and she would be perfectly happy keeping her gaggle of humans, crows and a small dragon in order for their own good. Her pleasures are simple, a large shin bone to gnaw, having her belly tickled or the iron hard gap between her ears vigorously scratched. Placid and good natured, until any of her friends are threatened, she can change in a flash into a fanged artillery shell intent on the destruction of the threat.
This combination of love and unswerving loyalty combined with her solid knowledge of what is right and wrong makes her a solid bedrock to build any story on.
This combination of love and unswerving loyalty combined with her solid knowledge of what is right and wrong makes her a solid bedrock to build any story on.
Bryan Pentelow
I am forced to split my allegiance between two, one from each of my current series, the Sprocket Sagas(Brassroyd) and Sea Change/Look to the Stars (Bryan Prentice).
Brassroyd has my inability to throw away anything which may be useful, and I have a garage full of things which will come in handy one day. He also has a love of Brass Band music and a delight in his 'grandchildren' who keep him busy and interested in their doings.
Brian Prentice, on the other hand, has my dissatisfaction with life and my lack of control over what is done in my name by those in power.
I wrote the first book to get down on paper many of the thoughts that had been cluttering up my brain for years and only realised how close he was to me when a new friend and reader said that having met me he could now tie down the character's voice. The books are not autobiographical but sometimes when working the second(WIP) I wish they were.
Brassroyd has my inability to throw away anything which may be useful, and I have a garage full of things which will come in handy one day. He also has a love of Brass Band music and a delight in his 'grandchildren' who keep him busy and interested in their doings.
Brian Prentice, on the other hand, has my dissatisfaction with life and my lack of control over what is done in my name by those in power.
I wrote the first book to get down on paper many of the thoughts that had been cluttering up my brain for years and only realised how close he was to me when a new friend and reader said that having met me he could now tie down the character's voice. The books are not autobiographical but sometimes when working the second(WIP) I wish they were.
Bryan Pentelow
Sean King and Michelle Maxwell who feature in a number or David Baldacci's books. This pair spark off each other and have a professional relationship which benefits from their differences more than their similarities. If you have not come across these private detectives then look them up for a series of first class crime and political thrillers.
Bryan Pentelow
I haven't suffered writers block as such yet. I have been beset by indecision as to which way a storyline should go. When this has occurred I have sketched out the possible routes for thee story to see which one gives a more interesting route then follow that one. This can lead to having to go back through previous chapters to aline the back story with the new direction. I hate this as I am an impatient writer and am always in a hurry to keep the story moving but it is a necessary chore otherwise contradictions arise or a character is short of information or missing a skill set. As a last resort I write something entirely different and always try to have at least two projects running consecutively.
Bryan Pentelow
You can do it anywhere and so far the books I've written haven't got me locked up. I have a small laptop which fits in the pockets of a couple of my jackets so it goes everywhere with me. I don't get cold, wet, dirty or end the day with screaming back ache. I'm not yet famous or a best seller so I haven't had to deal with the drawbacks of tax bills, the press or being mobbed in the street but I'm willing to give them a try.
Bryan Pentelow
If you have a story write it. Don't worry about spelling or grammar just get the idea down before it finds the holes in your ears and drifts off to someone else to get written. You can always correct it later, or better still get someone else to do it for you. There are many ways to get it into print and ebooks are the easiest. Don't put it off, write it.
Bryan Pentelow
I am nearing the end of the seventh Sprocket Saga, working title It's not just Dragons you know. That's the fun bit. Then comes the drudge of correcting the multitude of typos and spelling errors and proofing the layout for both Kindle and paperback versions. I am also about three-quarters of the way through the follow up to Sea Change which will be a monster, by my standards of around 70-80,000 words or two shorter books. That is still to be decided.
Bryan Pentelow
I have four grand children who go through books like locusts so I thought I'd have a go and see if they would like my stories. I have always loved stories and wanted to write but dreadful handwriting and wobbly spelling has put me off till recently.
Bryan Pentelow
I heard a piece on BBC radio 4 about de-commissioning atomic power stations and it seemed like a good target for the bunch of malcontents who made up B.A.D.W.I.F. The leak through the portal was the best way of involving the dragons and the Foresters.
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