Linda Acaster's Blog, page 36
August 25, 2011
La Scala Short Story Competition - Closes 15 September
Following my allowing characters from Torc of Moonlight to chat directly to readers outside the confines of the novel, I thought I'd mention that it will soon be the final chance to enter this year's La Scala Short Story Competition.
La Scala is a leading equestrian photography studio in East Yorkshire, England, but its annual short story competition is open to submissions world wide for its
La Scala is a leading equestrian photography studio in East Yorkshire, England, but its annual short story competition is open to submissions world wide for its
August 7, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing Characters - The Other
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August 3, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing Characters - Alice 2
Following our chat with Alice a few days ago, here she is early on in the novel...
~~ Alice closed her eyes, crossed her arms over her abdomen and waited for the spasm to fade. Her back ached, her stomach ached, her legs ached, her head ached. She was three days late.What on earth was the matter with her? She'd never been late in her life. Textbook regular, had been since the very first. And
~~ Alice closed her eyes, crossed her arms over her abdomen and waited for the spasm to fade. Her back ached, her stomach ached, her legs ached, her head ached. She was three days late.What on earth was the matter with her? She'd never been late in her life. Textbook regular, had been since the very first. And
August 1, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing Characters - Alice
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July 27, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing Characters - Julia 2
To follow our meeting with Julia Marshall a few days ago, here she is in her usual environment.
~~
Clapping her hands, Julia began to separate members from their initial cuppa and conversation. Within a few minutes everyone was seated and she was able to switch on the music. At the first tinkling notes most present closed their eyes and cradled their hands across their laps, well used to the
~~
Clapping her hands, Julia began to separate members from their initial cuppa and conversation. Within a few minutes everyone was seated and she was able to switch on the music. At the first tinkling notes most present closed their eyes and cradled their hands across their laps, well used to the
July 23, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing Characters - Julia
To complement this month's summer sale of Torc of Moonlight, I take pleasure in introducing Julia Marshall, hypno-therapist, and a close friend of Leonard Harkin. ~~ I'm sorry, I realise you've come a long way, but I shall have to make this short. I have a very full diary and hadn't realised this appointment had been slipped in by my administrator. Yes, clients. I'm a leader in stress
July 20, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing Characters - Leonard 2
To augment the characters chatting each Saturday, midweek I'm going to add a section from the novel to show them in action. To follow on from Leonard's… Mr Harkin's… interview, here is a scene from halfway through the novel.
~~
The sheeted clay head stood on the workbench Leonard called his own and to which he would allow no student access. He had set himself a deadline, and in truth the
~~
The sheeted clay head stood on the workbench Leonard called his own and to which he would allow no student access. He had set himself a deadline, and in truth the
July 16, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing the Characters - Leonard
Concentrating on this month's summer sale of Torc of Moonlight, I'm calling Leonard Harkin into the spotlight. For some years Leonard has been a tutor at Hull's university where Nick Blaketon is a second year student. Leonard, if you please…?
Mr Harkin, if you don't mind. And I'd like to make it quite clear from the outset that Blaketon is not a student on any of my courses. He barged into my
Mr Harkin, if you don't mind. And I'd like to make it quite clear from the outset that Blaketon is not a student on any of my courses. He barged into my
July 12, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Meet the Characters
To help along the July sale of "Torc of Moonlight" I've started a series which allows the different characters to step up to the mike and offer their personal viewpoints. A lot happens in this supernatural thriller, so don't take everything as gospel; read between the lines.
First up is Nicholas Blaketon, the person who will not only carry the novel, but will carry the trilogy.
Oh, pleeeze… Nick, the name’s Nick. I like Real Ale, playing rugby and shag— female company. Not necessarily in that order, eh? What can I say, a young man’s healthy lifestyle.
When I opted for uni – college some of you might call it – I gained a place at Hull up in Yorkshire with half an eye to the distance. Home is way below London on the south coast, and I didn’t want the parents checking on me every weekend, did I? A few texts and the odd phone call keeps them happy and off my back. Phew, peace.
I’m doing an English/American Studies degree. It looked a fairly safe bet in the brochure and I’m into the second year now. My mate Murray’s doing Law and you should see the tomes he carries about! Mind you, he’s built for it. That’s how I met him, at a trial for one of the uni’s rugby union teams. Rugby? Think American football without the armour. We play for speed and manoeuvrability, not bulldozing. The warrior spirit, y’know? Fast and sharp. Adrenalin, camaraderie, alcohol. Tempered aggression. The sheer elation when I drop the ball between those posts. Yeah.
Except…except I wonder, sometimes… if that wasn’t what drew it. Him. The Other. If we weren’t somehow broadcasting and…
But I shouldn’t be talking about that, I should be telling you about Alice. My ex had dumped me over the summer and I met Alice on the rebound. Well, I heard her first. We were in a crowded seminar. I wasn’t well, had some bug or other, and it was the timbre of her voice that caught me. Oh, but she’s a looker, too, don’t get me wrong – hair that dances like a fall of russet leaves, and a scent… I was smitten from the off. It wasn’t reciprocated, though. Sheesh, did I have to work at it. Of course, I didn’t know about that lecturer then. Harkin. Settled him, though. One fell swoop and I settled him.
But Alice, she’s a History major and was obsessed with finding a Celtic water shrine. I ask you, we’re talking 2,000 years here. A village pond is a village pond, right? There are dozens of the things, hundreds. But I was willing, of course I was willing. On my own with her among all that lush vegetation… Did it pay off? Ooh, did it pay off! Hey, don’t crowd. I might brag a bit to my mates, but I don’t discuss detail, okay? Certainly not here.
The thing is, the more I learned about the history she was into the more odd … things… began to happen. Or maybe they were happening anyway and I just started to become atuned, I don’t know. But who to tell? Alice seemed oblivious and I didn’t want to wreck our relationship. I mean, would you? And what to say? I’d have been carted off to a mental hospital. And then… and then it all got out of hand and… it…him…The Other…
It wasn’t me. I must make you understand that. I tried to stop it, to stop Alice, to stop… It wasn’t me.
First up is Nicholas Blaketon, the person who will not only carry the novel, but will carry the trilogy.
Oh, pleeeze… Nick, the name’s Nick. I like Real Ale, playing rugby and shag— female company. Not necessarily in that order, eh? What can I say, a young man’s healthy lifestyle.
When I opted for uni – college some of you might call it – I gained a place at Hull up in Yorkshire with half an eye to the distance. Home is way below London on the south coast, and I didn’t want the parents checking on me every weekend, did I? A few texts and the odd phone call keeps them happy and off my back. Phew, peace.
I’m doing an English/American Studies degree. It looked a fairly safe bet in the brochure and I’m into the second year now. My mate Murray’s doing Law and you should see the tomes he carries about! Mind you, he’s built for it. That’s how I met him, at a trial for one of the uni’s rugby union teams. Rugby? Think American football without the armour. We play for speed and manoeuvrability, not bulldozing. The warrior spirit, y’know? Fast and sharp. Adrenalin, camaraderie, alcohol. Tempered aggression. The sheer elation when I drop the ball between those posts. Yeah.
Except…except I wonder, sometimes… if that wasn’t what drew it. Him. The Other. If we weren’t somehow broadcasting and…
But I shouldn’t be talking about that, I should be telling you about Alice. My ex had dumped me over the summer and I met Alice on the rebound. Well, I heard her first. We were in a crowded seminar. I wasn’t well, had some bug or other, and it was the timbre of her voice that caught me. Oh, but she’s a looker, too, don’t get me wrong – hair that dances like a fall of russet leaves, and a scent… I was smitten from the off. It wasn’t reciprocated, though. Sheesh, did I have to work at it. Of course, I didn’t know about that lecturer then. Harkin. Settled him, though. One fell swoop and I settled him.
But Alice, she’s a History major and was obsessed with finding a Celtic water shrine. I ask you, we’re talking 2,000 years here. A village pond is a village pond, right? There are dozens of the things, hundreds. But I was willing, of course I was willing. On my own with her among all that lush vegetation… Did it pay off? Ooh, did it pay off! Hey, don’t crowd. I might brag a bit to my mates, but I don’t discuss detail, okay? Certainly not here.
The thing is, the more I learned about the history she was into the more odd … things… began to happen. Or maybe they were happening anyway and I just started to become atuned, I don’t know. But who to tell? Alice seemed oblivious and I didn’t want to wreck our relationship. I mean, would you? And what to say? I’d have been carted off to a mental hospital. And then… and then it all got out of hand and… it…him…The Other…
It wasn’t me. I must make you understand that. I tried to stop it, to stop Alice, to stop… It wasn’t me.
July 9, 2011
Torc of Moonlight - Introducing the Characters - Nicholas
As July is Summer Sale month for Torc of Moonlight – 99c / 86p – I thought I'd step back to allow the characters to introduce themselves. First up is the lead, Nicholas Blaketon. C'mon Nicholas, put down that beer and chat to these people.
Oh, pleeeze… Nick, the name's Nick. I like Real Ale, playing rugby and shag— female company. Not necessarily in that order, eh? What can I say, a young man's
Oh, pleeeze… Nick, the name's Nick. I like Real Ale, playing rugby and shag— female company. Not necessarily in that order, eh? What can I say, a young man's
